August 09,2015 by The Nation

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 9, 2015

Dead Poets Society founder wraps up tour, visits 500th grave

CAPTURED

MAINE man who travels around America to document the final resting places of poets has completed a summer tour in which he visited his 500th grave. Dead Poets Society of America founder Walter Skold wrapped up at the weekend at the graves of Philip Pendleton Cooke in Millwood, Virginia, and Marianne Moore in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. He visited his father’s grave in York, Pennsylvania. He’s heading back home to Freeport, Maine. Most of his time was in the Deep South. He says he visited 97 graves over 70 days, bringing his total to 530. He says the most memorable event was a memorial to four girls killed in a church bombing in 1963 in Birmingham, Alabama, where he read Dudley Randall’s “Ballad of Birmingham.” The society’s name was partly inspired by the 1989 Robin Williams movie “Dead Poets Society.”

Going a-Biking

?These?two bikers ? ? look ? good ? to go ? all the ? Long ? Way? Up as? they?pretty?much?look fully ? packed-up ? ? and?ready.? What?with double ? ? sure suitcases, bags and backpacks and of course spare tyres!.

PHOTO: MUYIWA HASSAN

OMENTS after Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, announced the principal officers of the 8th House, in which he appeared to have caved in to the pressures of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the lower chamber quixotically erupted in euphoric praise. Mr Dogara was a hero, they chorused in unison. All swords must be, and are even now, beaten with the best of sculptural graces into ploughshares, they cooed. In his announcement, a part of which was encapsulated in deliberate, dramatic flourish, the Speaker undisguisedly conceded nearly all the disputed APC leadership positions to his opponents. Femi Gbajabiamila, who seemed to embody party supremacy, and had poignantly anchored the main opposition to Hon. Dogara’s team of legislative refuseniks, became the House Majority Leader. Had Hon. Gbajabiamila wanted that position on the day Hon. Dogara was elected Speaker, he would have got it a la grecque. But after spurning even the position of Deputy Speaker as beneath him in the giddy days of the rebellion against the party by the Dogara column, he had subsequently had to fight tooth and nail to grab a lower post, with a lot of metaphoric shedding of blood on the floor of the House. The party and party supremacists, including Hon. Gbajabiamila, are euphoric. Hon. Dogara himself perhaps feels heroic, having deigned to give sop to his opponents, and received such applause in return that probably left him bewildered. And those who voted

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Euphoria and intransigence in NASS the lawmakers into office also expressed relief that this needless rebellion and the grand posturing of legislative combatants had at last come to an unremarkable end. But the euphoria is inexplicable. Hon. Gbajabiamila has what he craved. The APC is mollified. And Hon. Dogara has his peace. However, it is doubtful whether any of the three is really satisfied. The Majority Leader knows that the Speaker was arm-twisted

to concede to the party. The Speaker does not fully appreciate the point that party leadership positions in the legislature must be the exclusive preserve of the party, that is if it cannot be the preserve of tradition, which established and long-standing democracies enjoy. Had Hon. Dogara not eventually bowed to party wishes, it is hard to see how he could have known peace in the House. Nor is it clear how he and any lawmaker he could

attract to his camp could hope to function without party programmes and philosophy. Did he understand these delicate points? Or did he simply reluctantly bow to party wishes in order to enjoy his reign? The public may be relieved that peace has finally been secured in the House of Representatives. But the ululation of the Gbajabiamila/ party supremacist group was both indecent and obscene. Their group was right to insist on Hon. Dogara respecting party wishes. But by erupting in cheers and even garishly adorning the Speaker with the robes of heroism, the party supremacist group suggested they were dangerous

opportunists — lawmakers without character and conviction. They should have taken the Dogara concessions with the placidity and profound aloofness of superior minds, and damned him with faint praise. If the farce in the lower chamber is condonable, it is hard to know what to say of the continuing intransigence in the upper chamber where the opinionated and recalcitrant Bukola Saraki is encasing his rebellion against his party in the granite of realpolitik and the cynical use of committee positions as baits. To him, the party does not exist outside the legislature, and its borders not inviolable to the opposition

Buhari’s extemporaneous miscues

IGERIA may not find President Buhari the extraordinary gaffe maker his predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan, was. But notwithstanding his reputed staidness, he seems unexpectedly set to give commentators some hard bones of delicate gaffes to chew. He has already set a December date to end the Boko Haram menace, a dating habit that spectacularly undid Dr Jonathan. He has also assigned weights to the country’s voting communities, with those who voted him and his party receiving disproportionate affection and attention. In addition, he waffled over the NASS rebellions, and on a few occasions left his media

aides deploying all their lexical resources to defend some of his outlandish statements. Nothing, however, compares to his genuine but inappropriate statement to Nigerians in the United States whom he advised to stay put if they had some useful things doing. He was to repeat the advice in nearby Benin Republic when he visited that country in his antiBoko Haram coalition-building exercise. Nigerians living abroad had expressed their readiness to return home to contribute their bit to the nation’s rebuilding effort. It was obvious from his replies that the president meant well, and was in fact

truthful. But he was nonetheless unwise, and shockingly so. What his audience had wanted to hear, and what he should in fact have said, was that he would strive to assess their skills and what they hoped to contribute, and be ready to set in motion the process of reversing the brain drain that expropriated the country of skilled manpower, even if it would take many years. But the former army general is full of candour, sometimes offensively so, and he was unabashed in showing it. In the coming months, Nigerians will have to endure President Buhari’s miscues, but it will be with

an indulgence that is far more tolerable than the deeply exasperating gaffes of the Jonathan presidency.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Believing that his position will become impregnable on account of the number of lawmakers he coaxes to his side, the Senate President has attracted as many senators as possible, irrespective of their political standing, moral stature, or deficiency of principles. He is praised by every rebel in the Senate, and venerated by the capricious and loquacious Dino Melaye. Senator Saraki is, however, unlikely to make any good impression on the equally adamant President Muhammadu Buhari who appears dead set against him. He may have seduced scores of foolish senators and representatives into accompanying his wife to the EFCC office, thus making an ass of themselves and giving the foul impression he is being persecuted by his APC opponents, but it is almost certain he will sink deeper into fallacies and contradictions. The Saraki rebellion is, however, not just an indication of the Senate President’s Machiavellian prowess, or his vaunted unassailability; it is also a more flagrant reflection of the low quality of legislators grandstanding wildly in the upper chamber. Alas, it is also a depressing show of how, irrespective of party leanings, the chamber is stuffed with unprincipled and unreflective opportunists devoid of any sense of the lofty purpose and inclination the ruling party enthused during the campaigns. Senator Saraki should be proud he is building a united and motivated army of undifferentiated lawmakers — an army solely dedicated, across party lines, to satisfying self, ego and financial greed.

By ADEKUNLE ADE-ADELEYE

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2015

Re-presenting the Under-represented: Toward A Recovery of the American Dream in Higher Education Utopia Postponed

HAIRMAN, dignitaries spiritual and temporal, distinguished audience, I want to begin by thanking the organisers of this forum for a timely and wonderful idea, an idea which is in keeping with the finest tradition of the Catholic Church and this remarkable institution of higher learning. As Shakespeare has noted, great reckonings always begin in small rooms, and I am sure that when viewed retrospectively, the deliberations of this forum will be seen as a remarkable and worthy intervention in the educational process of the United States. Let me assure the organisers and sponsors that whenever and wherever human history is recorded, there is always a special status and pride of place accorded to the nobility of those who seek a voice for the voiceless and give a helping hand to the helpless.The Roman Catholic establishment is very much part of this noble tradition, and the founding sisters of this university are illustrious exemplars. We can even go back in history to the example of Jesus Christ whose radical humanism often led him to a risky identification with the poor, the meek and the wretched of the earth. I say all this not to flatter or to cajole but to place before you the incontrovertible facts of history. In the course of this address, I will show how certain historic personages of the Catholic Church, from Bartolome de Las Casas, the seventeenth century catholic archbishop of Chiapas, to the Abbe Henri-Baptiste Gregoire, a leading French abolitionist of the early eighteenth century, played crucial roles in re-presenting the misrepresented. The phenomenon of under- representation is one of the crucial challenges of our time. At the level of contemporary global politics, it has bred wholesale alienation of national communities, alternative cultures and even civilisations. It has ruptured the old international order and it threatens the very paradigm of the nation-state. On the other hand, it has spawned in the alienated several desperate measures which range from a strategy of excluding the excluders to what has been described as the logic of perverse connection which invariably means a resort to international crime in order to connect to the grid of the global economy. This often involves deploying the technology of globalisation to achieve ideological ends widely at variance with the goals of an American empire in denial. I have put things in this global perspective in order to secure a broader canvas. What concerns us at this forum is not under-representation at the level of global politics, but under-representation at a national and even more fundamental level of human endeavour. We are talking of under-representation in higher education in the United States. It is indeed a supreme irony of history and the human condition that a nation founded on the ideals of freedom and equality, and on the ruins of the feudal injustices of the old world should find its own system of higher education riddled with gross inequities. Despite affirmative actions and other ameliorative steps, and despite the struggle and efforts of the civil rights groups and other concerned agencies, the cruel reality of underrepresentation in the American higher educational system stares us in the face in all its vertical and horizontal dimensions. And this is not just an academic exercise. The symp-

•Obama

toms of this national malaise are as clear as they are threatening: cynical distrust of government and political institutions, alienation, social dislocations of biblical proportions, and a progressive loss of faith in the American dream. This is what has brought us here today. My address is predicated on the fundamental premise that certain philosophical and ideological correctives are imperative before effective political actions. Without such a foundation, all actions, however heroic and spectacular, are ultimately futile and an invitation to anarchy. In the words of a famous Nigerian novelist, we must go back to where the rains started beating us. As intellectuals, our principal responsibility is to think and illuminate the path of mankind. Before mounting the political barricades we must first remove the philosophical barriers. As Hegel has noted, if reality is inconceivable then we must forge concepts that are inconceivable. My address is structured around the major trope of re-presentation. My argument is that before underrepresentation came misrepresentation and before full representation there must come a re-presentation. In other words, we must first decode and properly understand the hegemonic strategies by which wholesale communities, races, groups are first “othered”, and then compelled to come to terms with their disadvantage as if it is a naturally ordained phenomenon. If one were to take a long view of history, it is possible to see this insidious manipulation of military and economic advantages for the purpose of political and intellectual subjugation as a trans-historical phenomenon which is certainly not without its utopian impulses. The anguished cries of Shylock, Shakespeare’s embattled Jewish merchant of Venice, as he tried to reassert his humanity in the face of widespread denial, comes to mind as a grim and timely reminder of the fate of stigmatised minorities however rich and powerful. At certain points in history, a people or a society, consciously and unconsciously, often invest themselves with the divine mantra of the bearer of a new telos whose historic destiny is to lift the rest of humanity, often by the bootstraps, to a higher level of civilisation. Yet the

immense human suffering often engendered, the world-historic agonies, the cruel and merciless rationalism unleashed on innocent populace are simply staggering and often grossly disproportionate to the eventual benefits to mankind. In the event, it compounds and complicates the quest for an ideal society and the redemption of humankind. The question begging for an answer is this: How did the United States of America which was supposed to represent a new beginning for mankind, away from the inequities and iniquities of the old world, come to be haunted by this ancestral sin? In the Beginning In 1809, more than half a century before the outbreak of the American civil war, the Abbe Henri-Baptiste Gregoire, sent a manuscript of a new work to Thomas Jefferson, a founding father and the third president of the United States. The book was a celebration and commemoration of essayists, writers and scientists of African extraction who had found their way to the west. It was titled, De La Litterature des Negress. Despite his principled opposition to slavery, Jefferson’s view of the intellectual capacities of black people was notoriously truculent and characterised by savage dismissals. In an infamous passage from his Notes on the State of Virginia, Jefferson noted thus of the African American: “It appears to me that in memory they are equal to whites: in reason much inferior, as I think one could scarcely be found capable of tracing and comprehending the investigations of Euclid; and that in imagination they are dull, tasteless, and anomalous”. This remarkable diatribe was coming on the heels of the literary exploits of the trio Equaino, Cuguano and Sancho, former slaves of African descent, who seized late eighteenth century literary London by the scruff of the neck and were feted in all the leading saloons of England’s capital for their astounding feats of imagination. Being very well-connected to the metropolitan circuits of the old world, Jefferson could not have been unaware of the literary triumphs of these exemplars. Perhaps it was a case of prejudice compounded by

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nooping around With

Tatalo Alamu deliberate ignorance. Gregoire’s treatise could have been a wellaimed and profoundly clandestine attempt to help Jefferson modify or moderate his unhelpful worldview. But it was an uphill task. The same views resonate in the works of European intellectuals and philosophers such as David Hume, Emmanuel Kant, Friedrich Hegel and even Karl Marx. As far as Marx was concerned, India and the African continent lost nothing in the wanton destruction of their old culture by the European conquerors as it was a culture shot through with idiotic superstitions and morbid myths. As late as the late twentieth century, the celebrated historian, Hugh Trevor Roper, would dismiss African history as characterised by a dark void in one long night of savagery. And as the early nineteen fifties in post-bellum Atlanta, a grand lady of a house would be so shocked by the discovery that a moonlighting African American houseboy could read that she would exclaim: “Vernon can read!!!” This later became the title of the autobiography of the “boy” in question, Vernon Jordan, corporate lawyer and golf course crony of William Jefferson Clinton. This rather inauspicious beginning marked the insertion of African Americans into the educational system of their new country and has ever since determined its less than glorious trajectory. Not only were black people regarded as unlettered savages, the very idea of educating them was forbidden and criminalised. Specific laws were enacted making it a criminal offence to enrol them in schools. The situation was later to create its own macabre absurdities. Several African Americans who triumphed over this legal adversity by sheer fortitude and indomitable will were later to find themselves confronted by an impossible situation. On a book signing tour, Fredrick Douglass, the former slave, was advised by his Abolitionist sponsors not to sound too posh and educated lest people began to doubt the veracity of his story. An infamous review of a slave memoir in The Christian Examiner of 1839 opens with the immortal put-down: “We read, in what professes to be the language of a slave, that which we feel a slave could not have written…” Not only must the minority subalterns not speak, they must also not write. And thus was sown the seeds of contemporary under-representation of African Americans in higher education in the United States. From the other end of the spectrum, the story is no less appalling and sordid. Fifty years after the conquest of the Inca civilisation by the Spanish conquistadors, the genocide of the Amerindians was so cruel and compelling that Bartolome de Las Casas, the Bishop of Chiapas, and himself a Spaniard, was moved to protest. The local populace was treated worse than the animals of the conquerors. According to a moving account: “The majority of the Spanish military, administrators, and colonists, hungry for gold and power, saw the occupants of the new world as irrevocably Other, less than human, or at least naturally subordinate to Europeans. In a blistering philippic, La Casas notes: “The nature of men is the same and all are called

by Christ in the same way”. For those interested in history as a museum of atrocities and of man’s inhumanity to man, we can move to nineteenth century Congo and the brutal and systematic elimination of the local populace by King Leopold of Belgium. Two centuries earlier in the same area, the Portuguese had completely decimated the proud people of the Kongo kingdom and carried off virtually the entire populace to the new colony of Brazil through the slave port of Luanda, the capital of present day Angola. When the Portuguese arrived fifty years earlier, they had met a social structure and political administration vastly superior to the one they had left behind at home. But it was an administration without military firepower, and the people paid very dearly for this historic remission. But what goes around must come around, and the whirligig of time often brings its own revenge. In the third decade of the nineteenth century, Mexico, with its native Indian populace and overlay of the old conquistador class, finally came within the rifle sights of the triumphant and relentlessly expanding new nation. Having succumbed to a dissolute and corrupt military oligarchy, Mexico presented a classic case of political disorder and social turmoil. The philosophical launch pad which facilitated the military subjugation of the Mexicans was known as the doctrine of manifest destiny which held that it was the God-ordained destiny of the United States to bring civilisation, economic prosperity and good governance to the rest of the continent and possibly beyond. This was the stirring of empire, and although this strain of messianic covenant as God’s chosen people has always been present in America, it was in 1845 that John O’Sullivan gave it an authoritative seal in an influential article for The Democratic Review. Up till today, many Mexicans regard Los Yanquis with suspicion and sullen resentment. But with the conquest of Mexico and forcible acquisition of a large swathe of its territory, the United States became host-and hostage- to three major minority groups: native American Indians, African Americans and Hispanic Americans. It is no wonder, then, that these groups represent the most under-represented groups in higher education in America. When it has been persistently and consistently drummed into your ears and drilled into your head that you belong to an inferior race and that you are naturally subhuman, it is very hard to rise above the history stupor and the morass of self-pity. Naturally enough, you begin to evolve strategies of containment or stratagems of accommodation to a hostile reality of modern enslavement. This is where misrepresentation leads to under representation and structural exclusion induces self-exclusion. In such circumstances, the very notion of an American dream becomes a tall order, an ideological sweetener for the bitter reality of injustice and inequity. The threat of this disequilibrium of opportunity to racial and social harmony in the United States can be better imagined. •Continued on page 69

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ORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo was back at the Presidential Villa,Abuja on Friday for a fresh round of discussion with President Muhammadu Buhari on the state of the nation. It was their second meeting in a month,the first coming during the Ramadan when Obasanjo went to break fast with Buhari. The Friday meeting took place behind closed door. Sources said Obasanjo’s presence was to enable him “offer advice “ to the new administration especially in relation to the observations made by the Abdulsalami Abubakar Committee on the management of the last elections. Details were not immediately available last

Obasanjo meets Buhari behind closed door FROM: Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

night. Our sources merely said: “The meeting with the president was held behind the curtains. Obasanjo actually came to offer advice to the new administration. The fact is that Buhari broke fast with Obasanjo towards the tail end of the last Ramadan. Obasanjo caught everyone unawares when he insisted on returning to Lagos that same night. He

Jonathan not target of any probe, says Osinbajo

ICE PRESIDENT Yemi Osinbajo yesterday dismissed suggestions that the Buhari Administration is witch hunting former President Goodluck Jonathan with the probe of the activities of some agencies. On the contrary, he said the administration’s anti-corruption stance is designed to check corruption in all areas of the nation’s life. “It’s not about a probe of a past government, that’s not what this is about. We are talking about our future, we are saying that we must put in place a clear strategy going forward,” the vice president said at the funeral of Madam Elizabeth Adesola Mamora, mother of Senator Olorunmibe Mamora, at the First Baptist Church, Ijebu-Ife, Ogun State.. “Not just about ensuring that people are made to pay for looting the treasury, our system of justice must be fair to ensure that anybody who does anything that is wrong is

brought to account. We can’t allow impunity to continue. So it’s not about the previous government, it’s about any form of impunity,” he stressed. Vice President Osinbajo said the anti-corruption effort of the government is a genuine programme aimed at sanitizing the country. In his sermon at the service, the head of the Baptist Church in Ogun State, Pastor Segun Jaiyesimi, challenged political leaders to make positive change while alive, especially when they are holding public office as there will be no opportunity to do so after death. The ceremony drew a large crowd of friends, associates and relations from far and near including APC leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Chief Bisi Akande, Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, former governors of Ogun, Otunba Gbenga Daniel and the immediate past governor of Rivers, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi.

Over 12,000 repatriated refugees arrive Adamawa from Cameroon EDERAL Government Displaced Persons Camps in

officials and those of Adamawa and Borno States yesterday visited the over 12,000 Nigerian refuges repatriated by the Cameroonian authorities at their temporary camps in Mubi, Adamawa, preparatory to their screening for rehabilitation. The officials were led by Alhaji Sani Sidi, the Director General of National Emergency Management Agency. Sidi said the government delegation was in Mubi to officially receive the refugees, assess their conditions and provide for their basic needs. They are expected to be moved to designated Internally

Yola. “While in the camps, you will undergo screenings in order to identify the areas where you come from,” Sidi told them. Ninety-five per cent of the victims are natives of Gamboru, Ngala and Bama in Borno. The deputy governor of Borno, Alhaji Zanna Mustafa, also addressed the IDPs, saying the state authorities would move its people to Maiduguri after screening to enable them link them up with their families. He advised them to expose any member of Boko Haram living in their midst. About 80 per cent of the IDPs are women and children.

Zamfara inaugurates hajj committee

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 9, 2015

NEWS

HE Zamfara State Government has inaugurated a 22member hajj committee to handle the 2015 pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. Chairman of the committee and Zamfara Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Wakkala, who inaugurated the committee in Gusau, charged members to work toward a successful

exercise. He said that the committee was expected to assist pilgrims, and cautioned them against seeing the exercise as an avenue to pursue worldly things, “The governor was very careful in the selection of members because he expects them to use their knowledge to improve the conduct of the exercise,’’ he said.

had to return at 9pm. “As a former President, he met with Buhari to compare notes on a few things and what the government should do. The advisory is not binding but it can be helpful. “This is the summary of what transpired between the two leaders.” There was little to discuss during the first meeting last month, hence the second meeting, sources said. They could not compare

notes on that occasion as Obasanjo decided to leave for Lagos at about 9pm on that day, foreclosing any “serious talks.” Findings however confirmed that Friday’s session provided an opportunity for them to rub minds on the state of the nation. It was gathered that to protect the sanctity of the session, the schedule issued to Buhari’s aides indicated that Governor Aminu

Waziri Tambuwal would be visiting the President on Friday night. But instead of Tambuwal , it was Obasanjo that turned up at the appointed time, taking some of them by surprise. Another respected source said that the Abdulsalami 2015 Elections Peace Committee had been trying to get across to Buhari on “some issues emerging from the outcome of the management of the 2015

poll.” The source added: “I am aware that Abdulsalami’s Committee had complained of not being able to get in touch with Buhari on some matters arising from postelection issues. “Do not forget that exPresident Goodluck Jonathan recently ran to Abdulsalami on some issues. “As father of all, Obasanjo is usually the clearing house in respect of these issues.” When contacted, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, confirmed the meeting by the two leaders but he said he had no details at press time because he was out of the Federal Capital Territory.

•President Muhammadu Buhari (left) with former President Olusegun Obasanjo during the latter’s visit to the Villa at the weekend.

Suicide bombers spread fear of Boko Haram in Cameroon E

MPTY streets, body searches and tips to police embody the fear that the terror sect Boko Haram has instilled in northern Cameroon, where they killed more than 40 people in suicide bombings last month. The insurgents later kidnapped 135 villagers and killed eight others in a predawn strike across the border last Tuesday, police and local sources said. Boko Haram has attacked villages in Cameroon’s Extreme North region for about two years, but the horrific bombings mark a change of tactics, while Cameroonian troops have joined a regional force to tackle the extremists. The suicide bombers can be young women and even teenage girls, who behave like locals and blend in at crowded places to cause maximum casualties. Residents of Maroua, the main town in the Extreme

North, were spared until successive blasts tore though the bustling central market and a bar on July 22 and 25. Those bombs killed 33 people and wounded dozens more. “We’re very worried and no longer know where to turn,” says Albert, a worried father. “Should we send the children to school when the next school year starts?” he ponders. “Boko Haram is against Western education and may very well carry out attacks on schools.” The sect’s name loosely translates as “Western education is forbidden”, and Boko Haram notoriously abducted 276 Nigerian schoolgirls in April last year. Some managed to escape but more than 200 are believed to be held in the large Sambisa forest, where the Nigerian army this week said it had freed 178 captives. “When you see

somebody who isn’t familiar in the neighbourhood, you call the police,” says Oumarou, who works for a Maroua logistics firm. He has sent his family away to Douala, Cameroon’s economic capital on the Atlantic, more than 1,300 kilometres away. Information Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary has meanwhile heaped praise on an astute taxi-motorcycle driver who turned in a 15year-old boy carrying explosives last week. The driver found the teen was behaving suspiciously and decided to drive him to a police station, where he was detained. Two other suspects were picked up. “Their objective was to blow up inside a mosque,” Bakary said. Security has been tightened repeatedly in Maroua. When the market closes at 5:00 pm, “everybody goes home. There

is nobody left on the streets apart from the soldiers,” Oumarou says. Sources in the security forces believe that Boko Haram infiltrators and sympathisers have operated in Maroua for months, relaying information to their chiefs. “They are people like you and me,” a Cameroonian army officer says. “It’s almost impossible to identify them.” Bus terminals catering for southern destinations, notably big cities like Douala and the capital Yaounde, are closely watched. Passengers are always frisked as they board their coaches. “You feel the threat most because of all the checkpoints on the roads,” says Olivier, a young French expatriate in Douala. “The police have tightened up their searches. They make us empty our cars completely, and our bags.”

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 9, 2015

NEWS

Gunmen sack military base in Bayelsa

EAR about the return of militancy in the Niger Delta yesterday enveloped Bayelsa State following a daring attack by unknown gunmen on a military base at Ogbolomabiri in Nembe Local Government Area, Bayelsa State. The gunmen suspected to be militants overran and sacked the Joint Task Force (JTF)/Operation Pulo Shield base, killing four soldiers and a mobile policeman. They struck in four speed boats loaded. The task force is charged with the responsibility of keeping the peace in the state which was notorious for kidnapping, piracy and illegal bunkering. Oil bunkering has long been a major cost to Nigeria's treasury, which depends on oil for around 70 percent of its earnings. Another mobile policeman went missing after the incident which occurred at 11:30pm on Friday. The gunmen were said to have invaded the base in a

•Four soldiers, one policeman killed in night operation •Arms, ammunition, gunboat seized Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

coordinated land and water operation. Sources said they ransacked the base and took their time to cart away all the rifles and ammunition of the security operatives. An army gunboat was also said to have been taken away by them. A source who described the incident as horrific said the security operatives were overwhelmed by the number and sophisticated weapons of the attackers. The source said the gunmen operated for over 30 minutes shooting unceasingly. He said: "It was a shooting spree. Though the security operatives were caught unawares, there was little or nothing they could do because of the number of the gunmen and the kind of arms they came with. "Some of the gunmen

engaged the military base from the waterways while others were shooting from land. The security operatives tried unsuccessfully to stop them. They paid with their lives. Some few fortunate ones escaped", he said. He added: "It was obvious that they came for the arms and ammunition of the soldiers. They carted away all the arms and rifles and fled with a military gunboat. "We don't know the motive behind the stealing of arms in this area. Could it be because of the forthcoming election or could it be a plan to start a fresh round of militancy in the region?" A top security source who also spoke in confidence described the attack as planned, coordinated and executed with the evil intention of stealing and stockpiling arms. He said the action of the gunmen caused panic in Nembe

communities. The bodies of the murdered security operatives were recovered and deposited at the mortuary of the Nembe General Hospital. Continuing, the source said:"there is a serious problem in the Niger Delta region. We have been raising the alarm of functional and active militant camps operating in the region despite the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP). "The most disturbing one is this trend of attacking security operatives and stealing their arms. They have been doing this. The one they did in Cross River State was also massive. They are stockpiling arms." Defence spokesman Colonel Rabe Abubakar blamed the attack on "suspected oil bunkerers". He said: "The Joint Task Force Operation PULO SHIELD has moved into action to arrest and

apprehend the perpetrators of this unpatriotic and callous attacks. "The military will deal decisively with anybody or group involved in this and similar acts of attacks or sabotage on the nation's economy." He advised the general public in the affected community to go about their normal business activities, and solicited their cooperation by given timely information to the military or any other security agencies to avert future reoccurrence of the 'ugly incidence'. The Defence Headquarters also reiterated its commitment to ensuring the protection of lives and property of innocent citizens nationwide. Speaking separately on the development, JTF's Coordinator, Joint Campaign Media Centre (JMCC), Lt. Col.

Why Olisa Metuh is target, PDP

Gbajabiamila is a great leader, says Ambode

•Constituency organises welcome/victory party By Oziegbe Okoeki

HE Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has described the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, as a great leader with outstanding planning skills with strong and decisive approach to issues. Urging Gbajabiamila to continue to champion participatory and constitutional democracy in the House, Ambode said, "you are a man of integrity and you have a clear, exciting idea of where you are going and what you are trying to accomplish." Ambode spoke through his representative, the permanent secretary, office of Civic Engagement, Mrs. Adebunmi Adekanye, at the 'heroic welcome and victory party' organised in honour of Gbajabiamila by his Surulere Federal Constituency members at Teslim Balogun Stadium yesterday. He lauded Gbajabiamila for focusing on the strength of the party and its supremacy, saying "I must thank you immensely for coming out to tell us that you were willing to sacrifice your position for the sake of peace and unity in the House. "I admonish you to continue championing participatory and constitutional democracy in the House of Representatives and to ensure that good governance is enshrined in the quality of resolutions and bills passed. "I also implore you to ensure cordial and harmonious executive/legislative relationship in the House. And ensure you continue your role as the link between Lagos State Government and House of Representatives", he said. Describing Gbajabiamila as a great leader with, strong and decisive approach to issues but also humble, Ambode said, "You have the self-confidence and self awareness to recognise the value of others without feeling threatened. Your clear vision turns you into a special type of person by changing you from a transactional manager into a transformational leader."

Isa Ado, said : "We are working on getting the real details. The JTF is on the move to apprehend the hoodlums. We won't relent on our efforts of fighting criminality in the region." The Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO), Mr. Butswat Asinim, said details at the disposal of the police suggested that four soldiers and a policeman were killed in the attack. He said: "On the 7 August, 2015, at about 11:30pm, four speedboats loaded with unknown gunmen, suspected to be sea pirates attacked the Joint Task Force (JTF) Base, at Nembe Water front, in Nembe LGA, killing four soldiers and one policeman. "The gunmen carted away two HP Guns and other arms from the Base. A combined team of the JTF, Marine Police and the Navy are combing the creeks to recover the arms and arrest the culprits". A combined military and police team was searching local creeks to find the attackers last night.

• An Ivorian King (C) presents the tail of a horse to Pascal Affi N'Guessan (R), President of Ivory Coast's main opposition Ivorian Popular Front (FPI), during a ceremony at the Culture Palace of Abidjan yesterday after officially declaring his candidacy for the upcoming presidential election. The October 25 polls are seen as crucial for Ivory Coast's stability after a AFP PHOTO decade of political and military crisis.

Injustice responsible for rising crimes - Maitama Sule

ORMER permanent representative to the United Nations (UN) and chairman of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Alhaji Maitama Sule, has blamed the rising level of crimes in the country on injustice and lack of qualitative leadership. Sule, who spoke in Abuja yesterday as a guest during the 70th birthday celebration of Chief Ojo Maduekwe, told the dignitaries that in order for the country to move forward, there was need to ensure that only worthy leaders were elected to hold public offices. The cerebral orator also hinted that it was time for the country to produce true leaders and not looters or rulers. He said Nigeria is destined to be great among the comity of nations, but insisted that such greatness was only predicated on qualitative leadership. Sule said: "The leaders we had in the past made Nigerians great. Nigerians were proud and respected in the world. These founding fathers were historic. They always thought

•Akpabio blames PDP’s loss on choice of wrong candidates From : Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja of Nigeria first. They were not greedy. If we have leaders who are good, godly and focused, everything will be alright. We want leaders and not rulers. We need leaders and not looters. We want leaders who will rule with the hand of honesty. We need leaders who will not steal and are not corrupt. "I refuse to accept the claim that religion and tribalism are the main problems of Nigeria. All the religions teach the same values. Christians are thought to love one another. Same thing goes for Muslims. All the religions of God teach peace. Nigerian Muslims are more religious than other Muslims in other parts of the world. But do we practice what Islam says? No religion teaches that you should kill others who do not share your faith. "You go into politics to serve the people. The most important thing is justice for

all. Again, both religions encourage us to be just to all. Injustice is behind every crisis. Once there is justice and fair play, we will not have crisis. "We have fallen by the way side. What is happening in Nigeria is not in our character. The government institutions have broken down. Respect for elders is not there. There is lawlessness and chaos in the polity. There is corruption in the country. What is responsible for all these is lack of leadership. Nigeria is a potential great country. We have been destined by God to lead Africa. "I have a dream that Nigeria will one day be united. I have a dream that Nigeria will be our brother's keeper. I have a dream that Nigeria will be respected among comity of nations. In order to realize this dream, we must have good leaders. May God grant that we may have good leaders." Meanwhile, former governor of Akwa Ibom State,

Senator Godswill Akpabio, has blamed the monumental loss of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last general elections on wrong choice of candidates by the party. He said the PDP would have opted for the first 11 in order to win the elections, instead it went for the wrong candidates. He said his party has now been saddled with the responsibility of piloting the affairs of the opposition at the federal level. His words: "Ojo Maduekwe is my mentor. I know that God loves you. Nigerians love you. You are celebrating your birthday. PDP did what we have always done in the past 16 years. We did not use our best 11 and that was why we lost the elections. We have now been saddled with the responsibility of piloting the affairs of the opposition. I believe that even in business or in any endeavour, we must go for the best 11."

HE National Publi-city Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday deplored what he called incessant and unnecessary attacks on his person by political opponents. He claimed that he was being targeted with a view to forcing him to abandon his statutory function as the mouthpiece of the party. But he vowed to remain undeterred as he "is now, more than ever before, determined to ensure that PDP provides robust and credible opposition, which is inevitable to further grow our democracy." Metuh's Special Assistant, Richard Ihediwa, said in a statement that "credible intelligence available to us has shown that apart from instigating some unsuspecting persons within our party to peddle lies and insults against Chief Metuh, there is a well-coordinated assault by anti-PDP forces who have engaged heavily paid consultants masquerading as writers and columnists, in addition to social media hirelings, some of who use pseudonyms to attack him for daring to speak out against the undemocratic actions and tendencies of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration." Ihediwa added: "While the National Publicity Secretary is fully aware of the challenges that come with his new role of providing firm, issue-based opposition, we decry the resort to dirty politics by the anti-PDP forces, instead of focusing on the issues, as not only shameful but also a despicable act of cowardice." He said that even after the PDP Workers Welfare Association has apologised over allegations it made against the PDP National Working Committee, and particularly himself, "the anti-PDP elements, shamed by that development, are still relentless in their unholy enterprise against the National Publicity Secretary and other leaders of the party." Metuh denied receiving "any money or monies from the immediate past President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan before, during or after the 2015 campaigns for media and publicity functions or for any other reason whatsoever."

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 9, 2015

NEWS

SIM registration: MTN warns agents against breach of process

Group lauds Dogara

NFORMATION and Communication Technology (ICT) giant, MTN, has declared its zero tolerance for compromise by agents in the registration of its SIM cards. It vowed to make defaulters face the full wrath of the law whenever a breach of the process in detected. Addressing trade partners and agents at workshops organised across the country on the SIM registration, the company's Sales and Distribution Executive, 'Tsola Barrow, called for due diligence and compliance with the regulations guiding the exercise. He said that MTN's commitment to 100 per cent compliance at the point of registration is founded on the company's pillars of Engagement, Accountability and Systems Improvement. He said: "different Business Forums will continue to be leveraged to drive enlightenment on the proper conduct of the exercise, while regular monthly and quarterly business meetings will continue to be used to emphasise the essence and importance of ensuring agents comply with SIM registration specifications and requirements, which were extensively discussed." On his part, the Senior Manager, Regulatory Affairs, MTN Nigeria, Quasim Odunmbaku, said the country cannot afford to store fictitious data through incomplete SIM registration. MTN has invested about N10billion on SIM registration exercise since its commencement.

Insecurity cripples Northeast hide-and skin business

HE current security challenge in the Northeast has crippled the hideand-skin business in Borno State, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). While the state-owned shoe-making and hides tannery firm, Neital Nig. Ltd, has been grappling with problems, the bustle that used to characterise the premises of the Maiduguri Central abattoir, is completely gone, especially after the blast that rocked the location some time ago. Alhaji Usman Tomsu, General Manager of the Maiduguri Neital Nigeria Ltd, speaking on the experience of the company, said it went comatose after operating for 10 years without making profit. "The company had been moribund for nearly two decades, until Gov. Kashim Shettima injected funds in 2013, to enable it jump-start its operations," Tomsu said. "The over N500 million returned profit recorded by Neital Nigeria Ltd in the 2013 fiscal year, was the first major profit made since its establishment 32 years ago. "With all necessary equipment in place, we gave ourselves a target of generating at least $1 million profit in the two years of our resumption of full operations, that is from 2013 to 2015. "Following that intervention, Neital resumed operations and went into export of finished leathers to Italy and Spain, intensifying sales of finished leather in Nigeria, in addition to production and sales of shoes.”

• Applicants at the 2015 Post- Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination(UTME) for Obafemi Awolowo University(OAU) Ile Ife, Osun State… yesterday PHOTO: NAN

JAMB: 32,000 candidates to write UNILAG post-UTME

ORE than 32,000 candidates are expected to write the 2015 post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) into the University of Lagos, the institution's Deputy Registrar (Information), Mr. Olagoke Oke, said yesterday. The examination is scheduled to hold from Aug. 12 to Aug. 14. The figure is almost four times the 9,000 that was initially allocated to the institution by the Joint Admis-

sions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). The board and some public universities had agreed to raise the bar of the cut-off marks of their institutions from 200 to 250 for the various courses. The development sparked an outrage across the country with parents and other stakeholders, asking the federal government to intervene. The decision was later reversed after consultations between the Prof. Dibu Ojerinde-led JAMB and the

federal government. "All logistics toward a smooth conduct of this examination are fully in place. We have always been ready for situations like this and have always got it right," Oke told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). "Before now, we were hoping to put logistics in place for the initial 9,000 candidates, but with the reversal of the decision, we now have to re-adjust and I want to say that we are fully prepared.

"All our computers and its accessories, the backups, alternative power supply as well as adequate personnel that will conduct the examination are all ready.'' The deputy registrar said the university was compelled to extend the exercise to three days because of the large number of candidates seeking admission into the institution. He, however, advised candidates to arrive early at the examination centres for a hitch-free exercise.

Four rescued from Mali hotel; nine killed in attack

ALI's special forces yesterday rescued four people who hid in a hotel for nearly 24 hours after extremists stormed the building and launched a rare attack far from their northern strongholds that killed nine people, officials said. Three attackers were also killed in the fighting. The four rescued U.N. employees are two South Africans, a Russian and a Ukrainian, said U.N. mission in Mali spokeswoman Radhia Achouri. "Our contractors survived because at no time was their presence discovered by the terrorists in the hotel," she said adding there was not much resistance yesterday during the rescue. The four would soon go to Bamako, the capital, she said. Additional U.N. personnel

may still be missing, said a U.N. official not authorized to speak to the press on the matter. Some personnel could not be reached, and some of the attackers left Sevare after the initial attacks Friday morning, the official said. A 38-year-old South African who died in the attack worked for an aviation company that was assisting the U.N. contingent in Mali, Nelson Kgwete, spokesman for South Africa's foreign ministry, said on Twitter. Kgwete declined to reveal the identity of the dead South African. Two other South Africans caught up in the attack are safe, he said on Twitter. A South African member of the Gift of the Givers charity group was at the hotel at the time of the attack but was unharmed, Imtiaz Sooliman, founder of the South African

organization, told South African media. The Russian former hostage is "alive and well," Viktor Gorelov, spokesman for the Russian Embassy in Bamako, told the Interfax news agency. The state news agency Tass said he worked for the Russian airline UTair. Islamic extremists started the attack Friday at the Hotel Byblos in Sevare, about 600 kilometers northeast of the capital, Bamako. Mali's army surrounded the hotel and fighting went into the night Friday. Mali's special forces were transported to Sevare from Bamako early yesterday and launched an operation to rescue the people inside the hotel. It is unclear how many fighters were involved. After the operation four additional bodies were found

in the hotel, including three hotel staff and one jihadi, said Lt. Col. Diarran Kone. Officials had earlier announced that five Malian soldiers were killed, two jihadis and a U.N. contractor, bringing the total death toll to 12. "The operation ended around 5 a.m.," he said. "The operation was led by Mali's gendarmerie with our partners." The government said Friday that forces detained seven suspected militants. Northern Mali fell under the control of jihadis in 2012 but a French-led offensive ousted them in early 2013. Remnants of the extremists have staged attacks on U.N. peacekeepers and Malian forces, but Friday's assault on a hotel popular with U.N. pilots marks a serious escalation.

Ambode asks NUJ to change face of journalism

HE newly elected President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Mr. Waheed Odusile, has been charged to reposition journalism for the purpose of building a virile and strong nation. This, he can do, by utilis ing the strength of the social media. Governor Akinwunmi Ambode made the call at the weekend when Odusile led a delegation of the union on a courtesy visit to him at Alausa, Ikeja.

•Governor receives new President, Odusile "In this modern day of social media, we need to start to look at what social media means to our journalists and national development," the governor said. He also advised the NUJ leadership to work assiduously to improve on the standard of the profession in Nigeria. His words: "We should be able to look at that area and see how we can improve on the curriculum of the Institute

of Journalism and other communication schools where we can start integrating the good side of social media with journalism and development in the best interest of the nation." He said no political leadership can thrive without the support of journalists as its role in the polity could not be over emphasized. He congratulated the Lagos State council of the union for producing the NUJ president for the first time in

21 years. Odusile said the union would partner with the government in the effort to rebuild Nigeria. He appealed for the governor's assistance in weeding out quacks from the profession. According to him, "We need laws to flush out quackery from our profession; we need your support to make a law to make quackery a thing of the past in our profession. We want to focus on professionalism."

