Aug 02, 2013

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

Human heads found in hotel NEWS Page 4

•Govt demolishes building

News Jonathan summons ministers Sports Ike Uche targets goal harvest Business Agency to run N3.4tr pension fund

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VOL. 8, NO. 2564 FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

‘Deportation’ claim political, says Fashola L

CAN: Boko Haram kills 16 in Borno church

By Olukorede Yishau

C

HRISTIAN Association of Nigeria (CAN) President Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor yesterday alleged that Boko Haram members handcuffed and burnt to death 16 Christians in a church in Biu, Borno State.

CAN, in a statement, said Pastor Oritsejafor was saddened by the twin explosions by Boko Haram in Kano metropolis where about 53 people were killed and scores injured.

The statement by Pastor Oritsejafor’s Special Adviser on Media, Kenny Ashaka, said: “He is particularly traumaContinued on page 4

N150.00

•Pastor Oritsejafor

AGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola yesterday described as “political” the raging controversy over the resettlement of 67 people from Lagos in Onitsha, Anambra state.

Speaking for the first time on the issue, which has been raging since last week, Fashola told reporters after inspecting the on-going light rail project and Jetties in Mile 2 area of the

•Ngige: it’s no deportation

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro, Staff Reporter

state, that the propaganda on the issue was meant to tarnish the reputation and credibility of his government and the All Progressives Congress (APC)

ahead of the November 16 governorship election in that state.

The 67 Igbo were allegedly ‘deported’ from Lagos to Onitsha where they were Continued on page 4

States celebrate APC Lagos, Edo lower ACN’s flag Osun holds rally IBB, Ogbeh, others excited

•Supporters during the APC rally at the Freedom Park in Osogbo, Osun State…yesterday

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HERE was excitement in political circles yesterday, following Wednesday’s registration of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Former military President Gen. Ibrahim Babangida described the coming of APC as a welcome development, which

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja, Duku JOEL, Damaturu, Jide Orintunsin, Minna, Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo, Osagie Otabor, Benin and Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

will make politics more robust and give the people another option.

There was a huge rally in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, to wel-

come the party. The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) lowered the party’s flag in Lagos and in Benin, the Edo State capital.

The Presidency seemed jolted by the arrival of the APC. Presidential spokesman Doyin Okupe said Dr. Jonathan was not moved.

The APC interim National Sec-

retary, Alhaji Tijani Tumsah, gave an insight into what the party would do if elected into office. It will fight corruption, he said.

Tumsah, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt, said: “The APC has the human resource to turn Nigeria’s economy around through provi-

sion of regular power supply, creation of jobs, promotion of investment and industrialisation.’’

According to him, APC is going to put the country back on track for effective utilisation of resources.

Continued on page 4

•SHARIA COURT VACATES ORDER ON GIRL IN ETSU NUPE’S PALACE P7

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

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NEWS

Ajimobi, Tofa, P

•From left: Manager, Marketing, Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited Abdulkadir Ahmed; Betty Ugona of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Department, Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC) Limited; President, Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association Dayo Adeshina; NLNG Managing Director Babs Omotowa; Chief Operating Officer, Oando Downstream Olaposi Williams and NLNG’s General Manager, Commercial Patrick Olinma at the key stakeholders engagement forum to discuss strategies for development of the LPG market in Abuja...yesterday.

•From left: Director, Business Segment, Etisalat Nigeria Lucas Dada; Manager, Business Segment Angela Okeke; Chief Executive Officer Steven Evans and Head, Business Market Segment Bidemi Ladipo at the Etisalat Mobile Assistance news conference in Lagos...yesterday.

ROMINENT politicians yesterday described the registration of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the beginning of a new dawn.

Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi praised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the registration of the APC, saying the new party would bring succour to the people.

The governor, in a statement issued in Ibadan yesterday by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo, said with the development, the progressives were now set to rescue the country from the abyss it was thrown.

He said with the registration of APC, history had been made as it is the first merger to be midwifed in the annals of political parties in the country.

According to the governor, the coming of APC was the resultant effect of the commitment, doggedness, political sagacity and the resolve of people of like minds to come together and create a platform through which the country could be liberated.

“With APC, it is a new political dawn in Nigeria and a fresh air in the Nigerian political waters,” Ajimobi said.

He added that the stage was now set for the progressives to spread the gospel of APC to all the nooks and crannies of the country and reawaken the consciousness of Nigerians on the need for change.

The governor gave kudos to patriots across the merging parties and Nigerians in general who stood by the proponents of the party to ensure its registration.

•From left: Managing Director and Country Chair, Shell Petroleum Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu, General Manger, Communications Phillip Mshelbila and Group Managing Director, Lawson Thomas Limited Mr Charles Abraham at the unveiling of the oil giant’s ‘Let’s fuel their imagination to inspire Nigeria’s future’ campaign in Lagos...on Wednesday.

PHOTO: JOHN EBHOTA

PHOTO: RAHMAN SANUI

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin and Kolade Adeyemi, Kano The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship candidate in the last general elections in Kwara State,

States celebrate APC •Continued from page 1

•From left: Managing Director, Accenture Sap Mr. Alexis Perez; Mrs. Rita Govender of the Lead Accenture South Africa; Mr. Babatunde Adebola and Managing Director, Sap West Africa Mr. Richard Edet at the 2013 Sap Innovation Forum in Lagos...yesterday.

PHOTO: SOLOMON ADEOLA

•Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola ( third right), Deputy Governor Adejoke OrelopeAdefulire fourth ( right), Otunba Herny Ajomole and chieftains of the APC displaying the party’s flag in Lagos... yesterday.

Tumsah, who decried insecurity and level of poverty in the country, said the party was determined to put smiles on the faces of the downtrodden.

He urged Nigerians to support the APC’s programmes for a united and prosperous country.

He said there was no other country Nigerians could call their own, hence the need for collective responsibility to transform it.

Tumsah praised INEC for living up to its responsibilities by registering APC, and promised that the party would abide by the Electoral Act. The new party plans to embark on a massive membership drive and enlightenment, Alhaji Umar Duhu, the National Vice Chairman, North East, has said.

Duhu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yola that the party, “which is the much awaited platform and alternative for selfless service, wants its presence to be felt at all levels”.

“You know, Nigerians were so enthusiastic about APC being registered; so we have to match our words with actions by reaching out to them.

“We want to establish structures across the country beyond ward level.

We want to be the first party to have structures at unit level,” Duhu said.

Duhu, a former State Chairman of the defunct ANPP in Adamawa, said that ANPP recently received about 300,000 new members, “who are now automatic members of APC”.

He said the party was confident of its chances in the 2015 general elections.

Duhu said that the party was in talks with some governors, who are interested in becoming members of the APC. “As at today, many governors are in talks with us. From the number I

have now, we have at least 23 governors coming to APC. “I am assuring the party members, particularly those that are just coming in, of equal opportunities,” Duhu said.

Former Military President General Ibrahim Babangida said the registration of APC has opened up the political landscape for vibrant politicking.

He spoke after hosting five chieftains of the party, led by its national deputy chairman and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari. National Deputy Secretary and former Minister Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and Bauchi Senator Nasir Nasif were also in the team. They met with Gen. Babangida at his home in Minna.

Gen. Babangida said: “With this development, we will now see more vibrant activities of political parties in the country. Every political party will now have to work harder to sell their candidates to the people.”

He said the coming of APC will widen the opportunity to select the best candidates in elections.

“I have always been a strong believer of a two-party system. We will now have two strong political parties in Nigeria. It is a welcome development.”

There was a rally by members of APC in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.

The Freedom Park at the Old Garage, venue of the rally, was filled up.

The rally was addressed by Deputy Governor, Mrs. Grace Titi LaoyeTomori, leader of the defunct AC N Mr. Adebiyi Adelowo, Attorney General Wale Afolabi, former Secretary to the Osun State Government Sola Akinwumi.

Mrs. Laoye-Tomori rallied support for the new party which she said would make a big difference in the nation’s political space.

Adelowo said that the 14 years rule

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

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NEWS

, Belgore: APC a breath of fresh air ‘ Getting an opposition party that would attract the support from all parts of Nigeria is a positive development for our democracy, as that will go a long way in promoting national unity and integration

‘

•Ajimobi

Mohammed Dele Belgore (SAN), described the party’s registration as victory for Nigerians.

Belgore added that “the registration of APC brings a new dawn to Nigeria’s democratic experiment.” of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) brought no glory to the nation but shame and destruction.

He said: “The birth of the APC will be the rise and fall of many. Those who have been destroying our democracy will fall from their high places of evil, while those who stand for truth, justice and democracy will rise for the change from evil to good, from unemployment to job creation, from corruption and systemic collapse to accountability, security and stability.

“This new-born child, the APC, will restore the glory of the Nigerian nation and our integrity in the comity of nations will again be acclaimed.

The dream we had for ourselves at independence to fashion a great country, as well as the hope Africa had reposed on us to provide leadership will also be restored.”

Adelowo, who noted that the registration of the APC by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was a triumph of good over evil, said the APC is the platform of unity to fight and end the atrocities of the PDP against the poor and the helpless.”

Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima said the APC has the capacity to re-invent Nigeria.

He also said the registration of the party is a challenge to the progressives , who have now got a major tool to use in championing the course that they had regularly advocated for as individuals and as a group.

Shettima, who made his position known through his Special Adviser on Communications, Alhaji Isa Gusau, said APC cannot afford to let Nigerians down.

The statement said: “I am very optimistic that our party has very patriotic, credible and competent Nigerians who are selflessly ready to work for the quick re-invention of Nigeria for all Nigerians.

“We have highly respectable people and this is why Nigerians have very high expectations from the APC we must then get to work immediately

In a statement by his media aide, Rafiu Ajakaye, Belgore said: “It is a victory for the people of Nigeria who have long clamoured for the coming together of progressive opposition parties to end the years of disrespect

for popular wish, executive lawlessness, corruption and widespread poverty, irrespective of the fact that the country is richly blessed with fertile land and huge human potentials.

“For us in Kwara, it is a dream

come true as APC would further strengthen our collective efforts to end the state’s peculiar politics of underdevelopment, poverty and selfaggrandisement. “ It is a moment of joy for all the

APC’ll trounce PDP, says Durojaiye •Nigerians in Europe hail APC

A

CHIEFTAIN of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye has said the party will trounce the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in elections.

Durojaiye, in a statement yesterday, said with the APC there was hope for credible elections and stable democracy.

He said: “I feel delighted that what most of us in the progressive camp of politics have always hoped for waht is manifesting. Two-party system is the best. It brings credibility to elections. When we have multiple parties, it makes no sense. With two-party system, it is very easy for the electorate to pick which manifesto or symbol they want.

“APC will be a formidable counterforce to the PDP. It will trounce the PDP. I congratulate our colleagues who handled the registration process. I thank INEC for registering the party. There is hope for credible elections and stable democracy.”

The Coordinator of the APC in Europe, Mr. Tunde Oyeleke, said the emergence of the party would open

as a family, to think out of the box, to bring something new and concrete that is capable of making the difference.

“Nigerians have so much demands but the demands are just about basic things that are well achievable, we do not need rocket science to provide things as basic as portable water, sound education, quality healthcare, jobs, security, roads, electricity and other very basic essentials of human existence that are no longer in the demand lists of other countries with less our human and material resources.

“I also importantly join in thanking the media for very fair but deserved publicity accorded to the APC and for regularly monitoring every step of the way, leading to the party’s registration as lawfully desired by the party’s actors and promoters.

“I pray that peace returns to every part of Nigeria in no distant time and I do solemnly pray that Nigeria recovers and grows steadily to become

By Musa Odoshimokhe

new opportunities for Nigerians abroad.

He told The Nation that what the INEC did was not only a stability to the country's political landmarks but enhance the country’s image.

He said: "With APC in control, Nigerians desperately emigrating abroad will be reduced, while returning home by sojourners will become more attractive.

"I have no doubt that the caliber of political players in the newly registered APC is dependable, reliable and result-oriented with the tract record of performance and credibility."

He urged Nigerians to embrace the new platform as it would usher in the real positive change in the political leadership.

He commended INEC for ensuring that its name was not dragged in the mud and tasked it to conduct free and fair election as some of those outside the country would come home to fully participate in the electoral process.

the real giant that we so wish for us, the African continent and indeed the world”.

Yobe state Deputy Governor Abubakar Aliyu praised the commitment of the media to the cause of the APC registration.

Aliyu, who spoke in Damaturu, said: “I think all the media did well to highlight the merger process.

“I want to say that the kind of leadership provided during this merger is the one that Nigeria needs. The leaders of all the political parties were selfless. Everyone was ready to make unconditional sacrifices and that is why the merger has come to fruition with the registration of this great party,” he said.

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola said the future requires more sacrifice as he lowered the AC N flag and hoisted the APC flag in its stead at the party secretariat in Ogba, Lagos.

The governor said: “With the APC,

the Goliath now has a stone to contend with. We will provide opportunities for change and choice.”

The new party held its first meeting, presided over by Chief Oladele Ajomale, chairman of the defunct ACN, in Lagos.

At the meeting, which took off shortly after the hoisting of the APC flag, were party elders, the ACN chairmen from the 57 local councils and 20 local government chairmen.

Among the beaming party chieftains and supporters at the impressive ceremony were the Deputy Governor, Mrs Adejoke OrelopeAdefulire, a former deputy governor, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, former Secretary to the Government Mr. Olorunfunmi Bashorun, Chief Abiodun Adeseye and the ACN secretary, Primate Charles Odugbesi.

They hugged one another, exchanged banters and proposed a toast to the health of the new party.

In Benin, the flag of the defunct AC

progressive elements waiting in the wings to work together as brothers in the selfless bid to build a new Kwara, one that would shed the toga of being a fiefdom and be seen as a place where individual potential blossoms without any let or hindrance.”

Second Republic Presidential Adviser Alhaji Tanko Yakassai said the country needed a viable opposition party that would attract support from Nigerian in respective of ethnic and religious background.

He said: “Getting an opposition party that would attract the support from all parts of Nigeria is a positive development for our democracy, as that will go a long way in promoting national unity and integration. Besides, it would discourage the formation of political parties on ethnical, tribal, sectional or religious basis, which should also be good to our Nation.

“As to whether the registration of APC would pose a threat to PDP, I believe that would depend on many factors among which would be the spread of the new party across all nooks and cranny of the country as is the case with the PDP, harmony among its members and providing honest and credible leadership guided by sprit of true Democratic Principles”.

Deputy Senate President in the Second Republic Alhaji Abubakar DanMusa commended INEC for approving the registration of APC as a political party saying:”INEC has done the right thing, it is now left for the managers to also do what is right. The ball is now in their own court as the destiny of this party is in their hands.”

N was lowered at the party secretariat in Edo State, amid celebration.

State Chairman of defunct ACN Thomas Okosun said APC’s dream of taking over the leadership of the country was gradually becoming a reality.

“As chairman of the defunct ACN, it is a dawn of true democracy that is about to take place in this country because we are about to rescue Nigeria from the hands of those who have mismanaged our collective resources.

“The leadership doesn’t have the solution. We have a party determined to rescue this country from self inflicting damage.”

Notable politicians and elder statesmen from the North described the registration of the party as a healthy political development that would promote the country’s nascent democracy and give room for healthy competition in politics.

In a message he sent via e-mail from Makkah, Saudi Arabia, Alhaji Bashir Othman Tofa, the presidential candidate of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC), said: “I would like to extend my congratulations to all the leaders and the parties that courageously merged to form the new All Progressive Congress (APC).

“I must also congratulate INEC for their sense of justice and patriotism, who despite pressure from many powerful corners summoned the courage to do the right thing. I do hope that they, INEC, will be similarly sincere in conduction of all future elections, as these are even more crucial to our survival as a country.

“For the APC leaders and supporters, I must say the hard work begins now. Sacrifices have to be made, both personal and sectional, if we are to achieve the victories that are glaringly promised to us by the Nigerian electorate. Internal democracy and good, competent and acceptable candidates are the recipe for the successes we all hope for. But a sure way to failure is to do the opposite of these. Nigerians now do have a genuine choice. I hope they will choose wisely.”

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THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

NEWS •Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (second left), Commissioner for the Environment Tunji Bello (left), Best Student in Arts, Master Emmanuel Olumide of Methodist Primary School, Orile and his mother, Mrs. Mariam Olumide, during the Keep Our Environment Clean Campaign Award ceremony organised by the Lagos Metropolitan Development and Governance Project (LMDGP) at the Eko Remix Hall, Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos…yesterday PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES

‘Deportation’ claim political, says Fashola Continued from page 1

said to have been abandoned.

But Police Commissioner Umar Manko denied the deportation claim.

Fashola said: “It is unfortunate that my colleague governor (of Anambra State Peter Obi) made this a media issue.

As I speak, I haven’t received any telephone call or letter from him to complain. And I don’t think that is the way government works. On less important matters like this, he had called me before.

“This is a political season and Anambra State will be up for a contest. And in a political season, unusual things happen and perhaps we are living in an interesting time. And some of the evidence was when one sees two adults kissing on television, it tells you that something is at foot. And it is really important to say that our hospitality in Lagos State is legendary.

“And it is a global legend that the people of Lagos state are hospitable people. And so is the present government of the state and previous administrations.”

Fashola explained that those hiding under the controversy to portray the state government in a bad light before the Igbo speaking communities have failed to realise the existing bond between the government and the Igbo residents over the years.

He said: “I think there is a large Igbo community in the state. And their presence is evident in Alaba with the Alaba International Market and the ASPAMDA market. And they are doing their business peacefully while the state government is working tirelessly to provide the required transport system that will help improve the travel time and their businesses.

“There is too much at stake for anyone to begin to incite the Igbo community against their host state. There is too much at stake here. It is a very dangerous and unwarranted precedent.

“And I hope that common sense will prevail here. Also, those who are praying for blood should know that there is too much at risk here.”

The governor said when he gets a formal complaint from

the Anambra State government or a notification from the Presidency, to which Governor Obi allegedly petitioned, he would lay the facts bare.

He said the government is determined to complete the rail project, adding that tremendous progress had been made on the tracking.

Fashola said five major transportation solutions were simultaneously being implemented in the state. According to him, the state governmentowned ferry services will be subsidised when it starts operations.

He said the state government had issued licences to 59 operators, who acquired 109 ferries, adding that over 1.8 million Lagosians commute from one location to the other, using the ferry services.

Senator Chris Ngige has thrown more light on the issue, courtesy of a July 30 letter he wrote to the President of an Igbo professional group, Aka Ikenga.

The group had, at a meeting on July 28, requested Dr. Ngige, a senator elected on the ticket of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (A CN), to

find out what transpired.

Ngige said after his meeting with Fashola, he discovered that it was not about deportation “but a social welfare intervention involving several homeless destitute and other psychiatric cases roaming the streets and some living under the bridges in Lagos”.

Ngige added in the letter: “These people were taken in and treated and cared for by the Lagos State Government free of charge and thereafter needed to be reintegrated with their families.

“After this rehabilitation, the affected people disclosed their true identities and the disclosure revealed that 14 of them were from Anambra State. For the purpose of reintegration with their kith and kin back home (most of them have nobody in Lagos) and for further social support and care, Lagos State Government communicated the Anambra State Government as well as other affected state governments to come forward and identify and take over their people.

“On receipt of this communication, Anambra State GovernContinued on page 59

Human heads found in Onitsha hotel

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HERE was a shock find in Onitsha, the Southeast commercial city, yesterday.

Three fresh human heads were found in a hotel. They were discovered by policemen after a raid.

Eleven persons, suspected to be kidnappers or ritualists were with the heads, kept in a polythene bag.

The policemen who smashed the syndicate were deployed from the office of the Inspector General of Police, on special duties.

The three heads were allegedly those of two women and a man. Also recovered from them were two military AK47 rifles and two magazines. An Infinity Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) belonging to the owner of the hotel marked DA203FST, two army caps, 40 rounds of live ammunition and many cell phones were also recovered.

The hotel was demolished by officials of the state government last night in accordance with the policy of the government. The demolition operation was code named Nzacha.

The Police arrested six female and five male suspected to be employees of the hotel, and the owner of the hotel, Chief Bonaventure Mokwe (Obiridike-Akanani). They are already being interrogated.

The Policemen acted on a tip off that human meat was being sold in the hotel.

Anambra State Police spokesman Emeka Chukwuemeka, a DSP, confirmed the incident and said the police have intensified a manhunt for other members of the syndicate.

The upper class hotel is located at the bank of the River Niger near the popular Ose-Okwodu market.

The Commander 302 Artillery Cantonment Onitsha, Col. T.A. Gagariga, said the recovery of the military regalia did not mean that sol-

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka and Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Onitsha

diers were involved. He said such regalia could be procured in the Onitsha market. ‘’I am not aware of this particular case but my official reaction would be when I get the official police report on the issue, then I would be able to make an official report on the military apparel and where it emanated from.”

Onitsha Area Commander, Mr. Benjamin Wordu, said the suspects and the recovered items have been transferred to the Special Armed Rubbery Squad (SARS), Awkuzu, for further investigation.

An eye witness, a vegetable seller at the Ose-Okwodu market, opposite the hotel where the suspects were arrested, said she had raised the alarm over the criminal activities in the hotel before the incident, but nobody listened.

Her words: “Each time I came to the market, because the hotel is very close to the market, I always noticed some funny movements in and out of the hotel. So I was not surprised when the police made this discovery in the early hours of yesterday.”

A pastor who was among the early callers at the Onitsha Area Command who did not want his name in print, said: “I went to the hotel early this year, after eating, I was told that a lump of meat was being sold at N700, I was surprised. But I did not know it was human meat that I ate at such expensive prize” Southeast Campaign for Democracy (CD) chair Dede Uzor A. Uzor, urged the police to ensure that investigations are carried out unhindered.

The Civil Liberties Organization (CLO) said those behind it should be unravelled.

CAN: Boko Haram kills 16 in Borno church Continued from page 1

tised by the unreported news from Biu in Borno State that 16 Christians were handcuffed and burnt to death by members of the Boko Haram sect within the precinct of a church in the ancient city on Sunday, a day before one of the explosions in Kano went off at the Christ Salvation Pentecostal Church at the peak of evening worship.

“On behalf of CAN, the President commiserates with the victims of the bomb attack, the families and friends of those who lost their lives in the Kano and Biu tragedies and insists that these happenings are a further confirmation that the primary targets of the Boko Haram sect are Christians and their churches.

He prays that God should grant unto the families of the departed the grace of comfort at this trying moment.

“Pastor Oritsejafor says with the bombing of the Pentecostal Church, the killing of non-indigenes of Christian faith in Kano and the 16 Christians burnt to death in Biu, the Federal Government should

Insurgency: Boko Haram leader, others captured in Niger Republic

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HE Defence Headquarters yesterday gave insights into how a Boko Haram leader and other suspected members of the sect were captured in Niger Republic.

All the suspects are undergoing interrogation in an unnamed military facility.

According to a statement by the Director of Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, the breakthrough was recorded through intelligence gathering.

He said the intention of the sect leader and those arrested was to rearm from Niger Republic and launch deadly attacks on Nigerian communities.

The statement said: “The plan by a band of terrorists who relocated to Niger Republic to remobilise and rearm insurgents with the aim of carrying out fresh terrorists attacks on some Nigerian communities has been foiled.

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

“The leader of the group who fled Nigeria when the terrorist camps were sacked was reportedly recruiting fresh hands and training them for renewed terrorist activities in Nigeria.

“The intention of the group is to focus its attacks on some towns around the Nigeria-Niger Republic border.

“Intelligence operatives of the MultiNational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) had been on the trail of the leader until he was eventually arrested in Karanga, Niger Republic on Saturday with the cooperation of Nigerien forces.

“His other accomplices were later picked up in other villages in Nigeria. They are currently being interrogated.

A source, who spoke in confidence, added: “Investigation revealed that following

their dislodgement from their camps in Nigeria, the Boko Haram leader relocated to Niger Republic with his cell members.

“While in Niger Republic, they tried to regroup and recruit more hands to be able to attack Nigerian communities. When we got intelligence report, we contacted our Nigerien counterpart. The Boko Haram suspects were trailed and their leader was captured.

“We succeeded in arresting other members of the cell and they were brought down to Nigeria from Niger.”

Responding to a question, the source said: “The collaboration worked out because Niger Republic has elements in the Multi-National Joint Task Force.

“We have the list of those arrested but since we are still tracking those on the run.

If we mention the names of those in custody, those fleeing will go underground.”

•Pastor Oritsejafor

as champions of the North would also add to inspire the terrorist into action against Continued on page 59

consider the handshake to the Islamic militant group as having extended beyond the elbow.”

According to him, the Boko Haram sect is becoming more untrustworthy and that this latest killings of non-indigenes and Christians in their places of worship have further stirred the sensibilities of the people, adding that “with the

persistent and continuing attacks on innocent Nigerians who are largely non-indigenes and churches in the northern part of the country for four years on by the Islamic militant group, Boko Haram, the need for an allround strategy to rein in the Islamic insurgents has become more persuasive now more than ever before.

“We in CAN commend officers and men of the special forces for taking extra-ordinary steps to protect the lives and property of innocent Nigerians.

“The police and the State Security Service, SSS, should do the same and, in addition, sharpen their investigative skills. As it is, we would not be wrong to think that those

who buy the extreme ideologies of the Boko Haram sect have infiltrated the ranks of all the security arms of the nation as intelligence sharing and management seem thwarted by agents of the sect within the system.

“If personalities who do not have the mandate of the people speak as though representing them, those mushrooming

ADVERT HOTLINES: 08023006969, 08052592524 NEWSROOM: LAGOS – 01-8962807, ABUJA – 07028105302 COMPLAINTS: 01-8930678

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THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

NEWS

Nasarawa killings: Withdrawal of lawyers ‘ll not affect panel, says govt T

HE Nasarawa State government yesterday said the withdrawal of appearance of seven Eggon lawyers from the Judicial Commission of Inquiry probing the killing of security operatives in Lakyo village would not affect the panel’s work.

The Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Lagi Innocent, told reporters that the Justice Fola Gbadeyan panel would continue its sitting with or without the participation of Eggon people.

The lawyers on Wednesday alleged irregularities in the

From Sanni Onogu, Abuja

commission’s proceedings.

Governor Tanko al-Makura constituted the panel following the killing of over 50 policemen and operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) allegedly in an ambush by members of the Ombatse Militia Group (OMG) in Lakyo village, on May 7.

Some of the lawyers include Chief Ayas Bako Aya, appearing with Aliyu Anzewu and representing the District Head

of Bassa, Chief Joshua Daudu and Ovye John, representing Eggon Communities in Barkin Abdullahi (B.A.D) and Randa.

Others are: Anthony Jatau representing the Ward Head of Eggon in Arutu village of Doma Local Government Area; Barr. Ayuwulu Baba Ayuwulu, representing Eggon Community, Kadarko in Keana Keana Local Government Area; Gambo P. Assiku, representing Eggon Cultural Development Association (ECDA) in Bassa Zarengi; and Barr. Harry

Dan Anyuanbaga, representing Mada Community of Bassa in Kokona Local Government However, Lagi described the action of the Eggon counsel and their clients as a shot in the foot.

Lagi said: “That they have willfully withdrawn on grounds best known to them means that they have shut Eggon people out of the fact-finding process. It means their own story would be told by persons other than themselves.”

He added that the withdrawal was an indication that the counsel and their clients are not committed to the process initiated by the Nasarawa State Government to heal both fresh and old wounds inflicted on the people by series of violence leading to the massacre of over 50 security personnel in Lakyo on May 7, 2013.

He said: “They are not stating any provable point to warrant their excuses to leave the Commission. This is not a conventional court; it is a fac-finding mission. So, their excuses, all hinging on technicalities do not apply to such processes.

Oyinlola: Ogun PDP faults court order

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HE Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticised the exparte order granted the party’s former National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola by an Osun State High Court sitting in Osogbo.

In a statement by the party’s Chairman and Secretary, Adebayo Dayo and Alhaji Semiu Sodipo, who were the plaintiffs in the suit that sacked Oyinlola, they said while they were at one with Oyinlola that the Prof. Jerry Gana-led special convention committee cannot conduct election into the office of the National Secretary, he cannot stop the party from replacing him “merely because he is on appeal when a stay of execution has not been granted by any court”.

The party said the judgment of the Federal High Court that sacked Oyinlola prescribed the process for choosing his successor in accordance with the Constitution of the party.

“Having complied with the order, the zonal leadership of the party has filed return to the same court. Even Oyinlola has filed his counter-claims in the matter. The suit has been assigned and listed, and the case on the same subject matter has been fixed for September in the same court.

“We see his latest resort to an Osun State High Court as an after-thought and an abuse of court process. The court has neither territorial nor subject matter jurisdiction.

“It does not have territorial jurisdiction because the constitution says a State High Court has jurisdiction over a matter that arises in a state or that affects people who are resident in the state. Now, most of the people listed as defendants in the suit filed in Osogbo reside outside Osogbo,” the party said.

R-L: Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar, Managing Director/CEO, Remaxrealtors Limited, Mrs Adefunke Adesoji and Deputy Force, Public Relations Officer, Mr. Frank Mba at the inauguration of Goodluck Jonathan Police Housing Estate, built by remaxrealtors, at Idimu, Lagos.

Why crises persist, by Nnamani

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ORMER Senate President Ken Nnamani has identified lack of public infrastructure as source of the country’s socio-political crises.

Speaking in Abuja at the inauguration of Governing Council of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), which he chairs, Nnamani said: “Factors behind insecurity in several parts of the country are complex and multifaceted”. Experts, he said agreed that “one of the proven sources of social discontent is a sense of alienation that comes from lack of access to essential public services.”

Nnamani warned that government’s failure to fulfill its obligations to the people portends grave danger for the polity, ‘because the inability of the citizenry to have access to the vital infrastructural and utility services that make life worth living is a potential source of social discontent and societal instability.”

Pledging that the Board would live up to expectation, Nnamani said considering the overburdened public sector budget “government resources are not even sufficient for the maintenance of existing infrastructure to say nothing of providing new ones.”

He added: “Any policy mechanism that will facilitate the delivery of public services to all corners of our great nation will contribute in no small measure in giving our people a

sense of belonging” Inaugurating the council, President Goodluck Jonathan, represented by Vice President Namadi Sambo, said: “As a nation, we must in every respect, manifest our capability for the practical transformation of our country, through mutually beneficial partnerships. Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAS) must now show a greater commitment to creative productive and fruitful partnerships with the private sector.”

He urged the board to build on the achievements of the pioneer board, headed by former head of the Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan.

The president implored the Nnamani team to hasten the delivery of Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects, particularly the 19 recently identified by the Commission, which included the construction of the 2nd Niger Bridge, the development of deep sea ports and concession of railway lines. He stressed the need to “achieve seamless financial closure as soon as possible”, adding “That is what the people expect and this is what the government must deliver.”

The President added: “The ICRC has a leading role to play in driving the PPP programme. “We have no doubt that members of the Governing Board will pursue this mandate with commitment and patriotism to achieve prompt success.”

Police chief Abubakar worried over insecurity

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HE Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar yesterday decried what he called the persistent rise in terror-related crimes in the North.

He regretted that the emergency rule imposed on three states in the North as part of the counter measures against insurgency has not yielded the desired results.

Abubakar spoke at a meeting with Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs) at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

He urged the AIGs to be

From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

on the alert in their zones so as to give the nation and her people the much needed security.

Abubakar said: “I urge you to pay more attention to the incidences of rising crime waves across the country. Daily situation reports bear testimonies to this phenomenon.

“In spite of the emergency rule in place in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, the insurgents still inflict untold hardships on the peace-loving

and innocent residents of these states.

“The series of explosion in Sabon-Gari area of Kano metropolis on July 22 were another painful reminder that the war against terrorism is not yet over.

“In the Southeast and South-south zones, armed robbery, kidnapping and other violent crimes such as murder, assassination and political upheavals seem to be the order of the day.

“Hardly any day passes without tales of woes of residents being robbed, kid-

napped or being assassinated by political rivals.

“The trauma and pains of these experiences linger for so long. I therefore charge you to sit up and tackle the menace and ensure that the ordinary citizens get reprieve from those hell-bent on inflicting anguish and pains on them.

“There is no substitute to robust intelligence gathering, constant patrol and effective supervision of men under your watch. It is only when you ensure close monitoring of their activities that you can

get positive results.

“The challenges may be daunting, but the task of making Nigeria crime free is a mandate we must pursue with all the strength at our disposal.

“It has become clear and a reminder that the war against terrorism is not yet over. You must address the issue of insecurity frontally”.

The IGP enjoined the officers to restructure their crime fighting methods to ensure that all police commands under their control carry out their responsibilities.

Fed Govt probes Gambian Chief Justice for alleged corruption From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

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HE Federal Government is currently investigating Nigerian Acting Chief Justice of The Gambia, Justice Joseph Wowor over his role in an alleged bribery scandal.

Foreign Affairs Minister Olugbenga Ashiru spoke yesterday in an interactive session with reporters at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secretariat, Abuja.

Justice Wowor was allegedly video-taped while negotiating for bribe from a party to litigation in his country of assignment, The Gambia.

Ashiru said the aim of government’s investigation was to establish the veracity of the allegation against Wowor The minister said the Nigerian Government would ensure that the interests of Nigerians living abroad are protected, adding however that any of them found wanting would be held accountable.

He said: “We believe in the rule of law and we believe in due process. That is what we even do in Nigeria here in terms of our judiciary where our Chief Justice is working round the clock to sanitise the system.

“The case in The Gambia is being looked into and if there is any case of highhandedness or whatever, the Nigerian Government will look into it and take necessary steps to ensure that the interest of Nigeria is protected.

“I want to make it clear that we are all living witnesses to the fact that where any government in Africa unduly takes action against Nigerian, the Nigerian Government will act appropriately. We have various ways to do that. We have done it in the past and we will continue to do that.

“One of our own principles is that we will stand up for and defend Nigerians anywhere in the world, especially where it is a case of victimisation or injustice. But when a Nigerian willfully plans to commit crime, then he is on his own because as a government, we don’t support criminality, indiscipline or anybody going to break the laws of any country”.

I’ve not ‘declared’ yet, says Gbagi

By Joseph Jibueze

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FORMER Minister of State for Education, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, who is aspiring to succeed Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan as Delta State Governor, yesterday said he has not “officially declared” his candidacy in line with his party’s rules, nor will he do so tomorrow.

In a statement by his spokesman Bernard Jamaro, a lawyer, Gbagi said: “The guidelines for political campaign is not out and as such, Olorogun Gbagi is calling a Town Hall Meeting in Sapele Athletics Club, to discuss the Transformation Agenda, get Urhobo in Delta Central and members of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to build their faith in the party and be focused on the achievements of PDP. “However, the fact that he is going to run is non-negotiable, but he is not declaring his intention on Saturday as it is against the constitution of our great party, the PDP, to so do.”

THE NATION FRIDAY AUGUST 2, 2013

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NEWS

Babangida: ASUU’s action in F nation’s interest

NAFDAC chief Orhii honoured

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HE Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr. Paul Orhii, was on Wednesday night honoured by the United States’ World Conference of Mayors.

At the end of the four-day conference in Milwaukee, USA, Dr. Orhii was given the key to the City of District Heights, Maryland, and named Honorary Citizen of the State, in recognition of his pioneering and global leadership in the use of cuttingedge technologies to fight drug counterfeiting.

The honour is coming about a month after his conferment with the US Special Congressional Award.

A statement yesterday by Abubakar Jimoh, the Acting Director (Special Duties) in the agency, quoted the Mayor of Maryland and President of the World Conference of Mayors, Dr. James Walls, who presented the award, as saying Dr Orhii was honoured because his innovative anti-counterfeiting approach has made tremendous impact on the health care sector in Nigeria and across the world.

Dr. Walls described the

•Orhii From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

NAFDAC chief as a shining model for other government officials and those in positions of responsibility in the Diaspora, who need to transform their societies.

Dr. Orhii solicited support for Nigeria’s quest at the World Health Assembly for an International Convention to make drug counterfeiting a criminal offence with severe penalty.

The NAFDAC chief described as “an unfortunate and curious paradox a situation whereby counterfeiting of tobacco and currencies have punitive international conventions whereas drug counterfeiting, which has more devastating health hazards, does not have an international convention”.

ORMER military President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida has said the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) was in the interest of the nation.

Gen. Babangida spoke yesterday in Minna, the Niger State capital, when he hosted the Governing Council of the National Examinations Council (NECO), led by its Chairman, Dr. Paddy Njoku.

The former military leader urged the university lecturers not to dtop negotiating with the Federal Government.

The university lecturers have been on an indefinite strike for four weeks, demanding the implementation

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

of the 2009 Federal Government/ASUU agreement and last year’s Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

He said: “It is unfortunate they (lecturers) are on strike.

But the fact is that they have the nation’s interest at heart.

I want to advise them not to give up negotiating with the government.”

The former leader expressed concern over the closure of the universities but hoped that the industrial action would soon be

over in the interest of all.

Gen. Babangida hailed the Federal Government for making efforts to resolve the crisis, saying he believed it would end soon for the benefit of all.

Dr. Njoku said the examination body was being repositioned to meet the aspirations of the Nigerian Child.

He said the council was reaching out to all stakeholders, including pupils, to enable the council achieve its mandate.

NECO’s Registrar Prof

Promise Okpala urged Nigerians to support the examination body as the first of t its kind in the country, to enable it deliver on its mandate.

He noted that the “failure of NECO is a national failure”.

The former military leader praised the leadership of the examination body, saying: “I am highly impressed by the activities of the board and management of NECO.” Gen. Babangida was honoured with the fellowship award of the International Institute of Leadership and Governance.

How to ensure national security, by don

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By Nneka Nwaneri

PROFESSOR of Demography and Coordinator, Network of Migration Research in Africa (NOMRA), Aderanti Adepoju, has urged the Federal Government to strengthen security, infrastructure and technology as well as increase the number of military personnel at the borders.

He said the measures are necessary because the borders have become porous and easily accessed by all manner of people.

The don said the measure would also ensure that there is appropriate check and management of cross-border migrants, who might endanger national security through acts of terrorism.

To promote economic integration, Prof Adepoju said the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), years ago, signed a policy on free movement of persons from one West African country to another.

The don, who was the keynote speaker at an interactive session on Migration, National Security and Terrorism in West Africa, said Nigeria’s 2,000 miles borders are difficult to secure without adequate personnel.

He said the security personnel should be well trained to be vigilant.

According to him, Nigerian security officials should be able to identify genuine migrants and criminals, who trade in cross-border arms.

Prof Adepoju said: “Border management personnel must be trained and re-trained to improve their administrative effectiveness; be able to share information with other law enforcement agencies and optimise the use of management technology with proper gadgets to prevent unauthorised movements across borders.”

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HE Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, has said the odds favour President Goodluck Jonathan should he decide to contest the 2015 presidential election.

Okupe addressed reporters yesterday at the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja.

He spoke against the backdrop of Wednesday’s registration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The presidential aide, however, stressed that Dr Jonathan has not declared interest in the race.

Okupe said: “President Jonathan has not decided and has not told anybody he wants to run. That is the truth.

But if he decides to run, no-

•Ivorian Prime Minister David Duncan (left) and Vice President Namadi Sambo displaying the communique of the first session of the Nigerian-Cote D’ivoire Bi-National Commission they both signed in Abuja...yesterday

NLC hails Reps for retaining Labour on Exclusive List

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HE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday hailed the House of Representatives for voting that labour matters remain on the Exclusive List.

NLC’s President Abdulwahed Omar, in a statement in Abuja, said: “The decisions of the House were bold, patriotic and people-oriented. It sent a signal that the House could be independentminded and could be relied upon to support the interest of the working people and other poor Nigerians.

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

“It is instructive that the House did not only retain the National Minimum Wage on the Exclusive List but also gave its word to ensure it remains there.”

Umar noted that the House of Representatives voted according to the wishes of members’ constituencies during the just-concluded constitution amendment, which covered 85 clauses.

The NLC President de-

scribed the voting as a mark of selflessness, courage and patriotism, which should be emulated by those who elect to serve the public in whatever capacity.

Umar said the “House should also be commended for observing due process by way of stepping down two clauses because public hearing had not been conducted on them”.

He added: “This further illustrates the openness of the House and their determination not only to do what is

right but to lead by example.

“The Congress holds the view that if the example of the House is followed in subsequent amendments, it would be possible to have a people- constitution.

“We seize this opportunity to renew our call to political combatants in the country to play by the rules, for in the long run, the rule of law and respect for the wishes of the people are what will advance the cause of our nation and not impunity or brigandage.”

2015: The odds favour Jonathan, says Okupe •‘President not jittery over APC’ From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

body can beat him. It’s not possible.

“The calculations are in his favour; the odds are in his favour. The national support is in his favour; the performance index is in his favour.”

The spokesman said the Presidency was not jittery about the registration of the APC, adding that the newly registered opposition party would not stand the test of time.

According to him, the registration of the APC is a manifestation of the openness, transparency, honesty and political liberalism of the President.

Okupe said the APC lacked

ideology, adding: “I don’t think APC will last for a long time, because the foundation is wrong, the combination is faulty and the ideologies are not clearly defined. We do not really take it as a very serious opposition.”

The presidential aide said the registration of APC would not have happened under many sitting African leaders.

“It is obvious to those who care to study the situation properly that there were obvious hurdles and obstacles to that registration, which could have been exploited.

They could have been amplified and could have been used by people of lesser integrity to frustrate the registration

of the APC,” Okupe said.

He dismissed the possibility of the country gradually evolving into a two-party system, saying other political parties would emerge in the months ahead.

“There will still be other parties. There will still be other tendencies. I don’t think we are at that stage of two parties or even moving close to a two-party system,” Okupe said.

The President’s aide, for the second time, came down hard on the five northern governors consulting with former Nigerian leaders on the political crisis in Rivers State.

He said the governors were using the Rivers crisis

to nurse their political agenda.

