Aug 16, 2013

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U.S. to Nigeria: capture Boko Haram leaders ‘New social contract needed’

THE ASUU ROADSHOW

By Olukorede Yishau, Vincent Ikuomola and Nike Adebowale, Abuja

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ROM the United States came yesterday a piece of advice on Boko Haram – its leaders must be captured and prosecuted for Nigeria to achieve its potential as a stable regional leader.

Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Ms Wendy Sherman spoke in Abuja during a meeting of the United States-Nigeria Bi-national Commission Regional Security Cooperation Working Group.

Ms Sherman said Boko Haram offered no practical solutions to the North’s problems, but capitalised on frustration, religious differences and economic and social difficulties to undermine the government and make the country ungovernable.

The United States, she said, knows from experience the difficulty in confronting an enemy that respects no boundaries and kills civilians indiscriminately.

Success, in her view, cannot be achieved unless Nigeria surmounts the challenges that frustrate progress.

Ms Sherman said the country faces several challenges to national and regional stability.

The largest of these challenges is, according to her, the Boko Haram-led insurgency, Continued on page 4

•From left: Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Oyo State, Mr Olarewaju Bashir; former Petroleum Minister Prof. Tam David-West; Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) National Treasurer Dr Ademola Aremu and others at ASUU town hall meeting at the University of Ibadan (UI) in Ibadan…yesterday.

STORY ON PAGE 5 PHOTO: NAN

PDP chieftains plot against new parties

•Atiku: I’ve not left ruling party

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EADERS of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are discussing the emergence of two parties linked to ex-Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and nine governors.

The sponsors of the two parties have applied to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for registration.

Atiku is being associated with the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM). Nine PDP governors are said to be floating the Peoples Progressive Movement (PPM).

Some of the governors alleged to be behind the PPM include those seeking the removal of PDP National Chairman Bamanga Tukur.

Atiku, however, said yesterday that he is still in the PDP. But the ex-Vice-President was quick

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

to add that he does not have the right or power to stop others from associating with or seeking registration of new parties.

According to sources, some aggrieved PDP members, governors and ex-governors are already working on a Plan B to checkmate President Goodluck Jonathan, who is alleged to have hijacked the party’s structure to secure a second term ticket.

It was learnt that those behind the new parties are suspecting that the PDP National Working Committee is proposing an automatic ticket policy to ensure a second term ticket for Jonathan a done deal.

But the PDP leadership has been Continued on page 4

•Relatives of the four policemen killed during clashes with Muslim Brotherhood supporters earlier in the week, mourn during their funeral in Cairo…yesterday PHOTO: AFP

Egypt’s death toll hits 525 Obama cancels military plan

•STORY ON PAGE 58

•TRIAL OF UNIPORT 4 SUSPECTED KILLERS BEGINS IN PORT HARCOURT P4

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

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Our ordeal in the

•From left: Osun State Deputy Governor Titi Laoye-Tomori; Minister of Foreign Affairs Olugbenga Ashiru; former Commonwealth Secretary-General Chief Emeka Anyaoku; Dr Leke Pitan and former President Olusegun Obasanjo at the launch of a book "Footprints of Iconic Diplomat" in Lagos...yesterday.

PHOTO: JOHN EBHOTA

The leadership of Ombatse, a group based in Nasarawa State, says it is not a violent group, but testimonies from alleged victims say the opposite, reports Sanni Onogu

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• National Coordinator, Independent Shareholders’ Association of Nigeria (ISAN) Sir Sunny Nwosu, Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) Oscar Onyema , Chairman, First Registrars Ahmadu Abubakar Musa, Oba Rilwan Akiolu of Lagos and Managing Director, First Registrars Bayo Olugbemi during the launch of First Dividend Plus Prepaid card in Lagos...yesterday.

PHOTO: SOLOMON ADEOLA

• General Manager , CFAO NIPEN Mr. Omitogun Gabriel, Finance Controller Amitabh Sinha, winner of the company’s ‘Scratch and Win’ promo, Mr. Samson Ajibola, Commercial Manager Ran Pagis and Chief Accountant Owojori Wahab PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS during the promo in Ikeja, Lagos...yesterday.

•From right: From right: Chairman, Ogun State House of Assembly Committee on Youth and Employment Generation Femi Allen-Taylor, Permanent Secretary, Ogun State Ministry of Youth and Sports Mrs Moyo Olowonmi, Commissioner for Youth and Sports Mr. Gbenga Otenuga, Chairman, National Youth Council, Ogun State chapter Mr. Tola Adenekan and the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Ibikunle Amosun on Youth Development Segun Adesanya during the International Youth Day in Abeokuta.

HE Judicial Commission of Inquiry probing the killing of security operatives in Nasarawa State was Wednesday told how the Ombatse Group allegedly invaded and killed Fulani people in a displaced persons' camp.

The revelation was made by the leadership of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), while presenting their memorandum to the panel in Lafia.

The memorandum was signed by the State Chairman of MACBAN, Bala Mohammed (Dabo), Saleh Inusa Mohammed (Ardo) and General Ardo Lawal Dono.

According to the presentation, the attack took place at Kwandere on January 7, after Fulani people fled the neighbouring settlements of Yelwa and Bassa.

It added that the Fulani people were those displaced from Yelwa and Bassa after they were allegedly attacked by the "Ombatse cult group".

It said: "The incident in Yelwa in Doma Local Government Area, and Bassa in Kokona Local Government Area necessitated our people, the Fulani, to move to a safe haven due to the attack and found Kwandere a safe place. But unfortunately,, the Eggon community, through Ombatse, led attack on our people who had taken refuge here."

The association exonerated Fulani people from previous attacks on Eggon communities, saying the branding of their people as mercenaries was erroneous because the movement of displaced Fulani people seeking refuge in various places was interpreted as "mercenaries", or "invaders."

They added that a robbery incident where a Fulani and some Eggon people were victims led to the the series of bloodletting in Yelwa and Bassa by Ombatse, because the Eggon community felt that Fulani people perpetrated the robbery.

He explained that while a Fulani man, Musa Lakge, surrendered to the robbers to save his life, the Eggon people "who were at the scene of the robbery incident resisted the robbers because of their belief in the magical powers of Ombatse".

"But unfortunately, they suffered heavy casualty in the hands of the robbers. But they decided to spread rumours around that the Fulanis were behind the incident. This unfortunate incident led to several reprisal attacks within the state, resulting to several deaths and loss of property."

They added that a Fulani boy, who was grazing his father's cattle, was attacked and killed in "cold blood", by those he alleged were "Eggon youths".

"This was the situation that precipitated Eggon Ombatse/Fulani crisis in the area, which led to loss of lives and properties of our people," the association said.

The commission continued hearing yesterday, but was forced to adjourn till today following the inability of lawyers to present their witnesses.

Mohammed Oshafu, one of the

•Baba Lakyo

counsel representing the cattle breeders, told the Justice Joseph Fola Gbadeyan-led panel that five Fulani widows he arranged to testify could not make it to Lafia, from Bauchi State.

Oshafu's plea for adjournment to enable him produce the witnesses was granted by the commission.

MACBAN has called two witnesses - Alhaji Abubakar Mohammed, who testified on Wednesday, and Haruna Yahaya, who gave evidence yesterday.

The panel slated Monday to Thursday next week to hear some memoranda earlier withdrawn from the commission.

The memoranda include those filed by individuals and groups from Eggon communities but were withdrawn.

Counsel representing the Eggon groups had on July 31, 2013 attributed their action to alleged bias on the part of the Commission.

The Commission however struck out the notices of withdrawal following the counsels' failure to appear and defend their action before the commission.

Justice Gbadeyan described the action as "contemptuous" saying, "when we are faced with serious business that has affected the lives of so many human beings, they are only interested to stall the entire proceedings".

The Secretary to the commission, Abubakar Sadiq Ishaq, in a statement, said the panel would proceed to hear the memoranda next week.

Chief Ayas Bako Aya, a lawyer, said justice does not reside in the commission.

Ayas said: "Public justice must be rooted in confidence, and confidence is destroyed when right minded people go away thinking that the judge is biased."

Nasarawa State Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice Lagi Innocent dismissed the claims of the counsel.

Innocent said the panel would proceed with or without the participation of the aggrieved groups.

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

The Commission's notice of hearing by its Secretary, reads: "All affected persons/groups are hereby requested to note the date slated for the hearing of their memorandum for information, guidance and necessary action as well as appearance on the slated date.

"They are also to note that the Commission's sitting commences at

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

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NEWS

hands of Ombatse, by Fulani cattle breeders ‘ atThey have tacked seven towns and in five out of those seven towns, they killed, maimed, and destroyed houses, particularly palaces in five of these places

‘

•Almakura

10:00am and ends at 5:00pm daily at the Chief Magistrate Court 2, Shendam Road, Lafia, Nasarawa State."

The Legal Adviser to Ombatse Group, Zachary Alumaga in his raction to the notice of hearing, said it was "normal".

Alumaga said: "I am sure the commission only wants to make assurance double sure because they had earlier fixed dates for hearing these memoranda, before the counsel withdrew; and they want to see if the counsel will come after all."

He, however, said there was no justification for the commission's assertion that due process was not followed in the withdrawal of the memoranda.

He said: "What amount of due process could be compared to this case where somebody submitted a memorandum and decided to withdraw it and officially writes you to communicate the feelings and decisions of his clients? Are they doubting the signatures on the withdrawal notices or what?"

On Tuesday, a witness, Alhaji Sule Mohammed Lawal, said he was attacked around 1am in January at his home at Ruwan Doma in Kokona Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

The 40-year-old witness said he passed out after receiving severe machete cuts on his head, hands, legs and

back, allegedly from Ombatse members.

Lawal, who spoke through the panel’s interpreter, said he regained consciousness in the hospital at Keffi the next day.

He said only one of his three sons and his wives escaped the attack while the other received machete cuts.

The herdsman said 45 of his cows were also killed by the invaders.

Lawal said: “I was lying down inside my house in Ruwan Doma at Bassa in Agwada Development Area when a boy raised my mosquito net around 1am. The boy’s name is Maye; he is from the Eggon tribe. I asked him: ‘Why are you here at this time?’ He ran away.

“I recognised Maye because I was not asleep when he raised my sleeping mosquito net. I then stood up and ran towards my cows. When I got there, I saw people killing my cows with machetes. I ran back to the house and woke my wives and told them to run for their safety.

“I then took my three male children on my motorcycle and attempted to move but Maye and the other boys stopped me.

“Then I asked Maye: ‘Are you with them too?’ They started cutting me with their machetes and I fell down.

They cut my head, hands, legs and all over my body.

“One of my children, Salihu, was

killed on the spot. He was seven years old. His brother, Saleh, who is 10 years old, was also cut in several places.”

The witness became overwhelmed with emotions inside the witness box as he presented Saleh to the commission for identification.

Both Lawal and Saleh removed their clothes and showed their scars to the panel members.

Saleh had a deep horizontal scar on his right cheek and his right hand was twisted.

Besides Lawal, other people at the panel shed tears.

Lawal added: “I was taken to a hospital in Keffi, where I regained consciousness the next day.

“It was my neighbours from Bassa who buried my son. I did not see his body. My wives and one of my sons escaped the attack. I also lost 45 cows to the attackers.”

Another witness, Saleh Wakili, told the panel yesterday how the Ombatse group allegedly arrested and killed five of his cousins.

Wakili, a Fulani herdsman, said: “They first arrested my cousin and tied him to the tree. Later, they arrested four of my cousins. When they came towards me, I drew my machete. They cleared the way for me, and I ran away.

“When an Inspector of Police from Barkin Abdullahi (BAD) police outpost accompanied me to the spot of

the incident, we saw that they had slaughtered my cousins, moved the bodies into the bush and covered them with straws and grasses.

“We brought the bodies to the Specialist Hospital in Lafia. They were later released to us for burial.”

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

Ala Agu, the spiritual head of the Lakyo community and leader of Ombatse, said he had no hand in the killings of 46 policemen and 10 SSS personnel, who were said to have been ambushed on their way from Lafia, en-route Lakyo to arrest him.

Baba Lakyo, as he is fondly called, said Governor Umaru Tanko alMakura should be blamed for the death of the security operatives.

He said: "I am grateful for your coming, Senator. I am very, very grateful for your coming. Even if the Senator did not come here, I had intended to go and see him in his house but since he is here, I am very grateful.

"It is the governor that asked the people (police officers) to come here and arrest me, cut my head and take my head to him.

"When they came, because they were themselves drunk, my god did not allow them to come to me and they died on the way.

"The question I ask is, has the governor ever invited me and I refused to go?

"But he sent people to come and kill me and to destroy Lakyo as a whole. That is just what it is."

According to him, he was in a nearby village when the incident occurred and was only informed when he returned that the governor sent operatives to come and kill him.

On the claim that he was using force to administer concoction on people to initiate them as members of Ombatse, he said: "If I ever opened my mouth to force anybody to take oath, God should punish me."

He said Ombatse is an association of Lakyo boys into which nobody is forced to join.

The spiritual head said he was ready to honour any police invitation over the issue but insisted that nobody has invited him.

He expressed sadness over the death of the security men claiming that it was even more saddening that he was being linked to the incident, especially when he knew nothing about what happened to the operatives. al-Makura said democratic processes had prevented him from dealing decisively with the group.

He said: "We are operating a democracy where certain things have to follow due process. I, as a person, have the capacity to deal with Ombatse to the necessary conclusion, but due to the fact that it will negate the democratic process, we have to go from one step to another."

The governor, in a newspaper interview, said: "One day, towards the end of November, they were congregating in alarming numbers at the vicinity of Nasarawa-Eggon Local Government Area, in a village called Allogana. The congregation was so large that it attracted security attention.

"The SSS, with the support of the Army, went there because there had been these skirmishes between the Fulani and farmers in the area. So, any congregation was so sensitive to the security (agencies). They went to find out what was happening, and they discovered more than 2,000 people participating in certain rites. So, the SSS and the Army went to find out who was their public relations officer or the chairman.

"It took the expertise and professional instinct of those security people to quietly and tactfully withdraw, but that was not without missing two of their vehicles that were vandalised and destroyed. al-Makura said the name Ombatse means "our time has come" or "this is our time", adding: "I do not understand what they mean by this is our time. Our time to do what?

"They have attacked seven towns and in five out of those seven towns, they killed, maimed, and destroyed houses, particularly palaces in five of these places."

The group's membership, he said, was exclusive to people that are Eggon by blood.

He said the leader of the group rebuffed all attempts by security agencies to invite him to their offices and the intervention of the Emir of Lafia and the paramount ruler of the Eggon.

‘Only the best good enough for Nigeria’

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ICE-Chancellor, Caleb University Prof. Ayodeji Olukoju has advised the Federal Government to use merit in selecting public office holders.

He spoke yesterday at the 15th Convocation and Investiture of new fellows of The Nigeria Academy of Letters (NAL) at the main auditorium, University of Lagos, (UNILAG), Akoka, Lagos.

He said: “Let Federal Character anBd Quota System go on recess while we build a country for all.”

Prof Olukoju spoke on the topic: “Nigeria’s Cultural Tapestry and the Challenge of Development’.

He said equity and the welfare of the people should be the government’s battle cry, adding that Nigerian history must be taught in secondary schools as a compulsory subject to equip citizens with a sound knowledge of the society .

By Medinat Kanabe

Olukoju said a new leadership culture must be developed from the cradle.

He said it wa only by doing this that the gulf between diversity and development could be bridged and allow for an educated, enlightened and patriotic leadership capable of galvanising the people for development.

He said: “Such leaders must be able to invent the Nigerian Dream, an articulated vision of a nation held together by the powers of our cultural links, the muscle of our human and natural resources, the backbone of criss-crossing physical and social infrastructure, and the blood of social justice and good governance. If such a leadership could emerge, even in the face of daunting odds, if there is devolution to the regions, and if the famed federal might is

•From left: Prof. Ayo Bamgbose, Prof. Jubril and Prof. Urua at the convocation...yesterday.

applied to solving national problems, and not used as feral might to oppress and impoverish, then, the Nigerian centenary could well lead to the Nigerian century.”

President of the NAL Prof Munzali Jibril, who spoke with reporters, said the three fellows who were admitted were selected from ten applications.

PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE.

Those who were newly admitted include: Prof Richard Adebayo Olaniyan, Prof Is-haq Olarewaju Oloyede and Prof EnoAbasi Urua.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

NEWS ‘Capture Boko Haram leaders’ Continued from page 1

•President Goodluck Jonathan (second right) after being decorated with the Republic of Mali National Award on at the Presidential Villa in Abuja...yesterday. With him are: Malian President John Dioncounda Traore (second left), Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill PHOTO AKIN OLADOKUN Akpabio (right) and Anambra State Governor Peter Obi.

PDP chieftains plot against new parties

Continued from page 1

consulting with some strategists of the President on how to checkmate those behind the two parties.

A highly-placed source said: “The crisis in PDP has taken a new dimension and a split is likely, unless tact is employed to restore order.

“Some PDP governors, exgovernors and members might leave en masse for these two new parties if the crisis within the ruling party is not addressed.”

The PDP leadership and some presidential strategists met on Wednesday to discuss the parties.

“The fears in PDP border on the fact that the two parties might later merge to battle the ruling party. The sponsors of the new parties are political heavyweights that can dismantle PDP,” the source added.

PDP leaders are said to be jittery about the resurgence of PDM. Atiku is the rallying point of the association, which was founded by the late Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, Gen. Shehu Musa Yar’Adua.

“There is a serious concern that Atiku, whose name was

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which has created widespread insecurity across the North, increased tensions among ethnic communities, interrupted development, frightened off investors and generated concerns among the country’s northern neighbours.

Her words: “Security efforts are necessary to protect innocent Nigerians, to prevent Boko Haram’s acts of violence, and to capture and prosecute its leaders. The Nigerian government and military must also win over the hearts and minds of northern populations by protecting them and providing timely and commensurate justice to both insurgents and the victims of this unfortunate conflict.

Though no easy task, a comprehensive approach that addresses socio-economic problems, articulates clear rules of engagement, and commits to accountability for those who

Continued on page 10

PDP crisis: Tukur meets Kwankwaso, Lamido, Wamakko

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allegedly removed from the PDP register in Adamawa, might work with some leaders to spring a surprise against PDP through the PDM,” the source said.

A PDP governor, who spoke in confidence, said: “You have not seen anything yet. As from January or the first quarter of 2014, Nigerians will know the position of most of the PDP governors on 2015 poll.

“What is happening now is that every PDP governor is playing along with some forces in the Presidency until the appropriate time to define their position on the 2015 poll.”

But a statement last night by the Atiku Media Office, signed by Mallam Garba Shehu, said although he remains in PDP, he cannot stop anyone from forming new parties.

The statement said: “Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has said while he remains a loyal PDP member, he doesn’t have the right or power to stop others from associating or seeking registration for new parties.

“Following press enquiries on the reported registration of the Peoples Democratic

Movement (PDM) as a political party, the former Vice President said he would always welcome the expansion of the political space to accommodate all shades of opinions or political hue.

“While acknowledging that many of his political associates are involved in registering the PDM, Atiku Abubakar explained that he had no powers to stop adults with common interests from coming together to form a party.

“He also noted that many of his political associates are equally members of political parties other than the PDP. “According to him, freedom of association as enshrined in the Constitution is the beauty of democracy and that he wouldn’t dissuade any of his followers from seeking a platform to promote their programmes.

“Political analysts recalled the active role of the PDM in the country’s democratic transition from the Babangida, Abacha and Abdulsalami administrations.

“The PDM platform, which was founded by late General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, provided the impetus for his impressive performance across

•Atiku

ATIONAL chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, yesterday had a private meeting with Governors Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Sule Lamido (Jigawa) and Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto).

A statement signed by Tukur’s Special Assistant on Media, Prince Oliver Okpala, the three governors apologised on behalf of Governors Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) and Babangida Aliyu (Niger) who could not attend.

There has been a frosty relationship between the five governors, the party chairman and President Goodluck Jonathan.

Okpala’s statement said: “Iit was resolved that they have returned to the leadership of the party and that all that happened in the past, which involved grievances, accusations and counter accusations were done because of gap in communication amidst disinformation from some quarters between them and the leadership of the party.

“And having listened to the National Chairman, they are now properly informed about the happening in the party and

From Rosemary Nwisi,

tion of murder (homicide) cases and other responsibilities assigned to me. On October 5, 2013; my department received a report of the gruesome murder of four undergraduate students of UNIPORT at Aluu.

“The report we received was that these four boys were stripped naked, paraded with jubilation and about to be set ablaze (lynched) at Omuokiri Aluu. As a result of this (report), the police division Isiokpo dispatched a combined team to rescue the victims, but because of the distance between the scene of crime and Isiopkpo, they had hung condemned tyres on their necks, while some others were with dog, hounding them.”

“The crowd they met on the scene when they arrived were shouting ‘kill them, kill them.

Before the police could rescue them, they had already poured petrol on them and lit fire,” he told the court.

Ezeji said photographs of the remains of the deceased and the streets on which they were paraded naked were taken during the investigation.

He added that extracts from the video clips of the killing, posted on the internet, formed part of the exhibits attached to the case file submitted to the prosecution. The internet clips were concealed in a CD plate.

Efforts by the prosecution to tender copies of the photographs and thier negative copies as exhibits were objected to by 10 of the 12 defendants.

The court fixed the ruling on the admissibility of the exhibits for later date.

Midway into the hearing, the court allowed time to hear applications for bail of each of the accused persons.

All the 12 accused persons in their independent applications urged the court to admit them to bail. They told Mr. Justice Nyordee that bail is their constitutional right irrespective of the gravity of the offence they were alleged to have committed.

They noted that they were presumed innocent until proven otherwise.

The fifth accused person, 16year-old Abiodun Yusuf, urged the court to grant him

bail, considering his age.

His counsel, G.B.Sanusi, told the court that Yusuf, being a minor, was not supposed to be tried together with other accused persons in the open court.

In their applications, counsel for the second set of defendants, including the Aluu monarch, Alhaji Hassan Welewa, urged the court to grant them bail, saying their offences carry lighter punishment of two years, if convicted.

They argued that they had already spent close to one year in detention.

They were charged with negligent, to wit felony to prevent murder, crime and misdemeanour.

The prosecution objected to the bail applications and urged the court to dismiss their applications for lack of merit.

Mr. Godwins averred that bail was at the discretion of the court but insisted that due to the serious nature of the offence the accused are charged with, it would be unusual for any court to consider granting them bail, without convincing

the country during the September 1992 presidential primaries, which were later cancelled by the military regime.

“The late Gen. Yar’Adua came close to becoming President, thanks to the formidable PDM structure. In 1999, the PDM was also in the forefront in the emergence of former President Obasanjo as PDP presidential candidate.

“Political observers also noted that the choice of Atiku Abubakar as running mate to Obasanjo in 1999 was a recognition of the active role of the PDM platform in his victory.”

perpetrate violence, both Boko Haram and security forces, will demonstrate to every Nigerian that their future is brighter in a more secure Nigeria.

“This may require a new social contract with Nigerian citizens that encompasses an economic recovery strategy as a complement to the government’s security strategy. This approach will be successful to the extent that it can garner the support of northern governors and local officials, traditional and religious leaders, civil society organisations and a generation of young Nigerians who are connected to their government, locally and federally.”

Ms Sherman said defeating Boko Haram would not be a tea party, adding that the U.S. would help to get rid of the insurgents.

Her words: “Achieving success will not be easy, but we are

From Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja

promised that from henceforth, they will work in harmony and unity with the leadership of the party and also pledged their loyalty under Dr. Bamanga Tukur.

“The National Chairman, after listening to them, also promised as a father to forgive and forget all that has happened in the past and assured of the leadership of the party to work together with the governors, stressing that any member of the party that feels aggrieved over any activity of the party should utilise all the internal mechanisms and platforms set out by the party to reconcile aggrieved members under the cardinal three ‘r’s of the National Chairman which is Reconciliation, Reformation and Rebuilding.

“The chairman said that their visit was a confirmation of consultations adopted by the leadership of the party to ensure total reconciliation of aggrieved members as set out by the National Reconciliation Committee headed by Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson The claim could not be independently confirmed last night as the governors could not be reached.

Trial of traditional ruler, 11 others over killing of UNIPORT 4 opens

HE trial opened yesterday in Port Harcourt of the 12 suspected killers of four undergraduate students of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) at Aluu community, Ikwerre Local Government Area.

Ugonna Obuzor (18, Theatre Arts), Lloyd Toku Mike (20, Civil Engineering), Chiadika Biringa (20, Theatre Arts ) and Tekena Elkanah (21, Education), were murdered by a mob at Omuokiri, Aluu near UNIPORT on October 5, last year.

They were alleged to have stolen telephone handsets.

The prosecution, led by the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Justice, Rufus N. Godwins, opened the case when he swore in the first prosecution Witness (PW1), Raphael Ezeji, a senior police officer, who led the investigation into the killings.

Two sets of people –one set charged with murder and the other with negligence – are standing trial.

Charged with murder are: Lawal Segun, ex-Sgt. Lucky

Port Harcourt

Orji, Ikechukwu Louis Amadi (aka Kapoon), David Chinasa Ogbada, Abiodun Yusuf, Joshua Ekpe, Abang Cyril and John Ayuwu. They are the first set of those on trial.

The traditional ruler of Aluu, Alhaj. Hassan Welewa; Okoghiroh Endurance, Ozioma Abajuo and Chigozie Evans Samuel are charged with negligence.

Ezeji, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), who is the second in-command in the Homicide Department of the Rivers State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), told Mr. Justice Latam Nyordee of a State High Court part of his findings on the death of the four youths.

DSP Ezeji said: “I am a staff (employee) of Rivers State Police command, attached to the SCID, Port Harcourt.

“I have worked as a Police officer for more than 25 years, and as a registered detective officer for over 15 years.

“As a criminal dictation officer, my job entails investiga-

reasons.

On the first set of accused persons (first to eighth) who were charged with murder, the prosecution said: “It is unusual to contemplate to admit a person charged with murder to bail. This is because murder is a very serious offence. For them to be granted bail, they must show cogent reasons to be granted bail. And it must be on the grounds of health.

“In this one, none of them has given any serious reason to be admitted to bail,” he insisted.

He noted that although the offences the second set of accused (ninth to tenth), were Continued on page 10

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NEWS Thailand PM to visit Nigeria From Nike Adebowale, Abuja

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HE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Thailand, Mr. Surapong Tovichakchaikul, is expected in Nigeria on a twoday official visit.

The visit, which is expected to deepen and expand the bilateral relations between the two countries, will begin on August 19.

A statement by the Public Communication Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said both countries are expected to discuss issues concerning the signing of agreements on waiver of visa requirements for holders of diplomatic passports as well as technical cooperation and economic partnership.

Others are investment promotion and protection, establishment of joint commission and scientific and cultural cooperation.

Encomiums for Anyaoku at book launch

•Wife of Ogun State governor, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun (in black jacket) addressing participants at the beginning of her Green Empowerment for the Youths Waste to Wealth scheme at Opako-Adigbe refuse dump site in Abeokuta... on Wednesday

By Helen Wakama and Inimfon Otung

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TATESMEN, top government officials, traditional rulers and politicians yesterday poured encomiums on the former Commonwealth Secretary General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, for his role in international politics.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo; Foreign Affairs Minister, Gbenga Ashiru and House of Representatives member, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, noted that Anyaoku has brought honour to the country as a non-state actor in world politics.

The eminent Nigerians spoke in Lagos at the presentation of the book: Footprints of An Iconic Diplomat: A Pictorial Biography of Anyaoku.

It was reviewed by Martin Uhomiodhi.

The Shell Hall, MUSON Centre, Lagos, the venue of the ceremony, was filled.

Guests took turns to review Anyaoku’s life and his foreign service career. They hailed him for being a good ambassador of Nigeria.

Obasanjo described the celebrator as a man of integrity, an excellent and selfless diplomat as well as a role model to the youths.

Forced marriage: Sharia Court orders dad’s arrest

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25-YEAR-OLD woman, Zainab Shitu of Rafin Guza, Kaduna, has sued her father, Shitu Mohammad, at a Magajin-Gari Sharia Court for allegedly preventing her from marrying her “choice husband”.

She told the court yesterday that her father refused to give his consent to enable her marry the person she loved but instead forced her to marry someone else she never knew.

“My father never wanted me to marry my choice but was forcing me to marry Abubakar Umar, just because he is his friend’s son, whom I rejected,” she said.

Zainab urged the court to approve her marriage to her heartthrob, Abdulmalik Umar, threatening to commit suicide if her wishes were not respected.

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David-West blames Jonathan for prolonged ASUU strike

FORMER Petroleum Minister, Prof Tam David-West, yesterday criticised President Goodluck Jonathan for refusing to accede to the demands of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The former minister also berated the Finance Minister and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, senators and government appointees for draining the nation’s purse through what he called reckless spending.

Prof David-West spoke at a Town Hall meeting, organised by University of Ibadan (UI) chapter of the ASUU at the Mapo Hall, Ibadan.

He lashed out at Dr OkonjoIweala for her comments on

From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

the Federal Government’s 2009 agreement with ASUU. The academic noted that there are more thieves in government than there are saints in Nigeria.

According to him, a government which said it spent N8 trillion illegally, must be made by Nigerians to fund public education.

Prof David-West stressed that any government, which fails to invest in education is a vagabond government.

He said: “Any government that fails to invest in education is a vagabond govern-

ment. The problem with Nigeria is that we have more thieves than saints in government. We drill over two million barrels of crude oil per day. Why should we be poor?

“ASUU is saying that the government should spend the money to improve the quality of education for our children and those yet unborn.

The same government that does not have money for education budgeted N1 billion each to feed the President and the Vice President for just a year. Are they eating rock in Aso Rock? If you went to school without shoes, ensure that your children have shoes.

Good parents pray that their children must be better than them.”

Other speakers at the event included the National Treasurer of ASUU, Dr Ademola Aremu; Oyo State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Dr Olanrewaju Bashir; UI chapter of ASUU Chairman, Dr Segun Ajiboye; Dr Biodun Badmus of the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (UNAAB); Comrade Mashood Erubami, Comrade Abiodun Aremu, Mr Femi Aborishade, among other activists.

Prof David-West said Dr Okonjo-Iweala lacked the morality to budget N2 billion annually for Jonathan’s and Namadi Sambo’s food and

Jonathan: no short cut to economic prosperity

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday urged Nigerians to put in their best in whatever they do because there are no short cuts to economic prosperity.

The President spoke through Vice President Namadi Sambo at the 13th National Productivity Day celebrations and conferment of the National Productivity Order of Merit Award in Abuja.

He said: “No matter our calling, it is only through hard work, diligence and discipline that success can be achieved.”

Jonathan noted that there is need for motivation and favourable working conditions to enable workers improve productivity.

He said his administration was working assiduously to refocus the nation’s attitude to work to “emphasise the dignity of labour, integrity, honesty, discipline and hard work in the workplace”.

“We have also resolved to effect new a service reward system to promote productivity, efficiency and excellence.”

Jonathan said his administration was not only strengthening the National Productivity Centre but will also address its infrastructure deficit through the development of a National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan (NIIMP).

He said the Federal Government was diversifying the

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President calls for improved economic relations with Argentina, Sri Lanka

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday called for improved economic relations to deepen bilateral ties with Argentina and Sri Lanka.

The President spoke in Abuja when he received letters of credence from the new Ambassador of Argentina to Nigeria, Mr. Gustavo Alejandro Dzugala, and the new High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Nigeria, Mr. Panagoda Don Prince Solomon Anura Liyanage.

Jonathan met the envoys on different separate occurrance at the State House.

The President noted that while Nigeria had good diplomatic ties with the countries, the economic relations needed to be strengthened.

“The economic linkages are weak and we must do everything necessary to boost economic ties,” he said.

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

economy to drive wealth and job creation.

He said: “Our agenda of transformation is productivity-oriented. Our vision and quest is to bequeath to future generations a better and greater Nigeria under our action. It is by securing higher and better quality output for any given unit of input that we can increase our national wealth and raise the living standards of our people.”

The President urged the awardees not to rest on their

Dzugala said Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner was seeking improved relations with Nigeria and had approved the building of a permanent embassy in Abuja to show the commitment.

He said a high-level trade delegation from Argentina would soon visit Nigeria.

During his meeting with Liyanage, the President expressed appreciation to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa for promising to support Nigeria’s quest for a non-permanent seat at the United Nations (UN) Security Council.

Liyanage said the President of Sri Lanka looked forward to welcoming Dr Jonathan at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), to be hosted by Sri Lanka in November.

oars, saying individuals and organisations should emulate them by increasing their productivity.

The Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, said the National Council on Productivity would soon be inaugurated.

He urged individuals and organisations to key into the National Productivity Policy by increasing their productivity.

Mr. George Uriesi, who spoke on behalf of the recipients of the National Productivity Order of Merit Award, expressed gratitude for the

recognition.

He promised that they would not fail the country.

The 2011/2012 National Productivity Order of Merit Award was conferred on 20 individuals and 10 organisations in recognition of their contributions to national development.

Since its inception in 1991, 256 individuals and 58 organisations have received the honour.

This year’s celebrations had the theme: Productivity and Competitiveness: Determinants for Achieving National Transformation.

still claim that the same government cannot meet the education needs of the masses.

The former minister said the Finance Minister was being paid $2 million a month under the Olusegun Obasanjo administration, without her rejecting it or insisting that she should be paid in naira to improve the economy.

He wondered what President Jonathan is doing with 10 presidential jets while President of the United States, Barack Obama, has only one.

Prof David-West noted that the possession of a university degree does not make one a good administrator.

29 Niger Delta pilots for overseas training

By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

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WENTY-NINE Niger Delta youths, who were trained as pilots in South Africa under the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), are to be type-rated at the Lufthansa Airlines in Frankfurt, Germany, and CAE Aviation facility in Oxford, the United Kingdom (UK).

Type-rating is a training that enables pilots to specialise in flying some brands of aircraft.

The Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Mr Kingsley Kuku, spoke on the programme yesterday at the Conference on Oil Theft and Illegal Oil Bunkering in the Niger Delta, in Lagos.

He said the youths have attained the Private Pilot Licence (PPL) and got their Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL), which allows them to operate commercial airplanes.

Kuku explained that for the pilots to operate commercial airplanes well, they would attend type-rating programmes in both countries.

He said the two aviation institutions accepted to give the youths the type-rating courses, adding that the beneficiaries would have to take their training seriously and make Nigeria proud.

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THE NATION FRIDAY AUGUST 16, 2013

NEWS

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APC explains position on council autonomy

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) has said its governors are not against autonomy for local governments, as reported in a section of the media yesterday.

It described such reports as a gross misrepresentation of the governors’ position on the issue.

In a statement in Oro, Kwara State, yesterday by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the governors are only asking that such autonomy must be determined by the Houses of Assembly, rather than the National Assembly.

“For those who may have been misled by the media reports, we want to state our stand. In the first instance, the constitution gives the Houses of Assembly the power to create local governments. Therefore, autonomy for local governments should be debated in the Houses of Assembly, not in the National Assembly.

“Secondly, giving control of the local governments to the

•Lagos chapter backs APC governors on federalism, revenue allocation, local govt autonomy

Federal Government, one of the two federating units in a federalist system of government, will only result in the creation of a unitary government.

“Thirdly, local government administration must be democratically- elected in a free and fair election. Chairmen and councillors must be accountable to those who elected them.

“We are a welfarist party and we believe in accountability and abhor any system where any local government administration is not elected freely and fairly. The appointment of caretaker committees to run local governments is an aberration. This is our stand

and it definitely does not represent an opposition to autonomy for local governments,” APC said.

The party said instead of creating more problems by giving the National Assembly the power to regulate local governments, ways must be found to resolve existing problems for the smooth running of local governments.

“Let us ensure that local government elections are free, fair and credible; let us ensure that chairmen and councillors are accountable.

Let us stop the appointment of caretaker committees to run local governments because this is undemocratic. Let the

Houses of Assembly, which have the powers to create local governments, also be able to determine the issue of autonomy.

“Also to be looked into are the areas of responsibility of the local governments. Currently, they have the same list of responsibilities, although their areas of priority differ. But the truth is that local governments should have different areas of responsibility. While some may want to place emphasis on agriculture, some may prefer environment by virtue of their topography.

“On the belief that some state governments appropriate funds meant for local govern-

ments, the cure is not for the Federal Government to give money directly to the local governments, but for states and local governments to agree on how to ensure a judicious expenditure of local government funds. The partnership between states and local governments is very important for the overall welfare of the common man,” APC said.

The Lagos State chapter of the APC has backed the party’s governors on the true federalism and proper adjustment in the current lopsided revenue allocation.

It said it supports the APC governors that local government autonomy in the face

Govt to tackle school enrolment

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Health workers begin strike

By Wale Adepoju

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HE Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) will today begin a nationwide indefinite strike.

It said the strike was inevitable because of the Federal Government’s failure to accede to its demands.

The union said it gave a 21day ultimatum and an additional two weeks for the government to look into its complaints, but to no avail.

NUAHP directed its members to comply with the strike order.

Some of the union’s demands are that no university lecturer should be appointed as a Chief Medical Director (CMD) of any teaching hospital; to the posts of CMDs, among others.

UK donates equipment to EFCC

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HE Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) of the United Kingdom yesterday donated forensic information technology equipment to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

According to a statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of the anti-graft agency, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, the donation was part of the strategic partnership between the two organisations.

The statement said: “The equipment, which were formally handed over at a brief ceremony at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja by Oliver Blake, Team Leader, Governance and Social Development, UK Department for International Development (DFID), were received by the new Secretary to the Commission, Adegboyega Aremo.

“Speaking before the presentation, Blake highlighted the importance of IT equipment in combating criminal activities. The equipment, according to him, would improve the commission’s forensic capabilities.”

of unjust federal structure and a revenue formula that gives the Federal Government so much is another effort to smuggle unitarism in what is supposed to be a federation.

In a statement in Lagos by its Interim Publicity Secretary, Joe Igbokwe, the APC said the veiled attempt to annex the councils by the Federal Government in the guise of local government autonomy would deepen the woes of the country rather than ameliorate it.

It, therefore, called for an urgent application of the principles of true federalism and just and proper fiscal allocation that may allow the local governments to function as a true federating unit when they are granted proper autonomy.

From left: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Dr. MacJohn Nwabiala, Mr. Wike and the National Coordinator, Human Right Writers Association of Nigeria, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, in Abuja...yesterday

Uwais: Nigeria deserves better leadership

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HE former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Muhammed Lawal Uwais, yesterday said for the country to experience true development, it deserves a better leadership.

The legal luminary said there is a failure of leadership in the nation.

He spoke in Abuja in an interview at a public presentation of a book, titled: A Quiet Revolutionary, written by Alhaji Ibrahim Bida Buharia.

Uwais said: “Leadership is the bane of development in

From: Olugbenga Adanikin, Abuja

the country. Definitely, there is failure of leadership. We deserve better leadership and as it has been said, with good leadership, the followership will be good as well.”

The ex-CJN, who said he attended the same school with the author, described the book as relevant to the happenings in the country.

According to him, the leadership problem needed to be

Women decry Boko Haram

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From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

OMEN yesterday condemned the havoc the Boko Haram sect has wreaked on the country.

They said its activities have dented Nigeria’s reputation, adding that thousands of people have been killed and property worth millions of naira destroyed.

Over 10,000 women from across the country protested against the Boko Haram insurgency at the Eagle Square in Abuja.

They sued for peace and urged women empowerment, saying: “The country needs peace to ensure rapid development.”

Vice-President Namadi Sambo told the women that the Federal Government was committed to women empowerment.

He said 5,000 women have benefited from the Federal Government’s Subsidy Reinvestment & Empowerment Programme (SURE-P).

Sambo hailed women for initiating a programme, tagged: “Nigerian Women for Peace and Empowerment”, aimed at celebrating Nigerian women across diverse socio-economic background.

The V-P also lauded President Goodluck Jonathan for his contributions to women empowerment.

First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan said women desired the opportunity to speak for peace.

She enjoined the National Assembly to make laws to back the appointment and election of more women into leadership positions.

addressed, especially in the North.

“I am impressed with the book. It is timely because of the present events in the country. It tries to solicit with the leadership, particularly in the North, for service to the people,” he said.

Niger State Commissioner for Information, Communication and Integration, Prof. Mohammed Kuta, blamed the Federal Government for inadequate planning.

He said due to the situa-

tion, developmental plans were being implemented haphazardly and the country had been at deficit, especially in the education sector.

“There is a departure from the original concept of development and an educational system that is functional with a fewer people involved in the articulation and administration of development policy,” Kuta said.

He advised the country to devise a functional educational system to achieve genuine transformation.

Jonathan congratulates Mali’s President-elect

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From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday congratulated Mali’s President-elect, Mr. Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, on his victory in last Sunday’s run-off Presidential Election.

He also congratulated and hailed Malians for conducting the election and taking a major step towards the restoration of democratic governance.

Jonathan, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said Nigeria is looking forward to the conclusion of the process with Mr. Keita’s inauguration as the President in line with the wish of Malians as expressed at the polls on Sunday.

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Baptists hold assembly

HE third Kingdom Life Assembly of the Lagos East Baptist Conference will hold from August 19 to August 24 at Shammah Baptist Church, Ikorodu, Lagos.

Rev. E.A. Awotunde, the Conference President, said this year’s assembly would be hosted by the Christ Love Baptist Association, adding that to create an awareness and sensitise residents, Baptists would tomorrow embark on an environmental sanitation in Ikorodu.

He said the programme would be spiritually-fulfilling and the matters affecting churches and associations under the conference would be discussed.

HE Federal Government is to intensify effort on increasing enrolment of the less privileged out-of-school- children.

This is to improve the people’s living standard.

The Minister of State for Education Mr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, who spoke at an interactive session with 40 civil society groups drawn from across the country in Abuja yesterday, said the interventionist programmes being implemented are aimed at addressing the 10.5 million out-of-school- children challenge.

Wike, a lawyer, said the Federal Government started with the Almajiri Education Programme because the Almajiri children constituted over nine million of the number of out-of- school-children.

Second evictee leaves X Factor today

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HE battle for Globacom’s N24 million prize and Sony Music recording contract for the winner of X Factor is getting intense. Today, television viewers find out which of the remaining eight contestants will be evicted from the show.

The two contestants with the least votes based on votes received from 8pm last Saturday to 8pm on Monday will perform for the three show judges, Onyeka Onwenu, MI and Reggie Rockstone, to decide who eventually goes home.

The evicted act will be the second of the Top 9 contestants to be sent home after the SmoothBoiz were voted out of the show last week.

The remaining eight contestants vying for Globacom’s N24 million and a recording contract with Sony Music are Eshum and Symphony from Ghana and Nigeria’s Ankara Boi, Pheel, Princess Pat, DJ Switch, Vicky and DNA Twins.

A statement from Globacom said one of its music ambassadors and hot rap artiste, Naeto C, is scheduled to entertain the audience at the studio recording of the Result Show.

Globacom said the public can find out who the second evictee will be as well as watch Naeto C’s performance on the X Factor show.

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013 CITYBEATS LINE: 08023247888

Customs officer killed in Lagos

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CUSTOMS officer was killed by accidental discharge from the gun of a police officer at the Tin Can Island Port in Lagos yesterday. The incident, eye witnesses said, occured around noon at the second gate of the port.

According to a source from the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the deceased, Mr O. A Oro, who was attached to the Federal Operation Unit (FOU) Zone 'A' Ikeja, was at the port to escort containers to bonded terminals when he was hit by bullets from the gun of the officer identified as Sergeant Peter Adegbesan from MOPOL Squadron 22, Ikeja.

The gun was said to have dropped and discharged itself, with the bullets hitting Oro. He was said to have died instantly.

Adegbesan, sources said, was re-

• Hit by accidental discharge from policeman’s gun

By Jude Isiguzo and Oluwakemi Dauda

cruited on April, 1, 1999.

Some clearing agents and other port workers said Adegbesan attempted to flee after the incident. He was overpowered by a crowd.

A clearing agent, Sunday Ayeni, said: "This morning, between 11 am and 12 noon, a police officer was telling everybody to move back; while doing that, his gun dropped on the ground and started firing sporadically. As he attempted to pick it up, about six or seven bullets hit the Customs officer and he died on the spot.

"Realising what had happened, the police officer attempted to run away, but the crowd pounced on him. Some

‘A police officer was telling everybody to move back; while doing that, his gun dropped on the ground and started firing sporadically ... about six or seven bullets hit the Customs officer and he died on the spot’ wanted to kill him but the labour officials at the port saved his life before he was arrested by Customs men and taken to Apapa Port Police Station."

The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Customs at Tin-Can, Mr Chris Osunkwo, who confirmed the story,

CITYBEATS

described the deceased as a diligent officer. He urged security agents to find better means of controlling crowd than using live ammunition.

He said the officer had been arrested and handed over to the police for proper investigation, adding:"This is a very unfortunate incident. You can imagine a man waking up in the morning, telling his wife and children that he would soon be back and that turned his farewell message to his promising family. Why must somebody use AK47 while preventing crowd movement? This is a big lesson to all of us," Osunkwo said.

When The Nation visited the Tin-Can Island Command of the Customs, a police officer said the Deputy Commissioner (DCP) in charge of the ports had gone to condole with the NCS.

Shock over trader's mystery death

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From Damisi Ojo, Akure

A couple - Tope and Taiwo Ajayi and four others, have been arraigned before a Magistrate's Court sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital, for allegedly assaulting officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC).

Others charged with them were: Oluwaseun Ogunbiyi, Olusola Ebenezer, Busayo Ayodele, and Sumala Ojo. They were arraigned on a fivecount charge punishable under Section 516(A) of the Criminal Code Cap. 37 Vol 1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria (2006).

It was learnt that the FRSC men, Imoru Ayotunde, Adewuyi James and Akorede Isiaka, impounded Mrs Ajayi's vehicle over traffic offences.

Mr Ajayi and the other persons were said to have assulted the road safety officials and torn their uniforms.

Magistrate Olubukola Kuye granted their bail application with N100,000 each and a surety. The case was adjourned till today

By Yinka Aderibigbe

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•The house where Okoye’s body was found ... yesterday opened the door to his flat, we saw his body smelling. A rope was tied on his neck. There was a mortal, pestle and a knife on his bed; some unknown persons murdered him.

"We are confused now. We have called in the police from Okota Police Station. What I want now is justice.

Police should investigate this matter

and prosecute all involved. We were told that the Mallam who guards their house was not around on that fateful day; so a certain man dropped the key to my brother's house and his telephone handset with a woman who sells in front of the house. The Mallam told us that he knew the person who dropped the key and that he would

identify him anytime he found him."

Police sources told The Nation that two suspects had been arrested in connection with the murder.

Police spokesperson Ngozi Braide, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), could not speak on the matter when contacted on phone because she was busy.

Yoruba group plans London launch

O foster unity among the Yoruba world wide, a sociocultural group, Igbimo Agba Yoruba (Yoruba Council of Elders) (YCE) in Europe, will on August 25, commission Yoruba Village, a community, cultural business and retail complex, in London.

According to the organisation's spokesman, Akogun Gabriel Aramide, the ceremony will hold amid pomp at the Grange Tower Bridge, 45, Prescot Street, London EI 8 GP from 2 pm to 6 pm.

The group, led by its president, Otunba Bolaji Falase, made this known during a visit to the YCE President, Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo at his GRA, Ikeja, Lagos home to seek his support on Wednesday.

Among prominent Nigerians expected to grace the occasion are: Former President Olusegun Obasanjo; ex-President, Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan; Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade; national leader, All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Erelu Abiola Dosunmu.