SOCIO-political organisation, SaiBaba Progressive Youth Forum has lauded the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, for what it called the speaker's "accommodating spirit" and political sagacity deployed to resolve the leadership intra-party crisis that almost engulfed the APC caucus of the green chamber. In a communique by the National President and Publicity Secretary of the forum, Mallam Abubakar Ibrahim and Tafida Mohhamed, they applauded him for accepting Femi Gbajabiamila as Majority Leader. According to the forum, "This is an act worthy of emulation by all sectional and national leaders of Nigeria, you have written your name with indelible ink by forging ahead for the cause of a common Nigeria on the streets of Aba, Ibadan, Port Harcourt or Kano." They appealed to the speaker to direct the affairs of the house in tunes with the yearning and aspirations of the change mantra of President Muhammadu Buhari . They appealed to him to bridge the political gap with the Gbajabiamila group in consolidating on the resolved leadership tussle.

Police foil kidnap of Indian in Lagos, nab suspect

HE police said that they foiled an attempt yesterday in Ikorodu, Lagos State, to kidnap an Indian. A suspect was arrested in connection with the crime. The state command's spokesperson, DSP Patricia Amadin, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that an employee of a metal company in the town and others still at large were in involved in the alleged plot. She said the Divisional Police Officer at Sagamu Road Station in Ikorodu got a tip-off of the kidnap and swung into action. "A man simply identified as Timothy, 35, an old employee of the company, had planned with three other men to kidnap an Indian national working in the company in order to demand a ransom from the company. "Immediately the report was received, the DPO swung into action and began investigations to get the details. "On Aug. 6, police detectives from the station visited the company and Timothy was arrested.'' Amadin said the suspect had made some useful statements to the police on the kidnap bid. The spokesperson said a man-hunt had been launched for the fleeing members of the gang.

From Bolaji Ogundele, Warri

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 9, 2015

NEWS

Travellers stranded on Lagos - Ibadan Expressway

Osinbajo, Gowon, Ambode for prayer rally

From: Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

ICE President Yemi Osinbajo; former Heads of State, General Yakubu Gowon and Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos, as well as a host of dignitaries will be part of aday prayer rally next Sunday. The rally holds at the Olive Tree Parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) by 2pm. The Lagos Coordinator of Nigeria Prays, Rev. Toyin Kehinde, said the rally is to pray for the success of President Muhammadu Buhari, the prosperity of Lagos State and the stability of Nigeria. The prayer meeting, which has the theme, enforcing God’s counsel over Nigeria, has been a continuous practice since the group was formed by Gowon in 1996.

OTORISTS and travellers plying the Lagos - Ibadan Expressway were stranded for over seven hours yesterday following a prolonged traffic gridlock caused by the National Convention of the Redeemed Christian Church of God(RCCG). Those heading to the east and other parts of the country for the weekend from Lagos as well as those journeying to Lagos from different locations were pinned to a spot during the lockdown. Though operatives of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) from Ogun, Oyo and Lagos Commands made frantic efforts to control traffic jam, the nightmare had worsened by noon. At the RCCG Camp KM 46 stretch of the expressway, the situation became chaotic as worshippers desperate to beat the gridlock before the end of the convention compounded the stand-still. The weeklong convention, which started last Monday, peaked yesterday thousands of worshippers trooped into the camp. Others struggled to leave the convention, which ends today. An Abeokuta-based transporter, Mr Nurein Mudashiru, told our correspondent that he spent six hours in the jam for a return trip from Lagos - Abeokuta. The Sector Commander of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ogun, Adegoke Adetunji, told The Nation that the convergence of large number of worshippers as well as those wishing to go home caused the traffic jam.

Nigeria takes over airspace from Ghana, 70 years after

R E S I D E N T Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the immediate takeover of the management of the country’s airspace from Ghana, which has held the job for the past 70 years. With the order, Nigeria would manage its skies over the Gulf of Guinea. Aviation officials told journalists after a meeting with Buhari that Nigeria’s airspace was safe. They stated that other neighbouring countries were also making arrangements to take over their airspaces from Ghana. The Permanent Secretary for the Aviation Ministry, Binta Bello, said in Abuja: “We have a directive by the president to start the process of securing the management of Nigerian airspace over the Gulf of Guinea, which Ghana has been maintaining since 1945 and there is a move on the ground by Togo and Republic of Benin to take over the management of their own airspace from Ghana.”

L-R: Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Osun State, Prince Gboyega Famodun; Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola; Celebrator/Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, Hon. Najeem Salaam; Speaker, Ogun House of Assembly, Hon. Suraju Adekunbi and his Oyo State counterpart, Hon. Adesina Adeyemo during a Special Session in Najeem's honour to mark his 50th birthday at the Assembly Complex, Osogbo at the weekend

Boko Haram: NEMA receives 10,000 Cameroon returnees

HE National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has received about 10,000 who fled to Cameroon from communities in Borno and Adamawa states. Speaking in Mubi while receiving the returnees, NEMA’s Director General, Alhaji Sani Sidi, said they were forced back after Cameroon closed the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in Garoua. Sidi informed that they started arriving through the

state, Alhaji Zanna • To evacuate 3,000 Borno residents Borno Mustapha have already left for From: Duku JOEL, Maiduguri; Yola Manyam, Yola

border post in Sahuda, Mubi South after being screened by the Nigerian Immigration Service and the Nigerian Army. The returnees, according to him, are part of the 13,800 from the Nigerian Immigration Service at the border post, out of which 650 have been transported to Borno State.

The rest, he said, are still at Malkohi Internally Displaced Persons camp in Yola, Adamawa state. Also, about 3,000 Borno indigenes deported from Cameroon following Boko Haram attacks along the Gamboru axis are to be evacuated to Maiduguri. A statement by the zonal information officer of NEMA, Abdulkadir Ibrahim said Sidi and the Deputy Governor of

Mubi to facilitate the return. It reads: “The refugees are presently camped at the border of Nigeria and Cameroun. Over 2,000 IDPs have been transported to safer locations in Mubi while 600 of the refugees have been transported back to Borno. “3,000 refugees are still at the border undergoing registration formalities before relocation to Mubi for onward transportation back to Borno.”

Aregbesola: My last conversation with Ooni

SUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola yesterday spoke on his last conversation with the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade. It was the first time the governor was making a public statement on the paramount ruler. Aregbesola said he received a touching short text message from the Ooni shortly before the monarch left for London. The governor however did not reveal the content of the message. He simply said: “When the time is ripe I will let you (the public) know the content of the letter.” The governor, who spoke at a special sitting at the Osun State House of Assembly to mark the 50th birthday of the

• Monarch’s body moved to Ile Ase From: Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

Speaker of Osun Assembly, Hon. Najeem Salaam, explained that he discussed the message with the palace chiefs during their visit last week at the Government House, Osogbo about situations in Ife. Aregbesola also prayed for the Speaker, who turned 50 yesterday, saying he deserved the prayers of the people for his contribution to the state. He said: “The effective leadership we have provided in this state with the massive delivery of people oriented programmes could not have been without the appropriate cooperation of the House un-

der the Speaker. “It is therefore pertinent to note that the Speaker has been a major factor in the delivery of good governance and this we are optimistic will continue.” It was learnt at the weekend that the body of Sijuwade has been moved from Ile’gbo to Obatala House otherwise known as Ile Ase, literally meaning the House of Authority. Oba Sijuwade’s body, which has been laid in Ile’gbo since mid last week, was said to have been embalmed locally by traditionalists. The Ile Ase is believed to be where the late paramount ruler got the spiritual decree

to assert authority during his lifetime. Investigation also revealed that traditionalists will carry out a new round of rites on the Ooni’s body at the Ile Ase after the conclusion of the ritual at Ile’gbo. Ooni’s body is expected to spend few days at Ile Ase before it is moved to the Inner Sacrificial House within the palace. According a palace source, the Inner Sacrificial House is symbolic because of its power to claim from the Ooni’s body all the authorities he had acquired from the gods. It is from there, it was learnt that the body will be finally laid to rest.

Airtel hits 30 million subscribers From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt ELECOMMUNICATIONS giant, Airtel, now boasts of no fewer than 30 million subscribers in Nigeria. With the milestone, the world’s third largest telecommunications services provider with operations in 20 countries across Africa and Asia said it has achieved 20 percent market penetration in the country. Making the announcement yesterday in Port Harcourt, Airtel Africa CEO Mr. Christian de Faria, stated that the company’s success was driven mainly by its reliable GSM network and stable internet growth from its residential and business segments. Faria said: “According to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the total number of mobile subscribers in the country has risen from 144 million in May 2015 to 146 million in June 2015. “In addition, Nigeria’s mobile operators added 2.1 million new subscribers in June 2015 with the subscriptions to fixed networks increasing from 181,625 in May 2015 to 182,643 within the same period.” Airtel Nigeria CEO and Managing Director, Segun Ogunsanya, said: ”This achievement signals a major milestone in Airtel’s Africa growth story.

Reps to investigate Agip, other oil firms

HE House of Representatives has resolved to investigate the state and age of the operational equipment of oil- producing companies in the country. The resolution, which was passed sequel to the adoption of the prayers of a motion by a member Goodluck Opia (PDP-Imo), is meant to reduce the spate of oil spill and environmental pollution in the Niger Delta region. While arguing on the need to investigate oil pollution in Ohaji-Egbema and Oguta Local Government Areas of Imo

From: Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

state, the lawmaker described the affected areas as operational base of Agip Oil Company. He pointed out that the areas suffered avoidable oil spillage and fire explosions. According to him, there is the need to investigate the state of equipment used by Agip Oil Company in its 50 years of operations in the communities. Opia told the House that “virtually all oil companies

operating in the Niger-Delta region use substandard and outdated equipment that are unsafe and pollute the environment and they also have little regard for the safety of lives and property of the host communities.” While supporting the motion, another member, Aliyu Magaji (APC-Jigawa) said there was need to constantly monitor activities of the oil companies to ensure compliance with the extant laws regulating their operations. Magaji said: “There is need to find out if these oil compa-

nies are actually doing what they are supposed to do. “There is also need to ensure their facilities are monitored to guarantee they are up to standard and this is crucial in averting poor maintenance services.” However, Lovette Idisi, (Delta-PDP) cautioned that it would be judgmental to state that the equipment used by Agip Oil Company are obsolete, adding that it would be putting the cart before the horse as the proposed investigation was yet to commence. Speaker Yakubu Dogara in

his ruling said the investigation into the remote and immediate cause of the incident will be carried out by an ad hoc committee to be set up by the House. The committee, he said, will also investigate damages caused to the host communities and determine the state of operational equipment used by Agip Oil Company and other oil producing companies in the affected areas. The committee has four weeks to report back to the lower chamber.

Resign now, ex-lawmaker tells Saraki By Oziegbe Okoeki

FORMER member of Lagos State House of Assembly, Mufutau Egberongbe, has said it is not too late for Senate President Bukola Saraki to resign following allegations that he was elected under forged rules. Egberongbe represented Apapa Constituency 1 in the 7th Lagos Assembly, wondered why morality has been thrown to the dogs by some politicians in their desperation to hold on to power. “In whose interest was the Senate rules forged,” the former lawmaker asked, adding, “Is it in the interest of the masses or some individuals? Definitely, it is not in the interest of the masses. As it were, moral persuasion forms part of the characteristics of a leader, but this is suffering in the present circumstance. Therefore, the man (Saraki) should just honourably resign and apologise to Nigerians. “Even if he feigns ignorance of the fact that the rules were forged, he should still resign on moral ground and become a role model for the youths.” Egberongbe urged the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to apply disciplinary measures to ensure that Saraki does not become a cankerworm that would erode party discipline. He noted, “Most of the issues bedeviling this country bother on morals, including dishonesty, stealing of government money and all forms of inhuman activities. If there are morals, issues of corruption would be a thing of the past. Your morality is your personality. Therefore, persons of high moral decadence are not right to lead us. Saraki should resign honourably.” Egberongbe also expressed disappointment in a statement credited to Alex Badeh, the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, who cited lack of funding and equipment as few of the reasons why insurgency in the North East has not been tackled.

Council honours Rep By Medinat Kanabe SOCIO-POLITICAL group, Yoruba Council of Youths (YCY), has given an award to the lawmaker representing Ojo Federal Constituency, Mr. Tajudeen Obasa, for his contributions to the transformation of the Yoruba nation. The award was presented on behalf of the group by its National President, Mr. Oladotun Hassan. Thanking the YCY, Obasa eulogised the virtues of past Yoruba leaders like late Chiefs Obafemi Awolowo, Ladoke Akintola, MKO Abiola, Tai Solarin, Gani Fawehinmi, describing them as icons of the Yoruba nation who left indelible footprints on the sands of time. Obasa further urged members of the group to remain focused in sustaining the legacies of Oduduwa, the progenitor of Yoruba kingdom.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 9, 2015

NEWS

Ekiti monarchs save Fayemi’s, Oni’s aides from eviction

EPRIEVE has come the way of the embattled landlords in Irewolede Housing Estate in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, who are yet to complete payment of their mortgages. Some traditional rulers led by the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe, and other prominent indigenes of the state have prevailed on Governor Ayo Fayose to halt their eviction

• Fayose extends payment deadline till October 31 From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado Ekiti

from the estate. Government task force team moved into the estate on Thursday to eject the ‘defaulting’ landlords, while some structures were also pulled down by bulldozers. But the opposition claimed that the action was

targeted against many of its members who served in the Oni and Fayemi administrations. Following the intervention of the eminent persons, Fayose has fixed October 31 as the deadline for those yet to complete their payment to do so. In a statement yesterday

by his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, Fayose said he granted the extension because of the eminent persons intervention. According to the statement, the royal fathers and other Ekiti leading lights pleaded with the governor to give the landlords more time to pay up.

The statement added: “The governor, however, showed compassion but warned against defaulting, stating that government will resume action against the defaulters by December 1. “Since the government action began, N13 million has been paid by some of the defaulters”.

Ondo APC: Akinyelure promises credible primary From Damisi Ojo, Akure

L-R: Ikosi Archdeaconry Chaplain, Rev. Canon Samuel Idowu; Diocesan Sunday School Chaplain, Venerable Abraham Odumuyiwa and Past President Diocesan President, Mrs. Oluwabunmi Adesanya, during the Lagos West ( Anglican Communion) Children rally, Kids Game at the Archbishop Vining Memorial Garden in Ikeja... yesterday. Photo: OLUSEGUN RAPHEAL

Reps intervene in sack of CRIN workers

HE House of Representatives has received the petition of 277 staff of the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) in Ibadan, the Oyo State capitalwho were allegedly illegally dismissed.

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

January 24 and January 27, 2014, some workers comprising mainly junior staff of the institute were issued sack letters by the management. A member of the House

of Representatives representing Oluyole Federal Constituency, Olusunbo Olugbemi, told reporters over the weekend, that the House would investigate the matter . In the petition, the work-

ers are accusing the Executive Director of the Institute, Prof. Malacky Akoroda, of harassment and intimidation. Olugbemi said the House send the petition the appropriate committee for investigation.

Ogun, administrators affirm commitment to pension administration HE Ogun State Government has told Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) handling the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) of Local Governments and State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) workers to rise up to their responsibility and build an harmonious relationship with their clients.

The Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Local Government Pensions, Mr. Ayotunde Kolawole, gave this vice at a meeting between the Bureau and representatives of all PFAs covering the State at the Bureau’s office in Abeokuta, the state capital. Kolawole told the PFAs to always be available and accessible to serving employ-

ees and retirees, saying this could only be possible if the PFAs have adequate personnel with functional offices in the state capital as provided for in the relevant section of the Pension Reform Law. He said as part of the Bureau’s monitoring and supervisory roles, it would begin to pay unscheduled visits to the PFAs offices to ascertain

the level of compliance of this section of the Law by the PFAs. The present administration, he said, was committed to making life after service more enjoyable for retirees, urging the PFAs to collaborate with the state government in order to achieve the set goals.

Alaafin brokers peace in warring Oyo community HE Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, has warned traditional chiefs against neglect of their communities’ heritage in the name of orthodox religion, especially on the selection of new kings. He said any attempt to circumvent the age-long traditions and consign the legacies of their forefathers to the dustbin of history rather than preserving and recognising such would lead to crises and dis-

From Bode Durojaiye, Oyo harmony. The monarch gave the warning in his palace when members of Edu Royal family from Ago-Are community in the Atisbo local government area of Oyo State paid him a courtesy visit. For some time now, the community had been engulfed in crises following what members of the royal family, youths and other interest groups described as “neglect of age-long

tradition for orthodox religion by the kingmakers in the selection of successor to the vacant stool.” The late community head, Aare of Ago Are, Oba Jubril Oyesiji Oladoke, joined his ancestors in May this year after about 39 years on the stool. The paramount ruler, who is the consenting authority to the choice of traditional head in the community, noted that whatever steps to be taken by both the ruling Edu house and

the kingmakers to select a new monarch should not only be made public as required by the law, all candidates must also be treated equally, while the process must strictly conform with the age-long tradition of the community. Oba Adeyemi commended the royal family for their maturity in handling the dispute and the decision to call for a new selection process based on the age-long tradition of Ifa divination.

Lagos ready for foreign investors, says Ambode AGOS State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening trade relationship with Indian investors. He spoke while receiving Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Ajjanpor Ghanashyam in his office in Ikeja.

The governor, spoke of his administration’s determination to further strengthen the trade with the country, adding that he has created an Office of the Overseas Affairs and Investment, which is under his supervision, to make the state more investorfriendly. He said: “We have established the Office of Overseas

Affairs and Investment, so that we can strengthen bi-lateral relationship. We need more investors to invest in Lagos so that we can create employment and grow our GDP. Whatever it is you think we can do to increase investors from India, we are ready for discussion.” The governor expressed his appreciation to the visi-

tors, saying that Lagos could draw inspiration from India as a modern democracy and from the way the economy was conducted despite its huge population. He assured the High Commissioner that the state is ready to expand its frontiers to accommodate investors willing to set up their businesses in the state.

HE National Vice Chairman (South West) of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Chief Pius Akinyelure, has assured all aspirants jostling for the governorship ticket of the party to contest next year’s governorship election in Ondo State of a free, fair and credible primary election. Akinyelure said the party has laid precedence in picking its presidential candidate through a transparent primary election. The APC chieftain spoke with reporters at the party’s secretariat in Akure, the state capital, shortly before attending a meeting of the State Working Committee (SWC). Akinyelure said there will be no imposition in the party, saying the party would always follow due process in choosing its candidates. He urged party supporters to rally round and work assiduously to facilitate its victory in the 2016 governorship election.

OPU suspends chairman, probes attack From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo HE national leadership of the Osogbo Progressive Union (OPU) led by Dr. Rasaki Shiyanbola has suspended the chairman of the body’s home branch, Alhaji Akeem Woleola. Addressing a press conference in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Oyesiku Adelu, accused Woleola of indecent behaviour, acceptance of money on behalf of the union and non-disclosure of same to the body. He added that Woleola was also suspended, because he has a penchant for disregarding and disrespecting the revered traditional stool of the Ataoja and other leaders of Osogbo. Also speaking at the press briefing, the National Chairman of the union, Dr. Shiyanbola, said the body would set up a panel of inquiry to investigate an alleged attack on Woleola by some suspected thugs. Shiyanbola said it is imperative to probe the alleged attack on Woleola in order to set the record straight and guide against disunity among members of the union.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 9, 2015

â&#x20AC;˘Wads of dollars

dollar economy is probably where the dollar remains largely the major commodity for trade and exchange, especially by high net worth individuals, corporate and businessmen alike, many of who wheel and deal on the greenback because of the economic value attached to it. The above scenario is sadly the reality with Nigeria, where the value of the naira is no longer worth the paper on which it is printed upon, a development, which in the view of some experts, does not bode well for the economy at all. Thankfully, the Central Bank of Nigeria has taken a number of measures to address the situation, chief among which includes the restriction on dollar deposit limits. Rationale for CBN new policy regime In a statement announcing the ban on foreign currency cash deposits, the apex bank said it arrived at that decision bearing in mind the recent statements by Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) concerning the large volume of foreign currencies in their vaults hence, the need to stop accepting foreign currency cash deposits into customers' domiciliary accounts. Specifically, the apex bank said as part of continued efforts to stop illicit financial flows in the Nigerian banking system which aligns with the anti-money laundering stance of the federal government: "The CBN hereby prohibits from the date of this circular the acceptance of foreign currency cash deposits by DMBs. "For foreign currency cash lodgments made prior to the date of this circular, the account holder has the option to either withdraw his or her foreign currency cash or the Naira equivalent. For the avoidance of doubt, only wire transfers to and from

The dollar

war

The restriction on dollar deposit limits imposed on Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has led to a chain of reactions by many businesses which solely rely on the greenback, reports Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf Domiciliary Accounts are henceforth permissible. "The CBN advises individuals that wish to source foreign currency for eligible and legitimate purposes such as BTA, PTA medical, mortgage, school fees, goods etc. to do so through recognised channels with the use of Form 'A' for "invisible" and Form 'M' for "visible" transactions. Please ensure strict compliance." The CBN said in a statement on its website on Wednesday that the move will help "efforts

to stop illicit financial flows in the Nigerian banking system." The CBN decision was further reinforced by a statement: 'Renewed Vigilance to Prohibit Illicit Financial Flows in Nigeria's Banking System.' In the statement Ibrahim Muazu, Director Corporate Communication, CBN, stated: "The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) notes with concern a recent report by the Global Financial Integrity group, which ranks Nigeria as one of the 10 largest countries for

illicit financial flows in the world. "Although we do not have an independent confirmation of this assertion, the report estimates that about US$15.7 billion of illicit funds go through our system annually." It added that "CBN will increase its vigilance to ensure that Nigerian banks are not used as conduits for illicit fund flows, especially in foreign currencies. "We note and applaud that in line with global best practice, Nigerian banks have started to curtail the acceptance of foreign currency cash deposits, much the same way as customers in other countries cannot just walk into banks and make foreign currency cash deposits without proper documentation. "We wish to assure all citizens seeking foreign currencies for legitimate personal and/or business interests that there remains ample opportunity to do so within the law. The CBN's Foreign Exchange Rules have many windows for accessing foreign exchange for legitimate business as well as for personal commitments." How banks reacted to CBN forex restriction policy As to be expected, the moment the CBN announced the new rule on forex, some Nigerian banks including Guaranty Trust Bank Plc and Fidelity Bank Plc sent messages to customers informing them that they will no longer accept foreign currency deposits in cash, citing large volumes of such funds in their vaults which they can't place with the CBN. According to the Group Managing Director, First City Monument Bank Plc (FCMB), Ladi Balogun, commercial banks are

â&#x20AC;˘Contd. on page 10

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2015

NEWS REVIEW

•Contd. from page 9 not collecting cash deposits in dollars in order to discourage naira speculation. "Banks no longer accept dollar cash due to large speculation on the currency. However, commercial lenders will continue to receive dollar transfers from other banks," he said. He told Reuters that another Nigerian lender, who asked not to be identified confirmed the CBN stance. "We are constrained due to the current influx of foreign exchange cash deposits we have been receiving in recent times, and the lack of available foreign exchange cash outlets, to stop receiving foreign exchange cash deposits." Also, Standard Chartered Bank told its customers it would no longer accept foreign exchange deposits in cash due to an unprecedented influx of cash deposits by customers. The bank said it would stop receiving forex cash deposits from August 11, "until the situation improves." Discordant tunes over forex policy A senior bank treasurer and executive member of Financial Market Dealers Association of Nigeria (FMDA), who asked not to be named, said the decision by banks to stop accepting foreign currency deposits into domiciliary accounts was in protest of the new policy. He said: "There was no official communication from CBN that it would no longer collect dollar cash from banks. The whole thing started when two or three banks took their dollars to the CBN for swap on Thursday, and the CBN rejected the cash. "As a result, banks now found themselves with huge volume of dollars that are practically useless to them. To protest this development, banks have stopped accepting foreign currency deposits across the counter into domiciliary accounts. "The reality is that accepting such deposits is useless to banks. They cannot trade the currency and they cannot transfer it. So it is useless." He said the new CBN policy implied that everybody who wanted to deposit into domiciliary account was a money launderer, which was not possible. "This negates the purpose of banking. It is a knee-jerk policy, which is not sustainable, though it might force appreciation of the naira in the parallel market in the short term.'' Echoing similar sentiments, Mr. Taiwo Adeniyi, Group Managing Director/Chief Executive, Vitafoam Nigeria Plc, in an interview with The Nation said the government policy on forex is having a toll on manufacturers. "Now, forex is not available. And yet we need to establish letters of credit, as such, we have to source forex outside of the CBN platform. And when you're going to source forex outside of the CBN platform that means you just have to source it in the parallel market. But again, the parallel market is also being controlled. So, for you to be able to have access, it is tough." Pressed further, the Vitafoam boss said, "The latest one that is causing us serious challenge is the fact that before you can service an LC, 48 hours before the bank can go and bid, the cash must be made available. The reverse used to be the case before now. Before now, the bank goes to make a bid on your behalf based on document evidence and the CBN in turns gives its authorisation, that is approval and the bank make the funds available once your bid is successful. "But right now, the CBN is saying 48 hours before you bid, the funds must be made available and even when that is done, it would not guarantee that you will get what you ask for." In a related development, President, Association of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria, Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe, told newsmen that the policy had started impacting negatively on the economy as importers had started diverting their businesses to neighbouring countries. He said the protest by banks had, however, started impacting negatively on the economy.

The dollar war

•Saraki

•Emefiele

"The surplus dollars in the street market is unavailable to the local importers as they cannot transact with it through their bankers. The neighbouring countries are having a field day mopping up the excess cash dollar liquidity, a very cheap rate for the use of their imports to the detriment of the local importer. "Our local importers divert the payments of their imports to those neighbouring countries. The local importers also divert their consignments to the ports of the neighbouring countries. "The current market situation is enabling business activities to flourish in the neighbouring countries," he said.

•Gwadabe

Forex policy a blessing in disguise After banks notified their customers on plans to stop receiving foreign currency cash deposit, the naira had appreciated against the dollar significantly. Besides, it was also anticipated that the US dollar will further tumble against the naira at the parallel market in due course as Deposit Money Banks continue to reject cash deposit of foreign currencies into customers' domiciliary accounts. The apex bank had barred 41 items from access to foreign exchange. It had directed that as from August 1, all foreign exchange transactions in any Bureau de Change must

have the BVN of applicants as foreigners were said to have invaded the nation's foreign exchange market. Forex dealers attributed the naira's gain to excess supply of the greenback in the market, even as it looked like a lot of speculators would lose out in the new trend. It was gathered from the CBN that commercial banks that currently had dollars in excess of $1 billion in their vaults, have started taking desperate measures to mitigate currency risk. Bureaux de change (BDC) operators disclosed that banks have stopped accepting dollars because they have too much cash in their vaults. As a result of the development, banks have been rejecting dollar deposits into domiciliary accounts, but customers are allowed to withdraw cash from their accounts. "The reason the banks have too much cash is due to speculation and money laundering. A lot of people have been speculating against the naira and amassed so much cash. Then there are those who have been amassing dollars obtained illicitly and want to launder them." "The Central Bank is doing all it can to control demand for dollars," Sewa Wusu, head of research at Sterling Capital Markets Ltd., said by phone from Lagos, adding, "It sends another signal to the market that the CBN is assertive and determined to ensure there are no arbitrage opportunities." Governor Godwin Emefiele in June stopped importers of about 40 types of goods, including furniture, textiles and rice, from accessing official foreign-currency channels, leaving many to use illegal markets. The CBN will also sell as much as $30,000 to each of Nigeria's 2,715 registered money changers, Gwadabe, said. The last such "special intervention" was

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2015

NEWS REVIEW

â&#x20AC;˘Adeniyi

'Forex restriction is affecting manufacturers'

OW is the new policy on forex restrictions affecting your company? For us in Vitafoam, I can tell you 80per cent of the materials that we use are not in this environment again because they are by products of petrochemicals. We do not have them being refined here yet neither are they being produced here yet. So they are being imported into this country. But what has happened today is the fact that the government policy on forex is having a toll on us because now, forex is not available. And yet we need to establish letters of credit, as such, we have to source forex outside of the CBN platform. And when you're going to source

Mr. Taiwo Adeniyi, Group Managing Director/Chief Executive, Vitafoam Nigeria Plc, in this interview with Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf, speaks on the downside of the CBN policy restricting foreign exchange to businesses. Excerpts: forex outside of the CBN platform that means you just have to source it in the parallel market. But again, the parallel market is also being controlled. So, for you to be able to have access, it is tough. In fact, the latest one that is causing us serious challenge is the fact that before you can service an LC, 48 hours before the bank can go and bid, the cash must be made available. The reverse used to be the case before now. Before now, the bank

"two to three months ago" and this one will be in addition to regular weekly sales of about $80 million, he said. "Every bureau will take up the opportunity," Gwadabe said. They have "been clamouring" for more dollar supplies from the CBN, he said. Black market The naira strengthened on the black market to 215 per dollar from 240 as traders flooded it with U.S. currency following the rejection of the deposits by lenders. It was around 218 on Thursday, said Gwadabe. On the official interbank market, the rate dropped 0.2 percent to 199.02 per dollar as of 12:45 a.m. in Lagos on Thursday, having remained mostly around that level since March. It has weakened 19 percent in the past year. Lawmakers to the rescue Meanwhile, Emefiele has been summoned to the Senate in Abuja to explain the naira's weakness on the parallel market. The Senate on Wednesday passed a motion directing the CBN governor to appear before it to brief members on the state of the nation's economy, especially the alarming

goes to make a bid on your behalf based on document evidence and the CBN in turns gives its authorisation, that is approval and the bank make the funds available once your bid is successful. But right now, the CBN is saying 48 hours before you bid, the funds must be made available and even when that is done, it would not guarantee that you will get what you ask for. So, it's a tough one. But again, as it

naira depreciation. The upper chamber gave the directive after an exhaustive debate on a motion moved by Senator Nazfiz Suleiman (Bauchi North) entitled: 'The state of the economy: Naira depreciation and its implications.' The senators also urged the federal government to step up efforts to diversify the nation's economy to depend on taxation, agriculture, manufacturing, international tourism and solid mineral prospecting. Suleiman had in his lead debate noted with serious concern the state of the nation's economy as it affected the continuous depreciation of the naira. He expressed worry that naira had depreciated in the last few months at a much faster rate than it appreciated over the last two years. The senator further argued that the depreciation was the consequence of the negative cash flow, which he said resulted from the downward trend of oil prices. He added that the situation had been worsened by speculations in the foreign exchange market. Suleiman also observed that the foreign

is with everything, it might be rough initially but as we go on, it sure will get better. As a member of the manufacturing sector have you made entreaties to the government to give you more allowance as it were? Of course, representation is being made by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) to the CBN to say that you can't shut out industries because the kind of forex that we require is not the kind you can get from one bureau de change and you think it would be sufficient. Agreed the policy has been made and they need to see it run. But we expect people to come up with better options because if we don't try you won't know whether it will work.

exchange needs of various sectors of the economy were not being made available, while Nigeria's commitments in the global economy had dwindled. The senator also expressed concern that the Nigerian banking industry might be currently defaulting in the global economy, stressing that the situation had been sending a wrong signal about the state of the economy. Suleiman also said the speculation caused by the situation was resulting in a huge capital flight, with the attendant inflationary consequence, which he said would affect an average Nigerian on the street. "The illicit fund flows and money laundering going through Nigerian financial system contribute in weakening the value of the naira, which has made the recent decisions of CBN to increase its vigilance to ensure that Nigerian banks are not used as conduit for illicit fund flow and money laundering in foreign currencies," he said. He stressed the need to regulate the demand and supply of foreign exchange by the CBN with various options in order to curtail naira depreciation and discourage

speculation. In his contribution, the Minority Whip, Senator Philip Aduda, blamed the downward slide in the value of naira on the inability of the Federal Government to put in place stable economic policies. Senator Gbolahan Dada (Ogun West) said if the situation must be effectively tackled, Nigeria must define its economic policies and make laws that would address fraud. He lamented that the country's dependence on imported items without tangible production had been the bane of a stable naira exchange rate. Senate President, Bukola Saraki, said all powers must be deployed to defend the naira and that the influx of foreign items into the country must be adequately curtailed in a way that the activities of currency speculators would be brought under control. It is the view of analysts that no efforts should be spared to make the naira stronger but they contend that whatever measures are taken should be based on political expediency.

Ropo Sekoni

Page 14

Femi Orebe Page 16

SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2015

RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari is working. Nothing best demonstrates the promise of PMB to rise up to Nigeria’s myriad challenges than his prompt response to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Report on the environmental restoration of Ogoniland. It is a show of good faith, a promise kept and a hope restored. At the instance of the Federal Government of Nigeria, the UNEP began an investigation into the environmental pollution of Ogoni, part of the oil-producing Niger Delta of Nigeria, in 2008. The investigation followed over 50 years of environmental devastation engendered by oil exploration and exploitation, on the one hand, and 20 years of community protests over environmental human rights abuses by Shell Petroleum Development Company (Nigeria) Limited which led to a halt in oil-drilling in 1993, on the other. The invitation to UNEP was part of reconciliatory moves with the Ogoni in order to ensure the resumption of oil production in the area. UNEP completed its assignment, and submitted a report to the Nigerian government on August 4, 2011. ”The Environmental Assessment of Ogoniland is the most comprehensive and complex assessment ever undertaken by UNEP,” UNEP’s Director, Division for Environmental Policy Implementation, Mr. Ibrahim Thiaw, noted during the formal presentation of the assessment results to President Goodluck Jonathan. Thiaw stated, “This assessment encompasses contaminated land, water, sediment, vegetation, air quality, public health, industry practices and institutional issues. And, it represents the best available understanding of what has happened to the environment of Ogoniland following 50 years of oil industry operations. It also provides operational recommendations on how that legacy can be addressed, including priorities for action such as clean-up and remediation.” The report confirmed and emphasised a wide range of health and livelihood damages inflicted upon the people by the oil activities, stating, “The Ogoni community is exposed to petroleum hydrocarbons in outdoor air and drinking water, sometimes at concentrations at highly elevated levels.” To ameliorate the situation, UNEP recommended the establishment of three new institutions to plan and manage the restoration effort. It proposed the setting up of an “Ogoniland Environmental Restoration Authority,” a government body to oversee the implementation of the report; “an Integrated Contaminated Soil Management Centre,” as a major industrial enterprise in Ogoniland that would employ hundreds of people, and a “Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration” to train the stakeholders in environmental monitoring and restoration; and “an Environmental Restoration Fund for Ogoniland with an initial capital injection of USD 1 billion contributed by the oil industry and the government.” UNEP concluded, “The clean-up efforts undertaken to date are inadequate and have not resulted in environmental restoration,” stressing, “Full environmental restoration of Ogoniland will take an estimated 25 to 30 years. This will be possible through a combination of modern technology to clean up contaminated land and waterways, backed up by practical action at the regulatory, operational and monitoring levels. “The happy news is that with a more focused approach it will be possible to attain major improvements in just five years.” It said the situation required, “The swift commencement of clean-up before the pollution footprint spreads any further.” Unfortunately, four full years after, no concrete action was undertaken by the federal government to implement the crucial report. This is despite the fact that Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, a son of the Niger Delta, superintended over the affairs of the country at the time of the submission of the report of UNEP’s Environmental Assessment of Ogoniland and, in fact, received it on behalf of the Nigerian government. In a report published in October 2014 ti-

The promise of PMB

•Buhari By Doifie Buokoribo

tled, “Still Polluted: Monitoring Government and Shell’s Response to UNEP’s Environmental Assessment of Ogoniland,” the Social Development Integrated Centre (Social Action), a non-governmental organisation, accused the Nigerian government under President Jonathan of nonchalance. The organisation condemned government’s failure to respect its responsibility for environmental protection as contained in Section 20 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) that stipulates as follows: “The State shall protect and improve the environment and safeguard the water, air and land, forest and wildlife of Nigeria.” Social Action observed that the response of the Jonathan administration to the UNEP report was the establishment of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Project (HYPREP) under the Ministry of Petroleum Resources in July 2012. With respect to Shell, Social Action quoted the company as saying that its counterpart funding to the USD 1 billion Ogoni Restoration Fund had been reserved in an offshore account. In the absence of a legal framework and technical work-plan to be worked out by the Nigerian government, the clean-up exercise could not commence. Praises are due to President Buhari for the bold and clear commitment of the new administration to implement the UNEP report. The wide-ranging measures meant to accelerate the implementation of the UNEP report approved last Wednesday, 5 August 2015, by PMB included the amendment of the Official Gazette establishing the Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Project (HYPREP) to reflect a new governance framework comprising a Governing Council, a Board of Trustees, and Project Management. The measures were based on the recommendations of the Executive Director of UNEP, the UNEP Special Representative for Ogoniland, Permanent Secretaries of the Federal Ministries of Environment and Petroleum Resources, and other stakeholders. The president appointed a HYPREP Governing Council and a Board of Trustees for the HYPREP Trust Fund to collect and manage funds from contributors and donors towards the clean-up effort. He also approved an initial contribution of $10 million to the fund. Though, government is a continuum, it is instructive that a Nigerian president of nonNiger Delta origin is now the one who has taken the focused approach required to pull the region back from the brink of oil-instigated ecological disaster. Buhari’s decision to prioritise implementation of the UNEP report on Ogoniland speaks volumes for his determina-

tion to make the lives of people in the Niger Delta better. It is a strong statement that those who have tried to impute antiNiger Delta sentiments to the coming of Buhari have gotten hold of the wrong end of the stick. It is appropriate to also thank Timipre Sylva, Rotimi Amaechi and others from the Niger Delta for standing solidly with Buhari, against all odds, in the 2015 Presidential Election. In responding to the UNEP report on the Ogoni, PMB has just taken a step in a long journey towards resolving the Niger Delta question. As a matter of fact, there are a few issues yet to be sorted out before the commencement of the clean-up exercise. These include issues of representation in the proposed structures; appropriate name of the agency to drive the process, and the scope of the project. My take is that with the acceptance of the demand to set up a public trust to manage project funds, every other grey matter can be sorted out through dialogue and engagement. Significantly, the ecological think-tank, Home of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), has drawn attention to the misnaming of the body to undertake the clean-up. “Certainly, government does not wish to ‘restore pollution’ as the name Hydrocarbons Pollution Restoration Project (HYPREP) suggests. The object is to remediate the environment, not to restore pollution,” HOMEF noted. My suggestion is that government should retain Ogoniland Environmental Restoration Authority as recommended by UNEP, to start with. Similarly, I fully endorse calls for the Nigerian government to commission an assessment of the whole Niger Delta environment. The Ogoni environmental problem mirrors the global ecological crisis faced by the peoples of the Niger Delta. It echoes the vast economic catastrophe wreaked in the Niger Delta by the destruction of livelihoods in the service of the oil and gas industry. Central to the Niger Delta question is the destruction of the people’s environment and means of livelihood by oil and gas activities, expropriation of the region’s mineral resources, unemployment, and shortage of infrastructure. Answers to the Niger Delta question have been captured in various reports on the region. But common to the reports are a clean-up of the Niger Delta environment by government and the oil companies that do business there; a firm resolve by the authorities to ensure that the extractive sector in the region conducts its activities in line with international best standards; employment creation through integration of the local economy with the oil economy and a conscious effort to change the culture of enclave development whereby lavish facilities that house and service the oil economy exist side-by-side run down communities; and establishment of institutions primarily dedicated to facilitating development in the region. Buhari has launched a strategic attempt at change in the Niger Delta. It behoves us to support the move to bring the region to the expected end of environmental and economic restoration that the people and, indeed, Nigeria badly needs. •Mr. Doifie Buokoribo is a media and political strategist, development consultant, social and political activist. He can be reached on: Email: doifieo@yahoo.com; Twitter: @doifiebuokoribo

TUNJI ADEGBOYEGA RETURNS NEXT WEEK

Time to scrap JAMB From Ike Onyechere

RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, on October 28, 2010 at the Centre for Women Development and as presidential candidate under the platform of Congress for Progressive Change, presented his blueprint for the transformation of education sector to Joint Education Stakeholders Action Coalition (JESAC), a voluntary association of 19 critical education unions and associations in Nigeria. The continued relevance of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) was raised and vigorously debated. The recent admission policy somersault of JAMB which has generated protests, court cases and public outcry make it necessary for Mr. President and all critical education stakeholders to again reflect deeply about JAMB. I still maintain that JAMB is a wicked policy. It should be scrapped, dissolved or merged with another more relevant agency. This is not a case of joining in the excitement, euphoria and frenzy of the moment. It is an opinion I have always held based on calm, selfless, objective and patriotic analysis of facts gathered over a period of 20 years as CEO of Exam Ethics Marshals Movement. JAMB was established in 1978 by military decree by the then Federal Military Government under the leadership of General Olusegun Obasanjo. The decree was amended in 1989 and again in 1993. JAMB is therefore the product of an era when the military wanted full control of every sector and everything. The 1993 JAMB decree provides in Section 5 (1) that “...the Board shall be responsible for the general control of the conduct of matriculation examinations for admissions into all Universities, Polytechnics (by whatever name called) and Colleges of Education (by whatever name called) in Nigeria... and for the placement of suitable candidates in tertiary institutions” The era of central military control of everything is now over. The businesses of banking, telephony, aviation, power, etc have since been deregulated and Nigeria is better for it. But there is a curious ambivalence in the education sector with the wicked policy of JAMB still being retained. The constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria makes continued existence of JAMB anachronistic. Education is under concurrent legislative list in the constitution. Sections 29 and 30 of part II of second schedule of concurrent legislative list state that “a house of Assembly shall have power to make laws for the State with respect to the establishment of an institution for purposes of university, technology or professional education” The laws establishing federal universities state clearly that “the selection of persons for admission as students at the university is the function of the University Senate” The Federal Universities of Technology Act 1986, Federal Colleges of Education Act 1986 and Federal Polytechnics Act 1979 all vest the function of admission of students on the institutions. I am still in search of legal answers as to why the power of JAMB supersedes constitutional provisions, the power of State Houses of Assembly with regard to State Tertiary Institutions and the powers of various institutions as enshrined in their enabling laws. The baffle of continued existence of JAMB is compounded by the fact that the JAMB experiment is an unmitigated failure. The story of JAMB is the story of running crises, re-enacted year after year. It is a classical case study of what psychologists refer to as mad people doing the same thing consistently and expecting different results. •Onyechere is Founding Chairman, Exam Ethics Marshals International

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 9, 2015

COMMENT

AGOS, like Ibadan, Kano, Kaduna, and Enugu, has been an active laboratory for creation and promotion of understanding and appreciation of literary products. But a long time, literary fairs had been more of the diet of adult consumers of cultural products with very little attention to children’s literature. But the critical study of children’s literature is active generally in Nigeria, as many scholars write academic articles on various aspects of literature for young people while promotion of children’s literature has, for obvious reasons, taken a distant back seat in formal efforts to promote children’s interest in reading and appreciating literary works that are not necessarily written for adult audience. But Lagos witnessed a new surge in popularisation of writings for children on the first of August this year, when Winnay & Co organised a special retreat for children at the Vining Hall in Ikeja. The event was sponsored by Layide James Buks, a subsidiary of Winnay & Co that specialises in educational materials for young children. Mrs. Funke Aledeinu, the author of the three books presented at the multimedia event, chose to bring back the tradition of anonymity that underlay the propagation of stories in the days of oral tradition. The three books had a copyright page that did not include the author’s name, thus suggesting a deliberate separation of passion for creation of the object of beauty from the celebration of the author. But today’s piece is not about what may be a novelty in the profit-driven ritual of book launch in Nigeria. The focus of today’s column is the implications of the retreat organised by Layide James Buks principally for children’s literary retreat for the purpose of aesthetic and ethical education of children in an ethos threatened by declining sensibility for the beautiful and the moral. Her three books: Tortoise, the Wise, David & Goliath, and Tortoise, the Tortoise, provoke new thinking about the teaching of children’s literature in an age in which the written word is being

Kiddies’ literary retreat: bringing children’s literature to the knowledge table In the tradition of journalists’ facility to present the complex in an accessible language, Ajibade electrified the hall filled with children in their pre-teen years with hints on how children can use contemporary communication technology to enhance access to and quality of reading threatened by secondary orality. Ironically, today’s comment on this event is not addressed to children but to parents and guardians, who are responsible for socialising children into the world of knowledge through the arts. One reason for targeting adults who were just a minority at the literary retreat is that it is this demographic group that has material and social leverage to drive promotion of this important genre of literature. Kunle Ajibade of The News Magazine was the main speaker at the event. He spoke to the children on the importance of reading as the foundation for knowledge acquisition and expansion, thus raising one of the issues that must have driven the author to write three books that highlight deployment of intercultural literary techniques in the creation of stories for children in a global space that is being moulded by a combination of writing, oral tradition, and secondary orality made possible by communication technology. In the tradition of journalists’ facility to present the complex in an accessible language, Ajibade electrified the hall filled with children in their pre-teen years with hints on how children can use contemporary communication technology to enhance access to and quality of reading. The retreat was designed to imitate the character of contemporary cultural production. All contemporary modes of communication were given detailed attention by the author and organiser of the retreat. Each of the three books printed and published locally was beautifully done and in children-friendly colours: orange and yellow. Each monograph also includes a CD version with pictorial enrichment of important milestones in the story

it tells. In addition, there was a digital presentation of selections from the stories; a short enactment or dramatisation of parts of David & Goliath, and readings and interpretations of the two trickster narratives; Tortoise the Wise and Tortoise the Tortoise. The mixing of modes electrified the hall for the children who also took part in a question-and-answer fashion in interpretation of the stories. And the organisation of the entire book presentation focused on expansion of children’s interests in fantasy and adventure at the expense of adults’ enthusiasm to please the author by ‘launching the books in grand style.’ The author raised many contemporary universal issues. For example, David & Goliath retells a well-known biblical story in a way that satirises raw power by casting Goliath as an imperious might-is-right hegemon while David is presented as a young man of intelligence, faith, and dexterity. The story also includes illustrations of the universal psychological theme of sibling rivalry, without sacrificing in its conclusion the importance of family values and unity. The two Tortoise stories use the tricksterfigure to illustrate self-absorption in one story and to project the trickster as iconoclast and agent of change in another. This narrative style emphasises the universality of the trickster as embodiment of the two sides of the human condition: good and bad. Just like in David &Goliath, the author retells the tortoise tales in a way to bring into focus the post-modern theme of environmentally sustainable development. In Tortoise the Wise in particular, the author promotes bio-diversity through a conference or summit of animals in which smaller animals complain about the predatory power of larger animals as well as of human beings.

