The Nation August 02, 2012

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

Seven held in Oyo N2.6b pension scam •Ajimobi orders investigation

Jonathan’s aide is surety for subsidy suspect NEWS

Page 4

NEWS

•Arisekola-Alao’s son, others get bail

Page 8

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VOL. 7, NO. 2205 THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2012

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

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Budget row: PDP chairman Tukur’s peace moves crash House rejects request for talks

FACES OF MURDER SUSPECTS

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

T

HERE is disquiet within the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the budget implementation row between the Executive and the House of Representatives.

The deepening crisis has forced the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, to write the Speaker of the House, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, for a meeting with the PDP Caucus.

But Tukur’s request could not be granted because the House is on recess.

Besides, some Presidency officials are urging members of the House to take it easy.

The House says the Executive must implement the budget fully by September or get set for impeachment proceedings against the President.

The Senate joined the row on Tuesday when it mandated its Committee on Appropriation and Finance to ensure that the Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, appears before Senators today.

According to a PDP source, Tukur’s special meeting with the party’s caucus would have prevailed on members to allow dialogue. It was also to “subtly divide” the members, it was learnt.

The party source said: “The leadership of the PDP has initiated moves to wade into the communication gap between the Executive and the House of Representatives.

“Our National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, personally wrote a letter to the Speaker of the House on how PDP caucus could assist the party to explore dialogue to resolve the matter.

“Our chairman is just interested in restoring peace; that is why the party is intervening.”

•Alhaji Tukur

Continued on Page 4

•From left: Abdullahi, Origbo, Edeh and Yakubu at the SSS headquarters in Abuja yesterday

PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

How we killed Oshiomhole’s aide, by suspects

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LI Ihade, gateman to Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s slain aide, Olaitan Oyerinde, is a boastful young man.

He boasts before his friends and associates as a lucky gateman to a man of affluence and power.

One of his townsmen, Mohammed Ibrahim Abdullahi, was always listening to the flippant Ihade with rapt attention. At a point, he found the temptation to rob the late Oyerinde irresistible.

In the evening of May 4, Abdullahi and his two comrades-in-

‘

Being a big man, we thought he was going to get his gun. So, I shot him. In truth, I shot him only once.

Raymond also shot him

From Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja

crime, Raymond Onajite Origbo and Chikezie Edeh, stormed the late Oyerinde’s 65, Second Ugbor Road, GRA, Benin City home, with the sole intention of robbing him

’

of cash and other valuables.

The suspects laid it all bare yesterday at the headquarters of the State Security Service (SSS) in Abuja where they were paraded before reporters.

Abdullahi (46) told of how they carried out the operation and why the late Oyerinde was shot.

He said: “We never had the intention of killing him. We went there just to rob him and get away. When we got there, he was relaxing in one of the seats in his sitting room with his wife and a baby in another seat.

“We commanded him to lie face down; he obeyed. We then noticed another man in the house who we also ordered to lie face Continued on Page 4

•HOUSE COLLAPSES IN LAGOS P6 •I’M INNOCENT, SAYS AKINGBOLA P11

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2012

2

NEWS BOKO HARAM INSURGENCY

Boko Haram •Carried out 136 attacks

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•President Goodluck Jonathan (left) being received by Trinidad and Tobago President George Richards and members of his cabinet at the Piarco International Airport, Port of Spain...yesterday

• President Goodluck Jonathan (fourth left) , his wife Dame Patience ( third left),President George Richards (third right), his wife, Dr Jean Jamjohn-Richards and Prime Minnister Kamlam Persad-Bissessar at a ceremony to welcome Jonathan, Senator Banabas Gemade (left) and Minister of Culture Tourism and National Orientation Edem Duke (second left), ...yesterday PHOTO: NAN

HE Boko Haram insurgent group killed 590 people last year, the United States Department of State Country Reports on Terrorism 2011 has said.

It carried out 136 attacks.

The report released in Washington on Tuesday night said the group was more vicious last year than 2010.

At a briefing to release the report, Coordinator, Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism Daniel Benjamin said Africa experienced 978 terrorist attacks with Nigeria alone accounting for about 20 per cent.

Benjamin said there was 11.5 per cent increase in terrorism attacks on the continent when compared with 2010.

He said: “Africa experienced 978 attacks in 2011, an 11.5 percent increase over the previous year. And this is attributable in large part to the more aggressive attack tempo of the Nigerian-based terrorist group Boko Haram, which conducted 136 attacks in 2011, up from 31 the previous year.”

The report noted that: • Muslim majority countries bore the greatest number of attacks involving 10 or more deaths, with Afghanistan sustaining the highest number (47), followed by Iraq (44), Pakistan (37), Somalia (28), and Nigeria (12).

• Afghans also suffered the larg-

By Olukorede Yishau

est number of fatalities overall with 3,245 deaths, followed by Iraqis (2,958), Pakistanis (2,038), Somalis (1,013), and Nigerians (590).

• Over 10,000 terrorist attacks occurred in 2011, affecting nearly 45,000 victims in 70 countries and resulting in over 12,500 deaths. The total number of worldwide attacks in 2011, however, dropped by almost 12 percent from 2010 and nearly 29 percent from 2007. Although the 2011 numbers represent five-year lows, they also underscore the human toll and geographic reach of terrorism.

• The Near East and South Asia continued to experience the most attacks, incurring just over 75 per cent of the 2011 total. In addition, Africa and the Western Hemisphere experienced five-year highs in the number of attacks, exhibiting the constant evolution of the terrorist threat.

• Africa experienced 978 attacks in 2011, an 11.5 per cent increase over 2010. This is attributable in large part to the more aggressive attack tempo of the Nigeria-based terrorist group Boko Haram, which conducted 136 attacks in 2011—up from 31 in 2010.

• Attacks in Europe and Eurasia fell 20 percent from 703 in 2010 to 561 in 2011. The greatest decline occurred in Russia where terrorist at-

How terrorists dragged Army into internal security The Army’s role is the defence of the country’s territorial integrity. But, no thanks to Boko Haram, it has been dragged into internal security and is daily evolving strategies to fight the ill, writes CONSTANCE ATHEKAME, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

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•From right: Minister of Petroleum Resources Mrs Deziani Alison-Madueke, Managing Director, Bank Of Industry Ms Evelyn Oputu and former NTA Executive Director, Marketing, Ms Grace Egbagbe at the High Level Trade and Investment PHOTO: NAN Summit on Nigeria in London...yesterday

•Registrar/Chief Executive, Advertisers’ Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), Alhaji Bello Kankarofi, Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Steven Evans, and Chairman, APCON Governing Council, Mr Lolu Akinwunmi, during Etisalat's visit to APCON

Y most accounts, the fundamental role of the army of any country is the defence of the country’s territorial integrity.

However, due to the exigencies of contemporary security challenges, soldiers are increasingly involved in internal security operations as well as peacekeeping missions abroad.

The participation of the Army in peace missions dates to the early 1960s when Nigeria contributed troops to the first-ever United Nations peacekeeping mission in Congo.

Years later, Nigeria became the fourth largest troops’ contributor to the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping missions across the globe, while contributing the highest number of troops to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) peacekeeping missions.

Observers, nonetheless, note that the Army is now playing increased roles in internal security operations in Nigeria, particularly due to the emergent security challenges induced by the Boko Haram insurgency and the campaign of Niger Delta militant groups.

However, some of the observers bemoan the involvement of soldiers in internal security operations, saying that soldiers are not trained to manage internal security crises “in diplomatic ways’’ like the police.

Aware of the apparent drawback, Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, on assumption of office, pledges to restructure the Army to enable it to adequately respond to contemporary security challenges.

Ihejirika compared the current security situation in the country to a wartime situation such as the Nigerian civil war of 1967 to 1970, which threatened the very existence of the country.

He said: “My vision is to transform the Nigerian Army into a better force that is able to meet contemporary challenges. Apart from the civil war period, at no other time in our nation’s history has the army been tasked as in the current security situation in country.”

The army chief said the current security situation necessitated a paradigm shift from conventional warfare role of the army to Counter Terrorism (CT) and Counter Insurgency (COIN) roles, among others.

Ihejirika said as part of efforts to prepare the army for its emerging roles, its personnel ought to be adequately trained and motivated.

He said: “The changes in our force structure, necessitated by the spate of security threats in the country, call for greater emphasis on functional and mission-oriented training in order to improve the Army’s operational efficiency.

“We have established a `Dog Centre’ at Ipaja, Lagos, for the training of

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2012

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NEWS BOKO HARAM INSURGENCY

m killed 590 in 2011, says U.S.

tacks were down from 396 in 2010 to 238 in 2011. In contrast, Turkey experienced a spike in terrorist attacks, rising from 40 in 2010 to 91 in 2011.

Together, Russia and Turkey suffered almost 70 percent of all 2011 terrorismrelated deaths in Europe and Eurasia.

Benjamin said: “We have been working to address the issue of insecurity in northern Nigeria. And this is a top priority for the Department. We’re concerned about Boko Haram’s activities. We’ve been engaging with the Ni-

gerian Government in particular at the highest levels to move them towards greater engagement with communities that are vulnerable to extremist violence by addressing the underlying political and socioeconomic problems in the North.

“As you know, we don’t comment on the designation process. It is a laborious process. It has to be able to stand up in court, takes a long time, and I don’t want to preview any designations or non-des-

ignations beyond that. I will point out, though, that we have designated, under Executive Order 13224, three leaders of Boko Haram.

We did that back on June 21st. And this allows us to focus on those individuals who are most responsible for violence, for threats against the U.S. and its citizens. And I think that we – that was the right move to take at the time. And if there is more on that designation, you’ll certainly hear about it.”

He said despite the death of key global terrorist figures, there is still cause to worry.

Benjamin said: “There’s no question that there is cause for concern.

I would not say that we are less safe now than we were several years ago, because the al-Qaida core was the most capable part of the organization by quite a lot, and was capable, obviously, of carrying out catastrophic attacks on a scale that none of the affiliates have been able

‘

The changes in our force structure, necessitated by the spate of security threats in the country, call for greater emphasis on functional and mission-oriented training in order to improve the Army’s operational efficiency. We have established a `Dog Centre’ at Ipaja, Lagos, for the training of dogs in explosives’ and narcotics’ detection, tracking and guard duties, while an operational `Dog Unit’ has been established at Abuja to support the Guards Brigade •Gen. Ihejirika

dogs in explosives’ and narcotics’ detection, tracking and guard duties, while an operational `Dog Unit’ has been established at Abuja to support the Guards Brigade.”

Ihejirika said the army had been rendering training assistance to the Police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

He said more than 2,000 officials of other security agencies had been trained by the army in counter terrorism and counter insurgency operations.

Besides, he noted that not less than 40 pilots and technicians of the army had been trained by the Air Force.

Ihejirika vowed that the army would go all out to protect the territorial integrity of the country, stressing that the army had always been in the forefront of all efforts to keep Nigeria as one country since her independence in 1960.

“So, when people talk about breakup, they seem to have forgotten so soon that they have an army that paid dearly to keep the country together.

“The army is still ready to pay the supreme sacrifice to keep the country as one united entity.

“So, we should forget about any talk of Nigeria breaking up; the army will never agree to that.

“However, the Army is determined to meet the citizens’ expectations in handling contemporary security challenges and we will continue to be the pride of the nation,’’ he said.

President Goodluck Jonathan, who spoke at the 2012 Army Day Celebration, held in Jaji, Kaduna State, on July 6, also conceded that the country had been facing many security challenges, particularly in the last one

‘

year.

He, nonetheless, vowed that the Federal Government would use all the available resources at its disposal to ensure the restoration of peace and stability in the country.

Besides, Jonathan said a National Counter Terrorism Policy was now in place, adding that the policy had been designed to give clear direction to the nation’s anti-terrorism efforts.

The President commended the interface between the army, the police and other security agencies in the fight against terrorism and insurgencies in the country.

Jonathan pledged the government’s continued support for the Nigerian Army in its efforts to tackle the current security challenges facing the nation.

He, nonetheless, urged the army’s leadership to “re-engineer’’ and re-

train the soldiers so as to reposition them to effectively tackle the emerging challenges confronting the nation.

Kaduna State Governor Patrick Yakowa urged the citizens, particularly politicians, to adopt the army’s spirit of togetherness, as part of efforts to engender a truly united country.

He said he observed the military’s spirit of togetherness, urging other groups in the country to emulate the soldiers’ virtue.

He said: “If we imbibe this spirit of the military it will help us greatly because it will contribute to the thing we are looking for, that is true national unity.

“To the Nigerian military, I can assure you that we are watching you and we are also learning from you.”

While commending the role the military and other security agencies

to match. So it’s a complex calculus, but I – so I wouldn’t say that it is more dangerous out there than it was.

“What I would say is that we are very concerned about the growth of the affiliates. We are working closely with partner nations around the world. In the case of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, which is I think everyone agrees is the most dangerous of the affiliates.”

in efforts to restore peace to the state, Yakowa conveyed the gratitude of the government and people of Kaduna State to the security agencies, saying that they were much obliged to the agencies.

Minister of State for Defence Olusola Obada urged the Army to be resolute and firm in efforts to tackle the current security challenges facing the country.

She pledged that the ministry would continue to give the army the necessary support, while promoting the soldiers’ welfare.

Obada noted that the army had always demonstrated its readiness to guarantee the survival of the nation’s democracy She said: “I urge you to continue to distinguish yourselves wherever you have a duty call; either within the country or outside.”

The minister commended the officers and men of the army for promoting the fulfilment of the country’s democracy and “the Nigeria project’’.

The minister added: “What I have seen so far has further reinforced my conviction that Nigeria has one of the best armed forces in the world.

“We are all proud of you — our men and women in uniform — for your combat readiness, loyalty and commitment to our country, Nigeria.”

Retired Maj.-Gen. Dave Enahoro, who delivered a lecture entitled “Using experiences of the past to address contemporary challenges of the Nigerian Army’’, underscored the army’s role in protecting the lives of the citizens succinctly.

“This is because the first duty of any social entity is to protect the lives of its members,” he added.

Sharing similar sentiments, observers note that the government’s understanding of the fundamental duty has propelled it to put in place pragmatic measures to ensure the security of lives and property in the country.

They, nonetheless, urge the government to properly fund the army and other security agencies, as part of strategies to enhance the security of the people’s lives and property.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2012

NEWS ‘How we killed Oshiomhole’s aide ’ Continued from Page 1

From left: Chief launcher, Mr Lanre Sagaya; Emeritus Prof. Olu Akinkugbe; Editor, Prof. Abolade Awotelu; his wife, Chinyere; Provost, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Prof. Akinyinka Omigbodun, and Chief Medical Director, University College Hospital, Prof. Temitope Alonge, at the launch of a book titled: “Asthma in Africa” in Ibadan…yesterday. Story on page 7 PHOTO: NAN

Jonathan’s aide is surety for subsidy suspect

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PRESIDENTIAL aide is standing surety for one of the oil marketers on trial for alleged fuel subsidy fraud before a Lagos High Court in Ikeja.

Mrs. Mariam Ali, Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Inter-governmental Relations, is standing surety for Mr. Christian Taylor, who claims to be a Sierra Leonean.

Mrs. Ali is the wife of former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman Dr. Ahmadu Ali. Ali’s son, Mamman, is also among the suspects on trial for alleged N3billion subsidy scam.

Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo on July 26 granted bail to Taylor and other co-defendants, including Mamman,

By Adebisi Onanuga

in the sum of N20million each and two sureties in like sum. One of the sureties, the court said, must be his blood relation with landed property within the jurisdiction of the court.

But Taylor, through his counsel, Mr. Toyin Pinheiro (SAN), on July 30, applied for a variation of the bail conditions.

Taylor, along with Mamman Ali and Nasaman Oil Services, is facing a threecount charge bordering on conspiracy and obtaining by false pretence.

They were alleged to have fraudulently obtained N4,461,136,798.94 from the Federal Government, purporting it to be payment un-

der Petroleum Support Fund as subsidy for the purported importation of Premium Motor Spirit(PMS) from Europe to Nigeria.

At the resumed sitting yesterday, counsel to Taylor, Mr. Kolade Obafemi, urged the court to accept “a reputable and responsible Nigerian in place of a blood relation” as surety.

Obafemi argued that Mrs. Ali is ready to stand surety for Taylor and will use her landed property in Surulere, Lagos, as part of the bail bond.

Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), for the prosecution, queried the existence of Mrs. Ali, pointing out that she had not made any deposition before the court.

Obafemi described Mrs. Ali

as a public servant and a responsible Nigerian.

“Mrs. Ali is a reputable public servant and Special Adviser to the President on Inter-governmental Relations,” he said.

The prosecution opposed the application for the variation of the bail condition on the grounds that Taylor was trying to misrepresent facts by initially claiming in his statement that he hailed from Okpe Local Government Area of Edo State and later that he was a Sierra-Leonean, when he was asked to bring a surety.

But his counsel assured the court that he would not jump bail.

Justice Onigbanjo said the essence of bail was to allow the defendant unfettered ac-

cess to his lawyers.

He then varied the bail conditions and substituted “family member” with “a reputable and responsible Nigerian, with landed property”.

Justice Onigbanjo refused to grant the bail application of Mr. Oluwaseun Ogunbambo, one of the suspects.

While the court refused bail for Ogunbambo, it set tough conditions for his accomplice, Habila Theck.

Justice Onigbanjo ordered that Ogunbambo, who is standing trial alongside Habila Theck and Fargo Energy Limited, be remanded in Ikoyi Prison, pending the commencement of his trial.

Ogunbambo, Theck and Fargo Energy Limited were arContinued on Page 60

down. Suddenly, the man (Oyerinde) jumped up and he was running towards his room.

“Being a big man, we thought he was going to get his gun. So, I shot him. In truth, I shot him only once.

Raymond also shot him.”

Origbo (26) corroborated Abdullahi’s story with a slight variation: “We did not go there to kill him. We only went there to rob. When the man started running towards his room, I shot in the air. I did not shoot at him. It was Abdullahi that shot him. After shooting in the air, I walked back to the sitting room. It was my first operation.”

A third suspect, Chikezie (30) told a similar story: “It was Saidu Yakubu (a.k.a Imam) that introduced me to Abdullahi who led the operation. I don’t know the big man’s gateman. It’s Abdullahi who knows him because they attend the same village meeting together. Before we got to the house, Abdullahi told us to blindfold the gateman so that he would not recognise him and we blindfolded him before we went upstairs. It was Abdullahi and Raymond that shot him. I did not fire any shot. We did not go there to kill him. We only Continued on Page 60

•The late Oyerinde

Fuel subsidy scam suspects get bail as EFCC arraigns five

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EPRIEVE came the way of Abdulahi Alao, son of frontline businessman, Abdul-Azeez Arisekola-Alao as Justice Habeeb Abiru of an Ikeja High Court yesterday granted him bail.

Alao and his company, Axenenergy Limited, were last week arraigned before Justice Abiru by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC).

They are facing a sevencount charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, forgery and use of false documents.

Justice Abiru granted Alao bail in the sum of N100 million, with two sureties in like sum.

He was also arraigned and granted bail alongside four others in another case before Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo of the same court last week.

The judge said the two sureties must be residents and owners of landed property in Lagos and must possess meaningful and identifiable means of income.

Furthermore, the court stopped Alao from travelling abroad without its permission.

Justice Abiru ordered Alao to deposit his travelling doc-

PDP chairman Tukur’s peace moves crash Continued from Page 1

Asked of the outcome of the intervention, the source added: “The intervention started on July 23, but we have not gone far because the House replied that its members are on recess.

“The party would have loved to hold the session during this vacation but the House said most members had gone on vacation and could not be recalled for a meeting.

“It was also indicated in the reply that the Speaker of the House was abroad on vacation.”

A member of the House, who spoke with our correspondent, said: “We heard of the party’s request from some members of the National Working Committee of the PDP, but it is surprising that the party leadership was not aware that we are on vacation.

“We are ready for dialogue but we need to iron out issues already put in the public domain by the Minister of

By Adebisi Onanuga

uments with the EFCC. Also yesterday, five suspects implicated in the fuel subsidy scam were arraigned before Justice Abiru.

The five suspects are Walter Wagbatsoma, Adoha Ugo-Ngadi, Fakuade Babafemi Ebenezer, Ezekiel

Finance, Dr.Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

“Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala accused members of the National Assembly of tinkering with the budget; we want her to lay the cards on the table. We are angry because the government has introduced blackmail into this budget row.

“By our records, constituency projects are about 2 -2.5per cent of the 2012 budget. Let the Minister of Finance come and justify how 2per cent is impeding the implementation of this year’s budget.”

Another lawmaker said Tukur’s request was suspect.

He said: “Even if we are not on recess, the budget crisis is beyond party line.

A meeting with PDP Caucus implies an attempt to divide and rule the House.

That is a wrong approach from the ruling party.

“On one hand, the Presidency is trying to open talks with the Speaker but on the other hand, PDP is wooing cau-

Olaleye Ejidele and Ontario Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited.

The EFCC on July 25 took the suspects to court but Wagbatsoma’s absence stalled the arraignment.

Justice Abiru, after listening to all these arguments, granted all the accused persons bail. The first defen-

cus members in the House to secure a comfortable majority to stave off impeachment threat.”

Following the inability of the PDP leadership to meet with the Caucus, it was gathered that the Presidency has initiated fresh lobbying of House members to give room for dialogue.

It was learnt that some top government officials, including the Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, are involved in the lobbying.

A high-ranking House member said: “Those of us around, who are yet to travel out, are under tremendous pressure from government officials.

“They have been asking us why we are fighting the President. But some of us corrected the misrepresentation by these officers that the budget row is a confrontation.

“Some of us just chose to switch off our phones when the calls were persistent.”

dant( together with Ontario Oil & Gas Nigeria Limited) received bail in the sum of N150 million and three sureties in like sum. Two of the sureties must have landed properties in Lagos and must all be resident in Lagos .

Bail was also granted the second defendant in the sum

of N100 million and two sureties in like sum. One of the sureties must have landed property in Lagos and all must be resident in the state.

Also, the third defendant was granted bail in the sum of N10 million and two sureties in like sum. One of the sureties must have landed proper-

ty in Lagos and they must all be resident in Lagos State.

The fourth defendant was also admitted to bail in the sum of N10 million and two sureties in like sum.

One of the sureties must have landed property in Lagos and they must all be resident in Lagos State.

“All the sureties must show evidence of two years tax payment and must be gainfully employed with identifiable means of livelihood. The documents of the properties should be deposited with the court registrar.

The documents should be verified with the Lagos State Land Registry.

One of the EFCC officials who participated in the investigations should be part of the document’s verification.

Justice Abiru adjourned the case till 24th October, 6th, 7th and 8th November for commencement of trial.

The judge ordered that all the accused persons should be remanded in EFCC custody, pending the fulfillment of their bail conditions.

The trial was adjourned till October 24.

ADVERT HOTLINES: 01-280668, 08070591302, 08052592524 NEWSROOM: LAGOS – 01-8962807, ABUJA – 07028105302 COMPLAINTS: 01-8930678

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2012

5

NEWS • Chairman, Onigbongbo Local Council Development Authority (LCDA), Babatunde Oke( fifth right) , his vice, Oladotun Olakanle (second left), and members of the National Council for Women Society (NCWS) led by their Ikeja chapter chairperson, Chief (Mrs.) M.A. Akiode during a visit to the Onigbongbo LCDA ...yesterday

How I identified attacker of VP’s house,

by Corporal C

ORPORAL Sani Aliyu, one of the policemen, attacked at the family home of Vice-Preident Namadi Sambo in Zaria, Kaduna State yesterday relived how he identified one of their attackers.

He spoke when Governor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa visited him on his hospital bed at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital.

The Police Corporal told the governor how he and his colleagues engaged the attackers in a gun duel.

He said he exhausted his round of ammunition and took cover in a gut-

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

ter, where one of the attackers used his riffle boot to hit him severally before fleeing.

In the process, he recognised him.

The suspect was said to have sought police permit for treatment for gunshot wound, which he allegedly sustained as a result of an armed robbery operation; but he was placed

on the bed next to the police corporal. He revealed his identity to the authorities. The suspect was immediately arrested.

The governor urged youths of Zaria and other parts of the state to emulate the youths of Rigasa and Mahuta by mobilising themselves to apprehend criminals and terrorists.

The governor, who also visited Sambo’s family house, said security

is no longer the business of government alone, but that of all Nigerians.

He urged residents of the state to be conscious and assist the security agencies to stop the incessant killings, pointing out that reporting suspicious individuals or groups to the security agents and traditional rulers for prompt action is of utmost importance to the development of the state.

He said his administration is committed to the protection of lives and property.

Commission to probe demolition T

by Fed Govt, states HE National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is to probe the demolition of human settlements in various parts of the country by federal or state authorities.

There have been allegations that due process was not followed and that vast populations have been rendered homeless and destitute.

The Commission said the authorities were also accused of over-reaching their powers with arbitrary and unjustifiable measures against poor people.

NHRC, in a statement by its Chair, Governing Council, Prof Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, said: “There are also allegations that these demolition are in preparation for the affected lands to be discriminatorily re-allocated to more well-off persons.”

Communities affected by the most recent instances of demolitions include those in the Waterside in Port Harcourt, Rivers State Mpape in the Federal Capital Territory and Makoko in the Lagos Waterfront.

Odinkalu said: “The numbers of people affected cumulatively are said to be in the hundreds of thousands or more. These allegations are serious and far-reaching.

“The National Human Rights Commission will be investigating them and this public statement is issued without prejudice to the outcome of these investigations.

“As part of these investigations, the Commission will make adequate ar-

The demolition of any settlement lays economic value and savings to waste. As a result, it must not be done lightly and can only be undertaken in strict fulfillment with the law, due process, and considerations of humane governance as mandated by Section 17(2)(c) of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution

By Joseph Jibueze

rangements to hear from both the affected communities and the agencies of both State and Federal Governments involved. The processes for these investigations will be made public at the appropriate time and will include onsite visits to the affected locations.

“Complementarily, the Commission proposes to initiate and adopt a set of guidelines against forced evictions and arbitrary demolition of human settlements in Nigeria. I appeal to both State and Federal au-

thorities to support the Commission in this objective.

“The demolition of any settlement lays economic value and savings to waste. As a result, it must not be done lightly and can only be undertaken in strict fulfillment with the law, due process, and considerations of humane governance as mandated by Section 17(2)(c) of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution.

“Where there is re-development of a demolished settlement, priority and first refusal with respect to re-allocation must be accorded to those affected by the demolition.

“As a safeguard against future allegations of forced eviction and unlawful destruction of human settlements, I shall be establishing liaison with the Federal and State Governments to offer the skills and mandate of the National Human Rights Commission in undertaking compliance, impact, and verification assessments in any location where demolitions are contemplated in due course and to enlist the participation of the Commission in monitoring all processes associated with any demolitions.”

The NHRC boss said where demolition of human settlements occurs without due process, it is regarded as forced eviction or enforced homelessness and violates the prohibition against cruel, inhuman and

•Prof. Odinkalu

degrading treatment under the 1999 Constitution.

“Few things can be as degrading as throwing a family out onto the streets without a roof over their heads.

“It could also amount to discrimination against poor people in violation of the constitutional prohibition against status-based discrimination.

Under certain circumstances, it could also be a crime of forced population transfer under certain circumstances.

“Moreover, at a time when the country confronts difficult security challenges, the demolition of human settlements has a potential to exacerbate security problems in the country,” Odinkalu said.

AIG gets marching orders on Plateau violence

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SSISTANT Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 4, Mr. Mike Zuokumor, has been directed to evolve effective security strategies aimed at addressing the security challenges in Plateau

State.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Abubakar gave the directive at a meeting with senior police officers in his office yesterday.

He said Zuokumor would be assisted in the task by the Plateau State Police Commissioner, Mr. Emmanuel Ayeni.

Abubakar urged the officers to design practical and realistic approaches to the problem.

Acording to him, internal security is a core mandate of the police and the Force should work han in hand with the various communities for effective result.

He said: “We must utilise our close affinity with local communities

From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

and stakeholder entities to intervene meaningfully in conflicts and restore peace to troubled areas in the country. You must let me know before the close of work on Tuesday, August 14, 2012, on what new things we must do to restore permanent peace to Plateau State.”

The IGP urged all the senior officers to step up operations and crime prevention efforts in all states of the federation, adding that criminal elements evolve new methods of committing crimes on a daily basis.

He said: “I will therefore not take it kindly with Commissioners of Police who stick to traditional policing methodologies which no longer yield desired results without taking new initiatives to combat emerging trends of criminal activities. Neither will I tolerate docility, incompetence and lack of capacity to drive the reform agenda of this administration by any command.”

N2b cash not found in my residence, says ex-Perm Sec A FORMER Permanent Secretary in the office of the Head of Service of the Federation, Abubakar Atiku Kigo, has denied claims that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) found N2 billion cash in his home in the wake of the police pension scam.

A statement issued yesterday by his lawyer, Yakubu Musa Argungu, said it was unfortunate that many Nigerians had already believed the story.

Argungu, who was quoting Kigo’s lead counsel, Yahaya Mahmoud (SAN), said since the false and libelous story was first reported, Kigo had vehemently denied the purported discovery of N2 billion in his house, and had challenged anyone with proof to the contrary to come forward.

He said: “This denial is also contained in a submission Kigo made to the Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service, which investigated the pension scam currently rocking the media.

“It is noteworthy that neither the EFCC, the Nigerian Police nor any other security organization in the country has ever made such report of the alleged N2 billion found. There is also no mention of such recovery in all relevant documents before the court.”

The lawyer said Kigo left the police pension office about one and a half year ago, arguing that it was inconceivable that he (Kigo) had been keeping the alleged N2 billion in his house since then.

He said: “One even wonders the amount of space which N2 billion cash would occupy, particularly in a three-bedroom house that hardly has enough space to park a vehicle in the courtyard.

“Although, it is a fact that the continued peddling of this rumour will not, by any stretch of imagination, make Malam Kigo guilty of an offence he has not committed, yet it is capable of misleading the general public into believing a story that is false, baseless and unfounded.”

Benue youths praise Suswam From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

THE President-General of the Benue Youths in Diaspora Association, Comrade Philip Agbese, has described Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam as a true friend of the people that must be supported by all Benue sons and daughters.

Agbese spoke in Abuja after a stakeholders meeting of the group held in Abuja.

He said: “We in the Diaspora must appreciate the enormous work that the governor has done in Benue State to ensure that the welfare of the ordinary people is given priority attention.

“He has proven to be a true friend of the common man. All the sonorous songs being lifted up today in Benue State is because the governor has continued to align himself with the yearnings and aspirations of the people who longed for true democracy in the state for ages and we are happy that our job as watchdogs has been made easier by Governor Gabriel Suswam.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2012

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CITYBEATS LASAA redesigns Express way THE Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA), is revamping Apapa-Oshodi Express way for outdoor advertisement. This is in line with the plan for a new signage and outdoor advertising master plan, the agency said.

LASAA’s Managing Director Mr. George Kayode Noah said;‘’this is part of LASAA’s plan to redefine Out-of-Home advertising in the state in line with the directives of Governor Babatunde Fashola. “We have developed a new design for Apapa-Oshodi stretch, taking into consideration modern and innovative outdoor structures that will compliment the environment.”

Noah added: “All outdoor practitioners whose structures have been affected particularly the spectacular types (Unipoles), have been notified of this exercise. We have engaged them on the benefits of the exercise to get their buy-in.’’

08033054340, 08034699757 E-mail:- ynotcitybeats@gmail.com

One injured as three-storey building collapses in Lagos A THREE-STOREY building yesterday collapsed around Anikantamo area of Adeniji Adele, Lagos Island, leaving a 60 year-old woman injured.

A witness, Mr. Abiodun Adedamola, said the building, collapsed at about 1 p.m.

The witness said the residential building, which was about eight years old, collapsed without any sign.

“The building just collapsed this afternoon around 1 p.m. without any signs of structural defect.

“Right inside there, some persons might be trapped, as there are tenants in the house, but we do not know the number of persons trapped,” Adedamola said.

Mr Abiodun Towolawi, a

By Jude Isiguzo

cameraman with the Lagos State Physical Planning Development Authority (LSPPDA), said they (LSPPDA officials) were returning from Ajah, when they were informed of the accident.

Mr Femi Moliki, the authority’s spokesman, confirmed that a building indeed collapsed on the Lagos Island but said the casualty figure was yet to be ascertained.

National Emergency Management Authourity (NEMA) South West Zonal Coordinator Mr. Iyiola Akande who confirmed the incident said only one woman was trapped in the building.

“Only one woman was found trapped in the building. She has since been taken to the general hospital for medical attention. We are still on ground clearing the debris, but we believe there are no casualties,” Akande said.

Meanwhile, the site had been cordoned off by security agencies working in collaboration with Lagos State officials, NEMA officials, and other emergency responders.

Officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority, Lagos State and Federal Fire Services, the Red Cross, policemen and National Security and Civil Defence Corps

personnel were seen attempting to rescue the trapped residents.

The police confirmed a 60-yearold woman sustained injuries after a three-storey residential building collapsed on the Island.

Command spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, a Deputy Superintendent said no life was lost in the incident and that police operatives from the nearby Adeniji Adele Police station area on ground to ensure that criminals do not take advantage of the situation to operate.

It was gathered that the building located at 3 Akintanmo Street, Adeniji Adele, Lagos collapsed in the afternoon.

The Nation learnt that the building which is over 10 years old had over 30 occupants.

Pensioners get N2.8b

By Miriam Ndikanwu

LAGOS State Governor, Babatunde Fashola yesterday, disbursed N2.8 billion to 464 retired public servants under the old pension scheme.

The event, the sixth Retirement Bond Certificate presentation, was held at NECA House, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.

Fashola said the government would ensure that retirees under the old pay-as-you go pension receive their entitlements regularly.

“In fact, the accrued pension rights of N2,788,368,394.27 under the pay-as-you-go scheme, have been paid into the accounts of today’s 464 retirees.

“You may now choose whether you want a programmed withdrawal provided by your Pension Fund Administrators or an annuity for life provided by licensed insurance companies selected by the Lagos State Government after rigorous screening,” he said.

KAI officials held for alleged bribe

By Jude Isiguzo

TWO officials of Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI), an environmental task force under the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment, have been arrested by the police for alleged extortion.

They were apprehended on Tuesday at the Moshood Abiola Garden, Alausa, Ikeja, following allegations that they collected bribe from a petty trader. They were arrested by policemen from Ogudu Police Station.

The trader, said the suspects threatened to deal with him if he did not give them N200,000 to allow him continue his business in the area.

He alleged that they threatened to confiscate his wares if he did not comply.

The trader said he complied to avoid seizure of his goods.

A source at the station told The Nation that the suspects are being interrogated.

The source said the suspects denied the allegation, claiming that the complainant wanted to blackmail them.

•Emergency responders at the collapsed scene... yesterday

800 delegates to attend Methodist Church conference

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HE Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Dr Ola Makinde is expected to lead about 70 Bishops, 11 ArchBishops and 800 other delegates to the 43rd bi-ennial national conference in Lagos.

It will take place at Hoares Methodist Church, Herbert Macaulay Way, Yaba, Lagos, from August 6 to 13, the host Bishop, Rt. Revd. Oladapo O. Babalola said yesterday.

Babalola who is Bishop of Lagos Mainland, along with the Lay President, Bro. Tunde Okeshola, Very Rev. Sola Ala, Vice-Chairman of the Planning Committee, Bro. Kola Ogunseitan, Secretary of the church council Bro. Tunde Awobiyi, and Publicity Secretary Mrs. Cessy Ogunnaike, briefed reporters on the forthcoming event.

The conference is expected to formulate strategies for church growth, encourage members on the need to move closer to God and renew their commitment to prayers for the continued unity, peace and progress of Nigeria, particularly at these trying times of insecurity.

The conference with the theme: “Behold I will do a new thing,” Babalola said, would open on Monday. Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola is expected to declare it open on August 9, after which the conference goes into full session for two days.

He said new priests, and other church leaders would be ordained on

By Yinka Aderibigbe

Sunday; Prelate Makinde is expected to address the nation at the conference’s closing on Monday.

Urging Nigerians to renew their commitment to the country’s unity, he said: “This is the time that we all need each other. Nigerians must be determined to live together, irrespective of the threats posed by the Boko Haram insurgence that is threatening the nation’s peace. There is also the issue of corruption, especially the fuel subsidy scam currently rocking the country. We all need to unite to fight these cankerworms destroying our continued existence; Nigerians must be encouraged to continue to love their country and do everything to support the security operatives in arresting the terrorism spreading across the northern part of the country.”

Bishop Babalola said the organising committee has made elaborate security plans.

He urged Nigerians to be more united behind President Goodluck Jonathan in the onerous task of fighting terrorism in the country, adding: “Our people should do more than they are currently doing. Let us all be more vigilant. Let us report any suspicious happening around us to security operatives, by so doing, we might be saving lives. It is the best way to collectively fight the new threat to peace and our collective existence.”

‘How I was almost killed by my estranged lover’

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LAWYER has narrated how he was almost killed by his estranged lover.

Ejigbo Peters whose office is located at Igando on the outskirts of Lagos, yesterday told The Nation how the woman who was introduced to him by his uncle, hired some assassins to kill him at his home in Salvation Army, off Governors Road, Ikotun, a Lagos suburb.

Peters said: “I came back home on the evening of July 24, with my driver. When we came in there was no light, so I sent my driver to go and buy fuel. Less than five minutes after he left, two men came into my house and when I asked them what they were looking for, they said they were visitors. I asked them to seat but they said they are not the kind of visitors that seat in peoples houses.

“I asked them what the problem was then, and the replied by asking

By Jude Isiguzo

if I know Folashade Laibi and I said yes that she was my fiancee and they asked me why I treated her the way I did and I told them that I do not understand what they were saying, they led me to my bedroom.

One of them pointed a gun at me and I moved forward and grabbed him. I fought with him until I was able to over power him and collected his gun. When the second man saw that I had overpowered him, he came to his rescue and they collected the gun from me.

“They now ordered me to move to my siting room. They asked me to seat and pointed the gun at me.

They fired several shots but the pellets were pumped into the chair that I was siting on. It was just the grace of God that I survived”, the lawyer said.

Peters said he decided to take Folashade for a blood test since they

would be getting married and it was after the result were out that they discovered that both of them were AS. “I even encouraged her to stay since technology has a way of taking care of these things, but she refused. I came home one day to discover that she had packed some of her things. The next time she came to pack her remaining things, she insited that I must be there which I did. When I came, she was threatening to deal with me and said that I will never see any good thing in my life. That was the last time we saw,” he explained.

Peter said the matter was reported at Igando Police Station and that police operatives from the station went to her shops but could not find her.

A police source at the station said she came with three lawyers some days later to say that she heard that she was been looked for.

Folashade has already been arrested and is in the coustody of police operatives at the homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba.

However, there are indications that the investigating police officers are been offered money to release the suspect. A family source to the victim told The Nation that the suspect has already offered N300,000 to the police to let her go.

The complainant who is already worried over the development, has called on the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubarkar, to call his men to order and ensure that a proper investigation is coducted and the suspect charged to court.

Police sources at Igando police station where the incident was reported told our reporter that they recovered 126 pellets from the victim’s home.

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 2 , 2012

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NEWS

Ehindero, Obaniyi urge court F to quash charges ORMER Inspector-General of Police Sunday Ehindero yesterday urged the High Court in Maitama, Abuja, to strike out the criminal charge against him.

This is in response to a charge brought against Ehindero and a former Commissioner of Police on Budget, John Obaniyi, by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

In the six-count amended charge, the anti-graft agency alleged that Ehindero and Obaniyi conspired between May and November 2006 to defraud the police of N557 million.

The amount, the ICPC al-

leged, was donated by the Bayelsa State Government for the purchase of arms/ ammunition and riot control equipment.

ICPC further alleged that the interests that accrued from the “corrupt transaction” were converted into personal use by the two suspects.

At the resumed hearing before Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi, Ehindero’s counsel Benson Igbanio, in a preliminary objection, challenged the competence of the charge.

Igbanoi also challenged the competence of the ICPCcounsel, Paul Bassi, to appear in the matter.

He claimed that Bassi had no authority to represent the commission in the matter.

The counsel said it was an exclusive preserve of the Attorney-General of the Federation.

Igbanoi also challenged the jurisdiction of the court to hear the suit.

Obaniyi’s counsel Abraham Odariko agreed with the objections raised by Ehindero’s counsel.

Odariko urged the court to quash the charges levelled against his client for want of jurisdiction.

He argued that the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000, which the anti-graft agency was using to file the charge, was null and void.

But Bassi said Ehindero and Obaniyi were arraigned on an amended six-count charge.

The ICPC counsel urged the court to use the exhibits and materials the ICPC provided in determining whether or not the anti-graft agency had a prima facie case against the suspects.

Justice Oniyangi adjourned the matter till September 21.

Power upgrade at MM2

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HE manager of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2), Lagos, Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), is starting a multi-billion naira power enhancement project at the terminal.

The first phase of the project, which will sustain alternate power supply to the

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), begins on Monday. It will last for about 60 days.

A statement by the company’s spokesman, Steve Omolale-Ajulo, said the first phase involves the upgrade of the capacity of two of the fourunit generators supplying power to the terminal.

NIPOST workers threaten strike

By Dada Aladelokun, Assistant Editor

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IGERIAN Postal Service (NIPOST) workers have threatened to go on strike at the expiration of the two-week ultimatum they gave the Federal Government over unpaid salaries.

In a statement yesterday, the President, Senior Staff Association of Communications, Transport and Corporations (SSACTAC), Daniel Apeh, said the awry development was caused by the failure of the Integrated Personnel and Payment Information System (IPPIS), the firm engaged by the Federal Government.

“The affected members had their names erroneously omitted from the IPPIS list; hence, for three months now they have wallowed in hunger, including those who are fasting.”

Paramilitary status for park rangers

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HE Federal Government is to confer paramilitary status on park rangers.

The Minister of Environment, Mrs. Hadiza Ibrahim Mailafia, broke the news at the inauguration of a Steering Committee on the Commercialisation of National Parks, in Abuja.

From Olugbenga Adanikin, Abuja

The committee is expected to review and update any policies existing on forestry, wildlife and ecotourism; to articulate fresh policies on the conservation and protection of National parks and development of ecotourism in parks.

50m die of asthma annually From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

F •The chairman of the Occasion, Prof Jerry Gana (left), the Director General, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Prof . Epiphany Azinge and the Guest Speaker, Chief Edwin Clark, during the Institute’s second State of the Federation lecture in Abuja... yesterday PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

Power supply’ll improve this year, says Jonathan

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday promised improved power supply before the end of the year.

The President gave the assurance during a meeting with members of the Nigerian community in Trinidad and Tobago, where he is on a state visit.

“There will be a significant improvement in the power sector before the end of 2012,” he said.

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

The President also promised Nigerians of his government' resolve to fight corruption.

He said Nigeria will honour the Air Services Agreement between it and Trinidad and Tobago.

The President said the agreement, which covers direct flights between the two countries, will come

into operation.

The Nigerian community called on the President to intervene in the $21,000 bond paid by Nigerians to the government of Trinidad and Tobago as a precondition for obtaining visa.

The request was brought before the President when Jonathan met with Nigerians living in the country.

Jonathan said he would ensure that an agreement is reached on the issue.

This, he said, would form part of the bilateral talks, between him and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

The President assured his audience that his administration would address all challenges and ensure that relations between the two countries are strengthened.

The Nigerian High Commissioner, Musa Jon Jen, said over 30 Nigerian professors and 400 doctors and nurses work in the country.

Okonjo-Iweala on UN global development panel

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NITED Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has named the Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, as a member of the 23 High-level Panel to advise on the global development agenda beyond 2015.

Ban, in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in New York, said 2015 is the target for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Members include Fulbert Amoussouga of Benin, Vanessa Corrêa of Brazil, Yingfan Wang of China, Maria Holguin of Colombia, JeanMichel Severino of France, Horst Kohler of Germany, Naoto Kan of Japan, Queen Rania of Jordan, Betty Maina of Kenya and Abhijit Banerjee of India.

To appear before Senate today From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

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HE Presidency has confirmed that Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala will appear before the Senate today.

The Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, said her appearance will help to douse the tension over budget performance.

He said the finance minister was prepared to brief the Senate accurately on the budget performance.

The Senate had summoned Mrs Okonjo-Iweala to appear before a public hearing by the Joint Committee on Appropriations and Finance on the Budget 2012 implementation last Tuesday.

The minister did not show up at the public hearing because she was on an official trip to London to represent President Goodluck Jonathan at an investment forum.

This irked the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who decried the development.

He said budget performance should take precedence over any other assignment.

Maku spoke to State House Correspondents shortly after the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by Vice President Namadi Sambo.

Others are Andris Piebalgs of Latvia, Patricia Espinosa of Mexico, Paul Pol-

man of the Netherlands, Elvira Nabiullina of the Russian Federation, Graça

Machel of South Africa, Sung-Hwan Kim of the Republic of Korea, Gunilla Carlsson of Sweden, Emilia Pires of Timor-Leste, Kadir Topbas of Turkey and John Podesta of the U. S and Tawakel Karman of Yemen.

The Secretary-General’s Special Advisor on Post2015 Development Planning, Amina Mohammed, will serve in an ex-officio capacity.

The High-level Panels’ three co-chairs are President Susilo Yudhoyono of Indonesia, President Ellen Sirleaf of Liberia, and British Prime Minister David Cameron .

“I have asked my Highlevel Panel to prepare a bold, yet practical development vision to present to Member States next year,” Ban said.

IFTY million people die of asthma annually.

This was announced yesterday at the University College Hospital, Ibadan during the presentation of a book, Asthma in Africa.

The author, Prof Abolade Awotedu, an asthma patient, lost his son to the disease .

According to the reviewer, Prof Olusola Awoniyi , 10 million people affected by the disease die in Africa yearly.

He encouraged prolonged breast feeding to prevent the disease in children.

The causes of asthma, Awoniyi added, include smoking, cockroaches and inhaling mosquito treated net and hereditary factor from parents who smoke.

Mahama nominates VP

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HANAIAN President John Dramani Mahama has chosen Central Bank Governor Kwesi AmissahArthur as his vice-president.

The decision means AmissahArthur is likely to line up alongside Mahama as his running

mate after the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) party said it would name him as its candidate in an election due at the end of the year.

Mahama took over as Ghana’s president last week when President John Atta Mills died unexpectedly.

Nigerian wins education award

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From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

N educationist, Muyiwa Bamgbose, has emerged the world’s ninth best innovator in electronic learning.

The information was conveyed on the website of the rating agency, Bob Little Public Relations of the United Kingdom, in its third annual, top 10 e-learning movers and shakers in the world.

According to the statement, Bamgbose joined the league of the world’s best 10 shakers and movers in e-learning for the second time. He was 10th last year.

Bamgbose is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Educational Advancement Centre (EAC), Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

He changed the learning system in Nigeria last year when he came up with an electronic learning method that delivers contents of subjects to mobile telephones of candidates preparing for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME).

Leha replaces Haruna HE Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the elevation of Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Philemon Leha to Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) to fill the vacancy created by the death of DIG John Haruna in a helicopter crash earlier in the year.

Eight other Commissioners of Police were promoted to Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG).

The officers are: Christopher T. Dega; Aliyu Musa; Bala Has-

T

From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

san; Mohammed J. Abubakar; Tambari Y. Mohammed; Ibrahim Abdu; Julius A. Ishola; and Alex Emeka Okeke (AIG Medical Services).

A statement by the spokesman for the PSC, Ferdinand Ekpe yesterday said 32 Deputy Commissioners of Police were elevated to Commissioners of Police ; 91 Assistant Commissioners of Police were elevated to Deputy Commissioners of Police.

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2012

8

NEWS Osun Assembly checks Public Service Pension records

Okupe ‘is right choice’

By Wale Adepoju

A POLITICIAN, Chief Babatunde Fadun, has said the selection of Dr Doyin Okupe as the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Public Communication in the Presidency is a good development.

In a statement, the politician noted that the reintroduction of the post is a good omen for Nigeria.

Fadun said Dr Okupe is better suited for the post, which was created by the former President Olusegun Obasanjo, than any other person.

He described Dr Okupe as a consummate and experienced politician, a mature and efficient communicator.

The politician said his two-year stint as presidential spokesman under Obasanjo was successful because he craftily used words without offending anyone.

“I am very sure the President will not regret his choice of Dr Okupe for the crucial image-making assignment,” Fadun added.

•Director quizzed

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• Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufa’i (left) and Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, at the matriculation of pioneer students of the Federal University Dutse, Dutse.