Gen Adebayo, who praised the organisers for their effort at strengthening oneness among the Yoruba people, confirmed that Oba Sijuade had assured him of his presence at the event, adding: "I'm sure many other Yoruba leaders believe in the cause."

Among the various facilities being planned for the village, according to

Couple, four others docked for 'assault'

Cleric tasks leaders on nation’s woes

By Jude Isiguzo

HO killed Mr Sylvanus Ikelie Okoye, a trader on Lagos Island? This is the poser for which residents of Okota, a Lagos community, are seeking an answer.

Sylvanus, a 39-year-old bachelor from Abidi in Umu Ochi, Anambra State, was killed two weeks ago in his bedroom at Ezemegbu Drive, Okota.

His killing was unknown to his neighbours until yesterday when his door was forcefully opened and his stinking body found.

His death has remained a mystery to family members and friends but the police have begun investigation into the incident.

The deceased's elder brother, Paul Okoye, a trader, said: "I was called by his landlord that he had not seen my brother for some time and that his phone and keys were in his custody.

I rushed down there. When we

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By Dada Aladelokun, Assistant Editor

Falase, are: Modern hotel facility, events and conference centre, office and meeting rooms, Yoruba restaurant, banquet and events hall and an expansive Yoruba supermarket.

Falase, who hinted that the project would gulp over 12 million pounds, added: "Besides its economic importance, our project is aimed at promoting the learning of Yoruba language

as well as serve as the meeting point for Yoruba sons and daughters across the globe.

"We are deeply worried that Yoruba people no longer speak the language. This is part of why we have been holding Saturday school for children in London."

While Evangelist Ebenezer Obey will spice up the occasion, Falase said it will be anchored by prominent Yoruba cultural poet, Sulaimon Ajobiewe.

New learning skill for kids

•Falase

Journalist elected Rotary Club president

•Olomofe

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JOURNALIST and public affairs analyst, Otunba Yomi Olomofe, has been elected the 11th President of Rotary Club of Ajara in Badagry, Lagos.

His investiture will hold tomorrow at the Hunwaji Apartments and Event Centre, Badagry. The Board

of Directors will also be inducted and a fund raiser held for the club’s community projects for 2013/2014.

Olomofe was chairman and public relations officer of the club for the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 Rotary Years. He was also the club's secretary for the same period. He actively served in numerous committees at club level including club administration, club service project, district governor's visit and new generations' committees.

He was also a member of the District 9110 2013 embrace peace conference committee, the district's books project committee as well as the district's multi-club committee.

The club's director of public relations, Rotarian Patrick Ntadi, said the club was poised to execute service projects in at least four of the six core areas of the Rotary focus.

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has been urged to frontally tackle the challenges confronting the nation.

The spiritual leader of the Cherubim & Seraphim Movement Church Worldwide, Prophet Dr. Samuel Adefila Abidoye, made that call yesterday in Lagos, while declaring open the sixth International Women Fellowship Conference/Convention at the Surulere District of the church in Lagos.

Abidoye who was represented by the church's Secretary General, Senior Apostle Bayo Ogunlusi, said the country is witnessing unprecedented blood-letting in some parts of the northern parts of the country, while mind-bogging corruption is impeding national growth.

He urged all leaders to allow God to lead them as they contend with the problems.

The Vice Chairperson of the church, Mother Christianah Ajike, praised the church for providing the forum for the women to interact and contribute their quota to its growth.

The church’s fellowship president, Mother Rebeccah Oyeniyi, said the convention would serve to rebuild members' faith and to ensure they continue to stand firm in God.

The club, he said, would furnish the L.A primary School in Akarakumo Village, Topo Badagry with teachers' tables and chairs; renovate the head teacher's office, provide a 15KVA generator for the use of the Maternity Ward at the Ajara Primary Health Centre, adding that sanitary, food and beverages would be donated to orphanages in the town and the Republic of Benin.

Rotarian David Victor Dimka, the Customs Area Comptroller, FOU Zone C will chair the investiture, while Chief Oluwole Taiwo, Chairman/CEO Summit Hotels and Suites will be special guest of honour/chief launcher.

Dr M.I. Alawode, Deputy Director-General, Nigeria French Language Village, will deliver the keynote paper.

THERE is need to encourage the teaching of robotic science in Nigerian schools for the intellectual development of children, the President of Esposure Robotics Academy, Obinna Okwodu, has said. Speaking at a workshop for school children on the use of robots for learning, Okwodu said: "The lack of special curriculum for creativity in line with science is the main reason we embarked on this project to teach kids how to build and use robots for learning and solve problems.

"We will bring experts from overseas to train about 45 kids from 36 states of the federation on how to use robots instead of texts.”

Project Instructor David Gilchrist, said: "Robots are relevant in sciences business and arts subjects; it will open kids’ minds to solving problems without straining their brain."

Folake Umosen for praise concert ACE gospel singer, Folake Umosen will tomorrow lead a show for the Rehoboth Women Foundation to raise funds for its orphanage and skill acquisition centre project.

Tagged, 'Praise Concert', the show, which will feature comedienne Kachy, will hold at the Praise House, Wempco Road, Ogba, Lagos, by 12 noon.

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

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NEWS

Lagos Assembly condoles with Fashola

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

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•Fashola (fifth left) flanked by his deputy, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire and Ikuforiji with members of the Assembly...yesterday.

Akure monarch: I’m hale, hearty THE Deji of Akure, Oba Adebiyi Adesida, has denied rumours of his purported death, saying, “I am hale and hearty”.

The monarch, who spoke on the phone from Atlanta, the United States (US), said he was abroad to attend some functions.

Oba Adesida said he attended the inauguration of the Oloyemekun chapter and the 70th birthday of his uncle, Prof. Tommy Esho. He said he would attend the grand finale of the Oyemekun Day tomorrow in Houston, Texas.

He said he spoke earlier with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko and other eminent Nigerians on the phone to assure them that he is well.

The Deji said: “I am doing fine. I am well. I am hale and hearty and I thank God. I left Akure for the US to attend the inauguration of the Oloyemekun chapter in Atlanta.

“On August 10, I was in Atlanta again for the 70th birthday of my uncle. I hope to attend the Oyemekun Day celebration in Houston on Saturday before returning to Nigeria.

“I urge everyone to go about their normal duties and remain peaceful. I have spoken with the governor, Baba Obasanjo and many others. I am hale and hearty.”

Court sets up probe panel

By Joseph Jibueze

THE Chief Magistrate’s Court in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, has set up a Panel of Enquiry to probe allegations of bias against a magistrate.

The allegations were made by the Itusi Royal Family in Ilogbo-Ota, which complained about an alleged plot to alter the outcome of a case, numbered MOT/8MT/2013.

The family, represented

by Chief Taofik Oduasanyi, petitioned the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Mrs. Maryam Aloma-Mukhtar, and sought her intervention.

Police foil robbery in Abeokuta •Kill four suspects in Igbesa T HE police yesterday foiled a robbery in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

Suspected robbers stormed the town in an unmarked Ford bus and a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV).

They came in through the Adigbe/Obada-Oko route from the Lagos/Abeokuta expressway and drove towards Okelewo, the commercial hub.

Following a tip off, mobile policemen attached to the Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) stationed at Ibara went after them and a gun battle ensued.

Commercial motorcyclists joined the police in the chase.

Residents ran to safety to

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

avoid being caught up in the cross fire.

The police shot the tyres of the Ford bus and it halted in Agbeloba. One of its occupants was arrested. The other occupant escaped with those in the SUV. Police spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi hailed the policemen that carried out the operation.

He attributed their success to the availability of equipment, which were donated by the Governor Ibikunle Amosun administration.

Stressing that the command

would make Ogun unsafe for criminals, Adejobi said: “This is just the tip of the iceberg.

We got information that the vehicle was moving suspiciously in Abeokuta and mobile policemen attached to the APC at Ibara gave them a hot chase. We got one of the suspected armed robbers, while one of them fled.

“The gun battle ensued in a school environment. Our men were conscious that stray bullets could hit innocent persons. Their target was to demobilise the vehicle and they did so successfully. One of the suspects fled and another one was arrested. He is in

Obadare’s body arrives in Osun

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HE body of the founder of the World Soulwinning Evangelical Ministry (WOSEM), Apostle Timothy Obadare, arrived yesterday in Osun State.

It was received by top officials of the Governor Rauf Aregbesola administration at Asejire.

The officials include Commissioner for Home Affairs, Culture and Tourism Sikiru

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

Ayedun, Commissioner for Finance, Economic planning and Budget Wale Bolorunduro, Commissioner for Environment Mrs. Bukola Oyawoye and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Works, Oladepo Amuda, among others.

Obadare’s eldest son, Pastor Paul, led the convoy that

accompanied the body from Lagos to Osun.

The body was later taken to Ondo State, where it was laid-in-state at the Koseunti Ground in Akure, the state capital.

It will be brought to Osogbo, the Osun State capital, today for a service at the Osogbo City Stadium.

Obadare will be buried in his Ilesa home town tomor-

police custody.

“We do not have details of the vehicle that escaped, but have informed neighbouring commands to be on the look out. The raid we began recently is not giving criminals a conducive environment to operate. The command will continue to spread its tentacles and deploy all its resources in checkmating crime.”

Adejobi said a team of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), headed by Ahmed Tijani, killed four robbery suspects this week at Odan-Abuja in Igbesa, Ado–Odo/Ota Local Government Area.

He said the suspects were part of the robbers that killed members of a vigilance group at Onihale.

Two held for N11m ‘fraud’

By Joseph Jibueze

•The late Obadare

row after a service at the WOSEM International Conference Ground.

Ondo indigenes are poor, says activist-lawyers

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LAWYER, Mr. Morakinyo Ogele, has urged Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko to make the people’s welfare his priority.

In an open letter to the governor, Ogele said making promises without backing them with action amounts to deceit.

He said poverty and hunger could cause a revolution in the state.

Ogele said: “The government should be very careful, as majority of the people are discontent and may, within a short period, take their grievances to the streets.

There must be a limit to the hardship in the state.

“When the revolution of the stomach starts, thousands of the Joint Task Force (JTF) will not be able to stop

By Joseph Jibueze

it.

“The government caused more hardship for the people by sacking hundreds of workers, including staff of the Adekunle Ajasin University and Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo on the flimsy excuse that they were em-

T

ployed illegally or that some were ghost workers.

“What is really strange in this disengagement is that the government refused to pay their salary, although they were not paid for two months before their sack.

These sacked workers are now suffering, unable to pay

their children’s school fees.

“Majority of Ondo indigenes are barely living. The rate of youth unemployment is soaring daily. The rate of family disintegration is increasing at an alarming rate due to hardship. People are hungry, wallowing in poverty and hopelessness.”

Ekiti slashes land fees

HE Ekiti State Government has reduced land registration fees by 40 per cent.

Commissioner for Housing, Physical Planning and Urban Development Remi Olorunleke spoke with reporters on Wednesday after the State Executive Council meeting in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

He said the reduction would affect approved plans for residential and commercial buildings and attract investors to the state.

Olorunleke said: “Today, there is relative peace and security in the state, owing to the

EMBERS of the Lagos State House of Assembly yesterday visited Governor Babatunde Fashola to commiserate with him on the death of his father, Alhaji Ademola Fashola.

The delegation, led by the Speaker, Mr. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, was received by Fashola and some members of the State Executive Council.

Speaking for his colleagues, Ikuforiji described Pa Fashola’s death as a painful loss, saying his wise counsel would be missed by everyone.

Recalling the lawmakers’ encounters with the deceased, he said the late Pa Fashola treated them like his children.

Ikuforiji said: “Though Papa is the biological father of the governor, he was a father to many of us in the Assembly.

“We visited him several times and he related with us as if we were his children or colleagues. He was one elderly person, who respected everyone, no matter where you came from. Apart from the striking resemblance between him and his son, you will hardly believe he is the governor’s father.

“He was friendly and interacted freely. We have indeed lost a gem and we will miss him a lot.”

Fashola thanked them and said: “If my father had enemies, certainly he did not know them because he just got on with life. His life was replete with many positive lessons and we thank God he died a fulfilled man.”

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

civility of the present administration and marked improvement in infrastructure.”

The amount charged on building plans would now depend on location. Those in Ado-Ekiti and local government headquarters would pay more than those in villages.

He said: “This is not about revenue generation alone. It is about control of land development, the housing sector and enforcing regulations guiding the sector.”

The commissioner said the processing of land documents has been made easier.

T

HE Police Special Fraud Unit has arraigned two men, Chinasa Osadebe and Albert Anthony, before a Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos, for alleged fraud.

The suspects allegedly defrauded a supplier of safety equipment of N11 million.

They allegedly forged a Lo c al Pu r c has e O r de r (LPO) for fire-fighting equipment and “obtained” 300 pieces of coveralls, 300 pieces of high quality long hand gloves and 220 pairs of foreign Red Wing boots, among others, from Total E&P Nigeria Limited.

The items were estimated at N11,668,000.

The suspects were charged with conspiracy to commit felony, forgery and fraud before Justice Mohammed Yinusa.

They allegedly committed the offence last year January with others at large.

Osadebe and Anthony pleaded not guilty to the chargess.

THE NATION FRIDAY AUGUST 16, 2013

9

NEWS

Don hails Aregbesola’s vision

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•The recovered items...yesterday

Police recover explosives in Ibadan

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HE police in Oyo State have recovered explosives on the Podo/ Ijebu-Ode road in Ibadan, the state capital.

Police Commissioner Mohammed Indabawa told reporters yesterday that the explosives were recovered around 3:15am last Sunday.

He said policemen flagged down a taxi with three occupants, but the driver refused to stop.

Indabawa said: “After a hot chase, the occupants of a

•Suspected kidnapper held

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

Nissan Sunny car painted in Ogun State’s commercial colour abandoned the vehicle and escaped into the bush.

He said his men searched the vehicle and discovered six cartons of explosive powder, two cartons of solar detonating cords and 16 bundles of 10 wires each of delay detonator wires.

The commissioner said

the car had two registration numbers, Ogun-XC XFR AKM and AL 831 LUY. He said investigations showed that the explosives were stolen from Express Quarry at Toll-Gate on August 8 and assured the people that the culprits would be apprehended.

Indabawa said a student of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Tosin Adegbite (24), was ar-

Law to protect disabled persons soon in Ekiti •Ikogosi hosts workshop

E

KITI State Deputy Governor Prof. Modupe Adelabu has cautioned those who look down on the physically-challenged, especially employers.

She said it was unfortunate that physically-challenged persons are often subjected to discrimination.

Mrs Adelabu spoke at the opening of a three-day workshop on “Residential knowledge sharing for stakeholders in Southwest states on inclusive and disabilityfriendly laws and policies” at the Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort, Ikogosi-Ekiti.

She said the State Executive Council recently sent a bill for the passage of a Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to the House of Assembly.

Besides, the council has directed the Ministry of Housing, Physical Planning and Urban Development to ensure that building plans henceforth conform with accessibility standards for all users, including those on wheel chairs.

Mrs Adelabu said people with disabilities should not be pitied, feared or ignored, adding that they are respectful members of the society, who have the wherewithal to attain their dreams.

The deputy governor said: “People with disabilities are human beings. They are people who have abilities, interests and needs. They are individuals like you and I, seeking to live normal lives, and they cut across all spheres of human endeav-

•Prof. Adelabu...yesterday

our.”

Stressing that discrimination against the physicallychallenged must be outlawed, she hailed organisers of the workshop, the State Accountability and Voice Initiative (SAVI) and Disability Partner Initiative (DPA), for bringing stakeholders across the Southwest together to deliberate on how to change the society’s perception about people living with disability.

Mrs Adelabu said: “You are doing a great work by bringing stakeholders in the Southwest together to identify and deliver the needed change to ensure equal opportunities for disabled people, as well as public service reforms to support their independence and participation in the formulation and implementation of policies.

“What is needed is a bill protecting the rights for persons with disabilities and that is what this workshop is all about. People with disabilities are entitled to the same rights, privileges and freedom as everybody else.

“The Governor Kayode Fayemi administration has disbursed N2.25 million on training and resettlement programmes for visuallyimpaired persons.

“Presently, four visuallyimpaired persons are receiving vocational training at the Nigeria Farmcraft Centre for the Blind, Lagos.”

The government organised a workshop to educate stakeholders on how to handle persons with disabilities in rescue and emergency situations.

The deputy governor listed participants at the workshop as the Red Cross Society; Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC); Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC); Ekiti State Traffic Management Agency (EKSTMA); State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA); the Fire Service and social workers.

She said the Fayemi administration has a policy to employ qualified persons with disabilities.

Mrs Adelabu said: “As we speak, the requests of 81 persons with disabilities for employment into the public service are undergoing consideration.”

The government has spent N350,000 on the sponsorship of associations of persons with disabilities to meetings, seminars and workshops in the past seven months.

rested for allegedly kidnapping a two-year-old girl.

The incident occurred at Ile-Alaroje in Ogbomoso last Friday.

He said the suspect was arrested following a distress call. He said one jack knife, two rolls of cellotape, one fez cap, one cable wire, the victim’s sandals and one LAUTECH identity card were recovered from Adegbite.

Adegbite, who is studying Electrical-Electronics Engineering, said he kidnapped the girl to collect N700,000 ransom.

HE Provost of the College of Science, Engineering and Technology, Osun State University (UNIOSUN), Prof.

Alagbe Wasiu Gbolagade, has hailed the visionary leadership of Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

He urged residents to support the Aregbesola administration’s programmes, particularly urban renewal, adding that they were designed to make life better.

Speaking with reporters in Osogbo, the state capital, the don, who is also the Provost of the Postgraduate College, said Aregbesola has substantially demonstrated a strong political will and courage to develop Osun.

He said Aregbesola could be seen walking the path of great leaders, like the late Chiefs Obafemi Awolowo and Bola Ige, Chief Bisi Akande and others.

The professor of Computational Mathematics said for a solid socio-economic foundation to be laid for the 22-year-old state, Aregbesola should be given a second term.

He said: “I am impressed by his style of leadership. His style typifies strive for excellence and the very best for the people. He and his colleagues in the Southwest have proved that good governance is possible in our time.

“Look at what he is doing in the health, education,

‘His introduction of the Opon Imo (tablet of knowledge) to learning is revolutionary and its future impact on quality education would give the state an edge and be a reference point across the world’ From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

agriculture, environment and the civil service sectors. His administration’s policies and programmes are astoundingly innovative and unprecedented.

“His introduction of the Opon Imo (tablet of knowledge) to learning is revolutionary and its future impact on quality education would give the state an edge and make Osun a reference point across the world.

“The O-Ambulance service he introduced in the health sector to save lives has recorded tremendous achievements. Also, his innovative massive job creation, through the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES), and the healthy living programme, tagged: Walk to Live, are awesome.”

10

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

NEWS Govt to recover N232b from oil marketers, says Okonjo-Iweala

US to Nigeria: capture Boko Haram leaders Continued from page 4

ready to work with you as one of your strongest and most faithful friends and partners, to discuss new ways of help.”

She said the Federal Government must protect civilians from the harsh effect of the war on terror.

“We stand ready to work together to develop a multi-faceted strategy to counter the threat posed by Boko Haram that also demonstrates to civilians that they will be protected. Nigeria’s diverse people, land, and spirit have already established a foundation for long-term national and regional stability; however, with today’s insurgent challenges, strong nations must deepen our commitment to respect human life and dignity, build peace, and prevent future atrocities, even in the midst of a protracted conflict with a violent enemy. We look forward to hearing Nigeria’s unique accounts of what steps you are taking to ensure transparency, accountability and justice, including access for civil society organisations and journalists to the North and what steps have been taken to bring to justice those accused of human rights violations,” she said.

Ms Sherman said Boko Haram’s threat affect both Nigeria and the United States.

Her words: “The United States remains your partner in helping to address this threat that our two nations share.

We have designated three individuals as Specially Designated Global Terrorists, demonstrating our resolve in working with you to diminish

the capacity of Boko Haram to execute violent attacks. We have provided assistance focused on identifying areas for information-sharing, enhancing security force professionalism and developing tactics to increase public confidence in Nigeria’s security response, and improving Nigerian forensics and investigative capacity.

The United States has also been working with Nigerian peacekeepers that deploy to missions across Africa to make sure they have the training and equipment necessary for global peace and security missions. In fact, since 2004, we have trained over 800 staff officers and more than 41,000 troops through the Africa Contingency Operations Training and Assistance (ACOTA) programme.”

Ms Sherman said protecting civil liberties must be given a priority.

“Stability, security, and prosperity are long-term goals with no easy fixes for any country, but together we can go further than we can alone. A visible commitment and demonstrated actions to protect civil liberties and ensure civilian security can go a long way toward rebuilding the trust between a government and its peopleupon whom our shared wellbeing depends.

“When government commits itself to progress and meaningful reforms, the people benefit and extremists become marginalised. By working together, we can contribute to economic growth, democratic progress, and lasting peace. These objectives are important to the United States, to Nigeria, and to the global community, and I hope

that this forum will continue to further our partnership,” she added.

Ms Sherman added that Nigeria has a great potential if she could successfully overcome the Boko Haram challenge.

It described insurgency as Nigeria’s biggest challenge.

According to her, there are more than 1.5 million Nigerians and Nigerian-Americans in the US and an estimated 31,000 US citizens in Nigeria, making the country the second largest destination for U.S. private investment in Africa with over $5billion (N780b).

She said: “Nigeria’s success is important tom us, and we will continue to invest in Nigeria’s institutions, people, and businesses to both countries’ mutual benefit. We also recognise that success cannot be achieved unless Nigeria surmounts the challenges that frustrate progress. It is in the spirit that the United States engage today in this workshop group on Regional Security Cooperation.”

She also said U.S. partnership with Nigeria is not in the security sector alone, adding that “in 2012, the United States provided Nigeria $647million in bilateral foreign assistance including over $480million to the president’s emergency plan for AIDS relief, demonstrating how important we consider Nigeria to be in the worldwide fight against HIV and AIDS. Nigeria’s own leadership and shared responsibility was highlighted at the recent Abuja+12 summit.

“Our bilateral assistance also supports economic

M

•Boko Haram leader Shekau

growth, education assistance, the strengthening of democratic institutions, and particularly critically to our conversation at this forum, efforts to help Nigeria address emerging threats.”

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Martin Uhomoibhi, said the conference was meant to “review the implementation of decisions reached during the inaugural session of the Regional Security Cooperation Working Group in Abuja last year.

INISTER of Finance, Dr Ngozi OkonjoIweala, said yesterday that the Federal Government wiil recover over N232 billion ($1.5 billion) overpayments to “fraudulent” oil marketers.

Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, who is also the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, stated this at the National Council of Finance and Economic Development (NACOFED) in Minna, the Niger State capital.

She said in 2006, the total petroleum subsidies paid to oil marketing firms amounted to N256 billion (about 1.6 billion dollars) and by 2011, the bill for petroleum subsidy payments had risen sharply to nearly N2.10 trillion (13 billion dollars).

“Even more striking was the increase in the number of oil marketing firms. While most countries have a few well-organised fuel importers, Nigeria had a total of 143 such firms as at 2011.

“The certification process to verify the actual delivery of imported fuel was also very lax, resulting in widespread fraud in the operation of the scheme,’’

she said.

The minister said there were cases where some firms submitted payment invoices for fuel deliveries in Nigeria when their stated cargo ships were actually berthed elsewhere in South America on the same dates, She said that the subsidised prices for domestic gasoline in Nigeria also created arbitrage opportunities and resulted in widespread smuggling of fuel products to Nigeria’s neighbouring countries.

To this effect, she said, Nigeria embarked on a comprehensive reform of the downstream petroleum sector by appointing the AIG Imoukhede-led Committee, who discovered lapses in the payment processes.

“Following the discoveries, the Federal Government put in place a number of remedial measures to combat fraud in the subsidy scheme.

“First, a tighter payment regime was introduced with new auditors and stricter guidelines for disbursement of subsidy payments. The increased scrutiny has slowed down the payment process somewhat but also greatly reduced the likelihood of fraudulent payments.”

Rivers PDP defends police commissioner

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HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Rivers State chapter, has exonerated Commissioner of Police Mbu Joseph Mbu, from the rising insecurity in the state.

Rivers PDP Chairman, Chief Felix Obuah, through his Special Adviser on Media, Jerry Needam, yesterday alleged that insecurity in the state was the creation of Governor Rotimi Amaechi to discredit the efforts of the police and other security operatives, to ensure Mbu’s redeployment.

Amaechi, who is also the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, through Rivers Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, declared that the state started experiencing insecurity, especially kidnapping and armed robbery.

The Rivers governor also stated that the Federal Govern-

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

ment decided to impose Mbu on Rivers people, despite his protest and resolutions of the National Assembly that the commissioner of police should be redeployed with immediate effect, for taking sides in the political crisis.

Rivers PDP, however, said: “Governor Amaechi’s claim (on insecurity) contradicts his continued assurances to prospective foreign investors of prevailing peace and conducive atmosphere for investment. We wonder if he could be referring to another state, other than Rivers.

“The governor’s double speak is unfortunate. The feigned insecurity of lives and property in Rivers state is lacking both in terms and principle.

“If there is any society that is completely free of crimes and undesirable elements, there

will be no need for security operatives. Even among the kitchen cabinet of Governor Amaechi, there could be those whose dispositions pose apparent danger to order and security.

“We challenge the trumpeters of rising wave of crimes in Rivers state to point to any other state in Nigeria, where the police are more active and whose efforts at combating crimes have paid off, than the current team under CP Mbu of Rivers command.”

The ruling party also urged the critics of the Rivers commissioner of police to look for other reasons to concoct, other than the allegation of inefficiency.

The PDP leadership added that the police in Rivers state under Mbu had performed well, except in the area of involvement in partisan politics, as his detractors would want him to do.

Trial of traditional ruler, 11 others over killing of UNIPORT 4 opens Continued from page 4

charged with are not capital in nature, “however, even in the simplest of offence, bails are not just granted; the decision is strictly at the discretion of the court.”

“The ninth accused person (Alhj. Welewa), is the paramount ruler of Aluu, the scene of crime.

He has much influence in his

community and most of our witnesses come from there; if he is granted bail, he will use his influence to negatively affect the cause of justice in this matter.

“Moreover, some of the accused persons in this case are still at large, and they live there; so granting him bail will seriously affect the prosecution of this case,” Godwins submitted.

Eighteen suspects were origi-

nally held in connection with the killing. The DPP advice last February exonerated seven.

The prosecution added John Ayuwu (aka Johny Barbar) to bring the number of those on trial to 12.

They were arraigned before the court last month with each of the accused pleading not guilty to the charges of murder and felony to prevent crime, preferred against them. The court adjourned till yesterday for bail application.

It was somewhat rowdy yesterday, following the sudden change in the original agreement at the last sitting.

The court at the last session adjourned for motion for bail, but at the resumed sitting yesterday, the prosecution mounted a projector screen to express its readiness to open the case..

He insisted that the PW1 was in court and that the court could begin hearing the matter and midway, motion for bail taken.

After some arguments, the court agreed with the prosecution against the wish of the defence.

The case was adjourned till October 17 for ruling. The courts in Rivers are to begin their yearly vacation on Monday.

BUSINESS

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

OPEC to trim exports by 190,000 bpd

11 We want a SONCAP programme that would serve its purpose; a programme that would be dynamic, where all the identified loopholes would be effectively plugged thereby making it difficult for the plaque of substandard products to continue to dominate the Nigerian business space.

-Dr Joseph Odumodu, DG, SON

Oracle opens partner hub in Nigeria

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HE Organisation of Pe troleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) will reduce crude shipments this month while refiners in the United States and Europe conduct seasonal maintenance, tanker-tracker, has Oil Movements said.

The group, which supplies about 40 per cent of the world’s oil, will cut exports by 190,000 barrels a day(bpd), or 0.8 per cent, to about 23.7 million barrels a day in the four weeks leading to August 31, the researcher said yesterday in an e-mailed report.

The figures exclude two of OPEC’s 12 members, Angola and Ecuador.

Refiners trim imports at the start of the third quarter while performing maintenance as summer demand for gasoline and diesel ebb.

Brent crude climbed to a four-month high of $111.53 a barrel on the ICE Futures Europe exchange in London as clashes in Egypt and labour strikes in Libya raised concern that exports from the region will remain unstable.

Middle Eastern shipments will drop by 1.1 per cent to about 17.3 million barrels a day to August 31, compared with about 17.5 million in the month to August 3, Oil Movements added. That figure includes non-OPEC nations Oman and Yemen.

Crude on board tankers will decline 4.3 per cent to 481.7 million barrels, data from Oil Movements indicated.

The researcher calculates volumes by tallying tanker bookings, and excludes crude held on vessels for storage.

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil -$107/barrel Cocoa-$2,686.35/metric ton Coffee - ¢132.70/pound Cotton - ¢95.17pound Gold -$1,800/troy ounce Rubber -¢159.21pound MARKET CAPITALISATIONS NSE -N12.1 trillion JSE -Z5.112trillion NYSE -$10.84 trillion LSE -£61.67 trillion RATES

Inflation -8.4% Treasury Bills -7.08% Maximum lending -22.42% Prime lending -15.87% Savings rate -2% 91-day NTB -15% Time Deposit -5.49% MPR -12% Foreign Reserve $46.9b FOREX CFA -0.2958 EUR -206.9 £ -242.1 $ -156 ¥ -1.9179 SDR -238 RIYAL -40.472

I

From left: Prof Darah, and Mr Kuku and Vice Admiral Joseph, at the event in Lagos ... yesterday.

PHOTO: JOHN EBHOTA

How to stop oil theft, by Naval Chief, others S TAKEHOLDERS in the oil and gas sector yes terday converged on Lagos to proffer solutions to incessant oil theft and illegal bunkering that has ravaged the economy.

Speakers at the conference, with the theme, Oil theft and illegal bunkering in the Niger Delta, organised by the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Kingsley Kuku, said the oil companies were major perpetrators of the act.

They said lack of political will to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators, poor legislation, and the insensitivity of both the government and multinationals to the plight of the people of the region were some of the reasons behind the surge in the pilferage.

Participants who decried the non-availability of refined petroleum products in the region, stated that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), has lost control of overseeing how oil and gas is produced.

They insisted that those who wreck the economy were not the petty thieves

• 13, 945 drums of illegal crude, 861 boats, 51 tankers, 24 vessels arrested in last quarter

By Precious Igbonwelundu

usually caught with kegs, but multinationals and businessmen who own tank farms and use ships and barges to steal products in large quantities, with the aid of various agencies.

The participants called for the removal of the five per cent charge at the export loading terminals, saying that international best practices should be adopted.

At the event were the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba; Direcotor-General, Nigerian. Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi; Commander, Operation PULO SHIELD, Gen. Bata Debiro; panal chair, Prof. G.G. Darah; Commandant, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr. Ade Abolurin; Coordinator,

Oil Watch International, Nnimmo Bassey and Kingsley Kuku.

Others include former Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Timi Alaibe; Community leaders from the region, Che Ibegwura, T.K. Ogoriba, Prof. Kingsley Alagba and Chief Dan Ekpebedemi as well as General Secretary (PENGASSAN), Bayo Olusede.

Although Debiro in his presentation disclosed that a total of 13, 945 drums of illegal crude, 861 boats and 51 tankers, have been destroyed in the last quarter, with 1, 965 illegal refineries destroyed daily and 24 vessels arrested, participants faulted the Joint Task Force’s (JTF’s) destruction of the exhibits, describing the practice as dangerous to the environment.

They reiterated their call

on the multinational oil firms to relocate their headquarters to the Niger Delta region, as well as ensure that youths are not only given scholarships, but given employment.

In his welcome address, Kuku said a report commissioned by his office indicated that oil theft and illegal artisanal refining of oil was so widespread that it stifles the traditional community life.

He said in some communities, oil theft has outstripped fishing and farming as a contributor to community Gross Domestic Product, adding that the illegal business was already undermining our social structures.

He warned that if allowed to fester, the trade would turn the Niger Delta into gang land, saying that already, people in the chain of oil theft, are feared, revered or even admired as people who are doing well as prominent international oil traders by the unsuspecting public.

Kuku said the vicious cy• Continued on page 12

Ekiti Rep: probe N186b Fed Govt’s lifeline to airlines

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MEMBER of the House of Representa tives, Hon Bimbo Daramola, has urged the National Assembly to probe the N186 billion intervention fund given to some individuals and private companies.

Daramola, who is Chairman, Ad-hoc Committee on Land Allocation in Abuja spoke in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital yesterday, insisting that the palliative was unnecessary.

The lawmaker, who represents Ekiti North Federal Constituency I, noted that the fund purportedly given by the Central Bank of Ni-

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

geria (CBN) “would most definitely end in the pockets of private individuals and phantom companies” He said: “There is need to investigate the N186 billion given to 15 companies under Power Aitlines Intervention Fund (PAIF). This is practically shoving money into the pocket of 15 people. And this is Nigerian money.

“This same administration under President Goodluck Jonathan had given stimulus packages to all kinds of agencies, individuals and companies of interest to

them under Presidential Aviation Intervention Fund (PAIF). One organisation received N668 million under the name Odengene Aviation Services. They gave Carvatin helicopters belonging to an individual over N600million.

“My brother, this country is going to ground and is already grounding.

“The manifestations are on the streets and faces of all Nigerians.”

On the rested issue of the removal of the Director-General of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Daramola insisted that the lawmakers were opposed to

her continuing in the office “as she lacked requisite qualification according to the Act establishing the body.”

He explained that the laws establishing SEC stipulates a minimum of 15 years’experience and being a financial member for whoever must be made head of the body. That she has a first class in this or that discipline is beating about the bush. She simply does not have the qualification to head SEC. Her continuing in that position is disrespecting the National Assembly as an institution.”

By Lucas Ajanaku

NTERDIST Alliances, a platinum level member in Oracle PartnerNetwork (OPN) and value added distributor, yesterday opened an Oracle Partner hub in Nigeria to deepen Oracle’s global partner support initiative.

Located at Interdist Alliances’offices in Lagos, the hub is run on Oracle’s behalf by Interdist Alliances.

Speaking on the occasion, Alliance and Channel Senior Director, Oracle Middle East & Africa, Ilker Kocer and General Manager, Interdist Alliances, Kristian Tierney, said the hub provides a comprehensive portfolio of services to drive the growth of partner organisations and their business, adding that the concept of an Oracle Partner Hub combines the firm’s technical knowledge, professional services and marketing support to help ensure the best possible support for its partners globally.

Kocer said: “We are delighted to be working with Interdist Alliances to bring global best practices and business value to our partners in Nigeria through the Oracle Partner HUB. Today’s launch reinforces our commitment to helping our partners drive value, become more efficient and knowledgeable and remain competitive.”

His counterpart, Tierney, said: “Our commitment as a value added distributor is to help partners find new opportunities and to provide the enablement necessary to support them; the Oracle Partner HUB presents an ideal way to deliver this value. We are very proud to be an Oracle distributor and to be able to execute a shared vision of a more accessible brand and competence within the Nigerian context.”

Partner Hub Marketing Specialist, Ganiat IdowuYusuff, said Oracle has been building an extensive partner network and partner support programme around the globe, adding that collaboration with partner organisations is part of its success and the newly launched Partner Hub builds on this in the country.

The Oracle Partner HUB integrates Oracle Studio, Oracle Academy and Oracle ISV Migration Centre where clients could showcase solutions using Oracle technology.

“The studio is a contemporary and professional meeting place where people can demonstrate business solutions, meet other professionals and hold networking events. The Oracle Academy offers specialist training in Oracle software, hardware and engineered systems at discounted rates while the Oracle ISV Migration Centre provides technical support for migration to Oracle software, all in one location,” she added.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

BUSINESS NEWS

CBN launches N220b MSME fund

T

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has launched a N220 billion Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Development fund.

It is expected to provide funds at a cheap cost and longer terms compared to what obtains at commercial banks, enhance women entrepreneurs to finance by allocating 60 per cent of the fund to businesses managed by women.

Speaking at the launch of the fund in Abuja yesterday, at the Seventh MSME financing conference and D-8 workshop, the CBN Governor Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, said the fund is designed to further enhance access to financing by micro/small enterprises.

The objectives of the new fund, he said, is to enhance the ability of the micro finance institutions to shape themselves into low interest, long term funding organisations that would provide a financing window that would improve the capacity of the PFI to meet the credit need of the micro small and medium enterprises.

The responsibility for the successful intermediation of the financial sector, Sanusi said, lies in the financial market to intergrate the micro entrepreneurs, with low income earners, farmers, artisans into the financial system to improvethe effectiveness of the polity.

From Nduka Chiejina

(Asst. Editor) and Samuel

Orumade

The conference, the CBN governor noted, was focused on financing the SMEs because they are contribute to growth, income and employment generation and innovation in the country.

He disclosed that “in 2012 Nigeria had about eight million MSMEs employing about 42.4million people and contributing about 46.5 per cent of nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP).”

A recent survey, he said, projected that 80 per cent of these MSMEs are excluded from the financial market, while the state of the MSMEs underscores the importance of the conference.

Sanusi lamented that “in 2012 commercial bank loans to SMEs dropped at an exponential rate, analysis of the annual trend in the share of commercial bank credit to small scale industries indicates a decline of about 7.5 per cent in 2003 to less than one per cent in 2006 and a further decline in 2012 to 0.14 per cent.”

The CBN chief reiterated that some reasons had been identified for the poor funding of MSMEs by commercial banks to include the lack of managerial capacity, inadequate collateral and poor record keeping among others.

He said there are problems, such as high transaction costs and lack of understanding by the banks about the operations of MSMEs which make them vulnerable.

Sanusi called on the government to roles policies “to strengthen the MSMEs’ sub- sector”.

The CBN, he said, had been working towards improved access to finance for the subsector vis-a-vis microfinance policies, regulatory and supervisory framework, the fortification programme of micro finance banks, designated financial businesses and professionals, consistent framework and payment system transformation, the development of unmovable collateral registry, the financial ombudsman board with the National Assembly and the encouragement of lending.

Speaking on behalf of governors, the Ekiti State Governor Dr. Kayode Fayemi expressed happiness that the conference was focused on the “rural poor.”

He said: “The population of the unbanked in our country is wobbling around 70 per cent of our entire population, which is pretty much all of us, apart from some of us who are in the urban areas, and you know there are regional disparity to that but the critical point remains that majority of our people are unbanked in financial transactions and these clearly enhances poverty.”

• Group Head, Agric Finance, Sterling Bank Plc, Mrs Bukola Awosanya and Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperatives, Mr Gbolahan Lawal, during the Business Day Conference on Security Summit in Abuja.

T

Textile union accuses northern governors of insensitivity

HE National Union of Textiles, Gar ment and Tailoring Workers of Ni geria yesterday accused the 19 northern governors of being insensitive to the revival of the textile industries and industrialisation in their states.

At a briefing in Kaduna on the efforts of the union to compel the governors to pay the entitlements of the workers of the comatose Kaduna Textiles Limited, General Secretary of the union, Comrade Issa Aremu, lamented that the governors had not shown any zeal in reviving the company which they said was capable of reducing unemployment in the region.

Aremu also accused the governors of refusing to honour a court judgment which ordered them to pay the workers’entitlements amounting to about N687.07 million.

He said: “The union since September 2005 obtained a court judgment for settlement of the entitlements of the workers amounting to N687,073,346. Unfortunately, the management and owners of the company (the 19 northern states) have remained insensitive to the plight of these workers inspite of repeated appeals, rallies and protests by the union.

“As part of the union’s struggle to ensure the payment of the terminal benefits of the

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

workers, the union had held several protest rallies to Northern Governors’ Forum (NGF) meetings in Kaduna and at the gate of the company.

“This is in addition to the several press statements issued and letters of appeal addressed to several governors and other critical stakeholders, including the Northern Nigeria Development Company (NNDC). As part of the struggle, we also participated at the Senate Public Hearing on Revival of Industries (textile industry inclusive) on July 16 and 23, 2009.

“On June 17, 2011, the union wrote a letter to the Management of KTL requesting to know their plans towards the settlement of the workers’ terminal benefits. The meeting held on July 6, 2011. During the meeting, the Management appreciated the efforts of the union and revealed that management was making effort to ensure the settlement of the workers entitlements.

“In March 2013, the NGF set up a Committee of Five Governors headed by the Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed with Governors of Zamfara, Kano, Bauchi and Borno states as members. The committee was mandated to look at KTL and proffer recommendations on the way forward”.

How to stop oil theft, by Naval so that the people Chief, others becanbuilt have access to the prod-

• Continued from page 11

cle of vandalism, detection repair, and back to vandalism is what results into the estimated loss, adding that it is difficult to correctly estimate how much is actually stolen.

“This bleeding of our economy must stop so that we can earn more to fund development all over the country. This bleeding must stop so that the Niger Delta people can fulfil their full economic potential,” Kuku siad.

On his part, Ezeoba said it was time for the various stakeholders to come to equity with clean hands as posterity will judge all those engaging in criminality. He said the biggest theft occurs at the export loading terminals, noting that Nigeria was the only country where every vessel loads a caveat of +5 per cent.

The Naval chief blamed the oil companies for living pipelines unprotected and pushing the blames to the government and communities.

He said: “In this country, oil companies have provided enabling environment for criminality to thrive. They should as a matter of urgency, put in place structures that ensure proactivity and not reactionary measures.

“There is disconnect in the area of enforcement and prosecution. Until re-

cently that the Minister for Justice rose to the occasion, there has been no sanity in the system as people are not properly sanctioned,” he said.

For a solution, Ezeoba called for reduction of capacity gap in the armed forces, saying the processes should be redefined beginning from oil companies to enthrone transparency and accountability.

“The companies should start putting in place the use of technology to ensure pipelines security and integrity. Also, they should clearly establish the right of way of pipelines, such that anyone caught trespassing will be held liable.

“It is their responsibility to ensure the needs of the people are met, as well as give them a sense of belonging; they should without delay, ensure the environmental resuscitation of the Niger Delta, while the oil majors should as a matter of urgency, review their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).”

Also, he said the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), should be passed without delay, as the proposed bill would restore hope to Nigerians.

He said government should ensure that the Mega Filling Stations in the Niger Delta are functional and that new ones should

uct.

Dabiro who acknowledged that the burning of arrested illegal products constitute environmental pollution, noted that the JTF should ensure that destructions are carried out far from residential areas.

He said there is need to increase the 6, 102 personnel in the JTF to carryout its mandate in the Niger Delta as well as provide it with equipment to function effectively.

The NSCDC boss called for stiffer punishment to all offenders, saying Council has handed over 87 cases to the Attorney General for prosecution.

Akpobolokemi said it was insincerity, greed and lack of honesty by government officials, oil companies and communities that has brought the country to this level.

“Until we are prepared to change our attitudes, nothing will happen.

Steadily, illegally sourced products are taken to the Lagos area and droped into tank farms. Are there no owners of these tank farms? Have we made efforts to arrest or prosecute them? he asked.

He said activities around the oil industry has brought mental laziness,but said he was pleased with the efforts of the President to bring sanity into the industry.

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF LAGOS STATE OF NIGERIA PROBATE REGISTRY, LAGOS DIVISION WHEREAS the person whose names are set-out in the first Column under died intestate on the date and place stated in the said Column. AND WHEREAS the person or persons whose names and addresses and relationship (if any) to the deceased are set out in the second Column here have applied to the High Court of Lagos State for a Grant of Letter of Administration of the Real and Personal Properties of the deceased. NOTICE IS HEREBY given that Letters of Administration will be granted to such persons unless a NOTICE TO PROHIBIT THE GRANT is filed in the registry within (14) days from the date hereof.

S/N NAMES OF THE DECEASED PERSON: 1. Ekineh Murilla White late of No. 6, Alafia Street, Ibereko, Lagos who died intestate on the 20th June, 2011.

2. Chinyere Benjamin Okere late of No. 45, Meroye Street, Ajangbadi, Lagos who died intestate on the 23rd day of June, 2012 in Imo State.

3. Mustapaha Sulaimon Adesayo late of 43, Mutairu Onigbanjo Street, Surulere, Lagos, who died intestate on the 24th day of November, 2009 at Lagos.

4. Salamotu Alake Ipaye Mrs otherwise known as Ipaye Salamotu Alake late of No. 87, Lagos Street, Ebute-Metta, Lagos who died intestate on the 17th day of November, 1991 in Ibadan.

5. Mrs. Ngozi Gladys Obiejesi otherwise known as Mrs. Ngozi Obiejesi late of No. 60, Saka Tinubu Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

6. Mr. Patrick Onah otherwise known as Onah Patrick late of Block 41, Festac Extension, Lagos who died intestate on the 2nd day of June, 2011 at Lagos.

7. Mrs. Catherine Amaku otherwise known as Amaku Catherine late of No. 1, Catherinus Close opposite Church Bus Stop Badagry, Lagos who died intestate on the 2nd day of January, 2011 at Lagos.

8. Okpala Charles Ikechukwu late of No. 16, Awoniyi Street, off Ladipo Road, Mushin, Lagos who died intestate on the 2nd day of October, 2005 at Lagos.

9. Ester Omolayo Adeniyi otherwise known as Adeniyi Ester late of E4/4/9 Omowuru Street, Olorunshogo Lagos who died intestate on the 7th day of September, 2010.

10. Adekomaiya Muideen Adewale late of No. 14, Juba Alaro Street, Egbe - Ikotun, Lagos, who died intestate on the 26th day of August, 2009 at Lagos.

11. Mr. Agbo Chukwuemeka C. otherwise known as Agbo C. Chukwuemeka late of No. 19, Oseni Street, Mushin, Lagos, who died intestate on the 10th January, 2012 at Lagos.

12. Orakwelu Nkiru otherwise known as Orakwelu Joyce Nkiru late of Plot 4, Block 1, Site D Extension Satelite Town, Lagos, who died intestate on the 22nd day of December, 2010 at Lagos.

13. Mr. Oluwagbenga Ayeni otherwise known as Ayeni Gbenga late of 6, Alli Ogundimu Avenue Via, Gallilee, Iju - Shaga, Lagos who died intestate on the 15th day of April, 2011 at Lagos.

14. Kareem Kaffo late of No. 13, Abari Court Lagos Island, Lagos, who died intestate on the 23rd day of May, 2006 at Lagos.

15. Mrs. Kikelomo Abiodun otherwise known as Abiodun Kikelomo Musili late of No. 17, Okegbeyin Street. Ijede Ikorodu, Lagos, who died intestate on 1st November, 2011 at Lagos.

16. Mr. Onyenlo Bartholomew Iroegbulam late of 72A, Adedoyin Road, Obele Oniwala, Surulere, Lagos, who died intestate on the 18th day of December, 2006.

17. Pa. Samuel Oluwole Olubiyi late of No. 20. Oloruntoyin Street, Oworonshoki Lagos, who died intestate on the 26th day of November, 2011 at Lagos.

18. Adikatu Oseni late of Block 286, Flat 1 Ilasan Housing Estate Jakande Lekki, Lagos, who died intestate on the 3rd January, 2012.

19. Falade Rasidat Bola late of Block 214, Flat 6, Jakande Estate Ipaja Lagos State, who died intestate on the 28th day of March, 2013 at Lagos.

20. Gilbert Kabowei otherwise known as Gilbert Terry Kabowei late of Close 55, House 1A, Satellite Town, Lagos, who died intestate on 10th day of September, 2008 in London.

21. Mr. Chinwuba Kanayo Ikinunwe late of No. 16, Ogunlade Street, Alaba Oro, Lagos State, who died intestate on the 15th day of May, 2010.

22. Mr. Kofa Niguns otherwise known as Mr. Anjunsi M. Emeka late of No. 7, Ramoni Street, Okokomaiko, Lagos State who died intestate on the 8th April, 2008.