Elephant poaching in particular by human beings for profit and its threat to bio-diversity is challenged in the mode of conference debate among the animals. Other important issues raised by the retreat are the relative neglect of the important genre of children’s literature. In general remarks, attention was drawn to the little role being played by state and local governments in the promotion of children’s literature, outside the rhetorical worry by government leaders about the need to support “children as leaders of tomorrow.” Unlike in what obtains in other democracies, local governments in our country have very little support for cultural production for citizens in general. The neglect is worse in respect of children. Even at the level of teaching institutions, apart from individual publications by the professoriate, there is little attention being given by universities and colleges of education to the promotion of children’s literature as a major stage in the intellectual and creative development of children. Layide James Buks did not raise millions of naira from the presentation of the three books presented at the fair, because the author did not set out to do that, as disappointing as that was to adults in the audience who came to show their financial support to the author. Mrs. Funke Aledeinu through Layide James Buks achieved one obvious objective: organisation of a special retreat for children that gives adults and children in a formal setting opportunities for dialogue on the role of creative writing in the enrichment of taste and knowledge. State and local governments certainly have a lot to learn from Layide James Buks about how to support children’s intellectual and artistic development.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 9, 2015

COMMENT

The new helmsman As Kachikwu takes over at NNPC, the task ahead is enormous

RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari took his first measured step to reposition the nation’s oil industry when on Tuesday August 4, he replaced Joseph Thlama Dawha with Ibe Kachikwu as Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. At a time the nation would seem in dire need of its best and brightest to give fillip to the direction of the reformer-administration, Nigerians were certainly not disappointed that the President settled for one of the nation’s best. It certainly goes without saying that the new helmsman – a First Class Graduate of Law from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and the Nigerian Law School with Masters and Doctorate Degrees in Law from the Harvard Law School and who until his appointment was Executive Vice Chairman and General Counsel of Exxon-Mobil (Africa) – more than fits the bill. What remains in the coming months is what Kachikwu and his team make of President Muhammadu Buhari’s vision of a repositioned oil corporation. At this time, just about every Nigerian must have witnessed the ills of the monstrosity that the NNPC has become in one form or the other. So, we appreciate the kind of changes that have become imperative. Nigerians, after all, are only too familiar with the story of a national oil corporation that has long abandoned its rationale to become a Special Purpose Vehicle for virtually all purposes under the sun – except its core mandate; one that routinely subverts the nation’s laws for the whims of political players; a citadel reeking with graft and unparalleled corruption – playground for all manners of shady characters with access and connections to top functionaries of government; a corporation that cannot even keep its four refineries in optimal shape, let alone maintain its depots and pipeline

IGERIANS went to the polls, not just to vote out President Goodluck Jonathan in anger, but to reject him and all that his government stood for. Soon after the election, agents that were hitherto in slumber woke up, prominent among which are the EFCC and PHCNs. Unfortunately, however, it’s been arraignments, arraignments and arraignments since. Nigerians are waiting to see something beyond this. Let’s, for once, send a strong message, to our youths that our law does not partition the citizenry into the

network – whose not-too-infrequent paralysis has become a regular rod of affliction on innocent households and motorists. It is against the foregoing that recent calls for the scrapping of the NNPC can be situated; much as that option would sound rather drastic, we must acknowledge that they merely reflect the depth of public anger, frustration and disenchantment with the sliding fortunes of their state oil corporation. It is also at the heart of why the current changes go beyond a mere salvage effort. To be sure, only fundamental changes can bring about the kind of changes that Nigerians expect of the corporation. We are encouraged that the President has already outlined six tasks for the incoming NNPC team. These are: a clean-up of the NNPC system of corrupt elements; recovery of all stolen oil funds; collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Directorate of State Services (DSS) to trace and recover stolen cash as well as a review of the structure of the NNPC to compete globally. The President also wants to see new targets set for all subsidiaries and performance benchmarks; and, finally, the fixing of the refineries. These are laudable visions to start with. At the very minimum, we expect the new team to run with

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

•Editor Festus Eriye

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LETTERS

Let’s send a strong message to our youths

rich and poor classes, with the former above and the latter below, as being erroneously and dangerously implied by most Nigerians. Let’s see former ‘thief’ governors go to jail, if need be. What’s delaying the arrest of a former minister on allegation of withdrawing one million dollars of the public

to finance the campaign of her boss? If she was authorised by someone, what’s stopping the arrest of that person, for God’s sake? If docking the former president, or any other person,

Buhari, please save souls on Kabba-Okene, OLLOWING the with- Lokoja Roads one hand and most of the southern states such as Lagos, Ogun, drawal of soldiers from

the manning of military checkpoints nationwide, the spate of kidnappings has increased in Kogi State on the ever busy Kabba-Okene, Kabba-Lokoja and OkeneLokoja roads. Within a period of less than one week, not less than three cases of kidnapping have been reported on the aforementioned roads. Without mincing words, the frequency of nefarious activities of the men of the underworld and kidnappers along these roads and in Kogi State in general calls for immediate action on the part of both the Federal and the Kogi State government.

it. Time, of course, is of the essence. To the extent that there can be no talk of any closure to the fiscal brigandage alleged to have been wreaked on the treasury by the immediate past administration without a full accounting of all that happened, we expect the new team to set out in earnest to assist the investigators get to the bottom of all on-going investigations. It is about time the shadowy operators behind the pillaging of the treasury are exposed and punished. That would be the surest step to put the sordid chapter behind us. Next is the future of the state oil corporation itself. Without question, the NNPC has a lot of catch-up to do when compared with what other state oil corporations founded at about the same time have achieved. Indeed, to say that the corporation is in a mess is to put things mildly. More than 50 years after the first barrel of crude was drilled, the corporation remains a fringe player in the upstream sector. Indeed, local content remains abysmally low. The same is no less true of the refineries. After being out of action for several years, they are only just returning to action. Even at that, the exact status of the four refineries remains at best – a matter of speculation. The pipelines are perhaps in worse – no thanks to age and vandalism. We expect the new leadership to tackle these challenges headlong. We expect the journey to a truly transformed oil corporation, one that is able to hold its own among the world’s best to begin now. As far as we know, the manpower is not lacking; what is lacking is the leadership imbued with the right vision. The new NNPC GMD’s rich experience in the private sector should be able to supply that. We wish him and his team good luck.

In addition to the promise of deployment of more policemen to Kogi State by the Inspector-General of Police in order to check the rampant kidnapping saga and bank robbery cases across the state, the state government should look into the possibility of drafting the services of local hunters in the state to complement the efforts of the police in providing adequate security for the lives and properties of the people. Considering the strategic positions of these roads, notably the Kabba-Okene -Lokoja ones as the only link between the Federal Capital, Abuja on

Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Edo, including Kwara State and two senatorial districts of West and Central in Kogi State on the other hand, appeal is being made to our security-conscious president, to please reconsider the return of soldiers back to these and other roads in Kogi State to stem the dastardly acts of criminals who have no doubt laid siege to Kogi State and whose activities continue to send jitters down the spines of the people, travellers and commuters who ply these roads. •By Odunayo Joseph Mopa Kogi State.

becomes necessary, the security agents should not blink their eyes for a second before doing so. Here we are talking about the law, which, in every civilisation, is above anybody, except under the immediate past Jonathan’s administration. We need to send a message to the young ones, particularly, that everyone is under the law now and impu-

nity has unpleasant consequences from now on. I am becoming impatient and, am sure, so many Nigerians are. This much I can deduce from comments by Nigerians of all classes. Femi Orebe, in his column in The Nation on Sunday, July 19, 2015, said that “For Buhari’s anti-corruption war to succeed, he must do the unusual.” Erudite lawyer and academic, Itse Sagay, in the same paper wondered “if Nigeria has not gone too far down the depths

of the abyss to be saved.” He too believes that things need be done differently to produce results. He further cited Professor Ben Nwabueze’s recent suggestion that only a bloody revolution could save Nigeria. All of these ideas are understandable and most appropriate to any watcher of events in Nigeria, especially under the Jonathan administration. I, totally, agree with and endorse them. I never stop to wonder whether a conventional constitutional apparatus, laden with this human rights rhetoric, has enough provisions to manage the culture of lawlessness foisted on our country by the Jonathan administration. •By William Aborishade

A politician with the interest of his people W HEN he indicated interest to vie for an elective office to represent his people of Verre constituency in the Adamawa State House of Assembly in the just concluded elections, Abdullahi Umar did not bother to vie under the platform of the ruling party. He sought for it under the All Progressives Congress (APC). I believe he would make a difference in the representation for good governance through the ini-

tiation of bills that will move the constituency forward. The Verre constituency is lacking almost in every ramification. His campaign promises were essentially hinged on delivering the basic dividend of democracy and to make laws for good governance. He was elected based on his wellarticulated programmes that would ultimately remove the constituency from the shackles of want and deprivation.

His main concern that prompted him to venture into the arts of politics was the way that his constituency has not fared well since the enthronement of the present political dispensation in 1999. In the final analysis, I believe the people of Verre have not made a wrong choice with the election of Umar. Within the next four years, he will uplift the constituency to an appreciable level. By Usman Santuraki, Jimeta_Yola.

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2015

COMMENT

This Saraki Senate can delay, indeed, frustrate PMB When I read about the obfuscation coming from an Abuja court about the forgery at the senate, claiming it was an internal affair, I knew, instinctively, that we were beginning to see a recrudescence of PDP-ism , now emboldened by Saraki’s ego-driven theatricals.

‘U

NLESS and until Senator Ike Ekweremadu honourably steps aside/or is eased out as Deputy Senate President, the crisis in the senate cannot be said to be over. The intrigue and contrivance woven by Saraki to bind and bond with Ekweremadu as Deputy Senate President is most subversive. It cannot breed trust between the senate and the ruling party, APC, and the Buhari presidency. Since we are not running a government of National Unity, the question of a bi-partisan legislature becomes an aberration. What is not morally right can never be politically correct.” – Canada-based Sir Fred Akinsanmi, JP. Granted that Senate President Bukola Saraki has, in the past, severally proved himself totally unscrupulous in the pursuit of power, it still comes as most puzzling, if, indeed, not politically suicidal, that he, a medical doctor, two-time state governor and former Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum, one you would have no qualms describing as a brilliant politician could, well aware of the plethora of allegations against him, still decide to railroad himself into the office of the president of the Nigerian senate, not only against his party’s preferences, but do so through standing orders he knew were forged, as has now been confirmed by the office of the Attorney-General vide a statement by the Head of Civil Litigation, Federal Ministry of Justice. Talking about his multitude of outstanding problems, a yet to be controverted report by POINTBLANKNEWS of 13, August 2013 reads as follows:”Senator Bukola Saraki who returns to the EFCC today to face fur-

ther grilling over some alleged fraudulent transactions, is having tons of massive fraud charges hanging on his neck. He was a guest of the EFCC on Monday for several hours, but was released on administrative bail and asked to return Tuesday. The former governor maintained that he had no cause to be invited, since the issues had been investigated by the agency over the years. It will be recalled that the commission had, last week, vowed to take all necessary measures to arrest and bring Saraki to justice over his tenure as governor and at the SGN bank. EFCC vowed last Friday to take necessary steps to arrest and try him for several fraud-related cases. He allegedly laundered billions of naira belonging to Inter Continental Bank of Nigeria Plc (now Access Bank) and also allegedly used fronts like Sintex Ltd, Skyview Properties Ltd, Asam Oil, Quality Packing Ltd, Bastone Ltd, Madison Properties Ltd, and Airline catering Services, to launder billions of naira. The monies, which were given out as loans, were later written off as bad debts’. (Report slightly edited for space constraints). The last Nigerians heard about this is not that he has been discharged and acquitted but rather, that efforts to get him prosecuted are being frustrated by a certain bank. My respect for Senator Saraki inched a notch higher when it turned out he was the whistle blower in the humongous oil subsidy scam. President Buhari, no Nigerians, would still have had to be wary of the present senate even if it had not started off forging its own standing orders consisting, as it does, of a glut of former state governors who literally ran their

states aground; those the respected former Nigerian Attorney-General, Chief Richard Akinjide, recently described as very corrupt. For instance, an investigation by Saturday PUNCH has revealed that over N172bn fraud cases are in court against these former governor -senators. It should not surprise therefore that most of their states lead in the unpaid workers saga. I digress. Can a determined effort to escape justice then be the sole reason a former governor and returning senator, would smuggle himself into the National Assembly premises at an ungodly hour, hide in a small car – his own words - and proceed, rather shamelessly, to trade off the Senate Deputy President position which should normally be held by a member of his own party to a member of a discredited PDP, which party Nigerians so comprehensively rejected only a few weeks earlier? Could it be he momentarily forgot that the ancien regime was gone with all its wiles? Could this be why, sitting pretty in that office, and edged on by some ex- SUG, karate fighting muscle-men, he permitted /schemed the elevation of a first time senator to the post of Senate minority leader where there are ranking senators? Obviously, ambition must have limits. My fear of this senate leadership, perched there dangerously just because Bukola Saraki so disrespects both the president and the APC on whose platform he emerged senator, is enormous. At least, a more respectful Speaker Dogara, has since shown respect to both the president and to party supremacy. My fear of the senate leadership’s capacity for evil is

huge because it can delay, if not frustrate, the president’s change agenda and thus constitute a stumbling block to a country genuinely and eagerly in search of real change: a change from the suffocating kleptomania of the recent past, to a robust, corruption-fighting government which will be seen to be working for the good of the greater majority of the people - a change indeed, that Nigerians are beginning to see. Only this past week, the Buhari administration appointed a first class and very experienced Ibe Kachikwu, as the new helmsman at the NNPC and before you know it, eight hitherto wasteful and unaccountable group divisions came crashing down to four. That can only be the least of the positive tidings to come from a corporation that has since been turned to a cesspool of corruption. When I read about the obfuscation coming from an Abuja court about the forgery at the senate, claiming it was an internal affair, I knew, instinctively, that we were beginning to see a recrudescence of PDP-ism , now emboldened by Saraki’s ego-driven theatricals. The PDP crowd has always believed that everybody has a price since money, illicit money, is not their problem. But God be praised, both the Attorney-General’s Office, and that of the Inspector-General of Police have made a short shrift of that effort. It was particularly fascinating reading the IG’s office saying that: ‘IGP Solomon Arase believes that the allegations are criminal and that the police cannot be restrained from investigating it.’ It actually went on to question the powers of the court to restrain either the police or the AGF from performing their statutory responsibilities.

The words we live by I have heard the following words used more often: contracts, scrambling, jets, remunerations, dollars, bonds, exchange rates, loans, meetings, factions, tribunal, subsidy, oil, vandalism, corruption, death toll, Boko Haram, Niger Delta, militants, allocations, diversify, sharing formula, amnesty, resource control ...

EAR reader, I don’t know about you but I am beginning to think that many words are getting obsolete in Nigeria. Take the word kindness for instance. Once upon a time, kindness meant coming upon a scene of accident while driving, stopping your car and suspending your journey until you ensured that the victims of that accident were safely deposited on a hospital bed with transfusion fluids flowing into them. Then you could resume your own journey. That was then. Now, people tiptoe or turn off their engines and roll their cars past accident scenes. Shshsh, let the FRSC deal with it; it’s their job! These days, I think kindness has come to mean someone coming into your house and announcing himself as a hired assassin who had been sent to kill you but since you wear this rather soft and harmless face, he would not do so provided you can give him a certain amount of money. In short, kindness is being allowed to ransom your own life in your own house. Mmmn. Take the story I heard some time ago. Yes, dear reader, I have just the right ears for these stories. Someone was driving home from a hard day’s work when he was stopped by an armed gang. The gang had him drive them to a spot and told him to get down and run. But, if he wanted to see his car again, he was to bring a certain

amount of money to a place mentioned to him. The money amounted to approximately half of what he bought the car for. Well, I wish I could report that he thanked them for finally taking the blessed thing off his hands. No sir; he rather got the money together and took it to the announced rendezvous. On getting there, he found very many cars waiting to be ransomed and some tough looking young men guarding the said cars. After paying and being allowed to go, out of kindness, he was warned not to breathe a word of what had transpired. I tell you, kindness used to be when you took a stranger home; now kindness is not taking a stranger home. Another word well on its way out is patience. My apologies to all those named Patience out there, but seriously, the way Nigerians barrage their ways, you would think that patience has not only been outlawed; it has become a sin. My Encarta defines patience as the ‘the ability to endure waiting, delay or provocation without becoming annoyed or upset...’ Now, you just watch your average Nigerian, beginning with me, react to the announcement that s/he has to wait for five minutes. Oh no, sir, he doesn’t calmly say thank you, sit and pick up a book to read. Rather, he goes berserk. All arms begin to flail out, mouth is open, eyes bulge out,

heart beats wildly, hands grope at the dry throat, and nostrils flare out looking for more air. In short, for a five minute delay, your typical Nigerian is near collapse. If you want to kill him, ask him to wait for a day or two. Once, while in charge of registering some students for a particular programme at university, I asked them all to form a queue. The parent of one student would have none of that. Why? It would take at least two hours to get through them all. What was wrong with that? He could not wait that long, he said. So I said, leave the young man, go about your own business, and come back later. Oh no, he said, he could not leave the baby of the house in the care of strangers. Oh dear, I said, we do have a problem because I was not going to let these young ones know that it was o.k. to shunt queues just because someone came with their parent. Should the parentless ones go and rent parents? Reader, in less than forty minutes, we were done with that registration and both father and baby were on their way. The word that has gone completely out of the dictionary of Nigerians is strangely enough the one that most qualifies to be there, and that is patriotism. Indeed, the word is so rarely spoken that I have hardly heard it used by this present crop of politicians, excepting the president on occasion, or we the followers. Accord-

ing to my Encarta, a patriot is one who is a proud supporter or defender of one’s own country and its way of life. I don’t know, but I have used Sherlock Holmes’ magnifying glass on our leaders’ and followers’ words and I can’t seem to find anything relating to ‘supporter of the country’. Instead, I have heard the following used more frequently: juicy committees, contracts, scrambling, party caucus, oversight functions, jets, jetting out, remunerations, Naira, dollars, bonds, exchange rates, loans, salaries, meetings, factions, elections, deadlock, tribunal, subsidy, oil, vandalism, corruption, death toll, boko haram, militants, allocations, opponents, petitions, diversify, sharing formula, amnesty, EFCC, arrests, resource control, central bank ... Correct me if I am wrong or add to the list if you wish. Any palm reader such as I (yep; when the need arises, I rise to that occasion, particular if I want to read my housekeeping allowance on a certain palm) can read Nigeria’s palm from the words. I think it would go something like this: Nigeria, all you can think about is money; you are too money-minded. Go and grow up. Let’s see. Until Buhari came, it was said that most of our politicians – governors, assemblymen, etc., — liked to take their remunerations in dollars for the comfort of their families, friends and neighbours. Indeed, it got so bad at a point a minister of

How time changes? GEJ days, the A-G would have simply withdrawn the case from court. I am happy for IGP Arase who, it seems, wants to use the short time at his disposal to make a mark, reposition the police and leave a worthy legacy like the Hon. Justice Alfa Belgore (GCON) - 2006-2007- did within a few months, as Chief Justice, and left his name in gold. With the current senate leadership in place, not only could it be maneuvered into opposition against the change agenda, the president could, indeed, be serially frustrated by delaying tactics, especially in enactments and in appointments that require its approval. Also with Saraki successfully rebuffing the ruling party, and given these senators’ penchant for, and their unquenchable thirst for what they call juicy committees which underpinned Saraki’s recent endorsement by 81 members, a very bad precedent would have been laid, literally making them untouchable. Who then will ask them to reasonably, and substantially, reduce their mountain of remunerations which has seen them emerge as the highest paid legislators anywhere on the face of the earth? It is heart-warming, however, to hear the I-G’s office say that the senate forgery raises issues of criminality about which the police owes Nigerians the duty to unearth the truth. It is equally sweet music to hear that the investigation has since been concluded and, according to the Head of Civil Litigation, Federal Ministry of Justice, Taiwo Abidogun, who gave the clincher, those involved will very soon have their day in court, since, according to him, ‘a completed act can no longer be stayed.’ state for finance once had to cry out that whenever allocations were paid out, there was an unusual activity and demand on the dollar. It turned out that, soon after the allocations, our federal and state executive members were in the habit of jetting out and the fruits were not long in coming. This political dispensation has seen more private jets than at any other time. As of now, it is said that there are between seventy and one hundred and fifty of them in the country, most of which were bought directly or indirectly with government money. This means that the concern of most of those in leadership has not been how to build the country and make it sit more comfortably instead of tottering around like a drunken blind man. No sir, they have been more concerned with how to make their rear ends sit more comfortably. Today’s title is an adaptation of G. Lakoff’s The Metaphors We Live By which is the title of a text detailing how metaphors portray the thought processes of a people. In the same way, the words Nigerians live by tend to portray the narrow-mindedness of both the leaders and the followers in this country. The more frequently used words tell us clearly that the economy and all its related issues has been put ahead of cultivating the most important virtues such as patriotism, hard work and integrity. I think that putting these dying words first will ensure a better economic and political future. This is not to reduce the importance of economy. It is rather to say that without these virtues, there can only be chaos in a nation’s entire system. Indeed, the absence of ‘patriotism’ on that list is a sad statement on just how much we have missed it as a nation. I think we really need to dust up our dictionary. A nation is known by the words it lives by.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2015

COMMENT

(128) Between Sagay and Falana: the law, the people and the social cannibalism of corruption (2) B OTH in number and impact, the emails that I received in response to last week’s opening essay in this series constitute some of the most eye-opening responses I have ever received since I began regularly writing this column more than eight years ago, first in The Guardian under a slightly different name, and then in this paper, The Nation. Indeed, it is no exaggeration to say that after reading many of these responses, I began to feel like one of the unhappy souls in Plato’s celebrated Myth of the Cave! As those who have read this classic of ancient, PreSocratic Greek philosophy will remember, the hapless characters in Plato’s myth, after living their entire lives in a deep, underground cave shrouded in darkness, one day emerge from the cave and its miasmic darkness. But instead of feeling liberated by the brightness of the light that they find in the world outside the cave, they are utterly blinded by its incandescence. As it has been taught to innumerable generations of first year philosophy students, the moral of this myth is that in conditions where darkness, ignorance and mediocrity reign supreme, the sudden introduction of truth, enlightenment and probity may prove, not liberating, but confounding. Ergo, truth, justice and liberating knowledge must be introduced in small, manageable doses in a world in which their opposites – falsehood, injustice and cynicism - always have the upper hand, especially in the professions among which, for our purposes in this essay, we must highlight the law. In case all this sounds rather mysterious, let me briefly give some of the details of the emails I received before linking what they revealed to me with my concluding reflections in this series that began last week. Perhaps the most startling of the revelations that I received from the emails was the assertion that the problems and crises in the judicial system in Nigeria were far much deeper, wider and systemic than what was indicated in the essential critique I had made in last week’s article. Let me remind the reader that that critique of mine stated that both the law and its implementation in Nigerian courts constitute nearly impregnable accessories to the cynical, merciless and socialcannibalistic looting of our national, collective resources. Beyond this critique – which, I thought, was serious enough – I was told that Nigeria is the ONLY country in the world in which interlocutory injunctions intended to delay, prolong or even permanently defer successful prosecutions are not only allowed but widely practiced in criminal cases. In other words, in virtually all of the other nations of the world, interlocutory injunctions are allowed only in civil cases, and then only under clearly stipulated and limited circumstances. Only in our country do interlocutory injunctions operate as a weapon, a shield against successful prosecution of those charged with criminal

•Obasanjo, Yar’ Adua and Jonathan, “Our hands were tied by respect for the rule of law!”

offenses, especially offenses pertaining to looting and corruption. Who does not know that petty criminals do not have the money to hire lawyers, especially of SAN vintage, to tie up cases against them? Dear reader, think of this the next time that you read in the newspapers that an interlocutory injunction has been filed by a lawyer and accepted by a judge in a case of criminal prosecution: Only in Nigeria and for the most part only in cases pertaining to looting and corruption! In my utter stupefaction in being told of this fact, I asked some of my email correspondents when and how this incredible exceptionalism in our judicial system came into existence and I was informed that it was started about a decade and half ago. This makes its inception almost exactly coincident with the return to civilian “democracy” after the long and serial interregnum of military dictatorships in our country. In effect, this means that one of the most revealing marks of the kind of “democracy” reigning in post1999 Nigeria is the legal convention and practice of giving protection, through the use of interlocutory injunctions, to criminal looters who have no equals in the world in the scale of their greed and impunity. This “democracy” is thus nothing but a looters’ paradise in which excessively predatory instincts and practices have the solid protection of the law. In the blinding light of this revelation, it becomes clear, all too clear why all the three presidents since 1999 before Buhari – Obasanjo, Yar’ Adua and Jonathan – constantly gave the excuse that their “fight” against corruption was hampered by their respect for the “rule of law”. What they never cared to reveal is that by this they meant their endorsement of and collusion with the use - the overuse really - of interlocutory injunctions. The point now is that the cat has been let out of the bag and Buhari does not have that excuse. I wish I didn’t have any more

revelations of the stultifying nature of the uniqueness of interlocutory injunctions in criminal cases in Nigeria to report from the emails that I received this past week but alas, this is not the case. For it appears that “interlocutory injunctions” does have a slew of other siblings and cousins in the dysfunctional family that is our judicial system. It appears that beyond the specific instance of interlocutory injunctions, accumulation of wealth, status and prestige among our lawyers and judges are all solidly built around the extreme sluggishness, the extreme cumbersomeness of the administration and dispensation of justice in our country. For this reason, there seems to be an entrenched and almost immoveable resistance to change and reform among our lawyers and judges. Additionally, some of the problems in our judiciary are so comical, so absurd as to be beyond belief. My “favorite” in this regard is the fact that judges mandatorily have to write their judgments in long, hand-written texts; their judgments cannot, must not be typed! It says a lot that much of what I have written here about the terrible state of the judiciary in our country comes from lawyers themselves: there are reformers and would-be reformers in the profession. Unfortunately their ranks are thin and the weight of investment in wealth accumulation, achievement of prestige and maintenance of status and the pecking order among their colleagues works overwhelmingly against these reformers. In this, the legal profession in Nigeria is no different from other upper middle class professions like medicine (doctors and pharmacists); academia (the professoriate and the academic administrators); and surveyors, engineers and industrial chemists. Without exception, all these professions and their ranks are deeply infected with the rot that is endemic to the predators’ republic

that our “democracy has been since the return to civilian rule in 1999. Thus, in all these cases, true and genuine reforms will not only come from within the judicial system itself; they will also be precipitated by reforms in and of the political order at large. The upshot of this preceding observation is that we cannot wait until the entire judicial order is reformed before we put a stop to the cover and protection that the judiciary provides for criminal looters who “kill” through the consequences and ramifications of the vast, mind-boggling sums they steal from our national coffers. It will take a vast and sustained project of reform to clean up the mess, the unwieldiness in our judicial order. Before then and right now, the stolen loot has to be recovered; and endemic corruption has to be halted in its tracks. The suffering, the hardship that it causes to millions of our peoples cannot, must not go on. I believe that as indicated by Falana, the acts enacted by the 7th National Assembly just before its dissolution can provide at least a minimal basis both for recovering a substantial part of the monies looted and for at least curbing the excesses and the impunity of corruption in our country. This in effect means that beyond the enabling laws that will minimally make this possible, Buhari and his administration have to look beyond the law, beyond the cooperation of lawyers and judges for recovering the stolen loot and curbing corruption. What exactly do I have in mind in making this assertion? It is on record that many foreign governments and financial institutions have given strong indications that they are willing to give every assistance necessary to Buhari and his administration to recover the stolen monies that have been hidden away in foreign countries and bank vaults. Indeed, reportedly, the names and sums involved have been privately di-

vulged to the new administration. But so far, how have the items of information been used, been acted upon? At best, they have been “revealed” to us, the Nigerian people, piecemeal, in a completely uncoordinated and haphazard manner, as if an open, detailed and comprehensive account to Nigeria and the world is either unnecessary or would be damaging to efforts to recover the looted sums. This is completely erroneous. If Buhari and his advisers don’t know it, let them know now, today, that so far on the interrelated issues of recovering stolen loot and curbing corruption, they have been acting like amateurs and inept improvisers. They have been throwing all sorts of figures around; and they have given no clear outlines or guidelines of what they are doing now and will be doing in the months and years ahead. And above all else, they are acting as if they regard the Nigerian people as passive bystanders in the whole project. We are not, both Nigerians at home and Nigerians abroad. I ask all who are reading this to please get involved. Write to your Governors and Senators and “Honourables”. Have the leaders of your professional associations to speak up on your behalf. Hold peaceful demonstrations and rallies asking the new administration to give a full account of what they are doing to recover the stolen loot and what they are going to do with it when it is recovered. In some accounts, the total sums involved are as much as $150 billion dollars. Even half of that, if wisely spent, will substantially reduce the suffering and the hardship in the land. So compatriots, don’t wait for them to deign, to condescend to let us know what is going on, at their pleasure. Demand to know as if the survival of our country depends on it because, as a matter of fact, it does. Biodun Jeyifo bjeyifo@fas.harvard.edu

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2015

COMMENT

AST week Wednesday, most newspapers (if not all) went to town with the front page story of the ‘death’ of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade. This was an absolute contradiction of Yoruba culture and tradition, of which Oba Sijuwade was (is?) the custodian. In Yoruba land, announcing the death of a monarch is viewed as a taboo, especially if it is done by an unauthorised person. The announcement is not made by just anybody. The case is made even more intriguing when most of the newspapers which announced the ‘death’ on their front pages are situated in Yoruba land and should know that an Oba does not die, as they say. Perhaps one would have expected the headline to read something like “Ooni of Ife joins ancestors’ or ‘Ooni passes on’. But in this age of internet and the vicious fight to retain readership and maximize space, the headline by most of the newspapers read ‘Ooni of Ife is dead’, ‘Ooni dies at 85’, these are shorter headlines and make for commercial success than a tepid one that says the respected monarch has passed on. It is clear from the confusion that dogged the story the day after that what the Yoruba tradition and culture had to contend with at this juncture was the stark reality of the fact that we are living in an age of

Ooni: The limits of tradition

Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live. – Norman Cousins By Olayinka Oyegbile

technology (what someone has perhaps rightly called ‘Google World’). It is now a world where any tradition that does not want to change would either die or invent its own paradigm. This was the root of the issues that arose with the reported ‘death’ of the monarch. The moment the monarch was flown abroad for treatment in this age of internet, the culture and tradition given way and the rest have been taken out of the hands of the Traditional Council which was entrusted with the task of announcing the transition of the Yoruba monarch. It is my considered view that if the monarch had joined his ancestors in a hospital here in Nigeria it would have been easy to keep the news from the public until all traditional rites have been performed! Taking the sail out of the wind of our traditions and culture would continue until we get our health facilities right and we can treat our sick and invalid here, no matter how highly

•Ooni

placed. The passing of the Ooni in a foreign land and hospital would not be the first of a royal father. In 2012 when Oba Oladere Olashore of Iloko Ijesa died in a London hospital the news hit the internet almost immediately. And just like the recent news about the Ooni, the family and the traditional council denied his transition

until very much later when they could no longer deny the obvious. In Africa and most especially in Nigeria, our leaders, traditional or public office holders, are treated like some gods who are infallible and therefore could never fall sick. If, for instance, the Queen of England is taken ill today it

would surely hit the front pages of major British newspapers and headline the other media. The report would not end there, it would also detail what sorts of ailment the Queen is suffering from. That is their culture and we cannot grudge them that. Our own society is not than open. We live in a world of denial. Recently, the United States Secretary of State John Kerry was shown on world television attending an international event supporting himself with crutches. This can never happen in our clime. Our leaders, ministers, or public office holders can never be sick, they are like gods. Remember the drama that attended the sickness and eventual death of former President Umaru Yar’Adua. As of the time of writing this piece, the true state of events on the health of the monarch is still unknown or more appropriately, his transition has not been ‘officially’ announced but we all know the truth. But what a better way to conclude this treatise than to resort to quoting another eminent son of Yoruba land, as the Yoruba Ewi (poetry) exponent Chief Olatunbosun Oladapo said in one of his records Ta la ntan? (Who are we deceiving?). Has the Ooni joined his ancestors or not? We are waiting for the official announcement.

