The Nation August 24, 2011

Nigeria’s truly national newspaper

ICAN seeks death for corrupt members

NEWS

Page 11

•‘They shouldn’t enjoy ill-gotten wealth’

Mikel’s dad: Army arrests two soldiers •Suspects to face trial

NEWS – Page 63

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VOL. 7, NO. 1862 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

N150.00

•Members of Nigerians for Rule of Law, led by its Convener, Comrade Declan Ihekaire, during a peaceful protest against the suspension of the President of the Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Ayo Salami, and submission of a letter for transmission to President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House, Ikeja, Lagos ... yesterday. See also pages 3 & 4.

PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES

H

AS the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) any power to ask Court of Appeal President Isa Ayo Salami to stop the verdict in the Sokoto governorship dispute?

This and many others are the questions Justice Salami is pleading with the Federal High Court

Salami’s legal battle begins today From Yusuf Alli, and Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

to determine in a case that opens today.

The Appeal Court chief is con-

testing his suspension by the National Judicial Council (NJC).

His suit has been assigned to va-

cation judge Justice Donatus Okorowo.

Justice Salami last Monday sued the National Judicial Council (NJC), the outgoing Chief Justice

of Nigeria, Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu, and nine others.

The others are the Deputy Chairman of NJC, Justice Dahiru Musdapher; members of the NJC’s Fact-Finding Committee- Justice Umaru Abdullahi; Justice Continued on page 2

Goodbye Gaddafi Strongman in hiding as rebels seize his home Nigeria backs National Council

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T seems all over for Libyan strongman Muammar Gaddafi. Rebels stormed into his home yesterday, seizing his personal effects.

The vast Bab al-Aziziya compound in Tripoli is the last stronghold of the regime and symbol of Gaddafi’s authority.

Rebels fired shots into the air from within the compound in celebration.

There was no sign of Gaddafi’s whereabouts. The country will be liberated within 72 hours, Libyan United Nations Envoy Ibrahim Dabbashi said yesterday.

The rebels “broke through the gates of Bab al-Aiziya (and) some opposition fighters managed to enter the government’s stronghold in the Libyan capital”, Al Jazeera reported.

“But others were pinned down at the entrance because of heavy fire and we also couldn’t go any further (as) opposition Continued on page 2

•Rebel fighters gesture as they stamp on a part of a statue of Muammar Gaddafi inside the main compound in Bab Al-Aziziya in Tripoli ... yesterday.

PHOTO: AFP

•POLITICS P17 •SPORTS P23 •LIFE P29 •MONEY P43 •INVESTORS P45

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

NEWS

•President Goodluck Jonathan (sixth left) and Vice President Namadi Sambo (fifth left) and members of the Presidential Action Committee on Power after the Inauguration of the Committee at the State House in Abuja ... yesterday.

PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN

Salami’s legal battle begins today

Continued from page 1

Emmanuel Ayoola; Justice Dominic Edozie; Hon. Justice Michael Akpiroroh; and Mrs. Rakia Sarki Ibrahim.

Also sued are members of the NJC Review Committee Justice Ibrahim Ndahi Auta; Justice Kate Abiri and Justice Peter Umeadi.

Following alleged subtle ploy to delay the hearing of the application till the resumption of court from vacation in September, Justice Salami’s lead counsel, Chief Akin Olujinmi (SAN), wrote the Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court to bring the application to the attention of the vacation judge.

Justice Salami’s case was subsequently assigned to Justice Okorowo on Monday.

A source in the legal team said: “We have got a notice that the case will come up on Wednesday. So, the battle to return Salami to office is start-

ing in earnest.

“If we have our way, we want an accelerated hearing of the matter by the Court.

But it depends on the disposition of the judge.

“With the issues generated by the suspension of the President of the Court of Appeal, we hope our prayers for accelerated hearing will be accepted.”

Asked if more counsel may appear for Justice Salami, the source added: “Some legal giants have indicated interest to represent him, but we have not taken a decision to expand the legal team.”

The Plaintiff has filed a fresh application where he is asking the court to set aside the decision of the NJC reached last Thursday.

The motion on notice brought under Order 56 Rule

1 of the Federal High Court (civil procedure) Rules, 2009 and the inherent jurisdiction of the court, was filed by his team of lawyers.

Justice Salami in the fresh application filed on Monday wants the court to nullify or set aside any action or steps taken or being taken in implementation or further implementation of the said decision.

He is also asking the court to restore the status quo ante as at the date the said decision was taken by the NJC. Besides Olujimi, a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, other lawyers representing Justice Salami are Mr. Rickey Tarfa (SAN); and Chief Adeniyi Akintola (SAN).

Justice Salami is pleading for a declaration that the: •setting up of the National

Judicial Council’s (hereinafter referred to as “NJC”) Investigation Committee by the 1st Defendant and its composition are in gross violation of the principles of natural justice, and the Plaintiff’s constitutionally guaranteed right to fair hearing under Section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and is, therefore, unconstitutional, null and void; •NJC Investigation Committee chaired by the 4th Defendant lacked the competence to investigate the petitions against the Plaintiff having regard to its composition.

•proceedings of the NJC Investigation Committee were conducted in substantial breach of the principles of natural justice and fair hearing as guaranteed under Sec-

tion 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and the proceedings are therefore unconstitutional, null and void; •findings of the NJC Investigation Committee chaired by the 4th Defendant as contained in the ‘Investigative Panel Report’ dated 6th July 2011 submitted to the 1st Defendant and addressed to the 2nd Defendant are perverse, unreasonable, and violates the fundamental rights of the Plaintiff to fair hearing, guaranteed under Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples Right; •NJC Investigation Com-

mittee and the three-man panel set up by the 1st Defendant and chaired by the 9th Defendant (Auta Panel) being administrative bodies, have no power to pronounce on the veracity of facts or statements contained in the statements on oath sworn to before the court of law or pronounce facts contained in statements on oath to be false as such power is exercisable only by a competent court of law; •1st Defendant was improperly constituted on the 9th of August 2011 when it sat and received the report of the three-man panel chaired by the 9th Defendant and that as such all actions, steps and decisions reached on the said date are illegal, null and void; and that the Continued on page 8

Strongman in hiding as rebels seize home Continued from page 1

fighters had to take cover from incoming fire,” a correspondent said.

Fighting also continued across the capital for a second day, and columns of grey smoke were seen billowing over the Bab al-Azizya area with the sound of gunfire and occasional explosions ringing out.

Later in the evening, there were reports of Gaddafi’s forces retreating from Tripoli to Sirte, his hometown.

Opposition forces were concentrating their firepower on Gaddafi’s compound.

The al-Mansoura district was the focus of fierce clashes between government forces and opposition fighters, two days after the rebels marched into the heart of the city, prompting scenes of jubilation.

The Libyan leader’s whereabouts are unknown.

“The battle is certainly not over. The city is on a knife edge, there have been reports of NATO planes flying very low on top of Gaddafi’s compound, a reporter said.

Rebel National Council chief Mustafa Abdel-Jalil cautioned: “It is too early to say that the battle of Tripoli is over. That won’t happen until Gaddafi and his sons are captured.”

Armed men broke up a gilded statue of Gaddafi, kicking its face. Some seized the golf buggy the leader often used.

Another rebel sported a heavily braided, peaked military cap of a kind favoured by the colonel, who seized

Nigeria recognises National Council

N

IGERIA has withdrawn recognition for Col. Muammar Gaddafi as the legitimate leader of Libya. The Federal Government yesterday endorsed the Transitional National Council (TNC) of Libya.

Minister of State 1 Foreign Affairs Professor Viola Onwuliri, who announced government’s position, said the situation in Libya in the last 48 hours influenced the decision.

Nigeria urged the TNC to form an all-inclusive government to pave the way for a transitional process to democratic governance.

He said: “It is my honour and privilege this morning to inform you that the federal government has formally recognised the Transitional National Council (TNC) of Libya as a legitimate representative of the Libyan people.

“In the last 48 hours, the situation in the country has moved inexorably closer to its power in 1969. He said he had taken the hat from Gaddafi’s bedroom after a brief few hours of resistance by a loyal rearguard died away.

Abdel Hakim Belhadj, a rebel commander, said he did not know where Gaddafi or his sons were: “They ran like rats.” Other rebel officials said they believed the 69year-old “Brother Leader” was probably still not far away.

Thirty journalists remained holed up in Tripoli’s Rixos hotel yesterday. The journalists from the BBC, CNN and other international news organisations were stuck inside the hotel with no electricity. They described the hotel as a “prison”.

In a dramatic development earlier in the day, Saif al-Is-

From Dele Anofi, Abuja

denouncement. The federal government is understandably anxious to prevent further loss of lives in Libya and therefore urges Muammar Gaddafi to take the path of honour and relinquish power immediately and allow the people of Libya to decide the future of their country.

“Now that the TNC is on the verge of taking full control of the affairs of Libya, the federal government urges the new leaders to be magnanimous in victory and to pursue a policy of ‘no victor, no vanquished’ a uniquely Nigerian model for post-conflict reconciliation and nation-building.

“When the dust finally settles, the Federal Government hopes the new leaders in Libya would also establish an all-inclusive and broad-based administration whose urgent task should be to establish a credible democratic transition to civil rule as soon as possible”.

lam, the son of the Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, appeared in an-Mansoura and at the Rixos hotel to refute claims that he had been captured by opposition forces and rally government loyalists.

“There is confusion among the ranks of opposition fighters on the ground. Some people are asking whether the National Transitional Council has been infiltrated,” an official said.

The NTC on Monday announced the end of Gaddafi’s decades-long rule.

But the re-appearance of Saif, an influential figure who is wanted by the International Criminal Court, has raised fresh questions about the NTC leadership’s grip on a fast-changing situation.

Al Jazeera’s Jacky Rowland

reporting from Benghazi said: “Now we are seeing accusations, doubts, and confusion.

“It is going to be interesting to see how the NTC explains this debacle and how it seeks to reinforce and strengthen these alliances and enable the rebels to get to Tripoli itself.”

The NTC held a joint press conference in Benghazi with Ahmet Davutoglu, the Turkish foreign minister yesterday.

Celebrations followed the rebels’ push into central Tripoli on Sunday night, when an opposition force took control of the Green Square and claimed victory, but has since given way to caution and confusion.

Continued on page 8

•Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of Libyan leader Mummar Gaddafi, flashes the V-sign for victory as he appears in front of journalists at his father’s residential complex ... yesterday.

PHOTO: AFP

I’m in Tripoli, says Gaddafi

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IBYAN strongman Muammar Gaddafi said yesterday he is still in Tripoli.

Russian Head of the World Chess Federation Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, who visited Gaddafi in Tripoli in June, said he received a call from him yesterday afternoon and that Gaddafi said he was still in the capital. He “is in Tripoli, he is alive and healthy and is prepared to fight to the end,” Ilyumzhinov told Reuters.

The rebels’ envoy in Rome, Hafed Gaddur, said: “It seems clear that he is confined to his bunker complex.”

“We thought Tripoli would be liberated in one month or perhaps even two months, instead that happened in just a few hours, a day, so we’ve made great progress,” he told Reuters.

Western governments, which have backed disparate opposition groups, said they could not be sure where the

69-year-old leader was but urged him to surrender after six months of civil war which have put an end to his four decades of absolute power.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said after speaking to United States (US) President Barack Obama that the end of Gaddafi’s rule was “inevitable and near.”

The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), which declined to confirm reports that its air forces bombed Gaddafi’s compound to aid the rebels, said Gaddafi’s whereabouts were unclear but no longer a major concern.

In Washington, a Pentagon spokesman said he believed Gaddafi was still in Libya and that his forces remained a threat. He also said the US was monitoring chemical weapons sites in Libya, amid worries that groups hostile to Western interests could try to seize stocks once built up by Gaddafi.

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

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

NEWS OUTRAGE OVER SALAMI’S SUSPENSION Lawyer: check CJN’s ‘excesses’

CODER to President: allow court to have final say

T

HE Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reform (CODER) yesterday said the decision of the National Judicial Council (NJC) to suspend the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Isa Ayo Salami, was orchestrated by some political forces.

The group also asked President Goodluck Jonathan to allow the court to have the final say on Salami’s fate.

CODER, which made its position known in a statement in Abuja by its Director of Research, Planning and Strategy, Prince Segun Bada, said the biased treatment of Salami by the NJC spoke volume of our perception of justice as a nation.

It said: “The NJC modus operandi in providing explanation, justification and rationalisation for its recommendations for the suspension of the Honourable Justice Ayo Salami are not only inchoate but ultra-vires.

“As a matter of fact, it is a general

Form Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation.

adage that “you don’t shave someone’s head without his physical presence. Honourable Justice Ayo Salami ought to have been given fair hearing, which is supposedly one of the cardinal principles of natural Justice.

“If a man of that calibre is denied the opportunity to defend himself, what can we say of a common man?

“Finally, the whole episode appears like an orchestrated plan to get rid of Salami, for no just cause.

“Just to be sure, the content analysis of the revelations of the PCA, on his interactions with the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) in his chambers as regards the Sokoto stalemated judgment shows very clearly that there was an attempt to interfere in the proceedings of the Court of Appeal.

“Other revelation shows that a

quorum was never formed before the decision to suspend the PCA was taken. CODER is also of the belief that the action of Mr. President regarding the approval of an acting PCA is subjudice. Although we recognise the need for the Court of Appeal not to have leadership vacuum, we strongly suggest that the status quo ought to have been maintained.

“The composition, modus operandi and timing of the NJC’s action was not only preposterous but prejudiced to favour one of the parties.

“The actions of the NJC therefore made a mockery of the internationally accepted method of Jurisprudence.

“CODER therefore uses this medium to call on Mr. President whose seeming adherence to the rule of law has received commendation inspite of pressure from enemies of democracy, to let the Court decide the case so that the Judiciary can be

By Musa Odoshimokhe

•Justice Salami

saved from further embarrassment. “ Nigeria is greater than any individual and interest. Therefore, the Rule of Law must be properly protected and adhered to at all times.”

‘Jonathan lacks power to endorse suspension’

S

OME lawyers in Ondo State have criticised the suspension of Court of Appeal President Justice Isa Ayo Salami.

In separate interviews with The Nation reporter, they described the suspension as an illegality of the highest order.

The trio of Tunji Abayomi, Charles Titiloye and Gbenga Akinmoyo, said President Jonathan lacked the power to endorse the suspension of Justice Salami.

They explained that before the President of the Court of Appeal could be suspended, the National Assembly must endorse the suspension order.

Specifically, Abayomi said the suspension of Justice Salami portends great danger for the nation’s judiciary.

From: Damisi Ojo, Akure

The human rights lawyer added that the action could undermine the integrity of the judiciary.

His words: ‘In my own view, the suspension of Salami is illegal, unconstitutional and uncalled for’ Akinmoyo said the President erred by appointing an acting President for the Court of Appeal when the matter had not been presented to the Senate.

He said the president should not have waded into the crisis, adding the judiciary, seen as the hope of the masses, was being undermined by personal aggrandisement.

A PORT Harcourt lawyer Blessing Ukiri, has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to check what he called the excesses of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Alloysius KatsinaAlu with regard to his alleged lack of respect for the rule of law.

Ukiri, who was at the yearly conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) expressed disgust at the suspension of the former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Isa Ayo Salami, noting that the action of the CJN was capable of truncating the country’s democracy.

He said: “What happened was a judicial manipulation because the CJN had problem with Justice Salami. The CJN is the head of the commission (NJC) and it is against the principle of justice for one to be a judge in his own case.”

He expressed disappointment at the turn of events especially since Justice Salami had filed a suit against the decision of the NJC. Meanwhile, Ukiri has filed a suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja to stop the swearing-in of the new Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) .

He is querying the rejection of his own application for conferment of SAN on him, saying he is eminently qualified for the honour.

Protesters march on Ado-Ekiti streets • Fayemi: the last has not been heard

B

EAMING with rage and anger, thousands of protesters yesterday marched on major streets of Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, against what they described as unjustifiable ouster of Justice Isa Ayo Salami as President of the Court of Appeal.

The protesters, a coalition of members of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), Artisans and Automobile Technicians Association and Commercial Motorcycle riders, and members of the public carried placards with various inscriptions such as; “Salami, a victim of do-or- die politics”; “NJC in mess, what hope for the masses;” “CNPP says no to NJC illegalities”; “Judiciary back in the dark days; among others.

The protest, which was peaceful all through, began at Fajuyi Park about 11 am and ended at the Governor’s Office, with the protesters chanting abuses and warning of the consequences of profligate excesses on the part of the Federal Government. They warned that Chief Judge of the Federation, Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu and members of the National Judicial Council would eventually be consumed by their own illegalities.

Addressing the protesters, Governor Kayode Fayemi said the last had not been heard about the action of the NJC against Salami, and

•Fayemi addressing the protesters...yesterday From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado Ekiti

declared that the protesters had the support of every right-thinking, justice-loving individual not only in Nigeria but elsewhere in the world.

Fayemi told the protesters: “You are not alone. All lawyers under the aegis of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) led by its President, Joseph Daudu, are saying no to what the entire world sees as brazen illegality and unqualified affront.”

Viewing the process leading to Salami’s ouster as ‘a nullity and a contraption in law’, the governor said that Nigerians and lovers of democracy would fight the injustice to the end.

He said: “This process is a nullity in law. You can’t put something

on nothing. If a Judge misbehaves, there are procedures to follow to punish him, but resorting to extra-judicial means to get at somebody is not acceptable to Nigerians.

“I know the Judiciary has gone through many challenges in this country and I know the members that are yet to be co-opted will save the nation from this embarrassment.”

“Before our very eyes, illegalities have failed in the past. This one too will fail. Justice Ayo Salami and others suffering one form of illegality or another would have the last laugh on those who seek to vitiate popular will.

“I urge you to be resolute and patient in agitation. I can assure you that with due process, truth will prevail ultimately and those

who are on the side of truth will eventually belong on the side of history.

“Even the President appears to have taken a precipitate action concerning the matter. Problems of joblessness and poverty, health and insecurity to life and property continue to bedevil Nigerians”.

Earlier, the protesting coalition had described the suspension of Salami by the NJC in concert with President Goodluck Jonathan as dangerous to Nigerian democracy.

Ekiti State Chairman of CNPP, Mr Tunji Ogunlola, in a communiqué read at the occasion said: “We condemn the purported suspension of the President of the Court of Appeal”.

“We are calling on members of the Bar and some members of the

bench who are yet to be infected to, as a matter of urgency find a way of redeeming the image of the judiciary.

“CNPP commended the Inspector General of Police, Mr Hafiz Ringim, for restoring Salami’s Police escorts, despite attempts of the NJC leadership to withdraw his security aides.

But the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) described the protest as a show of shame by a body that prides itself as a true coalition of all the political parties in the country.

The party’s Director of Communication and Strategy, Jackson Adebayo, said the “protesters were likened to a group of miscreants who are the willing tools of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN)”.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

4

NEWS OUTRAGE OVER SALAMI’S SUSPENSION It’s an attack on common man’

By Oziegbe Okoeki

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IGHTS crusaders under the aegis of ‘Nigerians for Rule of Law’ stormed the Lagos State House of Assembly yesterday, protesting the suspension of the President of Appeal Court, Justice Ayo Salami by the National Judicial Council (NJC).

The group, in a letter to Senate President David Mark through Lagos Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji and signed by its National Convener, Declan Ihekaire, described the NJC’s action as illegal and constitutional.

According to Ihekaire, “the perpetrators of the illegal act are not attacking Salami, they are attacking the common Nigerian. Judiciary is the last hope of the common man and if they can get Justice Salami, they have got us all and God forbid that they succeed.”

The protesters carried banners with different inscriptions like: “NJC decision is judicial victimization”, “Ayo Salami’s removal is the handiwork of PDP”; “No Ayo Salami, No democracy,” “Nigerians say no to Justice Ayo Salami’s removal” and “NJC leave Salami alone.HHhhhhhh.”

In the letter, the group referred to Section 292(i) of the Constitution, which states that the President of the Court of Appeal can only be removed by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria based on the advice or recommendation of twothirds of the Senate.

While noting the pending suit filed by Justice Salami challenging the outcome of the NJC’s probe panel, the group condemned the attitude of the NJC members, who took the illegal and unconstitutional decision after having been served with the court processes of the suit.

Salami had challenged the recommendations of the panels in the dispute between him and the CJN, Justice Alloysius Katsina-Alu. The group said: “We thus state that the action and decision of the NJC to suspend Salami can rightly be described as ‘judicial gangsterism and recklessness’ as same is biased and calculated attempt to usurp the powers of the court clearly vested by Section 6 of the constitution to intervene and correct any error made by the NJC against Salami which has given rise to a course of action as provided in the constitution.”

•The protesters at the Governor’s office... yesterday. Inset: Fashola (left) being presented with the letter by Ihekaire

Fashola urges adherence to rule of law •Protests continue over appointment of acting Appeal Court President

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S protests continue across the country over the recent suspension and replacement of the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), has urged adherence to the principles of law as the only means of sustaining democracy in the country.

Fashola spoke at Lagos House, Alausa, on Tuesday while addressing members of a civil society group, Nigerians For Rule of Law, who had gone there to present, through him to President Goodluck Jonathan, a letter of protest against the suspension and replacement of the Appeal Court President.

Acknowledging the rights of all Nigerians under the Constitution to express their grievances concerning any matter of national interest,

Governor Fashola, said such actions should comply with the principles of law which have proved most enduring in the protection of the people.

“Let us all stick to the principles of Law. They have proved historically, time after time, to be the most enduring principles that will protect all of us”, the Governor said adding that the wheel of justice may be slow but it would eventually reach its destination.

He commended the group for choosing a peaceful protest to express its grievance and said since the action being complained about by the group is already a subject of litigation, the courts should be allowed to do their work.

“You have chosen to express your dissatisfaction in a manner that is peaceable and without any disruption

of law and order. What you are complaining about is a grievance about the breach of law. Now, we must all agree that you cannot break the law to enforce the law”, the Governor said.

He promised to act “as courier” for the letter presented to him by the group for onward transmission to the President adding, “I will ensure that it gets to the addressee of this letter in the shortest possible time”.

Earlier, before presenting the letter to Governor Fashola, the convener of Nigeria for Rule of Law, Comrade Declan Ihekaire said members of the group were at the Government House to express their grievance over the recent development in the Judiciary which, according to him, “is the last hope of the man in the street”.

“The Nigerian people are

not happy with recent developments in the Judiciary which is the last hope of the man in the street. We have come today to do what the masses want us to do.”

“We want to say to you that Nigerians are not happy the way and manner Justice Ayo Salami was purportedly removed and suspended from office by a few cabal who do not even know what democracy is all about. They have been preaching rule of law but they are not practicing rule of law. What they are practicing is rule of shame”, he said.

Some of the placards carried by the protesters read “Why, Jonathan Why?”, “No Salami, No Democracy”, “Nigerians reject JUSTICE Salami’s Removal”, “Removal of Justice Salami is a threat to our Democracy”,

“Jonathan, Removal of Salami is unfair”, “Removal of Salami is the handiwork of PDP”.

On Monday, Governor Fashola also received members of Coalition of Civil Society Groups Against Injustice who came to hand him a letter for transmission to President Jonathan protesting the removal of Justice Isa Ayo Salami.

Governor Fashola who expressed concern that within a very short time, a decision was taken to supplant President of the Court of Appeal whilst there was a pending court action on the issue, said he was shocked at what seemed the very quick rush by the President to give effect to the recommendations of the National Judicial Council on the matter, adding that there were more important problems facing the nation that should take the President’s attention.

Afenifere asks President to backpedal

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FENIFERE Renewal Group (ARG), and the Civil Societies against Injustice (CSI) yesterday frowned at the suspension of the Court of Appeal President, Justice Ayo Salami, from office, saying that the decision was in bad faith.

The group also said that President Goodluck Jonathan ought to have waited until the

By Emmanuel Oladesu Deputy Political Editor

resolution of the litigation arising from the feud between the NJC and Justice Salami, before acting on the recommendation of Justice Salami for sack.

ARG said in a statement by its officials, Mr Dipo Famakinwa and Kunle Famor-

iyo, that President Jonathan has lent the weight of his office to the illegality being perpetrated by the NJC. The leader of the CSI, Olanrewaju Suraju, expressed shock at the turn of events, warning that the situation could damage the credibility of the judiciary.

He said the President did not intervene in the sensitive mat-

ter as a statesman, adding that history would record that the politicisation of the judiciary got to its zenith under his administration.

Famakinwa urged vigilance among Nigerians, stressing that the President has started showing his true colour as a politician, who cannot defend the rule of law and sanctity of jus-

tice in the country.

He hinted that men of goodwill would go to court to challenge the presidential action because it was in bad faith.

Famakinwa said: “The way President Jonathan appointed the new President of Court of appeal showed that he is part of the agenda to remove Salami from the Appeal court for partisan reasons”.

Jonathan’s action shameful, worrisome, says rights group

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HE suspension of the President of the Court of Appeal (PCA), Justice Isa Ayo Salami and inauguration of an Acting PCA, Justice Dalhatu Adamu, with President Goodluck Jonathan’s approval, was yesterday described as shameful and worrisome.

The Civil Rights and Development Organisation (CRIDO), through its Head, Mr. Obinna Okoro, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, urged the President against getting involved in illegality and mockery of the na-

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

tion’s Constitution, but to reverse the decision of the National Judicial Council (NJC).

CRIDO also urged Nigerians to sustain the protests against the suspension of Justice Salami, started on Monday in Port Harcourt and Lagos, thereby showing displeasure over the unconstitutional decisions of the NJC and the President.

It described as very unfortunate, the desperation of the outgoing Chief Justice of Ni-

geria (CJN), Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu, to frustrate and push Justice Salami out of the appellate court, in spite of being courageous and fearless.

CRIDO said: “We condemn the appointment of an Acting PCA by President Jonathan as a mockery of the Constitution, as it is contrary to provisions of Section 292 (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

“The NJC’s recommendation was made by only five members of the stipulated 23

members of the NJC, as approved by the Constitution in Section 20 of the Third Schedule of the Constitution.

The inclusion of the President of the National Industrial Court is also illegal and unconstitutional.

“Justice Salami is heading the Presidential Election Petition Panel and President Jonathan ought not to have suspended him. The President’s action is suspicious and worrisome.”

Also commenting on the face-off between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and

ex-military President Ibrahim Babangida, the group said the retired military men were exposing their draconian, selfish and greedy conspiracy.

On the ongoing Senate’s probe of the activities of the Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE), CRIDO said all those involved, including ex-President Obasanjo, should be allowed to say what they know about it.

The group then called for an all-embracing conference of Nigerians, to chart a new, enduring and last-

• Jonathan

ing co-existence, to ensure a better Nigeria.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

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NEWS Court jails two men for robbing police officer A SURULERE Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, yesterday sentenced two men to one year imprisonment each with hard labour for robbing and stealing from a police officer.

The sentence was without an option of fine.

M.K.O. Fadeyi the Senior Magistrate, found the accused, Austine Hufia, 23, and Segun Ajayi, 25, guilty of a three-count charge of conspiracy, robbery and stealing.

Hufia and Ajayi were arraigned with two others, Samuel Nsikak, 31, and Sunday Ilo, 21, for alleged robbery and stealing.

While Hufia and Ajayi pleaded guilty, Nsikak and Ilo pleaded not guilty.

Fadeyi granted the duo bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties each in like sum.

He said one of the sureties must be a community leader where the accused persons resided.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Raji Hakeem, had told the court that the offence was committed under the bridge at Ojuelegba, Surulere.

“The accused attacked Mr Emmanuel Mobodo with broken bottles and robbed him of his bus, valued at N750,000 and stole his N63,000 cash,” Hakeem said.

He said the offences contravened sections 390, 402 and 516 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State.

Fadeyi adjourned the case till Sept. 20 for further hearing.

1,260 persons scramble for police jobs in Jigawa THE Public Relations Officer of the Jigawa State Police Command, Malam Abdul Jinjiri, has said that 1,260 job seekers are currently undergoing screening for recruitment into the police force in Jigawa State.

Jinjiri, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Dutse, said 1,020 persons applied for Cadet Inspector positions while 245 applied for Assistant Superintended of Police positions.

He said all the applicants were indigenes of the state.

The PPRO stated that the candidates would be referred to the Police Zonal Command for further screening before being sent to the Police Headquarters in Abuja.

“Though I do not know how many people would be employed from the state but we were directed to screen a reasonable number of applicants,” Jinjiri said.

He said the Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Hashim Argungu, was chairing the screening committee which also had officers from the Police Service Commission.

Other members of the committee include training officers from local governments.

33,000 awaiting trial in Nigerian prisons

O

F the 48,000 prisoners in Nigeria, over 33,000 are awaiting

trial.

Minister of Interior Comrade Abba Moro yesterday called for a speed trial of pending cases to decongest the prisons.

Moro said the over populated awaiting trial prisoners are causing problems in the system.

The Minister spoke in Abuja when he received the Commissioner and Special Rapporteur of the African

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

Commission for Human Rights, Mrs. Dupe Atoke.

She is on an assignment to ensure that Nigeria is complying with the non-torture policy of the AU. Attorney General and Minister of Justice Mohammed Adoke, according to Moro, has inaugurated a panel a fortnight ago to see to the implementation of Justice sector plans leading to the de-

congestion of prisons with high pre-trial detainees.

His words: “I want to assure you that we in Nigeria are pushing forward with our programme of transformation. As you go round, you are likely to notice a preponderance of awaiting trial prisoners in most of our prisons.

As a matter of fact, of our prison population of 48, 124, it is sad that over 33,692 are awaiting trial prisoners.

“I want to assure you that Nigeria is in the age of transformation. We shall contin-

ue to partner the African Commission in every way possible to ensure that the goal of promoting and protecting the human rights of our people are attained through the right course of action.

“As a leading country in Africa today, we do not have a choice than to lead by example. While we have our problems here, the prisons in Nigeria are not as bad as those of other countries.

“Because of the slow pro-

cess of the Justice system, we need to decongest our prisons.

The health problems are there.

We always ensure that amnesty is granted to prisoners.”

Atoki said she has only 10 days to go round Nigerian prisons.

She said: “The findings made will be passed through AU and it will later be made available to President Goodluck Jonathan.

We are not here to condemn or witch-hunt the country but to ensure that the human rights policy is followed.”

‘We knew our house will collapse’

O

• Retired Naval Officers Wives Association (RENOWA) and widow of the late Augustus Aikhomu, Rebbeca (sitting; first right)...yesterday.

PHOTO: NIYI ADENIRAN

Aikhomu’s burial likely next month

T

HE remains of former Vice-President Admiral Augustus Aikhomu may be buried next month.

Sources close to the family said the funeral could hold between September 14 and 16.

The source declined to give details of the three-day event, saying the family would soon announce the programme.

Eminent personalities were still visiting the expansive Apapa residence of the late Aikhomu.

Among those who paid condolence visit to the family were the royal father of Benin, Omo N’ oba Erediauwa; former Chief of Naval Staff Vice-Admiral Ganiyu

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

Adekeye; former Secretary, Ministry of Health Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi; ex-Eaglets Coach, Fanny Amun; Rear Admiral Femi Olumide (rtd); actor Kanayo .O Kanayo; NiteShift Guv’nor Ken Caleb Olumese and Starcomms Managing Director, Chief Maan Lababidi.

Chief Tayo Akpata and Chief Anofi Guobadia, who represented the Benin monarch, prayed God to continue to guide the deceased’s family.

Vice-Admiral Adekeye wrote in his tribute: “Adieu to the great sealord and Ad-

miral. A pacesetter and great mentor. We shall continue to uphold your legacy of bold moves.”

Prince Adelusi-Adeluyi also described the former No.2 citizen as a gentle, simple patriot.

He said the deceased was a pride to the National Institute for Strategic Studies (NIPPS.) Admiral Olumide (rtd) described the late seaman as a complete gentleman.

“It has been great knowing and sharing company over the years with a complete officer and gentleman while we served in the Navy,” he said.

Chief Lababidi described him as his good and great brother.

Olumese described the deceased as a patriot.

“We all miss you but have solace that you left behind a big and enviable legacy,” he said.

Amun believed that sports would be the deceased’s primary constituency in the next generation because of his love for sports.

“He lived for some of us that benefitted from his pleasant gesture within and outside office. There was never a time you see him sad,” he said.

Kanayo said the late Naval officer was a nationalist of international appeal and a humble man.

Traders hand over expired drugs worth N30m to NAFDAC in Aba T HE Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers in Aba, Abia, have handed over expired and fake drugs, valued at N30 million to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

Mr Chukwuka Okorie, Chairman, Ariaria International Market Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers Association, made this known in Aba, Abia, while handing over the drugs in three buses to NAFDAC. Okorie said the expired and faked drugs were mopped up by the association in the last 14 months.

He explained that some of the drugs were voluntarily brought out by the members of his association, while others were confiscated by the task force in the market.

“We want to sanitise the market and we will continue. Some people cannot come here and start creating problems for those doing genuine business,’’ he said.

Okorie also said the association would continue to cooperate with NAFDAC in the war against expired and faked drugs to sanitise the

drug markets in the country.

Mr Festus Anumba, NAFDAC’s head of Aba Special Zone, while receiving the drugs, commended the efforts of the association.

“We are encouraged by what they are doing. We are telling them that the reward for hard work is more work, we still expect them to do more,’’ he said.

Anumba urged them to provide useful information to the agency in the effort to sanitise the drug market.