Amosun opens N120m plant

Police hold seven as Oyo unravels N2.6b pension scam

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

EFFORTS by the Ogun State Government to bring investors to the state have yielded dividends. Governor Ibikunle Amosun yesterday inaugurated a N120million asphalt plant.

The governor said his administration would continue to partner and encourage genuine investors and entrepreneurs to create wealth, ensure economic stability and employment generation.

The ultra-modern First August Asphalt Plant, a subsidiary of First August (Nigeria) Limited, is located at Kilometre 8, Olabisi Onabanjo Way, Abeokuta.

Its Managing Director Mutiu Adebowale said the plant would employ 105 workers, adding that the project is located in Ogun State because of its emerging status as a “leading investment destination in the country”.

Abeokuta Club celebrates at 40 THE executives of Abeokuta Club yesterday unveiled activities marking its 40th anniversary.

The chairman of the Anniversary Committee, Chief Adeniyi Lasaki, said the club would hold a special meeting, prayers and a discourse.

In a statement, Lasaki said the club would celebrate the landmark on its actual birthday - August 5.

According to him, though the anniversary programmes would last a day, a commemorative fanfare would be held early November.

He said Sunday’s prayers will be led by the Bishop of Egba Diocese (Anglican Communion), Rev. Daisi Adekunle, and the Chief Imam of Egbaland, Alhaji Liadi Orunsolu. It will hold at the club’s premises at 1pm.

HE Osun State House of Assembly yesterday checked the records of the State Bureau of Public Service Pension.

For over two hours, the 26member Assembly quizzed principal officials of the bureau, including its Coordinating Director, Mr. Oluwagbemiga Olaosun, for allegedly flouting the Assembly’s directive.

The House Committee on Finance and Appropriation directed Olaosun to furnish the parliament with detailed information on the Contributory Pension Scheme Fund in the state.

Speaker Najeem Salaam said the director allegedly treated the Assembly with contempt by failing to comply with the official directive it communicated to him on June 15.

The letter was said to have been written by the Chairman of the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation Committee, Kamil Oyedele.

Salaam accused Olaosun of

HE Oyo State Police Command yesterday detained seven of the eight suspects arrested over the N2,608,398,709.29 pension scam the state government discovered at its Local Government Service Pensions Board.

The suspects are being held at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in Ibadan, the state capital.

Police spokesperson, Mrs Olabisi Clet-Ilobanafor, told The Nation that the Secretary of the board, who went on a two-week leave, has refused to return to work.

She said the police would track him down.

The police spokesperson also said the board’s Treasurer, a retiree, is on Umrah (lesser Hajj) and was being expected.

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•Ajimobi orders thorough probe From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

The pensions board’s Chairman Lasisi Ayankojo said an interim investigative report into the board’s account, between September 2010 and March last year, indicted 10 civil servants.

He said the police were holding eight of the suspects while two others have fled.

The board chairman explained that following the receipt of the committee’s report, the board met Governor Abiola Ajimobi, who ordered the board to get to the root of the scam.

Ayankojo said the board discovered the fraud following complaints by local government workers and retired teacher, who said the govern-

ment had failed to pay their pensions.

He said the board set up a committee to examine the retirees’ complaints, adding that the committee discovered that some civil servants’ intermediaries working in the commission collected funds but never remitted same to the pensioners.

Ayankojo said the money was collected via issuance of cheques to the affected civil servants in their names, rather than through e-payment into the accounts of the pensioners.

He said this made the fraud to sail through easily.

The board chairman said a former Executive Secretary and Director of Finance and

Administration of the board, between September and November 2010, withdrew by cash N680,430,646.69 from the Local Government Staff Account meant for pensioners.

They also withdrew N1,353,868,062.60 from the Teachers’ Account of the board.

Ayankojo said the two officers have fled.

According to him, the two officers of the board, alongside seven other top civil servants of the board, collected N173,800,000 from the pensioners’ accounts between September 2010 and March last year.

He alleged that another worker at the Account Department of the board at various times withdrew N401,300,000.

Man held in Oyo for lover’s death

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HE Oyo State Police Command has arrested a man, Kunle Yakubu, over the death of a 21-year-old health worker, Miss Tolu Esuola, in Oyo town, Oyo State.

It was learnt that the lady was badly burnt and found dead on her bed.

Miss Esuola was trained at the School of Health Technology in Osun State.

She was said to be preparing for work at the Momoh Hospital, Oyo town, on July 24, when her room caught fire.

The fire, which razed two adjoining rooms in a twowing bungalow at Akeetan Baale Compound, started around 10.30pm.

But it was learnt that the fire was not noticed until about 11pm.

It was learnt that the body of the deceased, the daughter of Mr Femi and Mrs Juliana Esuola, allegedly showed that her hands were tied with cables and

From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

the neck had the knot of a burnt-out rope.

This aroused the suspicion that she might have been murdered.

The neighbours reportedly said they did not hear any scream from her room a n d that the deceased might have been sedated before she was tied with cables and possibly strangled.

Tolu was said to be the only occupant of the building that night because her mother and other siblings had travelled to a village

and the father was also away in Ogbomoso, where he works.

The other three rooms were reserved by the owners of the house for brief stays whenever they were in town.

Kunle reportedly lodged a complaint at the Ojongbodu Police Station, saying he was accused of killing Tolu.

He was believed to be her lover, though unknown to her parents until a misunderstanding allegedly happened between them.

Though he claimed to be in Minna, the Niger State

capital, when Tolu died, it was learnt that the police are holding him to assist their investigations.

Kunle has been transferred to the Homicide Section of the Iyaganku Police Division in Ibadan, the state capital, for further interrogation.

Police spokesperson Mrs Olabisi Clet-Ilobanafor confirmed the incident.

She said the suspect claimed that he had no hands in Tolu’s death.

According to her, the police cannot establish a case until ongoing investigations are concluded.

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

sending wrong information to the House when he acted on its directive, after a letter of reminder.

Appearing before the House with his Principal Administrative Officer and the Accountant, Olaosun was asked to explain how the bureau has been managing the pension fund.

The Speaker said checks on the bureau’s files were necessary to prevent official abuse, like that of the Police Pension Fund and others.

After debating the matter, Salaam said Olaosun’s action contravenes Section 129 of the 1999 Constitution (as Amended), which empowers a House of Assembly to probe the activities of any government agency or parastatal.

The Speaker explained that the probe is not to witchhunt anybody, adding that the parliament is only interested in putting the records straight in the interest of the residents.

He urged the House Committee on Public Accounts to further probe the matter and verify Olaosun’s claims that since he became head of the bureau, early this year, no case of fraud has been established against him.

Private sector denies threat to quit Ogun

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HE Organised Private Sector (OPS) in Ogun State has dismissed reports that its members are threatening to quit the state because of unfavourable business environment.

The state Chambers of Commerce, Mines, Industry and Agriculture (OGUNCCIMA) said the report is false and embarrassing.

The Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, said 54 investors have signified interest to invest in the state in the last one year.

Addressing reporters in Abeokuta, the state capital, OGUNCCIMA President Bayo Ikujenyo said the report was a fabrication and misconception of what transpired during the chamber’s facility tour of some industries in the state.

Ikujenyo expressed shock that a company chief, who was quoted by some papers, did not grant any interview during the tour, in line with his company’s policy.

The OGUNCCIMA chief urged reporters to desist from fabricating stories to enhance their media houses’ integrity.

Ashiru expressed shock at the report, saying information at his disposal indicated that the industries were happy operating in the state.

Oyo is ‘choicest’ destination for agric investment, says governor

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YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has said the state is among the choicest destinations for investors who are interested in agriculture in Nigeria.

The governor said his administration would

provide incentives to attract investors.

Ajimobi spoke at the final day of the New World Nigeria Investment Forum in London, the United Kingdom (UK) alongside his Ekiti State counterpart, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; the

Minister for Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga; Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi; Ogun State Deputy Governor Segun Adesegun.

Ajimobi said his administration has

identified five priority areas in the state’s quest for investment.

These are agriculture, transport and infrastructure, manufacturing, small and medium enterprises, solid minerals, culture and tourism and power.

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2012

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THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2012

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NEWS

Robbers kill bus driver

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OME fleeing armed robbers yesterday killed an unidentified commercial bus driver on the Ogun State stretch of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

It was learnt that the hoodlums were fleeing from the police after a botched robbery at Sapade Junction on the expressway.

The driver was reportedly hit by bullets from the AK 47 rifles and other weapons from the 10-man gang when the police were chasing them.

The robbers were said to have ambushed travellers on

•Injure three in Ogun

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

the road, but a detachment of policemen from the Ishara Division, Ogun State, dislodged them.

The bus driver was said to have lost control, crashing the vehicle into the bush. Three of his passengers were injured.

The Sector Commander, Ogun Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Ayobami Omiyale, said the driver of the commercial bus,

with registration number (Lagos) XZ271FKJ, was hit by bullets.

He said: “The robbers shot sporadically at the driver and he swerved into the bush. He died, with three passengers injured and in critical conditions.”

Omiyale said the body of the driver has been deposited at the morgue of the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTH) in Sagamu.

The injured are receiving treatment at the same hospital.

Police spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi said the robbers were injured during a gun battle dwell with the police.

He said Police Commissioner Ikemefuna Okoye has directed the Ishara Divisional Headquarters to fish out the robbers.

“Apart from the directive that they must produce the perpetrators within 24 hours, the police commissioner was very angry that the incident took place in the first place,” Adejobi said.

Akeredolu urges youths to submit CV •Candidate to create 30,000 jobs in 100 days

•Akeredolu

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NDO State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship candidate Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) yesterday urged youths in the state to submit their credentials to his campaign office in Akure, the state capital.

In a statement by the party’s Director of Media, Publicity and Strategy, Mr Idowu Ajanaku, the ACN candidate said the move is in line with his campaign promise to create 30,000 jobs in his first 100 days in office, when he becomes governor.

It said the former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President gave the directive at the beginning of his ward campaign in Akoko Southwest Local Government Area.

The statement reads: “In furtherance to my promise, I urge youths with qualified papers to submit their curriculum vitae (CV) to my campaign office in Akure. A special desk has been created for it.

“I am determined to take our youths riding Okada (commercial motorcycles) out of the streets, if elected in October, by the special grace of God. It has been done in Osun, Oyo and Ekiti; Ondo State will do more because we are richer than those states.”

Akeredolu said road network would be a major pillar of his administration.

According to him, roads will be constructed in Akoko to open up the area for development.

He said: “Akoko is a pride of Ondo State. It is unfortunate that despite the fact that the Deputy Governor Ali Olanusi is from the area, the entire Akokoland has been neglected by the

Olusegun Mimiko administration.”

The ACN standard bearer promised massive economic development through the establishment of small scale industries and revamping of industries the Mimiko administration has abandoned.

Akeredolu said: “This is a government of abandoned projects. The dualisation of Owo-Akure and the OndoAkure roads, the events centre, otherwise known as the Dome, the new stadium, among many others, have been abandoned. Our government will not be like that.”

He urged the people of Akoko Southwest to vote for ACN, to enable them enjoy what other Southwest states are enjoying under the ACN.

Lagos council poll: Tribunal adjourns till August 9

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HE Lagos State Local Government Election Petition Tribunal yesterday adjourned a dispute between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) till August 9.

Its chairman, Justice Francis Owobiyi, adjourned further hearing in the matter, following his ruling on the application for a change of counsel by the third respondent, Dr Augustus Arogun, the chairman of Agbado Oke Odo Local Council Development Area (LCDA).

But the new counsel, Mr.

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•ACN, council chief appeal ruling

By Emmanuel Oladesu Deputy Political Editor

Kunle Adegoke, said the matter would be appealed at the Lagos High Court.

The lawyer explained that any proceeding of the tribunal that shuts him out is a nullity.

He said: “We are appealing the ruling on the change of counsel at the Lagos High Court. The tribunal has refused the application for a change of counsel. Anything that is done in that tribunal after today is a nullity in law. The implication is that the third respondent, Dr

Arogun, has been denied a counsel of his choice.”

The PDP chairmanship candidate, Chief Busari Ayinde, is contesting the victory of Dr. Arogun, the ACN candidate, who was declared winner by the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) headed by Justice Fatai Adeyinka (rtd).

Arogun applied for a change of counsel from Mr. David Adeyemi to Mr. Kunle Adegoke, relying on Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution. But counsel to Ayinde, the PDP can-

didate, Chief Ayo Odugbesan, objected to the application.

He said it would frustrate the petition and the petitioner as well as delay the course of justice.

Odugbesan, who cited Order 48(2) of the High Court of Lagos Civil Procedure Rules 2004 and Section 61(1) of the local Government Election Tribunal Law, averred that time was of essence.

He urged the tribunal to dismiss the application.

But Adegoke said the points of law which Odugbesan raised are not in his written address.

Funeral for The Punch MD’s mum

HE mother of Mr Ademola Osinubi, the Managing Director of The Punch, Chief Victoria Olawunmi Osinubi, is dead.

She was 91.

A statement yesterday said Mrs Osinubi died on June 11.

A commendation service will hold on August 15 at Methodist Church Nigeria, Fakorede Street, Shomolu, Lagos, at 10am.

A service of songs will hold same day between 5pm and 7pm at Hoare’s Memorial Methodist Cathedral, Sabo, Yaba, Lagos.

There will be a wake on August 17 at Methodist Primary School, Imososi, AgoIwoye, Ogun State, between 5pm and 7pm, while the funeral service and interment will hold on August 18 at Methodist Church Cathe-

dral, Imere, Ago-Iwoye at 10am.

A reception will take place at Methodist Primary School, Imososi, Ago-Iwoye.

The late Mrs. Osinubi is survived by Mrs. Oluyemisi Jaiyeola, Dr. Abiodun Osinubi, Mr. Olusegun Osinubi, Dr. Titilola Benedict, Mr. Ademola Osinubi, Mrs. Oladunni Taiwo and Mrs. Anuoluwapo Odumosu.

•The late Mrs Osinubi

Our quarry not located near school, says company

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CONSTRUCTION company, Stoneworks Industries Limited (SIL), yesterday said its quarry is not located near the Federal Government Girls’ College (FGGC), Akure, the Ondo State

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

capital.

The firm was reacting to a report, which urged the Minister of Education, Prof.

Ruqqayat Rufa’I, to stop the

company because it is located a few metres to the college.

In a petition to the minister

by Mr. Sola Obayemi and Mr. Bayo Ogundupe, concerned parents, said the activities of the quarry firm, if not sus-

pended, might result in a disaster.

But in a statement by its Managing Director, Safe Oluwafemi, the company said the construction company is not located near the school.

Egba chief, 13 others win SUVs in MTN promo

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N Egba High Chief, the Aro of Owu, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Chief Henry Oluwole Taylor, is among the 14 winners of a brand new Hyundia ix35 sport utility vehicle (SUV) in the fourth prize presentation of the ongoing MTN Goodwill Automania. The draws were drawn in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, on

July 26.

Seventy-two-year-old Taylor said he recently lost a car to robbers but God has miraculously replaced it with a better one through MTN. Hes aid: “I will forever remain grateful to MTN for this life-changing experience. Ironically, I was initially discouraged by my people when I was playing

this game. I did not know that God wanted to replace my car, which I lost to armed robbers recently. Today, God has used MTN to replenish my life in a very great way.”

The other winners include Charles Igboamalum, a Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) staff from Abakaliki, Ebonyi State; Annette DavidWest from Bayelsa State; Pros-

per Nkwocha, from Aba; and Betiang Paulius Ushuta, from the Office of the Head of Service, Abuja.

The expressed gratitude to MTN for keeping to its promise.

Nkwocha, a lecturer at Harvard Wilson College of Education, Aba, was philosophical in expressing his joy.

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2012

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BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

You will be surprised that we have some of these tractors in this country but they are all obsolete or need refurbishment. So if we have the arrangement to provide the spare parts and workshop where the tractors can be repaired when they set spoilt, then we are making sense..

- Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, Minister of Agriculture

Naira eases on importers’ dollar demand

Tribunal orders TSKJ II to pay N5.75b to FIRS

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HE naira eased against the dollar on the interbank and the bi-weekly foreign exchange auction on yesterday as strong demand for the greenback from importers exerted pressure on the local currency.

The naira closed at N160.90 to the dollar on the interbank market, compared with Tuesday’s close of N160.80.

Dealers said the market had adjusted to the reduction in the net open position for lenders announced last week by the apex bank.

The bank last week raised the cash reserve requirement for lenders in Africa’s second-biggest economy to 12 per cent from 8 per cent and reduced net open foreign exchange positions to one per cent from 3 percent to support the naira.

Dealers said the local unit of Chevron sold $24 million to some lenders on Wednesday, which was not enough to support the currency.

Dealers said most importers had brought forward their obligations to take advantage of the initial appreciation in the naira due to the central bank’s policy measures meant to strengthen the currency, thereby adding to dollar demand.

“We see the naira crossing the 161 mark to the dollar level in the coming days if NNPC (state-owned energy company) does not come to the market soon,” another dealer said.

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil - $123.6/barrel Cocoa - $2,686.35/metric ton Coffee - ¢132.70/pound Cotton - ¢95.17pound Gold - $1,800/troy ounce Rubber - ¢159.21pound MARKET CAPITALISATIONS NSE JSE NYSE LSE

-N6.503 trillion -Z5.112trillion -$10.84 trillion -£61.67 trillion RATES Inflation -12.6% Treasury Bills -7.08% Maximum lending-22.42% Prime lending 15.87% Savings rate -2% 91-day NTB -14.18% Time Deposit 5.49% MPR -12% Foreign Reserve $34.6b FOREX CFA 0.2958 EUR 206.9 £ 245 $ 156.4 ¥ 1.9179 SDR 241 RIYAL 40.472

• From left: Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi; Mallam Sanusi, and Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, at the summit in London ... yesterday.

PHOTO: AYODELE AMINU

Sanusi: We’ll sell Akingbola’s property if...

T HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) could sell the property of the erstwhile Managing Director of the defunct Intercontinental Bank Plc, Erastus Akingbola to defray the N164billion he allegedly stole.

CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, who stated this yesterday in London on the sidelines of the Nigeria Business and Investment Summit, however, hinged such step on a condition – if the court gives such a ruling.

“We have a ruling for N164billion against Akingbola. This means that we could sell his assets to recover the money, if the court says so,” he stressed, adding: “So, if he doesn’t have that (funds to be refunded), we will sell everything he has to get that, subject of course, to a court ruling.”

In a ruling delivered in London in the case against Akingbola on Tuesday, Mr Justice Burton ordered Akingbola to refund N164billion, being proceeds of Unlawful Share Purchase Scheme and fund misappropriation and converted into personal use.

The court held that Akingbola devised and oversaw the implementation of the strategy to buy the bank’s shares and told lies that he did not know that the

• I’m innocent, says Akingbola

I

N a statement on the UK judgement, the media aide to former Intercontinental Bank chief, Erastus Akingbola, Charles Nwagwu, said: “We are disappointed with the judgment, which is at variance with all evidence at the hearing. Our lawyers have, therefore, been instructed to pursue an appeal of the judgment as well as consider all further legal options.

“May we also clarify that the judgment did not order Dr Akingbola to pay any sum of money as at today, contrary to claims in the media reports.

“This civil case in London is the fourth variant of the various cases in the Nigerian courts emanating from the forceful take-over and subsequent sharing of the assets of Intercontinental Bank and the ruthless suppression of any opposition.

“Dr Akingbola restates his innocence and is determined to clear his name. He remains confident that the judicial system will eventually vindicate him.”

By Ayodele Aminu Group Business Editor, in London

bank was buying its own shares. Besides, it was discovered that shortly before the implementation of the strategy to increase the bank’s share price with the intent of benefiting from the unethical and illegal scheme, Mr Akingbola had borrowed N9.3billion to purchase a large quantity of the bank’s shares for himself.

The court also held that the illegal share purchase scheme substantially contributed to the collapse of the

erstwhile Intercontinental Bank Plc. Commenting on the London court’s ruling, Sanusi said the verdict will send signals to other bank CEOs that depositors’ funds should not be tampered with.

He said: “That you steal money and bring it back does not change the fact that you stole something. So, this is a civil case where we are getting back the wealth.

If we get a conviction, he gets convicted for stealing and that is different from repaying the money.”

He said the London ver-

dict has also vindicated the apex bank, which after its investigation had declared that Akingbola took money from the bank (Intercontinental Bank) to fund lots of property in the UK. Sanusi said: “Akingbola also took the bank’s money to repay private loans that his company has taken and huge amount that were practically a share scam.Depositors’funds were used to purchase the share of Intercontinental Bank and to manipulate the price of those shares.

“And prior to getting into this process, he had borrowed N9 billion to acquire a large chunk of the bank so he can benefit from the manipulation of the prices. So, the court found out this was a major cause for the collapse of Intercontinental Bank and this was the reason I removed him and filed the case.”

Akingbola had already paid nine million pounds to Access Bank.

Akingbola is also facing trial in Nigeria for charges bordering on theft as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting him and his wife for allegedly stealing depositors’money totalling N47 billion.

The particulars and evidence used by the British court are the same as those at the Lagos High Court.

Why interest rate remains high, by CBN chief

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S long as Nigeria remains an import dependant country and economic leakages left unblocked, interest rate would continue to be high, Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, has said.

Sanusi disclosed this at the Nigeria Business and Investment Summit, entitled: New World Nigeria: The world’s most vibrant market. He was responding to a question on the high interest rate regime in the country.

Inflation rate that mirrors interest rate rose from 12.7 per cent in May to 12.9 per

By Ayodele Aminu, Group Business Editor, in London

cent in June; CBN benchmark interest rate, which determines that rate that banks lend is 12 per cent, while the average lending rate is about 22 per cent depending on the risk profile of the borrower.

Returns on investment in the bonds market, where the Federal Government borrows to meet its obligations, is as high as 16 per cent – a development, which the Finance Minister, has said has decried was too high and unsustainable.

Sanusi said CBN cannot bring down interest rate except leakages in the economy, such as oil theft, fiscal dominance are massive importation plugged.

“Every CBN Governor desires lower interest rate but this can only be possible if there is stable macroeconomic environment,” he said.

Noting that monetary policy is just one component of the economic policy, the Governor said interest or exchange rate alone cannot cure all the economic problems.

“There is a limit to how

far you can pursue fiscal dominance or dominance from external shocks or the dominance from the banking system stability issues.

You can have an inflation target or price stability objectives, but that of price stability objectives depends on certain fiscal conditions. If the government spends too much money, you find out there will be inflation.

“You have high inflation because of the combination of monetary and structural conditions and you can’t just address that through purely monetary means.”

HE Abuja division of the Tax Appeal Tribunal (TAT) yesterday ordered TSKJN to pay N5.14 billion ($35,938,087) as tax liabilities to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

Hon. Nnamdi Ibegbu (SAN), the Acting Chairman of the Tribunal, made the order following an appeal by TSKJN, challenging the FIRS Tax assessment in a contract for the construction of Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG).

Ibegbu also awarded N300, 000 against the TSKJN as cost of the three appeals decided in favour of FIRS. The company (TSKJN) had filed three separate appeals with suits No TAT/ABJ/ APP1010/2008, TAT/ABJ/ APP/006/2006 and TAT/ ABJ/APP/017/2010 before the tribunal.

In the appeal to the Tax Appeal Tribunal by TSKJ II against the FIRS assessment, the company challenged FIRS refusal to amend its assessments for 1997-2002 and additional assessment raised by the Service and $550, 556.74 tax liabilities for 2008 and 2009 tax years among others.

In the first ruling on TSKJ II appeal of FIRS assessment for 1997-2002, the Tax Appeal Tribunal upheld FIRS assessment that TSKJ II is to pay $ 16, 688, 267 as tax. Bright Igbinosa supported by Patricia Gata represented FIRS in the appeal.

Also, in the second ruling yesterday -representing assessment years for 2006, 2007, and additional assessment for 2008, the court upheld FIRS assessment of $19, 249, 820 million.

Alison-Madueke defends PIB • ‘New fiscal regime will boost production’ From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

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HE Minister of Petroleum Resources and Chairperson,Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, has described the draft Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) as a viable document capable of boosting the oil and gas industry in Nigeria.

The Bill was recently sent

by President Goodluck Jonathan to the National Assembly.

She spoke at a High Level Investment Summit in London organised by the Ministry of Trade and Investment and the Bank of Industr (BoI).

Mrs. Alison-Madueke, in a paper entitled: Investment opportunities in Nigeria’s downstream oil and gas value chain, called on investors to take advantage of the enormous opportunities the proposed oil industry reform law has to offer.

The NNPC Acting Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr Fidel Pepple stated this in a statement yesterday.

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NEWS

DMO resumes issuance of sovereign debt notes

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HE Debt Management Office (DMO) has resumed the issuance of sovereign debt notes for payment of subsidy to oil marketers.

Its Director-General, Dr Abraham Nwankwo, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.

“The Finance Minister, Dr

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, did inform the public and in did, directed the DMO that the issuance of the sovereign debt notes as part of the process of paying oil marketers the subsidy element for petroleum product they supplied to Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency ( PPPRA) should resume.

“So, the DMO has re-

sumed accepting sovereign debt statements, which are the documents from the PPPRA, evidencing and authenticating that oil marketers have delivered appropriate products and they are, therefore, qualified to receive payment,’’ he said.

According to him, the processing of documents presented by the PPPRA

has been in progress since the directive from the minister.

He said the process would restore normalcy to the settling of genuine subsidy claims, adding that issuance of the note would be continuous.

Nwankwo said issuing the debt notes would help to give confidence to those who provided funding to

the oil marketers.

“As far settling of genuine claims for oil marketers is concern, the government is on track,’’ he said.

NAN recalls that Mrs Okonjo-Iweala, had on July 26 directed the DMO to start payment of subsidy to oil marketers based on verified claims.

In a statement by Mr Paul Nwabuikwu, the Senior

Special Assistant to the Minister on Media, she directed the DMO to pay marketers with verified claims as soon as supporting Sovereign Debt Notes were provided by the PPPRA. According to her, the directive is to reinforce the Federal Government’s determination to ensure that there is no disruption to fuel supplies

NERC bans connection fees • Framework for bulk electricity procurement developed

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HE Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has said no customer shall be required to pay any charge whatsoever in relation to the connection of supply to his residence/premises.

But customers, said the commission, will only provide materials for connection.

In a statement in Abuja, it said new customers requiring connection to their residence/premises shall be responsible for the procurement of materials, while the supply to the customer’s metering point.

According to the NERC Chairman, Dr. Sam Amadi, “mains/installation inspector shall undertake a physical inspection of the customer’s residence/premises from the nearest supply point to the metering point to determine the quantity and length of materials required.

He said: “No customer shall be required to pay any charge whatsoever in rela-

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

tion to the connection of supply to his residence/ premises. They will only provide materials for connection.”

He noted that the distribution licensee shall effect connection of supply to the customer’s residence/ premises within 48 hours of providing the materials in the right quantity and quality.

NERC insisted: “Payment of statutory fees on inspection/survey, testing and inauguration hitherto charged Maximum Demand (MD) customers are hereby abolished with effect from June 1, this year.

“Testing equipment cost has been factored in determining appropriate Return on Capital on the regulated assets, while labour related costs of inspection and commissioning has been accounted for as fixed administration cost under approved operating expenses (OPEX). “

• Group Managing Director, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Andrew Yakubu(2nd right); Managing Director, ND Western Ltd, Dr Layi Fatona (right); Chairman, Pertolin, Samuel Dossou-Aworet and Chairman Waltersmith Exploration and Production Ltd, Alhaji Abdul Razaq Isa Kutepa (left) after the signing of Oil Mining Lease 32 between NNPC and ND Western Ltd in Abuja ... yesterday.

PHOTO: ABOYOMI FAYESE

‘Falling oil price a concern for Nigeria’

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ALLING oil prices and domestic energy output due to declining global demand are a concern for Nigeria’s economy, Central Bank Governor Lamido Sanusi said yesterday.

The worsening situation in the euro zone and rising

global food prices may also push inflation higher, he said in an interview on the sidelines of a Nigeria investment conference. He added that the country’s slower growth and tighter fiscal discipline could counterbalance those upward effects.

Nigeria is among the top 10 crude oil exporters in the world and is one of Goldman Sachs’s N-11 economies — emerging market economies next to emerge after the powerhouses of the BRIC countries

— Brazil, Russia, India and China. The 2012 budget is based on an oil price of $72 a barrel and oil fell below $90 in recent weeks, though it has since reached $100 once more.

Nigeria exports most of its domestic output and figures show exports have been falling, suggesting falls in output also. Exports are set to fall, to 1.81 million barrels per day (bpd) in September, a provisional loading programme showed last week.

“The budget is based on as-

sumptions of output of 2.4 million barrels a day, and output has been underperforming. So, $72 may not be an effective benchmark,” Sanusi said.

“Long before you get to $72, you will have major strains on government revenues, so long as output doesn’t improve.” Sanusi said the euro zone sovereign debt crisis, along with vulnerability in the U.S. economy and growth slowdown in India and China, were all having an impact.

FCTA makes N1.47b, says minister

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THE Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCT) has made internally generated revenue (IGR) of N1.472 billion in July, the Minister of State for FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, said yesterday.

The minister, who made this known in Abuja at the FCTA Area Councils Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC) meeting, said the IGR rose by N371 million or 34 per cent over the preceding month’s figure of N1.101 billion.

She stated that the FCTA would increase its revenue

• Councils share N1.72b From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

to stimulate more economic activities within the territory.

“We are working very hard and partnering with the Area Councils Chairmen to raise the present level of revenue. This will ultimately result in more money being available for the Area Councils.

“We are also going to put in place before the next meeting mechanism such as biometrics to eliminate ghost

workers and track the number of workers in the six area councils of the territory,” she said.

She said the Abuja Geographical Information System (AGIS) contributed the lion’s share of the IGR of N989.14 million while FCT Water Board realised N190.88 million.

Other revenue collectors include: Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), N146.24 million; Abuja Environmental Protection Board, N57.72 million and Directorate of Road Traffic Services, N53.52 million.

German firm, MAN to promote GERMAN conglomto the Gross Doinvestments butions erate, BASF, and the mestic Product from four

A

Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) have agreed to encourage the flow of foreign investments into the country.

News of the plan was broken during the inauguration of BSAF in Lagos.

MAN President, Chief Kola Jamodu, said MAN has introduced a blueprint to develop the economy, adding that BASF would play important roles in the deal.

Jamodu, who was rep-

By Akinola Ajibade

resented by the DirectorGeneral, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industries (LCCI), Mr Yinka Kadiri, said BASF would bring its experience to bear by bringing more investments into the country.

He said efforts were being made to ensure that the manufacturing sector increase its contri-

per cent to 25 per cent soon.

BASF Group President, Mr Jacques Delmoitiez, said Nigeria will benefit from a multi-billion dollar investment soon.

He said BASF has interests in construction, pharmaceutical, oil and gas, adding that it is providing a huge investment inflow into Africa, especially Nigeria.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2012

NEWS

Why Lagos roads are expensive, by Works Commissioner To many, the cost of a kilometre of road in Lagos is the world’s most expensive . But Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat disagrees. He argues that the contingency expenses that go into construction in the Centre of Excellence cannot be compared with those of other climes. Hamzat also explains that the aggressive infrastructural development across the state is the government’s direct response to rising unemployment, reports BUNMI OGUNMODEDE Massive infrastructural development HE core essence is to reorganise our economy. I watched on CNN two weeks ago and heard that the crime rate had gone up and at the same time, public spending had gone down in the State of Illinois, Chicago, in the past four years. That is what happens when you close a public swimming pool.

It has an effect on crime. What other nations like Brazil have done is to massively invest public funds in infrastructure. And that was how Brazil brought up the poor cadre to the middle class.

Brazil achieved that by investing massively in infrastructural development. So many of us heard about it when everybody kept saying Brazil was importing and borrowing. But Brazil borrowed and invested on infrastructure. What Brazil did was to go into constructive debt because there are also destructive debts. Basically, given what has happened across the world, it is clear that we must invest to change the economy.

Importation of construction materials About four years ago, when we built bridges, we imported cement. There are three grades – the 32.5; 42.5; and 52.5, but we imported 42.5. But thankfully, Dangote and Lafarge now have the capacity to meet local demands. But before, the rate of construction was high because we had to import and the people would now say, Oh the cost of building in Nigeria is the most expensive.

Of course, it must be expensive than in other countries because we import the materials, while they are produced in other places. So, the cost of importation must be factored into the construction cost.

Gains of the investment in infrastructure Between 780 and 900 people were working at the Palaver Yard on the Island when the construction of the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge was on-going. We had welders, carpenters and all sorts of artisans engaged. So, over the past three to four years, we have been employing 3,000 people directly. If this is replicated in other states, there is no doubt that unemployment would have been reduced and the human capacity increased.

Many opportunities has been created by the government I can only give you the profile of the Ministry of Works. But you know the Ministries of Education, the Environment, Transportation and Education among others are into infrastructural development. In all, between 2007 till date, we have created 148,000 jobs. That excludes the opportunities created with the new contracts we awarded this year because we allow the contractors to work for six months before we collate the data of those working on the various sites. The truth of the matter is that the figure is on those in direct employment. You also notice that many other indirect jobs are created on the sites for the food and water vendors as well as other traders. So, infrastructural development would stimulate a lot of activities across the state.

Ajao-Ejigbo link bridge still stopped but stalled by the rains There is no problem with the plan to link Mafoluku /Ajao/Ejigbo but there are different challenges. There are dual carriage bridges on the ongoing Ajao-Ejigbo link bridge. The standard is that before you build a bridge, you must fill up the ground because the pillars must sit on something. Now the rains are here and the flood would go somewhere else because you have filled its natural course. So, we told the contractor that no, you don’t make things difficult for residents, if you have to slow down, do so because you cannot flood the peoples home.

Go and remove all those things and return to site later. This is to ensure that while doing that road, we must not cause other problems. In a built-up area, many challenges are expected. If you have been there, you will see that the drains have been done. Those drains were not done in situ. They were not done off-site. That is to tell you that construction methods have also changed. A lot of construction materials are precast, prepared off the site and moved to site for installation after the alignment with the bridge must have been done and the accurate measurement taken. The same goes for IsheriOshun. But the rains are coming heavily and therefore, you cannot flood the whole

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community. So, we have to slow down for about a month or two so that the people won’t be affected. On Ago Palace Way, there is a court case on a property built on the alignment. We have done the drains on either side of the building. It is natural for project to slow down because a case that has gone to the court and it will take some time to be dispensed with. So, definitely, that process will slow us down. But the Ministry of Justice is already talking to the owners’ counsel for a possible way of resolving the matter. So, those are some of the challenges we face in builtup areas.

Dialogue as the solution In fact, most of the meetings that I hold in the office are on how to resolve problems arising from right of way. At times, we meet with a whole community to tell them, well, we want to build this road in your community and that many of your houses would have to go. In most cases, many of these houses have no building approval, but that is the reality of our society. That does not mean we should just go there and demolish peoples’ houses.

We paid N4 billion compensation to demolish 300 properties on Lagos-Badagry Expressway The same thing applied to the Lagos-Badagry Expressway where about 300 buildings have to be demolished. We have held meetings about five times with all the stakeholders including the military for them to know what is coming to their area and for the people not to feel cheated but to applaud the project when it starts. So, in a built-up area like Lagos, we encounter these challenges.

Overcoming other challenges Remember that we also rely on other agencies while building roads. For instance, when we are building a road, we relocate service cables and electric poles belonging to the PHCN. So, we have to collaborate with that agency. We also work with the telecom companies to relocate their cables and masts. We pay them to relocate these facilities. At times, it involves contacting very senior officials and this also takes time. But we are moving as fast as we can, given the prevailing circumstance. If it is a virgin land, of course, we just move equipment in and clear the bush. But unfortunately, Lagos is a built-up area.

On local/foreign firms patronage The most important thing is that every road must be designed and has specification. We must look for the drains. Where will that water flow into? We also look out for the waterfall. So, we collaborate with the Ministries of the Environment and the Physical Planning & Urban Development. You will notice that in some cases, the drainage is usually longer than the road. This is to take the water far away from the road. That probably is what will happen at Meiran, in Agege because the outfall is about nine kilometres away and we must take the water there. We cannot just leave it on the road. Now, there are different levels of contractors, but again the specification is standard. We have contractors for the rural road and we have for the metropolitan roads.

When we do our design, depending on whether to use interlocking stones or asphalt, based on the result of the soil test, we advertise for the people to apply. Then we do the technical evaluation of the bids. The Ajao-Ejigbo for instance, about five companies submitted proposals but ultimately, we shortlisted only three after the evaluation. It is possible that an indigenous contractor can win the contract if he demonstrated the competence from the technical evaluation. Why not?

Preference for indigenous contractors But again, we deliberately in some cases consider local contractors to increase our own capacity. We did it for the Epe-Poka road. That project was given to an indigenous contractor and you can see the quality of work done. What we do is to ensure that our resident engineers are there to monitor what is being done. We also employ young graduates to do another layer of monitoring. These graduates are divided into groups to verify the materials supplied. They also record the mixing of the materials. We do this all for checks and balances and to ensure quality. We have different layers of monitoring.

So, it impossible to compromise all the layers of

•Dr. Hamzat

‘If you remove all these contingency expenses, cement for cement and asphalt for asphalt, our roads are not expensive’ checks put in place. The truth of the matter is that you must also monitor the projects given to foreign contractors. We do joint measurement and this is signed by both parties.

Consequences of certifying sub-standard job If our resident engineer certifies a road and in two years time,there is problem with the road, that engineer is in trouble because that shows he has done his work well and that would affect his promotion and career in the service. As much as possible, we try to patronise indigenous contractors.

Funding is bane of local contractors I think that the major challenge of the local firms is lack access to funding. The cost of borrowing is too high. But the big-time contractors can harness resources that even when we give them 50 per cent, they can go ahead and complete the work. But those without access to funds would relax after exhausting the mobilization fees they collect and wait for further payment. So, those are the challenges with the local companies and the resources accruing to the state do not come one time, they trickle in, so therefore, we cannot pay our contractors 100 per cent upfront. We don’t have that kind of resources.

World Bank got it wrong for adjudging Nigeria roads expensive I have heard the World Bank say that road construction in Nigeria is the costliest. But that is not true and I challenge anybody that has the data to come forward with it. I know of three ongoing road projects in Ghana that are more expensive than the ones we are doing in Lagos.

But if the people have the data, honestly, I will like to see it.

Contingency expenses push up costs of construct in Lagos Like I have said, we are doing the LagosBadagary Expressway. The Lot 1 is from Eric Moore in Surulere to Okokomaiko. We paid N4 billion in compensation. Is that not part of the road contract? The compensation we paid is part of the road. Those whose houses would be destroyed must be paid compensation, even if that cost does not go into the real physical construction, it creates the right of way and it makes the community happy to say, this is our project. So, maybe when the people add that to the actual costs, they arrive at their data. But it doesn’t work that way. I told you that sometimes, we relocate utilities. For instance from Jibowu to Iddo, we found a main water corporation pipe and we have to relocate it. That cost another N50

million. Do we disconnect peoples’ homes from the water mains because we are doing a road?

No. So, many expenses go into road construction but some people don’t understand this fact. It is not just the cement or asphalt alone. It is about a total project.

Now, let me tell you about Itire-Okota Link Bridge where we are in court over over two houses. Technically, the houses are gone but the owners must be adequately compensated. If you remove all these contingency expenses, cement for cement and asphalt for asphalt, our roads are not expensive. I also told you that before, we were not manufacturing 42.5 cement domestically, so, if we are building a bridge, we import bags of cement. Of course, the cost of that bridge would be expensive. In America, all they would do is just to place order in Philadelphia for a company to bring.

But we have to import in Nigeria; we pay customs duty and transportation. So, that is the challenge. But in terms of the road itself, I don’t agree that our roads are more expensive. The road linking the Oworonsoki-Oshodi Expressway with the Gbagada General Hospital is 300 millimetre concrete. But it is not cheaper, though desirable. Roads in the United States and other places have concrete base. But go to their highways, when last did you see the number of tankers that are stationary the way the trucks park indiscriminately in Apapa or on the LagosIbadan Expressway? The roads will break because the construction materials are made of chemicals.

How to preserve Nigerian roads The solution is to find alternative way of moving our goods. There is a rail track from the port to Ijora, let the Federal Government rehabilitate the facility and move the goods through the rail as it is the done in other climes. It is not just the cost, the roads also last longer. It is a miracle that our roads last this long with all the articulated vehicles and containers plying up and down. I was in front of LTV 8 recently and a Coca Cola truck was trying to negotiate a bend, you needed to be there to appreciate what exactly happened. Because the truck was just on the same spot, asphalt was just spinning because of the friction of the tyres with the road. It will hit up the road and the road will break.

Considering cement for road construction We are looking at the cement option now, especially that we have enough products in the country. So, the game would soon change. As a matter of fact, I have met with the representatives of Messrs Dangote and Lafarge to see how they can assist our contractors. His Excellency said that the contractors are complaining because of the cost of importation. So, we have sat down with Lafarge and Dangote and they have both promised that they have enough products. It is the logistics of distribution that we are working out. The government is going to facilitate a meeting between them and the contractors. The cost of transporting goods in our country might be higher than in other countries and that accounts for why the roads are expensive.

Effects of power on road construction If a contractor is constructing over night, he is most likely to use diesel. But in Ghana or elsewhere, he would use NEPA. So if the cost of maintaining power is higher in Nigeria, it means our contingency fee is higher than that of Ghana. These things go together. In fact, there was a seminar that I attended where the World Bank said this and I confronted the officials to come out with the data so that we can break it down. If I buy 300 litres of diesel to fuel my generator and in Ghana, my counterpart is paying N4 per kilowatt per hour, of course, mine should be more expensive because the costs of production are not even the same. But unfortunately, what the uninformed take this for is corruption.

Terrain also another factor When we were doing Akerele Road in Surulere and Bourdillion, we did soil replacement of up to two metres. In Ijora Badiya, it is fourmetre replacement that we are doing. This is because over time, the people have dumped garbage and compressed it. This claim is verifiable, especially on Fadaini Road. We have to replace what is taken out. So, when you do that, it would be like a solid ground. It all depends on the situation and we don’t do any road without doing the soil test first to know if it is interlocking stones or asphalt that would be used.

Before you construct our bridge, you must do the soil test to determine what type of soil, the wearing cost and the depth among other things.

Preparing ahead for next year For the projects we want to do next year, by next month, we will begin to do the test to help us determine the cost because we need this to defend our budget for the coming year. But by next year, when the roads are awarded, the contractors would be mandated to carry out another test because the soil itself is a living thing.

It changes. If there is flood, sands get washed away and this changes the dynamics of the soil.

LONDON OLYMPICS

LONDON Calling

Pg. 49

with Ade Ojeikere & John Ebhota

100 METRES WOMEN FINAL

OKAGBARE rated gatecrasher

Pg. 16

BLAKE READY Sport to face Bolt

Pg. 16

Thursday, August 2, 2012

PAGE 15

NIGERIA /USA CLASH

WE WON'T be intimidated, says Diogu

Pg. 16

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KE DIOGU'S inability to hold down a consistent gig in the NBA league is more than a little frustrating. Yes, the undersized power forward has his issues defensively and he probably should be trusted to helm a pass-first Princeton offence that asks big men to hit cutters all night -- but he remains pretty adept at two significant things -- scoring efficiently, and rebounding. And while working on Nigeria's team in the 2012 Olympics, the 28year old has kept that up in international play, leading his team to London with a masterful turn in the pre-Olympic qualifying tournament, and holding down the low post (no small feat, in international play) as Nigeria took down Tunisia earlier this week.

The honeymoon away from that disappointing NBA career only lasted so long. Diogu's Nigerian team lost to Lithuania Tuesday. And he'll be asked to lead his group against Team USA Thursday, a squad that often features a man Diogu's size, in LeBron James, working as a point guard while critics harp about the "undersized" rotation.

Diogu, in talking with the Arizona Republic's Dan Bickley, remains undeterred: "We are not intimidated or in awe of those guys," Diogu said. "I definitely know I can hold my own against anybody, and anybody who knows basketball knows that I can play at the highest level. The reason why I'm not in the NBA is not because of my skill set or skill level or not being able to play against those guys.�

AS AT YESTERDAY (7.00pm) Aug. 2, 2012

LONDON OLYMPICS MEDAL TABLE

•Ike Diogu

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THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2012

INDUSTRY

Manufacturers: Insecurity affecting business in the North D ISTRIBUTION of goods and services to the North is being hindered by insecurity, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has said.

In its second quarter Business Enforcement Report, LCCI said the development has led to a significant reduction in turnover of companies operating from other parts of the country.

The insecurity also affecting some companies with branches in the region, the chamber added.

Apparently referring to Boko Haram’s activities in the North, LCCI said: “The security situation has become a major challenge for investors. It has affected investors in the following ways: the economy of many of the affected states are on the verge of collapse with implica-

Stories by Toba Agboola

tion for investment and job losses; hospitality industry in the affected states have been paralysed; many investors, especially Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), are relocating to other states with the attendant challenge.

Inventory and stocks of many companies have been trapped in some locations in the affected states; many firms have lost up to 30 per cent of their sales as they can no longer access most part of the northern market; manufacturing firms sourcing raw materials from the North are now facing serious challenges.”

Other fallout of the security challenge, it said, are projects funded by banks in the affected states which

are now at risk; serious perception problem has been created for the country; many bank’s and company’s branches have been closed, while the working hours for others have been drastically reduced; sales representatives of

‘Between January and June, there was an estimated five per cent depreciation in the exchange rate of the naira against the dollar’

many companies have fled the affected states; many projects under construction in the north have been abandoned; and security budgets have been scaled up by many firms.

The report, which is the outcome of an evidenced-based account of experiences of members of the chamber and the larger business community on investment climate issues, adds that investors’ confidence weakened as businesses across sectors experienced decline in sales owing to weak consumer demand and general economic downturn.

It says the trend of some vital macro economic variables was not favourable, that interest rates remained high; naira exchange rate weakened; and inflation continued on an upward swing. All these im-

pacted on the operating costs.

Between January and June, there was an estimated five per cent depreciation in the exchange rate of the naira against the dollar.

The rate was N157 to the dollar in January and currently ranges from N162 to N165 to the dollar, in the interbank and parallel market.

The major factors responsible for the trend are the declining oil prices and attendant speculative activities, the report says.

The report argues investors complained of persistent difficult credit conditions, especially with regard to cost, access and tenure of funds in the financial system and that regulatory institutions did not also help matters as they constituted an added burden on investors, particularly in the real sector.

‘Nigeria loses N1tr yearly to raw materials’ import’

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IGERIA loses about N1 trillion to importation yearly, the Raw Materials’ Research and Development Council (RMRDC) Director-General, Prof Peter Onwualu, has said.

Speaking at the stakeholder’s forum for the Nigerian Raw Materials Exposition (NIRAM Expo 2012) scheduled to hold in November.

Onwualu said some industries import as much as 90 per cent of their raw materials.

The target of RMRDC, he said, was to reduce importation by 50 per cent to 60 per cent in the next five years, hence, the need for the expo.

Onwualu said for the country to be competitive, it must ensure sustainable supply of raw materials in the right quantity and quality.

“And now, we are going further by adding that the sources of those raw materials should be from Nigeria because hundreds of billions are used in purchasing raw materials annually but only 10 per cent comes from Nigeria. Yet, we have natural resources and primary commodities,” he said.

He urged the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) to collaborate with the Federal Government to stop the importation of raw materials available in the country.

Onwualu said the objective of the expo is to enable the stakeholders to discuss ways of re-

ducing substantially the volume of imported raw materials.

“On the average, our industries import up to 80 to 90 per cent of their raw materials; on the other hand, there is no raw material that cannot be produced in this country.

“The only problem is that they are in their raw form; so what we are trying to do is to develop the sector to create an environment for private people to be able to harness those natural resources and process them and supply to the big industries so that this 80 to 90 per cent can gradually begin to come down.“ Onwualu said the reduction in the importation of raw materials would lead to the creation of jobs as well as the generation of wealth within the economy.

He said it would also improve the standard of living in the country.

According to him, when such raw materials are harnessed, new processing industries will come up just as new products will come into the market to help the people to make more money.

Onwualu said the expo is coming at a time when the industrial sector of the economy is passing through a very difficult phase which has led to factory closure, relocation of businesses to more stable business environment in the West Coast due to high cost of imports and inability of the manufacturing sector to source their raw materials locally.

•From left: Deputy President, South, National Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME), Degun Agboade; Onwalu; and Director-General, NACCIMA, John Isemede, during the public presentation.

SON warns against sale of sub-standard tyres

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HE Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) is set to clamp down on those dealing with fake products at the Ladipo Market in Lagos.