Take my water, take my life

OW that the tensions of the Nigerian general elections are settling, it is time to wash off the dust and move on to take actions for the safeguarding of lives. In the months leading up to the electioneering campaigns, and indeed for decades, the World Bank and the then government officials have been meeting and taking decisions set clearly on the worn and largely discredited track that sees water as a commodity for speculators and not as a human right. As it turned out, the electorate in Lagos chose to vote for change at the federal level while remaining steadfast on the platform of more of the same, or continuity, at home. And so, we have a government in place that seem to believe that the best ways for public service delivery is by privatisation and enclosure of the commons. However, we note that before this year’s election, the people of Lagos voted with their feet and voices on the streets of the city to express their rejection of any move to privatise water under any guise. The shocking statistics from this aspiring mega-city inform us that up to 90 per cent of the residents of Lagos do not have daily access to clean and safe water. With that scenario, the prevalence of waterborne diseases in the city cannot come as a surprise. Nationally, more than half of Nigeria’s population have no access to clean water and more than two thirds have no access to sanitation, according to official statistics. Our compatriots depend on wells, ponds, boreholes, water carts and water trucks for water supply. This calls for public investment in the sector but government seems to have been hypnotised by the privatisation mantra repeatedly sung by the World Bank and its agencies such as the International Finance Corporation. The story of privatization in Nigeria is in the same mould as that of any forced appropriation of the collective patrimony for private profit. We recall that in the dying days of military dictatorship in the country the strategy was to allow essential public institutions of high

By Nnimmo Bassey

value to stagger almost to the point of collapse and then privatization would step in without significant resistance since the institution would have been seen as ineffective. Sometimes it was the question of using public funds to bring a public institution or property to a very good state and then to auction them off to those who are well connected to the corridors of power. At a point it was not surprising that governments were literally privatised or sold to the highest bidder. Under military regimes, governments were privatised and controlled by those with the biggest guns. Today governments are often captured by corporate interests or by those with wads of cash or bags of rice or salt. It is not surprising that a major contributor to the failure of the Lagos government to solve the water crisis has been the Lagos Water Corporation’s wrongheaded commitment to privatization. The government chooses the path of stubborn adherence to the false creed that holds that public utilities are best managed - as for profit entities as prescribed by the apostles of neoliberalism. The so-called Public-Private Partnership (PPP) strenuously marketed by the government is simply a means of subjugating the public good to private control. In other words, if truth is to be told, PPP is simply a way of facilitating the enslavement of the public by private interests. It is interesting how the ghost of the infamous and thoroughly discredited Structural Adjustment Programmes of the 1980s/1990s is being resurrected in the fancy catch phrase of PPP. Indeed the phrase has so captured the imagination of our policy makers that to think otherwise is almost anathema to them. Advocates of this scheme cite a supposed lack of government resources necessary for such public investment as the reason for soliciting the private sector’s ‘expertise’ and ‘capital.’ Are they

listening to themselves? The claims must be taken with a hefty dose of salt. If it is true that the partnership does not entail any capital expenditure then we have reasons to be truly alarmed. Would there be no capital expenditure on the project? Of course there will be. The question is where would the private capital ultimately come from? And the answer is not farfetched. The money to sweeten the PPP will ultimately be recouped from the pockets of the poorest of the poor. Apparently the thinking is that the already squeezed population can bear some more squeezing. That is what they are made for: to sacrifice, scrounge for water from dirty ponds and toxic lagoons, while the fat cats frolic in their overflowing Olympic-size swimming pools. Just think how effective the privatization of electricity has been in Nigeria and you would scream for everything to be privatized. Water extraction has been a great means of extracting enormous profits from Lagos’ poorest residents. In the past it was inconceivable that anyone could appropriate water bodies for private commercial use, but today that is common practice. Think about how ubiquitous water in plastic bottles have become. Some brands are even seen as status symbols and if tables at your event do not carry an array of those plastic bottles then it signifies that you don’t have class. Those who must count their coins before expending them are condemned to drink water sold in plastic sachets and snidely tagged pure water even when everyone suspects that the water is anything but pure. Some exploiters of our aquifer even claim they are selling nutritious water with stories of added vitamins and all that! These water miners in our cities are sucking up our aquifers often without any controlling water management plan or policy. It is a no-man’s land out there. With the collapse of public water supply across the nation anyone that can dig a hole till water spurts is welcome to do

so. But one day our wells will run dry. And what shall we do then? When water stress becomes unbearable how and whom will the PPP help? We cannot ignore the fact that privatisation has failed repeatedly. Even those pushing for variants of privatisation, including their politician partners, know this fact. Happily those whose cups of water are being snatched are pushing back. This is seen in the growing trend around the world of citizens taking back their water and forcing an end to corporate water grab and control by getting their leaders to bring back water management under public institutions. Examples of this growing trend in the fight for water as an uncompromising life support has been seen in Manila in Philippines, Nagpur in India and Jakarta in Indonesia. For example, a court in Jakarta recently ruled that the 18year-old World Bank sponsored corporate water contract there violated the Indonesian constitution. In Manila, regulators continue to push for the curbing of corporations’ insatiable to drive for outrageous profits. In Nagpur, while the water delivery system continues to consistently fail, water rates continue to skyrocket. Privatisation of water continues to fail as control by corporations lead to rate hikes, water shutoffs, worker layoffs and poor water quality. In addition, the pursuit of profit blocks off needed infrastructure expansion investments making the situation grow worse as the years roll by. We cannot afford to see Lagos with its teeming population caught in the profit-driven PPP trap. The crucial need for accessible and safe water cannotbe overemphasised. If managed with the public good rather than profit, Lagos can escape being under water stress. The people of Lagos, and indeed the entire Nigerian nation, deserve an environment in which water is clearly seen as a human right and where pollutions are curbed in order to allow Nature to maintain

her cycles and thereby support the life of humans and other species. To deny any people the right to water is to deny them the right to life. During a recent field trip to Kpeme community in Togo, this writer witnessed a most ghastly disregard of water as a public good that must be protected. A phosphate factory located in the community pumps toxic effluent directly into the Atlantic Ocean turning the water greenish-yellow rather than the usual blue. Fisher folks complain that up to 1.5 kilometres into the sea is polluted by this toxic discharge. And the spread along the coast goes as far as to the neighbouring Benin Republic and perhaps to Lagos, Nigeria. When a factory manager was asked what they were doing to curb the disaster, the response was a flippant you must break an egg to make an omelette. We understand this omelette to mean financial profit. This omelette discounts the health impacts on the people and on aquatic lives. This omelette sees the ocean as a waste dump and disregards the fact that it is a commons for all of humanity and the planet. It ignores the fact that the Ocean is both a source of life and a veritable support of livelihoods. Lagos has an inescapable duty to show the nation and indeed the African continent that it is possible to build a public water supply system that prioritises the needs of the people and not the profits of corporations. Enthroning a multi-decade PPP may promise enhanced government revenue but it negates the tenets of a democracy that hears and heeds the demands of the people and operates in their best interests. Water is not a mere commodity to be grabbed, bottled or piped for profit. It is a prime gift of nature and true re-source democracy demands a spirit of stewardship that has no room for private enclosure of this public good. Bassey is an environmentalist.

FESTUS ERIYE’S COLUMN IS ON VACATION

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 9, 2015

ETCETERA

SUNNY SIDE

Cartoons

By Olubanwo Fagbemi

POLITICKLE

deewalebf@yahoo.com 08060343214 (SMS only)

A modern dictionary •Election edition Being the conclusion of complex and not-so-complex political terms explained for the benefit of the keen reader in the season of choice.

CHEEK BY JOWL

OH, LIFE!

THE GReggs

L. LANDSLIDE adj.: The wide margin of victory boasted by party officials but which PDP itself experienced in some states during the March 28 presidential election. M. Manifesto n.: The political party statement of intent substituted with slander and mudslinging by the party in power. N. Nomination n.: The (s)election of a candidate for a particular office by a political party. Related: Nebuchadnezzar. O. One term n.: What the president promised to serve, according to PDP officials who should know. Opposition n.: The progressive force of many responsible for the unprecedented defeat of a democratic president. P. PVC. n.: INEC-issued permanent card with which voters elect candidates for credible reasons or sell votes for incredible reasons. Related: Politicking. Primary. Q. Queuing v.: An orderliness in public initially enforced during presidentelect Muhammadu Buhari’s 1983-1985 reign as head of state and subsequently embraced on Election Day by resolute voters. R. Rigging. n.: Anti-democratic dispensation by party officials involving ballot box snatching, wanton thumb-printing and illicit vote-counting in the bid to outscore more popular opponents. S. Spin doctor n.: A term that describes all the president’s men in the business of spinning the truth and skewing the opposition’s image and chances at the polls. Stand up for recognition Labaran Maku, Ahmed Gulak, Reuben Abati, Doyin Okupe and Femi Fani-Kayode. Slogan n.: Catch-phrase used by parties to arrest voters’ imagination and earn loyalty. For enduring example, compare PDP’s ‘Power (to the people?)!’ to APC’s ‘Change!’ Related: Stomach infrastructure. Speculate. Spending. Sentiment. Sniper. T. Thuggery n.: The Area Boy put to ‘good use’ by the desperate politician. Related: Ticket. Thumb-print. U. U-turn n.: Also known as policy somersault, the sudden change in policy or political direction caused by electoral considerations as the president’s preelection relocation to a Southwest neglected in the previous six years. Related: Unanimous. Unopposed. Upset. U-turn. Utopia. V. Viewpoint n.: The perspective behind party reaction to issues in the polity. Related: Violence. Volunteer. Victory. W. Witch-hunt v.: The imminent investigation of the corrupt dreaded by the president’s wife Patience ‘Mama Peace’ Jonathan before the presidential election. Fear of the one to ‘put Nigerians in prison’ apparently marked the culmination of desperation. Whistle-stop n.: The practice of making speeches in many towns in a short time, a test passed by President-elect Muhammadu Buhari, APC’s 72 year-old candidate, despite Ekiti State governor Ayodele Fayose’s advertised ill-wish and Mama Peace’s sarcasm on the ill-fated campaign trail. Related: Ward. Woo. X. Xenophobia n.: The obvious legacy, beside religious and sectarian division, of Goodluck Jonathan, arguably Nigeria’s most divisive leader. Y. Yield n.: The electoral harvest recorded by the unprecedented merger of political parties while stopping PDP’s march to a target of ‘60 years’ of political domination. Z. Zoning n.: Less pronounced in 2015, the system of representation that favours selection of candidates as opposed to democratic choices. Zeitgeist n.: The spirit of the times. It reflects true power to the people for a change. Long live the PVC, the Card Reader and a true Federal Republic!

Reader’s Response If Bravo! On today’s ‘If’: “Couldn’t have put it better myself!” Olu Ayanwale. +2348062508***

QUOTE A politician is a fellow who will lay down your life for his country. —Texas Guinan

Jokes Humour

Mr Chu THE LOCAL hospital’s Intensive Care ward had a strange case. Patients always died in the same bed, on Sunday morning at 11 a.m., regardless of their medical condition. This puzzled the doctors and some even thought that it had something to do with the supernatural. Why the death? Determined to correct the anomaly, the doctors one day decided to go down to the ward and investigate. So a few minutes before 11 a.m. on the next Sunday morning, all doctors and nurses nervously waited outside the ward to see for themselves what the terrible phenomenon was all about. Some held other holy objects to ward off the evil. Just then, the clock struck 11. Mister Chu, the part-time Sunday sweeper, entered the ward and unplugged the life support system so that he could use the vacuum cleaner. Horrific Comedy THREE vampire bats live in a cave surrounded by three castles. One night, the bats bet on who can drink the most blood. The first bat comes home with blood

dripping off his fangs. He says, “See that castle over there? I drank the blood of three people.” The second bat returns with blood around his mouth. He says, “See that castle over there? I drank the blood of five people.” The third bat comes back with his body covered in blood. He says, “See that castle over there?” The other bats nod. “Well,” says the third bat, “I didn’t.” Clear Difference WHAT a difference race makes. If a black man starts losing his hair, what should he do? Just cut it all off. And if a white man starts losing his hair, what should he do? Take the hair from the side and fold it over the top. The black man clearly can’t go out like that.

Through the ‘Birdvine’ DID YOU hear about the man who got too close to a parrot? He started to repeat everything that was said around him. Someone called the condition ‘chirpes’. And the worst thing? It was ‘untweetable’. •Adapted from the Internet

Writer ’s Fountain IPS for the beginner: Avoid using an adverb after she/he said means. This is dangerous in writing as it could in dialogue. The dialogue itself should mean the difference between a character convey the intent behind it and shouldn’t eyeing a pretty woman and worshipping her. Develop your characters. It is tempting require an adverb. If your dialogue requires adverbs to convey the meaning or intent, it to write only about perfect, flawless characters isn’t clear enough. Try reading the dialogue who go through and come out of each and out loud and if the meaning doesn’t come every situation gracefully, but this creates a boring, static story. Try to give them room to across, it may need to be reworded. Don’t use words unless you know what grow or you will find yourself without room they mean. If writers have to guess the to write. Brevity. Readers have a short attention meaning of a word, they shouldn’t be using it. The reader usually has a vague notion of a span and you will lose them with too much word without understanding what it actually detail. Try to be as concise as possible while still moving the story along. If you don’t need Man and animal: a description or an action, don’t use it. It will •A dog’s sense of smell is 1,000 times stronger weigh the story down and turn the reader off. than humans’. Think of a skirt long enough to cover the •A gozzard is a person who owns geese. important things but short enough to keep •Armadillos, which look like anteaters, are things interesting. When writing on a certain the only animal besides humans that can get topic, there’s a balance between too much leprosy. detail and not enough. The writer must convey •Apart from humans, the only land animal the most important parts of the topic without that cries is the elephant. going into too much detail and risk losing •Ants closely resemble humans in manners. the reader. When they wake, they stretch and appear to All points should be made with the fewest yawn in a human manner before taking up words possible while still giving all the tasks of the day. information.

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AUGUST 9, 2015

Pages 36 & 37

'I'm not ready to Momah: It's foolhardy attack Jonathan yet, to hope in a dead but he misruled us' Biafra at this time

Edo 2016: APC, PDP re-strategise Pages 34

Pages 35

Pages 41

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2015

POLITICS

â&#x20AC;˘Oshiomhole

Edo 2016: APC, PDP re-strategise

Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu, reports that in Edo State, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have stepped up preparations to produce Governor Adams Oshiomhole's successor in 2016

s part of their preparations for the 2016 governorship election in Edo State, both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are making determined efforts to resolve their internal crisis before the primaries. To resolve the disagreement in the state chapter of APC, where some interest groups within the party are piling up pressure on the party's state chairman, Anselm Ojezua, to resign, the party set up a 17-man reconciliation committee last week. Insiders said the party members rooting for Ojezua's removal had compiled his alleged antiparty activities and sent it to the state governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. It would be recalled for example that Ojezua was accused of meeting secretly with Chief Tony Anenih and Chief Tom Ikimi to "plot for the emergence of an Edo Central Senatorial candidate to succeed Oshiomhole in 2016." His opponents in the party had continued to blame Ojezua for the outcome of the state and National Assembly elections in the Edo Central Senatorial District, where APC lost three State Assembly seats and all National Assembly seats to PDP. Ojezua had long described the allegations as hollow and without substance, adding that all right thinking members of the party should disregard such allegations. We gathered that APC leadership, not willing to take any chances, has moved to settle every rift that may have resulted from the misunderstanding. After the crisis that rocked the state APC that led to the exit of Pastor Osagie-IzeIyamu and Chief Tom Ikimi, Oshiomhole had, according to his associates, stressed his wish not to allow further crisis in the party, especially, ahead of 2016. "The

Reconciliation Committee has the task of settling every issue likely to divide our great party in the state before the 2016 elections. Edo is an APC state, so we are not ready to allow the opposition PDP to sponsor any division aimed at weakening APC. I think that wisdom informed the formation of the reconciliation committee. There is nothing much to worry but we have a leader in the state, the comrade governor, who understands the meaning of planning and we know the antecedents of the leaders of PDP in the state. That is why we cannot afford to sleep. We are preparing to go to the election as united as ever," said a member of the Edo APC State Working Committee, who pleaded not to be named. As for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the leaders have vowed to reclaim the state the party governed for 10 years before Oshiomhole emerged the governor. It would be recalled that the foremost National President of Nigerian Labour Congress first emerged governor of the South-South state on the ticket of the former Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), before taking the state to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Since his emergence on the scene, Oshiomhole, who is described by his supporters as a grassroots politician and an incredible mobiliser, has succeeded in evolving strong political machinery which some informed observers say cannot be dislodged by the PDP. They point out that beside his political acumen, Oshiomhole's APC government in the state have performed so well that APC's major opponent in the state, the PDP, would have to work harder to be considered a serious threat to the ruling party's political fortunes in the 2016 governorship election. This is even so as the APC's victory at the national level have further brightened its chances in the states, especially in a state like Edo, a former PDP stronghold

where some influential PDP chieftains join the ruling party soon after the announcement of Muhammadu Buhari as the winner of the last presidential election. This notwithstanding, leaders of PDP in the state, including political heavyweights like former PDP Board of Trustees (BOT) Chairman, Chief Tony Anenih; the Igbinedion political family, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Tom Ikimi, among others, have vowed that PDP is still very strong in Edo State and must return to power. Besides the strength of the party in the state, sources said Anenih, the Igbinedions and Ikimi may have taken the 2016 governorship contest in the state as a continuation of the personal political battles they have fought with Oshiomhole in the past seven years. It would be recalled that the struggle for the political soul of Edo State between the Igbinedion's political structure and that of Oshiomhole has continued underground seven years after the Igbinedions were upstaged. APC's dominance of the politics of the state since then notwithstanding, political activists and insiders in the state insist the party is still very much entrenched and determined to return to power. Dr. Francis Edosoma, a political analyst in Benin, had told The Nation that "results of the last elections confirmed that each of the two parties is strong enough to produce the next government of the state after Oshiomhole. But given Oshiomhole's superlative performance, his party remains the party to beat in 2016. However, a lot depends on the level of unity of each of the parties, how far they would be willing to carry the people along, the quality and acceptability of their candidate and the level of their preparedness for the election. So, I thing the winner will be the one that prepared better and the one that made the right choice of governorship candidate. It must however be clear to APC

that PDP is still strong in this state. So, if the party wants to continue to occupy the Edo Government House after the Comrade, it must prepare well and be wise and fair when it wants to pick its flag bearer." The strength of the two political parties (APC and PDP) in Edo State could be ascertained from the result of the 2015 Presidential and National Assembly elections. In those elections, PDP won the presidential poll in the state and got two, out of the three senate seats, plus five House of Assembly seats. Though this is a great performance, given that PDP was not the ruling party in the state, insiders identified the influence of former President Goodluck Jonathan as the primary factor responsible for that performance. Making references to the harvest of "big political fishes" in the state since after the defeat of Jonathan, APC supporters said the party is now in firm control of the state. They specifically claimed that Oshiomhole's government, commands cult-like followership at the grassroots level. Other forces that may shape Edo 2016 Aware of the potential of each of the parties in the state, the leaders of the two parties have launched secret and overt measures that will help their party outwit the other and to tackle any unforeseen obstacles that may be put on its way. We gathered for example that both APC and PDP are not unaware of the alleged plans to take other matters to the front burner in the campaign for the successor of Oshiomhole in 2016. One of such factors is the zoning debate and ethnic agitations. It is on record that even before the official flag-off of 2016 governorship election in Edo State; it has become obvious that zoning will be a major factor in the campaigns of who would succeed the Comrade Governor, Adams Oshiomhole. For example, a year to the actual election date, the Esan people of Edo Central Senatorial District have already served notice that it is their turn to produce the next governor for the state. According to them, allowing the zone to produce the next governor of the state in 2016 will fulfill the demands of "equity, fairness and justice." They made the demand recently after a crucial meeting of Esan Elders Forum held at Uromi, the administrative headquarters of Esan North- East Local Government Area. In his explanation, the spokesman and chairman of the forum, Julius Akpede, said, "From our recent political history as Edo State (1991-2016), the military ruled for six years (1993-1999), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and Lucky Igbinedion from Edo South Senatorial District ruled for a total of nine and half years; Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor (one and half years) and Comrade Adams Oshiomhole from Edo North Senatorial Zone from 2008 till date. "From the above analysis, political sagacity and self-evidence dictate the following: come 2016, an Esan governor from Edo Central Senatorial District should and must occupy Edo State Government House. "Edo State Government House shall have no vacancy for any other candidate except one from Esan. Equity, justice, unity, cohesion and even spread of development dictate this," he said on behalf of the elders' forum. Also the Coordinator of Esan Political Forum (EPF), Mr. Abor Airelogbe, was quoted in an interview in Benin as saying, "It is now the turn of Esan people to produce the next governor of the state because since the creation of Edo State in 1991, an Esan man has never been allowed to occupy the office except the brief period of Prof. Osereimhen Osunbor and this was bungled due to a number of factors and this cannot be allowed to continue.

â&#x20AC;˘Audu

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2015

POLITICS

Momah: It's foolhardy to hope in a dead Biafra at this time Former Minister of Science and Technology and pioneer Nigerian War College (NWC) DirectorGeneral, General Sam Momah, is a disciple of the change campaign which brought the present government into power. In this interview with Paul Ukpabio, Momah, x-rays the first few months of President Muhammadu Buhari in office. ou were one of the lone voices in the last two years who spoke consistently about a General Buhari in power. You also called for a change of ex-President Jonathan's administration in his last two years in office. Today we have Buhari in power are you fulfilled? I must say that I am fulfilled because we know the state of our country before Gen. Buhari came on stage; Nigeria had been on the brink, the economy was very bad. We were saddled with a debt of $60bn or about that range, our police force was not properly organised, our borders were porous, unemployment was terribly embarrassing and was getting to the magnitude of having over 40m youths unemployed. Also the state of insecurity, the problem of Boko Haram, kidnapping, armed robbery and cyber crime were all getting out of control. There was also the problem of smuggling of illegal arms across our borders, which remained much unguarded. Then of course the worse of it was the vandalisation of the oil pipelines and illegal sale of our oil by individuals, the looting of the economy was rampant and we were being told that stealing was not corruption. So, it was inevitable that we had to look for somebody to salvage the nation. So, I feel very fulfilled. Indeed, if not for Buhari's coming on board, who knows, perhaps Nigeria would have been written off. But we thank God that a miracle happened and he won the election despite the odds. I believe that his coming is a divine ordination and I hope that Nigerians will see his coming as an opportunity to rebuild this country. I am happy. His coming to lead Nigeria is the dawn of a new era, an era of respectability for the country, an era of exemplary leadership, an era of visionary leadership and an era that Nigerians will aspire to actualise that great nation that we have been waiting for. With the situation in the National Assembly do you see the president succeeding as far as he would love to do? I believe that Mr. President is determined to succeed. He is not an accidental leader. He had to plan for his coming in the last 30 years. From 1985 to 2015; he has been thinking how to salvage Nigeria. And we know that from 2003 to 2015 he has been contesting for leadership. He is experienced at this game. So whatever is happening at the National Assembly

• Momah

is a momentary obstacle and I believe that ultimately, with PMB tenacity of purpose we will surmount it and move ahead. Still on the National Assembly, with the groupings, the Saraki group, the supposed PDP group, the core APC group, do you see all coming together to move the nation forward? Well that is my hope. I hope that someday common sense will prevail because Saraki is APC. I do not see why he should not work in tandem with APC as a party because the party came in for a purpose and we believe that they have to be unanimous for that purpose to crystallize. Trying to be an obstacle on an issue that has been agreed upon will definitely not augur well for those trying to do so. So, I believe that somewhere along the line, Saraki and his team should do a rethink and work along with other party members. As a true democrat, the president has said that the three arms of government are independent of each other, but ours is an evolving democracy, not like that of US and other developed countries where the principle of separation of power is strictly adhered to. Here, we are still learning, and therefore we need that cohesion to enable us surmount major problems. The President in consonance with his party and in this era of change should be interested on who are the leaders in the National Assembly. So whatever happens, they should talk and think like a party and not in factions as is presently the case. Right from the beginning of this government, the candidacy of Chief Ogbonnaya Onu an Igbo technocrat was touted for the post of the Secretary of the Federation, but many believe that he must have lost out with the emergence of Ike Ikeremadu as Deputy Senate President. Do you share this view? No, I don't because you cannot use an illegality to discountenance legality. That will be double damage. Ekweremadu came on his own platform being PDP. He is not a member of APC. Of course, his candidacy as Deputy President of the Senate is still being contested and so you cannot use it to nullify somebody who is a strong member of APC. Ogbonnaya Onu is an intelligent and levelheaded leader that has proven himself to be consistent in the opposition all these years. He is not the type that jumps from one party to

another. He is very principled like the president himself. So, I believe both being of the same kind, should be able to work together. Secretary to the Government is a very important appointment, which I believe that with his track record, experience, nationalistic feeling, a sound technocrat with first class honours degree; he will do immense justice to that position. He has the wherewithal to really give this nation that leadership support that Buhari deserves at this time. It is about trust and ability to act and thus synergies, the change mantra into reality. The arrest of some Nigerians running Radio Biafra has brought once again to the surface, the struggle by the Igbo people for the actualisation of an independent Biafran nation. As an Igbo born Army General and a technocrat, what do you think is the problem? Do you support the call for Biafra Republic? I do not. I think it is preposterous, subversive and felonious for some people to be talking about the survival of Biafra at this time. It is very sad because this is the time we need to pull ourselves together as a country. I do not know what those young men want, but they should realise that they are, pushing the nation backward. Their activities are not helping the development of Nigeria; neither is it going to help the development of Southeastern region of Nigeria. They must realise that what they are doing is counter-productive and unnecessary. They should advice themselves and get out of this wishful thinking, because the world has come to a stage where, the bigger you are, the more chances of survival. Therefore, we have more reasons to come together as Nigerians.

‘We cannot survive as small ethnic groups because the competition is no more between the Hausa man and the Yoruba man or between the Tiv man and the Edo man’

What we should be looking for is to find a way of embracing other African countries, and ultimately make African countries to become Union of African States (UAS). That is what we should be thinking of, that is the answer to our current poverty of the mind and of the body. We cannot survive as small ethnic groups because the competition is no more between the Hausa man and the Yoruba man or between the Tiv man and the Edo man. The competition is now between a Nigerian and a Ghanaian and between the Nigerian and the South African etc, in a larger context between Africa and other continents of the world. And so, thinking of Biafra is demeaning. We must realise that we have to use our majority power to synergies African vision of being a global power. What is happening in Europe and America today, should give us food for thought. This gay or same sex marriage will definitely destroy western civilisation. I can see that in the next 35 years, western power will decline so badly. For us that are strategists and analysts, we are foreseeing a vision where the Chinese, the Indians and the Africans will form a club of global powers. And we can only do that if we remain united not as small entities or fiefdoms under one warlord or the other in a banana republic. But some of these young folks do not see beyond their nose. They see today, what they can get out of today. I am therefore advising them to lay down their arms, pick up their shovels and let's produce, feed ourselves and project ourselves in the global arena as the powerful country that we should be and not wasting time talking about a Biafra that in the present context, is gone and gone forever! In effect, I'm totally against it, I feel embarrassed myself, and I am totally against it. I have talked to the leader of MASSOB group personally and tried to convince him that it is foolhardy what they are doing, and he promised that he will change. I am surprised that the good advice that some of us have given to them is not being used. It is my opinion here, that they should call off this madness and let us see how we can build a new Nigeria of our dream. The President of Ohaneze Ndigbo recently accused President Buhari of deep hatred for Igbo people, because no Igbo man is on the Service chiefs list, do you agree with him? That is in tune with my last answer; I do not agree with him. Some of the president's best friends are Igbos; so also some of his aides. Those of us who know him personally, know that he does not hate Igbos. It is a misnomer for Ohaneze president to make such a claim. It is very unfortunate. We know that twice he appointed an Igbo man as his running mate. The first one was Chuba Okadigbo and the second was Chief Edwin Umezeoke. They were Ibos. You cannot say that somebody who did that hates Igbos. That is a wrong assertion and the president is someone who is patriotic, nationalistic and humane. He hates tribalism and cronyism. He has come a long way to prove to us that he is a democrat. We see it in the way he is handling the affairs of the nation, trying to give a good 'listening ear' to all. It is therefore unfair to blackmail him into something he is not. With the revelation by Edo state Governor that a minister in the ex President Jonathan government stole as much as $6b couple with other •Contd. on page 38

POLITICS

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2015

POLITICS

ESPITE its pretence, the nation's main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is on the verge of collapse. For about a week, things have fallen apart at its rented National Secretariat in Abuja. The tension got to a feverish pitch when members of the ubiquitous and money-spinning National Working Committee (NWC) abandoned their offices to avoid the workers wrath. And for about seven days, the nation was regaled with what was in the party's Pandora Box. At the end, PDP was re-christened in many ways as a "Slave Camp", "Looting haven" and a place where "monkey dey work, Baboon dey chop". Even the most taciturn of the PDP worker was up in arms against the cabal in the NWC. The beginning of the implosion The depletion of its ranks during the countdown to the general elections and loss its to All Progressives Congress (APC) took much toll on the fortunes of the party as it was abandoned by its stalwarts and financiers. To the consternation of all, some respected and influential PDP members either dumped the party for APC or temporarily quit politics. The crisis got to an embarrassing point when ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo tore his membership card through a proxy. Before then, five influential governors left the party. Other heavyweights who abandoned the party were a former National Chairman, Alhaji Kawu Baraje; ex-National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; former Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal; ex-Speaker of the House of Representatives, Umar Ghali Na'aba; ex-Speaker Bayero Nafada; more than 60 Senators and over 200 members of the House of Representatives. At the time of the election in March, it was obvious that exPresident Goodluck Jonathan and other party chieftains like the ex-Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) Anthony Anenih were mere undertakers. After PDP’s defeat at the poll, the few members left to manage the wreck of the party also helped themselves with the available crumbs. At the end, the party had so many inflated debts to pay. Like butchers, the PDP funeral coordinators in NWC, sensing an eclipse, inaugurated a committee headed by the Deputy President of the Senate, Chief Ike Ekweremadu What did PDP really lose to the elections? The real story beneath the dirge in PDP on the loss of the Presidential, National Assembly and governorship elections was the loss of 'Awoof' by its leaders in all the organs of the party, especially members of the NWC. The party was founded on freebies and it had operated on largesse from the Presidency, state governors, money bags, aspirants of coat of many colours and members of the National Assembly. The odious cliché (Ghana-MustGo) had been synonymous with PDP. For 17 years, the PDP has no accountability process. It had raised funds at dinners for elections in 1998, 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015 without declaring the actual amount realised or any trace of its bankers. Many times, it organised a fund-raiser for its National Secretariat which is still-born. It manages a Pay-As-YouGo model and the leaders do not care once the party was victorious. The party had always been funded by the Presidency, which it does not control again. Lamenting, ex-Governor Godswill Akpabio on Thursday said: "We can no longer run to the Villa for cash so…" Apart from this, it also got money from its governors, majority of whom were unable to deliver their states elections. The party also hauled cash from selling of forms to aspirants. But a source within the party said the "party lacks transparency and proper accountability." How a curious memo shattered PDP's peace Its National Secretary Prof. Wale Oladipo, stirred the hornet's nest through a memo dated July 29, 2015, which was directed to "all directors and PS/DD/HOD/SAs/PAs and Establishment Staff" of the party in Abuja, Oladipo hinted of plans to carry out a "Reorganisation and restructuring of staff at the National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party." He said the decision was taken at the 406th meeting of the NWC. Other measures reeled out were as follows: reduction of the staff on the payroll at the party's headquarters; 50 per cent in salaries and allowances of workers who may survive; reduction of the allowance of all NWC members by 50 per cent; security personnel attached to the national officers by 50 per cent." "Reduction of the salaries and allowances of all staff (Establishment and Staff of NWC

Inside story of PDP workers’ revolt • Jonathan

• Secondus

• Metuh

For about a week, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was almost brought to its knees by a workers revolt. It was the first time the party will witness such a dissent from its hitherto tamed workforce. What went wrong? How did PDP get to this sorry state? Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation, revisits the intrigues in PDP which bear the semblance of George Orwell's thriller, "Animal Farm." members) by 50 percent, effective August, 2015; Abolition of Research Directorate and transfer of its functions to the Peoples Democratic Institute." Oladipo added the clincher: "Establishment staff who would remain are required to obtain individual letter of revalidation from their state chapters within one month of this circular as to their suitability for service at the national secretariat." Fire-for-fire In a fire-for-fire reply on July 30, 2015 and titled, 'Re-Organisation and Restructuring of staff at the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party', the workers spilled the bean in a manner that rubbished the image of the NWC members. They questioned how N11billion realised from the sale of nomination and expression of interest forms from various elective office seekers across the federation was spent. They said: "While we appreciate the fact that the party is no longer in power, we are equally aware that the party realised over eleven billion naira (N11,000,000,000) in income from the sale of nomination and expression of interest forms in the last quarter of 2014. "We are equally aware that the NWC collected over a billion naira from the sale of delegate forms via a company account called Morufi Nig. Ltd, Zenith Bank Account N0:1014041654. "With this healthy bank balance, we find it strange that after just two months of handing over power, the NWC is proposing a 50% reduction in staff emoluments." "We have also observed from publications in the media that the NWC shared outrageous largesse among themselves immediately after the party's loss in the last general elections." The PDP Acting National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, said the actual amount was not N12 billion but a little over N11 billon. He said: "10 percent of the money went to the state chapters, five percent went to the zonal chapters and another five percent went to local government chapters of the party".

"Another 15 percent was expended on assignments by various party functionaries and the rest was used to fund our campaigns. We raised money and we used the money for elections. We don't need to go into details". Secondus claim and inside the rot in PDP The PDP workers regarded Secondus' defence as a slap on the wrist accountability as balderdash. One of the angry workers said: "The Acting PDP National Chairman only accounted for 20 percent of the N11billion without any shred of evidence." Apart from the alleged mismanagement of N11billion, the workers were said to have the dossiers of most NWC members because some of them were used as tools in the past to cook up records to justify some curious payments; a few ran errands for these national officers; and others have details of the assets acquired by some NWC members. Apart from illicit money usually raked in during the conduct of congresses from the ward to state level, some workers said election period was always "harvest season" for some national officers of the party. This explains the row over alleged N1billion demanded from Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State to get the PDP second term ticket. Although the governor had denied it, an official of the party recently admitted that he got N45milion gift during the just-concluded state congress of the party in Kogi State. During the countdown to the primaries for the general election, a sitting governor then parted with about N300million to lobby party officials. The rot has manifested in the way PDP funds were mismanaged, diverted, and used. The NWC spends money unnecessarily on overhead. Before the workers cried out, about N500million was transferred from PDP account in a bank to a secret account which has remained untraceable. Another N100million which Julius Berger Plc rejected and refunded was withdrawn in cash and taken to a former National Chairman of the party in cash for "rehabilitation". The same week, N100million was paid to a private aviation firm for a standby jet to take some party officials around. In the same month, the party voted N140million for

propaganda against APC in the media. And contrary to the nation's financial policy, N70million out of the vote was paid in cash. Two national officers were recently given N10million petty cash (N5million apiece) to attend the burial of a sister and wedding in two states in the South-East and North-Central. A management staff said: "PDP is a house of scandal. Since 2012, it has been like this. The tenure of some officials is four years but they have collected housing allowance for 10 years. The allowance runs into millions. "Before in the party under past national chairmen, if any NWC member organises a programme, PDP governor in the affected state used to give financial support and such money is paid into the party's account. But since 2012, the donations now go to the pocket of the facilitator. There is corruption in the house. The money realised during the primaries for the general election was enough to complete the PDP National Secretariat but it remains as it is." Innocently, ex-President Jonathan was a victim of the financial mess in PDP when he was hoodwinked to release N450million for anti-APC project. An insider said: "Before the PDP Presidential Campaign Council was inaugurated, a member of the NWC went to Jonathan with a N1.2billion proposal to neutralise APC's hard-driven campaign. Out of the estimate, N900million was approved but N450million was delivered immediately. The former President promised to release the balance three weeks after if the said NWC member can account for it. About N30million was spent and the rest was either shared or laundered." The source said Jonathan became annoyed to the extent that he refused to put most of the NWC members in his campaign directorate as directors. The source added: "The former First Lady was so pissed off that when she met the affected member of the NWC, she exclaimed "Onyioshi!". Spending spree by top party officials Blessed with free money, some NWC members acquired choice property in the glaring face of poverty afflicting their workers.

For example, it was recently established that a member of the NWC invested about N500million in property in the United Arab Emirates; N200million in a mortgage bank; and over $2million in Centenary City. Another NWC member woke up one day and bought houses for seven of his siblings in Abuja. A party source said: "We have a member of the NWC who assumed office with a 2006 model of Toyota Camry. But now, he parades not less than five bullet proof cars and property in Lagos, Abuja and Kaduna. He does no other job than being NWC member." Was APC behind the revolt in PDP? Hurt by of the workers' revolt, the National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, blamed the crisis on APC which he had been knocking of late. In a statement by his Personal Assistant, Mr. Richard Ihediwa, Metuh said they were being instigated to destabilise PDP and cast aspersions on him in particular. The statement said: "This is not unexpected given the role of the National Publicity Secretary in the rebuilding of our great party and how uncomfortable the ruling APC has been for his outspokenness. "We are aware that the anti-PDP forces have easily found a handful of disgruntled PDP staff as willing tools to attack Chief Metuh with a view to bringing him to public odium, distract him and deny our party a credible voice to propagate its positions. "These forces had even gone to the extent of engineering some discontented PDP members to portray statements by the National Publicity Secretary as his personal opinions in the attempt to discredit and intimidate him.

As the PDP tries to reorganise itself, it is apparent that the NWC may be the sacrificial lamb. Besides the party being alleged cesspit of corruption, its leaders may find it difficult to sweep under the carpet the issues of sabotage of the party at the poll in March by some NWC members

• Ekweremadu

"For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to state categorically that the National Publicity Secretary will not be deterred or detracted by such threats and cheap blackmails as he remains committed to his role in the rebuilding of the PDP and in providing firm, credible and issue based opposition to the ruling party. "This office would not join issues with these elements, however we make bold to state that Chief Olisa Metuh, being aware of the challenges that come with his new role has offered himself, his office as well as all his private companies for probe by the Department of State Services (DSS) or any other government agency for that matter." The PDP Welfare Committee however faulted the National Publicity Secretary's allegation. In a counter-statement, its chairman, Ngozi Nzeh and Secretary, Dan Ochu-Baiye, said: "Metuh's allegation is a wide window into the impressionable character of the man who has been in the saddle as the party's image-maker and an ominous signpost into the shallow manner the publicity of the party has been run. "We wish to state that this is a man whose conduct, demeanour and media outings have been a repulse to professionalism and a source of embarrassment to party members. "We therefore place it on record that the majority of the establishment staff of the PDP are not just unrepentant members of the party who have spent over sixteen years in service; who have assimilated the PDP ethos as a way of political life, but are also the repository of the party's institutional memory whose spirit can hardly succumb to the ephemeral of power loss. "Who plays anti-party? You may ask. Staff members who are genuinely resisting the morally repugnant and obsessively corrupt NWC so that the PDP will survive, or the likes of Olisa Metuh who have a track record of antiparty given his open endorsement of APGA candidate in the 2013 Anambra governorship election." By washing its dirty linen in public, the PDP has lost the moral ground to serve as a credible opposition to the governing APC. The tar poured on its image maker will debar him from seeking equity with clean hands. Although some of the allegations might be incorrect, Metuh will have to live with the mess for a long time. The vote of no confidence on him by a faction of Anambra PDP on Thursday might be the beginning of a tortuous political journey. In as much as APC was not behind the crisis in PDP, the internal bickering is to the advantage of the ruling party because it has enough information to ask PDP leaders to remove the moth in their eyes. The workers'

dirty fight was a minus for PDP, especially NWC members. Which way for PDP? NWC and workers ceasefire. There is still the peace of the graveyard in PDP because the NWC only negotiated reconciliation with the workers to save its image while the two sides consider matters arising from the one-week siege to the party's national secretariat. In the deal, workers were mandated to apologise before the NWC can address some of their grievances. The PDP Staff Welfare Committee, in a statement by its Chairman, Ngozi Nzeh and secretary, Dan Ochu-Baiye, said: "Following inflamed passions, several allegations of corrupt practice bordering on speculation were raised against our respected members of the National Working Committee. "We regret the unintended consequences of our allegations especially the resultant damage caused to the reputation of members of the National Working Committee. "The staff regret any unintended consequences of our actions and inaction especially considering the efforts of the NWC to position the party to play a credible role as an opposition party poised to save Nigeria from emerging fascism. "To this end, we wish to put it on record that we do not have any personal issues or scores to settle with the individual members of the National Working Committee of our great party." But, the PDP Director of Administration, Alhaji Gurama Bawa in a statement said the Staff Welfare Committee and the Management Staff had reached a truce to settle their differences. He said: "The Management Committee has taken up the issues with the NWC and there are real prospects for an amicable solution. "The Staff Management Committee notes with regrets that the frustration arising from the sudden release of the reorganization circular inflamed passions to the extent that allegations were being peddled most of which were based on mere speculations. "We wish to reassure the teeming members, supporters and stakeholders of PDP that all efforts are being made to resolve this internal family problem and to ensure that the party comes out stronger. "All staff are enjoined to note that the survival of the party is critical and should be vigilant to ensure that those who do not mean well for the PDP do not capitalize on this usual administrative problems to ridicule the party." But a key member of the PDP Staff Welfare Committee said: "The press may not know what

transpired behind the scene. The acting National Chairman invited the leaders of the workers three times and he was practically begging us to save the NWC members from Nigerians who had been calling them names. "The apology was a strategy, we want to see whether or not they will pay our entitlements and follow due process on the future of PDP workers. We apologized but we didn't withdraw all the allegations from public domain." Matters arising From the body language of Akpabio at the PDP National Secretariat on Thursday, the NWC will still go ahead with the reduction of its workforce by 50 per cent. Unusual of an arbiter, the ex-governor said: "…We don't have the wherewithal to maintain that large number of secretariat staff. The workers should understand that they are in a master-servant relationship in which you cannot force an unwilling master to keep a recalcitrant servant. We are definitely going to downsize". Likely unrest again in PDP With an empty treasury, the PDP might be in for an industrial crisis unless it is able to address a few demands of the workers. These include payment of 100% furniture allowance, accumulated leave allowance, severance benefits of those to be sacked, all outstanding claims and no pay cut for the 50% staff to be retained. The PDP Staff Welfare Committee said it would not accept any plot to ambush workers through arbitrary reduction of workforce. It insisted on due process. The committee said: "We are appalled by the whimsical and derisive nature of the circular which unfortunately negates all known administrative procedures. We wish to recall that the national secretary, who is statutorily in charge of the administration of the secretariat, has never called for a staff meeting or held any interactive session with the staff since his privileged appointment. "We wish to draw the national secretary's attention to the fact that there are administrative procedures for the disengagement of staff whose appointments have been duly confirmed. The directives for staff members to get revalidation letters from the state chapters ... will amount to accepting our unlawful disengagement from service. "We reject in totality the proposal to reduce staff emolument by 50%. This is because unlike the members of the NWC, the staff are solely dependent on their salaries and allowances." Is NWC's future bleak? As the PDP tries to reorganise itself, it is apparent that the NWC may be the sacrificial lamb. Besides the party being alleged cesspit of corruption, its leaders may find it difficult to sweep under the carpet the issues of sabotage of the party at the poll in March by some NWC members; mismanagement of N11billion; division in the party and NWC; loss of faith in the present leadership of the party; and the imperative of a surgical reform of PDP. Certainly, the future of NWC lies in the outcome of the 15-man Post-Election Assessment Committee of the party, which is being led by the Deputy President of the Senate, Chief Ike Ekweremadu. The committee said it would not spare any saboteur. Members of the committee include Senator Ike Ekweremadu (Chairman), Senators Godswill Akpabio and Theodore Orji; Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe state. Other members are: Governor Nyesom Wike; ex-Minister of Education, Malam. Ibrahim Shekarau; ex-Governor Abdulkadir Kure, ex-Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr. Emeka Ihedioha; Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr. Abba Moro; and Alhaji Adamu Waziri. Also in the team are Sen. Ahmed Makarfi, Mr. Makanjuola Ogundipe, Mr. Pegba Otemolu, Mrs. Funmi Ayoola; Sen. Walid Jibrin (Secretary). Among other terms of reference, the PDP directed the Ekweremadu Committee to "ascertain the degree of anti-party activities, compromises and outright sabotage that may have contributed to the misfortunes of our party at the elections." The panel is also expected to" look at the funding of the elections to determine whether or not the funds meant for the campaigns were adequate and whether disbursements were properly done." Speaking on the assignment, Sen. Jibrin said: "We will be very fair to all, we will not leave any stone unturned, we will not fear anybody. Anybody who is found wanting we will say so and we will state what we have found."

