The Nation August 04, 2011

Nigeria’s truly national newspaper

•Oyo gets exco list •Ondo screens four

Council decides NITEL’s sale today

NEWS

Page 3

NEWS – Pages 7 & 9

•Ex-Speaker, others picked in Oyo

•Globacom, Foreign firms in race

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TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

VOL. 7, NO. 1842 THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2011

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Survivors relive Okene-Abuja road horror

INEC sets polls dates for Edo, Kogi, others From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

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HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday announced dates for governorship elections in six states.

Kogi will lead in December. The others will take their turns between January and July, next year.

To face elections are Governors Ibrahim Idris (Kogi), Muritala Nyako (Adamawa), Timipre

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WO survivors of Tuesday’s accident on the Okene-LokojaAbuja road yesterday relived the horror.

No fewer than 14 people, including a child, were crushed to death when a luxury bus ran over passengers of a Chisco Transport Company bus who were made to lie face-down on the road by armed robbers.

It also emerged yesterday that the bus took off from Port Harcourt and not from Ibadan or Lagos as speculated.

Joshua Chucks, whose leg was crushed from the ankle down, said he escaped by a hair’s breath.

Chucks, a journalist with Crystal Education magazine, recalled that the armed robbers stopped the bus and commanded all the passengers to lie face-down by the road.

“We were face-down when the first vehicle –a bus - crushed us. I was lucky I found myself in between the tyres of the bus when it cruised past.

The second vehicle - a truck - then came. That was when my leg got hit.

Chucks, 30, said the robbers were armed with sophisticated weapons.

On the disputed number of victims,

Continued on page 2

THE TIMETABLE •Chuks in the hospital ... yesterday

PHOTOS: MOHAMMED BASHIR

From Mohammed Bashir, Lokoja and Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

Chuks, who spoke on his hospital bed in Lokoja, said: “I think the number of the dead is more than 14, as claimed by the men of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), because a full capacity luxury bus usually takes 60 passen-

gers, although the bus we travelled in was not full. I think we had up to 50 people in the bus.”

Chucks is a student of the International Institute of Journalism (IIJ) in Abuja. He hails from Ngo Okpalla Local Government Area of Imo State.

Continued on page 2

•Mr Ezirim who lost his son in the accident ... yesterday

•3rd December, 2011 (Kogi State) •14th January, 2012 (Adamawa State) •11th February, 2012 (Bayelsa State) •10th March, 2012 (Sokoto State) •14th April, 2012 (Cross River State) •14th July, 2012 (Edo State)

al-Mustapha: Adesanya’s, Ige’s roles in Abiola’s fate When we finished the handing over, we agreed on a 16-point ‘national issues with Gen Abubakar, one of which was the release of Abiola ... But, instead of releasing Abiola as agreed, the then Head of State brought in the late Chief Ige to the Presidency to act as liaison between Abiola and those who were visiting to confer with him.

T •al-Mustapha ... yesterday

HE former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the late General Sani Abacha, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, yesterday alleged that former Head of State, Gen Abdusalami Abubakar, reneged on an agreement to release the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola from custody.

He told a Lagos High Court in Igbosere that Gen.Abubakar alleg-

INSIDE

•Abiola’s aide Akerele alleges diversion •Afenifere Renewal Group to ex-CSO: name •SEE PAGE 4 those who collected money

By Eric Ikhilae,

Judicial Correspondent

edly used the late former Justice Minister and Attorney General of

the Federation, Chief Bola Ige, to achieve his aim. al-Mustapha, who testified in his defence at the resumption of his

’

trial for the murder of Alhaja Kudirat, the late Abiola’s wife, who was shot dead in Lagos, said the late Ige “unconsciously” contributed to Abiola’s death by allegedly agreeing to work with the Abubakar-led regime.

The former CSO, who is being tried with Lateef Shofolahan, an aide to the late Mrs Abiola over her Continued on page 2

•INDUSTRY P13•POLITICS P17•SPORTS P23•EDUCATION P25•E-BUSINESS P43

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THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2011

NEWS

al-Mustapha: Adesanya’s, Ige’s roles in Abiola’s fate Continued from page 1

•The London hospital where Chief Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu is being treated. Story on page 58

Survivors relive road horror Continued from page 1

Mr. Reuben Ezirim, father of one the dead, the late Stanley Ezirim, narrated the same ordeal. He said his late son was a graduate of computer science who got married last December and had a two-month old child.

Another survivor of the horror accident Mr. Kunle Makinde, also a journalist, confirmed that the bus took off from Port Harcourt.

Makinde who spoke in Port Harcourt yesterday said he opted for a night bus for the journey to Abuja to attend an oil and gas conference, due to personal reasons. He thanked God for being alive.

At the Ikwerre Road, Mile One, Diobu, Port Harcourt office of Chisco Transport Company, no official was ready to speak on the ugly development. But some persons were seen in groups, wearing mournful looks and discussing the unfortunate incident.

They are believed to be family members of the victims.

Makinde, Editor of Port Harcourt-based Verite newspaper, said the robbery took place on the Okene-Abuja highway around 2:30 am on Tuesday. He also confirmed that the armed robbers asked all the passengers to lie face down on the road.

He said: “While the armed robbers were frisking the pas-

Kogi Governor picks medical bill of survivors

K

OGI State Governor Ibrahim Idris yesterday promised to intensify efforts in tackling the incessant cases of armed robbery in the state.

The governor spoke when he visited two survivors of Tuesday’s accident at the Specialist Hospital and the Federal Medical Centre in Lokoja.

He promised to foot the bill of their treatment.

The governor said though it is not possible to make laws banning night driving, he said government will support continuous and intense patrol of the highway.

The governor who condoled with the families of the deceased, donated N100,000 to the survivors. He directed the management of the hospitals to forward the cost implication of keeping the corpses of the dead especially the cost of embalmment and other mortuary charges, to the government.

sengers on the road, another luxury bus on top speed ran over many of the passengers.

A large part of my body was in the bush. It was only my head that was close to the road.

“Some of us saw the luxury bus as it approached but nothing could be done at that point. The incident was so horrible and no one was around at that time to help.

“I counted and noticed that nine persons died on the spot.

The remaining three victims died in a police vehicle as they were being rushed to the hospital. I have learnt my lesson. I will never travel in the night again. I was left without anything, after the incident.”

The editor expressed displeasure at the attitude of the policemen who showed up on the scene in a Toyota Landcruiser Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV). He blamed them for not immediately rushing the seriously-injured victims to the hospital.

He said the policemen were only interested in impounding the luxury bus and getting the conductor to follow them to the police station to write statement. He said but for the delay, the three injured victims that died on the way to the hospital might have survived.

Makinde, who said he was still scared as a result of the close shave with death, returned to Port Harcourt yesterday by air.

death, accused Gen Abubakar of looting the nation’s treasury by making spurious withdrawals from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

“When we finished the handing over, we agreed on a 16-point national issues with Gen Abubakar, one of which was the release of Abiola and another was the need to have a short transition programme.

“But, instead of releasing Abiola as agreed, the then Head of State brought in the late Chief Ige to the Presidency to act as liaison between Abiola and those who were visiting to confer with him,” he said.

The former CSO, who said he was saddled with the care of Abiola before Chief Ige was invited, said Gen Abubakar separated him from the late Abiola when he (Ige) was brought in.

“As against our agreement with Gen Abubakar to release Abiola, people were being brought to negotiate with the Head of State. All those that were coming to negotiate with Abiola and Abubakar delayed Abiola’s release, until he was murdered on July 7, 1998,” he said. al-Mustapha said although he was unsure if Chief Ige knew he was being used, he wrote him an 11-page letter to with the theme: “How you were unconsciously used for the murder of Abiola.”

He said a day after Abiola’s alleged murder, a delegation of leaders from the Southwest, led by the late Chief Abraham Adesanya, visited the Presidential Vila in Abuja.

He alleged that the visit coincided with the delivery of huge sums of money by the CBN, allegedly on the request of the then Head of State.

He said the request for the money - $200 million, £75 million and N500 million was contained in a memo with serial number: NSA/A/ 320/5 jointly endorsed by both the then National Security Adviser, Gen Abdullahi Mohammed and Gen. Abubakar. al-Mustapha, who said the reason contained in the

memo was intended to conceal the reason for the withdrawal, said the money was brought into the Presidential Villa in a long brown bus.

The memo was later admitted by the court in evidence.

It was stated in the memo that the funds were needed to cater for some visiting Very Important Personalities (VIP), who were to be engaged by the government for some important assignments, maintain the presidential fleet and its personnel and cater for some Nigerian military personnel in Liberia, among others. al-Mustapha, however, could not link his claim that the visiting Southwest leaders benefited from the withdrawn funds as he denied being at the meeting of the leaders and the Presidency.

He only claimed that they were “angry, annoyed and mad when they came in, but were happy when they were leaving”. al-Mustapha, who said he has video recording of the leaders’ visit to Gen. Abubakar, said: “They were visibly very angry and refused to grant press interviews when they came, but while leaving, they were friendly and granted interviews.

On how he got the memo, al-Mustapha told the court that he retrieved it from a copying device - counter-espionage photocopier – used at the presidential secretariat in the Presidential Villa.

He said another person who got a copy of the memo

They were visibly very angry and refused to grant press interviews when they came, but while leaving, they were friendly and granted interviews

from the CBN, Habideen Coomasie, a senior brother to former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Coomasie and publisher of the now defunct Abuja Mirror newspaper, was killed by poisoning when he attempted to publish it. al-Mustapha said aside the money contained in the memo, some other huge withdrawals were made by the Gen. Abubakar regime, most of which were allegedly taken to Minna, Niger State, where the then Head of State owns Zube Farm.

He claimed that the then Head of State has a mansion in his farm with an underground facility, where most of what were taken from the Presidential Villa were allegedly taken to.

The former CSO urged the court to compel the Federal Government to release all his property, including documents, containing details of all that happened during the Gen Abubakar days.

He said he was, until recently, in custody of a video tape containing incriminating evidence against former President Olusegun Obasanjo, but that he had since given it to him (Obasanjo).

He later tendered a video which he said contained faces of the Southwest leaders while they were leaving the Presidential Villa after their visit on July 8, 1998. The tape was admitted in evidence. He said the one containing their arrival was part of those confiscated by the government. al-Mustapha accused the prosecution of inducing its witnesses to incriminate him and his co-accused person, alleging that the manner the prosecution conducted the case in Lagos showed that they lacked actual facts about it.

“From what the second and third prosecution witnesses – Barnabas Jabila (Rogers) and Aminu Mohammed – told us, there are a lot that we know about this case that I believe the prosecution in Lagos was not briefed. Abuja hid a lot of information from the Lagos prosecutors,” he said.

The court is expected to see the video tendered by alMustapha today when the hearing resumes.

INEC sets dates for Edo, Kogi, others Continued from page 1

Sylva (Bayelsa), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Liyel Imoke (Cross River).

Addressing reporters at the INEC headquarters in Abuja, Soyebi said that the tenures of the governors will expire as follows: Kogi- 4th April, 2012; Adamawa- 30th April, 2012; Bayelsa-27th May, 2012; Sokoto- 28th May, 2012; Cross-River - 27th August, 2012 and Edo- 12th November, 2012.

By the provision of Section 180(2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, the Governor of a State shall vacate office at the expiration of four years from the date when he took the oath of allegiance and oath of office.

Section 178 (2) of the Constitution, as amended, pro-

vides: “An election to the office of Governor of a State shall be held on a date not earlier than 150 days and not later than 30 days before the expiration of the term of office of the last holder of the office.”

In line with the provisions, Soyebi said the Commission decided to stagger the elections for effective planning and utilisation of personnel on the dates of the scheduled elections which he gave as: Kogi- 3rd December, 2011; Adamawa 14th January, 2012; Bayelsa 11th February, 2012; Sokoto 10th March, 2012; Cross-River- 14th April, 2012 and Edo- 14th July, 2012.

Soyebi said INEC would still embark on continuous voter registration but that it will only use certified registers at all times.

“Certification can take place at any time, but that does not mean we are going to jettison the continuous voter registration,” he said.

Upholding the judgment of Justice Adamu Bello of the Federal High Court that granted “tenure completion” to five governors, the Court of Appeal panel chaired by Justice Mohammed Garuba dismissed the appeal filed by INEC against the verdict.

In the verdict appealed by INEC, Justice Bello held that the tenure of the governors started in 2008 when they took a fresh Oath of Allegiance and Oath of Office after their victories in the rerun elections conducted by INEC. The rerun elections were conducted by INEC after the Court of Appeal nullified their victories in the April 14,

2007 general elections.

The Judge held that since the 2007 elections were nullified and set aside by competent courts, the oaths of office and allegiance subscribed to by the governors had been nullified.

The appellate court held yesterday that the high court Judge deserved commendation for the decision and not castigation because the provision of the 1999 Constitution is clear on the issues in dispute.

Justice Garuba said: “The provision of the constitution says that the governor shall leave at the end of a four-year tenure, starting from the day he took the oath of office. This clear and unambiguous provision should be given its plain and ordinary meaning.

Whichever way it is looked

at, it would still maintain its plain and ordinary meaning.

Only the oath of allegiance taken after an election conducted within the provision of the constitution can be said to be valid.

“Once an action is nullified by a court, the action has been erased as if it never happened. When an action is nullified, it is as if it never occurred. ‘’Another oath of allegiance is taken to back the commencement of tenure in office. It cannot be disputed that the nullified election is not a valid election. A person not validly elected cannot subscribe to a valid oath.

“You cannot put something on nothing and expect it to stand. The nullification of the election renders it invalid; it never existed in the eyes of the law. Every proceeding

•Prof. Jega

that had to do with it is incurably defective.

“Election victory is a condition precedent to oath taking, once the victory is nullified; the oath has become a judicial myth.”

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

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THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2011

NEWS

Ecstacy as Mubarak’s trial opens in Cairo •Case adjourned till August 15

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N ailing, 83-year-old Hosni Mubarak, lying ashenfaced on a hospital bed inside a metal defendants cage with his two sons standing protectively beside him in white prison uniforms, denied charges of corruption and complicity in the killing of protesters at the start of his historic trial yesterday.

The spectacle, aired live on state television, was a stunning moment for Egyptians. Many savored the humiliation of the man who ruled with unquestionable power for 29 years, during which opponents were tortured, corruption was rife, poverty spread and political life was stifled.

After widespread skepticism that Egypt’s military rulers would allow one of their own - a former head of the air force - to be prosecuted in front of the world, the scene went a long way to satisfy one of the key demands that has united protesters since February 11, when Mubarak fell following an 18-day uprising.

“This is the dream of Egyptians, to see him like this, humiliated like he humiliated them for the last 30 years,” said Ghada Ali, the mother of a 17-year old girl in the city of Alexandria, who was shot to death during the crackdown.

“I want to see their heart explode like my daughter’s heart exploded from their single bullet,” Ali told The Associated Press, breaking down in sobs.

It was the first time Egyptians have seen Mubarak since February 10, when he gave a defiant TV address refusing to resign In the courtroom, a prosecutor read the charges against Mubarak - that he was an accomplice along with his then-interior minister in the “intentional and premeditated murder of peaceful protesters” and that he and his sons received gifts from a prominent businessman in return for guaranteeing him a lowered price in a land deal with the state.

“Yes, I am here,” Mubarak said from his bed, raising his hand slightly when the judge asked him

•An Egyptian man loyal to the former president throws a stone at a foe ...yesterday

to identify himself and enter a plea.

“I deny all these accusations completely,” he said into a microphone, wagging his finger. His sons also pleaded not guilty.

The emotions swirling around the trial were on display outside the heavily secured Cairo police academy where the trial was held.

A crowd of Mubarak supporters and hundreds of relatives of slain protesters and other Mubarak opponents massed at the gates, scuffling sporadically as they watched the proceedings on a giant screen.

They threw stones and bottles at each other while riot police with shields and helmets tried to keep them apart. Officials said 53 people were hurt, most lightly.

About 50 supporters pounded on the steel gate trying to get into the compound, chanting “We Love you, Mubarak!” until police charged at them with electrified batons and dispersed them. “We will demolish and burn the prison if they convict Mubarak,” they screamed. Some of the supporters had bandaged heads from beatings, and many wore t-shirts with the slogan, “I am Egyptian and I reject the insulting of our leader.”

But the father of a slain protester, among those sweltering in the heat outside on the third day of fasting in the Muslim month of Ramadan, was ecstatic. “We are here to tell Hosni, ‘Happy Ramadan, congratulations on your new cage,’” Mohammed Mustafa el-Aqad said.

Wednesday’s court session was largely taken up by procedural measures as lawyers from both sides filed motions.

But no matter how dry the action, the sight of Egypt’s one-time most powerful man inside the defendants’ cage, made of iron bars and metal mesh was riveting. Defendants are traditionally held in cages during trials in Egypt.

Mubarak was flown in just before the session from Sharm el-Sheikh, the Red Sea resort where he has been under arrest at a hospital since April. A sheet pulled up to his chest, he was wheeled into the defendants cage on a hospital bed at the session’s start. After weeks of reports from Sharm that he was in a coma, unable to speak and refusing to eat, he looked less frail than many had imagined he might.

Though he was pale and his eyes were ringed with red, his hair was dyed black, he was awake, alert and even had a moment of his characteristic defiance, wagging his finger as he denied the charges.

With him in the cage were his nine co-defendants, including his two sons - one-time heir apparent Gamal and wealthy businessman Alaa - his former interior minister Habib el-Adly, and six top former police officials.

From time to time, Mubarak craned his head to see the proceedings. Other times, he crooked his elbow over his face as if in exhaustion. While the other defendants sat on wooden benches in the cage, the 47-year-old Gamal and 49-year-old Alaa in their white prison uniforms stood next to their father’s bed, at one point with their arms crossed on their chest seemingly trying to block the court camera’s view of their father. The two sons each carried a copy of the Quran and leaned

over to talk to their father.

Relatives of the defendants sat near the cage. A fence running through the middle of the chamber divided them from the rest of the audience of around 300 people, including a few relatives of protesters killed in the uprising, kept far enough that they cannot shout or throw anything at the former leader.

During the session, Mubarak’s lawyer filed a motion that Defense Minister Hussein Tantawi - the head of the council of generals that now runs Egypt - be called to testify in the trial. He argued that Tantawi was in control of security after January 28, three days into the protests. The motion signals an attempt by the defense to drag the military into the case.

After several hours, the judge adjourned Mubarak and his sons’ trial until August 15, though hearings in el-Adly’s case would continue today. The judge ordered Mubarak held at the International Medical Center, a military hospital on the outskirts of Cairo, and that an oncologist be among the doctors monitoring him. That was one of the strongest indications yet that the 83-year-old Mubarak has cancer after months of unconfirmed reports.

Up to the last minute, many Egyptians had doubted that Mubarak would actually appear at the trial, expecting health issues would be used as an excuse for him to stay away.

His healthier than expected appearance could raise demands that he be held in prison like his sons rather than “in the cushy hospital,”

Council on privatisation meets on NITEL’s fate today •Globacom, Snytel , China Telecoms, Omen in the race

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HE National Council on Privatisation (NCP) will today meet over the fate of the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) after almost a decade of botched plans to sell the national carrier.

Top firms bidding for the company are Globacom, Snytel , China Telecoms and Omen International Limited.

There was anxiety yesterday over alleged plans to bar Nigerians and Nigerian companies from acquiring NITEL. Investigation by our correspondent showed that members of the NCP have been invited for a crucial meeting at the Presidential Villa on the fate of NITEL. The NCP, headed by Vice-President, Namadi Sambo, is statutorily empowered to approve the sale of

From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

NITEL by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) It was learnt that some of those bidding for NITEL are Globacom ($450m); Snytel ($956m); China Telecoms (whose bid price is still kept under wraps) and Omen International Limited, which could not pay the bid price of $956m imposed by the government.

It was gathered that there are two major decisions before the NCP: whether to reduce the price of $956million fixed by the Federal Government for a buyer to acquire it and whether a Nigerian or foreign company should buy the ailing firm.

As at last night, there were indications of pressure on the NCP on

these two challenges.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “There is pressure on the NCP to disqualify Nigerians or Nigerian companies from participating in the privatization process for the sale of NITEL/ MTEL. “Some government officials favour foreign firms despite the fact that this has failed in the past with the engagement of Pentascope.

Yet, there is a serious suspicion that the affected foreign firms are fronting for some people in government.

“At present, about N6trillion is allegedly being generated yearly by the telecom firms in the country and about N5trillion is being repatriated by these foreign companies.

“This development is disturb-

ing as such an amount if re invested in Nigeria will create employment and provide capital for various projects within the country.

“With this posture of the NCP, Nigeria and Nigerian companies will be at a disadvantage. It is pertinent for the NCP to consider the interest of this country as the assets of NITEL must be used in the best interest of the country and its people.

“If Nigerians are excluded, it will jeopardize the economic opportunities available to Nigerians.”

A top government official however said: “What is uppermost to the government is a buyer that will resuscitate NITEL and ensure that Nigerians benefit from it.

“I think it is too early to prejudge the decision of the NCP.”

•Mubarak...yesterday

PHOTOS:AFP

the anti-Mubarak activist group “We are all Khaled Said” wrote in a posting on its Facebook page. The group is named after a young man killed by police in 2009.

Mostafa el-Naggar, one of the leading youth activists who organized the anti-Mubarak uprising, called the scene of the trial “a moment no Egyptian ever thought was possible.”

“I have many feelings. I am happy, satisfied. I feel this a real success for the revolution, and I feel that the moment of real retribution is near,” he told The Associated Press.

The trial came only after heavy pressure by activists on the now ruling military - one of the few demands that still unites the disparate protest movement. It answers, at least partially, a growing clamor in Egypt for justice not only for the wrongs of Mubarak’s authoritarian regime but also for the violent suppression of the largely peaceful uprising, in which 850 protesters were killed.

Trial adjourned till August 15.

Baraje promises transparent PDP congresses From Sanni Onogu, Abuja

CTING National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Abubakar Baraje yesterday said the forthcoming congresses and national convention of the party would be conducted in a transparent and credible manner.

Baraje, who spoke when the Governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatai Ahmed visited members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party in Abuja also attributed his elevation to the post of the acting national chairman to providence.

He appealed to party members to support the NWC members, adding that the congresses and national convention would be “most transparent, articulate, acceptable, free and fair” like the process that produced Jonathan as the presidential candidate of the party at the last special national convention.

He said: “God directed luckiest Goodluck (Jonathan) and used him to keep the party together, that one of us in NWC should take over and lead this party to a well-managed congresses and national convention.

“That decision was taken by the will of Allah and we accept that decision in its entirety and that is why NWC is one united entity and will continue to work as one”.

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•NCP

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THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2011

NEWS Ume-Ezeoke’s death shocks PDP From Sanni Onogu, Abuja

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HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday expressed shock over the death of the former national chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke.

The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Prof Rufai Ahmed Alkali, in a statement in Abuja regretted that Ume-Ezeoke died when his stabilising roles as a nationalist were needed most.

Alkali said: “The Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje on behalf of the National Working Committee (NWC) and members of the party wishes to express sorrow and deep regret on the death of the former national chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, Chief Edwin UmeEzeoke.

“The PDP is shocked by the death of Chief UmeEzeoke at this transformation era in our national history when his wealth of experience would have been of immense benefit to the nation.”

Abiola’s aide takes on al-Mustapha

F

ORMER Personal Assistant to the late M.K.O. Abiola, Lisa Olu Akerele yesterday told Major Al Mustapha, Chief Security Officer to the late Head of State, Gen Sani Abacha to shut up and desist from casting aspersions on Yoruba leaders over the 1998 death in detention of the winner of the 1993 presidential election.

Al Mustapha had told a Lagos High court on Monday that he had proof that the late Abiola was premeditatedly killed and that he knew Yoruba leaders who were paid to look the other way.

In a statement titled: MKO Abiola’s Death: Al-Mustapha At His Diversionary Antic Again in Abuja, yesterday, Lisa Akerele told the former CSO to go on his knees during this Ramadan and beg for Allah’s forgiveness for the “horrendous treatments” he meted to the late Abiola during his detention.

Lisa Akerele, who spent 18 months in detention on the order of Al Mustapha said: “ without prejudice to his undisclosed facts and evidence concerning the murder of Abiola and at no risk to being sub-judice of the court, I believe the public should know that if there was somebody who wanted Abiola dead more than anybody else, it was this self-styled Abiola sympathiser and admirer, Al Mustapha”.

On the alleged pay-offs to Yoruba leaders by the Gen Abdulsalami government who was in power at the time of Abiola’s death, Lisa Akerele challenged Al Mustapha to tell the world how much he himself withdrew from government coffers to feed and keep Abiola during the four years the late politician spent in detention.

Single tenure controversy: How ANPP accepted to serve on Inter-Party Committee

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ONTRARY to its position, the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) formally accepted to be part of the Inter-Party Consultative Committee which recommended a sixyear single tenure for President and governors.

The presidency and the ANPP had sharply disagreed on the involvement of the opposition party.

While the report submitted to the government confirmed ANPP’s participation, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief

A

Editor, Northern Operation

Emma Eneukwu, said the party had no hand in the single term agenda.

But two documents obtained yesterday confirmed that ANPP was neck deep in the single term plot.

In a letter to the then ANPP’s National Chairman, Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke, which was dated January 24, 2008 and signed by the then Deputy Chief of Staff, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, the presidency invited the party to serve on the committee.

The letter reads in part:

“You will recall that one of the outcomes of the recently held interactive session with Mr. President on ‘Electoral Processes’ has been the establishment of an Inter-Party Committee.

“The Inter-Party Committee is to “examine the problems militating against the conduct of free and fair elections in Nigeria and make appropriate recommendations for their solution.”

These recommendations will be forwarded to the Electoral Reform Committee, INEC and the appropriate Federal, State and Local

Government Agencies.

“This is to invite Your Excellency to forward ANPP’s nomination of seven members to serve on this committee, preferably the National Chairman and, one person from each of the six geo-political zones. The committee will hold its inaugural meeting at the Conference Room of the VicePresident on 31st January 2008 at 1300 hours.

“Please accept sir, the renewed assurance of my warm regards and considerations.”

In a Januray 29, 2008 let-

April election: Court disqualifies N Abuja Federal High Daniel’s men claimed the plaintiffs voluntarily withdrew from the elec-

Court yesterday nullified the list of candidates loyal to former Governor Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State who contested on the platform of the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN).

Delivering judgment in a suit filed by Akinrinola Temidayo, Yakubu Jamiu, Abujade Abisoye and Alhaji Tella Alamu against PPN, Justice Adamu Bello declared the substitution of the plaintiffs and other original candidates by the party as “unlawful, unconstitutional, null and void”.

The Judge who held that the substitution of the plaintiffs with Daniel’s men was done outside the period, permitted by law, faulted the Independent National Electoral Com-

A

From Yusuf Alli, Managing

From: Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

mission (INEC) for accepting the controversial list.

Noting that the Daniel group resorted to the PPN after losing their nominations in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) just before the 2011 general elections, Justice Bello said their names were sent in breach of Sections 31 (1), 87 (1) and 4 of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended which frown at double nomination.

Reviewing the arguments of the parties, the Judge held “there is overwhelming evidence adduced by the plaintiffs” that they were unjustly substituted by PPN which

tions.

“I hold that the Plaintiffs have proved their claims and are entitled to the reliefs sought. I hereby enter judgment in favour of the plaintiffs”, he added.

Reacting, the Plaintiffs counsel, Ajibola Oluyede described the decision as a “watershed in the democratic development of Nigeria as it has sent a clearer signal to the electoral authorities that the days of impunity are over.”

“The illegality underlining the last general elections in Ogun state has been exposed.

From the administrative law perspective in which the action was brought, it may not appear not far reaching enough and a recourse to the

PHCN gets CEOs

F •Daniel

Court of Appeal may be made. However the judgment is a clear confirmation that the judiciary will not sit timidly by in the face of administrative illegalities even in electoral matters”, he said.

Afenifere challenges al-Mustapha

FENIFERE Renewal Group (ARG) yesterday asked Major Hamza alMustapha, the former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the late head of State Gen. Sani Abacha, to name Yoruba leaders who were allegedly bribed to keep mum on the controversial death of the winner of the 1993 presidential election, Chief Moshood Abiola, in prison.

The group said it suspected that the former CSO wants to cause disaffection in Yorubaland by his unsubstantiated allegation.

It urged him to unveil the identities of Yoruba leaders who took the bribe.

Also, the former Personal Assistant to the late Senator

By Emmanuel Oladesu, Deputy Political Editor

Abraham Adesanya, the Afenifere leader, Rev. Tunji Adebiyi, said in a statement that al-Mustapha was being mischievous.

He said the former CSO was trying to discredit a credible politician, who was above board in his entire life.

According to him, the allegations against the Second Republic senator is malicious because the deceased is not around to defend himself.

Adebiyi said: “Pa Adesanya was not an affluent man. He was not wealth-crazy. He did not engage in primitive accumulation. He worked and made fortune and built his houses in the 1960s. He was a

successful businessman; an honest and credible lawyer. It was his leader, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who encouraged him to vie for the Senate in 1979. He spent his life defending the masses.”

In a statement by its spokesman, Kunle Famoriyo, ARG said the allegations by alMustapha should be substantiated.

He said: “On the allegation that some Southwest leaders fed fat on MKO’s predicament by collecting fat sums of money from the Abubakar Abdulsalami administration, we have on several occasions been fed with that by the former CSO. His inability to substantiate his claims has so far consigned him to the sta-

ter to the then Deputy Chief of Staff, the ANPP through its National Secretary, Senator Sa’idu Kumo accepted to serve on the Inter-Party Committee.

The letter reads: “Further to your letter of 24th January, 2008, I write to submit below, ANPP’s nominees into the committee as follows: 1.

Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke (National Chairman); Mr. James Okongor (SouthSouth); Chief Kunle Ogunabe (South-West); Dr. Sam Ugo Opara(South-East); Sen. Ahmed Mukhtar Aruwa(North-West); Sen. AbdulAziz Ibrahim(NorthEast); and Alhaji Bolaji Khaleel(North-Central).

Please accept assurance of my esteemed regards.”

tus of a scallywag only interested in causing disaffection among Yoruba sons and daughters”.

Afenifere hailed the courage demonstrated by the former CSO in the court, noting that he revealed how Abiola was callously murdered.

Famoriyo said: “While we are worried at government’s continued inability to bring to book killers of notable Nigerians like Bola Ige, Funsho Williams and Alfred Rewane, many years after their assassination, we are nonetheless consoled that in the spirit of the season and national reconciliation, al-Mustapha’s allegations will not be swept under the carpet.”

ORTY eight hours after the Federal Government replaced four chief executives to enhance power supply, Power Minister Bart Nnaji yesterday announced two new appointments in the leadership of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

The new appointees areMessrs Akinwunmi Bada and Uzoma Achinanya. Bada, an engineer and Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Electricity Transmission and Special performance Monitor becomes the chief executive of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), one of the 18 PHCN successor companies.

Achinanya, Special Assistant to the President on Electricity Distribution and Special Performance Monitor at the PTFP, returns to a familiar turf - Market System Operations which he created and led impressively as executive director.

Both positions are critical to the ongoing power sector reform and improved efficiency of power facilities.

•Senator Oluremi Tinubu (third right) with members of the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria(Lagos branch) during their visit office of the senator

to the Lagos Central

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2011

5

NEWS UME-EZEOKE 1936-2011

A community mourns its dear son T

HERE was a pin-drop silence yesterday in Amichi, a rustic community in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The development followed news of the demise of one of its leading lights, Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke. The former Speaker of the House of Representatives in the defunct Second Republic died in an Indian hospital.

The late politician was said to have been on a lifesupport machine for a week before he died in the early hours of Tuesday. He was 75.

In line with tradition, the community’s royal father Igwe Ofobike Ezeoke was billed to officially break the news in the company of the President-General of the Amichi Development Union (ADU), Emma Okafor.

Ahead of the formal declaration, ware points were immediately deserted and shops hurriedly closed as traders clustered in groups to discuss the sad development.

Condolence registers were opened at Ume-Ezeoke’s family house and the community’s Town Hall. Another one was placed at the Nnewi coucil secretatriat.

According to the monarch, the late Ume-Ezeoke was a high chief in Amichi with the title of (Ifejikamba).

His words: “You can see people discussing the death of this great man. The whole town has been thrown into

Mark: ex-ANPP chair was a defender of democracy From Augustine Ehhikoya, Abuja

S

ENATE President David Mark yesterday described the Second Republic House of Representatives Speaker, Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke as a defender of human rights and democracy.

Mark, who reacted to the demise of the former national chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) through a statement by his spokesman, Paul Mumeh, described the late Ume-Ezeoke as a true democrat, a champion of the rule of law and a promoter of equity and justice during his lifetime.

“Ume-Ezeoke distinguished himself as a parliamentarian and Speaker, House of Representatives in the Second Republic. He upheld the tenets of democracy. He hated oppression and was outspoken against injustice. He defended the rights of the downtrodden. He will forever remain in our memory”, Mark was quoted as saying.

Noting that Ume –Ezeoke was one of the pillars of modern day democracy, Mark said that the deceased truly laid the foundation of today’s National Assembly, maintaining that the nation will miss his wealth of experience.

He said the wisdom of the foremost parliamentarian would have been handy at this point of Nigeria’s democratic evolution.

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

mourning, following his death. Amichi is in a mournful mood.”

The first son of the late former chairman of the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), Chinemerem UmeEzeoke, was busy attending to visitors at the family house.

The former special adviser to the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua on Civil Society Relations told The Nation he was in not in the mood to talk. He described the situation as sad.

The President-General of the pan-Igbo socio-cultural organisation, the Ohaneze Ndigbo, Ambassador Raph Uwechue, said for every Igbo person and indeed Nigerian who knew UmeEzeoke, it was a regrettable and unfortunate development.

He said: “Ndigbo will mourn him because his death is a heavy blow and loss to the entire country.

“It is a necessary end that will come when it will come. We are only praying to God to grant his soul a place in the bossom of the Lord, which he rightly deserved.”

A former governorship candidate in Anambra and vice chairman of the ANPP, Chief George Muoghalu, described Ume-Ezeoke’s death as a shocking and sad development.

Muoghalu said the incident came when the country really needed people like the

Death shocking, monumental loss, says Tambuwal

S

•The late Ume-Ezeoke

former Speaker of the House of Representatives to reshape it.

His words: “But there is nothing we can do about it, but to pray to God to stand by the family and grant his soul eternal rest.”

Another ANPP chief in Amichi, Chief Osy Benson, described the death of Ume-Ezeoke as painful and a big blow to the community.

He said: “Umezoke was a hero. His death has really touched everybody in this area, but we cannot help it because it came from God. “God said we should give thanks and praises in every situation we find ourselves and that is exactly what we are doing right now. But one thing is clear - we are in a mournful mood in Amichi.”

Jonathan mourns ‘true democrat’ From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

•Jonathan

P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday joined other Nigerians in mourning the demise of Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke.

He paid tribute to the late politician, whom he described as a true democrat who contributed to the advancement of the country’s political development.

A statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Rueben Abati, said the President received the news of the death of the former Speaker of the House of Representatives with immense sadness and a deep feeling of national loss.

President Jonathan also extended his heartfelt condolences to members of the Ume-Ezeoke family and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).

The statement reads: “As they mourn Chief UmeEzeoke, the President urges members of his family, relatives, friends and political associates to take solace in the knowledge that he lived a very fulfilled life and made very significant contributions to the political development of Nigeria.

“President Jonathan be-

lieves that the late Chief Ume-Ezeoke’s place in Nigerian history has been secured by his exemplary commitment to national peace, unity and political stability which served the nation very well on several occasions over the long span of his political career, the most recent being his patriotic role as chairman of the ANPP. “The President prays that God Almighty will comfort the late Chief Ume-Ezeoke’s family and grant him eternal peace and rest from his earthly labours.”

He contributed to party growth, says ANPP

A

LL Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) National Chairman, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu has condoled with the family of his predecessor in office, Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke, who died in India on Tuesday.

In a statement on behalf of the party, Onu said: “It is with sorrow that we received the painful news of the transition of our former national chairman, Chief Edwin Ume-

Ezeoke, CFR.” According to him, the deceased made important contributions to the development of the party, stating that he was the chairman when the party was facing so many challenges.

His words: “He became national chairman at a time our great party had many challenges. He did his best to meet those challenges.

“We urge you to please

take heart at all times; you can count on the goodwill and prayers of our members, especially at this hour of grief.”

Saying that the ANPP as a family will miss UmeEzeoke, the party chair said: “We convey our condolences to our dear mother, brothers and sisters and all those who share with you the pains of his death.”

“The National Publicity

Secretary of the party, Mr Emma Eneukwu had told newsmen that “Ume-Ezeoke, a running mate to retired Maj-Gen Muhammadu Buhari, in the April 2007 presidential election, has been abroad in the past weeks for medical treatment.

“We will be missing his advice. As a former leader of our great party, we are getting in touch with his family for the burial arraignments.”

PEAKER of the House of Representatives Aminu Waziri Tambuwal yesterday described the death of his predecessor in the Second Republic, Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke as a rude shock and monumental loss.

Tambuwal said the late former speaker and elder statesman will be remembered for his political doggedness and legislative experience, which endeared him to millions of Nigerians across ethnic, religious, political and ideological divides.

He described the late UmeEzeoke as a loyal party man, whose style of politics was unique and worthy of emulation.

The speaker further commiserated with the governor, the people of Anambra and the Southeast in general as well as the All Nigeria Peo-

ples Party (ANPP).

He said the former ANPP chair died at a time his experience was needed by the country to wade through the many challenges militating against the polity.

His words: “His Excellency, Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke has left us at a very difficult period. This is the time we need his experience and fatherly advice. We will certainly miss his statemanly conduct and patriotic contributions to issues of national interest.”

Tambuwal assured that the present lower arm of the National Assembly acknowledges the invaluable contributions of the late politician to the development of democracy and nation building.

He prayed God Almighty to grant the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

Oshiomhole: His death a big loss to political class

E

DO State Governor Adams Oshiomhole described the death of the former national chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke as a big loss to the political class.

Speaking through a statement by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr. Peter Okhiria, the governor said the late politician left an indelible print in the nation’s political space.

The statement reads: “Ume-Ezeoke’s contributions to the enthronement of democracy as a member of the G-34 after years of military rule are indelible. He was also outstanding as Speaker of the House of Representatives in the Second Republic.

“He will always be remembered for his forthrightness and contributions to national issues. We pray God to grant the family the fortitude to bear the loss and to grant the departed rest in His bosom.”

It’s another dark day in Anambra, says Obi

A

NAMBRA State Governor Peter Obi described the death of former the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Edwin Umezeoke as a great loss to Nigeria.

He also described the death of the retired Bishop on the Niger and the former Dean of Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Archbishop Jonathan Onyemelukwe as a colossal loss.

A statement in Awka quoted Obi as saying: “Shortly before he (Ume-Ezeoke) travelled to India on medical treatment, he visited me and asked about what we planned to and how he could

contribute. We held a very useful discussion.

“We shall greatly miss him and his wealth of experience.

I join other Nigerians to mourn his passing away. It is another dark moment for Nigeria and Anambra State in particular.”

On the late cleric, Obi said: “His Lordship, Most Rev. Dr. Owen Nwokolo, informed me about his illness.

Archbishop Onyemelukwe contributed to the moral well being of the country”.

“It is a great loss and a blow to Nigeria in general and Anambra State in particular.”

He prayed to God to console those the two illustrious sons of the state left behind.

6

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2011

NEWS Panel winds up without prime witness’ testimony From Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

THE Sokoto State Panel of Enquiry investigating the activities of the Pilgrims’ Welfare Board yesterday rounded off its probe without the testimony of the former chairman of the board, Alhaji Umaru Kwabo.

Kwabo is said to be the prime witness to assist the panel in probing the activities of the panel since its inception in 2008.

Chairman of the panel, Alhjai Aminu Ahmed said: “The commission is no longer interested in arresting the witness.

“It has dispensed with the appearance of Kwabo and is retiring. Considering the submission the commission has received, it will write its report on that.”

Blame developed countries for Boko Haram , says Belgore

A

FORMER Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mouhommed Alfa Belgore, yesterday blamed developed countries for the security challenges in Nigeria.

The retired Justice spoke in Abuja when he visited the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal.

He noted that developed countries, especially the Western world, had worked against the stability of the country.

Belgore said the sophisticat-

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Victor Oluwasegun, Abuja

ed weapons used by members of the Boko Haram sect to terrorise parts of the country were manufactured abroad.

Urging Nigerians to feel at home in any part of the country, the eminent Justice challenged elder statesmen to unite to make Nigeria great.

He said: “One of the great things to happen to the Black race is jealousy. Many people, especially the so-called developed countries, are not always

happy at our stability. They try everything to keep us at a standstill.

“I will take you into memory. Three years after our Independence, the Federal Republic of Germany signed an agreement to train our Air Force and to help us establish same.

“Same week, some parts of the Western world were not happy. They staged the first coup. Apart from killing our leaders, they thought they had killed the country.

“The first thing they did was abrogate the agreement.

Gen. Abdusalam Abubarkar

(rtd), our former Head of State, was first in the Air Force and was training in Germany but transferred to the Army. Some of the Air Force potentials were transferred to the Nigeria Customs Service and the Police.

“The defence industry started making furniture later on. It couldn’t make tanks, cars and aircraft. It was established the same time with Brazil. Substantial parts of Volkswagen and Mercedes Benz were manufactured in Brazil and sent to Europe .”

On the moribund Ajaokuta Steel Company, Belgore

Council chief warns over move to freeze accounts From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

T

Boundary feud: Agency’s chief appeals for calm From Genevieve Ajewole, Abuja

THE Director-General of the National Boundary Commission, Dr. Mohammed Bose Ahmad, yesterday urged the Kogi/Anambra border communities to maintain the peace and respect the boundary between them.

Ahmad spoke when Anambra State Deputy Governor Emeka Sibeudu visited him in his office in Abuja.

The agency chief expressed appreciation to Anambra State Government for its handling boundary disputes without rancour.

‘Stay action on Islamic Banking’ PRESIDENT of Christian Council of Nigeria the (CCN), the Most Rev. Emmanuel Josiah Udofia has urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi to stay action on the proposed Islamic banking.

He said Christians would have appreciated it if Sanusi had consulted wider before introducing the non-interest banking product.

Addressing reporters in Lagos, Udofia said: “Sanusi should see his appointment as an opportunity to serve all Nigerians and not to attach sentiments in the discharge of his duties.”

Robbers attack FCT minister’s ex-aide’s home From Austine Tsenzughul, Bauchi

ARMED robbers yesterday raided the Bauchi home of a former Special Adviser on Political Affairs to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Muhammadu MaiAuduga.

The robbers reportedly invaded the house at 1.30am.

MaiAuduga told The Nation that his wife alerted him when the robbers entered the premises.

He said he opened the curtains to be sure.

said the project had continued to suffer the sabotage of developed countries.

He said: “Our Iron and Steel project at Ajaokuta can be said to be a cold war project. It was to be the largest industrial complex in Africa. But it was stopped and we are still grappling with the project after spending N800 billion.

“So, our stability worries these countries. Many countries develop well and rely on imported raw materials.

If Nigeria picked up, we should have been very successful.”

• Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi (second left); Commissioner for Commerce and Industries, Otunba Reim Bodunrin (left); Managing Director/Chief Executive, Dulfil Prima Foods Plc (Indomie), Deepak Singhal; and Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Dr Eniola Ajayi, during the visit of the company’s management to the governor in Ado-Ekiti...yesterday.

Tribunal warns ANPP over failure to produce witnesses

T

HE Chairman of Kano State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, Justice Iyabo Kasali, yesterday ordered the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and its governorship candidate, Salihu Sagir Takai, to produce the 24 witnesses in their petition to speed up the trial.

Kasali, who was enraged by the slow pace the ANPP and its candidate tendered four out of the 24 witnesses, or-

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

dered the party to produce the other witnesses on time.

Justice Kasali said the request by the counsel to the first petitioner, Mahmoud Magaji, for an adjournment was a waste of time.

She said the tribunal would no longer entertain more excuses from the petitioners.

Magaji had asked for an adjournment after the cross-

examination of the fourth witness on the grounds that they needed more time to assemble more witnesses.

The counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), and that of the first respondent, Akin Olujimi (SAN), did not object to the adjournment.

Justice Kasali adjourned the matter till today.

She warned the petitioners to produce enough witnesses,

as demanded by the tribunal, to avoid slowing down the trial.

Addressing reporters after the proceeding, Ikpeazu and counsel to Kwankwaso, Chief Olujimi, described the inability of the petitioners to bring enough witnesses as worrisome.

He said: “They will be able to impress the tribunal as we expect them to come forward with between 10 to 15 witnesses to speed up proceedings.”

NDLEA arrests 20 suspected drug traffickers

T

HE Bauchi State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested 20 suspects for alleged drug trafficking.

Parading the suspects yesterday in Bauchi, the agency’s Commandant Sule Momodu said they were arrested at the Muda Lawal Market, Bauchi.

He said the agency also impounded about 88.2kilogrammes of Indian hemp (cannabis sativa).

•Seizes 88.2kg of cannabis From Austine Tsenzughul, Bauchi

Momodu said NDLEA operatives had been monitoring the activities of drug traffickers in the market on a regular basis to ensure that their illegal business is obliterated.

He said most of the suspects are ex-convicts, among

whom is a 33-year-old Iriemi Ebosei, from Edo State. He was allegedly caught with 86.3kilogrammes of cannabis.

The NDLEA chief said Ebosei, who had escaped arrest, was traced and arrested on August 1.

Momodu noted that the activities of drug traffickers threatened security, urging the Judge of the Federal High

Court to stop giving light sentences to offenders.

According to him, long sentences would discourage drug traffickers from returning to the illegal business and also serve as a deterrent to others.

He urged the government to build a rehabilitation centre for drug addicts, saying this would give the agency the opportunity to accommodate more suspects and make them useful to the society.

HE Head of Administration, Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau State, has urged the former council chairman to rescind his decision to freeze the council’s bank accounts since his case has been challenged at the appellant court.

Governor Jonah Jang recently suspended the council chairman, Dr. Saleh Muhammed Kanam, and appointed Danjuma Gar to head its administration. But Kanam went to a Federal High Court sitting in Jos to seek redress. The court ordered the government to reinstate him.

The government had appealed against the high court judgment and all parties are waiting for the determination of the appeal.

Court declares peace corps legal From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

A

JOS Magistrate’s Court, Plateau State, has declared the Peace Corps of Nigeria a legal outfit.

It directed the Nigeria Police to release the items seized from the organisation.

Its secretariat in Jos was raided last year by the men of the Police command, which pronounced its operations illegal.

But the Peace Corps management challenged Police action in court, claiming that the establishment of the corps was backed by law.

Addressing reporters yesterday in Jos, the National Commandant of the corps, Dickson Akor said: “The release of the items is in line with a ruling by a Magistrate’s Court since December, last year, which was not enforced until yesterday when the matter came up for hearing. The court confirmed our status and gave an order for enforcement.”

Kwara ACN raises fresh alarm over cholera outbreak

T

HE Kwara State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday raised fresh alarm over cholera outbreak in the state.

The party warned that the outbreak could become a pandemic if not properly handled.

The government had denied any cholera outbreak, saying what occurred were isolated cases of gastroenteritis, a stomach condition, in

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

Okelele and Adabata areas of Ilorin, the state capital.

In a statement, ACN Chairman Kayode Olawepo said: “Our position that there was a cholera outbreak in Ilorin stands. We sympathise with the victims and their families, especially those who lost their relatives.

“There were indeed pa-

tients admitted and diagnosis of cholera. These were confirmed through a microbiological laboratory test conducted at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH). Those who died were at the Emergency Paediatric Unit (EPU) of UITH. “The victims were mostly children. But there were few adults admitted at the Accident and Emergency Unit of the hospital. They have since

been transferred to the Male and Female Medical Ward of the same hospital. An expectant mother admitted for cholera was transferred to the Gynaecology Ward.

Twenty-four cases were treated for cholera as at last week. The cases have increased, as our findings show.

“Specifically, a 12-yearold girl from Ile Alfa, Baani Compound of Ogidi Ward,

died of cholera. Casualties were also reported in Sobi area and elsewhere. As we write this statement, two (cholera) cases have been reported at the Sobi Specialist Hospital. Some others have been admitted at Ogunfolu Hospital and elsewhere in Ilorin. We would have mentioned the doctors who treated them but it is not our business to do so. These are verifiable facts.

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2011

7

NEWS

Seven shops burnt in Osogbo From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

S

EVEN shops were yesterday razed at Gbaemu junction in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.

Goods worth hundreds of thousands were destroyed.

The fire was allegedly caused by a power surge from the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

Among the shops affected is a newspaper distributor’s office belonging to the Secretary-General, Newspapers Distributors’ Association, Osun State, Alhaji Shuab Abere.

Others affected are a boutique, three grocery shops, a furniture showroom and a computer accessories’ shop.

According to two eye witnesses, Raji Adeyemi and Kazeem Olanipekun, the fire started at about 2am.

“Shortly after they brought light at about 2am, we heard a loud sound, possibly from one of the shops.

Not long after this, we heard noise that shops were burning and we rushed out.

“We called the Fire Service, but when they arrived, the fire had become so intense that we could not salvage goods in the shops,” Adeyemi said.

Aregbesola promises ‘best standard’ roads From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

T

HE Osun State Government has awarded a contract for the construction of selected roads to a Chinese company, Hongye Construction Group.

The roads include Ajegunle/Orileowu/Gbongan/Apomu/Ikire in Ayedaade Local Government; Igbajo-Iresi in Boluwaduro Local Government and Iloko-Ijesa/Ijebu-Jesa in Oriade Local Government, which serves as a link to Aramoko-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

Receiving the management of the company yesterday at his office in Osogbo, the state capital, Governor Rauf Aregbesola said the roads would be upgraded to the best standard.

Aregbesola said: “Your performance here will tell the world whether or not your company is reliable and proficient. We will have to agree on the flexibility of funding, because it won’t be payment on the usual terms.

“Because of our limited resources and desire for rapid development, there is need for special understanding.”