23. Adebisi Muniru Adenusi otherwise known as Adenusi Muniru Adebisi late of 41, Fidipote Street, Bado - Oba Epe Lagos who died intestate on the 25th day of October, 2010 at Lagos.

24. Edward Okpako late of 2nd Avenue, 21 Road 'D' Close, House 27, Festac Town, Lagos who died intestate on the 27th day of April, 2005.

25. Mr. Ikechukwu Emmanuel Elosiuba late of No. 22, Adeniyi Road, Sapele who died intestate on the 11th day of January, 2007 at Delta State.

26. Mr. Musemilu Abayomi Awe otherwise known as Dr. Awe Abayomi late of No. 3, Mudashiru Awe Street, Yaba, Lagos who died intestate on the 6th day of January, 2013 at Lagos.

27. Aluko Ayodeji late of Adeba Lakowe Ibeju Lekki Lagos, who died intestate on the 11th day of June, 2012 at Lagos.

28. Alhaji Oluwatoyin Yusuf otherwise known as Mr. Yusuf Hamed Oluwatoyin late of Block 44, Flat 4, Adeniji Adele Housing Estate Lagos, who died intestate on the 23rd day of November, 2010.

29. Mr. Abayomi Olukoga Wilson late of 28/30 Asimi Asiwaju Street, Ejigbo, Lagos who died intestate on the 9th day of September, 2011 in U.S.A. 30. Mr. Iliya John Bio late of No. 34, Okito Street, Olodi Apapa, Lagos who died intestate on the 14th day of January, 2011.

31. Mrs. Durowoju Felicia Fausat Anike otherwise known as Durowoju Felicia Fausat late of No. 12, Popo Street, Oju Elegba, Yaba, Lagos, who died intestate on the 28th January, 2012 at Lagos.

32. Adedipe Ibikunle Theophilus late of Swt/ 613 Lebanve Road, Odo - Ona Ibadan, who died intestate on the 1st day of June, 2012 at Lagos..

33. Gabriel Kehinde Babasanmi otherwise known as Babasanmi G. Kehinde late of No. 11, Abolade Street, Aguda, Surulere, Lagos who died intestate on the 2nd day of November, 2012.

34. Pius Onyah otherwise known as Oniyah Pius late of No. 7, Howson Wright Avenue, U.B.A. Estate Satellite Town, Lagos State, who died intestate on the 3rd April, 2013.

35. Mr. Philip Chima Chinwuko otherwise known as Philip Chinwuko late of 32, Ogunlana Street, Aguda Surulere, Lagos, who died intestate on 2nd February, 2009.

36. Bamidele Kolawole Elugbadebo otherwise known as Elugbadebo Bamidele Kolawole , late of No. 17, Babs Shokehinsi Street, Santos Akowonjo who died intestate on 13th day of January, 2013 at Lagos.

37. Alogbo Kikelomo late of No. 19, Ire-Akari Road, Isolo, Lagos who died intestate on 26th day of October, 2008 at Lagos.

38. Lawal Adekunle Dauda late of No. 32, Ayiga Street, Orile -Agege Lagos, who died intestate on the 8th day of October, 2012 at Lagos.

39. Agyarko Asante Joseph late of No. 15, Omopo Street opposite Lasu Ojo Lagos, who died intestate on the 5th day of November,2012 at Lagos.

40. Mrs. Osuntade Rebecca Taiwo otherwise known as Mrs. Taiwo Osuntade late of No. 37, Omotayo Soyemi Street, Maidan, Orile Mile 12 Lagos, who died intestate on the 13th day of November, 2012.

41. Mr. Azuh Emmanuel Ifeanyi Chukwu late of No. 13, Babalola Street, Lawanson Surulere, Lagos, who died intestate on the 6th day of December, 2009.

42. Ifeoma Vivian Onyekwere otherwise known as Chinke both of No. 25, Adisa Bashua Street, off Adelabu Street, Surulere, Lagos, who died intestate on the 1st day of June, 2009 at Lagos.

43. Odedina Fabiyi Esther late of No. 20 Hawley Street, Lagos Island, Lagos who died intestate on the 14th day of January, 2007at Lagos.

44. Mr. Olojo Olatunji Sikiru late of No. 8, Oduduwa Street, Ajegunle, Lagos who died intestate on the 8th day of August, 2007.

45. Oyelakin Olalekan Oladosu late of No. 11 Habibat Close (Rowland Anyanwu) Lekki, Lagos, who died intestate on the 20th day of April, 2010.

46. Inene Akeem late of No. 19, Ekunjimi Street, Sari Iganmu, Lagos, who died intestate on the 30th day of August, 2007.

47. Mrs. Ukandu Ngozi late of 33, Afara Street, Umuahia, Abia State, who died intestate on the 30th day of January, 2012.

48. Mr. Jame Taiwo Ogun late of No. 5, Oladeinde Street, Oko- Oba Agege, Lagos who died intestate on the 14th day of January,2010.

49. Kareem Sheu (ASP) otherwise known as Karimu Shehu late of Block 7, Room 36, Obalende Police Barracks Lagos who died intestate on the 5th day of April, 2012.

50. Mrs. Elizabeth Kabutiit Desalu late of Plot 3, Block 12, Admiralty Road, Lekki Peninsula Lagos, who died intestate on the 30th day of January,2000.

51. Mr. Pius Ikhaobomhe late of Plot 16, Joseph Ayo Babalola Crescent Edu, Agbara Lagos, who died intestate on the 16th day of December, 2012.

52. Mr. Francis Onowu late of No. 33, Ashaga Street, Olodi - Apapa, Lagos who died intestate on the 9th January, 2005.

53. Mr. Oludare Joseph Ojekunle otherwise known as Damilare Joseph Ojekunle late of No. 15, Ojekunle Street, Agege, Lagos, who died intestate on 7th day of September, 2011.

54. Jimoh Abibat late of No. 66, Coates Street, Ebute-Metta, Lagos State who died intestate on the 16th day of August, 2011.

55. Fedrick Adebayo Okunola otherwise known as Chief Fedrick Adebayo Okunola late of No. 44, Agbado Road, Iju, Lagos who died intestate on the 12th day of October, 2006.

56. Taiwo Momson otherwise known as Momson Taiwo late of No. 35, Osholake Street, Ebute-Metta, Lagos State, who died intestate on the 26th day of July, 2011.

57. Umukoro Francis George otherwise known as Umukoro Francis late of No. 17, Adeogun Odo Street, Isolo, Lagos who died intestate on the 24th day of March, 2013.

58. Pa. Simeon Adewale Osanyin late of No. 9, Kufeji Street, Yaba, Lagos, who died intestate on the 7th day of May, 2000.

59. Mrs. R. A. Ige late of No. 43, Isiba Oluwo Street, Egbeda, Lagos who died intestate on the 28th day of November, 2011.

60. Alhaji Muraina Odusina late of No. 2/3, Oludegun Street, Ire - Akari Estate Isolo Lagos, who died intestate on the 28th day of September, 2012.

61. Olorungbeja Olukemi Margret late of Plot 18, Block 15, Obafemi Omoloaye Street, Magodo, Lagos who died intestate on the 28th day of April, 2008.

62. Mr. Jide Adetiba late of No. 6, Bajulaye Street, Fadeyi, Laos, who died intestate on the 21st day of December, 2011.

63. Edward Ndidi Obimgbo late of No. 143, Borno Way, Ebute-Metta, Yaba, Lagos, who died intestate on the 5th day of January, 1987 at Lagos.

64. Usman Ibrahim Abdullahi late of No. 22, Idoluwo Street, Lagos Island, Lagos, who died intestate on 28th day of April, 2012.

65. Mrs. Celestina Obioha late of Mukikina House, Ibereko Badagry, Lagos who died intestate on the 5th day of September, 2007.

66. Ogbonnaya Caleb otherwise known as Ogbonnaya Chimaobi Ekpo late of Emmanuel Disu Street, River Valley Ojodu, Lagos.

67. Bakare Aileru Bashiru late of No. 24, Salubi Street, Ajegunle Olodi Apapa, Lagos who died intestate on the 6th day of December, 2012.

68. Mowete Ignatus Chiedu late of No. 43, Olu- Okewumi Street, Ijegun, Lagos State, who died intestate on the 4th day of June, 2011.

69. Adeyemi Johnson Oludayo late of No. 39, Community Road, Isawo, Ikorodu, Lagos, who died intestate on the 30th day of January, 2012.

70. Aliyu Ozobehe Ogbori late of Close 13, House 11, Satellite Town, Lagos, who died intestate on 18th day of June, 2011.

71. Mrs. Ovie Glory Emiemu otherwise known as Mrs. Glory Ovie late of 28, Oyedeji Street, Ajegunle Apapa, Lagos, who died intestate on the 26th day of September, 2008.

72. Saka Aderogba Alade late of No. 12, Fadeyi Street, Ajah, Lagos, who died intestate on the 2nd day of May, 2012 at Lagos.

73. Durojaiye Jackson Abiodun otherwise known as Mr. Jackson Abiodun Durojaiye late of No. 14, Remi Shofoluwe Street, Magodo, Lagos, who died intestate on the 25th day of June, 2011 at Lagos.

74. Dr. Isaac Eshagha late of No. 81, Oluwa Street, Olodi Apapa, Lagos who died intestate on the 4th day of March, 2012.

75. Okeshola Titilayo late of No. 28, Oremeji Street, Ilasamaja Mushin, Lagos, who died intestate on the 3rd day of December, 2000 at Lagos.

76. Mr. Sampson Raphael late of No. 47, Ibafon Street, Olodi Apapa, Lagos, who died intestate on the 21st day of February, 2007 at Lagos.

77. Blessing Oparaocha late of 17, Obata close, off Abata Street, Orile Iganmu, Lagos; who died intestate on the 18th day of JUly, 2010.

S/N

NAMES OF APPLICANT APPLYING FOR THE GRANT

1. Mr. Emmanuel Ekineh and Mr. Ebenezer Ekineh both of No. 6, Alafia Street, Ibereko, Lagos, the children of the said deceased.

2. Osondu Blessing Okere and Mr. Chamberlaw Onyeji both of No. 45, Meroye Street, Ajangbadi, Lagos, the widower and brother of the said deceased.

3. Mrs. Taibat Bolanle Mustapha and Mr. Kabir Akanni Mustapaha both of No. 3, Kusa Street, Pedro Bariga, Lagos, the widow and one of the children of the deceased.

4. Christopher Okenwa Eziukwu and Mr. Bola Akioye both of No. 12, Gummy Odubena Street, Ijeshatedo Surulere, Lagos, the children of the said deceased.

5. Emmanuel Obiejesi and Miss Obianuju Ugochi Obiejesi both of No. 10, Ayinde Akinmande Lekki Phase I, Lagos, the widower and one of the children of the said deceased.

6. Mr. Okechukwu Onah and Mr. Michael Onah of 7th Avenue 722 Road, 'C' Close House 30, Festac Lagos and 14 Festac Lagos, the children of the said deceased.

7. Mrs. Ebinor Smart and Mr. Adeyemi Odufuwa of No. 1, Araromi Street, Ikorodyu, Lagosn and 1, Catherinus Close, Oko - Afor Badagry, the children of the said deceased.

8. Philomina Nebeni Okpala and Okpala Maureen Nkechi both of No. 1, Odulana Street off Ladipo Road, Mushin, the widower and father of the said deceased.

9. Mr. Isaiah Olabode Adeniyi and Rebecca Oluwatoyin Adeniyi both of No. 1, Mopo Akinlande Eti - Osa Lagos, the children of the said deceased.

10. Mrs. Adekomaiya Sherifat Bolanke Mrs, Wale Odutayo Adefunke Muyifah and Mr. Adekomaiya Moruf Kehinde all of No. 14, Juba Atano Street, Egbe - Ikotun, Lagos, the widow and children of the said deceased.

11. Miss Agbo Loveth Chinenye and Mr. Ugwu Marcel K. of No. 19, Oseni Street, Mushin, Lagos and No. 5, Benedo Street, Ijesha Lagos, the brother and nephew of the said deceased.

12. Orakwelu Uchechukwu Nkem and Orakwelu Chinedu both of Plot 4, Block 1, Site D Extension Satellite Town, Lagos, the children of the said deceased.

13. Ayokanmi Ayeni, Jumoke Ayeni and Morenike Ayeni all of No. 6, Alli Ogundimu Avenue, via Galilee, Iju - Ishaga, Lagos, the children of the said deceased.

14. Bashiru Kaffo, Mrs. Fasilat Jones and Amudalat Fatai all of No. 13, Abari Court, Lagos Island, Lagos, the children of the said deceased.

15. Mr. Ibrahim Adewale Aina and Mrs. Ogaga Oluwafunmilayo both of No. 17, Okegbeyin Street, Ijede Ikorodu, Lagos, the children of the said deceased.

16. Chief Ezenwa Onyeulo and Mr. Uchenna Onyeulo both of No. 72 A Adedoyin Road Obele Oniwala Surulere, Lagos State, the children of the said deceased.

17. Olubiyi Tolulope and Eniola Olubiyi both of No. 20, Oloruntoyin Oworonshoki Lagos, the children of the said deceased.

18. Tunde Alfred Olabiyi and Abiodun Olabiyi both of Block 286 Flat 1, Ilasan Houseing Estate, Jakande Lekki, Lagos, the children of the said deceased.

19. Bukola Akinyan and Olufunke Falade both of Block 214, Flat 6, Jakande Estate, Ipaja, Lagos, the children of the said deceased.

20. Eneyi Atkins Kabowei and Yinka Vantol both of Close 55, House 1A, Satellite Town, Lagos, the children of the said deceased.

21. Mrs. Chinwuba Chuzoba and Miss Chinwuba Tochukwu both of No. 16, Ogunlade Street, Alaba Oro, Lagos State, the children of the said deceased.

22. Perpetua Anijunsi and George Chimezie Anijunsi both of No. 16, Sekoni Street, Coker Orile Lagos State, the sister and brother of the said deceased.

23. Adenusi Adedeji Adenusi, Adenusi Adepeju Saidat and Adenusi Adeniyi Nurudeen all of No. 41, Fidipote Street, Bado Oba Epe Lagos State, the children of the said deceased.

24. Godwin Oluwatosin Okpako, David Ogheneovo Okpako, Irhorho Oghene Okpako and Efe Oghene Okpako all of 21 Road, 'D' Close House 27, Festac Town, Lagos, the children of the said deceased.

25. Mrs. Veronica Elosiuba and Anthony Elosiuba both of No. 22, Adeniyi Road Sapele, the children of the said deceased.

26. Mrs. Mary Olayinka Awe and Miss Fatima Oriyomi Awe both of No. 3, Mudashiru Awe Street, Yaba, Lagos, the widow and one of the children of the said deceased.

27. Bade Aluko and Mrs. Mojisola Ayo Aluko of Road 57, Victoria Garden City, Lagos and Adeha Lakowe Ibeju Lekki, Lagos, the brother and widow of the said deceased.

28. Morenikeji , Omowunmi, Oyindamola and Eniola all of No. 38, Obun Eko Street, Lagos, the children of the said deceased.

29. Mrs. Abimbola Olubunmi Wilson, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Olufunmike Shittu and Mr. Ayodeji Oluwole Wilson all of No. 28/ 30, Asimi Asiwaju Street, Ejigbo Lagos, the widow and children of the said deceased. .

30. Tena Lydia Iliya and Williams Iliya both of No. 34, Okiro Street, Olodi Apapa, Lagos, the widow and one of the children of the said deceased.

31. Omogbemi Kafayat Damilare, Omogbemi Micaiah Edamisan both of No. 12, Popo Street, Surulere, Lagos, the daughter and son - in - law of the said deceased.

32. Mrs. Lydia Idowu Adedipe, Damilola Omoniyi Adedipe and Olayeni Samuel Adedipe all of SW9/613 Lebanon Road, OdoOna Ibadan, the widow and the children of the said deceased.

33. Mrs. Patience Enore Babasanmi and Mr. Julius Babasanmi of No. 11, Abolade Street, Aguda Surulere, Lagos and No. 7, Roluga Street, Gbagada, Lagos, the widow and brother of the said deceased.

34. Mr. Chidi M. Onyah and Mr. Ofili Enumah both of No. 7, Howson Wright Avenue U.B.A. Estate Satelite Town Amuwo Odofin, Lagos, the brother and one of the children of the said deceased.

35. Mrs. Ngozi Catherine Chinwuko and Philip Chima Chinwuko both of 1A, Alhaji Masha Road, Surulere, Lagos State, the widower and son of the said deceased.

36. Mrs. Ester Aderinsola Elugbadebo and Mobolaji Bankole Elugbadebo both of No. 17, Babs Shokehinsi Street, Santos Akowonjo Lagos, the widow and son of the said deceased.

37. Mrs, Jawando Titilope Olabisi and Mrs.Alogbo Titilola Elizabeth both of No. 19, Ire - Akari Road, Isolo, Lagos State, the children of the said deceased.

38. Oyedoja Christiana Lawal and Lawal Adetunji Segun both of No. 32, Ayige Street, Orile Agege, Lagos, the wife and one of the children of the said deceased.

39. Mary Atua Agyarko and Joseph Kwabena both of 58, Duro Oyedoyin Street, Ijesha Surulere, Lagos, the children of the said deceased.

40. Mr. Jacob G. Osuntade and Adebukola Olubunmi Osuntade both of No. 37, Omotayo Soyemi Street, Maidan Orile Mile 12, Lagos, the widower and one of the children of the said deceased.

41. Mrs. Azuh Ada Bernadeth of No. 13, Babalola Street, Lawanson, Surulere, Lagos, the widow of the said deceased.

42. Mrs. Chinyere Chibo (Nee Chinke) and Mrs. Nnena Ossi (Nee Chinke) both of No. 25, Adisa Bahua Street, Surulere, Lagos, the siblings of the said deceased.

43. Odedina O. Olanrewaju and Odedina B. Aderonke both of No. 20, Hawley Street, Lagos Island, the widow and grandson of the said deceased.

44. Sodiq Olojo and Bolajoko Olojo both of No. 11, Oba Wahab Street, Igando, Lagos, the children of the said deceased.

45. Mr. Ayotunde Oyelakin and Mrs. Oyekemi Olajumoke Emmanuel both of No. 11, Habibat Close (Rowland Anyanwu) Lekki, the children of the said deceased.

46. Mrs. Felicia Inene and Pastror Samuel Alamu both of No. 19, Ekinjimi Street, Sari, Iganmu Orile, Lagos, the widow and brother of the said deceased..

47. Miss Nnenna Nkandu and Miss Ijeoma Anozie both of No. 33, Afara Street, Umuahia Abia State, the widow and one of the children of the said deceased..

48. Mrs. Eunice Oladunni Ogun and Mr. Abiodun Ademola Ogun both of No. 5, Oladeinde Street, Oko - Oba Agege, Lagos, the widow and children of the said deceased.

49. Kareem Yahya and Kareem Ismail both of Block 7, Room 36, Obalende Police Barracks Lagos, the children of the said deceased.

50. Dr. Adewunmi Desalu and Mr. Adewale Adeoye Agaba Desalu both of Plot 3, Block 12 Admiralty Road, Lekki, Lagos, the widower and one of the children of the said deceased.

51. Mrs. Helen Ikhaobomhe and Mrs. Joy Ikhaobomhe both of Plot 16, Joseph Ayo Babalola Crescent Edu, Agbara Lagos, the widow and daughter of the said deceased.

52. Mrs. Veronica N. Folivi and Mrs. Rita Omosigho of No. 23, Ajani Olujare Street, Alaka Surulere, Lagos and Supreme Court of Nigeria Abuja, the children of the said deceased.

53. Mrs. Abiola Ojekunle and Mrs. Olabisi Ajayi of No. 15, Ojekunle Street, Agege and No. 1, Ajayi Close Ajah Lagos State, the widow and sister of the said deceased.

54. Atate Kamar and Lawal Abdul - Azeez Awoye both of No. 74, Coates Street, Ebute-Metta, Lagos State, the children of the said deceased.

55. Abayomi Okunola and Oluwamayokun Okunola both of No. 44, Agbado Road, Iju Lagos, the children of the said deceased.

56. Mrs. Abimbola Fashola and Mrs. Olushola Ade Ojurongbe of No. 84, Odunfa Street, Lagos Island, Lagos and No. 35, Osholake Street, Ebute- Metta, Lagos , the Elder sisters of the said deceased.

57. Umukoro Cordelia, Umukoro Charles and Umukoro Benedict all of Block 59, Flat l Jakande Estate Oke Afa Isolo, Lagos, the widow and children of the said deceased.

58. Mrs. Olubimpe Bosede Oke and Engr. Olumuyiw Osanyin both of No. 9, Kufeyi Street, Yaba, Lagos. the children of the said deceased.

59. Chief T. A. Ige and Mr. Samson Kayode Adeyemi both of No. 43, Isiba Oluwo Street, Lagos, the widower and brother of the said deceased.

60. Mr. Akeem Osudina, Mrs. Olateju Awoniyi, Mr. Olalekan Odusina and Alhaja Kudirat Odusina all of No. 2/3 Oludegun Street, Ire Akari Estate Isolo, Lagos, the children of the said deceased.

61. Mr. Yomi Luke Olorungbeja and Oluyomi Oluleke both of Plot 18, Block 15, Obafemi Omoloaye Street, Magodo, Lagos, the widower and one of the children of the said deceased.

62. Mrs. Josephine O. Adetiba, Ms Adebukola Adetiba, Mr. Adetunji Adetiba and master Adewale Adetiba all of No. 6, Bajulaiye Street, Fadeyi Lagos, the widow and children of the said deceased.

63. Victor Obimgbo and Lawrence Obimgbo both of No. 143, Borno Way, Ebute-Metta, the children of the said deceased.

64. Muhammad Buhari Usman and Mohammed Ewe both of No. 22, Idoluwo Street, Lagos Island, Lagos, the brother and uncle of the said deceased.

65. Ikechukwu Obioha and Theresa Agu Mrs both of Mukikina House, Ibereko, Badagry, Lagos, the widower and sister of the said deceased.

66. Mrs. Glory Caleb and Pastor Azubuike Ekpo of No. 1, Emmanuel Disu Street, River Valley Estate, Ojodu, Lagos and Dunami's Gospel Centre Abuja, the widow and brother of the said deceased.

67. Faidatu Bakare, Moshood Bakare, and Ganiyu Bakare, all of No. 41, Apapa Road, Ebute-Metta, West, the children of the said deceased.

68. Mrs. Philomena Obi Mowete and Miss Ngozi Mowete both of No. 43, Okewumi Street, Ijegun Lagos State, the children of the said deceased.

69. Adeyemi Augustine Adeola and Adeyemi John Olugbenga, both of No. 39, Community Road, Isawo Ikorodu, Lagos.

70. Hauwa Oyiza Ogbori and Nuhu Adinoyi Ogbori of PHCN Ajaokuta Kogi State and Close 13, House 11 Satellite Town, Lagos, the children of the said deceased.

71. Mr. Shadrack Efemena Orie and Miss Victoria Ufoma Orie both of No. 105 Okito Street, Ajegunle Apapa, Lagos State, the widower and one of the children of the said deceased.

72. Taiwo Hassan Alade and Babatunde I. Alade both of No. 12, Fadeyi Street, Ajah, Lagos, the children of the said deceased.

73. Olufemi Omotayo Durojaiye, Mr. Olugbenga Adebola Durojaiye and Miss Ayobami Ore-Oluwa Durojaiye, all of No. 14, Remi Shofoluwe Street, Magodo Lagos State, the sister and children of the said deceased.

74. Mrs. Justina Oyovwe Eshagha and Mr. Omoneye Eshagha both of No. 81, Oluwa Street, Olodi Apapa, the widow and one of the children of the said deceased.

75. Durola Alice Mopelola and Akpan Abiola Deborah of No. 27, Agric Road, Igando Lagos State and No. 68, Nigeria Army Military Hospital, Yaba, Lagos, the children of the said deceased.

76. Sampson Agatha and Sampson Aniekan Emmanuel both of No. 47, Ibafon Street, Olodi Apapa, Lagos State, the widower and one of the children of the said deceased.

77. Oparaocha Theodore C., and Chukwudi Oparaocha of 17, Abata Close, off Abata Street, Orile Iganmu, the children of the said deceased.

I.O.AKINKUGBE (MRS) PROBATE REGISTRAR

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

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COMMENTARY FROM OTHER LANDS

EDITORIALS

Military madness in Cairo

Dark excuses •Instead of mitigating Nigeria’s power outages, govt keeps giving inexcusable reasons

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OING by the excuses that the Federal Government is giving as to why power supply remains erratic as ever in the country, Nigerians may still have to wait longer than can be imagined before their dream of uninterrupted electricity supply will come true. As with other sectors of the economy where things are either not moving, or are moving at a snail’s speed, the power sector has also become one in which Nigerians are bombarded with excuses for why they are not having light rather than undo their darkness. We have heard how rats entered one of the turbines in Kainji Dam many years ago, throwing the nation into darkness. We have been given other ridiculous reasons why constant supply of electricity has remained a pipe-dream in the country. The culprit this time is politics!

Rising from a meeting of the Joint Committee of the National Council of Privatisation (NCP) and the Board of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), the Federal Government alleged that its efforts to provide constant power supply were being eroded by politically-motivated sabotage through gas pipelines and transformers vandalism.

Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State and the Minister of Power, Prof.

Chinedu Nebo, told journalists at the end of the joint meeting presided over by Vice President Namadi Sambo, that the activities of the vandals resulted in shortage of gas supplies to the power plants and a drop in power generation by about 1,600 megawatts.

Although Nebo reeled out the list of such

damages to gas pipelines and other damages allegedly perpetrated by the saboteurs, that is not our concern That all Nigerians are still reeling in darkness is a serious problem for a country whose citizens, at the best of times, have had to share about 4,000 megawatts, which is grossly inadequate for the national demand. Power supply is pivotal to whatever progress the country wants to make; it therefore should not be handled with levity. Again, this is a sector that has witnessed many failed promises since the beginning of this democratic dispensation in May, 1999; it is one in which there has been a lot of muddling up in the privatisation process as a result of which no timelines have ever been met. This is a sector that has gulped so much with little dividend.

We are therefore surprised that the government, 14 years after, is still craving the understanding of Nigerians for the massive load-shedding that they are being forced to endure, as the government goes about the ridiculous business of ‘educating the vandals’ on the consequences of their actions.

We have gone beyond the stage where the government will make unsubstantiated claims and expect Nigerians to bear with it. They have heard that again and again such that it no longer makes sense to them. Government is supposed to solve problems and not to give excuses. If there are vandals troubling its peace and making nonsense of its efforts to deliver democratic dividend, it is the duty of government to get such criminals arrested and

prosecuted. That is part of the reasons it is in control of the security agencies.

The government must have heard of people putting their money where their mouth is; if the government cannot protect gas pipelines, it cannot protect petroleum products’ pipelines, then, there is a serious problem. That government has lost its essence because security of lives and property is a cardinal reason for the existence of government, any government properly socalled.

Given the stupendous amount spent on power supply in the country in the last few years alone, what Nigerians want is constant electricity supply and not wild allegations as to why this has become a mirage.

‘We have gone beyond the stage where the government will make unsubstantiated claims and expect Nigerians to bear with it.

They have heard that again and again such that it no longer makes sense to them. Government is supposed to solve problems and not to give excuses. If there are vandals troubling its peace and making nonsense of its efforts to deliver democratic dividend, it is the duty of government to get such criminals arrested and prosecuted’

Premier poison

•English Premier League 2013/2014 season opens on August 17. But it is another dose of sweet poison that kills local football

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OMORROW at 12.45 pm, the English Premiership opens, with Liverpool hosting Stoke City, in a match sure to stoke the television-viewing attention of a global audience. The racy drama, the whoop of victory, the hiss of defeat and the sheer atmospherics of organised sports as peaceful combat will all be there.

It is the period again when topflight club football takes centre stage.

From England to Italy, France to Belgium, Germany to Holland, Turkey to Russia and Spain to Portugal, it would be all out action, as the other major European leagues also open.

For many a youth from Nigeria and other parts of the developing world, the foreign league’s mega cash could well be passport to wealth from a life otherwise fated to poverty at home.

‘Worse is the cultural servitude watching Europe’s league, week in, week out, on Nigeria’s television, with the local league hardly on television! Foreign leagues are beautiful. But they are terrible beauties if they kill our local football. It is high time urgent steps were taken to resuscitate Nigerian football’

Indeed, since Stephen Keshi, current Super Eagles chief coach and former Nigeria captain led the gold rush to Lokeren in Belgium’s Jupiler League in 1986, European leagues have proved a good hunt for Nigerians, though only a handful have been able to break into the ranks of Europe’s football aristocrats: Emmanuel Amuneke and Gbenga Okunowo (Barcelona), Nwankwo Kanu (Arsenal) and the pair of John Mikel Obi and Victor Moses (Chelsea).

Indeed, Victor Moses’ case is an inspirational Cinderella story of an 11year old kid virtually left for dead, after both of his parents had been killed in a religious riot in Northern Nigeria. Yet Victor, thanks to excellent grooming in the English league, was one of the heroes of Nigeria’s Cup of Nations (February), and the Mandela Challenge wins (August 14), both in South Africa.

Of course, the allure of Europe is no monopoly of Nigerians and Africans.

One of the stars pencilled down to shine in the current season is Brazil’s wonder kid, Neymar, who is joining Argentina’s Lionel Messi in FC Barcelona. Brazil’s Ronaldo and Kaka, and Argentina’s Maradona are among South American superstars who have virtually set European leagues ablaze, in the course of their illustrious footballing careers.

But unlike South American leagues, which though continue to feed Europe has remained vibrant and exciting, the Nigerian league is comatose, as a result of local star players’ exodus. In-

deed, it is sheer prestige to join the European leagues, so much so that even Godfrey Oboabona and Sunday Mba, the two-some home-based stars that joined the foreign legion to win the African Nations Cup in February now look forward to joining foreign leagues and that is not without some tinge of excitement and satisfaction.

But as these stars gravitate towards Europe, the state of football in Nigeria becomes even more dreary, the organisation (the cause of the exodus to start with) starker and the league even more comatose. The era of Nigeria fans whooping for Super Stores of Lagos, IICC Shooting Stars of Ibadan, Mighty Jets of Jos and Rangers International of Enugu appears near-permanently over. Now, it is the season of fanatical fans of Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Barcelona and Real Madrid, just to mention a few.

Globalisation in football is Nigerian local football, and with it, the job opportunities for our teeming youths. If you want any proof of that “death”, just visit the once-upon-apitch at National Stadium, Abuja’s main bowl! Even worse is the cultural servitude watching Europe’s league, week in, week out, on Nigeria’s television, with the local league hardly on television!

Foreign leagues are beautiful. But they are terrible beauties if they kill our local football. It is high time urgent steps were taken to resuscitate Nigerian football.

W

ITH yet another blood bath in the streets of Cairo on Wednesday, Egypt’s ruling generals have demonstrated .00.beyond any lingering doubt that they have no aptitude for, and apparently little interest in, guiding their country back to democracy. On the contrary, the political obtuseness of Gen. Abdul-Fattah el-Sisi, Egypt’s de facto leader, and the brutal repression he has unleashed now threaten to produce the worst of all possible outcomes to an already inflamed situation: a murderous civil war.

That would be a tragedy for Egypt, which until recently believed it was on a path to ending decades of repression and dictatorship. And it would be a foreign policy disaster for the United States. Egypt is the most populous and influential country in the Arab world. It is also Israel’s most strategically important neighbor.

President Obama must make clear his unequivocal opposition to the Egyptian military’s conduct. He can do so by immediately suspending military aid and canceling joint military exercises scheduled for September. These steps can be reversed if the generals change their ways, but, until then, the United States should slam the door on an aid program that has provided the Egyptian military with a munificent $1.3 billion a year for decades.

Those who argue that this aid gives the United States leverage can no longer do so with a straight face. Time and again, repeated phone calls from Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to General Sisi asking for restraint and similar exhortations by Secretary of State John Kerry have been ignored.

Mr. Kerry spoke out again on Wednesday, but it is now up to Mr. Obama to act. A cautious statement from a deputy press secretary in Martha’s Vineyard that the Obama administration “strongly condemns” the violence and is reviewing the aid program is unlikely to get the generals’ attention. Canceling next month’s joint exercises, which is now being considered, might. And if suspending a $1.3 billion subsidy does not do the trick, it will at least tell rank-and-file Egyptians that the United States is no longer underwriting repression.

Hundreds of peaceful demonstrators were killed Wednesday when military and police units used helicopters, snipers, bulldozers and tear gas to evict them from two camp areas in Cairo. The military proclaimed a monthlong nationwide state of emergency, while the “transitional government” named 25 new provincial governors — 19 of them generals.

The transitional government is little more than window dressing for military rule. Those liberals and moderates who have enabled and emboldened the military have been complicit in this deception. One prominent liberal democrat, Mohamed ElBaradei, a Nobel Prize winner, resigned Wednesday as interim vice president.

The Muslim Brotherhood must also share responsibility. Since the July 3 coup that ousted President Mohamed Morsi, it has shown too little interest in negotiating a peaceful path out of the crisis. And even before that coup, Mr. Morsi and other Brotherhood leaders had displayed little interest in reaching out to Egyptians of different political and religious persuasions.

But the major blame rests with General Sisi. He seized power from a democratically elected government. He controls the security forces that have persecuted and brutalized political opponents. And he approved orders for heavily armed forces to use deadly force against peaceful protesters with a very legitimate political grievance — the ouster and secret detention of Egypt’s first democratically elected president.

Washington’s influence on Egyptian public opinion generally is limited. That has less to do with the lowkey tone Mr. Obama has taken than with the preceding decades of uncritical United States support for past dictators like Mr. Mubarak and the military forces supporting them, to the neglect of most of Egypt’s 84 million people. It is past time for Mr. Obama to start correcting that imbalance. Suspending assistance to Egypt’s anti-democratic military would be a good place to start.

New York Times’

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh

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THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

20

CARTOON & LETTERS

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IR: I was very happy when I read an online report by hotnewsnaija.com that the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) lauded the governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, for giving priority to safety and security of motorists through construction of roads and stationing of ambulances on major roads across the State for emergency purposes. That the governor was scored high on road safety and security by a federal agency further adds credence to our conviction as citizens of the state that the choice we made in electing him in 2007 was the best thing to do.

According to the report, the highrating of Osun as a state whose government demonstrates great efforts in reducing carnages on roads in 2012 was done recently by the Chairman of the FRSC Technical Committee in the state, Prof.

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FRSC and Aregbesola’s score-card Joseph Fawole, when FRSC officials from Abuja visited the governor.

Undeniably, anyone who visits any part of Osun will be first welcomed by ongoing massive road construction projects there. It appears no area in the state is left unattended to and there seems to be no discrimination as to whether a particular road is state or federal.

Thus, Prof. Fawole gets it very right when, as the report says, he flintily posits that ‘What we are currently seeing in Osun is that you

(Aregbesola) have brought safety into the lives of all and sundry. It is no gainsaying that you have exemplarily demonstrated the serious role of being your brother’s keeper.

You made us proud some time ago when we heard in the news that you personally engaged in the rescue operation of accident victims. The number of ambulances, which you stationed at different locations of the state and the road network in all the six zones of the state, place you above other governors in pru-

dent spending and love for your citizens’.

Road construction is one of the ways through which the administration of Aregbesola is modernising Osun. I am yet to read or hear about any modern state that does not place high premium on building of road infrastructure. Provision of quality road infrastructure is very critical to achieving socioeconomic development. And where roads are in good condition, it will greatly help in checking the rate at

fixed at 70 and 65 years respectively.

As self-explanatory as this rule is, some career officers in the civil service with the active collaboration of their minister and board members, plot tenure elongation schemes by deliberately looking the other side in flagrant disregard of the rules to keep their cronies in office.

For the civil service to discharge its duty as the engine room of

growth and development, the political heads of ministries must run away from interference on matters of rules and regulations of the civil service. Also, career officers who have reached the peak of their careers should refrain from stunting the growth of their colleagues by scheming to stay beyond the statutory retirement age.

• Olufemi Fafore, Mowe Ogun State

of Sergeant Omeleze got to him, he immediately ordered for his arrest and after investigation approved of his sack.

The amount of clean-up exercise being conducted by the Inspector General of police is a clear indication that with time, the desired police force would be attained. Was it not just last month of July that over 193 police officers including an Assistant Inspector General of Police(AIG)were arraigned to face the police high command disciplinary committee in Abuja?

We have we suddenly forgotten how on his assumption, he stopped the nagging corruption at roadblocks, a feat that was near impos-

sible with previous IGPs. It is on record and heart-warming to note that promotion and posting which hitherto were clouded with corrupt practices are now based on ability and records of officers. It is only a corrupt leader that would turn the other eye when issues of corruption is alleged, not MD Abubakar that many of us know.

The Nigeria Police predates many other security institutions in the country. If the truth must be told, there is no personnel of the police that is a foreigner neither were they imported from the Mars and so, it can be argued that every one of them is a true reflection of the corrupt society in which they operate.

Sit tight syndrome and mandatory retirement age

S

IR: From the days of missionary public servants, who served Nigeria in words and deeds, before independence and about three decades after, the civil service has witnessed its high and low periods.

The worst era in the history of the service was the military years, when professionalism, integrity and accountability, was depleted to zero level. In fact, it was under the military that the seed of flagrant disregard for rules and regulations which created the room for manipulation and wanton corruption that is commonplace in the civil service today was sown.

Even when efforts have been made to professionalise the service since the return of civil rule in 1999, such moves have not recorded appreciable success due to entrenched perverted value system that was inherited from the military command structure and jackboot mentality.

An online news medium recently, to the utter shock and disbelief of many Nigerians, broke a story on the refusal of an acting director general of a federal parastatal, to proceed on retirement, even after he had attained the mandatory retirement age of 60.

The extant rule of career progression in the Federal Civil Service on retirement of public officers clearly stipulates that all officers in the public service of the federal government must compulsorily proceed on retirement consequent upon the attainment of 60 years or after putting in 35 years of service. The exception to this rule, are academic staff of universities and judicial officers, whose retirement age has been

S

which lives are lost through road accidents. Nigerians know too well that one of the leading causes of avoidable deaths in the country is road accidents, facilitated by bad roads that exist in many parts of the country. These death traps, as many would describe them, often rob the country of many human resources.

But the government in Osun is already addressing the scourge of road accidents with provision of good roads within its borders. The intensive assault declared against bad roads in Osun is now resulting in the enrichment of human resources and economic prosperity.

With new roads springing up in the state, the unsightliness that horrible roads bear is disappearing. And where for whatever reason accident occurs on any of its roads, there are ambulances on hand to attend to the victims and in the process save lives for, as we do know, many accident victims always die as a result of absence of quick rescue intervention.

Aregbesola leaves no one in doubt of his understanding that the main responsibility of any responsible government is the development of human capacity and good life. This is what we experience in the state.

The FRSC is right – human beings are the focus of the actions of the present government in Osun.

• Ebenezer Farinde, Ikire, Osun State

IGP and the Sgt. Omeleze case

IR: The news was hot as television stations aired the video of a police sergeant in uniform soliciting through mobile phone, for a bribe of N25,000 from an alleged suspect. As expected Nigerians did not withhold their indignation and disgust at the despicable scenario.

Every institution is infested with bad-eggs; these Judases have chronic ailment that only flushing them out of the system is the only remedy before prosecuting them.

No right-thinking Nigerian would not thumb-up for the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Dahiru Abubakar in his determination to combat the odious problem of corruption in the police. When the news

Nevertheless, majority of the personnel have high integrity and like their civilian counterparts are not tainted with the virus of corruption.

It is not a sound argument to classify all security personnel as corrupt and bad. This is why the government of Nigeria frowns at the label foreign countries place on every Nigerian traveller as corrupt and bad. A reference point is the police contingents annually sent on foreign mission abroad, you hardly hear or receive any evil report about any of them.

What the Police need is cooperation, not condemnation • Ben Okezie Lagos

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013 16

21

COMMENTS

Just me being self righteous (2)

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OSTERITY will remember Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe and Christopher Okigbo. Our descendants shall remember Gani Fawehinmi, Obafemi Awolowo, Tafawa Balewa and Nnamdi Azikiwe. Tomorrow, while our children’s children and their great-grandchildren recollect Nigeria’s golden age, they will say it was when such leaders of thought and men were alive.

They shall effortlessly forget “the boy who had no shoes” and yet emerged to become “President.”

They wouldn’t think much of him and his cohorts in the ruling class even if they tried. Posterity shall remember the incumbent ruling class as the lower brutes that survived on the blood of the working class. They shall remember the working class as much lower brutes – forgettable elements in the annals of the Nigerian state.

Time will come when the Nigerian ruling class shall pay with blood, melancholia and despair.

From six-feet under and grisly jail cells, they shall lust for life, desperately seeking a second chance with a kind of humble defeatism.

Within that same breadth of history, the Nigerian working class shall pay with more tragedy, more misery and blood even as they whine and lust for a better tomorrow.

Until then, we shall continue to have “today” and yet fail to make the best of it. Now more than ever, we enumerate that pitiful lack of wisdom and aversion to freedom.

Like the ruling class, we suffer a lack of intellect and knowledge – useful knowledge to be precise.

Thus even if spurred by inexorable courage to topple the elite and change our stars, our tragedies shall persist in frequency and extent.

After we inter the bones of the last of the ruling class, we shall raise our heads to seek our next best hero only to find none.

That is because we who shall survive are as savage as the worst of the ruling class. Left to our own devices, we display an unforgivable lack of humaneness and character. Hence even if we could successfully seize power from the ruling class, we shall manage to remain not much in significance and sight. Simply put, were our dreams

‘Thus the need to evolve and painstakingly propagate practicable knowledge and culture in unexploited and infinite capacity.

Until we attain a broad, busy abundance of such understanding, not all the finest flavours of the proverbial national cake – be they oven-baked or sand-baked – can save us from our lusts and the affliction of the Nigerian ruling class’

B

Y August 27, Abia State will be 22 years old having been created out of the old Imo State by the Ibrahim Babangida administration. Scientifically, the age of maturity for human being is 12 years, but at 22, Abia State is still crawling. Successive governments in the state, especially during the military era, ran its affairs with impunity and recklessness. But they did not do it without the collaboration of civilians from the state who often served as fronts for the military to loot the state. Under the guise of businessmen and government contractors, they registered phoney companies and government contracts were awarded to them and funds released to them. At the end, no contract would be executed and nobody would ask for the refund of the public fund already paid to them.

That was the kind of leadership provided for the state for more than a decade. The hope and expectation of the people for a change in the status quo with the inception of democracy in the country in 1999 was never to be a dream come true.

This was because the same characters that connived with the military leaders to impoverish and under-develop the state for almost a decade ploughed the looted funds into the politics of the state and hijacked the political leadership.

So nothing changed in terms of leadership style, aside of change from military rule to civilian democracy. Desperate to recoup after years of military rule, some politicians served as conduit pipe to siphon state resources and to suppress the people. Between 1999 and 2007, there was no sign of governance in the state, especially in the area of infrastructural development. But government in the state ranked top in the promoting unnecessary political controversies to attract undue attention from the public and in the area of media propaganda.

Decayed infrastructures begging for government attention were abandoned, while officials built their business empires and those of their family members, converting government assets into family assets at will. The state-owned newspaper was destroyed and its printing press used to establish an anti-government private-owned newspaper in Lagos.

‘So ahead of 2015 general elections, all hands must be on deck to ensure that people of questionable characters will not find their way into the Abia Government House’

of change realizable, we shall always remain the next awful alternative.

Sophistry and deceit are the springboards from which much of our civilization evolve; add mediocrity, mindlessness and greed; and you have a perfect representation of the Nigerian youth.

We were wrong to think it a matter of years and decades that we would improve in citizenship and insight. We are unaware – like our base and iniquitous elite – that true knowledge essentially translates to being an emissary of truth, hope, superior culture and progress to both the literate and unschooled.

We forget too that the true essence of learning, that is, both intellectual and vocational learning is never simply to teach breadwinning, furnish teachers for the public schools or be an epitome of polite society. It should above all be the appendage of that fine adjustment between reality and the growing knowledge of life; an adjustment which discovers the secret of civilization and the solution to its seemingly intractable problems.

Insanely; to this end, we apply religion and milk it, we even get to abuse it. Thus by every manner of faith we commit the worst of inhuman transgressions – like playing God, terrorism and mass murder, lust for flesh and money.

Today, we lack that broad knowledge of what the world knows and strive to know of progress – which we could youth besides food, shelter and clothing is knowledge. For without it, we become basically unequipped and sorely handicapped to satisfy our need for food, shelter and clothing.

Thus the need to evolve and painstakingly propagate practicable knowledge and culture in unexploited and infinite capacity.

Until we attain a broad, busy abundance of such understanding, not all the finest flavours of the pro-

verbial national cake – be they oven-baked or sand-baked – can save us from our lusts and the affliction of the Nigerian ruling class.

The knowledge we flaunt is basically a ghost of human education that yet despises the enlightenment and empowerment of the masses.

Under the foul stench of every form of slavery, we fight a lost battle for survival within the tainted air of social strife and entrepreneurial selfishness. The progress we seek is impeded by our lust for cynicism and delusions of grandeur. We starve and die for our lack of honest and broadly cultured men.

Patience, humility, good breeding and taste, comprehensive high schools and kindergartens, universities and polytechnics, industrial and technical colleges, teacher training colleges, literature, tolerance and tact – all these spring from proper learning and culture.

It’s time we engaged in pursuit and dissemination of knowledge devoid of loose and careless logic – like the type that produced and still produce a good number of the Nigerian ruling class. And the final product of our training must be neither a medical doctor nor journalist, but a man. And to make men, our learning process must be replete with ideals as well as broad, pure, practicable and inspiring ends of living – not desperate, sordid, money-grabbing sound bites.

The end product of our educational process must have learnt to work for the glory of his calling, not simply for pecuniary gains. The intellectual must think for truth and progress, not for fame or the applause of the gallery.

And all these are attainable via human endeavour and yearning; by a conscious quest for learning; by founding the primary school for the secondary and the comprehensive high school for the polytechnic, university and teacher training colleges. If we could successfully weave such a system, we

could finally establish an educational system and not a distortion of it; we could finally midwife multiple births and not ceaseless series of abortion.

To bring about such bliss requires the presence of substantially gifted men of courage and culture – a principal prerequisite we seem infinitely handicapped to fulfill. Thus we have shadows of men constituting the Nigerian ruling elite and youth. Consequently, we have learnt to live off the attainments of men of stature accessible now in history and diminishing daguerreotypes.

The ruling class couldn’t be bothered if our educational system is wrecked beyond redemption; the philosophy of its intransigence is discernible in its greed and brazen disregard for the future even as Nigeria shamelessly treads the trail of erstwhile educationally-challenged neighbours in Africa.

The politics of greed and incompetence of the incumbent administration demands that it neglects the core issues militating against the success of the Nigerian education enterprise – like inadequate funding, poor research facilities, inadequate infrastructure, outdated lecturers and teaching methods, obsolete libraries and laboratories and the degenerate politics of discrimination between Nigeria’s polytechnic and university enterprise.

Hence the fraudulence and apparent cowardliness of the incumbent administration in addressing Nigeria’s unending educational crisis – simply because the final products end up to be you and me and every minion unfortunate to belong to the Nigerian working class.

It is therefore, the duty of every constituent of the Nigerian working class to see that in the future competition for our mandate, the survival of the fittest shall mean the triumph of the humane, unpopular and true.

