Aug 22, 2013

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

Fed Govt to fix Apapa/Oshodi, Ilesa/Akure roads

NEWS

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News Wife: Suntai to return Sunday P7 Sports NFF rejects Keshi’s 42-man list P24 Business Vigeo pays $96.75m for power firm P2 www.thenationonlineng.net

VOL. 8, NO. 2584 THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

N150.00

2015: PDP rues automatic tickets for Jonathan, governors From Gbade Ogunwale and Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

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HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders may propose automatic tickets for President Goodluck Jonathan and governors for the 2015 general election, The Nation learnt yesterday.

The proposal, which sources said was discussed at yesterday’s National Working Committee (NWC) meeting, reportedly emanated from some power brokers who sold it to the party’s leadership.

If it scales through, it may require tinkering with the party’s constitution through a motion.

According to party sources, the proposal may be phrased “offer of first refusal for a sitting President and first term governors elected on the plat-

•Stuck: A massive traffic jam on the ever-busy Ikorodu Road, Lagos as a result of a truck breakdown...yesterday

PHOTO: ISAAC AYODELE

APC promises 40,000MW to stop power outage pains Continued on page 2

EFCC, ICPC, INEC, to be independent

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•Chief Akande speaking at the meeting yesterday.

With him (from left) are: Gen. Buhari, Alhaji Masari and Alhaji Tumsa

From Yusuf Alli, John Ofikhenua, and Chioma Onyia, Abuja

ROGRESSIVES rolled out their rescue plan for “near-permanent-trauma” Nigeria yesterday.

On top of the All Progressives Congress (APC) 31-page manifesto is its determination to end power outage by generating 40,000MW of electricity between four and eight years.

Apart from liberalising monopoly of power generation and supply, APC pledged efficient tariff.

The party also said it would fight corruption by granting indeThe result is pendence to the Ecoand Financial that the nation nomic Crimes Commission and its citizen- (EFCC) and the IndeCorrupt ry continue to pendent Practices and Other exist in a state Related Offences (ICPC). of near perma- Commission It promised to re-

PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE SEE ALSO PAGE 63

‘

nent trauma

’

Continued on page 2

•40,000MW in four to eight years •Independence for EFCC, INEC •Decentralised police

THE APC RESCUE PLAN

•1 million jobs per annum •Special court for corruption cases •Removal of immunity from •Prevention of abuse of power criminal prosecuton •Devolution of power to states

•FOUR POLICEMEN HELD IN IKORODU OVER MOTORCYCLIST’S DEATH P59

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THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

NEWS Vigeo pays $96.75m for power firm

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•President, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Aminu Maigari (second left) going through the documents FIFA Goal Project 2 with representative of Archi-Sport Consultant, Alhaji Olajide Taye in Bauchi…yesterday. With them (from left) are: Bauchi State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Alhaji Adamu Lasi and FIFA Development Officer, Mr Francesco Brescoli

N1tr pay: Ezekwesili challenges lawmakers to public debate

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FORMER Vice-President of the World Bank, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, yesterday urged federal lawmakers to organise a public hearing on their budgetary allocation and remuneration.

She said instead of verbal attacks, the lawmakers should come up with data to controvert her disclosure that N1 trillion had been voted for the National Assembly in the last eight years.

Ezekwesili, who insisted on the facts in her presentation at a Roundtable on Cost of Governance on Monday, said she is ready to appear before a public hearing.

She expressed regrets that members of the National Assembly, without the benefit of

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

her full speech, strangely chose to haul verbal assaults and threats at her.

Ezekwesili said: “My presentation approached the topic more broadly, by calling attention to the fundamentally unsustainable economic structure that has caused Nigeria’s development over the last 53 years to lag behind those of countries with similar political history with attendant high poverty level of 69% of our citizens according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

“As part of the aspect of my presentation that touched on management of Public Finance, I provided eight years data on budgetary allocations

or transfers to the National Assembly.

“The data in question is publicly available information from the Ministry of Finance which reveals that the allocations to the National Assembly known as Statutory Transfers between 2005 and 2013 were approximately One Trillion Naira as follows: 2005 (N54.79billion); 2006 (N54.79billion)2007 (N66.4billion);2008 (N114.39billion);2009 (N158.92billion); 2010 (N 1 5 0 b i l l i o n ) ; 2 0 1 1 (N150billion);2012 (N150billion); and 2013 (N150billion).

“I also provided information available in a recent global comparison of legislators’ remuner-

ation across the world recently published by the United Kingdom based The Economist magazine. I stated that the report alleged that Nigerian federal legislators with a basic salary of $189,500 per annum (N30.6m) were the highest paid lawmakers in the world.

“In reaction to various versions of news media report of my speech a number of members of the House of Representatives and Senators speaking as spokesmen of the National Assembly (NASS) and perhaps without the benefit of my full speech, strangely chose to haul verbal assaults and threats at me. “ She faulted the National Assembly for not tolerating dissension on its budget.

it is better we leave it at that.

These people are on the run and we will allow the military to tell the story.

“The military said that it would appear that in one of their operations, the leader of the insurgent group was mortally wounded and they were rushing him from place to place and they believe that he could indeed be dead.”

Maku added: “What it means is that the security forc-

es are closing in on some of the kingpins of this murderous group that has denied thousands of Nigerians their lives.

Some of the key leaders have been pronounced dead. I think that rather than losing confidence, we should continue to pray for the military and continue to hope that in the end they succeed and they are succeeding.”

The minister urged Nigeri-

Let’s leave Shekau’s death story like that, says Fed Govt

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S Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau dead – as claimed by the Joint Task Force? The question remained knotty yesterday, with Information Minister Labaran Maku saying the issue should not be discussed.

The defunct JTF in Borno State, in a statement on Sunday, claimed that Shekau may have died from gunshot wounds he sustained in an attack in Borno last June.

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

But the death claim has not been independently verified and the military did not take possession of the body, thereby casting doubts on it.

Yesterday at a news conference after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, Maku told reporters when asked about the death of Shekau: “Relating to the story that we have read, I think

Continued on page 58

IGEO Power Limited yesterday concluded the payment for the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC). It paid $96.75million to the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).

The company had earlier paid $32.25million – representing 25 per cent of the $129million bid price for the BEDC, covering Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti States.

Chairman of the company, Mr Gbolade Osibodu, confirmed the payment. He said his company is taking over the power firm.

He assured that the staff would be given a chance to prove themselves in line with the company’s vision.

On how prepared the firm is to take possession, he said: “We have been around for 11 years now. As a turnaround management, we are well positioned to help drive the process taking into account the people and technology to ensure that we provide adequate services.”

The BPE also confirmed the

By Simeon Ebulu

payment.

Vigeo Power Ltd is one of the consortia that emerge as core investors in the Federal Government’s privatisation programme in the power sector, having clinched BEDC in the open and internationally-acclaimed competitive bid process held in 2012.

Vigeo Holdings Limited is the consortium lead and equity member, with Global Utilities Management Company Limited (GUMCO) as local technical partner and equity member, African Finance Corporation (AFC) as equity member and TATA Power Delhi Distribution Limited (TPDDL) as the foreign technical partner. TATA Power Delhi Distribution Limited (TPDDL) will provide technical service for BEDC on the wire side while GUMCO provides technical service on the commercial side.

PWC of India is the transaction advisers.

Vigeo Holdings is a multi business group with interest in major sectors of the Nigerian economy.

2015: PDP rues automatic tickets Continued from page 1

form of the PDP”.

“The tickets would be thrown open to interested aspirants, if the President and the governors reject the offer,” a party source stated yesterday.

It was also gathered yesterday that the proposal’s sponsors have detailed one of the party chieftains, who is from the Northeast origin to move the motion, which would be seconded by another chieftain from the Southwest.

Many of the state chapters are said to have bought into the idea, particularly states in the Southeast, Southsouth, Southwest and Northcentral.

Should the motion scale through, the matter will then be tabled at the August 31 miniconvention for ratification.

Board of Trustees Chairman Chief Tony Anenih, a few weeks ago, tactically mooted the idea of granting automatic tickets to President Jonathan and other elective office holders for the 2015 election.

It was gathered that the issue of removal of the party’s national chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, may not be tabled at the meeting, since, according to sources, majority of the stakeholders had agreed on retaining him.

The sources maintained that

President Jonathan made it clear to stakeholders that he was not favourably disposed to removing Tukur in the thick of the crises rocking the party.

There are only five PDP governors who are doing their first term. These are: Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa) Abdufattah Ahmed (Kwara), Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe) Murkhtar Yero (Kaduna) and Idris Wada (Kogi) Yesterday at the Presidential Villa, Sokoto State Governor Aliyu Wamakko met briefly with President Jonathan.

Wamakko is one of the G5 governors who are seeking a reform of the PDP. The rest are Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano) and Murtala Nyako (Adamawa).

They have met with former heads of state and ex-presidents, among other eminent people.

Speaking with State House reporters, Wamakko said: “Is it a crime to come here? I always come to the Villa. It is a routine visit just to rub minds. It’s just a routine visit to discuss state matters with the President of this great country.”

On whether he is still insisting on Tukur’s removal, he replied with a loud laugh.

APC promises 40,000MW to stop power outage pains Continued from page 1

peal the laws inhibiting the independence of anti-graft agencies.

The manifesto, which was distributed to leaders and elders of APC at a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja, presided over by its Interim National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande,

APC also said it would amend the constitution to remove immunity from prosecution for elected officers in criminal cases.

The manifesto reads in part: “APC in Government shall muster the political will to wage strident War Against Corruption; otherwise our post-oil economy will be disastrous.

“It is our considered view that none of our cardinal programmes will succeed if the current level of corruption and looting going on in the land is allowed to continue “We shall strengthen and make independent the EFCC, ICPC and other anti-graft agencies and repeal the laws which inhibit their independence.

“We shall embark on public sensitisation campaign and civ-

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Akande: Nigeria in near permanent trauma

HE National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress(APC), Chief Bisi Akande, yesterday said Nigeria is now in a state of near permanent trauma.

He also said the philosophy behind the APC is to bring the country back from the brink of collapse.

Akande, in an address at a meeting of the leaders and elders of the party at Sheraton Hotels, Abuja, said the APC would represent the aspirations of all Nigerians.

He announced that the party’s membership registration would last for one week.

In Anambra State, lasted only three days.

Akande said:” It is common knowledge that our country has for many years now been confronted by fundamental, daunting and multi-dimensional challenges. This is clearly indicated by the recurring crises that bedevil its social fabric, political processes, structure of governance, and indeed, its ecoic education against corruption in schools and town halls.

“Shall encourage civil society organisations, advocacy groups and whistle-blowers in the antigraft vanguard.

“We shall stop the corruption of our electoral process by making Independent National and State Electoral Commissions

From Yusuf Alli, John Ofikhenua and Chioma Onyia, Abuja

nomic and developmental processes.

“The result is that the nation and its citizenry continue to exist in a state of near permanent trauma.

“In its over 50 years of Independence, Nigeria has suffered seven military coups, resulting in 28 years of military rule, the tragedy of a civil war, 12 constitutions, and a little over 20 years of civil democratic rule.

“Added to these are countless incidents of religious, ethnic, political and civil unrests, leading to the loss of millions of innocent lives.

“Trapped in a vicious cycle of political crises, social upheavals and economic under-development, Nigeria has become, not only one of the most unstable countries in the world, it is also, regrettably, one of the poorest despite its huge human and mate-

(INEC) truly independent.

“We shall establish special courts for corruption, after due and thorough review of the Penal Code.

“To actualise this, we shall make the appointment of the chairman and top officials of National and State Electoral Commissions public as enunci-

rial resource endowments.”

Akande said the APC emerged to address the challenges confronting the nation.

He added: “Confronting these issues in a single-minded manner is the raison de’tre for the formation of the APC.” The APC chairman listed seven challenges confronting the nation, which he said could broadly categorised as follows: •The challenge of National Unity and Integration; • Perennial threats to Security, Law and Order; •Ensuring rapid economic growth with equity (People Centered Economic Management); •Protecting and consolidating Nigeria’s emerging democratic tradition; and •Prioritising Human Development in Health, in Education - particularly intensi-

ated in the Uwais Electoral Reform Report.

“On all election matters, the burden of proof shall rest with the Electoral Commissions.”

The party also said it would enhance politics and governance with reforms through more accountability and transparent process.

Continued on page 58

The party said: “APC will prevent abuse of executive, legislative and public offices through greater accountability, transparency and strict enforcement of anti-corruption laws whilst strengthening all anti-corruption agencies.

“Amend the constitution to remove immunity from prose-

•Chief Akande...yesterday.

cution for elected officers in criminal cases.

“Ensure full implementation of the Freedom of Information Continued on page 58

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

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

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THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

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NEWS

‘Day Fulani

• From left: Former President Ibrahim Babangida, the widow of legendary lawyer and politician, Chief H.O. Davies, Augusta and Emir of Ilorin Alhaji Sulu Gambari at a ceremony to mark Mrs. Davies’ 80th birthday in Lagos... yesterday.

The Fulani were at the receiving end yesterday at the sitting of the Justice Joseph Gbadeyan panel in Lafia, Nasarawa State.

They were accused of using mercenaries to attack Mada and Eggon people, reports SANNI ONOGU, LAFIA

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•From left: Manager, VAS Propositions Promotions, MTN Nigeria Omotayo George, Publisher , The Meeting Ayeni Adekunle, CEO, Style House Omoyemi Akerele, partner, C.C. Club Femi Lonoje and founder, Lostern Lagos Tannaz Baham at the MTN App Development Challenge in Lagos...yesterday.

PHOTO: JOHN EBHOTA

•Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Ziakede Akpobolokemi (centre) speaking at a news conference on International Ship and Port Facility Security Code in Lagos...yesterday. With him are Executive Director, Maritime Safety and Shipping Development Captain Bala Agaba (left) and Deputy Director, Public Relations Isichei Osambi.

PHOTO: ADEOLA SOLOMON

•From left: Director, Drug Evaluation and Research, National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Hauwa Keri, Director, Port Inspection Directorate and Enforcement Mrs. Maureen Ebigbeyi and Director, Investigation and Enforcement Macdonald Garba at a news conference on the seizure of counterfeit products in Lagos...yesterday.

PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS

HE Mada people in Bassa Zarengi District of Kokona Local Government Area of Nasarawa state yesterday accused their Fulani neighbours of conspiring with mercenaries to kill eight of them.

The community, in a memorandum it presented before the Justice Joseph Gbadeyan-led Judicial Commission of Inquiry probing the recent killing of security personnel in Lakyo village, alleged that the mercenaries burnt 96 houses in the 14 villages.

The memorandum was jointly signed by Dogolamba Ciroma, chairman of the Mada Development Association (MDA) and Chinchan Maigan Nkonkyu, secretary of the MDA. Nkonkyu, in his evidence-in-chief, said the Mada people in Bassa Zarengi District were found mainly in 12 villages.

The Mada people, he said, are predominantly farmers while others engaged in other economic activities like trading and artisanship. He said whenever a Mada was apprehended during the attack, he would be asked if he was Eggon or Mada. He said the person would be killed if he answered in the affirmative.

He added that others were asked if they were Muslims or Christians before being killed.

Nkonkyu said those who claimed to be Muslims were usually asked to recite the Muslim prayers to ascertain their truthfulness.

The MDA scribe also accused the state government of negligence and unfair treatment of the Mada people after the attacks.

Nkonkyu said: "On the fateful day of the 8th of January 2013, gunmen (mercenaries) struck and attacked five Mada villages and the other nine villages which are mixed settlements with other ethnic nationalities.

“The five Mada villages are inhabited by people of purely Mada extraction. The 8th of January 2013 attack started from Ruwan Doma in Bassa Zarengi District which is Eggon predominant area.

“While the attack was going on, we were assured by the Hausas and Fulanis living with us that we should not panic that the attack was not targeted at Mada people.

“However later, the first Mada village that was attacked is Jigawa. It proceeded to all the five Mada villages and spread to other nine villages where Madas and other ethnic nationalities coexist. The 14 villages were attacked and scores of people were killed and several houses burnt.

“The Mada people (Community) were very apprehensive when they heard the sound of gun shots in a nearby village of Ruwan-Doma within Bassa Zarengi District but for the assurances given by both Hausa

•From right: Justice Gbadeyan (right), members of the commission, Muntasir Mohammad, Prof Femi Odekunle, Ibrahim Bakut and Asabe Baba Nahaya ... yesterday

and Fulani neigbours, we were relaxed just to be surprised by an attack by the blood thirsty mercenaries.

“The mercenaries in commando style hacked down their victims with sharp swords and gunshots, thereby setting the residences ablaze and destroying lives and properties such as machines, foodstuff and razing down houses completely. Some of those killed were burnt to the point of nonrecognition.”

On lives and properties destroyed during the attack, he said: “Human lives were affected in these violent unprovoked attacks by hired mercenaries. Besides human lives, properties of no mean estimation were equally destroyed. The relics remaining were houses and machines."

He said the Mada community had never been involved in any turmoil with any ethnic group since its settlement at their present location.

He said they did not also harbour any malice against any ethnic group to warrant any attack as a remote cause.

On the causes of the crisis, Nkonkyu, who is a Supervisor with the Agwada Development Area Education Authority in Kokona Local Government Area, said: “There is no immediate cause of the unwarranted attack, except for conspiracy and deception we found at work against us which we believe our neighbours (Hausa and Fulani) hold serious hidden agenda against us which manifested itself in the 14 Mada communities that were attacked.

“During these attacks, which raged from 8th January to March 30, 2013, it was clearly manifested that whenever a Mada is apprehended, questions are thrown at the person as follows: ‘Are you Mada or Eggon?' If the answer is in the affirmative, the victim must be killed.

“The second question is: ‘Are you a Muslim or Christian?’ If Christian, the victim must be killed. Even if the victim were Mada or Eggon that says he is Muslim, he or she will be asked to relate 'Salat' (Muslim prayers).

“Our worry is that despite our predicament we were surprised that the government gave no relief materials or showed concern to our people so we can be quick to accuse them of negligence and unfair treatment against our people.”

He added that eight people were killed during the attacks and 96 houses burnt among other properties affected.

Under cross-examination by the Commission's counsel, Funso Lawal, Nkonkyu said the Mada community believed the attacks were orchestrated by the conspiracy of their Hausa/Fulani neighbours.

He said: “The same person who told you in the morning not to panic that the attack was not targeted at you, the same person attacked you in the evening.”

On why he accused the government of negligence and unfairness to

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

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mercenaries killed 8, burnt 96 houses’

•Nkonkyu (right) taking the oath before giving his testimony...yesterday

PHOTOS ABAYOMI FAYESE

•A lawyer at the sitting... yesterday

his people, he said: “Government did not provide my people with relief materials; that is why we said they were unfair.”

When asked to recommend ways to end the incessant attacks and killings in the state, he said: “Government should not underestimate any violence, grazing land should be provided for the Fulani; government should provide relief materials in the event of any crisis to reduce the hardship of the affected people. There should be workshops and seminars on peace and conflict resolution.”

Counsel to the MDA, Harry Anyuabuga, objected to the counsel representing the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore Socio-Cultural Association, Abubakar Dogara, appearing during

the presentation of the Mada memorandum.

After a brief argument by the lawyers, the Commission rose and retired to rule on the objection.

Justice Gbadeyan upheld the objection, saying Dogara cannot appear in the case since his clients were not directly referred to in the memorandum in question.

Dogara thanked the Commission for the ruling but said he would study the ruling.

Also, yesterday Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Innocent Lagi drew the Commission's attention to media reports, which, he said, did not represent the happenings at the panel’s sittings.

Lagi, who was represented by

Sambo Vongjen, told the Commission that the reports were contained in a national daily of August 20 and 21.

Sambo said: “The publication in question does not reflect the true position of what happened at the Commission. The caption of the publication and the content are at variance with the contents of the memorandum referred to and we view this with great dismay. The caption and content of the Wednesday publication are poles apart from the memorandum referred to and we view it with great displeasure.”

The Nasarawa State Correspondent of the Daily Trust, Hir Joseph, when asked by the Commission to justify the publications in question, said he picked his story from the sub-

head on page three of the memorandum in question which reads: “Observation/sponsorship.”

The memorandum was submitted to the Commission by the Eggon Cultural Development Association (ECDA).

Justice Gbadeyan asked: “If it becomes a criminal case, can you wriggle yourself out of it?”

“Yes my Lord,” the reporter said.

The Chairman added: "The memo said nothing about negligence. Read the particular portion that supports your caption that the Nasarawa State Government sponsored attacks on Eggon people."

The reporter said: "The entire memo presented by ECDA talks about attacks and invasion and they

went further to say there was sponsorship. I did not go anywhere outside the memorandum.”

At this point, Sambo urged the Commission to rule that the said publications be retracted in three consecutive publications and an apology tendered to the government.

“If they fail, then we know what to do,” he said.

Justice Gbadeyan said: “During our inaugural session, we pleaded with the press that we want accurate and non-sensational reports of the proceedings of the Commission. We know you want to sell your papers.

The Commission is not holding brief for the state government. The government can speak for itself. It is not our duty to so direct.”

Fed Govt approves N123.73 billion for five roads

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HE Federal Government yesterday approved N123.73 billion for the construction of five

roads.

Minister of Works Mike Onolememen spoke at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Onolememen briefed State House Correspondents alongside the Minister of Information Labaran Maku, Minister of Power Chinedu Nebo and Transport Minister Idris Umar.

According to him, the roads, include the Apapa –Oshodi Expressway, Mokwa–Bida Road, Akure– Ilesa Road, Enugu-Port Harcourt dual carriageway Section 1 and Enugu –Port Harcourt dual carriageway Section 2

• Facelift for Akure-Ilesa Road, Osodi-Apapa Expressway From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

He said: “The Apapa–Oshodi Expressway is a gateway to Apapa and Tin Can Island Ports and part of Trans West African Highway (Coastal). It is, therefore, of immense economic importance to the country and the subregion. Due to aging, the road had virtually collapsed and the damaging effects of heavy axle load vehicles carrying goods to and from the ports.

“After deliberations, council approved the reconstruction of Apapa – Oshodi Expressway Section 2 Phase II in favour of Messrs Julius Berger (Nigeria) in the sum of N14, 989,647,635.35 with a completion period of 15 months.”

For the Mokwa – Bida road, he said: “Council approved the award of contract for Lot C: Rehabilitation of Mokwa–Bida Road, in favour of Messrs Triacta (Nigeria) Limited in the sum of N10,905,079,026.60, with a completion period of 24 months.

“The Council also approved the award of contract for Lot D: Rehabilitation of Akure–Ilesa Road, in favour of Messrs Kopek Construction Limited, in the sum of N7,399,411,728.50, with a completion period of 21 months.

“Council approved the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Enugu - Port Harcourt dual carriageway section 1, in favour of Messrs Setraco (Nigeria) Limited, in the sum of

Interpol arrests Nigerian in Dubai for alleged $2m fraud

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HE Interpol unit of the Nigeria Police has arrested a Nigerian fraud suspect, Itumo Anthony Chidebere, in Dubai, United Arab Emirate (UAE) for allegedly defrauding a businesswoman of $2 million.

Chidebere, an indigene of Ebonyi State, was said to have fled to Dubai, after allegedly swindling the unnamed businesswoman in June last year.

Posing as an estate broker, the 35year-old suspect was said to have fleeced his victim of the money on the presence that he was going to buy her a house in Dubai but disappeared after collecting the money.

A statement by Force spokesman Frank Mba yesterday, said Chidebere’s arrest was facilitated through the combined efforts of the Nigerian Interpol unit, headed by Mr. Adeyemi Ogunjemilusi (DCP) and its UAE counterpart.

Mba added that the Interpol unit

From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

was exploring ways of extraditing Chidebere to Nigeria, in collaboration with its UAE counterpart and the Federal Ministry of Justice.

He said: “While commending the personnel of the Interpol section for this and other numerous successes recorded in international anti-crime operations, the Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Abubakar reaffirmed the determination of the Force to bring to justice all criminals connected with international crimes, promising to strengthen the bond between the Nigeria Police and their counterparts in other countries in resolving all trans-border crimes.

“The IGP further advised Nigerians in the Diaspora to steer clear of fraud, drug trafficking and other related crimes, noting that engaging in such criminal activities could bring the image of Nigeria to disrepute.”

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N39,548,900,597.79, with a completion period of 40 months.

“The council also approved the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Enugu – Port Harcourt dual carriageway Section 2, in favour of Messrs Arab Contractors (Nigeria), in the sum of N50,892,770,772.04, with completion period of 40 months.”

Nebo said the Council also approved N1.82 billion for the design, manufacture and supply of six 40MVA 132/33KV Mobile Substations.

He said: “In pursuit of the ongoing reinforcement of transmission substations nationwide, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) PLC requires additional procurement of 40

MVA 132/33KV mobile substations for utilization nationwide for the purpose of maintaining continuity of supply to consumers during major works at existing substations.

“A total of 138 direct jobs would be created at the six sub stations and 1,380 indirect jobs as a result of a multiplier effect on the economy.

“After consideration, Council approved the design, manufacture and supply of six 40MVA 132/33KV mobile substations complete with spare parts and accessories, in favour of Messrs Liaoning Efacec Electrical Equipment Co. Ltd , in the sum of $10, 278, 650.00, payable at the prevailing exchange rate at the time of payment and N247,358,795.85, for port clearing, transportation and VAT, all totalling N1.82 billion with delivery period of 8 months.”

Pipeline vandalism causes panic in Oyo community

HERE was pandemonium in Orisunbare village, Oyo State yesterday when people believed to be policemen shot sporadically into the air.

The village is known for pipeline vandalism.

They also beat a man, Olarenwaju Akanji, who accused them of aiding pipeline vandals, to stupor.

The village was deserted when the officers in a bid to cover up their alleged criminal act started shooting indiscriminately into the air.

Shop owners and traders were forced to abandon their businesses and ran for their lives.

Akanji, who sustained severe injuries, was rushed to the hospital.

Trouble started on Tuesday when a fuel tanker allegedly arrived in the village to scoop fuel from the pipeline, with some police officers providing escort for the vandals.

Akanji, while narrating his experience to reporters, said: "They arrived after the okada man told them what I said and they started beating me with guns and all sorts of instruments they could lay their hands on. That was not the first time they have been coming

From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

to the village. They normally dress in mufti and were three in number. They even threatened to kill me when next they come back. I don't know how I got to the hospital; you can see the injury I sustained on the head. There are other injuries on my body. I don't want to die ; that is why I am shouting."

An eyewitness, Mr Kola Adepoju, said the police were fond of providing cover for vandals.

Adepoju said: "We initially thought they were monitoring the pipeline but later we noticed they work with the vandals. They sometimes carry the fuel in kegs but it was a fuel tanker they used on this particular day."

Another witness, who simply identified herself as Toyin, said: "I later confirmed that he wasbeaten because he advised the okada rider who carried the police officers."

Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) DSP Olabisi Clet-Ilobanafor said police officers from the state command were not involved in monitoring pipelines, adding that the officers were from Abuja.

THE NATION THURSDAY AUGUST 22, 2013

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NEWS

Amaechi, wife haven’t condoled with me, insists First Lady

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IRST Lady Patience Jonathan last night insisted that Rivers State Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi and his wife have not condoled with her over the death of her mother, Madam Charity Oba. In a statement last night

by Mrs Ayo Adesugba, the Director of Information in the First Lady’s office, Mrs Jonathan said the Rivers State first family ought to have visited her in Abuja to pay their condolence.

The statement said: “Many of us claim to serve God. God, whether as Christians or Muslims, is compassionate in nature. If truly we serve Him, this should reflect in our actions.

“We restate, for the avoidance of doubt, that neither the Rivers State governor nor his wife has come to the State House, Abuja, like so many other people from all walks of life, to condole with the First Family.

“This is a gesture of compassion, which comes from the heart. The First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, therefore, holds no resentment towards anyone who does not wish to come to the State House or to her home in Port Harcourt to extend the act of commiseration. ”The Nation of today (yesterday), August 21, on page 50, carried two pictures of the wife of the Governor of Rivers State, Dame Judith Amaechi. One of the pictures showed Mrs. Amaechi signing a register with the caption: ”Wife of the Rivers State Governor, Dame Judith Amaechi, signing a condolence register during a visit to Nigeria’s First Lady, Dame Dr. Patience Jonathan, at the Oba’s King Perekule GRA, Port Harcourt residence, to commiserate with her on the death of her mother, Mrs. Charity Sisi Oba. “Another smaller picture shows the First Lady and the Governor’s wife walking side by side. The pictures are obviously in response to a state-

Governor , Dr .

Mu’azu Babangida of Niger State, (right) presenting a Sourvenier to the Coordinator of Regional Centre of Expertise ,(RCE) Prof .Rob O’donoghue , while the Deputy Governor , Hon .

Ahmed Musa Ibeto , looks on when the delegation’s of RCE paid a courtesy visit to Governor Babangida’s at Niger State Governors Lodge in Abuja ...yesterday

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

ment by the Office of the First Lady on August 19, which stated in part: ‘It is instructive to note that since the death of Mrs. Charity Oba, the mother of the First Lady, several groups and individuals from across the country have come to condole the First Family at the State House, Abuja’. “’They include Executive State Governors and their wives from all the political divides; Nigeria’s former Presidents and Heads of State and their wives, captains of industry, female Ambassadors and High Commissioners of Nigeria, other members of the diplomatic corps, royal fathers and traditional leaders - the list is too numerous to call’.

She added: “However, the Governor and the wife, from the state the First Lady hails, have not paid such a visit.

“The caption in The Nation states that the photographs were taken in the house of the late mother of Dame Patience, Mrs. Charity Oba. However, the First Lady did not receive guests for condolence visits in her late mother’s home.

“All those who paid condolences and commiserated with Dame Patience during her visit to Rivers State, came to the First Lady’s home in Port Harcourt, where arrangements were made and facilities were made available to receive sympathisers.

“We can borrow a leaf from His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, who went to Lagos State with some members of his Executive Council, to commiserate with Governor Babatunde Fashola on the demise of his father, Alhaji Ademola Fashola.”

“Death does not know age, gender or political party affiliation. Neither should compassion.”

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Enough of attacks on Fani-Kayode, group warns Igbo

PAN-YORUBA sociopolitical and self-determination group, the Oodua Solidarity Forum (OSF), has urged those attacking former Minister of Aviation Chief Femi FaniKayode to stop.

The group was reacting to the attacks by Igbo elements following the articles FaniKayode wrote in defence of the Lagos State Government and the Yoruba race.

OSF described the attacks as a ploy by the Igbo to drag the nation into another meaningless war.

It wondered why the Igbo were berating the former minister over an issue that did not concern them.

In a statement by its National Coordinator, Mr Julius Olajide, OSF said it would no longer tolerate further attacks on FaniKayode and any other Yoruba man or woman.

It urged Igbo leaders to call their people to order before they incur the anger of their accommodating hosts.

Fani-Kayode, in response to former Abia State Governor Orji Uzor Kalu’s diatribe that Lagos

By Yinka Aderibigbe

is a “no man’s land”, wrote a series of articles: The bitter truth about the Igbo.

It was in defence of the Yoruba race and a counterclaim to Kalu’s assertion that 55 per cent of the revenue generated in Lagos State belonged to the Igbo.

OSF expressed sadness that despite the former minister’s explanation that his intentions were not to ridicule or malign the Igbo, the attacks had continued with some Igbo groups threatening Fani-Kayode’s wife and children.

The group said while many may view the attacks as being focussed on the former minister, discerning people have noted that the attacks were targeted at the Yoruba race.

The statement said: “It is funny how these people, who have found it a game to attack Fani-Kayode, remained silent when an Igbo man, former Abia State Governor Orji Kalu described Lagos as ‘no man’s land’ and that 55 per cent of the state’s resources belongs to the Igbo.”

North not against Jonathan’s re-election, says Balewa’s son

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PEOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Dr Abduljhalil Balewa, yesterday said the North is not against the second term bid of President Goodluck Jonathan.

He said the agitation for power shift to the region by some elders cannot stop the President’s re-election, add-

By Emmanuel Oladesu Group Political Editor

ing that Nigerians would determine the fate of the presidential candidates of various parties in 2015.

Balewa, the son of former Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, regretted that certain politicians were encouraging the youths in

the region to foment trouble, instead of encouraging the Boko Haram sect to embrace dialogue.

He said: “Those criticising this government were in governments before. Those who made sure that nothing worked in the past have turned around to criticise Jonathan’s government.”

NBA to Jonathan: you’re not running Nigeria well

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HE Chairman of the Ikeja branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Monday Ubani, has criticised President Goodluck Jonathan for his failure at ensuring good policies in running the affairs of the country.

He also berated states and local governments for committing the same administrative blunders as the Federal Government.

Addressing reporters yesterday at the Bar Centre, Ikeja, Lagos, on the state of the nation, Ubani noted that the three tiers of government are guilty of maladministration

By Adebisi Onanuga

like the President.

He said: “They are all guilty. The people are not feeling the impact of governance at all levels, despite the huge allocations collected by the three tiers of government every month.

“We demand a reversal, for the sake of this country and for our generations unborn. The people have a role to play by understanding what is going on in the first place and demanding a change, like other countries are presently doing.”

The NBA chairman noted

that despite the state of emergency in some states and the huge spending by the governments, “insecurity, killings, violence, robbery, bombing and mass murder persist all over the country”.

“It shows that we are not employing the right prescriptions to these intractable problems,” Ubani said.

He urged the Federal Government to save Nigerians from embarrassment by honouring its agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) so that the university teachers could immediately end their strike.

Balewa addressed reporters in Lagos on the PDP crisis, Rivers State crisis, national security and North’s agitation for power shift.

Noting that any group can clamour for power shift to any region, he said the decision to elect the President lies with the voters.

He said: “In a democracy, everybody has the right of expression. People can say what they want. The Northern Elders’ Forum is speaking for the elders’ forum. Nigeria is full of ethnic groups. Nigeria is a country of ethnic groups.

Anybody can come with suggestions. The voters will determine Nigeria’s aspiration in 2015. Nigeria is what we should be talking about; not the North, not the South.

“We should see Nigeria as a republic and move away from the North/South dichotomy. Every Nigerian who is qualified to run, let him run. It is okay for us to agitate for power shift to any part. But the voters will decide. If you convince the electorate, they will vote for you.”

It said the former minister did not only make the comments as his personal opinion as a Nigerian but also as someone who decided to rise in defence of “his fatherland, which is being disparaged by an Igbo man”.

The OSF noted that although Yoruba accounts for ownership of between 20 to 30 per cent of buildings and

businesses in Abuja, it has never lost sight of the fact that the place is not only the federal capital but also the land of the Gwari.

The group described the statement credited to the Ohaneze in the Daily Sun of August 6 as an insult and an affront on the Yoruba.

It added that the Igbo umbrella group, in the statement, claimed they constitute 46 per cent of the state’s population with a veiled threat to destroy it, if they don’t have their way.

Jonathan, Wamakko meet at Presidential Villa

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From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

HEAD of the National Executive Committee (NEC) meet ing of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today, Sokoto State Governor Aliyu Wamakko yesterday met briefly with President Goodluck behind closeddoor at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Wamakko has been among some northern governors pushing for the removal of the PDP Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

Addressing State House correspondents, Wamakko said: “Is it a crime to come here? I always come to the Villa. It is a routine visit just to rub minds. It’s just a routine visit to discuss state matters with the President of this great country. It has nothing to do with tomorrow’s (today) NEC meeting. It’s just a normal visit.”

Southwest PDP crisis: Bode George, others meet Jonathan

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From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

O resolve the crisis in the Southwest Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday met with the party’s elders from the zone at the Presidential Villa.

The former PDP National Deputy Chairman (South), Chief Bode George, led the group to a closed-door meeting which lasted about two hours.

Addressing State House correspondents, George said: “We came to see the leader of the party, to discuss the situation in our zone. With all intents and purposes, we don’t want to have an acrimony.”

Oil theft: Defence spokesman meets deputy governors

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From John Ofikhenua and Chioma Onyia, Abuja

HE Director of Information at the Defence Headquar ters, Brig.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, has said the military and some deputy governors of states, where oil theft and pipeline vandalism are prevalent, met early this week on security.

But he did not give details of the meeting, saying he was not authorised to do so.

The Defence spokesman addressed a roundtable on the voluntary principles for security and human right yesterday in Abuja.

He said: “We are handling it. There were some meetings held with the headquarters and the deputy governors of the affected states, details of which I am not authorised to disclose here. The much I know is that a lot of efforts are being focused in addressing these issues in terms of security.”

Olukolade explained that the operation of the Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta has changed from fighting militancy to tackling “crude oil theft and economic sabotage”.

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

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NEWS Suntai to return Sunday, says wife

•Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola acknowledging cheers from the people of Ïwo during a programme, tagged: Gbangbadekun (Public Assessment)... on Tuesday.

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Reps seek end to ASUU strike

HE House of Representatives Committee on Education yesterday urged the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to end the teachers’ strike.

The committee eulogised the Vice-Chancellor, Federal University, Otuoke, Prof.

Mobolaji Aluko, for his efforts to establish the new institution on a good footing.

Members of the committee led by their Chairman, Mr. Aminu Suleiman, were in Otuoke, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, to monitor the progress and challenges of the new university.

Suleiman said the committee’s ongoing tour of federal universities across

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Church urges govt to honour pact

HE Presbyterian Church of Nigeria (PCN) has blamed the Federal Government for the lingering strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The Church in a communiqué issued at the end of the quarterly meeting of its General Assembly Executive Committee (GAEC), held in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State and signed by the Prelate of the Church, Rev. Emele Mba Uka and the Principal Clerk, Rev. Ndukwe Nwachukwu Eme, said the refusal of the government to honour the agreement it signed with ASUU in 2009 was the main cause From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

the country was part of its oversight function of tracking the funds contained in the budget.

•Decries N36m pay for lawmakers

By Uyoatta Eshiet

of the strike. It described the action as an indication of its insincerity and lack of commitment to the growth of education.

The Church also decried the jumbo pay package of the lawmakers, which is reported to be the highest in the world at an average of N36.6 million basic annual salary per legislator. It described it as outrageous and unrealistic in the face of rising poverty and dearth of development projects in the country.

He lamented that the industrial action by ASUU had persisted for too long and appealed to the union and the government to resolve their differences.

Mr. Suleiman said the two

Appointment of Rivers acting CJ in order, says Attorney-General

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IVERS State Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi did not commit a legal blunder in appointing Justice P.N.C. Agumagu as the acting chief judge, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Wogu Boms, has said.

He said Governor Amaechi appointed Justice Agumagu as the acting chief judge since he is the most senior judge in the state judiciary.

Mr. Boms said Governor Amaechi followed legal procedure in appointing Justice Agumagu as the acting chief judge to fill a vacuum created by the retirement of the former Chief Judge of the state, Justice Iche Ndu. The Attorney-General and Justice Commissioner spoke with reporters in Port Harcourt.

He said: “Justice P.N.C. Agumagu, the acting chief judge, is the oldest judge (in terms of service) in Rivers

State. There is no judge older on appointment than he is and Justice Agumagu was appointed a High Court Judge. He was never appointed a Customary Court Judge. He was appointed a High Court Judge in 1990, if I am not mistaken.

“I sit as a member of the state Judicial Service Commission, the papers there show that he was seconded to go and establish the Customary Court of Appeal and the law establishing the Customary Court of Appeal states that the President of that court comes after the Chief Judge of the state so that whichever way you are going to look at it, he is the oldest judge in our judiciary. So, however you look at it, whichever angle you look at it, Justice Agumagu is appointed as the acting chief judge by reason of these facts I have just told you.”

According to him, Justice Agumagu would remain as the state acting chief judge

until the National Assembly, which has taken over the legislative functions of the Rivers State House of Assembly, concludes deliberations on the recommendation by the National Judicial Commission on who should be appointed as the state Chief Judge.

“He (Justice Agumagu) is not the Chief Judge of the state, he is the acting chief judge. We in government, having found that he is the oldest judge in the state, appointed him as the acting chief judge and there is nothing illegal or unconstitutional about it. You are aware that there was a recommendation by the National Judicial Commission as to who would be Chief Judge, the state government is processing that and we sent it to the parliament, which is the next step. So before that is done, we appointed the most senior judge as the acting chief judge. That is all I have to say, I am not joining issue with anybody.”

committees on education in the National Assembly facilitated the dialogue between ASUU and the Federal Government.

He said considering the steps taken so far by the

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government, he hoped that the strike would soon be called off by ASUU. Suleiman went on: “As an institution, we are doing the best we can to ensure the resolution of the strike.

“Government through the facilitation of the National Assembly has had series of meetings with ASUU. When ASUU issued the ultimatum, government was reluctant to meet with them.

“It was at the instance of the National Assembly that we summoned the Secretary to the Federal Government, the Minister of Labour and the Minister of Education.

We advised the government to meet ASUU. Thereafter, we allowed the two parties to go ahead with their negotiation.”

Fire guts hotel in Lagos

SECTION of Protea Hotel, 42/44, Isaac John Street, Ikeja GRA, Lagos was yesterday gutted by fire, destroying property worth millions of naira.

Our reporter learnt that the fire, which started about 5pm, erupted from a 800 KVA generator, which exploded after working for hours.

The incident resulted in confusion as people ran for safety.

A man, who simply identified himself as Mr. Francis, told our correspondent that

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

he ran out of his suite, adding that the fire disrupted business activities in the hotel.

Confirming the incident, the Director of the Lagos State Fire Service, Mr. Rasaq Fadipe, said: “We received an emergency call at 5:10 pm and responded immediately with two fire-fighting trucks.

“The loss would have been huge, but for our quick response.”

He urged residents to report fire incidents quickly to the fire-fighting service.

IG confirms Mba as spokesman

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HE Inspector- General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, yesterday confirmed Chief Superintendent of Police Frank Mba as the Force Public Relations Officer.

Until the confirmation, Mba was the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer.

He assumed the position of force deputy spokesman in January last year.

Between 2007 and 2011, he was the Police Public Relations Officer for Lagos Command.

Mba studied Law at the

University of Lagos, Akoka, between 1995 and 2000 and graduated with an LLB Degree (Second Class Upper Division).

He enlisted into the police in May, 1992 as a cadet Inspector.