The Managing Director/ Vice-President of the company, Mr. Yang Hansheng, assured that the company would put in its best.

Dignitaries honour Kuteyi at funeral T

HE remains of the Chief Executive Officer of Josepdam Group of Companies, Mrs. Josephine Damilola Kuteyi (56), were yesterday interred in Ondo, Ondo State.

Mrs. Kuteyi died last Friday in a helicopter crash at IfeOdan, Osun State.

Her Personal Assistant, Mrs. Adedoyin Ogunbanjo, and the pilot, Catameo Arnold, also died in the crash.

The funeral service was held at the Oba Adesanoye Civic Centre. It began with songs of praise and prayers, led by pastors of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), where Kuteyi was a Senior Pastor.

The scripture reading, taken from Thessalonica Chapter 4: 13-14, was read by the deceased’s first son, Saheed.

Saheed and his three brothers: Ganiyu, Ahmed and Rasaqi, were dressed in white Agbada made of lace material and brown Aso-Oke caps.

Their father, Chief Waheed Kuteyi, a retired Chief Accountant of African Petroleum (AP), was also present.

In his homily, entitled “To die is gain,” the Administrative Officer, RCCG Headquarters, Pastor Olu Odesola, said: “Death is a debt; it is appointed unto man to die once, and after death the judgment.

“No matter your wealth or affluence, one day you will breathe your last. When anybody in Christ dies, he or she will gain eternal life. You should always strive to be alive in Christ.”

He urged the congregation

•From left: Ganiyu, Saheed, the widower, Ahmed and Rasaq at the funeral...yesterday

•I loved her without reservation, says widower of described her death as to work towards the sustehelicopter crash victim family, a “huge loss.” nance of the late Mrs. Kuteyi’s Until her death, Mrs. legacies.

The widower described his wife as “religious and passionate about her family.”

He said: “I met her at a tender age and she touched my life in many ways. In return, I gave her all my love without reservation.

“Damilola was very energetic and highly gifted in business. She left many legacies behind, which the children have to uphold.”

In his tribute to the deceased, the General Overseer of RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, said: “Mrs. Kuteyi was one of our dearest daughters

in the Lord; we can testify that she was committed to God’s work to the very end.

“She was a diligent planner, a fervent soul winner and a wonderful soldier of Christ.”

Mrs. Kuteyi’s body was lowered into the grave around 2pm at her palatial mansion on Ondo-Akure road, opposite Governor Olusegun Mimiko’s country home.

Dignitaries present include Mimiko and his wife, Olukemi; representatives of the Osemawo of Ondo; Senator Iyiola Omisore; former Minister for Mines and Steel Development Alhaji Sarafadeen Isho-

la.

Others are Ondo State Chief of Staff Dr. Kola Ademujimi; former Ondo State Commissioner for Youths and Sports Alhaji Yekini Olanipekun; Vice-Chancellor, Adekunle Ajasin University (AAU), Akungba-Akoko, Prof. Femi Mimiko; Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Chieftain Bola Ilori and Sola Ebiseni.

Employees of the late Mrs. Kuteyi and members of the RCCG family were also at the funeral.

Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, in his condolence letter to the deceased’s

Ekiti IGR hits N300m monthly

T

HE Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of Ekiti State is now over N300 million monthly, Governor Kayode Fayemi has said.

Before the advent of his administration, the monthly IGR was N100 million.

Fayemi spoke at his office in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, while receiving the Executive of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Ni-

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

geria (CITN).

He said the government has adopted creative methods to increase the IGR to N1 billion in the next few months.

Fayemi said this would enable his administration provide social amenities and execute more projects.

The governor said the N1

billion target can be achieved, if individuals and corporate bodies pay their taxes promptly.

CITN President John Jegede praised Fayemi for his developmental efforts, including the transformation of the Ikogosi Warm Spring into a tourist resort.

Jegede urged the House of Assembly to create a taxation bill. He suggested diversification of the economy to

Ewi calls for peace From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

•Fayemi

reduce dependence on federal allocation.

Kerosene scarcity: Osun residents get 330,000 litres

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HE Osun State Government has ordered the distribution of 330,000 litres of kerosene to residents at a subsidised rate.

Chairman of the Task Force on the Distribution of Petroleum and Allied Products, Mr. Gbenga Odulaja, told reporters yesterday that Governor Rauf Aregbesola ordered for

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

the product to cushion the effect of its scarcity on the people.

In a statement, the governor’s media aide, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, said the product would be distributed at one petrol station each in the nine federal constituencies and Osogbo, the state capital.

He said: “Towns selected for the distribution are Osogbo, Ilesa, Iwo, Ede, Iragbiji, Ikire, Ife, Ibokun, Ila Orangun and Olorunda.

“The first batch of the product, which arrived on Tuesday night, was distributed today (yesterday) at BBM Station, Oke-Bale, Osogbo; Sodamus Station, Feesu Junction, Iwo; Total, opposite AUD Central

Mosque, Ede; and Omuni Oil and Gas, opposite ATTC, Ilesa.

“For peaceful conduct at distribution centres, three National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) members and five volunteers of the Osun Youths Empowerment Scheme (OYES) were deployed to monitor each location.”

Ondo House screens commissioners-designate

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OUR of the 22 commissioners, who were sacked last Thursday, appeared yesterday before the Selection Committee of the Ondo State House of Assembly.

They are: Mr. Eyitayo

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

Jegede (SAN), Attorney-General/Ministry of Justice; Mr. Adegboye Adegbenro, Ministry of Works; Mr. Clement Faborode, Ministry of Community Development; and

Mr. Yele Ogundipe, Ministry of Finance.

They were screened by the eight-man committee headed by the Speaker, Mr. Samuel Adesina.

The nominees are to appear before the larger House today.

Kuteyi was the Managing Director of Bacita Sugar Company, Kwara State.

Ahmed said: “Her death has created a big vacuum that would be difficult to fill in a hurry.

“Mrs. Kuteyi, within a few years of taking over the Bacita Sugar Company, did not only change the economic status of the town, she also added value to the economy of the state. She would never be forgotten.”

He prayed to God to grant the deceased eternal rest and the family the fortitude to bear the loss.

It was learnt that those cleared would be sworn-in by Governor Olusegun Mimiko tomorrow.

The House is expected to receive a fresh list of nominees next week.

THE Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, Oba Rufus Adejugbe, yesterday urged the people to unite and embrace peace.

He told them to use Saturday’s Udiroko festival as an opportunity to enhance growth in the land.

Oba Adejugbe said the annual festival would present an avenue for exchange of ideas on the development of the town.

He said the Faculty of Law building at the University of Ado-Ekiti (UNAD) and the renovation of the palace were some of the projects achieved through previous Udiroko festivals.

“The festival is not an occasion for idolatry as insinuated by some people; it is the New Year for Ado indigenes, when we come together to develop the town, preach peace, love and oneness and build bridges,” the Oba said.

He assured the people of security and a hitchfree celebration.

Ogun set to repair 47 hospitals, 100 secondary schools

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HE Ogun State Government has approved the renovation of 47 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHC) across the 20 local councils.

Hundred secondary schools are also to be rehabilitated.

According to a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Yusuf Olaniyonu, the State Exec-

utive Council, at an emergency meeting on Tuesday, approved that the rehabilitation should begin immediately.

Olaniyonu said the rehabilitation of schools would “cre-

ate conducive atmosphere for learning and eliminate congestion in classrooms.”

Also, Governor Ibikunle Amosun has sent a bill to the House of Assembly for the

enactment of a law that would enable him set up an Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy.

The proposed law will give effect to the provision of Sec-

tion 212 Sub-section 2 of the 1999 Constitution.

It seeks to correct the illegality of the past, in which the Advisory Council functioned without an enabling law.

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2011

8

NEWS Edo BIR chair visits Benin monarch

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HE Chairman of the Edo State Board of Internal Revenue, Oseni Elamah, yesterday assured the people that government would provide infrastructural development.

The BIR chair said this when he visited the Benin monarch, Oba Erediawa.

He said they would be compensated for the age-long neglect by successive governments.

Elamah saidgovernment expects all citizens to pay their taxes, as allocation from the Federal Government cannot sustain the projects being

initiated by the Adams Oshiomhole –led administration.

The BIR chair said he was in the palace to intimate the Oba of his appointment and to ask for his support and that of the chiefs for the new tax regime to succeed.

He said it is only through healthy taxation that the governor can bring development to the people.

The board chairman said he also wanted to inform the Oba on the new consumption tax law on goods and services consumed in hotels, restaurants, events centers and eateries.

‘NDDC committee’ll not sack anyone’

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HE Presidential Committee set up by the Federal Government to look into the problems of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) will not witch-hunt nor recommend the sack of anyone, it was learnt yesterday.

The Chairman of the eightman committee, Steve Oronsaye, said this when the committee visited the commission in Port Harcourt.

Oronsaye said the committee was set up to find facts and present them as they were.

“Our committee is here because of the bad press reports against the NDDC. It is our work to find out what is true and what is not and make appropriate recommendations.

It is our expectation to make NDDC come out better than it is.”

He said the committee would talk to stakeholders in the region, who have facts to submit.

Akwa Ibom ACN candidate accuses govt, PDP of assassination plot

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HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate for Akwa Ibom Northwest Senatorial District, Joe Ukpong, yesterday accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the government of a plot to assassinate his star witness, Prof. Des Wilson.

Ukpong said Wilson, who is his star witness at the National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Uyo, has informed him of the alleged plot by the government to assassinate him in Uyo. He said following this development, Wilson has said he would not come to the tribunal to testify before Justice Abdullahi Yusuf, the chairman of the tribunal. Justice Yusuf is from Katsina High Court.

Other members of the tri-

From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

bunal are: Justices O.S. Olosonye from Ogun High Court and Mrs. M.S. Ayemeiye from Bayelsa Judiciary.

Ukpong is challenging the emergence of Senator Aloysius Etok as the winner of the Ikot Ekpene Senatorial district in the last National Assembly election.

The ACN candidate said Wilson’s absence might work against his success at the tribunal.

He, however, appealed to security agencies to provide adequate security for the Dean of Faculty of Arts, University of Uyo. His words: “If my star witness is not in court to give evidence, it means my effort is in vain, he has just spoken with me on how government has concluded plans to assas-

sinate him.”

Wilson was the Returning Officer for Akwa Ibom Northwest Senatorial District during the April 9 National Assembly election.

He had written to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, shortly after the election using UNIUYO letter head paper to complain about electoral fraud committed by some suspected PDP thugs.

He also accused some commissioners of diverting electoral materials to an unknown location during the poll.

According to Wilson, since the contents of the letter, which he termed his personal letter to Jega, leaked to the public, his life had been under threat following a series of phone calls and e-mails.

The don has also gone into

hiding to protect his life and that of his family.

The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Aniekan Umanah, criticised ACN claim, saying it is one of the blackmail tactics often employed by the party to create wrong impressions about the government.

His words: “It is a false alarm. This is one of the tactics the ACN has been employing long before now to distract people and create fear in them.

“The PDP government cannot do such, the Godswill Akpabio-led administration is interested in the provision of infrastructure not in assassination or kidnapping anybody; government is out to protect all Akwa Ibom indigenes, irrespective of party affiliations.”

RSIEC denies allegation

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HE Rivers State Independent Electoral C o m m i s s i o n (RSIEC)has denied the allegation that it is working against the conclusion of a petition involving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the National Unity Party (NUP) over the outcome of the local government election in Bonny.

Its Legal Services Director, Mrs Chijioke Nmezi Obinna, described the allegation as baseless, fictitious and an attempt to smear the commission’s image.

Responding to the allegations made in the Weekly Star

of August 1by Enape Okoro and Soala Brown, NUP counsel and party chairman, Mrs. Obinna held that the issues mentioned in the report were misrepresented.

She said the tribunal granted NUP’s request to inspect polling materials with the aid of their forensic experts on July 21.

In the letter, the court stated that the inspection should be conducted within two days of granting the request.

But the NUP counsel flouted the orders and resorted to carrying out the order at his own convenience on August 1 .

PUBLIC NOTICE SHERI CARE FOUNDATION.

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THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. ALHAJA SHERIFAT AREGBESOLA 2. SEN. (MRS) OLUREMI TINUBU 3. ENGR. GANIU JOHNSON 4. MR. KABIR AREGBESOLA

Chairman Member Secretary

Member

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To cater for the less privileged in the Society.

To create a platform for stimulating youths towards sound academic and social performance.

To promote and reward outstanding achievements of successful Individuals.

To Source and harness local/international funds to realize the above objectives.

Any objection to this Registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris crescent off Aguyi Ironsi street, Maitama,Abuja within 28days from the date of this publication.

DE CATHEDRAL & ASSOCIATES (Solicitors) 01-4802162, 08033261871.

•Odion flanked by Chief Press Secretary to the governor Peter Okhiria (left) and Special Adviser, Media Affairs, Tony Iyare at a briefing…yesterday

Workers’ strike paralyses activities in Edo

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CTIVITIES at local councils and government establishments in Edo State were yesterday paralysed, following the solidarity strike embarked upon by civil servants.

The workers were in a solidarity strike with public school teachers, who had been on strike since July 19.

The teachers are protesting their non-inclusion in the new minimum wage package.

Many government establishments were locked. Some workers, however, reported for work.

There was heavy security presence at the House of As-

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

sembly. Assembly workers had, on Monday, chased lawmakers away over the new minimum wage.

Labour leaders appeared to have gone underground to avoid negotiation to stop the strike as their cell phones were switched off.

Chairmen of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), Joint Negotiating Council (JNC), Emma Ademokun, Joe Aligbe and Shaka Otoide could not be reached for comments.

A meeting called by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Simon Imuekemhe, for 2pm yesterday,

was not attended by the labour leaders.

Some labour leaders, who pleaded anonymity, said they boycotted the meeting because they learnt that Governor Adams Oshiomhole did not mandate anybody to negotiate with them.

The government said its ‘no-work-no-pay’ rule stands.

Addressing reporters after the failed meeting, Commissioner for Information and Orientation Louis Odion said the government was not happy with the workers’ action, even after it had paid them the new wage in arrears.

Odion said the teachers’ strike did not follow due proc-

ess.

His words: “The first strike did not follow due process.

The law states the process to embark on strike. Teachers strike did not follow due process.

“This is not a nice way for trade unions to conduct their affairs. The issues they are raising are fresh. They should bring these issues up and not mix it up with the minimum wage.”

He said the Deputy Governor has the mandate to negotiate with the labour leaders.

Odion said the no-workno-pay rule would be applied.

Court freezes Delta’s accounts in three banks over LAGOS High Court ed demands. alleged N93m debt has frozen the Delta It consequently filed a suit State Government’s

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accounts in three banks over its alleged refusal to settle a debt of about N93 million owed to an auto firm, Chery Motors Nigeria Limited.

The affected banks, listed in a ruling by Justice O. O. FemiAdeniyi, include Zenith, Oceanic and Access banks.

T he garnishee order nisi made on July 14 had since become absolute having lasted 14 days with the judgment debtors allegedly neglecting to take any action.

The judge had, upon an exparte application by Chery Motors, ordered the freezing of the accounts belonging to

By Eric Ikhilae

the state and its outfit described as Delta State Integrated Development Agency (DSIDA) to satisfy a judgment of Delta State High Court given in August last year, and which was registered as the judgment of the Lagos court last June.

The court had also ordered them to attend proceedings on July 28 to show cause why the fund standing in their credit at the three banks should not be applied to the settlement of the judgment sum.

Chery Motor’s action was informed by the inability of the state and its agency to pay

the judgment sum jointly agreed between parties in a term of settlement dated June 2 , last year, which was entered as the judgment of the Delta High Court on June 3, last year.

The debt was said to have arisen from a contract executed by the auto firm for the state and its agency. The firm said it supplied 49 cars estimated at N90million to the Delta State Government in 2008 for its Integrated Development Agency scheme.

The firm said it procured loans from banks to execute the contract and accused the government of reneging on its pledge to pay, despite repeat-

at the Delta State High Court.

The defendants were listed as Delta State Government; the Governor; DSIDA; its Chairman; Godwin Akpobire and the Accountant-General.

Last year, parties later agreed to an out-of-court settlement, following which the terms of settlement were drawn up and signed by their representatives.

By the agreement, the state agreed to pay N93 million in three tranches as final settlement of the debt, an agreement it allegedly failed to abide by, resulting in the firm’s recourse to the Lagos High Court.

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2011

9

NEWS ACN asks Amaechi to explain conflicting figures on sale of aircraft

Lagos begins enforcement of laws on Okada HE law barring commercial motorcyclists from plying the highways and restricting them operating after 10pm in the Centre of Excellence is to be enforced, , Lagos State Commissioner of Police Mr. Yakubu Alkali said yesterday.

He also informed that the State Government has vowed to prosecute all those indicted in the violent crisis that rocked parts of Mushin, on the mainland.

Alkali, who disclosed this while briefing State House reporters after a meeting of the State Security Council at the Lagos House, Ikeja, said the government decided to commence a strict enforcement of the ban on the operations of Okada riders both on

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specific roads and at specific periods in the state.

He said: “We want to go into strict enforcement of the Lagos State laws on movement of Okada as designated in different parts of the State. We are all aware that there is a law restricting Okada movement by 8pm within Ikoyi, Ikeja and Victoria Island and by 10pm generally, Okada are banned to operate in any part of the state.”

The police chief emphasised that the law will also be applied on men in uniform, warning that the law recognises no sacred cows.

“We want to be very emphatic that nobody is above the law. Even if our men are arrested during this operation, no one would be treated as a sacred cow”, he said.

According to him, laws are enacted for the people to obey and that appropriate sanctions would be meted out to people who fail to obey the law.

His words: “We want to advice, not only Okada users but those who want to go for socials at night that there are other means of transport that are available by state government and individuals. We have a lot of taxis, tricycles (Keke NAPEP) and a lot of mini buses that are allowed to operate within the confines of the law”, the Alkali explained.

On those arrested in connection with the unrest in Mushin, Alkali said the government has decided to prosecute all of them, pointing out that all those who have

been arrested in combined operations by the police “will face the appropriate laws as at when due”.

Urging the people to always have confidence in the security agencies and be forthcoming with information to key security officials, adding that they should always have free access to all the Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), Area Commanders and even himself.

Among those who were present at the briefing were State Director of the State Security Services (SSS), Mr. Achu Ben Olayi, the Commanding Officer, NNS Beecroft, Naval Base, Apapa, Commodore Jonathan Ango, Commander 9 Brigade Ikeja, Brig-Gen Sanusi Nasiru Muazu, Airforce Commander, 435 BSG Ikeja,

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

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•Governor Babatuhde Fashola

Group Captain Ayo Saad Abdulsalam and Senior Special Assistant on Security, Major Tunde Panox.

Professionals top Ajimobi’s list of nominees •Lam’s, Ladoja’s men make list of 16 commissioners, 20 Special Advisers

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•Ajimobi

ROFESSIONALS topped the list of w o u l d - b e commissioners and special advisers (SAs) raised by the Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, as he sent a list of 16 commissioners and nine special advisers to the House of Assembly for approval yesterday. The governor has penciled down total of 20 special advisers, according to sources.

A source told The Nation that while 90 percent of the SAs are professionals without strong political affiliation, only about 50 per

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

cent of the commissioners are core politicians. The governor has said severally that members of his executive council would include more professionals than party men due to the huge task of restoring the state to its rightful position as well as the high expectation of voters from his leadership.

The nominees include Ajimobi’s contender in the governorship primaries, Kazeem Adedeji; former

Speaker of the House of Assembly during Senator Rashidi Ladoja’s, administration, Adeolu Adeleke(Ladoja’s candidate) and Ajimobi’s running mate in his days as All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) governorship candidate, Mr Peter Odetomi.

A neuroscientist, Dr Gbadegesin also made the list. Ladoja has one other candidate conceded to him.

It was learnt that some ministries might be reorganized to pave the way for more efficiency. A Regional Integration section

may be created in the Special Duties Ministry. The arm of the ministry is to work with other Southwest states on regional integration plans by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

Though the list was not deliberated upon at the sitting of the House yesterday, it is expected that the list would be available for discussion by members today.

It was also learnt that Ladoja’s men would head some local governments in Ibadan as part of the deal with Ajimobi.

THE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Rivers State chapter, has asked Governor Rotimi Amaechi, to as a matter of urgent public importance, tell the people the actual cost of the Dash 8 Propeller aircraft it sold to neighbouring Cross River State.

ACN, according to its Publicity Secretary, Jerry Needam in Port Harcourt yesterday, worried by the conflicting claims over the actual cost of the aircraft.

Amaechi, in a phone-in programme on Rhythm 93.7 FM, Port Harcourt, a private radio station, stated that the aircraft was sold to the Liyel Imoke’s administration at $9 million, but the Cross River State Government, on Tuesday, said it was purchased for $6 million.

The opposition party said there was an urgent need for explanation on how the $3 million difference, at the expense of the came about.

The governorship candidate of the ACN in the state, Dr. Abiye Sekibo, alleged at a news conference in Port Harcourt penultimate week, that the “rubber stamp” members of Rivers House of Assembly approved $48 million for Amaechi to buy a new aircraft.

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2011

10

RAMADAN NEWS Bauchi votes N339m for food From Austine Tsenzughul Bauchi

BAUCHI State Government has earmarked N339 million for the feeding of Muslims during the Ramadan.

Chairman of Ramadan Feeding Committee, Alhaji Aminu Hamayo disclosed this while briefing reporters at Government House Bauchi yesterday.

Of this amount, N50 million is to feed Muslims at 82 Mosques designated for that purpose within Bauchi metropolis, and N80 million set aside for the feeding of Muslim women and children across the state.

The 20 local government council chairmen have been given N59 million to buy assorted food stuff for distribution to Muslim during the month.

Hamayo also said that government has set aside N100 million for the purchase of food items for distribution across state.

The disbursement of funds for feeding the people will be effected at the centers at an interval of ten days until the end of Ramadan.

To ensure transparency, accountability and efficient feeding system, the seven man committee is to supervise and monitor the feeding exercise daily.

But at local government council level, the Council chairmen have been directed to oversee proceeding at the head of such council committees made up of District heads, Council Personnel Managers, representatives of councilors.

Pray for national unity, Ihedioha urges Muslims

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EPUTY Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Emeka Ihedioha, has urged Muslim faithful to use the period of this year’s Ramadan to pray for national unity, peaceful co-existence and progress of the country.

Ihedioha noted that Ramadan being a period of sober reflection and bonding

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor

with the Almighty Creator, should be used by Muslims to pray for peace, unity and progress of Nigeria while always calling to heart the teachings of the Holy Quran on the virtues of love, good neighbourliness, and tolerance.

His Chief Press Secretary, Oke Epia, quoted him as saying: “this particular Ramadan fast comes at a time Nigeria is faced with serious security and other challenges.”

The Deputy Speaker urged all our brothers and sisters involved in the holy exercise of abstinence to pray for peace while not relenting in efforts aimed at tackling the issues that currently confront us as a

nation.”

He called on all religious leaders irrespective of faith and sect to exercise sufficient restraint in their dealings especially on the twin issues of national unity and peaceful co-existence.

He reminded religious leaders that their numerous followers are wont to be guided and swayed by the submissions they make.

Lawmakers: pray for Nigeria’s unity

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•From left: President; League of Imams and Alfas in South West, Sheik Mustafa Ajisafe; Orangun of Ila, Oba Wahab Oyedotun and wife of Osun State Governor, Alhaja Sherifat Aregbesola, during the Pre-Ramadan lecture in Osogbo.

Preach unity, clerics told

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

RELIGIOUS leaders have been enjoined to spread the message of love and unity as the fasting month enters day four.

Lagos State council boss, Hon Hakeem Bamgbola said scholars during Tafsir session should pass messages that would impact positively on people’s character and improve good neighbourliness Bamgbola, Chairman of Itire-Ikate Local Council Development Area said Nigeria as a nation cannot afford to break up.

“We must do everything within our power to ensure that we maintain our indivisible nature since independence and remain under the entity called Nigeria,” he said.

He noted that none of the six geo-political regions in the country can afford to live in isolation.

“We should not toy with the trend in Sudan and other nations that have broken up.

No one can dispute that power lies with number.

Our population, no doubt is an asset and we should not make it look like liability that would warrant call for break up,” he said.

The council chief urged Muslims to maximize the gains of Ramadan and allow its lessons radiate in their daily activities.

He urged people to shun all vices, saying that failure to exercise restraint and fear of God are responsible for Nigeria’s many woes.

While wishing all Muslims in Nigeria and the rest of the world a successful Ramadan, Ihedioha urged all religious stakeholders to always respect the right to freedom of worship as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and refrain from utterances and conducts which are at variance with the virtue of religious tolerance.

•From left: Assistant Director, Central Bank of Nigeria, Alhaji Majeed Raji; Representative of Senator Ganiyu Solomon, Alhaji Lateef Bello and Executive Director, Complete Sports Communications, Alhaji Mumuni Alao at a Ramadan lecture at the University of Lagos, Akoka.

Orji greets Muslims at Ramadan BIA State Governor Theodore Orji has congratulated the Muslim community on this year’s Ramadan fast.

The governor also hailed Vice President Namadi Sambo on his 57th birthday and urged him not to relent in his services to the country.

He extolled the virtues of the Vice President whom he described as an epitome of

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•Governor hails Sambo on 57th birthday From Ugochukwu Eke, Umuahia

humility, and thanked God for his life.

Orji who spoke through his Special Adviser, Ugochukwu Emezue maintained that Nigeria needs peace that will enable it witness unparalleled development in all sectors that will touch the lives of the citizens.

He said that no nation can achieve anything meaningful in an atmosphere of chaos and anarchy, and that the nation and its people, more than ever need peace and tranquility.

The governor who preached love, honesty, tolerance, equity and fairness which are Islamic virtues, assured the Muslim community in the state of their protection at all times.

•Orji

Orji urged them to support his government as he is poised to fulfill all his campaign promises.

USLIMS in the country have been enjoined to use the period of the holy month of Ramadhan to pray for the continued existence and unity of the country.

This was contained in separate Ramadan messages to Muslims in Lagos State and Nigeria in general by Members of the House of Representatives, Hon James Abiodun Faleke, Lanre Odubote and Lagos State House of Assembly member, Wahab Alawiye-King.

“We all rejoice at the advent of this holy month which is coming at a very critical period in Nigeria democracy and I know it will afford us the opportunity of praying for the unity of the country,” Faleke, from Ikeja Federal Constituency said.

According to him, the fasting period should be used as an opportunity to move closer to God by eschewing anything evil.

“We should maximise the opportunity afforded by the period to pray for everything good for Nigeria,” he said.

On his part, Odubote asked Muslims and Nigerians in general to take optimum opportunity afforded by the fasting to move closer to Almighty Allah.

“It is one of the pillars of Islam and it creates an opportunity for all of us to pray and move closer to Allah. However, we should not be selfish in our prayer as we should pray for the unity and peaceful co-existence in Nigeria,” he said.

Alawiye-King, representing Lagos Island Constituency 2, urged Muslims to ensure that they not only pray for themselves but also the state and the country in general. “Presently we are facing the challenges of nascent democracy in Nigeria hence this holy month could not have come at a more appropriate time as it will afford us the opportunity of telling God to come to our aid in the country and stand by us. Let us take maximum opportunity of this period and ensure we make good use of it,” he said.

Lagos PDP chair calls for restraint, tolerance

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HAIRMAN of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, Hon Setonji Koshoedo, has urged Muslims in the state to pray for peace and progress as a way of reinventing not only individual families but the state at

By Emmanuel Oladesu

large.

Koshoedo has also called for restraint in all their activities in line with the spiritual of season.

He said the challenges facing the nation would require

all Muslims participate in the Ramadan as obedient faithful who will commit all the challenges facing them as individuals and as a nation to prayer for Allah’s intervention.

“This is why it is incumbent on all our Muslim brothers and

sisters not only in the PDP but across the state to use the Ramadan season to pray for our individual families as well as our dear state for a new era of goodness. When there is peace, there is the likelihood that we would have progress and this we can achieve bountifully in

all spheres of our existence when we have the mercy of Allah, who makes all things possible. Important also is the need to restrain ourselves by being moderate in all engagements as a necessary virtue in peaceful cohabitation,” he said.

11

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2011

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

Despite the gains that have been recorded in the past decade in government procurement processes to kick out corruption, much work still lay ahead given the huge challenge posed by corrupt politicians, who came to power through dubious means and private interest who try to influence contracts in their favour without merit.

-Emeka Ezeh, DG of Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP)

Shell’s Nigeria pay-out could exceed £250m

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OYAL Dutch Shell faces having to pay compensation of potentially more than £250million ($410million) after the Anglo-Dutch oil group admitted liability for two spills in Nigeria following a legal claim brought in the UK, the Financial Times of London said yesterday.

The oil giant also said it had shut one of its Nigerian flow stations in the onshore Niger Delta after oil pipeline leaks.

Local youths claimed responsibility for attacking the same pipelines because they say Shell stopped paying them for surveillance work.

Shell said the cause of the leaks had not been confirmed.

The pipelines both run through Bayelsa, the home state of President Goodluck Jonathan. Crude was still gushing out into one of the thousands of creeks, which snake through the oil-rich wetlands region, a Reuters witness said.

“Incidents believed to involve several oil spills have been reported ... Adibawa flow station has been closed in, while repair teams are being mobilised to Yenegoa preparatory to deployment to site,” a Shell spokesperson said.

It was not clear how much production would be lost from the shut down.

Local leaders said youths were employed by Shell to watch and protect the pipelines but they became unhappy after the agreement was terminated.

“We got information that contract was terminated ... and the boys became angry and started the vandalisation,” said Igbudu Goodness, a Okordia community leader.

Protesting youths shut down a Shell oil manifold last month but production has since restarted. These incidents on their own do not point to a return to the previous levels of unrest in the Niger Delta, security analysts said.

• From left: Chairman, Social Housing Advocacy Group, Nya-Etok Aniekan Ezekiel; Chairman/MD, National Housing Bank of India, R.V. Verma; MD/CEO, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Gimba Ya’u Kumo; and MD/CEO, Aso Savings and Loans Plc, Hassan Musa Usman, at the just concluded Second Annual Global Conference on Affordable Housing in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

CBN to stabilise economy, says Sanusi T

HE Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, yesterday painted a rosy picture of the economy, which grew by 6.4 per cent in the second quarter and is expected to grow by 7.8 per cent this year.

He assured of the implementation of policies that will stabilise the economy.

Sanusi also reiterated that inflation was 12.8 per cent in the first quarter of this year, but declined to 10.2 per cent in the second quarter, while core inflation fell from 12.8 per cent in the first quarter of this year to 11.5 per cent in June.

Sanusi disclosed these at the Presidential Council Chamber where he briefed the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on the performance of the economy. The meeting was presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan, with Vice President Namadi Sambo and all the ministers in attendance.

Also, the council approved

MARKET CAPITALISATIONS NSE JSE NYSE LSE

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From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

the proposed law on the standardisation of the universities by the Federal Ministry of Education and proposed adequate punishment for operators of universities outside their jurisdiction.

Briefing newsmen at the end of the meeting, which lasted about five hours, Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, said Sanusi briefed the council on the economy.He said the briefing also covered areas, such as real sectors, agriculture, manufacturing, trades, interest rates, foreign reserves, movement of inflation, new initiatives by CBN to encourage real sector development and as well as the reform of the financial sector.

These, he said, was in line with the President Jonathan administration’s agenda to focus more on policy issues.

The council, he also said, okayed the proposal by the CBN to use Lagos State as a test case for the cashless economy. He said the CBN’s initiative is aimed at limiting withdrawals and deposits with banks to make the nation’s economy cashless.

Specifically, the policy stipulates a limit of N150, 000 and N1million on withdrawals and lodgments (without extra costs) by individual and corporate customers from banks. ”Council in this new wisdom deliberated on a number of issues, but first was an overview report on the performance of the economy by the Governor of the CBN on how the economy has performed in the first two quarters. It also contains the performance of the economy in 2010 and this year.

“In the first quarter of this year, the CBN report said the economy has grown at

the rate of 6.4 per cent and overall growth projection for this year is put at 7.8 per cent. On inflationary movement, the CBN report said inflation in the first and second quarter of this year stood at 12.8 per cent, but generally the inflation trends have been coming downwards and this is very good for the economy, and he said the CBN will continue to maintain those policies that stabilised inflation,” Maku said.

He said the cashless economy initiative would help reduce the cost of running banks by 30 per cent, stressing that this is very good for the economy so that even people in rural areas could participate in the financial sector.

“Also, CBN spoke on deadline for the recapitalisation of distressed banks, which he said is September 30. He

Why we didn’t compensate ‘Black Sunday’ victims, by Dangote Sugar

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil -$119.8/barrel Cocoa - $2,856/metric ton Coffee - ¢132.70/pound Cotton - ¢78.07.pound Gold -$1,161/troy ounce Rubber - ¢146.37/pound

• Fed Govt seeks standardisation of varsity

D

ANGOTE Sugar Plc has explained why it did not compensate victims of the Sunday, August 15, 2010 multiple accidents on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, saying there was no conclusive evidence linking its truck to the mishap.

A report by the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) said a Dangote truck allegedly rammed into vehicles as a result of brake failure, was refuted by the company yesterday. Over 40 persons and several vehicles were burnt in the accident.

Testifying before the Ikeja District Coroner, Tajudeen Elias, at an inquest on the accident, the Head of Accident and Recovery Unit of Dangote Sugar, Usman Ahmed, said the company compensates victims only

By Joseph Jibueze and Tina Okonji

when there is proof that its driver or truck is at fault.

Asked why his company has done nothing for the victims, he said: “How can somebody make settlements for something he has not done? We only pay if investigation reveals that a Dangote driver or truck is at fault.”

Ahmed, under cross examination by counsel, Access to Justice (AJ), Leonard Dibia, claimed the FRSC report was amazing and laughable. “The report is amazing. I was surprised. I laughed. There was a brake mark on the road which means there was no brake failure. There is no way the trailer would be overspeeding and not run through other stationary ve-

hicles. It will not just hit them from behind,” he said.

Dibia explained that for the truck to have run into other vehicles, it was either that the driver was sleeping or the brake was bad, to which Ahmed said: “None of the above.”

The Counsel added: “I put it to you that you are not a truthful witness. The caliper of the truck disengaged and fell off. I put it to you that the falling off of the caliper was because the brake system was faulty as reported by the FRSC.” Ahmed said he was not sure if Dangote Sugar officially denied the FRSC report until the inquest, adding that he did not see such a publication.

To this, Dibia said: “The reason you did not deny or counter the FRSC report in-

dicting Dangote truck was because you had nothing contrary to say to the allegation.” Ahmed added that he was not in a position to know when last the truck was serviced as he was not in the Engineering department.

He stated that investigation into the accident is ongoing, which is why, he explained, he was yet to submit a written report to his management.

He said all Dangote trucks have speed trackers, so the truck could not have been over speeding, adding that the company only recruits experienced and licenced drivers who undergo further tests and training.

“We have an engineering section that maintains the vehicles. No vehicles are allowed to move out without thorough checks,” he said.

(Sanusi) said some international investors have already shown interest and agreements have been signed for three of the banks and that efforts are being made to ensure all the rescued banks are recapitalised.

“Sanusi also reported the effort CBN is making to transform our credit system in agriculture. This initiative is to transform our credit system in agriculture,” he said.

Also, the proposed bill on standardisation of universities was approved by the council. The bill was brought to the council by the Minister of Education, Prof.

Rukuyyat Rufai and at the end of delibration, Maku said the council gave approval to Federal Ministry of Education to forward an Executive Bill to the National Assembly for an Act for the amendment of Education National Minimum Standard and Establishment of Institution Act and other Related Matters.

PH Refinery records reduced vandalism

T

HE Port Harcourt Refining Company has recorded drastic reduction in pipeline vandalism and adulteration of petroleum products in its host communities.

The company’s spokesman, Mr Ralph Ugwu, disclosed this at Alesa-Eleme in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, at the inauguration of a secretariat built by the state branch of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria.

Ugwu said the company had started to record positive development after enlightenment campaigns it carried out against the vices at Okrika and Eleme local government areas of the state.

He said the company told the communities about the dangers and effects of pipeline vandalism and adulteration of petroleum products on the economy of the nation, the environment and health of the communities.

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2011

12

MONEY LINK

States justle for N67b outstanding agric funds Stories by Collins Nweze Senior Correspondent

A

BOUT 24 states participating in the Commercial Agricultural Credit Scheme (CACS) are jostling to access the N66.8 billion fund allocated for the , The Nation has learnt.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as at May, this year, had disbursed N133.1 billion out of the N200 billion mapped out for the project leaving the balance for states to access.

A CBN circular released yesterday, said since inception in 2009, it has released N133.11 billion for disbursement to 139 beneficiaries. They include 115 private/ individual promoters, as well as 24 state governments that accessed a minimum of N1 billion each.

Lagos State Government last month, wrote the CBN to access N3 billion for disbursement to farmers.

Director of Cooperative Services, Lagos Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs. Ayo Awokuleyin, said the government has notified the CBN on the need to access N3 billion to improve farming in the state. She explained that the first tranche of the N1 billion, would go to farmers at the grassroots level, while the second tranche of N2 billion would be devoted to middle and large scale farmers.

Bayelsa, Ogun, Adamawa, Anambra, Bauchi, Enugu, Gombe, Kebbi, Kogi, Imo, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Ondo, Sokoto, Taraba Zamfara, FCT, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Plateau, Edo, Kano and Benue states are currently under the scheme.

The state governments requested the CACS funds for on-lending to

Sanusi, said agriculture contributes 40 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and is the largest employer of labour, but regreted that it receives one per cent of lending, a situation Sanusi said, is not good enough.

He said government needed to pay more attention to agriculture, which still has one of the greatest potentials of growing the economy, stressing that one way of achieving this, is by collaborating with the banking system to fix the value-chain problems in the agricultural sector.

Sanusi explained that economic development is about enhancing the productive capacity of an economy by using available resources to reduce risks, remove impediments, which otherwise could hinder investment.

He said the financial system, with banks as its major component, pro-

farmers’ unions and co-operatives and to finance other areas of agricultural interventions in their various states.

The scramble came after the apex bank held discussions with state governments among other stakeholders, on how to boost the agricultural sector in the country.

The fund is expected to help in food production and as a step towards ensuring food security, job creation and development of the country’s economy.

It is expected that the agric sector, which enjoys little consideration by banks, will be the biggest beneficiary of a new policy that mandates banks to maximise lending to it. Already, banks and the CBN are discussing how to increase lending to the sector from one to five per cent.

CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido

•CBN Governor, Lamido Sanusi

vides linkages for the different sectors of the economy, adding that it is also expected to encourage high level of specialisation, expertise, economies of scale and conducive environment for implementing various economic policies of government.

MasterCard profit climbs 33% as spending rises

M

ASTERCARD INCORPO RATED, the world’s sec ond-biggest payments network, climbed the most in five weeks in New York trading after secondquarter profit beat analysts’estimates, propelled by increases in customers’ spending.

Chief Executive Officer, Ajay Banga has said.

He said the firm’s net income rose 33 per cent to $608 million from the same period a year earlier, while earnings per share of $4.76 exceeded the $4.23 average estimate of 29 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg as net revenue increased 22 per cent to $1.7 billion.

MasterCard aims to gain a bigger share of the US debit market as new rules on transaction fees and processing threaten to erode the dominance of larger rival Visa Incorporated.

“Solid global performance, including strong increases in volume and processed transactions, fueled double-

digit revenue growth this quarter,” Banga said, in the statement.

MasterCard’s US debit-card spending, surged 19 per cent to $98 billion from last year’s second quarter, and US credit- card spending climbed 6.1 per cent to $129 billion, he added.

Worldwide spending on MasterCard- and Maestro-branded cards, climbed 16 per cent to $608 billion in the second quarter, adjusted for currency fluctuations, the company stated.

Spending by consumers outside

FITC trains 45,000 bankers in 30 years

M

ANAGING Director/Chief Executive Officer, Financial Institutions Training Centre (FITC), Mrs. Lucy Newman, said the agency has trained 45,000 bank workers in the last 30 years of its operation.

Many of the trainees have become top managers and leaders in the financial services industry.

She said there is urgent need for bank managements to send their staff for regular training.

FITC, she explained, is a professional services firm owned by the Nigerian Bankers’ Committee, composing the

Bank upgrades to Flexcube

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), all the deposit money banks, as well as Discount houses .

She said it was established in 1981 to provide professional services support by way of training, consulting and research to the Financial Services Sector and related sectors of the economy.

Newman said, FITC’s mandate is to position it as a reference professional services firm in matters relating to the Acquisition, Management and Development of the human capital to the operators and regulators in the Nigerian Financial System, primarily.

E

COBANK is upgrading its technology and telecommu nications system with the introduction of a new core banking application, Flexcube and a private telecommunications infrastructure, MPLS. Flexcube is Oracle Corporation’s leading banking automation software that enables global financial institutions to service customers more effectively.

The telecommunications system, MPLS, provides one of the

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

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM Amount Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($)

MANAGED FUNDS Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

INTERBANK RATES OBB Rate Call Rate

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 28-04-2011 “ 14-04-2011

GAINERS AS AT 03-8-11 SYMBOL BERGER PRESCO OCEANIC UNITYBNK CILEASING CUSTODYINS CAP NEM OANDO ECOBANK

O/PRICE 8.9 7.5 1.05 0.71 0.95 2.76 27.46 0.51 40 3

C/PRICE 9.34 7.87 1.1 0.74 0.99 2.87 28.55 0.53 41.4 3.1

CHANGE 0.44 0.37 0.05 0.03 0.04 0.11 1.09 0.02 1.4 0.01

LOSER AS AT 03-8-11 SYMBOL NASCON JAPAULOIL CONTINSURE DIAMONDBNK RTBRISCOE ZENITHBANK UBA AFRIBANK STERNBANK INTERCONT

O/PRICE 4.88 1.07 1.09 4.8 1.77 14.8 5.3 0.73 1.53 0.78

largest private network infrastructure in Africa, covering Ecobank’s 820 offices and 800 Automated Teller Machines in 35 countries.

Ecobank’s Executive, Operations and Technology, Eddy Ogbogu, said: “This represents one of the most ambitious technology and telecommunications implementations in the African banking sector.

Already 22 countries have been upgraded and the bank plans to extend it to all the 35 countries where it operates by the end of the year.

DATA BANK

Tenor

NIDF NESF

October for DataCash Group Plc, a United Kingdom credit-card processor, to expand e-commerce offerings.

In December, MasterCard said it would buy prepaid card-management assets from London-based Travelex Holdings Limited for $470 million.

their home countries surged 19 per cent, while processed transactions rose 17 percent to 6.6 billion.

However, Operating expenses rose 20 percent to $782 million, in part due to costs linked to acquisitions, MasterCard said.

The company paid $526 million in

C/PRICE 4.64 1.02 1.04 4.58 1.69 14.15 5.07 0.7 1.47 0.75

CHANGE 0.24 0.05 0.05 0.22 0.08 0.65 0.23 0.03 0.06 0.03

Amount Sold ($)

Exchange Rate (N)

Date

400m

467.7m

400m

153.59

25-5-11

400m

452.3m

400m

153.4

23-5-11

500m

499,8m

499.8m

153.45

16-5-11

EXHANGE RATE 30-05-11 CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Currency

Year Start Offer

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

NGN USD NGN GBP

147.6000 239.4810

149.7100 244.0123

150.7100 245.6422

-2.11 -2.57

NGN EUR

212.4997

207.9023

209.2910

-1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

Bureau de Change 152.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

(S/N) Parallel Market

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

NSE CAP Index

NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N)

2-08-11 N7.633tr 23,863.27

3-08-11 N7.615tr 23,808.68

% Change -0.23% -0.23%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

(S/N)

153.0000

DISCOUNT WINDOW January ’11

February ’11

May ’11

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

8.00%

Standing Lending Rate ,, Deposit Rate ,, Liquidity Ratio Cash Return Rate Inflation Rate

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00% 12.10%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00% 12.10%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00% 11.3%

Offer Price

Bid Price

9.17 1.00 117.62 1,586.00 0.80 0.99 0.99 1,586.00 9.55 1.39 1.87 8,827.74 193.00

9.08 1.00 117.16 1,576.75 0.78 0.99 0.98 1,576.75 9.09 1.33 1.80 8,557.25 191.08

ARM AGGRESSIVE KAKAWA GUARANTEED STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND THE LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL BGL SAPPHIRE FUND BGL NUBIAN FUND NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY THE DISCOVERY FUND • ARM AGGRESSIVE • KAKAWA GUARANTEED • STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

Rate (Previous) 04 MAR, 2011 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

Rate (Currency) 24, MAY, 2011 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

Movement

OPEN BUY BACK Previous

Current

04 MAR, 2011

07, MAR, 2011

Bank

8.5000

8.5000

P/Court

8.0833

8.0833

Movement

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2011

13

INDUSTRY

Credit guarantee scheme coming, says Aganga M

INISTER of Trade and Investment Dr Olusegun Aganga has said the Federal Government will soon establish a Credit Guarantee Scheme for made-in-Nigeria products only.

This, according to him, will ensure that there is a ready market for the products, once the quality is right.

Speaking at the maiden interactive meeting with the Organised Private Sector (OPS), at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island, Lagos.

Aganga said the government is also working on a consumer bill.

The government, he said, is ready to support the business community to ensure that more investment comes in. “ However, we must continue to thrive to ensure that our products are of international standard. While we act locally, we must think globally,” Aganga said.

Aganga said the major mandate of the ministry is to attract local and foreign investment. He said the

Stories by Toba Agboola

ministry will help in increasing the productivity of the local companies.

He said the approach will be more strategic, adding that to achieve this, the government will work with the business community to remove barriers impeding productivity.

The Minister said the government will start monitoring the impact of the monetary and fiscal policies on their businesses, while the ministry will become active advocates for the industry.

Aganga reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to create a conducive environment to attract investments.

According to Aganga, the ministry will also focus on building the capacity of Nigerians with a view to making them become investors thereby reducing the problem of unemployment.

These, the minister said, were in line with Mr President’s transforma-

tion agenda to tackle unemployment through trade.

Also speaking at the meeting, the Minister for Foreign Affairs , Ambassador Olugbanga Ashiru, said he has directed the Diplomatic Corps accredited to Nigeria , to ensure that Nigerian businessmen get visa as early as possible when ever they are travelling outside the country. He said this will go a long way in solving trade barriers, which the business community experiences every time..

His words: “In my meeting with the Diplomatic Corps accredited to Nigerians, few days ago, I drew their attention to various concerns which many of you (OPS)have indicated to me particularly as they relate to the refusal of visa applications and even of deliberate delays such that many of you have had to miss important engagement or meetings with your business partners. I clearly pointed out to them that such action can only

be negative to the development of good relations between Nigeria and such countries. I received assurance of their cooperation in this respect hence forth.”

He said consequently, members of the OPS will regularly constitute part of any bilateral discussions between the government and other foreign delegations.

Towards this , he said Nigerian envoys have been directed to vigorously drive the new focus of the foreign policy by spending more time and effort on attracting foreign investment to Nigeria .

“Our ambassadors have also been directed that they must henceforth actively support Nigerian companies and businesses in manufacturing ,banking and insurance and among others.

“They are now the foot soldiers in this new approach for the purpose of achiving our Vision 20:2020 and bringing economic

benefits to Nigeria.

“They will be responsible for ensuring that Nigeria is promoted and marketed as the new frotier and destination of choice for businesses,” Ashiru said.

In a related event, the Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr Olusegun Aganga has commended the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) for their contributions to the real sector of the economy.

The Minister gave the commendation when he received a delegation of MAN, led by its President, Chief Kola Jamodu when they paid a courtesy visit to the minister in his office in Abuja.

Receiving the delegation, Aganga described MAN as the most organised association and the people that move the economy. He said despite the hash condition, they have put their faith in the country and put their money to work.

Nigeria records $6.1m Investment • UN: Inflow declined 29% in 2010

F

OREIGN Direct Investment (FDI) to Nigeria declined by 29 per cent last year amid regulatory concerns in the oil industry.

This was revealed in the latest annual investment report of the United Nation Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

According to the World Investment Report 2011 (WIR11), released by the UN Office in Geneva, Nigeria, however, still accounted for more than half of the inflows to the West African sub-region during the period.

Presenting the report in Abuja, Mr. Mustapha Bello, the executive secretary of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), said the global FDI would be between $1.4 trillion and $1.6 trillion in 2011.

“This positive scenario holds, barring any unexpected global economic shocks that may arise from a number of risk factors still in play,’’ Bello said.

He said the global FDI inflow is yet to recover fully from its pre-crisis level, adding that it was likely to do so this year.

Bello further said the recovery would represent a huge opportunity and challenge for policy makers across the world.

He said: “Above all, the challenge for the development community will be to make investments work towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The report indicated that flows of FDI to Africa fell by nine per cent in 2010, with inflows to the continent for the year standing at $55 billion or 4.4 per cent, down from 5.1 per cent in 2009.

It also revealed a slump in the FDI inflows to West African countries, which are recipients of about one-fifth ($11 billion) of the continent’s total flows. FDI to the primary sector, especially the oil industry, continued to dominate FDI flows to the conti-

nent.

However, the 2011 World Investment Report indicates that Nigeria is enjoyed an inflow of $6.099 million last month.

According to Bello, the purpose of the report is to enable Nigeria know whether it was making progress or not, getting it right or not in order to intensify efforts in the drive for FDI in spite of challenges such as erratic power supply, bad roads, insecurity and others.

He said this positive scenario holds, barring any unexpected global economic shocks that may arise from a number of risk factors still in play. He said the slow recovery of FDI flows in 2009 masked divergent trade among regions sectors and modes of FDI. “While East and South-East Asia and Latin America experienced strong growth in FDI inflows (with increase of 34 and 14 per cent respectively), those to Africa, South Asia and transition economies as well as developed countries continued to decline’,’ he said.

Noting that FDI in manufacturing bounced back in the aftermath of the crisis while services sector FDI was still in decline.

He said the year 2010 was notable in that for the first time, developing and transition economies absorbed more than half of global FDI inflows.

