THE NATION August 16, 2014 by The Nation

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THE NATION,

EBOLA OUTBREAK

SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2014

It’ll take six months to contain Ebola—Doctors Without Borders

ENEVA (Reuters) - It will take about six months to bring under control the Ebola epidemic, the head of Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) (Doctors Without Borders) said yesterday, saying the outbreak in West Africa felt like “wartime, is moving, advancing.” Simultaneously, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said the scale of the Ebola outbreak appeared to be “vastly underestimated”, as the death toll from the disease reaches 1,069. Joanne Liu, international president of MSF, speaking after a 10-day trip to West Africa, said more experts were needed on the ground and was critical of the WHO) for declaring Ebola a “public health emergency of international concern” only on August 8. “We need people with a hands-on operational mindset,” to combat the outbreak, Liu told a news briefing in Geneva. Liu said she had conveyed those messages to the WHO

•Epidemic under-estimated, says WHO

and “that I think the wakeup call was too late in calling it a public health emergency of international concern.” “I think we have a common understanding on it now,” Liu said. “Now we have to find out how that is translated into concrete action in the field ... a statement will save lives only if followed up on the ground.” On Thursday, the WHO said staff in West Africa had seen evidence that the numbers of reported cases and deaths vastly underestimate the scale of the Ebola outbreak and said it would coordinate “a massive scaling up of the international response”. The death toll from the world’s worst outbreak of Ebola stood on Wednesday at 1,069 from 1,975 confirmed, probable and suspected cases. The majority were in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, while four people have died in Nigeria. “If we don’t stabilise Liberia, we will never stabilise the region. Over the next six

months we should get the upper hand on the epidemic, this is my gut feeling,” Liu said. The WHO admitted that ”extraordinary measures” were needed to deal with Ebola. However, the WHO said the risk of transmission of Ebola during air travel remained low, as the disease is not airborne. Spokesman for the WHO Gregory Hartl said in Geneva that beds in Ebola treatment centers in West Africa are filling up faster than they can be provided. He said the flood of patients to newly opened treatment centers shows that the outbreak’s size is far larger than official counts show. Hartl said that an 80-bed treatment center opened in Liberia’s capital in recent days filled up immediately. The next day, dozens more people showed up to be treated. As a consequence, Kenya Airways has rejected pres-

sure to suspend its flights to the Ebola-hit states of West Africa. Meanwhile, the international ratings agency Moody’s says the Ebola outbreak - the world’s deadliest so far - may have significant economic ramifications on the affected countries because commercial and transport disruptions are expected to last at least another month. The WHO said the outbreak was expected to continue “for some time”. “Staff at the outbreak sites see evidence that the numbers of reported cases and deaths vastly underestimate the magnitude of the outbreak,” its statement said. “WHO is co-ordinating a massive scaling up of the international response.” Part of the challenge was the fact that the outbreak was in “settings characterised by extreme poverty, dysfunctional health systems, a severe shortage of doctors and rampant fear”, the WHO added. In Nigeria - where four peo-

ple have now died of Ebola - the residency training programme for doctors who work in government-run hospitals has been halted amid a nationwide doctors’ strike that began in July. With fears about the spread of Ebola, the authorities want to be able to bring military doctors into hospitals as part of contingency plans, he says. The Ebola cases in Nigeria

are linked to the late Liberian government employee, Patrick Sawyer, who brought the disease to the city of Lagos in July. The outbreak is affecting the Youth Olympic Games about to start in China, as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has ruled that Youth Olympics implement Ebola ban, and Sierra Leone and Nigeria have withdrawn from the Games.

Experts urge Kebbi to initiate preventive measures

ESPITE the widespread fears over the outbreak of Ebola virus in Nigeria, the Kebbi State Government is yet to initiate preventive measures against it in the state. This is in spite of the fact that Kebbi State shares border with other countries. Authorities of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Birnin-Kebbi, has therefore called on the state government to, as a matter of urgency, provide the necessary support towards procuring the equipment needed for the screening of the virus in general hospitals across the state. The Chief Medical Director, Federal Medical Centre, Birnin-Kebbi, Dr. Abdullahi Ibrahim, made this appeal at a one-day sensitization on the presence of Ebola virus in Nigeria. Ibrahim declared that the authorities of the FMC had decided to dedicate a special building for the hospitalization of victims in case there is a reported outbreak of the virus in the

Khadijat SAIDU Birni Kebbi state. He added that a special laboratory would be designed and dedicated to screening blood. In his speech, the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim K. Aliyu, represented by the Head of service, Babale Yauri, said the state government would be ready to partner with any agency that would be collaborate with it in the area of prevention and control of the virus. He said the Kebbi State Government was fully aware of the epidemic in Nigeria, assuring that the state government would take a decisive measure to curtail the menace if it happens in the state. In his remarks, the Emir of Gandu Alhaji Muhammadu Illiyasu Bashar, commended the FMC authorites for deeming it fit to organise the workshop, adding that people should use their senses in order not to contract the virus.

Churches raise prayer warriors against virus in Anambra •Dreaded corpse not Ebola but accident victim, says Red Cross •From left: Permanent Secretary, Lagos Ministry of Health, Mrs Omodele Osunkiyesi; Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr Wale Ahmed and Commissioner for health, Dr Jide Idris, at a briefing to dispel rumour that more than four people had died of Ebola in Lagos... yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Abuja residents urged to be circumspect about handshake

ESIDENTS of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were yesterday advised to watch the way they shake hands with strangers so as to curtail the spread of the Ebola virus. The Minister of State for FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, who declared open a sensitization workshop for market women on the Ebola virus, said the Federal Government would do everything possible to curtail the spread of the disease Represented by the Secretary of Social Development in the FCT, Blessing Onuh, the Minister said the action of the Federal Government has been able to prevent the virus from spreading to other parts of the country. Also, the President of the Nigerian market women under the auspices of the Market Women Association in the FCT, Mrs Felicia Sani, has insisted that the apology tendered by the Liberian authorities over the importation of Ebola virus into Nigeria by a Liberian man,

Bukola AMUSAN, Abuja Patrick Sawyer, is not enough. She said the Liberian government have to give more explanation to Nigerians over the permission given to the late Sawyer, having got the knowledge of his health status as a carrier of Ebola virus. Already, people, through

the social network are raising questions, challenging the competence of Liberia’s Deputy Finance Minister, Sebastian Omar, who cleared late Sawyer to travel to Nigeria for ECOWAS conference. Earlier, the Director General of the National Orientation Agency, NOA, Mike Omeri in his welcome ad-

dress, said the FG had already placed the Federal Ministry of Health on red alert to prevent the spread of the disease. He urged market women to be mindful of their neighbours and report all suspicious persons and movement to law enforcement agencies. The workshop was organised by the National Orientation Agency (NOA).

Following the outbreak of the Ebola virus disease in the country, churches in Anambra State under the auspices of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) have raised prayer warriors to fight against the spread of the virus. This is coming on the heels of the Red Cross Society in Anambra State yesterday claiming that the corpse an indigene brought from Liberia penultimate week, which threw the state into confusion, died in an auto accident and not from Ebola virus. The hint was given yesterday in Awka by the group,

Lagos rejects Ebola trial drug, Nano Silver

HE Lagos State Government has declared its resolve not to use any drug other than the American ZMAPP for the Ebola patients in its custody. The Commissioner of Health, Dr Jide idris, disclosed this to The Nation, exclusively yesterday. As at yesterday, it was still sketchy if the drug has arrived the shores of Nigeria. Dr Idris said another drug, Nano Silver, being suggested by the Federal

•Insists on America’s ZMAPP •First Consultant Hospital to be reopened Miriam EKENE-OKORO and Wale ADEPOJU Government by a Nigerian scientist is a natural health product and “the state is not ready to take chances with the health of the patients at all. “Should we have access to ZMAPP now, right away, we will start the administration on the patients.

“We are attending a meeting soon with the Task Force on Ebola to know if the ZMAPP drug is available as stated by the Federal government,”Idris said. There was confusion at press time as to whether the Nano Silver drug, which the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, said was expected to arrive Nigeria on Thursday actually arrived as scheduled.

Findings by our correspondent yesterday showed that the country was yet to take delivery of the drugs. It was gathered that the only thing that the country had received were personal protective equipment and some personnel who are in the country to train Nigerian health workers. The country, it was gathered, was still expecting the drugs, which might come in any time next •Continued on Page 3

Nwanosike Onu, Awka represented by its vice chairman, Prof Peter Katchy during Nigerian red Cross society preparedness and response plan programme for Ebola virus disease. However, briefing reporters yesterday at Gelly’s Gardens resort in Awka, the state chairman of Social Security Outreach (SSO), a political arm of (PFN), Evangelist Peter A.K Okoye, said very soon the virus would be a thing of the past. He said with the efforts of the Federal and State governments and the combined prayers by the churches, that the battle would soon end. Also, the chairman media group of (SSO), Pastor Emma Obiorah, told reporters in Awka yesterday that intercessors had been set up from different churches to checkmate the spread of the virus. “Ebola is just a name given to one sickness out of many, but Christians have started praying that God will heal all, including the so called deadly virus,” he said. They also commended Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State for his unprecedented achievement within the short period of his stay in the state, especially on security, education and infrastructure.

THE NATION,

EBOLA OUTBREAK

SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2014 The Lagos State Government has said that it did not received a penny from N1.9 billion intervention fund approved by the Federal Government to fight Ebola in Nigeria. The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, who disclosed this at a press briefing, also disclosed that the government did not neglect patients being treated in isolated facilities in Mainland Hospital. According to him, “This is a collaborative effort between the federal, state government and other foreign partners. As at now, we are yet to receive a penny from the central government. “All the money spent on the health of the Ebola victims were funds released

News 3

Lagos replies patients’ families

•We didn’t neglect victims —Fashola•Denies receiving intervention fund from FG Miriam Ekene-Okoro and Wale Adepoju

by state governor, Babatunde Fashola. He released the money immediately the first case was reported. And that is the money we have been spending. “Perhaps maybe the Federal Government will release later. But we are grateful for all the Federal Government has done-giving us technical support in the fight against the virus, releasing their staffs for contact tracing, case management, operation of

the emergency operation centre and the rapid response team.” Idris, who was flanked by the State Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr. Wale Ahmed; Information and Strategy counterpart Mr. Aderemi Ibirogba and Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Media, Mr. Hakeem Bello, argued that treatment of Ebola patients is different from those of other ailments. He said: ”To give the confirmed Ebola cases a chance to live, they have to be properly managed. Our major challenge in

this regard is personnel with requisite expertise. Hence our call for volunteers. “We require experts in different medical fields, including critical care and infectious diseases, and these still need to be trained using the World Health Organisation (WHO) protocol which may require up to five days of committed training before such experts can apply their skills safely without risk to themselves. Our international experts are currently providing this

•Joint Task Force cordoning off kidnappers’ camp in Southern Ijaw area of Bayelsa State, during a raid on hideouts used by kidnappers in Bayelsa creeks yesterday. Photo: NAN

Kogi residents fault designation of hospital as isolation centre Some residents of Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, have faulted the government’s With the mounting fears of decision to designate a part possible outbreak of the of the state Specialist Hos- deadly Ebola virus disease in pital as isolation centre in states across the country, case of outbreak of the banks in Kogi State appear Ebola virus disease in the to have devised countermeasures to check the menstate. Speaking with The Nation ace. The Nation observed that on the development, a Lokoja resident, who asked some of the banks around not to be named, said the Lokoja, the state capital, have decision by the government put in place measures to keep the disease out of the state was not well thought out. and from disrupting their The Commissioner for In- operations. formation, Hajia Zainab At the Access Bank branch Okino, had after the last located along the ever busy weekly State Executive Murtala Mohammed Road in Council meeting, an- the commercial heart of the nounced the designation of city, customers who entered the State Specialist Hospi- the premises were made to tal as isolation centre in advance to a point where they case of any reported case of wash their hands before prooutbreak of the Ebola virus disease in the state. James Azania, Lokoja Faulting the decision, anfor making ill-advised other resident castigated the government for what he policy decisions. described as its penchant According to the resident, the choice of the facility as

Banks mount disinfectant points ceeding into the banking hall. At the point where a water dispenser, a wash hand basin, liquid soap and serviette are on display, customers are politely asked by a team of staff stationed there to wash their hands before they are allowed to proceed. Inside the banking hall, tellers and other staff attend to customers with gloved hands and other protective gears across the lower part of their faces. The pattern was observed in other banks visited around the area, where sundry sanitary measures were put in place to keep away the dreaded Ebola virus disease.

isolation centre for the deadly Ebola virus was as faulty as another recent one made by the government on the choice of routes for its newly intro-

‘Lagos won’t use non-American drug for Ebola’ •Continued from Page 2

week. Meanwhile, Idris disclosed yesterday that First Consultant Hospital where the first case of EVD occurred would be reopened soon. This, he said, followed the mandatory three rounds of state certified decontamination process.

He said the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Clinic, was shut after the detection of a confirmed case of the disease at the facility. He said the state would facilitate the decontamination process of the clinic, adding: "25 patients and health workers at the facility when the case was detected are presently under surveillance.".

duced intra-city bus transport service. His word: “That decision is very wrong. In fact, it may be counterproductive. That area that government said is isolation centre in case of outbreak of Ebola virus disease in our state, apart from its compactness, portends the risk of even further spread if such a thing happens. “That place, aside being located next to the Federal University Lokoja, is also a high density residential area. “It was like what happened with the intra-city bus service that was introduced last week. Instead of the government to work out better routes that will impact more on the people, the buses have started plying choked parts of the city centre and this is without expansion of the roads to accommodate the buses. “If we must copy from others, we should get it right and not just to arrive at sensitive decisions that might boomerang.” Although the Commissioner for Health disclosed that the state had not had any reported case of Ebola outbreak, the government, she said, was being proactive in case of any reported case.

training on site.” Debunking claims that the Federal and State Government is not serious about the fight against the Ebola virus disease, he said: ”Contrary to the rumour currently in circulation that facility at the infection control centre has no basic amenities, it has a 40-bed- complex with male and female wards for confirmed cases, eight bed isolation ward upgraded to suspected cases, backed up by two emergency tents to hold additional 24 suspected cases. “Dedicated borehole; dedicated 60 KVA generator backed up by a 250 KVA unit for the centre; involvement of Lagos State Waste Management Authourity(LAWMA); Two 5000-litre septic tanks, one each for urine and faeces, decontaminated prior to evacuation.” He said although four people had so far lost their lives in the country, including Patrick Sawyer, the late Liberia-American, there is no reason to panic as the government is partnering with the Federal Government, development partners and well meaning individuals to contain the scourge. The commissioner added: ”The mass fear about this disease is harmful. Only visibly ill patients can spread the disease. Spread requires direct contact. The biggest public service to the community in Lagos is not to hide suspected cases or attempt treatment outside the internationally sanctioned treatment centre we have provided.” Also speakingwith journalists at the Lagos House, Ikeja yesterday, Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, SAN, said the state government is taking adequate care of all patients who have tested positive to the Ebola Virus Disease.

He also said the state was gradually developing capacity to manage the emergency situation and called for caution in the media publication of commentaries on efforts to contain the virus. He said that these are very challenging times for health authorities in managing the disease because it is just developing capacity for its management as the Ebola Virus outbreak was not something that was planned for. Sympathising with the victims of the decease, the governor said he could understand the trauma, the concerns and anxiety that the family members were going through. He explained that the outbreak is not something that was expected, or planned for and that getting people who are sufficiently knowledgeable and skilled but who are health workers to go in to the Isolation Wards to work has been quite a challenge. “It is a matter of very monumental courage for those who have signed up and we commend their courage. There is a personnel capacity issue of those who can go in and look after patients. “First, Physicians who have to do clinical work there and then support staff like nurses who have to clean up patients, manage their body fluids in a way that they themselves do not become victims”. “Now the Personal Protective Equipments that they wear is very hot and they are literally sealed in, so that you are protected and therefore it is uncomfortable and ideally no doctor or medical personnel should stay in that place for any undue length of time”, he added. He reiterated that the ideal thing would have been to have teams going in for short periods, coming to rest and another •Continued on Page 58

Hunters demand Health Minister’s sack

...for advising against bush meat consumption The Association of Animal Hunters of Nigeria (AAHN) in Benin, Edo State has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to immediately sack the Minister of Health, Dr. Oyebuchi Chukwu, for alleged mishandling of information on the Ebola incident in Lagos. The hunters said the minister’s action caused panic among Nigerians and also threatened the livelihood of Nigerians who depend on bush meat to survive. National President of the hunters’ association, Comrade Ray Macaulay, who spoke at a press briefing in Benin City, said they support measures taken to curb the spread of Ebola virus but that they were against ‘the unscientific, nonsensical and palpably wicked no-

Osagie Otabor tices to frighten Nigerians off their age-long bush meat delicacy. Ray said there had not been any reported case of Ebola in the country until it was brought into the country by a Liberian-American, Patrick Sawyer. He said: “There may be information at the Ministry of Health that we do not know for now. “We will not accept any explanation that does not bear sound scientific analysis or reasoning. We will react very strongly.” He urged the Nigerian government to investigate the circumstances with which the late Sawyer came into the country with the Ebola virus to determine if it was not a planned biological warfare.

THE NATION

4 NEWS

SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2014

Ajimobi frowns on Day One of PVC exercise in Oyo T HE governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has frowned on the process of issuance of the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) which began in the state yesterday, stating that it was capable of disenfranchising a wide network of the people of the state. He made this remark yesterday in a statement issued by

his Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo. There were complaints in virtually all the wards in the state from people who turned out en masse for the collection of the PVCs, but who did not find any Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials to attend to them. The governor, who said he

was inundated by complaints from the people of the state, said he personally went out to many of the centres and discovered that INEC officials were nowhere to be found in many of the places. Calling on the INEC and the Resident Electoral Commission to proffer solutions to whatever had kept the officials off the centres, the governor said

that by the absence of the INEC officials, the whole essence of the government declaring a day holiday for the people to participate in the exercise could well have been defeated. “Our government has implicit trust in the INEC and its ability to conduct a free and fair election in Oyo State. However, we are not happy that our long-suffering people, whom we had enjoined to troop our and indeed mobilized massively to participate in the process, were not al-

T Mr. Masahiro Ikeno, Vice President NEC Corporation, Japan (left) and Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) at a meeting in Alausa to discuss ways forward on the issue of Video Surveillance.