Speaking at a meeting with the executive of the market, the Director-General, SON, Dr Joseph Odumodu, said he would move against those dealing in fake and substandard products.

Odumodu said the government would not tolerate the sale of substandard tyres, nor would it allow its taskforce to be molested when carrying out its legitimate duty.

“Government has a responsibility to enforce the law because it cannot put the lives of Nigerians at risk by allowing products that can cause

Investors bemoan deplorable infrastructure

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NVESTORS and industrialists in Ogun State have expressed concern over the parlous state of infrastructure.

The investors and industrialists, who own factories in Ogijo in Sagamu, Igbesa and Agbara in Ado-Odo Ota local government areas, spoke when members of the Ogun State Council of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (OGUNCCIMA) toured some of their companies.

They also accused the state government officials of corruption.

They regretted that, in spite of their payment of taxes and employment opportunities they offer to the people, the state government had neglected the industrial areas.

President, OGUNCCIMA, Mr Bayo Ikujenyo, said the areas lacked motorable roads, water and electricity.

Ikujenyo, who promised to pass

the information to the government, said: “Some of the roads are in deplorable conditions. You find trucks breaking down on the roads because of potholes. Some even have accidents. Power problem is also there,” he said.

Chief Executive Officer, African Fertiliser and Chemical Limited Mr Nara Yanan, said the management of the company was considering leaving the state for places with better infrastructure.

He said: “We will soon leave this area. We have water problems and we are afraid of diseases as a result of water problem.We have other problems such as bad roads.

“We have employed over 10,000 Nigerians. I don’t see any state that has numerous companies that Ogun State has. We expect the government to do something.”

During the tour of the Ogun Free Trade Zone in Igbesa, run by the Chinese, the representative of

the organisation, Mrs. Omotayo Oduntan-Hiske, lamented the deplorable condition of the roads and inadequate power supply.

Oduntan, however, identified high-level corruption perpetrated by officials of the Customs and Immigration as the greatest problem confronting the FTZ. She accused the Customs officials of deliberately delaying clearing of goods, resulting in the payment of heavy demurrage most of the time.

“Everybody knows that Customs only considers revenue. The Customs don’t follow due process in clearing our goods.

That’s why the clearing of goods is bedevilled with all sorts of bottlenecks. Corruption is too much,” she said.

Over 10,000 jobs will be lost if the investors and industrialists should carry out the threat.

harm.

“For now, we are particular about tyres. Take the report of FRSC, for example, that over 65 per cent of road accidents are caused by sub-standard tyres.We cannot continue to put the lives of Nigerians at risk.

“We are going to all markets across the country. We have been to Lagos, Ibadan, Onitsha, Enugu, and all markets will be visited,” he said.

He chided the traders for denying SON officials entry into the market last week.

“There is a new directive from the presidency that we should get rid of fake products in all markets. We have been to many markets and we gave them two weeks deadline.

Out of all the markets in whole of the country, it is only the traders of Ladipo that did not allow SON to come in. They even threatened our officials.

“We will not tolerate this altitude of the traders again, and I want to state it here that we are still coming back soon. In fact , we are giving you

just one week notice. Go and tell those who are dealing in fake products, most especially those importing tyres, to withdraw those product within one week,” Odumodu said.

President General, Ladipo Auto Centre Executive Committee, Mr Lyke Animalu, urged SON to start its campaign from the port. He said some of these products come from the ports and unless the ports are seriously handled, the influx of fake products will continue.

He said: “We, on behalf of the traders of Ladipo market, are promising that we will collaborate with the organisation to check the activities of the traders.

“We cannot totally blame the traders, but the ports should be properly sanitised because if these goods are stopped at the ports, how will the traders get them.”

“Our traders will be duly educated about this fight against sub-standard tyres and we promise to work with the organisation and the Federal Government,’’ he said.

Lagos in fresh investment drive

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AGOS State Governor Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola is set to launch a fresh investment drive that will bring more investment into the Lekki Free Zone (LFZ) in IbejuLekki.

The latest effort is the hosting of a one-day joint Investment Forum and 10-day Eko Expo 2012 aimed at showcasing investment potential of the state at the Lekki Free Zone.

The twin event titled: ‘‘Lekki Free Zone Investment Forum and Eko Expo 2012’’ is being put together by the Lagos State Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Lekki Free Zone Development Company, LFZDC. It is expected to be attended by investors who play in the key sectors of the economy across Nigeria, South Africa, the United Kingdom, United States and China.

While the Investment Forum will hold on Friday, August 3 2012, the Eko Expo 2012 will run from the same day till Sunday 12 August 2012 between the hours of 10am and 5pm daily at the Lekki Free Zone in Tiye Town, IbejuLekki.

Lekki Free Zone, a 30-square kilometre project, is an exclusive investment and development joint venture of the China-Africa Lekki Investment Limited, Lagos State Government and Lekki Worldwide Investments Limited. It aims to boost inflow of new investments in diverse sectors not just into the Lagos economy but the national economy targeting the manufacturing, industrial, commercial, infrastructure development and financial services sector among others.

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2012

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INDUSTRY

Nigeria’srisingdomesticdebtworries IMF

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HE International Monetary Fund (IMF) has advised Nigeria to be cautious of its rising domestic debt.

In its 2011 report, the fund advised the government to be committed to implementing cost-cutting strategy to avoid too much borrowing.

The report said: “Failure to implement politically difficult fiscal adjustment measures could result in faster accumulation of domestic debt and put an undue burden on monetary policy to contain inflation and prevent pressure on the naira and international reserves.”

The fund also advised the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to allow the naira to adjust itself to the market forces instead of trying to over protect it.

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Stories by Toba Agboola

“The monetary authorities should focus on a clear inflation objective and allow the naira to gradually adjust in response to market conditions,” it said.

The report said while Nigeria’s economy has shown some level of growth, such growth is not even as the rate of unemployment is widening.

“Nigeria has shown robust growth during the past decade, with rates among the highest in sub-Saharan Africa. However, unemployment rates have risen and the public finances and balance of payments remain vulnerable to a fall in oil prices.

“The principal downside risk is a larger-than-envisaged deterioration in the global environment that sub-

stantially reduces world oil prices.

“The government’s planned fiscal consolidation for 2012–15 will be essential for rebuilding fiscal buffers in the uncertain global environment and safeguarding macro-economic stability,” it stated.

Government said it aims to boost prospects for inclusive growth by improving the business climate, addressing infrastructure gaps, and implementing reforms that promote sectors with high employment potential.

Nigeria’s domestic debt is N6 trillion, while the foreign debt as at May was $5.9 billion.

Government said it is putting in place certain measures to curb public spending, such as reducing the recurrent expenditure.

Employers chide UNDP, ILO over farmers’ training

HE Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) is angry over the endorsement by the United Nations Development Project (UNDP) and International Labour Organisation (ILO) of expatriates to train Nigerian farmers instead of indigenous experts.

NECA Director-General Mr Olusegun Oshinowo said it was wrong of UNDP and ILO to have given preference to foreigners to train Nigerians after ILO had trained the master trainers used in the International Enterprise Development Training for young farmers in Ekiti State.

Addressing reporters in Lagos, he said the employers’ body was miffed because ILO trained the Nigerian master trainers and certified them fit for the job.

But insisted on Ekiti State bringing in foreign trainers.

Oshinowo said NECA would not take it lightly with UNDP and ILO because it knows that Ekiti won’t get quality return on the project, since the trainers would only teach them the theory unlike Nigerian master trainers who would have made the training simpler through

By Dupe-Olaoye-Osinkolu

practicals and teaching in mother tongue.

He said :“The ILO in 2005 collaborated with NECA on training master trainers on enterprise, microfinance and local development programmes through which Certified Master Trainers (CMT), Certified Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) trainers and other trainers en-route certification track have been produced to promote entrepreneurship programmes in Nigeria” Oshinowo called on the Federal Government to institutionalise a framework that would restrict foreign consultants from being used to takeover the jobs of Nigerian experts by international agencies as this challenges the sovereignty of Nigeria as well as creates loopholes for capital flight of donor funds back to other countries” President of the Certified Master Trainers Mr. Noruwa Edokpolo explained that at conception of the Ekiti training project,

he approached the state on behalf of the Nigerian master trainers and they said the training would be handled by his members, but they later admitted that the UNDP and ILO preferred the engaging the service of experts from South Africa and Zimbabwe, who have same competence and qualifications as the Certified Masters Trainers in Nigeria.

He added that:“The action of UNDP and ILO undermines the promotion of entrepreneurship in Nigeria through a crop of Master trainers who had acquired the expertise and certification to administer the ILO world acclaimed entrepreneurial module titled Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB).

He said the initiative is to have domestic capacity to support government’s effort in tackling unemployment in Nigeria through local Master Trainers that know the terrain and are cheaper to maintain than expensive foreign experts, that are not as good as local experts.

Eliminating expatriate quota fraud

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ITH his antecedents as chairman of Okpokwu local government area of Benue State and Director-General of the David Mark Campaign Organisation, many are not surprised today that Comrade Abba Moro is performing as Minister for Interior.

Under his watch, the ministry has taken steps to rejuvenate the economy through the e-business platform.

A new initiative that has led to the birth of a Public Private Partnership between the Ministry of Interior and Anchor Dataware Solutions (ADS) for the implementation of e-business for government will when completed, make the ministry a more responsive government organ. ADS is an experienced Information Technology (IT) outfit that has provided a wide range of IT solutions to governments and the private sector to ease work processes.

The key issue in the current strategy being deployed by in this strategic partnership with ADS is that the company will deploy its expertise to ensure the integration and automation of the operations of the Department for Citizenship and Business in the current effort to streamline its Naturalisation/Expatriate Quota Management System.

This strategy will make it possible for interested companies to apply online. The system will also upgrade the Marriage Registry. The strategy will also enable smooth data flow between the public , service professionals and public service agencies.

The key benefits of the present strategy will ensure that data from multiple regions are quickly centralised and converted into useful information. It will also reinforce the capacity of social service agencies to manage the explosive information

Yakubu Dati writes from Abuja

NEXIM Bank assures SMEs on business sponsorship

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•From left: Director, Regulatory and Govt, Etisalat, Ibrahim Dikko; Registrar, Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), Alhaji Garba Kankarofi; Public Relations Officer, Etisalat, Zainab Abiola; and Chairman, APCON Council, Lolu Falomo, during Etisalat management’s visit to APCON in Lagos.

growth by creating a simplified, seamless front end which will offer a one-stop shop to constituents. Companies will be able to access non-security information (Naturalisation and Expatriate Quota administration guidelines).

The strategy will further enhance consolidation of revenue generation to government by forestalling loss of revenue through internal sharp practices, it will also institute a legacy of effective and functional business processes thereby boosting Nigeria’s global image as it offers minimum realisation time for companies’ application requests.

Active utilisation of quota grants will be guaranteed thereby eliminating quota racketeering by non-functional companies which had hitherto taken advantage of existing gaps in the system. The immigration department will be able to do online monitoring effectively.

Similarly, this initiative will lead to drastic reduction in unemployment as responsible enforcement of Nigerianisation of expatriate positions over a defined period will be guaranteed. This will ensure that the required transfer of knowledge for sustained self development is achieved.

Relevant state authorities will experience a boost in their internally generated revenue (IGR) by collaborating with the immigration department to electronically obtain the authentic list of expatriates granted to companies operating in their states for enforcement and collection of Personal Income Tax (PIT) due from the expatriates. These efforts being driven by Moro are in line with the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.

HE Nigeria Export/Import Bank (NEXIM) has assured Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMSE) of its readiness to finance them, provided they met the bank’s prerequisite conditions.

Its Chief Risk Manager, Dr Emmanuel Moore, who represented the Managing Director, Mr Robert Orya, gave the assurance while delivering a paper at the second quarterly luncheon/seminar of Sapele Chambers of Commerce Industries Mines and Agriculture (SACCIMA), Sapele, Delta State.

Moore gave the conditions for qualification for any facility that could be given by the bank to SMEs to include: formal business registration/incorporation of the intending recipient with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in accordance with the Act of 1990, registration with Nigeria Export

Promotion Council (NEPC), a memorandum of understanding/ partnership agreement of recipients, evidence of tax payment by recipients and audited account for the past two to three years.

Other conditions to be fulfilled by the recipients, according to Moore, include: business plan of the recipients, board resolution of the directors, profoma-invoice, evidence of export/import order and possession of landed property which the recipients intend to use as security for the facility.

Chairman, SACCIMA, Prince David Eweta, said the loan conditions of Nexim Bank were easier to fulfil than those of most commercial banks. He said Deltans would explore the opportunity to source for loans from Nexim Bank to finance their small-scale enterprises, expand existing businesses as well as kick-starting new ones across the state.

Close Up raises 52 Nigerian flags to mark NILEVER Nigeria Plc’s preanniversary mium toothpaste Close Up

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•From left: Assistant General Manager, Operations, Bank of Industry (BoI), Mr Joseph Babatunde; National President, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines And Agriculture (NACCIMA),Dr Herbert Ajayi and Deputy Director,Development Finance, CBN, Dr, Mudashiru Olaitan,at NACCIMA’s BiAnnual Dialogue In Lagos.

PHOTO; SOLOMON ADEOLA

has commenced a campaign with the theme, Close Up loves Naija, by raising 52 Nigerian flags, as part of activities to mark its 38th year in the market.

Managing Director of Unilever Nigeria Plc Mr Thabo Mabe said the company decided to raise such number of flags to signify 52 years of independence.

He said: “Through the campaign, we will be celebrating Nigeria, and the 52 years this nation has remained strong and united. Together, we have sailed in unity in times when the skies were blue and sometimes through stormy seas.”

Mabe told stakeholders at the event, including some government officials, dignitaries and a team from the Nigerian Dental Association (NDA) that the hoisting of the

flags symbolised that, “As one nation, Nigeria has a common purpose, and can realise its collective vision of a great country.”

He also noted that worldwide, over two billion people use the company’s product each year, which gives it a unique opportunity to create better value to them.

“As a business, Unilever as a firm, is determined to put the interest of its customers at heart, so that ultimately, it can help them to improve the quality of their lives through its everyday products,” Mabe said.

He added: “Since Close Up was introduced 38 years ago, it has helped millions of Nigerians to improve their oral hygiene and enhanced the confidence and self esteem of our consumers.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2012

19

COMMENTARY Comments

EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

Festival of Britishness

Justice made in London •Akingbola’s conviction exposes the corruption of our judiciary

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OMETHING must be fundamentally wrong with our judicial system that makes it impossible for influential Nigerians to get their comeuppance at home for crimes committed, whereas they get same abroad when charged for the same crimes, and in record time, too.

This is the logical conclusion to draw, from at least the cases of two prominent Nigerians recently convicted abroad. The first was that of former Governor James Ibori of Delta State, and now, Dr. Erastus Akingbola, former Managing Director of the defunct Intercontinental Bank Plc (now Access Bank Plc).

Mr. Akingbola was on Tuesday ordered to refund N164billion to Access Bank Plc by the High Court of Justice, Queens Bench Division in London. The money was the proceeds of unlawful share purchase scheme and fund misappropria-

‘But the conviction, coming again from abroad, is another sad commentary on the state of the judiciary in the country. The impression being given is that it is difficult to convict high net worth Nigerians at home, no matter the crimes they committed. This is unfortunate. Our courts must take some tutorial from the Ibori and Akingbola cases on how to quickly and diligently dispense justice, no matter the person involved’

tion, which was converted into personal use during his tenure as managing director of the defunct bank. The court held further that he devised and presided over the implementation of the strategy to buy Intercontinental Bank’s shares.

The court also said that Akingbola lied that he did not know that the bank was buying its own shares and that shortly before the implementation of the strategy to increase the bank’s share price with the intent of benefiting from the unethical and illegal scheme, Akingbola had borrowed N9.3 billion to purchase a large quantity of the bank’s shares for himself.

As if all these were not enough, Akingbola also misappropriated N16billion that he paid to a business concern owned by his family, Tropics Companies, to repay debts owed by the companies which were personally guaranteed by him. He was also found to have misappropriated another £8.5 million, which was paid to his English solicitors to complete the purchase of luxury properties in London in his name.

Akingbola’s conduct clearly depicted the impunity and primitive accumulation that characterised the banking sector until the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) wielded the big stick, by removing in a fell swoop, managing directors of five banks in August 2009, over alleged breach of corporate governance practices in their respective banks. Akingbola’s conviction justified the decision by the apex bank.

We give kudos to the U.K. judicial system, and particularly Judge Michael Burton for disposing of the matter expeditiously. Until very recent years, bankers

in Nigeria were the conservative people that they should be - hardly seen in public- but over the years, they began competing with politicians and others for media space, winning all kinds of dubious awards that did not reflect the true position of things in their respective banks.

But the conviction, coming again from abroad, is another sad commentary on the state of the judiciary in the country.

The impression being given is that it is difficult to convict high net worth Nigerians at home, no matter the crimes they committed. This is unfortunate. Our courts must take some tutorial from the Ibori and Akingbola cases on how to quickly and diligently dispense justice, no matter the person involved.

Akingbola’s counsel has hinted that they may appeal the judgment. We would not be surprised if the appellate court in the U.K. even delivers its judgment before the N47billion case over which the former Intercontinental boss is also standing trial in the country, is decided, no thanks to the snail’s speed at which justice travels here. This is one main area that the new Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, should look into.

We agree in toto with Access Bank’s lawyer, Segun Osuntokun of Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP in London, that the judgment will send “a strong message to international investors in Nigeria that it is no longer ’business as usual’ in its banking sector”. But we would have been happier if such a lesson had been taught right here in Nigeria. Bankers who fiddle with other people’s money should get their due punishment.

Olympics as mirror •It is amazing how sports tend to gauge the sanity and efficiency of a country’s polity

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EAM Great Britain (Team GB) alone boasts no less than 30 persons of Nigerian extraction in its Olympics armada. These athletes compete in as varied a field as Track and Field, football, boxing, canoeing and archery. If these Nigerian names had competed for the motherland, it is easy to see how far more diversified and versatile Team Nigeria would have been at the ongoing London Olympics 2012, and how brighter Nigeria’s medal prospects would have been.

But the picture is not as one-sided as it appears on the surface. To start with, many of these “Nigerians” are only Nigerians in name: born of Nigerian parentage in Britain, but never having known any other place as home except the coun-

‘So, why do Nigerians tend to shine in foreign colours, yet blight their clear talent with mediocre performance in green-white-green? It is simply, it would appear, a true reflection of how mediocre leadership at home has plagued the management of sports, and denied otherwise brilliant and talented Nigerian youth of economic rewards and lifelong sports careers, as it is the case in much of Europe, Russia and the United States’

try of their birth. So, to dub them “Nigerians” ab initio, could be misleading, even if it is not ethnically wrong.

Then, the exchange is not always to the disadvantage of Nigeria, when the issue is youth hunger for space in international sporting competitions, particularly the Olympics, the greatest sports spectacle on earth. There is the case, for instance, of Jonathan Akinyemi, who qualified to represent Nigeria in canoeing, because competition was too stiff in Team GB, his country of birth and team of first choice.

Despite having just partial contact with his ethnic motherland (he said his grandfather was a native of Lagos, Nigeria), he trained for the event in South Africa.

In basketball, only three of the five-man team, were born in Nigeria. The rest are foreign-born Nigerians, many of them in the United States, who have put their exposure, at the highest level, in basketball skills, tactics and techniques in Barack Obama’s country, at Nigeria’s benefit.

Just as in the case of the canoeist, Akinyemi, the youth hunger for space at the Olympics has made Nigeria to reap where it hardly sowed. That D’Tigers, the Nigerian male basketball team, beat Tunisia, the African champions, in their opening match, before losing to Lithuania, is direct evidence of that reaping.

In other cases however, Nigeria has been a net loser. Francis Obikwelu was a promising Nigerian world beater in the sprints until the shambolic sports management at home forced him to defect to Portugal. He represents Portugal to this day. In this case, Nigeria’s painful loss is

Portugal’s happy gain. This loss was especially painful because this was one world-class athlete that would have been born, bred and nurtured to glory in Nigeria.

Despite the net-gain and net-loss for Nigeria, it is clear that of the sum total of Nigerians competing for or against Nigeria, “Nigerians” abroad appear to show more sparkle than Nigerians in the country. Even otherwise brilliant homebred athletes in Nigerian colours seem to collapse to stage-fright on the big stage - the startling difference being Chioma Ajunwa, Nigeria’s first and only individual gold medallist in the long jump, at the Atlanta ’92 Olympics in the United States.

So, why do Nigerians tend to shine in foreign colours, yet blight their clear talent with mediocre performance in greenwhite-green? It is simply, it would appear, a true reflection of how mediocre leadership at home has plagued the management of sports, and denied otherwise brilliant and talented Nigerian youth of economic rewards and life-long sports careers, as it is the case in much of Europe, Russia and the United States.

The Nigerian, given the opportunities others take as given, could compete with the best in the world. If the present story is otherwise, it is because the politics and management at home is badly skewed.

The ongoing London Olympics therefore offers another clarion call for Nigeria to solve the all-important leadership question.

Will it?

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OYLE’S Olympic Opening Ceremony was a magnificent triumph of ideas as well as a feast for the eye. It exemplified a creative, tolerant and cultured nation “Great Britain,” remarked Dean Acheson, “has lost an empire and has not yet found a role”. The opening ceremony for the London Olympics on Friday night was glorious, thrilling entertainment, but it deserves higher praise than just for that. For it may even have provided an answer to the condundrum posed 50 years ago by the great American statesman.

The Olympic spirit celebrates endeavour and struggle, not conquest. Nations that have the privilege of staging the games interpret that spirit. The spectacular opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics in 2008, with synchronized acrobatics and regimented drumming, exemplified a great power with immense financial resources. The ceremony imagined and orchestrated on Friday night by Danny Boyle showed something different and brilliant: an ambitious depiction of ideas that represent Britain and its spirit.

Whatever sporting achievements are recorded in these Games. Boyle has already made them memorable beyond transient spectacle. He has given the nation a glimpse of both history and possibility that may prove durable in the collective memory as the Great Exhibition of 1851 or the Festival of Britain a century later.

Boyle’s history was not nostalgia, however. It was a fast, sensorily overwhelming, witty and sometimes beautiful celebration of the numerous strands that have made modern Britain. The answer Boyle gave about this country’s identity was that it was creative, tolerant, pluralist and at ease with itself. Most important, in Boyle’s scheme, these are not substitutes or palliatives for a nation whose relative power has declined. They are integral to Britain’s place in history and the world.

The ceremony started, at exactly 20:12, with the flight past of the Red Arrows. Their precision, skill and speed intimated that the evening would be spectacular. But they still could give no hint of the imaginative powers that the ceremony would summon up.

Kenneth Branagh, dressed, as Isambard Kingdom Brunel and declaiming The Tempest, was not genuflecting to a romanticized notion of the nation’s great figures of engineering and literary genius. He was dramatizing the spirit of invention. William Makepeace Thackery wrote in 1860: “We who lived before railways and survive out of the ancient world are like Father Noah and his family out of the Ark”. Brunel helped to forge that brave new world. With foundries, towers and mills, Boyle and his actors brought it to life.

Because this was food for the mind and not only a feast for the eye, the ceremony provoked the odd carping comment. Aidan Burley, a Conservative MP, coarsely decried its purportedly “leftie multicultural” nature. His foolish and inflammatory comment at least had the merit of recognizing the centrality of ideas in Boyle’s creation.

The depiction of immigrants from the Caribean, arriving off the Empire Windrush at Tilbury in 1948, was affecting and profound. Britain is more ethnically variegated now compared with the last time London was host for the Olympics, in that very year. Economically and socially, this has proved a source of strength. British society may be diverse but it is not fissiparous. It has shared, if fallible, institutions, such as the NHS, and a vibrant culture in which works of the imagination, such as the children’s literature of J.M. Barrie and J.K. Rowling, are accorded proper respect.

Among those shared institutions, one showed on Friday a capacity to surprise. The Queen’s acting debut, with James Bond, evinced a head of state, who has held office continuously for 60 years. With an ability to laugh at herself. Her decision to participate was one facet of an essential wisdom that has greatly benefited the nation. Boyle’s celebration of the essence of Britishness was wholly in accord with it.

– The London Times

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THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2012

20

CARTOON & LETTERS

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IR: President Barack Obama, in the wake of the recent mass shooting that threw America into mourning, cut short a political trip to Florida to return to Washington. The unfortunate incident occurred when a delusional 24year-old who styled himself as The Joker, decided to act out his obsession. In a surreal twist of fate, the postgraduate dropout of the University of Colorado, James Holmes stole into the Century 16 cinema, screening venue of the final installment of the Batman series, and shot into the audience, killing 12 people and wounding 58 others.

In one of the most devastating mass scale murders in recent American history, President Obama relegated his reelection campaign to the back burner to attend to the emergency. As a mark of respect to the departed souls, he ordered American flags flown at half-mast and announced through his campaign spokeswoman that the campaign will keep its television adverts off the air in Colorado

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Learning from the Obama example through the whole week.

As the chief executive of the most powerful nation in the world, President Obama has had to reprise the role of consoler-in-chief in articulating sorrow and loss for his country.

In November 2009, he led mourners at a service for victims of the mass shooting at Texas’ Fort Hood.

In January 2011, he spoke at a memorial for the six victims killed in Tucson, Arizona, when a gunman attacked Rep. Gabrielle Giffords as she met with constituents.

Three months later, when some 300 Americans were killed in a multi-state series of tornadoes,

Obama flew to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to commiserate with residents whose homes had been destroyed. The following month, Obama flew to Joplin, Missouri, after a monster tornado claimed 161 lives.

In the wake of a national tragedy, the role of the American president in managing the situation cannot be overemphasized. In a sense, he is the one person Americans look up to for moral leadership, the one who stands and acts on behalf of the American people as a whole.

This power, derived in part from his use of the visibility and prestige of his office, is essentially why

Americans are persuaded to follow his lead in helping them get through any crisis.

In Nigeria, in moments of national mourning, the President is expected to give a speech that will echo his role as leader of national mourning. He is expected to recreate the American leadership concept upon which his country’s system of government draws.

The Obama example is a worthy one for our president to follow.

For a man whose election into office has triggered series of sectarian/ religious violence never before experienced in the history of the country, President Goodluck

When will Nigerians learn to do things right?

IR: Nigeria’s notorious status on issues relating to extreme corruption and theft has been further enhanced by the fuel subsidy scandal. The oili-garchsthat have watertight control of the booming oil sector have allowed their greed to blindfold them.

Our elders say that when a child doesn’t learn from their past mistakes, such a child shall be bedevilled by failure. During the regime of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, billions of naira meant to resuscitate the epileptic Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) went into private pockets.

Now, the Goodluck Jonathan administration seems clueless about combating corruption. Although the administration claimed that the intention behind the removal of fuel subsidy was to re-direct the fund into development projects, which was laudable, it has landed the nation into a mess.

No thanks to the subsidy removal, we are now dealing with the situation in which powerful players have been charged with stealing subsidy money. Of course, those being prosecuted are influen-

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tial, powerful and overtly ambitious. They have connections at the highest levels in government.

Today, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has suffered paralysis.

Imagine, it took the President’s threat to punish the perpetrators of the subsidy scam before the EFCC was roused to act.

When will Nigerians especially our politicians learn how to do things? Almost all the good things in this country are never done right including communication, security, education, power, trade, transportation etc. All sectors are ill. They are in the intensive care unit of the electorate, the executive, the legislature and the judiciary, waiting to be rescued.

Our refusal to learn has taken us to the brink of lawlessness. Barely hours after the President of Ghana died, the Vice President- John Mahama stepped in to avert a possible power vacuum. We saw how the tussle for power after Yar’Adua’s death threatened to destabilise the nation.

Therefore, if Nigerians and Nigerian politicians are refusing to

learn, the electorate will have to either teach them subtly through voting them out of power or through an inevitable revolution.

Importantly, our young minds need to be taught leadership skills and civic education from the primary school level. They should be shielded from this corroded society, which I think will be difficult.

But we have to try because Nigerianeeds young and vibrant leaders that will diligently assist to make things right as well as learn from our rough past in order to chat a guaranteed future. Presently, Nigeria is lost and quickly needs to find its way.

• Ogunfowoke, Adeniyi Ayuba.

Badagry, Lagos.

Jonathan has a duty to shed his administration of the toga of insensitivity that his ever increasing detractors have tagged him with. He must work out a way of restoring the territorial integrity of the country, which is on the brink of disintegration.

Granted, he did what was expected of him in the aftermath of the Madalla bombing, visiting the scene of the killing and also weeping for the lost ones in the open. But going back to the Villa to announce the removal of subsidy on fuel –exactly a week after the unfortunate incident was ill-advised and smacked of a leader out of touch with the sufferings of the people that elected him into office.

President Jonathan comes across as someone still grappling– and by Jove, he is – with the expectation of his office. His impolitic utterances have continuously provided his enemies with ample ammunition to launch their endless diatribes against his government. His actions have made him a largely unpopular figure among Nigerians. Though his image-makers and apologists continually claim to the contrary, it doesn’t take rocket science to find out that President Jonathan’s public rating has suffered a massive dent.

While the president cannot be faulted for the nation’s progressive descent into anarchy, it is his inability to bring his much anticipated – and largely yet-to-be-seen – conflictmanagement skills to bear that leaves much to be desired.

Christopher O. Okonkwo Abuja.

The President and asset declaration

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IR: A president that can not declare his asset can not be totally trusted.

Even if he is innocent, hardly can he be trusted, because he has given an avenue for people to doubt him.

Even if the constitution does not compel him to declare it publicly, fidelity demands that he should.

But if the President is now saying that he will not declare his asset even if he is being criticize from heaven, that means something is wrong somewhere. Such statement can make people to conclude that he has a skeleton in his cupboard.

If the President is saying it is his principle not to declare his asset in

the country where everybody is presumed to be corrupt, I think such a principle should be questioned. Such a principle is not a principle that one should stand firmly on.

This is somebody that declared his asset as Vice President; it means he didn’t do it willingly but because his boss did then, therefore he didn’t have option than to emulate his boss.

As the number one citizen, it is incumbent on him to lay a good example to other political office holders and civil servants, and one of the ways to do that is for the President to publicly declare his

asset as his predecessor did.

Section 140 (1) of 1999 Constitution says “A person elected to the office of President shall not begin to perform the functions of that office until he has declared his assets and liabilities as prescribed in this constitution…..

But now that the President doesn’t give a damn, the people are saying it is wrong and he must listen to what people are saying because vox populi, vox dei – the voice of people is the voice of God says the Latin proverb.

• Ajiboye John Tosin Osogbo, Osun State

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2012

21

COMMENTS

National Youth Service Corps posting

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HEN General Yakubu Gowon’s government after the fratricidal Civil War between 1967 and 1970 decided to introduce the national youth service as a way of dispelling from the minds of the youth various ethnic prejudices harboured against one another, everybody welcomed the innovation. Those were heady days. Nigeria was full of enthusiasm after overcoming division. Any lingering hatred was avoided because there were no show trials as would have been the case in some parts of the world after a war of secession. The scheme was designed for cross-cultural postings of young graduates so as to inculcate in them the spirit of oneness. People of my generation except in exceptional circumstances did not have opportunity to know their country. They continue to see people from other areas as inferior to themselves.

This feeling was not restricted to people from other ethnic groups. Even members of the same ethnic group but inhabiting different part of it looked down on each other with disdain and sense of superiority. Among the Yoruba for example, southern and coastal Yoruba people called northern and upcountry people Ara-oke or country bumpkin. Onitsha Igbos and those from areas now called Anioma saw Igbos from the heartland as uncouth, unreconstructed backward people; known as Nwa-Onye Igbo; while they also looked down at the Onitsha and Anioma people as Igbo-Khaki. In the north, among the Hausas, Kano people generally looked down on other Hausa. They sometimes dismissed Muslims in the Northeast apart from Borno as “Sardauna Muslims”. So it wasn’t a case of ethnic arrogance alone, but what one may call locational

‘It is with this in mind that parents including myself find it difficult to understand why officials of the NYSC would foolishly insist that young people must go and die where adults are running away from. It is no consolation to any parent to hear officials ensconced in their air-conditioned offices in Abuja shouting orders for young graduates to first go and report in their places of posting before filing for objections’

I

N a way, all fathers are the same.

Whether rich or poor, they want the best for their children. The best schools; the best things of life, you name it, they want it for their kids, especially the boys among them. To them, everything for their children must be the best. But the poor are at a disadvantage here.

They can only give their children the best their money can afford and that amounts to little or nothing. In the race for life, the rich have an edge over the poor.

With their wealth, they can afford anything for their children and in most cases they spoil these kids not a little but heavily. Many rich kids are spoilbrats, spoilt silly because they were born with a silver spoon in their mouths.

The population of the University of Spoilt Children (USC) is large today because of the over-indulgence of many fathers, who are loath to seeing their sons suffer. They forget that without pain, there is no gain.

They prop their kids up to be the best among their peers and can go to any length to ensure that these children get anything they want. It is not a sin for a father to love his son, but it is sinful for any father to use his son for his own selfish end under the guise of setting him up in life.

Every father prays for a son that will succeed him. A son that will carry the family name when he is

arrogance. The proverbial ethnic contempt for one another by the major ethnic groups in Nigeria is well known, and well researched. So it was to breakdown this feeling that was militating against national unity that the National Youth Service Corps was set up.

It was not an original thing. The Americans have had a national military service for years. Israel, after its creation in 1948, and surrounded by hostile Arabs, made national military service for men and women compulsory.

The idea of a national service as a rite of passage for citizenship goes back to 1789 and the French revolutionary days, when a citizen army (Levee en Masse) was called upon to defend the revolution and the French Republic. This awareness must have influenced those who suggested to the government of Nigeria that the youth service corp should be given military training. They alluded to the various cadets in government colleges and initially at the University of Ibadan at the tail end of British colonial administration of Nigeria.

Having just come out of the Civil War, the Nigerian government was not about to give military training to young and educated Nigerians who might have harboured revolutionary ideas to threaten the status quo of Nigeria. So it was settled that the young people would be mobilized and given some three weeks military exercises but not military training in order to put them in shape for their service. The nomenclature of National Youth Service Corps is a throwback to the initial idea of military training.

In spite of some shortcomings such as graduates and their parents influencing their posting, poor remuneration for services rendered, rejection of corps members by some establishments, and gate crashing into the scheme by unqualified people; the NYSC has been a great success. It definitely has promoted national unity. At least young Nigerians know their country more than their parents. There are even instances of corps members settling in the state of primary assignment and getting married and raising families. But in recent times and because of the general insecurity in the country, the scheme is facing serious difficulties and unless those in-charge put on their thinking caps, the whole thing would collapse.

The first threat posed to the survival of the scheme came in 2008 during one of the perennial crisis in Jos when some corpers were murdered in cold blood. The chilling experience was captured on the mobile phone. Young Mr. Akinjogbin who called his parents while being pursued and when overtaken and overpowered, his assailants took his phone and spoke to his parents that they were killing their son. He and some other corpers were later brought home in body bags to their wailing parents. Further killings of youth corpers took place in Bauchi after the 2011 elections when 11 corpers who had run to the police stations for protection were overpowered and slaughtered.

These young people did nothing to deserve this gruesome death. Their offence, if it was an offence, was that they answered the call for national service for which they paid with their lives.

All these corpers were from the southern part of the country. Perhaps, if they spoke the Hausa language, they would have heard that people were coming to kill them and in any case, the cultural affinJide ity between them and Osuntokun their assailants would have provided them security. It is with this in mind that parents including myself find it difficult to understand why officials of the NYSC would foolishly insist that young people must go and die where adults are running away from. It is no consolation to any parent to hear officials ensconced in their air-conditioned offices in Abuja shouting orders for young graduates to first go and report in their places of posting before filing for objections. Any officer giving such order should be arrested and charged for murder if anything were to happen to such young people.

Every Nigerian wants national unity.

This is the only country we have. We can only enjoy and experience this national unity if we are alive. No one can experience national unity in their graves. Parents would be right to tell their children not to serve in any obviously unsafe place in Nigeria. I say this because of the general insecurity in this country. But some places are safer than the others. As a rule of the thumb, any state where the Boko Haram has struck in the last one year should be regarded as unsafe and posting of graduates there should be discouraged. Graduates from the northern part of Nigeria who do not want to serve for fear of being killed in such places should also not be posted there. Graduates from the southern part of Nigeria should be excused from being sent to areas infested by Boko Haram terrorists. This of course should be a temporary measure until the security situation in the country returns to normal. Between now and the next posting of Batch C corp members in October/November, officials of NYSC should work out the modus operandi of a new system so that corpers can be posted to safe places seamlessly and without further arguments.

Oil sons linked by fate gone. In their life time, rich men, who are blessed with sons, prepare the ground for their children to succeed them. They put the kids in their companies to understudy and eventually succed them as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Others set their kids up in business and with their connections open doors for them so that the business will thrive. This is the standard practice among the rich worldwide.

They hand over the family wealth to their sons, who will also hand over to their own sons and it continues like that down the line from generation to generation.

I don't begrudge the rich for laying solid foundations for their kids, but I detest the fact that in doing so, they tamper with the commonwealth, in many instances.

If they stopped at mere tampering, it would have been better; they go beyond that at times to despoil the commonwealth as they are doing in a country called Airegin, where oil was first discovered by a foreign company called Hell.

Since that discovery, Airegin has experienced nothing but hell from the oily activities of Hells. Rather than be a blessing, oil has become a curse to the people of Airegin, especially those in its coastal areas, where the commodity is found in large quantity.

‘It is not a sin for a father to love his son, but it is sinful for any father to use his son for his own selfish end under the guise of setting him up in life’

But Hells' activities pale into insignificance when compared with what those in authority and their influential friends are doing with Airegin's major revenue earner.

They have turned the oil into their own.

They are into oil lifting and importation of its end products. In one word, they are enjoying the best of two worlds. With the support of those in power, they are milking Aireginians under the payment of fuel subsidy to importers, many of which are companies being managed by their sons. They have fleeced Airegin of billions of dollars under this scam, which is perpetrated with the connivance of the so-called regulatory agencies in the oil sector.

ETWEEN the regulators and the importers is a cosy ar rangement for movement of funds from one account to the other for payment for fuel not imported.

Subsidy is paid for imported products, but they have been collecting money for not importing anything.

They just sit down in their offices, cook up some shipping documents and send to the conniving relevant authorities for payment. And pronto, they are paid and everybody smiles to the bank after the deal, while Aireginians bear the brunt of their action. Subsidy, which is meant to ensure that the price of fuel is affordable to the common man, ends up not achieving this goal.

Today, prices of petrol, diesel and kerosine are out of the reach of the average Aireginian because of the unethical business conduct of the rich and their sons. Can we get these people to answer for their crime?

B

Chances are that many of them will escape justice because they left no traces behind of their involvement in this monumental subsidy fraud.

Instead, they pushed their sons into the shadowy business so that when the bubble burst, as it has done now, nothing will be traced to them.

What kind of father will put his son's head on the chopping block all because of money? Does such a person worth being called father?

We know that these boys are old enough to know their right from their left, but without their fathers' influence, many of them may not be where they are today in the business world. Se na so e dey easy to be oil baron! Well, since they have pushed their boys this far, they should be ready for whatever comes out of these children's present predicament. But will they allow the process run smoothly?

RE : Reps vs Jonathan

T

HE impeachment should be actualised. The way the government is being run is as if Nigeria is a personal estate. Let the impeachment be. From: Ayo Apelogun, Ilesha, 08188810889.

Our minds have been so corrupted by bad leadership that it is difficult to see anything good in any government policy, no matter how well intentioned. From: 08037779031.

I hope the president and his men will not dismiss the issue raised in the article with a wave of the hand.

Praise singers may mislead him; he has disappointed many of us (minorities) who see him as one of us.

From : Aduku Musa, 08035642179.

The impeachment move is a

Lawal Ogienagbon lawal.ogienagbon@thenationonlineng.net SMS ONLY: 08099400204

wake-up call for the president. The president needs such a jolt to stir him from inertia. From : 08034726625.

If the truth must be told, he does not have what it takes to be there; he should sit up or resign. From : 08088607768.

I hope the president's men will draw his attention to the article.

From : 08135326812.

Impeachment is mathematically impossible in Nigeria even if all the objective conditions are politically fulfilled. We are too tribalised in our socio-political dealings to implement such a highly democratic process...Nigeria is not ripe for such a complicated exercise.

From : 08188134413.

I agree that Mr President cannot do the job. The problem is that the ruling class will not allow the people to choose leaders that protect and defend their interests. From : Amos Ejimonye, Kaduna, 07085284103.

The article is the true position of the masses. From : 08021161179.

SMS ONLY: 08099400204

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2012

22

COMMENTS

L

ET me humbly admit that I cannot pretend to take credit for the above. I did not coin them. Let us give credit to whom it is due: the patent belongs to The News magazine and ex-President Obasanjo. The magazine way back in 1999, had waged a war against the then new Speaker of the Lower House, Salisu Buhari. The News triumphed.

Buhari was jailed for awarding himself a certificate of University of Toronto, an institution he never attended and also for lying about his age, the two platforms of The News crusade. In fairness to the magazine, it did not at that time claim the lower legislative house was made up of crooks. They did not foreclose the possibility of some honourable men in the House. Their focus then was on the identified crook in the House.

But that soon changed. Not long afterwards, It was a member of the Senate, Senator Nuhu Aliyu, a former Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) and chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence in the Sixth session of the Senate that first claimed publicly that both chambers of the National Assembly were populated by ‘murderers, crooks and scammers masquerading as lawmakers’. As an intelligence officer and an insider, his assertion attracted a lot of attention.

But as one Senate President fell after the other under the weight of financial malfeasance; and as one speaker bit the dust to give way to another, the epithet, House of Crooks started to stick. Finally, Obasanjo a former two-term president declared, “Today, rogues, armed robbers are in the state Houses of Assembly and the National Assembly”, asking, “what sort of laws will they make?”

Coming from Obasanjo, a leader who never craved for popularity, but in fact deliberately set out to curry ill-will instead of good will, even those who had always bore malice against Obasanjo, started to analyse the activities of the two houses of parliament.

But two developments within the week, the Oyo State House of Assembly delegation of 32 wives of members to a jamboree in Britain shortly after their own return from working tour of South Africa, and the presidency attempt to fight Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila over the House impeachment motion has again brought focus on the assembly.

The president and his handlers have tried, in the usual PDP dog-eat-dog fashion, attempted to prove that Gbajabiamila is not different from their PDP fellow legislators.

O

NE of the major parameters of measuring a society’s economic growth and development is the availability of infrastructural facilities of which the provision of good road network stands tall. The primacy of good roads is underscored by its potency of stemming rural-urban drift, facilitating production and transportation of goods and services as well as attracting the development of small, medium and large scale industries, amongst others.

In a place like Osun State, which is basically an agro-based society, the multiplier effects of good road network within and across cities and communities in the state will not only better people’s standards of living, but enhance their productive capacity and give such a turnaround that translates into stress reduction and healthy living. It is against this backdrop that the present administration of Mr. Rauf Aregbesola has taken some pragmatic steps to reverse the parlous state of roads in the state.

Given his antecedent as an achiever in Lagos State when he served for eight years as the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, the governor appreciates that any society whose roads are in bad shape can only be char-

‘Given his antecedent as an achiever in Lagos State when he served for eight years as the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, the governor appreciates that any society whose roads are in bad shape can only be characterized by inefficiency, low productivity, time wastages, heavy expenses on human and materials maintenance, loss of lives due to avoidable accidents, and crippled and retarded economy’

The crooks in the House or House of crooks?

They raked up the settled issue of his sanctioning by Georgia Supreme Court for professional misconduct and negligence in 2007.

One cannot hold brief for Gbajabiamila’s claimed moment of absentminded particularly one who understands how the American system works. Perhaps he was preoccupied with widely criticized constituency projects.

But if the embattled Reuben Abati, currently fighting to ward off newly employed attack dogs that would further alienate the president had been generous enough to suggest the name of his former senior colleague at The Guardian as a consultant, I would have just recommended they borrow a popular Yoruba idiom to the effect that when a leaf used in wrapping the soap stays too long, it becomes soap. Gbajabiamila has been in the House since 2003 and has seen it all. He it was, along with the former Senate President, Ken Nnamani that swore on their honour that ex-President Obasanjo spent about N10billion on his failed third term bid. They didn’t tell us they rejected their own share since it is obvious there were recipients.

But let us trace the slow and steady journey of the legislature to their acquisition of what many may see as befitting new name. Since Nigerians are too forgetful, Abraham Ogbodo, a very resourceful deputy political editor of The Guardian, along with his team of Kamal Tayo Oropo and Armsfree Ajanaku Onomo in an insightful piece entitled ‘A parliament of many scandals’ traced the genesis to the beginning of the 4threpublic in 1999.

As we have now known through, once again, the ubiquitous Obasanjo who coined the phrase ‘do-or-die election’ most elected or selected members of the National Assembly exploited the poverty among our people to in the words of Ogbodo ‘overwhelm Nigeria’s weak institutions of democracy; namely the electoral body, the security agencies and the judiciary’. The tragic outcome, as Professor Olatunji Dare lamented only this Tuesday, ‘the very thought of Dr Jonathan and David Mark and all the officials thrown up by gravely flawed elections as law makers is preposterous through and through’.

In 1999, shortly after the first Speaker of the House, Salisu Buhari was tried and convicted by the court for fraud and forgery and sent to prison, his counterpart at the Senate, Evans or Evan Ewerem was alleged to have been convicted abroad before becoming the senate president. He was also said to have been involved in financial fraud as board member of Nigerian Airport Authority in the second republic and even as Imo state governor in 1992 and 1993. He was unceremoniously removed by his colleagues.

Chuba Okadigbo who took over also fell under the weight of alleged embezzlement and misappropriation including spending about half a million to purchase a salah ram for each of the 109-member of the senate.

Adolphus Wabara was forced to resign following his involvement in the N54m scandal involving Fabian Ozuji, minister of education as well as members of Senate and House

Osun: Stimulating economic growth through infrastructural development

By Oyintiloye Olatunbosun acterized by inefficiency, low productivity, time wastages, heavy expenses on human and materials maintenance, loss of lives due to avoidable accidents, and crippled and retarded economy. Thus, he has brought to bear his enormous experience to make a difference in this sector and, in line with his six-point integral action plan, he meticulously assessed the embarrassing condition of roads in the Osun State and creatively harnessed resources to change the story. Armed with blueprints to actualise his vision, Aregbesola categorized road works into intra and inter-city.

The first intervention contract projects were awarded by the government last year which was the spot patching and spot rehabilitation of roads in the major towns and villages in all the nine federal constituencies that make up the state. The project, which benefited several communities, namely Iwo, Ede, Ilesa, Ikirun, Ile-Ife, Osogbo, Ikire and Ejigbo among others, covered 83.66 kilometers and it was awarded for N1,086,358,046. This project has reached 99.7 per cent completion.

In order to make the state capital and other major cities to reflect the true urban status, government, early this year, awarded another set of 21 selected roads within Osogbo spanning 26.31 kilometers for N3.9 billion and 15 selected roads of 29.7 kilometers in Ilesa for N3.7 billion, while work is also progressing on 14 roads in Ede and 34 roads in Ikirun.

Some of the roads in Osogbo include CocaCola/Alekuwodo/Capital Hotel road, Gbodofon/Jaleyemi/Gbaemu junction road, Kola Balogun/Fiwasaye/Olohunosebi junction road, Station roads/Fagbewesa/OdiOlowo/Ebenezer hotel spur and Oke-fia/ Alekuwodo/Ola-Iya/Ita-Olokan/Ilesa road junction.

In Ilesa, contracts were awarded for rehabilitation and construction of Adebisi Aromolaran Street/Oke-Aanu, Isokun/ Osogbo roads/DIG Fagbola, Ibala/OkeOmiru/Otekunrin/Osogbo roads junction and Irojo Sabo junction/Agboworin Crescent/Bolorunduro (Amuta junction). Besides, through direct labour, another N3.3 billion intra-city road works, covering 51.69 kilometers, are on-going in some other major towns in the state. They include 14 roads in Ede, 34 in Ikirun. Other communities where direct labour works are on-going include IlaOrangun, Ikire, Ijebu-Jesa, Iperindo, Ejigbo, Ile-Ife, Okuku and Modakeke.

In fact, the first phase of the road work is the construction of drainage channels and as soon as there is a break in the rainy season, asphalting work will commence.