On the issue of Non-equity(NEM), the report indicated that “it is estimated to have generated over two trillion dollars of sales in 2009, contract manufacturing and services outsourcing accounted for $1.1-3 trillion franchising $330-350 billion, licensing $340-360 billion and management contracts around $100 billon’’ respectively.

Bello warned that many uncertainties still haunt investors in the global economy and that national and international policy developments are also sending mixed messages to the investment community.

•From left: NACCOA National President, Dr Herbert Ajayi; Ogun State Commissioner for Commerce Otunba Abimbola Ashiru, Ambassador Ashiru; President of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Chief Kola Jamodu and Aganga, at the Business forum.

PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS

From left: Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; Managing Partner, Ernst & Young, (Europe, Middle East, India & Africa), Mr. Mark Otty and Regional Managing, (Ernst & Young for West Africa) , Mr Henry Egbiki , when the management of the company visited the governor, recently.

NEPC seeks stakeholders’ support on EEG

E

XECUTIVE Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), David Adulugba has reiterated the need for the council to partner with members of the Organised Private Sector (OPS) in the area of effective communication to ensure transparency in the administration of the Export Expansion Grant Scheme (EEG).

Adulugba, who stated this at the Council’s interactive forum on Product Categorisation for Effec-

tive Administration of Export Expansion Grant Scheme in Lagos, said it was important to partner with the OPS on the issue, especially as more companies with vavious products are being registered on the scheme daily.

According to him, there was a dire need to correctly situate each product group in the appropriate category, in line with global best practices.

He said the council has resolved to effectively liaise with the OPS members in disseminating and

collating accurate and relevant information for decision-making relating to the administration of the EEG. The NEPC boss explained that the Federal Government, in its bid to support growth in the non-oil sector, put in place several export incentives as veritable tools for providing some compensatory bailout to exporters, who were faced with high cost of production, due to inadequate and undeveloped export infrastructure.

Adulugba, however, said there

was need to address issues on its adminitration with caution, in order to guarantee its continuous existence and relevance to the non-oil sector in particular and the economy in general.

“There is no gainsaying the fact that various companies represented here have benefited from the Export Expansion Grant Scheme over the years with significant impact in the volumes and value of export business.

The Nigerian Export Promotion Council and the EEG Imple-

mentation Committee in its quest to achieve greater efficiency in the administration of the scheme has provided, through this forum, the opportunity to dialogue with all stakeholders with a view to reviewing the current product categorisation,” he said.

In a related event, the Council has concluded arrangements to spearhead an exhibition of locally fabricated machines used in cottage industries.

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2011

14

INDUSTRY

Govt to partner chamber for Southsouth growth, says Anyim

T

HE Federal Government has expressed its readiness to partner with stakeholders to address the economic growth and challenges confronting the Niger Delta.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim, made this known when members of the Forum of Southsouth Chambers of Commerce , Industry, Mines and Agriculture (FOSSCCIMA) , visited him in Abuja.

According to Anyim, the government cannot do it alone, hence there is need to collaborate with the chamber which represents the Organised Private Sector (OPS).

The government, he said, was ready to assist the chamber in dispensing its responsibilities.

“I want to assure you that the government is ready to do everything to assist you because we know you.

OPS knows better where the shoes pinches. We are ready to partner with you. It is high time we come together and see to the economic growth of the Niger Delta,” Anyim said.

Ealier, the President of FOSSCCIMA, Prince Billy Harry,

Stories by Toba Agboola

said the chamber is not unconscious of the strategic roles the private sector has to play to ensure that government succeeds in its plan to take the economy to a new height.

According to him, it is common knowledge in every developed economy that it is only through a public-private sector partnership that facilitation of technology transfer, trade and investment and bolstering of research are fast-tracked.

“A critical component to make this possible is mutual cooperation and very warm relationship between the government and the private sector on one hand, and the development of effective policy, regulatory, and institutional frameworks that can help the private sector perform unhindered on the other. We believe that these, in turn, will lead to economic boom and contribute immensely to increased prosperity and business growth.

“FOSSCCIMA will, therefore, want to partner with the Federal Government in the following areas – power, energy, oil and gas, rejigging of the amnesty pro-

gramme, local content development, Infrastructural development and job creation. We wish to appreciate the Federal Government’s initiative and management of the amnesty programme,” Harry said.

He said the first stage of disarmament have been successfully concluded while the second stage of orientation and re-training is ongoing.

His words: “However, the crucial third stage of re-integration of these youths into our economy and society should begin immediately.

In this regard, FOSSCCIMA wishes to present herself as the vehicle through which these youths will be successfully re-integrated into the economy.

This can be achieved through deliberate Federal Government funding through FOSSCCIMA in the construction of industrial parks relevant to their areas of training.

“FOSSCCIMA will also partner with the government in environmental remediation to ensure sustainability in the containment of pollution from oil exploration and exploitation as well as effective monitoring of pipeline solutions in the region.

Campaign against substandard goods renewed

T

HE Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Dr Samuel Ortom, has said no effort would be spared to rid the country of sub-standard products.

Ortom spoke when the Acting Chairman, Governing Council of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Mallam Shaibu Abubakar visited him.

He said while many Nigerians have died from using sub-standard products, many more were still losing money from the patronage of the products.

Ortom, a former chairman of the council, said SON would be strengthened to effectively carry out its regulatory functions to ensure all goods manufactured locally or imported meet required

standards.

The minister said the organisation was central to the transformation agenda of the Federal Government.

He expressed satisfaction with the efforts of the new DirectorGeneral of SON, Mr Joseph Odumodu, and his team toward curtailing the circulation of substandard goods.

Ortom promised to assist the organisation to succeed in its job, saying, “My doors are open to you anytime, feel free to call on me whenever you like.’’

Earlier, Abubakar had told the minister that the team was in his office to congratulate him on his new appointment and to tap from his wealth of experience.

World Bank, Society collaborate on fish export

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HE World Bank in collaboration with the Fisheries Soci ety of Nigeria (FISON) has unveiled plans to boost fish farming through capacity building for catfish farmers to meet export demand.

President of the society, Dr. Abba Abdullah, told journalists in Lagos that this became necessary as farmers were getting discouraged, frustrated and not knowing how to add value to their products.

According to him, over the years, farmers have had it difficult in marketing their products and to make profit from their investments.

“This is because of the strong presence of middle men who insist on buying for less than N400 per kilogramme at the farm gate. But yet they sell for N1,000 per kilogramme at the open market,” Abdullah said.

He said the workshop, which would hold in Lagos, Abia and Kaduna states would equip participants with information on how to use the processor’s power against the middlemen.

Besides, he said the workshop

would also introduce the farmer to other options to market their products. Abdullah said the workshop would hold in Lagos between August 10 and 11 while dates for the other states would be fixed later.

According to him, the participants will be equipped with information on export requirements on labeling, packaging and creating websites, advertising and networking for export.

“We need more people to go into export of catfish and remain in the business because it is in high demand at the international market, which have been documented by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

“Farmers have for a long time been at the mercy of the cartel of the middlemen. Farmers need to know other things to do to fish aside selling it live,” Abdullah said.

He said FISON was chosen by the World Bank as a business development service provider to guarantee professional certification and industry standardisation management in Nigeria’s development of best practices.

Security group canvasses professionalism From left: Director of Administration, Insurance Auto Auctions, Mrs Rita Ibarra, Managing Director, Dickson Investments Limited, Mr Idungafa Eseme Dick and Oscarson, at the briefing.

Firm set to crash Tokunbo car prices

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UNITED States-based auto auction firm, Insurance Auto Auction, has pledged to redefine the second-hand car business, better known as tokunbo.

Its Vice-President Mr Dan Oscarson, told reporters in Lagos that the firm would provide buyers the opportunity to import vehicles at cheap prices.

According to Oscarson, buyers can also import cars with dents and repair them when necessary in Nigeria, where the cost of labour and repair is low.

Oscarson said from the firm’s evaluation of the business in Nigeria, cars were over priced, with some dealers making over 50 per cent of the cost price as profit.

“With growing demand for affordable transportation around the world, the opportunity to profit from buying and repairing damaged vehicles has become relevant,” he said.

He said the firm provides live and live-online auctions that would enable buyers get exceptional returns in their choice.

He said: “American standards specification (American spec) cars are very desirable in West African

markets because of their special features. Our company sells salvaged vehicles via live and liveonline auction at over 155 locations across the United States.

“Low prices for this type of vehicles make them attractive to buyers who want to repair and use or resell in the local market. It is an opportunity to buy and save a lot of money.”

Oscarson said the company was in Nigeria to sensitise the general public on the abundant opportunities in the initiative.

According to him, Nigerians that visit the IAA website have increased by over 100 per cent with

‘With growing demand for affordable transportation around the world, the opportunity to profit from buying and repairing damaged vehicles has become relevant’

over 50 per cent purchase.

He said the initiative would eliminate the situation where most Nigerians were defrauded in an effort to procure cars through friends abroad.

“Buyers can access our website and collaborate with the company through licenced dealers to fasttrack shipment and payment logistics. We were here in 2009 and the volume of quality cars and traffic showed positive indices of growth.

We have discovered that purchase of salvaged cars is more efficient when compared to overage cars. It’s a good offer to people that cannot really afford a new car.

“The company has the most salvaged auction facilities in North American selling well over 1.3 million vehicles annually. With more than 26 years experience, from local to global level, we offer an experience advantage that demonstrates the ability to prepare and sell your inventory quickly for great value,” he added.

He said the initiative would lead to wealth creation, employment generation and technology transfer for artisans due to maintenance of the vehicles.

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EMBERS of the Society of Security Practitioners of Nigerai (SSPN) have called for more training to boost service delivery in the industry.

They made the call at the inauguration of a new executive committee and the society’s award of fellowship in Lagos.

In a lecture entitled: Promoting Professionalism, Business Ethics and Profession, guest lecturer Segun Labiyi said the only way to keep quacks at bay is to uphold the profession’s code of ethics, adding that errant members should be sanctioned.

Labiyi, who is the chairman, Arksego Nig. Ltd, said any profession without rules or ethics is wasting its time. He lsited the ethics as proper dressing, good conduct, standardisation of fees among employer-members.

The guest lecturer suggested the setting up of an ethics committee to enforce compliance. He emphasised training as the pivot of good professionalism, noting that some members are ill-trained.

Chairman of the occasion, Major-Gen. P. O. Unuode (rtd), said the association is out to give the industry good leadership. He praised the new executive officers for their performance even before their inauguration.

Unuode said: ''In Nigeria, we are a huge employer of labour. The new executive committee should carry the private security organisations along. SSPN should bridge

By Joseph Eshanokpe

the gap between private and public organisations, which do not regard us.” He called for support for them to achieve their objectives.

The association's President, Davidson Akhimien, said: ''Today is a day of transformation. We are poised to revolutionalise the security industry.

“In the next two years, we will be seeking your support to move for a change in the industry. We will raise the bar in service delivery. We represent the bridge between the new and the old; the future of our profession and Nigeria.

“We need support for our members. We need the collaboration from our members. Our agenda is to make the association self-reliant, increase our interest, enhance social reliance and fulfil our corporate social responsibility."

Besides Akhimien, other members of the executive are CSP Unuigbe Irheren (rtd); Tony M. Ofoyetan (General Secretary); Gebemisola Numa(Deputy General Secretary) Philip Esangbedo (Director of Finance), Ibe Nnah (Treasurer), Babatunde Mumuni (Director of Programes), Richard Amuna (Director of Publicity), Ayo Oludemi (Director of Socials), Col Shobo Nojeem (Gurads Marshal) and Wilson Esangbedo (Legal Adviser) The new fellows of the association are Tunde Durojaiye, Ayo Obilana, Segun Labiyi, Patrick Keku and some executive members.

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2011

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THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2011

THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2011

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POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

• Plateau Commissioner nominee, Mr Pam Dakwak (left), with the Assembly Speaker, Mr John Clark, (middle) during the screening of commissioner nominees by the Assembly in Jos. PHOTO: NAN

If new states are approved by the National Assembly, it is almost certain that at least one would be in the Southeast.

Some of the proposed states from the zone are Orashi, Njaba, Adada and Aba. Orlu leaders met last week to map out strategies to ensure that the pendulum swings in the direction of Njaba. Imo State Correspondent EMMA MGBEAHURIKE reports.

Orlu leaders rally for creation of Njaba State A

LL political leaders agree that, in the interest of equity, the Southeast deserves the creation of one or two additional states. It is the only geo-political zone that has only five states. The Northwest has seven, Northeast six, Northcentral six, Southsouth six and Southwest six. Yet, the Igbo constitute the third leg of the Nigerian ethnic tripod.

Until recently, the front runner in the race for an additional state in the East was Adada State that has the support of all the people and leaders of Enugu North senatorial district. But, the agitation for creation of Njaba State received a boost with the coming together of all Orlu leaders, including the former governor of Imo State, Chief Achike Udenwa, in conjunction with the promoters of Urashi Sate forming a common front for the creation of one extra state for the South East Zone.

To give fillip to the effort, a conference was recently held at the country home of Chief Achike Udenwa where the stakeholders decided to close rank in order to realise the tall ambition. The group called on the National Assembly to make haste in creation of the state which would make home for fairness and equity in the country.

Chairman of the publicity committee, Chief Samuel Ukadike, told reporters that the request became necessary because the people believe that they have met all the constitutional requirements to have a state of their own, being the only old district left without the status of a state.

He stressed that the proposed Njaba State comprises 12 local government areas from the present Imo State and one

local government, Ihiala in the present Anambra state. The local governments are Orlu, Orsu, Oru East, Oru West, Oguta, Ohaji/Egbema, Nkwerre, Nwangele, Isu, Njaba, Ideato North and Ideato South.

These local governments make up Orlu Senatorial District in Imo state.

Chief Ukadike appealed to the members of the National Assembly and the Nigerian people to give the South East the sixth state it deserves in order to meet up with the rest of the other geo-political zones in the country. He stated that the people from the proposed Njaba State are ready to conduct a plebiscite to determine whether they are ready for the proposed state of not.

“The meeting was to re-awaken the agitation for the creation of Njaba State. We have met all the statutory requirements that are needed by the Constitution to enable Njaba State created. The demand for the creation of the proposed state is still very fresh in our minds. The population of the area is over 2.4 million people and these people have the same culture and homogeneity”, he said.

He called on their brothers from Imo and Anambra States to support the agitation

for the creation of Njaba State to add to the five states already in the South East and meet up with the other geo-political zones.

“It is only the Southeast that is short changed in the equation of states in the country. We are demanding the sixth state for equity, fair-play, justice and balance of equal representation. We are appealing to the National Assembly to create the Njaba State as the only one that had met all the Constitutional requirements and to balance the equation in the geo-political zone”, he stated.

Creation of new states under the 1999 Constitution is a tall order. Section 8 of the supreme law of the country spells out the procedure to be adopted by the National Assembly in increasing the number of states.

8 (i) An Act of the National Assembly for the purpose of creating a new state shall only be passed if – (a) A request, supported by at least two-thirds majority of members (representing the area demanding the creation of the new state) in each of the following, namely – (i) the Senate and the House of Representatives, (ii) The House of Assem-

‘It is only the Southeast that is short changed in the equation of states in the country. We are demanding the sixth state for equity, fair-play, justice and balance of equal representation. We are appealing to the National Assembly to create the Njaba State as the only one that has met all the Constitutional requirements and to balance the equation in the geo-political zone’

bly in respect of the area, and (iii) The local government councils in respect of the area, is received by the National Assembly; (b) A proposal for the creation of the state is thereafter approved in a referendum by at least two-thirds majority of the people of the area where the demand for creation of the state originated; (c) The result of the referendum is then approved by a simple majority of all the states of the federation supported by a simple majority of members of the Houses of Assembly; and (d) The proposal is approved by a resolution passed by two-thirds majority of members of each House of the National Assembly.

The pledge by leaders of the National Assembly, notably Senate President David Mark and House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, has reopened the floodgates of request for creation of states. Some appear credible, like the demand for an additional state from the Southeast, while others are ludicrous and laughable.

No zone is left out, including the Northwest that already has seven. Some of the requests include Ibadan, Oke Ogun and New Oyo from Oyo State, Ijebu-Remo from Ogun, Apa from Benue, Okun and Confluence from Kogi, Edu from Kwara, Kogi and Niger and Borgu from Niger.

Others are Oluwa from Lagos State, Oduduwa and Ijesa from Osun, Ogoja from Cross River, Urhobo from Delta, Toru-Ebe from Delta, Edo and Ondo, Southern Kaduna from Kaduna among many others.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2011

POLITICS

Hon. Segun Olulade, one of the 18 new lawmakers at the Lagos State House of Assembly, represents Epe 11 Constituency. In this interview with OZIEGBE OKOEKI, he speaks about his vision for the Assembly among other issues.

‘Single tenure proposal ill-timed’

‘The priority of Lagos State Assembly’

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OUR constituents expect so much from you especially as a new lawmaker; in what way can you let them feel your impact?

I can make them feel my impact in so many ways, especially through collaboration with some of my colleagues and different ministries, departments and agencies in ensuring that they enjoy the dividends of democracy through lobbying and bringing in developmental projects.

That is, influencing the execution of developmental projects in my constituency. And this will be in the area of industrialization, education, health, youth employment, women empowerment and taking care of a lot of things that are not currently palatable in my constituency.

As a new member of the House, what agenda do you expect the 7th Assembly to pursue?

We need to project the House in the right direction and let the people know what we are really doing here. There is a lot of misconception about the House. For example, people expect that we should fix bad roads and all that. There is need to let them know that some of these things are not our responsibilities as lawmakers. Another thing is for us to make laws that are people oriented, that people will appreciate, laws that people will be happy about; that yes, this is the kind of laws that protect their integrity and project their state as a state of excellence.

Can you mention two specific areas you will want to lobby your colleagues in the interest of your constituency?

The first thing I will want us to look

• Olulade

into is the area of physical planning, infrastructural development.

Infrastructural development is at zero level in Epe division as a whole.

I want the government to develop the area. I see Epe as the future of Lagos State and we can easily plan Epe division as it is now and have a new face of Lagos that we can even say Epe is our own Abuja. We need infrastructural development that will bring in economic prospects that people can easily tap into. The other area is health; a lot of our people still have to travel for miles before they can get a health centre let alone a General Hospital. Even where there is a General Hospital it is not well equipped.

What infrastructure exactly are you talking about?

I tactically chose to use the word infrastructure because I know we have a lot to do in my constituency.

Here, I’m talking about road construction, water provision, planting of industries and resettlement of communities and so many others.

After spending about three weeks there, what is your impression of the House?

It is quite different from what you see outside. People think that here you just come around, sit down and maybe talk for two or four hours and go home and at the end of the day, you are paid; that they are not even doing anything. But we do a lot of research here, we do public hearing, we go into committee stage, three times in a week - Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. We have our sittings and it is a continuous thing. At times we close here by 10pm; we are working on one issue or the other. Any issue in the public domain we take note of them and people’s opinions to find out what is really going on in those areas. We go out to even investigate some matters that are brought to us. But people think the few hours we spend in plenary are all what we do here.

And that is the perception I used to have before coming here. Now that I am here, I know that it is a different ball game; I know that you have to do a lot of things. Interestingly, here we have brilliant people, youths and the elderly; they talk intelligently.

Every member of this Assembly is a credible character that people can really relate with and appreciate. I am really glad to be part of this 7th Assembly.”

‘Aspiring leaders need mentoring’

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ROGRESSIVE politicians in the fold of the Action Congress of Nigeria have been charged to establish a ‘June 12 Institute’ to serve as a centre where future leaders in the Southwest and Nigeria generally will be mentored.

The idea was mooted in Ado, the Ekiti State capital, at the weekend by Lagos State Commissioner for Transport, Kayode Opeifa. It was during a lecture organised to commemorate the 48th birthday anniversary of Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele, who is chairman of the House of Representatives ad hoc committee on media and publicity.

Speaking on ‘Errands for Progress: Product of Collective Struggle,’ Opeifa stated that the progressives among politicians in the country should forge a united front to save the country from imminent implosion owing from perennial misgovernance of recent years.

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

He advised politicians across party divides against limiting their findings to their parties while searching for credible leaders that can make a difference in governance.

He said: “Both former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the incumbent, Babatunde Fashola are from the private sector and they have been able to prove that they are worthy leaders. In fact, Tinubu was discovered by the progressives from the private sector and immediately became a Senator. Tinubu in turn searched for Fashola and they have been able to perform because they keyed into progressive ideology”.

Olaifa, a former students’ union leader said that the future of the country is in the hands of the youth, urging

the progressives to establish the Institute to serve as reservoir of knowledge for the coming leaders.

“We all know the history of June 12 in this country. So, this Institute will not only rekindle this historical day, but will serve as avenue where the coming leaders can learn the art of leadership,” he said.

He urged the ACN governors in the Southwest to take the advantage of the current momentum by consolidating on the electoral victories through the display of exemplary performances, so that they could make incursion into other pivotal regions in the South and Northern Nigeria.

The Lagos commissioner urged the progressives in the ACN to maintain implacabaly, the culture of disallowing people of shady characters and questionable pedigree from contesting for elective positions as they had done in the past.

•From left: Delta State Governor Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan; Obi of Mbiri HRM Ifeanyi Chukwu, Alekwe 1 and Commandant, Command Secondary School, Mbiri, Col. John Obasa, when the Governor visited the Delta State Farm Settlement, Mbiri.

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti and Johnny Danjuma, Lafia

• Jonathan

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ORE Nigerians have admonished President Goodluck Jonathan to jettison the single tenure proposed. Instead, they advise that he should focus on the various problems besetting the nation and its people.

A member of the Presidential Campaign Council for the 2011 presidential election and a onetime legislator in the old Plateau State, Musa Abbas Musa, called on the President to avoid what he termed diversionary tactics of tenure elongation campaigners and concentrate on developmental programme.

Musa, who spoke with newsmen in Lafia on Tuesday, said that power remained one of the fundamental problems confronting the country, warning that as long as it remained unsolved, Nigerians would be unwilling to tinkering with the tenure of either the president or governors.

He identified former President Olusegun Obasanjo as one of the advocates of tenure elongation now being pushed by President Jonathan. Musa explained that only the National Assembly whose members were chosen by the people could sit and deliberate on whether tenure should be extended or shortened.

“Everybody in Nigeria today knows hat the problem of tenure elongation was brought about by Obasanjo and so whether you are

shortening the period or extending the period, the suspicion is bound to be there as people will not care to look at the content,” he said, asking: “How can someone like Obasanjo just wake up and come with an order that a leader of the House of Representatives duly elected by his own people and also elected by his colleagues to lead them should leave?”

Also, Senator Bunmi Adetumbi who represents Ekiti North Senatorial District advised President Jonathan to do away forthwith, the contentious tenure elongation proposal and rather, give attention to poverty and unemployment among Nigerians. He said the existing structure could be relied upon to address the issue. He added that that success or otherwise of the president’s proposal would depend on the disposition of Nigerians towards it.

Adetumbi, a member of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), spoke last weekend in Ifaki-Ekiti, his country home. He noted that there were more important issues that should engage the attention of the president.

He held that the existing fouryear tenure which is renewable gave room for probity and accountability.

The Senator added: “I want to believe that it is a political proposal and importantly, a constitutional matter that will be debated by Nigerians. But I won’t support it because it is not a priority. The priority now is for the President to find ways of solving the problems of poverty and unemployment in the country. Within the existing structure, there is a lot to solve rather than looking for a new political structure which does not originate from us.”

Accord elects interim chair amidst controversy

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HERE was controversy yesterday among the members of Accord over appointment of a new chair.

The former Chairman, Hon. Muhammad Nadako, was relieved of the post as other leaders expressed dissatisfaction with handling of party funds.

The party, therefore, resolved to elect Dr. Adeniyi Isaac as its interim chairman.

Speaking at the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) Meeting in Abuja, the Chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT), Chief Augustine Mazie, alleged that Nadako had been working at variance with the party’s constitution.

He alleged that Nadako had refused to convene NEC meetings as provided by the party’s constitution.

Mazie added that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had threatened to sanction the party due to negligence and non-conformity with its constitution.

He noted that the party is qualified to act as a political group but feared it could be “de-registered” due to non-adherence to regula-

From Olugbenga Adanikin, Abuja

tions.

According to him, “the quorun for the NEC meeting shall be one quarter of its membership and as you can see, we are more, he than 21. As the BoT chairman, I received many reports of misappropriation and mismanagement of funds but when I summoned him refused to honour the invitation.

“I also read through the report of INEC external auditors which has informed me that we have lapses in the running of the party.

Non-accountability, non compliance to the Electoral Act’s provisions and party constitution.

“As at now, we don’t want to be de-registered because non-compliance to INEC standing instructions might lead to that.”

The NEC meeting resolved to elect new executive headed by Dr. Adeniyi Issac. Other officials include: Dr. Samson Isibor, (Protem National Secretary); Mr. Innocent Igboekwe, (Protem National Publicity Secretary); Hajia Maryam Saleh, (Protem National Woman Leader) and Alhaji Umar Abdu, (Protem National Youth Leader).

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2011

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EDITORIAL/OPINION Comments

EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

One up for LUTH •We say better late than never as hospital accomplishes first kidney transplant

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ENTRE of Excellence’, that is the tag that the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) has worn for sometime now.

LUTH is not alone in wearing this fanciful appellation. Other such hospitals which are appendages of Nigeria’s first generation universities also wear that whited robe of excellence.

Sadly, for about 50 years of their existence, they have been anything but that pristine facility where patients, frustrated elsewhere, would go and experience civility and succour, if not cure. No, these teaching hospitals have mostly fallen far short of the reason for which they were set up; they have neither broken new grounds in teaching and research nor have they raised the torch in the basics of hospice and medicare.

However, when LUTH announced with relish recently that it had done

‘Thanks to the Indians who have been providing cheaper transplantation surgeries to Nigerians, saving not a few lives in the last few years.

Again, to LUTH, we say better late than never, but most importantly, we expect the experts at LUTH to begin to be more exact about the causes of kidney failure, for as they say,’ prevention is better than cure’

its first kidney transplantation surgery, we thought, better late than never. We are cold about the performance of LUTH and her contemporaries because a portion of our population is beset by a number of emerging ruinous diseases which have left them prostrate and broken with nary a good explanation from our ‘centres of excellence’.

The end stage renal disease (ESRD) is one. In the past 10 years or so, this condition has grown to the level of a scourge across Nigeria. There is hardly any family that has not felt the trauma of the ailment or outright death by ESRD. Kidney disease and its subsequent failure is probably more serious in Nigeria today than HIV/AIDS. At least there is some comfort in the fact that HIV/AIDS has been properly situated and world attention (and fund) is directed at it.

But whereas ESRD is like HIV/ AIDS, an impossible, if not terminal condition, proper diagnosis is still poor and treatment is very expensive and futile for the poor who usually cannot afford the cost of kidney transplantation. For instance, LUTH has suggested that its new service will be at a moderate rate of not more than N2 million!

There is hardly any major hospital in Nigeria today that does not have ESRD patients pining away, perhaps wishing for death.

Further, a damaged kidney has no repair other than effecting a transplant. Ameliorative treatment in the form of flushing the kidney regularly

before surgery, is very painful and painfully expensive. Hardly any average family can afford it. This is why no day passes without finding a save-our-soul in the news, of people calling for help to manage ESRD cases.

But rampant as this disease has become, growing to the level of a scourge in Nigeria, it is sad that there has not been a concrete response to it by various governments and teaching hospitals. The cause of this blight on the kidney is still fuzzy just as the treatment has been haphazard, especially in the rural arena.

The least we expect over these years is that governments at federal and state levels would set up centres that would immediately take over and manage ESRD cases free of charge.

We expected that our ‘centres of excellence’ would have attacked scourges like this, in collaboration with foreign agencies to set up research and curative units in their facilities. Nothing of such has happened for nearly a decade. Thanks to a private hospital (St. Nicholas) which responded by providing quality treatment. And thanks to the Indians who have been providing cheaper transplantation surgeries to Nigerians, saving not a few lives in the last few years.

Again, to LUTH, we say better late than never, but most importantly, we expect the experts at LUTH to begin to be more exact about the causes of kidney failure, for as they say, ‘prevention is better than cure’.

Snail speed • Helicopter crash in Osun village shows we still have a long way to go in emergency and rescue matters

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HERE has not been much uproar about the crash, last Friday, of the OAS helicopter in Ikonfin community of Ola-Oluwa Local Government Council of Osun State, in which the three occupants on board died apparently because of the few victims of the crash. Three people, including a senior pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Mrs Josephine Kuteyi and her personal assistant, Mrs Adedoyin Okubanjo, as well as the pilot of the helicopter Catameo Arnold, a Filipino, died in the crash.

The helicopter left Lagos en route Ilorin, Kwara State, at about 9.00 a.m. on Friday and crashed after running into a tree on Oke-Obanla hill inside Osun State Government Reserve, Ikonifin, less than an hour later. But help never came until about 1.00 o’clock. the following morning.

Even if the victims had died immediately after the crash, should it have taken that long for the crashed helicopter to be located?

No doubt accidents are a fact of life; they will always happen. But some accidents are avoidable. In the case of the former, we have only one thing to worry about: and that is the response to it. Were the victims reached on time, particularly during what is called the ‘critical moments’ just to see how many of them can be rescued? In the case of avoidable accidents however, we have two things to worry about: the first is try to salvage whatever could be salvaged from the bad situation and later ascertain who did what in order to be able to apportion blames

and take the necessary remedial measures to prevent a recurrence.

Fifteen hours appears too long to locate a crashed helicopter. Of course we understand the difficult terrain of the crash site.

But we ought to have come a long way if only we take serious matters seriously. A time there was when planes were dropping off Nigerian skies incessantly as if the nation was accursed.

We recall the Bellview crash of October 22, 2005 at Lisa Village, Ogun State and the Sosoliso crash of December 10 of the same year at Port Harcourt. About 107 people were killed in the Port Harcourt crash alone. There were some other air crashes a few months after but with far fewer casualties.

The point we are making is that we ought to have made significant progress as a nation in terms of our collective response to emergencies, especially since the September 26, 1992, incident when a Nigerian Air Force C-130 transport plane carrying top military officers crashed in Ejigbo, near Lagos, minutes after leaving Lagos airport. All passengers died in the crash; 173 bodies were found, 27 missing. Indeed, many of the victims’ bodies had started to decompose before we could access the site through the assistance of a major construction company that graciously made available the needed equipment.

We commend the Osun State Emergency Management Agency (OSEMA), the police and other locals who rose to the occasion. We also seize the opportunity to remind the government that we cannot

remain forever hopeless in a world where technology is providing solutions to the myriad of problems facing mankind.

Aviation minister, Mrs Stella OduahOgiewmonyi has ordered the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) to do a thorough investigation of the crash. It is not only the minister that is interested in the outcome of the investigation, the whole nation is. We do not have to wait until another major air disaster occurs before we take aviation matters serious. The crash should be another wake-up call for those managing air transport services in the country, irrespective of whether it was an act of man or that of God. There is always a lesson to learn from either.

‘It is not only the minister that is interested in the outcome of the investigation, the whole nation is. We do not have to wait until another major air disaster occurs before we take aviation matters serious. The crash should be another wakeup call for those managing air transport services in the country, irrespective of whether it was an act of man or that of God. There is always a lesson to learn from either’

To escape chaos, a terrible deal

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HERE is little to like about the tentative agreement between Congressional leaders and the White House except that it happened at all. The deal would avert a catastrophic government default, immediately and probably through the end of 2012. The rest of it is a nearly complete capitulation to the hostage-taking demands of Republican extremists. It will hurt programs for the middle class and poor, and hinder an economic recovery.

It is not yet set in stone, and there may still be time to make it better. But in the end, most Democrats will have no choice but to swallow their fury, accept the deal and, we hope, fight harder the next time.

For weeks, ever since House Republicans said they would not raise the nation’s debt ceiling without huge spending cuts, Democrats have held out for a few basic principles. There must be new tax revenues in the mix so that the wealthy bear a share of the burden and Medicare cannot be affected.

Those principles were discarded to get a deal that cuts about $2.5 trillion from the deficit over a decade.

The first $900 billion to a trillion will come directly from domestic discretionary programs (about a third of it from the Pentagon) and will include no new revenues. The next $1.5 trillion will be determined by a “supercommittee” of 12 lawmakers that could recommend revenues, but is unlikely to do so since half its members will be Republicans.

If the committee is deadlocked, or its recommendations are rejected by either house of Congress, then a dreaded guillotine of cuts would come down: $1.2 trillion in across-the-board spending reductions that would begin to go into effect by early 2013.

Negotiators have tried to make this penalty mechanism as unpalatable as possible to provide an incentive for the supercommittee and Congress to avert it. For Democrats, the penalty would include cuts to Medicare providers. The penalty for Republicans should have been new tax revenues, but of course they refused to consider that and got their way. Instead, their incentive will be trying to avoid large cuts in the military budget.

Democrats won a provision drawn from automaticcut mechanisms in previous decades that exempts low-income entitlement programs. There is no requirement that a balanced-budget amendment pass Congress. There will be no second hostage-taking on the debt ceiling in a few months, as Speaker John Boehner and his band of radicals originally demanded. Democratic negotiators decided that the automatic cut system, as bad as it is, was less of a threat to the economy than another default crisis, and many are counting on future Congresses to undo its arbitrary butchering.

Sadly, in a political environment laced with lunacy, that calculation is probably correct. Some Republicans in the House were inviting a default, hoping that an economic earthquake would shake Washington and the Obama administration beyond recognition.

Democrats were right to fear the effects of a default and the impact of a new recession on all Americans.

President Obama could have been more adamant in dealing with Republicans, perhaps threatening to use constitutional powers to ignore the debt ceiling if Congress abrogated its responsibility to raise it. But this episode demonstrates the effectiveness of extortion. Reasonable people are forced to give in to those willing to endanger the national interest.

Democrats can look forward to the expiration of the Bush tax cuts next year, and will have to make the case in the 2012 elections for new lawmakers who will undo the damage.

The New York Times

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh • Editor Gbenga Omotoso •Chairman, Editorial Board Sam Omatseye •General Editor Kunle Fagbemi

• Controller (Finance & Administration) Ade Odunewu • Gen. Manager (Training and Development) Soji Omotunde

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•IT Manager Bolarinwa Meekness

•Deputy Editor (News) Adeniyi Adesina •Group Political Editor Bolade Omonijo •Group Business Editor Ayodele Aminu •Abuja Bureau Chief Yomi Odunuga •Sport Editor Ade Ojeikere •Editorial Page Editor Sanya Oni

•Pre-Press Manager Chuks Bardi •Press Manager Udensi Chikaodi •Manager, Corporate Marketing Hameed Odejayi • Manager (Admin) Folake Adeoye

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2011

20

EDITORIAL/OPINION

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IR: Over the past years, corruption has become a topic of increased debate within the Nigerian society. Nigeria’s media at independence constantly assessed the government’s efforts to address corruption. This kind of public discourse remains a critical element in any anti-corruption effort and is essential in raising public awareness on the issues associated with corruption in Nigeria.

In a democratic society, the public’s tolerance, or more significantly, intolerance, of corrupt practices determines the success of any anticorruption campaign. In established democracies, elected officials react to the public’s intolerance of corruption by initiating investigations and/or enacting legislation that results in reform. Consequently, we hope, the continued public debate and publicity occurring within Nigeria on corruption will result in the public becoming less tolerant of corrupt practices.

The history of corruption is as old as the world, because ancient civilizations have traces of widespread corruption. Some countries are obviously more corrupt yet others have better plans in managing corrupt activities. Obviously, Nigeria is not one of those countries with a better handle on corruption, despite its unending corruption commissions and all the noise made by every administration on the efforts to transform the nation into a corruption-free society.

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The war against corruption Corruption in the Nigerian society is quite endemic and mostly perpetuated by those who govern.

Thus, the crusade against it should therefore be a combination of sincere prevention and tough remedial measures.

Although a number of societies may have reduced corruption to relatively low levels, none has created a utopian society where corruption does not exist. But Nigeria sadly has not even moved closer to reducing corruption to a relatively low level.

Due to an absence of communica-

tion and the lack of transparency at both political and bureaucratic levels, it is difficult to assess what, if anything, various Nigerian arms of government and organizations are doing to detect corruption. Detection activities are also critical at the bureaucratic level in demonstrating management’s intolerance of corruption. However, detection methods alone will never be sufficient to effectively manage corruption.

On a national level, a corruption prevention strategy should focus on enhancing the public’s awareness of the social, economic and political

costs associated with corruption.

Public, politicians and senior government officials should be taught that the purpose of government is to “serve civil society, not exploit it”.

To prevent corruption, bureaucracies/civil service should do everything possible to recruit individuals of high moral character and do everything possible to ensure that the honest employees that are hired remain honest throughout their careers, and this could be achieved by commensurate reward. The same conditions should be applied to po-

S

• Benjamin Babatunde, Mapo, Ibadan.

Nigeria’s road system failure

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IR: The greatest threat to vehicular longevity in the country is bad roads and there seems to be an inherent systemic conspiracy to perpetually keep the roads in bad shape, most especially, the federal-owned highways.

Avoidable deaths are daily occurrences on these roads and people

with humane hearts are perturbed by this ugly development. The advent of democracy twelve years ago has not led to serious improvement from the infrastructural morass inherited from the military that ruled the nation for several decades.

The problem of poor infrastructure seems to have defied official

solutions despite the huge public budgetary funds allocated yearly for road maintenance and for the construction of new ones. The colossal amounts running into billions of dollars spent on the Nigeria Railways by previous administrations have not shown encouraging signs of improvement.

South Sudan and challenges of independence IR: The recent attainment of independence by South Sudan from their northern neighbours after many years of armed bloody struggle is a welcome development. For decades, the people of that new country were highly oppressed and impoverished by their northern brethren. It is sad that their poverty makes the rest of Africa look above board. The South Sudan citizens deserve their freedom achieved through decades of civil war that led to the death of not less than two million people.

The euphoria of freedom spreading across the land of Nubia is quite similar to the same feeling that spread across East and West Africa in those epochal years of the 1960s.

New nations were being born nearly every other month. Today, Africa is a land overflowing with sorrow, tears, blood and poverty.

litical candidates for all elective positions. There is no reason, for example, why all the states and local governments in the country should not have their own independent anti-corruption agencies which will work very closely with the national agencies like the EFCC, ICPC and the Code of Conduct Tribunals.

The government should consider how best to maintain and redefine the country’s corruption detection activities while also developing and implementing corruption prevention strategies essential to effectively managing corruption throughout Nigeria. This is the only alternative. If the government keeps on saying it wants to eradicate corruption in Nigerian society, it is not being sincere with us. Corruption can never be eradicated in any society, it can only be managed, and managed effectively and efficiently to derive any success.

The continent is many steps behind the level of development left behind by the colonial masters when they were forced to flee from our land; more so, it is even sad now that many are longing for those days. We simply replaced external masters with domestic ones.

Will South Sudan suffer the same fate? This is not an absolutely simple question. On the surface of it, South Sudan has what it takes to succeed. It is small; it has a small population; it is resourcefully rich.

It is very clear the young country of South Sudan will have to grapple with the complexities of a post-conflict society. The society is highly militarised with little or no opportunities for the young. Education level is obviously poor. The tendency for a poorly educated leadership cadre filled with political jobbers seeking their own survival

is to respond to the challenges of embracing corruption to feather their nest other than that of the mass of their people. South Sudan has the unfortunate reality of being situated in a very bad neighbourhood. Filled with mismanaged economies (Kenya), former enemies (Northern Sudan) or countries in one conflict or another (Chad, Ethiopia, Uganda, Central African Republic and Democratic Republic of Congo), sorrows seem to surround her.

These countries either have a failed infrastructure or none at all. Even if Nubia is able to diversify her economy, how will she get her goods to the global market and prosper?

So how can South Sudan get out of the seeming jam she finds herself? If the pioneer leadership is not sit-tight or dictatorial, then the

chance that internal schism will blow up into another conflict is significantly reduced. Such leadership without the pressure of high-stakes politics can also focus on development and prioritise the right things; including the expansion of the economic base beyond natural resources and importation of needed capacity. This in turn will lead to a prosperous South Sudan that is less dependent on oil, and less attractive to rebels and coup plotters. A prosperous South Sudan is more likely to positively influence her neighbours. The Mugabe example stands as a testimony of how pioneer leaders overstay their welcome, thereby putting their nations in serious avoidable conflict.

• Godwin Nzeakar, Ayeni Street, Fadeyi, Lagos.

Nevertheless, on occasions when some of the roads were reconstructed, the quality was apparently suspect. This is because most of the so-called repaired roads showed signs of cracks even before they were commissioned. Since the sad era of successive military administrations, the Benin-Ore-SagamuLagos road, Abuja-Benin road and Oyo-Ilorin-Lokoja-Abuja roads have been sorry sights to motorists plying them.

Despite the high budgetary allocations to FERMA, the agency has not lived up to the people’s expectations. What this means is that the Federal Government has not fared to the average performance level in securing lives that daily ply the nation’s roads. The pressure on the roads is too much because air fares are too costly for the ordinary citizens to patronise while water transportation as well as the rail system are in complete coma.

In view of these facts, it will not be wrong if the government can quickly come up with its promised establishment of the National Transport Commission (NTC) that will harmonise and see to the coordination of air, land and water transportation so as to achieve the current elusive effective performance.

• Sadiq Abubakar, Lokoja, Kogi state

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2011

21

EDITORIAL/OPINION

Relevance of Humanities to national development -3

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CIENCE is important for material progress. Nigeria cannot afford to lag behind in science. But technology can be bought while the artistic expression of a people belongs uniquely to that people.

In these days of whole-sale westernization, especially of the American type, which is often repackaged African culture as seen in their music and dance, Africans must watch out so that they are not completely swamped. If we lose our culture by neglecting the arts, our humanity would be gone. Even countries that are already technologically developed are spending millions in promoting their Arts and trying to go back to their roots, why should we who are still nearer our roots not take an advantage of this to promote our Arts. Industrial societies know too well that without the arts there would set in cultural sterility and unhappiness: this is why the humanising attributes of the arts are accepted without question. It is only in the developing countries that we see tendencies to hinder the healthy growth of arts because of the erroneous idea that emphasis must be placed on science for development. This view, that it is the quantum of the number of science students or graduates that promote development, is a manifestation of faulty thinking and illogicality. Scientific breakthrough is not usually the work of a crowd. There can only be one Isaac Newton or Albert Einstein, of course just as there can only be one William Shakespeare or Wole Soyinka. The point is that it is better to be Wole Soyinka than be an unsung or unremembered Nigerian scientist.

Our society should be allowed to develop naturally: let those who are natural scientists develop naturally without compulsion. The upshot of what one is suggesting is that the rigidity of 60:40: ratio of science to Arts students in Nigerian Universities is predicated on wrong data and faulty reasoning. Strict adherence to it would not lead us to the scientific Eldorado; in fact it may create frustration and lopsidedness. Nigerians and Africans generally are not materialistic

‘Since science is universal and culturally neutral, it is only through the arts that the dignity of Nigerians and all other blacks can be restored.

Some might say that all Nigeria needs do to command respect is to explode the bomb and her counsel and voice would immediately be listened to and heard in the comity of nations’

M

AJOR Hamza alMustapha is perceived differently by many people. Some perceive him as a patriot; others believe he is a villain. If the truth must be told, majority of the people see him as a villain and are happy with what is happening to him today.

No, it is not that these people are sadists; it is just that they believe nemesis has caught with alMustapha. Their perception may have been formed by the notion that the major was the power behind the the throne during the Abacha years.

The Abacha years(1993-1998) were the nation’s most terrible years. It is an era not worth recalling because of the atrocities committed by those who should be the custodians of the state but who chose to wage war against the people. During that period, people were deliberately set up for kill; they were hunted and hounded because they held an opposing view. The late Moshood Abiola was the leader of opposition and he had good credentials to so lead. He was the custodian of a mandate which the military hijacked.

That mandate gave him the power to lead the opposition.

Abiola’s and al-Mustapha’s path crossed when the late business mogul took up the struggle to recover his mandate in 1994 following the famous Epetedo Declaration. Abiola was hunted

people; what the policy referred to above wants to do is to give an expression to the increasing materialism and consumerism in our recent history, a pattern which unfortunately has bred corruption and unparallel criminality.

Any discipline that contributes to promoting the happiness and self-esteem of the black people obviously contributes to the total civilization of the world. The low esteem in which blacks were held was responsible for the terrible brutality which whites inflicted on the black people. Anything that could change white attitude to blacks and black attitudes to themselves would be contributing in two ways, in helping to promote inter-racial relations: first by removing the damage done to blacks and second by reducing the brutalising side effects on white society itself. Since science is universal and culturally neutral, it is only through the arts that the dignity of Nigerians and all other blacks can be restored. Some might say that all Nigeria needs do to command respect is to explode the bomb and her counsel and voice would immediately be listened to and heard in the comity of nations.

This may be so, but would not this be a descent to the level of the machine civilization of the West? It is true that the ability to harness physical forces in the environment for man’s use would probably lead to the amelioration of the African condition. Even if we could succeed in this enterprise of taming the environment, we would still need the arts as lubricating oil for the machine culture that would develop as a result of our total embrace of a scientific and materialistic culture.

Scientific study is no doubt necessary, but without the immense contribution of African Scholars to the discovery of the past, the whole world would still have continued to believe world civilization rather than Western civilization began with the ancient Greeks. The recent collection of valuable works of arts and subsequent worldwide exhibition of “two thousand years of Nigerian Arts” has put Nigeria on the map of world civilization more than had been the case hitherto.

There is perhaps no single even that could have so established Nigeria as a cultured country than this exhibition of works of art. All the money from oil did not bring the same kind of respect as has been done by the exhibition which showed us as people with a great cultural heritage. Serious study of the African past began only a few decades ago and so much has already been done. Who can be sure of the priceless treasures which are still hidden somewhere waiting to be unearthed by the curious researcher. There is indeed need for knowledge for knowledge’s sake. The development of the human mind, and, the search for truth, are not ordinarily the kind of things that science can satisfy; there is a point at which science becomes subordinate to philosophy and religion. Unless Nigeria is willing to shut herself out of the search for higher truths unreachable by science, then she can neglect the arts. If this happens humanity would be deprived of the contribution which only Nigerians with their uniqueness can make.

The diversity of humanity enjoins on Africans to try to develop that branch of knowledge in which as a result of environment and several millennia of human evolution we have become specialized. This fact

was recognized a long time ago by Edward Wilmot-Blyden and later Nnamdi Azikwe, Kenneth Onwuka Dike, Chiekh Anta Diop, Leopold Seder Senghor, J. F. Ade Ajayi and Bolaji Idowu to mention a few and this accounts for their special interest in African studies, with particular emphasis on religion and the study of the African pantheon of gods. The study of Afri-

Jide Osuntokun

can cosmology has provided a very fascinating vista into the whole question of from where came men and to where men go from here. In essence, these are much more fundamental concerns of sentient beings than bread and physical comfort. What happens to us hereafter has not been totally explained by the ‘Western’ religions and the view of the African as expressed in his religion needs to be known. A close study of the Ifa corpus of knowledge reveals Yoruba ancient tradition of mastery of science, religion and the arts all rolled into one. A colleague even asserted that the science of computer can be found in Ifa! All that we know today in terms of African civilization came through the arts. Africans have had their sense of dignity restored to them through the arts. Even our political independence is not unconnected with our self-realisation of our basic humanity vis-à-vis other people and races. This made it possible to assert, with all the emphasis we could muster, our right to self-determination and political autonomy. The question of our identity and pride needs to be established on sound intellectual basis before we can aspire to conquer the world of science. In as much as scholars have done well enough to remove the inferiority complex that characterized the relationship of our parents to their colonial masters, we can safely say that Nigeria has contributed to world civilization through the arts because we Nigerians are no less part of the world than others are. The world is a dynamic place and change is a constant in human evolution. It therefore follows that more would need to be known about how our societies evolved from the past and how they operate at the present as well as how they would probably develop in the future. All these concerns are within the legitimate province of the humanists. As long as human society remains, the need for its understanding and enrichment provided by the arts would remain permanent. So long as man remains the centre of concern, the artistic tradition, in spite of whatever progress may be made in the field of science, would remain a valid field for all intellectual enquiry.

al-Mustapha’s day in court down until he was arrested after the declaration. He was subsequently locked up and the key virtually thrown into the sea.

Abiola literally saw hell in detention before he was, according to al-Mustapha, ‘’killed’’ on July 7, 1998. al-Mustapha has been consistent in saying that Abiola was ‘’killed’’. He first made the claim when he appeared before the Oputa panel in November 2000.

I believe that al-Mustapha must know what he is saying if he is insisting that Abiola and his principal, the late Gen Sani Abacha, were ‘’killed’’. The question is who ‘’killed’’ them? alMustapha knows the killers but he prefers to keep quiet for now until he probably feels the time is right to release the sensitive information, which no doubt will be earthshaking. Whether al-Mustapha talks or not, at the set time, the killers of Abiola will be brought to book. This is , however, not to discountenance his claim that Abiola and Abacha were ‘’killed’’.

Abiola and Abacha were alMustapha’s charges. They were under his care, although one, Abiola, was an unwilling ward.

Under such circumstance, alMustapha was responsible for their safety and security. But he

‘I believe that al-Mustapha must know what he is saying if he is insisting that Abiola and his principal, the late Gen Sani Abacha, were ‘’killed’’. The question is who ‘’killed’’ them? al-Mustapha knows the killers but he prefers to keep quiet for now until he probably feels the time is right to release the sensitive information, which no doubt will be earthshaking’

was nowhere to be found when Abacha, whom he served as chief security officer (CSO) was killed. Where was he? How can we know that he was not part of the plot to kill his principal? alMustapha owes the nation an explanation on not only how Abacha and Abiola were killed but also who killed them. He cannot continue to dodge the issue the way he has been doing all these years otherwise he will remain the prime suspect.

Undoubtedly, there is no love lost between him and former Head of State Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar , who succeeded his boss. al-Mustapha has been hitting the general hard over the years, insinuating that Abubakar may know one or two things about Abiola’s death.

Abiola died under the watch of Gen Abubakar as head of state.

