The Nation Aug, 21, 2012

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

Heavy flooding coming in Oyo, Edo, 21 states

Security intercepts bomb-laden car NEWS Page 4

NEWS

Page 57

•Ministry of Environment issues alert

•Gunmen kill two, burn school

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TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

VOL. 7, NO. 2224 TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

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Six more Lagos ocean surge victims’ bodies discovered Police name victims Ex-Kuramo residents count their losses

•A crowd of fun seekers on the Bar Beach, Lagos enjoying the Eid-el-Fitri holiday...yesterday. On the other side is Kuramo Beach, after its demolition

By Miriam Ndikanwu, Staff Reporter

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IX more bodies were yesterday hauled out of the restive ocean on Kuramo Beach, Lagos.

The recovery of the bodies by government emergency rescue officials and local divers has raised the death toll in the surge that swept Continued on Page 4

THE VICTIMS •Joseph Oke •Olorunwa Babatunde •Daniel Ajose •Babatunde Benson •Olumide (Surname unknown) •Mary (Surname unknown)

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It happens yearly, especially from August to November, when the ocean current always rises. And because of the ongoing work at the Eko Atlantic City, the ocean current had nowhere to flow and it flowed to the shore to demolish our structures

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PHOTO: DAYO ADEWUNMI

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You will recall that we came here about three months ago with President Goodluck Jonathan to show him the enormity of the ecological disaster looming on the waterfront here.

From that time till now, we have lost about 10 metres...

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Subsidy cash: NUPENG issues strike notice

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MAJOR fuel crisis is likely this week, with junior workers in the oil sector serving a strike

•Achese

notice.

They told the government yesterday to pay up the subsidy arrears to marketers or face a strike from Thursday.

National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) President Igwe Achese accused Fi-

By Dupe Olaoye-Osinkolu and Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

nance Minister Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala of selective payment of subsidy claims. He urged her to pay other claimants.

Achese, who spoke in Lagos, warned that should the government allow the strike to begin, it will be indefinite.

But the government yesterday intensified its trouble shooting, with the relocation to Lagos of Dr. OkonjoIweala, who is also the coordinating Minister of the Economy, to meet with major oil marketers.

Government spokesman Dr. Doyin Okupe said the authorities are set to resolve the issues in contention to stop the fuel scarcity in Abuja and prevent its spread to other parts of the

country.

The Presidency also said it was making concerted efforts at resolving the looming crisis in the power sector over payment of severance allowance of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) workers.

Okupe said the government was taking a multi-faceted approach in reContinued on Page 4

•AVIATION P13 •PROPERTY P17 •SPORT P23 •POLITICS P43 •ENERGY P49

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

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NEWS SOUTH AFRICAN MINE CRISIS

Decades of squalor on a mine •Ghananian President John Mahama (right) and President, Pan African Parliament Bethel Amadi when he paid a condolence visit to Mahama in Accra, Ghana over the death of President John Atta Mills...at the weekend

From scrawny dogs wandering shanties and pit toilets, workers living at South Africa’s tragedyhit Marikana platinum mine still live in miserable conditions 18 years after the end of apartheid, reports AFP

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•Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan (right), Senator James Manager (left) and the administrator, Umeh Need Road Forum, Afahokor Duncan during the forum’s first year anniversary thanksgiving service at St Michael Anglican Church, Emevor in Isoko North Local Government, Delta State…at the weekend

•Abia State Governor Theodore Orji (middle) receiving an award of Pillar of Excellence from the National Association of Ndi Isuikwato in the United States from their leader after a town hall meeting with Abia indigenes in Houston Texas, USA. With them is the governor’s wife Mercy.

•General Manager, Home Entertainment Division, LG Electronics West Africa Operations, Mr. Dave Shin (left), Product Marketing Manager, Mr. James Odejimi and Managing Director Fouani Nigeria Ltd, Mr. Mohammed Fouani during the launch of the LG Battery LED TV PHOTO: GBENGA KUTELU

HE police shooting which killed 34 mine workers on Thursday has not only highlighted the brutality faced by the workers, but has also put the spotlight on their dire living conditions, many of whom live in shacks at the foot of some of the world’s richest platinum reserves.

Ian Buhlungu rents a shack built with corrugated iron and wood in a shantytown on a dusty plain outside the mine where he has no running water and uses a pit toilet.

“I want to be with my kids but I can’t,” said the 47-year-old who is a single father after his wife died of tuberculosis two years ago.

Like thousands of others, he travelled from afar to work in the mine so as to earn enough to feed his daughter and twin sons, whom he was forced to leave behind in the care of his family in the rural Eastern Cape.

“People who are not educated get a low salary and can’t afford to feed their families,” he said.

South Africa’s economy – Africa’s largest – was built on the back of cheap black labour, workers who were harnessed to extract the country’s deep reserves of gold, platinum and diamonds.

During the apartheid era, minority white rulers forced black South Africans to live in areas far removed from white cities without job opportunities, forcing them to become migrant workers on the mines living in tough conditions.

Even today, many mine workers live in difficult conditions.

“Life here isn’t life,” said Belinia Mavie, 25, from neighbouring Mozambique, who joined her husband in Marikana four years ago.

Her husband had travelled in 1994 from his home country to work in South Africa’s mines.

“We don’t have toilets, we don’t have water,” she said.

Men who come to work at Lonmin’s mine alone often live in the company’s hostel, part of the sprawling complex that supports the mine run by the world’s third-largest platinum producer.

But others are forced to build shacks of wood and corrugated metal to house their whole families in the cabins that neither keep out the heat nor the cold.

Goats, scrawny dogs and chickens wander in the dirt roads. Papers litter the yellowed grass. There is electricity but only shared communal water taps.

“A hundred years after mining began in this country, we still have the lifestyle of people above the ground that we had at the turn of the century,” said analyst Adam Habib.

“The levels of inequality in our society, 18 years after our transition... the lives of workers on the ground have not changed,” said Habib.

In a front page commentary, The

•Zuma

‘

Life here isn’t life...We don’t have toilets, we don’t have water...A hundred years after mining began in this country, we still have the lifestyle of people above the ground that we had at the turn of the century

‘

Sunday Independent noted that in mines, violence and “humiliating social conditions” persisted.

“Most Marikana mineworkers live in a slum city, the epicentre of our social and moral breakdown and a fuse for violence,” it said.

Frustration with their conditions boiled over when the miners started their strike with wage demands, with union rivalry seeing workers wooed by calls for a tripling of salaries from the current R4 000 rand a month.

“I can’t live with my wife under this situation,” said a miner who doesn’t want to give his name.

Instead his three children and their mother live at home in the Free State province. They used to visit but now they do not come anymore.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

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NEWS SOUTH AFRICAN MINE CRISIS

•The aggrieved workers outisde the mine...yesterday

PHOTO: NAN

No truce yet for South African platinum mine, workers

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MBATTLED platinum miner Lonmin yesterday said it had reopened its facility in South Africa after an 11-day wildcat strike that left 44 dead, most of them gunned down by police.

The world’s third-largest platinum miner also softened its tone, extending by another day its deadline for 3,000 strikers to return to the job. After earlier threatening to sack them, the company also said they could face “disciplinary action”.

“Lonmin can confirm that work at its Marikana operations resumed today as significant numbers of employees returned to work. Almost one third of the 28,000-strong work force reported for their morning shifts on Monday,” it said in a statement.

Lonmin had pulled down its shutters last week after 3,000 rock drill operators embarked on a violent strike that initially claimed 10 lives before police shot dead 34 of the protesters last Thursday.

The company at the weekend urged

•Company gives workers today to resume or be sacked its 25,000 non-striking workers and 10,000 contractors to return to the job, insisting they will be safe.

“Those illegal strikers who did not return to work this morning will not be dismissed and have been allowed an extra day in light of current circumstances,” the company said in a statement.

About 27 per cent of the work force reported for the morning shift Monday, it said.

Lonmin’s executive vicepresident for mining, Mark Munroe, in a statement after talks with union representatives, acknowledged the tragedy but stressed the need to return to normal.

He said: “What has happened here has been a tragedy, and the pain and anger it has led to will take time to heal.

“But those representing the vast

majority of our work force have been clear again in our discussions today that we need to try to return to some kind of normality as we go through that healing process.

“Tens of thousands of people’s livelihoods rely on Lonmin, as well as much of the local infrastructure we provide in terms of health, water, education and housing.”

In another statement, Munroe said: “After consultation with various labour representatives today, the company can announce that those illegal strikers who did not return to work this morning will not be dismissed and have been allowed an extra day in light of the current circumstances.”

He said the workers had until 7am today to return to work or face disciplinary action.

The mine had issued an ultimatum to 3 000 rock drill

operators to return to work by Monday.

Munroe said most workers were not on strike, but had been unable to report for work because of the violent nature of the illegal strike.

“Thirty percent of our 28 000 work force returned to work this morning (yesterday) and 17 percent of them were rock drill operators,” he said.

Trade unions have supported the mine’s call that workers return to their posts by this morning.

“We have agreed with management that there will be no night shift; workers will only work day shift until there is stability,” said Eric Gcilitshana, of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) He denied that rock drill operators were paid R4 000 a month. “They get paid R5 545 per

month excluding bonuses,” he said.

Solidarity general secretary Gideon du Plessis said rock drill operators were paid in the range of R10 000 a month including bonuses.

The union said most of the people who participated in the violent strike were workers who had been dismissed from Lonmin and Implats.

Du Plessis appealed to members to return to work by 7am on Tuesday. Uasa also supported the call.

Representative Franz Stehring said the union did not support violence as a measure to resolve disputes.

He called for an investigation into the conduct of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu), and said there had been a track record of violence where it claimed to represent workers.

NUM claims to represent 65% of workers in Lonmin against Amcu’s 16 per cent.

‘Police must say sorry over killings’

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SOUTH African political organization, Democratic Alliance, yesterday said the country’s police chief Riah Phiyega must apologise for the killing of mine workers.

The organization, in a statement, said the police chief’s comments on the incident are unfortunate.

The statement reads: “On the same day that President Zuma declared a week of national mourning, new National Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega said that police officers should not be sorry for the deaths of 34 protesters at Marikana. This shows a gross lack of empathy in a time when South African Police Service members need a leader with an iron-clad moral compass to assist them to make sense of this tragedy. She must apologise immediately for implicitly condoning the deaths at Marikana.

“In addressing the mourners at the funeral service for slain Warrant Officer Sello Ronnie Lepaku, Phiyega excused the police’s action in killing 34 protest-

ers.

“What possessed her to make such a reckless comment? Does she have no sympathy for the families who lost their fathers, their brothers and their breadwinners that day?

“In a time when tensions are high, two officers have lost their lives and the police have been referred to as ‘serial killers’ by protesters, irresponsible comments such as this cannot be tolerated.

“Although it has yet to be determined whether the police acted unlawfully or in self-defence, stating that the police should not be sorry is preposterous. It is pre-determining the outcome of what the DA hopes will be an even-handed Judicial Commission of Inquiry. All sides must express regret and apologies where due and recognise the role that they have played in the loss of life that occurred last week.

“Commissioner Phiyega also said that officers were “emotionally

• South African police keeping watch outside the mine...yesterday

bruised” by the events of last week.

Of course they were - they lost two of their fellow officers through senseless violence. This, however, cannot be given as an excuse for the deaths of 34 striking miners. The

entire nation is ‘emotionally bruised’.

“As President Zuma stated yesterday, “The nation is in shock and in pain. We must this week reflect on the sanctity of human life and the

PHOTO: AFP

right to life as enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic”.

“The Commissioner should take this to heart, reflect on the foolishness and callousness of what she said, and apologise for her comments.”

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THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

NEWS Security intercepts bomb-laden car •Gunmen kill two, burn school

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•Durbar procession during Sallah homage to Bauchi State Governor Isa Yuguda…yesterday

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PHOTO: NAN

EFCC ready for trial of more marketers

ESPITE protests, the Federal Government will go ahead with the investigation of the alleged involvement of 21 oil companies in the fuel subsidy scam.

It was learnt that the case of the firms has been referred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The EFCC yesterday said it is ready with a new set of marketers that will be prosecuted.

The government has opened dialogue with many marketers on payment of their outstanding claims and how to avert a collapse of supply nationwide.

According to a source in the Presidency, the government is ready to sanitise the supply chain of petroleum products and payment of fuel subsidy.

The source said: “I can tell you that there is no going back on the investigation of 21 fuel marketers indicted by the Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede Committee. We won’t bend the rules for anybody.

“The intention of the government is to sanitize the sys-

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

tem. Those who have no case to answer will be set free accordingly by investigating agency.

“If the government does not take action, it is the same public that will complain that we are shielding them. And it won’t speak well of the government to stop investigation midway.

“This development has underscored the commitment of the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan to probity and transparency.”

On the disagreement between the government and some marketers, the source added: “We have started dialogue with these marketers on payment of outstanding subsidy funds.

“I do not think it will degenerate to a level of a major supply crisis nationwide. We are hopeful that the issue will soon be resolved.”

It was gathered that the list of the 21 oil marketers revealed by the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, has been referred to

the EFCC for investigation.

The marketers are Conoil Plc; MRS Oil and Gas; Capital Oil and Gas Industry Ltd.; Aluminnur Resources Limited; Brilla Energy Ltd.; Caades Oil and gas Ltd.; Downstream Energy Source Ltd; Eterna Plc and Eurafric Oil and Gas Ltd. Other marketers are Sifax Oil and Gas Company; Tonique Oil Services Ltd; Top Oil and Gas Development Company Ltd; Lumen Skies Ltd.; Majope Investment Ltd.; Matrix Energy Ltd.; Menon Oil and gas Ltd.; MOB International Services; Nasaman Oil Services Ltd; Natacel Petroleum Ltd; Ocean Energy Trading and Services; and Pinnacle Contractors Ltd.; A source said: “These 21 marketers have been referred to the EFCC for investigation.

It does not mean that they are automatically guilty but we are probing the alleged infractions they had committed.

“At the end of the day, the EFCC will be able to establish their level of culpability. And those without prima facie case will not face trial. It is ironi-

cal that they are afraid of investigation.”

The EFCC yesterday said it is ready with another batch of marketers that will face trial over the alleged mismanagement of fuel subsidy.

The Head of Media and Publicity of the commission, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, who spoke with our correspondent yesterday, did not reveal their identities.

He said: “We announced that the trial of some marketers over fuel subsidy funds will be in batches. We have a new list of marketers ready for prosecution while the investigation of others continues.

“These marketers will be arraigned when the court resumes from vacation. Definitely, investigation has been concluded on this next batch.

Asked if the case of 21 oil marketers unveiled by the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, would come up, Uwujaren said: “I do not have any information yet because the relevant desk officers are observing public holidays.”

HE Joint Task Force (JTF) yesterday intercepted a suicide bomb-laden car earmarked for suicide missions in Borno and Yobe states.

The driver of the ill-fated car was undergoing interrogation last night.

According to a source, the explosives were meant for suicide bombings in some strategic parts of Borno and Yobe states.

The source said: “There was an interception of a Camry car with registration no. Borno AA 867 MAF at Tudu Quarters at Mudugumeri Area of Maiduguri at about 4:30p.m. “ The car was loaded with four cylinders; four DAF gas oil cylinders; three constructed Improvised Explosive Devices; 18 by 9 volts battery with two switches and 4 by 25 litres jerricans of incendiary materials earmarked for suicide bombings.

“The car was intercepted by a vigilant patrol team which was undergoing routine surveillance following security reports on likely simultaneous suicide bombings in Yobe and Borno states.

“All the items recovered are in the custody of the JTF for

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

analysis and further investigation. The driver of the car has been undergoing interrogation in JTF custody.”

The source added: “Security has been reinforced in the two affected states with more teams on patrol and strategic checkpoints put on red alert.”

Two towns in Northeast states of Adamawa and Yobe have come under attack by gunmen.

Two persons died after the attack in Mubi, Adamawa Satte, where Boko Haram members have claimed responsibilities for some previous attacks.

In Damagum, Yobe State, the police repelled an attack on a police station, but the gunmen burnt down a primary school.

The Commissioner of Police in Adamawa State, Mr. Mark Idakwo, who confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria in Yola yesterday, said two people were killed and one was hospitalised following the attack in Sabon-Layi, Mubi, on Sunday.

The CP, who did not give details of the incident, urged Continued on Page 57

NUPENG issues strike notice Continued from Page 1

solving all the issues.

This, the presidential aide explained, is why the Finance Minister moved to Lagos.

Okupe’s statement reads: “The Federal Government is making serious and intense efforts at averting what may seem to be a looming industrial crises involving NUPENG , oil marketers , Power Holding Corporation of Nigeria staff and the Nigeria Labour Congress.

“The approach taken by government at resolving this crisis is multi-faceted and multi dimensional.

“The Ministers of Labour, Power and other high level officers of government have met for several hours with the ag-

grieved PHCN workers and virtually all their demands have been agreed upon, except for the issue of severance benefits of workers.

While the workers insist on their terms of employment, government’s proposition is based on the Pension Act of 2004. However, this matter will most probably be resolved favourably within the coming week by the Presidency.

“In the same vein, the coordinating minister of the economy and Finance minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo – Iweala has shifted her base temporarily to Lagos in spite of the holidays and has been engaged intensively also with the agContinued on Page 57

Six more bodies of Lagos ocean surge victims found Continued from Page 1

the Beach on Saturday to 10.

The search for the remaining six bodies continues.

Lagos police spokesperson Ngozi Braide said the six bodies were recovered on Monday.

The remaining bodies are expected to float back to the sea shore.

The six victims are: Joseph Oke, Olorunwa Babatunde, Daniel Ajose and Alhaji Babatunde Benson, popularly known as KC. Others whose surnames are not known yet are Olumide and Mary.

Officials of the State Environmental Health Management Unit(SEHMU), who were at the scene, said the bodies had been deposited at the mortuary.

Our correspondent learnt that SEHMU recorded five retrieved bodies. The others were recovered by divers and others.

SEHMU officials, who confirmed that the bodies were recovered on the shoreline early yesterday, said they were bloated.

Kuramo Beach is now a shadow of its old throbbing self. Gone are the crowds of revelers and itinerant musicians as well as women of easy virtue. The long rows of shanties have been demolished by the Lagos state government.

The incident has affected patronage at the nearby Bar Beach as holiday makers stay away despite the ongoing Eidel-Fitri break.

State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), General Manager Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu explained the government’s effort to restore sanity to the area.

He said despite the fact that the government was sand filling the place to prevent the surge from spreading to other areas, the surge expected in November could be more disastrous.

Commissioner for Waterfront Prince Adesegun Oniru, who was also at the scene supervising the palliative measures, said: “What we need here is permanent solution to the problem, like we did on the Bar Beach. That is why you

see the whole of Ahmadu Bello Way is not flooded.

“This problem is not a Lagos problem; it is a national problem. The Federal Government should come to the aid of the state government. A huge amount of money is required to put a permanent solution and the state government alone cannot finance this,” he added.

The demolition continues and the traders who hitherto earned their living on the popular beach are counting their loses.

A petty trader, Adekunle Sabitiu, lamented that the surge has swept away her only source of livelihood.

She said: “They did not warn us of anything. It was after the tragedy occurred they came to tell us to leave our places.

“We were not allowed to take anything, until the next day (Sunday), and when we came, many of our things were already levelled.”

She said they pay ground rents to representatives of the Water-front Board, but none of the officials has come to ad-

dress them.

“We pay N30, 000 a year to the board, but since the incident happened, nobody has come to address us,” the woman said.

Another trader, who owned a cabin lodge on the beach, Mr. Raheem Dosunmu, also said the government did not notify them of the impending surge.

“We were not told that something of such was going to happen. It was even the next day after the incident that we saw people from the government,” he said.

Dosunmu, noting that it was not a usual occurrence in the area, stressed that provisions for emergency relocation should have been put in place.

“We have been abroad and we’ve seen how things are done there; they inform the people before hand and also provide a temporary place for them during emergencies, such as this,” he noted.

“We pay to Allesh and Madols who represent the government, and they have been insensitive to our plight.

“I have a family to cater for

and now I don’t know how I’m going to go about feeding them. So also 500 and more people working on this beach,” he added.

According to John Kabiru (alias Maisuya), the hope of making money during the sallah holiday has been dashed by the incident.

“We are not happy with what happened here at all.

People have died and all our plans for the sallah to make small, small money are gone and the government has brought caterpillar to demolish everything. We do not know where to go.”

Another former occupant of one of the demolished shanties said they had nowhere else to go as the beach was their only source of livelihood.

He said: “This place is not a small place. If you stay here, you will know how much people make here every day. Do you know how much we will lose in this demolition? This is the only source of livelihood we have. I don’t know what I would do now that this place has been destroyed. Apart

•Oniru

from that, we maintain these sheds with a lot of money.”

Fred, another former occupant, blamed the surge on the state government’s Eko Atlantic City project.

His words: “For me, the cause of this surge came from the Lagos State government.

Since 2009 when the Lagos State Government commenced the construction of the Eko Atlantic City, the surge has been increasing. And this year, the work got to Kuramo Beach.

Continued on Page 57

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THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 21 , 2012

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NEWS

Respond directly to allegations: ACN tells PDP, Presidency

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HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday challenged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Presidency to respond to the allegations that the Senior Special Assistant to the President, Dr. Doyin Okupe, and one of his companies obtained contracts from Imo and Benue states, collected mobilisation fees running into hundreds of millions of naira and bolted.

In a statement in Lagos by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the ACN said: “Rather than respond directly to the allegations of corruption against Okupe, the PDP and its hired guns, masquerading as public affairs commentators and analysts, have chosen to play the ostrich.

“Their only defence so far is that the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly should also be asked to resign and that the ACN lacks the moral authority to raise the issue of corruption against Okupe because, according to them, the party is full of cheats and liars.

“This is nothing but a deliberate attempt to obfuscate issues and a case of comparing apples with oranges. For the avoidance of doubt, Lagos State Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji has been charged before a court and he has pleaded not guilty. The law presumes him innocent until proven guilty.

The case is ongoing, so any call for his resignation is an attempt to stampede justice.

“However, the Okupe’s case is completely different. He has been confronted with allegations that he has swindled both the Imo and Benue state governments of hundreds of millions of naira. He cannot con-

‘It therefore does not lie in the mouth of a morally challenged party like the PDP to accuse the ACN of being morally bankrupt.

In the department of probity and morality, the ACN is miles ahead of the PDP’ tinue to be the President’s spokesman until he clears himself of these allegations.

“On the unsubstantiated and laughable allegation that the ACN is a party of crooks and cheats, and as such lacks the moral authority to ask for Okupe’s resignation, we make bold to say that if the PDP can summon the courage to look at itself in the mirror, what will stare back at it is nothing but corruption in its most unadulterated form.

“The PDP has, in the last 13 years, infected Nigeria so massively with the most dangerous virus of corruption, that Nigeria today is ranked one of the most corrupt nations in the world.

“In the National Assembly alone, between 1999 and today, three Senate Presidents and three Speakers of the House of Representatives have been consumed by corruption, all of them PDP members.

“Two former chairmen of the PDP were forced out on account of allegations of corruption; a third was the chairman of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA), whose inglorious role in the fuel subsidy scam is subject of investigation.

“Two sons of past and present PDP chairmen are facing corruption charges as a

result of their involvement in the same fuel subsidy scam.

Twelve former PDP governors are today before various courts on corruption charges.

At least six former PDP ministers are facing corruption charges. “It is on record that a PDP President openly accused his Vice-President of corruption and attempted to strip him of his office, while a PDP federal legislator died in jail while awaiting trial. We can go on ad infinitum.

“The PDP locust years have incubated and hatched mind gobbling scams, scandals and bribery allegations, such as the Siemens, Wilbros, Petroleum Training Development Fund (PTDF), National Integrated Power Project (NIPP), Police Equipment Fund, the Halliburton, the muti-billion naira pension scam, the oil subsidy scam and the Malabu Oil scandal to mention a few.

“It therefore does not lie in the mouth of a morally challenged party like the PDP to accuse the ACN of being morally bankrupt. In the department of probity and morality, the ACN is miles ahead of the PDP. “No amount of shadow boxing, bluster or vitriolic by the PDP and its mercenaries will change the facts as they stand, which is that Okupe is alleged to have collected hundreds of millions of naira for work not done and he must be fired and the law must take its course.”

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Fed Govt may relocate Onitsha, INISTER of InteriAwka prisons or Abba Moro yes-

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terday said the prison reforms of the Federal Government will improve the deplorable state of Nigerian prisons.

Moro said this while inspecting the Onitsha, Aguata and Awka prisons in Anambra State. He was accompanied by Governor Peter Obi. Moro said there was need to relocate the prisons from the heart of the cities.

He said the structures were built by the colonial administration and there was need to build new ones.

Obi said the condition of

From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

prisons was unacceptable and urged the Federal Government to do something fast.

He regretted that many people had been in prison custody for years without being tried in court, while others were incarcerated because they had no one to speak for them.

Moro described Obi as one of the few progressives in the country, who are determined to re-introduce values in governance.

•Okupe

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HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has hailed the appointment of Dr. Doyin Okupe as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs.

The party said the appointment would “deepen the channels of communication between the Presidency and the citizenry”.

In a statement by its Deputy National Secretary, Mr. Binta Garba, the PDP said President Goodluck Jonathan, by the appointment, “has taken the right decision to engage members of the public on salient issues of national importance”.

It described Okupe as “capable of efficiently handling the assignment given to him”, and said the President is constitutionally empowered to give appointments to “deserving Nigerians under the Presidential System that we currently operate in the country”.

The PDP decried the “campaign of calumny” against Okupe’s person by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). It condemned calls on the president to re-

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By Precious Igbonwelundu

Navy on port security assessment, methodology, basic infantry, leadership training, hydrography, marine corps and martial arts.

He said the ship’s commanding officer and the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear-Admiral Mohammed Ikioda, would visit the Oba of Lagos and there would be a joint press conference, medical outreach and sporting activities with the Nigerian Navy.

•Law firm defends President’s aide lieve Okupe of his appointment, describing it as “sheer blackmail, which President Jonathan would not fall for”.

The PDP said: “We have noted the copious references by the ACN through its spokesman, Mr. Lai Mohammed, to the purported unwholesome acts in the execution of some projects in Benue and Imo states several years ago. It is our considered opinion that issues of contracts are basically civil issues between contracting parties and, certainly, most contract documents contain clauses for dispute resolutions.”

It added that since the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said Okupe was not currently under any criminal investigation as claimed by the ACN, nor had he been indicted by any court of competent jurisdiction or any investigative panel, “it stands to reason under our laws that he should be deemed innocent until otherwise proven”.

The PDP said: “The call for Okupe’s removal is not only baseless and unwarranted, but equally malicious. The President will therefore not be blackmailed into following any agenda based on trumped-up charges, outright lies and misinformation.

“We advised those trying to raise a storm out of the

issue to desist from further undue political exploitation and misrepresentation. It is a common saying that those who live in glass houses should not throw stones and he who comes to equity must come with clean hands.”

Okupe’s lawyers have confirmed that the Benue State Government actually “awarded a rural road contract to Messrs Value Trust Investment Ltd., one of the companies in which Okupe served as chairman”.

In a statement by Mr. Yemi Gbonegun, the Lagos firm, Yemi Gbonegun and Co. described the contract award as “purely a commercial transaction”.

It said a dispute arose when Governor Gabriel Suswam took over from former Governor Akume.

Gbonegun said: “Disputes arose as to the payment of the outstanding payment certificate submitted by Value Trust Investment Ltd., as a result of which the matter was referred to the EFCC, which conducted a thorough investigation into it.

“There was no evidence of any criminality. Parties agreed to settlement by arbitration and the issue is in the process of being resolved amicably. Our chambers represent Value Trust Investments Ltd. in the negotiations.”

Oritsejafor prays for love and peace

US naval ship in Nigeria HE United State’s naval ship, HSV2 SWIFT, yesterday arrived the country on a five-day port call as part of collaboration efforts between both nation’s naval force.

The ship arrived and berthed at the Apapa Port about 10am. It will be in the country till August 25.

In a statement, the spokesperson, Western Naval Command, Lieutenant Commander Jerry Omodara, said the US will be involved in professional training programmes of the Nigerian

Calls for Okupe’s sack are sheer blackmail, says PDP

•Oritsejafor

RESIDENT of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor has urged Muslims to pray for love, peace, unity and progress in the nation as they celebrate Eid-el-Fitri.

In his goodwill message to Muslims yesterday, Oritsejajor urged them to draw from the lessons of the 30day Ramadan fast and the teaching of the Holy Quran

and prevail on the Boko Haram sect to see Nigeria as a nation created by God for a purpose and allow peace to reign in every part of the country.

He said: “I congratulate all Muslims for faithfully observing the mandatory 30day fast. They should use this period to end the security challenges that have left thousands dead and several others displaced, so that people

can go about their legitimate duties, including the practice of their religion, without fear of terrorist attacks.”

The cleric said Nigeria belongs to Christians, Muslims and traditionalists, adding that every Nigerian has an inalienable right to practise his religion in any part of the country without any form of inhibition by any person or group.

Negotiation with Boko Haram silly, say lawyers

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AWYERS have described the purported negotiation going on between the Federal Government and the Boko Haram sect as “baseless and without direction”.

They said the demands of the sect were silly and impossible, calling on the government to concentrate on tackling fundamental issues of corruption and bad governance, rather than dialoguing with terrorist groups.

The lawyers, who spoke to The Nation, included Itse Sagay (SAN); former Lagos House of Assembly member Babatunde Ogala; the son of the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Mohammed Fawehinmi; and Leader of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) Igbuchuckwu Ezike.

Sagay said the reported negotiation is a mission impossible, because the sect’s demands are outrageous.

By Precious Igbonwelundu

He said: “Why would the Federal Government negotiate with terrorists? Are we now saying that a group that has killed so many innocent people should not be held accountable? What will happen to the relations and friends of all those they have killed, should the government negotiate with them and give them some sort of power? Are we saying they should be allowed to go scot free?”

Sagay said he strongly believes the Federal Government will do the right thing.

Ogala said the said negotiation is silly, needless and lacks direction. He said Boko Haram is a terrorist group and the government should not negotiate with it.

Ogala urged the President to take a decisive action against the group.

Fawehinwi said the Presi-

dent would be declared a cosponsor of Boko Haram, if he negotiates with them.

He said: “I do not believe the Federal Government will condescend to negotiating with terrorists. We have to know which representatives of the government actually went to the negotiation table.

Whether we like it or not, the sect is a terrorist group.

“I have been watching to see if any of the northern governors would come out to debunk claims by the sect that its members were on the governors’ payroll, but till date, none of them has done so.

“It shows that the sect was started by politicians and if the Federal Government negotiates with it, it means the government is a co-sponsor.

“The group has no clear cut agenda. Terrorists never mean well. At his age and with his career, Shehu Sani (a rights activist) should know

that it is wrong for a government to negotiate with a terrorist group.

“What is the sect trying to achieve? It is impossible to Islamise Nigeria and they should be told that.”

Igbuchukwu urged the government to make life easier for Nigerians by improving the standard of living.

He said: “I do not agree that Boko Haram is a terrorist group. The masses across the country are greatly denied and if the government must curb the security challenges, it should provide opportunities for the people.

“How long will the government continue negotiating with restive groups?

Good governance is the only way out. If government provides jobs, employment opportunities and tackles corruption, you will see that all these restiveness will stop.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

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NEWS Sallah: Ibadan residents flock recreation centres

Three die in Ondo road accident

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

FUN seekers yesterday thronged major recreation centres in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, as they celebrated this year’s EidEl-Fitri.

The celebration began on Sunday, when Muslims ended the Ramadan fasting on Saturday evening.

But as Christian worshippers attended church services on Sunday morning, the number of visitors at recreation centres reduced.

With the two-day public holiday, which began yesterday, major roads and recreation centres in the city were agog with fun seekers, comprising folowers of both faith.

The major centres include the Trans Amusement Park, Bodija; the Zoological Garden of the University of Ibadan (UI); Premier Hotel, Mokola; and major eateries in Mokola, Dugbe, Iwo Road, Ring Road, Challenge and Apata.

At Premier Hotel, children and their parents thronged the swimming pool.

The hotel also recorded high patronage as people spent several hours having fun with their friends.

At the Trans Amusement Park, it was fun galore for the children. Their parents were also not left out as they used the various facilities to enjoy their time.

The experience was similar at the UI Zoological Garden, where children and adults had fun with the animals.

Our correspondent observed that major eateries recorded three times the usual patronage yesterday.

Their customers spent several hours with their loved ones over pastries, fries and soft drinks.

Customers kept trooping in and out of the eateries from noon till evening. The eateries became hot spots for many friends savouring the two-day holiday.

The situation showed that today is likely to be another fun-filled Sallah holiday.

Church holds convocation THE fifth convocation of Foursquare Gospel Church, Akute District, Ogun State, begins tomorrow. It will end on August 26.

The event will hold at the district headquarters at Fabolude, Akute.

A statement by the church said its General Overseer, Rev. Felix Meduoye, would open the convocation, which has the theme: Season of Increase.

The convocation will witness capacity-building for ministers.

A revival service will hold on Thursday; a power and praise night will hold on Friday with Prophet Folorunso Macauly ministering.

The District Overseer, Rev. Idowu Alawode, will license some pastors and close the event on Sunday.

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HE Ondo State Police Command yesterday said three persons died in an accident on the Okitipupa-Ore Road in Okitipupa Local Government Area.

Mr Titilola Lasisi, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Okitipupa, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that one person was injured in the accident, which occurred on Sunday night.

He said the accident involved two vehicles, which collided near Aye Junction in Okitipupa at 8pm.

The police officer explained that the vehicles were a

Volkswagen Golf car, with registration number (Edo) AE844HER, and an Opel car, with registration number (Ogun) AM27JBD. Lasisi said the Golf car, which was conveying the three persons, suddenly veered off its lane and collided with the Opel.

He said the driver of the Golf car sustained injuries and was treated at the State Specialist Hospital, Okitipupa, before he was arrested.

The DPO added that the bodies of the dead have been deposited at the hospital morgue.

FRSC returns accident victim’s N1m recharge cards • Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) (right) with House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, during this year’s lesser Hajj (Umrah) in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

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HE Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) yesterday returned N1million recharge cards, among others, to an accident victim, Mrs Felicia Obanla.

Alaafin: falsehood, hypocrisy hinder national growth •Donates cars to kingmakers, ACN chiefs

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HE Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, has said any society that uses falsehood and hypocrisy to dispense justice and develop would not experience peace, harmony and progress.

The monarch spoke in his palace in Oyo town at the presentation of 15 new cars to members of the Oyo Mesi, the council of kingmakers, and some Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) chieftains in Oyo Federal Constituency.

Four local governments Afijio, Atiba, Oyo East and Oyo West – make up the constituency.

Oba Adeyemi said good

From Bode Durojaiye, Oyo

people make honesty the foundation of their lives.

He said: “We must not tend to drift away from truth and naked facts as a people. Leaders must not find it so easy to deceive people, because by so doing, they lose credibility each day. “Imprisonment of honesty and the reinforcement of falsehood and hypocrisy cripple the society. Fraternal relationships among the people of Oyo town and the adjoining communities have been as a result of justice, sincerity of purpose and fair play. These have been the hallmark of the Alaafin ad-

ministration.”

Oyo Mesi high chiefs, who benefited from the car gifts, include the Basorun, Agbaakin, Saamu, Akinniku, Alapinni and Laguna.

Seven leaders of the ACN in the federal constituency also benefited from the gifts.

The frontline monarch solicited the support of the residents for the Abiola Ajimobi administration, saying: “It is a government that listens, cares and acts appropriately on people’s welfare.

“The peace and physical developments we are enjoying in the state today is as a result of the assertiveness, pro-activeness, commitment,

•Oba Adeyemi

sincerity of purpose and sense of accountability of the governor and his Executive Council (Exco).

“These are being complemented by the Alaafin traditional council, leaders of ACN, coupled with the understanding of the people.”

Mimiko govt is anti-people, says Akeredolu

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HE Ondo State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship candidate, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), has said the Olusegun Mimiko administration is anti-people.

He said the ruling Labour Party (LP) administration has collected over N600billion from the Federation Account in the last three and a half years without much to show for it.

The ACN candidate alleged that all the projects the government has executed are for window dressing.

These, Akeredolu said, include markets and town halls, which have no direct bearing on the socio-economic development of the state.

But the Mimiko Campaign

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

Organisation (MCO) accused other parties of heating up the polity.

In a statement by its Director of Publicity, Kolawole Olabisi, the organisation said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Olusola Oke, and his ACN counterpart, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), were destroying LP projects.

Through his media aide, Idowu Ajanaku, the ACN candiate said: “Under this governor, the doom Dome project of N1.2billion has been abandoned; Mimiko has not inaugurated a kilometre of road; he has not provided jobs for unemployed youths of Ondo State; he could not re-

vive one of the moribund industries in Ondo State, claiming that there is no electricity to power them. But the same governor is using generator to power street lights on Oba Adesida Road!

“He is showcasing a roundabout as an achievement, despite all the money that accrued to the state, while all the inner roads in Akure and other parts of the state are in a shambles.”

ACO said the Mimiko administration has been deceiving the people by claiming to have built Mother and Child hospitals in each local government.

The organisation said this is not true.

It recalled that the governor recently said he built 225 hous-

ing units in Oba-Ile, Akure ACO challenged him to show these to the world, adding that the LP government is a deceit.

The statement said: “Everything Mimiko claims to be doing is a copy cat from ACNcontrolled states, especially Lagos. He cannot even copy them well. When ACN wins the governorship election in October, we will do better and avoid abandoned projects.

“The Mimiko administration has only succeeded in impoverishing the people of Ondo State by using their money for propaganda, to bribe defectors and train thugs. ACO can state categorically that he is the one who is anti-people and antiprogress.”

Ekiti prince denies receiving staff of office

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N Ekiti State High Court, sitting in Ijero Ekiti, has adjourned proceedings on who should be the Alara of AramokoEkiti till October 11.

A party to the suit, Prince Adegoke Olu Adeyemi, has denied receiving a staff of office from ousted Governor Segun Oni on October 16, 2009, or at any other time.

By Joseph Jibueze Prince Olusegun Aderemi had sued Adeyemi, the Oloje of Aramoko Ekiti, High Chief Amos Ajayi, the Ekiti West Local Government Area as well as the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice over the office.

In a counter-affidavit

sworn to by Ibrahim Mohammed, Prince Adeyemi said at no time did Oni present the staff of office to him as the Alara of Aromoko-Ekiti.

Adeyemi said he was also never informed that the governor would present him with a staff of office, nor did he go to the Governor’s Office on October 16, 2009.

According to him, majority of members of the Aramoko community want the governor to present the staff of office to him.

The prince added that as a law-abiding citizen, he has always told them that an installation could not take place unless the substantive suit is determined.

The Ogun Sector Commander, Ayobami Omiyale, told reporters in Ota, when he returned the items, that the accident occurred on August 17 in Ota. He added that the accident involved five vehicles.

Omiyale said: “An articulated vehicle coming from Lagos to Sango, lost control near the Sango-Ota Toll Gate and rammed into a Mazda bus, with registration number (Lagos) XV388KJA. “This also rammed into a Nissan Pathfinder Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) with registration number (Lagos) TF368KJA. The SUV seriously hit Obanla as she was about to come down from a commercial motorcycle.

“She lost consciousness immediately and the FRSC Rescue Team took charge of the scene and conveyed the victims to nearby hospitals.”

The FRSC chief explained that though 17 people were involved in the accident, only five were injured.

He said N11,000 cash, a cell phone, ATM cards, a deposit slip, keys, among others, were also recovered on the scene of the accident.

Omiyale said it was difficult to locate Obanla because all the accident victims had been discharged from the hospitals when FRSC officials visited them to return the items.

He said: “We started searching for her because of the value of the materials and later found her at Medicare Clinic, where she was receiving treatment.

“Some people had come to our office, claiming to be her relatives. But we insisted that we wanted the handing over covered by the media.”

Yoruba Unity Forum meets

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MEETING of the Yoruba Unity Forum will hold in Ikenne, Ogun State, on Thursday.

A statement by the Secretary-General of the forum, Senator Anthony Adefuye, said the meeting, which is of the instance of Chief HID Awolowo, will review the outcome of the previous meeting with the SouthSouth. It will also discuss other matters that concern the Yoruba within the context of the Nigeria federation.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

NEWS ‘Scrapping Police Ministry not in Nigeria’s best interest’ From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

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•Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun (left) being registered in the ongoing state biometric data capturing for civil servants, at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Abeokuta.

ACN alleges LP plot to import arms

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HE Akeredolu Campaign Organisation (ACO) of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday accused the ruling Labour Party (LP) in Ondo State of planning to rig the October 20 governorship election through violence.

It said the party has imported arms into Akure, the state capital, to facilitate the electoral fraud.

The weapons, the organisation said, comprise over 100 AK 47 rifles, shotguns and others.

But LP Publicity Secretary, Femi Okunjemiruwa, denied the allegation.

He accused opposition parties of heating up the polity

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•It's not true, says LP From Damisi Ojo, Akure

out of desperation for power.

The allegation followed threat letters to some Obas and Baales (village heads) by Henry Akinsuroju of the state House of Assembly that they would be dethroned if their subjects vote for the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in October.

A statement by ACO Director of Media, Publicity and Strategy, Mr Idowu Ajanaku reads: "This is crude, wicked and undemocratic.

The constitution guarantees Nigerians and the people of

Ondo State the right to freely vote for party and the candidates of their choice. If they decide to vote for ACN, so be it."

The statement alleged that the Olusegun Mimiko administration was training thugs.

It said: "These are the people he relies heavily on to foment trouble in order to create chaos during the October 20 governorship elections.

"Besides, plans are on top gear to bring a large number of mercenaries from Igbira land, his ancestral root, to complement the

thugs that are already undergoing training in the state."

The organisation urged security agents to investigate the matter to avoid chaos.

It vowed that ACN would not allow its members to become targets of LP attacks.

The statement added: "We are a peace-loving political party. We dwell on ideas rather than use violence as a tool for political gain.

"ACN has won elections in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and lately Edo, where the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), including this LP, could not get 25 per cent of the total votes cast. That feat would be repeated in Ondo State."

Constitution amendment won’t solve Nigeria’s problems, says Ekiti Speaker

HE Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Adewale Omirin, yesterday said the refusal of the Federal Government and the National Assembly to convene a Sovereign National Conference (SNC) is not in the best interest of Nigerians.

The lawmaker said amending the constitution, which seems more acceptable to the government and the National Assembly, would not engender peace and progress, as being expected.

He said it was high time President Goodluck Jonathan rose above sectional promptings to address the basic questions on Nigeria’s troubled federalism.

To Omirin, the SNC is “the actual tonic which would drive

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

the realisation of the objectives behind the more acceptable constitution amendment in the country”.

According to him, the National Assembly can only amend the constitution and not rewrite it because of the limits of its constitutional responsibilities.

Addressing reporters in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, Omirin said: “The National Assembly has the power to only amend and not rewrite the constitution.”

The Vice-Chairman of Conference of Speakers in the Southwest debunked the claim

that the regional integration of Southwest governors masked the real intent for secession.

He said: “That reasoning is not only absurd, it is equally preposterous.”

The Speaker explained that Southwest lawmakers would soon call a parliamentary conference to work on a legal framework for the regional integration policy.

Omirin noted that the Southwest Economic Agenda is an attempt to fast-track the economic development and expand the frontiers of socio-economic and political interactions of the states in the region.

He said a similar agenda was developed and implemented under the late sage, Chief

Obafemi Awolowo.

The Speaker said without a constitutional anchor, it would be difficult for Nigeria to have constitutional democracy.

He said: “As things stand now, many sections of our constitution should be rewritten and not just amended. So, there is no way a Sovereign National Conference, which would comprise true representatives of the people, would not be convoked to rewrite the country’s constitution and rechart its path to sustainable peace and progress.”

According to him, it is better to have an enduring constitution than putting the document through years of amend-

ACN chieftain urges Ajimobi to sack and accommodating former Accord members PDP members.

From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

•Ajimobi

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CHIEFTAIN of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Ibadan Southwest Local Government Area of Oyo State, Ayoola

Olawale Joseph, yesterday called for the sack of Accord (A) members in the Abiola Ajimobli Executive Council (Exco).

Ayoola, a chairmanship and House of Assembly candidate in the 2004 and 2007 elections, was reacting to a statement credited to former Governor Rashidi Ladoja, the leader of the Accord.

The former governor reportedly said there is no working

agreement between Accord and ACN. Ayoola, who was among former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members who defected to ACN before the April 2011 polls, said there are PDP members who worked for the ACN administration but have not been given any appointment.

The politician hailed the Caretaker Chairman of Ibadan Southwest Local Government, Taoreed Adeleke, for delivering dividends of democracy

He said Adeleke’s performance in the council, where Ajimobi hails from, has increased the chances of ACN winning future elections in the area. Ayoola urged the residents to support the council chief.

The ACN chieftain hailed Adeleke for completing the new local government secretariat at Alesinloye, Ibadan, and the construction of the Olusoji Bridge at Elebu, near the home of former Senate Leader Teslim Folarin.

MEMBER of the House of Representatives from Ekiti State, Ifeoluwa Arowosoge, has said the planned scrapping of the Ministry of Police Affairs and the merger of some federal agencies would worsen insecurity.

Arowosoge, who represents Ekiti Southwest/Ise-Orun/Ikere, noted that the plan would be counter-productive.

He said the Federal Government could use state creation and desegregation of the police into constituent states to check insurgency instead of scrapping those establishments.

The lawmaker addressed reporters at the weekend in IkereEkiti during an empowerment programme he organised for his constituents.

Arowosoge distributed materials worth N45 million and gave bursaries to 200 tertiary students.

He said the proposed merger of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with the police would increase rather than ameliorate corruption and unemployment.

The lawmaker, who is a member of the House Committee on Agriculture, was reacting to the recommendation of the Parry Osayande Presidential Committee on the Reorganisation of the Nigeria Police.

He noted that the scrapping of the Police Affairs Ministry would not improve security.

Arowosoge urged the Federal Government to improve security instead of dwelling on how much to save through the merger.

The lawmaker explained that to support his state government to create more jobs, he has set aside N17.6million with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN).

The agency, he said, would manage the fund to train 70 youths on small scale business management.

Advising youths to be focused, rather than dissipate their energy on unproductive ventures, Arowosoge said participants would be drawn from the 32 wards in his constituency.

He added that they would be mobilised with the N17.6million with SMEDAN to set up small scale businesses.

Why power must remain in Ekiti North, by group

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From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

GROUP, the Ekiti South Stakeholders’ Forum (ESSF), has said it is in the best interest of Ekiti State and its residents that power is retained in Ekiti North.

The group condemned the controversy among some residents on which senatorial district should produce the governor in 2014.

It noted that the Kayode Fayemi administration has propped up the state and needs to focus on how to do more.

The group said it is by retaining the seat in 2014 that the governor could do more for the state.

In a statement in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, its chairman, Sina Awelewa, said: “The controversy is not only premature; it is uncalled for, a distraction and a waste of time.”

Awelewa said the bane of development in the state has been a lack of political continuity and stability.

He added: “Ekiti State, since its inception in 1996, has produced the largest number of governors in the country. It is on record that the state is the only one in the country that has had a governor just for one day.”

According to him, the trend has to stop “in the interest of the indigenes, in the interest of the current infrastructural development and to honour Fayemi, who has become a pride of the entire citizenry”.

The forum chairman said advocates of power shift have said Ekiti South is the next senatorial district to produce the governor based on their belief that “Ekiti North has produced two elected governors - Segun Oni and the Fayemi”.

He said the agitators also said Ekiti Central produced Otunba Niyi Adebayo and Ayo Fayose while Ekiti South had not produced any.

Ondo youths back Akeredolu • Decry unemployment

By Joseph Jibueze

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HE Ondo State Youth Coalition for Civic Development (OYICODEP), has decried the spate of unemployment under the Olusegun Mimiko administration.

It said the time has come for the youths to change the situation.

The youths backed Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship candidate in the October 20 election, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN). They promised to vote for him to end unemployment.

Their Coordinator, Omotosho Bolarinwa, said Akeredolu is an epitome of exemplary leadership, which he demonstrated when he was commissioner in the state and President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

He described the ACN candidate as a consistent and loyal defender of democracy, having fought for the progressives to retrieve their stolen mandate in several states.

Bolarinwa said Akeredolu’s plan to rejuvenate agriculture, empower youths and develop collapsing infrastructure tallies with the association’s dream for the state.

The youth leader said the group believes that Akeredolu would employ 30,000 youths during his first year in office, because other ACN states have delivered on their promises.

“This will be a remarkable achievement in the Southwest. Indeed, this will reduce unemployment and crime rate in the state,” he said.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

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CITYBEATS

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

N4.4m fraud tears diplomat’s wife, partner apart

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•Orji

Prisons to probe Orji's death THE Lagos State Command of the Nigeria Prisons plans to probe the death of Clifford Orji, an inmate who died last Friday in prison custody.

Its spokesman, Mr Chuks Njoku, said in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that Orji’s death was being investigated by the prisons’ medical team. .

"The cause of the death of Clifford Orji is yet to be ascertained as the doctors have not discovered anything so far," he said.

There were media reports that Orji, an alleged ritualist and cannibal, died in Kirikiri maximum prison, where he was an inmate for over 13 years.

Njoku disclosed that Orji died in the early hours of August 17 in his asleep.

"An autopsy is ongoing by our medical team to determine the cause of his death before we can invite his family," he said.

According to Njoku, the remains of the late Orji had been deposited in a mortuary in Lagos.

Orji was arrested under the bridge at Toyota Bus-stop on Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Lagos with alleged human parts.

He was subsequently charged before the Ebute-Metta Magistrate's Court, but he died while awaiting trial.

Njoku said the late Orji while in the prison, had some health history which was private and known only to his doctor.

FRENCH diplomat’s wife, Mrs Sehomi Lemouton, and her friend, Miss Grace Ndu, are accusing each other of dishonesty in a joint business venture.

Mrs. Lemouton, wife of the Administrative Attaché to the French Embassy in Nigeria, has urged the police to prosecute Miss Ndu for alleged criminal conduct. Miss Ndu has approached a Lagos High Court for what she called undue police harassment.

She is seeking an order to restrain the police from further detaining her.

Mrs. Lemouton alleged in a petition to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) that Miss Ndu colluded with her sister, Priscilla Ndu, a manager with a Lekki branch of a commercial bank, to surreptitiously withdraw about N4.4 million from their company’s account.

Admitting that she had known Miss Ndu a year earlier, their business relationship actually began in 2011, when she registered a com-

By Eric Ikhilae

pany, Sikalyn Limited (RC952254) and made Miss Ndu a director and business partner, with 50 per cent shareholding “on the basis that she will contribute and assist with the running of the business.”

Mrs Lemouton alleged that rather than help grow the business, “she ended up defrauding the company of N4.4 million before the end of the first year of doing business with her.

“I discovered that my business partner took advantage of my limited knowledge of Nigeria and the English Language to perpetuate a fraud by using fake documents to open the company’s account and making herself the sole signatory to the account.

Alleging the connivance of Ndu’s sister, Mrs. Lemouton accused the bank of allowing her to operate the account without proper documents, including the duly signed board resolution. She also accused the bank of not conducting due dili-

gence, thereby giving her the opportunity to allegedly drain the company’s account.

Her counsel, Messrs Abiodun Omidare and Co, also alleged in a separate petition, dated June 9, that “immediately after defrauding our client, Miss Ndu clearly confirmed her intention of leaving the company.”

Acting on an instruction from the IGP, police officers, attached to the Special Fraud Unit (SFU), Ikoyi, Lagos, arrested Miss Ndu and detained her briefly in the course of investigation.

Feeling unfairly treated, Miss Ndu went to the court and initiated a fundamental rights enforcement suit against the IGP, the Commissioner of Police, the SFU, Inspector Lazarus (who she claimed, led the investigating team) and Mrs. Lemouton.

She is claiming N10 million damages against the defendants, and an order of perpetual injunction, restraining the police from further arresting and detaining her over the

Fun-seekers storm Badagry beaches

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Man, 20, charged with rape Stories by Precious Igbonwelundu

A 20-YEAR-OLD man, Adams Oliyide, is standing trial before an Ikeja Magistrate's Court sitting in Abule Egba.

He is accused of defiling a minor.

Oliyide was charged for his alleged involvement in violating his neigbour's 11-year-old daughter. The girl was not named.

The offence contravened Section 137 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos, 2011.

Oliyide, who allegedly committed the offence at 27, Bakare Jofojo Street, Iyana Ipaja, a Lagos suburb, pleaded not guilty.

He was accused of always returning home from work every afternoon to have affair with the victim. He was also accused of always giving the minor money and urging her to keep the relationship secret.

He, however, ran out of luck when he was caught in the act on a fateful day by a neighbour who allegedly raised the alarm and immediately alerted the victim's parents.

The matter was reported at Oke Odo Police Station, where Oliyide and the girl admitted that they have been having a relationship.

The police, however, insisted that the defendant will stand trial for rape since the victim was a minor. Presiding Magistrate Mr. A.O. Komolafe, granted the defendant a N100,000 bail with two sureties in like sum.

He stated that one of the sureties must be Oliyide’s blood relation.

The matter has been adjourned till September 3.

issue; a declaration that the relationship between her and Mrs Lemouton was basically civil and on which the police cannot act.

Ndu is also seeking a declaration that her arrest and detention under the alleged instigation of Mrs Lemouton, for the purpose of extorting N4 million from her, was illegal.

Priscilla Ndu, who deposed to a supporting affidavit on the fundamental rights enforcement application, denied Mrs. Lemouton’s allegations against her sister, insisting that her sister was the victim.

She alleged that Mrs. Lemouton had misappropriated the company’s funds while it was being kept in her (Mrs. Lemouton’s) account with a commercial bank, a realisation, she argued, informed the choice of another bank for Sikalyn Limited.

Pricilla claimed that her sister was being treated at the Military Hospital, Ikoyi, owing to the trauma she allegedly went through in police custody.

She urged the court to grant her prayers with a view to preventing Mrs. Lemouton from further harassing her sister with the police.

In her counter affidavit, Mrs. Lemouton restated her allegations against Ndu and prayed the court to dismiss her application.

She denied Ndu’s claim that she was being harassed unduly.