Okupe said: “They are going all over the country, trying to mobilise support for what they want to do. Someone said they are trying to intimidate the President not to run, because it is obvious they are insisting that there will be no open ticket for the President.

“Rivers State is a political camouflage; you can quote me on that. The real thing is about intense politicking by people with very serious interest in the polity, or people who have an agenda they want to make sure manifest by hook or by crook.”

The presidential spokesperson accused Governors Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto),

•Okupe

Babangida Aliyu (Niger) and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kano) of feathering their own political nests through their consultations.

The governors have visited Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar in their quest for peace in Rivers State.

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

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NEWS Pensioners threaten to curse erring governors From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

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HE Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has said it will curse any governor who fails to honour pact with pensioners.

Its president, Dr. Abel Afolayan, spoke in Abuja.

He said: “In Yoruba land, if an elder removes his cap to place a curse on anybody, it comes to pass; if the elder blesses, it will come to pass. If any governor deserves our curse, we will not hesitate to curse them. If any governor deserves our blessings, we will bless them.

“If we get frustrated to a point and we open our caps and we curse them, they will not overcome the curse.”

He said in the last 15 months, the pensioners one per cent check-off dues was illegally and punitively stopped.

On minimum pension and welfare package, the union said: “It is very insensitive, if not inhuman that there are still pensioners whose pensions are less than N1,000 per month and many with less than N5,000 per month.

“There are older people than many of us here. That baba there is close to 90. The General-Secretary he succeeded is also about 90 years old.

There are pensioners like that who cannot move around any more. There are also pensioners who are also bedridden.

“Many like that are suffering in our states. And when we say we want to see these governors they will run away. Some of them have devised methods of avoiding us.”

ICPC arraigns don for ‘duping’ colleague •Dakuku dispensing kerosine at a Northwest Petroleum and Gas Company station in Calabar. With him is Managing Director, Northwest Petroleum and Gas Mrs. Winifred Akpani (right).

Scarcity of kerosene a national embarrassment, says Peterside

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HE Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources, (Downstream), Dakuku Peterside, has described the lingering kerosene crisis across the country as a national embarrassment, He spoke in Calabar in continuation of his committee’s oversight visit to Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC) and private oil facilities in the Port Harcourt area.

Peterside, who spoke with officials of PPMC, marketers, retailers and consumers of DPK, said the kerosene scarcity was a denial of basic rights of ordinary Nigerians.

He said: “This scarcity is a national embarrassment and with every reported scarcity in any part of the country, we feel diminished as a people. Therefore we must address it because it is unacceptable. Our people should not suffer. There is no reason to suffer in the midst of plenty. For me, the big question is: where is DPK disappearing to despite huge importation by government.”

He said the availability of kerosene should be taken for granted by Nigerians, particularly those in the low income cadre who have suffered this unusually long crisis.

Peterside commended the management and staff of Northwest Petroleum and Gas Company for making kerosene available to the people. He urged the com-

pany to sustain the service, which has reduced the burden of sourcing the product in Calabar metropolis and beyond.

He also visited Northwest mega station in Calabar, where he interacted with consumers of the product who had formed long queues at the filling station prior to his arrival.

At the Calabar office of PPMC, independent marketers spoke through their chairman, Michael Udofia. According to them, kerosene was only available in private depots at exorbitant price.

Udofia said: “And this is why it is difficult to sell at government approved prices to end users.”

Peterside addressed retailers who came to protest to members of his committee about the worsening situation in Calabar and its environs. He assured them that the legislature would not look the other way while Nigerians suffer.

He said: “We are going to urgently set up a sub-committee to address this issue. I can assure you.”

The chairman also promised that his committee would look into the catalogue of challenges facing operators in the sector.

The committee also visited the Calabar Free Trade Zone and Governor Liyel Imoke, who commended the committee for its efforts in addressing challenges in the downstream sector of the economy.

Court vacates order on girl in Etsu Nupe’s palace

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HE Sharia Court 1, Bida yesterday vacated its order granting the custody of Charity Uzoechina to the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar.

The Sharia Court Judge, Adamu Idris, yesterday ruled that since the plaintiff was an adult, she was free to live wherever she desired.

The whereabouts of Miss Uzoechina was unknown at the time of filing this report. It was not clear if she had left the palace of the Etsu Nupe.

The vacation of the order was not unconnected with the intervention of the Presidency, which made the Niger State government convene a meeting on Wednesday at the Government House, Minna.

Miss Uzoechina, 25, has been living at the palace of Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar on the order of a Sharia Court since March.

It is believed that the government may eventually take custody of the ladysince the Sharia Court has vacated the order, which placed her in the Etsu Nupe’s custody.

The acting state governor, Musa Ibeto, met with the Etsu Nupe, the National Secretary of the Christian

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor and Mrs Uzoechina, their daughter, former Governor Abdulkadir Kure and some senior security officers.

Speaking with reporters after the meeting, Ibeto said the meeting was to reunite the girl with her family in a way that she would be confident that no harm would befall her.

Ibeto said in Niger State, religion was not a problem because there was harmonious religion relationship and peaceful coexistent of the adherents of the two major religions.

The counsel to Pastor Uzoechina, Femi Ikotun, who attended the meeting, said it was agreed that the order should be vacated from Sharia Court in Bida, adding that “we have already applied for it to be vacated”.

Pastor Uzoechina, in an interview with The Nation last Thursday, said: “If she has converted to Islam, must she practise at the Etsu Nupe’s palace? They should not separate my daughter and me...I can’t kill my daughter. We need

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HE Independent Corrupt Practises and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) yesterday at the Federal High Court Abuja arraigned Prof. David Iornem on alleged $17,350 (about N2.8 million) scam.

Mr Ebenezer Shogunle, counsel to the prosecution, alleged that the accused person used his privileged status to commit the illegal act.

The prosecution filed a three-count charge against Iornem.

The count one of the charge said the accused person on July 4, 2012 in Abuja, attempted to obtain 11,550 dollars from Prof. Ishaq Oloyede with the intention to defraud him.

According to the charge, Iornem falsely represented himself to be “Professor David Iornem” and solicited payment of the said sum from Oloyede for the award of an academic doctorate degree of Commonwealth University in Belize.

It said the accused knew the said university was a fake and unaccredited one owned and operated by him.

The commission said Iornem committed an offence contrary to Section 8(b) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006.

The charge further said the accused person on or about January 13 in Abuja defrauded another victim, Akinkiotu Oluwatoyin of $5,000.

The charge stated that the amount was a purported cost for an admission to pursue a degree of doctor of philosophy in management, also at the Commonwealth University, Belize.

After the charge sheet was read to him, the accused, however, pleaded not guilty to any of the charges.

Justice A.R. Mohammed granted him bail and adjourned till August 28.

He said: “I have gone through the motion on notice for the bail of the applicant and the court is inclined to grant the accused person bail.

“This application is not contentious as the prosecuting team has not opposed it, nevertheless, the term of the bail must be met for the applicant to regain his momentary freedom.”

Fed Govt’ll protect Nigerians abroad, says Ashiru

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INISTER of Foreign Affairs Olugbenga Ashiru yesterday said the Federal Government would protect the rights of Nigerians abroad.

He made the statement in Abuja at a news conference, after meeting with members of the PDP National Working Committee.

The minister visited the committee to brief members on the activities of the ministry in the last two years.

He said that the Federal Government had written to protest the proposed 3,000 pounds UK visa bound for Nigerians imposed by the British Government.

“We have expressed our displeasure at any attempt to introduce the visa bound for Nigerians. We have told them that it is discriminatory.

“We have also told them that it is against the principles of the Common Wealth of Nations, of which we are members.’’

He assured that the Federal Government would take appropriate measures to protect and defend the interest of Nigerians if the UK Government went ahead with the proposal.

The minister said the Federal Government was investigating the alleged unlawful sacking of Justice Joseph Wowo, a Gambian-born Nigerian in the Gambia.

He said at the end of the investigation, the Government would take necessary actions.

He said:“We believe in the rule of law and in due process. The case is being looked into. And if there is a case of high-handedness, the Nigerian Government will look into it and take necessary steps to ensure that the interest of the Nigerian is protected.”

Children expo postponed •Miss Uzoechina her at home. We are missing her.”

The Bida Emirate, in a statement, said Miss Uzoechina approached the monarch for protection following her change of faith from Christianity to Islam on February 15.

In interviews with two newspapers, Miss Uzoechina was quoted as saying she was not forced to embrace Islam, adding that she was praying for her parents to see that her new-found faith was the way to go.

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HE Nigeria International Children Expo (NICE), slated for August 27 to 31 at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, has been postponed.

A statement by the organisers said: “A postponement has become imperative as we have confirmed that most stakeholders and premium brands will require more time to enable them give their best to children and parents. Indeed, all relevant industry players welcomed the NICE initiative with great enthusiasm, acknowledging it as a laudable course.”

It said NICE was aimed at providing learning, shopping and exciting time for both children and parents.

It added: “In addition, NICE is designed to endow Nigerian children with useful information that would help them blossom socially and remain in good health. It equally aims at providing health and beauty tips for expectant mothers and also to cater for the general shopping pleasure of the entire family.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

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NEWS Police arrest 80 •Cult group ‘kills’ two in Ogun From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

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HE police in Ogun State yesterday arrested 80 people for cult violence that left two persons dead and many injured in Ijebu Ode. Two persons were allegedly killed by suspected cult members in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, on Wednesday evening.

The incident reportedly occurred at Ajegunle-Ijada and Ishado in Ijebu-Ode. It was learnt that the victims, Lekan Ojaewele, 22, and Muyiwa Adeyemi, 20, were apprentices in a hair salon and electronics businesses.

Investigations showed that the deceased were ‘accidental victims’ as their bosses were the targets.

The cultists were alleged to have killed Ojaewele on his way to his boss’ shop and Adeyemi was murdered when he was sleeping inside a shop that belonged to his boss.

An eyewitness, who preferred anonymity, said the cult members came on motorcycles.

The head of an Ijebu-Ode vigilance group, Mr. Yemi Odukoya, said the victims died in retaliatory attacks launched over the killing of a member of the Aye cult by the Eiye cult on Tuesday night.

Odukoya, who lamented the incessant killings in the town by cult groups, said his security outfit could not do much due to limited resources.

Police spokesman Muyiwa Odejobi confirmed the incident.

He said security in the town had been tightened with the deployment of more officers from the neighbouring command.

‘Lagos PDP can’t make difference’

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CHIEFTAIN of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, Dr. Abayomi Finnih, has warned the leadership of the party against acts that can jeopardise its chances in the state in the 2015 general elections.

Finnih, leading a faction of the party, attributed the crisis in the party to the leadership style of Chief Bode George, which has alienated members.

He said: “The current problem of PDP in Lagos State has to do with the way the Bode George faction hijacked the March 12 congress. The court stopped the congress from holding, but George’s group defied the order and conducted the congress.”

Finnih told our correspondent that the Bode George group, which is in the minority, has hijacked the party ma-

Finnih said despite the INEC observation, nothing has been done to correct the anomalies in the Lagos State chapter of the party, adding that the same executives produced by the improperly-conducted congresses “are still lording things over us.”

He went on: “Some of us have bent backward by saying let us sit down and find a solution to our problems, but the recalcitrant attitude of those controlling the executive is making things difficult.

Politics don’t work that way.

For a party to move forward, the leaders have to abide by the policy of give-and-take.

You have to compromise on certain things for you to enjoy the confidence of your members.

“If we continue this way, it will jeopardise our chances in 2015. If we are not united now, how do we plan for 2015, which is drawing near?”

•Ogun State Governor Senator Ibikunle Amosun (middle), Speaker, House of Assembly, Suraj Ishola Adekumbi (right) and Chairman, Action Congress of Nigeria, Ogun State chapter, Alhaji Tajudeen Olaotan Bello, when the governor broke his fast with party leaders at the Government House, Abeokuta.

ASUU urges LAUTECH to facilitate appointment of substantive officers

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

A

chinery, adding that this action has brought down the party.

“We wrote a petition to the party’s headquarters in Abuja to inform them of the ugly development and the havoc the minority has wreaked on the party in Lagos.

“The reconciliatory efforts of the Southwest zone, the Presidency and the Governors Forum, led by Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina, have not changed anything, as the recalcitrant group is not ready to yield ground.

“You don’t run a party that way. A serious party should open its doors for every member to be part of decision making. If you close your doors against people, they have options. There are other doors open to accommodate

them.”

According to Finnih, what is more annoying is that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has written to say the ward and local government congresses that produced the state executive of the party did not conform with the party guidelines and its constitution, making the commission not to recognise them.

He said INEC, in a letter signed by its Secretary, Abdullahi Kaugama, addressed to the National Chairman of the PDP, said: “The commission has continued to receive monitoring reports that ward and local government congresses in Lagos, Sokoto, Adamawa, Taraba, Plateau, Nassarawa, Jigawa, Anambra and Katsina states were not conducted as provided by the constitution of the PDP and the relevant guidelines for congresses and convention.”

•Finnih

On whether the party is planning to adopt Chief Jimi Agbaje as its governorship candidate in 2015, Finnih said he has not joined the party.

“When he joins and makes his intentions known, he will be given equal opportunity as others that have shown interest,” he added.

Ekiti warns parents denying children education

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Firm set to end power outage FIRM, Simba Den Limited, manufacturers of inverters and green energy materials, has said it would tackle epileptic power supply in Oyo State.

The company’s head, Arijit Mukherjee, who said this yesterday when opening its Ibadan office located at Cocoa Mall, Dugbe, added that it moved to Oyo State to promote a friendly environment through its products that are ecologically- friendly.

He said: “Our products, such as solar water heater and lantern, inverters, bicycle, and other renewable energy devices do not constitute health hazards. They are reliable and affordable.

“We started business 25 years ago. We have offices in different locations in the country. We are now into alternate energy sector, which we want to use to drive green technology and off-grid solution in Nigeria. Our organisation would not only supply power but also provide solution for Nigerians.

“We have over 350 Nigerians working with us and we have contributed to the country’s economy.”

Mukherjee said the new branch in Ibadan would service other states in the Southwest in terms of sales, after sales and servicing.

By Leke Salaudeen, Assistant Editor

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HE Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, has urged members of the Governing Council to facilitate the appointment of substantive principal officers.

The union, which hailed the governors of Oyo, Senator Abiola Ajimobi and Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, for inaugurating the Governing Council, said the need for the appointment of substantive principal officers became necessary, following the challenges faced by the university.

The ASUU Chairman, Dr. Oyegoke Oyebanji, expressing delight at the inauguration of the council, said the governors’ actions would bring positive changes to the university’s administration.

ASUU, in a statement by its Chairman and Secretary, Dr. Oyebanji and Dr. M.A. Azeez, hoped that the Governing Council would ensure adherence to the laws and edict establishing LAUTECH. The union said: “We appreciate the efforts of the two Visitors to LAUTECH in appointing personalities from Oyo and Osun states into the Eighth Governing Council of the university, which was in-

Varsity’s cooperative takes family to commission

M

EMBERS of the Co-operative, Investment & Credit Society of the Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo have taken the Daudu family in Ede to the Public Complaints Commission.

They have also taken the family to the Police Command and the State Security Service (SSS) over the ownership of five acres of land in Owode, off Gbongan Road.

The LAUTECH Cooperative is fighting for the land, which it said was for its members, with the Abayol Property & Estate Management in Ede. The cooperative spokesperson, Adejuwon Gbadegesin, at a news conference in Osogbo, said they bought the land in 2005 from Olaolu Babalola, a surveyor, who they said originally bought the land from the Daudu Folarin family in 2001.

The Abayol Property & Estate Management is claiming to have bought the land from the same family in 2012.

LAUTECH Cooperative and Abayol Property & Estate Management are claiming ownership of the land with the sale of land agreeFrom Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

augurated on July 12.

“This action has confirmed the duo of Ajimobi and Aregbesola (the Visitors to the university), as true believers and practitioners of due process.

As we welcome these eminent indigenes of Oyo and Osun states, it is our hope that the Governing Council will en-

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

ment prepared by their solicitors.

The LAUTECH agreement was signed and stamped by Shola Oyedele and Co. Legal Practitioners, Osogbo on April 25, 2005.

The Abayol Property & Estate Management claimed that it bought four of the five acres for N2 million in 2012 with a receipt dated April 5, 2012; and land sales agreement was prepared, stamped and signed by S. Kayode Olowolagba Esq. of Osogbo.

Trouble began when Abayol Property & Estate Management brought a bulldozer to clear the land for development.

While the LAUTECH Cooperative is asking the Abayol Property & Estate Management to vacate the land, the latter insisted that it is the owner of the land.

“Our investigation showed that Babalola was called by the land owner’s new committee in 2009 to pay N100,000 on each acre of land, which he refused because he said he had sold the land to us. “The family sold the land again to Abayol.”

sure adherence to the laws and edict establishing LAUTECH. “Now that the two governors have shown the way, members of the Governing Council should not do less. The laws and edict of the university must be interpreted to the letter. LAUTECH, as a fledgling academic institution, has suffered in recent times from undue interference.

“We are awaiting the Governing Council to set in motion the necessary machinery to facilitate selection of substantive principal officers for the university, as the existing ones are operating in acting capacities.

“While pledging our support, we wish the new members a happy and successful tenure.”

KITI State Deputy Governor Prof.

Modupe Adelabu has said parents have no reason to deny their children education.

She said the Governor Kayode Fayemi administration was investing huge resources in the refurbishment of public schools to make the learning environment conducive.

The Deputy Governor described as criminal, parents’ decision to keep children of school-age in the streets to run errands, between 8am and 2pm, except at weekends and on public holidays.

Prof Adelabu stressed government’s position at separate meetings with officials of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) and the Oloyein-Council. The two groups visited the Deputy Governor in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday.

According to her, any child found in the streets during school hours would be arrested and detained until his parents showed up.

She added: “The child will be released and the parents will be arrested, detained and prosecuted by the government for denying the child the right to education, which government has made free and compulsory.”

The Deputy Governor said public primary and secondary schools have been maintained by the government, adding that the upgrade of facilities is ongoing.

Her words: “Parents have no reason not to send their children to school. Government is playing its part by upgrading the schools. It is left for parents to play their part by enrolling their children. Classrooms are not being renovated for animals.”

At the meeting with the FIDA officials, Prof. Adelabu urged women to take the issues affecting them and their children serious, adding that they should use their professional attainment and influence to shield the vulnerable.

She enjoined women with the wherewithal to ensure that they and their children, particularly the girl-child, are liberated from abuse.

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

9

NEWS

Court remands man for running A ‘fake’ varsity FEDERAL High Court in Abuja yesterday remanded in prison custody, a man accused of running a “fake” and an “unregistered” university.

Justice Ahmed Mohammed made the remand order after the accused, David Iornem, was arraigned on a threecount charge filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC).

He was said to have collected money from three people on the pretence that he would offer them admission into his university, identified as Commonwealth University, Belize.

He reportedly committed the offence between July last year and May this year in Abuja.

The accused, who pleaded not guilty, was granted bail in the sum of N100,000 and a surety in like sum.

The court said the surety must be a federal civil servant of a rank not lower than Lev-

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

el 8. He/she is to swear to an affidavit of means and deposit his/her recent passport with the court. Justice Mohammed ordered that Iornem should be kept in Kuje prison, Abuja, until he meets the bail conditions.

The judge was persuaded to grant the bail when the prosecution lawyer, Elijah Akaakohol, said he would not oppose the accused’s bail application.

The prosecution lawyer said: “It is not in our character to oppose bail in cases of this nature.”

Count one of the charge reads: “That you, David Iornem (m), on or about July 4, 2012 in Abuja, with intention to defraud, attempted to obtain $11,550 from Prof. Ishaq Oloyede by falsely representing yourself to be ‘Prof.

David Iornem’ and solicited payment of $11,550 from him for the award of an academic doctoral degree of the Commonwealth University, Belize, when you know that the university is fake and unaccredited, owned and operated by you, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(b) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.

Count two: “That you, David Iornem (m), on or about January 21, 2013 in Abuja, with intention to defraud, obtained $5,000 from Akinkiotu Albert Oluwatoyin by falsely representing yourself to be ‘Prof. David Iornem’ and pretending to offer admission to him to pursue a degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Management at the Common-

wealth University, Belize, when you know that the university is fake and unaccredited, owned and operated by you, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related offences Act, 2006.

Count three: “That you, David Iornem (m), on or about May 23, 2013 in Abuja, received $800 from Jamilu Rabiu Sani as application form fee and good-faith deposit for admission into Commonwealth University, Belize, when you know that the university is fake and unaccredited, owned and operated by you, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.

Trial begins on September 19.

NDLEA discovers another abandoned cocaine

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FEW weeks after officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) discovered 5.9kg of abandoned cocaine inside an industrial equipment, another cocaine shipment has been abandoned at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

The cocaine, which weighed 4.6kg, was hidden inside flasks containing baby items.

Like the first consignment, it originated from Panama, Central America, on board a KLM flight.

The agency also arrested four suspected drug traffickers, who were found with narcotics. A total seizure of 12.455kg of cocaine with an estimated street value of N137 million was made.

NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Ahmadu Giade, said the abandoned cocaine and arrests have shown that drug traffickers are having difficulties bringing in their drugs into the country.

“No drug cartel will abandon drugs knowing how much the drugs cost. Narcotics are very expensive and for drug traffickers to abandon their drugs shows the level of security alertness at the nation’s entry points.

“The two abandoned cocaine seizures came from Pan-

•Arrests four

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

ama. Both shipments are being investigated and we hope to arrest those behind the importation,” Giade said.

The NDLEA boss urged anti-narcotics operatives to be vigilant and detect more drugs in the days ahead.

The NDLEA Airport Commander, Mr. Hamza Umar, said the names of the four suspects are Onwuegbuaku Okechukwu Anselm, 35, Ifediora Romanus Obunike, 26, Ohaebosun Nickolas, 28, and Nwabueze Emmanuel Kansiriyochukwu, 31.

“The abandoned cocaine seizure weighing 4.6kg was hidden inside flasks. Four suspects were also caught attempting to import quantities of cocaine. They are Onwuegbuaku Okechukwu Anselm, who was found with 1.510kg, Ifediora Romanus Obunike had 1.070kg, Ohaebosun Nickolas was found with 2.175kg and Nwabueze Emmanuel Kansiriyochukwu had 3.100kg in his possession.

We seized 12.455kg,” Hamza said.

The suspects, who are being questioned by anti-narcotics investigators, have attributed their involvement to the financial offers made to them by barons.

Besides Ohaebosun Nickola, who sells ladies’ clothes in Dakar, Senegal, other suspects are traders based in Nigeria.

Onwuegbuaka Okechukwu Anselm, who sells shirts in Onitsha, said he would have been handsomely rewarded for bringing the drugs into the country.

“I am a petty trader in Onitsha. I sell shirts to earn a living. They bought my return ticket and promised to give me money.”

Ifediora Romanus Obunike told investigators that he was promised N200,000 to bring in the drugs.

“I sell phone accessories in Onitsha. I got involved because of temptation. I had financial difficulties and needed money. That was why I agreed to smuggle the drugs.

They offered me N200,000 and took care of my travel expenses,” Ifediora said.

Ohaebosun Nickolas, who lives in Senegal, said he needed money to relocate his business to Nigeria.

“I wanted to come back to Nigeria and start a new life. I lived in Senegal for seven months. My living condition is such that I was in need of financial help. I saw the drug deal as an opportunity to revive my business,” Ohaebosun said.

‘Why Ekiti domesticated Fiscal Responsibility Commission’

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KITI State Deputy Governor Prof. Modupe Adelabu yesterday explained why the government domesticated the Fiscal Responsibility Law and subscribed to the creation of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) two years ago.

She said the Governor Kayode Fayemi administration was emboldened to buy into the law and the commission because of its zero tolerance for corruption and a penchant for transparency and accountability in public office.

Prof. Adelabu spoke when she hosted the chairman and members of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission in her office.

Listing probity, accountability, transparency and prudence as the watchwords of the present administration,

the Deputy Governor said it would support the war against fraud and mismanagement of public funds.

Her words: “Proper and judicious use of public funds will give more financial capability to the government to pursue its developmental projects. This can only happen when the loopholes are blocked and people are ready to be transparent and accountable.”

She hailed the commission for its objectivity and transparency in its operations since inception about two years ago and assured its chairman and members of government’s support and readiness to provide logistics and other utilities that would aid their performance.

The Commission Chairman, who is the pioneer

Commissioner for Finance in Ekiti State, Chief Bayo Aina, said the visit was to present the annual report of the commission’s activities in the past one year to the Deputy Governor.

He said the report was first presented to the House of Assembly as stipulated by the law establishing it.

Chief Aina hailed the government for domesticating the fiscal responsibility law and for the establishment of the commission, which made the state one of those that had done such.

Acknowledging the support so far extended to the commission by the government in the past two years, the chairman urged the government to assist in tackling transportation and accommodation problems to enhance efficiency.

Nwanbueze Emmanuel Kansiriyochukwu, who sells phone accessories, said he regretted his action.

“I am very sad for my involvement in drug trafficking.

I sell phone accessories on the Lagos Island.

I was tempted by the monetary offers, and now I have been caught on my first trip,” he said.

Besides Anselm who hails from Imo State, others are indigenes of Anambra State.

They will be charged to court soon.

Mimiko sends list to Assembly

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NDO State Governor Olusegun Mimiko yesterday sent the list of two commissionernominees to the House of Assembly for screening.

They are Adenike Ademujimi and Mr. Iroju Ogundeji, who are from Okitipupa and Odigbo local governments.

The governor urged the Assembly to consider the two as commissioners.

Eighteen commissioners were sworn in by Governor Mimiko on June 17 after they were screened by the House of Assembly.

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

It was learnt that some indigenes of Odigbo Local Government are protesting the nomination of Iroju because of the controversy over his local government.

They alleged that the politician, a former Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor, hails from Okitipupa Local Government.

According to them, indigenes of Odigbo Local Government, who are qualified for the post, were not considered.

Ogun PDP launches kero-direct scheme

T

HE Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has launched a subsidised Kerosene distribution scheme.

Thousands of residents yesterday went to Iperu in Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State to benefit from the initiative, known as Omo-Ilu Foundation Kero-Direct programme.

Under the Direct-Kero programme, kerosene is sold to residents at N70 per litre, instead of the N150 price at filling stations.

The Managing Director/State Coordinator of the empowerment programme, Samson Onasile, told reporters that the Direct-Kero programme was part of the efforts of the financier of the Ogun PDP, Prince Buruji Kashamu, to empower the indigenes.

Church holds deliverance HE Anointed Christ Power International Church, Isolo, Lagos, will hold a special deliverance programme on August 7 as part of activities to mark its ninth anniversary.

A statement by the General Overseer, Rev. S. D. Olagunju, said the celebrations would feature prayers for the country.

“Nigerian leaders must admit their sins, confess them and God will heal the nation,” he said.

T

10

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

NEWS RAMADAN KAREEM

SOLAT TIME (Zamfara) Fajr Zuhr Asr Magrib Ishai

– – – – –

5:01 12:42 3:58 7:01 8:14

am pm pm pm pm

(Ogun)

(Edo) Fajr Zuhr Asr Magrib Ishai

– – – – –

5:11 12:43 4:03 6:55 8:06

am pm pm pm pm

Fajr Zuhr Asr Magrib Ishai

– 5:20 am – 12:52 pm – 4:13 pm – 7:05 pm – 8:16 pm

Ramadan 24 , 1434AH

(Source: Islamicfinder.org)

Man, 60 dies during prayers

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60-year-old secondary school headteacher, Hassan Alabi reportedly slumped and died on Wednesday at Asude in Oke Lele community, Ilorin West Local Government of Kwara state.

The deceased was said to have passed on during Tarawiy prayer.

The incident, which was said to have occurred while the school headteacher was prostrating (Rukuu) during prayers, caused pandemonium among the congregation.

Speaking with reporters on the incident, some members of the congregation said they were expecting the aged man to stand up from his prostrating position, but that they were surprised when he could not get up.

It was also gathered that the pandemonium occasioned by

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

the man’s death abruptly brought the prayers to an end.

Some elders of the community, who later took the body of the headteacher to his house, were hoping he would regain consciousness, thinking his failure to rise up was as a result of exhaustion.

The body was buried according to Islamic rites at about 8am yesterday.

In a sermon at the burial, the Imam, Alhaji AbdulWahab Orire urged all to always be conscious of their deeds, saying no one knows when or where death could come calling.

Alhaji Orire, who said it was his appointed time to die, prayed God to forgive him his sins and put him in Al-Jannah Firdaus (Best of Paradise).

Dubai Non-Muslims fast for a day

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SPECIAL event has been organised by a Dubai festivals authority, inviting non-Muslims to fast for a day and try Iftar gathering with Muslims.

The event offered non-Muslim visitors and expatriates the opportunity to experience Ramadan fasting.

“In fact, ‘Fast For A Day’ was aimed at enlightening our friends and guests from non-Muslim communities on not just the significance of Ramadan but also on the Islamic and local way of life,” Yousuf Mubarak, Executive Director, Government Affairs at The Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE) told Gulf News.

“The large turnout at this unique cultural event is evidence of the strong desire by people from various nationalities and faith to learn and understand different cultures.”

It has also laid a special emphasis n the need to promote cross-cultural understanding.

The event was preceded by a week-long social media that encouraged residents and visitors to sign up for the ‘Fast For A Day’ event.

During the Iftar, attendants were offered special lectures covering Islamic culture, customs and food habits related to fasting.

RAMADAN GUIDE WITH FEMI ABBAS

e-mail: femabbas@yahoo.com Tel: 08122697498

I

Al- I'tikaf

’TIKAF is Sunnah (voluntary) and not obligatory for anybody.

Only those who have the time and the means can go into it.

Daily paid workers who must provide for their families daily are not expected to go into I’tikaf. Wives and children must not suffer from lack of domestic provisions because the family head has gone into I’tikaf. And, women are not permitted to go into I’tikaf leaving their husbands and children at home.

That can only happen with the permission of the husband.

But where a woman is unmarried or is old and has no responsibility of providing for the husband or children, she can go into I’tikaf.

People in I’tikaf can provide themselves with foods and drinks as well as dresses. All these must however have been taken along from home. A recluse is not to break the I’tikaf and go to the market in order to provide for himself.

A sick person is not expected to go into I’tikaf. But if a person suddenly falls sick while in I’tikaf, it is necessary for him to break the I’tikaf and go to the hospital. He may return into I’tikaf if he is well.

Also, if there is any emergency in the matrimonial home of the recluse or even in the neighbourhood, which requires an urgent attention, the recluse must break the I’tikaf and attend to such emergency promptly.

I’tikaf does not extend to the day of ‘Idul Fitr. It must be terminated as soon as Ramadan fast terminates. A woman’s I’tikaf terminates automatically with the commencement of her menstruation.

•Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Vice-Chairman Alhaja Qudrat Omolara Dada (second left) assisted by some clerics and market leaders to commission the Borehole she donated to Aroso Market as part of Ramadan gifts.

P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has advised Muslim youths to imbibe the spirit of the Ramadan during and after the holy month.

The President said the call became necessary as the country seeks peace in the face of mounting security challenges in some parts of the country.

Jonathan spoke on Tuesday night while breaking fast with Muslim youth leaders across the country.

While emphasising the importance of peace to nation building and development, the President, who was represented by his Special Adviser

E

Jonathan urges youth on peace From Dele Anofi, Abuja

on Political Matters, Ali Ahmed Gulak said without peace, delivering on developmental projects would be impossible.

He urged the youth leaders not to despair, saying the country would overcome its numerous challenges and emerge stronger.

The President used the occasion to commend the patriotism of youths in Borno State, who collaborated with the military Joint Task Force (JTF)

to fight the insurgency in the region.

“The situation is now improving in the Northeast. The youths are emboldened as they are helping in chasing the insurgents, arresting, and handing them over to the JTF”, he said.

On his part, Gulak called on the nation’s youths to support the administration in its quest to keep the country united and stronger.

In his remarks, an official of the National Council of Muslim Youths Organisation (NACOMYO), Malam

Suleiman said violence is alien to Islam and Christianity as both Quran and the Bible were never in support of it.

“If both religions do not preach violence, why then are our youths carrying guns and killing innocent people? Even our tradition does not encourage violence, so where does this come from?” he queried.

He urged youths to be courageous by turning down invitation to be used as tools of violence.

Muslims advised to be enterprising

NTREPRENEURSHIP skill has been identified as a viable tool to build a virile nation, a senior lecturer at the Centre for Entrepreneurship Development at the Yaba College of Technology, Imam Luqman Abdul Raheem, has said.

He stated this during the fourth annual Ramadan lecture of the Muslims Professional Accountants’ Association in Nigeria (MPAAN).

Imam Abdul Raheem said only entrepreneurial success would help Muslims get recognition in the country “To emerge as a formidable Ummah in the Nigerian competitive environment, we must adopt entrepreneurship as a potent tool for managing our life, time, money, talent, energy, career, fame and several other God-given resources under our custody,” he said.

He said Islam encourages entrepreneurship as a means of allaying poverty, saying the early Muslims were known for their entreprise.

“Entrepreneurship is not new to Islam, the early Muslims were great adventurers and traders using caravans and

•Amoo

•Abdul Raheem

By Amidu Arije

ships for commerce across the globe,” he said.

He, however, warned them of the probable failures in entrepreneurship, saying that precautions be taken to avoid liquidation.

“At the individual level of analysis, business fail on account of poor idea development and business plan, lack of sustainable capital base; lack of outlook and image and limited international marketing experience, among others,” he said.

The don said for business to develop and for one to become a good entrepreneur,

sincerity and expertise are needed.

“Competencies required to raise empire for the Ummah include sincerity, expertise, leadership, strategic thinking, team work and service focus, among others,” he said.

Imam Abdul Raheem also urged them to avoid five forbidden things in business.

“As Muslim professionals, we must be selective in our choice of businesses, enterprises and economic earnings, you must apply the principle of honesty in your choice of entrepreneurship; avoid Riba (interest), avoid Maisir (gambling), avoid Gharar (uncer-

tainty), avoid haram (unlawfulness) and avoid dhulum (hypocrisy),” he said.

MPAAN Amir (President) AbdulMumin Muhibudeen said the essence of the seminar was to enlighten Muslims to be entrepreneur independent and salvage the economy from collapse.

“The only panacea to the economic problem in Nigeria is entrepreneurship. Consequently our association deemed it fit to enlighten its members and public about entrepreneurship towards a healthy and sustainable economy,” he said.

Another guest speaker AbdulWasi Amoo, a lawyer, spoke on the topic: Immorality, Corruption and Terrorism: the Islamic View.

He said immorality in the society included indecent dressing, fornication, and disobedience.

Amoo, the National Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Muslim Lawyers Association (MULAN), said Islam abhors corruption and terrorism and it should not be associated to it.

RAMADAN DIET "We have indeed revealed this (Quran) in the Night of Power: And what will make you know what the night of power is? The Night of Power is better than a thousand months (i.e 83 years and four months). Therein come down the angels and the Ruh (Jubril) by Allah's permission, on every errand: Peace! (All that night, there is Peace and Goodness from Allah to His believing slaves) until the appearance of dawn."

- Quran Sponsored by ALHAJI JUBREEL & ALHAJA SHERIFAT ABDULKAREEM, Chairman, Agege Local Govt Area, Lagos

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

11

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

At the moment there is an average of about 18 hours per day of constant power supply to different parts of the country. This feat was brought about by the implementation of the integrated power sector reform programme anchored on the power roadmap.

- Minister of Information, Labaran Maku

AfDB donates N465m agric input to flood victims

‘Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire trade to hit $2.7b’ From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

From Ahmed Rufa’I, Dutse

V

T

HE African Develop ment Bank (AfDB) un der International Food and Agricultural Development (IFAD) project has disbursed agricultural input worth N465 million to flood victims in the six states devastated by flood.

National Project Coordinator Fadama III, Mr Tayo Adewumi, disclosed this yesterday while distributing AfDB flood intervention input to victims in Jigawa State.

He said aside Jigawa, other states affected are Borno, Plateau, Katsina, Kwara and Kogi, adding that the gesture was aimed at cushioning the hardship of the communities.

He disclosed that victims in Jigawa State will get N65.2 million input.

Represented by the Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Specialists, Mr Peter Ajibuiye, he said the materials were judiciously delivered to the affected victims.

He said the distribution has been conducted in public to underscore the transparency of the exercies.

He thanked the AfDB and the Federal Government for their collaboration with the state government to provide succour to the victims.

He sympathised with others who were affected by the disaster.

State Commissioner of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Alhaji Rabiu Isah Taura, said 50 Fadama Community Associations consisting of 578 Fadama Resources User groups in the 10 Fadama II participating local government areas are to benefit from the agricultural input and equipment.

He commended the bank and Fadama II for providing the materials to the victims.

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

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

• From left: Mr Orji; Chairman, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), Mr Mahey Rasheed and Dr Okonjo-Iweala during the visit ...yesterday.

NSIA to manage N3.4tr pension fund

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HE Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) is to manage N3.4 trillion pension savings, the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has said.

She disclosed this yesterday in Abuja during a visit to the NSIA office.

She restated the government’s commitment to seeing that the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) and other funds available for investments were prudently deployed in critical areas of needs and efficiently managed in such a way that it would impact positively on the economy and improve the well-being of Nigerians.

To this end, she said arrangements were being made to make the NSIA design appropriate mechanisms that would help in deploying the idle savings of about N3.4 trillion in core investment areas that would add value to ongoing national infrastructure development programmes.

She added that the arrangement would ensure that contributors don’t suffer before drawing from their pension savings.

From Nduka Chiejina (Asst.

Editor), Abuja

Okonjo-Iweala said:“The NSIA has the expertise to work with the pension funds to design a mechanism whereby they can also invest in infrastructure whilst still being protected because this is money that people have worked for. So, it has to be done very carefully so that they earn returns and then be able to carry on with their pension activities.”

She promised that the fund would be protected “because it is money people have worked for but it will also work for the good of the country. So, this is another benefit we didn’t have before. We didn’t have the expertise and now we have got it in this NSIA”.

On the financial implication of engaging international funds managers to manage the SWF, the finance minister said: “The investment of the funds is designed to make some returns. It is not that the $1billion is going into fees. It is being invested to make returns; so out of those returns, they (NSIA) have negotiated such low fees.”

According to her, “very

little of the additional money from the SWF will go into paying these fees; so the billion is intact; it is not out of that money that we are paying these people”. She said the funds are supposed to be managed to generate more money. “Each fund has a risk profile, so they have taken so much care with the stabilisation, which has to be available and liquid so that if we want to draw on it anytime, it is readily available. But it is making some money and they would be paid out of that money. So if they don’t make money, they don’t get paid,” she argued.

Speaking on the financial implication of engaging JP Morgan, Citi Group, Credite Sussie and other international funds managers, the Chief Executive Officer of the NSIA, Mr Uche Orji, said the body has Stanbic IBTC as its local custodian, adding that it has worked with United Bank for Africa (UBA) and Access Bank as primary partners.

He said: “The stabilisation fund is the one by its nature that intervenes. We have decided to put that outside the country and that is where we need international partners.

“You will be surprised

how keen people are to work with us, the fee negotiation was very competitive, competition reduces fees.”

He said the fees negotiated with the international funds managers were low for the type of service they are rendering to the country.

“They say it is for two reasons, one they have faith in the NSIA.They also recognise that our start up fund is not inconsequential.

At $1billion, there are only four SWFs out of 40 that have started with that. They also looked at the future of the country and they believe that these funds, over time, will grow,” the NSIA chief said.

On the fees to be paid the funds managers, he said: “Fifteens basis points which is 0.015 per cent is what we are paying for the corporate bond mandate, three basis points, 0.03 per cent is what we are paying for the treasury mandate.

These are really low fees and we are getting this because the board really negotiated.”

The NSIA has appointed Mr Hanspeter Ackerman as its Chief Investment Officer (CIO).

Fed Govt earns $69b from Shell in four years

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HELL companies in Ni geria (SCiN) have raked in revenues worth $69 billion into Federal Government’s coffer in four years, the Managing Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and country chair of Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mr Mutiu Sunmonu, has said.

Sunmonu, who disclosed this yesterday in Lagos, said the money represents taxes and royalties remitted to the government between 2008 and 2011.

He spoke during the launch of Shell’s briefing notes and new advertising campaign tagged ‘Let’s go.’

• DPR warns unlicensed LPG marketers

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

Meanwhile, the Department of Petroelum Resources (DPR) has warned unlicensed marketers of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) that it will not be business as usual as audit of LPG marketers in the country will take place next month.

The agency said it will sanction marketers of cooking gas that don’t have valid licences and those that don’t comply with operational safety.

Giving a breakdown of how the financial contribution of Shell to the national economy, Summonu said the

oil firm contributed $178million to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) last year in compliance with the mandatory levy oil companies remit into the commission’s coffers.

He said additional $103million was directly invested by SPDC and Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo) on addressing social and economic development challenges in the Niger Delta region.

He said SPDC and SNEPCo have paid about $635million into the Federal

Government’s education fund in the last five years, adding that Shell companies awarded $2.4billion contracts to indigenous contractors last year, representing 64 per cent of the total expenditure on contracts during the year.

Sunmonu said last year, Shell-operated ventures in Nigeria produced an average of 949,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. He said the number of spills in Shell’s operation reduced to 173 last year due to a significant reduction in the number and volume of operational spills compared to 2011.

ICE President Namadi Sambo has said the Nigeria-Cote d’Ivoire Bi-National Commission (BNC) will open new vistas of cooperation between the two countries as trade relations alone is expected to rise to $2.7 billion.

He spoke while hosting the visiting Prime Minister of Cote d’Ivoire, Mr. Daniel Kablan Duncan and his delegation to a dinner, ahead of the first session of the BNC in Abuja.

According to him, the BNC will not only further cement the bond between the two countries, it will also impact positively on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The Vice President said: “Nigeria and Cote D’Ivoire are among the largest economies in the West African sub-region. Therefore, we have common interests and we can add value to one another in improved trade, commerce, exchange of information and capacity building.