Abubakar had all the time in the world to release Abiola from detention before the multibillionaire’s death right there in custody in the presence of some visiting foreigners, but he didn’t. There is no doubt that there is more to Abiola’s death than meets the eye.

NLIKE Abacha, who was killed under the cover of darkness, Abiola was killed in broad daylight in the presence of former American Ambassador to Nigeria Thomas Pickering and former United States(US) Secretary of State Susan Rice. It is obvious that the government of the day was instrumental to what happened to Abiola on July 7, 1998. But how the dastardly act was carried out remains a mystery. Abiola himself wouldn’t have thought that they

U

would come for him at such a setting where his safety and security should not have been compromised. At least, not in the presence of Pickering and Rice.

But then as Shakespeare said : ‘’security is mortal’s chiefest enemy’’.

Agreed that when Abiola was ’’killed’’ al-Mustapha no longer wielded the kind of power he had under the late Abacha, he was, however, still privy to certain privileged information. If not, he cannot be telling the nation that he knew how Abiola was ’’killed’’. In law, this makes him an accessory to the fact of murder. alMustapha is talking like this and getting away with it because he is who he is. How many Nigerians can say publicly how someone was murdered and will be allowed to pass the night in his home without being arrested by the police? It is only an alMustapha because people like him are above the law.

They are treated like sacred cows who must not be touched by anything. He is just unfortunate that he has found himself in his present situation.

He has been in detention since 1999, following his arraignment in court in October of that year for the murder of the late Alhaja Kudirat, Abiola’s wife, who was shot dead on a Lagos street in 1996. Although al-Mustapha has been standing trial for the murder, he claims not to know anything about the case. He has somehow succeeded in turning the case to a circus show with his penchant for bringing applications believed to be meant for delaying his trial.

If care is not taken, he may yet

Lawal Ogienagbon lawal.ogienagbon@thenationonlineng.net

turn the case to the trial of those he accuses of ’’killing’’ Abiola. al-Mustapha understands the psyche of the average Nigerian; he knows that they are easily excited by stories of the fabled big man involved in murder; fraud; sexual escapades and other highwire crimes.

But was his testimony in court on Monday a ploy to shift attention from his trial? Was the testimony borne out of a genuine desire to see that those who committed a crime are brought to justice? Was it a tactic to draw sympathy to himself? Will Abubakar swallow his bait and respond to his allegations?

For now, we don’t know how this will end as we wait for Abubakar to break his silence on this sensitive issue which may do more harm than good to his reputation if he continues to shrug it away. al-Mustapha knows what he is driving at and he will not let go until he achieves his aim. Did you notice what happened in court again yesterday? Wait for more.

SMS ONLY: 08056504763

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2011

22

EDITORIAL/OPINION

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T is difficult to blame critics for distrusting President Jonathan over what they have now termed ‘term elongation bill’. Even among leaders with no credibility deficit, it is not often the governed trust their elected political office holders.

After all, it is not lost on the people that not too long ago, the president in a deft move, master minded the replacement of Vicent Ogbuluafor with Ekwesilieze Nwodo as PDP chairman in his quiet battle for PDP presidential ticket in spite of the party’s zoning policy. With what now appears a calculated move, political adversaries will be justified to conclude a protégé of ex president Obasanjo whose own third term bid ended in a fiasco, probably has a hidden agenda. Or how can we dismiss those who reminded us that Jonathan’s first port of call as president elect was Uganda, where President Yoverei Muzeveni has perfected the art of ‘term elongation’ that has kept him in power since January 26,1986? But since I don’t want to swallow others’ prejudices, I am prepared to see the president’s deft move this time around as that of a leader who is not only haunted by his own past but who, overwhelmed by Nigeria’s crisis and contradictions now seeks a temporary relief.

There is no doubt that President Jonathan as an active participant in the decay brought about by twelve years of PDP rudderless administration has come to symbolize all that is wrong with our nation in the locust years Of PDP. Jonathan never disapproved of the activities of PDP buccaneers. In the run up to the April election, he openly identified with corrupt governors just as Yar Adua before him, did with James Ibori. He went around commissioning uncompleted or unexecuted projects across the country. Today, Nigerians and the international community want this same president to rein in these corrupt governors and leading lights of the last National Assembly.

Our economy is in ruins. There has been an increasing pressure on Jonathan to take charge of the economy long abandoned to the applause seeking but awarding winning Central Bank Governor. After all, he has been part of PDP administration that turned Nigeria to a consumer nation importing over 80% of our needs from rice, on which we expend about six hundred billion annually, fish in spite of our over one thousand kilometer

Diversionary tactics of a beleaguered president coastline, petroleum products in spite of the nation’s four refineries and their periodic maintenance by PDP contractors. We even import water and tooth pick.

Last year, the pump price diesel, a dirty byproduct of refined petroleum, badly needed by industries and individuals to power their industries and homes and kerosene needed by the poor for domestic use went as high as N180 per litre. All president Jonathan had time for was an appeal to the importers to make kerosene available at a controlled pump price of 50k per litre without any attempt at addressing the fundamental problem that has made Nigerians hostage to a cartel of petroleum products importers.

Even General Buhari, faced with similar circumstances back in 1984, did something dramatic. He embarked on a barter arrangement with South American nations who accepted our crude oil in exchange for refined petroleum products. This was without prejudice to Nigeria OPEC export quota. It is also on record that Buhari and Idiagbon between January and August 1984 produced more grains than Nigeria needed that our problem became that of storage facilities. That was before disgruntled local and international economic interests instigated a palace coup against Buhari led by Ibrahim Babangida- the architect of today’s economic ruin.

Today, nine months after Jonathan’s directive to importers of petroleum products, the only thing that has changed is our new

status as second highest OPEC exporter of crude oil with 2644bpd. Diesel and kerosene still sell for about N170 per Littre. The cartel members who live well on the sweat and blood of others are smiling to the bank. It will also be recalled that the president in February this year summoned the leaders of a cement cartel that has held the nation to ransom and directed them to lower prices of cement with immediate effect. Today a bag of cement sells for about two thousand naira in Lagos. The only other thing that has changed is that our own Aliko Dangote has done us proud by becoming the biggest cement plant owner as well as the richest man in Africa.

Nigeria that has since the end of the civil war invested heavily on national integration through various social engineering efforts has never at any time been faced with treat to national integration as we have today. The combined efforts of the police and the military have been unable to subdue the Boko Haram Muslim sect, killing at will all over parts of the north and Abuja. Federal agency like NYSC, symbol of our attempt at national integration have redeployed youths from the troubled areas. Other states like Kaduna, Kwara, Rivers, Anambra, Edo, Lagos.Ogun, Ondo, and Ekiti had earlier evacuated their stranded students and indigenes.

While we had hoped the president will select a new set of young people to help him face these daunting challenges, he spent three

months assembling a cabinet of the same set of people who have nothing to show beyond their PDP membership and their controversial past. The outcome of the president retreat with his PDP team designed to map a new direction for the nation has only left us more confused.

The President disowned his predecessor’s seven point agenda which he had vigorously pursued and defended for two years. “I never mentioned any agenda point. We have never promised any number of points. We promised good governance not point. Every sector of the economy is important. We are not running a government of any point agenda”, the president has said.

Jonathan’s substitute for the seven point programme is his ‘Transformation Charter’ that promises ‘to be totally focused on its patriotic duty of transforming Nigeria into a peaceful, harmonised and stable democracy that is globally competitive, a great country with a great future we will all be proud of, creates a conducive environment for effective delivery of dividends of democracy so that the masses of this country can start to feel and see significant improvements in their quality of life’ .”Finally the Jonathan Transformation Charter gives ‘assurance of security, strengthening of basic infrastructure that supports the full mobilisation of the economic sector, a power sector that is adequate for modern living and our industrialisation strategy, a modern and vibrant educational system that provides the nation with adequate and competent manpower, a health sector that supports and sustains an upper end life expectancy, a modern technologically enabled agricultural sector that profitably exploits the vast agricultural resources of the country, a manufacturing sector that is vibrant and competitive and an environment that is conducive to social development and social solidarity.” All these in four years.

If the Yar Adua’s seven point agenda was unwieldy, Jonathan’s Transformation Charter’ is cumbersome .Words and words without substance.

And with Bako Haram calling for the Republic of Sharia States, with near total collapse of road infrastructure in the country, and with the cases of corrupt ex PDP governors and leaders of the National Assembly reduced to ‘PDP family affair’, what a better time to seek a temporary escape.

VIEW FROM THE FOREIGN PRESS

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ORWAY, a nation far removed from the wickedness of the world, is now facing one of its greatest moral challenges: What to do with Anders Behring Breivik, the man who has confessed to massacring 76 people, many of them children. Norway does not allow for capital punishment, and the longest prison sentence a killer can usually receive there is 21 years. A country of such otherwise good fortune and peaceful intention is now unprepared — legally and morally —to deal with such a monstrous atrocity.

Room For Debate The killings could weaken nationalist fervor in Europe, as the Oklahoma City bombing cooled off militias in the U.S. in the late 1990s.

The United States, unfortunately, is much more familiar with this problem.

Americans have spent several recent weeks in a vengeful fury over the acquittal of Casey Anthony, who partied for an entire month while her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee, was supposedly missing but might have actually been murdered — by Ms. Anthony. Many believe that Caylee was denied justice; her mother, meanwhile, has been released from prison and remains hidden in an undisclosed location, largely to protect her from vigilante justice.

The inadequacy of legal justice is one thing, its outright failure is quite another.

But in both cases the attraction of a nonlegal alternative is a powerful one. Are these vengeful feelings morally appropriate?

The answer is yes — because the actual difference between vengeance and justice is not as great as people think.

It’s difficult to have honest conversations about revenge. Seeing someone receive his just deserts often feels righteous and richly deserved, and yet society regards vengeance as primitive and barbaric. Governments warn citizens not to take justice into their own hands, insisting that the state alone has the duty and right to punish wrongdoers — pursuant to the social contract.

Justice? Vengeance?

You need both

By Thane Rosenbaum As a result, most people hesitate to frame their anguish in terms of revenge. Some, however, are more forthright, proclaiming a moral duty to avenge, especially when the law fails and breaches its part of the social contract.

Next month, Michael Woodmansee, who in 1975 gruesomely murdered Jason Foreman, a 5-year-old, is scheduled to be released from prison after serving only 28 years of a 40-year sentence. Rhode Island, where he was convicted and sentenced, has an “earned time” law, which shortens prison sentences for criminals like Mr. Woodmansee who work prison jobs while incarcerated.

John Foreman, the boy’s father, now faces the prospect of bumping into his son’s murderer in their small town. On learning of Mr. Woodmansee’s impending parole, Mr. Foreman said, “If this man is released anywhere in my vicinity, or if I can find him after the fact, I do intend to kill this man.”

Such statements of unvarnished revenge make many uncomfortable. But how different is revenge from justice, really? Every legal system, however dispassionate and procedural, must still pass the gut test of seeming morally just; and revenge must always be just and proportionate. That is what the biblical phrase “eye for an eye” means. Justice requires that no less than an eye can be taken in retaliation for a lost eye, but no more than an eye either.

Despite the stigma of vengeance, it’s as natural to the human species as love and sex. In art and culture, everyone roots for the avenger, and audiences will settle for

nothing less than a proper payback — whether it comes from Hamlet, or from the emotionally wounded avengers in “Gladiator,” “Braveheart” or “Unforgiven.” Recent studies in neuroscience and evolutionary psychology have claimed that human beings are hard-wired for vengeance.

In threatening the man who slaughtered his son, Mr. Foreman is saying that he doesn’t believe that the debt Mr. Woodmansee owes to society, and to him personally, has been satisfied. The wrongdoer has grossly underpaid for his crime and the score remains unsettled.

There are cases, of course, when a parent’s grief is, though not assuaged, more satisfyingly addressed. A doctor in Connecticut, William A. Petit Jr., experienced this when one of the men who raped and strangled his wife, and then sexually assaulted one of his daughters before setting fire to the house with Dr. Petit’s two daughters tied to their beds, was sentenced to death. After the jury’s verdict, Dr. Petit said, “I’m glad for the girls that there was justice.” Make no mistake: when he speaks of justice here, he means that his daughters have been avenged.

Many believe that in such cases, capital punishment is appropriate because it comes closest to avenging victims. Norwegians may be contemplating this very idea. Polls suggest that most people around the world support the death penalty, especially for wrongdoers deemed the “worst of the worst.” Certainly Mr. Breivik qualifies for that distinction.

Legal systems should punish the guilty

commensurate with their crimes and recognize a moral duty to satisfy the needs of victims to feel avenged. Plea bargains invariably shortchange this settling of scores — which is why, practical difficulties aside, they should be used only sparingly (and always with the victim’s participation). And allowing the guilty to walk free because of procedural errors — or because of the ambiguities of “reasonable doubt,” as in the case of Casey Anthony — invites vigilante justice. Neither justice nor revenge is negotiable.

Getting even is not complicated arithmetic. A just outcome in Norway, however, given the number of young lives taken, will doubtless be unsatisfying.

Casey Anthony watchers will resign themselves to accepting the jury’s verdict and await the next celebrity trial. And John Foreman, the aggrieved father with the anguish of a debt still unpaid, is left to count the days.

Thane Rosenbaum, a novelist and law professor at Fordham University, is the author of “The Myth of Moral Justice.” His forthcoming book is on revenge.

– The New York

‘In threatening the man who slaughtered his son, Mr. Foreman is saying that he doesn’t believe that the debt Mr. Woodmansee owes to society, and to him personally, has been satisfied. The wrongdoer has grossly underpaid for his crime and the score remains unsettled’

Eneramo regrets Okoronkwo: A lot more playing for Nigeria at stake against Ghana Pg. 24

Pg. 41

Nation Wednesday, August 4, 2011

PAGE 23

•Osaze

WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS

NFF, Siasia to parley on way out Pg. 24

THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2011

24

NATION SPORT

NATION SPORT

Eneramo regrets playing for Nigeria

Slam Shady, threatens to destroy Ultimate Commander

A

MERICAN matsman, Slam Shady, says he is coming to Nigeria to retire African Heavyweight Champion, Osita Offor also known as De Ultimate Commander, from professional wrestling.

Shady, who is among the wrestlers listed for this month’s international championship, tagged ‘Gathering of Champions,’ said in a message he posted on social website, Youtube, hat his first coming to Nigeria is an opportunity o show Africans what professional wrestling is all about.

According to Shady, “people win titles when the right wrestlers are not around.

They call Ultimate Commander the World heavyweight champion; good for him. But I want to tell him that Nigerians will know what it takes to be a champion when I am through with him. I can’t wait to enter the ring with him.”

During the championship slated for

Lagos and Abuja, Shady and 14 other wrestlers will fight for three titles, including the Universal Promotional Heavyweight Wrestling Federation (UPWF) belt held by Ultimate Commander, the World Cruiserweight title belt and the World Tag Team belt.

The championship will flag off in Abuja on August 14 and berth at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos on August 19, while Teslim Balogun Stadium will take it’s turn on August 20.

Aside the 15 Wrestlers coming from America, the best Nigerian wrestlers including Jimmy Palm, The Executioner, Black Heritage, Solid Rock and Merciless Mercy will also feature on the occasion.

The event would be spiced up by music and dance presented by such popular musicians as J. Martins, Timaya, Nigga Raw, and KC Presh, among others, just as popular actors like Nkem Owoh, Aki and Paw Paw, Francis Duru and Mamuzee will provide side attractions on the nights.

AHEAD OF ALL AFRICAN GAMES

Edun defends invitation of Lagos boxers

C

HAIRMAN of the Lagos State Boxing Hall of Fame, Olawale Edun has defended the invitation of five Lagos Boxers to the national camp ahead of the All African Games (AAG) slated for Mozambigue in September.

In a chat with NationSport at the 22nd edition of the Monthly Saturday Boxing Show, the former Finance Commissioner of the state said contrary to the impression that the boxers who competed at the National Sports Festival(NSF) where below standard, the boxers have the potentials of doing Nigeria proud if well exposed.

He opined that the regular boxing show in Lagos for the boxers helped them achieve the feat at the NSF, adding that if such gestures are extended to the national team, the boxers will excel.

"All i can say is that the Saturday Boxing Show is still a work in

S

IVASSPOR striker, Michael Eneramo, has expressed regrets ever featuring for Nigeria's Super Eagles as an international player.

Eneramo has made 10 appearances for the Super Eagles and has scored thrice.

AHEAD OF AUGUST 9 CLASH

Stevanovic names Gyan, 17 others HANA COACH Goran for Nigeria Stevanovic on Wednesday

G

named an 18-man squad for the friendly against Nigeria to be played in London next Tuesday: The fixture is a warm-up for 2012 CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifying.

Adam Larsen Kwarasey, whose father hails from Ghana and his

By Innocent Amomoh progress. The boxers are improving with the competition having regular opportunities to box. And also with the intenational exposure we give them, when we bring Repton Amateur Boxing Club here every year to box, an international standards is maintained.

"You cannot blame the boxers. If our stanards can be raised they will do well. We just have to pray that the boxing gym which is being built in Ikate Serulere is ready in nio distant time. Right now we are doing a major refurbishment of the facility, after that we will equip it and it will be ready may be two or three months time.

"And for the electronic scoring board, it is a welcome development, we will work towards it, try to order it and ship it inbecause it is not made locally so that our boxers will become use to it national or internationally," he said.

•An action from the last edition of the Monthly Saturday Boxing show Photo: Bola Omilabu

The 25-year-old said after playing during the eras of Amodu Shuaibu and Austin Eguavoen as Nigeria's head coaches he expects to figure in the plans of Samson Siasia.

"I'm not happy that after playing for

•Gyan

mother from Norway, received his first call-up for the west African side, quarter-finalists at the FIFA World Cup™ in South Africa last year.

Ghana squad: Goalkeepers: Richard Kingson (Unattached), Adam Larsen Kwarasey (Stromgodset/NOR) Defenders: John Mensah (Lyon/ FRA), Nana Akwasi Asare (Utrecht/ NED), John Paintsil (Leicester City/ ENG), Samuel Inkoom (Dnepropetrovsk/UKR), Jonathan Mensah (Evian Thonon-Gaillard/ FRA), Isaac Vorsah (Hoffenheim/ GER), Daniel Opare (Standard Liege/ BEL) Midfielders: Anthony Annan (Schalke 04/GER), Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu (Udinese/ITA), Andre Ayew (Marseille/FRA), Mohammed Rabiu (Evian ThononGaillard/FRA), Sulley Muntari (Inter Milan/ITA), Kwadwo Asamoah (Udinese/ITA) Forwards: Asamoah Gyan (Sunderland/ENG), Prince Tagoe (Hoffenheim/GER), Dominic Adiyiah (Karsiyaka/TUR).

Nigeria that I'm getting no chance at all again because I had the chance to play for Tunisia.

"I played for Nigeria when coach Amodu Shuaibu was in charge but I don't know why I'm not being considered now," lamented the big forward.

Eneramo had considered taking up Tunisian citizenship two years ago while on the books of Esperance in a bid to be eligible to play for their men's national team.

But the former Lobi Stars man was convinced to join the Nigerian setup and made his debut for the Super Eagles in February 2009.

Since Siasia became Nigeria head coach, Eneramo like other strikers have not been considered for recent games of the Super Eagles.

Ikhana explains slump in Kwara’s form H EAD coach of Kwara United, Kadiri Ikhana, has disclosed why his team's performance in the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) has dipped in recent games.

Ikhana explained that the constant call up of players from Kwara United to the national teams led to his side's collapse this term.

The former Enyimba and Kano Pillars manager said Kwara United did well in the first half of the season until national team call-ups decimated his side.

"In the first round of the league we finished among the top four. But since the start of the second round we have not had a complete camp of our players.

"Our flow in the league has been disturbed as we have lost players to the various national teams. We have had our key players called up to the Under23 side, the Under20 and even the beach soccer team. It speaks of the quality we have at Kwara United.

"The absence of these players have

affected us in the league and even in the WAFU Cup recently. But we don't need to dwell so much on that. Rather we will do our best to finish well in the league this season," said Ikhana.

Kwara United are placed 11th on the Premier League log with 46 points from 33 games.

Ikhana's men have failed to win in their last five games in all competitions.

The Afonja Warriors have lost to Enugu Rangers (in the Wafu Cup) as well as 3SC, Bukola Babes and Zamfara United in the league.

Kwara United last won a game on July 2 when they defeated title-chasing Sunshine Stars 3-2 at the Ilorin Township Stadium.

Abuja agog for Sia-One Soccer Academy screening

A

BOUT 100 players have so far registered for the annual SiaOne Soccer Academy screening that would commence this Sunday at the NYSC Orientation Camp, Kubwa, Abuja at 7am prompt.

The Football Academy owned by the Super Eagles Chief Coach, Samson Siasia has been annually organised to fish out talented but very young players that would be taught the rudiments and soccer tricks which would help them in their football career, while also exposing them to clubs and national teams in the country.

The Technical Manager of the Academy, Labaran Dakwoji disclosed that “about 100 players have so far registered for the screening exercise and we still expect more in order to

give all the interested talented youngsters around Abuja an its environs the opportunity to exhibit their football skills.

“The Academy has laudable programs for the players that would afford them the opportunity of showcasing their God given talents to the world. We will reveal the programs to the selected players after the screening exercise” Labaran as he is fondly called disclosed.

The screening exercise will be handled by experienced coaches that were also former Internationals which include Tony Gbemudu, and Ezekiel Tolani popularly called Zico.

According to the Academy Managing Director and wife of the Super Eagles Chief Coach, Mrs. Cassandra Siasia, “The intention and

ambition of Coach Siasia is to produce more players for the national teams and club sides in the country has been the brain behind this lofty idea of catching them young which have started yielding dividends.

“We are proud to reveal that many of the players we screened last year made their ways into the U- 17 national team while others are playing in top clubs in the country now”.

The screening exercise that would commence this Sunday would be rounded off on Saturday, August 13th, 2011 while interested players should also contact Sia-One Soccer Academy at B65, 1st floor, Murg Plaza, Area 10, Abuja or contact: 08039363922 and 08167930290 or www.siaoneacademy.com.

•Ikhana

•Eneramo

WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS

NFF, Siasia to parley on way out T

HE Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has revealed that it awaits the return of the Super Eagles coach Samson Siasia to map out strategies on the way out of the qualifications for the World Cup slated for Brazil in 2014.

While stating that there will be no room for complacency when hostilities begin, the NFF however, expressed confidence that Nigeria will sail through the group.

According to the Secretary of the football governing body in Nigeria, Musa Amadu: "We are waiting for the coach to come back and we will sit down with him to discuss on how to approach the qualifiers and we believe we will top the group without much problems. We want to see how we can approach the games and win both our home and away matches so that after four round of matches we are sure of qualification to the next

round."

Amodu added that the football house will hold a meeting with Coach Samson Siasia immediately he returns from Colombia where he is presently monitoring Flying Eagles' players in the ongoing FIFA World Youth Championship to draw out plan on how Super Eagles will be able to prosecute the qualifying matches and top the group comfortably without hindrance.

The draw for the 2014 World Cup qualifier held on Saturday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, pitched Nigeria against Malawi, Kenya/ Seychelles and Djibouti/Namibia.

Amadu further stated that the football house will not underrate any opponent in Super Eagles' group and assured that they will confront all opponents with all the seriousness it deserves. "There are no more minnows in African football. Every opponent is a potential threat. We all saw it with Ethiopia.

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has refused to get carried away by the perceived weak pedigree of oppositions handed the Super Eagles for the 2014 World Cup qualifier

41

Sammy set to join brother Shola Ameobi at Newcastle

S

AMMY Ameobi has been backed to join his elder brother Shola in Newcastle United’s first-team squad – if he can keep his feet on the ground.

The 19-year-old striker netted twice in last night’s 3-1 win over Gateshead at the International Stadium, in front of more than 2,000 fans.

Ameobi, who made his Premier League debut away to Chelsea late last season, also netted in United’s first friendly against Darlington.

However, unlike at the Northern Echo Arena, Ameobi’s strike wasn’t followed by a pitch invasion.

Ameobi has a chance of making an impression this season, according to assistant manager John Carver, who brought his older sibling, Shola, through the ranks at St James’s Park.

Carver told the Gazette: “Sammy will get the headlines, and he deserves it too.

“But we’ll bring him back down to earth, because we know what young lads are like – they can get carried away with the emotion.

“He’s a level-headed kid, and he has a great opportunity.

“He’s still learning the game and he’s putting things into his game that he didn’t have 12 months ago.

“If he continues to learn, who knows where he can go?”

Gateshead took a ninth-minute lead through a Kyle Nix penalty, after James Tavernier brought down the lively Yemi Odubade,

who helped Stevenage knock Newcastle out of the FA Cup last season.

United levelled through Ameobi four minutes later, and James Curtis turned a cross from him into his own net in the 39th minute, to make it 2-1.

Nathan Fisher and Odubade both struck the post before the break, but Ameobi put the game beyond doubt in the 61st minute from close range, after Nile Ranger had a header stopped on the line.

Manager Alan Pardew also gave run-outs to first-teamers Steve Harper, Mike Williamson and Alan Smith, ahead of Saturday’s final friendly against Fiorentina at St James’s Park.

And reflecting on the game, Carver said: “It was a good workout for our guys.

“They needed it before Fiorentina on Saturday, and then, eventually, Arsenal, on August 13.

“It just shows you if you put a young team out, it can be very difficult.

“It is nice to have that mix, and we had a blend of senior players.

They dealt with things well and gave good advice to the younger lads.

“Young players will only get better playing with experienced pros, and they want to help them.

“I thought it was a fantastic test for us. There was nice crowd here, and Ian Bogie’s putting together a good side, which is good for the North East.”

Okoronkwo: A lot more at stake against Ghana

Youdees secures NOC’s Marketing partnership for 2012

S

OUDEES Integrated Services Limited (YISL) has been appointed as Official Partners of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) to manage the 2011 Olympic Games commercial promotions scheme.

The appointment of the Sports Marketing firm was sequel to a competitive pitch organised by the NOC on July 22 to select competent marketing consultants for a new initiative to re-position the organization and raise funds for the 2012 Games in London.

In a letter signed by Tunde Popoola, the Secretary General of the Nigeria Olympic Committee and dated August 2, 2011, YISL was notified that its presentation on the commercial promotions has been accepted.

“Sequel to your presentation to the Marketing Commission of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, you are hereby appointed as Event Managers for the NOC SMS Promotion towards London 2012 Olympic Games”, the NOC Secretary General wrote in the letter with reference number MKT/2011/6.

Popoola praised the quality of presentation and charged YISL “to approach the task with the highest level of professionalism and a demonstration of competence in line with the NOC standards”.

Harry Iwuala, the Lead Consultant at YISL expressed delight at the appointment and promised that the company will work with the NOC and other partners to accomplish the objectives of the scheme. “YISL is delighted by the acceptance of our proposition by the NOC. It is a proposition tailored to drive the general objective of taking the Olympic spirit to all homes in Nigeria and this is one platform that will deliver the Olympic experience to all Nigerians”.

OLOMON Okoronkwo has joined in the battle-cry ahead of next week’s international friendly against Ghana, declaring that on the pitch a lot is at stake against Ghana, as the Super Eagles must subdue the Ghana Black Stars to prove their supremacy over their West African neighbours.

The game comes up on Tuesday, August 9 at Vicarage Road, home ground of English league outfit Watford and Okoronkwo feels it will be a great opportunity for the Super Eagles to avenge the heavy 4-1 defeat inflicted on them by the Ghanaians back in 2007.

“On paper our match against the Black Stars is a friendly, but on the pitch a lot more is at stake. “We have to beat them to regain our pride after the 4-1 defeat they handed to us in 2007,” said the Norwaybased player former junior international.

He added: “I was not a part of the team back in 2007, but I was still heartbroken by the result as it was such an easy victory for them.

Now we have an opportunity to remedy that and thank God I will be in that team. I am sure we will beat them.

Okoronkwo recently moved to Aalesund in Norway after spending a few seasons in the Russian top flight with Saturn Moscow because he wanted to move closer to central Europe where his performances would be recognised and noticed by Nigerians.

And it appears his decision to leave Russia has already yielded dividends with his recent call up to the national side. “ When I was in Russia I

did very well too but unfortunately maybe because Russia is very far away from home, our press and many Nigerians did not recognise my exploits,” he continued.

“That is why it felt as if I had slipped out of the limelight. That is also the reason why I decided to move to Norway, which is just a stepping stone to greater moves for me in the near future.

The one-time Hertha Berlin of Germany starlet then added: “Since joining Aalesund, I have been in good form. We are in the Europa Cup and I scored in one of our qualifiers recently to prove my readiness for the challenges ahead. Nigerians should watch out for me, I am back for good.”

•Okoronkwo

Y

25

THE NATION

EDUCATION

THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2011

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.com

email:- education@thenationonlineng.com

Two frontrunners in race for LASU VC The office of ViceChancellor, Lagos State University (LASU), has been declared vacant, following the exit of Prof. Lateef Hussain. Workers are showing interest in who leads the 28-year- old institution, which in recent times was enmeshed in crises.

ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA reports.

W

HO becomes the ViceChancellor (VC) of the Lagos State University (LASU)? This is the question on the lips of many workers of the institution after the post was declared vacant. The vacancy has ended doubts over the exit of the former VC, Prof Lateef Akanni Hussain, whose tenure was dogged by controversies.

Hussein left in a hurry, creating doubts over his exit. With the erasure of the doubt, two professors have emerged frontrunners for the job. They are Prof Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, the Acting ViceChancellor, and Prof John Obafunwa, former Provost, LASU College of Medicine (LASUCOM).

Under Hussain, LASU witnessed no peace. There was friction between him and the workers, both academic and non-academic. This is why the race has elicited the workers’ interest. The workers expect that the emergence of a new VC will pave the way for the Lagos State Government to right the perceived wrongs and open a new chapter in the quest to transform the institution.

Things have not been rosy for the 28-year-old institution, especially since the National Universities Commission (NUC), last October, de-accredited nine of its programmes, including Law in which it used to be primus interpares, first among equals.

The NUC’s decision jolted the university. But it was a reminder for the institution to find solutions to its problems.

Anyway, the university seems determined to rise again. The government has set up a committee to ensure the reaccreditation of the axed programmes which NUC said lacked physical facilities and the right calibre of faculty.

Before the accreditation problems, the university chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), National Association of Academic Technologists

•This gate will soon welcome a new VC

•Prof Olatunji-Bello

(NAAT), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Student Union Government (SUG) were involved in a running battle with Hussain over allegations of highhandedness, corruption, unpaid allowances and victimisation of workers and students, among others, following the six-month ASUU strike of 2009.

PHOTO: ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA

•Prof Obafunwa

The crisis reached a head when, in August 2009, the unions passed a vote of no confidence on Hussain, forcing him out of campus. This followed a three-month industrial strike. In October 2009, the Lagos State House of Assembly summoned Hussain, all the unions, the SUG, the alumni, parents and other stakeholders in an attempt to end the conflict. But the unions, which presented a

joint memorandum, insisted that the VC, who came from the University of Ibadan, must leave.

Defending himself, Hussain said then that the unions’ refusal to key into vital sectors of his reform agenda, set him on a collision course with them.

He said his administration attempted to check all inadequacies, such as “sorting”, examination fraud, cultism and to have a firm

control of LASU’s external campuses in order to end extortion.

He admitted “stepping on toes” in the process and denied allegations of corruption, noting that every contract awarded followed due process.

However, an investigation panel raised by the lawmakers to look into the allegations indicted Hussain for contract splitting, victimisation of workers, and high handedness, among others, yet it recommended that he be retained and made to improve on his relationship with workers.

But the unions disagreed. Despite their stance, Hussain continued to function from outside without attending major events in the university.

A six-man visitation panel inaugurated on December 9, last year,

by Governor Babatunde Fashola completed its work early this year on Hussain’s tenure. But the report of the Justice Oladehinde Silva panel was not made public.

Since Prof Olatunji-Bello became acting VC, there has been peace in the university.

Following the advertisement for a new VC, The Nation gathered from sources that the Governing Council inaugurated a search team, comprising six members – three from the Council and three from the Senate - to shop for a competent hand.

Prof Olatunji-Bello and Prof •Continued on Page 26

•MUSHIN PRODUCES TRAFFIC SAFETY CHAMPION - Page 27 • JOBS AWAIT 10 SCHOLARS - Page 37

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2011

26

EDUCATION AAUA FILE

New director appointed MANAGEMENT of the Adekunle Ajasin University, AkungbaAkoko (AAUA), has appointed Dr E.F. Oyebade as the Director of the university’s Advancement Office.

Dr Oyebade, a seasoned administrator and former Registrar of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, holds a Bachelor of Education degree in Botany from the University of Ibadan (1978), a Masters in Educational Management from the University of Benin (1985), and a Ph.D in Educational Management from the University of Ado Ekiti (2000).

She is also an alumnus of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos. Dr Oyebade is a member of many international and local professional bodies, including the Association of University Administrators, United Kingdom; International Women’s Review Board of American Biographical Institute; Nigerian Institute of Management; and the Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria a among others.

She brings 26 years of university administration into her new job.

•Pupils at the event

Chevron, Discovery Channel hand over learning centres

A

LOT has changed in the way pupils in four primary schools in Lekki area of Lagos State learn – thanks to collaborations between Chevron Nigeria Limited and Discovery Channel Global Education Partnership (DCGEP) on the establishment of A 200-LEVEL Psychology student digital learning centres. of AAUA, Miss Funmilola OloniUnder the project, the schools – Ezekiel, was one of the nine NigeAjiran Community Primary rian students that attended the School, Badore Primary School, Women2Women–America 2011 Ikota Primary School and SEED PriConference held last week. mary School were each provided She was nominated by an Ameri- with a television and DVD player can organisation, Empower Peace to view 180 DCGEP’s video in Boston Massachusetts. programmes produced in collaboThe Women2Women-America ration with local educators. They 2011 (W2W) is a global leadership also got a generator their learning conference for young women. centres in 2008.

Wheelock College, Harvard UniTeachers were then trained for versity and John F. Kennedy School three years on effective teaching of Government at Harvard Univer- methods, and how to adapt the sity developed the curriculum.

Student chosen for conference

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

programme to the curriculum.

Since the centres were instituted, the schools have already started noticing improvement in pupil performance and motivation, and the effectiveness of teachers in the classroom.

This led to a formal handing over of the project to the schools at a colourful ceremony on Tuesday last week at the Hotel Belissimo, Lekki.

Speaking at the event, General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs of Chevron, Mr Femi Odumabo, said the initiators were impressed by the gains of the project so far, and urged the schools to continue the success story now that they are in charge of the centres.

“So, why graduate the programme if it is so successful you may ask? Today’s celebration marks what has been accomplished, and perhaps more importantly, highlights the benefitting schools’ commitment and capacity to continue utilising the teaching tools and resources provided long into the future. We have built significant capacity in the schools and it is now time for the schools to build on the programme and sustain it,” he said.

In her speech, the Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, who was represented by the Education Commissioner, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye, thanked the sponsors for the investments which has impacted on teachers, pupils and their parents.

Speaking on the gains of the project, Head Teacher of Ajiran Pri-

mary School, Mrs. Maureen Duru, said teaching in her school is now learner-centered and dialoguebased and has resulted in increased enrolment in the four schools.

Mrs Comfort Abak, who teaches at Badore Primary School, said he not is only teaching and making learning more interesting, but pupils now look forward to coming to school, effectively reducing truancy.

One of the pupils, Master Odey Owoju of St. Peter and Paul School, agreed with the teacher on how the project has revolutionalised learning in the schools. He said he now understands his lessons better.

“Now, everyone is eager to come to school and I have learnt about things I would not have learnt. I did not know what a chariot and skyscrapers were until I saw them and learnt about them at the centre.”

Two frontrunners in race for LASU VC •Continued from Page 25

Obafunwa are said to have signified interest in the job.

It is not clear yet if more contenders, especially from outside the university, will join the race.

The odds, however, seem to favour the acting VC. Mrs Olatunji-Bello is a professor of Physiology at LASUCCOM. Her appointment as the acting VC makes her the second woman to occupy the seat after the late Prof Jadesola Akande.

Prof Olatunji-Bello has so far warmed her way into the hearts of many with her performance.

Under Hussain, she was the chairman, Labour Relations Committee, a body which served as a confluence between the unions and management to sort out issues and welfare. She was adjudged to have performed creditably well. Besides, she is described as outspoken, friendly and accommodating.

A member of one of the unions, who pleaded not to be named, said of her: “She enjoys goodwill from everybody. She is lovable, warm and has good interpersonal relationship with staff, something that Hussain lacked. As chairman of the Labour Relations Committee, she did not disappoint the unions. She is also a woman and so will be more humane.”

Obafunwa is a professor of Forensic Pathology and a Consultant Pathologist to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, (LASUTH).

As a two-time Provost of LASUCOM (March 2006 to Feb 2010), Prof Obafunwa, who hails from Epe, upgraded its facilities and established liaisons with academic and medical research institutions abroad.

Those close to him said when he was provost, he had good relation-

‘At the last meeting, Council deliberated and realised it is this struggle for second term that created all these problems. Remember this also happened during the era of (Pro Fatiu) Akesode (LASU VC who died in a mysterious circumstances 10 years ago shortly after securing a second term’

ships with government and workers.

ASUU-LASU chairman Dr Wumi Oluwatoki, who spoke with our reporter, urged the search team to follow due process.

“Once the process is fair, the results will be accepted by the majority,” he said Dr Bukola Adedoyin of the Department of English believes the new VC must make a clean break with the past.

He said: “I even want the search team to go the extra mile by looking out for a credible candidate who may not have even applied for the job. Truth is, some people with enviable record will not want it rubbished by cabals who see LASU as their birthright. We need somebody who is a true academic, with many years of experience in the management of people and resources.”

Dr Tajudeen Abanikanda of the Department of Zoology feels Prof Olatunji-Bello’s involvement in Hussain’s administration does not foreclose her ability to improve LASU. “For me, I’m comfortable with Prof Olatunji-Bello. Why do we need another VC? Some people say she was part of the old order, but if we want to be dispassionate on this issue, the fact that she was close to Hussain’s administration does not foreclose the opportunity of her leaving a mark, personally if given a chance.”

Nevertheless, a member of the search team, who spoke with this

reporter on condition of anonymity, said the Council is now adopting measures that will forestall a re-occurrence of the crises that engulfed LASU in future – including adopting a single-term of five years.

“At the last meeting, Council deliberated and realised it is this struggle for second term that created all these problems. Remember this also happened during the era of (Prof Fatiu) Akesode (LASU

VC, who died in mysterious circumstances 10 years ago, shortly after securing a second term).

That’s why we are now considering the five-year single term option.

“Also, Council resolved to, henceforth, comply with the directives of NUC. Our refusal to listen in the past put us in this mess. We do not want the situation to degenerate beyond this level,” the source said.

“Only two months in this school and you’re suggesting zoning of classes ... what next, one-term school year?”

27

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2011

EDUCATION

70-YEAR RETIREMENT AGE After months of relative peace, university teachers are threatening to go on strike again. In this report, ABIKE HASSAN and PAUL OLUWAKOYA note that their insistence on retirement at 70 is not the norm worldwide.

‘ASUU’s demand not in line with global practice’

I

T is a threat parents and students hate to hear. They had thought it would never happen again after months of relative peace.

But last week, lecturers, under the umbrella of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) threatened to go on strike unless the Federal Government implements the agreement changing their retirement age from 65 to 70, and seeking better funding for universities, among others.

Retirement age abroad Opinions are divided on lecturers going on strike to achieve their ambition, moreso when their retirement age worldwide is about 65.

Investigation revealed that in countries, such as the United States, there is no mandatory retirement age; the expectations are for about 35 percent of faculty to remain past 65 and for most of them to retire by 68 or 69.

In Quebec, Canada, according to Canadian Association of University Business Officers (CAUBO), the average retirement age is 62.5 years.

As at January 1, 2007, the retirement age in the United Kingdom was 65. The Hutton Report proposed that the normal retirement age should be brought in line with the state pension age, which the

government is planning to increase to 66 in 2020.

In most African countries the retirement age is 65, except South Africa where the government is set to increase it to 70 in a desperate bid to retain staff. Currently, the retirement age is 65. The retirement age in The Gambia and Ghana’s also 65.

ASUU’s Stand Arguing against the 65 years retirement age during a briefing by Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof Akin Ajisegiri, Zonal Co-ordinator of ASUU, University of Ibadan, said: “Everyday there is a proliferation of universities, so lecturers are in demand. I think that we should tap more of their intellectual capacity by retaining them.”

He lamented that most of the lecturers are being forced out while they are still productive.

“What is more annoying in this situation is that it costs the government nothing to implement this law and put it to full action in the universities. I am an engineer. If a professor in Electrical Engineering should visit my university, within three days, I would persuade the Vice-Chancellor to hire him, because we need them and we don’t have them.”

On whether a mature lecturer would function effectively at his age, he argued that Nigeria is not different from other countries in terms of aging.

He said: “Normally, one is expected to age and mature. At a time, we agreed that any one below the level of senior lecturer should not teach students in 100 and 200 levels in federal universities. They need to be lectured in a sound manner and by experienced lecturers. I might have got my PhD in 1987, but it is now that I am maturing that I lecture well due to my vast experience and exposure and my experience as a council member of various organisations.

“Lecturers are always needed and will be useful despite their age. We don’t just understand why people can’t see the need for these lecturers to keep teaching even after the so called retirement age. If you tell a lecturer to retire, he will be angry with you. So, let us leave lecturers to do their thing.”

Dr Karo Ogbinaka, Chairman, ASUU, University of Lagos chapter, said the chairman of the Committee of Pro-Chancellors directed that contracts should be granted to lecturers who are above 65 pending when the law will take

•Prof Ajigegini

effect.

“We have lecturers teaching at University of Lagos that are above their retirement age, but they are on contract with the school, which is renewed yearly and doesn’t provide for stability unlike when one is working full-time,” he said.

He noted that a professor receives his salary for life, adding that if he wasn’t productive, private universities will not recruit them. Most of the federal university professors are in private universities. One can find them as chancellors, pro-chancellors and mentors in the system.

“Look at Wole Soyinka, who was 77 this month (July). Will you say he cannot function at his age or be a good academia? In other countries, they only retire professors when

•Dr Ogbinaka

they notice they are becoming redundant. For instance, I cannot be appointed a professor except I have the good qualifications. So, right now, I am just a senior lecturer,” he said.

Ogbinaka didn’t like how The Nation tried comparing the case in Nigeria with that of the western world.

“In developed countries, people are encouraged to get a PhD and there are materials to assist them, unlike in Nigeria, where an average person is encouraged to get just a first degree.

“The opening of more universities has led to the shortage of professors and the lack of quality education in some schools. But we want more people to develop interest in going higher than the first degree,” he added.

Mushin produces traffic safety champion •Lagos State transport advocacy education project gains global recognition

“C

AN anything good come out of Nazareth?”

This question was asked

by Nathaniel and in the Bible regarding Jesus of Nazareth the reply he got was “come and see”.

This was the kind of reaction generated when Oyinlola Alabi, a 10year-old primary school pupil from Mushin emerged overall best in the Lagos State-organised “Be Road Friendly (BRF)” competition 2011 at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa Ikeja.

Alabi, a Primary Five pupil of the Community Primary School, Mushin; the third of four children, emerged one of the six winners of 18 finalists who contested in the primary, junior secondary and senior secondary categories.

The champion emerged after a panel of judges graded the presentations and traffic enlightenment campaigns of the the finalists. Each category had four students each presenting a combo of speech and illustrations that could be adopted by the State for the education of its road users on the importance of using overhead pedestrian foot bridges.

Announcing the results, Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Kayode Opeifa, said Oyinlola’s 45 points was the highest in all the categories. The judges awarded him the highest score because of his adequate use of the stage, authoritative and enlightened style and use of relevant quotations by leading philosophers and professionals in relevant fields.

His banner depicted an old man from the village dressed in agbada, Yoruba traditional attire, trying to cross the express road when there was a pedestrian bridge nearby. He

By Mfon Bassey

was stopped by a young boy dressed in LASTMA uniform holding on to his agbada.

In an interview with The Nation, he said “… like my banner said, I think that non-compliance to the use of pedestrian bridge is the same thing as going on a suicide mission ... I would like to encourage my fellow students to make good use of the facilities provided by the state.”

When asked how he was able to gather all the relevant professional information and quotes to back-up his presentation, Oyinlola’s answer was: “I read.”

Oyinlola will be joined by the five other winners for a trip to the London Transport Museum later in the year.The others are: Adedunmoye Ayomide (Oluwalogbon Primary School Ketu); Ogunbayo Olubukola (Eva Adelaja Comprehensive Girls), Paul Jonah (State Junior Secondary School Alimosho) in the junior school category; and Akinmuleye Temiwunmi (Queen’s College, Yaba) Adeshina Grace Adeshewa (Lagos State Senior Model College) in the senior secondary category.

Joining the programme via a video internet link from New Jersey, Maria Anifowoshe, the winner of last year’s edition of the programme, expressed her appreciation to the organisers of the programme and encouraged the participants of the competition to make very good use of the opportunity they were being given. She made these comments because, after her Lagos State sponsored transport tour to the UK, she enrolled in a competition and won a five-week

•From left: Ogunbajo Olubukola, Oyinlola and Temiwunmi the top three winners in each category

scholarship to study in the U.S. In attendance were representatives of various ministries in the state, LATSMA officials and officers, LASAA officials, students and parents.

Opeifa, who chaired the occasion, expressed joy at the success of the programme which he said has at-

tained global recognition.

“This competition has been nominated out of 200 entries as an idea that can change the world. If it wins, it will be aired and adopted all over the world,” he said.

Also speaking, the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, lauded the global recog-

‘Alabi, a Primary Five pupil of the Community Primary School, Mushin; the third of four children, emerged one of the six winners of 18 finalists who contested in the primary, junior secondary and senior secondary categories’

nition that Lagos State Traffic initiatives and other projects have given to the state.

He said: “The BRT project has shocked the international community; it has become the World Bank’s model for bus transportation in the whole of the African continent. Our security trust fund has shocked the international community. It has become the UN model for crime prevention in urban centres around the world. Just last week, the British Prime Minister was in Lagos and whether you like it or not, our Lagos State tax administration system was one of the things he came to see. So, for me, progress is being made here and as I said, if you look at the success that we have achieved given the odds that we face, it is a sheer miracle ...”

28

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2011

EDUCATION

Ede Poly set to host NIPOGA 2011 P

REPARATION is in top gear for the 17th Nigerian Polytechnic Games (NIPOGA) scheduled to hold from December 6 to 12, this year at the Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Osun State.

At the unveiling of the mascot in Ede, the Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr Joseph Oke, disclosed that about 3,000 athletes are expected to participate in the games.

The rector noted that the unveiling of the mascot is a major event to create awareness about the games, which he assures, will be one of the best organised and most publicised in the history of the competition.

The Rector, who is also the president of NIPOGA 2011 added that 500 officials will officiate at the game where he said 14 different events will be competed for by athletes from about 60 polytechnics and colleges of tech-

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

nology across the country.

To ensure a hitch-free event, the Chairman said the institution will spend N200 million to upgrade its sporting facilities and construct new ones while the Education Trust Fund has pledged to spend N50 million to construct indoor sports hall that would cater for indoor games.

The Rector listed Athletics, Handball, Squash Racket, Tennis, Badminton, Hockey, Table Tennis, Volleyball, Basketball and Soccer, Table Tennis, Judo, Chess, Scrabble and Taekwondo, among games, to feature during the competition.

Assuring competitors and officials of adequate security, Oke said the council is work-

ing with security agencies to ensure a crime-free event.

He added that many security gadgets and facilities would be used to expose the activities of those who might want to disrupt the game.

The Chairman, Local Organising Committe (LOC), Dr Olukayode Adebile, ruled out the use of mercenaries by participating institution, saying that any institution found culpable would be penalised.

Speaking on the mascot for the games, the Chairman, Media and Publicity Committee, Mr Solomon Oluyemi Omotosho, said the three elements of the mascot, the spring water, the fish and the water oozing from the fish’s mouth symbolises peace, unity, love, friendship and harmony not only among institutions, but also among tribes and nations.

•Prof Femi Mimiko, Vice-Chancellor, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) congratulating Prof Rotimi Isaac Ajayi, Inaugural Lecturer, and Mr Bamidele Olotu, Registrer during the 4th Inaugural lecture of the university

Institute kick-starts yearly language workshop HE Executive Secretary of National Institute for Cultural Orientation, (NICO) Dr Barclays Ayakoroma, has flagged-off this year’s edition of indigeneous language programme at the Southsouth zonal office of the institute.

The yearly programme is the brain child of the institute. According to the Ayakoroma, it is to promote and preserve the nation’s diverse indigenous languages.

In his welcome address, Ayakoroma said the programme, which started

T

three years ago in the zone with the teaching of the three major languages, has come to stay. Three other languages, Izon, Efik and Isoko will also feature during the training. He urged members of the public, especially those that cannot speak their mother tongue to sieze the afforded by the programme to learn.

As a fundamental component of culture, Ayakoroma underscored the importance of preserving local languages by promoting their uses.

Mayor of Yenagoa City

Council, Mr Mike Ogbolosingha, who chaired the opening ceremony, said it was shameful for people to admit they could not speak their mother tongue.

He thanked NICO for its effort to revive the speaking of indigenous languages and pleaded with parents to encourage their children and wards to participate in the one-month programme.

Other dignitaries at the event included Mr Barri Peremongo, General Manager, AIT Bayelsa State; Mr Chukudiorasi Patrick, who represented the Special Guest of Honour, Bayelsa State Sector commander of FRSC, Mr Okpoyitari Diongoli; General Manager of Radio Bayelsa and the Amanaowei of Angiama, King Aduwerje.

Guests at the event were thrilled with cultural dance and drama by the cultural troupe of the Bayelsa State Council for Arts and Culture. There was also a cultural parade by the staff of Southsouth office of NICO.