• To be continued…

Abia’s tortuous journey to 22

By Ndukwe Ugbuaja Voodoo politics was also introduced in the state and an intriguing matriarchy took charge of government decisions, while the son became the ceremonial leader of the state. A suburb in Bende council area of the state became a Mecca of sorts for politicians seeking appointment into the government. Nobody dared ask question or criticise government policies or actions, which were in most cases anti-people.

By the time the second term of the government expired in 2007, the state was left worse than it was met in 1999 in terms of decayed infrastructure, absence of access roads, a health sector in shambles as residents sought medical care in neighbouring states. The state of education was pathetic and the rate of examination malpractices was at the peak as special centres which encouraged examination malpractices became dominant in the state. The state debt profile was as high as N29.9 billion. No foundation was laid for the incoming government to take off. The civil service meant to drive government’s policies was bogged by petty and clannish politics, encouraged by the government. The state capital Umuahia remained the same glorified village it was upon its creation in 1991.

Coming into the office as governor in 2007, Chief Theodore Orji, a seasoned public servant came with a vision and blueprint on how to transform the state. But his predecessor on whose party’s platform Orji was elected had a different agenda which was the maintaining of the status quo in the state. Stifled and hounded on many fronts, Orji was just a figurehead and the system at the national level encouraged the situation at that point. Having seen it all in government as Chief of Staff for eight years, Governor Orji tarried for the best time to strike and liberate the state from the menace of godfatherism, a feat he achieved before the 2011 general elections, after due consultations with the people on what they wanted. Thereafter, the state breathed air of freedom.

And since then, Orji’s government has been in hurry to cover lost ground. It is no doubt a daunting task, but the government has remained resolute.

Today in the state, there is no incessant political crisis

especially in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Brothers do sit down now and discuss the way forward for the state. A new Government House befitting of a state capital of 22 years old is under construction. So also is an ultra-modern International Conference Centre, a new Workers Secretariat, and so many other giant developmental strides in different sectors of the state including the civil service that has been reformed and repositioned for effective performance. The kidnapping menace that nearly crippled activities in the state is now a thing of the past. That is why the state has remained the most peaceful state in the country today and has become a haven for prospective investors.

There is also steady power supply in the capital and its environs courtesy of the power evacuation from Ohiya power station by the state government in partnership with the Federal Government.

It is obvious that the present government that is laying solid foundation for the development of the state. And in the face of this obvious fact, some misinformed and hired arm-chair critics who were part and parcel of the poor leadership that bedevilled the state for more than a decade plus are now expecting the present government to use resources and funds realised in the past six years to tackle accumulated decayed infrastructure of more than a decade.

This is without raising eyebrow or asking questions on what happened to the funds that accrued to the state since its creation that were obviously mismanaged by successive governments before now.

The Abia liberation paved way for the solid foundation laid by the present government and what is paramount is sustaining the situation and improving on it to ensure that the dark years of political godfatherism and looting will not find its way back to the government of the state. So ahead of 2015 general elections, all hands must be on deck to ensure that people of questionable characters will not find their way into the Abia Government House. They are already jostling for the seat, but when the time comes, the people will make their choice. They are wiser now, and the present government has set a pace that the incoming government must follow to make great impact.

• Elder Ugbuaja, wrote from Arochukwu, Abia State.

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

22

COMMENTS “He is not wise to me whoever is wise in words only, but he who is wise in deeds.”— — — Aristotle

T

HE presidency of any nation is the apogee of political attainment that any citizen can desire in life. Thus, for anyone to have assumed the leadership position of a nation is no mean task. And to have done that thrice is even a harder and more enviable. But the Eekerin of Egbaland and Balogun/Ebora of Owu land in Abeokuta, Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo, through divine grace, achieved those rare feats. He was military Head of State and twenty years after he relinquished power, he was elected civilian president in 1999 and re-elected in 2003 into the exalted position. And just by this grace, the man erroneously believes that every other living creature must worship at his feat.

Obasanjo, at the 4th Annual Ibadan Sustainable Development Summit organised by the Centre for Sustainable Development (CESDEV), University of Ibadan (UI), held in collaboration with African Sustainable Development Network (ASUDNET), noted that the crop of younger generation of leaders in the country had failed the citizenry. The truth is that Obasanjo is not competent to give a talk on leadership and sustainable development because of his poor track record in that regard while he was in office. Hence, allocating such topic to him was a misnomer and an abuse of such an important platform.

The ex-president seized the platform to unleash unstatesmanly bile on his erstwhile political allies and perceived opponents. He accused his former Vice, Atiku Abubakar, of betrayal, citing it as the major reason he did not hand over to him. Yes, Atiku’s presidential ambition might have actually turned him into a political harlot, but not many would easily forget how he betrayed the Action Congress (AC) that rescued him from Obasanjo’s tyranny as when the plot to impeach him was foiled through the political ingenuity of Asiwaju BolaTinubu, then governor of Lagos State. He returned to Lagos after his medical treatment abroad and was welcomed with fun-fare at a time that a presidential booby trap was already awaiting him in Abuja. But his political harlotry should not be justification for Obasanjo to label him a betrayer. Also, the fact that Atiku possibly alerted the world about his tenure elongation agenda should not be a good reason.

T

HE world is going gay! Each new day another country endorses same sex marriage. Each new day, world leaders, Christian leaders and even our iconic Archbishop Desmond Tutu have continued to make room for and extend the conjugal rights of same sex people. While the moral majority is nigh being at the receiving end now, it faces an imminent danger of a harmful role reversal. Still nonplussed and trying hard to come to terms with what is obviously a gay revolution, the Catholic Pontiff, Pope Francis weighs in in favour of gays and dampens the spirit of heterosexuals who are now derisively called ‘homophobes’.

In a chat with journalists after a tour of Brazil recently, the pope declared that even though homosexual acts are sin, people with homosexual orientation must not be ‘judged’ or ‘marginalised’. “If a person is gay and seeks God and has goodwill, who am I to judge him,” the pope said. “The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains this very well. It says they should not be marginalized because of this (orientation) but that they must be integrated into society,” he said. In other words, homosexual act may be sinful, homosexual orientation is not by itself wrong or sinful?

But is it possible to have homosexual orientation without committing homosexual acts?

Surely, hardly any man can claim to be more Catholic or even Christian than the pope but the point that must be made here is that this remark from the pope represents the single most important endorsement to be enjoyed by people with gay tendencies across the world. Has the dam finally broken, has the last vestiges of resistance to what is clearly an aberrant human behavior been lost? Man and man (or woman and woman) living together and cohabiting is abhorrent to humanity and sinful in the sight of our Christian God. It is not about marginalizing or judging, it is about repudiating our creator and the grave danger this act portends for humanity now, in the future and in the hereafter.

Homosexuals will always remain people who have deviated from the natural course of God, they need help – psychological and spiritual help. For this reason, I reproduce below, an article by William Consiglio, titled: “Understanding Homosexuality” published on

07011117777

Obasanjo: ‘Statesman’ or rabble-rouser?

Atiku was Obasanjo’s nemesis and both men are driven by nothing but their inordinate ambitions.

Obasanjo also listed names of other leaders from his prejudiced failed younger generation. He mentioned Salisu Buhari, former House of Representatives Speaker; Deprieye Alamieyeseigha, former Bayelsa State Governor; Lucky Igbinedion, former Edo State Governor; James Ibori, former Delta State Governor and Orji Uzor Kalu, the former governor of Abia State. What Obasanjo didn’t tell the gathering at the lecture and the entire world that read the reports was that it was during his tenure as leader and Board of Trustees chairman of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) that his self-appraised failed leaders emerged. For the avoidance of doubt, Obasanjo should avail Nigerians of the truth about who granted Salisu Buhari state pardon despite the fact that he confessed to have forged a university degree. Let him tell us who gave Salisu his first Federal Board appointment, worse still, in an educational and research institute, after this disgraceful act.

The ex-president who wants people to believe that he is the only saint in Nigeria’s public life should elucidate more on how the money for his first election was raised in 1999.

Yours sincerely and many other Nigerians will be interested in knowing the truth about the contributions, in cash and kind, of Orji Uzor Kalu; and at what point did Obasanjo

realise Kalu to be a failed leader? On Alamieyeseigha, Obasanjo probably forgot to tell the distinguished gathering that the man during his tenure as governor stood up in Aso-Rock Presidential Villa to challenge him. Obasanjo summoned all the governors for a meeting and in his imperial display of impunity and contempt for others started talking down on the governors. But Alamieyeseigha stood up and bluntly told him that he was not his surrogate, but a governor of his state, who was duly elected by his people like Obasanjo.

Obasanjo didn’t like Alamieyeseigha’s effrontery that could set in his view among other governors that trembled before him.

He merely waited to pay him back by masterminding his money-laundering problem in the United Kingdom and eventual impeachment, arraignment in court and subsequent conviction. The rest is now history, but the truth remains that Obasanjo’s acts in all these were not borne out of true leadership fervour but vindictive proclivity. On James Onanafe Ibori that he mentioned in his list of failed leaders, let him tell us how the money for late President Umaru Yar’Adua’s election was raised. The public needs to know the highest donor among the governors of that era when circumstances forced him (Obasanjo) to organise the 2007 general elections after the truncation of his disgraceful Third Term plan.

Obasanjo in his vindictive self seems not to

EXPRESSO STEVE OSUJI

SMS 08111526725, email:steve.osuji@yahoo.com

Homosexuals: What Pope Francis didn’t say page1081 of the Parents Resource Bible. I have taken the liberty to modify the title thus: Help for homosexuals God’s word is truthful, and we can rely on it. It reveals God’s standards about life and human sexuality. In Romans 1: 24-27 we can see four moral and spiritual truths about homosexuality.

Homosexuality is a behavior. The Bible never calls homosexuality an identity or an alternative sexuality created by God. The Word says: “Women… indulged in sex… with each other. And the men… doing the shameful things with other men…” (v.26-27).

Homosexuality is a sinful behavior. Sinful means that such a behavior is displeasing to God. The Word says: “God let them go ahead in every sort of sex sin” (v. 24).

Homosexuality is a substitute for God’s natural plan. God’s Word says that “ even their women turned against God’s natural plan” (v. 26). God created all people to be heterosexuals. Homosexuality is a spiritual and emotional disorientation, deviation and disorder in his plan.

As with all sin, the root of homosexual behavior is caused and maintained by those who refuse to honour God. “They knew about him all right but they wouldn’t admit it or worship him or even thank him for all his daily care” (v.21). All sin is a turning away from God. All healing comes from a return to

God. Spiritually and morally, homosexuality is a sinful behavior that distorts God’s natural plan for human sexuality.

Homosexuality is not the unforgivable sin.

It is important to understand that homosexual behavior has emotional and psychological roots. While homosexuality is sin, it is not the unforgivable sin. God knows that all of us are sinners, prone to emotional wounding and disordered behavior John 8: 1-11 contains the story of an adulterous woman who was brought before Jesus. If this had been a homosexual person, what would Jesus have done? Jesus loved the woman just as he loves all sinners, including homosexuals. He forgave her and commanded her to stop sinning. He said, “Neither do I (condemn you). Go and sin no more” (John 8:11) God loves homosexual people and call them to repent and be healed. He seeks their conversion and not their shame and ruin.

There is healing for those overcoming homosexuality. How can those struggling with homosexuality “sin no more”? How can they change their feelings, behavior and life-style?

There are six elements to an effective healing program for Christians who are overcoming homosexuality: •The overcommer needs personal relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ.

He or she needs to become a child of God. Only Jesus can give the overcomer this relationship to God because as he says, “no one

have forgiven Asiwaju Tinubu for promoting ideal democratic tenets, constitutionalism and for his advancing the values of ideal federalism. More importantly, the man is not happy that Tinubu’s name has eclipsed his own in the political reckoning of the southwest. This is why Obasanjo could still not forgive Tinubu for not allowing him to capture Lagos State, like he did in other states in the west in 2003 and 2007. Obasanjo hates being floored but Asiwaju actually defeated him at the Apex Court when he won the matter over the with-held monthly allocations of Local Governments in the state over the creation of Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).

Also, Tinubu rescued, like he did to Atiku, Rashidi Ladoja, former governor of Oyo State, from Obasanjo’s tyranny.

Tinubu gave Ladoja presidential treatments all through the period of his travails with Obasanjo and also got the best legal representation to challenge his impeachment. Unlike the vindictive Obasanjo, Tinubu is not begrudging Ladoja for pursuing his political aspiration in another party today.

It is obvious from Obasanjo’s reference to Tinubu in his lecture that he goaded the Code of Conduct Tribunal to come after the latter.

And Obasanjo is shamefully sad that nothing incriminating was found against the former governor. Tinubu has led a pack of reputable progressive leaders to rescue the southwest and Edo State from the claws of the ruling PDP and Obasanjo seems distressed about this fact. He should look elsewhere if he needs to vent his spleen on someone. The blame game on Asiwaju and others is nothing but a manifestation of Obasanjo’s loss of touch with contemporary reality. The public sees him more as a rabble-rouser or at best, a political jester; one that still believes in his primacy long after his magical wand had been extinguished.

Yours sincerely is using this column to let Obasanjo know that effective leadership is not about making fabulously empty speeches or finding ill-motivated faults. This ex-president should ask himself if his actions, within and outside power, inspire other Nigerians to dream more, learn more and do more positively. Obasanjo is a failed leader because he could not mentor/produce effective younger leaders for the country. What he successfully did was to produce more deceitfully corrupt and incompetent followership. Most Nigerians, except the deceptive few, no longer believe him because his credibility and integrity have long taken flight

can get to the father except by means of me” (John 14:6). “To all who received him (Jesus), he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).

• The overcomer needs a personal life that includes regular study and meditation on God’s word and a vital life of prayer.

• The overcomer needs to be actively involved in a good Bible teaching/preaching church that offers fellowship and nurture in Christian holiness.

• The overcomer needs a good Christian friend or married couple with whom to share burdens and be held accountable…

• The overcomer needs to be committed to professional Christian counseling to learn about the roots of homosexuality, gain personal insight, and work through emotional healing.

• Finally, the overcomer needs to be involved in a group support ministry with other overcomers. It provides HOPE – a place of Honesty, Openness, Prayer, and Encouragemnet. God loves the overcomer, so there is plenty of hope for those trying to overcome.

LAST MUG: Fani-Kayode goes off the hook It is shocking that so much hatred and bigotry had remained percolated in some people all these year and that those demons were all this while looking for an opportunity to break free. One of such is as manifested in Femi FaniKayode’s interminable diatribe: “The bitter truth about the Igbo in Nigeria.” Surely it could not be this small matter of ‘deportation’ of 14 Igbo people to Onitsha that brought about this unhinging. Femi has created an ethnic mud-fight where none really existed and he is reveling in it all by his self.

But one is pushed to interject his fun when he went so low as to release a shortlist (or is that his long list?) of all the (Igbo) women he enjoyed ‘intimate’ relationship with in his wild-oat sowing years. Gush, did Femi have to name names of women who are now married and running families? We thought this was the antics of excitable high school boys newly exploiting their libidinal prowess. To think that this is a one-minister in this country! I think opinion molders will do well to show a little more restraint when they put pen to paper.

NELSON MANDELA CHALLENGE

IAAF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

I N S I D E

Rivers shall soon be free, says Peterside

Expectation rises in Bayelsa for Deep Sea Port

•PAGE 39 •Peterside

Pages 25

Website: http://www.thenationonlineng.com

Ibori...

Prisoner in London, hero in Oghara

•PAGE 26-27 •Dickson

•PAGE 27 •Ibori

Four slain youths haunt Aluu Confusion, anger as Shell shuts operation in Delta From SHOLA O’NEIL Southsouth Regional Editor

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•The suspects, including the traditional ruler (in glasses)

•The Aluu Four killed by a mob almost a year ago

Almost a year after four University of Port Harcourt students were hacked to death, the people of Omuokiri Aluu in Ikwere Local Government Area of Rivers State are still living in fear of strangers and of their ugly past. SEUN AKIOYE, who visited the community, reports

I

T is difficult to believe a multiple murder once took place at the dumpsite but the indigenes swore that was the exact spot where the four students of the University of Port Harcourt (Uniport) were stripped naked, beaten with logs of wood, machetes and other dangerous weapons before being set ablaze.

The murderous crowd that gathered around the four boys on October 5, last year, as they

begged for their lives had demanded their blood and got it.

They were allegedly supervised by a group of policemen who ensured mob justice was carried out.

But on August 11, almost a year after that ugly scene played out at the dumpsite, all that remained of the murder site were heaps of refuse and tall grasses.

“Yes, this is the spot where the boys were killed; even then it was a refuse dump but all these

grasses were not there then, it grew this year. Not many people like to come here again because there are talks that the spirits of the boys are haunting people who came there. In the night, nobody will stay around here,” Muhammed Rasheed, a commercial motorcycle operator, said.

A man with mental illness soon appeared and as if daring the spirit of what is now known as the “Aluu 4”, went straight to the spot

where the victims were burnt and began to urinate. Few passersby noticed him and even fewer bothered to look at him the second time. After he was done, he began to scavenge on the dumpsite and soon disappeared into the adjourning forest.

For almost a year, the people of Omuokiri Aluu, one of the nine villages that make up the Aluu Continued on page 26

ITH three offices - Main office in Ogunu road, Industrial and Residential Areas (IA and RA) in Ogunu and Edjeba area - Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and its subsidiaries provided thousands of direct and contract employment as well as contracts in oil services, well servicing, logistics, catering and others.

That was in the good days. Today, Shell is dead in the Oil City and it is being buried with the fortunes of over half a million people and an entire state. Financial experts say Shell’s closure may cost the state government as much as N25 billion annually from lost taxes and royalties.

The death knell for the company was sounded nearly a decade ago at the heat of the Warri crisis, when militants and criminals indiscriminately attacked and despoiled the company’s facilities in the creeks.

They stole and are still stealing mind-boggling volume of crude oil daily.

Shortly after the end of the crisis the company began downsizing under the so-called Securing Our Future (SoFu) programme. It was the beginning of the end for most staff, including those in defunct Western Division headquarters, Warri..

Our findings revealed that over 80% of those sacked are currently without job years after their misfortunes. It is against this bleak background that the recent closure and further sack of hundreds of more staff occurred.

Investigations by our reporter revealed that the takeover of the facilities by the Nigerian Petrleum Development Company (NPDC) has neither improved the lot of workers nor raised hope about their prospects.

Some sacked contract staff were transferred to the services of the new operators. But at the time of this report on Sunday, it was gathered that they are owed salaries since January.

“We joined them (NPDC) in December 2012; but we were only paid December and January salaries.

Since them we have not been paid.

After working for five months without salaries we decided to stop Continued on page 38

•PARENTS OF KIDNAP VICTIM SEEK JUSTICE P27•HOW KEROSENE IS FUELLING CRISIS IN NNPC’S WARRI DEPOT P40

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

26

NIGER DELTA REPORT

Expectation rises in Bayelsa for Agge D The people of Bayelsa State eagerly await the Deep Sea Port promised by Governor Seriake Dickson, which, they believe, will improve the economy, writes MIKE ODIEGWU, YENAGOA.

E

XPERTS believe that crude oil is an exhaustible asset. They cite Oloibiri oil well in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, where crude oil was first struck in commercial quantity in 1956.

The oil field that gave Nigeria her first oil revenue is an eyesore. It has been abandoned and neglected. The entire area has been taken over by vegetation. The only reminder that oil once existed there is a corroded, forsaken wellhead.

Such realisation has compelled some states in the Niger Delta to seek alternative to crude oil. There is a general belief that constructing a deep sea port in Bayelsa State will help to diversify the state’s economy.

Bayelsa is a littoral state, experts argue, and it has to take advantage of its maritime environment and the Atlantic Ocean to revive and boost its economy. A sea port will attract business moguls and importers from the East espe-

cially Onitsha, the commercial hub of Anambra State.

Besides, the port will be accessible to Delta and Edo State considered far from Rivers State. Such facility operating at full capacity will also help to tackle youth restiveness by providing employment and creating increased commercial activities.

The benefits of a sea port to diversify an emerging economy like Bayelsa are no doubt the reason behind the ongoing efforts by Governor Seriake Dickson to construct the Agge Deep Sea Port valued at over N45 billion ($3 billion).

The choice of Agge for the project is significant. The coastal community is along the fringes of the Atlantic Ocean. It is perhaps, the closest settlement to the sea.

The sea port project is a collaboration among Bayelsa State government with Global Seaway International and Tianjin Energy Resources Limited.

But Niger Delta Report

gathered that the project had got the nod of the Federal Government, which had promised to play a key role in actualising it.

The sea port is designed to include an industrial park, 500 mega watt power plant, fabrication yard, jetty, outfield chemical plant and tank farm, dry docking yard, as well as cement and bagging plant.

Others are a steel pipe rolling mill, container terminal, fertilizer plant, supply vessels maintenance service yard, port authority, security and customs administration complex, port housing estate, schools, hospitals, shopping centers, parks and other facilities.

The construction phase of the project is expected to employ 100,000 workers while 1,200 jobs will be created after its completion.

By all indications, there is no going back to actualising the project. The survey of site had been completed and the report submitted to the governor.

The survey was conducted by

the Nigerian Army Engineers.

According to the report, the port is to occupy an area of about 8,000 hectares, which is 1,000 more than the 7,000 that was initially proposed for it.

Dickson who received the report said the development had testified that the project was on course.

The governor said: “Today, my dear people of Bayelsa State, you are now seeing in real terms, our plans to transform our economy beyond oil and gas. And, I have always said that, we are going to spare no effort in utilizsing the maritime endowments of the state.

“Our decision to build a world class deep sea port is now on course. What you are seeing today is the beginning of a long journey. I know we still have a long way to go before we have a deep sea port, but then we have started”.

•Obahiagbon He disclosed that by the survey, the port would occupy 15 hectares of land. He immediately directed the Commissioner for Land and Survey to begin the process of enumera-

Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson (left) presenting a bank draft for the sum of two hundred and thirty million naira (N230m) to Mr. Lai Are of ARUP / SCOTTWILSON for the feasibility study on the Deep SeaPort,Agge at Government House in Yenagoa.

tion, computation of the claims and entitlements to the owners of the affected areas.

He said the process would enable government to commence the payment of ad-

equate, fair and prompt compensations as required by law.

He commended the Nigerian Army Engineering Corps over the way it conducted the assignment.

Four slain youths haunt Aluu Continued from page 25 clan, have had to live with their inglorious past following the brutal killing of Tekena Elkanah (20), Chiadaka Odinga (20), Ugunna Obuzor (18) and Llyod Toku (19) on October 5, 2012. The four Uniport students had gone to claim a debt in community but were falsely accused of being robbers and in an instance of mad rage were murdered.

The reprisal attack from the students saw destruction of gigantic proportion visited upon the community. According to some indigenes, over 100 cars were burnt and several houses destroyed. For several days, the community was deserted as the police and students visited their anger on both the guilty and the innocent. Fear and chaos reigned in the community.

A year after, the fear seemed to have assumed a frightening dimension.

From Choba junction, any visitor will need the services of Hausa commercial motorcycle operators to get to the community. Immediately one enters the community, an unprecedented silence seemed to reign.

Men and women walked briskly to wherever was their destination and the usual excitement that characterised a cosmopolitan town like Aluu was absent.

But Omuokiri Aluu is not a village as outsiders are wont to believe. A single tarred road ran across the nine communities from

Choba. By Nigerian standards, it was a well constructed road; one that should bring prosperity to the town but this was not to be as the town depended sorely on the generosity of the university. Most of the residents also work at the university while others content themselves selling everyday products in shops built on both sides of the road.

But like the silence, which has descended on the town, so also has the residents decided to keep sealed lips over the incident, which has put their town in the spotlight.

Standing on the spot of the murder brings an eerie feeling.

Just behind the dumpsite, was a road that led to a street where beautiful houses were built as hostels for university students.

The indigenes did not appreciate any enquiry about the incident and they immediately gave a ‘dirty’ look and walked away.

Others looked at the questioner and put on a horrified look as if they had seen an apparition and walked away.

Some simply mumbled about the detention of the community leader and also walked away.

“This town is still very tough, not many people will talk to you because everybody is bitter and we don’t know who is a robber and who is innocent, please be careful as you ask questions,” a man, who operates a food joint and identified

as Michael, warned.

Some prominent indigenes, such as writer Elechi Amadi have said those who killed the boys were the strangers who live in a part of Aluu.

Michael corroborated this theory.

“Omuokiri indigenes are in the minority here, from Coca-Cola bus stop all the way down to the murder area is inhabited by strangers, students and other people. You cannot find an indigene living there and it’s unfortunate the whole community is being labeled killers,” he said.

There seemed to be some truth in this as a section of the town appeared to be inhabited by “strangers” who bought land from the indigenes. This group includes the Igbo, Hausa, Akwa Ibomites and other Rivers tribes. The best houses can be found in this area and it seemed to be the exact opposite of the area inhabited by the indigenes.

With increased population came crime. According to many of the residents, the presence of the students, the activities of cultists and the recent resettlement of former militants in the area have contributed to the porous security in the town.

The Nation learnt that when the militants came, they refused to live in their apportioned houses, engaged in extortion and harassment of residents.

The police were hard pressed. The division responsible for the town is 15 kilometers away in Isiokpo,

•One of the houses burnt

though there is a division three kilometers away. Recently, a police post was established in the town but residents lament “the police are so incompetent few people know of their existence.”

“Robbery is rife here; there is almost no house where the robbers have not operated. They climb through the roof and into your shop to steal all your goods. One man from Akwa- Ibiom died recently of heart attack when his store was burgled, the robbery is too much,” Michael said.

“The time they robbed my shop they passed through the roof and carted away everything here. I just lost my husband so you know how difficult it was for me, we are all tired of the robbers,” Mrs. Sunny Amaehule, an indigene said.

That was the situation in the town when the four

•The murder scene

Uniport students went on their ill-fated mission. Due to the tension which had built up in the town, the mob believed it had found the ringleaders of those who terrorised the community. According to one of the elders, the police were already tired of the robberies and terrorism and that influenced their behaviour at the scene of the murder.

The town is paying dearly for it. Aside the despicable image created in the international community, business has been affected. The community head, Hassan Walema has been in police detention since the incident and the town is ruled with fear.

“We have lost a lot; we do not find it funny that people think we are killers. What happened was a result of the tension created by the insecurity in the town, we want the world to know Aluu people are peace lov-

ing people,” said an elder who craved anonymity.

According to investigations, real estate industry has suffered tremendously.

In the town, most of the houses for rent are uninhabited as the students left the community in droves afraid of reprisal attacks from the indigenes. It was also learnt that the area inhabited by the “strangers” has seen the most drop in business.

The Nation counted 22 houses which have been up for let but seen no customers. “The houses here used to be more expensive than the natives but now it’s cheaper and nobody would even rent it. A 3-bedroom flat here is now N50, 000 per year but all of them are still empty,” a student of Uniport, who identified herself as Janet, said.

But one cannot miss the large number of churches in Omuokiri Aluu. When The Nation visited the Salem

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

27

NIGER DELTA REPORT

e Deep Sea Port

“This is just the beginning of what will be a mutually beneficial long term relationship and partnership”, he assured the army.

Few days after he received

the survey report, the governor presented a cheque of N230m representing 50 percent of the consultancy fee to Scot Wilson and Arup.

The money was to enable

the company to conduct feasibility studies on the site within nine months. Dickson presented the draft to a representative of the company, Lai Are. He described the deep sea port as a key investment infrastructure aimed at reducing the state’s dependency on oil and gas revenue.

He was confident that the port would reposition the state on the path of industrialisation for economic growth.

He said the government had sought the approval of the Federal Government to declare the Deep Sea Port a Free Trade Zone for oil and gas.

The governor said the government would partner with the private sector to actualise the project.

“I have commenced application for that area to be designated as oil and gas free trade zone and I have received the assurances of Mr. President that that request will be looked into and I am aware that it is being processed”, he said.

Dickson, however, observed an impediment to the project - Non-availability of a road that leads to Agge. But he assured that the government would construct necessary infrastructure including a road to complement the project.

Parents of kidnap victim seek justice PARENTS of a kidnap victim, Miss Tejiri Jegede-Ikpen, at the weekend expressed concern over alleged delay by the Delta State Police to charge the suspect to court.

The 11-year-old victim and JSS 3 student of Presentation National High School, Benin City, Edo State, was kidnapped on June 28 at Adonophe Road in Ughelli, headquarters of Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.

According to the father, Samuel Jegede-Ikpen, his daughter returned from school after her JSS 3 examination and was kidnapped the following day by a suspect whose name was given as Isaac Ike. Jegede-Ikpen said his daughter was at her mother’s shop when a motorcyclist, who pretended to be a customer, deceived her into fol-

From Polycarp Orosevwotu, Warri

lowing him.

He said: “The suspect on a motor bike came to our shop and asked the sales girl that he was buying drinks worth N11,400 and he paid only N10,000 and requested the sales girl to come with her for the balance and while they were going, the sales girl complained that the distance was much; that she cannot go further and the bike man dropped her and demanded for his money which was given back to him.

“The bike man immediately returned to the shop where he asked little Tejiri to come with him that the mother asked him

•Miss Jegede-Ikpen to bring her. She followed until they got to a village called Ophorigbala in Olomu, Ughelli South before she realised she was being taken elsewhere.”

Police Public Relations Officer Lucky Uyabeme said the suspect would be charged to court.

Council chief empowers 40 girls with equipment, cash From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

•Mrs Imoke speaking at the event

THE Chairman of Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State, Mrs Josephine Effiom, has empowered 40 girls, who completed skill acquisition training at the Women Development Centre.

Briefing the wife of the governor, Mrs. Obioma Liyel-Imoke, and other dignitaries at the event, the council boss said the graduating students were empowered according to the

skills they acquired.

Those who trained in hairdressing were given hair dryers, washing stands and certificates.

Those trained in fashion designing got sewing machines, tables and certificate while those trained in catering services went away with baking oven, stoves and certificate. All trainees were given cash for their first rent payment.

Effiom, while enjoining the graduating students to make judicious use of the equipment, said the training and empowerment of

youth in the council was in line with what Governor Liyel Imoke and his wife are doing in delivering the dividends of democracy to the people.

Effiom commemorated the A State Fit for a Child (asFac) programme of Mrs. Obioma Imoke.

The asFac programme was initiated by the wife of the governor to cater for the welfare of children.

The council boss said Akpabuyo Local Government Area has keyed into the programme to better the lot of children.

Mrs. Liyel-Imoke praised the chairman for giving the children the opportunity to showcase their talents.

Ibori...Prisoner in London, hero in Oghara

•Joe Amaehule st. where they were arrested

Foundation Faith Church, the Rev. Cyrus George Godson was preaching. He spoke of the end of times; of the rapture and the fate of the unbelievers.

Across the street, 300 metres away at the Living Faith Church aka Winners Chapel, the pastor, Attat John Bishop, prayed for Aluu and called on God to bring peace upon the community.

“After the incident, the churches here came together for prayers on behalf of the community. I have only been here four months but I can say this town has been peaceful, it’s like nothing has happened. Business is going on and God has taken control,” Bishop said.

The prayers of the churches have done little to allay the fears in Omuokiri Aluu.

“The fear of robbers and militants rank high and nobody is advised to visit the community after dark,”

Michael revealed.

But despite their challenges, the indigenes try to enjoy whatever is left of their battered community life. On Sunday morning, the town went to church and in the afternoon the men returned to their bars to drink accompanied by laughter and loud gospel music. And as soon as the sun set, they retreated into the fortress of their homes bolting their doors. But the next day the circle returns, as vicious as the unchanging image of Aluu as the town of killers.

An elder, Fim Sampson, said the king never ordered the killing.

He said: “As a native of Omuokiri, I can tell you that the chief never gave the order for anybody to be killed.

The police picked him up because he is the head and he will be freed after the investigation.

“I am happy the police

PHOTOS: SEUN AKIOYE

have made arrests and I recommend those found guilty should be prosecuted. It’s unfortunate it happened here; we wish the parents of the children to know this community played no part in the death of their children. That day was a week day, our people have gone to work. Coca-cola bus stop is our boundary with the strangers. That area used to be a large farmland now occupied by strangers. How could four young men be killed by a community and expect to have peace? In Aluu, we have professionals, lecturers, professors, military men who live here; we are enlightened people and we would never have killed anybody neither did our chief order any killing.

We want the world to know Aluu people are not killers, we are saddened by that incident and we commiserate with the families of the students. But we didn’t do it.”

ALTHOUGH he is serving a 13-year jail term in a London prison for corruption and money laundering, supporters of former Delta State Governor James Ibori from threw a lavish party to mark his 55th birthday in Oghara, Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State last weekend.

Flamboyant member of the Warri Kingdom council of chiefs, ChiefAyirimi Emami, a key supporter of the imprisoned governor, told reporters the ex-governor was worthy of celebration because of the giant strides recorded during his eight-year tenure.

Speaking after a novelty football match, Emami described Ibori’s travail as political, adding that the former governor did a lot in the development of youths, road

From Shola O’Neil, Warri

construction and other infrastructure to better the lot of Deltans.

Emami, who is the Chairman of Itsekiri Regional Development Committee, IRDC, said: “Despite being in prison, if Ibori happens to contesting election now, he will win because he is a man of the people.”

Ibroi’s kinsman, Mr Simon Otobo, said the Urhobo ethnic group has been worse off since Ibori’s ordeal, adding that some of his kinsmen who contributed to Ibori’s arrest are regretting the political gulf his absence is causing.

He urged the Federal Government and Britain to be lenient with the former governor.

•Emami addressing supporters

An elderly woman and commercial motorcycle rider, Omoko Rose and Edafewogho Ekawhen, praised the former governor for developing Oghara and also appealed to the government to work towards Ibori’s release, saying it would help stabilise the polity.

A vote for independent candidacy

T

HE governorship aspirant of the defunct All Nigeria People’s Congress (ANPP) in the February 2012 governorship election in Cross River State, Patrick Okomiso, has called on the National Assembly to consider the option of independent candidates.

Okomiso spoke with The Nation in Calabar.

He said the present political system does not allow for people who want to become elective office holders on their own without the platform of existing political parties.

“They should consider the option of independent candidates and make legislation that would enable individuals run elections as such. Many would want to become elec-

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

tive office holders on their own not on the name of any political party. Such people should be allowed,” he said.

He lauded the registration of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which he said is one of the best things that has happened to Nigerian democracy.

His words: “The coming of APC is the one of the best things that has happened and so it is good for APC to put its house in order so that there would be an alternative to PDP. It is a most welcome development. The political terrain would become interesting at the same time. The future is brighter. They should go ahead and be the opposition party Nigeria desires.”

•Okomiso

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

28

NIGER DELTA REPORT

When Lulu-Briggs Foundation takes free medicare to Akwa The medical needs of theIbom people are so much that they overwhelm the governA

O. B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation’s visit to the remote community of Enwang in Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State for its five-day free medical mission was wholesome.

The villagers comprising of the aged, nursing mothers, youths and children all came out in their large numbers. They defied the heavy downpour of the day to partake in the free medical mission organised by the Foundation.

The event witnessed tremendous turnouts of the community people at Community Health Centre in Enwang. The people eulogised LuluBriggs Foundation for coming to their aid when, according to some of the indigenes, government had abandoned them to their fates.

Some of them went through eyes tests; surgical operation for those with illnesses such as hernia; appendices; dental surgeries. Others were also treated of Malaria and Typhoid.

Speaking on the essence of the programme, the Executive Director of the Foundation, Mrs. Seinye O. B. Lulu-Briggs, said the visit to Enwang community was not only to attend to the medical needs of the people but also to cater for their spiritual needs.

Mrs. Seinye O. B. Lulu-Briggs, who was represented by Mrs. Julian Jacks, explained that during the first four days, the foundation’s professional medical practitioners and seasoned volunteers treated over 4,543 comprising outpatients/general 1,419, eye section 323, paediatrics section 537, dental section 249, surgery 15, laboratory section 110 and pharmacy 1,880.

Her words: “This is in no way conclusive of the total number of people that will benefit from this free medical exercise by the time we wrap up our operation on the 5th day. From our cursory but in-depth investigation of the prevalent health issues in these environs, we have come to identify Malaria, Typhoid and eye-related diseases as prevalent in this locality.

“These could be attributable to the nature of activities undertaken to sustain themselves, source of water and environmental cleanliness. I am delighted to state that this is our 20th mission, and the first of its kind in Akwa Ibom state, although our free Medical Mission in time past have been extended to Ikang in Cross River State, traversing several communities and people in the Niger Delta including Bayelsa and Rivers States.

“We appeal to the government to carry out a conscientization campaign on how to sanitize the environment and to purify drinking water, also to provide mosquito treated nets as preventive measures in combating these diseases.”

One of the beneficiaries of the free medical mission is Mrs Rose Edet, whose child Master Crown Edet, was diagnosed of hernia.

She said, “My son was suffering

ment. So, when private organs step in, the people rush to benefit, reports KAZEEM IBRAHYM, who witnessed the Lulu-Briggs Foundation’s medical mission to Akwa Ibom

•One of the beneficiaries of the medical mission, Master Crown Edet with •Volunteers giving out drugs to the people his mother, Mrs. Rose Edet, a day after Crown’s Hernia surgery.

•People waiting under a canopy to be attended to by the medical experts of the foundation.

from hernia right from birth. The medical experts of the O. B. LuluBriggs Foundation operated him and the operation was successful. I didn’t even think of making him pass through the operation because of his age. He is just one year and one month. I want to believe that the foundation came because of him.

“We have been to several prayer houses. We were told not to have him

operated that he may not survive the operation. Even some of the churches told us that the illness is caused by witches and my son would need a special deliverance.

“Now that God has done a great miracle in his life and I am very grateful. Before this operation, I took my son to General Hospital on April 2, 2013 but I was told he wasn’t up to the operating age. I don’t know how

How to curb crime, by youths

Y

OUTHS under the aegis of A n t i - t e r r o r i s m Neighbourhood Watch, have called for the establishment of Nigeria Paramilitary Soldiers (NPS), to assist in the fight against terrorism, oil theft, militancy and other crimes.

The AtNW, in a statement by its National Coordinator, Anwana Rufus Ezekiel in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, said the crime rate was alarming.

The statement reads: :“Anti-terrorism Neighbourhood Watch has existed for some time now in parts of the country and have secretly been carrying out this assignments, with arguable results, especially in the Niger Delta region.

“Members are core community youths, who are born, bred and live in the communities. They know all the nooks and crannies there and how to access them, they know everybody in the community, including visitors.

From Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt

They know what business everyone is engaged in and therefore are good in relating valuable information to the arm-carrying military on the ways, how, when and where these actions and the actors could be stopped with ease.

“No community member would like to see his place go into extinction because of the activities of these criminal, so what the Neighbourhood Watch is all about is to use members of the community to protect the communities and its borders from these crimes.

“These actions, pipeline vandalism, illegal oil bunkering, militancy, sea piracy, cultisims, Boko Haram activities, among other take place in communities, and the operators, actors cannot be faceless to members of their communities.”

A

to thank this foundation than to say thank you.”

According to Miebaka Nabiebu, who is the Director of Programme of O. B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation, he explained that the foundation spends a minimum of N18million for every free medical mission it embarked upon.

His words: “The turnout of the people of this community has been

massive. I can tell you verifiably that this is one community that we have had the highest turnouts of people.

In three days, we are able to record more that 4,500 people coming out for the free medical mission.

“Besides that, the impression we have had of this community is that there is a depletion of medical facilities that they could easily avail themselves of. We do this four times in a year. This is just one of the programmes. We have the care for life, a programme where we take care of the aged from ages of 70 years and above, we provide for them holistically like their feeding, medical, accommodation and spiritual needs.”

On his part, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Emem Bassey, reiterated government’s commitment to the health needs of the people.

While thanking O. B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation for the gesture, the commissioner urged the indigenes to take full advantage of the Free Medical Mission by coming out en-mass to participate. Dr. Bassey was represented at the event by Dr. Martin Akpan.

In his words, the Paramount Ruler of Mbo Local Government Area, Edidem Edet Antai Essang, the 3rd, thanked the foundation for extending free medical care to the people of Mbo. His words: “Thank you for coming to render assistance to us here.

The chiefs are happy with you.”

NGO trains widows in Uyo

N Uyo, Akwa Ibom-based Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), Smile Widows Foundation, is training 200 widows in production of cosmetics and laundry services.

The founder of the NGO, Mr Patrick Daramola, spoke on Monday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

The training began on Monday and will end tomorrow.

The women are being trained on how to make perfume, body spray, soap, detergent, air freshener, bleach, insecticide and body cream. They are also receiving training on how to make paint, disinfectants and shampoo.

Daramola expressed hope that at the end of the training the rate at which the widows depended on their relations for their sustenance would be reduced.

“It is the desire of the NGO that widows in Akwa Ibom should have sustainable income generating business to cater for themselves,’’ he said.

Daramola told NAN that at the end of the training, the beneficiaries would be linked with financial institutions for necessary assistance to commence their

‘

“It is the desire of the NGO that widows in Akwa Ibom should have sustainable income generating business to cater for themselves,

‘

business.

He said the widows were among the less-privileged in the society who needed to be supported and catered for by the people.

Daramola urged the widows to avail themselves of the opportunity of the training to engage in productive ventures.

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

PEOPLE

29

THE NATION

A FIVE-PAGE SECTION ON SOCIETY

His education was almost truncated because of fund, but Prof Ropo Sekoni’s determination to be a scholar saw him through. Sekoni, a member of the Editorial Board of The Nation and Board Chairman, Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism, turned 70 last week. Family members, friends and associates gathered to share in the joy of the day with him in Lagos. RISIKAT RAMONI reports.

•The celebrator Prof Sekoni (middle) assisted by (from right) Prof Soyinka; Mrs Banke Sekoni; Prof Adelabu and Chief Akande to cut the cake

A new septuagenarian on the block

H

E grew up the hard way. Going to school was not easy after his father's timber business collapsed. He was then in form two, but he was determined not to allow that misfortune to disrupt his education.

That small boy of yesterday has come of age.

He celebrated his 70th birthday in Lagos last week. For Prof Oluropo Sekoni, it was time to thank God for seeing him through that most difficult time of his life. The boy, who found it difficult to pay his way through secondary school, is today a Professor of Literature in English at the Lincoln University, United States.

Sekoni said: “It was tough going to secondary school, especially in my first two years because I had to go soliciting for help to pay my fees.

Apart from that challenge of not having extra money, we were getting one shilling as pocket money in a week in the boarding school.”

But he was motivated by his father’s commitment to education, even though the old man was not educated. And when Sekoni saw some students during an excursion to the University of Ibadan (UI) in 1958, his mind was made up on the path to take.

“I saw undergraduates going to the university with academic gowns, I was surprised. I also saw how decent lecturers’ houses looked.

At that time, I knew that education was important. I also saw how Africans were living in

•Ropo Sekoni at 70 some mansions. At that time, I believed education was meant to change the quality of one’s life. Education was attributed to decent behaviour, decent living, good jobs and respect in the community. So, I was motivated to change the quality of my life,” he said.

So, he did menial jobs to sponsor his education.

As a Professor in a US university, Sekoni shuttled between home, where he is a member of the Editorial Board of The Nation and Board Chairman, Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism, and America.

A- list personalities attended his 70th birthday reception at the Senator H.A.B Fasinro Hall of the City Hall, Lagos Island.

The birthday ‘boy’ looked 50. He was charming in a cream lace Agbada with a pair of black shoes. He topped it with a wine Aso oke cap and a muffler of the same material on his shoulder.

His wife Banke wore a wine lace Iro and buba with gele to match.

The guests were dressed in various attires, except his children and in-laws.

The boys wore white heavily-embroidered

Agbada and wine stripe Aso oke cap.

The women, including his in-laws wore the same damask material with purple headgear.

A live band, the Faith Music Group entertained guests.

Though it was not an occasion for speeches, a few guests, who spoke with The Nation, praised Sekoni Mrs Sekoni resisted all pleas by this reporter to speak. She was busy attending to guests. She and her child Yetunde moved round the hall to ensure that everybody was attended to.

It took the intervention of her husband to get her to speak. She described her husband as “Super” and wished him long life.

Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu also wished him “the best of a future where and when he will stand on the side of the people against oppression and victimisation.”

Prof Sekoni’s daughter, Tolu wished her dad “the very best in life.”

“You are a good man. You’re simply the best.

I love you and I pray God blesses you with many more years so you can see all your grandchildren,” she said.

“I feel great,” Prof Sekoni responded to a question by The Nation.

Turning 70, he said, was a major accomplishment. “"I never believed I could reach 70 years on earth because my parents died when I was young and when one sums up their age then, it was not up to 70. Also, in a country where the average life expectancy is 50, if one attains 70, he should thank God,” he said.

Soon, it was time to dance. the celebrator engaged his children, family members and guests on the dance floor.

For those who thought the septuagenarian could only dance to local oldies’ music, he proved them wrong when he gyrated with his children to the R ’n B played by the Disk Jockey.

There were enough drinks and food. Guests relished African and foreign cuisine. Guests went home with different souvenirs.

Among the guests were Gen Alani Akinrinade (rtd); Nobel laureate Prof Wole Soyinka; Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Prof Modupe Adelabu; son of the late Bola Ige, Muyiwa; Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, Vintage Press Ltd, publishers of The Nation Mr Victor Ifijeh; Chairman Editorial Board of The Nation Mr Sam Omatseye and Editor, The Nation Mr Gbenga Omotoso, among others •More picture on page 35

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

30

SOCEITY FIDAU FOR PA IBRAHIM ADEMOLA FASHOLA, FATHER OF LAGOS STATE GOVERNOR MR BABATUNDE FASHOLA AT TAFAWA BALEWA SQUARE (TBS) IN LAGOS

•From left: House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal; son of the deceased and Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun, Kogi State Governor Idris Wada

•From left: Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwakwanso; Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu; Mr Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) and wife Betty

•Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Prof Modupe Adelabu

•Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole

•APC Interim Chair Chief Bisi Akande

•Osun State Governor Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola

•From left: Sokoto State Governor Aliyu Wamakko, Lagos House of Assembly Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji; Adamawa State Governor Murtala Nyako

•From left: Kashim Imam; Alhaji Yayale Ahmed; Senator Adamu Ailero; Imo State Deputy Governor Prince Eze Madumere and Kebbi State Governor Saidu Dakingari

•From left: Asoju Oba of Lagos Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas; Chief Henry Ajomale; former Federal Commissional for Works and National President Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria Alhaji Femi Okunnu and Ogun State Deputy Governor Prince Segun Adesegun

•Retired Justice of the Supreme Court George Oguntade (left) and Chairman, Eleganza Group of Companies, Alhaji Rasak Akanni Okoya

•APC Interim National Publicity Secretary Alhaji Lai Muhammed (left) and Senator Ganiyu Solomon

•Mrs Derin Osoba

•Prof Bamidele Badejo

•Lagos State Head of Service Adesegun Ogunlewe

SHOPPING

31

THE NATION

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

e-mail: toniaitose@yahoo.com

07035302326

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.net

Shopping@thenationonlineng.net

As shoppers opt for innovations, Samsung Electronics West Africa, a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Company Limited, has introduced a new bottom mounted freezer-refrigerator.

TONIA 'DIYAN writes

Bottom-mounted freezer-refrigerator for comfort

W •A Nigerian shopper in the United Kingdom

Nigeria’s shoppers are UK biggest spenders O

N her twice-yearly visits to London from Nigeria, Victoria Appiah stocks up on everything she needs for the next six months. “I basically only do food shopping back home,” she says, standing outside Marks & Spencer’s flagship store in Marble Arch, central London. “It’s not that you can’t get these things in Lagos, but everything here is much more reasonably priced.

“If you want cheap products, Chinese-made have taken over in Nigeria, and you can’t always vouch for quality.”