• HRM Oba Arolagbade II of Kwemeh Kingdom, Hon. Mrs Bukola Bamgbose, the chairperson in Badagry West LCDA and the council chairman Joseph Hontonyon Bamgbose (JP) at a Ramadan lecture organised by the chairman.

1,833 ex- Oceanic Bank workers sue Ecobank were determined on February 15 BOUT 1,833 former emfor N3.5b and who have attained the seven ployees of the defunct Oceyears unbroken service as provided

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anic Bank Plc, whose services were transferred to Ecobank Nigeria Plc (now Ecobank Nigeria Limited), have sued their former employer for its alleged refusal to pay their benefits.

The transferred workers formed the bulk of those who had their employment terminated by Ecobank after the merger.

In the suit before the National Industrial Court (NIC), Lagos, the plaintiffs urged the court to compel Ecobank to pay them N3, 489, 920,103.62, being the unpaid Staff Savings Investment Trust Fund (SSITF), gratuity, severance and redundancy benefits due to them.

The class action was filed on behalf of the affected ex-workers by nine of them. They are: Uzoma Ihediohanma, Babajide Bayode, Yemisi Adesote, Adeboyejo Oladimeji, Seun Aina, Yusuf Kadiri, Segun Alasan, Adetayo Familugba and Lolade Olaribigbe.

They prayed the court for, among others, an order directing Ecobank Nigeria Limited (defendant), to pay them N1,146,470,393.62, made up of N926, 901,065.60 being the total of their SSITF contributions as former employees of the defunct Oceanic Bank Plc; N159, 710,523.51 being the gratuity due to them and N59,858,804.51 being the amount due to them as severance and redun-

By Eric Ikhilae

dancy benefits.

They also want the court to order the bank to pay them N1, 500,000,000 as special damages and N1, 000,000,000 as general damages.

In a statement of fact filed by their lawyer, Nwabu Okoye, it was averred that following the 2008 Central Bank of Nigeria Bank's (CBN) intervention in the banking sector, their ex-employer was compelled to merge with Ecobank Plc, but with the bank assuming the assets and liabilities of the former bank, including its workers and other matters.

They further averred that in the calculations and payment of final entitlements to 788 employees, whose appointments were determined by Ecobank on February 15, and in calculating the payments of final entitlements of those employees, who resigned as an option under the merger arrangement, the bank "grossly and flagrantly violated the contract of employment and conditions of employment of such employees."

The plaintiffs stated that the bank also refused to pay the aforesaid employees their contributions and entitlements under the SSITF and allegedly refused to pay gratuity to employees, whose appointments

for in Oceanic Bank's handbook.

They faulted Ecobank's purported decision to apply the period of 10 years of unbroken service that was said to exist in Ecobank Plc before the merger.

The plaintiffs further alleged short payments and non payments to 44 of their colleagues, whose employments were terminated in February.

But the bank has denied any culpability. In a letter dated April 4, written by the bank to Messrs Falana and Falana Chambers, one of the plaintiffs' lawyers, Ecobank said it is not under any obligation to make payment to the claimants under the SSITF as neither it nor Oceanic Bank was a member or trustee of the Trust Fund.

Ecobank also said that employees of the defunct Oceanic Bank Plc, whose contract of employment were transferred to it, would be paid gratuity only in accordance with the "Ecobank Human Resources Policy."

It said the calculation of the severance allowance paid to the plaintiffs was effected in line with an agreement with the Association of Senior Staff of Banks and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI) and National Union of Banks Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE).

UNDREDS of fun-seekers yesterday thronged beaches in Badagry area of Lagos State to celebrate the Eidel-Fitri.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) named the major beaches visited by the fun-seekers as Sapo, Aivoji and Suntan.

Some engaged themselves in swimming, photography, horse ridding, musical performances and games, such as billiards and snookers.

Miss Folake Mohammed, a beach visitor, said she enjoyed herself.

"Coming here to relax and receive cool breeze means a lot to me. Having a place like this around Badagry without going through the expenses of travelling abroad is interesting to me”, she said.

Miss Mohammed, who claimed to come from Okokomaiko, expressed her wish to have the Sallah observed more often.

Another holiday-maker, Mr Soji Mohammed, a trader, said leaving his merchandise to engage in relaxation at the beach was something good for him.

He said: “Everyday I move around trying to make money, but today I depart from that tradition to spend part of the money through relaxing and enjoying myself.”

Soji Momodu, a civil servant, said it was nice leaving the pressure of everyday work to catch fun at the beach where a lot was happening. ``As you can see, I look refreshed here now, having engaged myself in activities different from what I do daily. Here at Sapo beach, there is no dull moment ``, he said.

He promised to continue having fun throughout the holiday, saying, ``by the time I return to work tomorrow, my productivity will be enhanced."

Traders, photographers, food vendors, horse owners enjoyed maximum patronage.

Officials of the marketing department of Badagry West Local Council Development Authority (LCDA), owners of Suntan Beach, were busy attending to visitors and collecting gate fees and car parking charges.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

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THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

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NEWS EID-EL-FITRI CELEBRATION

•Former Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (right); Emir of Minna, Alhaji Umar Faruk Bahago; former Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar and Niger State Acting Governor Ahmed Musa Ibeto, at the Minna Central Mosque...yesterday

•Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido (right), and Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Nuhu Sunus, when the Emir paid Sallah homage to the Governor in Dutse...yesterday.

•Picknickers at the Millennium Park, Abuja...yesterday •Kids having a swell time at the Millenniun Park, Abuja...yesterday

•Fun-seekers at the Millennium Park, Abuja •A monkey ‘entertaining’ at the park

•Kids celebrating at the Park •Fun-seekers at the Bar Beach, Victoria-Island, Lagos...yesterday

•Picknickers at the National Arts Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos

• SWIMMING TIME TIME: Kids at the Water Parks, Ikeja, Lagos.

PHOTOS: ABAYOMI FAYESE, ABIODUN WILLIAMS, DAYO ADEWUNMI & RAHMAN SANUSI

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

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BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

Minister challenges parastatals on revenue generation From Franca Ochigbo, Abuja

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HE Minister of State Trade and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom, has urged parastatals to boost internally generated revenue.

Ortom made this call during the inauguration of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) in Kaduna.

He said the edifice was built by the agency through internally generated revenue and it was replicated in Apapa, Lagos.

He said: “I want to say the ITF has done so well in putting this place together. They did not in any way demand a dime from the government in putting this together. This is a timely response to the policy directive to feed into the Federal Government’s transformation agenda.

“The National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP) scheme is driven by ITF and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) as key to the National Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) of the Ministry.

“At least,1.2million youths will be trained under this particular scheme,”he stressed.

The Director-General, ITF, Prof.Longmas Sambo Wapmuk, said the project was initiated as part of strategy to save cost from renting office accommodation in the long run and to provide and environment conducive for effective training.

He said: “This is to provide opportunity for accessing world class training services, by employers of labour. It will also open windows of value as a means of counselling to small business operators as well as attending to the technical needs of self- employment by the youths.”

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil -$107/barrel Cocoa -$2,686.35/metric ton Coffee - ¢132.70/pound Cotton - ¢95.17pound Gold -$1,800/troy ounce Rubber -¢159.21pound MARKET CAPITALISATIONS NSE JSE NYSE LSE

-N6.503 trillion -Z5.112trillion -$10.84 trillion -£61.67 trillion RATES Inflation -10.5% Treasury Bills -7.08% Maximum lending -22.42% Prime lending -15.87% Savings rate -2% 91-day NTB -15% Time Deposit -5.49% MPR -12% Foreign Reserve $35.8b FOREX CFA 0.2958 EUR 206.9 £ 242.1 $ 156 ¥ 1.9179 SDR 238 RIYAL 40.472

Brazil is an influential member of the BRIC nations with a big apetite for investing in Africa, especially Nigeria. So, there is the need for us to strengthen our partnership with them to attract big investments into our country especially in those areas where we have competitive and comparative advantage.

- Minister of Trade & Investment, Olusegun Aganga

US to clarify rules on oil, mining payments abroad

‘Shell spends 40% of its security vote in Nigeria’ R T OYAL Dutch Shell spent almost 40 per cent of its $1 billion global security budget between 2007 and 2009 in Nigeria, a pressure group, Platform, has said.

The London-based body monitoring the oil and gas industry added that much of the money went to Nigeria’s security forces, which it described as corrupt.

The oil major, according to Reuters news, spent $383 million protecting its staff and assets in the Niger Delta region during the three-year period, according to company figures leaked to Platform.

“Shell paid many millions of dollars to government forces with a track record for corruption and creating instability across Nigeria,” Platform’s Ben Amunwa said.

Shell did not confirm the

figures, but said it had to spend heavily because of the security threats.

“We have always acknowledged the difficulties of working in countries like Nigeria. Protecting our people and our assets is Shell’s highest priority,” Shell Nigeria spokesman Precious Okolobo said.

Sabotage of oil infrastructure and the kidnapping of foreign oil workers have been common in the vast oilrich mangrove wetlands of the Niger Delta in recent years, and although an amnesty for militants in 2009 reduced violence, massive oil theft persists.

“In the period that this report refers to, the armed militancy in the Niger Delta was at its height, requiring a relatively high level of se-

curity spending there,” Okolobo added.

Shell said about 150,000 barrels per day (bpd) out of Nigeria’s more than two million bpd oil output capacity is still being stolen by gangs who tap into pipelines and siphon off oil, some of which is sold into international markets.

But the funding of the Nigeria Police and military by Shell, the largest operator in Africa’s biggest energy industry, has brought criticisms from rights groups, who have also attacked its lack of progress on cleaning up decades of oil spills.

Nigeria’s security forces have been accused of human rights abuses in the past and the Inspector-general of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, said earlier this year that of-

ficers were corrupt and carried out extra-judicial killings and torture.

“While primary responsibility for human rights abuses lies with the Nigerian government and other perpetrators, Shell bears a heavy responsibility for the devastating social impacts of its security spending,”Amunwa added.

The company’s relationship with the Nigerian authorities drew stinging criticisms in 1995, when the then military government hanged environmental activist Ken SaroWiwa two years after his campaign forced Shell out of the Ogoniland region.

Shell said its staff and contractors are expected to adhere to the highest level of ethics and it supports Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights, guidelines setout by United Kingom and US governments along with oil companies.

• From left: Chief Executive Officer, Aso Savings & Loans, Hassan Usman and Chairman, Olatunde Ayeni at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the company in Abuja...recently.

NEPC to transform non-oil into national economic growth T

HE Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) will enhance its export promotion strategy by making the non-oil sector a bulwark of economic development, the Executive Director, David Adulgba has said.

He stated this during the launch of the New Exporter Development Programme (UNEP) in Abuja.

He said the programme will focus on building capacity through export awareness, readiness assessment, preparation and export market development.

He said: “This is a means towards removing a range of constraints and obstacles in the way of non-oil exports. It will also enhance NEPC’s export development andpromotion strategy through a sectoral approach to evolving market realities.

From Franca Ochigbo, Abuja

“This is premised on our understanding that NEPC should be the preferred partner for working with SMEs to help them compete successfully for the future in world markets, by preparing them to capture not only a greater share of the market but also accessing a bigger share of market opportunities.

“It is important to know that appropriate trade strategies are derived from an adequate understanding of export diversification and growth.There is need to know that every encouragement must be accompanied by policies aimed at stimulating the transfer, acquisition and adoption of appro-

priate and sustainable processes and technologies.

“Export diversification must occur in tandem with export expansion and requires translating competitive advantages into gains in ways that will stimulate economic growth.

“We propose to do this by developing a portfolio of star export products tailored to the country’s development of export niches in the global market. It is urgently necessary to create undisputed sectors in which Nigeria has clear advantages in creating differential export market opportunities for national firms.”

He added that the programme is focusing on export dimension, increasing the export of existing

products and developing new exportable products.

This is to identify activities and identify existing opportunities while encouraging new industries or production facilities to be set up in order to meet newly identified demands in the international markets.

“The project is designed to facilitate an integrated exporter development process, in consultation with the relevant stakeholders. It takes into account NEPC’s evolving prority needs as well as donors interests, and the need to produce tangible results.

“During the implementation of the products, an intensive consultation process will be maintained with the partners in order to incorporate proven experience and lessons learned into the project’s activities,” he said.

WO years of uncer tainty for big United States-listed mining and energy companies will end tomorrow when US regulators finalise new rules on overseas operations, one set that will require the disclosure of payments to foreign governments while the other seeks to halt the flow of so-called “conflict minerals.”

Both sets of rules, according to Reuters news, are part of the Dodd-Frank financial law passed i n 2010, but regulators have been slow to implement them amid opposition from the industry, which says US-listed companies will be at a competitive disadvantage compared to foreign rivals who are not required to abide by the rules.

Industry groups, including the US Chamber of Commerce, have also raised concerns that the rules would create a costly compliance regime.

On the disclosure side, the rules to be finalised by the Securities and Exchange Commission require energy and mining firms with US listings, including secondary ones to reveal payments to foreign governments, such as drilling or exploration licenses that can run into billions of dollars.

The “blood minerals” provisions say US-listed firms that source gold, tungsten, tantalum and tin from Congo or its neighbours must assure regulators they are not funding conflict in that war-torn country.

The disclosure rules were hailed by humanitarian groups as the most sweeping measures yet to try and tackle the problem as they hit the primary cause: opaque deals between governments and industry.

The stakes have been especially high in Africa, where vast oil and mineral wealth has not translated into wider prosperity, a state of affairs widely referred to as the “resource curse”.

By exposing how much money is paid to governments, the rules aim to make officials accountable for the funds and reduce graft, which can become entrenched if states become addicted to the spoils that can be reaped from these sectors.

One point of contention that should be clarified tomorow is whether or not exemptions should be made if a country has laws that forbid a company from disclosing the payments it makes to the government.

US oil lobbyists, who have claimed these laws exist in countries, such as Angola, have pushed for such exemptions.

However, Brazilian oil giant Petrobras, which will fall under the new rules because of a US secondary listing and operates in Angola, has said it was not aware of any country with a curb on official disclosure.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

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EQUITIES

SEC appoints UBA, Stanbic IBTC as securities lenders

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 17-8-12

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NITED Bank of Africa (UBA) Plc and Stanbic IBTC Plc have been appointed securities lending agents for equities and bond transactions at the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE).

Securities lending is the act of loaning a stock, derivative or other security to an investor or firm. It requires the borrower to put up collateral, either in cash, security or a letter of credit.

An investigation by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) showed that the two banks emerged tops from the five commercial banks that submitted applications for the scheduled market making activities.

Management sources at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the NSE that confirmed the appointments to NAN, said other banks would soon be

licensed.

The source said that the commission had requested interested companies and firms to forward their operating credentials and formal applications for SEC’s evaluation and subsequent approval.

On market making, he said that the commission was scrutinising market making rules submitted by the NSE for regulatory due diligence and wide acceptance.

Confirming the licensing of UBA and Stanbic IBTC, another management source at the NSE said that the two banks would quicken the take-off of market making activities.

According to him, the 10 appointed market markers have concluded arrangements for a workshop on market making activities for capital market stakeholders.

He said that the workshop, coming on the heels of two securities lending agents, aims at ensuring proper understanding and acceptability of market making before its take-off.

Earlier, Mr Oscar Onyema, Chief Executive Officer of NSE, said that the Exchange was ready for the take-off of market making initiatives.

Onyema said the Exchange was in the interim working closely with selected market regulators to ensure general market readiness.

He said that it was anticipated that outstanding issues such as the approval process for securities lending agents would soon be addressed by the regulators.

Ten stockbroking firms were in April unveiled as the NSE market makers.

The firms are Stanbic IBTC, Renaissance Capital, Future View Securities, Vetiva Capital and ESS/ DunnLoren Merrifield.

Others selected from the 20 firms that applied include WSTC, Capital Bancorp, FBN Securities, Greenwich Securities and CSL Stockbrokers.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 17-8-12

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

13

AVIATION Turkish fulfills promise to NAHCO staff

•Oduah

•Capt. George

•Capt. Oni

How govt can assist domestic airlines, by experts

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VIATION experts have called on the Federal Government to waive Customs duty on aircraft and its spares as a way of reducing the cost of doing business in the sector.

The Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of Bristow Helicopters and Aero Airlines, Captain Akin Oni and Captain Akin George said until prohibitive charges and high cost of duties on aircraft and its spares are waived, airline business will not be attractive.

Oni said Nigerian airlines spend about $4 million on customs duties on acquired airplanes, adding that such high cost is of no benefit to the airline.

He described Nigeria as one of the few countries in the world where domestic airline operators still pay Customs duties on aircraft and their spares, noting that airlines in Europe, the United States and Ghana, such charges are no longer in vogue.

He said the $4million spent on Customs duties could be used for construction of two standard maintenance hangar facilities, stating that without the removal of this policy, Nigerian carriers would continually find it difficult to compete with their counterparts across the world.

Oni wondered why a policy that had been abrogated was re-introduced.

His words: “Payment on Customs duties for aircraft and its spares only happen in Nigeria and nowhere else does this happen. A carrier pays an average of $4million on import duties on an air-

By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

craft. That is huge.

“Aircraft are mobile resources that transport people around the world. This policy, I have to tell you the truth, is killing the industry.

"If you import an aircraft, you spend 14 per cent as import duties to the government which is about $4million for just importing an aircraft. We are one among many other countries that enforce such law, the same applies to spare parts,” adding that in President Obasanjo’s time, “it was removed and we pray that it should be sustained because it is killing us, it is killing the aviation industry. If all these taxies and levies are waved, it will greatly improve the secto and boost the country's economy.

“Obasanjo once waived this policy before it was reintroduced.

If this is reduced or abolished, it will reduce pressure from operators because with $4million, I can put two hangars up and immediately start maintenance business.”

Captain George wondered why government could grant waivers to some other aspects of transportation and abandon the airlines, which he claimed made the sector unviable.

Their advocacy comes just as the Minister of Aviation Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah, affirmed that government will continue to protect the interest of domestic carriers with the creation of an enabling enviroment.

In her four-nation tour to woo investors Princess Oduah secured the commitment of Canadian aircraft maker, Bombardier to assist operators with newer aircraft to aid their operations.

She said the absence of Bombardier in Nigeria, in spite of its presence in some other African nations, means the company is harnessing an insignificant segment of its market on the continent, and assured of a good return on investment, if Nigeria is made a maintenance hub in Africa.

The Minister also expressed her desire to have domestic operators acquire new aircraft that are efficient, stressing that this is the only way they can operate optimally.

George also challenged the government to provide an enabling environment for airlines, saying this would enable them to sustain their operations.

His words: “If government could give waivers to other forms of transportation, I don’t know why the government cannot do the same to airlines in the industry especially on spare parts imported.

“For us to pay customs duties to the government amounts to double taxation, because we have already paid duties on acquisition of the aircraft. What government needs to put in place is a conducive aviation environment, which will make the airlines sustain their operations. Aviation is a driving force and people can’t move around without it,” he said.

African leaders to discuss challenges of air transport A FRICAN leaders and experts in the aviation sector will gather in Windhoek, Namibia, to discuss the challenges and prospects of the sector in the continent at this year's Aviation & Allied Business Leadership Conference.

The annual event, which has provided a robust window for leaders and players in the sector will be declared open by the President of Namibia, Pohamba, holding at the Windhoek Country Club Resort & Casino in Windhoek, Namibia’s capital city, between September 2 and 4.

According to the convener of the conference, Captain Edward Boyo, explained that Several government and private sector dignitaries have confirmed participation at this major event including high-level representatives of African governments,the US government through the Department of Trans-

port (DoT) and the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), private sector and multilateral organisations such as the International Civil Aviation Orgnanisation (ICAO), International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC).

Others include major aircraft manufacturers such as Airbus, Bombardier, ATR, etc., as well as Africa’s best aviation experts and their counterparts from Europe, North America and the Middle East.

Boyo said the conference will focus on the theme Air Transport Development: Rethinking Africa’s Strategy, while over 250 delegates will be attending the conference, making the Conference a hot-spot for investors seeking new opportunities in Africa and providing a

huge opportunity for industry partners tointeract.

Some of the speakers and facilitators outlined for the event include Mr. Tewolde Gebremariam, Chief Executive Officer , Ethiopian Airlines; Mr George Uriesi, Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria.

He said: " This year’s conference, with a modified format, would feature a special policy discourse on the theme of the conference Rethinking Africa’s Aviation Development Strategy, and a Panel on Infrastructure and Public-Private Partnership under the same theme.

The conference will re-assess the state of air transport growth and development in Africa under the prevailing economic trend in Africa and other economies with strong bearing on the continent, while seeking more workable options for advancing practical improvement in the sector.

TURKISH Airlines has fulfilled its promise to a staff member of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO), Mr Salami Lateef Ibrahim with a return ticket and Visa to Istanbul, Turkey for submitting 25,000 pounds and 5,000 euro he found inside an aircraft at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

Ibrahim, a cabin cleaning team leader, found the wallet containing the amount during a routine cleaning of an aircraft belonging to a different airline.

Salami has since embarked on the trip and returned with the Managing Director of the airline Mr Ali Bulut who was also on board the aircraft.

Bulut said ‘it is not good only to make a promise, you must fulfill it.

That is what we have done in this case to tell honest people that their actions will be rewarded; it is a matter of time.

‘It is a great pleasure for us at Turkish Airlines to be associated with such honesty Salami displayed on that fateful day when he returned the money.

It does not matter whether it happened on our aircraft or not. The most important thing is that an act of honesty was displayed,’ he stated.

Relaying his experience on the trip, said the journey was a memorable one. ‘I have been cleaning the aircraft for several years but have not flown in it for once. The in-flight service and entertainment was a wonderful experience from the cabin crew of Turkish Airlines. This is first part of what makes the trip memorable.

“Entering Istanbul is another part. The city is properly planned with working and functioning infrastructures. They are making so much money from tourism. I met people from different nations, visiting different tourist sites such as Grand Bazaar, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and the ancient Basilica known as Hagia Sophia were magnificent structures. It was indeed memorable.”

BA extends summer package BRITISH Airways has announced that due to high demand and positive response from her passengers, the sales period of the summer special sale has been extended from August 15 to 31 for outbound travel before September 1.

The summer special sale sees highly discounted fares for travellers from Lagos and Abuja to the United Kingdom and New York in its awardwinning Club World and newly refurbished First Class cabins.

Under the specials, fares to London start from $2160 in Club World and $6610 in First while flights to New York are priced from $2960 in Club World and $6720 in First. According to the airline, this extension would enable more of its loyal customers to benefit from these special prices.

Country Manager British Airways/Iberia, Nigeria, Mr Kola Olayinka, urged customers to book soon as the fares are extremely competitive and likely to be snapped up fast.

The special fares are exclusive of all taxes, fees, charges and surcharges and subject to availability.

Qatar announces Chicago as new route QATAR Airways has announced an expansion of its United States Ibrahim route network with the introduction of daily passenger flights to Chicago from April 10 next year.

The non-stop service from Doha, capital of Qatar, will be the carrier’s fourth USA gateway, following already successful daily operations to New York (JFK), Washington (IAD) and Houston (IAH).

The carrier, which already operates twice-weekly cargo flights to Chicago O’Hare, will use its flagship long-haul Boeing 777-300 Extended Range passenger aircraft on the Doha – Chicago route with an approximate flying time of 15 hours.

Today’s announcement follows this summer’s fifth anniversary launch celebrations of the New York and Washington, D.C., services.

Qatar Airways’ expansion to Chicago O’Hare, the world’s second busiest airport handling 70 million passengers a year, has long been earmarked by the airline as a key traffic route that would appeal to travellers from across its passenger network.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said: “As Qatar Airways continues its aggressive expansion, we are pleased to finally offer another gateway in the United States, this time to the ‘The Windy City’ of Chicago, five years after we began operations to North America.

“Chicago is a key route for business and leisure travellers alike, connecting them from destinations across India, Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific with a one-stop service via Doha to the Midwest.

Etihad, firm sign deal ETIHAD Airways has signed a multi-million dollar agreement to extend to 2019 its naming and marketing rights for Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium, the city’s premier sports and entertainment venue.

The five-year extension was announced in Melbourne by President and Chief Executive of Etihad Airways,James Hogan and AM, Chief Executive of the Melbourne Stadiums Limited, Ian Collins.

Hogan said: “Placing the Etihad name on this world class sports and entertainment stadium, as well as activating our marketing and hospitality rights, has provided Etihad Airways with a solid platform to build our brand across the state of Victoria and the whole of Australia.

“The partnership with Melbourne Stadiums Limited gives Etihad Airways unparalleled exposure in Australia, one of the most important routes in our network, and we are delighted to extend the naming agreement for Etihad Stadium until 2019.”

Etihad Airways became the stadium’s naming rights sponsor on March 1, 2009, the same month it commenced non-stop flights between Melbourne and Abu Dhabi. By 2019, the Abu Dhabi-based airline will have sponsored the stadium continuously for 10 years.

Hogan added: “More than 250 arena events have taken place at Etihad Stadium during the past three years highlighting the vital role it plays in the local community, and we look forward to strengthening those ties further in the years to come.”

Collins said: “Renewing the agreement is in many ways more exciting than when it was first signed in 2009 as it demonstrates how successful the partnership has been for MelbourneStadiums Limited and Etihad Airways.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

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MARITIME

Ports infrastructure: Adopt Dubai model, Fed Govt, NPA urged

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan’s desire to make the nation’s seaports the hub in the sub-region may be elusive, unless the government take proactive measures to upgrade container handling equipment at the ports.

Road network For instance, while the roads serving the seaports are crying for attention and the terminal operators rely essentially on generators to power their equipment, The Nation investigation revealed that ports of similar status elsewhere enjoy a vast array of infrastructure that drive their operations.

In Dubai ports where The Nation visited, provision of good access roads, constant power supply, efficient clearing system, best container shipping-related infrastructure, cost-competitiveness and container shipping-friendly fee regime, are adequately provided.

Facilitation of ancillary services, including logistics and cargo handling equipment, are not lacking either.

Equipment In Nigeria, while importers and clearing agents are accusing terminal operators of not having enough equipment to handle their operations, six years after concessioning the ports, findings in Dudai showed that there are over 200 mobile giant cranes that are not in any of the nation’s seaports.

Findings showed that despite the fact that international shippers operating between Europe and the Far East prefer to make only one stop in the Gulf, the management of Dubai ports has managed to secure the lion’s share of the business of unloading, breaking down and reloading cargo for onward shipment.

The ports’ physical facilities and sheer expertise in port management, make Dubai ports the preferred hub for most shippers along the region.

Service delivery and charges The port of Jebel Ali in Dubai is the largest manmade seaport in the world, and as part of its drive to diversify its economy away from oil, the government of Dubai has developed several methods of handling reexport cargo with consider-

T

Stories by Oluwakemi Dauda

THE Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ahaji Dikko Inde Abdullahi, has established the Customs Consultative Committee (CCC) to boost the trade facilitation programme of the Federal Government.

The Customs boss announced this, when members of the defunct Customs Joint Committee on Monitoring and Compliance, led by its Chairman and NCS Zone ‘A’ Zonal Co-ordinator, Assistant Comptroller-General, Victor Osita Gbemudu, submitted a report to the Customs Management at their Headquarters in Abuja.

Charging members of the committee to live up to expectation by monitoring the levels of compliance by Customs personnel and importers, Abdullahi urged them to report any bottleneck to trade.

The Comptroller-General, who commended the monitoring committeefor a good job, announced the provision of a brand new bus to the new committee and assured that suitable office accommodation would be provided for them to facilitate the execution of its brief.

Member of the committee were drawn from the Customs, importers, clearing agents and the media.

Terminal employs over 900 Nigerians

•Dubai port

PHOTO: OLUWAKEMI DAUDA

Stories by Oluwakemi Dauda, from Dubai

able expertise and precision.

In view of government’s desire to make Nigeria a hub, stakeholders have urged the Nigerian Ports Authority to improve its services in terms of port charges and facilities to meet and exceed expectations of importers, freight forwarders and other stakeholders.

For instance, while the country is enjoying natural waterfront in most of its ports, The Nation was informed that about 25 years ago, the Jebel Ali Port at the northern end of Dubai, was little more than a stretch of desert sand. Today, it is the world’s 11th largest container port, where 16,000 vessels dock yearly, moving more than 7.5 million containers in and out of the country and boosting their economy.

Clearing method and port security A senior Customs official working in one of their terminals, Idris Mohammed, told The Nation that manifests detailing the contents of containers, Form M and charges are submitted electronically to port authorities, Customs, importers and their clearing agents, unlike in the nation’s ports where human to human contact is very high, While the government needs to intensify action to stop importation of arms and ammunition through

• Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar

the ports, investigation revealed that in Dubai, at a screening centre, government officials endeavour to identify containers that might present a risk by looking and considering the origins of the cargo, its route, the importer and if there are any changes in typical patterns of the containers.

“Dubai has acknowledged the absolute importance of securing cargo against terrorists,” Mohammed said.

Apart from port of Jebel Ali, DP World in Dubai, is also one of the largest marine terminal operators in the world, with 49 terminals and nine new developments and major expansions in 31 countries.

It’s over 30,000 dedicated and experienced workers who serve customers in some of the most dynamic economies in the world, which includes the United States.

One of the Nigerian importers who make use of the port, Mr Sunday Alfred,

said the management of DP World, as operators of the busiest commercial gateway to the UAE region, has always given utmost priority to the safety and security of its port facilities. He urged the Federal Government and NPA to take the issue of security of the port serious to make it the hub in the sub-region.

The Integrated Security System (ISS), Alfred said, protects the Jebel Ali Port.

Work at Jebel Ali Port is anchored in the close relationship between DP World, UAE Region and World Security. The ports have uncompromising professional standards of our security teams and a strong work ethos for its officials.

Another Nigerian importer, Mr Felix James said: “The seaport security market in the UAE is set to grow at a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 6.8 per cent from 2009 to 2016.

The official said the market earned $7.9 million in 2009 and that this could reach $11.6 million in 2016.

In 2011, he said, DP World handled over 50 million TEU (20-Foot Equivalent Container Units) from the Americas to Asia.

Hub status The President, Association of Nigerian Licensed Clearing Agents (ANALCA), Alhaji Olayiwola Shittu said the Federal Government needs to do more on port access road, infrastructure and port charges to achieve the hub status.

NIMASA hands over siezed vessel to EFCC HE Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has handed over the MT Ocean Treasure vessel, which it impounded for alleged illegal oil bunkering, to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The vessel, allegedly carrying 300 metric tonnes of illegally refined automotive gas oil, also known as diesel, was handed over by

Dikko set to promote trade

NIMASA to the EFCC, with eight crew members and three staff of Vital Shipping Limited, Apapa, Lagos, owners of the vessel.

Principal Maritime Safety Officer, NIMASA, Mr Duniya David, who handed over the vessel and crew on behalf of the Director-General of NIMASA, Mr Ziakede Patrick Akpobolokemi, urged the EFCC to carry out further investigation on the source of the petroleum

product and the operations of the vessel.

When intercepted and arrested by operatives of NIMASA, the MT Ocean Treasure allegedly had no shipping certificate, registered flag, crew list, bill of lading and cargo manifest.

The vessel’s oil record book was also not available, according to NIMASA. Receiving the document transferring the vessel and crew, Usman Ladan Baki as-

sured that the EFCC will do its best in investigating the case.

Operatives of the Commission took a sample of the AGO cargo allegedly found aboard the MT Ocean Treasure for analysis.

Baki assured NIMASA that the incidence of the gun duel and death of a member of the patrol team would be referred to the appropriate agency for further investigation.

NO fewer than 900 Nigerians are working at APM Terminals, Lagos Port Complex (LPC), Apapa.

The spokesman of the company, Mr Bolaji Akinola, told The Nation that no fewer than 10 expatriates are working in the firm, while about 99 per cent of the workforce is made up of Nigerians.

The image maker said the company’s indigeneous employees are being trained to fill positions in the top management cadre.

He disclosed that about 720,000 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) will be handled at the terminal this year, as against the 650,000 TEUs recorded last year.

He said the cost of generating power at the terminal has been very high, but APMT has made necessary investment to ensure round-the-clock uninterrupted power supply.

Securing the waterways THE Federal Government has been advised to protect the nation’s territorial waters from illegal fishing and develop naval capability to deal with hazardous waste dumping and piracy.

Some members of the Fishery Society of Nigeria (FISON), gave the advice while speaking with The Nation in Apapa, Lagos last Friday.

A member of the group, Mr Tolani Adegboyega, said the country needs to work with foreign partners to develop capacity that could help it tackle the crisis caused by piracy and illegal fishing.

He said the dumping of toxic waste in the maritime domain and the increasing crimes in the coastline require commitment on the side of the Federal Government to provide capability and cooperation with foreign partners to build its maritime capability.

Adegboyega pointed out that security experts around the Horn of Africa have developed theories over the increasing piracy cases.

He noted that Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand had set the stage for co-operation between states, both in information exchange and mobilisation of resources.

Adegboyega observed that the insecurity in Africa’s waterways had forced insurers to hike rates for ships passing through the region.

Specifically, coastal and inland states had seen their vital trade links threatened by pirates, a situation that led to rising costs that their populations must bear.

“As at now, there are no clear answers as to the best ways to ensure maritime security, nor are there clear answers as to what percentage of resources nations should allocate to maritime security to best facilitate the goal of furthering development,” he said.

Alarm over fake documents THE International Maritime Bureau (IMB) has raised the alarm about a pre-financing scam involving importers in West Africa and exporters in China.

According to the IMB, the scam involves manipulating the trade finance system to provide unofficial pre-shipment finance based upon false shipping documents.

The IMB first identified the scheme when authenticating liner Bills of Lading submitted by member banks.

The organisation explained that though the shipments details presented matched those of genuine shipments, the documents themselves contained sufficient discrepancies to warrant further investigation.

The IMB noted that when contacted, the purported issuers, all major carriers, confirmed that the documents were not genuine.

IMB Director, Mr Pottengal Mukundan, said: “False documents indicating cargoes have been shipped are presented under documentary credits to generate funds for the sellers before the shipment is made. Once the funds are released, it would appear the goods are shipped. This is an abuse of the documentary credit system, which relies upon shipments to be made as stated upon the bill of lading. From a banking perspective, it can give rise to a number of risks if these transactions are allowed to continue unchecked.”

He said the sellers of these goods were unwilling to release the goods until they have been paid for. As this is not normal practice in international trade, someone along the line, he said, has produced false documents that relate to the trade which are then sent to the banks as they process these transactions.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

15

16

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

17

PROPERTY

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.com

* The Environment * Mortgage * Apartments * Security * Homes * Real Estate

email:- property@thenationonlineng.net

Lagos housing scheme to produce 430 landlords next year

•Igbogbo Housing Estate, Phase II, Ikorodu, Lagos

The hope of first-time home buyers in Lagos and civil servants to own homes through the state’s Homes Ownership Mortgage Schemes(HOMS) may not materialise till mid-next year. The delay is to allow the government increase its housing stock. OKWY IROEGBUCHIKEZIE reports that with additional 430 blocks of flats in Agbowa and Igbogbo in Ikorodu, more Lagosians may soon be proud landlords.

•CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

•Aba residents score govt low on infrastructure - PAGE 18

•Lagos partners NCF on eco-tourism

- PAGE 47

•LAWMA, others collaborate on ‘waste for food’ - PAGE 48

18

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

PROPERTY/ENVIRONMENT

Lagos housing scheme to produce 430 landlords next year •CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

F

ACED with a large number of unhoused people and the need to discourage slums in the metropolis, the Lagos State government launched a home ownership scheme last year. It is targeted at first-time home owners resident in Lagos with a verifiable source of income and civil servants to enable them own houses.

The scheme, HOMS, is a mortgage funded by the Lagos State government. Aside providing the pool of houses, the government also provides the funds for the mortgage facility granted.

The idea, according to government sources, is to assist the citizenry in meeting their shelter needs as well as facilitate the creation of long-term and sustainable wealth.

For many, it was a welcome relief and the surest and fastest way to being a landlord but the state government has said it is not in a hurry to implement the programme until they have enough housing stock to go round many residents who are desirous of owing houses.

Recently, the Governor, Babatunde Fashola, during a tour of some projects, listed the various areas the state government was building houses for the HOMS programme. The areas include Ilupeju with 10 blocks, each having 12 apartments to be allocated to 120 households.

Mushin would have five blocks while the Ikeja Government Reserved Area (GRA) scheme has 76 apartments for 76 households.

On the delay in implementation

of the project, he said: “HOMS is designed to address the huge housing gap in the state. The idea is to ensure that at take-off, the scheme delivers homes to as many as possible. The state is currently developing housing estates in line with the scheme in such areas as Ilupeju, Mushin and Ikeja GRA. Others are Igbogbo in Ikorodu, Sangotedo, Omole, Magodo, Lekki and Badagry, solely designed to address the huge housing gap in the state.”

Commissioner for Housing Mr. Bosu Jeje gave mid-2013 as the definitive date of full implementation to enable the state government complete some of the housing projects it embarked on to boost the programme.

He said they were concerned about the supply aspect, which would be followed by allocation to qualified persons in a sustainable manner.

He said: “Our housing projects are scattered in the three senatorial districts of the state. What we are doing now is a stop-gap measure. We expect the private sector to key into the project and partner with us in no distant future.”

On the modalities, Jeje said qualified subscribers would get allocation through the mortgage system. The idea, according to him, is to ensure that the process of home ownership is not only simplified but liberalised.

On the ongoing project at Igbogbo Housing Estate 2, Jeje said the 360 housing units comprising 120 three, two and one-bedroom flats would be allocated to allottees in addition to others on maturity of the programme.

He said that the government was bent on upgrading the blighted areas of the state in consonance with

• Bosun Jeje (third left) with officials of the Ministry of Housing at Igbogbo Ikorodu, Lagos last Friday

its megacity status and urban renewal programme.

Jeje said the government was constructing a resettlement estate of 70 blocks of flats of one, two and three bedrooms flats and 15 blocks of terrace building at OdoOnosa on Agbowa-Sagamu Road

in Ikosi-Ejirin LCDA for those who qualify for the scheme.

The commissioner disclosed that on completion, the estate would give a lift to the urban regeneration efforts of the administration and also ensure that people live in decent and good environment

The site engineer, Mr Akinyemi Afolabi, told The Nation the project had been hampered by paucity of funds as contractors had not been mobilised financially except the award letters they were given, which some of them relied upon to start excavations.

Aba residents unhappy over infrastructure

R

ESIDENTS of Aba, the commercial nerve centre of Abia State, have scored Governor Theodore Orji low in infrastructure provision. The residents known for their verve in economic activities said they had been deprived of the necessary infrastructure that would have aided their businesses in the last five years of Orji’s administration.

A trader in Ariara Market, Mr Ikoro Aham, said what residents needed from the government was necessary infrastructure that would alleviate their suffering in their quest to make ends meet as they are not orientated towards working in public service.

He lamented that many access roads to markets in the city have become impassable and in deplorable condition with some broken into two because of their poor state. He said the story was the same in almost all parts of the town where at the slightest sign of rain people stay indoors for the fear of falling into a ditch as government had failed to work on the roads.

He criticised the government for its penchant for setting up task forces for the sole aim of collecting dues from the public, and disbanding them almost immediately without commensurate physical development. Aham berated the government for spending huge funds that would have been deployed for meaningful development on publicity stunts that have left the people with no dividend of democracy in the state.

He said Aba residents were amused with the administration’s advertisement of a popular spot Ukwu Mango – as one of its major achievement in terms of construction of the drains and roads in and around the area. He challenged the reporter to take a visit to the place

•Seek infrastructure levy withdrawal

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie Asst Editor

to confirm the much-advertised feat.

A landlord, Mr Nnorom Elechi, on Ngwa Road, lamented the absence of government’s presence in Enyimba City, condemning the mandatory N40,000 infrastructure development levy on his twostorey building, where he came back one evening to see a demand notice from the state Physical Planning and Infrastructural Development.

The government said anybody who failed to pay the fee shall be deemed to commit an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine or imprisonment.

He asked the governor to explain to the people what he did with the infrastructure development levy they paid last year as they had not seen any physical or infrastructure development. He alleged that some people were simply feeding fat on the ‘sweat’ of others by bur-

dening them with all manner of taxes that do not translate to the improvement of the lives of the people.

Reminded that taxation is a legal source of income for government all over, he decried a situation where people would be taxed without any commensurate physical development. He queried why the government was more interested in setting up revenue boards than delivering necessary infrastructure.

He said: “My understanding of infrastructure development is that it is inclusive of good roads, water and good waste management plan. But, l regret to say that in Aba and Abia State in general, what you see is as if government has taken a leave; every corner is dotted with mountains of refuse that can lead to an outbreak of diseases, no pubic mains except the ones provided by private individuals and bad roads which daily claim lives.”

Uko Kamalu, a landlord on Ehi Road, also wondered how he was expected to pay N6,000 on his apartment building where tenants default monthly in their rentals.

To him, the infrastructure development fee is repressive, asking that it be withdrawn as the people had not felt the impact of the current administration except in multiple taxations.

He noted that the complaint is the same all over the city even from those who use their houses for business as nobody knew the rationale behind the taxes.

He challenged the governor to showcase the projects his administration has executed in any part of the state which can square up with the amount of revenue he is generating from Aba alone, in addition to the monthly federal allocation. He wondered if the governor was not benchmarking with his colleagues in other states.

Kamalu said: “It is disheartening for landlords in Aba to be forced to pay for services they do not receive from government especially when every landlord or even ten-

•Governor Orji

ants are like a government on their own as they provide their own essential services that would have been otherwise provided by government. How can we provide for our essential needs and government will turn round to charge us for it.”

Archibuilt exhibition kicks off tomorrow

N

IGERIA’S flagship Exhibition and Workshop brand on the building and construction industry Archibuilt, organised annually by the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA) will be formally opened by His Excellency, President Goodluck Jonathan tomorrow at the Ladi Kwali hall at the Sheraton Hotels and Towers, Abuja.

The exhibition a 4-day series of events will feature expositions, workshops as well as special product presentations.

The high point of the event is the Dinner and Awards Night which will feature Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as a special guest of honour, Central Bank Governor in attendance takes place on Saturday, August 25, 2012.

The theme for Archibuilt 2012 is: Viability and Sustainability of Africa’s Future Cities.

The leading exhibition brand will also feature workshop sessions which will run concurrently with the exposition. SubThemes for the workshop are:

Addressing Security Concerns in City Development; Planning for Power Sufficiency in City Development; Project Financing in City Development and Abuja City Development - A Case Study. Application of the New Conditions of Engagement will also be treated as a sub theme.

According to a statement from the chairman of the event, Mr. Abdullahi Shime Abubakar, the Ministers of Housing, Power, Works, Mines and Steel as well as the FCT will take part in the workshop series while the other

ministries will participate at the exhibitions.

He also revealed that over 100 corporate organisations in the building and construction industry have also signed up to get a piece of the Archibuilt platform.

The fair is the largest forum for the exposition and discourse on the environment, shelter, construction, building materials and technologies in Africa.

Achibuilt exhibition brand has witnessed an over 200 percent growth in its brand equity and net asset value in recent times.

18

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

PROPERTY/ENVIRONMENT

Lagos housing scheme to produce 430 landlords next year •CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

F

ACED with a large number of unhoused people and the need to discourage slums in the metropolis, the Lagos State government launched a home ownership scheme last year. It is targeted at first-time home owners resident in Lagos with a verifiable source of income and civil servants to enable them own houses.

The scheme, HOMS, is a mortgage funded by the Lagos State government. Aside providing the pool of houses, the government also provides the funds for the mortgage facility granted.

The idea, according to government sources, is to assist the citizenry in meeting their shelter needs as well as facilitate the creation of long-term and sustainable wealth.

For many, it was a welcome relief and the surest and fastest way to being a landlord but the state government has said it is not in a hurry to implement the programme until they have enough housing stock to go round many residents who are desirous of owing houses.

Recently, the Governor, Babatunde Fashola, during a tour of some projects, listed the various areas the state government was building houses for the HOMS programme. The areas include Ilupeju with 10 blocks, each having 12 apartments to be allocated to 120 households.

Mushin would have five blocks while the Ikeja Government Reserved Area (GRA) scheme has 76 apartments for 76 households.

On the delay in implementation

of the project, he said: “HOMS is designed to address the huge housing gap in the state. The idea is to ensure that at take-off, the scheme delivers homes to as many as possible. The state is currently developing housing estates in line with the scheme in such areas as Ilupeju, Mushin and Ikeja GRA. Others are Igbogbo in Ikorodu, Sangotedo, Omole, Magodo, Lekki and Badagry, solely designed to address the huge housing gap in the state.”

Commissioner for Housing Mr. Bosu Jeje gave mid-2013 as the definitive date of full implementation to enable the state government complete some of the housing projects it embarked on to boost the programme.

He said they were concerned about the supply aspect, which would be followed by allocation to qualified persons in a sustainable manner.

He said: “Our housing projects are scattered in the three senatorial districts of the state. What we are doing now is a stop-gap measure. We expect the private sector to key into the project and partner with us in no distant future.”

On the modalities, Jeje said qualified subscribers would get allocation through the mortgage system. The idea, according to him, is to ensure that the process of home ownership is not only simplified but liberalised.

On the ongoing project at Igbogbo Housing Estate 2, Jeje said the 360 housing units comprising 120 three, two and one-bedroom flats would be allocated to allottees in addition to others on maturity of the programme.

He said that the government was bent on upgrading the blighted areas of the state in consonance with

• Bosun Jeje (third left) with officials of the Ministry of Housing at Igbogbo Ikorodu, Lagos last Friday

its megacity status and urban renewal programme.

Jeje said the government was constructing a resettlement estate of 70 blocks of flats of one, two and three bedrooms flats and 15 blocks of terrace building at OdoOnosa on Agbowa-Sagamu Road

in Ikosi-Ejirin LCDA for those who qualify for the scheme.

The commissioner disclosed that on completion, the estate would give a lift to the urban regeneration efforts of the administration and also ensure that people live in decent and good environment

The site engineer, Mr Akinyemi Afolabi, told The Nation the project had been hampered by paucity of funds as contractors had not been mobilised financially except the award letters they were given, which some of them relied upon to start excavations.

Aba residents unhappy over infrastructure

R

ESIDENTS of Aba, the commercial nerve centre of Abia State, have scored Governor Theodore Orji low in infrastructure provision. The residents known for their verve in economic activities said they had been deprived of the necessary infrastructure that would have aided their businesses in the last five years of Orji’s administration.

A trader in Ariara Market, Mr Ikoro Aham, said what residents needed from the government was necessary infrastructure that would alleviate their suffering in their quest to make ends meet as they are not orientated towards working in public service.

He lamented that many access roads to markets in the city have become impassable and in deplorable condition with some broken into two because of their poor state. He said the story was the same in almost all parts of the town where at the slightest sign of rain people stay indoors for the fear of falling into a ditch as government had failed to work on the roads.

He criticised the government for its penchant for setting up task forces for the sole aim of collecting dues from the public, and disbanding them almost immediately without commensurate physical development. Aham berated the government for spending huge funds that would have been deployed for meaningful development on publicity stunts that have left the people with no dividend of democracy in the state.

He said Aba residents were amused with the administration’s advertisement of a popular spot Ukwu Mango – as one of its major achievement in terms of construction of the drains and roads in and around the area. He challenged the reporter to take a visit to the place

•Seek infrastructure levy withdrawal

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie Asst Editor

to confirm the much-advertised feat.

A landlord, Mr Nnorom Elechi, on Ngwa Road, lamented the absence of government’s presence in Enyimba City, condemning the mandatory N40,000 infrastructure development levy on his twostorey building, where he came back one evening to see a demand notice from the state Physical Planning and Infrastructural Development.

The government said anybody who failed to pay the fee shall be deemed to commit an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine or imprisonment.

He asked the governor to explain to the people what he did with the infrastructure development levy they paid last year as they had not seen any physical or infrastructure development. He alleged that some people were simply feeding fat on the ‘sweat’ of others by bur-

dening them with all manner of taxes that do not translate to the improvement of the lives of the people.

Reminded that taxation is a legal source of income for government all over, he decried a situation where people would be taxed without any commensurate physical development. He queried why the government was more interested in setting up revenue boards than delivering necessary infrastructure.

He said: “My understanding of infrastructure development is that it is inclusive of good roads, water and good waste management plan. But, l regret to say that in Aba and Abia State in general, what you see is as if government has taken a leave; every corner is dotted with mountains of refuse that can lead to an outbreak of diseases, no pubic mains except the ones provided by private individuals and bad roads which daily claim lives.”

Uko Kamalu, a landlord on Ehi Road, also wondered how he was expected to pay N6,000 on his apartment building where tenants default monthly in their rentals.

To him, the infrastructure development fee is repressive, asking that it be withdrawn as the people had not felt the impact of the current administration except in multiple taxations.

He noted that the complaint is the same all over the city even from those who use their houses for business as nobody knew the rationale behind the taxes.

He challenged the governor to showcase the projects his administration has executed in any part of the state which can square up with the amount of revenue he is generating from Aba alone, in addition to the monthly federal allocation. He wondered if the governor was not benchmarking with his colleagues in other states.

Kamalu said: “It is disheartening for landlords in Aba to be forced to pay for services they do not receive from government especially when every landlord or even ten-

•Governor Orji

ants are like a government on their own as they provide their own essential services that would have been otherwise provided by government. How can we provide for our essential needs and government will turn round to charge us for it.”

Archibuilt exhibition kicks off tomorrow

N

IGERIA’S flagship Exhibition and Workshop brand on the building and construction industry Archibuilt, organised annually by the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA) will be formally opened by His Excellency, President Goodluck Jonathan tomorrow at the Ladi Kwali hall at the Sheraton Hotels and Towers, Abuja.

The exhibition a 4-day series of events will feature expositions, workshops as well as special product presentations.

The high point of the event is the Dinner and Awards Night which will feature Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as a special guest of honour, Central Bank Governor in attendance takes place on Saturday, August 25, 2012.

The theme for Archibuilt 2012 is: Viability and Sustainability of Africa’s Future Cities.

The leading exhibition brand will also feature workshop sessions which will run concurrently with the exposition. SubThemes for the workshop are:

Addressing Security Concerns in City Development; Planning for Power Sufficiency in City Development; Project Financing in City Development and Abuja City Development - A Case Study. Application of the New Conditions of Engagement will also be treated as a sub theme.

According to a statement from the chairman of the event, Mr. Abdullahi Shime Abubakar, the Ministers of Housing, Power, Works, Mines and Steel as well as the FCT will take part in the workshop series while the other

ministries will participate at the exhibitions.

He also revealed that over 100 corporate organisations in the building and construction industry have also signed up to get a piece of the Archibuilt platform.

The fair is the largest forum for the exposition and discourse on the environment, shelter, construction, building materials and technologies in Africa.

Achibuilt exhibition brand has witnessed an over 200 percent growth in its brand equity and net asset value in recent times.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

19

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

EDITORIALS

Time for state police •In spite of past abuses, it will improve security in the country

T

HOSE opposed to state police, as a panacea for surmounting the current security challenge, have a point. For starters, the record of local police, before it was scrapped after the first coup d’état in 1966, was that of grave abuses. In the North, the local police made that region a ‘no-go’ area for electioneering opponents and parties. That, ab initio, hobbled the elections that resulted from such uneven access to the electorate, as far from fair.

In the South, the local constabulary made it no secret that they were proud poodles of the powers-that-be. Opposition candidates were either framed on spurious charges at election time to get them out of the way; or were muscled by thugs of the ruling party, with the local police looking the other way. Also, the local police were the teeth of the local

‘Indeed, the mistake in the present arrangement was that past abuses led to the cancellation of the old police system, without making attempts at checks and balances; and without a strict delineation of functions that would make both the central Nigeria Police and respective state police units complement themselves to give criminals a bloody nose. Now is the time to put up such rigorous checks and neat division of functions’

powers to enforce the illegal bans on opposition newspapers, in the desperate bid to silence opposition voice at election times.

With all these abuses, of which the original three regions of East, North and West were guilty, it was no surprise that Nigeria’s first experiment at democracy suffered pitiable but avoidable collapse.

And even with the benefit of historical hindsight, the temper of the Nigerian politician-in-power appears to have changed little over the decades.

As was rightly argued by some antistate police lobby, it is doubtful if Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso, the Kano State governor would have won power again, had Kano a state police. It is doubtful too if the current Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governors of the South West could have romped back into power, if the states in that region have state police.

But, as valid as these fears are, the danger is that they are all tied down to past fears, which seem to have frozen present thinking for a more secure future. That clearly is not good enough, with the present pervasive insecurity.

To start with, central police for a huge federal territory like Nigeria is an intelligence gatherer’s nightmare. To the extent that good intelligence is crucial for crime prevention and even investigation, it is so glaring why the Nigeria Police is losing the war against crime, not to talk of the security agencies being worsted by the Boko Haram insurgents. To fill the huge intelligence gap, there is urgent need for state police.

Though opponents of state police can argue that the central police has a

programme for community policing, it is clear that it is ill-suited to carry it out.

But community policing is easier for state police: since members of that police are indigenes; or in any case residents of that state, and are more familiar with its terrain. Familiarity with terrain greatly boosts intelligence gathering. Relative strangeness to the terrain is one albatross in the neck of the current police structure. It is one of the factors that account for the current parlous security situation.

Indeed, the mistake in the present arrangement was that past abuses led to the cancellation of the old police system, without making attempts at checks and balances; and without a strict delineation of functions that would make both the central Nigeria Police and respective state police units complement themselves to give criminals a bloody nose.

Now is the time to put up such rigorous checks and neat division of functions.

Such innovations would be better than both the abandoned old police systems and the crumbling present one.

Besides, such a move would not be inventing the wheel. A vast country like the United States has neatly divided policing functions between the “Feds”, the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and state and county police units in its far-flung territory. Even in the United Kingdom, there is division of labour between Scotland Yard (the central police) and local police units.

Instead of being paralysed by fears of the past therefore, it is time to bring innovative thinking into Nigerian policing.

State police is the direction to go.

Mega hospitals • Good idea, but what is required is a conducive environment, not govt involvement

I

T is not without basis that we received the news that the Federal Government is planning to initiate a private sectorled mega hospital in each of the six geopolitical zones in the country with cautious optimism: whatever the government touches here is as good as destined to fail.

That is evident in almost all the public hospitals owned by the government, including the so-called ‘centres of excellence’.