29

FUTO holds security summit on cultism

*CAMPUSES

Students celebrate as CAMPUSLIFE clocks four

*NEWS *PEOPLE *KUDOS& KNOCKS *GRANTS

Page 30

Page 31

THE NATION

CAMPUS LIFE

0805-450-3104 email: ladycampus@yahoo.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2011

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.net

email:- campuslife@thenationonlineng.net

The flipside of campus pageant Beauty pageants have come a long way in many universities. GILBERT ALASA (200-Level Foreign Languages, University of Benin) reports that the shows promote promiscuity.

T

HE hall was dazzling with coloured lights. The lewd lyrics of the music excited students and the judges.

The contestants were almost naked. The hall quaked as the audience howled in ecstasy. For many students, the scenery was tempting; many drooled as the semi-nude contestants catwalked.

Beauty shows come in different shapes and sizes on campuses. The financial muscle of the organisers also determines the scale of the pageant and its effect. Aside the pageant, which usually takes its name from the school, other names have come up in recent times. It is not surprising to hear pageants such as Miss Sexy, Miss Hot Boobs, Miss Sleek, Miss Hot Legs, Miss Photogenic, Miss Endowed and so on. While there seems to be no explanation as to the origin of these pageants, the popular thinking is that the popular Miss World beauty contest spurred the establishment of odd pageants on campuses.

The argument of the proponents of these shows is that the pageants showcase the beauty of womenfolk. For instance, a member of the organising committee of the 2010 edition of Miss UNIBEN, who does not want to be named, said women “need a level of validation and assurance that they are attractive to men. And pageantry is one avenue to bloat their ego.”

More often than not, negative reports have trailed the shows. Apart from the “sex-to-win” scandal that has been the hallmark of such campus shows, another turn-off is the harassment of the winner by miscreants after their favourite girl loses.

A campus pageant attended by this reporter ended late in the night, and the winner was afraid to go home because of the rumour that the car she won would be smashed by aggrieved persons who felt their ‘candidate’ was cheated.

Lampard Atere, a student of English and Literature, said most campus pageants have become platforms to gather girls for prostitution.

“Many of these girls often end up as professional prostitutes, partying with big men who want nothing but sex,” he quipped.

If the goal of campus pageantry is to showcase the beauty of women, many wonder how skimpy clothes affirm women’s values. Stella Alabi, a student of Accounting, told CAMPUSLIFE that a girl brought up with strong morals would not be on the runway, flaunting her “essentials”.

“I don't think any responsible girl would want to subject herself to the intrigues and scheming involved during and after these shows on campus. Why should a woman display her vital statistics freely to on-lookers because of pageantry? How does that make me like a real woman?” Stella asked.

To another female student, the moral background of the women involved should be questioned. “Organisers of these dubious shows would go to politicians with their pictures and give the details of these girls. Thereafter, they would be packed to parties to satisfy the sexual desires of men old enough to be their fathers. This contributes to the growing number of “Aristos” on campuses today,” she said.

•Some campus beauty queens

But, in disagreement, a 300-Level student of Pharmacy, Sarah Ehigie, who won the 2010 Miss UNIBEN pageant, argued that promiscuity is not linked to campus beauty

shows. “A girl who is naturally wayward would continue to be, irrespective of what she does. It is just a personal problem and not pageantry.”

•Electoral commission issues guideline - Pg32 •Law School set for final exam - Pg33

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2011

30

CAMPUS LIFE

Students celebrate as CAMPUSLIFE clocks four For being the mouthpiece of tertiary institutions’ students for four years, CAMPUSLIFE has been-hailed by all and sundry as the weekly pull-out marks its fourth anniversary.

OLAWALE AJETUNMOBI (NYSC LAGOS) and NOSAKHARE UWADIAE (NYSC KANO) report. journey of 20 years starts with a single step, goes a popular adage. This aptly describes the odyssey of CAMPUSLIFE, a weekly pull-out in The Nation.

Edited by Mrs. Ngozi NwozorAgbo and sponsored by the duo of Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited and Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC), the eight-page weekly pull-out was conceived to report events in higher institutions.

With over 100 correspondents, mainly students, reporting from tertiary institutions across Nigeria, CAMPUSLIFE has been seen by many as a watchdog for tertiary education.

Students of Ambrose Ali University (AAU), Ekpoma and Federal Polytechnic, Auchi (AUCHI POLY) have joined other CAMPUSLIFE students across the universities to mark the fourth anniversary. The students described CAMPUSLIFE

A

as “campus mirror and ultimate students’ defender.”

They said CAMPUSLIFE has kept both students union governments (SUGs) and institutions’ managements on their feet. They appreciated the CAMPUSLIFE Editor and the management of The Nation for their consistency and ensuring its success all these years.

The SUG president of AAU, Damisi Itote, praised the paper for its objectivity and the reportorial skills of its correspondents.

He also thanked Coca-Cola and NBC for sponsoring the title “that has met the yearnings of the Nigerian students”.

A 400-Level Law student of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) urged the publishers to keep the flag flying.

“I cannot forget how CAMPUSLIFE has helped many students who were victimised to retain their studentship. One ex-

•CAMPUSLIFE correspondents in a group picture during their workshop in June

ample is the reinstatement of Muhammed Bashman, who was expelled by the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) management on flimsy charges. “This is one of the reasons why The Nation and other sponsors must not let the pages die,” the student who did not want to be named said.

CAMPUSLIFE has equally created opportunities for undergraduates,

Emmanuel Olayinka is a 300-Level student of Sociology at the University of Jos (UNIJOS). He is a pastor and businessman. In this interview, he tells HOPE OFOBIKE (400-LEVEL MASS COMMUNICATION) how he combines evangelism with academics and business.

•Emmanuel

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HY seek second degree after having in Accounting and Finance?

As a pastor, we have been tasked to improve ourselves in every aspect of life. This is the reason I decided to study further. I also desire to be a lec-

include Dr. Reuben Abati, Special Adviser on Media to President Goodluck Jonathan. Also, the CAMPUSLIFE Editor will deliver a lecture Campus Journalism as a Catalyst to control Campus Crisis.

PUSHING OUT WILL RETURN NEXT WEEK

Ezeanowi Nnaemeka, a 500-Level student of Chemical Engineering, is one of the most fulfilled members of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO). He is a justice of the FUTO High Court (Court of First Instance).

He speaks on issues affecting students.

CHISOM OJUKWU (400 LEVEL, CHEMICAL ENGINEERING) met him.

‘Phone browsing reduces cyber businesses’

turer.

Why did you establish a cafe in the hostel environment?

When I came into the university, I discovered that the most pressing problem of the students was where to carry out their research, especially for assignments and other academic work. Since the cafes located within the hostel environment were not functional, I decided to set up one. I started with a laptop and a modem and presently I have a cafe.

How has it been combining academics with God's work and cyber business?

I have workers. So, I concentrate more on my work as a pastor. Sometimes, I miss lectures but I make up by reading a lot.

With God, I will be successful.

Do you think the advancement in mobile phone has endangered the growth of your business?

The advancement in technology has advantages and disadvantages to the cyber café business. But I want to see it from a positive angle. It has helped improve the business. Things they cannot do on the phone, a computer system would do it and they will come here to do it. For instance, they come to upload pictures and print documents which phones cannot do. On the other side, phone browsing limits the number of students visiting café and this is where it affects cyber café owners.

who want to hone their skills in the art of writing. “The section has been a platform for youth development,” said Keneth Kadiri, a student and CAMPUSLIFE correspondent.

Meanwhile, efforts are on to mark the fourth anniversary in grand style by student correspondents from the University of Calabar (UNICAL) in a fortnight.

Billed to speak at the forum

‘Students should participate in politics’ •Ezeanowi

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HAT is your political background?

In the 2008/2009 session, I served as the representative of the Chemical Engineering constituency and the Majority Leader of the then House of Legacy. In 2009/2010, I was a justice of the FUTO High Court, a service that continued into this academic session.

Would you describe yourself as a political juggernaut?

I hardly see myself as a politician. I feel more like, and prefer to be known as, an activist.

How did you get into politics?

I started politics as soon I got admitted. While in the House, I was obsessed with proposing bills aimed at improving the lives of students. I was always found on the students’ side on every debate.

Before I became a judge, I was a practising ‘barrister’ on campus under Justice Chimba. I was privileged to be counsel for prosecution and defence in many high profile cases, especially those linked with election tribunals.

Eventually, I became a judge and have carried this zest for campaigning for the students’ welfare to the job.

How have these roles affected your life?

It’s undoubtedly been positive all the way. My experience has helped me develop a conviction on the equality of human beings and sanctity of rights. I believe these values must have manifested one way or the other in my actions on campus because I did nothing to instigate my appointment as a judge. The Executive Council, after its in-house election, listed me as one of their appointees and as God would have it, I was sworn in on June 15.

What are some of the challenges of politics in FUTO? The problem with politics in FUTO, as far as I’m concerned, is the lack of unity among various arms of government. The Executive Council hardly works with either the legislative or judicial arms.

Does the godfather syndrome operate here?

I must say, indeed, godfatherism has eaten deep into FUTO politics. What aspirants have failed to understand, however, is that the most important aspect of contesting and winning elections is grassroots influence. This is not to say that stakeholders are not important.

Who are these stakeholders you mentioned?

The stakeholders are the ‘godfathers’. They are experienced student politicians who help aspiring politicians with advice

about the modus operandi of elections in FUTO. What is your view on student politics?

Some students see politics in school as a distraction but I believe anybody who can play politics as an undergraduate and graduate with a reasonably good grade is a ‘material’ on his own. Student politics is aimed at grooming youths for leadership in the future and I believe it should be encouraged. In fact, it is necessary.

As a justice, what have you done to save FUTOites from the menace of the notorious Man O’ War? I am a justice and can only judge when cases are brought before me.

Students always complain about the Man O’ War but in all my time as a justice of the FUTO High Court, there has never been any case filed against the Man O’ War. I promise the students that if these cases eventually come up, the guilty will be made to face the music.

How has it been working under a new administration?

The new Vice-Chancellor, Prof.

C. C. Asiabaka, is a man with a vision. He has short and long-term goals aimed at improving FUTO in every way possible. The union has seen this and identified with him in every way. It is and will continue to be wonderful under his administration.

31

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2011

CAMPUS LIFE Students of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) have hosted a security seminar attended by stakeholders from within and outside the campus. GERALD NWOKOCHA (graduating student of Information Management Technology, FUTO) was there.

•ACP Ekpenyi receiving prize on behalf of Imo State Police Commissioner

•Participants at the summit

FUTO holds security summit on cultism W

ITH a student population of over 25,000 and a low record of cult-related crimes, it seems the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) is one of the most fertile grounds for learning. In FUTO, there are three student security outfits: the FUTO Students’ Security Outfit (FSSO), the Man O ‘ War and the FUTO Military Students Association, all fighting crime.

To strengthen these organisations, a security summit was organised by FSSO, in collaboration with the Students’ Union Government. Tagged: Communal responsibilities in the eradication of cultism and reduction of crime amongst students,” the summit, which took place at the PTDF Hall, was sponsored by Zenith Medicare, a private health insurance scheme.

The programme opened with prayers by Obinna Anyanwu, the head of FSSO and Pastor Chinedu Nwoko. The guest speakers were Mr D. O. Onwuka, former head, Civil Engineering Department; Commander Paulinus Okah, Commander ATS Base 7 of the 34 Artillery Brigade and Precious Nsirim of the Man O War, Imo State Command.

Other guests included the Imo State Commissioner of Police, who was represented by ACP Ben Ekpenyi; Dr. Z. Akaolisa, Dean, Students’ Affairs.

Nsirim delivered a paper on the origin of cultism. According to him, cultism started at the University College, Ibadan in 1953. He said the Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka in collaboration with AIG Imoukhuede, Pius Oleghe, Raph Opara, Nat Oyelola and Prof.

Muyiwa Awe, formed the first group, Pirate Confraternity which later metamorphosed into a cult group after its founders had gone.

“Their aim was to put an end to tribalism and favouritism. The idea was not to form a secret cult but to create an egalitarian group known as Pirate Confraternity or the National Association of Sea Dogs. Due to doctrinal differences and inability of opposing members to meet the required standards of the confraternity, protestant groups like Buccaneers, Vikings, started emerging,” he said.

In his speech, Okah stressed the need to avoid cultism because cultists live in fear of attacks from within and outside.

“Its members do not live peacefully," he said, noting that cult clashes always lead to violence that consumes the innocent and

guilty. He said the targets of any cult group are flashy students because the cultists believe the students would sponsor their activities.

Akaolisa advised students to freely present their cases to the unit. He also said that information given by students on cult activities would be treated with utmost secrecy. He said the cultists derive joy causing disorderliness on campus and advised students not to yield to the ideology of the bloody group.

Students, at the end of the programme, expressed their readiness to be security conscious. They thanked the organisers of the seminar for bringing such programmes to them, especially in this period of insecurity.

Awards were given to the Po-

lice Commissioner and the ATS Base 7 Commander.

Anyanwu, who was a former SUG president of FUTO, thanked God for the success of the programme. He also thanked Dr Onyinye Nwankwo, Regional Head of Zenith Medicare for sponsoring the summit.

He acknowledged that FUTO is not conducive for cult activities, a situation which has made students of the institution to ask if there is such group on campus.

Michael Nkem, a student, said FUTO is not known to entertain cultists and their bloody activities. Vitalis Uwem, a student of Civil Engineering, said on the average, FUTO students are bookworms. “Everyone in this school wants to get a good grade instead of engaging in frivolities,” he said.

The ‘Lagos’ hostel of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) is the most popular of all the halls. However, its residents say they could do with fewer rules, reports ONIFADE IFEOLUWA (300-Level Mass Communication, UNILORIN)

A hostel like no other but...

V

ILLAGE II is the most popular hostel on campus at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN). Referred to as ‘Lagos’ Hostel by students, the facility accommodates about 1,000 female students. Aside large-sized rooms, the hostel boasts of some of the best recreational facilities. There is a volley-ball and lawn tennis court where students can unwind.

Sister Biggs, a canteen outside the hostel, is the first edifice to greet a visitor before he enters the large common room leading to the hostel. Life is an interesting adventure for any resident of the hostel and there is never a dull moment.

But the bubbly mood of the hostel is sometimes interrupted because many rules imposed on residents by the management. For every resident, the rules are sacred commandments that cannot be compromised. Anyone who fails to live by the rule risks eviction.

Before securing accommodation, a potential resident must sign an undertaking that she will never flout the rules of the hostel. These rules include: No squatting, selling of bed space, using electrical appliances such as electric cookers, boil-

ing rings, bread toaster and many others. But as stringent as these rules are, some girls have their own way of doing things.

Another interesting thing about the hostel is the night life. While the ‘scholars’ as they are fondly referred to prepare for night classes, some girls would be outside the hostel ‘manning’. Manning is a lingo used to describe girls waiting or discussing with their boyfriends outside the hostel.

At that time of the day, the hostel is usually abuzz with many activities. Cars of various brands and colours are parked on walk-ways, while some patronise the suya spot.

Those not privileged to have boyfriends, stay glued to African Magic in the hostel’s common room.

For some residents, everything but rules of the hostel is perfect.

One of such student is Ebun Olowokere, a 300-Level student of Biology Education. She said: “The hostel is very good and okay but we are treated like secondary school students. How can we have a house mistress coming to inspect us in our rooms and shouting at us for any little thing not done? It is rather childish”, she blurted.

•A compound in Lagos Hostel, UNILORIN

For Tolulope Salami, the only thing bad about the hostel is the water scarcity experienced once in a while. “I love this hostel, but the water scarcity annoys me. Whenever it occurs, living in the hostel becomes terrible”, she said.

Although a few students complained about the unhygienic condition of the hostel, more seemed unhappy with the no-visitor rule.

A resident, who pleaded anonymity, said it was unfair for the management to restrict residents from having visitors.

She said: “I have been to other schools where visitors are allowed into female hostels and vice-versa.

Why can't we have that here? Rather than ban visitors completely, I advise that there should be a visiting time, like from 4 to 6pm daily.”

32

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2011

CAMPUS LIFE Group to refurbish hostel

M

ATRON of the University Women Association (UWA), of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) Mrs Nwanneka Ann Okolo has assured female students that the association would help improve hostels in the institution.

Speaking at an orientation programme organised by UWA with the theme: Education for Life, Mrs Okolo, the wife of the ViceChancellor, urged the students not to allow anyone to use them for any evil acts.

She also advised them to have a passion for life and not take their academics for granted.

Mrs Okolo, tasked the students to maintain good relationship and cooperate with the association.

Another speaker, Prof Grace Offorma of the Faculty of Education UNN, called for a change in education to promote the right knowledge,

From Oladele Oge UNN

improve skills acquisition and transformation of core values.

Similarly, the annual entrepreneurship orientation for the final year students of the institution on life after school was held at the Margaret Ekpo convocation hall of the university on the same day.

The programme, which had as theme Preparing Students for Employment after Graduation, was attended by over 5,000 300-Level students.

Participants were taught different skills that will make them self employed instead of seeking white collar jobs after school. The students were also advised to develop their talents in areas such as sports, music, creative writing among others.

•Members of the Eletoral Commission

Electoral commission issues guideline

A

S the Students’ Union Government (SUG) election of the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, draws closer, the pace of lectures seems not to be affected.

Students vying for positions have embarked on aggressive campaigns to woo fellow students.

As part of the strategies, some of them have been campaigning in classrooms or at events within the school. Those with large pockets dole out recharge cards, note books among others. Some have gone as far as recruiting their colleagues and friends as agents in their departments and hostels.

From ‘Tosin Ajuwon AUCHIPOLY

Investigation by CAMPUSLIFE revealed that students who stay off-campus are not left out as the aspirants also make efforts to recruit some of them for their campaign. Although the management has banned banners, flags, posters and other materials during campaigns some aspirants still use them.

The Auchi Polytechnic Electoral Commission (APECO) has said it is prepared for the elections billed to hold in two weeks.

Fielding questions from CAMPUSLIFE, chairman of the

commission, Mr Emmanuel Afolayan, said the commission has trained its members for the task ahead. He warned aspirants to take precautions during the campaign as anyone found violating the rules would be dealt with.

“The watchers watch in vain if there is no God. We have no fear because we have our men on guard. The candidates should follow the rules. Anyone who flouts the rules will be dealt with,” he said.

The APECO chairman advised students that while aspiring for positions they should remember their motives for coming to the institution.

VC eulogises dead lecturer

U

NIVERSITY of Lagos ViceChancellor Prof

Adetokunbo Sofoluwe has described the late Chair and Head of the Department of Economics, Prof Caleb Oluwatayo Fakiyesi, as a teacher whose influence transcends the university community.

He said the deceased affected the lives of students through his commitment to academics and exemplary leadership.

Speaking at the funeral service at the Chapel of Christ Our Light, the VC also praised the friends of the deceased for endowing N1 million for the establishment of the Fakiyesi Economics Award for the best graduating student in Economics.

He described the late Fakiyesi as “a cultured man, a close colleague and a gentle man.”

“He is kind, humble, committed, efficient and effective. His life epitomises one worthy of emulation,” the VC said.

In his sermon entitled: Better is the day of death than birth, Prof

From Ayodeji Adesina UNILAG

Bolaji Owasanoye condoled with the family, friends and students of the Department of Economics and urged them to live in the consciousness of eternity.

He said: “Death is an equaliser and it ends human struggle. Nobody can tell what a baby will become; but one can see what an adult has become.”

The minister added that birth signalled the advent of a life full of tests and challenges, and that adults must pay attention to the development of the next generation.

Prof Solomon Akinboye, the Head of Department of Political Science, described the late Fakiyesi as an intellectual colossus. “As far as intellectualism is concerned, he has contributed immensely to academics at the University of Lagos; he was a hardworking gentleman, somebody whose life is devoted to service of mankind.”

Some of the students of the depart-

S

From Faith Olaniran FUT MINNA

down to Bosso Estate road and back to school.

Senior lecturers and students were dressed in sport wears to take part in the walk, which the objective was to help members of the university community who did not have time to

SUG denies media report

T

HE Students Union Government (SUG) of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa (OFFA POLY) has denied accusing the management of embezzling N4 billion.

A release signed by its president, Jimoh Ismail, and General Secretary, Christopher Fatoye, described the report as false.

The statement read, in part: “Against the ethics of journalism, a newspaper reported that we claimed that our protest of Thursday July 11, 2011 was as a result of N4billion fraud by the management. They said we sacked and drove away members of the management and staff.

“Although, we embarked on a

From Wale Ajetunmobi OFFA POLY

lawful and legitimate protest against epileptic power and water supply, especially on the permanent site of the polytechnic, but no member of staff was molested not to talk of driving them away from their offices as claimed by the story.”

The students said they did not grant any interview alleging that the management embezzled funds meant for the institution.

They said:“We wonder where the paper got the fabricated story from. Indeed, we have a feeling that the report was orchestrated to put the polytechnic in bad light.”

Varsity fixes post-UMTE date

U •Sofoluwe

ment expressed concern over the death of their HOD whom they described as a father and mentor.

A 400-Level student, Sanyaolu Aboaba, said the late Fakiyesi was a strict, but nice man. “Everybody will miss his intelligence and jokes,” she added.

Staff and students walk for life TAFF and students of the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUT MINNA), last week, came out in their numbers around 6:30am to take part in the first “Walk for life” exercise organised by the Servicom Unit of the institution.

The walk started from the Bosso campus gate, then through the Nigerian Air Force to Western By-pass

•Students at the orientation

exercise their body.

According to a statement released

by Deputy Nodal Officer of Servicom, Dr Usman, 50 per cent of human ailments can be cured if people can partake in walking exercise. Speaking to CAMPUSLIFE, Fatima Haruna, 200-Level Geology, said the exercise was interesting. She said: “We need more of it to keep ourselves fit.”

NIVERSITY of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) has announced the date for post Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) screening for the 2011/2012 academic session. The tests are to be written between August 18 and 20.

According to a statement by the university, candidates who chose the institution as first or second choice and scored 200 and above in the UTME

From Oladele Oge UNN

are eligible to write the test. In addition, blind candidates who scored 180 and above are also qualified to register for the test but are not invited to the screening.

The university also announced resumption date for sandwich students.

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2011

33

CAMPUS LIFE Varsity begins second semester exams

S

TUDENTS of the University of Jos (UNIJOS) have started the second semester examination to conclude the 2010/2011 session.

Students were seen doubling efforts to read and cover up for the time lost during the students’ union week. Hostels’ reading rooms and other quiet spots in the school became libraries.

Some students converted restaurants and other spots on campus to meeting points for group discussions.

Of the practice, Aku Eyo-Bassey 300-Level Mass Communication,

From Esther Mark UNIJOS

said: “That is the available spot we can find to make do with. All we need do is to buy soft drinks in the shop and that gives us the right to use the tables and chairs for our brain storming.”

On the students’ level of preparedness for the exams, Hilda Fuantuam, also in Mass Communication said the examination would distinguish serious students from unserious ones.

Some students said the rush to round off the session would give room to a more carefully planned academic session devoid of delays to make up for the time lost and also catch up with other institutions.

Gabriel John ( 200-Level psychology) hopes the holidays that will follow will not drag unnecessarily.

“There is no point rushing us if at the end of the day, we would have to spend two to three months at home on break. It just makes no sense. If we must be rushed, the dividends should be seen,” he said.

•A session in moot court

Law School set for final exam

T

•UNIJOS Student in a group reading

Students hold prayers for exam

S

TUDENTS of the Bayero University Kano (BUK) have begun the first semester examination for the 2010/2011 session.

According to the timetable, Part 1 and Part 2 students began last Wednesday, while the main papers for all students started on Monday and will continue till August 24.

Ahead of the examination, students had started preparing in earnest. Those living far off re-

From Ibrahim Suleja and Elizabeth Abekha BUK

located to hostels closer to school to study with their colleagues.

As part of preparations, final year students of Mass Communication held a prayer session at the Centre for Information Technology mosque.

The opening prayer was led by Ibrahim Yahaya Sheik.

“The aim of the prayer is to seek for God’s intervention in our examinations and brighten our future after graduation,” he said.

Sheik Ibrahim urged members

of the class to shun anything that might jeopardise their chances of success in the exams.

He added that final year in any academic field is the hardest level.

He called on fellow students to use this period diligently.

Khutuba prayer was offered by Abdulatif Abdullahi, thanking God for keeping them alive to witness the event and pray for Allah’s guidance and protection throughout the examinations period.

The highlight of the prayers was the recitation of the Qur’an by members of the class.

Governor assures students of scholarship

G

OVERNOR Timipre Sylva of Bayelsa State has assured students of his administration’s commitment towards enhancing their educational pursuits through a scholarship scheme.

The governor spoke in Yenegoa, when members of the Bayelsa Student Forum (BSF) visited.

The students, drawn from various higher institutions within and outside Bayelsa, besieged the governor’s office to press home their demands for improved scholarship package for indigenous students.

Addressing the students, Sylva explained that the delay in implementing the new scholarship scheme was due to the backlog created by his predecessors.

“Before I came into office there was already a backlog from the previous administrations. What we have been doing all this while is to offset those bills. As soon as we are done with that, eligible students will be invited to apply for the new scholarship scheme”.

The governor also assured that unlike the previous administrations, the new scheme will cater for Bayelsa State students studying in other states.

“I assure you today, that this new scholarship scheme will cater for all our students. We will

• Gov. Sylva

From Peretimi Apeli YENEGOA extend the applications to our students in institutions outside the state and ensure that they are paid if they meet up to the requirements.”

Aside from the scholarship which will be awarded annually, the governor expressed his administration’s preparedness to facilitate a study abroad programme for some professional students to fast–track manpower development of the state.

He said: “As we have done in the last three years, we will provide opportunities for our students in the areas of medicine, engineering, and agriculture to study abroad. This we believe will go a long way in enhancing the man power development of the state. Because when these students go out, they will return and contribute their own quota to the development of the state.”

Some of the students who spoke with CAMPUSLIFE at the end of the meeting expressed delight in the governor’s plan for students.

Perekeme Douyebralade, President of the Bayelsa Students Forum, said the comments of the governor are indications that he means well.

He called on students and other stakeholders in the state to give him full support.

“What we witnessed today is an indication that Governor Sylva means well for Bayelsa students within and outside the state. What we need to do now is give him the support he needs to implement these visions. As a student group we are with him all the way because we know he will deliver.”

Stella Erewie, a student from the Niger Delta University, commended the governor for his initiatives. According to her, if all the plans are implemented, then Bayelsa students will be among the best in the country.

HE Director-General of the Nigerian Law School

(NLS), Dr Tahir Mamman, has visited the Lagos campus of the institution. The visit was one of the many activities marking the end of the compulsory one-year programme for the 2010/2011 session which began in October last year.

The purpose of the visit, CAMPUSLIFE learnt, was to reorientate the students on the expectations and challenges of the legal profession and prospects for young and aspiring lawyers.

It was also to intimate them with the guidlines for the final ‘Bar part II’ professional examinations which is less than three weeks away.

Mamman’s comments about the forth coming examinations calmed frayed nerves.

Yewande Ladega, a student said: “I think the DG’s address to us was a nerve-relaxing one.

The anxiety over the final exams is too much for some of us and any words to tranquilise the situation are most welcome. It was a pleasure to meet him after all .“ The DG, who was received by the management and students of the campus headed by the Deputy Director-General (DDG),

From George Ukwuoma and Adewale Oreshade NLS LAGOS

Mr. Olanrewaju Onadeko, was moved by the warm reception he received. He sent good will messages to the students and prayed to see them all at Abuja for the call to the Bar in January 2012.

Giving the vote of thanks, the Chairman of the Students’ Representative Council (SRC), Mr Friday Azubuike, thanked the DG for his support and fatherly advice.

Meanwhile, the students of the institution were taken on a moot court session as part of the activities needed to be done before the students are called to bar.

The moot court session spanned for three days and was witnessed by 10 judges from the Lagos High Court.

Stephen Azubuike, a Law student, who appeared as a counsel said: "It was a splendid experience appearing before a Lagos State High Court judge as a law student. Being my first contact with a judge, I will say it is most remarkable moment at the Nigerian Law School”. Hauwa Halidu, who acted as witness in one of the matters, said the exercise was an experience to remember.

Niger students hold award night

T

HE National Association of Niger State Students (NANISS), Ibrahim Babangida University, Lapai (IBBUL) chapter, has launched its first magazine, Lapai Trumpet.

It held a send forth for the graduating students from the state.

Awards were given to some of the students for what the association described as “an era of numerous achievements.” An achievement was producing a national senate president.

In his speech, the outgoing president, Musa Alkali, who is also the new national senate president thanked his colleagues for their support.

Also the National Association

From Yinka Olatunbosun and Aliyu Usman IBBUL

of Students of English and Literary Studies (NASELS), IBBUL chapter, held its week. Speaking, the head of Languages and Linguistics department, Dr Apegba Ker, advised students who wish to become future writers and actors to join the Lapai Literary Circle to develop their skills. He also urged them to be more disciplined and committed to their studies to excel in their various academic endeavours.

The highlight of the week-long celebration was a fashion parade.

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2011

34

CAMPUS LIFE Last week, students of the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) participated in a marathon organised by the Students' Union Government. ADENIKE ASHOGBON (HND II Mass Communication, LASPOTECH) was there.

Race against cholera

I

T was indeed an experience worth the while. For many students the memory will linger. Many of them turned out for the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) Race Against Cholera. The students converged on the Ikorodu campus to run the marathon, which was the second edition of the initiative by the LASPOTECH Students’ Union Government (SUG).

The race covered about 11 kilometres from the first gate of the campus to Ile-Epo Oba, Sabo Ikorodu and back.

This year's race was won by Miss Ngozi Ogodo, a ND II student of Business Studies, who beat male and female athletes to the prize in 32 minutes.

According to the SUG president, Gafarr Adedayo, the programme was organised not only to create awareness about cholera that kills faster than HIV, but also to encourage students’ involvement in sporting activities within and outside the school.

•Students before the take off of the marathon

Gaffar described cholera as a pandemic that infects the small intestine and causes the loss of large amount of water from the body through diarrhea. He said infected people require immediate hydration to remedy the malady. Gaffar noted that cholera could be reduced in the country if people are properly lectured on prevention.

In the Race Against Cholera marathon, students were gathered as early as 7am to get their jerseys and tags after which they were re-checked to know how fit they were to partake in the race. The kick-off time for the race was 10am and at the time,

about 800 students had gathered from the five schools that make up the institution namely: Management and Business Studies, Technology, Agriculture, Environmental Studies and Engineering.

Ahmed Alawoki, SUG sports director, said the programme came into existence to prod the society and create awareness about the social vices thereby redirecting the mentality of youths away from crime.

He added: “It is all about fun and part of the aim is to explore the sporting zeal, passion and interest of the students not just to engage in sporting activities

•Miss Ngozi, the overall winner

within the institution but also outside the school vicinity and I believe through this they would excel.”

The SUG officials appreciated the winners with prizes including HP laptop for the first postion, mini freezer, stranding fan, cooker, and television sets for runners up.

The SUG Vice President, Adejoke Raji, said: “I am so happy that a woman emerged the overall winner after the race,” she said as she enjoined female students to come out and be good ambassadors not just in sports but in all other spheres of life.

Present at the marathon were

Dean of Students' Affairs, Mrs. Gbolade Omololu, Dean, School of Technology, Folashade Ayinde, and LASPOTECH Deputy Registrar, Mr. Lanre Kuye.

Other winners were Joy Davies, ND I Computer Science, first runner up in the female category; Kehinde Odusanya (Computer Science), and Feyisola Olatoye (ND II Electrical Engineering), who came third and fourth respectively.

In the male category, Micheal Innocent came first, Jeremiah Akinmoyeye, second; Oluwadairo Opeyemi, third; and Moses Aderele, fourth.

Two Southwest governors set the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife campus agog during a lecture last week. OLUSEGUN ADEGBENRO (Accountancy, Ekiti State University) and ADEBAYO CALEB (200Level, Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU) report.

Fayemi’s return to OAU roots

• Students honour Aregbesola

D

ESPITE the ongoing examination at the Obafemi Awolowo University

(OAU), Ile-Ife, the campus was alive last week when it hosted very important personalities.

The Ekiti Development Network (EDN) organised a public lecture at the Oduduwa hall where the Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, who is an alumnus, was the guest speaker.

Other personalities, who graced the occasion included Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola and the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Bamitale Omole, who chaired the event.

The title of the lecture was: Socio-economic Development in western Nigeria: Challenges and prospects.

On arrival with Aregbesola, Fayemi’s convoy drove to the senate building where the governor was received by the VC and the management team.

The institution’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Olanrewaju Abiodun kick-started the programme by recognising the personalities, guests, members of staff and students.

Welcoming the guests, the VC described Fayemi and Aregbesola as great ambassadors of justice and democracy. He also saluted Prof Dupe Adalabu and Prof Craig for identifying with the University towards positive development programmes.

Intermittently, students of the department of Dramatic Arts,

OAU and their counterparts from Ekiti presented dances – with the two governors dancing with the groups.

In his lecture, Fayemi acknowledged the intellectual milk and advanced cultural values of OAU which he tapped from between 1987 and 1989. He also told the story of how the school hooked him with his wife, Bisi, who he met inside Hezekiah Oluwasanmi library.

The governor who spoke on resurgent regionalism and democratic development in western Nigeria: Challenges and prospect highlighted some of the challenges of politics and governance in Nigeria.

Fayemi called on young politicians in the Southwest to equip themselves and make national interest a priority.

At the end of his lecture, the governor entertained questions from the audience on the modalities to achieve what he spoke about. He charged the students to work hard in order to combat the brain-drain in the educational sector.

The governors were presented with awards.

Prof Dupe Aladejana presented Fayemi an award for his meritorious contribution to the development of Ekiti.

Aregbesola was presented an award for his struggles in the sustenance of democracy in the state. He also promised to meet the expectations of the students as regards the bursary scheme of the state.

•Cross section of participants at the event

•Mr Aregbesola displaying his award as Dr Fayemi looks on

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2011

35

CAMPUS LIFE

The religion of soccer

By Moshood Isah gunners4real1988@yahoo.com

T

HE passion Nigerian youths have for football, these days, can arguably be compared to that of religion. Most of the fans follow and support football clubs in such a way that you will think soccer is a “god” we worship. In Nigeria, many youths are ardent supporters of the English Premiership sides, which consist of clubs such as Manchester United

R

ECENTLY, I read an article on a website. The piece was trying to relay how a sect popularly known as Boko Haram has become a torn in the flesh of the Nigerian state.

The issue of bomb blasts, which have now become part and parcel of life in Nigeria, originated as a result of a brawl between the police and the religious sect in Bauchi. The fight led to the killing of some of the sect members. The immediate response of the Boko Haram sect was the attack on a divisional police station.

Thereafter, series of attacks carried out by the members of the sect have led to the death of many innocent citizens. Gov-

W

HEN scientific inventions come to Nigeria, they play an entirely different role from what they are discovered to do. In a simple sentence: any creativity that finds its way into Nigeria would be subverted. In Nigeria, youths are very creative both positively and negatively but they generally prefer the negative importance of any scientific innovation.

The internet and social media sites have been embraced by the youths, who now spend more time on surfing the internet, Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter and other social networking sites.

Social media are for social interaction using highly accessible and communication tech-

(Man U), Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool among others. The Spanish La Liga is also not left out as youths dedicate their time watching Barcelona and Real Madrid in hot contest for their own titles.

A recent visit to a newspaper vendor stand in my neighborhood was exciting and amazing. I was dazed as I listened to arguments among so-called bona fide fans of various clubs. A typical Man-U fan would say “We are surely going to retain our title”. A guy next to him shouted on top of his voice: “Shut up, do you think this is last season, we have signed experienced players”. Surely, you don’t need a seer to tell you that those words were coming from die-hard Arsenal fans, who always say “The gunners (as Arsenal footballers are called) are ready to gun down the enemies this season.”

The aficionados of Chelsea football club, also known as the Blues, are not left out in the engaging verbal war. They would proudly say: “Blue army forever, until our blood

turns blue.” The opposing fans would try to provoke the supporters of the other clubs and the argument goes on till it results in a fisticuff. The breathtaking scenarios associated to the fanatical followership of footfall clubs are always confusimg the free-minded people because, whenever there is a soccer competition, all the streets and major roads would be deserted and people would begin wonder if there is war going on in such locality.

I once boarded a bus with a middle-aged woman seated beside me. A call came in from a friend giving me information that Man United had lost by a lone goal to Arsenal in a premiership game. The woman suddenly became curious and to my surprise, she made an enquiry to confirm the information.

The woman suddenly became unsettled and almost burst into tears.

The reason was that her spouse would not eat his dinner that night because of the lone goal! I think this is pardonable compared to the mad

Is Boko truly haram?

By Esther Isiaka jibsonmohd@yahoo.com

ernment said “the law shall take its due course”, and ordered investigation. Alas, the result of the investigation was the tracking down of the Boko Haram leaders, including Muhammad Yusuf. The law did not take its due course; the innocent leader (yes, every accused person is innocent until found guilty by court) of the sect was slain by the authority without formal trial. It is obvious that the incompetence of The Nigeria Police Force actually goaded the

rebels into blowing up people and places today.

The issue of Boko Haram can be described as the latest in response of the escalating rate of corruption, unemployment and social injustice in Nigeria. Also prominent among the mutinous attitude of groups in Nigeria is the previous activities of the Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND).

Though, their chicken is gradually going back to roost, thanks to the late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua’s amnesty programme. More so, this was

I

have often pondered on the word ‘failure’. Partly because, at one point in time, I thought I had failed; while at another instance, I believed failure was a stepping stone to something unique and outstanding.

accompanied by education and empowerment of the youths that engaged in militancy. If government had addressed the issue of environmental degradation, the nation would not have experienced such rebellion.

A fortnight ago, the government had to succumb to pressure by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) on the issue of minimum wage. And now, as it seems, the government is beginning to see reason to dialogue with the sect after a proposed amnesty deal by Governor Shettima Ibrahim of Bornu State.

In a nutshell, the scourge of corruption and social injustice

Moshood, 400-Level Mass Comm., BUK

which has led to high rate of poverty and unemployment is no doubt the remote cause of all the rebellious activities in the country. If the government does not tackle the problems, the nation is going to be another Somalia or Afghanistan. Though they keep saying Nigerians are good people, law abiding and very patient just to lull the aggrieved youths. But as Idang Alibi noted in one of his work, titled “shall we continue to pray forever”, it is possible that frustration would continue to dictate for us if the government does not do what is right: justice.

Esther, 400-Level Mass Comm., BUK

Where are Nigerian youths going? niques. The youths log on to the sites and chat with one another.

They may know themselves and they may not.

The internet, which was wholly embraced by many, as an avenue for research and further reading, is now seen as a tool for watching pornographic films, pictures and all sorts of information opposing moral values. People that do not watch these immoral films, waste their time on frivolities on the internet. On Facebook, students spend 50 per cent of their time on the site chatting.

Although, Facebook users claimed the site is gateway to

meet different people and keep pictures, which are secured in a photo album created on the site, but none of them can deny the fact that spending precious time on the site brings more harm than good, because time that would have been spent on reading and working is used for chatting.

The latest in the group of social media network is 2go chat, which is readily available on mobile phones than laptop.

From what I have observed, the social site has now totally consumed the ample time of students to the extent that, some of them cannot read without chat-

Is failure real?

By Philip Okorodudu profphilip2004@yahoo.com

Lagos Chelsea fans that painted a cow in a blue color carrying a Chelsea logo, during the 2008 EUFA champions league final against Manchester United. The funny part was that Chelsea eventually lost the match and all hell was let loose.

There are very serious issues associated with club fanaticism. Three years ago, news broke that an Arsenal supporter from Kenya reportedly committed suicide, after his darling club lost to Man United in a semi final match. I am very sure that same person could never have committed suicide if he had lost one of his relations. The interesting thing is that Arsenal management was not disturbed by his death. That same year, an aggrieved Man-U fan reportedly crushed some jubilant Barcelona fans with his bus, after his club was defeated by Barcelona in the champions’ league final. The unsavoury events go on and on and the society suffers for it.

However, it is not only the

youths that are guilty, some of our leaders equally have unquenchable passion for European football.

Number one on the list is the performing governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola, who is a fan of Manchester United. I once spotted the governor in a magazine posing with Man-U, Sir Alex Ferguson. Another top government official who also registers his affection for British football is former Governor of Kwara State, Bukola Saraki. He supports Arsenal, with Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi!

The nagging question that comes to mind is: what makes European football so charming that it envelops the minds of both young and old? What is associated to soccer that makes youths to throng viewing centres in great number than religious temples? When would English and Spanish citizens come to Nigeria to watch and cheer their “favorite” Kano Pillars or Enyimba club sides? Watching football to relax is not a bad idea but going extreme to show one’s passion for the game is what is confusing.

But then, what is failure? What determines whether one has failed or not? Is failure something to dread or something to be happy about?

Bernard Shaw, one of the most famous writers, said: “My reputation grows with every failure”.

So the question goes, is failure real? Does the inability to realise set objectives at one’s own time translate to failure?

As a high school student, I already had my life planned out.

Immediately I graduate from high school, I told myself I was going to write University Matriculation Examination (UME), get a very high score and proceed to the school of my choice to study Electrical and Electronic Engineering. After my youth service, I said I would proceed for my Master’s programme in Cir-

cuit Theory Analysis and Design.

Thereafter, I would get married while I work as a lecturer in my choice university. Seven years after, I am still in the process of becoming an Engineer. Is that failure?

There was a man who failed in business at the age of 21 and was defeated in a legislative election at the age of 22, failed again in business at 24 and overcame the death of his girlfriend at 26, had a nervous breakdown at 27, lost congressional election at age 34, lost a senatorial race at 45, failed to become vice president at age 47, lost a senatorial seat again at age 49, and was elected president of the most powerful nation in the world. He was nobody other than Abraham Lincoln. He had a lot of setbacks but never gave up.

ting on the site. I remember a friend telling me how addicted she has become to the site that even in classroom, she normally chats while lectures are going.

Chatting is so cheap that N10 can pay for about one hour of chat. Is this not another method of derailing our future as the leaders of this country? Reading is no longer the habit; chatting is now the culture even in the exam period. Internet is good and any country without it could be said to still be in Stone Age. But it is good only when we use it in the right way. But given the name of the social site 2go, I keep asking myself where are NiIn achieving my dream of studying Engineering in the university, I had navigated through rough roads. First, I had to sit at home for three years writing UME three times in the process.

When it became difficult to get a university admission to study Engineering, I had to put my dream of university education on hold and opt for a polytechnic. I had to start seeking for admission into the university again to bring my dream back on track to get me to where I am today. I have had my fair share of setbacks, but could I then describe myself as a failed person?

Thomas Edison, one of the greatest scientists to grace our planet, failed several times while he was experimenting on the light bulb. When people asked him to quit, he told them that he was not discouraged because every wrong attempt was a step forward. I think failure is an il-

By Hope Ofobike, hopeofobike@yahoo.com

gerian youths going?

Hope, 400-Level Mass Comm., UNIJOS lusion created by the mind and people around us to make us give up.

I have come to realise that every success story is also a story of a great failure. The only difference is that the successful people never gave up. Thomas Edison was partially deaf and was expelled from school because his teacher considered him stupid. Today, we remember him for all his discoveries in the science world.

Thus, I think it is high time we updated our dictionary. We have to remove some of words and change the meaning of some. Failure is one of those words whose meaning should be changed for there is no such thing as failure.

It is an opportunity to improve in one’s endeavour.

Philip, 300-Level Electrical, Electronics and Computer Engineering, DELSU

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2011

36

CAMPUS LIFE

Succeeding deliberately (Pt 2)

By Uche Ogbonna uche.ogbonna@fidelitybankplc.com 08055061278

D

ELIBERATE planning refers to conscious and intentional steps taking to achieve a predicted end game result. It involves taking necessary and well articulated steps such that the end result is what is referred to as an expected end.

It is impossible to be confident of results when you are not confident of the efficacy of the systems established and this is very crucial. It is this that informs our looking at a very vital component of succeeding deliberatelydeliberate and strategic planning!

Deliberate planning is a process for the deployment and employment of apportioned resources that occurs in response to a hypothetical situation.

Deliberate planners rely heavily on assumptions regarding the circumstances that will exist when the plan is executed.

What this means is that the Plan is geared towards deliberately achieving a set goal taking cognizance of circumstances that may prevail from where the planner is through to the point where the planner expects to be, considering challenges, possible advantages, possible events etc along his way.

It is critical to think this way and getting it right and applying some form of strategy (thinking in a way that sets you at an advantage over competition) is the best way to achieve almost certain success.

The components of such a deliberate Plan include identify the task to be accomplished, review the enemy situation (what stands in your way), develop and compare alternative courses of action, select the best alternative, prepare and document the plan, and execute the plan.

Looking at the components above let us take a common example of attempting turnaround poor grades in class. The first step here is to identify the desired destination or objective.

In this case it could be to achieve a CGPA of 3.5 as against a current position of 2.4.

Next stage is to identify enemies or stumbling blocks to this goal. Sometimes it may be friends that are close to your heart. You must be honest with yourself and identify them as such. You must point this out to yourself. It could be oversleeping, missing classes, lack of notes, poor attention to assignments etc.

Your next course of action may be to increase hours of study, reading time. You may also include reading groups, library research etc.

Put all the options that may help on the table

On and Off Campus

and then take your time to identify which is best suited to you and then adopt this.

Document the strategies you have chosen to adopt and you must get someone else to endorse this. It is very important that you must submit yourself to some form of accountability. You must have something you can make periodic reference to regarding your chosen method.

Having done all of this you are now faced with the hardest part of the entire process which is where many of us fail time and time again. Execution!

Deliberate success will not come by deliberate and strategic planning alone. It MUST have a robust execution! Over time the Question has raged on. Which is more important….strategic planning or execution?

It is very important to realize what execution is because execution involves following and acting in the necessary manner required to implement the ideas and items listed out in your strategic planning.

It is not just in doing however, it is in doing within the set timelines and deadlines you set for yourself. Therefore if you have documented in your plan to begin a thirty minutes daily revision program, then execution will involve the actual spending of the extra thirty minutes in revision. Not in sitting at the class, but in doing the actual act called revision! It is an execution if it does today what it has promised itself to do today.

Do not get me wrong, it certainly is not as easy as it sounds and involves a huge dose of discipline, but like all habits which obey the law of repetition, be sure that if you can hang on the entire process will become easier. The more you do the easier it becomes to do.

These tips are time tested and all you have to do to see if what we are sharing today is true is to look at the Fidelity Brand. It has taken many years of dedicated craftsmanship to build such a Force of Brand and this Brand is guarded fiercely and jealously. Many things are taken very seriously and indifference is seriously frowned upon. You also will find yourself being more conscious of what you do and you will frown at any unplanned negative attitude that has potential to undermine what you have worked hard to build.

In closing do not forget, If you are to enjoy deliberate success, you must be willing to live deliberately and intentionally. You must plan strategically and execute what you have planned.

Do this and do this extremely well and success will definitely flow to you.

Visit us!

Fidelity bank Plc. Branches Nationwide marketing .communications@fidelitybankplc.com

By Solomon Izekor 08061522600

•The cadets during the passing-out parade

Cadets get new commander

T

HE University of Ado-Ekiti (UNAD) Peace Corps popularly called cadet, last week, held a passing-out parade as students defied examination tension to watch the ceremony, which took place at Adetutu hall.

The cadets had, recently, won the heart of many students by engaging the insecurity in the campus of university headon.

The event started around 11am after the arrival of the acting Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof Dada Adelowo, and the university Registrar. After the parade of the outgoing cadets, new Commanding Officer of the Peace Corps, Oluwatosin Ojo, was announced.

From Tunji Awe UNAD

The VC, in his speech, urged the students to shun vices that may cast slur on the integrity of the members. According to Prof Adelowo, the cadets have helped bring peace to the institution, therefore, he urged UNAD students to supports the group in their effort to ensure a peaceful atmosphere. The Students’ Union President, Olalekan Shittu, advised the cadet members to be studentfriendly.

Oluwatosin, in his speech, said: “I thank the school management and my colleagues for their support.” He promised a cordial relationship with the students and cultism-free agenda.

Students decry poor performance

T

HE 300-Level Accounting students in University of Calabar (UNICAL) have expressed their dissatisfaction over the poor performances in their semester results pasted recently. They claimed that factors such as inadequate treatment of subject matters accounted for the woeful performances.

Students who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE said poor use of English and unfriendly invigilation were part of the factors that

From Stanley Uchegbu UNICAL

caused their failure.

“Most lecturers taught us from the past papers and not from the examination syllabus. As a result, we were left with our fate in the exam hall,” said one of the students who craved anonymity. The students, however, promised to perform better in the subsequent exams if the course outlines are followed by the lecturers.

Varsity inaugurates union leaders

O

LABISI Onabanjo University (OOU) Students’ Union Government (SUG) was inaugurated last week. The new executive members were sworn in by the ViceChancellor of the institution, Prof Wale Olaitan, at a ceremony that took place at the university moot court.

Prof Olaitan urged the union to live up above board “given the free and fair atmosphere under which you were elected.” He also charged the union leaders to cooperate with the management of the school in achieving the aims of the institution. Prof Olaitan commended the

From Modestus Diko OOU

effort of the past SUG leaders for their diligence and hoped the present SUG would do better.

The new president of the union, Joel Oyeyiola, thanked the school management for its effort during and after the elections.

He equally pledged to govern with fear of God. Speaking with CAMPUSLIFE after the inauguration, the union Public Relations Officer, Ezekiel Adeniji, promised that the incoming leaders would make the students’ welfare their priority.

•Mr Lekan Otunfodurin, Editor, Nation on Sunday (in suit) with Mass Communication students from the Lagos State Polytechnic, during their visit to The Nation Corporate Headquarters recently.

37

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2011

EDUCATION

EKSU FILE

‘We want to make history with WAUG’

T

HE Vice-Chancellor (VC) University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Prof Is-haq Oloyede, has appealed to corporate organisations and well-meaning Nigerians for support the university in hosting the 2012 West African University Games (WAUG) coming up next January.

Oloyede said UNILORIN is set to make history with the competition and set a record in hosting the sport meet.

“We intend to make WAUG a huge success.We are soliciting support from well wishers who can assist in improving on our campus. As I speak to you, we have awarded contract for the renovation of the indoor sports hall, pavillion, and tracks,” he said.