Thousands of Nigerians agree. Visitors from the west African nation are the UK’s fourth biggest foreign spenders, ringing up an average £500 in each shop where they make purchases – four times what the average UK shopper spends.

Holidaying or visiting relatives abroad is increasingly open to millions of middle class Nigerians, with the number of visitors to the UK increasing by more than 50% to 142,000 a year in the decade ending 2011, according to the Office for National Statistics. In a country projected to become Africa’s biggest economy next year, and the world’s fifth most populous by 2050, businesses at home and abroad are cashing in. In Debenhams’ Oxford Street branch, signs in Hausa, one of the official Nigerian languages in the country’s largely impoverished north, direct shoppers to items on sale.

This year, the shop said that Nigerian customers were its biggest overseas spenders.

Daily flights plying the lucrative route between Nigeria and the UK have ballooned in the last decade.

British Airways permits almost double the normal baggage allowance for the six-hour haul.

In some cases, Nigerians are literally using their deeper pockets on sprees. Shola Obadeyu wore a heavy duffel coat while queueing in Heathrow for a flight back to her sweltering home city of Abuja. “I can save [airline] baggage space by putting small things like vest tops and underwear in the pockets,” she said as she queued with other passengers, almost all struggling with bulging suitcases. Back in Abuja, Obadeyu sells wares bought in London “at prices that don’t kill you”.

Others are tapping the market. A mushrooming middle class snapped up 10m microwaves last year. Big name brands from Apple to Zara have sprung up to feed those aspirations.

The African-based discount supermarket giant

Shoprite is pouring $205m into its current three outlets in Nigeria, while the US hypermarket Walmart sees scope for 50 outlets in the country.

On a recent trip back from Europe, Marie Claire Lienou lugged 50kg of frozen meat in a freezer bag back to Nigeria. “You can’t compare [Shoprite’s] prices here with their prices in Europe. For 10 steaks there I can buy two here. You just pay what you have to for the convenience and guarantees,” she said, pushing a trolley laden with relative luxuries such as bagged salads.

“Nigeria is very crowded, traffic is terrible, fakes [wares] are everywhere. The only thing I’ll buy from the market is fresh bulk vegetables, because there are no fake tomatoes,” she added.

Being middle class in Nigeria isn’t cheap. In a brightly lit KFC across the shopping centre, Taiwo Edun, an engineer, treated his girlfriend to crispy chicken and chips, a luxury beyond the reach of many at $20 (£13) a pop.

“I don’t consider myself in the super-rich class, I’m not chartering flights for my friends to go on holiday like some Nigerians can. But I can come here maybe once a month,” he said.

The widespread corruption and infrastructure woes that plague Nigeria – including daily power blackouts that are smoothed over by millions of generators – push up the costs of running businesses here, keeping most dependent on informal, market-style retail.

Abrupt plans to introduce a new 5,000 naira (£20) note worth five times the current highest bill have caused an outcry, with market sellers saying it would drive up prices.

On the back of one of the notes will be Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, mother of the Afrobeat singer Fela Kuti.

Ransome-Kuti made her name as an activist with a mass protest against policies that increased prices for market women.

Meanwhile, those who can afford it continue to see a better deal abroad. The country’s central bank throws billions of dollars into propping up the naira at artificially high rates, hurting millions of local exporters and encouraging Nigeria’s shopping exodus.

Indicating her clutch of M&S carrier bags, Appiah said it was her five-year-old grandson’s favourite shop.

“As long as the weather is not too cold, Nigerians will be shopping in London,” she said.

•Culled from Reuters

ITH the new bottom mounted freezer, Samsung brings powerful technology innovations into the home, empowering families to get more out of their appliances and enabling households to run more efficiently and harmoniously.

The new refrigerator, which automatically adjusts cooling speed in response to temperature fluctuations for more energy efficiency and strengthens durability, affirms Samsung's dedication to providing appliance innovations that deliver unparalleled performance, greater flexibility, superior organisation and more convenience for today's busy families.

Most notably, the new refrigerator features Samsung's superior Digital Inverter Compressor that strengthens durability and improves energy efficiency and cooling performance by automatically adjusting across five speeds of RPM in response to cooling demands.

Whether due to frequent door openings, a hot plate of food or outside temperature changes, the compressor reacts to either rapidly provide cold air or slow down to reduce unnecessary energy consumption. And, unlike other models, Samsung's compressor operates only in case of need, producing less noise. While this innovative technology works to strengthen the durability and extend the life of the refrigerator, Samsung backs it up with a 10-year warranty - a first in this segment.

Product Manager, Refrigerators, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr Manmohan Chandroth said "In many ways, the refrigerator is at the heart of the kitchen, experiencing a lot of physical demands and activity throughout the day. And in addition to small temperature changes that come from frequent door openings, we also thought about situations in which a home's electricity supply may be unstable with spikes and power cuts. This will damage a refrigerator over time. And if it breaks, it causes a huge amount of stress and takes significant time, money and effort to fix or replace. At Samsung, we pride ourselves on always thinking ahead to what our consumers will need, and our new Bottom Mounted Freezer Refrigerator thoughtfully delivers on providing real solutions with unprecedented technology, durability and design".

An easy slide shelf effortlessly slides out to enable more efficient organization and easy storing and removal of groceries, while reducing dead space deep inside. In a conventional refrigerator, it is inconvenient to put large items in the drawer due to its small entrance. But a Full Open Box in the new Bottom Mounted Freezer Refrigerator can be pulled out fully so you can store items from corner to corner and to easily remove large and bulky food items. A wider and deeper Big Guard door shelf accommodates big and tall bottles - perfect for larger entertaining occasions that require many and varied size beverages.

Samsung's new Bottom Mounted Freezer Refrigerator offers several other category-first features that highlight convenience, including an entire Grab'n Go sauce basket that can be detached and moved for cooking or enjoying a meal, a top LED that illuminates the refrigerator's interior more brightly than conventional models.

This refrigerator ensures optimal freshness. A Cool Select zone allows consumers to control the temperature of that compartment with a simple-touch button display, maximizing freshness and allowing the space for multi-purpose use, keeping vegetables and meat fresher far longer. And No Frost Technology prevents ice buildup on the inside of the freezer wall and prevents water drop formation in the refrigerator that can leave stains.

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

32

SHOPPING

•A demolished plaza on Ikorodu Road, Lagos

•Demolished shops

Ikorodu traders count their losses T HE reconstruction of Ikorodu Road has rendered shop owners hopeless. Many shops, plazas, markets, shopping malls and even residential buildings have been destroyed.

The shops inside the garage have also been damaged with owners losing their wares and money.

Some of them narrated their ordeal to The Nation Shopping.

At Pentagon Plaza in Ikorodu, Mrs Ifayinchukwu Ngozi, a shop owner said: “I used to have two shops in this plaza but when the reconstruction of the road started I lost one. I have also lost my wares, money and customers. Some of my customers who do not have my telephone number can no longer locate me; they have lost all contact with me.”

Mrs Adenifuja Oyindamola, who is also a shop owner at Pentagon plaza, said she lost so many cus-

By Olajumoke Assan

tomers, valuable items and money when the contractors destroyed the complex. “When my shop was damaged, the items I used to beautify it and the ones I used to showcase my goods were all destroyed.

These things cost me a fortune.“ Mr Felix Chukwuka, who sells electronic gadgets at the Unique shopping complex, Ikorodu, said: “After my shop was destroyed, I

lost a lot of goods and money. I wasn’t able to move out all my goods. Most of the goods I lost are very costly and it has not been easy trying to recover the money. Since this reconstruction process began, life has been very difficult for us”.

Alhaja Monsurat Lawal who sells baby items at the Unique plaza has a different story to tell. “My shop was not affected but since the construction of the road began sales have been really low, customers

have not been coming around like they used to. And shop owners have intentionally increased their shop rent using the demolition and reconstruction process as an avenue to exploit traders”.

Addide, a retail store in the neighbourhood had to lock up as the entrance leading to the store was destroyed causing obstruction to shoppers who might want to patronise the store.

One of the attendants, Miss Joke

‘After my shop was destroyed, I lost a lot of goods and money. I wasn’t able to move out all my goods. Most of the goods I lost are very costly and it has not been easy trying to recover the money. Since this reconstruction process began, life has been very difficult for us’

Amusa confirmed that the store had to close down because the front which was destroyed as a result of the reconstruction process on Ikorodu road has to be rebuilt.

A regular customer at the store, Mrs Arinola Ijaola spoke of how she has found shopping difficult since its closure. “ Since Addide closed down I have found shopping uninteresting; the store keeps me in my neigbourhood. I hardly go out of Ikorodu to buy the items I need.”

The frozen food shops around Mile 12 under bridge, are not left out in the demolition exercise. The traders have been asked to relocate.

Mrs Ayoola Rashidat is one of the affected frozen food traders. She said: “When we were asked to move out of our shops, we lost some of our items and money. We sell perishable items that we cannot store anywhere else but in a freezer. But we have been asked to move out where we have these freezers. How do we cope? I haven’t gotten another shop yet, I don’t even have money to relocate now.”

Prices of food items remain the same

T

RADERS who sell consumables, such as foodstuff and beverages and those who sell clothes should be rejoicing.

Why? These items were in high demand last week because of the eid-ilfitri celebration. Prices of such items have fallen.

Across major markets in Lagos, traders of various commodities shared their experiences with The Nation Shopping.

Mr Arowolo Debanjo, a meat seller at Mushin Ojuwoye Market, said he made huge sales because most of his Muslim customers bought meat in large quantities, probably because they couldn't afford to buy rams.

Mrs. Sidikat Rasheed, a shopper at the same market, said the prices of some foodstuff have reduced. But, some are still on the high side. For example, two small size Tatashe cost N100 as against its initial price of N50.

Mrs. Kafilat Owodunni, a pepper seller also at Mushin market confirmed that pepper is now cheap.

"N100 worth of pepper has been reduced to N50. A basket of either pepper or tomatoes now sells for N800 instead of N1,000, N1,200 ".

At Oyingbo Market, Mrs. Kudi Adebambo, a yam and cassava flour seller, attested to the steady price of these items before and after the celebration.

•Oyingbo market

By Taibat Idowu

Mr Emeka Onu, a melon seller at the same market, said the price of melon hasn't changed. A cup still sells for between N60 and N70 each.

At the clothing section of Oshodi Market, Alhaja Aribide Shakiru confirmed that there is no increase in the prices of lace materials "I still sell my lace materials at their usual prices. No increment whatsoever and nothing has changed."

At Mile 12 Market , prices of yam, pepper, rice, beans, Semovita, meats, fish, turkey and garri remain normal. Those that have in-

creased in price are snail, vegetable, stockfish, crayfish and okro.

Mrs. Anjolaoluwa Aminu sells rice and beans in both large and small quantity. She attested to the fact that prices of the items have droped and are now more affordable. According to her, a bag of rice now sells for N9000 and N9,500 while beans goes for N10,000 and N11,500 as against N12,000, N13,000.

At the same market, Mrs. Anu Afolabi who sells onions said it is out of season, therefore it is a bit expensive. “For now onions is expensive because we have limited

supply. A sack of onions costs between N20,000 and N22,000 irrespective of it size.”

Mr. Sheu Abdulahi is a meat seller. He said: “The festival is over and the price of meat has dropped.

The same quantity we sold for N1000 is now N600” According to Mrs. Aminatu Mopelola, a vegetable seller at Mile 12 Market, vegetable is expensive, a dozen costs N1,700 as against N1,000 it was formerly sold. Also a dozen of Ewedu cost N1,400".

25 litres of groundnut oil now sells for N6000 as against N5,700, 5 litres sell for N1,200, it used to be

N1,100, two and half litres of oil have reduced by N50. It now sells for N550.

Semovita is N1,750 , it used to be N2000 while Semolina that used to be N2,400 now cost N1,700 , the Honeywell brand cost that used to cost N2,500, is now N1,900.”

Mrs. Seun Ayelabola sells garri at Daleko Market. According to her, garri is cheaper than it used to be “ a bag of garri from Cotonu was N11,500 now it is N9000. Garri from Ikare sells for N5,500 , it used to be N8,500, for the yellow garri, it used to be N7,500 , it is now N4,500.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

33

COMMENTARY

P

REAMBLE

In a deeply thoughtful poetic out stanza, an Arab poet coined some philosophical wordings that have since remained axiomatic by all standards for people who can reason and draw the best lesson from the advantages of their reasoning. The wordings partly go thus: “We persistently blame our era for the calamities afflicting us when the only blame ascribable to our era is actually our own misdemeanour.......”

Prompted by the news of another massacre last Sunday allegedly committed by the vandals called Boko Haram inside a Mosque in Kondoga, Borno State, where 44 civilians were reportedly killed in cold blood and yet another attack on the security forces in Bama leading to the death of 12 soldiers and seven policemen, this column, (The Message) quickly dusted its archive once again in search of facts about the wreath of thorns that littered our way to this stage of our common journey as a nation. And no document came more handy than a lecture delivered by His Eminence, Dr. Muhammad Sa‘ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto at Harvard University, the United States on October 3, 2011.

The title of the 33-page lecture which had once been fully analysed in this column under the topic ‘A voice from Harvard’ was ‘Islam and Peace Building in West Africa’. In that lecture, His Eminence enumerated the causes and effects of violent crises in the West African sub region with particular reference to Nigeria. He blamed such crises on three major issues: (1) political struggle for supremacy between the elite and the poor masses (2) bad governance on the part of the ruling class and (3) primordial ethno-religious sentiments.

The most prominent of these three issues according to him is bad governance which engenders corruption, joblessness, poverty, exploitation, suspicion and general bitterness in the land.

Observation Looking at the situation of Nigeria as a nation abundantly blessed with enormous wealth, one will surely find a puzzling irony in the fact that some citizens of such a nation can be paid a paltry sum of N5000 by some agents of Satan to kill innocent people mercilessly and burn their property with impunity as in the case of Boko Haram. Also, the abysmal level of penury and squalor in the land seems to be a sharp contradiction of what Nigeria ought to be as against what she currently is vis a vis her wealth especially as the so-called ruling class lives in extravagant affluence while the masses live in abject poverty. There are many questions on this hopeless situation to which His Eminence’s lecture had proffered solution since 2011. The summary of the lecture is that no smoke can be found where there is no fire. However, while the Federal Government and its agencies focus on the effect of violence, His Eminence believes that it is only by tracing the root cause of our calamities that we can find a permanent solution to them.

Excerpts from the lecture “....Many people (outside our country) consider Nigeria as a theatre of absurd conflicts and interminable crises. They may be justified in holding this view; with the Jos crises festering for years, with post-election violence and suicide – bombings, it is difficult to think otherwise. When we consider Nigeria’s population of about 150 million, half the population of West Africa; its over 250 ethnic and language groups; its regional and geo-political configurations; its landmass and its diversity in religion and culture; we may be constrained to reach a different conclusion. Nigeria may, after all, be a paragon of stability which, as God Almighty has willed, shall undergo all the trials allotted it early enough in its national history”.

“But in all fairness, systemic ethno-political and religious crises, like the ones we have witnessed in recent years, do not have a long history in Nigeria. They all began in the late 1980s, following the intense competition for power and influence especially among the western educated elite; the Kafanchan crisis of 1987, in Southern Kaduna, was quickly followed by the Zangon Kataf and other crises; all in the same vicinity.

The democratic dispensation, which began

FEMI ABBAS ON Femabbas@yahoo.com 08122697498,

To the drawing board in 1999 also came with its set of problems, the most visible being the Shari’ah Crisis and the First Jos Crisis which led to the declaration of state of emergency in Plateau State”.

But these crises, varied as they were, reveal the multi-dimensional nature of Nigeria as a political entity. We witness the primacy of politics in almost all these conflicts. In the struggle for power and political supremacy, politicians exercise no restraint in aggravating the socio-religious and ethnic cleavages, which characterize the geo-politics of the Nigerian state. It should not be forgotten that the Second Jos Crisis of November 2008 was also ignited by a botched Chairmanship election in Jos North Local Government”.

Second Dimension “The second dimension to these crises, especially in Kaduna and Plateau States, is the indigene/settler dichotomy, which is yet to be addressed properly by the Nigerian State.

Many ethnic groups in these conflict areas see the other ethnic groups as foreigners who should not enjoy the full rights of bona fide residents. Most of these disenfranchised Nigerians also happen to be Muslims. However, those who oppose this dichotomy argue that these so-called settlers had spent more than two hundred years in the areas they reside. Moreover, as Nigerian Citizens, they have the full right to reside wherever they wish and pursue their legitimate business without let or hindrance. After all, they cannot be settlers in their own country”.

Third Dimension “The third dimension of Nigeria’s ethnoreligious crises is their potential to become a systematic national crisis. When a person is killed in any of the areas of conflict, his coreligionists, especially in the cities react violently and begin to kill anyone they think is related to him. This often triggers further reprisals in other parts of the country where victims come from. It took a lot of efforts by the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council [NIREC] which I co-chair, and other state authorities, to treat each crisis independently and reduce the risk of systemic reprisals”.

Fourth Dimension “The fourth dimension of Nigeria’s crises is poor leadership and the bad governance usually associated with its management.

Many of those charged with authority in the states where these conflicts occur are also parties to the crises. They make feeble efforts to control the violence and do so only when much of the damage has been done...”

Governance “....The issue of poor leadership and bad governance also explains how the Boko Haram movement has been able to transform itself from a small Hijrah group in Yobe State, escaping from the uncertainties and contradictions of the Nigerian State, to a militant movement able to wreak havoc and destruction once provoked. Those in authority were prepared to court the leaders of this group when it suited them and to trample on them like flies when they were no longer useful...However, the recent bombing of the United Nations Office in Abuja has introduced an international dimension to terrorist’s activities, a development, which is hitherto entirely new to Nigeria”.

The promise of dialogue “....When I became the Sultan of Sokoto in November 2006, some of the major problems

I found on ground were the after-effects of the Riots, especially in Kaduna, Jos and some parts of the North East as well as a disturbing atmosphere of mistrust, fear and hostility, especially between the leaderships of Nigeria’s two major religions: Islam and Christianity. To resolve these knotty issues we chose the path of positive engagement, which we thought would engender meaningful discourse, improve communication and understanding and change the dynamics of our operating environment to that of trust and confidence...” “....The Nigeria Inter-Religious Council [NIREC] provided the right platform for this engagement. The Council, itself a product of Nigeria’s ethno-religious crises, was composed of 25 members each from the two religions and co-chaired by myself, in my capacity as the President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, and the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria [CAN]. The approach of NIREC was simple and practical. Firstly, we affirmed the sanctity of human life, Muslim and Christian, and insisted that anybody who takes the law into his hands, regardless of the circumstances, must bear the full legal consequences of his action. You cannot believe it, but despite the frequency of these disturbances, only a few people have ever been punished for perpetrating any act of violence. The masterminds go scot-free. Secondly, while appreciating the fact that we are required to look after the interest of our co-religionists, we must pay attention to the other dimensions of our conflicts. As many were preparing to declare a religious war in Jos, for example, we laboured hard to draw attention to the other dimensions of the crisis. It was a conflict between Muslims and Christians quite alright, but it was not a conflict between Islam and Christianity. When Nigeria’s President called for a parley among stakeholders, we made bold to declare the Jos crisis a political crisis. Thirdly, we adopted a tactical approach to conflict resolution. Whenever, there is a break-out of violence, we work together to restore law and order and ask the quarrelsome questions later. We take this approach to minimise loss of life and to ensure that the crisis is contained in the primary area it occurred. Also, we devised a quarterly meeting schedule that took us to all parts of the country. It was heartening to many to see us working together and preaching peaceful co-existence and religious harmony even in areas, which never registered an ethno-religious conflict”.

Duties of NIFAA “I must point out that it was also our view that inter-faith action should transcend conflict resolution. For it to be effective, it must affect the life of the common man. NIREC floated the Nigeria Inter-Faith Action Association [NIFAA] to take up this challenge and NIFAA has been very active in the control of the dreaded tropical disease: Malaria. We also find that we must act together to address issues related to electoral reform, good governance and anti-corruption. I am therefore glad to state that the goodwill and understanding which these activities were able to generate, have given impetus to the development of inter-faith dialogue to a new level. I always remember, with happiness, the seminar organized by the Christian Association of Nigeria [CAN] in April 2010, on ‘Knowing Your Muslim Neighbour’, where I presented a paper on the topic. The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs [NSCIA] gracefully reciprocated by inviting CAN members to its formal meeting in Kaduna, where the CAN representative gave a lecture on Islam in the Eyes of a

Christian and both Muslim and Christian scholars, gave inspiring responses on the scriptural basis of mutual co-existence. Despite serious setbacks in recent months, many of us remain committed to this positive engagement and to the promise that dialogue offers the resolution to Nigeria’s ethno-religious crises”

Looking ahead ‘’...Understanding the multifarious nature of Nigeria’s ethno-religious crises should strengthen our resolve and determination to deploy all the energies and resources at our disposal to see to their resolution. Our inability and reluctance to take meaningful action go to challenge not only our common humanity but also our self-worth. It is, therefore, important for us to appreciate, first and foremost, the importance of consensus building within the polity, with a view to ameliorating the current state of political polarization in it. The Nigerian political class must be able to speak and understand one another as well as to develop a minimum national agenda to chart the way forward. The political class must also be able to open dialogue on a variety of national issues, including the perennial problem of power rotation and willingly enter into agreements that they can honour with dignity....” “....Also, governance, at all levels, must translate into tangible benefits for all Nigerians, regardless of their ethnic and religious affiliation. Nigeria has the resources to make life more pleasant for its people. It is equally imperative to address the poverty problem as well as the needs of the youth population both in all the geo-political areas of the country. In a situation where over 50% of our population is jobless at less than 19 years of age, we are definitely sitting on a time bomb much deadlier than that of Boko Haram unless we take urgent action to defuse it....” “....Furthermore, there should be renewed determination to address both the Jos and Boko Haram sectarian crises. The Federal Government must take its security responsibilities seriously by effectively containing these crises. But beyond that, a genuine dialogue must be initiated, to begin healing festering wounds and to bring genuine understanding and reconciliation amongst the entire people of Plateau State and beyond.

The social dimension of the Boko Haram cannot also be resolved by mere use of force.

This is the reason why I have consistently suggested dialogue and education to counteract its message, especially those aspects dealing with modern education. Millions of Muslim pupils are already outside the school system. Millions more will definitely follow if urgent intervention is not undertaken to enlighten the younger generations.

And the question I have always asked is What kind of society can we build in the 21st century when our youth turn their back on Science and Technology and are unable to produce the next generation of doctors, engineers and other specializations necessary for sustaining the socio-economic development of the society?....”

Conclusion “....Finally, we should not neglect the impact of the International environment on Nigeria’s ethno-religious crises. Happenings in the US, Iraq, Afghanistan, Norway, Netherlands, the UK and France are as current and relevant as events in Jos, Maiduguri and Abuja. We must preach international tolerance and moderation. The fight against extremist groups should never be perverted to become a fight against Islam and its doctrines. We should all remember that in the final analysis, it is not what the perpetrators of violence do that really counts. It is the actions we take, individually and collectively, that would shape the fate of humanity....”

Comment For those who can deeply comprehend the above excerpts from His Eminence’s lecture of 2011, there can be no better choice than returning to the drawing board for a permanent solution. In no part of the world has any wound inflicted by sectarian crisis been healed in the contemporary time through the barrels of guns. Nigeria cannot be an exception. The causes of our crises are much more fundamental than their effects. And addressing the effects alone to the exclusion of the cause may be an approach too far from the solution. God save Nigeria

34

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

S OCEITY FIDAU FOR PA IBRAHIM ADEMOLA FASHOLA, FATHER OF LAGOS STATE GOVERNOR MR BABATUNDE FASHOLA AT TAFAWA BALEWA SQUARE (TBS) IN LAGOS

•From left: The deceased’s widow Mrs Cecilia Fashola; daughter-in-law Mrs Abimbola Fashola; Mrs Olufunke Agunbiade and Senator Oluremi Tinubu

•From left: Former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Mallam Nasir el-Rufai; Chief Tom Ikimi; former Military Head of States Gen Muhammadu Buhari and a guest

•Senator Florence Ita-Giwa (left) and Mrs Abah Folawiyo

•Wife of Oyo State Governor Mrs Florence Ajimobi and her Ogun State counterpart Mrs Funsho Amosun

•Member, House of Representatives Hon Lanre Odubote (left) and former LASIEC Commissioner Alhaji Musbau Oyefeso

•Chairman, Dangote Group of companies Alhaji Aliko Dangote (left) and Senator ‘Gbenga Ashafa

•Former Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy Mr Dele Alake (left) and Mr Jide Aderoye

•Secretary to the Lagos State Government Dr Idiat Oluranti Adebule flanked by Commissioner for Education Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye and her Youth and Sports counterpart Enitan Oshodi

•From left: Hon Benjamin Olabinjo; Hon Hakeem Bamgbola; Comrade Ayodele Adewale and Aremo Adeyemi Alli

•From left: Alhaji Jubreel AbdulKareem; Hon Omobolanle Akinyemi-Obe; Hon Abiodun Mafe and Hon Kamal Baiyewu PHOTOS: OMOSEHIN MOSES

35

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

S OCIETY

ROPO SEKONI AT 70

COMMUNICATE YOUR IDEAS

Types of Humour •Archbishop Ladigbolu (left) and Chief Olu Falomo

•Mr Bode Akindele

•Prof. Taiwo Adewole

•Prof. Deji Ojo (left) and Chief Amos Akingba

•Gen Alani Akinrinade and wife

•From left: Hon OluFemi Ademuregun; Fola Tinubu and Femi Oyetolu

•Dr. Kola Akinleye (left) and Gori Ogunyemi

The Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN) has held a send off party for its Secretary-General/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Fred Odutola, who retired after 31 years in service. The ceremony held at the Adetiloye Hall of the Archbishop Vining Memorial Cathedral in Ikeja GRA, Lagos. JOSEPH ESHANOKPE reports.

A

Bible Society sends off CEO

FTER a 31-year merritorious service, Dr Fred Odutola last week bowed out as SecretaryGeneral/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN).

Last Thursday, the organisation held a send-off party for him at the Adetiloye Hall of the Archbishop Vining Memorial Cathedral in Ikeja GRA, Lagos.

The venue was filled with representatives of state areas of the organisation and Bible societies from Africa and other parts of the world. They included those from the United Kingdom, United States, Cameroun, and Mozambique – a testimony to the popularity of Odutola and BSN in the Christian community.

In attendance were the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor Rev Sam Ogedengebe; Administrative Secretary of the Apostolic Church Pastor I. G. Fakunle; former Health Secretary Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi; Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Archbishop George Amu. Patron of BSN and former Head of State General Yakubu Gowon said of Odutola: “As the patron of BSN, I have always found the work ethics of Dr Odutola to be quite commendable. I am aware of his deep love for Nigeria and BSN. I, therefore, wish to urge him to continue to demonstrate his love for God and country in every situation.

“I wish to specially appreciate his yeoman’s job in en-

•Gowon (left) presenting a plaque to Odutola. With them is Mrs Wuraola Odutola

trenching good leadership at BSN. The result of his ‘personal investment’ in people and the organisation became more evident when one of his staff members clearly outperformed every other qualified candidate to succeed him.”

He also said he was overwhelmed by the leadership qualities of Odutola such that he would have loved that his service be extended by a year.

Wishing him a happy retirement, he said peace would always remain with him.

There were also praises for Odutola from others, many of whom attested to his good managerial style and human relation.

Mrs Meg OparaOnwukwugha, who proposed the toast, described Odutola as truthful, honest and open.

Rev O. Aibinuomo preached the sermon from Phil. 4: 10-13.

Speaking on Strength of the Lord, he asked: ‘’Can we really do all things?” He answered: ‘’Yes. You can do all things within the assignment that God gave to you,” noting that Paul relied on God for his extensive missionary works. He described Odutola as “energetic, an orator, motivator, rugged and dogged, a story teller, risk taker with a large heart … who knows how to reach every president”.

To show their appreciation to the outgoing SecretaryGeneral, President of BSN, Aaron Nuhu, presented some gifts to him on behalf of the Board of Trustees of the organisation.

They included a Prado jeep, a cheque of N3 million, and grandpa’s clock. There were also gifts from some members of staff and well-

wishers.

In his response, the former Sec-Gen, a scion of Odutola family of Ijebu Ode, thanked all for the gesture. He noted that that was the third ceremony held in his honour.

He described his years at BSN as eventful, adding that he would now have time for himself.

He listed some of his achievements, which include taking a loan of $1million to build BSN’s Guest House in Abuja. He received applause when he said the three-year loan was paid in two years and seven months.

It was not a dull moment as music wafted from Sister Dupe Ogulana and co. Besides, a new book by Odutola titled: I am somebody was launched at the event. Also, there was a fund raiser for BSN’s programmes and projects.

W

E have been doing an interesting exploration of the lighter side of speaking- entertaining speech. Entertaining speech rides on the wings of humour; how else AMODU LANRE OLAOLU can you entertain people (Ph.D) sospeak2lanre@yahoo.com.

07034737394 without making them laugh? Humour is a double-edged sword, which can heal or wound depending on its use and user. Comedians believe that laughter is psychologically healing, at least in the case of depression. Humour must be handled with care because when it works, it can result in a huge success, but when it fails, it can be the worst experience of the user or the person at the receiving end.

Someone may say, "I don't need to be funny, everyone knows I'm a serious minded person." True, but that may be the reason you don't usually have a lot of people around you except for official reasons. Good sense of humour is generally considered one of the most valuable social skills an individual can develop. Even at work, you need a good sense of humour to reduce stress and tension. When people laugh, they find it a lot easier to handle their tasks. You don't believe me? Try the opposite; make your employees angry and upset and see how well they work! On the other hand, if you complement their efforts and appreciate their contributions by making good natured humour of their work habits, you will see the changes in their attitudes.

Since humour is indispensable in entertaining speech, let's examine some types of humour that there are. This will help us to know the most appropriate one to use for our specific needs. There are several types of humour but we will only restrict ourselves to a few.

•Pun: this can be described as a play on words. When you use this type of humour, you employ words that have multiple meanings or that sound similar but have different meanings. For instance, if you manage an investment company and your organization is hosting major stakeholders to a luncheon, when appreciating your guests, you may say this, "Your investment is quite safe with us, though we don't like money, we can't do without currency." What you have done here is to play on the words "money" and "currency" as though they are different.

•Malapropism: this is the intentional or unintentional misuse of a word by confusing it with one with a similar sound. Danny Ozark, a baseball team manager, was quoted to have said that something was "beyond his apprehension." The normal word that should have been used is comprehension, but since it sounds similar to apprehension, the latter was used, thereby changing the meaning of the statement. Another example is, "Segun isn't a very clean boy, but a regular inspection of his room will serve as a detergent for the habit." Here, detergent was used instead of deterrent. While using malapropism, it is important to pay attention to the context; the context in which the humour is used will determine if the audience find it funny or not.

•Parody: this involves copying or imitating the style of something or someone for comic effect. Naturally, parody exaggerates and mocks the original; therefore, it can only be effective if the audience is familiar with the person or thing that is being copied. For instance, your organization may have a set of rules or code of conduct. You can exaggerate those rules in a staff get-together. You can create your own ridiculous rules about eating in the office, sleeping in the office, interaction among staff, etc.

The humour here will be in the similarity between the original rules and the ones you created. You may even use a similar construction of words.

These are some of the ways to create humour. A major key to all of these is that your humour should not be at the expense of another person. Let your speech bring pleasure to people instead of displeasure. There are still a few types of humour that we will consider next week, make it a date.

Dr. Amodu teaches at the Department of Mass Communication, Covenant University, Ogun State.

36

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

SOCIETY The remains of Mrs Angelina Onyebuchi Azinge, mother of Prof Epiphany Azinge, Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS), have been buried in Asaba the Delta State capital. JOHN AUSTIN UNACHUKWU reports

A matriarch’s ‘glorious’ exit

I

T was indeed a glorious transition to eternity. Dignitaries converged to bid the matriarch of the Azinge family of Umudaike clan, Asaba, Delta State, Mrs Angelina Onyebuchi Azinge, farewell.

Madam Azinge died on May 6, at 89.

The weeklong funeral activities was dubbed ‘Celebration of life.’

The climax was the fifth day, which turned out to be a well-choreographed display of pomp and royalty.

Residents of Asaba were stunned and excited by the sight of a luxurious hearse headed to the Cathedral Church of St. Peter’s, Asaba, in a procession that had many bands, including the award winning Brass Band of Akwa Ibom State that entertained the crowd with classical Christian music.

The procession traversed the main streets of Asaba from the Azinge family house in Umudaike quarters, enroute the church and was greeted intermittently with canon explosions of confetti (only seen in stadia in Europe during the finals of football competitions). Various age groups lined the street; the young and the old who came out to catch a glimpse of the carnival-like event that threw the community into a festive mood.

The Azinges, their relations, in-laws, friends and well wishers, dressed in colourful and royal regalias, drove in a convoy of vehicles behind the hearse to the church. A red carpet was laid from the entrance of the church to the altar. Over 10 bishops and 20 priests were in attendance.

The church was filled to capacity and more than 3000 people were present to pay their last respect. The church service was a spectacle as trumpeters, choirs and soloists held the audience spellbound with their renditions.

The souvenirs distributed during the service captured the life and times of the Azinge matriarch Delta State Governor Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan led members of his state exco,

senators, politicians of diverse political leanings, professional colleagues, judges and civil servants to the funeral.

After the interment, which followed the church service, guests re-convened at the ‘Eventy Centre’, Asaba for the reception.

The centre had the trappings of a mega event. The hall was decorated in gold and white colours, food and exotic drinks flowed freely. Comedians and high profile musicians added colour to the event. Among those who paid tributes to the deceased were Dr Joe Nwodo; Jude Anisha; Dr. Valerie Azinge and Nkeolisaweta Azinge.

Dr Nwodo described her as an exemplary mother.

“Our pains, have been aggravated by the great vacuum created by Mama’s death. Her motherhood knew no boundaries. She gave motherly attention to her immediate family.

At the same time, she was equally dedicated to her in-laws, relations and numerous friends and associations. This explains why her departure was like an earthshaking event,” he said.

Dr Azinge said: “I got closer to Mama as she is fondly called, when I had the privilege of marrying her handsome and wonderful son, Epiphany. Epy, as he is fondly called, is the greatest gift that mama gave me, but he was not the only one. For 27 years, Mama enriched my life in incalculable ways. I modelled my life after her impeccable, patient and selfless manner.

“Mama’s infectious, contagious and relentless joy pleased everyone whom she came in contact with. Her industrious and hardworking nature enabled her groom and support her family.”

Anisha said: “Mama Asaba was a woman of integrity, firm and caring. She was generous and showed love to me even though she was not my biological mother.

“She was always a happy woman; she wanted everyone that came around her to be happy.

Mama was indeed selfless and worthy of emulation, she was ever ready to lend a helping hand to all and sundry.”

•From right: Prof Azinge (SAN); his wife, Dr. Valerie and their son, Olisa

•From left: Governor Uduaghan; Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and his wife Edith

•President Delta State Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Stella Ogene,

•From left: Dr Nwodo; Chief Judge, Ebonyi State Justice A.N. Nwankwor and former Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo.

WEDDING •Former Chief Press Secretary to Bayelsa State Government Doifie Buokoribo, and his bride, former Miss Violet Agwana of Total E & P Nigeria Ltd during their wedding in Port Harcourt

•Senator Chris Ngige

•From left: Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye; Prof. Dakas Dakas (SAN) and Justice Chima Centus Nweze

UNION OF LOVEBIRDS

•The couple Oladipupo Adesoye and Mofoluke Akintayo, daughter of Dr Olufemi Akintayo, Senior Lecturer, Department of Psychology; University of Lagos flanked by brides’ maids at the St. Peters Anglican Church, Idimu-Lagos

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

37

NIGER DELTA REPORT

Day Okrika filled 24-year vacant stool T

WENTY-four years after the stool of Head of Fuamakiri Omuaru War Canoe House of Okrika became vacant, it was filled last weekend with the installation of Chief Pikibo Dele Daniel–Kalio, son of the late Chief Michael Daminabo Daniel-Kalio as head.

The ceremony was worthy of the wait. It was a celebration and a display of rich, colourful tradition, regalia and cultural dance of the people. It was also a gathering of chiefs, elders, traditional rulers and politicians in Okrika who came from far near to witness the installation.

The ceremony started by 9: am with the display of traditional dance of Fuamakiri Omuaru War Canoe House. This was followed by opening remarks of the Chairman of Okrika Divisional Council of Chiefs (ODCC), Chief Nemi Adoki.

Chief Adoki, with the permission of the Okrika chiefs, ordered the chairman of head of the families of Fuamakiri Omuaru House to present Chief Pikibo for decoration after they all affirmed and professed the authenticity of Chief Pikibo Daniel– Kalio as fit to occupy the stool on behalf of the family.

The requirement to occupy the stool according to the ODCC chairman is simply, “To be a member of Fuamakiri Omuaru families, he is far more qualified by way of age, he is married with children and has a standing house in this community, so he is eminently qualified.”

Adoki admonished Daniel-Kalio to bring everybody together as one family and make peace among the aggrieved members of the family for the peace and progress of the family.

The Chairman of ODCC said Chief Pikibo has the wealth of experience to bring peace to his clan and Okrika as a whole.

Speaking after the installation, Chief Pikibo said the delay in filling the stool was not because of legal battle or lack of qualified candidates, but because those who should have taken over the mantle of the family leadership were engaged with work outside the community while some of the sons were abroad.

The newest Chief in Okrika studied in United State of America and had his Bachelor Degree in Economics and Masters Degree in Public Administration; he had worked in many places including Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) before he went into politics.

The successful installation Chief Daniel-Kalio was followed by thanksgiving at St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Cathedral Okirika and a grand reception at his family house where guests were entertained with traditional music and merriment.

His Majesty King Dandeson

I

•People watching the Fuamakiri Omuaru War Canoe House on display

• Adoki (right) confirming Daniel-Kalio (middle) a member of ODCC

From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt Douglas Jaja, the Amayanabo of Opobo Kingdom, in his congratulatory message, said Chief Pikobo is the right man for the stool.

He thanked the ODCC for accepting a man of high sense of decency into their fold to lead Fuamakiri Omuaru House of Okrika.

Narrating the history of the stool of Fuamakiri Omuaru House, Chief Pikibo Daniel-Kalio said Fuamakiri was the first son of Ofiri of the

Jamabo family in Ogoloma who migrated to settle in Okrika and lived in the part now known as Ambeme Biri.

He said Fuamakiri had just a daughter Anibaka, adding, “As the custom demanded in those days Anibaka being the only child of Fuamakiri was not allowed to be taken away for marriage.

“Amba was the daughter of Anibaka, she was also the only child of Anibaka and the only grandchild of Fuamakiri. Amba had three

•Wife of the celebrator Mrs. Grace Daniel-Kalio

children, Obudibo, Kiri and Kalio, she did not go into legal marriage with Mr. Komili of Kalaowolo family with whom she had the three children but she was only engaged by ‘Igwa’ marriage.

He said Amba later disengaged from Komili and legally married “Iya” to Mr. Burunge, who was a member of her grandfather’s house, adding that the marriage was fully celebrated and was blessed with a male child- Kalio.

He said: “Amba was able to build

up her grandfather’s War Canoe, The Fuamakiri Omuaru, she gave the command to Kalio, the legitimate child. Of course, this was done in the presence of Obudibo and his sister Kiri, thus giving Kalio the right to rule and he became the head of his great father’s house. Kalio ruled as Chief and Head of Fuamakiri Omuaru House until his death.”

He concluded that the chieftaincy stool of Fuamakiri Omuaru is hereditary and inures to those of direct blood of Fuamakiri.

Edo communities fight over site of fertiliser plant

VIEGBEPUI and Iviukwe communities in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo are on war path over the location of the proposed Dangote Fertiliser Plant.

It was gathered that trouble started when the plant was relocated from Iviegbepui to Ivuikwe after the completion of ground work at the original site.

Investigation revealed that several soil test carried out to determine suitability of the plant at Iviegbepui community were successful.

The relocation, which was attributed to fail soil text at Iviegbepui, has not only pitched it against Ivuikwe, but has also polarised the community with the emergence of two village heads.

It was gathered that a new head was appointed by the monarch of

From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

Weppa Wanno Kingdom, Dr George Eghabor after the former head, Chief Moses Asegiemhe opposed the relocation of the plant.

Asegeimhe was said to have been sanctioned by the monarch for daring to report the case to Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

Asegiemhe, who spoke with Niger Delta Report, said he and his supporters were not only fined by the monarch but have been barred from participating in any activities in the kingdom.

“We are most surprised by the sudden change of event on the plant location. When Dangote came with this plan of citing fertiliser plant here, we were all

elated and had to willingly give them more land than they required virtually for free.

“They (Dangote) only paid for the crops on the land.

“The only condition we gave the company and which they duly agreed by signing the dotted line was to pay N160 million but we later heard the company paid N80 million but we only got N40 million through the monarch.

“The company also agreed to construct the access road leading to the community. In spite of the short-payment, we were okay and made no complaint because of what our children and the community stand to benefit from the plant.

“But what really surprised us was that the company reneged on the issue of constructing the access road

and instead bypassed the community by constructing that of Iviukwe community to link with the earlier proposed site.

“We protested to the company which told us that it was an order from the above. The company had started moving their equipment with armed military personnel deplored around the officials.”

The governor, Niger Delta Report gathered, invited Asegiemhe, his supporters and the monarch to Government House in Benin. But this only worsened the situation.

The new village head, Mr David Obi, declined comment.

He claimed not to know anything about the project, adding that he was only appointed by the monarch pending when issues surrounding the relocation would be resolved.

The village head of Iviukwe, Chief Patrick Okega, said his community was not at war with Iviegbepui, saying his community never lobbied for the plant to be moved to Iviukwe.

He said: “We are happy because work has already started on the site but we are yet to receive the money promised us for the crops destroyed from the land we gave out.”

An official of the Dangote Company, who pleaded anonymity, said the company only relocated to Iviukwe because of failed soil test at the earlier proposed site at Iviegbepui.

Dr Eghabor refused our request for comment, lamenting that he was not consulted before we spoke with the embattled Iviegbepui village head on the matter.

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

38

NIGER DELTA REPORT

Confusion, anger as Shell closes shop i

•Shell Club - Golf Course

•Chief Bobson - slams Gov Uduaghan

•Izoukumor: ‘Uduaghan is helpless’

Continued from page 25 work in June,” one of the affected workers told our reporter on condition of anonymity.

It is not only the fates of former workers who have taken a downturn with the exit of Shell. Our findings revealed that multibillion naira facilities in Ogunu, Edjeba and Warri main offices of the company are rotting away.

At the Edjeba area, which was mainly used as residential are, our checks revealed that the hitherto well-manicured lawns are giving way to weeds. The posh air around the expansive estate is dissipating and bowing to filth from blocked drains.

The Main Office, which was the heart and nerve of the administration of the division is not insulated from the decay.

Eight massive administrative buildings marked blocks ‘A’ ‘G’ are almost empty. The story is same for structures like the GXD, which houses the famous ‘Shell Restaurant’ and others home to banks and projects offices.

Reports that a major religious leaders in the area was in negotiation to acquire the massive administrative complex for a proposed university could not be immediately confirmed. Some top politicians are also said to be engaged in a extreme scramble to acquire the company’s estates.

At the Vendors’ Section, with entrance at the Ugbuwangue end of Warri, weeds and cobwebs have replaced hundreds of smartly dressed men and women who attended to contractors.

Rows of business premises that sprung up when the vendor gate was set up are forlorn and deserted, their fates inextricably tied to those of contractors who have lost their means of livelihood.

The Industrial Area (IA) in Ogunu area of the city fares just insignificantly better. The verdure grass at the Ogunu Club golf turf is still well manicured and a handful of expatriates still swing clubs and putter every morning. Local caddies tag along even though they know that their future and the aesthetic beauty of the scene remains is as assured as the life span of the blossoming flowers around the turf.

Grasses are steadily creeping into the multi-hectare housing facilities, which Shell has also abandoned at the IA. Office buildings have also been evacuated with workers now moved to the block referred to as ‘Aso Rock’ on the tip of the river. It is from here that skeletal operations at now carried out.

The air operation at Ogunu is still operation with Caverton Helicopter, a private firm handling the air shuttle services of Shell. But sources in ‘Aso Rock’ told our reporter that

•Gbinije: ‘It’s an indictment of Uduaghan’

Shell is set to close down its air base in Warri.

“Workers, who still have their families in Warri have been advised to relocate them to Port Harcourt because of the plan closure of air operation. With the new plan, all flights will now be from Forcados to either Lagos or Port Harcourt,” our source, who asked not to be named, added.

Social services provided from the Ogunu base to neighbouring communities and the city at large are also receding. The fire department, arguably the best equipped and maintained in the city, like Shell Clinic and Police services are awaiting their dates with the hang man.

When our reporter visited the Kosini end of the Edjeba Estate earlier in the week, dozens of residents of the city were seen fetching water from taps connected to Shell treatment plant in the estate. Mr. Royal Eruagbere said the water is the safest for drinking in the city. This may not be for long.

Meanwhile, the fates of all those affected by the closure has led to anger by residents and stakeholders in the state who accused the government of not doing enough to stop the total closure of Shell from the state.

Chief Bobson Gbinije, a public commentator, described the development as “a

great indictment on Governor Uduaghan and the Delta State leadership”.

“The Delta State leadership is inexcusably guilty for this brazen administrative socioeconomic solecism and harakiri,” he added.

Mr. Zik Gbemre, a local activist and contractor said the company should not be allowed to operate facilities in the state from outside it.

“You cannot cook food in Delta State and take it to Lagos to serve whereas people in Delta State are hungry. When there is an oil spill, it is the people of Delta State (farmlands, fish ponds, bush animals, air) that suffer it; just as the people suffer the immediate negative effects of gas flaring. Therefore, the same people should also be the immediate beneficiaries of the offices of Oil & Gas companies by way of getting employment as engineers, technicians, operators, cleaners, drivers, security personnel plus award of contracts.”

Chief Favour Ogbeyirine Izoukumor, a contractor and former President of the IzonEbe Oil Producing Communities Forum (IOPCF), said there was little the government could have done.

Izoukumor, who is CEO of Lurine Nigeria Ltd, said it was wrong for the company to close down its entire operations in the area when it only divested from some onshore

•Golfers taking a break at the clubhouse after a game

•The golf course

facilities. “This means that Shell will be operating facilities in Delta State and paying tax to other state. That is just wrong.

“Shell only divested from the land operations; there are other facilities that it is still operating like the Ogulagha and Escravos fields. These are in Delta State. Based on these, I think I would want to submit that on the finally analy-

PHOTOS: SHOLA O’NEIL

sis whatever the state government did or did not do was not enough, because Shell has left,” he added.

In his reaction to alleged inaction of Governor Uduaghan, the Communication Manager to the governor, Mr. Paul Odili explained that the government was at a disadvantaged position because it is not a partner in the Joint Venture between the NNPC

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

39

NIGER DELTA REPORT

hop in Delta

Rivers shall be free, says Peterside T ‘ I see peace reHE Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Dakuku Peterside, has said the crisis in Rivers State will soon be over.

Peterside spoke with reporters in Abuja.

He said: “I see peace returning to Rivers State. All those who destabilised the peace of the state for their personal and parochial interest would have seen the futility of their action.

I have always known that evil will not triumph over good just as darkness cannot resist light.

Governor Amaechi represents light in many ways.”

Peterside faulted opponents of the governor who said he was averse to reconciliation, adding: “Governor Amaechi desires and is committed to reconciliation but not at the expense of Rivers State interest.