Be that as it may, the Federal Government has inaugurated a panel to undertake the task of making the mega hospitals’ dream a reality. The committee, headed by the former chief executive of United Bank for Africa (UBA), Tony Elumelu, also has 19 other members, including people from leading private hospitals in the country, while the African Finance Corporation (AFC) would design the roadmap to achieve the goal. The hospitals are expected to become operational before the end of the tenure of the Jonathan administration in 2015.

We share in the government’s concern for the lack of quality medical facilities in Nigeria, a thing that has led to the exodus of many qualified medical doctors from the country in search of greener pasture and more conducive environments for their practice in foreign countries. Apart from this, it has also led to frequent travels abroad by Nigerians with the means, for quality medical treatment, sometimes for minor ailments.

This automatically leads to loss of hardearned foreign exchange that could have been used to provide infrastructural facilities at home. These, no doubt, are compelling reasons for the government to

want to reverse the trend.

Our worry, however, stems from experience. We cannot think of any issue that committees have not been set up to examine in the country; we have had cause to look at virtually anything imaginable under the sun, and many of the committees had also made useful suggestions on the way forward. Unfortunately, their recommendations are usually subjected to reviews by other committees in what looks like vicious cycles, until the final reports end up gathering dust in government offices.

The dream of Nigeria having at least one world-class private hospital in each of the six geo-political zones, at least for a start, is not misplaced. What we are worried about is whether it is attainable with government as an active participant in the process. In Nigeria, government has become a metaphor for non-performance, corruption, failure, etc. If we lack private investors in the health sector, it is due to the same reasons that Nigeria is not an investor’s haven, even in the other sectors.

Power supply remains a major challenge in spite of the phenomenal improvement in power generation (now put at about 4,307.7 megawatts); this is still a far cry from what it should be, considering our population and level of development. Hospitals, like industrial concerns, need electricity to power the state-of-theart equipment that the dream mega hospitals would require. With this as a major challenge, we wonder the kind of magic that would make any investor want to establish such capital intensive venture in the country, because they are ex-

pected to be rational in their business decisions.

Indeed, Mr Elumelu, at the inauguration of the committee, expressed part of our fears when he pleaded with the government not to allow the committee’s report go the way of other committees before it; that is it should not be abandoned. Nothing can be more painful for people to painstakingly do a thankless job for their country only to have the result of such effort thrown into the waste bin.

Elumelu’s plea for the creation of a competitive environment for the businesses (hospitals) to thrive is also in agreement with our frustration with the state of power supply in the country.

The hospitals can never be competitive if, for instance, they are perpetually on generators, or if doctors are not encouraged to stay at home to work in them.

‘Indeed, Mr Elumelu, at the inauguration of the committee, expressed part of our fears when he pleaded with the government not to allow the committee’s report go the way of other committees before it; that is it should not be abandoned. Nothing can be more painful for people to painstakingly do a thankless job for their country only to have the result of such effort thrown into the waste bin’

A Russian farce over a punk rock band

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N LATE 1933, a young writer in Moscow composed a 16-line poem that depicted a cruel and ghastly dictator, Joseph Stalin, with polished boots and thin-necked henchmen. “His thick fingers are bulky and fat like livebaits,” wrote Osip Mandelshtam. “He is forging his rules and decrees like horseshoes — into groins, into foreheads, in eyes, and eyebrows. Every killing for him is a delight. …” The poem led to Mandelshtam’s persecution, and he died in a Soviet prison camp five years later.

His poem, a satirical polemic, is worth recalling in the wake of a decision Friday by a Moscow judge to sentence three women who make up Pussy Riot, a punk rock band, to jail for two years as a punishment for their disrespectful performance art.

In February, the women, dressed in tights, colorful ski masks and short skirts, mounted a platform in front of the altar of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow and, with some wild dancing, mimed a short “punk prayer” critical of President Vladimir Putin and his close ties to the Russian Orthodox Church.

Others recorded a video of their antics.

The performance took less than a minute.

Later, the group added music and lyrics to a video that went viral, and they were arrested for “hooliganism” and inciting religious hatred.

The trial of Pussy Riot was a farce in which the defendants were locked in a glass cage and the judge repeatedly refused to let the defense call witnesses.

Even their questions of witnesses were struck. “I have no rights in this court,” an exasperated defense lawyer said, according to our colleague Masha Lipman, writing in the New Yorker.

“Indeed,” the judge responded, “all you have is obligations.”

Pussy Riot’s performance may have upset some Russians, as it may have amused others. But whatever one thinks of the band’s deed, the sentence is over the top. The three women have been in prison without bail since March. It would have been sufficient to sentence them to time served and let them go free.

What really has occurred in this case is that Pussy Riot was singled out to discourage others from challenging the establishment. It is wrong that three women in colorful costumes should be severely punished for a moment of expression. It is doubly wrong that they should be punished in the new Russia, where Stalin’s terrible legacy of pain is well known and should have been long ago abandoned.

– Washington Post

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THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

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CARTOON & LETTERS

EDITOR’S MAIL BAG

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IR: An interesting story is told about Alexander the Great’s conquest of the Persian Empire. Alexander arrived one day at a place called Gordium. There he found in the temple an ancient chariot, made for Gordius, the first King of the country. The pole of the chariot was fastened to the yoke by a strong cord, twisted in a very complicated knot. There was an ancient prophecy that whoever could untie the knot would become the master of Asia. Many ambitious men tried their hands, but in vain.

Alexander too tried for some time to undo the knot, but without success. Suddenly he had an idea; he quickly drew his sword and solved the puzzle by cutting the knot.

Today, Gordian knot is defined as “a very difficult or impossible task or problem”. To say that someone cut the Gordian knot means the

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President Jonathan and the Gordian knot person made a quick, decisive move or took drastic action. It can also be said to mean solving an intractable problem by “thinking outside the box”.

In Nigeria, the problem of electricity could easily pass for a Gordian knot, or isn’t that what our past leaders would have us believe?

Or did it not always defy their solutions? Their efforts at reforming our power sector were, at best,

retrograde. Over the years, successive governments made promises upon promises, telling us they would give us light. They earmarked humongous amount of money for this project, but in the end, what did we get? More darkness than light.

Enter Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. In 2010, during the swearing-inceremony of ministers, the then acting President told Nigerians that

he would personally handle the power portfolio. This decision, we were advised, was sequel to government’s new policy thrust aimed at overhauling the power sector to ensure adequate and regular electricity supply. Ever since then, he has continued to promise us that power supply would improve.

At the inauguration of the Roadmap for Power Sector Reforms

Our schools have missed it

IR: A school is a place where children go to learn. It is the first place where the child acquires formal education; it’s also where the child has the opportunity of meeting with different people.

Usually, a child’s first day at school is characterised by crying and wailing as it’s the child’s first exposure to many unfamiliar people. However, the child gets to make friends almost immediately and begins to long for school. The school was once a place where people of different religious, social and economic classes interacted and developed relationships though that is fast fading in today’s Nigerian schools.

A few years back, religion affiliated schools were in the minority therefore, students of different religions co-habited in the schools and no one group’s beliefs were placed higher than the other not minding the religion of the school’s proprietor(s). My education began in a school where Christian and Islamic prayers were offered at the commencement of the assembly. Fellowship of Christian Students (FCS) and Muslim Students Society (MSS) also held concurrently after school on Fridays. Though I was not a Muslim, I could tell almost all that Muslims hold dear because I had friends and seatmates that were Muslims and that did not alter my religious beliefs; it only taught me how to accommodate other religions.

Today however, children are made to attend religion affiliated schools from crèche to university.

This has not only affected the social life of the children but also the educational standard of the Nigerian child. Religious songs have replaced nursery rhymes; school uniforms now have restricted styles; worst of all, teachers in some of those schools are employed based on religious grounds and not educational qualifications.

The Nigerian child of today is left with no choice but to relate with

children of only his or her religion.

Nursery pupils are kept busy in school till the closing time of his or her parents; therefore there is almost no time to make neighborhood friends. This trend continues up to the secondary school when the child is enrolled in the boarding house. In the tertiary institution, there is no room for staying off campus.

When then would these children mix? There is no common ground to meet so how would they know each other and learn to co-habit?

Birthday parties were once an avenue to socialize outside the school as it brought together different children and so it had to be a social gathering but now, since children are mainly exposed only to children of the same religion as theirs, even birthdays are now religious gatherings.

How wouldn’t these children learn the virtue of tolerance and accommodation of other peoples’ beliefs?

• Seyi Omotayo, Ibadan, Oyo State

on August 26, 2010, he again promised: “By God’s grace, by December 2012, Nigeria will not only celebrate one day of uninterrupted electricity supply, but we would celebrate one week, one month and so on of interrupted electricity supply.” Until recently, there was no scintilla of evidence that this would materialize.

Much as it is not yet Uhuru, power supply in Nigeria is apparently taking a turn for the better. Now, generators appear to be taking well-deserved break. Could this be the beginning of what I’d like to call “Generators Must Go!”?

Nigerians are visibly happy about this improvement in electricity supply; almost everyone is saying the same thing: “If President Jonathan can solve this power problem, we will celebrate him, even if that is the only thing his administration can achieve.”

Is the President Jonathan prepared to spare no efforts in providing a lasting solution to the power problem? Is he armed with the political will and courage to confront the so-called cabal said to be behind the perpetuation of this menace of epileptic power supply? Is he ready to tackle this Gordian knot no matter whose ox is gored?

Will President Jonathan at the end of his tenure be able to exclaim, like Julius Caesar did after defeating Pharnaces at Pontus, “veni, vidi, vici” ( I came, I saw, I conquered)? Only time will tell.

• ‘Femi Asu, Lagos

On Dangote’s graduate drivers IR: I have read various writeups on the web on the decision of the Dangote group to employ graduates as truck drivers.

Many have criticised the Idea arguing that it is demeaning for the status of a graduate. I would say Nigerian graduates should go for it.

It is perhaps not the nature or title of the job that matters; it is the attitude to it. Amongst other things it is good for their CVs. Job experience with Dangote might open other doors not only in Nigeria but in other parts of West Africa and beyond. Do not forget Dangote is reputed to be the largest industrial conglomerate in West Africa, and the promoter Aliko Dangote is a recognised Forbes billionaire, the 76th richest man n the world. Dangote is a strong and respected brand.

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I suspect that some of these grumbling graduates perceive very little that are intellectually challenging or stimulating about the Job of a truck driver. This can be taken care of by the curriculum of the Dangote Drivers Academy said to be now in existence.

Beyond handling the steering wheel and learning about vehicle maintenance, I would presume that for obvious reasons there would be lectures on history of the Dangote group and principles of logistics and supply chain management to effectively locate the driver within the scheme of things. There should also be lectures on health and safety, map reading, business ethics, customer service, security and public relations. The drivers should not be restricted to the highways; they

should be required to deal with people in offices once in a while so they would need some basic knowledge of administration and they are also bound to encounter law enforcement officers, customs men, and Local Government revenue collectors as they drive the length and breadth of the country.

In this age, everything has gone ICT; the drivers might be monitored in real time by fleet management systems via satellite technology and be required to give feedback to the offices as they Journey through Nigeria. This would be best done by ICT. By the time all these are included in the training of a driver, I doubt if he would ever suffer from low self esteem.

Aside from recruiting graduates as drivers, the Dangote group

should be seriously thinking of setting up Research and Development laboratories that would make use of the knowledge of mathematicians, scientists and engineers. In the western world where you have the cradle of the industrial revolution, innovation led to industrialisation but in Nigeria industrialisation is much more ahead of innovation hence the sense in the Innovation, Science, Technology Advisory Commission set up by Governor Raji Fashola of Lagos State last year. Fashola is trying to make Lagos, the seat of the Dangote Group, as the innovation hub of West Africa. It is hoped that the Dangote group would key into this idea.

• Augustine Togonu-Bickersteth, London, England

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

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COMMENTS

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R

AKE a closer look at the raging All through these abuses, the debate over state police and you IGPs’ mindset was rabid may well glean, in the sub-set, allegiance to the political head that appointed them over and the crisis of Nigerian nationhood. above their allegiance to the The leading lights of the political elite Constitution of the Federal have driven themselves – and a luckless Republic. Indeed, part of Mr. country – into a cul-de-sac. Yet, they Balogun’s personal tragedy, insist on pressing on hard, in that ditch. which led to his humiliation, Does it need any especially Olakunle was his perceived conceit that clairvoyance to declare it is only a lordbeek@yahoo.com, 08054504169 (Sms only, please) Abimbola a sitting president, to who he matter of time before something was rabid and unrepentant terrible gives? security man-Friday, would The only startling surprise here is watch his back at his hour of Gen. Ibrahim Babaginda (IBB), who need. He was tragically seems to have undergone some disillusioned.

Pauline-like conversion from his opponents, not the least former Action Group (AG) party mates As for the military-era IGPs, who Alhaji Muhammadu “settled” and “no-go area” temper of his power days as turned implacable political enemies.

Gambo-Jimeta who led the delegation to Aso Rock epitomises, self-appointed “military president”, on a core fundament But aside from that Western crisis, using police against the they were too busy as house Negroes, in the military of the military era: a unitary federal Nigeria must be opposition was almost standard practice all through the tree Kingdom of Perdition that laid the foundation for the present anchored on an ultra-central police, just to underscore and regions of the South: East, Mid-West and West. security mess. Unlike Satan in John Milton’s Paradise Lost, cement the country’s mechanical “unity”!

Of course, in the North, rival political parties would campaign these ex-IGPs would rather reign with the military in power IBB appears to have seen the way in a blinding flash – at their own peril. And political opponents of the northern paradise than risk serving in the hell, for daring to push for a perhaps inspired by the grim security situation nationwide, conservative order certainly had reasons to fear the Native decentralised police. which could yet get worse and undo everyone. That is not Authority police, epitomised by the Dogari and Yandoka, the Their collective tragedy is that even if IBB, the epitome of unlike the Biblical Saul’s conversion to Paul, on the way to emirate police. military-era arrogance of over-centralised security has seen Damascus.

Many a contestant in crucial elections was whisked away for the light, and is fast becoming an avid campaigner for a new Not so, the brood of former inspectors-general of Police doing nothing – other than that the audacity to contest against police order, the IGP grandees are chained to the old, sterile (IGPs), the golden boys of over-centralised Nigeria who, in the anointed candidate, by the powers-that-be, automatically ways. Talk of being holier than the pope in Nigeria’s ruinous fairness to them, know no other way outside that straitqualifies the stupid fellow for some manufactured crime, for power orthodoxy! jacketed path. So, you probably would excuse them. which the Yandoka were merrily handy!

What is more? The ex-IGPs are sold enough on the received In their manic innocence, they worked hard, as security The former IGPs therefore fear that free elections would even wisdom of their puritanistic stand that they upped the fear chiefs, to achieve the present security ruin. Now, in their be more endangered, with the police under the direct command ante that state police would lead to the break-up of Nigeria! equally manic conviction, they insist, with all the vigour at of state governors. That might well be.

How so? their disposal, there is no other way from the narrow path Still, you wonder what the angst of the former police chiefs Still, the fear is valid and legitimate that state governors of centralised police, despite evidence to the contrary. But is: the feared abuses to come? Or the expected gubernatorial could acquire the complex of past military heads of state and unlike the Biblical narrow path that leads to salvation, this counter-abuse to the federal authorities’ perennial abuse of the elected presidents that the police are their personal political narrow path of centralised police thinking will lead to sure Nigeria Police to steal elections? tools, rather than constitutional creations to do specific work destruction.

The notorious fact is that the police, as presently constituted, in the democratic polity.

It is all so reminiscent of Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka’s have always been used to muscle past crucial elections – under But since that fear is legitimate and known, should that not play, Madmen and Specialists. If the shrink himself is skewed these same former IGPs now thundering over possible abuses give the impetus to craft iron-cast checks-and-balances in the upstairs, and he has quite a bundle of patients in madmen, of state police. enabling law to avert such abuses? Is that not better than who indeed is the madman and who, the specialist? So Sunday Adewusi’s Kill-and-go Mobile Police was crucial to being paralysed by past fears, which is tantamount to sure long for otherwise illustrious Nigerians tragically trapped the brazen steal of the 1983 general elections, which sent the future peril, since you know it is only a matter of time before in the past!

Second Republic (1979-1983) crashing. Tafa Balogun’s Police the parlous security situation collapses?

Which is why, it would appear, their chief argument is was part of the electoral robbery of 2003, while Sunday Still, the debate over state police is only a metaphor for the anchored on uncritical fear: past abuses of local and regional Ehindero’s police orchestrated the grand heist that was the debate over the future of Nigeria. Nigeria’s current structure police in the First Republic (1960-1966). It is clearly scare 2007 (s)elections, the worst in Nigerian troubled electoral has been unworkable, abysmal and well and truly tragic. But mongering, in the face of the demonstrable inability of the history. the golden boys and girls of Nigeria’s era of Lilliput (if this Nigerian Police to cope with crime, not to talk of the Boko country ever attains its giant potential) are insisting there is Haram rude challenge.

But that fear factor, though emotive, is not totally without “Nigeria must restructure or die. no other way outside the present ruin.

It is a wilful, if not outright cynical, freezing of power elite basis, given what the powers-that-be did with regional and The first practical step in that direction thinking; which must be faced down and defeated by counter local police during the First Republic. At the height of the superior thinking. Nigeria must restructure or die. The first Western Region crisis in the First Republic, the Akintola is decentralising the police” practical step in that direction is decentralising the police. government brazenly used the local police against political

epublican ipples

State police as metaphor

H

AVING survived for so long on daily menu of affliction served as governance, Nigerians know enough of its symptoms – not to talk of the underlying pathology of criminal misgovernance – when it manifests. Nearly a week into the so-called marketers-induced fuel scarcity that has crippled Abuja and its environs, I do not think that the hapless citizens should be in further doubts about the import of the development and the finger-pointing that it has spawned.

Apart from being another window into the thoroughly inept and irredeemably dysfunctional government in Abuja, the symptom underlies what is now a deeper but familiar malaise of incompetence, bad faith, irresponsibility and the lack of patriotism by officials charged with public service.

Let’s go back to the beginning. It started with a threat by marketers some weeks ago to stop importation over unpaid subsidy claims. If the well-publicised threat was meant to rouse the somnambulant government to act, it did nothing of the sorts. Now that it finally happened, the same government is not only feigning surprise, it has found a ready alibi in an alleged blackmail by the marketers.

As they say - the long and short of the story is that the government actually believes that that indicted fuel importers are behind the latest scarcity. That, coming from an administration not known to accept responsibility is not entirely strange. If it seems a revelation, it is that a self-respecting administration would deign to be at the mercy of indicted club of fuel importers. That obviously sets a new low in the bar of governance coming from the Jonathan tag team. Call it what you may – I call it irresponsibility.

Related of course is that the so-called engine-room of the famed transformational administration cannot get around the business of reconciling the bills of importers to forestall needless spasms to the economy.

That, to me is incompetence.

Who is more believable? Between the government that claimed to have paid the marketers in two tranches of N42.67 billion and N17 billion and the marketers who insisted that their outstanding is actually in excess of N200 billion? What was the point about negotiating with the marketers if the government was so sure of its high moral ground? The evidence here is one of bad faith.

In any case, it seems particularly doubtful that Nigerians took the claims of the government with any pinch of salt anymore than they would be willing to swallow the yarn by the importers. Are agents of both

Policy Sanya Oni sanyaoni@yahoo.co.uk 08051101841

When symptoms persist... not beneficiaries of the scam called fuel subsidy administration?

Would it not have made sense in the circumstances for the government to publish the details of the payment –the volume covered by the payment and the beneficiaries – as the marketers have since demanded?

Does anyone in the administration reckon with the losses in man-hours from the current lockdown to an economy already prostrate?

Finally – it cannot get worse that the head of an economic management team would hold delinquent players responsible for the fortune of the economy. That seems to me a new low in its famed abdication.

What is left to be told? That the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has 45 days fuel stock – while the capital of the OPEC’s sixth largest exporter of oil endures the agony of fuel scarcity. How reassuring!

You know what will happen in the days ahead? Sure.

Blackmail and dissension or not, the weak-kneed government will pay the marketers to the last dime of what is claimed. Hardly about the merit of their cases, rather, it would be on account of the solidarity of the cartel – the group power. If I may also add that the government didn’t get to this point because it set out to clean up the petroleum sector, its hands were forced by the Occupy Nigeria events of January. So, don’t expect the current posturing to last. It won’t.

At the moment, it seems easy to forget the factors that drove the rage in January. The issues– aside the more manifest issue of reversal of the price hike – include the demand for thorough cleansing of the rot in the petroleum marketing chain; the demand for new systems and

templates for running downstream industry operations.

If they were relevant eight months ago, they are even more so today. With the benefits of nearly half a dozen committees and two reports after, nothing unfortunately seems to have changed. The petroleum marketing scene remains chaotic. The planning environment remains one of a famed jungle with the nation stuck in the puerile debate on the racket that fuel-import trade has become.

By the way, whoever remembers the committee said to be working on new refineries?

How many litres of petrol do Nigerians consume daily?

No one has an idea; the issue is apparently least on government’s mind. On what basis then can we hope to construct a pillar of change when the basic fundamentals are unknown? Does anyone mistake the hollow but misdirected activism by government for the change required in an industry in dire need of overhaul?

While we bay for the blood of the marketers, we ignore the bigger enemy. It is none else than the government which has remained confused and unable to figure out what to do. Like I wrote on this page not long ago, our government is either blind or chose to play blind. And just like the poser raised in the piece then, how can the blind lead the lost?

Current situation reminds me of the drug advisory– if symptoms persist, consult a doctor. Given that the symptoms of our malaise – have persisted, should it not be time to bring the shrink?

‘You know what will happen in the days ahead? Sure. Blackmail and dissension or not, the weak-kneed government will pay the marketers to the last dime of what is claimed.

Hardly about the merit of their cases, rather, it would be on account of the solidarity of the cartel – the group power. If I may also add that the government didn’t get to this point because it set out to clean up the petroleum sector, its hands were forced by the Occupy Nigeria events of January. So, don’t expect the current posturing to last. It won’t’

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

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COMMENTS

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etting a consensus on what the problem is with Nigeria could be difficult but not many would disagree that we are in serious need of a surgical operation to remove this problem and lay a solid foundation for a better tomorrow.

At the outset we all thought it had something to do with our political system and we were even made to believe it was by the British who forced their unitary system of government on us at independence in 1960, confident that what was best for a multi ethnic, multi religious society like ours was a centralized administration where power flows from only one source-the centre, but with a little elbow room for the regions.

But six years down the line, we got fed up, not with the system but the politicians who were pushed out by another set of politicians, this time from the barracks, preaching nationalism. The era of military rule had begun so also was over-centralization of power in the hands of the soldiers. But as things later turned out, the soldiers were even worse than their cousins within the political class.

Another trial with another set of politicians and another system of government in the second republic (US styled presidential system) produced yet another failure and the soldiers returned.

The result! Another failure and we were stuck with our problem. When the world became hostile to all forms of military rule,

But then, when some retired Inspectors General of Police met President Goodluck Jonathan recently and advised him not to listen to those calling for state police, I became convinced that the problem with Nigeria truly is leadership, selfish leadership

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IGERIANS have developed an instinctive tendency to flay just any policy of government. Truth, however, is that no elected government would delight in formulating policies that would draw the economy and the citizens backwards. The cassava bread policy, introduced early this year by the federal government has suffered a good dose of scorn and cynicism, yet it is clear to even the most ardent of its critics that the country and the people have everything to gain, rather than lose from its implementation.

Due to the vast arable land available in the country and the conducive climate for the production of a variety of local food crops, different Nigerian governments at different times tried its hands with policies that encouraged increased production of local crops, so as to cut down their importation and that of their derivatives. The Ibrahim Babangida military government tried it with corn and wheat for local brewing, and the Olusegun Obasanjo government tried it with cassava for export. The economic sense behind the promotion of increased local agricultural produce is that it saves the country foreign exchange, it empowers local farmers, it makes food more available and affordable, and it creates jobs.

It is a fact that the country spends about $10 billion annually on importation of food items. Out of this figure, N635 billion goes into importation of wheat grain and wheat flour for brewing, bread making and pastries. Three hundred and fifty-six billion goes for rice. In line with the new policy on cassava flour, the government since July 1, has gone ahead to implement a 65 percent levy and 35percent duty on wheat flour, while wheat grain attracts a 15 percent levy and five percent duty. This has seen to a marginal rise in the cost of bread, but the rise going by simple economics is artificial as the cost of bread is bound to crash to rock bottom with the full application of local cas-

The problem with our federalism our boys returned to the barracks leaving the civilians to take over the reins again, but things have not improved since they took over in 1999, the problem remains.

So, what exactly is this problem?

In the run up to independence in 1960 through the course of the first, second, third and fourth republics and the military rules in between, what we lacked and still lacking is a leadership that was and is committed to the cause of Nigeria.

Though our leaders and even the people have recognized this, there has been no consensus on how to rectify this problem.

While some people appear committed to moving the nation forward some others are bent on drawing back the hand of the clock and in the process we have either remained stuck or retrogressing. It's been one step forward, two steps backward.

I am sure the above story is not strange to most Nigerians but what many can't seem to understand is why it has been like this for this long and why it must remain so. When we had the British styled Parliamentary system of government we were not faithful to the letter and spirit of that system. But as it has always been with us, we were quick to blame the system and not ourselves. So when another opportunity came to re-launch civil rule in the second republic, we dumped the British style and embraced American presidential system but not wholeheartedly. The principle of federalism both in letter and spirit that has made the American system such a good model all over the world is being half-heartedly applied here, thus making our federalism a huge joke.

Here we have a central government that

is running the country more like a unitary state than a federal one, and it is backed by the constitution. A lot of people have spoken against the system as it is, but the leadership especially at the federal level seems to be comfortable with this warped federalism and not ready to rework it. The attraction is the enormous power at the centre to the detriment of the states and local governments. It's been said that our president is the most powerful Head of State in the world owing to the enormous powers given to him by our constitution.

So why won't he be if the constitution allows him.

Now we are saying let some of these powers go to the states and local governments and Abuja is saying no. why? In a situation as we currently have, where the federal police have failed woefully to protect lives and property, some people are still saying no to growing agitation for state or community police.

Surprised, aren't you? I have made my argument in the past few weeks in favour of allowing state police to exist alongside federal police with their functions and powers properly stated in the constitution, that I felt no need to repeat that here again. But then, when some retired Inspectors General of Police met President Goodluck Jonathan recently and advised him not to listen to those calling for state police, I became convinced that the problem with Nigeria truly is leadership, selfish leadership. It is leaders like them, in and out of government that have been pulling us down in Nigeria.

You ask me why?

Go through their records, and you'll find out that the Nigeria Police under their

leadership in spite of huge resources made available to them, had been going from bad to worse and any attempt to change the status quo will result in them loosing influence and control. Sunday Adewusi was IGP under President Shehu Shagari in the second republic and we all saw what his boys did with the elections in Ondo state in 1983. Shall we then say that because a sitting president could use the federal police against his opponent or to rig election in his favour we should scrap the federal police? If we can't trust a state governor to deploy state police responsibly in his state why should we trust the president with the federal police?

Until the offence of wandering was scrapped by Babangida's federal military government, the police under Mohammadu Gambo as IGP was using the law on wandering to terrorize the common man, just as they did under his predecessors.

I don't want to make any more argument on the need to allow state police, my plea is that our leaders, both in and out of government should allow true federalism to take root in this country. When that is done those things that states should do would naturally fall on their laps and the responsibility of the federal government would become glaring. Then Nigerians will know who to hold responsible for any failure.

If you go through the Lagos/Ibadan expressway or any of the other so called federal roads in this country, save Abuja, you'll understand why those clamouring for true federalism are making that demand. That road is expressway to hell, just like similar ones in other parts of the country. Pray, what is the business of the federal government in matters like this?

Because only the federal government is allowed to operate a railway system in the country, states that even have the resources and the need to, are not allowed to. Who suffers? The people. And we say we are in a federation. There are so many such things that Abuja has no business dabbling into but because the constitution gives the federal government absolute powers over such matters, our progress as a nation is being slowed down or even aborted by selfish and self-centred leaders entrusted with such powers. That is the problem with our federalism, too much powers in the hands of a few selfish leaders, whittle down the power of the centre and Nigeria should move forward.

FG’s cassava policy

By Christian Chukwu sava flour in bread making in the country.

With just an inclusion of 40 percent of locally produced cassava flour in bread making, the country stands to save over N300 billion annually. The application of the policy will also create vast job opportunities in the agro-allied and the manufacturing sectors of the economy. Indeed, opportunities would abound in the entire value chain. Of note is that cassava farmers would now have to get good financial empowerment from doing what they know how to do best. The possibility of the loss of all these opportunities no doubt, fuelled the anger of Nigerian farmers against the House of Representatives for killing the executive bill in May that sought to give a legislative backing to the government policy of mandatory inclusion of cassava in the production of all flour products in the country.

In shooting down the bill, the House had argued that compelling manufacturers of flour to include that of cassava would amount to coercing Nigerians to eat products that might be injurious to their health, hence the members argued that the country has a measurable diabetic population and that diabetic patients are barred from consuming foods such as cassava. The farmers found this insubstantial, given the fact that diabetics has not been found to be more prevalent in parts of the country, where gari, fufu and tapioca are staple foods, more so when NAFDAC after considering its nutrients and health implications, says the inclusion of cassava flour in the production of bread in Nigeria is wholesome. It was for this that the Agbekoya Farmers Association, gave the House a 21 day ultimatum to reverse itself

or face the wrath of Nigerian farmers.

What the farmers may not know is that the unspoken issue of the region the new policy of government on cassava would benefit its farmers was an influencing factor in the voice vote that shot down the bill on a second reading in the House. Certain quarters also saw the hands of the country’s rich wheat merchants and wheat flour milling industries which are unwilling to remodel their production lines to accommodate cassava in the House killing of the bill.

Good news, however, is that the government has stood its ground on the heightened import duty and levy to discourage wheat importation and leverage the inclusion of locally produced cassava flour in baking in the country. Despite the teething problems the policy has faced, it is also cheery news that the government policy on cassava flour is steadily taking root among millers and master bakers. Since May, UTC Nigeria Plc, the country’s leading master baker in line with the government policy has made a switch to cassava flour. Speaking at the launching of UTC’s high quality cassava bread in May in Lagos, the company’s managing director, Folorunsho Olaniyan announced that UTC has successfully substituted cassava flour for that of wheat in not just bread, but doughnuts, cakes and other pastries.

And just recently, the Ekiti State government embraced the introduction of the new government policy, making the state, the trail-blazer in the country in this direction.

While the state governor, Kayode Fayemi observed that of great importance to him with this initiative “is its great capacity to ignite industrial development, which would invariably expand economic activities and

create jobs for our teeming populace”. He also noted that Nigerian disillusioned farmers can now heave a sigh of relief as returns on their investment on the farm would become greatly enhanced. He said his state’s embrace of the cassava policy was a right step, taken in line with his administration’s agenda to create 20,000 jobs by 2014 through commercial agriculture.

“With this development, our desire to make Ekiti State an industrial corridor for the agro allied section of the national economy is a done deal. This will no doubt have a multiplier effect on the state economy.

It should therefore be seen that this singular effort would deal a further blow on poverty structure in our land and another step to put the monster to flight in Ekiti State. I call on all farmers to take a full advantage of this opportunity to change their socio-economic status”, the governor said. Expectation is high that more state governors would take a cue from Governor Fayemi.

• Chukwu writes from Umuahia

‘What the farmers may not know is that the unspoken issue of the region the new policy of government on cassava would benefit its farmers was an influencing factor in the voice vote that shot down the bill on a second reading in the House’

INSIDE

TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

Website: http://www.thenationonlineng.com

Page 25

Land racketeering in Abuja - Page 27

Tears as bulldozers pull down shanties Boost for Abuja tourism

- Page 28

• Top: Mpape before demolition Below: After demolition

S

Bolaji, where are the medals?

- Page 40

INCE the Federal Capital Territory Admnistration (FCTA) announced plans to demolish 19 villages to enable the city revert to its original Master Plan, many residents, including civil servants, have become agitated.

They are of the view that since 1999, most demolition of houses in satellite towns of the FCT have always been carried out without any regard to the impacts the actions would have on the owners.

Usually, the authorities use “working according to the Rule of Law” as subterfuge. They have less regard for court orders and injunctions concerning the matter.

Worried by this development, some prominent Nigerians had advocated that government should have provided low cost housing units for the residents through public-private partnership arrangements to mitigate their suffering.

“S

From Augustine Ehikioya

Despite these suggestions, successive administrations had embarked on demolition exercises, thereby displacing many Nigerians who were forced to take refuge in neighbouring states like Niger, Nasarawa and Kaduna.

Some had no alternative than to go back to their villages.

Apart from billions of Naira

worth of properties destroyed, many Nigerians who could not stand the loss of their properties died as a result of shock.

Women and children have been the worst hit by these exercises.

Most of the school children find it difficult to continue their education.

Many female victims had resorted to prostitution in order to survive. In the same manner, some

If Senator Bala Mohammed is bent on demolishing the 19 villages in the city, he should learn from the mistakes of the past demolition which was carried out by his predecessors

male victims have taken to crime.

One of the excuses the authorities usually advance to justify the demolition exercise is the need to put in place serene environment and basic infrastructures in the satellite villages.

Unfortunately, the village chiefs who sell the pieces of lands to non-indigenes immediately turn their backs at them as soon as government moves in to demolish such structures.

However, it is the nonindigenes who erect houses in the villages in a bid to avoid expensive accommodation in the city that are always the victims.

This has been the story before President Jonathan administration. But the stage again is set for fresh demolition of 19 villages in the FCT. •Continued on Page 26

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THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

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ABUJA REVIEW

•Protesting residents •Continued from Page 25 A recent statement issued and signed by the Head of Public Relations Unit of the Department of Development Control of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Mrs. Josie Mudashiru named the 19 villages as Idu, Karmo-Dape, Tasha, Gwagwa, Suburi, Zauda, Jahi, Gishiri, Mabushi, Mpape, Kuchigoro, Chika, Aleita, Piwoyi, Lugbe, Pyakassa, Tudun-wada, Dei-dei and Guzape.

She said: “We have commenced sensitisation programmes in Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, Gwari and Pidgin English in the affected areas.

We have involved chiefs, youths and other stakeholders in the sensitisation programme.

“After sensitisation, the “marking” of structures to be demolished will follow after which the demolition proper will take place. This is expected to take place before the end of the year,” she stated.

Observers believe that past demolition exercises had not really helped in returning the FCT to its original Master Plan.

Utilities and other infrastructures promised some satellite villages by previous administrations have never been fulfilled as the villages have remained slums ever since the demolitions were carried out in some of the villages.

Observers also believe that most of the demolition exercises were motivated by selfish reasons.

•Some of the demolished buildings

• Demolished houses at Mpape

Tears as bulldozers pull down shanties A civil servant, Mr. Mike Ndudi who has a bungalow in Mpape Village said: “This is unfair. Does it mean the rules have to change with every new administration in the FCT? El-Rufai made it very clear under his administration that Mpape Village is in line with the Master Plan and that it would not be demolished.

“So, which Master Plan is Bala Mohammed talking about now?

Or are they saying that there is more than one Master Plan for the FCT? Based on el-Rufai ‘s promise, billions of Naira worth investments have been carried out in the area.

Some of the structures demolished in some of the villages in the past seven years have remained the way they were. No development has been carried out by the FCTA. Since government has not done anything on most of the demolished villages over the years, some FCT squatters have long returned to the sites.

Some of the areas that were demolished by el-Rufai’s bulldozers, like Chika, Aleita along the Airport Road and Angwa-Cement, Kado Village, Karmo along the Berger/Karmo Road have since been reconstructed and they are bubbling with human activities.

If Senator Bala Mohammed is determined to demolish the 19

villages in the city, he should learn from the mistakes of the past demolition exercises which were carried out by his predecessors.

While the FCT authorities aim to begin actual demolition in the 19 villages before the end of the year, it will be necessary for the FCTA to provide incentives for private firms to build durable and low cost houses for the low income earners.

Residents of the FCT have reacted to the development. While some are in support of the action, some condemned it.

For instance, Alice Ajao, a Secreatry said the cost of living in Abuja is high. It may even be worse for those living at the outskirts of the city. What will be their fate if they demolish the place? Where would they go? They cannot stay in the town because it is expensive. To me, that is a cruel decision to take.

My suggestion is for government to find alternative accommodation for them before embarking on the demolition. If they rebuild the place, will they bring them back? Aside, how will they know who is who in the area if at all they want to relocate them?

Dennis Idoho , Accountant I have heard about the plan to demolish Mpape. I never supported people to even stay in that area because it is a government residential area.

When the former FCT Minister, elRufai was in charge, he was against

people settling there. In fact, they wanted to demolish the place but unfortunately, he left. So, I support the idea of demolishing that area.

It is not a place people should reside. They have already said it before; it is even in the Abuja Master Plan that it is a government residential area. So, if anybody is a victim, he should just take heart, bear it and relocate to another place.

The same thing is applicable to other villages too. Unfortunately, if anybody is a victim of that kind of circumstance, he should take it that way.

Abigail Akoi , Applicant I think they want to increase the rate of armed robbery in Abuja because those poor people there would resort to robbery because they cannot afford good houses in the city.

And if they demolish the place, the congestion in Maraba will be much.

Again, the gridlock in a place like Lugbe will be terrible.

Ebere Chukwu, Banker I think it is not good to demolish these villages because many people will be rendered homeless. I suggest those to be affected should be compensated or relocated.

It will be unfair if they are driven away from their residential places without compensation or relocation.

No resident will even welcome the idea of demolition. I am just putting myself in their position. It is so sad.

They will be living in abject poverty now. Many people have their shops where they do businesses there.

Some of them have their houses there where they reside. They will be rendered homeless and useless for now. However, I think after everything, the society will benefit more from it.

Alex brown, Student I don’t even know what to say but if they demolish that place, it is going to affect a lot of people. Like I said, I came back two or three days ago. They should reason with them.

Government should find a better place for them so that they will start all over again. It is going to affect a lot of them. What are they going to do? Where will they start from?

Most of them have wives and kids.

Where are they going to start from?

They cannot come down to town because houses in the town are very expensive. And there are some NYSC corps members there as well that can’t afford house rent in town because it’s very expensive. So, it is going to affect them seriously.

Yakubu Steven, Hotelier In fact, I am one of the victims of the whole demolition exercise you talked about. I lived in Lugbe the other time and I think they

mentioned about 18 villages they are going to demolish. They mentioned Lugbe as one of them. I must say the Nigerian government should be responsible enough by making alternative arrangement if they want to do something like that. All of us are aspiring to advance and develop like other nations. I believe they should have better plans on ground whenever they want to do such things. They should have alternative plans for the victims.

You can imagine someone that has a family of five children and the wife and he is just managing maybe one bedroom flat and maybe the business he is doing is sales of provision that would not amount to N100, 000. The shop he manages is, maybe, attached to his house.Then you demolish both the shop, the means of his livelihood and you demolish the house he is living in. Where do you expect him to go to? And probably he has been in Abuja for like 10 years struggling to make ends meet. But it appears thing are not really working out. He is managing the little one he has. You don’t expect him to relocate to his village. I think it is also somehow stated in the country’s constitution that the Federal Capital Territory belongs to us all. But I believe that somewhere there is a provision that says that the FCT is not only for the President or politicians.

You see most of all these estate developers are so concerned about what should be demolished to enable them to develop those areas because it will generate more money for them.

It will be unfair if they are driven away from their residential places without compensation or relocation. No resident will even welcome the idea of demolition

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

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ABUJA REVIEW

Mechanics threaten to stab FCDA staff

M

ECHANICS at the Apo Mechanic Village have threatened to stab Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCDA) personnel, should they carry out their planned demolition of illegal shanties and attachments in the village.

The Development Control Unit of the FCDA had earlier served a three-month notice to quit on owners of illegal structures, hotels, markets and brothels operating in the area as it was not earmarked for such structures in the Abuja Master Plan.

The mechanics armed themselves with weapons such as knives and cutlasses and threatened to stab any driver of any bulldozer that moves near their containers.

The District Officer of the

A

BUJA the Federal Capital Territory was conceived as Nigeria’s capital city, (FCT) following the unsuitability of Lagos as the nations’ capital The problem its founding fathers sought to resolve at the time included that of land which many believe is very scarce in the city, as they will do everything possible within their powers to get a sizeable number of plots within the capital city.

This is because many believe that since land is not easy to come by in the city, they could abandon a plot of land till after several years before selling it so that they can realise a lot of money when the land had appreciated in value.

The FCT covers 8000 square kilometers in land mass carved out of Niger, old Kwara and old Plateau states.

Most FCT residents are ready to do anything in order to get the certificate or the right of occupancy of a number of such plots.

Since most people erroneously believe that the FCTA is all about land allocation, most people at the helm of affairs find their way to the Area II of the city which hosts the department that deals with land administration to get some plots.

So precious is land in the FCT that the former FCT Minister, Nasir el-Rufai allegedly allocated several plots to his family members in the twilight of his administration.

It is worrisome to notice that plots of lands which were bought for less than N100, 000 then are now sold at between N30m and N50m depending on the location.

Since some areas are seen as choice areas with basic infrastructures such as water, and good roads, the cost of land in such areas are on the high side than areas that lack these amenities.

It is because of these booming business that some individuals in the FCT have turned the entrance of the Federal Capital Development Authority in Area 11 to a beehive of activities where visitors to the city wonder what these people do at the gate on daily basis.

Previous administrations in the FCT had promised the weeding process and restructuring of the personnel of the Abuja Geographic Information System but these have not been realised until recently when the new FCT Minister Senator Bala

From Bukola Amusan

area, Samson Atureta, who spoke to reporters at the site said there was no going back on the demolition exercise as the FCT Minister has mandated that all spare parts dealers operating on the road in the area should be relocated to the space earmarked for them inside the village.

He added that where they are occupying currently is meant for residential purposes.

He added that about 200 shanties and three hotels have so far been demolished before the uproar. Atureta said the demolition will be reinforced with enough security after which they will return to the site.

•Mechanic at work

Land racketeering in Abuja From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

Mohammed shot down AGIS. This was after he suspended all forms of land transactions going on since January 2007.

The minister said he had, since assumption of office, received brief from various departments and agencies of the FCT Administration which revealed some deficiencies, abuse of authority and misuse of public trust.

Senator Mohammed said the briefs, to a large extent, have confirmed criticisms and petitions from the public, and have revealed that the problems associated with land administration in the Federal Capital Territory are enormous.

Highligting the problems, the minister cited the active involvement of unauthorised persons in the land allocation process, ineffectiveness of the Land Use and Allocation Committee, allocations of mass

•Land in Abuja

housing units without regard to the Federal Executive Councilapproved guidelines, glaring lopsidedness in land allocation resulting in a situation where allocations to applicants were based on selfish and personal interests, bank draft payment scam in the Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS) where certain officials have succeeded in exploiting certain loopholes in the billing system to defraud government, among others.

The minister said scam files of AGIS/Land Department, where some land speculators have been able to break through the electronic system have been discovered, even as he said this was effected with active connivance of AGIS staff to duplicate genuine allocations and obtain Certificates of Occupancy ahead of genuine applicants. He disclosed that there have been several cases in court arising from previous

Since most people erroneously believe that the FCTA is all about land allocation, most people at the helm of affairs find their way to the Area II of the city which hosts the department that deals with land administration to get some plots

wrong revocation/allocation of titles, cases of unresolved double allocations, some dating as far back as the 1980s, nonupgrading of the document management system with requisite personnel to aid land administration process, undue delay in the processing of building plans, conflicting land use plans originating from AGIS and Urban and Regional Planning Departments, land allocation in areas not due for infrastructural services, issues of fake layout in area councils; and lack of synergy between the various line departments and agencies involved in land administration.

The minister further said that the need to address all these problems and abuses has made it imperative to suspend all land allocation processes in the FCT so as to enable the administration to take stock of committed and uncommitted plots with a view to ensuring due process and equity as well as correct the systemic lapses hitherto.

“Consequently, all forms of •Continued on Page 28

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

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ABUJA REVIEW •Continued from Page 27

transactions, payments and transfers in respect of plots allocated from January 2007 to date, including development control approvals, are hereby suspended until further notice,” he added.

He, however, said the revocation was not indefinite as genuine plots will be re-allocated to the rightful owners after the committee set up to investigate the issue completes its work He said allocations and Development Control approvals made in line with due process would be sustained. Contract with consultants for AGIS is also being drawn with a view to handling over the management of

The revocation was not indefinite as genuine plots will be re-allocated to the rightful owners after the committee set up to investigate the issue completes its work

T

HE Federal Capital Territory Administration has made Abuja the prefered tourism destination in the country. This was stated by the Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide in London recently while declaring open the international photography exhibition of Abuja Carnival organised by the FCTA at the famous Tiwani Contemporary.

Akinjide, who was

• A site ready for development

Land racketeering in Abuja AGIS to the staff of FCTA within the shortest possible time.

Since it is believed that most of these lands syndicates are also staff of the Abuja Geographic Information System, the Minister has decided to establish a land registry to ensure proper records system that is comparable to those in the developed world.

From Bukola Amusan

represented by her Special Assistant on Art and Culture, Mr. Adeniyi Olagunju, said the exhibition was designed to make the annual carnival the choice event for nationals and international tourists.

She noted that the photography exhibition was aimed at boosting tourism, enhancing national prestige, increasing participation,

He said any staff of AGIS that is henceforth caught to be involved in land racketeering in the city will be dealt with, but these land syndicate who claimed to be recognised by the FCDA will never leave the Ministers gate.

Abubakar Bala, a popular land agent at the Area 11 gate said he has been in the business for the

past twenty years ”I have been involved in the sale of land to people at this gate for the past twenty years, i got married and train all my children to the University level through this business, i have built three houses in this city, so which other work do you think can be as profitable as this, i dont think i am ready to quit” he said

Another agent at the gate, Yahaya Bello said “although getting the Certificates of Occupany of lands from AGIS is also not an easy task, they have being able to surmount some difficulties and sell their lands out to the highest bidder.

He said problems of double allocation emanating from AGIS at times hinders the effective performance of their operation, they however pursue their land documents at the AGIS to forestall such occurence.

Boost for Abuja tourism improving carnival packaging and optimising commercial opportunities.

“The photography exhibition is put together to project the Abuja Carnival. The carnival is being taken beyond the shores of Nigeria to stimulate much needed national and international popularity and also to optimise

the commercial opportunities such an event could offer.

“Besides staging the photography exhibition in London, we will also be holding similar Abuja carnival exhibition in New York and Dallas in United States, Hong Kong and Shanghai in China, and Abuja, Lagos, Rivers, Akwa

Ibom, Cross Rivers and Kaduna in Nigeria.

“This initiative is sending a clear message about the FCTA’s commitment to economic development through tourism.

The Abuja carnival, through art and culture, is becoming a major driver for growth in the Federal Capital City and the Area Councils,” she said.

Over 50 classic shots from various events of the Abuja carnival were adapted into framed pictures, brochures and e-photo book formats.

The photography exhibition is put together to project the Abuja Carnival. The carnival is being taken beyond the shores of Nigeria to stimulate much needed national and international popularity and also to optimise the commercial opportunities such an event could offer •A recreation centre at night

TUESDAY, AUGUS 21, 2012

29

‘ E-mail:- law@thenationonlineng.net

Appointment of judges has been politicised.You look at the stakeholders, over time, when judges are appointed, they always refer to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). But often times, the opinion of the bar doesn’t count. That is unfortunate. Often times, you see people who are not worthy of the gown of a judge and you recommend that this person should not be appointed.

• SEE PAGE 35

’

•Daudu (SAN)

Mr. Joseph Bodunrin Daudu (SAN) was inaugurated as the 25th President of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on August 31, 2010 in Kaduna. During his two-year tenure, he waged many battles against authorities on several issues bothering on respect for the rule of law, credible elections, due process and fundamental rights of Nigerians. On August 31, he will hand over the baton of leadership to his successor, Okey Wali (SAN). In this interview, Daudu gives account of his stewardship. Besides, he speaks on the suspension of President of the Court of Appeal Justice Salami, the forthcoming NBA conference and sundry national issues. Legal Editor JOHN AUSTIN UNACHUKWU met him.

‘Call for T universal suffrage in NBA unworkable’

HE Annual General Conference (AGC) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) is less than one week away; what is your advice to lawyers attending?

Conferences are a veritable tool for the acquisition of knowledge. It is a major vehicle for any modern profession’s continuous education programme. The first major objective of the NBA conference is to ensure that those members who have invested their resources in attending, maximally benefit from the exercise. Secondly, it remains an avenue for relaxation and re-union.

Many lawyers are complaining about the recent increase on conference fees. What is your reaction to this?

Inside: OAAN: Lawyers condemn Kano’s...- P.31

A lot of money has been invested in the security and comfort of conferees. We are subsidising the conference to the tune of 35 per cent of the total cost. It is no longer fashionable to gather 10, 000 lawyers in one venue and be boasting that it is the largest gathering of lawyers anywhere in the world. Conferences as with every other commercial commodity of utilitarian values are for only those who can afford it.

My advice therefore to lawyers is to maximise their advantage of attending the conference, pay promptly and be counted among the 3,000 lawyers that attended the best conference ever organised by the NBA. What was the last two years like as the NBA President. How did it affect your law practice, family and social life?

My experience as NBA President these past two years have been exceedingly rewarding. I give thanks to God Almighty for seeing me through the hazards and tribulations of the tenure. The office of NBA President is very demanding. It involves the direct administration of the NBA by being her spokesman and mouth piece, attending functions to which the Bar has been invited, making institutional courtesy visits to heads of government departments and agencies, organising conferences and seminars, conducting six National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings, two annual conferences and at least one delegates’ conference, attending international confer-

•CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

How alleged fraud in INEC, litigations threaten...- P.38

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

30

LAW COVER CONT’D

‘Call for universal suffrage in NBA unworkable’ •Continued from Page 29

ences, attending local conferences, collaborating with other professional bodies, responding to thousands of letters and other correspondence, presenting speeches, addresses and seminar papers, visiting branches of the NBA and other activities too numerous to mention here.

How was it in terms costs and funding?

I am highly gratified that I have come out safely and in one piece.

On my part, I did not use NBA revenue to travel or attend any function. I paid my transport and hotel bills within and outside Nigeria anytime I am attending a function on behalf of NBA. I considered the use of my meagre resources as part of the service to the NBA. The NBA had issues with the National Judicial Council (NJC) during your tenure. Are you happy with the way the matter was resolved?

The major issue in reality was constitutional, in the Third Schedule to the Constitution, particularly the provision constituting the NJC, legal practitioners were made to sit in council only for the purpose of appointing Judges.

Whereas there were other serious issues, which lay-members participated in, such as discipline of Judges, supervision and assessment of performance of judicial officers and 11 other serious matters affecting the judiciary, from 1999, the NJC did not enforce this provision until the Senlong case when there was judicial pronouncement that participation of lawyermembers of the NJC in matters other than appointment was unconstitutional.

What happened after that?

Even thereafter lawyers continued to be present when issues of discipline was discussed by Council (so that lawyers would be abreast of the antecedents of Judges when appointment or elevation came to be considered) until during the face-off between the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Aloysius Katsina-Alu (CJN) and President Court of Appeal,Ayo Isa Salami (PCA) when the lawyers were asked to excuse the meeting, at which point we simply had to withdrew from the activities of the NJC. Why did you withdraw from the activities of the NJC? We did so in order to draw attention to the need to effect constitutional amendments to such a discriminatory provision and stayed away for three months until the stakeholders committee set up by the former CJN Dahiru Musdapher recommended the removal of this dichotomy in the amendments proposed by the judiciary to the Constitution. When the stakeholders report was brought to the NJC for ratification, we resumed our sitting.

The NBA called for the reinstatement of Justice Salami as the President of the Court of Appeal. Till now, he is yet to be reinstated how do feel about this?

Our position is well known on this, it is an NBA decision and we have time without number expressed misgivings for the taking of the decision to suspend him in August 2011 while his case challenging the proceedings of the NJC was still pending in court. The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria also relied on the pendency of the suit in court to refuse to take any further action on the matter when the NJC took their decision to recall him. As at today, there are matters pending in court, we feel that this mess should have been averted right from the onset when we took a position. We shall wait and see how it pans out as technically you cannot do anything when due process in the nature of

sub-judice issues is thrown at your face.

During your campaign for NBA Presidency, you canvassed a number of reforms at the Bar, how far did you go with those reforms, why did others not sail through?

They were basically three in number, (a) reform of the criminal justice system, (b) secretariat reforms and (c) reform of the legal profession and justice sector. I will say that we went right from the outset to promote professionalism as opposed to politics. We started by organising the NBA secretariat in such a way that it would be able to execute professional programs and projects such as specialised workshops and conferences, we created three directorates (a) Administration, (b) Bar Services and (c) Programmes and as at today, they are all up and running. For example, NBA organised two successful Human rights day roundtable for the year 2010 and 2011 in which the germane human rights issues were deliberated upon, we organised a seminar on the readiness of the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) for the last general elections and stakeholders for the 2011 general elections chaired by General Abdulsalami Abubakar, our Rule of law committee headed by Mallam Yusuf Alli (SAN) organised a successful Rule of Law summit to draw attention to rule of law lapses in the prevailing democratic dispensation. In February 2012, the NBA organised an epochal meeting with our development partners such as the Open Society Justice Initiative (OSJI), UNICEF, Mac Arthur Foundation, USAID, DFID, Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), UNDP, Lawyers Without Borders, the European Union (EU), Legal Resources Consortium, Access to Justice and a few others. Another flagship event was the highly accepted Criminal Reform Conference 1 and 11 held in 2011 and 2012 at Abuja and Asaba.

What are the benefits of these conferences?

These conferences have highlighted the deficiencies in our criminal justice system and have offered comprehensive solutions thereto. Further to these, NBA organised a seminal symposium on the performance of Election Tribunals in Nigeria in the aftermath of the 2011 general elections at BeninCity Edo State, which was superlatively attended by high judicial officers and legal practitioners in the electoral justice circuit. The Sections on Legal Practice and Business Law held their annual conferences and they have been adjudged to be of international standard.

There were other numerous middle level programmes like training workshops for Staff and national officers, interactions with other Bar Associations and institutional visits to dignitaries and other personalities such as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Justice of Nigeria, Senate Majority Leader, Chairmen of the various anti-corruption commissions, Road Safety Corps, Judiciary heads in the States and FCT, National Orientation Agency to mention a few.

