The Nation Aug 04, 2013

12 PDP governors to dump party • 2015: Jonathan to stick with Tukur –Page 3

–Page 2

I’ll make life uncomfortable for Amaechi, Wike vows –Page 2

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

Vol.08, No. 2567

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

SUNDAY

AUGUST 4, 2013

N200.00

•L-R: Minister of State for Defence, Erelu Olusola Obada; representative of the President, Sen. David Mark; and Commandant, National Defence College, Rear Admiral Thomas Lokoson; at the graduation of Course 21 of the College in Abuja, yesterday.

Photo: NAN

Five PDP governors step up anti-Jonathan, KSB Tukur campaign –Page 3

Meet Ekwueme on PDP, Rivers crises, division in NGF

I will marry again if... Page

IBORI’S UK LAWYER ARRESTED

44

–Page 4

G

OVERNOR Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State must brace up for more trouble from the opposition in the days and months ahead, if the threat, yesterday, by one of the forces against him, is anything to go by.

Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, boasted at a reception for him in Port Harcourt that he is ready to make life even more uncomfortable for the governor who is locked in the political battle of his life with the Presidency and his party (PDP), at the state and federal levels; the State Police Commissioner, Mbu Joseph Mbu and the Police Command; the Minister and his five supporters in the State House of Assembly; ex-militants; as well as other political forces from within and outside the state.

The reception also doubled as a grand finale of the inauguration of units of the Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI) in Obio/Akpor LGA of the state.

Wike is the grand patron of GDI. "We will make sure they will not sleep again, as they are sleeping now. They will not sleep with their two eyes closed. One eye will be open because they know there is danger," the minister said, 24 hours after Amaechi told a delegation of Niger Delta Bishops who are trying to resolve the political crisis in the state that Wike remains a minister today by "the grace of God" and his (Amaechi's) effort.

The governor's words: "Nyesom Wike was appointed Chief of Staff by me. Nyesom Wike as a Minister of State, I nominated him. I was under pressure by the President to drop him, I refused. The President persuaded me to drop him and bring a woman but I refused. " I heard he is going all over town saying I didn't appoint him, I didn't appoint him, the President appointed him but I nominated him to be a minister as the Chairman of Nigeria Governors' Forum. I did, but you know character doesn't come easily, character is a very difficult thing and I am a man of character."

But in what looked like a response to the broadside fired at him on Friday by Amaechi, the minister said yesterday that the governor and the 27 members of the State Assembly on his side have not had enough trouble occasioned by their April 22 suspension of the Obio/Akpor Local Government Council.

Wike, who is aspiring to replace Amaechi as governor in 2015, hails from the local government area. He was a two-term chairman of the council.

The minister, speaking at yesterday's rally, said: "They said we are nobody. Then they have seen. When you are dealing with nobody, be careful. The nobody will show you that he is somebody. We will make sure they will not sleep again. As they are sleeping, they will not sleep with their two eyes closed. One eye will be open, because they know there is danger.

"Those who are saying they

NEWS THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 4, 2013

I'll make life more uncomfortable for Amaechi, Wike vows •Says Gov must beg him •Declares: 'If President Jonathan removes me as minister, I'll continue to fight'

•The Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, and some chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the rally of the Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, yesterday : Photo: Bisi Olaniyi

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt must remove me, I have even overstayed. For you to be minister for two years, you must thank your God. If today we are no longer minister, do not worry yourself. It will not change us. We will continue to fight for what we believe in.

"We were not minister when we fought for them in 2007. When we were here, they were not having problems.

Now, we have gone, they are having problems.

"We have always told them: you cannot do it. What you do

not know, you do not know. It does not matter, whatever money you have, money cannot buy everything. Now, they are having sleepless nights. When we were here, were they having sleepless nights?

"When we were here, were they not travelling up and down? Are they travelling again? Tell them, they should come and beg us. Tell them to come back and beg us. We will tell them the secret. What God has not given to you, you do not need to do anything about it.

"I can assure you, all they are asking for: they want a commissioner of police that will be arresting you. Anytime they call the CP, he will arrest you.

But let me tell you, we are not interested in whoever comes here (CP), all we are interested in is to have somebody who will not be partial.

"Let them bring whoever they want to bring (as CP).We want somebody who will want democracy to be practised in Rivers State. They said one man, one vote. Now, they do not want one man, one vote again.

"Obio/Akpor LGA is not a

place you can toy with. Those who feel they can suspend Obio/Akpor council officials, we will make them uncomfortable. They felt once they had dissolved the council, they would sleep.

"The party has suspended them, because they have touched the lion and when you touch the lion, you know the consequences. Since they said the councillors will not take their salaries, they also will know that they will not belong to the PDP. "The party chairman (Chief Felix Obuah) warned them and

Mugabe re-elected in Zimbabwe

Z

IMBABWE'S President Robert Mugabe was yesterday returned for a seventh term in office, amid claims of electoral fraud.

Mr Mugabe, 89, won 61% of the vote, against Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's 34%.

Mr Tsvangirai earlier said the elections for parliament and president were fraudulent and promised to take legal action.

He said his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) would no longer work with Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF party.

The two parties have been working together in a coalition since the last election in 2008 sparked widespread violence.

Mr Mugabe has been president since Zimbabwe won independence from the UK in 1980.

The European Union, which maintains sanctions on Mr Mugabe and his senior aides, said it was concerned about "alleged irregularities and reports of incomplete participation" in the election.

The largest group of domestic monitors, the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN), had said problems with voter registration had left up to one million people unable to cast their ballots, most of them in MDC strongholds.

However, the African Union and SADC broadly endorsed the election, saying it was free and peaceful.

Yesterday, one of the nine members of the election commission resigned over the way the election was conducted.

Commissioner Mkhululi Nyathi said in his resignation letter: "While throughout the

whole process I retained some measure of hope that the integrity of the whole process could be salvaged along the way, this was not to be."

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has won a

seventh term in office, officials say, amid claims of electoral fraud.

Mr Mugabe, 89, won 61% of the vote, against Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's 34%.

APGA suspends Okorocha

G

OVERNOR Rochas Okorocha of Imo State was yesterday suspended from the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA).

He was suspended for joining the All Progressives Congress (APC), an action APGA leadership described as anti party activities.

Rising from an emergency National Executive Council meeting yesterday in Abuja, the party said NEC unanimously decided to dissolve the Imo State

Executive Council of the party. It also said a 21-man Committee will be appointed to oversee the party until a congress is held.

The Imo State Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere, said the government was not unaware that APGA has been compromised and sold out to the ruling PDP. He added that Okorocha's decision to join APC was to serve Ndigbo better, insisting that joining APC was in the best interest of Ndigbo.

2

they said he would not be able to do anything. At the end of the day, they are going to court to challenge us. We will meet them in court. We are not afraid of the court. We are accustomed to it.

All the ones they have gone, we have been winning them and we will continue to win them.

"They are doing everything they can. They are using their power and their money. Money cannot solve all problems.

Sometimes, you have to come back home and realise that the people matter a lot. It is the power of the people that has put us in positions and you must come back to thank the people.

"Forget about what they are doing to you (his supporters). Do not worry. We are all together.

Do not lose hope. God is on the throne."

Wike said the suspended Chairman of Obio/Akpor LG, Mr. Timothy Nsirim, who also attended the rally; his deputy, Solomon Eke, and the 17 councillors have been denied their salaries since April, but said that is part of the sacrifice to make democracy survive.

The minister asked the people of the state to continue to support President Jonathan and the party.

He urged members of the GDI, in particular, to go to all the wards, communities and families in the state not to abandon President Jonathan and his wife.

Wike added: "Your duty as GDI members is to go and mobilise the entire state for our son (Jonathan), eventually when he decides to run and we believe the people of the Southsouth zone cannot sacrifice, for whatever it is, our own son, for anything less than President."

Factional Chairman of the PDP in the state, Chief Felix Obuah, pledged at the function to reconcile Amaechi, Wike and other aggrieved members of the party in the state.

Obuah said: "I want to invite the governor (Amaechi), the minister (Wike) and all aggrieved members of Ikwerre community, to be with me in my palace next weekend. Let us sit down and fashion a way forward. I will not sit down and see my children quarrelling, and I will not feel concerned."

A former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Austin Opara, described Obio/ Akpor LGA as the home of the GDI and the PDP, stressing that "anybody standing on your way is standing before a moving train and will be crushed."

The President-General of the GDI, Bright Amewhule, in his remarks, stated that President Jonathan would be supported to return in 2015 and that they were solidly behind Wike.

The ceremony is the latest by the anti-Amaechi camp in the state.

Similar ceremonies by proAmaechi groups are routinely disallowed by the police, prompting observers from within and outside the state to accuse the police leadership in the state of taking sides.

A rally scheduled for last Tuesday by civil rights groups to protest what they called antidemocratic tendencies in the state was not allowed to hold by the police.

Some militants even threatened that the lives of some of those expected at the rally were not safe should they come.

•Continued on Page 64

News

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 4, 2013

3

Five PDP governors step up anti-Jonathan, Tukur campaign F OUR of the G-5 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors, yesterday, took their save democracy campaign to Second Republic Vice-President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme.

Governors Sule Lamido (Jigawa); Murtala Nyako (Adamawa); Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano) and Aliyu Wammako (Sokoto) met Dr. Ekwueme for about 45 minutes in his suite at the NICON Luxury Hotel, Abuja.

The fifth member of the group, Gov. Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, was said to be away in Saudi Arabia for the lesser Hajj (Umrah).

Yesterday’s deliberation took place behind closed door with the governors seeking the Second Republic Vice President’s intervention in resolving some of the crises confronting the nation and the ruling PDP. The issues include the political crisis in Rivers State, the division in the Nigeria Governors Forum, degeneration of internal democracy in PDP; the need to reorganise PDP if it does not want to lose future elections; and the alleged intolerance of dissenting views by the Presidency.

A highly-placed source,

From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

who spoke in confidence, said: “The 45-minute audience was part of the ongoing consultations with critical stakeholders by the five governors.

“The choice of Ekwueme by the governors was strategic because he had presided over the only acceptable reconciliation committee in PDP. He is also respected for his quality advice.

“By meeting with Ekwueme, the governors told the ex-VP that they were trying to demonstrate that their intervention was not sectional contrary to insinuations in some quarters.

“They told the statesman that the crisis in Rivers State portends a great danger for the nation’s democracy.

They pleaded with Ekwueme to meet with other statesmen of like minds to hold a meeting with the President and persuade him to accept some of the peace terms they had presented.”

Responding to a question, the source added: “They expressed concern that the vision of the founding fathers of PDP, including Ekwueme, to have a truly democratic and

• Meet Ekwueme on PDP, Rivers crises, division in NGF

detribalised party was being derailed.

“They insisted that the PDP must be reorganised if it does not want to lose power in 2015. They alleged that the party is losing touch with Nigerians.”

Ekwueme was said to have assured his guests that he and other leaders already visited by the governors would look at the issues raised by them.

“I have noted the issues you have raised, I can assure

you that all the leaders you have consulted will address these matters,” he was quoted as saying.

On the achievements of the shuttles by the governors so far, the source added: “They have succeeded in pointing out to elders that the nation’s democracy is under threat.

“As stakeholders, the five governors have privileged information that most Nigerians are not aware of.

I think a stitch in time saves

nine.”

It was also gathered yesterday that the five governors may meet former military Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, after the Eid-el Fitri festival.

Another source, who is part of the ongoing consultations by the governors, said: “I think they will meet Gowon after Sallah next week.”

The governors had first gone to Port Harcourt last month on a solidarity visit to the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, on his travails with the PDP, the Presidency and the State Police Command before going to Abeokuta on Saturday, July 20 to seek the inter-

vention of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Incidentally, President Goodluck Jonathan, with whom they are not on the best of terms was also in Abeokuta that day partly to see Chief Obasanjo but the governors deliberately avoided contact with him by diverting their convoy elsewhere in town until the President departed Obasanjo’s residence.

Thereafter, the governors met with former Nigerian leaders-General Ibrahim Babangida and General Abdulsalami Abubakar in Minna; President Jonathan in Abuja penultimate Saturday and later with Second Republic President Shehu Shagari in Sokoto.

Terrorists attack India embassy in Afghanistan

I

NSURGENTS attacked the Indian consulate in Afghanistan’s eastern capital yesterday, killing nine people and reinforcing fears that a bloody regional power struggle will be played out in the country once most foreign troops leave.

Twenty-three people were wounded when checkpoint guards stopped three attackers in a car as they approached the consulate in Jalalabad city, the office of the governor of Nangarhar province, Gul Agha Sherzai, said in a statement.

Two attackers leapt from the car and a gunfight broke out, while the third detonated explosives. No Indian officials were killed, though the blast badly damaged a mosque and dozens of homes and small shops nearby.

India condemned the attack and, without naming any country or group, blamed outside forces.

“This attack has once again highlighted that the main threat to Afghanistan’s security and stability stems from terrorism and the terror machine that continues to operate from beyond its borders,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

Arch-rivals India and Pakistan have long vied for power and influence in Afghanistan. Many see their struggle intensifying after the departure of most international forces by the end of next year.

Afghans fear the void left by the NATO-led foreign forces could lead to yet another round of bloody external interference in the impoverished and violenceracked country.

Afghan President Hamid

Karzai is seen as close to India and strongly opposed to the Taliban, who some say is supported by elements of the Pakistani state, in particular its powerful intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

The Taliban, which spearheads armed opposition to Karzai’s Westernbacked government, denied responsibility for Saturday’s attack on the Indian mission close to Pakistan’s border.

Attacks on the Indian embassy in Kabul - there were two during 2008 and 2009 that together killed more than 50 people - led to accusations

by Karzai that Pakistan was attempting to compromise India-Afghanistan relations.

He gave no evidence for his assertion, and Pakistan denied it was true.

Earlier yesterday, India’s Mail Today reported that New Delhi’s ambassador to Kabul was recently warned that the ISI had paid the Haqqani insurgent network - which is allied with the Taliban - to assassinate him.

“It was a specific alert. A team of security officials was sent to Afghanistan for a security review and it has made some recommendations. Clearly the aim is to pin down our top diplomat so we back off from our work,” a senior official told the daily.

Indian foreign ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin declined to comment on the report, which was sourced to Indian officials who had seen communication intercepts.

A Pakistani security official dubbed the report “nonsense”. “Why would we do such a thing when we are trying to improve economic ties with India?” he said.

•An Afghan policeman looks on as children flee from the site of a suicide attack in front of the Indian consulate in Jalalabad. Suicide bombers targeted the Indian consulate in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad, killing at least eight civilians when they detonated an explosives-packed car outside the building, yesterday.

PHOTO: AFP

2015: Jonathan to stick with Tukur

•Rainbow coalition imminent

•Shuns PDP governors’ demand for chair’s removal

•12 Govs shop for new party

P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan is not prepared to sacrifice the National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, as a condition for peace with some governors elected on the platform of the party, it can now be revealed.

At least five of the governors-Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa),Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano),Aliyu Wammako (Sokoto) and Babangida Aliyu (Niger)have launched a Tukur-MustGo campaign for the President to continue to enjoy their backing.

But following their meeting with the President penultimate Saturday, it appears he is unmoved by the campaign.

The governors and some other PDP stakeholders accuse Tukur of running the party as a private company and warn that the situation is alienating many party members who are now itching to jump ship.

It was gathered yesterday that as many as 12 governors

FromYusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

elected on the PDP platform are already shopping for an alternative party ahead of the 2015 election.

They are also considering a collaboration with the newly registered All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2015 poll to ease out President Jonathan under what a source described as a “rainbow coalition.”

Sources said yesterday that in spite of last week’s reconciliatory meeting between the President and five PDP governors, there was no commitment on the part of the President that he may concede to the removal of Tukur.

It was gathered that when the five governors briefed their colleagues on the meeting, including those who are pro-Jonathan, they alleged that the body language of the President was not too “committal”.

Regardless of the present stalemate, the five governors are said to have opted to con-

tinue with their ongoing consultations to save PDP from collapse until stakeholders reach a brick wall.

Their Plan B is to move to a neutral party where each of them could prove a point that they could deliver their state.

But they may also team up with the APC in a rainbow coalition that may agree on a consensus presidential candidate against Jonathan whose determination to secure PDP presidential ticket for 2015 poll is a fait accompli.

A governor, who confided in our correspondent, said: “At least 12 out of the 23 PDP governors may opt out of the party for a new party in 2015 to protect our political interests.

“The trend in PDP is that the President and his strategists are trying to hijack party machinery from the governors so that they will not have a say on the party’s candidates for 2015 elections at the state level. They want to dictate everything from Abuja.

“Since our political strength is underrated, we have to ply our trade in a new party and deliver our states.

“By the time PDP loses the 2015 poll, we can return to the party from our new political abode to reorganise it.

“Some of us are also being tactical in not moving to APC because of the political configuration and ethno-religious temperament of our states.

“But during the presidential elections, we will work with APC for a joint candidate that we feel could lead Nigeria from 2015. The ultimate challenge before all parties is to effect a change, at least for once, to provide the nation an alternative in 2015. It is this reality that our party does not want to happen. But we cannot continue with business as usual.”

Responding to a question, the source added: “This is the main plan of some aggrieved governors now, we hope PDP leaders will intervene and put the party back on course. If the prevalent situation persists, a rainbow coalition is imminent to dislodge PDP from power.

“The details of the coalition are being worked out by some governors, ex-governors, aggrieved PDP leaders and other like minds.”

SNOOPING AROUND IS ON VACATION

4

News

O

NE of the counsels to Chief James Ibori, the jailed former governor of Delta State, has been arrested in London for allegedly attempting to pervert the course of justice in the money-laundering case that got the politician sent to prison.

Ian Timlin, a former litigation partner at City Law Firm Speechly Bircham, was held by Met anti-corruption detectives investigating the alleged bribery of police officers. The senior lawyer was arrested at his home in Kent on suspicion of conspiracy to corrupt a police officer, perverting the course of justice and

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 4 , 2013

Ibori’s UK lawyer questioned over alleged police bribery RISC, run by former Met Police officers, gained inside information into the ongoing investigation of Ibori and that the agency paid serving detectives £20,000 for intelligence that helped the convict’s defence lawyers. One £5,000 payment was allegedly made to a source for information relating to “forthcoming interviewing strategy to be deployed by police”.

Mr Timlin was arrested in April and it is understood police have retrieved internal documents from the law firm.

Keith Hunter, the boss of RISC Management, has also been arrested as part of the investigation, which was triggered in May 2012 when newspapers revealed the Met had done nothing since a whistleblower passed police leaked documents revealing the alleged payments to officers many months before.

Like all current investigations into damaging allegations of police corruption, the long-running inquiry has inched its way tortuously forward, which prevents the media from reporting the full details. Both Mr Hunter and Mr Timlin deny the allegations and are on bail.

Mr Timlin qualified as a solicitor in 1991 and was a partner for 15 years in a number of London law firms before he left Speechly Bircham in 2010.

He is now legal director of the Long Port Group, a property development company in the tax haven of Guernsey, and has been involved in the construction of a sports resort in Brazil.

RISC, which is also used by law firm Mischon de Reya, has links to Russian oligarchs in London. It was first established as ISC Global in October 2000 by a lawyer called Stephen Curtis. He died in a helicopter accident in 2004, a crash that his family claimed was highly suspicious.

In 2006, it emerged the former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko visited RISC’s central London offices shortly before he died of polonium poisoning, and traces of the radioactive substance were found at the premises.

A spokesperson for Speechly Bircham said: “Given an arrest was made some months ago and there has since been no charge, it would be inappropriate for us to comment. Suffice to say that we have assisted the police with their enquiries.”

Mr Hunter said: “RISC management does not need to pay serving police officers for confidential information as we pride ourselves on our ability to provide positive solutions and accurate information legitimately.” Mr Timlin and the Long Port Group did not respond to requests for comment.

At Ibori’s sentencing, prosecutor Sasha Wass said: “From the moment he was elected he set about enriching himself at the expense of some of the poorest people in the world.”

She told the court he was “effectively a thief in government house.”

give the new commissioner all the needed support to do his job.

He called for the understanding of his family, saying the new responsibilities would demand more time out of home.

Gbeleyi thanked the governor for the confidence reposed in him with his appointment and promised to break new grounds for the financial sustainability of the state.

He promised to work with other members of the state cabinet, to bring more development to the people of the state.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the inauguration of Gbeleyi fol-

lowed his clearance by the State House of Assembly which had received his nomination from the governor.

The nomination followed the resignation of the former commissioner, Mr. Tokunbo Abiru, on July 24, to take up a board appointment at First Bank of Nigeria PLC. The new appointee was until his inauguration, the Special Adviser to Fashola on Public Private Partnerships (PPP).

The inauguration was graced by members of the executive council, as well as family members and friends of the new appointee.

•Alleged to have hired private eyes to buy information from London Police

money-laundering offences concerning Ibori.

The former governor was jailed last year for embezzlement after admitting stealing almost £50m, although the true amount may have been many times greater.

The Independent of Lon-

don reported that during a long-running Scotland Yard investigation into his business affairs, Mr Ibori hired the law firm, Speechly Bircham, which specialises in tax advice for non-domiciled people living in the UK. Mr Timlin, who until 2010 was a partner at Speechly

Bircham, then hired RISC Management, a controversial private detective agency embroiled in the scandal that erupted after the murder of the former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko.

Leaked documents, according to the newspaper, suggest

•From left, Ajero of Ijero Ekiti, Oba Joseph Adebayo Adewole, and Leader, Yoruba Oba's Conflict Resolution Committee, Olugbo of Ugboland, Oba Fedrick Obateru Akinruntan, at a meeting of the committee held at Obateru’s residence PHOTO BY FEMI ILESANMI, IBADAN

Fashola swears in new finance commissioner

G

OV. BABATUNDE Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, restated the commitment of his administration to serve the people of the state.

He made the pledge in Ikeja at the administration of the oath of office on Mr Ayo Gbeleyi, the new Finance Commissioner.

The governor said that he

and other members of his team would continue to pursue the developmental aspirations of the people of the state.

Fashola, who congratulated the new commissioner for the el-

evation, however, added that Gbeleyi now had more responsibilities, not only to the state government, but also to Lagosians, in general.

The governor pledged to

Managing five landfills with some 13,000 cubic metres of highly contaminated soil, and teaching villagers how to mine safely are major challenges to prevent new contamination, he said.

“That’s a big, big worry.

But I am joyful that for the kids who will be born in Bagega, we have at least removed one of the major strikes against them because they have so many strikes against them — nutritional problems, diseases ...” said Tirima, who is the field operations director in Nigeria for TerraGraphics International Foundation.

The Moscow, Idaho-based foundation advised the Zamfara State government and oversaw the 5 ½-month cleanup, or remediation, of Bagega that ended two weeks ago.

There, people were exposed to mindboggling rates of lead contamination: Some residential soil with up to 35,000 parts per million of lead and the processing area with over 100,000 parts per million, Tirima said. The United States considers 400 parts per million safe for residential soil.

At the peak of the gold rush, Tirima said, more than 1,000 itinerant miners and followers were camped around the village, beyond the reach

of paved roads and electricity and quite cut off in the rainy season when dirt roads become impassable.

Despite its remote location, the booming economy attracted people from Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger to Bagega, which also drew many locals as a regional commercial centre with a primary and high school, a hospital and weekly market. In addition, cattle herders and nomads went here to water their animals at a reservoir so dangerously contaminated it killed goats and cows.

The entire human population of 6,000 to 9,000 was exposed, including some 1,500 children under the age of five.

Human Rights Watch said the death toll of 400 was only an estimate as villagers initially tried to hide the deaths, fearing the government would stop their illegal mining. The group said it was the worst epidemic of its kind in modern history.

The government released money for the cleanup in February, Doctors Without Borders began pre screening in March and found that nearly every one of 1,010 children tested need therapy, Chouinard said.

Of them, 267 are severely contaminated and will get chelation — where medication binds the lead to a child’s blood and helps them to eliminate it faster

from their system.

All the children had more than the international standard maximum of 10 micrograms per deciliter of lead in their blood. Some had as much as 700 micrograms per decilitre, she said. The children will have to be treated for one to two years, she said.

Zamfara: Doctors treat lead-poisoned children

B

AGEGA in Zamfara State that suffered one of the world’s worst recorded incidents of lead poisoning is now habitable and doctors can start treating more than 1,000 contaminated children, a doctor and a scientist from two international agencies have said.

For some, it is already too late to reverse serious neurological damage, said Dr. Michelle Chouinard, country director for Doctors Without Borders, at the weekend.

Some children are blind, others paralysed and many will struggle at school with learning disabilities, she said.

Doctors Without Borders uncovered the scandal in 2010 but nothing was done until this year about Bagega, described as the worst-affected village because the federal government did not provide a promised $3 million, the group said.

The poisoning caused by artisanal mining from a gold rush killed at least 400 children, yet villagers still say they would rather die of lead poisoning than poverty, environmental scientist Simba Tirima told the Associated Press. Villagers make 10 times as much money mining as they do from farming in an area suffering erratic rainfall because of climate change, he said.

Malian election, a boost for democracy, says Ekweremadu

T

HE Speaker of the Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States, (ECOWAS), Senator Ike Ekweremadu, yesterday commended ECOWAS and the people of Mali for the success recorded so far in the Malian presidential election.

Ekweremadu described the election as “free, fair, and credible.”

He noted that the peaceful conduct of the poll was a boost for democracy and peace in Mali and the entire West Africa.

The Speaker said: “The peaceful election in Mali justifies the huge human and material sacrifices made by ECOWAS and friends of the sub-region to ensure that

From:OnyediOjiabor, Assistant Editor and SanniOnogu, Abuja

peace and democracy are secured in the country.

“It is a clear testimony to the capacity of ECOWAS to resolve internal crises, defend and consolidate democracy in West Africa.

“ECOWAS Parliament is particularly proud of the government and people of Mali for the record turnout of voters and their peaceful and orderly conduct during the poll.”

He however warned against complacency as Mali prepares for the August 11 run-off between the two leading candidates, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and

SoumailaCisse.

“Though the job is already half done, it is not over yet as all stakeholders must work together relentlessly to ensure a peaceful, free, fair, and credible conclusion of the presidential election,” he stressed.

It could be recalled that a clear winner could not emerge in the July 28 presidential election, the first since the 2012 military coup.

Keita, a former Prime Minister and Speaker of the West African nation, garnered about 39.2 per cent of the 3.1 million votes to lead the other 27 candidates but fell short of the majority vote required to emerge as President.

He faces former Finance Minister, Cisse, who polled 19.4 of the votes, in a run-off.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 4, 2013

RUSAL, BPE deny alleged vandalisation at ALSCON

By NdukaChiejina (Assistant Editor)

T

HE management of the Aluminum Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON) has denied stripping the company of its assets.

Reacting to claims by union members of ALSCON that RUSAL, the managers of the company, were stripping the company of the Bussbar/ Riser, stem rods and anode to sell to waiting buyers, Tatyana Smirnova of RUSAL described the information as "misleading and does not correspond to reality."

She said: "ALSCON is cleaning its territory from unrealisable assets, obsolete and not-suitable-for-use equipment, which cannot be utilised for production of aluminum."

She added: "The acquired equipment is the property of RUSAL and makes a part of modernisation programme that was implemented from 2007 till 2012."

RUSAL, she explained, has put around $159.4 million of its own investments into the plant.

Also reacting to the union members' claims, spokesman for the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Joe Chigbo Anichebe, said there were not true.

He said the BPE heard the rumour a few weeks ago and discovered it was untrue after investigations.

Mob beats Edo traffic officers From Osagie Otabor, Benin

T

WO officers of the Edo State Traffic Management Agency (EDSTMA) were on Friday beaten up by a mob after the vehicle of a traffic offender almost somersaulted at Oliha Junction in Benin City.

The mob attacked the officers when the offender raised alarm that the traffic officials were “dragging the steering with him.”

It was the police that rescued the officers and it was learnt that the offender was just learning how to drive.

The State Commissioner for Transport, Isimeme Iriogbe, described the incident as unfortunate, saying the mob acted out of ignorance.

“They acted out of ignorance. The offender was driving one way and he is a learner. It is so easy for the public to attack our officers.

Our officers acted promptly and were not dragging steering with the offender.

The offender was not a victim.”

Isimeme added that several traffic officers have been sacked or suspended for acting against their rules of engagement.

News

Insecurity: Don't give up, Mark tells Nigerians P RESIDENT of the Senate, David Mark, yesterday urged Nigerians to renew their faith in the unity of the nation irrespective of the current security and social-economic challenges.

Mark spoke during a church service to mark his wife, Helen, 62nd birthday.

The service was conducted at the St. Mulumba Chaplaincy, Apo, Abuja.

He enjoined Nigerians to remain steadfast and believe in the prospect of the country to overcome her challenges.

According to him: "We should continue to be our brothers' keeper; we have gone this far and we should not wish away our strength

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja of togetherness.

"God created us to be together as a nation. We are all made by God and we shall all stand before Him to give account of what we have done here on earth.

"So, as a people, we should learn to be tolerant and love one another."

Mark, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, also admonished Nigerians to eschew violence in any form, say-

ing, "no matter how aggrieved a man may be, resorting to violence will only escalate the situation."

He commended his wife, Helen, for her virtues and love for the family.

The Senate President said: "We decided to celebrate her birthday with a Holy Mass in our church to thank God. "She has been a strong pillar behind me all these years.

She has been very supportive and an ideal help-mate.

"The truth is that, if there should be people to talk of God's goodness, my family should be in the forefront.

God has been so kind and faithful to us."

Rev. Father Innocent Jooji, in his homily, urged the congregation to be thankful to God in all situations.

He stated that God is compassionate and wants His children to live together with a heart full of praise and tolerance.

He canvassed for oneness and forgiveness among the brethren.

He noted that the best way to celebrate Mrs. Helen Mark's birthday was through a Holy Mass.

He reminded the people to continue to join the Senate President's family in prayers in the years ahead.

• Wife of late Adolfus Okonkwo, Anthonia, being consoled by sympathisers at his Arepo residence in Ogun State... at the weekend.

Inset: One of the survivors... yesterday PHOTO: MUYIWA HASSAN

5

APC will defeat PDP in 2015, says Obende From:Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

S

ENATOR Domingo Obende( Edo North) has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the registration of the newly formed All Progressives Congress (APC) even as he predicted victory for the newest party in 2015.

The senator also commended the leaders of the now defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and a faction of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) that fused into the mega-party for their patience and tenacity in ensuring the registration of the new party despite deliberate attempts by undemocratic forces to frustrate the process.

Speaking in Benin City, Obende urged all “progressives and true democrats in the country to join forces with APC to aid the growth of our cherished democracy.”

He said: “For too long, antidemocratic forces held us back in the quest to bequeath much needed good governance and democratic dividend to our people.

“But this development has shown that when a people resolve for change, no matter what opposition confronts them, they will get their way.

All the opposition that greeted the resolve to register our new party was a result of the fact that anti-democratic forces have seen light in us and that we represent the hope for a better Nigeria.

NUJ declares 7-day mourning

A

S E V E N - D A Y mourning has been declared in honour of

three journalists who died last Friday near Osu town along the Ilesa-Ibadan expressway.

They died when the vehicle they were travelling in somersaulted after the front tyre bursted.

Others sustained various degrees of injuries during the accident when they were returning from an official trip to Abuja.

The deceased were Olatunde Oluwanike (Federal Radio Corporation Nigeria, Ibadan); Adolphous Okonkwo (Champion newspaper) and KafayatOdunsi (NTA Tejuosho, Ikeja, Lagos).

The National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mohammed Garba, at a press conference in Osogbo, Osun State capital, yesterday, directed all the union councils across the country to observe the mourning period.

He also directed that condolence registers be opened in all state councils and chapels.

The Osun State government has also promised to pick up the medical bill of survivors.

It directed the management of the LadokeAkintola University Teaching Hospital (LAUTECH), Osogbo to give

• Osun picks bills of survivors From: AdesojiAdeniyi, Osogbo the survivors the best medical treatment on its bills.

Many Nigerians have continued to troop to LAUTECH where the victims of the auto crash are receiving treatment.

Some of the early callers included Osun Deputy Governor, Mrs. Grace LaoyeTomori; Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Sunday Akere; Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Mr. Adekunle Amos and the President, Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE),

Mr. Femi Adesina.

Adesina, who is also the Deputy Editor-in-Chief of The Sun titles, said the death of the three journalists was a great blow to the media family.

Governor RaufAregbesola described the incident as a huge loss.

In a condolence statement by the Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. SemiuOkanlawon, he described the incident as an incalculable loss to the media and the entire nation.

The statement reads: "The death of these men of the pen profession was a sorrowful

piece of news to me. The loss of three individuals was indeed terrifying and depressing.

"Even though they have gone, we should be confident to look back to the realisation that they did not pass through this earthly world in vain.

"They certainly left their names on the sand of time as ones who came, contributed their own widow's mite to the growth, progress and development of their father land.

Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, described the incident as devastating.

In a condolence message by his Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba, in

Okonkwo kicks against girl- child marriage

W

IFE of presiding Bishop of the R e d e e m e d Evangelical Mission (TREM), Bishop Peace Okonkwo, yesterday condemned the proposed girl- child marriage Bill.

She described it as unacceptable, urging the National Assembly to throw it out.

Okonkwo said girls below puberty age are still forming and should not be given out in marriage

By Wale Adepoju under any circumstance.

She spoke at TREM headquarters in Lagos during a free health screening.

The cleric argued that girls under 18 years are not fully developed and prepared to handle family responsibilities as wives.

She pegged the appropriate age for marriage at 21 and above when ladies would have received adequate education to

develop and face life challenges.

According to her: "This is a serious issue and I want the National Assembly to look at critically.

"I don't support girl child marriage and I don't think any Christian would. A child grows when she is 18 and above.

"For me I will allow my daughter to go to school and be educated because marriage is what you do for life."

Ilorin, the governor said, ``the death of the journalists while pursuing enhanced welfare for their colleagues has yet denied Nigeria their services.''

He said the late journalists were ``vibrant Nigerians who could have made meaningful contributions to the national process of promoting freedom of speech and democratic values in the country through the pen.''

The governor noted that their deaths has again brought to the front burner the issue of insurance policies for working journalists in view of the hazardous nature of their profession.

He urged employers of journalists to take a cue from the Kwara State Government and insure all journalists in their employment.

He added that the government did the insurance irrespective of the journalists' states of origin or the nature of their employment.

Ogun State governor, IbikunleAmosun, described the fatal accident as lamentable.

In a press release by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, MrsFunmiWakama, Amosun commiserated with families of the victims and the media community in Nigeria.

The governor prayed to God to grant the injured speedy recovery and the deceased eternal rest.

6

News

Four kids killed in building collapse From: Ahmed Rufa’I, Dutse

F

OUR children died on the spot at the weekend while another one was injured at Danzomo village in SuleTankarkar local government of Jigawa State when a building collapsed.

The collapse, it was gathered, was recorded around 8pm last Friday when the children went to play in neighbourhood houses without the knowledge of their parents.

A heavy downpour hours before the incident weakened the building before it finally collapsed on the children.

The deceased were Abdullahi Abdu (6), Bashir Abdullahi(3), Maimuna Mansur (4) and Kabiru Yasir(6).

JabiruYasir was fortunate to escape with severe injuries.

Confirming the incident, the State Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO), DSP Abdul Jinjiri, said the four children died instantly at the scene while Yasir was rushed to the hospital with serious injuries.

The council’s Information Officer, Malam Magaji Muhammed, said the victims belonged to three different families while the deceased have already been buried in accordance with Islamic rites.

He said dignitaries at the funeral prayers included the council’s boss, Alhaji Muhammad Mujtapha; the district head of the area, Alhaji Musbahu Muhammad (Sarkin Fulanin Gumel) and Police Divisional Officer, ASP Alhassan Kawu Gezawa.

Ex- commercial bike operator commits suicide

From: Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

A

former commercial motorcyclist, Ali Hamisu, yesterday committed suicide in Kano following the hardship trailing the recent ban on commercial motorbikes by Kano State.

Hamisu, who resided at Jaen LayinMakera at the outskirts of Kano metropolis, reportedly killed himself when he failed to secure an alternative means of livelihood.

Kano State recently imposed the ban to tackle the violent attacks by alleged commercial motorcycle operators.

Most commercial motorcyclists in the ancient city had relocated to neighbouring Katsina, Jigawa and Kaduna to resume operations.

A family member of the deceased, Alhaji YakubuHamisu, disclosed that his late brother depended solely on proceeds from his ‘achaba’ business for survival before the sudden ban by the state government, which left him devastated.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 4, 2013

15 Boys Brigade members crushed to death

N

O fewer than 15 youths ofBarkinLadi local government area in Plateau State are feared dead after a vehicle lost control and ran into them during a roadside exercise in the early hours of yesterday.

The accident, which occurred around 6:30am, was the worst in the locality in a decade.

Chairman, management committee of the council, Hon. Emmanuel Loman, who confirmed the incident, said most of the youths were mem-

From: Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

bers of the Boys Brigade observing their regular physical exercise.

He said: “Fifteen of the youth died while several of them have fractures and are being attended to at government hospital in the locality.”

An eyewitness, Hon TiganaYakal, said the youths involved in the accident were those of Tudun Mazat, Rop district of BarkinLadi local government numbering over

40.

He said they were jugging along the road when the incident occurred.

The routine exercise, Yakal explained, turned bloody when the vehicle loaded with bags of corn crushed them to death.

It was learnt a woman suspected to be the owner of the goods and the driver of the vehicle, who sustained no injuries, escaped to the bush.

Fourteen of the victims were said to have died instantly while another one died at the General Hospital

BarkinLadi, where they were rushed to.

Enraged youths in the community blocked the highway and set the vehicle ablaze after evacuating the mutilated bodies.

The Commissioner of Health, Dr Pam Dakwak, has ordered for the relocation of the injured youths to Plateau Specialist Hospital, Jos for better medical attention.

Sources said the deceased might be given mass burial since they are from the same village.

Yobe JTF decorates promoted officers From Duku Joel, Damaturu

F

OURTEEN officers of the Nigerian Army under the Joint Security Task Force in Yobe State were yesterday decorated with their new ranks in Damaturu, the state capital.

The event, which took place at the headquarters of the JTF, was attended by the Deputy Governor, Engr.

AbubakarAliyu, the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Isa Bello Damchua and other security chiefs in the State.

Aliyu, who represented Governor Ibrahim Gaidam, described the promotion as “hard-earned through hard work and discipline.”

He called on the officers to be patient with the people in their operation.

Commander of the JTF in the state and the Commanding Officer 241 RECCE Batallion, Nguru, Col. Ibrahim Ali, charged the newly promoted officers to consider their promotion as a challenge for higher responsibilities in the operations.

He noted that the promotion will boost their morale in the operation of the fight against terrorism in the state, expressing delight for having such a huge number of officers promoted under him.

Men hold couples’ dinner

•Executive Secretary, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Dr Abdulraman Sambo (L) with the Acting Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Otunba Jide Adebayo, during the visit of the Secretary to the Agency in Abuja…yesterday

‘ASUU cannot invalidate Post-UTME’

T

HE Academic Staff Union Of Universities (ASUU)has no power to invalidate the Post Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (Post-UTME) conducted by any institution, the Deputy Vice Chancellor(Academics) of the Federal University Technology (FUT), Minna, Professor Abdullahi Bala, has declared.

Bala was reacting to threats

by ASUU not to recognise the outcome of the Post-UTME being conducted in various universities due to its fourweek old strike.

ASUU argued that conducting an examination is the duty of academic staff, warning students not to sit for the tests.

But Bala dismissed the threat, saying the conduct of Post- UTME is the exclusive responsibility of the office of the Vice Chancellor, not ASUU. Arguing that Vice Chancellors are the chief admission officers of their

From: Jide Orintunsin, Minna

institutions, Bala explained that Post-UTME candidates are not yet consideredbonafide students of any university.

He insisted ASUU can only lay claim to students that have already been admitted.

Justifying the 2-day conduct of Post-UTME test for over 4,000 prospective candidates of FUT at GidanKwano campus in Minna, the DVC told reporters the management of the university recognises and appreciates ASUU’s plight in the

on-going strike.

He however warned that the body should not go beyond its limit, stressing that admission is purely an administrative matter.

Bala disclosed that for successful conduct of the test in the institution, a committee of senior staff, who are not expected to join the industrial action, was set up for the exercise while non-academic staff supervised it.

The DVC assured the candidates not to exercise fears over ASUU threats, saying the

examination being conducted has not fallen short of any law capable of leading to its cancellation or invalidation.

The Academic Staff Union of the institution had threatened not to recognise the candidates if the authority went ahead with the exercise, which kicked off last Friday.

Over 4,000 candidates are undergoing screening at the university under the supervision of non- academic staff.

The exercise ends on Tuesday.

T

HE Excellent Men’s Fellowship of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Soul Winner’s Cathedral, Lagos Province 32 has concluded plans to hold a couples’ dinner.

The theme of the dinner, which holds at Golden Tulip hotel Festac, Lagos on 31st August by 5pm, is “conflict resolution in marriages and good parenting”.

Rev. Mike Babatunde is the guest minister.

The chairman of the fellowship, Bro ChigozieOkwuosa, said: “The couple’s dinner is conceived for married people to meet in a convivial atmosphere to unwind, interact and relax in the presence of God.”

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 4, 2013

Yoruba obas dissociate selves from Fasehun, Al’ Mustapha romance

Y

ORUBA obas have dissociated themselves from the controversial romance between the founder of Odua People’s Congress (OPC), Fredrick Fasehun and the recently acquitted Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, the former Chief Security Officer to the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha.

The monarchs described the development as an issue the obas in Yorubaland should not be dragged into.

Fasehun, it would be recalled, accompanied the former CSO to his residence in Kano State after his acquittal by the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal, which set aside the earlier judgement of the lower court which sentenced him to death for the murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola.

The development has generated controversies among the Yorubas, some of whom felt the murder of Kudirat Abiola in 1996 was allegedly masterminded by AlMustapha.

But the Yoruba Obas Conflict Resolution Committee yesterday told journalists in Ibadan after the meeting of its sub-committee that the issue was political and would not want to be involved.

The paramount ruler of Ugboland, Oba Fredrick Akinruntan, who briefed the journalists on the outcome of the meeting of the sub-committee, disclosed that the conflict resolution efforts had started to yield positive results with some of the hitherto non-commital obas now showing interest and concern.

The monarch recalled that the cardinal programme of the committee was to ensure that the obas speak with one voice without which the issue of marginalisation being currently suffered by the Yorubas at the federal level could not be properly addressed.

To ensure the realisation of its set objectives of unity among Yoruba obas, the Olugbo of Ugbo Kingdom disclosed that his committee will soon embark on visits to all the obas in the South-West geo-political zone to brief them of its activities and solicit for their unerstanding and cooperation.

Olugbo, who is the chairman of the committee, said, “We are convinced of achieving our set objective of ensuring the desired unity among the obas in Yorubaland and when we are set to move round, we are sure of very warm reception and positive disposition to our cause.”

News

Intrigues as Ondo, Bayelsa battle for NDDC top job I N

Customs impounds N1.3b goods

NTENSE lobbying has begun over which state will produce the next Executive Director (Projects) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), The Nation has learnt.

The plum job, it was gathered, has been zoned to Ondo and Bayelsa states.

Sources disclosed President Goodluck Jonathan is currently in a dilemma on which of the two states will produce the next Executive Director of Projects (ED/P) of the NDDC. The Nation further gathered that Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, has recommended a retired director of the commission, Mr. Benson Obayelu, for the position, while his Bayelsa State counterpart, Seriake Dickson, has nominated a younger brother of former governor of the state for the plum job.

Mimiko has also forwarded the names of the current state representative on the board, Dele Citizen Omogbemi, and former NBA Chairman, Okitipupa zone, Barrister Amuwa Benson, as the state representative on the new board to the Presidency for consideration out of which one of the nominees’ names will be sent to the National Assembly for ratification.

The source said, “President Jonathan is under serious pressure to appoint an indigene of Bayelsa State as the next ED/P of NDDC and preferably the younger brother of a former governor of his home state.

Other sources said Jonathan may have decided to

From Adewinle Adegoke, Akure

pacify the loser state with the position of Executive Director, Finance and Administration (EDFA) of the commission, while the chairman of the new Board may come from Cross River State based on the statutory alphabetical arrangement

for the appointments of the Chairman of the board among the oil producing states.

“Ordinarily, if the president wants to follow the list of the appointments of past board members and their positions, the new ED/P should have come from Ondo State, because Bayelsa State has produced the

F

former MD, Chairman and EDFA of the commission in the past,” a source said.

For the nominee from Rivers State, sources said some forces within and outside the state are putting pressure on Jonathan not to accept any nominee of the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi.

This development may not be unconnected with the current face-off between the governor and the Presidency.

•L-R: The best student from batch 12, Miss Williams Oladunni, Senator Gbenga Ashafa (Lagos East) and the best student from batch 11, Miss Ogunnowo Adebusayo, during the graduation ceremony of Senator Gbenga Ashafa Information Communication Technology (ICT) Programme... at the weekend.

PHOTO: MUYIWA HASSAN

Mysterious fire razes community school in Imo

T

HE people of Atta community in Njaba Council Area of Imo state are currently counting their losses following a midnight fire that gutted their only secondary school, the Comprehensive Secondary School Atta.

According to one of the senior teachers in the school, Mrs. Emelda Nwadike, the mysterious fire completely razed the administrative building of the school and destroyed all vital documents that were kept in the principal’s office since the inception

From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

of the school, more than 50 years ago.

Nwadike who spoke amidst tears, lamented that, “we are really helpless. Right now the teachers are stranded with no place to stay while the remaining buildings are so dilapidated that it will be suicidal to ask any student to go there and study”.

Also destroyed by the inferno were the school laboratory and library with all the books and computers.

The school apart from being the only school in the community has suffered years of neglect and abandonment before the recent fire outbreak.

Speaking after a tour of the school that has been reduced to ruins, the traditional ruler of the community, Eze Edwin Azike, described the incident as a painful loss that would send the community backwards if the government did not intervene and rebuild the destroyed buildings and properties before the next resumption date.

The traditional ruler who condemned the incident in strong terms, appealed to Governor Rochas Okorocha, “to demonstrate to the world that his love for education is not a fluke,” lamenting that the loss was beyond what the community could bear.

Also speaking, President of the Onward Brothers, Atta a socio-cultural group, Chief Christian Ohaga, noted that, “apart from rebuilding the destroyed buildings, the state government needs to upgrade the school to a tertiary status.”

said he was set up by the police. ‘’My husband was arrested and detained at Central Police Squad, Onitsha, and when the commissioner of police was petitioned he was moved to Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Awkuzu. My husband is being detained in a very dehumanising condition at SARS Awkuzu, and the police have

denied him access to his lawyer and relations. ‘’My husband’s hotel at No 8 Old Market Road, Onitsha, which he inherited from his father Chief G.C Mokwe have been demolished.’’

She also alleged that the government threatened to demolish his plaza at OseOkwodu and other properties belonging to him and his family and confiscate all his assets.

Miffed by what she described as orchestrated plans in some quarters to apply extra-judicial measures against his husband, the distraught Mrs. Mokwe appealed for intervention of the presidency and the senate to stop the mob from applying jungle justice on his husband.

She further alleged that the masterminds of her husband’s arrest got approval of their petition and arranged and smuggled in two rusty objects which the police claimed were human skulls and arms in one of the commercial rooms in the hotel on or before the arrival of the police.

Recovered human heads: Hotelier’s wife fear for hubby’s safety

M

RS Nkiru Mokwe, wife of Chief Bonaventure Mokwe, the proprietor of Upper Class Hotel, Onitsha, demolished over the weekend

by Governor Peter Obi-led government for allegedly harbouring two fresh human heads, yesterday expressed concern over the safety of her husband.

From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Onitsha

Speaking to newsmen, Mrs Mokwe, a lawyer appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan and Senate President, David Mark to intervene and ensure her husband is not murdered extra-judiciously.