He has taken steps to show that he is not averse to reconciliation. The governor has gone to brief the President and I believe that the President is committed to the peace, progress and stability of the nation. The implication of that for me is that the President will take steps to advance peace in all parts of the territory of Nigeria, including Rivers State. I am optimistic that the President will not allow political considerations, including his own perceived ambition prevail over the overall interest of the country.

“I know the President is conscious of his place in history.

Even at the risk of repetition, Gov Amaechi is not averse to reconciliation and peace.”

He said Amaechi has shown that he will not toy with teh resources of the state to please any individual.

Peterside added that Amaechi was stubborn in upholding the truth.

“It is possible Amaechi is stubborn in defending Rivers resources and Rivers interest.

But they should know that we are running a Federal system and Amaechi is accountable first to God and to Rivers people who elected him. No-

H

and oil multinationals.

Besides, he said the effect of the divestment would only be temporal, noting, “Beyond providing employment for cleaners and cooks Shell has never done the state any good.

The governor is completely dissatisfied with Shell’s operation and he has expressed it severally. The company declares billions of dollars in profit every year, yet its host communities do not feel its

impact.”

Odili said the conduct of oil multinationals like SPDC makes the Petroleum Industry Bill important for the survival of oil producing communities.

He said the operation of Shell divested facilities would only be temporary, stressing that there is the need for companies that will take them over to sit down and enter into negotiations that give the state more leverage and capture the interests of host communities.

turning to Rivers State. All those who destabilised the peace of the state for their personal and parochial interest would have seen the futility of their action

From Osemwengie Ben

By Olukorede Yishau

body has said Amaechi is dishonest. He might be misunderstood today but history will be kind to him,” he said.

On whether Amaechi has lost focus in governance since this crisis started, Peterside said: “Absolutely not. Governor Amaechi has rather stayed focused on the main task at hand – Serve the people of Rivers State and help them take the revolutionary development he started to the next level. In fact he has accomplished more in six years to deserve optimal respect.

“You may have noticed his television appearances in recent times and will agree with me that each time he appears cool and confident. Nobody can deny the fact that under his administration, Rivers State has made and is still making tremendous progress.”

Peterside said Amaechi was not against any form of investigation because he has nothing to hide.

Amaechi, he said, is one of the most transparent governors, adding that any investigation by the Economic and

‘ Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) “must be in the context of law”.

He added: “There is a subsisting court order barring the EFCC from investigating Rivers State. Governor Rotimi Amaechi did not secure that injunction so EFCC must vacate it first before proceeding to investigate Rivers State and her officials. When we act outside the framework of the law, it is an invitation to anarchy.

We are a society governed by law and not brawn.”

He condemned the role of the police in the crisis in the state.

Peterside said police has not been fair to the people. He said it was wrong of the police to stop people from assembling.

Peterisde said: “As you are aware, the constitution of the country guarantees freedom of expression, freedom of association and assembly. Not even Rivers State Police Commissioner Mbu Joseph Mbu can deny us this constitutional backed right. Peaceful rally is an essential ingredient of sustainable democracy. Mbu without any doubt is on a mission

in Rivers State but he will fail.

This same Mbu who is stopping civil society from protesting has actively supported antiAmaechi protests thus cannot conceal his bias against Rivers people and Governor Amaechi in particular.”

He said Mbu must leave Rivers State, adding that it was wrong to still keep Mbu in Rivers after a National Assembly resolution asking that he should be transferred.

“Command cannot afford to confront the people of Nigeria through the institution of National Assembly. This call for immediate transfer of CP Mbu out of Rivers State is a resolution of both chambers of the National Assembly where all parts of Nigeria have Representatives. Mind you there is no way the National Assembly will fold its hands and look helpless lest impunity triumphs over the will of the people. Neither the Presidency nor the police is bigger or stronger than Nigerians. There is sufficient justification to transfer Mbu out of Rivers State so peace can reign,” he said.

On the threat by the t Executive of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State to suspend him and other National Assembly members from PDP, he said: “You mean the persons parading themselves as party Executives in Rivers State? This threat shows two things; the first is that they are the ones who do not want reconciliation in the party because they are afraid of what fate will befall them. Anything established on wrong foundation will certainly fail. The second is that it shows the degree of their desperation and ignorance of the constitutional provisions of PDP constitution.

Those who genuinely desire the good of the country are calling the attention of those who are presently in charge of PDP to matters likely to affect the chances of the party in future elections whereas political jobbers are busy protecting nonexistent territory and their political interest.”

Van driver bedridden for 10 years cries for help

E was a van driver for a pharmaceutical company in Enugu until 2003 when he was knocked down by a stray cow.

Since then he has been bedridden and have been sacked by his company who no longer find him useful.

The victim, Mr. Daniel Emori, who hails from Adadama community in Abi Local Government Area of Cross River State, said he was forcefully ejected from the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital in Enugu State shortly after the October 10, 2003 incident because he could not afford an emergency deposit of N75, 000 for his treatment.

Emori, who was born on May 3, 1982, said he had been at home since his discharge.

Narrating how the incident occurred to Niger Delta Report in his Adadama home, Emori said: “On that fateful day which was October 10, 2003, I went to deliver goods to a customer as directed by our manager. He called to inform me that one of our customers had just paid for a large quantity and that I must deliver it that morning.

“As I parked to deliver the goods at the customer’s shop,

•Emori From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

an uncontrolled cow came from nowhere and knocked me down. I have been paralysed till date. When it happened, I was rushed to a nearby clinic but by the next day, which was Saturday, I was referred to the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital in Enugu where cervical (neck) injury was detected after series of medical tests.

“Because I didn’t have any external injury, the doctor said

the first medical attention would be to check for any trace of internal bleeding, unfortunately after failing to pay for the hospital emergency financial fee of N75, 000 before any treatment could commence, I was eventually discharged and sent home.

“Since then, I have been critically lying at home helpless and disabled with part of my joint now stiff because I am confined to my sick-bed.

Even up till now, the internal

bleeding doctor said was the first medical attention is still left unattended to.”

He said he was in the hospital for four months before his forced discharge, alleging that the manager of the pharmaceutical company, had told him that the company could not afford to pay the bill.

Emori pleaded with goodspirited members of the public to come to his rescue, as his aged parents were financially handicapped.

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

40

NIGER DELTA REPORT

T

RAVELERS along the busy Benin – Lagos Road would usually see tens of lepers near the Edo-Ondo border areas of the road. They throng the road with their children (many whole and good looking) running after motorists and begging for alms.

But such scenes have reduced significantly in recent times which many have attributed to the improved state of the road. Checks revealed that a Non-Governmental Organisation, Project Charilove organisation founded in 1990 has played a significant role in this development with its soup kitchen which feeds not aboout 300 indigent persons within its secretariat along Sapele Road in Benin City and Osiomo Leprosarium, where the lepers reside.

The magic of the soup kitchen had taken back children of the lepers and others in the community to school with the help of Reverend Sisters in the community.

A visit to the community yielded very little result as most of the persons refused to talk to press but they said they are better off as they have less stress since their children were sure of food on school days.

Speaking to the founder and owner of Charilove, Chris Omusi at his very sparsely furnished office opposite the Central Hospital, he said the soup kitchen was an idea that many thought would not work due to past experiences.

But he said help came from the former governor of the state, Lucky Igbinedion who he said had identified with the home long before he became the governor of the state came. He said Igbinedion was initially sceptical of the project owing to the failure of a similarly project by his by his own father, Chief Gabriel Igbenefion. He said Lucky’s support was key to the success story.

He said he was first introduced to the place

by Samuel Ogbemudia Jr who heard what was happening at the charity home.

“Financially, a lot came through him and from him. We started our soup kitchen project and he said he was amazed that his own family, the House of Igbinedion had ventured into this soup kitchen thing in the past but it failed because the peoples’ attitude towards it and that he wonders how we are going to manage it and besides, it was cost intensive.

“He committed the state government to giving N250,000 monthly, as at that time, the soup kitchen was feeding 50 to 60 people on a daily basis except Saturdays. We were encouraged by the government and from the 50 to 60 that we started with, the Charilove soup kitchen is

•Omusi

•The dormitory under construction

For the love of destitute, lepers From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin City

feeding about 300 school children every school day today.

“We stepped up our services and other people have been donating to the soup kitchen and that is why we have been able to sustain it up till today and thank God successive governments have continued to sustain that N250,000 monthly donation. Even though it has become less inadequate, we thank God for public-spirited people who have been donating money and food stuffs to the project whenever they can.”

He said “After he (Igbenedion) left government we were surprised that he still remembered Charilove. Something that still amazes me about him is how he was able to identify the genuineness of Charilove and to identify

with Charilove.”

Omusi recalled how he started the project from his personal savings, adding that with the help of the former governor, he is building a 24 capacity dormitory with provision for expansion in the future to cater for its about 96 residents.

“Charilove is all about service to humanity as a way of glorifying God, as a way of expressing my loyalty to God, the Supreme and that Lucky Igbinedion could come and be so supportive is so splendid. Today we are building a dormitory and it is Chief Lucky Igbinedion that is sponsoring that. He is softhearted and generous person. When it is completed, it will take conveniently, 24 children not including the care givers.”

On challenges, Omusi said apart from funding and the attitude of some person who think

he went into the venture for personal gains, the children are not easy to manage. “Some have multiple disabilities, some are orphans and they are all young people so we really need to have enough accommodation for the caregivers.

“Well at the beginning, it is like starting with my own little savings but before I started the project, I had worked with Shell, and I have worked as a senior civil servant with the federal government and I also had a brief work experience in the United States where I was able to have some little money that I came back to Nigeria with to start the project.

“We have had so many reasons to feel very frustrated, but we have never really had that urge to quit. I think that is where the special grace of God is at work because if you see some of the people who come here, the way they look down on me.”

How kerosene is fuelling crisis in NNPC’s Warri depot The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) is embroiled in crisis.

Southsouth Regional Editor SHOLA O’NEIL examines the crisis rocking Warri Unit of the association amidst insinuations that multibillion naira kerosene deal could be fuel for the crisis.

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HE Warri Depot of the Pipelines and Product Marketing Company (PPMC), like most depots across the country, is a beehive of daily activities; sometimes businesses worth about N1 billion are transacted daily within and around the complex.

These days business at the depot is a blend of tension and rumours generated by the leadership tussle between Chief Akpos Edefevwotu, Chairman of the Warri Depot Unit of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and his deputy, Mr. Ben Jones.

The relationship between the duo hit the rock following disagreement over the leadership of the union and by extension the multimillion naira deals accruing to IPMAN. The no-love-lost relationship between Edefevwotu and Jones came to the fore with the review of IPMAN constitution, particularly as it deals with tenure of elected official. The old constitution provided for a maximum of two tenures of three years each, with the deputy, being a crown prince waiting to succeed the chairman.

The new constitution provides for a single five-year tenure. The trouble in the Warri Depot and other units of IPMAN is over the interpretation of the new constitution.

Jones was yet to respond to our reporter’s request for interview at the time of filing this report, but a source close to him said: “This crisis is just about the chairman’s sittight mentality.

“Akpos says the new 5-year tenure automatically extends his tenure beyond the

2013 terminal date to 2015 - giving him extra two year. This is strange because I have not seen where a law affects an election conducted before it.

“If we allow him, he would be chairman for eight years and who knows what he would want to do after 2015! That is why we opposed him. Does it even make sense that a constitution that wants to reduce sittight syndrome will increase tenure?”

Edafevwotu accused his deputy of being inordinately ambitious and not waiting for his turn.

Speaking in a telephone interview with our reporter, he said: “I do not think there is any issue at stake. It is just the Vice Chairman that is contesting the IPMAN constitution and that is not done anywhere.

The law affected all the excos of the 21 units of IPMAN. It is not about me. At the moment about 14 excos are already implementing it and there is an advertorial to that effect in a national daily. I do not see why Warri Unit should be different.”

Our independent investigation revealed that the tussle is more than the control of the affairs of private marketers, but about lucrative deals, including the allocation of products to the chairman.

It was gathered that kerosene provides windfall for IPMAN and other union leaders and their supporters at the Warri Depot.

Although our checks revealed that allocations are determined by a list known as Programme, the manipulation of the process gives leverage to top members to make easy money.

A source, who asked not to be named, said

the list (programme) is never implemented because of corruption within the system. It said top NNPC officials and Abuja power brokers are involved in the deals.

“As a result, your name may be second on the list yet you may never load. The way it is done is that the top shots bring their own trucks and those of cronies to load at the expense of those who should.”

It was gathered that those who could not wait for their turn resolve to what is infamously known as ‘Slave Labour’.

“Slave labour,” another source explains, “is when somebody cannot wait again; he will approach those in charge of programme and they will use his company’s name to allocate the product. When the ticket for loading comes out, they resell to buyers for a handsome profit.”

Those in the system told our reporter that a ticket to load 30,000-litre tanker could fetch as much as N1.5million or at least N750,000 on the spot, depending on the prevailing situation at the depot.

“If you (marketer) agree to Slave Labour, when the ticket is sold, you are given between N100,000 to N200,000 by those in charge, depending on your profile.”

Niger Delta Report gathered that it is the corruption within the system that ensures that kerosene is never available at the official price at the filling station across the area.

Specifically, we found out that kerosene is allocated at the price of N1.227m per 30,000lt tanker, which translates to N40.9 per litre.

At that price, marketers should ordinarily make profit at the official price of N50 a litre.

But rather than take their products to their

petrol stations, those who get the allocations resell at a profit of over 100 per cent.

The profit from the illicit deal is reportedly shared among the influential members of IPMAN and some unscrupulous NNPC official who actively aid and facilitate the illicit deals.

Sources said the deals are not restricted to DPK (kerosene) only, but also includes AGO (Automotive Gas Oil) popularly called diesel.

It is against the background of this huge illegal windfall that the tussle for the chairmanship of IPMAN is elevated into a do-or-die affair, particularly in the Warri Zone.

The IPMAN chairman waved off these allegations, describing them as unfounded.

He said:”Programme is monthly and we get only two trucks. From January to March, there was no kerosene at the Warri depot and in the last three weeks now, there has been none.

“Most people like saying what are not true to get sympathy, they like to say what they do not know. But what I am telling you is the truth you can verify it anywhere. The truth cannot be hidden.”

Tension remains high at the depot in spite of various efforts to reconcile the key players.

It was gathered that a March meeting headed by the Deputy National President of the association, Mr. Eddie Okoronkwo in Benin failed to resolve the imbroglio.

The crisis in the unit is expected to hit boiling point in November when the incumbent’s tenure will expire.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

CAMPAIGN Ogun warns cocoa farmers to stop destroying trees Ogun

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JOBS

ENVIRONMENT

Elechi to train volunteer farmers

Threats to urban renewal

Ebonyi

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

Enugu

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Email: news_extra@yahoo.com

Industrialist’s solution to youth unemployment

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•Mr Onyia

N industrialist, Mr Chukx Onyia, has said unemployment can be significantly scaled back if youths learn some simple and inexpensive trade, such as industrial soap-making.

Onyia said industrial soaps are “used in various industries as raw materials for making chemical products,” adding that they are easy to make and do not cost a fortune nor require a factory for starters.

“Industrial soaps are about some of the most profitable products in the market today yielding as high as 200 per cent profit in many cases,” but if you

By Ogochukwu Ikeje

are working on “an extremely low budget,” he said, “you can start even in your kitchen and rake in tons of cash”.

Onyia, a chemical business consultant and skills trainer for firms and governments, said there is a huge market for industrial soaps because “over 80 per cent of these simple-tomake products are still being imported”.

If unemployed youths can tap into simple businesses like this, the jobs challenges in the country will be remarkably tackled, he submitted.

Onyia, chief executive of Cifan Industrial Chemical Company based in Kwale, Ndokwa-West Local Government Area, Delta State, said the scope of industrial soap usage is so wide that the business is almost a virgin area in Nigeria.

He listed industrial soap clients to include makers of gums of different kinds including those deployed in offices, shoemaking, tiling, among others. Other consumers of industrial soaps are beverage and food producers, cosmetic makers, paint and printing ink manufacturers as well as lubricant producers, textile

workers, brewers and bottlers.

“There is no one company that can produce all the industrial soaps needed in this country,” Onyia said. “It is a big opportunity for micro, small, medium and even large organisations especially those who already have facilities for soap-making. But even if you don’t have facilities yet, there are types that can be made at cottage level using simple operations.”

Onyia has trained for Abia, Enugu and Ogun states, as well as local governments, non-governmental organisations and churches.

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NAMBRA State government has continued the rejuvenation of communities in order to complement the Peter Obi administration’s development plan for the state. Schools in urban and local communities are rehabilitated while pupils and their minders are inspired to give their best.

Dilapidated rural roads are reworked. In the communities local security outfits get a helping hand from the state government.

For their effort in fostering peace, traditional rulers are amply rewarded, even as they are expected to help keep their domains safe and secure.

In fact, for royal fathers in the state, you could say things are looking up. No fewer than 200 of them got a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) each, courtesy of the Obi administration.

Governor Obi while presenting the vehicles to the traditional rulers inside Government House, Awka, said the vehicles were given in recognition of the pivotal roles the traditional rulers were playing in the state.

The vehicles were manufactured by the Innoson car plant in Nnewi, Anambra State’s industrial hub.

Obi explained that his administration chose the locally-manufactured vehicles because of their good quality, adding that with such a plant, there is “no need to search elsewhere”.

He said that the state government has unofficially adopted INNOSON vehicles as the state brand and revealed that the next set of official vehicles he would use would be bought from Nnewi-based firm.

On the source of finance for the projects, the governor said it was from the money he attracted to the state. Using the education sector as an example, he said that the budget was N3 billion, adding that by the end of the year, N13 billion would have been spent.

In his remarks, the chairman Anambra Traditional Rulers’

• Obi hands over the key of one of the vehicles to Igwe Alfred Achebe

Obi strengthens communities .

Schools rehabilitated, monarchs inspired

From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

Council, Obi Alfred Achebe described the state’s achievement under Obi’s administration as unprecedented. He further said he was particularly thrilled not by the vehicles, but by the revolution in schools which he noted, would be for the benefit of the children.

He assured the governor of the

support of traditional rulers in the state.

Contributing, the traditional ruler of Umuoji, Igwe Cyril Iwueze thanked the governor for developing every sector of the state’s economy. He noted that after witnessing billions given to the church to rehabilitate schools handed over to them, it was encouraging to see that the same gesture was extended

to public schools.

The state gave out N2.53 billion to principals of secondary schools to rehabilitate dilapidated structures.

He assured that by the end of the year, all the schools in the state would get buses and a Microsoft academy in addition to computers on the average of one computer to 10 students, laboratory equipment, sports equipment and various learning materials.

Obi said: “We budgeted about N3 billion for education this year, but surprisingly we have spent more than N10 billion. Before we came in, everything was in a shambles and we started by returning the schools to their original owners and giving them money to rebuild their infrastructure. We would continue until the schools are returned to their former prime status of excellent learning centres.”

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•The graduating students with Vice-Principal, Administration

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IME may show you its hard side; in fact the whole world is presently witnessing the harder side of life. But hard times never last, tough people do. It is when there seems to be no way forward that you must employ all within your composition to bear the torch of progress.”

Those were the words the Director of Studies and Administration of St Joseph Secondary School, in Idi Mangoro, Agege, Lagos, Mr Isaiah Awogbidin as he delivered his speech at the school’s 2013 Valedictory Service and PrizeGiving Day. Awogbidin, an engineer, also told the graduating youths not to neglect hard work as they negotiate dusty roads, difficult bends and stony grounds.

Those challenges, he said, are pivotal to their doing well in life and keeping their heads above water.

His admonition: ”You must continue to work hard. Hard work has no alternative. If your name

Pupils urged to work hard, persevere must be mentioned in the annals of time you must labour hard for it. No cross, no crown, as there is no sweetness without sweat.

“Set yourself a target to be achieved. This is just the beginning of what you need to do to be great.

I have no doubt in me that since you are able to endure the first 12 most difficult years of formal learning, nothing could stop you if you are willing to advance.

“You are also lucky to have parents who are determined to see that you make a difference. Make a good combination of the opportunity you have and the innate talent that God has given you, with the good foundation you have had here to cut a niche for yourself in your own generation.”

The School Principal, Patrick Ogundipe in his words to the departing students said of his feelings and gratitude to God: “I feel so greatly honoured to be privileged to address this gathering on the occasion of the

graduation ceremony of this noble institution. Today is the day the Lord has made and I thank Him for giving us the breath of life to witness this occasion. I rejoice with the graduating students for the completion of a journey of six years.”

For Malomo Damilare, Overall Best Student of the outgoing class, who also carted home awards for the Best Student in Further Mathematics, Physics, Technical Drawing, Mathematics and Economics and who incidentally captained his school’s football team to the last Lagos State Principal Cup competition and the final of the Nojiu Kenku School Football competition in the outgoing session, it’s a day of fulfillment and gladness.

His words: ”I feel happy and fulfilled. I prepared for it. During the Mock exam, I don’t sleep. I read a line for about five times till I get it. When I do sport in the day,

•APC flag-off at Oto-Awori LCDA: Commissioner for Rural Development, Hon. Cornelius Ojelabi (fourth right); Member, House of Assembly, Ojo Constituency II, Hon Lanre Ogunyemi (second right); Council Chairman, Hon Bolaji Robert (fifth right), Vice Council Chairman, Hon Olufemi Musa (third left), with other party and council officials, present the new party flag at the council headquarters in Lagos

I read at night. I plan on entering UNAAB. I have written my JAMB,” he said Also at the occasion, representing the Tutor General, Education District 1, Modupeola Agbeke David and admonishing the students was Modupeola Oziyi, Deputy Director, Education District 1. She told the graduates: “You have leant so much. It is now

time for you to make use of all you have leant in life. When you are in (secondary) school, people come to your aid but now you are leaving school, you are on your own.”

At the event Bada Moyosore the outgoing Head Girl got the Best Student award in Commerce, Yoruba and Account while Obotse Oshioboje got for English Language.

Akwa Ibom to sponsor five deaf, dumb for treament

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KWA Ibom State government has said that it will sponsor five dumb and deaf children from the state to India for treatment.

Governor Godswill Akpabio stated this when the Managing Director of Primus International Super Speciality Hospital, India, Nitin Dewan paid him a courtesy visit at Governor’s Office, Uyo. Governor Akpabio further said that the successful treatment of the patients would convince Akwa Ibom people on the need for the state to enter into partnership with the hospital.

The governor directed the Commissioner for Health to select five children born deaf and dumb and send to Primus Super Speciality Hospital, India for treatment where a mechanism would be planted on them to enable them to speak and hear, even as he added that the state government would foot the bill for their treatment.

He further said that the state government would sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for surgeons from the hospital to assist in the specialist hospital in the state, whose construction is ongoing at Itam in Uyo. The governor further explained that there would be a mini-specialist quarters and mini-hotels in the hospital premises for the medical team, stressing that the Primus Super Speciality Hospital is a private hospital doing very well in India.

According to him, the Indian hospital is starting a branch in Cairo and Abuja, stating that with the

From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

visit of the surgeons in the state, there will be something good for the health sector. He stated that the specialist hospital, when completed next year, would reduce capital flight from Akwa Ibom people to India.

Dewan, who was accompanied on the visit by the Chief Research Officer of the hospital, Pinto Jayraj and International Business Development Officer, Ramech Chaudhary, said their visit to the state was to contribute to the development of the health sector of the state and country. He thanked Governor Akpabio for the opportunity given them to visit the state.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Bassey had informed the governor that the team had gone round some hospitals in the state and was impressed with the state of the hospitals.

The state government would sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for surgeons from the hospital to assist in the specialist hospital in the state, whose construction is ongoing at Itam in Uyo

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Ogun warns cocoa farmers to stop destroying trees

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“Under the GES programme for 2013, a farmer is entitled to 100 sachets of any fungicide of his/ her choice out of (Champ DP, Fungiran, Ridomil Gold or Ultimax Plus), two bags of cocoa fertiliser (Teractive) and 25 sachets of insecticides.

“Only farmers who register under the Farmers’ National Date Base will, however, benefit from the programme. Those who have not registered should please contact his or her local government areas, wards, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Ogun State Agricultural Development Programme (OGADEP), Tree Crops Department and Produce Department of the Ministry of Agriculture,” she said.

The commissioner added that

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Council hails APC at inauguration

ESIDENTS of Oriade Local Council Development Area have expressed their joy at the registration of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The chairman of the party in the council, Hon. Moshood Olanrewaju Badmus, said Nigerians have a lot to gain with the registration of the party, adding that it will meet the yearnings of the people.

He spoke at the inauguration of the new party in the LCDA. He noted that “the registration of APC is the conception of the desired change which Nigerians have long yearned for all these years of misrule by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).”

The party chief also said that Nigeria and Nigerians have suffered under the bad leadership of the PDP in the past 14 years, adding that the country’s political future rests with the APC. “The APC remains the best vehicle to salvage the dwindling political and economic fortunes of Nigeria which has been bastardised in the past 14 years of PDP bad leadership.

“The well-being of Nigerians

cocoa farmers who were registered during the 2012 exercise received 200 sachets of fungicides, five bags of NPK 20:10:10 fertilisers and 5kg of Agrolyser and 50 sachets of insecticides at a subsidized rate of 50 per cent.

This, according to her, had enhanced the production of cocoa, which, in effect, resulted in an increase in revenue generation to government and income improvement to all stakeholders along the value chain.

In his address, the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, revealed that the 129,620 farmers registered during the registration exercise for 2013 was a far cry from the number of

farmers in the state.

Dr. Adesina, represented by the State Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Olumuyiwa Akinsola, called on farmers yet to register to do same and take advantage of the interventions of both the federal and state governments in the agricultural sector.

The minister, who further said that, under the 2013 exercise, 3,137 farmers in the state would benefit for cocoa, even as he advised them to use best practices in the application of their inputs for bumper harvest of their crops in line with world standards.

In his address, the State G.E.S Coordinator, Mr. Ibikunle Onasanya, said that government was committed to creating enabling environment for the development of agriculture as the state had climate and vegetation favourable for the cultivation of both cash and food crops.

Mr. Onasanya added that for agriculture to be developed, it should serve as a source of gainful employment, raw materials to industries, foreign exchange earner and also create wealth along the value chain, among others.

In his goodwill message, the chairman, Cocoa Framers’ Asso-

OCOA farmers in Ogun State have been warned to desist from the destruction of forest trees in government reserves for the planting or replacement of cocoa plantations.

The Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs. Ronke Sokefun, gave the warning during the official roll-out of the Growth Enhancement Support (G.E.S) programme held at the Cocoa Association of Nigeria (C.A.N) secretariat at Atake-Obo, Ogbere Junction in Ijebu East Local Government Area of the state.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr. Lanre Bisiriyu, Mrs. Sokefun said that while the government is committed to the development of cocoa and livelihood of stakeholders along its value chain, it would not condone wanton destruction of forest trees which are vital to environmental protection and revenue generation.

Speaking on the G.E.S programme, the commissioner disclosed that only farmers registered under the Farmers’ National Data Base registration exercise where entitled to herbicides, pesticides and fertilisers provided by government at a subsidized rate of 50 per cent.

Government was committed to creating enabling environment for the development of agriculture as the state had climate and vegetation favourable for the cultivation of both cash and food crops…For agriculture to be developed, it should serve as a source of gainful employment

By Chinaka Okoro

will be enhanced under an APC leadership. The PDP has nothing tangible to show for all its years in power. PDP having failed Nigerians, I urge the electorate to reject the PDP and embrace the APC which promises to guarantee equity, justice, fair play, development and equal political opportunities for all Nigerians,” he said.

On the party’s plans for Nigerians, the party chief disclosed that when the APC takes over power in the 2015 general elections, it would be committed to solving some of the intractable problems confronting the country.

“The APC government will focus its attention on the solution of some of the problems which the country is experiencing. It will ensure that the education sector, which at present, suffers neglect is given due attention. Parents need not buy books or pupils carry chairs and desks to schools any more. The APC administration

will ensure that the 26 per cent of national budget as prescribed by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) is allocated to the sector.

“Again, the APC government will address the nagging issue of electricity which holds the key to the country’s over-all socio-economic development. It will be committed to infrastructural development; especially roads. It will also provide good governance and robust economy.

“Tackling corruption will be paramount in the programme of the party. This is so because corruption has held the country down for so long and has hampered its progress and development.

“We will also make rule of law our cardinal principle. We will avoid, like plague, situations in which 16 is greater than 19 and five greater than 27 as is the situation in the PDP. We will uphold the rule of law not rule of man. The party will discharge its responsibilities

fairly, equitably and without fear or favour. Nobody will be above the law,” he said.

Contributing, the chairman of Oriade Local Council Development Area, Hon. Ibrahim Babatunde Sanusi said that the registration of the APC by (INEC) was a new vista in the country’s political landscape and a beginning of good things for the people.

He urged Nigerians to embrace the party which he said is capable of taking Nigeria out of the woods

ciation of Nigeria (C.A.N), Mr. Olusesan Sowunmi, assured government that farmers would embrace best practices in their farming practice.

While warning farmers to desist from destruction of economic trees in the forest reserve, Mr. Sowunmi appealed to government to provide land for the establishment of new cocoa plantations outside the reserve and provision of access roads to cocoa producing communities in the state. and saving her from the precipice.

The council chief also urged the cooperation of all in order to make the APC the party to beat in the 2015 general elections.

Also contributing, the immediate past Deputy Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. (Mrs) Bola Badmus Olujobi advised the electorate to remain focused in campaigning for the success of the new party.

She assured the members of the party’s commitment to enhance the lives of the people if it wins the 2015 elections at all levels, even as she said that the programmes of the APC are people-oriented.

Ebonyi to train volunteer farmers

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HE Ebonyi State government has said that it had concluded arrangements for the training of 2,600 volunteer farmers in commercial farming.

The state Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources,Mr Romanus Nwasum, told journalists in Abakaliki that the volunteer farmers would be drawn from the 13 local government areas of the state. ‘’The youth volunteer farmers will be trained on various techniques involved in modern agricultural practices as well as get exposed to the new technology involved in the business.’’

He said that government was hoping that the skills acquired would assist them to embrace commercial farming. ‘’This initiative is in line with the state government’s transformation agenda in the agricultural sector of the economy and it is designed to encourage youths to venture into commercial farming.

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• Hon Badmus (fourth left), Hon Adio Sekoni (fifth left), Hon Sanusi (fourth right), Mrs Badmus (Women leader) (third right), Hon Olujobi (middle) and other members of the APC during the flag-off of the party.

•Governor Amosun

•Governor Elechi ‘’More so, the training will develop their capacity and enhance their skills for self-reliance as well as make them become employers of labour,’’ Nwasum said.

He added that it would also expose them to different branches of agricultural production such as rice farming, animal husbandry, fishery, bee-keeping, snail-rearing and piggery, among others.

The commissioner said the initiative was part of the government’s transformation agenda in the agriculture sector.

FIIRO, Foundation sign MOU

HE Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO) and the Dave Omokaro Foundation (DOF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the promotion of health and nutrition of older persons.

Signing the agreement on behalf of the Institute, at a ceremony in Abuja, FIIRO’s Director-General Dr. Gloria Elemo said when proper attention is paid to the nutritional

needs of the elderly, less medical care would be needed to keep them healthy. She expressed regret that many shy away from the issues of the elderly, whereas old age is an inevitable phase of everyone’s life.

FIIRO, she said had over 250 technologies, 50 of which had been developed. The Institute, she added, had conducted research into food and agro-allied products, some of which would serve the partnership with DOF well.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

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In the days of Okpara and even Jim Nwobodo, it was unthinkable for anybody to come and mount a street shop at Independence Layout without it being pulled down in the next minute

Threats to Enugu urban renewal

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ESPITE Enugu State government’s best efforts, urban filth and environmental disorder remain a constant threat to its beautification plan.On assumption of office, Governor Sullivan Chime laid out his urban renewal plan, stressing that he wanted Enugu to become a modern capital city comparable to any state capital in the world.

To unscrupulous land developers at bay, the state government created the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority, (ECTDA), whose mandate includes maintenance of infrastructure and ensuring that building constructions are done with strict observation of existing regulations and in line with lay out designations.

But despite the strict delineation of Enugu into specific areas for commerce or residence, a new regime of defacement of the city has been let loose by the activities of tenants at will, otherwise known as squatters.

Sadly, in no other area have the activities of squatters been more defined than the Independence Layout. Houses there attract rents of over N1m annually and serve as prime choice of respectable denizens. But taking advantage of undeveloped plots and open spaces, squatters, some of who are engaged in nondescript commercial activities; have erected shanties, kiosks and improvised stores made out of disused containers.

Women of easy virtue find these

I

N a bid to control youth restiveness, the Union of Niger Delta Youth Council has deliberated on possible ways of empowering the youth in the region.

The event was also used to induct members representing Akwa Ibom and Rivers states, Hon. Comrade Otuekong Peter Kings Ataha and Hon. Cornwell Ihunwo into the Board of Trustees Union of Niger Delta Youth Council.

The decision to induct the duo was taken during the joint meeting of the Board of Trustees held

From Chris Oji, Enugu

shanties atractive for business. In the day time, shopkeeepers sell anything from cigarettes to abacha, a local delicacy made from shredded cassava. At night most atructures there are said to transform to mini-brothels while others double as hard drug dispensary points.

Virtually all the churches that have rushed to the area seem to be competing with themselves over whose loudspeakers can emit the loudest noise.

Even during the late hours of the night the churches engage in contest with the illegal relaxation joints to attract attention and cause commotion. It takes great nerves to survive the high decibel sounds produced from myriad loudspeakers at night. It has become unthinkable to raise well behaved children in the once revered lay out.

Worse still, residents have turned to passive insomniacs as they are now forced to keep awake from ungodly noise in the neighbourhood!

Little wonder, the invasion of Independence Lay Out by all manner of persons is currently having its toll on the area. Not long ago, one Mrs. Egbo had her car snatched along Nza Street junction in broad day light.

Two years ago when the former Chief Press Secretary to Governor Chime, Dan Nwomeh, was abducted, his abductors were said to have disclosed that they came into

•A part of Independence Layout

Enugu and hung out at one of the relaxation spots, (Point and Kill) waiting for their prey. The kidnappers said they did not know who he was but that they were motivated to take him because he was driving a government vehicle. It is curious that a police post built by residents some time ago has been abandoned. Instead of police officers, squatters could be seen making use of the facility.

The situation has led to the flight of residents of the area. One of the fleeing former residents, Dr. Ifebuche Okoye, said: “I have lived in that place for the past 40 years.

In the days of Okpara and even Jim

Nwobodo, it was unthinkable for anybody to come and mount street shop at Independence Lay Out, without it being pulled down in the next minute. But to my greatest surprise, even Enugu State Waste Management Agency, (ESWAMA) and the Ministry of Environment seem to collude with these squatters to erect shops in the area. They do not seem prepared to take any action, instead you notice the officials hobnobbing with these dubious shop owners”.

Okoye, said the first thing is to ask owners of undeveloped plots to develop them in line with the allocation mandate within a defi-

nite time period.

An expatriate resident of Independence Layout, who did not want his name in print said: “You cannot be trying to reduce crime or fight insecurity when a lot places serve as haven for people to smoke marijuana (Indian hemp). Your governments should remember to deal with the drug angle. I love Independence Layout, but honestly the place is currently at risk because of these drug joints,” he surmised.

He stated that all over the world, proliferation of crack joints where cocaine, heroin and other harmful substances are sold in any city is inimical to sanity and security.

Youth council inducts BOT members From Mike Akpan, Uyo

in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.

At the meeting, it was unanimously agreed that the inauguration of the newly-elected President of the Council, Comrade Mark Joseph Nsimbehe from Akwa Ibom and the entire members of the executive will take place in the first week of September, 2013 and would be held in Uyo, the Akwa

Ibom State capital.

Briefing reporters on the event, the Deputy National President of the council Mr. Raphael Orumuesve from Edo State, stated that during the inauguration, there will be rally and symposium by the entire youths of the nine states that make up the Niger Delta Region. Its aim is to call on President Goodluck Jonathan, an indigene of

•Chairman, Somolu Local Government Area, Gbolahan Bago-Stowe flanked by Dr. Adedeji Adebajo, Chairman of Local Government Health Authority (left) and a representative of Oba of Somolu, Alhaji R. A. Yunusa, during the community health insurance stakeholders’ meeting at the council’s secretariat, Lagos

Niger Delta, to contest for a second term in office as the President; courtesy call on Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, and undertaking sightseeing of developmental projects and uncommon transformation in the state; award of good governance and leadership to be awarded to Governor Akpabio.

The event will be rounded off with thanksgiving service and Gala night.

A committee was set up to liaise with all the state governors of the nine Niger Delta states, multi-national companies, institutions, corporate organisations and reputable personalities in the region.

Responding after the inauguration as BOT member of the council, Comrade Peter King Ataha promised to use their positions to fight for the empowerment of the Niger Delta youths in particular and the Nigerian youths in general.

Also responding, Hon. Cornwell

Ihunwo thanked the council for finding him fit to occupy the position, even as he promised to use his position to better the lots of the youth in the region.

Present at the press briefing were chairman of BOT Mr. John Isizkel; Deputy National President Mr. Raphael Orumuevse from Edo State; National Secretary, Israel Ben; Hon. Dr. Tony Robert (Bayelsa); Mr. Obi Onyehe from Imo State; Comrade Joseph Otikor from Delta State; Comrade Eddie Honesty from Cross River State; Comrade Henry Ufokiko, Acting State Chairman Akwa Ibom State; Comrade Honesty Ekpemerong, Acting State Publicity Secretary; Comrade Godwin Sunday Acting State Secretary; Prince Uko Ekpe Williams, Comrade Peter Ataha, BOT member representing Akwa Ibom State and Hon. Cornwell Ihunwo BOT member from River State, and youth leaders across the 31 local government areas of the state.

A committee was set up to liaise with all the state governors of the nine Niger Delta states, multi-national companies, institutions, corporate organisations and reputable personalities in the regions

POLITICS

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

49

THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has absolved his generation from the allegations of leadership failure and blamed the youth for not building on his legacies. But critics who have revisited his tenure in public office have emerged with contradictory evidence, reports Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU.

O

What are Obasanjo’s legacies?

LUSEGUN Obasanjo, (rtd) general, civil war commander and two-time Head of State stirred the hornet nest this week during his review of the roles of the national development.

He blamed the youths for leadership failure, in contrast to his own generation, which he said, led the way with purposeful, progressive and visionary leadership marked by accountability and probity. Obasanjo came up with the list of failed leaders. He said that they failed in their mandate to rule well. To some people, Obasanjo hit the nail on the head, noting that the youths have not shown enough capacity for purposeful leadership because of their dubious approach to life, penchant for materialism, greed, avarice and corruption. However, many doubted the objective of the message, owing to the messenger’s antecedent and pedigree as a cunning, crafty and partisan politician.

The remarks by the former Head of State have generated reactions because he absolved the older generation of blame for the rot in the polity. He painted a picture of sainthood by suggesting that his generation did not contribute to the economic and political adversity in the country. He avoided making references to the fact that his generation, the soldiers of fortune, dragged Nigeria into an unnecessary civil war, foisted unitary system on the polity, pillaged the treasury under the prolonged military rule and emerged richer than the entire country in retirement.

Many believe that Obasanjo is a statesman who had the opportunity to make greater impact in office. But, after serving two terms as the civilian President, he left the stage with a perception that has continued to hunt him in public life. Is Obasanjo a democrat or an impostor who craved for greatness without trying to fulfill its full requirements? Is Obasanjo incorruptible, judging by the latest disclosure by another civil war hero, Gen. Alabi Isama (rtd), that he never won the victory he ascribed to himself in his dubious book, ‘My Command’, and also by the controversial third term gambit?

The history of Nigeria is incomplete without a mention of him. At critical moments in the life of the country, fate had thrown him up for meaningful intervention. Obasanjo was the General Officer Commanding, Third Marine Commando, when his juniors, including Gen. Alani Akinrinade (rtd), brought the rebels to their knees. Even at that stage, he and other top soldiers have started canvassing for increased political role under the Gowon Administration.

Then, except Akinwale Wey, Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, no other combat soldier was a member of the Federal Executive Council. The agitation for political power resulted into the pressure on Gowon, who made the late Gen. Muritala Mohammed Minister of Communications and Obasanjo Minister of Works.

In 1979, Gen. Obasanjo made history again. He supervised the voluntary liquidation of military power, thereby emerging as the first military Head of State to relinquish power to civilians. At home, Obasanjo became a critical moral voice, whipping his successors into line, delivering lectures on good governance and chastising the military rulers, who were reluctant to permit democracy to thrive. Besides, he played a role in international community. He was dispatched to troubled spots across the globe to solve problems of civil/military relations.

Obasanjo also became the curator of democratic projects in Africa. World leaders hailed him as a man of integrity and credibility.

When he returned to the State House in 1999, many felt he answered the patriotic call to service; the same task he had performed 20 years earlier. His first term was tedious, but he was about laying a good foundation. When he was re-elected in 2003, Obasanjo became the longest serving Nigerian leader; first as military Head of State for three years and later, as the civilian ruler for eight years.

However, he had lost the steam by 2007 when he handed over power to the late President Umaru Yar’Adua. The major sin of Obasanjo was the flawed general election. When he left the

• Obasanjo

‘After serving two terms as the civilian President, he left the stage with a perception that has continued to hunt him in public life. Indeed, the record of his administration for eight years hunts him. Is Obasanjo a democrat or an impostor who craved for greatness without trying to fulfill its full requirements’ stage in 1979, the ovation was loud. Expectations were high when he made a dramatic return in 1999. However, in 2003 when he resumed a more stable retirement, his record mocked his antecedent. In 1979, Obasanjo presided over a relatively free and fair election. Why then, did he fail to achieve the same feat in 2003 and 2007?

Instructively, his successor, the late Alhaji Umaru Yar’ Adua, acknowledged that the poll that brought him to power was flawed. The puzzle is : In retirement, can the former President still lay claim to being an apostle of transparency, champion of democracy, protector of due process and respect of the sanctity of judiciary?

Critics have argued that Obasanjo retrogressed politically later in life by acting in direct contradiction to the principles and doctrines, which earned him applause in the international community. He was upgraded to the number one position in 1979 following the assassination of Muritala who wanted to return power to civilians. In the saddle, he did not derail the process.

By implementing the three-year transition programme , Nigeria joined the league of democratic nations.

Many commentators adduced reasons for the success of 1979 and failure of 2003 and 2007. One of them, Kayode Ajibade, reasoned that the 1979 setting contrasted with the 2003 and 2007 settings. If Obasanjo had been outside the power

calculus, he would have been very loud in condemning the 2007 electoral mess. “Out of desperation, he became an over-zealous guidance of the political process ,” said Bisi Adegbuyi, a lawyer and politician.

In the past, Obasanjo, as a critic, hit many statesmen with his sword. It was a self-imposed duty of scrutinizing the Nigerian leaders before and after him. It was in the exercise of his fundamental human rights. Today, some of these leaders are celebrated by Nigerians more than him.

The retired General had mocked the indomitable Obafemi Awolowo, the first Premier of Western Region, who had visited his school when he was bare footed; a candidate for the Presidency, who missed the position that landed on his palm without struggle. Then, Dr Nnamidi Azikiwe, teacher, philosopher and first ceremonial President was vilified with his abusive pen as a towering leader who fell from the position of pre-eminence nationally, only to carry on with life in his old age as a tribal chieftaincy holder, the Owelle of Onitsha. His assessment of Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim, a First Republic Parliamentarian and Minister of Health from Borno, smacked of emasculation. To him, Ibrahim, the rich businessmen, was an unserious politician bidding for power. From the prime of life, Aminu Kano had championed the cause of the repressed and deprived Northern masses. Obasanjo simply dismissed him as a figure renowned for carry-

ing placards, adding that he could even protest against himself. Former President Shehu Shagari also fell under his hammer as a slow and dull President, who was not in effective control.

The duo of Mohammadu Buhari and the late Tunde Idiagbon, his juniors in the Army, also came under his hammer. They were autocratic military rulers who held the nation in its jugular. Apart from flaying former Military President Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) for detaining Buhari and Idiagbon, he also criticized his economic policies. On the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP), Obasanjo disagreed with Babangida on the implementation process, saying that adjustment must have human face, human heart and milk of human kindness. When Babangida tinkered with the transition timetable, Obasanjo rallied prominent Nigerians to protest the elongation of military rule. He was one of the leaders who suggested the Interim National Government headed by Chief Ernest Shonekan. He said, the option was regrettable but understandable. The suggestion nailed the coffin of “June 12”. Of course, Obasanjo said the winner of the historic presidential poll, the late Chief Moshood Abiola, was not the messiah.The late Gen. Sani Abacha sacked the interim contraception. He went ahead to imprison Obasanjo after he was roped in a phantom coup. He was saved by divine intervention.

From grass, he rose to grace. Dusted up by the PDP leaders, he emerged as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate. When he became the civilian President, Nigerians had high hopes. His commonwealth leaders welcomed him back to power with optimism.

Former United States President Jimmy Carter hailed his re-emergence. He said, judging by his leadership qualities, he would justify the trust of a model of transparency and leadership committed to higher ideals. It was a wasted expectation. Obasanjo could not fight the infrastructure battle adequately. He left behind a prostrate nation, agonizing over lack of electricity, good roads, good hospitals and good schools. In 2003, there were complaints about electoral malpractices. It was a child play to what happened in 2007. The leader of Campaign for Democracy (CD), Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, alluded to a large scale electoral fraud unrivalled in Nigeria history. It created a hollow in his record of transparency outside power. Many Nigerians doubted his commitment to the election in the first instance on the account of the third term project, which was knocked out by credible politicians and the media.

As the election drew nearer, there was confusion. Court orders were disobeyed by a desperate leader itching to force his wish down the throat of Nigerians. The anti-graft body, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), was misused to witch hunt his perceived political enemies. Grassroots development was aborted in some states when the power-loaded President banned council creation and seized the allocation to the states that tended to assert their constitutional rights. Obasanjo ran a large administration. The cabinet size was huge. But, it was largely unproductive. The dividends of democracy were scanty.

When the former President now exposed the ballot box to a virulent attack, all hopes were totally lost. Obasanjo shocked the anxious nation when he said that the contest would be a do-or-die affair. Hell was let loose on poll day. The election paled into a bitter war. Domestic and foreign monitors said it was the worst in the history of the country. Three years after, the cases were still in court. The victory allotted to Obasanjo’s favoured candidates were later upturned by the judiciary after he vacated the exalted seat. Evidence of multiple thumb printing, snatching of ballot boxes, omission of photographs and logos of opposition candidates and parties, ballot hijack, thuggery and violence starred the tribunals and courts in the face. Before he left, it was impossible for him to right the wrongs. Thus, his rating in the international community nosedived.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

POLITICS Seven years after, the killers of the Ekiti State politician, Dr Ayo Daramola, are still at large. EMMANUEL OLADESU writes on the agony of the bereaved family and its fruitless search for justice.

Governorship aspirant unfolds plans for Anambra

Where are Daramola’s killers? A

W

HEN Ayo Daramola, Howard University trained nutritional economist, a former university don and World Bank consultant, unfolded his ambition to rule Ekiti State in 2005, little did he know that the assassins would put an end to his life abruptly. Eight years after, relations, friends and political associates of the slain politician are still in agony. To them, the hope of apprehending the killers is getting slimmer, owing to the diminishing commitment on the part of the government and police.

It is more agonising for his widow, Kehinde, an Ijebu-Ife princess, and his two sons, Folabi and Dimeji. On daily basis, she weeps. “I cannot forget it that Ayo could be killed like that; someone who could not hurt a fly. I have not overcome the trauma”, she said.