“To take full advantage of this, the implementation of the ECOWAS Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons, Goods and Services among members of the community is very important.”

The Vice President called for the establishment of Special Implementation Committees (SIC) to ensure the implementation of agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoU) that would come out of the session.

He expressed optimism that by the end of the Session, several areas of cooperation would have been given new impetus and a solid platform for purposeful and sustainable future engagements.

Sambo also reiterated the support of Nigeria to lasting peace and security in Cote d’Ivoire, while calling on Ivoriens to support their government in that direction.

“Nigeria will continue to cooperate with Cote D’Ivoire in the promotion of global peace and the development of the African continent,” he said.

The Ivorien Prime Minister, Mr Daniel Kablan Duncan, expressed gratitude for the warm reception accorded him and his delegation.

He noted that Nigeria is a strong country and to show the seriousness his country attached to the BNC, his delegation was made up of over 11 ministers.

He said his country has started constructing the Lagos-Cotonou-Abidjan highway with six lanes on both sides. He commended Nigeria for constructing her own section with 10 lanes, five on both side.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

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HE General Manager, Abia State Road Maintenance Agency, (ABROMA), Engr.

Ndukwe Orji Agu has assured of the determination of the agency to repair roads in the state.

Speaking in Umuahia, Agu gave the assurance while supervising road maintenance between Factory Road leading to Aba road in Umuahia, saying that the agency has been carrying out its mandate from the period it was inaugurated last year.

However, reacting to insinuations that the agency has lived up to its mandate, Engr.

Agu said: “Well, whoever that says that seems no to be fair to the government of the day being led by Governor Orji. We came on board last year, shortly after our inauguration, the governor made available some funds to us as take-off grants. Upon the re-

From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

ceipt of that funds, we acquired some basic equipment that could take us far in pursuing the primary mandate in road maintenance”.

The GM said that the agency had last year carried out some critical road maintenance at Aba and Umuahia where the agency was involved in road surfacing in Aba including Aba-Owerri Road, Milverton by Eziukwu road, Ahia-Udele direct to Opobo junction and Faulks road that leads to the popular Ariaria Market in addition to the ones in Umuahia.

He added:“This year irrespective of the rainy season, in the last three weeks, we

Ekiti holds health summit

KITI State government has held a summit on the Integrated Supportive Supervision (ISS) across the 16 councils of the state. This was part of efforts at ensuring an effective and quality healthcare delivery in the state.

The summit which appraised health facilities, level of patient care management, personnel attitude and integration of the community into health system package, also examined the established referral protocol, infrastructure as well as the availability and adequacy of equipment in the state’s health facilities.

The programme was attended by a broad section of stakeholders including traditional rulers, opinion leaders, health workers, local government caretaker chairmen, supervising councilors for health, medical officers for health at the 16 local councils, officers in charge of the existing 65 health facilities in the state as well as medical record officers in the facilities.

Speaking at the summit, the State Deputy Governor, Prof Modupe Adelabu, stressed the vital role of the local government in the pro-

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Abia roads for rehabilitation

Ekiti From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

vision of an effective healthcare delivery.

Prof Adelabu, who was represented by the Special Adviser in the Office of the Deputy Governor, Hon Bamitale Oguntoyinbo, noted that local government is the closest tier of government to the grassroots, emphasising that the entire task of ensuring free quality healthcare delivery should not be left in the hands of the state government alone.

The Deputy Governor, however, assured that the Fayemi-led administration would leave no stone unturned in its quest to ensure provision of a free and accessible quality healthcare delivery to residents of the state.

Charging health workers to judiciously manage all available resources, Adelabu reiterated the determination of the state government to revamp the entire health sector before the end of the year.

NGO gives free medicare

have been hitting the road; if you go round, the evidence is there for anybody to see.There is a good number of them, we were at the long stretch of Umuwaya road, Uwalaka road, World Bank Junction. There are more than 20 of such roads in Umuahia, primarily our mandate is on road maintenance not on road construction”.

Agu advised Abians against carrying out some activities that could damage roads in the cities of Umuahia and Aba, “they should desist from activities that are injurious to our roads such as using the asphalt surfaces as workshops, the discharge of waste water from homes and boreholes and indiscriminate cutting of roads for one reason the other. a policeman is sent to a place where his community has communal crisis with another community, ordinarily he is bound to take sides, I prefer a situation where policeman goes to a place away from their home and put in his best, he reiterated.

Elechi stated that the administration had procured six Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC), renovation of the state police headquarters, and donation of patrol vehicles among others to the police.

The governor said that the state government constructed a residential building for a serving police officer in the state, in his home town Lafia Nassarawa state, as a reward for his gallantry in tracking down armed robbers that have been terrorizing the people of Afikpo town in the state.

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•From left: Assistant Director, Projects, Engr Abiola Kosegbe; LASWMA, General Manager, Administrative and Special Duties, MrsAbimbolaJijolo-Ogun;benefiary of scholarship by LAWMA Management, Master Isaiah Abiodun (EkoAkete Grammar School), Kids Clean Club/President, LAWMA Community Development Service, Doyinsola Ogunye and the Managing Director, Mr. Ola Oresanya during the Tree Planting campaign.

PHOTO: SOLOMON ADEOLA

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NDE trains 100 youths

HE National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has begun training of over 100 youths in farming.

The youths were from Jattu, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State under the Rural Agricultural Development Scheme (RADTS) of the NDE.

Council promises more

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POKIA Local Government Area in Ogun State has reiterated its determination to leave no stone unturned in ensuring rapid and even development of the council.

The chairman of the council, Hon. Isiaq Aderounmu, made this known while inspecting on-going and completed projects of the local government.

The tour took the chairman and his entourage to the electrification project at Iwuku, construction and asphaltic tarring of Odedina road Ago-sasa, renovation of V.I.P’s quarters at Ipokia, rehabilitation of a block of six classrooms at I.P.L.G. Primary School Ifonyintedo and a block of three classrooms with Head Teacher’s Office at I.P.L.G. Primary School, Idomogun.

A press statement issued and signed by the council’s Director of Information, Mr. Oloyede Oyeniyi, quoted the chairman of the council as assuring the residents that their perseverance and loyalty to the Senator Ibikunle Amosun-led administration and governments at the grassroots will be highly rewarded.

On youth employment, the council chief re-

By Bode Monogbe

iterated the determination of the council to create over 500 jobs to combat unemployment within the next few weeks.

He admonished the would-be beneficiaries not to see their appointments as “job for the boys” but rather as a clarion call to service specifically packaged to make them well-integrated, functional and self-reliant citizens of the council.

According to the council boss, the appointments were necessitated by the needs to compensate loyal party members and curb criminal activities amongst the teeming job seekers since “devil finds work for idle hands.”

Aderounmu praised the governor for bailing out all the councils from their heavy debts and giving them a true financial independence to provide dividends of democracy to all the nooks and crannies of the state.

Top political and career functionaries of the local government accompanied Hon. I Aderounmu during the inspection.

•From left: Anojobi Anuluwapo, Director of Business True Measures Ltd, Dr Asaolu Oluwamuyiwa; Non-Excutive Director, Obende Kelly; Winner of Andrews Challenge Competion Season Two, Babajide Olawunmi; Marketing Director, Fayese Joseph and Director of Academics during award presenation ceremony for Season Two of Andrews Challenge by True Measure Limited.

PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS

• From left: Hon. Titilayo Idris,Vice-Chairman,Itire-Ikate Local Council Development Area Alhaja Mulikat Ajala, chairperson and M.O. the Lagos state children deworming.

Lagos to develop sport through infrastructure

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AGOS State Sports Endowment Fund (LSSEF) has embarked on a bold move to revolutionise sports development in Lagos State through public private sector initiative.

The LSSEF, which was reactivated by the Fashola administration, has released a plan that would involve all major stakeholders from the public and private sectors, to take sports to the next level in the state, through massive infrastructural development.

At a maiden Town Hall meeting held in Lagos last week as part of its efforts to raise funds for sports development where critical stakeholders assembled, the board of the LSSEF speaking through its chairman Real Admiral Anthony Oni (rtd), said the body will continue to work assiduously to encourage public-private sector to support sports in the state.He also presented its plan to build sports centers’ across all the local councils in the state, to promote grassroots sports development amongst the youths.

The chairman reaffirmed the commitment of the LSSEF to keep refining and reviewing its priorities on a regular basis to keep abreast of achieving its set goals, which is sourcing funds through partnership to develop sport infrastructure in Lagos state.

He said that the fund was set up to provide strategic leadership, impetus and funding for sports in Lagos State with a renewed clarity of purpose and a focused approach to working with their partners to make a difference for and through sports.

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From Osagie Otabor, Benin

Edo State Coordinator of NDE, Mrs Ayo Edegbai, stated this at the commencement of the training programme supported by Hon Philip Shaibu.

Edegbai said the programme was to reorient the youths to stop them from seeking white collar jobs.

She said that one month of the programme would be spent on theoretical and general principles of agriculture while the remaining two months would be dedicated to field work.

“The importance of the training cannot be over-emphasised given the level of commitment and seriousness the present administration attaches to agriculture.

“RADTS adopts an integrated farming demonstration and training approach in capacity building for community empowerment and rural development”, she said.

She said the course would involve soil and land management, general crop production, basic poultry science, pig farming and elementary fishing techniques.

Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Uyigue Igbe, said the programme was designed to reduce youth restiveness.

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BOUT 2000 epileptic patients across the country are to benefit from a year-long free medical treatment programme in Anambra State, under the Nigeria Epilepsy Care Advancement Programme (NECAP).

The treatment is being sponsored by Rise Clinic, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), founded by Godwin and Patricia Okeke Foundation, in conjunction with Rise Global Health Initiative (RGHI).

It kicked with a one-day sensitisation seminar at Neni in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State.

A Neurosurgeon and Medical Director of Neuroscience Programme Development at Eden Medical Center, California, United States of America (USA), Dr. Mrs. Edie Zusman, in her lecture identified the cause of epilepsy as a synchronised electrical discharge from the brain.

She added that EEG, a test showed that seizures start in the brain which causes shaking of the arms and legs. She described epilepsy as a common problem. Zusman noted that one in hundred persons have epilepsy around the world (California same as Anambra) among children, adults, older people, men and women, adding that it is not contagious.

The chief host and founder of Rise Clinic, Adazi-Ani, Chief Godwin Ubaka Okeke of GUO Motors Limited, expressed gratitude that his third son, Dr. Emeka Okeke who read medi-

Briefly

Church holds programme

Anambra From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

cine in USA and is practising there at the moment, picked interest in helping the poor masses, hence the establishment of Rise Clinic.

Okeke recalled that by this time last year, the clinic had diagnosed and treated more than 500 patients with various ailments free of charge, mostly the down trodden who have no means of going to public hospitals for medical attention.

Others who spoke at the seminar included Dr. John Obegolu, an American-based Neurosurgeon from Anambra State; Bayan Yaktieen, a pharmacist and Director of Academic Services, Rise Global Health Initiative and Sani Mohammed, an army officer attached to Nigerian Army Medical Unit at the 302 Military Can-

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•Governor Obi tonment, Onitsha, who advised the masses against stigmatisation of epileptic patients.

‘Our development plan has attracted investors ’

OVERNOR Sullivan Chime of Enugu State has said that the implementation of his four-point development plan has attracted investors to the state.

Chime made the remark when he hosted a re-union of the 1980 law class of the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus.

The governor, who is a member of the class, said the plan had addressed the dilapidated infrastructure in the state, remodelled it and provided job opportunities for the youth.

He explained that his administration embarked on massive road construction and rehabilitation to make every part of the state viable for economic activities.

“It is unfortunate that we have not been able to stay together as a class for the past 33 years.

Enugu This reunion is the climax of our life activities,’’ Chime said.

In his speech, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Prof. Bartho Okolo, described the 1980 class as “a collection of brilliant students’’.

Okolo praised the class for making their former school proud in their different endeavours.

Also speaking, the Chief Judge of Anambra, Justice Peter Umeadi, a member of the class, commended Chime for his giant strides in the development of the state.

THE seventy two hours battle of the blood programme of Revolution Fire Christian Ministry Incorporated began yesterday. It will end on Sunday, August 4. The venue is 1 Bankole Close, opposite Taran Filling Station, off Ojodu Abiodun Road (near Adigboluja Police Station), Ojodu Berger, Lagos.

In a statement by the chief host, Prophet Emma Nwazuo, the programme is set apart to battle witchcraft attack, powers of darkness, sickness and evil altars. It is to achieve total deliverance.

Katsina committed to agric

HE Katsina State government has expressed its support to all agricultural programmes to further boost socioeconomic activities in the state.

Alhaji Musa Adamu, the Commissioner for Agriculture, said this while launching the distribution of working tools to the beneficiaries of Fadama III Project in Ingawa.

He said that part of the state government’s commitment was the settlement of counterpart funding for agricultural projects, including the Fadama programmes.

He noted that the government had made agriculture one of its priorities; hence its resolve to provide fertiliser, agrochemical and other implements to the farmers at subsidised rates across the state.

The commissioner also said that government had provided agricultural loans to all categories of farmers as part of efforts to-

ward boosting agriculture and self-employment among the people of the state.

Adamu, who praise d Fadama III for the distribution of the items, urged the beneficiaries to make best use of them to enhance their economic well-being.

Earlier, the state Fadama Coordinator, Alhaji Magaji Bakori, said communities in Ingawa Local Government had benefited from the project worth N28 million.

He commended the state government for its continued support to the Fadama project in the state.

In his address, Alhaji Hussaini Dambo, Caretaker Chairman, Ingawa Local Government Council, thanked both the state government and Fadama project for selecting the area as one of the beneficiaries.

Items distributed include oxen, ploughs, carts, spraying and grinding machines.

Also speaking at the event Executive Secretary of LSSEF, Mr.Tunde Bank-Anthonytouched on the composition of the LSSEF board as a well balanced decision making organ comprising five representatives at directorate level from the Lagos State government and10 representatives from the private sector as a way of building confidence of all critical stakeholders in the adjudication and channeling of mobilized funds to achieve the desired objectives.

The executive secretary stressed on the immediate plan of the body to embark on a road show to sensitize the fifty three local councils and local council development areas in the state to bring them on board in the fund mobilization drive to build sports infrastructures in the state.

The Chairman of the occasion, Chief MoladeOkoya-Thomas charged the LSSEF to involve the community in their plans and in their bid to raise funds and support for the project, while also calling for massive support of the private sector in the project to develop sports in Lagos state.

In the main presentation on the theme; “Sports Development and Social Engineering; The Role of the Private and Public sector”, Mr. TunjiAdeyinka, managing director of Connect Marketing noted that an endowment fund is a necessity in a state like Lagos for sustained •Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas (middle) with members of the fund at the event. investment in sports.

•Council Manager Mushin Local Government Area, Mr. Rasak Oladeji; Supervisor for Culture, Boundary Matter and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Toyin Fayinka,Hon. Olatunde Adepitan and Permanent Secretary Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mrs Oluwatoyin Ajayi during the last environmental saintation exercise.

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Govt recognises group

HE Lagos State Ministry of Commerce and Industry has recognised the Bus Conductors Association of Nigeria (BCAN) as a registered group.

The ministry which issued the certificate of recognition after the completion of mandatory registration of its members in 11 local government areas in the state, urged them to be of good conduct in discharging their duties to members of the public.

Making the presentation of the certifiticate at his office in Alausa Ikeja, the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mrs Olusola Oworu represented by Assistant Director of Commerce , Mr. Lanre Alayande Oworu, noted that the occasion was a giant stride in the pursuit of professionlism in transportation sector.

She said with the recognition the bad image conductors have received from the public would be wiped off,urging members of the public to treat them with decorum.

She added that the feat achieved by the association was noteworthy and should be commended. She said : “I join Nigerians to congratulate you on this milestone achievement and hope that you will always obey the law and be of good behaviour.”

Responding on behalf of the conductors, the National president of BCAN , Comrade Israel Adeshola, thanked the Lagos State Government for the recognition given to the association .

He promised that the group would continue

By Musa Odoshimokhe

to support the administration of Governor Babatunde Fashola by paying taxes promptly and conducting their business in orderly manner.

•The President of Bus Conduct Association of Nigeria Comrade Adeshola (left) receiving the certificate of recognision from Ministry of Commerce.

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

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AGRO-BUSINESS

Vegetable exporters eye $2m yearly revenue

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HE Nigeria Plant Quarantine Service (NIPQS) and farmers are working to achieve $2 million yearly earnings from vegetable exports in 2015, Coordinating Director, Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Dr Mike Nwaneri has said.

He said vegetable exports were expected to increase substantially in the country, adding that exporters are eyeing increased earnings on the back of rising demand in the market.

He said the demand for imported vegetables was steady, noting that producers are offering sufficient volumes with good quality and price.

To boost the country’s participation , he said the service had trained local producers to comply with regulatory and certifi-

Stories by Daniel Essiet

cation requirements of their clients.

He said penetrating the European Union (EU) fresh fruit market was not an easy task, stressing that it requires excellent production, harvest facilities, compliance with all EU and retail chain regulations and impeccable post-harvest sanitation and cold chain.

He disclosed that the service has identified 15 vegetable farms in Lagos, stressing that .the service was working with the farms to ensure they meet the requirements for phytosanitary certificate.

He said the service would issue quarantine certificates to its fresh vegetables and fruit eligible exporters, making them eligible for export to EU. At the moment, he said Nigeria

vegetable exports are accepted in United Kingdom, South Africa and Italy.

He said fresh vegetables that meet all hygiene and anti-disease standards have successfully been exported to the EU. Since 2001, he said no Nigeria vegetables have been rejected in EU over food hygiene and disease issues.

Following its collaboration with the importing nations, he said the service has been working to meet EU food hygiene and safety regulations.

Nwaneri said farm operators will reap more benefits by collaborating with the service to explore the international market.

The collaboration, he noted, aims to improve the vegetable production and target production, supply, post-harvest handling and consumer acceptability.

He said in the past, produce and trade in agricultural products were found to have broken food safety regulations, arguing that some of the vegetables were found to contain pesticides and other chemicals beyond permissible levels.

In response to the situation, substances and chemicals permitted for vegetable farmers have been made known to farmers to prevent the use of chemicals on plants, promising that the serv-

• Nwaneri

ice will continue to focus its inspections on the use of crop protection chemicals.

Experts to govt: ensure food safety

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YCOTOXICOLOGY Society of Nigeria (MYCOTOXSON) has urged the government to enforce safety measures in food production.

In a communiqué at the end of its Eighth Annual Conference and Workshop at The Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, the society said the government needs to address food and feed safety, particularly mycotoxins as contaminants of food and feed for prevention and control of aflatoxins.

They said the implementation would reduce the incidences of aflatoxins in food and feed, improve public health, increase trade and enhance food security.

The conference lamented that 25 per cent of total world produce are contaminated by mycotoxins, describing the development as unacceptable.

The effects of mycotoxins ,the society noted, on human and animal health include liver and kidney disorders and grave economic impact on local and international trade.

The conference called on the government to provide more equipment and facilities for mycotoxin research and also guarantee the supply of electricity to appropriate institutions undertaking such researches.

It commended the effort of its President, Dr Olusegun Atanda, in his crusade for the declaration of a World Mycotoxin Day by the United Nations Organisation (UNO).

Meanwhile, a don, Prof Tola Atinmo, has urged the Federal Government to deal with hoteliers who violate the food safety rules.

Atinmo of the Department of Nutrition, University of Ibadan, said there was need for the government agencies to check eateries and issue them clean bill of health.

He said food and safety officials need to visit such business places and penalise outlets for food hygiene issues, such as produce being presented to the public in unhygienic conditions.

The expert said food inspectors need to raid eateries to see whether frozen meats are preserved in unhygienic conditions and also find out if cooked or uncooked foodstuff are stored in irregular and dangerous ways.

According to him, any food to be unhygienic or improperly stored should be confiscated and

subsequently destroyed.

For him, not only the food itself should concern inspection teams, he said the team should conduct search to ensure food equipment in the restaurants, which are unsuitable for safe use are not employed.

He said officials should make it clear to restaurant owners that if the food and safety hygiene code was not adhered to there would be further action taken.

Hotels, he said, should be fined including the reuse of oil; the unhygienic storage of prepared food; the lack of proper moisture control in the store area; the use of old and unclean utensils; cobwebs in the kitchen, and broken or dilapidated condition of the kitchens.

According to him, eateries should conduct pest control regularly; the garbage can in the eatery should be kept closed with a lid; the staff should undergo medical checkups yearly; they should not have any skin disease; they should maintain personal hygiene; the utensils in which food is cooked should be clean, and the place where the food is cooked should be kept clean.

Atinmo stressed the need for the government to ensure food outlets, eateries and food manufacturing organisations adhere to food safety guidance and regulations.

Its main approach should be to investigate and penalise businesses, which fail to reach the standards expected in the industry, he added.

• Deluwa Ibrahim receiving her input from Abdullahi Raba and Yahaya M. Abdul.

Foundation empowers farmers

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HE Citi Foundation has given 105 smallholder farmers in four local government areas of Kano State (Gabasawa, Kabo, Tofa and Rogo) input for the farming season.

The empowerment is the second phase of the Citi Microenterprise Development for Rural Farmers Initiative (CMDRFI) being executed by Growing Businesses Foundation (GBF) in partnership with the Kano State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (KNARDA) and the Development Exchange Centre (DEC).

Speaking with reporters in Lagos, the Programme Director, Growing Businesses Foundation, Mr Clement Ononugbo, said the

By Adeola Ogunlade project is a financially inclusive programme targeted at increasing the income of small holder farmers in rural areas by facilitating access to financial management training, access to agricultural inputs through a loan fund and access to markets via linkage to agroproducts merchants and centralised logistics for post-harvest produce.

Ononugbo noted that foundation initiated the pilot programme in Kano State last year by facilitating linkages between farmer cooperatives, input suppliers, the Kano State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (KNARDA), Development Exchange Centre (DEC): a local microfinance insti-

tution) and agro-products merchants to develop the agriculture value chain for farmers in Gabasawa Local Government Area, funded by The Citi Foundation.

He said during the pilot, 48 farmers (including 11 female farmers) were trained and subsequently empowered with the agricultural inputs such as fertiliser, pesticide and seedlings; while in the current phase, 105 new farmers and 22 from the pilot phase were empowered.

“It is expected that one of the programme’s prime objective of growing capacity and improving the income of the farmers which was an outcome recorded in the pilot phase is sustained, thus encouraging agriculture as an enterprise,” he added.

Firm floats facility for preserving agric produce

P

RIMLAKS Group of Companies has set up the first ultra-modern Individually Quick Frozen (IQF) Facility for agricultural produce.

The IQF products under the Sympli brand name, according to a statement, were introduced to a cross section of industry stakeholders at the AgrikExpo in Lagos.

Group Chief Executive Officer, Primlaks Group of Companies, Ravi Hemani, said the facility will reinvigorate the agricultural sector by providing it with the latest and modern capabilities of reducing post–harvest loss of farm produce in the country.

He noted that Nigeria suffers from post-harvest loss as more than 40 per cent of the food produced is

lost to spoilage and waste - a trend that should not be allowed to continue if the country’s recent effort in achieving sustainable food security is to be attained.

He explained that the agricultural transformation agenda is creating the right foundation for Nigeria to once again become an agricultural heavyweight. There is, therefore, a need to harness the support of both government and the industry players to save the food that needlessly goes to waste, he added.

He said reducing post-harvest food losses in Nigeria will have a major impact on reducing the hunger and poor health suffered by its citizens with positive impact on job creation, food security and foreign exchange earnings.

“There has been absence of will on the part of the industry to invest in post-harvest preservation technology. With this facility, Primlaks has shown that it recognises the importance of this great need and has taken the initiative,” he added.

The IQF process involves sourcing, transporting, sorting, weighing, ripening, cleaning, peeling, de-stoning, cutting, in some cases blanching and then finally rapid freezing of various fruits and vegetables prior to packaging and cold storage.

The Primlaks Group boss said: “We buy our fruits and vegetables from Nigerian farms, and then through a value addition process, we end up with a product that can be kept for up to 24 months if

required at -18 Celsius.”

Specifically, he the company is focusing on 10 foods, namely African plantain chips, African ripe plantain (dodo), African yam fries, African yam chunks, African chilli (Atarodo), African red chilli (Sombo), African red chilli (Tatase), pineapple, papaya, and mango.

With plans to introduce green peas, diced carrot, green beans, french fries and mixed vegetables.

During the exhibition, guests including Prof. Pat Utomi, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, immediate past agrikExpo Chairman, Nigerian Economic Summit Group, and Sontonye Anga of the community of agricultural stakeholders, were shown fresh samples of the Sympli products.

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

18

AGRO-BUSINESS

‘Private sector-driven commodity boards coming’ I

N line with its transformation agenda, the Federal Government is to establish marketing boards that are private-sector driven to promote agriculture.

Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Dr Akinwumi Adesina said at the agribusiness food security summit organised by Business Day in Lagos that the project would take off with six commodities.

Represented by his Senior Technical Adviser Dr Adetunji Oredipe, the minister said the boards’ modus operandi would be worked out in a manner that it will be sustained by the private sector.

The boards, he said, would perform the functions of the defunct marketing boards before they were scrapped in 1986, except buying and selling.

According to him, the boards will be made of few government representatives and members from the national level.

He said the government intended to provide stable income for producers and a consistent, reasonably priced supply for consumers.

The government, he said, was taking some initiatives to help reduce the vulnerability of farmers from price fluctuations.

He said the boards would ensure that the value chain operated in the interest of stakeholders, including producers, processors and consumers.

Adesina said the government had adopted an action plan to support the agricultural commodity sector, adding that the development was imperative to enable farmers get good prices for their products.

He said the government was determined to grow agriculture

By Daniel Essiet

through deregulation and plans to add 20 million tons of food to domestic supply in addition to creating jobs by 2015.

The minister said domestic food supply grew by 8.1 million metric tonnes (MT) last year, exceeding the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) yearly target by 70 per cent and achieving 41 per cent of the cumulative food supply promised for 2015.

The ATA, he said, created two million new jobs, exceeding its target by over 200 per cent. “A new initiative to tackle youth unemployment by creating a new generation of young commercial, market-driven farmers ’Nagropreneurs’ - was conceived and will be launched in January 2014, with the goal of creating 760,000 Nagropreneurs by 2015,” he said.

“New incentives to attract foreign and local investors were implemented, netting $8 billion for Nigerian agribusiness. These included investments from Dominion Farms, a US investment company, Cargill, the world’s leading manufacturer of starch and AGCO, the world’s largest manufacturer of Massey Ferguson tractors.”

He added that more than $1.25 billion was committed towards the ATA by the World Bank, African Development Bank (AfDB), International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Overseas Private Investment Corporation and the British Government’s Department for International Development (DFID). The Bill & Melinda Gates

Foundation has selected Nigeria as a priority country for its investments in agriculture, and the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Ford Foundation and UNDP are providing significant technical support facilities.

Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture, Gbolahan Lawal, encouraged participants to take up agri businesses or diversify their investments. While reeling out the initiatives of the state at boosting agriculture, he said the government alone should not be left to do it all, adding that private sector participation was also needed.

He said ‘Rice For Jobs’, one of the initiatives of the state government had empowered 400 youths and increased commercial rice cul-

tivation in the state from 20 hectares to 1,200 hectares.

Lawal said the state placed much emphasis on agriculture and agricultural productivity, stating that the administration had made numerous achievements in the agriculture sector since its inception.

Farmers in the state, he said, had been provided with agricultural inputs such as fertiliser, pesticides, herbicides and tractors that are continuously purchased and distributed throughout the state.

He said the state collaborated with Federal Government in implementing development programmes.

An agri business investor, Anga Sotonye, told participants opportunities available in the agricultural sector. He urged the govern-

ment to hands off managing of silos just as it did with fertiliser.

He said: “If private sector players handle the storage of grains, they will ensure it is filled to capacity.”

He noted that Nigeria had 84 million hectares of arable land waiting to be turned into wealth.

Managing Director, Notore, Mr Jite Okoloko, said the company was ensuring that smallholder farmers got easier access to quality fertiliser while creating jobs for thousands of village-based agro dealers.

Managing Director, Terago, Jide Adedeji, enumerated some of the challenges of doing business in Nigeria, highlighting the immense potentials in the agribusiness sector.

4,500 farmers get free sesame seeds

O

LAM Nigeria Limited, a global supplier of agricultural products, has donated 4,500 bags of sesame seeds to 4,500 farmers in Jigawa, Katsina and Bauchi states for the planting season to boost agricultural output.

Speaking to reporters in Kano, the company’s manager, Mr Adamu Bello, said the gesture was part of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) of the company, which has enjoyed reasonable patronage in the Northwest in the past five years.

Bello said 500 farmers benefited from the programme in Katsina; 2,000 got one of four kilogramme sesame seeds each in Jigawa and in Bauchi.

He said the company had also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with agricultural

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

agencies in those states to boost sesame farming and encourage large-scale production of the seed.

The manager said free sesame seeds were distributed to farmers last month in those states, adding that the company also plans to grant soft loans to farmers to boost their input.

“We are also planning to provide them with fertiliser, herbicide and pesticides on loan basis; to be paid back after the harvest period.

“The company engages in buy back arrangement with farmers.

The farmers are to pay back their loans by selling their produce to the company at existing market price.

The company also in collaboration with agricultural agencies in these

states sponsors farmers on the demonstration plots for the farmers to have the opportunity to see practically the modern method of Sesame farming,” Bello stated.

He said Olam Nigeria Limited has also boosted cotton, rice, cashew, cocoa and ginger production in Nigeria, adding that in northern part of the country, the company has embarked on a number of empowerment programmes geared towards encouraging large-scale farming.

While the out-grower programme was first launched in Majingini and Hammadu villages in Gumel Emirate of Jigawa State on July 1, Bauchi followed on July 6 in Miya, a village in Ningi Emirate, just as the gesture spread to Ajiwa in Katsina State on July12.

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

19

COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

FROM OTHER LANDS

Inflated budgets

What your car knows about you

•MDAs will continue to have unremitted funds for as long as govt fails to punish culprits

• Black boxes aren’t just for airplanes anymore.

B

UT for the Federal Ministry of Finance which had on June 13 directed the Office of the AccountantGeneral of the Federation (OAGF) to close the accounts of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) that had failed to remit a total of N58billion independent revenue to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF), the sum of N34billion recovered from some of the agencies would still have been outside of the government purse. This, in effect, is to say that N24billion is yet to be recovered!

Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said that her ministry would continue to work on the matter “until government gets what it wants”. By this we understand the minister to mean that the government would not relent in its effort to recover the rest of unremitted funds by defaulting agencies. We were then told that the recovered money “had been factored into the cash-backing for the second quarter”.

Apart from the recovery of unremitted funds, the minister said that 215 MDAs and a total of 153,019 staff members were already captured on the Integrated Payroll and Personal Information System (IPPIS) platform since January, from which savings of N118.9million had been recorded as a result of the operation of the system.

We regard the information by the Minister of Finance as sweet talk meant to sooth the nerves of agitated critics of the yearly unremitted funds into the Consolidated Revenue Fund. This idea of recovering unspent and unremitted funds from

the public treasury has been going on for years. However, all we hear now and then is about money being recovered. We are hardly told about who the culprits are except in the case of a former Minister of Education, Professor Fabian Osuji, who was sacked because of unremitted fund of just N50million at that time. Now, cases of unremitted funds have escalated to N58billion.

But the recovery of such a huge amount of money from the MDAs put a big question mark on the basis of budget preparations by relevant agencies of government, and the approvals by the Federal Ministry of Finance.

How come such an amount was not utilised by the concerned agencies in the first place? Was it the case of inflated budget so that the leftover would be shared by some government officials after the end of each financial year?

We also believe that the amount so recovered should have been ploughed back as part of the following year’s budget. Also, the MDAs with excess from their previous budgets should have got an equivalent amount of excess money deducted from their next budget as they really did not need it except probably for the personal use of public officials who might want to steal it. This is probably why MDAs always lobby for inflated budgets when defending their budgets.

We have always heard of inflated contracts as a way of stealing public funds. In these days, we do have budget inflation which has now been captured by the mandated recovery of overstuffed budgets.

The pity of it is that when the excess

money is recovered, Nigerians cannot feel the impact on governance. Have they felt the impact of the billions recovered from culprits like the late General Sani Abacha and many political thieves whose stolen wealth had been returned to the Federal Government by the governments of Switzerland, United Kingdom, Germany, United States, among others?

For once, the Federal Government should get serious by not only recovering the excess of inflated budgets and recovered loots from thieving politicians and top government functionaries, but fish out the culprits for appropriate punishments. Until this is done, all talks about recovery of money from this or that quarter remain sheer hypocrisy.

‘For once, the Federal Government should get serious by not only recovering the excess of inflated budgets and recovered loots from thieving politicians and top government functionaries, but fish out the culprits for appropriate punishments. Until this is done, all talks about recovery of money from this or that quarter remain sheer hypocrisy’

Adieu, Allah De •Alade Odunewu’s death on July 25 was a great loss to journalism

H

IS nom de plume, ‘Allah De’, was as creative as it was revealing. It was not only an imaginative stylisation of his first name, Alade; it also gave a glimpse of the foundations of his moral platform, an aspect that perhaps informed his journalistic practice. This pen-name, a combination of the Islamic term for God and a Pidgin English word signifying existence, reflected his Muslim faith and his conviction about the place of the divine in human affairs. In the context of his work as journalist and conscience of society, it was a well chosen pseudonym that announced to power especially that a Higher Power was watching.

It is sad that the man who branded himself with such captivating deliberateness,

‘In the context of his work as journalist and conscience of society, it was a well chosen pseudonym that announced to power especially that a Higher Power was watching. It is sad that the man who branded himself with such captivating deliberateness, Alhaji Alade Idowu Odunewu, made a terminal exit in Lagos on July 25, at age 85. He belonged to a vanishing generation of journalists who, in professional terms, straddled the country’s colonial and post-independence eras’

Alhaji Alade Idowu Odunewu, made a terminal exit in Lagos on July 25, at age 85.

He belonged to a vanishing generation of journalists who, in professional terms, straddled the country’s colonial and postindependence eras. Furthermore, as a journalist he experienced both democratic rule and military dictatorship in the country’s political evolution. This chronological framework and professional exposure meant that he was not only witness to the shifting landscape of journalism in the country; he also played important roles in advancing the value of the media.

His career, which began in 1950 at the Daily Times where he worked as a reporter and sub-editor, turned out to be an odyssey that took him even to government positions. One of the earliest Nigerians formally trained in Journalism, he studied on a Federal Government scholarship at the Regent Street Polytechnic, London, (now University of Westminster), where he won the Commonwealth New Statesman Prize for the best all-round student.

His professional trajectory also took him to the Nigerian Tribune and the Allied Newspapers of Nigeria, before he became the Editor, Sunday Times, and later Daily Times. He also served as editor-in –chief at the well respected Daily Times, and CEO of the media empire’s publications division.

However, it was as a columnist that Odunewu attained immortal celebrity, and his Allah De column was a must-read for legions of newspaper readers across the country. Indeed, he wrote his column well into his advanced years, and it is heart-warming that a collection of his writings spanning 1963 to 2000 has been published with the title Winner Takes All. Al-

lah De, well rated for his masterly written insightful pieces and witty style, earned the flattering epithet “dean of satirical journalism”, a decoration inspired by the late political titan and orator, Nnamdi Azikiwe.

His place in the pantheon of journalistic greats is definitely assured, having been named among the icons of the practice in 140 years of Nigerian Journalism.

Honours from industry institutions like the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) of which he was a president, the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN) and the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NUJ), cemented his status as a model. It is to his credit that Odunewu employed his undoubted sense of professionalism as chair of the Nigerian Press Council. Equally noteworthy is the fact that his acclaimed integrity earned him public service positions at different periods, including Commissioner for Information and Tourism in Lagos State (1973-1975), Lagos State Public Complaints Commissioner, and Federal Electoral Commissioner for the 1979 general elections.

His love for Journalism and devotion to the finest standards of practice were evident, and his enthusiastic association with the Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME) and the Nigerian Media Merit Awards (NMMA) till the end, were testimonies to his commitment. With his departure, it is hoped that, in his honour, the DAME Informed Commentary prize which he sponsored from 1992, and the NMMA Columnist of the Year prize which he sponsored from 2006, would not be allowed to die.

I

F you bought your car in the last few years, chances are it’s equipped with a device that records such data as how fast you are driving and whether you’re wearing your seat belt. Chances are you don’t know it’s there.

Black boxes aren’t just for airplanes anymore.

They were first installed by automakers as a way to analyze the performance of their cars if that became necessary, but it didn’t take long for crash investigators to see them as a source of information about what led to an accident.

Was the motorist really traveling within the speed limit, as he claims to have been? When did she begin to apply the brakes? Because of the boxes’ value in accident investigations, and in determining recall-worthy safety issues, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this year proposed that they be required in all new cars and light trucks beginning in 2014. Car companies are willing, and insurance companies support the idea because the information could be used to determine who is at fault in accidents.

But various consumer groups, including the Electronic Frontier Foundation, which advocates for individual privacy rights in the digital world, have their doubts. Right now, the information recorded by the black boxes is very limited. Though they continuously gather information, they also continuously erase it. If a crash occurs or an air bag deploys, the boxes retain only the data from a few seconds before to a few seconds after. But with new advances, the boxes might retain data for longer stretches of time. They might also include new information, such as the car’s location or cellphone calls that were made using the car’s equipment and how long they lasted. Another problem is that black box data are not considered 100% reliable at this point.

That shouldn’t rule out their use in investigations. But the NHTSA, in its enthusiasm, has neglected to include adequate protection for consumers in its proposal. To start, the buyers of new cars should be informed, clearly and verbally, that the boxes exist and what they record. Right now that information is tucked away in the owner’s manual, which isn’t exactly bestselling reading material.

Information gathered by the devices should be limited to safety data, and the only information that should be available to investigators and insurance companies should be what’s directly related to a crash — meaning the seconds immediately before and after. The boxes should not collect audio or video data; the conversation in the car before an accident should not be recorded. And the information should be available only by warrant or subpoena, unless the owner voluntarily surrenders it. Beyond that, the data gathered about a driver in the car he owns belong to him alone.

– Los Angeles Times TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh • Editor Gbenga Omotoso •Chairman, Editorial Board Sam Omatseye •General Editor Kunle Fagbemi •Editor, Online Lekan Otufodunrin •Managing Editor Northern Operation Yusuf Alli •Managing Editor Waheed Odusile

• Executive Director (Finance & Administration) Ade Odunewu

•Deputy Editor Lawal Ogienagbon

•Advert Manager Robinson Osirike

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

•Deputy Editor (News) •IT Manager Adeniyi Adesina Bolarinwa Meekness •Deputy Editor (Nation’s Capital) Yomi Odunuga •Press Manager •Group Political Editor Udensi Chikaodi Emmanuel Oladesu •Group Business Editor Ayodele Aminu •Sport Editor Ade Ojeikere •Editorial Page Editor Sanya Oni

•Manager, Corporate Marketing Hameed Odejayi • Manager (Admin) Folake Adeoye

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

20

CARTOON & LETTERS

S

IR: As you mark the 16th anniversary of your transition and communion with panAfrican forebears, I feel obligated to write to you considering the inimitable doggedness and sacrifices you made for this country.

Today, Martin Luther King’s America is a model and cynosure of human liberty, as even a black man is president, which more than fulfils his “I Have A Dream” project. Kwame Nkrumah’s Ghana is now the paragon of progress in West Africa, and the streets of Lagos no longer stream with Ghanaian “shoe makers” (a “profession” which was the exclusive preserve of Ghanaians in Lagos throughout the 1980s and 1990s). They have all returned home; not because of the “Ghana must go” policy of the Nigerian government, but because the survival of small and medium

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

Letter to Fela, 16 years after scale business is guaranteed with stable electricity supply and workable economic policies in Ghana.

You must be wondering what is happening in Nigeria especially with the military rascality and brigandage that reached a choking crescendo when you left. Well, the soldiers have returned to the barracks and Nigeria now practices democracy, but let me quickly add that only the jersey has changed; the players and tactics remain es-

sentially the same.

By the way, please when next you see Ken Saro-Wiwa disturbing the peace of Hades with the cry of marginalization of his people; tell him to stop living in the past as his kinsman is now the emperor. Tell Ken his kinsmen are fully in charge and the “blood vessels” that sustain the Nigerian nation have been entrusted in the care of goons from the creeks. In fact every Tom, Dick and Harry from Niger Delta today

is a major stakeholder in the Nigerian project whose view must be seriously considered.

Electricity, water, food, house are still in the realm of imagination and hope (where you left them); unemployment is still employing Nigerians in millions (about 70% now); basic health care system remains elusive. Our roads continue to railroad people to your end of the divide and our aircrafts have been re-christened “flying coffins”.

The price of social change

S

IR: In different parts of the globe, many people are working and campaigning for social change and transformation. They campaign for provision and improvement of social amenities, for education, human rights and humane laws. But the fact is that achieving social change-positive and progressive change- does not come easy. It has a price -and comes at a cost-sometimes the cost of one’s life. Very often people desire change, they demand for improvement of their society but they do not know that change has a price. It requires hard work and struggle. People want change but are not willingly to pay the price for it. They want social progress to fall like ‘manna’ from heaven.

And that is why the promises and possibilities of social transformation elude –and continue to elude many around the globe.

Some of us may wonder: Why is there a price on a good that benefits everyone? Why is it that some people are killed, framed,

imprisoned because of their quest, work and struggle for human rights, equity and social justice?

Why do we have to labour and sacrifice to win social acceptance and approval for social goods?

Social change has-and comes at a price because there are people and powers with vested interest in the prevailing situations of inequity and injustice, and they are not ready to let go. There are people or institutions that benefit from the stagnation and rot, from the oppression, persecution and discrimination against others. And these people and powers fear change.