Mba was promoted to the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) in 1999, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in 2003 and Superintendent of Police (SP) in 2006.

He also rose to Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) in 2012.

TARABA State Governor Danbaba Suntai, who is undergoing treatment for injuries sustained in an air crash, is expected back from the United States on Sunday.

Suntai’s wife, Hauwa, said on the telephone that her husband would depart the Sea View Hospital Rehabilitation Centre and Home in New York for home on Sunday.

She said arrangement had been concluded for the return of the governor, who has spent months at the U.S. Rehabilitation Centre.

He had earlier been treated in a hospital in Hannover, Germany where he was taken after the last October 25 air crash.

Suntai, a holder of a Private Pilot Licence (PPL), flew the Cessna 208 aircraft that crashed as it approached landing at the Yola Airport.

Five others were on board.

The governor’s wife thanked those who supported the family in their trying

Five die in road crash •’Driver epileptic’ From Osagie Otabor, Benin

FIVE persons died yesterday in an accident near the Okada village junction, off Benin-Lagos Expressway.

The victims were heading for Okada village when the car they were travelling in hit a stationary lorry. Four of the victims died instantly.

The fifth died on the way to a hospital and two survived with serious injuries.

Eyewitnesses said the driver of the vehicle was epileptic.

The sources said the driver had epileptic seizure, which made him to skid off the road and hit the lorry.

Families of the victims, who were weeping, said operators of the motor park knew the health condition of the driver, but still allowed him to carry passengers.

The Coordinator- General of the Save Accident Victims of Nigeria, Mr. Eddy Ehikhamenor, said an epilepsy patient ought not to have been allowed to drive.

He said such persons are worse than a drunk on the highway because they could not control the vehicle in the event of a seizure.

State lawmakers seek financial autonomy TWENTY-six state lawmakers ended a two-day dialogue in Abuja with a call on the 36 Houses of Assembly to vote in favour of their financial autonomy in the ongoing constitution amendment.

The resolution is contained in a communiqué issued on Tuesday at the end of the forum.

According to the communiqué, lack of financial autonomy and independence of state legislatures hamper their effectiveness in the discharge of their duties “considering the current political realities.”

The communiqué urged states to establish a functional legislative budget office to analyse and coordinate the budget process.

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

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NEWS

2014: Osun deputy governor warns against thuggery O

SUN State Deputy Governor Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori has urged parents to ensure that their children are not used as thugs in next year’s governorship election.

She spoke at the Freedom Park in Osogbo, the state capital, at a campaign rally for Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s reelection.

The rally was organised by the Osun Barbers/Hairdressers and Cosmetologists’ Association (OBAHCA) in collaboration with the De Raufs group.

Condemning thuggery in politics, Mrs. Laoye-Tomori urged members of the association to always conduct them-

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

selves peacefully and reiterated the administration’s commitment to creating jobs.

She urged youths to take full advantage of employment opportunities created by the government in agriculture, culture and tourism.

The deputy governor said: “I urge our people to shine their eyes well during the forthcoming governorship election and vote for Aregbesola. Before this administration came on board, the state was

not peaceful and people were living in a brutish. Now, the state is peaceful and residents can sleep with their two eyes closed.

“I encourage you to form cooperative societies, so that you can access government’s loans. I pray that your association will prosper and you will all experience progress individually.”

De Raufs Director-General Worldwide Comrade Amitolu Shittu said the group would continue to support the Aregbesola administration’s policies.

Defectors to APC are LP members, says Ondo PDP

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•Mrs Laoye-Tomori

The State President, Mrs. Funmilayo Taiwo, said the group, with its over 5,000 members across the 31 local government areas, would canvass and vote for Aregbesola.

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State yesterday disowned some politicians, who defected to the All Progressives Party (APC).

It said they left the PDP sometimes ago for the Labour Party (LP).

In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Wale Ozogoro, PDP said: “It is quite unfortunate that people like Mr. D.I. Kekemeke, Mr. Tunde Alake, Mrs. Yetunde Ogundipe, Prof. Olu Aboluwoye, Mr. Ojajuni Philip, Mr. Olatunde Femi and Mr. Ifeanyi Odili, who were LP members and voted for Dr. Olusegun Mimiko in the last governorship election, can stoop so low to desecrate the truth in the name of politics.

“These individuals have long romanced the LP with passion and were only pretending to be PDP members. They long left the PDP for the LP, only to dump it now because the APC is seen as the new toast in the political circle.

“It is heart warming, however, that these individuals acknowledged that APC may not be a perfect option, but represents the only viable option for anyone daring not to be indifferent in this unusual times in our country’s politics’.”

Ekiti backs monarchs on compendium

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KITI State Deputy Governor Prof.

Modupe Adelabu has hailed the plan by monarchs in the state to produce a compendium on all towns and villages.

She said the availability of historical facts and records would eliminate communal clashes, chieftaincy tussles and unnecessary bickering.

Prof. Adelabu spoke in her office in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, while hosting members of the State Council of Obas’ Historical Archive and Royal Compendium Launching Committee.

She said as a historian, Governor Kayode Fayemi would support the idea and assured the committee of the government’s support.

The Elemure of Emure-Ekiti, Oba Adebowale Adebayo, who is the chairman of the committee, said history is critical to

• Prof. Adelabu with (from left) the Alayegunle of Ayegunle-Ekiti, Oba Folarin Aderiye; the Alare of Are-Ekiti, Oba Boluwade Adebiyi; the Ologotun of Ogotun-Ekiti, Oba Oladapo Oyebade; Oba Adebayo; the Obanla of Ijesa Isu-Ekiti, Oba Gabriel Adeniyi, and the Onijan of Ijan-Ekiti, Oba Oyewole Fadahunsi.

the development of any society.

He said the compendium would contain the history of the

131 towns in the state, their culture and peculiarities, as well as the biographies and

photographs of present monarchs.

Oba Adebayo said the

UCH nurses may join strike today

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HE strike by members of the National Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) has paralysed services at the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The workers began an indefinite strike on Tuesday to press home their demands from the Ministry of Health.

They are demanding abolition of the appointment of only full time staff of universities as chief executives of teaching hospitals and federal medical centres; abolition of the office of Deputy Chair-

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From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

man, Medical Advisory Committee; release of the result of interviews conducted for members of the union for the posts of directors; stoppage of the imposition of doctors as heads of department and the removal of the health minister.

They said there was no law stating that the Chief Medical Director must have an MBBS. Workers whose services are affected by the strike include pharmacists, physiother-

apists, medical laboratory scientists, radiographers, dental technologists, occupational therapists, health information officers, dental therapists, dieticians and other related professionals.

When The Nation visited the hospital yesterday, it was gathered that the management issued a circular informing the staff to prepare for emergencies as from today.

UCH spokesman Mr. Ayodeji Bobade said the clinics and health services were running at 70 per cent.

He said the management

has made provision for emergency cases, but new patients would not be admitted.

It was learnt that the junior staff and nurses would join the strike today.

NUAHP Chairman in UCH Mr. Sotiloye Olusegun, said the union made provision for emergency cases.

He confirmed that the junior staff and nurses would join the strike today.

Patients urged the federal government to look into the workers demands.

Some of them have been leaving for other hospitals.

Ogun PDP accuses Daniel of disloyalty

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State has faulted former Governor Gbenga Daniel’s claim of being loyal to President Goodluck Jonathan.

The party was reacting to Daniel’s statement that he is “irrevocably committed to the Goodluck Jonathan project and will support his aspirations wherever and whenever”.

In a statement yesterday by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Waliu Oladipupo, PDP said: “By his comments, Daniel seems to be giving another meaning to the

If he could leave the PDP after the party made him politically, he has already betrayed Mr. President and the entire party saying that ‘if you love me, love my dog’. For, if he is truly committed to Mr. President, he would associate with him warts and all.”

The party wondered why Daniel was pledging his loyalty, instead of reaffirming his defection to the Labour Party

(LP).

It said: “If he could leave the PDP after the party made him politically, he has already betrayed Mr. President and the entire party.”

PDP urged the President not to be taken in by what it described as “Daniel’s Ziggy”, adding that

“his only loyalty is to himself and the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), which he wants to continue to use to mobilise support for the LP”.

PDP said: “Daniel’s adventure to the LP was driven by ego and some parochial interests. He wants to have things his way at all times.

Daniel moved from the Alliance for Democracy (AD) to the PDP, the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) and now the LP. If he does not get what he wants in the LP, you can be sure he will leave for another platform.”

council would raise funds to build a centre for historical archives at the compendium’s

public presentation and urged the government to support it.

Police kill two ‘robbers’

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From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

HE police in Ogun State yesterday killed two robbery suspects on the Omu- Epe highway in Ijebu-Ode. Three others escaped with bullet wounds.

The Odogbolu Police Division received a distress call that robbers were operating on the road and a team, led by Eludini Akinola of the Anti-Crime Patrol Unit, responded.

It was learnt that the robbers, who were dispossessing commuters of their possessions at gun point, engaged the policemen in a gun battle.

Police spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi said an AK 47 rifle with 19 rounds of ammunition, two local pistols, live cartridges and charms were recovered from the suspects.

He said the command has intensified patrol on highways with new vans released to it by the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, and the Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) donated by the state government.

Police Commissioner Ikemefuna Okoye hailed the team that engaged the robbers and told criminals to stay away from the state.

Shun corruption, NIS boss warns

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By Jude Isiguzo

OMPTROLLER-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) David Parradan has warned officers and men of the service to shun corruption and sharp practices.

The Assistant Comptroller General (ACG) in charge of Zone ‘A’, Joseph Olaitan, spoke for Parradan yesterday when he visited the Alausa Passport Office to see how his men were carrying out their duties.

Olaitan said the CG would not condone indiscipline and any officer found wanting would be sacked.

He said: “If you misbehave, you will be shown out of this organisation. The essence of opening a Passport Office in Alausa is to make things easy for applicants resident here. Do not compound their problems.

“There is no room for corruption, extortion, sharp practices, lateness and absence from work. Do your jobs with dignity.

There are many people out there looking for jobs and you are not better than them, so thank the Federal Government for giving you an opportunity.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

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THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

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NEWS

Abacha’s influence on Fasehun almost destroyed Yoruba, says Gani Adams T

HE disagreement between the founder of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Dr. Frederick Fasehun, and the National Coordinator, Otunba Gani Adams, continued yesterday.

Fifteen years after the death of former Head of State Gen. Sani Abacha, Adams said the dictator “used” Fasehun to “almost destroy” the congress and the Yoruba race.

Adams said Fasehun’s latest romance with the late Abacha’s Chief Security Officer (CSO), Major Hamza alMustapha, and his attack on members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was a clear indication of how Fasehun used his position to betray the Yoruba’s cause during the Abacha regime.

He urged politicians to be wary of Fasehun.

Fasehun, who recently re-

Court rules on land dispute From Damisi Ojo, Akure

AN Akure High Court has ruled that a disputed piece of land on the Akure/Owo road in Ondo State belongs to Mr. Abidakun Jegede Tapere and his family.

The family and Eleyewo Community in Akure North Local Government Area have been fighting over the land.

The Judge, Justice Bode Adegbehingbe, restrained Eleyewo Community and its agents from trespassing on the land.

•Fasehun

suscitated the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), has been expressing his willingness to campaign for the reelection of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.

In a recent interview, he accused Adams of being sponsored by his detractors to criticise him.

•Adams

Adams, who spoke with Freedom Online (www.freedomonline.com.ng), said he was not surprised that Fasehun is “working against Yoruba interest because he did it in the past”.

He challenged Fasehun to “a popularity test” in the streets of any town in

Yorubaland, “if he is truly sure of his acceptance”.

Adams said: “In a newspaper recently, Baba Fasehun was casting aspersion on my person. It is now very clear to me that he has chosen to tread the path of perfidy and selfdestruct, with all the dire consequences. “Ordinarily, I would have dismissed the comments as one coming from a drowning man seeking to hold onto anything for survival, having realised his grievous and damning miscalculation, but there is need for me to set the records straight.

“While trying to justify his support for Maj. al-Mustapha, Fasehun, in the story, entitled: ‘Gani Adams sponsored to criticise me”, claimed that I was sponsored to criticise him and that the sponsors were afraid of his (Fasehun’s)

acceptance in the North.

“As laughable as this accusation may seem, I want him and his cohorts to stick to the subject matter, rather than beat around it. My criticism was based on his unholy romance with al-Mustapha, who was fingered in the killing of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, a Yoruba woman and wife of the late MKO Abiola, the martyr of our democracy.

“He also told people that I said his visit to Kano had given his party a political mileage in the North and that we are losing members in droves. With his threat, I want him to name those who sponsored me to attack him or bury his head in shame and keep quiet.

“Unlike him, I, Otunba Gani Adams, remain consistent with the dream behind the formation of the OPC, which is to fight for the rights of the Yoruba and the right for selfdetermination.”

Lagos: unregistered auto parts dealers pose security threat

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HE failure of the Auto Spare Parts and Machinery Dealers Association (ASPANDA) at the Trade Fair Complex on the Lagos/Badagry Expressway to comply with laws regulating their operation in Lagos State is a security threat to residents, the Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, has said.

Opeifa spoke yesterday at a stakeholders meeting, organised by the Motor Vehicle Administration Agency (MVAA).

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

He said despite several entreaties from the government to the ASPANDA, its members have failed to regularise their businesses with the state government, claiming that they operate in a space owned by the Federal Government.

Opeifa, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr. Sheyi Coker, said the recent concession of the Trade Fair Complex to private investors renders that

position baseless.

He said: “The position of ASPANDA to operate outside the ambit of the state government, which has the primary responsibility to ensure public safety and security in its domain, is inimical to the security of the millions of law-abiding residents.”

The commissioner said there was need for constant meetings between the association and MVAA, considering the large concentration of vehicles in the state.

He reiterated the govern-

ment’s commitment to providing a conducive business environment.

MVAA’s Permanent Secretary Akin Hanson said spare parts dealers are strategically positioned because of the decisive role they play in crime prevention.

Hanson said the government has implemented some of the resolutions reached at previous meetings and was fine-tuning the deployment of products and services to encourage compliance with laws regulating businesses.

Ondo govt intervenes in community feud

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HE Ondo State government yesterday intervened in the dispute in Irun-Akoko, Akoko Northwest Local Government Area, warning indigenes against causing disunity in the town.

At a stakeholders meeting at the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Akure, the state capital, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olugbenga Adelae, said Irun remains one town, with the Onirun of Irun as the only recognised monarch.

He said any section with the aspiration to break away must follow due process and warned that the government would no longer tolerate acts that can breach the town’s peace.

The council chairman, councillors and a delegation of Irun-Akoko chiefs were at the meeting.

The town had been in turmoil since the alleged installation of an Oba by a section of the town, leading to violent protests by youths.

The regent of the town, Princess Oluremi Obideyi, called on the government to intervene and stop the violence.

The man allegedly installed as king denied it.

He said he had been away from the town for a long time and was not part of the violence.

BUSINESS

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

Tax Tribunal orders hotelier to pay N19.7m to FIR

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HE North East Zone Tax Appeal Tribunal sitting in Bauchi has ordered the Maiduguri International Hotel to pay the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) N19,706,459 being the revenue owed the government from 2005 and 2006.

The Tribunal,chaired by Hon. Suleman Audu, gave the order in its judgment yesterday in an appeal, No. TAT/NEZ/002/12, filed before it by the FIRS through its counsel, Ali Alhashim, claiming the hotel failed to file returns of company income tax, education tax and value added tax for the period under review despite service on it of assessment notices and demand notes, saying that by the virtue of the provisions of Section 8 of the FIRS Establishment Act 2007, it was empowered to recover revenue accruing to the coffers of the Federal Government.

While the matter was being heard, counsel for the hotel, Yakubu Mamza, had argued that the FIRS could not assess his client during the period because the hotel was gutted by fire and urged the tribunal to dismiss the appeal Delivering his judgment, the chairman of the tribunal, Alhaji Suleiman Audu, stated that it was clear to the tribunal based on the evidence before it as presented by FIRS that the respondent had not been remitting the taxes for the period under review, adding that it was not moved by the claim by the hotel that it was gutted by fire.

He said: “It is evident from paragraph 3 of the respondent witness statement on oath that the hotel was gutted by fire on April 8, 2011. This was more than four years after all the taxes in question was long over due which is the subject matter of this suit, four years is long enough for him to pay these taxes.”

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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

ICAO okays Nigeria’s airspace

HE International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has listed Nigeria as one of African 14 countries that has achieved effective air safety implementation, scoring above the global average of 61 per cent.

This rating is contained in this year’s ICAO Safety Report, compiled by organisation’s auditors who investigated the compliance with stipulated International safety standards by individual countries across the world.

ICAO , the global aviation regulator, consists of 200 countries.

The Coordinating spokesman of aviation parastatals, Yakubu Dati, said the ICAO 2013 Safety Report lends credence to the Category One certification granted Nigeria in 2011 by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the United States, for meeting stipulated international standards and practices on safety and security.

Dati explained that it signals the success of the Aviation Master Plan developed by the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah.

He said: “The vision is to make Nigerian aviation sector a world-class provider of safe, secure and comfortable

• As NAMA sends 96 staff for training at NCAT • Lufthansa to train 20 Nigerian pilots From Yomi Odunuga and Faith Yahaya, Abuja and Kelvin Osa Okunbor, Lagos

air transport sector that is self sustaining and pivotal to socio-economic growth.”

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) is sending 96 staff for training is part of on-going efforts to beef up capacity and manpower requirement preparatory to the imminent take-off of the Aeronautical Information Service (AIS) automation in November, NAMA’s Managing Director, Mazi Nnamdi Udoh, said they will be trained in Basic Aeronautical Information Course at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology ( NCAT), Zaria, adding that for effective deployment of logistics, the group shall run the course concurrently in four batches.

Udoh enjoined them to justify the agency’s huge investment in their training by taking their studies seriously.

ICAO has set November 15th 2013 as deadline for the

implementation of AIS automation worldwide and the project have reached advanced stage of completion.

AIS automation when in operation, would enhance air safety with pilots sending their aeronautical messages on-line and this would reduce excessive telephone conversation between pilots and air traffic controllers.

Also, in line with the Special Scholarship Programme for youths in Niger Delta, the Federal Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Lufthansa to train its pilots.

According to the agreement, some of the pilots who underwent training in South Africa, would be embarking on a14-month training in Germany later this year.

The agreement was signed in Abuja yesterday by the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Chairman Presidential Amnesty Committee, Kingsley Kuku and the Managing Director of Lufthansa Pilot Training Network, Captain Holger Hoffman.

Kuku explained that the programme is approved by President Goodluck Jonathan to train youths who have interest in aviation.

According to him, “We went into the agreement to develop the aviation industry. It is not enough to train private pilots, it is better to train those that will in turn develop our economy. It is a great window for young men and women who will want to be aviators to harness.

“Twenty pilots from the Niger Delta will be embarking on the first batch of the 14 months training. We are happy that Lufthansa agreed to train them because in the aviation team worldwide, Lufthansa is rated one of the best. We are amazed that they opened their door to us.

“The pilots have passed all requisite exams and texts and have secured their Private Pilot License (PPL) and Commercial Pilot License (CPL) from the Afrika Union Aviation Academy, Mafikeng and Flight Training School, Midrand, South Africa.

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

By Oluwakemi Dauda

T

HE Presidential Com mittee on Maritime and Safety (PICOMS), which was dissolved by President Goodluck Jonathan last year, is yet to hand over its assets to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency ( NIMASA) as the newly appointed Designated Authority (DA) for International Ships and Ports Facility Security (ISPS) code implementation, The Nation has learnt.

Some of the facilities, sources said, included high power raiders, CCTV cameras and other powerful security equipment which the committee used in monitoring movement of ships and illegal activities on the nation’s territorial waters.

The source said NIMASA needs the equipment to ensure efficient and effective security at the nation’s seaports and water ways, and for the country to meet the ISPS Code implementation requirement issued to it by the United States.

The ISPS Code was adopted by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in July 2004 to vessels above 500 gross tonnage that engage in international voyage as well as the Port Facilities (PF s) that service them.

NAHCO begins operations in Enugu, Sokoto, Asaba airports

By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

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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

Presidential Committee yet to hand over to NIMASA

• From left: Chairman, Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Mr. Atedo Peterside; Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Sola David-Borha, and Company Secretary Mr Chidi Okezie at the first Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc held at Transcorp PHOTO BOLA OMILABU Hilton Hotel, Abuja ... yesterday.

Tax evasion: Benin Airport manager, FAAN officials docked T HE Benin Airport Manager, Ayodele Sunday and two other officials of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) , Adeboye O.F and Aliu Isimhaipe, have been arraigned before an Edo State High Court on a sixcount charge.

Among the charges are conspiracy to assault, molest and hinder officers of the state Internal Revenue Service, from performing their lawful duty of enforcing the payment of due taxes, refusing revenue officials to give effect to a detraining order issued by a High Court of Edo State against FAAN. The accused were also al-

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

leged to have conspired to remove and destroy the distrain notice of the court, including the lock and key used by officials of EIRS to distrain the FAAN Administrative Office; refusal to pay or remit to the state Internal Revenue Service of N17.473million, being amount deducted as PAYE taxes from salaries of staff.

All offences are punishable under sections 55, 50, 48 & 49 of Edo State Revenue Administration Law, 2012.

When the cahrges were

read to the accused, they pleaded not liable.

Counsel to the defendants, Emmanuel Akhigbe, prayed for bail for the defendants, saying that they came to court on their own volition and would be ready to stand trial.

Prosecuting counsel, Augustin Aleghe Aliyu (SAN), raised objection on the grounds that there was no bail application for the defendants.

The trial Judge, Hon Justice J.I. Acha, however, granted the defendants bail for N500, 000 each, and a

surety for each of the defendants, who must be residents within jurisdiction of the court and must own a house. Each surety must be gainfully employed and swear to affidavit of means.

Each surety must show evidence of payment of tax at least for the last three years and deposit two passport photographs.

The Judge ordered that the three accused are not to travel out of the country without express permission of Court. They were able to meet the bail conditions yesterday.

The case was further adjourned to September 25 and 26 for trial.

HE Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO aviance) is to begin operations at Enugu, Asaba and Sokoto airports.

According to the Head, Corporate Communication (NAHCO), Adesanya Onayoade, this is expected to coincide with the epochmaking handling of Ethiopian Airlines’ inaugural flight on Saturday.

He said the Enugu station had been in operation, but was suspended following dearth of activities at the airport.

He said with the coming of Ethiopian Airline, it is hoped the move would yield the desired result for both parties.

Equipment and personnel were on ground to provide services.

However, operations in Asaba and Sokoto are expected to start before the end of this quarter.

Onayaode said: “This strategic move is in sync with the Federal Ministry of Aviation’s vision of making the sector a standard in Africa. It will also help in boosting the company’s revenue, while contributing positively to the economy.”

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THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

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THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

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THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

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COMMENTARY FROM OTHER LANDS

EDITORIALS

One trillion Naira Nightmare

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•Ezekwesili’s point on lawmakers’ squandermania must be addressed

BY Ezekwesili, for whatever leadership misfortunes the administration she served as Minister of Education inflicted on the nation surely has a right to air her opinion on the state of affairs in the country. Her opinions as a former public office holder under the sneering administration of expresident Olusegun Obasanjo, and a notable Nigerian, should be treated on their merit - they should not be dismissed with a wave of the hand.

Before now, Ezekwesili, also a former Vice-President of the World Bank (Africa Division) had criticised the on-going budgetary allocation that gives priority to recurrent expenditure over capital projects in the country. This is despite the fact that the sad norm that has been on since the advent of the current democratic dispensation transcends this administration.

Ezekwesili’s recent whistle-blowing on the weird expenditures of the National Assembly, among others, are of utmost significance. Hitherto, they have been of major concerns to the public. Loudly, she spoke while delivering a keynote address at a one-day dialogue session on the cost of governance in Nigeria. The event that was jointly organised by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and the Federal Public Administration Reform Programme, United Kingdom (UK) offered her another vantage platform of public exposure: “Since 2005, National Assembly members alone have been allocated N1trillion.’’

Senator Ahmad Maccido (PDP, Sokoto North), Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation gave a tepid response. He wants the public to give him some time to

go through the records before coming up with ‘authentic figures of amounts released and expended so far.’ The public is waiting. Zakari Mohammed, spokesman for the House of Representatives, rather than address the issue, gave a futile rebuttal about claims that the nation’s lawmakers are the highest paid in the world.

We expect the leadership of the National Assembly to have come up with swift and accurate figures of their spending and not engage Ezekwesili in unnecessary media battles in a futile attempt to debunk her claims. In this era of technological influence that has rubbed off on all disciplines, including the accounting profession, it is certain that with a touch of the button, the National Assembly could give us precise figures of its appropriated spending. Why the pussyfooting under the guise of preparing the “accurate figures” of its expenditure?

If indeed the National Assembly had spent N1 trillion in eight years, this calls for public scrutiny because our simple mathematical breakdown shows that the country is wasting more than N120 billion annually on her 109 senators and 360 House of Representatives’ members. No wonder that a research conducted in Britain identified Nigerian legislators as being the highest paid in the world.

Ezekwesili’s exposure might just be a confirmation of that study that has not done any good to the image of the Nigerian government and her legislature.

What kind of country boasts of legislators that are so wasteful, yet less productive in the discharge of their statutory duties? This is why we are demanding that the National Assembly

should make the true position on the matter known to the public and not just be appealing to sentiment. What further makes the unfolding scenario worrisome is the fact that the principle of checks and balances, a salient ingredient in a democracy, has been destroyed by the greed of members of the two arms of government. And this has come with dire consequences through compromised apathetic attitude by those in power, to the wellbeing of the citizenry.

This profligacy that extends to even the executive arm of government cannot continue. The country needs to cut down on the financial excesses of the legislature – and we daresay the executive - so that there could be enough funds to deploy for the upgrade of her debilitating infrastructure.

‘We expect the leadership of the National Assembly to have come up with swift and accurate figures of their spending and not engage Ezekwesili in unnecessary media battles in a futile attempt to debunk her claims. In this era of technological influence that has rubbed off on all disciplines, including the accounting profession, it is certain that with a touch of the button, the National Assembly could give us precise figures of its appropriated spending’

Thumbs down, NYSC •The NYSC should avail wounded Bayelsa corps member prompt treatment, and quit quibbling over the extent of her injury

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HE reaction of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to a grievous injury to Folakemi Akinbode, a corps member currently serving in Bayelsa State, has again brought into focus the relevance or otherwise of the scheme.

Miss Akinbode, serving at the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobi, Bayelsa State, where she is now hospitalised, was attacked by some hoodlums who aimed machete blows at her head. But she fended off the blows with her right arm, which was almost severed in the process. She has since been bed-

‘It is true no society is crime-free.

It is also true Miss Akinbode’s case could be a one-off event that should not be used to gauge the security or otherwise of corps members. Still, NYSC and the Bayelsa State government should have been more prompt in availing the victim the needed medical attention, instead of NYSC bellyaching over the injury and the government still procrastinating over Miss Akinbode’s airlift. Whatever is intended should be done now before it is too late’

ridden on account of that grievous injury.

But in reacting to her trouble, the NYSC headquarters seemed more riled at the media report of the injury than moved at the plight of an innocent young woman serving her country. In a release by BrigGen. Nnamdi Okore Affia, the NYSC director-general, he claimed media reports that Miss Akinbode’s arm was chopped off were exaggerated, claiming her two arms were intact, just as he announced that the Bayelsa State government was about flying her out for further treatment.

For starters, such shocking insensitivity on NYSC’s part must be decried by anyone with compassion and conscience. The NYSC anger is absolutely uncalled-for. On the contrary, Nigerians must be furious with the body for shirking its responsibility to guarantee security for its corps members.

Indeed, there is nothing to the NYSC claim but cheap and regrettable quibble.

How “intact” could an arm dealt severe machete blow, probably aimed to kill, possibly be? The grim fact is that the cut is so deep as to endanger the whole arm. And NYSC claims it is intact!

Has anyone thought of the possibility of a beautiful young lady losing an arm just because those who sent her on a mission could not guarantee her safety and security? Aside, has anyone thought of the trauma on Miss Akinbode’s parents and siblings? It is even no less annoying that the NYSC has deliberately tried to play

down the gravity of the injury, claiming it was “exaggerated” and that the aggressors were “armed robbers” rather than “cultists” originally reported. Would that reduce the trauma of the affected and her loved ones?

It is true no society is crime-free. It is also true Miss Akinbode’s case could be a one-off event that should not be used to gauge the security or otherwise of corps members. Still, NYSC and the Bayelsa State government should have been more prompt in availing the victim the needed medical attention, instead of NYSC bellyaching over the injury and the government still procrastinating over Miss Akinbode’s airlift. Whatever is intended should be done now before it is too late.

Given the general state of insecurity in the country, NYSC, if it has not already done so, should take a comprehensive insurance cover on its corps members.

If it doesn’t, then it should not complain when parents and guardians keep on questioning the relevance of the scheme; and preventing their children and wards from taking further part in it, despite that the law makes it mandatory for every Nigerian graduate of tertiary institutions.

Above all, the criminals that caused Miss Akinbode’s anguish must be caught and punished. That is the least the Bayelsa State government can do to reassure other corps members that all is not totally lost.

Privacy on the line – Content of rules matters more than identity of regulator

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COALITION of US telecommunications and cable providers is lobbying to be regulated in privacy matters by the Federal Trade Commission instead of, as now, the Federal Communications Commission. Privacy advocates – emboldened by a debate on government monitoring of telephone and internet use – are crying foul: the companies’ aim is to elude privacy rules altogether, they fear. Both sides have a point.

That cable and telecoms companies are regulated under a separate regime from internet companies is a historical artefact that is also increasingly an anomaly. The advent of the internet and the phenomenal growth of bandwidth means internet companies increasingly substitute for television and voice services offered by traditional providers – through email, streamed or downloaded film and music, and new forms of communication such as social media. Cable and telecoms companies have a good case for saying that largely similar products should be regulated according to equivalent rules.

The prize, of course, is the monetisation of the vast information they accumulate about their users. Facebook and Google make money from the power to tailor advertising to user behaviour; so could Comcast and Verizon if they were allowed. They are not, because the FCC has more teeth and enforces tighter rules than the FTC. If cable and phone users want to pay less for services in return for their private data being used to target ads, there is no greater case for the law to ban this than in internet communications, where it is the standard business model. But the basic principle must be for this to happen only with the genuine, informed and active consent of consumers. On this, privacy advocates are right to sound the alarm.

Many internet companies – recall Facebook’s unilateral service changes and Google Street View – treat privacy as an afterthought. Some industry leaders are genuinely puzzled why users care.

The solution lies not in the specific agency chosen to regulate privacy, but rather the rules the regulator is set to patrol and the tools with which it does so. The FTC fights many privacy battles – it has charged Facebook and Google with misleading their users, and is probing brokers that sell collected data. If its powers are weak, so is US privacy legislation outside of sectoral niches such as the FCC’s remit. Washington should pass comprehensive rules, fit for the internet age, to protect privacy better across sectors. Who the regulator is matters less than what it is empowered to do.

– Financial Times

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh

• Editor Gbenga Omotoso •Chairman, Editorial Board Sam Omatseye •General Editor Adekunle Ade-Adeleye •Editor, Online Lekan Otufodunrin •Managing Editor Northern Operation Yusuf Alli •Managing Editor Waheed Odusile

• Executive Director (Finance & Administration) Ade Odunewu

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•Advert Manager Robinson Osirike

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THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

18

CARTOON & LETTERS

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IR: Olakunle Abimbola’s piece in The Nation of August 20 refers. Sadly, many of us prudent professionals and Lagos residents are saddened by the turn of events concerning the deportation of people to Onitsha. We are really reluctant to join the fray in the saga because it has to do with our urbane, learned, humble, cosmopolitan, able and listening Lagos State governor.

Politically, the deportation at this material time is unfortunate and unthoughtful act coming from otherwise brilliant minds.

How could they have forgotten that Dr. Chris Ngige is fighting a dicey political war presently in Anambra State? Have they forgotten the mob-like thinking of the electorates? Opposing parties can easily capitalize on this and make ‘Anambranians’ loose the second coming of this adroit, capable, bold and performing governor. Again such acts may really affect APC party generally.

Having said this, may I respectively appeal to my Igbo brothers not be unnecessarily emotional about this deportation and to tread carefully. If we, the Igbo people can pause a little, do we really have any major regrets with any new Yoruba leaders or their people in general?

I do not mean domestic or pedestrian issues but issues fundamental? I do not think so. In Nigeria today, and considering everything, I believe that these people are generally and relatively more receptive, more reasonable in the interpersonal relationship with other tribes and more forgiving than others tribes in Nigeria.

Have our Igbo brothers forgotten about our abandoned properties somewhere in Nigeria? Have you forgotten our experiences with our Northern compatriots? What exactly is happening today in Northern Nigeria vis-a-vis

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Re: Beware, Easter Brother!

Ndigbo? I am yet to hear of anybody since the creation of Nigeria whose property is regarded as abandoned or whose property is targeted or torched whenever there is a little dispute in Lagos State. But stories abound of people who collected their full property rents and regained their properties here in Lagos at the end of the war.

Does this show hard-heartedness in Yorubas?

Let us even go native and local: only two examples will be enough: In Old Anambra State in Igboland, have we forgotten the near fatal

S

IR: We are informed that President Goodluck Jonathan has approved a sum of N400 billion to be expended on infrastructural development of Nigerian universities in order to transform them to international standard within the next four years. The N400 billion is said to be different from the N100 billion which Governor Suswan- led committee raised from donor agencies and big companies to tackle the problems of Nigerian universities in 2013. Comrade Samson Ugwoke is quoted as saying that the N100 billion had been shared, out of which N96 billion had been sent to universities.

One is glad to read that, “this time around, it is not only by giving universities money, but it will be monitored to ensure that the money is used to transform the universities, to bail universities out of the

“Wawa/Ijekebe’s” saga that also nearly developed to seizure of the Ijekebe’s properties by the “Wawa” people- all in Igbo land?

More recently, did a governor in Igboland not send Igbos who were not from his state packing out of the state civil service?

Yet, while these happened, the heavens themselves did not fall.

There were no threats, braggadocios or vituperations!

But realistically speaking, many people have no reason being in Lagos. Wouldn’t it be better for such people to be intelligently relocated

to their states where things are cheaper and less chaotic? Such people will be more meaningfully employed as farmers; artisans etc. and hence contribute to nation building.

Again, my dear Ndigbo, wouldn’t we take this episode as a blessing in disguise? Why wouldn’t we begin to think ‘home’ and concentrate these markets, industries/ factories in Igboland? Did Ikemba Nnewi not warn us many times of things like this? Nnewi town is verifiable example of such good thinking and a success story today! My

present situation and develop them to an internationally recognized university standard.” That is extremely important, and it is on that note I wish to share some experience.

What indeed is “internationally recognized university standard”? I have an American friend who used to teach in a New York “primary” school. In whichever building I found myself in the school, the lavatory (toilet) was decent. In some Nigerian universities, unless visitors are coming, you cannot always go through a corridor that has a lavatory along it without closing your nose if you are sensitive or allergic.

A university lecturer told me that lavatories are built facing his own faculty classrooms, and often times, you endure stench as users go-in and out of them, or in worse circumstances even when the doors are

closed.

I asked him what it will cost his university to close the lavatories and build new ones in a more suitable place. Of course, his answer was neither here nor there. Who would even dare to advise the vicechancellor? In the present Nigerian circumstance, running water from dedicated boreholes should be attached to lavatories, and the flushers should be especially powerful ones. But we need to give it priority rather than secondary attention, toward environmental sanity.

Outwardly, many of our universities are as beautiful, if not more beautiful than many universities in Europe and America. But, within the beautiful outlook, don’t ask to go to lavatory. Beyond that, some vicechancellors embark on meaningless expansionism. e.g., why intro-

Naira rain on universities

brothers, the answers are blowing in the Nigerian winds!

Let the Igbos put on their thinking caps and see how they could open up their areas for international businesses. Fortunately, an international Airport is already taking shape in Igboland. What about international railway routes, what about canals linking Igboland to seas/oceans. Suez canal is powerful reference point.

Still yet, may I humbly ask my Igbo brothers to be a little bit more modest in their speeches, behaviors and on their so-called achievements?

Unbridled aggrandisements breed envy and hatred in our compatriots.

Above-all, I think Nigerians may have to really define what indigeneship really means in clear terms.

• Engr. Emeka Anike Lagos. duce new programmes/structures when some faculties are suffering from lack of adequate classrooms?

University admission keeps increasing, but retired workers are not replaced; workers’ welfare and entitlements are considered to be secondary, just as the politicians are doing to the Nigerian larger society. The setting is such that many lecturers involved in harvesting and computation of results cannot go on annual vacation. Are all these important in “internationally recognized university standard”?

Money, Yes, but what do you do with the money when you get it?

Go on overseas trips with large entourage like the politicians are doing! Then, brain drain couples poor standard. Priority!

• Pius Oyeniran Abioje, Ph. D, University of Ilorin.

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

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COMMENTS

M

A recent trip to Ghana –1

Y father, David Osuntokun like most young people from my hometown Okemesi went as an adventurer to the then Gold Coast in the 1930s well before I was born. In my hometown of Okemesi, it was not unusual to find many people speak Fante or one of the Akan languages which they acquired when they were working in the then Gold Coast, now Ghana. My dad was involved in mining Manganese in Nsutta somewhere in the centre of Ghana. He also acquired some education and was able to function as a catechist on Sundays apparently ministering to the considerable Nigerian community in the mining town. Ghana was therefore referred to in my hometown as ‘Oke-Okun’ that is, “abroad”. Many of my people suffered in the 1960s when they were deported from Ghana by the Busia government. Unfortunately, this was reciprocated in the 1980s by the Buhari government when millions of Ghanaians who were economic migrants were deported for being involved in criminal activities. This was a charge that remained unproven.

This is an episode that is better forgotten in the history of the amicable relations between the two countries.

My dad made some money in Ghana and built a rambling house in our home-town Okemesi for himself and his two uterine brothers one of whom was older and the other younger and used the rest of the money he made to engage in trade as an Osomalo which was the favourite pastime in our area in those days.

The point to make is that I have a history of relationship with what is today Ghana. In 1963, before I entered the University of Ibadan while I was teaching at Oduduwa College, Ife, I led a students’ excursion group to visit the then vibrant Republic of Ghana under its ebullient and visionary President Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. We visited the University of Ghana at Legon, the then Kumasi College of Science and Technology, Achimota College in Accra where we stayed as well as Prempeh College in Kumasi which played host to us while in Kumasi. We also visited Tema, the artificial port created by Nkrumah on the Gulf of Guinea and the site of the Volta Aluminium Complex. We also went to Akosombo Dam where Ghana’s hydro-electricity is generated.

At that time because of our young age, we did not quite appreciate what we saw. People of my generation somehow felt inferior to Ghanaians because they beat us regularly in soccer, we danced mostly to their musical tunes played by E.T. Mensah and Ramblers Dance Band and

H

IS grainy internet picture shows him wearing a turban. This is the only photograph of Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau that is often used by newspapers. Nobody has seen him in public, except perhaps, members of his group, who are privileged to come in contact with him in the line of their deadly business. Thus, Shekau is more of a spirit than a human being. But he has a reputation of being a hard hearted and non - compromising fundamentalist.

There is a $7million reward on his head for the atrocities committed by Boko Haram, but Shekau seems unperturbed. He (or is it his ghost?) still comes out once in a while to either issue threats or claim responsibility for some attacks carried out by the sect. He spoke nine days ago, but the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) wants us to believe that it was not him that appeared on video posted on Youtube on August 13. The JTF claims that Shekau may have died of gunshot wounds in Amitchide in Cameroon on August 3.

If Shekau is dead, JTF should be able to prove to the world beyond reasonable doubt that this dreaded human terror is no more. The irony of it all is that the JTF itself is not sure whether Shekau is dead or alive. Its statement on Shekau’s well - being did not serve the purpose for which it was issued. The statement, I believe, was issued to clear the air over the death or otherwise of the Boko Haram leader, but it ended up confusing the public the more.

Until the statement was issued, the public knew nothing about the fate of Shekau. We didn’t know that there was an encounter in which he was allegedly shot but escaped with wounds. The JTF believes that he must have died from those wounds.

What informed the JTF’s belief? We don’t know; all that we know is what is contained in its statement, which the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has described as hasty because the circumstances from

because they got independence in 1957, they were the leading African country. In spite of their size and population, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah towered above all African leaders. He, Sekou Toure of Guinea and Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt along with Pandit Nehru and Joseph Broz Tito of Yugoslavia and Dr. Ahmed Sukarno of Indonesia and possibly Chou En-Lai of China were responsible for launching the Non-aligned Movement. Nkrumah made our political leaders particularly our Prime Minister Sir Tafawa Balewa look puny and irrelevant in African politics. This made us young people to admire Nkrumah and Ghana well above our own leaders and our country. Nkrumah also wrote books which when I entered the University of Ibadan, we read in our political science class particularly his autobiography Kwame Nkrumah and his Africa Must Unite which was a call to all African states to unite in order to survive and to liberate the rest of Africa that was still under colonial or settlers’ subjugation.

In fairness to Nigerian leaders of the first republic, Nigeria was and is a more complex country than Ghana because of our complexity of cultures and religions as well as the multitude of our languages. Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa has sometimes being dismissed as too conservative and ineffective but that is not true. He was more of a practical politician and a realist but unlike Nkrumah, he did not leave any lasting monuments or legacies of his regime.

In Ghana today, tourists and officials of foreign governments cannot but be impressed by the monuments that Dr. Kwame Nkrumah left behind. The Flagstaff House that is, the office of the President, the Aburi Gardens standing some miles away from Accra on a hill and serving as an escape residence for the President more like Camp David in the United States and Checkers in London is a source of pride to Nkrumah’s genius of forward planning. He even built an Africa House on the grounds of parliament which he hoped would be the headquarters of the African Union to which he committed huge amount of resources in support of the Pan-African Movement and the liberation of the continent from colonialism. After his death in Romania of Prostate Cancer, his body was given full military honours and national burial in Conakry where Ahmed Sekou Toure had declared him a co-president after his overthrow in 1966. His body was later removed from Conakry and buried in his hometown of

Nzima in the Nkroful area of Western Ghana and it was from there that Jerry Rawlings removed the body for the third time to be interred in a national mausoleum on the Accra polo grounds where in 1957 Nkrumah Jide had declared Osuntokun Ghana independent.