Oloyede spoke when he visited the corporate headquarters of The Nation in Matori, Mushin on Monday. He was accompanied by Mr

By Adegunle Olugbamila

Ayo Sijuwola, Bursar; Mr Ademola Adesiyun, an engineer and Director, Physical Planning Unit; Mr Ojubanire Abdulfatai, Protocol Officer and Dr MahFouz Adedimeji, Deputy Director, Directorate of Information and Protocol.

The university won the right to host the competition four years ago after the last edition hosted by the University of Ghana, Legon. He, however, added that owing to certain reasons, the competition initially scheduled for December, will now hold in January.

The reasons may not be unconnected to funding as he said that five months to the games, the university has only realised about N250 million – a far cry from the N1.2 billion projected for the sport fiesta.

He said: “We projected N1.2 billion and so far we have realised

N250 million which is a drop in the ocean compared to what we need.

ETF (Education Task Fund) gave us N100 million, Globacom gave us N25 million, Sports ministry has also promised us some money.

“But we have commissioned an agent that will do the marketing for the games. I have been meeting some of our benefactors and we are only hopeful that whatever is given to us, we are going to utilise it judiciously in such a way that our benefactors will be impressed. We are not just for the games but creating appropriating facilities on campus so that our students can have the best of sporting facilities for sporting activities.”

On UNILORIN’s chances at the forthcoming games, Oloyede said: “My projection is that we wouldn’t perform badly. But my major concern is how to host everybody and be fair to them and ensure that the

Science lab grads get licence

•Prof Oloyede

competition is free and fair to all,” he said.

WAUG is an international sports meet which rotates among member countries once in every four years.

Jobs await 10 scholars

I

T is not common in modern day Nigeria for students to be offered jobs before completing their education.

Call it a re-enactment of what obtained in the “70s when students had jobs waiting for them before graduation and it would aptly describe the case of 10 scholars who leave for the United Kingdom and the United States for their Masters this month on the bill of NNPC/NAPIMS and Esso Exploration Production Nigeria Limited (EEPNL), a subsidiary of ExxonMobil.

The 10, nine males and one female – all graduates of public universities – were told to consider working for Mobil after their masters in world class universities during the 2011 Esso International Postgraduate Scholarship awards held at the Black Diamond Hotel, Victoria Island last Wednesday.

The recipients are: Olaronke Popoola (BSc Chemical Engineering, University of Lagos); Olufola Moninuola (BSc Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife); Olayemi Okewole (BSc Geology, OAU); Nnamdi Okani (BSc Geology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri); and Oluwafemi Famuyide (BSc Chemical Engineering, UNILAG).

Others are: Koko-ete Obott (BSc Mechanical Engineering, UNILAG); Stanley Opara (BSc Electrical and Electronics Engineering, UNILAG); Olufisayo Fagbowore (BSc Chemical Engineering, OAU); Chinonyerem Choko (BSc Automotive/Mechanical Engineering, FUTO), and Jadeed Beita (BSc Mechanical Engineering, Ahmadu Bello

NUC lauds facilities

•From left: (seated) Norman Hill, Mr Kenny Obateru of NAPIMS, Mrs Gloria Essien-Danner, General Manager Public and Government Affairs, Mobil and Mr Ayo-Vaughan with the scholars

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

University Zaria).

Though they are not bonded by the scholarship to work for Mobil, Mr Jide Ayo-Vaughan, General Manager, Nigerian Deep Water Operations, told them the firm would monitor their progress and welcome them with open arms after their programmes.

For making it out of more than 2,000 First Class and Second Class Upper degree holders that wrote the aptitude tests for the scholarship in June, Ayo-Vaughan added that they were special and counsel them to remain focused during their programmes.

He said: “I have no doubt that all

of you will do very well in your education. I want to lobby you to consider working for Mobil when you return. Statistically, 70 per cent of the scholars come back to work for Mobil. But I want more of you to come back to us. Please come back to Nigeria to work. In the short term it is okay but over the years there are more opportunities here.

The best they can give you over there is the Green Card but you still remain a second class citizen.”

Getting the scholarship means a lot to the recipients, but more so to their parents, mostly represented by mothers at the event. Save for Olaronke who said her parents had planned for her to study for her masters abroad even without a

scholarship, for others, their parents could not have been able to fund the programmes from their meager finances.

Being a public school teacher, Mrs Alice Fagbowore, said she falls in the second category and told her son, Fisayo when he gained admission to study in the United Kingdom last year that she could not raise a fraction of the N2 million he was asking for.

“Last year, they took him at Nottingham University and he said I should go and bring N2 million, and I told him I cannot raise even N200,000. But now, the financial aspect has been settled. I know it is the favour of God,” she said.

Ogun prepares blueprint on tertiary education

A

BLUE print for remoulding all tertiary institutions in Ogun State has been prepared by the Bureau for Tertiary Institutions (BTI).

The blue print, a “Comprehensive Review of Challenges of Tertiary Education,” outlines ways of eradicating cultism, improving teaching and learning, staff remunerations, library development, funding and infrastructural development at Olabisi Onabanjo University, AgoIwoye, Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta and seven others.

It was prepared by BTI in conjunction with heads of tertiary institutions. The team was headed by the Executive Secretary, BTI, Prof Kayode Oyesiku.

Briefing The Nation about the document, Oyesiku, the immediate past Vice-Chancellor, TASUED, said BTI

NIGERIA will develop if scientists are honest and competent, the Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Science Laboratory Technology (NISLT) Dr Ighodalo Ijagbone has said.

He spoke at the admission and the induction of new Science Laboratory Technology graduates into NISLT at the Odua auditorium of the University of AdoEkiti (now Ekiti State University).

At the event, 54 graduates where received their practising licences and professional certificate.

Ijagbone said the sectoral goal of the institute was to use science and technology to drive the economy in line with the notion that Knowledge-Based Economy (KBS) should be driven by science and technology.

The Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof Emmanuel Dada Adelowo, pledged that the university would construct a departmental complex for the institute.

Adelowo added that the university would get a certificate of exclusion from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) secretariat for the graduates.

Earlier, the Dean of the Faculty of Science, Prof Joshua Kayode, had admonished the graduates to be well behaved and observe their professional ethics at all times.

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

is committed to transforming higher education in Ogun.

According to him, the Bureau intends to do this “through continuous monitoring and evaluation of the activities of the ten state-owned higher institutions.”

Oyesiku noted that the present government inherited salaries arrears of N2.8billion, but advised principal officers of the institutions to demonstrate responsibility in the discharge of their duties. He added that their welfare is being looked into.

He expressed the hope that if the new revenue formula being proposed by President Goodluck Jonathan is approved by the National Assembly; more funds may be available for states to cater for the educational needs of their people.

He said: “The Federal Government

funds University of Lagos monthly to the tune of N680 million; University of Ibadan, N740 million. While University with student’s population of 22,000 receives N680m monthly, University of Ibadan with a population of 20,000 students gets N740m monthly.

“The 10 tertiary institutions in Ogun with a combined student population of 71,000 only get N340 million to cater for 71,000. These are salient issues that should be of interest to readers. And that is why government must continue.

“Good enough, President Goodluck Jonathan has initiated the move to review revenue sharing formulae and if what is in the press is anything to go by, the Federal Government that has 60 per cent before is likely to have a little above 30 per cent and state that has 26 will have 35 per cent.

“If this can be considered and ap-

• Oyesiku

proved the federal lawmakers, more money may be available to states to meet the educational need of people.”

A National Universties Commission (NUC) team led by Mr Musa Samina has expressed satisfaction with the students support services and facilities in the university.

Speaking during a visit to the university, Samina said the team inspected laboratories, entrepreneurship centre, sports facilities and observed a lot of improvement.

He advised the university to establish recreational points for relaxation of students and improve on sporting facilities.

The Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof Adelowo, told the visitors that the management has extended time of the provision of electricity to students on campus till 11pm daily, saying, this will allow them to have more time to study.

He urged NUC to further find ways of advising the Federal Government to participate more in the funding of state universities.

According to him, a state university produces human resources for the country not for the state where it is based.

Council visits medical college THE Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) has told the management of the university that the government should improve on the infrastructure at the College of Medicine and maintain the student quota.

The Council’s team leader, Prof E.J.C. Nwanna, told the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof Adelowo, that the visit was to guide the college in adopting best practices.

Nwanna noted that medical education is capital intensive, adding that graduates should be groomed to be able to practice anywhere in the world.

He said that the government and the university must fund the medical school properly and expressed confidence in the abilities of the Provost, Prof. G.J. Esan.

“With Prof. Esan, we can go to bed without losing our sleep because he is capable,” Prof.

Nwanna.

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2011

38

EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP

GRADUATION

Indomie announces PG Scholarship

T

WELVE postgraduate students of Nutrition will benefit from this year’s Indomie National Postgraduate Nutrition scholarship Award.

Public Relations Manager, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, makers of Indomie Instant Noodles, Mr Tope Ashiwaju, said the scholarship was instituted three years ago for students studying Nutrition and Dietetics at masters’ level.

“We are assisting and collaborating with select universities in the training of high-level Nutrition and Dietetics professionals and can only hope that over a period of time, this initiative will produce a critical mass of highly trained nutritionists that will continue to sustainably chart and guide the way to optimum nutrition for all Nigerians.”

Ashiwaju said the scholarship is open to all students qualified for the MSC Programme in Nutrition

and Nutrition/Dietetics in universities and would be presented to shortlisted candidates from each of the six geo-political zones and the Federal Capital Territory.

He advised eligible candidates to apply to the organisation, providing their names; photocopy of admission letter into the programme and application for admission; with details of their educational history; certificate of state of origin obtained from the appropriate local government area and duly signed by the Chairman or Secretary, and photocopy of NYSC certificate by August 31.

In addition to sponsoring students, Ashiwaju said the organisation also supports institutions offering Nutrition to provide quality education for students. He said very few universities offer nutrition at the degree and masters’ level, a situation which has led to very small number of professionals in the field.

APPROACHING DEADLINES Full-time Master’s degree Scholarships for applicants from Nigeria at University of Westminster in UK-2011 Study Subject: Any Employer: University of Westminster Level: Masters Scholarship Description: Full tuition fee waivers for January start courses only. Eligibility: You must and hold an offer for a full-time Master’s degree and be a student from Nigeria. Criteria: Academic excellence, financial need and development potential.

Scholarship Application Deadline: 01 November 2011 Scholarship programme for national and international students at University of Ilorin, Nigeria Study Subject: Any Subject Employer: University of Ilorin Level: Undergraduate, Masters Scholarship Description: University of Ilorin, Ilorin, offers scholarship opportunities for International Students in any field of their interest. The offer is opened to both undergraduate and graduate up to Master level.

Scholarship Value: a. Tuition fees will be covered; b. Subsistence allowance; c. Miscellaneous allowance; d. Free accommodation; e. Transportation allowance to and from Ilorin (once per session); f. Complimentary access to the facilities of the University Health Services.

Eligibility i.Undergraduate: Applicant must meet the admission requirements of the University i.e. 5 credits ‘O’ level or its equivalent for candidate seeking admission to the first year of the first degree programmes and two ‘A’ level plus 3 ‘O’ level credits (or its equivalent) for candidates seeking admission into the second year of the programme. ii.Graduate: Applicants must meet admission requirements of Master programme of the University i.e. Second Class Honours, (Upper Division) or the equivalent in the bachelor degree.

Additional Requirements a Evidence of medical fitness and b Submit evidence of proficiency in English Language.

Scholarship Application Deadline: 27 September 2011

Proprietor seeks govts’ support

T

HE Proprietor of Palace Tulips Montessori Schools, Ojota, Lagos, Mr Adebanji Adeniyi, has asked all tiers of government to extend support to private schools.

If such help is not forthcoming, Adeniyi suggested that public schools be upgraded to meet 21st century standards.

Speaking at the 12th graduation/ prize giving of the school, Adeniyi said: “Government has done much for the public schools, but definitely not to the private schools as a result of proliferation of schools today. The standard of education is very important; government should find a way to up grade the

standard of public schools and extend the largesse to the private schools. But the quality is nothing to write home about today.”

To pay more attention to quality, Adeniyi advised the government to set up body at the grassroots in conjunction with Local Education Authority to monitor standard and quality services.

Highlights of the ceremony were cultural dance of the major tribes, choreography, News presentation, poems, fashion, drama, parade, kings and queens display among others. Thirty-one graduands were celebrated – 16 from Nursery, six – Primary, and JSS 3 – 6 respectively.

•The graduands on Friday

‘Morality is crux of traditional education’

T

O sustain morality in schools, the nation must rethink its stand on traditional education, according to a public analyst, Dr Helen Anyanwu.

Speaking at the valedictory and prize giving of Early Life Schools FESTAC Town, Lagos, Dr Anyanwu, who spoke on Surviving in a depressed economy, defined indigenous education as a pre-colonial kind of education which priortises human values and holds every adult responsible for the education of children in the community irrespective of their biological relationships.

She added that indigenous education aside teaching values also espoused the great deeds of heroes, and advocated self-reliance.

“In traditional education, every activity was a learning environment. In the pre-colonial era, there was what we called tales by moonlight. Most of the tales given children after each day’s work talk of heroic deeds of many African warriors and their exploits and that is what we call History today. Some make references to rivers and mountains and hills which we call Geography. Some talk about how leaves could be applied for healing which we call Medicine. Some talk about farming that we call Agricul-

By Adegunle Olugbamila

ture today and so on. Others Oral Literatures which harp on cleanliness of the environment that we call environmental sanitation and cooking which is also considered Home Economics, and so on,” she said.

She however, lamented that thing have changed over the years.

“But, unfortunately, today, there is a disconnect between traditional education and Western education because the latter had taken over the former. Children of today no longer learn indigenous education.

Rather, they are bred on two things: God, which they learned in their respective religious houses and, chaos, which Western education taught them. That’s why our tertiary institutions produce graduates who still look for white collar jobs despite their claims that they have adjusted their curricular to producing all-round graduates.

Anyanwu told the graduands to aspire to acquire the kind of education that will transcend what they would have acquired in any tertiary institutions noting, “The education that you need should make you flexible to adapt to any discipline. But to have this, you need lots of hard work, prayer and also read motivational books which will give you

the right strategy to life’s approach.

The school’s Proprietor, Mr Innocent Nwokeji, seized the opportunity to announce to parents the coming on stream of another nursery and primary arm of the school that is now at completion stage at Iba in Ojo area.

“Early Life Schools is close to 21 years. Parents, especially those who know our ability, but are far away from us, especially at Ojo area, had always advised us to open a branch there which we have done. But instead of going into secondary, we decided to go for nursery and primary to replicate what we did here 21 years ago. The Iba branch will be started in September 19 this year.

We’ve done 95 per cent of the job.

The remaining five per cent we shall round up before September by God’s grace,” he said.

The event had started with a short service led by Rev Father Anthony Obadina church.

Earlier, the school Principal, Mr Onyema Onyenakeya, said the theme of the graduation, The celebration of Excellence, was to show gratitude to God for the school which, over its 20 years of existence, has produced graduates in various disciplines that are making their marks and making the school proud.

Choose less competitive course, pupils urged

P

UPILS of Logic International School, Egbado, Lagos have been urged to be the best in their chosen careers.

Addressing the pupils during their graduation at Adfarm Events Hall, Alakuko, Lagos, Director of Studies Mr Friday Owolabi, counselled them to save time by choosing less competitive courses.

He said: “Don’t waste time studying competitive and highly-rated courses such as Medicine, surgery and Banking. Chemistry, pharmacology, cell biology – these are good courses that are not highly rated.

What should be your greatest desire is to be the best wherever you are.

You can study English for your first Degree and Law as second Degree. It has always been my desire that whichever course, whatever way I should be the best,” he said.

Owolabi also advised them to seek higher education.

“This is the beginning of your life; don’t limit yourself to low level education or middle class such as Senior School Certificate (SSCE), National Certificate of Education (NCE) in-

By Seun Olalude

stead pursue higher education such as B.sc, Masters; and PhD. Above all, aim to be the best in your career This will help you to stand tall amidst your colleagues,” he said.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the occasion, Mr Lateef Niyi Ajani, urged parents to cater for their children’s well being as learning starts from the home.

His words: “Learning starts from birth. You can’t remove the home from learning. A child who left home without food will be redundant. Parents always seek after your children’s well being by asking about their welfare no child can be successful without advance planning.”

Similarly, he urged graduands to reciprocate by performing well academically.

“Your parents are providing your needs, you should reciprocate by doing well in your academics. This will encourage your parents to do more,” he advised.

The guest speaker, a Pastor at Liv-

ing Faith, Mr Albert Ajibare, advised parents to monitor their children’s work.

“Our parents are more after money than the welfare of their children. Parents leave their responsibilities to teachers to do. Teachers can’t do everything.

“Parents always make sure you go through your children’s homework; you don’t leave that to teachers to do. When I was a banker, I used to get home late at night. I make sure they drop their work books on the centre table so that when I come the first thing is to go through their work,” he said.

He urged parents to teach wards moral living.

“Train your children on the importance of house care; don’t wait until they have grown to know all themselves. Teach your child in the way of the Lord which will bring honour to you at the end,” he said.

A pupil in Basic Six, Obaloluwa Omole presented a poem entitled: Don’t give up, which he said, was to the graduands never to give up whenever confronted with challenges.

39

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2011

EDUCATION GRADUATION

Proprietor advocates integrity

By Kemi Runsewe

P

•Wellspring graduands presenting their song

Imbibe what you learnt, principal tells pupils

T

WENTY-NINE pupils of Wellspring College, Omole Phase II, Lagos, have passed out of the school.

They were feted with special dance presentations, songs, drama, and choreography during a valedictory service/prize giving.

The pupils entertained guests with a song on the occasion.

Counsel was not lacking at the event.The Principal, Mrs Oluwayemisi Oloriade reminded them not to forget what they learnt when faced with challenges.

“It is my belief that the students we are sending off today have been properly baked and equipped to face challenges that our ever challenging world will pose to them. I, therefore, challenge the outgoing

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

students to go out there to shine forth as lights in the midst of darkness and evil that pervade our society. You can only manifest as sons and daughters of God if you allow yourselves to be ruled by the fear of God as you have been taught in Wellspring College,” she said.

Also speaking, Mr Daniel Isimoya, chief executive officer of Management Science Centre, the proprietors of Wellspring College counselled the graduands to trust and obey as only if they do will light shine on their paths through life.

Giving his valedictory speech, outgoing Head Boy Emmanuel AminuAyinde woowed the audience made up of parents, teachers, pupils, guests and former students, with the way

his sentences rhymed as if he was reciting a poem. Nevertheless, his message was clear as he urged his colleagues to remain determined.

“Being in Wellspring has taught me that determination is the only motivation that can bring the connection to your destination,” he said.

He also praised the principal and the teachers for their roles in moulding the graduates aright.

In an interview with The Nation, one of the out going pupils said the school has been influential in teaching him with moral values.

“I had a very nice time here. I have learnt to be god-fearing. They told us God is the key to our success,” he said.

The event, however, was not

only about the outgoing pupils. Other pupils who distinguished themselves academically and other aspects of school life were rewarded with prizes. Among them was Steve Asika who cleared most of the subject prizes for JSS2. His father, Mr Arthur Asika proudly carried an arm-load of his 12 prizes as he left the venue.

He said it was a repeat performance for Steve, who achieved similar feat last year. What was different this year however, was that his father witnessed it.

“I was not here last year when he won all the prizes. And the school called me to complain. I promised him I would be here this year but that he must be ready to repeat the outstanding performance, which he did. I will still organise a party for him and present him with a gift for his achievement,” he said.

ROPRIETOR , Prince with God Nursery, Primary and Secondary School, Mushin, Lagos Mr Idowu Oku-Pevi, has identified integrity as a weapon that pupils need to imbibe.

He spoke at the 25th anniversary and graduation of Nursery 2 and Primary 6 pupils.

He said: “Integrity is that additional, distinct attribute we try to teach our students before they graduate. That way, we are sure that we are sending out students with a unique package.”

Oku-Pevi said what makes the school standout is that the management ensures that aside school activities, the pupils are made to know God and have integrity. He cited cases were teachers try to help pupils pass examinations and they refuse the offer.

Mr Peter Iyoha, Proprietor of P&P Schools, lauded the school’s performance and its the silver jubilee The Head Teacher, Prince Dipo Odewole, also said: “Anyone placed in a position to oversee others should not see himself as a boss otherwise that person is heading for failure. He should see himself as a colleague so that there can be effective communication and they can work together.

•Mr Idowu Oku-Pevi

Don advocates ICT-driven education

P

•Mrs Tayo Akingbologun presenting an award to the overall best graduating pupil of International School University of Lagos (ISL), during the school’s Valedictory service at the Multipurpose Hall, UNILAG

ARENTS have been advised to advocate the adoption of an Information Communication Technology (ICT) driven and learner-centred curriculum in schools.

A don, Dr Johnson Aleburu, gave the advice at the Valedictory of the Federal College of Education- Technical (FCE) Secondary School, Akoka, Lagos.

Aleburu, who spoke on Relevance of secondary school education in the 21st Century technological development, warned that education must evolve from teacher-centred learning to a situation where learners are stimulated to make their own discoveries.

He sought an education system that will engage the learners in all ramifications which he described as: “hands-on; minds-on; and heartson”.

“Today, we have unemployable

Educated women ‘vital to national growth’

T

HE Federal Government has advanced reasons for boosting girl-child educa-

tion.

Education Minister, Prof.

Raqquayatu Rufa’i, said at the Third Speech and Prize Giving of the Federal Government Girls’ College, Imiringi, Bayelsa State that, the government attaches great importance to girl-child education because of the enormous benefits of a literate female population to national economic development.

•FGGC seeks assistance From Isaac Ombe-Yenagoa

Represented by Mrs. Mabel Ozumba, the Director for Basic and Secondary education in the Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja, the Minister said education of the girl child is an important foundation for improved family life and that this results in improved maternal and family health.

“Informed women are passionate about the health and well-be-

ing of their families. Education of the girl-child is an easy way to achieve the Millennium Development Goals,” she said.

She noted that in addition to the law on gender equality enshrined in the 1999 constitution, the ministry on its part, has developed the national Gender Policy in Basic Education aimed at increasing access of the girlchild education.

She reaffirmed the Ministry’s

preparedness to reposition Unity Colleges and restore them to their former glory.

The Principal of the College, Mrs Daunemigha Alaere, however lamented that the excellent academic performance of the school is being thwarted by lack of infrastructural and modern facilities.

The Principal appealed to stakeholders to come to its aid.

“Stakeholders of the College should not relent in their financial support in order to move the college forward”, she said.

By Kemi Runsewe

graduates. The PTA should push for the redesign of technology education curriculum. Computer laboratory, Physics laboratory, Chemistry laboratory, arts studio, IntroTech laboratory should be equipped with ICT-driven equipment. In the civilised world, the system of education has shifted from teacher-centered learning to student-centered learning,” he said.

He added that in the 21st century, students are expected to communicate effectively, analyse and interpret data, understand computation modelling, manage and priortise task, engage in problem solving and ensure security and safety.

Oluwatosin Ehuwa, who was the overall best graduating pupil of FCE Secondary School in her speech, underscored the importance of technological development to secondary education given the importance of that level of education.

She said: “Consequently, if characters are formed and destinies are shaped at the level of secondary education, it means that there must be the technological support to facilitate this and help the child in making the right choices.”

The Principal of FCE, Mrs. Esther Adekunbi said that she hoped that presenting prizes to the best students will ignite others students to work hard to be the best and encourage guardians and parents to render necessary help their children.

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2011

40

EDUCATION EDUTALK

Four-year transformation plan for education coming

A

FOUR-YEAR Strategic Plan to reform the education sector is under way, Education Minister, Prof Ruqayyatu Rufa’i has said.

The plan is in line with the transformation agenda of President Gooluck Jonathan, she said.

Mrs Rufa’i spoke at a retreat on the President’s transformation agenda (2011-2015), organised for Directorate Staff of the Federal Ministry of Education, heads of parastatals, agencies, vice-chancellors, Rectors, provosts and principals of Federal Unity colleges.

She said it was important the transformation agenda started with education because of the people’s expectation from the managers and supervisors of education.

“Education is a major instrument that can best be utilised to build sustainable economy and a viable society. This is why education remains the key agent of the desired transformation. It follows logically, therefore, that the national transformation must start with education,” she said.

Mrs Rufa’i explained that the agenda is being developed to encapsulate the lofty ideas spelt out in the president’s focus- driven plan with measurable targets and time-

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja liness.

She said two priority areas to be tackled would include strengthening the institutional management of education and teacher education and development, adding that attention would also be put into Technical and Vocational education and training as well as Guidance and Counselling and Quality Assurance.

The minister informed that because of the push for transformation, the ministry has forwarded a draft bill for the enactment of an Act for the establishment of a National Education Quality Assurance Commission.

“I recall that the issue of quality was raised during my screening in the Senate and I assured the distinguished senators that the issue will be addressed.

“Meanwhile, prior to the finalisation of the four-year strategic plan, we shall hit the ground running with a 100-Day Action Plan (July-October 2011), in compliance with the President’s directive.”

She said the retreat will examine areas, such as roles and responsibility of the two ministers, policies, programmes and projects, financing transformation agenda for economic growth and development,

Singleterm for principal officers

O •Prof Rufa’i

code of conduct, ethics and values as well as private sector expectation for the new cabinet.

Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, urged participants at the retreat to prepare for the task of reform by being committed more to deliver on the president’s mandate.

He said: “All of us are conversant with the decay in the public education system. We cannot deny the fact that there is great public dissatisfaction with the progressive deterioration in quality in our public schools at all levels.”

•Mrs Laikoiki of Greensprings School, Anthony, Lagos presenting a cheque to Ganiyu Temitope, who is supported by his family

Pupils get church’s scholarship

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UPILS attending public secondary schools in Ilupeju, Lagos, do not have to worry about funding for their tertiary education.

All they have to do is gain admission into any university, polytechnic or college of education and alert the Fountain of Life Church (FOLC), Ilupeju – and pronto – they will get a scholarship under the church’s Education Support Project (ESP).

Four former pupils of Ilupeju Senior Secondary School and one from Estate Senior Grammar School were presented with cheques of undisclosed amounts during this year’s ESP Awards held at Estate Junior Grammar School, Ilupeju.

The all-males beneficiaries studying at the University of Lagos are: Afolabi Bello (Psychology), Emeagwai Kanayo (Philosophy), Abiodun Raji (Mechanical Engineering), Victor Olabode (Petroleum and Gas Engineering) and Temitope Ganiyu (Surveying and Geoinfomatics).

If they maintain a Cumulative

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

Grade Point Average of 3.50, they will enjoy the scholarship throughout their course.

The first recipient of the scholarship, Echono Patricia Ada, a former pupil of Estate Senior Grammar School, who graduated in Mathematics from the Benue State University in 2009 enjoyed that privilege.

Senior Pastor of FOLC, Pastor Taiwo Odukoya, whose speech was read by Pastor Femi Megbope, said he was proud of the recipients. He urged others to emulate them by working hard to gain admission.

“At present, we have six students on scholarship in universities in Nigeria and we are proud to say that they are doing very well. Today, five more deserving students will join them. We congratulate the parents of all the students receiving scholarships today. To the deserving students, go forth and make us proud; and to the other students, continue striving to make something great of your lives,” he said.

One of the recipients, Kanayo

with

said he was motivated by the opportunity of the scholarship to work hard to make his WASSCE and gain admission. He added that attending a public school does not reduce chances of gaining admission.

“I feel happy. I heard about the scholarship since my SS1 days. It has been a source of encouragement, especially when it had to do with my WASC result. I believe I was capable of meeting the target.

There is no barrier or limitation that can stop you. I tell my roommates it is only me that can stop myself,” he said.

The occasion also served as platform to reward deserving teachers while the junior arms of the four public schools were presented with science kits.

Twelve teachers from Ilupeju Senior Grammar School, Estate Senior Grammar School, Ilupeju Secondary School and Estate Junior Grammar School were presented with the best teachers’ awards for the 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 sessions, while three principals who retired in the same periods got plaques.

UR leaders are currently Kofoworola embroiled in a debate over President Goodluck Belo-Osagie Jonathan’s single-term proposal. Whether it is adopted or Kofosagie@yahoo.com not is not the focus of this trea08054503077 (SMS only) tise, but I think all tertiary institutions should adopt single terms for principal officers. Already, Federal Universities allow Vice-Chancellors to serve only one five-year term at the end of which the office is vacant for another to occupy.

Before this was adopted, a lot of Vice-Chancellors got into trouble – usually during their second term. I learnt that this was the case at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, where Prof Michael Faborode, who left office in June, was one of the few of the nine Vice-Chancellors of the university to complete his tenure.

When principal officers serve single-terms, their energies are focused on making the best of the time they have. Invariably, they are saved the distraction of seeking an extension of their time in office and making enemies along the line.

Some state universities are beginning to see the wisdom in this system. From inception, the Osun State University (UNIOSUN) adopted the method, so, the pioneer Vice-Chancellor, Prof Sola Akinriade will wrap up his tenure next year and will not seek reappointment as stipulated by the university’s laws.

The Governing Council of the Lagos State University (LASU) is also thinking along this line. Members are suggesting that the fiveyear single term may help the university achieve the stability that has eluded it for many years now.

Another area where state-owned tertiary institutions can learn from their federal counterpart is to reduce interference by the proprietors. We all know that Federal Universities enjoy greater stability not only because they are better funded but because they enjoy greater level of autonomy than those owned by state governments.

Very few state-owned universities are free from the clutch of the government of the day or can rise above tribalism. The ‘tiwa n tiwa’ (our own) mentality has eaten deep into the operations of many of these institutions and has adversely affected how decisions such as appointments to crucial positions, recruitment, remunerations, and promotions are managed.

While I am not saying Federal-owned institutions are totally free from problems of tribalism, they fare better than their state-owned counterparts. For instance, the University of Lagos(UNILAG) can be headed by a Yoruba Vice-Chancellor from any of the Southwest states. However, that is not the case in state institutions. A son of the soil, even if not the best qualified for the job, will be favoured above a stranger. As a result, we have professionals from other parts of the country who have glass ceilings over their career development when they work in institutions away from their homes. I have heard of a case where a particular woman acted as the Chief Librarian of a state-owned institution twice when the office was vacant. However, in both cases, an outsider who held the ‘indigeneship’ card of the state was made the substantive librarian – just because she came from elsewhere.

It is true I mentioned that Federal-owned institutions are better in terms of nepotism. However, unlike years ago when many of the institutions were founded and experts from various parts of the country were posted to give them the needed stability, nowadays, it is difficult, if not impossible, to find that the leaders of these institutions are appointed from outside their geopolitical zones.

We need to get to a point where we ignore such limiting criteria and be open and honest in our assessments of who deserves to get what – in the interest of progress, excellence, development. If we can do so, we will soon have round pegs in all our round holes and save ourselves time and resources needed to get to our desired destinations.

Back to state-owned institutions. Undue interference by political leaders in the running of universities is causing a lot of instability.

Rather than governments following due process, they take decisions arbitrarily without regard for laid down laws. This has resulted in unnecessary elongation of academic calendars because enraged workers would go on strike. For our institutions to develop, we really need to revisit how we do things.

‘Very few state-owned universities are free from the clutch of the government of the day or can rise above tribalism. The ‘tiwa n tiwa’ (our own) mentality has eaten deep into the operations of many of these institutions and has adversely affected how decisions such as appointments to crucial positions, recruitment, remunerations, and promotions are managed’

SLIDING TACKLE

42

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Pele praises Neymar's talent

Brazil football legend, Pele stating that Santos forward, Neymar has the potential to be great like Messi, Kaka or Ronaldo.

Chelsea's pre-season form excites Torres

Barca set to make new Fabregas bid •Cristiano Ronaldo

•Neymar

Man City will welcome Tevez back —Silva

D

AVID Silva says Manchester City would welcome wantaway striker Carlos Tevez back to the club with open arms.

Tevez revealed his desire to leave the club for a second time at the end of last season, claiming he wants to be closer to his family.

A move back to former club Corinthians earlier in the summer failed to materialise due to the close of the Brazilian transfer window.

And now Silva believes his help that." team-mates will not show any would As well as Tevez wanting to bitterness towards Tevez, and leave the Etihad Stadium, says the Argentine can still be a fellow forward Mario Balotelli key player for Roberto Mancini's men.

He was quoted as saying by The Sun: "Carlos has to return and that's great.

"He's a very important player for us.

"I don't think we'll have a problem. We know Carlos well. If he stays, great.

"There are a lot of competitions and we hope to play well in all of them. He

Walcott's home burgled during Barca game

OTHER SPORTS...OTHER SPORTS...OTHER SPORTS...OTHER SPORTS...

Serena wins Bank of the West as first title comeback

recently admitted he is unhappy in England and that he does not like living in Manchester.

•Fabregas

I'll stay with AC Milan until 2014 - Pato

43

THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2011

e-Business Across the world, nations are deploying huge financial resources in technologies, particularly satellite, to deepen ICT penetration among citizens and bridge the digital divide. Nigeria is about to become a leader in communication technology with the NigComSat-1R, a communication satellite due for launch this December. ADLINE ATILI examines the implications for Nigeria’s digital future and experts’ recommendations in making the project a success

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ID you watch TV today? Did you make a telephone call, talk on your mobile phone, send an SMS, Instant Message or listen to the radio in your car? Did you read the weather forecasts in the newspaper? If yes, then most probably, a communication satellite was used. In today’s world, it is certainly difficult to go through the day without using a communication satellite one way or the other.

According to the Britannica Encyclopaedia, communication satellites allocate radio, television and telephone transmissions to be conveyed everywhere in the world. If we did not have satellites, transmissions would be problematic and often impossible at long distances. The signals, which travel in straight lines, could not curve to mould around the earth (which is spherical) to reach a target far away.

Satellites are in orbit for this purpose. The signals are sent immediately into space and then retransmitted to another satellite, where they are then sent unswervingly to their destination.

Satellites have unique characteristics which make them particularly useful for everyday life.

Experts argue that they can deliver a wide range of Information Society services—interactive TV, mobile broadband Internet access, navigation services, weather prediction, military intelligence, space exploration, scientific studies and more—to areas other systems cannot reach, thus helping to bridge the digital divide.

Since the middle of the 20th century, satellite technology has evolved from being technical marvel to essential components of industrialised societies. According to analysis by experts, of the operational satellites in space today, more than half are dedicated to telecommunications uses. These satellites complement terrestrial communications network, enabling people across the globe to communicate.

Due to their unique advantage of large coverage range, and independence from most terrestrial network failures, satellites are strategic assets for ensuring continuous information flow among people, businesses and governments when terrestrial network connections are disrupted. Because communication in today’s society has become highly technical, more and more satellites are launched each year to expand the capability of simplifying communication.

Nigeria in 2003 joined the the league when it launched its NIGERSAT- 1. In 2007, it launched the second satellite, the NigComSat-1. This satellite, unfortunately, was de-orbited in 2008 because of anomaly in its solar arrays.

In 2009, the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, the Nigerian Communications Satellite Ltd. (NigComSat Ltd.) and the China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC) signed a contract in Beijing for the inorbit delivery of the NigComSat-1R satellite, to replace the NigComSat-1.

According to NigComSat Ltd, the replacement satellite has a modification on the payload which will provide the most optimal and cost effective voice, data, video, Internet and application service and solutions.

The target applications of NigComSat-1R include but are not limited to: telecommunications, broadcasting, Internet, real-time monitoring services, navigation and global positioning systems.

Managing Director of NigComSat

Communication satellite: Bridging the digital divide

•A geostationary orbit satellite

Ltd Timasaniyu Ahmed-Rufai said communications satellites are vital as national broadband backbone infrastructure for communication, adding that they will play an important role in the drive for broadband penetration nationwide.

He described the NigComSat-1R as, “a critical ICT backbone infrastructure to drive the national ICT revolution in providing cost effective solution and affordable access to meet the nation’s telecommunications, broadcast, aviation, maritime, defence and security needs and provide revenue diversification for the nation.”

He said: “Nigeria ’s teledensity is currently over 63 per cent with about 90.5 million active subscribers which has brought basic communications services to over 90 per cent of the people who now heavily depend on communications facilities for daily business and social interactions.

Broadband access is still a challenge.

“Connectivity is largely lacking and over 50 per cent of broadband Internet connections in Nigeria today are via satellite. Therefore, the NigComSat1R satellite communications technology is critical to expanding access and improving connectivity.”

According to Ahmed-Rufai, deploying wire-line infrastructure for last mile access and broadband connectivity, especially for remote and unserved communities in Nigeria would be nearly impossible because of costs.

He said this challenge can be addressed through deployment of wireless technologies such as broadband satellite and new generation mobile systems.

He said: “There is little future in last mile wire-line infrastructure as deployments based on wire-line infrastructure for rural and dispersed communities will be very difficult to

achieve and investments will be exceedingly costly and largely unaffordable. “ Nigeria can improve its connectivity access by taking advantage of major advancements in the wireless technologies such as broadband satellite from NigComSat-1R and new generation mobile systems for last mile deployments.”

Experts’ perspective President, Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON) Dr Chris Uwaje said Nigeria has potentials of accelerated development as the future belongs to ICT and knowledge is embedded in electronic sphere.

“ISPON is deeply passionate and concerned about the precarious state of our current and future knowledge industry, with particular reference to the software domain.

“It is, therefore, our professional opinion that our nation is faced with a monumental challenge on how to structure, configure and reposition Information and Communications Technology and especially, Software Nigeria, as a prime industry for nation building, economic survival national security and global competitiveness.

“They say knowledge begets knowledge; we want to see an army of satellite experts in this country; to make sure that people understand the benefit and criticality of the issue and role of satellite technology in the future of Nigeria,” he said.

Uwaje noted that the communication satellite domain represents a core deliverable for nation building, and in particular, its software components, adding that it is a fundamental mission that Nigeria must foster, promote and exploit the immense opportuni-

ties in communications satellite software solutions.

He recommended the establishment of cloud computing simulation centre for global early warning system (GEWS) with operational hub domiciled at the Nigerian Communications Satellite Ltd; establishment of a strategic framework for NigComSat software engineering research and development training centre; enlargement and empowerment of the NigComSat workforce to promote specialised creativity and deliver world-class and innovative solutions and collaboration with indigenous ICT professionals to ensure sustainability of the NigComSat-1R project.

Joe Anuga of the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Jos said Western colonialists were able to exercise extensive control over Africans because of the far-reaching advantages they had in communication technology.

He argued that up till now, Africa is currently being dominated in all spheres militarily, medically and educationally—due to control or near complete dominance of the communications technology space by the same Western powers.

He urged Nigeria to take its communication destiny in its hands or history will repeat itself.

He said: “European political conquest of the whole of West Africa was hinged on its extensive advantages in communication technology. The increased ubiquity of the Internet as a matrix for communication has made the central role of the communication satellite to become more easily recognised. In the context of our national diversity, NigComSat-1R is a critical component of national cohesion.

“NigComSat is central to achieving

the critical information flow and the strategic communications form to develop our political process as we seek to achieve our shared goals. The digital and wireless age has further given a great boost to the potentials of NigComSat-1R. The satellite will not only serve Nigeria but will transform the communications map of Africa .

The success of NigComSat-1R is definitely an important beacon pointing towards the success of the Fourth Republic as a democratic project in Nigeria .”

Immediate past President of the Nigeria Computer Society Prof. Charles Uwadia noted that satellite communication and other technology sub systems would be of immense benefit to Nigerians if the country maximises the benefits of technology convergence to strengthen the sustainability of the project for national development.

He maintained that promoting and sustaining the Nigerian satellite communication awareness with stakeholders remain an effective strategy for addressing technology convergence.

He urged the Federal Government to establish a technology convergence research centre for satellite and other technologies and empower ICT professionals to acquire international quality standards.

He added that support for indigenous software development and content was also crucial.

President of the Information Technology Association of Nigeria (ITAN), Dr Jimson Olufuye stressed that Nigeria must do everything possible to escape the ‘digital gulf’ as quickly as possible with complimentary satellite solutions as broadband access can easily be achieved over communications satellite infrastructure.

According to him, connecting more people to broadband and increasing Nigeria’s economic and technological competitiveness would only be realistic if the country deploys satellite solutions.

He said a significant segment of the country’s communication satellite bandwidth should be allocated as critical intervention to universities for research and development and massive development of local content.

This, he added, is extremely important and key to Nigeria ’s identity and preservation of culture in the information society.

“The issue is beyond just having a communication satellite. What we use it to do matters a great deal and how we sustain it and keep it working for the duration of its life-cycle (15 years) is very important.

“We need to address the digital gulf as quickly as possible to effectively measure its impact over time on our economy. While there is great enthusiasm for our new functional communication satellite, the challenge of appropriate use for business continuity is critical.

“Therefore, plans should commence as soon as possible for NigComSat-2.

Our security forces should be involved in this venture to meet our long-term security needs. Let us not forget that leading nations are spending big on their satellite projects and they do it for results. We too as we spend big must have our sight on the results which should be nothing more than boosting the socioeconomic and security well-being of our people,” Olufuye said.

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2011

44

e-Business

MTN introduces BlackBerry tariff plans

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TN Nigeria has introduced affordable BlackBerry service offerings that address wide range of consumer usage segments. According to the company, the offerings provide more service options and affordable pricing from as low as N450 per week.

The new BlackBerry offerings include the BlackBerry Social bundle, BlackBerry Messaging bundle and the Blackberry Quarterly Plan.

In a statement by the company, the BlackBerry Social bundle is for students who want to stay close to friends on a pocket-friendly budget.

This bundle provides access to Instant Messaging and social networking applications such as BlackBerry Messenger, Yahoo!

Messenger, Facebook, Twitter and MySpace as well as other social networking applications for as low as N450 a week or N1,500 a month.

It also provides an avenue for young professionals to access their business network via push email

•

for up to 10 email accounts and Instant Messaging applications.

Customers who require access to all day Internet service, push email, social networking and Instant Messaging on the BlackBerry are also served via the weekly, monthly and newly introduced BlackBerry Quarterly plan from MTN. General Manager, Consumer Marketing, Kola Oyeyemi said the plan was introduced to reward its loyal BlackBerry customers. He said customers can enjoy uninterrupted BlackBerry services for up to three months at a 10 per cent discount which comes to N8,000 instead of paying N9,000 for three months on the plan.

“In addition to these special packages, MTN has also introduced a promotional offering which makes it possible to get a one-month free BlackBerry Internet Service subscription with every BlackBerry device purchased for as low as N36,000 at any of our ‘Walk-in’ centres nationwide,” Oyeyemi added.

Abia, Omatek empower civil servants • From left: Managing Director of Microfone, Tajudeen Kareem; Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Capital Development Fund (NCDF), Tunde Oralusi; Head of Public Sector, Globacom, Tunde Amunikoro and Group Chief Operating Officer, Globacom, Mohamed Jameel at the signing of agreement for job creation between NCDF and Globacom.

Telecom chief urges Fed Govt to reform key sectors C

HAIRMAN of MainOne Cable Company Mr Fola Adeola has urged the Federal Government to reform key sectors of the economy to boost investors’ confidence and drive the economy.

Adeola, who delivered the lead paper at the broadband summit organised by the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) in Lagos, said investors will remain wary until they see political certainty and policy reforms in areas of dependencies such as power, security, ICT infrastructure, transportation infrastructure, education, preparedness of the workforce for skilled jobs, improved financial and capital market structures.

According to him, despite reports that Nigeria is forecast to lead global economic growth in the next decade, the impressive positive footprint gained in terms of the attractiveness of the market to Foreign Direct Investment has been eroding since 2009.

He noted that between 2009 and 2010, 60 per cent decline in Foreign Direct Investment to Nigeria was recorded, with total FDI standing at $2.3 Billion for the year 2010.

This, he said, has been attributed to

Stories by Adline Atili several socio-political and economic factors including failure of critical infrastructure, growing public insecurity and slow pace of core ICT development, technological innovation and unimpressive investment in infrastructure growth.

Adeola said if these factors are addressed, investor confidence will be renewed due to the investment potentials that are driven by the country’s growing population and strong human capital resources, and a high return on investment profile.

He maintained that going by reports, broadband would be a key driver of commerce and economic development, thus a veritable Foreign Direct Investment tool for the economy.

He said: “Future investment growth in the country would rely on investments in pervasive deployment of Information and Communications Technology infrastructure, particularly those that support the mass distribution of innovative broadband services critical to improved efficiency and overall productivity in both public and private enterprises.

“It is no longer news that, just as electricity a century ago, broadband is a foundation for economic growth, job creation, global competitiveness and a better way of life. It is enabling entire new industries and unlocking vast new possibilities for existing ones. It is changing how we educate children, deliver healthcare, manage energy, ensure public safety, engage government, and access, organise and disseminate knowledge.

“Broadband therefore represents a new frontier for investment in the Nigerian economy in the next decade. In this new dispensation, enterprises in Nigeria will need to deploy ICT technologies and solutions dependent on broadband services quite rapidly to remain globally relevant.

“Diverse investment opportunities will therefore continue to exist in broadband infrastructure, services and products, medium and content, amongst others.”

He recommended the establishment of an appropriate broadband policy that will lead to a favourable operating environment for investors and encourage service uptake to drive further investments in this direction.

Nigeria to benefit from Intel’s $100m support

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IGERIA is set to benefit from Intel Corporation’s annual $100m contribution to Information and Communications Technology in education worldwide.

Intel, a microchip technology company, has over the years, been a strong supporter and advocate of ICT in education and this it does through monetary contributions and support to select countries annually.

As part of its ongoing engagement with the Nigerian government, Intel’s Vice President and General Manager, Europe Middle East and Africa, Christian Morales will be visiting the country to commission a model Intel Teach and 1:1 learning school in Lagos in collaboration with the Lagos State government and the Rotary Club of Ikeja.

He will also unveil a dona-

tion classmate computers donated to the Lagos State government for use in the schools.

According to the company, the visit is to further strengthen the company’s commitment to Nigeria as a key partner in the emerging market of Africa and deepen its programmes in the country.

During his visit, Morales will meet with educators, government officials and stakeholders in the ICT industry as well as ecosystem partners on current engagements and partnerships. Simarly, the company is expected to look at new and future areas of engagement that will be mutually beneficial to it and Nigeria.

Morales in a statement said:

“Intel is committed to the goal of reaching the next three billon people worldwide and Nigeria is a critical part of this.

We will continue to partner with the Federal Ministry of Education and state governments, and other partners in Nigeria to train teachers on how to integrate technology into the classroom thereby making teaching and learning much easier and interesting.

“ICT helps prepare Nigerian students for a successful future. Access to education and technology increases the opportunities for the people of Nigeria. This is why we are working closely with the government on education initiatives in hopes that they will deliver real results in economic development and in the standard of living of citizens.”

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HE second phase of the Computer for All Abians initiative (CAAi), a computer acquisition scheme, has been re-launched. Fashioned after the Omatek e-Xpress, the initiative is designed to provide a convenient way to acquire computers by public servants in Abia State with a payment plan spread over 6 to 24 months.

The state Governor, Theodore Orji, said the re-launch of the CAAi scheme after its launch in 2007, re-affirms the government’s determination to ensure that all civil servants in the state are in tune with global trends.

He added that the scheme will go a long way in supporting the computerisation efforts of the government aimed at fostering good governance.

Addressing civil servants at the State Secretariat, Umuahia during the re-

launch, the State Commissioner for Science and Technology, Charles Nwator, lauded the initiative, urging civil servants in the state to take advantage of the opportunity of the Omatek computer acquisition scheme to enhance their capabilities in service delivery.

Group Managing Director of Omatek Ventures PLC, Florence Seriki said the company partnered with the Abia State government in introducing the CAAi initiative in furtherance of its commitment towards Information and Communications Technology development of Nigerians.

She noted that the partnership will help to foster an enduring ICT legacy in the state through technology transfer, skills development, research and development required to build a formidable civil service.

Nokia promises more dual SIM phones

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INNISH handset giant, Nokia, has declared that the first set of dual SIM phones launched in Nigeria and other markets are just the first in a range of dual SIM devices that will hit the market soon.

The company’s Head of Marketing, West Africa, Reuben Onwubiko, at the launch of the Nokia dual SIM phones in Lagos, said Nokia is not only leveraging on its culture of consistent innovation in the production of durable devices but has evolved dual SIM phones with its Dual SIMple proposition with the innovation of Nokia’s Easy Swap.

Also speaking, Product Manager of the company, Olumide Balogun said the phones’ Easy Swap feature means users can change SIM cards without switching off the phone.

“With the new Nokia dual SIM range, consumers can assign ring tones to each SIM card so they know

which SIM is being called. Consumers can also decide which phone to assign to calls, which to assign for browsing the Web or even which to use to send SMSs based on preferred operator.

“Features of the phones include microSD support up to 32GB, media player, 3.5mm AV connector, GPRS, camera, micro USB connector slot as well as the new Nokia Web browser which makes browsing faster and more affordable,” he said.

Head of Care, Nokia West Africa, Silvin Sinan said the phones come with Nokia’s proprietary Life Tools which give consumer access and tips on Agriculture, Education, Entertainment and Healthcare. Sinan, explained that these features and benefits are only available in genuine Nokia devices and advised Nigerians to avoid being conned into buying counterfeit devices under any guise.

Samsung launches solar netbook

S

AMSUNG Electronics West Africa, a consumer electronics firm has launched a10inch solar panel netbook, the Samsung NC215S. A lightweight portable device, the solar panel netbook delivers power and performance while being environmental-friendly.

Speaking at the launch in Lagos, Information Technology Director of the company, Chioma Iwuchukwu-Nweke described the netbook as a unique one with solar panel on the back with a 10-inch LCD screen, 1024 x 600-pixel display and 1.3kg in weight.

She added that the product comes with a Webcam, memory card slot, Ethernet, WiFi, and Bluetooth; adding that its six-cell

battery which lasts 15 hours, in addition to the solar panel on the lid, provides two extra hours of battery life.

According to her, the net book’s USB ports with sleep-and-charge function, can charge the device even if the computer is in sleep mode or turned off; adding that it can also do this, even if the battery is depleted, by using the solar panel.