Royal Kriston School “is to mould and raise “royal stars” by providing education to humanity in respective of tribe, religion and cultural background and to be a reference point for academic excellence. Itemising the achievements of the school, Pastor Ekeh said in 2013, the school emerged as the overall best school in a keenly contested zonal international quiz competition in Lagos State. “We also came first in the 2013 Interschool Debate Competition organized by NYSC/ EFCC Community Development Group, while two of our students won the Best School Awards organized by MTN and Chevron”, he said. He advised parents to see the task of giving qualitative education to their children an important one, adding that: “We should be highly committed to our duty of giving them not only quality education, but also proper moral upbringing which will make them better leaders of tomor-

Don't use students for political battles, group cautions Ogun politicians

N education advocacy group, Education Ac cess Project (EAP), has cautioned politicians in Ogun State to stop using students to fight their political battles. The group, according to a statement by its chair, Dr Henry Adetona, condemned in strong terms the use of a handful of students of the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) allegedly by some politicians to disrupt commercial activities in Abeokuta under the guise of fighting for further reduction in school fees announced on Tuesday by the Ogun State Government. "The protest is even more intriguing, considering the fact that it coincided with the solidarity rally of nine out

of the 10 tertiary schools in the state under the aegis of NANS organised to thank the state government for the significant cut in their school fees," he said. "The fact that the protest by a handful of the OOU students, reportedly without any principal officer of their SUG in attendance, was allegedly sponsored by former political office holders in the state, under whose watch school fees of the majority of OOU students increased from N15,000 to N150,000, shows how desperate our politicians can become in order to rubbish the successes of their political rivals," Dr Adetona further said.

row”. The chairperson of the Parent Teachers Association, Alagbado, Mrs. Ojeniyi Olusayo, commended the management and staff of the school for their efforts on the overall development of the stu-

Kelvin OSA OKUNBOR

dents. She praised the teachers for instilling spirit of hardwork and discipline which are paying off and resulting in the students coming out with outstanding results in their academics and improvement of their morals.

According to the NDLEA Seme commander, Mr Nicholas Ajaduronye, both suspects concealed the drugs inside the engine compartment. “We have apprehended two members of a drug cartel that smuggles drugs into the country from Ghana. One of the suspects, Chukwura Ekene, 40, hid 18.3kg of compressed cannabis inside the air conditioned component of his Mercedes-Benz car, while Sulaiman Akinola, 35, concealed 9.750kg of ephedrine and 1.3kg of heroin inside the headlight of his Toyota Camry car,” Nicholas stated. The commander added that Seme Area Command of the NDLEA between January and June 2014 seized a total of 102.405kg of narcotic drugs and arrested twenty

and Imaging Women as Transformers and a Mayor’s Forum, featuring local government chairpersons with the plenary theme - Women Transforming Communities. In a statement issued by the GLEEHD’s Africa Director, Dayo Israel said that the summit will address the importance of networking within professional fields and focus on the role of women in developing, transforming and sustaining Africa’s economies and communities. According to him, our Sustainable Livelihood Programs have focused on empowering women and youths at all levels as part of our vision of an Africa in which everyone can achieve their potential with government truly serving the needs of their people. He added: “Participants at

the Women in Business and Leadership Summit will connect with other leading women, hear inspirational stories and learn valuable tactics that they can use to develop their lives and vision. No one should miss out on this transformative one-day event”. Israel continued: “We are working with other international organizations and donor agencies, including the United Nations, ECOSOC, Commonwealth Secretariat, Federal Government, Government of Malawi, UKTI, British Council, UNICEF Nigeria, A.D King Foundation, Commonwealth Democracy Initiative, Save the Children, Rostra Consulting, Amandla Consulting and other international development partners in promoting development in Africa.

Ebele BONIFACE

the five-man electoral committee, namely Barrister Peju Akinjayi, the legal officer to Mushin local government as chairman; Hon. Hakeem Sofela, Alhaja Faosat Olajoku, Hilary Ezeoku and Daniel Ebe. Olawale called on the elected chairman and his executive members to be magnanimous in victory and advised those who lost to team up with the elected members for the good of all the traders. He thanked the Chairman of council for giving the Caretaker Committee opportunity to serve the traders.

Duke, Abiola, Oboli, Sosan, others for women summit

HE former First Lady of Cross River State, H.E Mrs Onari Duke; Special Assistant to the Governor of Ogun State on MDG’s, Dr. Hafsat Abiola and former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Princess Sarah Bisi Sosan, are to grace the G L E E H D Foundation’s Women in Business and Leadership Summit (WIBLES) coming up on August 20 at The Dream Centre in Lagos. The theme, Women - Transforming Societies, Developing Economies, would feature various plenary sessions, including Transforming Public Service through Women Participation, Women in Business: Transforming the Market Place, Emerging Women Leaders: Leadership through Influence, Media

Ladipo market leader praises Fashola

HE newly elected chair man of the Aguiyi Ironsi International Trade Centre Traders Association, Mr. Cyril Chukwujindu Onyemaechi, has commended the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola and the Mushin Local Government Transition Committee for successfully conducting a peaceful, free and fair election for them and promised to project the image of the market. He also commended the efforts of the police and other security agents, particularly the Area D Police Station, the Olosan Division and Ladipo

participate in the process. “Given the peaceful atmosphere and secure environment which this administration has instituted and nurtured since inception, you can be rest assured of free and fair elections in Oyo State. The consequence of refusing to participate in this exercise (collection of Permanent Voter Cards) would be too dire for us individually, collectively and for our future. Our vote is our power and we must use it judiciously and wisely,” he had said.

NDLEA uncovers new drug syndicate at Seme Border

Lagos commended on educational investment HE Director of Royal Group of Schools, Pastor Christian Eshemerem Ekeh, has commended the Lagos State Government for partnering effectively the private and public educational sector. He called on the Federal Government and other state governments to emulate Fashola’s administration by investing more in education so that the cost of education will not be beyond the reach of average Nigerians. Pastor Ekeh, who said this at the 27th graduation/prizegiving ceremony of Royal Kriston School, AIT Road, Alagbado, Lagos, noted that the school, which started with three pupils on September 1987, has significantly grown, recording an unprecedented rise in both population and infrastructure. In his words, “Today by the grace of God, Royal School is a household name with six branches located all over Lagos State”. He said the mission of the

lowed to exercise that civic right, ” the governor said. He implored the INEC to double up efforts at making up for the absence of its officials yesterday, stating that government had sensitized the people enough to perform their civic responsibilities. Apart from declaring yesterday a public holiday to enable the people participate in the process, Governor Ajimobi also made a state-wide broadcast on television and raido to the people of the state where he enjoined them to actively

Police Post, for their cooperation. He thanked the market members for their patience, perseverance, calmness and understanding in making the election and handover programme successful. He urged them to handle the environmental sanitation of the market in line with state government directives. The chairman of the Caretaker Committee, Hon. Olayiwola Olawale, attributed the success of the election to God, the cooperation of traders and members of

(20) suspected drug traffickers, 18 males and two females, in six months. Out of the cases charged to court within the period, four had been convicted while others are ongoing. Those arrested include a 24-year-old student, Babatunde Gafar, found with 15.5kg of cannabis disguised as cassava flour and a 40-year-old trader, Obiasulu Chukwujekwu, found with 2kg of cocaine in a false bottom of his bag. Gafar and Chukwujekwu were arrested on their way from Benin Republic. Preliminary investigation revealed that Chukwura and Akinola are notorious drug smugglers that hide drugs in their vehicle engine components from Ghana to Nigeria. They operate under the cover of commercial transportation. Chukwura hails from the Oshimili South Local Government Area of Delta State, while Sulaiman Akinola hails from Oyo State. Both suspects are cooperating with narcotic investigators.

‘Aregbesola’s victory well deserved’ Kunle AKINRINADE

LL Progressives Con gress (APC) in the Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State, Mr. Akinyemi Ajigbotifa, has described the re-election of Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State as “an obvious victory well deserved by a performer and grassroots politician.” Ajigbotafe, who is an aspirant to the Lagos State House of Assembly in Alimosho Constituency 1, said: “To all of us who know you too well as the champion of the masses, your victory did not come to us as a surprise. “What further impressed me is the way the people trooped out to give Gov Aregbesola their mandate despite intimidation, assault, brutalization and threat to lives by security forces deployed to Osun State.” Ajigbotafe further said: “Why he threw his hat into the ring saying: “People must venture into politics to ensure proper distribution of the dividends of democracy to the masses and it is for this simple reason that I have decided to join the race for a seat in the legislative chamber of Lagos State for the good of my constituents.”

THE NATION

NEWS 5

SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2014

Tejuosho Shopping Complex commissioned

AGOS State Gover nor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, yesterday commissioned the first phase of the reconstructed Main Tejuosho Shopping Complex located in Yaba area of the state. Fashola, while commissioning complex, said the delivery of the project was a demonstration of his administration's commitment to promote private enterprise and empower residents. He said the new complex was not only a redemption of the promise, saying the complex is a massive improvement over the old market with more facilities. Fashola added that the second phase of the complex was ready,pointing out that when inaugurated, it would be the biggest retail outlet in Africa. He said all former shop owners would be given priority in the allocation of the shops,saying the remaining units would be given to new buyers on the first–come-first served – basis. According to him, the state government had reached an agreement with the financier of the project ,First Bank Plc, to allocate the shops to traders on an eight-year mortgage plan for convenient ownership. He urged traders to keep the complex clean always and shun activities that could jeopardize its purpose. Fashola said: "The project has been delivered and all is now well that has ended well. I urge you traders to keep the market clean, use the allotted spaces for parking and not for trading so that traffic can move. "The spaces are for parking. They are not for trading. If you think about it, it is the moving traffic

Miriam Ekene-Okoro

that would bring enthusiastic customers to you. Fashola said the Ojuelegba-Itire Road and other roads around the complex had been repaired to facilitate movements around the complex. He added that the complex had also been connected to the state’s light rail system to boost activities at the market. The governor said his administration was committed to the development of the state, assuring that the government would continue to pursue efforts to achieve that. Also speaking, the Iyaloja of Tejuosho Market,Alhaja Ganiyat Dosuumu, commended the state government for rebuilding the market. She said the new market would restore livelihoods lost to burnt old market. The market leader urged the state government to ensure that the shops were allocated in a transparent manner to capture, especially all the traders of the old market. It would be recalled that the state government in partnership with the private sector embarked on the reconstruction of the complex after the old Tejuosho Market was gutted by an inferno on December 17, 2007. The new complex ,a sprawling five-storeybuilding ,has no fewer than 4000 business units, 800-vehicle parking lot, a police post and a fire station. Other facilities at the complex include a waste disposal system, elevators, ramps, water supply system and a mini-power plant, amongst other facilities.

•Governor Fashola (4th left) cutting the ribbon to commission the complex at Tejuosho, Lagos...yesterday. With him are: his Deputy, Hon. (Mrs) Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire (3rd left), Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Obafemi Hamzat (2nd left), his Finance, Information & Strategy and Physical Planning & Urban Development counterparts, Mr. Ayo Gbeleyi (right), Mr. Aderemi Ibirogba (left), Toyin Ayinde (4th right), Group Managing Director, First Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Bisi Onasanya (5th right) and the Iyaloja General, Chief (Mrs) Folashade Tinubu-Ojo (3rd right). PHOTO: NAN

Confusion as family of five were found dead in Ogun I

T was all confusion at the Temidire community in the Sabo area of Abeokuta yesterday when the residents woke up in the morning and found a family of five people dead in a room. The family - a man (Aliu Adebayo), his wife and three children - had retired to their beds yesterday evening, but none woke up at day break, but his second wife, Aliyah, and her three children survived the mystery death. Aliyah and her kids were said to have slept in another room within the six-room bungalow located at No 3, Ireti Akinbode Street of the community. A neighbour of the victims, who declined being mentioned, said the residents got to know of the mystery death through the wailing of the second wife, Aliyah, which attracted people to the scene.

Lagos Assembly reorders 2014 budget

AGOS State House of Assembly has approved the re-ordering of the year 2014 budget as requested by Governor Babatunde Fashola by increasing the recurrent expenditure from N234.665billion to N241.865billion and reducing the capital expenditure from N255.025billion to N247.825billion. It was reordered by

Oziegbe OKOEKI

N11.660billion at a special plenary yesterday. However, the budget size still remains N489.690 billion. The governor had, in a letter to the House, requested for the reordering of the year 2014 budget of the state to meet with demands for more public services from citizens which are "sufficiently com-

LG boss congratulates Aregbesola, APC leaders

HE Chairman of the Odi Olowo/Ojuwoye Local Council Development Area, Aremo Alli Adeyemi, has joined others to congratulate Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, over the success of his party, APC, in the just-concluded governorship election in the state. He gave kudos to the Osun State governor and the APC leaders despite the provocation, intimidation and militarizing the state.

The chairman said the incumbent governor won the election as a result of maturity displayed and rapid infrastructural developments of the state, adding that the Osun State people believed in continuity so that the governor could complete his projects for the people. He charged the APC leaders to adopt the Osun State governorship election method on the subsequent elections in other states, so that the oppositions will not be able to rig or hijack future elections in other states.

pelling and can not wait until 2015". The reordering, according to the governor, was to take care of emerging issues like the reversal of LASU school fees policy, the urgent need to address the threat of the Ebola virus epidemic and also a need for counterpart funding request to access developmental funds to install solar power panels in 172 public schools and 11 primary health centres in the first phase." The reordering did not affect the original budget size of N489.69 billion as the governor in his letter said there are still unutilized provisions by some MDAs which may remain so till year end. It is this unutilized funds that have been moved to where they are more urgently needed to enable the state government address pressing needs. The governor said the reordering was to urgently address some of the critical unbudgeted expenditure requests by various ministries, departments and agencies and MDAs.

•Cause of death not yet known — Police Ernest NWOKOLO, Abeokuta

According to the witness, residents had thought the wailing woman was attacked by robbers and upon listening to a persistent cries, they realised that something untoward had happened. She said: “It was a noise that woke us up and we initially thought it was an armed robbery or probably from the mosque, but when we listened very carefully, we observed that it was like a dirge and we rushed out to find so many people in front of the house. “We could not say what happened because there was no noise in the middle of the night, but we were told that it was the first wife that called people’s attention. You know it is a polygamous family. The wives were always fighting, but what could lead to the death of the five persons is still a surprise to us. I have never seen this before. “Some people are saying it

might be fume from a generator. They use a generator, but it is always at the side of the house, as you can see the compound is not gated. But one thing is that they are always fighting, cursing each other. The community leader once intervened, but not much peace was achieved.” Also, a community leader, Alhaji Abubakar Oloworioke, said nobody knew what happened, but added that some people claimed they perceived the odour of chemical in the room where the family died. He said: “It was a surprise to us when we got to the place, but what we observed was that there was an odour like an insecticide and we had to rush out, but someone told us that it could be the fume from the generator. “It’s unbelievable. I have never seen this before. we do not know the cause, but

when I moved near the house, I perceived an odour as if someone used an insecticide. It is only God that knows what happened to them.” The Police Public Relations officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who confirmed the incident, said the cause of death is still not yet clear. Adejobi said: “The police found the bodies of five people in the building this morning. The cause of the death is yet unknown. “We cannot ascertain the cause of the death for now. There are allegations here and there, but the police will do what needs to be done, that is postmortem, that will tell us the cause of the death. We have versions to the story. Some said it was a carbon monoxide from the generator; some said it was spiritual and that somebody actually killed them; some even said the person sprayed something in the room. But the medical practitioner, through postmortem, will tell us the cause of the death.”

PVCs: Collection turns violent in Ilorin

HE distribution and col lection of the Indepen dent National Electoral Commission (INEC) permanent voter cards yesterday turned violent in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital. This was brought out by a disagreement between agents of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The areas are Isale Maliki, Ode Alege, Ode Belgore polling units, all in the Ilorin South Local Government Area of the state. In the street brawl, a corps member was injured. It was gathered that the violence started when some PDP and APC agents clashed over the collation of data of those who were to receive their PVCs.

Adekunle JIMOH, Ilorin

It was alleged that as the PDP agents taking the names of prospective voters who came to collect their voter cards, the APC supporters were reportedly taking their serial numbers to prevent manipulation. The development turned violent, but it was initially controlled following a swift intervention by security agents comprising the police and armed squad of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). A few minutes after the intervention of the security agents, tension rose again as supporters of the two parties renewed their hostilities. Some hoodlums, it was

gathered, mobilized themselves from different areas, brandishing dangerous weapons and shot sporadically into the air. The development caused panic in the areas as residents remained indoors. In the ensuing pandemonium, the corps member, who is an INEC ad-hoc official at Ode Belgore, was injured when he was hit by broken bottles in three places before he was taken to hospital by civil defence officers. The exercise, it was gathered, ended abruptly as people scampered for safety. Spokesperson of the state command of NSCDC, Mr. Abdulkadir, confirmed the incident, saying the corps member was stabbed by hoodlums.

THE NATION,

6 NEWS

SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2014

Nigeria not in mood for pro-Jonathan rally —ACF T

HE Pan-Northern group,Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF),is not amused by plan to hold rallies across the nation by a group to drum up support for President Goodluck Jonathan’s second term in office. The rallies kick off today in Awka,Anambra State.

