April 5, 2014 by The Nation

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THE NATION

SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 2014

THE NATION

SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 2014

THE NATION

4 News

SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 2014

Fed Govt gives power distribution contractors 60 days to complete projects

ONTRACTORS handling power distribution projects across the country have only three months from now to deliver or be blacklisted by the Federal Government. Vice President Namadi Sambo warned yesterday that government would terminate the contract of any firm that fails to complete its project within the stipulated period.

Augustine EHIKIOYA, Abuja He spoke at a meeting in Abuja with stakeholders and contractors handling the power transmission projects. He expressed government’s disappointment at the inability of the contractors to connect and energize completed 33KVA feeders

to inject Substations of Enugu, Jos and Port Harcourt DISCOs. The government also directed that all transformers currently lying idle at the warehouses of the distribution companies be distributed at a fee to be spread over a period of time. Besides,it gave approval to the DISCOs to buy some of the assets owned by the former PHCN

with payments spread over 15 years. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Godknows Igali, briefing State House Correspondents at the end of the meeting said: “ in the next few days, federal government team will be talking with the DISCOs on these transformers with a view to making them available to

•From left: Chairman ,Health and Adult Services Scrutiny Committee\ Labour Councillor for Thornton, Mr.Edward Davie; Senator Femi Ojodu; Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Deputy Mayor Councillor Adedamola Aminu, during a courtesy visit to the Deputy Mayor of Lambeth, at Lambeth Town Hall ,Brixton Hill ,London.

2015: Amosun, Osoba, Kaka, others meet, resolve to work together

HEAD of the 2015 general elections, Governr Ibikunle

Amosun of Ogun State, ex Governor Segun Osoba, Senator Gbenga Kaka (Ogun East), Senator Gbenga Obadara (Ogun Central) and scores of other All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders have resolved to work in harmony for the continued success of the party in the state. The APC leaders met behind closed doors in Abeokuta on Thursday to ensure a success of this weekend’s ward congresses. Other party leaders in attendance at the meeting include the Deputy Governor, Prince Segun Adesegun, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Prince Suraj Adekunbi, members of the National

Ernest NWOKOLO, Abeokuta Assembly from the state, local government chairmen and party chieftains. Fielding questions from reporters at the end of the meeting, Osoba said the meeting was part of efforts by the APC to put its house in order and remain in charge in Ogun State. The former governor said all is well between him and “My governor.” Osoba said: “He is our governor and he is my own governor, and there is no other Governor. “ On the congresses, we have all agreed that we will follow the constitution. Where there is a consensus, which is the easier path with us, there will only be a congress to adopt the consensus. But where there is no consensus, the field is free

and progressive for all to exercise their rights. “The governor has promised adequate security and has assured us that the APC is serious ,and shows evidence of commitment to internal democracy.” Also speaking, Hon. Adekunle Adeshina described the meeting as one where nothing was held back , adding that they resolved to work in harmony for the success of party. Adeshina said: “we will conduct peaceful wards congresses after which the same spirit will flow into the Local government and then to the state congress, and of course, the national convention of the party. “We had a meeting, and we had frank talks from all sides. We have all resolved to work in harmony to make ourselves one. I have never

attended an APC meeting that is this frank and peaceful, and where every member, irrespective of whatever tendency, has come out and spoken honestly. “And I have to thank the executive Governor of Ogun State who has made this possible. He is the father of all. And above all, he is the leader of the party in the state and we have one of our national leaders, Chief Olusegun Osoba, the Akirogun of Egbaland, who came and was very forthright. He spoke his mind, he mentioned names where necessary, apologised to those he thought he should apologise to and even pointed accusing fingers at some. “And at the end of the day, everybody was happier for it. And we came out as one united family. There will be no hitches during the congresses. There will be no friction at all because we have all resolved that we should work in harmony as one.”

Benue killings: Delegate’s emotional out-pouring causes stir at confab

HE out pouring of a Benue State delegate at the on-going National Conference on Thursday touched the heart of many at the talkshop. Magdalene Mbazenda Dura,a nominee of the State Government ,said a war of attrition is being waged on the Tiv in parts of the country. Dura listed Taraba, Nasarawa, Plateau, Niger and even Cross River States as places where Tiv people are denied their rights or are being systematically exterminated. Call Dura an activist on a mission to fight the cause of her people and you will not be wrong. Her words:“ I have gone through Mr. President ’s speech and picked three key things that I observed ran across the entire speech. “These are the issues of

Onyedi OJIABOR, Assistant Editor inclusiveness, peace and unity which in a word are important to national development. “In looking at these, I have done in line with what Mr. President expects of us which, is to articulate and synchronize the views of our people in other to proffer proper solution to our problems. I will therefore comment on the President’s speech in line with the wishes of my people. “Talking about inclusivity, as a Tiv woman; the Tiv people when I was growing up, were known as the fourth largest ethnic group in Nigeria. “Today we are being relegated to the background because of arbitrary state creation and arbitrary boundary demarcation that have balkanized us into different

states of the country. “In the states we have found ourselves including Taraba, Nassarawa, Plateau, Niger, Cross River, among others, our people are taken as second class citizens. They are denied the rights of citizenship, access to education, employment, even economic sustenance. “During election periods, in some of these states, one of the strategies used is to displace the Tiv people, or even kill them to ensure that they do not contest the elections nor vote. “When these scenarios play out, we ask: why are we different? Other tribes are conveniently found and are enjoying equal rights in five or even six states? Why are Tiv people different? “Why are Tiv people limited and tagged as people who should remain only in Benue state? “We therefore want the issue of indigeneship and settlers resolved. This is because we

are also seen as settlers even when our ancestral homes are in the states Tiv people reside. “On the issue of peace, talking about peace from the perspective of a Tiv woman from Benue State, Benue State which is the food basket of the nation, which sustains the nation by providing yams, rice and others, has been turned into a blood basket. “Our men, children, women are being slaughtered on a daily basis. In fact the people who are killing us do not even respect the rules of war; when there is no war. “Under international humanitarian laws, you don’t kill women, children and the elderly. Here in Benue our women, children and the aged are being slaughtered. “The most dehumanizing part is that pregnant women are killed and their fetuses are removed and dump on the women.”

improve power across the country. “Any contractor who fails to deliver the project at the end of two months will have their names blacklisted from executing any contract in Nigeria any longer. And this information will be sent to the Bureau of Public Procurement in order to have them in their data bank. So that any time they see those names as potential contractor in the future, they will not be considered.” Yesterday’s meeting,he said, reviewed the power supply situation in the country and “to work out strategies through which government investment through the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) in terms of various assets at the distribution level could be completed and transferred to the DISCOS at a price, not free of charge”. The Managing Director of NDPHC, James Olotu, said that the NDPHC through the NIPP,

is handling about 297 distribution projects across Nigeria and that only 57 have been completed while the rest are at various stages of completion.None is less than 60 percent completed. He said that the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), was at the meeting to review its area of intervention in order to ensure that the capacities of their transmission adequately meet the need of the DISCOs He listed the challenges facing power supply to include nonavailability of 33 KVA bays at the 132/33KV substations, inadequate transmission capacity at the TCN substations of the Abuja, Ikeja and Port Harcourt DISCOs. Others, according to him, include insecurity in the North East, including Jos and Yola DISCOs, connection of weak existing 33 KV source to new completed injection substations in Kaduna and Ibadan, and refusal of new DISCOs owners to connect completed project in Jos and Port Harcourt.

NEWS 5

THE NATION

SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 2014

Yenagoa paralysed as Jonathan’s daughter weds today

•Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State and wife, Unoma, waving to the crowd at the venue of the Ikot Ekpene Federal Constituency Town Hall Meeting...yesterday

OCIO-economic activities in Yenagoa were paraly sed for the second day running yesterday as more guests stormed the Bayelsa State capital for today’s traditional marriage of Elizabeth Sakwe, adopted daughter of President Goodluck Jonathan. The ceremony is slated for the President’s hometown of Otuoke,in the Ogbia Local Government Area of the State. The husband-to-be is Godswill Edward. The church phase of the marriage comes up in Abuja on April 12. Signs of what to come began to emerge on Thursday when the first batch of guests started arriving Yenagoa. Many roads close to the President’s private residence, off Nikton Road in the state capital, were closed to vehicles by armed securitymen, triggering a massive traffic logjam. The situation worsened yesterday when the President arrived for the ceremony. More guests also came in from different parts of the country. Security operatives are de-

Nasarawa killings:Tension heightens in Benue, Plateau, Kaduna, Niger

ENSION heightened yesterday in Nasarawa, Benue, Plateau, Kaduna and Niger states in the aftermath of the Thursday massacre of Fulani herdsmen at a funeral at a settlement near Keana, Nasarawa State. 19 people died on the spot, but the death toll rose to 25 yesterday after six more victims succumbed to the wounds sustained in the attack. The six additional victims died in hospitals in Keana and Lafia ,it was gathered yesterday. The National Secretary of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Alhaji Sale Bayari, confirmed that 18 of the victims have already been buried at the Fulani settlement on Giza road, Gidan Ardo Sodangi axis in the Keana Local Government Area of the state. The association yesterday named 15 of the victims. The association has also lodged a complaint with the Minister of Defence, Gen. Aliyu Gusau, on the killings to prevail on government to check the rampaging soldiers. The Director of Defence Information, Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade, said no credible report had been received on the incident as alleged. A Fulani leader in the area in confirming the additional deaths said many other people are missing. “So far, we have lost about 25 herdsmen apart from those who are missing. What we experienced was real massacre because some of our innocent herdsmen were mauled down while grazing with cattle. “We have reached out to the Minister of Defence to

•Fulani take case to Gusau Miyetti Allah releases list of those killed The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) last night released the list of 15 out of 25 Fulani herdsmen who were killed by soldiers in Keana on Thursday. According to the National Secretary of MACBAN, Alhaji Sale Bayari, who spoke exclusively with our correspondent, the victims comprised old and young Fulani men. He said the list was compiled by members of the association who were on ground in Keana and Lafia. The list, which was ob-

tained exclusively by The Nation, included the following: Alhaji Laminde; Alhaji Yakubu; Ardo Bakinshiwa; Abubakar Idris; Abdullahi Maudo; Yakubu Abdullahi; Alhaji Barde; Mallam Risku; Alhaji Jidda; Abdulkarim; Aliyu Ardo; Sale Bello; Audi Inusa; Ishaq Hari; and Ibrahim Haruna. Bayari, who cut short a reconciliation trip to Taraba State last night said: "There are many we cannot still locate. This is traumatizing but we are appealing for calm. We do not want reprisals at all."

Yusuf ALLI, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

Ardo Sodangi was killed by soldiers while receiving condolences. The soldiers were

help prevail on the government to check these soldiers,” the source said. The National Secretary of MACBAN, Alhaji Bayari, who spoke with our correspondent last night, said: “In Keana, the real number of those so far buried as at yesterday is 18. Some people have however disappeared, we don’t know their whereabouts. “We are going to court over these killings by soldiers. We will sue the Federal Government on behalf of these families. “The killings were gruesome and emotionally devastating. For instance, the only son of Ardo Sodangi Maikafi was killed, while he took out his cattle for grazing. “Also, the son of the old man that died in Gidan

moving from one settlement to the other to kill Fulani youths.” Responding to a question, Bayari said: “We are already trying to persuade these herdsmen to avoid reprisals in any manner. We have asked our leaders at various levels to appeal to them. We will address the press on the incident in Kaduna on Monday.” The Director of Defence Information, Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade, said: “Please note that no credible report has been received on this incident in Nasarawa State as alleged. We know only of an encounter with some gang members after which some weapons were recovered in that area. “It will however be investigated to confirm if the said attack on those being referred to as harmless civilians was actually carried

out by soldiers. This is certainly not the purpose of the operation.”

Eric IKHILAE, Abuja pending the determination of their appeal now before the Court of Appeal, Abuja. They also want the court for an interlocutory injunction restraining the House of Representatives, the Speaker of the House, the Deputy Speaker and the Clerk of the House from stopping them from entering and coming out of the National Assembly Complex and chambers pending the determination of their appeal. In the application filed on their behalf by Mr. Sebastine Hon (SAN), the lawmakers asked the court to restrain the leadership of the House from stopping them from participating in the business of the House.

ployed in many parts of the city and Otuoke. Jasmine Road, Bay Bridge, Nikton and Kpansia streets ,all in Yenagoa,were blocked with armed security personnel and members of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) diverting traffic to other roads. Nikton Road was a-no-go area for vehicles except for cars owned by government officials or those taking dignitaries to thePresident’s residence. Residents of the area were forced to either park their cars at home or far away from home as they are not allowed to drive within some areas. A resident who identified himself as Mike said: "Thursday was tough. It was as we were under siege. The entire streets were surrounded by security operatives. At the Nikton Junction, close to express, security operatives mounted a magazine. "Over-zealous security operatives scared people away.. It was tough. We can't wait for this marriage to be over." The sky was also busy with helicopters landing from and taking off to Port Harcourt. Siren-blaring vehicles bearing dignitaries are a regular sight on the roads. President Goodluck Jonathan arrived the state capital at about 11.30am accompanied by his son and some of his aides. He was received by Governor Seriake Dickson, his deputy, Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd) and other government functionaries.

Benue peace deal stalled as Fulani herdsmen opt out •‘Suswam may have been misled’

HE ongoing peace talks between Benue farmers and Fulani herdsmen may have hit the rock, with the state secretary of the Cattle Rearers’ Association of Nigeria, Myetiala Garus Gololo, dissociating the group from the move. Gololo, who spoke to newsmen on the phone yesterday, said the group took the decision because it realized that Governor Gabriel Suswam has been misled into dealing with a fake group, adding that the pur-

37 defecting Reps ask for stay of execution of judgment HE 37 APC members of the House of Repre sentatives who were restrained early in the week by a Federal High Court, Abuja from initiating or participating in moves to change the leadership of the House are back in court. They approached the same Federal High Court yesterday to stay the execution of its judgment. They said, in their application, that some members of the PDP from which they defected to the APC in the House of Representatives have started making moves to compel them to vacate their seats in the House. In particular,they are praying the court to stop the PDP from taking advantage of the March 31 judgment

Mike ODIEGWU, Yenagoa

Hon said that an arguable appeal had been filed and that the appeal raised special circumstances which the court should consider and grant an order staying the execution of the judgment. The lawmakers, in a supporting affidavit, argued that if the judgment was not stayed and they were prevented from participating in the plenary or the process to amend the Constitution, the process might be truncated. They also stated that irreparable damage would be done to them should their appeal turn out to be successful only after their tenure expires. They urged the court to note that appeals at the Court of Appeal take time to determine, and that it could even exceed their tenure.

ported president representing the group at the parley, Alhaji Abdulahi Bodejo, was not known to them. Gololo explained that Mahmoud Kirowa remains the authentic president of the Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria. It will be recalled that the peace meeting between the farmers and Fulani herdsmen was initiated by Governor Suswam, leading to an interaction with Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Michael Zuokumor, during which a peace pact was signed earlier in the week. Gololo said: “I learnt that the governor had a peace meeting with somebody who purportedly called himself the president of the Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria. That man is not known to this association. “Our National President is Mahmud Kirowa who was elected about a month ago in Sokoto. This can be verified from the Sultan, HRM, Alhaji Sa’aid Abubakar, who is the life patron of the association. So I don’t know how Governor Suswam got the link with Abdullahi Bodejo. Meanwhile, this is coming on the heels of the reported death of three Tiv farmers who were allegedly shot dead by rampaging Fulani herdsmen at Mobile Barracks, Ayilamo, Tombo ward in the Logo Local Government Area of Benue State.