She said: “The solar panel netbook is specifically designed for Africa, which boasts abundant sunlight, to help busy people who must work on-the-go, and for tech savvy individuals who seek to increase turn round time of their work. The product is packed with the latest mobile technology for optimised performance.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2011

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e-Business

Production Team: Femi Jolaolu, Lekan Hammed, Yomi Oseni, Ugo Ananaba, Mustapha Sulaimon, Dare Ojo, Lanre Malik Marketing: Adeline Atili, Nkechi Nwabaogu, Kemi Makinde, Lillian Nsi-Enodien, Mariam Adeyanju Edited by: O’seun Ogunseitan

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University researchers join in IT-based quest to reverse mass failure of Nigerian secondary school students

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OBILE phones may play a major role in the fight to reverse mass failure among secondary school students in Nigeria.

This hint emerged at different meetings between worried interests and leading education scholars and researchers last week The meetings, followed the release of phone-usable secondary school examination practice and tutorial software for free download on the internet.

At the meetings, professional teachers and leading education scholars gave hint of a private sector-driven, multi-dimensional attack of the problems confronting today’s secondary school student in Nigeria, in a head-long hands-on approach.

The meetings were some of the dividends of a national campaign to reverse mass failure of Nigerian secondary school students. It is at the heart of The Nation Newspapers’ leadership of a hands-on-effort to fight the decline of the Nigerian education sector .

At least 18 University teachers and professional educators across the country, have sided with The Nation in efforts to teach digital age students with digital-age tools.

Under plans now being perfected: • Selected mobile phone companies may offer off-line tutorials and examination revision software to Nigerian subscribers.

• Many Nigerian newspapers may similarly distribute free multimedia discs containing many hours of televisionviewable video tutorials and softwarebased practice tests.

• Nigerian secondary school students will have phone-based unified examination practice tests and interactive educational games.

...mobile phones and video discs to the rescue

By O’seun Ogunseitan

• Nigerian secondary school teachers will have comprehensive video and data discbased teaching-aid packages to improve their knowledge of the subjects they teach as well as regular and cost-effective refreshers on their teaching skills. This will reduce the cost of providing training for teachers, while making their training and retraining, an all-year-round event.

• A Nigerian secondary school teachers portal may be developed to offer free blog and forum-type tutorials to teachers who will have free access to download tutorials and teaching-aid tests, as well as sit periodic examinations which will attract a Certificate of Proficiency in the subjects they teach.

• A Nigerian secondary school student portal may be developed to offer free blogtype tutorials to students who will have free access and • Education tools researchers in several Nigerian Universities will study and monitor the students, using any of the many learning-aid tools, in a bid to find a correlation between the use of the learning aids and the success of the students in examinations.

Leading Nigerian Educational tools and methods researcher, Professor Peter

Okebukola, has taken up the gantlet.

Okebukola successfully ran a similar decline reversal program for Nigerian university teachers.

Results of Secondary school leavers’ examinations in the country have been getting progressively poorer over the last 20 years. States such as Osun and Ekiti which hitherto led such examinations in the past now record failure rate as high 90 per cent.

Experts hinted that the continued use of yesterday’s analogue blackboard and chalk techniques to teach today’s digital age students, is largely to blame for the recurring mass failure in Nigerian secondary schools.

The Nation Media Databank has led a campaign for the digitalisation of teaching and learning in Nigerian schools, as a panacea to the recurring mass failure of secondary school students and the general decline in education standards in Nigeria.

It was to this end that the Databank created the flash-based examination test and practice tutorial software which he named Fashola.exe, as a model e-learning software tool and aid for Nigerian secondary school students.

The software which runs on virtually every type of computer, uses answer options and answers to past examination

Free e-Learning software download link at

www.facebook.com/pcuser2user

43,742 phone users have used Open Market

™

Have you?

‘... there is definitely a disconnect somewhere when students who master their parent’s mobile phones and other intricate devices easily, fail in regular

examinations...’

- Prof Peter Okebukola questions, to teach the principles of the particular subject. The Databank has a database of more than 500,000 past questions of secondary school leavers examinations in the country. The Databank’s Questions library include Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination questions and answers spanning the last 31 years.

Last week’s release by The Databank, of practice test and tutorial software for University of Lagos 2011-1012 Post -JAMB Unified Tertiary Matriculation (UTM) Examinations, is a comprehensive lastminute software-based revision tutorial for the practice questions in three subjects released two weeks ago with the University’s post-UTM Examination forms.

It follows closely on the heels of the acclaim for Fashola.exe, Nigeria’s first Free e-learning software, by students and other young Nigerians who downloaded that software from the internet last April.

Fashola.exe was released to garner support for the re-election of Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos. That release, also on the auspices of The Nation, was sponsored by former secondary schoolmates of the Lagos governor.

The newsoftware provides answers and explanations to all the answers and answer options the authorities of the University of Lagos expect its admission applicants to prepare with.

The University of Lagos practice questions are on three subjects, Mathematics, English Language and General Knowledge.

A new multimedia disc-based teaching technology, developed in Nigeria by multimedia e-learning software programmers at The Nation Databank, is being used to produce a special video and data disc which will teach Mathematics on video, playing on regular home television screens, using home video players.

The same disc which will carry thousands of pages of tutorial texts and books, including dictionaries and encyclopaedia, is expected to be made available shortly.

The University of Lagos has the largest number of admission applicants in Nigeria. It has space for less than 14,000 of the 114,000 applicants, suggesting that nine of every 10 of its applicant students must fail and be refused admission.

More than 1.5 million candidates sat last month’s UTM Examination. But only about 400,000 candidates who passed the examination are qualified to sit Post-JAMB UTM examinations to be conducted next month by individual tertiary institutions across the country.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2011

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2011

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NEWS

Report of NBA Committee on crisis in the Judiciary Presented to the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Joseph Bodunrin Daudu (SAN) on July 8, 2011 at the NBA National Secretariat, Abuja • Continued from yesterday

PART IV EBILITATING corruption eating into and corroding the entire judicial system In Part III of this Report, the Committee dealt with and considered in detail, the issue of the CJN/ PCA face-off placed before us. There are other specific issues on which evidence has not come from all sides. Lawyers are trained to hear both sides before coming to conclusion.

As was made clear from inception, the Committee has no power to compel the attendance of anybody or produce documents or give evidence. No one is on trial before the Committee. Its only mandate is to ascertain the truth from all reliable and legitimate sources and materials. There is the old adage that truth is bitter. People may not wish to hear or accept the truth. But the truth must be told because only the truth can set the people free.

The Committee confined itself to and dealt with the other matters and materials available to it for ascertaining the truth. Specific findings of facts against any particular judge or justice cannot be expected from a Committee of the NBA which has no coercive authority to try any one or compel attendance of witnesses. The Committee therefore dealt with the issue of corruption in general terms and recommended some course of action just to kick start the massive programme which patriotic and honest Nigerians must adopt to save their beloved nation from the terminal disease which is what corruption is to a nation.

Corruption in the Judiciary Nobody can feign ignorance of complaints of corruption in the Judiciary. In the ocean of corruption in which many Nigerians take delight in swimming, there are still Judges in this country who are incorruptible, honest, hard working and just. These are the survivors of a dying generation of Judges of which our nation has been and can be justifiably proud. Can one sincerely say that of ALL the Judges of the new and emerging generation? The Committee’s respectful answer is an emphatic NO. Perception of the Nigerian Nation as Corrupt (a) In a paper presented by one of our own, John Olusola Baiyeshea, SAN, at a symposium of Mustapha Akanbi Foundation on Wednesday, 21st July, 2010, the learned Silk posited thus: “Corruption is a household word in Nigeria. In fact, it seems to be one major factor for which Nigeria is most popular in the International Community. It is as if corruption is synonymous with Nigeria. Therefore, I have deliberately refrained from defining the word corruption because we all know what it is. Every day we are inundated with horrible news of corruption everywhere (in government, government officials at all levels, in the legislature, in the judiciary – just everywhere). The EFCC and ICPC are busy every time trying to deal with such situations.

Any where there is any talk on corruption; Nigeria is always in focus at topmost level.

For instance, ECOWAS recently stated that 10 former Governors in Nigeria stole $250 Billion in three years. And that the Nigerian situation is the highest in Africa. In a report, the International Action Group against money laundry in West Africa, an agency of ECOWAS said Nigeria scored 87.3 percent, the highest in Africa on the scale of corruption in the system.

The EFCC Chair, Mrs. Farida Waziri, recently informed the Nation that just about $3.5Billion has so far been recovered since she got into office. She lamented that the Judiciary is frustrating the Agency’s effort at fighting corruption. At the same ceremony where she spoke, (that was at the launching of a Handbook on Corruption in Abuja on 3/06/2010), the Minister of Justice

D

•Justice Katsina-Alu

•Justice Salami

Mohammed Bello Adoke SAN said Corruption in Nigeria is like a terminal illness. That means Nigeria may become a failed State if nothing is done especially when the Judiciary which is supposed to be a harbinger of hope is now turning to be a very veritable tool in the hands of the corrupt cabal to ruin Nigeria. At the same ceremony where the EFCC Chair spoke, the Minister of Police Affairs acknowledged that, “There is intolerable level of Corruption in Nigeria and unless we admit it, there will be no remedy.” (b) The Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu in his address of 15/2/2010 at the swearing in of eight (8) newly appointed Judges of the Federal High Court in Abuja, admitted “that the nation’s judiciary was not immune from the malaise of corruption.”

Judicial corruption pertains to acts, in-action, behaviour, misbehaviour or attempts that impair either the search for or the submission of the truth in the delivery of justice. It covers any act or omission from any source, whether bribery, intimidation, abuse or misuse of office or any other act or omission committed with the intent or reasonably foreseeable result, that judicial or quasijudicial order, judgments and other issuances and judicial treatments will result in injustice. Judicial corruption includes, being swayed by influential men, the acceptance of patronage anticipated or offered by people in power in public or private office leading to subversion of the administration of justice.

As Baiyeshea, SAN, put it in his paper: “The Courts in most cases give judgment in cases of corruption brought before them that make Nigerians to doubt the integrity of the whole judiciary. I will refrain from giving details here since some of the matters are still in Court. But we all know even in this gathering that some of the judgments are not only ridiculous but they are ungodly and totally condemnable. It is interesting the way persons accused of corruption appeal to rule of law mantra and Fundamental Human Rights sentiments.

This is why many of the cases of corruption in the Courts are frustrated in that we only apply the letter of the ‘law’ and not the ‘spirit’.

The Civilized countries whose systems and laws we copied cannot and do not tolerate corruption and they do not cover up. In Nigeria, more than eighty per cent (80%) of the cases of corruption in Courts do not go beyond bail stage. That is where there would be so much media hype, but after the accused persons are granted bail, that virtually ends the case. Some Judges in Nigeria, because they have compromised (been bribed) give judgment that seem to suggest that corruption is a thing to be rewarded and as if justice is for sale to the highest bidder.”

Corruption occurs at every step of the judicial system, ranging from political interference in the judicial process; the influencing of the impartiality of the judicial process by any actor within the court system; appoint-

ment of members of judiciary not based on objective criteria; outright selling of judgment and orders and threatening of Judges critical towards those in authority. Court clerks and other Court staff may demand bribes to perform a task or a duty for which they have been employed and are being paid.

The Committee’s mandate is to address the issue of corruption relating to the Judges themselves; it limited itself to that issue in the hope and certain expectation, that a Judge who hates corruption in any form can hardly tolerate a corrupt staff in his Court Registry.

There have been grave concerns among Nigerians about the integrity of the Judiciary.

Some of these allegations are baseless, but others have merit. Judgments, Orders and Rulings that are not supportable by evidence, reason, law and/or truth are being dished out by the judiciary on a daily basis. Many of such decisions are obviously indefensible, ridiculous and embarrassing.

Lawyers know that the purpose of granting the equitable relief of restrictive injunction is to protect a litigant who has a right to and desires to protect his right in respect of the subject matter of litigation from the destruction of his right. In such cases, injunction is ordered preserving the subject matter of litigation pending in court. Given this legal concept, how can anyone justify a Judge making an order of injunction restraining the Nigerian Police, EFCC or ICPC from discharging their respective constitutional and statutory duties of investigating a reported or suspected case of crime? Has a suspect a right to be protected from being investigated by agency of Government empowered by the Constitution and the law of the land to investigate crimes? In other words, is there any law in the country which grants immunity from investigation of crimes or suspected criminal acts to anyone? These and many more issues have led people to question the credibility of the Judiciary. Thus, for the mindless orders of maybe one single Judge, some have referred to the Nigerian Judiciary as ‘a citadel of Corrupt Minds’ and many have wondered where the last hope of the common man will be found.

There are two major religions in Nigeria Islam and Christianity. Between them, they have a followership of not less than 90% of Nigerians. Both religions condemn corruption as evil and sinful; yet a vast majority of Nigerians practicing these religions engage in bribe taking and bribe giving on a daily basis. After taking or giving bribes, they go to Churches and Mosques, flaunting their loot.

God our creator sees all these. He cannot be deceived or bribed by anyone.

Every patriotic Nigerian of good conscience and every admirer and or well wisher of Nigeria, our country, knows that there is corruption in the judiciary on an alarming scale.

The extent to which this evil will take the nation is yet unknown.

Corruption in the Nigerian Judiciary is life threatening. The Judiciary is seen as the most and only sacred arm of the three arms of Government and the last hope of everyone

including the members of the other two arms of Government who pay lip service only to the war against corruption. All hopes will be gone if the judiciary is allowed to go the way of the others in the bottomless pit of corruption.

It is lamentable that in spite of the fact that the existence of corruption in the judiciary is known to everyone who cares, yet the Committee did not receive a single memo or response. Is it apathy or a state of hopelessness in the fight against corruption? Is it fear of repercussion by the powers that be or is it an acceptance of corruption as a way of life?

Whatever the reason for the lack of response by members of the public and members of the Bar and Bench, the Committee is convinced that no one improves the future of society or correct the evil in society by doing nothing about it.

Unless the profession – the Bar and Bench, look inwards and take effective steps to rid itself of the cancerous affliction of corruption in the profession, the day of the frequent visits of dagger wielding litigants cannot be far away from now. A corrupt judiciary is every nation’s worst plague, and if left unchecked, could effortlessly sound the death knell not only for justice administration and delivery but also for the entire nation, with attendant dire consequences for the sustainability of Nigeria’s democratic governance.

Why does corruption and ineptitude prevail in the present day judiciary? The problem as the Committee sees it starts from appointment of judges and also flows to how judges are disciplined in Nigeria. Can anything be done about it? The Committee is convinced that something can be done about it.

Appointment of Judges In Nigeria Chapter VII of the 1999 Constitution contains provisions on the mode of appointment of judges to the superior courts which term includes the High Courts of the States and Federal, FCT, the appellate Courts, the Sharia as well as Customary Courts of Appeal and the National Industrial Court.

In the Federal Courts, the appointment of the Heads of the Courts and Justices of the Supreme Court is made by the President on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council subject to confirmation of such appointment by the Senate.

For other Justices or Judges in the Federal Courts, such appointments are made by the President on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council without any need for any such confirmation by the Senate.

In the State High Court and other Courts of record, the Governor of the State appoints Judges on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council. Only the appointment of a person to the office of Chief Judge of a State High Court is made subject to confirmation by the House of Assembly of the State.

The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which established the NJC vests enormous powers of appointment and discipline of judges on the NJC. It does so without adequate consideration of the likely future development in the matters assigned to the Council and their consequences on the administration of justice in the entire country.

Little was it realized, that although, the NJC was conceived as a Council of eminent jurists of independent minds, the concentration of the power of appointment of members of the Council in the hands of the CJN is bound to rob and does rob the NJC of its independence and quality membership.

The National Judicial Council – Appointment of members The membership of the National Judicial Council is as provided for in paragraph 20 of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended). The 24-member Council is made up of: a) the Chief Justice of Nigeria who shall be the Chairman. b) the next most senior Justice of the Supreme Court who shall be the Deputy Chairman. c) The President of the Court of Appeal. d) Five retired Justices selected by the Chief Justice of Nigeria from the Supreme Court or Court of Appeal. e) The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court. e) The President of the National Industrial Court. (f) Five Chief Judges of States to be appointed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria from among the Chief Judges of the States and of the High •Continued on page 48

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Report of NBA Committee on crisis in the Judiciary •Continued from page 47

Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja in rotation to serve for two years. (g) One Grand Kadi to be appointed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria from among Grand Kadis of the Sharia Courts of Appeal to serve in rotation for two years. (h) One President of the Customary Court of Appeal to be appointed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria from among the Presidents of the Customary Courts of Appeal to serve in rotation for two years. (i) five members of the Nigerian Bar Association who have been qualified to practice for a period of not less than fifteen years, at least, one of whom shall be a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, appointed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria on the recommendation of the National Executive of the Nigerian Bar Association to serve for two years and subject to re-appointment.

PROVIDED that the five members shall sit in the Council only for the purposes of considering the names of persons for appointment to the superior courts of record; and j) two persons not being legal practitioners, who in the opinion of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, are of unquestionable integrity. (a) CJN’S power to appoint members of NJC of the 24 members of the NJC, the power to appoint fourteen of the non- statutory members is vested in the CJN vide paragraph 20 (d) (f) (g) and (j). The result is that this massive power of appointment is vested exclusively in the CJN. By his power of appointment of members, the CJN has full and total control of the National Judicial Council.

He selects whoever he chooses or likes.

As a Chief Justice of Nigeria and head of the Supreme Court and as Chairman of the NJC, the Constitution further consolidates the CJN’s total control of the affairs of the NJC and the Judiciary as the 3rd arm of Government of the Federation.

The role of the judiciary as a cornerstone of a democracy especially under a Federal Constitution cannot be overemphasized. The judiciary of a stable and democratic country is respected throughout the world for its values of probity, fairness and judgment.

In matters of investments and development both foreign and domestic, policy and decision makers consider and assess the stability and integrity of the judiciary of the state as a basis for deciding to invest or not to invest in the particular state. Availability of dependable judiciary is a vital consideration in these matters and in world affairs.

Vesting the massive power of appointment of members of the NJC on the CJN alone is unhealthy for the emergence of an independent membership of the appointing authority responsible for the appointment and discipline of the Judges and Justices of the higher courts of the nation. (b) Yardstick for Appointment of Judicial Officers In Nigeria, the only yardstick for appointing a Judge seems to be that such person is qualified post call for fifteen, twelve or ten years as the case may be. In Nigeria today, it is certainly true that some Judges have no business sitting on the Bench. This is because some judges are appointed from legal departments of corporations, local governments and even some who have practiced before going to the Bench have not practiced consistently and consecutively for the minimum number of years previously. There is a growing practice now of regarding appointment to the higher Bench as a promotion from the lower bench. Once a Magistrate becomes a Chief Registrar, the next move is promotion to the higher Bench without any regards to merit or competence of such an officer.

No one asks the important question, to wit what has such person done with his ten, twelve or fifteen years post call? Has he/she been engaged in real legal practice, academics or law related practice for the periods? Because the questions are not asked, answers are not called for and candidates’ competence is not investigated by authorities responsible for recommending and or appointing candidates for judicial office.

A person, upon call to the Bar, could choose to go into trading, cabinet making or catering and ride on political connections or other influences and be appointed a Judge after ten years. Such person may eventually or even now finds his way to the Court of Appeal or even to the Supreme Court with his mediocrity firmly installed in judicial seat to dispense injustice. (c) The political class of today considers and

•Justice Katsina-Alu

•Justice Salami

uses appointments of judicial officers as a basis for political patronage, cronyism, favoritism and nepotism. It is a matter of common knowledge that political office holders of the various political parties make it a point of duty to submit names of their candidates for appointment into judicial offices – high or low.

Chief Judges as Chairmen of the Judicial Service Commission are summoned and handed, “Governor’s list”, “Commissioner’s list”, “Local Government Council Chairman’s list” or even “Party Chairman’s list”.

This class of candidates are of special concern as they constitute special risks to the administration of justice. When their mentors leave public office, such appointees continue to consider and see themselves as owing obligations to their mentors to whom they must continue to respect in the discharge of their judicial functions. Such Judges could even speak to their colleagues to assist their mentors. The link between them remains thus paving way for disloyalty to the cause of justice and corrupt linkage to past mentors. In such circumstance, independence of such Judges is sacrificed and injustice done to litigants. (d) The Lawyers also have some role to play in the malaise. Some lawyers, most of them senior members of the Bar and some retired Judges and justices have been fingered to have assisted politicians or clients to deliver money to Judges to influence the judicial process.

Some retired justices pretending to be Consultants to politicians of some sort, are fingered to be couriers and or contact points for bribe money for their serving colleagues.

The need for lawyers and judges to imbibe the old values of honesty, integrity and hard work seems to have been jettisoned in recent times.

Honour, name, integrity and dignity are abandoned as measure of true value in the life of man and society; money and property is all that matters. (e) In the Committee’s view, appointment of judges should be based on merit. This is to ensure that the appointment process results in the selection of high quality individuals available for appointment. This is a fundamental principle that should underpin an appointment process designed to produce a judiciary which is highly competent, politically impartial, with high standards of integrity. This avoids any form of unfair discrimination especially against members of the private Bar including law Professors and teachers.

Selection on merit has essentially two objectives: No one should be appointed to a position unless he or she is competent enough to administer justice; and if two or more people meet the criteria for appointment, the position should be offered to the person who would do it best. This is more likely to put appointments above suspicion of patronage, and ensure that recruitment procedures reinforce the political impartiality of the judiciary.

The crying need for more openness and transparency in such appointments cannot be overemphasized. These factors will serve to inspire confidence in the independence of the judiciary.

In one of his many lectures on the judiciary, the Socrates of the Supreme Court – Oputa, JSC, admonished those seeking judicial appointments saying:

“Do not scheme to be appointed Judge in case you are not strong enough to stamp out injustice; in case you let yourself be swayed by an influential man and so risk the loss of your integrity.” (f) Many have posited that the malaise affecting the Nigerian judiciary is as a result of the society we are living in. It is suggested that if corruption is one of the major vices affecting the society as a whole, the judiciary is only a product of the society it operates within. On this philosophy, it concluded that corruption in the judiciary in a country as corrupt as Nigeria is no longer news or objectionable.

The Bar must reject and resist this misconception and wrong philosophy in the interest of the nation. An example that negates the above position that readily comes to mind is the performance of the Professor Jega led Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the conduct of the 2011 April elections. The election was not perfect but was acceptable. It gave everyone hope that honest leadership can bring change. This nation and her nascent democracy must be spared the agony of corruption. A society that does not accept change is a dead society. The Nigerian judiciary cannot be an exception to this universal truth that change is the only thing constant in life. The Bar and Bench must come together and move the entire country to proclaim as the Judges in England did in Magna Carta – “Unto no one, shall judges sell or deny, right or justice.” (g) It is evident that it is the individual judges appointed that will determine whether the Nigerian judiciary is indeed corrupt and also the level or the extent to which corruption has corroded the Nigerian judiciary that was once the pride of the nation. The danger the legal profession faces in this day and age in Nigeria calls for immediate reform to save the honourable profession of law.

The mode of appointment of judges in Nigeria has to be as far as possible, in accordance with the international universal principles of judicial appointments, with such modifications to satisfy the need for geographical spread under the Federal Constitution without sacrificing the need for merit, competence and integrity in the choice of candidates or installing mediocrity in the judiciary.

Discipline in the Judiciary

Once a judge is properly appointed on acceptable and objective criteria, he automatically has his tenure protected under the Constitution so as to ensure his independence and impartiality in the discharge of his judicial duties.

Human nature being what it is and having regard to the fact of a corrupt society in which Judges operate and exercise their judicial functions in Nigeria, it is a fundamental requirement for the due maintenance of the dignity, honour and integrity of the Judge in the administration of justice that an effective disciplinary procedure be put in place.

Certainty that erring Judges or Justices risk prompt and effective sanctions is one step forward in the war against indiscipline in the judiciary. (a) The Committee notes that while judicial independence requires that judges have some

limited measure of immunity and that they should be protected from trivial or vexatious complaints, mechanisms must be put in place to ensure that corruption by judges or court personnel is detected, investigated and properly sanctioned. Whistle-blowing should thus be encouraged and certainly not discouraged. (b) In any system, what is important is that whatever disciplinary mechanism is adopted has to be independent, effective, fair and rigorous. In particular, judges should have the right to a fair hearing, legal representation and an appeal in any disciplinary matter.

Balance should be maintained between the need to protect judicial independence on the one hand, and on the other, provide accountability to command public confidence.

Importantly, the mechanisms must be fair, transparent and take the principle of security of judicial tenure into account. (c) The National Judicial Council, by virtue of paragraph 21 of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended) has the power to exercise disciplinary control over judicial officers but the efficacy of the exercise is gravely in doubt.

On a mature consideration of this provision in the light of its practical application to the reality of the Nigerian situation, it can be clearly seen that this provision is manifestly inadequate. i) Although five members of the Nigerian Bar are members of the Council, their membership is only for the purposes of considering the names of persons for appointment into the superior courts of record. On the narrow interpretation of the proviso, they are not to take part in the discipline of judicial officers.

The Committee does not accept this narrow view of the proviso but it is currently being used by the authority controlling the NJC to exclude NBA representatives and thus silence the only independent voice when disciplinary matters arise. Why must this be so? The legal profession is one. While some choose to practice it on the Bench, some others do so at the Bar. This Committee does not see any justification for the discrimination against the NBA members in the NJC. The Body of Benchers which is made up of members of the Bench and the Bar in the exercise of its duty to discipline lawyers, sit together without any discrimination. Why should the NJC be different?

In the Judicial Service Commission in each of the States and the FCT, there is no such restriction imposed on NBA members of the JSC in the 36 States and FCT. What is the justification for the proviso in respect of proceedings of the NJC? ii) The absurdity in the proviso restricting the NBA members’ participation in the proceedings of the NJC is glaring. Under paragraph 20 of Schedule III, all members of the NJC for the purpose of disciplining the Judges (save for two lay members) are members of the Judiciary serving or retired with the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) as the Chairman of the Council.

Of the 19 members participating in disciplinary matters, the CJN selects or appoints the 14 members of Council on his own without any consultation with anyone while the three others are serving Judges or Justices. The implication of these facts is that the CJN and his serving Judges are in total control of the Council when matters of discipline of judges arise. iii) The judiciary has been lucky to have had good CJNs who have been largely democratic in the process of selection and appointment of members. The question that first comes to mind is ‘what will befall the judiciary when the country has a CJN that is autocratic, parochial in outlook, deceitful in his ways and or reckless in his administrative decisions?

With such constitution of NJC for the purpose of disciplinary matters, who would exercise disciplinary checks over a CJN? Can the CJN be a judge over himself? Even when he does not sit as judge over his case, who will discipline him? In Nigeria of today, can anyone reasonably expect that the CJN will be disciplined by the members of the NJC who the CJN selects and appoints as members of the Council? How will the ordinary man on the high street in our cities take disciplinary proceedings conducted by NJC dominated by appointees of the CJN? (d) Corrective Actions of Elders in the Profession of Law. • To be continued

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THE NATION

NATURAL HEALTH E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

CLINIC DAY

QUESTIONS (1) Please what is the relationship between sound and healing?

The Catholic Monk, Rev Father Anselm Adodo of Pax Herbals and Research Centre, Ewu, Edo State answers the three questions.

Ayinde Gbolahan, Apata, Ibadan.

Music as healing therapy T

HERE is healing in power in the sound you hear. In the beginning was thought.

Thought became desire, and life came into being, for where desire is, there is life. Where there is no desire, there is no life. Desire became allurement, and Love came into being, for where there is allurement, there is Love. Where there is no Allurement, there is no Love. Love became Word. From word came the primordial sound by which the world was created and is sustained.

The world was created through sound. The world can be understood only through sound. Sound is the master key to unravelling nature’s mystery. The big bang theory of the evolutionist school of thought maintains that at the beginning, the world was a huge ball of fire. Then, suddenly, this ball of fire exploded with great ferocity. It was a tremendous bang.

The ball of fire scattered in all directions. Thus the world came into being. This primordial sound still resounds at the heart of creation and is the fore behind the cosmos.

The big bang theory of the evolutionist schools or the Creative Word of the creationist schools of thought are simply re-affirming the widely held idea that the world came into being through sound.

For the Traditional African, the drum is the carrier of the Word, the primordial sacred Sound by which the world came into being.

The drum is to the Traditional African what the Bible is to the Christian. The drum is the supreme symbol of God’s incarnation, of God among us, Logos. It is the sacrament of the Divine in the human, of spirit in matter, Sacred in the profane. Sound, for the African, is an emotive and creative force. We see this even in the infant responding to the lullabies of the mother, or of the snake or praying mantis swinging to the vibration of sound, or of the monkey swaying to tune.

Through the medium of Sound, the African is able to evoke and manipulate potent psychic forces.

In Yoruba language, there is a clear distinction between mere spoken words and potent speech. The former is called oro, common words used in conversation. The later is called Ofo. The Hebrew equivalent in Dahbar, while the

Greek is Logos. Ofo refers to words, which have the power of becoming an event in life simply by being uttered. When an Ofo is uttered, it goes to actualise itself.

This power of making events happen through utterance is what Yorubas call Afose. Fo means speak or utter with force. Se means to come to be, to make to happen: Afo-se. when you remove the Fo, what you have is Ase. The Hebrew equivalent of Ase is Mi-sewah, which means commandment, incantation or authority. To give somebody Ase is to give him/her authority, power, force. In Igbo tradition, the Ofo is religious authority. The man who holds the Ofo is highly respected and feared, for whatever he says while holding the Ofo stick in his hand becomes Ase, potent psychic force, power, command, more powerful than gun shots.

When sound is organised into rhythm, it is called music. Music is a powerful tool. No one can resist the lure of music. Over the years scientists and mystics alike have researched deeply into the place of music in human life. The conclusion is that music is indispensable to promoting physical, emotional and spiritual health. It is scientifically proved that music influences the circulation of blood pressure to rise and fall. We now know that variations in blood circulation depend on the pitch, intensity and timbre of the sound around us.

Music increases metabolism, directs muscular energy, increases or decreases respiration, controls blood pressure and influence emotions.

In some American companies, it is customary to have a cool and gentle music played throughout working hours on some working days. The managers of these companies noted that workers work with better concentration and productivity on these music days while lower productivity are recorded on days when no music is

played. Clinical psychologists, psychiatrists and metaphysicians know how important music is to health.

I am of the opinion that music is necessary to the treatment of mental disorders in Nigeria. It has been noted that cases of mental illness is on the increase in Nigeria, especially among the youth.

Our psychiatry hospitals are filled with young men and women suffering from mental disorder. Many of them are students or graduates.

This is a peculiar kind of mental disorder. The patient suddenly becomes absent minded. He/she talks to no one, but simply stares into space. The patient does not accept that she has a problem. Some could argue so locally about their condition that one would be tempted to agree with them. These patients are given injections and chemical drugs.

However, the fact is that this type of mental illness cannot be treated just with drugs. This is a fact, which not many psychiatrists are willing to accept. What is the cause of this type of mental illness? The origin of this illness lies in what a French philosopher call “existential anguish”. This refers to a frustration with life because of the inability to find answers to the question of life. What is life all about? What is the meaning of the cosmos?

What is the secret of life? Many of our youths are looking for answers to these fundamental questions. They look to the society for answers. But the answer provided by the society is too shallow and leaves them unsatisfied. The society say: be rich, acquire money at all costs, have pleasure and enjoy yourself, eat and drink, for you know not tomorrow. Not satisfied with this answer, the youth look up to religion for answer. But alas, there is so much confusion and discrepancy in the answers provided by religion. Each religion supplies different answers, perhaps to suit

‘I am of the opinion that music is necessary to the treatment of mental disorders in Nigeria. It has been noted that cases of mental illness is on the increase in Nigeria, especially among the youth.

Our psychiatry hospitals are filled with young men and women suffering from mental disorder. ’

(2) Are there health benefits in charcoal?

Theresa Badmus, Benue State.

•Adodo

its taste. Most young people are able to absorb these complexities of life and live a “normal” life.

But there are some, especially those of a more sensitive and subtle temperament, like the poets, the artists, who react by losing touch with reality. Medical examinations will not reveal anything wrong with them. Neither will drugs give them much reliefs.

They need a special and subtle kind of therapy. This therapy is music.

Our environment has been polluted not just with toxic wastes, but also with unhealthy noise.

We could hardly listen to pure sound. The music played in our churches is nothing more than cacophonies of organs, guitars and jazz bands, which give immediate gratification but does not satisfy.

Go off to the riverbank, to the forest, to the valley, away from the noise of television, radio, and could sit still in a secluded place and listen to your heartbeat, your breath and your circulation. You would note that your body is governed by a certain rhythm. Music permeates your being. You are nothing but music. The body is a living entity, an intelligent being with its own laws. The wisdom of the cosmos is reflected in the body. The body is a musical composition. The different forms of sound: the human voice, sound of nature, sound of music, carry waves for certain kinds of energy, which they impress on us. If these energies are negative, we become sick. If positive, we become harmonious. It is no wonder that today many people are sick. Medical examinations always reveal that nothing is wrong with them; yet, they feel tired, weak and sickly continually. Such people need a physician who would help them to discover and maintain a triangular equilibrium of their energies.

When sound is sustained, the vibration begins to create a corresponding pattern. This pattern is reflected in the mood and behaviour of people present. Sound affects the pulse, breath, blood pressure, body temperature and muscles and tissues of the listeners. Even if

Health benefits of eating charcoal

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HARCOAL eating is one of the earliest forms of medication in history.

Charcoal has an incredible capacity to adsorb (bind monotoxins and endotoxins into itself).

Charcoal can adsorb up to 200 times its own weight. Most animals eat charcoal, especially from recent bonfires. Monkeys are among the greatest consumers of charcoal in the animal kingdom.

This is quite understandable when one considers the fact that monkeys

eat a lot of Terminalia Catappa (Indian almond or fruit tree) and Mangifera indica ( Mango). These two plants have a high concentration of phenols and other toxic alkaloids, which could poison the monkey. A person who drinks a high dose of the infusion of matured Terminalia or Mango leaves is in danger of being poisoned. But charcoal has the capacity to adsorb these toxins and deactivate them. In East Africa where elephants still live close to human

habitation, it is not uncommon to hear of elephants invading a village or compound and carving away charcoals from their bonfire for consumption. Charcoal is a good remedy for food poisoning, infections and lack of vitality.

Note that the primary reason why animals eat charcoal is not to cure a sickness, but to detoxify, that is, to prevent sickness. They eat charcoal to counteract the effect of toxins. They do not wait till they are sick. They instinctively eat

detoxicants to avoid being sick.

When rats are fed with pesticide, they eat clay and charcoal to counteract the effect. Once there is an imbalance in the body, the body sends signals by generating heat, shivering, vomiting, diarrhoea and sweating. All these are not sicknesses, but signals that the body is battling against toxins. The most natural reaction, then, is to stop moving about, take a rest, stay off food and allow the process of rejuvenation to complete.

(3) What are the basic foods I can consume more, to forestall the formation of cancerous cells in my body.

Bode Ibrahim, Lagos. the ears do not perceive the sound, the skin and bone pick up the vibration and transfer it into the system. No one can make him/herself immune to the influence of sound.

This applies to humans, animals and plants. Animals such as frogs, lizards, snakes, rabbits and snail are very sensitive to music. Even though snakes have no ears, they can perceive the vibration of sound through the skin.

Modern men and women need to re-discover the value of silence. It is only in silence that real communication can take place. True enough, we are in the age of information. But what we have is much information with little communication, because everyone is talking while no one listens. It is only when we learn to be silent that we can hear the creative Sound of creation, restoring us to harmony, peace and contentment, values that no money can buy.

Diet for cancer patients

T

HERE are several reasons most people choose to eat right. Some do it to either watch or gain weight while others do so because of some disease conditions. For example, diabetic patient are restricted from eating much carbohydrate food, due to its high sugar concentration level.

Perhaps what most weight watchers fail to realise is that food that helps in weight management also significantly reduces the risk of getting cancer, says the Health Experts at the American Institution for Cancer Research.

Food rich in nutrients are known to be pack with compounds that protect the cells from the mutations. Fresh fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grains are also beneficial.

The following foods are good for weight watchers and, especially recommended for their cancerfight properties: Fruits: Grape juice, strawberries, blueberries and raspberries.

Vegetables: Cabbage, spinach, leaf lettuce, tomatoes and garlic.

Beans: soybeans and peas.

Whole grain: Brown rice, whole wheat and oatmeal.

Now you can load your plate with these “super foods” to combat your cancer risk and slim down at the same time-it’s a two-in-one situation.

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THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2011

NATURAL HEALTH

Ramadan, a lifebelt for spirit, soul and body (2) P S REPARATIONS for Ramadan 2011 hit peak form this week. Last weekend, many city people travelled to kit up village folks with cash and foodstuff for the month -long fast that is the third of Islam’s five Pillars of Faith.Already, food prices have gone up in the cities. The price of one 50- Kilogramme sack of rice hit N8,000, up from about N7,000. And mamaput’s one portion of boiled rice previously selling for N20 has gained N10 in value.

Fruits, vegetables and other foodstuff are costlier by the day.By next week, the Ramadan should be in full swing.

Everyone observing it would neither eat nor drink when the sun is up. Eating and drinking is permitted only before sunrise and after sunset. Many people who think they can be clever by half, by putting the stomach on full load before sunrise and after sunset, soon discover their folly.

Theoretically, a full stomach before sunrise should guarantee enough energy for the body in sun-up hours, and ballooning it again after sunset should restock the metabolic fuel for the night hours. But in reality, the equation doesn’t work out that way. For foods may be miscombined, and the digestive and eliminative organs may be overworked and distressed, making such an otherwise rewarding fast become counter productive in the end. For it would run antilock-wise against the clock-wise rhythm of the forces of Nature with which a partnership must be forged

L

AST week, this column tried to explain the spiritual and health benefits of the Ramadan. The spiritual ben efits do not come simply because we fast. Fasting on its own is no direct ticket to Paradise. The fast is meant to stop us in our hurly burly tracks, encourage us to reflect on our ways and means, to make them accord the Will of Allah, to which we must unconditionally submit, review our lifestyles if they are discordant with His Holy Will, align them with the Will and strive to deepen our recognition of Life, that is of God or Allah, and actuatise these recognitions.

Such an experience makes us people better than we were before the fast, and it is in this inward change and outward manifestations that the blessings we all seek come from.No one goes to the university and expects to obtain a degree certificate for onlyattending lectures.He must take and pass prescribed examinations. One idea I believe I didn’t push well enough last week is the GENERAL STRIKE threat by the Labour union. Can the Imans educate us on it for our benefit? Is it right or wrong? If we try to model our world after the Will of Allah and His Creation, do we observe a general strike in the realm of Nature, which teaches us about His Will? Since I was born 61 years ago, the sun has not failed to shine and the moon has not failed to pour its radiation upon the earth. The stars shine. The earth brings forth bountifully, unless we fall in good measure.We call these activities of Nature, Nature. But, in spiritual reality, that’s not Nature.

T

HEY are all physical after effects of the works of the forces of Nature which are tangible, but of a different consistency from matter. I do not know the Koran’s version of the story of Baalam.Baalam, in Biblical scriptures, was riding a horse. Suddenly, the animal refused to move, contrary to instruction.Balaam beat the horse. But, the animal would not budge. Suddenly, Balaam’s etherealeyes were permitted to open. Ahead of him and the horse, the earth was erupting and spewing fire, but not physically. Moving the earth and causing the fire were activities of Nature beings which Baalam, from lack of knowledge, called angels. They were not angels but Nature beings,who are also called elemental beings. These are the forces of Nature, or Nature. Do they ever go on a local or general strike?This is a question we may wish to comtemplate this Ramadan.

Such contemplatation may profit from aparable in the Bible. A landowner employed workers at various times in the same day (9am,12noon and 3pm) to cultivate his farm.By 6pm, he paid all the workers the same salary. Those who were employed for nine hours protested an equal pay with those engaged for three.He justified the policy as based on agreements. Althought the spiritual lesson, for me, is that spiritual salvation depends not on how long it took to work in the vineyard, it has as well a material significance: envy or coveteouness reprensible; it lies with the employer, not labour, to determine wage or reward. If men were already balanced, if employers did not cheat labour,if labour did not take from employers more than it was giving, there would always be industrial peace. In the current Nigerian labour uniform wage agitation,it is conveniently forgotten that Nigeria is a federation, that federation means pluralism or variety,that federation,like topography, mean plurality. Aren’t the tribes, like the vegetation, plural as well? Also forgotten is the fact that many junior civil servants are drones and many of their bosses thieves.A period of fasting which helps to turn our gaze upwards may help, through the prospects of deeper recognitions it offers.

I AM encouraged by two text messages. I received on this subject last week to attempt, this week, to answer the enquires of some readers about nutritional supplements which may make their Ramadan support their health pursuits .The point was made last week that a fast provides the body physiological rest or holiday from digesting food and that energy normally budgeted for this activity is then invested on elimination of pollutant wastes and poisons which cause disease One of the text messages says: “I read your article on Ramadan. I was impressed but couldn’t help wondering if they teach all that in medical school. You wrote a lot about spiritural things in a medical article. Can you suggest any books / text I can read to gain such knowledge- I feanyii.”

Juices

Enugu Incidentally,HULDA REGEH CLARK Ph.D.,N. D.is featuring today as our reference guide. She holds university degrees in Biology, Biophysics, and Cell Physiology and is author of many books, including THE CURE FOR ALL DISEASES[ ISBN I-890035-O1-7] She says, as this column expressed last Thurday, that everything, including disease - causing, organisms,living or dead, vibrates and produces peculiar electrical pulses or waves. Disease” causing germs can be destroyed by electrically getting the body to produce electrical vibration which annihilate specific unhealthy vibrations. In her practice, this technique has helped her to destroy flukes which, she says, cause cancers, diabetes, asthma and so on. The second text message says:”I like your column today [July 28].I wish average Nigerian knows the interwoven relation among religions of the world at universalism of spiritural world. There would have been fewer conflicts . please update your knowledge about Koran by reading English version .All Holy books say the same thing in different ways…08033308042 A third text message says: “Your piece on fasting.. . shows that fasting is beneficial in gaining spiritural strength and maintaining good health. My questions are as follows: [1]What types of fasting are the most appropriate?

[2] Is it abstinence from all food and living only on liquids except water?

[3] Or abstinence from certain foods such as meat and sweets [4] For how long should a fast last?

[5] What is the relationship between fasting and ulcer...? Olu Adesola [08056367182] Akure+.

Yet another text message says: “Your topic on Ramadan was a fantastic piece. God bless you. In respect to dream and Joseph, the koran has a whole chapter 12[one of the most beautiful stories ever told].Get yourself an English translation. Thanks, everyone. Over millenica, there has been no agreement on the best form of fasting, or for how long one should fast for health reasons. Some people prefer to fast only on water for short periods of time, say one day in the week or three days. Some of such people would rather fast on distilled water. Distilled water is water in which no mineral salts are dissolved. In the Paul and Patricia Bragg model, distilled water is thought to be the most reactive form of water. That means it dissolves crystals formed everywhere in the body. Crystals are prison cages for pollutants. Pollutants and parasites are the death of us. Pollutants are in food, air, water, clothes and come also from by- products of the body’s living processes, including emotional disturbances, in food and additives and preservatives in food.Ditto chemicals, mosquito spray,pesticides etc. The body tries to rid itself of them by storing them in crystals which it then plugs into micro circulation spaces in all cells, tissues and organs, even the brain. When microcirculation becomes heavily blocked,problems occur, such as kidney damage, asthma, Parkinson disease, Alzheimer’s disease, memory loss, diabetes, arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis etc.A water fast provides free water which helps the flush out of these poisons after the body manages to dissolve the crystals during a fast. Distilled water is said to crack these crystals better. But so do drinks of lime with cayenne. As a matter of fact Stanley Burroughs’s 14 days MASTER CLEANSE, employs maple syrup, lime or lemon and cayenne in a deep cleansing fast. I have fasted many people on this formula for such long period.They went to work and engaged in their other daily activities without their stamina or looks betraying their fast.

‘It is, therefore, not a period when the body should be bombarded with food before sunrise and after sunset. The meals taken at this time should be light, but , nevertheless, energy-yielding and, at the same time, detoxifying.’

e-mail: femi.kusa@yahoo.com or olufemikusa@yahoo.com

OME people prefer or vegetable juice fast. The fruit may be taken whole or in juice form. Yet, many oth ers prefer VEGETABLE JUICE fast. Fruits yield many vitamins. Vegetables provide minerals. But juices are so sugary and potent that they not only clean up the system but, being sugars, may predispose elevated blood sugar if taken on prolonged basis.

Ulcers are reported to heal faster and better during fast.

As Dr Shelton explains in his FASTING CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE, stomach ulcers take longer to heal because food intake doesn’t give this organ a break from work to heal itself. A seal is formed over the injury in the healing process, alright.But when food arrives and the stomach muscles have to contract and relax to hydrolyze the stuff, the seal is ripped open and the wound is exposed again and again to acid and all sorts of substances other than healing factors. THAT SAID, WHAT are the food supplements that a person observing a long fast such as the Ramadan may find helpful. As stated last week, the period is a physiological holiday for the body during which detoxification and elimination top the body’s physiological agenda. It is, therefore, not a period when the body should be bombarded with food before sunrise and after sunset. The meals taken at this time should be light, but ,nevertheless, energy-yielding and, at the same time, detoxifying. Here are some examples.

Maple/lime or lemon/cayenne maple syrup is a complex carbonhydrate with high yields of slow – releasing energy. Lime or lemon is alkaline forming and should help to neutralize the acidic contents of the detoxification. Cayenne promotes blood circulation, energises the heart. It may be taken as the foundation of breakfast, after about four glasses of warm water . A pinch of sea salt , say one quarter of a teaspoon , may be added to the water, to provide holding – power for water outside the cells. Potassium in the lime or water helps retain water inside the cell.

Thus, shrinkage of the cells or dehydration often associated with fasts is avoided. A light carbohydrate meal may follow. Organic quarter oat may be preferred. Even diabetics find that it balances their sugar level.Where milk is desired, goat milk or coconut milk, now available in Nigeria, is preferred. For sweetening, if a sweetner is so desired, Blackstrap molasses or Stevia is suggested. Molasses is natural and has been used to dissolve growths of various kinds . Stevia sweetens but does not compromise sugar balance. Some studies even suggest it aids weight loss. Basic antioxidant and detoxification food supplements may be added.

1.

Spirulina, rich in amino acids and beta carotene, Vitamin C at 1000mg per capsule and Vitamin E in pure form or as Wheat Germ oil go well. Milk thistle supports liver function .If energy is required ATP CO-factors is indispensable. So should be Ginseng/ Ginger/Honey tea by Dynapharm. I do not like coffee drinks. But if the user can moderate the acidity with alkaline substances, such as calcium and magnesium, Edmark’s Ginseng coffee and Dynapharm’s Red tea are useful. The Red tea is alkaline, being largely made of beet root, despite the coffee content.

Today, First day of the fast, I took lots of Eyebright tea combined with Peppermint tea Eyebright improves vision , peppermint circulation and digestion. In the evening, I will repeat the tea and empty the Sackets on my rice meal.

Dinner

T

HIS is usually the time of great meals during this sea son. But big meals don’t digest well at night, the sun dark parts of the earth having turned away from the sun, and the body’s energy for digestion ebbed. I suggest water with a pinch of sea salt be taken as a starter. After this, I often follow up with soy milk to which I add a sachet of FLP’s CardioHealth, a mix of 80 mg CoQ10 and about 12 co –factors.

Another 1000mg of VitaminC joins the meal with 1 cayenne capsule and another of Cinnamon . Both provide warmth and digestive support in this cold season during which the cold can cause metabolic slow down and constipation. The big meal I enjoy most evenings now is beans with generous dousing of olive oil or flax oil or ndo’s oil ,for essential fatty acids, and Lecithin. I wish to invite Dr. Hulda Regehr Clark, at whose feet we’d learn a lot of health tips from next week, to round up the week with a warning about how monosodium glutamate [MSG] , a food flavoring , damages health. I have often mentioned such warming by Dr Don Colbert. Dr Clark, speaking about burning sensations all over the body of which many people complain, says: “Monosodium glutamate [MSG] can cause burning, especially of the face and lips. Sometimes swelling occurs too. MSG is used as a flavor enhancer. It was found decades ago to be a brain toxin and was taken out of baby food. But what about adults? Especially those who already have a brain problem? Throw it all out of your kitchen. Ask at restaurants which foods have it. Numbness has a similar cause; Numbness of fingers or feet has become quite common… if you have burning and numbness, can multiple sclerosis[MS] be far away ?

The Imams should help us pass on this message.Meanwhile, this column wishes everyone observing the Ramadan a fruitful, rewarding fast.