What was the purpose of those institutional visits?

These institutional visits are essential and or indispensible with a

• Daudu (SAN)

view to assessing the effectiveness of our national institutions and agencies and exchanging ideas with their chief executives. The only reforms that we could not implement were those constitutional amendments to the NBA Constitution that would have reformed our electoral process and the entire gamut of Bar Administration. I was told that the Association rejected the reforms because their time had not come. So we’ll wait patiently for their time.

Judicial reforms remain one of the greatest challenges for the country. What is your reaction to this?

I agree and the essence of judicial reforms is to optimise justice delivery. At the moment the machinery for justice delivery is ponderously slow, corrupt and inefficient.

The Nigerian masses are worse for it. Corruption can be dealt with when there is a resolve to do so by all stakeholders. Slow trials however require a wholesale strategy starting with the appointment of knowledgeable judicial officers, to the change of existing rules and laws which contribute in no small measure to delays in both criminal and civil cases.

What did you do about these problems?

NBA under my watch has shouted itself hoarse about the imperative for immediate judicial reforms, the former CJN was also of the same view and to his eternal credit worked tirelessly within his short tenure for judicial reforms. I hope his successor tows the same line as reforms are a leadershipdriven issue. We, the NBA, ran numerous programmes to either highlight or promote judicial and justice-sector reforms. My successor Okay Wali (SAN) also is a reform-minded person and buys in to the need for a highly professionalised legal system. I am confident that our efforts will continue under this administration.

Following the perceived shortfalls in the last NBA election, peo-

ple are calling for electoral reforms within the Bar, some are calling for universal suffrage which will allow all lawyers to vote in our elections, what is your reaction to this?

Universal suffrage means that everybody should vote in the NBA in order to decide who leads the Association. This is preposterous and unworkable. We tried it before with a reduced population and the corrupt practices exhibited by lawyers crashed the Association in 1992. The delegate system was evolved to manage the corruption in the universal suffrage system where (a) unqualified persons were brought in to vote, (b) money was demanded and given to lawyers who ordinarily had no interest in the Association’s activities but were brought in to determine its future, (c) the level of honesty in the Nigerian society has dropped from the level it was in 1992 that it will be a disaster to attempt such a needless exercise in this day and age.

How then do you view the call for universal suffrage at the Bar? The call for universal suffrage to me is a demonstration of the utter bankruptcy of ideas as to how to run a professional organisation in this day and age. A professional association like the NBA cannot be likened to the Federal Republic of Nigeria as some people are tempted to do. The Bar is a family of legal practitioners who are supposed to be enlightened and who ought to have a succession plan so that they are not perpetually distracted like the nation they live in by perennial leadership and political squabbles. International best practices suggest the exact opposite of universal suffrage. The International Bar Association (IBA), American Bar Association (ABA), East African Law Societies, Law Society of England and Wales, the West African Bar Association (WABA), etc all have Bar Councils from which the leadership of the profession is chosen from.

‘The call for universal suffrage to me is a demonstration of the utter bankruptcy of ideas as to how to run a professional organisation in this day and age. A professional association like the NBA cannot be likened to the Federal Republic of Nigeria as some people are tempted to do. The Bar is a family of legal practitioners who are supposed to be enlightened and who ought to have a succession plan so that they are not perpetually distracted like the nation they live in by perennial leadership and political squabbles’

Who are the Council members?

Council members are usually persons who have kept faith with the profession and have time and time again demonstrated their competence and trust in the running of their association. That should be the proper direction not to deface the professions by making a meal of politics and ignoring the serious professional issues like optimal justice delivery which the profession ought to be in the forefront of. There are at least 5 reasons why this unprofitable discussion of universal suffrage should be discontinued.

What are the reasons? (a) The delegate system is a fair proportional way of ensuring equality of representation of the various ethnic groups in this country. The present system is not perfect but it has prevented dominance by one or two major ethnic groups in the leadership of the profession.

We know those that universal suffrage will favour and those that ethnicity and tribal inclinations will not allow to become President or other leaders of the Bar. Proportional representation as we have it is the best for a professional association in a country with the kind of diversity that we have. Nigeria is a unique federation, throughout our history; we have evolved rules in all spheres of life to ensure that all segments are carried along in the process of governance. These measures are therefore the checks and balances for the sustenance of our fragile unity, the advocates of universal suffrage in the following circumstances will be opening up a Pandora’s Box, the end of which they cannot predict. The opposition to such a vile suggestion has commenced and I will be in the forefront. (b) Again, proponents of universal suffrage are not happy with the role of branch chairmen and section leaders and their grouse is that these pillars of the Bar are too powerful. The truth is that majority of the supporters for universal suffrage cannot win elections in their local branches. They covet the role of Branch chairmen who conduct the process for the selection of a majority of the delegates to our elections. They now want a situation where they will bypass branch chairmen and talk to a nebulous electorate directly. Bar activities is service from the base and every participant climbs up the ladder.

Lawyers have their profession to protect other than elevating the issue of election to a level that it does not warrant. Professionalism not politicisation is the watchword. (c) Thirdly, the proponents of universal suffrage have different reasons for promoting that course of action. It is a subtle attempt to continue their attack or quest for the eradication of the leadership rank of Senior Advocates of Nigeria. In their thinking, if you take away the possibility of members of the rank leading the profession then you are one step away from removing their overall relevance. This to me is farfetched as SANs promote the progress and professionalism of the Bar.Their thinking is that with the SANs out of the way and with the law school producing annually in the last 10 years an average of 5, 000 lawyers, that there will be enough population of junior lawyers to outvote any SAN in the race. This is a nightmare scenario as the legal profession as with all ancient calling prides itself upon age and maturity as an index for the assessment of quality delivery of services. It is therefore not an accident that SANs constitute the leadership of the profession along with Benchers. In the past four years, the hatred of SANs by the same •Continued on Page 31

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

31

LAW PERSONALITY

OAAN: Lawyers condemn Kano’s alleged disobedience of court order

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AWYERS in the Media (LIM), a group within the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has condemned the alleged disobedience of a court order by the Kano State government.

The government, through its agent, allegedly flouted an order stopping it from destroying billboards and other outdoor advertising materials.

Meanwhile, the Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN) may sue more state governments over the destruction of its billboards in several parts of the country without due process.

It said while it is struggling to deal with high and multiple taxes in a harsh economic climate, state agents have been destroying billboards, sometimes in disregard of courts orders barring them from doing so.

The association said it has sued the Kano State, whose foreign consultant it accused of “wanton destruction of billboards” and usurping the constitutional role of the local government in advertising regulation.

Speaking at a breakfast meeting jointly organised by OAAN and LIM, the Registrar, Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), Alhaji Garba Kankarofi, said the matter requires legal resolution.

“I have always advised the OAAN to deal with this issue legally,” he said, adding that the association could also approach the National Assembly for their intervention.

“We can take our case to the National Assembly if truly there is a breach. We can take it there as a complaint. If you are ready, I am

‘We must condemn this ugly trend. No government has the right to damage or destroy the assets of its people, and without adequate notice. We should not stop until we’re able to halt this type of arbitrariness, either in Kano or any other state’

• Odenigbo (middle) flanked by OAAN and LIM members at the meeting

By Joseph Jibueze

ready,” he said.

President of OAAN, Charles Chijide decried “too many laws on outdoor advertising,” saying a government which is encouraging investments ought to make the environment stress-free. Kano imposed over 1,000 per cent increase on existing rates, he alleged.

He said some state and local government consultants “work with so much impunity and most times damage the huge investment of OAAN members,” adding that some practitioners who have paid various taxes and levies have had

their billboards destroyed.

NBA President Joseph Daudu (SAN), represented by LIM’s National Chairman Mr Charles Odenigbo, described the disobedience of a court order by anyone as a gross violation of the very foundation of the constitution.

He said: “We condemn the action of the Kano State government for what its agents have done, and we totally condemn the disobedience of an order made by a competent court.

“The rule of law enjoins equality of all before the law and we will join hands with OAAN to end this impunity. We will not fold our

hands and allow our democracy to be raped by a foreigner.”

Businessday newspaper’s publisher, Mr Frank Aigbogun, who was the lead discussant at the forum, said rather than stifling them, states should encourage businesses to thrive, as that would mean more employment, which will result in the government earning more from personal income and transactions taxes.

“We must condemn this ugly trend. No government has the right to damage or destroy the assets of its people, and without adequate notice. We should not stop until we’re able to halt this type of arbi-

‘Call for universal suffrage in NBA unworkable’ •Continued from Page 30

group calling for universal suffrage led to the promotion of the call for the abolition of the rank.

Nobody tried to urge for the abolition of the rank during my tenure because my views were well known on the issue, which is that it was a matter for the National Assembly to decide and one ultra vires the NBA. This approach having failed the only way to dislodge the leadership offered by the rank is to go for universal suffrage where by way of example juniors who will then be in the majority can be persuaded to vote for the Chairman of the Young Lawyers Forum or any other aggressive junior or any of the midlevel seniors who are in the forefront of the clamour for universal suffrage but who have no practice to launch them into the rank of SAN to emerge as President of the NBA. We see this contrivance clearly. (d) The proponents of universal suffrage are some of the main actors in the break-up of the NBA in the Port Harcourt election of 1992. As I stated earlier, it must be said that certain disturbing trends during the use of universal suffrage was noticed, they include the influx and importation of fake lawyers to vote, the excessive monetisation of the election as every single voter was now shamelessly looking forward to being financially remunerated before casting his vote in one direction or the other. The rest is history as the Association broke up and remained comatose from 1992-1998. In trying to resuscitate the NBA, which task was not easy, pillars of the Bar, such as the late A.N. Anyamene ( SAN), Dr. Mudiaga Odje (SAN) of blessed memory, the Hon Justice MMA Akanbi, Anthony Mogboh SAN, Chief Bamidele Aiku (SAN), Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim (SAN)

and a host of well-meaning seniors took the fledgling bar under the interim leadership of Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) on a course of lectures to the effect that never again should the NBA be brought so close to destruction through selfish reasons and grounds. The truth is that universal suffrage will be subjected to corrupt practices like universal bribery. The number of voters that will be angling for monetary inducement will be unbelievable.

It will be a total mess. Nigerians have not overcome their tendencies to personal corruption. (e) Logistically, for an Association the majority of whose members do not like to pay for Bar Services organising universal suffrage for over 70, 000 lawyers will be a financial disaster and a logistical nightmare. In such a situation every situation will be personalised to the individual voter. The cost will be unbearable to the Bar. Indeed, Political Parties will now come in to take over the Bar such as the Military Government wanted to take over the Bar in the 90’s through the manipulation of the universal suffrage system. A word is indeed enough for the wise.

The National Assembly is making efforts to review the Nigerian constitution, which areas of the document would recommend for amendment so that we can have the peoples’ constitution?

The NBA on behalf of all Nigerian lawyers and indeed all Nige-

rians is a critical stakeholder in the constitution making process.

While we know that in most cases, flaws detected in implementation of the country’s fundamental law need to be changed through the process of amendment. We believe that the process of amendment is not and should not be a ploy for the wholesale substitution of the existing constitution. The areas that require amendment must be areas that (a) promote true fiscal federalism, (b) promote an independent democratically elected local government, (c) promote a corrupt free, independent and impartial judiciary, (d) remove a substantial number of responsibility from the FGN as contained in the exclusive legislative list and move to a residual list or at best the concurrent list those items that obstruct true federalism, (e) create the parameters for the establishment of state police, etc. The exercise must not attempt to create additional states as majority of the existing ones are not economically viable and are merely escalating the cost of governance to the detriment of genuine transformational development. Indeed I think that states should be merged but on their own choosing.

Security challenges remain one of the greatest problems facing our country today. How do we solve this problem?

Yes and unfortunately so. The answer to the challenge is pitifully simple; government should take the fight against corruption seri-

The exercise must not attempt to create additional States as majority of the existing ones are not economically viable and are merely escalating the cost of governance to the detriment of genuine transformational development

ously, evolve new strategies to fight it, be seen to be dealing with it, the government should also be serious with good governance. When there is a serious move by all and sundry to truthfulness and honesty, when there is wholesale re-orientation in our value system, then these security challenges will go away. All I am saying is that these challenges are the by-product of our loose and very corrupt attitude to life and governance. You cannot desire the good things of life without a corresponding responsibility to be disciplined, honest, truthful, straight-forward and God-fearing. Today, security challenges in the nature of terrorism et al are manifest in one part of the country; this does not mean that the remaining parts of the country are immune from other variants of security challenges. As I speak, the Vice Chancellor of ESUT was abducted even while enjoying protection from 10 heavily armed policemen. The panacea is good, strong purposeful leadership, one that operates on the principles that are universally acknowledged as good. Not principles that encourage dialogue with faceless terrorist cells whose objectives are not known and who have spilled innocent Nigerian blood that the state is under a duty to exact retribution for. There should be a limit to such escapist policies. It will only breed more of such groups as the message that we are sending is that the more you kill Nigerians the more Government will want to appease you, beg to keep you quiet.

Finally, what is your advice for Okey Wali (SAN) as he takes over the baton to continue from where you stopped?

The NBA’s goals and objectives as an association is well known to the incoming executive. They were elected because the Bar trusts that they will best project and execute the objectives of the Association. The NBA is a continuum. I am confident that they will keep the flag flying.

trariness, either in Kano or any other state,” he said.

President, Advertising Agencies Association of Nigeria (AAAN), Mrs Bunmi Oke, said while advertising practitioners were not against reform by the government, it must be done to achieve a winwin situation.

She called for collaboration between OAAN and AAAN, saying: “Let us grow this industry and country together.”

Lagos sets up International Arbitration Centre

By Adebisi Onanuga

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HE Lagos State government has established an International Arbitration Centre at Okunde, Lagos for the resolution of disputes.

The state Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, Mr Ade Ipaye, who disclosed this at the weekend in Lagos, explained that the centre, which is the first of its kind in Nigeria and set up in response to public demand, is a onestop centre for arbitration matters and other related activities.

He said the centre, which has the state-of-the-art facilities “is where people will hold arbitration sessions within a very convenient environment.

“The centre is a multi-purpose building of four floors with international standard facilities. The project commenced in 2009 and has progressed to about 65 per cent completion. It is expected to be completed this year.”

He added that the centre would also attract arbitration business from other parts of Africa.

Ipaye disclosed that the state government has put in place laws to guide and protect lives and properties of the citizens of the state in realisation of the fact that the state, being a mega city, is widely exposed to criminal attack and activities.

He highlighted some of the law and order reform initiatives in the state to include Appropriation Law, 2012, establishment of the Law Reform Commission, Park and Garden Law, Lagos Tenancy Law and Persons Living With Disability Law, among others.

He said the state government inaugurated a Law Reform Commission to keep under review laws of the state and make recommendations for the their review or amendment of any of them where necessary.

In a related development, the state attorney-general said the Lagos State Traffic Law 2012 will help to regulate and bring back decency into the traffic operations in the state.

The law, he explained, conceptualised to ensure safety and security of road users, will also inculcate in the people a better traffic culture, adding that it has criminalised some bad behaviours of drivers and put some measures in place to standardise transportation in the state.

32

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

LEGAL OPINION

Role of CSOs in fighting corruption: Issues and challenges Text of a paper presented by rights activist Femi Falana (SAN) at the Regional Sensitisation Workshop on AML/CFT for Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) held on August 6 and 7, 2012 by the InterGovernmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) in Dakar, Senegal.

• Continued from last week

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NFORTUNATELY, because of the vulnerability of those who cannot afford to pay bribe and the fear of retribution if they report to the government, the CSOs provide an effective advocacy network for whistle blowing and reporting those that are involved in this “silent corruption” to the government.

In addition, the CSOs help to shape public opinions against corruption and help create an inconducive environment for bribery and corruption in the society by helping to raise awareness about the insidious, pervasive and destructive nature of corruption.

They help to educate the public about the dangers inherent in corruption, that corruption is not and can never be an inevitable component of life and socio-economic fabric and that corruption unabated can cause a dysfunctional legal system, an effective government and a chaotic social order and other decadents that can affect the well being of the society.

Closely related to this is that the CSOs assist in the most immeasurable manner to demand integrity and probity in government. Due to their strong understanding of the workings of government which they acquire as a result of contextual analysis of government activities, they are able to locate the most vulnerable department of government where corruption is prevalent and inform government about poor delivery of services by these sectors while calling for the reforms within the sector.

An example is the fuel subsidy scandal which has exposed a grand corruption in the petroleum service delivery system in Nigeria.

Apart from reporting corruption, the CSOs are also at the fore front of fighting it and are constantly organising activities, seminars and workshops aimed at preventing it.

CSOs are now actively involved in government project monitoring and evaluation. They demand for independent anti-corruption agency and regularly call on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to do more in terms of prosecuting and securing the conviction of corrupt government officials.

Today, corruption is getting public attention in many areas across the continent. Africans have woken up to the damage corruption, especially large scale corruption causes and the extent to which it serves as a profound impediment to poverty eradication.

This is not surprising because corruption harms the body politic and it offends our sense of propriety, morality, and integrity.

Corruption flourishes in conditions of poverty and weak public institutions, and bad incentives and systems induce people to act corruptly. Many African countries suffer from endemic corruption, which in turn has resulted in the massive redirection of public

funds for the private use of the political elite, and denial of access to basic necessities of life for the citizens.

The most notorious culprits have embezzled billions of dollars from their countries for their own personal wealth accumulation. Transparency International has compiled a list of the most flagrant benefactors of grand corruption.

Each of the leaders on the list used his position and power to amass huge amounts of wealth, in turn denying his citizens access to development funds and the benefits of private investments in their respective countries. The nefarious effects of corruption are varied. It has paralysed the operations of entire governments and made them ineffective.

It is a phenomenon that if left unimpeded, can penetrate the entire societal operations, from low level public officials in government, to the top.

Clearly, high-level corruption by senior government officials, or kleptocracy, is a grave and corrosive abuse of power and represents the most invidious type of public corruption. Funds are, for example, diverted from school projects, health care, building of roads and dams and other critical public services into individual pockets.

Yet, many African countries have adopted legislation and ratified conventions such as the UN Convention against Corruption and the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption which require them to prevent and combat corruption through legislative and institutional frameworks.

Significantly, the UN Convention underscores the need for tracing financial flows linked to corruption, seizing assets derived from corruption and returning such assets. The task of preventing and combating large scale corruption appears to be a monumental one as corruption is a scourge that is present in several countries in the continent. However, we cannot and must not give up in the efforts to rid Africa of corrupt leaders.

Better institutions should be established or existing ones strengthened if the fight against corruption is to be won. We cannot and should never see corruption exclusively as normal.

Appropriate criminal and civil laws are a necessary component in a country’s arsenal of policies and interventions to curb corruption. Parliaments should therefore play a more proactive role in the efforts to prevent and combat corruption especially large scale official corruption. However, to be able to play this role effectively, parliaments also must not be involved in corrupt practices.

A broad coalition between parliament and a vibrant civil society can be especially helpful in preventing and combating corruption. Similarly, institutionalising political parties, strengthening and reforming them from within, should invariably go

Ogun, firm present N3m to GUN State Ministry of Justice accident victim has presented N3million as

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compensation to an accident victim, Seyi Adesanya.

Adesanya was knocked down by a truck driver with Flour Mills Nig PLC three years ago in Awolesi Street, Sagamu Local Government Area of the state.

The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Wemimo Ogunde (SAN), said the compensation was made possible through the intervention of his ministry’s Citizens Rights Department (CRD).

“This is a triumph for mediation and negotiation. This is a result of

the high premium your organisation (Four Mills) places on the protection of human rights, else it could have resulted to litigation,” he said The Head, Legal Department of Flour Mills, Mr Joseph Umolu, said the compensation process was delayed because his company had legal issues to sort out, adding that they place high premium on their relationship with the public.

Director of CRD, Mrs. Dayo Osunfisan and the victim’s mother, Mrs. Ogunbowale described Flour Mills’ intervention as noble.

• Falana (SAN)

hand in hand with the fight against corruption by other political institutions. Such reforms increase the legitimacy and representational value of parties, build the popular trust toward democracy, and lend the national anti-corruption efforts additional credibility.

It is absolutely important to create a coalition of international financial centers committed to denying access and financial safe haven to kleptocrats. There is also the need for developed countries to allow their legal systems to prosecute corruption offences and to voluntarily transfer seized illicitly acquired assets. Money launderers go to great lengths particularly to hide the source of their funds.

Therefore, a global effort is essential to force banks that elude regulations to discontinue managing accounts for corrupt leaders. If the banks are held accountable for their clients’ illegal activities, there finally will be an incentive to prevent money laundering.

This will help Africa greatly in terms of facilitating reduction of corrupt practices because the realisation that there will be no-where to hide their corrupt money will force African leaders to re-think their illegal activities. While money laundering is only one aspect of the problem of grand corruption, eliminating safe hiding places for kleptocrats to stash their wares is a fundamental step in preventing grand corruption.

The role of the civil society to ensure the effective fight against corrup-

tion and the implementation of the above recommendations cannot be over-stressed. In fact, both the UN Convention against Corruption and the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption clearly articulate important roles for civil society in the fight against corruption.

A good example of the role civil society can play is that currently being played by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), a Nigerian based human rights and anti-corruption NGO. Just to cite a few examples of the impact of SERAP’s work: i.Following a petition by SERAP, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) investigated N54.78 billion allocations to the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and discovered massive corruption and mismanagement of the UBEC funds.

The investigation by the ICPC has resulted in the recovery of stolen N3.4 billion, meant to improve the quality of education and access to education of every Nigerian child. In the petition dated January 15, 2007 to the ICPC, SERAP stated that “despite reported activities and spending by the UBEC, more than 5 million Nigerian children still have no access to primary education.” ii.

Also, in response to SERAP’s petition, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) launched an investigation into allegation that the N38 billion recovered from the funds looted by the late head of state, Gen. Sani Abacha, was missing.

In its petition, SERAP stated that “N38 billion of the N65 billion ($500 million) recovered public funds stashed away in Swiss banks by the late Abacha could not be traced or might have been misused. iii.

SERAP has equally called on the Nigeria’s Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, SAN, to prosecute 16 foreign companies allegedly involved in bribery in the country.

SERAP said it will seek leave of court for an order of mandamus to compel Mr Adoke to act, if the companies were not prosecuted.

The foreign companies listed in the letter to Mr Adoke are: Halliburton Co; Kellogg Brown & Root LLC

(KBR); Technip SA; Snamprogetti Netherlands BV; ENI SpA; JGC Corp; MW Kellogg; Willbros International; Julius Berger Nigeria Plc; Panalpina; Royal Dutch Shell Plc; Pride International; Noble Corp; Tidewater Inc; Transocean Inc; Shell Nigerian Exploration and Production Co. Ltd; and Siemens AG. iv.More recently, SERAP advised the United State Department of Justice to use the loot recovered from Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha, the former Governor of Baylelsa State in Nigeria to set up a trust fund for victims of corruption.

This followed the Department of Justice first Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative forfeiture judgment of $400,000 in assets traced to a former governor in Nigeria.

Africa, the West and corruption United States In order to cover up the involvement of western governments and corporations in the promotion of corruption, terrorism and drug abuse in Africa the impression is often created by top public officials of some foreign governments that Africans are the most corrupt people in the world.

Only last week, the United States Secretary of State, Mrs. Hillary Clinton spoke along that line when kicked off her 11-day tour of some African States in Senegal. At Dakar, she condemned corruption in Africa and urged African leaders to fight it to a halt in order to get good governance in the continent.

This was also the kernel of President Barrack Obama’s message to Africans when he made a brief stopover in Ghana three years ago. While we do not condone corruption it is high time the Obama Administration was told to stop blaming the victims of grand corruption promoted and fuelled by western countries led by Switzerland, France, United Kingdom and United States.

Under the Obama Administration the United States has convicted top American officials and business executives and recovered fines to the tune of $3 billion for bribing governments around the world. Specifically, in the case of Nigeria, over $1 billion fine has been paid by US companies and individuals involved in many financial scandals.

• To be continued next week

• Chief Edwin Clark(right) receiving an award from Director-General, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS), Prof Epiphany Azinge (SAN) after delivering a lecture organised by the institute on the state of the nation in Abuja. With them is former Information Minister, Prof Jerry Gana.

Man petitions IG over ‘illegal’ detention

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ORMER Group Managing Di rector of Quintessentially Ni geria Ltd, Mr Okon Iyanam, has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar, over his alleged unlawful arrest and detention.

He claimed he was denied bail by men attached to the IGP’s monitoring unit, Abuja, on trumped-up charges of financial impropriety, and that his was being threatened by his former employer.

By Jude Isiguzo

Iyana was arrested on August 7 on allegation that he embezzled his company’s over N50 million, which he denies.

His lawyer, Mr Adeniji Kazeem, said his client was being persecuted, adding that he has gone to court to restrain Iyana’s accusers and the police from further arresting or intimidating him.

In another petition copied to

President Goodluck Jonathan and the Secretary of National Human Rights Commission, Kazeem said the Gestapo-style with which his client was arrested and whisked to Abuja by the police punctures the IGP’s human rights crusade.

“We are greatly disturbed that the new police force over which you currently preside can be used by persons no matter how highly placed to harass and intimidate an innocent Nigerian,” he wrote.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

33

LAW & SOCIETY

Eulogies as friends, others celebrate Akin Ibidapo-Obe

LAW AND PUBLIC POWER

with gabriel AMALU email:gabrielamalu1@yahoo.com

Legislating for security and development

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• Prof Ibidapo-Obe (former VC); Prof Ibidapo-Obe and Mr Ifaturoti ... at the event

• Sir Williams and his wife, Debola ... at the event.

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T was a harvest of encomiums for Prof Akinola Ibidapo-Obe as his relatives, friends and associates gathered in Lagos to celebrate his appointment as a professor of Law at the University of Lagos (UNILAG).

Speakers spoke generously about him, describing him as a “thorough and hardworking academic,” “brilliant intellectual,” “dedicated and loving family man” and “a thorough academic.”

They noted that though the elevation was late in coming, it was still worth celebrating because it shows that his contributions in the field of Law are appreciated.

Speakers included his elder brother and former Vice Chancellor (VC) of the university, Prof Oye Ibidapo-Obe; businessman Remi Olowude; Prof Ayo Atsenua of the Faculty of Law, UNILAG; former Dean, Students Affairs, UNILAG, Prof Duro Ajeyalemi and the Laaroka of Wanikin-Ife, Oba Bankole Ojutalayo.

Also at the event were the Director-General, Bureau of Social Services, Osun State, Olufemi Ifaturoti; Sir Abayomi Williams; Dr Babatunde Ibidapo-Obe, Prof and Mrs Duro Oni and Prof Kayode Odusote and his wife, Kofoworola.

The former Vice Chancellor, who organised the event, thanked God for making the gathering a success.

He expressed joy that his brother eventually became a professor. He prayed that his younger brother will achieve the highest of his academic goals, and possibly become a Vice Chancellor.

Olowude said Akinola’s elevation was a testimony that dedication to service and hard work are rewarding. “He is thorough and hardworking. He is an intelligent lawyer, who knows his work well.

He is an exemplary family man.”

Prof Atsenua praised Akinola’s leadership quality and his care for students. “I can confirm that he is very kind to the students.” She described him as a very democratic

By Eric Ikhilae

colleague, who considers others’ view before taking decisions.

Ajeyalemi described Akinola as “an intellectual radical,” and noted that he was involved in students union politics in his student days.

“I am proud of him as a great intellectual. He deserved this. Akin is a gentle and humble man, though a radical.”

Sir Williams said he was proud of Akinola’s achievement, describing him as a hardworking individual, who believes in everything that indigenous.

He recalled the many instances when they have had to collaborate on some projects and affirmed that Akinola, though shy, is “an intellectual and a professor to the core.”

Oba Ojutalayo, an ex-student of the university, rationalised the general opposition to the attempt by the Presidency to change the institution’s name.

He said the opposition was informed by the people’s belief that the choice of UNILAG belittled the name and image of the late Moshood Abiola. He argued that the people would have praised the government had it named a national monument in Abuja after the late politician.

That the traditional ruler spoke the mind of the audience became evident when, while toasting to Akinola’s achievement, they all raised their glasses and shouted “UNILAG for ever. No to mau mau.”

Mrs Sola Ibidapo-Obe (wife of the former VC) said they had expected that Akinola would be made a professor when his brother was the VC. But that though it was late in coming, “we praise God it has eventually come.”

Another of his brothers, Babatunde Ibidapo-Obe, also spoke along similar line, describing Akinola as “a hardworking intellectual.”

“I am surprised he is getting to

PHOTOS: SOLOMON ADEOLA

become a professor now. I thought it ought to be earlier. Whichever time it happened, it is God’s own doing. Today is the happiest day of my life,” he said.

Responding, an elated Prof Akinola Ibidapo-Obe thanked God for his eventual elevation. He noted that his case was peculiar because he was once dismissed from the university, but recalled three years after.

The new professor said though he had longed for the elevation before now, he was grateful to God it eventually came.

“Many have asked me why my brother, as the VC, did not make me a professor. I know why. And let me tell you the truth, nothing but the truth. Emi nio gbori duro (I was not patient).

“My brother is very kind and very indulgent. But I am a bit impatient. Some have also described me as a radical too.

He also recalled an instance when his wife expressed worry that he was yet to be made a professor despite being a hardworking and diligent academic. “I am sure now, she is happy that I have eventually become a professor.

“I have to thank God. I thank God, thank God and thank God. I must confess, I am delighted,” he said.

He stated that though he had got offers to become a professor in some other universities, he insisted it must only be in UNILAG because of his passion for the institution. “So, you can imagine how happy I am that my dream has eventually been realised.

Praise be to God. While praising his elder brother (the former VC) for putting the event together, he confessed that his brother has been of immense support to him.

“You have done me a great honour. God will continue to promote you. God will continue to bless you,” he told the ex-VC.

N a paper he presented at the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies entitled: Law and development in Africa, Mashood A. Baderin, a Professor of Law, the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, argued: “It is also reasonably evident that law, as both a powerful normative system and effective tool of social order, has an important role to play in the quest for socio-economic development, even though that fact has not been consciously and diligently pursued as it should in Africa”. Please substitute Nigeria for Africa.

Also in a report to the 59th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in March 2005, the UN General Secretary put it succinctly: “... we will not enjoy development without security, we will not enjoy security without development, and we will not enjoy either without respect for human rights.” Now with armed insurgency, spear headed by the Boko Haram, ravaging the greatest part of the greater part of the underdeveloped Nigeria, it may be right to say that Nigeria is enmeshed in a security and underdevelopment quagmire; but more importantly is how Nigeria can walk its way out of the crisis, considering its preoccupation with the dire security challenges.

Interestingly, the Federal Government between 2010 and 2012 is estimated to have budgeted $84 billion out of which $16 billion was spent on security; and one may add, yet the security situation continues to deteriorate. According to the online source, in the same period, $45 billion was provided for recurrent expenditure while $24 billion was earmarked for capital expenditure. Again as perennially experienced, much of the capital budget is fritted away through corrupt practices, and in other instances non-execution of some provisions of the budget. In the current year’s budget, about $6 billion was earmarked for security out of about $30 billion national budget. Also while the budget for agriculture which contributes about 45 per cent of the GDP was slashed substantially, recurrent expenditure and security gained higher allocations.

But as argued by Prof Baderin: “The traditional objective of law is the maintainance of public order and justice. However, in pursuance of the self-reliance theory of development and to ensure a conscious use of law to help bring about development in Africa, it is proposed that development must be indentified as a higher objective of law in Africa”. Relying on the argument of the late Justice of the Supreme Court of Ghana, and one of the earliest legal contributors to Law and Development scholarship in Africa, T. M. Ocran in a paper entitled: Law in aid of development, Baderin wrote: “Legislation is the crucial source of law in development, because ‘it is the most innovative and perhaps the fastest form of lawmaking, and, in that sense, the most dynamic’... It is proposed that development must be specifically identified as the higher objective for all new laws promulgated by the legislature in individual African countries, with economic development, human development and social development serving as the general indicators in that regard.”

To stem the crisis in Nigeria, there is the urgent need to rouse public consciousness and to steer the legislators at the national, state and local council levels of government in the country to appreciate the necessity to ‘identifying development as the higher objective of law in Africa (Nigeria)’. This, according to authors of the article, The role of law in China’s economic development, was the road followed by China at the onset of its economic transformation. There it was stated: “The economic reform and transformation in China was marked by a conscious recognition from the beginning that law had a new and important role to play in the process”. The key word to note is ‘conscious recognition’ of the ‘important role’ of law, not a dysfunctional promulgation of laws, without development as the paramount issue.

A text case for such a new consciousness would be to use challenges of development as the primary paradigm to determine the appropriate position to take on the raging issues of further amendments to the 1999 constitution. For instance, the national and state legislators can jointly call a summit of mainly lawyers and economists to determine the pros and cons of all the proposed amendment with regards to economic development and rely sorely on their findings to make new amendments.

Clearly, the argument of those opposed to state police is because of the potential threat to national security; even when they have not spared a thought that national security has continued to deteriorate under the incumbent federal police. The same critical enquiry should apply to the argument for or against fiscal federalism and other innovative proposals. Without such robust enquiry, Nigerians suffer from impotency sired by fear, ignorance and stereotypes.

Such impotency was the thrust in the scholarly work: Analysis of paralysis or paralysis by analysis, by Prof Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, when he argued: “Any meaningful discussion of economic, social, and cultural rights under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, must overcome the triple barriers of pessimism, history and ideology”. While the trust of the learned author was on the provisions of the African Charter, his thesis over impotent analysis and its consequences is similar to the wahala of Nigeria as it grapples between the impunity of insecurity and the despondency of a despoiled economy. Which one bails the other, between prioritising security or economic development?

As things are, there is the urgent need for a re-ordering of national priorities.A conscious effort in this regard will be to use economic development to fight insecurity; and as correctly argued by the learned authors quoted in this article, the legislators can use legislation to steer Nigeria out of the economic underdevelopment and the debilitating insecurity in the country.

34

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

NATIONAL BAR WORKSHOP ON ALTERNATIVE DISPUTES RESOLUTION ORGANISED THE NIGERIAN INSTITUTE OF (NBA) ADVANCED THE DELEGATES CONFERENCE AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS OF THEBY NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION IN ABUJA LEGAL STUDIES (NIALS) AT ITS AKOKA, UNILAG CAMPUS

• From left: Institute Secretary, James Bathnna; Director-General, NIALS, Prof. Epiphany Azinge (SAN) and Managing Partner, Aina Bankson LP, Kehinde Aina.

• Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye & Prof. Andrew Chikwuemene (SAN)

•Captain Callistus Aliu & Commander Chris Anushiem

• Lt. Obiora Anyikwa & Lt. Ohiootemu Andrew-Ekokotu

• Ramatu Abdullahi-Makinde and Ojo Solomon

• Prof. Lanre Fabgohun, Koce George & Chief Azimba O Azimba

• Babatunde Olaniyi & Mrs. Dairo Titilayo-Abosede

• Mohammed Aliu Kutiji & Adamu Mohammad Panti

• Mrs. Sena Nancy Jerry-Imahiagbe & Catherine Clemence-Anthony

• Anele Kalu-Kingsley & Ijeoma Awgu

PHOTOS: DAVID ADEJO

35

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

LAW PERSONALITY Sahid Omobowale Owosile is the new chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikorodu branch. He was the secretary of the branch for two years and that of the Law Week in 2007. He has been the representative of the branch at the Public Complaints and Training Committee of the Lagos State Judiciary since 2009. As an undergraduate at the Lagos State University (LASU) in 1993, he was a member of the students’parliament. In this interview with ADEBISI ONANUGA, Owosile, speaks on his election, programmes for the branch and other issues in the judiciary.

Decentralise Supreme Court for quick dispensation of justice

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ONGRATULATIONS on your election as the chairman of Ikorodu Branch of the NBA. To what do you owe your victory?

First, I give glory to God, the Almighty for my election. I also owe my victory to the resolve of the members for change.

I represent unity, a new leaf at the Bar as our members are determined that we change our ways. It is not that our ways are bad, but we want new things; we want people that can take us to new heights and because I have been on the front before. I think I have experienced it at different level. So, I represent the alternative to the branch.

Talking about this change, what should the members expect from you?

They should expect quite a lot from my administration. I am going to do all those things we are used to, but in better ways, and a lot more.

We are going to execute our traditional programmes in better ways.

We are very concerned about the Law Week. We have 12 meetings in a year and we would do only one programme.That is not good enough. The main thrust of my administration is looking inwards, at benefits that could accrue to members; looking at what people could gain for being members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). We want to initiate those things that will make our members to develop a sense of belonging. Let us start from those little things. We provide a condusive environment for our members to make them attend meetings. We need to make souvenirs available to the people. These are some of the things that brings organisation to the minds of the people. We want to pursue and ensure continue legal education for our peole, even the Nigerian Bar Association has been clamouring for this at the national level and they have been doing their bit. We should not just satisfied in meeting the requirements of the NBA, the interest should be to improve and develop our prowess in our chosen profession. If we look at this from that perspective, we would see more of this coming regularly and than we have now.

We would get competent professionals who can look into ensuring that we get enough of this regularly. Our profession is a very wide one and we need to improve our skills at all times. We look forward to seeing changes in what our people can get

from the national, even from government. Aside from the committees we already have, we want to look at the possibility of setting up a law bureau.

A law bureau, where instead of just discussing the state of the nation, we want to take the lead in ensuring that we have an organisation that can dissect events from the legal point of view. For instance, the Lawan/ Otedola issue; everybody is keeping quiet, only the lawyers that have been employed in that service are concered. What about the rest of us?

If N1 trillion of our money is missing, should we just keep quiet? So, who should talk if not for lawyers.

So, we are looking at a Law Bureau that will discuss things like this.

What are the legal implications?

What are the expectations? How do we arrest the situation and all that. If need be sometimes, we may have to go to court. These are things individuals cannot think about but collectively, it becomes the issue at the front burner. We also want to have a kind of a newsletter where we would have revelations like that published in our newsletter.

So, people will be able to know the opinion of lawyers on very important issues of national interest.

We are supposed to guide the society. Then you look at our social activities, our social interaction is very low, maybe because our profession is a combative one. I come from a background where I feel that relationship is very important. We need to unwind after a hectic day’s job.

Apart from that, we need to interact with ourselves the more, and appreciate ourselves. Right now, we are going on vacation. What is it that will bring us together? Is it when we come back in October to go to court? That is not where we should be meeting. There can be activities.

What is wrong with us in bringing our family together and go to Eleko Beach . The collective issue is bringing ourselves together and this will help us to understand ourselves and appreciate ourselves better. When you want to celebrate your birthday or wedding of your daughter, you won’t be looking for friends.Your colleagues will be your friends at such occasions. So, these are some of the programmes that we think we can bring into the activities of the branch and of course, there are so many other ones.

What is your view on the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN)?

The new CJN, from what I have

‘Situating the Supreme Court in Abuja is not fair. What about those who cannot afford the transportation to Abuja? You also have to fund the transportation of your lawyer; you have to do everything in an environment where things are not working properly. So, it is not as if the judges are too many. It is just that they have to be properly utilised.

• Owosile

gathered, is a pleasant person and represents a change. Let’s start from the gender thing. She is a-political.

She represents a new challenge, especially for the women folk who has always been clamouring for representation. She is the first chief judge who happens to be a female. I believe that she has all the capacity it takes to hold that office very diligently and honourably.

There have been calls for the establishment of a special court to try terrorists, but the new CJN appears to be opposed to it. What is your view on this?

We always talk about special this, special that. Those are words of condemnation. Those are words of votes of no confidence. We said the Police are not good; we have created the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC). Now, we are saying EFCC should go. When we say whatever we have is good, it is good. We have enough institutions to take care of our problems. Our problems are not necessarily our institutions. It is about leadership. It is about our leaders to live above board. But if they continue this way, even if you create another one, it will be infiltrated and nothing would happen. We are talking about terrorists, which terrorists are they talking about? Is it the one that they are negotiating with? Is the one they have not been able to catch? For you to try somebody, will you not catch that person? Sokoto that has been caught, what has happened to him?

Have they taken him to the normal court and it has not been able to deal with him? Probably, the only rea-

• Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (left), and Chief John Ochoga, at the last NBA’s delegates conference and election.

son that special courts are justified is only when you want to ensure speed in specific area of adjudication. But this is a case that is different. Have they even seen any of them? Has any of them been caught? I can’t see where special courts are necessary.

There must be a foundation for those arguments for creating special courts. But to do what? Is it because existing ones are congested that they cannot try terrorism? If you say terrorism is existing, it is because we have problems of security. The government just want show that they are doing something. If with all the apparatuses that they have, they cannot fish out the terrorists they want to try, then I am sorry for this country. But we are not in a position to destroy it (Nigeria). We have to do something.

Former CJN Justice Dahiru Mustapher, proposed some amendments to the National Assembly on the judiciary. What advice would you give the new CJN on the proposal?

I would, first of all, advise that she must recognised that she is the head of an arm of government. Unfortunately, in this country, you see the National Assembly asking for their share of the national budget as if they are the ones to execute and that is why there is abundant corruption in the national legislature. But do you know that there is scarcity in some other parts, especially in the judiciary. You look at our courts, how many courts do we have? If you go to the Court of Appeal in Lagos now, it is ever congested. The Justices would work from morning till four o’clock and yet they would not finish the list. Why can’t we have more chambers in the Court of Appeal?

You are talking of special courts, the existing ones, have they been able to service those ones properly? The administration of justice system needs to be properly funded. The CJN must be able to stamp her feet on the separation of powers and the funding of the administration of her own arm of government, which is the judiciary. The judges are complaining, the workers are going on strike incessantly. Those acts must be arrested. It is not only those who work in federal Inland Revenue Services that should earn big money.

What about those who are put in charge of administration of justice.

The justice system needs to be properly funded and that I think should be her major preoccupation. She should ensure that there are adequately courts and that they are adequately funded.

One of the areas of the proposed constitutional amendment of the former CJN is the reduction in the number of justices of the Appeal Courts and the Supreme Court.

What is your views on this?

He is talking from the perspective of judges that are not needed.

But I am saying that those judges are needed. It is only that you need to establish more chambers and those judges must be given work to do. Why have a chamber that will be filled with many judges and

the work will not be finished? If the work is not finish on time, it then means that they need more hands. But it is not that they need more hands, they only need to build more chambers. If you employ people, employ them for work. Let me give you one situation. A poor man who could not fund his matter in the High Court, if he wins and the other party goes to the Appeal Court, you know he still has to fund it. He will go to Court of Appeal in Ibadan, Lagos or Abuja or anywhere. If that matter goes to the Supreme Court, it is only in Abuja. How does that poor man go to Abuja to answer his case? You have to decentralise the Supreme Court. If it is possible to decentralise the Court of Appeal, at best you can still co-ordinate and get good judgement. They have a way of communicating and understanding what the position of the Court of Appeal has been on different issues. There is nothing wrong in having separate Supreme Courts, especially in a large country like ours. So, situating it in Abuja is not fair. What about those who cannot afford the transportation to Abuja? You also have to fund the transportation of your lawyer; you have to do everything in an environment where things are not working the proper way.

So, it is not as if the judges are too many. It is just that they have to be properly utilised.

What is your take on the appointment of judges?

Appointment of judges has been politicised.You look at the stakeholders, over time, when judges are appointed, they always refer to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

But often times, the opinion of the bar doesn’t count. That is unfortunate. Often times, you see people who are not worthy of the gown of a judge and you recommend that this person should not be appointed. You will expect that that person will be investigated, but it is not. If you look at the ways and manners those judges are appointed, you will see that most of them come from the ministry. Active lawyers are not given the proper opportunities that they should get. And those are the ones who go in and out of the court who should know better. So, when you look at the standard of those appointed, of course it would affect the standard. That is why some judges, when you see them, they are not doing the work. They are lost because they found themselves in situations they are not expecting. Maybe what they think it would be is different from what they found. it still boils down to the fact that they are not properly cooked and they are not prepared for that job. Whereas those who could have been better judges are left out of it ... so, I believe that merit should be in the fore-front of the employment of judges because the responsibilities they take is very sensitive. And if they don’t do it well, we will all pay for it.

36

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

LAW & SOCIETY

Celebrating law school classes I

T has become the tradition for old school mates to meet after leaving school to reminisce about their school days and life after-school in the work world and the society. This re-union are called by several names, such as alumni association, old boys or girls association, classmates, etc.

In this article, the writer wants to take a roll of lawyers as per their year of call-to-bar and making a comparative analysis of one law school classes and another scatting reference would be made to the various law faculties that produced them and maybe extend it to drawing a line between lawyers who trained in Nigeria from those who obtained their qualifications overseas.

This study becomes necessary because of the various claims and counter-claims by some law school classes either in print or oral private and public discourses, celebrating the achievement of their law school class. There is a contention between lawyers called to bar in 1986 and 1988 on who is the millennium law class.

The 1978 set of lawyers in its notice of their re-union, some weeks ago, said they have produced 20 Senior Advocates, four Supreme Court Justices, 15 Court of Appeal Justices, 20 Chief Judges of states and four presidents of the Nigerian Bar Association.

This writer had the opportunity to accompany a friend to the Silver Jubilee re-union of the class of 1986. In their welcome address, they said they have, among their number 24 Senior Advocates, some Justices of the Court of Appeal, the Head of a Court, two governors.

The 1988 group contests the title of the millennium class with the 1986 set. Millennium here refers to those who were called to bar on the centenary (100 years) of the history of legal profession in Nigeria. The first lawyer, an English man, was enrolled in Nigeria in 1886, but the first Nigerian Native Lawyer was enrolled in 1888. In this regard, both 1986 and 1988 classes maybe correct in their claim to be millennium lawyers because 1986 marked 100 years after the first lawyer was enrolled and 1988 a century after the

By Vincent Uko

first Nigerian Native Lawyer was enrolled!

The 1988 law school class boasts of having three governors as their members. They include the governor of Lagos State, Babtunde Fashola (SAN), the governors of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Godswill Akpabio and the governor of Cross River State, Mr Liyel Imoke. Apart from the state chief executives, they also have a chief Judge in Ekiti State and about three Senior Advocates and one Justice of the Court of Appeal. They also have a serving minister in Emaka Wogu, Esq and former Minister in Chief John Nwodo.

These are the celebrated law school classes who seem to be blowing their own trumpet. There may be other quiet achieving law school classes who have not been so pronounced.

Before finding out the details of other law school classes, one may want an acceptable definition of a law school class. Is it applicable only to those who came to law school in a particular year and got called to bar that same year or does it refer only to those who were enrolled in a particular year irrespective of when they attended the law school? Where do we place those who could not pass the law school examination in their year but were called subsequently?

1978 had about 361 students while 1986 had 1466 students. If we take making silk and becoming an appellant judge as the yardstick for measuring a successful lawyer, we may have to match the number of the great members of these classes with the total population to really score a class for good or bad.

Do we rate 1985 and 1986 classes great because they have Queens Counsel in Professor Fidelis Odita, QC, SAN, (PhD Oxford) and Dr. Oba Nsugbe QC, SAN, PhD ?

Even 1981 has two of its members in Dr. Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed and Kayode Ariwola as Supreme Court Justices and 3 justices of Court of Appeal and 16 SANs in a class of 519 members. 1977 class has the following of its members in the Supreme Court Bench namely:

• Director-General, Nigerian Law School, Dr Maman Tahir (left) and NBA President-elect Okey Wali (SAN) during the reunion dinner of the Nigerian Law School Class of 84 in Abuja

Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili, N.D. Mohammed in the Supreme Court Bench. 1972 class produced the first Nigerian University trained Attorney-General in Kanu Agabi. What of the 1968 class that produced such eminent jurists as the suspended president of the Court of Appeal, Justice Isa Ayo Salami, his predecessor Umaru Abdullahi, Justice Ogebe of the Supreme Court and the two immediate past Chief Justices of the Federation, Justice Aloysius Katsina -Alu and Dahiru Mustapher are members of a small law school class of 117 members.

Even Justice Olufunlola Adekeye of the Supreme Court belongs to this same class. My pupil master, the late Babasola Orobiyi-Rhodes (SAN) and Aliyu Salman (SAN), were of the same class. There were also three Court of Appeal Justices with Ibrahim Kolapo Gambari, “the Emir of Ilorin” and Raphael Olufemi Rowland.

Is there really any magic in having the figure eight as the last figure in any law class? Otherwise, how do you explain the great success achieved by the 1968, 1978 and 1988 classes? Even the relatively young 1998 set of the law school are making marks beyond their years in our bar politics having produced two National Publicity Secretaries, and chairman of one of the three most prominent branches.

I think the success achieved by

Families urge police to probe militant HE Okorobobi and Osiyai the accident and taken to the group in Edo inhospital families of Safarogbo com died in the hospital as they

T

munity in Ovia Southwest Local Government Area (LGA) of Edo State have asked the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Edo State Police Command, Benin to investigate one Omoh Etonwerigha, who they alleged, has been providing the police with false information.

In a petition entitled: “The true facts and details of the case of return to militancy after amnesty, kidnap and arson from Safarogbo Community in Ovia Southwest LGA involving Omoh Etonwerigha and his gang members: a call for discrete investigation of the facts herein in order to discover who the false information giver in the case is”, sent to the Deputy Commissioner Police, CID, Edo State Command, Benin and signed by their counsel, Mr C. J. Ojiagu, the two families are also accusing Etonwerigha of illegal detention of one Emiloju Osiyai and another man called Iranse, at Bolowo for seven days, a development that they described as “militant act”.

The two families argued that the arrest of Okorobobi allegedly carried out by Etonwerigha and Bibor and subsequent detention in their private custody “was uncalled for

By Adebisi Onanuga

in law and amount to kidnapping or abduction as none of them was indicted by the security agents of Ondo State”.

On what led to the detention of Osiyai, they alleged that on May 8, this year, an accident occurred in Torukubugbene village involving Omoh’s speed boat and a tug boat belonging to Mr Peter Ejor. This led to the death of three members of a gang belonging to Omoh namely Samson Adaun, Abiodun Aiyeloja and Yenkpo Ebiyaibo.

The petitioners claimed that because of a pending issue between Omoh and the Okorobobi and Osiyai families, they concluded that the detained persons used diabolical means to cause the accident.

They said: “The houses of “Mr Morowei Okorobobi, Mr. Eb Okorobobi in Okorobobi village and that Messrs P. Osiyai and Tie Osiyai at Safarogbo village were burnt.

“Our clients said that they put the suspects and their lawyer to strict proof of the above speculated fact that they caused the death of the people that died in the accident”.

They said contrary to the claims of the counsel to Omoh, none of the persons that sustained injuries

survived after treatment, adding that the three boys who died in the accident were taken to the mortuary.

“The only follower of Omoh who died in the hospital is one Mr Turkey Douberi, who among four persons that sustained injuries in another accident involving a Toyota Hilux allegedly belonging to Omoh”.

“Our client, Mr Emiloju says he never signed any document admitting that he and other members of his family used any fetish power to cause the death of Omoh’s boys.

If there is any document like that, then it is a forged document and we enjoin the police to discretely investigate such document,” it said.

It added that they were not aware nor attended any meeting by the community to settle the matter between them and Omoh, at which they were alleged to have been fined N2,000 and banished from the community.

The petition gave eight instances to support its allegation that Etonwerigha and his men, despite agreeing to the terms of amnesty, “have remained unrepentant and had begun carrying arms and holding the Safarogbo community and neighbouring communities hostage”.

• Chairman, Council of Legal Education, OCJ Okocha (SAN)

any set is a mere happen-chance and is not the outcome of any conscious efforts to excel. However, it depends on your definition of success whether you see it as a lazy man’s

estimation of a worker’s success or belief that the harder you work, the luckier you become or mere good luck and or miracle. Otherwise, how will one explain how out of 29 lawyers called to bar in 1947, three of them became Supreme Court Justices in Agbaje, Chukwunweike Idigbe, Michael Oguejiofor Ajaegbo and four took the silk in H.O.O. Davis, QC, R.A. FaniKayode, QC, SAN, T.O.S, Benson, SAN, and Chief G.C. M. Onyiuke, QC, SAN. The 1953 class of 41 members produced three Supreme Court Justices in D.O. Coker, Uche Omo and B.O. Kazeem and two Court of Appeal Justice in A. Ajose-Adeogun, A.A. Ademola and two Senior Advocates in Adeniran Ogunsanya and E.A. Molajo. The list is endless.

The class of 1970 produced the first made in Nigerian SAN in Solomon Asemota, who made the silk in 1986.

• Uko, Notary Public for Nigeria, was former National Assistant Publicity Secretary of the Nigeria Bar Association.

Alleged burglary: Trial of UBA employees begins August 23

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N Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos has adjourned further proceedings in an alleged burglary case against two bank employees till August 23.

The arraignment of Olugbenga Kehinde (39) and Henry Omoike (50), followed a seven-paragraph petition to the Assistant InspectorGeneral of Police (AIG), Zone Two, Lagos, by the complainant dated February 10, this year.

A law firm, Matrix Solicitors, accused the employees of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc of breaking into their office and carting away their properties.

Matrix, a tenant occupying the sixth floor of UBA House, 57, Marina, complained of unlawful actions by their landlord (UBA PLC), on the office space that was leased to them on February 1, 2003.

It claimed it had been a law-abiding tenant to UBA until the day of the petition and was surprised on August 1, this year, when the bank refused members of its staff entry into the premises.

The bank was accused of breaking into their apartment without a court order or permission as well as disconnecting the law firm’s electronic access cards and their electricity.

The complainant called on the AIG Zone two to investigate and apprehend all those involved in the burglary as well as unlawful damage of its properties between January and February, this year.

At the arraignment of the two

By Precious Igbonwelundu and Fisayo Ige

defendants, prosecuting Inspector Stephen Molo, told the court that the suspects conspired to commit felony. He said they broke into the office of Matrix Solicitors with intent to commit felony.

Molo told the court that the defendants maliciously damaged several items valued N2, 486, 000 belonging to the complainant.

According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened Sections 409, 308 and 348 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos, 2011.

The Nation, however, gathered that the defendants had acted under the instruction of the bank as a result of an alleged fire outbreak.

They were said to have noticed smoke from the apartment after they reconnected the firm’s electricity, as such, acted in order to salvage the situation.

It was gathered that some security personnel as well as the fire service arm of the bank were present during the ‘rescue mission’.