For proper linkages of inter-city roads, government of the State of Osun awarded a contract of N10.3 billion to cover rehabilitation and reconstruction of 333.22 kilometers of roads linking towns and communities together in all the nine federal constituencies of the state. Among the roads are Ife/Ondo road, Moro/Ipetumodu/Asipa/Ife/Ibadan Expressway, Oke-Gada/Awo/Iragberi/ Ejigbo/Oyo State boundary road, Ikirun/ Iragbiji/Igbajo/Ada with spur Aagba road, Ikirun/Otan-Ayegbaju/Ila/Ilale in Kwara State boundary, Iwo/Ejigbo road, Gbongan/ Ile-Ogbo road, Ada/Ibokun/Ikinyinwa road, Ajagba/Iwo-Oke/Ajagunlase/Ife-Odan road and Ilesa/Ifewara road among others.

So far, the intra-city roads, according to the Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Transport, Engineer Oladepo Amudah, have reached 35 per cent completion, while the inter-city roads is up to 50 per cent. Other major roads awarded include six selected roads covering 74.1 kilometers for a contract sum of N17.5 billion. The roads are Gbongan/

Committee on education.

Another high profile member of the Senate whose tenure was marked by controversy is Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello. As chairman of the Senate’s Health Committee, she was drilled

by EFCC over 10 million bribe as well as her involvement in a N3.5b energy related contract scandal In the lower House, Farouk Lawan, now embroiled in $620,000 bribe from Femi Otedola, in 2007, led the Integrity Group that chased Patricia Etteh out of office for spending N628m to renovate her official residence (we never know how much Dimeji Bankole paid for the house as part of his severance package.

Bankole himself, along with his deputy, Usman Bayero Nafada ended their reign in ignominy as both were chased around like mere criminals by EFCC over a N10b loan they took to finance the greed of the house members.

Herman Hembe, former chairman of the House Committee on Capital Market and his deputy are currently in court over allegation of receiving a business class flight ticket for trips never undertaken and for demanding N45m bribe from Security and Exchange Commission’s DG Arumah Oteh.

I have high regards for our legislators, elected or selected. Therefore, in the light of above highlights, it is left to Nigerians to decide on which of the above titles, none of which is my creation, is a befitting epithet for our national assembly.

‘But if the embattled Reuben Abati, currently fighting to ward off newly employed attack dogs that would further alienate the president had been generous enough to suggest the name of his former senior colleague at The Guardian as a consultant, I would have just recommended they borrow a popular Yoruba idiom to the effect that when a leaf used in wrapping the soap stays too long, it becomes soap’ Odeyinka/Orile-Owu/Araromi Owu/IjebuIgbo road, Igbajo/Okeerun/Iresi road, IjebuJesa/Ijeda-Ijesha/Iloko-Ijesha/ to Ilesa/ Akure expressway, Ijeda-Ijesha/Erinmo-Ijesha road and Gbongan/Ife/Ibadan expressway.

Works have commenced on all the six selected roads.

The government has also awarded a contract sum of N18 billion for the dualisation of Osogbo-Ikirun-Ijabe to Ila Odo in Kwara State boundary and the dualisation of the proposed Dagbolu International Market to Alamisi road in Ikirun. Also, the designs of dualisation for Gbongan-Osogbo road have been completed, while the contractual procedure is being worked upon, as the contract for the project is expected to be signed very soon. Besides, the construction and dualisation of contract for the 18 kilometer Osogbo East Bypass roads is also expected to be awarded and to commence this year. The road is starting from Iwo road at Dele Yes-sir roundabout to link up the existing roundabout around Osogbo City Stadium, with a fly-over inter-change beside Ataoja Grammar School. Also in the pipeline is the reconstruction and dualisation of Iwo/ Osogbo road, which had been abandoned for years.

Apart from the new road projects that have been awarded, there were also abandoned roads inherited from the last administration, which are gradually being reconstructed by this present administration; they are 20 kilometers each in Iwo, Ikirun and Okuku respectively. The one in Iwo has now been completed, while those of Ikirun and Okuku are now approaching their completion stage.

In all, the state government has awarded contracts for road projects spanning about 1,200 kilometres across the state, with a view to creating a lofty environment where commercial activities would thrive, investments attracted and people’s standard of living boosted. Osun State is, therefore, set for a new dawn, as these projects are set to be completed within a short time.

•Olatunbosun, is Assistant Director,(Community Forum) at Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Osun State.

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2012

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THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2012

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THE NATION

EDUCATION Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2012

email:- education@thenationonlineng.com

The concern over the disappearance of local languages is not new.But, to renowned Kenyan author Prof Ngugi Wa Thiong' O, failure to invest in teaching children indigenous languages will have grave implications. KOFOWOROLA BELO-OSAGIE reports.

INSIDE

N2.7b for film village THE Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete will spend N2.7billion on the proposed film village.

The Malete Film Village is expected to have production level of 100 films in a year and 50 films in the first year, Vice-Chancellor of University, Prof AbdulRasheed Na’Allah, has said.

-Page 27

Schools’ security contracts in Delta THE Delta State Government says it will contract security of public schools to communities and private security agencies.

Prof Patrick Muoboghare, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education in Delta, said a proposal to that effect is ready.

-Page 28

CAMPUS LIFE •An eight-page section on campus news, people etc

Mixed feelings at UNILORIN AFTER a long search, Prof Abdulganiyu Ambali has emerged Vice-Chancellordesignate of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN). He will assume office in October when incumbent Prof Ishaq Oloyede will leave.

The Registrar, Mrs Olufolake Oyeyemi, broke the news of Prof Ambali’s appointment after a special session of the Governing Council last Thursday.

-Page 29

• From left: Mrs Nelly Ibukun-Oyewole, Principal, Federal Government College, Lagos, who represented the Education Minister, Prof Ruqayyat Ahmed Rufa'i; Mr Philip Oduoza, Group Managing Director, UBA Plc; Prof Ngugi and Ms Ijeoma Aso, Managing Director, UBA Foundation at the Read Africa Launch in Lagos.

How to preserve Africa’s languages A

S far as nine-year-old Jesse Iriah is concerned, she is not a Nigerian. And she may be

right.

She was born in New York to a Yoruba mother and Edo father. She speaks only English. She knows a little Yoruba, though, at least she hears a bit of it when her mother speaks with relatives, but she doesn't understand what Ora, her father's language, is at all.

"I am American. I am not a Nigerian," she told this reporter with all sense of seriousness at the prize giving ceremony of the upscale school she attends.

Asked about how much Yoruba she can speak, she said: "I can speak two

Aregbesola to varsities: be relevant

proverbs." One of them is "Ise l'oogun ise", which she learnt at school.

She is among thousands of schoolaged children across the country growing up in homes where English is exalted above the mother tongue as the preferred language of communication.

Her kind are born to a generation

‘

of highflying comfortable young professionals, many of whose parents also maintained a similar language regime during their childhood.

However, renowned Kenyan author Prof Ngugi wa Thiong' O does not think such should be encouraged. His description of the practice

Professor has given us a new definition of empowerment. How many of us can have a conversation with our children in our language? I am not sure we are up to 10 per cent, so that is slavery

’

as enslavement took on a whole new meaning for the audience at the Read Africa Launch by UBA Foundation at the UBA Headquarters, Marina, Lagos on Monday last week.

Urging the foundation to support publishing in local languages, the distinguished Professor of English and Comparative Literature at the University of California, Irvine, United States, said: "You don't say there are too many languages in the world. Languages are keys to knowledge. The more languages you know, the more keys to treasure houses you have. If you know all the other languages and don't • Continued on page 26

•657 graduate at UNIOSUN second convocation

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

T

HE Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has challenged universities to be relevant to the needs of the society.

He said only then will Nigeria make progress.

Speaking at the second convocation of the Osun State University (UNIOSUN), Osogbo last Friday, Aregbesola said Nigerian universities should learn from their counter• Continued on page 26

•Aregbesola with the overall best graduating student, Anthony Oladipo; and Prof Akinrinade

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2012

26

EDUCATION NICO holds local language classes THE National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) Southwest zone will open its annual indigenous language programme on Monday next week at the Babafunke Ajasin Memorial Hall, Igbatoro, Akure.

The one-month programme will feature Hausa, Igbo, Izon and Yoruba lessons delivered by seasoned instructors from the institute to school children, women in mixed marriages, expatriates and civil servants posted outside their states of origin/residence.

Southwest Zonal Head of NICO, Mr Ohi Ojo, said the lessons would also hold at weekends to accommodate workers who have indicated interest.

He said in a statement that the indigenous language is one of the important programmes executed annually by NICO through its various zonal offices to help participants understand greetings, everyday conversation and market scene transactions to enhance their daily living. The programme has helped to promote unity and mobility of citizens wherever they find themselves.

The Executive Secretary of NICO, Dr. Barclays Ayakoroma, will be on hand to receive dignitaries including top government officers and royal fathers at the opening, which will have Oba Adebiyi Adesida, Afunbiowo ll, Deji of Akure as the father of the day.

NICO Southwest zone comprises Ondo, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ogun states with headquarters in Akure, Ondo State.

Aregbesola urge varsities to be relevant •Continued from page 25

parts in the developed world, which contribute to solving problems in their communities.

"From the mid-20th Century to now, we have seen the dominant role universities have played in the developed world. Universities are usually in the forefront of any social challenge, especially with the power of research being focused on areas that will promote human development and solve existential problems. From the ongoing AIDS conference in the United States, there are reports that mankind is just on the verge of conquering HIV and tuberculosis. Research is ongoing in their universities on all human challenges.

“For them, research is not just for the promotion of lecturers but research findings are part of a society's knowledge base which is transmitted to students and industries. So then, a university must be an institution for the people. It must be a centre for knowledge and problem solving for society," he said.

He lamented the kind of education provided by many universities, describing it as irrelevant.

"Increasingly, our universities continue to issue bland certificates to graduates who are barely literate, if we take literacy literally to be the ability to read and write (good prose).

“The education is bland and not tied

•A cross section of the graduands

to the need of society. Education must be woven into life with a common thread running through life and society. This is how universities can be relevant.

"Such things like safe water, electricity, security and waste disposal are still huge challenges for them.

“Instead of spending billions on diesel to power generators, why can't the universities devote themselves to research in alternative and cheap sources of power for their campuses?

With all the Physics and Electrical and Electronics departments, why must the universities be part of the diesel guzzling society? Universities engage contractors for buildings and road

construction and are largely part of the contract driven economy.

“Why are their civil engineering and ancillary departments not involved with research on constructing roads and building at a fraction of today's cost? If the universities are not indeed, centres of excellence, how can they impart excellence on society?"

At the event during which 467 students graduated from the five colleges of the university, Akinrinade gave account of his stewardship as vicechancellor, particularly the feats the young university has achieved in the field of research.

With the progress in the university he assured the governor that it would

produce a noble laureate in 25 years.

"In 2007, when UNIOSUN started, we set ourselves the target of producing a Nobel Laureate during the first 25 years of the institution. It appeared a tall dream; however, with these fledgling efforts of ours, it is clear that the university is on course towards establishing itself as a major player in international research in the years to come," he said.

Akinrinade, who completed his tenure on Tuesday, July 31, also presented three documents - the records of the university's achievement in its first five years, the strategic plan for the next five years, and a letter of commendation from the NUC to the governor.

How to preserve Africa’s languages, by Ngugi Wa Thiong’O •Continued from page 25

know your language that is called enslavement. If you know your language and add all the other languages, that is called empowerment."

The impact of his statement on those in attendance was expressed by Mr Kenneth Uzoka, Deputy Managing Director of the bank, who lamented that most parents do not teach their children their languages.

"Professor has given us a new definition of empowerment. How many of us can have a conversation with our children in our language? I am not sure we are up to 10 per cent, so that is slavery. I think we should applaud the professor. This is a man who has taught in Yale but he converses with his son in their local dialect," he said.

Despite the seeming superiority pupils feel being able to speak English fluently without learning their mother tongue, some of them admitted feeling left out when surrounded by family members speaking their languages.

Jesse said: "My mummy speaks Yoruba to my aunty, grandmother and uncles. When we have family gatherings, and everyone is speaking Yoruba, I feel left out."

Another primary school pupil, Gabriel Oliseh, regretted that he could not speak the dialect of the Ukwani people of Delta State. However, he is making effort to learn Igbo from school and his grandmother.

"I speak some Igbo because I am learning it in school. Also, my grandmother tries to teach me whenever I go to visit her. My Daddy speaks his language almost everyday to his friends. He even speaks Yoruba, Hausa and Tiv. But he does not speak to us because he knows we cannot understand it," he said.

Mothers are, more often than not, the ones who transfer language skills to their children because they spend more time with them. However, while many underscore the importance of, and make conscious effort to teach, their languages, they do not insist that their children converse with them in those languages.

Mrs Olayinka Bello is proud that her daughter, Opemipo, a Nursery One pupil can speak Yoruba fluently.

‘Under the age of five, children can learn up to seven languages. I did a research in India relating to it. If you greet a two-year-old Indian in English, he will reply in English. If you greet in Hindi, they answer in English’ However, the little girl will only speak it to the domestic help.

"She speaks Yoruba and understands, although she won't speak to you; she will speak with the house help. It is bullshit not to be able to speak your language to your children. I had that experience with my elder brother. They started having children in 1994 and decided not to speak vernacular to them as they called it. They were surprised that my little girl speaks Yoruba and yet speaks English more fluently than their grown up children," she said.

Another mother, Mrs Ene Ndame, from Otukpo in Benue State, who is married to a Deltan, said her children, Isioma and Ikechukwu, pick a little of the two languages but still converse predominantly in English at home. For someone who learnt her Idoma mother tongue as a teenager, she said parents who have no languages to transfer to their children are lost.

"You can never be lost with your language. I have friends my age that do not speak their languages. I learnt mine in secondary school. So, if I could learn, anybody can. Those ones who cannot speak their languages have nothing to pass on. They are already lost. If not English, a child should learn with his local language," she said.

The "If not for English" factor is the reason Mrs Julie Okoronkwo, a teacher, does not encourage her children to speak their mother tongue at home. Actually, my children don't speak but can understand my language. We don't speak the language

to them. They pick it from our conversation. The reason we don't speak to them is because we want them to be fluent in English. When they are fluent in English, they can start speaking my language," she said.

However, language experts agree that young children can pick many languages easily without any confusion as early as age three. Miss Misan Rewane, an MBA student at Harvard Business School on Seven-Up Plc scholarship, has participated in similar research.

"Under the age of five, children can learn up to seven languages. I did a research in India relating to it. If you greet a two-year-old Indian in English, he will reply in English. If you greet in Hindi, they answer in English," she said.

Prof Ngugi seeks the enthronement of local languages above English, French and Portugese, describing them as the languages of power in Africa. But, for this to happen, he said government must make the necessary investment.

Despite the National Policy on Education stipulating that children should be taught in their mother tongue or the language of the environment for the first three years of primary education, it is not being practised in most parts of Nigeria.

However, one of the proponents of the use of indigenous dialects as language of instruction, the late Prof Babs Fafunwa, demonstrated the workability with a research he carried out in the 90s. Entitled: “The Ife Primary Education Research Project,” the control group used for the re-

search were taught all subjects in Yoruba Language for six years. The pupils were found not to be disadvantaged in anyway as a result of learning in Yoruba.

Nowadays, it is not easy to find teachers of local languages as they tend to be less favoured than their counterparts who teach English and other science subjects, a fact which the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), Prof Muhammad Junaid, admitted in an interview.

He said: "Nigeria's language policy is that teaching must be carried out in the local language or the language of the environment in the first three years of primary school education.

For instance, teaching in the Southwest zone must be carried out in Yoruba as the dominant language.

But the problem again is where to get adequate teachers to take on the subject at this lower level. So, the policy is there, but implementation and lack of teachers have been the problem. Now, we are trying to encourage more people to study local languages and become teachers, who

will be able to deliver the curriculum at that level of education."

However, some organisations are making efforts to help school children and others learn local languages they are unable to pick from home or their environment. One of them is the National Institute of Cultural Orientation (NICO), which organises indigenous language workshops annually.

Mr Ohi Ojo, head of the Southwest zone of the agency headquartered in Akure, the Ondo State Capital, told The Nation that the one-month language programme helps children, especially those from privileged background, to learn their mother tongue.

"We have many children from private primary schools attending the programme. A lot of them do not have cultural and language programmes in school. Many of the children are from the so-called elite schools. Children who are from mixed marriages usually attend. It is about creating awareness so that when they get to the streets, they can pick up a lot more," he said.

CORRECTION The National Universities Commission (NUC) suspended the licence of Lead City University, Ibadan, Oyo State, on July 4 and not six years ago as reported on page 25 last week.

“That’s good news for my folks ... better a dislocation than dismemberment!”

27

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2012

EDUCATION

KWASU to spend N2.7b on film village

T

HE Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete will spend N2.7billion on the proposed film village.

The Malete Film Village is expected to have production level of 100 films in a year and 50 films in the first year, Vice-Chancellor of University, Prof AbdulRasheed Na’Allah, has said.

The Kwara State Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed, inaugurated the board members of the film village in Ilorin, the state capital.

They include Na’Allah (Chairman), Chairman Film Village Investment Mobilisation Committee, Col. Tunde Ishola (rtd); Senior Special

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

Adviser to the state government on SMEs, Alhaji Lukman Adam; KWASU Provost College of Humanities, Management and Social Sciences, Prof Abiola Irele; film actor and producer, Alhaji Adebayo Salami; film producer, Mr Tunde Kelani and Director, Nigerian Film Corporation, Mrs Sandra Obiago.

Na’Allah added that the project would break even either in the first year or at the end of its third year, “thus attesting to its viability.”

Governor Ahmed, who was represented by his Deputy, Peter Kishra,

said the film village would “not only involve training students to acquire highest level of skills and expertise required in the business of filmmaking; it will also generate a chain of professionals - film directors, scriptwriters, broadcasters, film journalists and critics, cameramen, music recording artists, and television personnel - which will improve the quality of the growing film sector.

“With this the university places itself in good stead for making her mark in one of the largest industries in Nigeria - the entertainment industry. Tangible benefits of the project include boosting the local economy

and placing Kwara on the creative industry map globally.

“It will provide an international standard film production infrastructure for international film production and collaboration, attract tourists to the state and also create an enabling environment for private sector participation through the private-public partnership platform.

“To this end, this project should be seen as a strategy to strengthen innovative approaches to partnership building, resource mobilisation, youth empowerment and development.”

NCC donates 110 laptops to college From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

T

•From left: Dabiri-Erewa with Oba Agoro, Mrs Oladunjoye and Mrs Daodu (right) at the inauguration.

Abike Dabiri-Erewa donates classrooms

T

HREE blocks of classrooms have been inaugurated in the Ikorodu Federal Constituency by the Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye.

They are part of Mrs Dabiri-Erewa's constituency projects.

First to be opened was ZumratulIslamiyah Primary School, Odogunyan. The pupils, teachers and principal of the school while expressing appreciation for the gesture, requested toilet and fittings from the lawmaker.

They appealed for drainages to be fixed by the Ministry of the Environment.

Next was Methodist Primary School Ewu-elepe where the staff and pupils sang and danced to welcome the guests.

It was the same story at the Methodist Primary School, Imota.

Senior Special Assistant to Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola Mr Said Bukunle, commended the lawmaker's passion for education. He noted that 12 schools have so far been cited by her in Ikorodu, adding that textbooks, chairs and tables have also been provided to other schools.

More so, the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Centre in Oriwu College, has trained over 300 students in computer literacy. The monarch of Imota, Ajibade Agoro, Oba Ramodu of Imota, praised Mrs Dabiri-Erewa for making education her priority and in this case, primary education, and being a worthy repre-

sentative and good ambassador of Ikorodu Federal Constituency.

Mrs Dabiri-Erewa said her major priority has always been to improve basic education, adding: "without basic education, we will not be where we are today."

She called on individuals to partner with the government in promoting education. She expressed optimism the classroom blocks would

complementgovernment's efforts towards education development.

Chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB Mrs Gbolahan Daudu Olayinka, noted that in recent years, there has been exodus of people to Ikorodu; hence, some of the overcrowded classrooms in the area. She said SUBEB is doing all it can to ensure befitting the provision of basic education, with more classrooms in the state.

N

River Basin group to assist varsity on power THE Ogun-Oshun River Basin Development Authority (OORBDA has promised to assist the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB) in realising its dream of sufficient water supply, independent power base, irrigation agriculture and engineering, through the provision of a dam.

The Managing Director of OORBDA, Jimi Omoliki, gave the assurance when FUNAAB's ViceChancellor, Prof Olusola Bandele Oyewole, paid him a courtesy call.

He stressed the need for stronger ties between FUNAAB and OORBDA in capacity development, power generation, irrigation, security and good road networks.

According to him, "One of the challenges facing us today is water.

You can help us to solve it.

“We have up to 70 boreholes on campus, but we need to go beyond boreholes. We want to collaborate with you (OORBDA) to get a dam, the one on campus is meant for fisheries. We may not need to build a dam but you can extend yours to us."

‘We go for the best in FUNAAB’ THE Vice-Chancellor of FUNAAB, Prof Oyewole, has reiterated the university's strive for quality and excellence.

The Vice-Chancellor restated this while receiving the management team of the Premier Paints Plc, which paid him a courtesy call.

He said over the years, the university had ensured that it maintained its structures and facilities, using high quality building materials. He advised Nigerians to imbibe a good maintenance culture, especially, when it comes to the exterior of buildings.

The Vice-Chancellor charged the team to make available, a list of its accredited painters, to assist the university in dealing with qualified professionals.

Speaking earlier, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Premier Paints Plc, Mr 'Kemi Sunmola, said his organisation and FUNAAB had established mutual relationship, dated several years back.

Varsity plans trade mission to US

•Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu (centre); Ag.Vice-Chancellor UNILAG, Prof Rahman Bello (2nd right); ProChancellor, University of Ibadan/Guest Lecturer, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), right; Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof Isaac Folorunsho Adewole (left) and UNILAG Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Prof Jide Alo, at the 50th anniversary lecture of UNILAG Faculty of Law. PHOTO: ADEGUNLE OLUGAMILA

Firm holds Education Fair O fewer than 12 universities’representatives from Dubai, Ghana and India, are in the country for an education fair holding in six cities in the country.

The fair is organised by Educational House International Limited, in partnership with Youth Path Organisation and ABC Transport Plc. Tagged: Study abroad with ease, the fair, which aims at making students

HE Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has donated 110 laptops worth several millions of naira to the staff of the Federal College of Education, (Technical), FCE(T), Umunze in Anambra State.

Provost of the college, Prof Josephat Ogbuagu, stated this during a three-day training for Registry staff at the college Auditorium.

He said the 45 members of the Registry staff, who participated in the workshop would be the first to benefit from the donation.

He thanked the NCC through its representative, Mr Dave Onyali, for its magnanimity to the college and assured that the laptops would be distributed free to the workers.

The Provost further said the target of the institution was to operate a paperless administration as is done in renowned institutions.

Onyali said following the college's request for increased broadband for internet access, the NCC will go a step further to assist the college with it.

The Registrar of the college, Mr Augustine Udensi, noted that the Registry department benefited from the training and donation because of its strategic position in the administration of any institution and thanked all the partners.

FUNAAB FILE

By Mabel Onyeanwusi and Adejoke Opakunbi

get quality and affordable education at universities in Ghana, India, Dubai, South America and the United Kingdom.

It opened on Monday at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Lagos, and on Tuesday at the Ashosh Hotel, Ibadan.

Other days of the fair are today at the Kenbrill Hyatt Hotel, Benin City;

Saturday, August 4 at the Dannic Hotels, Enugu, and next Monday at the Dannic Hotel, Abuja.

From Wednesday next week to Thursday, Friday and Saturday August 11, the fair will hold at Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. On Monday, August 13, it will berth at the Victoria Crown Plaza Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The universities’ representatives are using the forum to guide stu-

dents in choosing the right courses, as well as conduct interviews, and facilitate applications.

The Chief Executive Officer of EducationHouse Limited, Mr Dick Tamunoemi Amos, said the partnership is to provide platform for youths to get quality education, adding that the representatives are in the country to assist students with admission procedures.

The fair, he said, would also provide parents the opportunity to interact with specialists on visa matters.

FUNAAB is to lead an Agricultural Trade Mission to California, the United States, courtesy of the collaboration with the Skyline College, San Francisco, California, United States.

This is expected to spur Californian investors, into bringing-in new technologies and ideas that could boost the various agricultural programmes of the university, as the two organisations are about signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

The Director for International Trade and Investment, California, Mr Richard Soyombo, who visited the university last week, spoke of his visit: "I am here, courtesy of the VC of FUNAAB and the President of Skyline College, to workout the modalities of signing a Memorandum of Understanding and foster collaboration between FUNAAB and Skyline".

"This whole thing started way back in April, this year when some top teaching staff of this university came to Skyline to initiate the way we can collaborate.”

On areas of collaboration, Soyombo added: "We have been able to identify student and faculty exchange programmes, curriculum development and even sports and entrepreneurship.”

28

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2012

EDUCATION FUTA FILE Alumni UK arm for launch THE alumni association of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) is set to launch its United Kingdom branch.

The event, which is scheduled to hold consecutively with the association's first re-union in the diaspora, is scheduled in the United Kingdom on August 25, this year, with the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Adebiyi Daramola as special guest of honour.

VC appoints professors, readers THE FUTA management has promoted some academics as professors and readers.

The new professors include Mike Osiele of the Department of Physics; Babatunde Ajayi of Forestry and Wood Technology; C. A. Chineke and J. O. Agbede of Animal Production and Health alongside O. T. Adebayo and Prof E. O. Adeparusi of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technolog.

Others are M. K. Oladunmoye of the Department of Microbiology; V. A. J. Adekunle of the Department of Forestry and Wood Technology; F. A. Igbasan of Animal Production and Health; and S. O. Y. Alfred of Agricultural Economics and Extension.

Similarly, Dr C. S. Okoli of Civil Engineering; Dr. A. A. Balogun of Meteorology; and Dr. A. O. Adelusi of Applied Geophysics; were elevated Readers.

Food firm partners on research A FOOD-PRODUCING outfit, Karma Food Industries Limited, is to partner with FUTA in research development and use of soyabeans seed production, food processing and other scientific and technological areas of common interest.

The institutions are also desirous of collaboration in technological transfer through training and capacity development of staff of the university and industrial training exchange for students.

Varsity appoints directors, others THE management has appointed the immediate past Registrar, Dr Funke Oyebade as director in the Advancement Office.

Oyebade's appointment is for two years.

Similarly, Dr Olumide Akinrinola, has been appointed Associate Director, Short term courses/certificate programme (STC/CP) in the University's Centre for Continuing Education (CCE); Akinrinola is a lecturer in the Department of Agricultural Economics & Extension.

Excellence, planning key to success, say Keshi, others UPER Eagles' Coach, Stephen Keshi, has advised secondary school pupils to strive for excellence in their studies and other endeavours so they can be successful in life.

Keshi gave the advice at a Tournament Ambassadors Programme organised by Guaranty Trust Bank PLC (GTBank) for pupils in Lagos State, where he was a guest speaker.

The event was designed to educate members of the team, who lifted the Principals Cup Football Tournament sponsored by the bank on the right path to attain greatness in their careers.

The ace footballer, who said he started his football career at St. Finbarrs College, Akoka, over 30 years ago, told the pupils that in his days, they chose what they wanted to become in life and started working towards achieving it while in school.

"You cannot become an achiever in any profession on the basis of a mere wish.You need to be determined, focused, courageous, diligent, as well as success-driven and these should start from now that you are young," he counselled.

S

D

•From left: Mrs.Erogbogbo; Mr Omagu; Mr Keshi; and Manager, GTBank, Mrs. Oyinade Adegite, at the event in Lagos

"I knew I would become a footballer right from my early days in school and I didn't allow any obstacle to determine and thank God for everything today," he said.

Also speaking, the Deputy General Manager, GTBank, Mr Isa Omagu, told the pupils not to allow anything hinder them from achieving their set goals.

"Everyone in life has one challenge or the other, but what makes the difference, between one person and an-

other is the ability to rise and overcome challenges on the way to the top; so, I will enjoin you all to see yourselves irrespective of your background beyond the present."

Drawing lessons from the story of Ben Carson, the author of Gifted Hands, Omagu urged the students not to view success as materials accumulation, but on fulfilment.

The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mrs. Omolara Erogbogbo, urged the

pupils to take interest in sports alongside their studies.

"But you should not do one at the expense of the other as both will be useful to you, especially in future," she said stressed.

Erogbogbo lauded GTBank for the initiative she described as 'investment into the future'. She assured participants of the state's government determination to continue toencourage sport development among pupils.

Delta to contract security of public schools to communities, agencies

ELTA State Government says it will contract security of public schools to communities and private security agencies.

Muoboghare spoke in Asaba, the Delta State Capital.

The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education in Delta, Prof Patrick Muoboghare, said a proposal to that effect was ready.

He stressed that security of facilities in the schools had remained a challenge to the government.

He said partnership with communities could salvage the education system in the state, noting that conventional security ways

By Adegunle Olugbamila

adopted by the government to protect the schools had failed.

"Fencing of schools alone cannot stop people from removing facilities from the schools. Is it not funny that most of the computers installed in some secondary schools were stolen from the schools.

"Security has remained one of our greatest challenges, but we are already working out a process of contracting the security of the schools to the communities and private

concerns.''

He called for the strengthening of partnership between the ministry and communities in the state "to redesign and correct the defects in primary and secondary education in order to restore its past glory".

The commissioner urged the communities to closely monitor the activities of the teachers in schools located in their domains, and ensure that they were punctual and responsive to their duties.

"If the teachers are in school, the children cannot be absent without

reason. So, communities must monitor the teachers and also monitor the attitude of their children, especially attendance in classes and dressing.

"This partnership with the communities will help to give meaning to government's investment in education and bring some level of sanity and responsibility in our schools."

Muoboghare said the ministry would mobilise contractors to start work on the construction, rehabilitation and furnishing of most schools in the state, noting that school environment affects the children psychologically.

Aviation College plans campus in Niger VER N138 million has been earmarked for the establishment of a satellite campus of the Nigeria College of the Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria in Minna, Niger State. It will start with 10 students this month.

The Rector of the College, Captain Chinyere Kalu, disclosed this while briefing reporters before the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the College and the state government.

O

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

She stated that the programme, which will run for two years, will give the students primary and comprehensive pilot licence, instrument issue rating and multi-issue rating.

Captain Kalu added that the establishment of the satellite campus was a directive from the Federal Government, which mandated NCAT to train professionals to meet the need of the sector as the aviation sector is in need of more competent

hands.

She said the campus will be equipped with aviation facilities that are not available in the state to make it fully operational.

Appreciating the Ministry of Aviation for making the satellite campus possible, she welcomed the willingness of the state government to commit its resources to ensuring that the campus starts off in the state.

"This is the beginning of great

things in the aviation sector.

Though the satellite campus will start in one area, it will spread out to other areas which are being studied in the College of Aviation in Zaria,, Kalu stated.

The state government has fulfilled 80 per cent of what will be required to start the campus as the accommodation for the lecturers and students have been built with functional classrooms and have also purchased two buses for the students and staff.

‘Embrace craftsmanship’

T

•The Corps members demonstrating martial arts at the event.

HE Lagos State Co-ordinator, NYSC, Ipaja, Mrs Adenike Adeyemi, has advised Batch B corps members to make craftsmanship their companion, saying that it will guarantee their self-dependence, growth and sustenance.

She said they should be informed that training on skill acquisition and entrepreneurial development will continue throughout the service year.

"Avail yourselves of the opportunity and train for expertise in your chosen enterprise," she urged.

Mrs Adeyemi told the 2,746 corps members that the skill acquisition was to prepare them for the service year and life of independence and self-sustainability. She said the corps members should set their minds on initiatives that would mould them as employers of labour rather than seekers of white collar jobs.

The Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, represented by his Commissioner for Special Du-

By Medinat Kanabe

ties, Mr Wale Ahmed, reminded the corps members of their roles to contribute to the social, economic and agricultural advancements of the Lagos communities.

He said: "Collect your posting letters and integrate yourself into various communities and establishments which you will posted to in order to meet the people's expectations. Corps members who distinguish themselves by excelling in service will definitely be honoured by this administration.

“You are generally looked upon as agents of change, therefore do not disappoint you're your parents, teachers, the nation and the people."

Fashola called on employers of corps labour that cannot provide residence for corps members to pay some allowance in lieu of it, adding that the government would continue to provide essential welfare for corps members in the state.

29

Elections of controversy

Is this The End Time?

*CAMPUSES *NEWS *PEOPLE *KUDOS& KNOCKS *GRANTS

Page 31

Page 34

THE NATION

CAMPUS LIFE 0802-4550-354 email: ladycampus@yahoo.com THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2012

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.net

email:- campuslife@thenationonlineng.net

Mixed feelings greet choice of UNILORIN VC University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) has a Vice-Chancellor-designate. He is Prof Abdulganiyu Ambali whose appointment students are celebating.

But the UNILORIN Stakeholders Forum believes there is nothing to cheer.

WALE AJETUNMOBI and MICHAEL ADEBAYO (300-Level Computer Science, UNILORIN) report.

FTER a long search, Prof Abdulganiyu Ambali has emerged Vice-Chancellor-designate of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN). He will assume office in October when incumbent Prof Ishaq Oloyede will leave.

The Registrar, Mrs Olufolake Oyeyemi, broke the news of Prof Ambali’s appointment after a special session of the Governing Council last Thursday. The race began in May when the deadline for the submission of applications was announced.

No fewer than 20 professors contested for the plum job. Eighteen were from the university; two were outsiders.

The UNILORIN teachers include Prof Timothy Popoola, Science; Prof Albert Olayemi, Science; Prof Musbau Akanji, Science; Prof Joshua Obaleye, Science; Prof Hassan Salihu, Business and Social Sciences and Prof Luke Ayorinde, Agriculture.

Others are Prof R. A. Akamidu, Arts; Prof J.A. Olorunmaye, Engineering; Prof B.F Sule, Engineering and Prof Ambali, Veterinary Medicine. Prof Ignatius Madu and Prof Jimi Adesanya were the outsiders and the former came from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). Most of them had either been or are currently deans of their faculties.

The candidates were pruned to five — Popoola, Ambali, Ayorinde, Salihu and Adesanya. They were interviewed by the Governing Council and three were shortlisted.

On July 23, the day of the interview, a group, UNILORIN Stakeholders’ Forum, kicked against the process. It questioned

A

•UNILORIN senate building

•Prof Oloyede...the outgoing VC

•Prof Ambali...the VC-designate

Ambali’s qualification to vie for the position.

The body claimed that Ambali had only spent two years in the institution, add-

ing that his discipline – veterinary medicine – was relatively new. Its petition was addressed to the Minister of Education, Prof Ruqayattu Rufa’i, and published in some newspapers.

The choice of Ambali as the VC-designate jolted UNILORIN. Immediately after his emergence, the UNILORIN Stakeholders’ Forum petitioned President Goodluck Jonathan, claiming that the selection was a “rape on morality and justice” because, according to the forum, due process was not followed. It also questioned the constitution of the selection committee, saying the membership didn’t reflect the principle of federal character. The forum said the Acting Chairman of the Governing Council, who headed the committee, and Ambali are from Ilorin.

The group alleged that Ambali’s candidacy was wrong because his discipline is yet to be accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC).

It advised the President to cancel the selection.

•Continued on page 31

•Campus journalists inaugurate excos –P32 • Student declared missing

-P33

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2012

30

CAMPUS LIFE

Three hours Pushing Out with with Adeyinka (1) Agbo Agbo

M

UCH has been written about the deplorable state of our tertiary educational system and if we go by what we see, hear and read, we would easily write off the system as irredeemable. But in the midst of this, we often stumble on things that give us hope, especially for incurable optimist like me who still believe that something good will come out of the present rot we are enmeshed in some day. I met a young graduate last week that fuelled my hope that we still have stumps waiting for the smell of water so that they can sprout again.

I was refueling my car at a filling station close to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp in Lagos when a young man in his uniform walked toward me and said: “Sir, please can you give me a lift, I just passed out and I’m not too familiar with Lagos and would not want to get lost.” I told him to hop in and we got talking along the way and the topic of our discussion was the recently-released failed state index ranking. I told him that I intend writing about our chat but he pleaded that I conceal his identity for some obvious reason. So I will refer to him simply as Adeyinka.

Adeyinka is a graduate of History and Diplomatic studies from one of the universities in the Southwest and was initially posted to Borno State for his youth service, but his parents had to go the “Nigerian way” and ensured that he got posted to Lagos. But when I asked him if he saw nothing wrong in his parents “seeing” NYSC officials to ensure he gets posted to Lagos, he threw this question at me. “Sir would you rather I accept the posting to Borno State and die a foolish and senseless death in the hands of some misguided vagabond or my

08052959489 (SMS only)

•aagboa@gmail.com parents work my posting to a place that my safety is guaranteed?” I had to come down from my moral high horse and reason logically with him because the young man has a point even though some people in and out of government may think he is being unpatriotic.

I had read failed state index of 2012 report when it was first published two weeks ago and was taken aback when Adeyinka mentioned again.

In the first instance, it is unusual these days to see undergraduates who can discuss policy issue critically. Secondly, the pop culture that we are presently in only gives room for shallow celebrity, music or fashion discourse. Thirdly and most importantly, scholarship over the years has been watered down, with undergraduates now interested only in passing examinations and not in being equipped to face the challenges of life outside the ivory tower.

I asked my guest how he got to know about the report and he told me that he read it as a brief in the newspaper and had to go online to research it further. I had to dash back to my car to get my Galaxy tab, go on line so that we can discuss Nigeria and the report critically. I was thrilled because only last week, I wrote about the negative impact the chat application 2go was having on students. So to see one that goes online to look at a report that ordinarily I thought would not be his concern gladdened my heart, that however does not mean that some do not go online to research serious issues.

We eventually went down to business, the Failed States Index (FSI) is an annual ranking of

177 countries compiled by the Fund For Peace (FFP), a Washington-based independent, nonpartisan, non-profit research and educational organisation that works to prevent violent conflict and promote sustainable security. The FFP promote sustainable security through research, training and education, engagement of civil society, building bridges across diverse sectors, and developing innovative technologies and tools for policy makers.

The annual ranking places countries on a continuum of most failed and least failing states. Nigeria’s 2012 ranking at number 14 is the same as that of 2011, though its status has been upgraded from an amber “Warning” last year, to a red “Critical” this year, only one step away from the deep crimson “Alert”, the exclusive domain of truly collapsed states like Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The methodology of this ranking is based on 12 indicators spread over three categories namely: social indicators, economic indicators and political and military indicators. Of the 12 indicators however, none seems to have sufficiently captured citizens’ (of these countries) perceptions of their relationship with the state, with each other and other elements of national identity, a key factor in state failure.

Is the report right in regard to Nigeria? I threw the question at my guest to see where he stands.

“Sir you’ll agree with me that it is not uncommon to find heated and emotional discussions over Nigeria anywhere Nigerians are gathered, from the ordinary man at the newspaper stand to business tycoons at a board meeting.” My guest is right in this regard, suddenly many are now contemplating the possibility of Nigeria disintegrating, an unthinkable prospect just five years ago. Many are increasingly questioning the very foundation on which Nigeria exists, whether a “the core patriotic value which binds people across ethno-religious divides within a single nation really exists beyond the rhetoric of those in government. The FSI and its 12 indicators rightly point out the challenges facing the Nigerian state which it said could accelerate to an impending failure. Having studied the index, I found out that it doesn’t succinctly cap-

ture this nationhood quagmire; this was why it was criticized in some quarters for this shortcoming which we shall look at next week.

However, my guest and I noted that an important element of nationhood and nationbuilding, especially for a complex and diverse country such as Nigeria should be the existence of unifying national values and symbols that unite us under the umbrella of a national identity, giving us a good reason to substitute our allegiance to tribe, region or religion in place of national loyalty and identity. These shared values are mostly represented by symbols or things people can identify with. For instance, the USA’s “American Dream” espousing ideals of freedom and equal opportunity for success through hardwork for anyone in America, their social class or circumstance of birth notwithstanding.

In Nigeria, national values, aspirations and their accompanying symbols are progressively losing their meaning. Recall that some political appointees have been thoroughly embarrassed at a National Assembly screening for their inability to recite the national anthem. Nigerians are increasingly becoming disdainful of and detached from the state and from each other with sharp emphasis on our differences being the norm, rather than the excruciating poverty that drives citizens to risk being roasted scooping fuel or unemployment that afflict them. This gradual erosion of national identity in Nigeria, as crucially important as it is, is something the FFP’s Index doesn’t quite capture.

This nationhood challenge, we agreed, becomes more crucial when one considers that perhaps a key factor in state failure is when the citizens gradually stop identifying with that state and what it stands for and they increasingly emphasize on how very different they are from one another, as a manifestation of a retreat to primordial loyalties of tribe, ethnicity, religion and region rather than a broader national identity. Essentially, people’s bond over broader national values weakens as they feel they have little stake in a state that barely provides infrastructure or guarantees the security of lives and property. As this happens over time, then inevitably insurgent groups with various grievances like Niger Delta militants, Boko Haram and other centrifugal forces are birthed, which, if not checked and mitigated could gradually tear the country apart.

‘Our youths are talented’ Obinna Udenwe is a Civil Engineering student at the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu and Executive Director of Ugreen Foundation, a youth organisation. Udenwe, 24, is also the author of The Dancing Bird. He has represented Nigeria at some international programmes. He was recently selected as the first African student to receive training at the European Academy for Diplomacy, Poland. EMEKA UGWU (400-Level Applied Biology, Ebonyi State University) met him.

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OU represented Nigeria in Lithuania at a youth event, what was it about?

It was a meeting of Community of Democracies held last year. The Community of Democracies is an organisation for all countries working to sustain and entrench democracy. It protects the interest of member-nations and works to ensure that more countries get democratised. I was invited to attend the Young Global Leaders Forum. The meeting afforded youth and democracy activists, businessmen, diplomats, scholars and professionals an opportunity to dialogue on a range of issues.

The Ugreen Foundation held a programme in honour of a Senator, what did you seek to achieve with it?

It is a project entitled: “The Creativity Class” in honour of Senator Chris Nwankwo, representing Ebonyi North. The lawmaker believes in the ability of young people and we organised a youth creativity class to reflect his programme.

The idea of the project is to discover 20 young people and train them on the art of writing and public speaking. After the training, they will be commissioned to produce short stories that reflect African values. The stories will be collated and published in an anthology and

•Obinna

distributed free to young people across the country.

Is your foundation satisfied with the response from the youth?

Yes. The stories submitted have been read, and as a young writer, I feel so elated because the stories are just unique. We have talented youth in Nigeria. We hope that after the publication, we will nominate the stories for awards.

What other programmes does Ugreen Foundation have for youth?

We are working to promote a constructive and active citizenship participation in democracy, leadership, governance and knowledgebuilding. Annually, our “Change Your World” project brings together about 100 youth leaders to brainstorm on issues affecting young people.

How have you been able to combine academic activities with the foundation’s work?

If at this young age I fail to work hard, then there is nothing called youth energy. The problem with Nigerian youth is that we fail to think. We don’t want multiple tasks. I am schooling at Enugu and my foundation is in Ebonyi. It is very difficult dividing my time between Enugu and Ebonyi, but I do it. I also stay awake at night to write stories and articles, and then read my text books in the afternoon and evening.

Who are your mentors?

Kingsley Bangwell, the Chief Executive Officer of Youngsters Foundation, and Mr Kizito Nwosu, a young civil servant in Ebonyi State.

•Owolabi

•Peter

UNILORIN gets VC- designate •Continued from page 29

However, the UNILORIN Deputy Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr Kunle Akogun, described the UNILORIN Stakeholders’ Forum as a faceless group with which “the university won’t join issues.”

He debunked claims of favouritism in the selection, saying all the contestants were invited by the committee and interviewed duly except those absent.

He said: “That allegation that UNILORIN’s Veterinnary Medicine is not accredited by the NUC is false because the discipline used to be part of the Faculty of Agriculture. When NUC officials came to inspect the facilities in Agric Faculty, Veterinary Medicine was accredited with other courses we have in the faculty. Since Prof Ambali has been chosen as the VC-designate, we have not heard NUC denying that it didn’t accredit Veterinary Medicine in UNILORIN. “The selection of the new UNILORIN Vice Chancellor, as has been the case anywhere, was by merit and the committee threw the interview open to all candidates that con-

tested for the post.”

Students are hailing Ambali’s appointment. Peter Makafan, 300-Level Computer Science, said: “I learnt he was the best candidate. I have nothing against anything best. I wish him a successful tenure.”

Saheed Owolabi, 300-Level Mathematics, saw the “hand of God” in Ambali’s appointment. He said: “It is the will of God that he should be our next VC, though I would have preferred Prof Popoola, who lectures in my department.”

Biodun Akanni, 200-Level Chemistry Education, said: “The new VC only needs my prayers to make him surpass the achievement of the outgoing VC. I am wishing him the best.”

Abdulrahman Alawaye, 300-Level Education Technology, said: “Only immature people, who lack the spirit of good sportsmanship, would unnecessarily kick against the appointment of the man of the people. It is clear that he is the right man for the job. You could see it from the rally that was held in his support before the announcement. I would want him to resolve all internal crises first as soon as he assumes office.”

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CAMPUS LIFE It was the second election students of the Faculty of Social Science, University of Calabar (UNICAL) have held in two months. Each election has been marred by allegations of electoral fraud.The last one held two weeks ago almost ended in violence, report EMMANUEL AHANONU (400-Level Political Science), UNIMKE IPONG (400Level Political Science) and BLESSING GOBO (300-Level Social Works).

•Students in queue for accreditation before the chaos

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ROUBLE is brewing again at the Faculty of Social Science of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) over the termination, penultimate week, of the Social Science Students Association (SOSSA) election. The election was stopped because of complaints of irregularities and favouritism.

The faculty has held two elections which were marred by irregularities.

Also, the Edmond Ebri-led executive that was in place before the elections was dissolved, petition by a student, Godwin Iyang, who accused the exco of mismanagement of funds.

For five months, the management of the association fell on Godwin Ebong, who chaired the electoral committee that conducted the last controversial elections.

The first election, held about two months ago, was cancelled over the allegations of fraudulent practice. The

•Students running for safety when the centre could no longer hold

Elections of controversy last election was held at the institution’s Hogan Bassey Pavilion.

It was well attended by voters and observers.

The election started on a peaceful note as the school’s security operatives ensured. The electoral committee members, drawn from the eight departments of the faculty, were calm as they accredited eligible voters.

The election, billed to start by 10am, did not begin until about 12:30pm. However, about 15 minutes into the election, things took a different turn as some students, who wanted to vote, alleged irregularities in the voters’ register. The irregularities, according to them, were caused by the electoral committee during the accreditation. The students alleged

that the committee wrote fictitious names in the register to rig the poll in favour of a particular candidate.

There was uproar, when the students also noticed that some departments were given leverage over others by the use of their registered lists.

In the ensuing melee the security personnel tried to bar the furious students from getting close to the committee members. The election was stopped briefly. But at 1:17pm, the exercise resumed under the supervision of Mr Okon Usani, the Operation Commandant (Surveillance) of the UNICAL security outfit.

One of the presidential contenders, Austin Ekpe, 300- Level Economics, told CAMPUSLIFE: “At the

beginning, everything was moving well, but later some persons wanted to manipulate the election the way they wanted. To some extent, they succeeded until the security personnel intervened.”

But, the aggrieved disenfraunchised students did not give in. They pounced on members of the electoral committee, leading to pandemonium which could not be contained by the security agents, who did not want to use force.

To avert crisis, the Dean of Students’ Affairs, through his secretary, suggested that the poll be cancelled. But the electoral committee members disagreed, saying the presence of the security operatives was enough to restore peace.

But the students continued their the Dean send official, Mr. Emmanuel Emori, to prevail on Usani to stop the election.

Addressing the students, Usani said for peace to reign.

Efforts by our correspondents to reach the electoral committee chairman, failed, but the secretary Chikwulezieka Aluu, said he could not comment.

A Political Science student, Emmanuel Peter, told CAMPUSLIFE: “If there had been proper organisation by the electoral committee, the election would not have gone the way it went. The cancellation shows there was no coordinated effort from members of the electoral committee to ensure the success of the process.”

The election has been postponed indefinitely. Many students believed that it may not be possible to conduct another election the semester.

Students chart course for national development

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HE programme was held last Thursday and the venue was Petrochemical Science Complex. The students of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun, Ijebu Ode, trooped into the expansive hall with the guest speakers. It was the first Southwest Student Parliamentary Summit organised by the Seyi Adeleke-led legislative arm of the TASUED Students’ Union Government (SUG).

The varsity hosted a Senator and Speakers of the State Houses of Assembly in the Southwest to deliberate on how the nation can move forward.