“If there is information

they feel is exclusive to NAFDAC, they can come forward and we will assist them to sort it out,’’ he said.

He said that the drugs would be moved to its warehouse, while awaiting directives from the headquarters for the destruction.

Anumba said the agency had recently impounded some cosmetic Eva soaps worth several millions of naira in Aba, with the assistance of the police.

He further said the commission apprehended two persons in Arochukwu, also in Abia for illegally manufacturing sachet water.

CCUPANTS of a fourstorey building that collapsed in Lagos on Saturday said they had earlier contributed money to effect some repairs on the structure before it fell.

The occupants, who pleaded anonymity, said they were given a two-week quit notice by the Lagos State Government to allow for reconstruction of the building.

They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos yesterday that the building, which had already been earmarked for demolition, had cracks due to some defects before it collapsed.

NAN reports that the building located at No. 1, Shagbemi St., behind Eko Grammar School, Idumota, Lagos, collapsed about 4.20 p.m. on Saturday.

Four people believed to be owners of shops in the building were injured while goods worth millions of naira were destroyed.

The occupants claimed that there were few casualties because when they heard the walls of the building crack, they quickly alerted others to run for safety.

According to them, it was the occupants on the fourth floor that were wounded as they found it difficult to escape when the building gave way.

‘Imbibe spirit of Ramadan’

A

MERICAN Ambassador to Nigeria Mr Terence McCulley has stressed the need for Muslims to imbibe the spirit of Ramadan in building the nation and helping the less privileged.

McCulley made the call on Monday night in Abuja when he and members of the U.S. Mission Volunteers visited the site of the AlHabibiyyah Ramadan feeding programme for fasting Muslims.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the envoy and his team had participated in the traditional breaking of fast and serving of food to indigent fasting Muslims.

McCulley, in his remarks, hailed the American Embassy for participating in such a noble cause.

According to him, the month of Ramadan offers Muslims a chance to renew their faith.

He reminded them of the need to help the needy in the society.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

6

NEWS Four arraigned for alleged armed robbery

By Joseph Jibueze

T

HE Police yesterday arraigned four men – Yekini Adeleke (40), Fatai Idowu (41), Muyiwa Eleton (32) and Fatai Alabi (39) – at the Magistrate’s Court, Ikeja, Lagos, for alleged armed robbery.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Bartholomew Nwaokeye told the court they conspired with others, now at large, to snatch a Honda CRV Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), valued at N1.1 million, belonging to Daniela Olubode.

He said they also dispssessed him of N30, 000 on April 20 at Iju in Lagos.

The four, Nwaokeye added, also robbed Mr Thomas Olusola of a Honda Accord saloon car, valued at N1.8 million, a Nokia N90 phone, valued at N90, 000 and Nokia E71 phone, valued at N65, 000.

The police said Idowu received the stolen property and helped to sell them.

The alleged offences contravened sections 4(b) and 5(b) and punishable under Section 1(2)(a)(b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provision) Act, Cap 398, Vol. XXII, Laws of the Federation 2003, as amended.

The four pleaded not guilty.

Their trial will begin on September 29 before Olufemi Isaac.

Customs seizes arms at Tin Can

T

HE Customs Service, yesterday at the Tin Can Island Port, Lagos, seized a cache of arms and ammunition concealed in a container.

The container was seized at the Port and Cargo Terminal (TCIP).

Addressing reporters yesterday, the Area Comptroller, Eporwei Edike, said the container was discovered following an exam-

By Oluwakemi Dauda

ination by his officers and men.

He said the search revealed that large quantity of dangerous and prohibited goods were brought into the country.

The suspected container with serial number, TCNU, 9578080(2), was shipped into the country from the United States.

Some of the seized items are: steel hinge handcuffs, fire power interrogator (Palco Sport) with serial number FP 060452165, Naval uniforms, caps, berets, Air gas cartridges, belts and security barges.

The street value of each of the Pepper Gun is £49.

99.

The Pepper Gun contains 28 gramme of car-

tridge.

One of the agents working with the clearing company, Mr Niyi Osunsonya, has been arrested and is in Customs custody undergoing interrogation.

The Area Comptroller assured Nigerians that proper investigation would be conducted and that those involved in the illegal importation would be prosecuted.

Nigerian pilgrims escape death in Saudi Arabia

T

HIRTY four Nigerian pilgrims performing this year’s Lesser Hajj in Saudi Arabia narrowly escaped death following an early morning fire outbreak in their hotel yesterday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the hotel, a seven storey building, is some metres away from the Nigerian Consulate office in Jeddah.

NAN reports that the fire engulfed the fourth floor of the hotel and it took men of the Saudi fire service over two hours to put it out.

A man,believed to be a worker at the hotel who refused to disclose his identity, attributed the cause of the fire to electrical fault arising from the misuse of an electric cooker by a guest in the hotel.

NAN observed that over 60 occupants of the hotel, in-

cluding women and children, escaped unhurt.

Among those successfully evacuated from the hotel were members of the advance team of the Vvice-President, Namadi Sambo, who was expected to arrive in Medina yesterday evening for the Lesser Hajj.

Some Nigerians, who spoke to NAN hailed the prompt response of the Saudi Fire Service.

“My greatest surprise during the fire outbreak was that neither the hotel management nor the firefighters cut out the electricity supply of the hotel even though the fire was caused by an electrical problem.

“You can see that we are still enjoying the supply of electricity in all the floors despite the fire incident except the affected fourth floor,” said one of the hotel occupants who is from Nigeria.

‘Quacks are threat to medical laboratory’ From Osagie Otabor, Benin

R

EGISTRAR of the Medical and Laboratory Council of Nigeria Prof.Emmanuel Emeribe has traced the major threat to medical laboratory service to activities of quacks.

Emeribe spoke at the opening ceremony of a seven-day international Workshop on Forensic Diagnosis, at the Lahor Research Laboratory and Medical Centre in Benin.

The registrar noted that many Nigerians have suffered medically due to wrong diagnosis by quacks in the medical laboratory services.

He stressed the need for vigilance to identify the quacks and flush them out of the system.

Speaking on the occasion, Governor Adams Oshiomhole, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr Peter Ugbodaga, said his administration was determined to meet the World Health Organisation standard in health care delivery, through infrastructural development and human capacity building.

Oshiomhole said efficient health care delivery was sacrosanct to good governance and healthy society.

His words: “That is why the Edo State government embarked on the mission to revamp the dilapidated state of our hospitals and purchase more medical equipments so as to improve the health standard of our people.”

Fed Govt declares Tuesday, Wednesday as public holiday

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HE Federal Government has declared Tuesday, August 30, and Wednesday, August 31, as public holidays to commemorate the Eid-El-Fitri celebration.

Minister of Interior Comrade Abba Moro, who stated this in a statement yesterday

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

in Abuja, urged all Muslim faithful to pray for enduring peace and progress of the country.

Moro wishes all Nigerians a pleasant and blissful Eid-ElFitri celebration.

• Some of the arms concealed in the container seized at Tin Can....yesterday.

PHOTO: OLUWAKEMI DAUDA

Lagos Council polls: No second term for two chairmen L AGOS State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has rejected the second term ambition of two council chairmen, Dr Sodiq Folami (Surulere) and Muftau Kadiku (Lagos Island East).

The Lagos Central District chapter, led by Prince Tajudeen Olusi, has replaced them with Shakirudeen Owoiya and Tajudeen Ajide, who are vicechairmen in the councils.

Abayomi Giwa has been endorsed as the party’s chairmanship candidate in Coker/Aguda Local Council Development Area (LCDA), following the election of the chairman, Aliu Kazeem, into the House of Representatives.

At a meeting convened

by Olusi, the activities of the chairmen were reviewed. They were given opportunity to respond to allegations by party chieftains who protested their return bid. The two chairmen failed to convince the

By Emmanuel Oladesu

stakeholders that they had performed well in office.

Ten chairmen got the nod of the party to contest the October council polls. They include: Olajide Jimoh (Yaba), Adebayo Adedayo (Apapa Iganmu), Hakeem Bamgbola (Itire/Ikate), Anofi Elegushi (Eti Osa), Wale Adeniji (Ikoyi/ Obalende), Yisa Owolabi (Eti Osa East), Yomi Daramola (Iru/ Victoria Island), Sanni Eshinlokun (Lagos Island) and Oladele Adekanye (Lagos Mainland).

At the meeting were Chief Abiodun Adeseye, Senators Adekunle Muse and Oluremi Tinubu; Prince Murphy Adetoro,Femi Gbajabiamila, Bashorun Alabi Macfoy, Wale Oshun, Fuad Oki, Wale Edun, Aliu Kazeem, Arole Fancy, Ezekiel Agboyinu, Hakeem Giwa, Alhaji Owolabi Yisa, Lateef

Odunsi, Otunba Tayo Oyemade, alhaji Morufu Ojora, Alhaji Nosiru Musa, Col. R.O. Ajala (rtd), Adedotun Adeniran, Oyinlomo Danmole, Mrs lara vaughan, and Mrs Omotola Essien.

Two thousand and six hundred nomination forms have been received by the Ademola Sodiq-led three-man Technical Committee. The secretariat also heard complaints from protesters from some local governments, who objected to a second term for their local government chairmen.

At the weekend, protesters from Ajeromi-Ifelodun and Ifako-Ijaye councils were the ACN office at Acme road, Ogba, Ikeja, to object to the second term ambition of the chairmen; Bayewu and Demola Doherty.

The protesters from If-

ako-Ijaye LCDA said the stakeholders have endorsed a grassroots politician, Toba Oke, who had stepped down three times for the chairmanship on the platform of ACN. Spokesman for the protesters Nelson Ekunjumi said: “We have said it loud and clear that we wanted a fresh blood and a tested politician who knows our communities and their problems. We have written and we are ready to defend our claims that Toba Oke is more preferable this time around. In democracy, the voice of the people should carry the day. We plead with ACN leaders not to disappoint Ifako-Ijaye council as we prepare for the critical grassroots elections”.

Igbokwe, who could not confirm whether a committee had been set up to collate the grievances across the councils, assured that “ACN would ensure justice, fair play and fairness to all parties.

Rural dwellers, traders to benefit from health scheme

R

URAL dwellers petty traders and others in the informal sector would, from October 20, benefit from the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), it was learnt yesterday.

NHIS Executive Secre-

From Dele Anofi, Abuja

tary Dr. Dogo-Muhammad said a national pilot project of Community Based Health Insurance Programme (CBHIP) would be launched in the 36 states and the Feder-

al Capital Territory (FCT).

Mohammed, said: “The implementation of the CBHIP is a relief to them and the country.

This programme will address the problem of poor access to health care in the rural and sub-urban

areas and reduce maternal and child indices in the country.

“This will put the country on the path of attaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Vision 20-20-20 of the Federal Government.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

7

NEWS Yaba market shut over attack on sanitation officers

Insults between ex-Heads of State is national shame’

T

HE Lagos State Government yesterday shut down the ware point of the popular Yaba Market over alleged attacks on officials of the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) brigade.

Five sanitation policemen, who were deployed in the market, were allegedly attacked by some traders in the market.

The affected officials, who suffered injuries, including broken heads and severe eye damages, were admitted at the Intensive Care Unit of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja.

Commissioner for the Environment, Mr Tunji Bello, who ordered the closure, accused the traders of violating the environmental sanitation laws.

He said the closure became imperative to serve as a deterrent to others.

Traders at the market have reportedly been trading on the streets, causing hardship to the residents.

The traders were reported to have attacked the KAI officials with dangerous weapons such as machetes, cudgels and broken bottles.

A female member of the brigade, Shade Agbalajobi, was stabbed on the face, close to one of her eyes, and two others, who were not named, sustained head and chest injuries.

J

IGAWA State Governor Sule Lamido has described the vituperation between former Heads of State - Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo and Gen. Ibrahim Babangida - as a show of shame and a national disgrace.

Lamido told members of Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ); Bankers’ Association; Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) and other trade unions at a Ramadan breakfast that the verbal crossfire between the duo was a disgrace not only to themselves but

From Bode Durojaiye, Ogbomoso

also to the nation.

He said: “What has become an entertainment in the media is not only denting the country’s image but also affecting the reputation and dignity of the country.”

The governor noted that by virtue of their past, Obasanjo and Babangida are not ordinary citizens, whose actions could be discountenanced.

Lamido said both are national figures who should exercise some constraints

and avoid jeopardising the nation’s reputation.

He said: “Nigeria, being the giant of Africa, has other countries like Rwanda, Botswana, South Africa and many others looking up to her for guardian and emulation. How can our leader embarrass us like this?”

The governor blamed the media for publicising an issue that would not bring peace, unity and development to the country, being the watchdog of the society.

Lamido regretted that the type of tirade between the two former leaders never

happened in Nigeria.

The governor urged Nigerians to use the ongoing Ramadan fast to meditate on their lives and be their brothers’ keepers.

He reminded those elected into offices to remember those who voted them into power and avoid embezzling public funds.

NUJ Chairman, Mallam Fahad Malamma Dori, noted that journalism has codes and ethics that practitioners must obey.

He said any journalist who violates them would be punished.

‘Illegal’ newspapers get two weeks to formalise registration

T

HE Cross River State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) yesterday in Calabar, the state capital, gave suspected illegal media outfits a twoweek ultimatum to regularise their registration.

The council Chairman Eniang Ndem said the ultimatum was part of the NUJ’s State Working Committee’s desire to sanitise journalism practice.

He said the council was determined to streamline the excesses among practitioners, which he noted were turning the profession into “a jamboree”.

The council’s position was contained in a communiqué issued after an emergency State Working Committee (SWC) meeting held at the Ernest Bassey Press Centre in Calabar.

It urged proprietors of unregistered newspapers to, as a matter of professional requirement, legalise their publications with the council within two weeks.

It also directed practitioners to regularise their membership with the union through their chapels within 30 days, in conformity with the constitution of the union.

The council dissociated itself from what it called “illegal publications emanating from unregistered newspapers and magazines” circulating in the state.

NUJ president urges resolution of judiciary crisis

N

IGERIA union of Journalists (NUJ) President Mohammed Garba yesterday called for the quick resolution of the crisis in the judiciary in the interest of the country.

Garba spoke when he visited Niger State Acting Governor Ahmed Ibeto in Minna.

He said the union was worried about the state of affairs in the judiciary.

According to him, the fallout of the crisis will not only affect the judiciary but all Nigerians.

Garba said the union would organise a workshop on the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act to educate members on its content and the way to use the law to keep Nigerians well informed.

He expressed happiness that the state government was planning to collaborate with the state council of the NUJ to organise a workshop on the FOI law.

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

“I know that some of our members and the public are not well informed on the Act, which is applicable to all Nigerians,” Garba said.

He said the union was working to remedy the image of the profession by flushing out bad elements and enforcing adherence to its code of conduct.

The NUJ president urged the government to fund the state-owned media organisations to enable them perform their duties effectively.

Garba told Ibeto that he was visiting NUJ councils to see things for himself, adding: “We have so far visited 17 state councils since the tour began.”

He hailed the good working relationship between the government and journalists, calling for the sustenance of the relationship in the interest of the society.

NUC lifts ban on BSU Law faculty From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

T

•Director General, Nigerian Metereological Agency (NIMET), Dr. Anthony Anuforom (left) and Director of Weather Forecasting Services, Mr. Ifeanyi Nnodu, at a briefing on Low Level Windshear Alert System (LLWAL) at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos... yesterday.

PHOTIO: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE

HE National Universities Commission (NUC) yesterday lifted its ban on the Faculty of Law, Benue State University (BSU), from admitting new students into the Law programme for non-compliance with the guidelines on accreditation of the degree programme.

The decision followed the intervention of Governor Gabriel Suswam, who reportedly met with the Executive Secretary of the commission, Prof Julius Okojie, in Abuja.

Suswam assured that the contract for building a new Law Faculty complex would be awarded next week.

He said other issues raised by the NUC during the accreditation would also be addressed.

The governor was accompanied by Prof Charity Angya, BSU Vice-Chancellor, to the meeting.

BSU is thus expected to admit fresh students in its Law programme for the next academic session.

E

Enugu civil servants resume work after 12-days strike

NUGU State civil servants yesterday resumed work after 12 days of strike to demand the implementation of the new minimum wage by Governor Sullivan Chime.

When the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) visited the state secretariat, the workers were at their duty posts in the ministries.

Ministries monitored included Information, Lands, Works, Transport, Gender Affairs, the Office of the Head of Service, the State Universal Basic education Board (ESUBEB), House of Assembly

and the Accountant-General’s office.

The secretariat, which had been desolate in the past 12 days, witnessed a beehive of activities as people rushed to accomplish their transactions.

While some of the workers were in their offices, others were outside discussing the development.

Some of them, who preferred anonymity, told NAN that they were disgusted by the excuses given by the Southeast governors not to pay their workers.

“It will be very bad if on the expiration of these two weeks ultimatum, Chime still insists that he cannot pay.

“If he is joking with the Enugu State chapter of the NLC, he should not dare the national body because since this wage bill is now an Act, it is binding on every state.

“These governors should remember that they swore to uphold the constitution of the country. Chime should better pay us or be ready to face the workers’ war,’’ a worker said.

The national leadership of

the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), led by its Deputy President, Mr Kiri Mohammed, on Monday gave the state government a two-week ultimatum to implement the new wage.

Mohammed said labour would make any state, which denied its workers the minimum wage, ungovernable He urged the workers to go back to work, assuring that if the government did not reach any agreement with them in two weeks, they would besiege the state for a total strike which will include all sectors of the state.

Minister rewards doctor with N.2m

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HE Minister of Health, Prof.

Onyebuchi Chukwu, has donated N200,000 to a consultant surgeon, Dr Adewale Adisa, of Obafemi Awolowo Teaching Hospitals (OAUTH) Complex, Ile-Ife, Osun State, for his contribution to the hospital’s achievements.

Adisa had successfully carried out 139 laparascopy surgeries within 18 months.

Chukwu said: “The feat of Dr. Adisa shows clearly that there is a prospect in health care delivery service in this nation.”

He urged other health workers to emulate Adisa, adding that the government would continue to recognise and reward individual’s excellent

By Oyeyemi GbengaMustapha

performance.

The minister praised the hospital management for its commitment and the workers’ dedication to duty.

He noted that these culminated in transforming the institution to one of the leading centres of excellence in health care service in Nigeria.

Chukwu spoke during his visit to OAUTH. He expressed satisfaction with the achievements of the hospital, saying it scored 99 per cent for jobs well done.

The minister promised that the Federal Government would provide equipment to health institutions in the country,

adding that health workers would be exposed to modern training within and outside the country to enable them tackle health challenges without patients travelling abroad.

Chukwu restated the commitment of the ministry to improved performance in the health sector.

The Chairman, OAUTH Complex Management Board and Chairman, Presidential Project Implementation Committee on VAMED, Emeritus Professor Oluwole Akande thanked the Federal Government for including the institution in the second phase of refurbishment of teaching hospitals.

He noted that the government

efforts had made it possible for OAUTH to record landmark achievements.

Akande said OAUTH in July 2002 was the first teaching hospital to perform kidney transplantation in Nigeria.

He noted that with the installation of modern equipment, such as the Magnetic Resonance Imaging Machine (MRI), Computerised Tomography (CT) and Fluoroscopy Machine Theatre and intensive care equipment, modern laboratory equipment and 48 body capacity morgue, mammography machine, Haemodialysis machine, among others, has led to an increase in patient turnover at the hospital.

8

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

NEWS

Salami’s legal battle begins today •Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Mr Samuel Ortom (left), being welcomed by Plateau State Deputy Governor Ignatius Longjang at the Government House,Jos...yesterday

•Chairman, Presidential Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Steven Oronsaye (left), presenting an interim report to Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, in Abuja...yesterday PHOTOS: NANS

Continued from page 2 •3rd Defendant has no power under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) to issue an administrative directive halting or purporting to halt the delivery of judgment by panel of the Court of Appeal in a Governorship Election Petition and that any exercise of such power by the 3rd Defendant is ultra vires and in breach of the combined effect inter alia of Sections 6,232,233,234, and 246 of the said Constitution.

Justice Salami is also pleading for an order setting aside: •the proceedings and findings of the NJC Investigation Committee contained in its report dated 6th day of July, 2011; •the recommendations of the three-man panel set up by the 1st Defendant and chaired by the 9th Defendant and all actions, decisions, proceedings and administrative directives arising from or based on such recommendations; •setting aside all the steps or actions taken by the 1st-11th Defendants based on connected with or relating to the NJC Investigation Committee and the three-man (Auta) Panel; *restraining the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Defendants, their agents, servants and/or privies and all

functionaries of the 1st Defendant or otherwise howsoever from acting on, relying on, recommending or taking or further taking any action or decision whatsoever in respect of the findings of Abdullahi and the Auta Panels; and an order •setting aside the warning letter dated 9th August, 2011 Ref. No: NJC/f.2/CA1/1/273 written by the 1st Defendant to the Plaintiff.

Also, the court is being urged to grant a perpetual injunction restraining the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Defendants from taking any or further action, reaching any conclusions or issuing any directive(s) in any form whatsoever in respect of the various petitions written against the Plaintiff in respect of which the 4th Defendant’s (Abdullahi) Panel was set up by the 1st and 2nd Defendants.

Besides, Justice Salami is pleading for a perpetual injunction restraining the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Defendants from taking any or further action, reaching any conclusions or issuing any directive(s) in any form whatsoever in respect of the findings and recommendations of the NJC Investigation Committee chaired by the 4th Defendant and the three-man (Auta) Panel chaired by the 9th Defendant.

Strongman in hiding as rebels seize home Continued from page 2 Snipers scattered across the city continued to wage resistance, while a rebel convoy was ambushed by Gaddafi loyalists using anti-aircraft weapons.

Elsewhere in the country, the US military said that its warplanes had shot down a scud missile fired from Sirte, Gaddafi’s hometown, indicating that remnants of Gaddafi’s forces were continuing to resist.

Rebel fighters in eastern Libya advanced towards the oil terminal of Ras Lanuf after taking the coastal town of Ageila from forces loyal to Gaddafi.

Moussa Ibrahim, the government spokesperson, claimed Gaddafi forces had control of at least 75 per cent of Tripoli. But rebels said Gaddafi supporters only held about 20 per cent of the city.

The tenuous nature of the rebels’ grip on Tripoli has dampened rebel hopes of a swift victory and raised concerns that the city of two million people could be the stage for a protracted armed struggle.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

9

NEWS Ekiti PDP woos Fayose HEAD of the 2013 Governorship Election in Ekiti State, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is working towards bringing ex-Governor Ayodele Fayose back to the fold.

Party leaders, led by the PDP Vice-Chairman in Ekiti Central Senatorial District, Mr. Dipo Anisulowo, met with Fayose last Sunday at his home in Magodo, Lagos State, and discussed possibility of his return.

Anisulowo told our reporter that the PDP had started exploring ways to infiltrate the ranks of opposition parties to solidify its chances in future elections.

He said: “We are mobilising for our party and this is in the best interest of the PDP. We are not limiting our

A

From Sulaiman Salawudeen , Ado Ekiti

peace talk to Fayose, we are meeting with other defectors and stakeholders as well as those with the interest of Ekiti at heart.”

A statement by 30 PDP stakeholders in Irepodun/ Ifelodun local government after the Sunday meeting reads: “The meeting reviewed the state of the party in the local government and the state, particularly its poor outing in April General Elections. This was due to internal wrangling.

“The meeting specifically reviewed the positive contributions and good leadership qualities of Fayose. We believe that if Fayose reconsiders his stand and returns to the party, PDP will surely move forward.”

Fashola sacks Durosinmi-Etti

By Miriam Ndikanwu

AGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola has sacked his Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Revenue and Investment Mr. Tunde Durosinmi-Etti.

The development could be linked to the findings of the on-going auditing of Ministries, Department and Parastatals of the state government.

Durosinmi-Etti, until his appointment, was the Acting Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of IBILE Holdings Limited, the organ of the state government saddled with the responsibility of handling its investments.

Durosinmi-Etti’s sack takes immediate effect.

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OYES, O-CLEAN clear drains for Osun-Osogbo festival

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HEAD of the grandfinale of the annual Osun-Osogbo festival scheduled for Friday, a combined team of the Osun State Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES) and the environmental sanitation agency called O-CLEAN yesterday went round Osogbo, the state capital, cleaning drains.

OYES was led by its Commandant, Colonel Enibukun Oyewole (rtd), who is also the Special Adviser to Governor Rauf Aregbesola on Environment.

Hon. Bola Ilori led the O-

CLEAN group.

The two bodies acted on a weather forecast by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), which predicted heavy rainfall in Osogbo and adjoining towns.

As early as 9am, OYES volunteers were seen cleaning the drains in front of Fakunle Comprehensive High School, while the O-Clean group worked around Alekuwodo market.

Last June, Aregbesola awarded a contract of N187.5 million for the dredging of Okorokoro and Alekuwodo streams in Osogbo to check flooding.

Valedictory session today

By Oziegbe Okoeki

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HE Lagos State House of Assembly will hold a valedictory session today in honour of its Permanent Secretary/Clerk, Mr. Olatunji Taiwo, who will retire

from the civil service on Monday, August 29.

Members are expected to speak on the performance of the outgoing Clerk,

Mimiko seeks performance indicators

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NDO State Governor Olusegun Mimiko yesterday advocated the development of local performance indicators to assess the performances of governments at all levels.

This, he said, would increase the people’s confidence in democracy.

Mimiko spoke in his office in Akure, the state capital, while receiving the national executive of the Nigeria Sta-

From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

tistical Association (NSA), led by its President, Mr. Boniface Amobi.

The governor said performance indicators based on empirical data would engender public office holders to perform.

He said his administration would support the NSA to achieve its objectives, noting the importance of statistics to national development.

Church holds vigil

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HE Upper Room Bible Church will hold an all night prayer session in Lagos on Friday.

The Senior Pastor and Founder of the church, Rev. Ben Eragbai, said the vigil will feature song ministration, teaching, communion and testimonies.

The theme of the vigil, which will begin at 9pm, is “Let God Arise.”

•From left: Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola; President of the Islamic Development Bank Dr. Ahmed Ali and Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi at the Bank in Mecca, Saudi Arabia ...on Monday

NAFDAC seals 10 drug outlets in Ekiti

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HE National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has sealed 10 pharmacies/patent medicine outlets and confiscated fake drugs in Ekiti State.

Officials of the agency tested selected drugs for authenticity with the aid of the Tru-scan device. The drugs included analgesics and antibiotics.

At the end of the exercise,

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado Ekiti

which lasted about four hours, 10 pharmacies were sealed and cartons of fake drugs confiscated across the 16 local government areas of the state.

NAFDAC Deputy Director, Ports Inspection, Mrs. Comfort Makanjuola told reporters that it was a nationwide exercise and had been conducted in 22 states.

The purpose, she said, was

to safeguard the health of the people.

Mrs. Makanjuola said: “Makers of fake drugs have gone haywire and we are ready for them. We are moving from one village/town to the other to sensitise sellers on the need to combat drug counterfeiting in our society.

“We really need the cooperation of these sellers, especially in getting receipts for all their products, so that

the manufacturers of fake drugs can be traced and arrested.”

She said the agency was determined to expose sources of fake drugs and rid the nation of unwholesome drugs.

Mrs. Makanjuola urged vendors to deal directly with the State Central Drug Distribution Outlet situated within the premises of the State University Teaching Hospital in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

Amosun urges NMC, teachers to improve performance in Maths O

GUN State Governor Ibikunle Amosun yesterday urged the National Mathematical Centre (NMC) and teachers to address students’ lack of interest and poor performance in the subject.

He said Mathematics is a critical subject and enjoined teachers to arouse students’ interest in it.

Amosun spoke at Abeokuta Grammar School, Idi Aba, during the opening of a five-day workshop organised by the NMC for

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

the training of mathematics teachers and the distribution of books to selected secondary schools by the Education Trust Fund (ETF).

The governor, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Mr. Olusegun Solarin, praised the NMC for

the nationwide workshop.

He said the success of any educational system depends not only on the government, but on the active involvement of all stakeholders.

Amosun said: “Teachers are an essential and indispensable component of the free and qualitative education programme of this administration. It

therefore gives me great joy to see this genuine effort aimed at improving the skills and abilities of our teachers.

“It is satisfying to note that the NMC in collaboration with ETF is distributing mathematics books to selected schools nationwide for students and teachers to perform optimally.

“I urge teachers and students to take up the challenge and make effective use of the books.”

Fashola receives English Premier League trophy

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AGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola yesterday received the English Premier League (EPL) trophy, which is currently on global tour, at his office in Alausa.

The trophy was presented to the governor by the management of MultiChoice Limited.

Fashola said the EPL has demonstrated the capacity

By Miriam Ndikanwu

to create an economy where none exists.

He said Nigeria is challenged by the success of the EPL which started from a very humble background with little advertising and has metamorphosed into a global economy.

Fashola said: “This is what we aim to do and have

started here; to mix the education curriculum of young talented footballers with sporting activities.

“We want to ensure that those who participate in the Lagos Junior League are actually students. If we can create this partnership between school and football, we might be up to something very big.

“I recall as a student that some of our colleagues used

Appeal Court grants Ondo ACN’s application for supplementary records

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HE Court of Appeal sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital, yesterday granted the application of the Action of Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and its House of Assembly candidate in Owo Constituency I, Mrs. Folashade Ogunoye, to include the ruling of the

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

Election Petitions Tribunal in the record of appeal.

The party and Mrs. Ogunoye are challenging the election of the Labour Party (LP) candidate.

The case was adjourned till

tomorrow.

The appeal of the ACN and its candidate in Ilaje/EseOdo federal constituency, Rawa Felix, was also adjourned till tomorrow, owing to the absence of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC)’s counsel.

to play for big clubs like Leventis United, Mandilas, Wema Bank, Union Bank, Lagos State Development & Property Corporation (LSDPC) and so on. After school, they earned more income to support their families.

“At this time of youth unemployment, I think this is one of the things we can tap into.

“With the followership football has in this country and all of us that are involved in the administration of football at various levels, we must get involved and grow it into big economies.

“I expect that we would be receiving MultiChoice’s support.”

MultiChoice Managing Director Mr. Joseph Hundah said the organisation has spent over N10 billion on promoting football in Nigeria.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

10

NEWS Amnesty has brought peace, says Sylva

Federal Polytechnic, Auchi expels nine

From Isaac Ombe, Yenagoa

BAYELSA State Governor Timipre Sylva has said amnesty has brought peace to the state and the Niger Delta.

Sylva said this at the celebration of the end of militant activities in the state, tagged: Bayelsa Peace Carnival.

The governor said the activities of the militants, particularly arms surrender, has improved the nation’s economy.

He noted this has improved the price of a barrel of oil per day, as well as the level of production for export.

Sylva said the administration’s adoption of the three Es strategy of Enforcement, Engagement and Empowerment has paid off at both the state and federal levels.

“It was the three Es that culminated in the Federal Government’s amnesty,” he said.

The programme, he said, has created job opportunities for youths, as most of them have been trained.

‘Unity Road’ll soon be completed’ From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

RIVERS State Deputy Governor Tele Ikuru has assured the people of Andoni and Opobo local governments that the Ogoni/Andoni/Opobo Unity Road will soon be completed.

He gave the assurance when he inspected the site, according to a statement by his Press Secretary, Biobele Da-Wariboko.

Ikuru lauded Governor Rotimi Amaechi for the project, which he said, had provided access to many communities in Andoni and Opobo councils.

He said the project would comply with the design specifications, while physical project implementation is consistent with engineering standards and best practice.

PUBLIC NOTICE I, formerly known and addressed as Suleiman Sherifat, now wish to be known and addressed as Aliyu Sherifat. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

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•STATES CLIMATE CHANGE DIALOGUE: From right: Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan; his Rivers State counterpart, Rotimi Amaechi, representative of the Minister Of Environment, Dr. Adejuwon and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Deputy Country representative Jan-Thomas Hiemstra at the Government House, Asaba, Delta State… yesterday.

Five killed in Akwa Ibom robbery

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OBBERS yesterday attacked a bullion van, killing five people in the process.

The van was said to be heading to a new generation bank on Abak road from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) at Udoudoma Avenue, when the incident occurred.

The robbers, armed with AK47 rifles and rocket launchers, were said to have trailed the van to Ukanafot junction in Abak road before attacking the vehicle.

Two workers of the bank, two policemen and the driv-

From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

er were killed.

Sources said after the attack the robbers emptied the money into a waiting car before speeding to an unknown location.

The identities of the victims had not been revealed.

Lawmakers in the House of Assembly have passed a resolution calling for the redeployment of the Commissioner of Police, Felix Uyanna, within 48 hours.

The lawmakers said the

police boss cannot handle the security situation in the state.

A source said the lawmakers were worried over spate of insecurity in the state.

The motion, according to the source, was moved by the member representing Itu Constituency, Mrs. Ekaette Ebong Okon and seconded by Uruan’s representative, Kufre Etuk.

Speaker Sam Ikon directed the Clerk, Mrs. Mandu

Umoren, to prepare Uyanna’s redeployment letter and forward same to the Inspector-General of Police, Hafiz Ringim.

Uyanna, who took over from Sani Magaji, assumed duty on March 22, the day of the violent clash between supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) where property worth billions of naira were destroyed.

Labour threatens to embark on warning strike

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HE Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in Akwa Ibom has threatened to embark on a three-day warning strike, following government’s refusal to ratify the agreement on the minimum wage.