It was Rawlings who appreciated more than anybody the contribution of Nkrumah to Ghana and Africa’s development and it is interesting to note that today’s young people in Ghana live in adoration and gratitude to Nkrumah who laid the foundation of what is now arguably the best run country on the African continent.

• To be continued

‘In Ghana today, tourists and officials of foreign governments cannot but be impressed by the monuments that Dr. Kwame Nkrumah left behind. The Flagstaff House that is, the office of the President, the Aburi Gardens standing some miles away from Accra on a hill and serving as an escape residence for the President more like Camp David in the United States and Checkers in London is a source of pride to Nkrumah’s genius of forward planning’

Is Shekau dead or alive? which JTF drew its conclusions do not ‘’add up’’.

The military is not known to do things haphazardly. It takes its time to dot the I’s and cross the T’s in life and death matters before it comes out with its position. When it concerns the death of a person, the military is even extra careful because it knows the implication of saying a person is dead when that person’s death is not confirmed. The military double checks its facts to ensure that they are correct before pronouncing a person, whether a soldier or a bloody civilian like Shekau, dead. That is the military tradition. And JTF, we believe, is operating under that rule.

Shekau is not just any member of Boko Haram; he is its linchpin. He is to Boko Haram what the late Osama bin Ladin was to Al Qaeda before he was killed by the United States (US) Naval SEAL 5 in May, 2011. Shekau is not a small fry whose death should not be confirmed before it is made public. In breaking the news of the death of such a person, there is no need to rush things.

Such a death can only be confirmed after a thorough and painstaking exercise.

If Shekau has indeed been killed, what Nigerians expect is a categorical statement from the authority, detailing how, where and when he was killed. The statement should not be equivocal. It must be clear, succint and unambiguous. As it were, the JTF statement cannot pass muster. This was the dilemma we found ourselves at our editorial meeting on Monday evening when we got the JTF statement. Do we take it at its face value and run with it that Shekau may have been killed as claimed by JTF? Do we do our independent findings to ascertain the true position of things?

We resolved to err on the side of caution by settling for the latter option. We found out that even

within the military, the JTF claim was not well received. The military found it difficult to believe the JTF story that Shekau had been killed without concrete proof of his death.

Where is the body? Which doctor confirmed him dead? Where was he killed? These are some of the questions begging for answers in the JTF statement. If Shekau actually died in Amitchide, Cameroon, has the JTF visited the place to see the body and confirm that it is really his?

In the face of the doubts expressed by the DHQ over JTF’s position, that statement is not worth the paper on which it is written, except the task force can convince us with clear cut evidence that Shekau is dead. We saw proof beyond reasonable doubt when bin Ladin was killed by the Americans. We saw his body being buried at sea. And we saw a confident President Barack Obama, exultantly responding to a question that: ‘’I can assure you that Osama bin Ladin will no longer walk the surface of the earth’’.

We need this kind of compelling evidence and talk to believe that Shekau is dead. For now, we don’t know what to believe. Is Shekau dead or alive?

Making of an empress

F

irst Lady Patience Jonathan seems to court controversy with her actions.

It appears she enjoys the image she is cutting for herself. No first lady has been this controversial in our 53 years of nationhood. Wherever the First Lady goes, she leaves pain and agony in her trail. She seems not to care what the people think about her and the pain she inflicts on them whenever she visits their states or holds a ceremony in Abuja.

A few months ago she was in Lagos and the metropolis was virtually shut down because of her. People were held up in traffic for a whole day. It was a terrible day for most motorists who swore and sweated in traffic. Till today, Dame Patience has not apologised for her action. Her husband, who is our president, does not treat us the way she is doing. President Goodluck Jonathan, give it to him, takes the people into consideration, whenever he is visiting Lagos.

Since he understands the nature of the place, he does his shuttle in and around town in a helicopter to avoid a traffic gridlock, which his movement on the road may cause.

For all his wife cares, the people can go to hell whenever she is visiting their states. As in Lagos, so was it in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, when she visited a few weeks ago. The Garden City was at a standstill because of her visit.

Last week, Abuja had a dose of this treatment. The First Lady was hosting what she called: ‘’Celebrating Nigerian Women for Peace and Empowerment’’.

The event was well publicised.

Forty eight hours before the ceremony, the people were informed that the access road leading to Eagle Square would be shut to traffic.

Motorists thought it would be a minor irritation. But when they got to the road on the day of the First Lady’s event, they got a shocker.

There was no movement. They could not get to their offices, which they could from inside their cars.

To walk past the stern-looking policemen on the road would be sui-

Lawal Ogienagbon

lawal.ogienagbon@thenationonlineng.net SMS ONLY: 08099400204

cidal.

In short, that day, the Federal Capital City, especially the Central Business District (CBD), was a no go area. It was cordoned off by the stern-looking policemen, who blocked all access routes to the Eagle Square. What the people went through that day is best captured in the words of some of them as reported in the papers last Friday. ‘’I met the traffic right from the Yar ‘Adua Centre and immediately turned away from that road and followed another route only to be confronted by a more serious snarl in the town’’, said a motorist.

Another said : ‘’I make most of my daily earnings by taking passengers to the Federal Secretariat and Eagle Square but on Thursday, I had to turn down many passengers because all the access routes to the CBD were blocked and there was traffic everywhere..’’ Must the First Lady inconvenience the people any time she so wishes? It is high time the president called her to order, that is if he is not a party to these her irritating actions.

‘If Shekau has been killed, what Nigerians expect is a categorical statement from the authority, detailing how, where and when he was killed’

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

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COMMENTS

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IGERIAN power problem seems to defy solution, not because of lack of good intentions or efforts on the part of our leaders, but because such efforts have often been designed to fail. Tragically, like most intractable man-made Nigerian problems, the same leaders, the source of the sector’s woes and some victims of their greed often go spiritual, asking for divine intervention. Like typical victims of underdevelopment, some have said the sector is doomed because its headquarters was dedicated to the Yoruba god of thunder. Some have even suggested three days of national fasting and prayers. Unfortunately, the current efforts of the Jonathan administration, designed and packaged by the same set of leaders that derailed the previous efforts including the Obasanjo roadmap, is not likely to end the nightmare of Nigerian victims of PDP inept handling of the power sector in the last 14 years. The omen from the unfolding events in the last three weeks, gives no assurance of any form of solace to troubled Nigeria electricity consumers.

For instance, last week, about 60 licensed Independent Power Producers (IPPs), owned by some PDP leaders or their sympathizers, under the aegis of (IPPAN), led by its chairman, Professor Jerry Gana, a former minister of information, current chairman of University of Lagos Governing Council and a permanent feature in every PDP administration since 1999, visited the Ministry of Power to give government a set of conditions before the IPPS can effectively take off.

Chief among the body’s demand is government granting to IPPs, a waiver for the importation of gas-related machinery and equipment. Others include government funding and supply of pre-paid meters, government provision of funds that could be readily available should the bulk trader not meet up with its commitments and finally taking cognizance of uncertainties related to operating independent electricity plants, they appealed to government not to leave them alone entirely, but to consider taking shares in their various companies. “We are craving the support of government by way of equity participation. We are open to government coming to take 5 -10 per cent equity in our companies just like it is doing for the newly acquired DISCOs.” They are probably asking for what happened in the aviation industry.

The government through the minister has agreed that ‘on equity participation, whenever the Federal Government through the National Council on Privatization (NCP) arrives at putting in shares in the sector, we will be ready to assist the IPPs by owning equities in the IPP companies. We

Power sector and spin-doctors are ready to do whatever will promote or facilitate an enabling environment for IPPs to thrive,” It is obvious those who will benefit from such self serving policy of government reinvesting in private firms after divesting its interest and selling public firms held in trust for the people to private concerns at such scandalous amounts which has prompted probes set up by government to direct some of the firms be taken back.

If we need further evidence that president Jonathan Roadmap for Power Sector Reform whose focus is ‘market reform, change of the current ownership, attracting new investment in generation into the market, expanding the transmission capacity, providing for government divestment’, like the 2005 Electric Power Sector Reform Act (EPSR Act), which called for ‘unbundling the national power utility company into a series of 18 successor companies: six generation companies, 11 distribution companies covering all 36 Nigerian states, and a national power transmission company, is not going to bring relief to Nigerians soon, the interview Dagogo Jack, the chairman of the presidential task-force on power as well as member of presidential Committee on Power, is all that is required.

Asked if there is a time frame for the new licensed firms to start yielding dividends, he said since government has no control over private firms, the best government can do is to ensure they ‘sustain the current 4500MW level, if they cannot increase it’.

What has become apparent is that PDP inherited a little over 200MW from Abacha’s regime. This according to Segun Agagu, minister of power under Obasanjo, was moved up to 4,200MW in 2002. There was no evidence of any further improvement until the end of Obasanjo’s tenure. But then it was PDP men themselves that alleged a rip off.

First, President Yar Adua, Obasanjo

I

N Ekiti State, there is heat again. And at the heart of the matter is the choice of who will become the next governor. Though the election is not due till 2014, the usual pandering has begun. To this end, some political jobbers have started what they know to do best – politricking. It is clear some opposing political fronts want the incumbent governor ousted. And while, I think developmental strides of politicians should not be applauded loudly, Dr. Kayode Fayemi’s performance as governor of Ekiti State is very commendable in light of the previous administrations.

I must state that the purpose of this article is to redirect the citizens’ need to make a right choice, when the time comes. As someone that has followed Ekiti politics, I’ve come to know that governor Fayemi administration has touched the lives of Ekiti citizens.

Recently, to ensure that development at the grassroots level, Governor Fayemi gave N300m to 82 communities.

The gesture was a result of meetings held with the rural people across the state. Also, apart from the money disbursed for developmental purposes, realising that agriculture is a primary sector of the economy, the state government has sought to continue encouraging farmers, especially through co-operative societies. To this end, co-operative societies would get N300m while the Bank of agriculture would get an additional N300m – all for the farmers. Surely, this is what democracy should be about.

‘In the area of tourism, the popular Ikogosi warm spring resort was given a make-over. Hitherto, the logistics of visiting there with the bad roads and inappropriate lodgings discouraged all, except the straggly tourists. This scenario was bad for tourism and consequently for business’

successor alleged that over ‘$10 billion was spent on power by the Obasanjo administration with nothing to show it’. The Speaker of the House Representatives, Dimeji Bankole’s put the amount frittered away at over $16 billion, while the House power probe committee Chairman, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu’s figure was $13 billion. President Jonathan’s own three year road map after an alleged expenditure of 8 billion dollars has pushed the power capacity to 4,517MW (miserable 4% of what South Africa generate) in December 2012.

In other words, after eleven years, and expenditure of between 18 and 24 billion dollars depending on which of the PDP leading members’ figures you want to adopt, PDP secured a marginal gain of about 2500MW. This was in fact wildly celebrated by the then minister for Power, Professor Bath Nnaji who announced gleefully that “With regards to generation, Nigeria is moving ahead by ‘leaps and bounds’, adding that the ‘only problem facing the sector was that of transmission.’ (His transmission firm is to be commissioned soon in Aba by President Jonathan) In fact the president was less restrained. He told CNN Christian Amanpour in far away New York that Nigerians were celebrating his unprecedented achievement in the power sector, a claim which forced the ever resourceful CNN anchor woman to ask for prove from residents of darkness enveloped Lagos.

But one thing has remained constant. The same set of PDP men, involved in PDP ‘family war’ over the power sector are also today actively involved in the on-going new efforts either as ministers, governors, senators or IPPs members or as wild celebrants of the absurd.

Two weeks ago, the nation witnessed a significant drop from the peak of 4,517MW attained on December 21, 2012 to 3,443MW, a drop Prof. Chinedu Nebo, the new power min-

ister attributed to the shutdown of the Chevron gas plant, while admonishing to Nigerians ‘to learn to cope with this type of experience each time there was to be a routine maintenance’.

And as if we are all pupils of kindergarten, it was this period Dr Doyin Okupe, the president’S Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs chose to celebrate the report of NOI polls, carried out in July 2013 which curiously indicated that 53 percent of Nigerians sampled in the exercise were satisfied with the President’s performance, with majority of respondents attributing the high approval rating to improvement in power supply across the country.

Okupe remains unrestrained. According to him, “It is expected that by the time most of the hydro power dams which are currently been rehabilitated also resume operations by the end of September, (40 days from now) most Nigerian cities will have more hours of power supply from the National grid…” Dr. Okupe was not done:‘The implication of this and other reforms, “is that without any doubt, before the end of 2014, Nigerians’ long held dream of joining the worlds list of countries with uninterrupted power supply will be closer in reality than it has ever been,’ he triumphantly declared.

And working on the theory that Nigerians have short memories, he ignored the fact that it was in June, a month before the survey that the Minister of State for Power, Zainab Kuchi, after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC), publicly declared: “We have 160 million Nigerians now and we are only giving power to 40 million of that population, what it means is that there are about 120 million Nigerians that are without power and wish to buy power”. The minister for power, Nebo, who was present at the press briefing also added “the situation where only 25 per cent of Nigerians have access to electricity is a nightmare caused by human beings used by evil forces”.

I think it is pointless asking how Dr Okupe and his pollster arrived at 53%.

‘Working on the theory that Nigerians have short memories, he ignored the fact that it was in June, a month before the survey that the Minister of State for Power, Zainab Kuchi, after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC), publicly declared: “We have 160 million Nigerians now and we are only giving power to 40 million of that population,

Searching for next Ekiti governor

By Babatunde Durudola Aside this recent largesse, the governor has been up and doing in regards to delivering other ‘democracy dividends.’ Hitherto, it used to be a thing of pride that the average Ekiti family boasted of having at least a PhD holder. But, with the decline in the education sector in the country, sustaining that pride had become cumbersome.

However, realising the importance of education, the Fayemi-led government upon inception, trained 9,000 primary and secondary school teachers. Afterwards, it conducted a test for its teachers to make sure they still had what it takes to impart knowledge to their students.

This was in addition to revamping school buildings, provision of classroom furniture, books, and computers – all necessary ingredients of a qualitative education. It also instituted a system to reward performing teachers.

Also, considering that finance could also be a barrier to indigent but brilliant students, the Fayemi administration paid for the West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) of students in the state.

Blind, deaf, and dumb students also had their schools renovated to modern standards. And recently, graduate indigenes of the state, were hosted to a two-week Ikogosi Graduate Summer School held at the Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort. This is the sort of premium his administration places on education.

Secondly, bearing in mind that ‘health is wealth’, the Fayemi administration restructured the state’s health sector. Salaries of health workers were increased in line with the new salary structure (CONMESS/CONHESS) for health workers. But, most importantly, the administration launched a free health programme on July 25, 2011.

And beneficiaries turned out in hundreds of thousands.

Currently, primary healthcare centres provide free health services to children under the age of five, pregnant women, elders aged 65 and above, as well as physically

challenged persons in the state. This treatment involves provision of drugs and equipment to ensure quality service delivery.

And, in the area of tourism, the popular Ikogosi warm spring resort was given a make-over. Hitherto, the logistics of visiting there with the bad roads and inappropriate lodgings discouraged all, except the straggly tourists. This scenario was bad for tourism and consequently for business. But, with roads constructed to the place and hospitable lodgings in the offerings, Ikogosi now holds a better promise. Other tourist sites are also getting deserved attention. I really wonder why previous administrations failed to do this.

While to political detractors, these strides may be counted as rubbish, I want to bet that the beneficiaries, who include children, wards, and relatives of some of detractors, would wish such programmes continue.

Before Fayemi’s administration came on board, the state was in a sort of doldrums. Former governor Ayo Fayose who had earlier usurped the people’s mandate became a spendthrift, a move which earned him arraignment on a 27-count charge bordering on misappropriation of state funds. He left Ekiti in a pitiable level - schools and hospitals were in bad shape, the civil service operated epileptically, roads caved in, and life in the state became minimal. And not too long ago, posters of Fayose flooded the streets of Ekiti, suggesting a desire to comeback into office. I doubt Ekiti citizens would want to revert back to the draconian and reductive days of the past.

As it is, Fayemi’s government in Ekiti State may not the best that it could be, but it is still the best yet. And I’m sure Ekiti people are aware of that. But, should a better candidate come up, Ekiti citizens must not hesitate to throw their weight solidly behind whoever that candidate is. But, I must warn here, Ekiti parapo, and think well, because most times, it is just pure folly to change a winning team.

• Durodola writes from Ado-Ekiti

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THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

COMMENTS

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OME of my personal friends – the men who are close to me, whom I respect, and in whom I commonly confide – are members of the Igbo nation. I became close to these through university and my academic profession, through the church, and in the course of my participation in Nigerian politics.

Moreover, I have had a special interest in the Igbo nation, as a nation, since my undergraduate days in the University College Ibadan. In Ibadan, as a young undergraduate, I found myself among a unique group, the group that was being nurtured to spearhead a revolution in the study of African History. In our various secondary schools, we had all been fed only British Empire History, and some bits of European History. But now in Ibadan, we sat under intellectual icons like Kenneth Dike, Ade Ajayi, H.F.C Smith, J.D. Omer-Cooper, A.B. Aderibigbe and others, and learned that our own Black African peoples (Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, Kanuri, Edo, Dahomey, Akhan, etc, across the face of Black Africa) have histories too. It was great enlightenment for us to see that the pseudoscientific histories of some African countries that some European colonial agents had written were not the final words on the subject, and that it was our duty to begin to do proper histories of our continent. We were surprised to learn that the fact that our peoples had no writing did not mean that they had no history, and that it was our duty to learn the techniques of using our peoples’ oral traditions, plus inputs from such sciences as archaeology and historical linguistics, to reconstruct the histories of our peoples. It was, believe me, intoxicating. Naturally, as soon as UCI attained its own independence from London University and became Ibadan University in 1962, its History Department pulled some of us back to Ibadan as graduate students, and asked us to begin to do serious research in African History. We became the first generation of African Historians to be educated on the African continent.

Inevitably, we quickly found that the histories of those of our peoples (like the Yoruba, Edo, Hausa, Ashanti, etc) who had developed towns and kingdoms in their past were easier to research and reconstruct than the histories of our other peoples (like the Igbo) who had lived mostly in simpler – what was called acephalous – societies (peoples who had developed no towns or kingdoms), etc. None of our professors, not even Kenneth Dike, had dared to tackle Igbo history frontally. They had mostly worked on aspects of the British colonial experience as it had touched the Igbo nation. But, finally, thank God, a member of my own class, Adiele Afigbo, after taking his PH.D., sat down at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and brought the best of what we had learned at Ibadan into the task of reconstructing Igbo History. And he made a very impressive success of it. In fact, he was so successful that, a few years ago, one of the most eminent of the younger men whom we our-

R

ECENTLY, the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC] Prof Attahiru Jega, admitted that the voters register for the 2013 gubernatorial election in Anambra State contained over 94,000 names that were not supposed to be in the register and therefore ordered their deletion or removal.

He also declared that the additional names arose as a result of multiple registrations and that the issue of corruption of the voters’ registers was a widespread one that occurred all over the country. According to him, over four million names had been so injected into voters registers nationwide.

These are frightening and worrisome revelations.

Way back in 2007, strange names were found in the voters register all over the country with particular reference on Ondo State where the register was found to have contained the names of celebrities like Mike Tyson and Wole Soyinka. In the October 2012 gubernatorial election in the state, additional names were found to have been unlawfully injected into the register and this became a serious issue at the subsequent election petitions tribunal.

Indeed the appeal court that reviewed the judgment of the tribunal confirmed that over 100,000 names were capriciously and

Letter to the Igbo nation by a friend selves had taught, Professor Toyin Falola, respectfully collected together into one volume Professor Afigbo’s most important essays on Igbo history. Then Professor Falola proposed that we should all join hands to do a book in Adiele Afigbo’s honour. I was already retired, but I pulled myself together and wrote a chapter for that book. Unfortunately, soon after these things, Adiele Afigbo passed away. Because of the difficulties that it presented, reconstructing Igbo History is regarded among us, Nigerian historians, as one of our greatest victories.

I find it, therefore,mortifying that many members of the Igbo nation, including some of our most educated and eminent citizens, seem now absolutely determined to distort the history of the Igbo nation itself as well as the histories of many other Nigerian peoples. Some of what one reads from these Igbo men and women these days are very strange indeed – anddo nothing but harm to the history and image of the Blackman in the world.

Many Igbo citizens are now clamouring that the Igbo nation is one of the lost tribes of Israel!

In short, they are now happily reasserting something that their Nigerian and other historians have fought and struck down in the course of the past 60 years – namely, the European claim that the Blackman is too primitive, and too immature, to develop any serious culture, and that any signs of cultural achievement found among any Black nation must have somehow come there from some culturally more capable Middle Eastern people. Many Igbo people are now saying something blatantly untrue – namely, that the art of Igbo Ukwu, the evidence of Igbo skills in metal fabrications, the Igbo capability as traders, etc, all came from the culture of the Jewish people, and that the Igbo people themselves could never have developed such high levels of culture or civilization. Why are we now engaging in self-denigration – why are we doing this harm and ignoring the best facts that the best in historical scholarship and various other sciences have established quite definitively in our times?

Some Igbo citizens also seem to find it fashionable to say that the Igbo are the only indigenous or autochthonous people in what is now Nigeria.A prominent Igbo citizen, Dr. Pius Ezeife, was reported recently as saying, “The only autochthonous Nigerians are the Igbo”.From where did these people get this piece of untruth? According to the very best in scholarship, the place where man first lived in the world was the Rift Valley area in East Africa (in modern Kenya and Ethiopia). From there man slowly spread out to all parts of the world.

In Africa, some spread to the then large grassland territory that was later to become the Sahara Desert. There they developed Stone Age

cultures. After millennia, as the area gradually dried up due to climatic change, some of the people spread slowly southwards into West Africa – and became the very first humans in West Africa. Most lived along the Middle Niger, down to the Niger-Benue confluence. By about the 10th century, they became farming folks and therefore began to live as settlers. That made it possible for a sort of proto-language to develop among them – a proto-language which then gradually split into various proto-languages.

These proto-languages gradually developed into mature languages. The speakers of each language became an ethnic group. The ethnic groups are the Nupe, Gbagyi, Kakanda, Ebira, Igala, Idoma, Yoruba, Igbo, Edo etc. Over time, these groups spread out of the Niger Valley and occupied the territories that are now their homelands. Each of these peoples is indigenous to their homeland. None can claim to be the only indigenous or autochthonous people in Nigeria.

But there is another angle to this early history. There is no truth in the claims being made by some Igbo that every occurrence of the word Igbo in any place outside Igboland is evidence of some early presence or influence of the Igbo nation. Because of the common origin of the languages of our many peoples, many words are common to our different languages. The known fact, authenticated by no less a historian than Professor Afigbo, is that before the British creation of Nigeria, the Igbo had no contacts with peoples other than their immediate neighbours – Igala, Idoma, Efik, Ibibio, Ijaw, and Edo. Many Igbo people are also saying of the Benin Empire that it was “a village empire”, and therefore inconsequential in our history. Well, they are very very wrong. With the exception of the Kanuri nation in the Northeast, we have more documentary information concerning Benin history than we have concerning the history of any other Nigerian people.By the time the first European explorers came to the West African coast in about 1480, Benin was already a prestigious kingdom. In the centuries that followed, Benin’s position in the coastal trade with Europeans helped it to grow into a rich and gorgeous empire. The Benin Empire is a source of pride to most Black Africans. Where did our Igbo brethren get their own disparaging opinions about the Benin Empire?

Many Igbo citizens have been saying also that Lagos is a no-man’s land – that Lagos only belonged to the lagoon; that the Igbo developed Lagos. It is shocking that members of one of our own nations should be so carelessly, and blatantly falsely, twisting and distorting the history of any of our peoples. I don’t think that Lagos needs any defence against this egregious falsehood. I don’t care what Igbo people want,

Gbogun gboro and I am intervening only as one of the men who have spent whole adult lives studying the history of our peoples. I have stood up in many situations (in writing) against the views popularized by the European colonialists that the Igbo are not a people and have no culture and no history. According to the best scholarship on this subject, the Awori subgroup of the Yoruba people established typical Yoruba kingdoms in the Lagos coastlands and islands as early as the 12th century. By the 19th century, the island kingdom of Eko was so important in the coastal trade that it became a bone of contention among merchants of various European nations. The British, in order to control most of the trade, used brute force to establish dominance on the Lagos kingdom in 1851, and then signed a treaty of cession with the Lagos king in 1861. Fifty-three years later, in 1914, they made Lagos the capital of their new Protectorate of Nigeria, and many Nigerians, including the Igbo, first began to come to Lagos in the 1920s. What is the foundation, therefore, of the statement that Lagos belonged only to the lagoon until the Igbo came? And where is the evidence that the Igbo contributed more to the development of Lagos, as federal capital, than other peoples of Nigeria, or as much as the Lagos people themselves and the larger Yoruba nation to which Lagos belongs? What is the value of engaging in such obvious falsehood?

Again, I am not talking about what the Igbo may want. But I am certainly interested in the welfare and future of the Igbo nation. I am concerned therefore that if the Igbo continue to earn for themselves the image of a people who are easily given to falsehood and to needlessly disparaging other Nigerian peoples, they may be building a strong barrier against their prospects in Nigeria. I know that some Igbo citizens have been warning about this. I strongly urge that the Igbo people should listen seriously to them.

INEC and its corrupted voters register

By Lanre Ogunmoyela arbitrarily injected into the register by the INEC. The Electoral Act requires the INEC to display the register at every polling unit for public scrutiny at least 30 days before the election. But in many cases, the INEC had failed to fulfil this vital requirement faithfully.

During the 2012 election in Ondo State, the commission only loaded the registers into CDs which it then released to the political parties exactly 30 days to the election.

Remarkably, there were no printed copies and hence none was displayed for public scrutiny. The appeal court declared this to have offended Section19 of the electoral act which requires the register to be displayed and Section 20 which requires it to be published.

Predictably, the unlawfully injected names went undetected until the day of the election when party agents began to identify the names at the polling units.

Corruption of voters’ registers is a serious matter that portends a grave danger to the nation’s nascent democracy. This

‘That corrupted registers were released at all to the public, is a sad commentary on INEC’s ability to act with due diligence. In the future, the commission should take advantage of technology to produce registers that are free from corruption of any form’

could not have been lost on the INEC chairman Prof. Jega who demonstrated rare courage by coming out to publicly admit that the works of his own hands are bad and needed to be remedied.

This issue should not be seen as Ondo and Anambra matters alone. Rather, it must be seen as a challenge and a call to all well meaning Nigerians and all political parties to be vigilant and as such, demand as of right, a credible register as a sine qua num for a credible election in the country particularly as the journey towards 2015 advances.

Unlawful injections are made by people or persons that stand to benefit from the act and hence are almost invariably deliberate.

To permit such people to get away with such an act is to send signals to other people to do same in future elections. This would then mean that in the future, many versions of the voters register will surface during elections and nobody needs to be told the consequences should this happen.

In these days of information technology, INEC should have no excuse at all for producing a corrupted register. For it is very easy and practicable to program the computer to detect multiple registrations, unlawful injection of names, and the like.

That corrupted registers were released at all to the public, is a sad commentary on INEC’s ability to act with due diligence. In the future, the commission should take advantage of technology to produce registers

that are free from corruption of any form.

It also must be noted that unlawful injections are made by human beings and not ghosts and that it is practically impossible for the insertions to be made without the involvement of INEC officials. Prof. Attahiru Jega should therefore cause the unlawful injections to be investigated and the culprits brought to book.

Finally, it is needless to emphasize that the entire machinery of the INEC needs serious overhauling. The entire body politic is flatulent with fumes of corruption and decadence oozing out of the commission. It is extremely worrisome that no INEC staff has been caught let alone prosecuted for committing an electoral offence. Yet the evidence is all over the place that the commission is far from being an angel. Who then will bell the cat?

This country has another date with destiny in 2015. That date is already around the corner but before negotiating this corner, the INEC has enough time to put its acts together. It must set out immediately to rise up to this challenge. The voters register is too important to be toyed with. The nation cannot afford to fail in 2015 and INEC must make sure that it does not, by any act of omission or commission, bring nightmares into the bedrooms of Nigerians in that year.

• Ogunmoyela, a Public Affairs Analyst writes from Akure,Ondo State..

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THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

INDUSTRY CBN explainsN220b fund

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• Yusuf

• SON Director-General, Joseph Odumodu

• Akande

MAN, LCCI: fake products are threat to real sector T

HE Organised Private Sector (OPS) has raised the alarm over the threat of fake and counterfeit products to the real sector.

The prevalence of such products in the country, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) said, was inimical to the sector’s growth.

MAN and LCCI were reacting to the report of the Global Congress on Combating Counterfeiting that businesses worldwide lose several billions of dollars yearly to fake and counterfeit products.

Former Director-General, MAN, Mr Olayinka Akande, said the real sector was under siege as manufacturers were big victims of large-scale product adulteration, faking and counterfeitings.

Manufacturers, he said, were also faced with the challenge of under-invoicing and evasion of duty payments.

Akande said unfriendly countries were subsidising fake and counterfeit products that are dumped in Nigeria, thereby killing local initiatives, creating unemployment and increasing poverty level.

He said: “With numerous natural endowments and export potentials which stand the nation out in the world as investors’destination of choice, the huge export potentials of the nation is far from being fully harnessed for the benefit of sustainable economic development.”

Counterfeiting, he said, affected the market shares of the different business segments, adding that between 10 and 30 per cent of cosmetics, toiletries and packaged foods; and 20 and 30 per cent of electronic goods and computer peripherals, are involved.

Stories by Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie, Asst. Editor

Between 40 and 50 per cent of engineering and automobile parts and 73 per cent of goods in the domestic market, especially textile and garment sector, are also affected.

LCCI Director-General Mr Muda Yusuf said fake and counterfeit products in the country suffer from low ethics in the operating environment.

He said faking and counterfeiting had become the “greatest challenges” for manufacturers.

He asked for the implementation of a policy that will protect local manufacturers against imported substandard products.

Yusuf called for an institution that will be dedicated to fighting economic crimes against the manufacturing sector rather than leaving things for manufacturers.

He said:“There is a need to strengthen Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) in its fight against the manufacture and importation of fake and substandard goods. Our govern-

‘There is a need to strengthen Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) in its fight against the manufacture and importation of fake and substandard goods. Our government needs to also collaborate with the exporting countries to penalise their own people’

ment needs to also collaborate with the exporting countries to penalise their own people. We also need greater market intelligence in addition to tasking government on the need to support local industries to produce at low cost and competitively too.”

Yusuf observed that low grade products thrived where consumers were more concerned with buying what they could afford and not necessarily the quality and standard of the item.

The Commercial Director, Grand Oak Limited, Mr Fatai Odesile, said the challenge businesses, brand owners and regulators around the world were facing today was the counterfeiting of products.

This growing global menace, he said, presents an enormous public health risk and challenge to premium brand owners, and even compromises the survival strategies of some businesses. Quoting SON sources, he said the nation was losing an average of N52billion yearly to fake and substandard products heightening worries among economic players in the country.

Odesile said over 46,000 jobs were lost to faking, adulteration, sub-standard and counterfeiting in recent times.

He tasked the government to curb the menace to save the economy.

On how his company has fought counterfeiting, he said: “We have taken so many efforts in the past to curb this incidence of faking and these include on-Pack Promotion with free items such as branded souvenirs, products, innovative packaging and the deployment of information technology in product delivery and packaging. ‘’

HE Central Bank of Nigeria says its N220 billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSMEs) Fund will help participating financial institutions to support entrepreneurs.

The Director, Public Finance, Mr Paul Eluhaiwe, said the fund has several components such as loan, guarantee, refinancing and grant.

“The grant component enables us to provide capacity building for microfinance banks to strengthen them.

“The refinancing is where they have given out so many facilities to their clients, it will enable them to come back for refinancing at a particular discounted rate.

“This will enable them to plough back into business,” he said.

Eluhaiwe said the guarantee component would enable them to obtain more credit facilities outside what the CBN offered, especially from commercial banks.

“The fund provides them the guarantee to borrow more

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How to improve trade

RS Dabnay Shall-Holma, Director, Nigeria Commercial Shipping Services, Nigeria Shippers’ Council (NSC), on Tuesday called for more exportation of goods to ensure balance of trade in the country.

Shall-Holma made the call at a stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos.

The meeting was to discuss the pegging of Nigeria’s freight rate at three per cent.

It was organised by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

Shall-Holma said the economy was not robust because of trade imbalance.

She regretted that shipping compa-

nies paid charges for imports and returned containers empty.

“Our cargoes are heterogeneous and fragmented.

“We have not been able to export enough cocoa or cassava. Our trade is imbalance.

“If we import 1, 000 containers, for example, we are not able to export up to 50 containers with goods,’’ she said.

Shall-Holma said the three per cent freight rate would begin on October 1, after which it would be reviewed yearly.

She hoped that the new rate would ensure standards, ethics and effective service delivery.

Turkey to exhibit products in Nigeria

S

OME Turkish businessmen concerns have concluded plans for an exhibition in Nigeria goods manufactured in Turkey.

The event is to further strengthen the bilateral business relationship between the two countries. The representative of Merydien International Fair Limited, organisers of the exhibition, said the event will hold in Nigeria from September 3 - 5.

Olugbade said the exhibition would provide a platform to promote the goods and introduce them to the Nigerian market.

“The Turkish Export Products Exhibition promises to be an enriching experience for the participants who will discover new products from Turkey.

“Unlike some other countries, Turkish products are known for

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• President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mr Goodie Ibru (left) presenting a gift to the Ugandan High Commissioner in Nigeria Ambassador Maurice Kiwanuka during visit to the chamber. With them is Counsellor Nuwamanya John.

money from the outreach to their clients,’’ he added.

The CBN boss stressed that microfinance banks and nonbank micro finance institutions were qualified to access the funds.

He listed the non-bank micro finance institution to include nongovernmental organisations that were providing financial services and cooperative societies, among others.

The guideline on the MSMEs said that participating financial institutions must satisfy conditions of CBN and NDIC. It listed the conditions to include compliance with the prevailing prudential ratios and average deposit growth rate of 20 per cent per year for institutions operating for over two years.

It said the participating institutions must be registered with Corporate Affairs Commission, have corporate profile acceptable to the managing agents, have evidence of risk management framework and sound corporate governance acceptable to the managing agent.

quality and durability.

“Nigerian businessmen and distributors stand to gain ideas and also profit, while more revenues are generated for the nation through importation.

“Nigeria is a fertile ground as there are so many business opportunities that are untapped,’’ Olugbade said.

The Nation learnt that Turkey and Nigeria have long standing business relationship which was recently consolidated in a Memorandum of Understanding.

Trade volume between the two countries has increased by five million dollars in the last few years.

The exhibition will feature products in building and construction, electrical and home appliances, machinery, furniture, textile, fashion and cosmetics.

SMEs for training

HE Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has concluded plans to train small and medium entrepreneurs involved in food exports on quality and packaging.

NEPC board chairperson, Mrs Grace Clark, who said this at the just- concluded Food Labelling and Food Expo held in the U.S, said there is need for the Nigerian entrepreneurs in the sector to explore opportunities in the U.S. and other global markets.

She said the training would expose the entrepreneurs to modern

trends and technology involved in the export of food to these markets given the global concern on food safety.

“Given Nigerian population, the market has a tremendous potential for partnership with U.S. firms in food processing, handling and distribution.

“It is in fulfillment of the Federal Government Transformation Agenda to diversify the economy from oil to non-oil that the council facilitated the participation of some Nigerian SMEs to the expo,” She added.

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

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THE NATION

EDUCATION

THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

When Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole ordered a probe of primary school teachers, he never thought that anything would come out of the exercise. But there have been startling revelations from the probe, provoking calls for a similar exercise in the civil service. OSAGIE OTABOR reports.

• Participants at the summit

Cleansing the Augean stable •Teachers’ probe opens can of worms

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NCE upon a time, teachers were held in awe. They were perceived to be above aboard and many parents prayed that their children would be like teachers. It was unheard of that teachers were involved in dirty deals.

These days, such values are no longer cherished by the modern day teacher who tends to abuse his position to make money and even aids and abets examination malpratice. In Edo State, over 1,300 are being probed for allegedly falsifying their ages.

The outcome of the investigation by the committee headed by Hajiya Nana Audu, Permanent Secretary, Edo State Post Primary Education Board will determine their fate.

Genesis of the crisis

Since Edo State Governor Comrade Adams Oshiomhole ordered

IN its bid to improve the standard of education in the state, the Kaduna state government yesterday wielded the big stick against illegal private schools operating across the state, shutting down about 457 of them...

-Page 28

‘

It will interest you to know that about 1,379 teachers claimed they obtained primary school leaving certificates after they have been employed as teachers.

In fact some of them got the certificates from the school they have been teaching not more than two years ago

’

–Government have been born when they claimed to have completed their primary education, he said, adding: "Records show few were gifted; that some finished primary school before they were born.

Unknown to many of us, some of their pregnant

CAMPUS LIFE

INSIDE

Kaduna shuts 457 illegal private schools

teachers and other civil servants to submit their First School Leaving Certificates and other credentials for verification, there has been tension in the public service.

The exercise followed alleged illegal diversion of salaries of retired and dead teachers by the Ministry of Education and the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and the employment of unqualified teachers. Oshiomhole said he was worried that after teachers' salaries, local governments had little left for other things.

At the Edo State Education Summit held on July 31 at the Imaguero College Hall in Benin, Oshiomhole referred to the exercise, saying it had uncovered age falsification and other discrepancies.

Many of the primary school leaving certificates examined showed that some of the teachers could not

NECA, Lagos Education ministry sign MoU -Page 38

A continent’s burden on their shoulders -Page 29

‘

Majority (of teachers) are those who got appointment about four years ago.

Must we weed them out based on the age adjustment? Let us correct the age and look at competence of the teachers so that we don't just weed out every capable hand in the system –Teacher

’

mothers had schools inside their system. Only 1,287 representing nine per cent have proper and accurate records in our system.

Ninety-one per cent have various forms of •Continued on page 26

•A 10-page section on campus news, people etc

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

26

EDUCATION Kaduna promotes 13, 667 teachers, others

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HE Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board, (SUBEB), has announced the promotion of about 13,667 teacher and non-teaching staff for the 2010/2011 exercise across the 23 local government areas of the state.

A statement by the Director, Social Mobilisation of the board, Alhaji Shuaibu Dabo, said the board's Chairman, Ishaya Dare Akau said those promoted were part of the about 15,758 senior staff shortlisted.

He however said henceforth, exercise would no longer be business as usual, noting that it would be based on the learning outcome of the pupils being handled by the teachers.

He noted that time has come for

O

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

teacher of the government to be conversant with the approved state benchmark on literacy and numeracy as they will serve as yardsticks for subsequent promotions.

He assured that the board was working round the clock to ensure the speedy completion of the 2012 and 2013 promotions before the end of the year. He advised those who failed in the previous exercise to try again.

He noted that the list of beneficiaries had been sent to the various local government education offices urging those who were not promoted but have genuine complaints to channel same in writing through their education secretaries.

•From left: Chief lecturer Estate Management School of Environmental Studies, Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Mr Abayomi Olusola Ibiyemi; Rector, Dr Abdulazeez Abioye Lawal and Registrar, Mrs Aderonke Olufunke Ige at the institution's 27th inaugural lecture.

PHOTO: BUKUNMI AKINBEHINJE

Over 11,000 candidates to write Ado Poly Post-UTME

VER 11,000 candidates are expected to sit for this year’s Post-UTME test of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti.

The examination, which started

Monday will end on Saturday.

The candidates, who are seeking for admission into the 23 National Diploma programmes of the institution, are to sit in batches according to seat numbers allotted

them during online registration.

According to the timetable, the first 1000 seat numbers are to write the Computer Based Test which started since Monday.

Subsequently, it will be the turn

of 2000 candidates each from Tuesday till tomorrow, while candidates with seat numbers 9001 to 12000 range have been allotted to have their turn on Saturday.

A statement by the Deputy

Registrar, Information, S.A. Adeyemi-Adejolu, indicated that the over 11,000 registered candidates for the CBT, who have chosen the polytechnic, either as first and/or second choice, and have scored a minimum of 150 at the UTME, are jostling for about 2000 places.

• Oshiomhole

• Ikosimi

•Kola

are after. They should come out with a report to sanitise the whole exercise," he said.

Another teacher at Obaretin Primary School, who gave his name as Omoruyi, said the screening would make teachers take their job seriously, adding that it should be extended to civil servants.

He said: "It will bring sanity to teaching and the education sector as regards to primary schools. It will make teachers to go back and sit up.

Looking at the way that teachers did, we really need to go back and study hard to know that we are not teaching subjects but pupils.

"Those responsible for recruitment should be blamed.

When it is time for recruitment of teachers, those not qualified to teach are employed. The qualified don't have anybody to push them forward. I will blame those in charge of the recruitment."

Rights activist Kola Edokpayi supported the screening, saying it would help sanitise the education system. He said: "It is very clear that there are many teachers with forged certificates. A lot of them cannot write or read. With these, it will make us to know the wrong teachers and make sure only those who are capable are in the

classroom. What do they have to impart in our children? We are happy with what is happening. We should extend this to other ministries and make it general.

"It is sad to discover that a teacher cannot spell what she was asked to read. She might have been intimidated as a result of the presence of the governor. Maybe it was the governor's presence that gave her the phobia but it is not too good for the system."

Another teacher, Yakubu Idris said the screening should be extended to secondary and tertiary schools.

Ikosimi said the union would investigate if the teacher that could not read was actually a teacher and traced the recruitment of substandard teachers to 2007 when the local government employed about 400 teachers.

He said: "The council chairmen drew the list of those to be employed. They wanted to satisfy those that assisted them to office.

Instead of employing qualified teachers, majority of those employed were untrained teachers. They were employed as non-teaching staff and posted to schools in large numbers. These people later went to obtain

National Certificate of Education (NCE) and came out to say they are now qualified teachers without interview or investigation to check whether they are qualified to go to the classroom. They promoted them en masse from grade level 4 to grade level 7. How are we sure of their ability to perform."