Mrs. Mokwe who insisted on her husband’s innocence

N75m fraud rocks Ondo Signage Agency

OUR officials of the Ondo State Signage Agency may soon be guests of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over their alleged involvement in a fraud worth N75m.

Sources said the state governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, has constituted a three-man committee to investigate the alleged fraud.

The disputed amount was generated by the agency on advertisement between 2010 and February 2013.

The officials allegedly in-

7

From Adewinle Adegoke, Akure

volved in the fraud were said to have diverted the money into their personal accounts contrary to the rules of the agency.

Government sources said fifty-seven million naira out of the missing money was generated from placement of advertisements on billboards in different parts of the state by political parties, corporate organisations, private institutions, schools, religious organisations and telecommunication operators.

The sources hinted that the immediate past chairman of the agency, Mr. Kolawole Olabisi, may be invited by the panel to give a detailed account of money generated by the agency during his tenure and the total amount left in the agency’s account after his exit.

Members of the panel, the sources claimed, were unhappy over the deliberate refusal of the alleged officials to report at their new places of assignments three months after their postings to other ministries and

parastatals in the state.

The discovery of the fraud followed anonymous petitions sent to the governor by some staff of the agency over the alleged diversion and mismanagement of the agency’s internally generated revenue by the officials.

Meanwhile, the panel has employed the services of some financial experts from the offices of the Accountant General and Auditor General of the State to audit the agency’s accounts as part of its resolve to get to the root of the matter.

From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

IGERIA Customs Service yesterday in Onitsha said it has recorded 76 seizures of contraband goods worth over N1.3billion in the South-East and South-South in the last six months.

Comptroller-General of Customs, Alhaji Inde Dikko Abdullahi disclosed this in a statement in Onitsha signed by the FOU zone ‘C’ Public Relations Officer, Ify Onuigbo.

Abdullahi who spoke through the Area Controller, Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘C’ Owerri FOU Zone ‘C’, DC Dimka, said they made 18 arrests with 17 cases in court between January and June, 2013.

He said the feat was possible because of crack team of proactive officers with community-customs relationship in intelligence gathering even as he said Customs is suppressing smuggling activities in the zone. ‘’Barely a week after assumption of office in February 2013, DC Dimka as the Controller of the unit, the zone recorded eight seizures with duty paid value of over N164 million. No customs officer worth his salt can afford to relent until smuggling is reduced to its barest minimum,” he said, adding that his mandate in the zone is to personally declare onslaught against the canker worm called smuggling which he said has caused havoc to the economy of this nation. In March 2013, the team impounded twenty-one (21) seizures worth over N226.5million. This was against N10.3million recorded same month in 2012. ‘’

‘How to resolve boundary disputes in oil communities’ From Adewinle Adegoke, Akure

O

IL producing communities in Ondo State have called on the Federal Government and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources to, as a matter of urgency, publish the names of oil wells and their owner states in the Niger Delta region.

The Chairman of the Association of Ilaje Central Oil Producing Communities (ASICOPIC), Prince Temitope Olowofoyekun gave this advice while speaking to journalists at Igbokoda over the weekend.

To resolve boundary disputes and oil crisis in the Niger Delta region, Olowofeyekun urged Federal Government to review and implement the report of the boundary adjustment committee without any delay.

Olowofoyekun said the Federal Government, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) should also publish the names of the oil wells and fields in the region, their locations and owner states with a view to resolving all pending boundary disputes.

He lamented that many oil wells located within the territories of Ondo State have been wrongly allocated to Edo and Delta States.

He berated the Federal Government for playing politics with the ownership of Agbami oil field, which according to him, is located in the deep sea of Ondo State.

8

Preserve our culture, council boss tells traditional rulers From: Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

T

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 4, 2013

News

HE paramount ruler of Okpe Kingdom, Oba Okhishimede Eshimokhai, and the people have been urged to preserve the rich heritage handed down by their forefathers.

Chairman, Akoko-Edo Local Government Area, Mr. Folorunsho Joseph Akerejola, gave the charge weekend at Okpe, during their new yam festival that had prominent Edo people in attendance.

Akerejola noted with dismay that our people have become too westernised and therefore allow our culture to be contaminated with foreign cultures that are inimical and strange to our people thereby making many to derail from what we are known for in Africa.

According to him, “since culture is a belief and widely accepted to be a way of people’s life, I therefore urge you, your royal majesty and your faithful subjects to work assiduously to protect and preserve our rich heritage, culture handed down by the forefathers.”

Responding, the monarch said the new yam festival is very significant and it is a way of saying thank you to God almighty for the new season.

Obas dissociate selves from Fasehun, Al-Mustapha’s romance

Y

ORUBA traditional rulers have dissociated themselves from the controversial romance between the founder of Odua People’s Congress (OPC), Fredrick Fasehun and the recently acquitted Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, the former Chief Security Officer to the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha.

The monarchs described the development as an issue the Obas in Yorubaland should not be dragged into.

Fasehun, it would be recalled, accompanied the former CSO to his residence in Kano State after his acquittal by the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal, which set aside the earlier judgement of the lower court which sentenced him to death for the murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola.

The development has generated controversies among the Yorubas, some of whom felt the murder of Kudirat Abiola in 1996 was allegedly masterminded by AlMustapha.

But the Yoruba Obas Conflict Resolution Committee yesterday told journalists in Ibadan after the meeting of its sub-committee that the issue was political and would not want to be involved.

The paramount ruler of Ugboland, Oba Fredrick Akinruntan, who briefed the

journalists on the outcome of the meeting of the sub-committee, disclosed that the conflict resolution efforts had started to yield positive results with some of the hitherto noncommital Obas now showing interest and concern.

The monarch recalled that the cardinal programme of the committee was to ensure that the Obas speak with one voice without which the issue of marginalisation being currently suffered by the Yorubas at the federal level could not

be properly addressed.

To ensure the realisation of its set objectives of unity among Yoruba Obas, the Olugbo of Ugbo kingdom disclosed that his committee would soon embark on visits to all the Obas in the South-

West geo-political zone to brief them of its activities and solicit for their unerstanding and cooperation.

Olugbo, who is the Chairman of the committee said, “We are convinced of achieving our set objective of ensuring the desired unity among the Obas in Yorubaland and when we are set to move round, we are sure of very warm reception and positive disposition to our cause.”

From Damisi Ojo, Leke Salaudeen and Tayo Johnson

expressed concern over the possibility of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducting a free and fair election in 2015.

Adekanmbi urged Nigerians to see the newly-registered All Progressives Congress (APC) as the only option to save the nation’s democracy from what he called “the sinking ship” of the Peoples Democratic Party-(PDP) led government.

Also, Dr. Ayo Lam Adesina, son of the former governor of Oyo State, late Alhaji Lamidi Adesina and a chieftain of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the state, Mr. Niyi Adeagbo, have lauded the leaders of the

All Progressives Congress (APC) for their perseverance and doggedness in achieving the registration of the party.

Adesina also praised the INEC under the leadership of Professor Attahiru Jega for following strictly the provision of the law while considering the application of the party for registration, urging the commission to continue along the same line in conducting future elections.

In his statement, Adegbo noted that the change Nigerians are yearning for is finally here, adding, “The birth of APC has finally given us the hope and dreams of a great Nigeria that we have all been yearning for.”

‘APC registration, victory for democracy’

A

political pressure group, Bola Ilori Solidarity Forum (BISF), has described the registration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as historic.

In a statement issued by the group and signed by its Coordinator, Akinrolabu Raphael; Secretary General, Oladipo Bamidele and Public Relations Officer (PRO), the group noted that the birth of the mega party would give the people of Ondo State the chance to feel the impact of good governance.

The Forum added that the new party would be a virile platform to rescue the nation from its present political doldrums.

Also, the lawmaker repre-

senting Akure North/South in the House of Representatives, Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde, an Akure-based activist, Charles Titiloye and an ACN youth leader, Adegboyega Adefarati, have lauded the registration of APC. Abegunde described the development as a victory for democracy, stressing that the development was the birth of a new dawn in thenation’s polity.

Meanwhile, a chieftain of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Ondo State, Prince Femi Adekanmbi, has

RAMADAN GUIDE WITH FEMI ABBAS

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

A

Zakatul Fitr

NNUALLY, especially, in the month of Ramadan, Muslims are fond of talking about Zakah. To many of them, Zakah is Zakah. Hardly do they know the difference between Zakatul Fitr otherwise called Sadaqatul Fitr and Zakatul Mal. The former is the token alms paid by every fasting Muslim to purify his or her fast in the sacred month. The latter is the annual compulsory annual alms paid on wealth, by the rich to the poor.

Zakatul Fitr is a flat rate, which makes no difference between the rich and the poor. Its measurement is four ‘Muddu’ of grains. A ‘Muddu’ contains the quantity of grains that can fill three the size of milk can. The grains to be given out as Zakatul Fitr include: rice, corn, millet, beans, soya beans and the likes. However, by deduction, some scholars are of the opinion that popular staple foods like ‘gari’ and ‘semolina’ can also be given out as Zakatul Fitr.

Besides, the measurement to be given out can be valued in currency and given out as such. The purpose of this is to enable the beneficiary have a choice.

If only grains are given, the beneficiary may not be able to afford the needed amount with which to turn them into edible food. And, the real aim of Zakatul Fitr is to create a festive mood for everybody within the Muslim community. Unlike Zakatul Mal, Zakatul Fitr is to be given out not by fasting Muslims alone but by every other Muslim even if he\she does not fast. It is a Zakat given by both the adult and the minor.

The head of the family is to be responsible for the other members of his family in the payment of Zakatul Fitr. For each member of his family, four ‘Muddu’ or its equivalent in money is to be given out as Zakatul Fitr.

Generally, Zakatul Fitr is given to the poor and the needy who can hardly afford three square meals daily. It may also be given to a trusted Imam or Muslim scholar for onward distribution to the poor and the needy since he is in a position to know them.

Zakatul Fitr is not meant for the consumption of any Imam who is also liable to disbursing such alms from his personal pocket.

And whoever is a giver of Zakah cannot be a recipient. The best time to disburse Zakatul Fitr is either a day before Eidul Fitr or early morning of Eidul Fitr. It should not be delayed till after Eidul Fitr Salat.

Zakatul Fitr is a traditional obligation especially for fasting Muslims. Whoever is unable to pay it at the specified time must regard it as a debt which must be settled at a later date.

The fact that one has disbursed Zakatul Fitr does not stop him from giving voluntary charity (Sadaqah) to the poor and the needy.

Allah is the Creator of the givers and the receivers of alms. If it pleased Him, He could have reversed the condition of both.

Some people choose the month of Ramadan to disburse their normal annual Zakatul Mal (annual tax). Under these are other types of Zakah like Zakah of money, of animals, of farm products and of minerals. The details of these may be discussed in this column very soon in sha’Allah.

•L-R: The CEO, BAGCO Manufacturing Company, Sir Abiodun Ogunkoya, with the Managing Director, Punch Newspapers Ltd., Mr. Demola Osinubi, at a reception of Methodist Church Nigeria Conference Award, Lagos...recently

You can’t remove us, deposed Ondo chiefs tell monarch

T

HREE deposed Chiefs in Mahin Kingdom in Ilaje Local Government area of Ondo State have faulted their purported depositions by the Chairman of the Traditional Rulers of Oil Producing Communities in Nigeria (TROPCON) and the Amapetu of Mahin Kingdom, Oba Lawrence Omowole.

The deposed chiefs are the Oloja of Kofawe, Chief Juwon Shemudara; the Baale of Lerenren, Chief Charles Kehinde Temetan and the Baale of Agbeni, Chief Estrome Agbeni.

The Amapetu in letters he personally signed and sent to the chiefs, he accused them of insubordination and failure to attend meetings of Mahin Council of Chiefs.

But the chiefs, who spoke to newsmen at Mahin over the weekend, said they remain the prescribed authorities of their respective communities and advised the Amapetu to steer clear of

From Adewinle Adegoke, Akure

their territories in the interest of peace.

They said the action of the Amapetu to depose them contradicts the tradition and customs of Mahin Kingdom and Ondo State Chieftaincy Laws, adding that they would soon institute legal action against the monarch.

They also pointed accusing fingers at the state Commissioner for Environment, Chief Sola Ebiseni, who hails from the area as the brain behind their ordeal.

The chiefs explained that their purported deposition is a calculated attempt by the monarch and his cohorts to distract and frustrate them from pursuing the allegation of a murder case against the Olu of Igbokoda, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo, and some other unnamed suspects over the gruesome killing of Prince Lebi Titilayo by people suspected to be palace guards of the Olu of

Igbokoda early this year.

The Olu of Igbokoda had earlier been questioned by the police over the death of Prince Lebi following a petition written to the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, by Chief Juwon Shemudara.

Oba Odidiomo, however, denied killing or sponsoring people to kill the deceased, describing his ordeal as a setup.

Narrating his ordeal, Chief Juwon Shemudara, a legal practitioner, said his curiosity to know why the Amapetu allegedly sold part of his land at Kofawe to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs at the cost of N93m without his consent upon which he was convicted by the Chief Magistrate Court at Okitipupa in 2011. The conviction, he added, was later quashed by a higher court.

Shemudara said he later petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over what he de-

scribed as the fraudulent sales and conversion of his land, which according to him was given to him by the Mahin community in appreciation of his selfless and legal services for the Kingdom for over two decades.

Shemudara stated that his position as the counsel to the slain Prince Lebi’s family and the support of the Baale of Agbeni, Chief Estrome, who also doubles as the head of the family and their determination to pursue the case to a logical conclusion brought about their predicaments.

The chiefs said the Amapetu and the Olu of Igbokoda had allegedly been mounting pressure on them to withdraw from the case to enable the Olu of Igbokoda and other suspects be left off the hook.

Also speaking, the Baale of Agbeni Chief Estrome Agbeni, who is a son-in-law to the Amapetu, said his purported deposition came to him as a surprise and shock.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 4, 2013

9

10

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 4, 2013

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 4, 2013

11

12

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 4, 2013

COMMENT and ANALYSIS

13

SUNDAY, AUGUST 4, 2013

Talakawa Liberation Herald (24)

BY BIODUN JEYIFO

T

HE dictatorship of corruption and mediocrity that I discussed at length in the lecture that I delivered at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs on Saturday, July 13, 2013 and that was serialised in this column in the course of the last three weeks [TLH 21, 22 and 23] is the root cause of some of the worst problems and crises that our country faces at the present time.

These include but are not limited to vast disparities of incomes and opportunities between the wealthy few and the teeming majority of the populace; insecurities of life, property and personal possessions for everyone, rich and poor alike; unemployment and bleak prospects for the future for our youths including those among them who have high school and university education; and rising tides of state-sponsored and nonstatist violence. Yes, this undeclared dictatorship of corruption is the cause of untold daily hardship and suffering for millions in our country and for this reason, the very survival of the country is at stake and has been so almost since 1999, the year in which the present Fourth Republic came into existence.

Many pundits now openly talk of the possibility, if not the necessity or the inevitability, of the end of our present experiment in democratic governance in a violent bloodbath. As I remarked in the closing paragraph of my lecture at the NIIA, quite possibly, the Freedom of Information Act is the only remaining legal instrument that we have for making the revolution that is coming a peaceful one. In this short postscript to the lecture, I wish to address this particular issue, this suggestion that in the FoI, depending on how well and vigorously it is put to use, our country may yet be able to avert the resolution of the explosive contradictions and crises that now beset it in anarchy and carnage.

The opening shots in this scenario have already been fired and are reverberating in diverse areas of the country: Boko Haram; the emergence of ethnic militias; the escalation of rampaging and extortionate kidnappers in many areas of the country but especially in the Southeast and the South-south; state sponsored violence such as the one going on right now in Rivers State; and incessant bloody clashes between so-celled “indigenes” and “settlers” in some parts of the country. But we may yet pull back from the brink if we use the FoI vigorously and wisely.

Am I putting too much faith in the uses to which the FoI can be put by suggesting that if used tenaciously and astutely it may yet save the Nigerian Fourth Republic from being drowned in anarchy and bloodshed? I don’t think so. The underlying basis of this suggestion can be teased out of one particularly crucial but unelaborated theoretical point that I made in my lecture at the NIIA. This is the claim that with regard to the legal rationality that underpins the FoI Act of 2011, what we have is the idea that Nigeria is on the verge of transforming primitive accumulation of a very vicious kind into a modern, market-driven economy in which, in conjunction with cutthroat competition, there is a consistent adherence to the supremacy of the law. Now, in the lecture, I suggested that one reason why the Nigerian press and the media houses in general have been remarkably reticent in using the FoI so as to test how far it can go to considerably curb - if not eradicate - rampant, blatant and wasteful corruption, is the fact that they either have not thought of the FoI in terms of primitive accumulation or if they have, they

Will the FoI Act contribute to ending primitive accumulation in Nigeria?

Lekan Otufodunrin Otufodunrin@thenationonlineng.net 08050498530 (SMS only)

[Being a Postscript to TLH 21, 22 and 23] For students’ sake

T

•Logo of Nigerian Press Council

do not think that primitive accumulation is on the verge of being transcended in our country.

This is the crux of my central argument in this short postscript to my lecture and I ask the reader to please keep it in mind as I now move directly to its elaboration.

In strict historical terms, primitive accumulation belongs to the earliest phase of the evolution of laissez faire or free enterprise capitalism in which the market and its operations and forces and not the state - and not bands of robber barons - dominate the production and distribution of wealth. Also sometimes called “prior” or “original” accumulation, primitive accumulation was the stage in which the emerging wealthy classes and groups used the state and any means available to enrich and separate themselves from the working and non-working poor. In the perhaps most classic expressions of primitive accumulation, farmers and peasants were driven off the land by the so-called and aptly named “Enclosure Acts” that were enforced by the state and its agents. Without access to the land, the peasants perforce became wage workers because all they had was their labor power. The wealth or “accumulation” that resulted from this process was called “primitive” for two closely linked factors. One: the brutality in the way in which landless farmers were turned into wage workers. Two: the rates and levels of exploitation that then ensued once they became wage earners who had nothing to sell but their labor. Among hundreds of other works of prose fiction, essays and pamphlets written in the period, one has only to read Charles Dickens’ Hard Times to get a sense of how brutal, how “primitive” accumulation was at this stage of the evolution of capitalism. Indeed, inherent in the very notion of “primitive accumulation” is the contrary notion of the “civilising” of accumulation by making surplus extraction and appropriation

“Many pundits now openly talk of the possibility, if not the necessity or the inevitability, of the end of our present experiment in democratic governance in a violent bloodbath the Freedom of Information Act is the only remaining legal instrument that we have for making the revolution that is coming a peaceful one”

of wealth more humane, more liberal: from the introduction of shorter working days, improvement of safety standards in factories, recognition of rights to unionization by workers to the institution of the modern social-democratic or welfare state.

Against the backdrop of this historic account, what, in my lecture, I termed the dictatorship of corruption and mediocrity in our country at the present time is not merely a throwback to the early phase of the evolution of capitalism; it is in many respects a regression beyond that phase. Let us be very clear on this particular point: diverting or looting vast sums from our national coffers by our rulers and their cronies is causing great and terrible forms and levels of impoverishment and immiseration among the majority of the Nigerian peoples at the present time; and because what is looted now is not being converted into real wealth that can be equitably redistributed and made conducive to sustainable economic growth and development, it will also cause mass suffering and hardship in the future. This is because, first, it is so closely and necessarily tied to unimaginable levels of mediocrity and, secondly and more significantly, it has never been seriously challenged, never been held accountable. This is where the FoI comes into the framework of where the limits are located in “civilizing” the primitive accumulation that is choking vitality and survival itself out of our country’s collective bloodstream.

Think of the issue in terms of the following scenarios and questions, compatriots. In the oil subsidy mega-scam of 2011, the colossal sum of N2.58 trillion naira was looted.

This sum was more than half of the entire national budget for that year. The real and fake oil marketers to whom this sum was paid are known, together with how much each oil marketer was paid. But not a single kobo has been paid back to the national treasury. What is stopping all the trade unions, all the civil society organisations, all the professional associations of senior staff and all the organisations of market women and civic organisations acting together in a class action suit to invoke the FoI to force the government both to account for why half of the national budget was paid out in the mega-scam and why not Continued on page 18

HE ongoing strike by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU is yet another sad development in the education sector of the country. In recent years, universities have suffered one crisis or the other that has resulted in the declining quality of graduates.

Lack of adequate budget allocation and necessary facilities has turned many government universities to glorified secondary schools and it is no surprise that our institutions are not among the best even in the continent.

Disruption of the academic calendar for one reason or the other has become so frequent that students are no longer sure when they will graduate. A four-year course in some instances now last for six years or more.

Despite the increase in the numbers of private universities whose fees are not affordable by many parents, the federal and state universities have been unable to cope with the growing numbers of applicants. Some parents have resorted to sending their children to foreign universities abroad and neighbouring countries.

University teachers and other stakeholders have always drawn attention to the worsening situation with successive governments promising to address the situation. Past ASUU strikes have always been called off based on agreements which unfortunately have not been honoured by the government.

The current strike which the union claims is due to the non implementation of parts of the agreement signed in 2009 would have been avoided if the government had not reneged on its promise.

As it is, it is uncertain when the strike would be called off considering the apparent breakdown in negotiations between the government and union officials. For once, ASUU seems determined to ensure that the government makes concrete commitment this time around and is not leaving anyone in doubt that its members will stay away from the classrooms for as long as necessary to ensure that their demands are met.

For too long, the government has paid lip service to improving the education standards at all levels. Budgetary allocations at state and federal levels have been too low to match the needs of the sector which is very crucial to the overall development of the country.

If indeed the issue at stake is the annual release of N400bn for three years as intervention fund for public universities in the country is what is at stake in the strike which commenced on July 1, the government has to find a way of honouring the agreement even if it cannot release the whole amount as earlier agreed.

There is no doubt that the universities need the intervention funds to address a lot of various challenges that is making a mockery of the university education being offered in the country.

The infrastructures, in many of the universities are not only inadequate; some have become obsolete for the kind of education students need to meet the required standard for employment and other endeavours.

How do we justify the situation where some graduates cannot defend the certificates they supposedly acquired after years of study.

The decline in standard of teaching and research in universities is alarming and something urgent has to be done to reverse the slide.

However, for the sake of students who are the victims of the strike, ASUU must be a bit flexible in its negotiation. While insisting on its demands being met, it must be willing to shift grounds on some issues which may not be easily resolved in a hurry under the present situation.

The strike must not be allowed to last longer than necessary if we are not to further disrupt the academic calendar for 2012/2013 which is already behind schedule and has greater consequence for especially final year students.

14

I

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 4, 2013

Comment & Analysis

F I were to be a poet, there are two cities in Northern Nigeria that I would have written poems about. Poems that if they don’t possess the quality, international influence and reputation of Ibadan, J.P. Clark’s immortal and iconic poem about Ibadan city in Western Nigeria, I would have at least been able to make my attachment to the two cities known.

Well, since I am not a poet and can no longer find myself writing poetry, or something as elevating as to be called one, I am going to reminiscence and pay my tributes to these two cities in the best way I can. The two cities in question are Jos and Kano. As I am always proud and quick to tell anyone who cares to listen: I was born and bred in Jos, Plateau State and had my adult and tertiary education in Kano.

Jos is the lovely city of my childhood where I grew and made friends across all boundaries – religious, ethnic, nationality etc- while Kano is the city of my adulthood.

For those who may have read my book, Home Away From Home: History of Ogbomoso People in Jos, in that book I paid glowing obeisance to the city of my birth and the good people made that city to be home to all. It was there that I formed my views and opinions about the world.

I’ll not write much about Jos here as my opinion is already captured in that book.

This piece is about Kano. In the eighties, I found myself heading to that city after working as a freelance reporter in Jos for about four years. Going to Kano was for me another level of education and getting to see further what the northern part of the country was like. Note the word ‘was.’

Schooling there was fun and exciting; life was easy going and there was no fear of any harassment or intimidation. I fondly remember that we had many students who came from the southern part, especially from Lagos and Ondo states, to join us as students. It was their first time of journeying that far to the north and most of them confessed that they loved it.

Those ones saw most of us who grew up in the north as their chaperones and

Kano! oh, my dear Kano “When you look at a city, it’s like reading the hopes, aspirations and pride of everyone who built it.” Hugh Newell Jacobsen

By Olayinka Oyegbile

pathfinders. As students we always looked forward to weekends to leave the campus for the Sabon Gari area of the town.

Here we were free to have our fun and we went from one drinking and fun spot to the other rollicking. It was here that our colleagues who were from the south always felt nostalgic. We met countless numbers of Igbo, Yoruba, Urhobo, Ijaw and other southern ethnic groups. Kano was no doubt a home away from home. We never thought ourselves to be strangers.

It was in Sabon Gari that we met an elderly Igbo man who we all regarded as our father. He used to run a shop which we, as students, called ‘one stop stall’; the reason was that there was virtually nothing you were looking for that you would not get there. Papa, as we used to call him, was a mobile encyclopaedia, if not of the history of Kano, at least of that of Sabon Gari. When he knew we were students he was elated and anytime we went to his shop he was always ready to tell us the history of Kano as he knew it.

He would regale us with the history of

the civil war and how he survived the period of the war in the city without running to the east when almost all Igbo and other ethnic groups from that part of the country fled home. He told us of how his friend one Mallam Hassan ( I hope I remember the name correctly) saved his life by hiding him in his house and manning his own shop throughout the three years the civil war lasted. Every night Mallam Hassan came back home and rendered account of his sales to him without flinching a kobo off him. He instilled in us the resilience and love of the human spirit over fear, crises and turbulence. Emphasising that no one is bad because of his origin but by upbringing and choice. According to Papa, who then should be in his late seventies, the fact that he was Igbo was purely a choice by God which he as a human had no place in determining. He surely must be dead by now. This was over twenty five years ago.

Kano was home and no one ever thought we were going to have to feel threatened anywhere one resided. Sabon Gari was the veritable watering hole for

Why do we feel it is safer to send our wards to far-flung places in the Antarctica, Asia and even unknown and uncharted territories in the Americas and far Europe than anywhere in our country?

all ethnic groups. As many who have ever visited the core north knows, selling and drinking of alcohol is restricted in most parts of the old cities. However, Sabon Gari is a land free from those laws and because the university is located in the area of the city where alcohol is restricted those of us who felt the need of escaping the stifling environment at the weekend always journey there to have our fill.

This was not restricted to only southerners; I know many of our northern colleagues who during the week observe the strict code of abstaining from alcohol but who we all at the weekend meet at Iya Sikira or Okoro’s bar in Sabon Gari!

Some of the victims of Tuesday’s orgy of violence in Kano could have been any of us. Who would have thought that some blood sucking individuals would dream up such a devilish act to take other people’s lives? They could have been students like us. The devil has taken over and we no longer feel safe in our country.

Will any parent ever feel confident to send their wards to the north again to study?

I recently took a peek at the admission list of some universities across the country and what I saw was not encouraging.

Many applicants from the south are no longer keen in applying for admission anywhere in the north while some from the north too are afraid to cross to the south. Is this how to unify a country and educate our kids? Why do we feel it is safer to send our wards to far-flung places in the Antarctica, Asia and even unknown and uncharted territories in the Americas and far Europe than anywhere in our country?

How can we restore confidence in our country and begin to live and relate with one another as human beings? When will this bloodletting stop? Who will stop it?

When will Kano return to its past glory?

Kano, oh my dear Kano.

Comment & Analysis

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 4, 2013

15

Triumph of federalism We commend Supreme Court’s judgment on tourism control

F

OR six long, awful years, the Federal Government instituted and pursued a lost protracted legal battle against the Lagos State government over the proprietary of tourism control within the state. The futility of the exercise was exemplified by a recent Supreme Court unanimous lead judgment read by Galadima JSC. Through that epochal judgment, it has become obvious, that the Federal Government has no power of control over tourism activities outside federal jurisdictions.

Henceforth, the apex court declared that it is only state governments that can exercise control over licensing or grading of hotels, restaurants and fast food outlets in the country.

And that the Houses of Assembly can validly make laws on tourism.

The Attorney-General of the Federation, in the suit filed against the Lagos State government questioned the effrontery of the latter to challenge its control of tourism affairs, through the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), in the state's jurisdiction. But the learned justices of the apex court in their wisdom decided that the Constitution only empowers the National Assembly latitude to regulate tourist traffic: A term deemed in the esteemed view of the respected court to exclude hotel registration or licensing. In another concurrent suit on the same subject challenging the proprietary of the Hotel Licensing Law of Lagos State and the Hotel Occupancy and Restaurant Consumption Law made by Lagos State House of Assembly that was consolidated for appellate hearing with the former case, the apex court declared both laws validly enacted. The court went ahead to declare as null and void the offending sections in the NTDC Act.

T

HE above quote clearly pictures the on-going historic infrastructural revolution in Ogun which many eminent Nigerians have described as ‘phenomenal’, saying, ‘it is such that has not happened anywhere in the country.’

Many residents of the Gateway State, as Ogun is known, are fast becoming the biblical Philip who confidently told his friend, Nathaniel, ‘come and meet my Jesus.’

It is true that the thirtyseven-year-old state is among the famous in Nigeria but sad to note that it

S

IR, It is clear that none of the thieving political dinosaurs and neophytes alike parading themselves as leaders in this country can fix Nigeria. They are nothing more than brigands! Every time the opportunity comes to effect the desirable changes, they continue to leave the country worse off that they met it. And those who had the opportunity to serve more than once only succeeded in failing to effect the requisite changes conditioned by their previous woeful showing. Nigeria remains an open wound ut-

The judement has gone far in calming frayed nerves resulting from several years of muscle flexing by the warring parties. While the avoidable squabble lasted, the NTDC, relying usually on federal might, flagrantly established parallel registration and regulation structures to that of the Lagos State government. This created a situation of multiplicity of taxation to the chagrin of stakeholders in the tourism industry. The final resolution of the issue definitely has come with a cost since the Lagos State government reportedly claimed to have lost to the Federal Government over N4.5 billion in revenue from over 3,000 hotels that would have accrued to her from hotel licensing in the last six years. The state government can heave a sigh of relief now that the apex court's judgment has given it unfettered control over the state's hospitality industry. The era of harassments from NTDC, a federal agency, has finally been put paid to by that landmark judgment.

We desire more of such illuminating judgment that typifies what true federalism should be. The country constitutionally has a federal structure in place. But in practice, the Federal Government seems to derive unflinching pleasure in treating the component states as

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

•Editor Festus Eriye •Deputy Editor Olayinka Oyegbile •Associate Editors Taiwo Ogundipe Sam Egburonu

•Managing Director/ Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh •Chairman, Editorial Board Sam Omatseye •General Editor Adekunle Ade-Adeleye

appendages with no minds of their own. That should not be. The 1999 constitution (as amended) clearly spells out in the Exclusive Legislative List, areas in which the Federal Government has exclusively wholesome powers to preside over. It is a thing of joy that the apex court has clearly stated that on the issue of hospitality businesses, the Federal Government, or its assigned agencies can no longer encroach on state governments’ powers.

There are several items on the Exclusive Legislative List that are begging for attention of the government at the centre. Power, police affairs and prisons management, among other areas, need genuine reforms. We also need general policy re-direction from the Federal Government. If all these necessary areas have not been properly handled, what rationale would then be behind the move of the Federal Government to unlawfully compel appropriation of others, like the tourism industry, that are ultra vires its powers?

This monumental judgment would have been impossible if the Lagos State government did not stand up to the federal challenge in court by fighting for redress of NTDC's illegal encroachment. Now, it is not only the 'Centre of Excellence' (Lagos) but other states across the federation that will benefit from the judgment. Other state governments whose rights at one time or the other had been trampled upon by the Federal Government or its agencies should not hesitate to follow the Lagos example. It is through such reasonable judicial activism that most of the defects in the country's federal structure can be rectified. We commend the Supreme Court for standing firm in upholding the tenets of federalism in the nation.

LETTERS

Amosun’s infrastructural revolution was one of the so called ancient states with little infrastructure before the inception of Senator Ibikunle Amosun-led administration.

In the last two years, the story has been a total turnaround from what it used to be in a bid to bringing about industrialisation that would boost the state’s economy as the government is committed to the terly deprived of orthodox or traditional medical treatment, or at least, any form of efficacious cauterisation.

Consequently, suppuration has set in apace and the next stage of decay is that of gangrene. It is obvious that these demagogues cum reprobates are not on the same wavelength as the people with respect to how this country should be steered. While most Nigerians only seek employment opportunities and a business-friendly environment that would enable them to feed, clothe and house themselves, this bunch of neurotic

To exit is to change; to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly-Henri Bergson construction and expansion of over fourteen major roads and fly over bridges, including the 107km Ilara/Egua/Ijoun/OjaOdan Road which cuts across four local governments in Ogun West Sena-

torial District,10km Ayetoro-Olodo Road, Mobalufon/Ejinrin/ Folagbade Road in IjebuOde, Oba Erinwole Road/ Kara/Isale-Oko Road in Sagamu, as well as IlisanAgo-Iwoye Road,Ojere/

Onikolobo/Panseke Road,Omida/Sapon Road,Enu Gada/Ago-Iba/ Itoku/Sapon/Ijaiye/Iyana Mortuary Road and Abiola Road respectively in Abeokuta,among others.

Even critics had to conclude that the state government ‘is committed to doing too many roads’ because the on-going infrastructural revolution cannot but be noticed.

Nigeria’s open wound and highly talented thieves are obsessed with looting the treasury with hyenas’ savagery, and a strength that more than equal that of the biblical Samson. They are extremely adept at stealing and negotiating soft landings for themselves.

From my point of view, there are many categories of leaders in terms of their psychological make-up, temperament and conviction.

Some leaders are futuristic in their thinking and are adept at seeing years ahead of their

peers; they, more often than not, formulate far-reaching socio-economic policies with accustomed ease. The socioeconomic cum political emancipation of their people is what they live and stand for. They are usually highly cerebral and self-effacing.

Others are more at home with dealing with issues as they arise; but their responsive posture by no means constitutes slothfulness or inactivity. The third group comprises of those who desire to bring about positive change,

but are either clueless as regards how to effect the change, or are utterly lacking any smidgen of leadership quality- President Goodluck Jonathan can be termed one of the doyens of this category.

Lastly, and the least desirable, those who have no intention of affecting the lives of their fellow human beings positively, have no modicum of enlightenment in the real sense of the word, lead lives that are firmly balanced on moneyed interests, usually literate but unlearned, and

Frankly speaking, at the take-off of the projects, many people became doubting Thomases, saying, ‘how can these be possible? but Governor Amosun in his usual manner said, ‘when there is determination and God’s grace, you can achieve your dreams, no matter how big they are.’

It is to our amazement in Ogun that our state is indeed becoming a centre of attraction as all the road projects are 70% near completion without leaving any stone unturned.

Femi Onasanya, Abeokuta, Ogun State educated but lacking real education in the actual sense of the word. Nigeria has been so unlucky to have the last category of leaders in endless supply. Most Nigerian politicians belong to the last group. Despite being rich in human and natural resources, this group of few reprobates are fast turning Nigeria to a dystopia, and there is seemingly no end in sight. Nigerians are in dire need of a change to be preceded by a revolution of the mind.

Sordic Afis 0808976967

SEND TYPEWRITTEN, DOUBLE SPACED AND SIGNED CONTRIBUTIONS, LETTERS AND REJOINDERS OF NOT MORE THAN 500 WORDS TO THE EDITOR, THE NATION, 27B, FATAI ATERE ROAD, MATORI, LAGOS: sundaynation@yahoo.com

16

Comment & Analysis

Ropo Sekoni ropo.sekoni @thenationonlineng.net

T

HE registration of the merger of four political parties into APC must be welcome news to lovers of democracy. The coming of APC has not brought to an end the existence of mushroom political parties in the county. But it has substantially reduced the number of parties that are in serious contest for the opportunity to govern the country. After the merger, apart from APC and PDP, there will still be some political parties masquerading as contenders for federal or state power, but such possibility does not diminish the fact that Nigeria is, with the arrival of APC on the political landscape, a polity with two main political parties.

We congratulate politicians who have submerged individual egos and ambitions to merge into a party that is capable of serving as an alternative to the ruling party.

What is new about APC is not the fact that politicians from various parties and regions are making efforts to work together for the sake of Nigeria.

In the first republic, the northern ruling party, NPC, worked in an alliance to rule the country with the NCNC. It was an alliance of two out of three regions. The alliance left the dominant party in the Western region in loyal opposition. It was good for the country then that there was a party known for principle and ideology to serve as loyal opposition. Our democracy would have thrived if there had been no attempts by the ruling party then to turn the country into a one-

Femi Orebe femi.orebe @thenationonlineng.net 08056504626 (sms only)

W

ITHOUT a scintilla of doubt, only northern fears, not national interest, especially concerning its ability, or not, to survive despite its untapped huge natural resources, could have led the National Assembly to so completely undermine the states whilst creating a centre with limitless powers in its constitutional amendment conundrum. So all-encompassing is the autocracy they are currently constructing that one cannot successfully be accused of exaggeration if he claims that Abuja is being imperceptibly turned to a monstrous incubus. All these, unfortunately, on the basis of a British -fabricated, but actually non-existent, higher northern population which would otherwise thump all known demographic principles. If they dispute this, let them publish the results of the one-day interaction with Nigerians on geo-political basis and see if the so-called massive 'yes' votes would not confirm an over reliance on results from one region out of three. It is no wonder, therefore, that of all the Local Government Chairmen's Forum in the country, it is only the northern chapter, through its chairman, Mohammed Ali, that’s mounting pressure on the Senate to rescind its decision on local government autonomy.

Waxing lyrical during the past week, Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha, gleefully announced to Nigerians that: 'the House voted overwhelmingly to give full financial, administrative, executive and legislative autonomy to local government councils in Nigeria; making them a tier of government with a uniform four years tenure, regimenting their mode of exercising legislative power and abolishing Joint State Local Government

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 4, 2013

APC and new energy for democratic culture

What is new about APC is that it is a group of politicians from different corners of the country who have sworn to commit to political progressivism party state, and the rest is history.

The second republic also witnessed an alliance for the sake of sharing political offices between the dominant party in the North, NPN, and its counterpart in the East, the NPP. Again, UPN, the dominant party in the West chose to serve as opposition party. Again, the democracy of the second republic did not collapse because the opposition failed in its own role. Collapse came because the ruling party was incapable of governing the country effectively. It, after ruling in an effete manner for four years, still felt that it needed to rig the election to return to power in 1983.

After returning to power, it was incapable of solving most of the problems facing the country, just as it could not in its first four years, and the rest is history.

Babangida's military autocracy brought a new political culture to the country. Whatever was the motivation, Babangida decreed into being two political parties, best known as a-little-to-the-right and a-little-to-theleft political constructions: NRC and SDP. The existence for the first time in the country's history of a two-party system made options easier for voters who had had to choose at least from three region-driven political parties. It may not be clear why the 1993 national election was the freest and fairest in the history of the country, but it is not too far-fetched to assume that the clear-cut ideological positions of the two parties: one besotted to nurturing the status-quo and the other committed to transformation, must have helped voters to make

their choices.The country's opportunity to move away from its troubling political past was destroyed, not by the fact of two clear choices, but by Babangida's decision to neutralize the advantage of the two-party structure that he brought into being. It is not surprising that Babangida is visibly happy with the registration of APC. It must remind him of the opportunity that was allowed to be lost in 1993.

To say that APC is the first experiment of its kind in the country is to indulge deliberately in hyperboles. The PDP was formed as a transregional political group of individuals besotted to sustaining a political culture that had not moved Nigeria forward, from the time of NPC to NPN. What is new about APC is that it is a group of politicians from different corners of the country who have sworn to commit to political progressivism. In other words,unlike the self-acclaimed national party before it, which is interested in business as usual, APC appears to be poised to engage the spirit of change, and to do it with men and women from across traditional ethnic and religious lines. The merger that creates APC means that there are two broad groups of politicians in the country: those who believe that Nigeria is okay as it is and those who believe the country needs change on many fronts.

Progressive politics is not about the opposite of what a non-performing political party does. A new governance model requires that there are new paradigms to be created and used to change the country for the

better for its citizens. Commitment to social justice and equal opportunities is fundamental to any genuine transformative agenda. Such commitment is needed to drag Nigeria from its pre-modern state to modernity.

There must be some stick-in-the muds that are likely to insist that all that is needed is for the country to get a new party with men and women who are ready to work for (and not against the interests of) the masses in terms of building physical infrastructure and creating jobs. The problem that has made it impossible for Nigeria to transcend the stasis of the last five decades concerns the distribution of power in the country. More specifically, it pertains to the need to interrogate existing distribution of power in our multicultural and multi-religious 'state-nations.' To attempt to do this is to make effort to solve the main problem facing the country: ensuring economic, social, political, and cultural justice.

Confronting the largest party in Africa (a political grouping that perceives itself as born-to-rule at least for sixty years!) requires the sizable energy that APC certainly possesses and appears ready to deploy. As the APC continues to mobilize and galvanize citizens around the message of change, it must continue to urge its Think-Tank to think out of the box of Nigeria's 'nothing-is-wrong with our constitution or the structure of governance and that all that is required is to get supermen and women among us to be president and governors.'

APC must not ignore the call for true federalism, more so if it wants to

achieve a noticeable measure of economic, social, political, and cultural justice in a country constituted by many nationalities.

The enthusiastic welcome of the news of INEC's registration of APC, demonstrated in several cities a few hours ago, indicates the intensity of the hunger of citizens for change, not only of content but also of form. Nigeria has for too long been structured and designed as a funnel that leaks from the top or the head. Over concentration of power and resources on the central government has turned states into mendicants carrying bowls to the central government for most of the funds used to keep most of the States alive. The age of bottomless revenue from petroleum may be coming to an end sooner than we are ready to apprehend. Diversifying (without appropriate infrastructure) the economy to withstand the shock from the fact that some of the biggest buyers of our oil are now becoming some of the biggest sellers of the product that sustains us is likely to take much longer than one or two post-PDP administrations.

A unitary model of governance that is sustained by donations to states from the central government will continue to undermine efforts to move the country forward. This appears to be the era for not only a strong central government but also for strong state governments. In other words, one of the challenges facing APC, which PDP has ignored, is readiness to pluck the courage to re-design the template of governance, to return a truly federal system to Nigeria.

North’s unnecessary fears may create a federal monster It is not yet too late for these representatives to put on their thinking caps before they bring more disaster upon the country.

Account which they replaced with the "Local Government Council Allocation Account.' Like an over-exuberant birthday boy, he went on to say that henceforth, the so-called Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, would conduct elections for local government areas. Apparently, they forgot to abolish the office of the state governor. If only these self-serving legislators knew the meaning of a true federal system! And would they be kind enough to tell Nigerians where else on earth these monstrosities obtain.

Let me, in the small space remaining, open their eyes and minds to the views, edited for space, of Chief Bola Ige, SAN, one of the few real democrats that ever graced the face of Nigeria, on local government. In an article he captioned 'Man -Made Avoidable Local Government Troubles' and which appeared in his column in The Sunday Tribune of 27 April, 1996, the legal luminary wrote as follows: “Anyone who has sound knowledge of the local government system, its history, theory and practice, not only in Nigeria, but also in civilised countries of the world, cannot be surprised at what is happening in various parts of the country since the Federal Military Government announced the "creation "of new local government areas. I personally have been shocked and pained by the violence that has since been unleashed.

“But what we should admit is that the fundamentals of local government system, particularly in a federal setup, have not been adhered to. One could even say that they have been violated.

“There are modalities that govern local government systems all over the civilised world. The first is that a local government must truly be government

at local level. In other words, the people of a given area must be allowed to come together, of their own accord, and in a spirit of agreeing to some sort of social contract, to run their local affairs. The community must of course be easily identifiable - usually they must be people of the same stock, or citizens who inhabit a given geographical area'.

'That was what existed during the colonial times and during the era of the regions. That was also what happened when I was governor of the old Oyo State. In the north, local government system was based on emirates where they existed or administrative units where there were no emirates; in the west, it was based on the combination of the Oba-ship system and innate democratic inclinations of the peoples of Western Nigeria; in the east where the people were largely republican, the local government system was based on the clan. In all parts of Nigeria, the English and after them, the founding fathers of Nigeria - Awo Sardauna and Zik - never arbitrarily created local government councils and, in any case, being reasonable and knowledgeable politicians, they would never have done that.

'The ideal thing is for any community that wants a local government to have it, as long as certain basic criteria concerning ability to be economically viable and rudiments of government are met. I always gave examples of local government councils in Europe and the USA to attest to this.

“Unfortunately, the MurtalaObasanjo federal military government began the nonsense that has remained with us. In fairness to Gowon’s regime, that government did not poke its nose into local government business. I guess that with the presence of seasoned politicians, led by Awo, in

that government, such foolish mistake would not be allowed to happen.

“On the pretext that better administration should be found for local government throughout the country, a Commission headed by Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki was set up. In my opinion, the recommendations of that commission were the worst disaster to happen to local government system in Nigeria. For instance, it was from there that the idea of uniformity in size, scope and administration was introduced. I confess that I suspected a hidden agenda in the recommendations: in order to strengthen the administrative stranglehold of the emirates, all of Nigeria was advised to base its local government system on defined populations and elaborate administrative system. Fortunately, it never worked. And it will never work.

“But I also had the suspicion that the military wanted to have a way of pulling more strings through manipulating the local government system.

Dasuki Commission brought about the plague that is still afflicting Nigeria.

Which leads me to the next point: In a federal set-up, the federal government must have nothing to do with the creation or running of local government. Nigeria is the only federation in the whole world where the federal government decides how, where, and when a local government council must run. In all civilised countries, and in all democratic countries, it is the state or provincial or regional government that legislates on local government.

“The solutions are simple, but I doubt whether the Federal Military Government will take any suggestions.

First, let the Federal Military Government hands off local government affairs, and allow the people to decide how many local government areas

they want, their administrative set-up and their boundaries. State government must allow the people in a given area to determine their local government destinies.

“Secondly, state governments should formulate guidelines for the setting up of new local government councils. They must be of universal application and not tinkered with. Once any community satisfies the criteria in those guidelines, they should have their own council.”

Chief Ige's fears are as potent today as they were when he penned them in 1996, and, watching this National Assembly create a looming disaster of an ultra strong centre, I have this nagging feeling that the PDP truly believes the hogwash that it will rule for 60 years as was first propounded by its now embattled, one-time chairman, Ogbuluafor. Otherwise, nobody in his proper frame of mind will suggest that INEC should conduct local government elections in the states which we know is intended to enhance their stranglehold through their now well-known 'do and die' rigging methods. At a time when the cancellation of a humongous WAEC and NECO with full staff compliement has been suggested, it is totally ludicrous that the National Assembly could approve that INEC, with mostly ad hoc staff, take up elections into all local government councils even if it were not already encumbered by constant allegations of bribe-taking like we saw in Ekiti State during the rerun election in 2009.

It is not yet too late for these representatives to put on their thinking caps before they bring more disaster upon the country. After all, this is a legislature whose members earn the equivalent of $189,000 annually as against their counterparts in the U.K and France who earn $105, 400 and $85,900 respectively.

Comment & Analysis

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 4, 2013

Tunji

Adegboyega tunjade@yahoo.co.uk 08054503906 (sms only)

N

IGERIA'S younger generation may not know who the man, Alhaji Umaru Dikko is. Therefore, asking if they know what he represents (or at least used to represent) is superfluous. That is the tragedy of a nation whose many pupils do not know who the great sage, the late Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo was. A report, a few years back, indicated that right in Chief Awolowo's hometown, Ikenne, in Ogun State, the only Obafemi that pupils in a school know is Obafemi Martins! They claimed not to have heard anything about Chief Awolowo. But that is Nigeria's dysfunctional educational system for you; it is that bad. "A prophet", they say, "is not without honour but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house".