The ACF declared yesterday that the Nigeria is currently in no mood for such rallies,the brainchild of Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN), a non governmental organisation . “The present mood of the nation in the face of insecurity challenges of daily attacks on innocent souls by Boko Haram insurgents in the North, ritual killings in the West, kidnappings of prominent persons in the South South and armed robbery in the East and the sudden entry of Ebola virus into the country through one Mr. Sawyer calls for sober reflection, prayers and support to confront the challenges rather than the solidarity rally being planned by TAN,” ACF said in a statement in Kaduna by its National Publicity Secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim. The statement came four days after the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) gave President Goodluck Jonathan up till October to bring back

Abdulgafar ALABELEWE, Kaduna

the Chibok girls and stop Boko Haram or forget 2015. The NEF said the military can defeat the Boko Haram terrorists – if, indeed, the government wants to subdue to sect,adding:”We are convinced that most of these conflicts are being engineered to weaken the North politically and economically by interests which intend to exploit such weaknesses for electoral benefits.” The Presidency’s response to the NEF’s ultimatum was swift in coming. It said Jonathan does not require any threat or ultimatum from the north or any group of persons for him to perform his job. The Senior Special Assistant to the president on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe,said:”suggestion that the Government is carrying out any scheme to annihilate any section of the country for political gain is preposterous, contrary to common sense, divisive and essentially a deliberate attempt to disseminate “hate mentality” and cause mischief”. The ACF said yesterday that while TAN members as Nigerians are entitled to their rights as other citizens the present situation in the

country does not call for celebrations and political rally in support of any cause or any political office holder at this material time of security, social and health challenges. “Moreover. INEC is yet to lift the ban on political rallies as per the provisions of our constitution and the Electoral Act,” it said. Enumerating the insecurity challenge in the North,ACF said: “Towns and villages are being wiped out, innocent people and including security personnel are being attacked and killed on daily basis in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states that have been under an emergency rule in the last 14 months. “The Federal and States Government combined effort in tackling the security challenges is yet to achieve the desired result and some Nigerians are busy planning celebrations. “The over 200 Chibok girls kidnapped 120 days ago are still in captivity of the Boko Haram insurgents, another 100 young men have recently been kidnapped at Baga Borno state, young girls are being used as suicide bombers, prominent persons are being killed or kidnapped for ransom, Damboa, Gwoza and many towns in Borno and Yobe states are be-

ing occupied by insurgents and Ebola virus is taking its toll on those who had primary or secondary contacts with the prime victim.” It pointed out that the organisers of the planned rallies would serve Nigeria better for now if they could pay attention to the plight of other Nigerians under siege of Boko Haram insurgents ,the daily killing of security personnel and innocent souls by insurgents, destruction of property and displacements of 400,000 persons due to insurgency the North East and the Ebola threat. “Nigerians at this time need to unite and support Government efforts tackling the above menace not solidarity rallies,” it said and warned about “the likely security threat and logistic burden such political rally will place on our security personnel that are already over stretched with the issue of terrorist activities nationwide. It asked TAN members to ”be human, sensitive and have a rethink on their planned solidarity rally in the six geopolitical zones and shift it to a more appropriate time especially the ones for Kano. Minna and Gombe for the sake of Nigerians under siege of insur-

gency and other challenges” and urged politicians and the generality of Nigerians to respect and obey the letters of our constitution in all our dealings in order to deepen our democracy, enthrone the rule of law and promote peace, unity and development.” TAN describes itself as ” a non-governmental organization designed to promote good governance. It consists of individuals of impeccable character fostering the continuation of transformation by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GEJ). “The Group is comprised of professional men and women, youths, businessmen and women, artists, artisans, sportsmen and women, physically challenged persons, widows associations, Christian, Muslim and native religious groups, community, traditional and market leaders, opinion moulders and analysts, farmers, school teachers, trade unions and all masses of Nigeria committed to the ideals of good and quality leadership, order, unity,

Adamawa guber race: Fintiri, Modibbo, Gulak pick forms

•Ribadu gets opponents in PDP •Adamawa PDP executives may resign if…

HE Acting Governor of Adamawa State, Umaru Fintiri and two other heavyweights yesterday picked the nomination form to seek the governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state on September 6. The others are a former Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission, Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Modibbo and the immediate past Special Adviser on Political Matters to the President, Ahmed Gulak. More aspirants might join the race, including a former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu who is being wooed by some PDP leaders. Some traditional rulers in Adamawa State have opted to back Ribadu with a condition that he will choose a former Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Kobeis Aris as his deputy. But some PDP leaders in the state are threatening to defect to APC if a governorship candidate is imposed on them for the October 11 poll. Investigation by our correspondent revealed that the three key political figures obtained their nomination forms yesterday at the National Secretariat of the PDP between 11am and 2pm. A party source said: “From our records, Fintiri, Modibbo and Gulak have obtained nomination forms for the primaries holding on September 6. These are heavyweights and the development has shown that the PDP has the right calibre of candidates to fly its flag in October. “The jostle for the ticket has started, we assure all the aspirants of equal treatment through free and fair primaries. “What the aspirants have been demanding are a levelplaying field and freedom by delegates to choose the par-

•Youth corps members collecting materials at INEC commission's zonal office in Omu-Aran, Kwara State for the issuance of permanent voter cards yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Jonathan commissions trauma centre

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has commissioned a National Trauma Centre in Abuja to cater for severely injured patients and also reduce medical tourism. Jonathan was represented at the official commissioning ceremony by the Vice President, Arc Mohammed Namadi Sambo. The Centre located at the National Hospital, Abuja. The vice president reiterated the President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration’s commitment to providing world class healthcare services to Nigerians, through adequate funding; provision of modern facilities and well trained personnel; ensuring conducive environment for

Vincent IKUOMOLA, Abuja healthcare workers, as well as institution of people oriented policies. “Providing modern healthcare infrastructure such as this Trauma Centre and others is a cardinal objective of our Transformation Agenda, as prioritized under the National Strategic Health Development Plan,” he said. Stressing that a Trauma Centre functions optimally when its component units work together, he charged all healthcare workers, particularly those that would be assigned to the Centre to work in unity, maintaining that “as health personnel, you are

all integral to the delivery of the comprehensive care that would be needed by distressed patients.” Speaking on the Ebola virus disease outbreak, the President appealed to Nigerians not to panic and to take the highest possible care in hygiene and contact by adhering to the guidelines issued by the Ministry of health. “We have put measures and facilities in place, for detection and management and we are working in concert with the international community to stem its spread. We must remain at high alert,” he stated. The Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, said the Centre was one of many projects contained in

the Federal Government’s strategic plan aimed at providing, efficient, cost effective and timely healthcare services to Nigerians. He said the Centre would handle all forms of trauma, whether from falls, fires, accidents, natural or manmade disasters, including terrorist activities. Speaking earlier, Chairman of the National Hospital Board, Dr. Tony Okam, while thanking the President for his support to the Hospital, disclosed that the Centre is the first of its kind in the country. He also said that the Centre was a hospital within a hospital, with state of the art healthcare facilities, a well trained personnel and a helipad, to mention but a few.

peace and progress of our nation under the Constitution.” It credits President Jonathan with ”sterling human qualities, democratic credentials and landmark accomplishments” that are “currently under marketed and under advertised.” This situation,it claims has ”given rise to the persistent false narrative about his leadership standing, and a myth that TAN has set out to deconstruct for Nigerians and the international community to know the truth and live by it.” The first of its rallies tagged ‘Nigerians Demand’ is scheduled for today in Awka,Anambra State,in the Southeast. The Southwest version comes up next Saturday in Ibadan to be followed by the Southsouth edition on August 30. The others are :Northcentral:September 9,Minna;Northeast:September 20:Gombe ;and Northwest:September 27 in Kano.

Yusuf ALLI, Managing Editor, Northern Operation ty’s governorship candidate. We have taken judicious notice of this.” As at press time, it was unclear if Ribadu will still go ahead to defect to PDP or not. It was however gathered that the entry of the Acting Governor into the race has upped the ante against the coming of Ribadu into the party. A PDP leader in Adamawa State said: “The Acting Governor of the state, Umaru Fintiri has not given up his plans to become the substantive governor of the state. He has tasted gubernatorial power and he has discovered that it is sweeter than legislative power. “This is contrary to the deal which brought him to power. Pro-Ribadu forces had wanted Fintiri to midwife the emergence of Ribadu but he is seeking the slot. “Fintiri has been to the Presidential Villa with a plot for the presidency to adopt a Doctrine of Necessity to allow him to complete the tenure of ex-Governor Murtala Nyako. “The involvement of Fintiri might make the contest difficult for Ribadu. So, if Ribadu has any obstacle, it is the Acting Governor, who is already wooing delegates to the State Congress which will hold on September 7. “Fintiri might use state resources and influence to fight Ribadu. Some stakeholders have however been threatening to quit PDP if any candidate is imposed on them by Abuja forces. A stakeholder said: “In fact, some PDP Executives in the state are likely to resign. They are already threatening to do so.”

THE NATION, SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2014

COMMENTARY

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Lastly I salute the good people of Osun state for trooping out as advised and using their mandate to reward good performance in governance in that state

Power, authority and justice HAT ‘power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely‘ is not on my mind today, on this topic. The loss of power and authority and the attendant, concomitant effect on justice and security drive my mind as I do this global analysis. Four personalities across different continents and their fate this week rivet my attention and at times my sympathy, fear and even admiration, albeit grudgingly. They are first, Nouri Maliki who resigned as PM of Iraq this week after showing clearly that he had never come across the expression that an actor withdraws when the ovation is loudest. The second is Egypt’s former strong man Housni Mubarak, still alive and kicking at his trial in Egypt, where he swore this week that he did not order the killing of Egyptian demonstrators during the 2011 Cairo Street demonstrations that toppled his regime. The third is Chinese dissident Gao Zhisheng, just released from detention by the Chinese authorities but whose lawyer said his state of health is such that he is physically ‘destroyed‘ and ‘unintelligible‘. The fourth is the Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan who congratulated the winner of last Saturday’s Osun state elections that I labelled ‘Quarantine elections‘ even though he was the one that put an Ebola like security quarantine on the state electorate in an election that his party, the PDP lost so clearly. At the back of my mind today in analysing the actions and fate of these four political figures is William Shakespeare’s timeless observation that –All the world is a stage and men and women are merely players - who have their exits and entrances. In Iraq Nouri Maliki made his exit but in a rather disgraceful manner. He had lost power and authority before resigning. Worse still he had lost face because his replacement had been announced by the president who appointed him on his entrance into the stage of power politics in Iraq and he had announced that he would contest his removal in court before dovishly turning in his letter of resignation. So, to Nouri Maliki the Iraqis can say good riddance and good luck to bad rubbish and they will be applauded in saying this to a man who lost power and authority as well as the sovereignty and security of Iraq to the Sunni militant insurgency Islamic state - IS - that has driven over 1.5m Iraqis out of Northern Iraq and was advancing on the capital Baghdad until US Prseident Barak Obama intervened with air raids to save fleeing thousands of Iraqi Christians and Minority Yazids who took refuge in mountains in Northern Iraq. Maliki’s successor a Shia Muslim like him - Engineer Haider al Abadi, Iraq’s Deputy Speaker has made security his priority and has announced hat he welcomes even air

strikes from Iran in case the US ones were to end. Which was something Maliki could not say because he had lost credibility with friends and foes alike. This is not to say that Sunni Violence since the overthrow of their master Saddam Hussein was anything to write home about. The Sunnis in Iraq have behaved like blood thirsty power losers since the coming of elections and democracy gave power to the majority Shia Moslems in the first set of elections after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein. Indeed they are like Boko Haram in Nigeria in the way they have been killing or converting by force Christians and Kurds who were an integral and historical part of Iraq as a federation under Saddam Hussein. This was when the Sunnni minority held power, propped up by the Americans to create political stability in Iraq and make oil flow through the Straits of Homuz without Iran’s lurking intervention in that area. It was a similar guarantee of political stability that kept our next subject of discussion Housni Mubarak in power for so long after succeeding the late President Anwar Sadat who was assassinated by the Moslem Brotherhood in Egypt for signing the peace treaty with Israel. Housni Mubarak was the head of the Egyptian Air force in the October 1973 War with Israel when the Egyptians had the upper hand in attacking first and almost defeating Israel before the Israelis rallied round and encircled Egypt’s Third Army in the Sinai leading to humiliating negotiations for the survival of that army. Mubarak was thus a war hero in Egypt before he succeeded Sadat and was in power for decades organising fake elections giving him 90 % of votes cast before the Cairo Tahrir Square Street demonstrations supported by the US and Britain forced him out of power. He was brought to trial in Egypt in a cage even though he was sick, and his sons too - powerful ministers in their father’s government - were arraigned with him. He was lucky not to have been lynched then because his army played a wise role in kowtowing to the Street revolution and gaining the confidence of the masses then and organising an election that brought the Moslem Brotherhood to power with the election of President Mohammed Morsi whose Islamist policies angered the Egyptian masses leading to his overthrow by a popular military coup. Now Housni Mubarak’s earlier harsh sentences for embezzlement have been converted to three years and he may soon be free as his boys in the army are in power and army Field Marshal El Sissy is now the newly elected president of Egypt. Housni Mubarak’s fate in Egypt is that of a man who has fallen from grace to grass and who has been made to account for his misuse of power without losing his life in the process. He reminds me vividly of the Chinese saying - Count no man lucky until his death. I grudgingly wish Housni Mubarak and his sons the best of luck in their political trials as the

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wind of change nowadays blows in their direction in the land of the Pharaohs. Not that lucky however is our next leader Chinese dissident Gao Zhisheng who the Chinese have treated very badly in prison because he dared to criticise the Chinese authorities for their discriminating attitude to Christians and the Falun Gong Movement in China. This really is a clear case of misuse of power and miscarriage of justice. Gao according to his lawyer has been so brutally treated in prison that he has lost his teeth from the diet of cabbage and a slice of bread he was subsisting on in prison. Of course the Chinese have not extended the Mandela treatment by the Apartheid regime of S Africa to Gao. Mandela did exams by tuition on Robben Island and learnt the language of his jailors in prison for 27 years. Neither has he been given the Mubarak treatment of a doting Egy ptian army which observed the dictum that he who runs today lives to fight another day and was able to preserve the life of its former Commander in Chief. In the case of Mandela there is no denying that he would not be alive to become the global icon of dignity and freedom if he had been treated the way the wicked Chinese have treated Gao whose wife and children are in the US where Gao is expected to be flown to very soon on his release. I doff my hat to Gao for his courage and conviction and ask the Chinese to cover their face in shame for rusticating and dehumanising an intelligent human being such that he could not be intelligible again after being in state custody. That really is a disgrace to China. Lastly I salute the good people of Osun state for trooping out as advised and using their mandate to reward good performance in governance in that state. As I wrote last week quarantines such as the security ones mounted by the federal agencies in that state last week should be broken by a brave and vigilant electorate. That is how to get power and authority and enthrone justice as expected henceforth especially in Nigeria’s 2015 elections. Of course I congratulate the President on the sports manly way of conceding defeat and congratulating the winner in the quarantine election as he has done. I also congratulate the speed with which the Federal government has accepted the offer of a cure for the Ebola virus with the Nano Silva drug flown into the country for use after due research protocol clearance by the Health Ministry. This shows again that Ebola is an aberration that will go away like quarantine elections. Again I congratulate the President for his new friendly gesture which during the Osun quarantine elections was indeed no more than the friendship of the cocoyam in the midst of goats for the good people of Osun state whose will nevertheless prevailed in that quarantine election.

THE NATION, SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2014

COMMENTARY

Ebola in the time of Ebele OUR months after Chibok happened, Ebola scourge has brought another dimension of high anxiety, breaking into the nation’s consciousness with such deathly impact. There is an increasing number of suspect victims of Ebola while two persons have died of the expensive but deadly joke about using water as prophylactic treatment of Ebola. When President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan tagged Mr. Patrick Sawyer a “mad man” for irresponsibly ignoring a travel restriction out of Liberia and thereby becoming the sole carrier of the deadly Ebola virus into Nigeria, many said it was an un-presidential retort. Well, I beg to differ; there is time to be statesman-like and there is time to be completely human, especially when one is confronted by deadly realities that can wipe out so many lives in a matter of weeks. Of course, I’m aware of the age-long cliché here that the living should not speak ill of the dead. However, we should understand that what the late Sawyer did was not just a despicable act but callous in its entirety. And regardless of how well we try to cover rotting cadavers with the fragrance of a thousand flowers, it does not in any way equate a licence to make heaven. Buffeted by truckloads of problems that continue to defy any quick fix solutions, Sawyer’s tragic visit couldn’t have come at a worse time in the life of this country. That singular trip to Nigeria has thrown an entire nation into confusion, aside exposing its citizens to one of the deadliest diseases that ever afflicted mankind. Now, we all live in real fear of one another while concern mounts across the globe. Today, Sawyer is gone yet he is here with us daily. Collectively, we remain the potential collateral damage of his act. The virus he left behind is spreading like wildfire, unleashing its fatal blow and ravaging our souls. The signs are not just visible in the violence of the President’s swear words but also in the reality of death that haunts the land. This Sawyer left a sour taste in our mouth. Since Sawyer had nothing positive to contribute to our nation’s woes; he should, at least, have spared us the anguish of cursing his cremated body to the lonely grave. If he had hearkened to the wise counsel to go into seclusion or surveillance, to determine if he had been infected with Ebola virus following the death of his sister of the virus in Liberia, we could have been spared the anxiety over an epidemic which Jonathan, in his legendary uninspiring dry comic, has vowed to eliminate in just two months! Anyway, we all know what to believe when our President gives timelines. Or is there anyone in his cabinet that can refresh our memories on the timelines that have been met by Jonathan even on matters he has full control over? But then, this is not about presidential bashing. It is about what the grave indiscretion of the late LiberianAmerican, Mr. Sawyer, is inflicting on our psyche. In far-away USA, Sawyer’s wife, Decontee Sawyer, who is a radio host in New York, gave a robust defence for her husband’s decision to visit Nigeria. She explained that Mr. Sawyer had no trust in the healthcare system in Liberia and had possibly headed to Nigeria with the hope of receiving better treatment for his ailment. Surely, he had a flawed picture of our healthcare system and he was unaware that our VIPs would rather die in foreign hands instead of our mismanaged hospitals. And even if that were the case, how come the relevant authorities in Nigeria were never informed of that sickening visit? Or could it be that certain

Knucklehead With

Yomi Odunuga E-mail:yomi.odunuga @thenationonlineng.net SMS only: 07028006913 persons knew about the deadly trip but closed their eyes and blocked their eardrums in exchange for crisp dollars? We need to know what really transpired before Sawyer boarded a Nigeriabound plane! With an epileptic health system that has gone into the intensive care unit as medical doctors continue with their strike action over unfulfilled promises by the government, it is laughable that Jonathan could come up with that rude joke of a scoring a triumph over the Ebola scourge within 60 days. As I write this, two health workers, a medical doctor and a nurse, have died from the disease. They were directly involved in treating Mr. Sawyer at the First Consultant Hospital, Lagos. A protocol officer who had contact with Sawyer also died of the virus on Tuesday in Lagos. Eight infected persons, including a nurse who just got married recently, have gone into seclusion while 177 persons have gone under surveillance. In a country where records of movements and crossborder activities are rarely monitored, we would be deluding ourselves to think that the data above is anywhere near accurate. And that is exactly where the problems lie. No one can say for sure how many Sawyers are spreading the virus in hidden places as the government battle to confront the scourge. A nurse, who was one of Sawyer’s primary contacts in Lagos, has been tracked to Enugu. She travelled to her home town to visit her family but she is now under surveillance with 20 others she came into contact with in the city. With the development, the total number of Nigerians under monitoring for the dreaded virus is now 198. Even in climes with near-perfect policies on health and environmental issues, governments and citizens have to tread with caution while keeping tabs on developments in West African countries that are mostly affected by the scourge. Perhaps, we would have been saved from the "pure madness" of Sawyer if relevant agencies had been proactive in sensitising Nigerians on the threat that Ebola virus poses to humanity. While it is not impossible that some of us would have ignored the warnings; claiming with the usual Nigerian religious fervour that Ebola virus cannot be the 'portion' of God’s children, I'm sure that many other Nigerians would have since begun applying much caution in their daily interactions. They would also have observed certain precautions including maintaining the highest form of hygiene. In truth, what the Sawyer madness has done is to rekindle our legendary fire

brigade approach in tackling clear and present danger. When the President’s immediate response included releasing some millions of dollars, we realize that as usual, we don’t fail to throw money at our problems. A friend of mine has warned, jokingly though, that the money should not be “isolated and quarantined” into private pockets! Today, we now know the danger the slightest of delay can cause in the life of a nation. If Sawyer had not evaded the Liberian authorities who had placed him under surveillance, and found his way into a Lagos-bound plane via Lome, Togo and Accra, Ghana, we wouldn't have been running from pillar to post gulping all manner of 'medications' to ward off a virus that kills within 21 days of infection! Aside the fact that handshakes and hugging have been left to the discretion of those who dare to take the risk in public gatherings including worship places, the dying and the dead may no longer be availed the traditional last minute love and kindness hitherto extended to them by close family members. The Ebola virus is so latent that it still poses danger to anyone that comes in contact with the remains of an infected person. An ordinary handshake or any contact with the secretion of the infected is all that is required for one to become a victim of a disease that was imported into Nigeria by 'one mad man' as the President noted. Listen to Jonathan: "It is unfortunate that one mad man brought Ebola to us, but we have to contain it. As a government, we promise that we will do everything humanly possible to contain the Ebola virus. My conversation with the WHO D-G, Dr Margaret Chan was revealing. She said 60 per cent of the transmission was spread during burials. That is why in my announcement; I've been saying that people should be careful about burials. Some people like burial ceremonies. This is not the time for burial ceremony, somebody is dead, he is dead, leave him there. This is not the best time for those ceremonies. If he is dead, he is already dead, Sawyer that brought this Ebola to Nigeria; his sister died of Ebola, and he started acting somehow, his country asked him not to leave the country, let them observe him, but the crazy man decided to leave and found his way here." What I feel is the shrill anguish of a man who is deeply concerned about a clearly avoidable affliction one foreign body has wrought on a country of over 160 million souls. It's not just about the dead not having a decent burial. It's also about how the living--men, women, boys, girls, poor, rich, old and young---have become victims of the murderous intent of the dead Sawyer. Surely, no one can blame the President for being rash in his comments even if the subject of presidential anger is as dead as death itself. I'm sure we won't blame him either if he transfers such positive vibes to nailing those who daily plunge Nigeria into chaos by their action and inaction. How wonderful would it be to see a President who calls a spade by its name and not just a farming implement? How heart-warming would it be to see a Jonathan comfortably calling corruption by its damned name without cloaking it with a more tempered language! Now that we know that we have a President that could burst into a fit of riotous rage even at the dead, we can only hope he would be that enraged in a determined effort to pull the country out of the brink!