However, some of the Speakers sent their representatives. The university management was led by the ViceChancellor, Prof Segun Awonusi and the Dean of Students’ Affairs (DSA), Dr B.J.O Ayorinde.

Senator Gbenga Kaka, who was the first speaker, said given the theme of the summit: Legislature as a tool for rebranding the nation, TASUED students have taken it upon themselves to show direction for the beleaguered youth of Nigeria, who are considered brainless.

Senator Kaka, representing Ogun East in the upper chamber of the National Assembly, said the reason for Nigeria’s underdevelopment, despite its endowment in natural resources, was because the nation has a non-performing leadership at the helm of affairs. He said the ruling Peoples

•Sen. Kaka (middle), TASUED SUG Speaker, Seyi (third right), and other members of the parliament after the programme

By Wale Ajetunmobi

Democratic Party (PDP) has failed the electorate with President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration unable to justify its mandate since inauguration.

Kaka said: “There is no problem with Nigeria as a polity, what has been the problem is the bad leadership we have at the helm of affairs. Does it concern you that Nigeria is blessed in human and material resources to develop our country but the people in leadership don’t know how to harness these resources to develop on what our founding father left for us.”

He criticised the concentration of power at the centre, saying the executive always misused its power to whip dissenting arms of government into line. To put an end to the illegal use of political power, Kaka advocated devolution of power to distribute across all arms of government. “This would create autonomy for each arm of government without

one interfering in the affairs of the other,” the deputy Chairman of Senate committee on Agriculture said.

Criticising the Goodluck Jonathan presidency over the lacklustre implementation of the 2012 Budget, Kaka said: “Our 2012 Budget is just about 30 per cent implemented and we are already in July. By September, we are going to commence the process of another budget and we will debate on the budget for another three or four months because of delay. No, the Constitution of Nigeria must be amended in such a way that the executive must, as a matter of duty, implement the budget to the letter and ensure that what is due to each sector is given to it without any diversion.

“It was recently that the House of Representatives called on Mr President to either implement substantial provisions of the 2012 budget between now and September or face

•Prof Awonusi displaying his award. With him is Hon Mafe

sanction. Why must our 2012 budget be 30 per cent implemented when the second quarter of the year is almost ended? This is evidence of bad leadership on the part of the executive.”

He urged the House of Reps members to be courageous in the discharge of their constitutional function and not to bow to the whims of Jonathan sympathisers.

Speaking on behalf of Ogun State Speaker, Hon Suraj Adekunbi, a member of Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon Yinka Mafe, said with highly focused and visionary students, the future of Nigeria remained brighter.

Mr Goke Butika, who stood in for Osun State Speaker Nojeem Salami, praised the students for organising such programme instead of engaging themselves in cultism and other vices.

He charged Nigerian youths to acquire knowledge and skills that will prepare them to assume leadership of the coun-

try in not-too-distant future.

After the programme, some of the guests were honoured by the students.

Senator Kaka was awarded the Most Vibrant Senator from the Southwest.

Also, Hon Adekumbi was given the Most Student-Friendly Speaker award while the Award of Excellence was given Osun State Speak Salami. Most Outstanding Vice-Chancellor in the Southwest award was given to Prof Awonusi.

Prof Awonusi said he was proud of the students. He said: “I don’t believe in banning students’ unionism on campus except there is a serious security challenge on the campus. Why must a Vice-Chancellor ban unionism when we are encouraging best democratic practice in Nigeria; that will amount to speaking from ends of the mouth. If we are encouraging democratic culture, we should also do the same on campuses because tomorrow belongs to the students.”

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CAMPUS LIFE Students hold carnival

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HE National Union of Lagos State Students (NULASS), Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) chapter, has fixed August 29 to hold its first indigenous students’ carnival tagged “Sometime in August”.

The event, which is billed to take place at the convocation ground on Ikorodu campus of the institution, is billed to start by 8:00am.

From Tolulope Ogunleye LASPOTECH

According to the organisers, the carnival will make students to appreciate the culture and heritage of Lagos State in a unique way. The NULASS president, Gabriel Adelaja, said the event would be the biggest cultural carnival on the campus.

Mass Comm students visit TVC

T • Members of the executive with Andinam after their swearing in ceremony

Campus journalists inaugurate exco

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HE new members of the executive of Nigeria Union of Campus Journalists, University of Calabar (UNICAL) chapter, have been inaugurated. The exercise, which took place at the senate building of the institution, was attended by the UNICAL Vice-Chancellor, Prof James Epoke, who was represented by Dean, Students’ Affairs (DSA), Prof Eyong Eyong and the Public Relations Officer of the university Mr Effiong Eyo. Other guests at the ceremony included the Secretary of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Cross River State Council, Mr Albert Andinam, Editor Cross River State’s Weekend Chronicles, Mrs Florence Oluohu, Head of Linguistic and Communication studies department, Dr Agada Obute, among

•Members to support VC’s programme From Stanley Uchegbu and Emmanuel Ogar UNICAL

others.

The officials are led by Emmanuel Ahanonu, president, Umunnankwe Michelle, Vice President and Tobby Godwin, Secretary General. Other officials include Augustine Odey, Anthony Afufu, Blessing Gobo, George Odey, Tayo Ademuyiwa and Clement Essien.

In his valedictory speech, the outgoing president, Emmanuel Ogar, thanked Prof Epoke and his principal officers for their support. The incoming president said he would build a strong relationship with the management and ensure the safety of members on campus.

Meanwhile, Prof Epoke, has decried the non-compliance of students to registration deadline of the institution. The VC stated this in a letter he addressed to the Nigeria Union of Campus Journalists (NUCJ), UNICAL chapter.

He said late registration always impeded the transformational drive of the institution. He enjoined all students to join hands with him in his drive to ensure best practices in academics, especially prompt registration of students.

The members of the union assured the VC of their support and promised to embark on a two-day sensitisation campaign to educate the students on the need for them to register on time and make payments of their school fees.

Man O War recruits cadets

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SSOCIATION and interaction are prerequisites for humans, particularly those gathered in an academic environment. This was the message, last week, when Ikorodu students at the Lagos State University (LASU) marked their day.

The event was held at the Okunnuga Hall, popularly referred to as Moot Court in LASU. It kicked off with an opening prayer by Modupe Olateju. One of the students, Damilola Obipeju, 200-Level Mass Communication, compered the programme.

Delivering a lecture titled: Emerging leaders for the 21st Century: Prospects, challenges and the way forward,

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From Oyinkansola Sadiq-Mabeko and Musbaudeen Shekoni LASU

Tijani Mubarak, the occasion’s chairman, urged the students to contribute their quota to the society and join in the efforts to end insecurity in the country. He also called on Nigerian leaders to be good examples to the youths.

The guest lecturer, Dr Surajudeen Mudashiru, corroborated the chairman’s speech, saying “Africa is desperate to groom and nurture the young for leadership.” He, therefore, urged the students to train themselves in “the art of listening, service and stewardship” as they are what the nation’s future rests on.

From Rita Udeh ABU

(CBT) for this year’s exam.

CAMPUSLIFE spoke with some of the applicants, who bared their minds on the new development.

Some of them, however, saw the computer-based test as challenging. Lynda Udeh, who applied to study Law, said the new system was frustrating. Some of the applicants, however, appealed to the school authority to make concerted efforts in resolving the problems.

Nasarawa students hold congress

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•The recruits during their training

tasks before they could be qualified for induction into the command. Relieving their experience at the training camp, some of the

recruited cadets said the training was tough but offered them the opportunity to showcase their fitness.

Varsity holds maiden inaugural lecture

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ter Control Room (MCR). He urged them to take their studies serious and to search for new trends in the broadcasting industry.

He said: “Radio and TV continental are moving to higher level as well as taking advantage of current trends in the industry.” The students praised their president for organising the tour and for exposing them to the practical aspect of what they were being taught in the classroom.

Ikorodu students mark day

HE Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria played host to thousands of applicants seeking admission into the institution last week. The prospective students wrote post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Exam (UTME) examination.

CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the number of admission seekers dropped this year because of the security sistuation in Kaduna State.

The university introduced an electronic screening system otherwise known as computer-based test

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DELEKE University, Ede, Osun State last week organised its maiden inaugural lecture, which was delivered by a professor of History at the University of Texas, US, Toyin Falola. The event was attended by traditional rulers, politicians, members of the academic community and students.

Delivering a lecture entitled: The African impact on global cultures, Prof Falola said the development of a viable knowledge economy through the recreation of

From Ademola Fagbemi LASPOTECH

Varsity conducts post-UTME

From Tolulope Ajobiewe FUT MINNA

HE Man O’ War command of the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUT MINNA) has recriuited new members into its fold. The command held a training exercise for the new intakes at its secretariat, Bosso campus of the institution.

During the training, about 11 cadets were drilled on various physical and mental training using paramilitary method.

Speaking to CAMPUSLIFE, the Chief Training Officer, Ayyatu Habdallah, said it was a tradition for recruits to undergo such training as it was meant to keep them fit and ready for the challenges life throws at them.

Ayyatu said each of the recruits was expected to accomplish 41

HE Mass Communication students under the banner of Mass Communication Students’ Association (MACSA), Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), have paid a facility visit to the Ikosi-Ketu office of Continental Broadcasting Corporation, the owner of Television Continental and Radio Continental.

Led by their president, Jerry Apeleokhai, the students were conducted round the facilities of the media house by its Studio Manager, Mr Adewumi Raji.

Raji took the students to the studio performance area and the Mas-

From Rukayat Olanrewaju ADELEKE

traditional healing methods offered the continent more prospects in revenue generation than oil. Falola also urged African nations to embrace knowledgebased economy, saying it could engender transformation for the continent.

In his speech, the Pro-Chancellor of the institution, Dr Tajudeen Adeleleke, said the university would soon be the first among

equals in providing university education in Nigeria. “Our students are breaking records in less than one year of our operation. Our 100Level Computer Science students came first in a competition organised for Computer Science students for various universities at an event held recently at Fountain University, Osogbo.”

Dr Adeleke added that the university has registered her strong presence internationally with quality research presentations in the United States, Indonesia, Egypt and Nigeria.

ASARAWA State students at the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUT MINNA) last week converged at the School of Science complex in Bosso campus for their annual congress.

CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the congress was held to notify members about the progress made by the association. At the end of the meeting, awards and certificates were given to outgoing students.

From David Osu FUT MINNA

The outgoing president, Nuhu Abubakar, 500-Level Urban and Regional Planning, said: “It is my pleasure and honour to have served this association. We are fulfilled that we made efforts to get things done despite our challenges.” Nuhu advised the new executive to make the unity and welfare of members its priority.

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CAMPUS LIFE Students visit govt, parties’ offices

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AST week, students of Political Science department at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, embarked on a one-day tour to major government institutions in Oyo State. The tour was organised by the departmental association.

The students visited the offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Oyo State House of Assembly and the State Secretariat.

At the INEC office in Ibadan, they were received by the Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr Ayodele Folami, of the commission. Speaking, Folami

From Sikiru Akinola OAU

said the commission was doing its best to strengthen democracy in the country, which was why INEC established voters’ education.

According to him, INEC is an essential aspect of our democracy.

At the Oluyole Local Government secretariat, the council chairman, Hon. Abass Alesinloye, who is a former OAU students’ leader, welcomed the students and advised them to take their studies serious. While thanking the council boss, Adu Susan, who led the students, sought the support of the council for the department’s forthcoming events.

Igbo students task senator • Epe students during the programme

Epe students hold get-together

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VER 200 students gathered at the Theatre Arts Auditorium of the Lagos State University (LASU) to celebrate the annual Epe Students’ Day last week.

The commemoration, it was learnt, was to celebrate the rich culture of Epe ethnic group. The official language of the day was Ijebu, which is considered as the local dialect of Epe people.

From Oyinkansola Sadiq-Mabeko LASU

In the course of the celebration, an eating contest was held for participants. The contestants were asked to eat yam porridge, known as Ikokore, which was believed to be the native food of the Epe people.

Hassan Akorede, a past president of the association, delivered a lec-

ture on the topic: Importance of the educated youth to the wealth of our nation. Akorede admonished the students to be serious with their studies while charging them to take cognizance of happenings in the society.

The students expressed happiness and praised LASU Vice Chancellor, Prof John Obafunwa, for being supportive.

Rotaract swears in executive

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The statement reads in part: “Justice no matter how long, will always prevail and Senator Mrs ChubaOkadigbo, instead of using threat, resolved to expressing faith in the judiciary.”

The association further said the unity of Anambra State is paramount to the youths of the state. It said: “We all know women in politics have a passion for youth development, peace, and unity and as a mother; we expect she will be a mother to all Igbos and igbo students in particular with no party affiliation.

From Philips Okorodudu DELSU

division while those of you in the polytechnics should endeavour to get an Upper Credit because the little jobs available are reserved for the top performers.”

He told the students to make sure they turn the tide around in their results when they get back to school at the end of their training and to shun anti-social activities.

Student declared missing

T • Faith (right) with another awardee after the programme From David Osu and Tolulope Ajoibiewe FUT MINNA

books to Bosso Primary School, Bosso Secondary School and FUT Minna Staff School. Olamide said his administration would embark on malaria awareness campaigns, organisation of spelling bee contests, vocational training in relevant fields of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), visit to orphanage homes

and prisons among others.

The event also witnessed the presentation of awards to deserving persons. Some of the recipients are the chairman of FUT Minna chapter of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dr Jimoh Abdulfatai, Students’ Union president Jefferson Akinseye and CAMPUSLIFE correspondent, Faith Olaniran, who was conferred with the Award of Excellence as the Media Personality of the Year.

Fellowship holds zonal congress T was a time for sober reflection as members of the Redeemed Christian Church Of God students’ fellowship popularly called G-Force, converged at the University of Jos (UNIJOS) for their Zonal Students congress last week.

The programme tagged ‘fresh Anointing’’, was held at the students gallery of the Abuja Hostel.

The event , which had participants from the host institution, University of Jos, College of Education Pankshin, Plateau State Polytechnic and Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) Bauchi, saw various choir renditions, sermons and drama displays to emphasize the theme of the event.

Speaking at the event, the guest minister, Pastor Samuel Aregbosola, said: ‘‘You can only re-

From Esther Mark UNIJOS

IT students advised HE Assistant General Manager (Plant Services) of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), Ughelli Power Plc, Mr P.I. Umunna, has urged students undergoing their industrial training in the power station to ensure excellence in their endeavours.

Mr. Umunna advised the students to always strive for excellence in their academic pursuits. He said: “For those of you in the university, you must strive to get a Second Class Upper

•Honours CAMPUSLIFE reporter HE Rotaract Club of Nigeria, District 9125, Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUT MINNA) chapter, has inaugurated its executives. The programme, which was held at the Lecture Theatre II, was the 21st investiture ceremony.

Delivering a speech titled Peace: A Tool for Economic Development, the guest speaker, Mallam Zakari Yau lamented that there was no development in the nation after decades of independence because there had not been peace. He said some of the effects of underdevelopment included the low life expectancy age.

After the lecture, Olamide Ogunsiji, 300-Level Mechanical Engineering, was sworn in as the president of the club. In his speech, Olamide said: “I want us to stand like a bunch of brooms towards discharging our duties as we render peace through service.”

The members of the club donated

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HE National Association of Anambra State Law Students (NAALS) have described as “victory to all indigenes of the state”, the judgment of the Supreme Court upholding the election of Mrs Margery Chuba-Okadigbo as the Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria representing Anambra North in the upper chamber of the National Assembly.

In a statement signed by the president of the association, Marvelous Ofodille, which was made available to our correspondent, the association congratulated Mrs Chuba-Okadigbo for her patience in ensuring that the rule of law and due process were followed.

From Esther Mark and Meshach Owolabi UNIJOS

ceive the fresh anointing if you make yourself available, and flee from sin’’. He also harped on salvation as many students renewed their commitment to God by confessing and deciding to turn away from their sins.

In his welcome speech, the president of the fellowship, Bernard Amaechi, who was very delighted to have the participants, said the zonal congress had been packaged to help the youths and students excel excellently in life through the various programmes that had been outlined for the congress.

Also speaking on Sex can Wait, Mrs. Adegbe , another guest speaker, out-

lined various reasons why students must not have sex until they are legally married. According to her, ‘’sex must wait because God, the giver of the gift, made it exclusively for marriage institution. Sex must wait because your bodies are God’s temples.

Sex must wait because there is dignity, trust, love and joy in finding the right partner and doing it only in the instituted scenario’ The segment featured a question and answer series and the students expressed delight at the end of the event. Speaking to our correspondents, Kehinde Mofelere, 400-Level Mass Communication, said: “The zonal students congress is the best I have attended as all the topics of discussion were impact filled. I am particularly happy because it was an eye-opener.”

HE final year medical students of Ebonyi State University (EBSU) were in shock last week over the sudden disappearance of one of their colleagues, Anthony Ajah. Anthony was declared missing three days to his final exam at the EBSU College of Medicine.

His roommate, Theophilus Eze, who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE, said he noticed on Tuesday evening that Anthony had not returned to the room. “I thought he was somewhere on the campus reading, which is typical of him during exam period. So, it was on Wednesday evening that I became worried concerning his whereabouts. I could not reach on phone.

So I alerted other students.”

Kelechi Urom, who is Anthony’s classmate, said his disappearance was traumatic for the entire, class especially as it was coming during exams.

The university authority and police have allayed the fear of students of the institution, assuring them that the missing student would be found alive. They urged

• Anthony From Daniel Lawrence EBSU

anyone with useful information to contact them. Radio and television stations in the state have also announced the missing student.

As at the time of filing this report, Anthony’s pictures have been pasted across the campuses and efforts by CAMPUSLIFE to reach his family for comment were futile.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2012

CAMPUS LIFE

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FUTO wins SIFE contest

HE Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) has won the 2012 SIFE Nigeria National Competition.

Over 36 tertiary institutions participated in the contest, which was endorsed by the United States (US) Secretary of State, Mrs Hillary Clinton.

FUTO will represent Nigeria at the SIFE World Cup in Washington DC, US next month.

Other institutions that participated in the event included Federal Polytechnic, Idah (IDAH POLY), University of Ibadan (UI), Benue State University (BSU), and Bayero University, Kano (BUK).

In her welcome address, Mrs Ayodele Jaiyesimi, the Head, Human Capital Management, FirstBank Plc, said the SIFE competition was part of the bank’s drive to empower and develop communities in Nigeria.

She said: “This edition has shown how passionate Nigerian undergraduates, against all odds, creatively address social issues in their communities. I want to say well done to the top five teams who have travelled far and wide to tell life- changing stories of projects they have carried out in their communities. This competition has portrayed the immense creativity of our youth and I believe we are all inspired and challenged to do more.”

The teams executed live-changing projects in their various communities. FUTO exposed 76 students to Information and Communication Technology and its applications. The students also trained 300 of their colleagues in

By Damilola Olayemi

leadership and vocational skills.

They developed a recycling system for pure water sachets on campus. The team also empowered over 60 young adults and students with business and entrepreneurial skills. Six of them won over N30 million grants from the “YOU WIN” programme to start businesses with an average projected profit of 200 per cent within the first year.

BSU team undertook KMO project, which used orange peels to help reduce the effect of malaria and its attendant effects in Tarka, Gboko and Gwer Local Government Areas of Benue State.

The Federal Polytechnic, Idah, the first runner up, presented a project to brand local rice in Odugu community of Kogi State using locally available resources and new drying method. They employed locally-made machine in packaging the rice in an ecofriendly pack made from recycled paper.

The University of Ibadan project focused on improving standard of living in Ogbo community in Osun State through the establishment of Moringa plantations and the provision of 2,500 seedlings to the women. They equally established a market link for the women of Ogbo community with marketers of Moringa products.

For the SIFE team from BUK, the students presented the Neem project. This project was executed in Kura Local Government Area in Kano State, where rural women and local farmers helped

•FUTO students jubilating after the event

•Some of the IDAH POLY students receiving a cheque from an Interswitch official

to set up neem tree farms and neem oil for the production of body lotions, pesticides and fertilizers.

First Hydrocarbon Nigeria

(FHN) awarded BUK team for executing and implementing the most environmentally friendly project that drive sustainability in their local community. Federal

Polytechnic, Idah got the Interswitch innovation award, among others. These awards, it was learnt, were aimed at encouraging creativity in the ones.

•The characters in The End Time

•FCS choir singing at the event

The Fellowship of Christian Students (FCS) at the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUT, Minna) has held its annual Variety Weekend. DAVID OSU (300-Level Urban and Regional Planning) reports

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LTHOUGH they are Science students, their delivery of drama, poetry and gospel music, the preserve of their Arts counterparts, surprised many.

It all happened at the Variety Weekend of the Fellowship of Christian Students (FCS), FUT, MINNA chapter held at the Chapel of Grace on Bosso Campus.

For three days, the FCS showed that it is not all about academics alone. The FCS members displayed their artistic prowess, to the delight of the audience. The first day of the event was strictly for music.

On Friday night, the choir of the fellowship, The Living Vessels (TLV), thrilled the audience with

Is this The End Time? its performance.

Tagged Night of Zion, the choristers, dressed in colourful traditional and English attires, took the stage at different times, singing a variety of spiritual, cultural and contemporary songs.

One of them told CAMPUSLIFE that the songs were composed by the choir members.

On Saturday, the press unit of the Fellowship stunned the audience with its power of oratory. With the theme Back to Eden, the students recited some poems. There were also documentaries on the state of

the nation and the way forward in Nigeria. Also, there were slide and talk show on how a corruptionfree society can be built.

High point of the event was the presentation of an artiste, Uten, performed with his guitar.

He was also “interviewed” and when the “radio presentation” ended, the performance was greeted with wuld applause.

The fellowship also acted on stage a broadcast of “news” in a “television station”.

The newscasters acted as though they were being covered live on

national television. The news comprised national, international, sports and entertainment.

To round off the Variety Weekend, the drama group staged a play entitled: The End Time. The audience was held spellbound as the storyline of the drama unfolded.

The play told the story of how the world would come to an end and the signs that would signify the end time.

Emmanuel Akpan, 200-Level, Mechanical Engineering, told CAMPUSLIFE after the play: “The play was remarkable among all

the events held during the 2012 Variety Weekend. The play had a powerful effect on me and prodded us that the end of the world is near and that we must look up to God.” However, Elizabeth Ekujumi, 200-Level Biochemistry, said: “I didn’t enjoy every bit of the event, although I was thrilled by the music presentation by Uten.

Well, it’s my expectation that next Variety Weekend would be better than this.”

Speaking to CAMPUSLIFE on the essence of the weekend, the Vice President of the fellowship, Emmanuel Ocheholunu, 500Level Physics, said “the event was to minister to students.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2012

35

CAMPUS LIFE

NYSC and the security challenges W

ITHOUT doubt, the state of insecurity in the northern part of the country has taken its toll on the 39-yearold National Youth Service Corps Scheme (NYSC). This was made manifest two weeks ago when corps members posted to some volatile northern states protested against their posting to those states considered danger zones.

Specifically, corps members of the 2012 Batch ‘B’ NYSC service year posted to states, such as Yobe, Kaduna, Kano, Sokoto, Borno and Bauchi asked the authorities of the NYSC in Abuja to redeploy them from the troubled states due to the spate of bombings and insecurity.

Their stand was supported by members of the public including parents, churches, state governments and the House of Representatives, who condemned the posting of youths to unsafe and unsecured states.

Without consideration, the NYSC ordered the corps members to report to their orientation camps in the affected states. A statement signed by the Director (Corps

I

N the heat of the protest at the University of Lagos opposing the re-naming of the golden aged citadel of learning by President Jonathan, a bosom friend called me from the United States and engaged me in a lengthy conversation. Among other topics, life in his new university remained the centre of our conversation. He related to me the story of how he got a scholarship into A & M, which is the second best university in Texas, as a transfer student from the University of Lagos(UNILAG).

According to him, he had called the admission office from Rhodes Island and on mentioning University of Lagos, the person answering at the other end was quick to add 'Nigeria'!

Opposed to changing the name of UNILAG, I have been confronted with the question: what is in a name? However, my usual response has always been that, the question readily has its answer in it. Why rename, if there is nothing in a name?

In African society, name is everything and it is a source of identity.

Nigeria, Lagos, Badagry, Calabar, Ile-Ife and Benin are the names of places with history and people.

I first heard about MKO Abiola on July 8, 1998; and in fairness to him, according to tales confirmed by many, I doff my cap for a national democratic hero. I still remember vividly that incident, though I was only eight years old.

That fateful day, there was riotous noise and my parents remained glued to the TV, in the living room.

The breaking news on all TV sta-

Mobilisation), Mrs. Mary Kolajo, urged whosoever wanted a re-posting to do so while in camp.

Following more protests and calls by many stakeholders and groups that the protesting youth corps members be deployed to states that are safe, the NYSC, last Wednesday, bowed to pressure and directed corps members posted to Bauchi, Gombe, Plateau, Kano and Kaduna to report to NYSC Directorate Headquarters for redeployment, while corps members posted to Yobe and Borno states would carry out their orientation at Nasarawa and Benue states. The directive was, however, silent on whether the corps members would go back to Yobe and Borno states for their primary assignments after the orientation or be deployed to other states.

However, we are delighted that wise counsel has prevailed following the NYSC decision not to post corps members to states that are not safe for the mandatory one year service to their fatherland. The handlers of the scheme should, at all times, be mindful of the security and

welfare of youths entrusted unto their care and supervision. It is their duty to ensure that these youths are not exposed to harm in their host states in any way.

We recall that prospective corps members look up to the service year with hope and enthusiasm. Then, corps members were highly welcomed by their host communities and were well treated. All these have gone with the wind. Corps members have, in recent years, become victims of mass murder occasioned by politically-engineered violence. They have been at the receiving end of ethno-religious fracas in some parts of Northern Nigeria, especially the current bombings in the North by the violent Islamic sect, BokoHaram.

Unfortunately, assurance by the government of their safety in these troubled states have remained mere intentions as more and more defenseless corps members are being slaughtered daily. It is inhuman and callous to do anything that will lead to more loss of lives of our leaders of tomorrow. Since

the protection and security of these corps members in the crisis-prone states cannot be guaranteed, the best alternative is for the NYSC authorities to re-post them to states that are safe and secured. It does not really make sense for the country to continue to lose its bright young men and women in a scheme meant to integrate all parts of the country.

Moreover, the main purpose of the NYSC scheme will be utterly defeated if corps members are allowed to serve in an atmosphere of fear and tension. Putting the prospective corps members in harm’s way is against the spirit of the scheme introduced about four decades ago to reconcile all Nigerians at the end of the Nigerian Civil War. Spilling the blood of these corps members actually vitiates whatever aims and objectives the scheme is meant to serve.

We would like the NYSC to maintain the current stand of not posting corps members to crisis zones until normalcy is restored. It violates the human rights of those be-

By Gerald Nwokocha

ing posted. Until the government demonstrates capacity to restore normalcy in the affected states, it is not advisable to post any corps member to the troubled states. It is also time government considered reviewing the NYSC objectives in line with current socio-political realities of the country.

Gerald is a Corps member, NYSC Abuja

Abiola, UNILAG and the rest of us

By Mubarak Akenzua tions was about the death of one MKO Abiola, a name sounding so fresh in my ears but which took the emotion out of all around before me. Being a new comer in the society, I enquired from my parents what the tumult was about. My mother told me an engaging story of a man who had paid so dearly, with his life, for the rule of the majority, with tears trickling down her cheeks. I bought into her sober mood and thought to myself that the widespread commotion was worth it.

I went on the quest for deeper knowledge, seeking to know more about the late MKO Abiola and I came out crediting the late Chief MKO as an exemplary democrat worthy of emulation, a philanthropist and the icon of our promising democracy. Throughout the nation's six geo-political zones, MKO Abiola remained an epitome deserving a space in the memory of every Nigerian.

But sad as it may be, on May 29, 2012 at exactly 9:13am, when I received a mail from a fellow student about the renaming of the University of Lagos to Moshood Abiola University, I developed mixed feelings. To me, MKO Abiola himself is an institution, likewise University of Lagos. It is therefore not properly considered to kill one institution for another to live, leaving aside the question

of due process or proper consultation. In a developed and sane jurisprudence, such step could be dubbed 'executive recklessness'.

Also, renaming University of Lagos to Moshood Abiola University undermines and sectionalizes the person of MKO Abiola and his worthy achievements only to the southwest. It is offensive to the national heroic status of MKO Abiola rather than honoring him.

The attempt will send the name of Abiola and University of Lagos into stupor. It is a simile of throwing a golden stone uncalculated at an indisposed bird; you are losing the stone and the bird all in one attempt -too valuable to risk haphazardly.

Unarguably, renaming the University of Lagos is more or less common bait to carrot southwest votes in 2015. If the Federal Government will be sincere about immortalizing MKO Abiola, some earlier suggested ideals could be adequate. Conferring GCFR on him posthumously and declaring him a posthumous president with all the benefits affixed to the office of the presidency added to him.

Exploring a few examples, the Harvard Kennedy School was originally the Harvard Graduate School of Public Administration (GSPA), and was founded in 1936 with a $2 million gift (equivalent to $30 million in 2010) from Lucius N. Littauer, a graduate of Harvard

College. In 1966, the School was renamed to President John F. Kennedy Institute of Politics (IOP), in honor of President Kennedy. The Institute of Politics has been housed on the Kennedy School campus since 1978, and today the institute puts on a series of programmes, speeches and study groups for Harvard undergraduates and graduate students.

Fred Kavli was a Norwegian and naturalised American physicist, business leader, inventor, and philanthropist. He was born in the village of Eresfjord, Nesset municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. But in 2004, the Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology was established in honour of Fred Kavli and to leave a legacy for him.

When Americans were to honour former Governor of North Carolina, Terry Sanford, the School of Public Policy at Duke University was established. The American Government did not rename Duke University.

In essence, Harvard was not renamed for John Kennedy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology was never renamed for Fred Kavli neither was Duke University renamed for Terry Sanford, rather institutes were established with their names and affiliated to these prestigious universities to project the University and the names of these heroes

as a global brand and entity.

Similarly, if at all President Jonathan thinks in the direction of honouring the late MKO Abiola through education, MKO Abiola Institute of Politics or public policy, affiliated to the University of Lagos, a global brand, will be a better alternative.

By renaming University of Lagos to Moshood Abiola University without due sensitisation of students of the institution, the president may be unintentionally exhuming the body of MKO to re-kill it, this time without any hope of his commemoration.

Although, the University of Lagos is a property of the Federal Government as said, but who is the government? So far as this is a democratic system of government and democracy is not the kind of camaraderie that exists between husband and wife. It is the government of the people, by the people and for the people. The people, the electorate are therefore the government.

The approach taken by the president in renaming University of Lagos to Moshood Abiola University, as he called him the 'presumed winner of 1993 election' in his words' is but a fire brigade approach.

That brings about my question, should anyone be honoured based on presumption?

Mubarak, 400-Level Sociology, UNILAG

How did our society get here?

By Obianuju Asouzu

T

HE dynamic nature of societies across the globe is so evident that one needs no further explanation for this truth to be understood and appreciated. Given this fact, the present moral standard in societies today is in sharp contrast with what obtained in the past. Correctness of behaviour exhibited by one having a high moral standard is

moral integrity. This is in contrast to moral decadence which refers to behaviour exhibited that shows low standard of morals. This moral decline is a global phenomenon triggered by several factors ranging from peer pressure to poverty, and it is pervasive from city to city impacting negatively on people and the environment.

Moral tales and stories of old extol the virtues of the morally upright lives that our forefathers lived. This also made for a healthy, secured, tolerable and sound environment. Is this our experience today? No! Virtues that characterised them had long disappeared from our society. It is now very clear that our society today is dominated by people who no longer have respect for societal values. These people are of low moral standards, displaying depravity all over the place. These vagaries are more prominent on cam-

puses across the world. This moral debauchery is shown most conspicuously by a high level of provocative dressing, drug abuse, smoking, examination malpractices, cultism and ubiquitous sexual immorality in different forms; prostitution, fornication, adultery, lesbianism and homosexuality.

The level to which these moral rectitude has descended and the concomitant emergence of moral decadence in our society beat any decent person’s imagination. The nadir to which morality has descended makes one to conclude that people have forgotten the core values of human life! Empirical studies by acclaimed scholars reveal that the youths are the one most viciously affected by the virus of moral decadence. This portends great danger to the future society because the youths not only form the greater percentage of the population as in-

dicated in the global population pyramid, but also constitute the critical segment of the populace upon whose shoulders the future rests.

It is a sad commentary that students are the most debased morally.

When considered against the background that students who are supposedly being trained to be found worthy in both character and learning are the ones leading in moral bankruptcy. If this phenomenon is allowed to persist, the future of the society is ominously jeopardised and the quality of the environment will become seriously compromised.

Concerted effort of all right-thinking individuals and corporate bodies is required to stem the tide of moral decline, especially in campuses. Students should be persuaded to change their immoral behaviour and imbibe a lifestyle that is decent and dignifying. They should be made to understand that a depraved lifestyle which

they view as sign of modernity is actually a display of gross irresponsibility, as this will go a long way to make them rethink and thus reshape their aberrant behaviours.

The society should also frown seriously at adults who exhibit immoral behaviour and there should be appropriate sanctions against them. This will call for a re-examination of our lifestyles and if need be, for a change to be effected. Remember one of the sayings of Socrates “An unexamined life is not worth living”. Let us join hands together to rebuild a healthy morally-sound society that would transcend time, leaving an indelible legacy for future generations. This we can do by going back to the former reputable ways of behaviour of our forefathers.

Obianuju, 400-level Environmental Resource Management, UNICAL

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2012

36

CAMPUS LIFE Beggars are often referred to as the dregs of the society who deserve our sympathy and gifts. At the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, the act of begging is becoming a source of nuisance on the campus. HANNAH OJO (400-Level English) writes.

Beggars’ menace in OAU T

HEY sometimes swarm around like bees. They move in twos and threes a troika comprising of a mother and two children. The sight is not uncommon in the society but when they tend to normal visitors in a citadel of learning, then taking a second thought would be best. Their singsong may be different but their tune is parallel. Same tale, same refrain, same rhetoric!

Just as men are in sizes, they also come in categories. Old men, young men, young women, old women, adolescents and even toddling children. These are unwanted guests on the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) campus, who are daily becoming members of the university community.

They come with endearing tales of how life has dealt mercilessly with them and their poor victims can’t help but dip hands into the pocket to ‘bless’ them. Some claim accidents, a few blame the supernatural world responsible for their fate while many blame the harsh economic conditions.

There are young women who want money to settle bills of their children’s upbringing.

There are old men who want to pay hospital bills. There are young men who claim to have been sacked bank workers and whose parents are on the sick bed.

Some are stranded and they

“quickly need money” to transport themselves to town.

For the young boys, they need money to eat or pay examination bills. The list is endless. If everybody decides to agree with the words of Robert Louis Stevenson, the Scottish novelist who said “everyone lives by selling something”, it could be then concluded that the act of begging is a trade.

“Given the rate at which they are growing, they may soon go berserk”, says Ifeoluwa Idowu, a 400-Level student of Industrial Chemistry.

She continued: “Sometimes ago, one of my fellowship members was praying at the sports complex when a woman approached him with a food flask claiming to be hungry.

He was on the way to get her food when she called him back and showed him an empty can of coke and asked him to get her one in addition to the food. He was angry at the beggar’s action. She was a different beggar, one with a choice.”

Some of the respondent that spoke to CAMPUSLIFE said they were surprised that many of the beggars who visit the campus often have the audacity to disrupt lectures. They come into lecture halls kneeling and begging with sympathetic eyes. For their sakes, lectures are disrupted and lecturers ask class reps to pass a collection bag around for them.

•Some of the kid beggars on OAU campus

•Victor

•Adura

Some even come into class during lecture free period when students are reading. “I have witnessed some of their antics in class. Some of them have been

coming since my first year and now that am in 400-Level, the same faces still come with the same tales. Sometimes, they may be so daring that they come into the

On and Off Campus By Solomon Izekor 08061522600

halls of residence. There was a time I met a lady, who is obviously not a student, on my bed.

She requested for money to go back to town. There are even some cases when some, who are well dressed, would accost you on the road and ask for a specific amount of money”. This was the submission of a 400-Level female student of Crop Science, who craved anonymity.

Adurayemi Ositelu, 500-Level Medical Rehabilitation, views the menace as something becoming unbearable on campus. “Sometimes you see small children among them. There was a Sunday I was coming from church and an okada man had to shout on three kids who were begging with elderly people. The effect won’t be good on the society. This means that we are not teaching the values of hard work and sincerity.

This will subsequently amount to bringing children up as rogues,” Adurayemi said.

In a university that prides itself as learning and cultural centre, one should expect a modicum of order and moderation in this regard, said Victor Ogunleye, 400Level Public Administration.

He said: “I think it is not the best, especially in a university environment. I guess the reason for this is the fact that there are no strict measures in place to really watch the kind of people who come into the campus. Another thing is that most of them are without deformities. It is sad that they take advantage of students by playing on their emotions and intelligence.”

It is said that a beggar who begs from another beggar will never get rich, whether there would be a curb to this menace on the campus of OAU, only time will tell.

Students hold congress

L

AGOS State University Students’ Union has held an open door congress at Chief S.L. Edu Hall, Faculty of Sciences to discuss on the management’s recommendations that followed the union’s reinstatement last May. The union was suspended following disagreements between its leadership and the school management over a hike in school fees. A committee was set up by the ViceChancellor to review the union’s operations.

However, the recommendations of the committee caused a stir among the students who believed the plot was to render the union dormant.

The congress commenced around 10:30am, with close to 200 students in attendance including the president, Akeem Durojaiye

From Musbaudeen Shekoni LASU

and the Speaker, Rasheed Azeez.

Jubril Kareem, 400-Level Law, anchored the programme.

At the end, Section 1(1) of the union constitution was not adopted. The congress adopted the management’s recommendation on the Minimum Academic Qualifications for contestants; the committee recommended that only candidates, who scored a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.0 on the scale of 5.0 against the normal 2.5, would be eligible to contest election into students’ union offices.

Meanwhile, there are complaints by students that the union members ratified pre-arranged document by supporting the management’s recommendation.

‘Stop looking for white-collar jobs’

A

motivational speaker, Mubarak Adegoke, has urged the youth, particularly graduates of higher institutions to end their search for white collar jobs. He made this known at an event organised by the students’ wing of the Rotary Club at the Royal Spring Hotel, KontaIjabe, Osun State.

He also pointed out that the current educational system should focus on the self-reliance of the graduates to be employers of labour by establishing small and medium scale industries. The event was attended by about 700 students from higher institutions in Osun, Kwara, Ekiti and Oyo states.

In a lecture titled Leadership, democracy, good governance and entrepreneurship, Adegoke maintained that the graduating

From Rasheed Kehinde OSPOLY

students should strive to lay a solid foundation for their future through entrepreneurship.

He also urged them to participate actively in the democratic process in order to ensure good governance at all levels of government.

Adegoke, who is a Masters’ degree student at the faculty of Science, University of Ibadan (UI), urged the graduating students to be ready to face the challenges associated with start-ups. Speaking further, he stated that an enlightened society would create a foundation for mutual respect and understanding and hence provide basis for peaceful co-existence and socio political harmony in a multiethnic society such as Nigeria.

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2012

37

EDUCATION

‘Poly should be production centres’

F

ORMER Rector, Lagos State Polytechnic, Mr Olawunmi Gasper, has said polytechnics should not be for instructions only, but also the production centres for goods and services.

He stated this at stakeholders meeting with the Lagos State House of Assembly, which took place at the Lateef Jakande Auditorium of the Assembly complex, Alausa, Ikeja.

The meeting was organised by the House Committee on Education, Science and Technology on two Bills to amend the laws establishing the state's scholarship board and the state polytechnic.

The Bills are entitled: A Bill for a Law to re-establish the Lagos State Scholarship Board and for connected purposes and A Bill for a law to repeal and re-enact the Lagos State Polytechnic Law and to make provisions for its powers, functions and due administration.

Gasper urged the lawmakers to look at the law critically and increase the number of state polytechnics to enable Lagos to benefit more from the education tax fund.

He said: "Our polytechnics should not just be for instructions; they should become production centres.

The tenure of office of the board should be left at three years and not increased to four. The Chairman of the council should not take precedent over other members," he said.

On the scholarship board, stakeholders, who were present, agreed that the laws setting it up

By Oziegbe Okoeki

was due for amendment, and that the law should be specific on who has the authority in the board between the Chairman and the Executive Secretary.

Reviewing the state Polytechnic Law, the Leader of the House, Hon.

Ajibayo Adeyeye stated that one of the objectives of the new law is to ensure that the institution is properly described as a polytechnic and not college.

He explained that the law also provides for two Deputy Rectors, tenure of the board, which has been

increased to four from three and that academic staff would no longer be mandated to retire after 35 years in service.

The Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr. Abdulazeez Lawal, spoke on the law and clarified that the Registrar is the secretary of the Governing Council.

•From left: Comfort Omosehin, Mrs Abiodun Dotun and Bekisu Okhamena during their graduation at Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo.

'Elizade Varsity’ll reverse brain drain'

•One of the students’ hostels at the university

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

Omololu Adegbenro, added that capital investments to provide stateof-the-art facilities for the university has exceeded N6 billion - with about N700million spent on providing ICT facilities alone.

"To date, the founder has invested N6.5 billion in the university. He has invested N700million for ICT alone.

We want the university to be ICTdriven in all ramifications. The first phase of the post-UTME was done online and the candidates got their results immediately," he said.

Another post-UTME has been scheduled for August 31 to hold in

• Adegbenro

• Chief Ade-Ojo

the university campus, as well as Port Harcourt and Abuja. However, Adegbenro said candidates, who choose to travel to Ilara-Mokin will enjoy the advantage of touring its facilities.

Though new, Chief Ade-Ojo said

the university is not going to cut corners to fill the 400 student spaces it has. He said the university will be recruiting only students who make up to 200 in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and passes its post-UTME

Afe Babalola, ABUAD get four awards

S

HORTLY after the Socrates Award by European Business Assembly in London on March 21, this year, as the Best Enterprise in Africa, and a top up by the National Universities Commission (NUC) which described it as a 'miracle'; Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), has received four letters from varying organisations recommending the university for awards.

The bodies are: Institute for Government Research and Leadership Technology, Abuja; Brand Journalist Association of Nigeria, Lagos; Kogi State University, Anyigba and

Don tackles ethnic tension DECENTRALISATION and pursuit of local government agenda that will ensure ceding of more powers and resources to the lower tiers of government will address challenges facing ethnic minorities, Prof Samuel Gabriel Egwu, has said.

He spoke at the conference on Minorities, federalism and politics in Nigeria, organised by the departments of Political Science and History and Archaeology, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, IBBUL) in honour of the late Prof Godwin Nyor Hembe.

Egwu, who gave the keynote address, argued that states must have their constitutions as this would ensure the protection of rights of various ethnic-minorities.

Egwu, who is the Governance Adviser, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), added that to understand the dilemma of ethnic minorties in the Nigerian Federation, there was the need to go beyond ethnicity as the only explanatory variable and factor in the state system of domination.

Old students seek collaboration THE National President of Bida Old Students Associations (BOSA), Col. Sani Bello (Rtd), has called for collaboration between government and stakeholders to promote education.

Bello was guest speaker at the Interactive Session/Public Lecture, organised by the Senate Committee on Conferences and Seminars of IBBUL. He described the situation in the education sector as heartaching, adding that the future of the industry is also at the brink of collapse.

He called for more investment in the sector to salvage it so as to give hope to future generation.

The chairman of the occasion and Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Susan Adishetu Gana represented by the Director, Education Resource Centre, Alhaji Shuaibu Ndanusa, assured the IBBUL management of government’s support.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof Ibrahim Adamu Kolo, in his address, said his administration is making effort to assist the government by harvesting the goodwill of stakeholders toward the development of the university.

W

HEN Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State opens its doors to students in January 2013, it is with the hope that Nigerians will no longer flock to foreign universities in search of quality education.

Its founder, Chief Michael AdeOjo, who sits atop two highly successful firms, Elizade Motors and Toyota Nigeria, is no stranger to excellence. He told The Nation that the institution, which received its licence in February, this year seeks to close the gap of quality that is the bane of university education in Nigeria.

"I have always watched the standard of education. We employ these graduates and we even produced some in my family. I have discovered that the standard is terrible.

Some of them cannot make correct statements.The other reason I established the university is that our people are travelling overseas, even to Ghana, for university education.

“So, I said let us set up a university so I can reverse it. I asked why they are going there. I decided to build a university that will be comparable with any one on planet earth. “ After passing through Elizade University, Ade-Ojo is looking forward to graduates who have the right mix of expertise and character to move the country forward.

"The graduate of my dream is a highly educated person in his or her field who is knowledgeable and who will be useful to his country," he said.

Ade-ojo said the university is also shopping for the best of brains from all over the world to deliver quality education to the students.

"We are busy recruiting now and we have recruited some professors, senior lecturers, and assistant lecturers. We have spread our net far beyond Nigeria.There are people who are qualified who are not currently doing the job. We are going to run after these people. We are looking for the best that we can find and we are going to give them an environment to do what they know how to do best," he said.

To this end, the Registrar, Mr

IBBUL FILE

By Adegunle Olugbamila

Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, conferring Best university Law Faculty award; Brand personality of the year award; Honorary Doctorate, as well as Distinguished Personality Award on the university, and its Founder Afe Babalola.

The Institute for Government Research and Leadership Technology, Abuja in its letter dated June 18, gave ABUAD the Best University law faculty award. Similarly, the Brand Journalists Association of Nigeria, Lagos in its letter dated July 3, 2012, described ABUAD as "the real bea-

con of light" in law, agriculture, education and other economic sectors through an uncommon entrepreneur skills and the abiding creed that everything is possible with hardwork."

The award from the University of Ibadan was courtesy of the university's Institute of African Studies in celebration of its forthcoming Golden Jubilee Anniversary, while Kogi State University will also be conferring a honorary degree on Aare Afe at the university's fourth convocation coming up between September 22 and 24, this year.

Be committed, workers urged WORKERS at IBBUL have been enjoined to demonstrate high sense of commitment and dedication to their statutory responsibilities to accelerate the desired development of the institution.

The Chairman, Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU), IBBUL branch, Comrade Mahmood Musa Mahmood, made the call in Makurdi.

He said this became necessary in view of the goodwill and cordial relationship members of SSANU are enjoying from the University.

Mahmood, while resassuring the management of his members’ support, also expressed appreciation to the co-operation and kind gesture of the management to the union.

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2012

38

EDUCATION 'We have zero tolerance for malpractices'

Path to success, by Okebukola

By Tokunbo Ogunsami

THE Principal of Baptist Bowen School, Itire, Lagos, Mrs Olubukola Iruonagbe, has said the school has zero tolerance for examination malpractices.

Mrs Iruonagbe spoke at the Eighth Valedictory/Graduation/Prizegiving day of the school.

She said the school trained its pupils to believe in their ability to pass examinations without malpractices.

"This is the secret behind one of our pupils clinching the second position in a national essay competition organised by an agricultural agency in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture in Abuja recently," she said.

"Our watchword is integrity. This is why we don't tolerate exam malpractices. We employ competent teachers to impart knowledge to our pupils. We inculcate in them morals and discipline. We try as much as possible to discourage them from societal vices," she added.

The Chairman of the Governing Council of the school, Mr G.A. Eyinade, said it is an achievement for a school established in 2004 and approved by the government in 2007 to produce one be producing some brilliant pupils.

The occasion also featured presentation of prizes to some of the best pupils across all arms of the school in the 20011/2012 academic session.

College celebrates 10th anniversary

By Dawodu Olawale

ACE footballer and one of the retired Super Eagles international Daniel Amokachi, was among the guests who graced the 10th anniversary of Westminster College, Idimu, Lagos.

Aside the outgoing pupils, Amokachi was another cynosure as he handed out prizes to some of the best graduating students.

Others who attended were the school’s Principal and Managing Director Mrs Patricia Ijerheime, and Chief J. M. Barovbe.

Also present were a member of Westminister's Board of Governors, Mrs. M. Jibowu and HRH De Aholu Menu-Toyi 1 Akran of Badagry, who doubled as the father of the day, among others.

The college graduated its first set of seven in 2003. This year’s graduation had 39 pupils comprising 16 males and 23 females, who endured six years of hard work, self-discipline and devotion to duty.

Barovbe said the college has carved a niche for itself in moral, discipline, academics and leadership.

He stated that the school shone to in October last year at Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos, when one of her pupils Miss Awoyomi Tolulope Opeyemi emerged winner in the NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture National Art Competition for secondary school pupils.