Anyway, this write-up is not about Chief Awolowo; it is about Alhaji Dikko, who came into prominence in the Second Republic during the tenure of President Shehu Shagari, his brother-in-law.

Ordinarily, many of us had since forgotten about Alhaji Dikko and would have preferred never to be reminded of that dark era that the man represented, but for reports last week to the effect that the 77 year-old man of the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN) infamy has been exhumed from wherever he has been hibernating all these years, to head the ruling Peoples Democratic Party's (PDP) national disciplinary committee!

Did I hear you say 'disciplinary committee'? Yes, you heard me

Postscript, Unlimited!

By

Oyinkan Medubi 07057012862 (SMS only) puchuckles7@gmail.com

I

AM sure you would like to know what that formula stands for, dear reader, but you will have to bear with me a little while I vent my anger and release it into space, or I might be forced to commit murder. On the other hand, I don't want anything tampering with my housekeeping allowance.

Indeed, I am so cross now my mouth is shut tight, my brows are in a deep scowl, and my eyes are so crossed they are literally looking at each other balefully. That is how mad I am about the spate of rapes weaving across the land: boys raping girls, men raping little girls, old men raping toddlers, young men raping old women, young men raping mad women, fathers raping daughters, fathers impregnating their daughters, fathers having multiple children by their daughters... Oh men, what is going on?!

Why is it always the men?!

Not too long ago, one of my readers, presumably a male, wrote in and asked me to say something on the rising wave of rape in the land. Then, it had not quite risen to the popularity it has since assumed in the country. I declined to because I felt rape is really best left to the police while we citizens concentrate on searching for money to purchase gari. Alas, my thoughts were mis-

17

From the 'Dikko affair' to the Dikko committee right; disciplinary committee.

Other members of the sevenmember committee are; Obanema of Opume Kingdom, Bayelsa State and King A.J Turner as deputy chairman, publisher of Champion Newspaper and member, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, former deputy national chairman and BoT member, Alhaji Shuaibu Oyedokun, Hajiya Nana Aishat Kadiri, Barrister Hussaini Diraki and Senator Emmanuel Agboti.

Those conversant with the story of Alhaji Dikko that we knew would readily say that with a man like him heading the ruling party's disciplinary committee, then, the result is known even before the committee begins sitting. Unless of course the things the man used to do, he does them no more. I mean unless he has turned a new leaf, as they say.

Just last week, I said something about the dearth of good people in the country. Well, some people will disagree with me and rather say that it is the failure of those in positions of authority to search for such people, or the reluctance of good people to make themselves available for public service because of the quality of people at the very top. What else could have made five governors run to Generals Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Babangida, in search of solutions to democratic challenges if not for any of these aforementioned reasons? What our people versed in Pidgin English would dismiss simply as

The return of Alhaji Umaru Dikko

no more person. What I am saying is that there must be a dearth of people to enforce discipline in the ruling party for the mantle of chairman of a crucial committee as the disciplinary committee to fall on Alhaji Dikko. At least not the Alhaji Dikko that we knew.

It is sad that the Jonathan government, apart from doing business as usual, is also suffocating us with the same spent forces that have had their time in leadership positions but made a mess of it. Alhaji Dikko belonged in that school.

His role in governance in the country dates back to 1967 when he was appointed commissioner in the then North Central State (now Kaduna State). He was later to be secretary of a committee set up by General Hassan Katsina to unite the northerners after a coup in 1966. In 1979, Alhaji Dikko was made Alhaji Shehu Shagari's campaign manager for the NPN. He was Minister of Transport from 1979-1983; a position he held simultaneously with that of the head of the presidential task force on rice. Interestingly, it was in the latter, rather than the former, that he became a national issue. That rice had to attract presidential attention in that republic showed how terribly bad the country was run because the rice that Alhaji Dikko headed its task force was imported. Again, that is a matter for another day.

Such was the diligence with

“Those conversant with the story of Alhaji Dikko that we knew would readily say that with a man like him heading the ruling party's disciplinary committee, then, the result is known even before the committee begins sitting. Unless of course the things the man used to do, he does them no more”

which he served Nigeria then that General Muhammadu Buhari who became head of state after overthrowing the Shagari government on December 31, 1983, issued a list of former government officials accused of a variety of crimes on his second day in power.

Alhaji Dikko, who topped the list, was accused of embezzling several million dollars in oil profits from the national treasury. Despite strenuous efforts to locate him, he simply vanished, leaving no trace of his whereabouts. He was eventually trailed to the United Kingdom where the Buhari government attempted to bring him back home in a crate with 1.2 x 1.2 x 1.5 meters dimension, in what was famously referred to as the 'Dikko affair'. Thank God the mission failed; otherwise, Alhaji Dikko would have been brought back to Nigeria in a crate like some imported cargo! One had to go this far for our ill-fated younger generation to know that their beloved country has not just started to wobble and fumble; it has been like that for decades. The sad thing is that while many fellow backbenchers like us are finding their way out of the woods, we are getting more and more entrenched in it. Anyhow, fellow Nigerians, this is the man that our ruling party has thrust forward as chair of its national disciplinary committee!

Without doubt, the PDP as it is is highly undisciplined. It therefore needs someone, a strict disciplinarian to knock some discipline into its members' skulls. But one wonders where to start the discipline from, or what form of discipline the party is thinking of, especially when one considers the action of some of its leading lights, including President Goodluck Jonathan. Or,

how else do you capture a president who hosted as winner, someone who lost an election conducted among only 35 people?

How many good persons would want to serve in a government in which such illegality thrives?

Maybe it is only the PDP that understands its concept of discipline that it wants instilled into its members, because there is discipline and there is discipline. The NPN that Alhaji Dikko was a prominent member of was everything but disciplined.

A party that is disciplined would not claim to have landslide victory in an election which was visible even to the blind that it lost. Little wonder that the Shagari government’s ‘landslide’ victory eventually became what someone referrred to as 'gunslide', to the delight of millions of Nigerians who had watched with disbelief as the then NPN stole votes in broad daylight, the same way the PDP has done in some places.

The multi-million naira question now is: can Alhaji Umaru Dikko give what he does not have? Unless the aphorism that one cannot give what one does not have is about to be proved wrong, or unless the kind of discipline the PDP envisages is the one associated with the NPN (for which the present ruling party itself has become notorious), then, the ruling party may be on the way to defining discipline in its own image, a thing that eventually led to the collapse of our inglorious Second Republic and ultimately, the 'Dikko Affair'.

All said, for good or for ill, my dear reader, join me in congratulating Alhaji Dikko over his new appointment and at the same time welcome him, once again, to national limelight, after many years in the cooler. I wish him and their PDP whatever they wish themselves.

WMN + WWW = WWM! Men should at least pretend that women are part of the human race and should not be beaten, scarred or raped placed, just like my hopes. The police are too busy with em, internal problems, to take much notice of rape. In short the police have failed in their duty to sufficiently frighten the men into totally submitting their libidinal will to reason. So, I have no choice but to pick up my pen, err, computer.

True, there are natural expectations on both sides of the sex divide. Take the men; they expect their women to provide the 4Cs: cooking, cleaning, childbearing and companionship. They are What Men Need (WMN). As I always say, most men cannot boil water without burning it. And the woman who manages to burn food once in a year is taken to the cleaners. 'Why is this food tasting burnt? Did you travel while you were cooking it?

Do you know how much I worked to provide the money for it? You should go out and work and let me do the cooking.' As Fela knew very well, 'that na shakara'. Still, men take it for granted that women are taught these things in heaven before they descend to earth. That's why they marry women who look like their mothers: they take the abilities in the chosen ones for granted because such women are primed to fulfil these needs for men. Who says cloning does not work? As soon as a female child is born, the father takes a good look at its arms to be sure they have sufficient crooks in them and the hips to be sure they are sufficiently wide enough and he nods to himself, 'this one will fulfil her heavenly roles well.' Obviously, men no longer see

beyond their needs any more. Is this why some among them would even proceed to test their daughters' role readiness by raping/ sleeping with them? Haba! Please!

In the interest of peace, and also to maintain world order, women go along and provide men's needs, believing that men in turn know what women want and provide it.

Women take it for granted also that men are primed from heaven to fulfil the wants of women. This is why the birthing women take a good look at the arms of the new born male to be sure they have enough strength in them to actualise some woman's wants someday.

They also check if his fingers can crook well enough to cock a gun some day. Tough world we are in, no? The difference is that women only stay at ensuring; they do not test. At least, we have not heard of a woman who sets out to have children by her male son. I have not said it does not happen; I only said we have not heard. As a father said to his son one day, 'I have not said 'don't steal'; just don't get caught.'

Seriously.

The trouble is that, in spite of the strong arms and all, men still do not seem to know what women want. Once, men thought that if they dragged food home to the family, all would be right with the world. The women soon put them right there by dragging home sometimes bigger food. That's why some women have come to now earn more than their husbands.

Then the men thought if they built strong shelters for the family, keep

out the wild elements and provide protection, all would be well. But the Cecilia Ibrus of this world soon set their minds at rest on that score.

She and her ilk told them they could go hang with their shelters by procuring same in their hundreds. And I said 'Tell 'em, sister!' No, no, don't get me wrong; I do not condone fraud but there's just something about that spirit... So now, men are at a loss as to what exactly women want. And you know, when men are confused, they resort to... The story goes that the women had taken over the administration of a certain city and, to the consternation of the men, were even preparing to go to war for the city. The men simply got together to hatch a plan. They collectively got all the women pregnant and went their own merry way to fight their war themselves.

Obviously now, there is an impasse: women know what men need (WMN) but men do not know what women want (WWW). To make up for their lack of knowledge and total confusion, men have been going around employing and displaying their strength in the market place. Imagine that. Good wine, they say, needs no bush. When a man begins to regard rape as an instrument of office and manhood, then he belongs in Jupiter where the people there do not ask questions, just like the early American settlers. Perhaps, that will mean evacuating all the men into outer space and have a world without men (WWM), who cares? If that is what we need to give the women

what they want, then the price may be just right.

So, what do women want really?

Oh, wouldn't I just like to know!

One day, all a woman wants is to look delectable, have the means to look delectable, and be seen and appreciated by her chosen one to look delectable. Another day, when the fancy takes her, what she wants is to be appreciated for her brains. So she barges into boardrooms and causes a war or takes over, into corporate offices and becomes the boss, or wanders into some poor government official's heart and takes over his job. Ask our politicians. Naturally, the men's retaliatory weapon of hate is rape. When that happens, you just know it is a statement against all womankind. This is why the women are calling for the heads of the men in the formula: WMN + WWW = WWM (What Men Need + What Women Want = World Without Men). If the women cannot get that, let us try the next best thing.

Let us try giving the female folk respect, from the littlest of them to the oldest. In this case, respect means consideration. Men should at least pretend that women are part of the human race and should not be beaten, scarred or raped.

They should be treated with the utmost courtesy and nurtured carefully: i.e., given compliments, assistance, real love (not some pretentious thing) and companionship.

After all, it is only wise to respect where one's food comes from, especially if all one can do is burn water.

18

Comment & Analysis

The mathematics of oil (theft)

C

ONFIGURED in the space of creation as a model of all that is tragic and ironic, the Nigerian state is undoubtedly fixated to a ‘scripted’ fate. Every evil, whether of minute amounts or cosmic scale, for as long as its nature is evil or even its incarnate, finds the space for expression in Nigeria-corruption, stiff-necked leaders and people, ‘wastes’ of space, wastefulness, illywhackers and grafters, ritual initiates, kidnappers, pedophiles, unlettered ‘fellow widows’ of groggy patience, madcap lawmakers and ‘jangy’ governors of strange mathematics (16 > 19) from the land of the ghouls, oil thieves and pipeline vandals and other nameless ones still on the queue of iniquities.

The official disclosure was recently made that Nigeria loses 400,000 bpd (barrels of oil per day) to oil thieves, small and big; the hungry vandals that rupture the pipelines and the brazen elite that nurture the pipelines with sophisticated tools. Talk of small rogues, big crooks!

The figure could be higher than the one given. Official figures are those captured by system documentation but the informal operators are never captured in the official recording. They have a way of being evasive and elusive. But let us play along with the 400,000 bpd released by the Federal Government as the loss we suffer daily to oil robbers.

Incensed and puzzled that such huge waste occurs daily and our leaders feign helplessness and indifference, my natural reaction was that this nation needs urgent diagnostic examination, at least, to determine the degree of our collective madness.

My curiosity encouraged me to have reflective insights into other nations’ details of oil production and management and the conclusion was an emphatic absurdity: Nigeria is a wastrel.

The shocking discovery was that the 400,000 bpd that Nigeria loses to oil thieves are what about 16 nations, ones that we can somehow flatter with some greatness and pride, produce officially among themselves.

The official figures released by International Energy Agency show what these countries produce daily and officially: Japan (132,700 bpd), Netherlands (57,190 bpd), Turkey (52,980 bpd), Cuba (48,340 bpd), South Korea (48,180 bpd), Austria (21,880 bpd), Singapore (10,910 bpd), Ghana (7081 bpd), Sweden (4833 bpd), Portugal (4721 bpd), Israel (3806 bpd), Switzerland (3488 bpd), Georgia (995 bpd), Ireland (431 bpd) and North Korea (118 bpd), Uruguay (997 bpd).

When I did a mathematical calculation of these figures, the total figures amounted to 398,650 bpd with a balance of 1350 bpd that could still be shared among Kyrgyzstan (979 bpd) Tajikistan (221 bpd), Paraguay (31 bpd) and Sierra Leone (29 bpd) with little remnants still in transit.

Evident and obvious that these countries do not produce oil in the quantity that Nigeria does per day (2.5m), most, if not all of them, have harnessed and are still harnessing other potentials and resources that nature has bestowed on them. As nations, they are doing well for themselves. Some of them have the best infrastructure, technology, military capability, good welfare programs, sound health policy and very good Gross Domestic Product based on PurchasingPower-Parity (PPP) per capita. Japan’s technology is rated one of the best in the world in terms of its quality and efficiency. Turkey is one of the most militarily powerful nations of the world wielding tremendous influence not only in the Middle East but also as a member of NATO. Cuba, as small as it is, has been able to withstand US economic blockade since 1959 without ever contemplating caving in to US pressure and Cuba’s communism is as vibrant as ever despite Soviet Union’s ideological retreat. Singapore used to be a third world country but has transformed dramatically to being a first world country with about the 3rd highest per capita ($51,162) in the world after Qatar ($99,731) and Luxembourg ($107,206). Georgia, a post-cold war nation, swaggered for some months against Russia’s military might in 2008 and has exhibited the potential to be one of the most powerful Republics to emerge from the collapse of the Soviet

•Deziani Alison-madueke

By Dapo Thomas

Union. Ireland may not be one of the erratic countries in world politics but with a per capita of $45,888, it shows why it has the best quality of life in the world index and why many Nigerian youths prefer to break the banks to sojourn there instead of staying back here at home with a scandalous per capita of $1,631. North Korea is not a good economic model for any country, but its faceoff with the United States over its nuclear development programmes cannot be ignored. Its military strength and capability are awesome and intriguing with Japan, South Korea and United States catching cold each time it sneezes. South Korea is one country with a very strong technological and industrial base infrastructure that is the envy of advanced and developed countries like China, India and Japan. It has the highest ICT development index and the largest broadband network covered in the world.

And of course, Israel with just 3806 bpd possesses a military capability that is awesome and unimaginable. In the unlikely event of an outbreak of war between Israel, a nation of 7 million people, and Nigeria with a population of 160 million, it will require the intervention of the hosts of Heaven for Nigeria to survive one week. Israel’s agricultural technology is also one of the best in the world and most nations in the world seek their expertise in this regard. Israel, for instance, has the highest production of milk per cow (12,240kg per year) and also compares favourably with other nations endowed with massive agricultural resources like China and Brazil.

Let us shamefully assume that the Nigerian government cannot do anything to stop the 400,000 bpd that thieves cart away on a daily basis, but what good things has it done with the 2.5m bpd that it produces officially and of what benefits has this been to the citizens of the country?

It is an inexplicable paradox that a country that produces and sells about 2.5m bpd is in communion with the poorest nations of the world. There is a collective understanding that a nation like Nigeria has no business with pauperism. But here we are, Nigeria is the undisputed leader of a thousand poor nations! All indices of poverty are in our favour. Our major and strategic highways are nothing but macadams that will make one think that we just finished fighting an invasion war. Our leaders fly in helicopters many feet above the sea level and therefore cannot feel what we feel on these roads. How do they do it in other countries where they have good roads and efficient transport system that boasts of subways and ferries as against Okada and Keke Napep?

As at the time of writing this write up, a barrel of oil (brent) went for $107.45. With the money we make daily from oil, why must we be in this mess?

The gristly motif through which corpses are stretchered off from what we call hospitals into the morgue is one of the reasons people with all kinds of ailment throng the

church for healing. Those who should still be alive have been ushered into eternity by medical professionals whose perfunctory attitude to their job is complemented by lack of basic tools to work with. The Pentecostal Clan, a relentless promoter of divine healing, is rapidly expanding its clientele base because the people now find succor for their sickness in the sanctuary of GOD in lieu of the abattoir called hospitals. Nigeria is one strange country where a hospital can decline treatment for a sick person for pecuniary reason. Government and its vacuous health policy remain the harbinger of death to people who deserve and desire life. How do they do it in other countries where health facilities and medical attention are of highest standard? How do they do it in other countries where medical personnel with the full complements of the government are mobilised just to save a life while the deaths of a score in successive intervals are a regular spectacle in our own “consulting clinics”? With the money we make daily from oil, why must we be in this mess?

Power, a major necessity for industrialisation and economic activities is predictably erratic and epileptic. Many industries are on generators. Many are building their own power plants and installing their turbines. Many companies and industries are battling to survive. Many have had a large chunk of their profits invested into the servicing, maintenance and fueling of their generators. Many factories had collapsed with churches springing up in their stead. The Ministry in charge of Power preoccupies itself with the ministration of megawatts by promising to increase and stabilize the megawatts before the second coming of Christ. In major cities where there is evident affluence, the noise of generators is an obvious nuisance to the inhabitants. The environment is further blackened and contaminated by dangerous chemical elements that are not health-friendly. How do they do it in other countries that they have power supply for 24/7 without turning megawatts into a campaign issue? With the money Nigeria makes daily from oil, why must we be in this mess?

There is no light at the end of the tunnel that the standard of our education will improve. Not with the incessant strikes by all the unionized conglomerates in our universities. Without strikes, our education is in a sorry state. The facilities, real or improvised that can stimulate qualitative education are just not there. The quality of teaching and the quality of learning is very embarrassing.

Lecturers and students operate with mutual cooperation in an environment that is very unfriendly to intellectual enterprise. With strikes, the situation is very pathetic. A learning process that is interrupted, not once, not twice in an academic year, is agonisingly disabled.

Everything is just not right about our educational system because our government itself is not getting things right. The budget for education is marginally higher than the one for the entertainment of our friends at home and from abroad who have come to have a feel of our grandiose hospitality. How do they do it in other countries that the quality of their education has never deteriorated and their lecturers and non-academic staff never went on a single strike? With the money Nigeria makes daily from oil, why must we be in this mess?

Embarrassed and persecuted by the guilt of profligacy and corruption and their pharisaic purism, our preachy leaders now indulge in suspect gradualism as opposed to the radical change that the citizens yearn for. What explanations do our leaders have for this rare discipline and political will by 16 countries that built their militaries, economies, infrastructure and technology on mere 400,000 bpd in a manner that makes them compete for positive narratives in global politics and development while a country that produces 2.5m bpd wallows in unpardonable decadence and global irrelevance.

Until everyone of us, leaders and citizens alike, holds certain principles and values so scared and resolves to uphold them even in the face of adversity, our nation cannot make the expected progress and development.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 4, 2013

Will the FoI Act contribute to ending primitive accumulation in Nigeria?

Continued from page 13

single kobo has been paid back? Instead of just one single civil society organisation – LEPAD - acting with and through the dedication of one single patriotic activist lawyer - Femi Falana - invoking the FoI to try and compel the National Assembly to reveal the precise figures of the jumbo salaries and emoluments that its members are paid while most public and private employers of labour in our country are yet to implement the national minimum wage of a paltry N18,000 naira per month, why was it not movements and collectives of students, teachers, doctors, tradesmen and women that used the FoI to dare the National Assembly members to continue to feed fat on the backs of the masses of the Nigerians peoples? In the bitter 2006 feud between Obasanjo and Atiku, each of these two highest public officials in the land revealed the extent to which they were corruptly helping themselves and their cronies to the funds of the Petroleum Training Development Fund (PTDF), but to date they and their cronies have not paid back a single kobo of the sums they looted from our national coffers. As far as I know, there is no statute of limitation in the FoI and so we are forced to ask: Why have the Nigerian people, as organized in professional and civic associations, not used that 2011 Act to compel the present administration to make Obasanjo, Atiku and their cronies pay back what they looted from the PTDF? If the answer to each and everyone of these questions is not clear, let me spell it out: so far, at least in my opinion, the FoI has been generally regarded as a means for individuals and perhaps a few groups that are concerned enough to want to compel our rulers and public officials to act with probity and to be accountable to the country.

However, what I am saying here with as much emphasis as I can muster is that as much as the FoI is indeed a tool for redress of individual grievance or dissatisfaction, it is also actually a radical weapon for mass and collective legal action whose political significance can be quite profound. Let me give a particularly concrete, specific and salient illustration of the point I am making here.

Our newspapers and newsmagazines are consistent in the powerful and eloquent editorials that they write about the depth of the dictatorship of corruption and mediocrity that reigns in the corridors of power in the country. But as far as I am aware, with a few exceptions, the ownership structure of our newspapers and newsmagazines has been generally lukewarm in showing any interest in the use of the FoI, completely leaving the matter to individual courageous journalists. But is this not a gross shortsightedness, given the fact that newspaper proprietors, like all other institutions and organizations of legitimate business enterprise in the country, stand to gain if the crippling primitive accumulation that is perpetuated through the dictatorship of corruption and mediocrity is substantially reduced, if not completely curbed?

Corruption is a form of accumulation and it exists and operates as a mode of accumulation as much in the rich nations of the world as in the poorest societies and regions of the planet. The big difference is that it neither reigns supreme nor remains “primitive” and even “uncivilisable” in the rich countries. Nigeria happens to be one of the countries in the world in which corruption not only reigns supreme but also exercises a dictatorship that masks itself in the outer forms of democracy.

In the FoI, we have the one legal and moral instrument which potentially can strip the mask of democracy from this cruel and wasteful political order. But this will require of us to begin to see that Act of 2011 not as merely or only a means of getting redress for individual grievances or dissatisfactions but as a potential weapon for mass legal and political action and for showing the limits of the legality, the democratic credentials of the Nigerian Fourth Republic as it lurches towards the year 2015, the next big appointment with that avoidable but fateful happenstance that is commonly and erroneously known as destiny.

Biodun Jeyifo

POLITICS

19

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 4, 2013

Nzeribe returns to the ring Since he said the South-East should forget the 2015 Presidency, Senator Arthur Nzeribe has been the target of acidic criticism from his kinsmen, some of who accused him of not having the interest of Ndigbo at heart.

Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu, reports on the politics of the flamboyant politician and his many controversies But The Nation’s investigation on the intrigues that surrounded that election showed that it was primarily a political battle between Nzeribe’s loyalists and that of Governor Rochas Okorocha.

The political show of power between these two had led to a long legal tussle that helped to keep the election in limbo.

The legal battle was as a result of the total cancellation of results from the council in the heat of the 2011 Imo general elections that brought in Governor Rochas Okorocha to power.

While the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate, Walter Uzonwanne, is backed by Okorocha, Dibiagwu, the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, is said to be backed by Senator Nzeribe.

After the prolonged legal battles, the June 22, 2013 bye-election still ended a stillborn.

T

O Senator Arthur Nzeribe, controversy seems to be a necessary manure that nurtures his political tree. In fact, since the billionaire joined partisan politics in Nigeria, during the Second Republic of the 1980s, his reputation has been coloured by unending controversies, most of which he allegedly enjoys and looks out for.

It began in 1983, when the international arms dealer allegedly spent N12m to win a Senatorial seat in Orlu. Before then, not many imagined that such a large sum could be used for a senatorial election.

So, the glamour he brought to the then Nigeria People’s Party (NPP) made him very popular from onset, not only within the NPP and the eastern states, but also thoughout Nigeria. It was also to mark the roots of the controversies that have combined to define the image of Nzeribe and that of his politics.

When he reportedly donated helicopters for the presidential candidate of NPP, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, he understandably at-

tracted the kind of attention that had been given to only few politicians before his entrance into the game, as many observers began to ask questions concerning the sources of his wealth and what he was worth.

If the source of his wealth has contributed to the controversies associated to him, his utterances and actions, most of which are usually considered unconventional, have been fuelling the tempo of his politics.

For example, Nzeribe, in 1993, dared critics across the nation, when at the peak of military dictatorship he declared himself as a prominent supporter of the Association for a Better Nigeria, a hotly criticised organisation which backed General Ibrahim Babangida’s alleged life presidency bid.

In fact, Nzeribe has, throughout his political career, remained that daring, ready to say what even the most radical activists would think twice to say and doing what he knew would certainly raise people’s eyebrows.

So, when he suddenly with-

drew to his shell in his palatial home in Oguta, Imo State, after losing his senatorial seat, his political supporters and opponents alike, who seem to have missed the controversies his actions and comments easily generate, have been curious to know if he has truly retired from active politics or at least, what he was up to.

They had to wait until June this year, when Nzeribe’s unmistaken hidden hands was again clearly spotted in the local politics of Imo State.

His return: Although he did not speak so much in his usual style in the months preceding the yet-to-be concluded Oguta bye election in Imo State, informed political observers alleged his involvement in the intrigues and controversies that preceded the bye election.

Before that stillborn election, Senator Arthur Nzeribe, known to be one of the country’s controversial politicians, had, for some time, avoided making direct comments both on the politics of the centre and that of his state.

2015 Presidency debate While the Oguta zone political puzzle remained unresolved, Nzeribe seemingly confirmed his return to the national political ring when he told Igbo advocates clamouring for a Nigerian president of Igbo extraction in 2015 that they should forget the dream, since, according to him, they lack the necessary unity to get the country’s Presidency.

Speaking in his Apo residence in Abuja on Wednesday, July 23, 2013, Nzeribe also gave as his second reason for his position the allegation that his kinsmen cannot lay claim to the position because of their inability to speak with one voice. ''Until we start speaking with one voice we cannot get the Presidency. We should not try it now, we are not just ready for anything like that, we must first put our house in order," he said.

He also came hard on the leadership of his party, recommending radical reforms as a way of saving the party.

If reactions to his criticism of PDP is yet to come, that of his view of his kinsmen's unpreparedness has since generated heated controversy, thus welcoming Nzeribe back to the familiar ring.

First to react was Njiko Igbo, a socio- political group, in Igboland.

The group in a statement signed by its Director of Operations, Senator Emmanuel Onwe, said, "No Nigerian civilian president or prime minister has ever launched himself

to power on the springboard of ethnic unity since the advent of the Nigerian state. By taking the position that he has taken, Senator Nzeribe has demonstrated that he lacks any measure of grasp or apprehension of central executive power politics in this country. Having been a participant in the political game, as Nzeribe clearly had been, does not confer such understanding.

"It is hard to resist drawing the conclusion that Senator Nzeribe came to his erroneous and inflammatory conclusion having been seduced, induced or deceived by personal and selfish considerations rather than by considerations of what is in the best interest of Ndigbo and indeed Nigeria in general. But it must be emphatically stated that a hundred, a thousand, a million Arthur Nzeribes cannot and will not break the Igbo spirit nor weaken the Igbo resolve."

It added, "It is curious that this nation has been in a quasi state of war for over two years but the voice of Nzeribe has been silent. Ndigbo have been bombed and butchered in their places of worship and business in some sections of this country by nihilistic Islamic fundamentalists and yet the voice of Nzeribe has remained silent. The corpses of dozens of young men who were clearly victims of extrajudicial executions were recently plucked from Ezu River in Anambra State and yet Nzeribe did not call a press conference to condemn it or demand answers from the Nigerian state.

"History has no record of Nzeribe's intervention either publicly or privately in the organised anti-Igbo massacres in Kano in 1980, Maiduguri in 1982, Yola in 1984, Gombe in 1985, Kaduna in 1986,etc," the group lashed.

Dr. Ifeanyichukwu Dike, in a chat with the The Nation, however, defended that "What Nzeribe said may be a bitter pill to us, but is it not true? Do we really control any political machinery that can win the Presidency in 2015? If you ask me, my answer is no. This has been the vintage Nzeribe since he joined politics. You may hate his bluntness but this attitude has not changed style."

As Nzeribe's recent comments generate such verbal exchanges, the question most political observers are asking is if his return will add any positive value to the polity or if he should just be dismissed as a political spent force seeking vain attention.

20

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 4, 2013

Politics

APC: PDP’s control of some northern states under threat

• Buhari

T

HE formal registration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has heightened expectations of unexpected surprises in the likely outcome of the 2015 general elections.

In states like Benue, Gombe, Katsina, Kano and a few others, where PDP governors are at the helm of affairs, the 2015 elections at all levels promises to be keenly contested between the PDP and APC, which with its registration a few days ago, has assumed the status of a mega party that can challenge the dominance of the ruling party.

With the exception of Benue and Katsina, which have been controlled by the PDP since the inception of democratic rule in 1999, Kano and Gombe have been ruled by the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and PDP, with the latter having a slight advantage.

Why Kano is a toss up The present political configuration in the state against the backdrop of the successful merger of some major political parties to form APC, clearly points to a likely photo finish between the ruling party and the new party in the 2015 elections.

Though PDP is currently in control of the state, there is no gainsaying the fact that ANPP and CPC also boast of substantial followership in the North West state. In fact, not a few political stakeholders in the state are of the opinion that PDP and the defunct ANPP and by extension APC now boasts

• Akume

• Kwankwaso

With the registration of All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party’s control of some states will be put under severe test in the 2015 general elections if the present political realities in the country are anything to go by. Assistant Editor, Remi Adelowo, reports on the realities in some northern states equal strength in the state.

A brief rundown of the political control of the state since 1999 will suffice.

In 1999, the PDP with the incumbent governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, as its candidate won the election. Kwankwaso, however, lost his election bid in 2003 to Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, the governorship candidate of the now defunct ANPP. And for the first time in the political history of the state where a sitting governor failed to win reelection, Shekarau proved bookmakers’ wrong when he won a second term in office.

But his attempt to instal a successor, Salihu Sagir Takai, who served in his administration as the Commissioner for Local Government, in the 2011 general election, failed, as Kwankwaso staged a dramatic comeback to the exalted seat he vacated in 2003.

Takai’s loss at the polls, according to sources, may not be unconnected to the internal crisis that rocked ANPP, with many

of its key stakeholders alleging that he was undemocratic. This, party members said, allegedly worked against Takai at the election.

But with the merging of ANPP and CPC (whose formation and launch in Kano before the 2011 polls generated excitement among the people due to the cult-like status of its former national leader, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari), coupled with the alleged disenchantment of the incumbent governor with his party, there are strong feelers that the ruling party may lose the next governorship polls in the state.

The number of political offices held by members of the PDP and the defunct ANPP is also quite instructive in how the 2015 election pans out.

Out of the three senatorial seats in the National Assembly, PDP controls two, while ANPP has one. And in the state House of Assembly, the PDP is said to control about 65 percent of the seats, with the rest held by ANPP.

The Benue scenerio Another state that will be under focus in the battle for the governorship and other elective positions in 2015 is the North-Central state of Benue.

From 1999 till date, there has been a stiff electoral contest between the PDP and the defunct ANPP and ACN. The incumbent senator representing Benue North West, George Akume, was elected as governor of the state in 1999 and won a second term in 2003.

Against all odds, his anointed candidate as successor, Gabriel Suswam, then a member of the House of Representatives, won the 2007 governorship election.

As a result of unresolved political differences between Akume and Suswam, the former left the PDP for ACN about two years before the 2011 elections.

In furtherance of his resolve to cut Suswam to size politically and frustrate his second term ambition, Akume backed United States-based Professor Steve Torkuma Ugba as the ACN governorship candidate in an election which outcome was controversial and acrimonious.

The case dragged on for almost two years, with the Supreme Court sometime last year finally affirming the victory of Suswam in the 2011 election.

Suswam also made attempts to pay back Akume in his own coins. The governor had also supported Terngu Tsegbe as the PDP can-

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 4, 2013

Politics

21

Gombe also dicey The Gombe State Governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo, who is reportedly interested in seeking for a second term in office, also has his work cut out.

According to The Nation findings, leaders of APC have, in the last couple of months, been busy harmonising the structures of all the political parties that merged into the new party with the aim of checking the dominance of the PDP in the North East state.

The APC leaders believe the party stands a good chance to alter the prevailing political dynamics of the state.

According to sources, the popularity of the defunct ANPP, which produced the governor of the state from 1999 to 2003 in the person of Alhaji Abubakar Hashidu, and the CPC, which currently has a sizeable number of members in the state and House of Representatives, has raised hopes of giving PDP a run for its money at the 2015 general elections.

• Suswam

didate to challenge Akume for the Benue North West seat. Tsegbe lost.

Beside Akume, who is a member of the opposition in the National Assembly, his former party, ACN also boasts about one third

N

IGERIA was almost exposed to ridicule with the recent insinuation that Zimbabweans wholesomely rejected former President Olusegun Obasanjo as the Head of Africa Union (AU) Observer Mission for the election in that country. The intrigue and horse dealing that went on behind the scenes for Obasanjo to be finally accepted for that role is a story for another day. However, the fact that Zimbabweans mooted the idea of not allowing Nigeria’s former president to play that role is a worrying sign.

As far as elections go, Zimbabwe has not been the role model on this continent. If anything, that country is an example of how not to run a contemporary democracy. Old man Rob Mugabe has been on the seat since that country’s modern history and even at 89 years old has shown no sign of letting go of his grip on power. Could it be that the Zimbabweans are worried about the similarities between their designated observer and their leaders whom some of them are willing to sacrifice their lives to get rid of? After all, if Obasanjo’s bid to manipulate the 1999 constitution – the third term agenda- had succeeded, he would probably be in his second term under the new constitution by now.

It would seem that other African countries have more to worry about in connection with this anti-apartheid hero.

Mugabe’s clamp down on the opposition could pale into insignificance compared to the way and manner that he ran those opposed to him out of the country. During Obasanjo’s tenure as a civilian president, Zaki Ibam in Benue State and Odi in Rivers State were reminders of his ca-

• Yuguda

of members in the House of Representatives and the state House of Assembly.

For Akume and Suswam, the next general election will be another opportunity to determine

who is in control of the politics of the state, with not a few observers listing Benue State among other states as one of the flashpoints at the next polls.

However, sources in the state

say the PDP is in for a tough fight at the next polls if the relative strength of the defunct ACN and ANPP (now APC) in the state is maximally leveraged on by its leading lights.

Same in Bauchi The situation is the same in Bauchi State where the governor, Isa Yuguda, will be completing his second term in 2015.

While Yuguda has not yet given any hint on his likely successor, the APC, with notable political figures like Yuguda’s former deputy, Alhaji Garba Gadi and youthful Senator Nasif Nasif, who unconfirmed sources say may be picked as the party’s governorship candidate in 2015, is poised to change the political status quo post-2015 era.

From Zimbabwe to Anambra: Obasanjo’s trail of confusion

By Dr Kayode Abebisi

pacity as an army general to ride roughshod over people in his attempt to leave up to his personality as a one time military dictator.

In his generosity, he was gracious enough to have applied the Public Order Act in liberal doses to stifle the most basic of democratic dispensations despite a court ruling to the contrary.

Despite his showmanship, his credential as a leader who fought corruption could not have endeared him to people of other climes who are not as tolerant of sleaze as this Nigeria’s icon. Not with all the rots that were discovered once the Emperor of Otta left office as president.

Furthermore, Obasanjo holds the singular honour of being the purveyor of “do or die” politics in Nigeria. The anti-corruption agency that should have been empowered to track down corrupt people was converted into a personal terror police to intimidate political opponents. The 2007 elections, which today hold the honour of being the worst in the nation’s history, were the results of the do or die politics that Obasanjo introduced. Results were merely allocated to those loyal to the strong man of Otta while the tribunal and courts were later kept busy trying to sort out the mess.

Those who contend that some of these misdeeds were in the past are correct. However, Obasanjo’s continued posture indicates a man who has no remorse for the things

• Obasanjo

he did wrong. The national dailies recently reported that he gave his protégée, President Goodluck Jonathan, a red line that must not be crossed in their relationship.

This red line, as reported by the media, is his insistence that President Jonathan must ensure that his erstwhile aide, Andy Uba, emerges the governor of Anambra State in the forthcoming governorship election.The effrontery of it was

part of the report that said Obasanjo declared the Andy Uba governorship project as his (Obasanjo’s) project. There is certainly no record anywhere that shows that the people of Anambra State collectively resolved to outsource the leadership of the state to Obasanjo.

This insistence is despite the fact that Andy Uba and his brother Chris Uba once declared before Obasanjo, when he was president, that they rigged that state’s election to favour PDP. These scenarios in Anambra portrays Obasanjo as a man who has failed to take a retrospective look at the trail of confusion he left behind. He spent eight years as an elected president but now wants to dictate not just to Anambra people but to the entire country because that is the implication of drawing a red line for an incumbent president.

It is thus important that the people of Anambra State, especially the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chapter, should deliver a strong message to Obasanjo. The message is that he

has used up his time as well as frittered away the goodwill of the people and should at this point allow Nigerians to decide what works best for them. Anambra State chapter of the PDP must reject the idea of a consensus candidate and insist on free, fair, transparent and acceptable primary election. This is the only way of ensuring that the rampaging bull inObasanjo’s make up is escorted out of the china shop before activities for the 2015 elections kick off. Should he be allowed to have his way, then he would equally dictate the candidates for his party in the various states.

This will fit perfectly into Obasanjo desire to be the leader of Nigeria for life – there are other statesmen other than him. It will also be consistent with the sit tight culture of some of his African contemporaries with the difference being that the former president would be teleguiding the affairs of the nation through his protégée and proxies. One is left wondering why Obasanjo and some African leaders have this unrelenting desire for selfperpetration and resorting to proxies when term limitation saw them out of office. But then there is Nelson Mandela, let not forget for a moment. Nigerians should therefore emulate the Mandela option and avoid like a plague the Obasanjo example.

Dr Adebisi, a public affairs commentator

22

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 4, 2013

Politics

Babangida, Abacha era, my most difficult service years - Former US envoy H

OW would you describe your experience as the Deputy U. S. Ambassador in Nigeria?

It was the most difficult aspect of my service career. I had three heads of state during my service in Nigeria. Gen. Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, Chief Ernest Shonekan and Gen. Sanni Abacha. Every Nigerian knew Gen. Abacha did not like the U. S. He especially did not like our ambassador, Walter Carrington. So, working under that circumstances was extremely difficult.

Can you recall one or two of those difficult experiences?

First, very few government officials would be willing to talk to us because Gen. Abacha was not kind to those people who disagreed with him or did things against him.

Two, we would be called to Abuja at the last minute on the instruction that Gen. Abacha wanted to see us. But we would sit down, waiting and waiting, sometimes till 2 am. The Nigerian security people would be following us. It was not what I call a pleasant experience. But at the same time, those of us who were there enjoyed Nigeria and Nigerians. We had many friends, even in the media. It was very courageous of them to come to the American Embassy or the ambassador’s residence or to my residence because those residences were under close watch of

J

Ambassador Tibor Nagy (Jr) was the Deputy U. S. Ambassador to Nigeria during the reigns of the late Gen. Sanni Abacha, Chief Ernest Shonekan and Gen. Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB). His boss was Amb. Walter Carrington. Ambassador Nagy, who is currently the Vice Provost for International Affairs at Texas Technical University (TTU), is, however, anxious to return to a new Nigeria even as he is facilitating a partnership between TTU and the Oyo State Technical University.

In this interview with BISI OLADELE, Nagy reflects on his sojourn in Nigeria and describes the period as “the most difficult aspect of his foreign service career.” Excerpts: security. So, it was really courageous for them to come to us. You will recall that many journalists were arrested, some were jailed, some were beaten up. We thank God the country has moved on.

Now that TTU is in a partnership with a Nigerian university, would you ever love to return to Nigeria for any official assignment?

I am looking forward to that. I

am excited to return to Nigeria because I know Nigeria will be a totally different country now. Same people but living in a totally different country. I am looking forward to seeing Murtala Mohammed International Airport and other places in a free society.

Why are you eager to go back there in spite of your bad experience when you served there?

• Ambassador Tibor Nagy (Jnr)

Even during the bad experience, I knew that every true Nigerian is good. Now I am going back to see a true Nigeria and Nigerians.

From your experience, how would you describe a typical Nigerian?

A typical Nigerian is dynamic, ambitious, energetic, open to the world, moving forward and that

applies to the 160 million citizens immaterial of ethnic group or religion.

If you have another opportunity to go and serve again in Nigeria, would you accept it?

I will. I was in the Governor Romney’s Presidential race team.

If he had won the presidential election, I would have asked him to send me back to Nigeria.

State and the politics of moral outrage

UST when one thought the worst that could befall the people of Anambra State is in the past, the very characters responsible for the state’s sordid past soon surpass themselves. They outdo themselves in the art of brigandage that tarnishes the image of a state peopled in majority by an otherwise hardworking, talented and industrious people.

I was recently taken on by a friend from one of the north central states, who, relying on the facts available to him, dismissed Anambra State as an enclave of crooks and clowns. The natural thing is to be miffed at hearing a person from another part of the country dismissing one’s home state in such unsavoury words but my friend was insistent. He said that crooks lord it over the state and powerless citizens only grumble in their private recesses without being able to do anything fundamental about throwing out the brigands once and for all.

According to him, at the dawn of the on-going civil rule, at a time when other states were arousing themselves from the ashes of military rule, it turned out that the resources of Anambra were being diverted into the pockets of a godfather to the then governor, ‘Odera’ Chinwoke Mbadinuju. It turned out that the federal allocations are dutifully remitted to the godfather while his urchins highjacked the paltry internally generated revenue. The outcome is now history.

From the death trap that roads became to the breakdown of security

•Obi

By Hon Nnabuife Dike

that saw to the emergence of Bakassi Boys who regularly dispense vigilante justice, Anambra soon became a by word for lawlessness and social disorder.

The emergence of Dr. Chris Ngige was hailed way back then.

But that was before it was alleged that he was part of an oath swearing coven. Ngige’s refusal to toe the line of his ‘godfathers’ led from one sordid tale to the other: ranging from the kidnap of a sitting governor to the confession by Chris Uba and his brothr, Andy Uba, before

former President Olusegun Obasanjo, that the election to produce the governor was rigged. The Ubas’ grouse was that they were not getting returns on their investments as expected.

Even when Ngige lost out to pave way for Peter Obi, it did not in anyway assuage the feudal lords. He was impeached by a magical quorum of the state assembly and it again took the courts to reinstate him. In between his two tenures, Andy Uba took the joke called Anambra politics to a new low when he briefly paraded himself as the governor. His nine days tint was the final proof that all the political woes of Anambra people could be situated in the greed of one family, the Uba family.

There were so many other instances of anomaly cited by my friend to prove his point that my home state is a huge joke. As would be expected, I vehemently defended my people, especially since the person making these points is not on ground in Anambra state and does not know where the shoe pinches.

He does not know about the collective resolve of the people that never again will brigands under whatever guise have a free run in the state.

I was however taken aback later in the day when I discovered from the list of aspirants that have bought nomination and expression of interest forms from the PDP that Andy Uba is still nursing the ambition to become Anambra State governor. My sense of outrage assumed a new proportion when, on

a few phone calls to key persons in the state later, I learnt that Uba’s former boss, Olusegun Obasanjo, is the one pushing his aspiration.

The same Obasanjo, before whom, as president, the Ubas’ confessed to rigging an election and he did absolutely nothing about it.

For the avoidance of doubts, I am not saying Andy Uba has no right to contest elections - he is a serving senator, so he can certainly contest but he has lost the moral platform from which to launch such aspiration, particularly when it is now apparent that the Andy Uba governorship project is an Obasanjo governorship project. I cannot recall at what point the people of Anambra resolved to outsource the leadership of the state to a Yoruba man in Otta.

There is also the issue of competence. A school leaving certificate would suffice for anyone aspiring to be governor. However, we live in a time when people with multi-disciplinary Masters Degrees are presiding over parastatals and agencies, how come that a man who has no first degree to his name-forget the honorary Doctorate he parades, is the one to lead Anambra people? It would be more productive if Andy Uba rather spends the next four years acquiring a university degree instead of dreaming about being a governor for thesame span of time.

With some luck he could pick up some finesse in the course of studying for a degree and would be in a position to enlighten the rest of his clan.

Turning to the issue of sleaze, it is unfortunate that the legal and legislative frameworks of Nigeria are not more robust than they presently are. If not, a man who openly admitted being worth trillions of naira - proceeds of “gifts” he received as Obasanjo’s errand man has not been tried for corruption.

Now he has the effrontery to try unleashing his slush funds in his desperate effort to become a governor. This is the point when stakeholders in Anambra should ask this profound question: if a man as an errand boy acquires trillions of naira just how much will he loot as the governor?

The Ubas’ brigandage in Anambra State is what could make my friend from the north central state refer to the people of my state as clowns and it is the one thing that must not be allowed to continue. Not just does it expose the state to ridicule but this latest foray into the governorship race has all the potential to destabilise the state,particularly when the Uba clique, ably led by Obasanjo, is already flying the kite of a consensus PDP candidate. Should Andy Uba emerge as the PDP candidate the people of the state should kiss free, fair and credible election goodbye. The time to put a final stop to the arrant nonsense of the Uba clan is now and Anambra people must do it to save themselves from further ridicule and suffering.

•Hon Dike was a former member of Anambra State House of Assembly

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 4, 2013

Politics

ripples

23

Political Politics turf

with Bolade Omonijo boladeomonijo@yahoo.com

Ekiti PDP crisis in abeyance

PDP: The trouble ahead (1)

N

T

HE last may not have been heard on the reported truce between some members of the Ekiti State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) brokered by the party’s Reconciliation Committee, headed by the Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson. The latest news is that one of the party’s governorship aspirants, ex-Governor Ayo Fayose, and Minister for Police Affairs, Caleb Olubolade, have gone back to the drawing board on how to perfect ways of achieving their ambitions.

While Fayose is alleged to have vowed to give the contest all it takes, Olubolade is also allegedly pulling strings at the federal level to ensure his emergence as the PDP candidate.

Gadi likely for Senate

Y

EARS after his impeachment as the Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, Alhaji Garba Gadi, has since moved on. Now a chieftain of the newly-registered All Progressives Congress (APC), Gadi, according to sources, is under pressure to contest for a senate seat in the next general elections. The initial plan was for Gadi to contest for the governorship, but after consultations with his supporters, he has reportedly decided to give the senate a shot.

Between Melaye and Adeyemi

T

HE race for the Kogi South senatorial seat in 2015 may have begun in earnest with the reported ambition of radical politician, Dino Melaye, to unseat Senator Smart Adeyemi, who is allegedly interested in another term. While Melaye will be contesting on the platform of APC, Adeyemi remains the candidate to beat in the PDP primaries.

Will Balat challenge Usman in 2015?

S

ENATOR representing Kaduna South, Nenadi Usman, may face a tough challenge in her bid to retain her seat come 2015. Sources revealed that Isiah Balat, an aide of Vice President Namadi Sambo, is allegedly toying with the idea of taking over from Usman. It is, however, not clear if the vice-president is favourably disposed to Balat’s ambition.

OW that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has won the registration battle, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been offered the opportunity for a new beginning. The party has been in power for 14 years and appears to have perfected the art of retaining the hold on power at all costs. It seems to have men who understand what it takes to “win” election, even when unpopular. But, that was when the other parties were so weak that they could only offer feeble challenge. Each of the parties tried to hold on to the power structure in its sphere of influence and, as such, they also had to clash with each other, thus giving PDP the room for manouvre.