They resist change. They feel threatened by any call for change.

They hate people demanding for change. So when people are demanding for change in a society, they should bear in mind that there are forces who want the status to remain. And these forces use their propaganda tools to make people believe that the status quo is the best the society can attain, when it is not. They incite and mobilize the people against those working and campaigning

for progress. They make people believe that those seeking positive change are the enemies of the society and sometimes the enemies of god.

They do so because they think they will lose out if change happens. They think they will lose their position and power including the privilege and benefits that go with it. So when we are calling or working for a change we should know we are up and against forces and powers with vested interest in the status quo and who will do anything, go to any length to stop or undermine the process. But as we saw in Arab Spring and in other places around the world, forces with vested interest in tyranny, oppression and exploitation of the people always and will eventually bow to the pressure of popular power and demand. So, all campaigners for social change should draw strength from this.

Those who have vested interest in the pervasive criminality and illegality are opposed to progressive change. Those who have their political, tradi-

tional and religious power base on witch hunting and other harmful traditional practices are against any efforts to eradicate this cultural scourge. But we cannot give up the task of changing the society due to opposition, threats and intimidation. Instead we must forge ahead and press on bearing in mind those thoughtful words of the African American thinker, Frederick Douglass. He said: “If there is no struggle, there is no progress. Those who profess to favour freedom, and yet depreciate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground. They want rain without thunder and lightning. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters. This struggle may be a moral one; or it may be a physical one; or it may be both moral and physical; but it must be a struggle.”

And I add, it must be a struggle at a price.

• Leo Igwe, Bayreuth, Germany

Authority stealing has never been this prominent, as Niyi Osundare aptly asserts that corruption has become “the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic.”

I listened to your track “Authority Stealing” and shuddered when I got to the part where you maintain that the big thief in Nigeria is allowed to go home, while the small thief who probably stole to escape the pang of hunger is condemned to jail. I wonder if you composed that song for those days or for these days, because it aptly describes the reality of today where a man who stole a governor’s phone has been sentenced to 45 years in prison, while an official who stole over five billion naira police pension fund has been asked to “pay tax” and then go home to enjoy his loot.

Nigeria today is like a rudderless ship trapped in a whirlwind at sea. Our captains continue to perform circus shows in the name of salvaging the ship; the senior captain, surrounded by his menacing lapdogs, looks and acts clueless, yet scorns at every voice that seeks to correct. The passengers have been mummified and converted to inmates who must contrive some smiles to endure suffering – “Suffering and Smiling.”

While our “Ogas at the top” continue to fritter our commonwealth on frivolities, we give our battle to the lord; so we continue to throng Lagos-Ibadan expressway and Idi Iroko-Ota road every Sunday to entreat God, and continue to pay out tithes so that our pastors can fly our prayers to heaven in private jets. We are optimistic that our miracle on the way whether you believe it or not.

The Lagos state government has built a museum in your memory to preserve your legacies – at least that’s good news. But as you assume mantle as the “diviner” of Hades, please make it your first duty to entreat the oracle on our behalf, as we have spent eternity entreating Western gods to no avail.

• Banire Abiodun.

University of Ibadan

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013 16

21

COMMENTS

Just me…being self righteous

D

EATH will be that undiscovered country that we shall all visit. In that country, everybody shall be stripped of titles and accumulated wealth.

Nobody shall be referred to as “Your Excellency,” “OON, CON, GCON” “Africa’s richest billionaire” and so on. In that country, the truth of our follies and the septic belly of our idiocies shall become even more pronounced and visible to all. Those of us, the billionaires particularly, who send so-called “prayerfully powerful” Alfas on holy pilgrimage to Mecca to seek for Allah’s forgiveness and infinite mercies on their behalf shall realize that they had simply been foolish. No amount of prayers-by-proxy, sacrifices and so on, shall move Almighty Allah to forgive them and grant them eternal peace and paradise if their handiwork is tantamount to evil.

They shall all die eventually. It wouldn’t matter if they are buried in Victoria Court Cemetery or Atan Cemetery; it wouldn’t matter if their remains are unrecoverable in the event of their demise in a ghastly accident or assassination. Immediately they

pass on, they shall begin to pay for their handiwork like the rest of us. They shan’t escape the trials of the grave.

No priest, highfaluting ceremony of absolution from ‘original sin,” redemption and so on shall ennoble the Christians among us with the “infinite grace” of Almighty God if they remain evil at heart. If they like, let them build as many gigantic Churches and temples as they like, let their offerings and tithe tower beyond the rafters and sky-high, it shall never make them pious before God. May it not make them pious before God. No priest or Alfa can intercede with God on our behalf. We shall all die: President, governor, first lady, special advisers, ministers, accountant, journalist, activist, dibias, babalawos and so on. And even our tiniest depravity shall be summoned to witness against us.

Those who profess to be godly live like they answer to some blind, stupid, and partial god. Almighty Allah is not stupid, silly or blind. Jehovah is neither partial nor handicapped by greed for worship houses, outlandish sac-

‘Even when we see through the promises of the separatists, we choose to ignore it for the love of paltry inducements and instant gratification. It’s about time the Nigerian youth started postponing immediate gratification and endure hard sacrifices spurred by conviction that the future can be better than the past’

W

HEN Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige emerged the governorship candidate of the PDP in Anambra State in 2003 and subsequently declared the winner of the election in the state by INEC, many who did not know him could not believe that anything good will come out from his government. Only those who knew him from childhood and his tortuous path to greatness knew that his emergence signified a new dawn of an era in the politics of Anambra State.

As Ngige was about to settle down as the elected governor of the state, the buccaneers who had held the state ransom for their selfish interests struck again, causing confusion and distracting his government and the people of Anambra State. Anambra, known as haven for political absurdities and experiments since the return of democracy in the country 1999 returned to the familiar path again. The people were helpless and vulnerable. Those being looked upon to fight for the people against the rampaging renegades went under and kept quiet for selfish political and economic interests.

The state was yearning for a liberator and selfless leader to fight the godfathers and provide good governance, a missing link in the politics of the state from time immemorial.

Ngige, the governor was the target of the godfathers for his refusal to allow them access to the state’s treasury.

His life was put on line and he was under pressure from the powers- that- be to settle the godfathers with public funds and enjoy his seat as governors for two terms unhindered.

He resisted without minding whose ox was gored and continued with the provision of good governance in the face of the overwhelming distractions by the cabal. That was how a new chapter of responsive, responsible and people-oriented government was opened in the politics of Anambra State.

Those who never believed in him marvelled and that was how he became the people’s hero in governance.

It is worth recalling that at the inception of Ngige’s administration on May 29, 2003, the state treasury was empty and his predecessor owed workers several months of salaries and arrears. There was no single kobo to run government business, not to talk of paying salaries. Banks and other financial institutions were owed by the government. The state could not even service her counterpart funding for various projects. It was not until the end of June 2003 when money trickled in from the Federation Account that his administration re-engineered the finances of the state that enabled the government to pay staff and start paying pensions at 142% rise-the first state in the South-east to do so.

For the 33 months Ngige was in the saddle, his works in numerous sectors that spread across the three senatorial zones of the state was an eloquent testimony of a leader

rifices and exaggerated humility.

Chineke, Eledumare is surely no perverted wimp that we could corrupt by wile and insincere tokens of sacrifice and worship.

May he judge us all according to our handiwork; He shall judge us all according to our handiwork. In the face of such imminent reality, it’s amusing me to see the ruling class administer our lives like they are answerable to no one.

It’s even more bizarre to see many of us, the youth particularly, lend themselves as willing tools to the antics and designs of the ruling class. Many a self-styled professor of truth and champion of the masses’ rights have turned into junkyard dogs and dung dogs for the same ruling class they used to criticize.

Talk is cheap really and Nigerians love to talk a good game. That is why everyone: literate, semi-literate and illiterate, display flawless capacities to decipher and summarize the political and socio-economic problems afflicting Nigeria, just for the fun of it or the benefit of applause.

Besides a few good men and real heroes who have staked their lives and personal comfort to protest the gross ineptitude and bestiality of the ruling class and the society at large, most of us have accepted to remain acquiescent; when we are criticized for being unacceptably docile, we respond that there is infinite wisdom in choosing our battles wisely and keeping our mouth shut.

Nonetheless, we continue to mount the soapbox in our living rooms, around our dinner tables and in the ubiquitous ‘beer parlours’ criticizing our leaders, casting blames and justifying our pathetic and apologetic existence.

The tragedy subsists in our customary lamentation about the state of the Nigerian nation; every time our conscience is roused with

a damning report, as it is still customary of us, more racist politicians and activists suggest that we split and go our separate ways touting it as the only solution to our league of extraordinary problems.

There is no wisdom in secession unless it serves to eliminate the same bogeys that make Nigeria a living hell for us. Secession, I maintain, is the fruit of ‘reason’ that we need to be wary of and I will continue to say this hoping every prospective muscle – that is, the youth – by which the separatists hope to achieve their dreams of dissolution, would listen and learn to let the secessionists risk their skins and their lineages to actualize their platitudes.

Let every political godfather, public office hopeful and so on send their sons and wives and daughters on to the streets to wield cutlasses, guns and bombs. Let the ruling class recall their children from their Ivy League schools and exclusive mansions abroad to march on the streets and hack to death perceived oppositions to their political ambitions. Let every youth from humble background and the breadlines mobilize instead to collectively seek an end to the ruling class’ reign of terror.

Violence and bloodshed is never the answer; secession is never the answer to our woes.

The biggest misconception about separation, insurgence, selfdetermination or whatever the separatists choose to call it is that it could be peaceful and that the end result would be a conscientious and citizenry-centred dispensation.

It’s all dirty, greedy politics; the separatists want the youth to fly the flags of their dream nations, they want everybody to brandish a bumper sticker that bellows, “Death to the Federal Republic of Nigeria!” They call anyone that’s

anti-war and anti-secession, “pacifist,” “traitor” or whatever colourful adjective suits their rage.

Then they promise the youth a prosperous future and better fate under their dream nation. Consequently, youth that ought to know better buy into such farce and they all begin to dream and talk of the great uprising that would set them free from the living hell Nigeria has become.

Even when we see through the promises of the separatists, we choose to ignore it for the love of paltry inducements and instant gratification. It’s about time the Nigerian youth started postponing immediate gratification and endure hard sacrifices spurred by conviction that the future can be better than the past.

But we face a far more difficult problem at our moment in history.

What do you promise youth who have been told they can have anything they want, who are repeatedly urged to seek the best of all possible circumstances without shedding sweat for it? How do you tell them that “the good times,” as they have known them or heard of them, will definitely come back?

The Nigerian youth needs a new vision to help them deal with reality, a promising story of the future that helps them let go of the pains and disappointments of the past. We need a grand vision of possibilities that Nigerians may pursue and dream on: the country’s rich socio-cultural and political tradition, the right of all citizens to larger lives. Such dreams should never be about getting richer than the guy next door or accumulating obscene wealth for applause and to show off but the right to live life more fully and engage more expansively the elemental possibilities of human existence.

• To be continued…

Anambra guber: Why Ngige’s the man to beat

By Chris Onwulegbu with vision and people at heart. Everything turned around for good in the state. Within the period, his administration built 44 inter-local government, state and federal roads, spanning all local government areas in the state. Also built were 10 township roads in Awka, including an on-going massive dualisation of Nnamdi Azikiwe Avenue, 14 township roads in Onitsha, and eight in Nnewi. All of these roads were accompanied by concrete drains and erosion checks to make them last. It was properly supervised by Ngige himself in order to ensure that they met the required standard. In all, about 72 roads were constructed and reconstructed by his administration. Today these roads are just as if they were constructed yesterday and the people of the state are attesting to it.

At the time of leaving office in 2006, the Ngige administration left in the state coffers N12.8 billion. This is made up of a strategic reserve of N7.5 billion for road construction, N1.5 billion for the development of the new Anambra State University. There was another N1.3 billion for housing development programmes and N2.5billion as recurrent account for salaries, wages and pension. These were aside from the N0.3b billion in the state/Local Government Joint Account, dedicated to the construction of Inter-local government roads. In addition, the government had kept N2.5 billion in the recurrent account to ensure that salaries and wages of civil servants as well as other perks of office are addressed as and when due, without waiting for money from the Federation Account.

Ngige had appealed to his successor not to fritter away the painfully gathered savings already tied to specific projects such as the following: the Onitsha –Atani-Osomala-OgwuIkpele Road with a spur to Ozubulu – one of the most dilapidated roads in the state (Contract for this already awarded); Amansea-Ebenebe-Awba-Ofemmili Road ( also awarded); Anaku-Ifite Ogwari-Omasi Road; Umueze Anam-Orom Anam-Nzam Road; Nibo-Umuawulu –Awgbu-Odor BridgeAmaokpala-Oko Road.

These roads were already slated for flag-off before the verdict of the Appeal Court that removed Ngige from office

was delivered. Even though considerable earthworks had been moved on each of them before then, today almost eight years down the lane, it is left for the people of Anambra with what is ground to say that the saved fund was frittered away or not. It is pertinent for people of the state to ask questions on how the present government has managed the monthly Federation Allocation and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) that accrued to the state in the last seven years plus coupled with the money it inherited from her predecessor.

That the Ngige administration epitomised prudence, transparency and accountability in the management of public fund within the 33 months he was in saddle is stating the obvious. In spite of the cold relationship between him and the Presidency under Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the then chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Mallam Nuhu Ribadu gave him a clean bill of health at a time almost all his colleagues were under investigation or facing trial over money laundering.

Despite the high wire politics and intrigues that trailed the Appeal Court Enugu Division judgment that removed him from office on March 15, 2006, Ngige accepted the outcome with equanimity and urged the people of the state to extend the support they gave to him to his successor.

On leaving office, Ngige, known for his thoroughness, grassroots clout and strong will pitched tenth with some formidable politicians like Ahmed Bola Tinubu, Vice President Atiku Abubakar and others to form Action Congress of Nigeria. Since then, despite pressure from PDP for him to rejoin the party, Ngige has remained himself by keeping faith with God, the people of the state and his party. In spite of the opposition massed against him in the Anambra Central Senatorial election in 2011, the people voted and stood by him. Today he is reciprocating the people’s support by offering them jobs and attracting federal projects to the state.

What else do the people of Anambra need, if not a leader like Ngige as the clock ticks for Anambra governorship election slated for November 16.

• Onwulegbu, a retired civil servant wrote from Onitsha, Anambra State

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

22

COMMENTS ‘No government can be long secure without a formidable Opposition’ - Benjamin Disraeli

T

HE late John F. Kennedy, 35th president of world’s most powerful country - the United States of America - in one of his widely reported statements, once said: ‘Victory has a thousand fathers, but defeat is an orphan.’ This quote aptly captures the mood in the polity as more previously doubting Nigerians are now struggling to identify with the All Progressives Congress (APC), the newest political party in the nation’s political firmament. The party was formally registered two days ago by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The road leading to the eventual registration of the APC was littered with doubts arising from the ruthless antecedent of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to always circumvent seeming new viable democratic initiative. The path was strewn in prickles aimed at stagnating the progressives’ efforts of ensuring the birth of a formidable political party to wrest power from obviously bungling PDP. Personally, l doff my hat for those progressive leaders of APC for their selfless pursuit of their party’s registration to a fruitful end: They sacrificed their self-interests and endured personal discomforts. When it looked as if the set goal of registration was impossible; when their political hecklers were already jubilating that they had reached a dead end, they remained unrelenting. They must have strategised day and night to lay the unassailable foundation, through APC, for the imminent dethronement of PDP’s impunity in the governance of this country. Now that the APC has been registered, it is pertinent to ask whether the new party is ready to restore confidence of the people in their government if it wins the presidency in 2015. Or will the APC be another rabble-rouser in power like the current ruling party?

From this moment, all eyes will be on APC. And what the new party’s detractors might be saying do not count; what really matters is what the party does rightly to rescue the nation from the siege of PDP before the next general elections. Mr. Kofi Annan, former United Nations (UN) Secretary-General once observed that “good governance is perhaps the single most important factor in eradicating poverty and promoting development.”

What Nigeria lacks for several years of demo-

S

TRAIGHT away, it’s a faux pas, a very embarrassing policy misjudgment that one believes the Lagos State Government must be giving a serious rethink right now. Something must have been amiss somewhere as one cannot imagine an enlightened cabinet as Governor Raji Fashola’s voting to ship ‘alien’ destitute and derelicts to the nearest bus stops away from Lagos, it’s an illdigested novelty. And if we may remind, what this calls to mind is that governance (everywhere) need be more rigorous in its work, it must take especial pains to SOLVE problems not throw them into shredding machines and government must at all times, strive for the greater good of humanity for that is its raison d’etre. Having said that here are some points to ponder on the ‘deportation’ of the homeless 70 saga: ONE: People of Onitsha woke up last week to find a small crowd of hapless souls near the head bridge by Upper Iweka flyover. They had been dumped there in the dead of night by officials of the Lagos State Government, (LASG) they claimed and recounted a tale of woes. Officials of the LASG initially denied but when their denial would not stick, they told the ‘true’ story. Yes, it’s routine practice that had started for sometime, they are homeless destitute picked off the streets of Lagos and having rehabilitated them for a while, must send them back to their home states.

LASG cannot possibly manage the influx of the dregs of the society into its burgeoning city. They were not dumped in Onitsha, they were reunited with their people, besides there

‘Let’s also remember that every city of the world has destitution challenges – London, Paris, New York - the dirt poor and homeless are a part of the human race after all.

There are Nigerians in some of these cities in fact, over two decades ago, Newswatch magazine reported on Nigeria’s destitute community in London’

07011117777

Will APC be PDP’s nemesis?

•Asiwaju Bola Tinubu cratic rule is good governance. The PDP in barely over 14 years has shamefully succeeded in enthroning graft and visionless leadership on the nation. And Nigerians are waiting in the wings to see whether APC would deliver on this if given the opportunity to govern so that poverty and retarded development could be banished from the country.

The attainment of this lofty goal cannot be by mere rhetorics. The new party with its array of tested and accomplished political leaders must earnestly unveil its manifesto to the Nigerian public. Nigerians desire a manifesto with rigour/empiricism: A manifesto that has intrinsic and extrinsic correlations with people’s basic needs over time.

Nigerians want good roads; they want affordable education; functional and effective

healthcare system that is currently a charade under this PDP led administration. Nigerians want inexpensive and safe housing; they want gainful employment and a country that is safe for all to live in.

The people of this country want to see a well developed agricultural sector that could guarantee a situation where food items would be the cheapest things after inhaled air. With the deplorable state of federal roads across the country, it has become clear that the lives of Nigerians plying those roads mean very little to the government at the centre. For instance, the Lagos/Ibadan Express road remains a death trap since 14 wasteful years of PDP tyranny over the nation. The healthcare system, as typified by the debilitating state of most federal hospitals, is in shambles. A visit to the National hospital, Abuja would give credence to this reality.

This PDP government seems confused over the state of insecurity in the nation. Also, the administration of the ruling party has embarked on more actions that would increase unemployment rate than those that could promote employment generation. The pursuits of selfish political ambitions by members of the ruling party have relegated general public interests to the background. The touted mileage in agriculture has remained a paper thing with no direct impact on the production and prices of agricultural produce.

The Nigerian public has increasingly become weary of sustained on-going trend of ineptitude in the running of the country’s affairs. They desire long over-due change of political baton from the on-going inglorious

EXPRESSO STEVE OSUJI

SMS 08111526725, email:steve.osuji@yahoo.com

LASG’s human ‘waste’ crisis and other tales is no ethnic undertone as the same method had been adopted for destitute from Oyo, Ogun and the north of Nigeria.

TWO: The fact that LASG had to carry out the ‘operation’ in the dead of night then lied about it initially means that it must be aware that it is doing something wrong; something heartless and inhuman. Whether the ‘dumping’ had gone on for a decade or that the destitute are routinely and democratically dispersed into the four winds of Nigeria does not make the action right. It simply means that no rigour was applied to solving a social problem.

THREE: LASG must learn to take the bitter with the sweet. A big city cannot be too picky about the people it wants within its borders.

All the able-bodied, law-abiding, hardworking and creative ones are welcome; those who can generate taxes, and help build the city can stay while their wretched siblings must stay away? And to venture into the ethnic hue of the matter, you will not normally associate Igbo with destitution so if out of say one million, a hundred or two are banana cases the city should be able to accommodate that. It is called the law of averages which evens things out. Let’s also remember that every city of the world has destitution challenges – London, Paris, New York - the dirt poor and homeless are a part of the human race after all. There are Nigerians in some of these cities in fact, over two

decades ago, Newswatch magazine reported on Nigeria’s destitute community in London.

FOUR: It is true that Lagos State is a special case and deserves to enjoy some special status in the federation as has been canvassed by many for sometime now but regardless LASG must be upfront and paradigmatic in managing most of its challenges because they will only grow with the city. For instance destitution is likely to increase and not reduce in years to come so long term solutions are required. The Ministry of Social Welfare sure has a department in charge of derelicts, castaways and the wretched of the society; if this lowliest class in our midst has become such major challenge to the government, what thoughts have been put into the problem?

What new grounds have been broken? Why can’t we have model camps and settlements in different locations for these dregs where they can be afforded proper rehabilitation?

Why can’t we have a Destitute Fund like the Security Fund which individuals, other states and international bodies could contribute to with proper conceptualization and promptings? What is the public awareness and sensitization strategy for tackling this problem? How have other mega cities managed their own citizens of the streets? Who says Lagos City cannot create a universal model for managing this class of people?

True, Lagos may have a case, its method is most baleful even to the city as we have seen

routine of misrule and systemic corruption.

That is why yours sincerely thinks that with proper planning; a vision driven by a mission and resolve to think less of selves by the leadership of the APC, the days of PDP in power might just not exceed 2015.

What the country needs most at this crucial period is a party that could inspire the country to do what she is capable to be what she could be. A party that would throw up principled leaders of courage to occupy salient positions; let us have a party that is not only about techniques but also above average in traits of character and public spirited restraints. So far in the south-west, the laudable governance skills of Governor of example, Babatunde Raji Fashola, is a pointer of what to expect in APC. The other governors in the southwest including the focussed and principled Abiola Ajimobi in Oyo state; the astute precursor of renowned ‘Opon-Imo’ and high performer, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State among others, are not doing badly in their various jurisdictions. Their performances have set the template and teasers of what to expect from the newly registered APC. Is APC the long awaited party that would checkmate the long excruciating run of PDP in power? There is no doubt that public expectations are very high on APC and it is believed that the party will not disappoint Nigerians. The indefatigable strategist leader of the APC and former governor of Lagos state, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has assured that the formal registration of the party will usher in ‘an irreversible cause of positive change and people oriented development’ in the country. Indeed, the new dawn is perhaps around the corner.

‘Is APC the long awaited party that would checkmate the long excruciating run of PDP in power? There is no doubt that public expectations are very high on APC and it is believed that the party will not disappoint Nigerians’ from the backlash arising from the action so far.

FIVE: With pervasive poor governance across the land and with the local government system effectively moribund in Nigeria today, social crises like destitution will assail us at a scale we have not known before.

Since we cannot put these people into a compactor and tip them into the Lagos lagoon or the River Niger as the case may be, we must recourse to thinking better and working smarter.

POPE FRANCIS AND ARCHBISHOP TUTU’S TAKES ON GAY MARRIAGE The gay war of attrition gains more grounds and big followership by the day and we the ‘victimized’ majority are taking a serious whacking. First it was the respected Archbishop Desmond Tutu who weighed in in favour of gay marriage when he declared that he will not serve a homophobic god. Now ‘homophobes’ is the ‘ugly’ name for those of us who think it is wrong for two men or women to engage in conjugal relationship not to talk of solemnizing matrimony. Gee, what a terrible name; it’s even worse than homosexual.

If you thought you couldn’t begin to argue matters of faith with an archbishop, what do you do when the pontiff now makes a declaration on a matter of the kingdom? Nothing really one can add but what is sure is: there will be dire consequences when most of the world goes gay and secondly, God, through the bible condemns homosexuality in clear terms and that must be the standpoint and shield of the ‘homophobes’.

THE RETURN OF UMARU DIKKO You must remember Alhaji Umaru Dikko, the doughty politician of the Second Republic who fled to self-exile to Britain after his party, National party of Nigeria (NPN) brought that era to perdition. Remember the episode of his being crated for repatriation by the Muhammadu Buhari administration for trial for his role in that highly corrupt era. All that is history now. He was pardoned long ago and he has been living quietly since until now. The Peoples Democratic Party has made him a member of the National Disciplinary Committee of the party. All the kakistocrats in the land are regrouping aren’t they? The auguries are not bright are they?

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

INSIDE

Pages 25

Website: http://www.thenationonlineng.com

•’Jonathan must •Pain in Agge five • The battle to years after invasion succeed Uduaghan have second term’ •PAGE 28

•PAGE 39

•PAGE 40

‘Visit Otuoke and die’ Udoedehe

‘People are suffering and smiling in Akwa Ibom’ Page 38

From being another rustic, agrarian and fishing Ijaw community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State a few years ago, Otuoke is fast becoming the envy of communities in not only the state, but across the Niger Delta. Southsouth Regional Editor SHOLA O’NEIL and MIKE ODIEGWU report on this town an observer believes will be to the Southsouth what Paris is to France. Then, a slogan, ‘visit Otuoke and die’, will be assigned to it.

•Moses

Man ‘mistakenly’ sells friend for N1.5m Page 40

• The new Corpers’ Lodge in Otuoke

•The late Ogosi

Nollywood stars gather for Ogosi Page 37

•Ariyo

Anger over slain Itsekiri 12 Page 26

• Jonathan’s palatial mansion under construction in Otuoke

O

TUOKE is a massive construction site-- from the Federal University of Technology to the Otuoke Hospital and roads, it is bustling with development activities.

Why not? One of its sons from the illustrious Ebele family, one of the seven families that make up Otuoke, is the President.

The most optimistic of the residents never envisaged that this fishing, cassava and plantain farming community surrounded by water would make such a huge progress in a short time.

A proud indigene predicted that Otuoke will be to the Southsouth what Paris is to France. “Then, a slogan, ‘visit Otuoke and die’, will be assigned to it,” he said gleefully.

The first indication that President Goodluck Jonathan’s hometown is not one of thousand others in the region is the number of heavily armed, but well behaved security

personnel that maintain a post just after the bridge leading to the community.

Otuoke, a mere 15 to 20 minutes drive from Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, has a population of about 5,000. It has really changed into a satellite town. Driving through the narrow and bustling road of Azikoro village, one meanders the treacherous bends, navigates ubiquitous sand dumps and the shoddily constructed road that leads to the community through Otu-Ogidi.

From the bridge, Otuoke comes alive. Shanties of a few years ago have given way to modern buildings. All the buildings along the road have been either reconstructed or renovated. Mud houses, which used to dot the community, are gone. There is a general belief that Jonathan has empowered his kinsmen to enable them build good houses.

• Otuoke General Hospital The hitherto narrow road has been expanded. Solar-powered streetlights stand erect on both sides of the road; at night they cast golden glows on the neatly swept street.

The construction of Jonathan’s house, which is located at the waterfront, is nearing completion. The compound has been redesigned and remodelled severally, perhaps to befit his new status. Rubble of buildings demolished to create more space litter the wide expanse of land. A lone, nondescript church building stands out on the wide space on the fore ground. In the background, an uncompleted twostorey building, with a penthouse, stands smugly above the skyline of the city.

The President was said to have acquired all the land bordering his fence to isolate his compound from neighbours. Their owners reportedly received handsome compen-

PHOTOS: SHOLA O’NEIL

sation to build better houses elsewhere.

Directly opposite the President’s house are twin duplexes erected by Jonathan for his mother and his late father. Though not gaudy, their simple splendour distinguishes them from other structures around them.

Located nearby is the new ultramodern St. Stephen Anglican Church, a controversial building which was donated to Jonathan by Gitto Construction Ltd, an Italian contractor working for the Federal Government.

There is also a Skill Acquisition Centre that is nearing completion in the town. In addition, there is a mini “Eagle Square” built by former Governor Timipre Sylva and named after Mrs. Jonathan. The Dame Patience Jonathan Square registers its significance with two •Continued on page 26

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

26

NIGER DELTA REPORT

Tears, anger as activists remember W

HEN he was done with the video and slide show presentation, there were just few dry eyes in the Yesuo Hall within a private property located in an exurb part of the Warri GRA, Delta State on Saturday.

Samplers: Young men were splayed on rickety walkways, bloodied; five-year-old Aduke let the tears cascaded down her cheeks at the gory sight of her father, George, who was hacked to death; and one of the photos showed the rigor mortis frozen image of a man with his hand over his head, ostensibly to wade off the razor-sharp axe, which yet cut through his arm and sliced off a chunk of his face.

A pin drop would have had the same effect of bomb explosion at the Yesuo Hall last Saturday, which was exactly 25 days after the killing, burning and devastation of Itsekiri communities in Warri North Local Government Area.

Chairman of the Itsekiri National Youth Council (INYC), David Tonwe and other top members of the group had just made a bloodcurdling presentation, comprising video and slideshows of the bestial incident where 12 persons were killed in Ajamita, Gbokoda, Eghoro, Obaghoro, Tisun and other villages in the area.

The legal adviser of the group, Robinson Ariyo, had

From Shola O’Neil

earlier told our reporter that the purpose of the presentation was to ensure that the horrific killings were not flipped over as “just another chapter in the chequered history” of his kinsmen, who, he said, lost over 250,000 persons since the commencement of violence in the region in 1997.

“We have invited you here today in the belief that you carry humanity within you. If what you will see here today does not inspire you to take action in your own way to save humanity, then you probably are not a human!”

Ariyo, decked in a all-black attire and a matching black ribbon tied across his head, warned before the presentation.

He added: “We gather not for the Itsekiri but for some of our human community members; men and women, boys and girls adult and infants who were murdered 25 days ago and whose bodies are now at different stages of decompositions.

“The day started like a normal day, the cock crowed, the sun rose, the tide was alive, the mangrove oblivious of the evil that fellow humans hatched against their own specie. Twelve may seem just a figure to those distant from the scene of this heinous crime.

“Many of us have had the privilege of being around our wives for those uneasy nine months of pregnancy. Some of those babies never made it.

Even at that we still grieve every one of such babies. That is the humanity in us! That is what makes us human. Saint Augustine expressed it in the following words: ‘the death of my neighbour reminds me of mine.’”

Beyond the pathos elicited by the show, the INYC members were visibly traumatised and angered by the events after the killings.

A statement by Tonwe, Isaac Dorsu, Secretary of INYC; Gbubemi Abigor, PRO, Mike Odeli, David Iwere, Lucky Pessu, Grifson Omatsuli, David Mene and Mike Odeli raised questions about the response of the security agencies, the federal and Delta state governments as well as relief agencies.

It particularly faulted the ‘disturbing silence’ of the Federal Government and President Goodluck Jonathan, failure of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan to truly identify with the people and perceived ambiguity during his visit to the area, as well as inaction of the House of Assembly.

It also took the Federal Government to the cleaners over persistent failure to guarantee the safety of lives

‘

The day started like a normal day, the cock crowed, the sun rose, the tide was alive, the mangrove oblivious of the evil that fellow humans hatched against their own specie. Twelve may seem just a figure to those distant from the scene of this heinous crime

‘

•Itsekiri activists at the event.

and property in the country.

“It is elementary that the sole reason for the existence of government is the agreement by the people to surrender their rights to a sovereign in return for the protection of their lives and property. By our last count, we still have amongst others; government at the state and federal levels; including the National and the State Houses of Assembly, Federal and State Executive Councils and of course,

the State and Federal judiciaries. These are the pillars of democracy and the rule of law.

Slamming the state legislators, particularly their representative in Delta State House of Assembly.

“We imagine that our lawmakers, some of whom are mothers and fathers, appreciate the loss of lives. Will it take a prompting for you to discuss this brutality on the floor of the House and at least show

empathy for them? It is well rightly said that the view of the road changes when you move from the passenger’s seat to the driver’s seat.

“We attend church every Sunday to praise God the maker of the very lives we contempt on a daily basis. We are even allowed to mount the pulpit and preach sermons that sometimes touch on loving our neighbours as ourselves.”

INYC, which is the um-

opposite Margel Resort, a hotel owned by the wife of the President, land speculators and developers have stormed the community. Land is hot cake and people are erecting different shades and sizes of buildings.

While some are building hostels to accommodate students, others are erecting hotels, clubs, shopping malls and shops to promote increased social and economic activities.

Besides, businesses are closing shops in Yenagoa and elsewhere. They are moving to Otuoke. Boutiques, cosmetics shops and restaurants are springing up.

Eucharia, one of the owners of the restaurants, said the

university attracted her to the community.

“I came here to take advantage of the university. Business is good but we expect it to be better soon,” she said.

Apart from escalating property development, most of the influential members of the president’s clan have since dropped their farming hoes and fishing nets in favour of contracting work.

“Most of the new houses in Otuoke are owned by contractors, who are said to be using their ‘brother’s’ connection to get contracts from the Presidency, NDDC, Niger Delta Ministry and other agencies. Most of them come back home to build

modern houses,” a source added.

The paramount ruler of Otuoke, Lot Justin Ogiasa, said development started before Jonathan was inaugurated as president.

In a May 29, 2011 interview with our reporter, Ogiasa said: “It started from the time our son became the vice-president. He has brought improved primary and secondary schools and even nursery school. That alone has given a desired change to the community.

“There is electricity. There could have been water but in this present day, all the sources of water are bad. He has acquired a standby generator so that immediately

‘Visit Otuoke and die’ •Continued from page 25 torn Nigerian flags hoisted.

To ensure that members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) serving in Otuoke enjoy the benefit of serving their country in the President’s community, the old ‘Corpers Lodge’ has been repainted. A new air-conditioned 40-bedroom apartments with a kitchen and restrooms for each apartment being built by the state government is nearing completion.

On the streets of the city, the Bayelsa State Government, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and other Federal Government agencies strive to outdo one another in the race to develop Otuoke.

The Seriake Dickson administration has been active.

Apart from the NYSC Lodge, Dickson completed one of the most modern health facilities in the state in the town. Simply named Otuoke Hospital, the N3.5 billion facility was conceived as a cottage hospital by Jonathan when he was governor shortly after he succeeded his impeached boss, DSP Alamieyeseigha. But the project dragged for years before it was revived by Dickson. The finishing touch was applied by the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), allegedly on the directive of Mr. President.

But the main catalyst for

•One of the buildings at the Federal University, Otuoke the massive development is the Federal University of Technology, Otuoke, which sits on a 15-hectare land.

Otuoke community raised N3 billion for the new Federal University on February 4, 2011.

The establishment of the higher institution has unleashed a flurry of economic and social activities. It is a major federal presence that has redefined the community. Independent observers believe that establishing a tertiary institution of that magnitude in his small community was a masterstroke by Jonathan.

Within months after its establishment, structures have sprung up on the large ex-

panse of sandfilled land that is the permanent site of the institution.

Similarly, millions of naira is being paid as rent to a private firm which owns a row of bungalows that house the administrative block of the institution.

A multi-billion naira project awarded to OnePlus Holding Limited for the construction of internal roads within the university community is seen as one that benefits the town even more than the university. As one critic of the choice of the site noted: “Is it going to be called a community university or university community?”

With the presence of the university which is directly

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

27

slain Itsekiri 12

brella body of Itsekiri youth groups, also decried abandonment of the traumatised parents, children and relatives who watched their loved ones either shot, burnt or hacked to death.

They identified anger and threat of reprisal, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) arising from the shock and exposure to such attack and the loss of relations as some of the psychological fallout they needed attention

through counselling.

Ariyo raised questions about the source of arms used to unleash the mayhem despite the attackers accepting amnesty and surrendering their arms and ammunition years ago.

Unlike the attackers, he said they were fobbed into giving up all their arms and ammunition in line with the amnesty programme, regretting that the decision had cost them dearly.

•One of the new buildings springing up at Otuoke PHCN takes its light, the generator will be switched on.’’

But, investigation revealed that although Jonathan has impressed most of his kinsmen, there are some Niger Deltans and indeed Bayelsans who are uncomfortable with his quest to develop Otuoke at the expense of other communities.

One of the sour spot is the choice of the president’s home town as the site for the university. Critics of the choice argued that the location made nonsense of the benefits such project would have given to the region.

A source, who pleaded anonymity, said: “We have expanse of land even in

Ogbia Local Government Area where development hasn’t gotten to. We also have other strategic and central locations like Sagbama.

“The university should have been sited in those areas. A federal university is supposed to be located where there is no development or known community so that it will help to attract development to such areas.

“The university in Otuoke, in my opinion, is selfishly located. How can a big institution like that be squeezed into a small community?”

Urhobo groups protesting marginalisation have also compared the pace of development at the university which was set up barely two

“Ordinarily, violence is not the monopoly of any group of people but humanity has tested lawlessness and elects to take side with lawfulness.

We surrendered our rights to the sovereign whom we believe will in return, protect us.

“If the dead had rejected this social contract and taken their security in their own hands, broken the law by owning guns and dangerous weapons, they would certainly have stood a better chance of defence in the face of this unprovoked attack.

“Unfortunately, these victims like many of us decided to give effect to a simple but supposedly enduring idea – that we must do no harm to our fellow humans. In return, the government is supposed to do everything under the relevant laws and conventions to protect civilians and tackle crimes,” he said.

As fallout of the incident, the INYC urged the Federal Government to ensure that justice is done by bringing the perpetrators to book.

Tonwe called for the rebuilding of the communities destroyed in the latest carnage.

“Those who have been displaced must be assisted to rebuild their homes and return to their communities,” he said.

NIGER DELTA REPORT Southsouth youths beg Kwankwaso, others over Port Harcourt attack

T

HE Southsouth Youth Democratic Vanguard (SSYDV) has appealed to Governors Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State, Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State, Sule Lamido of Jigawa State and Aliyu Babangida of Niger State for the attack on them in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

The youths said: “It is not in our character to embarrass strangers that have come to visit one of our own, Governor Chibuike Amaechi.”

Speaking on behalf of members after its meeting in Port Harcourt, the Leader and Coordinator of the group, Alafaa Princewill, said if the issue was not addressed now, “it could turn out to be a very bad experience for some of our brothers who would be visiting the Northern states; it could also lead to insecurity in the country and bring up ethnoreligious crisis between the North and the South”.

Princewill said his group resolved that “the embarrassment given to the Northern governors cannot be accepted. So after consultations, we have decided to visit the Northern governors in their domains, to directly apologise to them”.

He condemned the failed attempt to impeach the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Otelemaba Dan-Amachree, and called on President Goodluck Jonathan “to do something urgently because it is not proper for things like that to happen in his domain”.

He added: “It is regrettable that President Jonathan has not said anything since the failed impeachment attempt. We want him to say something about the issue and the insult given to the four Northern governors.”

On the alleged role of the police in the political crisis in the state, the SSYDV called on the Inspector- General of the Police to ensure

•Princewill

‘

It could turn out to be a very bad experience for some of our brothers who would be visiting the Northern states

‘

From Clarice Azuatalam, Port Harcourt

that his men are performing their duties as expected of them, adding that: “if there was pre-cautionary measures, the fracas in the House would not have happened.”

They appealed to the National Assembly to hand back the leadership of the Rivers State House of Assembly to Dan-Amachree.

•One of the good roads now dotting Otuoke years ago with the age-long Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Delta State. They often lament that the budgetary allocation for the young university far outweighs that of FUPRE, which is nearly a decade old.

However, no matter what the critics say, the university is achieving the purpose of its establishment immortalising Otuoke, creating human and vehicular traffic in the area as well as turning around the economy of the community. It is, indeed, a lasting legacy that a President has bequeathed to his community.

The Otuoke Hospital is said to be awaiting future upgrade

to serve as a teaching hospital. The facility, which could be likened to a general hospital, has attracted criticisms.

Some said Jonathan foisted the project on the MDG Office, which he directly supervises, and ensured it was completed on time with N3.5 billion. Others are also angry that instead of centrally locating the hospital to serve more than one community in Ogbia, the President tucked it into his hometown.

“It appears that the President only knows about Otuoke. Doesn’t he know that Bayelsa State and other states in the Niger Delta are expecting similar developmental projects? The office of the presidency is too big for

development to be concentrated only in a community,” an aggrieved person, who identified himself simply as Emmanuel, said.

But Mr. Mica Eki said the community was being transformed through proceeds from land. “People are selling land to build houses”, he said.

He added: “That is the only reason why Otuoke is developing. As Goodluck became President everybody rushed to our community to buy land because they want to identify with the President’s community. Now Otuoke that was a village before has become a town”.

He, however, said the President had done little for them. “Some of us are angry

with him because whenever he comes, he doesn’t share money to us. He only advises us to work hard. Apart from the university and the hospital Goodluck has not done anything for Otuoke.”

Pointing at the direction of the State School II, Eki exclaimed: “Look at the primary school he attended, he is supposed to have rebuilt it.

No Nigerian should say that Goodluck is sharing money in Otuoke, he doesn’t share money but he must come back in 2015 even though I have not received any money from him. He is busy developing other places. Let him come back so that he can develop Bayelsa.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

28

NIGER DELTA REPORT

Pain, sorrow linger five years after Agge invasion

•Agge a week after the destruction

•Agge now

•Amananawei of Agge in front of his son's burnt house

W

HEN this reporter returned to Agge in the Kou Kingdom of Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State on Tuesday morning, relics of the devastation of half a decade ago dotted the landscape.

Stumps of burnt houses littered the ground. Most victims who have rebuilt their homes used firebronzed zinc sheets savaged from what was left of their old houses.

Others mixed them with new ones to create an admixture that is neither new nor old. An indigene told our reporter: “Our houses are not new, they are not old; they are confused like us.”

Most of the victims still sleep in the open - some inside the wreckage of their former homes or under roofs hurriedly thrown over them.