Rather than sack, he said the government should move some of the teachers to fill the needs in secondary schools as many of them were qualified.

"There is a dearth of teachers at the junior and senior secondary schools. Many graduate teachers at the primary schools are willing to move up," he said.

The NUT chair also urged the government to overlook the age falsification by younger teachers and consider their competence in keeping them on its payroll.

"You can see many underage and young people. Majority are those who got appointment about four years ago. Must we weed them out based on the age adjustment? Let us correct the age and look at competence of the teachers so that we don't just weed out every capable hand in the system. There is hardly anybody that has not doctored his age. It is not actually intended to punish people, areas where correction can be made should be made."

Ikosimi said the union does not condone indolence, urging the government to enforce monitoring in schools.

"There is no way we will allow incompetent teachers. Let them intensify supervisory division for them to go out and check these inadequacies," he said.

Cleansing the Augean stable •Continued from page 25 discrepancies in their records. This does not mean they are not qualified but that there were problems with documentation and record keeping at the time of their employment.

"It will interest you to know that about 1,379 teachers claimed they obtained primary school leaving certificates after they have been employed as teachers. In fact some of them got the certificates from the school they have been teaching not more than two years ago."

The unfolding drama Many teachers disagreed with Oshiomhole's conclusion at the summit. Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Edo State Wing Patrick Ikosimi wondered why the governor was trying to humiliate teachers. He said the teachers were not consulted, adding no audit was done to confirm the figures presented to the governor by the Information and Communication Technology Unit. Primary school certificate, he said, was not a prerequisite for teachers' employment.

He said teachers should not be blamed for local governments' ineptitude, noting: "We don't know why teachers will be the point of focus. Teachers are always the whipping child. It is the duty of the government to recruit teachers. Teachers don't employ themselves. They don't take part in illegal employment. Government agencies help them."

Ikosimi had a second thought when he attended a session of the Hajiya Audu-led panel last week.

He was shocked when Mrs. Augusta Odemwinge, a teacher at Asologun Primary School, Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area, could not read a sworn affidavit she had tendered as part of her credentials.

In an interview with The Nation, Ikosimi said Mrs Odemwinge's case was so surprising that he and others wondered whether it was not a set-up.

He said: "For a teacher who has been in the system for that length to have been found not able to read is an embarrassment. It is a great embarrassment and a disgrace to the profession. Today, we are still questioning if that woman was appointed as a teacher. We don't know if she was appointed as a non-

teaching staff and later upgraded to a teacher. I am bewildered that we can have such a person as a teacher that cannot read an affidavit. It is an embarrassment to us. I have been receiving calls whether it was a set-up."

Many teachers that faced the panel were proven to have falsified their ages. One of them was born in 1965.

In a bid to elongate her service after she was employed as a teacher in a public primary school, she swore to an affidavit that she was born in 1970. During screenings, she would present the sworn age affidavit until nemesis caught up with her.

Mercy, who was in tears shortly after she appeared before the panel, said she reduced her age because she would not have spent up to 20 years in service by the time she would be due for retirement.

Young teachers recruited between two and five years ago, too were caught in the web. A teacher, who gave her name as Mary, said she removed only two years from her age, adding that it did not tally with her primary school certificate.

Age falsification, she said, was common among workers in the country and as such teachers should not be made scape goats.

Reactions and Findings

Amid shock and disbelief over these discoveries, many educationists are praising Oshiomhole for initiating the exercise.

On what the exercise portends for public schools, a teacher, Amedu Christopher, said cleansing the rot in the education sector rests on the credibility of those conducting the screening and recruitment of teachers.

"Look at the people here. They are both the young and old. In this country, there is the problem of corruption at all levels especially during recruitment of teachers.

Those responsible know what they

‘For a teacher who has been in the system for that length to have been found not able to read is an embarrassment. It is a great embarrassment and a disgrace to the profession. Today, we are still questioning if that woman was appointed as a teacher. We don't know if she was appointed as a non-teaching staff member and later upgraded to a teacher’

27

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

EDUCATION

A

Group advocates transparency in education finance

NON-PROFIT Organisation‘Linking the Youth of Nigeria through eXchange’ (LYNX-Nigeria), is seeking transparency and accountability in financing education.

The Project Coordinator, Mr Victor Adejoh, spoke at the end of a three-day national training for organisations in the education sector in Osogbo, Osun State capital.

Adejoh called on the government to promote effective accountability and transparency in implementation of the education budget.

No fewer than 40 stakeholders drawn from Enugu, Kaduna, Plateau and Osun states participated in the programme.

He said there was a need to ensure accountability and transparency in the sector's service delivery, especially at the basic level to justify the huge investment by the government in the sector.

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

He said: “The monitoring of budget process is key to a better future for Nigerian children and youths as they will form ties with the executive and legislative bodies, to enhance the relationship between young people and government and improve communication and dialogue for advancement in the education system.”

He raised vital issues to be addressed in the sector, including

the current decay in the system, adding that if the challenges were not tackled, they will have a long term effects, not only on children and youths but on the future of the country.

He said: "It is imperative that public office holders are held accountable for spending in the education sector. If the sector is not saved from its present state, children and young people will become delinquent and a menace to society.

‘The monitoring of budget process is key to a better future for Nigerian children and youths as they will form ties with the executive and legislative bodies, to enhance the relationship between young people and government and improve communication and dialogue for advancement in the education system’

"If education is not put to standard, more Nigerians will seek education elsewhere thereby increasing braindrain and exporting of cash which puts the economy of the nation in danger. Education must not only be functional; it must also be relevant to the needs of young people and to the nation.”

He continued: "Civic education and community engagement are critical aspects of children and young persons' development and should be fully integrated into the curriculum. The monitoring of budgets and spending in the education sector will increase efficiency and outcomes for improved learning and productive students.

"Children and young people must become aware of their right to education and demand for quality education as their fundamental human right."

Besides, the delegates for the training demanded that the local, state and the Federal Government engage in participatory budgeting, carrying their constituencies along from the inception and creation process to the finalisation of the budget. They also said the local, state and Federal Government should make known the draft copy of budgets before final publications for implementation.

“Communities must participate in the formation, approval, execution and monitoring and evaluation stage of budgeting. Public office holders in the education sector should make the accessing of budgets and expenditure easy quarterly. The public office holders should sign and document contracts they award to enable effective monitoring, transparency and accountability in the sector,” they demanded.

Varsity floats secondary school

By Eniola Osidein

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DUDUWA University, Ipetumodu, Osun State has opened the secondary arm of the institution.

Academic activities at the school, which will be known as Oduduwa University International Secondary School and located in Egbeda, a Lagos suburb, will begin in October.

The Acting Principal of the institution, Mrs Funke-Williams Oladele, said teaching and learning facilities have been provided by the school management.

Conducting our reporter round the school, she said the management has decided to put in place world-class educational facilities to aid learning.

Mrs Oladele said the management had taken into consideration many factors which include, the mission of the new school, the benevolence of the institution's proprietor, the economic downturn in the Nigeria and above all, the willingness of the school Proprietor, Chief R. A. Adedoyin to foster functional and accessible secondary school education in Nigeria On why the school was established in Lagos instead of the university’s campus, Dr Adedoyin said the decision was informed by his intention to make the school international.

“Besides, Lagos by virtue of its global popularity will appropriately serve the purpose of easily projecting the school outside the shores of Nigeria, “ he added.

• Principal officers and senior members of the Lagos State University (LASU) in front of the completed the institution’s School of Transport during a tour of some projects.

T

ESUT dons committed to ASUU strike

HE Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) chapter has insisted on not compromising the ongoing strike by its members.

It said the only way its members would backpedal is for the Federal Government to implement the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement and the 2012 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

During an interview with reporters in Enugu, Acting Chairman of ASUU- ESUT, Festus Omeje, blamed the government for reneging on its promise.

The lecturers called on men of goodwill, to prevail on the Federal

From Chris Oji, Enugu

Government to respect the two agreements signed.

He said: "ASUU and Nigerians are worried by the institutionalised falsehood, and lack of integrity exhibited by the Federal Government and hence condemns this perfidy in its entirety."

"One of the hallmarks of good governance is integrity; and this is an all important virtue of those who claim to superintend such an important sector as education.

"The excuse that the government cannot afford to adequately fund university education is dishonest in the face of a situation in which government officials and

EKSU FILE

•Mr Bashorun (centre) planting a tree to commemorate the monthly Environment Tree planting Day at the college’s premises. With him are the institution’s top management members.

politicians continue to engage in unconscionable pillaging of state funds."

Omeje said the face-off was beyond salaries and allowances for lecturers, pointing out that since the 2009 agreement, the government has set up fact-finding missions to ascertain the state of universities.

"Panels of inquiries for need assessment for universities have

been set up and reports have been submitted, yet the authorities in the education sector seem to have shunned implementation of the recommendations.

"The needs assessment committee went round the country and what it found was shocking. First, it found that the students-teacher ratio was 1-400 on the average instead of one40. It found that the classrooms were inadequate and could accommodate only about 30 per cent of the number of students and that education standard was on the decline."

Science Academy urges members to identify societal needs

S

CIENTISTS in Africa have been asked to work on their needs to enhance the living standard of the citizenry, President, Nigerian Academy of Science, Prof Oyewale Tomori has said.

He made this call at the lecture titled:The role of academies of science in promoting research and development in Africa.

It was organised by the Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA) at the International Conference Centre, International Institute of Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan.

The don, who lamented Nigeria's technological failure, said it was only when the scientists identify their societal needs that their relevance would be valued and accorded recognition.

According to him, part of the reasons there had been failure not only in Nigeria, but across Africa included non-commercialisation, licenced or patented research work/result.

Also, the NAS chief identified uncoordinated research activities in institutions, non-linkage of research

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

to industries/entrepreneurs, nontarget of research to national primary needs and the engagement of researchers in only issues relevant to personal needs and promotion.

To redress the situation, the Prof Tomori insisted that scientists must be the voice of science for development, build clusters for collaboration, inform government and industries, market research results and collaborate with other academies.

Similarly, Tomori advocated the need for the enlightenment of the public by scientists, build science centers and museums in towns and cities, work to introduce science into "our education system from the kindergarten level”.

In his welcome address, ViceChancellor of the University of Ibadan, (UI), Prof Isaac Folorunso Adewole, called on the participants described as 'the pioneer set of CARTA doctoral trainees' to expand the contribution of Africa to knowledge generation and train the next generation of intellectuals.

28

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

EDUCATION

Kaduna shuts 457 illegal private schools

•I85 more to go

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

T

O improve the standard of education in the state, the Kaduna State government has wielded the big stick against illegal private schools in the state, closing about 457 of them, while giving them one month to regularise their registration.

The state Commissioner for Education, Mallam Mohammed Usman told reporters that while

some of the schools were operating illegally, others were operating below the expected minimum standard and outside approved curriculum, in shops, half plots of land and in garages.

The affected schools, which are cut across the state, include secondary, nursery and primary schools.

The Commissioner said another

185 of such schools will also be closed down in the second phase of the exercise, adding that records of the schools are being cross checked accordingly to ensure that justice is done to all.

According to him, 331 of such illegal schools were closed within Kaduna zone, 81 in Zaria axis and 43 in Kafanchan zone.

He lamented that some of the illegal schools had been operating

for over 10 years, warning that the state government would would deal with defaulters.

He also warned that the schools have been given between up to end of the month to regularise their registration, stressed that until that was done, they would remain closed.

The owner of Revival Nursery, Primary and Secondary School, one of the schools closed in the

first phase of the exercise, Mrs Hannatu Sambo, dismissed the claim that the school was not registered.

She said the school was registered with the ministry, expressing surprise as to why her school would be among those shut.

On multiple taxation in private schools, the Commissioner said that the government had set up a committee to look at the issues, adding that the government was also addressing indiscriminate increase of school fees by the schools.

Sisters act at Ronik graduation

T

• Adeyeye with the children at the airport

T

MOCPED to present 23 courses for accreditation

HE Provost Michael Otedola College of Primary Education (MOCPED), Noforija Epe, Lagos, Prof Olu Akeusola, has expressed confidence that with the transformation agenda under his management, the college is set for the planned accreditation of its 23 courses by its regulatory body-the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE).

In the first week of September, MOCPED will host NCCE accreditation team for four days, (between first to fourth) in what promises to be a rigorous accreditation exercise; however, Prof Akeusola expressed confident of full accreditation of all the courses to be presented.

Some of the courses are: Arabic Language, French Language, English Language, Political Scvince, Agriculture, Curriculum, Arts and Education.

Akeusola said he pinned his hope on the Lagos State government praising it for the funding of the institution.

According to him, the institution’s

O

By Adegunle Olugbamila

management has done everything possible to improve on the infrastructure and human capital base of the institution in the last two years.

The Professor of Comparative Linguistics, praised Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos for the love and the passion he has for education and human capital development.

Said Akeusola: "The Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola has been wonderful in releasing funds promptly for the development of the college, especially in the last two years when I assumed office as the Provost. At the management level, we are making sure that money released is deployed towards human and material development of this institution. Today, we can proudly say the college is comparable to any college of education anywhere in the country. Though MOCPED is a specialised college for the training

of primary school teachers we are competitive in our operations '' He said since he assumed office, the college had entered into many linkages with both local and international organisations, a development Akeusola said attracted lots of goodwill towards further development of the institution.

He said in the last two years, the management increased the number of teaching and non-teaching staff, sent many lecturers to seminars, some whom he said are currently pursuing their PhD programmes at various institutions within and outside Nigeria.

“We want the best for the college and we will stop at nothing in attaining this," Akeusola added.

Corroborating the Provost, chairman, College of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) MOCPED chapter Comrade Kupolati Christopher described Akeusola'a management style as 'very creative and all inclusive.'

The Dean, School of Languages, Dr Yusuf Taofeek, also spoke in the

• Prof Akeusola

same vain. ''At the School of languages, we have installed about 50 computers for our language laboratory. We have backup solar energy to power those computers whenever there is power failure. Now, the college which is now fully computersised, also has e-library."

“I think the provost is able to achieve all these within two years because of his network has with the people in Government as well as his international connections also."

Lawmaker trains pupils on leadership

NE hundred and thirty-two pupils across 22 primary schools in Kosofe 11 Constituency of Lagos State have received leadership training, including a tour of some important places in the state.

The tagged: 'J.A. Youth Leadership, Empowerment Achievement Programme' was sponsored by the Majority Leader of the state House of Assembly, Ajibayo Adeyeye.

Of the lot, only three best pupils from primary five and six were selected for the programme.

The pupils toured the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos

By Oziegbe Okoeki

Television (LTV), and the Lagos State House of Assembly all in Ikeja.

The children were also lectured on leadership.

Giving his reason for the training, Adedyeye said: "We took them (children) to the airport and they all saw how the air transportation works in Nig. They even had the opportunity of entering the aircraft.

We took them to LTV where they were able to see the studio, control room and other units. There they proceeded to the Lagos State House of Assembly where we gave them talks on leadership training and

how government has been working."

Kosofe said he initiated the programme to bridge the gap in civic education.

"We discovered that there is a civic education gap in Nigeria, to the extent that even our elites do not actually know the workings of government. So, I feel a sense of responsibility that there is need to bridge this gap of civic education. I have decided to start with the very young and, hopefully, I will graduate this to even the community development associations (CDAs), the resident

associations, the adolescent and other groups of people in a short while," Adeyeye added.

At the end of the exercise, the participants were given gifts and awards which included books, math set, dictionaries, among others.

"When they resume by September, we expect a representative of each school to stand in front of the school assembly and read a report of the outing to the other pupils.

Hopefully that will ginger the other students to do well in their academics so that they can be part of this programme next year," Adeyeye said.

By Medinat Kanabe

HEY were not among the graduands. But the two sisters, Onipe Anthonia and Onipe Maryann, attending Ronik Comprehensive School were the cynosure of all eyes during the school's graduation.

They emerged best pupils in JSS2 and JSS3. They were presented with various prizes at the school's 16th Valedictory Service.

Anthonia, 12 and is moving to JSS 3, received awards for being the best pupil in English Language, Mathematics, Basic technology, Agriculture, French, and Visual Arts, while Maryann was best pupil in English, Igbo Language, Mathematics, Basic science, Basic technology, Agriculture, French, Home economic, cultural and creative art and also got a prize for exhibiting traits of a future leader.

Anthonia said she was able to make it because she pays attention in class and works hard.

"I prepare well for test and exams, read during break. I don't use the internet or any social media during exams and don't watch TV during exams," she said.

Anthonia, who wants to study Medicine after her secondary school education in a Ghanaian university, said she is very happy to be awarded in front of everybody.

On her part, Maryann, 14, an SS 1 pupil, said hard work and determination brought her this far.

She also said she restricted herself from watching television and slept late studying. She said because of her determination to learn, she doesn't joke with her classwork.

The Kogi State-born teenager, who wants to study Engineering at Babcock or Covenant University, Ota, when she finishes secondary school, advised other pupils to take their studies serious.

Mr Cliff Lawani, who was the chairman at the event, said education is the key to a functioning society.

He said secondary education is indispensible, noting that it draws the line between literacy and illiteracy.

He noted the importance of technical education in primary and secondary level, adding that it would encourage selfemployment.

He also called on government to privatise technical education in Nigeria. Mrs Rachel Alabi, Proprietor of the school, said she hoped that wherever the graduates go, they would carry along the Ronik culture and be good ambassadors of the school.

“I want you to know that there are a lot of opportunities out there in life, but if you do not put yourself out and take chances, you will never dare to be grate in anything,” she added.

29

Blessings on Rag Day

Scandal hits SUG Page 31

Page 34

*CAMPUSES *NEWS *PEOPLE *KUDOS& KNOCKS *GRANTS

CAMPUS LIFE

THE NATION

0805-450-3104 email: campusbeat@yahoo.com THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.net

email:- campuslife@thenationonlineng.net

For three days, some youths from various parts of Africa gathered at the Kabarak University in Nakuru County of Kenya to discuss the continent’s age-long problems. Why is Africa poor? Why is it underveloped? These and others were what they sought answers to at the international conference of Students and Young Professionals African Liberty Academy (SYPALA). WALE AJETUNMOBI was there.

•Thomas (squatting, left) and Stout (in sun shade) with some of the participants after the conference

PHOTO: WALE AJETUNMOBI

A continent’s burden on their shoulders

K

ABARAK is a sleepy community in the Nakuru County of the Republic of Kenya. Serene, sedate and somnolent, it is an ideal environment for studies and academics. It hosts the Kabarak University, which youths from various parts of Africa converged on last week, spreading the gospel of liberty, entrepreneurship and prosperity.

As the youths in their numbers moved to the university’s campus, through Kiamuyu Road, residents, who stood in from their homes, watching, screamed karibu (Swahili for welcome).

The youths arrived with what they called message of “good news” for the international conference of Students and Young Professionals African Liberty Academy (SYPALA). Many of them are members of the African Liberty Students Organisation (ALSO) whose aim is to chart a new course for peace, liberty and prosperity in Africa.

The theme of the conference, sponsored by

•Youths rise for Africa

Atlas Economic Research Foundation (ATLAS), Washington DC, was Building today for a prosperous Africa.

The expansive Bethel Auditorium of the university, which was draped in ALSO banners and

emblem, suited the mood of the occasion. Speakers from different countries charged the participants to take the “good news” message to rural communities in Africa.

Tom Palmer, Executive Vice President for International Programmes at ATLAS, led the pack

‘African youths must be able to think for themselves and not be told what they should think or what slogan they would have to copy. And one element of that is to embrace the element of indigenous African traditions of no-border for trade. What is African about stationing a machine gun at the border drawn by the British and French?’

of speakers. There were also the Dean, Kabarak University School of Business, Prof Allen Katwalo, founder of Business Strategy and Service Marketing Consult, Ghana, Dr Kofi Bentil, Cape Town representative in Mayoral Committee for Economic and Environment Planning, Garreth Bloor and Adedayo Thomas, Director of Outreach, Africanliberty.org.

Others were Japheth Omojuwa, Editor, Africanliberty.org, Rejoice Ngwenya, a Zimbabwean Liberal Democrat, Deman Yusuf, a lecturer at the University of Dodoma, Tanzania, Olumayowa Okediran, a board member of Students For Liberty (SFL) and Brian Stout, a Master’s student in Netherland.

Palmer, who spoke on World financial crisis: How this is not the fault of capitalism, said the aim of the conference was not to feed the participants with dogmas of monotonous ideology but to nudge the youths to ask “hard questions” about the un•Continued on page 31

•Corps member empowers widows-P32•Best student gets job -P33

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

30

CAMPUS LIFE

An evening Pushing with creative Out with writers Agbo Agbo

C

REATIVE writing, unlike other forms of writing, is anchored on the creative exploitation of imaginative resources to tell a story. The key ingredient in this type of writing is creativity. While the ordinary writer may go straight to the point he intends making, the creative writer, on the other hand, builds a world and designs that world with colourful materials in order to give the story an appealing, pleasant, attractive and endearing outcome that will enable the reader to enter the world of the writer. Creative writing therefore is literary writing that emerges in the form of poetry, prose, compositions and drama. These genres have a distinguishing feature, which makes them appealing to emotion, and they also function to entertain, educate, inform and build the intellect.

So when I got an invitation letter from renowned author, Chimamanda Adichie, Creative Director of Farafina Trust to witness this year’s edition of the literary evening - a 10-day yearly creative writing workshop sponsored by Nigerian Breweries Plc - I honoured it and what an exciting evening it turned out to be in the midst of young creative writers. It was indeed one of those rare moments when the challenges of the education sector was far from my mind as I witnessed young men and women in their creative best, happy for who they are and what contributions they could make for their country. It was also heartwarming to see Chemical Engineers and others in the Sciences turning out beautiful creative works. Just when one may be tempted to think whether this nation can move forward at all, one would come across a group like this that will rekindle one’s dying hope.

In the past four years, Chimamanda has engaged some of the best young creative writers this country can boast of in an annual workshop under a non-profit foundation, Farafina Trust and her Nigerian publisher Muhtar Bakare to promote literacy and literary in the country. The aim is to improve the craft of writers and to encourage published and unpublished writers by bringing

08116759750 (SMS only)

•aagboa@gmail.com

different perspective to the art of storytelling.

As she mentioned that evening, it was made possible by Nigerian Breweries Plc, who’s Managing Director, Mr. Nicolaas Vervelde she described as “a lover of books”. This may surprise some because the company may be noted for Star, Maltina, Gulder and other brands in its kitty, but what they may not know is the fact that the company is at the forefront intervening in the education sector.

This started in 1994 when it established an education trust fund of N100 million to take part in more funding of educational and research facilities in higher institutions, all in an effort to provide and encourage academic excellence in Nigeria. This is in addition to sponsorship of National Art Competition, in partnership with the African Artists’ Foundation and others.

One of the lessons I learnt that night was that there are different types of Nigerians: Those that leave the shores of the country because of the “challenges” and never looked back or think of the country again; they are those I call the lost Nigerians. There is the second group who left Nigeria to either go further their education or engage in business ventures but Nigeria is always on their mind as they explore every means available to make positive impact. Chimamanda falls within the second category.

Described by James Copnall in his piece “Steak Knife”, published in The Times Literary Supplement of December 16, 2011 as “the most prominent” of a “procession of critically acclaimed young Anglophone authors (that) is succeeding in attracting a new generation of readers to African literature”, she is one of those shining light that is ready to share and impart her knowledge and experience to another generation. This experience started with the publication of her first novel, Purple Hibiscus in 2003, which received wide critical acclaim; it was

shortlisted for the Orange Prize for Fiction in 2004 and was awarded the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for Best First Book in 2005. Her second novel, Half of a Yellow Sun, named after the flag of Biafra, is set before and during the Biafra War. It was awarded the 2007 Orange Prize for Fiction and has already been shot as a movie which would soon be released. Her third book, The Thing Around Your Neck (2009), is a collection of short stories.

In 2010 she was listed among the authors of The New Yorker’s “20 Under 40” Fiction Issue. In 2013 she published her third novel, Americanah, which was awarded the 2013 Chicago Tribune Heartland Prize for fiction. The Heartland Prize is a literary prize created in 1988 by the Chicago Tribune Newspaper.

Nigeria as a country is a notable breeding ground for widely acclaimed literary works.

Many of the country’s writer’s, right from the first generation to the current one, all have worked hard enough to attract recognition, pride of place and substance for creative writing in the country. Names such as Esiaba Irobi, Chris Abani, Helon Habila, Sefi Atah, Martin Akpan, Chris Egharevba, Joe Ushie, Uche Umez, Chiedu Ezeana, Ogaga Ifowodo, Nnimmo Bassey, and Iboro Nelson amongst others hold the ace in contemporary literary writing.

Perhaps I need to point out here that, creative writing is a core developmental enterprise. It exists to explore the diversity of the human capacity to communicate and build a society of understanding and peaceful coexistence.

Archibald Mccliesh had a good understanding of this role when he observed that societies are judged in the perspective of history by the way it handles the arts and creative vocation and its practitioners. No society survives without the contribution of its creative personalities. They constitute the leading lights, the statesmen, the philosophers and thinkers and the builders of that society. Even in its most vibrant and intelligent adumbrations, science and technology does not build society the way the arts and writing does. Arts and writing engages the human mind and intellect and always takes man back to a state of reflection and contemplation on the beauties of the natural environment, the necessity for dialogue, understanding, harmony and peaceful coexistence.

From a spiritual standpoint, writing always draws man closer and closer to God, his maker and this is why it is possible for life to still exist on earth till today. Beyond this random assessment, it must be noted that the creative potentials of writing also aids intellec-

tual development, public confidence building, educational and human capital development and communicational development which enhancing interaction in the society by picturing the happenings in the society and calling the attention of everyone to the true image of the society and the people.

Many literary compositions like poems, plays and even novels expose the frailties in many societies and points the way to the path of morality and reason. This was captured by the rendition of a lovely poem that night titled “History is” by Efe Paul. In just five minutes Paul gave a holistic view of Nigeria’s history from the colonial period to date. Another case in point is Ayi Kwei Amah’s novel “The Beautiful ones are not yet Born” which is a graphic reference material on the inane view of contemporary Ghanaian Society and by extension the African continent. The characters in this novel consolidated the viability of Amah’s conclusion that leadership wise, “The beautiful ones are not yet born”.

The same can be attributed to Chinua Achebe’s “The Problem with Nigeria” and “A Man of the People”.

It is therefore not surprising that the intellectual engine room of every society is powered by writing, especially creative writing.

Civilised and development conscious nations prioritise the development of creative writing more than new weapons of war. The understanding is that, the most dangerous warfare takes place in the intellectual realm.

The human mind must be developed and engaged otherwise it has the tendency of being devious; armed robbery, ritual killings, Al Qaeda, Boko Haram etc are good examples. Creative writers can therefore be at the forefront in fighting the poverty of the intellect. It has been shown time without number that young people who are encouraged to engage in reading books often come out better developed and highly responsible.

Finally, writers, especially creative writers are icons of development and therefore constitute the image making and public confidence building resources of where they come from. A Nigerian visiting a foreign country is often referred by the identity of their notable writers such as Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe, JP Clarke and lately Chimamanda. Many nations and international bodies deal with countries though their output in the creative field. There are many educational development opportunities that come to Nigeria for example because of the image of these and other outstanding writers. I urge our graduates and undergraduates to be part of this and other ventures aimed at capacity building.

Oluwaseyi Adebanjo, 200-Level Law student of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), is an advocate of girl-child rights. The founder of Send a Girl to School Initiative won the Youth Advocate of the Year Award and represented Nigeria at the Global Changemakers Youth Summit in Britain. She speaks with HABEEB WHYTE (Law) on her activities.

W

‘All genders must be treated equally’

HAT is the move behind the girl-child advocacy campaign you have embarked on?

Send a Girl to School Initiative is a product of passion, which I have been nursing since my secondary school days. It seeks to champion a course towards improving the lives of girl-child in terms of education and mentorship. I developed the passion after I visited some rural communities in Nigeria and I discovered that the ratio of girl-child in school is 20 to 80 to the male gender. I felt this should not be the case.

In the course of my advocacy, I gathered that ignorance and poverty were the main reasons for the disparity. When a problem is identified, it is half solved and I believe part of the solution is a product of my non-governmental organisation.

How challenging is it to advocate

T

HE Ondo State chapter of Joint Campus Committee (JCC) of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has held its convention, which culminated into the election of new executive. The event was held at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA).

Adewunmi Rufai, a student of

for rights?

It is very challenging because such non-governmental organisation (NGO) is not so welcomed in Nigeria. Most people don’t believe in sponsoring or supporting organisation fighting for rights of, women especially. Apart from sponsorship problem, I discover that youths of today are not ready to spend time on advocacy.

Most of them believe that it is a waste of time and energy since they would not get paid for the service rendered. So I can say that the biggest challenge is not sponsorship but getting more youths to work with me.

How would you compare advocacy in Nigeria to other countries?

Basically, advocacy in Nigeria is totally different from other countries such as the United Kingdom, though the campaigns are done towards achieving the same result. In the three

years I have spent on advocacy, I have learned a lot. There are institutions guiding and sustaining such gender-oriented campaign in developed countries but in Nigeria, a few NGOs die five years except they have strong sponsors. Only a few people are ready for selfless service.

You were awarded for your activities on girl-child initiative. How was it like?

That award was given to me as youth advocate of the year. Twentysix youths were nominated for the award but God said it was for me. I never believed it when I was declared the winner. It is not like I was the best but it is God’s favour even though I know I have been trying my best in advocating the right of the girl-child.

The award opened other opportunities for me and brought more sponsors for my project.

You represented Nigeria in the United Kingdom on girl-child cam-

paign. How was the experience like?

It was good. Two of us were chosen to represent Nigeria in the Global Changemakers Youth Summit. I must say it was an amazing experience for me. It is the peak of my career in advocacy for rights. I met my peers across the world doing the same thing I am doing. We exchanged ideas and share how to improve on our efforts in our respective countries. I showcased my project on the world’s platform, which attracted more people towards my initiative. Now, I have some youths working with me internationally on the project. I never wasted the opportunity and as a Nigerian, I believe we are good at that.

We are the best.

Will it be right to describe you as a feminist?

Well, you may be right to say I am a feminist. And as such, I be-

Ondo JCC elects leaders From Segun Odunayo

AAUA the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) was elected as the chairman, while Olasunkanmi Pelebe, a student of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO) became the vice chair-

man. Oluwasanmi Akinboboye, a student of AAUA is the General Secretary.

The election was presided over by the outgoing chairman, Abiodun Owonola and was witnessed by presidents of Students’ Union Governments (SUGs) from

the institutions across the state.

Abiodun, who conducted the ceremony on a wheelchair due to the accident that left some members of the body dead a few weeks after their inauguration last year, thanked God for the successful completion of his tenure.

•Oluwaseyi

lieve in equality; a female child deserves to be treated equally as a male child. A girl-child must have social, economic and political rights just as the other gender has. I belong to the school of thought that says everyone should be treated equally.

He advised the incoming officers to be accountable to students and be good ambassadors of their various institutions and the state.

He also urged the state government and institutions to support the body.

Adewunmi commended the outgoing executive for a “job well done” and promised to promote the interest of students.

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

31

CAMPUS LIFE As the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) in Awka, the Anambra State capital, was rounding off its second semester, the Students Union Government (SUG) was hit by a scandal. UCHE ANICHEBE writes on the petition against the outgoing head of the union’s judicial arm.

Scandal hits SUG

T

HEIR tenure took off on a promising note. But as they are leaving office, members of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) in Awka, the Anambra State capital, are running into a storm. The outgoing Chief Judge, Obinna Agazie, is being accused of corruption.

In a petition, Obinna was accused of impersonation before his resumption as Chief Judge.

Obinna was also accused of embezzling funds accrued to the union’s judicial arm during his tenure.

Muoneme Ifesinachi, Nwabueze Cletus and Chilee Paschal, who are all members of the Editorial Committee constituted by Obinna wrote the petition.

Ifeanacho Onwubuya, Obinna’s Personal Assistant, also accused his boss of corruption.

The document, which was obtained by CAMPUSLIFE, reads: “The last administration witnessed financial malpractice by the past SUG Chief Judge of the Judicial Council, Mr Obinna Agazie, now a final year student of the Faculty of Law. Our tenure with Obinna Agazie started on December 2011 and ended on December 13, 2012.

Obinna had, on different occasions, before he became the Chief Judge, impersonated the SUG president and had a lot of courtesy and official visits to eminent Nigerians and political officers in the name of sourcing funds for running the judiciary of our noble university. A lot of money was realised from those visits, but Obinna diverted the funds for private use.”

According to the petitioners, the •Continued from page 29

derdevelopment on the continent.

He said the forum was an opportunity for young Africans to open their minds to the challenge of creating institutions that make laws work, urging them to challenge claims and ideologies of political leaders on political economy to know the idea that could work to emancipate the people out of poverty.

With advancement of technology and advent of social media, Palmer believed the present African youths had a chance, which the previous generation did not have, to champion the cause of change in the continent and create better future for themselves and the coming generation.

“African youths must be able to think for themselves and not be told what they should think or what slogan they would have to copy. And one element of that is to embrace the element of indigenous African traditions of no-border for trade. What is African about stationing a machine gun at the border drawn by the British and French?” Palmer explained.

He said Africa has the worst trade barriers in the world, saying countries must pull down the border obstruction against trade to achieve economic prosperity.

He added: “Why is it easier for people in Nigeria to buy goods from Americans or British than people from Ghana, which is almost next door or Benin Republic? The reality is that if a Nigerian tries to buy goods

money allegedly embezzled by Obinna was put at N1.2 million, an amount said to be gotten from series of courtesy visits to political office holders, commissioners, banks, hospitals and hotels in Anambra State.

According to one of the petitioners, Obinna’s conduct typified abuse of office and privilege. He said: “It is a pity that corruption has found its way into this small community of ours. What we, the petitioners, seek is justice and nothing more. I have been having correspondence with the Dean of Student Affairs, who is one of the persons to whom the petition was submitted. He assured us that Obinna would be summoned to explain his action.”

A member of the union, who pleaded for anonymity, noted: “I am very disappointed by the allegation. I worked with Obinna, and accompanied him to places where the money were gotten. Little did I know that the funds were not going to the union’s pocket. Obinna is a trustee of the office he holds, and I think his action has breached the trust. When I read about the scandal in Aluta newspaper, I was deeply disappointed. This is a clear instance of breach of trust.”

Agazie denied the content of the petition, dismissing the petitioners as being envious. He said the petition was written because of his achievement and rising profile in students’ unionism. “The petitioners were motivated to file the petition because of bad belle. They wanted to reap where they did not sow, which was why they filed the petition based on my refusal to allow them have their way. He who asserts must be able to prove, and as far as I am concerned, they have so far been unable to prove their case,” he said.

•UNIZIK gate

CAMPUSLIFE gathered that copies of the petition had been filed at the offices of the ViceChancellor, Prof Boniface

Egboka, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Dean of Students’ Affairs, Deans of all faculties and the SUG office.

A continent’s burden on their shoulders

•Palmer (second right) presenting certificate to one of the participants as Prof Katwalo (right) looks on

from Ghana, he will meet security agencies with machine guns and have to pay certain amount of money without which the goods and service cannot move.

“It means that it is easier for an African to trade with somebody in faraway Oklahoma or Texas than someone in the country’s next door. This does not make any sense and that is a

clear case of African governments strangling their own people.”

Palmer said his objective was not to figure out slogans that the youths would not be able to understand but to motivate them to ask hard question and look for evidence on the cause of the problem the continent and critically look for solutions.

Speaking on What history has taught

us about development, prosperity and how to get it, Bentil, a Ghanaian, urged the participants to “switch on” their brain to question principles and ideologies that had retarded growth and limit freedom of people to prosper.

Omojuwa, a notable blogger, who spoke on New media tools and liberty in Africa: Perspective, charged the participants to explore the Internet and so-

It was learnt, last week, that the security unit of the university invited Obinna and the petitioners for interrogation. cial media to promote freedom and entrepreneurship in Africa. Noting that 50 per cent of Africa’s population is made of youths, Omojuwa urged the participants to tap into the number disseminate the message of change to the people.

If Africa must develop, Thomas observed, the youths must take the lead by espousing liberty principle and spread the message on campuses. He said government must not interfere in the economic affairs of the people, saying the responsibility of the government remained to create a law that will protect the interest of the market.

He explained various ways the participants could use reach out to a large audience of people in the African communities.

Mildred Akoth, a student of Kenya Institute of Management (KIM), Nairobi, described the conference as an eye-opener, saying the theme was catchy words that went in line with struggle of the youths on the continent.

“I didn’t know this kind of forum exists before now. I was just opportune to be part of this and I will spread the message to my friends and Kikuyu people,” she said.

Miriam Nulekenge, a student of Uganda Martyr University, Nkozi, said she was going back to her country with a message of freedom.

The conference also featured a group discussion between participants, who came from countries such as Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Southern Sudan, Ghana and Zimbabwe.

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

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CAMPUS LIFE

•Olawale (left) and Alhaji Tirimisiyi presenting gift to one of the widows

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CORPS member serving in Oyo State, Olawale Shoyombo, has organised a vocational skills training for widows in Ibadan South West Local Government Area.

The two-day event tagged, Project H.T.W.E. (Helping the Widows Excel), was organised in collaboration with La Vie Mot Global Mission, a non-governmental organisation.

In her address, Director of Education and Social Services, Ibadan South West Local Government, Dr Ayo Alaga, represented by Mrs. Rashidat Ogundiya, urged the beneficiaries to take the training seri-

•Some of the beneficiaries after the programmes

Corps member empowers widows From Taiwo Adebulu

NYSC Ibadan ously. She implored them to cultivate the habit of saving for the future and avoid extravagance.

Folasade Adedeji from Zaria Children Home, Ibadan, spoke on the basics of good health and adequate nutrition. She encouraged widows to cook for their children and avoid fast foods. Another speaker, Mrs. Temiloluwa Morenikeji, Director of

His Heritage Homes, took the widows through the fundamentals of effective child care. She noted that keeping children safe is a mother’s responsibility. She added that: “It is the role of a mother to understand her children and let them know about sex education right from a tender age.”

The second day witnessed skills acquisition training on how to make chin-chin, puff pastry, buns, eggbuns, local drinks like zobo and kunu.

Different items like bags of flours, vegetable oil, frying pots, perforated frying spoons, rolling boards, rolling pins, crates of egg and baking powder, sugar, milk and flavours were also presented to the widows.

Mr. Tunde Ajuwon, a representative of Oyo State Ministry of Women Affairs, appreciated the convener of the project. He urged the beneficiaries to utilise what they had learnt to improve the quality of life of their families.

Speaking with CAMPUS LIFE at the

end of the programme, Shoyombo, an Estate Management graduate of Covenant University, said: “before I was mobilised for NYSC, God had laid it in my heart to assist the less-privileged and I really appreciate God for making project H.T.W.E. a reality. The project is a means to achieve that which God had laid in my heart.”

When CAMPUSLIFE visited some of the widows few days after the programme; one of them Mrs Taiwo Monsurat, who lives along Oja Oba in Ibadan, had already started making puff pastry and chin-chin for sale.

CRUTECH gets volunteer club

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HE Cross River State Directorate of Volunteer Service has established a volunteer club in Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH) the to serve individuals and checkmate the surge in social vices.

Speaking at the event, the state Coordinator of Volunteer Services, Mr Emmanuel Eke, described the club as a not-for-profit body that empower the youths to render volunteering services to citizens of the state. He added that the state government deemed it necessary to establish the club in the state-owned tertiary institutions to develop volunteering spirit among youths in the state.

The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Efiom Eneobong, rep-

From GodShield Kanjal

CRUTECH resented Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof Akon Joshua, lauded the initiative. He promised to contribute to the growth of the club.

In his address, Coordinator of the club, Mr Hogan Holyns stated that the reward for volunteerism to humanity is not financial gains but an opportunity to add value to lives.

He promised to ensure the club is proactive in volunteerism. He appealed to the state government to assist in sustaining the goals of the club.

President, Students’ Union Government of the institution, Omini Iwara, pledged his commitment to the growth of the club.

Cross River students get leaders

•Members of the executive after their inauguration.

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HE Federation of Ibadan Students’ Union (FIBSU), has elected new leaders. The election took place at the Abadina Primary School on the University of Ibadan (UI) campus.

Two delegates represented each institution that participated in the election. Two aspirants contested for the post of National President.

Other positions were unopposed except that of the Social Director.

Past presidents of the association, Mr Alabi Ademola and Mr. Aderibigbe Surajudeen were present to ensure the proper conduct of the polls. Security officials were also at the venue to forestall any violence.

The election was conducted by

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HE Department of Political Science of the Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education (AIFCE) Owerri, has held its graduation party at the Social Science Hall of the institution.

Guests at the event include Emmanuel Emeana, a Special Assistant to Hon Ezenwa Onyewuchi, representing Owerri Federal Constituency; Head of Department, Mr. Roland Echebiri,

Ibadan students elect leaders From Hammed Hamzat

UI the FIBSU Electoral Commission with Hammed Makinde as Chairman and Sulaimon Oladejo as Secretary. Voting started at 2:30pm after accreditation. A total of 37 votes were cast. Adewunmi Rufai of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, emerged president having polled a total of 35 votes to defeat Kolapo Titilayo of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology. Kabirat Ogundijo of Federal Polytechnic, Offa, scored 35 votes to emerge Vice-President.

Others are Ayokanmi Solomon,Deputy Registrar; Shittu Akeem, Financial Secretary; Olasupo Rukoyah, Treasurer; Olawoyin Ajibola, Public Relations Officer 1; Oyetoro Taiwo, Public Relations Officer 2; Abiodun Taiwo, Social Director 1; Adejumo Funmilayo, Social Director 2; Abiona Peter, Welfare Director and Azeez Hammed as Auditor.

The new president promised to use his experience to promote the peace and development of the association in partnership with Oyo State government.

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HE National Association of Cross River State Students (NACRISS),CRUTECH chapter, has inaugurated the executive pilot the affairs of the association for the new academic session.