The music has changed, the ring has been altered and the game and its ground rules will follow suit. The arrival of APC has brought a new dimension to politicking in the country. Never before has a real two-party system evolved in the country. In the First Republic, there were at least three strong political parties- the Northern Peoples Congress; National Council of Nigerian Citizens and Action Group. There were other much smaller, but powerful parties including the Northern Elements Progressive Union and the United Middle belt Congress. The move to have two parties just before the 1964 federal elections could only produce two grand alliances. An alliance or coalition is not quite the same as a merger.

In the Second Republic, another move to have two political parties failed. After the 1979 elections, the NPP, GNPP, UPN and PRP tried to come together to fight the NPN. Before anything could come of the effort, the NPP had opted out of the PPA arrangement, rather teaming up with the ruling party. Again, after the NPN/NPP accord had failed, the attempt to have a united opposition ahead of the 1983 general elections failed. The component parties could not agree on the fine details that would have made the parties approach the Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO) for registration and, consequently, the proposed Progressive Peoples Party (PPP) could not take effect.

While there were two parties in the so-called Third Republic, they were created by the military government.

They were more of parastatals than political parties freely formed by associating politicians and united by interests.

The environment, too, was very strange as some politicians had to be banned to create a “newbreed” class to whom the parties were handed. The Republic itself hardly qualified as one as the military held sway at the centre while allowing civilians, supposedly elected to run affairs in the states.

The Maradona was really at work. He stung like a bee and flew like a butterfly. He only knew the game he was playing and merely used some of his colleagues to “legitimize” his actions.

At the inception of this Republic, three political parties were registered and, just before the presidential election, after the military had already succeeded in creating the PDP monster, the All Peoples Party and the Alliance for Democracy, decided to forge a common front to wrest power. But, as in previous attempts, it fell short of a merger and there was little time to sell the resultant coalition. It failed at the poll and, since there was a fallback position, the parties returned to their natural constituencies.

The situation now is quite different. The merging parties have burnt up the bridge, given up their identities and are sworn to wrest power from the ruling party. It is already generating excitement on the scene. Prior to the merger, it was obvious to all that none of the parties could confront the PDP. The electorate understands the setting and would therefore vote only the PDP or withhold their assent. In the Southwest where the progressive tendency is well entrenched, the people knew in 2003 that the AD was in no position to win the battle and that gave rise to the AD’s ruinous strategy of working with the PDP. The chances were brighter in 2007 following the defection of Vice President Atiku Abubakar to the Action Congress. But, the Northern votes were split between the AC, General Muhammadu Buhari’s All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and the PDP’s Umaru Yar’Adua.

Contrary to the bold face by President Goodluck Jonathan’s spokesman During Okupe, the odds do not favour the PDP now. If the APC can put its acts together, settle for a winner as presidential candidate and get its leaders to campaign vigorously all over the country, it will be an uphill task to win in 2015. The APC got it right in going for a merger and doing it early enough. It has enough time to sell its programme if it is able to come up with one and should have no problem getting voters acquainted with its logo.

The PDP is now confronted with a different scenario. It may actually be starting the campaigns as an underdog in power. Whatever the situation, Nigerians should look forward to an exciting game.

24

THE SUNDAY INTERVIEW

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 4, 2013

State of emergency should cover more areas —AVM Ararile

The Ovie of Umiaghwa-Abraka Kingdom in Ethiope-East Local Government Area of Delta State, His Royal Majesty, Lucky Ochuko Ararile, Awaeke 1, is not just another traditional ruler. He is a retired Air Vice Marshall (AVM). His military involvement in Chad, Liberia and Sierra Leone and at home largely served as the basis for his appointment as the pioneer Coordinator of the Federal Government’s Amnesty Programme for exmilitants. He spoke to Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia on his life as a traditional ruler, his military years and the security challenge in the country.

the point, so I support the President’s action completely. But for his decisive action, Boko Haram would have spread to Sokoto, Kebbi, Taraba, Kogi etc by 2015 and most of the so- called northern elders would have been dealt with by Boko Haram.

The best strategy really in dealing with Boko Haram is to cut off their sources of funding and target the leadership.

As a traditional ruler now, how are you coping with the needs of your people and the pressure that comes with leading the community as opposed to the regimented life in the military where you came from?

Leadership in whatever form, whether as a monarch or a commander, is all about the people and use of resources. In the military you have what they call institutional power.

You have the power by law, the authority. But as a monarch it is the people themselves that give you the authority. You don’t have any coercive instrument, so you must persuade. Once you are able to explain to them, you don’t have problems. I don’t take any decision on my own.

How much of your privacy has your new status as traditional ruler taken away?

Not at all. In the palace I am not under any restriction. There is nothing that I am forced to do. I still go and play my golf, visit my friends and if my friends want to visit me, they visit. No r e s t r i c t i o n whatsoever.

Did you have the premonition that one day you would be a traditional ruler?

No, No, No. When I wake up I still wonder how I got to this place. I had retired for almost a year before I was called to be king. It is a noble and humbling experience.

How is life after military service?

Well, it has been quite an experience and challenging too: two different ball games. It demands different approaches and competencies in dealing with human beings.

Let’s look at the regimental life in the military. How was it?

One is grateful to God. Looking back, one served for over 35 years- from the age of 20 years. So a very substantial part of my life was spent in the military.

My story is essentially the military part of my life. I

“

We have a lot of youths, millions of them, that are yet be attended to in the Niger Delta. And if they are not taken care of, they might think the only way government responds to issues is when they get violent.

That message need to be avoided, the youth problem must be addressed holistically in the Niger Delta and indeed Nigeria.

“

T

HE Amnesty Programme that you started, can you tell us how you got involved in it, and are you satisfied with where it is today?

I can say that since I left the amnesty programme in 2010, they have made quite an effort.

The second phase which is the demobilisation and reintegration is very challenging. One thing is to train them, and the other one is to get them employed and we are talking of about 30,000 persons. When I finished the disarmament, we actually had 20,000 plus but subsequently more were added and it is now about 30,000. We are only talking about people who carried arms or purportedly carried arms. We have a lot of youths, millions of them, that are yet be attended to in the Niger Delta. And if they are not taken care of, they might think the only way government responds to issues is when they get violent. That message need to be avoided, the youth problem must be addressed holistically in the Niger Delta and indeed Nigeria.

Can you tell us your challenges when you started the Amnesty Programme?

O yes! There were lots of problems, serious logistic problems. For example, there were no camps to keep the ex-militants. Funds were not released on time to pay their stipends until they started to riot. It appeared to me that those that thought out the programme did not believe it would work. There were even deliberate attempts to sabotage the programme. Some preferred the military option instead. These were the contending forces one had to out-manoeuvre to achieve whatever level of success we were able to achieve.

Would you say that when you entered the creeks you were apprehensive that anything could happen to you?

Of course, anything could have happened. We were ready for anything. It will interest you to know that three of the four helicopters belonging to the Nigerian Navy and OAS which we used during the amnesty have crashed. I condole with the families of these gallant pilots who displayed exceptional courage during the disarmament exercise. Well, these crashes could have happened then and that is the risk of the job.

From your present status as a traditional ruler how best do you think government should tackle the security challenges facing the country, especially the Boko Haram problem?

Well I am happy that President Goodluck Jonathan has gone ahead to declare a state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states. However, if I were to advise, I would have recommended that Bauchi, Kano and Gombe be included. This is because as the operation in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa progresses, there will be relocation of Boko Haram elements to these other states. Having said that, I think it is necessary for us to really analyse Boko Haram. After the fall of Hissen Habre in Chad, some renegade Chadians occupied Bama and Baga areas where coincidentally the Boko Haram is concentrating its efforts in the latest insurgency. Gen Buhari led the operation to flush them out. The Maitatsine sect with similar religious and operational doctrines unleashed mayhem on Borno, Adamawa and Kano. President Shagari at the time ordered the military to deal decisively with them. Subsequently, the whole of the North East became insecure due to the activities of nomadic Chadians and others. So, it appears to me that Boko Haram, by their modus operandi, are not Nigerians. There may be a few Nigerians who are in nominal leadership positions, I do not believe that Nigerians will indiscriminately be killing Muslims, Christians, burning down schools and hoisting flags.

People who are taking this as religious are missing

•Continued on Page 25

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 4, 2013

THE SUNDAY INTERVIEW

At the time of the coup, only the Air Force had about 30 personnel on ground. We had earlier moved our war planes to Guinea immediately the coup was announced. We used to operate from Sierra Leone to Liberia. The situation on ground was dire. The Air force personnel were low on ammunition, food and other supplies. The Sierra Leonean army occupied the southern end of the airport including part of the runway while the Nigerian Air Force personnel occupied the northern end. As a result, we had to use half of the runway that was occupied by our troops, landing and taking off in opposite directions in order not to overfly Sierra Leonean positions. We deceived the Sierra Leonean Army into believing we had authority from Major Koroma to land. By the time they realised what we were up to, we had inserted about a company of troops led by then Lt Col Kwaskebe, with two MOWAG armoured fighting vehicles, four jeeps and enough ammunition and food to sustain operations for two weeks. The same night we completed the mission, the Sierra Leonean army attacked our troops.

Their barrack by the airport was overrun by our soldiers and the airport was secured for the subsequent operations by Brigadier General Maxwell Kobe.

Without that airlift by the air force, it would have been impossible to overthrow Major Johnny Koroma. So I was happy to have participated in that operation.

Looking back at your role at that point which seemed to have changed the whole game, would you say that you are happy today?

Yes, I am happy about our contribution, even though it’s unrecognised. It is not in the nature of the air force or indeed the military to advertise the roles they play, but we all have our stories to tell.

You also saw action in Liberia. Various stories have been told about what happened there concerning Nigerian troops. Tell us more about Nigeria’s role.

I was a pilot, I flew in from Nigeria. Sometimes, I spent a week or more in Monrovia depending on the nature of ongoing operations but I was not directly involved in army type of operations on ground. So those who were responsible for physical security and the fighting on ground will avail you with the facts more than me. But I am aware of what happened but

“

But for his decisive action, Boko Haram would have spread to Sokoto, Kebbi, Taraba, Kogi etc by 2015 and most of the socalled northern elders would have been dealt with by Boko Haram.

“

“

went to the Nigeria Defence Academy Well I am happy (NDA) for the basic military training and that President thereafter went to various flying Goodluck Jonathan training schools of has gone ahead to the Royal Air Force declare a state of as well as the United States Air Force. emergency in Subsequently, I Borno, Yobe and participated in many military operations Adamawa states. both within and outside the country. However, if I were I participated in the OAU Peace Keeping to advise, I would Operations in Chad have recommended in 1980; ECOMOG that Bauchi, Kano operations in Liberia and Sierra Leone and Gombe be from 1990 to 2000, included. This is among others.

Internally, I was because as the involved in the Joint Task Force, operation in Borno, Operation Restore Yobe and Adamawa Hope in the Niger Delta and then the progresses, there A m n e s t y Programme. So it will be relocation of was a very busy Boko Haram engagement while it elements to these lasted.

Could you recall other states. your most memorable moments in the Air Force?

Easily the most memorable for me was the operation to insert Nigerian troops into Lungi Airport in Freetown, Sierra Leone, to counter the coup by Major Johnny Koroma. It fell on me to take the Air Force C130 airplane, with a crew of nine, to airlift some troops from Liberia to Lungi.

25

I cannot be categorical.

As a pilot, how do you feel when you hear of plane crashes in the country. Are they caused by pilot’s error or mechanical problems?

A lot of things could lead to air crashes. It could be pilot’s error; it could be technical problems; it could be procedural errors. It could be a problem with i n a d e q u a t e infrastructure: no radar, no radios, control procedures, et cetera. So each crash must be investigated and the causes or findings released to the public for the benefit of all. To tell the truth, things are much better now than in our time.

The Air Force Dornier that crashed carrying military personnel I learnt you were supposed

to be on that aircraft?

Those were my pilots. I was their commander at 81 Air Maritime Group. So I knew them. They were fine pilots and gentlemen. At the time the accident happened I had left the unit and was in Abuja.

Were you surprised when you heard of the crash and you must have been used to that aircraft, could it have been a technical error?

There was no problem with the aircraft, that particular accident was weather related, it had nothing to do with technical fault and the pilots were ok, but they ran into very severe weather which led to the crash, it had nothing to do with the condition of the airplane or the pilot.

“

26

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 4, 2013

Politics

Nigeria not doing enough to fight corruption -Lar Senator Victor Rampyal Lar represents Plateau South at the Nigerian Senate. He is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes. He was a member of the Federal House of Representatives from 1999 to 2007, before heading to the Senate. In this interview with reporters, Lar speaks on the war against corruption in Nigeria, calls for the autonomy of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) among others. NICHOLAS KALU was there.

D

O you think enough is being done to check graft in Nigeria?

I am not satisfied with the anti-corruption war in Nigeria.

Both institutionally and operationally, I am not satisfied. In the first place, when we came on board as members of this committee, we had the noble desire to exit Nigeria out of the target group of Financial Action Task Force, having been placed on observation and target for the previous two years; we tried to look at it, observed the deficiencies that attracted the placement of Nigeria on the target group and tried to work towards meeting them as a vehicle for exiting Nigeria. First and foremost was the antimoney laundering law which has been amended and has given us a pass mark; then the terrorism Bill and the terrorism financing Bill which has also been amended. However, the tall one of having an independent and autonomous financial intelligence unit is what we are working on and, as a matter of fact, I have tried to fast-track the process. The Committee of the Senate sponsored it. Let me call it a private member bill; or a bill for an act to establish Financial Intelligence Unit. The advantages are quite obvious. Part of it will be to meet up the international requirements and standards, as a way of exiting the financial embargos and sanctions. It will enable the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to concentrate on operations and enforcement. Right now, the chairman of the EFCC goes round the whole world, doing the job of FIU. That is not proper. He is supposed to be here to look at what is happening and provide leadership for arrests, prosecution and the rest of them.

The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) was set up as part of the efforts of the Federal Government in combating money laundering, and the financing of terrorist activities in Nigeria. The aim may not be fully achieved if it does not operate independently. NFIU was set up as a precondition for the removal of Nigeria from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) list of Non-cooperation countries and territories (NCCTs). We have sponsored a Bill for its autonomy.

We are taking steps to conscientize Nigerians on the

•Lar

implications. One of the steps is discussing with people like you, who can tell the world what we are doing and why we are doing it so they understand the essence of the NFIU autonomy Bill. We intend to undertake visits to media organisations, invite stakeholders for briefs, public hearings, etc.

What is your take on the proposed merger for anti-graft agencies to strengthen them?

Well, I was opposed to the proposed strengthening of antigraft agencies, but I have decided to let go, on the condition that the merger of the anti-corruption agencies to strengthen them does not translate to retrenching people. I thought that we should give it a trial, to see if that will improve their performance; but, beyond that, I want to say that the problems with the anti-graft agencies are both institutional and operational.

Institutional, in the sense that the EFCC, as it is presently constituted, is just like another arm of the Nigerian Police Force. Out of about 1,250 people, 700 of them are policemen. This has dampened even the enthusiasm of the international donor agencies because it is like funding another Nigerian Police Force.

That has also stagnated all the

graduates that were employed and trained as Cadets, because, right now, all the heads of departments in EFCC are policemen.

That has affected their ‘promotability’; that has affected employment opportunities. I believe that those are institutional problems that need to be tackled.

By the way, who even said that it is only the Police that have the rare knowledge of fighting corruption? There is no law that says it must be a Police; yes, Section 4 of the Police Act says they are empowered to arrest, investigate and prosecute. You can have a few of them for the purposes of arrest, but to have 700 of them is definitely unacceptable. What that also means is that as it is now, the Policemen take their pay from the Police Force and also take allowances from the EFCC. Such allowances that should have been used to employ people, you use them in giving people who are just out there on a Jamboree. I think, that is not right. That is not fair. Secondly, I believe the resources given to the EFCC are not properly applied. I believe that EFCC needs to put in more efforts in training their legal officers because the bane of the fight against corruption is not the absence of petitions. Enough petitions are generated. It is not the

absence of prosecution. Quite a number of people get taken to courts, but the substance of the cases are not water-tight and not provable. They are so watery that those who are accused, who pay for the best lawyers, easily capitalise on technicalities and get off the hook. EFCC should be restructured. It is possible that there could be some judicial manoeuvrings. It is possible because of respect for fundamental human rights. The Judiciary does not just fast-track anti-corruption cases because they are criminal cases. We have to live with that because those are the requirements and prescriptions that have to be obeyed. I will rather go with the proposal of the former Chief Justice of Nigeria who proposed that we dedicate certain courts for corruption cases trial. The Judiciary is a separate arm of government and should be independent.

What do you think about a proposed agency to monitor antigraft agencies?

No, I do not think that we need that. We should improve on the oversight functions, conscientisation, advocacies and proper education of citizens on holding public office holders accountable. We must partner with the media and civil society.

When you have a robust civil society, they mobilise in the fight against corruption.

What is your take on the state of security in Nigeria?

The problem of security is so large that you cannot leave it in the hands of security agents alone. We have about 150 million Nigerians. We have less than 400,000 policemen. The number is inadequate. But, come to think of it, our deliberate strategy of what we call regime security instead of national security is the reason we keep having security challenges. Even on the less that 400,000 Policemen, more than 10,000 of them are taken off their beats and shared to politicians to provide security. That is not fair.

Again, I think that the issue of national security is everybody’s business. Policemen are ill equipped, ill-trained and underpaid. State Police can also help.

If you have State Police, where you have local people who know the terrain and know everybody, given the responsibility, it will go a long way.

What is your assessment of the present administration?

Well, they are doing their best.

Their best is not good enough so long as we still have security challenges. Government should make security a priority.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 4, 2013

KSB

I will marry again if...

28

Glamour

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 4, 2013

Kehinde Oluleye Tel: 08023689894 (sms)

E-mail: kehinde.oluleye@thenationonlineng.net

Style

red tips for

O

NE wonders why red lipstick never seems to go out of fashion; the fact is that it is a universal classic and has yet to go out of style. Many women assume they cannot pull it off but they are wrong. Here are some tips to follow. *The secret lays in the rest of your face - The paler your skin, the bigger the pop. You should go light on the eyes and blush; otherwise, you will risk looking like a clown. You can skip the eyeliner and make do with only mascara and make sure to apply to bottom lashes, this opens up your eyes. Dust your face with powder and cheeks with a soft blush *Line inside of the lips - The lipstick tends to bleed, so fill in the lips with the lip liner first before any other thing. *Pick the right colour - If you are light-skinned, you will look better in plum shades, darker girls would be flattered by warmer reds that have a brown base. *Do not let nails clash - Contrary to what you might think, it is better to go for non-red nail polish when going on red lipstick. A clear and light polish is

lipstick

cool and dark polish is a trend that will not go away anytime soon. If you really want to go with the red polish, then make sure the colour matches your lips. *Blend it well - You do not have to stick to one shade of red, try to blend and create the perfect colours. If you buy a red lipstick shade that is too bright or dark, do not dispose it, instead, experiment with other lipstick shades that you have to create the perfect shade of red. *Do it light if you are older - The lips get thinner as we age and dark lips accentuate them. To prevent your lips from looking too stern, try a rosy red lipstick shade or you can avoid the red lips altogether and opt for a neutral shade then go ahead and play up your eyes.

Glamour

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 4, 2013

I The

N this season of holiday (picnic & beach), what is better than best shorts for your legs? Our Fashion squad hit the style-world to capture the ideal shorts for your shapes for your delight.

Enjoy

right shorts for your body type

The figure to-die-for (hourglass shape) Women with hour-glass figures are curvy. Their bust to hip ratio is almost the same, and their slim waist is the highlight of their frame. Pick up shorts that are slightly widelegged and loose-fitting.

Avoid prints, pleated styles and cargo pants.

Pair your shorts with a top that tapers in towards your waist.

Pear-shaped Pear-shaped women have a slimmer upper torso and bigger hips, waist and thighs.

Go for shorts that are flat-fronted or softly pleated to emphasise your smaller waist areas.

•Eku Edewor

•Eva

•Toke Makinwa

•Eku Edewor

29

Straight-leg cuts will suit you best: Avoid clingy fabrics like lycra. Jackets and shrugs create the appearance of a fuller shoulder. Bermuda-inspired short style that skims over hips is your best bet. Heavily pleated styles and pockets that pooch are no-go area.

For straight (long) leg Show off what you got. Go for shorts with cute details and you can experiment with floral.

Look for feminine details like lace, bright floral to soften your frame. A high-rise cut could lend you the appearance of an hour-glass figure, if it hits right at your waist.

Avoid wide leg shorts as they could make your legs look like a pair of sticks.

Boyish shape Women with boyish shape have narrow hips, small bust and a non-existent waist.

Pick shorts that give your slim hips the illusion of a fuller curve. Tailored shorts with detailing work just right.

Avoid loose fits For plus-sized figure Go for single colour flat-front pair that hits your thighs where they start to narrow.

Glamour

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 4, 2013

31

d e r a c s e r a e l Why peop a i r e g i N o t e of inviting m s m a i l l i W i m –Fun

Funmi Williams is a successful Nigerian-born gospel musician in the United Kingdom. The former journalist who is also the Chief Executive Officer of UK-based Rholf Music International label is the brain behind the concert “IN HIS PRESENCE,” which features Nigeria's best gospel musicians like Kunle Ajayi, Hope Davies, Anne Inyang, Buchi, Tosin Alao, among others. She shared with ADETUTU AUDU her music calling, the challenges of being a gospel musician and why people won't invite her to Nigeria.

A

T what point did you decide to go into gospel music?

I know that gospel music is my calling when I gave my life to Christ.

However, I activated it between 1989 and 1990 as a member of the Praise Chapel, Maiduguri, Borno State, while I was studying Mass Communication at the University of Maiduguri. The General Overseer of Praise Chapel, Bishop Fred Addo, was a renowned gospel musician and worshipper. His life style really influenced me a lot. I joined the church choir of Praise Chapel, where I cut my first tooth in gospel music. After my graduation, I had my National Youth Service at Warri, Delta State. I was a member of the Christian Union Choir at the NYSC camp and I also joined the choir of the Foursquare Gospel Church at Olu of Warri's Palace after camping. At the end of my national service, I moved to Lagos, where I joined the “Glorylanders,” the choir of Foursquare Gospel Church, national headquarters. The Glorylanders afforded me the rare opportunity to lead Praise and Worship at the national headquarters of the church before I travelled abroad. In Britain, I was a member of the Good News Pentecostal Church, aka New Life Bible Church, under Pastor Richard Jamah. When I left New Life Bible Church, I joined my new church, Kingswood Baptist Church, Basildon, Essex. Outside these, I also run my own personal music ministry where I reach out to people through different churches within and outside the United Kingdom on invitation. Honestly, I am highly elated and fulfilled whenever I lead people into the presence of God through gospel music ministration and worship. I released my solo debut album entitled “Dimi mu” (Uphold Me) in 1998. Before then, I had released a joint album with my husband. Since the release of my debut album, I have released two other albums: “The King's Praise” and “Jehovah,” all on my private label, Rholf Music International label, London.

What has been your biggest challenge in gospel music?

Franky speaking, I am facing the challenges of finding a reliable and effective marketer for my albums as most of these

marketers in Nigeria are not sincere in their business dealings. Imagine after spending a lot of money to produce my music, they want to buy my master tapes at ridiculous prices, I mean peanuts.

There is lack of trust among the marketers. When they sell your albums, they will never show you their sales report. Rather they will pay you any amount of money they like.

I also have the problem of securing an efficient manager and promoter. Since I don't live in Nigeria, there is nobody to create awareness about my music ministry and albums. This has enormously affected me very much, as I am being left out of the major concerts and programmes in Nigeria. Moreover, most conc e r t organisat ion s,

chu rches, m i n i st r i e s and fellowshi ps are scared of inviting me t o t h e i r programmes in Nigeria. Whenever they heard that I live in the United Kingdom, they think that I will cost them a fortune. But that is not true. I am a minister and not a business woman.

At times, ministering in churches especially in the UK is challenging too. Some of the churches want a live band to back me up, but they don't want to pay for their

services. In addition, the burden of financing my music production and ministry is quite challenging to me. Since my debut, I have been the one solely financing the production of all albums from my personal savings. I am also the sole sponsor of my concert- “IN HIS PRESENCE,” which features Nigeria's best gospel musicians such as Kunle Ajayi, Hope Davies, Anne Inyang, Buchi, Tosin Alao, among others.

How do you balance family and music?

God has blessed me with lovely children and a loving husband. My husband is fully in support of my musical calling.

So,

som e times, h e f o llows me to my engagements. But most of the time, all the children are with me and I usually prepare their m i n d s towards any ministration I have.

I also try not to take too many invitations on weekends so that I can have enough time to be with my

family.

How do you rate Nigerian gospel music impact in the UK? Nigerian gospel music is exploding in the UK and Europe. I wish to see more impact outside Europe, Africa and all over the world. And more people involved in its promotion and marketing. I pray that God will help more people to be involved. In my church, for instance, which has predominantly white folks who don't react like Africans during gospel music presentation; you know, we Africans like to express ourselves with music more than other races of the world. However, you will still witness an awesome excitement and acceptance of our music by westerners when we perform in church. And in other concerts I have performed, I see amazing expression such as dancing, singing, clapping, shouts of joy, and testimonies during our gospel music performances.

What are your plans for the development of gospel music in Nigeria?

In Nigeria, I have discovered that most gospel music ministers and worship leaders don't have the full understanding of the music ministry. They mostly lay emphasis on the physical shows-offs of their skills and vast musical talents and stagecraft instead of the most important spiritual aspect of their ministration. In respect of that, I intend to hold gospel music seminars, workshops and conferences exclusively for gospel musicians and worship leaders to impart into them the true essences of gospel music ministration and worshipleading excellence. In the music ministry we are leading the people to worship God in truth and in spirit as the holy scriptures stated.

Which is your favourite musical instrument?

The talking drum.

Who are your mentors in the gospel music ministry?

Ron Kenoly and Byron Cage.

What turns you on?

Humility. Humble gospel musicians really turn me on.

Glamour

32

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 4, 2013

Social REMI ADELOWO

(E-mail: remi21stcentury@yahoo.com

Stella Damasus' ex still bitter over separation

O

N countless occasions, beautiful actress Stella Damasus and very good friend and business partner, Daniel Adenimokan, have shouted themselves hoarse that what currently exists between them is purely business and nothing more.

Their respective ex's would, however, not believe such tales.

But while Daniel's former wife, actress Doris, will not care a hoot about what he does with his life, Stella's ex-husband, Emeka Nzeribe, is alleged to be raising dust. His argument, according to inside sources, is that they are still legally married, adding that until their marriage is dissolved, the actress' alleged romance with Daniel amounts to an act of infidelity. The young man is said to be considering taking a legal action against Stella, it was learnt.

Kourtney Kardashian pregnant with baby number 3

B

RACE yourselves people, there could be another Kardashian baby on the way as reports have emerged that Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick are expecting their third child together. The 34-year-old star is said to be expecting again and has told a select group of friends after she was unable to keep the news to herself anymore.

Clearly, she told the wrong ones as someone has gone and blabbed to OK! magazine. A friend told the mag: “Kourtney has confessed she's expecting. She's very excited and only telling a select few right now-but she just couldn't keep it quiet any longer.” Kourtney and Scott are already the proud parents of Mason, three, and Penelope, one, with the two reportedly wanting a third child straight after her last pregnancy had ended.

Betty & Sonny Irabor mark th 30 wedding anniversary Ikeja Ibis Hotel gets August date

A

FTER months of construction works, the developers of HDV Nigeria Ltd have concluded plans to deliver a 165-room hotel in Toyin Street, Ikeja, Lagos, next month.

Coming under the flagship of Ibis Hotel from the Accor stable, the firm has already appointed Accor SA, the acknowledged leader in the hospitality industry, to operate this hotel. The Accor hospitality group is renowned for making business and leisure travel more rewarding and glamorous.

The Ibis Hotel is expected to conform to (and usually exceed) the minimum three or four-star brand. Concept design to accommodate 165 rooms spread over five floors. Facilities including an underground parking facility for 58 cars have been incorporated into the concept of the design, with outdoor swimming pool, standing gym and Wi-Fi internet connection.

According to the chief executive officer of HDV Nigeria Ltd/Ibis Hotel Ikeja, Mr. Olufemi Okenla: “We aim to offer our guests world class hospitality in Lagos which is undoubtedly Africa's commercial hub at a pocket-friendly price and premium comfort.”

O

NE of Nigeria's most admired couples, Betty and Sonny Irabor, some days ago took time off their busy schedules to celebrate their union which has stood the test of time against all odds. Still head over heels in love with each other like teenagers just falling in love for the first time, Betty, the stylish publisher of Genevieve magazine and her former broadcaster hubby, Sonny, the CEO of Ruyi Communications, hosted a few close friends and family members to mark the milestone celebration of their admirable marriage.

Glamour

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 4, 2013

33

There's no stopping Gideon Okeke T

Is Aisha Babangida's second marriage truly over?

INSEL star, Gideon Okeke, has come a long way. From being a housemate at the maiden edition of Big Brother Nigeria (BBN) in 2007, the Ajegunle-born smooth-talking gentleman has steadily walked his way to the hall of showbiz stardom garnering accolades and swelling his fan base in geometric proportion. Expectedly, the good looking chap has been reaping the dividends of being positively famous. Sometime last year, he beat all comers to emerge as the host of the Nigerian Breweries-sponsored Star Trek, a deal which fetched him some cool millions. That was not Gideon's first endorsement deal though. The first was in 2007 when a now defunct telecommunications company appointed him as brand ambassador. And if this latest gist is anything to go by, we hear another telecoms outfit is considering bringing Gideon on board as one of its next set of brand ambassadors.

G

RAPEVINE rumours that the second marriage of Aisha Babangida-Shinkafi, the eldest child of former military leader, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, to former Governor of Zamfara State, Mahmud Aliyu Shinkafi, is now assuming a life of its own. While sources close to the charming young woman insist that her marriage is still waxing strong, insiders claim that Aisha, who was once married to the senator representing Kano South, Bashir Garba Lado, with two lovely kids as fruits of the union, has since walked out of the new marriage with the former governor citing 'irreconciliable differences' as the reason for her action. But the big question is: why has the couple not formally informed the world about their alleged parting of ways?

Kayode Oyinlola's new moves

T

HE last few years have recorded tremendous progress in the maritime industry. But only thinking people and organisations had contributed to this development.

And Prince Kayode Abimbola Oyinlola is one of these unsung heroes. To social upstarts and those not conversant with happenings in town, this name may not ring a bell but it does to an ordinary man working in the maritime sector.

Prince Kayode Oyinlola is the younger brother of former Osun State governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola from the Oyinlola dynasty in Okuku, Osun State. Besides his nobility, he has leveraged on his post as the chairman of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Tin-Can Chapter, Lagos, to bring about positive changes to Tin Can Port.

The quiet achiever was said to have ensured over the years that there have been smooth operation and cooperation among all freight forwarding agents and government agencies.

While not resting on his oars, Kayode, the brain behind Sakay and Company Ltd. and Sholly Nigerian Ltd, is working assiduously with the Customs on how to bring sanity and quick delivery of goods and services to the ports.

He was quoted to have vowed that 'he would not rest until Nigeria delivers a world-class operating system in our seaports.’

Rihanna wears new short curly hair

T

HE Bajan superstar may have gone from blonde to Grey to brunette in recent weeks, but in one of her most shocking styles to date, the singer has gone for a natural look.

Ditching her weave in favour of a short, curly crop, the 25-year-old star shared a snap of her new look on her Instagram page.

Rihanna claims grey is the Black as she embraces a silver hue.

But with some of her fans comparing her to Michael Jackson and American Reality TV star Joseline Hernandez, Ri Ri revealed she herself isn't mad on her latest style.

She posted: "Still tryna get used to my hurr, so I threw on some #redlipstick #RIRIWoo" alongside a head shot of her barnet.

34

Glamour

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 4, 2013

& Mrs Taiwo Abati

OLUSEGUN RAPHEAL (08033572821) raphseg2003@yahoo.com

goes home in glory T

HE burial service of the late Mrs Taiwo Abati, mother of the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, was held at St. John's Anglican Church, Isale Igbein, Abeokuta. Among those that graced the occasion were the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Strategy, Mr Oronto Douglas; Chief Emeka Anyaoku; Information Minister, Labaran Maku; Chief of Staff to President Jonathan, Mr Mike Oghiadome; Gov. Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State and others.

•Chief of Staff to the President, Mike Oghiadome, Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun and Dr, Reuben Abati

•L-R: Isaac Olaogun and Chief Ayo Adebanjo

•L-R: Chief Emeka Anyaoku and Maiden Alex-Ibru •Martins Oloja and Lade Bonuola

•Oba Tejuosho's Oloris L-R: Olori Labisi ,Olori Yetunde and Olori Omolara Tejuosho

The hair station by Anirah opens

W

ITH the fashion and beauty industry in Nigeria growing to become one of the best in the world, a new one-stop shop, The Hair Station by Anirah, has been opened at Opebi to contribute to the production of hair-related needs of women such as hair extension pieces, hair care product, hair styling tools, among other services.

Damilolo Bamgbola

Biwon Iklaki

Cathy Amaga

Nkechi Arah Toro Balogun

& Sport THE NATION

Style

SUNDAY, AUGUST 4, 2013

PAGE 35

Paul Obiefule croons

'I'm truly in

love with my

Danish wife’

36

37

NATION SPORT & STYLE SUNDAY, August 4, 2013

NATION SPORT & STYLE

Yusuf: Why I’m involved with Legends’ Awards

T

HE labour of legions of Nigerian sports men and women would surely not be in vain with arrangement being concluded for the first-ever Nigerian Sports Legends Awards to be hosted in Nigeria.

Of course, there have been many sport awards in appreciation of efforts of athletes in a particular year under review with little or nothing for those who have since long quit the limelight.

It is a result of these lopsided awards that NewAge Sports Africa Company under the auspices of Shamsudeen Tijjani Yusuf is taking the initiative to reward past heroes and heroines of sports in Nigeria.

Yusuf said awards for retired and virtually-forgotten Nigerian sports personalities is even more compelling following startling revelations that most of them are actually living in penury .

“The objective for the Nigerian Sports Legends Awards is instructive and is to celebrate excellence in achievement by those who participated in sports before,“ Said Yusuf who has honed his skill in sport and management with several major appointments, including event coordinator as Dubai Horse Race and marketing manager of the 2009 FIFA Under-17 World Cup. “We are going to recognise the achievements of past and current sporting heroes and by doing this, we are setting a path for the upcoming and future athletes.”

Yusuf, who is scion of erstwhile Nigeria Football Association (NFA) scribe, Dr. Tijjani Yusuf, noted that the Nigerian Sports Legends Awards is a veritable tool to unite and strengthen the nation despite cultural, e t h n i c , religious and o t h e r differences, adding that

•Yusuf

it would celebrate the universal power of sport as well as passionately promote the very spirit of sport and tenets of Olympism.

All things being equal, the maiden edition of the Nigerian Sports Legends Awards will be held in Abuja in December this year and Yusuf is enthusiastic about it.

“My motivation for hosting an event like this is firstly my passion for the sport,” noted the Marketing Manager cum Client Services Manager of Kinetic Sports - organisers of the now famous Copa Lagos. “These legends deserve to be remembered and honoured with great dignity because I spent my younger years watching these people on television.

“Of course, many people have been asking why the Nigerian Sports Legends Awards is different from events such as the Glo CAF Football Awards but ours is strictly for retired Nigerian sports men and women “This Awards is not just focused on football, we will use this platform to encourage the upcoming athletes including footballers to do well in their perspective sports.

“We will create a platform through the media and social media for people to vote for their favourite legend in order for them to get their just rewards long after they had quit the scene.

“If I were to vote for instance, there are so many of them that I would have picked from, including Sam Okwaraji who unfortunately died on the pitch playing for the Super Eagles.

“There are others like the legendary Thunder Balogun and how can we forget Rashid Yekini who actually died in a mysterious circumstance? How can I also forget Chief Segun Odegbami and a whole lot of them?” he explained.

Already, there is a certain buzz going on around the Nigerian Sports Legends Awards and Yusuf is of the view that it would be a resounding success if both government and corporate Nigeria can give it their unflinching support.

“We have been in constant talks with private sponsors because we have been planning this for quite some time,” he said. “Already, there is a huge interest from the private sector and the Federal Government and we have high hopes that everything possible would be done for the past and even p r e s e n t Nigerian sport heroes and heroines. “ We are trying to get the best from the local and international arena to ensure this m e e t s international standard which, of course, is the mandate given to us by the Honourable Minister Of Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, who has shown wonderful support for the project ,” added Yusuf who has been working in and around the sports industry since 2000.

Paul Obiefule croons

‘I love my

Danish wife’

A

successful marriage, according to Mignon McLaughlin, requires falling in love many times and always with the same person.

No wonder, Paul Obiefule, Super Eagles' midfielder at the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, has crooned that he's still head over heels in love with the Danish lady he met in 2004. Obiefule practically stole some lines from the hit song by the British new wave band -Tears for Fears - 'Head over Heels': Something happens and I'm head over heels; I never find out till I'm head over heels; Something happens and I'm head over heels, as he spoke about the love of his life.

“You know the Bible tells us that having a good wife is a blessing from God,” Obiefule told The Nation Sport & Style in a conversation.

“At every point in my career, I have been praying to God to give me my own wife.

“I had to pray very well because I am a very simple, easy-going person and I won't want any problem with my marriage. I can't withstand pressures in my matrimonial life and that kept me praying every time and by the grace of God, I finally got married in 2004.

“I actually met my wife (Omie) when I was then playing for Viborg in Denmark. Initially, we were just friends, like with every relationship, but as time went on, we extended it further by injecting love.

“I was charmed by her facial smiles. She wears her smile always and she is the type that loves to be happy; that really got me attracted to her. I'm really a lively person and was actually looking for a woman to complement my happiness and I truly got one by the grace of God. “She is not a dull person and we try to live a fun-filled life and I'm so happy with the family that God has given to me,” he explained, as he

By Morakinyo Abodunrin

shed more light on the flip side of his soccer career which has seen him spending almost a decade in the Nordics. Excerpts.

The Nordics as home away from home Norway has been great to my career. I made huge impact in all the teams I have played for and they treated me specially. It was great for my career and also a great environment to live in. I'm lucky to have played in Denmark, Sweden and Norway. I thank God for the entire journey so far. I enjoyed living in the countries because of the flexibility of life and culture. Right from Denmark, I have been feeling comfortable in the Scandinavia. That also influenced my move to Norway because life is somehow easy only if you can create your own environment. I have been fortunate and I am still enjoying my career here well; life is also good in Finland because I was able to justify my contract with the club. I used my experience and my ability to help them at some points and they really appreciated my contributions.

Why I could not stay longer was because of their offer and they could not afford to strike a deal beyond the six months, but I was able to maintain my fitness rate. The four countries have almost the same culture and similar languages but Finland is the only country that has a different language. But the weather and every other thing are somehow the same. Yes, there were speculations that I was going to leave for China but I'm comfortable in this region, coupled with the fact that I have played here for nine years. I started raising my family here and I'm comfortable. I am not saying I can't live outside here, of course it's my career, but it has to take something more tangible and interesting to be able to move my family from here.

•Obiefule with Ikechukwu My wife and I You know the Bible tells us that having a good wife is a blessing from God. At every point in my career, I have been praying to God to give me my own wife. I had to pray very well because I am a very simple, easygoing person and I won't want any problem with my marriage. I can't withstand pressures in my matrimonial life •Wife and Adaobi and that kept me praying every time and by the grace of God, I finally got married in 2004.

I actually met my wife (Omie) when I was then playing for Viborg in Denmark. Initially, we were just friends, like in every relationship, but as time went on, we extended it further by injecting love. I was charmed by her facial smiles. She wears her smile always and she is the type that loves to be happy; that really got me attracted to her. I'm really a lively person and was actually looking for a woman to complement my happiness and I truly got one by the grace of God. She is not a dull person and we try to live a fun-filled life and I'm so happy with the family that God has given to me.

It was after that we moved to Norway together after I signed for Lyon Oslo. And that is how God has been leading us and I am very much happy for the one I chose. I am truly blessed with this precious woman while we have jointly been blessed with two kids - a boy and a girl.

Though my wife is Danish, she loves absolutely everything about my country. She was so thrilled the first time she came to Nigeria and the experience was sweet for her. She likes coming to Nigeria and one aspect of our lives that she likes is our unique culture.

My family and I My family resides in Denmark and that is why I always consider my movement because they give me so much joy being around them.

They are one of the reasons I'm still playing in the Scandinavia.

Staying in any of these Scandinavian countries is great because they are safe countries and you enjoy yourself. I know what I am saying in

terms of security and other social amenities. Even the living standard is economical compared to some other European cities. Nevertheless, I still have the ambition of playing outside the Scandinavia but have not been fortunate enough. To cap it all, I am happy and grateful for the teams I have played for in these countries.

I travel a lot because of football, as a result, any free time I have, I try to spend it with my family.

Of course, marriage has brought so much to my career. It has brought a lot of things to my career when we talk about being focussed, love and happiness. I have been exposed to some important things in life and it really shows in my mentality because I always feel great being a family man.

As I said before, football has to do with a lot of travelling, that means I leave my family often but thank God, I have a wife who knows the nature of my job. She loves football and has been very understanding. But I don't joke with my free time with my family, I try to spend every free time I have with my family because football is taking me away from them so much.

Being in a good a marriage makes it easier for me to concentrate and knowing that I have a family that I can always look forward to seeing.

And what is always on my mind is to make them happy with good performances. I handle the opposite sex with respect and show them my identity of marriage by telling them I have a family that I love, and I think that has been working well for me. I have no reason to have any attachment with the opposite sex when I go for club assignment. I just concentrate on my football. I am blessed with two sweet kids. My first kid is a four-year-old girl, her name is Olivia Adaobi, and the second one is a two-year-old boy, his name is Elliot Ikechukwu Obiefule.

Of course, they recognise me as a footballer; they watch me play almost every game from when they were little babies till now.

On plans for kids My plan for my kids is to give them good education so that they can d be responsible for whatever they choose to do. I don't have any personal profession for any of them. I just want them to follow their own dreams and support them in whatever they have passion for. But I would be happier if my boy will play soccer as well because football runs in our family and he already knows that.

On being called 'The Don' My friends call me 'the don' maybe because of my experience and long stay in this region. I am a sociable guy, I love seeing people around me and I love hanging out with friends.

On best designing outfits I love Dolce & Gabbana and that's what I wear mostly all the time. I like other designers but he's my favourite. I spend my money wisely on that because of the smartness and fitness of the cloth. I think that is the emerging cloths in my wardrobe. I'm not complete without a Panama fez cap, but it's must be a D&G. On favourite food I can eat rice and plantain three times a day; I just love it, and it's a direct meal.

On favourite car I love Volkswagen. I have Volkswagen jeep and Golf cars. It's a convenient wheel for every sports guy.

On relaxation Spending time with family and friends, watching movies and having some quite time for myself.

&

Sport Style THE NATION

SUNDAY, AUGUST 4, 2013

PAGE 38

Yusuf: Why I’m involved with Legends’ Awards

CROWN PRINCE OF VOLLEYBALL

How Omisore conquered Europe before retirement

G

ONE were the days when volleyball used to evoke cult and sentimental attachment in Nigeria. Those were in the 1980s and early 1990s when names like Suraju Onatuga, Tony Oghuma, Peter and Terry Haakaa, Usman Abdallah, the late Shedrach Palmer, Sanni Mohammed, Edosa Aye, Nnamdi Ngwube, Wasiu Ojuolape (Waspa) and Tunde Omisore (Tunero) created waves on the court and were on the lips of thousands of volleyball enthusiasts in this country.

Among the lot, Prince Tunde Omisore has done well for himself and the country by taking his talent abroad, crisscrossing the length and breadth of Europe to sell his skill to some of the best clubs in Europe, where the game has continued to grow in leaps and bounds.

After exploring Nigeria and Africa volleyball at the highest level at the 1987 4th All African Games in Nairobi, Kenya and returning for the 5th All African Games in Cairo Egypt, the journeyman moved abroad and explored eight countries before retiring from the game that indeed brought him fame and honour.

At the 1987 games in Nairobi, Omisore led Nigeria to a bronze medal behind Algeria and Cameroon who respectively won silver and gold. He was also part of the Nigerian team at the Cairo Games, four years later.

Speaking with The Nation Sport & Style, he noted that Nigerian volleyball team at that time created fear in the hearts of north African rivals led by Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria.

“These are the countries that are dominating the game now, but these were the same countries that used to fear us,” Omisore lamented about the neglect of the game of volleyball. “Whenever we filed out against them, they used to have that respect for us knowing that they could not just toy with us, but all that is now history.”

For want of higher grounds to conquer, Omisore left the shores of Nigeria in 1986 to pursue professional career abroad. He made his first step in Italy playing for Mercianice Volleyball Club but not for long. His prowess on the court attracted more clubs but it was not until 1989 that he finally moved to France. Here he signed for Asnires where he claimed more honours before yet again moving on. This time around he journeyed to Herentals Volleyball Club in Belgium that prised him away from France.

“I travelled first in 1986 to Mercianice Italy and then

By Taiwo Alimi

travelled to France to play for Asnires in1989,” he reminiscenced. “I transferred to Herentals Volleyball Club Belgium and by 1991, l moved again though within Belgium to Everbeur Volleyball Club and before l retired from active play, l played professional volleyball in eight countries.”

But before Omisore took the back seat, he was loaded with honours including being a double honour in Belgium - Belgian cup and Brabant Cup - as well as being crowned the MVP Most Valuable Player in Belgium same year. Prince Omisore further spoke on his road to success, downward trend in Nigeria's volleyball and his style. Excerpts.

Downward trend of Nigeria Volleyball Volleyball was a dominant sport in Nigeria in the 80s and early 90s with the country competing favourably on the African continent. We also had a thriving league which produced some players from teams like the Police team, which was about the strongest at the time. But since the late 90s, the challenges of the game have exacerbated to the point where the game seems to be dead in the country. At present there is no league and no competition for players to keep in shape. It has become so bad that whenever Nigeria manages to participate in international volleyball competitions, players more often than not show up in national camp not from their respective club sides (which are practically non-existent) but from home. That is where the problem lies; volleyball league needs to come back to the way it used to be. Talents are out there but without a league, you cannot hone it.

Funding The Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF) depends primarily on the National Sports Commission to sponsor its competitions. Nigeria has about 18 professional players abroad who pay a transfer fee of $2,000 per player, which volleyball faithful believe should be enough to organise at least three quality tournaments in three different states and get some new equipment. I believe we have to come with all hands on deck and see how we can help volleyball. Personally I have great plans for Nigerian Volleyball. I have plans to wish to reposition Nigerian volleyball to the world stage and future Olympics.

•Prince Omisore

Style I am a man of style and what dictates my choice of dress is affordability and fitting. I don't buy because it is expensive. It must be fitting and at the right price. My favourite attire is Yoruba traditional attire complete with agbada. As a prince, I cherish my local wear and you cannot catch me putting on agbada without matching a fitting cap. I do follow fashion trend but not to the extreme. My favourite colour is green. When l am free, l like to spend time with my family; they are my world. I love QX56 Infiniti Jeep because it has a lot of room for my legs as a tall man.

ARM-IN-ARM Lineker enjoys special moment with younger wife

T

HEY are currently taking a break from their everyday life in the UK, enjoying an extended stay in Los Angeles.

And it seems the environment has rubbed off on Gary and Danielle Lineker as they looked very 'LA' when they were spotted on Friday.

The 34-year-old was greeted by her football pundit partner following a work out session and showing what a gentleman he is, he handed her a refreshing smoothie while putting his arm protectively around her.