He recalled that Opeyemi's artwork, which beat others at the competition, further earned her the NNPC/Chevron scholarship, while Westminster got N100,000 for producing the winner.

He urged governments to set up education panel to revisit the 6-33-4 education system.

He sought the re-introduction of the Higher School Certificate (HSC), noting that it would help to reduce unemployment temporarily. Amokachi also admonished the pupils to keep to their dreams.

"Pursue your goals and dreams," he said.

The event also featured cultural performances from other ethnic groups.

T

HE former Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof Peter Okebukola, has given secondary school pupils tips for success. He listed these as hard work, perseverance, honesty and fear of God. He stated this at the second graduation of Gem International School, Owode, Ogun State, Okebukola, where he was the guest speaker.

He cited Marie Curie and Thomas Edison, two notable scientists, who made great strides while still in school, as examples of hard work.

He said the world still remembers them as the former won the Nobel prize in physics, while the latter was the inventor of cinematography.

“If I find 10,000 ways something won't work, I haven't failed. I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward.” ''Many of life's failures are people who did not realise how close they were to success when they gave up,” he said.

He said the school has done its best by giving them the rare badge of honour.

Okebukola also spoke of fishing that the pupils were taught while in school, noting that virtues the school has impacted on them is a great tool for entrepreneurship.

“People complain that graduates are unemployable; it is therefore important to tool them, give them

P

By Ramat Musa

knowledge and skills before they leave the university to be a great entrepreneurs. Graduates need to be taught how to study, how to set up and run small businesses at the end of their graduation rather than looking for job.”

He implored the school to teach subjects into that would make their products entrepreneurs when they secure admission into tertiary institutions.

Okebukola traced the factors affecting quality education to be the poor quality of teachers, poor learning environment, bad laboratory and workshop, and children's apathy towards learning.

The school's Proprietor, Mrs Olabisi Akinlade, advised the outgoing pupils to be hardworking, determined and focused in whatever they do.

“Remember, success is not measured by the number of times you have failed, but by the numbers of time you have failed and risen. So, don't be daunted by failure; be a good ambassador of this school and always remember your parents, for they are your pillar,” she added.

The Chairman of the occasion, Abiodun Faleke, who is also a lawmaker at the National Assembly, Abuja, told the pupils to read as studying is the basis of becoming great in life.

• Ifiok Etuk, Bridget Isaac and Ayomide Odunuga at the graduation

Banks boost school’s

G

UARANTY Trust Bank (GTBank), Ecobank and United Bank of Africa (UBA) have donated laptops, textbooks and cash prizes to encourage academic excellence in Unity High School (UHS), Kubwa in the Federal Capital Territory.

This was announced during the

Proprietor seeks tax relief for private school owners

ROPRIETOR, Diamonds Mine Nursery and Primary School, Ifako-Ijaiye, Lagos, Mrs Grace Aderibigbe, has called on the government to motivate private school owners by giving them tax reliefs.

She said this at the prize giving and graduation of the school's nursery Two and Grade Fivepupils.

She said the tax the government charges private school operators was too much.

She said: “We pay taxes and levies to the ministry of Education, the local government and the Internal Revenue

By Medinat Kanabe

officials.”

She said the cut throat taxes and levies can force one, especially a new investor out of the education business.

“The tax is too much. They don't give us rest of mind. We want them to work hand in hand with us and not neglect us," she said.

She advised other private schools owners to follow the rules laid down by the government.

Addressing to the graduands, she

said: "You have successfully accomplished your primary academic assignment, which is a pathway to success into secondary and primary schools.

Your friends whom you left behind are bidding you farewell to a more success-story of your academic life. Your good example shall be emulated by those coming after you."

She noted that it is very necessary to perform the annual graduation ritual, adding that the occasion also offered a platform to express thanks to God for a successful academic year.

School graduates 492 students

By Ramat Musa

T

HE Livingstone College, Ikorodu, Lagos has graduated 492 students at this year's valedictory service and prize-giving day.

The chairman of the event, Mr Bolanle Agunbiade, said awards given were to exceptional pupils to to boost performance.

He, however, promised to continue to offer special prizes to pupils who came tops in Mathematics, English, Chemistry, Government, Literature, and Biology.

Also, the school will be participating in the Best brain contest which he sponsors for public schools.

In his message, the founder / Chairman Governing Board of the School, Mr Kola OlusolaChristwealth, advised the outgoing pupils to learn to say 'NO'.

He said: ''NO is the shortest statement; most powerful pronouncement, mostly used in difficult situation and can only be used by the most determined, strong-willed of humans in difficult circumstances.”

Olusola-Christwealth x-rayed instances that could compel the graduands, such as unacceptable faith, or any individual who wants to make them inferior to himself, or

•Elem (left) and the school’s head girl Oluomachi Josephine

create a clog on their paths to progress.

He urged them to ape one of the greatest American clerics and black activist Martin Luther King and United States President, Mr Barrack Obama, who said no to racism and inferiority complex and went on to attain global reckoning; ditto for Herbert Macaulay, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, Nigerian foremost nationalists, who fought against imperialism which

resulted into Nigeria’s independence.

The school’s Proprietor, who is also the founder's wife, Mrs Oyinlola, said the greatest challenge was for one to understand the stage of adolescent, adding that the school had already taken note of that. ''The school has, therefore, set their (graduands') mind with the school chapel, greatness is expected from them, “ adding that their predecessors did not put the school to shame.

From Faith Yahaya, Abuja

11th Annual Graduation Speech and Prize Giving Ceremony of the school.

Thirty-two SS3 and 43 JSS3 pupils passed out during the ceremony.

GTBank gave laptop to the best overall graduate and books for the school library, while UBA donated science and mathematics textbooks worth N20,000 while Ecobank gave a cash prize of N20,000 to four outstanding pupils to open an account called "My First Account".

The guest speaker, Ambassador Ebenezer Olusanmokun, while delivering a speech entitled: "Keys to academic excellence, pointed out

School graduates first set

By Adegunle Olugbamila

T

HE first set of GEC International College, Lagos, has passed out.

At the valedictory, which held at the school's auditorium in Victoria Island Lagos were parents, educationists, friends, well-wishers. A representative of Debrecen University, Hungary, attended the ceremony.

The school’s Director of Studies, MrTheo Theodorou, challenged the 18 pupils to be good ambassadors of the country, especially when they travel abroad for further studies.

He urged the pupils to imbibe good morals, principles, knowledge, and maintain the good name of their college and their families.

The school’s Principal, Dr Ghalib Fahad, likened the ceremony to a time of reflection and joy, noting that the pupils should reflect on how they had worked and the sacrifices they made during their stay in the school.

"Academic staff will also reflect on how the courses were delivered and administered and the lessons they have learnt from this process.

“These reflections, convert them to joy as each look at the outcomes that have been achieved by all,”Fahad. He encouraged them to carry along with them core values of respect, good character and care for others wherever they go.

The Director of Marketing and Administration, Mrs Josephine Peters, said the school was poised to train and produce ethically and morally sound pupils.

She described the outgoing pupils as a crop of well-behaved gentlemen and ladies who will surely become our future leaders.

39

THE NATION THURSDAY, AGUSUT 2, 2012

EDUCATION

Olashore graduates 72

S

EVENTY-TWO pupils of Olashore International

n

graduation that Nigeria needs a better trained workforce to move up to the economic value chain, urging government to invest in education.

"The government has to provide more resources for education and manpower development than it is currently doing.

“As we live in a highly competitive, global environment, only the fittest and most prepared can stave off poverty and deprivation."

The Proprietress of the school, Mrs Olufemi Akanni, advised the pupils to focus on God. She said: "The key to academic excellence is God; put God first and you are on your way to the top. My advice to you is get God, get understanding, get knowledge, these will guarantee your giant strides towards excellence.”

The Principal, Adeyemi also counselled the graduands on hard work.

"There is no short cut to success in life; the future will be bright if you make integrity, hard work and intelligence your watch word. If you diligently pursue your undertakings and work hard, you will be successful," he said.

Prizes were presented to the pupils, workers and parents. The Outgoing Head Boy of the school, Ogunware Michael, bagged the award of the best overall best student and he was presented a laptop by GTBank, among many other prizes.

School, Iloko Ijesha, Osun State have passed out.

Parents, guests and well wishers shared in their joy during a ceremony to mark it at the Oba Sijuade Hall of the school.

The guest speaker at the event, Prof Pat Utomi, urged the outgoing pupils to learn to serve, saying Nigerian leaders love themselves.

"As you go into the world, put on the spirit of service. One of the major challenges facing this country is that our leaders love themselves not their followers.

They acquire wealth for their use alone and not the well being of the masses. But as young ones put on the spirit of service this will take our country to greater height," he said.

He urged them to add good character to knowledge.

"Don't only acquire knowledge but add good characters to knowledge.Pleasure without conscience is a deadly social sin, this country is going

By Seun Olalude

through difficult times but with your commitment to service and good character, Nigeria will be reformed," he added.

The Principal of the school, Mr Steven Valentine, urged the pupils to learn to lead.

He said: "My idea of leadership for young people in the 21st century is about learning to lead one' life. No one can do it for you. Vincit qu se vincit, which means he conquers who conquers himself.

“You need to dream; to have a long-term vision but you need to be able to lead yourself through the day, through tomorrow and through next week with drive, with discipline and with courage.

You need to be able to make the right decisions many times each day. It is no easy task.”

The Ekiti State Commissioner for Education, Technology and Science, Dr Eniola Ajayi: "See your future from today because you will be responsible for you decision. Don't wait till tomorrow, you are the leaders of today not tomorrow because

• Dr Ajayi presenting an award to Ayomide

tomorrow is very close."

The overall best graduating pupil, Miss Ayomide Tubi, who received the late Oba Oladele Olashore scholarship award during the founder' day celebration of the school last year

passed out as the best student in Biology, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Economics, Technical Drawing.

She said her success was as a result of determination and discipline.

Uphold our values, pupils urged

By Amidu Arije

T

• From Left: Moses Siasia, Director, Vale College, with Funso Adegbola and Niyi Oladokun at the event.

HE 46 outgoing pupils of the Vanguards Academy, IjebuOde Ogun, have been advised to uphold the virtues they learnt in the school. The school's Director of Administration Dr Adeniyi Omotope Zafaran gave the advice during the school's Sixth graduation/10th anniversary.

"Do know that the tides of the societal current are drowning even those who can swim. Your six years have passed like a flash. They have opened another beginning for you; so listen to this call: If you know the challenges which await you, you will prefer to stay than to leave.

Zafaran urged the students to hearken the call of success, adding, "Resist being swum away by the flood of avoidable societal waves. The Quran has thought us not to be despondent."

Jonathan reiterates commitment to education development

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has reiterated his administration's commitment

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

to improving the nation's education system, as 23 students of Bayelsa

•Chairman, Board of Governors, Chief Oye Afolabi; Proprietress, Molan Schools, Mrs. Agnes Afolabi ( behind) Mr Dan Obidiegwu, chief launcher and former Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Allevation, Kogi State, Mrs. Folashade Shinkaiye and PTA Chairman, Rev. Emmanuel Adeleke, at the 13th graduation and launch of the maiden edition of Student Year Book in Lagos.

PHOTO: ADEJO DAVID

State, who were given scholarship to study in The Vale College, Ibadan graduated.

The president, who was represented on the occasion by Mr Moses Siasia, said 100 beneficiaries were given scholarship to study in four of the best private schools in the country, under the Bayelsa Merit Scholarship scheme in 2006, when he was governor of the state.

Siasia recalled: "In 2006, the scholarship was given to 100 pupils who were exceptionally brilliant, but needed financial assistance to further their education. If he (President Jonathan) had not given the students the opportunity to study with the scholarship, what would have become of them today?"

Siasia quoted the President as saying that education is not about transformation, but one which transforms the society.

He noted that a genuine leader needs to have the education interest of the younger

‘Jonathan admonished the graduands to be agents of change, and shun corruption’ generations, bearing in mind that there are over 50 per cent of Nigeria's untapped natural resources and its only the younger ones that can unleash them.

Jonathan admonished the graduands to be agents of change, and shun all forms of corruption.

His words:"We shall leave no stone upturned to bring quality education to our people.”

The Proprietor, The Vale College, Ibadan, Mrs Funsho Adegbola said the 23 Bayelsan were among the 44 graduands.

She lauded the President for sponsoring the beneficiaries in the school in the last six years.

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2012

40

EDUCATION

Pupil's private school dream comes true

•Mr Falore presenting the scholarship letter to Victor and his mother

E

ACH time Victor Akwuobi passed by Oak International School, Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos, he wished he was a pupil there instead of Agidingbi Primary School.

Many times, he would tell his mother, "I want to go to that School."

And she would reply, "Who will take you there?" The earning from her sewing business was insufficient to pay the fees at Victor's dream school.

She did not even contemplate it.

When he completed his primary education, he would proceed to Agindingbi Junior Secondary School for his secondary education - or so she thought.

Fate was pulling Victor in a different direction, and his desire for a private education was fulfilled Thursday last week when he was presented with a six-year scholarship to study at Mind Builders High School, CBD, Ikeja.

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

The 10-year-old was one of the three beneficiaries of the scholarship instituted by the school to assist indigent pupils resident in its host communities. The other two were Nestor Nnabude and Favour Nnabude.

The presentation was made during this year’s Prize Giving and Concert of the nursery, primary and secondary sections of the school.

Victor's mother, Mrs Josephine Akwuobi said in an interview that the former pupil of Agidingbi Primary School longed to attend a private school, Oak International School, Ogba, which she could not afford.

"The (primary) school recommended him (Victor) to write the scholarship test. They called to inform me he won a scholarship. I felt excited. I never planned for him

to go to this school. We planned that he will go to the Government Secondary School, Agidingbi. But he always telling us he wanted to go to Oak International School, and I used to tell him, 'who will take you'.

Now he has won scholarship to go to a private school. They called me to bring him for interview. There were nine of them and he was the only that was successful,” she said.

To ensure he maintains the 70 per cent academic performance, which is the benchmark for him to continue enjoying the scholarship, Mrs Akwuobi said she would employ a lesson teacher to teach him after school.

“I will look for a lesson teacher for him because coming from public to private school will be a big challenge. He scored 65 per cent in the scholarship.You know the standard is not the same so I will get a teacher,” she said.

Chairman, Board of Governors of the school, Mr Tunbosun Falore, said the scheme may extend beyond secondary education if the beneficiaries are consistent.

"We just think it is the best we can do for the less privileged that is why we limited it to indigent pupils around us - Magodo, Agidingbi, Ogba, Ojodu. We conducted exams for the best three pupils attending public primary schools in these areas. For now, we will take them through secondary school and depending on their performance and the school, we may sponsor their university education," he said.

On his part, Victor is ready for the hard work ahead. Already, he has a taste of what to expect in his new school and keyed in from Thursday, learning from the theme of the programme, Responsibility, which featured in almost all the presentations by the pupils.

“I like private schools because they teach well. People that go to private school speak good English. I have learnt that I should read my books and be responsible,” he said.

During the event, each of the classes presented songs, poems, dance, drama that highlighted the virtues of responsible pupils and adults.

Prizes were presented to outstanding pupils, members of staff and parents who have supported the school.

‘Why some Nigerians study abroad’

A

N education consultant, Salewa Olayinka, has said the reason some Nigerians rush to acquire tertiary education in Europe and America is to interact with international professionals in their fields.

The graduate of Birmingham University, United Kingdom, said Nigerians appreciate the importance of acquiring world-class degrees and the opportunity to network with some of the best professionals from

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

various countries of the world.

Though she graduates can compete internationally, she noted that the rigour and financial implications of studying abroad, particularly in Western countries are worth the while.

Olayinka is the Chief Executive Officer of the Akure-based D. Dot Resources and Allied Limited, a representative of Birmingham University in Nigeria and

management and training as well as consultant on admission to Birmingham University in Nigeria.

She said: "Nigerians run overseas for tertiary education because they understand that education goes beyond the borders of their country.

They appreciate the need to broaden their horizon because the world has become a global village. They appreciate the need to interact with international professionals in their fields.

World Bank to support non-formal education

T

HE leader of World Bank task team in Nigeria, Dr Olatunde Adekola, has said the World Bank will support the award of certificates in non-formal eduction by the Federal College of Education Technical, Umunze in Anambra State.

He made the pledge while inspecting the World Bank-assisted Science and Technology education Post Basic (STEP-B) project at the permanent site of the school.

Adekola said the award of certificates in non-formal education to the college was to encourage private sectors in the areas of technical and technological knowledge.

He assured the Provost of the college, Prof. Josephat Ogbuagu, of World Bank's readiness to send the college more money to enable it to start a vocational training centre.

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

The training centre, he said was for the development of human capacities in various technological skills, such as engine mechanics, computer, cell phone repairs, electronics etc.

The World Bank, therefore, commended the provost for the proper management of the STEP-B project in the institution adding "we are delighted and proud of the management of this college".

However, he urged the staff of the institution to rise and set their orientation towards understanding the purpose of their mission in the school.

He added that their ability to harness the potential of the new scientific and technical knowledge through vocational training center, would create major source of com-

petitive advantage and improvement in quality of life.

The team further urged the management of the college not to engage in any programme that has no technical outfit to add value to the purpose for which the school was established.

Earlier, the provost of the institution, Ogbuagu thanked the global bank for assisting the college in the establishment of the (STEP-B) Information Communication Technology (ICT) laboratory.

He said since the introduction of STEP-B ICT laboratory in 2010, it had impacted on the staff of the college, students and the host community.

However, he said the college would soon start the teaching of ICT education to primary school teachers in the area.

EDUTALK

with

Addressing foundational challenges

I

T is becoming clearer to me why mass failure persists in public examinations. It is not like fresh facts have emerged that have suddenly shed new light on Kofoworola the problem. On the contrary, factors that I have ignored in the past are now making more sense as pointers to poor performance.

Kofosagie@yahoo.com If in the past 10 years results have 08054503077 (SMS only) been poor, what is responsible for the poor performance is even 10 years older. Therefore, it may take another 12 years of funding, intense monitoring and supervision, as well as commitment to the ultimate goal of improving performance with the highest regard for quality and integrity before we can achieve close to 50 percent pass in public examinations.

I have never believed that examining bodies mark candidates down.

Neither do I think they should lower standards because of the outcry against poor performance yearly. Instead, I have repeatedly advocated for concerted efforts to be made to ensure quality education delivery in both public and private schools.

I commend efforts by various levels of governments in recent years in this regard. I commend the federal government for intervening in basic education through the UBE scheme; and I praise various states that have introduced one programme or the other to improve teaching and learning in schools. However, more than ever before, I now realise that the results will not be dramatic. The system needs to go through due process to heal.

Last year, while Bolaji Abdulahi was Kwara State Commissioner for Education, he launched efforts to ginger SS3 candidates sitting for the examination in public schools and their parents to work towards better performance. He wanted to reverse the six per cent pass in the examination. How far he succeeded in that task is not certain.

The Lagos State government also introduced the Eko Project, a World Bank- assisted initiative that gives grants directly to schools to provide infrastructure and training two years ago. There have been high hopes about the effect of the intervention on performance of the pupils in the WASSCE. However, though performance improved last year, the government was unsatisfied by the small margin of improvement.

I too shared the Lagos State government’s dissatisfaction. Though I do not know the performance in Kwara, I am not sure the margin was very impressive either. As disappointing as it may sound, we should not expect dramatic changes in performance because of interventions that are two just about two-years old. This is because the pupils we are depending upon to deliver these results have had defective primary education.

Now I understand what it means to have a defective foundation. It is what I saw in a 10-year old primary five pupil that inspired my column of February 2 (Illiteracy woes in public schools). In six years time, when the girl should be in SS3 – if she is moved from class to class without recourse to whether she learns or not – it would be foolhardy to expect her to make credits in five subjects in the WASSCE. That is why despite government’s best intentions presently little can be done to get results overnight.

If the federal and all state governments are interested in improving results in public examinations, they should start from the beginning – the early child care education development classes. They should ensure that teachers responsible for teaching literacy and numeracy skills at this foundation stage are literate themselves and can deliver knowledge to the pupils. Beyond having superior teaching skills, relevant agencies should also ensure that they are committed to doing their jobs and not delegating responsibility to pupils.

As this becomes the case from year to year, the pupils we will be grooming on the average will no doubt be better than those who did not learn well enough to read or write because they were not taught.

Meanwhile, we must not stop intervention for those who have missed out on quality education in those key years. There must be remedial programmes to bring them up to the level they ought to be. In this regard, the intervention we require is beyond what government can provide. Educated people who have children in this category as relatives, neighbours or friends should pitch in and help them become better educated.

We all we gain from such intervention. Like Governor Babatunde Fashola said at a programme last week, an investment in the children of today is an intelligent investment in our own future because they will be the ones to take care of us in our old age. If we don’t train them now, they will torment us later.

Belo-Osagie

First published March 01, 2012

‘Meanwhile, we must not stop intervention for those who have missed out on quality education in those key years. There must be remedial programmes to bring them up to the level they ought to be. In this regard, the intervention we require is beyond what government can provide’

41

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2012

THE NATION

NATURAL HEALTH E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

CLINIC DAY

QUESTIONS

The Chairman, Research Institute for Traditional and Alternative Medicine (RITAM), Otunba Olajuwon Okubena and its Chief Medical Director, Dr Johnson Idowu, provide answer to question one, while Managing Director, Seaduck Nigeria Limited, Mr Sam Ayeni, answers question two.

What efforts are being made by practitioners to establish a model clinic to show the importance of traditional medicine in Nigeria?

Practitioners challenge Fed Govt on traditional medicine D

ESPITE efforts by the Federal Government to integrate traditional medicine into the health care system, some problems are militating against it.

These are the absence of a national policy and regulatory framework; inadequate mechanism for quality control; and inadequate support for research and development; Other are lack of preservation and protection of knowledge and mistrust between conventional medicine and traditional medicine pratitioners due to disregard of traditional medicine by the upper echelons of the society.

At present, traditional medicine is being suppressed. The fractious regulations and institutions, and the lack of support from the Federal Government have further negated its integration into the health care system. It is, therefore, not sufficient to recognise traditional medicine, but self-sustaining and empowered structures and a system must be provided for its effective institutionalisation.

The intention must be allowed for the development and enrichment of traditional medicine as a system in the sector, equal in status to allopathic medicine as it is in China and India, and more recently, South Africa.

Nigeria, as a member of the African Union (AU) and one of the economic giants of Africa, should have led the way in the implementation of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional office for Africa and WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (EMRO) tools, especially because it has a thriving traditional medicine industry.

In comparison, South Africa has not only implemented these tools, it has also passed legislation embracing the integration of traditional medicine into mainstream health delivery.

Traditional practitioners, going by WHO statistics, are treating up to 120 million Nigerians. Yet, there is no functional school or teaching hospital where the medicines used by these practitioners can be scientifically assembled, documented and taught for present and future generations.

Plan of action In July 2001 during the summit of the AU Heads of State and Government held in Lusaka, Zambia, the AU Decade for African Traditional Medicine was declared to cover 2001 to 2010. WHO/AFRO provided technical support to AU and member states during the declaration of the Decade.

The decision is crucial to the political recognition of African Traditional Medicine and signifies tremendous support for its rational development, improvement and integration into public health care system in the region.

The timing of the AU’s decision is unique

- Yomi Babalola Lagos I am aversed to taking drugs. Can you recommend a natural product that can enhance my health?

- Gbenga Ogunwale, Ondo State

•Okubena

•Idowu

too.This is the time that the developed countries have witnessed resurgence in the use of natural-based products. For example, a survey showed that 43 per cent of the top 150 prescription drugs in the United States originated from natural sources (phyto-pharmaceuticals). Similarly, there is an upsurge in the use of multi-component standardised plant extracts (phyto-medicines).

A survey of comparative international practices and policies in traditional Medicine shows that certain common trends can be identified. These include the recognition of traditional medicine in formal medicine in the health sector through a national focal point such as an institute.

•The establishment of a system to regulate, register and license traditional health practitioners and the provision of training of such practitioners.

•The establishment of a system to develop; regulate and register traditional medicine to ensure safety, quality and efficacy, including scientific research.

•The development of a national pharmacopoeia or the updating of existing ones as part of the regulatory system.

•Collaboration with other countries and the WHO to exchange information and promote policies and regulation according to international standards.

Objective of the action plan The main objective of the Plan of Action is the recognition, acceptance, development and integration of traditional medicine by member states into the public health care system in the region by 2010.

Expected outcomes of the Decade (2001-2010) are: Sensitisation and popularisation of traditional medicine in member states, adoption of national policy on traditional medicine, establishment of legal frameworks and legislation on traditional medicine by member states, adoption by member states of World Health Organisation (WHO)/AFRO and EMRO tools (WHO Regional office for Africa and Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean) for institutionalising traditional medicine in health systems; establishment of permanent structure at the Ministry of Health to implement traditional medicine programmes in member states; inauguration of a National Board of traditional medicine to regulate its practice and products.

Also, the adoption of national policy on access to biodiversity and protection of traditional medical knowledge (AU Model Law); establishment of centres of excellence/WHO collaborating centres for research and development of traditional medicines used for the treatment of priority diseases; creation of en-

abling political, economic and regulatory environment for the development of local production and for cultivation and conservation of medicinal and aromatic plants; promotion of laboratory and clinical evaluation, development, local production and marketing of standardised traditional medicines; registration of standardised traditional medicines in the national essential list of traditional medicines and prescription, rational use and monitoring of standardised traditional medicines in health care systems in public and private sectors.

With the expiration of the deadline for the implementation of the AU resolution, most African countries, including Ghana and South Africa have complied. A visit to Ghana would confirm that traditional medicine clinics and hospitals are operating with the allopathic counterparts and citizens have a choice of what health facilities to use as had been the practice in China, India and Japan for centuries. Unfortunately, there is no evidence of traditional medicine practice in Nigeria.

This is a violation of the treaty signed in 2001 by African heads of state. For over 10 years, Nigeria has not established a framework for this project and in technical terms, the practice of herbal medicine is not supported by law.

It is, however, being tolerated as Nigerians, who practise traditional medicine are not prosecuted.

In the concluding part of this article later, we will present to readers, efforts being made by stakeholders to establish a model clinic to show the relevance of traditional medicine and provide an alternative choice for those interested in solving their health problems through herbs.

Also, they should use it to demonstrate to the Federal Ministry of Health that collaboration in replicating the model clinics in the country could boost the effort to establish traditional medicine on a firm footing.

Expert lists benefits of raw apple cider vinegar

Y

OU’VE probably heard of Raw Organic Apple Cider Vinegar. But, do you know what it is?

Vinegar is a product of fermentation. It is a process in which sugar in a food are broken by bacteria and yeast. In the first stage of fermentation, the sugar is turned into alcohol. Then, if the alcohol ferments further, you get vinegar.

It comes from the French word,

meaning “sour wine.” While vinegar can be made from various things, such as fruits, vegetables, and grains — apple cider vinegar comes from pulverised apples.

Like many types of vinegar, apple cider vinegar contains a substance called acetic acid. Apple cider vinegar also contains some lactic, citric and malic acids. The main ingredient of apple cider vinegar, or any vinegar, is acetic acid. However, vinegar also has

other acids, vitamins, mineral salts, and amino acids.

Unlike white vinegar, apple cider vinegar is light yellow-brown and is often sold unfiltered and unpasteurised with a dark, cloudy sediment settled at the bottom of the bottle. Known as “mother of vinegar,” this sediment consists mainly of acetic acid bacteria. Unfiltered and unpasteurised apple cider vinegar is sold in health food

stores. Apple cider vinegar is also sold in tablet form. However, it should be noted that the quality of apple cider vinegar tablets may vary. For example, a 2005 study compared eight brands of apple cider vinegar supplements and found that the ingredients didn’t correspond with the ingredients listed on the packaging.

What’s more, the chemical analysis of the samples led researchers

to question whether any of the products were actually apple cider vinegar or simply acetic acid. In addition, apple cider vinegar tablets may become lodged in the throat or esophagus and cause serious damage to those tissues.

Although other types of vinegar, such as white vinegar, balsamic vinegar, red wine vinegar and rice •Continued on page 42

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THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2012

NATURAL HEALTH Two home remedies of apple cider vinegar

Expert lists benefits of raw apple cider vinegar •Continuedfrom page 41

wine vinegar, are used mainly in cooking, apple cider vinegar is used primarily for health purposes.

Hippocrates was said to have used it as a health tonic, and American soldiers are said to have used it to combat indigestion, pneumonia and scurvy.

But it wasn’t until the book Folk Medicine: A Vermont Doctor’s Guide to Good Health, written by D.C. Jarvis, M.D., was published in 1958 that the medicinal use of apple cider vinegar took off.

Jarvis recommended apple cider vinegar as a cure-all, explaining that it was unusually rich in potassium (though compared to other food sources, it is not). He said mixing the apple cider vinegar with honey (a mixture he called “honegar”) enhanced the healing power of the vinegar. Jarvis also wrote that apple cider vinegar could destroy harmful bacteria in the digestive tract and recommended it as a digestive tonic to be taken with meals.

In the 1970s, apple cider vinegar became popular once again, this time with the help of proponents who had read Jarvis’ book and suggested that apple cider vinegar (along with kelp, vitamin B6, and lecithin) could help people lose weight by speeding metabolism and burning fat at a faster rate.

In recent years, apple cider vinegar has been singled out as an especially helpful health tonic. So it’s sold in the condiment and the health supplement aisles of a grocery store. While many of the folk medicine uses of vinegar are unproven (or were disproved), a few do have a medical research backing them up. Some small studies have hinted that apple cider vinegar could help with several conditions, such as diabetes and obesity.

Beneficial ingredients in raw

apple cider vinegar give it its power to make us feel better, look better and feel energised. Just look at some of the beneficial ingredients in raw apple cider vinegar: •One tablespoon of Raw Apple Cider Vinegar mixed in four ounces of purified water after a meal has been used as a natural remedy for heartburn and as a replacement for toxic heartburn medications.

•Raw Apple Cider Vinegar may help improve bowel irregularity, thereby removing toxins from the body at a faster rate.

•Helps clear up skin conditions and blemishes giving a smoother texture and complexion.

•Raw Apple Cider vinegar may also help with joint pain and stiffness.

•Apple Cider Vinegar helps to break down fats so that your body can use them rather than store them.

For this reason, many diets include ACV in their regimen.

•On a small scale, ACV was studied by researchers at Arizona State University.

The preliminary study was published in the Diabetes Care journal. It reported that ACV helps reduce levels of glucose.

Raw organic apple cider vinegar is even good for pets. It has been used to help control fleas and even promotes a healthy shiny coat.

If you can get over the taste of apple cider vinegar, you will find it one of the most important natural remedies in healing the body.

As a wonderful side effect of drinking apple cider vinegar daily, we’ve discovered that it brings a healthy, rosy glow to one’s complexion! This is great news if you suffer from a pale countenance.

According to Bragg Health Products, it helps to remove body toxins, promote a youthful body and support a healthy immune system.

It helps to maintain healthy skin,

1) Dandruff

•Ayeni

control weight and improves digestion and assimilation as well as soothes tight and aching joints and sore muscles from exercise and soothes irritated skin.

My absolute favourite brand is Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar which is still the best. It’s raw and unfiltered, leaving all the vital nutrients and enzymes intact; unlike most vinegars which are pasteurized, filtered, processed, and nutritionally “dead”.

Paul Bragg was a lifelong health crusader and mentor to Jack Lalane.

He wrote a book on Apple Cider Vinegar and numerous others on diet, exercise, fasting, etc; and is just awesome. I have most of his books in my library.

You can find 16oz bottles of Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar at most health stores in Nigeria.

Note that Clear vinegar has none of the benefits of raw organic apple cider vinegar. Through its processing and distilling, it’s been stripped of everything beneficial and can be detrimental to your health due to the fact that it is dead instead of alive.

Only raw organic apple cider vinegar has the “mother of vinegar” that makes the vinegar so beneficial. The “mother” is made up living nutrients and bacteria. You can actually see it settled in the bottom of the bottle like sediment.

A home remedy for dandruff is to mix a quarter of a cup of apple cider vinegar with a quarter of a cup of water. The vinegar solution is thought to restore the restore the pH balance of the scalp and discourage the overgrowth of malassezia furfur, the yeastlike fungus thought to trigger dandruff.

The vinegar mixture is usually poured into a spray bottle and spritzed on the hair and scalp, avoiding the eye and ear area. A towel is then wrapped around the head and left on 15 minutes to an hour. After that, the vinegar can be washed from the hair. Alternative practitioners often recommend it once or twice a week for dandruff.

2) Acne When using apple cider vinegar to treat acne, some alternative practitioners recommend mixing one part apple cider vinegar with three parts water. The solution is then dabbed onto the pimple. Since there have been case reports of skin damage and burns from using full-strength vinegar on the face, it's important to take caution when using this remedy.

Apple cider vinegar and alkaline acid balance Some alternative practitioners recommend using apple cider vinegar to restore alkaline acid balance. The theory behind the alkaline diet is that our blood is slightly alkaline (with a normal pH level of between 7.35 and 7.45) and that our diet should reflect this pH level. Proponents of the alkaline-acid theory believe that a diet high in acid-producing foods leads to lack of energy, excessive mucous production, infections, anxiety, irritability, headache, sore throat, nasal and sinus congestion, allergic reactions, and increased risk of conditions such as arthritis and

gout.

Despite being an acidic solution, some proponents of apple cider vinegar believe it has an alkalinizing effect on the body. As such, they recommend one to two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar in water as a daily health tonic.

Although this is a popular remedy, its effectiveness hasn't been researched.

Side effects and safety concerns Undiluted apple cider vinegar, in liquid or pill form, may damage the esophagus and other parts of the digestive tract. Apple cider vinegar drinks may damage tooth enamel if sipped.

One case report linked excessive apple cider vinegar consumption with low blood potassium levels (hypokalemia) and low bone mineral density. People with osteoporosis, low potassium levels, and those taking potassium-lowering medications should use caution.

People with allergies to apples should avoid apple cider vinegar.

Vinegar applied to the skin may cause burns and scarring.

Excessive doses of apple cider vinegar have been found to cause damage to the stomach, duodenum, and liver in animals.

Possible drug interactions Theoretically, prolonged use of apple cider vinegar could lead to lower potassium levels, which could increase the risk of toxicity of cardiac glycoside drugs such as Lanoxin (digoxin), insulin, laxatives, and diuretics such as Lasix (furosemide).

Because apple cider vinegar may affect blood glucose and insulin levels, it could theoretically have an additive effect if combined with diabetes medications.

Apple cider vinegar may also lower blood pressure, so it may have an additive effect if combined with high blood pressure medications.

43

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2012

NATURAL H EALTH

Ramadan greetings to my Moslem and Christian friends(3) called the internal bath of health and youth.

I

SEE many coughing people and many drawn faces around in Lagos these days. The cough may have something to do with the cool weather, polluted environment and a detoxifying effect of the Ramadan fast. As for the drawn faces, they have links to either economic suffocation or stress from the hunger of the fast hours. My nose was stuffy and then ran for about one week, during a light cough. I guess this may be one of the symptoms of the “die off effects” of detoxification. After helping many people control or get rid of Candida overgrowth and inflammation, using such nutritional remedies as Amazon AF, Amazon CF, Pau D’ A’rco, Bellaco Capsi and stuff like these, I decided to help myself as well.

To my aid came Da Vinci’s PARASHIELD, a warehousing for six antimicrobial herbs, Source Natural’s ACTIVATED QUERCITIN in a bioflavonoid complex matrix, Wakunaga’s KYOLIC AGED GARLIC EXTRACT and things like these. Many of us suffer from the menace of inflammation without realising so. Inflammation, no doubt, is a part of the healing process, like a state of emergency in a crisis- ridden society. But when it drags on for too long, it damages affected organs, which is why it is linked to many degenerative conditions, including asthma and diabetes Inflammation results from irritation to tissue. And irritation comes from the presence of such things as germs, toxic chemical substance, and accumulated waste products of metabolism.

When detoxification agents get at them, these peace disturbers are driven from their hiding places into the bloodstream when Candida, a yeast, is killed or large numbers, the broken or ruptured cells empty their poisoning contents into the blood. These are irritating and inflammatory. The aim of the cells in off loading them into the bloodstream is to get the liver to pulverise or neutralise these toxins, and then get their constituents expelled either in the stool or urine. Accumulations of these toxins in the bloodstream is a cause of symptoms, such as headaches, joint and muscle pains, disturbances in the lungs, coughing, insomnia, arthritis, nerve pain and damaged organs. A fast is like an Environmental Sanitation Day in Nigeria, the last Saturday of every month, when, unconstitutionally, Freedom of Movement, guaranteed by the Constitution, is restricted by military fiat nationwide from 7:00am to 10:00am so that everyone can clean his or her apartment and keep the rubbish in the street for dust men to pick up. A fast provides the cells an opportunity to break from work and, as we do in Nigerian Sanitation Day, throw their wastes into the bloodstream. These cells can be aided, with creative supplementation of the diet with detoxification agents, to do the job better.

Then, dietary supplementation with antioxidant agents can neutralise these toxins in the bloodstream to minimise “die off affect” symptoms or to shorten the duration. One of the ways to do this is to break the fast in the evening with fruits (if the faster is not diabetic) and vegetable juices or green drinks. Last week, I promised to be a little more elaborate on the greens.

The greens When liquid chlorophyll appeared on the market, this column suggested: “LETS’S DRINK GREEN, THE EARTH IS NOT GREEN FOR THE FUN OF IT. Chlorophyll makes the leaves green, and is called “blood of the plant”. It enables the plant fix food from resources in the air and oil. The red pigment of the blood of humans named hemoglobin, which carries oxygen is the equivalent of the green chlorophyll of plants. Four scientists won the Nobel Prize for showing that chlorophyll and hemoglobin are the same in structure save for their central atoms. This structure is HYDROGEN, CARBON, OXYGEN and NITROGEN. They form a rectangle in which these elements are joined at the center by NAGNENESIUM (in chlorophyll) and IRON (in hemoglobin). Thus, by consuming greenery, the human blood is afforded raw materials to rebuild and to recharge as it were.

Power of greens The authors of PRESCRIPTIONS FOR DIETARY HEALING remind us that “green is a powerful healing colour”, for which reason, perhaps, “God created more” green on our planet than any other color. In his JUICING THERAPY, Dr Bernard Jenson, one of Europe’s greatest authorities on juice fasting, mentions the following ‘remedial effects of chlorophyll’ .In his words: • Helps build high blood count • Counteracts toxins • Helps purify the liver • Feeds tissue magnesium • Alleviates blood sugar problems • Improves milk production • Reduces or eliminates body odour • Improves nasal drainage • Relieves sore throat • Soothes gastric ulcer • Reduces catarrhal discharge • Improves varicose veins • Cleans and deodorises bowel • Soothes inflammation of some forms of hepatitis • Supports blood coagulation in hemophilia • Helps sores heal faster • Destroys bacteria in wounds • Slows nasal drip • Benefits inflamed lympth organs (tonsils, appendix, etc.)

• Soothes painful hemorrhoids • Revitalises vascular system • Reduces pain caused by inflammation Says Dr. Jenson: “I have seen many patients helped with green juices which contain chlorophyll, enzymes, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and sodium as well as pro-vitamin A, B- complex vitamins, and vitamins C, E and K. The power of sunshine in chlorophyll is wonderfully cleansing in the body”.

After a long day without food, when the cells would have deposited their toxins in the bloodstream, which is a better way to break the fast.. ?

• Going straight for solids or fruits because of hunger?

• Using a green drink to cleanse the system before going for fruits and solids?

In my view, the latter is better. First, it prevents the toxins from regrouping into large complexes. Next, it provides materials for reconstituting the blood. Third, this complements the suggestion made last week regarding using biochemical, homeopathic cell salts to reconstitute the tissues and organs.

For people who wish to take advantage of the fast to loose weight, and to let fasters know fasting need not make the face become drawn, Dr. Paavo Airola Ph. D., N.D., international nutritionist, naturopathic physician and author of 14 widely read books, mentions in his book, JUICE FASTING, scientifically supervised world famous fasts which did not drain the participants of energy or make them wear long, drawn faces as is often the case here. He says:

“… Doctors have stopped laughing and started investigating.

Many scientific studies and clinical tests are being made, particularly in Europe, to determine the prophylactic, therapeutic and rejuvenating properties of fasting. The Karo inska Institute in Stockholm, the world famous research institution, has made clinical studies and experiments with fasting under the direction of Drs. P. Reizenstein and J. Kellberg. They employed fasts for up to 53 days in their studies which demonstrated that fasting is not only a perfectly safe measure, but that it also has a definite beneficial therapeutic property.

“Perhaps the fasts of the Karolinska Institute were inspired by the famous Swedish fast marches of 1954 and 1964 which are described in detail in my book HEALTH SECRETS FROM EUROPE (Published by Parker Publishing Co, Inc., West Nyack, N.Y. K70,) In these experimental fast marches, which made headlines in the World Press, just 11 and then 19 men walked from Gothenburg to Stockholm, a distance of over 125 miles, in 10 days. Throughout each march the participants fasted… didn’t eat any food at all Dr. Leonard Edren, D.D.S., who directed the fast marches, said after the 1954 march: This fast was the first in the series of experiments to determine the effects of total fasting under severe conditions of stress. If we find out that fasting will not cause any damage to the body, but will, on the other hand, exert a beneficial, revitalizing, cleansing and rejuvenating effect on bodily functions, it will supply invaluable information for healthy as well as for sick people. The healthy will be encouraged to fast in order to rejuvenate and increase vital, and the sick to cure their ills. This experiment provided world the preventive and the therapeutic potentials of fasting”.

Dr. Airola quotes Dr. Kars-Otto Aly, M.D., one of the participants of the fast, as saying: “The march, clearly showed that man can live for an extended period of time without food, even accomplish a hard physical effort while fasting. The general expressed feeling among participants was that they felt stronger and had more vigour and utility after the fast than before it… The prime goal of these experiments was to stimulate scientific institutions to engage in a thorough and objective scientific study of fasting and its prophylactic and therapeutic potentials, so that fasting will be generally incorporated into the growing arsenal of medical practices for the benefit and blessing of a disease-ridden mankind” Germany has today a beehive of hospitals where fasting is employed as medicine. Dr Airola cites what, arguably, is the longest fast ever, at 249 days on a juice fast in a Scottish hospital. The fast took place at the Stobhill General Hospital, Glasgow, Scotland. The patient was a 54-year-old arthritic woman who lost 74 of her 262 pounds and arthritis as a pleasant side effect”.

Juice recipes The recipe section of this Dr Airolla’s Book is quite interesting.

Asthmatics, can benefit from lime or lemon juice taken plain (one teaspoonful two or three times daily. Skin disease yields to cucumber juice taken internally and used externally. Carrots, beets and spinach juices also help. Nervousness and insomnia should respond to orange, apples, carrots and celery. In respect of Halitosis or bad breadth, Dr Airola recommends “green, chlorophyll juices of parsley, spinach, watercress, lettuce, alfalfa and beef tops combined with carrots and celery”. He suggests, also “two glasses of vegetable broth everyday. He suggests that, in various conditions such as diabetes and low blood pressure, for example, juice fasting should be under the guidance of a heath care practitioner For people who would like to undertake juice fasting, Dr. Airola gives the following assurance: “In addition to their medicinal properties in the treatment of practically any disease, raw juices have an extraordinary ravishing effect on all the organs of the body. The miraculous rejuvenative property of a raw juice diet is well known by all beauty farms and rejuvenating clinics where raw juices are used extensively. The magic beautifying, ‘youthifying’ and rejuvenative effect of raw juices is due to their cleansing and detoxifying property. Raw juices purify the blood and all the tissues of the body, neutralize the waste products of metabolism, and help in building new tissues. They are, indeed, rightfully

e-mail: www. olufemikusa@yahoo.com

Some juice combinations Dr. Paul Bragg, presented last week in his MIRACLE OF FASTING co-authored with his daughter, Patricia, offers the following juice combinations. In his words: • Beet, Celery Alfalfa Sprouts • Cabbage, Celery, Apple • Cabbage, Cucumber, Celery, Tomato, Spinach and Basil • Tomato, Carrot and Celery • Carrot, Celery, Garlic, Watercress Goji Berries and Wheatgrass (Wheatgrass became popular in America with reports that Dr. Anne Wiginore overcame her cancer by fasting on wheatgrass sprout juice for many months) • Grapefruit, Lemon, Orange • Beet, Parsley, Celery, Carrot, Mustard Greens, Cabbage, Garlic • Beet, Celery, Kelp and Carrot • Cucumber, Carrot and Parsley • Watercress, Apple, Cucumber, Garlic • Asparagus, Carrot and Apple • Carrot, Onion, Sweet Basil • Carrot, Coconut Milk and Ginger • Carrot, Broccoli, Lemon, Cayenne • Carrot, Sprouts, Kelp, Rosemary • Apple, Carrot, Radish, Ginger • Apple, Pineapple and Seaweed • Apple, Papaya, and Grapes • Papaya, Cranberries and Apple • Leafy Greens, Broccoli, Apple • Grape, Apple, and Blueberries • Watermelon (Seeds Optimal).

Other options In Nigeria, juicing the Bragg, or Jenson ro Airola’s way can be quite a lot of work. Many families have no juicers. Those who do will most likely have old fashioned machines which may electrically damage the chemical structure of the juices. That means that while, visually, the juices appear like juices, structurally and functionally, they have been converted into something else. Modern, health protecting juicers are expensive, some costing well over N100,000 each. Even where a family may struggle to purchase one, municipal electricity supply is not always guaranteed. Anorother problem is that, while the fruits may have been grown not fertiliser, there is no guarantee that their naturalness has not been tampered with. It is disgusting to report, for example, that bananas and organs are picked green from the vine.

Accordingly, their chemical substances in this form have not been fully converted to edible forms. Thus, these fruits are force ripened in covered storages in which carbide is kept to quicken the process.

Remember carbide is that toxic substance that welders of automobile panels use to fire their welding or soldering equipment. Even where fruits are healthy for human consumption, the prices are outrageous in seasons such as the Ramadan. Happily, there are options to fresh fruits and vegetables to be used for juicing in liquid chlorophyll and green powder drinks I mentioned briefly last week. For liquid chlorophyll, my choices are EDMARIK’S SPLINA and DYNAPHARM’S Chlorophyll with Guarana. As I stated, Splina is 100 per cent Alfalfa. While the Dynapharm braid is half Alfalfa and half Guarana.

Alfalfa root reaches down to about 250 feet to obtain rare nutrients which short-root plants cannot access for which reason, perhaps, the Arabs give it its name: father of all herbs. Eulogised by many, authorities, this herb is recommended, often, for arthritis, colon problem, blood cleansing, ulcers (internal and external) high blood cholesterol, inflammation, aches and pains, hangover… just name the condition. As one of the richest sources of chlorophyll, this green blood (of the plant appears to be at work in Alfalfa.

Green powder drink For people who have no time to juice or who find it difficult to juice for the reasons stated and more, the health industry has a solution in green powder drinks. These are all kinds of green powder drinks on the market, ranging from single plant powders such as BARLEY MAX from Halleluiah Acres to SPECTRA GREEN from Davinci Laboratories, SUPERIOR GREENS AND BEYOND GREENS from Flora endorsed by Dr Udo Erasmus. According to the product label, it is a blend of food concentrates and green plants. The concentrates include: Carrot, Soy Force, Powdered Sprout of Soybeans, Tomato, Beet Root, Broccoli, Protease, Cellulose, Glucoamylase, Invertase, with Phytase and Bromelian Base of Beet Root Fiber and Plant Beet Root The phytonutrients include Cinnamon Barks, Ginger Root Peppermint Leaf, Bilberry Lead, Burdock Root, Licorice Root, Bee Pollen, Hawthorn berry, Mik thistle, seed Dulse, Powder, kelp, Red Clover blossom Chrysanthemum Powder, Yucca root extract, Slippery elm bark, Dandelion root and leaf, Ginkgo bioba leaf extract, Lemon grass, Leaves, Ginseng root, Rosemary leaf, Sage leaf Thyme hart etc.

Usually, green powder brands are in various formulations in which choice plant assemblage are featured by producers. A green powder drink before a meal to break the fast in the evening is a great idea. One tablespoonful of liquid chlorophyll added to one tablespoonful of green powder in two or three glasses of water gently sipped is a good first course.

The cough epidemic I’ve met some people whose cough may not be due to the “die off effect” of the detoxification process of a fast. Some say they’ve been coughing for about six months. They need to see their doctors to rule out a serious bronchial or lung problem), such as emphysema, systemic candidiasis or even tuberculosis. Traditionally, we deploy Oregano (oil or spray, depending on the location of this problem, or Golden seal rot, Echinacea with Golden seal, Echinacea Supreme.