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2015

POLITICS

•Contd. from page 35 forthcoming revelations, as a statesman, how do these make you feel? I feel bad that we have over 40m young ones who are unemployed graduates, some unemployed for seven years or more. Most young men are of marriageable age but are unmarried because they have no jobs and this, is now affecting our girls with no suitors. And that cycle of social problem is what is giving rise to kidnapping and the misdemeanour of our girls on the streets. Therefore, I totally agree with PMB who said during his campaigns that looters of the economy are worse than terrorists. Imagine one Nigerian looting $6b, meanwhile, America is giving us $5m as their widow's mite in the NorthEast, because they know that a citizen of ours has $6b looted and kept in their country. It is absolute madness. I think they should be accordingly dealt with and money repatriated. And when that happens, the money should not be shared as it was done in previous administrations, where such looted money was shared between federal and state governments. Instead it should be used for infrastructural development such as rail network country-wide, power, steel plants, textile industries, drainage of water ways, building of dams, massive low cost housing in the Federal Capital Territories and in the state capitals, so that workers will have affordable houses, and basic transport to enable their take home pay to take them home comfortably.

‘Biafra is dead and gone’

• Momah

The Boko Haram crisis is still here getting messier, can Nigeria win this insurgency war? Of course, Nigeria will win the war. Boko Haram will fizzle out. What they are doing now is the 'dying of a desperate man.' How can anyone use innocent 8year-old girls to fight his war? They tie bombs around innocent children and then tell them to move out and they then use remote control to blow the innocent girl

up. Is that how to fight a war? They can't even confront our forces. They are using innocent girls to cause havoc. It is the sign that they are at their ebbs-end. Eventually that will be taken care of. We are mobilising forces all right but we must also involve indigenes of the North-East. They must defend themselves too. If they can stop Boko Haram from recruiting their boys/ men and using their girls, we would win the war from that point. Also, our Muslim religious leaders should be given police protection to enable them speak up against Boko Haram teachings. Our troops should be able to destroy Boko Haram headquarters, get hold of their ring leaders, stop their supply lines, and then employ anti-guerrilla tactics using vigilante groups and civilians in gathering information and then use precision bombing in our aerial attacks on them. It's probe here and there. The president says he will probe the last government, but people say that is selective. What do you say? It is his prerogative. I know that one probe determines what happens thereafter. You do not start counting two when you have not counted one. If it becomes necessary to do that, he could. But in the interim, he has to start with the immediate regime. If a fraud that concerns one regime dovetails into an earlier administration, then of course, he will take it to its logical conclusion without witch-hunting anybody as he promised. You released another book a couple of months back. Why are you busy writing now?

It is all I have to bequeath to posterity. Being a pensioner, I haven't got wealth to give anybody so I want to leave in the hands of Nigerians documented legacy of how the country has been managing itself all these while. When you tell most of our children that there was civil war in this country, they cannot believe it. So, I have to write more books and hopefully get Ministry of Education to approve of them to be used in our schools. I am presently writing my seventh book. The reading culture in Nigeria is very low. People do not read, and it is said that you have to read in order to lead. Consequently, we have to encourage people to read by getting our books into the school system, which I'm not succeeding, in doing presently. These local books should be mandatory so that people will know what has transpired in Nigeria in the past. I have written a book on the amalgamation of Nigeria. It is crucial this time around. For instance, what was the essence of amalgamation and what have been the implications? Was it a mistake or a mission? How can we benefit from the amalgamation? These are the issues that I dealt with in that book. I wrote another one, 'Nigeria on the brink,' where I analysed Nigeria's problems and proffered solutions to them. The book I am writing now is titled, 'Nigeria and the miracle of a new dawn.' Again, I am trying to document what really took place during the 2015 elections and the hope for the future. These are the kind of initiative I believe that posterity needs. It is worth reading and making use of such knowledge.

Adeola at 46: From Omoyayi to distinguished senator

He took to the political scene by storm a few years ago, starting out as a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly. He crossed over to the House of Representatives. Today he is a senator. This is the political odyssey of Solomon Olamilekan Adeola popularly known as Yayi. Kayode Odunaro writes. T is usual in social and political circles for leaders to be ascribed nicknames that to a large extent represent the attributes and virtues of the individual. For Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, his popular nickname is 'Yayi'. Yayi is a sobriquet coined from the Yoruba name of 'Omoyayi' translating literally to "Distinguished Son". Adeola is not only living a distinguished life, worthy of emulation and celebration but also a life positively impacting on many individuals and the development of Nigeria. The Senator was born on August 10, 1969 at Lagos Island Maternity Hospital to Mr. Ayinde Adeola Ogunleye and Madam Abeeni Olasunbo Ogunleye (nee Akinola). His early childhood was at Alimosho where his parents brought him up to surmount many challenges of early life. Yayi began his education at State Primary School, Alimosho in Lagos State. On the successful completion of his primary education, he proceeded to Community Grammar School, Akowonjo, Lagos, for his secondary education. His quest for educational advancement in life took him to the prestigious Ondo State Polytechnic, Owo, now Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo State, where he bagged the Higher National Diploma (HND) in Accounting. A man with a mission to fulfill in life, Adeola became a Chartered Accountant at a relatively young age. He is a distinguished Chartered Accountant-Associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, (ICAN), a member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation as well as a Member of the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT). Adeola variegated experience in both private and public sector finance started in "The Guardian Newspapers Limited", where he put in almost 12 years of meritorious accounting service and rose to the position of Accountant. In a profession where experience in a professional firm is a key proof of competence, Yayi resigned from "The Guardian" and proceeded to Olatunji

Omoyeni and Co where he led the audit team for several years and was later promoted to the position of a Senior Auditor. Having cut his teeth in the accounting profession through education and practice, working for others, Adeola later established his company, SOOTEM Nigeria Limited, where he was the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer in the firm that specialized in tax consultancy until his foray to serve the public through partisan politics. Following his decision to join active politics, Adeola pitched his tent with the progressive arm of Nigerian politics by joining the then Social Democratic Party (SDP). In spite of daunting challenges relating to military government, Adeola bravely continued with his foray into politics at the dawn of the 4th Republic. He was nominated and won the primary of the then ruling Alliance for Democracy (AD) and was elected as a member to represent Alimosho State Constituency 2 at the Lagos State House of Assembly from 2003 to 2007 and again from 2007 to 2011. A man of immense financial and political skills, he was appointed the Chairman of Finance Committee and Joint Chairman of Appropriation Committee of the Lagos State House of Assembly. In that position, he was reputed to be instrumental to the enactment of the law that strengthened the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service. The legislation and reforms laid the foundation that catapulted the revenue of the state from a paltry N5billion monthly to over N20billion presently! He was also part of the legislative team that passed the Fiscal Responsibility Act and the Public Procurement Act of Lagos State, two laws that saw Lagos State qualifying to access developmental funds from international financial bodies like World Bank. Adeola can claim credit as part of the architects of the widely acclaimed recent development in Lagos State through the provision of legislative enactments and support for the executive arm of the state government in his 8 years stint as a state parliamentarian. And in all his years as a legislator, Adeola set the standard for effective representation that

•Sen. Adeola saw his repeated re-elections. He is noted for his numerous personal and constituency projects in Alimosho. The people of Alimosho can never forget his developmental initiatives in the area of provision of water through boreholes, provision of electric transformers, regular free medical programmes and rehabilitation of roads. Other areas of life changing programmes that are the hallmark of Yayi's representation include educational empowerment and support in the form of building classrooms with ancillary facilities, annual purchase of GCE/ NECO forms and tutorials for indigent students as well as ICT training at NIIT for hundreds of youths in his constituency. Without doubt, his sterling performance in public service of Lagos State naturally made him a first choice for promotion for national service. Adeola was nominated and elected to represent Alimosho Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives of the National Assembly in 2011. The tenure culminated in 12 years of unbroken legislative experience at both state and federal legislature. When the committees of the House of Representatives were to be appointed, he was selected as the chairman of the only constitutional committee of the House, the Public Accounts Committee. It was a feat that he got this important post usually reserved

for ranking members as a first time member of the House. His performance in that committee in relation to exposing corruption and sharp financial mal-practices of government agencies has attracted national attention. But for his effective oversight as the chairman, not many Nigerians would be aware of the "slush fund" called Service Wide Votes running into billions of Naira yearly. A serious move is on to abolish this from our budgetary system and curb the observed corruptive tendencies of what is a duplication of contingency fund in budgets of MDAs. In fulfillment of his core function as a legislator, Adeola sponsored and successfully pushed through to passage a bill that repealed the colonial Audit Act of 1956 and Re-Enact the Audit Act of 2014 on May 22, 2015. The new law when concurred to by the Senate will lead to the establishment of a Federal Audit Service Commission as well as grant autonomy to the office of the Auditor General of the Federation. With the outstanding performance of his legislative responsibilities and effective representation of 12 years, the last four years being in the House of Representatives, it is small wonder that he was seen as the best leg forward for the vacant seat of senator for the Lagos West Senatorial District, the largest senatorial district in terms of population in Nigeria Adeola won his closest rival with a margin of over 70,000 votes at the March 28, 2015 Presidential and National Assembly Elections. He indeed made history by moving through consecutive electoral victories from the State Assembly to the House of Representatives and to highest legislative body in Nigeria, the Senate. Adeola, a Christian, is a believer in religious freedom for both Christians and adherents of Islamic faith. He is on record to have donated brand new buses to religious organisations of both faiths as well as sponsored several Christians and Muslims to Jerusalem and Mecca respectively on pilgrimage. The great philanthropist is happily married to his heartthrob, Mrs. Temitope Adeola, and the union is blessed with children. At 46 years of age, Adeola is setting a worthy record of an experienced legislator par excellence. He is indeed a "Distinguished Son" that is now a "Distinguished Senator" of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. –kayodunaro@hotmail.com

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2015

POLITICS

he late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and President Muhammadu Buhari might have lived at different times but like identical twins, possess a lot in common-dynamism, pragmatism, integrity, self- discipline, vision and passion to make the country work for all her citizens. The impeccable past of these tested leaders, has proved that the bane of the country's slow development since independence has been lack of purposeful leadership. Unlike the reluctant leaders who had been imposed on us, Awolowo and Buhari, both armed with impeccable records of performances, the former as Premier of the old Western Region as well as Vice Chairman of the Federal Executive Council in the regime of Gen. Yakubu Gowon, and the latter, as a Military Head of State etc. adequately prepared for the office. Three times, were each unsuccessful- Awolowo in 1959, 1979, 1983 and Buhari in 2003, 2007 and 2011. Their paths might have crossed each other in one form or the other, that may be the unseen hand of God in their lives in preparation for the task ahead that :"You, Obafemi Awolowo is my Moses and you Muhammadu Buhari, my Joshua for the liberation of your people from the 'rats and mosquitoes' of your country". Or could it be by share coincidence that for the first time since independence both the North and the South-West are in effective political alliance? The Thomas's may continue to doubt. Like the Nostradamus that he was, Awolowo, in a paper delivered in Kano in 1970, had proposed a seven-point agenda which he called national objectives that should be implemented simultaneously in all the states of the federation for the rapid and even development of the country. He explained that revenue allocation formula should be based on the implementation of the seven objectives and if by so doing, put an end to the "endless search for the appropriate allocation formula". He was speaking on a paper entitled Revenue Allocation Must be based on Even Progress and Needs, delivered in his capacity as the Federal Commissioner of Finance, to the annual conference of state commissioners of finance. As if confirming the telepathy between these great national heroes, Buhari has recently unconsciously implemented item seven of the aforementioned Awolowo's sevenpoint objectives for national development of 45 years ago and by so doing, been vindicated for "bailing" out states that could not pay workers salaries. The late sage had said under this item, entitled" putting the federal government in sufficient funds to enable it not only to perform its allotted functions but also to come readily to the aid of any state in need argued that…"but perchance any state falls on evil day, it would be the duty of the federal government, acting as an accredited agent of all the states, to come to the aid of such a needy state without delay…" Before leaving this topic, one may ask Buhari's critics where they were when former President Goodluck Jonathan granted some members of the private sector a bail out? For instance, Arik Airline got 600m dollars, Aero -200m dollars, Air Nigeria-225.8m dollars, Chachangi55m dollars etc. (AMCON) in addition to an attempt to buy aircrafts for them but for unfavourable public opinion. If one of Chief Awolowo's seven objectives has been considered well enough for implementation, the remaining six which may equally be as good are therefore presented though in abridged form, for consideration by Mr. President. They are-full employment, free education at all levels and free health services for all, modernisation of agriculture and rural development, rapid industrialization of each state and rapid development of system of

Towards a People's Assembly HE appointment of a new Managing Director for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), and the consequent swift restructuring of its directorates, have re-ignited enthusiasm that President Muhammadu Buhari might, indeed, be planning a reform of the government machinery. It makes sense that he is starting with the revenue yielding agencies. Dr. Ibe Kachikwu appears to fit the bill of the kind of person who should be saddled with the onerous task. He is solid academically, experienced and is reputed to have a mind of his own- one who may not be available for manipulation by the politicians. However, while awaiting other reforms and appointments, including those regarding the electoral system and commission, we need to pay closer attention to the National Assembly. Everything points to the continuation of the old order in that very critical arm of government. The crisis that attended the election and appointment of principal officers tends to suggest that the legislature could actually be the clod in the wheel of progress. It is unfortunate to be debating at this point how and why the rules of the Senate were fraudulently altered. That it was altered is not in dispute, what remains to be sorted out is by whom and why it was behind the Senators. It is clear that some people were beneficiaries of the alteration. That is probably where to beam the searchlight as there could not be a crime without a motive. It is an irony that at this point when the new administration is committing itself to CHANGE, the Senate is headed by the new feudal lord of Kwara politics who is entrenching an order introduced in the eighties by his father. In Kwara, the Sarakis dictate the pace. They decide who emerges governor, those who work with him and how values are shared. As it was under the Oloye, so it is under The Prince. All eyes are now on President Buhari, awaiting the quality of men who would be appointed as ministers, but little attention is being paid to how Saraki would run the Senate-who he would be comfortable with as committee chairmen. Students of the democratic process know that the legislature has a large say in how the Republic functions. And, the Parliament works through the committees. If there must be a change, the legislature must realign and reform its structure. The Nigerian people must take more than a passing interest in how Saraki as chairman of the National Assembly and presiding officer of the Senate functions. It is no longer acceptable that we do not know ALL about the pay structure of our supposed representatives. We should be availed the criteria

T • Buhari

• Awo

Good-bye Awo, welcome Buhari President Muhammadu Buhari and the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, are two of a kind. They are of the same political hue. Gboyega Amoboye paints a picture of their political life transportation. Owing to the relevance of Chief Awolowo's paper to the Nigeria of today, I had at the formation of the All Progressive Congress (APC), dropped a copy of it for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu at his office, Freedom House, Victoria Island for possible incorporation into the APC manifesto. Discussing full employment, Awolowo called for full exploitation and efficient utilization of minerals resources as well as modernization of agriculture, explaining that the country's capability for phenomenal growth was tremendous and colossal. He warned that anything short of full employment which could only be provided by exploitation of mineral resources and agriculture would be an admission of failure on the part of Nigerian leaders " that they are not equal to their admittedly difficult but at the same time inspiring and manageable assignment". Whenever we talk of merely reducing employment and not stamping it out he said, "The question which I always ask myself iswho are the unfortunate victims we are planning to keep on the unemployment market?"Like Chief Awolowo, bailing out distressed states could be regarded as President Buhari's demonstration of love for workers too. On modernization of agriculture, and industrialization, the sage supporting his argument with characteristic statistics, said to achieve any of the ambitious projection, the country's agriculture must be modernized and mechanized in a bold and massive manner. "We shall need to invest heavily in tractors, mechanical ploughs and riggers, fertilizers, pest control: irrigation, research into high yielding grains and cattle ranches, fishing trawlers, etc". Awolowo however cautioned that none of the states could alone afford the level of investment involved without the intervention of the federal government acting in concert simultaneously with all the states. As for industrialisation, he argued that a properly developed agriculture in every state would lead to development of agro- allied industries automatically as well as manufacturing industries and consequently, disappearance of uneven location of industries. He however warned that between agriculture and industries, the choice should be agriculture to eradicate unemployment, explaining that while industries if properly managed could provide employment for 220,000 workers in the next 12 years, agriculture would provide employment for six million within five years. Seeing 2015 way back in 1970, Chief Awolowo warned that "if it is the ardent and burning desire of those of us in the

vanguard of public life to serve our age and the next generation faithfully, our area of concentration must ipso facto be agriculture." But how could uneducated and unhealthy population be productive? This was the concern of Awolowo as he canvassed as ever, for free education at all levels and free medical services for all arguing that man "is the alpha and omega of production and therefore indispensable to rapid economic progress, political stability and social harmony." On development of system of transportation, Awolowo said, "while the northern and riverine areas of the country, for social and economic reasons, lag behind in transportation development and should be therefore given a special attention henceforth, the crucial point of convergence for most transportation activities were those adjacent to the ports of PortHarcourt, Calabar, Sapele, Warri, Escravos, Lagos and Apapa. It follows that from this fact that the development of those roads within the areas of the Mid-West, Eastern, Western and Lagos Region which give access to the ports, is of concern to all of the states in the federation." Predicting the chaotic situations of the roads being witnessed today, Awolowo warned that "any transportation difficulties in these areas are bound to constitute timewasting bottle-necks of the worst order." The question may be asked that of what relevance is the vision of 1970 to 2015? The answer may be found in the reality that Nigeria has not been blessed with a visionary and patriotic leader since that Gen. Gowon era of 1970, who could harness the common wealth for the benefit of all her citizens as Awolowo did for his people as the Premier of the Western Region. The metaphysical and psychological relationship between Awolowo and President Muhamadu Buhari has shown that for the country to attain its potentials there is an urgent need for another visionary, competent and honest leader like Awolowo, who Nigerians have found in Buhari. Those who could not see yet any difference in electricity supply in the past two months may equally not find the correlation between Awolowo's economic road map and that of Muhammadu Buhari. The sad news however is that if the projection of 1970 is still relevant in 2015, it means the past 45 years has been that of the locusts and caterpillars due to bad governance. It is therefore not a surprise that Nigerians have unanimously voted for a statesman they could trust to remake the country. Good-bye Awo, welcome Buhari.

for appointment of committee chairmen. While it might not be surprising that Senator Godswill Akpabio, a fresher, is Minority Leader because it is the exclusive responsibility of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to make the appointment, it is not amusing that the leadership of the upper legislative chamber saw nothing wrong in it. If allowed to hazard a guess, I would say the ambition of the Senate President is to run the Assembly as a fiefdom, distributing largesse to those who he feels comfortable with, irrespective of their level of competence. If this becomes the dominant philosophy, how would President Buhari pass his budget through the National Assembly without a replay of the Osuji syndrome? Hon. Farouk Lawan was charged with a similar abuse of privilege over the investigation into fuel subsidy maladministration. Yet, for about three years after the hullaballoo, he remained a member of the House of Representatives. Many of the federal lawmakers slept through the 7th session. Oversight function was converted to avenues for extorting the ministries and agencies. As the (dis)honourables sought various means of fleecing the economy, the law enforcement agents looked the other way. They perfected means of arousing public anger against some officials, but as soon as they responded to demands made behind the scenes, no more was heard of the allegations. The process of constituting committees, itself, is as fraudulent as contract splitting. The Senate had to find a way to create more than 50 committees, so that every member could be made a chairman or Vice Chairman of a committee. That way, the benefits accrues to all. While, for example, no one was entitled to an official car under the monetization policy introduced by the Obasanjo government, each committee had cars allocated to it which were then made available to their leadership. That way, every Senator had an official car by other means. This must change. We want real change. This must straddle the three arms of government. The legislature is too important to be left in the hands of men who have mastered the art of system manipulation. All the civil society groups must begin to ask the appropriate questions. Had the N7th National Assembly been up to its task, the Jonathan administration would not have been the colossal failure that it was.

POLITICS

HE implications of the burning of the INEC building, voting documents and destruction of electoral equipment on Sunday, August 2, 2015 in the same Obingwa Constituency where phantom votes were allegedly criminally rigged to benefit the PDP's governorship candidate, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu (who hails from the same area) are clear to every Abian, Nigerian and discerning observers. It will, I hope, be viewed by the Election Tribunal for Abia State as a monstrous and devious ploy to cause a monumental obstruction of justice by the desperate impostors. It is therefore amazing and surprising that those who shamelessly knew they stole APGA's mandate, would now resort to alleged arson to cover up their guilt. In spite of the crocodile tears and shameless posturing by the IkpeazuOchendo PDP party, Abia and diligent law enforcement agencies have seen through their vain endless campaign of lies and distortion of the most commonsensical facts. One of those facts remain that only one group is desperate to destroy and bury evidences which clearly, manifestly and unquestionably prove that almost 55,000 votes were allegedly written into the final results announced by the INEC, shortly after the then PDP Governor Theodore Orji (aka Ochendo) and his coterie of PDP leaders unlawfully, allegedly forced their way into the INEC headquarters in Umuahia to intimidate and compel a rigged outcome. Given the propensity of the rigging and the shenanigan of the PDP, APGA supporters and law abiding citizens across the various parts of Abia State are optimistic that the tribunal cannot be intimidated or distracted by desperate politicians and would call a spade a spade. The tribunal of course would visualise the desperate burning of the INEC burning at Obingwa as blatant case of the obstruction of justice and should never be rewarded. This latest incineration of credible evidence and voting equipment unquestionably prove that the IkpeazuOchendo-PDP lost the 2015 Abia governorship election. They must have been scared stiff that second defeat

Who burnt INEC’s Office?

• INEC boss, Zakari By C.C. Agujiegbe

stares them in the face. Desperate and likened to a most forsaken band of people whose cups are full and now have no place to hide, the only option perhaps left is to burn down the INEC office in that locality. It is equally important to point out that PDP's Dr. Ikpeazu remains, for now, the Chief Security Officer of Abia. Why did he not protect the treasured election materials right in his own constituency? If he won, he would have proudly and jealously protected the election materials to show valid proof of "victory." We are not fooled! Confused that their ills have become common knowledge, they have no other option than to run from pillar to post,

putting every foot wrong on the post election debacle in their desperation to entrench what the real voters of Abia have since characterized as "a stolen mandate." Ikpeazu-Ochendo and their fellow PDP travelers cannot pull wool over the eyes of Nigerians; the international community and observers who declared that the man who won the last governorship elections in Abia State, was unmistakably the APGA candidate, the amiable and astute former bank executive, Dr Alex Otti. The APGA governorship candidate, Dr Alex Otti, is challenging the declaration of the PDP candidate, Dr Ikpeazu, as the winner of that election in April this year. The announcement of that result was met with protests and condemnation by Abians

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2015 who believed they have been robbed and their wishes thwarted and as such have been supportive of Otti contesting that result at the Electoral Tribunal in Umuahia. They are convinced beyond any iota of doubt that the man they voted for will triumph at the end of the day and have refused to quiver or entertain any fear that justice would be finally dispensed to one who had been wronged. It is this show of solidarity and enthusiasm that had buoyed Otti to plod and recover what is generally termed in Abia as alleged 'stolen mandate'. A random sample of views conducted by several interest groups in all the five states, east of the Niger, undoubtedly pontificates that the APGA man had dealt a deserving blow to the PDP as both young, old, man, woman can walk blindfolded if requested and point to where the cock crows as the winner of that polls. The outcome of the elections- pre, during and post election, had painfully brought to the fore, the chicanery, blackmail, intimidation, harassment and overt display of thuggery and shameless falsification of results, crudity employed to deny Otti his service which 'Ndi Abia State, Igbo and to a larger extent Nigerians deservedly need. The APGA flag bearer for Abia State few days ago had cried out that attempts were being made to assassinate him. Indeed, he had also alleged in the past that those who saw him as their biggest threat had planned to eliminate him. They forget to their chagrin that the mandate Dr Otti has, would by the grace of God be given back to him through the electoral panel. The Abia people, both at home and Diaspora and indeed all peace loving people of Nigeria, are desirous that the fluke and the pyrrhic victory of the incumbent, would not last the distance. The real masquerade is returning, just in time and Abia would be back to the village squares to celebrate and clink glasses once more. The people and activists of Abia have since resolved that those who stole their mandate will not rest until justice is done and fake votes are voided!! –Agujiegbe is an Aba- based business executive

Much Ado about Bayelsa defection

have read with rapt attention, the media reports of defection of some members of the Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) to the rival All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State, the home of the immediate past president of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. Curiously, the leadership of the opposition, particularly Chief Timipre Sylva turned it to a media jamboree. Sylva has been trying to reap political capital from it, in preparation for the declaration of his ambition to return to power. And the narrative was skewed as if the defection was a one-way traffic; whereas hundreds of politicians from many political parties have been thronging to the umbrella party in recent time. It is interesting to note that over 98 percent of the defectors are Sylva's appointees, associates, relatives and people he had used his office of governor to rail-road into the state and national Assemblies between 2007 and 2011. Interestingly, almost all of these people did not support the governorship ambition of Governor Henry Seriake Dickson in 2012, when the election held. Instead they supported Sylva even when it was clear that the then President, Dr. Jonathan, the critical stakeholders, the PDP apparatchik and of course, majority of the people in the state, were backing Dickson. Top amongst the defectors are Chief Clever Ikisikpo, immediate past senator representing Jonathan (Bayelasa East) between 2011 and

By Francis Agbo 2015, former Chairman of NDDC, Dr. Tarila Tebepah, former Commissioner for Agriculture under Sylva, Chief Dikivie Ikiogha and former House of Representatives member representing Yenagoa/Kolokuma/Opokuma Federal Constituency between 2007 and 2015, Hon Warman Ogoriba, a former acting governor of the state, Hon. Nestor Ibinabo, former Finance Commissioner under Sylva, Mr. Charles Opuala and a host of other aides, appointees and associates of Sylva. Indeed some of these characters were first recruited by the former First Lady to undermine Dickson ahead of the 2015 general elections and to prepare the ground for the supplanting of Dickson with her anointed godson, Hon Weripamowei Dudafa, who was Commissioner for Local Government under Sylva and Special Assistant on Domestic Matters to the immediate past president. The defunct Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) under the leadership of a former acting governor of the state, Hon. Werinipre Seibarugu, in the state became a veritable tool used to blackmail and cow the Dickson administration. They made it look to unsuspecting Nigerians that the governor was not supporting the re-election bid of Jonathan while in actuality; he was the one leading the charge and taking all the shots fired at the former president! Indeed these same people calling for Dickson's head are not doing anything

•Contd. from page 38

strange; they are back to a familiar turf, as it was in 2012 so it is now and so it may be in December when we shall all cast our vote and respect the majesty of the ballot box! After three and half years of Dickson's administration, one would have expected these defectors to shift ground and come on board the restoration train more so that Dickson has consistently extended the olive branch to them through government patronage. Similarly, pundits had thought that since the 'thrifty Countryman Governor' has delivered on his campaign promises by running the state in the fear of God, turning the state into a huge construction site, restoring peace to the hitherto volatile Bayelsa and providing purposeful, transparent and accountable leadership to the people, those jumping the ship would have remained with Dickson to consolidate the gains recorded so far. That didn't happen understandably, because the defection is not about the well-being of the people, the development of Bayelsa State and the Ijaw nation; all that matter to the defectors is their self- aggrandizement. In his recent media chat in Yenagoa, the state capital, Chief DSP Alameiyesiegha, first elected governor of Bayelsa State and Chairman of the PDP elders Committee/ Reconciliation Committee in the state corroborated the above assertion mildly. ''As chairman of the Reconciliation Committee, we have invited so many people (defectors)… We dialogued with them and most of them saw reasons with us. The whole thing

(defection) is about self-interest. Their grievances range from not being given appointments, not receiving their severance allowances during Timipre Sylva administration, or because they were not picked as candidates in the last general election and I asked the question: must it always be you?'' For sure, the evidence on ground doesn't indicate that the APC will defeat the PDP on December 5. Already the PDP produced 105 councilors and the eight council chairmen, controls the 24-man state House of Assembly with 21 members and produced all members of the National Assemblies! And with a litany of over 500 government appointees and strong PDP structure, it will take a camel to pass through the eye of a needle for APC to sack PDP from Creek Haven Aside these advantages, if Governor Dickson declares for second term, he will be banking on the people and his landmark achievements in office to retain his plum job. But it won't be a bad idea for the Alameiyesiegha committee to bring back the obviously repentant defectors to the PDP family. The governor should not be carried away by the gale of endorsements for second term and shun those who want to join his restoration team because it is cheaper and safer if he goes into the election with less elite conspiracy and acrimony. –Francis Agbo, a journalist lives in Yenagoa and wrote in via francisagbo38@gmail.com

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2015

'I'm not ready to attack Jonathan yet, but he misruled us'

HAT'S your take on the state of the nation? I believe that a nation that went down to the level we got to under the last administration will find it difficult to get out of it hale and hearty. I believe Dr Goodluck Jonathan is, in fact, a lucky man that President Muhammadu Buhari won the election. We had reached the end of the road under him. That we had a change of government, itself, had given us a breather. What the breather means is that we have a better hope than before. A lot of Nigerians now expect something as against when we had no expectation. What we are looking for now is how President Buhari will get us out of the messy situation we are in. They have started arresting some criminals. What we had in the past were inconclusive arrests and investigations. We must make people account for what they did. Our security agencies must arrest looters. Instead of just taking money from them, we must take the current arrests to a logical conclusion. You were part of the Jonathan's years. Are you dissociating yourself from the failures of that administration? I became a minister in that government by a lot of interferences. For instance, when I refused to be a minister, no less a person than Theophilus Danjuma was contacted to prevail on me. I accepted the appointment and worked for Nigeria. The duty of Jonathan was to appoint, mine was to work. I did my work unblemished. However, there were things in government that went on while I was there and after I had left that I dissociate myself from. I'm dissociating myself from the infractions of the government. I want Nigerians to know that there are people in this country who have made money and had wealth before going into government. The former president himself said several times that he didn't know I was that wealthy before I joined his government. The point is I'm not directing any attack at anybody but what I'm saying is that the country was misruled and if Jonathan was my father or brother, I will say so. I won't keep quiet when things are bad. You will recall I told Jonathan two months before the elections that there was no way he could come back. Do you think the steps Buhari have taken so far are taking us back to the right tracks? As somebody in the business world, I will say that Buhari himself might not have done something but the fact that you cannot carry $100,000 to the president for any favour has put a different orientation into our heads that it is no longer business as usual. It is clear that at over 70, Buhari will never get to a stage where he would have any other interest at heart than the good of Nigeria. But some have alleged that 95 percent of his appointments are from a section of a country where he comes from. What's your take on that? There are appointments that the President has to make under constitutional conditionality but there are some that are strictly under his prerogative. We can compare him with other former presidents of Nigeria and see if he had done anything different. You cannot appoint a Minister of Niger Delta from Lagos. It is not possible because the constitution has taken care of that. But if you talk about some appointments, it is based on what the President wants. For the first time in the nation's history, the president and the head of the

Lawyer, criminologist and former Minister of State for Education under President Goodluck Jonathan, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, spoke with Sunday Oguntola on the new administration and where Jonathan missed the mark. Excerpts: electoral commission are from the same region. Will this augur well? I can confirm to you that Amina Zakari will never be chairperson of INEC. A government's business cannot be left in a vacuum. When the last chairman was leaving, somebody necessarily must take over in an acting capacity. What we have is a transition to a different government. In a country where the President is inundated with many criminals, he has to take his time to appoint the right person for an important agency as INEC. But I can assure you that Buhari is too sensible to make Amina the substantive INEC chairperson no matter how competent she is. The history of Nigeria has made it that the President and the INEC chair always come from different regions. Amina is only bidding time in INEC. She will go when Buhari finds a competent person. What about the appointment of the Department of State Services (DSS) Director-General, a man from the President's village, more or less a cousin? Nigerians must learn to remove pettiness from our reactions. Given the sensitive nature of this country, in terms of coups and counter-coups, it has become a practice to appoint someone you can trust as DSS chief. Let me start by saying that Daura is a wonderful and honest man. He has not been found wanting or accused of corruption. We have had several instances of Presidents only entrusting security to persons they are comfortable with. The former DG SSS, Sunday Areh, was dismissed for allegedly plotting a coup. He was a Lt. Col when he was dismissed from the military. He was brought back by former President Obasanjo. Areh was like his son. He became DG DSS. Lt. General Patrick Azazi was appointed as Director of Military Intelligence, then National Security Adviser (NSA) because former President Jonathan believed in him. Azazi was from Jonathan's region. Every major appointment in the security forces then were coordinated by Azazi. That was what the former President was comfortable with. The point is that today people feel comfortable with certain persons. Nigeria has become so distrustful that you need persons you can trust for certain roles. So, what is wrong with Daura who left the service voluntarily because he couldn't cope with the level of corruption? So, the President has not done anything wrong by picking a man who left the service voluntarily. We have to be careful with many of the things said in the social media because most of the activists are sponsored and paid by certain vested interests. Are you not bothered that Buhari is taking eternity to form a cabinet? Let me tell you that because of the level of rottenness in the polity, you have to be extra careful with some appointments. I know that Nigerians can be

impatient. We are becoming restless. What Buhari is going through is as a result of the distrust we have for our leaders. Do you agree with Buhari's limiting his probe of past administrations to Jonathan's government? Buhari has no business going to probe Obasanjo regime. It will just be an unnecessary and irresponsible distraction, because whatever Obasanjo did, Yar' Adua came, and I can tell you I worked with Yar' Adua. I was then the Chairman of the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria and in my meetings with Yar' Adua he would have probed Obasanjo. I can tell you that without making mistakes. And Obasanjo knows himself that Yar' Adua would have probed him. If Yar' Adua did not probe him, Jonathtan came and did not probe him then that government is gone and gone. Whatever Obasanjo did in his government obviously will have effect on Yar' Adua/ Jonathan's government and if they felt that there was nothing wrong and nothing to probe that was the business of that government. B u t whatever happened in Jonathan's government has direct and immediate bearing and consequences on this government. It is a back- to- back government.

POLITICS

Buhari has a duty to probe Jonathan. And in any case what is wrong with that? I was a minister before, what is wrong in probing me? Why is anybody afraid of Buhari's probe? What is causing anxiety over the issue of Daura now? Why are they afraid? If your hands are clean, why are you afraid of probe? I have properties all over Nigeria and abroad. I have every cheque that I have received in my life as a human being. So, why is anybody afraid of probe? Are you still open to returning to politics? It destroyed all my businesses. I can play an advisory role. I can play roles that are not directly opposed to my successes, my business successes in life. I don't think I want to be involved. I am too old now. At 53, I should bow out. What then happens to the infatuation you have of ruling Delta, which you are passionate about? I am still passionate. We have a governor who is my friend, who we all started the party together. Let us see him succeed instead of heating up the polity of Delta State. I am very certain that is what we need to do right now. But as God wishes, if He calls you, you cannot reject. But I am saying that I won't go to anybody; that I have never done before to submit my CV to beg for appointment that I want to work for you. You didn't lobby to be a minister? Never! I did not. EK Clark was the one who insisted that I must be a minister. He did everything possible and I said I will not be. When it became so bad he spoke to my friend Theophilus Danjuma to persuade me. Some persons are of the opinion that you are attacking Jonathan because he removed you as a minister? It is very childish for anybody to make such statement. Jonathan himself feels guilty that he will have to leave politics for nothing. We held that administration and made it work without any interest. Jonathan has not given me one kobo in my life; I was the one who spent my personal money and I am not attacking him. If you see all my discussions, I have not attacked him. If I have to do so, I have enough reasons to do so because I have enough facts to do so but I have not gotten to that stage yet.

â&#x20AC;˘ Gbagi

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2015

POLITICS

Atiku, Jibrilla resolve differences T

HE cold war between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Adamawa State Governor Bindow Jibrilla may have ended, sources have revealed. Before the last elections, both politicians were not on good terms, with the former vice president allegedly supporting another candidate, Boss Mustapha, for the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Eventually, Jibrilla won, using the political structures of ex-Governor Murtala Nyako. Indications that Atiku and the governor are now on good terms emerged a few days ago following the listing of the former's daughter, Fatima, as one of the 22 commissioner-nominees sent to the House of Assembly for screening. Two associates of the former vice president were also nominated, a pointer to the improved relations between the governor and Atiku, it was gathered. The two Atiku associates are Ibrahim Mijinyawa, a former APC governorship aspirant and Umar Daware. Also, a former Director of Press and Public Affairs to Nyako, Ahmed Sajoh, was also nominated. Altogether, four women made the list. They are Shanti Victoria Shashi, Kaletapwa Farauta, Fatima Atiku Abubakar and Lilian Nabe Kayode.

• Audu

Kogi 2016: Number of aspirants bothers APC leaders

P • Jibrilla

• Atiku

Suswam unperturbed over planned probe

ORMER Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam is reportedly unperturbed over plans by his successor, Samuel Ortom, to probe him. A source close to him revealed that the former governor, who is abroad on vacation, recently confided in his close political associates that he had nothing to hide on his stewardship as governor from 2007 to 2015. The former governor, sources close to him say, is expected to return home in a couple of weeks.

REPARATIONS for the 2016 governorship election in Kogi State are gathering momentum. Within the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), it appears a settled that Governor Idris Wada would be given a return ticket. But not so in the All Progressives Congress (APC), where over 20 aspirants are believed to have indicated their intention to contest for the party's ticket. This development, it was gathered, is giving the party’s national leaders serious concern on how a likely post-primary crisis would affect its chances at the polls.

Dickson yet to decide on suspended members

ALLS by national leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson to re-absorb some expelled and suspended members seem not to be going down well with him, sources have claimed. Some of those expelled from Bayesa PDP include Senators Emmanuel Paulker and Nimi Barigha Amange, Ayakeme Whiskey, Marie Ebikake, Waripamowei Dudafa, Ebikitin Diongoli and Remi Kuku, among others. Some associates of the governor, it was gathered, are uncomfortable with the directive, warning that the loyalty of these members to work for his re-election cannot be guaranteed.

• Suswam

• Ortom

Calm returns to Adamawa Assembly S • Mijinyawa

till on Adamawa State, but this time on the alleged crisis in the House of Assembly. Last week, the lawmakers passed a vote of confidence in the Speaker, Kabiru Mijinyawa, in an apparent move to thwart plans by some members to remove him and other leaders of the House. The letter endorsing the Speaker was signed by 23 of the 25 members of the House. It was read by the Speaker who later called members one after the other to confirm their signatures. In their respective submissions at the plenary, members lauded the house leadership for its commitment to transparency.