Her dark brown hair was pulled off her face in loose ponytail, which was covered by a black cap until she took it off.

Despite a no doubt vigorous session in the gym the pretty mother-of-one looked anything but sweaty as she left alongside her husband.

Gary meanwhile, 52, didn't appear to have paid a visit to the gym and was instead wearing black jeans with a tight fitting grey T-shirt which showed off his physique.

The couple, who have been making the most of their time in LA looked as loved up as ever as they strolled along, with Gary ensuring he paid his wife plenty of attention.

Keeping her close by he put his hand around her slim waist and around her neck, while holding her drink for her when she had finished taking sips.

Speaking previously about how she maintains her slim figure, Danielle, who has a daughter and is also stepmother to Gary's three sons, said: 'I'm lucky in that I

can eat what I want.

'My baby pouch never went away though and I've got stretch marks. But I don't care. I'm a mum. I don't think I'd have surgery on my face.The scary women in LA have put me off.'

Danielle recently completed a stint at the theatre in Melanie Spencer's Responsible Other, which closed the week before the couple headed out to LA for a break.

Speaking about Gary supporting her acting, she said: 'When I'm learning my lines, Gary will say: "You've got another 10,000 hours of this!

'But he's so good with me. He reads lines with me and really acts it out and says he should do it for a living as well.

'What I'm doing is a big jump from the underwear girl.'

It is thought part of the reason for their LA stay is so Danielle can concentrate on her blossoming acting career, while Gary is readying himself for his new role as US NBC pundit.

Source: dailymail

39

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 4, 2013

Barbara Kanu is the Managing Director/CEO of Paper Style Nigeria Limited. She bagged a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Benin and Diploma in Events Management with Public Relations from Fitz Williams Institute, London, UK. Kanu spoke with Sunday Oguntola on her rise to the top and sundry issues. Excerpts:

W

H A T w a s growing up like for you?

Growing up for me was a perfect blend of work (study) and play. My parents being academics were very serious about us excelling in o u r academics but always managed to ensure that we had a balance in life even though our study was first priority.

My parents are from Delta State. I am the third child of four children. We grew up in Benin City and we were a very close-knit family. My dad is a goal-oriented person. He is a focused and disciplined man because he always knew how to go after what he wanted and it was almost impossible for him to be discouraged or talked out of his decisions.

My mum, on the other hand, in addition to being very intelligent, had a photographic memory. Watching a process once is enough for her to remember it. These traits (close family, hard work, dedication and commitment, never giving up) I got from my parents and they have helped me throughout my adult life and hopefully I will pass on to my kids.

What childhood dream did you nurse?

As a child, I always wanted to be famous.

So, I always looked up to women who were successful in life and as such had gained some form of fame or celebrity status as a result of their success.

What outstanding experience has impacted your life positively?

During my internship, while in my third year in school, I worked in the business development unit of a technology company.

I learnt a lot and in turn gave back a lot of what I learnt.

Being a quick learner who produces outstanding results, I was retained after my three months with them in a rare arrangement that allowed me work for the company while still at school.

I worked with the company after lectures during school and full-time in holidays. I excelled in my job and in no time was able to run my own project, which I did a remarkable job of. The project honed my leadership skills and also my customer relationship skills.

If I was not given this opportunity early in my university studies to prove myself and make a living for myself, I probably would have been sitting and waiting for my ideal job from a Shell or a Mobil.

How much of leadership positions have you held?

I would say my most outstanding achievements were my leadership role in running the Nigerian Students Online Portal. This was a project initiated by the management of the technology company where I worked. They wanted to create an online space where students could get

relevant information about the different tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

Students could meet with other students in other schools w i t h i n Nigeria, exchange views and become friends (kind of an electronic pal). They entrusted the project to me to give it a fresh and creative feel.

I h a d software developers and researchers working with me to build this portal.

I was just out of school and ran this project till completion.

It was a great opportunity to showcase my leadership skills leading a team to the set objectives and deliverables.

Due to my other work-based achievements, commitment and involvement in ensuring projects were concluded as smoothly as possible, the ICS (Institute of Customer Service, UK) recently awarded me a communications award to coach others to deliver excellent customer service.

So, how did you navigate your way to the top after graduation?

After my graduation, I went back to work. I had already started working from my internship days in school so I was ready to get back to my post and take up more responsibilities.

I worked as a business analyst for one year and then as the Administration/HR officer for one year (service year) in the same company before I went to the British Council to further my career.

I was with the council for two more years and then started itching for more experience or a path that would lead me towards my goal. I got to meet a fascinating woman, Mrs. Bukky George of Health Plus Limited, and worked with her closely for another six months. My experience with her prepared me for my entrepreneurial adventure.

Would you say your dreams as a little girl have been fulfilled?

My dreams were very tall, I must say. I wanted to be known and at the same time, I wanted a family. I wanted to strike the perfect work-life balance when I got really successful. Now I know this is a very tall dream as this may not be achieved in my life time (laughs).

Tell us about your company, the name and why did you choose that name. What exactly are you into, and why you choose that area of business?

Paper Style is Nigeria's next generation company offering unique and unequalled, design-led stationery, cards and gift-wrap, which have been hand-picked

‘How women can rise to the top’

from stationers in Europe and America.

It is a company formed from my passion for stationery. Paper Style is the top destination for discerning individuals and organisations looking for new and unique gifts, cards and stationery. We stock a variety of pens, pencils, journals, notebooks, notepads, block pads, sticky notes, diaries, pen pots, weekly planners, address books and pads.

You can also find a wide variety of stationery gifts (fountain pens, notebook and pen sets, desk organiser gift sets, and lots more), gifts for her (pen necklaces, bedazzled phone pouches, unboxed photo albums and shopping journals), gifts for him (leather journals, personal organisers, croc business card holders, pocket screwdriver sets, etc).

Apart from the fact that we love unique stationery, we have another love, which is the love for quality office supplies. We sell and supply essentials for offices from high quality paper and envelopes to disposables and cleaning supplies.

Because we love the things we sell, we want you to love what you buy. Our range of popular products includes lever arch files, document wallets, storage b o x e s , presentation ring binders a n d envelopes .

W e provide a simple and cost effective way to order your o f f i c e supplies.

Everyone has a style, what is yours?

I have always worked with stationery in my work experience, plus I always had a love for u n i q u e stationery. I was the goto person for any station e r y item back i n

school. I always had a spare pen, pencil, etc.

How rewarding has it been?

There is a lot of potential for Paper Style in Nigeria and the rest of Africa as a matter of fact. We do not want to stop at just retailing unique stationery. We want to produce our own stationery and also offer custom design solutions to our customers.

We hope to penetrate all corners of Nigeria by our 10th anniversary, thus creating jobs for hundreds of Nigerian youth, training them and possibly instilling in them the values I got from my parents.

Do you find time to network and mentor others?

I am usually very busy trying to juggle running the home and my business effectively. But I always have some time to coach my employees. As a rule in Paper Style, you must learn something every day.

It could be related to the job, a new word, a process or some piece of history. I believe mentoring is very important, especially for the youth.

What makes you thick and stand out?

I am a young, determined and energetic lady. When I set my eyes on a target, I do not let go until I have reached the Promised Land. I am fun-loving, like to laugh, like to make sure people are at ease around me. I like to move with easy people, allergic to uptight, mostly unhappy people.

What is the first Lagos gift and stationery fair all about?

It will be a day of marketing, networking, knowledge-building, forming strategic alliances and business relationships. It holds on September 27 at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island.

This event, which will be laced with business activities a n d ceremonial splendour, b r i n g s together under one umbrella over 40 top grossing i n d u s t r y businesses and more than 2000 enthusiastic business-minded men and women.

They have a singular purpose for coming together: They are dealers, consumers and producers of exciting corporate gifts, quality stationery, unique office furniture, office equipment and print industry.

M a j o r highlight of the day will b e t h e industry t a l k sessions (seminar), which will r u n concurrentl y with the exhibition.

T h e r e promises to be interesting and engaging topics delivered by s e a s o n e d professionals within and outside the industry.

40

New WOMAN

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 4, 2013

Solutions to real life

?

Princess

with

YETUNDE OLADEINDE

relationship issues

Thought of the week: 10 stages for mischief in a relationship: Reel Stage: This is the stage where the net is laid down, just like when you want to catch a fish. The suitor starts to do something nice, something unusual for you to start thinking about him. Trap Stage: Once you start thinking about him, the next thing is to try to find something to trap you with. For instance, if you have never given a kiss especially on the first couple of dates, but he continually respond to your text, text you spontenuously, listen to your problems, and returning your calls on time. Ha! At this point, he slowing steals your heart, unconsciously, you start melting for him, so on the date when he leans forward to give you a kiss, you will not resist.

Catch Stage: Now you have allowed him to kiss you that will now progress to allowing him to touch other parts of your body. Yes, at that trap stage you might still resist but remember he is still calling, returning your text, might have even bought you one or two things at this stage.

So your defense mechanisim isn't going to be as high at this stage. Your brain is saying it is ok, let him proceed, he might be for real.

Romance Stage: Since your brain is telling you this might be for real. You relax, you start touching him back. Yes, the texting, the calling, and the clubbing might continue at this stage. Your heart is joyful, dancing, thinking its ok this might be him?

Infatuation: With your heart joying, the blood rushes to your heart anytime you think about him. He is always in your thoughts at this stage. You look forward to his text messages, his calls, you look forward to seeing him. You cannot wait to be with him.

Use and dump stage: You cannot wait to see him, you cannot wait for him to touch you, he knows this cause he has gone through this stage more times than you can think of. As a man, for the most part he thinks between his legs, he believes the only way he can get closer to you is by going to bed with you. This does not mean he feels anything for you, some men will even admit they are emotionless. On the other hand, you feel joy, that finally, here is someone you can relate to, someone you can share things with, might be someone you want or can look up to. You went through the “deed” with him, for you it appears magically, but for him it's just the satisfaction of an urge. At this stage two things can happen.

He either stays with you does two or more things with you, go on a couple of dates with you and then starts to pull away because maybe one other pretty lady had caught his eye. If so, he will hardly return your calls, out of 10 text messages he only respond to 1 with a word or 2. You might at this stage think “ok”, he is just busy, let me keep trying he will go back to the way we were. At this point your infatuation is now developing to “LOVE”! Bea`r in mind, if this stage happens, you might never reach the love stage in the sense that once he is able to get what he wants, that might be it. If you are lucky and he has an ounce of feeling for you, you might get to experience the LOVE stage.

Love Stage: To fall in love is not a choice, to stay in love is. Now almost 99.9 percent of the time, only a woman goes through the stage. The difficult part about this stage is that you cannot stop loving or wanting to love because when it is right it is the best thing in the world. When you are in a relationship and it is good, even if nothing else in your life is right, you feel like your world is complete, but the man does not see it like that. Once he starts noticing this, for the most part his instinct tells him to run the other way. Especially if he is not ready to be tied down yet.to him, you don't seem to get it.

Withdrawal stage: You don't get it, he knows by not returning your calls, not responding to your text messages, you will eventually get it and move one. But unfortunately because most women at this stage think with their “hearts” and not their “brains” You linger on hoping or

molaralife@yahoo.com

Keep the emotional flag flying

A

making excuses for him. Eventually, emotionally, you're damaged, you can't eat, can't sleep, dislike men so much that you can taste it.

Heartbreak: Your heart is eventually broken, you think “how can he do this to me”? All the promises he made to me at the beginning of this relationship. The texting, the callings, and the things he used to buy for me, what happened?

What went wrong? What did I do wrong?

Is there any hope for us at all?

Making-up stage: Any hope? Few people rarely get to this stage. Most people stop at the heartbreak stage. If and when this stage happens, you have to know your relationship can never go as smooth as you the woman expects it to go.

At this stage, you must be ready for ups and downs for the most part. Knowing full well, the survive to that or any relationship is to have “Patience”.

Question: Dear Princess, My husband and I relocated to Nigeria after spending 25 years in the US. Our two kids ages 24 and 22 are still in the US. I'm in my late 40s but people tell me I look very good for my age. People always guess that I'm at least 10 years younger than my age.

On a bright Saturday afternoon I ran into an age long friend, Rakiyat, at a local supermarket. Rakiyat and I have been friends since high school. We had not seen or communicated in about 18years. We exchanged pleasantries and information.

I was really excited that I have somebody I can relate with living in the same neighborhood. She too had been married for the past 15 years, with a 12 year old daughter.A few weeks later, Rakiyat invited my husband and I to dinner. I almost collapsed when we arrived at their house and found out that Abdulahi, Rakiyat's husband, was the person I broke an engagement with about 28 years ago. I met my current husband a year after breaking up with Abdullahi; we married 2 years later and travelled out a year after our marriage. I had broken up with Abdullahi then because he was an avid womanizer and had gotten a lady pregnant even though engaged to me at that time. Abdullahi himself couldn't believe his eyes but neither of us brought up the past; we all had a fun-filled evening.

A week after the dinner, I started receiving calls and texts at odd times from Abdullahi wanting to pick up where we left things. I was stunned. I made him realize that I'm very happy with my marriage and have so much respect for his and that he should stop sending me messages. I threatened to tell Rakiyat and my husband but this had no effect on him; rather than stop he escalated things to sending me ridiculous, provocative and obscene pictures of himself. I find this disrespectful, distasteful, and insulting. I have changed my number ones but he managed to get the new one again, I believe through Rakiyat, and the harassment has continued.

Princess, please advise me on what to do. The fear of how my husband will react has kept me from telling him about it. My husband is a very jealous and suspicious man by nature, he had accused me several times that I deliberately invite men to

check me out with my “sexy eyes” and my great body. My husband is so jealous to the extent that if he catches another man looking at me and I smile or even say something about it to him, throughout that day there won't be peace in the house.

It is for this reason I let the sleeping dog lie. I told him somethings about my past, but I was not sure how he would have reacted if he knew I almost got married to someone else before he came along. This was reason I kept quiet all these years, because I believe what he does not know cannot hurt him. On the other hand, Rakiyat and her family had moved to another state right after we finished secondary school because her father was a navy, so we had lost contact since that time until we met at the supermarket again. I don't know what this will do to her marriage because she has confided in me that her marriage is on an unsteady ground and I don't want my telling her to be a trigger to her marriage break-up. Zaynab,Abuja Answer: Dear Zainab, looking at your story one must be very careful in finding a reasonable solution that will not affect either marriage. A marriage of 28 years is a lifetime by itself, and since your husband is a jealous and suspicious person by nature, one must be very and calculating in presenting this case to him.

You don't want him to feel you are the one who is encouraging this man again. I am sure sometimes in your marriage you must have mentioned that you were engaged to be married to someone else prior to meeting him. This incident is a door opener to now tell him the man in question then is Abdullai. Let him know that since you broke-up with him this is the first time of laying your eyes on him again, and you feel absolutely nothing for him. As of right now, it seems Abdullai would like to carry on from where he left off, let him know about the texting, calls, and the pictures, and that you have tried to tell him to stay off you, you had even threatened to tell your husband and his wife, both fell on deaf ears. You do not want your husband to confront him so that will trigger the beginning of the of marriage. You feel at this point he does not care what happens to either marriage, but you as a wife, a mother and a good Christian don't want to be part of what ends his marriage. What you want your husband to do is to put distance between the two families. Let your husband know that you will discuss the issue with Rakiyat.

As I keep stressing, in a relationship or marriage for that matter, once there is love, effective line of communication, and complete understanding of each other, it will be easier to resolve issues as they arise.

Couples nowadays must know that both need to work separately and together to make their relationships work. It is not just the wife's job or the husband's job, it's both of your jobs. . I wish you all the best.

Thought of the week: Things turn out best for people who make the best out of the way things turnout.

Send your comments to: askprincess10@gmail.com SMS to: 08155558770

brand new pair of shoe, wrist watch and a bag can really be a delight. It would surely look good and you just want to hold onto it forever. But as the days, months and years roll by the feeling changes. It's either you still have some feelings towards this treasure or you want to give it out and need a replacement. Interestingly, this also happens to our emotional treasures. When you first fell in love with that prince charming, you couldn't take your eyes off the dude. You must have had sleepless nights, thinking about him but gradually the degree of emotions has fallen from the love heights you used to share together. Now, as we test your heart for romantic vibes, it's almost zero.

Romance is essential and you need to make it work. It can be maintained by bringing in things that you know that your partner cherishes to bring back the memories. Candlelight, compliments, romantic bubble baths, showers, and romantic dinners are good ideas. You can keep your emotional flag flying at a great altitude if you inject a little romance into some of the things you do and some of the places you go.

That is why the foundation you lay for the relationship is very important. You need to discuss and plan for the future of your dream. This can be done during courtship or during a specially packaged honeymoon. Even though the tradition of a honeymoon following nuptials has changed from its original meaning, it still has a wonderful role to play.

Northern European history describes the abduction of a bride from a neighbouring village. It was imperative that the abductor, the husband-to-be, take his bride-to-be into hiding for a period of time. His friends assured his and her safe keeping and kept their whereabouts unknown. Once the bride's family gave up their search, the bride groom returned to his people. This folkloric explanation presumably is the origin of today's honeymoon, for its original meaning meant hiding.

The Scandinavian word for honeymoon is derived, in part, from an ancient Northern European custom in which newlyweds, for the first month of their married life, drank a daily cup of honeyed wine called mead. The ancient practices of kidnapping the bride and drinking the honeyed wine date back to the history of Atilla, king of the Asiatic Huns.

So that leaves us with the question of where the "moon" in the word "honeymoon" originated from. One piece of folklore relates that the origin of the word “moon” comes from a cynical inference. To the Northern Europeans the term referred to the body's monthly cycle and, its combination with honey, suggested that not all "moons" of married life were as sweet as the first.

For many, this certainly should be a happy, peaceful time for lovebirds to relax and celebrate the new union.

Unfortunately, we also find a number of stories where honeymoon vacations have resulted in horrifying tragedies, affecting one or the two lovebirds.

Unfortunately, this was not the case for Shrien and Anni Dewani. Instead of the romantic happy-ever ending scenario, it's been tales of honeymoon murder and demands for extradition of the culprit by the family of the one that was killed. Here, an Indian origin businessman, Shrien, is accused of plotting the murder of his wife during their honeymoon.

Anni Dewani was shot when a taxi in which the couple was travelling was hijacked in the Gugulethu township near Cape Town. She was found dead in the back of the abandoned vehicle with a bullet wound to the neck. Dewani and the driver were said to have been ejected from the car before Anni was driven away and killed.

Why would this 33-year-old plot to kill his Swedish-born Indian wife in South Africa? Did he suddenly discover that he did not really love her? Or could it be that he suddenly ran into an old flame and thought it was better to extinguish this new flame instead?

On his part, Shrien has denied any involvement in his wife's murder and was seeking to delay his extradition on account of his mental health. So, he has been excused from appearing in court, having been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder and depression. Now that the drums of justice to avenge this injustice have been heard, the man runs for cover with the 'insanity excuse'. He is to be extradited from Britain to South Africa to stand trial.

This love story, unfortunately, contrasts sharply with the next story yours truly ran into recently. Surprisingly, the second story is about two oldies trapped in love nest and happy to be emotionally tied together for so long. Instead of looking for faults, getting tired of the other and complaining about wrinkles and fat in odd places, they showed love to one another in mega doses till the end. A Californian couple born on the same day and married for 75 years recently died one day apart. Helen and Les Brown died on July 16 and 17 respectively, both aged 94.

For those who had a close encounter with them as well as monitored their relationship, theirs was always described as, 'a wonderful blessing'. They were full of love and passion.

The couple who shared the same birthday of December 13, 1918 actually eloped in 1937 after they met in high school.

That was not all there was to the quintessential romance.

They were also fun-loving and beautiful people. This confirmation was made by their eldest son, Les Brown junior, who sums it all this way: “It was a real love match. They were together every day for 75 years.”

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 4, 2013

New WOMAN 41

‘Human hair’:

t n e m t s e v n i y Worth ? y r e v a l s n r e or mod At any social gathering apart from the outfit and accessories worn by ladies, one other important aspect that we just cannot ignore is their hair-do.

As a matter of fact, the woman's hair often referred to as her crowning glory is almost like a social status. It actually means so much to people, both men and women, and also children. Yetunde Oladeinde, Busola Odusola and Olamide Akiode look at the Brazilian hair and lace wig trend

“To our surprise, they had blades and scissors in their pockets which they used them to cut off our weave on. They cut it so b a d l y because they were in such a hurry, destroying our natural hair in the process. They went away with our other belongings and we lost so NTERESTINGLY, a much in cash and kind. It lot of people spend a was a nightmare and ever fortune trying to get since that event, I told their ideal hair or hairdo in myself that I would go for and out of the salon. Over synthetic weave on and the years, the trend has not human hair.” been to pamper the hair In this era of with relaxers, shampoos as technological well as dye their hair in crazy advancement and colours to connote panache improvement, a lot of and a level of sophistication. things seem to be Unfortunately for some, no taking new and matter how hard they try it is improved phases. As difficult to take their hair to the there are advances in level they desire. So when an the technological individual looses their hair, they world, there are also lose their identity. To make up new developments for this difference, some women in the fashion opt for wigs and weave-ons. For world. The era of others it is purely a fashion drive •Uru Eke synthetic hair is and it gives them a variety of styles gradually fading away. which makes them dynamic. In the According to Nkechi, life without the past, the use of synthetic weave ons Brazilian hair is incomplete and almost and attachments provided an alternative. meaningless. “Nigerian ladies have stepped But these days women of class spend up. You cannot visit any school campus or between N30, 000 and N120, 000 social event and not see at least ten ladies maintaining their hair on a monthly basis. A wearing human hair; from Brazillian to number of these ladies opt for the Brazilian Peruvian to Italian to Malaysian to Mexican hair and lace wig because it is durable and to Cambodia, among others. Its dexterity connotes class. comes with the length and they come in Apart from its advantages, it also has a different inches, colours and styles.” number of disadvantages because it While some are straight, others are predisposes the user to crime. A number of curly. You can also get human hair in those who know its quality, lure the wearer form of wig extensions. The different to a corner where the wig is removed colours also make them creative and forcefully. dramatic to behold.

Twenty-nine-year old Adebimpe Apart from the types mentioned Akinsola, a victim, goes down memory lane earlier, there are other hair types that to recall a nasty experience she had about are less expensive. These two years ago. “I went to a party with include brands like some friends that fateful day and Remy, Celebrity, when we were coming back we Premium too, boarded a taxi to our Chocolate, destination. We were all Pro10. gorgeously dressed and we all fixed the lace wig to the party. Suddenly, the taxi driver stopped and said that the vehicle was faulty and we should give him a few minutes to fix it. Unknown to us, he had called some boys who a p p e a r e d within five minutes.”

S h e continue d her •Jackie Appiah story:

I

•Ini Edo The prices of human hair differ depending on the inches. The prices of Brazillian hair ranges from N10, 000 to N300, 000 depending on the inches and place of purchase.

A hair stylist, Tope Adesola, takes you through the different types obtained in the market and the price range. “The price of an 8-inch Brazilian hair ranges from N7,000 to N10, 000 while Chocolate human hair ranges from N4,000 to N6,000 depending on the inches. The Premium Too ranges from N800 to N1,200.”

Ade sola, however, said that human hair makes people to look natural and it lasts longer than synthetic hair.

W h e n asked how much she charges for f i x i n g human hair, she stated that the price of fixing for human

•Nuella Njubigbo

hair is usually higher than that of synthetic hair. She explained that since the person can buy such an expensive weave-on, then she can afford to pay higher charges for fixing it.

“For instance, to fix Brazilian hair, we usually charge about N5, 000 or thereabout.”

However, for Miss Onyeka Atishie, who is a student, she prefers fixing human hair because one can use it more than once unlike synthetic hair that tangles after using it once.

“You can use human hair for close to six years depending on how one maintains it.”

Furthermore, Atishie said that there are different grades of Brazilian hair and their prices differ depending on the inches.

Like Atishe, Kene Mbadiwe, who is also a student, stated that ladies prefer wearing human hair because it connotes a high societal status on the wearer. “A lot of trendy ladies like to be seen wearing it considering the fact that it is expensive. Even some who cannot afford it go out of their way to get it.”

Despite the fact that human hair is expensive, many people prefer to go for it because of its natural texture and long-lasting nature.

While some ladies like it short, others prefer it long. It is trendy and fashionable.

The question as to whether or not what we call Brazilian hair is the actual hair of Brazilian ladies isn't the only mystery that shrouds this fashion fad. Debates as to the issue of embracing our own culture through dressing have been ongoing among scholars and laymen alike. There is also the issue of price.

When this class of weaveons first came out a few years ago, they cost about N65,000 to N100,000.

Now, one can get Brazilian hair for about N25,000 to N30,000. For some, this is an absolute waste of money, for some others, a worthy investment. “This desperate craze for Brazilian hair further reiterates modern slavery by the Europeans. As far as I am concerned, this is another way to show that we have forgotten our heritage. The hair might be gorgeous on our ladies, but we need to exhibit our culture. This, however, does not mean that I cannot buy the Brazilian hair or lace wig for my girlfriend even though it doesn't celebrate our culture,” says Tade Tiamiyu.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 4, 2013

43

THEATRE

With VICTOR AKANDE

t

BIGSCREEN

•Denrele with some guests

Words Aren't Just Enough for Waje, December

W

E-mail: victor_akande@yahoo.com

Bob Manuel in comeback move

A

unique club experience took Port Harcourt by storm penultimate Friday, leading fun seekers in their hundreds to the Aztech Arcum, located at the city centre. Tagged the Gulder Club Ultimate, the makeshift venue was shaken to its very foundation by music blaring from the repertoire of famous Lagos Disc Jockey, DJ Humility.

A little fun drama here and there, as Channel O VJ and host for the debut edition of activation, Denrele Edun, brought ladies to the dance floor, frolicking in pretentious competition.

The first in a series of what organisers call a city-to-city experience, notable at the VIP arena housing officials of Nigerian Breweries Plc, were famous celebrities like, filmmaker Kunle Afolayan; Wazobia Radio personality, Yaw; comedian Tee A; music star, DJ Zeez, Tunde Ednut and Nollywood actress, Beverly Naya, among others.

The presence of the stars speaks about the class of the show, and with Denrele's nine appearances in different jackets, there was no telling anyone of the uniqueness of the club session.

Designed by Remi Buttons, Denrele's outfits dominated talks all through the night, and fashion pundits say the red carpet host has outdone himself this time.

Denrele had showcased four crazy and unique jackets on the red carpet and five other daring blazers during the entire event with each jacket costing over N100, 000.

N

OLLYWOOD actor, Bob Manuel Udokwu, who is currently enjoying a political appointment where he is Senior Special Adviser to Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State, has found a brief moment before the camera again. Information has it that the erstwhile anchor of Gulder Ultimate Search (GUS) reality show is starring in a new Emem Isong production which will be directed by Desmond Elliot.

The actor is said to be starring alongside Omoni Oboli, Jide Kosoko and Uru Eke playing a femme fatale named Fedora in the movie. However, the actor is said to be in bad shape at the moment, following the demise of his mother, Joy Ezelagbo Udokwu.

Honours for Onyeka Onwenu

E

LEGANT Stallion, Onyeka Onwenu, was recently bestowed with a Life Time Achievement honours, courtesy The Image Awards of the Nigerian Reunion Corporation, an organisation based in the USA and dedicated to promoting unity among Nigerians both at home and the Diaspora.

The award, which was held in Houston, Texas, on July 6, had top personalities from the Nigerian society in the US in attendance. In her acceptance speech, an excited and elated Onwenu said: “I am really honoured to receive this award today. This is a

ITH months of relentless effort on the tow, hiphop artiste WAJE is set to release her second work and first album titled W.A.J.E, Words Aren't Just Enough under Waje Music Entertainment come December 2013.

Though the release date is yet to be confirmed, information has it that the album, a 14 tracker, features Tiwa Savage, Burna Boy, M.I, Phyno, Eva and is produced

by Del B, Spellz, E-Kelly, Sizzle Pro, Cobhams Asuquo, J. Martins, Pappy J, Leriq, and M.I Tracks in the album include I Wish, produced

by Pappy J, which also serves as the project's lead single and has been enjoying massive airplay. Other tracks include Oko Mi, Onye featuring Tiwa Savage; Ijeoma, Fine Girl, Grind featuring Burna Boy, Time Na Money, No Be You, Higher, Black & White featuring Eva and Phyno, Only You feat.

M.I, Na the Way (Remix) featuring Sarkodie and J. Martins, No Tomorrow as well as One •Waje More Time.

GISTS

plus

Tel: 08051101822

Birth of a mobile night club

•Yaw, Denrele with Kunle Afolayan

SOUND TRACK

testament to the fact that my works have had a profound impact here in the US. I am greatly encouraged to continue to strive to contribute my own quota towards the growth and development of Nigeria through my gifts and talent. I am proud to be identified with the Image Awards of the NRC. ” Onyeka, one of Nigeria's foremost divas, received her award alongside other Nigerians including Trybe Records label CEO and artiste, Eldee, and Chido Nwangwu, CEO of US Africa.

•Onyeka

O

NE of the unique experiences of the maiden edition of Club Ultimate in Port Harcourt was the magical show put up by son of late Professor Peller, Zeeto, and his adopted daughter, Nike. From a disappearing act to a Harry Porter-like mid air suspension, the crowd stopped their dancing to applaud the act.

The crowd watched with disbelief as Zeeto Peller, son of the late magician, made his sister and popular actress Nike Peller disappear and appear in the presence of a crowd full of people at the mega party event.

Prof. Peller reincarnates at disco spot

44

Entertainment

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 4, 2013

W

HAT necessitated your change from doing contemporary gospel music to urban gospel music?

I would say that it was God's divine plan which I found out by being inquisitive and also trying to come out from the low ends of my life. It was also borne out of the need to search for a way forward; it was also meant to be a search light into why gospel music is being relegated to the background in that it is not being played on radio.

I sometimes find it hard to realise why people enjoy gospel music for the beauty of it. These are some of the things that necessitated my change from doing contemporary gospel music to urban gospel music. I also found out that I was getting bored because there was a whole lot of recycling going around and I am also partaker in that aspect too. I felt we limited God because we tend to want to praise Him only with recycled songs.

What have you been up to in the last six months?

I have been involved in a whole lot in recent past; aside promoting my latest single Bragado which is the 5th single after my evolution into being an urban gospel artiste, after collaborations with Terry G, Eldee, Dagrin and LKT. I have been building on that brand so that when people think of that brand of music they readily think of me. We are also working on the new song titled No Jonzing which will be followed by a video. Also, as part of celebrations for my 15th year on stage, I am also working on launching my book titled 'My Turnaround Story'. It is about my story from zero to hero; that is in the pipeline. I am also working on a TV production; I have come to realise that I have too much energy and creativity in me. Music alone is not my niche, I have something else to offer and that's why I am veering into TV production. I am also branching into mentoring and giving kids some kind of positive direction in life. The teenage age is the habit-picking age and you need to positively guide youngsters in their everyday dealings so they don't mix with the wrong set of people.

What have been your frustrations in the last 15 years?

There have been a lot of frustrations in the last 15 years; there was a time we staged a Kennis Music Easter Fiesta and I was billed out of the show because they said I could not perform because I am a gospel artiste. It was our own show but the sponsors didn't want me to perform simply because I am a gospel artiste. This was a show that was organised by my brother but I was billed out of the show becau

Kenny Saint Best has obviously had her topsy-turvy times as a gospel artiste and a single parent. Despite the fact that gospel music has been relegated to the background, she has been able to lend her voice to the less vibrant genre of gospel music. She opens up on her evolution, her TV show, her yet-tobe launched book and other sundry issues in this interview with AHMED BOULOR.

KENNY SAINT BEST se of the fact that I am a gospel artiste.

That was one of my biggest frustrations; but I realised it wasn't peculiar to Kennis Music alone, it was everywhere. The more I wanted to push the more they told me to forget about the idea simply because I do gospel music.

Now that you have evolved into an urban gospel artiste, what do you think your chances are?

My chances are amazing and it is not just amazing, it has been established as a genre. So you can now say there are categories because I have been getting awards and recognition. The Turn Around track alone got me nomination for the Channel O Music Awards for The Best Female Act in Africa. I have also been getting main stream jobs too simply because I have switched. The genre has been established and there has been a sudden demand which has been kind of healthy.

How are your fans reacting to your latest single Bragado?

The response has been commendable and they have been playing it on air and that shows that there has been some kind of acceptance. The song came out in December and they are still playing it up till this moment. The song has had well over one million downloads and I have never experienced that before. One of the reasons I feel people connected with the music more is that it has the street language coupled with the fact that the song features LKT who has a whole lot of street fans. The kind of gospel music I do too is that which represents God on the streets, in a way that the people on the street can accept him. Fans cannot wait for the video

There have been a lot of frustrations in the last 15 years; there was a time we staged a Kennis Music Easter Fiesta and I was billed out of the show because they said I could not perform because I am a gospel artiste. It was our own show but the sponsors didn't want me to perform simply because I am gospel artiste anymore and the song trended for four days on Twitter and people were happy to identify with the song.

Were your recent collaborations with LKT, Terry G and Eldee geared towards making you more urban in outlook as a gospel artiste?

I would say yes; it was a deliberate attempt and the DJ's also encouraged me to collaborate with contemporary hip hop artistes because they know who is trending. It was a move made in order for me to tap into their fan base. The secular artistes have the fans. What is the gospel, if I may ask? The gospel is spreading the word to the people and the people on the streets are the ones that need the gospel for redemption. It was a deliberate effort to ensure that my songs get the needed listenership that it deserves and also to let my listeners know that I am a diverse artiste.

Let's talk about your book titled 'My Turnaround Story'?

It is an inspirational story, it is a story of my turnaround; it is a reflection of my pit-to-palace experience - from zero to hero. After the relative success and the storm I went through in the past, people expected me to still remain in my ruins.

But I am still relevant on the scene despite the challenges I encountered later on in my career. It is also a story of how I got the calling to spread the word through my songs as a contemporary gospel artiste and now as an urban gospel artiste. The fact that there is a recessional phase in one's life does not mean it is the end. It took a long journey for me to get here and I need to share with people my experience in the last 15 years.

Was Kenny influential in making you to veer into TV productions?

Yes! That definitely has my brother's influence; funny enough, he gave me that advice 10 years ago. If it was an idea that was originally mine, I would have hatched it. My brother chipped in the idea sometime ago and it was not until I had to go into my own processing that I decided to do something about it. My experience from zero to hero has definitely given me something to talk about and I feel I am prepared well enough to tell the story as it were.

People are excited about Light House With KSB and the TV show is already airing on TV. What has changed about you when you first ventured onto the scene and now 15 years later?

The difference is the experience; the Continued on page 45

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 4, 2013

‘My frustrations as a gospel artiste’ Continue from page 44

experience has given birth to a new me. It is a chain-like reaction because my experience has improved me and it has rubbed off on other people in the sense that I now offer motivational talk to many people around me who have turned out to be successes themselves.

I hear you are also into catering consultancy?

Yes, I am into catering consultancy; it is something I do in my spare time.

How good a cook are you?

I am a very good cook and I implore you not to eat my food because you may get hooked on it. I don't boast, but when it comes to cooking, I will gladly blow my trumpet. It breaks my heart when I see food that is not well prepared.

How do you balance being a gospel artiste, a mentor, a TV host and a mother?

Being a mother is my first job; I have time for my kids. I Iove and enjoy being with them every minute of the day. I have come to understand that most parents have missed it when it comes to bonding with their kids. I take care of their schooling, cooking, shopping and laundry.

Has it been a tough job being a single mother?

I am not a single mother; I am a single parent. A single mother gets the bill taken care of while a single parent plays the role of a father and a mother while still picking up the bills. It has been a tough job anyway. I enjoy it, as I said earlier, and it is really a lovely experience being a mother because it is just the three of us.

Has the thought of remarrying ever crossed your mind?

Yes it has! I am a cute girl and still feel cute inside. I still think of getting married.

So you will accept marriage if the right guy comes around?

Yes I will; most definitely…

Did your parents ever encourage you to go into music?

My parents encouraged us to go into whatever suits us sincerely; that is the kind of independence we had. But after I finished my MBA, my elder sister thought it was a waste of money for me to go through that kind of training and decide to be a musician. I later went to Bible school in the UK and when I returned back to Nigeria I decided to plunge headlong into gospel music. Besides all that, I would have been a top career girl making headway in the boardroom.

Sincerely, has it been a fruitful career for you thus far?

I would say yes to that, because a whole lot of people started when I did and they are nowhere to be found today. They have died a natural death; some have diverted and some are now general overseers of churches. It may not be as financially rewarding as it should be but it has been a wonderful experience.

Entertainment

N

IGERIAN hip-hop star, Dapo Oyebanjo, popularly known as D'banj, on Tuesday, July 30, in Abuja urged the Federal Government to design programmes that would boost the nation's music industry.

This, he said, will help to utilise the talents in the country.

D'banj said this when he made a visit to the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke. He said that the youth in the country are endowed with music potentials that should be harnessed.

“Nigeria's entertainment industry needs support and I am committed to being a part of efforts toward achieving this. Not everything about us should be about oil,” he said. He also spoke about the need to promote the country's image in the international community through music and entertainment.

“But we can achieve this through establishing a collaboration that will offer support for young and upcoming musicians who have the talents to showcase the country to the world.

There has been a lot of wrong perception about how we are. When you spend the whole day, you will understand. I want everyone to come and see how great Nigeria is. People will get to see,” D'banj added.

The artiste also described the entertainment industry as an employer of labour, adding that it is capable of keeping the youth economically engaged and out of social vices.

45

Dbanj urges FG to invest in music industry Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

Duke called on musicians across the country and in the Diaspora to strive to be role models. According to Duke, the Federal Government is determined to “strengthen the nation's entertainment industry with support from stars such as D'banj.”

He urged him to use his popularity and talent to attract international partners to promote the nation's music industry.

•Dbanj

•Dbanj with Edem Duke

Entries open for AMVCA 2014

C

Yinka Davies, Femi Kuti

for MUSON Jazz Festival

N

IGERIA'S contemporary music icons, Femi Kuti and Afro Jazz and Soul singer, Yinka Davies, will be headlining the 2013 edition of the annual Jazz Festival of the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON).

Organisers say other plans will be unveiled as preparations are in top gear for the event, scheduled to take place on Saturday October 19, at the Shell Hall of MUSON Centre, Onikan.

OMING on the heels of what organisers described as a successful first edition, MultiChoice and AfricaMagic have set plans in motion to stage the second edition of the AfricaMagic Viewers' Choice Awards (AMVCA).

The announcement was made official on the reality show, Big Brother Africa, on Sunday, June 28.

This year, according to findings, a total of 28 awards in 26 categories will be given, ranging from acting and directing to scriptwriting and cinematography, with nine of those categories being voted for by the viewers.

Other areas in which honours will be given are editing, make-up, sound, lighting, including the most anticipated of the whole ceremony, the Industry Merit Award and the Trailblazer of The Year Award. Last year the two awards were given to veteran Nigerian actor Olu Jacobs and Nigerian actress Ivie Okujaiye respectively.

The inaugural AfricaMagic Viewers' Choice Awards ceremony took place in Lagos on March 9, 2013 and was broadcast live from Lagos to more than 50 countries across the continent. Organisers say the deadline for submissions of entries is Friday, October 18, 2013.

Illrymz drops another single

E

•Illrymz,

NTERTAINER and media personality, Illrymz, dropped his latest single 'Get the Club Started' days back, prompting wide interest from his fans. The track is an Afro pop targeted at party lovers and enthusiasts of fast-paced music.

The single which features Reminisce and was produced by Sarz is the second track on his debut mixtape, titled LICENSED2iLL which is to be released sometime later this month.

The Mixtape is the prelude to his debut album slated for release early next year. The yet-to-be released Mixtape is a blend of 16 tracks from the talented artiste.

The rapper and singer, it seems, is ready to introduce another side of his unique image, as two more tracks, which will serve as an appetizer, are going to be released for fans to download before the release of the bespoke Mixtape.

46

Entertainment

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 4, 2013

Industry Night fetes Julius Agwu O

•Julius Agwu

NE of Nigeria's most versatile entertainers, Julius Agwu, is ready to re-launch his music career. Buoyed by this decision, the artiste recently travelled to South Africa to shoot a video for one of his latest singles, Rejuvenate.

The comic act recently released two new singles, Rejuvenate and Mama Soup off his next album.

As Industry Night hosts him on Wednesday, August 7 in Lagos, Julius says he will shock music observers in Nigeria as he premieres the video for Rejuvenate. The video has been tipped to have all it takes to be number one video on so many charts.

Aside enlisting the services of professionals in his new video which happens to be the best ever since he invented the musiccomedy genre of music, Julius reveals that he made use of a helicopter including a super boat to further add class to the video.

Having clocked 40 and still with the staying power in the entertainment industry, Julius says there comes a need for him to re-strategise and reposition himself. “My fans have been asking me what is happening to my music career. They

•Nonso with friends

Nonso Diobi spots new look W ONDERING where one of Nollywood's superstars, Nonso Diobi, has been? Information has it that the Glo ambassador, who has been lying low for a while, was spotted last weekend with some friends at the premiere of Moses Inwang's Torn, which took place at Silverbird Galleria, Victoria Island, Lagos, wearing a blonde look. He was later at N-tyce on Victoria Island for the after-party.

Judging by his appearance, the actor, who also deejays as a pastime, showed his fans that he is still much around, and has other things he is committed to aside acting.

Other notable faces at the premiere included: Femi Ogedengbe, Padita Agu, Alex Mouth, and Yemi Blaq.

said I brought them something exciting, a new genre called music-comedy. And as the creator of music-comedy, I'm only re-announcing myself to my fans. That is why I had to Rejuvenate, which is the title of the video shot in South Africa and will be dropping in a matter of days. As a matter of fact, the title of the album is Rejuvenation,” the artiste stated.

On what makes the new video different from his previous videos, Julius says, “It's different because we spent more on it. It's something different from what people used to see from Julius Agwu and the song is a club banger.

For the first time, you will hear me rap in my native language and the song is a blend of hiphop, afro-pop and of course the comical flavour which is always inherent in my style, that is what makes it musiccomedy. ”

•Terry G

E

Flakes from Terry G's Book of Ginger concert

NERGETIC entertainer, Terry G, launched his fourth album, Book Of Ginger, at the ThisDay Dome, Abuja, on July 5 amid fun, fanfare and performances. The talented artiste cum producer has produced a series of hits for many Nigerian artistes such as Blackface, Charlyboy, AY.COM, AYZEE, Kemistry, Drama, Illbliss, GOP, 2 Shots, Jaywon and many more.

Some of the celebrities at the event included Charlyboy, Timaya, AY, Klint Da Drunk, Wizkid, Skales, Solid Star,

Gordons, Denrele, Kcee, Akpororo, Jaywon, Chuddy K and kid sensation, Ozzybosco.

The second phase of the concert will be held in Lagos in a few months' time at a yet-tobe unnamed venue.

Born Gabriel Oche Amanyi, Terry G like most artistes started honing his music skills in church. His love for music initially saw him leave home to perfect his stock in trade.

Terry G is the only act in the industry that has been able to effectively manage being an artiste and a producer all together.

Obesere, Taiye Currency, others storm Ibadan for Oyo Mega trade fair

P

OPULAR Fuji crooner, Obesere, will be leading the pack of entertainers who are billed to storm Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, for the forthcoming 10-day Oyo Mega Trade Fair 2013, holding in the state capital in August.

The entertainers, including another popular Fuji artiste, the Ibadan-based Taiye Currency, Yinka James and Adetoun, will perform at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, venue of the trade fair which comes up between August 9 and 18.

According to the entertainment consultant to the trade fair, Femi Odewole, Obesere and Taiye Currency, as well as other artistes billed to perform at the 10-day marketing event, have confirmed the deal. Odewole, who himself is a highlife musician leading Femi Odewole and his Guitar Band, said visitors to the trade fair will be

By Yinka Aderibigbe

entertained with cross-over music, featuring various types of music such as hip hop, apart from fuji and juju.

According to him, there will be no dull moment throughout the exhibition as an event DJ will start playing delightful music from 12 noon while live bands will take over from 5.00 pm daily.

The Oyo Mega Trade Fair will feature over 1,000 corporate organisations showcasing their goods and services and attract over 300,000 visitors at a daily average of 30,000 visitors.

Odewole said adequate security arrangements have been put in place while foolproof traffic measures have been worked out ahead of the event, according to the organisers.

How Tiwa Savage inspired me--Mya K

B

•Mya K

•SolidStar

URGEONING songstress, Mya K, has revealed how she got inspired by Tiwa Savage as an upstart. The artiste caught relative attention this month when she premiered her new video titled MY DJ on HipTV and Soundcity which also trended on

•Obesere

Twitter.

The British and Nigerian native has a raw and honest talent with strong vocal, one that she inherited from her parents as she hopes to carry the legacy into the new generation.

Mya K has been on a strong path of self-promotion, releasing a handful of singles and videos as her fan base continues to grow.

The New Oron, Uyo native is working on her debut album, which is due later this year. Her debut single My DJ was released when she was 12 years old, in April, 2013 to the delight of her fans . She is signed onto Rock Town Much and promoted by Olaitan Much Music.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 4, 2013

• Entrance to the genocide memorial park

T

HE eerie feeling is so unmistakable. It is palpable right from the expansive entrance. Visitors from around the globe have always felt much the same with each trip. This Wednesday afternoon, they walked quietly into the facility, pondering over the incident that preceded its erection.

Everyone was engrossed, struggling hard to take in the ugly incident. Welcome to the Kigali Genocide Memorial Park where over 250,000 Rwandans were given a mass burial following the 1994 genocide that consumed over two million Tutsis.

The park, located at the heart of Kigali Business District, represents, in so many ways, the grass-to-grace story of Rwanda.

Opened in 1999, the centre finally took off in 2004 to stand as a memorial for the dark years of the East African nation and pass on a strong message to generations unborn never to allow such tragedy to repeat itself.

While many Rwandans are reluctant to discuss details of the genocide, the memorial stands as a constant reminder, chronicling the history of the nation and how colonial powers planted the seed of ethnicity that eventually led to the 1994 genocide saga. The children section is arguably the most chilling with records of kids massacred during the incident.

Echoes of genocide Rwandans are embarrassed, even scandalised, by the incident. This explains why they are reluctant to recall the details.

Kantengwa Francoise, whose father was killed during the three-month madness, stated that it was an episode that happened to their utter shame. “We wished it never happened,” she began. “We often wonder how we ever got there. It makes us ashamed that we treated ourselves as animals, leading to needless deaths.” At the height of the killings, she was smuggled through Congo Brazzaville to Belgium where she remained until 2000.

Sam Karara, a clearing and forwarding agent, said the incident was most regrettable and nerve-wrecking. But painful as it was,

INSIGHT 47

Lessons from Rwanda Smarting from the 1994 genocide that killed millions and attracted worldwide outcry, Rwanda is rebuilding and has so much to teach Nigeria, reports Sunday Oguntola, who visited the capital city of Kigali, recently.

•Paul Kagame

he is indisposed to recalling the chilling experience. “There is absolutely no need to go back there. It is better forgotten. Some things are just what they are. It (genocide) was an experience we should forget and move on,” he said.

Like him, most Rwandans are in a hurry to move beyond the incident. But hard as they try, the record is always there for everyone to see. An incident that accounted for the death of millions with mass burials in different parts of the country cannot just be wished away. That is what the memorial park sees to.

The brutal killings continue to reverberate throughout the world. They were more chilling considering how many kids were massacred. David Mugiranza was a buoyant 10-year-old whose dream was to be a doctor. He was butchered to death in his native village. His recorded last word was “The UN Army will come for us.” The United Nations army never came until death came knocking.