Newer plaint medicines include Amazon Throat E-Z and Amazon Luray support. A simple home remedy is the oil of orange peal.

Orange peel may be blended to extract the oil by adding boiling water or to gently bring to the first boil.

The peel contains many medicinal oils, including Terpenes and DLIMONENES which some studies say protect cells against chemically- included cancers. D- TIMONENES has reportedly reversed tumors. The University of Wisconsin reported especially disappearance of tumors in 90 per cent of mice fed d-limonene. There are reports, also, that it helps to break gallstones. In rex Adams?

MIRACLE MIDCINE FOODS, I read a long time ago that chewing orange peels could stop lay fever. Since asthma sufferers and people I get good reports from time to time. The good news is that DLIMONENE in gel form is go for a hair cut or pedicure, I do not allow mentholated spirit used on me. I flip out a bottle from my bag and hand out some gels which are punctured with a pin to get the oil. It helps athlete’s foot as well. How many blessings from Nature, a gift of God to mankind, can we count?

•Open your eyes wide, no drawn faced … enjoy the Ramadan

Tel: 08034004247, 07025077303

44

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2012

45

THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2012

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

Politicians, lawyers, rights activists and leaders of ethnic nationalities are intensifying their clamour for the convocation of a Sovereign National Conference (SNC) to discuss the basis for peaceful co-existence among Nigerians and fashion out a new constitution, reports Deputy Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU.

Can National Assembly make new constitution?

T

O observers, the myriad of problems facing the country are a direct result of the lopsidedness of the 1999 Constitution. Legal luminary Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), who dissected the flawed constitution at a recent lecture in Ado-Ekiti, capital of Ekiti State, observed that the document, which is the bedrock of this democratic dispensation, was imposed on the people by the military without any input from their representatives.

The lecture, entitled, ‘Legislating in troubled times: National Assembly and challenges of legislating for good governance’, was delivered by the Head of Political Science Department, Ekiti State University, Prof. Kunle Ajayi, as part of activities marking the 49th birthday of the House of Representatives member from Ado/ Irepodun/Ifelodun Constituency 11, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele. The event offered a veritable opportunity for debating the state of the nation, particularly the controversy generated by the proposed amendment by the National Assembly.

Few months ago, Senate President David Mark opposed the idea of a national conference, describing its supporters as “the voice of vocal minority”. He said the National Assembly, which has representatives from all over Nigeria, is at liberty to re-work the constitution.

However, Babalola, the Aare Bamofin of Yorubaland, disagreed with him, saying that the statement was preemptory. “I am aware that many Nigerians across the geo-political zones; in particular from the West, former Midwest, East, Rivers, Cross Rivers, Middlebelt; support the idea of conference. In the absence of a referendum, I wonder how one can come to the conclusion that those advocating for a conference from all the aforementioned groups and states are vocal minority without a referendum”, he said.

His remarks triggered a discussion on the desirability of a new constitution made by the representatives of the ethnic nationalities, instead of going through the hurdle of reviewing a constitution that lacks a human face.

“As a result of this diversity, it was and is still necessary that the constitution-making process should take into recognition, all factors aimed at bringing about a true people’s constitution”, he added.

Babalola only re-echoed the position of the slain Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige, who had delved into the heart of the national question almost 20 years ago.

“Do we still want to live together as a country?, Ige had asked. If the answer is yes, he again asked: “How?” To the former governor of Oyo State, a national family meeting was crucial to deliberate on the terms for unity among the component units. Like Babalola, the late politician had also envisaged a people’s constitution.

In fact, Ige’s proposal trailed the postulation of his leader and mentor, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, former Premier of the defunct Western Region. In 1947, the nationalist had published a book entitled: “Path to Nigeria’s freedom”. There, he peeped into the future, predicting that only true federalism could sustain Nigeria, which had emerged as an amalgam of incompatible social formations.

Governor Hugh Clifford, who took over from Lord Fredrick Lugard as governor of Nigeria in the colonial days, had also dissected the huge plu-

•From left: Aare Babalola, Bamidele and Oluyin of Iyin-Ekiti, Oba Ademola Ajakaye at the lecture.

ral society forcefully lumped together by the British. He identified the fundamental elements of its plurality, including diverse languages, customs, traditions, and religions, which have the ultimate potentials of shaping their reactions and perceptions of the socio-economic and political milieu.

As the colonial country wobbled on to independence, nationalist politicians, who were eager to receive the bastion of leadership from the interlopers, recognised Nigeria’s limitations. Dr Nnamidi Azikiwe, who later became Governor-General at independence, said: “Let us forget our differences”. But Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, the Premier of Northern Region, disagreed, saying: “We must understand our differences”.

The three regions; North, East and West; were not the same, both in quality and quantity of their population.

In 1998, Ige remarked that, for the North to catch up with the South in the race of progress, development must be at a standstill in the South for 20 years. The distribution of the ‘gift of nature’, which is now a source of blessing and curse in the country, is also skewed. None of the three big tribes, or ethnic nationalities, is a major producer of oil, which is now the mainstream of the economy.

While the founding fathers of Nigeria settled for federalism and regionalism during the pre-independence and immediate independence era, with the advantage of healthy competition that went with the options, the military, which submerged the country under its centrist system of administration, sowed the seeds of discord.

The early strain manifested in the three years of avoidable civil war.

When states and local government councils were created in response to elite’s scramble for power and relevance, the distribution by the military was lopsided, thereby engendering bitterness. The military

nationalised the regional assets and formula for equitable, just and fair distribution of the commonwealth. The principles of derivation, need and national interest were turned upside down and the goose that laid the golden eggs was inflicted with the burden of neglect and denial, prompting violent protests in the Niger Delta.

Gone also were the community and state police, which made security accessible in the earlier era. Up came the Land Use Act, the emasculation of the state and local governments, hijack of value added tax, and full concentration of power in the tiny federal apparatus.

After a costly battle by the citizenry against the military, the new dispensation was improperly delivered. The bone of contention is the constitution, which the frontline legal luminary, the late Chief Rotimi Williams (SAN), said, lied against itself. It was drafted in a hurry. Instead of devolving powers to the states and councils, the 1999 Constitution made the component units the appendage of the federal government.

At the Ado-Ekiti lecture, former old Ondo State Governor Bamidele Olumilua said that imposition of nondemocratic constitution was typical of Nigeria. He said that culture of forcing issues down the throats of Nigerians was peculiar to the military.

Olumilua recalled: “When I was a member of the Constituent Assembly making the 1989 Constitution, the military brought its own draft. Whenever we got to a point, they would go back to Babangida”.

The former governor said Nigerians must come together and agree on how to be governed. He lamented that the ethnic groups had been unequally yoked together. “In 1959, when we said we wanted independence, they said they did not want independence. After independence, they hijacked all”, he fumed.

In Olumilua’s view, Nigeria is ripe

for a Sovereign National Conference.

He said there should be no “no go area”. “Our constitution is our problem. I believe in parliamentary system. Presidential system gives room for lobbying. Constitution predicts how far a nation can go. I don’t know how our Southwest representatives will survive under that system.

“I am opposed to federal character.

In America, Army, Customs are for the centre. States have different police. The governor is the chief security officer, but if he contacts the commissioner of police, he will have to contact the Inspector General”, he added.

Ekiti State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) chairman Chief Jide Awe shared some of the thoughts expressed by Olumilua. He said: “Nigeria suffers because of the illegitimacy of the foundation of Nigeria.

We will continue to argue on the issue of Nigeria, until there is a resolution”.

Efforts at constitution amendment have been futile, owing to the insincerity of the powers that be. While the Abuja Conference set up by former President Olusegun Obasanjo ended in a fiasco due to his alleged third term agenda, the Pro-National Conference Organisation (PRONACO), which held an alternative dialogue in Lagos, lacked the zeal to market the its draft to the government and people of Nigeria. The Abuja Political Conference was crippled at its inauguration when the former Commander-In-Chief declared that there would be ‘no-go areas’.

Many believe that, unless the constitution is amended or reviewed to reflect the yearnings of the people, Nigeria will remain a tension-soaked, fledging federalism. Although no ethnic nationality has really indicated intention to opt out of the federation, there are repeated inclinations for the protection of diverse identities and interests, which global organisations

‘Many believe that, unless the constitution is amended or reviewed to reflect the yearnings of the people, Nigeria will remain a tension-soaked, fledging federalism. Although no ethnic nationality has really indicated intention to opt out of the federation, there are repeated inclinations for the protection of diverse identities and interests’

describe as the anthem of this millennium.

Babalola urged the National Assembly to properly recognise its limitation in re-making the constitution. He noted that the legislators had made skeletal amendments to the 1999 Constitution.

But he pointed out that “these amendments were directed only at political matters such as the political process and resolution of disputes arising from elections”.

However, the legal luminary said that these amendments did not touch on crucial matters, such as devolution of power, fiscal policy and restructuring of the country, or the appropriate type of parliament. Noting that the reasons for this were not far-fetched, Babalola added: “Many of the problems afflicting this country today require farreaching solutions, which many in the National Assembly and even the state Houses of Assembly may not be able to consider dispassionately”.

The Ekiti elder highlighted some of the contentious issues critical to the resolution of the national question. These include the reversion to the former regional structures, a reduction in the number of states, adoption of six zones for 36 states, adoption of parliamentary system of government, unicameral or bicameral system and reduction of the number of legislators”.

“It is in the light of this that many Nigerians, among whom I count myself, have advocated the convening of a Sovereign National Conference of Constituent Assembly”, Babalola emphasised.

On many occasions, the elder statesman, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, had projected the same feelings and sentiments, positing that the solution to the tensions and contradictions that plague the country lies in the SNC, which has been made elusive by the enemies of Nigeria.

The leader of the ‘SoutheastSouthsouth Professionals’, a group advocating for a people’s constitution, Emeka Ugwu-Oju, said a national debate or dialogue is a balm to the pains and scars inflicted by the fading federalism. He recalled that when there was a national conference in Abuja and the alternative one in Lagos, there was no single case of violence in the Niger Delta for the whole year.

Another group, the ‘National Consensus Group/Project Nigeria, led by the revolutionary lawyer, Dr. Tunji Braithwaite, is of the same opinion.

The group believes that peace, trust and tranquility would return to Nigeria, if two criteria are met. The first is the drafting of a new democratic constitution to replace the 1999 Constitution, which it described as a military-imposed document. The second is the convocation of a conference. Braithwaite advocated constitutional surgery, stressing that the country was due for restructuring. “It is now clear that the 1999 military constitution is neither amenable nor amendable to panel-beating as it has been attempted in the past and now by the political class”, he added.

The Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) does not hold a contrary opinion. Its leader, Dr Fredrick Fasehun, said the conference could only be delayed or postponed to Nigeria’s peril. “We need to revert to regional autonomy to allow the regions to develop at their own pace and permit their governors to strategise on developmental priorities as currently being done by Southwest governors”, he added.

•Continued on page 46

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2012

46

POLITICS

Building on Edo’s electoral success

By Augustine Avwode

T

WO clear weeks after the Edo governorship election of July 14, it remains the talk of the town. And it will probably remain so for some time to come. The success of the exercise has been acknowledged by all and sundry. On Monday, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), at a press briefing on the Edo election, commended the Federal Government and, in particular, security personnel, for their conduct at the election.

Executive Secretary of the Commission, Prof Ben Angwe, said the conduct of the security personnel demonstrated the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring the enforcement of human rights in the country.

He advised that the method used in ensuring a hitch free election be used adopted in subsequent elections. The reports that have trailed the Edo election have been sweet music to advocates of peaceful, free and fair elections in the country.

It is, therefore, not surprising that as at Tuesday, July 31, the Election Petition Tribunal constituted for by the President of the Court of Appeal for the election is yet to receive any petition. Tribunal Secretary, Ms Josephine Aliyu said there would be no room for any petition once the 21 days allowed by the Electoral Act elapses.

In her words: “If after 21 days, no party has any petition, the members of the Board which was constituted by the President of the Court of Appeal, will have no choice but to return to their various states”.

But the foundation of the election’s success was firmly laid by the Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Inter Party Affairs Senator Ben Obi. Mindful of the tension that the election had generated and its potential to literally set the state on fire, Obi organized a one day stakeholders conference on June 18. Indeed, nobody in Nigeria will deny that the election posed a big challenge to the electoral umpire, security agencies and the political parties.

Tension was high, accusations and counter accusations were all over the place.

There were allegations of assassination attempts and all. But at the end of the stakeholders meeting, a satisfied Obi told newsmen that the meeting was to facilitate a level playing field such that parties and candidates would gladly accept the outcome of the election without much ado.

“Let us face it. All the candidates who spoke were interested in the conduct of a free and fair election. That tells you that if you have a free and fair contest, they will embrace the winner and that is what we must strive to achieve from this workshop. The essence of this workshop is to establish a level-playing field. Elections must not be a do-or-die affair. Everybody who is involved in it should be able to say I did my best, but Mr. A won”.

Obi’s dream can be said to have come to pass. Unlike the April 2011, presidential election that was followed by an orgy of violence, no single protest has been heard in Edo State. On the contrary, women, youths, men and lovers of democracy stormed the streets in various towns across the state, including the capital, Benin City, singing, dancing and rejoicing.

Of course, they have cause to rejoice because their earnest heart desire of a peaceful election in which their wishes would be respected was realised. The person they gave their mandate was the one announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

As an indelible evidence of the acceptability of the outcome of the election, President Goodluck Jonathan led the pack of those who sent early congratulatory messages to the winner of the election, Governor Adams Oshiomhole. He was followed by the Senate President David Mark; House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal and the party – PDP, which was the leading opposition party in the state and election.

Instructively, President Jonathan, in the statement issued by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, also commended INEC, its personnel and the nation’s security services for ensuring that the election was free and fair in keeping with his administration’s promise to strengthen democracy in Nigeria through the establishment of a more credible electoral system.

The PDP in a carefully worded statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, it said: “While we await the reports of our monitors in different locations in the state, in order to determine our next course of action, we commend the people of Edo State for their enthusiastic participation in the exercise.

“In the course of our campaigns, we told the people that our entry into the race was not a do-or-die affair. We did our best to provide a credible alternative to the people of the state.

“However, to our disappointment, the results as declared by INEC did not go our way. We call on all our supporters to accept this result as declared by INEC. We congratulate the winner for this victory.”

But it is generally acknowledged that but for the proactive intervention of Obi, things could have gone hay wire. He had knowledge of the volatile situation in the state in the run up to the election.

The approach was simple. He got all the gladiators, particularly, the parties’ chieftains in the state, the candidates, INEC, security agencies, media representatives, resources persons and all to jointly state the type of election they wanted, how to achieve it and the challenges that might hamper such a dream.

The stakeholders, particularly, the candidates and their supporters were urged to see why they must all work to ensure that the state was not thrown into needless electoral war.

Chairman of the occasion, former Chief of General Staff, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe, warned: “When elections are not free and fair, people’s faith and confidence in the system are eroded. Bad and unwanted leaders are sanctimoniously and ignominiously selected; democracy dividends are denied; crisis of unimaginable proportions with its concomitant violence are enthroned – development distorted and lives lost.”

Stakeholders all agreed that the game should be played according to the rules and that security forces should not be partisan during elections.

With Ondo Governorship Election scheduled for October 20, already knocking at the door, the need to replicate the “Edo wonder” is the talk in town. What remains to be seen is how far the initiator can go in repli• Sen. Obi cating what took place in Edo.

House of Representatives member Hakeem Abiodun Muniru, who represents Oshodi/Isolo Constituency 11, has organised a town hall meeting to render account of his stewardship so far. He spoke with Deputy Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU, who was present, on his legislative activities.

Muniru: ACN National Assembly members are not rogues

A

S a lawmaker, how have you articulated the yearnings of your constituency in the House?

People don’t know that there is division between the duties of the executive and the legislature. What is meant for the executive, people would just unknowingly put it on the table of lawmakers. So, it is very difficult to come down to explain to the people the difference.

The President, the governor and the local government chairmen have executive power and they operate on budget. They are in charge of how they appropriate their budgets. Unlike the legislator who does not have any budget to operate on.

He can only do little. There is little he can push. He cannot do as much as the executive can do. The legislator will act based on his priority.

And that is the major challenge. Unfortunately, people believe their representatives in Abuja are there to make money. And that is why they want to see you at home every day. And when they don’t see you because you are busy with legislative duties, they will say you abandon them. But with what you have seen here today, you will see that they are showing understanding about the little we are able to do.

Corruption indeed has been identified as Nigeria’s major problem. What is your view on this?

I can assure you, without any fear of contradiction, that corruption is what brought us to where we are today. You can imagine if NITEL, as a successful telecommunication outfit is working at full capacity, has license for GSM, land line, has internet facilities, you would see how many people would be working in NITEL. The same thing applies to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PCHN); you know

• Muniru

how many people they would employ.

If railway is working at full capacity, and other industries that are now moribund are also working at full capacity, you know how many people would be employed. It would have been mass employment. But they are reeling in corruption, reeling in maladministration and reeling in misappropriation of resources. If they are functional, there would have been big opportunities for mass employment.

I can tell you that corruption is the major obstacle to our development.

Not long ago, former President Olusegun Obasanjo described lawmakers as rogues and armed robbers.

In view of the Farouk Lawan/Otedola bribery scandal, will you say he is right?

There are two issues here. If there are no givers, there would be no receivers.

Ninety five per cent of our economy is run by the executive. How much money is involved, we don’t know. And you are branding legislators as rogues.

Look at the budgets of the Senate, House of Representatives and State Houses of Assembly, and compared it with the states and federal executives. You will see where the issue of corruption lies. You will see where there are rogues. You will see how they are stealing and spending your money. The National Assembly of Nigeria today operate on N450bilion; that is the Senate, House of Representatives and the management, all the buildings, all the vehicles, everybody put together, N450billion. There 109 senators, 360 House of Representatives members and the management team. Then go to the ministries and see their budget year in year out. Procurement of furniture, procurement of uniform, procurement of rice, every year! Go and see their overhead and see who is corrupt.

Obasanjo presided over the most corrupt regime in Nigeria. Between 1999 and 2007, that was our glorious period when benchmark of oil was put at $77 per barrel and yet we were selling at $160, $180 per barrel. What about the excess money? What happened to the money? What happened to the money for road construction given to the Minister of Works under Obasanjo?

I am not a rogue and I am sure Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) members in the National Assembly are not rogues. Those involved in these scandals are members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Obasanjo is the father of the PDP. If you see the House of Representatives under Honourable Aminu Tambwal, you will see that we are on course. Whoever is indicted would not be spared. We will stand by the constitution; we will stand by our Rules.

That is our legislative agenda and that is what I believe in.

Can National Assembly make new constitution?

•Continued from page 45

Rights activist, Dr Tunji Abayomi, who spoke on the flaws of the 1999 Constitution said: “The foundation of this country is not clear. There is no agreement by the ethnic groups about Nigeria. Until there is an agreement on the basis for co-existence, there will be no nation. It will be worse for our children in the future.

“The military gave the power to make law to itself under its decrees.

But, it lacked the power to make a constitution for Nigeria. The people delegated to the National Assembly their power to make laws. Let them make a law that will give power to the people to make a peoples’ constitution.

Yoruba, Ijaw, Boko Haram would meet. Yoruba may want agriculture.

Ijaw know what they want. Boko Haram say they don’t want education.

All these issues would be discussed.

We will decide the way forward at the conference. We should agree on the terms for co-existence”.

Ugwu-Oju said: “If we are still going to have a federation, we must first define the boundaries of the federating units, their powers and functions. We must ask ourselves whether the states and local governments as they are now, should continue as the federating units and be allowed to be draining the scarce development resources”.

Babalola maintained that the controversy over whether a SNC should hold or not can be resolved by a referendum. “Sovereignty does not reside in the Presidency or the executive, the Na-

tional Assembly or the judiciary, but the people”, he pointed out. Quoting Section 14(2) of the 1999 Constitution, which he described as the military constitution, he said: “It is hereby accordingly declared that sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria from whom government through this constitution derives all its powers and authority”.

The eminent lawyer added: “It is not for those who were elected under the existing constitution and afortiorai empowered to govern, rule or make laws and regulations under the existing constitution to deny the people of Nigeria their sovereign right to jettison the old constitution or substitute it with a new one. Sovereign right belongs to the people and not their delegates.”

•Vice- President Namadi Sambo and Secretary to Government Pius Anyim Pius at the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja ... yesterday.

THE NATION THUR SDAY, AUGUST 2, 2012

47

e-Business How can the data of depositors be secured in cash-less banking? This was the thrust of the 24th general meeting of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. AKINOLA AJIBADE reports

Easing the pains of cash-less banking A

S desireable as cash-less banking is, it is beset by problems, such as apathy, lack of awareness, poor infrastructure, Point of Sale (PoS) downturn and insecurity of customers’data.

For now, the initiative is battling to record significant progress relative to stakeholders’expectations. Though the policy is gradually being accepted by the people, its growth is being hampered by certain developments, provoking stakeholders to proffer solutions.

Stakeholders in the financial and information technology (IT) sectors met in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, to find solutions to issues affecting the initiative. The conference with the theme: “Towards a cash-less Nigeria: Tools and strategies,” provided opportunity for major players in the cash-less chain to discuss a wide range of issues about the programme.

Of importance was the insecurity of data of depositors, who daily use electronic payment channels for transactions.

According to them, customers need to be shielded from Internet scammers to ensure the growth of the initiative. They reasoned that cybercime has assumed a wider dimension globally, arguing that the development would hasten Nigeria’s move from a cash-based to a cash-less economy. They said Internet/password hacking must be dealt with to make the initiative a success. They said customers are crucial to the growth of the process, adding that the only way to win their confidence is to protect their privacy.

The players, which include the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), banks, Nigerian Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBBS), National Identity Management Commission(NIMC), Nigerian Stock Exchange(NSE), postal agencies, Nigerian Computer Society(NCS), Internet Service Providers(ISPs), Zinox Computers, Chams, Image Technologies, and Dataflex, said strategies must be put in place to prevent the intrusion of customers’privacy.

NCS perspective According to its President, Mr Demola Aladekomo, globalisation has brought challenges, such as electronic fraud, robbery, gangsterism, terrorism and insecurity. He said these, in addition to others, gave rise to the need for cash-less transactions the world over. He said the body will impact the nation by improving ICT service delivery, education and infrastructural development, by continuing and improving on what his forebearers have done. He said education is crucial to the resolution of the problems associated with the implementation of the cash-less initiative, adding that the firm would do all it can to promote the growth of the cash-less idea.

He said the security and confidence of operators of cash-less policy is very important.

ICT operators’ stand Experts at the conference emphasised the need to develop the necessary security and legislative framework to make the cash-less policy effective. They advocated more stringent security measures to foster the growth of the policy. A lecturer, Fountain University, Osogbo, Mrs M. Ogunrinade in her paper, entitled: A privacy control option of call centres, advised financial institutions to stop relying heavily on customers desk office for verification of data, and instead, establish electronically driven call centers to protect customers from fraud.

Mrs Ogunrinde said the complexity of cashless economy has necessitated the need to have a more reliable, stronger and effective means of checking customer data who have embraced the cashless programme. She said call centres should provide an opportunity for discussions and resolutions of cashless issues, without producing negative effects on customers. She said banks have created customers care service units to promote economic relationship, adding that such efforts must be improved upon to fast-track the growth of policy.

“In Nigeria, banks are asking for names, house numbers and driving licence, among other means of owners of accounts to forestall wrong claims. This is not strong enough. There is the need to have a second leg security check to guide against intrusion on the privacy of account owners. This brings us to the issue of a call centre. The operation of a call centre goes like this: When a caller makes a call to an agent in the centre, the first thing the agent would do is to find out the true owner of

• Minister of Communications Mrs. • Aladekomo Omobola Johnson

the account in a more technical way.

“In this case, we are suggesting that banks should issue a randomly generated seven- digit Private Identification Code (PIC) to customers. The code should be made up of seven digits.

Whenever there is any issue or problem, an account owner must be able to produce at least two digits, after he must have provided his names, phone numbers, and national identity card. If you are able to produce two digits that are electronically configured, it means that you are the right owner of the account.

This will keep perpetrators of electronic fraud at bay, and further strengthening the confidence of customers”, she said.

Similarly, the Head, Information and Technology Risk Department, Akintola Williams & Deloitte, Mr Tope Aladenusi, said security, risk management and compliance are necessary for the growth of the cashless programme. Aladenusi said operators must understand the security problems associated with the various electronic payment channels before they solve them.

He said the government is building a society that is dependent on electronic transactions, and face a plethora of threats and riskse other parts of the world. He said identity theft, virus attac such as unauthorised access, key loggers, and over the shoulder looking, especially at the cybercafé are some of the risks associated with electronic banking.

He said the government must create awareness, enact adequate regulations, monitor compliance with regulations, implement information security target and budget, and ensure that violators are punished to safeguard the security of data of customers. He advised the government to update IT and other relevant policies to reflect the transition to a cashless policy.

He said United States has over data 25 privacy laws, urging the government to enact laws that would check electronic payment fraud.

Telecoms firms Major telecommunications firms, namely MTN, Glo, and Airtel have promised to improve on the operations of GPRS, a packet-oriented data service available to users of Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM). The development was borne out of the need to improve telecoms services, help secure the data of mobile phone users and facilitate the growth of

‘In this case, we are suggesting that banks should issue a randomly generated seven- digit Private Identification Code (PIC) to customers.

The code should be made up of seven digits. Whenever there is any problem, an account owner must be able to produce at least two digits, after he must have provided his names, phone numbers, and national identity card. If you are able to produce two digits that are electronically configured, it means that you are the right owner of the account’

• Onyemenan

mobile money payment. The telecoms companies have re-

assured NIBBS and CBN on the needs to improve on the •

operations of GPRS to make the electronic payment system a success.

NIMC The Director-General, National Identity Management Commission, Dr. Chris Onyemenan, said the agency will link biometrics and unique identification number of Nigerians to bank accounts, voter registers, immigration, law and enforcement agencies. He said the body will create avenues to reduce theft, improve GDP and create identity for the country.

He said there is National Identity Management System to provide data capture standards, and security for the country, adding that reliable, secured and fast identification and verification services online and offline to further the growth of the country. Through this, the agency will ensure that all Nigerians have their data kept further foster sharp practices in the economy.

NIBBS NIBSS lamented what it described as the slow adoption of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Cash-less economy initiative in Lagos, where the apex bank is currently running a pilot programme. Problems identified by NIBSS, include lack of awareness on the part of the operators, especially among the informal sector and inadequate protection of customers data, among others.

The Executive Director, Business Development at NIBSS, Mrs. Christabel Onyejekwe, said during a recent event in Lagos that there are challenges with interoperability of networks from the telecommunications operators.

Onyejekwe however, said the NIBSS is currently working with the CBN on capacity building for operators, especially the Point of Sale (PoS) merchants. She said the technicalities of mastering the usage of the PoS terminals and other technology deployed, are among the problems facing the scheme.

Also, the Managing Director, NIBBS, Mr Adebisi Shonubi, said there must be availability and security of electronic payment channels to foster the growth of cashless programme.

Shonubi, who spoke at the event, called for harmonisation of standards in the information and technology industry, adding that the development would lead to data efficiency.

He said NIBBS has made available various technologies such as GPRS, CDMA, among others, to ensure reliable PoS operations. He said many telecom companies have been engaged to provide a workable PoS connectivity solutions, adding that PoS cluster connections are also being put in place to provide efficient operation.

CBN’s position

According to CBN Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, data management and security is germane to the success of the cashless policy. Sanusi, who was represented by the Head, Shared Office Department, CBN, Mr Chidi Umeano at the conference, said the apex bank will ensure that banks comply with the Payment Card Industry-Data Security Standard (PCI•Continued on page 48

`

THE NATION THUR SDAY, AUGUST 2, 2012

48

e-Business

Time to censor the social media?

Matters e-Rising Segun Oruame segun@segunoruame.com

S

ENATE President David Mark recently called for censorship of social media. Faced with the increasing capacity of social media to inform or mis-inform the populance, depending on which side of the information divide you belong, Senator Mark has argued that something be done to regulate how much of access we have to Facebook, Twitter and the rest of the new media windows. I am not certain the distinguished senator will have his way.

The social media has reconfigured our experience of news. If you are averagely educated, and you own a web enabled mobile phone in any location within Nigeria, you are likely to follow the news, every new day, from any of the numerous social networks majorly Facebook and Twitter; or from those increasingly growing SMS news alerts. News delivery with news reception has changed.

So too the newsman! In the mobile Internet age, almost everyone connected is a news bearer.

There are over 90 million subscribers in Nigeria’s mobile phone market. All operators offer mobile Internet service and have, indeed, become the major drivers of Internet services across Nigeria’s landmass of some 923,768 square kilometers. More than 20% of their subscribers use mobile Internet services for various reasons; many of these use the more premium Blackberry services. Virtually all the subscribers have Facebook and the increasingly popular Twitter accounts.

Practically all of these subscribers log into their accounts in the morning and at night to get news updates about Nigeria and elsewhere. And practically, all of them have shared news items in the last 21 days as an eT Intelligence survey shows. It takes less than N5000 ($50) to acquire a web-enabled mobile handset and less than N50 to get connected on any of the social networks for a daily flow of interactive news sharing. Active Twitter users are close to two million in Nigeria and active Facebook users are in the range of seven million combined.

Africa's total population estimate as at December 2011 is 1,037,524,058. There were about 139,875,242 Internet users in Africa as

at Dec.31, 2011, a 13.5% penetration rate and there were about 37,739,380 Facebook users within the same period; a 3.6% penetration rate.

Of Nigeria’s estimated population of 155,215,573 as at December 2011 with a landmass area of 923,768 sq km, there were about 45,039,711 Internet users as of December 31, 2011, a 29.0% of the population. Facebook users within the same period stood at 4,369,740, a 2.8% penetration rate. These figures have expectedly grown exponentially as at June 2012.

The potential for social media to impact heavily is still untapped and but is expected to be explosive in growth in the few months ahead as broadband access improves massively. A Nigeria with 30 million Twitter and 50 million Facebook users in all likelihood, will radically change government/citizens engagement and put government permanently on the spot.

No doubt, news making and news sharing via social media networks have serious implications. First, they define the new boundaries for news gathering and information dissemination; they are increasingly becoming more influential in deciding what would constitute public debate at every point in time; they have capacity to create mass hysteria; and have proven to be an effective tool in creating mass psychology and mass mobilization.

Now, it is becoming glaring that any government or business organisations that ignore social media networks and what happens there, does so at its own peril. Increasingly, the news get to reach the critical and general public via a social media window than through the more controlled and government sanctioned news media.

Within the Nigerian social media space alone, more than 10 million people are fed information about government, about companies, and about you; everyday and in every hour updates are likely to appear on you, on government and on several other public and private institutions. Twitter and Facebook lead with a combined population of over seven million users. Everyone and anyone can become focus of news in social media circle.

The potential to form public opinion or perception about a person, an institution or an issue is fast and high.

Stakeholders laud Teleport’s launch

S

TAKEHOLDERS have lauded the decision of the Nigerian Communication Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) and Main Cable One Company to launch a ‘Teleport.’

The development will significantly reduce the dearth of bandwidth in rural areas, thereby providing internet services to the underserved, or not served areas in the West and sub-Sahara Africa.

The Chairman, NIGCOMSAT Board of Directors, Prof. Turner Isoun, said this is a breakthrough for the country as the relationship will greatly enhance access to the Internet via broadband and create dividends of democracy for the people.

Isoun, a former Science and Technology Minister, said the two indigenous companies decided on this cooperation for the benefit of our people.

He said the partnership will augment capacity building in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry, and further lead to a major crash in the cost of bandwidth

By Ajibade Akinola which has been on the high side, adding that this is a win- win situation for companies, the end users and the country.

Also, the Chief Executive Officer of Main One Cable, Ms. Funke Opeke, said this relationship would lead to a significant price crash, “to the benefit of our end-users, especially those in the last mile domain which cable can hardly reach.”

She said the teleport consists of two satellite dishes, a major 6.3 metre hub, able to transmit information to locations across Nigeria and another smaller dish, which serves as a tracking antenna to keep the hub aligned with the satellite.

The two firms, based on the terms of agreement signed last year, are expected to work mutually for the growth of the industry. While Main One will provide bulk Internet connectivity, NIGCOMSAT will provide last mile connectivity to distribute such services around the country.

MTN introduces new product

M

TN Nigeria has introduced a dynamic tariff plan tagged: ‘MTN Zone’ to offer more value to customers.

The service is aimed at enabling subscribers enjoy as much as 100 per cent discount on their calls, depending on their locations.

Also, the development will help customers to make significant savings on their calls.

The Chief Marketing Officer, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Larry Annetts, in a statement, said: “MTN Zone is a service which offers attractive discounts to customers depending on the prevailing discount rates available on the cell site from which the customer receives signal.”

Annetts said customers would be advised of discounts available in the area they are through a service called cell broadcast, adding that available discounts wiuld be displayed

on the screens of their phones.

“MTN Zone ushers our customers into another delightful era of control over the money they spend on calls. They can decide to delay certain calls till they get to their homes or offices where they usually enjoy generous discounts on calls,” he said.

He said the service has been successfully ran on a pilot phase in some select locations and was fully developed and activated in Lagos, Rivers, Imo, Anambra, Ogun and Bayelsa states.

Annetts said for customers to take advantage of the service, they would need to activate cell broadcast on their phones, which is a feature accessible via the ‘menu’ of all handsets, and must be turned on to enjoy the service. To turn on the service, all a subscriber will have to do is to type and send *135*1# to a short code.

But often, not all news items shared via social media are true. That is where the danger lies and perhaps; the hope that traditional media, with its checks and balances, is likely to thrive for a long time to come. As Professor Jenkeri Zakari Okwori, professor of Participatory Development Communication at the Department of Theatre and Performing Arts, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria put it: Social media networks are helping people to develop interest in news reading and incite more hunger for news. Social media is no threat but complementary to traditional media. Traditional media is now a check on social media.

People are getting to use traditional media to check the authenticity of news on social media.

Therefore, social media is now complementary to traditional media. As access widens, more people will have access to social media and by implication the gate-keeping role of traditional media will increase.

The much touted view that social media will erase traditional media is becoming a farce. Only the traditional media still carries the burden of truth. It is becoming the practice that to believe anything on social media, you need to go searching the traditional media.

Many governments have plans to surreptitiously check the excesses of social media. But such plans are not likely to succeed. The internet operates within an open access framework. It will be a continuous battle on government’s part to seek to freeze sites regarded as anti-government. The Chinese government has particularly gained notoriety for this. It spends billions of dollars and seconds every year to close mass access to sites deemed offensive. Can the Nigerian government afford to do this? It cannot!

The Nigerian government definitely doesn’t have the kind of sophistication and political disposition the Chinese government has to checkmating what the citizens say or hear online. It is also not likely to commit so much resource and willpower against what its citizens do online particularly within the social networks. But it can do one thing: join the train to be ‘fast, furious, and intent’ at informing its citizens on its policies and countering news/ gossips that negate its position on issues and events of national significance as they unfold.

Social media offers speedy delivery of news. Government’s policies can get to millions of people easily and fast. Government can use it to disseminate policy information.

Social media networks enable the government to reach out to the connected instantly.

Social media can act as propaganda. The drawback is that there is no gatekeeper for social media and there is always question of authenticity.

What exactly is government afraid of? The lack of authenticity of news via social media? The capacity of social media to rally citizens for and against government as the case may be? The tendency of social media to deliver news in real time without mindful of its implications for national security?

The rising influence of social media among an increasing number of connected citizens particularly those that constitute the most vibrant segment of the population: the youths? The seeming frustration of government to control unguarded statements of public importance as they affect government within the social media space?

During the recent presidential media, President Goodluck Jonathan expressed a degree of anger and frustration with social media.

He noted the penchant by Nigerians to use social media to criticize his government. The president blamed the social media largely for what he sees as mis-representations of his policies designed to impact positively on Nigerians. But he is the first ever sitting president to declare his re-election bid via social media. Today, he enjoys over 700, 000 social media followers, particularly on Facebook and tweeter. He also remains the only president that has sought to engage the citizens digitally by calling for ideas on moving Nigeria forward via social media.

If government is frustrated with the social media, it is because it is lagging behind in the digital tools for mass mobilization.

You cannot gag the social media. You can only do one thing. Use it to build up what you want people to believe. Censoring social media just will not work. Could someone kindly tell the Senate President this?!

S

Firm considers solar energy for telcos

CHNEIDER Electric is poised to develop a solar energy solution for telecom operators in Nigeria before the end of the

year.

The company’s Country President, Marcel Hochet, who stated this at a media briefing in Lagos, said the solar energy option would help telecoms operators reduce diesel consumption in their base transceiver stations.

He said the company was planning to negotiate with network operators with a view to improving quality of service in line with the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC)’s requirements.

Hochet disclosed that the company has partnered with MTN and Airtel on energy management to improve their operations, adding that the firm has adopted a tactical business approach which involves sales transaction through credible partners, as well as direct sales initiatives to maintain its market share and meet the needs of customers.

He said Schneider was offering solutions to telecoms, power and energy, oil and gas, manufacturing and the building sector in different parts of the world.

He explained that the company has recorded $22.4 billion sales in the last 12 months, 39 per

cent of which was done in new economies, adding that four to five per cent of the sales were devoted to research and development.

He said Schneider has, since 2005, been serving as an original equipment manufacturer, providing services to investors and operators in the vital sectors of the Nigerian economy.

The organisations, according to him, include PHCN, federal and state ministries of Power as well as Rivers and Ogun state governments.

Others are Shell, Chevron, ExxonMobil, NNPC, Internet Service Providers and the hospitality industry, amongst others.

Speaking on its data centre solutions and business networks, Channel Sales Manager, Home and Business Networks, APC (a subsidiary of Schneider), Ayodele Kofoworola, explained that the company enhances data protection with its range of UPS. Kofoworola said the data centre solutions eliminate oversizing, component-level, specification process and unusable capacity, among other functions.

Easing the pains of Cash-less banking •Continued from page 47

DSS) to ensure the growth of the cashless economic system.

He said when banks are PCI-DSS certified, they would be able to secure the data of their customers well, adding that this is the only means by which operators in the nation’s financial chains could help in curbing electronic payment fraud, restore customers’ confidence and operate in line with the globally acceptable standards set for cashless programmes.

“The banks have been written on the issue, but you have to give them time to comply because compliance is not a day thing. We expect that by 2013, all banks must have

complied. We will go and access, to see what the banks have done so far on the issue.

Already, one or two banks have been certified and others are moving towards that.” he stated.

He said CBN has established a fraud forum in conjunction with banks, MasterCard, Visa Card, and other globally acceptable issuers of electronic payment cards, stating that the issue would make the stakeholders security conscious, and further protect customers.

“We are aware that when you migrate to other technology, the bad boys also migrate.

But we have put a lot of things in place to manage and mitigate fraud in the electronic payment system. One of such initiatives, is the migration to chip ATM cards,” he added.

OLYMPIC PHOTOS

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 01: Rebecca Soni of the United States adjusts her cap as she gets set to competes in heat 5 of the Women's 200m Breaststroke on Day 5 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Aquatics Centre on August 1, 2012 in London, England.

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 01: Yukiko Ebata #16 of Japan serves the ball in the third set against the Dominican Republic during Women's Volleyball on Day 5 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Earls Court onAugust 1, 2012 in London, England.

50

Thursday, August 2, 2012

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 01: Xuerui Li of China celebrates winning against Tzu Ying Tai of Chinese Taipei during their Womens Singles Badminton Badminton on Day 5 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Wembley Arena at Wembley Arena on August 1, 2012 in London, England.

Happy and glorious: Stanning and Glover proudly display their historic gold medals Norway's Linn-Kristin Riegelhuth Koren jumps to shoot during the women's preliminaries Group A handball match Norway vs South Korea for the London 2012 Olympics Games on August 1, 2012 at the Copper Box hall in London. The game ended in a draw 27-27.

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 01: Serena Williams of the United States returns a shot to Vera Zvonareva of Russia during the third round of Women's Singles Tennis on Day 5 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Wimbledon on August 1, 2012 in London, England

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 01: Francesca Halsall of Great Britain reacts after she competed in heat 6 of the Women's 100m Freestyle on Day 5 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Aquatics Centre onAugust 1, 2012 in London, England.

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 01: Korean players huddle together after they tied in the Women's Preliminaries Group B handball match between Norway and Korea on Day 5 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at The Copper Box on August 1, 2012 in London, England.

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 01: Tamara Tatham #13 of Canada lays up a shot over Isabelle Yacoubou #4 of France during the Women's Basketball Preliminary Round match on Day 5 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Basketball Arena on August 1, 2012 in London, England.

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2012

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THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2012

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54

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 1-8-12

NSE-ASI reverses previous day’s downturn

A

CTIVITIES on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) closed on the positive side yesterday as indicators overhauled the previous day’s downturn.

The upturn came from gains posted by a handful of mid and large capitalised stocks.

Improved numbers of positive corporate earnings were also announced yesterday. This lightly impacted on the market’s outcome.

Overall, NSE All-Share-Index gained 267.96 absolute points, representing 1.16 per cent growth, to close higher at 23,329.34 points. In the same vein, the Market Capitalisation was shored up by N85 billion, also representing 1.16 per cent appreciation, to close higher at N7.425 trillion.

Gains by large capitalized

By Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

stocks; Dangote Cement (3.51 per cent), First Bank (1.66 per cent), Unilever (2.86 per cent), UBA (2.05 per cent), GT Bank (0.64 per cent), Zenith Bank (3.89 per cent) and Portland Paints (4.75 per cent) among others, boosted market growth.

However, Portland Paint led the gainers table with a gain of N0.15 to close at N3.31, followed by Livestock with N0.06 to close at N1.44.

Others were SMURFIT, RT Briscoe, DN Meyer, Royal Exchange Insurance and FCMB. On the losers side, were GT Assurance with a drop of N0.08 to close at N1.52, followed by CCNN with a drop of N0.22 to close at N4.26.

Also on the table were Okomuoil, UPL, Eterna Oil,

Custodian and Allied Insurance, Longman, IkejeHotel, AGLeventist and Skye Bank.

In all, investors traded 492.850 million shares worth N2.805 billion.

The financial services sector was the most active as investors sold 351.601 million shares worth N2.323 billion traded in 2,359 deals.

The banking sub-sector remained the most active trading 322 million shares worth N2.31 billion in 2,226 deals.

Fidelity Bank was the toast of investors with 100.82 million shares valued at N134.15 million exchanged in 95 deals. Zenith Bank came second with 96.17 million shares worth N1.4 billion traded in 341 deals.

Another actively traded sector was Healthcare with 81.620 million shares worth N61.055 million in 62 deals.

Also with significant volume were Conglomerates, Consumer Goods, Industrioal Goods, Oil & gas and Services with 10.466 million shares, 8.021 million shares, 5.808 million shares, 4.853 million shares and 2.456 million shares apiece.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 1-8-12

55

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2012

MONEY LINK

CBN stops concurrent access to Discount Window, WDAS

T

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has stopped authorised dealers from accessing funds from the Discount Window and the Wholesale Dutch Auction System (WDAS).

In a statement signed by CBN Director, Financial Markets Department, E.U Ukeje, tagged: “Review of the revised guideline for accessing CBN Lending Window and Rapo Transactions,” the apex bank prohibited Authorised Dealers from accessing the Wholesale Dutch Auction System (WDAS) and the Standing Lending Facility (SLF) on the same day.

It stated that Authorised Dealers are henceforth not allowed to access the WDAS window throughout the term of a repurchase of SLF transaction with the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The new policy supersedes earlier circulars dated October 10, 2011 and July 26, 2012 on the same matter.

“Further to the prohibition of Authorised Dealers from

By Collins Nweze

accessing the Wholesale Dutch Auction System (WDAS) and the Standing Lending Facility (SLF) on the same day, Authorised Dealers are henceforth not allowed to access the WDAS window throughout the term of a repurchase of SLF transaction with the CBN,” it said.

The standing lending facility (SLF) is available as an overnight lending to banks with deficits, at a fixed interest rate, usually the upper band of the CBN standing facility.

However, Authorised Dealers that have entered into Repurchase or SLF transaction with the CBN prior to the issuance of this circular will not be affected as the transaction would be allowed to run its full course.

The apex bank had earlier threatened to sanction banks that obtain funds from any CBN lending window and places same in the interbank market. It said the step would assist it in unwinding the extraordinary measures

introduced in the wake of the global financial crisis and to ensure the effectiveness of monetary policy.

“Commercial banks and discount houses that also place funds in the interbank market are not allowed to concurrently access the window,” it added.

The apex bank also said any institution that contravenes any provision of this circular will be suspended from its money market window. In addition, the institution shall forfeit the profits it would have made on the transaction.

It said financial support services to banks at discount windows will continue to be conducted to accommodate their needs of temporary liquidity support but must adhere to prevailing guidelines.

“Discount window operations in overnight facilities will be backed by borrowerholdings of government debt instruments and other eligible securities approved by the bank. The CBN will maintain the provision of Stand-

ing Lending/ deposit Facilities to provide overnight accommodation for authorized dealers in temporary liquidity shortage or liquidity surplus,” it said.

The banking watchdog said Discount window operations in overnight facilities will be backed by borrowerholdings of government debt instruments and other eligible securities approved by the bank. The CBN will maintain the provision of Standing Lending/ deposit Facilities to provide overnight accommodation for authorised dealers in temporary liquidity shortage or liquidity surplus.

It said that banks, while computing their cost of funds, should employ the weighted average cost of funds computation framework. The applicable cost items will include banks’ interest cost on the different types of deposit liabilities, borrowings from the interbank funds market, payments in respect of deposit insurance premium and costs due

Fed Govt plans N142b T-bill sale

T •Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

HE Federal Government plans to auction N142.1 billion in treasury bills (TBs) with maturities ranging from three months to one year at a twice monthly debt auction next Wednesday.

Government said it would issue N32.05 bil-

Treasury bill yields rose marginally at last month’s auction to 13.94 per cent for the three month paper from 13.75 per cent, after Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) tightened liquidity to boost a weaker naira currency, which has lost three per cent since April.

lion in 91-day paper, N50 billion in 182-day bill and N60 billion in 364-day bill on August 8, in a Dutch, or reverse, auction.

Nigeria issues treasury bills regularly to reduce money supply, curb inflation and help lenders manage their liquidity.

FGN BONDS 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

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

INTERBANK RATES 7.9-10% 10-11%

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2012 “ 14-04-2012

GAINERS AS AT 1-8-12 SYMBOL

O/PRICE

PORTPAINT LIVESTOCK SMURFIT RTBRISCOE DNMEYER ZENITHBANK DANGCEM ROYALEX UNILEVER FCMB

3.16 1.38 0.99 1.50 0.50 14.40 114.00 0.58 35.00 3.13

C/PRICE

3.31 1.44 1.03 1.56 0.52 14.96 118.00 0.60 36.00 3.20

O/PRICE 1.60 4.48 30.00 4.35 2.08 1.49 1.99 1.34 1.15 2.91

C/PRICE 1.52 4.26 28.55 4.14 1.98 1.42 1.90 1.28 1.10 2.79

By Adeola Ogunlade

by representatives of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission were administer under transparent condition.

Also speaking at the event, the Regional Manager, Shehu Sani, said “the sales promo is aimed towards showing appreciation and rewarding loyal customers with various gift items ranging from cars, motorcycles, generating sets among others”.

About 22,237 customers qualified in the N5,000 raffle draw category with a star prize of LCD Television Set and while other consolation prizes for that category were also distributed to the various runner ups.

Similarly 2,094 customers qualified in the N75,000 category with the winner smiling home with a brand new motorcycle and other consolation prizes in this category. Five luck customers also went home with handsets for arriving at the venue of the event early enough.

CHANGE 0.08 0.22 1.45 0.21 0.10 0.07 0.09 0.06 0.05 0.12

Exchange Rate (N) 155.2 155.8 155.7

Date 2-7-12 27-6-12 22-6-12

CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Year Start Offer

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start 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) Parallel Market

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

153.0000

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

DISCOUNT WINDOW Feb. ’11

July ’11

Dec ’11

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

12%

Standing Lending Rate ,, Deposit Rate ,, Liquidity Ratio Cash Return Rate Inflation Rate

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00% 12.10%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00% 12.10%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00% 12.6%

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%

28-10-11 N6.617tr 20,903.16

% Change -1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

CHANGE

0.15 0.06 0.04 0.06 0.02 0.56 4.00 0.02 1.00 0.07

Amount Sold ($) 150m 138m 113m

EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12

LOSERS AS AT 1-8-12

SYMBOL GRASSURE CCNN OKOMUOIL UPL ETERNA CUSTODYINS LONGMAN IKEJAHOTEL AGLEVENT SKYEBANK

T

HE city of Lokoja was alive when Unity Bank Plc held its second zonal draw of the ongoing promo tagged Aim & Win promo.