• Dickson

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2015

Using arts to boost economy National Gallery of Art (NGA) Director-General Abdullahi Mukus believes that the arts sector was neglected in the past. He is determined to make things better. In an interactive session with reporters in Lagos, Muku sheds light on his programmes for a better tomorrow, Edozie Udeze reports

•Muku

OST lovers of the art and stakeholders in the culture sector are often at a crossroads as to why the federal government has been finding it hard to decide on a befitting National Gallery for the nation’s topmost modern arts. Most culture activists involved in this endless debate hinge their concern on the fact that most civilised countries of the world take their time to plan, build and present exquisite monuments and institution where their modern and contemporary works of art are kept. These works are specially hung in cozy halls and buildings not only because they represent the history and culture of the nation, they equally serve as points of reference, a place where art enthusiasts and tourists visit often to relax and also view the personages that contributed to the growth, emancipation and development of the society. If that is the case, why wouldn’t the Nigerian situation be more encouraging? Why wouldn’t the National Gallery of Art as headed by Abdullahi Muku be as good and as edifying as what obtains in South Africa, Egypt and Senegal? There are some of the topmost African nations where contemporary arts are given due recognition and attention by the government. There are still some of the prominent places where artists, mostly Nigerians, go to to unwind and be at home with artworks that have been kept in good order from time immemorial. However, the Nigerian situation becomes more worrisome not only because no one seems to care. The leaders themselves still perceive modern works of arts as those issues that do not mean much to the country. In spite of all these negative sentiments, the Director General of the National Gallery of Modern Art, (NGA), Abdullahi Muku, for the past six years or so, has been consistent in his avowed resolve to the make the department an enviable place and a role model. Now, faced with paucity of funds, he still ensures that the sector is kept alive and active. But more worrisome to those who know best is why the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, where a temporary gallery has been provided for these all-important works has not been expanded or relocated to a more appealing and friendly environment. A visit to the place indeed shows that even though the paintings of some of the former prominent leaders of Nigeria, like Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafem Awolowo,

To him, “this is a dream we are hoping to realise with this 8 th Assembly. The Act if enacted will make it mandatory for every public building as well as bridges in Nigeria to have some kind of embellishment, especially art works with a percentage of the construction cost set aside for this purpose. When this happens, you will agree with me that our artists would never lack. Apart from the fact that the pool of money set aside is going to be available to the artists to access through the sale of their works, it would make them sit up and bring out the best in them. With the Artist Royalty entrenched in the Act, if an artist sells his work to somebody and that person resells it, a percentage of it will go to the artist or his/her family. This is a residual income that will benefit artists just like royalty that performing artists enjoy for the playing of their musical works in any medium.” •All Day Merry, by Oswald Uruakpa. SOURCE: ARESUVA 2009 NGA has continued Yakubu Gowon, Muhammdu Buhari, is a programme the NGA is committed to, to innovate in terms of its programmes Ibrahim Babangida and others are hung both for its economic benefits to the coun- and activities in promoting and propain the hall, there are other equally impor- try generally and the artists in particu- gating the Visual Arts sub-sector. Some tant paintings that do not have enough lar. For 14 days, renowned artists from of these includes: Nupe Art conference space for attention. “We have written sev- Nigeria, Africa, the Diaspora and the and exhibition which has been an outerally to the government to release some of world gathered in Abuja to showcase the standing show so far. This event which took place in the anthe federal government buildings that are best of the best of the their works with art of no more use in Lagos for our purpose,” collectors, art dealers and art lovers buy- cient city of Bida, Niger State interrogated Muku said in an interactive session with ing these works. Having participated in the place of Nupe Art in Nigeria. It had the press penultimate week. “Yet the re- the Dakar Biennale almost from incep- in attendance traditional artists from the sponse from government is what we are tion, we discovered that they have been nooks and crannies of the old Nupe Kingstill waiting for. The art, especially mod- able to make good money from organis- dom who displayed different works rangern art, should be given its proper place in ing the event compared to what they ing from paintings, sculptures and texthe day-to-day running of the society,” spend. We are hoping to do the same by tiles. In his lecture, titled, Nupe Arts: A Muku averred. getting the private sector fully involved Renaissance, Dr. Ndagi Abdullahi, Secretary, Nupe Culture and Resource Centre, What government ought to do with vig- and other key stakeholders. orous commitment is the involvement of “The Abuja Biennial is an art market Bida, asserted that the ancient Nupe peoPrivate Partnership Participation (PPP) to that will bring together artists, art and ple were not just the masters of Arts, but sort out some of these sensitive issues in culture administrators, art collectors/ were by and large the originators of the order to create more jobs for the Nigerian connoisseurs, political leaders and ad- arts of ancient Nigeria. Art of friendship was also initiated in youths. “A conducive environment is ministrators, tourists and tourism pracgood for creativity,” Muku enthused. titioners. It is so named to identify with 2012 as a platform for Nigerian artists to “And this is what we are here to do, to the world standard as every biennial is cross-fertilize ideas with their counterensure that the proper indices are put in named after its host city. Abuja being the parts from other nations through their emplace to take modern art to the next level.” capital city of Nigeria is chosen for its bassies in Nigeria. The second edition This is why, in spite of the dwindling for- economic vantage position and is keying took place last year with Nigeria and four tunes of the culture sector at the present into Mr. President’s vision of diversify- other countries: Republic of Czech, France, Italy and South Korea. The exhimoment, Muku, with his able team, has ing the economy.” Muku contended that the event will bition which took place at the FCT Arcontinued to expand the frontiers of the not only provide opportunities for artists chives and History Bureau, Abuja, witmodern arts. For instance, the Abuja Biennial to sell their works but also enable them to nessed an impressive crowd, which inwhich is a programme the NGA is com- network. This programme is also excluded management and staff of the galmitted to has been in the front burner over pected to provide job opportunities for the lery, ambassadors of the participating countries and their cultural attachees, the years. He said: “The Abuja Biennial youth and boost the tourism industry. artists residing in Abuja and numerous th and local art lovers. There were ‘This is a dream we are hoping to realise with this 8 Assem- foreign 40 works of art on display, comprising bly. The Act if enacted will make it mandatory for every paintings, mix-media, drawings, sculpand printmakings. public building as well as bridges in Nigeria to have some tures More heartwarming was the maiden

kind of embellishment especially art works with a percentage of the construction cost set aside for this purpose’

•Continued on page 55

THE NATION ON SUNDAY,

ARTS

AUGUST 9, 2015

Quotes and wisdom of life Title: Wisdom, understanding, greatness... ‘Memorable Quotes’ Author: Adam Babatunde Akande Year of Publication: 2014 Publishers: Deepfont Limited, Lagos. Reviewer: Wole Balogun

HEN in search of sagely sayings, enriched with wýsdom, sound knowledge, edifying truths and instructive messages, among others which could make life more meaningful and challenging, the book, Memorable Quotes by Mr. Adam Babatunde Akande, retired diplomat and elder statesman, becomes one among others. Akande’s Memorable Quotes is a compilation of over 5,000 witty sayings from philosophers, social crusaders, clerics, sages, great politicians, professionals, academics, leaders, saints, and great teachers among others. Painstakingly put together by the author to provide sound moral teachings and instructions to readers, Akande’s ‘quotes’ are probing and challenging. The author, being an elder himself, has found the quotes quite useful, essential and highly instructive for many who wish to love a life well guided by sound moral and spiritual teachings. According to him, the desire to hand out enduring and edifying values made him to compile the quotes. “I want to recommend this book to serious minded people and also religious people. There are a number of factors that has made me compile the memorable quotes. First, morality has been eroded in our way of life these days; this has led to a lot of social ills, insecurity, perversion, armed robbery, unhealthy craze for materialism among our youths, lack of zeal for hard work and widespread corruption among others. Also, there is no longer zeal for reading, the new genera-

tion has been kept in the dark because they don’t have a virile reading culture and this is sadly contributing to our backwardness as a nation,” he said. Akande’s book of memorable quotes has been segmented into phases, based on the issues of life they illuminate. The segments include: God and Religion, Life and death, Ambition and Enthusiasm, appreciation, character, charity and kindness, family, courage, freedom, justice judgment, friendship, growth, growing youth, happiness, knowledge and education, among others. The segments are presented in chapters and in each of these chapters, there are at least hundred memorable quotes to illuminate the idea or ideas chosen. In Chapter one for instance, God and Religion are gýven significant illumination with quotes that are quite enlightening, enlivening and pondering. To grasp a deeper understanding of the nature of God, His relationship with humans and how humans could relate better with Him among others, quotes are drawn from many great books of religion, leadership, philosophy, politics as written by poets, sages such as Plato, Aristotle, great leaders and philosophers, scientists, writers, clerics, and academics among others. So also are probing quotes presented to explain the concept of religion to mankind. Here is a taste of some of them; “ They, who love God with all their hearts, find that His ways are ways of pleasantness, and all his paths are peace. Such joys, such brimfull delights, such overflowing blessedness do the saints discover in their Lord-C.H Spurgeon “ And another: “We should speak to God from our own hearts and talk to Him as a child talks to his father-C.H Spurgeon And yet another: “If you serve others for reward of gaining their admiration and

gratitude, then your reward will be fleeting and ultimately dissatisfying. If you serve others for the reward of bringing pleasure to your Father God’s heart as you work side by side with Him, then you will gain eternal rew a r d Anonymous. “Trust the past to God’s mercy, the present to God’s love and the future to God’s providence-St Augustine”. In Chapter two, Akande exposes as well as unearth the concept of life and death so deeply that the reader would be awed on discovering the purposes of life and the significance of the inevitability of death. A few of the quotes would help throw light into this assertion: “Your life is like a book, the title is your name, the preface your introduction to the world. The pages are a daily record of your efforts, trials, pleasures, discouragement and achievements, day by day, your thoughts and acts are being inscribed in your book of life. Hour by hour, the record is being made that must stand for all time. Once the word FINIS must be written, let it be said of your book that is a record of noble purpose, generous service and work wel-doneGreeville Kleiser.” “A Great man shows his greatness by the way he treats little men-Albert Einstein “You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty-

Mohanda Gandhi” “ M y husband often told the children that if a man had nothing that was worth dying for, he was not fit to liveCoretta S c o t t King.” F r o m chapters one to twelve, Akande makes his reader to get a grasp of such concepts as appreciation, courage, happiness, truth, family, justice, judgement, charity, kindness, and friendship and such like. His quotes here make the reader fully understand these virtues as part of what make life meaningful, joyous and challenging. With the quotes presented to explain the concepts, the reader is encouraged to cherish his life and make it more beautiful, eventful and enjoyable by observing the moral and spiritual instructions passed across through the quotes. Hence: “ A truth that is told with bad intent, beats all the lies you can invent-William Blake.” “Where there is marriage without love, there will be love without marriage-Benjamin Franklin.” “A wife is the joy of a man’s heart-Talmud “Well-married, a man is winged, ill-matched, he is shackled-Henry Ward Beecher.” “One man’s justice is anotheraks injustice, one man’s beauty another ugliness, one man’s wisdom, another’s folly-Ralph W Emerson.” “You have seen how a man was made a slave, you shall see how a slave was made a man-Federick Douglas.”

POETRY

I shall pray for you I shall pray for you those whose legs hung splayed clutching two futilities those who believed and those on leash one side rustling with the sap of longing the leeward side a treacherous hope both must contend as conferees of a broken destiny I should pray for you those whose faiths fatten on dead tales spun with a tigger’s tail who would tell us what happened who would unveil the trust? the priests did not have the courage the politicians did not have the soul the mortician, the beggar, the engineer, the teacher and doctor none of them commanded the plot so the thief became the chief of our narratives a solo sap the tiger crouches its tail tweaks and wreaths on the sand that explains why the hungry never fight I should pray for you carcasses of a lost dream mauled by effort recalled by those who never fought nor understood the war

Visuals for economic growth

•National Assembly, by Uruakpa

•Continued from page 55

•Behind the Veil, by Omotosho Asimiyu.

SOURCE: ARESUVA

of NGA Children Funfair which took place last year at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja. Tagged, Rainbow Art Children Art Expression, with the theme, Unlocking Creativity-Christmas through the

eyes of the child it is geared towards stimulating values, identifying talents, motivating parents to love art and encouraging young ones to choose art as a career. The fair featured six segments: Art Competition, Folktale, Face Painting, Hat/Bead Making, Head Ty-

ing and Cartoon Characters. Each category has specific tasks for the children to bring out their innate talents. The Director explained that The Art Fair was inaugurated by NGA in 2013 as a deliberate move to encourage professional artists in

but they must amass the remains and remain the scars of a misbegotten past I will remember you our ancestors who always fought the battle and must regret even in your graves the ashes of the toils the majestic aura in the oracles your prophets looked into the future but saw mirages instead of us palaces instead of ruined platforms of blood your dreams flattered you your nobility conned you if you knew better you would have prayed or worked harder but you thought you had planted a miracle: we in the schools, in the somber pieties in the bushes cleared and the ships sailing ahead we were supposed to be the great future guaranteed the cathedrals of hope but we are the malformed fruits of a glorious love and prophesy broken in the dream I will pray for us •By Sam Omatseye its employ to produce works for public exhibitions thereby sharpening their skills and developing bodies of works just like their peers in studio practice. The first edition took place in Kaduna while the second edition was held in Enugu and Kaduna respectively. The 5 th edition of National Visual Arts Competition took place at the Shehu Yar’Adua Centre featuring works in the primary, secondary, tertiary and professional categories. The exhibited works showed great promise from the budding artists. The winners were rewarded with cash prizes as incentive to do more and a motivation for others to strive for excellence. What all these mean is that if more funds are raised to pursue these ideals, the sector will take its proper position towards the economic and social growth of the nation. Now, with the plan to have NGA offices in the 36 states of the federation, it becomes more imperative to give NGA a chance.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2015

Furore over indiscriminate waivers

Page 53 ‘Why job--seekers hardly find jobs’

Page 58, 59

NIMASA DG: ‘Core competence should be Buhari’s watchword’ Page 59

•Adewole

Page 60

How standardisation of traditional medicine can prolong life expectancy, by Odumodu

•The governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi (middle), Mrs Roseline Oyedele, Special Adviser to the Governor with some Board Members of the Nigeria London Business Forum (left) Katrina Prentice, Prof. Chris Onalo and Maryanne Jemide (extreme right) at the just concluded UK-Nigeria Economic Forum held in London.

Miners to Buhari: ban importation of solid minerals

INERS Empowerment Association of Nigeria, President, Mr Sunny Ekozin, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to order the Nigeria Customs Service to stop importation of solid minerals that are available in the country. Speaking at a news conference in Abuja, the miners’ boss said this would pave the way for the development of Nigeria’s solid minerals sector by all stakeholders. Ekozin noted that “about 66 per cent of the 41 items banned from Forex are essentially solid minerals base, these are items that can easily be sourced locally. If a total ban or prohibitions of these items are not urgently promulgated, it will lead to an increase in the cost of these items locally for consumers and ultimately inflation.”

• Says N860b on annual import is absurd From Nduka Chiejina, Abuja

Nigeria’s solid minerals sector, he said, is comatose and the change agenda of President Buhari is urgently needed to revamp this sector and re-position it for global competitiveness. “I cannot fathom the rationale behind the cabals within this sector that have held this sector captive and have frustrated all successive governments since the regime of President Shehu Shagari, who started Ajaokuta steel company and its subsidiaries after investing about US$7 billion with 90 per cent completion, yet this critical industrialising agent has remained dysfunctional, products that should have been produced from this company for local consumption and for exports have remained

frustrated till date,” he said. Besides, he said another critical national mining enterprise, the Aluminum Smelter Company, with a capacity of 200,000mt per year, and considered to be the biggest in Africa, has been hijacked by canals. “This productive and thriving smelter plant with capacity to meet local raw material needs of our industries was privatised in 1999, since that time till date, this national asset has been hijacked by this same cabal and have rendered it comatose and plunged the nation into an import dependent nation of goods that can be easily produced in Nigeria.” Expatiating, Ekozin said, “By simple arithmetic, Nigeria imports ¦ 860 billion annually of solid minerals of the total annual import of ¦ 1.3 trillion. This is

scandalous, imagine the jobs that can be created annually from solid minerals with the injection of this huge sum, it is time for our government to put the political will to bear and save the nation from this shameful and systemic destruction of our economy.” Nigeria, he said, “must benchmark with other developing countries like Indonesia, who have successfully used policies on export and import to curb job losses to other nations and have galvanised about $18 billion in investment in processing plants to the country’s industrialisation efforts.” President Buhari, he said, must demonstrate the much needed political will and stem this tide with his change mantra to create jobs for unemployed youths through strategic policies formation and implementation of our solid minerals endowments.

Commission faults job racketeering by MDAs

HE Acting Chairman, Federal Character Commission Mohammed Bello Alkali has described the of collection of application online fees by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as illegal. At a press briefing in Abuja, Alkali and the Commission was aware that

From Franca Ochigbo, Abuja

MDAs have been charging applicants what they call application fee, for job processing. He said it was wrong to do so. “The application fee charged by this MDAs ranges from two thousand to three thousand naira. This prac-

tice is illegal as it runs contrary to federal character commission guidelines in recruitment into the Nigerian public service as well as Presidential directives on recruitment which completely stopped buying of scratch card,” he stressed. The Commission, he declared, “will henceforth, without further notice sanc-

tion any Chief Executive of MDAs that flout this guidelines.” While noting that the Commission is on a sensitisation campaign, the Commission boss said: “Recruiting MDA should arrange for the payment of approved consultants without taking the applicants money.”

HE Director General of Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) Dr. Joseph Odumodu has assured that standardisation of traditional medicine will enhance life expectancy in Africa. Odumodu made this disclosure during the inauguration of the National Mirror Committee on African Traditional Medicine (ARSO THC13) in Abuja, where Professor Maurice Iwu was selected as the current Chairman African Traditional Medicine. According to him, “for many Africans, traditional medicine practitioners are often the first and last line of defence against contagious and debilitating diseases that plague their lives. Traditional healers are most often trusted sources of health information and treatment and the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 80 percent of people in Africa regularly seek their services. “Yet traditional healers in most parts of Nigeria and Africa are not officially recognised by governments, thus leaving them on the side lines which can have serious consequences for health care in the continent. Sometimes patients in preference for the traditional healers may disregard their orthodox doctor’s. Advice or take herbal medicines that could have dangerous interactions with pharmaceuticals,” he said. In his remarks, Professor Iwu, who is a bio-resources expert and former INEC chairman, reiterated the readiness of the committee to discharge its duties diligently also expressed optimism in the potential of the African traditional medicine.

Honeywell to entrepreneurs: ensure quality control

ONEYWELL Flour Mills Plc has stress the need for entrepreneurs to embrace quality control in their businesses. Managing Director, Mr. Lanre Jaiyeola who stated this on Friday, in Lagos, at the 27th Certificate Award Ceremony of the Honeywell Baking School, noted that business owners stand to gain a lot by emphasising quality in their processes, as this will impact positively in their bottom-line. While listing empowering of bakers as part of efforts by the company to ensure adherence to quality control and success of small businesses, he said Honeywell Flour Mills recognises that Nigerian bakers need a broad mix of skills, as close to a decade, the company has committed resources to the training of over 360 Master Bakers from different parts of the country in a total of 27 Regular Courses and One Executive Course. Jaiyeola said the company’s vision has always been to equip bakers and bakery owners with the most important resource of knowledge and skills required to run profitable operations and build enduring businesses. The vision, according to him, is driven by understanding of the impacts SMEs could have as engine of job creation and enablers of wealth distribution of which the baking industry represents, being one of the largest SMEs in terms of numbers and size in the country. “In an increasingly competitive world, we believe improved quality of thinking usually provide the necessary competitive edge, an idea that opens new doors to success, a technique that solves a problem, or an insight that simply makes a sense of it all by being at the fore-front in the training of bakers in Nigeria,” he said. He also urged the graduands to apply knowledge gained to distinguish themselves from the pack, saying, “let your distributors/vendors and consumers know you for quality and give them the confidence that you use Honeywell Superfine flour and Honeywell Composite flour, the best quality types of flour in the market.”

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 9, 2015

BUSINESS

•Buhari

•Saraki

It appears the President Muhammadu Buhariadministration may be averse to granting of waivers because of recent abuses, reports Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf

RDINARILY, import duty waivers are mechanisms employed by countries to meet their economic goals, especially in protecting local industries, creating jobs, promoting exports, as well as generating and preserving foreign exchange. However, one policy of government that has been subjected to all manner of abuse is the import duty waivers, estimated at hundreds of billions in recent times. The Nation can authoritatively report that in the last few years, the country may have lost a staggering N1.4 trillion on import waivers, as authorities recklessly grant import/ export incentives on unapproved goods from rice to fish to kolanuts, with no significant bearing on the economy. According to a document released by the Nigeria Customs Service early last year the categories of exemptions approved by government include the provisions of Schedule 2 of the Customs and Excise Tariff (Consolidation) Act: 1995 – 2001, Common External Tariff: 2008-2012 (as extended); the Customs and Excise Tariff etc. Act No. 16, 1997; and the Finance Miscellaneous Act 39 of 1990. Sectors of the economy that the law expects should benefit from the policy include agriculture, aviation, health, mines and steel, water resources, gas, power, as well as donations to states, education and related ministries, departments and agencies, MDAs. But the list of beneficiaries, made available by a source in the Nigeria Customs Service, include private individuals and businesses whose imports appear not valuable to the economy. Questionable waivers For instance, a total of N91.506billion was given as government concessions to 290 beneficiaries between January 1 and December 31, 2011. In the 52-page list, which had Sopon Nigeria Limited as biggest beneficiary, with N32.774billion, there was no indication about the line of business for which it was given the incentive. Other beneficiaries included the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria, ALSCON, Ikot Abasi (N47.789million) and (N13.715million), despite not producing since 2007. Equally, about N389.15billion was granted to 149 beneficiaries in 2011 through concessions to fuels, lubricants and allied products businesses. On the list includes Oando PLC, which received N82.767billion; Capital Oil & Gas Industries Limited (N49.688billion); Integrated Oil & Gas Limited (N20.262billion); Folawiyo Energy Limited (N17.517billion); Sahara Energy Resources Limited (N13.962billion), and Master Energy Oil & Gas Company (N11.503billion). The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, received about

•Emefiele

CBN Headquarters

Furore over indiscriminate waivers N77.979billion; Netcodutsmann Maintaining Energy got N42.079billion; Asora Nigeria Limited (N12.26billion), and McSally Investments Limited (N10.337billion. For 2012, a total of N191.545billion was granted to 416 beneficiaries, including individuals like Chibuzor Onyema (N1.87million); Oduola Anugbau Henry (N20.75million); Jude Ogbini (N3.389million); Oduneye Adeniyi (N4.357million), and Moghalu Maduakonam Madubugwu (N142.679million). Also included were such private businesses as Newsstand Agencies Limited (N1.138billion) and Mikano International Limited (N2.945million). About 287 beneficiaries got a total of N83.260billion in concessions and waivers for imports between January 1 and September 30, 2013, with Dangote Group alone getting about N26.77billion. In the year under reference, Asora Nigeria Limited was granted N8.588billion concession for importing kola nuts, while Ndianaefo Ifeanyi Emmanuel was granted N5.643million to import table, kitchen and household articles of cast iron. Similarly, Ayotunde Adereju got N2.035million for importing iron/steel wool, pot scourers and polishing pads and gloves, while Asimiyu Mohammed Salawudeed was paid N4.148million for importing tables and kitchen household articles. Coscharis Motors Limited, linked with the controversial aviation Ministry armoured car scandal, was granted N698.177million for importing fully built four wheel drive motor vehicles, motorised tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles. Between 2010 and 2013, records showed that Coscharis Motors received about N2.46billion concession from the government for importation of vehicles valued at about N7.932billion. The making of the import duty cartel In Nigeria, well-connected importers secure waivers on duty, levy, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) charges, Comprehensive Import Scheme (CIS) and other charges. As a result, abuse of the waivers is routine as politicians and businessmen continue to collude to undermine the nation’s economy. Specifically, since 2010, the import waiver cartel has ensured the sustenance of their nefarious activities. Echoing similar sentiments, a senior Customs officer who asked not to be named recalled that: “A company (name withheld) got the authority’s nod to import 250,000 metric tons of rice with waivers on import duty. The company got waivers on import duty, ETLS, CISS and other charges, whereas the compa-

ny’s name does not exist on the database of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).” According to the Customs and Exercise Department, a ton of rice (20 bags) cost $550 (about N82,000), while importers are expected to pay 0.5 per cent as ETLS, one per cent as CIS, 10 per cent as duty and 20 per cent for levy. However all these were waived. Effects of waivers The Managing Director, Nigeria Gas and Steel Limited, Hasib Moukarim, said indiscriminate grant of waivers to foreign firms by the federal government has led to the loss of several billions of naira and millions of jobs. He said government should end the regime of waivers and concessions to importers of finished products, stressing that such waivers were depleting government’s earnings, while enriching foreign firms. He said for the Customs to meet its revenue target this year, the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Budget Office and the Federal Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment, must synergise and ensure that the waivers achieve its objectives. He urged Nigerians to defend the interest of local manufacturers against government’s unfavourable policies and foreign domination of the nation’s emerging market. “When finished goods are brought into the country duty-free, we are directly creating employment for workers of the foreign companies because such goods imported with waivers will become cheaper than the locally produced ones and this will increase the demand and sale of foreign manufacturers,” Moukarin said. He said by granting waivers to foreign companies, locally produced goods have become more expensive while demand had gone down. He noted that this development is threatening the survival of local companies that the waivers were designed to protect. “This type of scenario has forced many companies to retrench substantial percentage of their workforce with the consequence of worsening the unemployment situation in the country,” he said. He said for any company to qualify for waiver, or concession, the Federal Ministries of Finance as well as Industry, Trade and Investment should conduct a thorough investigation to verify the authenticity of the items the beneficiaries intend to import without paying duty. For instance, investigation has shown that most of the oil mills in Kano, including Nigeria Oil Mills, Kano Oil Mills and PS Mandrid, located in Bompai Industrial Estate, have closed down with attendant loss of over 20,000 direct and indirect jobs. Also in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Jos, where there are oil and related mills, the spokesman of the producers, Mr Alaba Salau, said the operators were not finding it easy with many imported vegetable oil in the market. He said: “While few of us are just managing to survive, many others are making ar-

rangement to close down and start importation. But that is not a good omen for the country because one of the by-products of vegetable oil mill is used for animal feed by poultry farmers. “The irony of granting waivers is that while the federal government tells Nigerians of its resolve to promote made-in-Nigeria goods, in secret, it grants waivers to political associates and cronies to import and make cheap money, thereby undermining local production,” he said. CBN to the rescue Worried about the abuse import duty waivers have been subjected to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) decided to suspend foreign currency funding for about 41 imported items considered a source of strain on the already dwindling foreign reserves stock. The items include, vegetable oil , metal boxes, galvanised steel cement, margarine, palm kernel, poultry products (chicken, eggs and turkey), Indian incense, tinned fish in sauce (Geisha, Sardines), cold rolled steel sheets, roofing sheets, wheelbarrows, head pans and containers, and enamelware. Others are cosmetics, soap, plastic and rubber products, steel drum, steel pipes, wire mesh, steel nails, wire rods, security wire, wood particle and board, wood fibre boards and panel, plywood board and panel, wooden doors, toothpicks, glass and glassware, kitchen utensils, tableware, tiles and wooden fabrics. CBN had earlier released a list of the 41 restricted items in its circular, saying that the implementation of the policy would go a long way to conserve the nation’s hard earned foreign exchange and boost production activities in the country. But while speaking in Abuja, during a press conference to clarify issues raised by the circular, the CBN governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, disclosed that although the apex bank does not have the power to ban importation outright, it would no longer make available foreign exchange to importers of those products. He noted “Four years ago, Nigeria had four rice mills. Today, Nigeria has 30 if not more rice mills. This happened because of the efforts of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, the banks and the CBN, trying to redirect peoples’ focus that we need to increase the production of rice. And indeed, we have achieved great mileage in this direction. “Only last week, I met the Governor of Kebbi State and he lamented the unfortunate situation in his state which is a major rice belt in Nigeria where people, our own farmers who have committed their sweat to produce rice have produced paddy. We have paddy glut in Kebbi State today. “As I speak with you the government has spent its own money buying close to 200,000 tons of paddy rice from farmers. “Aside from that, Kebbi State Government has purchased close to 800,000 tons of paddy and yet we patronise imported rice. Those rice that are imported into Nigeria are not less than seven years old on the shelves and yet we have rice that is produced today in the country and we are running away from them. “For the avoidance of doubt, please note that the importation of these items are not banned, thus importers desirous of importing these items shall do so using their funds without any recourse to the Nigerian foreign exchange market. “The implementation of the policy will help conserve foreign reserves as well as facilitate the resuscitation of domestic industries and improve employment generation.” According to him, the era of unbridled im-

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 9, 2015 portation of all unnecessary items that have now turned the country into a dumping ground was over in Nigeria as the country cannot achieve the much desire greatness by simply importing everything it needs. “Time is ripe for honest conversation. Central Bank in developing countries can’t concentrate on price and monetary stability alone, what we are doing is to identify productive sector and channel money there,” he said. Although CBN would no longer provide foreign exchange to import items that can be produced locally, he said that the bank will increase credit allocation to the productive sectors of the economy to reduce import bill. “We are spending huge money importing things we can produce locally, it is affecting our Foreign Reserves. Nigeria spends N1.3 trillion on average annually to import consumable goods such as rice, oil, etc which can be produced locally. It is not necessary how much that we save, it is by the fact that we are saying that it is shameful. Even if it is $1 that we spent in importing toothpick, I’m saying that it is shameful that we have to import toothpick. I’m saying that it is shameful for us to import fish in sauce, canned fish in sauce into the country and sardine. I’m saying that for instance, before I was born, palm kernel was taken out of this country to Malaysia and today we go to that country and import palm oil, it is shameful. It is shameful that items that we used to produce in this country we now begin to import them into this country. It is shameful, and I think we need to stop it. That is what we are saying. Current situation calls for self sufficiency. Through this policy, we can conserve foreign exchange and provide jobs for our people, we will look for areas where we can provide catalytic role, this we are resolved to do,” he reiterated. A senate against indiscriminate waivers Thankfully, the senate leadership under Senator Bukola Saraki has reassured the apex bank of its commitment to end the era of indiscriminate import duty waivers. Speaking with our correspondent over the weekend, one of the aides confirmed that: “As part of the commitment to zero-tolerance for corruption, the senate presidency under Senator Bukola Sarakai is clearly determined to supportive to end all such impunity including the arbitrary issuance of import duty waivers at the expense of socio-economic growth of the country.” Stakeholders raise their voice above the din Persuaded that the country’s solid minerals’ deposits have the potential to contribute significantly to economic development if well harnessed, Mr. Sunny Ekozin, President of Miners Empowerment Association of Nigeria, has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to “ ensure that the Nigeria Custom is prevailed upon to ban all solid minerals importation that are available in Nigeria.” Speaking at a news conference in Abuja recently, the miners’ boss said, “About 66 per cent of the 41 items banned from Forex are essentially solid minerals base, these are items that can easily be sourced locally. If a total ban or prohibitions of these items are not urgently promulgated, it will lead to an increase in the cost of these items locally for consumers and ultimately inflation.” Expatiating, Ekozin said, “By simple arithmetic, Nigeria imports ¦ 860 billion annually of solid minerals of the total annual import of ¦ 1.3 trillion. This is scandalous, imagine the jobs that can be created annually from solid minerals with the injection of this huge sum, it is time for our government to put the political will to bear and save the nation from this shameful and systemic destruction of our economy.”

BUSINESS

NIMASA DG: ‘Core competence should be Buhari’s watchword’ S

INCE July 6, 2015, when the former Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi, was relieved of his plum position, the apex maritime regulatory body has been a theatre of drama and intrigues. The bad blood and leadership crisis that followed what an insider described as ‘the pettiness of some top government functionaries’ are yet to be resolved, leading to confusion and widespread suspicion. It would be recalled that as soon as President Mohammed Buhari sacked Akpobolokemi, he directed him to hand over to the most senior director in the agency until substantive helmsman is appointed. Following this directive, the former NIMASA boss handed the staff of office to Barrister Callisus Obi, the Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, to hold forth till the substantive helmsman is appointed. It was at this point that the drama and the in-fighting garnered steam for, as it turned out, Obi’s tenure as Acting DG lasted for only three days or so, following a petition from Baba Haruna Jauro, the Executive Director Finance and Administration of the agency. In the petition, Jauro had argued that he, not Obi, was the most senior director. He said he assumed office 24 hours before Obi. Based on this argument, Obi was removed as Acting Director-General after three days in office and Jauro was appointed as the new Acting Director-General. But some insiders who spoke to The Nation in confidence said though all the three directors were appointed the same day, July, 2012, Jaura and Obi were actually attended to together and given their resumption form to fill at the same minute. According to the source, “It is therefore curious how the resumption form of Jaura, who has been in charge of administration, now allegedly bore a date, 24 hours before the other two directors.” As would be expected, this development has also embarrassed the Buhari-led federal government which is now accused of marginalisation. Aside Jaura and Obi, sources said

Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu, writes on the drama trailing the emergence of Acting Director-General of NIMASA.

•Jauro

•Obi

the third director, Ezekiel Bala Agaba, who is the Executive Director of Maritime Safety and Shipping Development, is also allegedly pressing the necessary buttons as the country awaits Buhari’s appointment of the substantive DG. Sources said the presidency may have been advised to look outside the industry for the choice of the substantive DG of the agency. A top stakeholder of national maritime industry, who requested not to be named now, explained in a telephone chat with The Nation, why Buhari should look outside the agency. “It may sound nice to advise the government to look inwards, but unfortunately, nobody within the agency now has the relevant experience and skill to be appointed as the substantive Director-General of this agency. I think the new DirectorGeneral must have core competence to move NIMASA forward. I am worried that NIMASA has been over politicised. I however advise the government to professionalise the agency. They should do in NIMASA the same thing they are doing in NNPC.” Quest for home-grown DG Notwithstanding the advice of such experts and the power tussle amongst the three executive directors, some other informed insiders and stakeholders who commented on the matter are calling on Buhari

to ignore political intrigues and make core competence his watchword in the appointment. “I think what we need at this point in time is a NIMASA DG that understands the process of indigenizing the sector and making it a true anchor of Nigerian economy. Amongst the three executive directors, Buhari should be able to get the right man for the job. I suggest a careful scrutiny of their skills, experience and knowledge before narrowing down to the most competent. They are heading three sectors of the agency and from these sectors; they have acquired some crucial skills and experiences. Which of these is the most crucial for the needed development of the indus-

Jovago launches Nigerian tourism intelligence report

OVAGO, Africa’s largest hotel booking portal has unveiled its high impact Intelligence Report at a press conference which held on today at the Morning Side Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. This event which served as part of a line-up of activities marking the 2nd anniversary of the company showcased research carried out on key sector trends and innate possibilities for the economy. Speaking at the event, Marek Zmyslowski, Managing Director, Jovago Nigeria said, “Jovago is excited

Guinness Nigeria restates commitment to CSR

XPERTS in the field of Corporate Social Responsibility have described community engagement as the continuing commitment by businesses to behave ethically and contribute to economic development while improving the quality of life of the workforce and their families as well as of the local community and society at large. One outstanding example of such an organisation is Guinness Nigeria. Guinness Nigeria is part of a global brand that takes an active, responsible interest in individuals and communities at any level wherever it operates. The company believes it has a duty to contribute to the communities in which it does business in Nigeria. Diageo, Guinness Nigeria’s parent company, recently released its sustainability and responsibility targets for 2020 which succinctly lay out the company’s plans for tackling issues in three key areas – leading the alcohol in society discourse, building thriving communities and reducing environmental impact. In its statement to announce the 2020 targets, the company said: “At Diageo we believe celebrating life, every day, everywhere means to make the most of life - to be the best you can be at work, at home, with friends, in the community, and for

By Bukola Aroloye the community. We want our people to progress and fulfil their potential and our company to be a leader, to always make a positive contribution to society, to create shared value, wherever we work.” A company that thinks like this cannot but make the right connections at global and local levels to ensure these targets are achieved. In Nigeria, the development projects the company has embarked upon in Oregbeni, the host community for its Benin brewery in Edo State, Nigeria typifies this approach. Top on the priority of the list of interventions was the construction of three major roads for the community. The roads are Igiesota, Ighodalo and Iyoha roads. Igiesota and Ighodalo roads have both been constructed with side drains and walk ways. Phase one of Iyoha, which is the longest road among the three have been completed and was commissioned by the Executive Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole on 14th November, 2013. The governor was so pleased with the quality of the construction work carried out on the road that he enthusiastically decided to rename it GuinnessWay. Plans to commence the second phase of the construction

try? This is what should inform the choice of the next DG, not all these power games, intrigues and sensationalisation,” the source, a key official in the agency, said. The three executive directors, all of who were appointed to the position 2012, include: Haruna Baba Jauro. The Acting Director-General, Haruna Baba Jauro, who hails from Yobe State, served, until his appointment, was the Executive Director Finance and Administration in the agency. Calistus Obi Nwabueze, Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, is a graduate of law from the University of Nsukka. In the last three years, he has represented NIMASA management in various international conferences and other maritime programmes. Insiders said he spearheaded the domestication of the 2006 Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), which better protects the interests of seafarers and stakeholders in general. Captain Ezekiel Bala Agaba, Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Shipping Development, is a Master mariner with Class 1 Certificate of Competency (Foreign Going Unlimited) from John Moore University, Liverpool in 1986. Until his appointment as the Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Shipping Development in NIMASA, he was the Manager, Fuel Operations, ExxonMobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited.

work on the road are underway. Beyond roads, another pillar of Guinness Nigeria’s CSR thrust is education. Still under education, between 2007 and till date Guinness has an ongoing scholarship scheme which gives indigenes of Oregbeni community an opportunity to study at various tertiary institutions in the country via its scholarship initiative in education.

By Daniel Adeleye and Omolewa Oshin to be celebrating its anniversary at this time where Nigeria’s hospitality industry is showing positive growth potential. “E-commerce is the future of business and Nigeria being one of the fastest growing economies in the world has the market size and talent pool to develop this space. As focus in this area grows, we find the hospitality industry will follow this upward trend and this is something we are optimistic about,” he said. Based on the reports, the nation’s tourism sector continues to experience robust developments on the back of increased internet access and improved mobile connectivity. Excited about the additional effort the company is making to improve the state of the local tourism sector, Sally Mbanefo, Director General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation represented by Assistant Director, Dupe Omojola said, “This work that Jovago has begun is one that the NTDC is very proud of.