A grenade was thrown into the building where Irene Umutomi, 6, and her parents were killed. Shortly before her death, she was reported to have said: “A militia man came up to kill me. I was astonished because he was a friend. He was working for my father and was always coming every day to eat. I asked why he wanted to kill me but he hit me with a big stick.”

According to the park guide, who simply identified himself as Dennis, “people had no other work or preoccupation for the three months other than killing”. When the dust settled, millions of Tutsis had been wiped out. The nooks and crannies of Rwanda were simply reeking of blood. Million others became refugees, making the country one of the biggest contributors to the refugee crisis in those years.

Never again Video records at the memorial park showed many awful and inhuman methods of extermination adopted by Hutu extremists during the genocide. But despite the monumental harvest of deaths and devastations, Rwanda is rising again. The nation is rebuilding massively to the envy of the international community. It is shedding the toga of genocide and media stereotype of a wartorn nation.

This is all evident from the Kigali International Airport. Visitors are welcomed to a sweet aroma oozing from the well-kept facility. Though small by every standard of an international airport, services at the airport are most satisfying and stress-free. Officials went out of their way to leave a lasting impression of a lovely country in the hearts of travellers. At a time when national carriers are giving way to private investors, Rwand Air is a shining example of a national business that works. The airline is expanding its continental and international flights, winning incredible traffic to the country.

Rwand Air recently added the Boeing 737-700NG to its expanding fleet. There are plans to also add bigger airplanes, an indication that business is looking up for the Continued on page 48

48

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 4, 2013

INSIGHT Continued from page 47

fledging national carrier. The story of Rwand Air is a constant feature in the former wartorn nation. Industries and companies are springing up, especially from the Middle East, bringing millions of dollars to the import-driven economy.

Away with tribalism and ethnicity The 1994 genocide was caused by welloiled machinery that thrived on tribal sentiments and resentment. This had been the bane of Rwanda, an otherwise homogenous nation. This deep-seated tribalism is one challenge Rwanda has been addressing right from the root.

To make administration of the country convenient, the Belgian colonialists introduced a deadly system of divide-and-rule that pitched Rwandans against one another. The seed of discords was consolidated in 1932 when the colonial authorities introduced a national identity card based on ethnic standings. The classification was as artificial as callous. Rwandans had always been one and the same people. They all speak Kinyarwanda, proving there was no distinction among them.

But all these changed when the colonialists created tribal divisions among an otherwise homogenous people. Those who owned up to 10 cows were marked as Tutsis while those with less than 10 cows were classified as Hutu.

This social stratification deepened in 1932 when the first population counting indirectly recorded the Tutsis as constituting just 15 percent as against the 84 percent allocated to the Hutus. The Twa were just a meagre 1percent, according to the exercise.

This created the seed of tribal suspicion and acrimony that led to the genocide after years of bitter bickering. To redress such deepseated tribal sentiments and allegiance, the government has embarked on massive reorientation to take a stand against organised killing of any form throughout Rwanda.

Every Rwandan has bought into the message that genocide or organised killings must never be recorded again in the nation of a thousand hills, as the country is widely known. It is a message that resonates and strikes the right chord in an average Rwandan. “We are all resolute no such killings will take place in any part of Rwanda again,” Karara stated.

It is a resolution that is backed with appropriate actions and policies. In Rwanda of today, ethnic discrimination and racial imbalances have been totally eradicated. It is a direction charted by the government through stringent legislations. The government has criminalised genocide ideology, which can include intimidation, defamatory speeches, genocide denial and mocking of victims. It is a law in principle and practice.

For example, it is highly punishable to refer to anybody as Tutsi or Hutu. Such comments are condemned as tribal and deadly.

“If you are reported and found to have made such ethnic remarks, you are in serious troubles,” Patrick Nkubana stated.

That is obliterating all tribal sentiments among Rwandans. Increasingly, they are seeing one another as one and relating as such.

There is a collective resolve to get rid of every toga of tribalism among Rwandans.

Perhaps the most commendable measure taken against tribalism in Rwanda is the expulsion of the place of origin slot from the constitution. It is the equivalent of the state of origin classification highly entrenched in Nigeria.

“Rwandans are not Tutsi, Hutu or Twa. We are simply Rwandans. We are not interested in the province or district where anyone of us originates from. What matters is that we are Rwandans,” Sam Kwizera, a journalist, maintained.

He is on the same page with many Rwandans. It has become not only illegal but also punishable to demand the origin of any Rwandan prior to employment, enrolment or enjoyment of any social infrastructure. For them, the Federal Character or Quota System holds no waters. They just consider themselves as Rwandans.

This orientation has helped to reintegrate survivors of the deadly genocide into the mainstream society. Refugees are returning in droves almost every day without fear of molestation or discrimination. Perpetrators of genocide and hate sponsors are being prosecuted to deafening applause from the populace.

To reassure Rwandans of his commitment to preventing future occurrence of the

• Mass burial site

• Aerial view of a section of Kigali

•Wall inscription of some of the genocide victims at the park genocide President Paul Kagame visits the memorial every year to commemorate the event. He delivers inspiring speeches and puts up the burning flame as a mark of respect to the memories of the departed.

All of these measures are reinvigorating confidence in the country. “We are on our

way to the top again,” Kwizera stressed. This nationalistic spirit is uniting the people and lifting the nation out of the doldrums. Though industrialisation is far from impressive, infrastructural upgrade is moving at a remarkable pace. This is attracting firms and encouraging trading.

Infrastructural upgrade With well-tarred and maintained road networks, the city of Kigali is a beauty to behold. Traffic move freely, saving manpower and labour hours. At nights, street lights enable vehicles to drive without headlamps. The 1.1 million residents of Kigali move around at night without fear or hindrance. This allows businesses to run round the clock and provide services to expanding clients.

The power situation is almost impeccable.

For over a week, the reporter observed only an incidence of outage that lasted for less than an hour. Businesses operate without generators, drastically reducing production costs. More cottage industries are opening up and are run by the many fresh graduates in the country.

While Nigeria is vacillating on pre-paid metres, Rwandans have been enjoying the facility for years. Electricity consumers are on pay-as-you-use basis, eliminating corruption and other sharp practices prevalent in Nigeria’s power sector.

Owing to constant power supply, the hospitality sector is simply soaring with hotels and other recreation centres opening up the city. Nearly every corner in Kigali has at least a hotel, though many are not of international standard.

Fortified and secured Tourists and visitors are flocking to the East African nation, especially during summer.

Memorial parks and monuments are heavily managed to attract international tourists. But all of these would have been counter-productive had security remained a mirage. Taught a hard lesson during the genocide and the preceding years, the Rwanda government has tightened security around the country to prevent internal and external aggression.

Strategic locations in the hilly capital city are manned by soldiers strictly preoccupied by providing security as against harassing unarmed citizens. They stand day and night with arms to assure citizens of their impenetrable security dragnets. The citizenry enjoy a robust relationship with the operatives, even exchanging pleasantries with them at the slightest opportunity.

Community policing advocated by a section of Nigerians has become entrenched in Rwanda. Members of the local vigilance groups are easily seen at nights with only sticks as their weapons. They traverse every community, making sure every insecurity threat is nipped in the bud. This arrangement has reduced armed robberies to near zero. Rwandans boast no armed robber can survive a five-minute operation in any part of Kigali without being caught. This allows them to sleep with their eyes closed, completely unafraid.

Dealing with corruption In Rwanda, corruption is never treated with kid’s gloves. Penultimate weekend, President Kagame pardoned several former cabinet members who were sacked for corrupt practice. Most public office holders sit up and avoid corruption charges like a plague.

The Transparency International ranked Rwanda as the eighth cleanest out of 47 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and 66th cleanest out of 178 in the world in 2010. Rwandans have a simple process of lodging corruption charges against office holders. A simple complaint, written or verbal, to the powerful Ombudsman, will not only elicit comprehensive investigations but most likely prosecution in the country.

In terms of cleanliness, Kigali scores a big mark. From the Kigali International airport, one is welcomed by a fresh, reinvigorating, clean air difficult to find in many urban cities. From Kicukiro to Gikondo and other parts of the city, it is cleanliness all the way. It is hard to find dirt and wastes on the road. Drainages are free of blockages, partly because nylon packages are not allowed in Rwanda.

All of these strides are attributable to the strong leadership offered by Kagame. The president, a former Rwandan Patriotic Force (RPF) leader, was re-elected for another sevenyear term in 2010. He won by a landslide, a huge testimony to his wide popularity and acceptance by Rwandans.

Many of them who spoke with the reporter described the President in glowing terms. “We love him with our lives,” Karara stressed. They said his ability to steer the nation away from tribal killings to rapid development stands him out as a leader par excellence. The giant stride Rwanda is taking confirms they are not far from the truth.

Though a tiny country with just over 12 million people with only tea and coffee as export products, Rwanda indeed has so much to teach big brother Nigeria.

BUSINESS

49 ‘I make friends with my staff’

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 4, 2013

Z

TE Nigeria Limited, a telecoms solutions provider has cleared the air on the alleged use of obsolete equipment in the execution of the $500million contract for the National Public Security Communication System awarded by the Federal Government in 2011.

The Deputy Managing Director, ZTE Nigeria Limited, Brielle Gao, made this disclosure at the weekend when she led a delegation on an official visit to the corporate headquarters of Vintage Press Limited, publishers of The Nation newspaper titles.

Gao who spoke against the backdrop of the raging criticism which has trailed the security contract, acknowledged the fact that the company has been the butt of derisive jokes in some quarters over the contract, even as she insisted that most of those making spurious allegations concerning the status of the contract could not substantiate their claims.

Contrary to widespread allegations of foul play in the contract award, she maintained that the company’s core values would not allow its staff to get involved in shady deals that would bring its name into disrepute.

Shedding more light on the status of the security contract, she recalled that the contract was signed in mid 2011, with equipment shipped into the country in mid 2012.

Besides, she said the hardware was installed in February 2012 while the system became operational in June 2012, adding that as many as 1, 000 security personnel drawn from the National Security Adviser, Nigeria Police among others benefited from different capacity building training both locally and overseas as part of efforts to build the skills set of law enforcement agents across the country.

-- Page 54

$500m security contract: ZTE Briefs didn’t compromise quality- boss Smith & Nephew launches knee replacement system

S

•Executive Communications Manager, ZTE Nigeria Ltd, Adeola Mabifa and Deputy Managing Director, Brielle Gao during the official visit to the headquarters of Vintage Press Limited over the weekend.

PHOTO: OLUSEGUN RAPHEAL

By Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf

“The contract was to help the Nigeria police force to build the communication and security system to cover the whole country. The system includes trunking communication network, video surveillance, and conference system coalition emergency response system. We built over 700 base stations. And we have since delivered on the project,” she said.

Expatiating, she said: “ZTE Ni-

geria Limited which is a subsidiary of ZTE Corporation believes in transparency. As a company quoted on the stock exchange of major stock markets around the world we cannot compromise on quality and standards. As such, what we provide as infrastructure in the over 150 countries where we operate is what we also provide in the different contracts we have handled for public as well as private corporations in the country.”

Gao who was in the company of Adeola Mabifa, Executive Communications Manager, was received by senior editors of The Nation including, Mr. Lekan Otufodunrin, Editor, Online and Special Publication, Mr. Olayinka Oyegbile, Deputy Editor, The Nation on Sunday and his counterpart at The Nation on Saturday, Mr. Vincent Akanmode.

Also at the interface and discussion session was Weekend News Editor, Mr. Dapo Olufade.

because both pension and infrastructure are long term funds.”

The decision to involve the NSIA he said is still a preliminary discussion and more information will be made public “when there is some concrete progress.”

Pension funds the ministry of finance said are delicate and the focus of the government is to ensure at all times that they are handled with utmost safety in mind at all times.”

Last Thursday, the Minister of finance Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala had stressed that; “one of the benefits we have from having the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) is not in the plethora of organisations that want to co-invest but that they will also help us work along with our pension funds. In other countries their pension funds invest in infrastructure and other things but how to do it to make sure that they are protected.”

enough money to pay salaries.

The management claims that the stem rods and anodes were bad and repairing them will be costly.

There are about 4,200 stem rods and anodes with each valued at $100,000 while the Bussbar is currently valued at about N1 billion.

However, the union member said

the call placed to the director in charge of ALSCON at the BPE one Mohammed Dikko did not yield any result.

The official stated the RUSAL “is totally determined that whoever takes over ALSCON cannot put it to use again that is why the BPE should not to, erase such sabotage of the nation’s economy.”

PENCOM still in charge of N3.4 tr fund, says FG

T

HE Federal Ministry of Finance has clarified the planned investment of the N3.4 trillion pension funds in infrastructure.

Spokesman for the Ministry Paul Nwabuikwu stated that “the idea which is still in the preliminary stages is to help National Pension Commission (PENCOM) explore profitable opportunities in infrastructural investment.”

From Nduka Chiejina (Assistant Editor) Abuja

The Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) he said “has the expertise to advise the PENCOM on the best ways to invest safely and profitably in investment grade opportunities” but PENCOM will still be I charge of the funds.

Nwabuikwu added that “all over the world pension funds boost their funds by investing in infrastructure

ALSCON workers kick over plan to sell plant

W

ORKERS of Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON) have raised the alarm over attempts by the management to cripple the company’s production of aluminium.

Members of the company’s union have alleged that Russian managers of the aluminium company RUSAL have started dismantling stem rods and anodes used in the manufacture of steel ingots.

One of the workers who spoke to The Nation but would not like his name used disclosed that the Russians have also decided to sell the never used Bussbar/Riser which transmits electric current from to the ports for melting aluminium.

The plan he said is to melt the Bussbar/Riser and sell as ingots while the stem rods and anodes will be sold in their dismantled states. Already

From Nduka Chiejina (Assistant Editor), Abuja

there Chinese buyers waiting to take these items off the hands of RUSAL and there are indications that the management wants to sell the items between tomorrow Monday and Wednesday.

The union official stated that if the Bussbar/Riser is sold that would automatically sound the death knell for ALSCON. According to the union member, the Bussbar/Riser has never been used and is situated in a complex still under construction for the production of aluminium.

The official said the RUSAL management’s reason for selling the stem rods, anodes and Bussbar/Riser is because the Russian Government had stopped sending subventions to RUSAL and the management says they need to sell these items to raise

Society, firm sign MOU on healthcare training

T

HE Society for Quality in Healthcare (SQHN) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the International Society for Quality in Healthcare (ISQua).

The agreement was signed by the Deputy CEO of ISQua, Mrs Triona Fortune and Prof. Ade Elebute, Chairman SQHN with other members of the SQHN board, including Mrs Njide Ndili (Secretary), Mrs Fola Laoye (Treasurer), Dr O. Bello (Chairman HEFAMAA), Dr

H. Saidu (Medical Director NNPC) and Dr. Tinu Oyekan in attendance.

The MOU ensures SQHN’s participation in the ISQua Fellowship programme and the marketing of the programme at various events in Nigeria while both parties continuously search for new ways to contribute to safety and quality healthcare education in Nigeria.

This is an expedited approach for SQHN to cultivate local “Quality Ambassadors” in Nigeria.

MITH & Nephew, a US-based implant company, in conjunction with Morison Industries Plc and the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, have developed a total hip replacement (THR) and total knee replacement (TKR) systems.

At the formal presentation of the products in Benin City, Edo State capital recently, the Nigerian team was led by Prof. Phillip Umebese, while the facilitator was Dr. Anirejuoritse Bafor (Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon). Other Orthopaedic surgeons in attendance were Dr. Alfred Ogbemudia (Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee), Dr. Mobashshir Moin, Dr. Odion Peter Oyakhilome and Dr. Louis WestOsemwegie in conjunction with the team from Smith & Nephew including: Mr. Albertus Pretorius (The Area Sales Manager Export, Surgical) from South Africa, Dr. Adetayo Olagbegi (Business Development Manager, Smith & Nephew, Nigeria) and Prof. Umesh Nagare (a British trained orthopaedic surgeon whose expertise was drawn upon during this workshop), described the process as a significant feat in bone surgery.

The product launch consisted of lectures, a saw bone session as well as training for the orthopaedic consultants interested in knee and hip replacement. This makes the technology and surgical know howavailable to our indigenous doctors.

Firm extends entries for CSR Reporting Award

T

RUCONTACT Limited, organisers of the Nigeria CSR Awards (the SERAs), have announced August 26, 2013 as the new deadline for submission of entries for the Tunmise Adekunle Award for CSR Reporting.

Justifying the need for the extension, the organisers, in statement at the weekend, said it was necessary to allow as many media houses the opportunity to participate in the coveted awards.

The category award tagged: ‘CSR Reporting Awards’, which is named after the late Tunmise Adekunle, a seasoned brands reporter with THISDAY, is being sponsored this year by Fidelity Bank PLC. Since its debut in 2007, the Nigeria CSR Awards identifies and honours the key players in the areas of Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability in Nigeria; showcasing how business is creating shared value in a manner that benefits the business enterprise as well as its various stakeholders.

This year’s event is scheduled for September 21 at the MUSON Centre in Lagos with the theme “Shaping the Future Through Innovative Value Creation: Making a world of difference.”

50

BUSINESS

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 4, 2013

•Nwankwo

•Okonjo-Iweala

B

AD debts. That’s one thorny issue the nation is grappling with at the moment what with the growing level of debts assailing the different tiers of government.

National debts outlook The nation’s appetite for borrowing to finance critical development projects has been growing in recent times with both the domestic and foreign indebtedness rising by $13.91bn in the last two years. The country currently owes local and international creditors a total of $50.91bn (about N7.93tn), the Debt Management Office has said.

Statistics obtained from the DMO website showed that as of June 30, 2013, the nation’s external debt stood at $6.92bn (about N1.08tn), while the domestic debt component stood at N6.85tn ($43.99bn).

The external debt component comprises debts owed by both the Federal Government and the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

However, the domestic debt of $43.99bn is owed by the Federal Government alone. By June 2011, the total debt of the country stood at $37bn. This means that in the last two years, the debt stock had risen by $13.91bn. This shows a growth rate of 37.59 per cent. In terms of instruments, FGN Bonds accounted for N4.03tn or 58.87 per cent of the Federal Government’s domestic debt stock as of June.

Nigerian Treasury Bills accounted for N2.48tn or 36.25 per cent of the domestic debt component of the Federal Government.

On the other hand, Treasury Bills accounted for N334.56bn or 4.88 per cent of the total domestic debt owed by the Federal Government.

Multilateral sources such as the World Bank and African Development Bank accounted

Unending debt burden for $5.54bn or 80 per cent of the external debt. Bilateral debts made up of money borrowed from China and France accounted for $845.4m or 12.22 per cent of the nation’s external debt profile. Commercial debts, including Eurobond and debts owed to Chinese firms, accounted for $536m or 7.75 per cent of the external debt stock.

The Director-General, DMO, Dr. Abraham Nwankwo, had recently said that compared to the level of foreign debt, the Federal Government had over-borrowed from domestic sources. While unfolding the details of the nation’s Middle Term Debt Management Strategy, which was approved by the Federal Executive Council, Nwankwo said there was an urgent need to rebalance the structure of the nation’s debt because the interest rate payable on domestic debt was too high. He said the ratio of the Federal Government’s domestic debt stood at 88, while the ratio of the foreign debt stood at 12. Nwankwo said the appropriate ratio should be 60 for domestic debt and 40 for foreign debt, adding that the newly approved Medium Term Debt Management Strategy would seek to achieve this ratio. One of the ways of doing this is through the establishment of a sinking fund for retiring matured local debts. The second is by borrowing more from foreign sources.

Analysts had projected that with the assumption of office of former Managing Director of the World Bank,

The nation’s debt burden which is growing at an astronomically high rate remains a serious cause of concern to many discerning Nigerians, reports Bukola Afolabi Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, the nation would see a reduction in local debts and an increase in foreign debts but that neverhappened.

As managing director of the World Bank, OkonjoIweala had criticised Nigeria’s debt structure on the grounds that the Federal Government was crowding out private sector borrowers from the debt market.

Although she had championed the exit of the country from the Paris Club of Creditors during her first tenure as Minister of Finance, she is now insisting that the nation’s ballooning domestic debt is not healthy for the economy.

Okonjo-Iweala had reasoned that the Federal Government could do with more foreign sources than borrowing from the domestic market.

Enter debt reduction strategy

It is this scenario that is now playing out under the new Medium Term Debt Management Strategy. Nwankwo had said, “The main objective of the medium term debts is to develop a strategy that will meet the financing needs of the government at minimum cost, maintain risk at a prudent level and support the development of the market. “The exercise reflects and addresses, among other realities, the disproportionate reliance on the domestic bond market to fund government deficits – the ratio of domestic and external debt stock as of the end of 2011 was 88:12, whereas the appropriate ratio will be 60:40.”

Other issues addressed by the strategy, he said, included high rate of domestic debt accumulation; and rising debt service payments occasioned by growing debt stock coupled with upward pressure on the average cost of funds and the risk of crowding out the private sector.

“

The DMO boss said the time of high borrowing from the domestic had served its purpose, which included developing a market structure and culture for long term savings and investment. He said the new strategy had the capacity to reduce the rate of public debt in general and domestic debt particular to ensure debt sustainability and make budgetary provisions for the repayment of part of maturing FGN Bond obligations instead of refinancing them by creating a sinking fund. It will also reduce the amount spent on debt service by achieving an optimal mix between the relatively more expensive domestic debt and less expensive foreign debt.

At present, Nwankwo said the difference between the domestic and external average cost of borrowing was about eight per cent per annum.

Debts for sale Even as the country grapples with an excruciating debt

“The main objective of the medium term debts is to develop a strategy that will meet the financing needs of the government at minimum cost, maintain risk at a prudent level and support the development of the market

”

burden, it is being mooted in some quarters that Nigeria will soon be eligible for more funds from the World Bank.

Making this known was the bank’s Country Director for Nigeria, Ms. MarieFrancois Marie-Nelly. She hinted that the bank had resolved to give Nigeria a blend status in its 2014-2017 Country Partnership Strategy document, which would be released later in the year.

Currently, Nigeria is only eligible to borrow from the bank’s International Development Association lending window. But with improved rating, the country will be able to borrow from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s lending window.

On its website, the World Bank said the IDA was the part that helped the world’s poorest countries, while the IBRD gave loans on commercial basis to countries with the capacity for repayment.

It said, “Established in 1960, IDA aims to reduce poverty by providing loans (called ‘credits’) and grants for programmes that boost economic growth, reduce inequalities, and improve people’s living conditions.

“IDA complements the World Bank’s original lending arm – IBRD. IBRD was established to function as a self-sustaining business and provides loans and advice to middleincome and credit-worthy poor countries. IBRD and IDA share the same staff and headquarters and evaluate projects

Continued on page 51

BUSINESS

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 4, 2013 Continued from page 50 with the same rigorous standards.

“IDA is one of the largest sources of assistance for the world’s 82 poorest countries, 40 of which are in Africa. It is the single largest source of donor funds for basic social services in these countries.

IDA-financed operations deliver positive change for 2.5 billion people, the majority of who survive on less than $2 a day.

The organisation lends money on concessional terms.

This means that IDA charges little or no interest and repayments are stretched over 25 to 40 years, including a five- to 10-year grace period. IDA also provides grants to countries at risk of debt distress.”

Chinese connection Experts also think that the bilateral talks between Presidents Jonathan and Xi Jinping and their delegations in China recently may bring a positive change to the nation’s debt profile. The five agreements covering financial, trade, economic, technical and cultural relations between the two countries were initialled by both leaders thus strengthening further their existing 43year-old diplomatic relations.

With the agreements specifically including a low interest loan granted to Nigeria

by China, it may be exciting for Nigeria to have diversified her international linkages with the addition of a beckoning emergent world power like China. However, it will be tragic if the country is merely replacing her colonial masters and former creditors with a new one which China may represent if the fact that any relationship between two unequal partners is by definition exploitative is taken into consideration.

When diplomatic relations started with China in 1970, it is instructive to note that country was nowhere near the second world largest economy which it is today.

While it has grown and developed phenomenally, Nigeria has experienced the exact opposite, a dwindling, monolithic economy aggravated by a shrinking human capital. As a matter of fact, the present crop of Nigerian leaders should be alarmed by the retrogression which the country has suffered during the same years that China has incredibly grown into global recognition to the extent that without delusion, the bilateral talks took place between an emergent world power and another country in its tethers, desperate for survival.

To analysts, there is therefore a need to be cautious about the excitement which the seeming success of the bilateral talks that have earned Nigeria a putative reprieve from her economic woes has generated. In the first place, Nigeria has a poor record with foreign loans. The loans that have been taken in the past have not been properly accounted for in terms of validating the projects for which the loans have been taken and the scourge of corruption which has engulfed the essence of the country does not recommend any increase in the loans tally against the country’s name.

Pray, will Nigeria ever get over its debts burden? Time will tell.

51

FIRS enters partnership with Nollywood D

RAMA has long been identified as a useful tool for behavioural change communication. Little wonder the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has decided to explore the vehicle of drama in its quest to achieve the utmost objective of bringing as many Nigerians as possible into the tax dragnet.

Expectedly, to achieve this objective, the Service is partnering with the nation’s fledging movie industry, popularly called Nollywood, to produce series of movies on tax compliance.

The series, entitled: Binding Duty with its first episode titled: The Ostrich Syndrome, attempts to help the Service to re-enact compliance drive geared towards getting the corporate bodies into its tax net.

Starring Tina Mba, Norbert Young, Bimbo Manuel and a host of A-list stars, The Ostrich Syndrome centres around a local company known as Cedars and Ebony that has mastered the art of burying its head in the sand in the hope that the FIRS will ignore its tax infringements by sacking its accountants before tax or after tax evaluations as a gimmick to avoid paying tax.

Unknown to the company, the FIRS which had stepped up its game easily saw through its antics and formally advised the company to approach it for tax reconciliation or risk closure.

Naturally, the FIRS’ overtures fell on the company’s deaf ears until it was too late and the Chief Executive Officer, played by Bimbo Manuel, had to be taken away by officials of the FIRS despite his offer to pay his tax after his game was up.

By coming out with The Ostrich Syndrome, the FIRS is reminding corporate Nigeria that it will continue with its tax enforcement strategy and no amount of burying corporate heads in the sand (like the proverbial ostrich is wont to do) will stop the Service from doing its duties.

Shedding more light on the thematic preoccupation of the drama series, Mr. Emmanuel Obetan, Director of Commu-

I

F concerted efforts by stakeholders in the maritime sub-sector is anything to go by, then it may be correct to say that the issue of congestion besetting the nation’s seaports will soon be a thing of the past.

This was the optimism expressed by experts who participated at the colloquium organised by the Maritime Correspondents’ Organisation of Nigeria (MARCON) in conjunction with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in Lagos recently.

Tagged: ‘Seamless Shipping in Nigeria: Prospects and Challenges,’ the interface and discussion session addressed issues like pre-arrival assessment report mechanism and others.

Firing the first salvo, the Comptroller General of Customs, Abdullahi Inde Dikko, in his paper titled: ‘Pre-Arrival Assessment Report: An Initiative for Trade Facilitation and Enhanced Cargo Security,’ said:”It is gratifying to note that we now have in

•Executive Secretary of Federal Capital Development Agency [FCDA] Engr. Adamu Ismaila [r] been whisked away from his office by the officials of FIRS Tax Enforcement Team led by Adamu Elemo [l] and the Director of Large Tax Tony Amomoh over the non compliance From Nduka Chiejina (Assistant Editor), Abuja

nications and Liaison of the FIRS, said most of the stories in the series are based on true life cases handled by the FIRS. The real stories, he emphasised, “Have been fictionalised to protect the identities of the actual characters of the series but the essence, the import of the circumstances have been preserved in order to drive the objectives of the communication, the message, home; to communicate the need for every citizen to comply and perform their civic duties.”

It may be recalled that in 2011, the FIRS launched a series of offensives against companies both public and private that were found wanting with their taxes including 13 hotel managers in Lugbe and Karu/ Nyanyan areas of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The team, comprising FIRS enforcement officers and armed policemen, stormed 14 different hotels in the FCT, arresting the tax defaulters in line with its determination to boost the revenue earning of the Federal Government.

Apparently re-enacting the scene, the leader of the

team, Mr P. U Sule, noted that “the hospitality outfits had, after repeated visitations and reminder letters written to them by the FIRS to pay up their outstanding taxes, refused to comply and this necessitated the action.”

Among the hotels raided at the time were Ajis Prime Resort, Garden Restaurant/ Guest House, Regal Lodge, Christop Hotels, Airport Road Inn and Resort as well as Silver Gate Hotels, all located in Lugbe, and their managers arrested for all sorts of tax offences which ranged from failure to pay Value Added Tax (VAT), Pay As You Earn (PAYE), Company Income Tax (CIT), to outright refusal to obtain tax clearance from the FIRS before the commencement of operations.

The team also visited Premium Guest House Ltd and Diato Hotels, both located in Nyanyan, and arrested their respective receptionists, Messrs Linus Anunwa and Hussein Momoh.

There was, however, a mild drama in the latter outfit as Messr Hussein Momoh resisted arrest, with the claim that he was neither the man-

ager nor the owner of the hotel and should not be arrested.

He was almost practically dragged out of the office as the enforcement officers insisted that he had to go with them since neither the manager nor the owner was around.

The team also visited Astot Leisure Gardens Ltd, Karu and Izy- King Hotels, Nyanyan but didn’t make any arrest. While the former outfit was said to have fulfilled some of its obligations to the FIRS aside the PAYE which was outstanding for some months, the owner of Izy-King Hotels, Barrister JJ Mohammed, was mandated to write an undertaking that he would submit the income and sales documents as well as salary schedule to the FIRS office to date.

With regards to public sector agencies that defaulted on their tax obligations, the FIRS was at daggers drawn with the Federal Capital Development Authority and some agencies under it.

During the meeting, the committee reviewed actions taken on the issue raised in their report and resolved to give FCDA ample opportu-

nity to respond by addressing another letter giving the agency seven days within which to remit the outstanding tax liabilities of N28.276 billion or provide evidence of remittance within one week from the date of receipt of the letter to avoid embarrassment.

The ultimatum given expired on Thursday December 15 2011. However, as at Monday December 19 the agency’s response was not received in contravention of the provisions of Section 26 and 27 of the FIRS establishment act, hence the Service was left with no option but to invoke the provisions of sections 29, 30 and 33 of the same act.

First to feel the sting of the FIRS was the FCDA itself.

After initial grandstanding, the Executive Secretary of FCDA, Engr.

Adamu Ismaila, was whisked away by FIRS enforcement operative.

It took the intervention of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory to calm frayed nerves and he ordered the AGIS boss to present himself to the FIRS to resolve the matter.

Customs, others root for fast cargo clearance

By Biodun-Thomas Davids and Uyouata Essiet

place a robust platform and a fully automated application system to build on. With its capacity for shared intelligence and risk management, the development of the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) application system will signal the dawn of a new era in fostering compliant trade in a secure environment.”

Dikko, who was represented by Deputy Comptroller Wale Adeniyi, who doubles as the Public Relations Officer Customs, noted that only a seamless operation, involving all stakeholders collaborating and complementing themselves, could deliver the much-needed objective of cost-effective and timely clearance.

Echoing similar sentiment, two Customs officers reportedly employed in 2011, ASC II Yaro Abdullahi

Ibrahim and ASC II Bukola Omoniyi, made a presentation on the workings of the PAAR mechanism.

In their presentations, the officers established that the mandate of Customs in the shipping sector was in the area of striking a balance in trade facilitation, security and revenue generation.

In his paper titled: ‘Preventing Arson and Damage to Cargo in the Transport Chain,’ Dr. Alex Okwuashi, Rector, College of Maritime Transport and Technology, urged stakeholders to intensify action in ensuring security in the nation’s maritime sector.

Speaking earlier, President, MARCON, Ismail

Aniemu regretted that though much had been said in the past about improving the imports and shipping system of the country, nobody was ready to take concrete steps in that direction.

He, however, commended the current management of the Customs for taking huge steps to turn the sector around.

Onasanya, Rewane to speak at CIBN’s dinner

T

HE Group Managing Director, First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Mr Olabisi Onasanya, pioneer Managing Director Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Mr. Fola Adeola and the Chief Executive Officer, Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Mr Bismarck Rewane are expected to deliver papers at the 2013 Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN)’s Lagos Bankers forum in Lagos.

Tagged: ‘Positioning Nigerian Banks for Global

Competitiveness,’ the event is expected to attract participants drawn from the banking subsector.

In a statement issued on behalf of the institute Mr Bolade Agboola, chairman, CIBN Lagos chapter, he said the 2013 edition of the Lagos Bankers forum will be an avenue for the cross fertilisation of ideas on how to take the banks to the next frontier of national development and global competitiveness.

“With the conclusion of

the banking reforms which has strengthened ownership, management, operational and regulatory frameworks of our banks there is no gainsaying the fact that Nigerian banks are ready to take their positions on the global scene and national development,” observed Agboola.

Expatiating, Agboola said the event is going to historical because it coincides with the 50th anniversary of the banking practice in the country.

52

M

BUSINESS

IXED reactions have greeted the airport remodelling contracts carried out by the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, which is being investigated by the House of Representatives.

House Committee Chairman on Anti-Corruption, National Ethics and Values, Hon. Abiodun Adeleke (ACN/Lagos), alleged that there was a breach of contract award processes by the minister in the remodelling of the airports.

Expectedly, stakeholders in Nigeria’s aviation industry have fired back at critics of the on-going airport remodelling contracts undertaken by the Ministry of Aviation, saying that some of the criticisms, particularly the argument of the members of the House of Representatives was destructive and capable of eroding all the laudable gains achieved so far in the transformation of airport infrastructure in the country.

A majority of the stakeholders comprising airline operators, pilots and engineers condemned the statement attributed to the House of Representatives Committee.

One of the stakeholders, Captain Usman Balarabe, told journalists in Lagos yesterday that it was quite shocking for any sane person from Nigeria who has utilised the airport for the past 30 years and had noticed the rot in infrastructure to voice any protest, given the magnitude of the rehabilitation that has so far been undertaken in just over two years.

Balarabe, a former director of aviation security and safety, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), said that by this remodelling programme, the Aviation Minister has changed the old culture of neglect of the airports, and rather than heap criticisms on the minister, she should be commended for improving airport facilities to international standards and in the process boosting air transportation in the country.

Also speaking, Association of Young Aviators condemned the biased attack on the remodelling project by the House of Representative members even as they alleged that some of the legislators had invested interest in the on-going projects in the aviation sector.

“All that Nigerians want is functional airport with modern facilities and not to bicker over due process as it has not yet proven that funds budgeted for the remodelling projects were diverted,” the group said in a statement last Tuesday.

However, reacting to the criticism, an inside source said

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 4, 2013

Furore over airport Beyond remodelling contracts Talent

By Adetayo Okusanya

•Oduah

By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

that all the contracts awarded for the remodelling of the nation’s airports followed due process.

The source explained that all contracts for the remodelling of the airports and other critical infrastructure/equipment followed all due processes prescribed by the relevant law of the Public Procurement Act 2007.

A statement from the Minister of Aviation and signed by the Senior Special Adviser (Media) to the Minister, Joe Obi said, “It would be misleading to insinuate that contracts awarded through a Selective Tendering Process, as is the case with some contract awards in the Aviation Ministry did not necessarily follow due process.

It has to be noted that Selective Tendering is a lawful procurement procedure as enunciated in the Act.” The statement said the question as to why the ministry opted for the selective tendering option was obvious.

“The present administration met aviation infrastructure, especially the terminals, in a terrible state of dilapidation. Understandably, a state of emergency of sorts with regard to rehabilitating the derelict and decrepit infrastructure required a lot of urgency which the selective tendering provision in the Act suited quite

aptly.”

On the allegation that a certain security contract was awarded sometime in December, yet work has not commenced, Obi explained that the security related contracts are not subject to open competitive bidding in order not to compromise the entire process.

“Secondly, the security equipment required and ordered by the Ministry is not an off-the shelf item. The equipment is to be custom-made and manufactured specifically to suit our purposes. Letters of Credit have been opened for this contract and there are currently being manufactured.

Soon, the equipment will be delivered for installation.

“We also make haste to restate that all contracts in the Ministry were awarded in accordance with the provisions of the Public Procurement Act and accordingly received Certificates of No Objection from the Bureau of Public Procurement. Any allegation to the contrary or an insinuation of corruption on the part of the Ministry is patently false and misleading,” the statement also said.

The House of Representatives is set to probe the alleged award of contracts running into millions of naira.

The contracts were reportedly paid for by the government but were not executed.

The lawmaker said the

• From left: Development Manager Research & Development, Unilever Nig. plc, Mrs. Josephine Atabhor; Brand Building Director, Mr David Okeme; Expert Health and Nutrition West Africa, Mr Victor Ajeroh, and Brand Manager Close Up, Mr Dexter Adeola, during the Close PHOTO: MUYIWA HASSAN Up consumer promo conference in Lagos at the weekend.

committee was prompted to carry out the probe after uncovering the extent of abuse the “No Objection Certificate” has been abused by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

He said: “The impunity with which we do things in this country is appalling; like the abuse of ‘No Objection Certificate’ given by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP). All agencies are using this loophole to issue contracts of over N20 billion without advertising them, once they write to the BPP, which allows for selective tendering.

“These are some of the instances that have prompted our committee to investigate the Aviation Ministry, which awards contracts of more than N12 billion through this absurd selective tendering, which technically knocks out competition.

“We are inundated with noises of aviation is working, but the question is: at what cost?

“We are set to investigate the sector because of petitions over some contractors that have been paid for since 2012 but have not been executed yet.

“For instance, a contract on the provision of ‘new security strategies for airports’, N6.247 billion was paid already from the contract sum of N9 billion.

Another instance is this: How can the same contractor, without a pedigree in the sector, be the one to renovate almost all the airports, as if there were no others around?“ But, two former Ministers of Aviation, Felix Hassan Hyat and Mr Samuel Mafuyai, have expressed satisfaction over the airport remodelling project, which they described as long overdue.

They reasoned that there could have been no better time to fix the rot and decay in airport facilities other than now.

Apart from the former aviation ministers, scores of passengers and airport users continue to commend efforts by government to fix airport terminals nationwide, affirming that apart from creating jobs for teeming Nigerians, it would also create commercial offerings for many businesses related to aviation to grow.

The Chief Executive Officer, Westlink Airlines, Captain Ibrahim Mshelia, has described the ongoing infrastructure upgrade at airports nationwide as part of the strategy by the Federal Government to reposition the aviation sector as a huge revenue earner.

Mshelia said the infrastructure upgrade could not have come at a better time, after many years of abandonment.

He said the pace at which the airports are being fixed is enough testimony of the commitment of government to position the aviation sector for national development, using air transportation as a catalyst.

Mshelia, who stated this while speaking to journalists last week in Lagos, noted that the current transformation across the nation’s airports will put Nigeria back into reckoning regarding air transport industry.

Email: adetayookusanya@hotmail.com

A crash course in career construction

B

UILDING a successful career is similar in many ways to building a house. For many of us, owning an asset such as a home is a long term investment because it consumes a great deal of our time, energy and finances. We are willing to make this sacrifice because we believe our capital investment will appreciate. A successful career can be as much an asset as a house. Today I will share with you concepts in building construction that, if applied to career management, will increase your chances of having sustained success in your career.

Vision:One can never over-emphasize the power of a vision. Every technological innovation that has ever come about started as an idea in someone’s mind. You must see in your mind’s eye the end goal. What is the big idea for your life and career? As easily as the image of your dream house comes to your mind, picture yourself at height of your career. What are you doing? What are you saying? Who are you doing or saying it to? Where are you? What are others saying or writing about you at that time?Translate your answers into long term goals and career ambitions and write these down in your journal. Let them be your true north i.e. the compass that guides you towards self-actualization.

Teamwork:It takes more than one person to successfully build a house. It takes a team of architects, engineers, builders and inspectors to transform a house from idea to reality. So also, a successful career is built through the help of a team of mentors, sponsors, career advisers, coaches, counselors, supporters etc. Theyhelp you avoid career pitfalls, call attention to your blind spots, show you how to gain competitive advantage and keep you on the right track to accomplishing your career goals.

Design:Only an inept builder begins construction on a house without having the architectural and engineering plans in place. Your career blueprint (plan) should be a timeline of activities you will undertake to reach your desired end. Best practice suggests that your plan should not exceed a ten year time frame and should be broken down into manageable short term goals. This way, you are able to regularly measure how well you are doing against your plan. Focus your career plan on experiences, competencies and skills you need to function successfully at the height of your career. A job or a promotion can be taken from you, but the experiences, knowledge and skills you have acquired remain yours for life.

Foundation:You can have the best architectural design for a building however, a foundational mistake can result in the ultimate destruction of that building. A career can also be destroyed if the foundation of that career is unstable. At the root of every career lies a certain set of core values, some of which foster success and longevity, while others do not. As you gear yourself up for the year, revisit the ideologies that guide the worth you place on ideas, things, behaviors, and by extension your choices.

What core values will you stand for this year?

Being aware of the values that are important to you will help you be more effective in managing conflicts, making decisions and maintaining the integrity of your character.

Framework:Many business management consultants will tell you that you can have the best idea in the world and still fail if the idea is not set within the right framework. The framework must be built according to the design, if the building is to truly serve its purpose. The framework of your career consists of pillars upon which your work outputs and success will rest. The choices you make about your education, professional training, the types of roles you take on and the industry, company, department and associationsthat you become a part of, will frame the course of your career. Inconsistent choices will result in a career that is less than optimal.

Finishing:You can have two buildings built exactly the same way, i.e. the same design, foundation and framework, but differences in finishing can ultimately result in differences in the perceived value of both buildings. Similarly, you can have two professionals with similarbackground and job responsibilities, but one will be valued over the other if his work output is considered to be of superior quality and his style (personality and vibe) is preferred. The frequency of errors in your reports, the visual appeal of your presentations, your depth of insight, your communication style, your professionalism, your confidence, your attitude to work, your appearance, your contributions to decisions andyour ability to work in teams, all contribute to perception of value that others place on you.

When you invest time, energy and resources in establishing the right vision, team, design, foundation, framework and finishing for your career, your professional brand will experience significant increase in value and market demand.

• Okusanya is CEO of ReadinessEdge

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 4, 2013

BUSINESS

Multiverse seals dividend hopes on first quarter loss

M

ULTIVERSE Plc closed its first quarter operations with a loss position that will be extremely difficult to explain to shareholders. Cost of sales exceeded sales revenue by more than 64% as if the company’s management failed in its arithmetic and bookkeeping job during the period.

The construction materials supplies company failed to build profit for investors in the first quarter but existing value declined instead. It ended up with a loss figure that looks irredeemable for the rest of the year and thereby sealing any hopes for dividend payment in the current year.

For every naira of sales revenue generated during the period, the company incurred almost N164 to earn it. It apparently did not want to lose its customers and had to dip hands into own tight pocket to give them what they wanted.

The cost of playing such a dependable supplier is a fall from a net profit of about N14 million in the corresponding quarter of last year to a net loss of N66 million at the end of the first quarter.

Sales revenue dropped by 80% from about N177 million in the first quarter of 2012 to N34.5 million in 2013. If the current growth rate is maintained to full year, the company is expected to close the year with a turnover of about N154 million. That would be a big fall of 77.2% from the full year sales revenue of N674 million the company reported at the end of its 2012 operations.

With a decline of 45%, cost of sales failed to drop as rapidly as sales revenue and thus created a gross loss of N19 million. This is against a gross profit of about N80 million recorded in the corresponding quarter last year. Unable to recover even the cost of materials sold, gross profit margin

sank from 45.2% to -55.1% over the review period. It stood at 49.5% at the end of the 2012 full year.

Two other cost elements helped the company to build up the loss figure from the gross loss of N19 million to a net loss of N66 million during the period. These are distribution and administrative expenses of N26 million and interest charges of N22 million.

Despite that the two expenditure lines declined during the period, the expenses could not be made from any revenue.

In the resulting tight cash flow situation, the company had to mount pressures on its debtors to pay up. The measure yielded good results, as the stock of debtors and other receivables fell by 80% to N13 million between the end of 2012 and the first quarter. Compared with the corresponding quarter last year, debtors and receivables are also down by 75.6%.

The second leg of the cash flow management measures is the accumulation of trade creditors and other payables during the review period. At the end of the first quarter, trade debtors and receivables rose by 85.8% to N374 million from the position at the end of 2012. Against the correspond-

ing period last year, trade creditors and other payables have risen by 53.7%.

A loss of N66 million in the first quarter is more than twice the net profit figure of N31 million the company posted in all of its 2012 operations. If the sharp drop in sales revenue persists in the coming quarters, the loss figure can be expected to rise further rather than fall.

For now, the prospects for turning the loss situation into profit at full year appear quite slim. It will take nothing less than very pleasant second and third quarter surprises to reverse the company’s first quarter shock.

Multiverse’s first quarter operations ended with a loss per share of N3.11 compared with earnings per share of 65 kobo in the first quarter of the preceding year. It earned 72 kobo per share at the end of its 2012 financial year. With sustaining poor earnings records, the company does not have a track record of dividend payment. Its last dividend was 1 kobo per share it gave its shareholders on 16th July 2010.

Other major developments in the balance sheet during the review period include a slight decline in inventories over the corresponding

figure last year to N553 million. The figure is however a marginal improvement from N546 million at the end of 2012.

This raises concerns that the collapse of the company’s sales revenue in the first quarter also fails to reflect a substantial build up of inventories. This is an indication of a major operating weakness that is likely to hinder the ability to rebuild sales volume and revenue for quite a while.

The company’s cash flow management measures resulted in declining current assets and increasing current liabilities. Between the end of last year and its first quarter, total current assets declined by 2.3% to N607 million while total current liabilities rose by 31% to N1.11 billion.

Total current assets have also gone down by 8.3% from the corresponding period in 2012 while current liabilities declined by 6.3% over the same period. The company’s working capital remains negative at N504 million. Cash flow from operating activities fell by 95% to N34.5 million in the first quarter while net cash flow from investing activities dropped by almost 100% to insignificance during the period

cent from N46.0bn made in the same period in 2012; while the group earned gross earnings of N56.2bn.

It added that the bank’s profit before tax was N11.6bn for the first half of 2013, indicating a 54 per cent rise from what it made in the first half of 2012, while group profit before tax was N9.8bn. Group profit after tax was N9.4bn.

The Group Managing Director, Union Bank, Mr. Emeka Emuwa, was quoted as saying, “In the second quarter of 2013, Union Bank

stayed the course of profitability. 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.”

The Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Oyinkan Adewale, said the second quarter profitability was due to a combination of cost management measures and certain non-recurring items.

Union Bank announces N11.3bn half-year profit

U

NION Bank of Nigeria Plc made a profit after tax of N11.3bn in the half-year period ended June 30, 2013.

A statement from the bank on Thursday said the figure represented a 52 per cent increase from the N7.5bn it reported for the same period in 2012.

The bank’s Head, Corporate Affairs, Mr. Francis Barde, said in the statement that the bank recorded the gross earnings of N48.1bn in the period under review, up by five per

53

MARKET FLASH Bukola Afolabi obrijo4u@gmail.com

Company News GTB, UBA, Zenith shares boost trade volume as market index extends run by 0.2%

T

HE appreciation recorded in equity trading activities on Tuesday extended to Wednesday as major market indicators recorded positive gains.

The market capitalisation of the listed equities rose by N34bn or 0.28 per cent to close at N12.007tn on, up from N11.973tn recorded on Similarly, the NSE’s All-Share Index gained 0.28 per cent or 107.88 basis points from 37,806.45 recorded on Tuesday to 37,914.33 points.

The NSE-30 Index closed at 1,776.75 basis points, representing a rise by 0.29 per cent or 5.19 basis points from 1,771.56 recorded on Tuesday, while the NSE’s Consumer Goods Index rose by 0.37 per cent or 4.01 basis points to close at 1,071.66 basis points.

The banking index rose by 0.18 per cent or 0.75 basis points to close at 405.58 points, up from 404.83 basis points recorded the previous day.