It was also learnt that a civil suit filed by UBA against the law firm was pending before Justice Adesuyi Olateru-Olagbegi before the bank allegedly broke into Matrix’office.

The suspects pleaded not guilty to the charges and were admitted to bail in N500, 000 with two sureties in like sum each by Senior Magistrate Ogunbowale.

She adjourned the matter to August 23.

37

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

LEGAL OPINION

Overview of Freedom of Information Act and tangential provisions of Official Secrets Act

By Nojim Tairu

• Tairu

• Continued from last week

T

HE parts of The Official Secrets Act (TOSA) that have direct bearing to the Freedom of Information Act are the aspects thereof dealing with protection of official information (Section 1), Minister’s regulation for the keeping of records (Section 4) and offences/penalties under TOSA (Sections 7 and 8).

The aforesaid relevant parts of The Official Secrets Act are all about the protection of official information, dubbed “Classified Matter,”-defined as any information or thing which, under any system of security classification in use by any branch of the government is not to be disclosed to the public and of which the disclosure would be prejudicial to the security of Nigeria.

It is easy to observe at once from the aforesaid aim of the above aspect of The Official Secrets Act, in contrast to the objectives of the Freedom of Information Act, which have been set out in the first part of this paper, the colonial mentality and psyche of secrecy-which is the harbinger of the culture of silence and docility, is complete in The Official Secrets Act. The Act could well have been aptly titled: “An Act to make secret

the affairs and business of any branch of government and to ensure that the public knows nothing about their government except that which the government elects to disclose”!

Protection of information under TOSA v. free access to information under the FoI Act Section 1(1) of The Official Secrets Acts stipulates that a person who transmits on behalf of the government any classified matter to an unauthorized person or obtains, reproduces or retains any classified matter which he is not authorized to obtain reproduce or retain is guilty of an offence. Ditto, failure of a public officer to comply with any instructions to safeguard any classified matter is also criminalise, vide subsection 2 of Section 1.

The penalty for an offender convicted of offence under Section 7 is 14 years imprisonment. By virtue of section 8, an attempt to commit an offence under the Act or concealment of such offence is as good as committing the substantive offence itself, wherefor the punishment is the same as that for a principal offender.

Under The Official Secrets Act, the Minister responsible for Security and Public Safety is, by virtue of Section 4(1) (a) and (b), empowered to make regulations controlling the manner in which any person conducts any organization for receiving letters, telegrams, packages or other matter for delivery to any other person and to make provision for furnishing of information and the keeping of records by persons having or ceasing to have the conduct of an organization.

When the above provisions of The Official Secret Act are juxtaposed with those of the Freedom of Information Act, it is immediately obvious that whilst the former law seeks to hoard and keep away public information from public glare, the latter legislation is for their disclosure and revelation to the public. So then, the difference between the two laws is as clear as that between darkness and light. And really, secrecy is the mother of darkness, while information (knowledge) brings light.

It is instructive to note that the Freedom of Information Act contains no express provision stating that its provisions have repealed the aforementioned provisions of The

Official Secrets Act. However, by necessary implication and upon application of the FOI Act, the obtrusive provisions of TOSA must give way.

This is so because the two sets of provisions cannot co-exist and apply contemporaneously on a subject common to both laws. The two laws emanated from the same law making sources and that being so, they cannot be interpreted in a discordant sense, lest a rein of anarchy takes over.

Mischief is never intended in legislations, at least in principle. In so far as the provision of a former law is inconsistent with the provisions of a subsequent law on the same subject, the provisions of the latter law must prevail to the extent of the inconsistency of the former law.

And this would be so notwithstanding that the latter law does not expressly repeal the former law. This is the doctrine of repeal or abrogation of a Law by necessary implication.

However, for the avoidance of any doubt on the above legal position on the status of the relevant provisions of The Official Secrets Act which are tangentially affected by the Freedom of Information Act, the FOI Act itself rules out the application of those provisions of TOSA in the general overriding, superseding provision/opening sentence of Section 2(1) of FOI Act which reads as follows: “Notwithstanding anything contained in any other Act, Law or Regulation the right of any person to access or request information… is hereby established”.

It is elementary that in the rules governing Interpretation of Statutes, when an overriding provision/ statement is used in a law, it has the effect of overriding and brushing aside the law or provisions it is directed at. Now, in the case at hand, it is submitted that the above legal position would still hold notwithstanding that the subject overriding provision is worded in a generalibus sense.

This is because although the target Act and Law to be superseded was not specifically stated in the FOI Act, the intended law is easily identifiable by reference to its subject in the light of the objectives of the FOI Act. The statement might well have read as follows: Notwithstanding any contrary provision contained in

any other Act, Law or Regulation…”

Therefore the aforesaid provisions of The Official Secrets Act are included in the “any other Act” mentioned in the superseding provisions of S.2(1) of the Freedom of Information Act and as such the said provisions have been superceded by the replacing apposite provisions of the FOI Act. Of course, it would be proper and actually on a firma terra, to argue that the FOI Act should have been direct and specific as to the provisions of the particular law it actually intended to exclude or override.

This would obviate the interpretation issue that the above inelegant wording is generating.

Offences under TOSA now duties under the FoI Act Also to be added as a weight in support of the above line of interpretation and status of the Official secret Acts vis a vis the Freedom of Information Act, is the express provision of Section 29(1) of the FOI which clearly modified and whittled down the strictness of secrecy on classified matter/information which the Official Secrets Act stands for. The section provides that the fact that any information in the custody of a public institution (which includes the Defence and Foreign Affairs Ministries, Law Enforcement Departments and Agencies) is kept under Security Classification or is Classified Document within the meeting of The Official Secrets Acts, does not preclude it from being disclosed pursuant to an application for its disclosure.

The above provisions require no strain in its interpretation. Its pedestrian implication is that the act of disclosure of a classified information which would have earned an offender under the Official Secret Act a jail term of 14 years, is now a compellable duty under the Freedom of Information Act which the officer is obliged to carry out without the fear of beaching any law.

Public officers and all encouraged to be whistle blowers Importantly, Section 28 of the FoI Act grants blanket protection and immunity from prosecution to every public officer for disclosure of information, as against criminal liability under The Official Secrets Act. The private individual/corpo-

rate whistleblower and public spirited people are not left out of the new regime of information freedom. The full text of the provision which is plain enough, is worth setting out, as done hereunder: “28 (1). Notwithstanding anything contained in the Criminal Code, Penal Code, The Official Act or any other enactment, no civil or criminal proceedings shall lie against an Officer of any public institution or against any person acting on behalf of a public institution, and no proceedings shall lie against such persons thereof, for the disclosure in good faith of any information or any part thereof pursuant to this Act, for consequences that flow from that disclosure or for the failure to give any notice required under this Act, if care is taken to give the required notice.

(2). Nothing contained in the Criminal code or the Official Secrets Act shall prejudicially affect any public officer who without authorization discloses to any person, any information which he reasonably believes to show: a. Violation of any law, rule or regulation. b. Mismanagement, gross waste of fund, fraud and abuse of authority; or c. A substantial and specific danger to public health or safety notwithstanding that such information was not disclosed pursuant to the provision of this Act. (3) No civil or criminal proceedings shall lie against any person receiving the information or further disclosing it” The above is a clear, unambiguous encouragement to every Public Officer as well as Private individuals and companies to freely penetrate, investigate Government and public institutions and speak out against any rot in the system; be it in the nature of violation of laws, mismanagement of resources, fraud or abuse of authority.

Conclusion The long and short of the foregoing comparison of the provisions of Official Secrets Act and Freedom of Information Act is that, the enactment of the Freedom of Information Act sounds the death knell of the affected obnoxious, freedom limiting provisions of the Official Secrets Act which are now as good as dead, though yet to be interned. But of what use is the hacking of the limb of a dead horse? None!

• Tairu is a Lagos-based lawyer and Principal Partner in the firm of Nojim Tairu & Co

Immanent dualities?A socio-legal analysis of the character, attainments, and limitations of Gani Fawehinmi’s human rights praxis • Continued from last week

T

HE Possibility of Human Rights Activism beyond the Typical NGO Model An important, if under-studied, part of Gani’s genius as a human rights defender was to alert Nigerians and the world tothe possibility of undertaking successful human rights praxis in Nigeria and elsewhere, as a self-described human rights activist,in a way that differed significantly from the dominant or typical Nigerian human rights NGO model (while still resembling it in certain respects).Gani’s human rights praxis in fact modelled that possibility, and demonstrated this still uncommon phenomenon. Space does not allow for a detailed development here of the character of the human rights NGO model against which Gani’s work is being compared, but as that has been done in great detail elsewhere, it will suffice for present purposes to reference and utilise the analytical conclusions of that other discussion, albeit in their very broad

By Obiora Chinedu Okafor

outline.

First, it is safe to say that the inauguration of Gani’s human rights struggle was motivated by many of the same concerns that led to the formation of the relevant NGOs (resistance to military rule, pro-democratic yearnings, defense of the CP rights of Nigerians, etc).113 But, as we have seen,he focused attention on ES rights from the very beginning of his career.This was not the case with most of the NGOs; at least not until recently. Similarly, Gani differed from most of these NGOs in the way he consistently treated ES and CP rights as integrated categories, and not as alternative or exclusive categories.115 Yet, like most of the NGOs (at least until recently),Gani focused very little, if at all, on gender as a discrete category/area of human rights work.In terms of its composition and structure, Gani’sowner-dominated, partner-less, democracyless, human rights law office looked rather similar to that of

most of the NGOs; for (with a few exceptions) most Nigerian NGOs are not and have never been membership or internally democratic groups. However, Gani’s National Conscience Party, which was basically a human rights organization, is membership-based.

This attenuates the force of this criticism to some extent, though not completely. In terms of its geo-political location, much like most of the NGOs (at least until fairly recently), Gani’s human rights work tended to be centered in the Lagos (South-Westernmost) areaof Nigeria where his office was located. Again, like the NGOs to which he is being compared, his human rights work was also a largely urban affair.And like most of the NGOs, Gani did consistently participate in “coalitions-of-the willing” with kindred human rights spirits.But much unlike almost all of the relevant NGOs,Gani shunned foreign funding of his human rights work. Indeed, he consistently denounced such foreign financial help as problematic for the independence of

Nigerian human rights defenders.In his characteristically provocative words: “I have always opposed it from the word go. Today, Nigeria has at least 400 human rights groups.

Most of them are funded from abroad. There is a danger…I don’t want a second slavery ... But if they have to rely on foreign fund[s], then the fund[s] must be regulated.”

It is important to note here that Gani’sstrong aversion for foreign funding was sustained in part by his ample means and alternative funding strategy of earning money from his other legal cases and publishing law reports for commercial gain.He was financially successful as a lawyer and law publisher. This was not the case with mostother human rights activists in Nigeria’s depressed socio-economic conditions.

From the above discussion, it is clear that the two main differences between the Gani-ist model of human rights praxis and the typical NGO-ist model were that: (a) from the very beginning and through-

• The late Chief Fawehinmi

out his career, Gani took ES rights seriously and integrated them squarely into his human rights praxis, while the same cannot be said for the typical self-described human rights NGO in Nigeria; and (b) while foreign funding was, for a number of understandable reasons, the mainstay of the typical NGO, Gani did not accept foreign funding and rejected it as a poisoned chalice of sorts. Interestingly, these two points are deeply related.

• To be continued next week

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

38

LAW & SOCIETY

How alleged fraud in INEC, litigations threaten elections The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is faced with litigations which may affect its ability to conduct elections in future, writes ERIC IKHILAE. The Beginning

E

ITHER consciously or otherwise, the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) seems to be heading towards the path trod by its immediate predecessor. Its reputation is fast waning, no thanks to the various contradictions which INEC is being associated with.

Not only has it been in the news in recent time for the wrong reasons, INEC’s inability to ensure a resolution of the lingering litigation over the legitimacy of its continued usage of the collapsible transparent ballot boxes, may mar its plans for future polls.

Also worrisome is the allegation of fraudulent dealings made against INEC’s leadership by a firm, Bedding Holdings Limited, on the award of contracts for the supply of the ballot boxes for the last two general elections.

Media reports at the weekend equally indicated that the commission has allegedly been compelled by the Presidency to effect an urgent restructuring, following a deluge of complaints and petitions of alleged corruption and partisanship that has put it in bad light.

INEC denies allegation

Although INEC’s spokesperson Kayode Idowu has continued to deny all allegations against the commission, observers are of the view that its reluctance to act objectively in most instances, avoid undue litigation, honour court orders, among others, are practices sustained by elements among the commission’s leadership, who benefit from the status quo.

The dispute over INEC’s right to deploy transparent ballot boxes for election, though inherited by the Prof Attahiru Jega’s administration, was ignited in 2006 by his predecessor, Prof Maurice Iwu. Under Iwu’s predecessor, Abel Guobadia, INEC was said to have made it a tradition of first seeking the consent of the owner of the patent right over the boxes - Bedding Holdings Limited- before using the said boxes for election, a tradition Iwu allegedly altered.

It was alleged that while preparing for the 2007 elections, Iwu, despite being aware that Bedding Holdings has susbsisting patent right over the transparent ballot boxes, awarded to another firm - Emchai Limited – the contract for the supply and sale of 300, 000 units of the boxes without the consent of the patent right owner.

Firm accuses INEC of infringement of rights

The development prompted Bedding Holdings to head for the court. In the suit filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja and marked: FHC/CS/36/2007 – Bedding Holdings Limited v. Attorney-General of the Federation and seven others, the plaintiff sought declaratory injunctions and monetary reliefs against the defendants, including INEC for their alleged infringement of its patented right over the transparent ballot boxes.

Emchai only responded to the suit via a notice of preliminary objection, arguing that the suit disclosed no reasonable cause of action, an application Justice Anwuli Chikere dismissed for lacking in merit. Emchai appealed the ruling.

Rather than await the outcome of the suit, and during the pendency of the appeal, INEC proceeded to utilise the transparent ballot boxes for the 2007 elections. Emchai’s appeal was later struck out on March 7, this year for being “incurably defective.”

Also in 2010, while preparing for the 2011 election, INEC, under Jega, again awarded the contract for the supply of 150,000 new transparent ballot boxes to Emchai, allegedly ignoring Bedding Holdings claim about its subsisting rights over the transparent boxes.

This again prompted Bedding Holdings to file another suit marked: FHC/ ABJ/ CS/ 783/2010 – Bedding Holdings Limited v. Registrar of Patents, Federal Ministry of Commerce and Industry and six others. Also named as defendants in the suit were Emchai Limited, Tambco United Nigeria Limited, Anowat Project and Resources Limited, AttorneyGeneral of the Federation, INEC and Prof Jega.

In the suit, the plaintiff prayed the court to determine which of the patent and design rights issued to it and the other three companies – Emchai, Tambco United Nigeria Limited and Anowat Project and Resources Limited – were first in time and valid.

According to exhibited documents, the Registrar of Patents issued Bedding Holdings patent and design rights over “Transparent

Ballot Boxes” on January 12, 1998 and another over the improved “Electronic Collapsible Transparent Ballot Boxes “on November 27, 2006, while the same Registrar of Patents allegedly issued similar rights and certificates over the same transparent ballot boxes to Emchai on August 31, 2006, Tambco and Anowat on the same day - October 24, 2010.

The plaintiff also claimed its exclusive ownership of the inventions named:” Transparent Ballot Boxes and “Electronic Collapsible Transparent Ballot Boxes,” by virtue of its Certificate of Registration of Patent Rights No: RP12994 and Registration of Industrial Designs Rights No: RD5946 issued on January 12, 1998, and Certificate of Registration of Patent Rights No:RP16642 and Registration of Industrial Designs Rights No: RD13841.

During the pendency of the case, the AGF, on behalf of INEC and Prof Jega, wrote through its lawyer, Karina Tunyan and Co. In the letter dated December 2, 2010, the AGF invited the plaintiff to a meeting slated for December 9 with the intention of ensuring “an amicable resolusion of the dispute between the parties.”

Bedding Holdings’Chief Executive Officer Dr. Sylvester Odigie stated in an affidavit, that in line with his company’s commitment to the spirit of amicable settlement, it applied on December 16, 2010 that the case be struck out to allow parties explore out-ofcourt option.

“Surprisingly, as soon as the suit was struck out , the fifth, sixth and seventh defendants (AGF, INEC and Jega) became lackadaisical about settlement moves initiated by them; neglected the matter and abandoned the plaintiff, while they went ahead with their preparations to use the plaintiff’s patented products, which are the subject matter of the case, for the 2011 elections,” he stated.

Disappointed by the turn of events, Bedding Holdings returned to court in suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/82/2011, with the same parties and similar prayers as the earlier case that was struck out.

Firm wins case

The court, convinced that processes were duly served on parties and that Emchai, Tambco and Anowat failed to file any document in response, proceeded to conduct hearing in the case. At the conclusion of hearing, the court on June 5, 2012 entered judgment in favour of the plaintiff.

The court, aside restraining the defendants including INEC and Jega from further usage of the “Transparent Ballot Boxes and Electronic Collapsible Transparent Ballot Boxes,” without first seeking and obtaining Bedding Holdings’ consent, also declared as illegal the earlier usage of the products without the patent rights owner’s authorisation.

The court, presided over by Justice Adamu Bello, upheld Bedding Holdings exclusive ownership of the products by virtue o its subsisting patent rights covered by Certificate of Registration of Patent Rights No: RP12994 and Registration of Industrial Designs Rights No: RD5946 issued on January 12, 1998, and Certificate of Registration of Patent Rights No:RP16642 and Registration of Industrial Designs Rights No: RD13841.

Justice Bello also voided the purported patent and design certificates issued to Emchai, Tambco and Anowat by the Registrar of Patents on the ground that they were illegally issued, the plaintiff being in possession of subsisting patent rights over the same products.

Dissatisfied with the judgment, INEC said it has since gone on appeal. But Emchai added a twist to the case recently when it filed a motion, praying the court to among others, set aside the Judgment.

It argued that the said judgment was given in default of appearance and allegedly obtained by the plaintiff, Bedding Holdings, fraudulently. It also argued that the suit constituted an abuse of court process as there was a subsisting suit, with similar facts, prayers and parties, now pending before the Court of Appeal, Abuja.

In a supporting affidavit deposed to by Arum Ifeyinwa, Emchai claimed ignorance of the suit. It also denied being served with any court process in respect of the case.

Ifeyinwa stated that Emchai’s Head office is at 212, Idowu Ajao Street, Anthony Village, Lagos. She denied that its office was at KM 17 Aba/Port Harcourt Express Way, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. She exhibited the company’s search report from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to support her claim.

• Jega

In response to Emchai’s motion dated July 12, 2012, Bedding Holdings filed a counter affidavit dated August 9, 2012, denying that it fraudulently obtained the said the judgment.

Odigie, who deposed to the affidavit, alleged that “the undisputed facts on the criminal antecedents of the defendants was responsible for their deliberate action of avoiding the suit, refusing to put up appearances or representations in spite of the numerous and repeated services of the originating processes and all other court processes on them.”

More allegations against INEC

Cataloguing series of alleged fraudulent dealings in the process of the INEC’s award of contracts for the purchase of ballot boxes in 2006 and 2010, Odigie stated that INEC, had since the tenure of Iwu maintained a carefully crafted contract scheme through which it allegedly swindle the Federal Government of huge funds He alleged that under the purported scheme now sustained by its leadership, some senior officials of INEC in alleged collusion with officials of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, facilitate the award of multi-billion naira contracts to companies with insufficient share capital.

He accused INEC, its Chair, the Registrar of Patents and the three companies of engaging in alleged criminal and fraudulent conducts making them liable for prosecution under the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Act, Public Procurement Act and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Act. Odigie stated that INEC had, in some instances engaged in “fraudulently obtaining legal documents from the Ministry of Commerce under false pretences; using and projecting companies with insufficient shares capital for selective tendering and bidding for procurement of a multi-billion naira contract.”

He averred that during Iwu’s era, there were monumental irregularities and unprecedented fraud in the tender and procurement processes perpetrated by the Emchai and INEC. “Emchai was said to have procured the collapsible Transparent Ballot Box from the far East at a unit cost of 7. 89 pounds in 2006, and the exchange rate of naira to the pound was about N230.

“By implication, it translated to a mere N1, 815.85 per unit of the product which was awarded then at N18,400 per unit by INEC to Emchai; which means the actual cost of the box for 300,000 units amounted to a mere N554 million of the total contract sum of N5.520 billion collected from the Federal Government,” he stated.

Odigie added that aside the alleged inflation of the 2006 contract, Iwu also used his office to ensure that the government granted Emchai exemption/waiver of import duties/ other taxes and pre-shipment inspection on the ballot boxes.

“The approval by the government made Emchai, in collaboration with Prof Iwu, to cart away the whooping sum of N552, 000, 000 being deductions of 5% tax and 5% VAT in the two payments received for this particular contract.

“The fundamental and fraudulent misrepresentation of facts and information to the President caused the President to approve in

error billions of Naira waiver/refund of revenue due to the Federal Government.

“Apart from benefiting from the aforementioned multiple waivers, the 2nd Defendant/ Applicant (Emchai) using this approval, collected back N552,000,000 as mentioned above, being deductions of five per cent Tax and five per cent VAT. “Emchai and its co-conspirators carted away N5, 520, 000, 000 plus N7, 245, 000 making the total sum of N5, 527, 245, 000 free money for a contract of N5, 520, 000, 000 without spending a dime; facilitated by the guided tools and instrumentality of officialdom being economic sabotage of the highest order perpetrated and supported by Prof Maurice Iwu and other staff of INEC,” Odigie stated.

On allegation that some companies used for the contract 2006 process had links with officials of INEC, Odigie cited the case of Cass Engineering Nigeria Limited - a company he alleged was being promoted by persons linked with Prof Iwu. It said though the company had just N100,000 share capital, was allowed to bid for a multi-billion naira contract.

He also cited the case of Stusal Engineering Limited, which it described as a non-existent company, allegedly used by INEC under Iwu to fulfill the process of selective tendering for the multi-billion naira contract for the supply of transparent ballot boxes.

“Emchai, in addition to the fake patent used for the biding and securing the multi-billion naira contract, had insufficient share capital of N10,000 with which it bided for the contract,” he stated.

He cited other instances of alleged fraudulent conduct by INEC and cases where he claimed the commission’s Chairman misled the Presidency into acting in their favour, exhibiting volume of documents including a Presidential memo to the Federal Executive Council to support his claim.

Odigie referred to instances where, it claimed, members of the companies bidding for its contracts maintain family or working relationship with the principal officer of INEC; fraudulent misrepresentation of facts and information to deceive the Presidency into approving some of its requests.

Bedding Holdings alleged that the practice of fraudulent connivance between INEC and contractors is purportedly sustained under the incumbent management led by Prof Attahiru Jega as was allegedly exhibited in the award of contract for the 2010 purchase of 150,000 boxes. He accused Jega of misrepresenting facts before the Presidency to influence the award of the contract to Emchai, despite the subsistence of its patent right over the boxes.

“Jega, on behalf and in favour of the EMCHAI applied and caused a memo - EC (2010)219 COPY NO. 8 dated November 15, 2010 and entitled : Federal Executive Council – Contract For The Supply Of Collapsible Transparent Ballot Boxes For The Conduct Of The 2011 General Elections –Memorandum by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which inter alia stated at paragraph 5 of the said memo that: ‘‘While noting that the company that supplied the boxes in 2006, Emchai Limited has the patent to its design and specifications; and in order also to maintain standardization, the Commission decided to adopt the direct Procurement method in the award of the contract for the Transparent Collapsible Ballot Boxes as provided in section 42 (1) (a) (b) and (c) of the Public Procurement Act 2007’’ “The blatant falsehood as stated in the preceding paragraph enabled Emchai, INEC and Jega to successfully seek and obtain the ratification of the Federal Executive Council, using the guided tools and instrumentality of officialdom, for the award of the contract for the supply of yet a new 150,000 units of the Plaintiff’s patented products at a unit cost of N13, 000, making the total contract sum of N 1, 950,000,000. without the prior consent, license and authority of the Plaintiff; which gave rise to the action leading to the judgment under reference,” Odigie said.

He prayed the court to dismiss Emchai’s motion on the ground that, having given a judgment in the case, the court could no longer revisit the case again.

INEC appeals

Idowu, while speaking on telephone, denied the allegations made by Bedding Holdings.

“What they (Bedding Holdings) filed in court is pursuant to the case that has been on for a while now. The case is in court. And we have appealed the judgment they referred to.

“We have also filed an application before the trial court for a stay of execution of the judgment pending the outcome of our appeal.

That application will soon be heard. They should await the outcome rather than resorting to this propaganda. The media hype is meant to preempt the court. We will not join issue with them outside the court on this,” he said.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

39

ABUJA REVIEW NEWS

• President Goodluck Jonathan (left) welcoming the former Inspectors-General of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Gambo Jimeta and Alhaji Ibrahim Coomassie during their courtesy visit to the State House Abuja.

PHOTO AKIN OLADOKUN

•Cross section of muslim faithful during Eid el Fitri celebration at Kubwa prayer ground in Abuja PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

•From left: Interior Minister Comrade Abba Moro; Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Oghiadomen and Foreign Affairs Minister, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

PHOTO AKIN OLADOKUN.

• Corps Marshal Federal Road Safety Commission, Osita Chidoka(left)welcoming Road Safety Specialist, Sub- Saharan Africa Transport Policy Programme, World Bank ,Mr Per Mathiasen during a visit to FRSC headquarters in Abuja PHOTO ABAYOMI FAYESE

•From left: Manager, Media and Communication, Mobil Producing Nigeria, Mr Nigel Cookey• National President, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mohammed Garba(right) Sam; Manager, Public and Government Affairs, Mobil Producing Nigeria, Susan Eshelt and National Secretary, Shuaib Liman and Chairman, NUJ FCT Council, Chuks Ehirim President Science Teachers Association of Nigeria (STAN), Dr Prince Okorie at the reception/ prize giving for the winners of STAN Science Quiz competition held in Abuja during a press briefing on the increased harassment of journalists in Abuja PHOTO ABAYOMI FAYESE

•Armed Soldiers on guard during Eid el Fitri celebration at Kubwa Prayer ground in Abuja PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

PHOTO ABAYOMI FAYESE

•Vice President Namadi Sambo (left) paying the traditional homage to President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa.

40

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

ABUJA REVIEW

I

T was a prayer answered for the Presidency when the news came in from Saudi Arabia that the dreaded Boko Haram sect declared that it was already in direct talks with the government with the view to ending violence in the North.

The news came in barely days after President Goodluck Jonathan urged Muslims to use the remaining period of Ramadan to seek divine intervention for the nation’s strife.

Vice-President Namadi Sambo is also in Saudi Arabia participating in lesser Hajj. The Voice of America, last Tuesday, reported that a purported spokesman for Boko Haram, Habu Mohammed, said the group was engaged in direct talks with the government.

The Presidency had come under series of attacks. Some groups and individuals had called for the resignation of the President. So, it was an elated Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku that reacted to the said news by reechoing the position of government that it has always been open to dialogue from the onset. He added that it was a fact that violence has disrupted social and economic activities in some parts of Northern Nigeria and so has accepted dialogue as a way of bringing the situation to an end as quickly as possible.

The country’s passion for sports was also brought to fore in the past week as the Presidency registered its displeasure over the country’s failure to win a medal in the just-concluded London Olympic Games. For the Minister of Sports, the reception he got was far from what he actually bargained for as he came in for the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting looking jaded as a result of the failure of the country’s contingent to the London Olympics where the country recorded its worst outing in recent years.

Immediately he stepped into the Council Chambers on Wednesday, he was confronted with questions from his fellow ministers who asked, Bolaji where are the medals?

Bewildered Bolaji Abdullahi, who thought he could find some soothing balm from his colleagues, responded by accusing his colleagues of abandoning him when he needed them most. This did not, however, stop his colleagues from probing him especially with the huge budget of N2.2b for a less-than-three week’s event, coupled with the rumoured minister’s unofficial 25member delegation to the games.

At the 1996 Barcelona Games, Nigerian athletes won six medals- two gold, one silver and three bronze medals. At the Sydney Games in 2000, Nigeria won one gold and two silver medals. In Athens 2004, we won two bronze medals while the 2008 Beijing Games recorded one silver and

Bolaji, where are the medals?

From the Villa

By Vincent Ikuomola two bronze medals.

So, it was not surprising when, at the end of the weekly Wednesday’s meeting,President Goodluck Jonathan ordered a total overhaul of the country’s sports ministry; an action that may likely consume key actors in the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the ministry. President Jonathan has also directed that a Presidential Retreat be organised to discuss the future of Nigerian sports.

The issue of funding is expected to be discussed at the retreat so as to ensure that the country continues to make impact in the sporting world.

Also, retired Inspectors-General of Police and the committee on the reorganisation of Nigeria Police Force were divided over the relevance of

the Ministry of Police Affairs.

While the presidential committee wants the ministry discarded, the retired IGPs are of the opinion that the ministry is vital as it explains to the public the policies carried out by the force; a responsibility the ex-police chiefs said should not be carried out by the police.

The Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (rtd) who also joined the debate, accused the presidential committee that recommended the scrapping of his ministry of going beyond its briefs.

Incidentally, the minister was listed alongside Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Bello Adoke

Kubwa hospital gets eye centre

A

N EYE centre has been established at the Kubwa General Hospital in the Kubwa District of Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. It was established by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Health and Human Services Secretariat in collaboration with the Standard Chartered Bank .

Speaking at the inauguration of the facility in Kubwa, the Secretary, Dr Demola Onakomaiya, said the project was in line with the International Agency for Prevention of Blindness and the World Health Organisation to eliminate avoidable blindness by 2020 through its “Vision 2020- The right to sight”.

He said that the FCT eye care

From Bukola Amusan

programme which is supported mainly by the International Centre for Eye Care Education(ICEE) and Sight Savers came into existence in the 2011.

The secretary said that the target population of the programme are the urban slums in the FCT and its objectives include capacity building and upgrading of eye care centre infrastructure in its project areas, Bwari, Kuje and Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).

He said that this intervention has produced numerous significant results in capacity building of health personnel, optometrist, ophthalmic nurse and equipment.

“Technicians from health centres in Bwari, Kuje and AMAC

benefited from the training of trainers while 50 community health extension workers and secondary school teachers were equally trained on how to measure visual acuity and identify simple eye disease in their various clinics, communities and schools respectively,” Dr Onakomaiya added.

This, according to him, ensures early detection and prompt referral of eye problems identified for further management and treatment.

He further revealed that: “About 5, 000 adults, children and secondary school children were screened for blindness and given free reading glasses and eye medications by the trained health workers in the various

who is the chairman of that committee, Minister of State for FCT, Olajumoke Akinjide and Minister of Niger Delta, Godsday Orubebe as members of the committee.

The committee, which has three weeks to submit its report, is expected to produce a White Paper on the report at the end of its assignment.

However, both shared similar view on the issue of state police as they vehemently kicked against it.

They based their position on past experience and the capacity of the states to fund state police. Besides, the idea will lead to eventual break up of Nigeria, they argued.

Rather than state police, the former police chiefs and the committee advocated a more robust funding arrangement for the police by the three tiers of government.

The committee and the retired IGs also advocated fiscal autonomy for the police. This will make the police handle its budgeting plan rather than the ministry.

Meanwhile, there seems to be no headway in the trade dispute between the Presidency and electricity workers’ union over the privatisation of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), as the Federal Government has begun a probe into the alleged fraudulent conduct of the staff union of PHCN and the communities.”

In a remark, the Medical Director of Kubwa General Hospital, Dr. Ahmed Danfulani noted that the facility was a great development because people at the grassroots can now have access to quality eye care treatment.

He said that the facility has been structured to meet eye consultation and advanced eye surgery at affordable rates.

Contributing, the Sub-regional Manager of ICEE, Anne Ebri, who represented the Global Programmes Director, Kovin Naidoo, said that the overall aim of the project was the reduction of the number of blind people, eye diseases and visual impairment by 50 per cent in selected urban slums of the FCT, through provision of high quality comprehensive eye care services by well-trained personnel with full community participation to improve quality of lives by 2014.

non-remittance of workers’ pension contributions since 2006.

Besides, it has also promised to release more information with regard to the severance allowances for workers in the aftermath of the planned privatisation of PHCN. This has been the main issue of the quarrel between government and the workers’ union.

Minister of Power Prof Barth Nnaji said there was a lot of distortion of issues by the union leaders.

He explained that the leadership of the power sector unions wants government to exempt them from complying with the nation’s pension laws which stipulates contributing pension.

It was also a week of rebuttal as the Director of Media to the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Sanya Awosan, denied allegations that his boss Dr. Doyin Okpue is being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Awosan, in a statement, insisted Okupe is not being investigated for any alleged unwholesome act while executing a contract in Benue State. He further noted that Benue State government has no grudge over any alleged contractual malpractice involving Okupe.

•Senator Bala Mohammed

43

TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

• Dr Jonathan

• Musa

• Arowosoge

• Adesina

Nigerians are disturbed by the insecurity in the land. Assistant Editor DADA ALADELOKUN, in anticipation of what to expect when the House of Representatives reconvenes in September, speaks with a cross-section of politicians on the performance of the Jonathan administration. He asks: Should the President quit now?

Insecurity: Should Jonathan quit office now?

I

T began like a child’s play. To day, it is almost a singalong.

“Jonathan, resign and go.”

“Just go, Jonathan!” Across the country, it is one call that stands out among issues on the front burner, especially on the nation’s suffocating political milieu.

Far from it, it is not about the “crawling” 2012 Budget that has for sometime now, put President Goodluck Jonathan on the defensive against members of the House of Representatives who would not want him to spend the next minute at the nation’s seat of power.

The call has been coming from the embittered hearts of concerned Nigerians who believe that the president and his lieutenants are at their wits’ end over the seemingly unending bombing campaign by the Boko Haram sect, especially in the northern part of the country.

The sect, according to reports, was the first to seek the president’s resignation if he would not join Islam in lieu of his own religion.

Apparently, Mr President did not budge and the sect would not sheathe their sword, killing and maiming.

As at the close of last year, bookmakers had it that over five hundred innocent Nigerians had lost their precious lives to incessant bombings and its inherent mindless killings and bloodletting.

There appears to be no end in sight for the orgy of killings and attacks in which sacred worship centres have not been spared.

To most worried Nigerians, the fact remains indubitable that the problem posed by the sect and its activities is a major obstacle to smooth governance that all anxiously expect from the Jonathan Administration; hence, the calls for his resignation.

Reportedly, renowned Islamic scholar, Sheikh Abubakar Gumi,

who was among the earliest few who asked the President to tender his resignation letter. His reason: For “staining his hands with so much blood.”

Former Oyo State Governor, Lam Adesina, also lent his voice in the same vein last week as he unveiled his disechantment with the leadership over the wanton destruction of lives and property by the fundamentalist sect in the North.

Adesina, one of the leaders of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), spoke at the 2012 Ramadan Tefsir lecture held at the Gbadamosi Olowoporoku Adesina Memorial Mosque, Felele, Ibadan. He said: “After a thorough assessment of the situation, it is my belief that we must achieve peace at this point in time because if there is no peace now, then Nigeria is going to collapse. Therefore, while I am calling on the Boko Haram sect to soft-pedal, I am calling on President Jonathan, if it is his resignation that will bring about peace in Nigeria, let him resign.”

Also, the northern chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), bemoaned and berated what it called Jonathan’s unimpressive handling of the nation’s scarifying security challenges.

The group’s spokesman, for the 19 northern states, Mr. Sunday Oibe, expressed regrets that the Boko Haram had continued to perpetrate its murderous activities because of the president’s support.

Again, the group’s panacea: The president must resign!

Last Tuesday, however, Jonathan spoke through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Matters, Dr. Doyin Okupe. Though, he sympathised with the Christian community in the North who had suffered incessant attacks and bloodshed, he described the call by northern chapter of the CAN for the President to resign as misguided and uncalled-for.”

Appealing for the Christian community’s understanding, he re-echoed the government’s assurance that the security challenges would soon be over, even as he recalled that it took the British government more than 28 years to contain the Irish Revolutionary Army (IRA). But Okupe did not disclose what the president was doing about the challenges.

In Kaduna, a former Secretary of the Kaduna State CAN, Rev. Joseph Hayab, cautioned religious leaders against overheating the polity by calling for the President’s resignation.

Hayab, who is the Special Adviser to Kaduna State Governor on Religious Matters warned that such a call could incite northern Christians against the Jonathanled administration.

Also, to former Kaduna State Governor Balarabe Musa, calling for the President to throw in the towel would not do anyone and indeed the nation, an iota of good.

“If he resigns, how sure are we that

his successor will have the solution for these problems on ground?

What Nigeria needs is a fundamental change that will usher in a new system that will be of immeasurable advantage to the generality of Nigerians.”

He further explained his stance: “What we need urgently now is a lasting solution to unemployment, festering corruption and such other ills militating against the nation and indeed, the entire citizenry. It is not all about the president’s resignation; it is far from it.”

An ACN member of the House of Representatives, Dr. Ifeoluwa Arowosoge, did not fault those calling for the president’s ouster, but he too believes firmly that it won’t solve the problem at hand.

The lawmaker, who represents Ekiti South West/Ikere/Ise/Orun Constituency told The Nation yesterday: “Those seeking the resignation of Mr President are doing so out of sheer concern and fear over the spate of wanton loss of precious lives and property in the northern part of the country. How sure are we that the person coming to take over the mantle of leadership from him will end the palaver? He can’t.

“I dare say that the president’s resignation won’t solve any problem; rather, it will aggravate it because the Niger-Delta militants will rise again. In the process, oil pipelines will turn casualties and the nation’s economy will be ad-

‘Now, from the President’s stand-point, it appears that the apostles of the Jonathan-must-resign calls may lose out ultimately, but how reliable is the President’s assurance that Nigerians will soon have cause to live in the endangered part of the country with their hearts in the proper place? What will be his magic wand at long last?’

versely affected. It is a situation we have to handle will absolute caution.”

However, Arowosoge has a recipe. Said he: “The President should complete this ongoing tenure and leave for another person that Nigerians want there. He should forget about coming for a second term if he is really interested in the peace and unity of this country.”

Former military President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) lent his voice in condemnation of such a call for Jonathan’s resignation on Thursday, last week. Describing it as laughable, the gap-toothed ex-Nigerian leader believes that such a demand could lead to the disintegration of Nigeria. Thus, he enjoined media practitioners not to celebrate those that want the country to break up through such calls.

Both IBB and activist politician Ayo Opadokun, who is the national coordinator of Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reforms (CODER), believe fervently that a major way to curtail the insecurity in the country is by creating state police which visionary advocates like the national leader of ACN, Asiwaji Bola Tinubu had been drumming into the ears of past successive administrations.

Now, from the president’s standpoint, it appears that the apostles of the Jonathan-must-resign calls may lose out ultimately, but how reliable is the president’s assurance that Nigerians will soon have cause to live in the endangered part of the country with their hearts in the proper place? What will be his magic wand at long last?

As events daily unfold, keen observers are of the hope that at the end of the day, the president would have taken decisive steps that would not give his critics the opportunity to have a good laugh.

44

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

POLITICS

Fashola: 1,900 days of action

By Miriam Ndikanwu

L

AGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) has since his first term marked each hundred days in office by giving account of government programmes and achievements to different sectors of the society.

But unlike in previous occasions where the governor hosted stakeholders, last Friday’s celebration of the governor’s 1,900 days was spread across the three senatorial districts with members of the State Executive Council assigned to the various districts to feel the pulse of the people.

From Igando to Ikorodu and Lagos Island where the programme held consecutively, the turnout was overwhelming. What many would have mistakenly described as yet another political gathering, turned out to be the required platform where residents freely expressed their views about the government policies and their impact in their localities.

State Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello led the delegation at the Lagos West forum, which held at Igando Ikotun Local Council Development Area (LCDA), while his counterpart in Justice and Works and Infrastructure, Mr Ade Ipaye and Dr Obafemi Hamzat led other delegations to the Lagos Central and Lagos East forums respectively.

Addressing the crowd at Igando, Bello said the Fashola administration remained committed to ensuring that the people of the state reap the dividends of democracy.

The Commissioner explained that the governor changed the pattern of celebrating the 100 days in order to enable his cabinet members meet with the people at their constituencies so as to give room to grassroots participation in governance.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Ganiyu Johnson who gave a sector-by-sector account of the government achievements in the area, said the government has completed 110 capacity Maternal and Child Care complex in Alimosho, Amuwo-Odofin, Isolo and Ifako Ijaiye.

He said the healthcare facilities are geared towards decongesting the state general hospitals and addressing the challenges of maternal and child mortality. He noted that work was almost completed at the State School of Nursing complex in Alimosho General Hospital.

He said the government in its bid to foster clean, healthy and sustainable environment for the well being of citizenry had improved its solid waste management in the area, established public Private Partnership in waste to wealth programmes, provided transfer loading stations both in Oshodi and Adeniji Adele; improved waste water management and sustained highway sanitation and street cleanliness in all major highways in the state.

On road construction, he said the ongoing 10-lane expansion of Badagry Express way would complement the international highway along the West Africa region and provide critical access to the market on the coast at very highly economic values. He said a total number of 22 roads were undergoing construction in Mushin adding that 10 have already been completed.

Ipaye, who led a similar delegation at the City Hall, Lagos Island, explained to the audience the rationale behind government’s decision to increase the tuition fee of the State University.

Ipaye said government was concerned with the state of the university which, according to him, was fast losing its credibility and status due to the low standard of facilities and personnel.

In Ikorodu, Hamzat informed the people about government’s plan to construct alternative road when work commences on the expansion of Ikorodu road to address the traffic on that axis. He said while the project is still on the drawing board, initial estimated cost is N60billion with a compensation component of N5billion.

Hamzat said the road would now be redeveloped into six lanes and an integrated median demarcation for the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). Other features, he explained, include pedestrian bridges.

He also said that the state was working with Ogun to redevelop three federal roads linking the border communities of the two states. These roads are Ikorodu-Sagamu road, Akute-Ojodu/Berger road and Epe-Ijebu Ode road.

Hamzat said that the two states could not afford to wait endlessly for the Federal Government which has responsibility for roads.

A resident, Mr. Kolawole Babatunde, commended the government for coming down to the area to showcase government’s achievement while stressing the need for attention in the areas of road networks, employments for youths in the area as well as the challenges of poverty.

He lamented the state of roads in Baruwa and Adelawa communities, saying that the people find it difficult to carry out their activities as a result of this situation.

Also, Mrs Toyin Bamisaye-Oni, expressed concern about the state of Ije-Ododo roads in Ijegun axis, calling on the government to give attention to it.

Responding, Bello assured them of government’s readiness to provide the dividends of democracy at the grassroots. He said dredging was ongoing on the IjeOdodo roads, adding that construction work would commence as soon as it is completed and the drainages properly fixed.

PERSPECTIVE Senator Bode Ola, in this piece, recounts his ordeal in the hands of men of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and wonders who may be using the anti-graft agency to oppress him.

How EFCC abuses its powers

D

ESCRIBING my experience in the hands of EFCC operatives as harrowing would be saying the least and, in fact, an understatement. It is understandable if one suffers for an offence one committed but what can be said about punishing an innocent person? What can be said about incarcerating a man for an offence to which he is not connected or which he knows nothing about?

This is exactly what happened to me. The EFCC which was set up to curb crimes and stem the waves of corruption in the country has now become an instrument of brutality, harassment, persecution, witchhunting, injustice and a pawn in the hands of politicians. These men must begin to explain their real mission in this nation.

Friendly Hotel, Ado-Ekiti was established with the aim of attracting investors to the then newly created state, which could not as at then boast any hotel of international standard, as well as offer indigenes and visitors alike a decent and befitting hotel accommodation. The management went further to attach to the hotel a cyber café, to meet the urgent internet needs of the teeming youth and students, especially, in the area where the hotel is situated.

The development was described as a laudable one which was well applauded by all. The cybercafé helped to reduce idleness, curb cultism, agitation and open up the users to information that aided educational development. There is no denying the fact that Friendly hotel was a gateway to the development of Ekiti State and has since, of course, encouraged a lot of people in the state to go into the hospitality business. The abounding testimonies in this respect cannot be deleted from the history of Ekiti State. The purpose of the cybercafé is well known to all and sundry, especially those who consistently patronize the café including expatriates.

In addition to this, the hotel and cybercafé provided job opportunities for many unemployed youths who were brought in by the managing consultants.

Ironically, and unfortunately too, the same hotel and cybercafé that have served and brought great relief and advancement to the community is what the EFCC used as an instrument to harass, persecute, detain and oppress me.

My travails in the hands of these

• Hon. Yinka Ajayi (middle) representing Odo-Otin/Ifelodun/Boripe Federal Constituency, State of Osun, distributing improves seedlings to farmers in his constituency recently.

• Ola

men of the EFCC started in 2008, when right in the middle of litigation for my mandate then, they raided the hotel and the cybercafé (for reasons which are yet to be clarified), harassed the guests and the customers in the café, seized and carted away 27 computers used in the hotel’s café and business centre. The reason given by the EFCC was that they needed to search these computers to see if they had been used for internet scams, presumably by the various members of the public who might have used the hotel’s café and business centre. The computers thus seized were taken to the EFCC’s office in Lagos and were never returned till now, four years after.

After a period of time, I demanded to have the computers returned to the hotel but the EFCC refused to do so. One month and a half after the raid precisely on May 7, 2008, the EFCC forensic investigation on the computers was completed with a report signed by the Head of their cyber crime section, stating that nothing incriminating was found on the computers examined and that the computers should consequently be returned to the owner.

The above notwithstanding, the EFCC refused to return the computers and was not showing any sign of an intention to do so. At this juncture, I did not have any option than to seek legal redress. Hence, I filed a petition in court to enforce my fundamental human rights to personal liberty and lawful acquisition of property. This petition was heard on a plenary trial and at the end of trial the court ruled in my favour and awarded damages in the sum of N50,800,000 only against the EFCC but the commission refused to pay as per the judgment. This resulted in the enforcement proceeding of the court via garnishee proceedings against EFCC. Outraged by these successes in court, the EFCC hatched a plan to punish me.

On November 22, 2011, an official of the EFCC named Mr. Tunde Ajomoh (ASP) called me on phone and requested me to be at the EFCC office on the 24th of same month to meet with the Director of Operations for the purpose of discussing how the judgment debt would be paid.

On getting there on the said date, I was arrested and whisked away to Lagos after having been served with a process in respect of a criminal charge they had filed against me at the Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti in Ekiti State. Incredibly, it was premised on the facts of the same case I won against which set facts had been

given a criminal colouration.

As earlier mentioned, I was flown from Abuja to Lagos where I was promptly locked up in the EFCC cell.

On Sunday, November 27, 2011, the EFCC operatives drove me from Lagos to Akure and put me in a police cell in Akure overnight. In the morning of November 28, 2011, the same operatives drove me to the Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti where they intended to arraign me.

Unfortunately, the court did not sit on that day. The EFCC then took me all the way back to its cell in Lagos.

It was not clear when next the court in Ado-Ekiti would sit for me to be arraigned.

Between November 28 and December 6, 2011, I was left illegally in the EFCC cell with no documents to back up their action, leaving me in suspense as to my fate in their horrible cell.

Fully aware that they were treading on a slippery slope, the EFCC officials desperately tried to get a court order from one of the Lagos State Magistrate Courts to retroactively regularize my detention. I was thus, on Thursday, December 1st, 2011, taken to an Ikeja Magistrate Court seeking an order to detain me.

The magistrate, Mrs. A.O. Komolafe refused, pointing at several substantive and procedural irregularities in their application.

Unhappy with the decision of the Ikeja Magistrate Court, the EFCC officials swore to try the next day with a particular Magistrate that had been favourably disposed to the EFCC in the past. So, on Friday, December 2, 2011, these same officials took me to another Magistrate Court, now in Ebute Meta, Lagos, to obtain the order they failed to obtain the previous day. Like his counterpart in Ikeja, the Ebute Meta magistrate, also refused to oblige the EFCC with an order to ratify the illegal detention.

After having spent thirteen days, my lawyers were able to secure my bail through a Fundamental Human Rights’ application in Abuja granted by my Lord Honourable Justice B.B Aliyu, after which the EFCC insisted that I had to be reporting in their Lagos office every week.

As if that was not enough, I was rearrested in January and harshly transported to Ado Ekiti for appearance at the Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti where the judge granted me bail and on Thursday the 19th day of July, 2011, High Court of Ado-Ekiti per Honourable Justice J.O Adeyeye considered and granted my Application to quash all the 5 count charge as the offences for which I was charged was persecutory, an abuse of court process and for non disclosure of any offence known to law.

In the judgment the learned Jurist summarized the entire event when he said at page 29 of the judgment thus: “It is an abuse of court process to make an accused person face a trial he ought not to face. Having regard to the process filed in this case, I am of the strong view that it is a case of persecution and oppression.”

The sole question that begs for an answer is who is using the EFCC to persecute and oppress me?

The answer to the above poser is clear to all discerning minds and I want to reassure and encourage my teeming supporters and all loyalists to continue to keep the peace and remain law abiding even as God Almighty continues to give us victory.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

45

HEALTH THE NATION

E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

A group of reporters have just toured health facilities provided by the administration of Senator Ibikunle Amosun in Ogun State. In this report, OYEYEMI GBENGAMUSTAPHA relives her experience.

Healthcare gets a lift in Ogun H

EALTHCARE is getting attention in Ogun State. Facilities are being refurbished to international standards.

The state is looking into the three levels of healthcare delivery with a view to revamping and upgrading facilities to ensure quality healthcare to its citizenry.

It organised a three-day training to enlighten the top management on new trends in healthcare delivery at the Covenant University, Otta, Ogun State.

The training was also to acquaint the staff members of the vision of the Ministry of Health under the administration of Governor Ibikunle Amosun.

Speaking at the training, the Health Commissioner, Dr Olaokun Soyinka, said: "To turn the health sector around, one cannot but carry along the human resources, provide appropriate and adequate medical facilities, as well as adequate training of personnel. If not, the leader would be blinking in the dark."

A group of journalists was also taken on a tour of the facilities that have been revamped.

Starting with the Primary Health Centres, the government renovated and equipped over 60 centres. These were the ones at Agbado railway, Otta; Idi Ori, Alagbagba and Robiyan in Ifo Local Government.

Others were Maun and Ikeke, Ipokia Local Government; Keesi and Kugba, Abeokuta South Local Government, Okun Owa and Ade, Ijebu East Local Government; Oke-Ijemo and Mokoloki, Odeda Local Government and Oni in Ogun West.

The government equipped the facilities with beds, treated nets, water tanks, tarred roads, basic drugs in the pharmacies and recruitment of trained health personnel.

At some of these centres, the visiting reporters met mothers who had just been delivered of their babies by trained midwives while others were awaiting discharge. They said they did not pay any fee-either for registration (ante natal care), delivery or post natal care.

But redtapism, a problem in the civil service, is yet to be tackled.

Examples abound in some facilities where staff were awaiting directives to start the use of donated items from the Secretariat.

The Assistant Chief Matron, Agbado/Railway Health Centre, Mrs Juliana Mafimidi, said: "We were awaiting the inauguration day of these things. We were not given any directive to open them nor use. We just took the stock, and hence we put them in the store waiting for further directives."

But, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Health, Dr. Ajibola Amosu, who conducted reporters round the facilities, said: "There was no need waiting for any inauguration.

How many do we intend to inaugurate among the 60? ‘’ Besides, the senior nurse at Otta Primary Health Centre, Mrs Amina Segilola, complained of shortage of staff and routine drugs at the pharmacy. He urged the government to look into this matter and that of accommodation of staff.

However, Amosu said: "We are looking into the drug distribution channel and demands. We don't want to under supply where demands are high, and vice versa. Once we are able to collate

Do you know: Anaemia occurs in 80 per cent of expectant mothers.

When Folic Acid is used prior and during the first 12 weeks of preganacy, you decrease your babies chances of developing spinal bifida, anencphaly and neural tube defects by 70 per cent.

Folic acid is a B vitamin that helps your body’s cells grow. The baby needs folic acid to help support the rapid cell growth needed to make the tissue and organs.

Causes of Anaemia Iron deficiency, poor intake of iron in diet and/or folic acid deficiency.

Complications of anaemia during pregnancy Preterm labour, increase incidence of premature birth.

•A mother who has just given birth at Agbado Primary Health Centre

Basics on blood presure

•A new weighing scale at Otta Primary Health Centre

the attendance registers from the various primary healthcare stations, that would be settled.

"As per the shortage of staff and their accommodation, all these require good planning because we do not want to over labour the centres with human resources that won't be utilised. And by the time we assess our employment and recruitment unit, logical actions would be taken on deployment in tandem with accommodation."

Some residents at Idi Ori said they were not using the facility in the past based on the fact that the Primary Health Centre was just a building with nothing to offer in terms of quality healthcare.

But now, they are happy with the new innovations and are attending same, especially mothers and children.

The Matron at Idi Ori, Mrs Adetu Titilayo, said she and her staff ensured that they campaign on market days.

"Before now, this place was dilapidated. There was low patronage.

Nothing existed, but the ramshackled building. After it was renovated, wellequipped and staffed, we are duty bound to tell the indigenes here of the new changes and we make use of the market days. Indeed, the attendance is improving. We equally do immunisation on market days. Things are improving," she said.

Soyinka said the government was consolidating on primary healthcare because, "when huge money is paid as salaries to consultants in tertiary institutions, and they end up attend-

•A pharmacist at her duty post at one of the centres

‘To turn the health sector around, one cannot but carry along the human resources, provide appropriate and adequate medical facilities, as well as adequate training of personnel’

•Amosun

ing to minor cases like cold and malaria that even house officers can treat, resources are lost.’’

He added: "Once we are able to stabilise health centre, the General Hospital and tertiary health facilities, would be able to concentrate on germane health issues for the overall care of the people. And as a proactive administration, we are already taking community health insurance to 20 local government areas of the state. We are unmindful of traditional medicine. We are putting our arsenal together to ensure that that division is also regulated."

Soyinka said: "Primary Health Centre is the bedrock of vintage healthcare delivery. Hence the government set out to organise the

Primary Health Care in communities, provide guidelines and practical support to these communities that organise their own primary health care."

It also revitalised the immunisation of children against killer diseases.

According to the Director, Health care Service Unit, State Primary Health Care Development Board, Dr. Kafayat Lawal, the campaign of free house–to house Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) for children of age zero to five years is paramount to the stopping of polio from the state.