Of NEMSA bill and power sector reform INCE the recent privatisation of the power sector in Nigeria, a lot has been said of the need to ensure that the privatisation policy where assets close to N350 billion committed into the hands of investors would boast of a technically sound regulatory agency to promote globally accepted standards. It is in this regard that this writer believes that the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Authority Bill 2014 (NEMSA BILL 2014) could not have come at a most appropriate moment. The bill being sponsored by Senator Philip Aduda and Hon. Patrick Ikhariale, Chairmen of Committees on Power in the Senate and House of Representatives respectively, has passed Second Reading in the House and is at the stage of Public hearing. When the first public hearing was held few weeks ago, both Senator Aduda and Hon. Patrick Ikhariale harped on the need for the power Sector to have an agency that is technically qualified to handle issues such as meter testing and certification, enforcement of technical standards / regulations among others. They noted that these functions are not under the technical jurisdiction of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). Hon. Ikhariale specifically noted that the NEMSA bill when operational would serve to curb line and power cuts, electricity accidents, systems shutdown and blackouts amongst others, while Senator Aduda submitted that the Bill would instill the much needed standardization sanity which the Sector unfortunately lacks. Speaker of House of Representative, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, also added his voice to the urgent need for an effective and efficient regulatory authority that would promote best practices in the Power Sector. “Trial and Error”, according to the Speaker, must give way to appropriate standards. It should be noted that the idea behind the NEMSA Bill is to effectively make the Electricity Management Services Limited (EMSL), one of the power successor companies, more effective and alive to its responsibilities as enshrined in part 1 (one) Section 8 of the Electric Power Sector Reforms Act 2005 and the Supplementary Regulations numbers 46 and 47 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria official Gazette No. 85 Vol. 97 and Government notice 374 of 2010 respectively. The EMSL is an offshoot of the Electrical Inspectorate services (EIS) Department of the Federal Ministry of Power before the power sector reforms with full complements of technical staff and laboratory and test equip-

Duro MESEKO

• Tambuwal ments spread across the country. Currently, EMSL has not less than 16 Area offices across the country in order to move its services closer to the people for greater efficiency. Apart from this, EMSL has three standard National Meter Test Stations / Laboratories located in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Kaduna to perform functions of meter testing, calibration and type test to verify and confirm accuracies whether they conform with international standards or not. Over the years, the issue of technical gap in the enforcement of technical standards and certification in the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) has raised serious concerns amongst stakeholders. At the Asaba Power Summit in August 2012, the then Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji, had directed in the summit communiqué that the EIS Department of the Federal Ministry of Power, now EMSL should continue to perform these all important technical statutory / enforcement functions.

Thus , the Bill when passed and NEMSA becomes a full fledged Agency, would have the mandate to ensure amongst others, that electrical materials, equipment and instruments used in NESI are of the right qualities, standards and specifications; that Power Systems and Networks put in place have been well planned, properly designed and executed before use to ensure that such systems are capable of delivering, safe, reliable and regular electricity supply to consumers nationwide thereby guaranteeing safety of lives and property within NESI and offgrid networks. NEMSA is also to ensure that electric meters and instruments used in NESI are of the right type, quality, class and accuracy for proper accountability of energy delivered, supplied and utilized by the consumers. NEMSA would ensure that the inherited existing noncore assets such as meter test station, clinics, central stores, chemical laboratories, central mechanical and transformer repair workshops are efficiently utilized to provide improved services in the power sector amongst others. At a recent meeting with Journalists in Abuja, the Managing Director/CEO of EMSL, Engineer Peter Ewesor disclosed that some of the services to be offered by EMSL when fully operational include facilitating “logistics services for the movement of generation, transmission and distribution equipment from ports to site and also transportation of damaged equipment to EMS repair workshops” while also providing “storage facilities for all electric power sector players and other related businesses” He also said that the EMSL would “utilize the printing press to print security and non-security documents e.g. bills, connection / disconnection forms, receipts etc.” and also “provide data, information and library services for stakeholders, investors, researchers, academic etc.” amongst others. Although, some critics have argued that NEMSA Bill when passed would amount to duplication of functions between NEMSA and NERC but I beg to disagree as there is no where In the enabling laws establishing NERC where the above are embedded. Indeed, having suffered several years of backwardness and crass inefficiency in the Power Sector, Nigeria certainly deserves no less than the best which NEMSA Bill seeks to entrench in the industry. The National Assembly should be commended for the speed with which it has processed the bill and should be encouraged to pass it without further delay. •Meseko is a journalist and public affairs analyst

THE NATION, SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2014

COMMENTARY

Ebola? Close the borders...Now!!! ATCHING the news clip of the Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu speaking at an interactive meeting between the Nigerian government and diplomats on measures to contain the outbreak of one of the world's most lethal infectious diseases, I was frustrated and incensed. As the Minister spoke of the processes that the government had adopted in order to contain Ebola; including, intense training and public awareness of the disease and screening of outbound passengers at the ports, he also announced that the Nigerian government had no intention of closing its borders. The Minister stated that there was no plan for the government to, at this time, take such a measure but would not hesitate to do so when and if the need arose. In his words (I quote), “If we did close (the borders), what we have only done is to alienate the people to go underground… And if they go underground, it means that people are not on our radar… And if they are not on our radar, we are not screening them.” It was reported that the Minister then went ahead to advise the public that there was no need to use gloves… as it may further aid the spread of Ebola. Now, call me acerbic but, after living for decades with a clear understanding of what common sense is, I am ‘not’ prepared to loose rationality to the Honorable Minister’s rhetoric when that rhetoric challenges reason and makes absolutely no sense. I am not prepared to follow that rhetoric like a fool at logic's expense… at least not when the subject matter is a deadly virus epidemic of a magnitude never before seen. Are you serious Mr. Honorable Minister? Are you seriously trying to say that the effect of closing the Nigerian borders will only result in people going underground and out of your radar rather than containing the virus? Are you really trying to convince the public that wearing gloves may further aid the spread of the disease? Listening to the words of the Health Minister took me back to a speech by Guinea’s president, President Alpha Condé, in April when he appealed to his citizens for calm at the panic raised by the initial spread of the virus. “My government and I are very worried about this epidemic,” he said and he went ahead to assure Guineans that the government had taken strict precautions to avoid the further spread of the disease. Similarly, back in April, Sierra Leone’s chief medical officer, in order to calm the panic raised by Sierra Leoneans, spoke about the extensive screening processes that had been introduced in the country’s borders. Looking back at the declaration of the Guinean and Sierra Leonean leadership about restrictions to travel and cross border exchanges, appeal for calm and assurances that every precaution to ensure that the disease stays contained had been taken by the authorities, it is safe to say that the measures they put in place weren’t altogether successful; considering the fact that the outbreak eventually found its way out of those countries and has infiltrated and alarmed a number of governments across the West African region, including Nigeria. Then there was the position taken by the Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro, when he was reported to have stated that an isolated case is not enough to shut the nation’s borders against its neighbors. At this stage, I’m going to have to take a break; because I’m going to need the Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro, to take five solid seats at the back left hand corner of the hall and the Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, to take a full stadium of seats for the perilous and deficient position they have taken on this biggest threat to humanity! Correct me if I’m wrong, but we are talking about one of the most challenging outbreaks of a deadly haemorrhagic fever, which can wipe out the whole of humanity, aren’t we? Please remind me again; the subject matter is a virus with the ability to move faster than human scientific communications and control capacities, right? Yes, that’s what I thought! Now just incase anyone missed it, the disease that both Ministers are speaking about

is one that has been described as, the deadliest in recorded history. …That is what we are playing “The Sinking of the Titanic” with, Ladies and gentlemen! To get straight to the point; this issue is about death! Point, blank and period! Indeed, if this was Russian-Roulette loaded with a blank, as opposed to a real bullet, then going with the flow, in the manner we oft do in Nigeria, would be an option, despite what logic dictates. But this Ebola business is the real deal. It is not about party politics, or an insurgency by raving lunatics; it is not about ‘my interest’ against ‘your interest,’ culture religion or tribe. This issue is about a ferocious disease, of which the outcome cannot be predicted. So, by way of advise, both Minister’s, perhaps, need to fully comprehend that this is not the time for the government, for the opposition, for devil’s advocates or anyone else, for that matter, to tender only paying lip-service to such a threat from an extreme danger, the likes that we have never seen before! I beseech thee do not get me wrong. It isn’t that one is irrationally and alarmingly trying to raise alarm or encourage the stigma of mildly sick people. My intention is not to unnecessarily advocate for people to give in to panic, because that ‘would’ be counterproductive to confronting the disease. I speak in this manner based on the need for us to appreciate just ‘one-single’ feature of this virus. You see the real tragedy of Ebola is that; just ‘one’ undetected infected person can provoke a global epidemic. Just one! Because of the potential of failing to detect that ‘one’ infected person, there is a need for the government to order the complete closure of all Nigerian borders; land, sea and air with immediate effect. Putting checks on all airports across the country is not good enough, not in this instance. Not if the fever of Ebola on that potential ‘one’ has not set in or reached a stage where it begins to show symptoms at the precise time that person is cleared by the very checks that have been put in place to detect the symptoms. Unless one is a bird or a mosquito, no human, dog, sheep, cattle, cat, ram, goat or horse should be allowed to come in or go out of Nigeria until the cases of Ebola within our shores have been detected and those who have come in contact with victims have been quarantined. Initially, the spread of the current outbreak seemed to have slowed down, but has unfortunately picked up pace again in the past couple of weeks. And the reason for this is because the governments that have been fighting to keep the disease under control have failed to put adequate preventative measures in place. Nigeria should resist falling into this category. Now it is apparent that the virus is progressing faster than all the work done to try and contain it. If the condition gets any worse than it is now, the effects could become cataclysmic. Certainly it is difficult to disagree with the Chairman of TIEMS, Nigeria (The International Emergency Management Society), West Africa, Muhammad Audu-Bida, who advised the government to close all Nigerian borders until the virus is contained. This view is predicated on the notion that the isolation of individual cases is too much of a weak measure in comprehensively ensuring the containment of such a capricious disease. We should be able to learn from the haphazard manner in which Guinea and its border countries of Liberia, and Sierra Leone failed to contain and curtail the spread of the deadly virus.

The government of, especially, Guinea, where the virus originated from, has done an abysmal job in trying to curb or curtail the spread of the lethal virus within its own borders and to other countries in the region. Perchance, if the country had closed its borders from the onset and the virus had been curtailed, the world wouldn’t have to be facing such a quandary that the virus is currently posing. All the countries that have been affected with this virus need to seriously reflect on their lax response to the Ebola situation. Every single country in the world has had ample warning about Ebola. Since the first outbreak in Guinea back in March and the first case of a woman going into Liberia from Guinea, all countries should have taken preventive measures. It is a crying shame that it is only now, 5 months on and over 1,000 deaths later, that governments are declaring an Ebola emergency. The emergency declared as a result of the Ebola virus in Nigeria is a step in the right direction, but that step is really not enough. I mean, think about it; the measures that the Nigerian government have taken now are not so much different to those taken and announced by the Guinean, Liberian and Sierra Leonean governments before the disease spilled onto the Nigerian shores. And even now, as we observe the emergency declared, already news reports state that Benin has reported two cases of the deadly Ebola virus. The Health Minister of Benin announced the death of one suspected case and the quarantine of another who had, incidentally, returned to Benin from Lagos. The closure of Nigerian borders until the disease is contained is not just for the purpose of protecting Nigeria from infected people coming into the country, it is also to protect the rest of the world from what Nigeria is taking out. Since Mr. Patrick Sawyer made the conscious decision to come into Nigeria, after knowingly having contact with a family member who died from Ebola, he placed on Nigeria a burden, which has got to be completely offloaded. The Liberian government’s sheer incompetence and ‘uselessness’ in failing to stop the movement of Mr. Sawyer and allowing him to travel abroad, having known he was taking care of his sister, who was infected and later died of the virus, is astounding. The Liberian authorities have admitted to being aware of Mr. Sawyer’s medical condition. He had, apparently, been put under surveillance by Liberian health authorities but escaped quarantine and managed to book and board a flight heading out of the country. Unbelievable!!! In addition to the apology that the Liberian president has issued to Nigeria for her government’s incredible ‘inability’ to manage even the simplest of tasks of keeping ‘one’ man in quarantine, there should be an official apology and possible compensation for the families of the doctors, nurses and all those who have lost their lives or have contracted Ebola as a result of the direct selfishness and recklessness of both late Mr. Patrick Sawyer and the Liberian government. And if we later learn that the reason for Mr. Patrick Sawyer’s haste to travel to Nigeria in his condition was because of a directive from his employers at ArcelorMittal, an iron mining company, and not because he personally wanted to fulfill the condition of collecting ‘estacode’ (money provided to pay for travel expenses for corporate officers), then ArcelorMittal should be held ‘vicariously liable’ for any tort committed while he was conducting his official duties. Under Tort law, a strict liability has been imposed on ArcelorMittal for any wrongdoing of Mr. Sawyer while ‘in the course of his employment,’ so if it turns out that he was merely carrying out his duties, one would hope that the families of those directly affected would explore the possibility of filing a legal suit. Not that anything can bring back the family’s deceased loved ones back or repair the damage already done, but the only crime of those who came into direct contact with Mr. Sawyer was to help a very sick man. Therefore some accountability should be taken for the risk that was ‘wickedly’ imposed on them.

•To be continued next week

Three killed as motorcyclists, police clash in Lagos O fewer than three persons were killed and several others injured yesterday morning at Iyanaschool bus stop, Lasu-Iba expressway, Iba Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, following a clash between policemen and commercial motorcyclists popularly called Okada riders. The Nation learnt that trouble started when policemen from Iyana-Ishashi Police Station in their patrol vehicle invaded the Okada Park to impound their motorcycles and also extort them. It was gathered that the motorcyclists resisted them on the grounds that the place was a park allocated to them by government and so would not be intimidated by the police. Sources said the policemen then demanded for money and they said they were just starting work for the day, urging them to come back later but the

tion that the policemen shot some of the Okada operators.”

policemen allegedly refused. “The police men had gone to the park to extort Okada riders but they were resisted by the Okada men. The errant policemen then tried to seize some motorcycles and this was also resisted by the Okada operators. “ However, it was gathered that the situation got out of hand and degenerated to a free for all. One of the policemen in the team wanted to shoot into the air to scare the aggrieved motorcyclists and ‘accidentally’ opened fire on one of the motorcyclists who was said to have died instantly. Sources said the policemen shot their way to escape, wounding another rider who later died in a private hospital. An eyewitness who simply identified herself as Nneka said: “It was during an alterca-

As the policemen were carrying out their operation at Iyana-School, another set of policemen were doing same at Iyajo Plaza area, where they allegedly killed another motorcyclist.” The clash was said to have led to a pandemonium in the area as the motorcyclists took the body of their colleagues to the police station, threatening to set the station ablaze. “The motorcycle riders have set bonfires on the major roads amid war songs. The Okada men have stopped working and commuters are already stranded. I have just called someone to come and take me home now,” Nneka added. The Divisional Police Officer (DPO), was said to have ordered his men to shoot the protesters if they come anywhere near the station.

Jude ISIGUZO & Kunle AKINRINADE

Sources said the policemen shot into the air and also fired tear gas canisters at the protesters. A pregnant woman went into forced labour because of the tear gas and was rushed to the hospital by neighbours. Deputy spokesperson of the Lagos Police Command, Lelma Kolle, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) confirmed the incident but denied that policemen killed anyone. Kolle said the policemen received a distress call on criminal activities in an area and as they were going to respond, the motorcyclists saw them and thought they were coming after them because of the ban on their operations in some restricted areas. He said the motorcyclists attacked the policemen, chasing them back to their station. Kolle explained that the policemen were said to have

shot two of the motorcyclists in the leg in a bid to defend their station. He however said that a protest which generated from the crisis was hijacked by area boys and one of them stabbed the other to death. The Deputy spokesperson said because of the development, the Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko, ordered the Area ‘K’ Command to mobilise his men to the scene, adding that normalcy has since been restored by men of the command. In a related development, a leader of a vigilante group has been arrested in Ikorodu for allegedly killing a 25 year old man. His reason for killing the man has not been established but he is being interrogated by the police. The development also caused protest in the area but policemen were able to contain it.