The grief is still shared by every household in Ijan, a rustic Ekiti town, where the deceased was born, almost six decades ago.

Daramola was a star kid among his peers. That signs and wonders of leadership trailed him throughout his life time. At adulthood, he emerged as an Ekiti patriot. When he was privileged to serve the Fountain of Knowledge as the Coordinator of Ekiti Poverty Reduction Agency (EKPRA), he did it with diligence and utmost responsibility. On this account, he became a household name in the 120 towns and villages constituting the state. The developmental projects executed by the agency are now his legacies.

The scholar was comfortable in his lucrative career. Although he had overcome the pangs poverty and misery in life, he could not close his eyes to the plight of his people in Ekitiland.

He thought that he could acquire power and use it to salvage the state from the marauders. Before his foray into politics, intimated his wife with his plans.

But she objected it, saying that it was a dirty game. But Daramola could not be discouraged. When life was snuffed out of the gentleman and professional in politics, his wife’s worst fears about the slippery political field were confirmed.

During his preliminary consultations with the stakeholders in the far-flung state, he discovered that his political future was bright. His slogan, which he adapted from the late Chief Moshood Abiola of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) was ‘abolition of poverty’. In those dark days, the people yearned for change and transformational government. The elite showed enthusiasm. Commoners were ready to also drive his campaign machinery, although they were still in the dark about the political platform.

Ironically, when the new dawn arrived and the envisaged change occurred in Ekiti, Daramola’s seat was vacant. He was only accorded the residual honour due to a martyr.

Indisputably, the former World Bank consultant came to Ekiti with an intimidating credential. He had the apex degree, which is the academic hallmark of Ekiti scholars. He had wined with the cosmopolitan climes, yet, he was not oblivious of his roots. In fact, in his doctoral thesis at Howard University, Washington, United States, the homeboy focused on the perennial problems of the rural dwellers.

In that classic work, Daramola beamed a searchlight on the correlates of food nutrition and high mortality rates among pregnant women. He returned home to gather data. But he subsequent exposure as the EKPRA chief provided further insights into the developmental challenges of the rural poor. He vowed to reposition the state, if elected as the governor. “I was poor. Many Ekiti people live in poverty. We can mobilise our intellectual endowment and material resources to wipe out poverty and put smiles on the faces of people”, he told reporters

• The late Dr Daramola

in Lagos.

Daramola was not an armchair critic. Ahead of the campaigns, he had developed what he described as “solution files”, which encompassed the strategies for solving Ekiti problems sector by sector. He assured the people that hope was not lost, urging them to endure the pains that would herald liberation. He positioned himself as a tested and trusted performer. “We had done it before, we can do it again and we will do it again”, he said, referring to his feats as the EKPRA Chief Executive. “On May 29, 2007, I will be governor of Ekiti State. I know how to do it better, get results and make our people happy”, he added. To the people of the countryside, who had benefitted from his water projects, empowerment programmes an mobilisation for participatory joint projects, he was an idol.

He was confident that he would be eventually crowned. He was prepared for a game of ideas, and not bullets.

He trusted in his brains and intellectual exercise was his pre-occupation.

He spoke with bravery, predicting doom for those who had attempted to convert Ekiti into a fiefdom. He was versatile, gifted in delivery and full of candour. His calculation was that he would meet the criteria for governorship, contest the election with qualified rivals and triumph at the polls. The calculation paled into day dreaming that midnight of horror when he was hacked down by assassins Had the killers demanded a ransom, it would have been paid in threefold.

But Daramola’s life must be on the line. However, in death, his profile remained electrifying, illuminating and captivating. He is remembered as a special breed endowed with charisma. Those who knew him have always attested to his power of ideas, interest in intellectual debate, carriage

‘When he was privileged to serve the Fountain of Knowledge as the coordinator of Ekiti Poverty Reduction Agency (EKPRA), he did it with diligence and utmost responsibility. On this account, he became a household name in the 120 towns and villages constituting the state. The developmental projects executed by the agency are now his legacies’

in social circles, courage in the face of difficulty, and uncanny foresight.

More importantly, his message of self help for development is evergreen.

Through EKPRA, he taught Ekiti the value of collective effort at forging development. Self-help, he said, was not a sin, advising the people to put their destiny in their hand. In communities where that salient idea was put into practice, water ran from the pipes. Health centres sprung up. Rural roads were reactivated. Some towns and villages chose priority projects, put money down and invited the World Bank to fill the other little vacuum.

The Ekiti obas and chiefs were grateful to him for showing the way and the light. They gave him chieftaincy titles for his good work. At his lying-in-state, long royal staff from palaces across the state competed for space around his coffin in their splendor, reminding those who killed him that, in life and death, Daramola has a towering stature.

Today, he is also being remembered for his feats in school as a promising youth leader, footballer at Ekiti Parapo College, Ido-Ekiti, who featured in the memorable soccer fiestas of the seventies, which united the famed Ekiti Confederation. When he was alive, he confessed that, apart from living with teachers who were regularly on transfers, he became an encyclopedia of Ekiti knowledge, traditions, customs and cultures because of those soccer tours which exposed him to the nooks and crannies.

Among those who groomed him were Chief J.A. Fapounda, his old teacher, who later became the Chief Whip of Ondo State House of Assembly in the Second Republic and Chief S.B. Asebiomo, former Chairman of Ondo State Central School Board. While in Form Two, the school authority made him the Light Prefect, and later, Food Prefect. He had wanted to go to Molusi College, Ijebu-Igbo or Oyemekun Grammar School, Akure for his HSC, but Asebiomo, his school principal, prevailed on him to stay on in the school. To encourage him to stay, he offered him scholarship. The old teacher wanted him to continue to play football for the school.

Daramola consequently became the House Captain. This exposed him to micro governance. “House captainship was a position of pre-eminence and esteem. as a captain, I issued exacts to contemporary students. as a food prefect, I fought for improved food in the dining hall”, he recalled . He was also a member of the Students Representatives Council presided over by Asebiomo.

After his HSC programme, Daramola became a teacher at Ado Grammar School, Ado-Ekiti. It was a brief stint.

Later, he moved to Ibadan to work with the Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation as an Administrative Officer under Chief Ayo Ogunlade, who later served as Minister of Information. Already, he had been exposed to foreign scholarship opportunities by the secretary of Gbonyin Students Union, Dapo Awojolu. He was admitted into Howard University, united States. Before left abroad, he briefly taught in Lagos at a school established by the late Chief Esan of Ikoro-Ekiti. The principal was Pa Alake, father of Mr. Dele Alake, former Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy.

The Ekiti boy shone in the university, proving that intelligence was evenly distributed among the tribes of the world and colour of skin was not a barrier. He also delved into campus politics, contesting and winning series of elections, although he missed being the President of Howard University Association because students objected to his ambition because two Nigerians had occupied the position in quick succession. However, he was consoled by the opportunity given to him to represent the Graduate Hall in the Students Parliament.

By Bode Monogbe

LL Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Anambra State, Godwin Ezeemo, has promised to tackle poverty and irregular power supply, if elected as the governor in the next general election. He said he will also give priority to education, healthcare, youth and women empowerment, agriculture and value re-orientation.

Ezeemo spoke at a reception held in his honour by the Association of Anambra Indigenes Revival Initiative (AAIRI) in Lagos. AAIRI is a socio-political group.

The aspirant, who hails from Aguata Local Government Area, promised to give a selfless service at the grassroots. Ezeemo said: “Politics of bitterness must stop and winner- takes- all syndrome must be discontinued”, noting that” the best cannot be achieved for the people under this situation. Everybody will have to contribute”.

The aspirant, who studied Marketing at the Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, Ogun State, lived in Lagos from 1986 to 1993. He later relocated to London, engaging in freight forwarding business. The delibitating condition of the poor at the grassroots stared him in the face six years ago when he visited home. He recalled: “Six years ago when I visited home, what I saw changed my mind. Inspite of the comfort of life in Britain, I started appreciating the problems of our people and decided to make an input. I told my nuclear family-I am going home to serve my people.”

He promised to provide free and compulsory education at the primary and secondary levels, adding that the best infrastructure will also be provided to the schools. noting that an articulate populace will be easy to govern. He added: ”I will make sure teachers are looked after to ensure quality education for our children”.

Ezeemo also said that he will focus on agriculture by making it attractive to the younger generation. This, he said, will be done through the introduction of incentives, including fertilizers and loans. He promised to set up farm settlements to monitor progress of this programme.

This, according to him, will guarantee food security, youth employment, buoyant economy and a shift from dependence on oil.

• Ezeemo

My vision for Ekiti, by PDP aspirant

E

KITI State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant Ambassador Dare Bejide has unfolded his vision for the state. He said he will provide an effective leadership, in accordance with the expectation of the people.

He said: “The basic motivation is service to the people. I have been around for a while in Ekiti state. Apart from the three years that I spent outside Nigeria as High Commissioner, I have been living with the people, I understand their problems, I know there is pervading poverty in Ekiti State. And I know that, unless we have a governor, who understands the feelings and the sufferings of the people, it will be difficult to make a change. That is one of the basic reasons why I am in the race. And I know I can make the difference”.

Bejide spoke with reporters in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

He promised to provide a conducive atmosphere for industrialisation to boost youth employment and create weath.

The aspirant added: “ The economic situation in Ekiti is terrible and unacceptable. There are no commercial activities going on in the state. If you rely entirely on government allocations from Abuja, it becomes very difficult to provide infrastructure and, if you don’t provide infrastructure, then, the enabling environment needed for economic development is absent.

“So, that is the prevailing situation in Ekiti State as today.You impose tax on income and profit. You don’t tax the capital of a businessman.

When the level of economic activity is very low, it is very difficult to tax the people.

“What we intend to do is to make payment of taxes very attractive to those who are paying. In other words, when we increase the level of economic activities, it is very easy to encourage people to pay their taxes.

“We are going to make sure that economic activities are promoted and increased in the state so that everybody is engaged in one economic activity or the other. We will create new departments in the technical schools that will re-train our local mechanics, vulcanizers, tillers,bricklayers, even if it is for three months.”

‘PDP can’t distract APC’

A

By Musa Odoshimokhe

CHIEFTAIN of the Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) , Prince Wale Dosunmu, has advised the National Leader of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to ignore moves by the People Democratic Party ( PDP) to distract him from his plan to give the country quality leadership in 2015.

Dosunmu said that the advice has become necessary and timely because “the PDP is not happy with the final registration of APC, which they see as viable opposition to their monopoly of power. “ He said, as a political strategy, the PDP will employ unethical means to cause disaffection and distraction among the APC faithful.

Dosunmu said: “The party, I strongly believe, has enjoyed power enough. They should allow the peoples’ will to take the centre stage for the sake of true democracy, which is supposed to be practised in this country”.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

AGRO-BUSINESS

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Nasarawa opts out of agric scheme

HE Nasarawa State Government has opted out of the fertiliser component of the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GES) under the Federal Government’s agricultural transformation agenda, the Commissioner for Information and Reorientation, Hamza Elayo, has said.

Addressing reporters after the State Executive Council’s meeting, he said the government opted out of the e-wallet system of fertiliser distribution because of some challenges.

According to him, most farmers in the rural communities in the state were not able to access fertiliser during the last cropping season.

The commissioner said this was as a result of their inability to use mobile phones as required by the e-wallet scheme.

He said the delay in the allocation of fertiliser to states under the

• 360,000 farmers register in Adamawa Stories by Daniel Essiet

GES scheme was another factor that affected farmers adversely in the state last cropping season.

He said the council applauded the state government’s initiative to buy and distribute 4,500 tonnes of fertiliser to farmers across the state in the cropping season.

“Council noted with satisfaction the success so far recorded with the new fertiliser distribution mechanism of government by making fertiliser available at all polling units for farmers to buy,” he added.

The commissioner maintained that the new approach to fertiliser distribution resulted in a glut of the product in the state, adding that it would be sustained.

Elayo said the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) had

been mandated to embark on advocacy to avert devastation.

In Adamawa, no fewer than 360,000 farmers have registered for the Federal the scheme.

Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Adamawa Branch Mr Venantius Jiddere said at the start of the e-wallet-based agricultural scheme in the state: “This is a remarkable event in the lives of over 360,000 farmers who have been registered.

“But out of the total, only 201,555 farmers have been captured and are the beneficiaries of the e-Wallet for the farming season in the state,’’ he said.

He said the remaining un-captured farmers would be recorded next year and would also benefit from the agricultural subsidy enjoyed by their colleagues.

Agency: food tracing vital to consumers’ health

T

HE Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service(NAQS) is canvassing for the tracing of sources of agro commodities from the farm to food centres to protect consumers.

NAQS Director, Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service Dr Mike Nwaneri said tracing would help the government and the private sector to protect and improve food supply.

NAQS, he said,would assist companies to trace paths of agro commodities through the supply chain to improve food safety and mitigate devastating health consequences.

He described NAQS as a focal

point where industry, academic institutions, governments and groups can collaborate to adopt best practices and implement practical and actionable traceability solutions.

The industry, Nwaneri said, was determined to upgrade the agric export food safety and quality management system for participating firms to meet international standards and market demand.

The service, he said, would provide technical assistance to ensure that the agricultural exports comply with international standards and regulations.

According to him, NAQS will offer farmers value-added services

He said the exercise was smooth, adding that many peasant farmers who had not benefited from farm input subsidy were now receiving.

“Over 30,000 farmers have received similar subsidy assistance from the state government in the past three years.

“These farmers have also received training and acquired skills in various agricultural ventures,’’ Jiddere added.

He said the sustenance of agricultural sector was not only about the distribution of fertiliser, but the transformation from traditional farming to mechanised system.

He said there was need for farmers to shift from traditional farming to the advanced system of farming with the support of agricultural

research institutes.

He said the proposed expansion of national agro-based industries would not be realistic if the government continued to neglect and politicise the sector.

Jiddere said most of the loans by commercial banks were not getting to the peasant farmers.

He urged the government to look at agricultural insurance, pointing out that due to the poor insurance policy, a lot of farmers lost billions of naira yearly.

He said there was need for the government to ensure the realisation of national food security and agricultural development through proper agricultural insurance policy.

He said Nigeria had the potential of feeding itself and exporting foods, but because of the poor agricultural policy and implementation, the country still imported foods from other nations.

Recycle food waste, producers told

F

• Nwaneri

that are integral to the industry’s growth.

OOD manufacturers have been urged to recycle their waste for higher uses.

Former chairman of the Federation of African Nutrition Societies Prof Tola Atinmo said there was need to recycle waste for other uses instead of sending them to landfill.

He called on manufacturers to prevent food waste and also promote a life-cycle approach to reducing it.

Food waste, according to him, presents a serious problem that will worsen in the future,if steps are not taken to find solution to it.

He said it was important to find more ways to avoid food waste and develop responsible policies to assist in these efforts.

Atinmo, who is on the Advisory Board of the West Africa Nutrition Capacity Development Initiative (WANCDI), said food manufacturers can also be donated for animal feed.

About 50 per cent of food produced in the world is not consumed, according to a report by The Institution of Mechanical Engineers, which states that between 1.2 and 2

• Atinmo

billion tonnes of food was wasted globally yearly.

He said in the developing world, wastage is the result of inefficient harvesting, poor storage and inadequate transportation.

In the west, according to the report, sloppy habits, poor meal planning and a disconnection from food sources mean we simply just waste it.

Expert canvasses safe meat consumption

T • From left: Environmental focal person, WAAPP Mr Shittu Hussain; Chikwendu and NESREA’s Mrs. Ronke Soyombo at the ceremony.

T

Ministry, others to check pesticides’use

HE Federal Government has struck a deal with an international agency on the use of pesticides on crops.

This agreement followed the finding of pesticide residues in food items above the tolerated level.

The West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAAPP-Nigeria), the Federal Ministry of Environment and the National Environmental Standards & Regula-

tions Enforcement Agency (NESREA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Abuja to regulate the use of pesticides.

National Project Coordinator, WAAPP Prof. Damian Chikwendu, said that the MoU would boost implementation of pesticide registration, regulation and use as specified by the ministry and NESREA and also help in the realisation of the domestication and implementation

of Economic Community of West African States(ECOWAS) regulations guidelines and policies on pesticides.

Some farmers use chemical pesticides to control insects and diseases on their crops. Exposure to the pesticides through the skin, on the eyes or through inhalation or ingestion, have been linked with death, cancer, birth defects and damage to the nervous system.

Govt urged to establish agri-export zones

T

HE Federal Government has been urged to establish Agri Export Zones (AEZs) in the country.

In an interview with The Nation, the Chief Executive, Multimix Academy, Mr Madu Obiora, said the zones would enable investors to increase exports.

The concept, he said, required taking a look at a particular produce in an area in order to develop and source the raw materials, their processing/packaging, leading to final exports.

The government, he said, should set up such zones with incentives for making the agro products competitive in the international mar-

kets.

According to him, the services ould be managed and coordinated by state government/corporate sector and would include provision of pre/post harvest treatment and operations, plant protection, processing, packaging, storage and related research and development etc.

HE Federal Government should monitor slaughter houses and poultry meat processing plants to control contaminated meat, the President, Mycotoxicology Society of Nigeria, Dr. Olusegun Atanda, has said.

Speaking with The Nation, Atanda said the consumption of mycotoxin-contaminated meats was harmful.

There are two systems of food safety - the plant's own system and the government's, which inspects what the plant does.

According to him, it is the duty of an abattoir worker to separate animals that show signs of illness from

the healthy ones, adding that the government and industry veterinarians should look for signs of illnesses in animals before slaughtering them.

After the slaughtering, he said company and government inspectors should look at the parts, including lymph nodes and internal organs for any other signs of disease and quality parts.

Also, he said the environmental impact of food system needs closer scrutiny.

Governments at all levels, he said, need to play a lead role in managing environmental risks in the food sector through the use of hard and soft measures.

Nigeria,19 others to get $63.4m grant

N

IGERIA and 19 other countries are to benefit from $63.4 million grant by the African Development bank (AfDB) to boost the production of four crops.

The countries are Benin, Ghana, Cote D’Ivoire, Mali, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Mauritania, and Niger, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Sudan, and Eritrea, Democratic Republic of Congo,Lesotho, Zambia, Madagascar and Zimbabwe.

President, Institute of Science and Technology, Prof. Lateef Sanni, disclosed this to The Nation.

Sanni, a Professor of Food Science and Technology at the Federal University of Agriculture

Abeokuta (UNAAB), said the structure of the project is such that it would enhance wheat, rice, cassava and maize production.

“And it has engagement protocol for partner countries and has a lot of spill over effects potentially in the future if the project is solidly implemented,” he said.

“The fact that the AfDB is championing the project shows that is commercial and will be private sector driven and there is a lot of sustainability in the project, he said.

The project, Support for Agricultural Research and Development of Strategic Crops (SARD-SC) will focus on production to marketing of food.

52

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

53

THE NATION FRIDAY AUGUST 16, 2013

NEWS

Jigawa pilgrims board remits N1.3b to NAHCOM

Police kill seven ‘armed robbers’ in Gombe

T

HE Joint Task Force (JTF) yesterday killed seven members of a suspected robbery gang, which has allegedly been terrorising Gombe.

It was learnt that an infant was also hit and killed by a stray bullet during the crossfire between the hoodlums and the JTF men at the Barunde Quarters in Gombe town.

The hoodlums were said to have entered the town through the surrounding hills and started shooting indiscriminately.

The residents reportedly alerted the JTF patrol team.

The security agents were

•Stray bullet kills infant From Vincent Ohonbamu, Gombe

said to have overpowered the hoodlums and arrested some of them.

Those arrested reportedly led the security team to the hoodlums’ hideout in an uncompleted building. In another round of gun battle, the seven suspected robbers were killed.

The JTF team also demolished the hideout.

The infant, who was hit by a stray bullet, was said to be the child of a suspected member of the gang.

‘The police are here to protect the life and property of the citizens’ The father reportedly escaped with bullet wounds during the gun battle.

Police spokesman, Fwaje Atajiri, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), confirmed the incident.

He said the hoodlums were

among those who attacked a Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) mega filling station in Gombe and killed two policemen.

The police spokesman said the hoodlums also attacked a popular supermarket in the town and stole an unspecified amount of money.

Atajiri warned residents, especially landlords, to know their tenants well before renting their apartments to them.

He advised them to give useful information to security agencies, adding: “The police are here to protect the life and property of the citizens.”

‘6,000 HIV-positive register in Jigawa’

•First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan (left) and wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Amina Sambo, at the celebration of Nigerian Women for Peace and Empowerment rally in Abuja...yesterday

T

Benue governor’s aide dies in Govt House

T

HE Personal Assistant to Benue State Governor on Security, Patrick Gwar, yesterday slumped and died in the Government House in Makurdi.

The incident occurred at 2pm in the waiting room of the Office of the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Prof Saint Gbilekaa.

An official of the Government House, who spoke in confidence, told our reporter that the aide died after attending a meeting of the Forum of the Governor’s Aides.

The source said: “He (Gwar) sat on a chair in the waiting

T

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

room of the Office of Chief of Staff to the Governor, Prof Saint Gbilekaa, after the meeting of the Forum of the Governor’s Aides. He later started feeling uneasy and was having difficulty breathing.

“Shortly, he collapsed and died before help could get to him.”

The spokesman of the forum, Comrade Samuel Adzegeh, told our reporter that Gwar was a gentleman who was always keen about the affairs of the forum.

“It will surprise you that he

moved a motion for the adjournment of today’s (yesterday’s) meeting of governor’s aides before he collapsed and died,” Adzegeh said.

The spokesman hailed the Permanent Secretary in the Government House Administration, Dr Tivlumun Nyitse, for battling to save Gwar’s life.

He said the deceased would be greatly missed for his loyalty and dedication to the governor and duty.

Prof Gbilekaa described the late Gwar as an easy-going man, who loved his job and did it with passion.

The Chief of Staff prayed God to console his family.

Dr Nyitse told The Nation that the late governor’s aide was a workaholic and a dutiful security expert, who dedicated his life to serving the state.

The Nation gathered that Governor Gabriel Suswam, who had just returned to the state, cancelled his appointments on hearing the sad news.

Hordes of aides to the governor accompanied the body and deposited it at a mortuary in Makurdi, the state capital.

APC ‘ll liberate Nigeria, say ex-PDP members

HE Reformed Action Congress of Nigeria Group, a group of defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, yesterday urged Nigerians to support the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Rising from its general meeting in Ogbomoso, the group said the progressives’ party would liberate Nigeria from its sundry challenges and the maladministration by the ruling PDP. At the meeting were Alhaji Alli Oyedeji Dodo; Senator Ayo Adeseun, representing Oyo Central and Chairman, Senate Committee on Capital Market; Mr Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli, Chairman, Odua Investment Limited; Kamil Akinlabi Adegbenjo, member, Oyo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and Mufu Ogunremi, a former House of Representatives member.

Others are: Asiwaju Yemi

T

From Ahmed Rufa’I, Dutse

HE Jigawa State Pilgrims Welfare Board has said it has remitted N1,336,773,692.38 to the National Hajj Commission (NAHCOM) for the seats allocated to the state in this year’s Hajj.

Its Executive Secretary, Alhaji Alhasan Muhammad, addressed reporters on the board’s preparation for this year’s Hajj.

He said: “The passports of all our intending pilgrims are ready with us, waiting for visa.”

Muhammad said NAHCOM reduced the seats allocated the state by 646, representing 20 per cent.

“We were earlier allocated 3,230 seats but the number was later reduced to 2,586,” he said.

The secretary promised that the board would ensure a hitch-free exercise.

He said 11 committees have been set up to work with appropriate bodies and authorities to avoid hiccups during the holy pilgrimage.

The committees include security, transportation, advance party, finance, tent, preaching and enlightenment, coordination and supervision and medical.

Muhammad hoped that the pilgrims would be conveyed from the new Dutse International Airport.

“Based on what we have seen on the ground when we supervised the project, there is all indication that our pilgrims will take off from the newly constructed airport in the state,” he said.

• ‘Nigeria ‘ll benefit from its good leadership’ From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan and Duku Joel, Damaturu

Aderibigbe, Special Adviser to Governor Abiola Ajimobi on Transport and former Chairman, Akinyele Local Government; Mr Sumbo Owolabi, Commissioner for Water Resources; Lanre Agoro, a former House of Representatives member; Alhaji Yinus Akintunde Santana, a former Commissioner for Works and Transport.

There were also political office holders and board members of government agencies and corporations as well as representatives from the 33 local government areas.

Adeseun said the APC is the viable alternative to the PDPled Federal Government, which has failed to take the

nation out of the woods in the last 14 years of democracy.

He hinged the group’s hope on the slogan of the new party: changing the phase of governance for a better Nigeria.

According to him, the Ajimobi administration has been exemplary in the area of peace and security, which has returned to Oyo State since his assumption of office. He also acknowledged the sanitation and beautification of the environment, dualisation of major roads, youth empowerment, infrastructural development and other ongoing programmes of the government.

Alli urged members to stay connected, adding that the APC would provide succour to the masses.

He added: “APC is our party and we shall all work together to bring victory on all sides, from the federal down

to the local level.”

Akinlabi said the meeting was aimed at bringing all former ACN reform members closer to the government.

Also, Yobe State Deputy Governor Abubakar Aliyu has said Nigeria would benefit from APC because of its good leadership.

He said: “Good leadership alone can fix the problems of Nigeria and all the other problems of the country will be history.”

The deputy governor told reporters in Damaturu, the state capital, that the selfless commitment of leaders of the various parties in the APC is exemplary.

Aliyu said: “I want to say that the kind of leadership provided during this merger is the one that Nigeria needs.

If we get it right through good leadership, the problems of Nigeria will be over.“

HE Jigawa State Agency for the Control of AIDS (JISACA) yesterday said it has registered over 6,000 people living with the Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) across the state.

The Executive Secretary of the agency, Dr Bashir Ahmed, spoke in Dutse, the state capital, when he delivered a goodwill message to the state chapter of the Network of People Living With HIV and AIDS (NEPLWHA) after its election at the NUJ Press Centre.

Dr. Bashir said 50 people with HIV benefited from the six-month skill acquisition training, adding that they were given N100,000 each as the take-off grant for their

I

From Ahmed Rufa’I Dutse

businesses.

He said 16 health facilities in the state give free comprehensive HIV and AIDS services to the residents.

The agency chief urged religious and traditional rulers to ask their subjects to visit the nearest designated health centres for HIV/AIDS tests and counselling.

Ahmed Chiroma, who spoke for the elected officials, promised to serve the association diligently.

He advised members to always have the fear of God in relating with uninfected persons to reduce the spread of the virus.

Chiroma also advised members to always “look within” the registered members to marry.

Kogi distributes 90,000 hybrid seedlings to cocoa farmers

N pursuit of its Agricultural Transformation Agenda, an offshoot of the National Agricultural Transformation Agenda, the Kogi State Government has distributed 90,000 hybrid cocoa seedlings to farmers in the nine cocoa farming local government areas of the state.

The Chairman of the Kogi State Cocoa Rebirth Agenda and Deputy Governor Yomi Awoniyi spoke yesterday at the presentation of the seedlings in Lokoja, the state capital.

He said the Idris Wada administration placed emphasis on agriculture as a major avenue for development.

Awoniyi said the government attached importance to the cultivation of rice, cassava, cashew and cocoa so that the youths could embrace farming, instead of pursuing sudden wealth.

The deputy governor said there is no shortcut to wealth except by hard work.

The Commissioner for Agriculture Dr Olufemi Bolarin said the government’s focus on agriculture was based on Wada’s belief that the sector would create wealth and jobs.

He told the beneficiaries that the governor extended his administration’s support to cocoa farmers “with the expectation that they can utilise at least 1,000 hectares of land under cocoa cultivation every year”.

Kano promotes 950 Judiciary workers

T

HE Kano State Civil Service Commission has promoted 950 junior and middle cadre Judiciary workers, the Commissioner of Justice, Maliki Kuliya, has said.

The commissioner said the exercise was part of incentives to strengthen the Judiciary and promote effective administration of justice.

Also, the State Security Service (SSS) has warned the public not to give vital information to strangers making enquiries about security agencies.

The Director-General of

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

the SSS in Kano, Bassey Edem, told reporters that the residents need to be security-conscious to complement the efforts of law enforcement agencies at ensuring the safety of life and property.

He said: “If the residents notice suspicious movements or see people moving with weapons, they need to note the number(s) and type(s) of the vehicle(s) and alert the nearest security point.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

54

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 15-08-13

Zenith Bank nets N45b profit in first half Z

ENITH Bank Plc made N45 billion in net profit distributable to its shareholders in the first-half of this year. It witnessed steady growth across key performance indicators during the six-month period.

Interim report and accounts of Zenith Bank for the period ended June 30, 2013 released to the investing public at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) yesterday, showed that profit before tax rose to N54.1 billion in first half 2013 as against N50.2billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2012.

The report indicated that profit after tax rose from N42.41 billion to N45.419 billion.

Gross earnings grew by 13 per cent to N171 billion compared with N151 billion recorded in the comparable period of 2012. Top-line analysis showed that interest income grew by 16 per cent from N111 billion to N128 billion while net interest income appreciated by 15 per cent from N79.9 billion to N91.35 billion. Customers’ deposits grew by 18 per cent from N1.70 trillion to N2 trillion.

The bank showed improved cost efficiency as cost to income ratio reduced from 57.2 per cent to 53.3 per cent.

With these, earnings per share increased by 11 per cent from N1.34 to N1.44, reflecting the full probable interim

•PZ Cussons declares N2.2b dividend

By Taofik Salako

dividend shareholders could have received if the bank had decided to distribute first half net earnings to shareholders.

Managing director, Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, recently assured shareholders that the management of the bank would continue to work harder to ensure better cost management with a view to enhancing shareholders’ returns.

Chairman, Zenith Bank Plc, Sir Steve Omojafor, in his recent review predicted improved performance in 2013 assuring that the bank would maintain its culture of outstanding performance and industry leadership in the industry.

According to him, Zenith Bank began 2013 with confidence and remained committed to its primary goals and to drive shareholders value.

He said a relentless focus on customer has enabled the business to deliver bigger, better and faster products with most of its service delivery stimulated by innovations while keeping its focus firmly on the future.

In another boost to the market, PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc yesterday announced it would be recommending payment of N2.22 billion as dividends to shareholders. Shareholders would receive a dividend of 56 kobo on every share.

The dividend recommendation was premised on impressive performance of the conglomerate in the year ended May 31, 2013, which saw 110 per cent increase in profit after tax.

Key extracts of the audited report and accounts of PZ Cussons Nigeria showed that profit before tax rose by 77.63 per cent from N4.31 billion in 2012 to N7.65 billion in 2013.

Profit after tax doubled to N5.32 billion as against N2.54 billion. Turnover however slipped from N72.15 billion to N71.34 billion.

The reports by Zenith Bank and PZ Cussons Nigeria appeared to reset market mood as equities broke away from recent sustained downtrend with a modest gain of 0.02 per cent. Aggregate market value of all equities on the NSE improved slightly from N11.750 trillion to N11.753 trillion. The All Share Index (ASI), the main index at NSE, inched up to 37,111.64 points compared with its opening index of 37,103.67 points. Investors staked N5.03 billion on 255.57 million shares in 5,420 deals.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 15-08-13

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

55

MONEY LINK

Moghalu cautions African countries on FDI Stories by Collins Nweze

•Moghalu

A

FRICAN countries should be cautious about types of foreign direct investments (FDI) inflows into their economies, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Deputy Governor, Financial System Stability, Kingsley Moghalu has said.

He spoke yesterday at the presentation of his book titled:Emerging Africa: How the Global Economy’s ‘Last

Frontier’ Can Prosper and Matter at the Woodrow Wilson International Centre for Scholars, in Washington D.C, the United States of America (USA).

Moghalu who was keynote speaker on the occasion, said many foreign investors are making a kill from portfolio investment adding that there is need for African countries to take control of where investors put their money.

He said the current Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) in Nigeria ‘is reasonably high’ adding that many portfolio managers move their money to where they can make good yield, especially now that there is quantitative easing going on in the West, with the objective of keeping interest rate low.

“We have a lot of those people in Foreign Direct Investment. We discussed this type of thing at the CBN, and we said, yes, because Nigeria does not have

a diversified economy, the exchange rate for the naira now is everything. The stability of the exchange rate is important because it is an import-based economy.

We have to ensure significant inflow of foreign capital,” he said.

Moghalu also shared his experiences and thoughts on how the region, which had previously been largely ignored, can become a key player in international economic affairs.

According to him, Africa needs right skills, education to attract needed FDI. He said Africans need to direct FDI according to their own priority interest, not according to priority interest of foreign investors.

He said African countries will not jump into prosperity until they have developed strong manufacturing base driven with developed information technology. He said it is only through industrilisation that the over 21 per cent unemployment rate in Africa will reduce.

He said Africa also needs to make

FirstBank appoints Executive Director

F

IRST Bank of Nigeria Limited has announced the appointment of Mr. Adetokunbo Mukhail Abiru as Executive Director. He will drive the Corporate Banking business of the Bank.

The bank said in a statement that the appointment is in continuation of its ongoing far-reaching corporate transformation. “ The appointment of Abiru, until recently the Lagos State Commissioner for Finance, is geared towards enriching the capacity of the Executive Management and Board, by deepening specialisation and strengthening the corporate governance culture. He is a Chartered Accountant and seasoned banker

who is coming on the board with his varied skills and well-rounded work experience in both public and private sectors,” it said.

“I am pleased to welcome Tokunbo back to the FirstBank family. His track record while he was here as the Group Head, Corporate Banking and as finance commissioner in Lagos State typify FirstBank’s value system which is anchored on dependability, entrepreneurship, integrity, resilience, dynamism, and service excellence. I have no doubt that the experience garnered while on Leave of Absence in Lagos State public service, though brief, will have the expected impact in his new responsibility as we make

progress with the Bank’s focused transformation for sustainable growth,” Bisi Onasanya, FirstBank’s GMD/CEO, was quoted as saying in the statement.

A Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria and Honorary Senior Member, The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (HCIB) with extensive experience in banking and consulting spanning over 20 years, Abiru holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Lagos State University. He also attended various executive management programmes in top rated business schools including Lagos Business School and Harvard Business School.

Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year 5-Year

35m 35m 35m

11.039 12.23 13.19

19-05-2014 18-05-2016 19-05-2016

CIBN to hold confab on IFRS

T

HE Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr. Jonah Otunla, will lead other experts from the banking and finance services industry that will deliberate and articulate the framework and strategies for effective implementation of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in Nigeria.

This is coming under the auspices of the ninth Business Managers’ Roundtable organised by the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN).

The theme of the programme is: “International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS): Implementation Challenges and Resolution Options” will hold in Abuja, August 27.

Mr. Otunla will deliver the Keynote address while other guest speakers include Mrs Agnes Martins, Director, Banking Supervision, CBN; Mr. Nelson Anumaka, FCIB, Asst. Direc-

NIDF NESF

OBB Rate Call Rate

Current Market 5495.33 N552.20

Amount Offered ($) 350m 350m 350m

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12 Currency

INTERBANK RATES 7.9-10% 10-11%

Date 28-04-2012 “ 14-04-2012

GAINERS AS AT 15-08-13

SYMBOL

O/PRICE

C/PRICE

CHANGE

MULTITREX JOSBREW TRANSEXPR UACN MANSARD UAC-PROP REDSTAREX ABCTRANS GUINNESS TRANSCORP

0.60 0.97 0.88 57.01 2.11 16.60 4.49 0.87 248.00 1.30

0.66 1.06 0.96 61.89 2.29 18.00 4.84 0.93 265.00 1.37

0.06 0.09 0.08 4.88 0.18 1.40 0.35 0.06 17.00 0.07

Year Start Offer

Current Before

Current After

NGN USD

147.6000

149.7100

150.7100

-2.11

NGN GBP NGN EUR NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N) (S/N) Bureau de Change (S/N)

239.4810 212.4997

244.0123 207.9023

245.6422 209.2910

-2.57 -1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

152.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

Parallel Market

153.0000

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

CAP INTENEGINS ACADEMY NPFMCRFBK FLOUMILL UNITYBNK COURTVILLE THOMASWY MAYBAKER CADBURY

O/PRICE 48.50 2.25 1.95 0.88 86.30 0.57 0.72 0.73 2.65 52.19

C/PRICE 43.65 2.03 1.76 0.80 78.56 0.52 0.66 0.67 2.45 48.31

DISCOUNT WINDOW Feb. ’11

July ’11

July ’12

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

12%

Standing Lending Rate ,, Deposit Rate ,, Liquidity Ratio Cash Return Rate Inflation Rate

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00% 12.10%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00% 12.10%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00% 11.8%

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

NSE CAP Index

27-10-11 N6.5236tr 20,607.37

Rate (Previous) 4 Mar, 2012 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

Rate (Currency) 6, Mar, 2012 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

Movement

Amount Sold ($) 150m 138m 113m

Exchange Rate (N) 155.2 155.8 155.7

Date 2-7-12 27-6-12 22-6-12

28-10-11 N6.617tr 20,903.16

% Change -1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

CHANGE 4.85 0.22 0.19 0.08 7.74 0.05 0.06 0.06 0.20 3.88

Amount Demanded ($) 150m 138m 113m

CAPITAL MARKET INDEX

CUV Start %

LOSERS AS AT 15-08-13

SYMBOL

tor, Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria and Dr. Biodun Adedipe Chief Consultant, B. Adedipe & Associates.

Other sub-topics to be discussed by participants at the event include: “Understanding the Framework and Structure of IFRS in Nigeria: An Overview of IFRS; IFRS Implementation in Nigeria: The Journey so far; Challenges and Solution Options (Regulators’ views and operators’ views); Code of Corporate Governance as bedrock of Financial Reporting, etc.

The programme is expected to attract top executives and Managers from Banks, Discount Houses, Micro and Mortgage financial institutions, Financial System Regulatory Agencies, Federal and State Ministries/Parastatals, Organized Private Sector operators, Oil and Gas, Academia, among others.

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM

MANAGED FUNDS Initial Quotation Price N8250.00 N1000.00

investment flows.

“In 2010, the combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the 54 African countries was almost equal to India, with 100,000 individuals accounting for 80 per cent of Africa’s GDP. Also, the continent’s share of global poverty rose by eight per cent between 1999 and 2008,” he said.

Moghalu said the GDP of the entire sub-Saharan Africa, including South Africa, is just about equal to that of Belgium or that of metropolitan Chicago, a city in the US. He lamented that the total number of megawatts of electricity produced in sub-Saharan Africa, half of which is produced in South Africa, is equivalent to that of Spain, which has 20 times fewer people than the continent.

DATA BANK

FGN BONDS Tenor

clear choices on where it wants to play, economically, in the global arena but maintained that with the continent’s current position, it is not realistic to think that it can be a dominant player in global economy.

He warned that Africa should not be carried away by the economic growth story being highlighted by the World Bank, but rather, to interrogate such growth index on the basis of often overlooked fundamentals.

The World Bank calculates that Africa received $48.2 billion capital inflows in 2011, an increase of $8 billion, and notes that the continent remains an investment destination.

Yet Africa’s share of the world trade is a minute three per cent, with less than five per cent of foreign direct

Offer Price

Bid Price

ARM AGGRESSIVE GROWTH 9.17 9.08 KAKAWA GUARANTEED 1.00 1.00 STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE INVE 140.65 140.16 AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND 161.03 159.36 LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL 0.80 0.78 BGL SAPPHIRE FUND 1.16 1.16 BGL NUBIAN FUND 1.18 1.16 FBN MONEY MARKET FUND 100.00 100.00 FBN FIXED INCOME FUND 1,000.00 1,000.00 NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. 1,799.14 1,797.09 PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND 14.73 14.01 CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST 1.39 1.33 CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST 1.87 1.80 STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY 11.386.29 11,045.54 • ARM AGGRESSIVE • KAKAWA GUARANTEED • STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUNDARM AGGRESSIVE • OPEN BUY BACK

Bank P/Court

Previous 04 July, 2012

Current 07, Aug, 2012

8.5000 8.0833

8.5000 8.0833

Movement

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

56

NEWS

Wike, Mbu, others reject panel’s memo

T

HE five anti-Amaechi lawmakers in the Rivers State House of Assembly have returned the memo they were served by the Judicial Commission of Enquiry looking into the fracas at the Assembly on July 9 and 10.

The five lawmakers are Evans Bipi, Victor Ihunwo, Kelechi Nwaogu, Martins Amaewhule and Michael Chinda.

Speaking yesterday in Port Harcourt during its sitting , the Chairman, Justice Biobele Georgewill, said he received three memos submitted by the counsel to the Speaker,

From Clarice Azuatalam, Port Harcourt

Otelemaba Dan-Amachree, the 25 pro-Amaechi lawmakers and the House Leader, Chidi Llyod.

The returned memos, Georgewill said, were forwarded to the affected persons by hand and through courier and they were returned through the same means.

It was also learnt that the Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, the Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu, the Area Commander MOPOL 5 and Emeka Woke, a

former Emohua Local Government Chairman, have not responded to the memos sent to them.

Also being expected were responses from the general managers of 92.3FM, Love FM in Port Harcourt and the correspondent of TVC in Port Harcourt, Oluchi Iwuoha.

At the sitting yesterday, Dan-Amachree’s lawyer said he was afraid for his safety.

Ken Atsuwete said: “The Speaker is ready to come and give his testimony but his concern is his security as the security details attached to him have been withdrawn.”

Of the 25 pro-Amaechi lawmakers, only Augustine Ngo showed up.

Justice Georgewill said since the memos were rejected by the affected parties, they would be served through newspaper publication.

He urged all those whose names and organisations were mentioned in the memos to respond and make their submissions before noon on Tuesday,.

On the security of the speaker, Justice Georgewill said: “When it gets to his turn to appear, we will look into it.”

•The Nation’s Deputy Editor (Nation’s Capital) ,Yomi Odunuga (right), presenting a copy of the paper to the DirectorGeneral, Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mrs Sally Mbanefo.

With them are Managing Editor, Northern Operation, Alhaji Yusuf Alli and the NTDC’s Deputy Director, Public Relations, Mrs Grace Omoh when the NTDC team visited The Nation Bureau in Abuja... yesterday.

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CRPP: we support Oshiomhole

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HE Coalition for Registered Political Parties (CRPP) has dismissed reports of disagreements between the state government and some opposition parties on award of contracts.

It urged the people to be patient with the government.

CRPP Chairman Samson Isibor, in a statement in Benin City yesterday, said investigations showed that

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

due process was followed in the award of contracts by the government.

Isibor noted that over 800km of roads have been built and renovated. Over 1,000 primary and secondary schools were built or renovated.

Isibor said some industries were moribund before the present administration came on board.

From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

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GONI people in Rivers State have threatened to sue the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) next week.

Under the aegis of Ogoni Solidarity Forum (OSF), the people said yesterday in Bori that they would stop Shell from selling any assets in Ogoni until all contentious issues are resolved.

OSF leader Celestine Akporbari said: “Nothing is working in Ogoni because of the destruction of our land by Shell, which is secretly selling all its assets.

“That is why we are going to court. Whoever buys anything is buying Shell’s liability.”

Akporbari also said the people had run out of patience on what he described as the Federal Government’s continued indifference to the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) report, saying the development is pushing the people towards violent struggle.

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

suspected victims.

“He also confessed that he had duped several unsuspecting persons under the pretext of either helping them to join the Army or securing admissions for their wards into military institutions.”

Also paraded was a middleaged woman, Josephine Ochini, who was arrested with seven bags of substances, suspected to be Indian hemp.

Mrs. Ochini, who was paraded with her husband two months ago for drug peddling, was granted bail by the court when she was arrested again.

She, however, said her husband, who was receiving treatment in Lagos, was the owner of the substance.

“The case in which my husband and I were arrested is still in the court. They saw these bags in the house. My husband is very sick,” she said.

The fake Army Major said: “I joined the military in 2003 when I was 21. I am married and no longer in the military. I was dis-

missed as a Private after I went to the Nasarawa State Polytechnic to study Electrical Engineering. I graduated in 2008.

“I paraded myself as an officer because I was looking for something to help myself. My friends thought I was still in the Army so I just put on the uniform to tell them who I am.

“I have not defrauded anybody. I just had a camera shot with the council chairman. I have been to Akoko-Edo but I did not demand any money. At times, I go out looking for job to do. I did not promise anybody job in the army. I am begging them to forgive me.”

A 60-year-old man, Joseph Ebinum, who was also paraded, said he took to selling narcotics when he realised that he was getting old and needed something to do.

Capt Managbe said the suspects would be handed over to the appropriate authorities for prosecution.

A victim of the fake Major, who pleaded for anonymity, said he took John to several politicians in the state and that John moved about in a patrol Hilux

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HE award of excellence conferred on the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu, has generated tension.

The Rivers State Fourth Republic Ex-Councillors’ Forum (19992002), through its Chairman, Sylvanus Obari Sanwi, yesterday at a briefing in Port Harcourt, dissociated its members from the award.

A group, the Former Councillors of Nigeria, Rivers State chapter, gave Mbu the award for his “achievements” since his February transfer to Rivers from the Oyo State police command, where he spent six months.

The 1999 to 2002 councillors declared that the former councillors of Nigeria never consulted them, before bestowing the award

Edo UBE board constituted

DO State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has approved the constitution of the State Universal Basic Education Board, headed by Stephen Alao.

The former board, headed by Joseph Emoabino, was dissolved under questionable circumstances.

Other members are Dr. Ann Aisosa Amadasun, Mallam Sule Ali, Dove Momodu, Patrick Ikosomi representing Nigeria Union of

T •John

SUV and was in company of soldiers

We’re not part of Mbu’s award, say ex-councillors

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From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

HE indefinite strike by resident doctors of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, is beginning to take its toll on patients. Some of them have been moved by their relatives to private hospitals.

A visit to some wards yesterday showed that patients, who were anticipating that the strike would be called off, were left unattended to.

A source said the doctors were on strike because of the centralised system of payment of salaries, which has resulted in a three-month delay.

The Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof. Michael Ibadin, could not be reached for comments.

The Resident Doctors Union Chairman, Charles Okafor, could also not be reached.

Ogoni to sue Shell

Army parades fake major, ‘drug dealer’

FAKE Army Major, Kabiru John, who allegedly duped several persons, was yesterday paraded by the 4 Brigade in Benin, Edo State.

Among his victims were top politicians, including the Chairman of Akoko-Edo Local Government, Akerejola Joseph, Osamede Adun and Tony Kabaka.

The fake Major obtained a Lexus Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) marked BF 607 USL from Kabaka with a promise to help Kabaka’s son secure admission into the Nigeria Defence Academy, Kaduna.

He was alleged to have collected large sums of money from others for providing “security and protection”.

Army’s spokesman Capt Roseline Managbe told reporters that the suspect was arrested at Ugbor community and that he claimed to be an officer commanding the provost company.

Capt Managbe said the suspect was always dressed in military uniform when engaging in shady deals and duping un-

UBTH doctors’ strike bites hard

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

on the police commissioner.

The ex-councillors said: “It is wrong for an award to be given to a police commissioner, who has been partial in handling the political crisis in the state.

“The Rivers State Fourth Republic Ex-councillors’ Forum dissociates itself from the award of excellence given to Mbu in the name of Former Councillors of Nigeria, Rivers State chapter.

“They cannot use a blanket name of Former Councillors of Nigeria. They are not the only former councillors. We were not consulted before that award was given. We can never be part of that award.”

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

Teachers, Charles Osaruyi Ifaluyi representing Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools and Mrs. Dorothy Igbinovia representing Parents Teachers Association.