THE NATION

6 NEWS

SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 2014

Court halts Sanusi’s probe by Financial Reporting Council

HE probe of the sus pended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi by the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRCN) was yesterday ordered to be put on hold by a Federal High Court, Lagos. Justice James Tsoho ordered that status quo be maintained until the determination of a suit filed by Sanusi in which he is contesting the competence of the council to probe him. Sanusi wants the court to stop his investigation by the FRCN. The court ordered that “status quo as at the time of instituting this suit, be maintained, until it is determined." He is seeking a declaration that the FRCN in constituting itself into an investigating entity as reported on March 24

Joseph JIBUEZE, is ultra vires (beyond) its powers. He asked the court to declare that the defendant's conduct, actions and decision is illegal,saying that FRCN's declarations in a briefing note submitted to President Goodluck Jonathan were ultra vires their powers as contained in the FRCN Act, 2011. He said that the FRCN having already reached a conclusion as to his culpability as CBN governor, as indicated in the briefing note, can no longer conduct any investigation on the same matter. Sanusi also sought the following: "A declaration that the defendants' recommendation regarding the plaintiff in briefing note dated June 7, 2013, that he be removed from office as CBN Governor,

was ultra vires their powers under the FRCN Act 2011. "A declaration that the proposed investigation as advertised in the Punch newspaper of March 24, in the circumstance of having reached a conclusion in the briefing note of June 2013, before embarking on the investigation, is tantamount to a breach of natural justice. "A declaration that the defendants do not have the power to conduct investigation as advertised in the newspaper." The suspended CBN governor asked for an order restraining the defendants or their agents from conducting and continuing any investigation or inquiry regarding him. He also prayed for an order setting aside or nullifying any report, conclusion or recommendation, based on any

Northern youths reject national confab A N amalgam of north ern youth organisations, Arewa Citizens Action for Change , declared yesterday that all recommendations and resolutions of the ongoing National Conference stand unacceptable to it. The forum said those purporting to represent the North at the talks are not in any way speaking for the people of the North and are at best,loyalists of President Goodluck Jonathan and the state governors who picked them. This mode of selection of delegates to the conference,it added,has already discredited the conference and its outcome as the delegates are not the true representatives of the people. Rising from a two-day summit in Kaduna,the youth resolved to disown northern representatives at the conference and all recommendations of the conference. In a communiqué signed by the convener of the summit, Ashir Sharif, on behalf of the 17 youth groups that attended the summit, the northern

Tony AKOWE, Kaduna

youths said that the convocation of the conference amounts to a “brutal incursion into the sovereignty of the subsisting constitution that vests such powers in the National Assembly”. It said: “This infringement of the nation’s constitution, the action of the President has, ipso facto, rendered the conference illegitimate by itself and its subsequent outcome null and void as far as the summit is concerned”. The youths lamented the level of insecurity in the North and said that government seems more concerned about next year’s elections than the welfare of the over three million people who have been displaced across the region by the Boko Haram insurgency. “At no time did the region’s stock of retired Generals, past and present top political office holders ever made any effort at sitting together to work out a solution,” they said. They also resolved to send a delegation to the retired Gen-

erals of northern stock to express their displeasure at their inaction. Continuing, they said that the disconnect among the elite, elders and political leaders in the region has resulted in the lack of experience/exposure and wisdom that has undermined the logic of mentoring,besides a general loss of the North’s sense of cultural norms and values. The northern youths were also not impressed by what they called the present disposition of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of next year’s elections. They cited the last governorship election in Anambra State and said INEC’s handling of that poll had stripped it of every credibility and reliability to conduct a credible election. They asked the National Assembly to pass a law for an enabling act for the reconstitution of a truly independent electoral body elected through a referendum by the people to conduct the 2015 elections.

Clark's son: Kidnappers demand N60m ransom

IDNAPPERS of Ebikeme Clark, sec ond son of Ijaw National Leader, Chief Edwin Clark, have demanded for a N60 million ransom for the release of their hostage. The ransom demand came just as the Delta State Police Command said that it was making progress on its efforts to free Ebikeme from his kidnappers, even as it informed that the lone suspect in its custody had been cooperative, providing helpful information on the identities and whereabouts of his comrades in crime. Meanwhile, the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) has reiterated its warning to the Clark family not to succumb to the pressure to pay ransom to the kidnappers as this would only encourage the continued growth of the crime of kidnapping in the oil-rich Niger Delta. The kidnappers contacted the family to demand for the ransom yesterday, stating it as the condition for their hostage's freedom. Disclosing the development, the spokesperson of

Shola O’NEIL& Bolaji OGUNDELE

the Delta State Police Command, Celestina Kalu (DSP) said the command was, in the process of freeing the hostage unconditionally. According to her, "the arrested suspect has started talking and he is helping us with a lot of useful information. He has also given the names of the people that kidnapped Chief Clark’s son. They have contacted the family and demanded N60 million. We are still trailing them and I can assure you we are getting close to them.” Meanwhile, the IYC said it had enlisted the services of some freedom fighters in Delta and Bayelsa states to join in the search and rescue operation for the kidnappers of the son of Ijaw national Leader. In a statement issued and circulated by its spokesman, Eric Omare, the IYC said it had placed communities around the areas the kid-

nappers are hiding under alert, warning the family not to pay ransom. "To this extent, all the Ijaw communities and leaders in the communities close to the coastal parts of Delta and Bayelsa States have been contacted to form rescue team to curb all the creeks, towns and villages in a bid to free Mr. Ebikeme Clark without delay. The Ijaw people and communities are totally against kidnapping, sea piracy and other social vices. "Also some ex-Niger Delta freedom fighters have volunteered to join forces with the IYC and security agencies to effect the release of Mr. Ebikeme Clark. While we appreciate the pains the Clark family may be going through, the IYC reiterates its position that ransom should not be paid to kidnappers. This is another case of commercial kidnapping, hence payment of ransom must be discouraged", the statement said.

purported investigation conducted by the FRCN. Meanwhile, the defendants –FRCN and its Executive Secretary - have filed a preliminary objection to Sanusi's suit. They are challenging the court's jurisdiction to entertain the case. Justice Tsoho said that he would hear the objection and the plaintiff's motion together. He adjourned the case till April 11 for hearing. The order came 24 hours after another Federal High Court , Lagos presided over by Justice Ibrahim Buba awarded N50million to Sanusi and ordered security agencies to release his international passport. He also asked them to apologise to Sanusi for arresting and detaining him soon after his removal as CBN governor. The decision to suspend Sanusi Lamido was based on an FRCN report dated June 7, 2013. The report was made after a review of Sanusi’s response to the query issued to him by the President over the apex bank’s financial statement of 2012. His response was dated May 20, 2013. The council stated that the explanation provided by the suspended CBN governor is “a clear display of incompetence, nonchalance, fraud, wastefulness and abuse of due process and deliberate efforts to misrepresent facts on the part of the leadership of the CBN.” The council advised the President to exercise the powers conferred on him by Section 11(2)(f) of the CBN Act

2007 or invoke Section 11(2)(c) of the said Act “and cause the governor and the deputy governors to cease from holding office in the CBN.” The report reads in part: "The particulars of the infractions against Sanusi are: Persistent refusal and/or negligence to comply with the Public Procurement Act in the procurement practices of the Central Bank of Nigeria. "(A) By virtue of Section 15 (1)(a) of the Public Procurement Act, the provisions of the Act are expected to comply to ‘all procurement of goods, works and services carried out by the Federal Government of Nigeria and all procurement entities.’ This definition clearly includes the Central Bank of Nigeria. "(B) It is, however, regrettable that the Central Bank of Nigeria, under his leadership, has refused and/or neglected to comply with the provisions of the Public Procurement Act (PPA). You will recall that one of the primary reasons for the enactment of the PPA was the need to promote transparency, competitiveness, cost of effectiveness and professionalism in the public sector procurement system. "(C) Available information indicates that the Central Bank has over the years engaged in procurement of goods, works and services worth billions of Naira each year without complying with the express provisions of the PPA. "(D) By deliberately refusing to be bound by the provisions of the Act, the CBN has not only decided to act in an un-

lawful manner, but has also persisted in promoting a governance regime characterised by financial recklessness, waste and impunity, as demonstrated by the contents of its 2012 Financial Statements. "Unlawful expenditure by the Central Bank of Nigeria on ‘Intervention Projects’ across the country: (A) the unacceptable level of financial recklessness displayed by the leadership of the Central Bank of Nigeria is typified by the execution of ‘Intervention Projects’ across the country. From available information, the bank has either executed or is currently executing about 63 such projects across the country and has committed over N163billion on them. "(B) it is inexcusable and patently unlawful for any agency of government to deploy huge sums of money as the CBN has done in this case, without appropriation and outside CBN’s statutory mandate. It is trite that the expenditure of public funds by any organ of government must be based on clear legal mandates, prudent costing and overriding national interest." FRCN also accused Sanusi of financial infractions and acts of financial recklessness. It said: "In a most ironical manner, it has become obvious that the CBN is not able to prepare its financial statements using applicable International Financial Reporting Standards (IFFS) whereas Deposit Money Banks that the CBN is supervising have complied with this national requirement since 2012."

THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 2014

COMMENTARY

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In the global nuclear security picture, the Nigerian president looked like fish out of water as he was the only black man in his usual attire

It may seem incongruous, but I see a challenge similar to the one the civilised world is facing over Russia's President Vladmir Putin's annexation of Crimea by force, in the threat by no less a person than the revered Lamido of Adamawa, a traditional ruler in Nigeria to pull his people out of Nigeria, if representatives of the Nigerian president at the ongoing National Conference in Abuja do not behave with decorum. The Lamido angrily told the NC that there is a state called Adamawa in Cameroun and he can conveniently take his people there. Obviously the Lamido was indignant over something but his proposed solution reduced the entire matter to a laughable absurdity. Both actions and utterances of the Russian president and the Adamawa monarch involve potential and real threat on sovereignty and borders, the stark difference being that even the Adamawa monarch knows he cannot take himself seriously, as he has no locus or capability to implement his threat. Whereas, the Russian president not only first flew a kite over the invasion of Crimea but the kite is still very much in the air despite US and EU punitive sanctions of key Russian officials close to the Russian president. Which in my view is really getting very personal with diplomacy in the new Cold War politics of the modern era that the Ukraine Crisis has unleashed. Three pictures that I saw recently and the saga of missing funds that our legislators are discovering at either House or Senate Sub Committee sittings in Abuja, attract my attention this week. The pictures are first that of the Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan with the Pope at the Vatican. The second is that of the Nigerian president again in the midst of delegates to the 2014 summit on global Nuclear Security. The third was the CNN showing the arrival of the American president Barak Obama at the Vatican on a visit to the Catholic Pontiff. Today I want to speculate on these visits and pictures as well as the personalities involved; what they discussed and conclude how seriously they can be taken on such issues, in the context of how one can take Putin or the Adamawa king seriously over their recent actions and utterances on annexation and secession. Equally I will adapt the Lamido/Putin appraisal on relevance and capability on territorial borders to the case of the missing funds going on at the Legislature in Abuja. First, let us imagine what the Pope and President Goodluck Jonathan could have discussed. This is because they have a common ground on gay marriages and the global fight against terrorism. Both gentlemen and the nations they represent are against gay marriages and gay rights implacably. On terrorism they are in tandem as the Nigerian government recently released figures showing that over 3.5m Nigerians have been displaced by Boko Haram in the North East of the country where churches and

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Fighting global poverty, terrorism and secession mosques have been burned with impunity in recent times. Indeed during the last Xmas Prayer at the Basilica in Rome, Nigeria was one of the few nations mentioned for special delivery by the Catholic Pope. But the Pope also is from the slums of Buenos Aires and would ask the Nigerian president what he has done on poverty alleviation in his nation. This is because Nigeria is one of the most corrupt nations on earth and the Nigerian president knows this and would not lie on this. Surely our president must have asked for special redemption prayers on his inadequacy on this front, while asking for special delivery and victory on his yet undeclared 2015 presidential ambitions. How the Pope, who this week sacked a bishop from Germany, the nation of his predecessor over a lavish lifestyle and private pastoral renovations expenses over 40m dollars, will be disposed to pray for this ambition is better imagined than stated here. So on culture and gay marriages the Nigerian leader was like Putin while he sounded more like the Lamido on terrorism and poverty alleviation. In the global nuclear security picture, the Nigerian president looked like fish out of water as he was the only black man in his usual attire. Really, since the summit was on nuclear security, I wonder what Nigeria was doing there as we are not a nuclear power and are not likely to be one in the foreseeable future. Indeed we used to be the regional military global power in West Africa or ECOWAS when we looked after Liberia and Sierra Leone. In recent times however it is France, a former colonial power playing that role in Africa. They did it in Ivory Coast to install President Ouattara and they have done it in Mali to save the Mali nation and people from Islamist invaders fleeing from Libya. In Mali French President Francois Hollande acted decisively while Nigeria and ECOWAS were still busy pussy footing on logistics to save that nation. This explains why he was a special guest of honor at our Centenary Celebrations pledging French support for Nigeria in its fight against the terrorism of Boko Haram. Obviously the Nigerian president needs to go to France on a summit to learn on how to subdue Sahel Islamist terrorists like Boko Haram and not a global nuclear security summit which has no relevance or immediate benefit for Nigeria. Definitely the Nigerian president was like the Lamido on this nuclear summit trip. The Obama /Pope picture too could start tongues wagging on several fronts. First both are first class fighters when it comes to poverty alleviation. Obama has helped many or millions of hitherto illegal immigrants to

have hope of realising their dreams of being bona fide citizens of the US. Both are staunch anti terrorists with the Pope giving support to the victims of global terrorism in the Middle East especially the on going conflict in Syria. But both know that they are meeting with their skeletons in their cupboards very much in public view. President Obama flew to the Vatican from Belgium after the EU -US Summit at which he told his audience that the challenge facing the Western world was to enforce the issue of gay rights globally. He however faced a clever Catholic pontiff who is on record as saying that gay people deserve prayers and not hostility. This is not the view of the Catholic Church which is anti gay rights, marriage and abortion. But to me the Pope is using a deliberate facade of flexibility to buy time. He is behaving like the reed that bowed in the direction of a storm and survived while the oak that stood rigid was uprooted. It is definitely not difficult to see why the Pope is like this with the US. For now the Catholic Church is in total disgrace in the US over paedophilia charges and suits and in most cases it has had to pay under plea bargaining to avert messy public trials and exposures to save the sinking image of the church. For the gay rights apologists then, what better time than now to ram the acceptability of its goal down the throat of a church suffering from compunction and loss of moral leadership given pervasive lusts of its clergy, especially during the tenure of the predecessor of the present Pope. On this issue neither Obama or the Pope have flown a kite successfully or behaved like Putin, yet they have not done a Lamido either. Lastly one cannot but commend the legislators in Abuja over the issues of missing funds they are digging up. Aside from the 20bn dollars exposed by the former CBN governor there have been several others brought to light. Of interest to me is the CBN intervention fund of 19 .7bn naira Police Equipment Fund for the Police to buy helicopters which the Police representative said they have no knowledge of. Could the CBN be wrong when it put this on the list of its acquitted interventions in society? I share the incredulity and amazement of our law makers as they fight to identifymaccountability and respect for due process in our public service. It is a tedious step but a step in the right direction. If they get this right they will get the thanks of a grateful nation. On this I think the legislators have done a Putin rather than a Lamido without any mix up in personalities, I hope.

THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 2014

8 COMMENTARY

This sad, vacuous sense of charity? Knucklehead Yomi I Odunuga F there was anything I missed following her tragic exit some years back, it was the humanism often embedded in her soulful lyrics. For someone who rarely settles down to decode the lyrical blurs in modern American pop culture and its fixation to violence and sexism, Whitney Houston's lyrical clarity came as a breath of fresh air. Today, millions of her fans spread across the world still try to grapple with the reality of how such a wonderful voice was ruined by the split personality that hibernated inside one body. There was Whitney the soulful pop artiste that wowed millions of fans in the public space. There was also a Whitney who soaked her fears in truckloads of narcotics. Eventually, she was consumed by the demons harboured in her cravings for the latter. Yet, it was this same Whitney that popped up a question that never fails to nudge my conscience each time I think about the Nigerian nation and its seemingly insurmountable, multi-layered crises: where do broken hearts go? She asked. In Nigeria, a nation that today, sadly competes for global recognition in increasing numbers of internallydisplaced citizens, there are too many broken-hearted souls who live on the forlorn hope that the mirage-like milk of human kindness would one day get to them. These are folks whose families have been broken by turbulent anomic marauders and storms of circumstances against which the state provided no real succour. Sometimes broken physically, they have been left with scarred psyche and yet they continue being pummelled psychologically and broken down into more wretched pieces by the avalanche of systemic failures, corrosive corruption and grand looting of the national treasury by a set of kleptomaniacs who routinely parade themselves as Nigeria’s ruling elite. They hopelessly cling to hope in a season of anomie and unmitigated catastrophe. Collectively, they are victims of a warped system in which the rich, whose corruption breeds a miasma of easy death and wanton decay, continue to get richer as the poor waddle in putrefying poverty. They are the looming danger that a dozing nation has failed to acknowledge as the mercantilism of quotidian living has blurred many a vision that should have seen through the despair. These are the human 'time bombs' that this harvest of neglect and sheer incompetence breed daily. They come in different forms and shapes. Here, I speak of the growing tribe of the unemployed, the unemployable and the vulnerable youths who daily slap the streets to eke out a living, any living. They are a veritable army of the unemployed, waiting for a letter of engagement from the devil. The ones we derisively refer to as the dregs of the society, illiterates and the unambitious. But then, I ask: can the rich sleep or enjoy their wealth when the poor are hungry? It is a question we all need to ponder over. Have we really given a thought to the wisdom buried in the advisory that the rich man should share his riches with the poor before the poor start sharing the inevitable consequences of his poverty with the rich? Or are we still living the deceit that we are completely free from the looming danger just because we have raped the treasury blind even for our generations yet unborn? That is tantamount to living dangerously. Like an ostrich with its head temporarily buried in the sand to – in its forlorn thought – keep the looming danger away. The truth is that luck may be running out on the rich as the poor get more entrapped in further misery. The situation is compounded by the absence of any feasible

With

social security or safety net. Even the crumbs they once depended on are no longer falling off the table of the rich. Excessive greed has blinded the rich against engaging themselves in tangible acts of charity. Now, they not only trample on the poor but also fleece them so unscrupulously. Clearly, the gulf that has deepened the graveyard peace that exists between the rich and poor is worsened by the total lack of charity---the complete absence of love of humankind which, in turn, kills hope and faith in a brighter tomorrow. What rules is the self. Unfortunately, it is killing us softy while it has turned some into beasts. For sure, there is a deeper meaning to charity than doling out crumbs for the needy in the society and making a song and dance of it in the media. And so, inasmuch as I identify with the huge 'sacrifice' being made by five out of the over 490 delegates at the national conference who agreed to donate their multi-million naira allowances to charities, I hasten to note that the gesture remains a drop in the ocean. It can only take care of some symptoms but hardly can such ‘philanthropy’ heal a wound that has eaten deep into the marrow. If we must say it as it is, then we must admit that the kind of charity we need is still far from our grasp. Simple as it seems, the kind of love that is needed to heal our land has eluded us for ages because of our collective fixation to self. Nigeria bleeds today because it has lost that compass for love for humankind, which breeds hope and faith. Today, official documents released by the National Emergency Management Agency indicate that over three million Nigerians have been displaced either through insurgency or natural disasters. This is aside the thousands whose blood has been sucked in the endless spate of mindless killings that go on daily in our communities. We are yet to add the figures of innocent citizens who are currently missing and whose families are still trying to unravel the mystery behind their sudden disappearance. Were they kidnapped for ransom or were they victims of the demented souls who trade in human parts as recently unearthed in the 'evil forest' in Soka along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway? Could their dismembered vital organs be lying in some secret rooms of some money ritualists, politicians or some cultists with a warped belief that all that it takes to remain relevant in a society that has lost its conscience is to feed some dead gods with human sacrifice and assuage their thirst with their victims' blood? How can any man think he can thrive by drinking the blood of his fellow man? It's crazy really but that we still do it in the 21st century Nigeria says a lot about our capacity to handle the challenges of modernity and development. For sure, this is not just about the Soka horror scene or the mindless killings going on daily in Borno, Plateau, Benue, Nasarawa, Kaduna states and many other communities. It is more about the deadly horror we inflict on one another through our action and inaction. The tragic rush of horrific scenes that confront us today is the consequence of the many years of neglect and the little we have offered in lifting the poor from their broken state. It explains why young girls now offer themselves as baby factories to satisfy the proprietorial interest of some evil minded matrons! Where they had expected love, many of us had piled up their misery by sniggering at their plight. Many a dream has been killed at its infancy as we continue to ignore the millions of kids that drop out of school every year as our own kids attend the best schools. Even the children of the poor who managed to make it out of school are, more often than not, discriminated against in the search for life-changing jobs. Such jobs are reserved for

E-mail:yomi.odunuga @thenationonlineng.net SMS only: 07028006913

the kids of the super-rich or those who would do anything to buy their way to the top. It is this mercantilist approach to life and living that has left us with this harvest of monstrosities. At a time when you would have thought that those saddled with the responsibility of lifting the spirits of the dejected souls would put on their thinking caps and do something about the gradual slip into the state of lawlessness in which life has become brutish, nasty and short as the killings fields expand, they are busy playing politics. Do they know that they put the lives of countless Nigerians in danger each time they sit on or gloat over a problem that requires urgent attention? I believe that it is this lack of charity and respect for the sanctity of human lives that has pushed the ruling Peoples Democratic Party into playing politics with the lives of the citizens that died in the ill-fated Nigerian Immigration Service job recruitment exercise organised some weeks back by the Ministry of Interior. Do they get it at all? What we are being confronted with is a clear and present danger in which millions of educated, half-educated and uneducated youths scrounge for survival in a society where only the brutally fit have any chance of living above the madness. And instead of taking responsibility for aggravating the problem in the death-for-jobs scam, the ruling PDP has been bleating about how it provided 1.6 million quality jobs under the President Goodluck Jonathan administration. Can we have a breakdown of the jobs please? It has equally challenged the opposition All Progressives Congress to provide jobs for the thousands of youths that gather at venues controlled by it during the exercise. If you ask me, I'll tell you that that is not a smart move. Unless the PDP is telling us that its understanding of charity stops with backdoor job opportunities handed out in the dark, to sons and daughters of the big wigs and cronies within its fold, there cannot be any justification for the murderous intent embedded in the way and manner the NIS job scam was organised. There should be more to politicking than the bestial resort to dancing on the graves of the dead. Even the dead deserve some modicum of charity. There are far too many broken hearts awaiting the soothing touch of charity which cuts across political affiliations, religion or even ethnic cleavages. In spite of the seeming hopelessness around them, many of these persons still mask themselves with plastic laughter, faithfully hoping that good fortune will smile at them, someday. Will the kleptomaniacs in high places spare a thought for these teeming millions scattered across the country and begin a process of rekindling a hope long deferred? And, as Whitney Houston asked, would these broken hearts ever find their way back to that home brimming with love, faith and charity which know no bounds? Only time will tell. For now, pessimism and forlorn hope holds sway across the landscape.

As Mrs Ajimobi turns 55 amily members, friends, associates and members of the Ajumose political family will today gather to celebrate the wife of the Oyo State Governor, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi who attains the age of 55 years. Chief Mrs. Ajimobi, a woman who cuts the image of honour, candour and elegance, brought new glamour to the office of the First Lady since May 29, 2011 when her husband was sworn in. Mrs. Ajimobi, whose husband fondly calls his 'masterpiece of nature,' makes a perfect blend with her husband as both are urbane in orientation, alluring in outlook, visionary and display huge will power to pursue their vision. Unlike some first ladies, Mrs. Ajimobi, like her husband, is not given to frivolities. She is serious-minded in everything she does, at least, in all her public appearances and official engagements. For instance, her pet projects are not the poorly thought-out types or mere activities aimed at just keeping the First Lady busy. A careful look at three of the projects attest to this. Her healthcare service project dubbed 'Access to Basic Care (ABC)' is a uniquely outstanding project that delivers better healthcare to the poor masses. The project attracts drugs, equipment and medical personnel from within and outside the country to deliver quality health services to the masses who cannot afford normal medical care in both public and private hospitals. Through her 'Educate A Rural Child' project, Mrs. Ajimobi is reaching out to a large number of children in rural areas who are struggling with basic amenities such as school uniform and books. She moves round the 33 local governments in the state to mix with this class of

• Florence Ajimobi

n Bisi OLADELE, Ibadan n people, feel their pains and offers them opportunity to have decent education. It is not a one-off thing but a project being undertaken with passion and commitment. Rather than stay within the comfortable State Secretariat and receives beneficiaries, Mrs. Ajimobi visits the rural communities to sit with the children. It is impactful!

The 'Ajumose Food Basket' is Mrs. Ajimobi's project designed to meet the need of citizens struggling with three square meals both in the cities and rural communities. The project must have been developed from the belief that food is the basic wealth and the foundation for good health. She moves round the state regularly distributing food to the poorest people in the society and mixes with them to the level that gives them a sense of belonging. For three years, these last two projects have been sustained to the surprise of many. The two-year old ABC is the latest of her projects which started a mobile clinic. Mrs. Ajimobi is not the one that abandons projects, even in the face of huge challenges. Her promotion of culture, support for young, talented girls and women and integrity in all dealings is laudable. Mrs. Ajimobi is not only thorough, she abhors mediocrity and indiscipline. With love for beauty and orderliness, the Oyo State First Lady's office radiates the ambience of an international agency or a multinational organisation, going by its touch of urbanity and sophistication. Though impeccable sources disclosed that Mrs. Ajimobi is determined to have a very low-key birthday celebration, it will be difficult for her to restrain wellwishers from stopping by to felicitate with a strongwilled leader and mentor of many. Kind, gentle, loving but firm, green-loving, Mrs. Ajimobi will clearly celebrate God's faithfulness and the opportunity to have made such a great impact in the lives of so many people as well as the glamour and honour she brought to governance.

THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 2014

COMMENTARY

Surprise inspiration AST week was an extraordinarily difficult week for me professionally, personally and medically. Usually when I go through periods in my life that challenges me, I normally recline into my shell, remove myself from whatever situation I was in before, to reassess what part I may have played in the situation I found myself or to access the best and most positive options I have moving forward. When I get into this mode, I usually find an inner therapeutic peace and strength from within. Due to the fact that I am a temperamental person, the older I have grown, the more I have adopted this mechanism as a way of staying afloat in a world filled with the most unpredictable and disquieting distractions. It is when I get into this zen mode that I am able to fully access certain situations from a more objective and calmer point of view than I probably would have done so before. And it is when I am in that calm mode that I enjoy doing two of my greatest hobbies; which is to draw and paint art pieces and write. I find myself to be very lucky, because I am able to do one of the hobbies that I enjoy best on a regular basis. However, with the good comes the bad and given the fact that I do write on a public platform, there is a certain requirement to engage with some of my readers, even at times when I don’t feel up to it. For the record, I have made it very clear in the past that I do not read comments written on online sites, where I do not have the ability to respond. It may sound strange to some because it follows that a writer should be able to read and even learn from some of their feedbacks, but it’s my prerogative, I write for myself and that is how I choose to roll. Mainly because I do not want what I write to be defined by a reaction I may have to an irrational response but rather based on my personal opinions. I do, however encourage my readers, who want me to see their comments and wish for me to respond to them, to reach me on Twitter, Facebook, my e-mail and through SMS on a line that is held by a third party. I choose to do so because I provide a service which I believe is in the public benefit and while I welcome constructive criticism, there is no way I will allow some prepubescent yob, who has not earned the platform to express themselves in the same way I have or some exasperated, chauvinistic and bigoted nonentity who skulks behind an outdated and grubby keyboard to derail my pure intentions for my people and my country. Only I define what, when and why I write. Inconspicuousness unshackles enmity, we’ve learned, and the customary online abuse riot undermines the complexity required to write opinion. But just as it is my prerogative not to open myself up to any unconstructive anonymous comments, it is the prerogative of the trolls who probably have nothing better to do, to continue trolling the internet. But this weekend, when I was in the zen mode I spoke about earlier, I did something that I don’t usually do. I went into a random blog, which I was not aware regularly published my articles, and I proceeded to read the comments that followed. While I found the negative and unconstructive comments comical and flippant, I was shocked that there were so many of them. The shock wasn’t so much about the negative comments that were said, it was more of an amusing surprise that little old me and my little old views typed on my little old laptop had so much power to envoke such strong emotions from strangers. I strangely found it quite empowering and even encouraging. As I read on, wrapped in this weird feeling of euphoria, there was

one particular comment from a young lady that caught my attention. Hers was one of the non hostile comments. In her comment, she came across nervous and unsure. Maybe wary of the group of hyenas that had huddled themselves in a herd ready to pounce on anyone who was pro-the writer. She spoke about her interest in writing but couldn’t bring herself to do it when she reads the kind of vitriol targeted at some of us collumnists on blogs. She must have been surprised when she got an annonymous reply asking her to follow @hanneymusawa on twitter. I’m sure she never really thought I was the one who had asked her to do so, but she did follow me on twitter. Through twitter, we were able to communicate through private messaging and eventually we got in contact with each other and spoke over the phone. From the conversation we had, she told me about the passion she has for writing but was too scared of being judged or writing the wrong thing. I asked her whether she thought that I ever considered that some of my writing might be wrong or wheather I believed that everything I wrote was right. To my surprise, she said that, because she sees a confidence and conviction whenever I write, she was convinced that I totally believed that whatever I wrote was right. I found that really amusing because, as I told her, I frequently second guess, not so much the way I write, but more the perspective I adopt in the topics I write about. One of the greatest lessons that my father taught me is that ‘perspective is reality’ and people usually only see the reality of things from the standpoint at which they are at. That’s why there’s always two or three sides to every story, because each perspective is a reality within itself. So he has always told me, in whatever situation I find myself, to try and look at the situation from the point of view and assessment of another person. Although I try to adopt that, not only in my writing, but in my everyday life, one is only human and can never always be right and one will always make mistakes. Of course as a columnist one is inclined to write things they believe in and are passionate about, but oftentimes, as I explained to the young lady, I find that it is midway an article that I surprise myself and find out what I really think about issues. There have been a few times when, it is after I have written on a certain subject that I then have a rethink and wished I had thought otherwise. I guess it is all part of the learning process in life. When one has been writing for as long as I have, which is well over a decade, one gets to a point where they dont always overthink about the effect of what they write. Confidence is a disguise most writers use for keeping up appearances and deadlines, after which, slumping on the sofa, one ponders on the source of such confidence. This, of course, has its way of leading one to crippling uncertainty. Which is all part of the motions most writers go through. And I told this young lady that I bet that even the best writers have experienced this. In terms of the concern this young lady had about being accurate about everything she wrote, I explained to her that, as a columnist, I find that it almost becomes a trend to digress and generalize because that is the nature of the beast. Unlike Scientists, the quantities don’t have to be exact. It doesn’t matter to most writers that there may be an equal number of female ‘professional’ chefs as male chefs in Nigeria. As long as the general belief that most chefs are males, then for the purpose of our columns, it is enough for us to generalize chefs as males. If she chooses to write, as long as she is careful not to be misleading or defamatory, certain generalization is expected. And as a Nigerian, as long as she upholds stadards that tradition

requires, heeds the family rule of what is appropriate for consumption, and is clever enough to select words that sneak past the sensitivities of an overly sensitive society, she will be alright. I told her that if she really wanted to be a writer, it would have to be something that she enjoyed and was committed to doing. For example, I explained to her that writing is not a profession to me but a hobby that I enjoy profusely. First and foremost, I am a Barrister and for me to write several weekly colums must be because I enjoy the art of expressing myself through writing. But of all the advice I gave her, the most important was for her not to allow anyone to define who she would be as a writer. If writing was what she wanted to do, she should never let the criticism define who she is or what she wanted to say. My initial advise to her was to do what I do and not read random and anonymous comments. But if she was one of those writers who was always curious about the feedback to her pieces, then as long as she has the clear conscience and passion to do a good public service, and she was scared of the reaction of trolls and haters, then she should use the negativity that she fears to motivate her and light the fire she needs to start writing. She should not let the people who will always be ready to belittle her by virture of her gender, appearance, race, tribe or age define her as a writer, or as anything else for that matter. I bet her that when she begins writing, no matter how negative a response she gets, as long as she is consistent and earnest, it will be the success and truth of her work and triumphs that will define her, not her detractors. And, even besides writing, I advised her that in life generally especially as a woman, she cannot let negativity define who she is as a person. Her life was provided to her by God, but it was put into her hands by God. Her decisions and her choices about her writing and the emotions that would be generated by the feedback she gets are hers and she shouldn’t give that power to anyone, just like I don’t. My conversation with this young lady was a good ending to a week that had began very hard for me. And instead of completely falling back into my shell, I did something out of the ordinary by reading comments from random sites, which I never do. And within that process I met, councelled and encouraged an extraordinary young lady, whom I hope to see very soon on the back of newspapers and on blogs. And eventhough she says I did a lot in giving her courage and confidence to start writing, I think the person who benefited more from our communication was me; because after speaking to this young lady, I had overcome and conquered the challenge that accidently brought me to a point where we began our communication. I wish her the best of luck and will always be here to advise and encourage people who wish to express themselves in a creative and positive manner and embolden them not to allow any negativity to distract them in anyway or define who they are. I hope my communication with this young lady inspires another young writer or anyone else in the way she moved me. I hope to see her name at the end of her articles very soon. Good luck to you sister. You know who you are… hopefully soon, so will everyone else.