In his address, Chairman of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Joint Campus Commission (JCC), Patrick Ambah congratulated the electoral body on the success of the elections. He urged members to see unionism as a platform to better the lots of students. He said: “students’ unionism should not be politicised rather it should stand as a pressure group to fight for the welfare of students in every institution”.

Ambah advised the new president not to be bias in his official

Students hold graduation party From Chidiebere Enyia

OWERRI Others are Mrs Chibuzo Obua, a representative of Edmark, a Supplements Company Prof Batchason Mgbachi, Dr Opurum Innocent, Dr Cornel Udumaga, and lecturers of the department.

chairman of the ocassion, Emeana, admonished the graduands to be good ambassadors of their institution. He advised them to work hard and strive for excellence at all times.

Mr Echebiri charged the graduands to be the agent of change in the society. He said: “I want you to be of good behavior. You must

strive to distinguish yourselves among your peers.”

Mrs Chibuzo urged the graduands to embrace entrepreneurship as the best way to avoid unemployment that is prevalent in the country.

During the ceremony, awards were presented to deserving persons.

From GodShield Kanjal

CRUTECH assignment as most executive worked against him in the electioneering process. He added that other members of the executive must give full support to the president so as to make a formidable government.

The electoral chairman, Emmanuel Egbe, adjudged the elections as free and fair describing their victory as divine. He charged the executives to work assiduously to make the government an exceptional one.

In his inaugural speech, the President, comrade Abang Ogon, thanked his colleagues for the support given to him. He promised to work in good terms with his executive to improve the welfare of the association.

Some of the graduands, who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE, expressed their joy. One of them, Okafor Amarachi, said: “I’m very excited today. It was a long walk for me.” Another graduand, Ibe Chima, expressed his joy saying, “To become a graduate of political science requires a lot of hard work. Interestingly, today marks the beginning of my academic success in life. I’m very happy about it.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

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CAMPUS LIFE

Best student gets job

M

•Prof Okolo (right) inaugurating members of the 50th anniversary committee

UNN to honour pioneer graduates

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HE University of Nigeria, (UNN), Nsukka, is planning a week-long ceremony to honour its pioneer graduates (1963 class) as part of activities to mark its 2013 Founder’s Day slated for October 1 to 7. The University was opened to 220 students in 1960 and 150 graduated in 1963.

Inaugurating the committee on the 50th anniversary of the first graduates on Monday, the ViceChancellor, Prof Bartho Okolo said that the University was honoured to have produced its first graduates three years after its establishment in 1960. He added that the ceremony was aimed at honouring the pioneer graduates.

From Inya Agha,

UNN Prof Okolo said his administration is committed to assuring the success of the event.

Chairman of the organising committee, Dr Okey Ewurum stressed the need to recognise the graduates because they believed in the future of the University. He said: “whatever name this institution has made as the first indigenous University in Nigeria is as a result of the quality of her products. It is important that we celebrate the first graduates who left the University in 1963.

This is because when this University started, most people did not give it a chance of survival.”

Dr Ewurum, who was the President, National Alumni Association of the University of Nigeria, NAAUN, from 2001-2005, added that the uniqueness of the pioneer set was evident in their active involvement in the affairs of the University.

He assured that his committee was poised to ensure the success of the programme. Members of the committee include Prof Obioma Njoku, Dr Grace Ukeje, Andrew Oru, Emeka Anuforo, Prof Anene Moneke, Prof Peter Onwualu and Prof Nkeadi Onyegegbu.

Others are Dr Edith Nwosu, Chioma Onyenwe, Dr Chukwudi Anyanwu, and Nnamdi Okwuadigbo.

Varsity graduates dental surgeons

G

RADUATES of Dental Surgery of the University of Nigeria, (UNN), Nsukka have been enjoined to maintain the tradition of hardwork and discipline and to remain close to God. Speaking at the second induction and oath-taking of dental surgeons inside the main hall of the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, (UNTH), ItukuOzalla, Enugu State on Tuesday, the Dean, Faculty of dentistry, Dr. Mrs. Oge Okoye, said to guarantee success in their medical practice, they must set their direction with a positive attitude and strong spirit.

She told them that since the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams, they should step out to meet the world with their minds prepared and their skills tuned. She also encouraged them to specialize as soon as possible.

She added that: “those of you who have the intellectual capacity are advised to aspire to academic positions in the university, this will require further studies. In times of

From Ben Ilechukwu

UNN success, people know our name, and it is in the times of trouble that people know our character”.

The dean recalled with nostalgia that the faculty which started ten years ago without a building of its own now boasts of accreditation of its programs and well furnished buildings with laboratories and more lecturers with nine modern dental simulators that have been procured to enhance teaching and learning.

As the only school training dental surgeons in south-eastern Nigeria, Dr. Mrs. Okoye said the faculty requires expansion and appealed to corporate organisations for support.

Ten dental surgeons were inducted during the programme.

The Provost of the College of Medicine of UNN Prof. Basden Onwubere, who performed the oath-taking on behalf of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, MDCN, urged the granduands to be good ambassadors of their alma mater and avoid unethical practices

in the discharge of their duties.

Prof. Onwubere affirmed the commitment of the management to continue to provide conducive environment to enable students achieve their educational goals while investing in human capital development of its workforce.

However, Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry, University of PortHarcourt (UNIPORT) Prof Chukwudi Onyeaso enjoined universities and teaching hospitals in the country to see manpower development as a collective responsibility.

Prof Onyeaso stressed the need for government to rid the system of corruption, adding: “With corruption, Nigeria can not achieve a good level of success in health-care delivery.”

The event was attended by ViceChancellor, Prof. Bartho Okolo, who was represented by the deputy VC, Prof Ifeoma Enemo, former PDP Chairman in Abia state, Chief Ndidi Okereke, Chief Medical Director, UNTH, Dr Chris Amah and other principal officers of the institution.

R. Jubril Kareem has been offered automatic employment as a Graduate Assistant in the University of Calabar (UNICAL). His employment takes effect after completing his National Youth Service Corps.

The Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. James Epoke made the offer at the 10th Induction/Oathtaking for Medical Laboratory Science graduates held at the varsity’s International Conference Centre.

Prof. Epoke said the institution has been in the fore-front of medical laboratory science in Nigeria.

He charged the graduands to be

From SAM IBOK

UNICAL worthy ambassadors of the institution and imbibe the culture of excellence and global best practices.

In a related development, the Registrar, Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) Prof Anthony Emeribe thanked authorities of the institution for providing support to the faculty.

The Head Dr Josephine Akportuzor congratulated the graduands and wished them success.

The event featured a lecture tagged “Professional development and self-improvement for medical laboratory scientists and other professionals through continuing Education” and delivered by Prof Monday Useh of the department.

Education students honour leaders

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HE Nigerian Universities Education Students’ Association (NUESA), University of Ibadan chapter, has held a valedictory for the Dean of the Faculty, Prof Clement Kolawole, sub-dean, undergraduates, Dr. Jimoh and sub-dean, postgraduates Dr. Adegbesan.

In his welcome address, President of the association, Taiwo Amos said the occasion was a platform to honour the leadership of Prof Kolawole for service excellence.

Prof Kolawole became the 24th Dean of the Faculty of Education of the Premier University on August 1, 2011. Since his assumption in office, he has embarked on laudable programmmes to transform the institution.

In a chat with CAMPUSLIFE, a 300-

T

From Hammed Hamzat

UI level student of Educational Management, Kolawole Longe, described Prof Kolawole and his team as leaders who can be trusted.

The Acting Dean, Prof Olawale Moronkola, also noted that the administration of Prof Kolawole was successful.

Prof Prof Kolawole pledged to give out N25,000 scholarships to best graduating student in each departments of the Faculty. He said this gesture is part of effort to motivate students of faculty to study hard.

Adepoju Henry, Financial Secretary of the association told our correspondent that Prof Kolawole has given the faculty as face lift.

Students threaten to disrupt council election

HE Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa (Offa Poly) has deplored the government’s inability to meet the union’s demands. It urged the government to re-fund items destroyed during the mayhem between Offa and Erin-Ile. According to a statement by the Student Union Public Relations Officer (PRO), Johnson Eleko, the properties destroyed include the union bus, 5,000 pieces of t-shirt, wrist-bands and disks specially made to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the institution before the crisis broke out.

The statement reads: “We wrote a letter to the Federal government through the SSA to the president on Student and Youth Matters, Jude Imagwe demanding for the reparation of the properties. It is regrettable that despite the diplomatic approach of the students union to report to government at all levels, including the stakehold-

From Akinola Oluyi

OFFA POLY ers about the affected properties, they turned down our request. We are clamouring for the provision of our bus that was burnt during the crisis because it affects the welfare of the students as executive activities have been on a standstill since the incident.”

The statement also adds that the entire students of the institution would totally take law into their hand on the day of the election.

Last week, members of the union and students engaged in a street walk on the campus with various inscriptions like “No bus, no election in Offa local government”, “Justice ust prevail”, “Have mercy on us-government”.

The Students Union President, Hameed Omuiyadun, said: “we cannot afford to fold our arms, and watch the welfare of students suffer. Providing our bus is the only way to assure the students’ welfare.”

‘OAU students are disciplined’

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•Kayode Omikunle (middle) with his colleagues during their convocation after completion of their Master’s degrees in International Business at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom.

HE Obafemi Awolowo University, (OAU) Ile-Ife, Osun State, is free of cultism, banditry and violent demonstrations, according to Commissioner of Police (CP) Dorothy Gimba.

Mrs Gimba spoke this when she led other officers of her Command on a courtesy visit to the institution’s Vice-Chancellor Pro Bamitale Omole.

She also described the students as well-disciplined, cultured and focused on their academics.

The Public Relations Officer of the institution, Mr Abiodun Olarewaju, noted that Mrs Gimba, who commended the VC for running an open administration, also applauded the dedication of members of staff of the University.

The Commissioner assured the University of effective policing of the entire campus and its environs,

From Dhikru Akinola

OAU emphasising that protection of lives and property within Osun state remains her priority.

She therefore called for more cooperation and collaboration between the University and the Osun State Command of the Nigeria Police promising to do everything within her power to further cement the existing relationship between the two organisations.

In his remark, Prof Omole commended the efforts of the Nigeria Police Force, Osun State Command for maintaining peace and order in the state.Professor Omole said that no progress would be recorded without adequate security. He called for more cooperation with the Nigeria Police Force in providing adequate security for the university community.

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

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CAMPUS LIFE

Blessings on Rag Day Freshers of Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education (AIFCE) in Owerri, Imo State, have held a Rag Day to raise money for their matriculation. Some students believed that there is more to the exercise, writes JOHNPAUL NNAMDI.

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HEY wore rags and tattered clothes to cut a pictures of beggars. That was not all; they wandered around the city and street corner with used cans of powdered milk, begging. They are not common beggars, neither are they mad. They are students of Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education (AIFCE) in Owerri, Imo State, observing Rag Day to raise money for their matriculation. The activity, which was mainly for 100Level students, is held yearly by freshers.

“We are just trying to catch fun.

•Some of the freshers during the Rag Day

It is a normal activity in the school.

Before matriculation, 1000-Level students would put on rags and walk around to beg for money from people. They would explain why they need the money to enable them afford books and other necessary materials that will aid their studies,”explained Emmanuel Chukwuemeka, 100-

Level Economics.

The activity lasted for a day.

Some students dressed from their hostels, while others got dressed on the campus. A student said: “I went to school with rags and use make-up to appear like a mad person. It was an exciting exercise because we trek all day, from street to street. But I feel relaxed, happy

and I am in high spirit because it was all fun.”

The students were seen in groups in Owerri city. Some of them went to commercial areas and banks, requesting for money using flattering expression.

A bank customer, who was accosted by the students, willingly dropped money into the can when

the students acted a funny drama at the bank entrance. He said: “I was once a student, so I understand the situation. I just withdrew some money I had already budgeted, but I had to give them a token because they were so funny.”

Casmir Ugwu, 100-Level History and International Studies, said he was participating in the activity to catch fun. “Our seniors did same and the activity is turning to a tradition in our school. That is the reason why I am also involved,” he said.

Darlington Ifeanyi, a student of Biology, said he would spend the money he got from the exercise on his matriculation.

Unlike Darlington, many of the students attached importance to the activity.

They saw it as a harbinger of good luck and success. Some of them said it was an avenue to announce their entrance in higher institution.

One of such students is Prisca Ibekwe, Health Education, who said: “I think every new student in the college should participate in the exercise. By so doing, people will know you have gained admission into a higher institution.

Although not everybody you meet on the street will give money, but those that give are, in a way, wishing us well in our studies. So if anyone did not partake in the Rag Day, he may as well miss the blessings and prayers of people.”

A market woman, who did not mention her name, agreed that the exercise has its good side. “Most African culture believes that a child is not that of the parents alone, so when these students come around, we pray for them and give them tokens to support their schooling,” she said.

Without any sign that the ongoing Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike would end soon, some post-graduate students told ABIBAT AWO how the lecturers’ action has affected them.

U

GOCHUKWU Mbama gained admission into the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) in 2004 to study Environmental Engineering, which has a duration of five years.

He graduated six years after.

The delay was due to the industrial action embarked on by different unions of staff in the universities. In 2011, Ugochukwu was mobilised for national youth service.

After scaling through the stringent admission process, including a test at the University of Ibadan (UI), Ugochukwu is pursuing a Master’s degree at the premier university. The duration of the programme is 18 months but with the ongoing strike by members of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), his graduation has been extended by three months.

Like Ugochukwu, there are many post-graduate students in public universities, whose programmes’ periods have been extended due to the incessant strike by the university lecturers.

The action disrupts academic calendar and renders useless the efforts of the Master’s students, who may go through pain of restarting their research works.

On July 1, the ASUU embarked on strike following the failure of the Federal Government to implement 2009 agreement it reached with the lecturers’ union to improve quality of education and research.

Even as they bemoan the ongoing strike, some post-graduate students believed that ASUU’s demands were in order and could go a long way in putting the nation’s education system in consonance with the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural

•Stanley

•Emmanuel

•Henry

He urged the government to stop playing politics with education. He said: “Nations must invest in education to adapt to the rapidly changing world. Today, what we have in the country are decaying

campuses. Students are forced to study in harsh, unfavourable environments with poor facilities and lack of vital tools needed for advancement of research and development.”

Emmanuel Umukoro, another

Longing for graduation

Organisation (UNESCO) recommendation.

Stanley Ibeku, a post-graduate student of the Africa Regional Centre for Information Science, UI, said the strike is worth it if the aim is to revitalise the education sector.

‘Time is of the essence; I don’t wish to stay beyond the stipulated time for my programme. The strike is a terrible setback because postgraduate studies are research-oriented. It is quite unfortunate that most researches are now becoming outdated due to the strike.

This is not the best for Nigeria as a developing country’

Master’s student at UI, said Nigeria’s leaders had been the cog in the wheel of the country’s progress. He charged the National Assembly to enact a law that would bar all political office holders from sending their children abroad for university education. According to him, “this will make the leaders to respond quickly whenever the ASUU chooses to go on strikes”.

The government should urgently find lasting solution to the incessant strike, Henry Akanegbu, a post-graduate student of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) said. “Time is of the essence; I don’t wish to stay beyond the stipulated time for my programme. The strike is a terrible setback because postgraduate studies are research-oriented. It is quite unfortunate that most researches are now becoming outdated due to the strike. This is not the best for Nigeria as a developing country, as many economic and technological breakthroughs usually come from researches. The government should demonstrate political will towards the implementation of the agreements. ASUU, on the other hand, should know that to whom much is given, much is expected. Nigerians will surely demand a serious commitment to duty from the lecturers and drastic improvement of our university education,” he enthused.

Olawale Badmus is frustrated by the strike. He complained that his parents were “tired” of his prolonged programme in university. Olawale, who marked his 29th birthday last Monday, said his father sent him a message reminding him that he had spent beyond expected time to get a Master’s.

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

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CAMPUS LIFE

What is wrong with Fed Govt?

By Msonter Anzaa

“M

Y good woman, perhaps you will see many a day when all the food in the house is a loaf of bread.

Even so, give every child a piece and send your children to school.”

The 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, was a man that had great commitment to education. When he made the aforementioned statement to the wife of a soldier, who came to him to complain

I

HAD a conversation with a close friend sometime ago. The caller wanted to confirm if the Senate had passed a law to legalise underage girl marriage. The mere mention of the proposed provision had generated uproar and I thought it was one of those comic reliefs from the Nigerian legislators. I told my friend I would confirm the news and would call him back.

In curiosity, I ran home to get the full story. As I was about to step into my compound, I saw three girls, all in their teenage years, innocently playing on the street. I paused and asked myself: “Can anybody ask these girls to abandon their education and hop into a train of marriage?”

The girls stole a smile at me but I did not reciprocate the gesture. I was so full of pity that somebody or some people in Abuja were planning to steal the future of these naïve teenagers with a law to force them in marriage at any given moment.

Using history as a compass in analysing the controversial clause, Romulus, the founder of ancient Rome, spearheaded the rape of Sabine women with approval from the Roman senate. As the legend goes, Romulus, having settled in new Rome with his warrior followers, attempted to negotiate marriage for the women with the neighbouring Sabine tribe to populate the new city. There was apparently a shortage of women in Rome despite its military strength and emerging civilisation.

In compliance with the decision of

how she could no longer receive the allowances due to her husband, America was at war against the states in the Southern part of the country.

Lincoln himself received no more than a one-year worth of formal education.

Yet, because of his intense desire to learn, he grew from a crude farm boy in the countryside – being a fighter, trader, boatman, postal worker, lawyer – to become the president of his country. It is remarkable that even in the 18th century, American government knew that its country could not develop without education.

About three centuries later, Nigeria with potential, is struggling with itself to decide whether education is important at all to its aspiration.

Nothing new can be said about the place of education in national development. Education in Nigeria is not just dying - it has died! The evidence of its demise could be seen in product of Nigerian education, graduates who cannot help themselves, let alone the society; they have become a burden to the system and nation.

There has been lamentation for lack of jobs in the labour market because it is starved of innovative ideas.

Complicit in the death of the country’s education are the key stakeholder,

chief among which is the government because of the lip service it pays to the development of education. Sometimes one is tempted to conclude that possessing a certificate of doubtful quality, men and women in the government must have decided that one does not really need a better education to succeed in the country.

How else do you explain this scenario? At the meeting where the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) reached an agreement with the Federal Government in 2009 were representatives of Dr Goodluck Jonathan and his late boss, Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua. Note that before his journey into the goldmine of politics, Jonathan himself had been a lecturer in the university and by implication, a member of ASUU. He wore the shoe and knew where it pinched. Even before then, as an undergraduate, Jonathan must have attended a lecture during which he neither saw nor heard the lecturer because of the crowd and the insufficient lecture halls. Those days, he must have joined his colleagues in lamenting the government’s neglect of the system and wished he had power.

Today, the story has not changed unlike how the man has changed sides.

It is not his fault anyway. The government has an outstanding history of neglecting the education system.

Poor Ebele is only consolidating on the “reforms” of his predecessors. Dr Jonathan hurriedly ordered the establishment of six more certificate-printing centres, known as federal universities. He did not think the system needs an overhaul and massive funding.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) recommended that 26 per cent of national budgets should be dedicated to education, but Nigeria has not complied.

Here is the extract of budgetary allocation to education in other African countries as written by Steve Okecha in Newswatch of October 1, 2008: “Botswana spends 19 per cent; Swaziland, 24.6; Lesotho, 17; South Africa, 25.8; Cote d’Ivoire, 30; Uganda, 27; Tunisia, 17, and Morocco, 17.7 per cent.”

To take such drastic step in improving our education requires courage, commitment and long-term vision. It is not a quick, cash-and-carry or buildand-commission affair. Unfortunately, our politicians are creatures with myopic abilities and whose vi-

D

OUGLAS Adams, an author, in one of his books, provoked a thought when he said: “Anyone who is capable of getting himself made president should on, no account, be allowed to do the job.”

I have followed the recent event that led to the schism in Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF); the

Msonter, 200-Level Medicine, BSU Makurdi

Tears of a ghommid

the senate, with a strong mandate to procure young females that would guarantee an everlasting future for the new city, Romulus sent emissaries to Sabine to demand for a treaty and the right of marriage for his people. When their request was turned down, Romulus organised a festival in honour of Neptune; the Sabines were fully invited and they came en masse with their women and young ones.

There, Sabine women were all abducted. The beautiful young ones were escorted to the senators’ houses by the plebeians. Please, underline the word “senators”. That incident led to what is infamously called the Rape of the Sabine.

Coming back to Nigeria, I believe what played out in the Senate, with some senators allegedly backing the removal of Section 29(4) (b) of the Nigerian constitution that prohibits child marriage was not a well thought-out process.

What seems shrouded in mystery is the rationale behind the unholy alliance of the 30 senators, who supported the clause. They said they were blackmailed! In self-defence, Senator Ayo Akinyelure of Ondo State, retorted: “I wish to emphatically maintain that I never voted in favour of underage marriage as wrongly reported in the media. What I voted for was that a married woman (underage omitted) is deemed to be full of

age to renounce her citizenship of Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

If it had been married women they were talking about, who could have raised an eyebrow? The debate on child marriage has raised a lot of questions that demand urgent clarification by the likes of Akinyelure. First, let us clarify what underage means.

According to Oxford Dictionary, underage means “too young to engage legally in a particular activity, especially drinking alcohol or having….” The Encarta Dictionary defines underage as “below the legal or required age of something”. But as it is generally believed, the legal age is 18 and above. Anyone that is below this age cannot vote or be voted for under the law. The belief is that they are incapable of making right and complex decisions. If they cannot do this, how will they handle something as complex as citizenship renunciation?

One is, perhaps, suffering from senile dementia to posit that a 10-yearold is an adult just because her innocence and immaturity have been exploited under the guise of marriage.

Obviously, our country doesn’t appear to run short of marriageable adult females unlike primitive Rome.

When Akinyelure was summoned by stakeholders from his constituency to explain his role in the controversial debate, he betrayed emotion; he wept

openly. But it was apparently what Yoruba calls ekun egbere (tears of a ghommid, apologies Prof Wole Soyinka). It was a smokescreen.

The tears did not show remorse but clearly signal havoc his action would wreck on his political ambition. No wonder Thomas Jefferson said. “He who knows nothing is closer to the truth than he whose mind is filled with falsehoods and errors.”

If Malala Yousafzai, a girl-child, could receive a bullet in the head and neck for fighting for the education rights of female children in Pakistan, it is shameful for a handful of distinguished senators to entertain a debate that encourages marriage of underage girls in Nigeria.

What becomes of the United Nations petition written in Malala’s name by the Former British Prime Minister and UN Special Envoy for Global Education, Gordon Brown, demanding that all children worldwide must be in school by the end of 2015, a year when our legislators could have taken them as wives? Could these children combine school with marriage responsibilities?

One is compelled to wonder why Senator Ahmed Yerima, the proponent of the motion, placed his argument on a religious ground in a country founded on secularism. It was antiIslam, he argued. Even in Yemen, a country with 99 per cent Muslims, fol-

Jang must be stopped

By Wilberforce Arevore

sion of the future remains the next elections.

The Finance Minister, Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has revealed that the government did not have resources to meet the demands of the striking lecturers. I am afraid we may get to a time when students would learn that strikes only occur in the education sector; that schools could be shut for many months for no reason; that the government would always claim it had no funds to salvage the system, and that graduates did not learn anything while in school.

We must hope for a period when we will not import from China, electrical products which our graduates could have produced here and created jobs; a period when innovation will drive our economy and graduates could turn down job offers because the employer does not pay health or housing insurance. This feat is possible, but we cannot achieve it until we address what is wrong with the Federal Government.

election where 16 governors ‘defeated’ 19 majority; the ‘emergence’ of the Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang as the chairman of the forum and struggle of Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi to unite members in the face of federally-induced provocation.

That Mr Jang could parades himself as the chairman of the forum despite video evidence that shows how he was trounced by Amaechi suggests that the former is only desperate to gratify his personal ambition, while also doing the bidding of the presidency, which is believed to be at loggerheads with the government of Rivers State.

Jang’s action smacks of executive rascality and undemocratic tendency. Truly, anyone who loses election becomes bitter and

aggressive. This is not to say that the rationality of democracy be sacrificed for anyone’s personal interest.

If Jang had only showed his bitterness without trying to pull down the whole edifice, one could identify with him. But the governor has been making utterances and causing actions, which show that he is out to soil the image of the country among the comity of nations. He is parading himself as NGF’s ‘elected’ chairman with 16 votes against 19 garnered by Amaechi.

I tend to ask myself what kind political legacies is he leaving for the youths in Plateau State, who are still dazed by illegal impeachment of former Governor Joshua Dariye by eight members of the 24-membered legislature.

Should we take electoral fraud as

legacy the Plateau people are contributing to the cause of Nigerian democracy?

Jang’s actions are nothing but rebellious and undemocratic. If one may ask, in whose interest is Jang acting, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or President Goodluck Jonathan or himself? Seeing Jang and Amaechi trading words day in day out have become embarrassing.

If a video clearly shows how Amaechi floored Jang to emerge as chairman of the NGF, then why would later is fighting tooth and nail to make himself the chairman, even when as his rival came from the same political party with him?

If not doing the bidding of the presidency, then Jang must be in a world of his own to have formed a parallel NGF Listening to him on Channels

By Taiwo Adebulu lowing a public outcry over the divorce of a 10-year-old girl in 2008 and the marriage of a six-year-old, initiated legislative efforts to raise the marriage age to 18.

As insinuated in some quarters that Islam prescribes protective solemnisation of marriage before consummation to endorse the bill is a rape on reasoning. In a sane society, a marriage is between a man and a ripe-age woman and not between a grown-up man and a naïve girl-child.

Taiwo just finished National Youth Service, NYSC IBADAN

Television, Jang described Amaechi as “a son”because he was sure that Amaechi has not got to 50 years old. This is puerile and an attempt to turn a rather serious issue into a comedy. Jang claimed all is well with the NGF after saying that “it is not his problem” if Amaechi also parades himself as the chairman of the forum. The NGF, to a reasonable extent, is being torn apart because of puerile attitude of an old man and it could be worse if not addressed on time.

Just as the saying goes, two captains cannot steer the same ship. It is impossible to have two chairmen. This conflict has led to verbal attacks and we hope it would not turn bloody. Let Jang know that he is not recognised as NGF chairman and he must be stopped for his childish attitude result into a serious political situation.

Wilberforce, 400-Level Language Arts, OAU Ile-Ife

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

36

CAMPUS LIFE Corps members get new CDS

C

O-ORDINATOR of Cross River State directorate of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Mr Nkereke Ibangha, has approved a new Community Development Service (CDS) group for Corps members serving in the University of Calabar (UNICAL). This was made known during a seminar organised by the Corps members.

Tagged The youth’s knowledge for service to the nation, the workshop was held at the international conference center of the institution.

The programme was aimed at sensitising the youths on the importance of selfless service to nation building and role of youths in socio-economic and political development.

President of the group, Monu Ihuchioma, thanked the management and the NYSC authorities for supporting the programme.

Noting that the CDS was established in 2010 to foster good relationship between the university and Corps members, Monu said the group was ready to donate projects to the host community.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof James Epoke, represented by his deputy on Academics, Prof Austin Obiekezie, promised the university would continue to integrate Corps members into the system

•Ibangha, university officials and some of the Corps members after the seminar.

From Reuben Agu

NYSC CALABAR and improve their welfare.

The guest speaker, Mr Charles Ezeh, said national development always start from individuals, saying one could not change a

country without changing himself first. He urged the Corps members to embrace entrepreneurship to be independent after their service year.

The Dean of Faculty of Education, Prof Florence Obi, spoke on the need for governments and pri-

vate organisations to create opportunities for youths. She commended the Corps members for putting up the seminar for the benefit of youths.

The Cross River State Commissioner of Justice, Attach Ochinke,

represented by Emmanuel Esira, performed the oath-taking on new executives of the group, who included Ibrahim Babatunde, Vice President; Amarachi Kalu, General Secretary and Reuben Agu, Public Relations Officer.

On and Off Campus By Solomon Izekor 08061522600

•2face (right) during the visit to Iloeje’s office

T

2face visits alma mater

HE Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu (IMT) was agog last week when hip-hop star, 2face Idibia, visited the campus. The event was part of the Amstel Malta 2013 Campus Tour.

Speaking during the concert, 2face said he was excited to visit his alma mater, revealing that the institution won him the first set of fans in his musical career.

He said: “I am very happy to visit the institution that molded me as a young man. It has been a long time and I have looked forward to this day. I have promised never to forget this institution.”

Other acts that performed during the event included Sound Sultan, Vector, Hypertech Hot Boys, Darumy Krane and Rock Steady.

Presenting cola nuts to the star, the Rector, Prof Mike Iloeje, noted that 2face was a source of inspiration to students of the institution. He said: “We appreciate your coming to our institution as a product of this citadel of learning. We recognise your achievements as an alumnus and a worthy ambassador of this school.

Students who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE said the visit was timely. “2face had impacted positively on the youths as an artiste. He has become a

From Emmanuel Ahanonu and Okechukwu Onyeka

IMT ENUGU figure worthy of emulation. He is a source of pride to every student of this institution,” said a student.

In her remark, president of the Students’ Union Government (SUG), Lovina Okechukwu, appealed to the music star to always visit his alma mater.

The event ended with the presentation of the Ambassadorial Award to the music icon.

‘I am very happy to visit the institution that molded me as a young man. It has been a long time and I have looked forward to this day. I have promised never to forget this institution’

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

37

CAMPUS LIFE

Reps mull compulsory public education for civil servants, politicians’ wards

T

HE members of the House of Representatives have expressed their readiness to push through a bill that would compel public servants and political appointees from certain ranks to send their wards to public schools from elementary schools to tertiary institutions.

If the bill succeeds, the lawmakers believe it would resuscitate public education in Nigeria.

Chairman, House Committee on Finance, Abdulmumin Jibrin, said the bill was introduced in the Senate, but could not sail through, but the Seventh NationalAssembly is poised to give it try.

Jibrin, while delivering a keynote address in Abuja at the commemoration of World Youth Day organised by African Centre for

• Prof Adewole

T

From Dele Anofi, Abuja

Media and Information Literacy, said neither the government nor individuals at the helm of affairs are interested in solving the numerous challenges confronting education and public schools in particular.

According to him, funding has less to do with the dwindling relevance of public schools since private schools have created better alternative to public schools “The major element of this bill is that all public servants from a particular rank and all political office holders would have to get their children to do their primary, secondary and first degree education in public schools in Nigeria.

“A similar bill was introduced at the Senate but it could not pass second reading. We are working on that

• Prof Oduola

bill with like minds and we will take it back to the floor of the House of Representatives”.

The lawmaker pointed out that many outstanding Nigerians that are making waves around the world today and whose capabilities have not been questioned by their peers attended public schools in Nigeria.

“Let us do our own bit. If Nigerians support us, fine; if they don’t, fine. But we have looked at the situation and have come to the conclusion that this is probably the only way out of this problem of neglect of our public schools,” he said.

Jibrin who spoke on The role and challenges of legislators in making the nation’s youth resourceful and selfreliant, regretted that Nigerian youths have to contend with entrepreneurial and educational chal-

•Prof Adebayo (rtd)

UI Council votes to support research

HE 16th Council meeting of the University of Ibadan (UI) will be throwing more weight behind research and revenue generation efforts of the institution to enable it to achieve world class status.

The council, which was inaugurated last month, made this decision following a retreat to chart a course

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

for the university's development.

During the retreat, seasoned and retired educationists and university administrators demonstrated how research and other innovative changes could catapult Nigeria's premier university into world relevance to members of the new council chaired by Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo.

Giving a report on the university's international ratings, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Isaac Adewole said the University Ranking Academic Performance (URAP) body ranked the University B++; Best University in Nigeria and 11th in Africa, adding that SCIMAGO rated UI first in Nigeria and sixth in Africa among research-devoted institutions worldwide (2011 SCIMAGO Institutions

ACE FILE

Registry workers sharpen skills

•Hon Abdulmumin Jibrin

lenges that place emphasis on theory at the expense of functional education.

He said: “It is a well-known fact today that the youth and graduates of tertiary institutions are not equipped with the skills and competences with which to exploit the abundant natural resources in this country. “ Ranking World Reports).

For the webometrics, Adewole said the university has taken steps to improve its web presence and enhance its performance on the webometrics ranking.

Speaking on research and national development, Prof Ayo Oduola, Director, University of Ibadan Research Foundation (UIRF), said for UI to lead the way, the university must enhance its research base.

"There must be award grants and fellowships to strengthen staff and the faculties' capacities", he said.

He told Council of its power to help the institution meet its research goal by leveraging on its accessibility to the government and the private sector, to open doors for the university.

"Individually, members have a track record; collectively they carry a flag as the Council of the University of Ibadan," he said.

The picture that a former ViceChancellor of the university, Professor Emeritus Ayo Banjo painted of glorious past of UI, further increased the desire to restore the university's fortune among participants.

"The University of Ibadan was truly an international community with the presence of foreign students, excellent halls of residence, academic excellence of the departments of History; Chemistry (which was one of the best in the world) and host of others," he said.

Oko Poly takes over ICT centre

T

HE Federal Polytechnic, Oko has taken over the management of the Information and Communication/Skill Acquisition Centre in Nawfijah, Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State constructed by Hon Ben Nwankwo, a lawmaker representing Orumba North and South Federal Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives, Abuja.

Receiving the keys to the furnished structure from Nwankwo, an alumnus, Rector of the Polytechnic, Prof Godwin Onu, described the centre as a landmark, which would be beneficial for not only the constituency and the Polytechnic community but to Nigerians at large.

He said the centre would start a department on software incubation among others and award certificates to participants.

"Our institution welcomes the donation of this ICT centre by a former student of our great polytechnic. We are assuring him that this legacy would be put to effective use and we would not disappoint on the expectations from us by the Founding father.

• Handover of ICT Centre to Federal Polytechnic, Oko by Ben Nwankwo, Member House of Representatives, representing Orumba North and South

•Hosts first world campus cultural carnival From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

"It is a skill acquisition training centre not only for children or school leavers but for adults since knowledge is a continuum and there is always need to specialise in areas. It is an entrepreneurial cen-

tre where authentic certificates would be awarded at the end of the programme.

"Those who are not computer literate don't know what they are missing. Nwankwo is a blessing and an institution and a born leader.

I thank him for thinking home. The

future lies in skills and insecurity could be fought with skills and it would die naturally because when everybody is busy with skills, nobody thinks evil," he said.

He further announced that Nwankwo, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Culture and Tourism, would chair the first world campus cultural carnival to be hosted by the polytechnic in October.

ADMINISTRATIVE, executive and clerical workers as well as secretaries, computer operators, and porters under the Registry Department of the Adeyemi College of Education (ACE), Ondo State have had their batteries recharged at a retreat.

Addressing the participants, Registrar of the college, Mr Felix Aderinboye said the retreat, which is in its seventh edition, was aimed at sharpening the skills of the workers.

"The essence of training is to increase efficiency, productivity and service delivery," he said.

He thanked the Provost, Prof Adeyemi Idowu for supporting the programme and making it mandatory for the workers.

The Provost, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr Olufemi Abayomi Olajuyigbe, congratulated Aderinboye on introducing and sustaining the programme, which has influenced innovations in service delivery in the college.

Prof. Idowu also urged participants to make judicious use of the retreat by applying knowledge acquired in their various places of assignment.

The retreat featured papers by resources persons among who

Dean promises innovations THE newly-inaugurated Dean of School of Languages, ACE Dr. J.O. Ojo has promised to introduce new innovations to improve the administration of the school.

Speaking during his inauguration as the dean of the school for the 2013/2014 academic session, Ojo said he would constitute a Linkages committee to assist in linking the school with the outside community so it adapts to current changes.

Seeking cooperation, the dean urged members of the School to come up with innovations capable of raising standards.

His predecessor, Dr Yemi Ogunsiji urged all the workers to support the new dean, like they did for him

Tributes for late Provost THE ACE Management in collaboration with the College of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), ACE branch have organised a commendation service in honour of the former Provost of the College, Prof Babatunde Ipaye.

It held in the Babatunde Ipaye Hall was attended by all members of College Management led by the Provost, Profr Adeyemi Idowu, staff, students, former workers and the representatives of the Ipaye family.

The late Ipaye, the first Professor of Guidance and Counselling in Africa served as Provost from 1991-1999.

The service featured hymns by the Music department, eulogy, oratory, short exhortation by the former Deputy Provost of the College, Dr Fola Akindehin and short video clips of Ipaye's days as provost.

The Provost, Prof Idowu, narrated his encounter with Ipaye at the University of Ilorin where they worked together in the Department of Guidance and Management.

He described Ipaye, who headed the department, as a very hardworking professional who recorded so many firsts and did so much to build the career of junior academic staff. He commended the leadership of COEASU for organising the commendation service.

38

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

CAMPUS LIFE SCHOLARSHIPS

UNILORIN FILE

ICPC recommends ethics code THE Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Mr. Ekpo Nta, has said universities will be encouraged to adopt the code of ethics and corruption prevention guide produced by the University of Ilorin.

Nta spoke at the presentation of a book: Code of Ethics and Corruption Prevention Guide produced by the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Monitoring Unit (ACTU) of the UNILORIN for the university community.

The ICPC chief was represented by a Director of the anti-graft agency, Prof Olu Aina.

Aina said: "It will interest you to know that the ICPC Chairman, Mr Ekpo Nta, has directed that a hybrid of your document be fashioned out for adoption by all universities.

Students construct aircraft prototype TWO-500 level students of the Department of Mechanical Engineering of UNILORIN, Ali Opeyemi David and Patrick Ekanem Effiong, have constructed of an aircraft prototype.

The prototype is part of their final year project.

They said the aircraft was first mooted when they were in 100Level.

Ali noted that though many of his colleagues had lauded the idea initially when he broached it in class, they became skeptical about the mode of financing the project and the time it would take to complete it.

He, however, said he was not deterred by the perceived challenges as he was fully determined in his quest to construct an aircraft.

Ali and Effiong said the decision to construct the aircraft was meant to broaden their horizons as professionals, adding: "what we are actually working on is a machine that will lift up itself through the law of aerodynamics.

It has an engine, a propeller and the fuselage."

Workshop for dons A WORKSHOP on the Yardstick for Evaluating Journals has been slated for today at the Main Auditorium.

Organised by the Library and Publications Committee, the workshop is part of the enlightenment programmes to sensitise academic staff on the criteria for assessing their publications in learned journals for promotions.

In a statement made available to UNIILORON Bulletin by the Chairman, Library and Publications Committee, Prof. Y. A. Quadri, said that the workshop would start by 10.00 a.m. All academic staff of the university are expected at the workshop.

N

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Kwara Poly introduces conference marking

T

HE Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin has introduced conference marking of scripts.

According to the institution Rector, Mr Masud Elelu, this policy will help in the bad victimisation of students.

He said the institution would next week host the Council of Heads of Polytechnics and Colleges of Technology In Nigeria (COHEADS).

The COHEADS conference, he

NECA, Lagos Education ministry sign MoU

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

said, would feature Joint Admissions Matriculations Board, (JAMB) to be represented by its Chief Registrar, Prof Dibu Ojerinde, the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to be represented by its national president.

According to Elelu, the era of the fate of students lying in the hands of lecturers, occasioned by sharp practices and other forms of harassments in the name of marking

students' scripts is gone in the polytechnic.

He said aside the fact that answer scripts would be marked by a team of teachers in each department, external markers could even be invited on the case of disputes.

Elelu said the institution has put in place a special conduct of examinations which would see examination malpractices drop to zero because the method had come out to be fool proof He added that NBTE had granted

51 out of the 57 programmes of the institution full and interim accreditation.

He said earlier the institution established over 40 years ago, had been without a functional library, noting that it's e-library is under construction.

Elelu, who highlighted the strides being made in the polytechnic, said with the assistance of TETFUND, the institution had been sending its staff on training abroad.

T

HE Lagos State Ministry of Education and the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) have signed an agreement on construction trade training (plumbing, concreting, tiling and carpentry.)

The new initiative driven by NECA and Industrial Training Fund (ITF), and which will begin at the Government Technical College (GTC) Ikorodu in October, is aimed at making graduates more relevant to the demands of employment and entrepreneurship in Lagos State, according to Director-General NECA, Mr Segun Osinowo.

The collaboration, which will be under the umbrella of the Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB), will focus on upgrading facilities, provision of more equipment as well as integrating the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Entrepreneurship Development Module in the college curriculum.

Osinowo noted that there had been a gap in skilled manpower, particularly in construction, resulting in the recruitment of quacks, which often has led to many collapsed buildings in the state.

Also he said the situation has not

•From left: Executive Secretary, Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board Mr Olawunmi Gasper, Mrs Oladunjoye; and Mr Osinowo, NECA Director, Technical Support Development programme Mrs Helen Jemerigbe; displaying the agreement.

PHOTO: ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA

helped by the procurement of skilled hands by developers and contractors from neigbouring West African countries to complete local projects.

With the MoU however, Osinowo is optimistic Lagos State will produce an army of technical skill graduates that will upon graduation, set up construction/ building related enterprises.

He said: The focus will be on pro-

ducing these young graduates, highly skilled and supported to set up construction/building related enterprises as a way of creating employment and stemming youth restiveness.

"We have since not been able to produce and meet the demand by construction companies for competent skilled workers. The skill deficit in these sectors is very evident with influx of foreign workers. The major challenge is therefore to pro-

Bashorun stressed that the staff and students should plant at least one tree each on the same day.

In fulfillment of the pledge, Bashorun began tree planting.

He was accompanied by the principal officers, senior management staff in the institution.

Chairman of the Tree Planting Committee, Mr Babatunde Hontonyon, who also planted two trees said the green crusade of the management would be prosecuted.

He said the Department of Agricultural Education would rise to the occasion of producing enough tree seedlings to promote the new culture.

Chairman, AOCOED Beautification Committee, Mr Mobolaji Oshodi, noted that plants have salutary effects on the beauty of any environment.

Areas covered during the exercise included the open spaces at the Administrative Block A; Auditorium 1; areas adjoining blocks B, C, D, E and F, School of Vocational and Technical Education (SVTE); School of Languages; School of Science (SOS); Health Centre among others.

Meanwhile, an award for the best performing unit in its monthly environmental sanitation exercise has been instituted by the college.