A statement by the Secretary to Edo State Government, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, said the appointments take immediate effect.

White Cane Day tomorrow

HE Nigerian Society for the Blind will hold the eighth edition of its White Cane Day and public enlightenment programme tomorrow.

Its Chairperson, Mrs Biola Agbaje, said: “Our White Cane Day is an annual charity and public enlightenment programme. It is a platform where we raise funds for the training and rehabilitation of the visually-impaired in our society. This is a task we have successfully carried out in the last 58 years. It is also to draw attention to the plight of the blind and the partially-sighted in our society so that everyone can lend a helping hand.”

She said some people do not assist the visually-challenged, adding that such people tend to treat them as unwanted persons.

The society’s chairperson noted that in other countries, people know their responsibility to the blind, because of media enlightenment.

Mrs Agbaje said the White Cane is a universal symbol for the visually-challenged people, adding: “It’s our responsibility to lend a helping hand in crossing the road, warning them of obstacles or dangers ahead, assisting in getting in and out of public transportation. The list of support needed from the public is endless.”

She thanked public-spirited individuals, companies and government parastatals for supporting the society over the years.

“The Babatunde Fashola administration (in Lagos State) has been a great contributor to the development and growth of the society.”

Mrs Agbaje sought more government support for the society’s events.

THE NATION FRIDAY AUGUST 16, 2013

57

NEWS

Fear over nuclear substances in Ajaokuta

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HE Ministry of Mines and Steel Development and stakeholders in the nuclear authority, yesterday expressed concerns about the risk of radioactive substances in Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited (ASCL).

The Minister, Musa Sada, inaugurated a committee to estimate the probable cost implication in the repatriation of substances to their states of origin.

He also assigned the committee, which he set up in Abuja, to "establish the country of origin of the radio-active sources."

Besides, the minister asked the committee to liaise with relevant country/countries to facilitate repatriation.

Sada added that the committee should determine the methodology in handling the safe evacuation of the substances.

The committee has the Permanent Secretary, Linus Awote as chairman.

From John Ofikhenua and Chioma Onyia

Other members are: Director, Steel& Non-Ferrous Metal Department, Abdullahi Alaso, Sole Administrator, ASCL, Isah Joseph , DirectorGeneral, Centre for Energy Research and Training, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Dr. Muhammed Dewu , Ag. Director General, Nigeria Nuclear Regulatory Authority, Martin Ogbarandukun and Director, Legal Drafting, Federal Ministry of Justice, Hamza Tahir.

While explaining the origin of the substances in the ASCL complex, Alaso said ASCL was established in 1979 when the contract of the construction was awarded to Tyazpromexport (TPE) of the defunct Soviet Union.

He said: “Between 1983 and 1988, TPE imported into the country some radioactive sources (including mostly an element called Ceasium (CS

135), which is radio-active.

“The radio-active materials were used for various specialised facilities in the plant and for ascertaining the quality and soundness of some special welding work.

“Most of the radio-active sources have been used during the erection works. The remaining radio-active sources expected to be used were left.”

According to him, in 1996, the company made efforts, through one of the Civil Lot Contractors, Messr Dumex Nigeria Limited, to construct a radio-active bunker where these radio-active sources could be safely kept but the effort was not conclusive.

Alaso noted that the management of Ajaokuta in 2004 notified the Nigeria Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) of the existence of the radio-active sources within the complex.

The ASCL, said Alaso, informed the NNRA that the

importation and deployment of these sources were not subject to any authorisation because there was no such legal requirement in the country then.

“The company stated that these sources in their present disposition pose safety and security risks as some of them could be used to make Radiological Dispersive Devices (RDD) and contaminate the environment.

He said: “The NNRA has explained that the extant policy for management of spent or disused radioactive sources is to repatriate them to their original manufacturers or suppliers.

“However, the collapse of the former Soviet Union has occasioned many political and administrative changes leading to the Russian Federation not accepting to take back these radioactive sources, saying that it was not part of the agreement of purchase.”

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Ministry warns farmers

HE Ebonyi State Director of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Anslem Opara, yesterday warned farmers not to sell treated rice seedlings distributed to them for planting.

Okpara said a few bags of treated rice were traced to a mill at Abakaliki rice mill complex, where the police confiscated all the rice found.

He, therefore, warned that any farmer who diverts his or her own seeds would be

From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

prosecuted.

The director said about 57, 046 farmers in the state have benefited from the Federal Government’s redemption input under its Growth Enhancement Support Scheme, (GES), which was launched to assist registered small scale farmers to access fertiliser at subsidised rates, while the seeds (rice and maize) were given to them free.

Editors to discuss economy without oil

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ORE than 300 editors are to gather in Asaba from Wednesday to Saturday for the 9th All Nigerian Editors' Conference to discuss ways Nigeria's can reduce dependence on crude oil.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) said the four-day conference would have the theme: ``Nigeria: Beyond Oil: Role of the Editor''.

The statement by the NGE Secretary, Isaac Ighure, said the conference would be chaired by a veteran journalist and former Ogun State Governor Aremo Olusegun Osoba.

According to the NGE, business mogul Aliko Dangote will deliver the keynote address while the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, will be the special guest.

It said the Secretary to the Government of the Federation Anyim Pius Anyim would be the special guest of honour, while the host governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan and other governors would participate in discussing how the nation could shed its prolonged dependence on oil.

According to the NGE, the Minister of Agriculture, Akinwumi Adesina, will speak on “The Value Chain Roadmap” while his Tourism counterpart, Edem Duke, will talk on “Oil Exhaustible, Tourism Inexhaustible”.

The guild said Managing Director of Access Bank Aigboje AigImoukhuede,and Special Adviser to the President on Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Prof. Sylvester Monye would deliver papers on "Financial Institutions in a Non-Oil Economy'' and ``Opportunities in Non-Oil Nigeria''.

It said moderators of segments would be the Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission, Eugene Juwah, and Onyema Ugochukwu, a former Editor of the Daily Times.

The guild said it would set aside the last day of the conference for discussions on ``Life after the Chair: The Editors' Colloquium''.

The NGE said the session would be facilitated by Kabiru Yusuf, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Daily Trust, and chaired

by Ted Iwere, another notable journalist.

It said the conference would be rounded off with an investiture of new fellows and induction of new members of the guild at a gala night to be organised by the Delta Government at the Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba.

'We want greater responsibility'

From left: Secretary to Enugu State Government Amechi Okolo, Obiora Ike, the Head of Service, Chidi Ezema and the representative of the Minister of Labour and Productivity/State Co-ordinator National Productivity Centre Enugu, Enoch Azunna inspecting the agricultural products from Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area during the National Productivity Day…..yesterday

Igbo presidency'll not be easy, says Udenwa

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ORMER Imo State Governor Achike Udenwa has advised Ndigbo to gear up for “war” as the “presidency will not come on a platter of gold”.

The ex-governor said the agitation for a president of Igbo extraction would amount to nothing, if it is not backed with commensurate political struggle.

“No one gives you power, you must demand for it and fight for it.”

Udenwa, who spoke in Owerri, the Imo State capital,

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From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

said: “We can no longer afford to fold our arms and expect other parts of the country to say, it is your turn to produce the president we leave it to you.

“This is not possible. We should demand for it either in 2015 or at any other time.”

He said the zone, which has been continually denied the presidency, should mount a concerted and coordinated effort by galvanising the people under a viable platform, devoid of tribal chauvinism.

Race for SSG hots up

NAMBRA State Governor Peter Obi may today announce a minor executive council reshuffle, following the resignation of the Secretary to the State Government, Oseloka Obaze.

Sources said three commissioners may be dropped to accommodate the new found peace interests in the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

A source said Obi is considering elevating the Commissioner for Economic

From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

Planning and Budget, Prof Chinyere Okunna and her Education counterpart Dr Uju Okeke.

He said: "APGA National Chairman Victor Umeh will nominate the new SSG or if Okunna or Okeke is elevated then Umeh will nominate the new commissioner and three other commissioners may go to give room Umeh's interest in the administration."

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HE Anambra State chapter of the Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria yesterday demanded more involvement in the democratic process in the state.

Chairman of the association Simeon Okafor said at a forum organised by the body in Awka that if the potential of professionals was not harnessed, it would be difficult for politicians to deliver on good governance.

The Chairman of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Anambra chapter, Chris Eluomunoh, said dividends of democracy would better be delivered to the people, if professionals

“It is based on this that I am calling on Ndigbo to wholly embrace the All Progressive Congress (APC) as a very viable platform from where our age-long ambition will be vigorously pursued and eventually realised.

"It is the only party that affords all the ethnic groups equal opportunity.

"The APC does not hold any

tribe higher than the other but gives everyone equal opportunity to pursue and realise their collective political aspirations unlike what obtains in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where Ndigbo were stampeded into playing a second fiddle, despite their contribution to the growth of the party," Udenwa added.

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•Decries conditions of civil servants

played their roles.

He said: “As Anambra prepares for the governorship election, the professionals have a role to play; they can sponsor radio and television jingles to sensitise the people.

“They can also organise debates for the aspirants to tell the people what plans they have for the state. This will help them in making their choices for the job.”

The Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Patrick Obi, who represented Governor Peter Obi, thanked the professionals and urged them to contribute their quota in building the state.

Anambra NLC to hold prayer rally

NAMBRA State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Patrick Obianyo yesterday decried the poor working conditions of civil servants.

He said the Congress will hold a prayer rally on Wednesday.

Obianyo, who spoke during a zonal meeting of Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) in Awka, said a three-day fasting and praying wouldprecede the rally at Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka.

He lamented that the state has no civil service commission, saying a permanent sec-

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

retary earns N150,000 monthly.

The chairman said the NLC is seeking God's intervention to appeal to the conscience of Governor Peter Obi. His words:"We have found ourselves in this hopeless situation and convened an emergency meeting where a decision was taken to seek for divine intervention.

“Consequently, a prayer rally will be held on Wednesday at the Ekwueme Park by 9am. The prayer rally will be preceded by a three-day fasting starting from Monday.

“Workers are enjoined to participate fully in this programme. This call must be taken seriously as we cannot continue to bemoan our condition when we can change things for the better. Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? (Romans 6:1) “The struggle would not be easy but we must triumph.

We shall be castigated, framed, accused and even maligned but we must remain undaunted. It will be the mother-of-all struggles and we know we are not alone in this.

“This administration is not worker-friendly. Civil serv-

ants have continued to suffer.

It is time to take our destiny in our hands."

But the Head of Service, Chidi Ezeoke, said: “It is not true that the government shunned a dialogue with labour. Under the Obi administration, civil servants have never had it so good.

“The Ndiolu Microfinance Bank which was liquidated was reactivated by Obi with N70 Million recapitalisation.

“Work has started at 1,000 housing units for workers at Isiagu, Awka South local government while an opening is on the way for employment of 5,000 workers, comprising of 1,500 junior staff, 1,000 senior staff and 2,500 teachers.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

58

FOREIGN NEWS

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GYPTIAN authorities on Thursday signific a n t l y rai s e d t h e death toll from clashes the previous day between police and supporters of the ousted Islamist president, saying more than 500 people died and laying bare the extent of the violence that swept much of the country.

Despite the government’s declaration of a nighttime curfew and a state of emergency, violence continued into the next day. Angry men presumed to be supporters of deposed President Mohammed Morsi stormed and torched two buildings housing the provincial government of Giza, the city across the Nile from Cairo.

The death toll, which stood at 525, according to the latest Health Ministry figures, makes Wednesday by far the deadliest day since the 2011 popular uprising that toppled longtime ruler and autocrat Hosni Mubarak - a grim milestone that does not bode well for the future of a nation roiled in turmoil and divisions for the past 2 1/2 years.

Health Ministry spokesman Khaled el-Khateeb put the number of the injured on Wednesday at 3,717.

The Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamist group from which ousted President Mohammed Morsi hails, put the death toll at a staggering 2,600 and the injured at around 10,000 figures that are extremely high in light of footage by regional and local TV networks, as well as The Associated Press.

In Thursday’s violence at the Giza provincial governor’s office, Associated Press reporters saw the buildings - a two-story co-

PUBLIC NOTICE ON RE-NAMING OF STREET

I, Mr. ABIOYE GBADAMOSI, wish to inform the general public that i have applied to Isolo Local Council Development Area,that the street currently known as MUSIBAU MOJEEB STREET, situated off Ago Palace way, Ago okota be renamed as ABIOYE GBADAMOSI STREET in my favour. This is for the information of Isolo Local Council Development Area and the general public.

PUBLIC NOTICE ON STREET NAMING REGISTRATION I Mr. ADEBOLA OLUGBENGA ADEBOYE, wish to inform the general public that I have applied to Isolo Local Council Development Area, that the street lying in front of my house, situated off I.K PETERS CLOSE, Ajao Estate named in my favour as BOLA ADEBOYE CLOSE. This is for the information of Isolo Local Council Development Area And General Public.

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Death toll from Egypt violence rises to 525

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Obama denounces Egypt massacre

RESIDENT Barack Obama on Thursday denounced the massacre of protesters by Egypt’s militaryled interim government and announced he had canceled a major joint military exercise in response.

“While we want to sustain our relationship with Egypt, our traditional cooperation cannot continue as usual when civilians are being killed in the streets and rights are being rolled back,” Obama said in a brief statement from his Martha’s Vineyard vacation spot.

“As a result, this morning, we notified the Egyptian government that we are canceling our biannual joint military exercise, which was scheduled for next month,” the president said, warning that the U.S. response may not stop there.

“Going forward, I’ve asked my national security team to assess the implications of the actions taken by the interim government and further steps that we may take as necessary with respect to the U.S.Egyptian relationship,” Obama said.

His remarks came a day after Egyptian government forces launched a violent assault on demonstrators, with a death toll running in the hundreds. The White House and Secretary of State John Kerry had denounced the bloody crackdown without announcing concrete steps to try to pressure Egypt’s government to fulfill its pledges of restoring democratic rule to the longstanding U.S. ally.

The latest violence left Obama facing two burning crises in the Middle East – the other is Syria’s civil war, with a death toll of more than 100,000 people. The two conflicts have fueled fierce criticism at home of his handling of the so-called “Arab Spring.”

“Let me say that the Egyptian people deserve better than what we’ve seen over the last several days. And to the Egyptian people, let me say the cycle of violence

lonial style villa and a four-story administrative building -ablaze. The Giza government offices are located on the road that leads to the Pyramids.

State TV blamed supporters of ousted President Mohammed Morsi for the fire.

Meanwhile, near the site of one of the smashed encampments of Morsi’s supporters in Cairo’s eastern Nasr City district, an Associated Press reporter on Thursday saw dozens of blood-soaked bodies stored inside a mosque.

The bodies were wrapped in sheets and still unclaimed by families.

Relatives at the scene were uncovering the faces in an attempt to identify their loved ones. Many complained that authorities were preventing them from obtaining permits to bury their dead.

El-Khateeb said 202 of the 525 were killed in the Nasr

and escalation needs to stop,” Obama said.

U.S. leverage is limited. In addition to scrapping the so-called “Bright Star” military exercises, the government could freeze the roughly $1.5 billion in annual aid it provides to Egypt, but help from other countries like Saudi Arabia is currently far more generous. Washington could withhold individual arms packages.

It could seek some sort of diplomatic condemnation, like calling the U.S. ambassador home for consultations.

But Obama stuck by his administration’s decision not to formally label the ouster of deposed President Mohammed Morsi by the military a “coup,” a step that under U.S. law would require suspending American aid.

“We appreciate the complexity of the situation. While Mohammed Morsi was elected president in a democratic election, his government was not inclusive and did not respect the views of all Egyptians,” Obama said.

“While we do not believe that force is the way to resolve political differences, after the military’s intervention several weeks ago there remained a chance for reconciliation and an opportunity to pursue a democratic path,” the president said.

“Instead, we’ve seen a more dangerous path taken.”

That path has included arbitrary arrests Washington considers politically motivated, as well as a crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood that powered Morsi’s election victory, and finally this week’s bloodbath.

“The United States strongly condemns the steps that have been taken by Egypt’s interim government and security forces,” Obama said. “We deplore violence against civilians. We support universal rights essential to human dignity, including the right to peaceful protest. We oppose the pursuit of martial law, which denies those

rights to citizens under the principle that security trumps individual freedom or that might makes right. And today the United States extends its condolences to the families of those who were killed and those who were wounded.”

Obama pressed the interim government to lift the state of emergency that it imposed on Wednesday — a step amounting to martial law — and called for a process of national political reconciliation to begin.

America believes “that all parties need to have a voice in Egypt’s future, that the rights of women and religious minorities should be respected and that commitments must be kept to pursue transparent reforms to the Constitution and democratic elections of a parliament and a president.”

He also had a message for the demonstrators amid reports that some have assailed Christian churches. While the country is largely Muslim, about 10 percent of Egyptians are Christian.

“We call on those who are protesting to do so peacefully and condemn the attacks that we’ve seen by protesters, including on churches,” the president said.

Obama called for the toxic anti-American sentiment in Egypt to ease.

“I know it’s tempting inside of Egypt to blame the United States or the West or some other outside actor for what’s gone wrong,” Obama said.

“We’ve been blamed by supporters of Morsi. We’ve been blamed by the other side as if we are supporters of Morsi. That kind of approach will do nothing to help Egyptians achieve the future that they deserve,” Obama said.

“We want Egypt to succeed. We want a peaceful, democratic, prosperous Egypt.

That’s our interest. But to achieve that, the Egyptians are going to have to do the work,” he said.

Egyptians mourn at a mosque in Cairo where lines of bodies wrapped in shrouds are laid out on August 15, 2013

City protest camp, but it was not immediately clear whether the bodies at the

mosque were included in that figure. Another Health Ministry spokesman, Mo-

hammed Fathallah, said he had no knowledge of the bodies at the el-Iman

LOSS OF DOCUMENT I, Mr. Kayode Samuel Aiyewumi of No. 36 Fagbenro Square Surulere Lagos hereby notify the general public that letter of allocation issued to me by LSDPC on 36, Fagbenro Square off Randle Avenue Surulere, Lagos got lost on transit and all efforts to locate it proved abortive.

PUBLIC NOTICE NGUNDAK FOUNDATION The general public is hereby notified that the above named association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under the Companies and Allied Matters Act no. 1 of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Com. Samuel Lolo 2.

Engr. John B. Gimba 3. Rev. Nuhu Fada 4.

Pst. Jonathan M. Dasaro 5. Mr. David Bulus 6.

Mrs. Mary I. Kassim 7. Mrs. Hannatu T. Kobo AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. To bridge the gap between persons with disability and able persons 2. Carter for general welfare of disabled persons in prescribed zones of our operation 3. Induce awareness of ability in disability.

Any objection to the above registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, P. M. B. 198, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication Signed: Chairman

mosque.

Victims’ names were scribbled on white sheets c ov er i ng t hei r bod i es, some of which were charred. Posters of Morsi were scattered on the floor.

“They accuse us of sett i ng f i r e t o ou r sel v es.

Then, they accuse us of torturing people and dumping their bodies. Now, they kill us and then blame us,” screamed a woman in a head-to-toe black niqab.

Omar Houzien, a volunteer helping families search for their loved ones, said the bodies were brought in from the Medical Center at the sit-in camp site in the final hours of Wednesday’s police sweep because of fears that they would be burned.

A list plastered on the wall listed 265 names of those said to have been killed in Wednesday’s violence at the sit-in. Funerals for identified victims were expected to take place later on Thursday.

Meanwhile, a mass police funeral - with caskets draped in the white, red and black Egyptian flag was held in Cairo for some of the 43 security troops whom authorities said were killed in Wednesday’s clashes.

Interior Minister Mohammed Ibrahim, who is in charge of the police, led the mourners. A police band played funerary music as a somber funeral procession moved with the coffins placed atop red fire engines.

Wednesday’s violence started with riot police raiding and clearing out the two camps, sparking c l a shes t her e a nd el sewhere in the Egyptian capital and other cities.

Cairo, a city of some 18 million people, was uncharacteristically quiet Thursday, with only a fraction of its usually hectic traffic and many stores and government offices shuttered. Many people hunkered down at home for fear of more violence.

Banks and the stock market were closed.

The Brotherhood has called for fresh protests nationwide on Thursday, raising the specter of renewed violence. It warned that the protests would grow in intensity, but gave no details. By early afternoon, dozens of Morsi supporters were blocking a main road near the site of the Nasr City camp, disrupting traffic.

The latest events in Egypt drew widespread condemnation from the Muslim world and the West, including the United States, Egypt’s main foreign backer for over 30 years.

PUBLIC NOTICE CONFIRMATION OF NAME EWORO USANG USANG BLESSING EMMA and USANG BLESSING EMMANUEL refers to one and the same person now wish to be known as USANG BLESSING EMMANUEL. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE TAIWO I, Miss TAIWO Mayowa Anthonia, change my marital title and wish to be called Mrs. TAIWO Mayowa Anthonia. National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Yaba, Lagos (N.O.H.I.L ) and the general public, to please take note.

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013

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OTHER SPORTS

NATION SPORT

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HEN Christine Ohuruogu’s name flashed up in first place on the big screen in Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium it confirmed her status as one of Britain’s most successful athletes of all time.

The Briton inched past favourite Amantle Montsho on the line to take 400m gold and reclaim the world crown she won in Osaka six years ago.

Ohuruogu’s knack of only producing sub-50 second runs in major championships is unrivalled and she is undoubtedly one of the greatest tacticians currently operating in world athletics.

Yet for many she will never be up

“The problem stems from 2006 when Ohuruogu was suspended from competing for missing three out-ofcompetition drugs tests.

It was a massive blow to British athletics, more so as she was being touted as a potential face of the London games.

To her credit she immediately apologised but insisted she was guilty of nothing more than not informing the testers of when she moved training venue.”

Ohuruogu’ll never be fully loved by the British public there with British heroes Dame Kelly Holmes, Jessica Ennis-Hill and Sally Gunnell - or mentioned in the same breath as Paula Radcliffe, Tessa Sanderson and Denise Lewis despite her two world titles, Olympic gold and silver medals and a national record to boot.

And she doesn’t deserve to be either.

The problem stems from 2006 when Ohuruogu was suspended from competing for missing three out-ofcompetition drugs tests. It was a massive blow to British athletics, more so as she was being touted as a potential face of the London games.

To her credit she immediately apologised but insisted she was guilty of nothing more than not informing the testers of when she moved training venue.

Ohuruogu was cleared twice by drugs testers either side of her third missed test and three independent inquiries concluded “forgetfulness” was behind her mistake. But every other athlete adhered to the strict rules by practically having their life governed by the doping whereabouts scheme.

Just because Ohuruogu’s story appears to add up doesn’t mean we should necessarily excuse her and blindly celebrate her success.

She returned from her year out to win gold at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka before following it up with success in

Beijing after overturning her lifetime Olympic ban.

And although she couldn’t quite close down America’s Sanya Richards-Ross at London 2012, this week she reaffirmed herself on the world stage with a stunning run in Moscow.

But the mistakes of her younger self leave a cloud of doubt hanging over her. It shouldn’t matter that she was banned before her international success; the fact is she fell foul of the drugs laws and if the sport wants credibility they must acknowledge as much – however harsh it seems.

Athletics is teetering on the edge after the revelations surrounding Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell and although the World Championships have shifted attention back to the track, it won’t be long before doping becomes the sport’s hot topic again.

It’s a disservice to the hard-working athletes who continue to be tested that her negligence, or worse, is allowed to be ignored and the worldwide audience has every right to view Ohuruogu with uncertainty after the events of seven years ago.

Anyone can miss a drugs test through complacency but missing three should rightly raise suspicion otherwise it renders the whole system redundant. It was Ohuruogu’s responsibility to ensure the drug testers were informed of her whereabouts and she must suffer the consequences now she’s a global star.

It’s the classic doping cliché, but if Britain celebrated her achievements akin to how they reacted to Jess Ennis-Hill’s London triumph then it sends out the wrong message to the youngsters of ‘Inspire a Generation’.

Regardless of whether Ohurougu cheated or not - and she is adamant she did not - it was her responsibility

to take the tests and she must face up to that.

Yes, what she has achieved is remarkable and may never be repeated by a British athlete, but if we are to class her career in the same bracket as Holmes, Ennis and Gunnell then it devalues the entire sport.

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SPORT EXTRA AHEAD OF 2014 WORLD CUP

Ameobi wants regular shirt at Newcastle

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EWCASTLE striker Shola Ameobi wants a season of regular first-team football to give him the best chance of playing for Nigeria at the World Cup. Despite earning 20 England Under-21 caps, a change to FiIFA rules means the Zariaborn forward is eligible for selection by manager Stephen Keshi.

The 31-year-old, who has one cap for the Super Eagles, made just four league starts last season.

“It’s top of the agenda,” Ameobi told BBC Newcastle.

“A lot of years I couldn’t play (for Nigeria) but Fifa changed the rules and I now have an opportunity to do what every footballer wants to do, which is to play in a World Cup. Ameobi made his Premier League debut for Newcastle against Chelsea in September 2000 (pictured). He has made 270 appearances in all competitions and has scored 76 goals.

“I have been called up for friendlies and hopefully I can show the manager what I can do, but you need to play games to get into the squads.”

Ameobi is eligible for Nigeria as he holds dualnationality and has not played for England at senior level.

Other players to have made a change include Hearts’ winger Andrew Driver, who played for England Under-21s before switching to Scotland, and Ameobi’s international team-mate Sone Aluko who has England Under-19 honours.

Aside from a six-game loan spell at Stoke City in 2007-08,

Ameobi has spent his entire career at St James’ Park since joining the club’s academy in 1995.

The Magpies recently bolstered their forward options with the arrival of QPR’s Loic Remy on a seasonlong loan deal and Ameobi conceded that he would be willing to look elsewhere for first-team football if necessary.

“There’s been a lot of speculation regards people

Glo hails Eagles’ victory over LOBACOM has South Africa c o m m e n d e d

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Nigeria’s Super Eagles for the 2-0 defeat handed down to South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in their Mandela Challenge match at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban on Wednesday.

Debutant Uche Nwofor, who plies his trade at Dutch Eredivise side VVV Venlo, scored the brace with which Nigeria overwhelmed the South Africans in the highly entertaining encounter.

“Despite being a friendly affair, the victory was needed to put Nigeria in the mood to secure the ticket for the final round of Brazil 2014 World Cup qualifier with Malawi next month,” Globacom said in a statement in Lagos yesterday.

“It is also gratifying that the match has showcased new talents like Uche Nwofor as stars to look out for in the new team being built by Coach Stephen Keshi. This is in line with our philosophy that with the right motivation, Nigeria

Moscow 2013: Don’t Crucify Okagbare —Abba Yola

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ORMER Special Assistant to the Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Abba Yola has lashed out at those who have been expressing disappointment at the 6th place finish by Blessing Okagbare in the final of IAAF world championship 100 meters Yola, who is also the chairman of Nigeria Premier league club, Kano Pillars said

•Okagbare

Nigerians should be full of praise for Okagbare and not the barrage of disappointment they are expressing.

“Okagbare has done well winning a silver in the long jump and finishing 6th in 100metres. It is not easy to be sixth fastest woman in the world. She was eight at the London Olympics and now she is number six. That is an improvement”.

“She would continue to rise and I believe that she could win in the next games in Brazil. If I have my way she should get a national award for her feat” Yola stated He said that Okagbare may yet win a medal in the 200 metres race so, let us continue to encourage her to do well instead of crucifying her, adding that the woman who broke a 14 year winless streak for Nigeria should be commended

Turkish club drops Adegbite

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IGERIAN striker Razaq Adegbite has been dropped by Turkish second division side Kahramanmaraspor, MTNFootball.com can specially report.

Adegbite, who was offered two year deal by the newly promoted side alongside fellow Rangers defender Chbuzor Madu, could not finalise the deal as securing his clearance has proved rather problematic.

“Razaq Adegbite has been dropped by Kahramanmaraspor, he will be heading back to Nigeria

coming in and out, but I’m an old head now and I just have to focus on myself and making sure I am right, whether it’s playing for Newcastle or someone else,” he said.

“Of course I am happy here I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t but if a lot of strikers do come in then I am pushed down the pecking order, I need to make sure I get games.

“It’s important I look at that and see where we are.”

next week,” a top source in Turkey told MTNFootball.com.

“Securing his clearance has been problem and the team don’t have time to waste any longer, so, he is dropped, only Madu is with the team now.”

His name was missing on the list of players registered for the new season by the Turkish club.

MTNFootball.com also gathered that the promising striker, who has also featured for Enyimba, may now end up playing for an Egyptian side.

has an abundance of talents from which we can build a formidable team that can conquer the world of football.”

The telecoms company commended the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and members of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club who travelled to Durban in large number, saying the supporters’ presence at the match venue made the Eagles feel at home.

“This support is needed as we approach the final curve in our journey to Brazil and we also urge Nigerians at home and abroad to join in this collective effort to establish our country’s football firmly on the global platform,” the statement further said.

Globacom is the official telecommunications partner of the Nigeria Football Federation and the major sponsor of the Nigerian national teams.

Utaka salutes Emenike over Fenerbahce move

By Innocent Amomoh EIJING Guoan striker Peter Utaka, has congratulated Emmanuel Emenike over his big move to Turkish side Fenerbahce.

With this move Emenike joined the league of big earners like Peter Utaka, and Yakubu Aiyegbeni that now plies their trade in China, after completing a two point five million Euros per annum contract with the Yellow Canaries.

“This is a big move for Emma and I want to congratulate him.

He is still young and in the peak of his carrier so such move will be a challenge coming at a perfect time,” explains Utaka.

“Most of the time, a good move is not determined by the money involved but the quality of the team one is moving to. In all ramifications Fenerbahce is a good club, he has been there before and he knows the league very well which means it will not take him time to adjust.”

Utaka, who himself made a money-spinning move to Beijing Guoan of China in a record one point five million Euros per annum, believes the likes of elder sibling, John Utaka, Emmanuel Emenike and Kalu Uche will take the Turkish league by storm.

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SPORT EXTRA AHEAD OF EPL OPENER

Mikel, others resume training

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UPER Eagles’ midfielder John Obi Mikel and other members of the Blues squad are back to training at the club’s training ground ahead Sunday’s Premier League clash against Sone Aluko’s Hull City.

Mikel pulled out of the Eagles squad that defeated South Africa 2-0 on Wednesday in Nelson Mandela challenge Cup at the Durban stadium due to a reported stomach problem.

The club in a statement on

its official twitter account confirmed that Mikel and other squad members who were not active for their respective country during the international window are set to resume training immediately.

“The squad is back at Cobham.

Training begins at 4pm today. The statement read.

Sunday’s game comes just three days before Chelsea meet Aston Villa, a game rescheduled due to the Blues’ involvement in the UEFA Super Cup. Meanwhile Victor Moses who made a return to the Eagles squad on Wednesday as a second half substitute may miss the scheduled training session as he’s yet to get back at Stamford Bridge from South Africa.

Two goals second half goals from an unlikely source Uche Nwofor ensured Nigeria’s excellent run of six win, one draw and one in their eight meetings so far.

You can go,West Brom tells Osaze

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Peters wants Emenike, Nwafor pairing

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FTER watching the Super Eagles wallop the Bafana Bafana of South Africa 2-0 to win the Nelson Mandela Challenge in Durban on Wednesday courtesy a brace from VVV Venlo of Holland striker Uche Nwafor, former Super Eagles’ Coach James Peters has called for the pairing of the player with top striker Emmanuel Emenike henceforth.

The very blunt veteran Coach who is now the Nigeria Football Federation’s Technical Director in charge of Women’s football was thrilled with the performance of the young and vibrant striker against South Africa.

From Segun Ogunjimi, Abuja He wondered how hot and productive the attack line of the Eagles would be having Nwafor pairing Emenike in the Eagles attack in matches most especially in the remaining matches of the ongoing 2014 World Cup. JP as he is fondly called declared his preference for Nwofor, Emenike twin strike force compared with Emenike, Brown Ideye partnership in Eagles’ attack.

But he was quick to warn that the Eagles’ handler, Stephen Keshi should play Nwafor more in the attack before he should conclude either to pair him or use him as lone striker for Eagles’

matches.

“Though, I believe that we should look at him in the next two matches before we can conclude that he has come to take over the top striking position of the Super Eagles.

But his two strikes were great and to me I think he is a better striker than Brown Ideye.

“I would have faulted him for backing the goal post in the eighteen yard box during the build up to the first goal but the way he eventually scored the goal through a back kick was great.

“And the second goal was also classic. The way he ran into the cross shows that he is a natural goal scorer. But like I said let us still observe him in the next two matches before we can conclude,” he said.

12 teams for ARS 3 National Finals

•192 players to feature in 3-day tournament

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total of twelve teams comprising 192 players will be vying for honours in the male and female categories of the ongoing annual Airtel Rising Stars national U-17 Tournament when the national championship gets underway in Lagos between August 23 and 25 The teams qualified for the three-day championship after featuring in the zonal championship phase where they had to see off strong competition for the national finals tickets from other equally good teams in their zones.

Lagos and Port Harcourt, however, emerged through a selection process midwifed by the State chapters of the Youths Sports Federation of

Nigeria (YSFON) and the Nigerian Referees Association (NRA) with support from the States’ Football Associations.

The zonal championship held in six centres across the federation, and these include Kaduna, Abuja, Enugu, Port Harcourt, Ibadan and Lagos.

Each of the centres will feature one male team and female team each at the national finals.

To qualify for the national finals, Kaduna male team defeated a selected side via penalties after playing a goalless draw during regulation time while the female team ran away with a lone goal advantage over another Kaduna selected side.

From the Abuja zonal championship, the host male

team beat Nasarawa 1-0 to the available sole ticket in the final match decided inside the Old Parade Ground, Area 10, Abuja.

Their female counterparts also defeated the Niger State female team 1-0.

At the Liberty Stadium, venue of the Ibadan zonal championship, Kwara state defeated Oyo 6-5 via penalties in the female category while Ekiti lost to their Oyo counterparts 0-1 in the male category.

The Lagos National Championship will be decided inside the main bowl of the Agege Township Stadium which also hosted it last year.

Aside determining the national champions, the championship will double as a qualifier for the ARS inter-country championship slated for Lagos

EST BROM Coach Steve Clarke has insisted that Peter Odemwingie has no future at The Hawthons and has also revealed that the Nigeria international had not trained with the first team during pre-season.

Osaze Odemwingie angered the club last January with his now infamous drive to QPR in order to push for transfer deadline day move and a subsequent trail of inflammatory tweets.

The Baggies have improved their attack with the acquisition of Nicholas Anelka and Matej Vydra and see the Nigerian forward as surplus to their requirements.

“It’s great when you can hide behind the title of head coach but Peter’s future is a matter between him and the club,” Clarke said. “He has not trained with me at all this summer and has made it clear he wants to leave.

“The situation will probably be resolved in the next couple of weeks.

If he’s still here on September 2 or 3, that’s a situation we will deal with”, he added.Clarke has hailed Anelka as an outstanding capture for by saying he will lift the overall standards at the club and further praised the french striker for his seven goals scored during pre season matches.

Jonathan mourns Paralympic gold Medallist

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday described the death of Nigerian Paralympian gold medallist, Mrs. Joy Onaolapo as a big loss to the nation.

Jonathan, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said that he received the news of the death of the medallist in the London 2012 Paralympics with shock.

According to him, she was among those who made Nigeria very proud at the games.

He recalled meeting Mrs. Onaolapo when the Federal Government hosted and honoured the Paralympics medallists at the State House, Abuja last year.

He said: “It was indeed remarkable and very inspiring that she did not allow her physical challenge to stop her from reaching for the best in her sporting life.”

Jonathan also said that Mrs. Onaolapo’s commitment and determination at the games and in life were worthy of emulation.

He commiserated with her family, the government and people of Edo State, members of the Nigeria Power Lifting

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja Federation (NPLF) and the entire sporting community.

“As we mourn the untimely transition of our beloved sister, let us be consoled by the knowledge that Mrs. Onaolapo’s feat would forever remain fresh in our memory,” he added The country, he said, would always remember those who bring honour to the nation.

President Jonathan prayed that God Almighty would give grace and comfort to the Onaolapo family and grant the soul of the departed peaceful rest.

•Onaolapo

Onazi in match-fixing scandal with Lazio

•Appears in Court today

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GENYI ONAZI’S Italian club, Lazio will be in action on Friday, however, not on the pitch as they will be arguing it out on in the court room in their match fixing case.

The Federal Court of Appeal will convene in Rome on Friday at the NH Hotel to hear the cases put forth by Lazio and Stefano Mauri for appeals against match-fixing sentences slammed on them.

Mauri was given a six-month ban for not alerting authorities to a potential fix in Lazio 4-2 Genoa and Lecce 2-4 Lazio in May 2011.

For this, Lazio were fined •40,000 due to indirect

responsibility for the behaviour of their player.

The court will also hear appeals for Stefano Ferrario (six-month ban) and MarioCassano (four-month ban) while also considering a motion from the prosecutor Stefano Palazzi, who wants the players convicted of his original requested charge of sporting fraud.

This would give Mauri a ban for four years and six months with Lazio docked points.

Palazzi is also appealing against the fact Francesco Benassi, Omar Milanetto, Antonio Rosati and Alessandro Zamperini were cleared in the original trial.

•Onazi

Edo hosts maiden Martial Arts Festival Aug 23

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HE maiden edition of Edo State Martial Arts Fiesta will hold on August 23, 2013 at the Indoor Sports Hall of Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City.

According to the head coach of Edo state Karate, Sensei Lugard Osayi, the contest which is a mere demonstration will start precisely at 2pm.

He disclosed that the fiesta which is a grassroots development programme

From, Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin will feature children.

“The Martial Arts Fiesta will serve as a golden opportunity for us to discover budding talents; you don’t wait until they are old. We should hunt and fish them out at a very young age so they can master the arts gradually and become future champions. We want to raise future and world champions from Edo State,”

he told NationSport in a brief chat yesterday.

He explained that other Martial Arts such as Kung Fu, Taekwondo and Judo will be invited even as the parents of the wards will be on hand to watch proceedings.

He advised parents to endeavour to encourage their children to participate in Martial Arts, namely Karate, Taekwondo, Judo and Kung Fu.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL.8 NO.2,579

TODAY IN THE NATION ‘Man and man (or woman and woman) living together and cohabiting is abhorrent to humanity and sinful in the sight of our Christian God. It is not about marginalizing or judging, it is about repudiating our creator and the grave danger this act portends for humanity now, in the future and in the hereafter..’

STEVE OSUJI

C OMMENT & D EB ATE EBA

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PALABA once said that the most dreadful disease that an individual may be afflicted with is shamelessness, the inability to experience shame. I think he is right because while there is medication for dealing with, if not curing most other dreadful diseases, there is none for shamelessness.

A nation is a collection of individuals and multi-nations are collections of nations. But while there is a common denominator of individuals, the nation is more than the collection of individuals that makes it up and therefore the most dreadful disease that ails an individual isn’t necessarily the same as that which ails the nation or multi-nation.

I hate to do it, but let’s ignore the sage for a moment, put all semantics aside, and assume for the purpose of this dialogue that Nigeria is a nation. Sure, it is a nation of nations, a multi-nation. All that we need to establish from this is that Nigeria is not Opalaba—not an individual entity. Therefore the disease that ails Nigeria is not the same as that which ails Opalaba. And even if the disease of shamelessness ails some or many its members and their leaders, it cannot be validly inferred that shamelessness ails Nigeria as a nation.

What then is the most dreadful disease that ails Nigeria as a nation? Let us consider some notoriously famous candidates: leadership, followership, poverty, inequality, sinfulness (godlessness), and diversity. This is by no means exhaustive; but they suffice for my purpose which is to show that none of them qualifies as the most dreadful ailment that afflicts Nigeria.

Leadership is important and I have also argued in several column entries that in the life of a nation, “leadership matters.” A visionless leadership ruins a nation while a visionary one builds it up. It was Chief Awolowo’s leadership that gave the Southwest a head start. And because we have not been blessed with that kind of leadership at the centre since the beginning of the republic, we are where we are. Still inefficient and ineffective leadership is not the most dreadful disease because there is a cure for it, especially in a democracy. If a republic suffers from bad leadership it has the means of correcting it and effecting a change that it needs. This is where followership comes in.

It has been suggested that Nigeria doesn’t have a problem of leadership; rather its problem is that of followership. The proposition makes a lot of sense. As I have just argued in the last paragraph a republic has options with citizen participation in the choice of leaders.

That is what elections are for. But a nation that is afflicted with the disease of followership cannot get its act together to secure an effective cure for the disease of lead-

SEGUN GBADEGESIN gbadegesin@thenationonlineng.net

What ails Nigeria?

•The late Awolowo

‘ The most serious of our ailment is denial. We are in self-denial about our ailment. And a nation in denial will continue to suffer under the burden of self-deception and a failure to acknowledge that it is on the road to self-annihilation’

ership. And it ends up replicating and multiplying delinquents as leaders. We have had this demonstrated incontrovertibly at many levels in the short history of Nigeria.

Still followership is not the most dreadful disease.

The disease of followership is attributable to certain curable causes which include poverty and ignorance both of which facilitate the onset of the disease of inequality. It follows that if we eliminate the cause, we may effectively eliminate the disease. We cannot here avoid reference to the sage again, for he had the foresight to know what the country needed to make progress. He zeroed in on investment in public education to cure the disease of poverty and ignorance, and improve the condition of followership.

If we followed the sage’s prescription, we would not now have 69% of Nigerians living below poverty line as reported by the African Development Bank, or over 40 million citizens unemployed according to the information volunteered by Dr. Christopher Kolade, the Chairman of Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P). Of course, without a good educational programme, mass

ignorance is assured, and a nation denies itself the availability of human talents for the initiation of development projects and without a critical mass of those projects, there can be no employment opportunities.

But mass ignorance does more than make development impossible. It also makes impossible the critical reflections on one’s condition, which is the first step towards seeking change and improvement.

Many of our social ills have been attributed to the trio of ignorance, poverty, and inequality. Thus, religious or ethnic militancy has been considered as having a direct causal relationship with these three ailments. This is in keeping with the common belief that a hungry man is an angry man, and it is true that the devil finds work for the idle hand. So sinfulness or godlessness is a direct result of poverty even in the case of those committing atrocities in the name of God. But as I have argued above, with the right remedies in place, these are curable diseases and the most proven of those remedies is a good educational system combined with an employment strategy that guarantees good livelihood that promotes

RIPPLES

HARDBALL

ORITSEJAFOR TO LEAD PROTEST AGAINST CHILD MARRIAGE –News

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Yes, children need EDUCATION...not HUSBANDS

human dignity.

In Nigeria today, all the various ailments discussed above can be cured if we didn’t have a more serious ailment. Our sister nations succeeded where we failed. Brazil is one of the most recent success stories. I listened to a Morning Edition radio program on my way to work this week on how Brazilians moved from a mostly poverty-ridden country to a nation of middle and upper classes. Brazilians used to wait five months to secure interviews for visa to the United States of America. Now they wait for two days and the interviews last only a few minutes. This is because the Consulate knows that Brazilians have the money to spend in the US. Diversity is the last on my list. And though it moves us closer to the most dreadful ailment, diversity itself is not our disease. The United State of America is a country that makes its diversity its strength.

The most dreadful disease that afflicts Nigeria as a nation is a genetic one; it is a birth disorder. But that is not the worse part.

Birth disorders can be corrected with genetic modification. The most serious of our ailment is denial. We are in self-denial about our ailment. And a nation in denial will continue to suffer under the burden of self-deception and a failure to acknowledge that it is on the road to self-annihilation.

Now, let me come back to the assumption I made at the inception of this discussion. I suggested that we ignore the sage and assume that Nigeria is a nation. I now want to say that we do so at our peril. But that is what we have done in the last forty years.

We even abused him when he dared to suggest that Nigeria is a geographical expression, andbrought it up over and over again to scuttle his political ambition. Yet the truth is that our actions and attitude have never proved him wrong.

Indeed, the individuals and groups that deny Awolowo’s conscientious declaration in public, urge it in the privacy of their ethnic conclaves. We are a nation of hypocrites and charlatans. We have managed to deceive ourselves about the authenticity of our claim to nationhood status. However, if we sincerely bring our private sentiments to bear on the dialogue about what the country needs to move forward, we would zero in on our denial and we would make the necessary constitutional arrangements to bring us into a more perfect union. Until then, we are only day-dreamers and shadow chasers.

•For comments, send SMS to 08111813080

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

Boko Haram: Unending bloodletting

HAT an age of unremitting blood fest: from Kano to Borno to Sokoto, there is no letting up as the Boko Haram insurgents remorselessly re-enact themselves with a confetti of body bags and broken limbs. No week seems to pass now without a report of a bloody attack in one part of the North. Last Sunday, the sect struck at a mosque in Konduga, outskirts of Maiduguri, capital of Borno State. The worshippers had come under a massive gun assault in the midst of prayers with no fewer than 40 people killed and several injured.

The attackers were said to have been decked in army fatigues.

Boko Haram also scored a big hit in Kano, July 29 when it let off multiply explosions killing about 45 persons. On Saturday, July 27, about 22 were killed in Dawashi and Mainok in Borno State. Though the activities of the sect came to limelight in 2009, it has been engaged in near full scale war with the Nigerian military with the imposition of state of emergency in the states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa on May 14. There was massive deployment of troops to these Northeast states and environs which led to initial successes upon the routing of the insurgents.

But it may have turned out that what was won was a pyrrhic victory. The insurgents

have continued to prove invincible by regrouping and striking through guerrilla methods.

Fighting a phantom, moving enemy must be trying for even the best army in the world; and grappling with an environment of possible sabotage, blacklegs and fifth columnists would be daunting to say the least. Then again, fighting rebels without any concrete cause beyond the espousal of hate, bigotry and half-baked religious mantras is outright daunting. So throwing more soldiers at them as we seem to have done so far will only prolong and muddy the war. The war must be prosecuted more at the realm of mind games and gadgets; we seek advantages through telecommunications, surveillance and air power. We must be able to profile them, pre-empt them, second-guess them and rout them. We must develop highly rapid response capabilities. But most importantly, the military top hierarchy cannot afford to take nary a nap, as the ‘boys’ would seize any opportunity to pull surprises.

Now that it has become obvious that the terrorists are largely cross border elements who are enjoying enormous foreign support, every Nigerian must stand up to support the effort to chase them back where they cam from. Sunday’s attack on worshippers in a

Mosque in Konduga must be the first direct, premeditated assault on Muslims. It only proves that the group is desperate and seeks to make some quick and notable gains, it wants to maintain a semblance of invincibility. As it stands most of the North of Nigeria has been devastated by the activities of this violent Islamists. Apart from bombings and gunfights, there are also armed robberies, kidnappings and the destruction of the school system among other government infrastructure.

For the North of Nigeria which was lagging behind the rest of the country, the Boko Haram carnage will take decades and huge funding to put to order. While we chase the destroyers over the hills and across the waters, are we ready to join other members of the world community to begin to do things the proper way? Are we ready to begin to attend to the conditions precedent to these crises?

Like curbing corruption, implementing our budgets faithfully so that its impact will be felt down to the lowest individual in the society? If we do not enact a radical change in the manner we run our country, we will always be dogged by challenges such as Boko Haram, kidnappings and all such vices. We may never be able to stop this cycle of bloodletting.

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Editor Daily:01-8962807, Marketing: 01-8155547 . Abuja Office: Plot 5, Nanka Close AMAC Commercial Complex, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja. Tel: 07028105302. Port Harcourt Office: 12/14, Njemanze Street, Mile 1, Diobu, PH. 08023595790. WEBSITE: www.thenationonlineng.net E-mail: info@thenationonlineng.net Editor: GBENGA OMOTOSO