Borno leads, other states follow, by Nigerian Ambassador to Israel HE non-discriminatory policy thrust of Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State, on religion came to the fore again in far away Israel. Commending the governor for his non-partisan disposition in the secularity of the nation, the Nigerian Ambassador to Israel, Mr. David Obasa, pointed out that the position of the governor is well noted in the Jewish nation as far as pilgrimage is concerned. The envoy, who was speaking in Jerusalem while addressing the 2014 pilgrims from Borno State, said the disposition of Governor Shettima in this regard has become a “watchword” and a point of reference worthy of emulation. According to him, “Borno leads, other states to follow.” Ambassador Obasa told the Borno contingent that since assumption of office in Israel, it has become his policy to address in person Nigerian pilgrimages. He, however, pointed out that because of the uniqueness of Borno contingent, he decided for the first time not only to come in person but to lead a delegation of his staff to see the non-discriminating Governor Kashim Shettima. Speaking on the security imbroglio ravaging Borno and beyond, the ambassador declared: “You are in the eye of the storm. Do not be discouraged. It is a phase that would pass”. He likened the Borno people to the three Hebrew children and Gideon who faced mighty odds but ultimately came out victorious, adding: “To you people of Borno, victory is certain”. Ambassador Obasa urged the pilgrims to be prayerful always and return to Borno as agents of change. Earlier, the leader of the Borno contigent, Mallam Ishiaku Shara, briefed the ambassador on the modalities of selection and composition of the pilgrims. According to Mallam Shara, who is also the State Commissioner for Inter -Governmental Affairs, the composition cuts across ethnicity and geographical boundaries. While almost all the tribes in Borno State are represented, the same applied to the representatives of other ethnic communities residing in Borno. Mallam Shara further explained that in constituting the composition of the contingent, all categories of people regardless of their status were considered. As a matter of fact, he pointed out that the haves and the have-nots in various sectors of the communities were placed on the same pedestal. To buttress his assertion, some members of the contingent consisting of professors, clerics, civil servants, representatives of various tribes in and outside the state were openly identified in the presence of Ambassador Obasa and his entourage. The Borno contingent made up of 325 pilgrims was divided into seven groups, each manned by government officials and a guide from the holy land. In order to strengthen their faith in Christ, the

• Shettima

Victor IZEKOR in Jerusalem pilgrims visited several places, especially historical sites captured in the New Testament dating back to 2000 years ago. In the words of Joseph Taba of TABAR Tours Ltd, the travel agency, which handled the airlifting of Borno pilgrims to Jerusalem, “We (Tabar Tours) want to be part of our vision, to tell each pilgrim the life story of Jesus from Nazareth, in our unique way and to give Christian pilgrims an unforgettable emotional experience”, adding: “Our motto is ‘Giving Pilgrims Spiritual Experience in the Holy Land”. Some of the places visited by the contingent included Mount Tabar, the Church of Transfiguration, Cana of Galilee, the Wedding Church, where Jesus performed His first miracle of turning water to wine; Mary’s Well, Church of Annunciation, where Angel Gabriel met virgin Mary; St. Joseph Church, Mount of the Beatitudes, where Jesus delivered the sermon on the mount; Tabgha, where Jesus fed 5,000 people; Church of Loaves and Fishes, Mensa Christy Church, where Jesus gave Peter the Primacy; Capernaum (the fishermen town that became Jesus’ new home), the ancient Synagogue where Jesus preached; the new church

above Peter’s house and the Jordan River, where John baptised Jesus. Also visited was the Great Sea, the Mediterranean, Mount Carmel (Muchraka) at the point where Prophet Elijah killed the prophets of Baal; Haifa (the cave where Elijah hid from Jezebel), the Camelite’s Church, the Benedictine Monastery built in 1142 is one of the most beautiful crusader structures in Israel, Ein Karem (the place of Zechariah and Elizabeth), Church of St. John the Baptist which, was built above the site of his birth, Church of Visitation where Mary and Elizabeth met, the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem built by Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine on the site that Jesus was born, St. Jerome Chapel and the Shepherd’s Field where the angels announced the birth of Christ. Similarly, the groups visited Jordan valley, the Dead Sea, Jericho( the Palm City),the site of the Sycamore tree, which Zacchaeus climbed to see Jesus Christ, Qumran, ( where the Dead Sea scrolls were discovered). The groups also visited Mount Olives, ( the best observation point over-looking Jerusalem), Church of Pater Noster, Church of Dominus Flevit, Church of Agony and the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus was arrested. The visit also took them to Mount Zion to see the Last Supper Room (Coenaculum), King David’s tomb and the Church of Dormition, where Mary fell asleep; Church of St. Peters in Gallicantu, Western Wall, which is the remnant of the wall surrounding the Temple Mount. The trip also took them to the Church of St. Anne and the pools of Bethesda. From Bethesda, the group walked the path Jesus took to His crucifixion – the Via Dolorasa. The journey started from the place of Jesus’ trial presided over by Pontus Pilate and the 14 stations of the Cross to the Golgata Hall, where Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher, built by Helena, was also visited by the group. In Israel, there was indeed unity of purpose among all members of the Borno contingent to the admiration of pilgrims from other parts of Nigeria. They all danced and prayed for peace in Nigeria and Borno in particular. They pleaded for God’s guidance and protection for Gov. Shettima, and peaceful conduct of the 2015 elections. To the glory of God, the pilgrims returned safely to Maiduguri on March 26 and 29, 2014 respectively. Some of the state functionaries on the trip included the Commissioner for Information and Home Affairs, Mr. Inuwa Bwala; Special Adviser to the Governor on Land Matters, Mr. Pela Chiroma and Chairman of Borno State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria(CAN), Dr. Titus Pana. •Victor Izekor wrote in from Jerusalem.

THE NATION SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 2014

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EMERGENCY/DISTRESS LINES

Call the police on the following numbers: Police Control Room One: Emergency/distress call telephone numbers: 07055350249; 07035068242; RRS Control Two: Alausa 0806399264 and 767 toll free line.

THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 2014

Olatunji OLOLADE, Assistant Editor

THE NATION SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 2014

Ruins of one of the Boko Haram attacks

THE NATION SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 2014

THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 2014

45 •CMS area of Lagos Island

•An aerial view of the city

•An overhead bridge at Fadeyi, Lagos

•Marina, Lagos

At night, the streets glow with beautiful solar-powered street lights. Aside giving the city beautiful images at night, the lights also keep men of the night at bay, giving night crawlers the opportunity to reclaim the longlost night life that made Lagos the envy of other cities in the 60s and 70s...

THIS IS

What I think of Lagos in particular is the Lagos I retained in my mind in the 1970s. But the then Lagos disconnects from the reality I see now and what I had in my mind as Lagos... I find Lagos overwhelming now; it just seems too much. So, I am having to re-learn, to readjust and I found Lagos to be far bigger than I remember from the 70s...

LAGOS!

OR Lagos, it has turned out that there is no short cut to transforming a city, except a shot of determination and commitment. Coming from a derogatory tag of a dirty city, Lagos, known to its admirers as the city of aquatic splendour, is gradually regaining its lost glory and wearing beautiful and modern looks. To underscore the transformation, a Nigerian neurologist, who had been away from the country for over three decades, returned recently and was shocked at the level of transformation the city he left behind had undergone. Michael Egbejumi-David, who was born in Lagos, had this to say about his shock: “I was born in Lagos and I grew up in the state. But I went to secondary school in what was then called Bendel State. What I think of Lagos in particular is the Lagos I retained in my mind in the 1970s. But the then Lagos disconnects from the reality I see now and what I had in my mind as Lagos because I was not coming home as frequently as I should. “I think I am sort of paying for that in some sense. For instance, I find Lagos overwhelming now; it just seems too much. So, I am having to re-learn, to readjust and I found Lagos to be far bigger than I remember from the 70s.” Egbejumi-David is not the only one to have expressed pleasant surprise at the good turn-around in Lagos’ fortune. Adejoke Akinlola has lived in the United Kingdom for about 10 years now. She was in Nigeria for the first time last year after staying away for a long period. Her friend, with whom she would stay with, lives in the Lekki area of the city. And from the airport, Adejoke kept mar-

n Gbenga ADERANTI n and Segun AJIBOYE

velling and asking her friend one particular question: ‘Ah! This place has changed. When did they do this?’ Each time she asked the question, her friend, Chioma, would simply smile and remain silent. As their car drove through the city and approached the Lekki toll gate, Adejoke could no longer contain her surprise, as she retorted: “Lagos has really changed. Everywhere is wearing new looks and the roads are good.” From Oshodi to Ikeja, Marina to Lekki and other choice places across the city, testimonies are flowing in everyday over the new-found hope for a better Lagos. And the state government, in partnership with private organisations, is in a race against time to ensure that the trend continues and extends to all the nooks and crannies of the city. Though many have agreed that much still has to be done, especially in the suburbs, to completely make Lagos the dream city, the consensus has, however, been that Lagos is gradually regaining its lost glory, with the rate of transformation going on in places like the Central Lagos, Ikeja, Ajah and Oshodi, among others. Particularly interesting are the Marina and Lekki axis of the city. The roads are well-paved with sidewalks and drainage channels on both sides. They are kept clean both night and day by sweepers who run double shifts to make sure that the roads remain

clean. Paul Okonkwo was born in the old Maroko area of Lagos. Together with his family, Paul was uprooted from the area by the military government in the mid-80s. He later moved abroad to seek greener pastures. Recently, Paul returned to Nigeria and was curious to see his birth place once again. But much as he tried, he could not locate the exact place where his old community used to be. “This is serious. Most of the constructions are very new to me. Despite being born in the area, I was not able to identify any particular old landmark. This is really beautiful.” At night, the streets glow with beautiful solarpowered street lights. Aside giving the city beautiful images at night, the lights also keep men of the night at bay, giving night crawlers the opportunity to reclaim the long-lost night life that made Lagos the envy of other cities in the 60s and 70s. Beautifully constructed flyovers now adorn major highways across the state. Unlike in times past, the physically-challenged people are not left out of the consideration in the construction of the new flyovers, with special area built to accommodate their wheelchairs. Explaining the trend in a recent interview, the state Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, said: “Lagos residents are living witnesses to the state’s urban renewal project. That is what the administration of Governor Babatunde Fashola has been doing in the last three years to overhaul Lagos inner-city roads. It is a

aP c s Y it

multi-pronged strategy designed to make domestic trips enjoyable in the metropolis; drain water off the streets when it rains heavily and provide other road users, especially pedestrians, walkways in order to reduce cases of accidents.” The transformation actually started in 1999 when Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, which had the arduous task of re-building the ruins left behind by 16 years of military inerregnum, laid a solid foundation for the mega status of Nigeria’s commercial capital city. It is upon this foundation which Mr Fashola, who was former governor’s Chief of Staff during the second term (2003 - 2007), has been building with incredible vigour. To an average resident of Lagos, the Oshodi area of the city used to connote fear and danger, as street urchins, also known as area boys, armed robbers, pick-pockets and other men and women of shady characters reigned supreme. Their law was the order, irrespective of the time of the day. Every day, the activities of the area boys caused traffic gridlocks in Oshodi, leaving motorists stranded for hours. It was also common for unexplained fights to break out, leaving unsuspecting and innocent passers-by at the receiving end. But all that is now history. Oshodi, the once notorious hotbed of Lagos, has assumed a new status. With a large part of the bad spots reclaimed and turned into a beautiful park- the Heritage Park- by the state government, Oshodi has gone from an area noted for cult wars, bag snatchers and armed robbery to a tourists’ destination where you can take your family to for a weekend treat. Welcome to new Lagos!

•Victoria Island area at night

•Lekki toll gate

Continued on page 38

THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 2014

Pg 32

Pg 30

Inside The

Glass House WITH AMINU MAIGARI

L a L i g a Ta b l e

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE

•Hernandez

Premiership Top scorers

AKINLOYE

AT LARGE

08050246155 atlarge84@yahoo.com

GOLFLINE

with

Tony Akhigbe golflineintl@yahoo.com 08056180071

Saturday, April 5, 2014

PAGE 36

McIlroy

READY TO FILL

Tiger Woods'

void at Masters R ORY MCILROY has insisted he is ready to fill the gaping void left by an injured Tiger Woods when the year's first major kicks off at Augusta National next week. Woods, 38, announced on Tuesday that he would miss the Masters for the first time since 1994 after he underwent successful surgery on a pinched nerve in his lower back, an injury he sustained during the final round of this year's Honda Classic, forcing him to withdraw with just five holes of the tournament left to play. As has always been the case with the 14-time major winner since his extraordinary, record-breaking 12shot victory on his professional Masters debut in 1997, whenever he's absent from a PGA Tour event, the interest around the world is diminished slightly. However, after McIlroy announced himself as golf's next superstar with an eight-shot victory in the 2011 US Open before following it up with his second major win - by the same distance - at the 2012 USPGA Championship at Kiawah Island, he claims he is now ready to step into Woods's shoes. "Golf's a funny place at the minute. You are getting so many different winners and there are not as many guys dominating the sport like in the past like Tiger, Vijay Singh and Phil Mickelson," he told BBC Sport. "I'd like to establish myself as that sort of player. Someone's got to step up, so I'm trying to be that person and it would be a great place to start next week." Ever since he became the youngest two-time major winner - beating a record set by his good friend Woods - the expectation on McIlroy has skyrocketed, an expectation he's not always been able to manage. Last season was one to forget for the McIlroy, after an equipment change as part of his multimillion pound sponsorship with Nike coupled with two legal battles against his former management company and Oakley took their toll on the course.

â&#x20AC;˘McIlroy

Mickelson set to return at Houston Open

P â&#x20AC;˘Mickelson

HIL MICKELSON announced on his website that he's recovered from a muscle strain and is ready to play in this week's Houston Open. The four-time major winner, who withdrew from last week's Texas Open after pulling a muscle in his right side, said he'll play in the $6.4-million event after two days of "light practice" at Augusta National, site of next week's Masters. Mickelson, who won the Houston

Open in 2011, didn't play in the pro-am on Wednesday. That fueled speculation that he might withdraw, though tournament director Steve Timms said Mickelson was already scheduled to take part in a sponsor dinner instead. Mickelson's return to the Golf Club of Houston - formerly known as Redstone Golf Club - highlights a stellar field that features the winners of 34 major championships.

Park returns to spot where magical run began

ORLD No 1 Park In-Bee returns for the first of her three major title defences this season seeking a first victory this year at the LPGA Kraft Nabisco Championship. After her stunning 2013 campaign, Park has yet to win on the LPGA tour in 2014, but she has posted four successive top-10 finishes and won a Ladies European

Tour title at the World Ladies Championship in China in March. Although she hasn't broken through for an LPGA win so far this year, the 25year-old South Korean leads the tour in scoring average (69.25), rounds under par (14) and rounds in the 60s (8). Park will be trying to become the first player since Swedish great Annika

Sorenstam in 2001 and 2002 to earn back-to-back Kraft Nabisco titles. She captured the second major title of her career here last year with a final-round 69 on the Dinah Shore Tournament Course at Mission Hills Country Club that gave her a four-stroke triumph over compatriot Ryu So-Yeon. It proved the springboard

to a spectacular 2013. Her six victories included the first three majors of the season. Although she couldn't keep it going at the fourth, the Women's British Open, Park's string of top-10s seems to signal a return to the consistency that pushed her to the top of the world rankings.