The banking sub-sector maintained its lead on the activity chart, as trading in the sub-sector accounted for 43 per cent of total volume traded.

In the sub-sector, investors exchanged 144.925 million shares, valued at N1.344bn in 2,028 transactions.

Volume in the sub-sector was driven by trading in the shares of Skye Bank Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc and Zenith Bank Plc. A total of 32 stocks gained on last week, while 23 stocks lost.

Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc led the price gainers’ chart, rising by 9.98 per cent or N1.71 to close at N18.84 per share.

Red Star Express Plc followed on the chart with a gain of 44 kobo to close at N4.89 per share.

Cutix Plc gained 9.84 per cent or 18 kobo to close at N2.01 per share, while Fidson Healthcare Plc and IPWA Plc gained 9.80 and 8.06 to close at N2.24 and N1.34 per share in that order.

On the other hand, Vono Products Plc led the price losers, shedding 9.52 per cent or 12 kobo to close at N1.14 per share; while Courteville Business Solutions Plc lost 9.33 per cent or seven kobo to close at 68 kobo per share.

SEC, stakeholders to brainstorm on capital market financing

T

HE Securities and Exchange Commission has said it will collaborate with the National Planning Commission to host an infrastructure roundtable aimed at finding remedy for Nigeria’s inadequate infrastructural stock.

A statement by the Communications Adviser to the Director-General, SEC, Obi Adindu, said the roundtable would highlight the role of the capital market in Nigeria’s development and how to raise $360bn needed to solve the infrastructural deficit.

According to the statement, the roundtable, scheduled to take place from August 5 to 6 in Lagos, will involve professionals from the public and private sectors.

The Director-General, SEC, Ms. Arunma Oteh; the Minister of National Planning, Dr. Shamsudeen Usman; the Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen; the Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar; the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ms. Ama Pepple, and the Director-General, Bureau for Public Enterprises, Mr. Benjamin Dikki, as well as the Lagos State Commissioner for Economic Planning, Mr. Ben Akabueze, are all expected to speak at the event.

While Usman will present the National infrastructure master plan at the event, the roundtable is also expected to witness a review of comparative global trends in resolving infrastructure challenge.

The statement read in part, “The relevance of the capital markets in providing sustainable funding for the infrastructure needs which would have been given definition by the infrastructure ministers will be examined by a panel featuring largely principal officers of multilateral financial institutions such as the African Development Bank and International Finance Corporation.

“Participants on this panel will include a representative each of the Rand Merchant Bank, Infrastructure Concessions Regulatory Commission, ARM Infrastructure Fund and Perchstone and Gray, an infrastructure finance specialist law firm.”

In addition to this, capital market operators are also scheduled to discuss climatic and environmental factors which would encourage investment in infrastructure.

The SEC added that the event would review legal issues and structuring and financing options.

54

BUSINESS

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 4, 2013

Mr. Chidi Okoro sits atop as Managing Director/Chief Executive, GlaxoSmithKline Nigeria Plc, one of the major conglomerates in the nation's pharmaceutical industry. Suave and gentlemanly, Okoro is not your regular CEO who is wont to lord it over subordinates by reason of the titular position he wields. As a peopleperson, his management style is such that makes it easy for him to connect with the high as well as the rank and file in the organisation.

He said that much in this interview with Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf. Excerpts:

W

hat's your management style and philosophy?

I'm not sure I'm the right person to talk about my own style. I'm sure the people I work with should be in a better position to talk about my own style. But since you've asked me, I'll tell you. I think I work from a belief that getting into a management position is a burden, it's a responsibility. So, I take management to be an opportunity to contribute. So, that's the perspective I see. And when it comes from that perspective, you're very humble, you're very listening, you're very understanding, you're collaborating. So to our company, management style is about collaboration, courage and creativity. And I talk about creativity because today we've many challenges all over the world and I'm not sure regular management style can provide solutions for today and tomorrows troubles.

So you need a great deal of creativity, collaboration. So, that is how I engage.

That is sort of thinking outside the box...

(Cuts in) You have to stay inside the box.

In fact, you need the stability of the box. It's about pooling the energies of the various people because people come to work with so much energy. So, I think my job is to try to pool those energies together and put them inside the box so that we can achieve the utmost goal and objective.

So how do you motivate your staff?

The truth is you do not motivate people, you only take away demotivators. So, one of my biggest preoccupations is to remove the things that demotivate our staff. If you notice, when people come to work for you, in the first six months they are very highly motivated.

But from nine months, they start to go down.

Why does that happen? What it means is that there are demotivators. So, my job is to take away demotivators. That is why I talk about that positive management style. I do not motivate. We cannot motivate. I come to work for my own reason, ok? And much of the things we do, we call motivation, they are very short term. They are things that lasts for six months may be. You increase my salary, six months after my expenses covers that salary. So, I take away demotivators so that people have the platform to do a great job.

And when people do a great job, when people contribute their quota, it's best for the organisation.

Still talking about motivators, would you be specific?

I gave you an analogy that when people resume at a workplace, the first six months everyone is flying, everybody is excited. But by the ninth month, it's been proven, they (people's performance) starts to go down.

What happens? They meet the sort of environment where people are competing, backstabbing, people are showing off, people are not real, promises are made and broken, people are not respected, and no one listens anymore. But what I do is that I take away those things that demotivate. That's the approach I like. You really connect with the individual from the heart.

So, you're more or less a people-person, if I have to say so because you bond very well with your staff?

Yeah. I try to. I talked about collaboration.

We work like friends. I try to get along with people because I think the power lies with the

looked at ways of pocketing those monies for ourselves. You see Niger Delta as a place to be because of derivation. You see Abuja is growing, Lagos is big...So, we said, you know what, the only way to grow is that we've got to launch a lot of products in the market. We had to understand consumers' cravings, trends. And typically, we never used to launch more than one product for a year but in a year we launched 11 products.

And this year, we're going to launch about 20. So, it has become part of the way we do things. So, we're no longer afraid to launch.

So, we don't mind failing. So, we launched, maybe seven failed, so what? So, making such decisions helped move the company from where they are really presently, to where they are willing to test run. So, those are some of the decisions. We have also made many good decisions. You always hear about talents in Nigeria, in Africa and the rest of the world but what are we doing about these crops of talents? Some can complain about it and so what? So, thinking along this line, we launched a management trainee scheme and we have had to take some of them at very young age of say 23 years, and we made them Sales Managers and they are doing fantastic because we groomed them on the character. We help good character to grow. So, such decisions call it taking risk with people by throwing in someone and make him take responsibility.

So those are some of the decisions that we've made from time-to-time. From hindsight, so many of them we've made have gone wrong. But there is nothing wrong in making a mistake. You learn from your mistakes.

Now we're coming close and personal.

When does your typical day begins?

My day begins 3am, but it's personal. I don't want people to think that I work from 3am. I retire very early, say maybe 8.30pm.

So, you don't see me everyday going out for dinner parties. I retire early and I get up about 3am to read. And I'm interested in writing. I want to know what's happening in the world. So, I'm on the internet for like one hour. And then I go out to work out. I work out a lot because I still play soccer, I play football. So I have to work out daily...

So, what's your team sir?

I support Chelsea. But I have a team called Lekki Strikers. It's adult football.

What wing do you play?

I'm a midfielder, I play in the midfield. I used to play the right foot back but I got an injury so I cannot run that fast anymore. But I get to the office for about 6.45am and I close early say between 4-5pm. So, if you have a meeting for 5pm, I'm not happy because I want to get home early.

You sound like a homeboy true and true?

Sure, I'm a homeboy! And that's why I've to leave early.

Talking about spending your leisure, where do you have your holidays?

I get to travel a lot all over the world. So, I don't get excited about travelling for holiday. I stopped doing that maybe about seven years ago. If I have a holiday, I'll probably go to Abuja or Calabar and I checked in a hotel and spend five-seven days. And I think holidays are better in my house than anywhere else because I get to travel to different part of the world every other month. So, holiday to me is rest, no big deal. But in recent times, I use my holiday to read and write. I just wrote my first book.

You know the pilot doesn't land a plane, do you know that? He only checks the conditions for planes to land. That's the kind of thought process I brought out so that wonder, maybe I could have helped him. people can see. I'm a firm believer in Maybe, if I advised him better three years challenging dominant logic. I approach ago, he wouldn't have done what he did. issues from a different perspective, which is Maybe, I could have grown beyond being a why I said pilot never lands a plane. The friend and become a companion and really teacher makes the students. That's what I try to help him understand his journey and did in my last two holidays.

How long did it take you to write that guide him away from those things that he book? would do.

It took me two years.

But if you make your decisions leaning on the values of your organisation than your That means anytime you took a holiday, personal values, there won't be problems. you put pen on paper?

You know as Rotary will always say, 'is it fair Sure. When I have holiday, I write and I to all? Is it the truth?' if you make decisions write about everything. It's got nothing to do based on the values of the organisation, it's with my job. I write about Nigeria, opportualways not tough. And also if you work in a nities in Nigeria. It's just for young ones to collaborative manner, it's shared responsibil- see that there are much opportunities right ity. So, we let people hold their positions. So, here than they can ever think of. So, that's I'm not the chief executive that has to be the what I do with my holidays. one saying everything or doing everything. I As the CEO of GSK, you must be only make my inputs, I set the direction. So, I planning your exit from office. Could you let make contribution and people run with it. So, us in on what you would probably be doing when you let people do their job, they are in retirement? excited and motivated in every sense of it.

I like to focus on the process more than Now what are those decisions you have the destination. So, what I'm trying to do is taken overtime that has stood the organisa- build myself, build my mental faculty to be tion in good stead? able to do a lot of things. But as for the You can look at our environment and tell destination, I leave it to happen. But I focus where Nigeria is going beyond what you on being a great person for Nigeria. hear. You hear all gloom and doom about As a person, what drives you, what Nigeria. I think it was in 2010, we knew that makes you tick? this country was going in a certain direction.

I'm a jolly good fellow, so happiness The economy was growing year-on-year, Ubosi and and his especially per capita income we family also drives me. (Laughs)...

‘I make

friends With my

staff’

people. So, I try to engage with people, not to get titular with their roles or functions. I like to connect with people. If I can connect with your heart, you can stick with me. And if your reason for coming to work is at consonant with the values and mission of the organisation, certainly, people will go with us. That's what we try to do. So, we thrive to create an environment where people get a chance to be themselves. People get motivated by getting opportunity to contribute, more than the opportunity for more money.

As the CEO, sometimes you're faced with horns of a dilemma when it comes to taking certain crucial decisions. What have been some of those tough decisions you have taken overtime?

If you notice, our organisation has values and sometimes, we mix our culture with values, ok? Usually, we have to make some decisions. We engage with the internal as well as the whole world. But I think the company makes it easy for me so I'll not call it tough decisions because the decisions are based on the values of the organisation. And if you base your decisions on the values of the organisation rather than your personal values, you hurt nobody. But some decisions you make are something you go back and reflect upon. I'm friends with everybody in the company including the driver, who had to leave the company. I had to push that decision. So, it's something I go back and I

55 With

JILL OKEKE

jillokeke@yahoo.com, 07069429757

W

HEN advertisements flooded newspapers in 1999 for the purchase of houses along the Isheri Olofin, Lagos State University (LASU) Road in the Idimu area of Lagos State, many Nigerians jumped in jubilation. This was the chance they had been waiting for to have their own houses.

The advertisers, Good Homes Estate Ltd, published in one of the dailies that three types of houses were available: a twobedroom in a row of four housing units, a three-bedroom in twin bungalow and a three-bedroom detached house. The asking prices were as follows: N769,915, N953,435 and N1,164,803 respectively.

In the advertisements, buyers were asked to make a 25percent deposit of the cost with their application forms and pay the balance of 75percent on the completion of the house, and with the title deeds of the houses to be given to them on completion of payment. Intending buyers were told that the Estate with about 170 housing units will be designed with basic infrastructure such as well-mapped out and tarred roads, water, drainages, green areas, recreational centres, among others.

Good Homes Estate Ltd published similar advertisements in newspapers, advertising another Estate at Aina Jakande Street, off Oke Ira Bus stop, Obadare, Aja, on Lagos Island. As usual, many promises were attached to the advertisements and thus began the mad rush by people to lodge money with Good Homes management in order to realise their longawaited dreams of owning their own landed properties.

But 14 years after paying for their homes, the management of Good Homes Estate is yet to deliver on their promises or abide by the details of agreement between them and the prospective house owners. The owners are crying foul. They have lodged several complaints against the sellers of the homes at various police stations, the Lagos State House of Assembly and have even taken their case to court. But on each occasion, after a supposed resolution, the management of Good Homes would renege on the agreement reached.

The owners of the homes, among other things, are calling on the sellers of the property to hand over the title deeds of the properties to them as they have long completed payments of their houses, paid the legal fees and other levies arbitrarily imposed by Good Homes management, to stop congesting the estate by further constructing buildings in the areas originally marked for recreation, thereby denying owners of the properties and children within the estate recreational facilities. And that they should construct tarred roads, gutters and drainages as they promised; stop arbitrary selling of spaces within the estate which is already congested; stop arbitrary charges for security and allow residents to employ their own security personnel; withdraw from insisting on being middle men between the house owners and PHCN; reopen the second exit or entrance to allow for safety in the case of an emergency; and totally hands off the estate and allow the buyers to manage the estate which now belongs to them by virtue of the fact that all the occupiers have finished paying for the houses.

They are also requesting that the management of the Good Home Estate should abide by the resolution reached between them at the Lagos State House of Assembly. After the completion of the full payment of the houses and in further breach of agreed terms, the management of the Homes insisted on collecting an extra N350,000.00 from each house owner, for what they termed infrastructural levy, before they are given the title deeds to their

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 4, 2013

Good or bad Home Estates?

properties. The complainants took the case to the Lagos State House of Assembly, which, after long deliberations as the N350,000.00 was not in the initial agreement, appealed to the complainants to pay N100,000.00, that was then accepted by Good Homes management. But in its usual character of breaching an agreement, the management reneged on that resolution and insisted on getting N350,000.00 from the house owners.

A visit to both the Good Homes Estate at the Isheri Olofin LASU Road and Ado, Aja, Lagos Island revealed an eye sore. The roads were logged with pools of water as there were no gutters or drainages. But the worst of the two was the Isheri Olofin Estate. Movement within the estate either by car or leg is completely hampered especially when it rains because the roads are completely flooded as houses have been constructed on areas where gutters and drainages are meant to be built.

The sole gate leading into the estate with over 170 houses is so narrow that it cannot take two vehicles at the same time. The gate measures about 12 to 13 feet as against 26 feet. The untarred roads also cannot accommodate two cars at the same time.

At the inception, according to the residents, the Estate had an entrance and exit gates but over time, the management sold the land around the exit gate and right now a building is stationed there.

The one entrance and exit gate into the estate is so narrow that in the case of fire outbreak, a fire service vehicle will find it

virtually impossible to gain access into the estate.

However, unlike the Good Homes Estate at LASU Road, the occupants of the estate at Ado Aja are in charge of the estate's security, officials of whom they engaged from Scorpion Agency. Though it has no recreational facilities, it boasts of two primary and nursery schools but the space at the Isheri Olofin Estate is so constrained that vehicle movement is almost hampered.

As if the estate is not congested enough, just recently the management sold the only tiny parcel of land around the gate area to someone who constructed a nursery school, Blossoms Child Care School .The land is so small that the school had to be built attached to the wall fencing the estate.

At the Ministry of Urban and Physical Planning, Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja, a director of the ministry who pleaded anonymity by virtue of being a civil servant regretted that some estates without government approvals were springing up in various parts of the state.

She decried the situation where an estate will have no recreational facilities, gutter and just one gate. “In the case of an emergency, how will residents escape to safety?” she queried.

“Inter-connectivity is what the state government is insisting on in every estate to enhance escape and evacuation in case of a calamity,” she stressed Expressing high hopes that perpetrators of such evil act will soon be fished out, she said that the state government had set up an efficient monitoring department, officials of whom parade the state looking for ill-built properties and estates.

She also called on members of the public to report such incidents to the ministry.

A visit to the head office of Good Homes Estate at 270 Ikorodu Road revealed total nonchalance and unprofessionalism on the part of the management towards the plight and grievances of their customers and home buyers.

After waiting for the Managing Director of the company, Mr Soji Boluwaji, for about an hour, the reporter called him to remind him of their our appointment. He confirmed he was already on his way to the office.

Thirty minutes later, Mr Deji Fadoju, the Marketing Director of Good Homes Estate, sauntered into the office and said the MD asked him to attend to the reporter. After an explanation of allegations by the company's prospective clients, Fadoju stood up from his chair and said he had no time to waste as those allegations were fabrications. He then rudely walked out of the office, while shouting that the reporter should write whatever she felt like.

Gathering her tape recorder and writing materials for fear of being attacked, the reporter quietly walked out to safety. What else could one have expected from an organisation that has flatly refused to adhere to court orders and agreement reached at the Lagos State House of Assembly?

56

Mind & Body THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 4, 2013

Confronting

hepatisis

A

LTHOUGH it sounds dangerous, the word hepatitis does not really mean a lot to many people. Yet, it is a disease which afflicts millions of people globally, with many not being aware of its dangers. Viral hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that kills about one million people yearly. There are five types of hepatitis - A, B, C, D and E. Hepatitis patients may not experience symptoms at the early stage of the disease, some later symptoms may include jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), dark urine, extreme fatigue, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. And while all types of hepatitis cause liver disease, they vary in many ways. Hepatitis A virus (HAV) and Hepatitis E virus (HEV) are present in the faeces of infected persons and is most often transmitted through consumption of contaminated water or food. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is transmitted through exposure to infective blood, semen, and other body fluids.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is mostly also transmitted through exposure to infective blood. Sexual transmission is also possible, but is much less common. And Hepatitis D virus (HDV) infections occur only in those who are infected with HBV. The dual infection of HDV and HBV can, however, result in a more serious disease and worse outcome.

Most critical of these are hepatitis B and hepatitis C, two viruses that are the leading cause of liver cirrhosis and cancer, accounting for almost 80% of all liver cancer cases.

And without adequate testing, diagnosis cannot be easily made.

However, it is Hepatitis B that is most prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa. The hepatitis B virus is about 50 to 100 times more infectious than HIV. And WHO estimates claim that about five to 10 percent of the adult population are chronically infected with Hepatitis B. HBV also poses a risk to healthcare workers who sustain accidental needle prick injuries while caring for infected-HBV

By Joe Agbro Jr.

patients.

A consultant gastroenterologist at the College of Medicine, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, Dr Olufunmilayo Lesi, said the Hepatitis B Virus could be in body fluids for as long as 20 years without being detected. She said, 'By the time you are seeing the first symptoms such as yellowing of the eyes, abdominal pain, coloured urine, it will be too late for any doctor or specialist to save, treat or manage the infection.’

According to WHO, 1.4 million estimated cases of Hepatitis A occur annually, while Hepatitis B, regarded as the deadliest of the hepatitis clan, carries the highest estimated number of people infected with the virus worldwide-two billion people. And WHO figures state that 150 million people are chronically infected with the Hepatitis C virus.

Overall, the figures estimate that about 600 000 people die every year due to the acute or chronic consequences of hepatitis.

Last year, it was reported that 20 million Nigerians were infected with hepatitis B and worse, most people living with chronic Hepatitis B or C infection are unaware that they continue to carry the virus. Experts, during a symposium on Hepatitis B organised by the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) in collaboration with the Society of Gastroenterology and Hepatology of Nigeria (SGHIN), revealed that Hepatitis B alone affects about 19 million Nigerians.

In order to attract more attention to the scourge, the World Health Assembly in 2010 designated 28 July as World Hepatitis Day. And the theme of this year's edition was 'This is hepatitis. Know it. Confront it.'

But Dr. Osahon Enabulele, president of the Nigerian Medical Association, blamed ignorance for the increasing incidence of hepatitis in the country. And president of the Society for Gastroenterology and Hepatology in Nigeria, SOGHIN,

Professor Olusegun Ojo, said Nigerians are vulnerable to hepatitis even as they lack awareness about it. According to him, the virus has affected over 20 million Nigerians and causes thousands of deaths each year.

People with chronic hepatitis B can mitigate their condition by having regular check-ups with either a liver specialist or a doctor knowledgeable about hepatitis B at least once or twice a year. Usually, this includes blood tests, physical exam and ultrasound imaging of the liver to detect liver damage, cirrhosis or liver cancer.

Then, unprotected sex should be avoided and people should desist from sharing needles and syringes. Other things one can do to maintain a healthy liver is to strictly limit or avoid alcohol. Although there is no diet specific for chronic hepatitis B, studies show that eating green and yellow vegetables is good for the liver. These tend to protect the liver against harsh chemicals. The American Cancer Society's diet, which includes low fat, low cholesterol, and high fibre foods is beneficial as well. Shellfish is not recommended for anyone with hepatitis B because of the risk of eating contaminated shellfish. Raw or undercooked shellfish can contain a bacteria called Vibrio vulnificus, which is very toxic to the liver.

But effective vaccination remains the best mode of prevention. And vaccines are available for all the virus types, except C. Before the widespread use of the hepatitis B vaccine, almost all children in developing countries used to become infected with the virus. However, since 1982, over one billion doses of hepatitis B vaccine have been used worldwide. There is, however, no vaccine for HCV. But Dr. Charles Onyekwere, Consultant Physician and Gastroenterologist, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), said, 'Nigeria must design a local model for fighting Hepatitis B because the disease is not a priority to foreign donor agencies.’

•It is not possible, on clinical grounds, to differentiate hepatitis B from hepatitis caused by other viral agents and, hence, laboratory confirmation of the diagnosis is essential. A number of blood tests are available to diagnose and monitor people with hepatitis B. They can be used to distinguish acute and chronic infections.

•As of July 2011, 179 Member States vaccinate infants against hepatitis B as part of their vaccination schedules. This is a major increase compared with 31 countries in 1992, the year that the World Health Assembly passed a resolution to recommend global vaccination against hepatitis B. Furthermore, as of July 2011, 93 Member States have introduced the hepatitis B birth dose.

•Unlike hepatitis B and C, hepatitis A infection does not cause chronic liver disease and is rarely fatal, but it can cause debilitating symptoms and fulminant hepatitis (acute liver failure), which is associated with high mortality.

•Every year there are an estimated 1.4 million cases of hepatitis A worldwide.

•Hepatitis A viruses persist in the environment and can resist foodproduction processes routinely used to inactivate and/or control bacterial pathogens.

•A vaccine against hepatitis B has been available since 1982. Hepatitis B vaccine is 95% effective in preventing infection and its chronic consequences, and was the first vaccine against a major human cancer.

•Hepatitis B prevalence is highest in sub-Saharan Africa and East Asia. Most people in these regions become infected with the hepatitis B virus during childhood and between 510% of the adult population is chronically infected.

•The hepatitis B virus can survive outside the body for at least seven days.

During this time, the virus can still cause infection if it enters the body of a person who is not protected by the vaccine.

•The hepatitis B virus is not spread by contaminated food or water, and cannot be spread casually in the workplace.

More than 90% of healthy adults who are infected with the hepatitis B virus will recover and be completely rid of the virus within six months.

•There is no specific treatment for acute hepatitis B. Care is aimed at maintaining comfort and adequate nutritional balance, including replacement of fluids that are lost from vomiting and diarrhoea.

•Since 1982, over one billion doses of hepatitis B vaccine have been used worldwide. In many countries, where 815% of children used to become chronically infected with the hepatitis B virus, vaccination has reduced the rate of chronic infection to less than 1% among immunized children.

•About 150 million people are chronically infected with hepatitis C virus, and more than 350 000 people die every year from hepatitis C-related liver diseases.

•In 25% of liver cancer patients, the underlying cause is hepatitis C. •There is effective vaccines are available for all hepatitis viruses except for hepatitis C. •Every year there are 20 million hepatitis E infections, over three million acute cases of hepatitis E, and 57 000 hepatitis E-related deaths.

•In 2011, the first vaccine to prevent hepatitis E infection was registered in China. Although it is not available globally, it could potentially become available in a number of other countries.

Mind & Body

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 4, 2013

UNICEF advocates exclusive breastfeeding

I

N a renewed drive to ensure mothers give newborns breast-milk exclusively, the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Abuja, Thursday made a fresh call for a law to enable a father take time off work to be with his wife and new baby.

This announcement was made on Thursday by , Dr. A. L. Mbene, who represented Country Director of WHO, to begin this year's world breastfeeding week which holds between August 1 and 7 every year. This year's theme is 'Breastfeeding support: Close to mothers.'

He also stressed the need to look into granting fathers paternity leave as a means of assisting both mother and child.

'Though rare,' he said, 'we think that the time has come for it across the world. We also support the establishment of crèches in offices where mothers can go and feed the baby.'

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has described breastfeeding as the most effective and inexpensive way of saving a child's life.

According to UNICEF Deputy Executive Director, Geeta Rao Gupta; “There is no other single health intervention that has such a high impact for babies and mothers as breastfeeding and which costs so little for governments. Children who are exclusively breastfed are 14 times more likely to survive the first six months of life than non-breastfed children.

Also, according to UNICEF Deputy Executive Director, “Apart from the benefits to the baby, mothers who breastfeed exclusively are less likely to

become pregnant in the first six months following delivery, recover faster from giving birth, and return to their prepregnancy weight sooner.’

noise) during sleep.

•Watermelon can boost energy. A daily serving of watermelon has been shown to boost energy levels by up to 23%. This is because watermelon contains vitamin B6, which the body uses to synthesize feel good dopamine. It also contains magnesium which assists in the body's formation of adenosine triphosphate. Like a rechargeable battery, this nucleotide fuels cellular function for all-day energy.

•Watermelon can help in the faster healing of wound and other skin problem. The fruit is packed with the amino acid citrulline, which the body converts to arginine. Arginine speeds the delivery of white blood cells to injury sites, plus spurs the growth of new skin tissue. Study show that these processes can help skin heal 3x faster.

•Watermelon has ingredient (arginine) that deliver Viagra-like effect. Arginine boosts nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessels, the same basic effect that Viagra has, to treat erectile dysfunction and maybe even prevent it. Extra nitric oxide can also help treat angina, high blood pressure and other cardiovascular

problems.

Tips for a juicier watermelon slices: Long-term refrigeration can sap nutrients and flavor from the fruit. But to guarantee the tastiest fruit, place watermelon in the fridge for 30 minutes before slicing it. A quick chill causes the fruit's cells to constrict. This means the juice stays in the slices instead of running out onto the cutting board.

Source www.hubpages.com

Benefits of eating watermelon

W

ATERMELON is one of the most refreshing, thirst quenching fruit available year round. Watermelon is not only delicious but also very nutritious. Watermelon consists of 92% water and 8% sugar and studies have shown that deep red varieties of watermelon have displaced the tomato as the lycopene king. Here are some benefits of eating watermelon daily: •Achieve that younger-looking skin with just 2-cups of watermelon daily.

Research showed that watermelon cuts the risk of sun related skin damage by 40%. That's because watermelon is nature's richest source of lycopene, an antioxidant that scavenges the UVinduced free radicals that cause sunburn and wrinkling. Lycopene may also help reduce the risks of cancer and other diseases.

•Watermelon can help improve sleep.

By eating a few slices of this fruit after dinner can extend the deep stages of sleep by 27%. The reason is watermelon's polysaccharide carbohydrates rev the body's output of serotonin. When levels of serotonin increase at night, the brain is less sensitive to disruptive stimuli (like

Five Exercise Tips

T

RY these ideas for fitting more activity into your dayand for getting more out of your daily activities.

1. Choose activities you like. A lot of different things count as exercise: dancing, walking, gardening, yoga, cycling, playing basketball. To make it easier to get moving, choose whatever gets you moving. Also, choose an activity that fits your self-identity.

2. Piece your workout together. You don't need to get all your exercise at one time. Ten minutes morning, noon, and night can give much of the same benefit as 30 minutes all at once.

3. Exercise with a friend. Finding a workout partner can help keep you on track and motivate you to get out the door.

4. Keep it brisk. When you walk, make it brisk, since this may help control weight better than walking at a leisurely pace. What is brisk enough?

Walk as though you are meeting someone for lunch and you are a little late.

5. Take lunch on the move. Don't spend all of your lunch time sitting. Hit the gym or go for a 20-minute walk with coworkers, and then have a meal when you are done.

57

Breastfeeding tips Proper nipple care Most women's breasts have nipples that stick out (protrude) slightly at rest and become erect when stimulated, as with cold. During pregnancy, the nipple and the pigmented area around it (areola) thicken in preparation for breastfeeding. Little glands (Montgomery glands) on the areola become more noticeable.

They contain a lubricant to keep the nipple and areola from drying, cracking, or becoming infected.

Soaps and harsh washing or drying of the breasts and nipples can cause extreme dryness and cracking and should be avoided. Some experts recommend leaving milk on the nipple after feeding and allowing it to dry and protect the nipple. Keeping the nipples dry is important to prevent cracking and infection. For cracked nipples, apply 100% lanolin after feedings.

Breast engorgement Many times the breasts will become swollen and painful 2-3 days after birth. The best treatment for this is to nurse the baby more frequently. Also, it may be helpful to pump your breasts should you have to miss a feeding, or if a feeding does not relieve the pain. See your health care provider if there is no improvement after one day.

Baby's position Comfortable nursing requires correct positioning of the baby at the breast.

Rarely, a baby may have a sucking disorder which will need to be observed by a health care provider. Observing someone else breastfeed or practicing with an experienced nursing mother or a lactation consultant may also help.

Nursing frequency Most babies normally breastfeed every 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours during the first month. Breast milk is digested more quickly than formula so breastfeeding is needed more frequently. Even if you cannot measure the amount of milk your baby drinks, you can tell that the baby has had enough if: baby nurses every two to three hours, has six to eight really wet diapers per day, and is gaining weight appropriately. You can also listen for swallowing during feedings (the baby will usually swallow about every third suckle). The frequency of feeding does decrease with age as the baby can eat more at each feeding.

Night-time feeding While you were pregnant, your baby was continuously fed and didn't know hunger. After birth, babies need to be fed frequently. During the first few weeks, your baby will want to breastfeed around the clock. This is perfectly normal. While nursing an infant in bed is acceptable, you should return the infant to their crib when the feeding is done. Avoid bringing an infant into bed if you are very tired or taking medications that cause drowsiness.

Milk supply Some mothers stop nursing during the first few days or weeks because they feel they aren't producing enough milk. It may seem like your baby is always hungry. You can't measure the amount of milk your baby is drinking so you may worry that you aren't producing enough milk. In reality, your baby's increased need to nurse signals your body to produce more milk.

Growth spurt Around the 2nd week, and the 2nd, 4th, and 6th months, it may seem that your baby wants to nurse all the time. Your baby may want to nurse every 30 or 60 minutes, and stay at the breast for longer periods. It may seem that the only thing you are doing all day is nursing. This increase in nursing is normal and signals your body to produce more milk as your baby enters a growth spurt. Within a few days, your milk supply will have increased to provide enough milk at each feeding and the baby will start eating less frequently and for shorter periods of time.

Baby's stools Your baby's bowel movements (stools) during the first two days will be black and tar-like (sticky and soft). Early and frequent breastfeeding during the first 48 hours will flush this sticky stool (meconium) from the infant's bowels. The stools will become yellow-coloured and seedy.

This is the normal stool consistency for a breastfed baby and should not be confused with diarrhoea.

Nipple confusion The human breast and nipple are very different from a bottle and nipple. A baby has to learn to adapt to the type of nipple used.

Exposure to a rubber nipple can create nipple confusion for your baby and make breastfeeding more difficult, especially during the first two weeks. After that, your milk supply will be well established, you both will be comfortable with the technique and routine of breastfeeding, and occasional use of a rubber nipple will cause less nipple confusion.

58

H

OW much of what is happening now did you see?

If you want me to rate it, I would say only five percent has materialised for now. I see whatever we have accomplished as just five percent of what lies ahead. The chunk of the vision lies in the future. We are just trying to establish this structure and put a system in place that can run on its own in case anybody takes his exit.

You mean the Church should be able to run with or without you?

I believe God just uses any founder as the starter. We are just to start and not to finish because God is the author and finisher of our faith. He is the Alpha and the Omega. Any Church or organisation that will outlive their founders must be given to the public to run. Incidentally, the Church is not the property of anybody.

It belongs to God. So, if God uses you, you must realise it is not your empire and you must never say at any time, 'see what my hands have built'.

So, the credit must go to the vision owner. The vision belongs to God. He is just using you as a channel to bless the people. You must never take over the Church because it is not yours; it belongs to God and the people. Any wise builder only maintains a good foundation and instructs people to build a structure that will outlive everyone. Even children unborn will still be leaders in this ministry. I see that coming.

How far do you see Agape going without Bishop Felix Adejumo?

Bishop Felix Adejumo is just a servant of God out of the many in this Church. In terms of capacity, Felix Adejumo cannot compare with the latent potentials in the ministry. What I have done as the founder is nothing compared to what other people with greater potentials will do here. We never knew that Elisha can do more than what Elijah did. It was after the latter's exit that we realised Elisha was a greater man of God because he did double.

It's incredible to know you are one of the few founders who believe the Church should run after you. How did you come about thisinclination?

If you are a Bible student and study the pattern of Christ, you will discover He told his disciples they will do greater works than he did.

That will be after His exit. He explained the future of the works lie with them. The pattern of Jesus is that He does not limit anything to Himself.

Outside of that, it is not God. Any Church that is built around founders cannot survive. They fizzle away once he or she is not there again.

Those that will survive run without them.

Are there miracles that happened in this Church that remain ever fresh and keep convincing you God is here?

You know the outstanding, recurrent ones are the transformation of lives. We have recorded people being bought back to life here. Many barren have become fruitful and the sick have been healed. All kinds of

WORSHIP THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 4, 2013

'Churches built around founders can't survive' Amiable and inspiring, Bishop Felix Adejumo is the general overseer of Agape Christian Ministries Inc, Akure Ondo State. He spoke with Sunday Oguntola on his ministerial orientations ahead of the 25th anniversary of the church. Excerpts: things happen here. But the striking ones that have become recurring factor is the transformation of people who have come here.

People like someone whose family owed N6, 000 before he joined and he could not pay back. But when he came, God transformed his life and the family. We have resounding testimonies in the area of family life too. The rate of divorce in this ministry is near zero. People just enjoy their homes because of the examples they see and the teachings.

So, these transformations make me glad beyond the signs and miracles. The salvation and transformations are more important to me than others.

What is the next level for the Church at 25?

Events will begin to unfold at the end of this 25th anniversary that will amaze us. God said to me, concerning His people, there would be an end to shame and reproach.

Two, there would be a perfection of all that God has begun in His people. And then every insult shall be taken away.

In terms of the Church, we are now launching into the deep.

One, we are restructuring the Church to be able to accommodate expansion and depth. We are going to move on to the Church growing faster than ever before. We'd also want to do more for the society and community. We have lands and want to offer qualitative education for primary and secondary students. We want it to be the best in Akure here and the nation. We also want to build human capacity for the personnel we need for the expansion.

People say you are bigger than your Church. Why have you been unwilling to spread?

The reason is that I don't want us to spread too thin without quality. When you send an untrained, unqualified person to represent you, it bounces back. Even though we have men, I have always believed every man should be tested before entrusted. So, it is a period of testing for us.

That is just it. I am just too conscious of quality. I don't want to spread for the sake of it. I want to make sure anybody who represents us has the same culture as us.

How much of quality control do you bring into the few branches now?

The system has allowed us to see to that. Wherever we

(Cuts in) That is a planless life. I have planned my life. I have things I will do that will not make me bored or useless.

I can never be out of what to do till Jesus comes.

What will be different with this year's convention?

This one will be the convention that will redefine lives. It is a convention that will restructure the Church and move us from shame to the rest of God. I see God do authentic works. I expect people to look out for reactions after God would have visited them. One, people will be so amazed that they will join them to do emergency thanksgiving.

Another reaction will be that they will be so envious of what God will do that they will not be able to do anything against it. They better rejoice because there is nothing they will do.

You have been walking with God for the past 35 years, what has kept you going?

First, it is the grace of God.Two, I fear God. I don't want to hurt Him. He is my brother, friend, God, maker and creator. How do I face Him and say I mess up?

Three, I live on the word. I run my life based on what I

see in the Bible. I don't want to be a Bible reader but practitioner. Once I see it in the Bible, I want to do it. Then, I have mentees and those looking up to me. I don't want to crash and make them cry for me. I don't want to mess up. So, I try to watch myself, knowing there are lives looking up to me.

What is up with Nigeria?

Sometimes when I think on Nigeria, I have mixed feelings. For now, it appears the country has no definite destination because of poor leadership. A nation that has been independent for over 50 years is still at this stage.

I believe in the future and destiny of this nation. I pray so much about Nigeria but the answer is for those in power to know that power is transient. Many of them don't want to relinquish power to the oncoming generations.

They want to die in office yet they have nothing to offer.

But a time will come when we'll witness a revolution.

There is no way we can avert that. We might not carry guns but the youths of this country will rise one day and fix this nation. I see a future for Nigeria but I wish it begins in my own time.

xxx

•Adejumo have branches, you will see the same culture and standard because we are not in a hurry to spread the tentacles of the Church. They all report at the end of the month to give accounts to the headquarters.

They are autonomous but we insist they render accounts.

Does it not bother you that the system can function without you?

One thing I have been able to do is that I don't allow the Church to have me.

How is that possible?

It is possible. All it takes is not to consider yourself as the owner but the caretaker of the work. The ownership can change anytime. If you give someone else your property to manage, you can always change the ownership if he or she misbehaves. The property manager must not die because the ownership has changed hands.

It does not affect me an inch if God gives me another assignment. I had wanted to leave before.

You mean to resign?

Oh, for someone else to take over. But God spoke to me that I should stay put.

Movements, to me, are nothing because the Church is not in my heart. The people are more in my hearts than the property.

It is not an empire that I must protect or see to. There are people here who will do a better job than me. If I am not here, they won't miss me.

Sometimes, I even feel being around is restricting them.

That is why I am setting my retirement age at 70. I will still be around.

What else would you be doing then?

I have so many other things I can do. I will offer myself more to the body of Christ. I have other arms of the ministries that will still be running. A lot of other ministers consult with me that I will give more time and attention to. We have an orphanage and Old Peoples' Home. We have Men on the Run and Women of Purpose ministries. We have other things that will make me even busier now. I have one or two business ventures I run. I am even trying to expand our poultry business.

For some, it is like asking them to throw up their lives‌

AD E R T S U 50 M N NIGERIAAN I CHRIST R S AUTHO Are you a Christian author? Are you bothered about poor exposure at bookshops and limited patronage?

The Nation is offering you an unbeatable opportunity to showcase your books and talk about your passion.

The 2-in-1 project involves an advert supplement backed with a profile story on each participant.

Kindly contact Sunday Oguntola on 08034309265 or shinystarontop@gmail.com for advert details and participation.

You will be glad you did!

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 4, 2013

Worship

59

COLUMN

Harvest of miracles at The Lord's Chosen

I

T was a deluge of miracles and wonders last Sunday at the Lagos international headquarters of The Lord's Chosen Church during the power-packed special service with the theme "God has the answers".

The service attracted thousands of worshippers from within and outside Nigeria.

For hours, people testified to the works of God, eliciting thunderous applause and shouts of Halleluyah.

Prince Jude Ugochukwu spoke of his miraculous escape from suspected robbers during a trip from PortHarcourt to Owerri.

According to him, armed robbers ran into the commercial vehicle he was in some-

Stories by Sunday Oguntola where at Umuagwu junction.

Ugochukwu said: "They demanded we all come down and singled me out.

"They asked who I was and I said, 'I am a Chosen, who are you?'

"My boldness angered them and they started shooting at me. Miraculously, the bullets did not penetrate, forcing them to run away."

Mr. and Mrs. Eze brought their first baby to the altar after 16 years of marriage.

When the general overseer, Pastor Lazarus Muoka, called for dedication of new babies, hundreds of excited women trooped to the altar.

Ministering at the service,

Muoka said only God has the solutions to all challenges and problems facing mankind.

He assured that God is always interested in stepping into human cases once He is trusted and called on.

He urged the congregation to shun sin and other ungodly vices that will make them unqualified for divine interventions.

Muoka said: "The only thing that can hinder the works of God is sin. Once your turn away from sin, God takes over."

When the miracle prayers began, several received wondrous healing and deliverance.

They testified with great joy to the doings of God in their lives

• A cross section of worshippers at the service

'Wombless' mummy general of OPM delivers miracle baby

E

IGHT years after, wife of the General Overseer of Omega Power Ministries, Port-Harcourt Rivers State, Evangelist (Dr) NkechiChinyere, has finally given birth to a bouncing baby girl.

Her conception and delivery have been described as miraculous by medical experts after she was diagnosed to be without a womb few years ago.

The baby arrived on Tuesday July, 23 around 10:10am in far -away Dallas in the United States of America,weighing 10 LBS and recorded as the heaviest child of the day in the hospital.

The baby is due in Nigeria anytime from now ahead of her dedication at the church's headquarters on October 27.

The dedication will coincide with the Church's 7th anniversary and Chinyere's 40th birthday celebration.

Speaking through the Church's Media Director, Mr. Gogo-Oguta Isaiah, OPM's general overseer, Apostle (Dr) Chibuzor Chinyere, declared himself the happiest man on earth.

He expressed delight for surviving the insults of his elder sister who taunted him after discovering his wife's medical status.

Two years after marriage without conception, Chinyere recalled his wife became worried, making him to direct his elder sister to accompany her to an undisclosed hospital in Port Harcourt GRA for examination.

She was pronounced without womb and declared inca-

pable of conception, let alone delivery of baby, Chinyere remembered.

Armed with the vital information, he said his elder sister resorted to smear his wife's name, even in the Church, taunting her as a man.

Chinyere said: "Today, Doctor Jesus has remembered me and my wife and also rolled away the shame and forever silenced our adversaries."

The Church's founder

thanked God for demonstrating His power and sovereignty over the ministry once again.

Recounting the success story of the Church, he said only God could have helped a church that is just seven to establish 82 branches within and outside Nigeria with over 300,000 members.

He attributed the giant strides to God, his simplicity and willingness to follow divine leading.

Living Faith

By Dr. David Oyedepo

Enjoying Divine Visitation!

D

IVINE visitation is the answer to every form of frustration and stagnation in your life. Every divine visitation always culminates in supernatural manifestation.

When God steps into any difficult situation in your life, His mighty acts, signs and wonders are inevitable.

For instance, when God stepped into Egypt by signs and wonders and mighty acts, He brought Israel out of Egypt. God does not step into a situation unannounced. When He steps into a situation, His glory validates it.

The Bible says: …There is no new thing under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9). There is nothing you are looking for that others have not got. Nothing is new under the sun! Many people have enjoyed divine visitation of different forms in their lives.

If you do what they did, you get the same result they got! This is it!

The Bible says: Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him...

(Isaiah 51:1-3). For instance, Abraham was a man who enjoyed all manner of divine visitations during his lifetime. The above scripture enjoins you to look unto him and emulate his way of life, if you want to enjoy

T

the same order of Abrahamic blessings. You can't be doing things wrongly and expect to have the right response. You must do things right, in order to live right!

One of the things that can provoke divine visitation in a person's life is the giving faith.

This is one of the kinds of faith that God delivered to His people. It is the gateway to God's blessings, through the works of your hand.

Genesis 8:22 says: While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. This scripture emphasizes that seedtime and harvest shall not cease. What is seedtime and harvest?

Philippians 4:15 explains that seedtime and harvest simply mean giving and receiving. The covenant of giving and receiving is the platform for divine visitation. The giving faith always works!

Let me show you some examples of those who enjoyed divine visitations because of their operation of the giving faith in their lives. Abraham was one of those who enjoyed divine visitations via their giving.

Abraham's giving life provoked divine visitation for him (Genesis 15). There was a time God told him to sacrifice his

only son, Isaac. As he wanted to kill Isaac, God provided him a lamb for the sacrifice (Genesis 22:1-18).

Consequently, God swore to bless him. Abraham ended his journey a blessed man (Genesis 24:1). His divine visitations were the direct responses to his giving. You can see that giving is the gateway to supernatural blessings.

Solomon was another man who offered sacrifice to God and God visited him with diverse blessings - wisdom, riches, honour, fame, etc (1 Kings 3:1-13).

Peter was another man who enjoyed divine visitation. He gave his boat to Jesus for a crusade and he was mightily blessed. Jesus told him to cast his net into the water. Though he had toiled at night fishing without catching any fish, he obeyed and caught multitudes of fishes. Peter's giving life opened up his great destiny (Luke 5:1-10). Remember, God does not change. He is still in the business of blessing people.

Another man who enjoyed divine visitation was Job. His giving life was the secret behind his greatness. He delivered and gave to the poor, the fatherless, etc. Though he was a descendant of Abraham, he tapped into divine blessings by his giving (Job 29:2-11). If you will care to do what these men did, you will get the same results they got.

God is not a partial God! He is a faithful God! It is your capacity to be a blessing to others that determines the capacity of God's blessings upon your life. God does not respect people; He respects offerings and giving. Divine visitation will always answer to your genuine giving life.

Don't forget that your giving is what entreats God's blessings in your life.

I know this teaching has blessed you. Write and share your testimony with me through: Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, Ota, P.M.B. 21688, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; or call 7747546-8; or E-mail: feedback@lfcww.org

Presbyterian Church hails National Assembly

HE East Synod of The Presbyterian Church of Nigeria has commended the National Assembly for enacting the law against same-sex marriage.

In a communiqué at the end of its 26th Synod Meeting held at Isiama Parish, EluOhafia, Abia State, the Church lauded members of the National Assembly for resisting all external and internal pressures to pass the anti-gay bill.

The communiqué, jointly signed by the newly elected Moderator of the Synod, Rev. Dr. Okeke Ndu, and the Synod Clerk, Rev. Chika Nwankwo, urged the

Federal Government to maintain its stand against same-sex despite the massive support accorded it by the West.

The Synod reminded churches of their prophetic role in reforming the nation spiritually, socially, morally, economically and

politically, urging them to intensify efforts in that direction.

It drew the attention of the Federal Government to the deteriorating condition of some of its infrastructural facilities, especially schools, roads and agricultural projects.

Church holds Operation Push

A

power-packed revival tagged Operation Push organised by Christ Baptist Church commences from August 4.

The 14-day vigil holds at the Church premises in Alimosho Lagos State.

The host, Reverend GabrielAdeyemo, said the

annual revival will connect men with God and facilitate divine interventions.

Ministers expected at the event include Reverend D. J. Ogunmodede, Prophet E. A. Adetuberu, Prophet R.A. Williams, Prophet J. A Mustapha and others.

Baptist Church's annual revival

T

•Chinyere holding the baby in company of the midwives

HE annual revival of Shalom Baptist Church is billed to take off on August 4.

The theme of the event, which ends on August 7, is Power for great deliverance.

The service commences by 6pm.

The Senior Pastor, Reverend Theophilus Olaolorun, said the revival is an avenue to receive the touch of God to do exploit and

witness divine turn around in all spheres.

Evangelist Job Alabi is the guest minister.

Church holds deliverance celebration

T

HE Anointed Christ Power International Church, Isolo, Lagos is to hold its 9th year "Gbogunmi Spiritual Deliverance Power Jubilation" on August 7 at the Church premises.

It is meant to offer prayer for nations that require divine spiritual cleansing and its

leaders. The General Overseer, Rev Pastor S.D Olagunju, stated that God protects his people in time of difficulties.

Apostle Idowu Areola of the Shallom Gospel Church, Idimu and Pastor Joshua Olorunimbe of Love of Christ Apostolic Church, Sango Ota are speak at the event.

60

THE ARTS THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 4, 2013

Bulawayo: Stooping to conquer W

E need new names.