In place of masses of charred roofing sheets, verdure grasses have sprouted.

In spite of their collective and individual misfortunes, the entrepreneurial spirit and zeal of these Ijaw people remain strong. New shops have sprung up on the same spot where older more stocked ones were either burnt or looted, five years ago.

Music still blares from giant speakers in some houses. But their lives will never be the same again.

“We are determined to carry on with our lives,” one resident said.

The Amananawei (traditional ruler), His Royal Highness David Isiaye, Itorogidi I of Agge and its federated communities, told our reporter that the schools in the town are deserted because teachers have absconded due to lack of accommodation.

Chief Clement Korus, father of 32 children - one of whom has just graduated from the University of Port Harcourt - from four wives was one of the worst hit. Our re-

•Chief Korus

•Igbapike

In the wee hours of August 4, 2008, the people of Agge, a bustling fishing and business town on the tip of the Atlantic Ocean, woke up to the unwanted visit of armed troops of the Joint Task Force (JTF) tagged ‘Operation Restore Hope’. One hour later, the town with a population of about 4,000 people was turned into a massive bonfire.

Residents say over 500 houses were burnt down. SHOLA O’NEIL, who visited the town hours after the incident five years ago, returned to the scene of the destruction. porter met him mending fishing nets and gears and cleaning his fishing boat fitted with 45 horsepower outboard engine.

The renowned fisherman said his assets and business worth over N30 million were extinguished within the blink of an eye. He is one of hundreds like him left to pick up the pieces of broken lives.

“I lost nine houses, including my hotel,” he told our reporter in a deep baritone voice. “I only managed to rebuild one of the houses since that incident. I had three fishing boats like this; they were all burnt. Now I have just one boat that I bought with a loan from a cooperative society. I pay interest monthly and that is affecting me,” he said.

Korus said his dislocated family were yet to recover from the trauma and pains from the incident.

He said: “My wives were scattered; one went to Ogulagha to live with her parents, the others went to Ogbeintu. That was how we managed to weather the storm.”

Nevertheless, HRH Isiaye said his people were grateful that nobody died from the accident.

He said: “If they (soldiers) had wanted to kill us, they would have done so; but we thank them for sparing our lives, not for reducing my entire clan to ashes and visiting

poverty on my people.”

Recalling the sad day, the monarch said the troops came and encompassed the town as early as 6am.

“They fired heavy mortar and shells into the air to scare away the people. The lucky ones were able to make it to their boats and scamper to nearby communities, including Ogbeintu, Amazor and Amatu.

“Women with children on their back had to rely on their swimming skills to cross the river to safety.

Children who were able to swim were left to fend for themselves while the young and old were either ferried on the back or helped to waddle to safety.

“The soldiers did not shoot anybody. But two days after, Youmo Mietuade died from heart-related ailment as his blood pressure shot up during the invasion and he could not survive,” HRH Isiaye recalled.

For Mrs Iyadefegha Alfred, beyond the loss of property, cash and her home, the destruction of her childhood memorabilia and those of her children is very painful.

Speaking in Pidgin English spattered with Ijaw, she said: “All the black and white pictures that I had of my children, the handmade toys, the history and heirloom that my family handed down over the years

are gone. They may not be worth much money but they are very expensive in terms of who I am. I intended to hand them over to my children as my mother did to me.”

Not all the victims were lucky to lose their own assets. Mr Paul Ogedegbe, a famous outboard engineer mechanic in the area, lost items worth over N50million, most of which belonged to his clients not only from the town, but from other riverside communities.

“I have customers from everywhere,” he told our reporter in his new workshop in the town. “I was thrown into debt because nearly 20 (outboard) engines that were burnt in my workshop belonged to my client. Some of them were understanding and knew that it wasn’t my fault, others were not willing to listen to that excuse,” he said.

Col Rabe Abubakar, who was Joint Media Campaign Coordinator of the JTF in 2008, told reporters that the operation was targeted at illegal bunkering syndicate in the town.

Col Abubakar denied that houses were burnt, insisting that the few houses razed down were those used to store illegally refined crude oil.

The Nation’s exclusive report and photographs of August 16, 2008, however, showed that houses were burnt down.

The traditional ruler lamented to

Niger Delta Report on Tuesday that the invasion of Agge by the JTF was based on flawed “intelligence report” that the town harboured illegal bunkerers and militants.

“Look around this town, do you see any sign of such opulence and wealth that illegal bunkering brings.

We are poor people who work hard for everything that we get. When the soldiers came, no single shot was fired from this town because we do not have arms,” he added.

A young man named Agge White said the soldiers merely gave the town a bad name to hang it.

“They say we are militants, criminals and illegal bunkerers.” Pointing to a military post nearby, he said: “That houseboat with soldiers was there when they burnt down Agge.

It was there years before it. How can we engage in illegal bunkering with those soldiers breathing down our necks? This should tell you something.”

It did.

Our investigation revealed that all boats, including passengers boat, passing the Ramos River are subjected to search by troops stationed at a comfy houseboats near the town. Oil industry experts say that it was impossible for bunkerers to operate in the area without ‘settling’ the soldiers there.

•Continued on page 37

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

29

PEOPLE THE NATION

A FIVE-PAGE SECTION ON SOCIETY

This year's Zik Prize in Leadership was won by House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal and three governors, among others. They received their prize in Lagos last Saturday, at a ceremony, which attracted eminent personalities. TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO reports.

•Dr Fayemi displaying his plaque. With him are (from left) Chief Odogwu; Erelu Bisi Fayemi; Prof Adelabu; Chief Shonekan and Otunba Adebayo

B

EING a Saturday, the traffic on Ozumba Mbadiwe Road in Victoria Island, Lagos was light.

So getting to the Civic Centre was easy for the guests. They had no traffic to contend with.

Security officials ensured orderliness especially in warding off some social miscreants who sang praises of the dignitaries for cash.

The expansive centre was chilly, thanks to the ocean behind it, from where cold breeze blew.

While some women in strapless attires looked for scarves to cover their bodies, others in full outfits, especially those in traditional iro, buba, ipele and gele, took time to savour the gift of nature.

A huge banner at the entrance welcomed guests into the main building The banner heralded the event: Public Policy Research and Analysis Centre (PPRAC) Year 2012 Zik Prize.

There were other big banners giving pictorial explanation of the winners.

The awardees were Speaker of the House of Representatives Aminu Tambuwal; Kano State Governor Alhaji Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso; Ekiti State Governor Dr Kayode Fayemi; Delta State Governor Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan; Managing Director of Fidelity Bank Mr Reginald Ihejiahi and former Managing Director, Nigerian Breweries, (NB) Chief Festus Odimegwu.

Tambuwal received the Public Service Award; Kwankwaso, Uduaghan and Fayemi bagged Good Governance awards.

The event began around 7:30pm with music by star musician-cum actress Onyeka Onwenu. It was delayed for a while to allow the Muslims break their fast. Fruits were served before Ebele - The Flutist rendered the National Anthem.

Her rendition evoked the memory of flutists of old. She got a round of applause.

In Zik’s hall of fame

•From left: Kwankwaso; Uduaghan, his wife Roli and Tambuwal

Chairman on the occasion Chief Sunny Odogwu and Special Guest of Honour Chief Ernest Shonekan gave short remarks before the gathering adjourned for dinner.

Odogwu said the list of awardees was impressive.

He congratulated the organisers for their painstaking effort in choosing the recipients.

He described the late Azikiwe as a great man.

Shonekan, former Head of Interim National Government (ING), said the awards were well-deserved because the recipients had made contributions

to the country’s development.

Shonekan added: "Whatever we do in any human endeavour is being recorded and does not go without being noticed." Hence, everyone should not relent in contributing positively to the development of Nigeria.

He described Zik as Azikiwe was fondly called as a dynamic leader.

"The late Nnamdi Azikiwe believed in Nigeria where people are achievers and could hold their heads anywhere in the world. I had the opportunity to meet him twice; one of the occasions was at Onikan where Zik was playing lawn tennis. I used to go there to look

for pocket money. One day, I got three pence from him; a huge money then.

Since then, I have always admired him," he said.

He urged the recipients not to rest on their oars.

After the dinner, Mr Sony Irabor took the microphone to read the citation of the awardees one after the other.

Some members of the House of Representatives shouted 'Sayi Tambuwal!' during the Speaker's turn. Fayemi got the loudest ovation. His supporters from Ekiti outnumbered those of other awardees and they did not hesitate to recite the Ekiti Anthem when Fayemi

was called to the podium.

The awards were presented by Shonekan and Odogwu, but Tambuwal and Anambra State Deputy Governor Emeka Sibeudu presented Professional Leadership plaques to Ihejiahi and Odimegwu.

A short drama played out over who should respond on behalf of the awardees.

Uduaghan was given the microphone by the moderator; he passed it to Tambuwal who in turn gave it to Fayemi.

Fayemi pledged that the recipients would rededicate themselves to the struggle for a just and prosperous Nigeria, while also working with and for the people to make the country greater.

"In accepting this award, we are conscious on one hand of the increased burden of expectations on us as we join the distinguished cadre of winners of the Zik Award across the continent.

On the other hand, we are cognisant of the weight of responsibility that comes with being a recipient of an award that was inspired and named after Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, the first President of Nigeria, of blessed memory", he said.

According to him, the zeal and impetus for Nigerians "to trust one another, dream together, work together and succeed together in building the Nigeria of our aspirations" comes when the hearts of citizens beat together in patriotic rhythm."

PPRAC Advisory Board member Emeka Obasi said Shonekan and Odogwu requested Tambuwal to also respond.

Tambuwal said jokingly "all the recipients except myself are qualified for the award."

He hailed the three governors on the list, saying they have done well to merit the honour.

Onyeka Onwenu brought the glamorous event to a close with one of her •Continued on page 30

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

30

SOCEITY

In Zik’s hall of fame

hit album - One love.

In attendance were the Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Prof. Modupe Adelabu; wives of Ekiti and Delta State Governors Bisi and Roli; former Governor of the Ekiti State Otunba Niyi Adebayo; Senator Tony Adeniyi; Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila; Hon Moruf Akinderu-Fatai; Hon Ayo Omidiran and her husband Alhaji Moroof; Hon Oyetunde Ojo; Hon Robinson Ajiboye; Hon Bamidele Faparusi; Hon Bimbo Daramola; Hon Ife Arowosoge; Action Congress of Nigeria National Publicity Secretary Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Prof Akin Oyebode; Prof Patrick Aina; Dr Femi Orebe; the Owa Ooye of Okemesi, Oba Gbadebo Adedeji; the Onisan of Isan Ekiti, Oba Sunday Ajiboye; Chief of Staff to Ekiti State Governor Chief Yemi Adaramodu; Delta State Commissioner for Education Prof Hope Eghagha, Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation

in Ekiti State, Mr Tayo Ekundayo, his counterparts in the ministries of Land, Urban and Regional planning as well as Culture, Arts and Tourism, Mr Remi Olorunleke and Chief Ronke Okusanya; Special Adviser to Ekiti State Governor on Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) and Multilateral Relations Mrs Bunmi DipoSalami, Editor, Hallmark, Mr Casmir Igbokwe.

Some notable past recipients of the prize include former Ghanaian President J.J. Rawlings (1995); former Tanzanian President Nwalimu Julius Nyerere (1997); Dr. Salim Ahmed Salim (1998); former Nambian President Sam Nujoma (1999); former South African President Nelson Mandela (2000); for Ugadan President Yoweri Musoveni (2003); former Ghanaian President John Kuffor (2008); President Seretse Lan Khama (2009); Senator David Mark, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed and Otunba Subomi Balogun (2010); President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf (2011), amongst others.

•Ihejiahi

•Sibeudu

•From left: Mr Adaramodu; Oba Sunday Ajibade and Oba Gabriel Adedeji

•Prof Oyebode (left) and Dr Orebe

•From left: Alhaji Moshood Omidiran, his wife Hon Ayo and Hon Moruf Akinderu-Fatai

•From left: Hon Oyetunde Ojo; Alhaji Lai Mohammed and Hon Mustapha Dawaki

•Alhaji Auwilu Ilu

•Hon Gbajabiamila

•Prof Dipo Aina

BIRTHDAY •Chief Samuel Olugbenga Solarin and his wife Florence Olawayemisi during her 70th birthday held in Lagos

•Prof Pat Utomi PHOTOS: DAYO ADEWUNMI MUYIWA HASSAN

BIRTHDAY •From left: Mr Sunday Salami; Mrs Jibike Ayodele; Mr Oladele Salami and Mr Aremu Salami during the 90th birthday of their mother in Ondo State

SHOPPING

31

THE NATION

FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

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

•Sweet Sensation, Ladipo scanty

e-mail: toniaitose@yahoo.com

07035302326 Shopping@thenationonlineng.net

•An idle food vendor

Ramadan takes toll on food vendors

As Muslim faithful continue to observe the Ramadan fast, food vendors are lamenting low sales.

TONIA ‘DIYAN, AZZAN OLAJUMOKE and TAIBAT IDOWU spoke to some of them.

I

T was past mid-day and Mr Seyi Oluwaseyi, a manager at Mama B Restaurant, Surulere paced around his restaurant. His eyes were focused on the road like he was expecting an important visitor. Few members of staff stood around, each one disappointed.

The reason: low sales due to the Ramadan fast.

He said: “Our food sales have been cut below half since the Ramadan fasting began, we can’t even cook the quantity of the food we used to because we don’t want food to waste. Most of our customers now eat once a day and they do that at home.”

The Ramadan fasting, a yearly Muslim rite has been described as the most blessed period in the Islamic calendar. Muslims are required to fast from morning till evening and most of those who observe the fast usually join their families and friends to break in the evening. In breaking the fast, strict adherence to Islamic purity is also required to be observed.

But while the Muslims are hopeful for divine blessing in the Ramadan month, food vendors and restaurant owners are counting their losses by the day. Due to

A

MAll of five hundred units of business and office spaces, all en suite, located in the Mabushi District of Abuja, have opened shop.

The mall named “Platinum Mega Mall” was built by Platinum Mortgage Bank Limited at N1 billion.

It is divided into various sections like furniture, provision, cosmetics, office spaces, apprenticeship section so as to ensure easy shopping for customers.

The Managing Director of

the large number of muslims who observe the fast, eating in the afternoon and early evening which according to some of the food vendors are the peak sales period have reduced drastically and in some places cut in half.

The Nation Shopping went around Lagos and spoke to several food vendors, many of whom complained bitterly about the loss of revenue occasioned by the Ramadan fast.

Mrs. Omolara Akanni, who operates a local food canteen popularly referred to as ‘Mama Put’, said the fasting has dealt her a big blow.

“Most of my customers are Hausa people and since the fasting began they only eat once and that is in the evening. They always break with their family so my business

has been greatly affected,” Akanni said.

The situation has also affected food hawkers. Risikat Karim said she walks around all day without making any appreciable sales. “In the sun and even under the rain, more than half of my customers are fasting. When the fast first started, about half of my food usually goes to waste but now, I only cook a fraction of what I used to cook, what I am sure of selling in a day,” she said.

An attendant at Fatmot food canteen, Rashedat Afolabi said: “The Ramadan period has really reduced our sales because on a normal day the shop is always filled up and people would be coming and going, but because of the season the rate at which our foods sell has reduced.”

But the sales glut is not limited to food vendors and canteen owners alone, big restaurants are also suffering the same fate. According to many of those sampled by The Nation Shopping, the Ramadan fasting has affected the food they sell including snacks.

But not all the big restaurants have experienced financial loss due to food wastage, some have found an ingenious way of tackling the problems usually associated with Ramadan fasting. One of those who have devised a special means is Obinna Emeka, a manager at Mr. Biggs Restaurant in Surulere.

“As a matter of fact, this season has affected our system. If we are to cook for 10 customers in the morning shift, we reduce it to five customers because we assume that

‘Our food sales have been cut below half since the Ramadan fasting began, we can’t even cook the quantity of the food we used to because we don’t want food to waste. Most of our customers now eat once a day and they do that at home’

500 units shopping mall make debut in Abuja

By Bukola Amusan, Abuja

Platinum Homes, Mr Emmanuel Mbaka, who spoke at the inauguration, said the construction began six years ago and has culminated in the erection of several structures across the country.

He said the business facility has parking space to suit the requirements of the modern day business and shopping spaces.

Mbaka said attention has been paid to the engineering and structural design in order to ensure maximum safety and the comfort of its users and also the finishing to ensure a state of the art outlook.

“The choice of location of this mall is very strategic as it is located at a place where it can serve Maitama, Katampe, Mabushi, Jahi district and environs as well as

provide adequate space for shopping and business purposes.”

Mbaka appreciated the jahi host community, especially the king of Jahi kingdom for receiving the owners of the mall with open arms and for their support and hospitality in the years to come as he pledged the continued commitment of the Platinum Homes to more corporate social responsibility so as to ensure the further

five customers out of 10 are Muslims. The number of customers we serve at every shift has been cut in half, but because we have envisaged this we prepared before the fasting began, so, we were not caught by surprise,” Emeka said.

Speaking further, he said the way out is to plan ahead of the fasting and if need be reduce the overhead cost. “When you plan ahead you will experience minimal loss in the Ramadan season.”

While the big restaurants and eateries may have recorded a minimal level of loss due to the seasonal fast, there are some who said the season has had little effect on their sales.

The manager at Dubenias Pizza, who preferred not to be named said: “The fasting has not really affected our sales but I believe we will make more if the people are not fasting. But the season has not really affected sales.”

Shade Dairo, an attendant at Finicky Restaurant at Ojota, said sales have not changed. “Sales have not been so poor but there have been little changes. Some of our customers have not been patronising us and some of them that come don’t really buy.”

development and advancement of the community.

The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Onaiyekan who inaugurated the mall said it will give Nigerains the chance to retire from government offices to their personal offices and give them a chance to depend on something after retirement.

He urged other well meaning Nigerians to support the government by constructing structures and rent them out to the public so the economy can improve.

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

32

SHOPPING

Before the fast was the rush for food items. It’s one week to the end of Ramadan, shoppers are buying clothes, shoes, rams and other items for the Eid-el-Fitri celebration next Friday. TONIA ‘DIYAN, AZZAN OLAJUMOKE and TAIBAT IDOWU report.

Muslims’ demand shifts as Eid-el-Fitri approaches

P

EOPLE have started shopping for the Eidel Fitri festival.

Most markets are full of people hurrying into stores to buy various items they need for the upcoming celebration.

Shoppers can be seen in clothing stores, shoe stores and stores where fashion accessories are sold.

At the Sabo, Ikorodu market where livestock is sold, The Nation Shopping spoke with Alhaji Usman who sells chickens, rams, cows and goats. He said his customers are now turning up as Eid-el-Fitri approaches, unlike when most of them were held back because of the fast.

Mrs Suliat Aleje, who sells pepper also at Sabo market in Ikorodu, said sales have been very different these few weeks with her customers now turning up to buy pepper and other items for the festival.

At Pentagon plaza, Ikorodu, Mrs Idowu Agoro who spoke with The Nation Shopping, said: “I have been having customers coming to buy clothes to prepare for the upcoming festival. Many buy Ankara, while few buy lace materials and others English wears”.

At Oshodi market, Mrs Kabirat Owolabi was seen in a lace shop, buying clothes. “I am here to buy

two bundles of Swiss lace.

A bundle cost N20,000. I also bought shoes. These items are quite affordable here.”

At the Laketu market, Ikorodu, Alhaja Ayoka Ogunfolu, who is the Iyaloja of the market, said things have been going on fine in the last few days because their customers now patronise them the way they used to before they started fasting.

“My Muslim customers are preparing to celebrate the Eid-el-Fitri, sales have been outstanding and I believe it will continue like this for sometime.”

Mr. Sadiq Taoreed sells Jalabia (a muslim outfit).

According to him, most men are buying Jalabia for the festival “I sell Jalabia and other Islamic accessories and men are my major customers. Jalabias range fromN3,500 to N5,000”.

Mr Charles Olisakwe sells food stuffs at Laketu market in Ikorodu. According to him, people are also buying more food stuffs than before to prepare for the up coming festival.

They don’t want to be caught unawares, it is better to prepare ahead.

At the Ebute market, also in Ikorodu, Mrs Taiwo Bankole, who is a customer said: “Ramadan is coming to an end and as usual, I

want to restock so, I can have enough to share.

Apart from food items, clothes are also important for me and my family at this time because we have to look different for the festival and change our clothes for the months ahead.”

Mrs Bunmi Ajayi who sells frozen food at Mile 12 Market said she has not started rejoicing yet because of her business. “I sell frozen foods and if people buy ahead of the festival it might get spoilt.”

Meanwhile, as some people have budgeted some amount of money for food, clothings and other items, others haven’t made up their minds yet because of one financial constraint or the other.

However, the cost of these items also contribute to the constraints some people are facing.

Mrs. Ruriat Kalesanwo

•Kara Market, Berger busy for Eid-el-Fitri

said the same quality of lace which she bought for N15,000 last year, has increased to N17,000.

“I have noticed that the difference in price is much.

I thought it would not be

more than N500”.

For Mrs. Abiodun Muritador, prices of items are more than what she can afford.

“I hope after now, items would be more affordable,

so that people like me can go home with something. I couldn’t buy anything today. What I budgeted for wears is quite low to the price of things in the market.”

Online retailer Jumia gathered decision makers to discuss online shopping development. TONIA ‘DIYAN was at the event.

•Buday, Oviosu, Shogaolu, Akhigbe, Olubunmi, Kehinde, Afaedor and Eksin at the event.

Jumia holds online conference

J

UMIA, Nigeria’s leading online retailer, has held the maiden online conference.

The event, which took place at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, had in attendance e-Commerce influencers and decision makers.

They discussed the opportunities that online shopping has for the retail market as well as the ways forward in the market.

The special guest was Minister for Communications Technology Mrs. Omobola Johnson, who delivered the keynote address on e-Commerce and ICT in Nigeria: an Engine for Job Creation and Economic Growth.

Other speakers were Mr Randy Buday MD of DHL Nigeria; Tayo Oviosu CEO of Pagatech; Titilola Shogaolu Chief payment& Value added Services Officer, Interswitch;

Rolayo Akhigbe Divisional Head, Transaction branding, First City Monument Bank; Ekundare Olubunmi Country Manager, Intel West Africa; Tunde Kehinde MD/Cofounder Jumia.com; Raphael Afaedor MD/Co-founder Jumia.com and Ercin Eksin Head of Operations, Jumia.com.

In her speech, Mrs. Johnson addressed the possibilities that abound in the new technological developments.

“First, I will like to praise Jumia.com for a well organised

event, the first e-commerce conference in Nigeria. The ICT industry is the primary driver of growth in the economy thanks to companies such as Jumia.com that have not only pioneered online retail trade in Nigeria, but also showed Nigerians worldwide that running such a business model within our shores is possible.

“Online shopping has opened doors for the upcoming generation of young entrepreneurs, especially enterprises like Jumia.com which has provided a platform for

‘We pioneered the online retail market in Nigeria and it is great to see what significant impact this has brought to the economy as mentioned by our keynote speaker. We have shown it is possible and thought it was time to get various stakeholders onboard to discuss issues and ways forward for online shopping’

young Nigerians to express their creativity while acting as a job creation engine to hundreds of them.”

“These are the companies that have attracted important investors and have a great impact on Nigeria as a country and as a market place. In line with plans of the government at the federal level, we need companies that know how to make use of these developments to help reshape the economy.”

Speaking also, Kehinde and Afaedor, said: “We pioneered the online retail market in Nigeria and it is great to see what significant impact this has brought to the economy as mentioned by our keynote speaker. We have shown it is possible and thought it was time to get various stakeholders onboard to discuss issues and ways forward for online shopping.”

The event was followed by one of the finest fashion shows ever.

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

33

COMMENTARY

A

T no time in the life of man can the true nature of human existence more manifest than in Ramadan. It is in that sacred month that Muslims reflect mostly on the purpose of their existence on earth. Some people fasted actively last year but are no more today. Some put their feet at the door step of Ramadan this year but never entered it. Some fell by the way side along the line. Some fasted with absolute faith in Allah and confidence in making use of the lessons of Ramadan.

Some joined the spiritual train with no idea of their destination in the month.

Segments of Ramadan At the beginning of this sacred month, an analysis was done in this column classifying the 30 or 29 days of Ramadan into three segments. The first segment was said to contain the first ten days of the month during which the blessings of Allah came to the faithful Muslims freely and in abundance. Except for meeting that segment with faith and good intention, there was no working for it. That segment ended after 10 days paving way for the second segment that began the following day.

During the 10 day period of the second segment, most fasting Muslims intensified worship (‘Ibadah) by spending their days and nights seeking Allah’s forgiveness and by chanting Istighfar. But such forgiveness was neither automatic nor free. Usually, conditions were attached to it. One of such conditions was for every fasting Muslim to admit his/her misdeeds and repent of them. The second was for such Muslim to voluntarily and genuinely seek forgiveness. And the third condition was to resolve never to return to such misdeeds again. To seek Allah’s forgiveness during the month of Ramadan, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was reported to have said that “if you want to speak with Allah, make your request on prostration. And if you want Allah to speak to you recite the Qur’an”. No one who abided by the above conditions and followed it scrupulously would ever be disappointed. Allah is both a promising and a fulfilling God. He never reneges on His promise. In Qur’an 2:186 He promises thus: “…when my servants ask you (Prophet Muhammad) about me, tell them that I am very close to them. I answer the prayers of whoever seeks my favour if he prays to me (without any intermediary). So, let them expect my favourable response and trust in me so that they may be rightly guided” Midway Ramadan Those second ten days were not just to consolidate on the blessings of the first ten days, they were also to prepare the fasting Muslims for the last ten days when they were expected to be fully liberated from the evil machinations of any Satanic forces.

Human life is not measured by the time or manner of his or her death. In Islam, death is neither the consequence of sin nor the repercussion of ignorance. There are instances when the sinless dies and the sinful lives. There are also instances when the learned dies while the ignorant lives.

The schedule of life and death is not in the custody of any human being. Death is a debt which every living being owes and must pay.

Not even Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was spared of death or given a foreknowledge of it. Allah ordered him to say in the Q. 10:49 thus: “Say I have not the power to benefit or to harm myself except what Allah pleases. Unto every nation is a fixed term. When their terms expire, they cannot delay it by an hour nor can they bring it forth before its time”.

This is a verse of the Qur’an which the ignorant ones have severally quoted and interpreted according to their whim. In their imagination, they want the Prophet to claim infallibility to enable them call him a liar.

Nostalgia Some people dream but never live to realise their dreams. Some look but never see. It is only in the imagination of man that age should be a factor of death. We shall all die at our scheduled time. Therefore, whoever is privileged to pass through this year’s Ramadan successfully should endeavour to add spiritual value to his or her life and not diminish in faith after the sacred month. We shall all account for that value before Allah.

In a few days time this year’s Ramadan will come to an end by the grace of Allah

FEMI ABBAS ON Femabbas@yahoo.com 08122697498

Summary of facts and we shall continue to look back with nostalgia to the good things we have done in the sacred month. For instance we shall remember that in no other month of Hijrah calendar is the role of Muslim women more pronounced than in Ramadan. Like in other months, they display the roles of wives, mothers as well as that of their husbands’ confidants. But more than in other months, they exhibit their religious dedication in Ramadan.

In that sacred month they fast like their men counterparts. They pray five times daily like men do. They join those men in observing Tarawih. Some of them even attend Tafsir and public lectures. Yet they engage in their daily work just like their men counterparts either in the offices, shops, or farms. And they never relent in carrying out their matrimonial duties.

Even as they assist their husbands financially in maintaining the homes, they still take care of those husbands as well as the children and relatives domestically. At the time of the day when the husbands are knocked out by fatigue arising from fasting, the wives are still busy in the kitchen preparing Iftar for the household. At the time in the night when some husbands are engaged in Tahajjud, or are snoring in bed, the wives are already up in the kitchen preparing the Sahur for the family.

Some of these women are carrying pregnancy. Some are suckling their children.

Some of them are knowledgeable enough to do the Tilawah (recitation of the Qur’an) like their husbands. Some are even rich enough to finance the home fully or partially.

And, in all these activities, they never feel tired. Where and when they feel tired, they never show it. If any month has ever depicted the virtues of women, it is Ramadan and the women activities in it. If for the reason of their activities in Ramadan alone, they deserve tenderness and dignified treatment in the hands of their husbands.

We shall also remember the role of our children in the month and then endeavour to ensure the continuity of those rewarding activities.

Allah’s greatest gift Children are Allah’ greatest gift to man.

Their presence in a house is blessing. Their contribution is immense. Those are children for you. They can act as much of teachers just as they are of students. They learn fast, they teach fast. They are a major security for parents in any given environment.

Children play both temporal and spiritual roles in a matrimonial life. And with such roles, they sometimes create hope for humanity and sometimes, they signal despair.

They are the greatest asset in the possession of parents in time of peace. They are also the greatest weapon for them against the forces of Satan.

Because of their innocence, they pave way for God’s forgiveness and quick acceptance of prayers. And, most importantly, children guarantee the continuity of man’s existence on earth. It is only with them that the fulfilment of today’s promise is possible tomorrow.

In the Qur’an, children are mentioned many times and most often with reverence.

They are treated in that glorious book as a major issue in the life of man. As orphans, they do not only have a role to play, they also compel some adults to play a role relating to them.

As heirs to their parents, they have substantial shares in inheritance. Muslim children are like cubs. They follow the footstep of their parents or guardians a lot. They are often with their parents during the five daily prayers. They watch their parents as the lat-

ter give charity to the poor. They accompany them to public lectures and Islamic social gatherings.

And, in Ramadan, children are part of the Muslims’ total spiritual package. They wake up with them at night. They fast with them in the day. They break the fast with them at sunset. They join their parents at Tafsir and night lectures. They participate in Laylatul Qadr and in giving Zakatul Fitr to the poor.

In all these activities, they are supposed to be encouraged. At the tender age of seven, they should be guided to fast even if for half a day. And when they reach the age of 10 they should be strengthened in faith and in religious deeds. They should be provided with necessities of life both on the temporal and spiritual grounds. With these, they will grow up to become the fulfilment of their parents’ dreams.

Most children grow up as good or bad Muslims by emulating their parents. A child is therefore what his parents make him. If advantage of Ramadan is not taken by parents to mould their children into good Muslims what other platform will be used? Your child is your sun. Make hey while it shines.

Neighbours We shall also recall how we related to our neighbours, especially the non-Muslims among them in that month. In Islam, neighbours are as important as the next of kin.

And, Islam attaches so much respect to them.

According to Bukhari and Muslim, Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) was reported to have sworn by Allah three times saying: “he does not believe in Allah whoever creates fear in his neighbours atrociously” In another Hadith also reported by Bukhari and Muslim, the Prophet was quoted as saying that “Whoever believes in Allah and the last day let him be nice to his neighbours and respect his guests” In the month of Ramadan a good Muslim is expected to wear a new toga of sobriety and repentance. He doubles his good deeds to his neighbours, extending generosity to them and cultivating a new atmosphere of friendliness and trust with them. He genuinely gives them as much impression of love and brotherhood as he does with his consanguine relatives.

It does not matter whether the neighbours are Muslims or non-Muslims. Neither does it matter whether they are tribesmen or nonnatives. The Prophet did not discriminate in his Hadith when he was admonishing on neighbours. And that is the inalienable position of Islam on neighbours. Whoever, had quarrelled with his neighbours, therefore, let him go and settle the quarrel.

Besides abstaining from foods, drinks and sex, in the month of Ramadan, a good Muslim must mind his relationship with people around him including neighbours.

Fasting in the month of Ramadan cannot be taken in half measure. Whoever wants to receive full rewards for his religious activities in Ramadan let him treat his neighbours well. And, when Ramadan is over, the good deeds must be kept on.

Ramadan is not made a pillar of Islam by accident. Its purpose is to return man to the original state of purity into which he was created. That Allah entrusts the world to man is also not by accident. Allah consulted wide and far before entrusting this great responsibility to man having volunteered to bear it. This much is revealed in Qur’an 33:71 thus: “We offered the trust (of the world) to the heavens; the earth and the mountains they all turned it down and were afraid of it. Man undertook to bear it but he has proved to be insincere and deceitful”. For man to re-examine himself, repent his misdeeds and be redeemed, therefore, Allah brought Ramadan as a means of rescue.

Needs and wants It is in the month of Ramadan that Muslims reconfirm NEEDS rather than WANTS as the necessities required for the sustenance of their lives. Muslims, by their faith and orientation, are not, ordinarily, given to WANTS. They are more concerned about NEEDS than WANTS. The reason for this is not far-fetched. With NEEDS come contentment and satisfaction while WANTS are the cause of greed and avarice.

Allah, the creator and Sustainer of the universe, had provided the needs of every living creature even before its creation. But then, He knew that of all those creatures man alone would go beyond NEEDS into the realm of WANTS. That was perhaps what informed the negative role which Satan assumed in the life of man shortly after the creation of Adam.

By introducing WANTS to man, what Satan did was to create a permanent job for himself in the life of man. Without WANTS the world would not have been what it is today. Blood would not have been shed.

Money would not have been deified. Hatred would not have been known to man.

And, man’s inhumanity to man would have been totally averted.

The effect of WANTS first became known when Qabil (Cain), the first son of Adam preferred his brother’s wife to his. In the argument which ensued, Qabil (Cain) killed his brother Habil (Abel) and combined the latter’s wife with his. Thus, greed and avarice became ingredients of man’s culture.

And WANTS rather than NEEDS became the domineering factor in the life of man.

Place of mosques One delightful thing in the sacred month was to note that Nigerian mosques were full of Muslim youths. By this, a silent Islamic renaissance seems to be going on especially in Nigerian society. It looks like a repeat of the situation that led to the formation of the Muslim Students’ Society (MSS) in 1954. With this development, two great possibilities are expected to sail Islam through the coast of good hope in the 21st century. One is the return of the mosque to its original objective. The other is the inalienable continuation of Islamic dynamism in reshaping the destiny of mankind.

The hope that these two possibilities are achievable in the hands of today’s teeming Muslim youths is in fulfilment of a fundamental prophesy about the signs of the last days. One of these signs is that ‘the sun will start rising where it used to set’. The reference here is not to the physical sun. The Prophet was referring to the spiritual photosynthesis of the souls of mankind for the ultimate metamorphosis of those souls from mortality to immortality. The agent of photosynthesis in this case is Islam. And, the fulfilment of this prophesy is gradually being confirmed today either by technology or science.

When Prophet Muhammad (SAW) established the very first Mosque in Madinah (Masjid Al-Qubah) in 622 A.C, the purpose was more than just Salat. To the Muslims the mosque is not supposed to be just a house of worship. It should also be a school, a library, a hospital, a court, a media centre and a parliament. Without the mosque, the unity of the Muslims would have been impossible.

Mosque is the meeting place for offering Salat five times a day. It is the centre of congregation for Jum’at prayer every Friday. It brings the Muslims together twice in a year for congregational observance of Eidul-Fitr and Eidul-Adha. Yet, the meeting place called ‘Arafah which is the climax of Hajj is a mosque.

The mosques in Makkah, Madinah, and Quds (Jerusalem) serve the same purpose as those in Cairo, Jakarta, Rio and Sydney. And, there is no difference between the mosque in Sokoto and the one in Rio de Janeiro .

Generally, the mosque plays a central role in fortifying the unity of the Muslims wherever they are. But unfortunately, with time and crave for personal benefits, the mosque has been relegated to just a place for Salat alone. That is the real cause of the backwardness in which the Muslim Ummah is now wallowing. With the experience of the sacred month fasting Muslims have gained bounteously. Such bounties must not be lost. Today is the last Friday in this year’s Ramadan. It is our wish and prayer that we shall play active and positive roles during Ramadan in the years ahead in sha’Allah.

Once again, ‘The Message’ column wishes its teeming readers, especially Muslims, Ramadan Karim and ‘Id Mubarak in advance.

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

34

S OCEITY A co-founder of Newswatch magazine, Ray Ekpu, has given out his second daughter, Edikan, in marriage to Alexander, son of a Lagos politician, Fidelis Osho. The event was held at Redeemed Christian Church of God, (Victory Chapel), Magodo Phase II, Lagos. NNEKA NWANERI was there.

Love across boundaries S

HE is worth waiting for and he waited for her despite his friend's proddings to forget her and move on with his life.

She was in Switzerland then and he kept agonising that he is missing her. "Why waste your time on her? Why don't you look for another woman and move on with your life?" friends urged the lovestruck Alexander Osho.

"There was a time some of my friends advised me to forget the relationship and move on with my life. But I couldn’t ... I just couldn't," Osho said.

His patience paid off last Saturday as he took Edikan Victoria, daughter of Mr Ray Ekpu, a founding editor of Newswatch Magazine, to the altar.

The journey of Alex, son of a Lagos politician, Mr Fidelis Osho, an investment accountant at FirstBank Capital and Edikan, an employee of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), is obviously one ordained by God. They were colleagues at KPMG auditing services, where their journey to the altar began.

"Every time she gets into the complex, he gets restless. He suddenly becomes absent minded, restless and his body goes jigi jigi," best friend of the groom Lawrence Amadi told The Nation.

However, they soon parted ways when Edikan travelled to Swizerland for her Masters at the Institute of Management and Development. Alex left for FBN Capital, but still kept in touch with her.

To cut the long story short, their friendship climaxed into a colourful wedding in Lagos last Saturday. The previous week, the couple was joined traditionally in Ikot Udo Ossiom in Ukanafun Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, where the bride hails from.

Edikan is Ekpu’s second daughter.

Their union was solemnised at Redeemed Christian Church of God (Victory Chapel) Magodo Phase II, Lagos. Their friends, family members and well-wishers came to share in the joy of the day.

The marriage was officiated by Pastor Adebisi Olowoyo.

From there, guests moved to the reception at Grandeur Events Centre, Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos, where they were feted with sumptuous delicacies and choice drinks.

The hall was embellished with crystal lightings dropping from the roof. The chairs and table linings were all white. The walls had loop patterned gold fabrics over the white coated wall. At the centre corner stood a couch with the word LOVE, boldly written

on it, and illuminated with colourful lighting. There, the couple sat.

Opposite them were Ego and the Indigo Band, dishing out timeless music to guests' delight.

Soon after, the couple was ushered into the hall by the groomsmen and bridesmaids. They danced to songs like Flavour's Adanma and D'Banj's Scapegoat. Their appearance caused many to turn in their direction and stare.

With their dressing and their dance steps, they held guests spellbound.

While Edikan wore a simple off-shoulder fitted white gown, she rolled up her hair with a glittering hook. It shone simultaneously with her dangling earrings.

The chemistry between the couple was felt by all. They stared at each other at intervals.

With Luther Vandros' hit song, Dance with my Father, Edikan had an emotional dance with her father. Ekpu held her close and gave her reassuring pats on the back. He then handed her over to the groom, who displayed scintillating dance steps.

Chairman on the occasion and former governor of Ogun State Chief Segun Osoba, urged guests to stand for a minute and pray for the couple to have a blissful marital life blessed with children.

Playing on the bride’s middle name, Victoria, he prayed for her to have victory and be victorious always.

The couple cut their simple four-layered flowered white cake with Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, officiating. Senator Ita-Giwa said unions like that of Alex and Edikan showed the country was “truly united.” To her, the marriage is a fusion of two great families.

Ekpu described his 'new son' as an intelligent person.

"Excited is the word to describe how I feel right now. I am so proud and I urge the lovebirds to narrow down their areas of disagreement and expand that of agreement," he said.

The older Osho knew he had every reason to be happy, having got a daughter-in-law with the striking qualities of her father.

"Her father is honest and has a large capacity. I see her on that binocular as one who can face challenges. And because her mother is also a strong woman, she is indeed a product of a rugged terrain," he said.

He urged the couple to be cautious of the company they keep.

At the event were Publisher of Vanguard Sam Amuka- Pemu; Guvnor of Nightshift Coliseum, Ken Caleb Olumese; Senator Udoma Udo Udoma; Dan Egbese and Kunle Afolayan (SAN) among others.

•Mr Olumese

•Chief Alex Akinyele

•Mr Amuka-Pemu (right) and Mr Gbenga Adefaye

•The couple Edikan and Alex

•Bride’s parents: Mr Ekpu and his wife, Uyai

•Groom’s parents: Mr Osho and his wife Eniola

• Chief Osoba and Senator Ita-Giwa

PHOTOS: RAHMAN SANUSI

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

35

S OCIETY COMMUNICATE YOUR IDEAS

The Michael Olawale-Cole and Adebayo Ekundayo families have become one. Their children Abiola Oladipupo and Rebecca Oyindamola got married in Lagos. The traditional wedding was witnessed by the high and mighty. NNEKA NWANERI reports.

F

ASHION, glamour, class, prestige and beauty were on display on Saturday July 13, when the Michael Olawale-Cole, President of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) and Lagos politician Adebayo Ekundayo families became one following the marriage of their children, Abiola Oladipupo and Rebecca Oyindamola.

The Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos, venue of the event, was a beehive. Family members, friends and well-wishers were there to share in the families’s joy.

The Olawale-Coles brought baskets of gifts and fruits, tubers of yam and boxes for their in-laws.

Guests were resplendent in pink and yellow attires. The bride’s family wore pink, the groom’s yellow.

The Shell Hall of the centre, decorated in white, was split in two. Each family occupied one half eating and dancing to the music of a popular female Juju artiste Ayo Balogun and her Harmonic Voices.

The parking lots within and outside the venue were jampacked. Some roads were turned into parking lots.

Street urchins made brisk business hailing guests as they stepped out of their posh cars.

At noon, the ceremony began with drumming and singing of traditional songs. The female Master of Ceremony (MC) spiced up the gathering with her rib-cracking jokes.

The groom, an accountant, beamed with smile as he waited to be summoned by his in-laws before his ‘asset’ is handed over to him.

“Have they called me, ma?”

He asked nervously from The Nation reporter, mistaking her for a family friend.

“No, sir. I’m just a reporter.