By Adegunle Olugbamila

AOCOED promotes tree planting culture

OT less than 200 trees have been planted at the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education Otto/Ijanikin, Lagos State.

This was in fulfilment of the pledge by Provost of the college, Mr Olalekan Wasiu Bashorun when the state commemorated its Tree Planting Day. Academic and non-academic union leaders and executives of the Students' Union (SU) took active parts in the exercise.

At the event, where the college alos observed the day through planting of trees opposite the institution fence, Mr Bashorun pledged

you must have completed coursework andpassed comprehensive exams before taking upthe award.

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By Adegunle Olugbamila

to integrate tree planting into the institution's monthly environmental day programme, which falls on the last Thursday of the month.

Mr Bashorun said: “We shall continue to make tree planting, tree breeding and tree preservation a priority of the college.

“Apart from the tree to be planted, principal officers of the college - deans of schools, heads of academic and administrative departments, heads of programmes shall plant a minimum of two trees during our monthly environmental sanitation."

duce these graduates for employment opportunity in NECA-member companies.

Going down memory lane, Lagos State Commissioner for Education Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye said the initiative was the fallout of the first Lagos State Enterprise Day, where NECA provided its facility despite the short notice.

She said the choice of TCI Ikorodu is because the school, like its counterpart in Epe equally has ample land enough for construction site.

Lauding NECA for a good relationship with the Lagos state government, she stressed that the initiative was not only for the present generation, but also future.

"What we are doing is for today, tomorrow and indeed our won; This new collaboration will galvanise entrepreneurship in Lagos State.

With this initiative, a move has commenced in earnest to designate our technical colleges into specialisation.

The projects which fully kicks off in October, according to her, is designed between 12 and 18 months in each skill trade area that will accommodate 30 candidates at a go. She said the project will be highly rigorous, with candidates being screened via written and interview.

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

39

EDUCATION

B

‘Mum helped us to be the best’

EING the child of a teacher has its advantages and disadvantages. Because of their calling, they are more attached to their children education needs. They are often there to assuage their wards' curiosity on any issues or better still, using them as a scapegoat for other children to know that they won't be pardoned when they err.

For Chidalu and Chisom Nweke, a JSS1 and JSS 2 pupil of Command Day Secondary School, Oshodi, (CDSS-O), emerging as the best pupil in their classes is courtesy of their mum Mrs NwekeChinyere a teacher of Social Studies in the school.

Mrs Nweke, who spoke to The Nation said she doesn't employ teachers to teach her children, and makes sure they draw the line between play and study.

"I make sure they know that there is no short cut to success," she said.

Mrs Nweke said her children have always made her proud.

She recalled: "When Chisom was in Primary 3, she won the Macmillan Best English student award and Chidalu who was in Primary 2 then also won the Macmillan Best Mathematics Student. This is just an addition to the awards in the house."

Chidalu said what made her the best is reading her books, listening in class and asking question. "My mummy also helped me by explaining all I don't know," she added.

Chisom, said hard work, reading

By Medinat Kanabe •Mrs Nweke, with Chidalu and Chisom

and spending a lot of time when solving mathematical problems helped her. Chairman at the event, Mr Sunday Nwaoha, inspired the graduating pupils to match into the future.

Nwaoha, who is also Management Accountant, Tecon Oil Services, Ltd, said many of them see their graduation as the day of freedom from the strict control and discipline in the school. He nonetheless, warned them that the way and manner they manage the freedom will either make or mar them.

"Therefore you have to, at this stage, structure your time more importantly towards furtherance of your education or towards learning a trade," he said.

Pupil who wants to be economist, 197 others, get free GCE forms

E

HIALA Chineye Emmanuel, 19, dreams big. A Senior Secondary 3 pupil from Festac Senior Grammar School, Lagos, Ehiala wants to be an economist, and she's working hard for it.

"I want to be an economist in future. As it were, I'm not happy about the way our economy goes ups and down and that inflation affects us negatively. That is why I'm dreaming to study Economics in any higher institution of my choice," she said.

She said her chances might appear slim with the number of tertiary in-

By Adegunle Olugbamila

stitutions particularly universities where she dreams to study her choice discipline, she is however determined to come out in flying colours in her GCE external on October and November later this year.

For Onwunaru Francis 16, his hope of becoming a Petrochemical Engineer remains unflinching.

Onwunaru is particularly unhappy about how expatriates that provide services in that field are milking Nigerians of millions of naira, at the expense of many jobless graduates.

"I do not like the manner Nigeri-

ans are being exploited by these white men many who are employed by various oil companies while Nigerians do not enjoy same opportunities. When I become Petrochemical engineer, I will be able to improve my on standard of living, raise my head high proudly, and contribute my quota to the development of this country.

Both Ehiala and Onwunaruwer were part of the 198 beneficiaries of the free GCE (external) forms, who promised their benefactor Executive Chairman Amuwo Odofin Local Government Comrade Ayodele Adewale to come out in flying

Pupils urged to strive for excellence

T

HE Proprietor of Knoxfield Comprehensive College, Sango, Ogun State, Mr Olugbenga Ola, has urged graduands of the school to strive for excellence as they proceeded into another world.

He spoke at the 10th Valedictory of Knoxfield Comprehensive College, Sango, Ogun State.

He said: "Please, don't settle for lesser grades in any profession you find yourself.

“Read and do not forsake God in your plans; let Him be your number one. Aside, do not allow anyone deceive you that there is a shortcut to success."

Ola also advised students against leaving the secondary school for external exams at the 'miracle centers'. He warned that such atrocity may make them not to have a record with the Ministry of Education, thereby being denied of their certificate and testimonials.

He said Knoxfield College was established with the mission to training students in all aspect.

"Today is your day, enjoy yourselves in portion, appreciate your parent and mind the kind of

colours in order to justify the council's investment on them.

At the council's premises last Thursday, the beneficiaries, one after the other, received their GCE forms from Comrade Adewale who also promised that any student that emerged with five A's (distinction) including Maths and English would enjoy an all expenses-paid trip to the United States, courtesy of the council.

He told the beneficiaries that the Council which had made such modest investment to them, and their parents and would be happier, if they justify its kind gesture.

By Jane Chijioke

friends that keep you company.

Support your parent in their business and honor and appreciate them. I congratulate you all," he added.

The occasion featured various presentation and display of artworks by the students. They include delivery of health tips by the First Aider Club, Choreography, and display of items of such as aeroplane, sandal, slippers and mattresses with cartoons by the Entrepreneur club, dance performance, among others.

One of the graduands who is also the head girl of the school Rebecah Oluwatobi, said: "I feel so happy I can't express myself as a graduate of this college. In the nearest future, I intend to be a great journalist in future and I have been working toward it. I will also like to advise the junior students to work very hard and shun social vices.

Assistant Senior of the College, said Adegbete Emmaunel, also had this to say: "Knoxfield has been a very great school in the way it educate her students and I feel so excited being part of this gathering.”

•From left: Abayomi Kiyomi, presenting one of the forms to a beneficiary, Muhammed Kareem (second left) Comrade Adewale (second right) and Permanent Secretary, Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Oguntimehin.

T

Students off to US for summer studies

WENTY pupils of Pacesetters College, Abuja who were sent by the school management on a three-week summer tour of the United States (US), have returned.

•Pupils of Elim Providence School, Isheri Osun, Lagos, during their graduation.

From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

The trip, which was led by the Chairman of the school, Kenneth Imasuagbon, also had among the crew the Principal and Vice-Principal of the Wuye campus of the School, Amaechi Osuji and Roseline Olumobi; the Director and wife of the chairman, Mrs Kate, as well as the Head of English Department of the Gwarinpa campus, Segun Awogbade.

The 'tourists', who were received on arrival by the Nigerian Ambassador to U S, Ade Adefuye, also visited the White House, the American Embassy in Washington DC, and the Kings Dominion, among other places.

Mr Imasuagbon told The Nation lthe aim of the tour was to make the pupils do a comparison between the Nigerian education system and that of the US. "The school aims to make the children have a comparative educational and vocational knowledge, to see how the American educational system is, the setting there, to see what we can learn from the system and how we can use same to restruc-

ture the education at the home front especially Pacesetters School.

"They were taught the rudiments of Algebra, calculus among other things, it was a mixture of academics and fun. The students were also taught the basic English writing skills and word formations among others things. They were also exposed to the various characters and traits of hardwork and discipline.

"They have also learn on things that they can do to take Nigeria to the next level as future leaders of the country."

Imasuagbon said with their exposure, he believes that they were wellgroomed to compete with their contemporaries anywhere they find themselves in the world.

"The pupils are now well prepared and with their various experience and interest while in the United states, they are set to do exploits in their studies here in Nigeria," he said.

Mrs Olumobi described the experience as a great opportunity for the students to improve on their academics after being exposed to foreign studies.

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

40

EDUCATION EDUTALK

with

Public schools for civil servants

T •From left: Ohinoyi of Ebiraland and Chairman of the ocassion, HRM, Alhaji Ado Ibrahim and Director-General, National Gallery of Art, Abdullahi Muku at the opening of International Visual Art Teachers' Workshop in Okene, Kogi State.

Rivers prepares new teachers

A

T the end of one-month induction for the 13,301 teachers recruited by the Rivers State government next month, the Commissioner for Education, Dame Alice Lawrence-Nemi said they will be fit for the kind of teacher-learner interaction that the state seeks to make its standard.

Speaking at a ceremony to begin the training at the Port Harcourt Technical/Vocational Training Centre on Monday last week, Mrs Lawrence-Nemi said they would learn multiple skills that will aid their work.

"The aim of the one-month induction course is to improve the effectiveness of the teachers within the school environment, promote positive interpersonal relationship between stakeholders and improve delivery and organisation," she said.

The Commissioner said that the employment of 13,201 teachers was an indication the state's desire to make education accessible to all, which cannot be achieved without sufficient number of teachers. To this end, she said the government has made huge investments in education since 2007 when Governor Rotimi Amaechi took over the mantle of leadership.

She said: "In the last six years of

this administration, Governor Rotimi Amaechi has taken giant strides in the education sector in Rivers State like no other government before him. Since the biggest thing we can give our children and the future generation is the chance to realise their rights to education, this government is resolved to do it right. Governor Amaechi has continually declared that his administration will make sure that every one child in government schools has access to trained teachers. This is because without trained teachers education for Rivers students will never be a reality. Without trained teachers a school is just another building.

Without trained teachers schooling will never become education."

Charging the new teachers to be committed, Amaechi, who was represented by the Secretary to State Government George Feyii, said they should give their best to justify the government's spending on their remunerations, which would cost about N1 billion monthly.

"Quality teachers lead to quality education. Do not to let the state down by giving your best and helping to produce generations of well educated students. The wages for the

•Folatomi

•Mark

F

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

newly recruited teachers will cost the state government about one billion naira monthly," he said.

In his remarks, Prof Joe Aisuku of the BRACED (Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross Rivers, Edo and Delta) Commission praised the government for organising the induction course, describing it as a well thought out initiative that would have seasoned educationists impart knowledge in the teachers.

Also, Chairman of the Rivers State Economic Advisory Council, Prof Nimi Briggs likened Amaechi to the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who introduced free education in old western region.

Briggs said what Awolowo did gave the region an advantage over others in the country. "That is why the Western region, till today remains the most developed in this country," he said.

Dignitaries at the event included the Chairman of Rivers State House Committee on Education Hon. Augustine Ngo; the Director-General, BRACED Commission, Ambassador Joe Keshi, and the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education Dr Richard Ofuru, all of who praised the governor for focusing on education.

•Samuel

Girl beats 2,134 others in essay contest

ROM the 2,135 entries for the Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition for Secondary Schools, the essays by Folatomi Alli-Balogun of Vivian Fowler Memorial College for Girls in Lagos have been adjudged the best.

Chief Examiner of the competition, Prof Akachi Ezeigbo, said Folatomi was skillful in her writing.

The Professor of English at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), added that apart from scoring the highest mark of 80 per cent in the second stage of the competition, Folatomi, "writes with confidence and her ideas and diction are apt

and quite appealing. Any reader of the work will detect surface modesty in her expression, but underneath lies great sophistication of thought which comes out effortlessly in her presentation. It is obvious that the skill she has shown in both stages of the competition is the result of her own effort."

Mark Nwanbiankea of the Lagos State Senior Model College, Badore came second with 75 per cent, while Samuel Edet of Government Technical College, Calabar, Cross River State came third.

Folatomi will be rewarded with N100,000 and a laptop, and three computers and a printer for her

school at the 14th edition of the Mike Okonkwo Annual Lecture on September 5 at the Muson Center, Onikan.

Nwanbiankea will get N75,000 and two computers and a printer for his school; while Edet will receive N50,000 and computer for his school.

A consolation price of N20,000 will be given to two other finalists of the competition.

The lecture titled: "Overcoming the Nigerian security challenges: A panacea for national growth and development," will be delivered by Dr Kalu Idika Kalu, a former Minister of Finance.

HE House of Representatives is considering pushing a bill that would compel civil servants and politicians in public office to enrol their wards in Nigerian public schools. It is quite an interesting thought which I fear, unfortunately, will not get anywhere.

Chairman, House Committee on Finance Hon Jibrin is optimistic the

Kofoworola

Belo-Osagie Kofosagie@yahoo.com 08054503077 (SMS only)

bill will do better in the lower chamber of the national assembly than in the Senate, where it once did not pass the second reading. He believes public schools will fare better if civil and public servants are forced to enrol their wards there.

It is an ideal, which would have worked well if it were possible. This is because the civil servants and public office holders, especially those in the senior levels take time to select good private schools for their wards. Their views are also respected by the management of these schools who make sure they do not fall short of parents' expectations.

They do not patronise schools that have buildings with cracked walls, fallen roofs, and windowless classrooms; or where the libraries are empty of books and the laboratories are so ill-equipped that they use stoves as Bunsen burners. If their wards come home without being taught, or with unmarked home works they would march to school to demand that the teacher be sacked. In some cases, this happens. Despite the huge amounts they spend on fees, many of these parents still support the school to finance various projects - including purchasing school buses; endowing buildings, or even endowing scholarships.

If this kind of attention and care are transferred to public schools; if there are more parents asking questions about what is happening in our schools and insisting that wrong practices are corrected, then public schools would be transformed.

However, it is unlikely that the House of Representatives will succeed in pushing this bill. We have not been able to get our lawmakers to reduce their salaries and other allowances which makes them the highest paid in the world. At N30 million ($189,000) per annum, The Economist magazine reported last month that they earn 116 times more than the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per person in Nigeria. Unfortunately, they do not even admit they earn too much.

If they cannot reduce their salaries and plug waste so that there is judicious use of our scarce national resources for the common good, we should not dream that a law to make civil servants patronise public school can ever see the light of day.

Failings of the police "The Police is your friend," we are told. We see this statement on billboards and hear police chiefs say it on television. I can still remember Sergeant Pat Osifo, a Police Officer attached to the Family Support Unit of the Isokoko Police Station in Agege, telling primary school pupils the same thing last month at a Health Education counselling seminar.

She told them that they should be free to report to the police if sexually abused. She said the matter would be immediately taken up and the child protected.

She was not the only one who spoke at the seminar organised by the Agege Local Government Education Authority. Other speakers also urged the She told them pupils not to endure abuse. Dr Josephine that they should Effah-Chukwuma, Executive Director, Project Alert on Violence Against be free to report Women, in particular, underscored the to the police if need to name and shame child rapists.

"We must protect our children but we sexually abused. must name and shame the perpetrators; She said the we must stop this," she had said. matter would be However, how will people confidently report child rape cases, if they do not see immediately successful prosecution of rapists? The taken up and the incidence of child rape reports has been on the rise in the past few months. Last child protected month alone, rape cases were reported in the papers almost on daily basis.

While we have made appreciable progress in bringing child rapists before the law, there are also attempts at cover ups which are disheartening and cause serious setback.

Last week, a mother raised alarm that a middle-aged man who raped her nine-year old was walking free after reporting to the police. She said she was surprised when the IPO handling the case told her she (the officer) was going on leave so the case would stall. On the other hand, the child abuser said he had been to the police and they told him to go.

He even said only God can judge whether he is guilty. Yet this man repeatedly abused the young girl.

Any of the pupils that attended the seminar would have been confused hearing that the police put the nine-year old girl's case in the cooler. It is contrary to what they were told - to report anybody that abuses them; and even report on behalf of others.

No matter the status of a child abuser, the police must not be involved in cover up of any sort. Children who are abused suffer psychological trauma which in most cases affect their academic performance and self esteem - not to mention their health. The damage takes time to heal. In some cases the child may never heal if she does not get the support of the family or other people or institutions to overcome the trauma.

Cover ups of rapists should not be tolerated. It is our children we must protect, not the rapists.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

43

POLITICS Former Senate President Ameh Ebute spoke with reporters in Lagos on the Jonathan Administration, the North’s agitation for power shift, Rivers State crisis and other issues. EMMANUEL OLADESU was there.

Ebute: Power can’t shift to North in 2015

Y

OU have been silent in the pol ity for a while, but a lot of people expect to hear from you as a statesman. What has been happening?

I am part of an organisation called the Congress for Equality and Change and I was participating in the argument about zoning before the 2011 elections. I am a legal practitioner by profession and I have devoted time to legal practice. In 2010, I was on the pages of the newspapers. So it is not true that I have been quiet all along.

You supported President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011. Are you disappointed with his performance, now that a lot of people are disgruntled with the administration?

As a lawyer, I need evidence from you that a lot of people are disgruntled with the administration. The government has just being in office for just two years. If at the end of the third year nothing happens, then, you can What is the evidence that President Jonathan has performed?

Well, let me argue that President Goodluck Jonathan has introduced a new era of democracy in Nigerian politics; the era of unlimited tolerance, which we have never witnessed before. You can insult him, you can say whatever you want to say and I think that is democracy and that is why we have not gotten so many people, especially members of your profession in detention.

Secondly, most of the projects that the administration has embarked upon are still at the infancy stage and I will take them one after the other.

You go to electricity supply. Just like the way Obasanjo succeeded in the communication industry, Jonathan is succeeding in the electricity supply industry. He is bent on privatizing the electricity industry so that, in a year or two, it will become as efficient as any industry in the developed countries of the world.

Thirdly, the physical infrastructure.

You must have noticed the face lift at most of our airports in the country.

Go to Abuja, come to Lagos and go to other airports in the country, you will see that there is great change.

Four, the road construction that are going on are fantastic, for example the Lagos –Ibadan Express Way, the contracts have been given out, move to the South –East between Enugu and Port Harcourt is almost completed, then the East-West Road, from Port Harcourt to Warri is almost completed and then, there are quite a number of them the Minister for Works pointed er time.

You raised the issue of unlimited tolerance as one of the things President Jonathan has achieved. What about the face- off between him and Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi?

You will agree with me that the Presidency has denied over and over again that the President is not a party to the crisis in Rivers. Some people say he is behind what is happening in Rivers State but even then he has tolerated enough because ,if he is not a tolerant person, Ameachi will not be doing what he is doing today. He will not have the audacity to confront the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, if President Goodluck Jonathan is not the person that tolerates everything. If I were the President, Amaechi cannot go to the far that he has gone.

What is your reaction to the North’s agitation for power shift in 2015?

My advice to them is that they should wait, until President Goodluck Jonathan completes his second term.

By divine providence, the zoning has automatically fallen on the Southsouth. God zoned the Presidency to the Southsouth. It is as a result of the unfortunate death of Alhaji Umaru Yar’ Adua that Goodluck Jonathan became the President. He contested again and won the Presidency.

So, the North, whose definition I am not too sure includes the Middle Belt, should wait, until the person whom God has given the Presidency completes his tenure and, as soon as he completes his second term, one can now argue that it should now come to the North and that North, should include all the zones in the North, not only the Northwest. We have other zones in the North, but some people are now arguing or defining the North as if it means only the Northwest.

Are you now saying that Prof.

Ango Abdullahi is not speaking for North?

I am not a member of the Arewa Consultative Forum or Northern Elders’ Forum. Whether he is speaking for the members of the Arewa Consultative Forum or Arewa Elders Forum, it is left for Ango Abdullahi. I don’t know anything that is happening in those organisations. But I assure you that, apart from the mem-

• Ebute

bers of the Arewa Consultative Forum and Northern Elder’s Forum, there are millions of Northerners that believe in the administration of Goodluck Jonathan. So, when one person representing a few people being funded by the governors and holding press conferences virtually every day; he is putting up his own ideas. You cannot say that the ideas are the thoughts of everybody within the North. So, I don’t know whether Ango Abdullahi is speaking on behalf of the people he has been speaking for I am not in the position to say that. He must be speaking for some people. I must agree that he is speaking for some people, but they are not the majority in that zone.

So, you don’t agree that the North is disenchanted?

But why should the North be disenchanted? We started in 1979 when President Shehu Shagari was the President for four years; he entered the second term when the military took over from him. The head of the military that took over from him was from the North, Buhari. Then, almost one year into the office, another Northerner, Ibrahim Babangida took over from Buhari and he was in office for eight years. That is about ten years, with Buhar’s tenure and then Abacha came.

What of Shonekan?

Shonekan was just an interim leader for a few months, but the person that had control, who took over from us was Abacha and Abacha was in office for five years; five plus ten is 15 years.

Then ,Abacha died and the person who came to office as President was Abdulsalami Abubakar. He was in office for one year and nobody com-

plained. Although that was military system of government, but nevertheless, the people that were the heads of the administration were all from the North. Then, there was no Boko Haram; nobody organised anything to destabilise this country. So, should the North be bitter now for the eight years President Goodluck Jonathan is trying to do? They should be patient enough. Nigerians were patient when these officials I mentioned to you were in office. Why shouldn’t they be patient when other persons are in office for only just four, five years now. Does that mean that the Presidency belongs to them?

You mentioned that there was no Boko Haram then. Are you saying it is part of the agitation for power shift?

You want to hear that from my mouth? Were you not in Nigeria when some people said they will make the country ungovernable for President Jonathan? Were you not in the country when some people said that, if President Jonathan won the election, they will make the country ungovernable if? Are you saying that Boko Haram is not an off shoot of the election that took place in 2011?

But the main argument in the North is that President Jonathan obstructed the zoning arrangement of the PDP by contesting in 2011 In 2010, when some people were trying to frighten Mr. President not to contest the 2011 election, my organization, the Congress for Equality and Change, argued in favour of the zoning policy of the party (PDP) and that the Presidency could go to any zone.

You will agree with me that there is no clear definition of the word zoning that we have in the party between the South and North that we have six geopolitical zones in this country.

And as far as I am concerned, once the Presidency goes to any of these zones, it is zoning and it is in complete compliance with the zoning policy of the PDP as contained in the PDP constitution. It doesn’t have to necessarily be between the South and North. So, the Southsouth is a geopolitical zone and, once the Presidency goes there and the zone has not produced the President before, I think it is only fair and just we agree that it has complied with the zoning policy of the PDP. So, I still believe in the zoning policy of the PDP. Since I am a member of the PDP, I cannot disagree with the zoning policy. The only disagreement is that zoning must have a human face so that any zone that has not had it before should be allowed to produce the president.

Do you see Gen. Buhari as a leader of the North?

‘The Southsouth is a geo-political zone and, once the Presidency goes there and the zone has not produced the President before, I think it is only fair and just we agree that it has complied with the zoning policy of the PDP. So, I still believe in the zoning policy of the PDP’

From the way the 2011 election votes were cast, I now agree that Gen. Buhari is a leader of his zone, that is, the Northwest zone. He is in full control of his Northwest zone politically.

What of your own area, the Northcentral?

No, no, he is not in control of the North Central?

You don’t see him championing the cause of your people?

Some of us in the Northcentral are now saying we do not fall within that definition of the North.

Your party, the PDP has been jumping from one crisis to the other. Don’t you see the agitation of the G5 governors breaking up the party?

I read recently that they have made 10 demands and one of them was that the national chairman should be removed. Their demands go contrary to the law, the Nigerian constitution, the Electoral Act and the party’s constitution. The national chairman was elected for four years under the PDP and you cannot remove him. If you remove him, he can go to court before the end of four years and he will be restored, thereby embarrassing the Presidency. So, I cannot imagine the five governors calling on the President to remove the national chairman.

The President does not have the power to remove Bamanga Tukur. He can only be removed before the end of his fourth year in office, if he is guilty of any gross misconduct and he can only be removed by the national convention of the party, like the one that is coming up now; anybody can raise a motion of vote of no confidence on the chairman and, if it sails through, the chairman becomes automatically removed. But to say that the President should remove Tukur, who was elected for a four-year tenure according to the constitution of the party, is wrong. The constitution is enforceable in the court of law. Their call on the President beats my imagination. I believe they are just calling on the President to give him a bad name. How can the President remove a chairman that was legally elected for a fixed period?

The demand that they want to be leaders of the party at the state level; they are already leaders at the state level. They call the shots, but there is nowhere in the constitution of the party that the governor should be the leader of the party at the state level. It is the state chairman that should be the leader of the party at the state level.

They are calling for this leadership so that they can continue to commit the atrocities that they have been committing, dividing the local government money into two, making sure that everybody that gets elected into the National Assembly and state assembly is their nominee.

So, I think that the problem we have in this country is mostly caused by the governors ganging up together in order to reduce the powers of the President. That is their intention.

‘Regional integration in Southwest’s interest’

By Emmanuel Oladesu,

•Adebiyi

A

GROUP, ‘Egbe Omo Yoruba, North America’, has said that the regional integration mooted by the Southwest progressive governors is in the interest of the geo-political zone.

The group urged Yoruba in the Diaspora to support the project by donating their talents and knowledge to fuel development in the zone.

Rising from its annual meeting in Washington, United States, the group led by Chief Bolu Omodele charged the six governors to forge ahead with the programme in unity.

The theme of the convention was: “Stability of the Yoruba in the 21st Century and beyond”. Guests at the convention included the Lagos State Special Adviser on Regional Integration, Rev. Tunji Adebiyi, who represented Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Ekiti State Commissioner for Integration Affairs Mr. Niyi Afuye, who stood for Governor Kayode Fayemi, Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) Secretary Mr Ayo Afolabi, former Presidents of the Egbe; Aare Kolawole Ayodele, Dr. McGuinis.

Otunbusin and Aremo Adeola Odusanya, and leaders of other Yoruba sub-groups.

Lauding the Southwest governors, the former President of the group, Mrs. Monilola Tenabe, enjoined them to develop policies that would lift their people from the poverty.

Omodele also echoed him, saying that the governors must always strive to be different by implementing people-oriented policies.

In its communiqué, the group noted that the stability of the Yoruba nation is linked with the preservation and promotion of the Yoruba Language, culture and values, urging the people never to subject it to the ravaging western culture.

The group added: “The restructuring of Nigeria to ensure federalism would guarantee accelerated development of the potentials of the Southwest.

“Political leaders of the Yoruba nation should focus on massive infrastructure development of schools, hospitals, roads and bridges, premiums placed on the state of our environment and also agriculture and food security.

“The developmental integration project of the Yoruba should take cognizance of the comparative advantage of the component states should be vigorously implemented to ensure sustainable development of the Yoruba nation.

“Yoruba in Diaspora should be recognised as a partner in the political, social and economic development of the Yoruba nation through repatriation of capital, investments, and ideas. Partnering agencies and corporate establishments should be introduced to the Southwest to support and initiate projects that would stimulate development of the Yoruba nation.

“The government of the South West

should treat as priority the security of life and property against vices as such kidnapping, robbery and the blood thirsty Boko Haram. Investments in security technology devices, mechanisms and community policing should be embarked upon by government of the South West states.

Political actors should shun violence as election seasons draw near. The Southwest states should not be turned into a gallery of “do or die politics.”

Omodele urged Yoruba in the Diaspora to make the group a vehicle for political, social and economic reengineering of the Southwest. He said the Egbe would form a Consortium of Yoruba Professionals (CYP) to partner with the Southwest governments.

He added: “We owe it a duty to take interest in what our governors are doing, especially the implementation of the Developmental Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN)”.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

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NATURAL HEALTH THE NATION

E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

Onion health benefits

Lagos councils to get herbal clinics T

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LL local government areas of Lagos State may soon have herbal clinics, courtesy of the Research Institute of Traditional and Applied Medicine (RITAM) and the Board of Traditional Medicine (LSBTM). RITAM and LSBTM are poised to empower practitioners by setting up clinics in the council. RITAM and LSBTM’s action is informed by the need to achieve the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of moving from Malaria Control to Malaria Elimination by 2015.

LSBTM Registrar, Dr Bodunrin Oluwa

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

said: “Interested candidates who must have the following- a minimum of five credit passes in science subjects, including Chemistry, Physics and Biology, English and Mathematics or Advanced level passes in any course or; a recognised first degree in a science related subject or; an applicant with MB.BS can come in as associate member.”

RITAM Registrar Dr Idowu Ogunkoya added: “Any applicant with 10 years’ experience in Traditional Medicine practice

with evidence of training by LSBTM, National Association of Nigerian Traditional Medicine Practitioners (NANTMP), RITAM will enrol as associate member of the institute and later enrol for the twoweek orientation that will introduce evidence-based products for treatment of diseases such as anaemia, sickle cell anaemia, typhoid, diabetes, hypertension, malaria, arthritis, rheumatism, fibroid, prostrate enlargement, HIV/AIDS, stroke recovery, good ante-natal care, etc and make available clinically tested products to be used in their practice.”

Agency seeks collaboration to grow natural medicine

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HE Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA) is ready to collaborate with alternative medicine and traditional medicine bodies in line with guidelines, its Director-General, Tamuno Okujagu, has said. The agency, he said, would work with others to develop natural medicine in Nigeria.

Okujagu, who spoke when the Natural Integrative Medicine Practitioners Association (NIMPA) visited the agency, said NNMDA has the mandate to research into herbs and develop products.

“It is the country’s objective to improve health care. There is the need to make out details of the collaboration especially on doables and non-doables,” he said.

Okujagu said the challenge was to validate and work scientifically on herbs, saying: “Once you close yourself to learning you die.”

He said the agency, however, has limited funds to meet the needs of every collaborator but it can support good initiatives if approached for it.

He assured that NNMDA would include the body in its programmes, especially its capacity building and herbs

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IGERIANS have been urged to change their perception about traditional medicine to aid its development.

The Chairman, Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board (LSTMB),Dr Bunmi Omoseyindemi, said the profession couldn’t grow because of the way people

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By Wale Adepoju

festival.

NIMPA President, Dr Isaac Ayodele, said its association was ready to take tasks from the agency to prove its worth as strong integrative medicine body.

He said to become an affiliate of the agency was required so that it can be guided to move natural medicine for-

ward.

He said the agency is the link between Nigeria and other countries, stressing that it could facilitate NIMPA’s growth if it was involved in its activities.

“We want the agency to take us along.

We are eager to formulate Nigerian medicine and take it across the world,” he added.

Ayodele said training of its association resource persons would help to develop members practising across the country.

“There are herbs in the country’s six geo-political zones but we should be supported to make most of the Godgiven gifts of nature to mitigate the health of the people,” he said.

He said there were families and communities whose gifts are to cure eye, teeth or bone problems, adding that they can be contacted, educated and develop their formulations to meet global standards, thereby exporting Nigerian traditional medicine.

“We can become world leaders in natural and alternative medicine like India, China and Germany. Traditional medicine should be one of the major revenue generation for Nigeria because it is blessed with green vegetation as it is a rain forest area,” Ayodele said.

Nigerians urged to support traditional medicine

By Wale Adepoju

see it.

In an interview with The Nation, Omoseyindemi said for traditional medicine to thrive more finance and manpower should be injected into it.

He said the practice was almost dead, especially in the state until the LSTMB came on board to salvage its image which was that time battered.

“When you talk about traditional medicine, the first thing that comes to peoples’ mind is incantations and rituals. But this is not always so. The people’s mentality is poor about the practice and the practitioners are not helping matters, by way of misleading them with gibberish and other unwarranted acts,” he said.

Omoseyindemi said traditional and alternative/ complementary medicine practitioners are needed to boost manpower in the health sector because Nigeria is a populous country but with very few health workers.

“We have less than 50,000 doctors in Nigeria. We need more hands, especially in the unorthodox area of medicine. This is because some people prefer to access other forms of treatments,” he added.

He said LSTMB has trained traditional birth attendants (TBAs) on pre and post-natal care because

majority of them live in rural communities. There was also a three weeks refresher course for TBAs in collaboration with the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board (LSPHCB).

Some are receiving training at the Lagos State College of Health Technology.

They are attached to General Hospitals close to their residence,” he added.

He said the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA) and the LSTMB trained the TBAs on Prevention from Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) of the disease.

The state government, he said, has been trying to establish a research institute to develop the practice. “The board is also collaborating with the Research Institute of Traditional and Alternative Medicine (RITAM) to do research on some of its researched products,” he said.

Traditional medicine, he said would have been well-developed if there were enabling laws at the National Assembly.

He said the Federal Government has set up a committee to design a curriculum of herbal medicine for Colleges of Medicine in the country. “A foundation has been inaugurated for the development of African traditional medicine. It was formed in Zimbabwe before it was inaugurated in Nigeria, July, this year.”

HE phytochemicals in onions improve the working of Vitamin C in the body, thus gifting you with improved immunity.

Onions contain chromium, which assists in regulating blood sugar.

•For centuries, onions have been used to reduce inflammation and heal infections.

• Do you enjoy sliced onions with your food?

If yes, rejoice! Raw onion encourages the production of good cholesterol (HDL), thus keeping your heart healthy.

• A powerful compound called quercetin in onions is known to play a significant role in preventing cancer.

• Got bitten by a honeybee? Apply onion juice on the area for immediate relief from the pain and burning sensation.

• Onions scavenge free radicals, thereby reducing your risk of developing gastric ulcers.

•Those bright green tops of green onions are rich in Vitamin A, so do use them often.

•My favorite way to enjoy onions is to slice them really thin, squeeze some lemon juice on top and add a little salt. Sprinkling a few freshly washed cilantro leaves adds fragrance and flavor to this simple, quick salad, without which no dinner of mine is complete.

Tips on cutting onions without tears Those pesky, stinging tears that go along with chopping up an onion are such a pain! Luckily, though, these tears can be easily avoided if you know what you’re doing and you have the proper equipment. Read on for the proper way to cut an onion. As an added bonus, discover the best techniques for caring for “onion eyes” on the following page.

So why do onions make you cry in the first place? Well, it’s all about the enzymes. Cutting into an onion breaks cells, and causes different enzymes to interact with each other to produce a whole new enzyme. This enzyme irritates your eyes, which creates tears.

How to cut an onion •Cut a small portion off the top of the onion.

•From the root down, cut the onion in half.

• Peel and discard skin.

• With the flat side down, cut parallel, evenly spaced slices into the onion. Don’t cut all the way to the root.

• With your knife parallel to your cutting board, cut slices that stop before the root end.

• Cut through your first round of slices.

Other tips: Make sure that your knife is as sharp as possible. A chef’s knife is ideal here.

You can freeze onions or let them sit in cool water for about 20 minutes before chopping to reduce tears.

Having the hood vent on can reduce irritation.

Dicing with a piece of bread in your mouth has been known to alleviate symptoms.

You can even use goggles to stop the sting.

How to treat the tears: The best thing to do is wash your hands with soap and water. Splashing cool water in your face, or placing a damp towel over your eyes, can also help.

Never mind the tears they bring on—onions are an ace ally in your fight against disease. A prized member of the lily family, they lavish you with health benefits while adding oodles of taste to your food.

•Onions

Source: www.care2.com.

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46

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

NATURAL HEALTH

Treatment of breast cancer in Alternative Medicine (3) Free radical damage

Being the third part in the serialisation of the text of a presentation by FEMI KUSA at the maiden seminar of the College of Integrative Medicineheld at the Water Parks, Toyin Street, Lagos, on August 1 and 2, 2013.

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HE college was founded to train members of the National Integrative Medicine Practitioners As sociation (NIMPA). In the first part published on August 8, two promising case studies provided the grounds for hope that herbs and nutritional supplements, used alone or as an adjunct in orthodox cancer therapies, can bring about a cancer cure. In one of these cases, stage iv colon cancer which had spread to the liver, lung and kidney shrank by 25 per cent within two months of the introduction of alternative medicine therapies to conventional therapy.

In the second case, breast cancer shrank significantly.

Last Thursday, August 15, featured the loss of oxygen in the body as a possible cause of cancer, some common causes of deoxygenating and some ways and means of oxygenating the blood, including the use of oxygen tablets or capsules. This week, the column explores gene and cell damage as potential cause of cancer.

Cell damage during cell division There are about 100 trillion cells in the average adult human body. All of them except those of the brain and perhapsthe nerves are constantly dividing to reproduce themselves before they die off. One hundred trillion cells is written as 100,000,000,000,000.Each cell is probably replaced hundreds of thousands of times in one's lifetime.

In one single day, as many as 40 billion (40,000,000,000) cells may be replaced. In the course of these replacements, mistakes may occur in the splitting of the DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid), which is the blueprint or code of each cell to be reproduced. Recently, the media reported the birth of a baby without the brain in the skull. This means the skull is hollow.Obviously, the gene for the brain was missing in the baby printers will easily understand what is happening. Printers print from plates fastened to a press by pressing paper over them. If a printer has an order for 200,000 copies, the plate may wear after 100,000 copies.

Any printing done after this number may not be clear or it may blur. So, the plate has to be replaced. In respect of cell reproduction in the body, sometimes it is a gene that is missing. The cells produced in such error are not normal cells, and, therefore, lose communication links with the body and do not get information or instruction from the brain about the rate at which they should divide, hence the abnormal rate of division. If we grant to Mother Nature, as agent of the Creator of all things the honour of perfection, we would recognise that the possibility of this aberration, through the foibles of souls maturing in these bodies, would have been foreseen, and antidote for it would have been provided for in the Creation Plan. This abnormality arose in the first place out of dietary and other misconducts. If we dig deep down into any event which suggests imperfection in the work of Mother Nature, we would discover that man is the architectof it.In the far sighted nature of Mother.Nature, every cell is equipped with a gene called the P.53Gene which kills off a cell which has stepped out of tune with the rhythm of the body. This gene, located on the DNA, is called the "suicide gene."

Why these genes fail to pull the trigger on the cancer cell?

Another relevant question in cancer therapy is: why do the 30 billion or so immune cells, including the NATURAL KILLER (NK) cells not catch and destroy thesedeadly cells? If they failed, why did the liver, as the chief detoxifying or purifying organ in the body, let them pass?

OME studies have associated these failures to the loss of energy within the cells. Many factors such as Vitamins, co-factors,minerals and enzymes are inseparable from energy production in the cell. But Co-enzyme Q10 (CoQ10) would appear somewhat more significant, going by some studies, and I would like to emphasise it in this presentation.

Dr. Folkers, one of the most outstanding CoQ10 researchers for decades, ran the first CoQ10 research on the value of this compound in breast cancer management, and some doctors carried out the experiment with 32 women in a Copenhagen Clinic. The woman had advanced, high risk breast cancer which had spread to the lymph mode. They had gone through chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery to no avail. Researcher Dr. Foikers and his two medical doctor colleagues placed the women on a wide range of vitamins, minerals, and CoQ10 to see if these would help. The CoQ10 dosage was 90mg daily.

And, sure enough, six of the 32 women survived beyond two years, although, by convention, the condition of their cancer dictated that they die before then.

Their tumors had shrunken significantly.

In 1993, one of these women unilaterally increased

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her CoQ10 dosage from 90mg to 390mg a day. By the following month, the cancer was completely gone.

Another woman who followed her footsteps by increasing her own CoQ10 dosage to 300mg daily also witnessed complete remission of the cancer. Their doctors reported these surprising developments in the following statement: "The tumor was no longer palpable and in the following month, a mammogram examination diagnosed disappearance of Her tumor.

After that, another woman in the group also increased her dosage, this time to 300mg. her tumor soon disappeared. A clinical examination revealed no presence of the prior residual tumor nor of distant metastases, This study has been reported to be significant in at least two respects. First, the quantum of chemotherapy, toxic to cells and depressant to the immune system, may have constituted an overwhlming harmer to CoQ10 energising the dormant suicide genes of the cancer cells to destroy those cells. It may, also have deprived the liver of energy to detoxify the blood and, by extension, the cells. The cells, of course, include the immune cells, expecially the NK cells.

ECONDLY, an increased CoQ10 dosage reveals the capacity of this compound to energise the system back to health. In other words, the cells did not have enough CoQ10 in their pre-cancerous state. Even when CoQ10 was given at going daily, the usage may have been eaten up by chemo or radiation. For CoQ10 is an antioxidant and may have been donating itself to free radicals of the chemo and radiation.

Further, CoQ10 research in this area has shown that the compound stimulatesimmunoglobin production and increases the CD4 to CD8 ratio in humans. These effects are immune-boosting and suggest the relationship between cellular energy and protection against tumour growth and cancer development. More research has shown as well linkages between low plasma levels of CoQ10 and the onset or progression of breast cancer.

Coq10 is used in all therapies, not just for cancer.

Originally, it was given to people with heart problems. The heart is one of the richest sources of CoQ10, understandably because it is a hardworking organ which requires lots of energy to move blood round the body. It has helped many causes of palpitation of heart muscles, especially when taken with Hawthorn berries and Magnesium, and congestive heart failure. People with low ejection fraction also benefit from CoQ 10 therapy. Ejection fraction is the quantum of blood which one chamber of the heart pumps into another. Doctors worry if less then 50 per cent is pushed out. Congestive heart failure is a condition in which the heart is enlarged and weak, pushes blood to the lungs for oxygenation but is too weak to pump it out. In elderly people, the lungs may becomes so congested with blood that they begin to cough as an attempt by the lungs to rid themselves of this burden.

Sometimes the coughing may persist for years and fail to respond to cough medicine and antibiotics which doctors give to clear infection which follows congestion. By improving the hearts energy with the use of CoQ10, congestive heart failure is often well resolved.

Ubiquinone or Ubiquinol Two forms of CoQ10 are available, namely ubiqui (noneandubiqui(nol). Ubiquinol is the more effective and is more expensive. Some smart producers sell ubiquinone as ubiquinol to sweep the market at cheaper prices. It is always important in the CoQ10 market to buy only trusted brands.