In NLC’s bulletin No.2 entitled: “Three Days Warning Strike”, released yesterday in Uyo, the union in conjunction with the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Joint Public Service Negotiation Council (JPSNC) set today for the commencement of the strike.

“Government has failed to honour the agreement it reached with labour to the

DISCLAIMER IRABOR ALBERT ABUMERE vs.MS IRABOR EMUBUA JOSEPHINE -SUIT No PLD/J161D/10 Please note that the marriage between the above named petitioner, Irabor Albert Abumere and respondent, Ms. Irabor Emubua Josephine was dissolved on 9th March, 2011 by the order of the High Court of Justice of Plateau State, sitting at Jos, before the Honourable Justice Y.G Dakwak.

Take further notice that the said respondent is hereby advised to cease and desist from parading herself as the extant spouse of the petitioner or prepare to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Take final notice that those who are persuaded to deal with the respondent under the misguided assumption that the respondent is still married to the petitioner regardless of this notice,do so at their own risk.

Signed: K.E. Akporaye-Arah Esq. Solicitor to the petitioner 36,Inuwa Wada Crescent Utako District,Abuja Arah_kingsley@yahoo.co.uk + 234 703 007 3597

•Lawmakers call for redeployment of police chief

effect that negotiations on the implementation of the N18,000 minimum wage and all sectoral wage increases will be concluded by August 18 without fail.

“To put pressure on government to honour agreements, stay at home for three days from today,” the unions directed their members.

The state NLC chairman, Unyime Usoro, had on

Monday, issued a statement on “Repudiation on Agreement on Implementation of Minimum Wage” in which it accused the government of trying to “balkanise the labour movement and erode the confidence of workers in its leadership”.

“If government is not interested in its integrity, we in the labour movement are, and will do everything to

protect its hard won integrity and trustworthiness,” Usoro said.

The Commissioner for Information, Aniekan Umanah, said the government was committed to paying the minimum wage.

Umanah, however, said the government was at the moment examining the nitty-gritty of the implementation.

NBA President hails Amaechi HE Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) has hailed Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi for initiating and sustaining a clear transformational policy in the state.

NBA President Joseph Daudu (SAN) made the commendation during the opening of the 2011 Annual National Conference of the Association in Port Harcourt.

Daudu called on the Federal Government and other governors to emulate Amae-

T

chi in such development programmes as education, health and infrastructure amongst others.

“We have had course to follow with keen interest your developmental programmes for Rivers State in the areas of education, health, infrastructure, justice, law and order etc. They are not only transformational, but a serious lesson for other states’ administrations to emulate.”

The NBA President told

the lawyers to visit some of the projects, particularly schools, to confirm the level of development.

"Visit some of Amaechi's projects on education, the model primary school.

"The Federal Government should build one such model Secondary School in each of the 774 local governments throughout the country," he said.

The NBA President thanked the governor for his support in the conference.

Fire razes palace in Edo

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ONE-year old prince of Udo Kingdom in Igueben Local Government of Edo State, Martins Ibhadojemu, is in a critical condition after suffering burns in a night fire that razed his father’s palace.

The fire was said to have

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

started some minutes past 8pm last weekend, destroying property worth millions of naira.

It was learnt that the equipment, including sewing machines, hair driers, computers and other tools, were meant for the establishment of a Skill

Acquisition Centre in the community.

Reliving the ordeal, the monarch, Friday Ibhadojemu Amebhagbe l, said he was eating when he was informed about the fire.

Ibhadojemu said he mobilised youths to help put out

HE Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State, has expelled nine students for examination fraud.

Another 36 have been rusticated for a similar offence in the 2010/2011 first semester examination.

The weekly news bulletin of the institution said the expulsion was approved by the polytechnic’s Academic Board.

It said the affected students were from the schools of Engineering Technology, Business Studies, Applied Science and Communication and Information Technology.

The news bulletin also said the Governing Council has pardoned seven HND II students of the Department of Accountancy earlier rusticated for misconduct.

It said the affected students, who had been mobilised for the Batch B of the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC), were pardoned after consideration of their letter of appeal by the council.

Relief materials for flood victims

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COALITION of Niger Delta groups has donated relief materials to victims of the July 10 flood in Lagos State.

Leaders of the four principal groups: the Niger Delta People’s Forum (NDPF); Ijaw Women Leadership Development Forum (IWLDF); South-South Women’s Forum (SSWF) and the Ijaw Youth Development Association (IYDA) distributed materials worth over N2 million to their affected members.

Among the items distributed were mattresses, blankets, mats, clothes, foot wears, 50 bags of 50kg rice, cartons of seasoning cubes, tomatoes, noodles, powdered milk, plastic buckets and cups, and a host of other household and cooking utensils.

The Grand Patron of the associations, Joseph Evah, said the gesture was a token of the concern and love members of the groups have for the victims.

“We are doing this so that the authorities can know that all Niger Delta people are represented in Lagos.

“Whatever good thing happens back home, our leaders in our various states should know that our people are living in Lagos and they should extend their hands to us so that we too can benefit,” he added. the fire but was unsuccessful as his son suffered burns, while his property and the Skill Acquisition equipment kept in his palace were consumed by the fire.

The monarch said the cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained, adding that his family has been left with nothing.

11

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

We have studied the model where willing contractors come and fund road projects and over time, governments pays back those kinds of funds. We also have private finance initiatives and the public-private partnership model.

-Mike Onolememen, Minister of Works

Shell issues force majeure on Bony Light

ICAN seeks death penalty for corrupt members

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From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

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HE 47th President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Prof Francis Ojeide, yesterday sought the enactment of a law that will prescribe death penalty for corrupt members.

Speaking during a courtesy call on the Auditor-General of the Federation, Mr Ukura Samuel, in Abuja, the ICAN boss noted that there were rumours that accountants were corrupt, though he was yet to receive complaints officially.

He said if the corrupt accountants are killed and they do not live to enjoy their ill-gotten wealth, it will serve as deterrent to other members.

“People are saying that accounts are corrupt but they have not reported any one to us. We believe in zero tolerance for corruption.Any member will be dealt with. It is good you have stiffer measures. We should legislate that there should be death penalty so that they don’t live to enjoy ill-gotten wealth. This will serve as a deterrent,” he said.

Responding, the Auditor- General of the Federation said his office had already completed the 2010 audit report on the ministries and returned it to the Accountant General of the Federation due to some observations.

Samuel added that despite that he would soon present the report on the 2010 audit to the National Assembly.

He announced that his office has embarked on some new aspects of auditing in the country.

According to him, the office now conducts performance audit in order to advise the government on development and growth.

He noted that his office examines the programmes in order to detect whether the objectives have been achieved and therefore advise the government on the pitfalls.

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil -$109.7/barrel Cocoa - $2,856/metric ton Coffee - ¢132.70/pound Cotton - ¢78.07.pound Gold -$1,161/troy ounce Rubber - ¢146.37/pound MARKET CAPITALISATIONS NSE JSE NYSE LSE

-N7.3 trillion -Z5.112trillion -$10.84 trillion -£61.67 trillion

RATES Inflation -10.2% Treasury Bills -2.64% Normal lending -24% Prime lending -18% Savings rate -3% 91-day NTB -6.99% Time Deposit - 6% MPR -8% Foreign Reserve -$34.7bn FOREX CFA 0.281 • 213 £ 241.00 $ 150.7 ¥ 1.5652 SDR 240.3 RIYAL 39.3

• From left: Dr. Aganga; Mrs Osibodu and Head, Agricultural Banking, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Mr Jaques Talor, at the event.

Dangote, NBC, others plan N1.5tr investment D

ANGOTE Group, Ni gerian Bottling Com pany Plc (NBC) and 164 other non-oil indigenous firms have finalised plans to invest N1.5trillion in the economy in the next 12 months.

Of the total amount, the President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, will invest N900billion in the production of fertiliser and petro-chemicals, the NBC pledged to invest N45billion and Guinness Nigeria Plc ($225million).

Others are Odua Investment Company Limited (N37billion) and Chairman, Ikeja Hotels Plc, Mr Goodie Ibru ($6million).

Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr Olusegun Aganga, disclosed this in Lagos yesterday during a

By Dan Essiet

meeting with the agro-business sector in Lagos. The meeting was co-sponsored

by Union Bank and Stanbic IBTC. He said the figure, which is conservative because of the few companies captured, was arrived at after an analysis of the survey forms filled by the companies during the ministry’s maiden meeting with the Organised Private Sector and captains of industry few weeks ago.

The manufacturing, real estate, agro-allied and automotive sectors, according to the minster, will get N1.06trillion; N198.5billion, N67.8billion and N45billion investments, while tourism, trade and commerce, transport and others

will make up the rest.

He said at the end of the oneday workshop on agribusiness, stakeholders would fashion a roadmap for the implementation of the Nigerian Agribusiness and Agro-industries Development Initiative. This, he added, would be a major step forward in the efforts aimed at job creation and economic growth.

In collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Aganga said his ministry would work with public and private sectors, to create the policies, infrastructure and partnerships needed to provide farmers choice and access to markets.

To reduce food import, the minister said the government has launched a massive programme for local produc-

tion of wheat, rice, sugar and fish.

Welcoming the initiative, the Group Managing Director of Union Bank, Mrs Funke Osibodu, said her organisation is determined to improve credit for agricultural production, to ensure sufficient food supply.

She said the partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) would boost the agriculture sector with the N450 billion administered by the Nigerian Incentive Base Reach Sharing for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) to support farmers with soft loans to promote the agriculture industry.

She said the CBN’s involvement will help supervision of capital distribution and investment to handle risk problems.

Bulk Trader to guarantee power investors, says Jonathan

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S part of the Federal Government’s efforts aimed at boosting private sector participation in electricity generation in the country, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday announced the establishment of a new state company Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc that will guarantee to pay for power generated in the country. This is expected to open billions of naira investment.

Despite having the world’s seventh largest gas reserves, Nigeria only produces about 10 per cent of its power needs.

Investors have shown interest in a huge potential market of more than 140 million people, but expressed concerns about payments from unreliable distribution firms.

“Government has, therefore, incorporated the Bulk Trader as a guarantor to boost confidence in potential inves-

• US shows interest in sector From Vincent Ikuomola and John Ofikhenua Abuja

tors that they will be paid for the power they generate and sell to the distribution companies,” Jonathan said yesterday during the inauguration of the board.

The board, the president said, would act as a guarantor to investment in the power generation and also stabilise the market.

The World Bank and some other international agencies are partnering Nigeria in providing a partial risk guarantee that will support the Bulk Trader Contracts.

The board is to be chaired by the Co-ordinating Minister and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, while the Vice-Chairman is Saka Isan.

Inaugurating the board,

President Jonathan said the power sector reform has come to stay.

He said the government was prepared to do all that is needed to ensure that the process to transform the sector are not abridged.

He regretted the situation where power distribution firms find it difficult to collect enough revenue from their customers to pay for powers they receive from generating companies. This development, he said, reduces investors’ confidence and also stands as an obstacle to the country’s attaining constant power supply.

He, however, said with the bulk trader, such a problem would be tackled as the board will act as a catalyst for investors in the power sector.

In her remark, Mrs OkonjoIweala assured the president and the country that the board

will do all it can to ensure it makes a difference in the power sector.

Meanwhile, the United States yesterday said it has commitment and interest in ensuring that it is part of the unfolding development in the power sector.

The US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Terence Mcculley, disclosed this when he led the American Ambassador for Nuclear non-Proliferation, Ms Bonnie Jenkins, on a visit to the Minister of Power, Prof Bart Nnaji.

Head, Media and Public Relations, Mr Greyne Anosike, disclosed this in a statement yesterday.

Mr Mcculley stressed that US has “serious strategic interest” in investing in the sector with Prof Nnaji at the helm, but requested the minister to address the endemic corruption in the sector as well as insist that American investors enjoyed level playing conditions when they showed up.

OYAL Dutch Shell PLC yesterday said it can’t meet production goals in Nigeria after several pipeline spills in the oil-rich southern delta.

Its spokesman Tony Okonedo said in a statement that its Nigerian subsidiary has declared “force majeure” on its Bonny Light crude shipment until the end of October. The term is used when it is impossible for an oil company to cover the promised supply from the field.

He said one pipeline recorded six separate spills, caused by hacksaw cuts, in Bayelsa State over the last few weeks.

He sid three cuts on a nearby pipeline caused three more spills Sunday.

Shell’s pipelines run across Nigeria’s oil-rich region of swamps, mangroves and creeks. Nigeria is a top supplier of crude to the United States.

Customs seizes arms, ammunition at Tin-Can port

By Oluwakemi Dauda

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HE Nigeria Customs Service, Tin-Can Island Port, Lagos has seized arms and ammunition that were brought into the country illegally and concealed in a container in Lagos.

The container was seized at Port and Cargo Terminal (TCIP) after officers and men of the Customs had kept surveillance on the container, which arrived the port recently.

Addressing reporters at Port and Cargo Terminal yesterday, the Area Comptroller, Eporwei Edike, said the container was discovered as a result of the physical examination conducted by his officers, which revealed that a large quantity of dangerous and prohibited goods in a container were brought into the country.

Some of the seized items that were concealed in the container included but not limited to two vehicles, steel hinge handcuffs, fire power interrogator (Palco Sport ) with serial number FP 060452165, Naval uniforms, caps, berets, air gas cartridges, belts, security barges and other dangerous items that are yet to be analysed.

He said the items were seized because the importer was not given any permit hence; it contravenes the nation’s law.

The suspected container with serial number TCNU 9578080(2) was shipped into the country from the United States.

The street value of one of the Pepper Gun, which contains 28 gramme of cartridge with up to seven blasts costs £49. 99.

The effective range of the gun is up to 20 feet and it has free water practice cartridge loaded in it.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

12

NEWS AUGUSTUS AIKHOMU (1939 - 2011)

•Senator Oluremi Tinubu (right) consoling the widow, Rebecca, at the Apapa, Lagos home of the deceased...last weekend

•Aikhomu’s son Ehime (middle) being consoled by Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim (right)...yesterday. With them is Rear Admiral Joe Aikhomu (left) and others

•Senator Chris Ngige and Mrs Aikhomu...last weekend

•Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (rtd) signing the condolence register

PHOTOS: BADE DARAMOLA

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

13

ISSUES

The unending saga of high cement price

• Bags of cement.

Three months ago, President Goodluck Jonathan directed cement manufacturers to crash the price of the product within 30 days.

His directive followed the public outcry over the astronomical high cost of cement. The price subsequently fell from N2,500 to N1,350 only for it to start soaring again. And consumers are grumbling again, reports OKWY IROEGBU. • STORY ON PAGE 14

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

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ISSUES

The unending saga of high cement price T

HE announcement was greeted by wild jubilations from many of those building their houses. They had been buying cement at cut throat price.

So, when former Presidential spokesman Mr Ima Niboro, announced last May that manufacturers had agreed to crash the price of cement within one month, they were ecstatic. The end, they thought, had come to their woes of buying the product at exorbitant price.

Niboro said President Goodluck Jonathan was saddened by the complaints from Nigerians over the sharp rise in the cost of the product and decided to call a meeting of the top five manufacturers to find a way out.

The meeting was attended by the President of the Cement Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (CMAN), Chief Joseph Makoju; President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Chairman of BUA Group, Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu and Country Manager of Lafarge Cement, Jean-Christophe Barbant.

They jointly assured Nigerians that the prices would come down.

Niboro said: “The President and the manufacturers have agreed to address the causes of the product scarcity and high cost as it concerned government obligations as well as what was required on the part of the manufacturers.

“In addressing the causes, some of the issues are on our side as well as the government side and I am very confident that over the next weeks, you will see the impact on the issue of supply and prices of cement.”

Not many people expected a positive development because in their view, the president’s directive and the cement manufacturers’pledge were political. The meeting took place in May - which is usually early rainy season in Nigeria - a time of low consumption activity.

They have been taught by experience over the years that demand for cement is usually low at that time of the year. Current happenings seem to have proved them right as the price of cement has risen again.

Though the manufacturers listed the reasons prices of cement were hiked to include epileptic power supply, dearth of Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO) consumed by the industry, poor state of the roads, and sabotage by distributors and marketers, stakeholders believe the government has not done enough as the manufacturers are entrepreneurs who will not under cut themselves to produce and sell their products at a loss.

At the May meeting, Dangote had said his organisation had ordered for 5,000 additional trucks to ameliorate the problem of haulage of cement to all parts of the country.

“We are doing all that to try and bring down the cost of transportation but we will do it in such a way that it will not affect other transporters because we also need them in the business to survive.

“Cement will definitely be exported, worst case scenario by first quarter of next year. Nigeria should be earning a lot of foreign exchange and I can guarantee you that cement would be one of the major foreign exchange earners in the next few months to come,” he promised.

In his contribution, Rabiu said

some of the challenges that caused increase in cement prices were being addressed - some of which included the closure of the Kaduna Refinery and cement companies based in the North, which were closed as a result of the post-election crisis.

“There were challenges and some of them have been taken care of, namely the issue of LPFO. Kaduna refinery was out of production for some time but is now back on stream, and most of the companies located in the north such as Ashaka Cement, Sokoto Cement, Benue Cement rely entirely on LPFO. So, when Kaduna refinery had an issue, a lot of companies were not able to produce and that has already been taken care of,” he stressed.

Barbant revealed that the meeting also agreed that there would be more investment in the cement sector to make the product more available and cheaper.

Building collapse But how valid are the excuses made at the meeting by the manufacturers? Experts in the building sector are now attributing the frequent cases of building collapse to the high cost of cement. They argue that unscrupulous developers are forced to reduce the quantity of cement in their sand/cement ration mix to still achieve targeted profit.

National Publicity Secretary, Nigeria Institute of Building (NIOB) Mr Kunle Awobodu recalled warning Nigerians last year. He said the presidential pronouncement lacked testimonial of a robust study of the problems in the cement sector.

He said: “I remember speaking up and warning Nigerian optimists, wondering if President Jonathan diagnosed the source of the problem. The period was the begining of the rainy season when construction was naturally low due to inclement weather. It favoured the presidential pronouncement politically as if he had the panacea to the challenges in the sector. For those who were happy at the announcement it has turned out as I predicted: an ephemeral one, because it had no grounds at all for it to stand except for political advantage.”

Awobodu observed that what exposed the meeting’s communique as mere rhetoric was the fact that this year’s rain unlike last year witnessed prolonged break as it started from the end of July.

He said: “This prolonged break lingered and sky-rocketed the price of the product, which translated to the sharp increase in price now because people are trying to achieve a particular level in construction before the rains come back.”

He questioned the hype in coming on stream of new cement manufacturing plants in some major cities, which presumably will turn the industry around but regretted that up until now, nothing has been achieved. Awobudu wondered if the government can claim to know if the local industries are satisfying the local cement market or there is a gap that needs to be filled by importation.

Implications

• Minister for Works Mike Onolememen

• Minister of Housing and Urban Development Ms Ama Pepple

‘Developers are in big trouble. If care is not taken, they would be forced to reduce the quantity of cement they use in construction, which will definitely endanger buildings in future and may lead to a spate of collapses. There is also structural implication for buildings. Currently, some clients are appealing to us to manage our old estimate as they may not easily absorb a new estimate based on the new cost of cement’ • Awobodu

To address the crisis in the sector, Awobodu asked the Federal Government to declare emergency in the sector for the critical factors militating against the sector to be looked at not only critically, but also holistically. On the implications for the building sector, he said it has rendered quotations given to clients by players in the industry unrealistic and also nullified various budgets because cement is an important ingredient in construction.

He regretted that building estimates were brought down based on the false belief and impression by the government that cement prices would be brought down to N1,100.

He said: “Developers are in big trouble. If care is not taken, they would be forced to reduce the quantity of cement they use in construction, which will definitely endanger buildings in future and may lead to a spate of collapses. There is also structural implication for buildings. Currently, some clients are appealing to us to manage our old estimate as they may not easily absorb a new estimate based on the new cost of cement.”

Stakeholders’ perspective Public analyst Mr Mike Ige,

criticised the government for poor infrastructure provision, especially in terms of energy, which force cement manufacturers to invest highly in energy. He stressed that the manufacturers are first of all business men who are out to make profit and warned that until the government tackles the challenges faced by manufacturers, there will not be an end to cement price hike.

He said: “ The only thing we hear over the air waves is projected megawatts at the end of 2011 or 2015 but we are yet to see what the government is doing to take on the issues hampering manufacturing operations in the country not just for the cement sector but for others. It is, therefore, unrealistic and crass optimism for the government to decree, as it were a price regime, without lifting a hand to deal with real issues and challenges faced by those affected”, he said.

But Cyril Ude, a businessman with interest in the capital market, rejected the school of thought supporting the argument that manufacturers are not culpable in the high cost of cement. He accused them of making excessive profit, claiming that cement can be sold for N800 in the open market.

According to him, contrary to hopes of a considerable price fall owing to substantial capacity ad-

ditions allegedly by the cement manufacturers, cement prices have risen sharply across the country in the last few months to between N2,300 to 2,500 depending on the part of the country.

He flayed the government for what he called lack of thoroughness, regretting that while Nigerians are crying over the skyrocketing price of cement and its effect on the building sector, manufacturers are smiling and declaring high profits with the government doing nothing to check the situation.

He said: “A responsible government would have studied the challenges in the sector before coming out with such laughable pronouncement, which as we have seen does not hold water.” Ude said as a player in the capital market he is privy to the fact that a major manufacturer had very impressive report in the current year.

Quoting Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) reports, he said a leading cement manufacturing company’s profit climbed 8.9 per cent in the last six months while profit after tax increased to N57.7 billion ($378.2 million) compared with N53 billion a year earlier. He also claimed that revenue advanced 13 per cent to N112.7 billion with the net value of assets as N234.3 billion from N211.5 billion.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

Asset Declaration is a constitutional requirement for public office holders. But, public servants, in most cases, have continued to treat it with disdain. Some opinion leaders have started a campaign to make declaration of assets open; published in the media because of its benefits to accountability in governance. MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE presents the arguments.

Can open assets declaration stem corruption?

T

HE 1999 Constitution makes asset declaration mandatory to check abuse of office and promote transparency in governance. The Seventh Schedule to the 1999 Constitution is explicit on this: A person elected to the office of the President shall not begin to perform the function of that office until he has declared his assets as prescribed in this constitution.

As important as the ‘rite’ is, most public office holders do not consider it imperative to fill the recessory forms at the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB). Even when they do so it is behind the scene, questions are often raised, thus giving impetus to the call for public declaration of assets.

In other advanced democracies, leaders’ assets are verifiable. And of course, it is germane to national growth and development as corruption is reduced to the barest minimum.

Going by public records, the late President Umaru Yar’Adua made public his worth, 24 hours to his inauguration in 2007. He declared N856,452,892 in cash and landed properties. According to his assets declaration, his liabilities as at May 28, 2007 stood at N88,793,269.77.

N19 million of the assets belonged to his wife, Turai.

It was in fulfilment of his campaign promise against corruption.

The CCB reportedly advised him against it because the action, it was said, would put pressure on other categories of public officials to do same.

However, his then Special Adviser on Communications, Mr. Segun Adeniyi, clarified that the President’s action was hinged on the resolve to fight corruption.

President Goodluck Jonathan, then as Vice-President was reluctant to tread the same path. He later joined the campaign for transparency by making public his worth.

On May 30, 2007 his assets were put at N295,304,420.

Clean Nigeria Campaign (CNC), a civil society organisation has not only expressed reservation on President Jonathan and cabinet members’ style but asked them to openly declare their assets as a matter of urgent national importance.

The group’s National Coordinator, Osita Okechukwu, was said to have asked the President to compel his Special Advisers and persuade the National Assembly power brokers to do the same. He said: “Open declaration of asset to us will be the sign-post for devotion to the war against corruption.”

But as genuine as the call for open declaration of asset may be, ob-

servers feel that the proponents must confront the issue from its roots. The CCB, on asset declaration, they feel, must be backed with enabling laws.

Dr Lateef Adegbite, Secretary General of Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (SCIA) sheds light on why the bureau needs more power to compel public officers to declare their asset within a stipulated time.

He said: “Though the law does not specifically state that asset declaration must be done in public, it is however, worrisome that some public officers have not declared their assets within three months of coming into office. It is even very unreasonable when this is stretching to six months. The law must address the lacuna, its very important.”

Not long ago, the governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi declared his worth publicly; it was put at N2.5 billion. Declaring the asset in the state, he noted that his action was meant to re-inforce the need for transparency in governance.

He declared the assets at the Registry of the State High Court, Ibadan before Justice Ladiran Akintola, two days before assuming office.

In the same vein, Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi and his deputy, Mrs. Funmilayo Olayinka, declared their assets openly. They were worth N750 million and N1.2 billion respectively.

The governor’s assets comprised cash both in local and foreign banks, buildings, undeveloped property jointly owned with his wife, Bisi; vehicles, business enterprises and household items.

The issue is of interest to Dr Fredrick Fasheun, founder of the Odua Peoples Congress (OPC). To him, public declaration of asset will definitely clear ambiguities. He explained that apart from being a constitutional matter, it is obligatory because of the existing contractural agreement between them and those they hold office in trust for.

He said: “Public servants should make their assets known to those who put them in office. If they don’t do that, they are encourag-

• The late Yar’Adua

ing speculations not just by the people but the media. And when this happens, nobody should blame the media because they are the cause.”

Chief Frank Ovie Kokori, former Secretary General of National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), who apparently was not happy with the deliberate act to prevent Nigerians from access to information on public servants’ profile, cited the Freedom of Information Bill (FOI) as the focal point.

He noted that politicians had failed to allow the bill to fully become operational because they are afraid of being exposed since FOI gives people the freedom to any information they seek.

Kokori asked: “What has happened to the FOI bill which will enable the public to demand whatever information they seek to know? This is a country where a local government chairman who came to office with nothing but before you know it, has mansions in California and notable parts of the world. He leaves office without giving account of his stewardship. They don’t even declare assets and nobody challenges them.

“Politicians now revel in the military profligacy, the same reason for

• President Jonathan

which we fought them out of power. Look at President Jonathan; instead of fixing the country, he is facing another thing entirely. The National Assembly has not even helped matters; the labour movement has been compromised, those in the banks engage in all manners of unethical manipulations; honestly, Nigerians are disappointed.”

The former labour activist lamented that those who have genuinely served this country have nothing to show for it because of corruption in the country. And until there are genuine leaders who really want to tackle the monster, all the talks about fixing the country will be a mere wish, he said.

Yinka Odumankin, the spokesman of General Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), hailed the sterling qualities of late President Yar’Adua for trying to bring some level of sanity in the fight against corruption in the country by making public what he owned.

He said: “We all saw in 2007 when the late president publicly declared his assets but nobody tried to emulate him. It took a while before President Jonathan declared his assets. Leaders must show example if they really want

‘Though the law does not specifically state that asset declaration must be done in public, it is however, worrisome that some public officers have not declared their assets within three months of coming into office. It is even very unreasonable when this is stretching to six months. The law must address the lacuna, its very important’

corruption to end in this country.

This is the bane of our development in the midst of plenty.”

“Again, these politicians cannot afford to make their assets public because they have amassed too much wealth and still want to acquire more. They don’t want to embarrass themselves by going public with their worth and this has not helped the country.”

Analysts believe that the best way out of the woods is to make public office holders accountable by compelling them to make public their worth. They are of the opinions that if assets are made public, it will become more difficult for them to amass wealth particularly when they are aware that some drastic actions await them after service.

The Right Reverend Adebayo Akinde, the Diocesan Bishop of Diocese of Lagos Mainland, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) felt disgusted by the rot in the system. He cited Britain as example where he spent a good number of years on the importance it attached to transparency.

He said: In Britain, just a change of your lifestyle will make your next neighbour to call the police to investigate you. But here in Nigeria, such people are worshipped, even when they steal money and engage in acts that ruin the economy.”

The cleric implored Nigerians to move closer to God and shun corruption. He advised politicians to remember that a day would come when they will account for their deeds. “Those who plunder the commonwealth will pay for it,” he said.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

POLITICS AHEAD EDO 2012 Deputy Governor of Edo State Dr. Pius Odubu believes that his party, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), has developed taproots in the state. In this interview with OSAGIE OTABOR, he explains why the party will repeat its performance at the polls in April at the governorship election next year.

‘Edo people ‘ll embrace PDP next year’ Chief Dan Orbih is the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Edo State. He told OTABOR OSAGIE that the PDP is poised to win next year’s elections, thus bringing to a close ACN’s reign in the state.

I

2012: ‘ACN will sweep polls in Edo’

H

OW would you account for ACN’s starting performance in the April polls?

The last general election was a reflection of the quality of the current leadership in the state. Since the 1993 elections, no election had been free and fair in Nigeria. Our governor was in the vanguard of the campaign that every vote should count. That was what happened in the state. I am quite happy to read about people’s appreciation of Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s efforts. It is refreshing to know that people in the state are appreciating what happened during the elections and everybody is keying into it. The security agencies and INEC did their best. Everybody appreciates that the election was free and fair and almost everybody accepted the results, which was why there was little litigation.

How is your party preparing for next year’s election?

ACN has no problem preparing for 2012. We started our preparation when we came in 2008 with the way the governor committed himself to the developmental initiative by this government. The elections are just going to come and ACN will win. Thanks a lot to the developmental effort of comrade governor. In a very long time, we never had it so good in the state. Everywhere you go in the state is a construction site. Before now, to access my village, you needed to go through Delta State but today, the longest road project is being constructed in Orhionmwon by Governor Oshiomhole. The road is of the highest standard, eight inches of stone base before you have the asphalt. Elections are going to be a walk-over for our party. Edo people appreciate good things. In 16 of the 18 local councils, there is an on-going road project; at least, one. We have electricity and water projects in all the local councils among other things.

There are fears that the campaigns will slow down governance?

I agree that there will be heightened activities since the date has been announced. Mr. Governor is determined. He will not be distracted. We have programmed our projects such that they will terminate before the elections. All the projects currently on-going now will be completed before the elections except those that will outlive this first tenure. The contractors have been paid and they will all be paid as at when due. I don’t

think they will negatively affect the performances of the contractors.

Can you recall your foray into politics?

My father was elected as a councilor more than five times unopposed. I was born into politics and growing up, I saw my father actively engaged in politics. I saw many political chieftains coming to see him in the village. I got involved in politics through his exploits. I came back from the United States in 1985 after graduation. I went to Law School and was a private legal practitioner in Benin. In 1990, I contested the council chairmanship under the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC). When Edo State was created in 1991, I contested again and in 1999 I went to the National Assembly. In 2003 I contested again and in 2007; we are now here. I have being around long enough for me to be a General in this game.

How has it been working with Comrade Adams Oshiomhole?

I have been in school since this administration began. Comrade Oshiomhole is a workaholic, a man with an untiring spirit and appetite for work. A man that is brutally frank. He is not bothered about your sentiment as long as he is saying the truth. He is not given to frivolities and laziness.

He believes you have to be your best at all times. We have been in school. Nobody can capture in a

‘The elections are just going to come and ACN will win. Thanks a lot to the developmental effort of comrade governor. For a very long time, we have never had it so good in the state.

Everywhere you go in the state is a construction site. Before now, to access my village, you needed to go through Delta State but today, the longest road project is being constructed in Orhionmwon by Governor Oshiomhole’

• Dr Odubu

nutshell how working with Oshiomhole is. I believe at the end of the day, he will regard me as a good student. Regularly, we close here at 8pm. There was a day we slept here at Government House when we just came on board. My experiences with him have made me a better person. Anywhere I go from here, no matter when this ends, I will continuously draw from the experiences gathered from the governor.

Have there been any challenges or differences between you and the governor?

We are from two different backgrounds, yet we have similar personalities. The man, Oshiomhole, is an embodiment of simplicity.

The only area we differ is that he is assertive, but I am always calm and calculative. That makes a good combination. We are best of friends. It is a pleasure working with him. I cannot think there has been any area of disagreement.

The governor is the boss, but he runs a collegiate kind of government where everybody is involved. Everyday, we discuss issues in his office. In a situation where you are part of decision making process, I can’t see where there would be challenges. It is only when you do not know what is happening. From day one, it has always been collective responsibilities. You have to be mentally and physically fit to work with Oshiomhole, because he will challenge you anytime any day. If you are taking any file to him, make sure you know the content of the file because he will challenge you.

Orhionmwon local council has the largest gas reserve in West Africa. You were at the National Assembly and now a deputy governor. Is there any programme to ensure that the people enjoy the benefits of the gas reserve?

The NDDC is under the federal government and it is in charge of the oil and gas concerns. I agree that in Orhiomwon, there have been no corresponding gains to Orhiomwon as regards its classification as oil and gas-producing local government. When we came on board, Mr Governor charged the leadership of the NDDC to improve on the fortunes of the local council. If you go to Orhionmwon, they are starting work now. They have earmarked building schools.

I share the sentiment that the local council has not benefitted much. But it cannot be like that forever.

S the July 14, 2012 date as announced by INEC okay for the PDP in Edo State?

By that announcement, officially, that date marks the terminal date of Oshiomhole’s government in this state because our party, the PDP, is fully prepared for the elections. I am sure we are going to carry the day.

What are the preparations you have in place?

We held a stakeholders meeting recently where far-reaching decisions were taken about members going back to the villages, wards, towns to prepare for the elections by way of mobilisation of members and voters, and exposing in very clear terms, the failure of Oshiomhole’s government in the state.