Congratulations, sir! I just want to ask you how you feel today,” the reporter replied.

“I’m just here thinking if they have called the whole thing off. I have waited long enough and I can’t wait any further. Besides that, I am the happiest man,” the excited groom said.

When he was ushered into the hall, his joy knew no bound as he danced with his friends, spreading wide his hands to display the green embroidered agbada he wore. On his head rested a cap, which he stylishly wore.

The itinerant ballad drummers that provided more entertainment did not regret their coming. For the MC alagaduro, it was the right time to strike as the groom and his friends mangled the Yoruba language.

The MC would have none of that as he ordered the groom to pay a fine or return home empty handed. Though the bill was high, the groom’s friends rallied round him to pay.

They were also fined for subsequent mistakes made, provoking laughter from guests.

When he got to the front of the hall, where his parents and those of his bride sat, the groom and his friends prostrated.

They rose after guests stretched their hands and blessed him.

Abiola recounted how he met Rebecca five years ago.

“After work, I hooked up with my friend who came with his cousin. I was struck when I saw her.

“She has it all; everything from beauty, class, humour, brains and intelligence. The likeness was instant and we exchanged num-

So You are Scared of Public Speaking?

Good… So am I!

•Deal with your fear of speaking

D

Love at first sight •The couple Abiola and Oyindamola

•Bride’s parents: Dr Ekundayo and wife Olabisi

•Groom’s father Olawale-Cole

•Groom’s Mother Mrs Adebola Olawale-Cole

•Princess Sosan

•Mr Jeje

bers and here we are today.

Though there have been challenges, the good times have the better part. No reason my

father loves her more than he loves me,” he said.

The Ekiti-born bride stepped in, accompanied by pretty

damsels, including some foreigners she met friends while studying in England.

After prayers, the couple, cut their cake to the admiration of all. Among the gifts brought by her in-laws, she picked a copy of the Bible.

On it, was a boxed ring, which her husband placed on her finger, sealing it with a kiss.

At the event were: former deputy governor of Lagos State, Princess Sarah Sosan; Lagos State Commissioner for Housing, Mr Bosun Jeje; High Chief Folarin Williams; White Cap chiefs who represented Lagos monarch, Oba Rilwan Akiolu; paramount ruler of Yewaland and the Olu of Ilaro, Oba Kehinde Olugbende.

EALING with the fear of speaking requires the willingness of the person concerned. By AMODU LANRE OLAOLU now, we have learnt that we ( Ph.D) sospeak2lanre@yahoo.com. are not alone in our fear of 07034737394 speaking and that there is a need to renew our minds. Now, we must take deliberate steps to deal with the fear. Some of those steps are: •Know what you want to talk about: when you talk about something you don’t know so much about, you will lack confidence. You should be so familiar with your subject matter that you won’t have to think (or try to recall) while speaking. If you are good at what you do, then you need not fear speaking about it.

•Know your audience: if you don’t know the people you are talking to, you will find communication difficult. Do a detailed analysis of the people you intend to speak to; who are they? What do they want to know? What do they need to know? How do they prefer to learn? If you can answer some of these questions, you will feel familiar with them enough to be comfortable. Remember that familiarity eliminates animosity; if you are comfortable with your audience, not only will you enjoy speaking with them, they will also enjoy responding.

•Prepare adequately: don’t leave anything to chance. Prepare for your presentation diligently. Remember, you must be worth listening to before people do. One of the major rules of public speaking is that you can never prepare enough. Till the moment you deliver the speech, you must be preparing.

We shall dwell on the subject of preparation later in the column.

•Be passionate: if you talk about something you are passionate about, you will quickly forget your fear. The excitement of your topic will take you through the speech before you remember your nervousness. Have you ever seen a group of young men discussing premiership football? The energy with which they defend their clubs may force a passerby to wait and listen. That is the power of passion.

•Be yourself: the worst mistake you can make is to try to be someone else while speaking. The only way you can be at ease is to be yourself. If you try to speak like someone else, your audience will judge you by the standards of that person and you will fall short. Who can be better than you in playing you? I attended a speech competition and a young man did a fantastic rendition of Martin Luther King Jr.’s I Have a Dream speech. It was so good that the ovation was resounding. But the question on my mind was this, “If he has to present his own speech, will he be as successful?” Dr. King’s persona may not be appropriate all the time. So, it is important for you to develop yourself, not to mimic others (though it may be needed in some contexts), but to be yourself to your audience.

•Stay in your comfort zone: find out what works for you and do it. If, due to your nervousness, you prefer to stand at the podium, do so without looking stiff. If, on the other hand, you prefer to walk around, try not to be clumsy and do not distract your audience. The posture you adopt will say a lot about you to your audience (we will deal more on that later).

•Know that your audience will listen anyway: once you stand to speak, know that people are listening to you. If you are confident, they will listen, and if you are fearful, they will still listen (of course with a different reaction). So, forget about the fear and focus on your presentation.

•Focus on being a showman instead of being a mind reader: whenever you are speaking, know that your main concern is to satisfy your listeners instead of reading their minds. You cannot worry and speak at the same time. Leave the minds of your listeners to them and you keep your mind on your speech. What they think may be useful to you later in preparation for future speeches, but while your current speech lasts, you don’t need that distraction.

•See multitudes as one person: I have heard some people recommend that when you stand before a crowd, look over their heads so as to avoid anxiety. Some others say that you must look into their eyes. We will leave arguments on that for another day. But this is what I recommend; treat the crowd like you will treat an individual.

I don’t mean that you pick out one person from the crowd and focus on him/her; I mean that you should adjust your mind to be comfortable with all as though they are but one. Will you look over the head of one person when having a conversation? Will you be scared of communicating with one person? If your answer is no, then transfer the same mentality to your audience; after all, every crowd is a collection of individuals.

Fear of public speaking is not new. As you are sacred of it, so am I. But I will not let that keep me from speaking when next I have the opportunity to. When you are afraid, you are underestimating yourself. Fear is not strong enough to prevent you from speaking; only you can do that! If you don’t stop yourself, no one else can! This concludes our three part exploration of dealing with the fear of public speaking.

Dr. Amodu teaches at the Department of Mass Communication, Covenant University, Ogun State.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

SOCIETY The families of Chief and Mrs Olatunde Onakoya and the late Prof and Mrs Adegbesan Adenuga celebrated the union of their children, Babajide and Ayodele, at Darlington Hall in Ilupeju, Lagos. OLATUNDE ODEBIYI writes.

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A union of like minds

ORUBA culture was on display at the engagement of Babajide, son of the Chief Executive Officer, TED Limited (makers of Lanson Champagne), Chief Olatunde Onakoya and Ayodele, daughter of a former Chairman of the Ogun State Civil Service Commission, the late Prof Adegbesan Adenuga.

Dignitaries, family members, friends and well wishers came from within and outside the country to share in the couple’s joy.

Les Genies Live Band and Fresh Wave (DJ) entertained guests.

Darlington Hall in Ilupeju, Lagos, the venue of the event, was decorated in gold and white. There were also sparkling lights across the hall.

The bride’s family, friends and well wishers wore orange head gears and caps; the groom’s family looked radiant in blue.

The hall was filled to capacity and guests looked resplendent in traditional attires.

There were choice foods and drinks.

A set of young pretty women ushered guests to their seats. They wore gold mixed with a brown traditional attire, popularly called Oleku.

The groom, Babajide, looked charming in his cream Agbada and Sokoto with cap to match. The bride dazzled in her cream lace buba, iro and gele. She wore a pair of silver shoes.

Babajide, an engineer, hails from Ikorodu in Lagos State. He was accompanied into the hall by his friends after the families had been introduced.

He and his friends prostrated for his family and his in-laws and they prayed for him after he was introduced.

They danced to the music supplied by the Alaga’s drummers and took their seats.

The bride, Ayodele, from Ijebu-Igbo in Ogun State, was also escorted into the hall by her friends and some family members amid songs.

She knelt to greet her in-laws and parents,

after which they prayed for her.

The bride later joined her beloved on the cream bridal chair.

A minute of silence was observed in honour of the bride’s late parents.

Dr Ronke Ibirogba, Dr Paul Adenuga, Senator Olabiyi Durojaye and Chief S. B. Falegan represented bride.

Leap 4 Joy Dance Company enlivened the atmosphere with traditional dances. They danced to Igwe by Midnight Crew and other songs supplied by the DJ and a band.

The groups ensured that there was no dull moment.

Princess Temilolu Ibirogba read the marriage letter from the groom’s family. The bride’s family did the same.

The couple took to the floor and later cut the cake.

A session of photographs followed.

Prayers were said for the couple following which they returned to the dance floor. Families and friends joined them on the floor.

The groom said he was happy and excited.

He described his lovebird as a woman who knows what she wants and would make any man happy.

The bride described her beau as loving, caring and nice. She said she was happy for the joy of the day.

The groom’s father urged the couple to study the word of God, saying that it would guide them on the right path.

He prayed God to sustain and keep them all the days of their lives as they embark on their life-long journey.

Deputy Governor of Ekiti State Prof Modupe Adelabu, advised the couple to live together as friends and protect each other so that they can have a happy marriage.

Present at the event were former Governor of the Old Western State Gen Adeyinka Adebayo and wife Modupe; former Governor of Ekiti State Otunba Niyi Adebayo; Chief Alani Akinrinade; an entrepreneur, Mrs Kike Ojo, Oba Adeleke Ogunleye and Oba Oladejo Olayiwola, among others.

•The couple Babajide and Ayodele

•Groom’s parents: Mr and Mrs Olatunde Onakoya

•Chief Samuel Falegan and his wife

•Gen Adebayo and his wife, Modupe

•Chief Tunde Aluko (left) and Gen Akinrinade

•Mr Akin Kekere-Ekun (left) and Otunba Niyi Adebayo

•Prof Williams

•Senator Biyi Durojaiye

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

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NIGER DELTA REPORT

•The late Ogosi’s wife and children

• The late Ogosi

Nollywood stars gather in Bayelsa tomorrow for Ogosi The Ogosi‘ came to T limelight with the OMORROW will be a day for emotions in Bayelsa State, as Nollywood stars will gather to pay their last respects to the late actor and producer, Favour Ogosi.

They will converge on the family compound in Sagbama Local Government for the funeral of their colleague, who died on July 12 after a brief illness. He died two weeks after celebrating his 46th birthday.

No wonder, his wife Lizzy said: “He was very happy on his contributions in the movie industry. He was praising himself saying he has done well in the industry, that he brought the Association of Movie Producers (AMP) to Niger Delta and Bayelsa State. That, even if he died, Niger Delta will be proud of his contribution to the industry.”

Explaining what transpired the night before her husband died, Mrs Ogosi said: “His health became critical after complaining of severe pain and I rushed him to Metropolitan Clinic, a private clinic in Port Harcourt. The whole thing started at midnight. While

From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

we were at the clinic, he was crying; the doctors did their best to administer drugs on him but the pains persisted. He had a liver problem which he had been managing for some years now.

“To be frank, my husband actually struggled with death. He did not want to die. It was painful for him to say good bye. He was smiling at me, but he is gone leaving me with the problem of the family. I have three children, Isaac Oyinmiebi Ogosi, 16, Promise Oyindenyefa Ogosi, 14, and Rejoice Oyintarela Ogosi, 12.”

The late Ogosi was Chairman of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Bayalsa State chapter and chairman of the Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Bayalsa chapter.

Royal Appia, actor and producer who is also the chairman of Ogosi Burial Committee, said the late Ogosi’s contributions to the movie industry in Niger Delta would forever be remembered.

movie “I refuse to die”.

His other credits include: Ebiowei, Amalagha, A date with corruption, Unknown Prophet and Destiny Child. Other ones written and produced but yet to be released are: Teenage pregnancy, Somewhere in the Creek and What a tradition.

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He said: “You can imagine the level of his contributions; the burial committee is called Nollywood Burial

Committee, that is how serious it is.

We are working seriously to ensure that everything is in order.

“The late Ogosi was one of the production crew of the late veteran actor Sam Loco and was one of the persons working with him at the location the day he died. Ogosi said the death of Sam Loco forced him to have a rethink on how to take his production company seriously instead of working under his colleagues.”

Few months after Sam Loco was buried, the late Ogosi produced a movie in memory of Sam Loco entitled: “Unknown prophet” to keep the memory of the veteran actor alive.

He was an Executive Director of Annog Kreation, a company he jointly owned with his sister, Ann Bekele who is the Chief Executive officer of the company. Ann, an actress and producer brought the late Ogosi to Port Harcourt and took care of his lingering health until his death.

Describing the late Ogosi, Ann said: “I have lost a hardworking brother, a hero, fighter of injustice and

Pain, sorrow linger five years after Agge invasion •Continued from page 28 “Crude oil is not stolen with brief case; it is transported with barges and vessels. Even speedboats that pass through the river have to go close to the houseboat of the soldiers for clearance. So, it is impossible to steal crude oil or engage in illegal bunkering if the soldiers there do not allow it,” our source, who asked not to be named, said.

High Chief Smith Mientuade, Tonkepa of Kou Kingdom, also flayed the attack, likening it to setting an entire building on fire to kill a tiny rat. The titleholder, whose two wives lost houses, regretted that no effort had been made by the Federal Government to rebuild the town, five years on.

The Secretary of the Traditional Council, High Chief Lawrence Orukeme, lamented that several petitions to the government failed to yield any meaningful result.

Orukeme said: “Our people are still left to suffer for sins they did not commit.”

Mr. Timi Etuele, secretary to the monarch, said relief materials sent by then Governor Timipre Sylva were grossly insufficient.

He said: “What they gave even caused problems in the community because it set brothers against themselves. When people are hungry and

desperate, tempers are usually short and angers are high.”

Besides, sources said a prominent politician from the local government was accused of confiscating some of the relief materials, including outboard engines to her personal property.

The anger of the traumatised people was unabated five years after. Monday Lugbeinwe, who lost property worth millions of naira, is one of those yet unable to rebuild his house. His relatives said he has been turned into an itinerant man.

He was on a religious retreat in Lagos when the incident occurred.

Chief Williams Isiaye and Samuel Alla, among other victims decried the perceived abandonment of their community by the government.

Led by their monarch in protest, they said: “We did not commit any crime before they burnt down Agge. Today, communities in Gbaramatu and Ayakoromor (in Warri South West and Burutu local government areas of Delta State) that were razed as a result of militancy have been rebuilt.”

The Amananawei lamented that government rebuilt those communities whose indigenes took up arms against the nation at various times but abandoned those who were victim of JTF’s aggression.

“Those other communities were

targeted because of some specific persons. In Ayakoromor, it was John Togo; in Gbaramatu, it was Tompolo. These persons were accused of killing soldiers, destroying the nation’s assets yet their communities have been rebuilt because government appreciated that it was not the action of the entire community.

“We did neither; we were victims of flawed intelligence report. Still five years after not even a brick has been laid in Agge. Why the double standard? This is an injustice that they comfortably forget,” he added.

Mr Osteen Igbapike, a lawyer and legal representative of the community, told our reporter on telephone that they might resolve to legal action if efforts to get the relevant authorities to rebuild Agge fail.

“We are encouraged by the recent Odi judgment. We can seek to enforce our fundamental human rights. Before then, we are appealing and begging movement to rebuild our town.”

Igbapike decried the attitude of the various levels of government to the plight of Agge people.

“We are located on the fringe of the Bight of Benin. May be because we are far from government, they forget that we are a part of Nigeria.

It is painful to note that a town of Agge statue lacks any form of government presence,” he said.

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lover of humanity. Even when he was alive, I referred him as a richest man who is poor, because as far as movie industry is concerned he has a big and untapped idea. But, he was unlucky not to have supporters who could encourage his dream. I brought him to Port Harcourt; that was why I was mad with his friends who could not help him to avoid what he drank that could escalate his health, because he had a liver problem. He was the first to shoot movie in Bayelsa State. He indeed paid his dues.”

The late Ogosi came to limelight with the movie “I refuse to die”. His other credits include: Ebiowei, Amalagha, A date with corruption, Unknown Prophet and Destiny Child.

Others written and produced but yet to be released are: Teenage pregnancy, Somewhere in the Creek and What a tradition.

Some of the dreams that the Ogosi will be buried with tomorrow are his plans to establish a film village in Bayelsa State and to create an Ijaw language movies’ channel.

Politicians ready for Senatorial election in Delta Central

OLLOWING the death of Senator Pius Ewerhido, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will conduct by-election into Delta Central Senatorial District in 90 days.

The late Ewerhido, who represented Delta Central on the platform of the Democratic People’s Party (DPP) , died on June 30.

According to INEC, persons and parties eligible to contest the by-election, as stipulated in the Electoral Act, are those that participated in the April 2011 elections.

The candidates in the 2011 elections were the late Ewerhido, Democratic Peoples Party, (DPP), Ighoyota Amori , Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Charles Obule , Justice Party (JP) and Prof Adegor Eferakeya, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

INEC spokesperson in Asaba, Livy Unuigwe, in a telephone chat with The Nation, said though INEC has not released any statement on the proposed bye-election, the Electoral Act would guide the electoral body in its decisions He said the Electoral Act stipulates a by-election at the expiration of 90 days.

His words:“The Electoral Act

From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

stipulates that should a seat becomes vacant as a result of death of the occupant or a valid court judgment, INEC will conduct a by-election at the expiration of 90 days. INEC has no statement in respect of this instant case. We are awaiting the green light from INEC headquarters.”

The late Ewerhido won with 100,200 votes. Amori of PDP garnered 89,957 votes. ACN came a distant third.

The death of Ewerhido has altered the dynamics of power in the state. His death has robbed the opposition of its dynamism.

Before 2011, DPP was a fringe party but it was transformed by Great Ogboru. It presented candidates for State Assembly elections and its candidates emerged victorious in eight state constituencies and won a federal legislative seat.

Delta DPP Chair Tony Ezeagwu said the ruling PDP would be defeated again.

His words: “The by-election is a simple issue. Even if we field an unknown quantity, the DPP will win resoundingly. We have no fear whoever we field will emerge victorious.We are already ready for the election, even if INEC calls for elections tomorrow.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

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NIGER DELTA REPORT

People are suffering and smiling in Akwa Ibom , Senator James Akpanudoedehe, a two-term Senator and former Minister of State (FCT) contested and lost the 2011 governorship election on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Akwa Ibom. He challenged the victory of Governor Godswill Akpabio up to the Supreme Court. He speaks with KAZEEM IBRAHYM on developments in the state, among others.

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OU have been away for some time; how has it been?

I was constrained by the court bail condition given to me. That is what people don’t understand. Our people have a saying that you can only lay on the back of a dead cat. When you go everywhere and talk, people who are trying to foment trouble will say you are the one and then they will cancel your bail and put me in the prison. That doesn’t make me a brave man. A dead lion cannot be compared with a live cat.

You simply obey the condition.

I am a leading opposition figure in the state, keeping quiet doesn’t mean that I am taking sides with the government.

Don’t you think your supporters may abandon you as a result of your posture?

Our supporters are not leaving us. It is the propaganda of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to lure them to its side. They should know more than that. Did I abandon them? Abandonment means that we did not pursue the tribunal case to a logical conclusion which was my legal right. I went to Supreme Court twice. I don’t want to talk about the case but I will say I have enjoyed the righteousness of the Judiciary.

I am not going to say anything about an institution which I have so much respect for.

I understand what it means to leave PDP. I abandoned my business, I could not be patronised in what I do. I had no patronage.

Let me give you a story, my running mate during the 2011 election, Chief Ime Umanah is in court today because of a text message. He hasn’t gotten out of it. Now if you rob anybody or you kidnap someone and that kidnapper is arranged to implicate me; if I am the last person you called and you drop that phone and when police asked what was the last number he called and it was traceable to me, that is trouble for me. It is only a fool that will not understand some of these things. You must understand your enemies and understand how far they can go.

Is it not clear what is going on at the NGF, where lower vote defeated a higher vote?

Have we not seen the situation in Rivers State where five is greater than 27? Is it not clear that these people are doing this with impunity? If you think you are surviving because of the rule of law, who will save you? If Akwa Ibom people understand what I have given up to speak on their behalf, they will be thanking God. Even a lot of PDP people come and lobby me to speak so that Akpabio will bring money to the PDP people.

Even in the face of all this, you seem to control a whole lot of followers; what is responsible for this?

When I used to mind my business, mind my money, nobody will care because your prosperity is not affecting them. The same people that hated you, when you turn and speak on their behalf, they will like you. To the glory of God, it is not magic. It is just that you have decided to give eyes to those who don’t have eyes.

You have decided to give a voice for those who don’t have voice. You have decided to be that leader, to fill the gap for those who don’t have the ability.

AM pleased with my life. I stand for what I be lieve in. If you have hope of eternity, you shouldn’t be afraid of this life. It depends on the level of spirituality you have with your God. For instance, when they put me in Uyo prison, they were trying to take me to Enugu that night.

What shocked the people that came was that when they came I was sleeping. They don’t understand why I was sleeping.

They thought that I won’t be able to sleep. I don’t bother because the message is very clear at that particular point in time because I have word of God that will keep me. When I was in detention, it really devastated my wife. She was totally shattered.

How would you assess the development plan of Akpabio’s government ?

Akpabio’s government is a complete failure. Development is not based on media hype. The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) had set out indices that can determine development. Poor sanitary condition must improve, ac-

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Rivers crisis: Muslim leader flays Ikwerre traditional rulers From Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt

A MUSLIM leader in Rivers State, Alhaji Abubakar Orlu, has accused the leadership of the Ikwerre socio-cultural organisation, Ogbakor Ikwerre of fanning the political crisis rocking the state.

Orlu, who spoke in Port Harcourt, the state capital, accused the Ikwerre leaders and traditional rulers of being biased.

Orlu said: “The political crisis in Rivers State is becoming increasingly worrisome. One point of note is that it Ikwerre sons are the arrowheads of the warring factions.

“Unfortunately, the Ogbokor Ikwerre and the Ikwerre traditional rulers have done nothing to look into it with the view of settling it. I blame the Ogbokor Ikwerre and the royal fathers for the continued crisis. This is because they have failed to play their fatherly role in cautioning their children. This has obviously brought shame to the people of Ikwerre kingdom. I, therefore, enjoin our sons and daughters not to trust them anymore. “ Ogbokor Ikwerre and the traditional rulers failed to intervene between him and Sir Celestine Omehia until Amaechi took over the governorship.”

cess to water must improve and access to other life changing facilities must improve but it is unfortunate we have not been able to meet up with some of these things. You said you are developing a state while you are running on generator at night. When people come, you do a guided tour to show them. You keep advertising a particular thing all over again with nothing else to show.

What is your position on the zoning of governorship seat in 2015?

Zoning is a very convenient political arrangement. They are trying to bring in their own so that the status quo will continue. We need to be liberated so that we don’t slaughter the freedom of the state on the altar of zoning. Don’t quote me wrong. I support fairness, I am not for zoning.

As we speak, everybody who wants to run for this office believes in anointing. They are not people-friendly. You need to have a message that will sell you to the people.

There is something that is wrong; our people are living under a certain spell. Why would you have democracy and have people being frightened to their marrow? Democracy is freedom.

In a normal political situation, there is nothing wrong with zoning. The question is, are they going to be fair in their zoning? For instance, if they are fair, they should narrow it down to ethnic group. But they won’t do that.

In 2015, what the people of Akwa Ibom need is a message that will give hope, a message that will bring back the state from the hands of despots.

Was I not one of those who came and actualised the dream? Governor Godswill Akpabio was the least among the people that came from Annang to contest the governorship seat but just because they called him names, I was angry because God created everybody but calling people names doesn’t make sense.

So here we are today, all those people who are clapping for Akpabio today, what did they do that I did not do for Akpabio? The same man who made a law to imprison me.

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It is sad that we have people in this state that are smiling while suffering. For instance, last month, we got from the Federation Account almost N70billion, excluding Internally Generated Revenue. If you have people who believe in anything goes where there is no intellectual component to propel the future and someone is deceiving you and you are still believing him, then something is wrong

‘ You can be happy today because you are eating prawns; what about your children? We don’t do things for the future, people only think about the present situation.

Are you satisfied with the state government’s efforts toward poverty reduction?

It is sad that we have people in this state who are smiling while suffering. For instance, last month, we got from the Federation Account almost N70 billion, excluding Internally Generated Revenue. If you have people who believe in anything goes, where there is no intellectual component to propel the future and someone is deceiving you and you are still believing him, then something is wrong. Do I need to look for two people to believe the way I think? No, it is not always a lot of people who believe in something. It only

NDDC slot: Ikot Abasi alleges marginalisation From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

THE Ibibio Youth Council in Akwa Ibom State have expressed concern over perceived marginalisation of the people of Ikot Abasi Federal Constituency in the nomination of members on the Board of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Akwa Ibom State is expected to produce the next Managing Director of the Commission, when the tenure of the current Board expires August 6.

Speaking with reporters in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital, the President-General of Ibibio Youth Council, Imoh Okoko said: “We have been totally side-lined in the scheme of NDDC projects. So we feel now that it is our turn. The MD of NDDC must come from Ikot Abasi Federal constituency. It will be injustice for the President Goodluck Jonathan to appoint a candidate outside this Federal Constituency. The NDDC Act is very clear that the MD and the Executive Director must come from oil communities.”

• Udoedehe

takes one person to change a society. It is a terrible situation we are facing here in Akwa Ibom.

OU cannot cry more than the bereaved. If people are suffering and smiling, and I am telling them you are suffering and they said ‘no’; so what do I do?

There are those who come to tell me things are difficult.

When they come here, they tell me you are not giving us money. I am not a commissioner and not a contractor here in Akwa Ibom State.

How prepared is APC towards 2015 in Akwa Ibom State?

We are building a platform.

That is what we are doing. We need a strong party. We need people who believe in progressive arrangement; an ideology that will bring in a better future because party is a vehicle and

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you need to build a structure.

Are you saying APC would not allow PDP castaways?

By the time they come, we must have finished our structure. We are willing to take everybody but you must not come after the deadline. If you come in from PDP, that means you still have your structure in PDP. What we want is for people to believe in the ideology of the progressives.

Are you saying that money received by Akpabio’s government since inception is not commensurate with the level of development in the state?

Don’t even use commensurate. What he has done is like that of a local government chairman when compared with the money he has collected so far. What he is celebrating can be likened to the performance of a local govern-

‘Re-award Otuabagi shoreline project to competent firm’ From Shola O’Neil, Port Harcourt

A FORMER Bayelsa State commissioner on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr. Anthony Orubo, has urged the commission to re-award the Otuabagi shore protection project in the state to a competent contractor.

Orubo, who made the appeal in Port Harcourt, alleged that the contractor handling the project abandoned it shortly after he was mobilised with fund.

He said: “The job should be reassigned to a more competent contractor. As I speak to you the job has been abandoned. That project should be revisited. The monies paid out to the company should be accounted for because the community is suffering.”

According to him, partisanship should be shunned in selecting a team to succeed the current board.

“I can’t tell you whether Bayelsa will get Executive Director of Project. But if that office comes to Bayelsa as many are saying it will then there are competent Bayelsans to fill such position,” he said.

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

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NIGER DELTA REPORT

, says Udoedehe

•Uduaghan

•Okowa

•Elue

The battle to succeed Uduaghan Though he still has two years to complete his second term in office, the race to succeed Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has begun, writes OKUNGBOWA AIWERIE, Asaba

T ment chairman. It is only a local government chairman that will build a healthcare centre and commission it. When I was a Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory, it was mandatory as a policy to build healthcare centre in each of the wards to be closer to the people based on the indices/criteria of development. Education must be given to everybody not the type in Akwa Ibom State. It is not just going to paint classrooms on the street and call that free education.

Next year, we will engage him. This is why I don’t like giving interview. I am just giving you an idea. If we engage him now, it will turn to propaganda. There will be a time he won’t be able to defend himself again. That is why I am keeping quiet.

So will you be vying for governorship in 2015 consid-

ering the fact that you are from Uyo Senatorial District and the people are agitating for zoning of the governorship seat to Eket?

I am waiting for them. Eket Senatorial District people are sleeping. Is it not shameful that some of them from Oron are going to collect money? Is that a serious set of people?

They better get money now than to sacrifice the governorship seat. Do they expect me to fight for them? We need people who will redeem Akwa Ibom because it has been sold out. We need to redeem it first. Somebody can come from Eket or anywhere who has the message and ability. If you are not ready to die, you don’t come and struggle for the governorship position.

It is a wrong timing for zoning. Even with courage, there is a little element of fear.

Tompolo donate drugs to four hospitals in Delta IJAW youth leader Chief Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo) has donated drugs and healthcare facilities worth several millions to government hospitals in Delta State.

The donations, made through his Tompolo Foundation, were to hospitals in Warri-South, Uvwie, Okpe and Warri-South-West local government areas.

The Executive Secretary of the foundation, Comrade Paul Bebenimibo, who is also the media aide to the former MEND leader, said the donations were aimed at helping government to save lives, especially those of indigent people in the areas.

He said: “We are here today to affect lives, no matter how small this drugs maybe, we are confident it will help to save children’s lives, children are the leaders of tomorrow.

“Tompolo foundation took note of the importance of health and the various health challenges, we hope that this drugs will be put to judicious use. We hope to reach out to many hospitals, we are also going to train 50 science teachers in the College of education to meet the educational needs of our children.”

HE 2015 governorship contest in Delta State, though two years away, continues to generate keen interest, drama and uncertainty among politicians and Deltans alike. Aspirants are already jostling for vantage position.

Pundits say the 2015 election will be defined in part by “the Anioma question”, that is whether or not an Anioma person will succeed Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan and the eternal struggle for control of the party by rival interests within the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The clamour by political leaders of Anioma extraction for power shift to the northern part of the state has galvanised the populace.

Pressure groups agitating for power shift have since mushroomed, prominent among them are Anioma Agenda, Ndokwa Unite and Anioma Congress.

But do the Igbo-speaking people who inhabit nine local government areas pose a formidable political force?

Can they work as a cohesive political unit in their bid to wrest power from rival ethnic groups, such as the Urhobo of the central senatorial district which vote as a single bloc or of the tripartite alliance of the Isoko, Ijaw and Itsekiri in Delta South.

The Anioma ambition has royal backing. Under the aegis of Anioma Congress late last year, it embarked on intensive lobbying campaign, spanning one month across Anioma land. But can that rally the people and gain electoral victory?

The twin demand of the group is either the emergence of an Anioma indigene as governor or realisation of the proposed Anioma State.

According to the group, the creation of Anioma State was not negotiable and would be pursued with

vigour and commitment.

One of the leaders of the group and ex-Deputy Governor Benjamin Elue said the campaign focused mainly on the “need for Anioma people to support the creation of Anioma State and in the event of not achieving that, to prepare to take over the governance of Delta State come 2015, through one of their own”.

But the greatest threat to the Anioma ambition is the Urhobo ethnic group, a dominant political force, being out of power in the last eight years feels, estranged politically, and wants power back.

Another factor that may militate against an Anioma governorship candidature is the untenably high number of aspirants of Anioma stock in the race.

Will they ever arrive at a consensus candidate that will fly the flag in 2015 without the resultant disputes harming their chances?

Those eyeing the top job are the Delta Speaker, Victor Ochei , ex-aide to the late President Umaru Yar’ Adua, Chief Clement Ofuani , Godswill Obielum , ex-acting governor Sam Obi, Senator Arthur Okowa, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr Festus Okubor, Mr. Tony Elumelu and a host of others.

Chairman, Anioma Agenda (AA), Mr. Alex Onwuadiamu, said political actors in Delta North were not disunited.

He said: “What we are saying is that the principle of zoning and rotation of public offices as enshrined in the constitution and the constitution of the PDP be adhered to. The governorship has gone to central senatorial zone, it is now in the south senatorial zone and by that principle, come 2015,it will be the turn of Anioma people to produce the governor for Delta state that is all we are

asking for.”

A section of the Anioma family says ethnicity rather than zoning be used as the basis for apportioning public offices, a sentiment which Ndokwa Unite, a socio-political group, shares.

But the discordant tunes from the group raise questions about its cohesiveness.

Members of the Ndokwa Unite’s Board of Trustees, Dr Bonnyface Opia, Greg Ikoko and Mr Mathew Emeni, urged other senatorial districts to support an Ndokwa governorship candidate not only because of the party’s zoning principle but for equity.

They said: “Delta Central did eight years in Government House, Delta South will complete theirs in 2015, as such, it is important that Delta North produces the Governor in 2015, not only because of the zoning formula of the PDP but because of equity.

“Ndokwa is the only ethnic nationality that has cultural affinity with the Ijaws, Itsekiris, Isokos, Urhobos, Ikas, Aniochas and the Oshimilis.

“An Ndokwa man as governor will not be biased and will work for the overall interest of Deltans, Ndokwa is the stabilising factor for 2015.

“While Oshimili has produced a premier, Dennis Osadebay and Deputy Governor John Edozien , Ika has produced a deputy governor Simeon Ebonka, Aniocha Benjamin Elue has produced a deputy governor; it is only Ndokwa that has not produced someone who has held such a high office.”

According to this school of thought in 1999 and 2007, more than one district fielded candidates and so the issue of Anioma in 2015 should not arise.

But Clement Ofuani , a politician and member of the PDP, counters: “While zon-

ing is a part of our party’s constitution, there is no defined timetable as to which zone or district should go first and in what sequence.

At the national level, it was decided that to settle the June 12 imbroglio, a Yoruba should go first and we ended with two Yoruba presidential candidates in 1999.In 2007, there was the feeling that power should shift to the North and despite the fact that several Southern politicians obtained nomination forms, the party enforced what it considered to be in consonance with its constitution. And so in the elections, the North emerged. Also at the state level, in 1999, all zones fielded candidates and Delta Central emerged and also ran for a second term as is permitted by the party’s constitution. In 2007, since there was no determined sequence in the PDP’s constitution as to which of the remaining two districts should go next, they both fielded candidates along with Delta Central, but the party enforced its constitutional provision and Delta South emerged and is presently running second term. By natural law and mathematical deduction, you can then conclude that the remaining senatorial district which is Delta North should be the next to go for the position .This does not remove the constitutional right of anybody to contest in the state, but it does within the party.

People can say what they want but the party knows where it is going and it will enforce its constitutional provision without doubt”.

Perhaps the realisation that no single zone can win an election in Delta State without the support of other zones may force politicians to start building bridges across geo-political zones towards a political consensus.

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

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NIGER DELTA REPORT

Police arrest man for ‘mistakenly’ selling friend for N1.5m

H

IS name is Gentle, but his deeds do not agree with his name.

Twenty eight-year old, Gentle Moses is an ambitious young man with dreams of becoming an instant millionaire. He thought he could actualise the lofty dream by selling his 13-year old friend, Richard Lawrence, for princely N1.5million.

The evil plot by the ungentle Gentle was stymied by the hands of fate and timely intervention of the police.

On July 23 on the promise that he was taking Lawrence to town to give him a menial job to make some money for himself, Moses purportedly took the unsuspecting boy to Gbogobiri, a Hausa settlement in Calabar, Cross River State capital, to sell through an agent.

Unfortunately for him, the supposed agent was a police informant, who tipped off his colleagues at the Atakpa Division. Things got from bad to worse for the get-rich-quick strategist when the ‘buyer’ turned out to be a police constable.

But rather than get paid, he got the handcuff as he was arrested.

Moses, a secondary school dropout from Akwa Ibom State, who is at the state police headquarters in Calabar, said he needed the

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

money to take care of himself as what he made from his job as a labourer was not enough for him.

He said he hatched the unholy plan when he was told that children could be sold at the Hausa settlement. He said he decided to try his luck. But when luck ran out on him he could also say his attempt at child trafficking was a “mistake.”

The rescued Lawrence said he had known Moses for some time as they did some jobs together. “I was doing these small jobs since school is on holiday and I wanted to be making small money for myself too,” he said.

According to him, Moses told him there was a new job in town which they should go together to check it out.

He said on that fateful day he was taken to Bogobiri and food was even bought for him

by Moses, who asked him to wait in one room.

“I was sitting inside a room and he was by the door discussing with one Aboki and the next thing police came and carried us.”

Constable Eno Ogobo, attached to the Atakpa Division, who posed as the buyer said he was on duty on July 23 when one of his informants told him someone had brought a boy to sell.

•Moses (left) and Richard Lawrence

“So immediately I left for Bogobiri and presented myself as the buyer. He told me to buy the boy for N1.5million. He insisted that he would not reduce the price that it was a good business, that the boy was strong and healthy and hence the price was okay.

“He said if the deal went on well, we would continue to do more business like that in future. He said he will bring more business for me. When I asked him if he had done it before, he said it was his first time. While we were talking the boy was there he said we should talk quietly so the boy will not hear. At that point I removed my handcuff and held him.”

•Lawrence The boy’s father, Lawrence Bassey, thanked the police for rescuing his son.

“I just went to work that morning and when I came back around 8pm. I saw policemen and my son and I was wondering what happened.

They told me my son was almost sold off today.

“I have warned my son to stop all these menial jobs he has been doing. I did not send him to do any job. I sent him to school. And as school is not on now I told him to stay and help his sisters in the house and also read his books. I hope he has learnt his lesson now. I thank God.”

‘Jonathan should get second term’ Udens Eradiri is the former Secretary-General of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), an umbrella body of Ijaw youths in Nigeria. He is contesting the presidential election of the IYC. He speaks with MIKE ODIEGWU on the problems with the council and other issues.

•Eradiri

W

HAT is really the major problem with IYC? The problems of IYC are ignorance and illiteracy. Many of our people, including some of the leaders, are ignorant.

Ignorance comes in stages. You may be educated and not enlightened. That is one of the biggest problems we have in this part of the world. We need to be enlightened and exposed to be able to understand how life itself evolves. I am an Ijaw youth and l am passionate about the growth of the organisation that is supposed to be the umbrella for which my rights and welfare are to be protected. It will not be proper for us to allow our system to go down and be destroyed. We cannot allow the IYC to go down the drain when we can add value to it.

Why was this organisation formed in the first place?

There were too many organisations in the Niger Delta pursing the same agenda. So, it didn’t make sense that in the region even within the Ijaw folks, different organisations were pursuing the same aim but through different means. It only makes sense that if all of us agree on one goal, we should come together and bring our energies together so that we can channel the same cause and achieve results. That was the driving principle

behind the Kaima meeting that eventually formed the Ijaw Youth Council.

This organisation appears to have derailed over time. What really went wrong?

It was done in a hurry. It wasn’t done as a result of careful planning and restrategising.

Something needed to be done urgently so we missed the point of setting up subsidiary structures of a movement. Ours is like a firebrigade approach and that was why the deviation crept in. Felix Tuodolor who was the first President had a vision. But immediately it passed Felix, we deviated. For instance, we don’t even have an Ijaw Bill of Rights just like the Ogoni have their Bill of Rights. We are supposed to have a modus operandi for our movement.

Such document should carry issues about discipline and cultism that have led us down the drain. These things are lacking and unfortunately, the kind of society we have found ourselves, a lot of adulteration has taken place and trying to set it on the right track will be an uphill task.

But l am sure that when l become the president l will try my best to set the foundation. I am not saying that l will achieve everything. It is a very difficult task owing to the fact that IYC leadership is three years. That is one of the reasons why we are not making progess. We should have had clear-cut leadership. Look at the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC).

OPC leadership has been there since the inception of IYC. They are still the same leaders. We have had about five presidents.

But they are still retaining the same leadership.

That is why they have been able to maintain a structure until OPC is institutionalised in Yoruba land. It is doing security and building the economy. It has taken charge of their environment and fighting crime effectively. The institution has taken time to go through the processes of pitfalls and has come out of it. So, a whole lot of things are wrong with our movement. But we are going to address all that.

People, especially within the political class, believe that you are arrogant and may not be loyal if you become the President of IYC. I always accept it when they say l am arrogant. But the question is this: what value

has my arrogance brought to the table? I have led before and I have added so much value. A man who cannot beat you in argument will call you names. People should look at the qualities.

There is no doubt that the aim of the council is to ensure that the Ijaw are protected. 2015 is about protecting the rights and welfare of the Ijaw, which is the first oath of office as IYC president.

Some people will want Udens to be their puppet and stooge, it will not happen. But l will be loyal to the institution of the IYC which I have shown in the past. Governor Seriake Dickson is the product of the IYC and you have seen it in his dance steps. I will work with Dickson to achieve greatness for the Ijaw nation. Of course, you see Dickson, he has a clear-cut agenda and that is why he is setting up the template by putting up the entire legal framework.

But this thing they say about me is blackmail. l am bringing value to the table. I am coming in with a clear-cut agenda of change for young people. My strategy for 2015 is non-violent that will build bridges and advise leadership to do what is right to build relationship and solidarity with other ethnic groups.

I want to run an IYC that will ensure that at community levels during school hours children who should be in class should be in class. I want to be the president that will support the government of the state to take decisions that will create food on the table of the Ijaw.

As l speak to you now I have about five young boys that l am training with the profit from my company in universities in South Africa and Europe. In London, I have some boys doing postgraduate studies. I know how many people that passed through me in terms of job creation and skill acquisition. I run a dredging company which I am building to be a world-class indigenous company. I am employing youths from this region.

It is believed that the influence of politicians and moneybags have weakened the Council. IYC must have a collaborative relationship with the government and not a subjective one. Most times you interact with the government and come up with a position that is acceptable to both parties for the good of the people. But most times we have a leadership that is after romancing the ego of a

governor. The IYC is supposed to be a movement that gives strength to a political leadership that is focused on issues concerning the Niger Delta. For instance the council needs to do the scratching for the political class to do the negotiation.

The IYC agitated and NDDC came out of it. But how far have we consolidated on NDDC knowing that it was set up to achieve XYZ goals for the benefits of the region. It is now left for the IYC to engage NDDC to the point where all these corruption would not occur. You can’t sit down in a state where Bayelsa will be looking for money to build Brass Road while NDDC will be building 20 roads in Bayelsa. Why don’t we consolidate development?