She said: "Parents and care givers should avail themselves of the opportunity of the immunisation exercises to prevent their children against poliomyelitis and other childhood killer diseases."

The state also partnered the Lagos State Government to address border communities between the two states. A consensus was reached; today, inhabitants of most of these communities testify of their children who participated in the immunisation.

ALTHOUGH you can’t “feel” high blood pressure, its effects are very real. High blood pressure is a common condition in which the force of the blood against your artery walls is high enough that it may eventually cause health problems, such as heart disease.

Blood pressure is determined by the amount of blood your heart pumps and the amount of resistance to blood flow in your arteries. The more blood your heart pumps and the narrower your arteries, the higher your blood pressure.

You can have high blood pressure (hypertension) for years without any symptoms. Uncontrolled high blood pressure increases your risk of serious health problems, including heart attack and stroke.

High blood pressure typically develops over many years, and it affects nearly everyone eventually.

Fortunately, high blood pressure can be easily detected. And once you know you have high blood pressure, you can work with your doctor to control it.

Ask your doctor for a blood pressure reading at least every two years starting 18. He or she will likely recommend more frequent readings if you’ve already been diagnosed with high blood pressure or other risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Children age three and older will usually have their blood pressure measured as a part of their yearly checkups.

If you don’t regularly see your doctor, you may be able to get a free blood pressure screening at a health resource fair or other locations in your community. You can also find machines in some stores that will measure your blood pressure for free, but these machines can give you inaccurate results.

•Source: www.mayoclinic .com

46

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

HEALTH

China, India, others to invest in Nigeria N

O fewer than 20 investors from China, India, Germany, United States and other developed countries are seeking investment in the health sector.

They intend to provide solutions to common healthcare related problems in the country and West Africa.

The firms are looking forward to opportunities to be provided during the upcoming West African Health (WAH) conference and exhibition scheduled to hold in Lagos.

WAH Co-ordinator, Dr

By Wale Adepoju

Wale Alabi, said the Federal Government is set to provide a conducive environment for them.

The investors in medicine and health are to be led to the country by Mr Torsten Wagner from Bayern International and Mrs. Susanne Ackermann from the chamber of commerce, Passau, where they have booked exhibition stands at the upcoming WAH Nigeria to be held between September 5 and 7 in Lagos.

Confirmations from the co-ordinator of the team that

will be arriving the country has been received by the Global Resources and Projects, organisers of WAH with assurances for participations at the three- day event.

Alabi said: “We are expecting a group of 20 investors that are into high-profile medical equipment and technologies provision for this year’s event from the Bavarian group alone. This is a major boost for the eight-yearold event that has consistently provided investment opportunities and solution modules for a private sector led solution to the continent’s

healthcare problems.”

According to Alabi, members of the group have indicated in their correspondence, so far, an utmost desire to invest in Nigeria.

“These investors have set out to build operational bases in Nigeria as a way of reaching out to the sub-region,” he said, adding:“I am delighted at their disposition because it will, ultimately, provide solutions to some of the lingering health problems in the sub-region, and make Nigeria the reference point.”

Alabi also assured investors

that Lagos is safe for those coming to the eighth WAH conference.

He said: “WAH is a meeting point for local and international experts and investors in health and medicine organised by indigenous people with absolute knowledge of the health situation in the sub-region and how solutions to those could be fashioned.”

This conference seeks to bring together policy-makers, health sector project financiers, health sector systems architects, administra-

How to prevent mouth odour, by expert

A

Obembe flanked on the left by Secretary, Planning Committee, Michael Odeyemi and Chairman, Planning Committee, Gbenga Falabi.

Hope rises for Health Bill

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HERE is optimism that barring any unforeseen circumstances, the National Health Bill would soon be passed into law.

According to the Lagos Chapter of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), all grey areas identified by professionals to ensure that stakeholders are fairly catered for, especially the patient, have been flayed.

The Chairman of the Chapter, Mr Akintunde Obembe, spoke against the the chapter’s yearly pharmacy week entitled: The Pharmaceutical sector role in achieving Vision 20: 2020, which holds from tomorrow

By Oyeyemi GbengaMustapha

to Friday at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja.

He said various meetings have been held and issues delaying Mr President’s assent have been ironed out.

“What obtains now is final dotting of the I’s and crossing the T’s. We are very hopeful that this time around, the President would sign same into law.”

He said the theme of the Pharmacy week is in tandem with issues in the health sector, “especially as it has to do with the transformation agenda of the Federal Government.

“We believe the time has come for participants in the

health sector to understand that for the transformation agenda of the Federal Government to be successful in the health sector, members of the healthcare team must be treated, so much so that members of the team are important and should not be seen by any other members of the group as inferior to any,” said Obembe.

The chapter enjoined the president to release the report of the Presidential Committee on harmony in the health sector and perfect all is that needed to be perfected in the National Health Bill, especially the National Health Insurance Scheme Bill, as a way to go to transform the health sector.

tors, practitioners and nonprofit partners to have dynamic discussions on the journey so far; jointly, engineering possibilities on the way forward.

As such, discussions will interdisciplinary, subsequently, presenting avenues for emerging business and partnership opportunities between the public, private and non-profits the key areas, including finance, capacity strengthening, service delivery, diagnostics, telecommunications and pharmaceuticals.

MEDICAL doctor, Dr. Kenneth Ighalo, has said the best way to prevent mouth odour is to take good care of the mouth from childhood.

During an interview with The Nation, he said: “Mouth odour also called xerostomia or halitosis is a bad smell from the mouth, an unpleasant odour of the breath of a person.

It can affect any body at any point in time. Halitosis (mouth odour) results from inability to take proper care of the mouth, the types of food we eat, our life style habits and other health factors.”

Citing instances of discomforts in the mouth that can lead to bad breath, Ighalo said: “Dry mouth causes chronic halitosis. Saliva is necessary to moisten and cleanse the mouth by neutralising acids produced by plague, gums and cheeks. ‘’Dry mouth may be caused by side effects of various medications, salivary gland problems or continuous breathing through the mouth.

By keeping the mouth slivery helps to prevent mouth odour.”

On how to keep the mouth moist? he advised: “Sip water throughout the day and during meals. Chew sugar-free gums or dissolve a sugar-free candy slowly in your mouth to keep helping you produce more saliva.’’

He said further: “Brushing and flossing of the tooth, including brushing and scrapping of the tongue twice daily will go a long way to eliminate mouth odour. If

•Ighalo

By Odebiyi Olatunde

you don’t brush and floss daily, food particles can remain in your mouth, which could promote bacterial growth between teeth, around the gum and on the tongue.”

He added: “Antibacterial mouth rinses can help to reduce bacteria in the mouth.

Halitosis can be cured when you treat dental problems, such as tooth decay, gum abscesses and abscessed teeth as soon as they occur, or when you chew parsley after a meal.

Parsley is a breath freshener which contains chlorophyll.

“Place few drops of tee tree oil peppermint oil on your tongue or use the oil on your toothbrush along with your toothpaste. You can also choose a toothpaste or mouth rinse that contains natural oils known for their antibacterial properties to assist in the fight against halitosis causing bacteria.”

He also identified serious underlying causes of bad breath. “The type of food we

eat also causes mouth odour.

Pungent foods, such as onions, cabbage, garlic and other foods that create gas contain phytochemicals which are not good for the teeth. Certain spices and herbs also cause mouth odour. Coffee also known as diuretic contributes to dry mouth; it contributes to acidic environment in the mouth leading to bacterial growth.”

He said life style habits, such as smoking, consumption of alcohol and chewing tobaccobased products all can lead to mouth odour.

“Smoking and alcohol have similar characteristics, but both can dry out the mouth and this can cause odour in the mouth,’’ he further said.

Bad breath may also be caused by medical conditions, such as respiratory tract infections, liver or kidney problem, organ failure, digestive disorders and infections. Respiratory conditions, such as allergies may cause mouth odour. Allergies and allergy may cause one to sleep with the mouth open at night, drying out the oral membranes.

He identified “cancers and other metabolic conditions as further causes of mouth odour. Kidney diseases also cause bad breath that smells of ammonia and, diabetics are known to have fruity smelling breath which may be unpleasant.”

Ighalo said it is advisable to visit the dental clinics and patronise dentists than to ignorantly resort to home remedies or unskilled/unqualified local dentists.

NGO offers to educate patients, service providers on rights, privileges N O N GOVERNMENTAL organisation (NGO), Medical Rights Support Foundation, has offered to educate patients free on their rights.

According to its founder, Senator Adetunji Adelekan, patients’ ignorance is responsible for some of their bad experiences. Also, there is no partnership between the doctor and his patients.

He said: “These and more explained why I am taking it upon me to highlight rights and obligations of both patients and medical providers.

To see if through the non- governmental organisation, we can help advance medical practice and medical care in Nigeria to world standard.

Adenekan, who is also Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the NGO, noted that an educated patient is a better patient.

“Medical care is a partnership, not a one way traffic or paternalistic undertaking. We

A

By Oyeyemi GbengaMustapha

will be able to get the best value for our money when we co-operate with the patient. We know the infrastructure for good medical care is lacking.

Light may fail during a critical medical procedure.The appropriate medication or equipment may be lacking, but we as care providers must make the best of bad situations.

“We must, therefore, discuss a procedure with our patients in a way that they can understand. When we discuss information with a patient, we must include the caregiver or relative at home. Not only do we discuss a procedure in language that the patient can understand, we must obtain the consent from the patient or the decision making surrogate.

Disclaimer must include procedure’s possible outcome and possible complications.

The doctor may discuss his or her experience in the procedure and offer possible sea-

soned opinion if requested.”

To achieve this, the retired nephrologist, who practised within and abroad, especially in the United States, said: “Ethics of medicine and other things must be observed. That include an expert not expected to practise beyond his expertise. Qualification is necessary. If you practise medicine in places, such as Lagos, a general surgeon or practitioner should not perform prostatectomy because there are urologists around.

“However, if you practise in a rural area and no specialist is within 50 kilometres or in case of an emergency, this dictum may be modified. Confidentiality of the patient must be maintained and no medic should release medical information unless a signed permission has been obtained from patient or surrogate.”

Adenekan, a Fellow of American College of Physician (FACP), argued that monetary gain must not override

•Adenekan

the interest of the patient and unnecessary procedure must not be carried out on a patient.

For a patient not to be victim of medical error or end up with what he described as frivolous complaints, Adenekan, a Scholar of African Programme for American Universities (ASPAU) said: “A patient must be educated so that he or she may ask the doctor appropriate questions before a procedure or surgery

concerning the results of the procedure and the qualifications for the specific provider or specialist.

“For example, does the provider meet the general standards; how many times has the provider performed the procedure and what were the results? The patient may then give consent to the procedure and both patient and doctor sign the consent form. Doctors must at all times be aware that their actions may be reviewed by a third party.”

He said his nogroup is set to bridge the gap between the doctor and patients. “It is no news that paternistic attitude is outdated. Doctors must not assume a patient is ignorant.

Even so, the doctor must educate the patient on his or her illness, plan of treatment and expected outcome; patients must be encouraged to ask questions, which will be answered to the best of the practitioner’s ability. Thereafter, a patient must be asked if he or she agreed with the plan of treatment.

“This is called informed consent. Both patient and the doctor must sign the informed consent form that would become part of the medical record. Many of us went into the medical profession because of our interest to help our fellow human beings. That honour is a privilege, not a right that should be abused. A good doctor should not be afraid to discuss a medical procedure. We feel happy when our patients get well under care. We should feel concerned when result is not so ideal and be honest to disclose it to the patient. This is what is called caring. We must have empathy with those entrusted to our care.”

He said it is also the duty of a patient to ‘’have access to doctors, specialists and hospitals; learn about all of your treatment choices and participate in treatment decisions; get emergency care when and where you need it and have a personal and health information kept confidential.”

47

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

PROPERTY/ENVIRONMENT FUTA to lead tree planting campaign

M

ANAGEMENT of the Federal University of Technology (FUTA) Akure, has expressed its readiness to lead the campaign on environmental protection and sustainability.

Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof.

Adebiyi Daramola, stated this in Akure, the Ondo State capital at the inauguration of the tree planting campaign of the institution, capped FUTA Greening 2012.

According to him, the campaign, which would be done through knowledge transfer and high quality environmental education, would not be limited to the campus of the university but also in the host and neighbouring states.

He said: “A good environment is a pre-requisite for healthy living. We all need healthy living for longer life and guaranteed productivity.

“We, therefore, have a direct responsibility to protect the environment, and to ensure that our activities as individuals, families, groups or organisations have less nega-

From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

tive impact on the environment. Our tree planting programme is, therefore, part of our strategies in this area, which we hope will be emulated across the nation.”

Daramola, however, expressed optimism that with the active and massive participation of Akure and neighbouring communities in the programme, the FUTA would be able to realise its dream of making the world a safer place.

Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, noted that in recent years, climate change had increased the frequency and intensity of some weather related hazard.

Mimiko, who spoke through a Director in the state Ministry of Environment, Mrs. Bola Akinyanmi, stated that faster snow melt, rising sea levels and unpredicted weather patterns had increased flooding and droughts.

He urged the university to make the tree planting programme a continuous one.

Urban summit holds in Sept

N

EXT month has been slated for the hosting of the urban summit in Abuja. The theme of the confab is Towards Habitable and Competitive Cities in Nigeria, Functional Cities, and Efficient Economy.

The National Organising Committee (NOC) was constituted by the House of Representative Committee after due consultation with the Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, a statement from the organisers has revealed.

Chairman, House Committee on Urban Development and Regional Planning Hon Kareem Tajudeen Abisodun, recognised the need for all arms of government to work together to arrest urban decay and squalor occasioned by uncontrolled growth and unregulated pattern of urban development.

He said this is the only way

to make the nation attain its developmental goals as it is common knowledge that cities are engines of growth and incubators of economic development.

The legislator said the population of the country hovers around 167million with about 48 per cent living in the towns and cities with urbanisation rate of three per cent.

He said statistics estimates that in the next five years, “we shall have more people living in towns and cities than in the rural areas which no doubt pose a threat to national planning and development.”

Abisodun said it has become exigent that greater attention be placed on urban management and asked that the transformation agenda of government be based on creating synergy among economic, physical and social development for greater results.

•From left: Governor Fashola with Ag Executive Director of NCF, Alade Adeleke,when he visited NCF at Lekki, Lagos

Lagos partners NCF on eco-tourism

R

ESIDENTS of Lagos State and its environs, especially nature lovers will soon have the opportunity of enjoying nature while admiring aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem interactions of the coastal state.

The Lagos State Ministry of Tourism and Inter-Governmental Affairs is collaborating with the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) to enrich flora and fauna of the Lekki Conservation Centre (LCC). It is also geared towards improving on the side attractions and boosting potential tourism of the only nature reserve in Lagos.

To hasten the efforts, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) visited the LCC last week to assess it.

He had earlier given ap-

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie Asst Editor

proval for the partnership drive.

Acting Executive Director of NCF Alade Adeleke, in his presentation to the Fashola, highlighted some areas of collaboration, such as the introduction of some native animals such as Sitatunga; construction of canopy walkways that will enable tourists view the plants and animals of the reserve situated in a mangrove terrain.

Other areas that would be worked on are construction of new family picnic spots and beautification of the front and entrance of the 78 hectares conservation centre to meet up with international standard.

Ministry, FRSC partner on safety

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MNISTER of Works Mr Mike Onolememen has said the ministry is partnering the Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC) on safety as part of efforts to curb the high rate of accidents.

He stated this when he received the Sub-Sahara African Transport Programme specialist, Mr Per Mathiasen, led by the Corps Marshal and Chief Executive Officer, FRSC Mr Osita Chidoka.

Onolememen, according to a statement, praised the FRSC but insisted that it has a lot to do in reducing road crashes.

He also praised the safe corridors programme (Arrive Alive Project) of the Corps, spearheaded by the World Bank, which is poised to be replicated in other African countries.

He re-iterated the resolve to collaborate with the FRSC in ensuring that roads infrastructure are up to standard in order to realise the lofty programme of the safe corridors initiative aimed at reducing carnage on the nation’s roads by at least 50 per cent.

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie Asst Editor

Mathiasen described the FRSC as a truly dedicated agency, assuring that Nigeria and Argentina were selected by the World Bank to serve as models under the Sub-Sahara African Transport Programme (SSATP), which according to him, was required to strengthen road safety indices in the region. He added that the FRSC is unique in sub-Saharan Africa hence the need to showcase the Nigerian experience.

In a related development, Onolememen has promised to understudy the proposal submitted by the Cement Manu-

‘Before now the use of asphalt in road construction was considered cheaper but today that may not be the case as cement is now at par and cheaper in terms of cost effectiveness, durability of the roads, maintenance and most of all, environmentally friendlier’

facturers Association of Nigeria (CMAN), on the use of cement in road construction. He acknowledged that the proposal came at a good time as the ministry is reviewing its road sector design manuals.

He stated this while receiving the Chairman and Secretary of CMAN, Mr Joseph Makoju, an engineer and Mr James Salako in Abuja.

Onolememen confirmed that cement based roads are remarkable for their durability and resilience. According to him, cement based roads can last twice the lifespan of asphalt based roads but the high cost of the product in the past had given rise to the choice of asphalt in road construction.

Makoju claimed that the price of cement has reduced and argued that the bad state of the roads account for high cost of haulage which has made it un- attractive for road construction in comparison to asphalt.

He said before now the use of asphalt in road construction was considered cheaper but today that may not be the case

as cement is now at par and cheaper in terms of cost effectiveness, durability of the roads, maintenance and most of all, environmentally friendlier.

He added that limestone, which is a major raw material in the production of cement is readily available in the country, which has lifted the production capacity of most plants in the country.

He dispelled the fear entertained in some quarters that the deployment of cement in road construction will translate to the scarcity of the product.

Makoju urged the government to reassess the cost implication of both materials so as to know where to place tax payer’s money for maximum benefit.

The Minister, who was represented by the Acting Permanent Secretary and Director, Highways Planning and Development, Mr Bala Danshehu, promised that the government will explore all options, especially now that the cost of road construction is on the high side.

Chairman, Fundraising and Awareness of NCF Mr Desmond Majekodunmi said activities at the LCC are in line with the transformation efforts of Governor Fashola‘s administration to ensure people imbibe the culture of environmental conservation and preservation for the purpose of today and the future.

He pledged that NCF would not relent in its effort to continue partnering with the state government to develop unique nature conservation strategies that cater for the needs of people while maintaining ecosystem integrity.

“We praise your unrelenting efforts to make Lagos clean and healthier despite the monumental environmental and sanitation challenges facing the city. We

also appreciate your kind gesture to support LCC on the need to make the centre a world class eco-tourism attraction in Nigeria, while maintaining its ecological integrity,” he said.

The LCC, one of the demonstration projects of the NCF, supported by Chevron Nigeria Limited is a conservation initiative to protect wildlife found in the Southwest coastal environment in the face of sprawling urban development.

The 22-year-old conservation centre has continued to attract local and international interests. The centre has served as an education and resource centre to several school groups, majority of which are schools, researchers and tourists.

48

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

PROPERTY/ENVIRONMENT Building Issues

How to protect items from breaking during relocation OVING to a new house or apartment presents its challenge where some items get broken no matter how careful you are or the moving company you employed to help move your items.

The catch word here is: When it comes to moving, you’ve got to be careful. That’s because some things no matter how sturdy they appear on the surface – may get broken no matter how careful you are.

But fragile items during the moving process can be a big deal.

Whether you go with the do-it-yourself (DIY) route or hire a moving company, the hassle of replacing or repairing busted items can cost time, money and, in some cases, broken hearts.

Here are some items that are most likely to get smashed when moving.

M

PHOTO: OKWY IROEGBU-CHIKEZIE

LAWMA, others collaborate on ‘waste for food’

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AGOS State Waste Management Authority(LAWMA) has launched its ‘waste to food’ campaign with some partners in the chain of waste collection, containerisation and the management of disposal sites.

Managing Director of LAWMA Ola Oresanya said the agency is focused on recycling by reducing the volume of waste dumped at the landfill sites and creating another resource regime while pursuing the cause of a cleaner Lagos.

Oresanya said the objective of the programme is to integrate children and corporate organisations into the recycling process as part of their corporate social responsibility(CSR) and to sort waste from source.

He encouraged the public to learn how to meet their needs without

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie & Ayetoto Temitayo

compromising the future by deliberately contributing to global warming, climate change, deforestation and resource depletion.

On the need for recycling, the LAWMA chief said it is the next level for sustainable waste management. He regretted that the society has been living beyond the sustainable capacity of the planet for a long time.

He said: “ Sorting of waste makes available raw materials for production of new products, saves energy, conserves natural resources, reduces pollution and ultimately generates employment.

“Waste is not waste unless we waste it. Waste, if not properly managed, may outlive us as nylon takes up to one million years to

decompose; aluminum cans and baby diapers takes up to 500 years while batteries take up to 100 years and paper one to five months. But if these new materials are recovered, the quantity of energy to make new materials will be conserved.”

General Manager of Alkem, a partnering firm, Mr Ashwin Suthar said they collect pet bottles from dump sites, crush and convert them into chips used in the production of polyester fibers, pillow-case, mattress and clothes used in furniture.

He said his company is not only assisting them to source their raw materials locally as a textile company but also helps in conserving the nation’s foreign exchange, job creation and most importantly creating a healthy and livable environment.

IFC, Infrastructure Journal to recognise ground-breaking FC, a member of the World PPP in emerging markets Bank Group, and Infrastructure

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Journal, with funding support from the Public-Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility, are seeking nominations for emerging partnerships, an upcoming publication that will showcase 40 infrastructure projects at the forefront of publicprivate partnerships (PPP) in emerging markets.

Through the publication, IFC and Infrastructure Journal aim to provide a definitive account of ground-break-

ing public-private partnerships that have set new standards for creating and financing critical infrastructure projects, and promote growth and poverty reduction in developing countries.

“The private sector and governments have successfully partnered in emerging markets to help solve the deepest challenges in ensuring efficient provision of services, particularly to the poorest segments of the

population,” said Acting Director of IFC Advisory Services in Public-Private Partnerships,Vipul Bhagat.

Editor of Infrastructure Journal, John Kjorstad, said: “Public-private partnerships are an effective tool for bringing private capital into public infrastructure. Sadly, the markets most in need of infrastructure find it the most difficult to finance it.”

Computers, TVs, and home entertainment systems are among the most likely things to break . If you drop electronics, the sensitive and delicate components can suffer major damage.

A possible solution: Save the boxes and packing materials that originally came with the items. When the time comes to move the items to your next home, repack your gadgets in the boxes the way you purchased them.

Your back Back pain, pulled muscles, and broken bones are among the

The house Whether it’s the place you’re leaving or the place you’re moving into, property damage caused by hauling items could wind up costing you unwanted expenditures.

Door jambs, walls and floors are prone to getting hit and scraped when moving larger items. This is particularly true of things that should be assembled inside the house, like a movable wardrobe, kitchen cabinet or home gym.

If you’re worried about leaving any scratches on your old or new abode, one smart option might be to hire some experienced movers.

Glassware, China and dishes are among the most easily broken items during a move. These pieces are extremely fragile and can shatter when they’re packed together like sardines.

“People don’t put enough padding in between it or around it, the idea is to use paper and bubble wrap and leave space between them and the box.”

Fragile glass items can also be easily damaged when other items come in contact with them during transport.

“Don’t put books and something breakable in the same box,” an expert warns.

Framed artwork paintings and artwork are subject to various kinds of damage during moves if you drop them or pack them next to objects with sharp edges.

Pierced canvases, broken frames, and smudged paint are among potential disasters that can mar your favourite portrait or landscape before you hang them on the wall of your new home.

‘People don’t put enough padding in between it or around it, the idea is to use paper and bubble wrap and leave space between them and the box’

physical injuries you can suffer when trying to move that refrigerator or piano without the right equipment or strenght. Moving is hard physically and emotionally.

From the physical standpoint, moving is a strenuous activity that adds a measure of danger when you have to move items up flights of stairs or repetitively lift heavy objects. On top of that, you’re asking for trouble if you try moving things by walking backwards.

The Smithsonian’s Museum Conservation Institute, a resource center for technical information, writes on its website that you should always face forward when moving furniture to lessen your chances of falling.

Tables Wrestling with tables or other oddshaped items during a move can be a recipe for disaster if you’re in do -ityourself mode (DIY mode). These items can be bulky, or a logistical nightmare at best.

Tables with marble tops - or anything made of marble, for that matter - can be particularly hazardous to transport because marble, despite being heavy, is fairly fragile and when it lands on something, it does with a lot of force.

Mirrors

•Chairman, Building Collapse Prevention Guild Kunle Awobodu; Chairman, Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers(NICE) Amos Omopeloye and Chairman, Nigerian Society of Engineers(NSE) Ikeja Branch, Bola Bido at a workshop on collapsed building PHOTO:OKWY IROEGBU-CHIKEZIE

and other fragile times when moving.

Glassware/China

Electronics • Oresanya (second left) and partners at the launch last Saturday in Lagos.

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie Asst Editor

Mirrors are a fragile item, but if you wrap it yourself, you might not know how securely its wrapped, there is need to pad it adequately as they can be prone to breakage because the frames holding them can’t withstand the force of being dropped or jostled.

Somebody suggested that it is best to use pillows as cushions for mirrors

Booze/bottles Your favourite bottle of wine might not endure its move to a new location without care and consideration.

Drop it, and you’ll definitely be crying over spilled booze. But certain types of drink, can be “broken” in other ways during the course of moving.

“Wine is subject to temperature, and temperature change can ruin an entire case.” A lot of times, people take them in cars and not really packing them properly.”

Washer/dryer If having fresh, clean clothes is important to you...now’s the time to pay attention.

Washers and dryers, among other heavy appliances, have a good chance of being broken during a move, according to experts. They note that front-loading washers are among the most damage-prone.

A washer that’s broken during a move can cause significant water damage.

The bad part is that you might not realise it until it’s too late. It is recommended that you use the carton it came with to preserve the machine on transit.

•Contributions, questions? e-mail: quichi3cities@yahoo.com

TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

49

ENERGY THE NATION

E-mail:- energy@thenationonlineng.net

•From right: Ebisan Akisanya, CNL’s Nigerian content analyst; Phillip Rafferty, Marine Advisor, CNL; Raymond Olisa, Director Seabulk; Pere Nduka, GM, Seabulk; Raymond Wilcox, GM, Nigerian Content, CNL; Wole Akinyosoye, GM, Nigerian Content Development & Monitoring Board (NCDMB); Mrs Olabisi Soji-oyawoye, Manager Nigerian Content CNL; Mrs Jane Ashimi, Deputy Manager Community Development, Public Affairs NAPIMS representing GGM at the inauguration of the boat, “Al Kat” (TBN Seabulk Victor), acquired by Seabulk Offshore Operators Nigeria Limited (a wholly Nigerian owned Marine transport company) and Chartered by CNL to support its JV drilling campaigns as a liquid mud cuttings vessel.

PIB: untapped services worth $40b T yearly, says PETAN

HE Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) has said the nonpassage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) locked up services in oil and gas industry worth $40 billion.

The Chairman of PETAN, Mr Emeka Ene, who also is the Chief Executive Officer, Oildata Limited, an indigenous oil services company, said the passage of the PIB has become very imperative to open the industry for more investments and development.

He decried the gap between what services are being offered currently, and what actually should be the quantum of services that are supposed to be offered. He said the existing gap in services level is as a result of non-passage of the PIB and urged the National Assembly to quicken the passage in the inter-

Stories by Emeka Ugwuanyi

est of Nigerians and the economy.

He said that the legislature should know that the benefit of oil is not only measured in money realized from crude oil sales but measured more on value creation by the industry in-country such as capacity development, job and wealth creation as well as overall national industrialisation and development.

He said: “Members of the National Assembly needs to understand that the benefits from oil and gas is not how much you sell it but it lies in how much value, how

much of the activities in the industry pass through your economy. It is very important and understanding that means that Nigerian Content needs to be embedded in the PIB in such a way that it seeks to enhance any step you take to develop the oil industry should carry along with it research and development (R&D), Nigerian activities and services that encourage that activity.

“The gap that currently exists between Nigerian services today and the potential for the services that can be delivered in the industry is about $40 billion a year business. Therefore, PIB wouldn’t just

NNPC, Chevron partner Seabulk on vessel acquisition

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HEVRON Nigeria Limited (CNL), operator of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC/Chevron) Joint Venture, said has supporting Seabulk Offshore Operators Nigeria Limited (a wholly Nigerian owned Marine Transport Company) to acquire a DP2 PSV (Dynamic Positioning Platform Supply Vessel).

The vessel, built in the USA (2011), was acquired to support CNL’s Joint Venture drilling campaigns as Liquid Mud Cuttings vessel combined with Gravel Pack Operations.

Speaking at the launch of the boat christened “AL KAT” (TBN SEABULK VICTOR), held at Eko Support Services Limited Base, near the Harbour Control Tower, Apapa Ports, last week, the General Manager, Nigeria Content Development, Raymond Wilcox, explained that the charter is another proof of the company’s continued support for Nigerian Content development.

He said: “CNL is pleased to have

supported Seabulk Offshore in achieving this significant milestone and this reiterates the company’s commitment to the Nigerian Content development aspirations of the Federal Government.”

As part of its strategic Nigerian Content empowerment process, CNL contracted Seabulk Offshore Operators Nigeria Limited to provide support vessel services to its JV drilling operations both in offshore and onshore locations in Nigeria. The one-year contract is the first of its kind to a wholly Nigerian company in a service industry dominated by foreign investors.

The General Manager of Seabulk, Mr. Pere Nduku, thanked Chevron for awarding the contract to Seabulk. He committed to superior performance saying: “Nigerian companies can deliver on their promises given the opportunity. In our pursuit to aggressively expand our fleet and meet the demands of our clients, Seabulk has fully purchased and added to its fleet, a state-of-the-

art DP2 Platform Supply Vessel built in the USA in August 2011.”

The vessel has advanced technology features with a large deck and liquid mud-carrying capacity.

Its shallow draft enables it to operate in near coastal offshore locations and shallow water depth ports, such as Escravos. The vessel’s dynamic positioning (DP2) is critical to its safe operations. The vessel is 100 percent manned by certified and experienced Nigerian seafarers/officers and Dynamic Positioning Operators (DPO), per International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) requirements for a DP2 vessel and will be Nigerian flagged as soon as all relevant formalities have been completed with the associated agencies.

Chevron and Seabulk Offshore have been strategic partners over the years and since the Seabulk Offshore transitioned into a wholly owned Nigerian Company, it has continued to provide professional services to International oil companies including CNL.

be looked at from the fiscal terms and purely from the traditional exploration and production (E&P) perspective but it has to be looked at from the indigenous participation in this industry in a way that is coordinated and in way that it will grow. That is what PETAN seeks as an organisation, and I know that because every Nigerian is a stakeholder, therefore, it pinches everyone somewhere. So we believe that every Nigerian shares the same objective and the same aspiration with us.”

Stressing more on the need for quick passage of PIB, he said that currently the oil and gas industry doesn’t create the expected value in-country because the volume of activities it creates for indigenous service firms is still low. The PETAN chief said the money that is realized from oil doesn’t create reasonable value in-country. Oil is Nigeria’s major export yet we don’t maximize the value. The PIB should focus on activities that will create value not just the proceeds from crude sales, he added

For instance, if the budget for oil and gas industry a year, the government be concerned with what quantum of activity would Nigerian companies engage in during the life of this budget? When put this way, we can create the multiplier effect.

“If we need to grow as a country, we should look at what South Korea, India and China have done. In other words, there is linkage between creating the essential infrastructure and investment. If the government invests in Nigerian entrepreneurs or create the partnership that is required to back them, they can develop strength in building more services and strengthen the fabrication engineering.

In view of the challenges, the operators reinforced the need for the National Assembly to thoroughly debate the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), which is before them. They are of the view that if the legislature turns out a balanced PIB before passage into law, it would substantially address the gaps in the industry but noted that investment inflow must be encouraged to keep the oil industry afloat.

OPEC delays selection of new secretary-general

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HE Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has delayed a meeting of officials meant to help select its new secretary general as a result of the global fragile oil market and political tension between Iran, a contending country for the position, and the United States.

Delegates from OPEC, according to Reuters, said the meeting was put off because of the delicate nature of the issue to be discussed, which could reignite rivalry for influence by the top contending countries for the position including Saudi Arabia, Iran and Iraq.

A panel of officials, Reuters said, was initially planned to convene

at the Vienna headquarters of the organization in August, but the meeting currently is likely to take place in October.

OPEC, according to the report, has often struggled to agree on a secretary general and the task of appointing a successor to the outgoing Abdullah el-Badri comes as Western sanctions on Iran have heightened political tensions within the 12-member group.

Without a decision on the post before December, OPEC could start 2013 without a permanent figurehead, potentially adding to its difficulties in managing the oil market should predictions of a slowdown in global oil demand prove to be correct.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

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ENERGY

‘Offshore fields: Finance major constraint of indigenous operators’

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

•Okwuosa

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ONTRARY to claims that skills gap is responsible for poor participation of Nigerians in the deepwater terrain, an indigenous operator has identified finance as the major impediment that makes indigenous exploration and production (E&P) firms not play in the region.

The Chief Executive Officer of Oilserv Limited, an indigenous oil firm, Mr Emeka Okwuosa, said the reason Nigerian E&P companies don’t operate acreages in the

deepwater is simply because of finance. He said that the major difference between land, swamp and offshore operation is cost and logistics. He noted that with adequate funds, Nigerians can effectively handle acreages in any province be it ultra-deepwater because the knowledge is there and the technology is there.

He said: “Deepwater or not, when you talk of operation offshore, the major difference between offshore and operating on land, or in swamp is purely the issue of the cost of the project and the issue of logistics. The technology is there. We can lay pipelines in offshore the way we lay on land.

All it requires is that we need to invest more and get a lay barge that will cost millions of dollars. But make sure that you have the opportunities because you cannot get a lay barge and keep. It is unfeasible. Basically, the major impediment in offshore projects that doesn’t allow Nigerians not move

into offshore is cost. We require deep pocket to do that because the technology and knowledge are there already.”

Speaking on the effect of Local Content Act on the operations of indigenous operators in the oil and gas industry, Okwuosa said the Act would enable local content capacity to be improved and capacity is not about rhetoric, it has to translate into more opportunities for Nigerians, and increased trickling down of value.

He said: “Local content should amount to more funding going down the cadres of Nigeria and exposing more Nigerians to the industry. By exposing Nigerians and creating more opportunities within the Local Content Act, we synergise and have a system that will allow more players to come in, have a larger activity and this means that at the end of the day, Nigerians will have better control over the exploration, production and other activities in the oil and gas industry.

“Beyond providing more jobs

and boosting the economy, the Local Content Act gives us better security as far as control of our energy resources is concerned. In many ways Local Content Act impact is positive and most importantly is the way it is practiced. The pioneer Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Engr.

Ernest Nwapa is very experienced.

It is like putting a square peg in a square hole. I know there are lots of works to be done but I assure you he is up to it. The management of the board can make a lot of difference but if issues are not managed properly, it can backfire in many ways but we don’t expect that.”

On the power sector of Nigeria, he said fixing the power problem is not a big deal. “It is not a big problem. Every technical challenge has a solution. And in trying to use the solution, you create opportunities. We don’t run away from problems, we deal with problems.

Nigeria power sector has suffered tremendous setback. It was ne-

glected for many years and when decision was taken to act, the decisions were good but the processes were not well thought through and some errors were made at the very beginning.

“But I know there is a lot of effort to solve the problem. I know the current Minister of Power is doing his best to get result. I know the President is very committed but let us be clear about the issue.

Improving capacity in power is not a one day affair, it takes time. It is a long process because in power, we are talking of generation, transmission and distribution. You have to put all those things together in order to achieve result. If you generate a lot of capacity and you cannot transmit, there is no power still. If you generate and you can transmit but the distribution system doesn’t have the capacity to take the power and give to various end-users, you still have a problem. So you have to integrate entirely and it is only when you do this integration that you can be in position to solve the problem.”

ExxonMobil to pay Liberia $45m for oil block

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From left: Dr. Nelson Uwaga, Deputy President, Nigerian Institute of Management, NIM (Chartered) ; Dr. Michael Olawale-Cole, President and Chairman of Council NIM, and Samuel Babatunde, the Acting Managing Director, Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company when the Institute paid a courtesy visit to the refinery.

IBERIA’S National Legislature has revealed $45 million revenue projection from the controversial offshore oil block 13 under a new arrangement with the Canadian Overseas Petroleum, and oil giant ExxonMobil.

Block 13 was previously awarded to Peppercoast, an oil and gas company, but the legislature and National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL), later discovered it to be financially and technically impotent to take full ownership of the oil well.

The NOCAL’s President Randolph AKW McClain, told Live Trading News in an interview in Monrovia, the country’s capital, that the said Block 13 which has been under contract to Peppercoast Petroleum Limited has been awarded to ExxonMobil.

He said Peppercoast proposed alternative transaction with ExxonMobil acquiring 70 per cent while it holds 30 percent of the block.

Under the arrangement, ExxonMobil has the primary operational and financial responsibility for the entire contract, he said.

McClain expressed confidence in ExxonMobil ability to act relative to the contract, noting that the company has the financial and technical capacity requirements to operate the block.

He disclosed that Peppercoast acquired the contract in 2005, amended in 2007 and ratified by the Legislature in 2007.

“To date, no well has been drilled and we are not in the rush about awarding block contract to any company. Under the terms of Petroleum Sharing Contract (PSC) parties may only assign their interests to third parties whose technical and financial reputation is well established.

NOCAL has told Peppercoast that it accepts that the joint venture between ExxonMobil and COPL satisfies in principle the technical and financial competency requirements for the transfer provisions of the PSC,” he said.

Though the contract has not reached the legislature for ratification, the House Committee Chairman on Executive, George Wesseh Blamoh disclosed that the contract worth $45 million. He asserted that NOCAL has not presented contract papers to the

Lawmakers, Chamber, others to chart way for industry

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HE Rivers State House of Assembly House Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA) have concluded arrangements to set up a special platform to bring together industry stakeholders and operators to chart way to properly propel the oil and gas industry, especially as the National Assembly will begin debate on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

According to PHCCIMA’s spokesman, Amabipi Martins, the event starts on September 25 and ends on september 28.

He said stakeholders in the global oil industry will flock the Garden City of Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, Nigeria’s largest oil producing state, to discuss critical issues pertaining to the operations of the oil and gas sector in Nigeria.

Since 2010, he added the Port Harcourt Oil and Gas Conference/ Exhibition has become a popular meeting point for technocrats, bu-

reaucrats, investors, the intelligentsia and policy makers in the Nigerian oil industry including the International Oil Conglomerates (IOCs) to compare notes on the politics, funding, environmental issues, corporate social responsibility, community affairs and other relevant and related issues that would promote the growth of the industry.

Conceptualised by the Rivers State House of Assembly, particularly the House Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, the conference was, according to the former Chairman of the Committee, (now Speaker of the House), Hon. Dan Otelmaba Amachree, intended to “provide a forum for critical examination of issues and challenges of the oil industry in Nigeria and also enable law makers to understand the intricacies of the industry.

Amachree said: “The Legislators became more enlightened and members contributed effectively to debates as they were well informed and more articulate on issues affecting the oil industry. Beyond the

legislators, the conference in actualisation of its original concept provided a veritable source of rich and authoritative materials that have become points of reference in matters relating to the industry.

Some of the key contributions made by partnership include industry transforming discussions such as: “The Niger Delta and paradox of development; Revolving the conflicts between corporate organisations and host communities” by Prof. Okey Ibeanu, Director, Institute for Development Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

Petroleum Industry Bill: Implications to the oil and gas companies in Nigeria by Senator Lee Meaba, former Chairman, Senate Committee on Upstream Petroleum.

Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone: Relevance and opportunities by the former Managing Director of the Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone, Dr. Noble Abe, and Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMOU) and Host Communities: The experiences of corporate organizations in the Niger Delta by Mr. Joe Jakpa, Superintendent, Eastern Opera-

tions, Chevron Nigeria Limited.

Others include: Government Policies and Programmes as a road map for Development in Rivers State by the former Secretary to the Rivers State Government and now Senator Magnus Ngei Abe. Financing the Energy Sector in Nigeria: Challenges and opportunities by Mr. Henry Otaigbe, Regional Manager, South and East, Standard Chartered Bank, Nigeria, and Nigeria oil and gas industry: Strategy for sustained development by Engr. Austin Oniwon, former Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, among others.

This year’s gathering with the theme: “Nigerian Content Act and Deregulation: Issues and Prospects,” promises to be much more pragmatic and designed to grapple with issues relating to matters that have dominated activities in the Nigerian oil and gas sector since the enactment of the Nigerian Content Act. Experts that will make presentations this year include the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Con-

tent Development and Monitoring Board, Ernest Nwapa, “Policy formulation, implementation and monitoring in the oil and gas Industry in Nigeria, the challenge of the Nigerian Content Monitoring Board; Nigeria’s Oil and Gas oil Development Act: Implications for small and medium size oil service companies by Emeka Ene, President of PETAN; Promoting the Nigerian Content through deregulation of the downstream sector by Yomi Orenuga, GM, Nigerian Content, Total E&P and Petroleum Downstream Deregulation: Challenges and Opportunities by the Director DPR, among others.

The Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mr. Andrew Yakubu is expected to deliver the keynote address while the Amanyanabo of Nembe, His Royal Majesty, Edmund Dakoru, a former GMD, has been chosen as the Royal Father of the Day. The Conference would be chaired by the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Dr. Chris Oboh.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

ENERGY

PIB: Implications to host communities’development T

HE years of neglect of oil communities may soon give way to an era of peace and massive development in oil communities as the draft Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) submitted to National Assembly by President Goodluck Jonathan recommended increase in funding for oil-rich areas.

The draft bill recommended the creation of the Petroleum Host Communities Fund (PHCF), which will be saddled with mobilising funds for mitigating environmental degradation as well as speeding up the development of communities where oil is produced.

Basically, this is slanted to involve the oil-producing communities in the joint ownership of oil and gas assets. The bill in essence compels the oil major and the government to plough back 10 percent of their proceeds derivable from a given community to develop such community.

Every company that is involved in oil and gas exploration and production, under Section 118 of the bill, is required to remit into the fund on a monthly basis, 10 percent of its net profit, which the reform bill defined as the adjusted profit minus the Nigerian hydrocarbon tax and minus the companies’ income tax. The new PIB also provided that profit derived from petroleum operations in deepwater areas would be remitted directly in equal shares to each state government of the host communities of the oil producing states of the federation. Subsequently, if the law takes effect, it means that the eight oil producing states in the Niger Delta region will be smiling home with approximately additional $1.1billion about N176 bil-

By Oghenekevwe Laba

lion annually.

The importance of the bill in terms of infrastructural, social and economic development in the Niger Delta region cannot be over emphasised. For instance, the bill made provision for effective engagement and participation of host communities in all economic benefits, arising from oil and gas activities in their areas. In other words, host communities are stakeholders in any company processing oil in its territory. In the area of infrastructural development, the companies are required to present a well-articulated sustainable community development plan consistent with the PIB guidelines for an effective sustainable engagement programme. Also, the PIB makes it mandatory for all oil and gas companies operating in the country to strictly adhere to the Local Infrastructural Development and Maintenance Guidelines.

Furthermore, the PIB did not only ensure that all oil and gas companies must give support for educational and skill acquisition training programmes for indigenes of the host communities, but the bill also instructed that they should provide employment for them, especially, in the operational segments of the oil and gas industry. Equally, the bill compels oil and gas companies to employ host community citizens in their employments and contract awards, especially on community related development projects. What this means is that there are ready made jobs for those who newly acquired one skill or the other, while those unemployed will also be absorbed by the host communities’ company.

If the new PIB is passed into law

and the fund accruing to Petroleum Host Communities Fund (PHCF) is effectively implemented, it will lead to sustainable peace in the region as the restive youths will be educated and have gainful employment. If there is peace in Niger Delta region, it will create enabling environment for oil producing companies to work without molestation. The resultant effect is increase in oil production, which will subsequently boost the national economy.

Defending the need for sanity in the Niger Delta region as road map to social-economic development, Senior Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, in one of the round table discussions with the Senate Committee, however, said ownership of equity by members of the oil producing communities was critical in ensuring sustainable peace in the region, especially with the post-amnesty programme.

While making a strong case for Niger Delta to own equity stakes in the oil companies operating in the region, Kuku said: “It is only a mad man, who will destroy what belongs to him. If the people of Niger Delta see that they have equity stakes in the oil companies, they will know that the pipelines that pass through their communities must be protected because it is in their interests to do so.

“I have always said this – the fundamental reasons that led to militancy in the region must be addressed. These include underdevelopment, ownership of oil companies, environmental remediation and land rights. The key objective of the amnesty proclamation was to help create conditions for the stabilization, consolidation and

sustenance of security situation in the Niger Delta as pre-requisite for promoting economic development in the zone, which is the nation’s oil and gas base.”

The former Special Adviser to the President on Petroleum Matters, Dr. Emmanuel Egbogah, had also noted that the introduction of the 10 per cent profit from oil revenue to host communities was an incentive for them to protect oil installations.

Even though the bill did not say specifically how much would be realized, but Egbogah said the provision would make available up to $1.1 billion yearly, which is equivalent of N176 billion. “The PIB will give local communities 10 percent equity participation and those that are impacted by the industry will receive dividends amounting to $1.1 billion or more,” he said. Such amount of money annually will go a long way in the infrastructural and social development of the oil producing communities.

The PIB is also aimed at discouraging host communities from vandalizsing facilities belonging to oil companies in their domains.

It warned that where an act of vandalism, sabotage or other civil unrest occurs that causes damage to any petroleum facilities within a host community, the cost of repair of such facility shall be paid from the Petroleum Host Community Fund entitlement. This condition, the bill explained, might not hold if it was established that no member of the community was responsible.

This clause will not only bring about safeguarding the property of the oil companies, it will prevent environmental degradation as a result of spillage from vandalised oil pipelines. If the water and soil

are not polluted, that means members of the host communities will be able to practice their traditional occupation, which is farming and fishing and as such better their living standard.

However, critics are of the view that the Petroleum Host Communities Fund could be faced with management challenges, which may result in its not seeing the light of the day. While it easy to come up with blueprints such as the PHCF, it is difficult to execute it effectively taking the corrupt nature of the society we are into consideration.

The National Co-ordinator of Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy and Development (FENRAD), an environmental rights group, Mr Nelson Nwafor, called for the review of the proposed PHCF clause in PIB. He said with the increasing trend of corruption in the downstream sector of the oil industry, there was a need for the review of the PHCF proposal in the PIB to know who would control the fund as many would want to go for it for selfish interest.

Nwafor decried the level of impunity in the oil and gas sector especially the report on petroleum subsidy probe and stressed that with the kind of corruption in the sector, which is mind boggling, to raise the formation, realisation and utilisation of the host community fund might not be achievable. For effective accountability and utilisation of the fund, he called for a constitution of the state and local government board, which will include community representatives who are not politicians, to oversee the payments and disbursement of the funds to the communities.

•Laba, wrote in from Abuja

‘US oil demand drops to about 4-year low in July’

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NITED States crude oil demand fell to its lowest in nearly four years in July as the weak U.S. economy weighed on consumption, industry group American Petroleum Institute (API) has said.

According to Reuters report, petroleum demand dropped 2.7 per cent from a year earlier to 18.062 million barrels per day (bpd). It was the smallest amount of U.S. oil consumption for any month since September 2008.

“While retail sales for July are up and housing has improved, the weak petroleum demand numbers are a strong indication the economy is still faltering,” API chief economist John Felmy said.

“Unfortunately, achieving robust growth will likely continue to be an uphill climb given the nation’s fiscal challenges, business uncertainty, and a European economy in jeopardy of sliding back into recession,” he added.

Gasoline demand fell 3.8 per cent in July to 8.624 million bpd. Consumption of the fuel was down 1.1 percent for the first seven months of the year, compared to the same period a year before.

The API’s demand figure for July is lower than the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) preliminary estimate of fuel consumption at 18.876 million bpd for the month. The government agency saw July demand up 1.7 per cent yearon-year.

The EIA issues its revised July demand number at the end of September.

Demand for distillate fuel, which includes diesel and heating oil, rose 4.9 per cent to 3.622 million bpd in July, the API said. Jet fuel consumption declined 0.8 percent to 1.455 million bpd for the month, it said.

•From left: Bashiru Pedro; Nurudeen Ojora-Adejiyan, President, Lagos LPG Mega Co-operative Society; Kemi Orobiyi, treasurer; Kunle Akeju; Oothman Rasheed, Chairman, Domgas Nigeria Limted and Olufemi Ifayemi, CEO, during the inauguration of Mega Cooperative Society in Lagos.

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Chevron JV awards scholarship to OAU post graduate students

HE Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation/Chevron Nigeria Limited Joint Venture (NNPC/CNL JV) has awarded N10 million to 10 postgraduate students of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife. The award is a tuition scholarship for their professional masters’ programme in the Department of Geology.

At the cheque presentation ceremony at the Chevron office in Lagos, Supo Shadiya, Director, CNL/NNPC Joint Venture said: “The professional Masters in Geo-

sciences is a unique one because it is in partnership with the industry which brings to bear practical knowledge that enables students to participate and gain experience quickly.”

In a statement by the company’s General Manager, Policy, Government & Public Affairs, Deji Haastrup, Shadiya said the company was very pleased to partner with the academia in improving the educational system in OAU and ad-

vised the awardees to make the best use of the opportunity. He noted that the process of selection was very rigorous and the success of this initial scholarship programme would determine if it would be replicated by the company in other higher institutions.

Mrs. Femi Asubiojo, the University Librarian and the leader of the OAU delegation, who received the cheque and responded on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bamitale

Omole, thanked the company for the sponsorship. She noted that the Professional Masters Programme would allow the students contribute to the development of the country in their respective areas of specialisation.

Similarly, Olatunbosun Olatundun, one of the beneficiaries, who spoke on behalf of the scholars, thanked CNL for its contribution to human capacity development.

She expressed her commitment and other beneficiaries to working hard to produce excellent results at the end of the programme.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

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DISCOURSE

Political Violence in Nigeria

been motivated by sheer hypocrisy and/or lack of candour.

Boko Haram Insurgency This brings me to the Boko Haram insurgency which am sure you expect me to address in this lecture. I intend to show that the fundamental thesis of this lecture is borne out by the Boko Haram insurgency. In other word, contrary to the popular view that the insurgency is religiously motivated, am inclined to think otherwise. This will be borne out clearly in the analysis of the violence occasioned by Boko Haram.

I shall start by narrating a story that underscores my thesis, that the Boko Haram insurgency has nothing to with religion but with the demand for political, social and economic rights.

The following story that will be narrated shows how the foundation of political violence was laid. It is the story that was narrated by one of the Senior Special Advisers to the President at recent workshop in Abuja.

Text of the Keynote Address delivered by Prof Layi Erinosho at the Sociology Department National Conference at Gombe State University, Gombe on August 7. Continued from yesterday The invasion of Iraq by the United States and its allies on the pretext that Sadaam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction is viewed by many observers and human rights activitists as political violence for which they have persistently called on the International Court to prosecute those who took the decision to invade Iraq. The Middle East has been at the centre of political violence since the end of the Second World Warwhen the western powers created the state of Israel. You will recall that the determination of Adolf Hitler to exterminate the Jews in Europe which forced the Western powers to try and solve the Jewish “problem” through the creation of a homeland for them after the war. The responseof Arabs to the creation of the state of Israel led to three wars aimed at reclaiming what they consider to be their home land. Political violence has not abated up till today.

Here in Africa, we have also experienced various forms of political violence. Political violence had been at and/or is still the centre of life in Somalia, Sierra Leone, Eritrea, Liberia, and Rwanda. Kenya witnessed serious political violence after the last election.Sudanexperienced political violence, leading to the breakup of the country into two. There is no respite for Sudan now because it is still to resolve the Darfur problem. South Africa was the headquarters of political violence in Africa for many years before thecountry gained independence. Africans battled the White supremacist settlers who imposed Apartheid before they (i.e., the latter) succumbed and granted the country independence with Nelson Mandela as President.

Perhaps, one of the countries that has never had respite is Congo Kinshasa (formerly known as Zaire). Political violence started in the Congo shortly after its independence with the murder of the country’s first Prime Minister, Patrice Lumumba.

The country has never had peace. Indeed, various militias led by runaway General are today busy committing atrocities in various parts of the country.

To show that it is a universal problem, let us review the situation in Asia. The continent has been having its fair share of political violence. The conflict in Kashmir between India and Pakistan started well over five decades ago and it still remains unresolved.

Various reprisals have been reported in the Kashmir and the worst was to come about two years ago when a group of Commandos invaded a five star hotel in Mumbai. The commandoes were believed to have been sponsored by Pakistan.

Moreover, the Taliban in Afghanistan have been locked in political violence with the Government on one hand and the US on the other. China has also experienced political violence, e.g., the Tenamann square crisis a few years ago when protesting Chinese who converged at the square were mowed down.

Chinacontinues to face the insurgency of Muslim separatists in a number of its provinces. Russia has also been experiencing political violence in one form or another. The Georgian conflict and the crisis in Chechnyaetc, all smack of political violence.

Finally, Brazil in South America has experienced its own share of political violence most especially between the indigenous peoples and the land grabbers. The same can be said of Bolivia.

Often the indigenous people who have been at the receivingend because of eviction from their land have had cause to be violent in their confrontation with the authorities.

I have provided this background to underscore the fact that Nigerian cannot be singled out as a country too many incidences of political violence. Other countries and sub regions of the world as can be seen from the foregoing discussion have also been theaters of political violence over the years.

Political Violence in Nigeria Having said this, what are the incidents of political violence in Nigeria?Professor OgohAlubo has identified not less than 80 ethnic conflicts in Nigeria. We have had our own share from the First Republic down till today that we are confronted with the Boko Haram insurgency. The First Republic witnessed the Middle Belt insurgency spearheaded by Tarka on behalf of the Tiv for the creation of a state for them as their homeland. This preceded the Western Region Crisis of the 1965, following a massively rigged election which prompted arson, looting, and killings.