The PDP performed poorly in the last general elections. How do you hope to make the changes next year?

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a few steps. We have taken the first positive step towards reclaiming the state. We won in one senatorial district overwhelmingly. Having taken one, we are taking the rest.

Your Publicity Secretary recently left. Will that not affect the fortunes of your party next year?

One man leaving the party cannot affect the fortunes of the party.

I don’t believe we should devote our time talking about those who are leaving. The party has come out clearly that the urgent need for strategic repositioning of the party is geared towards reclaiming the state and those who are not in a position to keep pace with our position are advised on their own to either buckle up or leave.

The ACN said its achievements would win votes for it. How do you intend to overcome that?

This is the first government we have seen that has been in government for three years and has nothing to show. This government has not started any project from the beginning and completed same. All we have seen include renovation of old buildings, expansion of existing roads instead of building new roads. All we have seen is government renovating classroom blocks with funds contributed 60 percent by the federal government.

This is a government that is full of deceit. When they came to power, the ovation was loud from the workers and the organised labour.

But his administration is said to be worker-friendly…

The workers have seen the deceit of ACN government. Oshiomhole was the first to say he would pay minimum wage. He came back and workers went on strike over minimum wage, over nondemocratisation of local councils, over non-promotion. They also talked about illegal deduction of statutory allocation from local government funds. They talked about Edo Line that was closed because the workers asked for improved working condition. What is interesting is that the man who rode to prominence on labour has shown that he has no interest in the welfare of workers. His first priority should have been work-

ers’ welfare. They have seen that this government lacks transparency, accountability. We came out early enough to raise the alarm over the debt profile of the state.

The sum of N7.2 billion has been earmarked in the supplementary budget to service debts in the remaining months of this year. Going by his action, I doubt if we will be able to pay back the debt incurred by this government. For the sake of our people, I have written a letter to the CBN Governor to put on check on the loans the various financial institutions are granting to this administration.

What modalities are you using to pick your governorship candidate?

We are going to conduct free and fair primaries. The party has no official candidate. The governorship will be open to all eligible party men and women who are desirous to render service to the people of this state using the party ticket. They will be given a fair chance irrespective of where they come from because what the moment calls for is somebody with a good track record of achievements who will be able to bring something to bear on the administration of this state; somebody who is transparent, honest, committed to implementing the programmes of the party. We have told them to brace up for the challenges ahead of us because Oshiomhole has put the state in the red. You need somebody with great commitment to turn around the fortunes of this state considering the amount of money this government has borrowed which to date is over N60 billion. Oshiomhole has not done anything. The roads expanded are the highest everywhere in the world. This government will not tell you the cost of awarding contracts. They are economical with disclosure of contracts awarded by this government. He has no records as far as we know. I feel very disturbed about his idea of development. He destroyed houses that have official approval for road expansion. In other countries, there are narrow roads. Good thing about what is happening in the state is that more people have seen the deceit of Oshiomhole’s administration. The state is ready for the PDP to come to power.

• Orbih

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

19

EDITORIAL/OPINION EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

COMMENT

Why the delay?

•Jega should make good his threat to prosecute electoral offenders

I

T appears the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is already losing steam. Yet, when its chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, was appointed to replace Prof Maurice Iwu, he (Jega) made solemn promises to the effect that he would turn around the commission and make it conduct elections that Nigerians would be proud of.

After a few faulty steps, especially with budgeting, the commission got its acts together and conducted the last general elections to the admiration of most Nigerians. At least, for once since the June 12, 1993 election which was adjudged the freest and fairest in the country, but which the Babangida regime annulled for inexplicable reasons, INEC was able to conduct an acceptable election.

In spite of the general applause that the

‘Prof Jega should be prepared to make scapegoats of deserving culprits if we are to have and sustain credible elections. We have lost so much in terms of resources, lives, etc. to electoral fraud. As we have seen now, one of the few institutions standing in the country, the judiciary, is now enmeshed in controversy, which would have been avoided if the electoral process had been credible’

commission got for its relatively free and fair conduct of the polls, some individuals, including the commission’s members of staff were caught, allegedly for various electoral crimes. Sadly, however, none of those caught has been prosecuted, more than three months after the elections. This is regrettable; and it runs counter to the many promises of the INEC boss to prosecute those involved so as to serve as a deterrent to others. As a matter of fact, Prof Jega had said at a workshop organised by this paper shortly before the elections that there were some big people who were arrested that he would be more than pleased to prosecute, to send the message that no one is above the law. It appears the matter has been swept under the carpet in the usual Nigerian manner.

As the Chairman of the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), Mr Mashood Erubami observed in a statement released on Wednesday, “It is disheartening to note that not a single of the INEC members of staff found to have either compromised the Direct Data Capturing Machines, or found to have compromised the electoral guidelines, including other high-profile individuals announced by the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, to have been arrested during the voter registration exercise and the April 2011 general elections, has been set for prosecution despite the promise of zero tolerance by INEC against rigging and violence”.

Rather than the police and INEC collaborating to bring the suspects to

book, they are busy contesting which of them has the statutory responsibility of prosecuting the alleged offenders. This is sad because the suspects may end up not being prosecuted, in which case we would be strengthening the hands of people who might want to pervert the electoral process in the future.

There is no basis whatsoever for the stalemate in this matter. It seems to us that the position of the TMG that the police have the duty of investigating the alleged electoral crimes is right; INEC however has the duty of prosecuting them. This is a mere situation of actionin-concert; it should not in any way lead to the stalemate that has so far shielded alleged perpetrators of electoral crimes from prosecution.

Prof Jega should be prepared to make scapegoats of deserving culprits if we are to have and sustain credible elections. We have lost so much in terms of resources, lives, etc. to electoral fraud.

As we have seen now, one of the few institutions standing in the country, the judiciary, is now enmeshed in controversy, which would have been avoided if the electoral process had been credible.

We do not know how this would end, but the point is that we needed not have exposed those in the temple of justice to the kind of temptations that their sitting over election petitions has exposed them to. So, the earlier the police and INEC resolved their differences on this matter, the better for the nation.

Mass failure in Maths • Way out is a holistic approach to the education system HE result of this year’s West African Examinations Council’s (WAEC) examinations, like those of the past five years, is dismal. About 30 per cent of students who sat for the examinations attained five credits required to continue to the next level of education. Worse still, less than 30 per cent passed English and Mathematics, the two seminal subjects to acquiring adequate knowledge and skills to function productively in today’s global market.

It is heartening that teachers are concerned about students’ lack of proficiency in Mathematics. At a recent meeting of the Association of Mathematics Teachers, the teachers went beyond merely joining parents to agonise over the failure of students in this important subject for mastering science and technology. They identified, among others, lack of concentration by students; laziness on students’ part; lack of Mathematics textbooks by students; and partial reliance of students on examination malpractices.

Even though ‘top-down’ in the diagnosis of the problems besetting the learning of Mathematics in the country, the observations by the teachers’ body are apt. What is needed is to add some ‘bottom-up’ diagnosis of the problems under the present education system, to get a holistic view of an educational problem that needs to be solved, if Nigeria is to meet its own target of becoming one of the first 20 largest economies in the world. There is a need to find out the views of students on what they see as problems militating against their learning of Mathematics and other

T

science subjects, to complement the causes of failure identified by the Association of Mathematics Teachers.

It is imperative for the government to pay special attention to setting higher goals for education in Mathematics and other subjects in the country, and for providing an enabling environment to meet such goals. A time that the Jonathan administration is getting ready to fulfill the President’s campaign promise to review and renew the national curriculum is an opportune moment to provide strategies, projects, and programmes that are capable of bringing the education of the country’s future leaders to par with what obtains in other developed countries.

In Korea, teachers are recruited from the top five per cent of the graduating class while Finland recruits its teachers from the top 10 per cent. In other words, the best brains in these countries are hired and nurtured to produce their future leaders. In other countries, efforts are made to improve pedagogical skills and depth of knowledge of teachers through lifelong professional development programmes forthem.

Teachers and schools are equipped with Information Technology that enables students to enhance their reasoning and problem-solving skills.

To drive up the standards in Mathematics and other subjects, governments at all levels need to encourage teachers to give utmost dedication to teaching. There is no cheap way to do this. Teachers need to be given proper incentives that make it possible for the brightest graduates to want to come into and remain in the teaching profession. Students also need to be

assured through good governance that going to school can add value to their lives.

Children whose older siblings with university degrees are roaming the streets looking for jobs are not likely to give learning Mathematics or any other subject the concentration and discipline it requires. Similarly, parents whose children are still dependent after graduating from colleges because of unemployment are not likely to feel encouraged to spend their sleeping hours to assist their children to learn Mathematics after school hours.

There is no better time than now for the government to end the vicious cycle that has made teaching and learning in our schools unproductive. Any social system that is incapable of producing citizens with adequate proficiency in Mathematics is not likely to produce citizens that can compete in the science and technology-driven economy of the century.

‘A time that the Jonathan administration is getting ready to fulfill the President’s campaign promise to review and renew the national curriculum is an opportune moment to provide strategies, projects, and programmes that are capable of bringing the education of the country’s future leaders to par with what obtains in other developed countries’

Homeowners need help

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EITHER Congress, nor federal regulators, nor state or federal prosecutors have yet to conduct a thorough investigation into the mortgage bubble and financial bust. We welcomed the news that the Justice Department is investigating allegations that Standard & Poor’s purposely overrated toxic mortgage securities in the years before the bust. We hope the investigative circle will widen.

But a lot more needs to be done to address the continuing damage from the mortgage debacle.

Tens of millions of Americans are being crushed by the overhang of mortgage debt. And Congress and the White House have yet to figure out that the economy will not recover until housing recovers — and that won’t happen without a robust effort to curb foreclosures by modifying troubled mortgage loans.

Instead of pushing the banks to do what is needed, the Obama administration has basically urged them to do their best to help, mainly by reducing interest rates for troubled borrowers. The banks haven’t done nearly enough. In many instances, they can make more from fees and charges on defaulted loans than on modifications.

The administration needs better ideas. It can start by working with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government-run mortgage companies, to aggressively reduce the principal balances on underwater loans and to make refinancing easier for underwater borrowers. If the president championed aggressive action, and Fannie and Freddie, which back most new mortgages, also made it clear to banks that they expect principal reductions, the banks would feel considerable pressure to go along.

The housing numbers are chilling. Sales of existing homes fell in July by 3.5 percent, while prices were down 4.4 percent in July from a year earlier. In all, prices have declined 33 percent since the peak of the market five years ago, for a total loss of home equity of $6.6 trillion.

There’s no letup in sight. Currently, 14.6 million homeowners owe more on their mortgages than their homes are worth, and nearly half of them are underwater by more than 30 percent. At present, 3.5 million homes are in some stage of foreclosure. Nearly six million borrowers have already lost their homes in the bust.

Reducing principal is a better solution than lowering interest rates, because it reduces payments and restores equity. Bankers resist, because it could force them to recognize losses they would prefer to delay. The administration has resisted, in part because principal reductions are seen as rewarding reckless borrowers.

But many of today’s troubled borrowers were not reckless. Rather, they are collateral damage in a bust that has wiped out equity and hammered jobs, turning what were reasonable debt levels into unbearable burdens.

Housing advocates and bankruptcy experts are calling for the administration to try new approaches.

One would have Fannie and Freddie urge banks to let underwater borrowers who file for bankruptcy apply their monthly mortgage payments to principal for five years — in effect, reducing the loan’s interest rate to zero.

Another solution would be for Fannie and Freddie to ease the rule for refinancing underwater mortgages for borrowers who are current in their payments. The lower payments on refinanced loans would help to prevent defaults and free up money for borrowers to use for paying down principal or consumer spending.

President Obama is reportedly planning to include housing relief measures in his new jobs plan.

Unless the plan includes strong support for principal reductions and easier refinancings, it will not get at the root of the problem: too much mortgage debt and too little relief.

– The New York Times

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh • Editor Gbenga Omotoso •Chairman, Editorial Board Sam Omatseye •General Editor Kunle Fagbemi •Deputy Editor Lawal Ogienagbon •Managing Editor Northern Operation Yusuf Alli •Managing Editor Waheed Odusile •Deputy Editor (News) Adeniyi Adesina •Group Political Editor Bolade Omonijo •Group Business Editor Ayodele Aminu •Abuja Bureau Chief Yomi Odunuga

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

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EDITORIAL/OPINION

S

IR: No doubt, the education sector has witnessed a lot of revolutions in Nigeria. For instance, before the regionalization of the sector in 1954, the South ran a system of 7-53 (7 years of primary education, 5 years in secondary and 3 in tertiary institution) while the North operated 8-6-3 (8 years in primary, 6 in secondary and 3 in tertiary school).

The systems were later unified giving rise to 6-5-2-3. That later became 6-5-4 and the present 6-3-3-4, which has again been reviewed to 9-3-4.

Whether these revolutions have succeeded in helping to achieve the national goals and aspirations is a matter for another day.

Another landmark change in the education sector was the promulgation of the Public Education Edict in 1970 by the then government of East Central State. This led to the take-over of the schools hitherto managed by the Voluntary Agencies (Mission schools) and private proprietors. Like a raging fire on a sunny day, the take-over soon spread across the federation. Although part of the reasons for the take-over was ‘to provide stability, satisfy people’s basic educational and national needs, combat sectionalism, religious conflict and disloyalty to the cause of a united Nigeria’, the mood of the nation now generally favours the return of those schools to their original owners. However, that itself poses its own problems and challenges.

The situation in many states on the subject matter is still hazy and there appears to be some calm in a couple of states after the initial turbulence, but that of Ogun State, in South-West Nigeria, is most simple and straightforward and should therefore serve as a good case for study.

Media reports have it that some 23 public secondary schools were returned to their original proprietors by the administration of Otunba Gbenga Daniel through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the state government and owners of the mission schools. However, the present government of Senator Ibikunle Amosun claims that the law on the take-over of the mission schools is still in force; that the last administration did not repeal nor amend the law before returning the

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Ogun: Return of mission schools schools to their original owners.

Given the benefit of hindsight, I believe it was wrong for the state governments in Nigeria to have taken over the mission schools in the 1970s. This policy, as mentioned above, began from the Eastern Nigeria shortly after the Civil War. From there, it spread to other parts of the country. What the military administrators should have done was to allow the mission schools to flourish alongside the public and

private schools while the respective state ministries of education ensured standard.

Of course, being a product of mission school, I should naturally be inclined to favour the action of the former administration in Ogun State. But I believe no country or state should be run on good intentions. If you break the law to do what is right, another will break the law to do what is wrong. The soci-

ety, ultimately and inevitably returns to the state of nature, where, according to the English Philosopher, Thomas Hobbes, there is ‘war of all against all’.

The extant law as I have found out in Ogun State is that the 23 schools belong to the state government.

Legally speaking, the purported return of those 23 schools was ab initio illegal.

We have to leave politics to the politicians. This drastic fall in en-

rolment figures is certainly a serious issue that cannot be glossed over by any government that is committed to the education of its citizens.

I favour return of schools, especially at this time of cash crunch for many state governments in Nigeria. But first, the law on take-over of such schools must be repealed or amended in line with the new policy of government.

I think this should be the best approach not just for Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State but other state governments in Nigeria. The original owners of these schools should therefore show understanding in the overall interest of the generality of Nigerians. *Barrister Nwachukwu Kalu, an educationist and legal practitioner, writes from 4A, Alatilade Close, Ojodu, Lagos.

Tribute to federal statistician, Olayinka

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IR: Chief Michael Dada Olayinka, notable statistician will be honoured with final burial rites beginning from Wednesday. He died at the ripe age of 85 after living a fulfilled life, leaving behind his wife, Caroline, and five children.

Chief Olayinka who retired in December 1982 as a National Population Commission Director after 35 years in the Federal Civil Service was a product of Christ’s School, Ado-Ekiti, Ibadan Grammar School, Ibadan and the Queen University of Belfast, Northern Ireland (on federal scholarship) where he bagged a B.Sc Degree in Economics in 1960.

He left Belfast for Washington University, Washington DC in the United States on the offer of another scholarship to study Labour Statistics.

Born in Efon-Alaaye, Ekiti State, to the family of late Pa Samuel Asuku Olayinka on January 30, 1926, he entered the civil service ahead of his university education. After his post-graduate study in the U.S., he was appointed by the Federal Office of Statistics as a statistician and posted to the Federal Ministry of Labour to establish and develop the Statistical Unit. He was later transferred to Kaduna as statistician

in charge of the then Northern Region between 1964 and 1966.

In 1967, he was moved down south to Lagos as the Regional Statistician in charge of National Manpower. Between 1967 and 1970, he was the Principal Statistician in charge the National Sample Survey across the country. Thereafter, he became the Chief Statistician of the federation in 1977, from where he was moved to the National Population Commission.

Married to Caroline (nee Adeniran), a retired nursing officer in April 1957, Chief Olayinka was a community as well as church leader. A member of Efon- Alaaye Development League and EfonAlaaye 925 Millenium Club, he was also the Baba Isale of St. Paul’s Church, Idagba, member, Ekiti West Diocesan Board and President, Christian Unity Band of Nigeria (HT Mushin) for about 10 years.

Before his death, he declared his craving in his autobiography thus: “It is my prayer and wish that I will serve my God as a true Christian to the end of my life.” And so it was.

He believed that “life here is temporal,” whereas “life in Heaven is eternal.” His committed way of life has indeed been eliciting inspiring eulogies from family members, friends and associates.

His wife recalled that both of them “did everything together like twins.” In her words, “we prayed together night and day” and he “always liked to help and touch people’s lives.

His first child, Col. (Dr.) Dokun Olayinka (rtd) recounted how his father did away with frivolities to be able to train his children within his modest income. He also recollected how he was not just a son to him but a friend “as we talked about the rot in society and about hope for a better Nigeria in the future.” According to him, his father loved music with his earliest memory of music played on his radiogram, including records of late Miriam Makeba, Jazz pioneers Louis and Ellis, and of course Bellafonte.

The United Kingdom-based exarmy officer was delighted Chief Olayinka retired from the civil service honourably with an unblemished record. “His penchant for keeping strictly within the rules earned him the nickname “Headmaster” among the juniors. For him, material wealth was not the deal; it was about honour, integrity and ‘family name”. He endorsed his father as being “one of the few good men - a class which unfortunately is fading.”

Other children also adored their

departed father. For Oluwole, a United States-based electrical engineer, “everything a person could ever want in a father, I had in him,” teaching by example, honesty, hard work, love and care.

For the first daughter, Mrs. Lola Elliot, Chief Olayinka was “an epitome of hard work, humility and integrity,” while Taiwo, also based in the U.S. will never forget the values his father set, - the love he gave, the life he lived and the support he gave. One of the last twins, Mrs Kendra Asimi see him more as a friend, counsellor and intercessor - always “counting on his prayers anywhere we were.”

Professor Goke Ilori, an academician acknowledged the late Pa Olayinka as “warm-hearted, ebullient and a greater lover of humanity. Being his uncle, Prof Ilori said that throughout his association with the family, he never witnessed a single moment of quarrel, discord or bitterness.

The famous Olaniyan family of Efon Alaaye also acknowledged him as a simple man who would eloquently crack jokes in EfonAlaaye dialect to the admiration of all.

•Soji Omotunde Lagos

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

EDITORIAL/OPINION

Criminals hold Ibadan to ransom; Bill Gates Toilet; FRSC ‘miss road O!’; NURTW new HQ

T

HERE is the dangerous role of the

numerous ‘licensed’ criminals in collusion with LGAs and the nearby police checkTony points. They is currently Marinho a visible threat to the peace Oyo State as citizens are fleeing the state rather than coming into it. This constitutes serious hindrance to commerce and financial development as well as being a terror to citizens especially out-of-towners, foreigners and tourists.

They wave ID cards with green armbands at Petrol Stations at Challenge -Adeen road and Asejire. These criminals illegally pull vehicles and victims off the Federal and State roads for extortion. Government should arrest these men and their masters as they have no legal rights on a Federal or state road. Their criminal actions amounted to ‘legalised’ kidnap and extortion. Everyone denies sending them- so jail them!

The government, SSS and police must take a firm stand against this intimidation paralyzing commercial activities.

They are armed robbers-simple. They are now a far more immediate threat than the NURTW. Intimidating, delaying and extorting from 20 people and vehicles a day is a threat to the economy and security. Add these to the area boys, armed robbers, poor parking and poor clearing of the road of traders. Can we stop these activities? The word is spreading that Ibadan is a ‘no go area’ for businessmen, foreigners and tourists due to these miscreants.

Nigeria should wake up, with or without government. Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation announced $42 million dollar grants to reinvent the toilet for the 2.6 billion people without toilets, and innovations in the capture and storage of waste, and to develop ways to process stool into re-usable energy and fertilizer, reports Director of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Programs, Frank Rijsberman. He reminds us that toilets are a “huge issue for Africa” where a plastic bag, which may have been a ‘flying toilet’ thrown into the street or bush

T

HE public was recently treated to barefaced lies, half-truths and complex denials by Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, the man at the centre of the gruesome murder of the late Kudirat Abiola in Lagos on Tuesday, June 4, 1996. Al-Mustapha has since concluded his own defence, leaving many gaping holes in his attempt to draw a thick veil over the face of Nigerians.

But if Al-Mustapha’s outbursts at the trial raised many more questions than he attempted to answer, his comrade-in-crime, Lateef Shofolahan, has gone a step further.

When he took his turn in the dock early last week, Shofolahan rehashed a script beautifully crafted by “the master” as he had always referred to Al-Mustapha while their satanic romance lasted.

However, one good thing is that Shofolahan has implored the trial judge to revisit the video recordings of the Special Investigation Panel, SIP, which probed the heinous crimes committed by Abacha’s goons. The SIP records will be very vital in getting to the root of Kudirat’s murder. That is the only way the dramatis personae of the evil act will be fully exposed.

When he appeared before the SIP in Abuja in 1999, Shofolahan spilled the beans. It was there he revealed all the facts about the actual role he played in Kudirat’s assassination and the murderous activities of the Abacha killer squad. He told the SIP that he was introduced to AlMustapha in the Villa by one Alhaji Aliu, one of the leaders of the Hausa community in Ibadan and a staunch supporter of Abacha and his tyran-

after use as a toilet, can open and become a source of diarrhoea and even cholera. The aim is to improve health by providing a reinvention of the toilet with ‘hygienic, safe, low or no water use toilet’. Some of the suggestions include a waterless toilet, and a system that would microwave fecal matter and turn it into fuel. The guidelines for the new toilet include recycleability, affordability, five US cents or N7.5 a day per person, within three years. It must be easy to install, use and maintain. US Agency for International Development (USAID) is a partner to make toilets accessible to the world’s poor. Which of Africa’s polytechnics, universities, sanitation engineers or private firms are participating or competing for this revolutionary toilet design to be funded by the BMGF? Why are there no ‘SSS’ on our roads. Signs, Speed limits, Side of the road-Keep Right except when overtaking or avoiding potholes. Nigeria desperately needs a serious reengineering in the FRSC and new strategies to save lives on the road. Unfortunately the FRSC seems preoccupied with causing maximum punishment and financial pain to Nigerians for no just cause-new licenses and new registration plates –a gold mine at the expense of the traveling public. If we had the right type of legislative house the FRSC would be called to a public hearing to answer questions about the projected cost to the citizens and nation of this ‘initiative’. The FRSC impending upheaval with a new license and driving license would have negligible negative impact but long term gain if applied only to new license applicants and vehicles registration numbers, the intelligent, ‘innovation over time’ thing to do. Nigerians do not need, or want and will not benefit from another road related upheaval costing each household or office of the 40 million cars/trucks/trailers/tankers between N5,000 and N10,000. Nigeria cannot afford 40m x N5,000N10,000 = N400,000,000,000. They want peace and want to keep their hard earned money in their trouser pockets. They want a safe journey. Is FRSC able to deliver a safe journey?

Has FRSC lost focus? In the beginning, Soyinka’s FRSC was about two things -reducing speed, proper driving especially of lorries and trucks. As one of the very first Special Mar-

shals, we used to lead cars at a maximum speed of 100kph and you dare not overtake on the Expressways. I have been stopped

by FRSC three times for ‘particulars’ in the last three months.

Road Safety is more important to all Nigerians than hearing on Islamic Banking is to the greedy western banks with 25% interest rates.

Nigeria is the second worse country for RTAs with 161 deaths/10,000 vehicles. Our potholes have no warning signboards. Why are Nigerians comfortable with 35,000 deaths and 100,000 injuries per year? This amounts to 100 planes crashes, each containing 350 people, or three planes crashing in each state capital annually.

The NURTW, National Union of Road Transport Workers, opens its fine green HQ built with money from Nigerian travelers. The NURTW has criminal responsibility for the deaths of thousands Fellow Nigerians. It must be reminded of its blood stained legacy and road, nationwide, its disregard for speed limits and its failure to offer or pay compensation to victims of both RTAttacks and NURTW politically instigated violence Nigerians wonder why the NURTW building is not painted in the blood red the colour of the blood shed by the victims. Who will pay compensation for loss of life and limb to the thousands of NURTW victims?

‘Nigeria is the second worse country for RTAs with 161 deaths/10,000 vehicles. Our potholes have no warning signboards. Why are Nigerians comfortable with 35,000 deaths and 100,000 injuries per year? This amounts to 100 planes crashes, each containing 350 people, or three planes crashing in each state capital annually’

Shofolahan and Kudirat’s murder nical rule. He said he had accompanied Aliu to Abuja and they lodged at Agura Hotel, from where both of them went to visit Al-Mustapha.

Since Shofolahan was introduced to Al-Mustapha as an “informant” who had a tab on Abiola’s household, it apparently means that the visit to Al-Mustapha’s office was to sign on Shofolahan as a mole in Abiola’s house. It also shows that Shofolahan had passed the litmus test as a reliable informant who gave vital information about Abiola’s household to the Villa through Aliu before the encounter with AlMustapha, which was merely to seal the deal.

Although it is not clear how Shofolahan initially met him, Aliu was one of the prominent marabouts on the payroll of Abacha through whom many people had access to the maximum dictator. Aliu was so close to Abacha that he ventured out of his spiritual consultancy job to provide an informant for the Villa.

Shofolahan himself told the SIP that he once brought some of Abacha’s hit men to Kudirat’s apartment in Abiola’s house under the guise of sympathizers.

Shofolahan also confessed that he was the person who took some members of the killer squad to the late Pa Abraham Adesanya’s office.

Adesanya was then the deputy leader of the National Democratic Coalition, NADECO, an organization that was a thorn in Abacha’s flesh at that time. Adesanya was

‘When he appeared before the SIP in Abuja in 1999, Shofolahan spilled all the beans. It was there he revealed all the facts about the actual role he played in Kudirat’s assassination and the murderous activities of the Abacha killer squad.’

later attacked along Marina Road, Lagos in 1996 but he survived in spite of the fact that his car was riddled with bullets. When Shofolahan was asked why he took people to Adesanya’s office, he said: “When I showed them Abraham Adesanya’s office, they told me that they just wanted to know his office.

They never told me that they wanted to arrest him or do anything. They merely said they wanted to know his office.” When he was further questioned, Shofolahan admitted that he took them there “because of the money they were giving me....”

The long and short of this episode is that Shofolahan was sentenced to years of imprisonment for conspiracy in the attempted murder of Pa Adesanya by a Lagos high court.

Shofolahan told the SIP that he was passing information regularly to Al-Mustapha through one Major Ado, who was then the commanding officer of Dodan Barracks. It was this same Ado that Sergeant Barnabas Jabilla, otherwise known as Sgt Rogers, and his group were always reporting to whenever they were in Lagos “for assignments”. On the day Kudirat was shot, Rogers and his group drove straight to Major Ado’s office at Dodan Barracks where they used his (Ado’s) phone to report back to AlMustapha. Rogers had told the SIP that when the call got through to Al-Mustapha in Abuja, he (Rogers) simply said: “Mission Accomplished.” And Al-Mustapha responded by saying “Well done boys!

Lie low.”

If anybody thought that Kudirat’s gruesome murder would shock Shofolahan, it was not to be. Five days later, he secured and gave a copy of the video coverage of Kudirat’s burial ceremony to AlMustapha for a miserable reward of N10,000. From then on, the killer squad started distancing themselves

from Shofolahan. When Shofolahan was asked about what happened next, he simply told the SIP: “They abandoned me sir”.

Apart from passing genuine information to Al-Mustapha in Abuja, Shofolahan told the SIP that he also packaged some lies, all to extract the peanuts that he was getting from his master in Abuja. He told the SIP that, at a point, Al Mustapha provided him a cellphone with which he was making contacts with him. It was this cellphone he used to monitor Kudirat on the day she was killed.

As soon as she drove out of Abiola Crescent, off Toyin Street, Ikeja, Shofolahan retreated to a corner of the expansive compound where he phoned Rogers and informed him that Kudirat was on her way.

When Al-Mustapha was brought to confront Shofolahan at the SIP, he did not deny knowing him but said that Shofolahan was not his friend. He said he knew Shofolahan only as someone who used to accompany Alhaji Aliu to the Villa “to see the late Head of State”. But Shofolahan contradicted AlMustapha when he narrated how he met him and even gave a correct description of his office. AlMustapha still insisted that his relationship with Shofolahan was merely casual.

The details of Shofolahan’s confessions to the SIP were featured in TELL magazine edition of January 29, 2001 and I believe the tapes were well documented. Now that Shofolahan himself has demanded that the court should view his testimony at the SIP in 1999, I believe the court should accede to his request in order to clear all the grey areas on the assassination of Kudirat. My only prayer is that the tapes should not only be found, but should be found intact. With that, I believe, the prosecution will be able to establish what really happened to Kudirat Abiola.

Dele Agekameh

IBB vs OBJ I was taken aback the other day when two of our former rulers decided to vent their anger, disagreement and/or frustrations on the pages of newspapers. I must say this is not the best medium to resolve their differences, if any exists. Already, volunteer foot soldiers from both camps have picked up the gauntlet and are embroiled in trading accusations and counter accusations ranging from the ridiculous to the sublime. One thing is that there are far too many more important issues that need to be addressed in the polity than a disagreement between the two adult combatants who should know how best to resolve their differences without dragging an unwilling public into the fray. Please spare the public the embarrassment these altercations have already caused.

What should preoccupy everyone of us, including public analysts, commentators and columnists, is how to extricate this country from the pangs of hopelessness, poverty and disease in which it is mired, rather than dissipate energy on private issues involving people who have reached political menopause!

Please keep Nigerians out of this, I beg all of you, including the gladiators and their foot soldiers!

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

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EDITORIAL/OPINION FROM THE CELL PHONE ‘The blackmail of NADECO or Yoruba leaders is a satanic way of winning the mind of Nigerian people from the real issue of who killed Kudirat Abiola. What Nigeria people are demanding from alMustapha is to proof beyond all reasonable dout his innocence in the state murder of the heroine of our demoratic struggle, late Kudirat Abiola. From Tope Omobulejo, Ifaki Ekiti’

• Abdulsalami Abubakar

For Olatunji Dare I think the judiciary is wasting its time on this case. Now, can you differentiate a friend of the devil from the devil himself?

Sure Abacha was a devil, so al-Mustapha is a devil and is liable of all d allegations.

You know what, I hate lawyers that can’t say no to some cases. What is his lawyer defending? al-Mustapha must pay for his sin by hanging. Give me this case today and I will pass the judgment tomorrow.

From Atinuke Dare, I don’t get the kernel of your questioning of al-Mustapha’s powers to release MKO then; the Generals that are alive should speak now! al-Mustapha is as Col. Oliver North was to President Reagan. By the way, who killed Bola Ige? al-Mustapha, I suppose. Anonymous al-Mustapha is a lily-livered soldier who can’t own up his many crimes but tells lies to live after he had murdered many. Let him admit his sins and ask for pardon rather than wasting time hanging unto a straw. He will surely drown if he continues this way. Anonymous Al-mustapha’s revelation should be taken seriously by the Yoruba elders, there is no smoke without fire. Panel has to be

set up to try whether al-Mustapha’s words are true. Anonymous Last time I checked al-Mustapha was on trial for the brutal murder of Kudirat Abiola who was killed three years before her husband, MKO. Too bad he won’t be around when the trial of who killed MKO will start. Dr.Cy. Nwanodi, Port Harcourt.

Al-Mustapha is making us read from the end of the story to the beginning!

Kudirat’s murder is the beginning and MKO’s is the end. Let’s do Kudirat’s now and MKO’s after. Nwanodi, Port Harcourt If it was OBJ that was accused of collecting bribe from Abdulsalam, you would have concurred. Oga why do you hate everything about this man OBJ? Anonymous Oga Dare, your correction of your August 2nd submission at the back page of The Nation may still need correction. It may have been George Orwell who authored the quote about scoundrels and patriotism, I think. From C. Iwuoha. Lagos.

Dear Dare, your write-up about alMustapha’s tale made my day. The drama of major al-Mustapha in court reminded us of Abacha era of dark days in our beloved country. The blackmail of NADECO or Yoruba leaders is a satanic way of winning the mind of Nigerian people from the real issue of who killed Kudirat Abiola. What Nigeria people are demanding from al-Mustapha is to proof beyond all reasonable dout his innocence in the state murder of the heroine of our demoratic struggle, late Kudirat Abiola.

From Tope Omobulejo, Ifaki Ekiti.