David Mark @66

HE Senate President, David Mark, has got a long standing history with the game of golf. Anywhere the man goes, he simply crosses paths with the game. Not only in Nigeria, but elsewhere across the globe. Especially in Ghana where he frequently plays with the revered Ashanti. They call David Mark the Okpokpowulu K'Idoma. Don't try to pronounce this hence you bite your tongue. But the jaw-twisting phrase simply means Leader of war, even at peace time, or the Bulldozer. The Bulldozer will scare hell out of anyone. David Mark, the Bulldozer? It could be yes. It could be No. Hear this from me. On the golf course, David Mark is not anything close to a Bull not to make mention of a Dozer. The man's mien on the course is like that of a Dove. He's so quiet you could hardly hear him when he talks. And yes, he has got the same quiet smile for everyone on course, be you a Billionaire or a Caddie. The first time I saw David Mark play golf was at the Abeokuta Golf Club. The course was newly built at the time and it was hell playing on it. The grass on the course had not yet come up and there were rocky places in many areas. On top of this, you would still have to climb several steps just to announce your arrival at the Clubhouse which at the time looked like a Shelter that could only ward off rain and sun. And this was the almighty Communication Minister at the time. You would think what the hell. But the man loved it. He was coming back again and again. And he was sponsoring huge tourneys on behalf of the Communications Ministry. I got close to David Mark and his golf when he was newly voted to represent Benue South in the Senate. It was at the pavillion of the IBB Golf Club in Abuja. I told him I wanted an interview and he simply offered that easy smile that wouldn't tell you a thing. He said some other time. He gave a date. On the day, the rains poured. I told myself the man would dare not enter the course under such terrible weather. I was wrong. When I arrived the club, the Senator was already playing. He was not alone. His wife, Helen was playing with him. When they arrived the 18th Green, both hubby and wife were completely drenched. I felt for them. I wanted to put off the interview. He merely smiled and said: "Tony I will just change and join you". Moments later, he did. We talked about Golf. Then we talked little politics. Then he showed a little sign of pity when he mentioned a dirty operation where soldiers under General Sani Abacha were ordered to burn down his ranch which was home to some 15,000 grass-cutters. All burnt down. Again, showing this sign of pity, he added: "At the time, I had the largest grasscutter farm in West Africa. They burnt everything. And I was in exile. So, I wouldn't know why they did this". Well, the burnt ranch is now home to a full-blown 18 hole course know as St. Marks Golf and Country Club, Akpegede, Otukpo. The minute the St. Mark course came into place, David Mark began in a new mission... that of taking the game of golf to the youths. An academy was qucikly put in a place with a Ghanaian golf teacher in tow. Kids from age 8 were quickly introduced to the game on the condition that they don't miss school. And it could be too good to be true. Those in school were still placed on scholarship. The whole thing is in place today. And there is a bountiful harvest to reap here. Till date, Benue produces the best golfers in the country. From age 14, you could see the young lads swinging it smooth like Tiger Woods would do. The Senate President used to be a 8-handicapper. That was before soft spikes. No titanium, no matched graphite, no range of flexes. Today, fully equipped with the latest technology, you can't really pick his handicapper. Some say the Senator loves to keep his handicap in hiding just in case a 'jamming-jamming' could be on the way. Truth is David Mark could hit the ball fat, he could get out of sand traps and he hardly three-putt. Practice could his problem. He must hate it. He must be allergic. Through the years I have followed his golf, I have never seen him on the Range. Yet he plays beautifully so well. Then I saw the Bulldozer in a fit of anger once. His Otukpo team, close to 100 headed to Accra for an International Matchplay with Achimota Golf Club. We arrived Accra after midnight. With little sleep, the team was prepared to carry out all programmes. First on the list was a sight-seeing across Accra. The golfers were already loaded in three buses when a call came through. It was from Abuja residence of the Senate President. He simply ordered that the Sight-seeing be cancelled and all players should head for the course for a rigorous Practice session. He gave his reasons. He said he just got some security reports that the Achimota team was fully prepared to ridicule the Otukpo team. The Senate President would not want any of this. Alas the worst happened. Achimota won .But the Senate President won his game against the Great Ashanti. There were several youngsters from Otukpo. So where was the soft middle that led to the ridiculous defeat. Hear the Senate President: "Tony, the big men at IBB Golf Club that I took to Ghana let us down. Rather than focus on the match at hand, they took the whole thing as a joke. It wasn't meant to be a joke". This time, the Senate President did not offer his trademark smile. I saw flashes in his eyes... flashes that reminds you of those bomb-throwing Talibans. I did a rethink. Could the Bulldozer thing be real? Senate President David Mark will turn 66 on April 8. A N10 million ProAm will play out at thee St Mark Akpegede golf course in Otukpo to celebrate this icon. A ten million naira Pro-am tournament will at the St. Mark Golf Course Utukpo between April 16 and 19 to commemorate the birthday celebration.

THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 2014

THE NATION SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 2014

with KAYODE ALFRED E-mail:kayflex2@yahoo.com Tel:08116759807

THE NATION SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 2014

41 with KAYODE ALFRED

E-mail:kayflex2@yahoo.com TEL:08116759807

Rochas M Okorocha in a joyous mood ambience of their parents' abode as they always seen in a cheerful mode. Celeb Watch gathered that the proud father of the twins, Uche Nwosu, who is the State Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Urban Development, had wished for the twins before their arrival. The twins were dedicated to God penultimate Sunday.

hese are joyous moments for the ebullient Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha. This, however, has nothing to do with politics. It is a domestic affair. Uloma Nwosu, his beautiful daughter, was delivered of a set of twins recently. The bundles of joy, Nafanna and Jidechi, are illuminating the

inority Whip in the Senate, Sen. Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon, dazzled many penultimate Monday during the graduation ceremony for the vocational training and youth empowerment programme he organised at the Blue Roof, Lagos Television, Agidingbi, Ikeja. About persons had undergone training in vocations such as barbing, dish installation, bead making, shoe making, knitting, hair styling, fashion designing, costume and make up. Consulting firm, Stable Technology, under the leadership of Olukayode Amos, took the beneficiaries through the rudiments of their chosen vocations at the two centres of Mushin and

Ganiyu Solomon adds value

Satellite town. The beneficiaries, apart from going through training in the vocations of their choice, were paid transport fare of N1,000 each daily and given free lunch for the entire duration of the training programme, courtesy of Sen. Solomon . Beneficiaries came from all over Lagos. The graduation was also the avenue for the Senator to distribute working tools and take-off cash to the beneficiaries.

About Akanni Okoya's love for the less-privileged

f there is one thing you can't take away from popular businessman and veteran socialite, Alhaji Rasaq Akanni Okoya, it's his love for the less-privileged. The Aare of Lagos and Bobajiroro of Oke Ona-Egba is one of a few rich Nigerians who spare a thought for the poor. Every Friday, the billionaire businessman throws the gates of his Oluwa Ni Nsola Estate, Ajah, Lagos open for more than 200 people to eat free lunch. Celeb Watch gathered that reaching out to the masses is one of the things that make the legendary fun-loving Lagos High chief happy. Now in his 70s, the ever-smiling billionaire is quieter these days as he ages gracefully.

Funso Amosun to chair maiden edition of Miss Awelewa pageant

ike a dome of multi-coloured glasses, Citi Hotel & Suites in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, will soon bristle in excitement owing to the calibre of guests that will attend the maiden edition of Miss Awelewa beauty pagent. Mrs. Olufunso Amosun, the wife of Ogun State governor, is expected to chair the maiden edition of the competition, which has been scheduled to hold on Monday, April 21, 2014. The event, which is being put together by Ogun State's leading celebrity magazine, Ijebu News Xtra, is to involve eligible female students from all tertiary institutions in the state. Other dignitaries billed to grace the occasion include Otunba Seyi Oduntan, a top corporate player; developmental economist and politician, Segun Oyebolu; founder, Feed The Elderly Foundation, Giwa Sunday Osifeso; the Chief Executive Officer of Timberland Nigeria Enterprises; producer of Kerewa Herbal Bitter Gin, Bolu Owotomo,

who is also co-founder and Managing Director, Bellwether Capital Management Limited, among others. Dayo Rufai, the coordinator of the event, said the aim of the pageant contest is to promote the cultural heritage of the state, enhance the development of social life of the youth and to encourage a healthy competition among upcoming models in the state. According to him, there are other activities lined up for the benefits of the contestants. They will be visiting various tourist centers in Ijebuland as well as attend seminars bordering on major topical issues confronting women in our society. The auditioning for the event will take place next Saturday at Conference Hotel, Ijebu-Ode. The winner is to be rewarded with an all-expense paid return trip to the United Kingdom and 32inches LCD Television. Many other fantastic prizes are to be won.

Obasanjo, Aborisade become in-laws soon

n the next few weeks, Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, will play host to a galaxy of celebrities, colourful politicians and high net-worth individuals as they converge for the wedding of Damilola Obasanjo, daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. She will be getting married to Temitope Borisade, the son of Prof. Babalola Borisade, former Minister of Aviation. According to those who should know, the wedding will take place at Obasanjo's residence in Abeokuta. The who-is-who in the country are preparing so much for the wedding which will take place on the 9th and 10th of May, 2014. The bride works with Shell Petroleum, having obtained her first and second degrees from a university in the United States where she studied Chemical Engineering. The young handsome groom is an accountant by profession. He had his first degree at the Obafemi Awolowo University, before he proceeded to Chicago, United States, for his masters' degree. The lovebirds met some years ago in the U.S. As you read this, Obasanjo's residence is heaving with excitement. Almost everybody in the household has entered into high gear in order to appear at their best on the DDay.

SOCIETY

THE NATION SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 2014

Indigenous firm honoured as oil chiefs gather for dinner HE array of dignitaries at the swimming pool side of the luxurious Sheraton Hotel and Tower, Abuja, in the evening of Wednesday, March 19, 2014, underscored the importance of the event—a dinner party to mark the end of the 2014 edition of the seminar of the Nigeria Oil and Gas (NOG), a forum of major players in the oil and gas industry. The annual event was held at the instance of the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). This year's edition attracted local and international decision makers in the oil and gas sector and featured speakers, participating companies and exhibitors from the entire oil and gas value chain. The seminar/dinner featured captains of the oil and gas industry, led by the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Engr. Andy Yakubu, and the Leader of NOG, Mr. Alirio Parna. Other dignitaries at the event included the Group Executive Director, Finance and Accounts, NNPC, Mr. Bernard Oti; Group Executive Director, Gas, NNPC, Dr. David Ige; Managing Director of Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), Mr. Insulla Massimo and the Finance Director, Nigeria and Gabon of Shell Petroleum Development Company, Mr. Guy Jonssens, who represented the Managing Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu. Others at the event included the Director, Sahara Energy, Chief Tonye Cole; a member of the board of NNPC, Engr Abdullah Bukar and his wife, Hajiya Rakiya Bukar; Executive Director, Fenog Nigeria Limited (FNL), Mr. Mathew Tonlagha; Chief Executive Officer, Marine Platforms, Taofeek Adegbite; General Manager, Material, NAPIMS, Mr. Luke Anele, and Managing Director, ARCO Petrochemical Company, Mr. Alfred Okoigun, among other leading players in the nation's oil and gas industry. Major players in the finance and banking sector were not left out. They were led by the Managing Director of the United Bank for Africa, UBA, Mr. Phillips Oduoza. The dinner party climaxed with NOG's recognition of Fenog, a wholly Nigerian oil servicing company, as the Indigenous Company of the Year in the oil and gas sector. The Director, Gas, TOTAL, Mr. Bunmi Obembe, presented the plaque for the award to the Executive Director of the company, Mr. Mathew Tonlagha. According to NOG, Fenog was given the award in recognition of its "innovation and excellence" in the oil and gas industry. Tonlagha, in his remarks, dedicated the award to God, President Goodluck Jonathan and the Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Mrs. Deziani Alison-Madueke. He described the President and the minister "as unrepentant supporters of local content in the oil industry." He said their support and encouragement served as catalysts for the local companies to strive for excellence in a sector hitherto dominated by foreign players. He also praised the NNPC, which he described as the "mentor and motivator of Fenog" in the quest to attain greater heights and compete favourably with foreign players.

Tonlagha said: "The IOCs, especially Shell, Chevron, NAOC (Agip), Total and others have done so well to encourage the indigenous oil and gas companies. We thank them for their support and encouragement but they can do better and they can do more. "We cannot also underestimate the roles of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, especially its Executive Secretary, Engineer Ernest Nwapa, in the breakthrough recorded by indigenous oil firms, including Fenog. We are very grateful to the board and other critical stakeholders in the oil and gas industry." Besides its award, the company's stand at the exhibition of NOG's seminar was the cynosure of all eyes. Participants trooped to the stand to be briefed about its success story during the three-day seminar. Officials of the company also distinguished themselves in the course of the seminar. A presentation by Fenog's Engineering Manager, Engineer Osimen Iruansi, titled, "Pipeline Protection by CHDD Installation," drew commendation by participants. Fenog's General Manager, Mr. Chukwudi Uwakwe, also performed remarkably during a panel discussion on "Reviewing the successes of the Nigerian Content Act at the end of its third year and examining necessary next steps." His contribution was applauded by participants. A member of the organising committee of the NOG seminar said: “As a pioneer user of CHDD rigs, Fenog had joined forces with the governments and other stakeholders in the task of eliminating sharp practices associated with crude oil, especially illegal oil bunkering and pipeline vandalisation,” the member said, pleading anonymity. To sustain its innovative local content strides, Fenog had seven HDD rigs in the categories of PD 150, 250, 350 and 500 HDD rigs as well as an Offshore and Deep Water Barge (Akpevweoghene), with the capacity to lay pipes from 2" to 60" offshore/deepwater. The latest of the HDD technology acquired by the company is PD 350 HHD rig designed to Fenog's management specifications by the German manufacturers. In addition to its installed drilling capacity, PD 350 HDD rig has other inherent values over PD500 HDD rig. Tonlagha said: "PD350 HDD rig is different because we call it a versatile rig. Apart from the normal drilling which every other rig can do, it is also used for pulling, pushing, thrust-boring, tunneling and it has the ability to grab and push and overcome any force. "The operation of PD 350 HDD rig is allencompassing. It is the first of its kind in the whole world. We (Fenog) told the manufacturers what they would do for us and they came up with it and it is the latest of the HDD technology." With the CHDD rigs, Fenog has recorded many milestones in underground pipelaying. The latest of the breakthrough was recorded on Thursday, March 13, 2014, when it successfully laid 20" pipes across 3.49-kilometre river in the Amukpe/Escravos pipeline project awarded by an oil major. It was gathered that the company achieved the pioneering feat within six weeks.