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Free radicals are atoms or molecules without paired electrons in the outermost shell of their electrons. They are unstable, highly reactive and destructive. They steal electrons from the cells to stabilise themselves, thereby damaging these cells. In this process, holes are literally drilled into the cell membranes. This makes the cell to leak, like a car tyre tube punctured by a nail. Hundreds of thousands of free radical hits may occur on a cell in one day. The cell spends a great deal of time and energy sealing the leaks and healing its injury, with hardly any energy left for other work to safeguard its existence. In the end, it ages prematurely, may become mutated and carcerous or dies. Imagine a car tyre tube punctured many times over with its leaks sealed many times over. Soon, it becomes useless, unsafe to drive on. We cannot escape from free radical threat. We only need protection against it. Free radicals are produced by the body as waste products of its metabolism. From the outside, they come into the body with food, air and water. The body produces them when the immune system fights diseases.Diseases germs launch them against immune cells. Many of our natural foods, fruits and herbs have antioxidant and properties and protect us against free radicals. A new body of research, about which I may speak later, an antidotes to free radicals, suggests we also get free radicals from the atmosphere. Antioxidants, as negative charges, are said to come from the earth. Thus, the earth exhibits a natural balance between free radicals and antioxidants If we do not "earth"the free radical as positive charges we are receiving from the atmosphere, as we earth them with lightening or thunder catcher protection for houses, we will have lots of free radicals sooner than later. Earthling these charges naturally is achieved by walking barefoot on dew covered grass especially, says this new body of research. In the wisdom of Mother Nature Free Radicals are destroyed by antioxidants. The body produces three primary antioxidants, namely: • Glutathione • Superoxide Dismutage (SOD),and • Catalase HESE enzymes complexes are made from certain substances which may sometimes or often run short in the body biochemistry and cause a deficiency of these basic antioxidants. These foundation materials include zinc, selenium and manganese. In addition, antioxidants are available also in the form of Vitamins A,C and E. As the entire body has a general antioxidant defence system, specific organs have antioxidants specific to them even when these antioxidants have wider applications. The fat soluble vitamins A and E, for example, are found largely in fatty organs of the body such as the breast, the eyes and the brain. Alpha Lipoic Acid, another popular antioxidant, in fat and water soluble and,so,(NAC) operates in both media.

N- Acetyl Cystane, yet another antioxidant, is used alongside another antioxidant because of its tendency to generate free radicals. Antioxidants do not destroy free radicals directly. They interface between free radicals and the cells, donating themselves. In other words, free radicals steal electrons from antioxidants and, so have no need to steal from the cells. The scenario is like a war front where soldiers form a human shield around their general against enemy fire. A reverse graphic situation may look like an unprotected house invaded every day by armed robbers.

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Cancer is defeatable On August 31, CANCER DEFEATED, foundedin 2006, will start a convention in mexico to show doctors and other interested people, many cancer survivors who usedAlternative Medicines, the doctors and clinics who treated them, as well as natural foods and herbs which these cancer survivors employed in their fight for survival.

Many AMERICAN AND European doctors who have been achieving positive results with Alternative Medicine protocols that Mainstream medicine oppose in their countries find their ways to a more tolerant Mexico.

Some Nigerian readers of this column are attending the convention. An interesting part of the convention is a tour of the Alternative Medicine- using orthodox medicine clinics in Mexico where what are termedcancer survival miracles have taken place.

Dr. Oz, a leading figure in nutritional medicine, and Dr. William W. Li, M.D., president and medical director of the ANGIOGENESIS FOUNDATION,will very likely speak on ANGIOGENESIS and ANTIANGIOGENES in the battle against cancer, which many doctors in Nigeria do not give sufficient attention.Angiogenesis is the process by which blood vessels feed the cells. Cancer cells hijack angiogenesis to feed themselves. Some anti-cancer food supplements, such as Shark cartilage, prevent cancer cells from hijacking angiogenesis in a counter process called antiangiogenesis. They say, from their studies that the right kinds of foods play a great role in antiangiogenesis.The block cancer cells from feeding on the blood, surround them, shrunk them and cause their death. I will address this convention in a later column.

e-mail: femi.kusa@yahoo.com or olufemikusa@yahoo.com Tel: 08116759749, 08034004247, 07025077303

47

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

e-Business

NCC warns MTN, Glo, others over ‘unsolicited’ SMS

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HE Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has warned nine firms,including MTN and Glo, against sending unsilicited short message service (SMS) to subscribers.

It has declared as illegal the operation of those companies for not following laid down rules.

In its Commission’s Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement report for the second quarter, NCC lamented that the unsolicited SMS emanated from value added services (VAS) of the companies, adding that to have a direct engagement with VAS providers, it has

Stories by Lucas Ajanaku

developed a database of VAS providers along side their short codes.

“Warning letters have been sent to VAS providers directing that all unsolicited messages or telemarketing activities within the networks could at best be done between 8am and 8pm in line with the existing guidelines.This is necessary to ensure good consumer quality experience in the industry,” the NCC said in its latest industry updates.

According to the NCC, MTN Nigeria Communications Limited; Globacom Nigeria Limited, Up-

stream Limited, Adnol Multimedia Limited, Fun Mobile, Terragon Limited, Rancard Mobility, Mtech Ltd, Elseji, Starfish Limited, Next Generation Tele Solutions, Cloud and Mobilexcetera were identified as major providers responsible for sending these unsolicited messages.”

The NCC also identified three others, Upstream Limited, Next Generation Tele Solutions and One Communications Limited to be operating illegally as VAS firms.

NCC argued that its action was pursuant to the exercise of the powers granted it in Section 89 of the Nigerian Communications Act

2003, which mandates the Commission to monitor all significant matters relating to the performance of licensed telecoms service providers and publish annual reports at the end of each financial year.

It added that it has, therefore, developed what it described as ‘Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement strategies’to prosecute the mandate and achieve its objective of fair competition, ethical market conduct and optimal quality of service in the telecoms industry.

NCC also said LG was discovered to be marketing a total

of eight different brands of mobile phones that were not typeapproved it.

The non-type approved handsets are LG. Optimus 3D – P920, LG. Optimus Black – P970, LG. Optimus Net Dual SIM – P698, LG. Optimus pro – c660, LG. Optimus One – P500, LG. Optimus ME – P350, LG. Optimus L3 E400 and LG. Optimus L7 P700.

“Necessary enforcement process has commenced and a notice of non compliance has been sent in line with Section 133 of the NCA 2003 and Section 9 (a) of the Commission’s Type Approval Regulation 2008,” NCC added.

Lagos to host mobile apps summit

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AGOS State may soon host mobile application summit, expected to draw key players in the industry together.

With Unleasing the power of mobile application as its theme, the event is being backed by 70th Precinct and E2 Marketing.

The firm’s Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer Osamede Umweni, said: “The summit will bring together the brightest minds in mobile technology. We are gathering over 300 of the most interesting mobile app developers, investors, company executives, entrepreneurs, brand managers, policy-makers, marketers, carriers, content developers and aggregators, advertis-

ers, mobile devices manufactures and the press for a day of in-depth discussion, and powerful networking on the future of mobile applications in Nigeria.”

He frowned at a situation where local content in the mobile phone industry is less than one per cent 12 years after the revolution.

He said Gatner (a market research firm) estimates that mobile phone users will pay more than $25billion to buy ‘mobile applications’games, social networking tools, productivity and entertainment based mini programmes for mobile phones despite the fact that 80 per cent of these will be free downloads this year.

Etisalat introduces Easyblaze multi-device plan

E •From left: Executive Commissioner, NCC Okechukwu Itanyi; Executive Vice-Chairman Eugene Juwah and Director, Public Affairs Tony Ojobo addressing a press conference in Lagos.

Subscribers decry Visafone’s poor data service

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UBSCRIBERS to the data service of leading code division multpile access (CDMA) operator Visafone are angry.

They said the services offered by the telco were below standard.

Some of the subscribers who gave their dongle subscriber identity module (SIM) numbers as 07046935910, 07046915503, 07026627997, 07046915504, 07046837132 complained that they have issue with speed and connection.

They complained that since they chose the operator for data services, they have been paying for services not rendered.

“I bought the modem to ease my work. Unfortunately, I have not got the ease I was looking for when I decided to buy the modem. I am very disappointed that nothing is being done to check the execesses of the operators that promise to do one thing or the other without keeping their promises,” Chukwu, a subscriber lamented.

Another female subscriber said when she initially bought the mo-

dem, she was enjoying the services, adding that in the last seven months, the story has changed.

“I do not know what to do. I am on the N6000 bundle plan but I rarely enjoy services that are valued at N1000. The frustration is immense. In the morning, the speed does not go beyond endurance threshold but as soon as it is approaching mid day, the speeed begins to go down and finally crashes,” she said.

Others have started ditching the operator for global system for mobile (GSM) service providers.

One of them, who simply identified himself as Emmanuel, said he has bought a new modem from one of the GSM operators. “Before this operator sacks me, I have gone to buy the modem of GSM operator. Each time I have issues with the CDMA modem, I try fruitlessly to call 400. That number scarcely works. Then, I resort to the customer care line which is 200 where I will be subjected to long conversation and

music. My job does not wait on such frivolities, so the only option available for me is to opt out,” he said.

Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, said subscribers should not be made to pay for data services not rendered. ALTON is the umbrella body to which all the telecoms operators belong. He insisted that charges should be based on actual consumption but not on expiry dates as is the common practice now.

Efforts to get the management of the telco to react proved abortive as the email sent to its Chief Executive Officer, K. V. Srinivasa, was not replied. The only acknowledgement that was received came in form of a call from one Mr Lukman who wanted the identities of the modem owners listed above. Prodded to explain why it has been so, he argued that as a technical person, it was not within his mandate to speak to the press.

‘How SMEs can reduce operating costs’

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TN Nigeria has said one of the ways small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) can reduce operating costs is through the cloud technology services.

Speaking at the launch of the services in Lagos, MTN Chief Enterprise Solutions Officer Babatunde Osho, said the technology has become a key differentiator and enabler for businesses.

He said with the cloud service offer, there was a critical success factor for SMEs due to its flexibility and pay-as-you-go cost structure.

The services, he said, would enable SMEs to increase productivity and by implication, profitability.

Osho said MTN was the first telecoms operator to offer cloud services to small businesses in the Nigerian market.

According to him, the services are designed to cut costs for SMEs. He said: “It is a range of prepaid cloudbased services designed to offer human resource management, customer relationship management and other enterprise software over a secure internet connection. And this without any of the associated IT infrastructure costs.”

Osho said with the launch of the services, SMEs would be able to enjoy enterprise solutions without the usual attendant cost.

“No matter what you need, MTN

Cloud Services can help take your business to new heights. These services are available on the MTN Business Nigeria online portal, providing a one-stop shop for a range of services such as Human Resource Management, Customer Relationship Management, Sales Force Automation, Accounting and Finance, Virus and Spyware Protection, Firewall Protection, Browser Protection, and Email Protection, among others,” he said.

He pledged that the telco will continue to add value to the lives and businesses of Nigerians through delivery of tailor-made, productivity-enhancing solutions to various segments of the market across the country.

TISALAT has introduced a Multi-Device Plan to complement the Easyblaze mobile internet service.

It allows users to access the same data bundle from various devices by duplicating a primary (parent) SIM card into up to four other SIMs. These duplicate SIMs can be inserted into data-only devices such as tablets, USB modems and 3G cameras.

In a statement, Director, Business Segments at Etisalat Nigeria, Lucas Dada, explained that the plan is a solution which gives customers better control over their data, by managing their data use on multiple devices from a single source, usually their Smartphone.

“Many of our premium customers own more than one data-enabled device, and for them convenience is a priority as they go about their busy lifestyles. The idea behind this service is to ensure that they have uninterrupted access to data on all their devices irrespective of where they are,” he said.

He said to create a duplicate SIM to be used in other devices, customers should dial *215*PIN*1*new Number*newPUK# from their main line.

Alternatively, they should send the following via SMS to 215: Add new Number, 1,PIN,new PUK. For subsequent child SIMs, replace ‘1’ with ‘2’, ‘3’ or ‘4’.

Airtel, Nokia partner over Asha series

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IRTEL is partnering Nokia on the new Asha Series 501 and 210 which were recently introduced into the market to enhance the quality of products and better service delivery.

Nokia Operator Account Manager Beatrice Olumhense said the belief is that the devices are modelled to change the way consumers experience the internet as well as being able to keep in touch with what is going around.

She spoke while unraveling the qualities embedded in the new Asha series in Lagos, adding that the Asha 501 device is made of a monobody able to resist scratches as usually ex-

By Temitayo Ayetoto

perienced by mobile phone users.

The device provides consumers with ranges of bright luring colours.

“Today, we are introducing the 501 series with stunning that actually takes turn from the successful app. We know that our youths drop their phones, scratch their phones when using them for different things. Now we have made sure that these colours are scratch proof and even when you scratch, the back has a capacity torch. We have also ensured that our consumers have a choice of what colour to pick from,” she added.

Asian tech firm unveils new products

A

N Asia IT firm, Gionee Communication Equipment Company Limited, has unveiled its flagship smartphone in Nigeria christened Elife E6.

Speaking at the launch of the product in Lagos, the firm’s officials in Nigeria led by the Managing Partner, Gabriel Nwabueze, said the device is a tool for work and play.

According to him, the device has a non-removable back and uses a one glass (OGS) solution for the display where the touchscreen and protective glass are fused into one layer that makes the assembly thinner and elements on the screen also appear to be closer.

He said the smartphone is an antiscratch 5-inch OGS HD display of 1920

x 1080 pixels and 441 ppi density and running the latest Android 4.2 Jelly bean OS with a heavily customized ROM called Amigo. It weighs only 128g.

“It is powered with 1.5 GHz quad core Mediatek processor and 2 GB RAM, which is a good combination of speed to get the better experience of speed while using multiple applications at same time,” he said.

He added that the device comes with 13mega pixel (MP) rear camera with autofocus, LED flash, and BSI sensor and a front facing 5MP shooter. It has 31 GB internal (onboard) memory expandable to 64GB via microSD card. With a 2020 mAh battery, it is another best in talk time. DTS 3D stereo surround sound speaker is one of its major features.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

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THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

THE NATION THURSDAY AUGUST 22, 2013

53

NEWS

5,000 join APC From Ugochukwu UgojiEke, Umuahia

A

FORMER member of the House of Representatives and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State, Acho Obioma, has joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Obioma said he left with 5,000 supporters to “try the better alternative”.

He said: “We had our expectations which were not met in the PDP. We were left with no other alternative than to move to another party, where we feel that our aspirations will not only be met but actualised.

“I used to be a staunch member of the PDP but I have sacrificed my relationships to openly declare for the APC . “ It is our view that this party represents the positive change that residents are yearning for.

“We want to work with this new order which has a lot to offer our people because our people need a veritable platform to express their opinions freely.”

Ngige emerges Anambra APC candidate

I

MO State Governor Rochas Okorocha yesterday said the Southeast Zone has agreed that Senator Chris Ngige will be the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the November 16 Anambra State governorship election.

Okorocha made the announcement at a meeting of Leaders and Elders of the party in Abuja.

Okorocha said: “Let me say to you that in our characteristics magnanimity that our brother, Senator

From John Ofikhenua, Chioma Onyia and Odogwu Emeka Odogwu

Annie Okonkwo, will lead the campaign of Senator Ngige.”

He said the zone has resolved that there will be a primary election in accordance with the party regulation.

With Okorocha’s announcement, Okonkwo presented the candidate to the party chairman.

Ngige and Okonkwo are

from the same local government.

Okorocha said: “Our party is a party of unity. Our mission is one. Those of you leaders let sing a new and common song.

“Our mission is to save Nigerians and ensure that the political cabal that has held Nigeria hostage will never come back to power.”

The governor described the understanding as the demonstration of the spirit of unity in the party.

He urged the party mem-

bers to de-emphasise the issue of ethnicity.

But an aspirant, Godwin Chukwunenye Ezeemo, denied that he has stepped down for Ngige.

Ezeemo told The Nation that he was ready for the APC’s primaries in line with the requisites for a democratic election.

Ezeemo said: “Who told you that I have stepped down for anybody? It is unfortunate that people are spreading such rumours.

“I am ready for APC’s pri-

Monarch decries kidnap From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

T

HE Awka monarch, Obi Gibson Nwobu, has decried the kidnapping of his colleagues.

He said 80 percent of kidnap suspects had been apprehended by security operatives.

The monarchs of Awgbu in Anaocha Local Government Area and Abacha in Idemili Local Government Area were kidnapped about three weeks ago.

They were rescued by security operatives.

Two others from Adazi Nnukwu and Ihembosi have not been seen two years after they disappeared.

Oil baron kidnapped in Aba

A

N oil baron, Christopher Ezenku, popularly known as ‘Nkwu bu ego’, was on Tuesday abducted in his home at Ike Avenue by Faulks Road, Aba, Abia State.

Ezenku, an indigene of Umuoru, Uga in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, was said to have been trailed by the kidnappers.

He was snatched as he was driving into his compound.

This is the third time since 2010 that Ezenku has been kidnapped.

Police spokesman Geoffrey Ogbonna said the police were yet to receive a complaint about the incident.

From Ugochukwu UgojiEke, Umuahia

A

maries and I can authoritatively tell you now that I have not stepped down for Ngige or anybody.”

From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

Collapsed bridge cuts off communities BRIDGE has collapsed in Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State, cutting off several communities.

An eyewitness, Kalu Nwoke, said: “The incident occurred around 2.30pm, when the truck carrying asphalt got to the Nmori Bridge, as it climbed, its weight made the bridge collapse.

“The driver and two passengers came out unhurt but the bridge was damaged beyond repair.”

A civil servant, simply identified as Ijioma, from Abam in Arochukwu Local Government Area said 36 teachers, who were going for a verification exercise at Ututu Aruchukwu, were trapped.

Ijioma said residents have to pay some youths to carry them and their belongings.

The monarch of Ebem Oha, Eze Samuel Okorie, said the bridge was due for rehabilitation as it was built over 50 years.

•Ngige

Okwu sues Umeh, Shinkafi over APGA crisis

•Orji (second right) sympathising with one of the victims at the hospital...yesterday

Eight Abia PDP members die in road crash

E

IGHT members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State on Tuesday died in an accident on the AwkaEnugu Expressway.

The accident occurred at 11pm when they were returning to Umuahia from Awka, Anambra State, where they monitored the party’s ward congresses.

The 18-passenger bus, which had 16 on board, was said to have skidded off the road and plunged into a ditch.

From Ugochukwu UgojiEke, Umuahia Five passengers died on the spot. Three others died at the hospital.

Some of the bodies have been brought to Umuahia and deposited at the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia.

The driver of the PDP bus, Sunday Iroegbu, said they were driving in a convoy when the accident occurred.

Iroegbu, who sustained a minor injury on his left wrist, blamed the accident

on over-speeding of the pilot vehicle.

He said some of the vehicles were speeding at 120 kilometres per hour and above and it was drizzling.

Iroegbu said he trailed other vehicles and relied on their brake lights to keep up with them when the bus suddenly veered off the road and landed in a ditch.

The Medical Director, Dr Abali Chuku, said four victims were in a critical condition and were receiving treatment at the intensive care unit.

He called for the establishment of a trauma centre at the hospital to cater for accident cases.

The government dispatched two ambulances to Enugu to bring the survivors back to the state.

G o v e r n o r Theodore Orji visited the survivors.

The PDP Deputy National Chairman (Southeast), Austin Akobundu, declined comments, saying the party was mourning.

Police arrest aspirant for alleged certificate forgery

T

HE police in Ebonyi State have arrested a councillorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Odah Mmaduabuchi, for alleged certificate forgery and impersonation.

This followed two petitions by an aspirant, Kingsley Onu, to the Commissioner of Police and the Chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commissioner (EBSIEC), John Nkwuda.

In the petition titled: “Conspiracy, Forgery and Impersonation”, Onu alleged that the party’s State Deputy Chairman, Joseph Onwe and the councillorship candidate for Ntezi ward in Ishielu Local Government forged a West African Senior Secondary School Examination statement of result.

The petition reads: “I wish to bring to your notice act of conspiracy, certificate forgery and impersonation

From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

against Odah Mmaduabuchi, the councillorship candidate of Ntezi ward and Joseph Onwe, the PDP Deputy Chairman, who hail from Amata Ntezi Community, Ishielu Local Government Area.

“Mr. Odah did not attend

any secondary school in Ebonyi State or elsewhere in Nigeria.

“He conspired with Joseph Onwe to forge and impersonate the May/June 2008 West African Senior Secondary School Examination Statement of Result with examination number 4120810154 and Examination Center, Community Second-

ary School Agba, belonging to Odah Ogochukwu, his younger sister.”

Police spokesman Sylvester Igbo confirmed Odah’s arrest.

He said the police were still investigating the matter.

When contacted, Onwe said: “I don’t know what you are talking about.”

I’ve built 800km of roads, says Obi

A

NAMBRA State Governor Peter Obi yesterday said his administration had completed over 800 kilometres of roads since its inception in 2006.

Obi, who was inspecting the Odume layout erosion site, Obosi, Idemmili North Local Government and Minaj Road, said more roads were still being built, adding that the state has the best network of roads.

He said the fund required

From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

to complete the projects had been set aside and work would soon be accelerated on all projects.

The governor also inspected the pedestrian crossing projects between the bridge head, Onitsha and Tarzan Junction, Nkpor.

At the Uga Road Junction, Onitsha, Obi assured residents that the four projects

•Obi

would be completed before the end of the year.

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

T

HE factional chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Maxi Okwu has sued the chairman, Victor Umeh, Sani Shinkafi and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He told a Federal High Court in Abuja that he should be recognised as the authentic leader of the party.

The recognised leadership is expected to nominate candidates for the November 16 governorship election in Anambra State.

In a statement in Abuja by his Senior Media Assistant, Victor Eneh, Okwu said his lawyer, Oba Maduabuchi, filed the suit on August 18.

The statement reads: “The APGA convention and election on February 10, 2011 in Awka in which Umeh was re-elected National Chairman and Shinkafi National Secretary was by voice vote contrary to Article 18(4) of the party constitution that stipulates elections shall be by secret ballots only.

“The plaintiff also asked the court to determine whether the second defendant (Shinkafi) can still validly occupy the position of National Secretary in 2013 when the party constitution provides a maximum tenure of eight years and he was first elected as National Secretary on January 10, 2003.

“The plaintiff urged the court for an order directing Umeh, Shinkafi and all the officers purportedly elected with them to vacate their various offices as their “election” was not in accordance with Article 18(4) of the APGA constitution, which prescribes that elections shall be by secret ballot.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

54

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 21-08-13

Access Bank declares N5.7b dividend as profit drops by 20% •Earnings fail to boost market situation

A

CCESS Bank Plc yesterday said it would be distributing N5.72 billion as interim dividends for the first half of this year.

Key extracts of the interim report and accounts of Access Bank made available yesterday showed top-down declines in key performance indicators with profits before and after tax dropping by 14 per cent and 20.2 per cent respectively. Gross earnings declined by 5.3 per cent.

The interim dividend recommendation, similar to previous interim payouts in 2012, implies an interim dividend per share of 25 kobo.

The dividends would be paid on September 17, 2013 to shareholders in the book of the bank as at close of business on September 4, 2013.

The report showed that gross earnings dropped from N109.96 billion in first half 2012 to N104.13 billion in first half 2013. Profit before tax was lower at N26.09 billion as against N30.21 billion recorded in comparable period of 2012. Profit after tax slipped from N26.4 billion to

By Taofik Salako

N21.1 billion.

The six-month report further highlighted the slowdown in the banking industry, which has generally seen marginal growths in bank’s results. Access Bank is so far the first bank to show outright downtrend during the period.

Investors responded negatively to Access Bank’s earnings report, shaving off 10 kobo from its market price to close at N10.90. Mid-year earnings reports by banks and some other companies have failed to lift the moody market situation at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) as equities have largely sustained bearish market situation in recent days.

With 37 losers to 21 gainers, the preponderance of losers and substantial losses by several stocks further depressed equities yesterday. Aggregate market value of all equities dropped to N11.510 trillion as against its opening value of N11.578 trillion. The main index at the NSE, the All Share Index (ASI),

dwindled by 0.58 per cent from 36,558.50 points to 36,345.33 points.

Large-cap manufacturing and banking stocks led the downtrend. Flour Mills of Nigeria topped the losers’ list with a loss of N7.08 to close at N69.48. Guinness Nigeria followed with a loss of N4 to close at N254. Lafarge Cement Wapco Nigeria lost N1 to close at N93. Ashaka Cement dropped 74 kobo to close at N21.26. National Salt Company of Nigeria (Nascon) declined by 50 kobo to N10.70.

Guaranty Trust Bank, which this week also declared an interim dividend of 25 kobo, lost 45 kobo to close at N24.85.

Stanbic IBTC Holdings dwindled by 43 kobo to close at N16.12. E-Tranzact lost 34 kobo to close at N3.13. Red Star Express declined by 21 kobo to N4.48 while Academy Press dropped by 19 kobo to close at N1.74 per share.

Meanwhile, Glaxo-SmithKline Consumer Nigeria recorded the highest gain of 40 kobo to close at N65.40 Cadbury Nigeria followed with addition of 35 kobo to close at N51.25. Okomu Oil Palm gathered 30 kobo to close at N45 while Airline Services and Logistics chalked up 28 kobo to close at N4.28 per share.

Total turnover stood above average at 249.97 million shares valued at N1.96 billion in 5,085 deals.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 21-08-13

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

55

MONEY LINK

Credit bureau operators parley CBN on regulation

C

REDIT bureau operators are engaging the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on regulatory issues especially one that bothers on obtaining owner’s consent before an enquiry, Managing Director, CRC Credit Bureau, Tunde Popoola has said.

He told The Nation that the credit bureau policy mandating that a borrower’s consent be obtained before an enquiry is made on a debtor is affecting the business of the sector.

“We have engaged the regulator in some of these issues and we are very

Stories by Collins Nweze

positive as an industry. Part of it the ability to get data without the consent of the borrower. The rule is that you must obtain consent of a borrower before doing a search on him.

But a fraudulent borrower may not give such consent,” he said.

Popoola said there is also low awareness on the operation of the subsector, calling on the CBN to assist operators in this direction. He also said that lack of unique identification is still a big challenge in the subsector.

“You know that’s part of the issue we have as a nation. Lack of unique identification is still a serious challenge in Nigeria. As a credit bureau, the only thing we can do is what we are doing.

Keep on bringing data from various sources, and once those data are increasing, the number of people on the database is also increasing. And so, that becomes what you can work with as a mortgage bank or mortgage financial institution or even as a real estate developer,” he said.

He said competition in the sector remains healthy and is necessary to drive its growth. “Monopoly is not

Kuru applauds appointment of financial advisers for Enterprise Bank

T

HE appointment of Citigroup and Vetiva Capital Management Limited as financial advisers in the sale of Enterprise Bank Limited will be beneficial to all stakeholders, Managing Director, Enterprise Bank Limited, Ahmed Kuru, has said. The financial advisers were appointed by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).

Speaking yesterday in Lagos, Kuru, said he was happy leaving behind a better Enterprise Bank and a happier workforce. He added that he was convinced that customers will have the best deal at the conclusion of the process. “I am convinced our customers expect the best deal at the end of the day. So their expectation should be high,” he said.

Commenting further on the development of appointing financial and legal advisers for the sale by AMCON, Kuru stated that “in line with the plan of AMCON, this is obviously the last lap of the entire

process that started on August 5, 2013 when we came on board.

The Enterprise Bank helmsman also said he does not think the last lap of the process would experience any hitch. According to him, “As I have said on many occasions before now, the appointment of the advisers are part of the overall plan of AMCON. We are not being distracted by it. Rather, everything is being done to make the process go smoothly.”

Asked whether the coming of financial and legal advisers at this period has interfered with the day to day running of the bank, he replied, “No it has not. It is a well planned and transparent process involving a team: AMCON, Citigroup, Vetiva and management of the bank. So there is nowhere the interference will come within three months when the due diligence on the bank was conducted.”

good. Where you have monopoly, in any sector, it brings in inefficiency, and prices of products are always high. At CRC, our major asset is our ability to respond to customer requests and meet them. Also, we are web based and our pricing is not bad.

Popoola said the acceptance of credit bureau in Nigeria has really gone up.

Also, he said coverage of the sector has expanded.

•Popoola

Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers inaugurates mobile office

S

TANBIC IBTC Pension Managers, a member of Stanbic IBTC Holdings has deployed an innovative mobile office to serve its existing and prospective customers.

At the launch the Stanbic IBTC Pension mobile office in Lagos, the firm said the move is in line with its commitment to ensure that clients experience excellent and convenient service at all times.

The mobile office, sited on a bus, has been deployed in Lagos and will be subsequently deployed in other

Union Bank unveils ‘Bank of the Future’ prototype

U

NION Bank of Nigeria Plc has partnered with Samsung Electronics West Africa, to develop a ‘Bank of The Future’ prototype. The project is aimed at providing superior experience in financial services to both existing and potential customers of the bank.

In a statement, the bank said the initiative called ‘UnionBank’ is a pro-

totype e-branch that would completely re-design the banking hall as it is today, transforming it into a 100 per cent self-service, electronic branch. The ‘Bank of The Future’ initiative fits into the bank’s strategy to retain existing customers and attract new ones, especially the young and technologically savvy. It is being testrun at the bank’s Silverbird Galleria

DATA BANK

FGN BONDS Tenor

Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year 5-Year

35m 35m 35m

11.039 12.23 13.19

19-05-2014 18-05-2016 19-05-2016

branch, Victoria Island, Lagos.

At the unveiling of the initiative, Mr. Emeka Emuwa, Group Managing Director of Union Bank, re-affirmed that the focus of the lender was to serve its teeming customers well, and added that it would seek to leverage on the Samsung technology platforms to deliver consistent and reliable service to its customers.

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM Amount Offered ($) 350m 350m 350m

MANAGED FUNDS Initial Quotation Price N8250.00 N1000.00

NIDF NESF

OBB Rate Call Rate

Current Market 5495.33 N552.20

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

Date 28-04-2012 “ 14-04-2012

GAINERS AS AT 21-08-13

SYMBOL THOMASWY JOSBREW VONO PRESTIGE COSTAIN AIRSERVICE PAINTCOM STERLNBANK AIICO JOHNHOLT

O/PRICE

C/PRICE

0.73 1.39 0.68 0.51 1.12 4.00 1.72 2.46 0.97 1.27

0.80 1.52 0.74 0.55 1.20 4.28 1.81 2.54 1.00 1.30

EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12 Currency

INTERBANK RATES 7.9-10% 10-11%

CHANGE 0.07 0.13 0.06 0.04 0.08 0.28 0.09 0.08 0.03 0.03

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

ABCTRANS ACADEMY ETRANZACT INTENEGINS DNMEYER RTBRISCOE FLOURMILL LEARNAFRCA UNITYBNK ETERNA

O/PRICE 0.90 1.93 3.47 1.65 1.58 1.40 76.56 1.70 0.56 2.81

C/PRICE 0.81 1.74 3.13 1.49 1.43 1.27 69.48 1.55 0.52 2.63

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 0.09 0.19 0.34 0.16 0.15 0.13 7.08 0.15 0.04 0.18

Amount Demanded ($) 150m 138m 113m

CAPITAL MARKET INDEX

CUV Start %

LOSERS AS AT 21-08-13

SYMBOL

cities, and will enhance access to customers. Head of Service, Lagos State Civil Service Commission, Mr. Adesegun Ogunlewe, represented

by Executive Director, Technical, Lagos State Pension Commission, Mrs. Folashade Onanuga performed the unveiling ceremony.

Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers, Dr. Demola Sogunle, said the growing visibility will demystify the pensions subject and encourage more Nigerians to subscribe to the contributory pension scheme, thereby enhancing financial inclusion.

“We believe that this initiative which speaks of convenience and accessibility is one of our key steps towards building a legacy of exceptional service delivery where the customer is the focal point of all our activities.

This initiative will bring pension service to the doorsteps of our customers and prospective customers alike,” he said.

Sogunle said there are plans to deploy more mobile offices in various cities across the country.

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 157.46 155.73 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. 1,808.48 1,794.68 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 THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

56

NEWS

Edo NUT official accused A of age falsification

A

PROMINENT Edo State Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) official has been accused of falsifying his age.

A source in the Ministry of Education said it was discovered during the screening and documentation of teachers that the official was involved in the manipulation of his record.

Over 1,300 teachers are undergoing the screening, following the directive of the government.

Another source in the ICT unit also confirmed the NUT official’s age falsification.

He said the file was last Friday handed over to Governor Adams Oshiom-

From, Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

hole.

Commissioner for Basic Education Mr. Patrick Aguinede said the verification is part of the plans by the government to lay a solid foundation for education.

He spoke when he hosted the executive members of the NUT, Esan West Wing, in his office.

Aguinede said the exercise was not meant to victimise teachers as being alleged in some quarters, adding that civil servants in other sectors would also face a similar exercise.

He said the government

has delivered 3,500 desks/ chairs to public primary schools. Another batch of 75,000 is ready for delivery to public secondary schools.

The commissioner said the ministry has lined-up capacity training and retraining programmes for teachers during the holidays, adding that the interest and welfare of teachers in public schools remain a priority of the Oshiomhole administration.

Aguinede said he was glad that teachers have cultivated a positive attitude to their jobs, adding that he would encourage them to be more committed.

GROUP, the Nigerian Democratic Awareness Forum (NIDAF), yesterday said the decision of Inspector- General of Police (IG) Mohammed Abubakar to allow Mbu Joseph Mbu continue as the Rivers State Police Commissioner would create more crisis.

It said it wondered why the IG refused to redeploy the police boss as resolved by the National Assembly.

Rising from an emergency meeting in Port Harcourt, NIDAF said the need to maintain peace made the National Assembly to accept the voice of the majority, who called for Mbu’s removal.

The group’s National President, Comrade Obiajunwo Dike, said he was in the state to assess the crisis and his organisation’s role to restore peace.

Said he: “It is up to the IG

‘Decision on Mbu ‘ll create has a right to request the more crisis’ change of a commissioner of From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

to consider what the majority of Rivers people are clamouring for. But if he thinks allowing Mbu in Rivers State will maintain peace, as against the advice of the majority, who are pressing for the removal of the commissioner, then the people should be convinced.

“Ordinarily, a governor

Police if he realises that he is not assisting him in performing the duty of a chief security officer.

“The governor has the right to request a replacement. He has done that several times and we have joined him today to say Mbu should be redeployed.”

Comrade Dike described the political crisis as unfortunate, saying it is a bad record in the political history of the state.

PDP accuses CROSIEC of bias

T

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River State has raised the alarm over what it described as the lapses of the State Independent Electoral Commission (CROSIEC) in the conduct of the September 21 local government election.

The party’s Chairman, Mr. John Okon, addressing reporters in Calabar yesterday, said CROSIEC’s failure to publish the list of screened candidates raised fears about the commission’s ability to handle the election.

Okon said officials of the CROSIEC might play into

T

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

the hands of opposition parties, who, according to him, “have refused to do their jobs and are in a state of disarray.”

He went on: “The deadline agreed upon by the political parties at a meeting with the chairman of CROSIEC and his commissioners was July 7.

“PDP has complied by clearing its nominated candidates from the national headquarters as stipulated by the Electoral Act and the Supreme Court judgment, but we have been put in the dark as to how many parties in the state complied with this requirement as at July 7.

Family, pastor opt for out-of-court settlement

HE children and family of the late Mrs. Iziegbe Imariagbe, who was allegedly killed a few metres from her church, have opted to settle out-of- court.

The incident involved Rev. Godday Osejele of the Living God Gospel Church, Uwan, near NIFOR, Benin City.

On February 18, 2012, the deceased’s children, through their spokesman, Osaretin Imariagbe, alleged that Rev. Osejele’s church could not be exonerated from the killing of their mother.

But the cleric maintained his innocence.

The police then investigated and took the matter to court.

Imariagbe, as part of the truce, in a sworn affidavit dated July 22, repudiated the family’s earlier posi-

From, Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

tion.

The affidavit reads: “That I state and stress that the earlier rumour and gossips associated with Rev. Godday Osejele and members of his Living God Gospel Church, Uwan, near NIFOR, Benin City as being responsible for Mrs. Iziegbe Imariagbe’s death are unfounded.

“That the report to the police at Ekiadolor and police headquarters, Benin City about Rev. Goddy Osejele as a suspect was done on mere suspicion and it is hereby regretted.

“That I make this averment to clear the air of all doubts regarding the issues arising from my mother’s death in order for all parties in the matter to peacefully resolve the issues amicably without any further recourse to litigation.”

Police parade kidnap suspects

T

WO persons suspected to be the mastermind of the kidnapping of three primary school female teachers at Ekenwan village, Edo State, were yesterday paraded by the police command.

The teachers were released after spending 14 days in captivity.

One of the suspect is the

OUR ERROR

The Government of Oyo State, Water Corporation advert published on page 61 of our Wednesday, August 21, 2013 edition was meant for today, Thursday, August 22, 2013. The mix-up is highly regretted.

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

Chairman of Ekenwan Community Development Association, Morrison Oyibo, who allegedly bought the guns used for the kidnapping.

The other suspect, Ebimene Puwano, was said to have been arrested when attempting to collect his share of the ransom.

Oyibo said he bought the guns from 54-year-old Joseph Otor, a blacksmith, gun manufacturer and gun repairer.

Police Commissioner Foluso Adebanjo said the suspects were arrested immediately the teachers were released.

He said measures have been put in place to check crimes, adding that the suspects would be charged to court after investigation.

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

NEWS ‘Over 40m northerners suffer desertification’ From Olugbenga Adanikin and Jane Maha, Abuja

O

VER 40 million people are threatened by desertification in the North, the Environment Minister, Mrs. Hadiza Ibrahim Mailafia, has said.

The minister spoke in Abuja when he received a delegation of the European Union (EU) Technical Assistance Mission to Nigeria.

The delegation was led by Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Alhaji Sani Sidi.

Mrs Mailafia described the team’s mission to the country as timely, adding that it would address environmental disasters across the country.

She said the ministry was partnering the World Bank to tackle flooding through watersheds and new maps.

A statement yesterday in Abuja by the Acting Director, Press and Public Relations Unit, Nnamdi Iwuchukwu, quoted the minister as saying: “The issue of sustainability will be achieved, if the EU team and NEMA can work assiduously to find out areas they both can assist and arrange to tackle the challenges of flooding in the country.”

She hailed Sidi for the efforts his agency made during last year’s floods.

Sidi said the EU team visited the country on the invitation of NEMA and the National Planning Commission to assess the impacts of floods and provide aid to those affected during last year’s floods.

The statement reads: “The EU team, led by Mr. Kimmo Tuominen, is in the country to, among other things, identify the lessons learnt from the most recent floods; the risk assessment and mapping, focusing on hydro-geological risks and related industrial hazards; emergency planning and procedures including coordination and communication between different regional stakeholders; Information management, specifically related to forecast and alert procedures; and early warning system.”

Deliverance for first born

A

SPECIAL deliverance service to break inherited curses on first children began yesterday. Organised by House Favour Church, Egbeda, Lagos, the service, with the theme: Breaking the Curse on First Born, holds at 5pm till Friday.

A thanksgiving service will hold on Sunday at 8pm at the church auditorium at Oni Street, Egbeda, Lagos.

A statement by the chief host, Rev. Bayode Olubo, said there would be prayers for all first children to usher breakthroughs into their lives.

Olubo assured that participants would get divine interventions in their lives.

Harvest and Thanksgiving service

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HE Cherubim and Seraphim Church (Agbala Eriwa) holds its harvest and thanksgiving service on August 25 by 10am.

The ceremony will hold at 10, Kolawole Omotosho Street, Odo Isuti Road, EganIgando, Lagos.

The host, Prophetess Grace Odeyemi, said activities for the event include praise, worship and thanksgiving prayers.

57

2015 campaign: Presidency asks PDP to admit Onoja P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has directed the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State to allow Gen. Lawrence Onoja join the party.

The Nation learnt exclusively that the Presidency’s directive was handed to the Benue PDP through Governor Gabriel Suswam, who spent the better part of the last two weeks in Abuja negotiating in the face-off between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government.

Onoja, a former military administrator of Katsina State, was the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate for Benue South Senatorial Dis-

•Ex-military governor confirms planned return From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

trict in the 2011 election. He lost to Senate President David Mark.

His first attempt to return to the PDP hit the rocks when a group in his Ohimini Local Government and ward rejected him.

The Infantry General seems to have warmed his way into the heart of the Presidency through his campaign for President Goodluck Jonathan to be allowed a second term.

He was suspended from the

Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and disowned by the chairman of the defunct ACN in Benue State, Comarde Abba Yaro, for anti-party activities.

The Nation learnt that barring any last minute hitch, the defection of the General would be held next week at his Ideakpa ward in Ohimini Local Government.

To ensure his easy return to the PDP, Suswam held an expended PDP Exco meeting at the Aminu Isah Kotangora Theatre yesterday. He was ex-

pected to have also briefed members on Onoja’s planned return.

Onoja told our reporter on phone that the Presidency had directed his return to the PDP. He said the defection ceremony would hold soon.

It was learnt that the Presidency was not comfortable with Mark, who has been silent on Jonathan’s second term ambition.

The constitutional amendment seems to have cleared the Senate President to run for the Presidency in 2015.

Onoja is believed to be working for the Presidency.

He might have been returned to the PDP to checkmate Mark’s growing influence in Benue South.

•Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Corps Marshall, Mr Osita Chidoka (right) decorating Mr Ndubuisi Njoku with his new rank of Corps Commander in Abuja...yesterday. He is being assisted by Mrs Njoku.

Religious crises have become history in Plateau, say CAN, JNI

C

HRISTIAN and Muslim leaders in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State have said religious crises have become history in the area.

They said followers of both faith have resolved to live peacefully henceforth.

The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. David Bamidele, and his Jamatul Nasril Islam (JNI) counterpart, Ustaz Aminu Sadis Abdulahi, both of Jos North Local Government, spoke yesterday when the Muslin community in the area paid their Christian counterparts.

Muslims and Christians in Jos, the Plateau State capital, have been involved in religious confrontations in the last decade.