I think General Abdulsalam has a case to answer over the demise of Abiola and

Abraham Adesanya and Bola Ige and they will answer the accusation levelled against them before God since they are dead. We should not see the duo as men of integrity, for only God knows the heart of man. They might have collected “a little something” from Abdulsalam.To me, there is no good man in Nigeria. From Lengshak L. Lengshak, Jos It is should be clear to all discerning minds that al-Mustapha and his allies are not only prepared to rock the boat, Nigeria, but also willing to sink it to save him from being convicted as Abacha’s point man. I think he should not only be freed but should be seen as a former Head of State having been incharge for some days after the demise of Abacha and later handed over to Gen. Abdulsalam, so as to save him and save Nigeria. From Sam Megwa.

The characterization of al-Mustapha’s confections by Chief Richard Akinjide as a ‘demolition’ was not only hasty but odiously unjust. If anything had been demolished, it is the unmerited influence of all the arch-main streamers in the SouthWest, and even beyond. Our ‘legal titan’ should know that we are now going astray and losing ourselves other men once did the same, and they left a record of the blind alleys they went down.

Should we all not learn from the recorded experience of the past? From Adegoke O.O, Ikhin, Owan East L/G Edo State.

Uncle Dare, I don’t want us to throw away all the statements of al-Mustapha concerning Gen. Abdusalam Abubaka, the man has a lot of statements to make to

•MKO

Nigerians, all this grave-yard silence will not vindecate him. He has to explain how they came to conclusion to poison Abiola.

Gen. Abdusalam should remenber that what is hapening to Husni Mubarak will hapen to him one day. He should open up now. From Gabriel Olanrewaju, Agbede Ikorodu.

Sir, on “Battle of Generals.” Who says IBB was a failure? The maverick is an achiever of our time. Check out the list. 1.

Raising cocaine business to high heavens, a la Gloria Okon. 2. The brutal murder of Dele Giwa. 3. The missing Gulf War Oil windfall. 4. The Ejirin Plane shoot-down.

5. How about the annulment of June 12 ’93 election? Need l say more? IBB is a real achiever. Shame to a fool at 70. From Olu. Adesola Akure.

I know that Nigerians don’t have a reading culture, but on this issue, they can either go on internet or dig out these articles from established university libraries: “The tormented resident of Minna Hilltop” Feb. 10, 2009 last page and, “Obasanjo’s fears” Feb. 15, 2011 also last page. The two articles sum up the stories of the 2 fools. From Gbola Gbolagunte.

Roadmap to a better Railway System

T

HE inherent and inalienable capital and labour-intensive nature of railway system all over the world has, on a more demanding basis, made it extremely and financially difficult for governments who still own and run their railways exclusively to deliver very effective, efficient, and well-distributed railway in their sovereign domains.

This is intensely exemplary in Africa especially where most governments inherited railway systems that are shrouded in difficult and stringent legal framework including political, financial, and other constraining situations that, at the long run, confine their railways to a position where they become unattractive to private sector.

In such situations, funds required for rail transport infrastructural development and operational efficiency are abundantly available but the conditionalities are just there to be met.

These African countries find themselves having and running railways that initially began as private concern but later taken over by the colonial administrations that established laws that rendered the rail transport industries less attractive to private sector investors. The best such African countries could do to make their rail system attractive to private sector funding and or participation in order to achieve effective and value-added rail transport services is to suspend, or modify, or as it is with Nigeria, rehabilitate and make attempt at unbundling the existing legislative fiat - the statutory Act of Parliament of 1955.

In reality, railway, out of all modes of transportation (i.e. air, road, water, and pipeline) stands out as the only instrument of mass mobility with additive advantage for bulk, massive freights and teeming

By Segun Esan commuting populace. Most governments are beginning to tilt favourably towards adoption of workable collaboration with the private sector. This has further become imperative and strategic to successful infrastructural development in many developing economies of the world where the railways cater for, inter alia, the socioeconomic obligations by connecting the country and reducing a sense of overall distance; providing cheaper and safer alternatives to road vehicles, contributing to environmental health and atmospheric safety via reduction of hazardous emission, and providing concessions to school children, old people, and special citizens.

Be that as it may, the historical evolution of private sector participation in the financial and operational aspects of rail transport system is as old as the railway. In the 19th century, private companies built the American railway just as road and canal concessions to private sector in Europe and the United States of America began in the 17th century. Similarly, Nigerian railway was started by private companies and later taken over by the colonial administration. Initial development of rail transport infrastructure in Asia, too, could be traced to the private sector under various arrangements of municipal charter or franchise with revenues coming from fares, land and property development.

Indian railway is another classical example of private-sector built and operated railway where, in 1853, railways in the Indian subcontinent were introduced. The three major port cities of Bombay (Mumbai), Calcutta (Kolkata), and Madras (Chemai) were linked to the rail system earlier started by private

initiatives through the Great Indian Peninsula Railway Company.

It is against this backdrop that it becomes pertinent to mention here that, notwithstanding the excruciating pains and sufferings gone through by Nigerian Railway Corporation as a result of long neglect, the fortunes of the nation’s rail transport industry can still be rejuvenated and harnessed for greater socio-economic relevance if, together with the commendable implementation of the ongoing asset rehabilitation campaign initiated by the Federal Government , the best of Public-Private-Partnership is sought.

This does not, however, suggest that PPP is all rosy and yielding good results all the way.

Political, legal and financial reasons may make impossible rail transport development through PPP. The private sector may be too expensive except in a situation where additional costs due to higher transactions and financing cost are taken care of by efficiency gains. The private sector may not have the required financial muscle and will to undertake such development project as the railway system. Likewise, change of ownership to the private sector may not be as potent enough as to guarantee improvement in economic performance except this is backed up with necessary conditions to be met, which include market reform, change in operational and management practices of infrastructural operation.

In the reality of all these limitations, PPP has the advantage of having off-budget mechanism through which infrastructure development can be achieved without relapsing into requirement for immediate cash spending. Similarly, instead of the public sector to attain a capital asset and provide a public service, the private sector can create

the asset through a dedicated stand-alone business and then deliver the service to the consumers in return for payment that has anchorage in performance. PPP on railway appears the best in the reality of the fact that available funding from the public sector sources in most countries are most insufficient to withstand the financing requirements of the rail transport industry.

Another advantage of PPP is the relief the public sector will have as a result of shedding the cost of design and construction to the private sector. The public sector is also relieved from risk bearing as the private sector takes this up with strong ability to yield better project design, construction, and operation.

And to maintain supply and distribution chain more effectively and efficiently, there must be marked improvement in the development of infrastructural services of railway system that can be effortlessly achieved through PPP. Equally, PPP allows each partner to concentrate on its areas of comparative proficiency and advantage which generates sharper skills and expertise over time.

Above all, a truly efficient and workable regulatory legal framework and enabling environment must be provided by the government in order to enhance the attraction and marketability of the railway to the private sector. The government should also be prepared to embrace initiatives that will serve as impetus to sector reforms, streamlined administrative procedures, service innovation, and ingenious publicity through a dynamic leadership as, for instance, now available in the Nigerian Railway.

• Esan is of the Public Relations Division of the Nigerian Railway Corporation

Mikel’s father moved to Jos

Pg. 24

FINAL OLYMPIC QUALIFYING ROUND

Egypt won hosting rights on political motive —NFF

Pg. 41

Nation Wednesday, August 24, 2011

PAGE 23

AFRICA NATIONS CUP

NFF assures on Nigeria’s qualification Pg. 24

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

24

41

NATION SPORT

NATION SPORT

9TH ALL AFRICAN GAMES

Nigerian athletes depart Aug 26

N

IGERIAN sports ambassadors to the 9th All African Games holding in Maputo will begin to depart country on Friday 26th August. According to our findings, the 548 contingent comprising of athletes and officials will leave in batches.

The contingent comprise of 349 athletes, 50 coaches, 5 medical doctors, 5 nurses, 5 physiotherapists, 19 Secretaries of Federations, 19 Federation Presidents and 15 helpers for the disabled athletes. The second batch will leave Abuja on the 29th of

From Andrew Abah, Abuja August, while the last batch will leave on the 1st September. Already the advance party led by the chef de mission Alhassan Yamut left the country on Sunday 21st August.

The will be officially opened on Saturday September 10th. According to Yamut, some of the games would be completed before the game is officially opened “there are shortage of facilities to be used, so the games have been staggered so that all the available facilities would be adequately made use off”.

MADAGASCAR/ NIGERIA TIE

Ikpeba to lead inspection team

F

ORMER Nigeria International Victor Ikpeba is to lead the twoman advance party that is expected to jet out of the country this weekend to inspect facilities that are

•Ikpeba

From Patrick Ngwaogu, Abuja in place for the all-important match involving the Super Eagles and their Madagascar counterparts in Antananarivo on Saturday 3rd September.

According to our source at the NFF Secretariat, Ikpeba who is a Technical Committee member, is expected to travel out on the assignment with team secretary, Dayo Enebi. They are expected to inspect the hotel facilities that are provided for the Nigerian contingents, the playing pitch, and what the weather looks like in the country.

They are also expected to be in touch with the technical crew all through their stay over there. They would also monitor the feelers within the Southern Africa Country before the arrival of the Nigerian team “this match is a must win for us, and we are not ready to toil with this, so we are putting everything into it” the source said.

2011 FEDERATION CUP QUARTER FINAL DUEL

Rangers begs NFF to shift tie to Thursday E NUGU Rangers FC has appealed to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to shift its quarter final date in the 2011 Federation Cup with Bayelsa United to Thursday as against Wednesday after their vehicle broke down on their way from their away trip to Niger Republic from a WAFU Cup assignment.

The media officer of the Flying Antelopes, Foster Chime made the plea known in a telephone chat and he opined that the extension plea from Rangers became necessary that it would be difficult for the team to get to Gombe the venue of the last 8 encounter well on time and still play a match on Wednesday (today).

He said the Coal City team had already communicated to the NFF about the latest development but as at till the time of filing this report, the club was yet to hear from the football house if their request had been granted.

“We had a torrid time on the road and as I am talking to you our vehicle broke down and the mechanics are

Mikel’s father moved to Jos

R

ESCUED Father of Chelsea of England midfielder, Elder Michael Obi has been moved from Kano to Jos to be reunited with his family.

The Kano State Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris told NationSport in an exclusive interview in Kano yesterday that both the suspects and Mikel’s father left Kano at about 5 o’clock in the morning for Jos amidst tight security.

Idris explained that the movement of the suspects and Elder Michael Obi to Jos was informed by the fact that the crime was committed in Jos. “They left this morning at about 5am. Elder Obi is not a suspect but a victim and so he is at liberty to be reunited with his family.

“So I am sure by now he would be released to go home. You know that the old man has gone through some traumatic experience.

“Definitely, the police would release him, but if there is any information we need from him, we know where to get him. He is not a suspect but a victim of a heinous crime.”

The police boss said the arrest of the

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano suspected kidnappers followed a joint operation between the Plateau State Command and the Kano State Command, which was launched to track down the suspects and rescue the father of the Chelsea midfielder at Kabuga quarters in Kano.

“It was a joint operation between the Plateau State Police Command and my officers and men here in Kano.

We provided the support and cooperation to effect the rescue.

“The incidence happened in Jos. Kano is where they hid their victim.

We did our preliminary investigation here and moved everybody to Jos. “Remember that Mikel Obi’s father alleged that he was kidnapped by soldiers, so we called the military authorities and spoke to them to ensure whether or not they are actual military officers.

Freedom came the way of the abducted father of Mikel Obi after the police acting on a tip-off, nabbed his kidnappers and rescued him from a house in the Kabuga quarters of the ancient commercial city of Kano.

FINAL OLYMPIC QUALIFYING ROUND

AFRICA NATIONS CUP

NFF assures on Nigeria’s qualification T

HE General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Musa Amadu has allayed all fears of the Super Eagles no qualifying for the next edition of the Africa Nations Cup to be jointly hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

Speaking in Abuja, the scribe said that though the position of the team in the group leaves much to be desired, but all necessary logistics would be put in place to ensure that the country’s flag is hoisted at the competition holding next year.

Nigeria is currently placed second in Group B, with Guinea leading the pack with ten points “we know the task ahead, we know that much

From Patrick Ngwaogu, Abuja efforts need to be put into the remaining matches, we also know that we must not drop any point in all matches. We are ready to properly motivate the team ahead of the matches, so all hands are on deck to ensure that everything goes on as planned”.

He also confirmed that the Ghana/ Nigeria friendly match would hold in November, saying that the Super Eagles have several offers for that date, but a match with close neighbours Ghana would go along way to boost the morale of the new look Super Eagles team. He was full of optimism that Samson Siasia

would take the team to a greater heights, appealing for patience from Nigerians for the Coach and the team.

OLYMPICS QUALIFIER

Eguavoen to review programmes F

OLLOWING CAF’s granting of the hosting of the U-23 Olympic games to Egypt, the Chief Coach of the National U-23 side, Augustine Eguavoen has revealed his intention to review all the programmes already submitted for the Eight-nation Olympic games qualifier slated for November.

Eguavoen said the review has become imperative following the change in date of the qualifying championship. “O! Yes I would have to review my programme because it’s no longer the first week of December but the last week of November, so with this change my whole programme will change now”.

Stressing further, the former International said “I cannot give you a specific date right now but preparations will begin in earnest in the first week of October, is the case I want to have at least five weeks of intense camping with a lot of friendly matches” The former Super Eagles coach said he had spoken with the Technical Committee Chairman Chris Green on the change of events, and they are expected to discuss on it further. “I spoke with the technical committee chairman Barr. Chris Green and promised to get back to me on Tuesday on my proposed programme for the qualifier”.

On the award of the hosting right to Egypt, Cerezo as Austin Eguavoen is fondly called by fans and associates, said he believes all the teams have equal chance of qualification” Egypt no doubt would enjoy home advantage but I believe all the teams have equal chance of qualifying because officiating at tournaments of this magnitude are very fair, so its up to us to put together a killer squad that would do well by the grace of God”.

The Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) on Monday handed Egypt the host right for the African men’s final Olympic qualifying round.

The draw for the tournament will be held in September during CAF’s Executive Committee meeting in the Egyptian capital Cairo, where the teams will be divided into two groups of four.

Alongside hosts Egypt, the other participating teams are Algeria, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal and South Africa.

The top three-placed teams automatically qualify for London while the fourth best team will engage a team from Asia in a play-off.

The London Olympics will take place from 27 July to 12 August 2012.

•Aminu Maigari

C

C

HIEF COACH of the National U23 side, Dream team V Augustine Eguavoen has disclosed that he would review his already submitted programme for the Eight-nation Olympic games qualifier slated for hold in Egypt.

Eguavoen informed that the review became imperative following the change in date of the qualifying championship. “O! Yes I would have to review my

From Tunde Liadi, Owerri

still battling to fix it. We just got to Kaduna and still far from Jos. We have informed the NFF to shift our match by a day to enable us time to get to Gombe the venue of the match and have some time torest after a very grueling travelling schedule which started on Friday last week.

“We have been practically on the road since the match against Akokana of Niger and an extension of our match by another 24 hours will be of immense assistance to us.”

Rangers defeated Akokana of Niger 1-0 in Niamey in the first leg of their 3rd round of the WAFU Club Cup on Sunday and are seeking a double via the Federation Cup after topping the Gombe group with 7 points from 3 matches.

The Flying Antelopes will engage Heartland of Owerri in the semi final if they cross the Bayelsa United’s hurdle.

From Austine Tsenzughul, Bauchi the finals and eventually win the cup.

They played as a team which gave them the opportunity to score the highest goals in the first round matches, I’m really impressed with the NFF for allowing the coach to build such squad.”

Yahuza,a seasoned football administrator in the state, passionately appealed to NFF not to disband the team due to its inability to reach the finals,but should be encouraged to form another National Team known as Super Eagles B. According to him ‘’Super Eagles B’’ should be a formidable Reservoir of the National Team, from which players could be called for, even at short notice and with less inconveniences to represent the country’’.

•Says Nigeria met CAF logistics

T

HE Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) has insisted that it met all CAF's requirement in its bid to host the last stage of the Africa men's final Olympic round which will now be hosted by Egypt from November 26 to December 10. Speaking to the NationSport on Tuesday, the first Vice-President of the NFF, Mike Umeh was, however, of the opinion that the African governing football body awarded the rights to Egypt on political reason basis.

Umeh stated: "Yes we did we met all their requirements, every condition met, but like you rightly said, the decision lies on CAF. CAF in their own wisdom gave it to Egypt, for political reasons. You know in North Africa which Egypt is one of them have political unrest so for this reason they want to put their house in order, so they have agreed that all is well with the Egyptians so they want to showcase, with this the tournament, that is why it was given to them.

It is not because Egyptians or their population are better than Nigeria."

Umeh however hopes that the Egyptian government will ensure security during the tournament as he said: " The government must have taken their security into consideration there is a guaranty from Egypt that all will be well during the tournament so who are we to question Egypt?"

The North Africans will host the

By Stella Bamawo eight-team tournament with the top three sides qualifying for London 2012.

The Confederation of African Football (Caf) is labelling the competition as Africa's first Under-23 Championships.

The continent already has competitions at both Under-17 and Under-20 level, where the top three qualify for Fifa's finals at those age levels.

The draw for the tournament will be held in September during CAF's

programme because it’s no longer the first week of December but the last week of November, so with this change my whole programme will change now”.

He added “I cannot give you a specific date right now but preparations will begin in earnest in the first week of October, what ever is the case I want to have at least five weeks of intense camping with a lot of friendly matches” The former Super Eagles gaffer who is presently in the ancient city of Benin, revealed that he would meet the technical committee of the Nigeria Football Federation this week to finalise plans and get formal approval for his programme.

“I spoke with the technical committee chairman Barr. Chris Green and promised to get back to me today (Tuesday) on my proposed programme for the qualifier”.

On the award of the host right to Egypt, Cerezo as Austin Eguavoen is fondly called by fans and associates, said he believes all the teams have equal chance of qualification” Egypt no doubt would

Cameroun keeps Nigeria in the dark

W

ITH barely four days to the First leg of the London 2012 Women’s Olympic Qualifier, the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroun are still keeping Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in the dark as regard their itinerary ahead of the tie with the Super Falcons slated for the weekend at the Abuja National Stadium.

Making this known to NationSport, the media officer of the Nigeria senior female national team, Gracious Akujobi averred that she has made enquiries from the Nigeria Football

enjoy home advantage but I believe all the teams have equal chance of qualifying because officiating at tournaments of this magnitude are very fair, so its up to us to put together a killer squad that would do well by the grace of God”.

The Confederation of Africa Football on Monday handed Egypt the host right for the African men’s final Olympic qualifying round.

The draw for the tournament will be held in September during Caf’s Executive Committee meeting in the Egyptian capital Cairo, where the teams will be divided into two groups of four.

Alongside hosts Egypt, the other participating teams are Algeria, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal and South Africa.

The top three-placed teams automatically qualify for London while the fourth best team will engage a team from Asia in a play-off.

The London Olympics will take place from 27 July to 12 August 2012.

I will stick with Venlo –Uche Nwofor

A

•Presentation of Barclays League Trophy to Governor of Lagos State Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) right, by the Multichoice Nigeria Limited Managing Director, Joseph Hundah at the Lagos State House of Assembly, Alausa, Ikeja, yesterday.

PHOTO: Omosehin Moses

MIDST the hordes of clubs asking for his signature after an inspiring outing at the just concluded FIFA Under 20 World Cup, departing Enugu Rangers and Flying Eagles of Nigeria’s striker, Uche Innocent Nwofor has stated that he would keep to his contractual agreement with Dutch Eredivisie side, VVV Venlo.

Nwofor made an instant hit at the Colombia 2011 World Cup scoring twice after coming on from the bench in the Flying Eagles’ 5-0 win over Guatemala and reports monitored in the media suggest that he might be forced to jettison a contract he signed with Venlo just before the start of the World Cup for a more lucrative one, but the former 3SC of Ibadan player told NationSport that nothing of that nature was on the card. “ I will stick to my contract terms with VVV Venlo and hopefully from there move to a higher ground. Though, there are lot of offers I don’t want to create problems for myself and thus incur sanction from FIFA. I am a Venlo player and that is what I am now and by the time I get my work permit I will be more than happy to start life in Holland as a foreign professional player. “ The young striker has also averred that he could not wait to team up with Venlo and add to the deluge of Nigerians plying their trade with the Dutch side, emphasizing that it will be a dream come true to line out with his compatriots in the

Executive Committee meeting in the Egyptian capital Cairo, where the teams will be divided into two groups of four.

Alongside hosts Egypt, the other participating teams are Algeria, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal and South Africa.

The top three-placed teams automatically qualify for London while the fourth best team will engage a team from Asia in a play-off.

The Egyptians have represented Africa at the Olympics football tournament a record 10 times while Gabon and Senegal are seeking a first appearance.

The London Olympics will take place from 27 July to 12 August 2012.

LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC QUALIFIERS

We need five weeks camping –Eguavoen

Bauchi FA chairman lauds U-20 team HAIRMAN, Bauchi state Football Association,Yahuza Adamu Ningi yesterday described the performance of Nigeria’s U-20 team that crashed out at the quarter finals of the World Cup finals in Colombia as’’a delightful performance’’.

He told NationSport that’’ the U-20 team,Nigeria’s ambassadors’ performance is commendable, despite the fact that their noble desire of winning the trophy for Nigeria was not achieved’’.

Yahuza said ‘’these patriotic young Nigerians demonstrated hard team work and commitment that brought pride to the nation ,especially the Nigeria Football Federation under leadership of Alhaji Aminu Maigari’’.

He observed that ‘’our boys played their best but were unlucky to reach

Egypt won hosting rights on political motive –NFF

From Tunde Liadi, Owerri same match.

“I hope my work permit will be ready on time so as to get my European career to a good start. One of the reasons I signed for Venlo was because of the presence of other Nigerians there like Ahmed Musa and others. I hope to learn a great deal from them for me to be a better player.”

Besides the latest acquisition of Nwofor, Venlo has Ahmed Musa, Alex Nkume and Michael Uchebo on their payroll and the former got a brace for his team in their 2-2 draw with League holders, Ajax Amsterdam over the past weekend.

•Uche Nwofor

From Tunde Liadi, Owerri Federation (NFF) to ascertain the travel plans of the Camerounians but was told no word had been heard from them till now. “ I don’t know what they are afraid of. Up till now no word had been heard from Cameroun on their arrival plans and when they will hit the Nigeria for the match. We are not disturbed in any way at all and the Falcons are battle ready to beat them silly. “She, however, disclosed that whatever tricks the Central African side comes up with would be defused and that nothing would stop Nigeria’s bid to roast them very well here in the country before the icing on the cake in Yaounde during the second leg.

Akujobi also confirmed the arrival of all the foreign based players invited to camp with the appearance of Perpetua Nkwocha and Helen Ukaonu, stating that all is now set for the first leg encounter on the part of the nation’s representatives.

Nigeria entertains Cameroun on Saturday in the first leg of the Olympic Qualifier at Abuja while the second leg is slated for October 22nd in Yaounde.

No plan to decamp players –Falcons •Squad to stay intact ahead of Cameroun tie From Tunde Liadi, Owerri

A

N impeccable source has revealed to SportingLife that the Super Falcons technical crew does not have any plan to drop any of the players currently in camp ahead of the weekend London 2012 Olympic Qualifier against the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroun.

With the arrival of six foreign-based players swelling the ranks of their 22 counterparts expectations are high that coach Uche Ngozi Eucharia led bench would want to prune down on the number of players in camp probably to cut down cost, but this rumour has been dispelled by a trusted source in the team’s fold.

“Though, it has not been discussed, I don’t think there is any plan to drop any player. Every attention is geared towards having a creditable outing on Saturday and I think that the whole players will be intact and no player will be told to go home.

“The players and the officials are in a buoyant mood and will not want anything to distract them as they countdown to Saturday the day scheduled for the match.”

The arrival of Helen Ukaonu and Perpetua Nkwocha swelled the number of players sweating it out at Abuja to 28.

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Relief materials for flood victims

‘Why building collapse persists’

Mass arrest victims relive ordeal

Bauchi

37

Abuja

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 24, 2011

39

Lagos

40

Page 25

Email: news_extra@yahoo.com

Peace talk as Jukun celebrate “W

E need peace, and it can only be achieved if we live harmoniously with one an-

other.”

That was the message Taraba State Governor Danbaba Suntai sent to the different tribes that make up the state. The peace message came as the Jukun savoured a colourful ceremony.

It was a piece of advice the Chamba, Tiv, Kuteb and the celebrating Jukun would do well to take to heart. War had often broken out among the various tribes, culminating in huge loss of life and property worth millions of naira. The crisis has also impeded developmental efforts in the areas. Lately, though, peace has returned to the communities, and everybody is hoping it will be sustained.

The celebration in Bete, a rustic Jukun settlement, in Takum Local Government Area captured the joy in the tribe. Two illustrious natives of the community, Hon. Mark Useni and Hon. Emmanuel Bello, were honoured. Useni who won election into the state House of Assembly, is Chairman, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, while Bello is the new Commissioner of Information, Culture and Tourism.

Bete Traditional Square came alive as residents rolled out the drums. Different Jukun cultural dancers gave a good account of themselves. The ceremony attracted many from diverse parts of the state and beyond. And there was enough to eat and drink.

•Jukun cultural dancers at the event

Suntai urges tribal harmony Two illustrious indigenes honoured From Fanen Ihyongo, Jalingo

The two honoured natives were draped in the tribe’s most respected regalia, complete with spears, while their revered monarch, the Ukoh Bede, Edward Luka Makeri guided the proceedings.

As soon as the decoration procedure was over, youths lifted Useni and Bello shoulder-high. The two men beamed with smiles, brandishing their spears and waving enthu-

siastically to the applauding crowd.

It was a convivial atmosphere, and Governor Suntai urged everyone, and not just the Jukun, to let peace prevail. He used the occasion to sue for peace and harmonious coexistence among the ethnic groups that make up Taraba South.

The governor congratulated the people of Bete for organizing the reception. He said •Continued on Page 26

•Suntai

Plateau lawmaker pleads for tolerance

A

•Jang

S residents of Jos North and Barkin Ladi local government areas of Plateau State came to terms with the latest violence which erupted there, a member of the House of Representatives representing Jos North/Bassa constituency, Hon Peter Akujah has appealed for tolerance among the various ethnic groups in the state.

Speaking with Newsextra in Jos, the state capital, Akujah urged everyone to be patient with one another, bearing in mind that as long as people live together, there are bound to be differences. But he quickly added that only cordial relationship will prevent crisis.

His words: “The major problem of Jos

From Marie-Therese Peter, Jos

North and the northern zone of the state has been incessant crisis but I am appealing to everyone to bury the past and live in peace as we used to.

“We do not need these incessant tensions in the state; we need to be patient, tolerate one another and give peace a chance so that we can have meaningful development”.

Akujah lamented the lack of community relationship saying it is very vital in peace sustenance.

“I have observed that effective community relationship has been eroded in our society,”

he said. “I want to make sure this is returned especially in border communities between people of different religions.

“I have identified these communities and will initiate committee meetings among the elders, youths and women to ensure that they interact and work together towards repelling any intruder who may want to cause problems in the areas”.

Another member of the House of Representatives, representing Jos South/Jos East in the National Assembly, Hon. Bitrus Kaze also urged the people to resist the temptation of attacking the military or •Continued on Page 26

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

26

Ekiti to accelerate rural development

E

KITI State Government has reiterated its commitment to the development of rural communities, explaining that the grassroots are central to its redemption programme.

Governor Kayode Fayemi disclosed this while inaugurating health centres in two rural communities of Adebamidele and Alapoto in Emure Local Government Area.

Fayemi, who was represented by his deputy, Mrs. Funmi Olayinka, said free and quality healthcare services which are some of the core areas of focus of his administration are meant to be enjoyed by every resident anywhere in the state.

He stated that the 8-point agenda of his administration is designed to facilitate access to the expected gains of governance. He observed that the inauguration of the healthcare facilities is a bold demonstration of the state government’s commitment

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

ices which will be accessible to all and sundry.

He further added that the estab-

lishment of the health centres in the communities will save lives as well cut the huge cost of going to far distances to access health services. He therefore urged the communities to ensure the security of the facilities at the health centre, urging them to

Free and quality healthcare services which are some of the core areas of focus of his administration are meant to be enjoyed by every resident anywhere in the state…The 8-point agenda is designed to facilitate access to the expected gains of governance…The inauguration of the healthcare facilities offers bold demonstration of state government’s commitment to free and quality healthcare services which will be accessible to all and sundry

to free and quality healthcare serv•Continued from Page 25 any security personnel no matter the level of provocation they may face.

Kaze also commiserated with the people of the local government and the entire state. He maintained that the trend of killings with alleged military complicity is worrisome.

He said those who indulge in “these criminalities are not ghosts” and “should be fished out and punished so as to deter others who may want to engage in such ventures.”

use the facilities well.

The Caretaker Committee Chairman of Emure Local Government Area, Hon. Muyiwa Abegunde hailed Fayemi’s numerous achievements, including giving the local government councils the freedom to operate without interference.

He said his local government is determined to institute measures and programmes that will facilitate rapid development of the area and also work hard to increase the local government’s internally-generated revenue.

The Baale of Ajebamidele, Chief Samuel Kolade thanked the government for giving consideration to the welfare of people in the rural areas, even as he appealed to the government to provide all necessary facilities and personnel for the health centres so that the people can begin to enjoy the healthcare services.

•Dr Fayemi

Plateau lawmaker pleads for tolerance He stated that the Chairman of the local government, Hon. Emmanuel Loman confirmed that three identity cards belonging to some soldiers and a military beret were found at the scene of the killings, and that the military did not deny the allegations. He said the development leaves one to wonder what the military agenda in the state is.

His words: “I condole with the people of Foron and Heipang in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area as well as the entire state on this recent happening which is drawing us backward.

“I call on the people to resist the temptation of attacking the military or any other security personnel, no matter the level of provocation. The chairman of the local gov-

ernment confirmed to me that three ID cards and a military beret were found at the scene of the incident and this is not the first time this is happening and the military has not denied it.

“This shows some element of complicity as alleged by the people and what surprises me is why Plateau issues are treated differently. With the numerous massa-

“Useni and Bello are being honoured today not because they are the best, but because they are leaders with democratic credentials.

Tomorrow it could be you [pointing to the audience].

“As representatives, we are servants, so we must serve in the interest of the people, for the young ones to take over in the future,” said Tsokwa.

Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Haruna Gbana, a lawyer, described the honoured lawmaker and commissioner as hardworking leaders who have the passion and ideas to transform the state.

Gbana said: “Useni is one of my colleagues, and has been reliable and dependable.

“For Bello, I know the governor (Suntai) might have been fascinated by his rare qualities, to appoint him Commissioner for Information.

“With Useni and Bello, the Bete community and Taraba State will not be the same in the next four years”.

Chairman of the occasion, Hon. Peter Abel Diah urged the celebrants to improve on the existing achievements in order to deliver more.

Diah, who is also the Deputy Speaker of the state Assembly said: “By celebrating Useni and Bello, the people of Bete and Taraba in general are preparing a good transition from the old to the youth, to serve the state better.

“Every individual in Taraba shall be rewarded according to their inputs,” he said.

The honoured pair started as journalists before attaining their present heights. They thanked God for their achievements, and the people of Bete for their love, support and honour.

Peace talk as Jukun celebrate •Continued from Page 25 everybody and every community in Taraba shall be rewarded according to performance.

“We are celebrating the victory for Taraba State,” the governor said.

“We are celebrating victory for the PDP, and we are celebrating victory for the present democratic government.” Suntai was represented by the Chief of Staff, Mr. Garvey Yawe.

The senator representing Taraba South, Hon. Emmanuel Bwacha said Useni is a good political partner, who withstands the tides of politics at any given time.

“I had been reading Emmanuel Bello’s articles in Leadership,” Bwacha said. “I didn’t even know he was from Taraba. The governor made a good choice by appointing him commissioner for Information, as he would portray the state in good light.”

A member of the House of Representatives from Takum, Donga, Ussa and Special Development Area, Hon. Sam Tsokwa said the celebration was timely. Winning a

cres of the people of the state, there has not been any investigation into such as is being done in other places”.

He commended the Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Azubike Ihejirika and the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 3rd Armoured Division, Gen. Sunny Idoko on the improved responses to skirmishes in the state.

He called for erring officers to be court-martialled because if criminalities are not punished, prospective criminals will not be deterred.

Speaking on the breach of peace in the state, the Commandant of the state security outfit “Operation Rainbow”, Air-Vice-Marshal Bala Danbaba (rtd) described the incident as unfortunate, maintaining that the outfit will do more on intelligence gathering and devise fresh skills to ensure that breach of peace across the state is checked.

He said: “Operation Rainbow is going to work with integrity to gain the confidence of the people by learning from their cultures as well as fully integrating with them.

“You have no reason to fear Operation Rainbow except people with criminal tendencies. As professionals, we will ensure that the right things are done so that we enjoy mutual respect from the communities.

“Youths empowerment is another grey area we hope to tackle across the state. Unemployment has been a major security challenge and we hope to tackle this by targeting the youths. We will engage them and also women.”

•The honoured: Useni (left) and Bello

political election and getting an appointment into government do not come easy.

“We are here to celebrate Taraba and to thank God for everything good done to us.