From left: Dr. Irene Osemeka, a lecturer in the Department of History and Strategic Studies, University of Lagos, Professor Toyin Falola and Professor Olufunke Adeboye during the 50th anniversary lecture of the Department delivered by Falola.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 9, 2015

BUSINESS

Abimbola Adewole is Chief Executive Officer, Prinaas Communications Limited, promoters of The Job Show, a flagship programme dedicated to job seekers, which runs on local and terrestrial television and radio. The Job Show, which has provided about 2,000 jobs for people in the past two years, has eight million Nigerians and 21million Africans following the programme internationally. In this interview with Daniel Adeleye and Omolewa Oshin, Adewole speaks on unemployment crisis and proffers solutions. Excerpts:

‘Why job seekers hardly find jobs’

OW did you come about the idea of The Job Show? I must quickly say that I cannot take The Job Show away from the recognition for my better half, Omotola Adewole. There was a night she told me that she needed to change her job. She was looking for a way to get a better job, she shared her thoughts with me and said I should get her a job. I looked and searched there was no way to talk to other school owners to get a change of job for her. That fateful night I woke up around 4:00 am in the morning, I went to my library and opened up my system and I extracted 69 phone numbers of school owners, and I extracted them to notepad and I also did sms: ‘I said good morning my name is Omotola Adewole. I’m a graduate of Linguistics from the University of Lagos. I can teach English Language, Linguistics or Mathematics. In case you need my services, please kindly call on me.’ And I put her mobile number and I sent that information to 69 school owners. In the morning, quarter to seven or thereabouts, she got the first call, it was on a Saturday. That please, we saw your SMS. Can you please come over for a quick job chat? On Monday I took her there and she went upstairs to meet the owner of the school and about an hour and half later, she came down and said: ‘Bimbo you know what, I got a new job! Immediately she said that I got into action. I was thinking, okay, if this can work for my wife, then obviously, it should be able to work for job seekers. That is the genesis of how The Job Show started. And the moment we did that I put my documents together and I sent it to Cityfm. Cityfm called for a meeting and I attended that meeting, that meeting lasted for 18minutes before like minds accepted that truly we can create more job opportunities for Nigerians. I cannot be saying this without mentioning some fantastic guys in that meeting, like two years ago when I came for the meeting at Cityfm. Oscar Oyesom, Head of Programmes for Cityfm, Nnamdi Obanya was the Business Development Manager for Cityfm as at that time, then I had this fantastic Head of Marketing, Mr. Jumbo we had that meeting together, and these people took that idea and immediately it became something that we all smile about till date. As a human resource expert what’s your assessment of the job market generally in terms of skills gap, opportunities? In terms of skills gap and opportunities, I must say there’re two different things. There is a big vacuum and I must say we have not really gotten the solution right. The skills are there, but there are nobody to tap into those skills. Just like what I treated this morning with an HR adviser from Canada that I advised. She said we can afford to release millions of graduate every year out to the labour market but the moment we are dis-

•Adewole

connecting with skills acquisition and I tell you the millions of graduates that will still be coming out of the universities system will never get a job, the opportunities are endless. If you look everywhere, you find opportunities everywhere. The moment you walk into an office, walk into an average office in Lagos, Abuja or Port Harcourt, you can find a vacuum there of what you need to do. If you walk into a firm, you see a minimum of 10, 15 cars what comes to your mind is you can make money by just watching those cars every day. I tell you, Nigerian graduates are not thinking. We’re not there yet. My suggestions or solutions if I may say is get your degree, get a skill, work on your skill, develop on your skill and move with the trend. Do we have adequate data on the number of the unemployed? Are the available jobs commensurate with spaces? Unfortunately, it’s so sad that as we speak, we don’t have accurate or decent data for job seekers, for employees for entrepreneurs and for employers of labour. I had a guest on my show Mr. Kola Olugbodi who is a background expert, trained abroad and he told me on the show that Bimbo, are you aware that we have over 62 million job seekers in this country? That is killing, that is unfriendly and unsuitable for an economy that wants to grow. And as a matter of fact, the moment you see 30% of your population being unemployed, you should run, you should have a think tank that can sit and quickly reduce that population to 10% or 15%. As far as I’m concerned, having 30% of the population of your country unemployed is a bombshell. You mention that graduates should develop their skills. But do you think the government has done enough in the area of capacity building? I stand to be corrected. But as far as I know, since I have been running this concept, I think what we have is disjointed flow of ideas, where you have various hundreds or thousands of

agencies springing up without having a centralised data, not having a centralised focus point on how to tackle unemployment. What is the essence of having an agency like National Directorate of Employment (NDE) what is the essence of having SURE-P what is the essence of having them. Some agencies that the local government would come up with, state government will develop, federal level will also develop. We don’t have synergy in these agencies, and the moment you don’t have synergy in these agencies, what you have, you have duplications of process, ideas, innovation that will not work. I want to see a future like the foreign land where you have a centralised point where the local government will integrate with the state government, the state government will integrate with the federal government and they can truly say we have empowered people. I foresee that in 10 years or 15 years from now, we should be able to say we have addressed the problem of unemployment in the country. There is still a lot of emphasis on whitecollar jobs, considering the high ratio of applicants entering the labour market. What in your view should be the emphasis? There is no solution to unemployment. What can work is for us to have more entrepreneurs. The white-collar job is fantastic, it’s nice to dress up in the morning get your tie and move to an office and sit comfortably within the four walls of a corporate environment. But I tell you, it will not do you good. I always say on my show that every job is always a parttime. What that means is that there is no job you do as an employee that a time will come that you need to walk away from that job, and if you don’t walk away from the job, the job will definitely walk away from you. The whitecollar job is not the solution, the solution for unemployment is to empower people’s mindset that entrepreneurship is the solution to joblessness. You must empower people. We

must embrace full-fledged entrepreneurial process. Look at China for instance, look at Singapore and Malaysia. A Chinese man can walk into the Chinese Commission in China and decide to invest in Tanzania. There is a provision from the Chinese government to give a minimum of $100, 000 interest-free loans to a Chinese man that wants to invest in a particular economy. As a matter of fact, the interest is negative it is entering into negative and that is the solution. That is the way to go if we need to kill unemployment to a reasonable level in Nigeria. Labour still remains poorly priced here if you consider the fact that some fresh graduates earn as low as N50, 000 per month, especially in banks, manufacturing, etc. How can this be addressed? First you have to consider what is the minimum wage for this country? It is N18, 000. So if we have N50, 000 paid to graduates, that’s fantastic. But my point is the Federal Government will need to have a re-assessment of the minimum wage, for God’s sake how do you give N50,000 to a graduate, who spent four-five, seven years in a university environment, served his fatherland for a year and you take home N50, 000. I’m not going to say the employers are faulty because it is what you have that you can give, it is what the economy can give you that you can also give out to your employees. I would rather prefer it to be a foundational amendment, let the federal government amend the minimum wage and let the normal suitable working environment be put in place for employers. For God’s sake, how can you operate without a steady power supply? How do you operate that you need to make 10 calls to 10 clients and you are recharging your phone for N5, 000. Have been opportune to travel to South Africa, I know how much I loaded my phones, I know how long I was on the phone talking to people internationally. How can you make calls N1000 and you exhaust your N1000 recharge cards on just one conversation, for God’s sake where is the entrepreneurial easy platform for survival? Unfortunately, this is not available here. I would rather want a foundational amendment that minimum wage should be amended, policies should suit employers of labour, economic facilities should be put in place so that every employer, every manufacturer can have a good playing ground to work with. Through your medium you have been able to provide jobs for over 2,000 people. How did you achieve this feat and what next? You know it’s funny when people see me and call me the job man or the man that gives jobs. Some even say the man that is a comedian that does not take money from job seekers. This is my point, because I have been privileged to have a platform like this and people have shared their testimonies on how they got a job. I think we have done more than 2,000, but the one I can lay my hands on is 1,997 people that have been gainfully employed on this platform. We help people secure jobs in banks, manufacturing firms, media firms, aviation, etc. The most interesting part of this process is that I’m not a magician, I don’t manufacture jobs, what I have is what is creating those jobs. I have a platform where employers can release job vacancies, the job seekers can listen and I can connect that information to job seekers, that is my job and that has brought us to this level. Information makes a man succeed, the people that are successful and the people that are not successful have you asked yourself why a graduate of Economics and another graduate of Economics will graduate same time out of the universities and one will decide to live in Lagos and the other decides to live in the village, and 10 years later you see them again the man that lives in Lagos is coping up with the economy he is doing well, and the one that decided to go back to the village has not done well. The missing link to me is information, the man in Lagos has been able to connect to where the information is and applied, but the man in the village will read papers that have already been read in Lagos, people have already applied for those jobs before that information got to him in the village. So it is information vacuum that I’m filling and that is where it sounds to people like I have got the magic wand to create jobs. I don’t have a magic wand and I’m not a magician. The Job Show is an information platform where job seekers and employers connect together.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2015

How to avoid online shopping mistakes M

ANY of us are so in tuned with brick and mortar shops that we have vowed to steer clear of internet shopping. Of course, not by our own choice but due to the unending gory tales and unpleasant experiences some friends and relations have had while shopping online. Well, no one is blaming you. There are so many reasons to be skeptical. Recently, the Internet identity or IID’s first quarter eCrime report stated that the use of phishing attacks, that is a situation where thieves attempt to swindle you out of your sign in credentials and even credit card information by pretending to be a real website or even an online bank is as much as 3% with an almost 150% rise in classic phishes from December 2013 to January 2014. Also in the same report, it was stated that sites with malicious code aimed at compromising people’s privacy has increased by 89%. Target breach fallout exposes retailer’s vulnerability to cybercrime, especially when network defenders fail to heed their own internal security. However, online shop-

•People at shopping mall ping can still be fun, easy, quick and suitable. “To have the best experience with shopping online, consumers must take precautionary measures towards ensuring that their information and money is safe on any website they visit,” cautioned Mr. Kunle Oguneye, Marketing Director of the Online market place,

NBC rewards teachers

IGERIAN Bottling Company (NBC) Limited, an organisation devoted to driving community development and sustainability, has completed its Teacher4Change Project. The project which lasted for a year was concluded last month with a certificate presentation ceremony in the respective schools to teachers that attended the training programme. Speaking at the presentation ceremony which took place at the St. Theresa Primary School, Marine Beach, Apapa, Lagos, Ifeoma Okoye, Public Affairs Manager, Lagos, said, “the knowledge gathered from the training exercises should be put to good use. All teachers should learn to share knowledge and other best practices with their colleagues.” Okoye added that capacity building amongst teachers is a way of enriching the community in the area of education. Sharing her experience from the training exercise, Mrs. Antonia Akude, a teacher in St. Theresa Primary School, Apapa, stated that the training accorded her with the best teaching approach to imparting knowledge while taking into consideration the uniqueness of every child in a classroom. Also speaking at the event, Mrs. Margret Imokhodu, Head Teacher of St. Theresa Primary School, Apapa, thanked NBC Limited for the matchless gesture of training teachers and fo-

cusing on teacher development. Mrs. Udeafor, one of the teachers from Adeniyi Jones Primary School, Ikeja, Lagos, who spoke at the presentation ceremony, expressed her initial intention to quit the teaching profession, but for her nomination to attend the NBC Limited-sponsored Teacher4Change project. She added that the training gave her a new spirit, new discovery and new motivation like never before towards teaching, and that she felt elated to be a teacher, imparting knowledge to the younger generation. The one-year training programme was designed in line with the current school curriculum of the state with tailor-made learning experience that can be put to immediate use by the participants. The teachers were also awarded with gifts and electronic gadgets to assist them in their learning research and best global practices. NBC Limited is fully committed to sustainable partnerships with stakeholders and collaborates with Lagos State Ministry of Education and the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) in the Teacher4Change Project. The project has trained a total of 24 teachers from the two schools adopted by NBC Limited - St. Theresa Primary School, Apapa and Adeniyi Jones Primary School, Ikeja, Lagos, in partnership with Stephen Adams Social Reformation Foundation.

Konga.com. Admitting the existence of internet scams, Oguneye said these can be avoided and reduced to the barest minimum if consumers consider some safety precautions before making online purchases. “It is advisable that consumers conduct some search on the website or seller before making any online purchase.” Explaining, he called on buyers to check to make sure the website offers a return policy or has warranty on high valued items adding that by so doing, the buyer is certain that the product has a guaranty in case it comes with manufacturer’s defect. Also, he encouraged intending buyers to make sure

that the seller has a good seller rating like good delivery rating, good product quality, good communication rating, amongst others. “If you know others who have had consistently positive experiences with the Online store, you can be reassured of the site’s quality.” Advising consumers on how to make payment, the marketing director cautioned buyers to prepay only through the approved payment channels. Citing Konga.Com as an example, he disclosed that “Konga uses only online payment services like Quick teller, GTB, Visa and KongaPay. These payment services let you pay with an account from the online pay-

ment service without having to save your bank or credit card information with a third party.” If you choose to pay on delivery for a third party item, Mr. Oguneye advises that payment be made only after you have received the item and you are satisfied with it. According to a top management staff of Jumia, another wave-making online store, “Most buyers get duped because they ask for unreasonable bargains. Any store both online and brick and mortar store that promises too much at low a price is suspicious. In an interview with the man who insisted on being referred to as only Alhaja Yero, he said that an online store may offer a low price if the item has a defect and refuses to take it back or may be earning extra income by selling buyer’s financial information or “may run an absurdly low price offer and then claiming the item is out of stock, try to sell you something else.” Cautioning buyers, he said that any online store that demands for personal private information should be avoided at all cost. “Except to provide some method of payment, shipping address, telephone number and email address, but if the seller requests information like driver’s licence, bank account information, birth dates, etcetera, please decline. “If you do not know the store, you need to take a few precautions. Conduct your own background check by looking at sites dedicated to

reviewing e-stores. If the store is not reviewed or does not have favourable reviews, do not make purchases from them,” counselled the Jumia top manager. Emphasising the need for a secure computing environment, he noted that if one’s computer is not protected from malicious software, then the buyer’s financial information and passwords will be stolen. According to information from further research, buyers should research on the website or seller and find out if they resell, rent or share information. To do this, you should check the site’s privacy policy to understand how exposed your information may become. Many stores clearly state that they do not share, sell or rent consumer’s information while others state clearly that they own your information and as such can use it as they choose. These are the stores you should avoid. Before you do anything on a shopping site, confirm how secured it is. Before entering any personal or credit card information onto a shopping site look to see if the web address on the page begins with “https!”, not of “http”. That little ‘s’ tells you the information is being encrypted to protect your information. The use of credit card in online shopping has many advantages. It limits your liability to certain amount of unauthorised charges in the case of where your financial information is stolen. Most debit cards do not offer this protection.

Vitafoam expansion on track, says GMD

HE growth and expansion programme of Vitafoam Nigeria Plc remains in focus, the Group Managing Director, Mr Taiwo Adeniyi, has said. The Vitafoam boss who spoke an interview with The Nation recalled that the expansionist programme of the company which began five years ago was aimed at raising shareholders’ value as well as positioning the company as a leader in the industry. Adeniyi who spoke at the World Breastfeeding Week in Lagos, said in the company’s determination to widen its product portfolio and boost shareholder value, it decided to unveil two new products called Vitafoam Early Days Breastfeeding and Pillows. The products, both targeted at reducing infant mortality in Nigeria were unveiled by the Lagos State First Lady, Mrs Bolanle Ambode. Mrs Ambode explained that Vitafoam Nigeria Plc had been at the forefront of products aimed at reducing infant mortality in Nigeria. Mrs Ambode who was represented by Mrs Ladun Ogunbaniro stated that Vitafoam’s Board and Management should be appreciated as

By Omolewa Oshin a good corporate citizen which constantly produces products that address human problems. She reiterated that Lagos State government had increased the maternity leave from three months to six months while there is 10-day paternity leave as a support for proper child care. Adeniyi who reiterated the company’s commitment to production of innovative prod-

ucts to enhance shareholder value noted that the company had transcended beyond mattresses and pillows to production of quality baby soft and hard furniture, pregnancy pillow, bed sheet collection, baby cot, play mat and everything that creates total comfort for the mother and the child. According to him, Vitafoam has ventured into production and supply of flexible, semi rigid and rigid polyurethane foam products in-

From left: Medical Director, Lagos Island Maternity Hospital, Dr. Lawson Imosun, representatives of wife of Lagos State Governor, Dr. Claudiana Sanwo-Olu, Mrs. Ladun Ogunbanwo; Managing Director, Vitabloom Nigeria, Mrs. Titi Bakare and Group Managing Director, Vitafoam Nigeria Plc, Mr. Taiwo Adeniyi, at the launch of Vitafoam’s breast feeding products during the 2015 World Breastfeeding week in Lagos…

cluding furniture, bed and beddings. This expansion gave birth to some of its current subsidiaries: Vitapur, Vitagreen, Vitasco and Vitabloom,” he said. “We produce quality baby soft and hard furniture like the pregnancy pillows, bed sheet collections, pillows, baby cot, play mat and everything that makes the mother and their babies experience total comfort,” he said. Adeniyi commended the Lagos State Government for granting six-month maternity leave as a support for the mothers that are breastfeeding their children. In her keynote address, the guest speaker, Dr Zainab Immam, a consultant pediatrician explained that by the World Health Organistaion’s standard, a baby must enjoy a six-month exclusive breast feeding and must not be less than three months at the minimal. Lagos Island Hospital’s Medical Director, Dr Lawson Imosun thanked Vitafoam’s Board and Management for the continued support for programmes aimed at reducing child mortality in Nigeria and urged other corporate organisations to replicate the same.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2015

INTERVIEW

‘Churches teaching too many wrong values’ Nigerian-born Pastor Sunday Adelaja is the founder of Embassy of God Church, Kiev, Ukraine, the largest Pentecostal church in Europe. He spoke with Sunday Oguntola on the wrong concepts that churches in Nigeria are promoting. Excerpts:

URING your last visit to Nigeria, you were emphatic that the church was the major problem with the nation’s stunted growth. Do you still maintain that stance? I wish to state categorically that I am not talking about any particular ministry. There is nothing personal at all. I am not against any man of God or any denomination. I’m just pointing out what I believe is the truth about the situation in our country. I wish to appreciate all the men of God that have labored in our country. I think they did their best. I believe they taught us what they know. But we still have to admit that things were wrong and these things have to be corrected. What are some of these things? In my opinion, the leadership and the structure of the church in Nigeria are as guilty as the politicians. We Christians like to judge, condemn and point fingers at the politicians. In some cases some churches are worse and some of the practices in churches might be worse than what the politicians do. I am a strong believer in the fact that whatever is happening in any country, the number one cause of it is the damaged value system of that nation. I think we have a faulty and perverse value system in Nigeria. That is the root cause of all our problems, not just

We are used to living the way we like to live. We are used to keeping our freedom, our liberty, our way of doing things. If we now have a god fearing leader that wishes to develop the country, he would have to first alter the way we do things. Until we change, nothing changes. We didn’t want to change, so when Babangida who was more like us overthrew Buhari, we were happy. How does the church come in then? The truth is that •Adelaja our value system comes from our pulpit. Our political leadership. value system comes from our The political leadership religious beliefs. Our value comes from our society. Our system comes from our relileaders are not been imported gious practices. Our value sysfrom Burkina Faso, Guinea- tems come from our educaBissau or from some exotic tional system. In Nigeria, the places like Fiji totally different authority of the religious infrom us. They are not bringing stitutions is much higher than their strange fire to our camp. the authority of the educaNo!!! tional system. How do you mean? So, most of our value sysFor us to have a corrupt tem is influenced by faith and value system as a nation and religion. That is why I am saythen be hoping to produce ing it is the faulty and corrupt godly leaders is hypocrisy of messages we have introduced the highest order. It doesn’t just to our pulpits that is responsihappen! ble for producing corrupt pracIt would take a miracle to tices in our society. have such leaders, what would Can you give examples of normally happen is that even this? when such leaders emerge they A pastor could say that would be largely opposed. somebody would be a millionThey would be criticised be- aire before the end of the year. cause what they are doing will Whereas we are in November not make sense to most of the or December and there are 500 citizens. Most of the people on people in that auditorium. All the ground profess different of them will shout amen!!! Yet value systems. Pastors don’t correct them sayThe value systems the re- ing that no, you would not beformed leaders are bringing to come a millionaire before the our society would conflict with end of the year even if you the ones that people are used shout amen for the whole day. to. The people would be conThe only person that demning them. The conflict would become a millionaire is equals clashes. That means the person that has worked for there would be controversies it. The only person that would and disagreements. become a millionaire is the That is what happened person that has at least signed when we had a quite disci- a contract. When pastors don’t plined, god- fearing, pious clarify that, everybody begins leader in Muhammadu Buhari to believe that some miracles in the ‘80s. He was overthrown would happen. and the people rejoiced beSo when such a member cause the discipline and order goes to his office and he sees he was bringing to our people an unsigned check, for a milwas totally strange to them. lion dollars and nobody is

claiming responsibility for it, he claims it. He believes that it is God that has provided for him. That is how corruption gets from the pulpit to the society. That particular member would claim that God has answered his Pastor’s prayer. He would boldly come to give testimony the following Sunday while the naïve and ignorant members would shout hallelujah! Meanwhile they too are expecting similar miracles and on and on. That is how the vicious circle of corruption from the pulpit to the whole country runs. But isn’t breakthrough real? Breakthrough is a word from breaking forth. Water, springs or streams break forth from under the ground. For it to break forth, it must have been forcing its way for ages or for years before it all of a sudden breaks through. The breakthrough that we see all of a sudden is as a result of hard work, invincible hard work. Yet we don’t emphasis the hard work aspect, we don’t emphasize the preparation aspect. We only emphasize the breakthrough. We think that those breakthroughs only come through prayers. That is another root of corruption. Everybody goes out of the church looking for a breakthrough. So any opportunity they see, even though they are not legal, which they didn’t labor for, they want to take advantage of. We are promoting through our preaching and teachings from our pulpits the culture of getting something for nothing.

OD will make good success available to those who trust in Him and work hard, the Director of Grandmates Schools Ago Okota Lagos, Mr. Olusola Adepoju, has stated. He spoke at 2014/2015 valedictory and prize- giving ceremony of the school. Addressing the graduating students, Adepoju told them that the school has groomed them to attain academic excellence. He told them to develop stronger relationship with God and continue to pursue excellence.

That means, I don’t need to do much but I can get something I can become rich. That way we are promoting corruption in the whole country. Instead of us to promote the culture of hard work before profit, we rather promote frivolity from our pulpits. So, all miracles have to be worked out? The rule of life is that you work hard for your results. You don’t wait for grace or favor to give you results without working for them. We don’t teach people in our churches that truth. If you don’t work for wealth even if you get that wealth through your parents, relatives or spouse, you are still a thief (Prov. 28:24). You are robbing the people who gave you that wealth. That is because somebody worked for what you are claiming. How can you just be going to church and claiming something for yourself? That is another faulty doctrine we have, that promotes corruption in the country. When you teach that people can claim anything, how can they claim when they are not qualified for it? How can they just claim simply because they have greed for it? We are promoting greed, we are promoting lust. There is no product without the process of production. We tell people they can get something by faith, to only believe. We tell them to just give offerings. We teach them about faith offering. We teach them about tithe and offering. Not that I don’t believe in tithe and offering but that is not the

way of receiving wealth. It is the way of preventing curses from coming to your resources. For you to really have wealth, giving tithes and offerings are not enough. Tithes and offerings open up heaven to you. God doesn’t send money from heaven. You have to go to work and be involved in the process of production. It is only that way wealth and riches will come to you. Another problem we have in the nation that is contributed by the church is that we teach millions of people that they should expect miracles. Pastors teach about miracles without telling them the truth about the order of life. The way we are all supposed to live on a daily basis is not through miracles or by miracles. We are supposed to live by laws and principles that God has placed in the laws of nature, in the principles of life and order. Life depends on laws and rules. But we tell people about miracle, miracle, miracle. No matter what you talk to a Nigerian about, they will tell you about the fact that God will do it. We are asking God to do for us what he has asked us to do for ourselves. There is no way God can do for man, what man is supposed to do for himself. There is no way man can do for God what God can only do. Most of our prayers in Nigeria maybe about 80 percent are a waste of time. This is because we ask God to do for us what he has asked us to do for ourselves or we ask God to do for us what he has already done. Thanks to that deceptive teaching, our people expect miracles from morning till night. Our people are looking for miracles. So, any opportunity that presents itself godly or ungodly we take as God’s miracle or blessing. That is a major factor encouraging corruption in the land. In the real sense we don’t teach people that the possibility of miracle is not the order of the day. It is only two percent of our daily life that should depend on miracles from God. The order of life is the observation of God’s laws and order. Obedience to the laws of God and the society brings wealth and blessings.

NEWS

‘How to succeed in life’ While thanking parents to continue investing in their wards, the principal, Mrs. Toluwase charged them to continue praying for their advancement in life. According to her: “Parents have the right to monitor the inputs coming into the lives of their children. As they enter universities, parents should visit them regularly to know how they are fairing.” She charged the outgoing students to be careful and watch the company they

keep. The guest speaker, Pastor Adekoya told the graduating students that their trust in God will be tested. In his speech titled the journey ahead, he told them to abstain from any form of immortality and hold on to God in everything they do. The chairman of the Parents- teachers Association (PTA) Mr. Onuzulike Ikenna, donated books to the library urging the students to make use of the facility.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2015

WORSHIP

COLUMN

Living Faith By Dr. David Oyedepo

Experiencing the wonders in the word! (2) •l-R: Most Senior Apostle Joshua Akinadewo; Senior Superintendent Gabriel Akinadewo (Omo Jesu II) of Motailatu Church Cherubim and Seraphim Worldwide; Superintendent Apostle Emmanuel Oluwole and Apostle David Akinmurele after a special service tagged ‘The Old Rugged Cross’ at Mount of Salvation C&S Church, Oke Igbala, Hyattsville, Maryland, the United States...last Sunday

Oyedepo donates to Boko Haram victims

HE founder of Living Faith Ministries, Bishop David Oyedepo has encouraged widows and children of persecuted Christians in northern parts of the country to take solace in Jesus Christ and his reassuring words of hope in the face of oppression. He spoke during the donation of food and domestic items to the Stephen Children Home Abeokuta, Ogun State at the weekend. Over 50 widows and 400 children orphaned by Boko Haram fighters in Kaduna, Plateau, Gombe, Kano and other parts of the north are taking refuge in the home. Donating the items under the David Oyedepo Foundation, the faith preacher said the nation’s Christian community was very impressed by the relentless commitment of the widows and children to the gospel of Jesus in the face of

•’We share in your grief’ By Adeola Ogunlade

intense persecution. He assured them that the church remains committed to reminding persecuted saints that they are never alone in their time of grief. Oyedepo, who was represented by a team from the foundation led by Gift Okwuazu, expressed optimism that the insurgency in the north will end soonest. According to him: “I am so happy for your resolve, commitment and we will continue to stand by you so that you will remain committed to the gospel of Jesus Christ even in the face of persecution, untold hardship and destruction of properties experience in northern Nigeria.” The Director of Stephen Children Home, Rev Isaac

Newton-Wusu, thanked Oyedepo for his continuous support. He said: “We thank the church for believing in us as we work hard in taking care of the children of the persecuted saints and we will continue to expand and build fellowship.” Newton-Wusu challenged the nation’s leaders to be sincere, upright and firm in their determination to put a stop to the insurgency in the north He stated: “The decision is before our leaders to choose to confront evil and knock it out and nip it in the bud or leave it to let it expand and when it expand it degenerates into a phenomenon that they never dream of because many of them will be sacked and probably they might seek exile somewhere else.”

Liberation Church empowers 150 youths

HE General Overseer of the Mountain of Liberation and Miracle Ministries Dr Chris Okafor has reaffirmed his commitment to the empowerment of more Nigerians through his foundation. Speaking while distributing N50, 000 each to 150 graduates of the skills acquisition programme organised by the foundation, Okafor said the gesture was to empower the beneficiaries to be self-reliant.

By Sunday Oguntola

According to him: “The Liberation skills acquisition programme is to ensure that as we are not only preaching to people to be born again but also impact their lives positively by empowering them to do something for themselves. “In most cases people come to the church for alms, food and help in one way or the other but giving them something to make money for

themselves will reduce that.” He hoped that the beneficiaries will prosper in their respective businesses through hardwork and dedication to service. Okafor urged them to put their efforts into whatever they plan to do and pass on the empowerment skills they have received to others. The church also gave out 13 cars to some of its deserving members.

Winners emerge in Mike Okonkwo Essay contest

ASTER Chisom Emeto of PortHarcourt International School has emerged the overall winner of the 12th Mike Okonkwo National Essay competition. His script was the best among the 2,997 entries received for the annual competition. Emeto emerged winner “For his ability to engage the subject by showing how citizens have been culprit in entrenching bad governance and then proposes what must be

done to institute a political class that will deliver good governance,” the chief examiner, Prof. Akachi Ezeigbo, said. Asuquo Mirabel of Redeemers International Secondary School, East-West Road, Nkpolu, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State clinched the second position while Jonathan Ikechukwu of Kings College Lagos is third. Awe Modupe of Chapel Secondary School Ilorin, Kwara State was fourth while Aladegbami Oluwadamilola of Hallmark Secondary

FARIM marks founder’s birthday

HE grand finale of activities marking the birthday ceremony of Prophet Sam Ojo, the founder of Freedom Foundation Apostolic Revival International Ministry (FARIM), ends today. Venue is FARIM City/

Camp beside Caleb University, along Ijebu-Ode Road, Imota Ikorodu, Lagos. Some of the other activities for the ceremony include free medical services, free eye test, football competition, crusade and others.

School Ondo State was fifth. The overall winner will get N100,000, a laptop and a plaque while his school will get three internet-ready computer and a printer. The runner-up gets N75,000, a plaque and the school will get two internetready computer and a printer. Ikechukwu goes home with N50, 000, a plaque while his school gets an internetready computer. The fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh candidates get a consolation prize of N20,000 each. The winners will be presented at the Mike Okonkwo annual lecture slated for September 3 at the Shell Hall Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos. The theme of the lecture is “The Nigerian political class and the citizens quest for good governance.”

AST week, we began this teaching series with understanding that God’s Word is pregnant with wonders and this is why all miracle, signs and wonders are direct confirmations of the Word. We also explored some of the Wonders imbedded in God’s Word and how to access this wonders. This week, we will examine other virtues required to access the wonders in God’s Words, as we conclude this teaching series. •To access the wonders in God’s Word, We must be Spiritual: It is one thing to be filled with the Holy Ghost but it is yet another to be spiritual. We can be filled with the Holy Spirit and still be carnal. For instance, the Corinthians church was not behind on the gifts of the Spirit yet they were carnal. It is therefore important to be spiritual because a natural man cannot understand the things of God, for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned. The more spiritual we are, the greater our access to the deep things of God (1 Corinthians 1:7; 1 Corinthians 3:1-3; 1 Corinthians 2:14). •We must walk in the Spirit: It is written, “I was in the spirit on the Lord’s Day and I heard....”It takes a man of the spirit to hear from heaven. It is not enough to be born again, filled with the Holy Spirit and be spiritual, we must be men and women that walk in the spirit, this is because God can choose to speak to us at any time. If we are not in the spirit, we are sure to miss His directives and continue with our struggles in life. Therefore, we must mind the associations we keep, because carnal men are sure to corrupt our spirituality (Revelation 1:10; Romans 8:6; 1Corinthians 15:23). •We must desire more Revelation: More often

than not, when things are not working, it is because our insight is inadequate. As we are all aware, we don’t fail exams because we don’t know anything; we fail because we don’t know enough. However, we know that God hates waste and that is why He only unveils treasures to those who are truly thirsty for revelation. As it is written, “I will pour water upon him that is thirsty and floods upon the dry land.” Revelation answers only to the thirsty; it is therefore our crave to know that opens the doorway to revelation (Isaiah 44:3; 1Corinthians 8:2). •We must locate our Godsent ‘Philips’: There are men and women sent our way to provide us with access into the deep things of God. For instance, the Holy Ghost instructed Philip to join the chariot of the Ethiopian Eunuch in order to open up his spiritual understanding. In the same vein, there are individuals appointed to teach and pastor us, and we are sure to be limited in revelations until we find them and engage to maximize all the revelations they bear. However, we should not only receive what they teach, we must also study their lifestyle and see how they apply the things they teach. This is why the Bible admonishes that: “We must not be slothful in business but followers of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises” (Acts 8:28-36; Jeremiah 3:15-16; Isaiah 30:20-21; Hebrews 6:12). •We must engage our spirit in the search: Man is a three-in-one being: he is a spirit; he has a soul and lives in a body. The soul of man comprises his mind, which includes his intellect, his will and emotions. But our intellect is limited in capacity, because it cannot comprehend the things of God. It is only by our spirit that we can access the deep things of God. This is because, “God is a Spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.” It is also humbling to note that most of

the channels through which the scriptures were delivered, were largely ignorant and unlearned men. God simply poured out His plan and purpose for mankind through these ‘ordinary’ vessels. Therefore, it is by engaging our spirit in the search that we can access the deep things of God. Remember, the spirit of the man is the candle of the Lord that searches the inward parts of God’s belly. We must lit this candle and engage same in order to access the deep things of God (Isaiah 26:9; Proverbs 20:27; Luke 15:7-8; 1Thessalonians 5:23; John 4:24). •We must engage in the Art of Meditation: We need meditation to access the mysteries in the Word. As it is written, “Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom”. We need to separate ourselves and ponder on the Word, so we can access the mysteries in the Word. For example, the prodigal son meditated his way back to dignity. David also meditated his way into deep understanding. Furthermore, the Word admonishes that “We give attendance to reading, to exhortation and to doctrine, and to meditate upon these things; given ourselves wholly to the findings that we make, so that our profiting may appear to the world”(Proverbs 18:1;Luke 15: 14-20; Psalm 119:97-100; 1Timothy 4:13,15). Friend, have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Saviour and Lord? If you haven’t, you can do so as you say this prayer: “Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me of my sins. Cleanse me with Your precious Blood. Deliver me from sin and satan to serve the Living God. Today, I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Thank You Jesus for saving me! Now I know I am born again!” For further reading, please get my books: Maximized Destiny, Making Maximum Impact, All You Need To Have All Your Needs Met and Miracle seed. I invite you to come and fellowship with us at the Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, Ota, the covenant home of Winners. We have four services on Sundays, holding at 6:00 a.m., 7:50 a.m., 9:40 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. respectively. I know this teaching has blessed you. Write and share your testimony with me through: Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, Ota, P.M.B. 21688, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; or call 7747546-8; or E-mail: feedback@lfcww.org

NEWS

CTIVITIES marking the fourth anniversary of The Redeemed Church of God, Present Hope Assembly, Ago, Lagos ended last week with a thanksgiving service. Parts of the seven-day activities with the theme leaping with giant strides include bible quiz, first aid training, fire prevention seminar, sports, medical check-up, youth talk, couples dinner and vigils. Speaking to The Nation, the church’s founder, Pastor Gbenga Adanlawo, said the anniversary was planned to impact the community, especially youths.

Church celebrates at four By Medinat Zuberu-Kanabe

“We put together programmes that they can benefit from especially the youth because we believe that getting them engaged will take them off negative things,” he stressed. A church member, Merayebu Elijah, expressed delight that the church that started in the sitting room of one of the members boasts of an auditorium, children’s section and other infrastructure. Elijah said a football competition was organised for eight streets in the community

to help them unwind. The chairman Planning Committee of the anniversary, Mr Ogbhor Venon, said the sporting events were to bring the youths close to God. According to him: “We used the free medical checkup to assist the less privileged; seminar was basically for youth. We talked to them about premarital sex, effect of drug and alcoholism. “The couple’s dinner was for the married people. During the couple’s dinner we counseled them on marriage.”

THE NATION ON SUNDAY,

AUGUST 9, 2015

CHANGE OF NAME

OYELOLA Formerly addressed as Miss Bolanle Olajumoke Oyelola, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Bolanle Olajumoke OgbeOlubanjo. Former documents remain valid. General public take note. IGOCHE Formerly addressed as Miss Igoche Bridget Ojoh, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Abel, Bridget Ojoh. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

LEKOMO Formerly addressed as Miss Lekomo, Adepeju Latifat, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Ajisebutu, Adepeju Latifat. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

BALOGUN Formerly addressed as Balogun Abdul-Lateef Kayode, now wish to be addressed as Balogun Lateef Olukayode. Former documents remain valid. General public take note. UMAR Formerly addressed as Hajara Abdullahi Umar, now wish to be addressed as Hajara Bala Kawu. Former documents remain valid. General public take note. MERAI Formerly addressed as Miss Merai Janet Iember, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Elem Janet Iember. Former documents remain valid. Gboko Local Govt., Benue State and general public take note. DADA Formerly addressed as Miss Dada, Oriade Rachael, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Okanlawon Ben-Okoh, Oriade Rachael. Former documents remain valid. Fedearal Polytechnic, Ilaro. LASPOTECH, Isolo and general public take note. GODWIN Formerly addressed as Miss Patience Emmanuel Godwin, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Patience Emmanuel Pesendorfer. Former documents remain valid. General public take note. TUNDE-AJAYI Formerly addressed as Aanuoluwapo Funmilayo Oluwaseun Tunde-Ajayi, now wish to be addressed as Aanuoluwapo Funmilayo Oluwaseun Oluwafemi. Former documents remain valid. General public take note. ISAU Formerly addressed as Miss Isau, Adunni Sinmiat, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Showunmi Adunni Sinmiat. Former documents remain valid. AOCOED and general public take note. ARAOYE Formerly addressed as Miss Funlola Araoye, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Funlola Oluwatoyin. Former documents remain valid. General public take note. KOLAWOLE Formerly addressed as Mrs. Kolawole Abiodun Olufunso, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Lawal, Abiodun Olufunso. Former documents remain valid. General public take note. ALAMU Formerly addressed as Miss Alamu, Abiodun Adeoti, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Martins, Abiodun Adeoti. Former documents remain valid. LAUTECH, FUNAAB and general public take note. ADENIYI Formerly addressed as Miss Adeniyi, Moyosoluwa Abiola, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Ogunleye, Moyosoluwa Abiola. Former documents remain valid. General public take note. AGADA Formerly addressed as Miss Blessing Acheini Agada, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Blessing Acheini Oluwashina. Former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note. AKINSOLA Formerly addressed as Miss Akinsola, Abiola Hope, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Fatunbi Akinsola Abiola Hope. Former documents remain valid. Oyo State Board of Internal Revenue, The Polytechnic,Ibadan and general public take note.

ANIMASHAUN Formerly addressed as Mr. Olusegun Oredein Animashaun, now wish to be addressed as Mr. Martins Joseph Adebowale. Former documents remain valid. General public take note. IKEJI Formerly addressed as Ikeji Jane Oluchi, now wish to be addressed as Gabriel Jane Oluchi. Former documents remain valid. General public take note. UDOH Formerly addressed as Miss Udoh, Iniobong Ufot, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Abah, Iniobong Ufot. Former documents remain valid. Medical Council (MDCN) West African College of Surgeons(WACS), Akwa Ibom State govt. AKSG, and general public take note.

BABAFEMI Formerly addressed as Miss Babafemi Jumoke Olapeju, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Ajayi, Jumoke Olapeju. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OLOWOOKERE Formerly addressed as Miss Olowookere, Bunmi Precious, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Olupona, Bunmi Precious. Former documents remain valid. General public take note. RAPHEAL Formerly addressed as Miss Rapheal, Omowumi Esther, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Obasa, Rapheal Omowumi. Former documents remain valid. General public take note. NWOSU Formerly addressed as Chioma Alban Nwosu, now wish to be addressed as Chioma Ikem Ndubuisi. Former documents remain valid. General public take note. OYEDIRAN Formerly addressed as Taiwo Oyeladun Oyediran, now wish to be addressed as Taiwo Oyeladun Oladele. Former documents remain valid. General public take note. EZEANOCHIE Formerly addressed as Miss Chidinma Cindy Ezeanochie, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Chidinma Cindy Avuka Emesiobi. Former documents remain valid. General public take note. NWOKONKO Formerly addressed as Nwokonko Frances Ezinne, now wish to be addressed as Miss Onwuadika Frances Ezinne. Former documents remain valid. Madonna University, MDCN, WAEC and general public take note. AZEEZ Formerly addressed as Azeez, Racheal Olufunke, now wish to be addressed as Oyebande, Racheal Olufunke. Former documents remain valid. General public take note. KOLAPO Formerly addressed as Kolapo Muibat Oluwatoyin, now wish to be addressed as Salami, Muibat Oluwatoyin. Former documents remain valid. General public take note. OKOYE Formerly addressed as Miss Okoye, Lucy Njideka, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Godwin, Lucy Njideka. Former documents remain valid. General public take note. AKINROGBE Formerly addressed as Miss Akinrogbe, Omolara Moji, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Olalekan-Ojo, Omolara Moji. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME EZE Formerly addressed as Miss Eze, Obiageli Joy now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. OKORO, OBIAGELI JOY. Former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. EBONGE Formerly addressed as MISS MONICA PAULINUS EBONGE now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. MONICA HENRY OKULU. Former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. AHMED Formerly addressed as AHMED Elizabeth Rabiat, now wish to be known and addressed as AKINYEMI Elizabeth Rabiat. Former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. ODUWAIYE Formerly addressed as Oduwaiye, Adunola Christiana, now wish to be known and addressed as Owolabi, Adunola Christiana. Former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. NWANKUDU Formerly addressed as Miss NWANKUDU, GLORY AMARACHI now to be addressed as Mrs. FRIDAY, CHIDUZIEM GLORY AMARACHI. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note. AGBA Formerly addressed as MISS AGBA BIBIAN CHIAMAKA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. EZEJIOFOR BIBIAN CHIAMAKA. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note. ASOWATA Formerly addressed as MISS GLORY OMOREDE ASOWATA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. GLORY OMOREDE OMOIJADE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note. VONDEE Formerly addressed as Miss Vondee, Moromoke Oluwatoyin, now to be addressed as Mrs. Akinbayo, Moromoke Oluwatoyin. Former documents remain valid. General public should take note. YUSUFF Formerly addressed as Miss OLUBUKOLA YUSUFF now Wish to be addressed as Mrs. OLUBUKOLA YESU. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note. OKEGBENRO Formerly addressed as Adetutu Oluwabunmi Okegbenro, now wish to be addressed as Adetutu Oluwabunmi Adeusi. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

AKINNIFESI Formerly addressed as Miss Abosede Omolola Akinnifesi, I henceforth wish to be addressed as Mrs. Abosede Omolola Ogunseye. Former documents remain valid. General public take note. ANIMASHAUN Formerly addressed as Miss ANIMASHAUN, HABIBAT OLOLADE now to be addressed as Mrs. OKE, HABIBAT OLOLADE. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

AKINMEJI Formerly addressed as Miss Akinmeji Afolake Grace, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Tomoloju, Afolake Grace. Former documents remain valid. University of Lagos and general public take note. NWOCHI Formerly addressed as Ogechi Jennifer Nwochi, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Okoye, Ogechi Jennifer. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

NWOSU Formerly address as Miss Nwosu, Alice Uchenwanne, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Chilaka Alice Uchenwanne. Former documents remain valid. Federal Medical Center, Umuahia and general public should please take note. MADU Formerly address as Miss Cynthia Ezinne Madu, now to be addressed as Mrs. Cynthia ezinne ezeakunne. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public should please take note. AKPABIO

ENIBE Formerly addressed as Chimaluka Chineloromma Enibe, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Chimaluka Chineloromma Ajoke SamuelBaiyeri. Former documents remain valid. General public take note. IMOH Formerly addressed as MISS CHINWENDU WEALTHY IMOH now to be addressed as MRS. CHINWENDU WEALTHY NDUKAUBA EGESI. Former documents remain valid. Imo State University, NYSC and general public should please take note. UGOCHUKWU Formerly addressed as MISS CHIDINMA JESSICA UGOCHUKWU now to be addressed as MRS. CHIDINMA JESSICA AKINPELU. Former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

Formerly addressed as INYANG PATRICK AKPABIO, now to be addressed as MRS. INYANG ODEY OKOLI. Former documents remain valid. CROSSRIVER UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (CRUTECH), NYSC and the general public should please take note.