The IYC l want to drive will be the IYC of young intellectuals who understand where the society should be and we will do our best to expose the younger ones to how life should be. These are some of the reasons why I am contesting. Economically, l am not doing badly. I went to the university and studied engineering and with the exposure l have l don’t think l will be hungry.

2015 is around the corner, what will be the interest of IYC? The IYC came into place because of the marginalisation in political space and in economic space; we were not given the opportunities to express ourselves. We are talking about the President of Nigeria, which was part of our agitation. Now that we have got the presidency and there is a culture in Nigeria that when you get four years, you will complete it eight years, it is only customary that we protect the seat and ensure that he completes what is due him, eight years.

We have fed and sustained the country for too long, so we have to be given the opportunity. What we are asking from other parts of the country is commonsense. In this same country, if you say you enjoy it, let other geopolitical zones enjoy it too. So if Hausa, Yoruba and Niger Delta have enjoyed it, let the Igbo and middle-belt too enjoy it. That is the principle. We expect that the commonsense will prevail when we finish our eight years after all we say it is one Nigeria; anything more than that is a problem.

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POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

The registration of the mega party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), has set the stage for a titanic battle for power at the federal and state levels in the next general elections, reports Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU.

APC: A major breakthrough for opposition T

HE opposition has delivered its new baby without complication. The midwife, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which provided the atmosphere for safe delivery, said that the child birth was without a prolonged labour. Its Chairman, Prof.

Attahiru Jega, also affirmed that the new platform met the requirements laid down by the constitution. This confirmation has dismissed the claim of the brains behind the unregistered rival organisation falsely laying claim to its acronym, the APC. The birth of the APC may have instantly changed the political calculus.

The numerical strength of its senators and House of Representatives members may rob the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of a two-third majority in the National Assembly.

As more PDP legislators are likely to defect to the new party, owing to the protracted crises in the ruling party, it is projected that the PDP may ultimately become a nominal majority party in the parliament.

The country may be heading towards a two party system, the presence of the mushroom parties merely warming the INEC register notwithstanding. In 2015, PDP and APC will clash during the historic popularity test. What will definitely shape the contest are the core issues, especially the power of ideas, manifestos, pedigrees of the flag bearers, and antecedents of the parties. Nigerians, analysts argue, would have the opportunity to choose between the party that has held sway for 14 years without resolving the challenges of nationbuilding and development and a platform that has not been tested with power at the centre.

The prelude to the 2015 battle will be the governorship elections in Anambra State in November 16 and in Osun and Ekiti states next year.

To observers, Nigeria is on the threshold of history. The leaders of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and a section of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) have achieved what the giants of history; the first generation of political leaders and their lieutenants, could not achieve in the First and Second republics.

From this week, APC became a promising party. The enthusiasm and ecstasy cut across the political divide. As an association, it was projected as a party of ideas. Judging by the antecedents of some of its leaders, it is likely to be an ideological platform offering shades to critical progressives, who are fed up with the boring social condition. Being the product of a determined effort at forging unity and cohesion among the scattered leftist politicians canvassing an alternative route to federal power, it will also premise its intervention in national affairs on its unquestionable national outlook.

Reality had dawned on the opposition that, despite its poor record in power, PDP can only be dislodged by the combined forces. The prospect of an alternative platform has ultimately rekindled the hope that the opposition can overcome the weakness imposed by their slight differences. Brimming with optimism few months ago, the former ACN Na-

•Asiwaju Tinubu

• Buhari

tional Leader, Senator Bola Tinubu, one of the arrowheads of the new party, submitted that, ahead of the proposed general elections, APC would be perceived as a government in waiting. His compatriot, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) of the defunct CPC, also attested to its potentials, saying that the opposition can now bark and bite. The result, he said, is good governance. Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola said that the Goliath of Nigeria now has a stone to contend with.

The Secretary of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), Mr. Ayo Opadokun, predicted that the polity would not be the same again, with the emergence of a credible alternative platform. The chance of rigging is slim, he said, adding that democracy will be further nourished by the role of opposition in popular rule. Also, APC chieftain Senator Anie Okonkwo hailed the birth of the party, saying that it will energise the opposition and strengthen its bid for power. He said

•Akande

the performance of the APC governors in their respective states would persuade and convince Nigerians that a vote for the party would not be in vain.

Tinubu has said that APC was formed in the national interest. He explained that the leaders of the merging parties decided to forfeit their platforms, sink their slight differences and make sacrifice for the country. From that declaration, it is evident that the leaders are ready to make more sacrifices, ahead of 2015.

Many have argued that it may be difficult to accurately forecast what the future holds for the APC. The future is more challenging than the past and present. The first step to the future is that the leaders of the three parties that have wounded up should also be prepared to frontally confront the challenge of collective migration to the new fold. They must manage the adjustment to change.

Remarkably, following their terminal conventions, ACN, ANPP, CPC

•Onu

and the section of APGA onvolved in the merger never abandoned the brainstorming sessions. The eclipse of the parties heralded the setting up of the interim administrative committee for the APC. The interim leadership reflects the spread of the party across the six geo-political zones. Although the announcement generated some skirmishes, it was not essentially destabilising. What was at work was the internal crisis resolution mechanism in the fold and the mutual trust among the founding fathers. It is great lesson in party management. Conflict is part of politics, but it should not be allowed to fester to the level of becoming a threat to the existence of the organisation.

Now that APC has come on board, how to formalise its state, local and ward structures is the next prime assignment. The inaugural national convention of the party may hold in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

There, the party will be formally presented to Nigerians. Instructively, the

‘Eyes are also on APC as it brainstorms on the choice of its presidential candidate and his running mate. The flag bearer will mirror the platform, its manifestos, ethos, values and promise. Whoever will emerge is important, but how he emerges is more important’

three defunct parties and groups that formed the APC are not equal in strength. If the leaders and members of the collapsed parties and groups retain their old identities in the new fold, APC may pale into a big party polarised by caucuses. Therefore, in setting up party leadership structures, not only are the arrowheads and their followers expected to make more sacrifices, they should also begin to build a party culture of equity, fairness and justice in matters relating to the choice of party officers.

It will be counter-productive for the APC members to relate to the new organisation as chieftains of the old ACN, ANPP, CPC and APGA. The party should not be a party of senior and junior partners, but an organisation offering the opportunity for all members to grow, mature and advance without let and hindrances.

Eyes are also on APC as it brainstorms on the choice of its presidential candidate and his running mate. The flag bearer will mirror the platform, its manifestos ethos, values and promise. Whoever will emerge is important, but how he emerges is more important. Without doubt, the new party faces the elementary test of internal democracy. The various positions and approaches germane to choice of leadership selection of candidates and shadow election should be harmonised without internal bickering and bitterness.

If the party puts its house in order at that level and there is no post-primary crisis, it will be fortified to forge ahead for the most critical battle.

The task of mobilising for power shift in 2015 is critical. Many believe that the next general elections would be issue-driven. The issue-oriented campaign is the hallmark of the progressive party. Judging by the national mood, ahead of the contest, the core issues would be elevated over and above personalities. But observers also point out that the APC leaders also have an unfinished business. They need to press vigorously for more electoral reforms and insist on the sanctity of the ballot box.

Many observers are of the opinion that the APC leaders should be vigilant. It is still a delicate moment. It is a critical stage of transition. The road to the promise land is laced with thorns.

Without doubt, all the chieftains may not reach the political Canaan. Recently, it was reported that a chieftain of one of the defunct parties that subscribed to the merger had turned around to mobilise support for President Goodluck Jonathan. The PDP, which is made up of the advocates of one-party system, retention of federal power for 60 years and “operation capture 32 states”, cannot not be aloof to the threat. It will definitely bare its fangs.

Observers contend that the ruling party may turn the heat on the APC through intimidation, harassment and blackmail. Pockets of dissention among the co-travelers should be envisaged and be properly managed within the parties in alliance to prevent the gravitation of party members to the party in power at the centre.

What will sustain the young platform is the commitment of the merger drivers. But the political brand should always be sensitive to the machinations of its ardent enemies. To succeed, the APC family must work hard. As one of its leaders, Tinubu, has often remarked, power is not served alacarte.

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CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 07059022999

Firm promises better power supply

Suspected notorious robbery kingpin held

O

•Reveals why he loves to kill policemen

PERATIVES of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Lagos, had a major harvest yesterday. They arrested the leader of a notorious robbery gang that had been terrorising Lagos and South West states.

It was gathered that the suspect, Abiodun Ogunjobi, aka ‘Abbey Godogodo,’ was caught when the SARS operatives who had long been on his trail at his Egbeda, Ibadan, Oyo State home. The operatives were there for three weeks before they finally got at him, recovering two Ak47 rifles and 10 fullyloaded magazines.

It was further gathered that the suspect was behind the July 7 gruesome murder of seven persons at O4 Hotel, Ajah area of Lagos, including its owner, Olanrewaju Subair.

They also allegedly killed two security guards at a popular hotel, along Apapa Road, Ebute-Metta on the

By Jude Isiguzo and Ebele Boniface

same day.

Police sources disclosed that Godogodo escaped arrest on July 14 after his gang’s shoot-out with the SARS operatives on the Eko Bridge, Lagos Island, after killing two policemen at Ebute-Ero and Ajao Estate respectively.

A police source said Godogodo had coordinated several bank robberies in Kwara, Ogun, Oyo, Ekiti and Osun states, adding: “He is the biggest and most notorious armed robber we’ve had in the South West in the past 14 years. We arrested him 11am today in his Olowu area of Egbeda, Ibadan mansion.

Godogodo has killed over 50 policemen and many civilians… we have been arresting many of his boys, but he kept on recruiting to replace those arrested. Our officer, Abba Kyari changed his strategy and focused on him because without getting at him,

his gang would continue to regenerate. This is a great victory for the Nigeria Police and Lagosians and South West in particular.”

The 36-year-old suspect, who is a native of Abeokuta, Ogun State, confessed to reporters:”I started robbery in 1996 and in 1999 I was charged with fighting. I spent more than seven years in prison. My prolonged stay in prison for minor crime of fighting hardened me and I vowed to pay back the police for that injustice. After I was released, I went to Gatangwa in Iyana-Ipaja area of Lagos to meet my armed robber friend, Odun, who was arrested by the police recently at O4 Hotel in Ajah.

“We started operating.

We worked with several other gangs and I invested my loot in arms buying. I also built five houses in Ifo, Ilaro, Ikorodu and Ibadan.

I usually kill policemen and take their rifles be-

•Godogodo at the Command...yesterday

cause policemen killed several of my boys and took most of my rifles from them. I have no regrets for all I have done I have no advice for young people who wants to become armed robbers like me. I

have three children from three women. The police should take all my properties.” Commissioner of Police Umar Manko has ordered for his treatment before he would be tried at the court.

SSS arrests teenager over internet scam

T

HE State Security Service (SSS), Delta State Command, yesterday paraded a 19-year-old alleged member of an employment syndicate.

Its director, Ms Florence Ikakone, told reporters in Asaba that the suspect, Daniel Ehihebolo, was arrested on July 9 in Uromi, Edo State.

According to her, the suspect and other members of his gang specialised in defrauding those seeking employment into the SSS, Nigeria Army, West Africa Examinations Council (WAEC) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

Ikakone said the suspect acted as the zonal coordinator for South/South SSS/Police recruitment in the country.

The suspect, admitted to operating a website www.tropix/forum.com, where he uploaded application forms for applicants into the above-named agencies.

But he said he was arrested at the premises of a commercial bank while trying to cash money from his account.

The suspect said he just completed his Secondary School Leaving Certificate Examination from Ogwa

Grammar School, Esan North East Area. He said he had only defrauded one applicant.

Ikakone identified Osayemewre, an undergraduate at Ambrose Alli University, Edo State, as an accomplice, adding that he was on the run.

The suspect said applicants were made to pay N6,500 for application forms.

The command said the suspect would be arraigned in court on completion of investigations.

Lagos Assembly probes piracy

By Oziegbe Okoeki

•Officials of Nielsen Nigeria during a visit to the Correctional Centre, Idi-Araba, Lagos to commemorate the Nielsen Impact Day

Police probe violence in Ogun community

T

HE INSPECTOR General of Police (IGP), M o h a m m e d Abubakar, has ordered fresh investigations into the unabated crisis at Orudu in Oyekan Village, Ifo Local Government area of Ogun State.

The IGP’s order followed a petition by solicitors to Basorun Adebayo Atanda Ajao, owner of the 653 acres of land located in the area.

The petition, dated June 20 and signed by Shola Lamid from the chambers of

Kola Awodein and Co, had indicted eight persons (names withheld) in the area for ‘unlawful possession of firearms, illegal firing of ammunition, threat to life, malicious damage and criminal trespass.’

The crisis, which was not unconnected with the acquisition of 653 acres of land by Ajao from Orudu Oyekan Family since 1972, was said to be unabated despite various court pronouncements and police intervention.

The indicted persons, the

petition read, were said to have turned the land into a no-go area by unleashing violence and chasing away ‘our clients and staff on site threaten to kill and throw their corpses into river to feed fishes.’

“The persons have constituted themselves as ‘government within Government’ and have become terrorists to the area as our clients land has become a no-go area through their criminal acts of trespass.”

Ajao’s lawyers also called the attention of the IG to the

fact earlier petition to his office over the criminal activities of the land speculators and his subsequent directives to the I.G Monitoring Unit, Lagos, to ensure peace in the area had yielded no result as the crisis persisted.

In view of the fresh spate of crisis, it was learnt that the IG ordered the Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, to disband the team of policemen earlier tasked to investigate the matter and inaugurate a fresh team.

Killing: Manko orders arrest of policemen spotted in video

T

HE Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko has ordered the arrest of the policemen who were spotted in the video of the killing of Ifechkuwude Nwainokpor, a graduate of Geology and Mining, Delta State University, and Kazeem, in Badagry, by a vigilance group.

He said: “This matter is a serious matter, I have taken over investigation and justice will be done” Manko blamed the Divisioner Police Officer of

By Jude Isiguzo

the Badagry Police Station, Mohammed Dankoli, for tagging the slain boys armed robbers.

He has ordered the arrest of the policemen spotted in the video clip on You Tube, which showed vividly, how the innocent victims were killed in the full glare of police personnel.

“Actually DPO did not present the matter to us the way it happened. When we started asking questions, we discovered that the two persons were

THE Chief Executive Officer, Eko Electricity Distribution Company, Mr Oladele Amoda, yesterday assured its customers of 20-hour daily electricity supply from December.

Amoda gave the assurance in Lagos during the conferment of the “Africa Distinguished Gold Service Award” on him by the Centre for Democratic Governance in Africa, based in Abuja.

He said that all the electricity distribution companies (Discos) had been mandated by the Federal Government to ensure that the cities have a minimum of 20 hours of electricity supply, daily.

Amoda said: “We urge customers to support the electricity distribution companies to achieve the projection. The present administration under President Goodluck Jonathan has improved the power sector tremendously to benefit the masses.’’

The Centre’s Director General, Dr Dafe Akpocha, said Amoda got the award because of his selfless service, quality service delivery and effective innovation.

killed were not armed robbers as alleged. When we saw the video clips and watched the way those boys were killed, we told ourselves that we would be failing in our duties if we failed to bring every one involved to justice,” said Manko.

The CP has mandated a senior police officer in charge of Maroko Police Station, Victoria Island, whom he described as ‘an upright man’ to superintend the trial of all civilians and policemen fingered in the matter.

He said, “Initially, the mat-

ter was sent to State’s Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), but they were not moving at the pace I expected them, so I decided to take over the matter personally. I have brought the best hands in my command together under the leadership of DPO of Maroko police station whom people have discovered to be an upright police officer.

“He and his team will be supervised by me and we will ensure that people do not take laws into their hands next time.

No one has right to take the

life of another. We have one suspect in custody already and we will get the others. I will not tolerate impunity by anyone.

“The DPO will face administrative disciplinary action for now, even before investigation commences. I have ordered the arrest of members the police team that were spotted in the video and if they are found guilty, they will face trial.

Under my command, policemen will not be allowed to take laws into their hands.”

LAGOS State House of Assembly Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights and Public Petitions; Transportation, Commerce and Industry have commenced investigation into a petition written by the Yoruba Video Films Producer and Marketers Association of Nigeria over act of piracy at the Alaba International market, Ojo, Lagos.

At the inaugural meeting held at the Assembly Complex, Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Hon Sanai Agunbiade, who assured that the House would ensure justice, urging the stakeholders to provide necessary information on the people indulging in film piracy in the state.

Police warn vehicle owners THE Lagos State Police Command have warned owners of accidented and abandoned vehicles parked at Area ‘F’ and Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Ikeja to remove them or lose them to members of the public through auction after 14 days of this publication.

They are Honda City Salon car with registration number FE366KJA; Volkswagen Faragon bus with Lagos commercial colour (scrap); Volkswagen LT bus XJ772EKY; Peugeot J5 bus XD226MNA; Chevrolet Express XE402UMA; Hyundai Salon car EG743FST; Man Diesel Truck ST501LSR; Toyota Availon car PC901AAA; Mazda 626 car AU767KJA; Mercedez Benz 190 car AS32EPE (scrap) and KIA car ET140LND. Also in Ojodu-Abiodun/Ajuwon in Ogun State, Nissan Vanette bus with registration number XG540FKJ.

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

54

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 1-08-13

D

Berger Paints floats N543.4m rights issue

IRECTORS of Berger Paints Nigeria Plc and professional parties to the company yesterday completed the pre-offer processes for a rights issue of N543.42 million as the paints and allied company seeks to modernise its manufacturing operations.

At the completion board meeting at the company’s head office in Lagos, members of the board of directors, issuing houses to the rights issue, stockbrokers to the issue and other parties signed the final documents of the rights issue in the presence of officials of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

The completion board meeting paved the way for the opening of application list for the rights issue on August 20, 2013. Berger Paints is offering about 72.46 million ordinary shares of 50 kobo each to existing shareholders at N7.50.

The company opens today at the stock market at N9.61 per share. The rights issue was

By Taofik Salako

pre-allotted on the basis of one new ordinary share for every three ordinary shares held as at May 31, 2013.

Chairman, Berger Paints Nigeria Plc, Mr. Clement Olowokande, said the net proceeds of the rights issue estimated at N521.71 million would be used to finance the modernisation of the company’s factory operations.

According to him, the modernisation was the main thrust of a strategic plan to ensure that the company continues to operate at the forefront of paint technology by replacing its aging manufacturing infrastructure.

He said the modernisation of the company’s factory operations would lead to improved efficiency that will positively impact on turnover and profitability.

He outlined that the net proceeds would be used to purchase and install water-based plant and

solvent-based plant from Spain.

Olowokande said that the company also plans to commit substantial investments on major improvements of its distribution channels.

He said the company has taken several initiatives and entered new partnership that would greatly enhance its products and services in the Nigerian paint and coating industry in the period ahead.

He noted that Berger Paints has always been the standardsetter in the industry with enviable records of pioneering wide range of popular special products.

He said he was confident the company would record significant growth and improvements in its operations in the years ahead, thereby creating better value for shareholders.

He urged all shareholders to participate fully in the rights issue to ensure they continue to maintain their positions in the company.

Reporting accountants optimistic on HE Nigerian capital mar- market devt activities and involvement will ket will ultimately expand begin to expand,” Othihiwa said.

T

in depth and spread to accommodate capital requirements of big and small and medium companies, thereby creating immense opportunities for participation by all stakeholders.

Chairman, Association of Reporting Accountants in the Capital Market (ARACAM), Mr. Ayodele Othihiwa, disclosed this at the second annual general meeting of the association yesterday in Lagos. He said Nigeria’s development lies in the development of a dynamic capital market that can meet financing needs of all shades of companies.

According to him, the capital market will ultimately be made to work for both large companies and small and

medium enterprises for the country to truly attain the status of a developed nation.

He noted the lingering effect of the capital market recession in 2008, pointing out that the level of medium to long term fund raising activities has reduced considerably to lowest level.

Othihiwa, a partner and head of financial services industry at KPMG, said the relatively lack of depth at the Nigerian capital market has adversely affected the full operations of reporting accountants.

“However, we are hopeful that as the regulatory authorities work on the development of a strong capital market with depth and capacity to provide alternative sources of raising funds, our

He urged reporting accountants to invest in capacity development by improving their skills and knowledge in order to be in tune with global best practices and developments.

According to him, with expansion of activities in the capital market, small and medium enterprises would need the services of small and medium-sized accounting firms, thus the need for them to be adequately equipped in terms of skills and resources.

He clarified the roles of external auditors and reporting accountants, noting that while auditors report on the faithfulness of the presentation of transactions and activities of a company, reporting accountants provide several reports to support capital market issues including accountant report, long form report, working capital report, profit forecast, pro-forma opinion, financial reporting procedures comfort letter and significant change comfort letter.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 1-08-13

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

55

MONEY LINK Skye Bank unveils customer service charter

DMO seeks N195b Q3 bond sale

T

HE Debt Management Office (DMO) is expected to sell bonds worth N195 billion this quarter.

In an emailed report, Currencies Analyst, Ecobank Nigeria, Olakunle Ezun, said the fund will be used to support on-going development projects in the country.

He said bond auction performance has been successful, reflecting foreign investors’ renewed interest in government securities, despite a weakening short term naira outlook.

Ezun said the bond sale is also part of the medium term debt strategy to slowly reduce the domestic debt stock, which stood at $44 billion at

Stories by Collins Nweze

end-June compared with external debt of $6.9 billion.

He said Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) economies continued to drive foreign interest into Middle African local and foreign currency denominated fixed income securities.

He said that in Nigeria, domestic and foreign currency bond issuance was robust in July, guided by the medium term debt strategy that seeks to reduce the domestic debt stock.

He explained that in Kenya, subdued demand in the July auction, led

to under-subscription. However, shorter term bond demand remained strong because of higher nominal yields. Also, in Ghana, bond issuance was less active and concentrated in the short end of the yield curve.

In Nigeria, following a successful second quarter 2013 bond auction programme and another dualtranche $1 billion Eurobond issued on 2 July, the DMO raised N55 billion ($349.6 million), through two offerings, which were all re-openings namely, the four per cent FGN APR 2015 and 10 per cent Federal Government of Nigeria July 2030 on 17 July.

He said that although the timing and scale of the Federal Reserve’s “tapering” of quantitative easing is now somewhat clearer, the financial institutions’ market remains volatile and heightened by central bank’s 23 July Monetary Policy Committee decision to raise the Cash Reserve Requirement for public sector deposits to 50 per cent from 12 per cent.

That indirectly tightened liquidity in addition to holding the policy interest rate at 12 per cent.

He said that markets remain cautious in taking long positions because of this aggressive liquidity management.

‘Union Bank’s Q2 result shows we are on course’

T

HE management of Union Bank of Nigeria (UBN) Plc has said the performance of the bank in the first half was indicative of the continuing stability and profitability of the lender.

Group managing director, Union Bank of Nigeria (UBN) Plc, Emeka Emuwa, in a statement, said the bank has stayed the course of profitability as it continued to work on its transformation.

According to him, the bank’s transformation programme has continued in earnest with investments in technology, upgrade of infrastructure and strategic recruitment.

“We are pleased with this continued profitability as we manage the many elements of our transformation programme and work hard towards achieving our goal of building a reliable, customer-focused institution,” Emuwa said.

Interim report and accounts of the bank showed that gross earnings rose to N48.1 billion in the first half

of 2013 as against N46.0 billion in the corresponding period of 2012.

Profit before tax rose by 54 per cent to N11.6 billion while profit after tax grew by 52 per cent to N11.3 billion as against N7.5 billion in comparable period of 2012.

Earnings per share for both the group and the bank thus improved

assets was N826.7 billion. Shareholders’ funds stood at N183.1 billion by June 2013 as against N171.7 billion as at December 31, 2012. Net loans and advances increased by 12.4 per cent in the first half of 2013 from N137 billion recorded as at December 31, 2012 to N154 billion as at June 30, 2013.

considerably. The bank recorded 67 kobo in the first half of 2013 as against 44 kobo in the first half of 2012 while group earnings per share stood at 64 kobo in 2013 compared with 56 kobo in comparable period of 2012.

Balance sheet analysis showed that the bank’s customers’ deposits stood at N456.9 billion while total

Naira appreciates to six-week high

N

AIRA rallied to its strongest level in more than six weeks against the dollar after oil companies sold dollars, boosting supply.

The naira appreciated a second day, gaining 0.6 per cent to 159.65 per dollar, the highest on a closing basis since June 24. The move was the biggest gain yesterday among 24 African currencies tracked by Bloomberg.

“A combination of foreign-exchange sales from oil companies and corporate dollar supply supported the currency. Additionally, the market expects state-owned oil company for-

eign-exchange flows to hit the system in the short term,” Samir Gadio, a London-based emerging-markets strategist at Standard Bank Group Ltd., said.

Oil companies, which sell the dollar mainly at the month’s end to meet domestic expenses, are the secondbiggest supplier of dollars after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The apex bank auctions foreign exchange on Mondays and Wednesdays.

It sold $598 million this week, little changed from $600 million in the previous five days.

The CBN’s Monetary Policy Commit-

tee (MPC) left its benchmark interest rate at a record 12 per cent, for an 11th consecutive meeting on July 23 to protect the Nigerian currency. It introduced a 50 per cent cash reserve requirement on public-sector funds after warning about the risk of excess liquidity.

Yields on Nigeria’s $500 million Eurobonds due January 2021 fell two basis points, or 0.02 percentage point, to 5.5 per cent. Borrowing costs on local-currency debt due January 2022 rose seven basis points to 13.75 per cent on Wednesday, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

FGN BONDS

DATA BANK

Tenor

Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year 5-Year

35m 35m 35m

11.039 12.23 13.19

19-05-2014 18-05-2016 19-05-2016

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM Amount Offered ($) 350m 350m 350m

MANAGED FUNDS Initial Quotation Price N8250.00 N1000.00

NIDF NESF

Current Market 5495.33 N552.20

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

INTERBANK RATES 7.9-10% 10-11%

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2012 “ 14-04-2012

GAINERS AS AT 1-08-13

SYMBOL MULTITREX STANBIC ACADEMY UPL COURTVILLE LIVESTOCK UBCAP CORNERST ROYALEX AFRIPRUD

O/PRICE 0.50 18.84 1.62 4.30 0.68 4.78 1.18 0.50 0.51 1.80

C/PRICE 0.55 20.72 1.78 4.72 0.74 5.19 1.28 0.54 0.55 1.94

CHANGE 0.05 1.88 0.16 0.42 0.06 0.41 0.10 0.04 0.04 0.14

IPWA PORTPAINT VONO TRANSEXPR THOMASWY MAYBAKER IKEJAHOTEL PRESTIGE NEM NACON

O/PRICE 1.34 6.00 1.14 1.19 0.89 2.89 0.93 0.52 0.75 12.30

C/PRICE 1.21 5.42 1.03 1.08 0.81 2.69 0.87 0.50 0.73 12.00

Current Before

Current After

CUV Start %

147.6000 239.4810 212.4997

149.7100 244.0123 207.9023

150.7100 245.6422 209.2910

-2.11 -2.57 -1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

152.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

153.0000

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

NGN USD NGN GBP NGN EUR NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N) (S/N) Bureau de Change (S/N) Parallel Market

DISCOUNT WINDOW Feb. ’11

July ’11

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

12%

Standing Lending Rate ,, Deposit Rate ,, Liquidity Ratio Cash Return Rate Inflation Rate

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00% 12.10%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00% 12.10%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00% 11.8%

July ’12

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

NSE CAP Index

27-10-11 N6.5236tr 20,607.37

Exchange Rate (N) 155.2 155.8 155.7

Date 2-7-12 27-6-12 22-6-12

Rate (Previous) 4 Mar, 2012 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

Rate (Currency) 6, Mar, 2012 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

Movement

28-10-11 N6.617tr 20,903.16

% Change -1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

CHANGE 0.13 0.58 0.11 0.11 0.08 0.20 0.06 0.02 0.02 0.30

Amount Sold ($) 150m 138m 113m

CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Year Start Offer

LOSERS AS AT 1-08-13

SYMBOL

Amount Demanded ($) 150m 138m 113m

EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12 Currency

OBB Rate Call Rate

S

KYE Bank Plc has unveiled a customer service charter designed to meet and exceed customers’ expectations. The bank said in a statement that the move was meant to serve customers better and enhance its e-payment platforms.

Speaking at the launch of the charter yesterday, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the bank, Mr. Kehinde Durosinmi-Etti, described it as the bank’s contract with its customers to demonstrate its commitment to providing quality customer service through its people, processes and systems.

Describing the charter as a pace setting and industry-defining innovation, the Skye Bank boss said the customercentric model seeks continuous service improvement in a bid to make customers of the bank happy and satisfied.

“This charter outlines the type of service we aim to provide, how customers can contact us to give us feedback, especially on areas of improvement and how they can partner with us for continuous service improvement”, he said.

Durosinmi-Etti, who observed that customer service remained the key differentiator in the financial services industry all over the world, said the charter became imperative because today’s customers are more sophisticated, discerning and more demanding than ever before.

Also speaking, the Executive Director, Enterprise Risk Management, Skye Bank, Mr. Dotun Adeniyi, said the bank would continue to establish profitable partnerships with its customers that will induce the growth and development of the clients’ businesses.

“Our services are guided by a set of principles that define our character and culture; these enduring principles are the fundamentals on which the charter is established.

Offer Price

Bid Price

ARM AGGRESSIVE GROWTH 9.17 9.08 KAKAWA GUARANTEED 1.00 1.00 STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE INVE 140.65 140.16 AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND 158.75 158.54 LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL 0.80 0.78 BGL SAPPHIRE FUND 1.16 1.16 BGL NUBIAN FUND 1.17 1.18 FBN MONEY MARKET FUND 100.00 100.00 FBN FIXED INCOME FUND 1,000.00 1,000.00 NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. 1,837.37 1,835.83 PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND 14.73 14.01 CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST 1.39 1.33 CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST 1.87 1.80 STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY 11.386.29 11,045.54 • ARM AGGRESSIVE • KAKAWA GUARANTEED • STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUNDARM AGGRESSIVE • OPEN BUY BACK

Bank P/Court

Previous 04 July, 2012

Current 07, Aug, 2012

8.5000 8.0833

8.5000 8.0833

Movement

THE NATION FRIDAY AUGUST 2, 2013

56

NEWS Free medical mission in Akwa Ibom

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HE 20th edition of the five-day free medical mission programme of the O.B Lulu-Briggs Foundation comes up in Enwang community, Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State on Monday through Friday at the community health centre, Enwang, at 8am daily.

Over 60 medical professionals will attend to eye, dental, surgery and general ailments.

The Foundation’s Director of Programmes, Miebaka Nabiebu, said the not-for-profit organisation is committed to providing quality humanitarian services to people in rural communities.

Edo fire panel submits report

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HE Panel of Enquiry set up by the Edo State Government to investigate the fire at the Ministry of Higher Education yesterday submitted its report to Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

It raised concern on the indiscriminate siting of petrol stations in residential areas.

The Chairman, Justice Roland Amaize, said the panel received 22 memoranda and 23 witnesses testified.

He said the siting of pet-

From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

rol stations in residential areas and near ministries portends grave danger to the people.

Oshiomhole praised the committee and said it would study the report.

“We will study the report, look at the executive summary and hope the report would help us.

“I want to thank you for drawing our attention to the dangers of siting petrol stations in residential areas.”

Delta seals off 43 hospitals From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

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HE Delta State Government has sealed off 43 private hospitals and clinics for quackery.

The Commissioner for Health, Joseph Otumara, said this at the Mid-Term Report briefing by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

Otumara said the measure became necessary to ensure standard practice in health institutions across the state.

The commissioner said in the on-going monitoring of private health institutions, 129 facilities have been visited.

He said 36 were warned and 43 were sealed off for substandard and unethical practices.

Otumara said since the inception of the monitoring, a level of discipline had been recorded.

He warned tyrant doctors in public health institutions to either change or be sacked. Some doctors have been accused of engaging in private practice during official hours.

Otumara said some doctors who engaged in unprofessional conduct have been fired, adding that not even the threat of a lawsuit would deter the government from instilling sanity into the system.

“Any erring doctor will be disciplined and can go to court.

We will not only sack him but report him to the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN). The medical profession is a very delicate one. All health workers must be serious or risk being sanctioned.”

The commissioner said the prevalence rate of the dreaded Human Immuno-Deficiency Virus infection /Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) has dropped from 4.1 per cent in 2008 to 2.9 per cent last year.

Oshiomhole meets Jonathan on airport closure E DO State Governor Adams Oshiomhole yesterday briefed President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on the circumstances leading to the closure of the Benin Airport.

Speaking with State House correspondents after condoling with the President and his wife, Patience, on the loss of her mother, he said the state acted within the ambit of the law.

He said the issue has been resolved, explaining that the issue was not about tenement rate but about Pay As You Earn (PAYE) and that the state only tried to enforce a federal law.

Oshiomhole said: “It was one of those unfortunate incidents and I have just briefed the President; we only tried to enforce the tax law.

“I know it is a federal law, it is not tenement rate contrary to what the FAAN General Manager said.

“Those who work for FAAN and the National Airspace Management Authorities (NAMA) and live in Edo State, under the law, their taxes are deducted from source by the authorities and they are obliged by

•FAAN: our tax payment up to date From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja and Kelvin Osa Okunbor

law to remit such money within 30 days. “ But the money in question dated as far back as 2010, 2011 and we are in 2013 and we have made all efforts through the revenue board to get the FAAN management to remit the money.

“The only lawful thing we have to do in a democracy is to approach the court.”

He added: “Tax is not a voluntary contribution by members of an association.

It is a compulsory levy and if you default in countries where the rule of law is enforced, you are a candidate for prison.

“The revenue board obtained the court order to restrain FAAN but the manager felt that the only way he can gain public sympathy is to shut down the airport.

“So he locked all the airport gates. This led to the drama that you saw.

“I have just explained it to the president that there are rules of engagement and it’s more so when you recognise that there is a third party, which is the travelling public.”

But FAAN yesterday said it has resolved issues concerning outstanding tax payment with the Edo State Government.

The resolution followed a Wednesday visit to Oshiomhole by the Managing Director, George Uriesi.

A statement by the General Manager, Corporate Communications, Yakubu Dati, said the agency was upto-date with its payment of Pay As You Earn (PAYE) taxes.

Dati said: “FAAN wishes to inform the public, especially aviation stakeholders, that it has resolved the issue of outstanding tax payment with the Edo State Government.

“Records showed that FAAN is up-to-date with its

payment of PAYE taxes for Benin Airport as it makes monthly payment to the government as soon as salaries are paid.

“Receipts for such payments were made available for verification.

“Payment for last month will be ready by August 6, since FAAN pays salaries on the 24th and 25th of every month.

“What the Edo State Government sends annually for payment is the total of shortfalls in such monthly payments, arrived at after reconciliation of accounts with our consultants.

“The only outstanding payment of such annual bills is that of 2011, amounting to about N15 million, a cheque for which is now ready for release.”

He added: “Till date, the Authority has not received the outstanding annual bill for shortfalls in 2012. That bill will be paid as soon as it is received by FAAN. “We also wish to clarify that our managing director did not apologise to the governor during his visit.

“He was in Benin to find out the cause of what led to the closure of the airport.”

•Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Reconciliation Committee, Governor Seriake Dickson (middle) reconciling Chairman, Ekiti State (PDP) Ogundipe Makanjuola (right) and party Secretary Dr. Tope Aluko .

Students protest in Edo

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CADEMIC activities were grounded yesterday at the Edo State owned College of Education, Ekiadolor, when students protested alleged poor learning environment and deplorable roads leading to the campus.

The students locked out workers and refused to open the school gate.

They took the protest to the Benin-Lagos Road,

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

which they barricaded.

The students marched on the Government House and assaulted hawkers on the way.

A truck conveying soft drinks was stopped and drinks were collected.

President of the Student Union Government Eric Igbinovia said the institution’s hostel was dilapidated.

Two inmates freed From Osagie Otabor, Benin

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WO inmates at the Benin Central Prison on Sapele Road have been freed by the Chief Justice of Edo State, Justice Cromwell Idahosa, over failing health.

One of the inmates, Osaro Jacob (38) was almost crippled while the other Sunday Omogiate (62) had renal failure.

Jacob said he was arrested for a crime committed by his younger brother; Sunday said he was arrested for alleged fraud.

Jacob said: “My younger brother broke into our tenants’ Auction! Auction!! Auction!!!

Surulere L.G. ITIRE-IKATE LCDA INSTRUCTION TO SALE: Some Toyota Camry Some Mitsubishi Bus Toyota Picnic (Some) Sharp Photocopy Machine Generator.

apartment and sold some of their property in order to recover the outstanding rent they owed.

“The police arrested me instead because they could not find him.”

Widow, lawyer arraigned for ‘Will forgery’

T

WO lawyers -Samuel Urhoghide (75) and Mrs. Mercy Sheidun (46)- were yesterday arraigned at an Oredo Magistrate’s Court for the alleged forgery of the Will of the late Sir Kolawole Sheidun.

Sheidun was the pioneer Managing Director of Okpella Cement Factory in the defunct Bendel State.

It was gathered thatMrs. Sheidun’s step-children suspected foul play in the contents of the will, which bequeathed all assets to her.

The children were said to have subjected the alleged Will to forensic test twice at the police forensic science Laboratory, D Department, Force CID Ikoyi, Lagos, where it was found to have been forged.

An excerpt from the forensic report reads: “It is my opinion that the questioned signature in the relevant

From Osagie Otabor and Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

column of the document (testaments) marked Exhibit A5 is not the same with the standard signatures on documents Exhibit B-D (signed documents by Sir Sheidun).”

A police source, who con-

firmed the arrest, said the suspects were, however, released on bail of self recognition.

Also arraigned was Jonah Sojah, who was an employee of the late Sheidun.

The Magistrate, Peter Asemota, admitted Sojah to a N100,000 bail and a surety, who must be a landlord.

The case was adjourned till September 23.

Police spokesman Moses Eguavoen said only the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Criminal Investigations Department (CID) could give more details.

Akwa Ibom to get $300m youth fund

A

KWA IBOM State is among the beneficiaries of the World Bank $300million Youth Empowerment Fund.

The bank’s Sector Leader, Human Development, Prof Foluso Okunmadewa, said this when he visited Governor Godswill Akpabio at the Governor’s Office, Uyo. “Recently, the World Bank, through the request of the Ministry of Finance, approved a $300million intervention for youth empowerment. And I know youth empowerment is extremely important in your administration.

“I can tell you that based on the insistence of the Country Director, Akwa Ibom is one

of the states expected to benefit from this.

“I am here principally to appreciate your partnership with the World Bank, particularly in the area of human development. Human development activities of the World Bank clearly complement your transformation agenda.”

Akpabio said: “I am excited about the youth empowerment programme and our state would be very delighted to take part in it. This is a civil service state and we are trying to lay the foundation for future industrialisation.

Other states are lucky to have industries, factories and all that. So, they have various means of employment but here we don’t have any.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

57

NEWS N9b projects in Anambra From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

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NAMBRA State Governor Peter Obi yesterday at Ndiukwuenu Orumba North Local Government Area launched the N9 billion 28-kilometre road traversing four communities in Amansea in Awka South Local Government Area.

Obi said this was one of the challenging projects undertaken by his administration as the road has never been tarred before.

He assured the people that the contractor, Stesanutistocks and Havel Ltd, would do a good job.

Commissioner for Works Callistus Ilozumba said the road was properly designed with every component, including culvert, to guarantee its longetivity.

He said the road will have three bridges and when completed would open up the area for food production.

Enugu council polls for Nov 2 From Chris Oji, Enugu

L

OCAL government elections in Enugu State will hold on November 2 as against the December date earlier fixed.

The Chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC), Bonny Okafor-Ene, who announced the new date yesterday, said sale of forms would start from September 23 and end on September 27.

Okafor-Ene said duly completed nomination forms shall be returned to the commission not later than 4pm on September 30.

He said the conduct of a free and fair election was not only the work of the electoral body but also the work of stakeholders.

The chairman urged parties to present democraticallyelected candidates for the election, stating that the electoral body would monitor the primaries.

Okafor-Ene said the electoral guidelines would be released on Tuesday.

UNIPORT Four: 12 suspects arraigned

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HE prosecution yesterday arraigned 12 persons at a Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt, following their roles in the killing of four University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) undergraduates, at Umuokiri Aluu in Ikwerre Local Government last October.

Lawal Segun, Lucky Orji, Ikechukwu Louis Amadi (aka Kapoon), David Chinasa Ogbada, Abiodun Yusuf, Joshua Ekpe, Abang Cyril, Hassan Welewa, Okoghiroh Endurance, Ozioma Abajuo and Chigozie Evans Samuel have been in custody since last year in connection with the murder.

The prosecution led by the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Rufus N. Godwins, at the sitting yesterday included John Ayuwu (aka Johny Barbar), bringing the number to 12.

They pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge of murder and negligence.

Godwins told Justice Latan Nyordee that the accused committed the offence contrary to sections 319(1) and 515 of the Criminal Code Law of Rivers

•Fixes August 15 for bail application •Women protest in court •NANS demands justice From Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt

State (1999).

The accused were represented by counsel. The third and eight accused, who did not have legal representation at the last sitting, were represented by a team from the Legal Aid Council, led by Jane Frances Bianeyi.

After the plea, the prosecutor adopted the criminal indictments with proofs of evidence filed against the accused and expressed the readiness to call its first witness but it urged the court to remand the accused in custody.

Counsel for the first accused Joshua Kehinde told the court that the crime for which the accused are charged are mere allegation, adding that in law they are innocent until proven otherwise.

He told the court that he had filed bail application for his client and was ready to move the motion.

However, Justice Nyordee adjourned the matter till August 15 for hearing on bail ap-

plications, when he discovered that some lawyers were yet to file theirs and some files were yet to be received by the prosecution.