“The guava season is getting ready to end. So now, we prowl Budapest like we’re hunting animals. We carefully comb and comb the streets, eyes trained on the trees so hard our necks could strain. We don’t really talk about it but I know all of us are thinking of the end of the season, when Budapest will have nothing for us anymore, of the long boring months before the next season starts.

“May be we should start hitting inside, Bastard says, speaking real slow and thoughtful-like.

No, we’re not thugs, Godknows says, and almost claps for him for talking sense for a change. Yes, we are not those kind of people, Sbho says, his face all screwed up with seriousness.”

With these simple, classical and captivating literary narration, Noviolet Bulawayo started her new novel entitled We Need New Names. The most striking thing, however, is that this young Zimbabwean has made the longlist for the fifty thousand pound - Booker Prize for literature for this year. The book as it opens does not sound her out as a new comer or an amateur writer but an emerging strong female voice from Africa. The stunning effects of her sashay literary acumen and punchy recourse to classical episodes in her life had opened her to the international arena – an arena where strong voices, able to recount sordid issues that touch humanity are better appreciated. Bulawayo has walked her way into that league where story telling is the norm.

The most interesting aspect of this year’s Broker prize long list which was announced last week in England, is that Bulawayo is the first ever time novelist from Africa with her debut work to make the list. It is so amazing because her work has been singled out for commendation by the panel of judges. Hers is compelling, glimpsing back into time.

Ella Wakatama described this work as one of the most powerful and resonate work of fiction to come out of Zimbabwe in recent years. Beyond that, and as a literary masterpiece, the book is a clear-eyed indictment of an anachronistic government whose policies, in the decades since independence, have left many of its citizens destitute.

What makes Bulawayo a quintessential novelist is that her short story entitled Hitting Budapest won the Caine Short story for African writing in 2011. In reworking the story to fuse it into a longer fierce tale of a gang group in Zimbabwe, she was inventive enough to retain all the funny characters in Hitting Budapest.

This is why we have such frightening and absurd names like Bastard, Chipo, Godknows, Sbho and Stina, all operating in down town shanty location called Paradise.

What judges said.

The judges made it clear that these characterizations alone could put a reader in such a won-

Noviolet Bulawayo stunned the world when in 2011 her short story, entitled Hitting Budapest, won the Caine Prize for African writing.

That story had funny and strange characterisation that somewhat proved difficult to analyse or place properly within the context of an everyday story.Bulawayo has also made this year’s longlist for the Booker Prize. The title of her latest novel is We Need New Names, a captivating story of gangsters in her home country, Zimbabwe.

Edozie Udeze takes a closer look at her work and why she has devised her own imageries for proper effect and literary excellence

•Bulawayo

derful suspenseful mood to want to go into the core values of the people. Booker is one literary prize that has not been easily won by Africans over the years.

Founded in 1969 to cater for British, Irish and all Commonwealth citizens, it has been discovered that most often writers from Africa never went beyond the preliminary stage of the selection. Even though the late Professor Chinua Achebe and Nigeria’s London-based writer, Ben Okri, have won it before, most Nigerian writers are still far from reaching the top. This is why it is proper to see Bulawayo’s work as it really is – a celebration of African societies in a way that the world sees them as they really are; not mincing words or dislocating the scenes.

Part of her narrative style shows two distinct voices. She begins it like a kid story-teller and

Other writers on the longlist In all, there are 13 novelists cutting across the Commonwealth , Britain and Ireland that made the list. They are: Author

Book

Donald Ryan Eve Hains Jim Grace Colin Toibin Richard House Eleanor Cotton Alison MacLeod Charlotte Mendelson Tash AW Ruth Ozeki

Spinning Heart Marrying of Chani Kaufma Harvest The testament of Mary The kills The Luminaries Unexploded Almost English Five Star Billionaire A Tale for the Time Being

a voyage into life. Gradually, she matures in her style, in her approach and make-up to zero into the world of gangsters who made life dangerous and unlivable for others. Hear her: “You’re filthy;

do you think you can just come here and desecrate the place as you see fit? Do you know I can perform a citizen’s arrest on you right now and ferry your despicable personage to jail?”

She breaks the statement to penetrate into the inner being of readers when she cautions again.

“You really wish to see the inside of a cell, don’t you, big head? You are begging for it, huh? You want me to take you there? the guard says. Now, he is walking towards Bastard, motioning with his baton stick all menacing-like as if he is going to use it…”

Bulawayo’s deliberate approach is to help the larger world perceive the people as they truly are. She has no pretences about her usage of expressions or the application of the norms of the people. The story is all - engrossing in its simplicity and efficacy, appealing to people’s senses. She makes use of attacks and reprisal attacks to showcase pungent and turbulent issues that beset diverse African societies. When governments do not do what is proper to elevate the situation of the people; when all that people hear and witness in Africa are problems of unfulfilled promises and people winning elections fraudulently, Bulawayo uses her creative ingenuity to bring them to the fore.

The judges, in a statement, revealed the long list was drawn from works with diverse ideas and issues. Bulawayo’s work received special attention and mention due to her revelation of lots of intrigues and political and social issues in her home country, Zimbabwe. That’s why the titles of her short story, Hitting Budapest, and her novel, We Need New Names, are prophetic and all-engrossing. The titles are suggestive enough to encourage one to look into the issues she raised. These issues, as disturbing as they are and set in Zimbabwe, equally describe life in all the societies of Africa. This is the core essence and beauty of this book that the judges said: “This is one of the most diverse selections we’ve made ever since the Booker prize began. It is representative of the geography and location of the people concerned. These 13 outstanding novels that made the longlist range from the traditional to the experimental, from the first century AD to the present day, from 100pages to 1000 and from Shanghai to Hendon.”

Bulawayo is also a Stegner fellow at Stanford University, USA. She was born and raised in Zimbabwe where she attended Njube High School, After that, she proceeded to Mzilikazi High School for her advanced level.

However, she completed her degree at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, USA. From there, she moved to the Texas A and M University-commerce where she took her first and second degrees in English Language She also did a Master’s degree in Fine Arts and Creative writing at the Cornell University in America. She was born in 1981 as Elizabeth Ishele, a name she later dumped for Bulawayo.

The shortlist will be announced on September 10, while the final winner on October 15.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 4, 2013

61

62

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 4, 2013

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 4, 2013

63

Benefits of eating watermelon

—PAGE 57

•Rabbi Ogunjobi

W

ILTON House on Apapa Road, Ebuta Metta, like the other houses in the neighbourhood does not call attention to itself. A three- storey building, the first floor serves as residence while the middle floor houses the “Star Clinic” which is owned by the person living on the last floor.

On May 19, 2013, the inhabitants of the upper floor began preparations for a very important event.

The living room has been rearranged to cater for the extra chairs which had been ordered. A worship song played quietly in the background. Adeolu Olusodo, a medical doctor and owner of Star Clinic, made last minute preparations before the beginning of the service. It was the feast of Shavuot, a Jewish religious festival which is sometimes called the Feast of Pentecost.

At 10:30 am, Olusodo called the worshippers, comprising mainly his family members to worship.

A prayer was said and the worship began with songs of praises. It was mainly Christian songs but the parts where Jesus or Lord appears, the word ‘Yahweh’ has been cleverly inserted in a way that the song despite the minor surgery still made perfect melody.

Then there was a chant and some Bible readings and then more chants. Olusodo acting as the ‘Pastor’ led the order of proceedings and explained from the Bible the importance of Shavuot.

Call them Jews or better still ‘Nigerian Israelites’ and you will be in perfect order. Not many Nigerians have heard of this peculiar set of people who have wholly accepted the religion and ways of life of the Israelites. Their religion is called ‘Nazarenes Israel faith’. It is a combination of the original Judaism and some Christian beliefs.

For instance, while the Jews do not believe Jesus is the Messiah, the Nazarenes believe that He is and accepting His spirit leads to salvation. The Nazarenes therefore practise Judaism in its purest form but also believe in Jesus as saviour, a situation which puts them at cross roads with the Jews. But the Nazarenes claimed their religion was the one practised by the early apostles of Jesus.

As the service progressed, many more worshippers came in. The first part of the Shavuot festival took two hours to perform. At the end, there was the ‘waving of the loaf’. Two loafs of bread laid on the table and Olusodo took one, made some recitations and waved it in the air. Chants over, he took the second and performed the same ritual. Then he announced that the second part of the Shavuot would be in-depth Bible study. The gathering moved to another room where tables have been set in a classroom manner. Olusodo took his seat and began

•Olusodo

•Aluko-Olokun

Weird world of 'Jewish' Nigerians

They keep the Sabbath and the Torah (Law) and live their lives by the strict code of Jewish religious rituals. Their synagogues are scattered around Lagos metropolis. Seun Akioye joined them to celebrate the feast of Shavuot (Pentecost) and reports on the peculiarities of their religion. to explain the doctrines of the faith.

Origin in Nigeria Globally, the Nazarenes are still largely overshadowed by those who practice Judaism and in Israel they remain the neglected minority. The origin of the faith in Nigeria is still a subject of speculation. There are said to be more than 40 synagogues in Nigeria, the majority of which are located in the East. There is a myth that the Igbo are Ethiopian Jews and this belief made the Jewish faith attractive to many people.

But according to the sect, the foundation of the Nazarenes was laid by an Israeli Rabbi in Idimu, a Lagos suburb. Rabbi Yoana was said to have preached the gospel of “Yahweh and Yeshua” to a certain brother Alade in 1985. The new convert, who became the first Rabbi, went about converting others to the new faith. Today, the sect is said to have more than 1,000 members in Lagos alone.

Olusodo is one of the prominent practitioners of the Nazarene faith.

Until 2010, he was an ordained Anglican priest following a family tradition of strict Anglican faith. In his Apapa Road neighbourhood, he is known as a philanthropist. His Star Clinic offers free services to the indigent in the area

and he has helped provide social amenities to various slums and public schools in Ebute Metta.

On Saturdays, Olusodo observes the Shabbat in its purest form as he only attends to emergency cases in his clinic. Since his conversion, he has immersed himself in the teaching and learning of the Nazarenes making him one of the most knowledgeable Nazarenes in Nigeria. His physical appearance has changed too. He now wears his beard heavy, does not cut his hair and most of the times he wears a Jewish skull cap, almost permanently.

Olusodo calls his conversion a matter of “going higher”, a kind of shifting of grounds.

He believes the Spirit of the Messiah has guided him to the true faith. Some of the theories he propounds are in sharp contrast to the Christian faith. “It started when I was doing a study on marriage and found that polygamy is biblical. In fact, it was present in the days of the Messiah but there was no record of a condemnation of the practice. I later found that it was in the 4th century the Church made it a sin.

“So I researched the Church and found that the dominant Roman Church wasn’t that led by the Apostles in the first century. From one new truth to another, it became clear that there had been a falling away from the truth by the church. I had to search for the true faith handed

to the saints once and for all,” Olusodo said.

Since then he has not looked back, according to him. He immersed himself in his new faith and became one of its leading spokespersons. He also took a second wife in accordance with the practice of the faith.

Doctrine The Nazarenes follow a complex set of religious rituals which emanated from the Torah. The base of their religion is found in the laws in the biblical books of Genesis to Deuteronomy. To them, the law is the ultimate. Here, they come in conflict with Christianity which believes the laws of Moses have been nailed to the cross by Jesus Christ.

Olusodo said Jesus has not abolished any law but walked the Torah through. Grace, which many Pentecostals hide under, cannot replace the Torah. The Nazarenes believe the knowledge of the law brings sin so if we sin it means we have erred against the Law (Torah).

This is a simple logic difficult to fault. And Olusodo is a compelling speaker, he explained the scriptures in a way that would leave many Pentecostal pastors envious, moving through his iPad and Bible to show the Torah is still valid today. He used real imagery to convey his message sending his audience into a trance.

He insisted the Torah was not the Law of Moses but that of Yahweh and backed it up using historical and apocryphal references.

Quoting from the Bible he said, “In Ephesians 2-14, what Jesus removed was not the Torah but the portion serving as barrier for Gentiles from coming to Yahweh. People only take what appeals to them like the tithes and dressing and the rest they claim have been nailed to the cross,” he said.

Another area of disagreement with Christianity is the use of names. The Nazarenes frown at the use of Lord and God which is the favoured name for Pentecostals in reference to the Almighty. “We use the sacred names, the names God and Lord are titles. The word Lord found mostly in the New Testament is translated master, the proper name is Yahweh and Yeshua for Jesus,” Olusodo also argued.

Perhaps the greatest point of disagreement is on the issue of polygamy which the Nazarenes believe is Biblical. Many of the adherents of the faith are practising polygamists, including Olusodo. “The stance •Continue on Page 64

64

Life •Continue from Page 63

of the Church that polygamy is a sin is not premised on what the scripture says. This was confirmed by Augustine who is one of the church fathers in the 4th century. He said the church forbid polygamy not because it is against the Bible but because the law of the land did not permit it. Also, Martin Luther stated that polygamy is biblical during the reformation years,” he said.

The Nazarene believes most of the current Christian doctrines were inserted by the Romans to suit their peculiar situation after Christianity was declared the official religion of the Roman Empire. These additions are what they are determined to route out and practised the faith like Yahweh instructed in the Torah. The overall faith of the Nazarenes is based on the following: Believe in the oneness of Yahweh, the messiah ship of Yeshua and the validity of the Torah.

Enter Rabbi Ogunjobi As Olusodo continued to espouse on the scriptures to his audience, Rabbi David Ogunjobi made a grand entry with his entourage consisting of two women and a man.

Ogunjobi’s entrance drew unusual attention from the worshippers. He was a man of about 50 years and has been converted by Rabbi Alade in 1985 from the Christ Apostolic Church. He wore a yellow gown and hid his enormous dreadlocks under a big yellow cap, which had some Hebrew inscriptions at the front. His bushy beard has hidden his tribal marks and his moustache had formed a forest of hair round the rings of his mouth.

Olusodo halted the service to introduce the Rabbi who pastors the Har Bayth Yahweh Heychal synagogue in Kirikiri town.

Everyone acknowledged this great man of Yahweh, wisdom seemed to ooze through his beards. Ogunjobi is an uncommon Rabbi, though he has never been to Israel, he speaks Hebrew fluently. As Olusodo read from the English Bible, he corroborated it with his Hebrew Torah. “I have never been to Israel, but Yahweh says in Psalm 32:8 (quoting in Hebrew) I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go. So Yahweh has been teaching me the language. I got to know that the Hebrew alphabets have a lot in common with Yoruba,” Ogunjobi said.

His interpretation of the faith differs a little from Olusodo’s. “I practice pure Judaism,” he said.

Therefore his belief in Yeshua is a little different too. Ogunjobi views Yeshua as the prophet in whom there was the anointing.

“What people call Messiah is the power of the anointing. Yeshua is also one of the anointed ones. I do not believe in the New Testament like people do. It is a historical book that is why we have differences in the gospels. The Romans have twisted the New Testament, not allowing the people see the original writings about Yeshua. For instance the resurrection was not from Friday to Sunday. He said three days and three nights, that is not Friday to Sunday. There are so many controversial points. But as a Jew, we know better. We don’t deny He is Messiah, because He has the anointing,” he said.

Surprisingly, Ogunjobi has just one wife but he is not stopping there.

“According to the laws of Jew, there is no limit to the wives you can have, I have one now but as Yahweh lives I will still have seven more wives.

Abraham married Keturrah and he had children in old age.”

Keeping the Torah in Nigeria None of the leaders of the Nazarene faith fooled themselves into thinking keeping the Torah would be a walk over in Nigeria.

Olusodo acknowledges this fact.

Though as a business owner, he has tried his best to keep to it, there are

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 4, 2013

Living as ‘Israelites’ in Nigeria

•Sharing the Scripture at the Jewish synagogue

difficulties with some of the animal rituals. A large section of the Shavuot rituals was left out due to logistics.

But Ogunjobi has found a way around this ‘little detail’. “It is very easy, to bring the sacrifice in the knowledge of Yahweh, the sacrifice Yahweh does not want but a contrite heart, He is not interested in the eating of the meat, but you can bring freewill burnt offering when you sin,” he said.

Being a Nazarene in a country like Nigeria has its limitations. Ogunjobi alluded that he has been called several names and mocked because of his faith. “There is no name they have not called me and that is how it should be; the book of Deuteronomy 28:10 says it. The Torah has to be fulfilled.

If you call us occult yes, we are occult people; occult means something that is not normal. We have to know what we are.”

Ogunjobi has not cut his beard in 10 years. “Sometimes people run away from me when I am in a public transport. They think I am mad.” He is not alone, according to Olusodo: “The issue is not even the society but how family and close friends react. I can only say it takes time for people to accept you leaving one faith to another. Many are not even aware of this faith.”

Another member who has paid dearly for his faith is Oladimeji Aluko-Olokun a gymnastic teacher at the Indian language school in Ilupeju.

He was converted to the Nazarene faith in the late eighties through his mother and though has not achieved the height of the other Rabbis; he has kept to the doctrines faithfully.

“I was ashamed to tell my friends about the faith. Later, I got to understand the faith; I accepted the name, the rules, the dressing and looks. It’s a gradual process. I believe I survived because I am called. I still learn every day, accepting all the tenets and instructions not been easy.”

Socially, he has struggled with acceptance in the society. “When you are filling a form and they put religion such as Islam/Christianity, and I don’t belong to any of them.

When you tell people about being an Israelite, they think you are mad, but I give glory to the Most High Father Yahweh. I feel shy sometimes, you are the only person. In my school I was singled out. Sometimes on Shabbat days I have to go to work, it’s a burden and I am crying within myself, if my faith had been socially

accepted, I would be able to ask for certain things and speak out, I thank Yahweh for the Holy Spirit. When you wear your robes, people will run, but my character speaks for me and I try to explain to the people,” Aluko-Olokun said.

The Shavuot drew a number of visitors to Wilton House. Most of them are orthodox Christians who

have come to see the wonders of the ‘Nigerian Israelites’; others came for the feast while a Muslim said he came for more knowledge.

After four hours the meeting ended and the feast began. But do not be deceived by the thought of the elaborate Jewish feasts as prescribed in the Torah, complete with large altar and a ram simmering over the

fire while everyone would take their pick and fill. That is logically impossible in Nigeria. Olusodo apologised for the shortcomings, wine was served, rice and Moinmoin soon followed. And in the place of the burnt meat offering, Olusodo offered something close to it: Turkey.

You think this is an anti-climax?

Hmmm

The Nazarenes are wasting their time - Rev Bolarinwa

A

BRAHAM was a polygamist, so was David and some other great men of God. God didn’t condemn these men but rather used them.

Moreover, there was nowhere in the scriptures where God out rightly condemned it, so He must have permitted it. Do you agree?

No I don’t agree. When God instituted marriage, He created them male and female; He didn’t say we should go for polygamy or polyandry.

It was when sin came that all of that nonsense came and there was no one in the Old Testament that was correct.

Abraham told lies, David was a murderer and adulterer, they were not complete, Noah was a drunkard, that’s why Jesus had to come. God created marriage when there was no sin; it was sin that brought all sorts of foolish things into the earth. God did not approve any of those people, it’s just that God will use the available vessel; that is why in the New Testament, and no polygamist was used by God. If you are a polygamist, God can still extend the same grace He gave to Abraham to you, isn’t that correct?

You know Jesus said not all that said Lord, Lord that will enter the kingdom of God except you do His will.

Anybody can do miracles in the name of Jesus, the name is powerful. God may not withdraw His anointing because somebody is in sin. Look at Samson, until he died God did not withdraw totally His anointing. Acceptance is not tantamount to approval, some people think God is stupid or slow, no, He is just waiting maybe they will repent and if they eventually do not repent, like Pharaoh eventually ruined himself, God waited until he perished in the Red Sea. God is extending grace to them they should not take it for granted there is no room for that in the New Testament.

Rev. Stephen Bolarinwa is the Pastor of The New Covenant Church, Ojokoro, Lagos. He spoke with Seun Akioye on the claim by the Nazarenes that they are living according to the tenets of the Bible.

•Rev Bolarinwa

Yes or No, is polygamy a sin?

To me, it is a sin The Nazarenes believe Jesus has not abolished the Torah which they still observe, is this still permissible or they are wasting their time?

They are wasting their time. If one can enter the kingdom of God by keeping of laws, Jesus will not come. If you read Romans, Paul spoke to them.

The law makes man to sin the more and there is nothing good in man that would make man to keep the law 100 percent. As a result of that Jesus had to come and that is why we are saved by Grace not by law. Nobody can keep the law 100 percent. All of those Torah they are talking about, none of them can keep the law, God gave them 10 and out of human manipulation they made it 610. Jesus said these people are serving

me with their lips. You tell people they need not pay tithes and other offerings to God, is that correct? You remember to keep the Sabbath and say if somebody carries something on the head and sweat comes you will stone him to death. Jesus healed people on Sabbath they carried their pallets.

The name Lord and God are translated to mean master, but the real name of God is Yahweh. Don’t you think people should adopt that or are the Nazarenes just being fastidious about it?

Actually, Yahweh is the Hebrew name because it only has consonants they now introduced the vowels in it.

That is how God introduced Himself in their own language. But they don’t even want to call the name, when they are reading their own Torah they jump it.

The word Lord means Master and you will see in all of the Old Testament, the Lord is written in the capital letter.

What about the Sabbath. It is on a Saturday. Are those who worship on Sundays breaking the law of God? Not really. Because Jesus resurrected on Sunday, worship shifted from Saturday to Sunday, why I will support Sunday is that resurrection is part of the makeup of your new birth.

Roman 10-9 shows you must believe in resurrection to be saved. The Yoruba’s also have regard for Sunday; they called it “Ojo aiku”. It is better the day Jesus resurrected should be the day He is worshipped. I am not condemning those who chose to continue worship on Saturday, but they only need to make a shift since the worshippers of Jesus Christ have decided to worship him on Sunday.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 4, 2013

65

66

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 4, 2013

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 4, 2013

67

68

EBERE WABARA

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 4, 2013

WORDSWORTH I

A word for Yerima and the paedophiles in power

08055001948

ewabara@yahoo.com

Critique of critics N ATIONAL Mirror Views and Education Today pages of August 1 welcome us to the new month: “Before now, many Nigerians have (had) loudly condemned early marriage.” “…live in deplorable and heart renting (heartrending) health conditions.”

“Repackaging teachers (teachers’) training curriculum (4)” “I congratulate the NUC for (on/upon) the courage to extend the….”

“Police foil robbery attempt” (Stv Morning Belt News, Monday, July 29) Since the robbery was foiled, it simply means there was an attempt! So, ‘foil robbery attempt’ is indicative of loose thinking. No dreaming: Police foil robbery THE NATION ON SUNDAY of July 28 disseminated Victorian (Old) English: “…as the love that binds the people together has gone with the wind.” News review: jettison ‘together’ to eliminate Elizabethan English (add together; join together; bind together; bend corner; pool resources together; extreme end; log of wood; electrocute to death; etc.) “…examines efforts to restore the lost love and peace in (to) the zone.”

“The award is another testimony of (to) your sterling leadership qualities.” (Full-page congratulatory advertisement by the Ekiti State House of Assembly for His Excellency Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Governor, Ekiti State) “By going to IBB and OBJ in search of solution (a solution or solutions) to democratic challenges is indication (an indication) of how things have degenerated in the country.” “…on daily basis (a daily basis) it throws up millions of carbon in the atmosphere.”

“Obesere raises alarm (the alarm) over impostors” FROM MY INBOX Ebere, lest we forget, your so-called 60-yearold ‘uncle’, Kola Danisa, is an intellectual thug.

And his linguistic problems are stereotypical: he is not well grounded in the grammaticality/ grammatology of the language; he does not read

every day; he has no functional library, above all, he is unschooled, unchurched, unlettered, uneducated and uncultured.

He wrote to me!

“Check the word in the dictionary” (it is “look up the word in the dictionary”); “to look something up” means “to look for information in a dictionary or reference book, or by using computer, e.g. I looked the word up in the dictionary. He said “about 12 dictionaries” is wrong, adding that “sound editors do not approximate countable things”!

Danisa, nothing could be further from the truth.

There is no grammatical “rule” that prescribes or decrees that! It is correct to say or write: We have about 200 employees (Good Word Guide). The book is about 600 pages long (Glossary for College English). At the revival, about 300 souls were saved (Cassell’s German Dictionary).

Besides, the other day, Danisa said “beehive of activity” was wrong. This is verbicide. “Hive” is shorthand for “beehive”.

E.g. “But The Times” (London) did not go for “MS” nor would it condone “chairwoman” in place of “chairman” or Madam Chairman. “The Times” (London) was a beehive of activity – telephones ringing, typewriters clacking, and a lot of busy-looking people, each doing his own thing.”

I repeat, “uplift” (noun and verb); “uplifting”, like “uplifted”, is an adjective; “uplifter” is also a noun. These words are listed in World Book Dictionary (two volumes).

Yes, “upliftment” is elongation for “uplift” (page 2299). The rule of the thumb is: You don’t assert what you do not know.

“Witch-hunt” (circa 1885) is a noun; while “witch-hunting”, meaning “witch-hunt”, is a noun or an adjective.

Note: “witch-hunting” is a correct word.

Truth to tell, there are many correct words that you cannot find in common dictionaries, e.g. duper, fooler, upliftment, cheater, fraudster, scammer, conditionality, uplifter, etc. They are neologisms. Another note: “challenge” (challenges) is a euphemism for “disability (or disabilities) or problem “crisis” just as

“social exclusion” is the latest euphemism for poverty. Therefore it is correct to say or write: The man is physically (or health) challenged.

In conclusion, I agree with Thomas Babington Macaulay (1800 – 1859) when he opined: ‘Men are never so likely to settle a question rightly as when they discuss it freely’. Danisa is a sham, eogorrhoea, a verbal diarrhea!

(Bayo Oguntunase, Ikorodu, Lagos, 08029442508).

“Wordsworth is meant to teach, not abuse. It can teach better if it plays down on such words as ‘bunkum, foolishness, blunder’, etc., which can easily turn off a prospective learner. ‘Errors’ or ‘mistakes’ are more polite words to use in describing what is to be corrected. Psychology of Education teaches that the language/method of instruction matters a lot in learning. I believe Wordsworth has failed in this, but not Prof. Ebere Wabara.

Thanks.” ( B a s s e y Amana,Umuahia, 08036121293) My response: This column is for the exchange of ideas devoid of any didactic posturing or intellectual haughtiness and it does not abuse, but occasionally employs harsh words for incorrigible numskulls!

Anyone interested in the correct use of the English language should be inclined to this unique marketplace, the methodology notwithstanding. ‘Error’, according to Dr. Adidi Uyo, has 19 synonyms—‘blunder’ is just one of them! On a lighter note, I am not yet a Prof.

Constructive and well-researched reactions are welcome. However, a note of caution: inasmuch as I accept readers’ interventions, the privilege should not be abused by the use of foul language. Freedom goes with enormous responsibility and maturity. The essence of this column is to enrich our knowledge and application of this global tool of communication. Disclaimer: I do not share all the views of respondents especially when they are subjective—my duty is merely the provision of this free platform. Let wisdom prevail as uncouth reactions will no longer be published.

EXPRESSED my concerns about the issue of paedophilia and child brides in Nigeria quite extensively in an essay that I wrote last week titled ‘’A nation of perverts and paedophiles’’ which was widely published and which attracted a lot of rejoinders and commentries from other writers and commentators from both sides of the divide. I do not intend to cover the same ground or repeat the same arguments here but kindly permit me to make a final contribution to the debate in this piece.

The good news is that no matter what anyone thinks or says and regardless of whichever side of the divide one is on when it comes to this issue at least the Nigerian people are now talking about a subject which, hitherto, had been regarded as being ‘’off limits’’ and taboo and which had been essentially swept under the carpet. I commend the Nigerian press, the website magazines, the bloggers and the electronic media for standing firm, rising up to the occassion and bringing the matter alive and one can only hope and pray that they will keep the fire burning by continuing to reflect the heated discussions and various opinions on this issue. I was particularly impressed with and encouraged by the editorials of some of our leading newspapers on this issue including ’Thisday On Sunday’, ‘The Nation On Sunday’, ‘Leadership On Sunday’ and ‘The Sunday Vanguard’ which were all published on Sunday 28th July and which were titled “In Support Of The Girl Child’’, ‘’No Cover For Paedophiles’’. ‘’Much Ado About Child Marriage’’ and ‘’Building Nigeria On Deceit’’ respectively.

With contributions like that from very serious and credible media like those there is still hope for the girl-child in Nigeria. I urge all those that have not read these contributions to please find them and do so.

Yet despite the outrage expressed by the overwhelming majority of Nigerians and indeed the wider world about the plight of the girl-child in our country, on Sunday 28th July, a deeply defiant and unrepentant Senator Ahmed Sani Yerima, who was the individual that sparked off the whole controversy in the first place by insisiting that Section 29 of the Constitution must not be removed, told the Sunday Trust Newspaper that ‘’if the vote on the child marriage issue came up in the Senate again’’ he and his supporters ‘’would win a million times over’’. Sadly, given the nonchalant attitude that has been displayed by a large number of our Senators to the plight of the girl-child, paedophilia and infant marriages in Nigeria and their obvious reluctance to step on Yerima’s big toes and t h e r e b y u p s e t his religious sensitivities he may well be right. If not for that how does one explain the fact that, two female Senators, Aisha Jummai Alhassan from Taraba State and Zainab Kure from Niger state, both of whom I gather have daughters, actually abstained when that historical vote took place? To drive home the point, the Senate President himself, Senator David Mark, only last week admitted that he

•Yerima

By Femi Fani-Kayode

and the entire Senate had succumbed to Yerima’s ‘’blackmail’’ on the issue of the right of the child-bride to renounce Nigerian citizenship and his deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, accepted the fact that the matter ‘’needed to be revisited’’ in view of the outrage expressed by the majority of the Nigerian people.

Yet many of us do not expect anything to change in the near future simply because it is clear that the Nigerian Senate and indeed the Nigerian political class generally simply do not have the sensitivity, the courage, the wherewithal or the political will to do the right thing and to not only delete the controversial Section 29 but to also revamp and amend the Constitution in its entirety and insert a clause that specifically, clearly and categorically outlaws and bans marriages that involve anyone under the age of 18 in Nigeria. Mrs. Roz BenOkagbue, in her article titled, ‘’Is The Removal Of Section 29 The Answer To Eliminating Child Marriage?’’ has made this point more eloquently than anyone else. I consider Roz’s piece to be probably the most insightful contrbution so far in this debate simply because she made all the relevant points and consistently hit the nail on the head. It is the inability of the Senate and other political stakeholders to introduce a new clause into our Constitution and ban child marriages and their penchant for continously pampering and seeking to accomodate the strange fantasies and perversions of those that enjoy marrying and having sex with 6, 9, 12 and 14 year olds that informed Pastor Tunde Bakare to proclaim, in a characteristically powerful and explosive sermon, that ‘’Nigeria is suffering from the rulership of ‘PINPS’ ‘’ (by which he meant ‘’Paedophiles in Power’’) and that the issue of child marriage has divided our country more than any other issue before it in our entire history. No-one could have put it better.

Yet the debate continues to rage and only last week the respected islamic scholar Professor Ishaq Akintola, added his voice by saying ’’there is no age restriction in islamic marriage.’’

Most muslims would disagree with this because child-marriage is specifically banned by the laws and constitutions of 90 per cent of muslim countries in the world today but I respect the right of Professor Akintiola to hold his opinion about the tenets of his faith. And regardless

of his views and fervency I honestly believe that islam, like christianity, is a humane and compassionate faith which seeks to protect the weak and guide its adherents on the path of righteousness and light.

I must, however, point out that Nigeria is not a muslim state.

And neither is she a christian state. She is a secular state and she is governed by secular laws.

Religious laws have no place in our land or Constitution.Our Constitution is a secular docuement which specifically says that the state shall not adopt any religion. This must remain so if we do not want a divided country and if we do not want continued controversy, strife and possibly even a fully blown religious conflagration and conflict. We should all keep our religious sensitivities out of certain matters if we want continued peace.

Paedophilia, child sex, child slavery, child rape and child marriage cannot be justified under any circumstances in any civilised country. It is not a matter of religion. It is a matter of human rights, civil liberties and basic morality. There is nothing more repugnant to the natural mind and wholesome soul than the prospect of a fully grown man mounting, defiling and having carnal knowledge of a child that is between the ages of 6 and 18.

Every child, whether she be a christian, a muslim, a pagan, an atheist or an agnostic has the right to be fully protected by the state and by the laws of our land from sexual predators, sexual deviants, statutory rapists, unrepentant perverts and child molestors. That much we ought to be able to achieve and we ought to insist on. We are meant to protect our children and not bed them.

Like I said earlier on elsewhere in this debate, even animals don’t sleep with their own infants. Some may hate me for these words today but I speak nothing but the truth and tomorrow the people will thank me for it. In the heat of this debate, my dear wife, Pastor Regina Fani-Kayode, made a pertinent assertion. She said, ‘’knowledge comes to those who seek it’’. This is wisdom and I would suggest that our muslim brothers and sisters that share Yerima’s views on child marriage and that seek to defend those views on religious grounds like my respected sister, Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, whose article titled ‘’Early Marriage?’’ I read with great interest, learn a little from this deep truism.

•To be continued next week

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 4, 2013

69

70

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 4, 2013

71

THE NATION SPORT SUNDAY, AUGUST 4, 2013

Kanu fetes children to celebrate birthday

•Kanu

N

WANKWO Kanu (MON), former Super Eagles' captain, will mark his 36th birthday anniversary with a get-together for children of his novel Heart Foundation at his posh Hardley Suite Apartments in Victoria Island on Monday.

Kanu who clocked 36 on Thursday, August 1, said exigencies of work made him to shift the party to Monday in order to give the children a greater part of his time while thanking God for His grace over the years.

“I'm really thankful to God for giving me the grace to be alive today after all I had gone through, particularly when I was diagnosed of a heart ailment,” stated the erstwhile captain of the national under-23 team that won Africa's Soccer Gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.

“Of course, I could have organised a party with my friends but I want to share this occasion with children from the foundation so that I can have some wonderful moments and share gifts with them.”

The former Inter Milan and Arsenal star had set up the Kanu Heart Foundation (KHF) after he survived a career-threatening operation soon after leading the Nigeria's Dream Team to win the Gold Medal at the 1996 Olympics. The KHF has treated over 500 children with various heartrelated diseases and Kanu said he would use every day of his life in the cause of charity.

o u r e m O passes Chelsea’s edical m N

IGERIAN defender, Kenneth Omeruo, has passed his medical at EPL club Chelsea, and has been handed jersey number 51.

His Holland-based adviser Chika Conleth Akujobi, reportedly, said that “Kenneth has passed his medical test at Chelsea and his training shirt number is 51.

“It's the reward of our hard work and belief in the player since he was coming through the Nigeria U17s,” Akujobi told mtnfootball.com This is a massive break for the young central defender against a backdrop of doubts back in Nigeria that he does not figure in Jose Mourinho's plans at Stamford Bridge.

The 19-year-old Omeruo was not part of the Chelsea squad to a pre-season training tour of the United States of America and his arrival to London was delayed by the late issuance of an entry visa to the United Kingdom.

The former Sunshine Stars of Akure defender has already been granted a five-year work permit in

Britain. He was on a season and half loan deal from Chelsea to Dutch club ADO Den Haag.

Early this year, the former Nigeria U17 and U20 star made his

SPORT EXTRA Golden Eaglets maul CRS Under-18 Team

T

full international debut and went on to break into the first team as Nigeria won a third Africa Cup of Nations crown in South Africa.

Anichebe impresses Spanish coach

E

VERTON'S Spanish Coach Roberto Martinez says he is so far impressed with the performance of Super Eagles striker Victor Anichebe as preparations continue in the preseason.

The former Wigan boss also stated that he is quite pleased with

•Anichebe

the other attacking options which include the trio of Arouna Kone, Nikica Jelavic and Apostolos Vellios.

Coach Martinez told evertontv: “As a squad of players you always look to have as many dimensions as you can.

“We had Victor Anichebe playing against Juventus and he did a fantastic job. Arouna Kone played well against Blackburn and Nikica Jelavic exactly the same.

“Tolis Vellios did really well in Austria as well, so all of a sudden you have got every player showing what they can do and what they can bring to the team and that's a very healthy position to have.”

Already Anichebe is touted to play some part in the pre-season clash against Spanish giants Real Madrid.

HE Golden Eaglets were back to winning ways again following a 10-0 whitewash of the Cross River State's Under-18 at the practice pitch of the U.J Esuene Sports Stadium in Calabar on Saturday.

It was the team's second match since they lost 5-4 on penalty shootout to Cote d'Ivoire in the final of the 10th African Under-17 Championship in Morocco last April. Last month, their new recruits held Taraba State's Academy to a 1-1 draw during the screening exercise at the NFF/FIFA Goal Project Centre in Abuja.

But barely a week of closedcamping of both the old guards and new discoveries in Calabar, the Nigerian Under-17 team were back to their goal-rious element as the Coach Manu Garba boys went on rampage against the Cross River State's side preparing for the maiden edition of National Youth Sports Festival to be hosted by Abuja in September.

New striking sensation, Theophilus Solomon who was sourced from the Abuja Soccer Academy, was the cynosure of all eyes when he grabbed the only hat trick of the match after coming on as a second half substitute for Isaac Success. But it was Success, the CAN U-17 top scorer, that actually scored the second and the third goal of the match after midfielder, Ifeanyi Matthew had opened floodgate for the Golden Eaglets from a 20-yard volley.

There were also goals from former National Under-15 contingent led by Kelechi Iheanacho; Chidera Ezeh and Jacob Njoku as well as the team's captain, Musa Muhammed in what looked like a one-sided affair.

QUOTABLE "I ensured Nyesome Wike to win a second term as local government chairman. I appointed him as Chief of Staff and also nominated him as Minister. I was under pressure by the president to drop him, but I refused. I hear he (Wike) is going all over town saying I didn’t appoint him. You know character doesn’t come easily; character is a very difficult thing and I’m a man of character."

SUNDAY, AUGUST 4, 2013 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL. 8, NO. 2567

— Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, in response to claims by the Minister of State for Education, Nyesome Wike, that he (Amaechi) did not nominate as minister.

A

S the political careers of Lincoln, Churchill and de Gaulle demonstrated, it takes unusual and even cataclysmic circumstances to produce great leaders. Unusual leaders manifest in unusual times. However, when unusual times fail to produce unusual leaders, the society is endangered. It may take a few more years from now and exciting political outcomes before Nigerian historians and political scientists agree on whether the founding of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the turbulence in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) constituted enough grounds for the making of a great Nigerian leader required for the tumultuous times. But whether that leader is revealed or not, in 2015 or well after, there is no denying that Nigeria is ripe for substantial, if not fundamental, change, on account of the great political, economic and social contradictions the country has sadly had to endure in the past one decade or more.

The registration of the APC was itself anticlimactic. Not only was there opposition to its registration by alleged PDP proxies, only few people were sure the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) could not be compromised by an immoral ruling party.

And though it was needless and pointless for the PDP to stymie the registration of APC using the excuse of a dispute over acronym, no one was sure how far the ruling party was willing to go to discomfit the opposition. In the end, common sense prevailed, and a major opposition party was birthed last week. The new amalgamated party, with all the dangers associated with alloys, will hope to exceed both in reputation and achievement the records of its famous predecessors known to us as United Progressives Grand Alliance (UPGA) in the First Republic and Progressive Parties Alliance (PPA) in the Second Republic, notwithstanding the undeniable observation that the circumstances of their births were not too dissimilar.

APC’s final appearance has doubtless met with euphoric responses from citizens harried by more than 14 years of unimaginative PDP rule, and analysts bored stiff by the fundamental staidness of describing rather than analysing PDP victories after every election. Now, pundits will have to earn their money, and citizens can look forward to real politics of issues, competence, geographic, and behavioural considerations. It is not an exaggeration to also say the country may well finally be on its way to a much more realistic and enduring two-party system, one that may ensure political parties work hard for votes and make those votes count. The country can also look forward to a more boisterous and reflective legislature, one the presidency will have to engage more respectfully and more intelligently than it had done so far. Indeed, not only are the possibilities endless, the emergence of the APC could very well be the tonic needed to guarantee the survival of democracy.

Even before considering the prospects of the APC in future elections – and it is perfectly sensible to do so even now – it is necessary to look at the new party itself and assess its architecture. The easiest part is the coming together of the three main constituent parties in the amalgamation, to wit, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). Staying together will be more challenging; and finding the right formula to win elections will be the most challenging. Once they win power, it is all but evident that they would do considerably and enthusiastically better than the tired PDP. The hardest part of the amalgamation is how the two leading parties in the coalition – the ACN and the CPC – will subordinate their strong identities to the new party and work towards forging a new character and identity, much stronger and idiosyncratic than their individual

Finally, two-party system under way

•Jega

•Akande

moults, and capable of resonating with voters, hammering out realistic and unifying political platforms, and fighting major electoral wars with well-oiled machines.

It must be remembered that previous attempts by progressives to reach out to other parties never went beyond reaching an understanding with other parties through the instrumentality of coalitions. This, therefore, is the first time in Nigeria major parties under progressive panoply are fusing together across ideological divides. But progressivism, as all the progressive parties of Southwest origin have repeatedly demonstrated, is much more than merely a convenient vehicle or an ideological or philosophical force; it is a moral force encapsulating superior and almost theological arguments about how societies are founded, organised and governed. A progressive party, like any metal with unique linear expansivity, responds to external stimuli differently from a conservative or pseudo-progressive party by reason of its intrinsic properties.

Despite the unending arguments in the Southwest about the progressive credentials of the ACN, there is little doubt that it is the foremost progressive party in Nigeria, and this is in spite of itself, its unorthodox definition of internal democracy, and its sometimes perplexing succession patterns inherited in part from its regional

progenitors, the Action Group (AG) and the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). Indeed, to restrict the definition of progressivism to its internal democracy mechanism is to miss the more essential attributes of that political ideology as it relates to the pursuit of rapid societal change and protection and advancement of civil rights, among other things. Now, juxtapose both ACN’s positive paranoia on civil liberties and its doctrinaire progressivism with the pragmatism of the CPC on one side and the vestigial conservatism of the ANPP on the other side, and you begin to get a sense of the sacrifices the amalgams will have to make in order to confound the PDP naysayers. It will certainly not be an easy task, especially with both the ACN and CPC having been led by two mercurial personalities.

The reasons the APC was formed must, however, not be forgotten. Its constituent parts seemed to have a foreboding of their impending destruction if they continued to stay disunited in the face of the obtruding PDP. They probably remembered the statement made by Benjamin Franklin before signing the US Declaration of Independence in 1776. He had said: “We must indeed all hang together, or most assuredly we shall hang separately.” The APC has chosen to take the American’s counsel, fully conscious of

and willing to live with the drawbacks of lying on the same bed with strange fellows and loth to resign themselves to the hopelessness and helplessness of being slaughtered in every election. Surely, they are no gluttons for punishment. I think also that they considered the tantalising prospects of winning the 2015 polls and what great and might things they could in consequence do to reform and transform the country, which mighty things the PDP seems happily and indifferently oblivious of.

If the 2015 polls were held today, and the APC had the good fortune of presenting the right candidate to face the underperforming President Goodluck Jonathan, the result is unlikely to be a close one. Quite apart from the fact that the president’s wife has not exactly been an asset, he has himself comprehensively alienated the Southwest, Northeast and Northwest.

As for the North-Central and South-South, he is facing revolt in key, vote-laden parts of the regions, while his hold on the Southeast is only three-quarters sure. To reverse these positions will take a miracle by even the most studious, charismatic and dogged of leaders. But as everyone knows, Dr Jonathan’s main strength lies in his earthy, though often misplaced, candour.

That strength unfortunately does not usually translate into votes.

The scenario above assumes both the nomination of Dr Jonathan and the exactitude of the APC fielding a winning ticket.

But here, precisely, is the dilemma the APC and indeed the whole country will face in the coming months. How would they draw the balance between what their hearts tell them about the kind of ticket the country needs for strong leadership and rapid, even revolutionary, transformation, though it be unorthodox and unconventional, and what their heads tell them about the kind of conventional-wisdom, religion-sensitive ticket that is in consonance with national pedantry, though it be counterproductive in the long run? It is in the nature of countries never to be able to resolve such dilemmas.

The APC on its own will have to determine how safely it can break the mould and stretch the baffling dynamics of Nigerian politics to its elastic limit. More, it will have to determine what its priority is: to win the next election, even if it entailed a horse dose of hypocrisy, or to provide the kind of fiery leadership that will take Nigeria to the big league. Apart from the fact that these two objectives are often mutually exclusive, history tells us that some of the world’s greatest reformers took power in unusual circumstances thereby freeing them from the strictures that would otherwise hobble a leader produced by normality and conventional democratic apparatuses.

Palladium on vacation? If wishes were horses

P

ALLADIUM owes his readers a little apology. For some five weeks, the back page column of this newspaper bore a postscript announcing that Palladium was on vacation. He was not. He was in fact ill, and could hardly think about national issues, not even the presidency’s egregious constitutional affronts and meddlesomeness, let alone sit down to write. Though he is on the mend, he has struggled to write today’s pieces in order not to appear like he has permanently abandoned the battlefield and taken his loyal and even enemy readers for granted.

Really, what would his enemy readers do without their weekly dose of provocation?

However, I wish I had really gone on vacation.

While Palladium was away, Dr Jonathan behaved imperially, forgetting the oath he swore to, and the need to sustain and nurture the leprous democracy handed over to him by former president Olusegun Obasanjo. (The late Umaru Yar’Adua presidency was an interregnum). It is in fact significant and fitting

that the president recently described Chief Obasanjo as his father. Dr Jonathan of course meant his sonship in the metaphorical sense, but if only he knew how accurate he was even in the biological sense as well. Chief Obasanjo undermined democracy and the constitution, and rode roughshod over the states, persons, and political parties. Dr Jonathan, not to talk of his wife, has also ridden roughshod over the states, persons (be they governors or eminences grises), the constitution and parties. Chief Obasanjo will not flinch at betraying the constitution; neither will Dr Jonathan balk.

Obasanjo could neither differentiate between democracy and monarchy nor draw a line between law and lawlessness.

Dr Jonathan talks effusively about democracy and acts aggressively like a monarch.

Palladium of course does not hate monarchy, for as he has argued in this place many times, democracy is seldom as competent as monarchy in filtering bad leaders from the number one seat in any country. After all, it took democracy to inflict

Obasanjo and Jonathan on the country.

While Palladium was away, the courts absolved Major Hamza al-Mustapha of complicity in the murder of Kudirat Abiola.

This judicial thunder did not, however, peal as loudly as it exposed the buffoonery of the founder of the Odua People’s Congress (OPC), Frederick Fasehun. Dr Fasehun thought nothing of the anomaly of escorting the freed al-Mustapha to Kano; he also ascribed to his action a nobility of purpose and a grander task of representing and saving from retribution the entire Yoruba people. Politics can sometimes be comical, and any man can suffer from delusions of grandeur. But to degrade politics to the level of burlesque seems only reserved for those like Dr Fasehun who have become chimerical. To hear him declaim against his sidekick in the OPC and fellow federal contract seeker, Gani Adams, indicates the ugly and risible depths ‘revolutionary warfare’ has sunk, not only in the Southwest, but elsewhere, as the Rivers State House of Assembly disgracefully exemplified recently.

Published by Vintage Press Limited. Corporate Office: 27B Fatai Atere Way, Matori, Lagos. P.M.B. 1025, Oshodi, Lagos. Telephone: Switch Board: 01-8168361.

Marketing: 4520939, Abuja Office: Plot 5, Nanka Close AMAC Commercial Complex, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja. Telephone: 07028105302. Port Harcourt Office: 12/14, Njemanze Street, Mile 1, Diobu, PH. 08023595790.

Website: www.thenationonlineng.net

ISSN: 115-5302 E-mail: sunday@thenationonlineng.net Editor: FESTUS ERIYE