THE NATION

SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2014

THE NATION

SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2014

12 SOCIETY

THE NATION SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2014

Jerry Madu hooks heartthrob, Debbie Obadan

THE NATION, SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2014

CRIME & OTHER STORIES

olukunle87@yahoo.com

‘I rob by drugging my victims’

Abducted teacher recounts ordeal •Continued from 19

•Dr. Emmanuel

63-yr-old reveler dies in beer parlour n Kunle AKINRINADE n

She said her husband‘s computer with which he was working late that night was taken away. Still not satisfied, the robbers threatened to abduct her, despite pleas from her husband and threatened to kill her husband if he stood in their way. During the heated argument, she said she prevailed on her husband not to stand in their way. Her words: “A group of boys came into our compound. They climbed the fence and came into our house and requested for money. As they came in, the dogs started barking, but they shot and killed one of our dogs. “The next thing I saw was that the boys had gained entry into our house. They shot into the air sporadically. They requested for our phones. My husband was working on his laptop at that time, so they collected it from the table. “My husband gave them the N160, 000 he had in the house, but they said the money was not enough and asked for more. Since they threatened to kill my husband, I told them I had another N100, 000, the money that somebody kept with me. “They still were not satisfied and insisted that I should go with them. My husband refused, but they told me to prevail on my husband or they would kill him. I followed them.” She said her abductors told her that she was being taken to Bayelsa State and that her husband would never see her again if she did not cooperate with them. She recalled that after they left the house, she was blindfolded and pushed into a car that was parked a few metres away from the house. After a long drive, she was handed over to two other persons and they trekked a long distance through swampy terrains and thick undergrowth. Okolie said she was threatened with death several times and forced to sit in the swamp for hours while her abductors awaited signals from other

ICHEAL Izora, a beer lover, has died drinking beer in Idiroko, a border community in Ogun State.

•Continued from 19

At other times, he would act like a bureau de change owner with people who want to convert hard currencies into naira as his target. Once they bring the hard currencies to him, he would entertain them with diluted drinks that would send them to sleep, after which he would bolt with their moneys. Majority of his victims were said to be women because of the ease with which he succeeded in convincing them to do what he wanted. He was also said to be in the habit of boarding buses with jewellery dealers or people who he knew had a lot of money on them. He would make sure he sat beside them in the bus. Then he would make friends with them and lure them with diluted drinks or snacks that would make them to sleep whereupon he would alight from the vehicle and escape with their money or jewellery or the bags and boxes containing them. The source further revealed that the suspects at times would first buy from his victims’ shops. The second time he would visit the shop, he would ask them where they buy their gold from; India, England, America, Ghana or South Africa? He would then ask the victim why she does not get her stock from Dubai where she could get her stock cheaper. He would then ask for money to help the trader obtain visa to United Arab Emirates. He would ask the trader to meet him at the airport to collect the visa. At the airport, he would buy juice and put a sleep inducing drug called Raphnor capsule in it. Once the trader drinks it, she will fall asleep and Ogunniran will dispossess her of all the money and jewellery she has with her. Ogunniran was said to have run into some swindlers who sold to him the idea of going to Dubai for his antics. The fellows were said to have sponsored his trip with them to Dubai where they took him to some big jewellery shops. Ogunniran was said to have studied the position of the CCTV camera and that of

Man arraigned for defrauding Oyo chief of N3.3m

He was said to have arrived the beer joint in his neighbourhood at about 7 pm and ordered for his favourite drink. He allegedly collapsed shortly after he started drinking, but other revelers thought he was drunk. By the time bystanders realised he was not drunk, they tried to revive him but he had passed out. He was rushed to a nearby private hospital where he was confirmed dead by doctors. Police later arrested one Mathew Emmanuel who was said to be present at the scene of the incident. A source who spoke in confidence with our reporter, said: ”He was one the patrons of the joint and he did not show any sign of illness when he visited the joint on that day. “We were shocked when he suddenly slumped while sipping beer and died. I strongly believe that his death was beyond the ordinary. Confirming the incident in a telephone conversation with our correspondent, the spokesman of the Ogun State Police Command, Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi, said the body of the deceased have since been released to his family for burial. “Our investigation did not indicate that he was killed or attacked by anybody. He actually slumped to death at the joint and his corpse has been released to his family for burial,” he said.

n Kunle AKINRINADE n man, Ajayi Ayotunde, who allegedly defrauded an Oyo Chief, Ayandotun Ayanlakin of N3.3 million in a bogus land sale has been arraigned before a Tinubu Magistrate’s court, Lagos. Ayotunde was said to have presented himself as the owner of a piece of land in Ajah, a high brow area of Lagos State, during an encounter with Chief Ayanlakin. Ayanlakin, who is the Royal Amabassador to the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, was said to have paid the money and collected the necessary documents for the land from Ayotunde. He was however unable to gain possession of the said land. Ayanlakin subsequently asked for a refund from Ayotunde and was given a dud Skye Bank cheque dated December 31, 2013. Ayotunde again issued another UBA cheque dated February 7, 2014 to Ayanlakin, but the cheque was dishonoured by the bank. The matter was reported to the police and Ayotunde was made to sign an undertaking on May 20, 2014, to refund the money latest by June 30, 2014. Ayotunde was said to have reneged on his pledge. He was subsequently arraigned on two counts of theft and obtaining money under false pretences. Ayotunde however pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against him. The presiding magistrate, M.O. Omoyele, granted Ayotunde bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties in like sum.

Court remands man for stabbing lover to death n Rukayat JIMOH n man, Raphael Effiong, who allegedly stabbed his lover, Gift Sunday, to death is to remain in prison custody pending the advice of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), an Ebute Metta Chief Magistrate court has ruled. Effiong allegedly stabbed his 28-year-old girlfriend, Gift Sunday, to death with a pair of scissors. The deceased was said to have declined Effiong’s marriage proposal, leading to an altercation during which the accused stabbed her in the armpit. He allegedly invited Gift on July 28, 2014, at about 10.30 pm, to a hotel in Ketu, Lagos, where the unfortunate incident occurred. Gift was said to have died a day after the incident in a private hospital in Ketu. The presiding magistrate, Mr. F.J. Adefioye, ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody pending the advice from the DPP’s office. The case has been adjourned till September 22, 2014.

members of the gang. But she recalled that one of the kidnappers showed her mercy, saying that she reminded him of his mother and promising to protect her from harm. She said the police rescued her after the gang had abandoned her and escaped deep into the forest. She urged young people to engage in profitable ventures, stressing that crime does not pay. Her visibly relieved husMy husband gave them the band, Dr N160, 000 he had in the house, Emmanuel Okolie, a but they said the money was not Physics lecenough and asked for more. turer at the Since they threatened to kill my Delta State husband, I told them I had anUniversity, Abraka, said other N100, 000, the money that he had somebody kept with me. “They worked late still were not satisfied and inthat night sisted that I should go with trying to them. My husband refused, but complete a project he they told me to prevail on my was billed to husband or they would kill him. turn in the I followed them next morning. He said the hoodlums broke into his mother-in-laws room and gained entry into the house after breaking in with a grinding stone. He said he found his wife’s phone with which he contacted relatives who called in the police, who arrived his home about 45 minutes later. Dr Okolie said he was utterly confused at the kidnap saga, stressing that he feared for the life of his wife. “I was in a panic. I was confused. Anything could have happened. The uncertainty was killing. I feared for her life,” he said.

•Ayanlakin

the tea dispenser. He then went inside the shop and put a large quantity of Raphnor capsules in the tea dispenser when the people had gone to the mosque. He was said to have stolen about N480 million worth of jewellery from the shop. He was said to have taken the jewellery to his sponsors who gave him his own share. After getting his own share of the loot, he came back to Nigeria and went straight to Abeokuta Ogun State to relax for some days before he started spending his money. He was said to have bought a Honda car popularly called End-of Discussion and built a well furnished mansion in the city. At the time he returned to Nigeria, he was said to have been declared wanted in Dubai. Unfortunately, said the police source, Ogunniran had always had his way with justice each time he was arrested because it was difficult to find concrete evidence against him. “He used to be so clever to escape justice until he recently dispossessed two women of their gold rings, chains and money, thinking that it was business as usual. Unfortunately for him, the two women sent a petition against him to the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Umar Manko who immediately directed Mr. Abba Kyari, the Superintendent of Police in charge of SARS, to arrest and investigate the suspect. His criminal record, according to the police source, showed that he committed the same offence eight years ago when the officer in charge of SARS in Lagos then was Gaji Abana, a Superintendent of Police. He was said to have been arrested but was later released in mysterious circumstances. But luck ran out on him recently when he swindled two ladies who own shops on Lagos Island. He was said top have purchased some cloths from them only to go back to them after about two weeks and asked why they could not go to Dubai to buy their goods. They told him that they could not go to Dubai because they had no visa. He told them that collecting visa for both of them would not be a problem. He reportedly collected N200,000 from two of them to procure visa. After collecting the money, he brought out his cell phone and pretended that he was calling somebody at the airport who told him that they would move to Dubai the following day. He then told the two ladies that they should lodge in a hotel in Agege to enable them move on time the following day. In the night, he put the sleep inducing drug in juice and offered it to them. The two traders fell asleep after drinking the juice and he collected all their money made up of N400,000 and 400 dollar cash, as well as gold worth about N1.8 million, after which he vanished. When all efforts to trace him had failed, they reported the matter to the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Umar Manko, who directed Abba Kyari, the Superintendent of Police in charge of SARS, to fish out the suspect. Abba swung into action and traced the suspect to Abeokuta from where they monitored his movement until they arrested him near the toll gate in Sango Ota, Ogun State. Answering questions from our correspondent, Ogunniran said: “I did not use gun to rob the two women. I used drugs only. I operated with Raphnor capsule and I always made sure that I gave my victims the correct dose so that they would sleep and wake up after some hours and not die in the process. None of my victims has died since I started robbery because I was always careful not to give them overdose. “I am happily married with a child. My wife is pregnant for my second child. I know the value of life and I am highly responsible.”

Court remands policeman in prison for allegedly killing 29-yr-old 38- year-old policeman, Abang Okon, has been remanded in prison custody for allegedly killing a 29 year- old man, Olalekan

•Akeem Ogunniran

Ajayi. The policeman allegedly shot Ajayi in the chest with an AK 47 rifle while on patrol along Oju Bode Street, Ikorodu, Lagos at about 2:30 pm on August 20, 2013. He was thereafter arrested and arraigned for murder at Chief Magistrate’s Court, Ebute Metta, Lagos. The police prosecutor, Inspector Asu Feddy, pleaded with the Ebute Metta Chief Magistrate’s Court to remand the accused in prison custody pending the advice of the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP). The presiding magistrate, E.O. Ogunkanmi,

n Rukayat JIMOH n granted the application and asked that the accused be kept in prison custody until the DPP’s advice was received. The matter has been adjourned till September 17, 2014.

AKINLOYE

AT LARGE

08050246155 atlarge84@yahoo.com

THE NATION

FAMIL Y HEAL TH 53 AMILY HEALTH

SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2014

Emerging mysterious diseases Ebola virus disease and HIV/AIDS: Differences, similarities, the experimental drug, other matters Differences:

HIV/AIDS

Ebola virus disease Has not been well studied, though the disease has been around since 1976 , appearances have been in the forms of out breaks , ignored by African Nation states, first case recorded in Nigeria was a male Liberian in 2014

Fairly well studied, DNA forensics have revealed that ,this disease has been around since the 1930s First (index case) was a Female Ghanaian in 1986

African fruit bats.- Hypsignathus Monstrosus, Epomops Fraquenti.Others; Antelope, Porcupine, Pigs Chimpanzees and Ourangotang

African green Monkey ;(Chlorocebus aethiops )?or the South East Asian Monkey (Macaques)

Filoviridae

Retroviridae

Ebola virus

Lentivirus

2 days to 3 weeks, median IP =21days, may be longer Ebola virus has been seen in semen seven weeks after recovery

2 months to many years, Up to 15 years in non-progressors

Virulence

Enters the cells by endocytosis. Replication is very fast and virus goes quickly to attack the blood coagulation and immune systems Unlike the HIV , the Ebola virus comes fully packed with thousands of genes and encoded viral enzymes , Gives victims only very short time to live; patient may recover even without treatment but death is more common, occurring in a matter of days.

Enters the cell using docking proteins, replication is slower and transcription follows by the use of reverse transcriptase enzyme .The genes are fewer and the virus depends partly on the genes of the host as it turns the host into a factory for making HIV/AIDS equipmentRecovery does not occur in untreated patientsMain target is the immune system, giving rise to opportunistic infections It gives the patient long time to live and so it is a long living virus unlike Ebola

People at risk

Every one alive in the world today is at risk, particularly Doctors, Nurses, other Hospital and Laboratory staffButchers, Hunters, Undertakers, , mortuary technicians, Pathologists, Medical students, sellers buyers and consumers of bush meat Travelers , and travel agents

Commercial sex workers, intravenous drug users, those who prefer unprotected sex and anal sex Any one who practices abstinence or safe sex is not likely to contract HIV

Animal to human contacthuman to human , sexual contact ,contact with infected door knobs, office and hospital files. Others include , casual contact, kissing, shaking hands, hugging, inhaling suspended aerosol particles , from sneezing, coughing . Mother to child transmission occurs and is more dramatic. Pregnant women suffer abortions that are quickly followed by unstoppable bleeding ,shock and death.Contrary to a recent statement made recently by the President of an industrialized country, an experiment jointly carried out by a Military task force and a company in 1995 showed very clearly that inhaled Ebola virus suspended in aerosol nuclei is the most deadly form of the agent ,killing more than half of the population of test animals within 4 days .

not by casual contact , not transmissible by hugging , kissing except, there are cracks in the mouth , throat or there is duodenal or stomach ulcer unprotected sex between men and women remain the major mode of transmission.Mother to child transmission occurs but with less severe complications.Just as in Ebola, viral particles can get into the eyes and lead to infection Also unlike Ebola, contact with the body or fluids from someone who died from HIV will not lead to infection with the virus that causes AIDS

There is an initial attachment , followed by fusion, receptor mediated endocytosis and then assemblage using itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own enzymes together with structural and non-structural proteinsSo dangerous ,it has not been studied in detail , Ebola is pleomorphic and so more readily mutable ;drugs that halt the virus in one patient may not show efficacy in another person

HIV uses host cell enzymes and also structural materials from hostTwo additional receptors, the CXR4 And CCR5 are necessary for entry and genetic polymorphism as well as mutation make it possible for some individuals to be protected from HIV even when repeatedly exposed

Origin

Host Virus Family Genus Incubation period

Transmission

Mode of entry

Clinical Features

There are two main stages of the disease, the first stage so resembles malaria that the first victim before he died in 1976 was treated with Quinine. However fever in the early stage is mild . The second stage is characterized by very high temperature, and bleeding from all the openings of the body, and into the eyes. Also this is the stage when the disease is most infectious to humans and animals in the environment . Severe pain in the muscles is also more specific for Ebola

There are usually mild symptoms that resemble malaria, but early symptoms here are more of cough . catarrh and swellings in the groin, neck and armpit that refuse to go away. Unlike Ebola, diarrhea in HIV/AIDS is not associated with bloody stools and there is no bleeding from the nose (epitasis)

All ages are susceptible, but 20-40 years mostly affected

Age preferences Treatment Modalities

Mostly persons in the economically strong group;18-65 years Disappointing, but can reduce speed of progression to deathNew drug (Zmapp) was developed from a cocktail of antibodies produced in mice and then in large quantities by infecting genetically modified Tobacco plants There is at the moment no scientific paper on the stuff . Any one taking the drugs now is actually representing a test animal for the various possible good and side effects it may produce

Antiretroviral drugs in single or multiple combinations, pre and post exposure prophylaxis now effective

Control Status

Presently going out of control Only a handful of states have begun to establish centers for control of the disease ; create centers for notification, clinical diagnosis , quarantine and isolation Fumigation Rooms/Tents etc

To some extent control measures at various levels are presently working

Pets

Extremely unwise to retain animal pets during out breaks because they also become involved in outbreaks

Nothing to do with Pets except Monkeys which compartmentalize the virus in their semen for years, shedding them

No evidence that Bitter cola , Ginger, Aloe vera, Garlic or any other local preparation has any effect on any virus . Measles, Polio, Chicken pox, Hepatitis B and Human papiloma virus have been with us and no body has talked about any local herb doing any thing on any of these Can survive outside living matter for days And so dead bodies are better incinerated

All the claims about herbal cure for HIV/AIDS have turned out to be false and more patients have gone from bad to worse taking them Can only survive a few hours outside living tissues

Requires special equipment in special laboratories manned by people with special training

Requires voluntary counseling and testing , now possible in Primary, Secondary and Tertiary health facilities ,nationwide

It is written that for lack of knowledge the people perish. It is safer to practice a religion that recognizes the delicate link between the physical and the spiritual based on understanding of entities that are not visible to the unaided eyes but strong enough to kill populations of humans than to sweep away everything under claims that are at best can not be verified

It is not in the interest of God for any patient who has been confirmed positive to undergo sero deconversion and test negative. This claim common with Pastors and Tradomedical practitioners only give young patients assumed optimism and create prevention fatigueIt is like the mother of a six year old boy complaining that the BCG vaccine her child was given at birth was not the medicine after all; but water

Local herbs Viability outside body

Diagnosis Religion

Headache, body rash, weight loss, immune suppression, diarrhea, vomiting , kidney liver and brain involvement occur in both of these conditions, but contact of any nature with someone with Ebola virus disease, the presence of high grade fever, bleeding from nose, mouth, vagina, severe muscle pain should point in one direction. Both diseases associated with laboratory experiments by companies overseas involved in research connected with biological weapons of mass destruction. Whether these mysterious viruses have been tested on small populations of humans and are now being tested on larger populations, or they are leaking out due to prolonged storage in Silos will one day become clear

PREVENTION

This has been discussed exhaustively in earlier articles; it needs to be emphasized however that if indeed the Federal Government of Nigeria has declared that we are in an

Similarities emergency situation with the Ebola virus disease getting out of control in countries which bother our own, then there should be visible presence of activities in that direction ; issues concerning the welfare of Medical Doctors should be addressed without further delay; it makes no sense calling for volunteers to undertake hazardous enterprise when one of the issues on ground bother on lack of adequate remuneration for the extremely dangerous hazards to which medical Doctors are daily exposed Personal protective devices should be distributed at little or no costs to all hospitals and clinics, and not just those owned by governments Right now many clinics have no idea what to do when an Ebola patient presents at the

out patient department ;there should be control centers at the relevant levels of health care delivery systems Many people are still only talking about bush meat and Ebola, Health education on washing of hands, fruits and vegetables, avoiding contact with persons suspected to be having the disease should The American Ebola patients who are presently responding well to the experimental drug also took blood transfusion from patients recovering from the disease. it is also important to understand from the point of the natural course of the disease that some patients for reasons of genetics recover from Ebola virus disease even without any anti viral treatment. It is therefore difficult without additional studies to know what is exactly responsible for the rapid and favorable response observed in these individuals

Duku JOEL, Damaturu

THE NATION,

NEWS 57

SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2014

HE Northern States Forum (NSF) of the National Association of State Movements (NASM), yesterday rejected the eight states recommended for the North in the report of the just concluded National Conference. The Conference had recommended a total of 10 states for South and eight for the North. The NSF of NASM in a statement in Abuja signed

Confab: North rejects eight new states

Sanni ONOGU and Tony AKOWE Abuja

by its Chairman, Senator Ahmad Zakari and Secretary, Dr. Yakubu Ugwolawo said the Forum is in the dark about the yardstick used by the National Conference delegates in recommending the creation of the 18 states.