Seven are being charged for murder; others are charged with negligence.

Those being tried for murder are Lawal Segun, Lucky Orji, Ikechukwu Louis Amadi (aka Kapoon), David Chinasa Ogbada, Abiodun Yusuf, Joshua Ekpe, Abang Cyril and John Ayuwu.

Hassan Welewa, Okoghiroh Endurance, Ozioma Abajuo and Chigozie Evans Samuel are charged with negligence.

Ugonna Obuzor (18), Toku Lloyd (20), Chiadika Biringa(20) and Tekena Elkanah(21) were lynched and set ablaze by an angry mob in Allu community near UNIPORT on October 5, last year, for alleged stealing.

Eighteen persons, including their colleagues and a woman, were initially arrested in connection with their deaths.

However, seven were exonerated and 11 indicted.

Women from Okrika, the town of Elkannah and Toku, stormed the court yesterday to demand for justice.

The over-100 women, dressed in black, marched under the umbrella body of Wakrike Ijaw Women of Nigeria.

They stormed the second floor of the three-storey building of the court room at 8am and sat on the floor of the corridor till about 3pm when the court session ended.

Their president, Mrs. Gift Amagi, said: “We are mothers and grandmothers. We feel the pains of those four youths who were killed.

“We are also here to observe the proceedings of the trial and to ask the judiciary and government to ensure that justice prevails.”

Also the chairman, Joint Campaign Committee of Nigeria Association of Nigeria Students (NANS), Lah Amabu, said: “The position of NANS remains that justice be done, to serve as a deterrent to others and NANS cannot compromise on this.”

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday called for an emergency meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at the Presidential Villa today.

FEC sits every Wednesday and it held a meeting last Wednesday.

A source at the Presidency said he does not know the agenda of the emergency meeting.

But the meeting is believed to be causing fears among the ministers, who are afraid of an imminent cabinet reshuffle.

Another source dismissed such fears, saying there was nothing unusual for the President to call for an emergency FEC meeting.

“There is no need for the ministers to be jittery or the meeting to be hyped as it is not unusual for the President or any organisation to hold emergency meetings to iron out issues”, he stated President Jonathan had declared in the past that his decision to reshuffle his cabinet would not be publicised and hyped.

According to him, it will be done when and if the need arises.

Obi focuses on employment, security From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

ANAMBRA State Governor Peter Obi has made employment, security, revival of water system and increase in development top priorities in the 2014 Appropriation Bill.

He made this known yesterday in Awka during the 2014 Budget Forum, organised by the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Obi said: “My budget next year will focus on employment. I am not going to increase any emolument for anybody, there are many youths looking for what to do.

“Also, next year, we want to revive the water system and increase development, but I have decided that we cannot wait for next year, in fact, it will start this year.”

N321m for projects From Chris Oji, Enugu

T

HE Enugu State government has approved over N321 million for the implementation of various projects in some parts of the state.

The Commissioner for Information, Chuks Ugwoke, at a briefing yesterday, said of this amount, N111.7million was approved by the council for the electrification of Theme Park Entertainment and Cultural Complex at Udi Native Authority, Udi Local Government Area.

The commissioner said the electrification project included the construction of high/ medium voltage lines, installation of gantries and switch panel, among others.

He said the project would be executed by the State Rural Electrification Board.

The commissioner said N171.26million was approved by the council for the construction of a new perimetre fence, and renovation at the Special Education Centre, Oji River through direct labour.

Emergency FEC meeting today

Cross River launches vaccine •The women at the court...yesterday.

Registration of APC, a call for change, says Amosun

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GUN State Governor Ibikunle Amosun has said the registration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is a formal endorsement of the objectives of the new party to bring about positive changes in the standard of living of Nigerians.

The governor also described the registration as a sign that democracy has come of age in Nigeria with the emergence of a broadbased, viable and credible

alternative to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Amosun, in a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Yusuph Olaniyonu, said the registration will afford APC leaders the opportunity to mobilise Nigerians and bring about socio-economic development.

“Nigerians who have been yearning for positive change will look up to our new party to liberate them and we have no option than to live up to their expectation.

“We cannot afford to dis-

appoint them, particularly after they have expressed the desire for the replication at the national level of the giant strides that progressive governors in the APC fold are bringing to their respective states.

The governor also assured that the APC will not take the teeming support it has so far received from the people for granted.

Amosun promised that the party is determined to give governance a new face and deliver abundantly the dividends of democracy to the nooks and crannies of the nation.

He praised APC leaders for their perseverance and doggedness during the tortuous journey to bring about the first merger of parties since pre-independence era.

The governor praised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) under the leadership of Prof. Attahiru Jega for following the provision of the law while considering the application of the party for registration.

He urged the commission to continue along the same line in the handling of its future assignments.

CROSS River State Governor Liyel Imoke has urged health workers not to relent in ensuring that the state achieves the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 4, 5, and 6 targets.

Imoke said this at the launching of the Pentavalent Vaccine during the on-going immunisation at Primary Health Centre at Ikot Ansa, Calabar Municipality.

The governor said the vaccine should be translated into improved health care as well as significant reduction in infant mortality.

He advised that the programme should not be taken for granted as he was excited that traditional rulers, local government chairmen and development partners have continued to support the exercise.

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

58

NEWS North's group seeks credible polls in 2015

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HE Northern Youth Coalition Forum for Democracy (NYCFD) yesterday called for free and fair elections in 2015.

The group urged politicians to refrain from comments that might lead to bloodshed and violence ahead of the polls.

NYCFD's National Coordinator Abdulyekeem Ibn Umar addressed reporters in Lagos on some national issues.

He said Nigerians have learnt the lessons of not voting the right persons into public offices, adding that this has bred highlevel corruption in the political class.

The youth leader said Nigerians must make informed decisions on the •Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Prof. Modupe Adelabu (middle) discussing with the Chairman of the State Fiscal Responsibility Commission, Chief Bayo Aina (right) and Mr. Ojo Fakorede, a member of the commission, during the commission’s visit to the deputy governor’s office in Ado-Ekiti…yesterday.

T ‘Boko Haram plans attack during T Eid-el-Fitri’

HE Military Joint Task Force (JTF), codenamed Operation Restore Order in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, yesterday alerted the people to alleged plans by the Boko Haram sect to launch massive attacks during next week’s Eid-el-Fitr celebrations.

The JTF said the sect plans to launch the attack, using explosives and other deadly weapons.

In a statement in Maiduguri, JTF spokesman, Lt.-Col. Sagir Musa, warned the residents, especially those

in the Maiduguri metropolis and Jere Local Government, to be security-conscious and remain alert during the celebration.

Sagir said: “In the continued efforts to destroy all acts of terrorism in Borno State, the JTF wishes to alert citizens and residents of the state to the impending plans by Boko Haram terrorists to carry out massive attacks and bombings in Maiduguri metropolis and

other parts of Borno State any moment from now and during the Eid-el-Fitr Sallah celebration.”

Lt.-Col. Sagir urged the public to be more concerned and vigilant about the happenings in and around their immediate environments.

He said: “The public is also reminded to be cautious and to report suspicious movements, actions and

abandoned objects in public places, particularly those in polythene bags and other sacks, to the nearest security check points for immediate action.

“The JTF further reminds the people of Borno State that although curfew has been reviewed to 11 pm - 6 am daily, checks are continuously being conducted throughout the night to ensure the security of lives and property as well as consolidating on the successes recorded so far in our collective fight against terrorism.”

Ex-AGF urges security agents to tackle insurgency

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FORMER AttorneyGeneral of the Federation (AGF) and Minister for Justice, Chief Mike Kaase Aondoakaa, has urged security agents to tackle the lingering security challenges across the land.

Aondoakaa advised security agents to see themselves as partners in progress instead of engaging in rivalry.

He noted that any face-off among security agents would prevent them from providing tight security for the people and their property.

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

The former AGF spoke at a stakeholders' forum, with the theme: The Protection of Critical Infrastructure and Activities of Anti-Vandals in Benue State. It was organised by the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in collaboration with the Benue State Government.

Aondoakaa said: “It is the responsibility of all security agencies in the country to form a common front by sharing information and

intelligent gathering among themselves and developing strategies together in combating the deadly insurgence that is threatening the core existence of our nation.”

He hailed President Goodluck Jonathan for his holistic approach to restore law and order in the country.

The former minister advised security agents to avoid rivalry so that the war on criminality would be won for the economy to improve.

Aondoakaa said the Inspector-General of Police

(IGP) and the Commandant of the NSCDC should share intelligence information so that their officers and men can replicate same to effectively fight crimes.

The former AGF spoke on the topic: The Role of the NSCDC and Other Security Agencies in Maintaining Law and Order in Nigeria.

He said the people's role in security matters is to give useful information to security agencies.

The stakeholders' meeting was attended by all security agencies in Benue State.

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

candidates for the 2015 polls so that they can eradicate corruption, greed and alleviate poverty across the land.

Umar said the agents of destabilisation, who have been predicting a revolution in 2015, would be disappointed.

The youth leader urged the electorate to vote out politicians who have not added value to the lives of the people since the return of civil rule in 1999.

He said: "Our revolution should be done through the vote of Nigerians in 2015. It should be by voting out those who failed to perform."

According to him, Nigeria does not need a sectional leader but a leader with the capacity to deliver dividends of democracy.

Rep condemns attacks on Benue communities

HE House of Representatives member representing Agatu/Apa Federal Constituency in Benue State, Adamu Entonu, has condemned the recent attacks on two villages in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State by gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen.

He described the attacks as inexcusable, inhuman and unwarranted.

In a statement in Makurdi, the state capital, the lawmaker reiterated the need for those attacking the constituency to have a rethink and embrace the peace pact brokered by Benue and Nasarawa State

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

Governments.

He noted that there is no alternative to peaceful coexistence to ensure the socioeconomic development of the areas.

Entonu said: "Life is precious.

There is no justification for any individual or group to resort to unprovoked attack or maiming and killing of innocent and harmless civilians."

The lawmaker called for an end to attack of his people.

He also urged stakeholders in the Nigerian project to condemn the persistent attacks by suspected gunmen on the people of his constituency.

Floods: US to assist Nigeria

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HE United States Embassy in Nigeria has said it will support the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to minimise the impact of flooding in the country.

The agreement was sealed yesterday when the Deputy Economic Chief of the American Embassy, Ms. Elizabeth Orlando, visited the NOA Director-General, Mr. Mike Omeri in his Abuja office.

Ms Orlando's office also oversees the Energy, Environment, Science Technology and Health desks in the embassy.

Omeri, who outlined NOA's programmes to the visitor, noted that it was imperative for the agency to educate the

From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

public on the measures to take to minimise the effects of flooding, considering last year's experience across the country.

The NOA chief said the agency plays the role of the principal driver of climate change and environmental awareness and advocacy in Nigeria.

He said tree planting is a component of the agency's effort to preserve the environment.

Omeri announced NOA's plan to launch what he called Do-The-Right-Thing: Plant a Tree campaign.

Bauchi High Court grants Speaker's, Assembly's prayer on suspended lawmaker

A

BAUCHI High Court, presided over by Justice Aliyu Baba Usman, yesterday granted an application for a stay of execution filed by the Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly and the Assembly on a State High Court’s ruling.

A Bauchi State High Court, presided over by the State Chief Judge (CJ), Justice Ibrahim M. Zango, on May 31, held that the indefinite suspension of Mrs Rifkatu Samson Danna, the only woman in the Assembly, who represents Bogoro State Constituency, violated her fundamental rights to fair hearing and freedom of expression as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

The CJ also declared that her indefinite suspension from the Assembly, with effect from June 7, last year, was against Sections 109-110 of the 1999 Constitution and Article 13 of

From Austine Tsenzughul, Bauchi

African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights and Enforcement Act, Cap. A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

He also set aside the indefinite suspension and ordered the Speaker and the Assembly to reinstate and pay Mrs Danna “all her outstanding salaries, committee allowances and constituency allowances and restore her official vehicle and security detail immediately”.

Mrs Danna was suspended indefinitely, following her dissenting opinion on the relocation of Tafawa Balewa Local Government's headquarters to Bununu when she spoke on the floor of the Assembly in June, last year.

She informed her colleagues that “the relocation of the local government headquarters was a

constitutional affairs which the State Assembly was not competent enough to reverse”.

The members were uncomfortable with her position. They insisted that the suspended lawmaker should be punished with an indefinite suspension.

Mrs Danna, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

member, through her counsel, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), went to court and got a judgment in her favour.

But the Assembly, through its lawyer, Mahmoud Haruna Yakubu, appealed against the judgment at the Appellate Court in Jos, Plateau State.

The Assembly prayed the Bauchi High Court 7, presided

over by Justice Aliyu Baba Usman, to stay execution on the judgment, pending the outcome of the appeal whose hearing date has not been fixed.

In a 92-minute ruling yesterday, Justice Usman ordered a stay of the execution of Orders 3 and 4 of the judgment, which set aside Mrs Danna's suspension, as well as

the order for the payment of her allowances.

He affirmed the declaration aspect of Judgments One and Two, which declared her suspension illegal, null and void.

The judge also affirmed the declaration that she has a right to comment on the relocation of Tafawa Balewa Local Government's headquarters.

How I apprehended trailer drivers on Kaduna road, by minister

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HE Minister of State for Works, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda, has flayed the rate Nigerian roads are abused by the citizens.

The minister said he had apprehended some tanker drivers who misused the roads and handed them over to appropriate authorities.

He urged Nigerians to embrace a road maintenance culture to ensure the protection of the government's N3 trillion asset base in road infrastructure.

Bashir spoke in Abuja at the

From Yomi Odunuga, Abuja

inauguration of the Federal Roads Committee on Surveillance and Action Against Road Abuse, which was set up by the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA).

The minister urged members of the committee to find solutions to various abuses on the nation's roads.

He said: “The first priority of Mr. President under the Transformation Agenda, is infrastructure. In this country, when we

talk about infrastructure, we talk about road networks, railways and power. I will be talking specifically about the road network in Nigeria.

“We all know that about 90 per cent of the movement of goods and services in this country is on our roads. This, of course, is taking a heavy toll on our roads. This is partly because of the abuse of roads, heavy loads and continuous usage on a daily basis, which add to the deterioration.

“The asset base of road infra-

structure in this country is over N3 trillion. If we don't maintain and preserve and conserve what we have in this nation, especially in terms of infrastructure, it will not be a good thing for us as a nation.

“Anytime I travel on the road as the Minster of State for Works, I feel pained by the abuse I see on the roads. You will see people digging indiscriminately on the roads, parking their vehicles on the shoulders and erecting structures on our right-of-way.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

59

NEWS CAN: sect kills 16 in Borno church Continued from page 4

those who are from other regions and religions.

“In the meantime, we plead with Islamic scholars to begin to restructure the unsymmetrical unity among them which has manifested in the evolution of five denominational ideologies, namely Suni, Shia, Tijania, Izala and Ahmadiyya.

The real Islam that CAN knows should make true leaders of the faith to rectify the contradictions of arbitrary knowledge of the Qur’an to remind those pushed out of the line to seek the good of all.

“Having waved the olive branch, constituted a committee to dialogue with the result that more Nigerians, especially Christians, are being killed during the month of Ramadan, CAN believes that her members are targeted for annihilation. This is a war of ethnic and religious cleansing by the Islamic fundamentalists.

There is, currently, a particularly tiny tribe of contaminous and irascible Islamic clerics

who take delight in inflaming passions. We urge them to keep passion aside and rally behind the Special Forces in order to defeat the current enemy. We urge them to tone down their rhetorics and take more and far reaching actions that would see an end to this undeserved violence on innocent Nigerians.

“By doing this, they will be joining the league of the ‘civilian JTF in Borno State’ who have since been fired by nationalistic fervour to fight against terrorists. They should not throw barbs when the Northeast part of the northern region is a hotbed of the terrorists. As true believers in the fact that fundamentalism and terrorism are not of Islam, fearlessness, courage and determination should be their major weapons. Once again, we appeal to well meaning Nigerians, friendly nations in Africa and indeed the international community to come to the aid of Nigeria in her bid to stem this evil tide of violence.”

‘Deportation’ claim political’ •From right: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Olugbenga Ashiru, Minister of Special Duties, Mr Tanimu Turaki and Senator Ahmed Makarfi during the briefing of diplomats by the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North in Abuja…yesterday

‘APC positioned to banish poverty in Nigeria’

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OREMOST commentator, Chief Deji Fasuan, has said All Progressives Congress (APC) has “every opportunity to bring the long-needed changes to the country.”

Chief Fasuan said: “The APC should commit itself to arresting the present drift. This is the immediate task it must confront. There is too much poverty in the land. The IMF is reported somewhere to have said that one per cent of the population of Nigerians has taken over 75 percent of the resources of the country while less than ten per cent of about half a million graduates roaming the streets of Nigeria can never hope to get employment

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

and tragically most of them have not been trained to be self employed.”

He spoke yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, the capital of the state.

He added: “The industries that relocated to other countries in West Africa in the last 15 years would have to be encouraged back through necessary infrastructural development especially power. Industries like Dunlop, Michelin, textiles, relocated outsider Nigeria because of power.

“The restoration of power to industries should be a priority for employment generation. This should be the immediate focus of the

party when it assumes leadership of the country come 2015”, Fasuan said, According to him, members of the new party should also eschew personal interests for the larger interests of the party. According to him, this is the “only way the party can make appreciable headways in securing much-needed victory in the elections.”

Chief Fasuan, a retired permanent secretary in the Old Ondo state noted that there would be challenges to comfort the party.

He said: “The registration of a new party throws a big challenge to the political leadership of the opposition. The old idea that I must be this or that in a par-

ty or government should now be a thing of the past.

Political leaders should accept leadership position voluntarily given to them by the people.

“Nobody in this country should assert to himself willy nilly certain political offices. There should be other considerations, for example, general acceptability, track record and other things that are relevant to good governance.

“The main thing here is that personal ambition should be subject to national interest. In the context of today, a joint ticket of the north and the south is certainly desirable. Of course this has always been the case”, Fasuan said.

Continued from page 4

ment requested for the identities of those claiming to be from the state (see letter as annex 2).

The list was promptly supplied to them by Lagos State for immediate and urgent action (see letter as annex 3).

“With further contact and pressure, Anambra State Government preferred that the handing over be done at Onitsha Bridgehead and Lagos State obliged but found no Anambra State Government representative on arrival on the agreed date and was hence forced to leave the people at a government office they found at the Niger Bridgehead.

“The Lagos State Government further explained that this kind of exchange of destitute occurs between states, as she recently went to Akwa Ibom State to take back two of her rehabilitated citizens.

“You will recall Mr. President of Aka Ikenga that I had assured the Aka Ikenga members that the Lagos State Government that I am familiar with will not go out of its way to

cause hardship to our people and this is evident in its deposition as the first Government of Lagos State to appoint Igbo as commissioner and many others into other cabinet political position.

“For the promotion and maintenance of the good relationship that exists between the Igbo who form about 25 per cent of the population of Lagos State and their Lagos host, I have secured an appointment for you, the President and Executive members of Aka Ikenga to further discuss this matter and other sundry issues affecting Ndi Igbo in Lagos, with the Lagos State Governor on a date that will be mutually agreed to by both parties.

“As a member of Action Congress of Nigeria the (ACN), which is the party in power in Lagos State, I wish to further reassure you and Aka Ikenga in particular and Ndi Igbo in general, that the government of Lagos State, that I am familiar with does not and will not habour any anti-Igbo agenda, as is being insinuated in certain quarters.”

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

I, MISS. TAOFIKAT IYABO APATIRA OF BLOCK 1, FLAT 13, ALHAJI MASHA ROAD, SURULERE, LAGOS STATE NOTIFY THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT I HAVE APPLIED TO THE LSDPC FOR ITS CONSENT TO CHANGE OWNERSHIP OF PROPERTY KNOWN AS BLOCK 1, FLAT 13, ALHAJI MASHA ROAD, SURULERE, LAGOS STATE, WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY ALLOCATED TO LATE ALHAJI OLAWALE DAMOLE. I HAVE MADE SERIES OF EFFORTS TO CONTACT ALHAJA KAFILAT ABIMBOLA DANMOLE AND ALHAJA KAOSARAT FEHINTOLA AKABA THE ADMINSTRATORS OF LATE ALHAJI OLAWALE DANMOLE FROM WHOM I BOUGHT THE PROPERTY, BUT ALL EFFORTS HAVE PROVED ABORTIVE. I HEREBY INDEMNIFY THE CORPORATION AGAINST ANY FUTURE CLAIMS THAT MAY ARISE IF MY APPLICATION IS GRANTED, AND UNDERTAKE TO PAY COST OF ANY DISPUTE THAT MAY ARISE ON SAME. LSDPC AND GENERAL PUBLIC, PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

Mr oladapo olukorede oladeji of block 55, flat 1,Lsdpc medium income estate,ijaiyeogba notify the general public that I have applied to the LSDPC for its consent to change ownership of a property at block 55,flat 1 Lsdpc medium income estate ijaiye-ogba which was originally allocated to Mr Vincent chiedozi obi. I have made series of efforts to contact Mr Vincent chiedozi obi the assignor from whom I brought the property, but all efforts have proved abortive. I hereby indemnify the corporation against any future claims that may arise if my application is granted, and undertake to pay cost of any dispute that may arise on same.

LSDPC, Mr Vincent chiedozi obi and the General public, please take note.

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

60

FOREIGN NEWS

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Zimbabwe election was ‘huge farce’, says opposition leader

IMBABWE’s presidential election was a “huge farce”, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has said, alleging vote-rigging by rival President Robert Mugabe’s camp.

Mr Tsvangirai said that Wednesday’s poll was “null and void”.

The largest group of election observers described the vote as “seriously compromised” and said up to a million Zimbabweans were prevented from voting.

Mr Mugabe’s party - which is claiming a victory - denied the accusations, saying the voting went smoothly.

The 89-year-old leader is running for a seventh term

as president.

The head of the African Union observer mission, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, said his initial assessment was that the vote was free and fair.

And other regional observers have praised the peaceful nature of the election.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has five days to declare who won the poll.

The commission said vote counting at polling stations had been completed yesterday, and results were now being collated, the AFP news agency reports.

Legal challenges are now likely to follow, but much

will depend on whether Zimbabwe’s neighbours endorse the poll, the BBC’s Andrew Harding in Johannesburg reports.

The Southern African Development Community (SADC), the 15-member regional bloc, has said it will give its verdict on the elections on Friday, AFP reports.

Speaking at the headquarters of his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party in Harare, Mr Tsvangirai said: “Our conclusion is that this has been a huge farce.

“The credibility of this election has been marred by administrative and legal violations which affected the legitimacy of its outcome.

Ohio kidnapper gets life plus 1,000 years

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RIEL Castro was sentenced to life without parole on the charge of aggravated murder yesterday and received multiple years on various other charges related to kidnap and rape that totaled 1,000 years.

Cuyahoga Common Pleas Judge Michael Russo emphasized that Castro would never leave prison and that the multiple sentences would be consecutive because of the severity of his crimes. Russo told Castro that the extreme sentence is meant “to punish you.”

“You don’t deserve to be out in our community,” Russo told

“It’s a sham election that does not reflect the will of the people.”

The chair of the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) - the largest grouping of domestic observers has told the BBC that the voting was compromised as many people were unable to cast their ballots.

The ZESN said that potential voters were much more likely to be turned away from polling stations in urban areas, where support for Mr Tsvangirai is strong, than in President Mugabe’s rural strongholds.

It claims that up to one million of the country’s 6.4 million eligible voters were prevented from casting their ballots.

Former minister David Coltart - who is a member of the breakaway MDCMutambara faction - said in a statement published on Facebook that he had lost his parliamentary seat. Detailing his suspicions over voting pat-

Syria: Weapons depot blast kills 40

R •Tsvangirai

terns in the Bulawayo East constituency, he said “Zimbabwe has been subjected to electoral fraud on a massive scale”.

In addition to Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai, there are three other candidates standing for the presidency: Welshman Ncube, leader of the breakaway MDC-Mutambara; Dumiso Dabengwa of the Zimbabwe African People’s Union (Zapu), and Kisinoti Munodei Mukwazhe, who represents the small Zimbabwe Development Party (ZDP).

If no candidate in the presidential vote gains 50% of the ballots, a run-off will be held on 11 September.

OCKETS slammed into governmentheld districts yesterday in the central Syrian city of Homs, setting off successive explosions in a weapons depot that killed at least 40 people, an opposition group and residents said.

The blasts came hours after state TV showed President Bashar Assad making a rare visit to a former rebel bastion near the capital, Damascus, to mark Army Day. The twin developments showed that rebels fighting to oust Assad are still able to strike back despite significant advances by the military that have bolstered the confidence of the regime.

One resident in Homs said the blasts, which sent a massive ball of fire, thick smoke and dust into the sky, were so strong they cracked the walls of some buildings and shook the ground.

Russia grants Snowden asylum •Castro after the sentencing ... yesterday.

Castro.

Russo also told Castro that he was to never try to contact his victims — Michelle Knight, Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus — or Berry’s daughter, whom Castro fathered.

Knight, one of the three women Castro has admitted to kidnapping and torturing in his

PHOTO: REUTERS

Cleveland home, told him Thursday in court, “You took 11 years of my life away. I went through 11 years of hell, and now your hell is just beginning.

You will face hell for an eternity. You will die a little every day. ... You deserve to spend life in prison.”

N

ATIONAL Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden left the transit zone of a Moscow airport and officially entered Russia after authorities granted him asylum for a year, his lawyer said yesterday, a move that suggests the Kremlin isn’t shying away from further conflict with the United States.

Snowden’s whereabouts will be kept a secret for se-

curity reasons, lawyer Anatoly Kucherena said, making it even harder to keep track of the former NSA systems analyst, who has been largely hiding out at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport since his arrival from Hong Kong on June 23.

The U.S. has demanded that Russia send Snowden home to face prosecution for espionage over his leaks that revealed wide U.S. Internet

surveillance practices, but Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed the request.

In a statement released by the WikiLeaks secret-spilling site, Snowden thanked Russia and lashed out at the Obama administration.

“Over the past eight weeks we have seen the Obama administration show no respect for international or domestic law, but in the end the law is winning,” he said.

SPORT EXTRA

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Ka'Oje seeks return of

ORMER Minister of Sports Bala Ka'Oje has urged Super Eagles’ Coach to recall all the sidelined players like Captain of the team Joseph Yobo, Osaze Odemwingie, Ikechukwu Uche, Victor Anichebe, Taiye Taiwo and other experienced players to make the team very solid and ready for any football challenge.

The sports administrators cum politician in an exclusive chat with the NationSport said, "As regards the issue of the sidelined players of the Super Eagles, I think they should be brought back now to make the team very formidable and stronger. We need the mix of young and talented players and experienced players to make the team very strong and ready for the world challenge.

"My problem is that I do not appreciate a situation where there is rancour. I like leadership that tries to be patient and enduring. That is

Osaze, others

‘Keshi has done well with Eagles’ From Segun Ogunjimi, Abuja why I feel that all those players who are good no matter their behaviour should still be considered and be talked to. Let them come back to the fold and continue to do their best for the country", the erstwhile Sports Minister disclosed.

Ka'Oje also tasked Keshi on overhauling the attack and defence positions of the team.

"We have also told Keshi to work on the defence and attack of the team. There are lapses in these areas as observed during the FIFA Confederation Cup and recently in the Home based Eagles performance away to Cote d'Ivoire in the CHAN qualifier. When this is done

the team will definitely be unstoppable".

The former Minister also believe that Keshi could lead the Eagles to pick the 2014 World Cup ticket.

"We are hoping to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. We are praying that both the Nigeria Football Federation and the Eagles led by their coach Stephen Keshi will do all they can to ensure Nigeria qualifies for the event and also break the African jinx by getting to the semi-finals of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil this time around and from there anything can happen", Ka'Oje charged.

The former Minister, however, threw his weight behind the Eagles Coach and also gave him an excellent mark for transforming the

team to African Champions and emerging football world power.

"I happen to be one of those people that canvassed for Stephen Keshi to get this job.

I have always been against the hiring of an expatriate coach to handle our national team.

So I am happy that Keshi has not disappointed me and soccer loving Nigerians so far.

"Earlier this year, precisely in February 10th this year he led the Super Eagles to beat Burkina Faso 1-0 to win the 2013 Edition of the Africa Nations Cup in South Africa.

He led the team to achieve this 19 years after Nigeria won her second Trophy in the competition.

"Only last Saturday he also led the Home based Super Eagles to qualify for the very first time for the Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) so what are we saying. Keshi has fulfilled his high rating and he and his team could only get better", Ka'Oje assured.

LAGOS INTER CLUBS COMPETITIONS

Deaf Sports Associations call for regular tourneys

A

CTING chairman of Lagos State Deaf Sports Association, Reverend Samuel Ikpea, has called on corporate bodies, sports philanthropists and government to sponsor more deaf competitions.

Ikpea said this at the Lagos State Deaf Schools Athletic Competition which was held last weekend at Agege Stadium, Lagos. The competition is

facilitated by the Lagos State Ministry of Sports, Youth and Social Development and the Office of Grassroots Sports Development.

Ikpea, that he was impressed with the performance of deaf athletes, adding that the time has come for the athletes to enjoy regular competitions. He disclosed that the association discovered a good number of athletes during the two days

event.

"I am impressed with the performance of all these deaf athletes. They really showed that they have potentials and I believe that if there are more competitions for them, Nigeria stands a good chance of excelling in future international deaf competitions.

There are many talents abound here and it is the responsibility of our coaches to nurture them to stardom," he said.

Ikpea said the performance of deaf athletes at the last National Sports Festival held in Lagos showed that the association is committed to promote the deaf sports at the grassroots level in Lagos.

He boasted that if Team Lagos could win 10 gold medals at the Eko 2012 Games, the state is ready to win more medals at the 2014 National Sports Festival in Calabar, Cross Rivers.

Tony Anenih U-16 Cup kicks off August 5

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HE maiden edition of Chief Tony Anenih, national U-16 soccer tournament is due to kick off August 5, 2013 in Abuja.

According to a statement from the Chairman LOC, and former first- vice chairman Edo F.A, Darlington Okpebholo Ray, said the tournament is designed to honour the Edo State elder state man.

"It is to honor the elder state man who turns 80 years on August 4, so far we are have 18 states who have signaled their interest to participate in the event which will be hosted in Abuja."

Federation of Youth Soccer Clubs (Edo state chapter) FEYSOC in collaboration with EMS LTD organize the soccer fiesta which will be played at Old Parade Ground, Abuja.

Airtel Rising Stars inspires Port Harcourt kids

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•Winners emerge today

LAYERS whose teams could make it to the final of the Airtel Rising Stars at the Port Harcourt Zonal Centre have commended Airtel Nigeria Ltd for given them the platform to excel.

A few of these players who shared mixed feelings after their elimination from the competition, expressed optimising in their ability to excel in their football career in future.

According to Uchenna Madabuchi, a 15-year old striker from Abia State; “The Airtel Rising Stars have given me the opportunity to showcase my talent even though I couldn’t make the final team but I’m happy I was able to show my skills. The coaches told me to continue to train hard and work on my stamina which they said will help to be a better player.”

Another player, Ufot Magdalene who came from Akwa Ibom to try her luck said: “The Airtel Rising Stars competition has made me to believe in myself because I know I will be great haven go so far in this competition before being

dropped. It’s so painful that I will not be going to Lagos for the National Final because that has always been my ultimate dream but I will try my luck next year since I’m just 14 now.”

Meanwhile, winners are expected to emerge today in both the male and female category for the two slots available for the National Finals billed for for Lagos from August 21 to 24th.

A total of four states which include hosts Rivers, Bayelsa, Imo, Akwa Ibom and Cross River are taking part in the competition. The final comes up today (Friday).

The Port Harcourt Zonal Championship which started on Monday with road shows across town in the city was followed by the screening of registered players and finally, the play-off matches which ran on a threeleg format league format.

The Airtel Rising Stars U-17 Tourney, in its third year running, is a pan-African initiative of Airtel Africa, designed to provide support for the development of football talents across African markets.

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

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THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

SEGUN GBADEGESIN gbadegesin@thenationonlineng.net

A big deal

•APC logo

provisions for a true federal system prior to any elections. Another view was that we must secure a territorial space from which we can advance our proposals for a true federal system. The meeting decided to give participation a chance so as not to cede our political space to the military backed politicians whose motives we knew.

Progressives have always been purists, and that has been the nemesis of mainstreaming a progressive political agenda. After that decision and participation was endorsed, we moved from one political group to another because we didn’t want to have anything to do with some individuals who had collaborated with the military in one shape or form. I must confess that I have been one of the purists. But that is why I am not a politician. Bill Clinton, the American counterpart of Asiwaju Tinubu in the important task of political strategising once famously pronounced that politics is arithmetic. It’s a game of numbers. For a long time, we have failed the test of numbers largely because of our puritan tendencies.

I was in deep thought about all these when Opalaba’s call came in and I pretended as if I knew nothing. He went on.

“Why are you so quiet?” I expect some excitement from your end. This is why I am

RIPPLES

‘My only hope is that this beginning is not thwarted; that the leadership of the new party learns from experience; that internal democracy is their watchword; that they are sensitive to the presentation of a uniquely democratic alternative to the electorate because in the final analysis, it is what matters most. It’s a game of numbers.’ always worried about you egg-heads. When there is cause for jubilation, you turn inwards as if you have no emotion. Is it all about mind? Is reflection all there is to life?

Get a life, my friend. Break the Champagne, right now and I’d propose the toast to the birth of a new baby: Ayo abara tintin!”

“Wait a minute, my friend. Since when have you become so enthralled about politics? I am beginning to fear that old age is having its toll.”

“You are right about that. This is probably my “Nunc Dimittis” moment. I have waited so long for progressives to have a real shot at the centre. Despite his genuine efforts and outstanding service to the masses, and his truthfulness to a progressive agenda, Chief Obafemi Awolowo wasn’t able to form a credible alternative to the reactionary clique that controlled the center in the first and second republics. Perception has always been the superior of reality in our political history. Now change is coming. Old alliances are broken and new ones taking effect because of the political sensitivity of one man and his ability to persuade likeminded folks. Progressives must doff their hats to Asiwaju Tinubu,” Opalaba concluded his beatitudes.

“So you are actually ready to go now?” I

HARDBALL

MOBOLAJI SANUSI

asked my friend. “Remember now that shortly after he sang the song, Simeon, the author of Nunc Dimittis simply gave up the ghost! He just passed on because he had seen the glory of the Lord. Now that you have seen the glory of progressive politics, are you done? Should we start the arrangements?”

“Of course, I knew that you would pounce on that. That’s the kind of friend you are. But it’s just the beginning, and the end is most definitely important. My only hope is that this beginning is not thwarted; that the leadership of the new party learns from experience; that internal democracy is their watchword; that they are sensitive to the presentation of a uniquely democratic alternative to the electorate because in the final analysis, it is what matters most. It’s a game of numbers.”

“Surely, my friend, and I am one with you on these observations. What is particularly important is that All Progressives Congress (APC) is seen by all as a party of progressives with a progressive agenda focusing on the welfare of the people and a true federal arrangement. “ When a former southwest governor queried the authenticity of the progressive label, I marveled at the misrepresentation of issues. On the part of that governor, the tie that binds the disparate entities of Nigeria together is oil. If wealth from oil gone, he suggests, Nigeria is no more. Yet it is true that oil wealth has not always been there and in those days of agricultural wealth, we observed how Nigeria held together through investment in human talents.

The seat that that former governor occupied was the seat that Chief Obafemi Awolowo governed from. It is public record that Chief Obafemi Awolowo once defied the central government when he was given an unacceptable condition for the acceptance of federal subsidy. Awolowo told the central government to keep its funds because he could not sacrifice the educational agenda he had for the people on the altar of a federal promise that would scuttle that agenda. He successfully sourced internal revenue for his programme. That is what progressivism is about.

It is not a coincidence that Asiwaju Tinubu famously resisted Obasanjo’s Federal Government intrusion into the affairs of Lagos State between 2003 and 2007 leading to the withholding of the states’ funds. And Lagos State did not collapse. That is what progressivism is about. There is a record for APC to emulate. Let’s get on with it.

•For comments, send SMS to 08111813080

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

A septuagenarian and his money are soon parted

MY POSITION ON CHILD MARRIAGE MISUNDERSTOOD–Yerima

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No matter the position, CHILD MARRIAGE is CHILD ABUSE and RAPE

VOL.8 NO.2,565

C OMMENT & D EB ATE EBA

“I

T’S a small step for a party, but a big step for democracy.”

“Let me go further. It’s a small step for a man, but a big step for a nation.”

“Progressives finally have a fighting chance; they are moving from the margin of political existence to the centre of legislative and executive decision-making. In the twinkle of an eye, with the courage of an agency of government, progressivism has gotten rid of scaremongers. It’s a good day for progressives.”

Opalaba went on and on as I feigned complete ignorance of what he was talking about.

Of course, earlier in the day I had received a call from an excited Sunday Dare: “Good morning, Sir” and before I could answer, Sunday went on, as if he had borrowed a leaf from Opalaba’s playbook: “Oga is very excited, Sir. APC has been registered!”

“Wow” I answered. That’s great. But isn’t the meeting supposed to be on Thursday? I asked, wondering if someone was trying to play a trick on us and make a fool of us.”

“Yes, Sir” Sunday responded, “but for reasons best known to INEC, the meeting had been held earlier today (Wednesday) and Asiwaju has been on the phone with the leadership.”

“Wonderful; Excellent; Oh, that’s so great.

Now democracy is on course, I went on in my own excitement, forgetting for a moment that I was in my office.”

Later in the night, we gathered together in my living room, with the Jagaban himself, who in fifteen years, has evolved and transformed himself, with palpable acts of courage and foresight to become the most acknowledged political strategist that Nigeria has ever produced. Bola Tinubu’s political enemies are still in political wilderness, and are not likely to vacate that space of irrelevance because they have failed to acknowledge his political wizardry.

Simply put, the fact that Asiwaju has been able to pull this merger through, even if nothing more comes out of it, is a testament to his political skills.

Fifteen years earlier in August 1998 in the same living room that we gathered to celebrate this merger on Wednesday night, we had agonised over the prospects of the participation of progressives in the Abdulsalami transition programme. It was a post-Egbe Omo Yoruba Convention reception in my house. With Baba Adesanya leading the discussion, the pros and cons were laid down and hotly debated. One view was that we needed to demand a national conference to discuss the way forward for the country and we must insist on constitutional

TODAY IN THE NATION ‘Is APC the long awaited party that would checkmate the long excruciating run of PDP in power? There is no doubt that public expectations are very high on APC and it is believed that the party will not disappoint Nigerians’’

T is said that the curse of mammon is that you never could have enough and indeed, the real tragedy is that the more you have, the more you crave. This encapsulates the story of a 73-year-old man named simply Steven by the press (do they mean Simple Steven?). The sad saga of this Central Bank of Nigeria retiree is that he has lost about N10 million apparently of his pension benefits to phone fraudsters. Why would a septuagenarian gamble away so much money in search of more money? What would a man in the twilight of life want to do with N350 million, which was the jackpot he sought to hit will trading the N10 million he had in hand?

It is true that nearly every man would want even more money even when he had no need for it, Mr. Steven’s was a pathetic case that we all must reflect upon if only to avoid falling victim. As the story which happened in Lagos, Nigeria goes, Pa Steven received a text message on his mobile phone that he had won N2 million for using up N200.00 airtime in two weeks in an Airtel promo.

This was in September 2011. He was given a number, purportedly of an officer in the telecoms company, Airtel.

The ‘Airtel staff’ of course confirmed Pa Steven’s winning, he took all his particulars, including banking details. This was followed by a request that he would have to pay 4.8 per cent of the winning as “Charge on Turnover, COT”. This amounted to N264, 200 which Pa Steven paid most excitedly, as he recounted. If you thought they would pay him the balance of the N2 million then beware for you are a candidate for a cheap scam too.

Of course, it is all a set up to pick the old man clean. Soon enough they told him he had been listed in a mega promo which superseded the peanuts he had ‘won’.

And pronto, Papa had won N350 million bumper raffle in the Airtel Club 10 promo.

He was provided a name and number to contact at the Airtel head office in Lagos for the harvest of his life. The old man was beside himself with joy. What good fortune in the evening of his life he thought. But he was soon asked to pay N2 million ‘functional fee’ and after he made ‘confirmations’ according to him, he was again glad to pay. What is paltry N2 million to 350 big ones? Pa Steven promptly dashed over to GTB and paid up.

As he warmed up to begin to draw from his pot of luck, not so fast, they told him: an-

other ‘small’ N3 million is needed; and yet another N4million… his alarm finally went off. What a rusty alarm it must be!

It was at this K-legged juncture more than one year after he started this voodoo business that it dawned on him that he just might have been suckered. At least Papa still had the presence of mind to approach the police. Operatives of the Special Fraud Unit (SFU), Ikoyi, Lagos, directed Papa to play along with the scammers by paying into one of their accounts in Keystone Bank. As one of the shadowy fellows, a 22-year-old tried to cash the money, he was nabbed. The miscreant had opened the special utility account with forged particulars but he lied that he was merely helping friends to receive. He had also lied that he was an orphan but his mother was soon to show up at the police station.

Why you may wonder why Pa Steven fell for the cheapest trick in the con book, how do we explain the role of the banks mentioned in this sordid tale? One had some comfort when transactions were carried out through the banks but not anymore. And the moral of this is that a little kobo in your hand is worth more that the big naira you are dreaming about.

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Editor Daily:01-8962807, Marketing: 01-8155547 . Abuja Office: Plot 5, Nanka Close AMAC Commercial Complex, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja. Tel: 07028105302. Port Harcourt Office: 12/14, Njemanze Street, Mile 1, Diobu, PH. 08023595790. WEBSITE: www.thenationonlineng.net E-mail: info@thenationonlineng.net Editor: GBENGA OMOTOSO