These have resulted in several deaths on both sides as well as the destruction of property worth millions of naira.

Efforts to restore peace to Jos include the imposition of a state of emergency and the establishment of the Special Task Force (STF), code-named Operation Safe Haven.

Presenting their gift to the CAN Chairman at Later Glory Church, Jos, Ustaz Abdullahi said: “The purpose of the Sallah visit is to bring the message of peace and love to all Christians in the local government and to express our happiness over the successful Sallah celebration.”

He said the love between Christians and Muslim is recognised in the holy Qur’an and demonstrated by Prophet Muhammed (SAW) in his life time.

According to him, both religions have

a long history of love and unity.

Abdullahi said: “Now that peace has finally been restored to the state, the two religions should come closer in love and harmony and make religious crises history in the local government by adhering strictly to the teaching of the Bible and the Qur’an.”

Rev. Bamidele received the gift on behalf of the Christians.

He noted that the visit and the gift were remarkable to the sustenance of the prevailing peace in the city.

Rev. Bamidele said: “I see this share of love as a proof that religious crises have become history in Jos. They shall remain history forever. If this kind of brotherly love is maintained between the two religions, there will never be religious crises again in Jos.

‘Unongo didn’t make Suswam governor’

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

T

HE Special Adviser to Benue State Governor on Media and Public Affairs, Dr Cletus Akwaya, has denied a statement by a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Paul Unongo, that he made Gabriel Suswam the governor.

Akwaya described the claim as a “tissue of lies and conjectures”.

In a statement yesterday, the governor’s aide said those familiar with Benue politics would understand the profile of Dr Unongo.

Akwaya said the polician has established a penchant for arrogating to himself political feats he never accomplished.

The statement reads: “It has been his stock in trade to claim political superstructures he never contributed in building, either as an architect, engineer or mason. “... We are, therefore, not surprised that Unongo recently boasted that he ‘made it possible for Suswam to become governor’ when, in actual fact, he was one of the aspirants defeated by Suswam in the governorship primaries of the PDP in 2006.

“Suswam has utmost respect for all the elders of Benue and, indeed, the elders of Nigeria to which Unongo qualifies at the age of 78.

“The governor is, however, grossly appalled with the bundles of lies being pushed to the public domain

by Chief Unongo in his desperation to find relevance in the politics of the state.

“Suswam wishes to state with every certainty that there was never a time he accompanied Senator George Akume to ‘beg’ Unongo for political support to the extent that Akume had to ‘lie down and beg’. Suswam insists that there was no such occasion and there was no rationale for such an act.

“Unongo was not playing the role of an elder deserving of such respect but was a co-aspirant to the PDP governorship ticket which he lost, finishing a distant eighth among the 13 aspirants in line for the ticket!

Olofa stool: Ruling house seeks execution of court judgment

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HE Olugbense ruling house of Offa in Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State has urged the Appeal Court sitting in Ilorin, the state capital, to compel the government to instal its candidate, Prince Abdulrauf A. Keji, as the Olofa.

The Ilorin Division of the Appeal Court, last month, sacked Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi of the Anilelerin ruling house as the Oloffa. The court subsequently ordered the government to instal Prince Keji as the monarch.

Following the judgment, the Anilelerin ruling house filed a motion at the same court, claiming that the native law and custom of Offa says that except an incumbent Olofa passes on, another cannot be installed.

But the Olugbense ruling house said when the former Olofa of Offa, Oba Mustapha Keji, stepped down on the di-

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

rective of the state government, he still lived in the ancient town before his death.

It alleged that the sacked monarch, in connivance with the government, was still parading himself as the Olofa.

In a-26 paragraph counteraffidavit deposed to by the counsel to the appellants, John Baiyeshea (SAN), the ruling house noted that “contrary to respondents’ deposition, there is no vacuum in the Olofa chieftaincy stool because there is already a nominated and selected candidate, which this court has directed the government to consider for appointment”.

Baiyeshea said: “I know that the judgement of this court is subsisting and valid and recognises only Prince Keji (the second respondent) as the proper person to occupy the Olofa chieftaincy

stool.”

Parts of the affidavit read: “That to make matters worse, the Kwara State government as well as the fifth and sixth respondents have jointly cooperated with the kingmaker (Shawo of Offa) to bring the integrity of this court to its lowest ebb by flagrantly disobeying the judgment of this court and bringing this court to contempt an odium in the eye of the public and the society generally.

“The Kwara State government, contrary to the judgment of this court, paraded Alhaji Gbadamosi as the Olofa of Offa, in adverts of page 29 of Saturday Tribune of August 10, 2013 and at page 5 of the Herald of Sunday, August 11, 2013.

“As a result of persistent and flagrant disobedience of this court’s judgment in similar situation, which was aided, abetted and fully supported by the Kwara State govern-

ment, Prince Joshua Aina, who was dethroned as Eletan of Etan in the state by this court but who similarly paraded himself with the active support of the state government after the judgment in circumstances similar to this application, was convicted for contempt and sent to prison by this court.

“That Alhaji Gbadamosi is guilty of misconduct in that through his agents, privies and by himself personally, he has treated the judgment of this court with impunity, contempt and utter disregard. He has been parading himself as the Olofa of Offa by driving in long convoy of cars, blowing sirens and displaying the insignia of office as Olofa of Offa.

“That in more recent times, adverts have been placed by companies owned by the fourth respondent and privies displaying and parading him as the Olofa of Offa on

the occasion of his turning 50; “That further acts of disobedience of this court’s order by the fourth respondent were committed during the recently concluded fasting period of Muslim faithful when he (Gbadamosi) paraded himself during daily Tafsir (sermons) as Olofa of Offa while still occupying the palace of Olofa of Offa; that during the Eid celebration he paraded himself by going to the praying ground with a handful of people in full regalia of Olofa of Offa as if there is no judgment of this court in existence at all.

“I know as a fact that we have everything to lose if their application is granted as we will be denied the fruit of the judgement and the applicants will not prosecute this deal timeously. They will drag, delay and defeat justice.”

58

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

NEWS APC promises 40,000MW to stop power outage pains Continued from page 2

Act so that government held data sets can be requested and used by the media and the public at large and then published on regular basis.”

On Federalism, the manifesto added: “APC will initiate action to amend our constitution with a view to devolving powers, duties and responsibilities to states and local governments in order to entrench Federalism and the Federal Spirit.”

On power, APC has pledged to generate and distribute up to 40,000 Megawatts of electricity in four to eight years.

The manifesto said: “Power is the centre-point of the development process. All other indices of development anchor on power and energy. The failure to make power supply efficient has impacted negatively on the economy. It has made the cost of production and business high and has invariably raised the cost of agricultural produce and other finished goods and services thereby thwarting the growth of our economy.

“The crisis in the power sector is one of the major causes of the present collapse of the industrial sector and the inability of small-scale industries to thrive.

To kick-start industrial growth in the country, stable and afford-

able power supply is an absolute necessity.

“The APC Government shall vigorously pursue the expansion of electricity generation and distribution of up to 40,000 megawatts in four to eight years.

The party will also work assiduously at making power available from renewable energy sources, such as coal, solar, hydro, wind and biomass for domestic and industrial use, wherever these prove viable.

As a matter of pressing priority and urgency, tackle the paralysing lapses with electric power generation, distribution and supply.

Resolve all stalemate around the reform of the power sector and develop a transparently agreed power generation and distribution milestones with clear timelines and targets.

Liberalise the monopoly of the Federal Government in power generation and supply. We shall devolve much of power and energy to the private sector.

The gas and thermal stations will particularly be encouraged to increase their supply capacities.

Alternative power sources, including hydro, solar, coal and wind energy will be explored and developed.

Regular Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) of existing facil-

ities will be done to ensure steady and uninterrupted utility supply.

An aggressive and efficient tariff/ revenue recovery system will be pursued. All avenues of waste, corruption and abuse will be checked.

Rural electrification will continue to be encouraged.

Improve management efficiency of the nation’s distribution system, improve commitment to consumer service and sensitise a national energy conservation and maintenance culture on electricity supply.

Regarding national security and defence, APC said it would decentralise the police and expand its local content to include community policing.

The manifesto said: “APC will urgently address capacity building of law enforcement agents in terms of quantity and quality as this is critical in safeguarding the sanctity of lives and property.

“Establish a well-trained, adequately funded, equipped and goals driven Serious Crime Squad to combat terrorism, kidnapping, armed robbery, militancy, ethno-religious and communal clashes nationwide.

“Begin widespread consultations to amend the constitution to decentralise the police command and expand local content by including community policing.”

“Push for more support in the

security and economic stability of the sub-region (ECOWAS) and AU as a whole and maintain a strong, close and frank relationship with the international community.

“Take renewed measures to secure our borders, which are currently too porous for effective control of…

“Take renewed measures to secure our borders which are currently too porous for effective control of unwarranted movement.

“Establish a National Coast Guard to protect our coastal waters.”

Concerning the economy, APC in its manifesto, said it would make “Nigerian economy one of the fastest growing emerging economies in the world achieving a real GDP growth averaging 10 per cent annually.

“Embark on vocational training, entrepreneurial and skill acquisition scheme for graduates along with the creation of small Business Loan Guarantee Scheme to create at least 1million new jobs every year, for the foreseeable future.

“Create additional middle-class of at least 1 million new home owners in our first year in government and 1 million annually thereafter, by enacting a national mortgage system that will lend at single digit interest rates for purchase of owner occupier houses.”

now constituted in such a manner that, if not carefully handled, would, pose the biggest challenge that this country has confronted.

“According to many reliable reports, nearly two-thirds of the over 160 million citizens of Nigeria are youth, meaning people below the age of 35 years. Unfortunately, the process of governance in Nigeria, for all practical purposes, remains impervious to the aspirations of this category of Nigerians. “ Consequently, no priority is assigned to education, job creation, entrepreneurship skills, and vocational training that would have turned our youth

into truly productive citizens.

We in the APC see engagement with the youth on the above as a strategic imperative.

At the ceremony were Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, Governors Ibrahim Gaidam (Yobe), Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Tanko Al-Makura (Nasarawa), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), ex-Governors Olusegun Osoba; John Odigie Oyegun; Niyi Adebayo; Ibrahim Shekarau; ex-Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, Alhaji Ibrahim Gandi; and Senator Chris Ngige.

Others are 165 members of the National Assembly, ex-National Chairman of ANPP Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, ex-Speaker Aminu Bello Masari, Senator Ahmed Yerima, ex-Governor Modu Ali Sheriff, Prince Tony Momoh, acting National Secretary of APC Tijjani Tumsa; exMinister of Foreign Affairs Chief Tom Ikimi, former National Chairman of ACN Audu Ogbeh, former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, ex-Minister of FCT Mallam Nasir el-Rufai and ex-Military Administrator of Lagos State Gen. Buba Marwa.

Also there were ex-National

Let’s leave Shekau’s death story like that, says Fed Govt Continued from page 2

ans not to expect a sudden end to the Boko Haram insurgency, saying some countries facing similar terrorists’ attacks have been battling with the menace for many years.

Maku said: “Every operation against a guerrilla-styled insurgency is not something that can be contained overnight. In Iraq, we are still having occasional attacks after the Americans left, just as we are having in Pakistan and other places.”

“The presumption by Nigerians is that the insurgency will end tomorrow. No. We are regaining territories; we are regaining confidence and stability. What the insurgents are doing is to go to remote places and start striking at innocent people, like they did recently at Danboa.”

The minister said the recent activities of the sect: “shows the desperation of these people”. “We must be proud of our security forces. As we clock three months of the state of emergency, the military has just announced the creation of a new division, which means that the operation would further go up from what it is.

Akande: Nigeria in near permanent trauma Continued from page 2

fication of mass women education, and Employment opportunities for all our youths.

The others are: *instituting a sustainable management of the environment; and that •Nigeria assumes its proper place in world affairs commensurate with its size and status as the leading black nation in the world.

The APC chairman unfolded the party’s programme for youths.

He said : “A large part of the APC’s agenda in particular will centre on the Nigerian youth. It is common knowledge that Nigeria’s current population is

Secretary of the ACN, Senator Lawal Shuaibu; ex-Minister of FCT Udo Akpanudohedohe, Senator Annie Okonkwo, National Publicity Secretary of CNPP Comrade Osita Okechukwu, Senator Ibrahim Lawan, Senator George Akume, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Hajiya Hannatu Musawa, Barrister Ismaila Kano, Prince Marshal Okafor, ex- National Secretary of ANPP George Moghalu, Minority Whip of the House of Representatives Samson Osagie, Deputy Minority Leader of the House Suleiman Kawu, spokesman of the youth Ismaila Kano, Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye and Festus Keyamo.

“One of the fallouts of the declaration of state of emergency is the increased confidence by members of the public to come out clearly to interface with the security forces in identifying some of the hideouts of the criminals and murderers involved in the terrorist attacks on innocent Nigerians.”

Maku claimed that “economic activities in Borno and Yobe have resumed significantly”.

Also yesterday, FEC ratified three United Nations Conventions on arms trading, hostage taking and terrorism.

Maku said: “Following a memorandum presented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olugbenga Ashiru, council ratified the Arms Trade Treaty adopted by the UN General Assembly on April 2, 2013.”

The treaty will regulate the transfer of conventional arms in order to control access by non-state actors.

Maku said the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke (SAN), also brought a memo to council for the ratification of the two other UN conventions.

The conventions are: UN Convention against Taking of Hostages adopted in December 1979, and the International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorists Bombings, adopted December in 1997.

“In order to attain and maintain global standards, the council approved the ratification/accession to the two conventions.

“The council also directed the attorney general of the federation and minister of justice to prepare the instruments of the ratification/accession of the two conventions,” he said.

The two conventions are aimed at containing the incidence of hostage taking and the heinous crime of bombings by terrorists.

Your Sexual Health & You: Novelty Tips, Questions & Answers

P

lease I need your help. I am married but I have a girlfriend. I don’t see her often except for when I am in Port Harcourt. Anyway two weeks ago, she called to say that she is four months pregnant. I nearly collapsed when I heard this and my whole world is upside down. I don’t know what to do. If my wife hears about this, my marriage is over. Please I need advice. This girl has decided that she will keep the baby. I am going crazy here – John Dear John, I have good news and bad news. The good news is that you are going to be a father in five months’ time. The bad news is that there is nothing you can do about it. There comes a time in the life of a man when he has to face the music. This is one of those times. Sorry. There is no advice or product that I can recommend to change the course of history.

So this is the part where you have to start preparing for the future outcome of this pregnancy. If you have kids already, this just means that when you make your budget for food, shelter and school fees in the near future, that would be plus one.

As for the possibility of your wife leaving you, she may or she may not leave you. Women react differently to these things.

Many women refuse to leave their husbands in times like this because for them, that will mean that the other woman has won the fight and they wouldn’t want their loss to be another woman’s gain. Whatever happens though, she will not forgive you. An ordinary affair is a bit different. In time, one might forget. But when there is a child somewhere that is not her own, she will always be reminded that her husband is a cheat.

How you manage your life from here is totally up to your natural ability at damage control. Should you tell your wife now or tell her later? I am not sure it makes much of a difference. But I will say that the earlier the better. It is one

thing to have a kid out of wedlock but to hide it for years makes it look even worse.

John I wish you luck and please stop screwing around.

Sometimes, there are consequences just like the one you are facing now – Uche Dear Mr Edochie, I am a man in my early fifties and my wife is in her late forties and our sex life has gone down. I struggle to get an erection and when achieved, it is weak. For my wife, the vagina is so loose that the needed friction for enjoyment is not there. I am very careful with drugs because of their side effects but I need help and I need your advice on products for us to use to come alive again – Okonkwo Dear Mr Okonkwo, the loss of erection is common for men your age. As we get older, our sexual functions begin to diminish bit by bit. Of course there are products that can help you but in your case, the most effective solution is an erection drug. But we normally recommend the natural ones because they are more body friendly. So you can go for Exploding Thunder supplement or Xzen 1200. They will improve your erections drastically and work for days with just one capsule. For your wife, she needs to start her pelvic exercises with Orgasm Balls. She also needs to use a vagina tightening lubricant during intercourse. Ask for Like a Virgin Tightening Gel or Tight Stuff Oriental Oil. The above products will get you sex life back to full strength and take it even higher – Uche That’s it for today. Adults in need of these treatments/novelties can call 07086754515 or 08051924159 or any other number here to order or they can order online at www.zeevirtualmedia.com.

Zee Virtual Media delivers to you wherever you are in Nigeria.

For enquiries, send your emails to custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com - Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

59

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 08023247888

Slain motorcyclist's body sparks row

Lagos’ succour for the cheated

By Uyoatta Eshiet

•Four policemen arrested as one protester dies

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AS the slain man a robber or a motorcyclist? The police say he was a robber, but his family claims he was a motorcyclist.

The police and the bereaved family are quarrelling over the death of Olamilekan Ajayi (36), who was allegedly killed during a raid on commercial motorcycle operators in Ikorodu, on the outskirts of Lagos on Tuesday.

The police have refused to release his body which is in the morgue at the General Hospital, Ikorodu, to his family.

One person was killed yesterday in a renewed protest over the police’s refusal to release the body.

Four of the policemen allegedly involved in Ajayi’s killing have been arrested, according to the State Command Public Relations Officer Ngozi Braide.

Two women, who were passing by when the incident occurred, were said to have received gun shots in their arms.

The incident happened in the Ojubode area of Ikorodu.

The deceased and father of three - Abibat, Tawa and Opeyemi, aged 10, eight and six - was said to be waiting for passengers with other colleagues at their park, off the

• The protesters ... yesterday

By Adebisi Onanuga and Jude Isiguzo

Ayangburen Road, when the police swooped on them.

It was said that the riders fled to avoid arrest and seizure of their motorcycles by the police who were out to enforce the new Lagos Traffic Law. One of the policemen reportedly shot at the fleeing motorcyclists. Ajayi was felled by the hail of bullets and died on the spot while others escaped.

Yesterday, Alaba, one of the victim's wives, was in tears at the hospital. She insisted that her husband was not an armed robber as claimed by the police.

"My husband was never an armed robber; he was well educated. He took to riding commercial motorcycle when he could not get a job after he left the higher institution.

What the police have done to him and our family is wicked," she told The Nation

‘Four of them (policemen) are in police custody, while one of them who was attacked by okada men is being treated at a hospital’ amid tears.

She accused the police of cover-up by labelling her husband an armed robber.

Braide said the late Ajayi resisted arrest by the police team in the process of enforcing the state Traffic Law. The deceased, she said, rode his bike on a restricted road, against eyewitnesses' insistence that the route where the victim was killed at Ajibode was unrestricted.

Braide, who also said the late victim's colleagues attacked the police team and injured one policeman in the process, said police authorities would investigate how a police officer who is currently receiving treatment was attacked.

Agency moves against illegal billboards

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HE misunderstanding surrounding outdoor structures in police and military formations in Lagos State may soon end as the state Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) has, at meetings, sought the understanding of stakeholders to solve the problem.

The agency's Managing Director, Mr George Noah, said: "All outdoor structures in Lagos State must be subjected to LASAA's scrutiny and approval. We are not planning to run operators out of business, but our responsibility is to ensure that every billboard in the state is fit and proper in terms of structure, illumination location and size. Many of the unipoles outlawed in the

By Dada Aladelokun, Assistant Editor

state, which are in military and police premises, must all be subjected to the same regulatory tests that other structures elsewhere in the state are being subjected to."

The issue of billboards within military formations in the state has been a longstanding dispute between LASAA and the military authorities. At a meeting with the stakeholders, Noah expressed LASAA's readiness to work with all the military stakeholders and security agencies concerned, saying: "I believe this matter can be resolved amicably on a roundtable discussion, rather than litigation."

Noah, who stressed the issue of safety and the need to avoid more cases of collapsed structures, expressed the need for integrity checks on the structures to see the appropriateness of their location; the type of the structure, ensure adherence to the guidelines governing outdoor regulation and conformity.

Army and police representatives that attended recent meetings with LASAA's management included: Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Edest Nyong; Lieutenant Colonel S.U Abubakar, Major A.B. Edet (representative of the Director of Military Hospital, Lagos); Chief Superintendent (CSP) Omolara Oloruntola and others.

• Noah with some of the stakeholders after one of their meetings

Yesterday, tension was still high in the community as the protesters engaged policemen in a battle wherever they came across them.

The riders lay siege to the hospital in solidarity with members of the deceased's family who were there to demand his corpse for burial.

Braide told reporters yesterday that the police would not release the corpse until the conclusion of investigations.

She confirmed that four of the policemen allegedly involved in the killing had been arrested. "Four of them (policemen) are in police custody, while one of them who was attacked by okada men is

being treated at a hospital,” she said.

Meanwhile, a life was lost again yesterday, while several others were wounded as protesters took to the street over the late Ajayi's killing.

The crowd stormed the Ikorodu Police Station, demanding that the alleged killer policeman be surrendered to them for jungle justice.

But Braide frowned at people taking the laws into their hands.

"Some hoodlums, led by one Azeez, stormed the Ikorodu Police Station in the morning, wearing charms. Their intention was to …burn the station down. Our men dispersed the crowd and arrested Azeez. He is currently in our custody," she said.

On the victim of the renewed clash, she said the police saw his corpse lying at the Ikorodu Roundabout and took it to the morgue.

THE Lagos State government, through the Public Advice Centre (PAC), has pledged to ensure that the rights of the indigent among cheated residents are not trampled upon by anybody or agency within the state. It, therefore, advised them not to keep quiet and die in silence.

The agency advised residents not to take any maltreatment from anybody or group and advised them to take full advantage of the free legal services offered by the state through the PAC. The advice was given during a road show organised by the centre across the state to sensitise the residents on its activities. The show, which started from the PAC office at 15, IPM Road, opposite State Secretariat Mosque, Alausa, Ikeja, covered most of the major populated areas in including Onipanu, Ojuelegba, Yaba, Oyingbo and Ajegunle.

A legal adviser with the PAC, Mrs Alisa Emilia, said the agency is a recent initiative of the state government to provide its citizens easy access to information and advice which will benefit and improve their lives.

She said PAC serves as a first port of call for citizens in distress and those seeking information on their rights and responsibilities.

Another legal adviser with the centre, Oluwakemi Campbell, said PAC is accessible to people in dire need of legal advice and those who have been socially excluded or subjected to discrimination. She said PAC handles cases involving employers and employees; landlords and tenants; single parents; unlawful detention; workmen compensation; family matters, claims, pension issues and many others.

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

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FOREIGN NEWS EU halts arms exports to Egypt, aid remains

T

HE European Union yesterday decided to suspend exports of weapons and goods that could be used for internal repression but did not halt aid programs for fear of hurting ordinary Egyptians already hit hard.

Instead, the 28 EU foreign ministers called on the military authorities and the supporters of deposed President Mohammed Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood movement to resume negotiations to avoid further bloodshed.

“It was decided ... to suspend all arms deliveries that can be used internally,” said French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius following the emergency meeting in Brussels. “We have decided to maintain our aid for the Egyptian population because it already suffers enormously,” he added.

Clashes between Egyptian security forces and Morsi’s supporters have killed hundreds of people since last week.

“We do believe that the recent operations of the security forces have been disproportionate and we’re worried about the resulting alarming number of people that have been killed,” said

J

the EU’s foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.

“We call on all sides to stop the cycle of violence, to stop the provocations, to stop the hate speech,” she said, adding that the EU “strongly condemns” the recent violence.

While the EU lacks the military muscle and longstanding ties that give the U.S. a special position in dealing with Cairo, the EU is Egypt’s biggest trading partner and a major source of aid, loans and tourists. The EU and its member states last year pledged a combined 5 billion euros ($6.7 billion) in loans and aid for Egypt.

The bloc’s decision to suspend some export licenses falls short of a full weapons embargo, but many member states including Germany and Britain have already suspended new exports to Egypt.

EU ministers shied away from more radical steps such as cutting aid programs right away or imposing economic sanctions, hoping to maintain its political leverage as a broker in the crisis by continuing to talk to both sides in Egypt, who are less suspicious of the EU than of the U.S.

Japan upgrades nuclear plant incident level

APAN is poised to declare a toxic water leak at the Fukushima nuclear plant a level 3 “serious incident,” its gravest warning since the massive 2011 earthquake and tsunami that sent three reactors into meltdown.

The country’s Nuclear Regulation Authority said the leak was expected to be classified as a level 3 incident on the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale pending confirmation from the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency.

“The current situation is at the point where more surveillance won’t be enough to keep the accidents from happening,” Shunichi Tanaka, chairman of the authority, said at a news conference Wednesday.

“Our job is now to lower the risk of these accidents from becoming fatal.”

The leak previously had a level 1 “anomaly rating” on the scale, which ranges from zero, for no safety threat, to seven, for a major accident like the meltdowns at the plant after the earthquake and tsunami.

Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO, which is in charge of the plant, has struggled to manage the vast quantities of contaminated water at the plant since the tsunami, which swamped the facility.

Water pumped out of the stricken reactor buildings is being stored in large water towers at the site.

In response to the latest leakage of 300 tons of toxic water, a TEPCO spokesman said Wednesday the company has finished removing radioactive water from a leaky tank and transferred it to another tank at the plant.

The leaky container is designed to hold as much as 1,000 tons of water, TEPCO said.

The International Atomic Energy Agency said it was aware of reports that the Nuclear Regulation Authority plans to rate the leak as a level 3 incident.

“The IAEA views this matter seriously and remains ready to provide assistance on request,” the agency said.

Scientists have pointed to high radiation levels in the waters off the plant for more than a year as evidence of problems with the company’s efforts to contain the water.

In July, TEPCO admitted that radioactive groundwater was leaking into the Pacific Ocean from the plant, even though an underground barrier was built to seal in the water, underscoring a growing sense of crisis at the site.

Fukushima tuna study finds miniscule health risks The authority said in a statement on its website that the plant “remains in an unstable condition, with various risks to be addressed, and in particular managing the issue of contaminated water as a high priority.”

Michael Friedlander, a nuclear engineer and former U.S. power plant operator, said the level 3 classification was warranted for the type of situation faced by TEPCO, but he said the risk to the public outside the plant was very low.

“This is extremely radioactive water, and it would pose a very significant risk to the workers who are going to be in a position to clean it up,” he told CNN. “It’s a very difficult situation because we don’t know exactly know where the leak is coming from.”

Egypt court orders release of Mubarak

•Mubarak

A

N Egyptian court ordered yesterday the release of ousted President Hosni Mubarak, but it is not yet clear if the ailing ex-leader will walk free after over two years in detention, officials said.

Prosecutors may appeal the order, which comes following a hearing on charges against Mubarak of accepting gifts from a state-

owned newspaper, the last case that has kept him in detention. It is not known if they will file they appeal.

The possibility of Mubarak going free is likely to fuel the unrest already roiling the country after the autocratic leader’s successor, Islamist President Mohammed Morsi, was removed in a military coup last month.

Top prison official Mostafa

Baz told the private CBC TV station that his offices will ask the prosecutors Thursday if Mubarak is wanted in other cases. If not, he would be set free.

The hearing was held in Tora prison, where Mubarak, 85, has been held for most of his detention since April 2011. Officials cited security concerns as the reason for holding it in the sprawling, tightly secured facility.

Mubarak is now on trial for the killing of protesters during the 2011 uprising against him and other charges.

He was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison last year for failing to stop the killing of some 900 protesters in Egypt’s 2011 uprising. His sentence was overturned on appeal and he is now being retried, along with his security chief and six top police commanders. His trial resumes later this

month.

He is facing a number of other corruption charges, but no other trial dates have been set.

The court officials spoke anonymously because they are not authorized to speak to the media.

Rights lawyer and judicial expert Nasser Amin said procedurally Mubarak should have been released since his sentence was overturned, but that the political circumstances may delay letting him go.

“His release will cause chaos,” he said. “It will be used by Islamists as proof of the return of the old regime.”

Egyptian authorities have continued their crackdown on Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood, arresting the group’s supreme leader and other senior figures and sending them to trial.

Horror in Syria as deadly ‘toxic gas’ unleashed

S

YRIAN anti-government activists accused the regime of carrying out a toxic gas attack that killed at least 100 people, including many children as they slept, during intense artillery and rocket barrages Wednesday on the eastern suburbs of Damascus, part of a fierce government offensive in the area.

The attack coincided with the visit by a 20-member U.N. chemical weapons team to Syria to investigate three sites where chemical weapons attacks allegedly occurred during the past year.

Their presence raises questions about why the regime which called the claims of the attack Wednesday “absolutely baseless” - would use chemical agents at this time.

Shocking images emerged from the purported attack, showing pale, lifeless bodies of children lined up on floors of makeshift hospitals and others with oxygen masks on their faces as they were attended to by paramedics. One

•100 killed by govt forces

appeared to be a toddler clad in diapers. There was no visible blood or wounds on their skin.

The reported death toll yesterday would make it the deadliest alleged chemical attack in Syria’s civil war. There were conflicting reports, however, as to what exactly transpired and the death toll ranged from a hundred to 1,300. Syria’s Information Minister called the activists’ claim a “disillusioned and fabricated one whose objective is to deviate and mislead” the U.N. mission.

France’s president demanded the United Nations be granted access to the site of Wednesday’s alleged attack, while Britain’s foreign secretary said if the claims are verified it would mark “a shocking escalation of the use of chemical weapons in Syria.”

The White House said the U.S. was “deeply concerned” by the reports. Spokesman Josh Earnest said the White

•Pro-Morsi protests continue in Cairo...yesterday

House had requested that the U.N. “urgently investigate this new allegation.”

“If the Syrian government has nothing to hide and is truly committed to an impartial and credible investigation of chemical weapons use in Syria, it will facilitate the U.N. team’s immediate and unfettered access to this site,” Earnest said.

The Egypt-based Arab League condemned the “horrific attack” against civilians and called for an investigation.

The heavy shelling starting around 3 a.m. local time pounded the capital’s eastern suburbs of Zamalka, Arbeen and Ein Tarma, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group. The intensive bombardment, as well as the sound of fighter jets, could be heard by residents of the Syrian capital throughout the night and early Wednesday.

Gray smoke hung over towns in the eastern suburbs.

Observatory director Rami Abdul-Rahman said the activists in the area said “poisonous gas” was fired in rockets as well as from the air in the attack. He said that he has documented at least 100 deaths, but said it was not clear whether the victims died from shelling or toxic gas.

The Syrian government denied the claims of a chemical weapons attack Wednesday.

“All what has been said is ridiculous and naive, unscientific, illogical and subjective,” said Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi, speaking to Syrian state television.

He said the organized media campaign was a result of the regime’s successful operations against rebels on the ground.

The head of the U.N. team in Syria to investigate previous claims of alleged chemical attacks said he wants to look into the latest claims.

Speaking to Swedish broadcaster SVT, Ake Sellstrom said the high numbers of killed and wounded being reported “sound suspicious.”

PHOTO:AP

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

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THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

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THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

NEWS

ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS (APC) MEETING IN ABUJA

•Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha (speaking) with him (From left) are his deputy Prince Eze Madumere; Senator Chris Ngige; Senator Annie Okonkwo (behind Okorocha) and other chieftains.

• Mallam Nuhu Ribadu

•Alhaji Lai Muhammed

•From left: Chief Ogbonnaya Onu; Chief Tony Momoh and Aremo Olusegun Osoba.

•From left: Governors Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun); Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) and Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo).

•Mallam Nasir El-Rufai

•Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole (right) chatting with Prof Pat Utomi

•Senator Ali Modu Sheriff

•Yobe State Governor Ibrahim Gaidam

•Senator George Akume

•From left: Chief Tom Ikimi; Malam Ibrahim Shekarau; BrigGen Buba Marwa (sitting) and Chief John Oyegun.

TODAY IN THE NATION

THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

I

F Zimbabweans had any doubt that they were going to endure five more years of Robert Mugabe, that was settled on Tuesday when the court ruled that the election of the 89-year old was free and fair.

His opponent, Morgan Tsvangirai, denounced the election as “a farce” and “a massive fraud”. Local observers said it was a sham and western powers were critical of the poll, but the African Union (AU) whose observers were led by former President Olusegun Obasanjo said it was all free and fair. In his first public speech after the rancorous poll, Mugabe, who has been in power since 1980, poured invectives on his opponents, telling those who accused him of vote grabbing to “go hang”. Tsvangirai was lucky the old man was in a good mood. Even before the voting began during his first attempt in 2008, he was given a black eye.

In Britain, a professor has just condemned Winston Churchill’s speeches as uninspiring, saying it was wrong to claim that they stirred his compatriots to beat Nazi Germany. Prof Richard Tonye, in a new book, also asserted that the Second World War leader’s “finest hour” radio address, one of his most famous, lacked impact “because many people thought he was drunk”, according to “The Mail”.

Back home in Nigeria, the barbs are flying.

All Progressives Congress (APC) Chair Bisi Akande, in a widely publicised interview, told President Goodluck Jonathan that the presidency “is not for kindergarten”. For the Presidency, that was like a jab in the stomach. Dr Goodluck Jonathan’s aides were falling over one another to reply Chief Akande. One said he should respect his age. Fine. But, is it not said that with age comes wisdom, an attribute which nobody has accused the chief of lacking? If Chief Akande believes Jonathan’s handling of some critical issues is not good enough, what is wrong in saying so? Shouldn’t a lucid presentation of facts and figures have been deployed in replying him, rather than mere abuses? The debate is on for the phrase of the year. When the verdict eventually comes, I have no doubt that “kindergarten presidency” will snatch away the prize.

The rain of blows in the Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) crisis seems to have subsided. Now, the two sides in the fratricidal war are launching verbal missiles. The other day in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Minister of State for Education Nyesom Wike told his supporters to ignore what he said they must have read in the newspapers - that his opponents asked the President to remove him as a condition for peace. He said: “I have even overstayed. If you can be minister for two years, you must thank your God.” Many sneered at Wike’s comment. They do not need to. Given the chance, how many would not want to be minister for just one month? Just one month.

Wike, who has his eyes on the governor’s seat in 2015, delivered a tirade in which he said: “We’ll make sure they will not sleep again, as they are sleeping now. They will not sleep with their two eyes closed. One eye will be open because they know there is danger.”

It was not really clear if his listeners were inspired. What seems evident is that not many residents are sleeping deeply nowadays, with the return of kidnappers, rusty ex-militants

RIPPLES 40 MILLION NIGERIANS JOBLESS–Kolade

Hello ‘OGA JONA’... are you listening?

‘Working on the theory that Nigerians have short memories, he ignored the fact that it was in June, a month before the survey that the Minister of State for Power, Zainab Kuchi, after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC), publicly declared: “We have 160 million Nigerians now and we are only giving power to 40 million of that population ’ JIDE OLUWAJUYITAN

VOL. 8, NO. 2,584

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

GBENGA OMOTOSO

EDITORIAL NOTEBOOK

gbenga.omotoso@thenationonlineng.net

•Winner, DAME Award for Informed Commentary

More barbs, please

• Nyako

• Amaechi

and other criminals from what was like a long long holiday.

Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi was a bit philosophical in his reaction to Wike’s broadside. He said: “I heard he’s going all over town, saying I didn’t appoint him; the President appointed him, but I nominated him…but, you know character doesn’t come easily; character is a very difficult thing and I am a man of character.”

Amaechi, who was hosting some Niger Delta Bishops who had earlier visited First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan to resolve the differences between the duo, recalled how it all started and concluded: “As wife of the President who is the head of the government and head of the nation, she is my mother, and you expect that as my mother she should be able to protect her son. No mother takes away a police commissioner to the detriment of her son. So when next you see my mother, please, tell her that she should try and protect her son.”

That was thought-provoking. Did the First Lady influence the posting of Police Commis-

sioner Mbu Joseph Mbu to Rivers? His tenure has been as turbulent as a flight in a bad weather, yet the authorities keep saying Mbu would not be moved, even as the National Assembly has resolved that he should leave.

Mbu himself has defended his integrity, saying he is a professional and not a politician – an assertion backed by no less a personality than Inspector-General Mohammed Abubakar. Whoever will pick the Policeman of the Year will surely have a problem choosing between Mbu and former Kogi State Police Commissioner Amanana Ababakasanga -remember him? – the one who barred Osun politicians from travelling to Abuja because, according to him, they showed no convincing reason for embarking on the trip.

Whichever way the Rivers crisis is resolved, it will be difficult to find a sarcasm that will be as biting as Amaechi’s on our dear First Lady. In other words, the first family’s spokespersons surely have their job well cut out for them.

In Imo State, Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha has dumped the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) for the APC. APGA is angry. Before one could say nna, which faction, Okorocha had been slammed with suspension. But the governor said he was not disturbed because Ndigbo’s interest is paramount in his mind. Such interest, he said, could be well served in the APC. “APC remains the best vehicle to promote the interest of our people. PDP has marginalised the Southeast and has nothing to show for all its years in power,” said the governor.

Adamawa Governor Murtala Nyako told the world why he is not at peace with PDP Chair Bamanga Tukur. He cited what he described as Tukur’s dictatorial attitude. He believed Tukur is not the best for the job, adding: “Tukur is killing PDP. He has been setting up reconciliation committees, left,

HARDBALL

D

O you sometimes imagine Nigeria to be a big circus show? Do you sometimes think you are in a banana republic that is destined to go bad anytime soon?

Are you sometimes gripped by fear that this self-acclaimed giant is bound to self-destruct by the sheer weight of its contradictions? If you are ever troubled by such pangs of worries as these, you have a great company in Hardball.

Before you begin to wonder the source of this lamentation, let me throw you this poser: are you aware that Nigeria engages in heavy importation of palm oil reaching about 500,000 metric tons annually? While Malaysia, on the other hand, exported about 24 trillion metric tons of palm oil in 2012 to the U.S, E.U, China and India, earning about •20 billion. In a period of about 40 years, Nigeria has declined from being the largest producer and exporter of palm oil to becoming a net importer. Malaysia, a small island country which supposedly got seedlings from Nigeria about five decades ago, has developed palm products into a major economic sector.

While we have remained at the primary level of crude palm oil, Malaysia has taken the reddish oily substance of African origin to unimaginable heights. Every month without fail Malaysia ships to the world millions of metric tons of not only crude palm oil but over half a dozen other improved derivatives of this product which include: RBD (Refined bleached Deo-

right and centre…without results. He has just made Umaru Dikko chairman of PDP disciplinary committee. Dikko was indicted during the military era; he would have been brought home from UK to Nigeria if not for the vigilance of the Scotland Yard Police.

Now, Tukur glorified such a character, bringing integrity problem to PDP.” Nyako, who spoke through the party’s factional secretary, went on: “We are sure many Nigerians will lose confidence in the party… .” You can say that again, sir.

Tukur has taken up the gauntlet, asking those pushing for his resignation to forget it.

“I’m not resigning,” he said in a statement he personally signed. He added: “I am not looking for anything at my age other than putting it on record that God has helped me, and then I am using the opportunities he gave me to serve the rest of Nigeria to the best of my abilities.” Fine. But, chairman, some people are wondering whether Adamawa’s governorship isn’t big enough a toy for your son.

Asked by this newspaper’s Edo State Reporter to comment on the Rivers crisis, Patrick Obahiagbon, the inimitable former member of the House of Representatives who is now the Chief of Staff to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, replied: “What are Amaechi’s transgressions? That he regularly gives vent to the collective decisions of his brother governors? That he nurses vice presidential ambition, which he has even denied? That he habilimented himself with a perfume of recusancy and not decumbency when he suspected a foul play on the oil wells that he insists belong to Rivers State? That he hobnobs with progressive governors? That he insists on the exercise of his inalienable right to recontest as chairman of the Governors’ Forum? Is this why the apparatchik and coercive apparatus of state sustained by taxpayers’ money has been arrayed against him? I see in this malodorous script the hands of Esau though the voice of Jacob and this is certainly an eschewable socio-political asphyxia cascading into a Frankenstein monster that does not dignify the Presidency and this Makosa dance must stop forthwith.” Mouthful. Indeed.

Whether they are blabbing or babbling or sneering or sniggering, our politicians are surely an exciting lot. How I wish they could keep it all at this – no cudgels, no cutlasses, guns, bombs and bullets. After all, didn’t the late songster, the weird one, Fela AnikulapoKuti, a politician in his own right – MOP, Movement of the People (you remember? ) say yabis is no case? Let the barbs fly, please.

•For comments, send SMS to 08111813080

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

The food importing giant dorised) palm oil; RBD palm olein; RBD stearin; crude PKO (palm kernel oil); processed PKO and oleo chemicals, to name a few.

These commodities are sold on the international futures mart so monthly deliveries are guaranteed as if they were minerals from the soil.

Palm oil is not the only agricultural commodity Nigeria ought to sell to the world but which she ends up buying from around the world. Tomato puree is another; she is said to import an estimated 70 metric tons at an estimated cost of N11 billion annually. Nigeria also has the capacity to produce enough rice to feed the whole of Africa but her annual rice import bill of over N500 billion is among the highest in the world. We import N217 billion worth of sugar and the N635 billion we spend on wheat is about the second highest the world over. Nigeria also imports fish, chicken, fruits and fruits concentrates, leather, textile materials among other agro-based commodities.

In the same way we have perfected the fraud of sending our crude oil abroad for refining while we import petroleum products at a premium, so are we nonchalant and lethargic about developing our agro-resources. Since the late 70s when Nigeria began to enjoy huge oil earnings, we have lived large solely on

crude oil export. Not only have we not bothered to developed even the oil sector that sustains us, we have abandoned nearly all other economic spheres. Government after government; from Yakubu Gowon to Goodluck Jonathan, not one has been able to break the mould of feeding from crude oil rent.

One cannot help but wonder what manner of ruinous governments Nigeria has had successively over the past five decades. Why is it that not one has been able to muster the grace or gift to break the spell of the crude oil curse?

For 50 years, all we have done is to earn huge petrodollars and ship same right back whence it came from through the importation of food and all sorts of junks from across the world.

To think that some of these things can be achieved by sheer executive directive or pronouncements: can’t we just declare something like, “we grow our tomatoes, or we eat no tomatoes”. We can make the same declaration for all other food commodities like rice, garri, fish, palm oil etc. Agro technology and economics have been perfected for over a century even down in Southern Africa. What is lacking is mere will and wisdom to initiate and drive change. What a great change a simply declaration from a visionary leader can make!

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