By celebrating Useni and Bello, the people of Bete and Taraba in general are preparing a good transition from the old to the youth, to serve the state better. Every individual in Taraba shall be rewarded according to their inputs

I call on the people to resist the temptation of attacking the military or any other security personnel, no matter the level of provocation

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

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Fed Govt upgrades flood-affected varsity

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ONSTRUCTION work valued at over N700m is ongoing at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, which was devastated by floods last year.

The floods, which disrupted academic exercise, also broke down the bridge linking it with other parts of the state. It also washed off several farmlands belonging to members of the university community.

Now, the dark clouds are lifting.

The federal government has awarded a contract for a rehabilitation of the bridge. It has also commenced a structural expansion in the university.

This was disclosed in in Sokoto,

Professor Shehu disclosed that the university has also paid land compensation to members of the university community whose homesteads will give way to the structures springing up on the campus.

The affected people will now relocate to other places

From Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

the state capital, by the Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Riskuwa Arabo Shehu.

Professor Shehu said the projects include, among others, Faculty of Pharmceutical Sciences, which is gulping N24.5m; completion of the School of Medical Laboratory Sciences and the Department of Civil Engineering for which N18.5m and N439m, respectively, has been provided.

Prof Shehu also said the university internally generated the sum of N164m, which is going into its upgrade project.

Other segments of the work include the completion of some laboratories at the College of Health Sciences, with over N 31.5m voted for it. There is also the rehabilitation of some buildings which will cost about N42.8m.

The VC also added: “There are also the furnishing of offices for the faculties of education and social sciences each at N 10.5 million, and other furnishing work at the College of Health Sciences, Phase One, which will cost N 38.4m.

Similarly, Professor Shehu disclosed that the university has also paid land compensation to members of the university community whose homesteads will give way to the structures springing up on the campus. The affected people will now relocate to other places.

The College of Health Sciences of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital is also being upgraded with over N 170m from its internally generated revenue.

•Sokoto community residents grappling with the flood

Veteran journalist cries out for help

By Dada Aladelokun

•Eze

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T an age when this 60-yearold journalist, Chuks Eze, should be resting his nerves after years of active service to his fatherland, he is now daily losing sleep.

Reason: he is gripped by the fear that a lawyer and another enemy are hellbent on helping him into an early grave.

Today, he is literally on a mountain top, screaming to whoever cares: “Please, help save my life!” Out of sheer helplessness, he has taken his outcry to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC); Nigerian Bar Association (NBA); the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, (SAN) and the Ohanaeze Ndigbo.”

Panting and sweating, Eze narrated his ordeal to Newsextra. His startling disclosure: The said lawyer (names withheld) had made an irrevocable vow snuff life out of him should he fail to pay him N2 million or, in the alternative, hands off about 20 plots of land he (the lawyer) reportedly helped him to purchase in 1991. According to the journalist, it was in the Abule Egba area of the state.

Frantically showing various documents, mainly petitions, relating to the matter to NewsExtra, Eze seethed

with rage as he burst into tears while recalling how the lawyer led a group of land speculators during attempts to kill him.

“They have been after me day and night over my properties. Two of my personal aides have been killed . They mistook them for me. Now, I don’t know where else to run to; this is why I’m running from pillar to post in a desperate search for succour. I’m passing through hell in the hands of this callous lawyer,” he moaned.

He traced his problem back to 1991 when he was offered about 20 plots of land to buy on the OshodiAbeokuta Expressway. It’s near the popular Abule-Egba Bus Stop. Based on the agreement reached on the matter, he said he paid N200,000 to an elderly woman, Mrs. V. I. Akerele, through the same lawyer who is now after his life.

According to him, it was the lawyer that prepared all the documents relating to the land and handed them over to him. “I paid him all his legal fees. Mrs. Akerele also paid him some money because she was the person who introduced the lawyer to me.

Apart from being the old woman’s lawyer, he is also her son in-law,”

Eze said.

Convinced that the deal had been duly sealed after concluding payments on the land, Eze left for America. However, he returned to the country a few years later in the hope of developing the property. But he was in for a shocker. He said his legs nearly gave way when the lawyer demanded an extra N2 million from him or lose the land.

“The lawyer’s sudden demand rocked my heart,” Eze said. “I was scared stiff because I did not expect such a dirty, immoral thing from a responsible lawyer, who should remain the last hope of commoners.”

But why should he pay such an amount of money? Eze asked the lawyer who, in his response, threw a bombshell, disclosing that Mrs. Akerele also sold the land to her first son.

When Eze reminded him that the woman shared the N200,000 paid her among her children, including her first son, right in his presence, the lawyer, he said, “threatened that I would regret my utterances.”

That was the day, he said, his troubles began. He was being attacked by hoodlums anywhere he went.

Shaking his head in obvious selfpity, he said: “Some military person-

Law, in my own understanding, is a noble profession. If a lawyer should resort to blackmail, there is no hope again for the common man. I passionately want NBA to come to my rescue

nel once beat me mercilessly at their base at Apapa. They almost killed me before their boss told me my alleged offence - that I was training armed robbers under the Ojuelegba Bridge.

But the officer later apologised to me when he knew the truth.”

Also, Eze was once attacked by some armed men who abandoned him in a bush at Sango Ota, Ogun State. He has also been attacked in his house by gunmen. “They collected the photocopies of my land’s documents, unknown to them that I kept the original copies in the bank.

Infuriated by the fact, they mistook my personal assistant for me and shot him dead.”

Eze suffered another attack and sustained leg injury that took him to a traditional herbal practitioner in Anambra State. For 15 years, he said he was on crutches. He returned to Lagos and went to see Mrs. Akerele on the matter. According to him, the woman broke down in tears on seeing him.

He further recalled: “At her residence, when the woman saw me, she broke down in tears and said that she was misled by the lawyer, who lied to her that I was dead.”

After erecting a bungalow on a part

of the land, the woman died a few years later. “The lawyer came again and used some gunmen to chase me away,” he said. He claimed that part of the land being used for farming was destroyed by the hoodlums who invaded the area with sophisticated weapons.

Now, he is urging the EFCC to investigate the matter: “Let the EFCC ask the lawyer if it is possible for the old woman to resell the land to her own son, who benefited from the money I paid for the land.”

Eze also wants the NBA to invite him and the lawyer to ascertain the veracity of his allegation: “Law, in my own understanding, is a noble profession. If a lawyer should resort to blackmail, there is no hope again for the common man. I passionately want NBA to come to my rescue.”

While calling on the Ohanaeze Ndigbo to come to his rescue, he said: “The lawyer has even boasted that he would delay the case for years, as age is no longer on my side. He said I would soon die and that he would acquire the land.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

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Kebbi buys N53m laboratory tools

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•Governor Dakingari

HE Kebbi State government has procured laboratory equipment and reagents worth N53 million for distribution to its secondary schools as part of efforts to promote science education.

The Commissioner for Science and Technical Education, Alhaji Ruwa Dakingari, told reporters in Birnin Kebbi that government had also refurbished all secondary schools laboratories to bring them to standard.

He said government had also employed 550 science teachers to boost science and technical education.

NGO to train youths on leadership ethics

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N Non-Governmental Organisation, the Golden Heart Foundation, says it will partner with the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) to train 40,000 youths on leadership ethics.

Mr Walter Okoye, representative of the NGO, stated this in Abuja at a news conference to unveil the forthcoming National Youth Conference slated for September 28 to October 1.

The training is expected to focus on health, entertainment, education, technology and entrepreneurship, among others.

Okoye said that the theme of the training, “Transforming Nigeria“ was expected to bring all stakeholders involved in youths affairs to chart a new course for the country.

He said that President Jonathan’s agenda for national transformation was centred on youth empowerment, employment and development, adding that, the training would afford the youth to key into it.

“It is very clear that pressing national issues like restiveness, crime, employment, industrialisation will be resolved with the

K

Abuja effective redeployment of youths,“ Okoye said.

He called on ministries, departments, corporate organisations and spirited individuals to partner with the NGO in order to achieve the goal of this year’s conference.

“Nigeria is on the verge of genuine transformation and all hands need to be on deck to midwife this process of leading Nigeria into the league of truly great nations in Africa and the rest of the world,“ he said.

Earlier, Olawale Ajani, NYCN President, had said that the council was partnering with the NGO because it believed in its vision, adding that the NYCN had remained the voice of the youth.

“The president has been hammering on transformation and there can be no transformation without the youth.

“This is because young people throughout the world are the ones transforming their countries,“ he said.

Kerosene scarcity persists in Jos

EROSENE scarcity still persists in Jos, the Plateau State capital, weeks after the Federal Government’s promise to make the product available to consumers at the approved pump price of N50 per litre.

An investigation by our correspondent revealed that most filling stations were still without the product.

The surface tank sellers of the product were now selling a litre of the product at between N130 and N150.

The few filling stations with the product preferred to sell to the “black marketeers,” who paid more than the normal pump price.

At the NNPC Mega Station, Jos, several people were seen waiting on long queues, only to be told later that the product was unavailable.

Some consumers said that the situation had compelled them to resort to the use of firewood to meet their domestic needs.

Mrs Rose Moses, a housewife, who said that kerosene had remained the source of her energy supply in the last 10 years, expressed regret that its current scarcity had become a nightmare to her.

“Since the scarcity started, the Mega Station has remained one place where I go to for supply, but today appears different,’’ she said.

A

N Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) chairmanship aspirant for Lagos Island, Prince Ajasa Mojeed Olasheni has pledged to evolve policies and programmes that would positively touch the lives of residents of the local government if elected in the forthcoming council polls.

Fielding questions from newsmen in Lagos, Prince Olasheni disclosed that if elected, his administration will make free and quality education for children a priority.

“We are going to restore the old glory and quality and free education for our children. Our schools will be competing well with private schools under our free education programmes,” he said.

He also pledged to re-introduce the old free school buses scheme which will convey pupils to and from schools within the local government area in the morning and back home in the afternoon.

“Majority of us enjoyed this gesture during our school days which made us to concentrate more on our studies. Also the issue of non-payment of teachers’ salaries will be a thing of the past. They would also be trained and retrained for them to meet world standard in the teaching profession,” he declared.

Continuing, he said: “We will also engage our youths in sporting activities that will enhance their skill to enable them to represent the local

Bauchi helps flood victims

Kebbi He advised students to work hard to excel in science and technical education by embracing global competitiveness.

B

AUCHI State government has donated relief materials to victims of last Tuesday’s flood disaster at Cheledi, Sindigawo, headquarters of Kirfi Local Government Area of the state.

The flood had destroyed over 150 houses, displaced about 1,057 people from their homes, while many hectares of farmland were washed away following a heavy downpour, which lasted for more than 24 hours.

Presenting the relief materials,that included 30 bags of maize, 25 bags of rice, blankets, mats and wrappers, among others. The Permanent Secretary, State Emergency Relieve Agency, Mahmud Garba, said government’s gesture was aimed at reducing the sufferings of the flood victims.

Katsina to support varsity Katsina

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HE Katsina State government has promised to provide all the necessary support toward the successful take-off of the Federal University, Dutsinma.

Alhaji Danjuma Alti, the Permanent Secretary, Katsina State Ministry of Works and Housing, gave the assurance in Katsina while receiving a bill of quantity and other related documents from the state government’s committee on the infrastructural development of the university’s temporary site.

He said the state government had already converted Government Secondary School, Darawa, to serve as a temporary site for the university.

Alti said the documents would be carefully studied, after which necessary recommendations would be made to the government.

Alhaji Umaru Isa, the Chairman of the committee, had earlier said that a complete rehabilitation of the temporary site had been undertaken to facilitate the smooth take-off of the university.

He said other structures that had also been made ready were the offices of the ViceChancellor and Registrar, Bursary Department, Senate hall and Dean offices.

Isa said arrangements were being made to rehabilitate the Na-Alhaji Primary School, which would serve as a male hostel, while work would soon begin on the construction of residential houses for the vice-chancellor and registrar.

The state government had in March, promised to contribute N1 billion toward the take-off of the university.

Jos

•From Left: Governor Umaru Tanko-almakura of Nasarawa State; Minister of Works, Mr Mike Onolememen, and Minister of State for Works, Amb Bashir Yuguda during a visit to the ministry in Abuja PHOTO: NAN

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Shiroro seeks better life

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has been urged to prevail on Shiroro Hydroelectric Plc and PHCN to improve the lives of host communities to Shiroro Dam in Niger State.

Malam Audu Adamu, the Dallatun Shiroro, made the appeal in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.

Adamu decried the poor condition of living of the host communities to the Shiroro Hydro Power station and dam.

“We are like someone living right inside the river but still thirsty.

“Electricity is generated and distributed to other parts of the country from here, yet we live in darkness.

“Our transformer at Zumba broke down three months ago. Up till now, PHCN has not repaired it.

“President Jonathan should talk to PHCN to come to our aid by repairing the transformer and

Mrs Christiana Dung, another housewife, said that kerosene was the cheapest source of energy for many Nigerians.

She said that she patronised the NNPC Mega Station because it was the only outfit that sold the product at the approved price, adding: “but it is like it is no more available there too.”

However, the situation had improved in some states, especially Lagos, Ondo and Kaduna where the ‘kero direct scheme’ had been launched.

When contacted for comments on why the scheme had not been launched in Plateau State, the Department for Petroleum Resources (DPR), Jos Office, said it was the responsibility of the state government to take the initiative.

“Kero Direct is the initiative of state governments in states where it was launched,’’ Mr Abubakar Idris, the DPR Operations Controller, said.

Idris said that the responsibility of DPR was to regulate the upstream and downstream (production and marketing) of the oil and gas industry and to ensure that it was done according to specifications.

Aspirant promises free education

government, state and Nigeria in international events.”

Prince Olasheni, who said to have lived among the grassroots people on the Island for over 40 years declared: “With my experience among my people, I know where the shoe pinches them. I will also be able to proffer solutions.”

Olasheni, who hailed from Oniru Royal House (Abisogun lineage) also claimed to be a member of Eletu Odibo chieftaincy family in Isale-Eko area, specifically Ogabi lineage, Onilegbale, Olorogun Atebo and Olorogun Ide chieftaincy families respectively.

“With my back-ground as a grassroots man, I will not allow my people to be suffer silently without been taken care of,” he added.

While promising to create more markets for the traders in the local government, Olasheni remarked that his administration, will take care of old •Raheem people.

37

Abuja providing us with other social amenities because my people are suffering.

“They destroyed our shrine, built the dam and left without compensating us.

Our farmlands have been taken over; there is nowhere to farm any longer.

“We don’t have schools. Every year, our children have to travel in canoes across the river in search of education.

“There is no hospital in Shiroro Jami.

When we fall sick, we travel all the way to Minna, almost three-hour journey.

“Some people die before reaching the hospital. Some even collapse right inside the canoe,” he said.

The traditional ruler also complained about the dam washing away farmlands, destroying houses and turning the river into mud water when opened.

Also speaking, Alhaji Ahmed Sule, the General Secretary, Jebba North Youth Association, urged the National Assembly to step up action on the Hydroelectric Power Area Development Commission (HYPADEC) bill pending before it.

He said that passing of the bill would go a long way in alleviating poverty and reducing youth restiveness in the host communities.

“If the commission comes on board, it is not only Jebba community or Niger State that will benefit from it. All the bordering communities in Kwara and Kebbi states will also gain from its establishment,’’ he noted.

T

Y

Yobe to open multi-million naira hotel

OBE state Deputy Governor Engr.

Abubakar D. Aliyu has hinted that the multi-million naira 3-star hotel would be commissioned and put to use in the next 2 months.

Engr. Aliyu who is overseeing the Ministry of Commerce gave this assurance while inspecting the project along Potiskum Road in Damaturu He explained that about N583 million has been expended towards the completion of the 56-rooms hotel with all facilities necessary for the hosting of national and international conferences and meetings.

The deputy governor explained that the delay in the completion of the project was caused by serious structural problems from the initial contractor, noting that the incumbent regime in 2007 set-up a technical committee to take-over the project from the contractor.

According to him, the National President of the Society of Engineers, Engr. Mustapha Bulama was invited to inspect the project. He

Damaturu From Duku JOEL, Damaturu

said the technical committee was then given an initial N364 million for completed restructuring of the project.

He mentioned that everything thing necessary was done to make the hotel of international standard.

Engr. Aliyu maintained that Governor Ibrahim Gaidam was committed to turnaround the situation of the state and was therefore committed to providing the best of hospitality facilities to accommodate investors and guests to the state.

Engr. Aliyu said the governor released N48 million and additional N171 million at different times noting that the water system, lightening facilities were been tested already.

The deputy governor was conducted round the project by the Secretary of the technical committee made up of experts in the state, Bashir Sadiq.

FCTA impounds 395 vehicles THE Federal Capital Territory Administration(FCTA),has impounded 245 vehicles for various road traffic offences along the Nyanya/Karu road in the past one month that sensitisation operation began.

The FCT Minister, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed dropped this hint after the FCT Operations. Briefing the press , he said the operation will be a continuous one until that road is free from all traffic bottlenecks; restated that all legal means will be employed to address that ugly traffic problem.

Senator Mohammed lamented that 80 percent of traffic congestion on that road can be traced to street hawking, illegal motor parks and the Nyanya Wednesday Market.

He, therefore, directed the Chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council to immediately remove the ‘Nyanya Wednesday Market’ thereby revert the place back to Nyanya Motor Park for motorists’ use.

From Austine Tsenzughul Bauchi

He described the disaster as an act of God,but warned the people of the area to avoid building on waterways and stop dumping refuse in drains and blocking water ways so as to avert a recurrence of the disaster.

Receiving the materials on behalf of the victims, the newly-appointed caretaker chairman of Kirfi Local Government Area, Alhaji Maijama’a Muhammad Dewu, praised the state governor, Mallam Isa Yuguda, for government’s prompt assistance to the victims and promised to immediately distribute same to the affected persons.

•Governor Yuguda

Kwara assures on water supply

HE Kwara State government has reassured the people that no citizen will go beyond 500 metres to have access to potable water in the state.

The Commissioner for Water Resources, Mr Idris Abubakar, gave the assurance in Ilorin when executive members of the state Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Correspondent Chapel visited him in his office.

He said that government would ensure constant supply of water to every nook and cranny of the state.

According to him, it is in fulfilment of this promise that the government embarked on the construction of 72 boreholes and the repair of some water works across the state.

Abubakar said the 72 boreholes being sunk would be ready for inauguration along with the rehabilitated Pepele Water Works as part of activities marking the 100 days in office of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed.

Police warn vehicle owners The Lagos State Police Command has warned owners of vehicles parked at the following police divisions to remove then or forfeit same through auction Babichi Division 1.

Toyota Avanon – FU 149 EKY 2.

BMW Saloon car –AN 528 UYY 3.

Mercedes Benz – EJ 704AAA 4.

Honda Accord – AE 954SBG 5.

Ford Jeep pickup unregistered 6.

Hyundai – AH 80KTU 7.

Nissan unregistered Isolo Division 1.

Mercedes Benz – BG80AAA 2.

Toyota Corolla – LA 942 AY Ikeja Airport Command 1.

Isuzu pick up DD 289 KJA Anthony Division 1.

Peugeot 505 car AT 936AKD

BRIEFS •From left: Assistant Sales Manager, Lucky Fibres Nigeria Plc, Mrs Bunmi Odunoye; National Sales Manager, Mr Hemaat Nahar and the company’s General Manager, Mr Neeraj Kalaskar at the launch of Wosen Rug in Lagos PHOTO: BOLA OMILABU

Bauchi

20 NURTW members arrested THE police have arrested 20 members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Illela Local Government Area of Sokoto State for allegedly blocking Sokoto-Illela road on Saturday.

Alhaji Adisa Bolanta, the Commissioner of Police in the state, told reporters in Sokoto they obstructed free movement of motorists along the road for about five hours.

He said they would be charged to court for breaching the peace.

“We will not tolerate any act capable of disrupting peace the state was known for.

Anyone found wanting will be prosecuted,” Bolanta said, stressing that the suspects took the laws into their hands by blocking the road.

“There are several channels where aggrieved members of the public can solve their differences amicably without disturbing others.

“We will not allow people to take laws into their hands as the command has adopted security measures aimed at enhancing peace, progress and political stability of the seat of the caliphate.’’

Kwara The commissioner acknowledged the positive roles played by media professionals in bridging the gap between the government and the governed in the state.

He appealed to the media to continue to

promote peace, unity, progress and participatory democracy “in the interest of our nascent democracy”.

Earlier, the Chairman of the chapel, Rev. Felix Ajide praised the government’s policy on water supply, job creation and education.

He assured the commissioner of journalists’ resolve to disseminate truth and facts about government activities to the people.

Church holds programme

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HE Transfiguration Evangelistic Mission International Praise Centre is holding its annual festival of praise tagged: The Joy of the Lord is my Strength, at 8/10, Abiola Street, off Okedunmola, Abule Titun, Alagbado, in Ifako Ijaiye Local Government Area of Lagos State.

Speaking at a rally organised by the church,

the chief host, Prophet Christopher Segun Ogunji, explained that this year’s programme will be interdenominational where all are expected to appreciate the name of the Lord.

He said there will be unprecedented breakthrough for participants during the programme, saying they will sing a new song.

Lawmakers empower constituents

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CTION Congress of Nigeria (ACN) House of Representatives members Hon. Muniru Hakeem, Hon. Moruf Akinderu-Fatai and Dr Samuel Adejare have organised empowerment programmes for the people of their constituencies in the spirit of Ramadan period.

Hakeem, who represents Osodi/Isolo federal constituency, gave GCE forms to 120 students preparing for the examination at a ceremony in Isolo, which was attended by local party chieftains, teachers, parents and community leaders. He spent over N5m on the empowerment.

He thanked the constituents for endorsing him at the poll, stressing that he also owe a debt of gratitude to the ACN national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who he described as a man in a million.

Hakeem said that he was worried by the plight of brilliant, yet indigent students, who could miss the opportunity to further their education because of lack of money to purchase forms.

He said: “My constituency is the youth, the future of our society, the women and masses.

There must be a clear way of empowering the youths. One of the ways to do that is through education, which is light. I am doing this as a way of giving back to the youths. It is just the beginning. We want these youths to become great in life. We must support them”.

By Emmanuel Oladesu.

Hakeem urged the students to face their studies squarely so that they can become great in life. he advised them to shun a life of enjoyment now for greater enjoyment in life at adulthood.

He added:”You should go and study at home, reduce the time you spend watching television and films. I have learnt that in this fasting period, you dont go to lessons again. It should not be like that. Education is the bedrock of development”.

The President of Ayedun Foundation, Saheed Olanrewaju, advised students at the two coaching centres sponsored by the legislator to demonstrate seriousness so that he can do more for them.

Also, at a ceremony held at the Osodi/Isolo Local Government secretariat, Akinderu-Fatai gave N10,000 each to over 500 widows. The ceremony was witnessed by the council chairman, Hon. Afeez Ipesa-Balogun, party leader, Pa Joseph Olabimtan and Elewu of Ewu Kingdom, Oba Shakiru Kuti, who lauded the legislator for sparing a thought for the poor and needy.

The legislator said that the gesture was in fulfillment of his promise to offer a helping hand to the less privileged. He explained that he was moved to tears by their condition, especially during the celebration of Widows’ Day in June.

• Chairman,Oshodi/Isolo Local Government Area, Hon Afeez Ipesa –Balogun(second right) presenting prize to Mr Seriki Kayode the winner in the monthly half marathon race .He is being assisted by the Information Officer 11, Mrs Eunice Shittu.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

Life

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‘God told me to play Martin Luther King’ Nigerian-born British actor, David Oyewole, Oyewole, 35, says his house is full of actors – black, brown, orange and purple • SEE PAGE 30

Egbe Omo Yoruba sets up resource centre – Page 32

•Oyewole on stage

•Oyewole

Achebe, Jackson for Garden City book feast – Page 33

140-year-old mum gives son, 100, birthday gift – Page 36

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

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I

T begins with a word here, a phrase there. A lot of “I’m blessed”. And a few references to “my faith.

Things certainly heat up when he mentions “my prayer diary”. But when David Oyelowo, the former British stage darling and rising Hollywood heavyweight, starts waxing lyrical about his spiritual journey, his religious devotion and his love for Jesus, you know that here, in the most unlikeliest of settings (a swish Central London bar), God is officially in the house.

“When I was 16 I struck a deal with God, “he says. “If you’re true, if you’re real, turn up within three months or I’m out! Well, much to my chagrin at the time, He did.” And yet, the best thing about the 35-year-old Oyelowo (pronounced “o-yellow-o”), who famously became the first black actor to play a Shakespearean Company (in Henry VI in 2001) and is about to be Martin Luther King on screen as well as leading man in the new George Lucas blockbuster Red Tails, is that, really, he’s not a freak.

He doesn’t have that strangely vacant Bible-salesman expression so beloved of bornagain door-steppers. He’s too weathered by life for that. Too touched by tough teenage years in North London. Or too seasoned by the racial realities of living in Britain, and working here, yet eventually fleeing to Los Angeles in 2007, like Chiwetel Ejiofor (salt) and Idris Elba (The Wire) before him because, as he says, this country doesn’t do viable futures for great black actors. “I have friends like James McAvoy or Hayley Atwell, who have chosen to go to LA to make movies. But the thing that saddens me is that, as a black actor, I felt compelled to go.” Incidentally, he now lives in the San Fernando Valley, near enough to Ejiofor to play regular tennis matches, while he’s in e-mail contact with the New York-based Elba.

For now, though, Oyelowo wears his Christianity like a sharp suit (although, in person he’s wearing T-shirt and jeans, with twinklyeyed smile and cut-glass accent). It’s part of the package and appropriate to a man who searches for moral meaning in every role.

Take Steve Jacobs, the boss of the pharmaceuticals corporation central to his new movie, Rise of the planet of the Apes-the latest instalment in the sci-fi franchise that began in 1968 with Chalton Heston. This time we’re in present-day San Francisco and GenSys is about to invent a cure for Alzheimer’s that might have the side-effect of inspiring lab-tested chimpanzees to take over the world.

Though Oyelowo spends much of the movie facing off against James Franco’s scientist and saying, “That Chimp is company property!” and “put those apes down!” he nonetheless sees it as an important film. “It’s dealing with the zeitgeist of today, “he says. “Which is big business, corporation and the ramifications for the small man. The Kernel of the firm may be James who has Alzheimer’s, but outside of the there are huge questions about responsibility, and how the things that they do affect me at my kitchen table.”

If Oyelowo seems impassioned about his work it is because, he says, he’s also choosy.

Since coming to LA, with his wife Jessica and their three young sons, his mantra has been, “The three Ps-the part, the project, and the people! It’s all about fighting to work with the best in the world. The best directors, and the best actors. Because it raises my game.”

And again, if there words seem slightly gauche in print, Oyelowo, like his Christianity, wears them well and can certainly bolster them with the evidence of his recent career rise. Red Tails, for instance, is the first post-Star Wars project from George Lucas, and has been in development for more than 20 years. Based on an idea by Lucas, it’s set among the Tuskegee Airmen, a group of African-American combat pilots in the Second World War, and details the fractious relationship between two flyers-the easygoing Martin Julian (Nate Parker) and Oyelowo’s angry Joe “Lighning” Little.

After that he will be starring opposite Nicole Kidman and Mattew McConaughey in the thriller The Paperboy. And after that it’s time for his Martin Luther King, in the film Selma, directed by Lee Daniels ( Precious). Of the latter project he explains: “I first read that script when we arrived in LA. I prayed about it. And I had one of those thunderclaps. I felt God very clearly say to me, ‘you are going to play Martin Luther King.’ But the director said that he didn’t see me as King, and I got spiritually confused, and wondered, ‘Did I hear it wrong?’ But that director then left, and two more directors came and went until finally, three years after that first thunderclap moment, Lee Daniels came onboard, called me in for a meeting, and ended up casting me as

‘God told me to play Martin Luther King’ Divine assistance is just part of David Oyelowo’s plan, he tells KEVIN MAHER

•Oyewole on stage

•Oyewole Martin Luther King.”

I ask him if people in LA, perhaps the most amoral city on the planet, ever find him strange. “I’m sure people scrunch up their noses when I start talking about Christianity and Jesus, “ he says. “It can freak people out.

But generally, I think, ‘By their fruit ye shall know them.’ And If I’m weird, and judgemental and self-righteous, then I think it’s warranted for you to marginalize me. But mostly I find that people are just curious and interested in it.

Because, unfortunately, it’s rare in LA.

‘I didn’t feel white and I didn’t feel what it was to be deemed black’ Oyelowo says that for the longest time he was piggy-backing on his parents’ religion.

He was born in Oxford, one of three brothers, into a Baptist family from Nigeria who, when times became hard in Seventies Britain, relocated to the homeland for seven years, but eventually returned in the late Eighties to a tiny two-bedroom flat near Holloway Road ( where his father ran a minicab business).

His teenage years were difficult. He was bullied in school by other black pupils for being diligent and respectful in class, aka a “coconut” (white on the inside). He experienced churchgoing with his parents as “catatonically boring”. And yet, at age 16, just when he threatened to leave religion, “and play football and go out there and have sex with girls,” he found God for good in a nearby Pentecostal Church.

Meanwhile, acting had struck. A date with a pastor’s daughter led to a youth theatre group, which led to A-level theatre studies and a place at the National Youth Music Theatre, where he met his future wife, Jessica, during a production of The Threepenny Opera. “she wouldn’t touch me with a barge pole at first, “he says, before confessing: “At that time I was using the fact that I didn’t believe in sex before marriage as a weapon and an aphrodisiac. The minute I told a girl, ‘Look, I have no interest in sleeping with you,’ it became a challenge to them. It was bad, but I used to see how many girls I could string along at the same time.” He remained a virgin, he notes, until his marriage to Jessica, who is currently expecting their fourth child, and who is never apart from her husband, as a rule, for more than 13 days in a row.

After three scholarship years at LAMDA, and his starring role in the RSC’s Henry VI, Oyelowo was uncomfortable with the moniker, and remains so with anything that trivialises racial politics. “I can’t play the ‘black Henry VI’ in the same way that I couldn’t be black as a teenage. Because the only way to fit the definition of a black teenager back then was to be rebellious and play truant, and that wasn’t me. I didn’t feel white, and I didn’t feel what it was to be deemed black. I just felt like me. The first thing I did when I left drama school was to tell my agent to send me up for the white roles. I said: ‘You need to fight for me, and get me in the room for the roles that my white peers would be doing.’” The division of white and black roles, and especially the paltry amount of the latter that permeate UK screens, remains a bughear for Oyelowo.

And though he was successful in TV’s Spooks (as tech wizard Danny Hunter) and flawless as the terrified local doctor in The Last King of Scotland, he says that his move to LA was inevitable. “ I recognized that I stayed I could only start repeating myself,” he says.

“Another BBC drama. Another play. And maybe a film every three years. And here in the UK, a huge amount of what my peers do is period drama. And there aren’t many places for black actors in UK period dramas.

He says his parents are proud of him. He says he now considers George Lucas a friend.

And he says his belief in God helps him to keep everything in perspective. He reflects on the changes in his house in LA, every spring before pilot season begins. It bursts at the seams with actors of ethnicity from the UK, hoping to follow in the footsteps of Oyelowo, Ejiofor and Elba. “My house is full of actorblack, brown, orange and purple. All of them there, ready and waiting.” Then he smiles his first genuinely proselytising smile of the day, like the movie-star preacher that he is. “And so, if that’s not an indication that I’ve planned myself on fertile ground, I don’t know what is.”

•Culled from Times of London

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

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The road to fame is not always smooth.

Ask Innocent Onyebuchi Onyemuwa, known popularly as Daddy Fresh from Abia State. His songs ruled the airwaves in the ’90s and early 2000. He hit the limelight with the group Pretty Buzy Boyz, which had Daddy Showkey and Cashman Davis, as members. And as a solo artiste, his musical voyage has been successful like other members of the group. But it has not been without some challenges. In this interview with EVELYN OSAGIE, he spoke on his struggles, Ajegunle and more.

‘I walked from Ajegunle to National Stadium for Fame’

W

E have not heard or seen much from Ajegunle lately, in terms of music. What is the problem?

Well, some of us left. Some of us are still around, somehow. But there is a revolution going on there right now. There was this problem of mismanagement. They used to have a PMAN there that was not functional as anticipated. As it is now, I and other stakeholders, as far as the industry is concerned, are doing the best we can, and putting so much into it, to make sure that AJ music comes to play once again and stay.

Some critics say the reasons Ajegunle is not as prominent in the industry compared to your days is because a lot of those who started the street music in Ajegunle are no longer there.

It is not all about leaving. I mean so many artistes who are playing today learned from us. I am not saying my people are illiterates, but I think sometimes we all need a ladder to get to the top. And that is where I feel we have somehow faltered, because they didn’t see that ladder to climb on. And that is why our brand of music is not being played right now in the mainstream.

However, there are still some artistes that are playing good music, but some lack the spirit to take it futher.

They can’t defend what they are playing. Illiteracy is also part of it; but notwithstanding, they need those big brothers like godfathers that could actually speak on their behalf. Even though we never had that in our time, we had to pave our way through. But we are back to give them all the support we can.