Violence followed the election when the NNDP led the Chief LadokeAkintola, then Premier of the Region rigged the election that ought to have been won by the Action Group. What followed was the counter-coup of the 1966 believed to have been an Igbocoup which prompted response by the Northerners and what has been described as pogrom by the Igbo. We had the civil war for three years followed by relative peace. Between the end of the civil war and now, Nigeria has experienced various forms of political violence such as the Agbekoya (Farmers) riot in Western Region, the Bakaloriviolence in Sokoto area over the construction of a Dam, the Niger Delta insurgency over resource control, the settler/indigene Modakeke/Ife War in the South West which cost many lives,and the war of attrition between the Tiv and their neghbours in Nasarawaand Taraba states.Finally, one cannot overlook the ongoing violence in Plateau state between the indigenes and so-called settlers (i.e, the Fulani).

Reasons for Political Violence After considerable reflection, I cannot but conclude that political violence whether in Nigeria, Africa or any part of the world can be attributed to an admixture of the following. At the root of such episodes is the demand for social, economic and political rights;the unwillingness by the power that be to grant, or respect such rights; lack of candour in the conduct of public policy on

I accompanied the President (Jonathan Goodluck) on a tour of a number of states in northern Nigeria and for the first time in my life, I saw many children carrying small bowls or plates, begging for arms from passersby at several stops most especially around the palaces of emirs and at various intersections of major township roads. These children, between the age of 9 and 15 years were unkempt and had probably not taken bath for days. They were usually in rags and looked very miserable.

•Prof Erinosho

‘The Niger Deltans rose against the Federal Government because of blatant violation of their economic rights. They have been quick to remind every Nigerian that derivation was the fundamental principle for the allocation of resources during the First Republic when each of the regions, dominated by the three major ethnic groups (Hausa/Fulani/Yoruba and Igbo) appropriated nearly 80 percent of the revenue from their key resource for the development of their respective region.’ such rights and also hypocrisy.

Take the case of the persistent political violence between the Israelis and the Palestinians. At the core of the violence is the demand for social, political and economic rights. The state of Israel was created at the end of the Second World War to appease the Jews over their vicissitudes in the hands of Nazi Germans under Adolf Hitler. The creation of the state of Israel dispossessed Palestinian Arabs who had been living for years of their land and they have continued to this day to demand for it. At the root of the Second World War were issues of political, social and economic rights. The Tiv rebelled during the First Republic because they wanted to live in a semi-autonomous state within Nigeria which the then northern Nigeria establishment was not disposed to. The political violence that flared up during the Agbekoya uprising in Western Nigeria was motivated by the demand for political and economic rights.

The Niger Deltans rose against the Federal Government because of blatant violation of their economic rights. They have been quick to remind every Nigerian that derivation was the fundamental principle for the allocation of resources during the First Republic when each of the regions, dominated by the three major ethnic groups (Hausa/Fulani/Yoruba and Igbo) appropriated nearly 80 percent of the revenue from their key resource for the development of their respective region.

Derivation was later to be thrown overboard by the militarywhen it appropriated the bulk of the revenue for the Federal Government (i.e., the centre). And so the political violence that flared up was to demand for economic right(i.e., a return to the old days when derivation was a cardinal principle in resource allocation in the country).

The political violence in Western Region during the First Republic was due to the failure of the Federal Government to respect the will of the electorates of the region. The Federal Government used its coercive power to impose Akintolaafter he lost the election. We can go on and on to show that nearly all political violence occurs when efforts are not made to address economic, social, and political rights or when there is no candour in the conduct of public policy or when those who ought to act are hypocritical.

I say hypocrisy because those who are in a position to arrest political violence are often hypocritical and always dance around the issue. They proclaim certain ideals/beliefs/views but do something contrary to the beliefs/ideals etc.Let us give a number of examples to support the hypocrisy thesis. There will be no peace in the Middle East and may be in the world unless the Palestine issue is resolved. The US that champions democracy has at the same time been foot dragging on the demand of the Palestinians for their homeland. The Nigerian Government was dancing around the clamour of the Niger Deltans for a very long time and only negotiated after violence broke out. Today, I believe that the Federal Government is paying more than it bargained for after all. Why? I invite our economists to assist us in computing the total cost of appeasement, taking into consideration:cost of keeping a task force in Niger Delta plus cost of running Niger Delta Ministry and NNDC plus cost of training and retraining militants plus cost of health care for all those maimed in all the years of violence plus cost of scholarships doled out to Niger Deltans. Would it not have been wiser, more sensible, and cheaper to grant the request of Niger Delta at the onset of demand before several people were killedthan incur the total cost from the above expenses? Who is wiser, federal or Niger Delta? But the response of the Federal Government has

I had not lived in the north before my present appointment at the presidency and was therefore shocked to see these children (fellow Nigerians) in this condition. Consequently, I was curious to find out from my colleagues about these children who were roaming the streets begging for arms? I asked: Who are these children?

Where do they come from?

Who are their parents? and why are they not in school? I asked?

My colleagues who are acquainted with the north told me that these children are known as Almajiri. They are children sent by their parents to study Arabic and Islamic studies under reputable Islamic teachers.

The Islamic teachers in turn deploy them to streets to beg for arms. They return daily to their teachers with proceeds from the arms collected. The teachers in turn use part of the money from the arms to feed and house them during their training.

I bemoaned the conditions of these children and wondered why our northern elite who have ruled Nigeria for nearly thirty-eight years out of more than fifty-one years of our political independence had not done anything about these children? Why have our northern elite not prevented this humanitarian disaster? Why have they not taken steps to ensure that these children are in school?

No one has been able to give me a satisfactory answer. All I hear is that it is part of the religion/culture, - that is to send children to Islamic scholars for training during their formative years in this part of our country.

This goes to show how our country had for years been constructing a time bomb which is now exploding in our face. It can be likened to what happened in the Niger Delta. Our authorities waited for too long for the people of Niger Delta to take arms against the Government.

There is ample evidence to suggest that these children who are denied formal western education and who now reject western education are susceptible to all forms of abuses and infectious diseases. They are prone to accidents and also brutalised. These children abuse addictive substances like Indian hemp or polish etc. These children have become ready tools in the hands of those who can mobilize them with little money (which is big to them) to cause mayhem. They have indeed been involved in various atrocities.

Poverty is widespread in Nigeria and it is not easing. Nearly two-thirds of the citizens of this country live below poverty level, adjudged to be one or two US dollar(s) a day. Grinding poverty is much more pronounced in the north than in the south.

Large numbers live in urban squalor (face-me-I-face you) housing units that lack basic facilities like good toilets, portable water, and electricity. Sex abuse is rampant in such housing units.

The noise level is high while privacy is elusive. Most inhabitants in these houses live like animals and one wonders how they survive.

There is much talk today about the minimum wage of N18, 000 per month which was announced several months ago by the President. A minimum wage of such a paltry amount of money in a country where a handful of office holders (compare to millions of Nigerians) earn outrageous amounts of money monthly as shown in the table below in the case of federal legislators.

Permanent secretaries, chief of executives of corporations, commissioners, vice-chancellors etc. nowadays earn a hundred and ten times the national monthly minimum wage, excluding other perquisites of office. The monthly salary of the Nigerian senators2 is six times what a US Senator earns; 12 times of what his/ her counterpart in Sweden earns, and 49 times of what an Indian legislator earns!!!

They earn outrageous amount in a context in which vast numbers of people are living below poverty line, - about 160 naira per day. Indeed there are millions who hardly earn or make N160 a day from what they peddle in market places or as menial workers. These millions shop in the same market and also buy medicines to treat themselves and their children from same pharmacies or patent medicine shops where the rich ones do.

Widespread poverty is a catalyst for revolution and social disorder as previously argued in the base of Arab countries.

Grinding poverty was also one of the major causes of the French revolution and Nigeria is heading toward such a revolution if poverty is not addressed very quickly.

Our country is a tragic case of a resource-endowed country that has been in bondage in the past forty years. SanniAbacha single-handedly starched away between three and four billion US dollars in foreign accounts. Various other military functionaries who claimed to intervene to save Nigeria from bad governance between 1960 and 1999 stole about 400 billion US dollars from the Nigerian treasury.

Saved in Final Ok, news, Page 52, 20-8-2012

• To be continued

53

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

MONEY LINK

Finance Houses advocate funding pool from CBN

F

INANCE House operating in the country are advocating a funding pool from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The sub-sector, which unlike banks, is not allowed by law to accept desposits from customers has been lamenting the limited sources of funding for its operation.

This limitation means finance companies can only source for funds from share holders, private equity companies, development finance institutions and other

Stories by Collins Nweze

institutional investors.

A statement from the Finance Houses Association of Nigeria (FHAN), said the plan will stimulate lending activities in the sub-sector and create structured programme to address the reputation and poor visibility challenges in the unit.

Also to address challenges confronting the sector, FHAN is discussing with Chief Executive Officers of finance companies operating in the country. The body

is currently discussing salient issues in the operating environment, which should be addressed in the new policy framework that is in the works.

President of the association, Samuel Durojaye said, the CBN reforms in the sector will transform, and reposition the finance company sub-sector to enable it play increasing role in Nigeria’s financing value chain.

He acknowledged the apex bank’s continuing support to and engagement

with the association on this project.

He called on FHAN members to support the bank’s efforts at strengthening the regulatory environment by regular and timely rendering of all statutory returns and reports, as well as the renewal of their operating licences every year.

Durojaye enjoined them to note that the apex bank is taking the issue of corporate governance practices very serious and, therefore, counselled members to identify

Enterprise Bank assures subsidiary staff

T

HE management of Enterprise Bank Limited (EBL) has assured staff of its subsidiary, First Spring Franchise Services (FSFS) Limited, that the planned sale of the company in line with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) directive, will not create any setback.

In a statement, the bank’s Head, Corporate Communications, Olusola LongeOkenimkpe, said this became imperative following the increased concern of the workers about losing their jobs in the aftermath of the firm being handed over to its new owners.

“Enterprise Bank has ensured that no staff will suffer as a result of the transfer of service to a new owner. As a matter of fact, the bank has put in place a number of positive measures to protect the interest of every staff.

“Some of these measures in-

clude instituting, measuring and monitoring parameters to evaluate the service providers and ensuring that they are able to keep up with the standards, the continued payment of existing remuneration and a future career development structure,” the statement said.

Under the new banking regulatory regime introduced by the apex bank as part of the ongoing banking reform, banks are required to either sell non-core banking businesses or form a holding company to hold such non-core banking businesses, including activities such as insurance, assets management and capital market operations.

Five banks, including First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Plc, FirstBank of Nigeria (FBN) Plc, Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc and Union Bank of Nigeria (UBN) Plc, have opted to keep their subsidiaries, while

for holding company status are yet to complete their restructuring.

GTBank has completed sale of its 67.68 per cent majority equity stake in Guaranty Trust Assurance (GTAssur) Plc to Assur Africa Holding (AAH).

The shares were sold at N1.76 per share for a total consideration of N11.910 billion, approximately $76 million. Diamond Bank had earlier sold its insurance subsidiary-ADIC Insurance Limited to new core investors.

Sterling Bank has also sold its equities in Sterling Capital Markets Limited, while a capital market operator confirmed that it was about to close a deal for the fund management business of Fidelity Bank.

Some 77 subsidiaries of banks, including three quoted companies are up for sale in what promises to be the largest divestment transaction within the time frame.

•Enterprise Bank MD, Ahmed Kuru

other banks, including Access Bank Plc, Diamond Bank Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) Plc, Skye Bank Plc, Zenith Bank and Wema Bank, among others, are pursuing divestments from non-banking subsidiaries.

Only few banks have been able to complete sales of few subsidiaries. Banks that opted

FGN BONDS Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year 5-Year

35m 35m 35m

11.039 12.23 13.19

19-05-2014 18-05-2016 19-05-2016

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

INTERBANK RATES 7.9-10% 10-11%

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2012 “ 14-04-2012

GAINERS AS AT 17-8-12 SYMBOL

CADBURY INTBREW FIDSON DANGFLOUR LIVESTOCK EVANSMED IKEJAHOTEL RTBRISCOE NAHCO OANDO

O/PRICE

15.95 6.94 0.84 6.13 1.37 1.15 1.17 1.65 5.70 13.61

C/PRICE

16.74 7.28 0.88 6.10 1.43 1.20 1.22 1.72 5.90 14.00

T

HE Nigerian ExportImport Bank is providing funding and support to set up a shipping company to boost intra-African movement of goods, an official said.

Vessels from the West Africa Sealink Company, as the company will be known, will call on ports on the Atlantic coast from Dakar, Senegal, in the north to Libreville, Gabon in the south, Chinedu Moghalu, a spokesman for the Abuja-based lender, told Bloomberg in an emailed response to questions.

“Total investment for the new company is estimated at $60 million for a start,” Moghalu said. Prospective investors will meet in Accra, the capital of Ghana, before the end of September to work out “‘the allocation of shares and conclusion of key appointments and partnerships” ahead of the company’s start by the first

Amount Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($) 350m 150m 350m 138m 350m 113m

quarter of next year, he said.

Trade among members of the Economic Community of West African States accounts for about 11 per cent of the group’s trade, while business with Europe represents 45 per cent, according to the Nigerian lender also known as Nexim.

Factors slowing regional trade include current trans-shipment arrangements through Europe that result in an average of 60 days delivery from the port of Lagos to that of Accra, it said.

The Sealink project is intended to “increase trade flows, reduce time and costs” while “improving duty receipts by national governments and port authorities,” Moghalu said.

At the start, the shipping company will ply routes between west and central Africa before expanding its services to southern Africa and South America, he said.

Exchange Rate (N) 155.2 155.8 155.7

Date 2-7-12 27-6-12 22-6-12

CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Year Start Offer

NGN USD NGN GBP NGN EUR NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N) (S/N) Bureau de Change (S/N) Parallel Market

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

147.6000 239.4810 212.4997

149.7100 244.0123 207.9023

150.7100 245.6422 209.2910

-2.11 -2.57 -1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

152.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

153.0000

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

NSE CAP Index

27-10-11 N6.5236tr 20,607.37

28-10-11 N6.617tr 20,903.16

DISCOUNT WINDOW Feb. ’11

July ’11

Dec ’11

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

12%

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

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00% 12.10%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00% 12.10%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00% 12.6%

% Change -1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

CHANGE

0.79 0.34 0.04 0.27 0.06 0.05 0.05 0.07 0.20 0.39

Amount Sold ($) 150m 138m 113m

EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12 Currency

OBB Rate Call Rate

NEXIM Bank backs shipping firm

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM

MANAGED FUNDS

NIDF NESF

•CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido

DATA BANK

Tenor

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

structural weaknesses in their various organisations and take immediate remedial steps to rectify them.

He advised that members expand the ownership structures of their businesses, broaden their various boards by recruiting independent non-executive directors, create board committees on specific operational issues, and address evident insider abuses and market indiscipline, which hamper operational efficiency and corporate growth.

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

Offer Price

Bid Price

9.17 1.00 123.71 107.75 0.76 1.10 0.93 1,731.32 9.66 1.39 1.87 8,024.44

9.08 1.00 123.56 107.53 0.74 1.10 0.91 1,729.01 9.19 1.33 1.80

LOSERS AS AT 17-8-12

SYMBOL CONOIL ARBICO UPL MAYBAKER ROYALEX BAGCO REDSTAREX WAPIC NASCON NIGERINS

O/PRICE 23.00 14.83 4.30 1.75 0.53 1.63 2.75 0.55 4.77 0.51

C/PRICE 21.85 14.09 4.10 1.67 0.51 1.57 2.65 0.53 4.67 0.50

CHANGE 1.15 0.74 0.20 0.08 0.02 0.06 0.10 0.02 0.10 0.01

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

Rate (Previous) 4 Mar, 2012 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

Rate (Currency) 6, Mar, 2012 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

Movement

OPEN BUY BACK

Bank P/Court

Previous 04 July, 2011

Current 07, Aug, 2011

8.5000 8.0833

8.5000 8.0833

Movement

54

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

NEWS Reporter ‘manhandled’ in Delta From Polycarp Orosevwotu, Warri

A

MEMBER of the Nigeria Union of Journalists(NUJ), Ughelli Correspondents Chapel, Delta State, Matthias Ogbaga, was allegedly manhandled by the police in the Ughelli ‘A’ Division.

Ogbaga, working with The Urhobo Times, a community newspaper, is receiving treatment at the Ughelli Central Hospital.

A statement by the Chapel’s Chairman, Festus Ahon and Secretary Sunday Apah described the brutality on reporters as “unprofessional”.

The statement said Ogbagah was coming from an accident scene at Amekpa junction of the East-West road on Thursday, when the commercial motorcycle he boarded was blocked by a vehicle suspected to be police officers in mufti at Adagharagba Street.

It said despite attempts to identify himself as a reporter, Ogbaga was beaten, handcuffed and driven round the town by the police officers before he was taken to the station, where he was allegedly locked up in a cell.

Crisis in Edo NMA From Osagie Otabor, Benin

A

LEADERSHIP crisis is rocking the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) in Edo State, following the emergence of two chairmen at different congresses.

Dr. James Kpolugbo emerged as the chairman in an election held simultaneously in three voting centres; Dr. Emmanuel Ighodaro was elected at another congress at the Central Hospital, Benin City.

Kpolugbo’s election was conducted on Sunday. Ighodaro was elected yesterday.

Former chairman Phillip Ugbodaga, who handed over to Kpolugbo, said the election of Ighodaro was conducted by members who lost out in the election.

Ugbodaga said due process was followed in the conduct of the election and that members of the other faction were disqualified because they owed union dues.

He queried the processes leading to the conduct of the election.

But National President of NMA, Dr. Osahon Enabulele, described Kpolugbo’s election as fraudulent.

Enabulele said the national body recognised the election of Ighodaro, adding that less than 30 doctors participated in the election of Kpolugbo.

He said: “The former chairman formed a contraption not known to NMA constitution.

“He set up a committee and made himself the secretary.

That election by Ugbodaga is null and void.”

ACN hails Rivers govt From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

T

HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Rivers State has hailed the Governor Rotimi Amaechi-led administration for planning to repair deplorable roads in Port Harcourt and its environs.

The party, through its Publicity Secretary, Jerry Needam, also called for investigation to identify the causes of the failed roads, which were repaired barely two years ago.

“These roads and streets, that the Rivers State Government intends to repair again, are the same that were said to have been rehabilitated and maintained by the State Road Maintenance Agency and The Operation Zero Potholes.

“We call on the Rivers State Government to probe the activities of these two failed interventionist agencies, to determine how tax payers’ money claimed to have been invested in these roads and streets were employed; the quality of materials used and verify if the roads and streets were repaired, as claimed and who the contractors are.

Delta monarch dies From Polycarp Orosevwotu, Warri

•Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson flanked by Deputy Governor John Jonah (left) and the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Kombowei Benson at the state's fifth Transparency Initiative monthly briefing at Government House in Yenagoa

Oko prisons: Escaped inmates blew up toilet, says comptroller

T

HE eight inmates who escaped from the Oko minimum security prison in Benin City blew up the toilet, State Comptroller of Prison, Ewulu Jimoh, has said.

Jimoh said 12 inmates ran out but four were rearrested.

The State Comptroller debunked media reports that gunmen attacked the prison to free the inmates.

T

HERE is a looming crisis in Warri between Ogbe-Ijoh and Itsekiri people over a piece of land.

Both communities are in Warri South-West Local Government.

Ogbe-Ijoh community is laying claim to the disputed land, which they say is their ancestral land.

The Itsekiri community accused Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of forcefully taking over the land.

The government is building a primary school on the disputed land.

In a protest led by Lori-

T

A

He said the inmates escaped without help from outside.

His words: “We heard an explosion at the inmates’ toilet and some of them ran out.

“We re-arrested four but eight made it through.

“There was no casualty.

The gates were not bombed.

Even if they bombed the gates, there was no way inmates could escape because the area is well secured.”

The Comptroller said they are investigating to know the device that was used and how the explosives were taken inside.

Commissioner of Police

From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

Rita Ogbebor, a prominent Itsekiri leader, the Itsekiri said the land belongs to the Okere people and they wish to build a town hall on it.

But the Ogbe-Ijoh Governing Council said the land, which is located in the Government Reservation Area (GRA), Ogbe-Ijoh, Warri, is traditionally owned by the Ogbe-Ijoh Kingdom and not the Okere community as wrongfully claimed by the Itsekiri people.

The Ogbe-Ijoh people are accusing the Itsekiri of claiming ownership of the land.

The Ogbe-Ijoh Governing Council in a letter yesterday said its people are the owners of the land.

It said they are not against the government developing the land, maintaining that the impression being created by the Itsekiri that they own the land was wrong.

The letter, which was signed by its Chairman, Dr Clarkson Aribogha and his Secretary-General, Friday Deinghan, on behalf of the Ogbe-Ijoh people, declared that the area was part of the area acquired from the Ogbe-Ijoh people by the colonial government in 1906

and clearly defined in the 1928 Warri Assessment Report and the 1938 map of Warri.

They said the Ogbe-Ijoh people had protested the construction work because the school is named after the Itsekiri monarch .

The Ogbe-Ijoh people, therefore, call on the government, especially the Secretary to the State Government, Ovouzorie Macaulay and the public to disregard the spurious and unfounded claim by the Okere community.

They urged the government to properly acquire the land

Uduaghan for Business Hallmark lecture

D

‘Release Ugolor’ GROUP, Voice of the Masses, yesterday called for the resignation of the Inspector-General of Police, Muhammed Abubakar, over the continued detention of a suspect, David Ugolor.

Ugolor was detained by the policed for alleged complicity in the murder of Olaitan Oyerinde, the Principal Private Secretary to Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

“Muhammed Abubakar, when he was acting, once ordered the immediate release of all persons detained without justification.

“Why is he approbating and reprobating? We are aware that Ugolor is being victimised and humiliated because he has been a thorn in the flesh of our capitalist rulers.”

The statement said the IG should rather think of tackling the security challenges in the country rather than acting the script of some interests.

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

Olayinka Balogun yesterday said he was shown two holes bored into the cell walls and another through the fence made by the inmates.

Olayinka said there was no bomb blast at Oko prison and that gunmen did not invade the prison.

He said the situation has been put under control and that he was waiting for the prison authorities for more briefing.

Looming crisis in Delta over disputed land

HE Agbarha-Otor Community Traditional Council in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State yesterday announced the death of the Ovie of AgbarhaOtor, John Amrohworiemure Okerefe.

A statement by the ‘Prime Minister’ of the Agbarha-Otor traditional Council, Alfred Akpobome, said Amrohworiemure was born on April 19, 1944.

The statement also said the late Amrohworiemure ascended the throne on February 2, 1981 as Prince John Amrohworiemure Okorefe, Ebele 11, Ovie of Agbarha-Otor kingdom after the demise of his father, Okorefe Ojakovo 11.

From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

•Police: there was no blast

•Uduaghan

ELTA State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan will deliver the August edition of Business Hallmark’s Public Policy Forum lecture on Friday.

Unlike the previous lecture series organised by the newspaper, the 10th edition will hold at the Unity Cen-

tre, Government House Asaba, by 10.30am.

Uduaghan will speak on: “Niger Delta: Beyond Resource Control, Burdens and Realities of Transformation”.

Chairman of Business Hallmark Public Policy Forum, Prof George Obiozor, in a statement in Lagos,

said Uduaghan was chosen because of the realities of development that confronts the Niger Delta.

The statement also added that the governor’s positions on the broad sociopolitical issues of the region makes him best suited candidate for the lecture.

Probe activities of RMAFC, NBC, say groups

T

HE Southern People’s Youth Assembly (SPYA) and International Network against Corruption (INAC) have called for a probe of the Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) and the National Boundary Commission (NBC) for the ceding of 76 oil wells to Akwa Ibom State.

The groups also urged the Presidency to probe what led to the decision of the commissions and why they sidelined members of Cross River State in the commissions before taking their decision.

The National coordinator of SPYA, Mike Newgent-Ekarnon and Country Director of INAC, James Okoronkwo, said: “The present decision to consign Cross River State and its people

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

into penury should be reversed and the perpetrators of this wickedness brought to book.

“We demand immediate reversal of the decisions of RMAFC and NBC who through criminal boundary adjustment motivated the relocation of 76 oil wells originally under Bakassi and within Cross River State, to be relocated to her sister state.

“We want immediate resisting of Cross River State and payment of all its fiscal allocation which was irrationally stopped by RMAFC, after it tended to contradict the former President’s democratic principles based on the rule of law, due process, equity and justice.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

55

NEWS Anambra LP sacks chairman for alleged N16m fraud

T

HE Anambra State chapter of the Labour Party (LP) has sacked its chairman, Mr. Jude Ezenwafor, for allegedly embezzling N16 million.

The Deputy Chairman, Mr. Sam Oraegbunam, has taken over the party’s leadership.

The resolution was taken yesterday after an Executive Council meeting at the LP State Secretariat in Awka, the state capital.

The party’s Publicity Secretary, Mr. Rich Onuorah, told reporters that Ezenwafor had been collecting money from a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain on behalf of the LP without the party’s knowledge.

Onuorah said: “Ezenwafor has collected over N16 mil-

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

lion on behalf of the party without accounting for it.

Because of that, the party has ratified Oraegbunam as the Acting Chairman.

“Let me make it clear to everybody that LP is not on the payroll of anybody in this state. Whatever anybody hears outside is mere rumour. “That is why we are doing everything within our reach to make this party the leading party in Anambra State, with credible candidates for the 2014 governorship election.”

Ezenwafor declined comments on the party’s decision. He said: “Until I get a letter to that effect, I will not react.”

MASSOB arrests robbery suspect •From left: The Managing Director, Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Mr. Ola Oresanya; Chief Operating Officer, Alkem Nigeria Ltd., Mr. Aramugan Ramalinga; LAWMA General Manager, Administrative and Special Duties, Mrs. Abimbola Jijoho-Ogun; and the Communication Strategy Manager, Tastee Fried Chicken (TFC), Mr. Baiyewu Olanrewaju; during the summer programme organised for children by LAWMA in conjunction with TFC at the Teslim Balogun Stadium.

The programme is tagged, “Waste for food initiative”.

PHOTO: SOLOMON ADEOLA

Kidnappers abduct proprietress, businessman in Onitsha T

WO persons were kidnapped in Onitsha, Anambra State, on Sunday.

They are Mrs. Ngozi Udeh (46), the proprietress of Promise International School, Fegge, Onitsha, and a businessman.

The businessman was abducted at Modebe Street on his way to St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, Odoakpu.

Mrs. Udeh, who is the wife of the former President of the Electronics Dealers’ Association, Onitsha (EDAO), Chief Joseph Udeh, was kidnapped about 10am at Akokwa Town Hall, Fegge, during a prayer meeting of

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

the Akokwa Christian Association (ACA).

An eyewitness said four gunmen stormed the venue and whisked Mrs. Udeh away in a Mercedes Benz car.

The eyewitness said: “When the gunmen arrived on the first floor of the building, where we were holding our prayer meeting, they ordered everybody to march down stairs in a single file.

“When they sighted Mrs. Udeh, one of them said ‘that is the woman’ and they

dragged her downstairs.

They forced her into their vehicle and drove off.”

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Fegge Police Station, Mr. Rowland Omotojo, confirmed the incident.

Omotojo said: “They reported the matter at the Police Station and I despatched my men there. Since then, we have been nosing around for information.

“It is terrible for hoodlums to go to that kind of gathering, identify one person and kidnap her. It is something else.”

It was gathered that the woman’s abductors are demanding N50 million ransom, though neither the police nor her family members have confirmed it.

A family source said: “We have started talking with the kidnappers. We pray that very soon, everything would be sorted out. As for the money, I do not know.”

A resident, who pleaded for anonymity, said people are afraid to go about their daily activities in the city.

He said some residents have started relocating to other towns.

APGA alleges plot by PDP to destabilise Imo

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HE Imo State chapter of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has alleged a plot by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to create mayhem in the state and pave the way for the declaration of a state of emergency.

APGA alleged that the PDP has recruited thousands of thugs to force the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Benjamin Uwajogu, to swear in the winner of the last House of Assembly bye-election, Mr. Eugene Dibiagwu, as the member representing Oguta Constituency.

In a statement by its State Chairman, Prince Marshall Anyanwu, APGA said: “We

From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

reliably gathered that more than 200 buses carrying thugs from unknown states will converge on Imo State on Wednesday to force the Speaker to swear in Dibiagwu as the member representing Oguta Constituency, a matter which is before the court and on which the Judge has ruled that the status-quo should be maintained.

“We also gathered that the hoodlums intend to remain in the state and create instability in local government councils in protest of the disengagement of former council chairmen, whose tenures have ended.

“The reason for all these is

the claim that if Okorocha remains in office till 2015, PDP will lose the entire Southeast, which they claim is the belief of the Presidency.

“We also understand that this group and their leaders have assured their followers that every effort will be made to make the state ungovernable.

“But Imolites must remember that our dear state was mismanaged by this same group of people for several years without progress. We also understand that the Speaker is under intense pressure by the PDP to ignore the court ruling stopping Dibiagwu’s swearing-in.

“This same group is instru-

mental to the current strike by resident doctors of the Imo State University Teaching Hospital (IMSUTH) in a bid to create chaos in the polity.”

The PDP, in a statement by its Secretary, Sir George Eguh, described the allegation as “a reckless and unguarded statement meant to deceive the public”.

It said: “There is no plan by the PDP or anybody to cause mayhem in Imo State. The false alarm by APGA may be a subtle notice to Imo people that it intends to unleash mayhem on them.

“APGA should be held responsible for any breakdown of law and order on the said date or any other date.”

Commissioner blames APGA crises on Okorocha

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HE crises rocking the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has been blamed on the “overbearing influence” of Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha.

Speaking with reporters yesterday in Awka, the Anambra State Commissioner for Special Duties, Chief Vincent Ezenwajiaku, said Governor Peter Obi is not involved in the crises.

Ezenwajiaku said the late Eze Igbo Gburugburu, Chief Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, was the face of APGA and would

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

remain so in the hearts of Ndigbo.

He said APGA won the governorship elections in Anambra and recently in Imo because of the late Ojukwu’s personality and Obi’s performance.

The commissioner said the major problem in APGA is the insistence of stakeholders to restructure the party at the ward, local government and state levels and not the issue of local government election as is being

speculated.

He said the plan to restructure the party did not go down well with some stakeholders.

Ezenwajiaku said: “Obi is working selflessly in the interest of the people of Anambra State and Ndigbo. The crux of the matter is that we want to restructure APGA and this has not been done in years.

“The first son heads the family in the absence of the father, so Obi, not Okorocha, is the leader of the party in

Ojukwu’s absence. Okorocha may have a hand in the crises in APGA, going by certain statements credited to him recently, but I pray he doesn’t.

“Obi does not have any intention of destroying APGA. He will be on the wrong side of history, if he spearheads such a thing. I disagree with anybody with such notion.”

He said party members are determined to restructure APGA and they will pursue their intention legally, if need be.

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EMBERS of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) yesterday apprehended a suspected member of a fiveman robbery gang in Onitsha, Anambra State.

The suspect, Chibuzor Nwandede, hails from Ebonyi State.

The gang is believed to be responsible for many crimes on the Onitsha-Owerri Expressway.

MASSOB Director of Security in charge of Region 4 Mr. Chukwuneke Agoha said his men were on patrol, when they ran into a roadblock mounted by the suspected robbers.

Agoha said: “Our security men were on patrol on the Onitsha-Owerri Road around midnight, when they ran into a robbery gang, which had barricaded the expressway with a vehicle.

“When our men, who were riding on motorcycles, ran into the parked car and fell, the hoodlums rushed out from their hideout and attacked them, stabbing them with bottles and machetes. Before our men could call for reinforcement, four of the robbers escaped, but one was arrested.”

When he was paraded, Nwandede confessed that he joined the gang a month ago and had participated in many operations in Onitsha and its environs.

Nwandede said he met the leader of the gang, simply identified as Otu, at a place where they smoke Indian hemp.

Nwandede said Otu, who was allegedly released from prison three months ago, introduced him to armed robbery.

Commending the security men for the gallantry, the MASSOB Administrator in charge of Region 4 Chief Arinze Igbani said MASSOB is determined to stamp out crime in the southeast.

Igbani said the constant clampdown on members of the group by the military and police has weakened their zeal.

He said: “We are appealing to the Anambra State Government and security agencies to give MASSOB members a free hand to operate and flush out criminals. Security agencies should stop seeing us as hoodlums. We are helping them to tackle the security challenges.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

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NEWS

Journalist’s son electrocuted in Abuja

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T was a tragic Sallah for an Abuja journalist, Sani Abubakar, yesterday as his nine-year-old son was electrocuted.

The victim, Hassan Sani Abubakar, a twin and lover of pets, who left his parents’ home at Jikwoyi for the State Security Service (SSS) Quarters also at Jikwoyi to feed his pigeons, died after

From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

being electrocuted.

An eyewitness said the late Hassan climbed a water tank platform to feed the pigeons and he slipped and fell.

It was learnt that in an attempt to regain balance, he unknowingly held a Power Holding Company of

Nigeria (PHCN) cable, which electrocuted him.

The source said residents of the SSS Quarters who knew the parents of the deceased, informed his father, Alhaji Sani Abubakar, who mobilised men to the scene to bring down the body.

Abubakar, the Abuja

Bureau Chief of Nigerian Newsday said his son was a lover of pets, especially pigeons.

According to him, he devoted a lot of time to caring for pigeons.

“Because of his love for pigeons, I told him to remove them from my compound so that he could

concentrate on his studies.

“But, unknown to me, he kept them at the SSS Quarters, not far from my home.

“He woke up in the morning and went to look after his pets. I was roused from sleep only to be informed of the sad incident,” The late Hassan has been buried according to Islamic rites.

‘Respect zoning’ From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

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HEAD of the local government poll in November, the Senate Minority Leader, Senator George Akume, has urged aspirants of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to respect the zoning formula of the party.

Speaking at the third memorial mass in honour of his late brother, Akoom Dajo, who was the chairman of Tarka Local Government, Senator Akume told the aspirants that the only way they can defeat their opponents in the election is to respect zoning, which elders of the party have the responsibly to carry out.

He said he has no favourite candidate.

“My candidate is the candidate the people choose and I want to declare that no one should come before you claiming that he is my candidate,” Akume said.

Jang’s ex-aide to contest Senate seat MR. Gyang Pwajok, the former Chief of Staff to Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang, who resigned last week, is to contest the Plateau North Senatorial District by-election to replace the late Senator Gyang Dantong.

“Yes, I am in the race for the Senate seat and I’m confident of picking the PDP ticket and securing victory in the election by God’s grace,” Pwajok told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos yesterday.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed September 15 for the by-election to replace Dantong, who died in a stampede after gunmen attacked mourners at Maseh, a village in Riyom Local Government.

Group condemns plot against Akume From Olugbenga Adanikin, Abuja

A PRESSURE group, Benue Zone B Collective (BZBC), has decried the incessant attacks and alleged plot to remove Senator George Akume as the Senate Minority Leader.

The group said the opposition should instead support the proffering of solution to the insecurity in the country.

In a statement jointly signed by the group’s National President, Col. Awua Yese and SecretaryGeneral, Comrade Ayoo Angwe Ayoo, in Abuja, they expressed dismay that the attack on Akume has graduated from political blackmail to media terrorism.

•Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Zulu-Gambari (left), reading his address during a Sallah homage to the Government House in Ilorin yesterday. With him are Deputy Governor of Kwara State, Elder Peter Kisra (middle) and Deputy Speaker, Kwara House of Assembly, Prof. Muhammed Yisa.

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Kwara ACN backs council workers on planned strike

HE Kwara State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has described the nonpayment of workers’ salaries as a “political deceit, endemic corruption and mindless economic sabotage championed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led state government in connivance with the party’s leadership.”

The party said it supports the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) on the 14-day ultimatum it gave the government to either pay the June/July salaries or face an industrial action.

The Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) in the state gave the government 14-day ultimatum to facilitate the payment of the June and July salaries.

The workers have vowed to embark on an indefinite strike at the expiration of the deadline if their demand is not met.

ALGON said if the government failed to address issues concerning salary arrears and other issues bordering on welfare, it would not have an option than to go on strike.

In a communiqué entitled: “The strangulation of local government system in Kwara State: The position of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employers”, signed by the NULGE Secretary, Comrade Abayomi Afolabi, the body frowned at the delay in the payment of salaries.

It said: “The councils are under-funded and cannot meet up with the statutory challenges associated with the third tier of government.”

The communiqué reads: “NULGE observes that part of

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

the reasons adduced for the above is the issue of the exploitative joint account, which has not been beneficial to the local government system in Kwara State. The most worrisome is that despite the shortfall in the federal allocation, the usual detrimental deductions from the local government allocation are still being made, leaving the councils financially incapacitated.

“That the constitutional roles of councils as a third tier of government have been usurped by the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Community Development; thus reducing local governments to mere appendages of the state contrary to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“This is evident by the recent development where local government chairmen go cap in hand to the ministry

for approval and release of fund to run their councils.”

In a statement, the Chairman of ACN in Kwara State, Kayode Olawepo, said there could be no “reasonable” explanation for the habitual delay in the payment of salaries. A problem, he said, is unique in Kwara.

The statement reads: “We support in its totality the action and resolution of the NULGE in Kwara State on the issues of salaries and welfare.

There could be no reasonable explanation for the habitual delay or refusal to pay workers every month.

“But we are quick to point out that the non-payment of salaries is just one of the symptoms of the political deceit, endemic corruption and mindless economic sabotage championed by the PDP-led government in connivance with the party’s leadership.

“If it is true that the problem is not restricted to Kwara, as their self-styled leader claimed in a recent propaganda, why is it that only Kwara State

workers are in the news for not getting paid because the government either did not pay the councils or has reduced the statutory allocation meant for local governments? While some governments (non-oil producing states for that matter) have paid August salaries, Kwara government has not paid many of its workers June and July salaries.

“We have said Kwara’s fund including the money belonging to councils is being used to redeem debts taken to sustain an anti-development political empire at the expense of the common man. There’s nothing on ground to justify the state’s surging debt profile.

We repeat our calls on the antigraft agencies to vet the financial books of the state government. Their failure to act over the years is plunging our people deeper into abject poverty, despondency and breeding youth restiveness.

“We urge our people to continue to speak up and be ready to enforce a change in Kwara beginning from next year’s council poll where they (voters) should ensure that only persons capable of stopping the bleeding are elected.”

Sallah attack: Police arrest suspect

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OURS after four gunmen attacked and injured a mobile policeman at a checkpoint on the Kano-Zaria Road, Kano on Sallah Day, detectives from the Kano Police Command have arrested one of the fleeing suspects who escaped with bullet wounds.

Confirming the arrest to reporters at the palace of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, yesterday, Police Commissioner Ibrahim Idris said security agents have

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

intensified their search for the fleeing members of the gang.

“My men have arrested one of the suspects with bullet wounds. The search for others has been intensified. We appeal to the public, especially medical personnel, to report any patient with bullet wounds to the police,” he said.

Idris said the minor incident was sensationalised by the media. According to him, the

Eid-el-Fitri has been peaceful, as security operatives repelled an attempt by militants to attack a police checkpoint on Sallah Day. The police boss said he was at the emir’s palace to thank him for his support, pay him homage and wish him more fruitful years.

Gunmen on Sallah Day attacked a police checkpoint on the Kano-Zaria Road. A mobile policeman was injured. He was treated and he returned to his duty post a few hours later.

ACN to ex-Gov Idris: leave Wada alone •Governor: I’m in charge From Muhammad Bashir Lokoja

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HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Kogi State chapter, yesterday urged former governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, to stay away from the Governor Idris Wada administration.

ACN Chairman Haddy Ametuo alleged that the former governor is meddling in the affairs of the government, thereby impeding development.

But Governor Idris Wada through his Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Mr. Jacob Edi, dismissed the allegation, saying he is in charge of the affairs of the state.

He said the administration is focused on the transformation of the state, adding that the people are feeling the impact of governance.

Wada said his administration welcomes constructive criticisms.

The ACN chairman, in a chat with reporters yesterday, alleged that the former governor was responsible for the slow pace of development in the state.

He alleged that he squandered the state’s funds for eight years.

He said he is still controlling Governor Wada as shown in the membership of the executive council (exco) and other appointments.

Ametuo alleged that the former governor, instead of staying away, is ensuring that those who worked with him to destroy the state must have a place in the administration.

Ministers to meet on Abuja From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

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HE Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Ms Amal Pepple and her Federal Capital Territory (FCT) counterpart, Senator Bala Mohammed, are among the top government officials expected to brainstorm on building resilient cities, with Abuja, the nation’s capital, as the focal point on Thursday.

The discussion, organised to mark the 2012 Town Planners’ Day, is expected to proffer strategies towards developing the resilience to respond to the challenges in Abuja.

According to a statement by the organisers of the event, Abuja must be resilient in the challenges and still be able to maintain the same functions, structures, system and identity to become a world class city.

It noted that cities need to begin exploring effective strategies for developing greater capacities to cope with the future shocks and stresses to its social, economic, technical systems and infrastructures as they confront the challenges of energy scarcity, climate and population changes, security concerns, natural and human induced disasters, among others.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

57

NEWS

Floods coming in Oyo, Edo, 21 states

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BADAN, the Oyo State capital, Edo State towns including Sabongida Ora and towns in Kaduna, Kano and Benue states are predicted to witness heavy flooding between now and end of the month.

The Federal Ministry of the Environment gave the prediction in a statement yesterday.

It said the flooding will affect 23 states.

Dr Morohunkeji Oyeleke, the Deputy Director (Erosion, Flood and Coastal Zone Management) of the ministry, identified some areas that could be affected in Kebbi as Argungu, Bungudu, Bunza, Gwandu, Jega, Kalgo and Birni-Kebbi.

Other areas are Keffi and its environs in Nasarawa State, Okigwe in Imo, New-Bussa in Kwara, Sabongida-Ora in Edo, Buruku in Benue and Echara-

Onu and its environs in Ebonyi.

Oyeleke also listed Daura, Yelwa, Katsina, Funtua, Jibia, Bakori and Bundawa, all in Katsina State; and Dutse, Gumel, Gwaram, Hadejia, Miga,Mallam Fatori and Ringim, all in Jigawa; as part of the areas.

Besides, the flood-prone areas include Bukuru and Shelleng in Plateau, Gombe and Nafida in Gombe,Damasak, Kukawa, Biu and Briyel in Borno.

Areas which could be affected by the downpour-induced flood include Birnin Gwari, Jemaa, Kachia, Kaduna, Kafanchan, Kapa Madaki, Shanga, Zaria, Kauru and Shanga in Kaduna State; and Bebeji, Gezawa, Gwarzo, Kano, Karaye, Sumaila, Tudun-Wada and Wudi in Kano State.

Oyeleke identified Azare, Bajoga, Darazo, Yelwa, Jamaare, Itas, Katagum, Kirfi and Misau as areas that could be affected in Bauchi State, while Mutum-Biyu, Lau, Gembu and Beli in Taraba; Bida, Rijau, Sarki Pawa, Jebba and Kotangora in Niger could also be affected.

Other areas are Kaura-Namoda, Maru, Maradun, Gusau, Bukwium in Zamfara; Damaturu, Machina, Gashua, Dapchi, Putiskum, Kanama in Yobe; Yorro, Yola, Song, Numan, Mubi, Mayo-Belwa, Jimeta, Gainye and Demsa in Adamawa.

Gada, Goronyo, Gummi, Isa, Makira, Kargiwa, Shagari, Silame, Sokoto and Wamakko in Sokoto State, as well as Eleyele, Challenge, Moniya, Bodija, Odo-ona, all in Ibadan, Oyo State, could also be affected.

Oyeleke appealed to the governments of the identified states to take all the necessary precautionary measures to avoid flood disasters, adding that similar warnings in the past had saved the people’s lives and properties.

She said that the ministry had been receiving verbal reports from various state governments on how the weather forecasts had been helpful in efforts to initiate proactive measures to prevent loss of lives and properties.

Oyeleke said an alert had been sent to some areas which were likely to experience windstorm during the rainy season.

She, however, said any change in the prediction would be promptly announced because weather forecasting is based on probability

Subsidy: NUPENG issues strike notice Continued from Page 4

grieved marketers , union members and other stakeholders in the downstream sector.

“All indications are to the effect that favourable resolutions are being reached and all matters are likely to be resolved within this week, as all these efforts are being made to ensure that the crisis that has caused a lot of hardship to commuters and motorists is not unduly prolonged and does not also extend beyond the city of Abuja in the case of the fuel scarcity.

“The Federal Government, therefore, urges Nigerians to be calm, as all hands are on deck to ensure that normalcy returns soonest.”

But the NUPENG boss said: “We are involved in the ongoing strike in the Federal Capital Territory to demand for payments of subsidy because of our traditional role of protecting workers who

are Nigerians and members of NUPENG in the mid and downstream sectors of the oil and gas industry, especially those working at the private depots as their employers cannot pay them because of government’s debt.”

He added: “Our members are being owed five months salary because of the problem.”

Comrade Achese then threatened: “If the Federal Government does not pay the subsidy by Tuesday or Wednesday, NUPENG will embark on a nationwide strike

by Thursday.”

He explained: “Government said it had paid about N400 billion as subsidy arrears for 2011 and 2012, and from Finance Minister Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s explanation, N200 billion was paid in excess as subsidy arrears.

“We are worried that there was selective payment as the real depot owners are yet to

be paid because their workers are being owed.

“We urge the government to announce the names of those that have been paid the subsidy arrears because those who have investments and employees in the sector are yet to receive any money,’’ Achese said.

He said NUPENG was open to dialogue to resolve the issues.

The union president expressed concern about the diversion of crude oil meant for the refineries which, he alleged, is being sold in the open market.

“That is why we are calling on government to begin the Turn-Around-Maintenance (TAM) of the refineries to boost fuel supply in the country,’’ he said.

Achese also reiterated the need to repair roads, especially those in the East-West area, to ensure steady supply of petroleum products.

“We may be forced to stop transporting products on bad roads because petrol and kerosene are volatile products and we cannot continue to expose the people to the risks involved.

“What the country generates from the petroleum sector is enough to take care of our roads and infrastructure,’’ he said.

On casualisation of workers, the union leader condemned the inhuman treatment meted out to workers in some of the oil and gas companies.

“We have raised the alarm about what some Nigerians who work for some companies in the sector are suffering.

After 25 years of service, they are sacked without pension and paid only one month salary,’’ he said.

Achese urged government to take an urgent decision on the issue to stem the abuse of workers in the oil and gas companies.

Security intercepts bomb-laden car Continued from Page 4

the public to give any information that could assist the police to track down the yet-to-beidentified gunmen who struck on Sallah Day. An eyewitness told NAN that six gunmen descended on the area around 8p.m on Sunday and ordered everyone to lie down.

“They collected money and handsets from the people before shooting sporadically as they retreated, hitting four people in the process,” he said.

The eyewitness, who preferred anonymity, said the attack took place in front of the house of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman in Mubi North Local Government Area, Alhaji Sahabo Jauro.

“Most of those affected were visitors to the politician’s house,” he added.

NAN reports that apart from

the incident, the Sallah celebration was peaceful in Mubi and other major towns across the state.

The police in Yobe said a section of Damagum Primary School in Damagum Local Government Area was gutted by fire from suspected explosions.

Police spokesman Toyin Gbadegeshin, said they repelled an attempted attack on Damagum Police Station by unknown persons.

Gbadegeshin said: “At about 1:05a.m., attacks launched on Damagum Police station and a worship centre were successfully repelled by the police but no casualty was recorded while the gunmen fled into the bush.’’

He said the explosion occurred a few hours before the attack on the station but nobody claimed responsibility.

The officer said no casualty was recorded in both incidents.

Six more bodies found Continued from Page 4

“It happens yearly, especially from August to November, when the ocean current always rises. And because of the ongoing work at the Eko Atlantic City, the ocean current had nowhere to flow and it flowed to the shore to demolish our structures.

“Before the state government embarked on the construction of the city, during this time, what we normally experience is high tide and within hours, it would have subsided. The only thing that would be affected by the tide was the structures.

“Since they began the construction of this Eko Atlantic City, it has been from one issue to the other. And the reason is because we are middle class earners. The government is busy constructing homes for the rich, abandoning the downtrodden. Despite this, we pay ground rent to the government, liquor licence and other levies.”

But the Lagos State Government has always denied that its development of the Eko Atlantic City is responsible for the Ocean surge.

Oniru said the project has no environmental impact on the area as the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been duly conducted and certified okay.

He blamed the disaster on the Federal Government’s neglect of coastline development.

“You will recall that we came here about three months ago with President Goodluck Jonathan to show him the enormity of the ecological disaster looming on the waterfront here.

“From that time till now, we have lost about 10 metres of our land to the ocean surge and people’s lives and properties are constantly threatened,” Oniru said.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

NEWS

Nigeria makes five-point commitment to global nutrition

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IGERIA has identified successful implementation of agricultural policies and food systems as critical factors that could reduce hunger and contribute to better nutrition, especially among the world’s poorest people.

In his closing remarks at the Global Hunger Event hosted by British Prime Minister, David Cameron, Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, gave a fivepoint commitment of the Jonathan

administration to improve nutrition and minimise hunger between now and 2015.

The first commitment is to “make agriculture and food systems nutritious by expanding biofortification.” In 2012, three proVitamin A cassava varieties have been released, while orange flesh sweet potato, rich in beta carotene, is being promoted to reach one million households by 2015. Over 100, 000 ha of quality protein is presently being cultivated.

The second commitment is to

“ensure that agriculture and health systems work together for good nutrition by ensuring constant availability of nutritious food at affordable prices, all year round”.

Nigeria also promised, as third committment,to heavily “back research which makes agriculture more nutritious and finds ways to improve the nutritional quality of key staple crops, increase production of fruits and vegetables, support livestock production and protect farmers against the uncertainty of climate

change”.

The Minster remarked that the fourth commitment is to engage the private sector on the tasks of reducing hunger across the globe, while the fifth commitment is to “work for more nutritious crops – for all”. According, to Adesina, vital to the accomplishment of the nutrition agenda are women: “critical to the success are women both as farmers growing nutritious crops and as mothers who strive to ensure that their children are well-fed”.

Nigeria applauded the commitment being made by different countries of the world, especially the host-country of the event, United Kingdom,and other NGOs and partners for better access to nutritious foods through sustainable production systems: “it is right that –in our world of plenty- all people everywhere should have 100 per cent access to adequate nutritious food all year round. This would be a noble and just goal for current and future generations.”

Hotels wind up in North over insecurity

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ORRIED by the closure of hotels in the North, due to the rising wave of insecurity especially the Boko Haram insurgence, workers in the hospitality and hotel business have urged the Federal Government to urgently address the problem.

They also condemned the power sector crisis, which they claimed has also impacted negatively on the industry.

Addressing reporters at its National Secretariat in Lagos yesterday, the workers, under the aegis of Hotel and Personal Services Senior Staff Association (HAPSSA) lamented that most hotels in the North have wound up.

National President of the union Micah Isaiah, stated that the union has lost thousands of its members who were retrenched prematurely from their organisations due to low patronage as a result of the Boko Haram attacks.

Isaiah said: “There is no doubt that the greatest challenge to our national development and unity is security. The issue of Boko Haram should be given serious thought.

No business can flourish without security.”

By Dupe Olaoye-Osinkolu

He noted that the hotels in Abuja and in the North have different tales of woes to tell both in low patronage and threat to lives and properties.

According to him, the hotel industry has also been the worst hit by the epileptic power problem which has made Nigeria a poor nation in terms of investments. ”Hotels in Nigeria spend 30 per cent of their revenues on diesel, because most often, we run generator 24hours in a day whether there is a guest or not because there is no guest that will want to stay in the dark.

“Government should ensure that power is available, this is the key to economic development. All these talk about transformation should be done with sincerity.”

He also urged the government to de-emphasise its focus on oil and gas and give attention to hospitality industry, which encompasses culture and tourism.

He stressed that they are moneyspinning for most countries without oil.

SSANU suspends OAU branch

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HE National Executive Committee of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has asked the Vice Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State to henceforth withhold the remittance of check-off dues to its branch in the institution.

SSANU said the request to the VC was informed by its decision to suspend the activities of its OAU branch till further notice, over its alleged insubordination in the branch’s face-off with the school’s management.

The union, in an August 18 letter by its General Secretary, Promise Adewusi, to the VC, also asked him to provide adequate security for its branch’s properties in the institution.

In an earlier letter by the General Secretary to the branch’s Chairman, Comrade A.O. Oketunde, dated August 15, the national body stated that the branch violated the union’s constitution by withholding its services while the national body was still mediating the dispute, and without an express approval of the National Executive Council (NEC) and without the vote of majority of members.

“NAC holds the view that holding congress daily without the prior approval of NEC is tantamount to withholding of services,” the General Secretary said.

He accused the branch of exhibiting “flagrant disobedience to the constituted authority of the National President” by refusing to attend the August 5 briefing of NAC prior to its meeting with the

By Eric Ikhilae

Association of Vice Chancellor of Nigerian Universities, despite being invited.

The General Secretary equally faulted the branch’s refusal to discontinue all forms of industrial action pending the resolution of the dispute. He added that the branch’s respose to the query issued it by the NEC was unsatisfactory and amounted to an act of insubordination.

“The impression you have created is that your congress is sovereign and therefore can override the decisions of higher authorities of the union in contravention of Appendix II, Article 2 sub (i) and 3 sub (i-iii).

“NAC therefore sees the conduct of the branch’s Executive Committee and Congress as an act of gross misconduct. It is clear that your EXCO has failed to provide responsible leadership in the light of the forgoing therefore, NAC has decided and directed as follows: -That all activities of SSANU in OAU should be suspended forthwith till further notice; that all properties of SSANU within and outside the university should vested in the national secretariat of the association.

‘The Executive Committee of SSANU-OAU is herby suspended by a copy of this letter and directed to handover to the National Vice President (West) all properties of the branch in its possession within seven day from the receipt of this letter pending further action by NEC,” the letter read.

•Kids celebrating at the Millennium Park, Abuja... yesterday

PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

State police advocates have hidden agenda, says ex-IG Jimeta

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ORMER Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Alhaji Gambo Jimeta yesterday restated his oppostion to the establishment of state police. He accused those calling for it of having a hidden agenda.

He said such individuals and groups should not be allowed to drag the country back to the doldrums.

Jimeta spoke yesterday in Abuja in his capacity as chairman of the Presidential Committee on Police Reforms.