EGUEKE Formerly addressed as EGUEKE CHRISTIANA, now to be addressed as UVIANENE CHRISTY. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. IGBOKE Formerly addressed as Mr. IGBOKE EMMANUEL now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. EDWIN NWORIE EZAKA. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note. CHIKODI Formerly addressed as MISS ECHEMAZU, BENEDICTA CHIKODI now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ANI BENEDICTA CHIKODI. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

OBUA Formerly addressed as MISS CHIMUANYA JENNIFER OBUA now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. CHIMUANYA JENNIFER OSSAI. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. ATUNDE Formerly addressed as Miss Atunde Kudirat Bolanle, now to be addressed as Mrs. Adewale Kudirat Bolanle. Former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. FASASI Formerly addressed as Fasasi Moriamo Motunrayo, now to be addressed as Sosanya Moriamo Motunrayo. Former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

OLUMATI Formerly addressed as MISS OLUMATI, QUEEN NKESI, now to be addressed as MRS. AMADI ALI QUEEN NKESI. Former documents remain valid. Rivers State Ministry of Education and general public should please take note.

SALISU Formerly addressed as Miss Salisu Oluwaseun Risikat now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Olayiwola, Oluwaseun Ruth. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Chukwu Chinendu Peace and Umeh Chinendu Peace, refers to one and the same person. Former documents bearing the above names remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHINAKA Formerly addressed as MISS NGOZI CHINAKA now to be addressed as MRS. NGOZI CHINAKA AWAK. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. ILORI Formerly addressed as Miss Ilori, Abimbola Oluwaseyi Elizabeth now to be addressed as Mrs. Oyeyiga, Abimbola Oluwaseyi Elizabeth. Former documents remain valid. University of Ibadan, NYSC and general public should please take note. OPARA Formerly addressed as Miss Opara, Onyemachi Patience now to be addressed as Mrs. Mang, Onyemachi Patience. Former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public should please take note. OLAPEJU Formerly addressed as Miss Olapeju Subuola now to be addressed as Mrs. Olapeju Subuola Anozie. Former documents remain valid. Lagos State Model College,Igbonla, Council of Legal Education and general public should please take note. IRINGERI Formerly addressed as Abeka Kpuwaiseibema Iringeri now to be addressed as Ngwoke Chidi. Former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. BOMA Formerly addressed as Mr. Boma Tennison Horsfall now to be addressed as Mr. Abam Princewill Tamunoemi. Former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. AJOKE Formerly addressed as Miss Olaleye, Olayinka Ajoke now to be addressed as Mrs. Olaleye Olayinka Oluyemi. Former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

UBOH Formerly addressed as Miss Uboh, Jane Onyinyechi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Akamnonu, Jane Onyinyechi. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Sulieman Paul Michael Kudu and Umaru Sabo, refers to one and the same person. Former documents bearing the above names remain valid. General public should please take note.

IKWUNGA Formerly addressed as Miss Ikwunga, Chinyere Gloria, now to be addressed as Mrs. Ikhumetse Cosmas Chinyere Gloria. Former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. NOSIRI Formerly addressed as Miss Nosiri Joy Akuyoma, now to be addressed as Mrs. Anthony Joy Akuyoma. Former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME Chukwunenye Christian Nwagbara and Chukwunenye Christian Dibulo, refers to one and the same person. Former documents bearing the above names remain valid. General public should please take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME Nwigue Chukwuemeka S., Nwigue Chukwuemeka U., Nwankpu Chukwuemeka and Chukwuemeka Solomon refers to one and the same person. Former documents bearing the above names remain valid. General public should please take note. CHIMELU Formerly addressed as Geraldine, Heleen Chimelu, now to be addressed as Geraldine HeleenChukwu- Chimelu. Former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. GERALD Formerly addressed as Gerald, John Chimelu, now to be addressed as Gerald John Chukwu- Chimelu. Former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. NWACHUKWU Formerly addressed as Miss Nwachukwu, Joy Chiamaka, now to be addressed as Mrs. Enyi, Joy Chiamaka. Former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. ADEBAYO Formerly addressed as Miss Adebayo Ololade Rofiat, now to be addressed as Mrs. Mosaku Ololade Rofiat. Former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CHIKWEM Formerly addressed as Chikwem Ngozi Assumpta, now to be addressed as Ezeh Ngozi Assumpta. Former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. ANYIMUKWU Formerly addressed as Miss Anyimukwu Nwanyieze, now to be addressed as Mrs. Kaforca Camilus Nwanyieze. Former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ALARAPE Formerly addressed as Miss Alarape, Kikelomo Oluwatoyin, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Jinadu, Kikelomo Oluwatoyin. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. DANIEL Formerly addressed as Daniel Micheal Chimelu, now wish to be known and addressed as Daniel Micheal Chukwu-Chimelu . All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. CHIMELU Formerly addressed as Sarah Hannah Chimelu, now wish to be known and addressed as Sarah Hannah Chukwu- Chimelu. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. AKOKAIKE Formerly addressed as MISS AKOKAIKE EVAWERO PATRICIA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. DAIRO EVAWERO PATRICIA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. PEREHO Formerly addressed as Pereho Olubukola Oludunsin, now wish to be known and addressed as Pereao Olubukola Oludunsin. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public should please take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME AKUBUENYI CHIOMA JENNIFER,OKOLIE CHIOMA JENNIFER and OKOLIE CHIOMA VIVIEN, refers to one and the same person. Former documents bearing the above names remain valid. General public should please take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME Blessed Michael Moses and Idorenyin Michael Moses, refers to one and the same person. Former documents bearing the above names remain valid. General public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Elijah David Ifeanyi and Mama Brenda Ifeanyi, refers to one and the same person. Former documents bearing the above names remain valid. General public should please take note. UDOKA Formerly addressed as UDOKA Sunday, now to be addressed as Sunday Nwaeze AKOR. Former documents remain valid. Union Bank of Nigeria and general public should please take note. ODUWAIYE Formerly addressed as Oduwaiye Adunola Christiana, now to be addressed as Owolabi Adunola Christiana. Former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. SKINAT Formerly addressed as Omowunmi Skinat Ajagunjeun, now to be addressed as Olawunmi Beatrice Ajagunjeun. Former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. AKANMU Formerly addressed as Miss Akanmu Fausat Temitope, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Idris Fausat Temitope. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. HAMED Formerly addressed as Hamed Olamilekan Taofiq, now wish to be known and addressed as Aweda Olamilekan Taofiq. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. ADVERT: Simply produce your marriage certificate or sworn affidavit for a change of name publication, with just N4,500. The payment can be made through FIRST BANK of Nigeria Plc. Account number - 2017220392 Account Name - VINTAGE PRESS LIMITED Scan the details of your advert and teller to gbengaodejide @yahoo.com or thenation_advert @yahoo.com. For enquiry please contact: Gbenga on 08052720421, 08161675390, Email- gbengaodejide@ yahoo.com or our offices nationwide. Note this! Change of name is now published every Sundays, all materials should reach us two days before publication.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 9, 2015

Why the phones no longer ring

EBERE WABARA

WORDSWORTH I 08055001948

ewabara@yahoo.com

Royalty versus modernism

A T I O N A L MIRROR Front Page of August 6 welcomes us this week: “This is because the government said it is (was) looking for ways to depopulate the scheme. From Broad Street Diary comes this headline blunder: “Traders lament closure of market to mourn dead leader” Do we mourn the living? “Buhari reads riot act (the riot act) to public officials” “Fake policemaan bags nine months (months’) imprisonment” “List of loan defaulting (loan-defaulting) customers of Enterprise Bank” (Full-page advertisement by the bank)! “AAG: Wrestling Federation rounds up (off) trials” Wrong: in Victoria Island; right: on Victoria Island THISDAY of July 31 comes in now: “Customs threaten to shutdown (shut down) Intercontinental Hotel over unpaid duties by rice importers” “Nigeria (Nigerian) Breweries flags off (inaugurates) 7th Golden Pens Award” “Dr. Okezie, in his speech, said the group has (had) a vital role to play in….” (National Mirror, July 23) “Osinbajo defends bail outs (bailouts), lauds Kano on IDPs” (THE NATION ON SUNDAY, August 2) “And tell him they are from his children and love (loved) ones.” “And hold him in your bossom (bosom) forever till we meet again.” The next contribution today is from the back page of DAILY Sun of July 31: “Last week Thursday….” Either: Last Thursday or Thursday, last week “OonI of Ife is dead” was the Front Page news headline of THE NATION of July 29, 2015. It is an abomination. In Yoruba land, an Oba does not die. When it is officially announced by the relevant institutions and authorities, it is “Oba waja” meaning literally, “His Royal Majesty has entered the rafters”! When Mahatma Gandhi, Indian nationalist statesman and spiritual leader died in 1948, Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of independent India, in a radio broadcast said “our

leader, the father of the nation. Mahatma Gandhi expired last night”. In Yorubaland, when an Oba dies, you use euphemisms and idioms such as: His Royal Majesty/ Highness has passed away/passed on/passed over or has kicked the bucket/has expired. An imaginative, creative and foresighted editor or sub – editor could have used the Germanism: “His Royal Majesty is kaput”! Whoa! That would have been the topic of discourse for decades to come! In May 1965, a creative and an imaginative editor or sub – editor of Daily Times came out with the memorable headline: Akintola taku (He remains adamant)! No headline has surpassed that in Nigeria’s journalism history, or is there any? Another note on usage: Instead of “the king who has just died”, we correctly say or write: “the late king”. – The OXFORD Primary School Thesaurus, page 102. Men (and women too) will never ever stop arguing about correct usage. Cheers! (BAYO OGUNTUNASE/ 08056180046) THE PUNCH of July 25 takes over the hot seat: “So for him to wake up one day and become an overnight whistle blower when he was redeployed to a different directorate because of his incompetence and corrupt tendencies speaks volume (volumes).” “Group to sensitise women on (to) Da Vinci surgery” From The PUNCH we move to THE NATION ON SUNDAY of July 26: “Our grouses with (about) Dickson, by PDP leaders” “In response to the suggestion that the siege on (of) the house lasted longer than necessary….” “People under suchh circumstances deserve access to their lawyers as and (or) when they might deem it fit….” Still on THE NATION ON SUNDAY: “Former governor Sule Lamido and his two sons, who have being (been) under investigation by the EFCC….” “…Buhari’s anticorruption stand notwithstanding, only holistic action plans, not mere rhetorics (rhetoric) can help to address endemic corruption in the system.”

“Reps raise alarm (the alarm) over EFCC’s invitation of Saraki’s wife” “Police rescue kidnapped (kidnap) victim within 2 hours” “We are in the business to provide service per (par) excellence and to grow with our customers.” “Nigeria’s gas reserves rises (rise) to 188trn scf” “Q1: Consumer goods coys’ profit shrink (shrinks)” “How Obi (Obi’s) appointment as Acting DG was reversed” “…was mistakingly (mistakenly) referred to as ex-commissioner for Finance in Abia State.” Next is The PUNCH of July 24 which circulated a few diseased entries: “Lagos arrest (arrests) 132 hemp smokers” The back page of the PUNCH under focus disseminated three infractions: “…observing that the situation in (on) our educational landscape had gone from bad to worse.” “…which would have made it necessary for them to pay through their noses to educate their wards and children outside of the country.” Friday Musings: pay through the nose irrespective of the number. “…in which the halfbaked products of yesteryears are dropped into the system as instructors.” Reversing the rot in our schools: ‘yesteryear’ is uncountable. From The Guardian Editorial of July 21 comes this error: “To underscore the growing concern, a report released few (a few) years ago by a presidential cancer panel….” There is a distinct difference between ‘few’ and ‘a few’. “Japaul Oil, Agip Exploration restrained from transfering (transferring) funds on hired vessels” THE GUARDIAN of July 14 collects the baton of dishonour from the preceding edition: “South East students, Igbo groups blame Buhari, APC over (for) Ekweremadu” “Anyone wearing face veils will be arrested, say Chad (Chadian) police” ‘Veils’ are worn on faces and occasionally on heads. From the context of the news story there was absolutely no need for ‘face’! Editors must edit cable news items and not slam them sheepishly and slothfully! “LAUTECH workers on strike over non-payment of 13 months (months’) salaries”

READ with interest the article written by the former Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati titled “The phones no longer ring”. The article which generated mixed reactions was a reality of what becomes of a public office holder when he is out of office. As a matter of fact, the frustrations of a very prolific Abati that we used to read in The Guardian newspaper in those days to improve our writing prowess are well understood. For an Abati, the phones will no longer ring as before, at least for now. As a matter of fact, the votes of Nigerians silenced the phones of his former boss Goodluck Jonathan from the moment INEC declared Muhammadu Buhari winner of that memorable election. I have never been bothered about any staff or appointee of former President Goodluck Jonathan because they have ‘Buhariphobia’ which is more than enough to cope with if found wanting and needing to do some ‘transaction refunds’ to Nigeria as it may be. However, I must say that I observed clearly an attempt by Abati to make his literary prowess a pedestal for which he needs to launch back into public space which he has hitherto missed during his sojourn to Aso Villa where his phone was ringing for four years but in which the only voice he could hear was that order like a ‘Zombie’ to react in defence of the government he worked for. Of course the truism that “he who pays the pauper dictates the tune” cannot be left out of the situation the former spokesperson found himself. My reaction was orchestrated by my observation in what has become the personality of Reuben Abati in the last few years, even as he wrote his first article to regain back fans in the literary space. The narration of Reuben Abati was a description of a service in a destabilised, defensive, disorganised and unwilling system. Think of this for a moment, from day one in office, Abati got a clear picture of what he was hired to do and was willing to play the card either for the glory of his esteemed office as a spokesperson for Mr President and/or any additional reason(s) best known to the former columnist himself. In reality, considering the cluelessness of Goodluck Jonathan’s government, all professionals hired to serve in that government were required to make up for the weakness of their boss which was lack of capacity to deliver on the designated tasks. “Attack them back” was the first command given to all media and communication team on the list. Even while out of office, Abati still referred to the then opposition as “desperate and hyper negative”. But today, the class Abati referred to as hyper negative elements are making clear difference to school the former columnist and his former principal how to run a government with adequate consideration to the feelings of everyone. In Abati’s submission, I am worried that it is still not clear to him that you can speak for a government without recourse to insulting the people who have dissenting opinions about the policies of same government you work for. In most civilised world like America and Europe,

•Reuben Abati By Segun Olulade

spokespersons to the President or Prime Minister of the country speak for the government but not speak against the people as there is clear cut difference between the two. But it is obvious that because Abati is used to defence and aggression as conflicting strategies he has lived with for few years back, his very first article was premised on making an expose of the kind of pressure he went through in the hands of Nigerians begging for money or for favour. This is a sharp defence mechanism to attract pity and sway emotions on his side as a helpless former public office holder. In sharp reaction to his tantrum to those who patronised him for favour while in office and with an attempt to paint himself innocent, I read on Abati’s personal website a ‘sharper’ response by an anonymous reader who wrote: “Bros you do well but as a very exposed Nigerian, you know better that power is transient and that you are as relevant to our society as your most recent office. For those calling for financial assistance which you referred to in the last paragraph, abeg make you no call dog as monkey for them because na for their very eyes some people allege say you erect one magnificent structure for Lekki Phase-1 between 20112015.” To Abati, a very friendly memoir of his account in office suitable for everyone’s consumption, possibly humorous and fun would have been a very good way to launch back to public space. There is no gain launching a missile. Well, Abati has become used to verbal missile over the time. There is truly something missing in the public relation skill expected of a former spokesperson to the President of a country. The people win no matter how you look at it. Clearly, Reuben Abati is coping with loneliness of his time, more so when the glamour of celebrating people who served with a bad government is gradually being detached from our system with on-going seriousness of the present government. Save for ‘Buhariphobia’, Abati would have bagged several post service awards of excellence weeks after he left office. Simply, Abati missed those invitations for awards and accolades that would immediately follow exit from office whereby people were still celebrated even after serving very badly. Why no one bothered about Abati after leaving office, he thought the strategy for being in the news is to release controversial literary piece into the public like ‘hip-op wrappers in conflict’. Otherwise, his piece ordinarily should have been better as a response to an

allegation or a pressure. Why no one is ready to fight our former spokesperson, Abati still has his fighting glove ready on his fist. But the pressure is clear, it is a pressure emanating from neglect, frustration and loneliness, yet our literary icon friend has forgotten that Nigerians read him widely as a ferocious critic of government while he wrote for The Guardian. Abati could not make us to follow whatever suits him…‘criticise successive governments, serve with another government and criticise people during the time, out of that government and criticise anther government and the people’. Whether he likes it or not, his phone can no longer ring continuously under a very wasteful government that has put Nigeria in its current state of economic shamble. In more developed societies, when government officials leave office, they focus on the line of their career and make more landmark achievements capable of putting them on spotlight again whereby they don’t struggle to get noticed.A busy and forward looking expolitician or political aide sees a greater time ahead for achieving new cause. He sees the past as what was gone; he rolls out activities for making the future more meaningful and interesting to himself rather than looking back and lamenting. In any case, throughout that submission, Abati never told us what was good in the villa that he enjoyed. For an Abati, he can still choose the path of honour. Unleashing his frustrations is a big error too early. We would love to read his memoir because no one doubts the literary ability of Abati. For now, he should understand that Nigeria and indeed Nigerians are still trying to cope with reformation of the bad legacies of immediate past administration and we are keen at the crusade going on in favour of the masses. I doubt if it interests anyone to know what Abati went through while serving with former President Goodluck Jonathan for four year. In the period, Abati never spoke to the people rather his job was to find who criticised GEJ so he could fire back. We did not see a Presidential spokesperson that was talking to us for four years. At the moment, he has to live with the reality that his phones will no longer ring as usual. If he is in doubt, he should check with other ‘shooters’ like Femi Fani Kayode and Doyin Okupe, truly am sure their phones also ring less at the moment. And now, he should know the reason why his phones no longer ring. The people are simply not interested in talking with him. Olulade is a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, representing Epe Constituency II

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 9, 2015

Greece says cannot handle migrants; UNHCR calls crisis 'shameful'

REEK Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras asked Europe to help in handling tens of thousands of refugees coming in from Syria, Afghanistan and other war zones, saying on Friday his cash-strapped country could not deal with them alone. The influx has piled pressure on Greece’s services at a time when its own citizens are struggling with harsh cuts and its government is negotiating with the EU and the IMF for fresh loans to stave off economic collapse. Boatloads of migrants arriving every day had triggered a “humanitarian crisis within the economic crisis,” Tsipras said after a meeting with ministers. “The EU is being tested on the issue of Greece. It has responded negatively on the economic front - that’s my view. I hope it will respond positively on the humanitarian front,” he said. The comments came as the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) called on Greece to take control of the “total chaos” on Mediterranean islands, where thousands of migrants have landed. About 124,000 have arrived this year by sea, many via Turkey, according to Vincent Cochetel, UNHCR director for Europe. “The level of suffering we have seen on the islands is unbearable. People arrive thinking they are in the European Union. What we have seen was not anything acceptable in terms of standards of treatment,” Cochetel said after visiting the Greek islands of Lesbos, Kos and Chios. “I have never seen a situation like that. This is the European Union and this is totally shameful,” he added.

Hostages killed in Mali hotel siege from South Africa, Russia, Ukraine

HE three hostages killed during a siege of a hotel in Mali used by United Nations staff were from South Africa, Russia and Ukraine, a Malian military spokesman said on Saturday. Another four foreign nationals were freed when Malian forces stormed the hotel a day after suspected Islamist gunmen took over the building in the central town of Savere, the U.N. mission in Mali said earlier.

POWERFUL typhoon battered Taiwan on Saturday with strong wind and torrential rain, cutting power to 3.62 million households as the death toll rose to six. Four people were missing and 101 were injured, authorities said. Hundreds of flights were delayed or canceled and more than 9,900 people were evacuated from their homes. Television footage trees uprooted and power poles toppled over, a moped being swept into the air by wind and shipping containers piled on top of each other at a port. “The storm will weaken but we expect more rain, particularly in southern Taiwan,” said Wang Shih-chien, an official with the island’s Central Weather Bureau. The storm made landfall early on the island’s east-coast counties of Yilan and Hualien,

Powerful storm hits Taiwan, millions without power, six dead bringing more than 1,000 mm (39 inches) of rain in mountainous areas and wind gusting up to 200 kph (124 mph). Although the eye of Typhoon Soudelor passed Taiwan, and was heading toward mainland China, rain was expected to lash the island until Sunday morning. “This is one of the worst typhoons I have ever seen,” said a sewage station engineer surnamed Jiang, who was inspecting pumping stations early on Saturday in eastern Taiwan. “My car was shaking when I was driving. There are too many trees down, and I even

saw six downed power poles.” In the capital, Taipei, large steel sheets and rods were blown off a half-constructed stadium and city authorities shut down much public transport. “The metal roof of the house next door to mine was completely blown away,” said resident Jack Lin. “I saw a car crushed to bits.” Authorities issued flood and mudslide alerts and television showed mud trapping people and murky water nearly covering the roofs of cars in some areas. Among the dead was one

person who drowned in his flooded home and another who was killed by a falling tree. Earlier, authorities said one adult and one child had drowned at sea, while a foreign worker was killed by a falling sign and a rescue worker was hit by a car and killed while clearing downed branches from a road. Taiwan Power, the island’s main power company, said 3.62 million households had lost power. While some supplies had been restored, 1.5 million households were still without power on Saturday afternoon, it said. Fears that Soudelor would be as devastating as Typhoon Morakot in 2009 were unfounded. Morakot cut a path of destruction over southern

Taiwan, leaving about 700 people dead or missing and causing $3 billion worth of damage. The Tropical Storm Risk website downgraded the typhoon to a category 1 storm by Saturday afternoon, on a scale of 1 to 5, and indicated it could weaken as it moves toward the Chinese province of Fujian, which it is due to hit late on Saturday. Authorities there have evacuated people on the coast and begun cancelling flights and trains. Fujian has issued its highest typhoon alert, media reported. Typhoons are common at this time of year in the South China Sea and Pacific, picking up strength from warm waters but losing it over land.

Attacks on army, police, U.S. special forces kill 50 in Kabul

People hold umbrellas in heavy rain as Typhoon Soudelor approaches, in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, August 7

Migrant shipwreck survivors grieve children swept from their arm

HEIR children slipped out of their grasp as the boat overturned and were lost to the waves. Now, traumatised parents brought to safety after a deadly Mediterranean shipwreck are being given psychological support in Sicily. The crossing was supposed to be the start of a new life in Europe, but at the Caritas-run “Saint Rosalia” centre in Palermo, grieving parents plucked from the sea off Libya sit numbly, watching those children that did survive and asking what the future now holds. Psychologists, cultural mediators, volunteers and members of Doctors Without Borders (MSF) do what they can to comfort the 367 survivors brought to Sicily by the Irish patrol boat which rescued them after Wednesday’s disaster. On the patio, two veiled women are hugged in turn by psychologist Anna Cullotta, who has experience in helping migrant survivors. Nearby, three children, still wearing the plastic shoes handed out as they got off the boat on Thursday, play a game of table football with a vol-

unteer. “Wednesday’s shipwreck was the most tragic and poignant of all, because among the recovered bodies and missing people there were numerous children,” Cullotta told AFP. A young Syrian mother, who had hoped to join her husband in Sweden with their son, instead saw him drown as the fishing boat went down. Boys wave from the Irish military vessel Naimh on its arrival in Palermo on August 6, 2015, with 367 … “She set off with the idea of a future, full of hope, then the tragedy. She called her husband to tell him the news, and she hasn’t spoken since,” Cullotta said. Scenes of violence and fear in the moments leading up to the tragedy were recounted by police Friday, who said survivors had described how the traffickers slashed migrants with knives and thrashed them with belts. Five suspects from Libya, Algeria and Tunisia were arrested after witness said they sealed some 250 desperate passengers in the boat’s hull shortly before the accident, giving them no chance of escaping with their lives when

the vessel sank. - Pretending Mummy is still alive The survivors need help to “carry their psychological and emotional burden”, Cullotta added. A migrant and an orphaned child from Sierra Leone disembark from Italian Coast Guard vessel Dattilo … Chiara Montaldo, an MSF coordinator for Sicily, said “they need to speak, to vent”, explaining how the aid organisation brought a team of cultural mediators to the centre “who speak the same language as them, who share the same culture”. “The most important thing is that people feel listened to because they are completely disorientated, they have lost their bearings in a country they do not know, so having something which reminds them of their culture, something familiar, is fundamental.” Cullotta said they were suffering a double blow. “Added to the shipwreck is the loss of their children “ — and all after the stress and trauma of long, difficult and often dangerous journeys from their homes to departure points in Libya.

WAVE of attacks on Afghan army, police and U.S. special forces in Kabul on Friday killed at least 50 people and wounded hundreds, dimming hopes that the Taliban might be weakened by a leadership struggle after their longtime leader’s death. The bloodshed began with a truck bomb that exploded in a heavily populated district of the capital and ended with an hourslong battle at a base used by U.S. special forces. It became the deadliest day in Kabul for years. The radical Islamist insurgents claimed responsibility for both the police academy attack and the battle at the U.S. special forces base, though not for the truck bomb. The scale of the violence

heightened obstacles to reviving the stalled peace process and conveyed a no-compromise message from the Taliban at a delicate time following last week’s revelation of Mullah Mohammad Omar’s death and an ongoing dispute over leadership of the radical Islamist insurgency. “The question is, who is sending the message?” Thomas Ruttig of the Afghanistan Analysts Network said. The number of casualties from Friday’s attacks was expected to rise as details continued to emerge from the authorities. On Saturday, NATO-led coalition forces confirmed that one international service member and eight Afghan contractors were killed in the attack on Camp Integrity, a base used by U.S. special forces near the main airport.

Dozens killed, wounded at police academy

HE Camp Integrity assault followed a suicide bombing at a police academy on Friday evening that killed and wounded over 40 people, the Afghan interior ministry said on Saturday. A police source said the final tally was higher — 26 killed and 28 hurt. “The bomber was wearing a police uniform and detonated his explosives among students who had just returned from a break,” a police official said. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the insurgents launched both the police academy and Camp Integrity attacks, but he earlier refused to comment on Friday’s early morning truck bomb that tore through buildings in central Kabul, killing and wounding over 250 people. The Taliban, who were toppled from power by the U.S.-led military

intervention in 2001, rarely admit to attacks that kill a high number of civilians. Divisions have broken out within the Taliban high command following last week’s appointment of Mullah Akhtar Mansour as new leader. Previously seen as open to reviving peace talks, the Taliban have since pledged to press on with the insurgency that has killed and wounded thousands this year. Ruttig said that with the latest attacks in Kabul, Mansour could be sending a message of resolve to the militant rank and file as well as to the Afghan

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 9, 2015

Re-presenting the Under-represented: Toward A Recovery of the American Dream in Higher Education •Continued from page 3 Recovery and RePresentation of the Subject: What the above historical excursion has shown is a drama of misperception and wilful misrepresentation played out across history, across time and across different societies. What we can learn from this is that there are no naturally inferior people, races or societies. This is merely an ideological stigmatization designed to maximize temporary historical advantages and justify economic belligerence. No society is exempt from this. By the same token, history does not confer any special status on any people or society. In the interplay of opportunities and unique circumstances, the relay baton for human advancement, as we have seen, often shifts. As it emerged from the long night of the dark ages, the “modern” west has had to define itself and construct its identity not only in total opposition to and exclusion of all that had come before, but also against an inter-lapping barbarous other. This is merely one of the founding myths of modernity as it wilfully ignores the crucial contributions of non-western societies, particularly the Muslim and African worlds, to the very notion of modernity. Identity, then, is a function of difference. But while to differentiate is normal and in order, to discriminate on the basis of difference is not and is profoundly subversive of the very basis of our common humanity. The struggle for a just representation in higher education in America must proceed with this reaffirmation of our mutual humanity and the common ancestry of humankind. But while the struggle for political justice and equity proceeds apace, the underrepresented, rather than succumbing to self-pity or reconciling themselves to the status of second-class citizens, must also gird their loins to make a positive intervention on the education stage both collectively and individually. For groups long suppressed and repressed, long ideologically conditioned to seeing themselves

as naturally disadvantaged, this may be a tall order indeed. But it is a banal truism that heavens help those who help themselves. And one is very pleased to note that integration of minority groups into the mainstream of higher education in the United States are already evident in many of the thoughtful proposals for this forum. From the redemptive spirit in African American sports, the need for blacks and other minorities to utilize available educational support in USA, computer literacy training for older adults, to pedagogical alternatives for the marginalized and the growing need for online higher education. These are all immense resources for a journey of hope and redemption, and the recovery of the American dream in higher education. Indeed as history has shown, the great ideas for moving a society forward do not come from hegemonic groups that are happy with the status quo but from the ranks of the marginalized and excluded. These momentous insights are often wrenched at great personal costs and immense suffering. We recall Sigmund Freud writing with what he himself has modestly described as a “a modicum of misery”. We recall Antonio Gramsci, a consumptive hunchback, being thrown into jail with the war-cry: “We must prevent this brain from functioning for twenty years”. Unfortunately for Mussolini, it was precisely in prison that Gramsci wrote his best work. And we must remember the example of Franz Kafka, wracked by consumption and tuberculosis, a victim of multiple displacement, who nevertheless went ahead to create some of the most haunting allegories of the human condition. Let me caution, however, that while we struggle for political justices and equity and we deploy all available intellectual resources in the quest for the full representation of all marginalised groups in higher education in the United States, we must not allow hatred to dwell in our heart. For this is ultimately self-defeating. We return then to the good Bishop of Chiapas, Bartholome de Las Casas , who reminded the conquistadors that humankind is one.

If this is turned on its head, we discover that we are all guilty of marginalizing and oppressing the other. From the phenomenon of Mfecane or dispersal visited on South African nationalities by Chaka, the late Zulu conqueror, the reality of Arab slavery in Black Africa even at this moment, the colonial ravages and despoliation in the old and new world, to the current decimations of globalization, there is no record of human advancement which is not at the same time a record of barbarity— to paraphrase Adorno. And as Albert Camus has observed, “There is a solidarity of human-beings in aberration”. But while we regret the dark spots of history with all their trauma and pains, let us also remember the bright moments. In the United States. let us recall the examples of great and good Americans like George Washington who declined to reign as the sovereign monarch of his beloved country and chose to be ruled as an equal citizen; Abraham Lincoln who sought a just human solution to societal conflicts; and of course the man we all honour this month, Dr Martin Luther King, who had a dream of an America rid of social segregation and underrepresentation and was happy to lay down his life in the pursuit of that ideal. When we recall the strivings of these great icons of social and political justice, even as we add our own modest contributions at this forum, we can come to the conclusion that the utopia represented by the United States and incarnated in the American dream has merely been deferred. My task is done. I thank you for the excellent opportunity. •Keynote speech by Professor Adebayo Williams at the forum: UnderRepresented Groups and Education: Challenges for the 21st Century. February 12-13 2004 , J. E. and L. E. Mabee Library, University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas. •Adebayo Williams was the Amy Freeman Lee Distinguished Chair of Humanities and Fine Arts University of The Incarnate Word, San Antonio, TX78209

•Chief Executive Officer, Infinity Paints, Mr. Sehindemi Johnson (left), with Dr Titilayo Anibaba of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, (LASEPA), when Infinity Paints won Africa’s Most Preferred Paint Products of the Year 2015, recently.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2015

QUOTABLE “We must evolve viable mechanisms for near-self sufficiency in the military equipment and logistics production complemented only by very advanced foreign technologies. The Ministry of Defence is being tasked to draw up clear and measurable outlines for the development of a modest Military Industrial Complex for Nigeria.”

SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2015 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL. 9, NO. 3302

—President Muhammadu Buhari, directing the Federal Ministry of Defence to produce an action plan for the establishment of a military industrial complex.

HE mild and sarcastic debate about what Nigeria and President Muhammadu Buhari gained from his July 19-22 visit to the United States will continue for a little longer. It is in the nature of politics for its combatants to plot hugely distractive talkfests to upstage one another. The president was ecstatic about the visit, and his aides have reeled out flattering figures of the economic, security and diplomatic gains the four-day trip afforded the president and the country. Presidential aides mention some N2.7trn investment funds, in addition to the considerable thaw in the tense relations between Nigeria and the US. Furthermore, said the aides, the US, notwithstanding the constrictive Leahy amendment, may be preparing to sell modern weapons to Nigeria to revitalise the intractable war against Boko Haram. For the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which President Buhari at least once mispronounced during his meeting with President Barack Obama, the gains of the visit are unquantifiable. The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), however, remains convinced the visit was virtually useless. But considered as a whole, there are elements of the visit that are quite salutary both to the prosecution of the war against terror and the badly battered image of Nigeria. Yet, it is difficult to resist the feeling that the visit, apart from being hasty and a little incoherent, glossed over many salient economic, political and diplomatic issues. The visit was not entirely worthless, as the PDP has sought to portray it, perhaps out of envy. But it probably suffers the problem of timing and content. On the day the visit really began on July 20, the president timed his justificatory Washington Post piece to announce his diplomatic intentions and economic and social reengineering hopes. It read like a summarised transcendental agenda. Not only was the Washington Post forum to advocate such germane state issues misplaced, it was indefensible that the core elements of the piece were not debated at home before they were presented to the international community. Among other issues raised, the article asserted quite definitively that the Buhari presidency’s reengineering programme would be anchored on three fundamental elements, to wit: “First, instill rules and good governance; second, install officials who are experienced and capable of managing state agencies and ministries; and third, seek to recover funds stolen under previous regimes so that this money can be invested in Nigeria for the benefit of all of our citizens.” In that case, the visit should have waited until at least the first two elements of the road map were tackled. Importantly too, it is curious that the president missed the import of his weighty statement, which gave the impression that either his ministers, who he says will be appointed in September, are superfluous, or that he already has a small caucus of super-thinkers conceiving infallible policies for him. The anti-terror war is important and urgent, and Nigeria needs all the help it can get. But to visit the cerebral nation of the US and its equally cerebral president without his policy team, and without having sieved and weighed his fundamental programmes, is nothing short of undue haste. He may have returned with trillions of investible funds, and spruced up the image of Nigeria from the cavalier level the Jonathan presidency consigned it, but it seems all but certain that so much more could have been achieved had President Buhari placed the cart and the horse in their proper order. The visit also came at a time when the president was yet to appoint most of his advisers. Had he the full complement of advisers, and probably ministers too, he would have recognised the great value of state visits as a diplomatic tactics by nations to assess the depth and vistas of visiting leaders, not merely as a means of

Buhari’s superfluous ministers and national rebirth

•Buhari

•Obama

presenting a shopping list. From President Buhari’s Washington Post article and all the reports of what transpired during his US visit, including his gaffes, it is doubtful whether the results he returned with met the huge expectations of the trip. But perhaps his expectations were limited to essentially what the president and his aides conceived and adumbrated. If that is the case, the president must be told he had no right to circumscribe his expectations, given the wider and ramifying needs of Nigeria, and the place and destiny of the country as an ambitious continental leader. In fact, now, the fear in many quarters is that the president’s inability to appoint advisers and ministers — for that is what it amounts to — constrains the quality of his policies, if not his ideas, as will be shown presently. It is not clear what the private feelings of his host were, but it may seem the US will be in a quandary just how to plug in to the needs of a visitor who has not quite enunciated his economic or social road maps with clarity and coherence. President Buhari appears fixated on his honesty and integrity, two of his many virtues evidently beyond dispute, as indeed his host, President Obama, testified and amplified. But before visiting anywhere, President Buhari needed time and required diligence to enunciate his economic blueprint and a concise and expansive programme for societal regeneration and reengineering. Neither at home in Nigeria, nor anywhere he has visited, including the US, had the president given indication of what his great programmes would be. Perhaps work is ongoing on these two matters. Again, if that is the case, let him add a third item — a political manifesto for Nigeria, on which he has said absolutely nothing. Except this columnist is greatly mistaken, no one has heard President Buhari declaim on any of these germane national issues with the expansiveness and comprehensiveness they demand. The suspicion is that, as many have argued, citing the examples of improved electricity supply, some stability in fuel supply, and renewed vigour in the anti-corruption war, the president may be relying

on his body language to whip the country into line, just as former president Jonathan’s body language gave fillip to corruption and impunity. In addition, he is believed to be hoping that once a sizable fraction of the about $150bn he said was stolen from the Nigerian treasury was recovered, the country would naturally bounce back, the economy would get back on the right tracks, quality of life would improve, crime and terrorism would decline, and Nigeria would be well again. It is not clear what proportion of Nigeria’s problems which that automated exercise would resolve, or whether the government’s grandiose hopes of an effortless future are not largely utopian. In any case, there is no precedence anywhere to show that given the gravity of the country’s problems, not to talk of the depth and breadth of the challenges it is facing, superficial measures are incapable of cutting the skein of crises in which Nigeria is entangled. The president may have doubtless read about a few recent economic miracles in some parts of the world, particularly Asia. He may wish to take a cue from any of them, particularly China. The more than 10 percent growth rate sustained by China since the 1980s was not by accident. It was largely a product of the conviction, passion and relentless commitment to radical, if not revolutionary, reformist economic policies by Deng Xiaoping. For Mr Deng to stake everything to enunciate his state capitalism idea, an idea that earned him terrible and costly rejection twice during the 1966 Cultural Revolution and shortly before its end, he undoubtedly possessed depth of economic thought, far beyond what Chairman Mao Zedong boasted, and also way beyond what Mr Deng’s friends in the Chinese leadership, Zhou Enlai and Hua Guofeng, displayed. It is remarkable how the courage and depth of one man impacted the lives of hundreds of millions of Chinese and Asians, and astounded and gripped the attention of the rest of the world for the past three decades and more. It may be unfair to suggest that President Buhari does not possess some of the attributes dis-

played by Mr Deng, but so far, he has not shown those attributes as reassuringly as would persuade the country that a pair of steady hands and a very reflective mind is presiding over Nigeria. He postpones the appointment of advisers and ministers until sometime in September. Yet he says he will recruit the best to help him govern the country. Does he not have faith in these ministers and aides to contribute meaningfully and substantially in setting the foundation for Nigeria’s greatness, a foundation none of his predecessors, including the opinionated Olusegun Obasanjo, had been able to set? His reliance on a shadowy coterie of aides and permanent secretaries to formulate the rules, reforms and guidelines he talked about is seen by some of his critics, many of whom benefited financially from the Jonathan presidency, as a cover for his inability to come up with the critical and core ideas by which he hopes to run the country. He had 12 years to run for office, and enjoyed the luxury of nearly five months after he won the presidency, but he has been unable to articulate his economic ideas as clearly as Mr Deng, who was inspired by Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore, enunciated his own economic model. Not only has President Buhari’s economic ideas remained vague — at least nothing more transcendental than the practicalness he is famous for — there has also been no concise political idea and no uplifting notion of a great nation and society. It was General Douglas McArthur’s illuminating concept and vision of a modern Japanese society and its future in the murky waters of Asian geopolitics that led to his formulation of a unique Japanese post-war constitution, which was fleshed out by Japanese bureaucrats, including Shigeru Yoshida. It is possible President Buhari’s aides are hard at work to formulate these needed ideas, and perhaps at the proper time, he will articulate them. When he does, the country will understand the direction he hopes to lead them. In his Washington Post article, he told the world he would be presenting before President Obama how he hoped to proceed. He needed to have made the presentation first to those who voted him into office, secure their assent, and give them direction. The scale of the rot is huge, as he has said repeatedly. But he must not expect that the fundamentals of that rot will respond to his talisman on the scale the country requires simply because his idiosyncratic rule is factored into the equation. Citing President Obama’s slow progress in assembling his first cabinet is hardly an inspiring example. The APC may defend President Buhari as much as they can, but the job of healing Nigeria and setting her on the path to greatness is too urgent to subject to the methodicalness the ruling party boasts of. What the country wants to see in September, the arbitrary date President Buhari has set for his cabinet’s composition, are both a fine set of ministers and, more importantly, a coherent vision of his economic, political and social ideas. He must not disappoint, even if there is nothing he has said or done so far to indicate these great and ennobling ideas will come on the soaring scale expected by Nigerians. What he has done so far may be noteworthy, and his personal attributes inspiring. But what sets a glider apart from a rocket is the propulsion system. As Mr Deng proved in China, and Charles de Gaulle showed in France after World War II, and Joseph Stalin illustrated in the former Soviet Union, and as a host of other ancient and modern empire builders showed poignantly, nothing moves a nation, stabilises it, and entrenches it in greatness as the force of idea. It is President Buhari’s ideas or their lack that will determine what kind of ministers and advisers he will appoint, what rebirth the country will experience, and whether his legacies will endure, unlike the questionable and short-sighted legacies of his predecessors.

Published by Vintage Press Limited. Corporate Office: 27B Fatai Atere Way, Matori, Lagos. P.M.B. 1025, Oshodi, Lagos. Telephone: Switch Board: 08034505516 Marketing: 4520939, Abuja Office: Plot 5, Nanka Close AMAC Commercial Complex, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja. Telephone: 07028105302. Port Harcourt Office: 12/14, Njemanze Street, Mile 1, Diobu, PH. 08023595790. Website: www.thenationonlineng.net ISSN: 115-5302 E-mail: sunday@thenationonlineng.net Editor: FESTUS ERIYE