•From left: The Group Managing Director, United Bank for Africa, Mr. Philips Oduoza; Director, Sahara Energy, Mr. Tonye Cole and the representative of the MD of Shell Petroleum Development Company, who is also the Director, Finance, Shell Nigeria and Gabon, Mr Guy Jonssens

•The Director, Gas, Total Oil, Mr. Bunmi Obembe (right) presenting the award to the Executive Director, Fenog Nigeria Limited, Mr. Mathew Tonlagha

•The Group Managing Director, NNPC, Engr. Andy Yakubu (left), congratulates Tonlagha, as other guests watch in admiration

•The Managing Director, Agip Nigeria Oil Company, Mr. Insulla Massimo (left), discussing with the Group Executive Director, Finance and Account, NNPC, Mr. Bernard Oti (middle) and the Group Managing Director, NNPC, Engr. Andy Yakubu at the event

•From left: The Group Executive Director, Gas, NNPC, Dr. David Ige; a member of NNPC board, Alhaji Abdullah Bukar, and his wife, Hajiya Rakiya

THE NATION SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 2014

TRIBUTE

The Orator’s last bow (for Columbus Chukwujindu Ihekaibeya, 1942-2004) o two acts could have been more dramatic in their tragic coincidence. I was halfway through Biodun Jeyifo’s powerful elegy for Tunde Sawyer, his former classmate at the University of Ibadan (The Nation, Jan. 12), when the obituary notice of yet another highly remarkable UI alumnus popped up in my email box. This notice came from Professor Chukwuma Azuonye, the noted scholar and teacher, and it is about no other person than Chuks Ihekaibeya, our mutual friend, and my classmate and valuable colleague at the Universities of Ibadan and Leeds in the late sixties and early seventies respectively. These two mortuary notes sent me into a reflective spin. Jeyifo’s “departure lounge” metaphor and its memento mori implications; his eloquent, nostalgia-inducing recall of intellectual life at the University of Ibadan in the 1960s; his exposure of Nigeria (for the umpteenth time) as that Hobbesian jungle where life is short and nasty and brutish; his characteristically cerebral but tender and humane representation of our human condition – all this in remembrance of a dear friend and the indictment of a country which never fails its citizens in its infliction of untimely ‘departures’. Azuonye’s obituary notice is a celebration of Ihekaibeya and an impressively meticulous documentation of his achievements as student, scholar, and officer of the Commonwealth. Azuonye’s own mail hurtled me down the proverbial memory lane, and my mind wound back the reel on the deck of time. The year was 1970. The Nigerian (un)civil war had just ended. The air was rent with shouts of: “ONE NIGERIA. NO VICTOR, NO VANQUISHED”. But one brief, conscientious look at our war-weary, battle-bruised returneecolleagues was enough to punch a hole in that slogan wide enough to swallow a mortar tank. The moods of many of these returnees ranged from despondent to defiant, bitter to buoyant, but overall, what I noticed was a burning hunger to catch up on everything, to recover some of the lost time, to learn, to love, to live again. No time, no money for fancy wardrobes and expensive perfumes. Some of the shoes pounding the campus pavements were worn right to the heels. Occasional chants of ‘HAPPY SURVIVAL!’ interrupted the somber silence whenever long-separated former friends ran into each other again, and the ensuing hours were clamorous with narrations and enactments of all kinds of war sagas. It was a sober, even belittling experience for many returnees who were now nothing more than classmates with those who were still in high school at a time before the war when the ‘new’ arrivals were already undergraduates. Many of the returnees needed a more than usual lightness of spirit to bear this unfortunate demotion; others reached out with stubborn courage. Two of my most memorable colleagues in Tedder Hall, Frank and Aloysius Nwosu, one now a doctor, the other a renowned agriculturist, embodied these two ideals. Frank was brilliant, funny, and fabulous; Aloysius was intensely affable and witty. I reveled in their company as I teased them with literary terms and they responded with all kinds of scientific arcana. In my private moments I couldn’t help wondering where these bright men would then have been had the war not intruded. It was in these sobering circumstances that Chuks and I discovered each other. In the first few weeks of class, I had noticed this bearded, fair-faced man who carried himself with the deliberate aplomb of a book-bound guru. For, everywhere Chuks went, there was always a book in his hand. Initially, he smiled but little, talked even less, but as time went on and the pains of the war began to wear, Chuks began to smile – that broad, generous, and utterly disarming smile that lit up his face and offered access to the light that perennially shone in his soul. It was impossible to encounter Chuks without being touched by his boundless vivacity and intensely reflective proclivity. Virtually every time we met, it was book talk, lecture talk, discourse over the new literary theory or concept or expression – or heady disputation over the vocabulary of the English language. Hard-nosed grammarian and doctor of diction, Chuks waxed vigorous in our after-lecture ‘quarrels’ over dangling participles and their unpardonable damage to the health of English syntax; the semantic perils in almost like-sounding but differentmeaning pairs such as ‘official and officious’, ‘effect and affect’; ‘considerable and considerate’; ‘simple and simplistic’, etc. We even split hairs over the grammatical difference between ‘enquiry’ and ‘inquiry’; the differential syntactic positioning/implications of ‘due to’ and ‘owing to’; and ridiculed the intolerable redundancy in such expressions as ‘can be able to do it’ and ‘should in case’. In our second undergraduate year, some kind of occasional sparring sessions developed between Chuks, myself, Akanji Nasiru, a close friend of mine, and a versatile, unobtrusively intelligent fellow, and Terimi Adekunle Jimoh (also now late, alas!), a deep, immensely literate bookworm. ‘University Wits’ of a fledgling but ambitious breed, we raided world literature from Sophocles to Soyinka; from Hardy to Achebe; from Chaucer to JP Clark. The book was our brief, the pursuit of knowledge our ardent desire, the attainment of academic excellence our quenchless passion. Chuks was some kind of literary omnibus, at home in all the genres. But he and I had an uncommon fascination with the metaphysical poets. (Forgive my pathetic confession: up till now, I haven’t succeeded in ridding myself of my own Donne Disease). I remember one evening in 1971 at the famous Faculty of Arts courtyard, when Chuks and I decided to wage a battle of minds over the metaphysical poets. We spent about two hours ranging over Donne’s Euclidian tropes, his astonishingly captivating conceits, and the brave theatricality of his love poems. Then, in the tail end of the battle, Chuks mentioned a particularly fetching phrase. ‘From Theodore Redpath’, I said. ‘Ah, you’ve read him?’, Chuks asked, his face a shining book of surprise and inquisitive delight. Chuks stretched out his hand for me to shake, as if we were meeting for the first time. That handshake went beyond the elbow, in a manner of speaking, as the two fledgling scholars locked in collegial embrace. For the next 40 years Chuks and I never met without some mention of that Eureka

and his travails in the solitary confinement unit of General Gowon’s prison. The second episode occurred on March 12, 1974, (alas, exactly 40 years ago today!). Again, it was Chuks on a visit to me at Bodington Hall; only this time, he was not alone. Again, that gentle knock on the door, and behind it was Chucks with some five or six other colleagues in tow. As I opened the door, a chorus of ‘Happy Birthday!’ surprised my ears. It was they who actually reminded me, for I hardly ever remember my birthday! My new Akai stereo set went to work, and for the next two hours, we gyrated to the compelling rhythms of reggae and highlife. Half-way through the jollification, Chuks cleared his throat and said, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, a gift for Niyi’. The loudspeakers went silent; the dancing crowd became expectant. Whereupon the Orator brought out (again, from his coat pocket!) a neatly folded yellow piece of paper from which he read ‘Crimson Moments’, a poem he had composed for my birthday and typed up on his new small typewriter. (A few weeks before, Chuks had celebrated the purchase of that typewriter, an Olivetti, if my memory serves me right, as his initiation into the esteemed kingdom of writing). The audience exploded in admiration. Chuks and I were locked in cordial embrace. We both knew my gratitude was beyond words. . . . I have carried that poem with me ever since. Its echo hovered over my consciousness as I composed ‘Birth Day’, one of the poems in Days, my book of poems published in 2007, and that particular poem was dedicated to Chuks Ihekaibeya and memories of • Entrance to UI... where ‘Crimson Moments’. the journey started But Chuks was no joyless nerd and shriveled book shrimp. He was a rounded human being who cherished the plenitude of life. If Chuks’ smile was disarming, his laughter was lungful and robustly infectious. The Orator knew his way to the highest reaches of elocution, but he also knew how to mine lowly dialects for their pithiness and earthy humour. He was clourful, demonstrably colourful, but never flashy; sociable without being noisily gregarious. His was a life devoted to the methods of the mind, the priceless treasure of quiet moments. Hence he chose his company judiciously. Two of the people he introduced to me in our first two weeks in Leeds were Gaius Anoka, the famous Thespian and very pleasant human being, and Ogbonnah Agbai, a witty and humorous fellow who had also just arrived in Leeds for a degree in Geology. He was Chuks’ junior in high school and displayed reverential awe for his former senior’s character and oratorical prowess. Ogbonnah and I were age-mates and constantly traded age-mate jokes. Chuks renewed his acquaintanceship with Siyan Malomo, my close friend and our mutual colleague from Ibadan, who was on then Vice chancellor of UI, after that famous psychiatrist’s winning graduate studies in Geology. of the Haile Selassie Award. It was a solo effort, astonishing in its Chuks loved music generally and reggae with a passion. He and initiation, masterful in its delivery, and overwhelming in its lasting I used to comb the music store at Chapel Town in the West Indian effect. An overflowing Trenchard Hall watched and cheered as district of Leeds for the latest sounds from the Caribbean. We fell in Chuks enacted the most memorable performance in his university instant love with The World Needs Love by The Pioneers and career. His fame spread on the university campus, and he quickly Jimmy Cliff’s The Harder They Come. Chuks loved dancing, very won a place on UI’s team to the next edition of the inter-university much as I too did, and I was never tired of teasing him about his debate between UI and the University of Ghana, Legon. Chuks dancing style which was something close to a mix of the gallopy graduated as one of the best students in the 1972 set, and the next reggae stride and the shoulder-shaking athleticism of Atilogu. And field of action shifted to the University of Leeds, one of England’s almost invariably, he replied by mocking my waist-wiggling top institutions. moves. Quite often, we concluded our entertainment session with a As Fate - or Good Fortune - would have it, Chuks and I arrived cerebral analysis of the lyrics of the songs as if we were back once in Leeds within one day of each other in September 1973, he on a again in Dan Izevbaye’s poetry appreciation classes at UI! Commonwealth scholarship, and I on one provided by the I returned to Ibadan in September 1974 to begin my career as a University of Ibadan. It was at this fascinating citadel of learning university teacher. Chuks and I corresponded vigorously in the first that our relationship became closer and our appreciation of each few months before life despatched us on its different trajectories. other received a tremendous boost. On our first day on the Leeds Thereafter, our correspondence became less frequent, then went University campus, Chuks and I surveyed the buildings in their into many years of hiatus. But it wasn’t total silence. I remember majestic serenity, tracing the footprints of Wole Soyinka, Ngugi wa our afternoon together in London in December 1986 when I was in Thion’go, Ime Ikiddeh, and other notable African forerunners and the UK to receive the Commonwealth Poetry Prize. Older, mellowauthors of what is now called the ‘Africa-Leeds Connection’, and er, and wiser now, Chuks and I went over our usual fare: literature, we swore to avail ourselves to the fullest of the generous facilities music, philosophy, and politics. We pondered over the conundrum provided by our new university. We both realized that although called Life and its Eshu-like vicissitudes. And more than ever Leeds was new, it sprang no notable surprise in its physical strucbefore, my friend and I agonized over the perennial delinquency of ture, curricular content and general academic culture, for our our country Nigeria and our continent Africa, and the problems of undergraduate education at UI had equipped us with the capacity being black in a world in which that colour still stinks like a disfor excelling at any other first-rate university in the world. abling blemish. Our second contact was official and indirect: I was Yes, even on that first day, Chuks and I did it ‘the Ibadan way’. As we regaled each other with tales of our Lagos-London flight (the so delighted in November 1999 to receive a letter signed by Chuks in his capacity as Special Assistant to Chief Emeka Anyaoku to first flight experience for both of us), Chuks dug his hand into his whom I had copied my petition to the British Ambassador to the coat pocket and whipped out a poem he had written about the United States regarding a bungled entry visa application issue. A flight. I complemented his effort with one that I too had composed couple of months later Chuks and I met at the Murtala while on board. Neither of us was surprised at this coincidence. Chuks’ lines were purple and poignant (as usual); mine were full of Mohammed Airport where he introduced me personally to the affable Secretary-General of the Commonwealth. I was hardly survisual images and oriki-tenored tropes. Each of us had something prised to see that Chuks had become a respected Commonwealth to say about the prophetic hubris of Icarus, though we were grateofficial; for in addition to his literary and intellectual acumen, the art ful we did not return to earth in a hail of ashes. Some self-congratuand act of diplomacy came to him as a natural asset. In later years lation and mutual back-slapping rewarded our readings, as did he became a Commonwealth envoy and much-demanded point quite a bit of close interpretation and Leavis-esque criticism. This man. Our last correspondence took place a couple of months ago, creative and intellectual exchange characterized and strengthened and it carried Chuks’ characteristically perspicacious and eloquent our friendship throughout my time in Leeds. It was impossible to response to my 2012 Save Nigeria Group (SNG) lecture in Lagos. keep Chuks’ company and remain intellectually inactive. We had agreed to reconnect physically again, and I was thinking of Let me summon two brief anecdotes to the aid of this assertion. this happening the next time I was in the UK. And then, last week, Early one morning in February 1974, I was still trying to clear my that highly moving obituary notice from Chukwuma Azuonye. . . . eyes of the debris of slumber when a gentle knock unsilenced my Cerebral, well spoken, urbane, and consistently humane, door. It was Chuks on an urgent literary visit to me in my little Columbus Chukwujindu Ihekaibeya was an accomplished human room in Hey House, Bodington Hall, some one-and-half miles being with a global soul. He strove for excellence in everything he from where he resided. ‘What are you doing here so early, Oga did, and had no patience with half measures. Chuks loved people Orator?’, I asked, an expectant smile on my lips. ‘See, just see’, and he cherished being loved in return. He had but one tribe, and Chuks responded as he breezed through the door, holding a book that was the human race, and he did all he could to project it to the in his hand. ‘Have you seen this? Have you read this? Ah, this is noblest heights. Now the music is gone, but the melody more than fantastic!’, he enthused as he brought out (again, from remains...Sleep well, my dear Chukwujindu. Sleep well, Orator. his coat pocket!) a thumb-bruised, copiously book-marked copy of Wole Soyinka’s The Man Died which he had read all night and just •Professor Niyi Osundare contributed this tribute from New couldn’t wait for the daybreak to share with me. For the next two Orleans, USA. hours, we flipped from page to page, mesmerized by Soyinka’s riveting account of the Nigerian civil war, his role in this tragic event, moment. That short but poignant moment was so symbolic of student life in our university days when the cultivation of the mind was the prime passion and the pursuit of knowledge trumped the search for material frivolities. We at the University of Ibadan strode around the campus, heads high, the way our counterparts did at Oxford or Cambridge or Harvard or The Sorbonne. Our university in every aspect made sure that there was no exaggeration in that comparison; that our faith was no fantasy, our valor no vanity. Ibadan University’s reputation ensured a global currency of its degrees. First-rate universities all over the world threw open their gates to its graduates. This was the atmosphere in which Chuks thrived. It was the only atmosphere in which he could have thrived. An intellectual aristocrat of an urbane and liberal temper, Chuks had no tolerance for mediocrity. A lover of robust, edifying argumentation, he was constantly in the company of those who traded in ideas. A colourful, expansive man of letters, he was never shy in his dramatic exhibition of knowledge, and in his habit of frequently running his ideas by those whose responses he genuinely respected. With this demonstrative knowlegeability and oratorical bravura, Chuks quickly earned the nickname ‘Professor’ in friendly circles, a jocular designation which garnered substantive credibility upon his delivery, in 1970, of a powerful citation on Professor Adeoye Lambo,

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48 Continued from Page 47

Stay social If it’s Saturday night and you’re watching Saturday Night Live with your cat because, le sigh, your boyfriend lives a few states away, it’s time to take a step back. “It is imperative that you each have a social life in your own city,” says Reiman. “Without your own world of opportunities and enjoyment, you lose your sense of security and independence.” Going out with supportive friends will keep you busy and in a positive state of mind. Building new friendships also boosts confidence, which can enhance your relationship. “There is nothing more attractive to a partner than someone who is confident,” says Reiman.

THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 2014

‘I live a double life — angel by day, hustler by night!’ (2) “

In fact, I needed a break after the Abuja outing. We had spent four days in the city, with most nights with Chief and his friend. Whatever money we were paid was worth it because those old men were really something. In all the years I had been 'hustling,' I had never met a pair of old, randy men like those two. It was like they were on Viagra or something equally potent. They had the stamina of young men in their prime

Email: counselling@faithoyedepo.org

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NEWS 53

The family medicine cabinet

once went to visit an elderly woman in California who lived alone. She opened her fridge and I saw medicines upon medicines being stored there. My impression as a pharmacologist was that it was a shocking load of medicines for one person but she was in her nineties and strong and energetic, therefore they must have been doing her some good. They were all her prescription drugs that she had used or was still using. Many people take medicines daily for various reasons. The elderly may have more medicines than others. This is not surprising as the spent body has its weaknesses and vulnerabilities and often, unfortunately, diseases. Many homes in developed areas of the world have a medicine cabinet. The medicine cabinet has first aid supplies and a few drugs, usually non-prescription or over-the-counter medicines. The cabinet could be accessible to all grown up members of the family. Prescription drugs should be kept apart, not in the medicines cabinet and should be accessible only to the member of the family for whom they were prescribed and the head of household. These days there are mini refrigerators that may be kept in the master bedroom and under the control of head of household. Such prescription drugs could be kept there, far from young children and potential adult drug abusers in the household. The components of the medicine cabinet are supplies that are useful for treating minor ailments. Also included are supplies that are useful in medical emergencies at

Continued from Back Page

Nigeria is a huge joke. And the jokers here find it difficult to depart from their old ways that have brought us pain, anguish and shame. Sadly, they peddle their influence in high places to get the plum assignments meant to bring joy to us. What do we do to them? Last week Sunday, Warri Wolves FC joined the list of losing Nigerian representatives at the CAF Confederations Cup. As usual, they are passing the buck. Truth said, Wolves, Kano Pillars and Heartland crashed out of the continental championship the day they changed the coaches and some of the players- who won the trophies for them. In other climes, teams that win trophies don't do wholesale recruitment of players. Even if they do, they hardly change the coaches. This ensures continuity in the team and strengthens the synergy among the players during matches. Not so for our Nigerian teams. Coaches and players win trophies, yet the club

times when medical professionals cannot be reached soon enough such as in the middle of the night or when we are visiting a remote underdeveloped village. The common ailments we can treat include; headache, pain, cough, chest congestion, allergies, itching, fevers including malaria, diarrhea, constipation, indigestion, minor skin conditions including fungal infections such as athletes foot, insomnia, cuts and bruises, wounds and sores, peptic ulcer, and poisoning. Special consideration should include children's version of medicines such as pain killers. Also included in the medicine cabinet are a torch light; paper and pencil for taking notes; reading glasses for seeing instructions well; a list of emergency phone numbers to contact family, professionals, government agencies such as the nearest clinic, ambulance, and poison control center; a bulb thermometer; an electronic blood pressure measuring device and other home use diagnostic aids, tweezers for removing splinters and ticks; bulb syringe for drawing mucus out of a stuffy nose of kids or elders; and a first aid manual or quick reference aid. In the next series of articles we shall discuss the various drugs and first aid supplies that may be included in a home medicine cabinet as well as treatment of poisoning. If you are a very poor family that cannot have such supplies in your home, you should at least identify well-off neighbors or people in your vicinity that you can turn to in a time of emergency. If you are already on talking terms or at least greeting terms, this is easier and you may even have their phone numbers and agreement. Some well-off people are understandably very private and may be suspicious of strangers. Therefore, your local

government office, faith group such as church or mosque, social club, neighborhood association, etc. could also be encouraged to provide such supplies free of charge for emergencies. At a time of emergency, you could try the nearest such providers even if they are not your own or usual acquaintances. In this 21C we are sufficiently civilized to be able to cross faith, ideological, and political barriers and reach out to those who differ but who come to us for mercy. People who have cell phones or electronics with Internet access can find good information quickly by using electronic search engines such as google, yahoo, info.com, inbox, wikipedia and medical websites. You should be conversant with these and have search skills, knowing how to use key words and browse, reading only what is necessary and quickly for emergency needs. To be continued Dr. 'Bola John is a biomedical scientist based in Nigeria and in the USA. For any comments or questions o n t h i s c o l u m n , p l e a s e e m a i l bolajohnwritings@yahoo.com or call 07028338910 or 08160944635

School boys please

managers sack those who labored for the ticket, citing spurious grounds, such as indiscipline and need for them to get experienced personnel. The results have been the same failure, like we have seen with the three teams. Sadly, these changes have been the same. They rush to take players who represented us in previous teams and failed, yet they expect different results. It has been the same vicious cycle. We can only avert this pitiable setting if the LMC and indeed the NFF enforce the rule, which ensures that players and coaches serve out their contracts. This idea of certain players and coaches oscillating around our continental teams will not yield the desired results. If coaches and players win trophies for teams, they should be allowed to reap the fruits of their efforts. Otherwise, the law of karma that has been the lot of our recent continental teams will apply. It suits the managers of our continental

clubs to change guards without recourse to the fact that the team must blend to perform. What this simply means with the failure is that they are the problem, since they were the only component not changed in the chain. Governors should ask their managers to explain their teams' poor outing at the continental level. The first rule of soccer or any business for that matter - is that you don't change a winning team. Why these managers continue to destroy teams that won trophies remains a mystery

Thank you Ghana, US

The World Cup is serious business. It is the platform for excellence, not mediocrity. Countries that are lucky to qualify for it leave no stone unturned in their quest for glory. First-timers at the Mundial spend most of the time celebrating the feat without realising the enormity of the assignment.

Regulars, simply dust up their files to find out what went wrong at their last outing. Notes recorded from the last assignment provide the clues for them to plug the loopholes noticed in the squad. Ghana's Black Stars were the best African nation at the 2010 South Africa World Cup. They almost hit the semi-finals but for the penalty miss. They took the painful loss to Uruguay on the chin and dug deep into their armoury to clinch the qualification ticket. Having qualified, they have strengthened their backroom staff by recruiting a renowned placenta expert to attend to their players' injuries, using the modern technology. Not done, the Ghana FA has got match readers and technocrats to spy on their World Cup opponents. Their findings would be discussed with the coaches. Put simply, the Ghanaians won't be playing any game in Brazil blindfolded. They would get enough data on their opponents and perfect counter strategies to beat them. The Ghanaians have sent their coaches to England to understudy Liverpool FC's coaches to know what do to do with the data from their spies. Please don't ask me what Nigeria is doing. In the case of the United States, they have recruited former Super Eagles technical adviser Berti Vogts as a World Cup adviser. Not much is known about his brief. But I fathom that he would be there to psyche up the Americans. He would tell them his World Cup experiences, among other roles. What is clear is that the Americans wouldn't play like novices. They would be mentally prepared for all their games. Are we taking down notes on what others are doing while we bicker?

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PDP in fresh plot to sack 37 defectors Continued from page 53 any motion calling for the removal or change in the leadership of the House of Representatives or the removal of any of the principal officers of the House. “That an order of perpetual injunction is hereby made restraining the 12th53rd defendants from altering or changing the leadership of the House. “That an Order of Perpetual injunction is hereby made restraining the 12th-53rd defendants, their agents, servants or privies or through any person or persons howsoever from taking any step or further steps, sitting, starting or doing anything to alter, remove or change the leadership of the 1st defendant.” A highly-placed source in the court said: “There has been pressure on the court and the judge since Monday on the nature of the order given. We have also taken time to explain that Justice Ademola did not ask the 37 Representatives to vacate their seats. In fact, the court produced the enrolled order and made same available to all those seeking enquiries. “Being a political matter, we are surprised that the image and the hard-earned integrity of the judge are being brought into the interpretation of the Obita dictum. “From the judgment and the order, there is no ambiguity at all. There is no where the judge asked the 12th--53rd defendants to leave the House. “The reference to vacation of seats was an Obita dictum. It was a reference said in passing which has no effect on the judgment. It ends there, it has no effect at all. “We were surprised that this Obita dictum was mistaken for judgment by those who should know.” Responding to a question, the source added: “There was no way Justice Ademola could issue an order on vacation of seats when there is another case before Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed of the Federal High Court specifically urging the second court to declare the seats of the 37 Representatives vacant.”

•From right: Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Dr. Adewale Ominrin; Governor Kayode Fayemi; his wife, Erelu Bisi Fayemi during the JKF re-election campaign rallies in Efon Local Government Area....yesterday.

Osun governorship: Adeleke, Oke withdraw from race ARELY twenty-four hours to the governorship primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State, two of the governorship aspirants, Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke and Hon Wole Oke, have announced their decisions to withdraw from the primary, billed to hold today in Oshogbo. Their withdrawal came on the heels of last Tuesday’s allege assault on Adeleke by the supporters of another aspirant, Senator Iyiola Omisore and Wednesday’s ward congress, which they have all condemned. Addressing journalists at his

•As PDP holds primary today Adesoji ADENIYI, Oshogbo country home in Ede, Adeleke said he resolved to boycott the primary in order not to waste the lives of his followers because of "an aspirant desperation and determination to "maim and kill to secure the ticket at all costs." Adeleke, who was the first executive governor of Osun State, said Senator Iyiola Omisore was desperate to emerge as the party's candidate. He said the party machinery had been hijacked to favour only Omisore, saying his decision not to participate in the primary

Alleged killer of retired Chief Magistrate arraigned n Ernest NWOKOLO, Abeokuta n HE Police, yesterday, arraigned 21-year-old house help, David Uche Ndah, over the gruesome killing of a retired Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Timehin, at her residence on Ikereku road, Laderin Estate, Abeokuta. David an Igede from Benue State, was a former house help of the late Mrs. Timehin, but was sacked two months ago, following an alleged stealing of the woman's phones and gold chains. But David was said to have stole into the Laderin Estate home of the Magistrate and scaled the high rise perimeter fence to gain access into the serene compound, where he allegedly laid in wait for her to come out of the house. David was arraigned before Magistrate Anthony Araba of the Magistrate Court 1 on one-count charge of murder. In the charge sheet, entitled, "Commissioner of Police versus David Uche Ndah", which was read before the court, the Police prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Banji Sangotokun, told the court that the accused committed the offence at about 3.p.m last Friday, March 28th, 2014. The charge reads in part: "that you David Uche Ndah on the 28th of March, 2014, at abouth 1500hrs, at Block 11, Flat C of Laderin House Estate, Abeokuta in Abeokuta Magisterial District did unlawfully killed one Funmilayo Timehin, aged 65 by matchetting her to death."

NECO releases Nov/Dec 2013 SSCE results HE National Examinations Council (NECO) yesterday released the November/December 2013 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) (external) results, with 53.81 per cent of the 61,759 candidates securing credit pass in Mathematics. The Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Council, Professor Promise Okpala, announced the release of the result at NECO headquarters in Minna, Niger State. A breakdown of the results showed that there was no improvement in English Language, as 48.77 per cent of the candidates made credit level, and 62.87 per cent of the candidates made similar grades in Economics, while all the seven candidates that sat for Shorthand made credit pass. In the sciences, Okpala said 60.86 per cent of the candidates made credit pass in Chemistry, while candidates performance in Biology and Physics was poor, with only 34.27 per cent and 1.07 per cent candidates passing at credit

n Jide ORINTUNSIN, Minna n levels in the two subjects respectively. The NECO boss also said that 0.14 per cent of examination malpractice cases were recorded with Zamfara and Imo States leading the pack in cases of malpractice. The Registrar said the security challenges in some parts of the country affected the overall timeframe for the conduct of the examination, marking of scripts and release of results. According to Okpala, "During the conduct of the November/December examination, there were security challenges and threat to lives and properties. While we were lucky not to have lost any of our staff, some students were not that lucky, as some of the students were killed in a school. It was like conducting examinations in a semi-battle area." He pointed out that the development made the Council to incur extra expenses, adding that despite the challenges, examinations were conducted in all the accredited centres.

should not be seen as an act of cowardice or fear. He said he might decide to participate in the primary whenever the party is ready to organise a transparent and fair primary in future. Similarly, Wole Oke, former chairman, Committee on Defense in the House of Representatives, insisted that he wanted justice and fairness, alleging that the state PDP chairman, Alhaji Ganiyu Olaoluwa, is working for Omisore. Meanwhile, the All Progres-

sives Congress (APC) in Osun State has described the violence associated with the PDP primary in the state as capable of causing a breakdown of law and order in “our peaceful state.” It will be recalled that the supporters of Omisore and Adeleke clashed last Tuesday, at a hotel in Oshogbo, where PDP aspirants assembled to meet a five-man electoral committee from Abuja to oversee the state congress and primary. According to the report, Minister of Police Affairs, Jelili Adesiyan, a supporter of Omisore, allegedly ordered his escorts to

search Adeleke’s aides when they arrived at the hotel. An argument between Adeleke and Omisore was said to have led to a clash, during which the former governor was allegedly beaten up. Adeleke later told newsmen that he and his men were beaten up by the supporters of Omisore and Adesiyan. A detachment of anti-riot police had been deployed to the PDP’s state party secretariat along Gbongan road to ensure that there was no breakdown of law during governorship primary.

Furniture maker dies during sex romp with mistress ARELY a week after a 70year-old man died in a hotel in Benin while allegedly having sex with a married woman, another tragedy struck on Tuesday when a 44year-old furniture maker (names withheld) slumped and died during a sex romp with his mistress who is believed to be married. The father of three, who hailed from Agenebode, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, was said to have commissioned his new house last December. According to family sources, staff of the popular hotel where the victim and his unknown lover had booked for a room, be-

N20m cheque, Viagra found on him Osagie OTABOR and Osemwengie BEN OGBEMUDIA, Benin came suspicious when the couple failed to come out after the expiration of the one hour they booked. They were said to have found the lifeless body of the victim on the floor after the door was forced opened. It was learnt that items found on him include a packet of sexenhancement tablet, a mobile phone and a cheque of N20m issued by an oil palm company. Men of the Ugbekun Police Division who evacuated the corpse were said to have recovered a Toyota Pathfinder SUV, a

mobile phone and a cheque of N20 million, allegedly issued by one of the palm oil companies in the state. The widow, who confirmed the incident, said she found out about the incident when she called her husband’s phone line, and was told to report at the police station because her husband had been involved in an accident. While speaking with newsmen on phone, the state Commissioner of Police, Foluso Adebanjo, confirmed the incident.

Akwa Ibom inaugurates 565 projects in Ikot Ekpene total of 565 inter-ministerial projects executed between 2007 and 2013 have been inaugurated in Ikot Ekpene Federal Constituency. Governor Godswill Obot Akpabio, who stated this yesterday during a town hall meeting and constituency briefing at Ikot Ekpene Council Hall for Ikot Ekpene Federal Constituency, said that Ikot Ekpene got 189, Essien Udim, 266 and Obot Akara, 110 projects. Akpabio further mentioned roads in the constituency to include the dualised portions of Abak – Ikot Ekpene Federal Road, Uyo – Ikot Ekpene Federal Road, Ikpe Annang – Ukana, Umo Obot, Ibo, Market and Adadia roads, among others. He hinted that a Turkish company has taken over the running and management of Sunshine Batteries Industry, Ukana, which is to generate employment opportunities for many youths in the State. On the citing of a three-star hotel in Ikot Ekpene, the Governor, flanked by his wife, Ekaette Unoma, announced that the 12-storey hotel with 150 rooms, 12 suites and two presidential halls to be run by Sheraton Groups would be inaugurated before May 2015. He recalled, “In the year 2007, and again in

2011, you loaned me to our dear state to recreate, reformat and reboot the state. In all these years of my labours for our dear state, you have remained a bulwark of support and encouragement. For this we owe you a debt of gratitude.” According to him, “This ancient city holds a lot of memories for me, some of which stretch back to my childhood. I still remember the narrow paths we used to take to school and to the markets. Thank God that those paths we saw yesterday we cannot see them again forever. God has, through our uncommon transformation, turned the narrow paths into highways and turned again our captivity so that we are like those who dream. “Ikot Ekpene is a great city with a great history. It was here that local government administration was first experimented in West Africa. It was here that the Ibibios and Annangs converged and formed the Ibibio Welfare Union courtesy of James Udo Eka and Udosen Obot. It was here that Ibibio College was established to cement the covenant of kinship between the Annangs and the Ibibios. This covenant many illadvised and selfish politicians have, unfortunately, tried to break. But my simple faith in Akwa Ibom is that what God has joined together, no man will break.”

THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 2014

60 COMMENTARY

The exemplary late Ekiti Deputy Governor NTIL the loss of my younger brother Chuzzy in March 2005, I could easily describe myself as a victim of Thanato phobia; a phobia associated with the fear of death. This is a relatively difficult phobia. I was always scared of attending funerals especially of close relatives; the entire funeral lilt of hymnals and processions were all sour realities that gave me nightmares long after the burial. Age has however opened my eyes to a life that transcends this space called earth. The sad reminder that it is already one year Mrs. Funmi Olayinka, the former Deputy Governor of Ekiti commenced her eternal journey easily draw tears to my eyes, but when I ponder what her exit meant in the totality of what life constitutes, I feel consoled. Regrettably, however, is that since after she had gone, many more women are still falling to cancer. Breast cancer is currently held as the most common cancer in Nigeria. “One or two in every 25 Nigerian women are said to be at risk of breast cancer, but higher risks exist for women who are older than 45 or older than 30 at birth of their first child, and women with family history.” In the below 5 leadership lessons of Funmi Olayinka, I summarize some of the lessons and values I learnt from her while she lived. Lesson 1: It pays to always look good and feel good at all times Funmi believed that looking good and feeling good go hand in hand. If you have a healthy lifestyle, your diet and nutrition are set, and you’re working out, you’re going to feel good. This was her life. Her dress sense and elegance were true to her belief and background as the daughter of a famous and successful textile dealer. Right from her days in United Bank for Africa (UBA), where I first met her serving as the Vice President of Association of Corporate Affairs Managers of Banks (ACAMB), Funmi radiated such self-confidence and dress sense that no matter how short or skewed a meeting is designed to be, one would often find himself asking, ‘’so madam what do you think’’ such was the magnetic aura she exuded as a corporate executive. Lesson 2: Focus primarily on the Masterbrand rather than the product brand The master brand is a metaphor for the big picture which could oftentimes be obscured by the momentary distraction of its appendage product. Focusing on the big picture she always reminded us is essential to achieving the ultimate goal. Focusing on the big picture enabled her to endear herself to people regardless of notions and ethnic colouration. The ease with which she was able to form a formidable force with the wife of the governor, Mrs Bisi Fayemi, was amazing. I recall soon after their swearing- in (in October 2010) I had asked her: ‘’how do you intend to cope with the governor’s wife, whom I had distantly reckoned as equally radiating the qualities of an alternate ‘Deputy Governor’, Funmi had replied in such pleasant declaration suggestive of warmth and confidence, saying: ‘’Egg head, you don’t know her too well’’. Indeed, in a rare show of hand holding, Mrs Funmi Olayinka and Mrs Fayemi, were such tour de force working fiercely to elevate womanhood through sponsorship of gender equity based legislations. That was indeed the big picture. Lesson 3: Always invest in others and give them opportunities to excel Funmi learnt very early the gains of grooming and empowering leaders rather than delighting in rented followership. She invested so much in people and expectedly reaped from same. She believed that by investing in team members you are creating multiple folds of leaders. Our team in UBA was a ‘’do it now’’ squad which

(In memory of the late Mrs. Funmi Olayinka)

• Late Funmi

n Nduneche EZURIKE n made compelling impact in the early days of brand consolidation in 2005. Later on in Ecobank’s Brand and Communication division, Funmi attracted a fascinating bunch of professionals : Ola Akinnola, Bolaji Okusaga (who later left to lead the Quadrant PR team), Shade Obioha, equally joined Funmi as her Chief of Staff until her demise. Also in the team were Austen Osokpor and Frank Ofem, the duo who held on the media and internal communications beat from the rear. Through Funmi’s well nurtured leadership virtues, she earned willing loyalty and support from every member of the team. Lesson 4: Always put in positive words for those who do good Good deeds must be publicly shared and acknowledged because the world will always respond to what they see, hear and touch. Funmi reminded us to always put in good words in favour of that particular staff, employee or colleague who works hard. According to her, by putting in kind words for such persons, you may have helped in generating greater goodwill for the person. This could perhaps make that delayed promotion happen. Funmi demonstrated that quality whilst she lived, and equally made giving a way of sowing seed in people’s lives. Her ability to be entrusted with several roles otherwise solely managed by state chief executives in many other states were testimonial to her character and competence as a trusted ally to the governor rather than a spare tyre. Lesson 5: Always take all phone calls seriously and return as much

calls as you can’’ Funmi made communication the cornerstone of building effective relationships. From this singular habit, she derived immense goodwill from friends, families and the media whom she interacted with in her several years in banking. Funmi will always call to keep tab on her friends and their families including domestic staff. She would celebrate friends’ birthdays, attend funerals and child dedications. As deputy governor, Funmi neither changed her phone number nor outsourced her phone calls to her aides as it is common practice amongst politicians. Her weekly sms text of biblical quotes to her friends soothed our hearts. Even close to death bed after her trip to London in October 2012, Funmi had on the heels of a media report that she had resigned on account of suffering from cancer managed to put calls across to some of her friends comforting them that all was well. At every opportunity, Funmi found value in engaging the hearts and minds of people around her. According to her, “communication is a therapy” No one can question the will of the almighty God for taking Funmi away. We do not pretend not to know the tortuous pain her family is going through since her death; when the memorial carnival of the motley mourners is drowned by the grief of silent tears of loneliness Funmi had a humble nature, spirit of forgiveness, dedication to duty, accommodation of friends and loved ones. Her gift of gorgeous simplicity drew her to everyone and endeared her in the eyes of all that were privileged to be part of her life. Her soft- spoken voice and beautiful smile were infectious and perfect remedy for calming fiery tempers in the atmosphere of tension. Her faith was stronger than her fears as it was evident throughout her struggle during the liberation of Ekiti and later fights against breast cancer. She bore the scourge of cancer with courage and never betrayed signs of defeat nor surrender. My three children Chiemerie, Olamide and Onyinye continue to ask me about aunty Funmi; they no more hear the phone calls seeking to speak to ‘’my girls’’ nor get the packets of biscuits which come in different shapes, flavours and sizes. I console Governor Fayemi and his wife, Aunty Bisi for losing such a pathfinder when the work is unfinished. I will once again remind Governor Fayemi that he was quite lucky to have had Funmi serve Ekiti people when she did; having acknowledged himself that Mrs Olayinka was exemplary in all respects. One hopes that the Funmi Adunni Olayinka Cancer Diagnostic and Wellness Centre when completed will wipe the tears of Ekiti people especially for those who may be afflicted by the scourge but living in denial The husband, Uncle Lanre and the three daughters: Lolade, Lamide and Yeside, will continue to share in the enduring consolation and grace which only God gives. To the living octogenarian parents, Mr and Mrs Famuagun, I will simply console you in the exact signature words of your daughter, “It is well” It is indeed well with the departed soul of Mrs. Funmilayo Aduni Olayinka, the Moremi Ekiti . The Lord knows best! • Nduneche Ezurike, is a Communication Specialist and Research Panellist of the Harvard Business Review Advisory Council

THE NATION

SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 2014

THE NATION

SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 2014

TOMORROWPUNCHLINE IN THE NATION

SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 2014 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL.9, NO. 2809

ASUU was eventually kicked out of the NLC by Babangida but the links had been irrevocably forged such that the formal, autocratic attempt of the dictator to effectively sunder the links failed woefully —Biodun Jeyifo

INCE I have consistently and vehemently denounced the whole idea of the Jonathan National Conference (JNC) in this space as diversionary, superfluous and wasteful, the temptation would be to seek to find nothing but fault with the proceedings thus far. That would hardly be fair. For instance, the sometimes contentious, bitter, and divisive exchanges at the JNC are unavoidable and quite inevitable among a congregation of 492 delegates representing a multiplicity of interests in such a diverse and complex country as Nigeria. Even if at the end of the day, nothing concrete comes of the JNC, it would at least have served to remind us of the depth of the differences that fracture the country. But then, do we need to squander over N7 billion on a three month talk-shop to realize the obvious? Do the daily butcheries of Boko Haram not blaze our vulnerabilities from the roof tops? How about the rampaging Fulani herdsmen who routinely despatch innocent souls to early graves? What about the scourge of corruption that has reached unprecedented heights particularly under the very administration that has convened the JNC? Remember Stella Oduah and the scandalous procurement of two armoured cars for N255 million. It took four months to ease her most gracefully and honourably out of office when the scandal would not go away. Recall Diezanni Alison-Madueke and Her Worshipful Majesty’s continued silence on the alleged squandering of N10 billion on luxurious chartered flights. The alleged missing $20 billion from the coffers of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) as well as stupendous fuel subsidy and kerosene subsidy heists are other dazzling jewels around the neck of this graceful Amazon. Our amiable President will certainly ‘do the needful’ as regards his Petroleum Minister on the recommendation of the JNC. Perhaps, he is constitutionally incapacitated to act before then. Don’t forget Abba Moro who presided over a creative job recruitment exercise that reaped a bountiful N700million for a private consultant from about 700,000 desperate youths chasing less than 5000 jobs with 19 dead and several others injured in the process. Surely, we need a resolution of the JNC to remove this man from office and bring all those involved in this heinous crime to justice. How about the daily atrocities of kidnapping, armed robbery and cultism turning the entire country into a veritable wasteland? Must we mention the sore of dilapidated public infrastructure that stare obscenely and mockingly at us across the country? Yes, the convening of the JNC is most necessary to spur President Goodluck Jonathan, our state governors and Local Government chairmen to diligently fulfil the constitutional obligation of their offices and implement the myriad

Two faces of JNC There are certainly interesting times ahead at the JNC as the new forces of youth and change gear up to confront the old forces of division and retrogression. Should the former triumph, the JNC report would most likely end up in the waste paper basket but the point would have been well made

‘

•Lamido of Adamawa

•Femi Falana

of projects for which billions of Naira are budgeted annually. Meanwhile, no patriotic Nigerian can blame President Jonathan for not doing his best. At least, when he is not addressing PDP ‘unity rallies’ in different states, or addressing global audiences, Dr Jonathan is frequently at various church services praying fervently for the nation. With God nothing shall be impossible – not even somebody’s reelection in 2015. And to show his commitment to the ongoing revolutionary Transformation Agenda, our President and the affectionate Dame Patience were recently in far-away Rome to seek formidable Papal reinforcement for their local spiritual endeavours. Surely, it is well with Nigeria. It seems to me that there are two faces of the JNC gradually emerging. One is the face of the old and discredited Nigeria best illustrated by the outburst of the Lamido of Adamawa, Muhammadu Barkindo Mustapaha, in reaction to the then tense debate on the voting formula to be adopted during deliberations. In addition to threatening that the Northern delegates could walk out of the conference if the 75% voting formula was not upheld, the Lamido reminded his audience that his kingdom extends to

’

neighbouring Cameroun and he can easily relocate to that country if Nigeria disintegrates. Unfortunately, those like the respected Sir Olanihun Ajayi who responded to Muhammadu Mustapha implicitly agreed with the Lamido that the latter was indeed speaking for the North. Nothing could be more untrue. Yes, the Lamido Adamawa may have been speaking for those of the northern delegates at the JNC who agree with his position. He lacks the legitimacy or authority to speak for some nebulous north. If Northern delegates carried out the Lamido’s threat of staging a walk out from the conference, the JNC would simply collapse and life would go on. The JNC is so famished of legitimacy that if it is scrapped tomorrow, absolutely nothing would happen. Neither Alhaji Muhammadu Mustapha nor Sir Olanihun Ajayi can legitimately claim to be speaking for any part of this country. They are at best only expressing personal opinions or those of the respective elite cartels which sponsored them to the confab. The lack of electoral legitimacy is a fundamental problem with the JNC. Which North is the Lamido Adamawa rep-

resenting at the JNC? He is at best speaking for the exploitative, parasitic and visionless northern elite of which the traditional institution is an integral part. He can most certainly not claim to speak for the peasant farmers, petty traders, Fulani herdsmen, Almajiris and other oppressed elements that have been victims of the Northern establishment in postcolonial Nigeria. As Alhaji Balarabe Musa so poignantly put it as Governor of Kaduna State on Tuesday, 22nd June, 1981, “Our state is at the heartland of the northern parts of this country in every sense of history and culture- economically and politically. But we do not belong to the retrograde north of feudalists, slave-holders, crooks, parasites and foreign agents. We are of the cultured north of democracy, liberation and social progress for all the people of Nigeria”. Any wonder Balarabe Musa is not a ‘representative’ of the ‘north’ at the JNC? The second, more progressive and encouraging face of the conference is symbolised by the activist lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), whose contribution on the floor was characteristically incisive and patriotic. In his words “Jonathan’s National Conference provides the country a window of opportunity for us to find why majority of our people are poor and why a tiny minority of Nigerians smile to the bank. The country is collapsing. Many of the people who contributed to the mess are here. They must tell us it is their fault…The members of the ruling class is the group that engages in pen robbery, which is worse than armed robbery. Let us advise President Jonathan that he still has over a year to put Nigeria in the right place. Who says that the country cannot break? A Minister has just made N700 million from helpless Nigerians. It is the worst case of robbery, extorting money from jobless Nigerians. Nigerians have rights, the right for employment and others which must be protected”. And in his last Thursday’s column in Vanguard newspaper, another credible member of the JNC, Is’haq Modibbo Kawu, wrote of attempts to forge a coalition of representatives of labour, the media, youth and progressive intellectuals at the conference. This is “to help sweep the carpet off the feet of the regionalist and sectional agendas that have always proven divisive and are always going to heat up the process as we move forward. These, in the main, have been the life-long agendas of old men, many of them in their eighties and late seventies. They are stuck in a time warp and in my view are far removed from the real issues which Nigerians can unite around.” There are certainly interesting times ahead at the JNC as the new forces of youth and change gear up to confront the old forces of division and retrogression. Should the former triumph, the JNC report would most likely end up in the waste paper basket but the point would have been well made.

Ade Ojeikere on Saturday talk2adeojeikere@yahoo.com

School boys please I

feel sad that former Super Eagles winger and indeed one-time Africa Footballer of the Year Emmanuel Amuneke seems not to know where to find kids for the Golden Eaglets. Amuneke, having played for Barcelona FC of Spain, should know where to find kids between the ages of 12 and 16 for the Eaglets. Equally disturbing is the acceptance by the NFF that Amuneke should throw the camp open by allowing kids in Abuja to converge on the National Stadium in the city for screening. NFF may have bowed to Amuneke because of the freehand clause in the coach’s contract. That is the way coaching contracts are signed. However, Amuneke shouldn’t insult our sensibilities with the caveat that those kids coming for his open screening would be subjected to MRI test. If he goes to secondary schools, he will find kids who wouldn’t need to undergo any form of test. From their looks, it would be clear that they

fall within the age bracket. Any kid who cannot come for screening with birth certificates should be dropped. No kid should be screened with sworn affidavits to authenticate his age. It would be morally wrong for Amuneke to fill the squad with kids from his academy even if they are all qualified. Amuneke needs to thread with caution because his constituency for picking players is Nigeria, not Ajegunle or wherever his club is located. Common Amuneke, don’t be lazy. Draw a proposal for the NFF to pay your way through Abuja to pick the kids. Didn’t Amuneke learn anything from Garba Manu on how to prepare a winning squad? Amuneke needs to visit all the playing fields in Abuja to pick the right players, if he wants to throw the camp open for talents. He could also task his former mates in the national team to help spot talents across the country. Otherwise, the safest places to pick kids for the Eaglets are in the secondary schools. Indeed,

in other climes, the schools and academies serve as the nursery to discover and expose budding talents at the grassroots. It is for this reason that great players get rave reviews in the media, using clips captured when they played at tender ages. As defending champions of the FIFA U-17 World Cup, Nigeria doesn’t have any point to prove in that cadre again. What should guide us now is how we are able to graduate last year’s winners into the Super Eagles in eight years time, as we have seen the Argentines and the Spaniards do. There are a lot of credible soccer academies in the country which have the right players, who have been groomed in the game. Some of these academies encourage the kids to go to school while playing the beautiful game. After all, Amuneke was part of the Golden Eaglets winning squad last year. I wonder what he wants to achieve by reinventing the rule that produced world champions.

Nigerian kids are no longer hot cakes in Europe after age-grade competitions because of the controversies over their real ages. Most of our age-grade players, who make it to European clubs, don’t compete favourably with their ilk from other climes. Except our agegrade coaches take their drive for kids in these cadres to schools, academies, streets and parks around the country, we will continue to experience stunted growth at the Super Eagles level. Successes recorded in our age-grade national teams should be the barometer to gauge the development of the beautiful game at the grassroots. Indeed, any adult that is fraudulently kept in the Eaglets, for instance, has robbed the genuine kid of the platform to define his future because he could be the breadwinner of his family, like we have seen with most of our successful soccer stars. Besides, kids who excel in our age-grade teams become models to lift the game at the grassroots, especially in the neighborhood where they live. Let’s boo Enyimba’s, Pillars’, Wolves’ managers

•Continued on Page 53

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