According to him, the proponents of state police are fixated on what he described as military mentality that gave birth to a system that completely destroyed the police and almost stripped the institution of dignity and respect.

As the IGP under the former administration of military President Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (rtd), Jimeta declared that he disagreed sharply with that administration on several occasions particularly on law and

From Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja

order and operational procedures adopted by the police.

He said: “It was the same military mindset and lack of the history and basic functions of the police in a complex democratic structure like Nigeria that made some notable Nigerians support the call for state police.

“What is happening in Nigeria today is indicative of plans by the same people who plunged us to where we are today to effect regime change so that we get back to where we were before.

“If anybody can be lobbying to truncate the truth and stand truth on its face, then, we are all doomed. But this should not be allowed to happen.

“Gen. Babangida was my boss. I have read in detail, the interview he granted. With due respect, there is a wide range of differences between me and my former boss on the issue of state police.

“I must state that while I was serving under him, we had various differences on law and order and operations of the police at that time. There were lots of misunderstanding and total ignorance with the establishment of law and order in a democracy, especially as it pertains to the Nigerian Police Force.”

The former Police chief admitted however, that under an ideal democracy, the police are decentralised. But he pointed out that the colonial masters considered the country’s vast cultural, religious and ethnic diversities and therefore agreed with the past leadership to settle for a centralised force.

“So as to galvanise our differences until they become one. That was why it was decided then, that we should have a single Police Force in Nigeria, insulated from political, religious and ethnic affiliations, that would be properly focused and that would have integrity.” Jimeta said.

Abiara laments killings

•Pastor Abiara

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HE General Evangelist of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Worldwide, Prophet Samuel K. Abiara, has said that if peaceful disintegration will bring

about peace in Nigeria , the people should not be afraid to take a decision.

“We need peace in this country, if the break-up will make us have peace, Nigerians must not reject it. They must do it,” the cleric said.

According to him, geographically, the country is divided by Rivers Niger and Benue . “God himself has divided this country with River Niger and River Benue. Our culture is not the same, our language is not the same, and our mode of dressing is not the same. If the division will bring peace, let the National Assembly sit together and do it amicably without blood shed,” he suggested.

He advocated the convocation of national conference so as to end the incessant loss of lives and property.

“The loss of lives and property is huge,

if division will stop that, let them do it.”

He expressed worries over the state of insecurity in the nation as a result of Boko Haram, saying: “ if you go out of your house, you are not sure whether you will return.”

He described the killings of Christian in the north as very sad. “It is sad, it is seriously sad that all these things are happening during the regime of Jonathan. I wonder, why the National Assembly has not taken concrete decisions on ways to stop these killings. I think this country is sitting on a keg of gun powder, it is dangerous for the people particularly the Christians. Government should do something about this.”

He enjoined Nigerians to continue to pray because there is nothing prayer cannot do.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

59

FOREIGN Seven dead in Turkish blast

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T least seven people have been killed and dozens more wounded in a bomb attack in south-eastern Turkey, security sources and media say.

The suspected car bomb exploded close to a police station in the city of Gaziantep, Turkey’s Dogan news agency reported.

Police officers were reported to be among the casualties and media showed a bus and other vehicles on fire.

No group has so far said it carried out the attack.

However, rebels from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) are active in south-eastern Turkey, which has a Kurdish majority.

Gaziantep’s governor Erdal Ata said the explosion had been caused by a remotecontrolled car bomb, the Dogan agency said.

UN military observers leave Syria NITED Nations (UN) military observers departed Damascus yesterday after a four-month mission in which they became helpless spectators of Syria’s conflict, and activists said government forces launched air strikes near the capital that killed two dozen people.

Helicopter gunships attacked Mouadamiya and Daraya, suburbs south of Damascus, activists and residents said, giving casualty tolls that could not be independently verified.

“It seems they suspected that there were rebels in the area,” said an activist in Daraya, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Gunships also appeared to hit targets in the western Damascus district of Kfar Souseh,

U

a housewife said by phone.

Video footage posted on YouTube showed no movement in the streets of Mouadamiya, with the silence broken by the sound of shelling.

Control of the area has changed hands several times, as have many other places in a war with no clear front lines.

“Our mission failed because the two sides did not abide by their commitments,” said one uniformed observer, who declined to be named, before seven United Nations cars left a Damascus hotel carrying some of the last members of a mission once 300 strong.

The unarmed monitors suspended operations in June after coming under fire and most have already departed,

leaving a small liaison office in the Syrian capital in case a chance for a political settlement to the bloodshed ever emerges.

Battling a 17-month-old uprising against his family’s 42-year rule, President Bashar al-Assad has used fighter jets and helicopter gunships to pound rebel strongholds.

Insurgents have stepped up their own attacks, hitting tanks, military convoys and security buildings.

The mandate of the monitoring mission, known as UNSMIS, expired on Sunday.

The last monitors are due to leave by Friday.

After a brief lull, violence intensified during the monitors’ presence in Syria and at least 9,000 people have been killed since they arrived to

oversee a ceasefire declared on April 12 by outgoing UNArab League mediator Kofi Annan.

The truce never took hold.

At least 18,000 people have now been killed in Syria since the anti-Assad revolt began.

At least 170,000 have fled the country, according to the United Nations, and 2.5 million need aid inside Syria.

Rebel fighters have complained that foreign powers have supplied neither the quantity or quality of weaponry they need to defeat Assad, such as anti-aircraft missiles.

France, which like the United States and Britain, says it is supplying only non-lethal assistance to the Syrian opposition, ruled out providing

Somalia gets parliament

S

Golf club gets female members

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UGUSTA National Golf Club will have women members for the first time in its 80-year history.

The host course of the Masters had been under criticism for many years for not allowing females to join.

Former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and South Carolina financier Darla Moore will become the first women in green jackets when the new season starts in October.

“This is a joyous occasion,” Augusta National chairman Billy Payne said.

“We enthusiastically welcome Secretary Condoleezza Rice and Darla Moore as members of Augusta National Golf Club.

“These accomplished women share our passion for the game of golf and both are well known and respected by our membership.”

The announcement comes after activist Martha Burk put pressure on the club to admit women in 2002.

Prince Philip leaves hospital

Q

UEEN Elizabeth II’s husband Prince Philip was released from a hospital in Scotland yesterday after being treated for a bladder infection.

Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, was admitted to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary in Scotland on Wednesday.

The 91-year-old, who first suffered the problem in June, fell ill again as he was staying at the royal residence in Balmoral, Scotland, where the queen traditionally spends part of the summer.

Buckingham Palace said Wednesday he had been taken to the hospital as a precautionary measure and was likely to be kept in for several days.

It is the third time Philip has been hospitalised in the past eight months.

Before the bladder infection, which he initially contracted during events marking the queen’s diamond jubilee, he spent four nights in a hospital over the Christmas holiday last year for treatment of a blocked coronary artery.

arms in case they fell into the wrong hands.

Qatar and Saudi Arabia are among countries arming the rebels, French Foreign minister Laurent Fabius said, whereas European countries had imposed an arms embargo on Syria.

“As for heavy weapons, especially to destroy planes, there is a huge problem. We cannot deliver weapons in conditions where the people we deliver to later use them against us,” said Fabius, who will host a foreign ministers meeting on Syria at the United Nations on August 30.

His remarks, on Europe 1 radio, appeared to contradict a Russian assertion that the West was arming the Syrian rebels.

•Members of Somalia’s new parliament place their hands on copies of the koran as they are sworn in at Adan Ade international airport in the capital Mogadishu PHOTO:AFP

Wife of Chinese politician gets suspended death sentence

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HE wife of disgraced Chinese politician Bo Xilai has been given a suspended death sentence for the murder of British businessman Neil Heywood.

Gu Kailai did not contest charges at her one-day trial that she poisoned Heywood last November.

Suspended death sentences are usually commuted to life imprisonment in China.

Bo, the former party chief in Chongqing, was once seen as a contender for a national leadership position in a toplevel reshuffle later this year.

But he has not been seen in

public since the investigation into Gu was announced.

Gu’s aide, Zhang Xiaojun, was jailed for nine years for his part in the murder.

The verdict in China’s most high-profile trial for years came early yesterday, inside a court ringed by security personnel.

Chinese state media reported that during August 9 trial - which was not open to all - Gu admitted she poisoned Neil Heywood in a hotel room in Chongqing, helped by her aide.

She said she had suffered a mental breakdown and that Heywood had threatened her son amid a row over a property deal, state media said.

Images shown on Chinese state television showed Gu responding to the verdict. “This verdict is just. It shows special respect for the law, reality and life,” she said.

Speaking after the sentence was announced, court spokesman Tang Yigan said the court believed Heywood had threatened Gu’s son but not acted on the threats. It also

found Gu had been suffering from “psychological impairment”, he said.

A spokesman for British Prime Minister David Cameron said the UK had made it clear to Beijing that the case must be properly investigated, but that the outcome was “a matter for the Chinese authorities”.

A lawyer for the Heywood family said they respected the court’s decision.

The sentence of death with a two-year suspension means that if Gu commits no crimes while in prison, her sentence will be commuted after two years to life imprisonment and could be further reduced

Assange: UK seeks diplomacy with Ecuador T HE UK has insisted it will not grant Julian Assange “safe passage” to Ecuador as it seeks a diplomatic solution to him being given asylum.

Downing Street said the government was obliged to extradite Assange to Sweden where he faces questioning over sex assault claims, which he denies.

The Wikileaks founder has been staying at Ecuador’s London Embassy since June.

South American nations have pledged support for Ecuador after the UK said it could legally enter the build-

ing.

The Supreme Court in May dismissed Assange’s bid to reopen his appeal against extradition and gave him a twoweek grace period before extradition proceedings could start.

“We hope that we can reach a diplomatic solution and we are doing what we can to achieve that,” Prime Minister David Cameron’s official spokesman said.

“Under our law, having exhausted all the options of ap-

•Assange

peal, we are obliged to extradite him to Sweden. It is our intention to carry out that obligation.

“We will continue talking to the Ecuadorean government and others to try to find a diplomatic solution.”

Last week, Ecuador described as a “threat” a UK letter that drew attention to the Diplomatic and Consular Premises Act 1987, which could allow it to potentially lift the embassy’s diplomatic status to allow police to enter the building to arrest Assange for breaching his bail terms.

OMALIA’s first formal parliament in more than 20 years has been sworn in in the capital, Mogadishu, marking an end to an eightyear transitional period.

The MPs are holding their first session at the main airport, one of the most heavily secured areas of the city.

Their main task will be to elect a new president - a vote expected within a week or two.

Outgoing moderate Islamist President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, in power since 2009, is regarded as a favourite.

Other strong candidates include Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali and former parliamentary speaker Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden.

It is a critical moment for the country which, since the overthrow of President Siad Barre in 1991, has seen warlords, Islamist militants and its neighbours all taking a hand in its affairs.

With the help of African Union troops, the interim government has been able to gain control the capital, but alShabab - an armed group that has joined al-Qaeda - runs many central and southern areas of the country.

Myanmar eases censorship

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YANMAR’s Ministry of Information announced yesterday that it has ended pre-publication censorship, but it laid out a welter of strictures on free expression that remain in place.

The announcement was made by Tint Swe, the deputy director general of the Press Scrutiny and Registry Division of the Ministry of Information to a meeting of editors in Yangon.

It was welcomed as a “positive step to a free press” by Nyein Nyein Naing, executive editor of the Myanmar newspaper 7 Day News, but far from his ultimate goal.

“The Censorship and Press Scrutiny Board office still exists and will monitor whether we violate the law or other rules and regulations of the PSB,” the editor noted.

“Because we need to submit copies after publication to the PSB, the PSB will play an internal role of banning stories with laws and regulations after we have published.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

60

PREMIERSHIP Rodgers bids to revive Liverpool troops in training

SPORT EXTRA

AVB praises Defoe's effort

•Defoe

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OTTENHAM boss Andre Villas Boas has praised Jermain Defoe after the striker got his Premier League season off to a great start, scoring Spurs’ only goal on Saturday evening.

Defoe didn’t seem to be

phased by the big pressure that was on him as he is currently the only striker at the club with top flight experience.

Although anyone paying attention to Premier League odds will note that his goal

was not enough to stop Spurs losing the match against Newcastle, Villas Boas has is delighted with from he is showing at the moment.

It has been a good week for the England international as he also hit the winner for his

country against Italy during mid-week.

Defoe struggled to really get into the first team under Harry Redknapp last season, but the new Portuguese boss insists he is a big part of his plans this year.

He said: “He always has this killer instinct. He is showing that touch that we need up front. Jermain accepts that we are looking for one more striker because the team is in need of that, but when we have them all together the quality of the player is tremendous.

“It is a different situation for him now. I have nothing to do with anything that happened in the past. He is our striker, is playing extremely well, is full of confidence and has been deadly in front of goal.”

There is no doubt that on his day, Defoe is one of the best finishers around -if he stays fit and is given plenty of time on the pitch, he could be a striker that gets you 20 goals a season.

With the deal for Emmanuel Adebayor looking like it could still go through, the 29year-old may be part of a formidable strike partnership.

Those backing Tottenham tips will certainly hope so.

He would work well with Adebayor and it would be your classic ‘big man little man’ partnership.

With the attacking football Spurs are sure to play under Villas Boas and the service provided from the top quality wingers in the side, this could be one of Defoe’s best seasons for a while.

He will want to keep his goal-scoring form going and really hit the ground running this campaign.

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IVERPOOL manager Brendan Rodgers got back to work on Monday morning as they absorb the opening-day humiliation at West Brom.

In his first match in charge, Rodgers looked on in horror as they slipped to a comprehensive defeat against the team managed by Steve Clarke - sacked as Kenny Dalglish's No 2 in the summer.

The players - including captain Steven Gerrard, who admitted he was 'shocked' by the result - returned to Melwood on Monday in a bid to finesse their tactics.

Rodgers was animated in training, appearing to drill into his players eaxctly what is needed as they launch an-

other bid to keep pace with the Barclays Premier League title chasers.

Gerrard urged his teammates not to panic, but conceded the Liverpool players were left stunned by their surprise opening-day defeat at West Bromwich.

The Reds had Daniel Agger sent off as they lost 3-0 at The Hawthorns but Gerrard believes it is essential everyone looks beyond the result.

'The feeling after was one of total shock with the result. It was never a 3-0 game,' said the England international. 'I fancied us to go there, dominate and win but things didn't work out that way. In football you can be left feeling hard done by.

•Rodgers

Kompany backs champion menality

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APTAIN Vincent Kompany believes Manchester City have the mentality of champions following their opening day fight back against Southampton.

City came from behind after conceding two quick goals from Southampton substitutes Rickie Lambert and Steven Davies at the Etihad Stadium.

The 3-2 success was hard fought, and didn't show City at their best, but the three points could vital in the club's second consecutive title challenge.

"We have always proved to be very difficult to beat at home. Maybe we will just get belief out of this. Maybe that is why we always keep coming back and it never seems to be finished," Kompany told City TV. "I don't even need to say it loudly. Last season proved how crucial it [team spirit] was for us, in the last games. We showed we wanted it as much. It doesn't matter if we have our best game or our worst game, we just keep going. As much as I can say we have a lot to improve on still, I can also say

we can really all be happy because of great qualities of character.''

City didn't make it easy for themselves when a disappoint-

ing David Silva missed a firsthalf penalty, but the home side went into the break a goal to the good thanks to a Carlos Tevez strike.

Lambert willing to scrap

R

ICKIE Lambert admits to being disappointed at missing out on a spot in Southampton's opening starting XI, but has vowed to battle for his place.

A prolific marksman in the Football League over the years, the experienced striker finally has his chance to show what he can do at the very

highest level.

He announced his arrival in the Premier League with a goal during a 3-2 defeat to reigning champions Manchester City on Sunday, but made his impact off the bench.

Nigel Adkins turned to the 30-year-old when the Saints were trailing and, having

helped to edge Southampton in front at one stage, Lambert hopes he has done his claims to a starting berth no harm.

Lambert said: "I was disappointed not to start.

"I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't, but there's no sulking between the lads it's just a case of being ready for when you

Gerrard tells Liverpool not to panic

L •Kompany

IVERPOOL captain Steven Gerrard has admitted that his team were stunned by their 3-0 defeat at West Bromwich Albion but is adamant there is no reason to panic.

Brendan Rodgers' first Premier League match as Liverpool manager on Saturday turned into a dispiriting experience for everyone connected with the club, as Albion romped to a shock victory after Reds defender Daniel Agger was sent off.

But Gerrard felt the one-sided nature of the score was harsh on Liverpool, who missed several good chances before falling behind to a stunning strike from Zoltan Gera.

And the England midfielder believes Rodgers is already be-

ginning to make a positive impact on a club looking to rebuild after their worst league finish for 18 years.

"The feeling after was one of total shock with the result. It was never a 3-0 game," Gerrard told local newspaper the Liverpool Echo."I fancied us to go there, dominate and win but things didn't work out that way. In football you can be left feeling hard done by.

"It's not the start we wanted but it's no time for panic. It's only the first game and it was one bad day at the office.

"We've got to look at the bigger picture. There's been so much hope around the place and rightly so."

Gerrard knows it is vital that he and other senior players like

Jamie Carragher and Jose Reina ensure that the rest of the squad keep their composure after such a dismal start to the Rodgers era.

•Gerrard

get your chance and that's what I've done.

"I was on the bench and I was just desperate to get my chance."

Landmark He added: "Everyone is fighting for the 11 places and the ones who are not in there are fighting to get onto the pitch."

Lambert said of his landmark goal: "It means so much.

"You could see how much it meant when I scored because I've been waiting for that moment for a long time now.

"Obviously in the past, I've scored goals at lower level but I was made up to get my first goal here already."

Lambert took heart from Sunday's result as Southampton bid to avoid an immediate return to the Championship.

"I thought we looked okay," he said.

"We managed to score two goals, and took the lead, so we're proud of the way that we played.

"We know we've got a hard start this season but we've come here to do well, we've not just come here to survive, and I think we showed that."

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

61

SPORT EXTRA AHEAD NIGERIA/LIBERIA CLASH

Agbim, Sanusi hit camp •Okosun assures on players'mind-set

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FTER a heartwarming goalless draw against the Menas of Niger Republic, last Wednesday in Niamey, the Nigerian senior side; Super Eagles returned to

camp on Monday with home-based team skipper, Chigozie Agbim, the first to arrive camp.

Obviously, leading by example, Agbim strolled into camp unnoticed at

about 1pm and was received

by Team Coordinator, Emmanuel Atta, who quickly sorted out his a c c o m m o d a t i o n arrangement that was supposed to be non-existent

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ACCABI TEL Aviv new signing Vincent Enyeama made his eagerly anticipated debut on Sunday. The Nigeria international was on holiday in the 3-0 routine victory over Maccabi Netanya.

Meanwhile, the transfer of Enyeama to Maccabi, bitter rivals of Hapoel Tel Aviv, continues to generate ripples in Israel, where he is a cult figure.

Speaking on Israeli Radio Station, past teammate of Vincent Enyeama, Salim

Pardew faces FA charge after shoving assistant ref

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Robinson Okosun, says there is no cause for alarm as the team is in the best frame of mind for the game against Liberia. “We have players who are exposed and have been in constant touch with my office. Luckily for me I also have a Head Coach, who doubles as a super psychologist and motivator to the players, which has made my job easier. I don’t think there should be any fears about the state of mind of our players whether foreign or local based because what we are going for now is to qualify for the Nations Cup and the World Cup and do very well at both tournaments”, he declared.

Toameh: Enyeama vowed not to play for Maccabi Tel Aviv

•Manchester United's Portuguese midfielder Nani (r) vies for the ball with Everton's Belgian m i d f i e l d e r Marouane Fellaini during their English Premiership football match at Goodison Park in Liverpool

E W C A S T L E manager Alan Pardew has been charged with misconduct by the Football Association for pushing an assistant referee.

Pardew shoved Peter Kirkup during his side's Barclays Premier League win over Tottenham on Saturday.

The Magpies boss apologised unreservedly after the match but it has not prevented the FA acting and he now has until 4pm on Thursday to respond to the charge.

Flashpoint: Newcastle manager Alan Pardew pushes referee's assistant Stuart Burt, but the incident was a far cry from Paulo di Canio's infamous shove on referee Paul Alcock Given Pardew's comments after the match, it seems unlikely he will contest it.

He said: 'It was ridiculous and I apologised publicly. He was right in front of me and I thought the ball was out and I shoved him.

'I went to see him and told him it was stupid and I don't know what I was thinking.'

Pardew reacted angrily having thought the official had missed a throw-in for his side moments before Spurs shot narrowly wide.

after only two days off the Bolton White Apartment abode of the team.

After Agbim, came Kano Pillars striker, Sani Sanusi, the one his teammates like to call Ronaldinho, who came about an hour after Agbim, after then there was a deluge of players from all the clubs, with Sunshine Stars and Kano Pillars with four players each still topping the list of clubs with the highest number of invited players.

And following several queries about the psychological readiness of the team, despite the huge pep-talk that Head Coach Stephen Keshi delivers daily, Team Psychologist, Dr

The incident was missed by referee Martin Atkinson but it was immediately brought to his attention by fourth official Lee Mason.

Pardew was ordered to watch the final 20 minutes of the match at Sports Direct Arena from the stands.

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•Villa

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FTER spending the night under observation, the Real Madrid defender has left the hospital and will be in the care of the club's medical services Realmadrid.com The Real Madrid player, Képler Laveran Lima Ferreira, 'Pepe', was discharged from hospital this morning. The Real Madrid defender spent the night under observation in the hospital following a knock to the head he suffered in a collision with his team mate Casillas.

Carlos Díez, head of medical services at Sanitas-Real Madrid, explained that because the tests went well they have decided that the player could go home because everything was "very good."

Dr. Carlos Díez said that yesterday they had followed the standard procedures for when someone suffers a blow to the head. "Normally, with a head injury, we have the player under observation for 24 hours. More importantly, we brought him to the hospital where we could carry out the necessary tests, all of which have come out negative. He spent the night under observation and everything is very good and we have decided, with the help of Real Madrid’s medical services, that the player may be discharged from the hospital without any problem."

Federation Cup fever returns

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EDERATION Cup action resumes in Nigeria this week as the quartet of holders, Heartland, Lobi, Kano Pillars and surprise package, Prime, are in the race for the 2012 crown.

Call it the Cup Week and you won’t be wrong as the semifinals will be decided on

Villa happy to be back after scoring return ARCELONA forward David Villa said his injury troubles were behind him after celebrating

Toameh has disclosed that the Nigeria custodian promised never to wear the jersey of The Yellows. ''Today, because he signed with Maccabi, he (Enyeama, ed) is no longer a symbol of this club. I do not think he got pissed off, I do not think he received threats. ''If he wants to play for Maccabi then let him. While he was Hapoel Tel Aviv he received the greatest sympathy and stated that he will not wear the yellow jersey,'' Toameh was quoted as saying by one.co.il.

Pepe discharged from hospital

his return from an eightmonth layoff by scoring in a 5-1 rout of Real Sociedad in their La Liga opener on Sunday.

Spain’s all-time leading scorer with 51 goals broke his left leg at the Club World Cup last December and missed the national team’s Euro 2012 triumph as he continued his recovery.

He replaced Pedro in the 74th minute on Sunday to a huge Nou Camp ovation and swept a shot inside the far post, after a pull back from Andres Iniesta, to crown his return with six minutes left.

“It has been a difficult time and it is nice to be back,” Villa told Spanish television with a big grin. “I am pleased to be able to say I can forget about the injury now. I have had five weeks training at the maximum level but my body still struggles to reach the levels necessary to play more minutes.

Wednesday, 22 August, and the third place classification and final matches slated for the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, come Sunday, 26 August.

Originally slated for Wednesday, 15 August, the semi-finals were postponed by a week to allow players of Kano Pillars and Heartland represent Nigeria in an international friendly against Niger, in Niamey.

It was a friendly match that Nigeria featured players from the Nigeria Premier League as Super Eagles supremo, Stephen Keshi, continues to mould a team which emphasis on the league stars.

Pillars' trio of Reuben Gabriel, Papa Idris and Zango Umar as well as Heartland’s Benjamin Francis were busy on match day

for Nigeria.

Heartland and Prime head for Ilorin, while the Premier League duo of Lobi Stars and Kano Pillars will continue from where they stopped in the Premier League.

The duo of Lobi and Pillars are in the race for the NPL title, but they will continue their rivalry in the Cup at the Calabar centre.

Only two of the four: Heartland and Lobi Stars have won the Cup before.

Heartland were champions in 1988 (the called Challenge Cup) and 2011, while Lobi Stars won the Cup in 2003.

Kano Pillars lost the 1991 edition (Challenge Cup) to ElKanemi, in an all Northern final.

For lower division side, Prime, it’s their best attempt since the club was established.

•Pepe

Inspired Toffees stun Man Utd

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AROUANE Fellaini rose above makeshift center-half Michael Carrick to head home the night’s only goal twelve minutes into the second half and propel Everton to a famous win over Manchester United.

United, whose costly 4-4 draw against the Toffees last season played a major part in their title defeat to bitter rivals Manchester City, once again met a Toffees side that was ready for a fight at Goodison Park.

Throughout the first half, the home side matched – if not exceeded – United’s aggression,

forcing goalkeeper David De Gea into a series of acrobatic saves.

However, in the 57th minute, there was nothing De Gea could do about Fellaini’s thumping header, which brought the Blue half of Merseyside to its feet and took noise levels within Goodison to an alarming high.

Sir Alex Ferguson introduced the Red Devils’ latest signing Robin van Persie into the match midway through the second period but the Dutchman failed to make an impact on the match.

United’s most significant chance of finding an equalizer came when Tim Howard was

beaten from close range but Phil Jagielka brilliantly cleared Tom Cleverley’s shot off the line.

Amid all the talk of United seeking to bounce back strongly this season, the club’s new campaign starts on a similar note as it ended – with neighbors City already edging clear of them.

All said and done, though, this night belonged to David Moyes’ Everton, whose confident build-up over the summer led to an uncharacteristically bright start and may lead to dizzying heights if they maintain their form.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

62

SPORT EXTRA Igiebor's agent hoping to resume talks with Real Betis

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LYMPIC National Team star Nosa Igiebor's proposed move to Real Betis thought to have derailed might be back on track, Atta Aneke, the agent of the Hapoel Tel Aviv player has hinted to allnigeriasoccer.com.

Real Betis and Hapoel Tel Aviv had previously agreed a transfer fee of 1.2 million euros for the attacking midfielder. But the player and his representative failed to rubber-stamp the move after failing to agree personal terms with the Andalusian outfit. '' I am still waiting.........will know more tonight if Nosa

•Igiebor

City photographer falls victim to Mario's latest prank

AFCON QUALIFIERS

N Keshi plots Lone Star’s annihilation N

IGERIA’S Super Eagles manager Stephen Keshi, has set this week aside for further analysis of the last friendly tie against Niger Republic, to help the team obliterate Liberia’s Lone Star in the African Cup of Nations qualifier later in the month.

The team regrouped Monday, August 20 from a brief

Ramadan break, following last Wednesday’s international engagement with the Mena of Niger Republic that ended goalless in Niamey.

Keshi says he is satisfied with the performance of his homebased team against their hosts, who paraded as many as eight foreign-based players under a scorching heat at the country’s capital city on August 15.

The former Mali and Togo

Hamstring injury stops Ajilore

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UTCH club FC Groningen were without Oluwafemi Ajilore for the visit of Willem II. The Super Eagle is down with a hamstring

•Ajilore

injury was ignored for selection by coach Robert Maaskant.

Ajilore picked up the injury in the first round of games played against Twente on August 12. He had to be substituted after 37 minutes in the 1-4 loss to Twente. ''I tried to win the ball from Nacer Chadli . I had stretched my leg and suffered from a hamstring.

With every move I had a lot of pain and decided to stop, because I think it is not wise to continue playing. We see how bad it is, "Ajilore told the official website of Groningen.

The former FC Ebedei talent is in the final year of his contract with The Pride of the North.

manager says a few foreign based players will be infused into the team to tackle Liberia later this month, adding that the game in Niamey has given him a clear idea on how to prepare the players for the crucial task.

He said: “The last friendly with Niger has given me a clear picture of how to prepare the players, especially those coming from Europe. This week will used to analyse the match more with my fellow coaches.”

Meanwhile, reports reaching sportsrollcall.com suggest the Lone Star are in utter disarray, with their fate tied to outcome from the double-legged encounter with Nigeria, being the final qualification hurdle to the tournament.

The team has experienced

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Alabi wins fifth medal in Cyprus

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C OMONIA Nicosia have won their first silverware of the new season, defeating league champions AEL Limassol 5-3 in the Cypriot Super Cup on Saturday in front of 3, 000 spectators at the Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium, Lárnaka.

Former Flying Eagles invitee Rasheed Alabi, whose future at Cyprus' most successful club was hanging in the balance some weeks ago, played for 90 minutes.

Even though Omonia conceded three goals in the game, which was a huge advertisement for attacking football, Rasheed Alabi gave a good account of himself, and he is delighted that he is

no longer an outcast at the capital club. '' I am happy to be back in the first team, and thanks to the coach (Larkou, ed) for selecting me for this important game. When I wasn't in the squad, I still had faith that my time will come.

Now, it has happened. Our target this season is to win the championship. And with the present squad, I strongly believe we can win the title. ''I cherish the medal from the Super Cup match. This is my fifth medal since I joined Omonia, and I have kept it where I have the remaining four medals - in my sitting room,'' Rasheed Alabi told allnigeriasoccer.com.

On why the defense

flagging fortunes since the exit of the George Weah’s generation and the government has threatened to disband the team if they fail to qualify for next year’s African Cup of Nations in South Africa.

The Johnson-Sirleaf’s national government has already relegated other sports to the amateur level, with football given 365 days to show while it should not go down as well.

Both administrative and technical egg-heads have been under intense pressure by a spate of unpalatable results over the years, with emotions running wild over last Wednesday’s recent 1-0 defeat to Equatorial Guinea in an international friendly in Malabo.

Bunnamwaya unveil Nigerian Chimuka ELL Super League side Bunnamwaya have looked to Nigeria to secure the services of their next coach. His name is Ambrose Chimuka.

Chimuka replaces Edward Golola who was the Buikwe club's head man for three years.

The coach SuperSport learned inked a two-year contract and was unveiled at Buikwe on Sunday.

conceded 3 goals, Alabi said: '' Conceding three goals does not mean our defense is bad.

Football is a team game, and everyone has a role to stop the opponents from scoring.''

Omonia Nicosia are at home to Ayia Napa in their first game in the championship on September 1.

Igiebor is signing for Real Betis. I would not say exactly that negotiations have resumed, but I have indications that I will hear from the Betis management tonight. '' If a deal is already in place?

I am here in Oslo and Nosa is in Tel Aviv. Hopefully, we will hear from Betis tonight,'' Atta Aneke told allnigeriasoccer.com in a telephone conversation.

The Spanish club had offered Nosa Igiebor annual wages of 180, 000 euros, but the figure was deemed insufficient by the Nigerian. The 21- year - old is understood to command annual wages of 400, 000 euros presently.

Golola steps down with his entire backroom staff while the Nigerian will be allowed to bring in his own men.

"Winning the league in my maiden season was my highest moment as a coach at Bunnamwaya, the memories are still fresh in my mind," Golola said before handing over his whistle to the West African.

Bunnamwaya finished the 2011/12 league season in second behind eventual winners Express and were losing finalists in the Uganda Cup so Chimuka will have alot of expectations to meet.

Dulu as the new coach is fondly called seemed very optimistic saying " I will do my very best not to let all who have put their trust in me down. We already play very well and once we learn how to finish, the sky is the limit.

EW SEASON, same old Mario. It may have been a day to set the benchmark for the year to come, but the Premier League's favourite prankster still found time for some mischief on the opening afternoon.

His hi-jinx didn't involve fireworks this time, but a flash of a different kind as he grabs an expensive piece of camera equipment from Manchester City's club photographer Sharon Latham.

Just before the champions' opening match against Southampton, the unpredictable striker is filmed strolling down the tunnel at the City of Manchester Stadium, casually hi-fiving the young mascots.

He spies club photographer Sharon Latham kneeling on the floor snapping away and makes a grab for her camera He spies club photographer Sharon Latham kneeling on the floor snapping away and makes a grab for her

camera Meanwhile, Latham is crouched on the floor snapping away at him. The switch in Balotelli's mischievous mind goes and he reaches out for the flash, almost dragging the photographer with him as she tries to cling on.

And with a broad smile on his face, the Italian then twists of the lens and walks off the to changing room.

The embarrassed Latham doesn't know where to look and can only laugh at the prank.

The referee Howard Webb, walking down the tunnel behind Balotelli, struggles to hide a smirk as he walks past.

Balotelli came on for the last 20 minutes of City's 3-2 opening day win against Southampton as a replacement for David Silva.

He reportedly twisted his knee in a pre-match warm down, though City officials played down the extent of the injury.

He's likely to see plenty of match action in the coming weeks as strike partner Sergio Aguero was injured during the game.

FIFA U-20 WOMEN'S WORLD CUP

NFF hails Falconets, charge players on focus

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HAIRMAN of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Media and Publicity Committee, Emeka Inyama has applauded the performance of the Falconets currently representing the country at the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in far away Japan.

The Faconets started their campaign on Sunday on a winning note defeating Korea 2-0 to clinch the three points at stake.

Inyama however urged the players to remain focused as the target should be winning the coveted

By Innocent Amomoh trophy for the country, expecting that the second placed team in the last edition should go all out in their clashagainst Brazil on tomorrow.

In the first match, two goals coming off the boots of Ngozi Okobi and Desire Okparanozie secured Nigeria's maximum points in the group B of the competition which got underway on Sunday.

Migeria meets Brazil that played a 1-1 draw with Italy at Saitama while Korea will f ace Italy in the sesond match.

Wellington: future of squash in Nigeria is bright

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HAIRMAN of the Main Organising Committee of the 2012 Lagos Governor’s Open Championship, Deji Wellington, said the future of the game is bright in Nigeria, hinging his hopes on the attendance recorded at a

seminar, held at the Mainland Hotel, Lagos, for national coaches and match officials.

The seminar, initiated by the MOC, has Canada-based squash coach, Matti Shakiru, giving lectures. Wellington said he was surprised to see large number of coaches and

officials showing interest in the seminar, urging Nigeria to help the development of the sport in the country.

“The fourth edition of the squash open started on Sunday and it will run through this week,” he said.

“I am happy that Nigerian

officials and coaches are interested in the seminar and they have contributed well during the seminar. They are eager to know more about the sports and its dynamic rules and I am sure they will leave with enriched knowledge.

THE NATION TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2012

63

SPORT EXTRA

South Africa beats England OUTH Africa won the third Test to complete a 2-0 series victory over England today and replace Andrew Strauss’s team atop

cricket’s Test rankings.

The visitors got the eight wickets they needed and won the final match at Lord’s in London by 51 runs. Vernon

Philander took 5-30 in the innings while Matt Prior topscored with 73 runs in England’s 294 all out on the fifth and final day.

ERGIO Garcia produced a brilliant performance today to clinch a sixth Ryder Cup cap and leave Ian Poulter needing a wild card for the second time in three matches.

Garcia won the Wyndham Championship in North Carolina by two shots after the tournament spilled into a Monday finish because of heavy weekend rain.

He resumed one in front with 14 holes to play, but stood on the 13th tee sharing the lead with American Chad Campbell and South African Tim Clark.

Then came birdies at four of the next five holes and a closing bogey secured the 32-yearold Spaniard his eighth PGA Tour victory, but first since the 2008 Players Championship.

Poulter had moved into the 10th and last automatic qualifying spot with his joint third place finish at the USPGA Championship, but looks a certainty for one of captain Jose Maria Olazabal's two picks next Monday.

Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts is favourite for the other wild card, even more so after a joint seventh place finish at the Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro.

Given a special invitation to the event, the 29-year-old was another of the 38 players un-

able to finish on Sunday and instantly made birdies at the 13th and 14th on his return.

They lifted Colsaerts into a tie for third, but after he closed with four pars for a 66 - the same score as Garcia - he slipped back down the leaderboard.

Unlike Garcia and Poulter, who are involved in the start of the FedEx Cup play-offs, Colsaerts still has this week's Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles to come and a third place finish there would take him ahead of German Martin Kaymer, the player now in the last automatic spot.

England's David Lynn, the surprise runner-up in the final Major of the season, and Spain's Rafa Cabrera Bello also have a chance in Scotland to earn a cup debut, but they each need to win.

Garcia began his final burst with a superb 136-yard approach to within 18 inches of the flag on the 13th, got up and down from sand at the long 15th, hit his tee shot to two feet on the 166-yard next and then fired in another iron to six feet at the 17th.

A four-shot lead came down to one when Clark holed out from just short of the green for

birdie on the last and there was still work to be done when Garcia drove into the trees there.

He had to chip out and was still not on the green in three, but got down in two more for an 18 under par total of 262.

Clark was second and American Bud Cauley alone in third one further back.

"I am proud of the way I played coming in," Garcia said.

S Garcia books Ryder Cup S spot with win

Alonso hopes to beat McLaren duo

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ERRARI's Fernando Alonso has named Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel as his two biggest rivals for the Formula One drivers' championship.

With nine races to go this season, Alonso leads Red Bull's Mark Webber by 40 points at the top of the drivers' standings.

But it is the next two on the standings, Webber's team-mate Vettel and Hamilton of McLaren, who worry the Spaniard most.

"Hamilton and Vettel are the drivers we have focused on since the beginning," Alonso told Totalrace.

"They are the biggest challengers, but all of the teams are close.

"Hopefully, they will fight among themselves and not one of them will dominate."

The F1 season returns from its mid-season break next week with the Belgian Grand Prix.

Alonso is on 164 points with Webber next (124), followed by Vettel (122), Hamilton (117) and Kimi Raikkonen of Lotus (116).

But after one of the closest seasons in recent F1 history, Alonso

•Alonso

Only victory would have allowed England to extend its yearlong run as No. 1 in the International Cricket Council Test rankings. The hosts needed to reach 346 after dismissing South Africa for 351 yesterday.

South Africa scored 309 in its first innings, England replying with 315.

The match had been overshadowed by controversy over the omission of England’s South African-born batsman Kevin Pietersen after he sent text messages to opposition players. The texts contained “less than flattering” comments about Strauss and his teammates, the Daily Mail reported.

England moved to No. 1 in the Test rankings after routing then top team India 4-0 in a home series in August 2011.

•Garcia

believes even sixth-placed Nico Rosberg of Mercedes, who has 77 points, could still challenge for the 2012 title.

"I think the distance between the top five, top six is not impossible to recover," Alonso said.

"You just need one good race or two good races and you are up there."

The 31-year-old's claim would also put the next two drivers on the overall standings, Jenson Button of McLaren and Lotus' Romain Grosjean, into the mix as they are only a point behind Rosberg.

SWEET TASTE OF SUCCESS

Tennis star Maria Sharapova launches candy company

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ARIA Sharapova is going into the candy business.

The four-time Grand Slam title winner launched her Sugarpova brand of 12 types of sweets on Monday.

At this year's French Open, which Sharapova won, she called Sugarpova "the most exciting project that I've ever done ... because it's my own business, my own investment, my own money."

Sharapova is ranked third heading into the U.S. Open, which starts next week.

•Sharapova

Fraser-Pryce to face Jeter

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AMAICA’s two-time Olympic 100m champion ShellyAnn Fraser-Pryce will take on the second fastest woman of all-time, and Olympic 100m silver medallist Carmelita Jeter, at the Aviva Birmingham Grand Prix at the Birmingham Alexander Stadium on Sunday 26 August.

Fraser-Pryce became only the third woman in history to successfully defend the Olympic 100m title in London, running 10.75secs – just three hundredths of a second ahead of the American. But Jeter anchored the USA home to victory a few days later in the 4x100m relay, when she took home gold in a world record time of 40.82secs.

The pair both added further medals to their tally as FraserPryce finished second with Jeter third in the 200m.

With the field in the UK’s final Samsung Diamond League meet of the year also containing Blessing Okagbare – a 100m finalist in London - as well as Bianca Knight, part of the USA’s gold medal winning 4x100m relay team, the women’s 100m is set to be one of the main attractions at the Birmingham Alexander Stadium on Sunday.

Fraser-Pryce is certainly looking forward to it.

“I’m so happy to have won another Olympic gold medal in London. To have come back and defended my title means a lot to me. I had such a great time in the UK this summer so I’m looking forward to coming back for the Birmingham Diamond League.

“I’m sure it will be another

tough race for the girls but I’m really excited about it. Women’s sprinting is in a good place at the moment.”

Despite losing to her in the Olympic final, Jeter holds a record of 11 wins to FraserPryce’s 9 in head-to-head competition and defeated FaserPryce en route to winning the 100m at last year’s World Championships in Daegu, as well as over 100m at the Aviva London Grand Prix in July.

The 32-year-old American is excited about returning to Birmingham to race at the track where she competed over 200m at last year’s Aviva Birmingham Grand Prix.

“Birmingham has been like a home away from home for the US track team. Everybody is always so hospitable and they always give us a warm British welcome. It’s clear that they love their athletics over here so it will be great to repay the community at the Aviva Birmingham Grand Prix.

“I enjoyed running there last year in front of a full stadium, the crowd was really behind us all. Having spent so much time in the UK this summer, competing at the Diamond League meet on 26 August will be a great way to finish off our time here after the Olympic Games.”

The women’s 100m is scheduled for 15:30 on Sunday 26th August.

Back the team and watch the world’s best athletes in action at the Aviva Birmingham Grand Prix at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium on 26 August. Live coverage on BBC2 from 2-5pm.

Armstrong’s suit against Anti-Doping American woman begins attempt to swim unaided from Cuba to Florida Agency is dismissed

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2-YEAR-OLD Diana Nyad aims to complete 103-mile swim in 60 hours despite already enduring multiple jellyfish stings. American Diana Nyad endured several jellyfish stings as the 62-year-old endurance athlete sought to become the first person to swim unaided from Cuba to Florida without a wetsuit or a shark cage.

A team member posted on Nyad's Twitter account that the American was steadily stroking onward early Sunday despite jellyfish stings to the lips, feet and legs. Her goal: to become the first person to set a record 103-mile (166-kilometer) unaided crossing of the Florida Straits.

"There are so many jellyfish," said one of the tweets, adding, "Diana is swimming backstroke right now leading with the capcovered part of her head to mini-

mize contact."

While sharks were among Nyad's concerns along with potentially treacherous currents and surprise weather changes, jellyfish that tend to surface at night were a worry, her team signaled. Another tweet said there were jellyfish particles everywhere in the water as Nyad swam through the night.

The tweet added that "the backstroke is working!"

Nyad, who is less than a week shy of her 63rd birthday, jumped into the warm waters near Havana on Saturday in her latest bid to make the crossing since last summer, when first an asthma attack and then jellyfish stings forced her to abandon separate attempts.

Australian Susie Maroney used a cage when she swam across the Straits of Florida in 1997.

Just before departing Saturday afternoon, Nyad spoke of how the monotony and sensory deprivation of marathon swimming is most intense at night, leading the mind down contemplative paths.

"I do enjoy, when I stop in the middle of the night and I see the stars, you start thinking out there," she said. "It becomes very metaphysical. ... You're tired and you've been having this metronomic stroke taking you into a different world, all of a sudden you're out there and you're thinking about the meaning of life and the grandeur of the universe and the mystery of it all."

There will be less time for introspective breaks this trip, however, as shifting forecasts showed Nyad's window of flat, calm seas threatening to slam shut a day earlier than expected.

A

federal judge dismissed Lance Armstrong’s lawsuit against the United States Anti-Doping Agency, allowing the agency’s case against him to move forward.

The agency has charged Armstrong, the seven-time Tour de France winner, with using performance-enhancing drugs and blood transfusions to gain an unfair advantage while competing on his cycling teams. It has also charged him and four of his associates with playing a key role in the systematic doping that the agency said occurred on those teams.

If Armstrong accepts the charges or loses in arbitration, he could lose his seven Tour titles and be barred from Olympic sports.

Armstrong, who retired from cycling last year, filed a lawsuit in federal court to try to stop the

antidoping agency’s case against him, claiming that the agency was denying him due process.

But Sam Sparks, of United States District Court, ruled that the antidoping agency’s arbitration rules are sufficient to handle Armstrong’s case.

Armstrong can now appeal the decision, accept the charges, or proceed to arbitration. He has until Thursday to decide.

•Armstrong

TODAY IN THE NATION

TUESDAY,AUGUST 21, 2012 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL. 7

NO.2,224

‘But then, when some retired Inspectors General of Police met President Goodluck Jonathan recently and advised him not to listen to those calling for state police, I became convinced that the problem with Nigeria truly is leadership, selfish leadership’ WAHEED ODUSILE

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

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ONTEMPLATING the furious march of events in Nigeria ranging from the sacred to the profane, the sublime to the ridiculous, and from the edifying to the stultifying, I thought I should fall back, once again, on the rubric I patented back in Rutam House more than two decades ago for coping with such conjunctures, lest some people or institutions feel neglected.

Where better to start than the XXX Olympiad, in London, at which Nigeria’s abysmal performance has continued to generate despair two weeks after the closing ceremony.

The national contingent won no medals and performed no athletic feat worth remarking; rather, it drew global attention to the collective fecklessness of 167 million Nigerians at a time when athletes from smaller, less-endowed countries were setting new records and putting their homelands on the world’s athletics map.

Easy, gentlemen. Enough of the pillorying.

Winning is not everything. Didn’t the founder of the modern Olympics, the Frenchman Pierre de Coubertin say that the glory lies in taking part, not in winning. Our athletes went, took part, and and returned home safely.

No sex scandal or any kind of scandal for that matter this time around, unlike Seoul.

No mountain of baggage from marathon shopping that a special cargo plane had to be dispatched to freight home. No athlete absconded from the Games Village to seek refugee status, despite the grim conditions back home. None sought unfair advantage.

Indeed, if there had been an Olympic medal for good behaviour, our athletes would have won it without working up a sweat.

Shouldn’t we confer them with national honours for being such great ambassadors, and for doing so much in just two short weeks to re-brand Nigeria and Nigerians?

As preparations for a better outing in Rio four years down the line gather pace, I hope our sporting authorities heard with their own ears the secret of the phenomenal success of Jamaican sprinters. It is a simple three-letter word: yams. In and out of season, they consume vast quantities of that invigorating tuber.

It might not be a bad idea to set aside 10, 000 hectares of fertile farmland right away to cultivate yams exclusively for our future Olympians, employing some of our best agronomists and nutritionists and using the latest technology. Watch your back, Usain Bolt.

I know of no person better qualified than Chief Alex Akinyele to head the panel President Goodluck Jonathan says he is setting up to overhaul the machinery of sport in Nigeria. For it was under Akinyele’s leadership as Chairman of the National Sports Commission that Nigeria posted its finest

RIPPLES YOU CAN’T BEAT PDP, Abia Chairman tells opposition

..Yes in RIGGING

OLATUNJI DARE

AT HOME ABROAD olatunji.dare@thenationonlineng.net

Matters miscellaneous

•Wada

Olympic outing ever, in Atlanta, in 1996, bagging the gold medal for soccer, and another gold in the women’s long jump, That appointment was essentially a demotion from Akinyele’s previous post as Minister of Information. Military president Ibrahim Babangida, trust him, sugared the pill by declaring that it carried cabinet rank.

But cabinet rank or not, see what a spectacular success Akinyele made of it, this man who, as he told me almost breathlessly the first time we met up close — and the last — has the double distinction of being the very first graduate of what used to be the University of Ife AND the very first indigene of Ondo town to be appointed federal minister I would not worry unduly about his proclivity for self-advertisement. If it did not get in the way back then, why should it get in the way now?

Bring him back to repeat the magic.

Isn’t it an irony that Eid-el-Fitr is being celebrated under the lengthening and menacing shadow of Boko Haram which claims to de-

rive its murderous inspiration from a religion dedicated to peace?

In a flight of wishful thinking, President Jonathan had vowed that Boko Haram would be liquidated by June. If anything, it is growing more audacious and more daring, sparing neither Muslim nor Christian nor nobility nor talakawa, and respecting no geographic lines.

It struck dangerously close to my hometown Kabba the other day when its goons swooped on the Deeper Life Bible Church in Okene with maniacal malevolence and opened fire on worshippers. By the time their guns fell silent, more than 20 persons lay dead, and scores were wounded, a good many of them seriously.

One hopes this is not the opening of a Southern Front in Boko Haram’s campaign of terror. I can think of no better time than now for those Arewa chieftains now hiding in Ikoyi and Victoria Island – all those who made lucrative careers of championing the cause of “the North” — to go and help save it from the multitudes they kept in thrall for decades, all in the name of “the North.”

One enduring image of the aftermath of the Okene carnage was the picture of Kogi State Governor Idris Wada sporting a bullet-proof vest over his kaftan. Before you scoff and snicker, you should know that every member of his entourage was to have been given a bullet-proof vest for the on-the-spot inspection visit to Okene, but only one vest was available.

And it was decided spontaneously and unanimously, amidst vehement cheering and shouts of “dividend of democracy,” that it should go to His Excellency, who humbly accepted it the same spirit.

Just slightly to the north, in Kwara, residents must be wondering just what is going on in the agricultural sector. Well before Dr Bukola Saraki completed his second term as governor last year, it was common knowledge that he had carried out an agricultural revolution in

HARDBALL

the state, with Shonga Farms run by expatriate Zimbabweans at the spearhead. He had turned Kwara into Nigeria’s bread basket. The problem was no longer production but storage.

Now, Abdulfatah Ahmed, his hand-picked successor and collaborator in executing Kwara’s agricultural revolution, wants to carry out the revolution all over again and make Kwara not just the bread basket of Nigeria, but “the quintessential agricultural hub” of West Africa.

To pursue this goal, which must seem misguided to some people in light of the wondrous state in which Saraki left Kwara agriculture, the governor has set aside N4 billion.

And whereas Saraki settled for distressed farmers from neighbouring Zimbabwe, Ahmed is casting his net much wider and farther.

The task, as he sees it, is beyond the ken of the experts the University of Ilorin’s well-regarded Faculty of Agriculture, and may prove formidable even to the Institute for Agricultural Research in Samaru, Zaria, and the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture, in Ibadan, Instead, the state government will partner with Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, to bring about Kwara’s new agricultural revolution.

Was Saraki’s agricultural revolution a mirage, then, like the oil find at Aran Orin?

She probably needs no commiseration, but my heart goes out to Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala these days. She may be Minister of Finance all right, but can it be said without doing violence to the facts that she is also Coordinating Minister for the Economy?

Coordiwetin’? And what economy?

Being ordered around by legislators, a good many of whom would have found it hard to land a job as administrative support – American euphemism for clerk – in her office suite at the World Bank, cajoling oil marketers to disgorge their “subsidy” payments for oil that was never imported, and supervising the shelling out of N42.666 billion to some other marketers seven full months after the subsidy was officially terminated: this cannot be the remit of the coordinating minister for the economy?

The remit has to be more substantive, especially when even the tardy and sloppy National Bureau of Statistics finally woke up to validate what everyone has been saying, that unemployment has climbed to a dangerously high level.

Where are the jobs? Why is no one in the Executive Branch talking about jobs, except in the indefinite future?

•For comments, send SMS to 08057634061

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

Sons and fathers: a lesson from Bamanga Tukur

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HE ongoing trial of oil marketers alleged to have fraudulently received subsidy payments in excess of what was due has put many a rich and connected man on the horns of a dilemma. One of them, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national chairman, offered reporters interesting views on father and son relationship shortly after paying a visit, in company with the Muslim community in Abuja, to President Goodluck Jonathan on Eid-el-Fitr day. Tukur must by now be completely exasperated with calls for his resignation in the face of the trial of his son, Mahmoud, among many other well-connected sons, for alleged fraudulent subsidy payments. Perhaps anticipating that the media and public expected him to pull all stops in springing his son from the noose of the law, Tukur declared, barely disguising the pain in his voice and heart, “He is my son, I have never disowned him. My son is an adult; I can assure you it is only the court of justice that will determine his fate. It is not justice by public opinion; it is justice by the court; that is it. As I have said, we must follow justice and whoever is found guilty will be dealt with, and if he is not, we will know.”

Apart from the equally ongoing debate over why the sons of so many well-connected persons are on trial for massive economic deals, there is also the attention that will now be paid

to every word and action of these powerful individuals in the course of the trial of their sons, and the peripheral side debate over whether these privileged sons are not in fact their fathers’ business fronts. More than this, many parents are now going to focus on the downside of putting their sons at the helms of big corporations, especially when they are owned by family. It will be recalled that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on July 26 also arraigned before an Ikeja High Court in Lagos Nasamu Ali, son of former chairman of the PDP, Ahmadu Ali; and Abdullahi Alao, son of prominent businessman, Alhaji Abdullazeez Arikesola-Alao.

On the day of arraignment, onlookers were at their cynical and mocking best, unable to disguise their envy at discovering that the children of the rich and powerful were apparently also controlling the levers of the juiciest part of the Nigerian economy. Judging from their looks and the disbelief on their faces, it was apparent they wouldn’t mind if the spoilt brats were hung without trial, or drawn and quartered after a very brief trial. This envy probably accounted for why the rich sons of rich fathers were at the receiving end of bitter and caustic comments from the public, comments Tukur decried agonisingly as trial on newspaper pages or justice by public opinion. The PDP

chairman underestimates the revulsion among members of the public.

But it was not just onlookers and commentators that were cynical and mocking. On the day of arraignment, the well-accoutered and blackberry-clutching powerful sons were also at their insouciant best. They knew the eyes that beheld their brief humiliation were cruel and full of malignant hatred and envy. To deny the seething public and chatterboxes any momentary triumph, the rich sons also had to pretend their feathers were neither ruffled nor stood the chance of being singed now or in the future. As plebeian envy met royal sarcasm, it was not the grass that got hurt; it was anguished fathers. Who among us fathers, long used to the amenities of dispensing cruelty and cutting disregard for other people’s sons, would not be cut to the quick when we receive pitiless measure for our own spiteful measure?

The PDP chairman needn’t speak much for the public to gain insight into his suffering.

No one will believe his pledge not to interfere with the trial, for it is not in the place of fathers, at least not one that spoke as mournfully as Tukur, nor any eminence grise for that matter, to let the mills of the gods grind slowly, and let them grind small. If he did, if all fathers did, their sons would be sausagemeat by the time the wheels of justice finished grinding.

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