NDLEA uncovers syndicate that hides drugs in car engine compartment

HE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has smashed a notorious cross-border drug trafficking syndicate that specializes in hiding drugs inside engine compartment at the Seme Border, Lagos. Two members of the criminal group were nabbed at Gbaji checking point along Lagos-Seme express way during routine check of vehicles. According to the NDLEA Seme commander, Mr Nicholas Ajaduronye both suspects concealed the drugs inside the engine compartment. “We have apprehended two members of a drug cartel that smuggle drugs into the country from Ghana. One of the suspects, Chukwura Ekene, 40, hid 18.3kg of compressed cannabis inside the air conditioned component of his MercedesBenz car while Sulaiman Akinola, 35, concealed 9.750kg of ephedrine and 1.3kg of heroin inside the head light of his Toyota Camry car” Nicholas stated. The commander added that Seme Area Command of the NDLEA between January and June 2014 seized a total of 102.405kg of narcotic drugs and arrested twenty (20) suspected drug traffickers, 18 males and 2 females in six months. Out of the cases charged to court within the period, 4 had been convicted while others are ongoing. Those arrested include a 24 year-old student, Babatunde Gafar found with 15.5kg of cannabis disguised as cassava flour and a 40 year-old trader, Obiasulu Chukwujekwu found with 2kg of cocaine in a false bottom of his bag. Babatunde Gafar and Obiasulu Chukwujekwu were arrested on their way from Benin Republic. Preliminary investigation revealed that Chukwura Ekene and Sulaiman Akinola are notorious drug smugglers that hide drugs in their vehicle engine components from Ghana to Nigeria. They operate under the cover of commercial transportation. Chukwura Ekene hails from Oshimili South Local Government Area of Delta State while Sulaiman Akinola hails from Oyo State. Both sus-

•Seeks two more

The group called for the creation of Hadeija State from the North Western Zone and Okura State from the North-Central zone as the recommendation by the Conference was skewed against the NorthWest and North-Central zones of the country. Senator Ahmad told reporters at a news conference in Abuja that the absence of a clear guideline used to

determine the 18 states r e c o m m e n d e d damaged the credibility of the exercise. He said that it is wrong to treat the North-West zone with a population of 35,786,944 and 216,065 square kilometres on the same pedestal as the South-East zone with a population of 16,381,729 and a land mass of 29,526 square kilometres. He said: “The

recommendation of equal number of states for unequal zones in the country is therefore improper and not a solution to the clamour for equity, justice and fair play, which the conference is expected to bring to bear on the governance of the country. “Instead, it has sown seeds of discord and hatred, capable of creating u n i m a g i n a b l e consequences on the

peaceful co-existence amongst the people of this country. “If zones must be the basis for governance in the country, then land mass, population and other factors necessary to determine the needed equity and justice should be the main yardstick for creation of the zones. “Consequently, the North should be given a fourth zone by creating additional zone in the North West zone.”

Kelvin OSA Okunbor pects are cooperating with narcotic investigators. According to Chukwura, the arrest came as a surprise. “I am surprised that we are arrested because how did they know that there is drug inside my car. Somebody must have reported to the officers” he stated without remorse. Meanwhile, Chairman/ Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade has commended the Seme command for the arrests and drug seizures. “This seizure of drug inside vehicle engine components will serve as a warning to other drug syndicates that their days are numbered. The efforts of Seme command in tracking down this criminal group is highly commendable” Giade stated.

•A cross section of the 498 newly recruited airmen and women into the Nigerian Air Force on parade during their POP at NAF Base Kaduna on Friday. PHOTO: Abdulgafar ALABELEWE

Nasarawa lawmakers in fresh plot to sack Al-Makura, swear in Deputy Governor

…Seek to mandate Vacation Judge to raise Kangaroo investigation panel

HERE seems to be no respite yet for Governor of Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State who recently escaped a bid to impeach him by some members of the House of Assembly. The anti-Makura legislators have launched a fresh plot to impeach him and inaugurate Deputy Governor Damishi Barau Luka as his replacement.

The lawmakers ,it was gathered,are in the process of reaching out to a vacation Judge in the state for the purpose of raising a new panel to probe their 16

Yusuf ALLI, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

allegations against the governor. But their move is without the support of the Presidency or the National Secretariat of the PDP. Sources in the State judiciary see no sense in the lawmakers’ latest approach,saying a Vacation Judge cannot assume the powers of the Chief Judge of Nasarawa State. The Nation gathered that the latest plot is to sack Al-Makura not later than next Friday. Investigation showed that at

a kangaroo session on Tuesday, the lawmakers decided to take advantage of the ongoing vacation by the court and the absence of the Chief Judge, Justice Suleiman Dikko ,to create a constitutional crisis in the state. A reliable source familiar with the development said the lawmakers resolved to hold a midnight session at the Assembly in Lafia early next week. They intend to seek the protection of security agencies and some militia in executing their plot. It was learnt that the

confidence of the lawmakers was buoyed by the last week rally of the State Chapter of the PDP where a senior government official boasted that if anti-Al-Makura forces wanted to overrun Lafia, they would do so without resistance. The source said: “The forces against Al-Makura are persuading the Assembly to go ahead having rejected the seven-man investigative panel inaugurated by the Chief Judge. “They want to pressurize the Vacation Judge to raise a new panel and within three days, Al-Makura will be removed.

we should live our lives.”I think those calling Northerners parasites are trying to exercise their freedom of speech. Sultan Abubakar spoke in Sokoto when the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum and Rivers state Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, paid a courtesy call on him. “It is indeed sad that some few individuals want to be very relevant and are clamouring for the country to break into 100 pieces”, he added. Abubakar continued: “ the world respects Nigeria because of our size and large population and the day we break into 100 countries with a population of 200,000 people, then nobody will respect us no matter the money and resources we have.In fact, some countries would have crumbled by now, if they have gone through what Nigeria

has gone through in the last 17 years, “the stressed. He added that majority of Nigerians want to live in peace, saying some few elites were the ones making unguarded utterances to create disharmony among the people. Speaking earlier, Governor Amaechi told Abubakar that he was in Sokoto to inaugurate some projects executed by Governor Aliyu Wamakko. In a frowned mood, the Nigerian Governors’ Forum Chairman added” we are against the deployment of the millitary for the 2015 election. “ If the Federal Government had deployed the large millitary personnel to Sambisa forest like it did in Ekiti and Osun, Boko Haram would have become a thing of the past,” the Rivers Governor pointed out.

Sultan cautions politicians against unguarded statements

HEAD of 2015 general elections, Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III has cautioned politicians and some elite against making unguarded utterances stating that such unrefined comments were capable of hindering the progress of the country. He charged politicians to play responsible politics and refrain from violence and wanton killing in the polity. He noted with dismay that some few individuals have formed the habit of clamouring for the disintegration of the country into smaller nations in order to remain relevant. He however, emphatically said Northerners were not parasites but contribute meaningfully to the development of the country. He said those making such comments were doing so out

Adamu SULEIMAN, Sokoto

of ignorance. Abubakar also pointed out that agriculture was more important than oil, as the North survived on agricultural production even before the discovery of oil. “I think it is important for some of you who visit us to see what we are doing here. We are not parasites to anybody. We live our lives the way we believe we should live our lives.”I think those calling Northerners parasites are trying to exercise their freedom of speech. “ We know who we are and what we contribute to the development of the country,”the monarch stressed. According to him” we are not parasites to anybody. We live our lives the way we believe

In fact, a draft speech of the inauguration address of the new governor is ready. The lawmakers and their backers have also drawn a list of new appointments to be made by the Deputy Governor when he takes over. “The last week rally of the PDP was allegedly used as a signal of the next battle to be waged against the governor. “The intelligence report of their plot is however being sent to appropriate authorities.” Another source in AlMakura’s camp, who confirmed the plot, said: “We do not know why these lawmakers have become desperate to throw the state into chaos. “Information at our disposal indicated that each lawmaker has been promised $180,000 in addition to other perks if the governor is removed. “They want to use a judge who allegedly has sympathy for the PDP in the state. The same judge had three times delivered judgment against Nasarawa State Government. “As I talk to you, there is a petition against the judge before the National Judicial Council (NJC) for alleged abuse of office.” Responding to a question, the source added: “Our position is that there is no way a Vacation Judge can assume the role of the Chief Judge of the state.” The Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku had last week led a PDP rally against the governor in Lafia. At the rally, Maku said although the Federal Government had no hand in the impeachment plot against Al-Makura, the lawmakers should explore all constitutional means to carry it out.

EBOLA OUTBREAK

58 News

THE NATION, SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2014

American doctor recruited to fight Ebola in Nigeria

IAMI — An American medical doctor, Aileen Marty, left Miami on Thursday on her way to Nigeria, where she will join a team of experts from around the world to help fight the Ebola virus.

Marty, who teaches at the FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, was recruited by the World Health Organisation to serve with the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network. Marty is no stranger to

NLC urges FG to secure health workers’ lives

HE Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC) yesterday urged the Federal Government to secure the lives of health care personnel currently involved in the battle against the spread of Ebola Virus Disease ( EVD). The NLC National Executive Council (NEC), in a communiqué at the end of a meeting in Enugu, hailed government for taking proactive measures against the virus. Congress announced the appointment of Dr Peter Ozo-Eson as its substantive Secretary- General. He was until now the Chief Economist and Head of Research Department of the Congress. The NEC-in-session asked government to ensure that the 2015 general elections are free, fair, credible and acceptable and “resolved to get all employers of Labour to maintain a group life assurance policy for their employees with a minimum benefit of three times total emolument in line with the provisions of the Pension Reform Act 2014, Section 4 (5).” It also expressed concern about the delay by government in implementing the 33.3 per cent increase in pension payment approved by stakeholders and vowed to

John OFIKHENUA, Abuja secure its implementation; On democracy in the country, it said: “Although the nation has had 15 years of unbroken democracy, there is little to show as dividends of democracy. NEC noted serial acts of impunity, abuse of human rights, harassment of the media, the disruption of peaceful protests, diminishing jobs, etc, and urged the government to make democracy more benevolent and beneficial. “The NEC-in-session commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its improved performance in the conduct of elections, but cautioned against the overmilitarization of election zones as it could be counterproductive, and accordingly urged the government to take note; “The NEC-in-session noted the upcoming general elections in 2015 and also took congnisance that some of our colleagues are preparing to go into party politics to actualize their political ambitions. “The NEC-in- session also resolved to take control, revitalize and strengthen the Labour Party in line with the ideals of Labour and its ideological preference.”

Don’t mistake fever for Ebola, Ekiti warns residents

HE Ekiti State Government yesterday warned residents not to mistake common ailments such as chronic fever for the dreaded Ebola virus. The state Commissioner for Health, Prof. Olusola Fasuba, gave the advice at an awareness creation forum in Ado-Ekiti as a result of information currently making the rounds in the state that Ebola had hit some towns. He dispelled the rumour that a sick youth corps member posted to serve in the state had contacted the disease. According to him, although a male youth corps member collapsed at the orientation camp at Ise/Emure Ekiti, it was not true he had the dreaded Ebola virus. He also berated other corps members for abandoning their colleagues on the suspicion he had the virus. Fasuba disclosed that on learning of the development, he caused the sick boy to be attended to by a team of health workers who later discovered the boy had chronic fever. However, he said in order to be very sure of his correct state of health, his blood samples were taken and

Sulaiman SALAWUDEEN, Ado-Ekiti sent to Lagos, adding that the results which arrived the state on Thursday also indicated that he tested negative to Ebola. “The youth corps member has been removed from camp and is currently being kept at our isolated centre located within Oba Adejugbe General Hospital, Ado-Ekiti. “As I speak, I assure residents that the health of the boy in question is already improving while he continues to show signs of good health far from Ebola,” he said. The health commissioner, who warned rumour mongers to desist from spreading false information that could mislead or scare people, said government had taken some pro-active measures to prevent Ebola from spreading to the state. He listed some of such steps to include banning of movement of uncertificated dead bodies into the state, constitution of 30 technical committees as well as creation of three isolated centres in Ado-Ekiti, Okemesi-Ekiti and Ifaki-Ekiti.

Ebola or West Africa. In over 30 years of practising medicine, 25 of them as a Navy doctor, she has travelled the world, visiting 50 countries and treating diseases like leprosy, dengue, malaria and Ebola. In addition to treating patients in West Africa, her work within her team will be focused on threat analysis and risk assessment, areas where she has decades of experience. The fact

that the FIU College of Medicine has extensive experience and resources in data analysis, she said, can be a significant asset in processing the information and lead to more efficient containment of the outbreak. Marty served as commander, medical corps, in the U.S. Navy, specialising in tropical medicine, infectious disease pathology, disaster medicine, and in

the science, medical response and policy involving weapons of mass destruction. She attended the Navy War College, where she trained in strategic studies, diplomacy, joint military operations and the art of war. The Navy’s Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED) recognized her as an expert on chemical, biological, radiation and high-energy weapons and called on her to help develop plans, training

and policy for government agencies including the White House and the National Security Administration. Marty is one of only 403 people listed in the international roster as a member of the United Nations Monitoring and Verification Team for Weapons of Mass Destruction. She is a graduate of the University of Miami School of Medicine.

•Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State (left) and Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers working with the tiller machines inaugurated in Sokoto yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

UN aims to feed 1million people hit by Ebola

AKAR -The United Nations is to step up food aid to reach up to a million people affected by the Ebola outbreak wreaking havoc in West Africa, the World Food Programme (WFP) said yesterday. With states of emergency and severe restrictions on movement imposed in the three worst-hit countries, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra

Leone, the UN agency is bringing in its own aircraft to transport its personnel. “The restrictions on movement in the most affected areas threatens food security,” WFP spokeswoman Fabienne Pompey said. “Commerce is affected, people cannot get to their fields, and prices rise at the markets so the poorest have trouble feeding them-

selves.” The WFP is already feeding several thousand people in the worst affected areas, including the families of victims who have been quarantined, orphans and old people and hunters hit by the ban on the sale of bushmeat. With several commercial carriers suspending flights

to the region because of the epidemic, she said the agency is starting up a special line on Saturday with an aircraft based in the Guinean capital Conakry to link the capitals of the three countries. She said two helicopters will also be brought in to help staff reach the most isolated areas.

Lagos replies patients’ families •Continued from Page 3 team going in, “but that what is available now is that teams are working flat out and therefore there would be be no opportunity to segregate anyone patient.” He added that from what the experts told him, there would be no opportunity to single out a particular person as a very important personality that would get special care, adding that whether it is from the lowest member of society to the most important person, they would all be treated in the same way. He said: “The first thing is to contain the epidemic in one place and the next thing is to provide treatment to victims. “Unfortunately, we have lost some patients, which is sad, but we must move on to ensure that we do not compound what is al-

ready a difficult situation and the press conference that the patients are not being treated, there is no water, there is no power is not only unhelpful but puts more pressure on the heath workers. “News reaching me about two hours ago is that some of the health workers feel unappreciated and they decided to stop work as a result of that press conference. We don’t need that now.” Fashola said why it appeared to the concerned relatives that nothing was being done was also because the state was still building up capacity as there is water, there is power in the facility and that the facility is better off today in terms of capacity than it was 10 days ago. ”I hope that puts some context into those complaints. It is a complaint that comes out of concern and empathy, but it is a

complaint that does not focus on reality of what is going on,” he stressed. Also speaking on the N1.9Billion purportedly released by the President to tackle the Ebola issue, Governor Fashola said although he believes that the President had approved some money, the state had not received any money to that effect. He added that what the state had been doing was to work with its resources, maintaining that all the isolation units, the conversion and everything had been by personnel from Lagos who were working with officials of the Federal Health facility in the state. Fashola, however, underscored that what is really needed at this stage was not solely a question of funds but one that concerns a personnel issue, a system issue, a control is-

sue as well a knowledge issue, saying it is only when all of that have been put into place that one can begin to say how much it would cost. “So it is not money issue and from what I get, it is not the type of money that we can’t afford but every help from the Federal Government would be useful. I think what to take away from this is not the money but the fact that even the President has shown sufficient concern to call all the 36 States, their Governors and commissioners for health to get a full briefing of the risks, the process and the prognosis for the future. “I think that is more important. What we need more is the personnel, knowledgeable people who can join that team and contribute their quota”, he added.

THE NATION

NEWS 59

SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2014

NMA to FG: reinstate our sacked members now T

HE Nigeria Medical As sociation (NMA) yester day called for the unconditional reinstatement of sacked resident doctors and the immediate withdrawal of the circular suspending residency training programme. The President of the association, Dr Kayode Obembe, who made the call while briefing newsmen in Abuja, urged the Federal Govern-

ment to find a better way of resolving the disagreement between the government and medical doctors. “The Nigeria Medical Association demands immediate withdrawal of the suspension circular and unconditional reinstatement of the so-called sacked resident doctors. “Government should show commitment on her

Aregbesola’s victory a landmark event — Akume

HE Senate Minority Leader, Chief George Akume, has described the victory of Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State in last week’s governorship election as a landmark event in the political history of the state. Akume, the immediate past governor of Benue State,in a congratulatory message on behalf of the APC Caucus in the Senate,to Aregbesola, described him as an exemplary leader and a good ambassador of the APC. He said that Aregbesola, by his victory,has “proved to our detractors that governance is about the people and that the people appreciate good work wherever they see it.” “Osun State has seen your good work and has indeed appreciated it by the massive support reflected in the election results.

“All your detractors, men of doubtful integrity that will haunt them to their graves, have been put to shame. “I urge you to continue with the fantastic work you have been doing in the past four years in the next four years.The beat must go on.”