Tel: 08034004247, 07025077303

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EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 03-08-11 2ND-TIER SECURITIES Company Name LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC PRESCO PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 12 13

Quotation(N) 0.50 7.87

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 224,000 112,000.00 189,600 1,492,152.00 413,600 1,604,152.00

AIR SERVICES Company Name AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 42 43

Quotation(N) 2.23 7.35

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 450 954.00 263,788 1,942,147.63 264,238 1,943,101.63

Quotation(N) 0.50 1.69

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1,000 500.00 90,812 154,756.64 91,812 155,256.64

Quotation(N) 6.70 0.70 4.58 3.10 6.40 1.93 11.90 0.50 14.37 9.11 0.75 1.10 0.53 6.30 0.85 1.47 5.07 2.24 0.74 0.84 14.15

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 29,089,975 196,466,806.82 725,137 511,998.64 2,858,709 13,237,547.25 177,754 530,530.45 3,163,800 20,180,941.00 5,879,294 11,341,749.20 6,855,889 81,179,485.57 2,251,784 1,125,892.00 9,533,985 138,009,906.24 561,132 5,107,030.74 3,357,898 2,518,523.50 6,555,663 7,147,066.66 1,906,677 1,011,472.53 27,324,564 172,142,127.93 443,584 376,646.40 1,815,311 2,688,877.31 5,172,180 27,100,114.98 2,473,354 5,348,753.62 3,879,200 2,773,898.94 582,779 485,849.65 3,148,474 45,801,084.33 117,757,143 735,086,303.76

Quotation(N) 4.46 240.00 6.10 94.01

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1,225 5,720.75 86,912 20,698,879.36 867,448 5,251,678.00 3,692,988 346,834,657.25 4,648,573 372,790,935.36

AUTOMOBILE & TYRE Company Name DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC R. T. BRISCOE (NIGERIA) PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 6 7 BANKING

Company Name ACCESS BANK PLC AFRIBANK NIGERIA PLC DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK NIGERIA PLC FIRST CITY MONUMENT BANK PLC FIDELITY BANK PLC FIRST BANK OF NIGERIA PLC FINBANK PLC GTBANK PLC STANBIC IBTC BANK PLC INTERCONTINENTAL BANK PLC. OCEANIC BANK INTERNATIONAL PLC BANK PHB PLC SKYE BANK PLC. SPRING BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC. UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC UNITYBANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC ZENITH BANK PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 189 25 52 21 56 102 763 29 489 31 27 121 28 149 4 32 213 100 44 31 205 2,711 BREWERIES

Company Name CHAMPION BREWERIES PLC GUINNESS NIGERIA PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC NIGERIAN BREWERIES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 62 20 220 303

BUILDING MATERIALS Company Name ASHAKA CEMENT PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTHERN NIGERIA PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC LAFARGE WAPCO PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 58 5 17 47 127

Quotation(N) 22.00 8.00 120.00 45.80

Quantity Traded Value 718,933 6,359 79,078 377,469 1,181,839

of Shares (N) 15,729,725.15 50,448.05 9,485,082.38 17,325,937.36 42,591,192.94

Quotation(N) 9.34 28.55 5.11

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 458,998 4,022,980.72 180,712 5,126,898.00 10,000 48,600.00 649,710 9,198,478.72

CHEMICAL & PAINTS Company Name BERGER PAINTS NIGERIA PLC CHEMICAL AND ALLIED PRODUCTS PLC PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 23 20 1 44

COMMERCIAL/SERVICES Company Name COURTVILLE INVESTMENTS PLC RED STAR EXPRESS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 14 15

Quotation(N) 0.50 3.18

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 600 300.00 181,550 564,675.00 182,150 564,975.00

Suspended firms scurry to avoid delisting

M

No of Deals 1 1

Quotation(N) 1.38

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1,000 1,320.00 1,000 1,320.00

Quotation(N) 1.99 42.00 1.02 39.50 27.70

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 25,000 47,500.00 236,559 9,871,995.88 5,633,262 5,522,789.99 128,196 5,057,808.02 931,161 25,549,367.83 6,954,178 46,049,461.72

N.E.M. INSURANCE CO. (NIG.) PLC. NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. OASIS INSURANCE PLC PRESTIGE ASSURANCE PLC. SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC STACO INSURANCE PLC UNIC INSURANCE PLC. UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC INTERCONTINENTAL WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Sector Totals

Quotation(N) 2.66 50.00 0.50 3.47

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 40,388 107,432.08 81,396 3,926,520.00 1,000,000 500,000.00 831 2,883.57 1,122,615 4,536,835.65

Company Name C&I LEASING PLC Sector Totals

CONGLOMERATES Company Name A. G. LEVENTIS (NIGERIA) PLC PZ CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC UAC OF NIGERIA PLC UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 71 201 47 63 384 CONSTRUCTION

Company Name COSTAIN (WA) PLC JULIUS BERGER NIGERIA PLC MULTIVERSE PLC ROADS NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 7 21 1 1 30

FOOD/BEVERAGES & TOBACCO Company Name 7-UP BOTTLING CO. PLC CADBURY NIGERIA PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIGERIA PLC HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NATIONAL SALT COMPANY NIGERIA PLC NIGERIAN BOTTLING COMPANY PLC NESTLE NIGERIA PLC NORTHERN NIGERIA FLOUR MILLS PLC TANTALIZERS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 14 52 86 40 14 37 29 24 4 1 301

Quotation(N) 45.00 19.00 11.10 86.00 4.00 4.64 43.25 402.00 24.70 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 46,624 2,202,984.00 248,351 4,721,973.96 988,389 10,936,150.77 1,468,541 126,485,669.38 175,986 701,064.00 1,790,113 8,333,418.62 116,313 5,024,878.86 30,287 12,691,231.89 3,726 94,088.40 10,000 5,000.00 4,878,330 171,196,459.88

Quotation(N) 5.31 0.95 1.90 25.09 3.85 1.47

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 100 505.00 10,000 9,100.00 5,663 10,700.03 53,500 1,284,000.00 319,712 1,216,139.04 25,000 36,750.00 413,975 2,557,194.07

HEALTHCARE Company Name No of Deals EKOCORP PLC 1 EVANS MEDICALPLC. 2 FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC 3 GLAXOSMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC 7 MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. 21 NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC 1 Sector Totals 35 HOTEL & TOURISM Company Name CAPITAL HOTEL PLC TOURIST COMPANY OF NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 1 2

Quotation(N) 6.51 4.31

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 500 3,255.00 200 862.00 700 4,117.00

INDUSTRIAL/DOMESTIC PRODUCTS Company Name ALUMINIUM EXTRUSION INDUSTRIES PLC B. O. C. GASES NIGERIA PLC FIRST ALUMINIUM NIGERIA PLC VITAFOAM NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 1 2 16 21

Quotation(N) 11.20 7.45 0.50 6.00

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 2,332 24,812.48 304 2,158.40 2,900 1,450.00 165,820 967,027.95 171,356 995,448.83

INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY Company Name CHAMS PLC STARCOMMS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 5 7 12

Quotation(N) 0.50 0.54

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 2,042,600 1,021,300.00 161,400 87,156.00 2,204,000 1,108,456.00

Quotation(N) 0.68 1.04 0.50 2.87 0.50 1.37 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 799,649 543,084.01 702,000 735,140.00 1,025,000 512,500.00 9,016,900 25,878,703.00 290,000 145,000.00 353,910 485,127.80 7,600 3,800.00 3,079,933 1,539,966.50 100,000 50,000.00 433,428 216,734.00 3,400 1,700.00 174,200 87,100.00

INSURANCE Company Name No of Deals AIICO INSURANCE PLC. 62 CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC 4 CORNERSTONE INSURANCE CO. PLC. 5 CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED INSURANCE PLC 8 GOLDLINK INSURANCE PLC 4 GUARANTY TRUST ASSURANCE PLC 7 CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INSURANCE PLC 2 INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC 10 LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. 2 LAW UNION AND ROCK INSURANCE PLC. 9 LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC 1 MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC 4

United Nigeria Textiles (UNTL) Plc, yesterday submitted their reports, leaving 22 others under suspension.

UNTL, posted a turnover of N9.181 billion last year, as against the N9.223 billion it recorded previously. It also recorded a loss after tax of N1.309 billion in the review period, compared with N1.690 billion of the year before.

Omatek’s turnover dropped from N1.724 billion in 2009 to N1.048 billion in 2010, representing a drop of 39.21 per cent. Profit after tax slumped to N109.84 million as against N314.422 million.

NSE yesterday confirmed that with the submission of their reports, trading would resume on the shares of the companies today.

The 22 companies still left in the lurch, are IPWA Plc, Premier Paints Plc, Nigerian Wire & Cable Plc, PS Mandrides Plc, Union Dicon Salt Plc, Lennards Plc, Morrison Plc, Ikeja Hotel Plc, Aluminium Manufacturing Plc, Etranzact Plc, MTI Plc and First Assurance Plc. Others were African Alliance Insurance Plc, Guinea Insurance, Great Nigeria Insurance Plc, Standard Alliance Plc, Investment & Allied Assurance Plc, DFM Plc, DAAR Communication Plc,

Resort Savings & Loans, W.A. Glass Plc and Afroil Plc. Nine other companies still on technical suspension for non-submission of their annual reports and accounts include Premier Breweries Plc, Hallmark Paper Plc, Costain Plc, G Cappa Plc, Roads Nigeria Plc, Neimeth Plc, Aso Savings & Loans Plc, Union Homes Savings and Poly Products Plc. Meanwhile, the overall market situation at the NSE remained on the downtrend yesterday with the All Share Index and market capitalization dropping by 0.23 per cent each.

Market capitalisation reduced by N18 billion to close at N7.615 trillion, while the All-Share-Index shed 54.59 points to close at 23,808.68 points.

Turnover stood at 167.677 million shares worth N1.482 billion in 4,717 deals. Banking stocks were the most active with a turnover of 117.757 million shares worth N735.086 million in 2,711 deals.

On price movement, 43 stocks recorded price change with 21 appreciating, while the remaining 22 equities depreciated.

Berger Paint recorded the highest percentage change of 4.94 per cent, while National Salt Company of Nigeria recorded the highest drop of 4.92 per cent.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE

COMPUTER & OFFICE EQUIPMENT Company Name THOMAS WYATT PLC Sector Totals

By Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

ANY companies which were placed on full suspension by the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on Tuesday have started making frantic efforts to make their audited reports and accounts available to the NSE to forestall further sanctions.

NSE on Tuesday upgraded the technical suspension earlier placed on 24 companies to full suspension, marking a step closer to delisting, unless the companies address corporate governance issues that had hindered the submission of their audited results to the Exchange.

The Nation’s investigation indicated that many of the suspended companies were taken aback with the resolve of the Exchange to pursue the full process of sanctions against report-defaulting companies.

Many of the firms have initiated moves to finalise the release of their audited report and accounts to the NSE, the only precondition for the lifting of the full suspension and avoidance of further sanctions.

Recently, the NSE placed many companies on full suspension and subsequently delisted them after they failed to meet post-listing corporate governance requirements.

Two of the suspended companies- Omatek Plc and

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 03-08-11 17 8 2 2 55 1 1 1 1 206

0.53 0.50 0.50 1.69 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.51

271,218 355,000 2,500 125,645 18,200 2,000 100,000 57,663 7,000 16,925,246

143,583.54 179,570.00 1,250.00 212,340.05 9,100.00 1,000.00 50,000.00 28,831.50 3,500.00 30,828,030.40

Quotation(N) 0.99

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 115,500 111,345.00 115,500 111,345.00

Quotation(N) 1.02

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 3,700,708 3,794,694.78 3,700,708 3,794,694.78

LEASING No of Deals 6 6 MARITIME Company Name JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 73 73

MORTGAGE COMPANIES Company Name UNION HOMES SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 4 4

Quotation(N) 0.52

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 170,000 88,400.00 170,000 88,400.00

OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS Company Name CRUSADER NIGERIA PLC. ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 4 8 12

Quotation(N) 0.50 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 49,221 24,610.50 342,125 171,802.76 391,346 196,413.26

Quotation(N) 6.57 2.20

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 601 3,756.25 2,134,174 4,737,418.28 2,134,775 4,741,174.53

PACKAGING Company Name AVON CROWNCAPS & CONTAINERS PLC. NIGERIAN BAG MANUFACTURING COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 77 79

PETROLEUM(MARKETING) Company Name BECO PETROLEUM PRODUCT PLC MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC CONOIL PLC ETERNA OIL & GAS PLC. FORTE OIL PLC MOBIL OIL NIGERIA PLC. OANDO PLC TOTAL NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 5 22 28 8 27 110 15 216

Quotation(N) 0.50 67.22 36.01 4.48 19.28 157.50 41.40 203.32

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 10,000 5,000.00 3,372 215,503.92 166,904 6,005,012.76 775,377 3,314,766.02 15,560 285,059.20 50,988 7,972,819.19 465,224 18,713,521.93 6,409 1,304,267.18 1,493,834 37,815,950.20

PRINTING & PUBLISHING Company Name LONGMAN NIGERIA PLC UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 15 17

Quotation(N) 5.35 4.28

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 9,720 49,474.80 142,521 632,772.79 152,241 682,247.59

Quotation(N) 18.41

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 188,762 3,426,880.70 188,762 3,426,880.70

REAL ESTATE Company Name UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 17 17

ROAD TRANSPORTATION Company Name ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 16 16

Quotation(N) 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 785,000 392,500.00 785,000 392,500.00

THE FOREIGN LISTINGS Company Name ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED Sector Totals Overall Totals

No of Deals 22 22

Quotation(N) 14.30

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 684,097 9,801,597.25 684,097 9,801,597.25

4,717

167,676,728

1,482,262,922.91

58

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2011

NEWS ‘Single tenure a false formula’ THE Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum (YRLF) has described as “false formula”, the single tenure proposal by President Goodluck Jonathan.

It called on the National Assembly to reject the proposal whenever it is tabled by the President.

According to YRLF Se cretary- General, Akin Malaolu, what the people expect from the government at this time is to deliver on electoral promises, not to be “beating about the bush.”

“Those who seek for superior logic should first search for the logic in theirs if it exists at all. The truth, today, is that the nation and its people are not interested in distractions but the fulfillment of the promises President Jonathan made.

“The present mode of democratic practice has been improved upon going by the last elections and has to some fair measure guaranteed democratic competitions.

Nigerians are jaded by what is being practiced at present. So, the president should look for another fascination, “he said.

The group added: “We warn the National Assembly, especially the Senate, not to disappoint the people but to urge the president to meet the expectations of the people.

A

Five killed as expelled MASSOB members, police clash

BOUT five persons were allegedly killed in Onitsha yesterday after some expelled members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) clashed with the police.

Police spokesman, Emeka Chukwuemeka, confirmed the incident, but said only one person was killed.

According to an eye witness, trouble started when the MASSOB members who were expelled on Monday by the leadership of the group over extortion stormed the

From Adimike George, Onitsha

Ochanja market,demanding money from the traders.

It was gathered that the hoodlums used dangerous weapons on the traders. In the ensuing confusion, the local vigilance group shot one of the hoodlums, forcing the rest to retreat from the scene of the incident.

A source said the hoodlums soon reinforced at Niger Street and returned to the

market.

An eyewitness, who simply identified himself as Marcel, said policemen were deployed in the market when the hoodlums initially retreated.

They were empowered by the poice on returning to the market for a second round of attack on traders.

It was gathered that while the hoodlums were fleeing from the market, they ran into at a road block. They disarmed them and used their

riffles to allegedly kill one of the police officers.

But an army patrol team later subdued the hoodlums while some of them escaped through the River Niger.

Three of the hoodlums were reportedly killed in the shooting.

The traders hailed the leader of MASSOB, Chief Ralph Uwazulike, for expelling the hoodlums from the movement.

The traders condemned the activities of the hooligans..

Obi, others in London to see Ojukwu

•Ojukwu

G

OVERNOR Peter Obi of Anambra State is in United Kingdom to see the ailing former Biafran War lord, Dim Chukwuemeka

Odumegwu Ojukwu, at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in London.

The wife of the leader of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Bianca, is also said to be by her husband’s hospital bed side looking after him.

Obi’s Chief Press Secretary, Mike Udah, confirmed that the governor had traveled to London to see Ojukwu.

Udah said the governor would ensure that Ojukwu receive the best treatment in London.

An online reporter, Daniel Elombah (elombah.com), also said Ojukwu’s condition excited him on Tuesday, when he saw him reading outside

the hospital in London.

Elombah dismissed some online reports that Ojukwu was on life support, and was not taken good care of.

He said Bianca was in the hospital attending to her husband, adding that Obi told him that he was in the hospital to see Ojukwu.

Obi had expressed satisfaction on the level of care extended to him.

He said: “ We know what healthcare is in the UK and

to note that in addition to the regular Royal Berkshire workers Ojukwu has four extra Nurses that attend to him round the clock. It is cheering and, in fact, a shame to those who propagate falsehood about him and his condition. Today, I am proud again to be an Igbo man.”

He expressed satisfaction that Ojukwu was doing well.

Okorocha lacks power to dissolve councils, says court From Emma Mgbeahurike, Owerri

A

N Owerri High Court yesterday said the Governor of Imo State, Chief Rochas Okorocha, has no power under the law to dissolve a legally constituted local government council.

This pronouncement was made by the State Chief Judge, Justice Benjamin Njemanze, while delivering judgment on a matter brought before it by the chairmen of the 27 Local Governments in the state.

The chairmen had prayed the court to determine if the governor had legal right to dissolve the councils properly constituted by law.

After listening to the arguments posed by the counsel to the plaintiffs, Dr. Livi Uzokwu (SAN) and counsel to the defendants, Prof. Francis Dike (SAN), the chief judge in his ruling said from the documents before him, there was no evidence to show that the councils were dissolved by the governor.

However, he observed that the council chairmen absconded from their duty posts which he pointed out was a punishable offence under the law. Njemanze said since they decided to stay away from their duty posts, they should pay N10,000 fine to the governor for.

The Chief Judge said since there was no evidence before him in respect of their prayers, the law does not grant request on issues not brought before it.

Okorocha invited the council chairmen to his office immediately after the ruling, perhaps to request them to go back to their duty post.

The governor had sent a list of caretaker committee members for the local governments to the House of Assembly for approval.

The 27 council chairmen had approached the court following the purported dissolution of the councils, just a few days after his swearing in.

Ladoja uncovers alleged plot by PDP leaders to destabilise Oyo From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

F

ORMER governor of Oyo State and candidate of the Accord Party in the April elections,Senator Rashidi Ladoja yesterday said he has uncovered plans by some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders to destabilise the state.

Besides, Ladoja spoke of plot by same group to cause disaffection between him and Governor Abiola Ajimobi with the sole aim of causing chaos and breach of the peace in the state.

Ladoja said that this group of people had finalized plans to roll out “posters with Senator Ladoja’s image indicating that he is planning for a rerun of the governorship election in Oyo State”.

In a statement in Ibadan by his Media assistant,Lanre Latinwo,the former Governor said “we equally want to draw your attention to a grand plot by a section of the People Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State to create disaffection between Senator Rashidi Ladoja and Senator Abiola Ajimobi”.

He therefore enjoined the people of Oyo State to reject move by any group of people to destabilise the peace in Oyo State stressing that the welfare of the people was paramount to him and the Accord Party and “that is why we forged a working relationship with Senator Ajimobi.

Tanker drivers threaten strike over seizure of trucks by Lagos

By Miriam Ndikanwu

T

ANKER drivers under the aegis of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) yesterday staged a protest over the seizure of their trucks at the car park at the Lagos State Secretariat.

The development followed the expiration of the 48-hour ultimatum given by the Commissioner for Transportation Mr. Kayode Opeifa, that owners of tankers and heavy duty vehicles parked indiscriminately on Mile 2 to Apapa Road to remove them or risk sanctions.

The enforcement, which began last Friday, led to the seizure of about 30 trucks.

One of the truck drivers who gave his name as Mr. Bola Sarumi, told reporters during the protest in Alausa yesterday that their grouse was because the state government made the release of their vehicles impossible for them by requesting for tax clearance, which he said most of the drivers and owners of the tankers do not have.

He said: “I’m ready to pay the towing fine but the government officials asked me to present my tax clearance. This is a rigour I cannot pass through. We will mobilise our people to stop work so that government can release our vehicles.”

The General Secretary of NUPENG, Mr. Elijah Okugbo, said that the government had gone too far by impounding the vehicles without prior dialogue with the leadership of the oil workers.

Tambuwal blames West for aiding corrupt African leaders From Victor Oluwasegun, Abuja

H

OUSE of Representative, Speaker Aminu Tambuwal has accused Western nations of aiding and abetting corruption in Africa by encouraging African leaders to stash stolen monies in their countries.

Tambuwal, who spoke yesterday during a courtesy visit by members of the Kuramo Foundation in Abuja, said it was time for the leaders of the Western world to enact laws that will prohibit corrupt African leaders from stashing illgotten wealth belonging to their people in foreign banks .

Tambuwal said he was reechoing what he told the Council of Foreign Relations in the United States of America (U.S.A)two years ago.

He said: “I called on the developed countries to make legislation prohibiting the receipt of ill-gotten wealth from wherever it is are coming from. Because it takes two to tangle; if you engage yourself in corrupt practices and acquire ill-gotten wealth, you need somewhere to keep it. And if you don’t have anywhere to keep it, then you are stuck with it.

And if you are stuck with it, you can easily be identified and apprehended by the law enforcement agents.

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2011

59

60

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2011

FOREIGN NEWS

UK’s Southampton cocaine haul ‘worth up to £300m’ HAUL of cocaine with a street value of up to £300m has been found hidden inside a luxury yacht in Southampton, the UK Border Agency has said.

Officials found 1.2 tonnes of cocaine hidden in a secret compartment in the £1m yacht two months ago.

The 90% pure drugs were so well hidden in the 65ft pleasure cruiser, the Louise, it took six days to find them.

UK Border Agency officers found the drugs in a specially built compartment The border agency claimed the discovery was the UK’s biggest ever Class A drug seizure.

The agency said the drugs

A

inside the Louise originated in South America and were en route to the Netherlands.

Dutch police have arrested six men.

They are thought to be an organised crime gang.

French authorities were alerted to the Louise while it was in the Caribbean in May and it was then tracked to Southampton.

Officials spent six days searching the vessel and found the drugs packed in a specially-designed compartment beneath the boat’s bathing platform, UKBA said.

It is understood the cocaine was packed inside the boat while it was in Venezuela.

The average purity of cocaine seized at the UK border is 63%, officials said.

The haul is estimated to be worth about £50m wholesale and up to £300m on the streets.

Since the drugs were found in June, the UKBA has helped Dutch police track members of the gang and six Dutch nationals were arrested during early morning raids on Tuesday.

A 60-year-old, who owns the boat, was arrested in Meppel. His three sons, aged 27, 32 and 34, are also being held following police raids in Waalwijk and Heusden.

Two 44-year-old men were also arrested in Amsterdam.

Shell admits oil spills in Nigeria’s Ogoniland

O

IL giant Shell has accepted responsibility for two devastating oil spills in Nigeria’s Ogoniland region.

The Bodo fishing community sued Shell in the UK, alleging that spills in 2008 and 2009 had destroyed the environment and ruined their livelihoods.

Their lawyer said they would seek hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation for one of the world’s “most devastating oil spills”.

Shell told the BBC it would settle the case under Nigerian law.

Experts who studied video

footage of the spills say they could be as large as the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster in Alaska, when 10m gallons of oil destroyed the remote coastline, the UK’s Guardian newspaper reports.

Until now, Shell has claimed that less than 40,000 gallons were spilt in Nigeria, it reports.

Correspondents say the spillage was caused by pipelines which ran through the village.

Shell stopped pumping oil from Ogoniland in 1993 after the writer Ken SaroWiwa - who was later hanged

- led a campaign against it for allegedly destroying the environment.

Martyn Day, representing the 69,000-strong community, said they would demand “adequate compensation immediately”.

“This is one of the most devastating oil spills the world has ever seen and yet it had gone almost unnoticed until we received instructions to bring about a claim against Shell in this country [UK],” he said.

He said the community had three sets of claims.

The first claim - for at least $100m (£61m) - was for to clean up the area.

Mugabe’s Zimbabwe land seizures cost $12b

T

HE seizure of most of Zimbabwe’s whiteowned land has cost nearly $12bn (£7bn) in lost production since 2000, the Commercial Farmers’ Union says.

CFU head Deon Theron said agricultural production had fallen by 70%.

He also said that President Robert Mugabe and his family now “owned” 39 farms.

Mr Mugabe has always said that the land seizures were needed to correct colonial imbalances and

Army to stop Syrian protesters

S

YRIAN troops and tanks have reportedly advanced deep into the central city of Hama to put an end to weeks of antigovernment protests.

Residents said tanks had reached Assi Square in the city centre, focus of mass rallies against President Bashar al-Assad.

There are reports of severe destruction and piles of bodies in the city.

After days of debate, the UN Security Council has agreed on the wording of a statement to condemn the violence.

The 15 members of the council are seeking final approval of the wording from their respective governments - when that comes, they will formally adopt the statement later on Wednesday, says the BBC’s Barbara Plett at the UN in New York.

that beneficiaries would only get one farm.

His officials have not yet commented on the report.

Mr Theron blamed the land seizures for the collapse of Zimbabwe’s economy over the past decade, saying it had destroyed the country’s tax base, with most of the economy now in the informal sector.

“If the aim of the land reform was to evict whites and replace them with blacks, then it can be deemed a success,” Mr Theron said.

“However, if the aim was that it should benefit the majority and not only a chosen few, then it has been a failure.”

In his report, Mr Theron said land had become a tool for dispensing political patronage and also names five other close

allies of Mr Mugabe whose families have taken control of at least five farms each.

The CFU head said that Zimbabwe used to produce enough to feed itself and even to export but this was no longer the case.

On Tuesday, the UN said 1.4 million Zimbabweans needed food aid following crop failures.

After years of economic meltdown, Zimbabwe abandoned its currency in 2009 and now uses the US and South African money.

Mr Theron estimated that production of maize, a staple food largely grown by smallscale black farmers - the people supposed to gain most from land reform - is this year estimated to be just 50% of the 2000 levels.

South Africa offers Swaziland $355m loan

S

OUTH Africa has agreed to a 2.4bn rand ($355m; £218m) loan for Swaziland which is struggling with a cash crisis.

Swaziland’s King Mswati III said the bailout showed that South Africa is a “good neighbour”.

South Africa’s opposition had earlier called for the government to reject the loan request because Swaziland was an “undemocratic state”.

King Mswati is accused of living in luxury with his 13 wives, while most of his people languish in poverty.

The king made the announcement in Ludzidzini Royal Homestead, near the capital Mbabane, upon his return from South Africa.

“We are thankful and also appreciate the assistance we have received from South Africa. This shows that they are good neighbours,” the Times of Swaziland reports him as saying.

He had approached a number of institutions, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF) asking for cash but to no avail.

The deal has been confirmed by South Africa’s authorities but they have not given any details.

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2011

61

62

EMPTOR

CHANGE OF NAME

The four bedroom bungalow situated on Plot 113B, road one, Rumueme housing estate, Port Harcourt is jointly owned by our client and his late father, Mr Vincent C. Wahua. However, since the demise of his father on the 24th of June 2011, our client, Mr Kinika Wahua (his son) has no intention to sell or lease neither land nor the structure thereupon.

I, formerly known and addressed as Ogunyade Temitope Samuel, now wish to be known and addressed as Oluwabiyi Temitope Samuel. All former documents remain valid. UNAAB, NYSC and General Public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Aboh Dau-Eredei Ernest, now wish to be known and addressed as Ernest Tamaraebi. All former documents remain valid. General Public should take note.

ALEJO

I, formerly known and addressed as Nnadi Nkechi Ruth, now wish to be known and addressed as Amadi Nkechi Ruth. All former documents remain valid. General Public should take note.

The general public should hereby note that anybody or corporate entity that buys or intends to buy without the consent of our client does so at his own risk.

Signed: OLADIMEJI AGBANA & CO

PUBLIC NOTICE TO ALL STUDENTS INTRODUCING THE MANAGERS’ FORUM 14, Adekunle Street, Isolo, Lagos.

Having problem in your Writing Research, Research Proposal, Chosen Topics, Web Design, Term Paper and Feasibility Study (?)

Visit: www.managersforum.net Or Email: info@managersforum.net tabiti.kehinde@yahoo.com Call: 08053649859, 08086043643, 08039574600

Our Team of Managers are always available

OGUNYADE

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Deborah Mosopefoluwa Alejo, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS Deborah Mosopefoluwa Olayinka. All former document remain valid.

General public should take note.

OJO I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ojo Margaret Taiwo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Omowaye Margaret Taiwo.

All former document remain valid.

General public should take note.

BABALOLA I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Babalola Kehinde Adebimpe, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ankeolu Kehinde Adebimpe. All former documents remain valid. Babcock University ,Ilisan-Remo,Ogun State and general public should take note.

BALEPO I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Theresa Olanrewaju Balepo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Theresa Olanrewaju Ubong. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

IBOLO I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ibolo Stella Idebaeneria, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Usuoge Stella Idebaeneria.

All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

AJAMU I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ajamu Bosede, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Oyewole Justina Bosede. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

ALABA I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Alaba Oluwakemi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Oluwatuyi Oluwakemi. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

FADEBIYI I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Monisola Abosede Anike Fadebiyi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Monisola Abosede Anike Ilori. All former documents remain valid.

International Community and general public should take note.

OYELAKIN I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Oyelakin Oyeyinka Ajoke, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Adung Oyeyinka Ajoke. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

ODUMUYIWA I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Odumuyiwa Folashade Opeyemi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Idowu Folashade Opeyemi. All former documents remain valid. Civil Service Commission and general public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME ABOH

NNADI

OWOEYE I formerly known and addressed as Miss Owoeye Adenike Eniola, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Akojenu Adenike Eniola. All former document remain valid.

General public should take note.

SAKA I formerly known and addressed as Miss Saka Sherifat Olajumoke, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Lawal Sherifat Olajumoke. All former document remain valid.

General public should take note.

ORITSEJAFOR I formerly known and addressed as Miss Oritsejafor Faith Oghenewede, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Taiwo Oghenewede Faith. All former document remain valid.

NYSC, Yaba Technology and general public should take note.

OMOLE I formerly known and addressed as Miss Omole Motunrayo Abosede, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Jegede Motunrayo Abosede. All former document remain valid. NYSC, Yaba Technology and general public should take note.

IWEGBU I, formerly known and addressed as Mrs Herrietta Udume Brai Iwegbu, now wish to be known and addressed as Miss Henrietta Udume Brai Akpore. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

YUSUF I, formerly known and addressed as Yusuf Ibrahim Adedeji, now wish to be known and addressed as Rabiu Ibrahim Adedeji. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

ASHIRI I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Uloma Obuma Ashiri, now wish to be known and addressed as Uloma Obuma Olosunde. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

JAMES I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Enenwan Paulinus James, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Enenwan Saturday Afangide. All former documents remain valid. National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and general public should take note.

AJEIGBE I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ajeigbe Modupe Abigail, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Shokanmbi Modupe Abigail. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

ELUYOLE I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Eluyole Grace, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Grace Oluwaseyi Nyokke. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

ELOKE

PUBLIC NOTICE IN RE: ESTATE OF KABIYESI OBA BELLO GBADEGESIN(ALAAFIN OF OYO) THE EXECUTORS/PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES OF LATE KABIYESI, OBA BELLO GBADEGESIN, ALAAFIN OF OYO SHOULD PLEASE CONTACT THE UNDERSIGNED IN CONNECTION WITH A PROPERTY IN VICTORIA ISLAND LAGOS. A. O. AGBOLA, ESQ CHEAKLEY CHAMBERS 12 IJORA CAUSEWAY IJORA LAGOS. 08022235222, 017769530. cheakleychambers@yahoo.com

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Eloke Nkechi Juliesther, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Odeyinde Nkechi Juliesther. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

ALLI I, formerly known and addressed as Mrs Adefolake Sakirat Alli, now wish to be known and addressed as Miss Sarah Adefolake Adekoya.

All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

ABDULKADIRI I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Abdulkadiri Maria Abiodun, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Isah Maria Abiodun. All former documents remain valid. Ibadan Polytechnic, LASU and general public should take note.

OTABOR I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Loveth Owohan Otabor, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Loveth Owohan Adedeji. All former documents remain valid. LASU, NYSC and general public should take note.

OBI I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ifeyinwa Nwamaka Obi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ifeyinwa Nwamaka Eneanya. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

AJAKAYE I, formerly known and addressed as Shola Ajakaye Ajakaye, now wish to be known and addressed as Ajakaye Shola Abayomi. All former documents remain valid.

NAITES, Makurdi and general public should take note.

DIBIE I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Blessing Chidiebere Dibie, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Edun Blessing Chidiebere. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public should take note.

ARIKPO I, formerly known and addressed as Arikpo Enyam Agbor, now wish to be known and addressed as Akamba James Agbor. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public should

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2011 CHANGE OF NAME CHANGE OF NAME UBONG I, formerly known and addressed as Dr. Ubong Albert Akpaeti, now wish to be known and addressed as Dr. UbongAbasi Isreal Ekpe. All former documents remain valid.

Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, Abuja and general Public should take note.

AKINNOLA I formerly known and addressed as Akinnola Damilola Yetunde, now wish to be known and addressed as Akinseye Damilola Yetunde. All former document remain valid.

Ondo State Local govt. Service Commission, Ondo State Local govt. Staff Loans Board and general public should take note.

OPEDERE I formerly known and addressed as Miss Opedere Mariam Abimbola, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Aderemi Mariam Abimbola. All former document remain valid. General public should take note.

EJIKEME I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ejikeme Adaku Ifeyinwa, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Obi Adaku Ifeyinwa. All former document remain valid.

NOUN and general public should take note.

ABIDOYE I formerly known and addressed as Miss Abidoye Rashidat Ololade, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Gbadebo Racheal Ololade. All former document remain valid. General public should take note.

ABIDOYE I formerly known and addressed as Miss Abidoye Rashidat Ololade, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Gbadebo Racheal Ololade. All former document remain valid. General public should take note.

IBISANMI I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ibisanmi Omobola Mercy, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Kehinde Omobola Mercy. All former document remain valid. General public should take note.

AUGUSTINE I formerly known and addressed as Miss Augustine Ojochogwu Patience, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Omede Ojochogwu Patience. All former document remain valid. Police Primary School 11, Makurdi and general public should take note.

ADELEKAN I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Adelekan Rebecca Idowu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Idowu Rebecca Idowu. All former documents remain valid. Ogun State Teaching Service Commission, Abeokuta and general Public should take note.

AZEEZ I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Azeez Zumurat Bukola, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Olayanju Zumurat Bukola. All former documents remain valid. General Public should take note.

OLUOKUN I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Oluokun Atinuke Bukola, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Omoniyi Atinuke Bukola. All former documents remain valid. SUBEB, Ekiti State and general Public should take note.

OLAYENI I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OMODUNKE ELIZABETH OLAYENI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS O M O D U N K E OLORUNMOLOLA IKUOMOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

OLONIKADI I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OLONIKADI JANE GLADYS, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS KOLAOWOLEKE JANE AJOKE. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

ABDLRAHIM I, formerly known and addressed as MISS SHIFAU O. ABDLRAHIM, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS SHIFAU ABDUSALAM. All former documents remain valid.

Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja and the general public should please take note.

EKEJOY I, formerly known and addressed as MISS EKE JOY CHIOMA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ORJI JOY CHIOMA. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

NWOKOJI I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Nwokoji Nneoma Lucky now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Nsofor Nneoma Lucky. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

UZOMA

FAJUMO I formerly known and addressed as Miss Adenike Olawumi Fajumo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Adenike FajumoAmafa. All former document remain valid. Eti-Osa East LCDA and general public should take note.

JIMOH I formerly known and addressed as Mrs Fatima Wendy Jimoh, now wish to be known and addressed as Miss Fatima Wendy Ahmed. All former document remain valid.

Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, NYSC and general public should take note.

ADAH I formerly known and addressed as Miss Iwemife Patricia Adah, now wish to be known and addressed as Oloko Patricia Adah. All former document remain valid. SUBEB and general public should take note.

ALEBIOSU I formerly known and addressed as Miss Alebiosu Adebimpe Serifat, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Anibi Adebimpe Serifat. All former document remain valid. Ogun State Teaching Service Commission, Abeokuta and general public should take note.

MAYOR I formerly known and addressed as Mayor Chukwuebuka Nwamkpa, now wish to be known and addressed as Mayor Rapheal Chukwuebuka Patrick. All former document remain valid. Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Owerri and general public should take note.

ADEPITAN I formerly known and addressed as Miss Adepitan Iyabo Oluwaseun, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Gazal Iyabo Oluwaseun. All former document remain valid. NYSC, TASUED, Ijagun and general public should take note.

I, Miss. Uzoma Vivian Odigonma, is the same and one person as Miss Uzoma Evangeline Odigonma. All former documents remain valid, general public please take note.

UGWU I, formerly known and addressed as MISS UGWU LAWRETTA UGONNE now wish to be known and addressed as MRS NOSIKE LAWRETTA UGONNE. All former documents remain valid. NYSC, UNIMAID and general public take note.

EZEAMARAMU I, formerly known and addressed as MISS EZEAMARAMU UJUNWA PATIENCE now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OKEREKE UJUNWA PATIENCE. All former documents remain valid. ESUT, NYSC and general public take note.

NNADI I, formerly known and addressed as MISS NNADI P[ATIENCE CHINASA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS EGBO PATIENCE CHINASA. All former documents remain valid. IMT, NYSC and general public take note.

NWAMA I, formerly known and addressed as MISS NWAMA CHINYERE TOCHUKWU, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ASOGWA CHINYERE TOCHUKWU. All former documents remain valid. UNN, NYSC and general public take note.

EZEMA I, formerly known and addressed as MISS EZEMA JUSTINA CHINEDU, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS UGWU JUSTINA CHINEDU. All former documents remain valid. Enugu State Local Govt. Service Commission, ESUT, and general public take note.

ADEPITAN

I formerly known as Miss Akinnola Damilola Yetunde, now wish be known and called Mrs Akinseye Damilola Yetunde. All former documents remain valid.

Ondo State Local Govt Service Comission & Ondo State Local Govt staff loans board and general

AJAYI I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ajayi Abejide Janet, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Fagbewesa Abejide Janet.All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2011

63

NATION SPORT

FIFA FREE DAY FRIENDLY

Ghana names new squad to face Nigeria

G

HANA coach Goran Stevanovic today named an 18-man squad for the friendly against Nigeria to be played in London next Tuesday: The fixture is a warm-up for 2012 CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifying.

Adam Larsen Kwarasey, whose father hails from Ghana and his mother from Norway, received his first call-up for the west African side, quarter-finalists at the FIFA World Cup in South Africa last year.

Ghana squad: GOALKEEPERS: Richard Kingson (Unattached), Adam Larsen Kwarasey (Stromgodset/NOR) DEFENDERS: John Mensah (Lyon/FRA), Nana Akwasi Asare (Utrecht/NED), John Paintsil (Leicester City/ENG), Samuel Inkoom (Dnepropetrovsk/UKR),

Jonathan Mensah (Evian Thonon-Gaillard/FRA), Isaac Vorsah (Hoffenheim/GER), Daniel Opare (Standard Liege/ BEL) MIDFIELDERS: Anthony Annan (Schalke 04/GER), Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu (Udinese/ITA), Andre Ayew (Marseille/FRA), Mohammed Rabiu (Evian Thonon-Gaillard/

Foreign scouts hit Nigeria for IGI U-19 Talent Hunt

F

OOTBALL scouts from at least five European countries are set to hit Nigeria for the forthcoming IGI U-19 Football Talent Hunt Tournament slated for Lagos.

Opeyemi Lawal, Tournament’s consultant said in Lagos that the scouts will be hiting the country any mo-

Ndanusa hails tennis tourney

T

HE president of the Nigerian Tennis Federation, Engr. Sani Ndanusa has described the ongoing late Maryam Babangida Memorial National Junior Tennis Championship holding in Minna as a welcome development.

During a visit to the Minna sports club, venue of the tournament, Engr. Ndanusa said he is overwhelmed with the turnout of participating states and players, describing it as unprecedented.

He added that the tournament is a turning point in tennis development in the country where young talents are discovered at very tender ages.

He then expressed his happi-

FRA), Sulley Muntari (Inter Milan/ITA), Kwadwo Asamoah (Udinese/ITA) FORWARDS: Asamoah Gyan (Sunderland/ENG), Prince Tagoe (Hoffenheim/ GER), Dominic Adiyiah (Karsiyaka/TUR)

ness over the decision of ElAmin foundation to sponsor a Tennis tournament of this magnitude, and call on other philanthropists to emulate the spirit of tennis sponsorship at any level in order to augment the El-Amin foundation’s effort.

Meanwhile, the semi final of the boys U-12 pairing has produced Kenneth Pyagbara (River State) vs Godsgift Timi (River State) and Christopher Itodo (Kaduna State) vs Mohammed Katun (Niger).

In the U-14 boys categories, Emmanuel Sylvester (Kaduna State) vs John Dickson (Kaduna State) and Emmanuel Sunday (FCT) vs Michael Michael (Kaduna State).

ment from now, noting that they are expected from Poland, England, Belgium, Finland and Hungary.

According to him, participants will be expected from all the five zones that make up Lagos State, namely: Ikorodu, Badagry, Ikeja, Lagos Island and Epe. Lawal, who is a FIFA licensed agent said the tournament is a platform for talented young Nigerian footballers to exhibit their skills and have the opportunity to play in the domestic and foreign league, if selected by scouts and coaches.

The English FA qualified coach added that the players will have the opportunity of being spotted by foreign football club scouts thereby enhancing their chances of playing professional football abroad.

He commended the management of IGI for providing a platform for the Nigerian youth to breed brand ambassadors and redefine corporate social responsibility by catching talents young.

Tomorrow in THE NATION

THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2011 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL. 6, NO.1,827

‘Pastors we have now are desperate to maintain the status quo whereby the average civil servant walks into a bank to seek and accept a loan of N250, 000 to be refunded as N400, 000, in six months’

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

L

AST week, President Jonathan sent his 2011 budget proposals to the National Assembly for its consideration and approval. But the Federal Government got it all wrong again in several respects. The budget lacks focus. At the general level, it is difficult to identify the main objectives or guiding philosophy of the budget. It is as if the Federal Government is totally oblivious of the need to tackle some fundamental and deep seated problems of the economy, of which the most critical are the poor infrastructure and mass unemployment at all levels.

The domestic economy is currently reported as having achieved a current growth rate of over 7 per cent, and it is projected that it could increase slightly next year. This may well be even with a budget lower than this year’s budget. But the fact remains that this impressive growth rate has not translated into real development. Mass poverty is deepening and new jobs are not been created rapidly enough in the economy. This persistent economic failure is attributable to Nigeria’s penchant for adopting budgetary policies and frame work that are least likely to achieve both growth and development. It is becoming a nightmare.

DAPO FAFOWORA

FROM THE SUMMIT dapo.fafowora@thenationonlineng.net

Budget 2011: Fed Govt gets it wrong again

Deficits and Borrowing One key area of the budget is the large deficits and the projected huge public sector borrowing. Total planned expenditure for next year was given as N4.2 tr. while total revenue estimate was given as N2.83 tr. This leaves a deficit of over N1.4 tr which can only be met by internal (bonds) and external borrowings.

It will be argued that the deficit represents only 16 per cent of our GDP (Gross Domestic Product) and that this is well below the prescribed limit of 30 per cent for developing economies. But in Nigeria’s case, most of the internal and external borrowing will simply go towards administrative costs and not for capital projects. We would, in other words, be borrowing funds simply to allow the Federal Government to run its vast bureaucracy and fund the profligate legislature which the CBN Governor says accounts for 25 per cent of the 2010 budget of the Federal Government. This is totally wrong and will not assist the economy to achieve real growth. The President of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Femi Deru, has been reported as expressing concern about Nigeria’s rising debt profile, arguing that resort to public sector borrowing will not only increase the inflationary spiral, but also crowd the private sector out of borrowing from the banks and other financial institutions. In other words, the private sector, the main engine of growth, will be starved of the funds it needs badly for investment and expansion in its business. The industrial sector, particularly manufacturing, will continue to decline.

Nigeria’s debt profile has been on the increase since it secured some debt relief from our foreign creditors during the tenure in office of President Obasanjo when our foreign debt had become totally unsustainable. In the current fiscal year the huge amount of N497b

•Dr. Jonathan

was earmarked for debt servicing. Next year it will be N542b. As Mr. Femi Deru pointed out, this is about half the envisaged capital expenditure for 2011. This trend is not in the interest of the domestic economy and is not sustainable in the long run. The Federal Government should show greater care in its resort to domestic and external borrowing, both of which tend to crowd out the private sector. The propensity to issue Treasury bills and raise bonds to cover the budget deficit of the Federal Government should be curbed.

Where it is necessary to use fiscal instruments to cover the deficits, these should be tied to specific capital projects and not to administrative costs which are inherently wasteful.

Structure of Budget As in previous years the proposed budget is skewed heavily in favour of recurrent expenditure. About 66 per cent of the entire budget has been earmarked for recurrent expenditure leaving a balance of only 34 per cent for capital expenditure. This has, for

RIPPLES AMOSUN GIVES DANIEL’S AIDES 48HRS TO RETURN GOVT PROPERTY- News

A whole 48hrs••• that’s enough for them to ABSCOND

decades, been the trend in the preparation of the budget of the Federal Government. And this is the reason for the lack of real economic development in the country. The government cannot expect to tackle the problems of the critical sectors of the economy such as infrastructure, education, health, and security when a mere third of its entire budget is committed to capital expenditure. The cumulative effect of this wrong approach to budgeting by the federal government is that it is now trapped by a bloated bureaucracy to which more and more funds have to be committed.

This approach to budgeting contrasts very sharply with that of the Fashola Lagos State government where over 60 per cent of its budget is earmarked for capital rather than recurrent expenditure, and where the size of the bureaucracy has been kept under control and constant review. This is why the Lagos State government is able to finance multiple capital projects that have had a positive impact on the lives of its people. The difference can be seen in the rapid and impressive transformation of Lagos State in recent years with the expansion of the infrastructure, health, and education sectors, all of these areas of direct impact on the poor.

Rationalising the Bureaucracy When President Obasanjo was in office, one of his key reform measures was the rationalisation of the vast structure and size of the federal bureaucracy which had become a drain pipe on the nation’s financial resources.

He did achieve some success in this area, but it seems that this necessary reform of the bureaucracy has since been abandoned and that, under his two successors, the bureaucracy continued to expand almost without any effort to reduce its vast size. There are far too many costly federal agencies doing the same jobs and with the same statutory responsibilities, without any direct impact on the lives of the people. In the Delta there are four or five agencies involved in efforts to develop the

HARDBALL

I

T is neither in the interest of long-suffering Libyans nor of those parts of Africa still immersed in the Arab Spring for the war to overthrow Col Muammar Gaddafi to get bogged down in the sweltering heat of North Africa. When the revolt began some five months ago, especially after the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) forces led by France and Britain joined the fray, it was expected the war would be a cakewalk. Instead it is threatening to become a replay of the Battle of the Somme in which after many months of intense and bloody fighting in 1916 neither side in the war had achieved any significant objective. The creeping stalemate in Libya indeed reminds us of the Anglo-French Entente (Entente Cordiale) of the same World War I in which the French and the British combined against a common enemy, Germany. Now, they have combined against Libya’s Gaddafi.

It will be recalled that the Libyan and Syrian revolts against Gaddafi and Bashar Assad respectively were inspired by the more successful revolts in Tunisia and Egypt. While

Gaddafi senses the enemy faltering Egypt and Tunisia have long forgotten about the overthrow of their dictatorships, Libyans’ desire for freedom is threatening to become a chimera. France and Britain take front row in helping the Libyan revolt. Without this help Gaddafi would have made a short work of the rebels. Italy and the United States joined the UN mandate on Libya in what they also thought would be an overwhelming show of air power against a small power. All calculations have, however, proved as bizarre as the initial British calculations in the Boer War of 1899-1902. Now, five months of fighting, bickering amongst the rebels leading to the assassination of their military commander, Gen Abdul Fatah Younis, and increasingly more spirited resistance by Gaddafi’s troops, have begun to sap the vitality

OLATUNJI OLOLADE

region without any visible positive effect. The poverty alleviation programme is being handled by several agencies with no success.

Many of these duplicated agencies should be merged with others or scrapped altogether to reduce the cost of administration in the country.

With a Federal Government, some 36 or 37 states governments, and 744 local governments, Nigeria is one of the most governed countries in the world with a large public expenditure on recurrent costs. Yet, it is poorly governed, a weak state that cannot even enforce its own laws, or offer its citizens any security. Nigeria has failed to realise its real economic potential partly because of its vast bureaucracy, one of the largest in the world. In Europe and North America, the governments are having to reduce their huge national deficits by savage cuts in public spending, particularly on the large bureaucracies and social programmes that have become unsustainable. In Britain the new coalition government has introduced harsh measures to bring public expenditure under greater control and reduce the deficits. Ireland, Greece, and Spain have had to follow the same policy under prodding by the European Union.

Nigeria should do the same if it is to avoid bankruptcy in future with its grave implications for stability in the nation. Otherwise, a cycle of violence can easily be unleashed in the nation.

New Approach needed This is President Jonathan’s first budget since coming to power. It is a pity that he has not used this opportunity to follow a radical budget strategy different from that of his predecessors in office. And it is a greater pity that the opposition Parties have not taken him up on this by presenting a better budget alternative.

The weak and poor must remain the main focus of any budget. That is not the case in the 2011 budget proposals of the federal government in view of the huge running costs from which only the rich are likely to benefit.

While the Federal Government may be commended for deciding to provide the direct intervention fund of N50 billion for job creation, its strategy for doing so is unlikely to achieve the desired objective. Given the widespread corruption in the public sector, it cannot be relied upon to implement this programme successfully. It will be far better and more likely to achieve the intended objective of creating more jobs if the federal government were to seek the cooperation and assistance of the private sector in disbursing the funds. It is this sector that can provide the impetus for job creation, and not the public sector. Altogether, it is difficult not to be pessimistic about the 2011 budget proposals of the Federal Government.

•This piece was first published in December, last year. It is being repeated because of its continuing relevance to the disturbing issue of the excessive cost of governance in Nigeria.

• For comments, send SMS to 08054503031

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above of NATO forces, not to talk of the sanguine projections of the poorly armed rebels.

By sending a United Nations envoy to Tripoli to explore a diplomatic solution to the Libyan revolt, Britain and France have indirectly merely sent signals of their own war-weariness to the more implacable Gaddafi. The Libyan strongman has proudly and defiantly proclaimed through his obstreperous son, Saif al-Islam, that the war would continue until all Libya was liberated, notwithstanding the cessation of NATO bombardments. In other words, Gaddafi has sensed the enemy faltering.

He will want to push the knife in. Consequently, NATO will concentrate on saving face in what could easily become a Libyan debacle rather than mind the repression going on in Syria.

But if history is anything to go by, expect a sudden animation to the NATO war efforts.

For, irrespective of being democracies, the Entente Cordiale knows too well the unpleasant consequences of capitulation or of grudging accomodation. The Arab Spring is a genuine homemade revolt whose objective Western involvement cannot vitiate.

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