You and Daddy Showkey were part of those who made the street/jungle dancehall popular…

I started it and brought Showkey… Showkey has been like a younger brother. We have been together: we share a lot together. We stayed together in my house, ate and slept together. We actually met when we were in school at Tolu. We formed a group called Pretty Buzy Boyz of which I was leader. I happened to be the lead vocalist, and also songwriter. It later split and I went solo. When I was coming out with my own album, he wanted me to carry him along, so I decided to feature him. I featured him in one of my tracks, Falamingo Dancehall. I made sure that we shot the video of the song first. I saw it as a covenant between me and him because I promised him that we were going to do that. From then on, my thoughts were on how to facilitate his album. I had talked to my record label; as a matter of fact, I had to stake my second album for his to come out. The team was sceptical about the commercial viability of the album, I assured them that I had confidence that it was going to move. I told them I staked my next album. If the album does not move, ‘don’t release my next album’. It became a challenge for me on how to make it work. Whichever show I was going for, Showkey had to be there, be it TV, radio, interviews, concerts. And that was how Showkey actually came up.

While you were coming up in those days, did you know your musical career would inspire other youths, making Ajegunle a household name in the industry?

It wasn’t an easy road though! But somehow I knew.

Because I had to check what obtained in the industry then. We used to have the street/jungle dancehall in AJ where all the youths would come to showcase their talents. There were several places that hosted these talents shows and featured who-is-who, such as Sunrise, Ragga

‘I remember I had to pay my way, in the sense that I did not know anybody and the moment they heard you are from Ajegunle, their attention drops. I had to beg. I remember I walked from Ajegunle to the National Stadium where it it was easier for me to board a bus to Ikeja for Fame Magazine. Even at Fame Magazine, I had to pay somebody, whom I later found was a novice and a fraud, because I did not know who he was then’ •Daddy Fresh

dub Chapel, Colombo Hotel. And seeing the established artistes perform and what obtained in the industry motivated me to come up. I must confess it wasn’t that easy though.

What were some of the challenges that you encountered?

I remember I had to pay my way, in the sense that I did not know anybody and the moment they heard you were from Ajegunle, their attention would drop. I had to beg.

I remember I walked from Ajegunle to National Stadium where it made it easier for me to board a bus to Ikeja, to go to Fame Magazine. Even at Fame Magazine, I had to pay somebody, whom I later found was a novice and a fraud, because I did not know who was who then. I told him, ‘Bros abeg, try put me for paper na. See, my new album dey come out. Abeg helep me make I come out for una paper’.

I gave him my cassette and CD, not knowing that he did not know anybody and was not working there. I went home, sat waiting for months for the story to come out.

I bought the paper, monitored the story but it did not come out (laughs); until I went back and met with Faj himself. He gave me audience, listened to my songs and loved it and encouraged me. And in December 1993, there was this Nigerian Carnival. I think OGBC 2 was in charge. Weird MC and Blacky played, Kenny Ogungbe and D1 were the MCs at the National Stadium then. That, I must tell you, was my breakthrough.

I was not part of the initial artistes performing and had to do the opening acts. Before I came on stage, Kenny asked ‘are you sure you would be able to thrill these people. I said: ‘Bros, I can try.’ He reluctantly gave me the time. But when the music started everywhere was agog. I was only supposed to perform a song, but they asked me to play as much as I wanted. And the crowd refused to let go. So, that was how it started. Kenny collected my CD. I was later invited to Ozone Nite Club then in Ikeja. Then 7up, Lekki Sun Splash came up and so, from then on it has been forward ever.

Now that you are back, what are your fans going to be looking out for?

As I said, I have done a lot of collabo with many of them. And I believe I am still going to carry them along when my album comes out.

We have not heard from you for a long while. What was really happening?

A lot has been happening. I had to go back to the archives to make some research. It is not all about coming out every year like we used to do then. Now, you have to tap into other things. And as time passes by, one is actually building up a family and other things on the side. I had to go back to really study music. I can say now that I am a good producer. As an artiste with a big reputation, I had to protect my status. I wouldn’t want any album I do to lower my standard. Vocally, I believe I am still there. And a lot of the up-coming artistes are looking up to me. And I have done a lot for them – production-wise through collaborations which are called collabos. I have done over 120 collabos with some upcoming artistes and some of them are already out. And all these have somehow weighed me down. But thank God I am done with that. My album will be out by the end of the month.

What is its title?

It is entitled Rough Diamond.

Why Rough Diamond?

Because I believe I am still untapped. The best out of

me is yet to come.

It is a 16-track album. I made it 16 because people have waited patiently; so, I thought of giving them bonus.

What does it contain…hip-hop, dancehall?

Normally, I play crossover music, i.e. fusion of hiphop, R&B, dancehall, which is my area of specialisation, and African fusion, gospel. In short, it cuts across all interests. This time, to cater for all audience, I am bringing out three albums. I have always used my music as advocacy to create in the mind of the people the need for us to love one another and national solidarity which characterises Nigeria since independence. That is what my album would be doing.

How much would it be going for?

It is going to be affordable – not N1,000, N2,000, it could be N250, N200 or N100. It is not all about pricing.

I want to make it affordable for my people to make them know that I am back. And as part of my love for them, I have dropped a single entitled, Think about Tomorrow from Onwuwu abia album in which I have printed about 5,000 CDs and I intend to give it out for free.

Why give it out for free?

It is a sample. It is a gift to my fans to create awareness that I am coming out again. I want them to catch a glimpse and have a feel of what my album would be like.

And what do you intend to do to keep your album away from pirates?

Piracy, as far as I am concerned, has come to stay. It is the order of the day until the people at the top sit up.

Because it is said when the head is weak the whole body is paralysed. Nigerian music today is in the hands of pirates. We don’t have record label right now. The ones we have now are not accountable for what is happening to their artistes. Every new or established artiste today wants to go to Alaba to know his/her fate.

They determine what happens in the industry.

What then is the role of COSON and other regulatory bodies?

I wouldn’t want to talk much about COSON and other regulatory bodies because they have been there for long.

And I wouldn’t want to use the word they are doing it for their own selfish interests because if these people have come to stay and support the Nigerian musicians as they are telling us, I mean six months is enough for us to get good results. Six months is enough for foreign investors to come in. Six months is enough for Nigerian artistes to actually stand up and say ‘Yes I am a Nigerian artiste. Six months is enough for us to even get a Grammy nomination. But I know with time we will get there.

2X2 ADVERT

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

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Egbe Omo Yoruba sets up resource centre

Y

ORUBA leaders under the auspices of Egbe Omo Yoruba from the Tri-state area of New York met at the weekend at the JFK International Plaza Hotel in New York, United States. It was a forum and an award ceremony for Yoruba children who graduated from high schools and universities.

The forum discussed the relative progress by the Yoruba community in comparison to other groups, such as the Polish, Irish, Jews and other African nationalities like the Senegalese.

Participants proposed to acquire a property to serve as a resource centre to cater for the needs of the Yoruba. The centre, which will have a museum, day care, Yoruba Language learning centre, and a multi-purpose hall will also serve as a job search point and assist in providing social and educational support for the Yoruba.

An Associate Director in the New York City Hospitals board, Dr Adegboyega Dada, moderated the event. He challenged Yoruba leaders to come together to explore the myriads of opportunities that abound in the state and learn from the Senegalese who now own a bank that caters for the needs of their people.

President of the group, Chief Babatunde Olatunbosun, encouraged members to reach out and ensure cooperation that would result in the collective progress of the race. He condemned “the pervasive individual attitude” of some people and advocated love and harmony to ensure greater success among the Yoruba in the United States (US). “This forum was conveyed in order to achieve a renaissance for the Yoruba in New York in particular and in the US in general,” he said.

The resource person for the event, Dr. Bola Omotosho, a member of the New York City Board that oversees sale of government houses, informed the gathering that other nationalities such as Ghanaians have utilised opportunities to acquire government houses at reduced prices because of their minority status. He advised the Yoruba to also seek to buy

•Guests at the event in New York, US From Adeola Fayehun, New York

similar properties in New York.

Pastor Laolu Akande of the Redeemed Church commended the organisers and implored them to embark on mass mobilisation of Yoruba in New York to ensure that professionals are brought together for enviable achievements. “We should ensure that our doctors, lawyers, accountants, nurses, and professors are mobilised to be part of projects which would create a positive impact in New York and beyond,” he said. He noted: “For too long our people have been defined by the negative image of a few amongst us. It is time to tell the rest of the world who we are, the potentials inherent in us and also showcase our achievements.”

The event also featured the recognition and presentation of awards to about 25 Yoruba children who graduated from high schools and colleges. One of the recipients was 15-year-old Saheela Ibraheem, who will be attending Harvard University. Master Ibraheem was offered admission by 13 of America’s prestigious universities.

Speaker at the award ceremony, Omoyele Sowore, publisher of SaharaReporters, encouraged the graduates to be conscious of the American society and its pitfalls. He advised them “to think outside the box, and realise that Nigeria beckons on them to join hands to rid the country of corruption.”

Also in attendance was a former Miss Nigeria, Deaconess Yemi Fawaz, who extolled her pride in her Yoruba roots and counselled the graduates to aim for the sky. She condemned the lack of promotion of the Yoruba language and culture in most homes. “I am proud of my Yoruba lineage and I ensure Yoruba is spoken in my home. We have to make sure that we raise our children with Yoruba cultural values,” she said.

Participants agreed to organise a Yoruba day with all Yoruba associations, an event that would showcase the cultural richness of the Yoruba. Meanwhile, Egbe Omo Yoruba will have its 19th National Convention from September 8 to 11, at the Long Island Marriott Convention Centre. The convention is “aimed at developing a synergy between Yoruba at home and abroad towards the political, socio and economic development of the Yoruba nation.

A Time to Heal: Call for national reorientation Forty-one years after, the civil war is still being dug up. The real issues that led to it have not yet been confronted, it was observed, at the presentation of Seye Oke’s latest work, A Time to Heal. EVELYN OSAGIE reports.

B

RIGHTLY-DRESSED A Time to Heal ambassadors welcomed guests into the hall that afternoon. Their orange Tee-shirts with the book’s imprint in front, and complementing smiles did not prepare book lovers for what was in store.

Seye Oke’s book launch turned out to be a soul-searching event.

It was attended by fans, book lovers, friends and family of the author.

“In the midst of it all… two people were exchanging vows,” began Cheidu Ifeozo who read extracts from Seye’s A Time to Heal. One could hear a needle drop. He continued: “This is inevitable, because our anger has been provoked. If this war truly comes, men will die, women will lose their homes and babies will lose their fathers.

What would all this account to…I knew you’d come around…”

That last statement threw the hall into a deep silence as he concluded the reading.

Everyone was moved, after being confronted by the touching scenes, particularly the dilemma of Chidi, a major character of the book, who is forced to decide between his love for his people, tribal sentiments and his wife, Toriola, when the Civil War broke out. He finally succumbs to the calls of his kindred to join in the fight for recognition against superior force, and that decision changes everything.

•A Time to Heal ambassadors

•From left: Ihidero, Ifeozo, Ida-Micheals and Seye

It was obvious the book is anchored on the Civil War, highlighting its consequences on families. The reading left rhetorical questions, hanging in the minds of book lovers on the war. “If war should break out today, would one be willing to stick it out with one’s spouse or opt for parents and siblings?” The reactions that followed showed that it was one question many hoped they would not be forced to answer someday.

It also led to a heated discourse on the war. It was observed that issues leading to the war are yet to be addressed. This, Seye

said, inspired her book. She said she did not set out just to write another war novel, saying the aim was to re-orientate Nigerians that the change begins with them.

“She said: “Forty-one years after, with what is happening across the country – lack of trust, discrimination, killings, crises, among others – shows that the issues surrounding the war are still staring us in the face. I am looking beyond the war at the issues. The story is about ‘decision-making’: how one person’s decision can affect marriages, families, etc. How low would you go

to make a decision? It is time to heal because we have had 50 years of complaining but it is time for us to know where we occupy in the scheme of things. I realised I can no longer blame our fathers and that we need to get involved. The change begins with us. So, the message is that it is time to get involve. I think it is time we see the beauty in diversity. Thirty years from now some generation would look back and say what have we done, just like we did to those before us.”

According to her, the healing starts when we go beyond tribal sentiments. “Let us make decisions that are based on values and not tribal/cultural reasons and that is when we would be able to heal and move forward,” she noted.

Ifeozo reiterated Seye’s observation, saying: “I don’t understand the stereotypes of tribes and ethnicity. We have to start looking at people for who they are. I am getting married to a Yoruba lady soon. I don’t like war. War divides us. People of my generation have asked me that ‘If war broke out today, would you stick out with your spouse or your family i.e. parents and siblings?’ My family comes first, even if I have to run to another country, I would take my wife with me.”

On her part, Mrs Patricia Ihidero, from the Southeast but married to a Yoruba man, said: “It is a good thing that Seye has brought it to light. Let us stop breaking ourselves by segmenting ourselves.”

Like Seye, the reviewer, Moses Ida-Micheals called for participation in the political landscape of the country. Ida, who is also a clergy, said: “If we keep quiet and take the back seat, we would allow bad people, touts to continuing ruling. We all have to add our voice to the politics of our country.”

One other feature of Seye’s book is the prominence of Biblical quotes. Unity in diversity, a major preoccupation of the book, is drawn from the story of the ‘Tower of Babel’ and the confusion of language. Relating it to Nigeria’s scenario, she said: “I am trying to show how far we can go if we look beyond the cultural and language diversity and unite.”

Aside A Time to Heal, the author has also published Love’s Lie and Debbie Diary. Her creative works are usually based on Biblical principles told in a contemporary African style.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

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Achebe, Jackson for Garden City book feast US-based Nigerian literary icon Chinua Achebe will speak on the relationship between literature and politics at this year’s Garden City Literary Festival in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, reports Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME.

R

ENOWNED novelist and author of the famous classic, Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe, will lead other writers to this year’s Garden City Literary Festival, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Achebe will present the lead paper at the festival that will dwell on topical issues, such as The Niger Delta in Literature, The Voice of Women in Literature; Literature and Democracy; and Literature on War in Africa.

African-American civil rights activist Rev. Jesse Jackson, will as guest speaker, talk on the power of written words by writers who bring people-oriented issues to the front burner of public discuss thereby bringing about the much sought change.

Other writers featuring at the festival are Ama Ata Aidoo, Lola Shoneyin and Ken Wiwa.

This year’s festival with the theme, Literature and Politics, is scheduled for September 12 to 17 at the University of Port Harcourt and the Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt.

According to the organisers, Achebe will, however, present his paper via satellite while other writers will present their papers at the festival. The festival is aimed at creating a dynamic forum that inspires debate and change in our society, encourages aspiring writers to maximise their talents and also underlines the importance of books and reading to the development of the society.

The festival will be preceded by a book fair at the Atlantic Hall of Hotel Presidential open to all book sellers, bookshops, publishers, artists and gift shops. Other activities at the festival include writer’s workshops, interactive sessions and book signing with authors, various literary forums, performances, and special events for children. Partners include Association of Nigerian Authors, PEN International and the British Council. Available for purchase will be the books of the festival: Straight from the heart’ (Jesse Jackson); Changes (Ama Atta Aidoo); A Swamp Full of Dollars’ (Michael Peel); Tomorrow Died Yesterday (Chimeka Garricks), A Man of the People (Chinua Achebe), The Secret lives of Baba Segi’s wives (Lola Shoneyin), Pearls of the Mangrove (Obari Gomba), In the shadow of a saint (Ken Wiwa), among other must-have books.

There will also be theatrical presentations. Top on the bill is a command performance of Chinua Achebe’s A Man of the People at the Governor’s Lodge, Port Harcourt on September 14, by Theatre Arts students of the University of Port Harcourt.

A second performance (open to the public) will take place at the Cinema Hall, Hotel Presidential on Thursday, September 15.

Ama Ata Aidoo’s Dilemma of Ghost will be staged by students of Port Harcourt International School on Saturday 17 (Hotel Presidential); where Ola Rotimi’s Man Talk, Woman Talk is scheduled for the Cinema Hall, Hotel Presidential on Friday, September 16.

Founder of Rainbow Book Club, organisers of the festival, Mrs. Koko Kalango said the relationship between governments and writers, in the Niger Delta context, can sometimes be fragile, especially where writers highlight the perceived flaws of gov-

ernment. “From the point of view of the people, literature can serve as a mirror to our society; reflecting the good, bad and ugly aspects of our cultures and socio-economic practices,” she added.

Kalango recalled that five years ago, Port Harcourt was more in the news for intercult violence and kidnapping than for anything else. She noted that residents lived in fear daily and went to bed with one eye open, adding that lately, however, that worrisome state of affairs has given way to a more stable environment. “The current state government, headed by the Governor Rotimi Amaechi, has calmed virtually all nerves and is gradually restoring the city to its former glory as the Garden City and a place of peaceful living,” she said.

At last year’s festival, Governor Amaechi spoke about his abiding interest in literature and how Chinua Achebe’s A Man of the People is one of his all-time favourites, because it instructs him as a politician.

“The truth is that we have very good writers in Nigeria, but they haven’t achieved the same stature as, say, Chinua Achebe,” he said, tasking writers to continue to address the corruption in Nigeria. “Politicians will not change until you the writers become the voice of the people.”

He announced plans by his administration to build a world-class library in the state capital. “The building plans are in my office. They have already been approved and the library project itself would cost about N1.2billion,” he said, adding that a large chunk of the cost will be borne by corporate organisations and other sponsors. Amaechi, who is a graduate of Literature, also shared his vision of a literary festival that will not only be sustained beyond his tenure, but one that will be positioned to attract increased corporate support strictly on the strength of its own values.

“Our dream is that in the near future the city of Port Harcourt would not only be known for its oil and gas industry but also as Africa’s leading literary hub,” says Kalango, whose Rainbow Book Club organises monthly book readings in Port Harcourt and the “Get Nigeria Reading Again” initiative, now in its seventh year, in different cities in Nigeria. “And under Governor Amaechi, Port Harcourt has become the Garden where Literature blooms.”

At inception, the festival attracted such accomplished writers as Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, Kofi Awoonor, Elechi Amadi and Gabriel Okara. In 2009, it hosted authors, such as Ngugi wa

•Achebe

•Jackson

Thiong’o and J.P. Clark, among others; and last year, the festival had in attendance the likes of Chukwuemeka Ike and Vice-President Namadi Sambo as guests.

“With the first African and black Nobel Prize, the most widely read novel in Africa, numerous literary awards in the in-

‘Our dream is that in the near future, the city of Port Harcourt would not only be known for its oil and gas industry but also as Africa’s leading literary hub...And under Governor Amaechi, Port Harcourt has become the Garden where Literature blooms’

ternational scene, and the most vibrant and populous literary guild in Africa, Nigeria’s literature has given a robust account of itself, since the nation’s independence,” said Prof. Olu Obafemi, keynote speaker at last year’s edition on the theme: 50 Years of Post-Colonial Literature.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

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Revolution on stage BOOK REVIEW Title: Author: Publishers: Reviewer:

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A Plague of Gadflies Paul Emema Visual Network Press, Lagos; 2011 Uzor Maxim Uzoatu

T

HE in-your-face immediacy of theatre has the capacity of changing the society more than the other art forms such as the novel and poetry. Paul Emema has a well-earned reputation as a pathfinder in Nigerian television drama. Working behind the camera as writer, producer or director of such epochal programmes as Behind the Clouds and Supple Blues, the self-effacing Emema gave Nigerian television audiences immensely memorable and thoughtful drama series in the 1980s.

He upped the ante in the mid-1990s by marrying entertainment with education in his “enter-educate” offerings that blazed the trail in didactic “intended outcomes” television aimed at bringing about positive social change.

This way, under the sponsorship of the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA), Emema doubled as director and producer of the trendsetting I Need to Know television series that ran for eight seasons. It is against this background of Emema’s groundbreaking oeuvre on television that one became instantly animated on hearing that a stage play, A Plague of Gadflies, has just been published by Emema.

Set in his native Niger Delta, A Plague of Gadflies is a 118page drama of simmering intensity that sends up the resource-rich but poverty-stricken realm of oily corruption. The play, remarkably dedicated “to the healing of Nigeria and all God’s wounded children in Africa”, satirises the strange doings in the land of Ovrode in the heart of the Niger Delta.

The traditional ruler of Ovrode, Ovie Gideon Ogbighe Okumagba, who bears the alias The Night Fox, holds court with a special breed of potentates known as the Royal Blood.

The corruption of the cosmos by these controllers of economic and political power leads up to the choice of Isaiah Akpojaro as the next Odio ‘logbo, to wit, the noble Chief Adviser to His Majesty. Samson Akpojaro, the half-brother of Isaiah, aided by the fiery Ochonogo, leads a handful of freedom fighters, who alongside the entire populace, initiate an uprising that dislodges the regime of corruption. It all comes to a head at the time of the spiritual and ritual festival of peace called Egba. Houses are burnt and the revolting freedom fighters take the offspring of the oppressive gang hostage such that members of the Royal Blood are left with only the clothes they are wearing at the time of the mayhem. The revelation dawns that due to filthy lucre, the bags of cowries and the parcels of land they collected from Isaiah Akpojaro, members of the Royal Blood never bothered to offer the requisite traditional sacrifice to the ancestors. The 23 years that His Majesty Okumagba has been on the throne of Ovrode comes to such a pass that he pronounces banishment for the Royal Blood thus: “I, Gideon Ogbighe Okumagba – the Night Fox – as I live, and because my noble ancestors watch over my throne night and day, I pronounce your exile to Bini Kingdom until your death.”

Even so, the Night Fox cannot bask in innocence because Edokpe with whom he has sworn to an oath of secrecy reveals that His Majesty also wallowed in corruption because of all the villagers’ farmlands he gave to “our foreigner friends” in exchange for the selfsame bags of cowry.

In the elegiac denouement of A Plague of Gadflies the Night Fox laments: “Tears… Tears in the eyes of the strong… Yet, not the tears of happiness in victory. In the name of leadership, I came and reigned over my people. But now… Ah, Bini, Kingdom you shall welcome a stranger from a long journey. I shall return to the roots that once held my forebear captive of his perceived sin; the roots that my descendant rebelled against and plotted his successful escape from the hands that once fed him. I must return, this time as a peacemaker to that same land… For twenty-three years I ruled my people with the wisdom of a god, bestowed on me

by my noble ancestors. Meek is my middle name, patience is my staff of office. I shall leave for Bini Kingdom this day to bring peace upon my fatherland, that the tears of sorrow and the pool of blood that have flowed ceaselessly over my ancestral land this season shall become dry again.”

It is a measure of Emema’s art that the play does not end in despair but somewhat snatches hope from the progressive intercourse of the two wives, Esther and Awele, of the arch villain Isaiah Akpojaro. In the prologue of A Plague of Gadflies, Esther tells the youngish Awele: “No joke will melt my heart with shame and humiliation. No joke will laugh at the heavy burden that I carry through life. No. I must marry you at once… For me!” Esther unburdens her woe of barrenness, and at the very end of the epilogue Awele complains of morning sickness, dizziness, throwing up and sundry signs of early pregnancy. Esther’s words to Awele are laden with uninhibited happiness: “I am delighted, Awele; most delighted. Now I know that our ancestors are constantly awake. Who would have thought that just one night that he spent with you would produce my blood!”

Esther takes her wild excitement to the village, making a passerby woman to tell the child on her back: “I told your father that I’m beginning to see too many mad women in our village, but he wouldn’t listen.” Call it the beautiful madness of regeneration!

Emema has written a prophetic play that expands the Niger Delta set-piece of oil, blood and gore to encompass such happenings as the stepping-aside episode after the June 12, 1993 annulled election, the recent uprisings in North Africa and the Arab world etc. A Plague of Gadflies stages revolution on centre-stage by making use of traditional lore, oral performance and scribal assurance. This is redemptive art on show as opposed to preachment. One eagerly holds on with bated breath for the play to be put on live performance on stage. There would of course be the need in future editions to correct printing and editing errors such as the English translation barging into the Urhobo song on page 9, and spelling “carnal” as “canal” on page 49.

Emema’s courage should be saluted for giving us an epicproportion play in this age of minimalist plays. As a big play, A Plague of Gadflies is reminiscent of the vast canvas of late Ola Rotimi in The Gods Are Not To Blame and Kurunmi.

The art of Emema compels attention. His words are aptly deployed, and the proverbs are a joy to behold. A Plague of Gadflies by Paul Emema deserves to travel far and wide.

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH HAZARD

•Different heaps of medical waste at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos as a result of breakdown of the hospital’s incinerator.

PHOTOS: OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA

CPC to Loya: ensure winners get their prizes ONSUMER Protection Council (CPC) has commended the transparency of the on-going Promasidor Nigeria Limited Win Cash with Loya milk promotion.

Head of the Lagos office of the agency, Mrs. Obidike Ngozika, made the commendation at the second draw of the promotion in Lagos, saying that so far, the promotion has been transparent, but she enjoined the company to ensure that winners get their prizes. She described the company’s ability to create awareness about the promotion as remarkable.

Ngozika said if the promotion was well-conducted and winners received their prizes, CPC would at the end of it, give an award to Promasidor. Responding to CPC boss’s statement, Mr Obinna Anyabelechi, brand category manager of Promasidor, said the company was contacting the winners and they were coming to receive their prizes.

He said the company would make a formal report about the promotion and winners at the end of the promotion to the CPC and other regulatory bodies.

Three new winners emerged at the second draw of the promotion which was witnessed by officials of the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) and Lagos State Lotteries Board.

They winners are Mrs. Ruth Worika, a Port Harcourt based consumer of the company, who won the first prize of N250,000; Bishir Inna second winner of N150,000 while the third prize winner Olowoyo Samuel got N100,000.

The draws were based on live SMSs that were sent to the company through its SMS service provider. Promasidor, the leading food company, recently launched a N50 million “Win Cash with Loya Promotion” to reward and excite its teeming consumers across the country. Loya milk is one of the leading brands from the stable of Promasidor, a marketing led and consumer driven organisation noted for high quality and innovative product offerings that excite and exceed consumers’ expectations. The product was re-launched September, 2010 to re-position the brand and further strengthen its equity in the premium segment of the Nigerian dairy market.

The objectives of the promo are to reward loyal consumers of the brand as well as create fun and excitement around it.

NCC impounds illegal broadcast hacking gadgets

•Ezekude

T

HE Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has impounded some illegal broadcast hacking gadgets.

The seizure was made during an anti-piracy operation at the Alaba International Market in Lagos last Thursday.

The hacking devices called Avatar, which are used to break into pay-television channels, were seized from Sobis Communications Ltd located at Shop B 270 Alaba International Market in Lagos.

It was learnt that Sobis Commications Limited, which has offices in Aba, Onitsha and Ibadan is the major importer and distributor of the hacking device.

The disclosure was made by NCC Assistant Director, Public Affairs, Mr. Vincent Oyefeso, who represented the NCC Director-General, Mr. Afam Ezekude.

He said: "After a successful raid of Shop B270 located at Alaba International Market, our enforcement officers seized a big carton containing a huge number of micro-boxes called Avatar from Sobis Communications Limited who are the major importer and distributor."

Oyefeso explained that the micro-box is an illegal hacking gadget which contains a brain-box used in hacking into the signals of the broadcast industry. "The gadget is also used pirating broadcast programmes through house to house wiring.

It also contains software for receiving pornographic signals," he noted.

He added that the hacking gadget can be mistaken for a phone but when fully installed, it can illegally tap into broadcast channels without subscribing to them. This, he said amounts to pirating which the Commission is mandated to fight.

Aside seizing the illegal devices, Oyefeso said, the commission arrested a suspect, taken to its Lagos Operational Office, who was for interrogation preparatory to prosecution.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

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The Midweek Magazine E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

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AJEK Fashek and Wole Soyinka seem to travel along divergent roads. They cross paths, nevertheless, because they are both tragic muses of rainfalls and fireballs. With different mediums and forms of expression, they have played rainmakers to a burning continent in its driest seasons of creative drought, when imagination, that necessary ingredient of cultural, political, and economic transformation, seems to wither within African minds.

Leon Salako, a young Nigerian painter resident in Ibadan, is equally attentive to the milestones of life and death. With his colorful 2011 oil on canvas painting titled Cosmic Harmonium, he has joined the company of Soyinka and Fashek, in a creative search for the meaning of tragedy. Ablaze with passionate conflagration, Salako’s painting is a visual prayer for a calming deluge, as two lovers lock themselves into one eruptive volcanic body emitting sparks of fire and steaming ice. The lovers guzzle ambrosia from each other’s body in their insatiable thirst for the cosmic fusion of their polarised bodies. Without the blessing of a cooling rain, their mutually fettered bodies seem fated to consume each other with the insatiable fire of their burning passion.

Salako’s work frames the love between Majek Faahek and his jealous, elegiac muses. Burnt by the insatiable flames of his explosive romance with Californian capitalist music, Fashek’s tragic musical career appears imaginatively peaked and prematurely weathered with unremitting cruel care. But in his unfettered heyday and with his memorable masterpieces of the eighties, Fashek was the galactic Rainmaker. He carried a voice reminiscent of Bob Marley’s timeless golden ballads. And in a cadence measured to liquefy the darkest clouds, Majek lyrically begged for global respite, pleading to the forces of mythic and material powers to “Send down the rain/ to water all my seeds….”

Unlike Fashek’s, Soyinka’s consummate muses have been far more lenient and receptive to his romantic embraces. His poetic grapes, which were as biting and terse as cabernet sauvignon in his younger years, have mellowed into plum merlot blues as he ripens with time; yet his vintage voice remains as garlanded and Dionysian as ever. Writing more than forty years ago, seemingly on bended knees but garbed in a pontiff mood, Soyinka rapturously argues: “Oh it must rain, These closures on the mind, binding us, In strange despairs, teaching purity of sadness, And how it beats Skeined transparencies on wings Of out desires, searing dark longings In cruel baptisms” If Soyinka held his breath in a youthful hope for an instant deluge to douse the fires searing his motherland, he must still be waiting to exhale half a century later. The drought that he addressed remains unabated. In this unbroken spell of cultural harmattan, Nigeria cannot breed enough rainmakers to slake the national thirst and hunger for creative rebirth and regeneration.

But within the borders and margins of art, among the nooks and corners of expressive and analytical cultures, nowhere is the search for a quenching wellspring more direly compelling than in the field of visual cultural studies in Nigeria. This dearth bears the claws of a grip of death: as Salako’s painting suggests, the protagonist, with its back turned to the viewer, is beginning to burn from the head down, as he melts into the hot body of his seductive muse. Salako’s gaze is trapped in-between the path of fire and rain sweeping Nigeria’s creative terrain.

The situation in Nigeria is a reflection of the norm in many African countries. Nobody stated this predicament better than Nigerian artist Rufus Orisayomi who, just before his untimely transition last year, metaphorically remarked that if you rolled any stone with your toes in Nigeria, a gifted artist would crawl out from underneath the boulder. “But no soul,” he continued, “understood what everyone else was doing.” In plain language, artists are everywhere in Nigeria and the entire continent, but not an art historian, curator, conservator, or critic is in sight to decipher their layered messages. A continent that is so gifted with makers of art is equally thirsty and burning for a scarcity of art interpreters.

In literature, the prognosis is healthier, although the fire in literary criticism is beginning to wan. The country that produced the first Nobel laureate in Africa is also blessed with an impressive blaze of imaginative and prolific interpreters including Biodun Jeyifo, Abiola Irele, and The Notorious Troika, (Chinweizu, Onwucheka Jemie, and Ihechukwu Madubuike), who, in the late seventies virtually insisted on changing the course of African literary history beyond recognition. Yet the list of gifted mythopoesy critics stretches almost endlessly: Romanus Egudu, Donatus Nwoga, and the no longer-fledgling Bayo Williams who continues to spit fire like a cobra of literary and cultural analysis, lodged in his diasporic watering hole of Savannah, Georgia.

Perhaps because there is an element of incest in using letters to interrogate and impregnate writing, literary criticism in Nigeria is fecund and lush. As in many incestuous situations, however, the fertile genes mutate to become malignant and jaded with time, and the Nigerian situation is beginning to call from cross-pollination beyond the consummate and consumed literary genealogy. It is remarkable that Salako embeds a Freudian slip of Oedipal and Electra cradles of incest in his painting, Cosmic Harmonium, as he searches for psychoanalytic passages within literary theories.

Isn’t it therefore unspeakable that, in Nigeria, the psychoanalytic themes of incest have largely met with stone-faced silence from the critics and interpreters of visual, musical, and cinematic arts? There is hardly anything more delightful or engaging than the hybridization that emanates from cross-pollinating one medium with another, such as using words to impregnate and tease meaning out of visual images. Art criticism is essentially a genre of picture framing, in which images become a foreign language that must be translated into a local dialect, for the benefit of native speakers and immigrant listeners.

If literary critics and creative writers are wordsmiths, art critics and art historians are builders of text-scrapers, constructing lofty and gorgeous gardens of words with lexicographic dexterity. The

•Okedeji

Between fire, rain From Moyo Okedeji

best of them are few and rarefied, and no nation receives more than a dozen or so of the highest calibers at any time. This probably explains why most advanced countries tend to produce art historians and critics in copious numbers, with the hope that a couple or so would rise to the surface and illuminate the land with glowing perspectives on art.

Those who question the production of art historians and artists abound in every land and dominate discussions in all countries.

They think that all national focus must concentrate on mathematics, medicine, engineering, and commerce. Relentless in their conviction, they often advocate the closure of art schools, and sometimes cut funding for art history, media criticism, and art education. Their oppositional position, however, is easy to understand: art is particularly resistant of ready interpretation because it is the very stuff people are made of as human beings. Art seems so easy to understand that only a few people are actually capable of deciphering it. But Salako’s painting, in its incorporation of symmetry, lines, depth, and other visual calibrations and ornamentations, shows that art is the spinal column that holds together the skeletal frame of all calculations in mathematics, medicine, engineering, and commerce. Art is not a function of making pictures.