•Akume

part in resolving the current impasse with the Nigeria Medical Association. “By all means, any attempt by government to break her (NMA) ranks as an association, will be resisted. “Rather than abolishing residency training programme, government should show more commitment toward improving the already poorly funded programme. “Government should improve the nation's health facilities with a view to discouraging medical tourism

Augustine EHIKIOYA, Abuja purportedly issued by me titled: President Jonathan reveals location of Chibok girls and exposes Boko Haram masterminds. "No such press release was written or circulated by me. It is clearly the work of fraudsters who have hacked into my email account in an odious attempt to mislead the public at the expense of the credibility of the Jonathan Administration. "We totally condemn this criminal resort to political

HE Federal Government has described the dem onstration carried out by the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) calling for the withdrawal of the suspension of residency doctors’ training programme as hypocritical. Government also described the said demonstration as unhealthy and uncalled for. The doctors yesterday in Abuja protested the Federal Government' suspension of residency training programme for doctors, which is tantamount to sack. The doctors carrying placards called for immediate Reacting to the protest yesterday, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health, Mr. Linus Awute, said the demonstration was uncalled for since there is no training going on in the last one month. Besides, Awute claimed that the doctors have been absent from work, so the Federal Government circular suspending residency training programme makes no difference.

dirty tricks which seeks to cynically play on national concern and emotions about the Boko Haram insurgency and fate of the abducted Chibok girls. "Aspects of the fraudulent press release, such as its incoherence and invitation to click on a link, would have alerted discerning persons who are conversant with the style and format of my press statements to the possibility of skulduggery. "I find it necessary, however, to issue this disclaimer for the benefit of the unwary."

Alleged forgery: NBA to probe three members

HE Nigeria Bar Associa tion has commenced a process to investigate allegations of forgery levelled against three of its members. The probe was as a result of a petition written by Mr. John Haastrup, the first son of an Ilesa, Osun State-born industrialist and philanthropist, the late Captain Israel Ademola Gbadebo Haastrup. John accused the three people, including two SANs, of ganging up to forge documents relating to the estate of his father in order to defraud the Haastrup family. The outgoing President of the NBA, Mr. Okey Wali (SAN), confirmed the devel-

opment yesterday in a telephone interview with The Nation. Wali said the NBA received a petition from Mr. Haastrup and added that the association is currently working on it. The NBA president said: “We have received the petition and we are currently conducting necessary investigations into it in line with the due process of the NBA,” adding that “the NBA would look into its merit and apply the appropriate sanction if the allegation is established against them.” According to the petition, a copy of which is with The

Ministry of Health, Linus Awute, on behalf of the Health Minister to Chief Medical Directors and management of federal tertiary institutions. It urged them to take all necessary actions to restore full medical services in their institutions. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the resident doctors began the strike on July 1. Obembe said government refusal to resolve issues with the association and allowing the strike to extend had af-

fected the health of many Nigerians. He also advised the government to ensure that all persons under surveillance for the Ebola virus infection did not travel outside their places of residence. Also speaking, Dr Jibril Abdullahi, advised government to find a way to resolve the crisis, stressing that government should not use the Ebola virus challenge in the country to force doctors to resume work without meeting their demands.

‘...doctors’ protest hypocritical’

Presidency denies revealing abducted Chibok girls' location HE Presidency yester day disclaimed any statement or report suggesting that President Goodluck Jonathan admitted that government knows the location of the abducted Chibok girls. Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President , Dr. Reuben Abati, alleged that hackers used his email account to issue the statement with a view to misleading the public. He said: "All media organisations and persons on my mailing list should kindly disregard the press release

abroad. “The Nigeria Medical Association believes that the current government’s stance will further worsen the present industrial disharmony in the country,” Obembe said. President Goodluck Jonathan had on Thursday approved the sack of the striking resident doctors across federal medical institutions in Nigeria on the basis of the current challenges facing the health sector. The approval came through a letter signed by the Permanent Secretary in the

Nation, the people involved are two legal practitioners and a woman. A source, who pleaded anonymity, said the three people named in the petition are said to be against the setting up of the committee to investigate the allegation. While dismissing John’s allegation, and describing it as false, wicked, scandalous and actionable, the three persons said they would take appropriate action at the appropriate time. In the petition, John (50), the first son and first child of the late Haastrup gave the background of the petition to the NBA

Vincent IKUOMOLA, Abuja

He stressed: "The resident doctors have been on selfimposed suspension for the past one month." The Permanent Secretary also said it was an insult on Nigerians that the doctors would continue with the strike, while there is an emer-

gency in the health sector, stressing that with the outbreak of Ebola, doctors in the country were expected to join hands with other health workers and government in tackling the issue. He also noted that the trekking doctors have also received their July salaries, including all allowances despite the fact that they did

not do any work in the month of July. He stressed that the decision taken is in the interest of the health sector. He further described the demonstration as impunity. Awute, therefore, urged the doctors not to distract the government in its efforts towards tackling the Ebola virus.

EFCC arrests former bank manager for alleged N81m fraud

HE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday said it arrested a former branch manager of one of the new generation banks, (Ecobank Plc), Victor Amushie, for alleged credit fraud of N81, 024, 749.28. According to a statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of the commission, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, the suspect was about relocating from the country when he was picked up.

Yusuf ALLI, Managing Editor, Northern Operation The sattement said: "The suspect allegedly packaged loan facilities for himself, using several names and accounts of some customers of his bank, with whom he shared the proceeds. "The loans went bad and the bank had to hold Amushie who was on the verge of running out of the

country before being apprehended by operatives of the EFCC. "Details of the loan disbursement showed that he granted a total sum of N57, 979, 024. 07 to Onezh Oil and Gas Limited; N11, 317, 562.73 to Esubeb Staff Multipurpose Cooperative and N11, 728, 162. 48 to Ogochukwu Amanda. "Amushie is in the custody of the EFCC and will be charged to court as soon is investigation is concluded."

THE NATION

60NEWS

SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2014

Abia youths to hold prayer summit

HE National Youth Wing of the Abia

State Town Unions Association (ASTUA) will hold a prayer summit on September 20 at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

•L-R: Former Ikorodu North LCDA Chairman, Hon. Kunle Ogunbela; APC Chairman, Ikorodu North LCDA, Hon. Toyin Salau; the Sponsor, Senator 'Gbenga Ashafa and the Bola Tinubu Estate Chairman, Engr. Adesesan Adekoya, during the official commissioning of a motorized borehole and accessories at the Bola Tinubu Estate, Odo-Nla, Ikorodu North LCDA, on Friday.

This was disclosed by the President of association, Prince Ikenna. I. James. He said the youths are presenting the state and Governor T.A. Orji before God and also interceding for the people of the state for overall success, noting that the governor represents the life and image of the state. He said the summit will first hold in Lagos and later in Umuahia, the Abia State capital. Ikenna, who said that the general election of the association will hold in October, said the only elected officers of the association at the moment are the president and the vice president.

Kwankwaso advises Ribadu against defecting to PDP

ANO State Governor, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, yesterday advised former presidential candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, against decamping to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to avoid committing political suicide. Kwankwaso, who spoke to reporters in his office, said he was yet to confirm whether Malam Ribadu was interested in the purported offer of a gubernatorial ticket by the PDP, adding that Ribadu’s political would be over if he dumps the APC. He said: “well, I have heard the rumour and we read it in newspapers and watch it on the television. But I don’t want to believe that it is correct or that it is true. But I want to say that if it is true, then it is a big disappointment for

Kolade ADEYEMI, Kano Nigerians. People ordinarily will think that my brother, Nuhu Ribadu is a principled person; somebody with good ideology, somebody who is progressive; somebody who is always working towards the unity of this country. “And above all, I remember during his days as the chairman of EFCC, he tried so much to deal with corruption. As we are moving deep into democracy, water is taking its level, people are moving in and out of parties, meaning that people with similar ideologies are coming together. And unlike 1998/99 when we were forming parties to deal with the military and install democracy, which was why everybody from all ideological tendencies came together.

“Now that we have gone deep into democracy, we are looking at our shoulders to say who is close to who and who is on the other side. That was why some of us left the PDP to join our brothers and sisters who have the same ideology with us—and that is to bring about the desired change in this country. Now, for him who was, in my opinion, in the right place and together with the progressives, if he should just leave because he is looking for position or he is looking for a ticket to contest election, I don’t think that is good for him and I don’t think that is good for the country. “At the end of the day, if that happens, God forbids, he will be the biggest loser. He will lose because he joined a group that most of them were jailed by him. I don’t think they will ever want to see him

there. But in politics, there is this accommodation of people that they will bring you close, raise you up and dump you. At the end of the day, they will laugh at you and say, look at him now. “If Ribadu joins PDP, whether he wins election or not, he will be the biggest loser. People can’t believe that all that we said about him was completely wrong. The biggest punishment for a politician is for him to be in a wrong place. I don’t think Nuhu Ribadu will make that mistake because if he does, it will be the biggest political mistake of his life.” Kwankwaso also called on Nigerians to reject the proposed new constitution, which he said was smuggled into the national conference, insisting that it was a grand plot by the PDP and the presidency to elongate the tenure of President Goodluck Jonathan.

THE NATION SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2014

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 15-08-14

Bears hit hard as equities close with N122b loss

HE downtrend at the Nigerian stock market rounded off the week with a loss of N122 billion in a last-day trading session characterised by significant selloffs on highly capitalised stocks. The bearish rally, which resurfaced on Wednesday, worsened by the weekend as investors pushed several market orders to offload stakes at available prices, turning the market into a buyer’s market. Aggregate market value of all quoted companies on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) dwindled to N13.664 trillion at the close of trading yesterday; representing a loss of N122 billion on the market’s opening value of N13.786 trillion. The composite index for the stock market, the All Share Index (ASI), indicated average decline of 0.89 per cent, dropping from 41,750.38 points to close at 41,380.05 points. The depreciation yesterday slashed the average year-todate return at the stock market to 0.12 per cent.

N14.85 per share. Total turnover stood at With 24 losers to 23 gainers, 481.66 million shares valued the negative overall market at N2.64 billion in 4,376 deals. was orchestrated by losses Continental Reinsurance was suffered by some highly capi- the most active stock with a talised stocks such as FBN turnover of 208.34 million Holdings, Zenith Bank, shares valued at N208.34 milDangote Cement, Guinness lion in 25 deals. Transnational Nigeria, Lafarge Africa, Corporation of Nigeria United Bank for Africa and (Transcorp) placed a distant Guaranty Trust Bank. second with a turnover of Dangote Cement, the most 62.38 million shares valued at capitalised stock on the stock N349.44 million in 281 deals. market, topped the losers’ list Unity Bank occupied the third with a loss of N5.95 to close position on the activities’ at N226. MRS Oil and Gas fol- chart with 36.55 million lowed with a loss of N5.50 to shares worth N18.28 million close at N54. Conoil placed in 11 deals. third with a drop of N2.04 to On the upside, Skye Shelter close at N65.20. Lafarge Africa Fund topped the gainers’ list dropped by N2 to close at with a gain of N9.75 to close N118. PZ Cussons Nigeria de- at N100. Total Nigeria folclined by N1.30 to close at lowed with a gain of N1 to N36. Guinness Nigeria close at N180. Cement Comdropped by N1.06 to close at pany of Northern Nigeria ralN189. Portland Paints and lied 68 kobo to close at N14.33. Products Nigeria slipped by Nigerian Breweries and Ashaka 26 kobo to close at N5.09. Cement rose by 60 kobo each United Bank for Africa and to close at N171.30 and N34 reZenith Bank dropped by 25 spectively. Berger Paints added kobo each to close at N7.20 38 kobo to close at N9 while and N23.90 while FBN Hold- Oando rose by 29 kobo to close ings lost 15 kobo to close at at N26.69 per share. DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 15-08-14 By Taofik Salako, Capital Market Editor

THE NATION SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2014

SPORT EXTRA

Ike Uche scores third Pre-season goal

HIRTY-YEAR-OLD Ikechukwu Uche continued his great form in pre - season after he netted in the first half as Villarreal defeated Sassuolo 42 in a tuneup game on Thursday evening.

•Ike Uche

The Nigeria international forward opened scoring for the Yellow Submarine in the 16th minute after an assist from Mexican Giovani Dos Santos. Espinosa, Vietto and Gerard Moreno were also on target for the Spanish team while the Italians managed to reduce the scoreline through Simone Missiroli and Simone Zaza. The exhibition game was the final of the 15th edition of Trofeo de la Cerámica Mahou Cinco Estrellas,which Villarreal won for the fifth consecutive time. Ike Uche also found the back of the net against Swansea City and Reus Deportiu, meaning he has scored in three of the five preseason games played by Villarreal. The Camp El Madrigal outfit are away to FK Lokomotiv Astana on August 21 in the Europa League, three days before their meeting with Levante in the La Liga.

AHEAD CAF U-17 CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIER

Amuneke drops 5 players from Eaglets squad

IVE players have been dropped by Nigeria U-17s as they step up their preparation for an African Championship qualifier against Gabon in September. The players are Ebije Y a h a y a , P r i n c e Omosowhofa,Chinedu Madueke,Kingsley Ohiri and Kabiru Muhammedincidentally all midfieldersand have since left the team’s camp in Calabar. The five who were given the marching order, according to the coaching crew, have significantly dropped in form and have

•Amuneke

contributed little to the fortune of the team in recent times. The Golden Eaglets dispatched Congo Democratic Republic on a 5-0 aggregate early this month,but coach Emmanuel Amuneke said there was no room for complacency. “The party is over and it is about time we forget about what we had done recently,” Amuneke told the players. “But it is unfortunate that some have not really measured up to the standard we expected. “We must now focus our attention squarely on Gabon because it would be their desire to qualify for the Under-17 Championship in Niger.” “We have reasonably pruned down the list based on the need of the team according to their performance in comparison to others”explained Emeka Amadi,goalkeepers’ trainer,adding that the coaching crew has a pool of players to be called upon when need arises. “The good thing is that we are in a process of raising a team that can defend the World Cup won in 2013 and we would continue to shuffle the team from time to time since we have about 45 players registered with Confederation of African Football (CAF).”

Ebola: Lesotho pull out of AYC qualifier against Nigeria

ESOTHO have pulled out of this weekend’s final 2015 African Youth Championship against Nigeria after they expressed concerns over the outbreak of Ebola virus disease in the country. “We have contacted the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and copied the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) that we will not be coming for this

game,” Lesotho Football Federation official Limtho Mokhethi told AfricanFootball.com on Friday. The Senegalese officials appointed for the game have already arrived Kaduna, where the match will be played. CAF are now to decide on the overall winners of this final qualifier. The 2015 AYC will be staged by Senegal from March 8.

FIFA U20 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP:

Falconets arrive quarter-final venue

IGERIA U-20 Women’s squad have arrived Moncton to prepare for Sunday’s quarter final clash against New Zealand. The Nigerian women team that topped Group C with Seven points is taking on New Zealand which came second in Group D. The Falconets left Edmonton on Wednesday at about

11.30am, flew through Montreal and arrived Moncton at 9:15pm local time. The team had a training session Thursday morning at the Harrison Trimple High School pitch. All the players are in good health and Osarenoma Igbinovia, who was absent in the match against England due to injury, returned to training.

This is the first time New Zealand has qualified for the knock out stage. The team defeated Costa Rica 3-0 in their last Group game, to qualify. The Falconets on the other have made progress in its previous appearances reaching the Final in Germany 2010 and semi finals in 2012. The team is prepared this time around to create history.

Courtney Dike delighted with ‘family’ relationship in camp

UPER Falconets striker Courtney Dike has described the feeling in the team’s camp as ‘friendly’ and ‘family-like’, following their qualification to the quarterfinal of the ongoing FIFA Women’s U-20 World Cup in Canada. The Falconets beat England 2-1 in their final group game to progress to the last eight of the competition for the sixth straight time and Dike hasn’t hidden her delight at being a part of the Nigerian set up. “The staff is great, the coaches are great and I would say it is a very friendly atmosphere in the camp; more like a family,” she said.

“I’m really happy to be here right now and everything has been going right so far. Everybody in camp is so approachable and it makes me feel at home.” The 19-year-old Oklahoma State forward has so far scored a goal in 145 minutes of football for the Falconets at the World Cup also says the unity they have as a team could be what sees Nigeria win the competition for the first time. “We learn more things in the game here, and maybe that’s what makes us different from other teams in the competition. It’s more than soccer, what we have,” she

added. ‘It showed in the way we played against England and we won the game so I’m just so happy and I think that’s what will take us farther than the other teams.”

•Musa

SPARTAK TIE

Ahmed Musa vows to score for injured Doumbia

SKA MOSCOW’S Nigerian striker Ahmed Musa has commented on the injury sustained by Seydou Doumbia in the 1 - 0 defeat of Terek Grozny in the third round of matches in the Russian Premier League. “Of course, it’s a big loss. We do not have enough of Seydou, because he is our leader. But we are all professional footballers and we are here to show our maximum, as well as find a way out of the most difficult situation. “Do not worry - the skills of the game in attack I have since not lost. But in any case, the coach will decide, “ the 21 - year - old told championat.com. The Brazil 2014 World Cup star,who is yet to open his goal account for the Russian champions this term, says if he scores against Spartak Moscow on Sunday,he will pay tribute to the injured Ivory Coast international .

EPL opener: Ideye set for West Brom debut

•Ideye

UPER EAGLES forward Brown Ideye’s fitness has impressed West Brom manager Alan Irvine and he confirmed Ideye is in his thoughts for today’s game with Sunderland. The Nigerian arrived in England just a week ago and he has shown his intent to get things started in the English Premier League. “Brown’s in our thoughts for the weekend, without any question,” said Irvine. “He’s been here less than week, so it will be a big ask if we do decide to put him in.But I’ve been really

pleased with the level of his fitness. “Because he hasn’t had a full pre-season, he isn’t where I’d expect him to get to. “But he has certainly come in good condition and has looked after himself.” Irvine,on the other hand,is a little careful at throwing the club record signing, Ideye into action but noted that it’s important to know the right time to introduce him at this stage. “I’m sure the fans will look forward to seeing him and it’s important we pick the right moments to put him in and

look after him in these first few weeks,” added Irvine. “There is a danger of asking him to do too much too soon and then risking him getting injured.” The former Ocean Boys striker, Ideye got an hour early in the week and scored twice in a behind closed door U-21 friendly with Nottingham Forest. Irvine shared his observation about Ideye. “In terms of match fitness he’s not where we’d like him to be. He’s looking fitter by the day. He’s a good athlete anyway,” he said.