Mr. Hauwa John Musa from Keffi in Nasarawa state, emerged the star prize winner of motor bike popularly called (Okoda) under the N75,000 category while Jubril Ruqqayat from Suleja in Niger state went home with Television Set under the N5,000 category.

According to the Zonal Director of the bank, Aminu Bafa, the promo was designed to inculcate savings culture among Nigerians. It is also expected to see more winners emerged in the next zonal and national draw before the grand finale which would be held in Federal Capital Territory, Abuja customers rewarded during the campaign.

Bafa said that other savings account customers that emerged winners in the draw observed

Amount Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($) 350m 150m 350m 138m 350m 113m

Currency OBB Rate Call Rate

Unity Bank’s promo holds in Lokoja

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM

MANAGED FUNDS

NIDF NESF

•CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido

DATA BANK

Tenor

Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

to reserve requirements.

The regulator also enjoined deposit money banks to pursue profitability in their business models through efficient operations.

To this end, the banks are expected to charge competitive rather than excessive rates of interest and should always disclose their prime and maximum lending rates as fixed spreads over the Monetary Policy Rates (MPR).

Offer Price

Bid Price

ARM AGGRESSIVE 9.17 KAKAWA GUARANTEED 1.00 STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE 122.09 AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND 107.66 107.58LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL 0.74 BGL SAPPHIRE FUND 1.09 BGL NUBIAN FUND 0.95 NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. 1,717.29 PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND 8.95 CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST 1.39 CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST 1.87 STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY 7,939.60 THE DISCOVERY FUND 193.00 FIDELITY NIGFUND 1.67 • ARM AGGRESSIVE • KAKAWA GUARANTEED • STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND

9.08 1.00 122.94

Movement

0.72 1.09 0.93 1,716.34 8.51 1.33 1.80 7,730.70 191.08 1.62

OPEN BUY BACK

Bank P/Court

Previous 04 July, 2011

Current 07, Aug, 2011

8.5000 8.0833

8.5000 8.0833

Movement

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 2 , 2012

56

NEWS Ebonyi Varsity to cost N77.5b

T

HE proposed Ebonyi International Uni versity, Ezzamgbo, will cost N77.5 billion, Governor Martin Elechi said yesterday.

Elechi made the disclosure in Ezzamgbo during the inauguration of the ultra modern faculty building and students’ hostels of the institution.

He said the project would be implemented in collaboration with Team Work International Group of the United States.

The governor said: “The entire project is expected to be completed by 2018, but the initial three administrative blocks should be ready

by September, 2013.

“The project will comprise a gatehouse, cultural centre, stadium, teaching hospital, College of Medicine, classroom buildings, performing arts centre, library, lecturers centre and auditorium, among others.

“On completion, the institution is expected to be among the best in the country with a one campus-system, and equipped with relevant facilities for conducive learning.”

Orji eyes N3b monthly IGR for Abia ITH a warning to sack any revenue officer frustrating his efforts to put Abia State on a sound financial footing, Governor Theodore Orji has set a N3 billion monthly revenue target for the state.

He warned that heads would roll at the finance departments of the state and local government areas if the state failed to rake in N3 billion as Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) beginning from this month.

According to him, potentials abound in the state to generate addition funds, even as he directed revenue officers to move into the commercial city of Aba and bring more industries and businesses into the tax net.

The governor, however, urged them to reduce their over dependence on Ariaria Market.

He said: “If we do not start generating at least N3 billion every month from this August, heads will roll. The IGR

W

•Governor to sack saboteurs From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

is now the salvation of this state since we are now having a dwindling revenue allocation from the federation account.”

Orji gave the warning at a meeting he held with the treasurers of the 17 local government areas of the state and the chairmen of Aba North and Aba South councils.

He told the council managers the importance of increasing the IGR base of the state, reminding them that it would henceforth be business unusual in the state.

“The old method of doing business has come to an end”, he said.

Explaining the instability in the revenue accruing to the state from the federation account, Orji said: “We need to shore up our revenue base and those who are not ready to help us in that di-

rection should leave for those who are ready to work to come on board.”

He noted that the cartel sabotaging the state economy must be broken for the state to move forward.

His words: “We can no longer allow the civil servants to continue doing business as usual, the method must change for us to move to the next level.”

The governor urged the local government administrators to go home and disengage any revenue consultants they hired without the approval of the state government.

According to him, such consultants have been unleashing mayhem on residents and thereby giving the state a bad name.

He said: “The supposed revenue consultants that you have engaged have been generating money for you and your cartel to pocket

while the state that engaged you to help them work suffer.

You generate N30 million and both of you share it equally, this has to stop from now.”

The governor renewed his administration’s determination to step on toes to move the state to a loftier pedestal, no matter whose ox is gored.

He alleged that many workers do not go to work but come to the office at the end of the month to take their salary, urging every employee on the payroll to justify his/ her pay.

Specifically, Orji chided the chairmen of Aba North and Aba South councils for negligence of duty.

“You people have not done one kilometre of road in Aba city since you were appointed.

Your work is to do the local roads and de-silt the drainage which you have not been doing,” he reminded the council chiefs.

UNN post UTME results out From Chris Oji, Enugu

T

HE University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) has released the results of the 2012 PostUnified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (PUTME) held at the Nsukka campus.

Those who participated in the screening were drawn from various faculties, including; Health Sciences and Technology, Medical Sciences, Agriculture, Biological Sciences, Dentistry, Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Veterinary Medicine, Arts, Social Sciences and Public Administration and Local Government.

The chairman of the varsity’s Senate Entrance Board, Prof Polycarp Chigbu, said the results were promptly released to reduce the anxiety of candidates as well as to safeguard the integrity of the test.

The board chair urged the candidates to visit the varsity’sportal www.unnportal.com to check their results.

•Governor Orji with Mrs. Ononye...yesterday

Why prisons breed hardened criminals, by comptroller

C

OMPTROLLER of Prisons Services in Abia State Mrs. Kate Ononye has identified the deplorable conditions of prisons as the reason most inmates become hardened after serving their terms.

Mrs. Ononye, who yesterday drew the conclusion in Umuahia while taking delivery of the mattresses donated by Governor Theodore Orji to prisons, decried the poor conditions in which the inmates live.

According to her, most of the inmates sleep on bare

From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

floor due to inadequate beddings under the leaking roofs they sleep. It should not be so as prisons are meant to correct inmates and not to turn them into hardened criminals, Mrs. Ononye said.

Her words: “The role of the prisons is to serve as a reformatory home, but it is no longer so, thereby turning and making prisoners more hardened upon release

due to the sufferings they undergo while serving their jail terms.”

Mrs. Ononye thanked the governor for his magnanimity to the prisons, even before he assumed office, saying the current donation of 610 mattresses will go a long way in addressing the issue of sleeping on bare floor by some inmates even she urged him to fix the leaking roofs.

Orji said the people have erroneous impression about

prison inmates, saying that many on awaiting trial are in most cases innocent.

The governor said that even those who have been convicted have the right to enjoy a modest life while in prison, describing the situation as pitiable when compared to those in advanced countries.

He spoke of his administration’s readiness to improve the living conditions of the inmates, assuring the management of the prisons services that more mattresses would be provided.

CNPP backs Umeh’s appeal From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

E

MBATTLED All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) National Chairman Chief Victor Umeh got an ally in the Secretary of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), Chief Willy Ezugwu yesterday.

The CNPP official hailed Umeh’s decision to challenge what he described a questionable ex parte order granted on Tuesday by the Enugu High Court, presided over by the state Chief Judge, Justice Innocent Emezuluike.

According to Ezugwu, the appeal would expose the political manipulation behind the court order.

Justice Emezuluike granted an order extending an ex parte order of July 25 to September 17.

By the order, Umeh is barred from presiding over APGA activities.

The order came a day to the scheduled National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party.

In a statement issued in Abuja, Ezugwu condemned the order and alleged it was intended to cripple APGA, urging the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and the National Judicial Council (NJC) to investigate it.

The statement reads: “As noted by Umeh’s counsel, Patrick Ikwueto (SAN), neither Umeh as the respondent nor Jude Okoli Ejike applied for an ex parte order of 48 days and the High Court Rules of Enugu State 2006 only allows for order ex parte of seven days subject to additional seven days of extension on application.

“So, where did the learned justice get his own 48 days order ex parte from? This is just part of a grand plan by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to prevent APGA from meeting to strategise on how it will expand its membership base nationwide.”

Ezugwu hailed the APGA chief for applying for the vacation of the order to allow the party to carry on with its regular activities.

Hospitals frustrating live-saving efforts, alleges FRSC commander

F

EDERAL Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Sector Commander in Anambra State Hyginus Uchenna Umeje yesterday accused public and private hospitals in the state of frustrating the commission’s efforts to save lives of accident victims.

Speaking with The Nation on the rampant rejection of accident victims in public and private hospitals in Anambra State, Umeje warned that the FRSC would invoke its constitutional

From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

powers to deal with the hospitals that reject patients.

“Why they are insisting that road safety personnel should accompany accident victims is strange. It is not proper and I was reliably informed by the Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) that government has told these hospitals to treat any accident victim rushed to their hospitals

•46 die in 122 road accidents and collect the money from them.

“They can write SEMA and collect this money.

Monies like the issue of card and first deposit. He boldly told me that he has communicated to these hospitals.

“The issue now is in a situation where the FRSC as a lead agency in road traffic management will take accident victims to the hospital and they would be foot-

dragging in receiving them from our men and I say this not proper.

“The general public should hear our voice because it has happened over and over and I am happy that The Nation captured the situation on July 23, where a victim was rushed to the hospital and the patient died because attention was not given to that person.

“We are writing a formal

letter to Governor Peter Obi to draw his attention to it and I am also copying the SEMA executive secretary. As a matter of fact, in the last stakeholders’ workshop, I mentioned it to him that I will not hesitate to invoke the necessary provisions in FRSC Establishment Act against these hospitals.

“There is a provision in the Act 2007 that states if a hospital rejects an accident

victim, that such hospital should be issued a ticket and could also be charged because corporate entities can sue and be sued.

“I don’t want to take it to the extreme, yet we have explored all diplomatic approach avenues.”

I want to write the hospitals concerned because I know them and I have experienced it once. But whereby it continues, I will not hesitate to invoke the provisions of the law.

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2012

57

NEWS Three drown in Cross River From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

•Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi (right) listening to the State Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) Chairman,Bonas Harry, during the NMA Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference in Port Harcourt...yesterday.

T

HREE people have drowned in a flood, which ravaged Agwagune community, Biase, Cross River State.

The victims, two 12-year old girls and a 55-year old man were reportedly swept away by the flood that ravaged the six villages in the community.

It was gathered that divers could not find the bodies.

The State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) said about 60 houses were washed away while about 100 are on the verge of collapse.

The agency’s Director of Information, David Akate, also said over 1400 persons have been displaced.

Edo NULGE set for strike

T

HE Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Edo State yesterday gave seven days ultimatum to some local governments to pay their workers three months outstanding salaries or face industrial action.

The union made its position

T

•CG warns subordinates From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

security operatives to prevent further jail break.

His words: “If you are experienced and you are working and we are seeing that the challenges are overwhelming you, then you cannot blame us when we say you can now step aside let us try other officers.

“Let us try other officers and see if there will be a headway out of the situation. Any controller who does not follow my

instructions will be transferred.

“I have investigated many of you and I know that you still have the capacity to address the challenges we are facing.

“If you visit the prisons once a month or once in a quarter the extra sacrifice will be that you have to visit the prisons at least twice a month.

“The sacrifice we all know is just for a while. Because presently the country is facing security challenges that will require you to be on top of the situation.

“If you are not synergising with the governor or other security operatives in your state go and do that now.

“We cannot fight this battle alone because when this people come to attack the prisons they may be more than 50 with sophisticated weapons.

“If you go back and home and sleep do not say I did not warn you. You cannot sleep now.

“Our prisons must be well fortified. Government do not want to be embarrassed because we are not performing or because somebody is not doing his or her job.”

•Bruce, Peterside appointed From Isaac Ombe, Yenagoa

istry to her considering her busy schedule.

The Head of Service, Mrs. Gloria Izonfo, could not be reached for comments.

In a related development, Governor Seriake Dickson has appointed the Chief Executive of Silverbird Television, Ben Murray Bruce, Prof Turner Isoun and others as honorary Special Advisers.

He said the government will

continue to draw from the vast experience and knowledge of accomplished Bayelsans to fast track the implementation of its programmes and policies.

The appointees and their portfolios are Isoun (Education), Daru Owei (Multinational Relations), King Amalate Johnny Turner (Intergovernmental Relations), Bruce (Investment and Tourism), Joshua Fumudoh (Ijaw National Affairs) , Atedo Peterside (Finance

T

From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

Ekpo was said have been arrested alongside a serving commissioner with $56 million.

But the State Deputy Publicity Secretary, Victor Brown, denied the report.

He said the chairman could have not left the country with such an amount of money.

Brown described the reports as a complete “falsehood of the highest order.”

He said: “To the discerning

mind, it is obvious that the story is false, malicious and an evil wish of the writer, whose aim is to ridicule the party and cast aspersion on the chairman.

“First, if we convert the money to naira, that will amount to N8.96billion.

“The questions that will follow are: was this money his? What did he need the money for? Was there no other means than to carry cash? If put into a

A

From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

This followed the petition by the sacked members of the commission, Caroline Ewohinmi, Robert Oghafuoso, Saliu Jeremiah, Friday Ojo, Eric Uhunmwangho, who held that they were unlawfully removed from office.

The plaintiffs said they

were sworn in on June 20, 2007 and their tenure should have elapsed on June 19 this year.

They urged the court to rule that they remained members of the commission, until the expiration of their tenure.

The plaintiffs held that the appointment of Solomon Aigbuoibo Ogoh and others

S

ECURITY operatives in Ughelli, Delta State, yesterday arrested a man (28) for allegedly planning to set a church ablaze.

It was gathered that the suspect allegedly sneaked into the church, Divine Fire Evangelical Mission, at Oghenevweta, Ughelli, yesterday, with a 20 litre keg filled with inflammable substance.

A source, who identified the suspect as Efe, said he allegedly emptied the substance on the altar, musical instruments and benches and was struggling to start a fire, when he was caught.

Church members held him and alerted men of the Ughelli vigilance group.

S

•Dame Patience Jonathan

& Economy) and Alex Ekiotenne (Special Duties).

travelling bag or Ghanamust-go bags, how many of such bags can carry the money?

“While I know that the misinformation was intentional and directed at the governor and the chairman, I wish to caution the authors to be careful about their practice of yellow journalism.

“I also call on the public to discountenance the said report and to go about their businesses.”

Court stops commission from conducting Edo council polls HIGH court in Benin, Edo State, has stopped the State Independent National Commission (EDSIEC) from conducting local government election into the 18 councils.

It said the commission was not properly constituted by the Governor Adams Oshiomhole-led administration.

Man arrested for alleged arson From Polycarp Orosevwotu, Warri

The group handed him over to the police.

The suspect said he was a member of the church and not a terrorist.

He said: “I was infuriated by the refusal of the General Overseer not to allow church members attend my mother’s funeral because she was an idol worshipper.”

The General Overseer, Rev. Michael Utoro, attributed his failure as a handiwork of God. The Divisional police officer, Garaje Gado, said the suspect would be charged to court.

Community leaders sue Uduaghan

PDP denies arrest of Akwa Ibom Chairman HE People Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday denied the arrest of its Akwa Ibom State Chairman, Paul Ekpo, in the United States for alleged money laundering.

Some local tabloids in the state had reported that Ekpo, a former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, was arrested in the US for alleged money laundering.

According to the reports,

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

HE Cross River State Government has released N5 million each for 11 mission secondary schools as grant-in-aid.

Governor Liyel Imoke said the state was amongst the first set to handover mission schools under its management to the two missions, which are the, the Roman Catholic and the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria.

Leave of absence for Jonathan’s wife HE Bayelsa State Government may have issued a letter of leave of absence to First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan.

Sources said the letter was issued to enable her perform her duties as first lady.

The Office of the Head of Service in the state reportedly issued the letter to Mrs. Jonathan.

It was not clear which of the ministry she was assigned to but sources said the government could not assign any min-

known in a communiqué at an emergency meeting of the state executive council.

The statement said at the end of a three-day warning strike if nothing is done, the workers would proceed on indefinite strike.

N55m for 11 schools

Shake-up looms in prisons over T T Boko Haram, jail break

HE Controller-General (CG) of the Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS), Zakari Ohinoyi Ibrahim, yesterday vowed to transfer any Controller, who fails to follow instructions concerning the Boko Haram insurgency.

Ibrahim, at a meeting in Abuja with Zonal Coordinators, Commandants, State Controllers and Principal of Borstal Training Institutions, said the shake-up will solve the security challenges in the service.

He advised officers, especially controllers, to step aside and allow other officers perform, if they are not capable of handling the security challenges.

The prison boss advised his men to synergise with other

From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

as head and members of the commission was unconstitutional since their tenure was still running.

Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Osagie Obayuwana said the government has appealed the judgment.

“We have filed our notice of appeal immediately. We are appealing the ruling.”

OME chiefs and leaders in Okere, Warri, Delta State have sued Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan for illegally occupying their ancestral home land.

Also joined in the suit are the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice and Delta Price and Gold Energy Investment Limited.

The applicants include the Ogieboro of Warri, Felix Edjeba Esisi, Mrs. Rita Lori Ogbebor, Mrs P.E.B Vivian Uku, and the Sobaloju of Ife, Hope Harriman.

Others are Kofi Kartey, G.T Grant, Ayiri Emami and other leaders in the area.

The applicants said the governor agreed at a meeting in Lagos to allow them build

From Polycarp Orosevwotu, Warri

their community centre on the land, but later deviated from the agreement.

In their statement, they said Uduaghan caused his escorts to arrest eight labourers working for them on the disputed land on May 5.

They said through their lawyer, Sir P.O. Aihiokhai, that last month, they discovered that there was military presence on the disputed land with workers digging and bringing in building materials.

The claimants are asking for N500million for unlawful desurfacing, illegal occupation and trespass into their land.

Justice Marshal Umukoro will hear the case on August 7.

‘Find sponsors of terrorism’

By Joseph Jibueze

A

GROUP, the Social Equality Justice and Peace Organisation (SEJPO), has urged the government to find sponsors of terror to curb the country’s rising insecurity.

In a statement by its International Coordinator, Amechi Nnoli, who is also the National Youth Leader of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Southeast, the group decried the various bomb blasts that have killed thousands of people in the North It condemned the impeachment threat against President Goodluck Jonathan by the House of Representatives over alleged poor implementation of the budget, saying it could further heat up the polity that is already battling with insecurity.

“There is nowhere in the world where a budget is implemented 100 per cent,” Nnoli said.

SEJPO said the sponsors of terrorism are powerful people hell bent on using the Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen as cover to achieve their evil goal.

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2012

58

NEWS Al-Mustapha’s mum dead From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

H

AJIYA Fatima, mother of Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, former Chief Security Officer to the late General Sani Abacha, is dead.

Aged 70, she died yesterday at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) during a protracted illness.

She was buried about 5pm in Kano after funeral prayers (janaiza).

Before her death, she sought the intervention of President Goodluck Jonathan for the release of her son who has been in detention for the past 14 years over his alleged involvement in the murder of the late Kudirat Abiola.

HOSPITAL VACANCIES A Specialist Hospital located at Ijaiye-Ojokoro, Lagos State requires the following persons for immediate employment: (1) Medical Officers/Resident Doctors (Full-time & Part-time) – preferably with Surgical Experience, Accommodation provided (2) Part-time Consultants in Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Paediatrics, General Surgery & Orthopaedics (3) Medical Laboratory Scientist (4) Pharmacy Technician (5) Double-Qualified Nurse/Midwife (6) Graduate Manager (preferably with Hospital management experience) Candidates should scan photocopies of their credentials to eltoremassociates@gmail.com & call 07069708815 within 2weeks of this publication date.

PUBLIC NOTICE THE CORNRLIUS SOCIETY FOR HUMANITY Notice is hereby given to the general public that the above names Foundation has applied to the corporate affairs Commission Abuja for registration under part “C” of the companies and Allied Act of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. CHIEF IBRAHIM TAIWO AJOMAGBERIN 2. MR. OLUSEGUN JOHNSON FABUNMI 3. MRS. OLAITAN OLAJUMOKE FABUNMI 4. ME. RASHEED OLAMILEKAN ISHOLA AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To provide assistance and scholarship awards for indigent children 2. To protect the enviroment Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, corporate affairs Commission, plot 420, Tigris crescent off Aguiyi-Ironsi Street, Maitaima PMB 198 Garki Abuja within 28 Days of this Publication.

Signed: JOHNNY AGIM ESQ (08023519097)

•From left: Director-General, National Population Commission, Mr. Jamin Zubema; Statistician-General of the Federation, Dr. Yemi Kale; and Director, Real Sector and Household Statistics Department, National Bureau of Statistics, Mr. Oparalu George, during the Statistician-General’s visit to the commission in Abuja... yesterday.

Commissioner dies 24 hours after assuming duty

T

HE newly-appointed Kogi State Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mr. Simon Olutimayin, is dead.

He died 24 hours after assuming duty.

Olutimayin was, on Saturday, sworn in as a commissioner by Governor Idris Wada.

A family source said in Lokoja yesterday that he died in a Lagos hospital on Tuesday night.

Born at Egbe in Yagba West Local Government in April 1950, the commissioner was

said to have slumped while attending a church service and was taken to a hospital. It was confirmed he had stroke.

His illness did not allow him to take the oath of office with 17 others on July 26.

Olutimayin was an alumnus of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where he graduated with a BSc. degree in Economics in 1980.

He joined the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and rose through the ranks to the position of an assistant director in charge of other financial insti-

tutions before retiring in 2010.

While in the CBN, he studied Law and was called to the Bar in 2004.

Until his appointment, Olutimayin was the Managing Director of Lagos-based Alpha Concept, a private concern.

He was expected to be part of the maiden meeting of the new executive council (exco), slated for the Government House yesterday.

The government was yet to confirm his death, but a source said the governor was likely to break the news at the exco meeting.

Mark sympathises with Sambo

P

RESIDENT of the Senate, Senator David Mark, yesterday described as unkind, the attack on the Zaria home of Vice- President Namadi Sambo.

Mark spoke while decorating the police outrider in his office, who was promoted to Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Mr. Isah Usman.

He sympathised with the Vice- President and told aggrieved citizens that the doors of the Federal Government are still open for dialogue as a way

•Says insecurity is collective challenge From Sanni Onogu, Abuja

out of insecurity.

Mark, in a statement by his media aide, Paul Mumeh, in Abuja, enjoined security operatives to strengthen their strategies and brace for the challenges facing the nation.

He said the insecurity is becoming intolerable and called on Nigerians to see it as a collective challenge.

Said he: “Security operatives

must, as a matter of necessity, work hard and cooperate to ensure security of lives and properties.

“It is your collective effort that will guarantee the security of the nation.

“Once we can secure the country, there will be peace and when there is peace, there will be progress and development.

“We need peaceful coexistence. We need the cooperation of all.”

Kano bans production of codeine syrups From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

K

ANO State Government has banned the production and distribution of cough syrups containing codeine and tramadol.

The measure is part of the efforts by the government to check drug abuse among youths.

Commissioner for Health Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf announced this when he addressed members of the Nigeria Association of Industrial Pharmacists in Kano yesterday when they visited him.

He said: “Government will not condone this negative attitude which increases crime rate.

“We will not compromise the responsibility of protecting the health of the people. Allowing the manufacturing and distribution of cough syrups with codeine and tramadol will be detrimental to the well-being of the public.”

Yusuf said the government and relevant bodies are determined to eradicate the trend.

Recently, Kano State Government shut Pal Pharmaceutical Company for producing a syrup containing codeine.

North’s governors: we’re proud of Sambo’s legacies at 60

T

HE Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) yesterday said Vice-President Namadi Sambo has lived a life committed to the socio-economic progress of Nigeria.

Eulogising the No 2 citizen, who turns 60 today, the Chairman of the forum and Governor of Niger State, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, said he has devoted his life to the pursuit

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

of excellence and good governance, which have impacted on the lives of Nigerians.

According to Aliyu’s congratulatory message, which was contained in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Danladi Ndayebo, the former Kaduna State governor had a distinguished career in the construction industry and

ruled Kaduna, the capital of the defunct Northern Region, during which he showed rare vision, courage and exemplary leadership.

He said: “As a member of the Northern States Governors Forum, Vice-President Sambo contributed to major decisions of the forum, which brought succour and prosperity to our people.”

He added: “The forum is

proud to be associated with the legacies of Vice-President Sambo as the governor of Kaduna State, especially the establishment of “Operation Yaki”, a special security task force, which has become a success.”

Aliyu prayed God to give the Vice-President good health, courage and years of selfless service to Nigeria and humanity.

Invest in agric to tackle Boko Haram, says Shettima

G

OVERNOR Kashim Shettima of Borno State has said the nation should invest in agriculture to tackle the Boko Haram menace.

He said: “One of the best ways to tackle insecurity, especially the Boko Haram insurgency, is to create job opportunities for youths through harnessing the agricultural potentials in the

From Joseph Abiodun, Maiduguri

North.”

Shettima, who spoke at the launch of the Electronic Wallet System under the Growth Enhancement Support Programme, said it is timely and in line with the policies of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda of his administration.

He said 80 per cent of the popu-

lation engaged in farming as a means of livelihood, adding that this is why the present government is dedicating much of its limited resources to the sector to create job opportunity, fight poverty, hunger and insecurity caused by idleness.

Shettima said: “Agriculture is the backbone of the rural economy and food security is a fundamental human right. We

need to invest in the sector to help us maximise this potential and contribute to job creation and food security.”

He hailed the Federal Government and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture for initiating the programme and pledged that his administration would partner government and donor agencies to improve agricultural production.

Knights of St John condemn Boko Haram

K

NIGHTS and Ladies of St John International drawn from the United States, West Africa, United Kingdom, Germany, Canada and the Caribbean Islands have condemned the activities of the Boko Haram sect.

They spoke at their International and Biennial Convention at the Westin Hotel, Charlotte, United States of America. The theme

of the convention is: “Gather Us Together-Make Us One Bread, One Body, In Your Love”.

In a communiqué signed by the Supreme President, Knights of St John International, General Timothy Hoerst, the Knights observed that the society has been faced with numerous and often devastating challenges, such as the global financial meltdown and Islamic fundamentalism.

59

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2012

IBRAHIM BADAMASI BABANGIDA UNIVERSITY, LAPAI Development and Consultancy Services Department (Office of the Vice-Chancellor) REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST IN PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP PROJECTS (PPP) The Niger State Government recently handed over the defunct Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) Suleja Field Base Office to Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai in the context of empowering the University to develop an independent resource base for the enhancement of teaching and learning in the University. The 45.054 hectare property, covered by a Niger State Government Certificate of Occupancy, is situated along Government Lodge – Kaduna Road to the North East of Suleja metropolis in Niger State, a strategic satellite hub to Abuja the Federal Capital. It is serviced by standard Public Utilities and is linked to Abuja – Kaduna express way.

The University is interested in Partnership with Private developers interested in infrastructure development and investments at the Suleja Property, Lapai Main Campus and Minna University GuestHouse.

The Management of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai therefore, invites interested, competent and reputable investors to submit Expression of Interests Bids for the following proposed projects: 1.

Redevelopment of Suleja Field Base into: (i) International Conference Center complete with a five star hotel (ii) Multi-Purpose Shopping Complex (iii) Knowledge and ICT Park (iv) University Printing Press (v) Strategic Policy and Business School

2.

Main Campus Lapai (i) Students Hostels (within and outside campus) (ii) Staff Housing Scheme

3.

Minna Guest House (i) Renovation and Upgrading of the Guest-House (ii) Renovation and Provision of Recreation Facilities

Interested Investors are invited to submit their proposals for partnership in the development of these projects complete with Business Plans to the Registrar, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, P.M.B. 11, Lapai to reach his Office not later than two (2) weeks from the date of this advert. Prototypes of proposed projects are available for interested investors to examine at the Development Office of the University, located at the IBBU GuestHouse, opposite the Trade Fair Complex, Chanchaga Road, Minna, Niger State.

This advert is without prejudice to ongoing discussions with investors who had earlier indicated interest in PPP investment initiatives with the University.

Signed: Sama’ila Muhammad, Registrar.

60

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2012

NEWS Jonathan’s aide is surety for subsidy suspect Continued from Page 4

raigned on a six-count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence, forgery and use of false document to obtain N976, 653, 110, 98k from the Federal Government under the Petroleum Support Fund.

Initial efforts to secure their bail suffered a setback on Monday as prosecution counsel Rotimi Jacobs sought more time to respond to the application.

At the resumed sitting yesterday, Ogunbambo’s counsel, Babajide Koku (SAN), urged the court to grant bail to the defendant on liberal terms. He assured the court that he would not jump bail or interfere with the trial.

Jacobs opposed the bail ap-

plication on three grounds.

He said the first defendant is under investigation by the EFCC following an allegation made against him by Stanbic IBTC Bank.

According to Jacobs, Ogunbambo allegedly collected N230million and N430million loans with forged documents and jumped bail since 2010.

He claimed that the defendant was arrested at Dublin Airport with cash, which he refused to declare to the authorities. According to Jacobs, the Ireland Embassy petitioned the EFCC over the matter and Ogunbambo’s two passports were seized by the anti-graft agency.

In spite of the seizure of Ogunbambo’s travelling documents, Jacob said it was

surprising that he still travelled outside.

Jacobs said the most serious of his opposition to bail for Ogunbambo was what he called his many identities.

According to the prosecution lawyer, “Ogunbambo changes name as he likes, like he changes clothes.”

He said: “This is a clear case from the past rulings by the court. The facts are unique. We have shown that the evidence against the accused are quite heavy and the charge, a serious one.

“He used different names.

If he is in the United Kingdom (UK), he is Benson Adekunbo Oladapo Sobowale, but in this case he claimed to be Oluwaseun Ogunbambo.”

Although Ogunbambo’s counsel told the court that

his client never had a criminal case, the prosecution said the defendant had all along been jumping bail in all the allegations against him, making it difficult to arraign him.

“He jumped bail. We can’t find him and a defendant can’t be tried in absentia,” Jacobs told the court.

The prosecution, however, raised no objection to the bail application of the second defendant, Theck, who Jacobs said had lived up to the undertaking given by his counsel to the EFCC. The court ordered that Ogunbambo be remanded at Ikoyi Prisons until the next adjourned date and granted bail to Theck.

Further hearing was adjourned till September 21 and 28.

suspects.

The SSS added that the stolen items were bought from the robbery suspects by three other suspects who specialise in buying stolen goods. The three buyers were also paraded. They are 42year-old Saidu Yakubu (a.k.a Imam); Sani Abdullahi Abubakar (35), and Hassan Bashiru, whose age was not stated.

Yakubu admitted knowing

members of the gang and confessed that he was a regular buyer of stolen items from the suspects. He admitted that he actually introduced Chikezie Edeh to the leader of the robbery gang.

Sani Abdullahi Abubakar bought three of the blackberry smart phones and one Nokia C5 phone stolen from Oyerinde’s home from Raymond Origbo for a N52, 000. He resold the

phone at N57, 000, making N5, 000 profit.

Hassan Bashiru confessed to buying three blackberry smart phones and the Nokia C5 phone from Sani Abdullahi Abubakar whom he said he had known for five years in the trade.

The three guns allegedly used by the suspects were displayed by the SSS.

How we killed Oshiomhole’s aide, by suspects Continued from Page 4

went there to rob. I joined criminal gangs when I was deported from France in 2005 because my travel papers were not complete.”

When asked about Rev David Ugolor’s role as alleged by the police, the leader of the gang, Abdullahi, denied knowing Ugolor. “I don’t know him”, he said. Other members of the gang also denied knowing Ugolor.

According to SSS spokesperson Marilyn Ogar, four Blackberry phones; one I-pad; two Galaxy Pads; One laptop; and an unspecified sum of money belonging to Mr. Adeyinka Oletubo, a brother in-law to Oyerinde who was with the family at the time of the robbery, were stolen, allegedly by the

Five dead in Port Harcourt road crash

F

IVE people died yesterday in an accident at Rukpakrushi, along the road to the Port Harcourt International Airport in Rivers State. Two others were injured.

Two vehicles were involved in the accident: a ash colour

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

Mercedes Benz 190 car, with registration number: AG 783 GBB and a black Nissan, marked: AJ 877 DEG. The Rivers State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission

(FRSC), Dr. Kayode Olagunju, who confirmed the crash, said the detail was sketchy.

Olagunju urged motorists to drive defensively, especially in the rainy season and to avoid overspeeding, dangerous overtaking and overloading of their vehicles.

Why accurate data is difficult, by NBS chief

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HE National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) yesterday said a developing country like Nigeria may not be able to get accurate data because it is very expensive.

The Chief Executive of NBS and Statistician-General of the Federation, Dr. Yemi Kale, spoke during a visit to the Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Dr. Festus Odimegwu.

He said, “The ability to get statistics depends on funding and getting data in a developing country like Nigeria requires a lot of funding.

For instance in the Southsouth region, you have to cross many rivers to see what is happening and these things cost money.

“The most important reason we don’t have enough and accurate data is because data production is very expensive. To get a census survey, you need a lot of money. In some national surveys, you need over N1bn to conduct it. But it all depends on the kind of activity you are doing. A survey is cheaper than census. For instance registering all eligible voters for election costs a lot of money for you to capture as many people as possible.

“We know that we have scarce resources and government priotises. You will not get some things right if your statistics are not based on facts. The programme on paper may look extremely

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

intellectual and brilliant but might end up having a limited impact.”

According to the SGF, if the Federal Government for instance wants to tackle unemployment in Nigeria: “you need to know who the unemployed people are, where they are, their qualifications and gender.”

Kale added: “If you don’t know all these, you will only end up creating jobs for 100,000 Aeronautic Engineers while among the unemployed people, none of them is an Aeronautic Engineer. You need to know what the programme is and then design your policies around that problem.”

While commending the government for its efforts in assisting the NBS, Kale said the agency was soliciting for more funds.

He said, “The present administration is statisticsfriendly and they have been supporting us more than the previous governments. We have been producing a much better data than before. But it is not enough because more needs to be done for the government to use in economic planning and for the peoples monitoring, evaluation and performance. Today, people guess to get accurate numbers. But you can work that way.”

Odimegwu solicited the cooperation of the NBS to realise NPC’s mandate.

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2012

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THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 2012

62

SPORT EXTRA Running banker Obiekwe not registered for the Olympics

Phelps takes record R 19th Olympic medal

M

ICHAEL Phelps broke the Olympic medals record Tuesday with his 19th as the United States romped to a dominating win in 4x200-meter freestyle relay at the London Games.

Michael Phelps swam into his-

tory with his 19th Olympic medal, and this one was a more appropriate colour.

With a lot of help from his friends, Phelps took down the last major record that wasn't his alone, swimming the anchor leg

for the United States in a gold medal-winning performance of the 4x200-metres freestyle relay Tuesday night.

About an hour earlier, Phelps took one of the most frustrating defeats of his brilliant career,

AFRICA RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP

Nigerianteamprouddespiteloss

H

AVING lost both matches at the just concluded Africa Rugby Championship, members of the the Nigeria national team, have expressed satisfaction at their performance.

The competition is the re-formatted Africa Cup Group C1 tournament in Gaborone, Botswana, where Nigeria lost to Mauritius and Cote d’Ivoire, after a spirited effort.

Due to the non-arrival of Cameroun the six team format competition, had to be reduced to a five team format and a new timetable drawn, depriving Nigeria a chance to play against host Botswana.

Though the Nigeria team initially protested the process of the draw, they, however, agreed to participate in the interest of building rugby unity among other African rugby playing nations.

•Targets African Rugby sevens

By Innocent Amomoh According to NationSport findings, after losing the opening game against Mauritius 22-26 Nigeria was optimistic of their chances against 48th ranked IRB team Cote D’Ivoire. Nigeria had fought back strongly against Mauritius coming back well in the second half after being down 20-3 at one stage to outscore Mauritius three tries to two on the day.

Coach of the Nigerian team Steve Lewis said: "I was not sure what sort of game Cote d’Ivoire would play. Being West Africa's most experienced team.Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire, had to travel the farthest to get here to play and yet both teams have both their tests scheduled with just a three day gap between them. Ni-

geria played on Sunday and Wednesday, Cote d’Ivoire played Wednesday and will play again on Saturday while Mauritius, Zambia and Botswana all have a six day break between their open games on played on Sunday and their second game to be played on Saturday” "With the Africa Cup behind us valuable lesson have been learned and the focus of attention for Nigeria rugby shift to preparation for the Confederation of African Rugby sevens in Morocco in September, and the chance to qualify for the IRB 7s World Cup in Russia next year.

"The bulk of that squad will come from the faster, fleet footed backs and loose forwards who began to gel into a formidable team this past week.”

making a shocking blunder at the finish and settling for silver in his signature event, the 200 butterfly.

That tied the record for career medals held by Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina, but it was hardly a triumphant moment.

Phelps slung away his cap in disgust and struggled to force a smile at the medal ceremony.

But any disappointment from that race was gone by the time he dived in the water on the relay, having been staked to a huge lead by teammates Ryan Lochte, Conor Dwyer and Ricky Berens.

Before the race, they all huddled together, fully aware of their moment in history.

"I thanked those guys for helping me get to this moment," Phelps said. "I told those guys I wanted a big lead. I was like, 'You better give me a big lead going into the last lap,' and they gave it to me. I just wanted to hold on. I thanked them for being able to allow me to have this moment."

Berens handed off a lead of nearly 4 seconds to Phelps, who lingered a bit on the blocks, knowing the only way he could blow this one was to get disqualified. Then he set off on what amounted to four victory laps of the pool — down and back, then down and back again, the roar in the Olympic Aquatics Centre getting louder as he approached the finish.

•Uzoh, Chukwuemeke listed

UNNING banker, Esther Obiekwe's hope of being the first Nigerian ever to run in the marathon event of the greatest show on earth, the Olympic Games, ongoing in London, may have been dashed as the athlete was not registered to compete in the games by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the Nigeria Olympics Committee (NOC).

Checks by The Nation on the website of the sport's governing body yesterday revealed that while Obiekwe was not registered, Lauretta Uzoh and Vivian Chukwuemeka, two athletes suspended from any track and field event for positive dope test are still on the list almost three weeks after it revealed that their 'A' sample had shown traces of performance enhancing drugs.

The Nation's investigation revealed that Obiekwe, a marathoner with personal best of 3 hours 36 minutes did not meet the International Olympics Committee (IOC) and International Athletics Association Federation (IAAF) entry standard for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The A entry standard is 2 hours 37 minutes, while the B standard is 2 hours 43 minutes.

Obiekwe who has competed in Dubai, Athens, Berlin and Boston and other local events has not done enough to be considered an elite marathoner, she was not allowed to enter the Team Nigeria camp in Surrey, and the Olympic Games Village in London .

At the Boston Marathon, she ran 3 hours, 44 minutes and 03 seconds to place 5272 position.

With all these facts at the disposal of AFN, one cannot understand why they told the world that Obiekwe is a member of Team Ni-

geria contingent to the London Olympics and even gave her a certificate of nomination which she presented to her employer Diamond Bank.

To celebrate her “feat”, the bank held a reception at its corporate Head Office, where Obiekwe presented her nomination certificate to the board and management of the bank shortly before her departure to London.

The marathoner told the media then “ I have participated in some of the world's top marathons including Athens, Berlin, Boston, Dubai and now the Olympic Games. Out of these, only the Boston and the Olympics requires one to run a competitive time in a previous marathon to qualify. I qualified for both and have been selected to represent Nigeria in the Olympics. This means I will run the marathon on August 5 in London as a part of the Nigeria Olympic team.

I was nominated by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and I see this act alone as a winner for me and for us.”

Also speaking at the reception, Uzoma Dozie, Executive Director, Diamond Bank, expressed the bank's support for the athlete and sports ambassador.

In his words, “We believe this is a wonderful opportunity to showcase not only the people of Diamond Bank and our brand, but also the Nigerian people as a whole.

Esther portrays the 'best people' element of our vision as a bank, exhibiting resilience, determination and originality which are core qualities of the average Nigerian''' If Obiekwe and Diamond Bank could excuse for their ignorance about rules, AFN officials who should know, ought to blame for this public deception.

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C OMMENT & D EB ATE EBA

I

T had been suspected for some time that the 2012 budget was in a bit of a muddle. Half way into the financial year there was very little on the ground to show that the budget of over N4.8 trillion was being faithfully implemented by the Federal Government. Two weeks ago, at its plenary session on July 19, the House of Representatives accused the Executive of achieving only 36 per cent of the budget and passed a resolution that unless President Goodluck Jonathan achieves at least 70 per cent implementation by September, he would face impeachment by the House.

There was a bit of a scare in the Presidency as the resolution was unanimously adopted by the lawmakers, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members who have an overwhelming majority in the House. President Jonathan responded swiftly to the threat by meeting with the leaders of the House, including Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, to mollify their anger. But the House has stood its ground that the impeachment process will start in September if 70 per cent of the budget has not been implemented.

In addition, all the ministers in charge of the MDAs were hurriedly summoned to Aso Rock by the President and given instructions to take concrete steps to expedite the implementation of the budget.

The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, was reported as claiming that as at July, 54 per cent of the budget had in fact been implemented and that by September, the target of 70 per cent would be met.

Now, practically every year the implementation of the budget has been a source of friction between the Executive and the House.

In 2010 and 2011, the same accusation was made against the Executive. The dispute is actually over the capital budget which, in the current budget, is only about a third of the total budget of N4.8 trillion. The recurrent budget is not a source of friction as this involves mainly the statutory allocations and the general cost of administration. But the capital budget is of overriding importance to the public in terms of funding for capital projects.

In this regard, the anger and concern of the House over the poor and tardy implementation of the budget are fully justified. And this anger is shared by the public which cannot see any real evidence that capital projects in the budget are being implemented.

Instead of any improvement in the appalling state of infrastructure in the nation, the situation is getting worse at all levels, including the health, transportation, and education sectors. As legislators, members of the House have a constitutional responsibility to ensure that once approved by the House the budget is faithfully implemented. In fact, that is the most important responsibility of the House in a democratic system in which the House has an over-

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Between Jonathan and the House

•Dr. Jonathan

•Tambuwal

sight role in making sure that the budget is faithfully implemented by the Executive.

After all, the House is answerable to the electorate for any failure to implement the budget. There will be no point in the government thinking of this demand by the House, as it often tends to do, as evidence of confrontation, or political partisanship. In fact, the House should be commended for being very much alive to its constitutional responsibility in holding the President to account for his failure to implement the budget in a reasonable manner. It may not be possible to achieve 100 per cent implementation of the budget. But it should not be too difficult to achieve at least 70 per cent as demanded by the House.

But who is really responsible for the tardy implementation of the budget? In a paid advert in the media early this week, the House put the blame for the poor implementation of the budget squarely on the shoulders of the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala, who is also the so-called Coordinating Minister for the Economy.

Specifically, she was accused by the House

of delaying the release of the approved capital vote to the MDAs. For example, of the N404 billion for capital projects for the second quarter of the financial year, only N324 billion had been released to the MDAs or cash backed.

This is less than a third of the capital budget of N1.5 trillion for the current year. But even access to funds does not in itself guarantee that the capital budget will be fully implemented.

There are far too many constraints that can impede the faithful implementation of the capital budget. These include the well known bureaucratic lethargy, widespread corruption in the public sector, as well as managerial and technical incompetence of those placed in charge of the implementation of the budget.

There is considerable doubt that Nigeria really has the spending capacity to manage and execute some of the capital projects in the budget. There is also the problem of budget over runs from year to year that can easily thwart the government’s efforts to fully execute the capital budget.

A minister alluded to this when he claimed that there were hundreds of uncompleted cap-

RIPPLES NIGERIA ’LL HAVE THE BEST ELECTICITY SUPPLY BY 2020–Jonathan

...and that will be VISION 2020

HARDBALL

F

OR the second time in just one month, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Minister of Finance and Coordinator of the Economy has been less than forthright with Nigerians on key issues concerning their lives.

First was the secret account opened on behalf of Nigeria in J.P. Morgan, USA, by yet unknown government agency. Facing the Senate which was prying into the handling of oil revenues by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the issue of the secret account came up. While the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had sworn by Sango it was NNPC, the oil mogul called on Amadioha to corroborate that it did not know if JP Morgan was a bank or a balm.

The minister was thus called in to clarify the issue. But she only left the Senate in deeper quandary and the populace aghast. It was CBN’s correspondent bank all right but she does not know the details of the account she said, adding, with a bit of blustery and browbeating confidence, that the important thing was to know how much oil was sold and not which bank the proceeds were domiciled.

The following day, the CBN sent out a release repudiating its supervisory Minister and insisting that it knew nothing about the JP Morgan account. As you read this, the JP

Government in retreat

Morgan secret account through which Nigeria’s oil dollars are funneled is still as mysterious as a midnight ghost. Our most able minister cannot tell us, nobody has been queried and none fired. It’s business as usual.

While hapless Citizen Joe had move on with his daily drudgery, another flaming arrow has been shot.

Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, a member of the House of Representatives, had moved a motion last week requesting the Federal Government to rev up its budget implementation process lest the president faced impeachment.

Legitimate and sensible request considering that appropriation bills are treated with so much levity in this side of the world. From local government through state and the federal level, budgets are usually not worth the stationery they are printed on.

The exercise of making projections for the coming year has become a mere formality, a hollow ritual which is observed largely in the breach. The imperial chief executives merely spend from the till in Government Houses and only extend the largesse to whom so ever they

ital projects that were being carried forward from year to year. In the absence of any economic planning on a short-medium and long term basis it is difficult to know how this vast number of uncompleted projects can be captured in the current budget. The constituency projects constitute another source of irritation on both sides, and the legislators are right to complain that there is little or no commitment on the side of the Federal Government to implement these projects that are of great importance to them.

Every legislator would like to be able to go back to his constituency and show his people what improvements he has brought to them and to their lives.

It is also possible that the funds for the implementation of the capital projects are not really available to the government. The Federal Government has no surplus funds from which it can draw in case there is a shortfall in revenue. In recent years, it has never had a surplus budget. A few months ago, the Finance Minister alluded to this when she issued a public warning that the government was over borrowing from the banking sector.

The 2012 budget is a deficit budget, with a gap of nearly N2 trillion, or nearly half of the budget. To fully implement the capital budget this funding gap has to be fully met. But the Finance Minister must also be concerned about the likely inflationary impact on the economy of such an expansionary budget as this year’s, which excessive borrowing can bring about. She also has to consider the possible impact on the Nigerian economy of the emerging global depression and the virtual collapse of the global financial system.

Almost certainly FDI in Nigeria will decline as most of these financial investments is from the Eurozone. So, the situation also calls for caution on the part of the Finance Minister.

This explains her tardiness in releasing funds to the MDAs for the implementation of capital projects.

It is unlikely that this face off will lead to the President’s impeachment. There is too much at stake for the two sides for them not to find some accommodation over the matter.

At this point in time, when the President and the country are beleaguered by all kinds of grave crises, including the fight against Boko Haram, it would not do the government or the country any good for this face off to lead to a constitutional crisis that will further imperil Nigeria’s survival as a united country.

But the onus is on the President to find a way out of this logjam, and this must include a greater commitment to the full implementation of the budget within the ambit of the funds available to it.

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So when poor Gbajabiamila was raving about budget implementation, many members of the executive would have laughed him to scorn saying, “budget, which budget; whose budget is he talking about?” at once nonplussed and miffed, the Presidency had made a twopronged response: lie about the budget and unleash hounds after the impetuous House member.

So, while Madam Finance Minister had lied about the level of implementation of the budget, attack dogs were let loose on the poor fellow to dig so deep around him and not to stop until they found some skeleton to hang around his neck.

But it has come out that Madam lied. The budget is only running at about 12 per cent seven months on as against 56 per cent claimed by her.

The Goodluck Jonathan government continues to go into retreat. The Finance Minister did not know about the subsidy roguery, she knew nothing about a secret foreign account and she lied plainly about her budget performance.

Even the United States Secretary of State, Mrs Hillary Clinton bypasses Nigeria in her 10nation tour of Africa while President Jonathan is carousing in the Caribbean from Trinidad and Tobago through Jamaica.

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