THE NATION SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2014

SPORT EXTRA AFTERMATH OF FIFA’S ORDER

Minister asks Maigari to resume office Monday

ARELY 24 hours after world football governing body, FIFA ordered that the impeached President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Aminu Maigari should be reinstated, the Minister of Sports and Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Tammy Danagogo has hearkened to

•Maigari

From Segun Ogunjimi, Abuja FIFA’s order and asked the NFF boss to resume work at his Wuse Zone 7 Secretariat office of the Federation on Monday. The Minister disclosed the mission of Maigari at the Abuja National Stadium office and added that the NFF boss visit was in continuation of his resolve to ensure that the crisis bedeviling Nigerian sports is over but also to ensure that all the stakeholders were brought together to have a free, fair and peaceful NFF elections. “He has come to pay a courtesy call on me. What all well-meaning stakeholders have been trying to do all this while is to ensure that all the problems we are talking about are resolved. We have got the commitment of him and his board members. You must be aware that I met with the other group a couple of days ago and they all have resolved that they are going to work together peacefully

and they are going to make sure that the electoral process goes on with more people given the opportunity to have forms to contest to ensure that the best materials will emerge as the next leaders of our football federation without any form of bias or restrictions. That is what he has come to brief me and he has assured me that they are going to work together peacefully.” The Minister also approved of Maigari to run for the post of NFF President if he so wishes but was silent on whether the Bauchi indigene actually sent in his resignation letter as it was being reported. “As a man, he has the right to run or not to. It is his decision to make, he also has the right to resign or not to, it is not the minister that would decide for him. Whatever he would decide, he will announce it at the appropriate time. “Let us not be in a hurry to tomorrow. Before FIFA wrote, there was stakeholders’ advice to both the President

and the first vice president who was said to be acting to go and work together for the remaining few days before the next election. “He will resume on Monday and we expect that when he resumes, he will lead other members who are not present here back to my office.” He noted. Maigari who was accompanied by two of his Board members, Ahmed Yussuf Fresh and Ahmed Kawu told sports reporters that he came to pay a courtesy visit to the Minister. “Our visit today is a tradition which we have in the football family. We deemed it necessary to come and pay a courtesy visit to the minister and congratulate him for the brilliant performance of Team Nigeria at the just concluded Commonwealth Games in Glasgow as well as the performance of our girls in far away Canada. We came to appreciate and declare our loyalty. My visit today is in my capacity as the president of the Nigeria Football Federation.” Maigari stated.

2014/2015 PREMIER LEAGUE SEASON Martins on target Moses handed Chelsea’s No.18 jersey

UPER Eagles striker Obafemi Martins scored a goal on Thursday for Seattle Sounders as they whipped Chicago Fire 6-0 in the semifinal of the US Open Cup. The Nigerian international helped Sounders thrash Fire six-nil at the Starfire Sports Complex Stadium. It was a good run out for Martins in the cup this season, with German coach Siegfried Schmid preferring to rest the former Inter Milan talisman for league matches. The ex-Wolfsburg man wasn’t the only Nigerianborn player that turned out for Sounders, with central defender Jalil Anibaba lasting the entire duration of the match. Chad Barrett opened the goalrush for the Major League Soccer (MLS) title chasing side. A brace each from Andy Rose and Kenny Cooper was another highlight of the match. Martins, 30, was a 74th minute substitute and five minutes after his introduction he struck the game’s fifth goal.

•Martins

By Akeem Lawal

I G E R I A N international, Victor Moses has been handed number 18 jersey as Chelsea announced their squad numbers ahead of the 2014/2015 Premier League season which kicks off this weekend. The Super Eagles midfielder, who had been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge, takes over the squad number previously worn by Romelu Lukaku who had since departed for Everton. The 23-year-old’s inclusion into the 25 man squad might not be unconnected to the fact that Jose Mourinho’s team is short of home grown talent to meet up with Premier League and UEFA regulations. Under the regulations, clubs can only name 17 foreign players over the age of 21 in their official 25-man squads. Moses, despite being a Nigeria International, is English after seeking asylum in the country following the killing of his father and mother during a religious crisis in Kaduna 14 years ago. He has been capped by England at youth level and also holds a British passport. So because he qualifies as a home grown player he will now remain at Stamford Bridge this season to help the blues fill up their home grown quota. Moses’ compatriot, Mikel Obi, who is also due for British Passport in October, retained his number 12

•Mikel retains No. 12 shirt

•Continued from back page pean clubs where our players ply their trade won’t be eager to release our boys for both games, given the closeness in dates for their ties? Are they not envisaging a situation where our players would shun the two matches in a bid to fight for their shirts in Europe like we have seen in the past? What will they tell Nigerians happened to the Eagles in the event that we don’t (God forbid) qualify for the next edition of the Africa Cup of Nations? I won’t be surprised if John Mikel Obi and Victor Moses excuse themselves from the two matches to fight for regular shirts in Chelsea. I also won’t be shocked if some others emulate them, especially when they see that most of the big boys in the team won’t be in Calabar for the game. It has happened before and Nigeria lost both matches under Johannes Bonfrere and Samson Siaisa. Not being available for Chelsea at this early stage of the European season will gift Jose Mouriho the best reason to sack them. Interestingly, both games would not be holding on FIFA free windows, where it becomes imperative for European clubs to release their players to play for their countries. And with an NFF in turmoil, who would get to managers, such as Mourinho and be heard? Already, we have said that both games would be prosecuted by the established stars. Good. But how many of them are regulars? Who among them will want to risk his career for Nigeria in a non-FIFA free window? Even when the window was free, how many of them reported to camp on time? I recall that the Eagles were woeful in the first half against Rwanda in Kigali on September 8, 2012. They were so bad that the coach spent the whole of the half -time admonishing them over their shameful outing. But for Vincent Enyeama’s brilliance, we would have been beaten. Of course, some of them complained of the high altitude, in spite of the fact that the contingent left Abuja on Friday morning, played on Saturday and left Kigali in the morning of September 9, 2012, a Sunday. Nigeria has gone past just qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations. We should be default winners of the competition every time. But with the way the NFF crisis is going, I won’t be surprised if we fail to grab the six points from the two games. With the confusion at the Glasshouse, no attention is being paid to the Rwandan protest for a shift in venue to a neutral ground due to the outbreak of Ebola. It is true that the killer -disease is here. We haven’t heard of cases in Calabar where the game will be played. With the way things are, one wonders which African country can host a game between Nigeria and Rwanda in the west of the continent without a case of Ebola outbreak. Just as I was concluding this article on Thursday, FIFA ruled that Aminu Maigari be returned to his position as NFF President. The body directed that things should return to what they were until the end of the 2014 World Cup. It directed that the election should hold on August 26 and asked the NFF Secretary General Musa Amadu to ensure the directives are obeyed to the letter. Let us hope that this FIFA letter will give those who do things with impunity in this clime a soft landing to do what is right. If 208 countries can comply with FIFIA’s statutes, why can’t we? I’m tired of asking what is delaying the abrogation of Decree 101. Honourable minister sir, the counter argument by NFF that Maigari submitted a resignation letter is laughable because the document released from the Glasshouse after their last meeting stated categorically that Maigari was impeached and dismissed. In fact, Maigari was escorted out of the meeting by his allies. He didn’t participate in the meeting. Please sir, NFF men have embarrassed us enough. It will be sad if FIFA slams Nigeria with another ban. The time to act is now, Tammy

I'm paying for a mistake I made — Suarez

•Moses

jersey. Meanwhile, Chelsea icon, Didier Drogba reclaimed his number 11 shirt after being vacated by Oscar who takes the No.8 shirt previously worn by club legend Frank Lampard. Eden Hazard will also be wearing a new number in the coming campaign, with the Belgium winger taking on the vacant No.10 from the departed Juan Mata. Elsewhere, Thibaut Courtois has been handed the No.13 jersey, with Petr Cech holding onto the No.1 despite increasing speculation regarding the Czech Republic international’s future at the club.

September 6 & 10 ties

CHELSEA FC SQUAD NUMBERS – 2014/2015 1. Cech, Petr 2. Ivanovic, Branislav 3. Luis, Filipe 4. Fabregas, Cesc 5. Zouma, Kurt 6. Ake, Nathan 7. Ramires 8. Oscar 9. Torres, Fernando 10. Hazard, Eden 11. Drogba, Didier 12. Mikel, John Obi 13. Courtois, Thibaut 14. Schurrle, Andre 16. Van Ginkel, Marco 17. Salah, Mohamed 18. Moses, Victor 19. Costa, Diego 21. Matic, Nemanja 22. Willian 23. Schwarzer, Mark 24. Cahill, Gary 26. Terry, John 28. Azpilicueta, Cesar 31. Christensen, Andreas

UIS Suarez trained with his Barcelona teammates for the first time on Friday and then admitted he was still paying for his "mistake" in biting Italy's Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup. After getting the green light from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the Uruguayan striker was the centre of attention as he took part in his first training session with the Catalan club. But afterwards, interviewed wearing a Barcelona shirt, he told the club website: "I'm paying for a mistake I made and one I have apologised for, but I have to forget about all this. "I am only thinking about the future, which is at FC Barcelona, the club who I dreamed of playing for." After the uncertainty of the past weeks, Suarez stressed: “I am really happy to feel like a footballer again, and to be with

my team-mates. I just couldn’t wait to get started.” Suarez took an active part in the session with the main group under the watchful eye of coach Luis Enrique. On Thursday, the CAS upheld Suarez's four-month ban from playing in competitive games as well as his ninematch international suspension, but it did allow him to train and play in unofficial matches. And that means he could make his debut against Mexican club Leon in the Gamper Trophy, the traditional curtain-raiser to the season at the Camp Nou. Suarez has reportedly been training on his own in an unknown location in Catalonia since completing his 95 million euros (£75 million, $127 million) move to the Camp Nou from Liverpool last month.

TOMORROWPUNCHLINE IN THE NATION

SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2014 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL.9, NO. 2933

Omisore is a political operator whose vocation begins and ends with making the best for himself politically by following party diktats and carrying out the will of his superiors in the party apparatus —Biodun Jeyifo

HE outbreak of the vicious, deadly and unsparing Ebola Virus Disease demon strates, once again just how fragile, vulnerable, insecure and unpredictable human existence can be. Massive natural disasters can occur in an instant sending millions to an unanticipated grave. New diseases surface without notice to wreak havoc on humanity. Even human behaviour is unpredictable. Who knows when, where and how depraved terrorists will strike next on their impassioned mission of destruction? Remember 9/11. Remember the on-going tragedy of Chibok. It is the very unpredictability of the future that makes efficient organisation of society vital to human survival. Eternal vigilance through good, effective and competent governance is the only way for society to develop the capacity to respond decisively to contain unanticipated challenges. The Ebola threat also shows how interconnected humanity really is despite our diversity. That which unites us as a species is far more important than the things that divide us. We simply cannot afford not to be our brother's keeper. Incompetent and careless governance anywhere can have negative implications for human existence everywhere. That is the crucial lesson being taught by the ruthless Ebola predator. Of course, I can understand President Goodluck Jonathan's anger and exasperation when he described the Liberian, the late Patrick Sawyer, through whom the Ebola Virus was brought into Nigeria as a mad man. Many Nigerians will surely share this sentiment. After all, Sawyer knew he had the disease. He knew the implications of his travelling out of Liberia and the danger he posed to anyone he came in contact with. His action was thus deliberate. But then, can anybody be afflicted with such a venomous affliction and still retain his or her rationality? Confronted with such a predicament, an imminent appointment with death, will the human mind not become a whirlwind of incoherent, confused thoughts? Can anyone predict how he would react in the face of such a terrifying reality? But then, when we adjudge others as mad, we presume that we are sane. But is our assumed sanity, many times, not difficult to distinguish from the presumed madness of others? Let me explain. We have all known for some time that some West African countries including Liberia were hit by the Ebola epidemic. There had been reports of hundreds of deaths in those countries. We knew that Nigeria, particularly her major commercial centres, is a prime destination for people across West Af-

Of madness and Ebola

‘

•Patrick Sawyer rica. What anticipatory steps did we take to protect our people against the invasion of the virus? Why were our immigration officers and health workers not placed on red alert and measures taken to screen entrants into the country, especially from vulnerable nations, for the virus? As Mr Femi Kusa wrote in his column in this newspaper on Thursday, "The government should investigate how the Liberian who brought Ebola virus to Nigeria beat immigration officers to it. They should have known he was a Liberian and stopped him". But I speak here not just of a failure of governance at all levels. Rather, it is a collective failure of society including the media. Why, for instance, did leading columnists, editorialists or public affairs analysts fail to sensitise government and the general public to the dangers posed by Ebola long before now? We are all complicit. This kind of suicidal complacency and laxity is a more dan-

The virus of impunity is to the Nigerian state what Ebola is to the human body. It is the more urgent ‘madness’ that must be checked if we are not to continue to be the victims of the ‘madness’ of the Patrick Sawyers of this world.

’

gerous form of madness than that exhibited by the late Sawyer. But then was Patrick Sawyer's trip to Nigeria a spontaneous and irrational act of madness? If his widow is to be believed, he carefully and rationally calculated and planned his trip to Nigeria. According to her "He didn't tell me this, but I know in my heart of hearts that Patrick was determined to get to Nigeria by all means because he felt that Nigeria would be a place of refuge…Patrick went to Nigeria for help so that he can get properly diagnosed and not misdiagnosed in Liberia. And if it came back that he did have Ebola, he trusted the Nigerian health care system a lot more than he trusted Liberia's…Patrick didn't want to die and he thought his life would be saved in Nigeria". Well, some may see this as the biased rationalisations of a mourning wife. But Mrs Sawyer's submissions raise some pertinent questions. Patrick Sawyer was an American

citizen. His wife and daughters live in the US. He knew that the US has a superior healthcare system to Nigeria's and would probably have preferred to go there. But he also probably knew that he did not have the slightest chance of gaining entry into the US in his condition. The US system had put in place effective measures to protect its citizens against Ebola and other killer plagues. But he obviously reckoned that he could easily beat Nigeria's lax system and was proved right after all. There was a method to his madness. If he had not physically taken ill at the airport, the ailing man would have simply walked through the various check points and disappeared into thin air - a veritable mobile weapon of mass destruction. Yes, I am aware that Sawyer was rushed to the hospital at Obalende from the airport and it was only later that he was diagnosed as suffering from Ebola Virus fever. But if the relevant agencies and the general public had been sufficiently sensitised as regards the danger of Ebola and anticipatory measures put in place, there would have been greater vigilance and caution in handling this case in the interest of public safety.The very fact that Sawyer was Liberian and ill should have triggered an alarm in the system right from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport leading to greater caution on the part of all that would have probably saved the lives now needlessly lost and others that are still endangered. Those with him on the flight would have been better tracked and monitored rather than being allowed to simply disperse in different unknown directions. However, there is absolutely nothing irrational about the late Sawyer expecting Nigeria to have a better and more effective healthcare system than Liberia. Given Nigeria's abundant natural and human resources, there is no reason why the country should not have a world-class health care system that would offer hope and succour to her own people and those of less endowed African countries. Until we get rid of the current impunity and disregard for the rule of law that erodes the country's immunity against monumental corruption and gross irresponsibility in public office, the Nigerian state will not develop the capacity to effectively protect its citizens from the vagaries of existence in our dangerous world. The virus of impunity is to the Nigerian state what Ebola is to the human body. It is the more urgent 'madness' that must be checked if we are not to continue to be the victims of the 'madness' of the Patrick Sawyers of this world.

Ade Ojeikere on Saturday talk2adeojeikere@yahoo.com

September 6 & 10 ties

pity soccer fans who would throng the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar on Septem ber 6 to watch the Super Eagles begin their defence of the Africa Cup of Nations diadem, which Nigeria lifted on February 10 in Johannesburg. They would have deprived themselves of some of the luxuries of life to save cash for the game. Soccer fans around the country who like to place bets on matches would need to see their doctors after the game to check their blood pressure, if they don’t get to the hospitals in ambulances. The fans will be coming to witness a continuation of the slaughtering of teams in Calabar by the Eagles. And no one would blame because we have a richer pedigree than our likely opponents- Rwanda or Congo. Did I hear you say Congo not Rwanda? Yes, Congo, because their football authorities have an incriminating document that suggests one of the Rwandan players has two international passports with two names. The Congolese Football Federation has lodged a complaint with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) against Rwanda. The Wasps edged Congo out on penalties in the second round of qualifiers of the Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2015 in Kigali on August 2, after the two teams had tied 2-2 on aggregate. However, the Congolese offi-

cials complained to CAF that Rwanda might have fielded an ineligible player in the first leg in Pointe-Noire on July 20. According to Fecofoot, Rwandan striker Dady Birori is holding two passports and registered under the different name of Agiti Taddy Etekiama in DR Congo where he plays for AS Vita Club in Kinshasa. Indeed, CAF has banned Birori from its club competitions. We are waiting for CAF’s verdict on Congo’s protest. Should the continental body decide to uphold the claim, Congo could be reinstated to compete in the final qualifying round in Group A with South Africa, Nigeria and Sudan. What this scenario suggests is that the Eagles don’t know their opponents. It means that the coaches will have to study the tapes of the two countries to fashion out counter strategies to drub them groggy with goals on September 6. This isn’t an insurmountable task for the Eagles, except that the team has no coach. Nor is the NFF paying attention to how we hope to prosecute two games in four days from September 6 to 10. NFF chieftains and indeed eggheads of the supervisory body are focused on how to dislodge Aminu Maigari from the Glasshouse, forgetting that without the Eagles and all the national teams, they will have no business being in the NFF and the NSC. They are paying lip service to how the Eagles will prepare

for both games, especially the September 10 clash against Bafana Bafana in Cape Town. They have forgotten that we are the defending champions and will need the six points from both matches to secure the group’s qualification ticket. Matters are made worse by the incredible figures being bantered in the media as the chief coach’s fees. Some reports suggest that the coach wants a tax-free N15 million monthly salary, a car and a house, not forgetting the funny clause of getting ten months salary upfront. What happened to the two cars the coach got from Globacom’s owner Dr. Mike Adenuga (Jnr), following a written letter from the NFF for the vehicles? What won’t you hear from the Glasshouse when it comes to the Super Eagles? There is also the cheap talk that the coach is being wooed by as many as seven countries. Equally disturbing is the chest-beating claims by one of the coach’s agents that he turned down a mouth-watering $120,000 monthly salary from an Angolan club for the Eagles job that is still a contentious issue as at today. The loquacious agent also told the media that the coach won’t come to the country until this matter is settled. If the coach was asking for these mindboggling figures after the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, many a Nigerian would have pleaded that he be paid what he asked for.

They would have based their position on the Eagles’ remarkable outing in South Africa. They would be projecting into the World Cup held in Brazil. But, given the way the Eagles played so poorly at the Mundial in Brazil, especially the worst game against Iran, not many people would subscribe to paying the coach as much as N15 million monthly, if it is true such demands are before the NFF negotiators. I hope that the coach understands what his canvassers are doing. What should be paramount on his mind, if he wants the job, is for him to sign a deal in which his salary can easily be paid. Stories about salary indebtedness are legendary with NFF. The flipside is for the NFF to insist on paying the coach what it can afford. We are tired of incidents where players and coaches refuse to embark on trips until their entitlements are paid. Such disgraceful acts can be avoided if the NFF seals a deal that will make it have full control of the coach. And it starts with prompt payment of his salaries and entitlements. Indeed, we had forgotten about players holding us hostage before big competitions over their entitlements - until this era. The show-of-shame in Namibia and Brazil mustn’t be allowed to repeat itself. The first question one should ask the feuding NFF chiefs is what their mandate is if the Eagles don’t win both games on September 6 and 10? Don’t they know many of the Euro

•Continued on Page 62

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