Art is an embodiment of thinking as we understand and project our minds.

As one gazes into the fused yet fragmented bodies in Salako’s painting, he suggests that people think with images; that words are pictures reposed in figures of speech; that human thoughts are imaginary matters of intangible forms and reflections; that feelings are kinetic mental and somatic impressions; and that the active mind is the residence of avidly acquired images that must be carefully collected, curated, and conserved, like a museum gallery. If readers encounter difficulties in following this pictorial notion, perhaps they should also be humble enough to perceive the loftiness of the realm of the image in all its ramifications.

But, at this juncture, one seems to be asking for the improbable: to perceive this loftiness is impossible without constructing a large museum of images within the mind in which to hold enough thought patterns, and from which to build a reasonable gallery of imagination. See? Salako’s painting suggests that thinking is a visual task that masks itself in the garb of words and silence.

There is therefore the need to produce art historians to untangle the web of thoughts as the visual core of the national imagination.

Any nation that neglects the arts and the cultivation of art historians and critics is fated to suffer a decline or mediocrity in all the other fields of human endeavor.

Is it, therefore, surprising that the Renaissance era, one of the highest, and most innovate epochs in human history, is also one of the most productive moments in art history? That the same nations that take care of the arts also thrive in mathematics, engineering, medicine, and commerce? That those Third World nations that neglect the arts also suffer from social, economic, scientific, and cultural underdevelopment? That the amazing wonders of the ancient world—the great Pyramid of Gaza, the hanging gardens of Babylon, the statue of Zeus at Olympia, the temple of Artemis at Ephesus, the Mausoleum of Maussollos at Halicarnassus, the Colossus of Rhodes, and the lighthouse of Alexandria—are artistic feats with engineering components? That the wonders of the medieval and modern worlds are also constructions that privilege imagistic thinking as engineering contents? That one may, in short, declare that seek ye first the kingdom of art, and all other things shall be added unto you?

•Salako’s painting

The kingdom of the art is already here on earth. The state of Texas in the United States must boast of some of the most complex urban road networks, with web-like tapestries of overhead bridges embedded into busy traffic configurations. In Dallas, Houston, Austin, and other prominent Texas cities, the towering street light poles are symmetrically planted along spacious avenues in rhythmic intervals. At night, when the light glows from the dark sky, the projected symphony of space has a visual effect that is best described as musical and poetic, as vehicular traffic of different dimensions flow like the Niger River delta across the lanes, through downtown metropolitan centers.

But you can sense a similar feeling as you drive from Lagos Mainland to Victoria Island, on the magnificent Third Mainland Bridge connecting extreme parts of the Eko landscapes, over the lagoon. There is a miraculous wedding of nature and culture as you cruise from Oworonsoki, through the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, down to the Herbert Macaulay Way, on the Julius Berger masterpiece, over the longest bridge in Africa, and one of the most majestic traffic constructions in the world. This incredible bridge is a pride of the black world.

Or is it really? Not exactly. The Julius Berger bridge is the expressive product of German imagination, the work of a nation that has learned to discipline the drive for engineering, scientific, and medical achievements with a commensurate passion for the cultivation of artistic ingenuity. Things never work quite so efficiently when a nation focuses only on one or the other. It is the balance of both sides of culture, of both sides of the brain, to strike an imaginative equilibrium that relieves the raging fire of national desires with the abundant rainfalls of imaginative aspirations.

This balance is also necessary in the production of those who make art and those writing about art. African universities and art schools have so far focused on the production of those who make art; but this focus appears to be at the gross neglect of the need to produce those who write about art. No one has better explored this need for consummate balance better than Salako, in Cosmic Harmonium. Elaborating on this powerful work, Salako explains that, “I was inspired by my close reading of alchemy literatures on the integration of natural elements. The painting is a sublimation of Jungian psychoanalysis, and the writings of Herbert Ripley.

It also benefits from Freudian reading, which has libidinal undertones and assumptions. Carl Jung rather veers towards mystical transcendence converging towards archetypal insight and symbols as parallels for spiritual and somatic harmony. In summation, however, chaos becomes cosmos, attesting to the notion that the universe has a purpose, and that humanity is a veritable epitome of the macrocosm. Science explores the diversity of life; mystics experience and project the desire for unity.”

Salako’s painting is a primal dream that blends fire and rain in the human subconscious as one convergent memory from the cosmic blast, at the origin of time and space. It is a work sited in the fourth dimension, where time warps space with an erotic passion, while the consummate desire for wholeness and integration distorts and colors reality. Between fire and rain, this numinous passage in which Majek Fashek’s elegiac spirit is lost, is the space that Soyinka celebrates as “the fourth stage,” as he searched for tragedy in his book, Myth, Literature and the African World. It is the space in which Salako is reinventing himself with painting.

•Okedeji writes from United States

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

The Midweek Magazine E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

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POSTLE Moses Abolade Adediran celebrated his 100 years birthday in grand style only a few weeks ago. All his children, grand-children and great-grand-children were present. Papa Adediran was full of praise to God because at 100 years, he still has mother, Mama Felicia Olowokere, who is over 140 years.

Pa Adediran lost his father while he was a carpentry apprentice in Ilesa, but he was brought up with the meagre income his mother made from selling eko (pap).

According to Pa Adediran, his birth date was not recorded, but her mother told him he was carrying his pregnancy when the Ijesha warlord, Ogedengbe died in 1910. So, they assumed young Adediran must be born a year after Ogendegbe’s death. He consequently, picked 1911 as his birthday.

He was the first born of his mother. All the children are alive. The last born, Ade Young, is a popular Ilesabased musician and Mama Felicia lives with him at his Irojo residence in Ilesa. Unlike his mother, who is confined to the house, Pa Adeniran at 100 is very agile. He lives in his one-storey building at Oke-Iyin Street, Ilesa. He still travels to visit his children and some of his church members in need of spiritual help.

Last week, Prophet Adediran returned from a sevenday trip to Lagos in his chauffeur-driven Volvo car.

He loves to eat pounded yam with vegetable soup.

Baba’s favourite meat is ponmo, which at his age, he eats effortlessly.

Talking about his mother, he said: “She loves to see me all the time because she does not stay with me. She is staying with her last born. And I make sure I visit her at least twice a week. I always buy yam, her favourite food, and give her money with which they prepare her soup. She prayed for me, advised me not to engage anyone in a fight during my 100th birthday, which I marked a few weeks ago. She will ask after all my children and wives and will also pray for them.”

His seventh wife, Madam Racheal Adediran, like other wives, plays a prominent role in Pa Adediran’s church. Madam Racheal, who is about 60 years old, said it is fun living with Baba. She also eulogised her mother-in-law, who she described as a mother in a million.

After his carpentry apprenticeship, young Adediran practised for a few years before he received the call to serve God in 1952. He was anointed in 1959 and has been waxing stronger in the service of the Lord.

Married to eight wives four of whom are alive and 16 children out of 32, Apostle Adediran established seven branches of the United Apostolic Church, Ogbese, Ilesa.

As President of the church in Nigeria, he superintends over 140 branches operating under the name, United Apostolic Church in Nigeria. Pa Adediran talks glowingly about his mentors, including the late Joseph Ayo Babalola, the founder of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), who he said advised him to marry many wives.

“Baba Babalola told me I am a man of many wives. But today, I am preaching against polygamy in my church and family. I always advise my church members and biological sons not to marry more than a wife and to the glory of God, none of these people has more than a wife. For me, I enjoyed it and I have no regret because it

•Mama Olowokere

140-year-old mum gives son, 100, birthday gift From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

was prophesied for me and I am in firm control of my family and the church.” His other mentors and leaders

include Joseph Babajide at Akure, Ondo State; Prophets George Odesanmi and Elijah Goke. At the age of 90, Pa Adediran had his last born, Surprise Sunday now a 10-year-old in junior secondary class 1.

‘She loves to see me all the time because she does not stay with me. She is staying with her last born. And I make sure I visit her at least twice a week. I always buy yam, her favourite food, and give her money with which to prepare her soup. She prayed for me, advised me not to engage anyone in a fight during my 100th birthday anniversary, which I marked a few weeks ago. She will ask after all my children and wives and will also pray for them’

Abiku has called for the last time BIKU! Abiku! Abiku! (the Stillborn/Born-to-Die). Abiku is real. It is a well-established phenomenon in the Yoruba belief system. This has been acknowledged in the works of Wole Soyinka, Gabriel Okara and J. P. Clark.

Abiku brings grief to the mother and the entire family as very few of them lived up to their first birthday.

In the case of Twin Seven-Seven, one must praise the mother for bearing the birth and loss of 12 babies who were Abiku.

In spite of the grief and harrowing experience she still gave birth to another set of twins making a total of 14. The 14th set thus produced the artist, Twins Seven-Seven. After his birth, his father named him Bamidele while his grandmother named him Olaniyi. But according to his biographer, Henri Glassie, when he took off from home, he named himself Twins Seven-Seven. It is true, Seven Seven is the number of twins his mother had and he was the lone survivor of all.

However, he did not only survive, he also lived to fulfill a big dream in life.

Prince Seven-Seven’s sojourn through life was very remarkable in spite of challenges. Early in his 20s, he was mentored

by Africanist scholar, Ulli Beier and his wife, Georgina Beier through the Osogbo Art School where he discovered and developed his artistic career. In this school, he became a renowned artist in Africa and across the globe. In life and in death, one of his greatest contributions was his biography, which became a reference point for art historians and culture experts. Indeed, Prince Seven-Seven was literally worshipped by the art community of Nigeria, especially in Osogbo, Sekona and Ibadan. He was literally in the forefront of African cultural rejuvenation. He was married to Nike Okundaye of the famed Nike Art Gallery and the marriage produced Seyi. Today, Seyi is my good friend and she is also one of the greatest promoters of Prince Seven-Seven

•Papa Adediran

A

•Twin Seven Seven From Siyan Oyeweso, Osogbo

and Nike. Seven-Seven’s death is a loss to the art community. The art community will surely miss him. The international community will also miss him.

But like his childhood days, will he be back again? Surely, we know that is not possible. But, the Prince is alive and his

works live. He was an artist, actor, musician, poet and writer; almost a perfect example of “gbogbo nise” (Jack of all trade, Master of all). He had a gallery at Sekona, Osun State and his works are also displayed at the Material Culture Gallery in Philadelphia, United States. He excelled in everything he did and was an inspiration to upcoming artists. He was always available to help the downtrodden. And this perhaps derived from his humble background.

Twins Seven-Seven’s life philosophies were rooted in the Yoruba culture and mythology, reflecting in his traditional rhymes and music. Twins Seven-Seven was a man of many callings, but undoubtedly, art was his base and frame of his fame. Like many men, he had his challenges, fame surely had its other side. Twins was never limited by these challenges.

He was gingered on by the song, ‘Onward Culture Soldier’.

Though born into a royal family, he was never close to royalty in childhood, he nevertheless became a king; a king in the world of art. Rewarded for his contribution to promotion of African culture, he was honoured with chieftaincy titles in Ibadan and Ogidi.

Even though he is no longer with us, his memory will forever remain with us. Particularly, for the art community, we can preserve the memory of Twins Seven-Seven. His works should also be studied by universities and the colleges of arts and humanities. This is perhaps the greatest contribution to the preservation of Osogbo Art Movement, which is presently endangered. Earlier in the year, the chief promoter of the school, Prof Ulli Beier, was snatched by death. With the death of Prince Twins Seven-Seven, another member of the school, therefore, there is an urgent need to preserve the great works of the Osogbo Art School. In this regard, the works of surviving members of the school, such as Chiefs Jimoh Buraimoh and Muraina Oyelami must be properly documented. These artists are the pride of Africa and we must celebrate them.

Today, Prince Seven-Seven has gone. Not even the River Osun could hold him back. He has called for the last time and never to return again. But I know he is not far from us, for his works and legacies live with us.

•Prof Oyeweso, Osun State University (UNIOSUN), Osogbo

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

38

ABUJA REVIEW

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has approved the appointment of Mandate Secretaries for six of the seven secretariats in the Federal Capital Territory Administration.

They are to coordinate the affairs of the secretariats for effective service delivery to residents of the city.

The new secretaries sworn in were Kabiru Usman (Education Secretariat), Dr. Onakomaiya Ademola Olufunmi (Health and Human Services), Mrs. Blessing Onyeche Onu (Social Development) Secretariat, Mr. Ivoke Jonathan Achara (Transportation), Alhaji Yahaya Alhassan Ibrahim (Area Council Services) and Olvadi Bema Madayi (Agriculture and Rural Development).

Also sworn in was the Coordinator of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), Mr. Reuben Boutuaowei Okoya.

This has put to rest speculations that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed wanted to run a one-man government.

At the inauguration, the minister told the new secretaries that their coming on board was to keep track with President Jonathan’s transformation agenda of economic reliance, prosperity, infrastructural development and good governance in the Territory.

He emphasised that government business in the Federal Capital Territory is a serious one, noting that “we are running a city with daily influx of people where the best services are required 24 hours with expectations that we keep up with this pace.”

Charging the newly appointed secretaries to sit up as the days of politicking were over; Mohammed advised them to avoid distraction and work as a team by assisting in delivering the Jonathan’s transformation agenda.

Reiterating that he was not prepared to take excuses for failure, the minister stressed that dividends of democracy must be delivered to the residents of the

•From right: The newly appointed secretaries, Mrs Olvadi Bema Madayi (Agriculture), Mrs Blessing Onyecha Onu (Social Development), Dr. Onakomiya Ademola (Health), Mr. Ivoke Jonathan (Transport), Alhaji Kabiru Usman (Education), Mr. Yahaya Alhassan Ibrahim (Area Council) and Mr. Reuben Okoya (Abuja Metropolitan Management Council) during their swearing-in at Life Camp…Abuja

New co-ordinators for FCT secretariats Stories from Bukola Amusan

territory.

Corroborating the minister’s views, the Minister of State for the FCT, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide urged them to work as a team with a view to achieving optimal

success in the overall interest of the residents.

In a maiden interactive meeting with some of them in her office, Akinjide urged the new secretaries to key into the transformation agenda of the President by engaging in productive ventures that will make FCT a pace

Transformation is no longer a slogan since it is measurable. It has brought to the fore a new era of accountability where performance ndicators will be used to assess records of fficiency or otherwise of all duty bearers…With patience, dialogue and mutual respect for one another, you will get total co-operation of everybody involved

setter for other states.

She said: “Transformation is no longer a slogan since it is measurable. It has brought to the fore a new era of accountability where performance indicators will be used to assess records of efficiency or otherwise of all duty bearers.

“With patience, dialogue and mutual respect for one another, you will get total co-operation of everybody involved,” she added.

Akinjide also disclosed plans to convene FCT stakeholders’ retreat which is aimed at producing a developmental roadmap that will facilitate a smooth running of the FCT Administration through effective planning, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation.

“The era of more haste, less

speed is over. The focus now should be on sustainable result,” she added.

Though these are good aspirations, the fear expressed in some quarters is whether they will match words with action by closely monitoring the activities of these Mandate Secretaries because, they opined, their actions or inactions will impact negatively or positively on the transformational agenda.

Given the numerous challenges facing the nation’s capital especially in the area of provision of basic infrastructure like transportation, health, education, development of satellite towns and other sundry issues, the appointed secretaries need to be above board and work effectively with less supervision.

Minister seeks support for health sector

N

•Mrs Akinjide

IGERIAN medical experts in the diaspora have been called upon to assist in improving the medical sector for increased quality of health especially for people living in the rural areas.

The Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Jumoke Akinjide made the call at the closing session of a three-day training aimed at enhancing the skill of medical personnel at the Maitama District Hospital, Abuja.

The session was organised to impact on doctors and midwives

new innovation on life saving skills essentials for obstetrics and new born care in the medical profession.

“I am appealing to you to please come back home, not just to visit but come back home permanently and deploy your vast experience to the benefit of the country and the rural women,” she pleaded.

The minister noted that the present administration seeks to improve on the quality of health for the people in the country as health occupies a prime position in the government’s development agenda.

She commended the management of the hospital for hosting the training organised by the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecologists with the aim of providing life saving skills essentials for obstetrics and new born care.

The training was at the instance of Nigerian members of the organisations.

The minister noted that the private sector initiative was encour-

aging as it would provide the medical personnel with life saving skills in handling issues related to newborn and their mothers during child bearing.

She noted that women form a major part of vulnerable members of the society, even as she pointed out that many women in the rural areas may never have access to a doctor due to the doctor/patient ratio in the country.

One of the facilitators, Dr. Charles Ameh said the programme would assist in remov-

ing the doctor/midwives barriers in the discharge of their duties as emergencies do not recognise hierarchy.

He maintained that the training was also targeted at providing the trainees with the skill to manage emergencies calmly with focus to ensure that the life of the patient is saved.

Those trained at the programme are expected to go home and train their respective teams in the various hospitals for wider coverage.

I am appealing to you to please come back home, not just to visit but come back home permanently and deploy your vast experience to the benefit of the country and the rural women…women form a major part of vulnerable members of the society, even as she pointed out that many women in the rural areas may never have access to a doctor due to the doctor/patient ratio in the country

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

39

ABUJA REVIEW

T

HERE are strong indications that intending pilgrims from the Federal Capital Territory for this year’s Hajj operations may be the first to enjoy the FCT permanent Hajj camp.

The FCT Administration (FCTA) has given assurance that the project will be completed before the commencement of this year’s Hajj exercise.

Giving the assurance during a facility tour of the camp, Minister of State for the FCT, Mrs Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide said that the Administration will leave no stone unturned to provide habitable accommodation for intending pilgrims, adding that contractors handling the job on the camp will expedite action on it in order to meet up with the time limit.

The minister called on the contractor,

Hajj camp ready soon From Bukola Amusan

Mumuni Yahaya and the acting Director of FCT Public Building, Mr Ugot Eni to work at full capacity to hasten the project and also ensure that adequate facilities are put in

place for the comfort of the intending pilgrims.

Akinjide promised that the FCT Administration will make money available to the contractor for the project in line with the budget provision.

The initial challenges that slowed down the pace of work was the swampy nature of the project site and delay in assessing fund due to intermittent closure of government account…With proper mobilisation, the project will be delivered at the specified time with the co-operation of other people involved

Responding, Yahaya said that the initial challenges that slowed down the pace of work was the swampy nature of the project site and delay in assessing fund due to intermittent closure of government account.

The contractor assured that with proper mobilisation, the project will be delivered at the specified time with the co-operation of other people involved.

The Director of FCT Muslim Pilgrim Welfare Board, Dr Yakubu Kurfi also remarked that the construction of the camp which started in 2009 had a budget of N180m and has reached 65 per cent completion stage.

He added that out of the budget, N27m has so far been released. With the progress recorded at the site, Dr Kurfi assured that it’s completion before this year’s Hajj is achievable.

‘Why building collapse persists’ Following the spate of collapsed buildings across the country, including Abuja, Chairman, Nigerian Society of Engineers, Mr. Tunde Akinteye, has pointed the finger of blame at the Department of Development Control, even as he proffers solutions to the ugly incidence. NDUKA CHIEJINA met him

A

FEW months ago, an uncompleted multi-storey building at the border of Nyanya and Mararaba area of the Federal Capital Territory and Nasarawa State came crashing down. It trapped some people and snuffed out a life. As usual, residents scrambled to rescue those trapped and after a few days, the matter was forgotten.

However, the outgoing chairman of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) Abuja chapter, Mr. Tunde Akinteye went in company of fellow engineers to the site and was shocked to discover the lack of effective supervision required for a building of such magnitude.

When Newsextra confronted him on the growing incidence of building collapse in the FCT, Mr Akinteye lamented that “people always blame the indigenous engineers for building collapse, but the question is this, how many of these Nigerian engineers have been caught since we have been experiencing building collapse?”

Last year, he said, the FCT experienced the most disastrous case of building collapse at Gimbiya Street but “when we (engineers) got there, our investigations revealed that no Nigerian engineer was involved in the handling of that project. As the chairman of NSE, I carried out an investigation and the NSE realised that even the authorities in charge of approval of construction of buildings (Development Control) don’t even have enough engineers.”

He disclosed that a visit to the Department of Development Control revealed that “the total number of engineers they have are not up to 20,” stressing that “what they do is to make use of town planners and even the number of architects they have there are not many compared to the speedy development going on in Abuja.”

The NSE, he said, has warned that Development Control is not supposed to be a department, but instead “it ought to be an agency where you will have various departments that will enable you to employ more hands for the analysis of design, so that the same people that analysed the design won’t be the same people that will go to the field to su-

pervise.”

He explained that: “It’s not an easy job to analyse any design being submitted by the contractor.

For example, if the design is meant for three storey building, you have to determine the type of rod that can withstand the required load.

This will enable you determine whether what the engineer has used is correct. But in a case where you don’t have enough hands, then you can’t have good result. To crown it all, the Department of Development Control in the FCT does not have a unit that we can refer to as engineering unit.”

When asked to proffer a solution, Akinteye called for the recruitment of more engineers by the Department of Development Control, even as he noted that the NSE had met with officials of the department in the past ”and told them that there is need for them to have more hands and they agreed to employ more engineers.

“We submitted over 100 curriculum vitae of qualified engineers last year and up till now, nothing has been done.”

So, when the news of another collapsed building got round the FCT, Akinteye said he was not surprised but rather he advised the public that “they should stop patronising quacks. The government should also learn to put the right people in the right places.” He roundly condemned government’s attitude of allowing planners to supervise construction of buildings in Abuja describing the practise as ”wrong.”

The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), he said, has consistently warned that with the level and spate of development taking place in Abuja ”the people we need now are engineers and architects, but development control believes so much in planners and that is why we are experiencing this problem now.”

With regard to the society’s discussions with the authorities particularly the Federal Government towards the use of more engineers at construction sites, Akinteye insisted that “no success has been recorded. We have never had a case whereby a lawyer is made the minister of health, or where an accountant is made attorney-general.

But go to works, how many engineers have they put there to be min-

• A collapsed building

There is need for the Federal Government to promote indigenous engineers because that is the only way Nigeria can develop. In Egypt, there are no foreign contractors but in Nigeria we believe so much in foreign companies and that is the reason we are recording all these drawbacks…The foreign contractors won’t help us develop our economy because they are here to make money.

Their contract amount is not quoted in naira and that is why we pay so much for our projects

•Mr. Akinteye ister of works? We are talking about irregularity of power, how many engineers have they appointed to head the ministry of mines, power and steel?”

To effectively address these lapses, the NSE, he said, has been lobbying for professionals to be appointed as ministers of FCT, but where non-engineers or architects are appointed as FCT minister, such minister, he said ”will fail because he doesn’t have the technical expertise to perform effectively. That is why we have been recording failures in our economy.”

The government, he lamented, does not believe in dialogue.

“They so much believe in strike.

The government shouldn’t wait

until that day when engineers will have no option than to go on strike because it would be disastrous,” he warned.

During his reign as chairman of the NSE Abuja chapter, the society, Akinteye said, has been enhancing the capacity of its members to make them more professional in addition to canvassing to have engineers monitor the construction of infrastructure.

H e said: “Over the years, we have been discussing with federal, state and local governments informing them that there is need for them to involve us in the construction of projects in the country.”

Continuing, he maintained that: “There is need for the Federal Government to promote indigenous engineers because that is the only way Nigeria can develop. “In Egypt, there are no foreign contractors but in Nigeria we believe so much in foreign companies and that is the reason we are recording all these drawbacks. “The foreign

contractors won’t help us develop our economy because they are here to make money. Their contract amount is not quoted in Naira and that is why we pay so much for our projects. This cannot help us as a nation” he said.

Another disadvantage of engaging foreign engineers, he pointed out, “is that they are always in possession of the design and if anything goes wrong with that project, we will have to go and call them to fix it and we cannot carry out any maintenance without making reference to the initial design.”

Akinteye expressed disappointment that he did not fulfil his desire for Nigerian engineers while he led the society in Abuja.

He said: “I believe that I will be more fulfilled the day Nigerian engineers are fully recognised and placed in their rightful position in Nigeria. Also, I will be fulfilled the day I see young engineers not looking for jobs and the day when quacks would be totally flushed out of the system.”

40

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

Could a pregnant woman steal a container of goods as they claimed? Could a pregnant woman steal cars from the wharf as they claimed? What happens should the baby in the womb have problems? Again, why should Nigerians become slaves in their fatherland?

R

EPRIEVE came the way of the 167 out of about 367 suspects who were arrested by men of the Nigerian Customs Service for alleged illegal business transactions at the Tin-Can Island Port Apapa on August 10. They were released on bail on Friday last week after 10 days in detention.

They were charged to court on August 17, eight days after their arrest and were granted summary bail by Justice Idris of the Federal High Court Ikoyi Lagos the same day on the condition of providing a surety and other documentary requirements.

Some of the charges levelled against them were: “obstruction of Customs men from carrying out their duties; possession and procession of false documents; prohibition of Customs instructions and conspiracy,” among others.

The arrested failed to immediately meet the bail requirements, and were detained in 17 police stations across Lagos apparently because the Customs Service lacked the power and the facility to remand suspects.

Some of the police stations where they were remanded were Itire; Alakara; Ikoyi; Ijora Badia; Ajaromi; Sabo; Maroko (where two pregnant women were allegedly also detained); Bar Beach; Oloson (Mushin); Ajah and Lekki, among others.

Justice Idris concluded the signing of the bail warrants at about 5:00 pm and men of Nigerian Prisons Service went to some police stations to effect the release of the suspects.

The first batch to arrive at the court at 6:58 pm comprised those detained at Itire Police Station. Relations and the suspects were jubilant over their temporary freedom from what they termed illegal arrest and the subsequent inhuman treatment allegedly meted out to them at the police stations.

Narrating their ordeals to Newsextra, some of the suspects bemoaned what they called lack of respect for their dignity and flagrant abuse of people’s fundamental human rights.

One of the victims, Mr Casmir Opara who hails from Egbelu Amaimo in Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State told Newsextra that arresting innocent people going about their normal and legal businesses speaks volumes of the jungle Nigeria has become.

“On that Wednesday, I left my home for Apapa to collect debts from some of my customers whom I supplied goods. Though I saw the gun-wielding Customs and policemen and their Black Maria, I never entertained any fears since I didn’t commit any crime. Just before the port gate, they arrested me. We were more than 367. They took us to Panti and later to various police stations in Lagos. We were detained at Itire Police Station where we were treated like animals.

“I am a diabetic patient. The policemen prevented my children from bringing recom-

C

OUNCILLORS who constitute the legislative arm of the Gwagwalada Area Council have urged the chairman of the council, Hon. Zakari Angulu Dobi to embark on more development projects that would have positive impact on the lives of the people.

The 10 councillors made up of six All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and four Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members, however passed a vote of confidence on Dobi for his achievements as the council’s boss.

The councillors, in a resolution, lauded the cordial relationship between the executive and legislative arm of the council, saying through concerted efforts, Gwagwalada has witnessed momentous growth in infrastructure, social and economic spheres.

Leader of the council, Hon. Mohammed Yusuf, who spoke on behalf of the councillors, urged the chairman not to rest on his oars, adding that his commitment and track record of achievements would continue to be a reference point for future administrators of the council.

Yusuf said: “We have seen what are clearly well-mapped out developmental projects geared towards alleviating the sufferings of our people and identify with the administration’s efforts in the effective utilisation of the council’s limited funds.

•First batch of the released victims as they arrived at the court

Reprieve for mass arrest victims

By Chinaka Okoro

mended drugs to me. It was by the grace of God that I am alive today. If one was going to ease oneself, one would be guided by a policeman as if we are terrorists…,” Mr Opara said.

Another victim Mr Chebee Nkwazee said: “I was eating in a restaurant when I was arrested. I never had any idea of what was happening because I was not even close to the port gate. What they did was to arrest anyone they saw within that vicinity; whether you were going to the port or not.”

Mr Ferdinand Ogah, who could not fight back tears, told Newsextra that since his wife was arrested 10 days ago, the family has not been the same.

“The Customs men, in league with the police arrested my wife who was working in her office of one of the licensed clearing agents. Since 10 days now, my wife who is four-month-old pregnant has been detained at Maroko Police Station. The questions which nobody has been able to provide answers to are: Could a pregnant woman steal a container of goods as they claimed? Could a pregnant woman steal cars from the wharf as they claimed? What happens should the baby in the womb have problems? Again, why should Nigerians become slaves in their fatherland?”

Mr Victor Egbe was not directly involved.

But his brother was a victim of the mass arrest. He said since his brother was illegally arrested and detained, he had been experiencing some psychological trauma. He

wished the Nigerian Customs Service would discontinue the prosecution of the people it arrested because it has no constitutional right to arrest and detain people.

“If it doesn’t withdraw the case and publicly apologise to the victims of its unlawful arrest, we will sue it for violating the fundamental human rights of innocent Nigerians.

“How could 365 people be arrested and only 167 were charged to court after eight days of detention? What happened to the others?

How would the families of the two suspects that died in detention be compensated?

Again, why is there no Hausa victim or would the Customs say Hausa don’t do business in the wharf?” he queried.

Council chief challenged on development From Sanni Ologun

“From roads, schools, health, markets and provision of electricity to hitherto neglected areas; it is the story of unprecedented success that knows no bound.

“Practically, Gwagwalada Area Council, we are proud to say, has embarked on lifetouching policies and measures that have direct bearing on the lives of the citizenry

and this we are proud of.”

Yusuf cited the 2KM Kutunku Road, modernisation of the Gwagwalada Market, evacuation of drainage at staff quarters ward, building of dispensaries and water projects at Anagada, road construction at Dobi town, road grading at Ibwa and rural electrification project at Tungan Maje as projects that have earned Dobi the endorsement.

What we have seen is a leadership that is committed towards improving the standard of living of all residents in this council area. It is only natural that expectations of the citizenry would continue to be high.

We must , however, understand and continue to lend our support towards his determined efforts to better the lot of the residents, just as on our own part, we remain committed towards helping, through our legislative role, in aiding to make life easy for the citizenry

He also noted that the cottage hospital in Dobi, Ibwa, Zuba, and Angwan Dodo as well as the construction and rehabilitation of township secretariat among others are projects that would remain landmarks in the tenure of the chairman.

The Leader said the endorsement had become pertinent so as to encourage the chairman and others to continue delivering democracy dividends to Gwagwalada residents, saying the administration could no longer afford to fail, taking into cognizance the expectations of the people.

He, however, called on the residents to be patient as the chairman has shown that despite the limited funds accruable to the council; he is committed to alleviating the plights of the people.

“What we have seen is a leadership that is committed towards improving the standard of living of all residents in this council area. It is only natural that expectations of the citizenry would continue to be high. We must , however, understand and continue to lend our support towards his determined efforts to better the lot of the residents, just as on our own part, we remain committed towards helping, through our legislative role, in aiding to make life easy for the citizenry,” he stated.

SLIDING TACKLE

42

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Wenger sad as Nasri heads for Man City Wilshere ruled out CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

of Udinese clash

•Wenger

•Wilshere

Mourinho facing 12-game ban

TODAY’S FIXTURES Rubin Kazan v Lyon Benfica v FC Twente Enschede Sturm Graz v BATE Borisov Udinese v Arsenal Viktoria Plzen v FC Copenhagen

Maracana workers end strike

Puyol back in three weeks - Doctor international, thinks he will soon return to the pitch.

"Puyol will be playing again within three weeks. I expect him back in action halfway

through September and he'll soon be in good form again," Cugat was quoted as saying by Esports COPE. "The surgery won't have

any long-term consequences.

Puyol is here to stay. He still has one, two and perhaps even three more seasons to go."

OTHER SPORTS...OTHER SPORTS...OTHER SPORTS...

Brain surgery for Holmes

•Holmes

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

43

MONEY

Depositors flee ‘weak’ banks as new market leaders emerge N

EW market leaders have emerged in banking under the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) reforms, according to a survey.

Customers are also leaving banks perceived as weak for the strong ones, as Renaissance Capital, an investment and research firm based in Lagos, said in its analysis of the sector that the industry is expected to undergo further transformation over the next few years. A few largescale banks and some smaller niche players are taking new positions.

Some institutions are benefiting from this “flight to safety” by customers. This was confirmed in the first-half results of banks which show that the big ones are getting bigger while smaller outfits are shrinking in deposit base and profitability. For instance, eight rescued banks have lost their market positions to those considered stable.

Banks like GTBank and FirstBank took advantage of the emerging scenario by strengthening and deploying aggressive retail orientation which aided their positioning. But, recently, more winners are emerging with the heightened pace of mergers between First City Monument Bank/FinBank; Access Bank/ Intercontinental Bank and Ecobank Transnational Incorporated/Oceanic Bank, setting the stage for fierce competition for leadership.

Michael Azu, a financial analyst,

Stories by Collins Nweze said the sector’s transformation would be further facilitated by the CBN’s repeal of the universal banking licence. For him, this will require banking groups that want to offer their customers more than core banking services to adopt a holding company structure and obtain operating licences for each of the businesses after meeting required levels of capitalisation.

“The larger scale banks in Nigeria are already benefiting from the economies of scale and scope in a consolidating banking sector. Enhanced market shares, coupled with large retail networks and access to low cost deposits, will allow these banks to maintain strong levels of profitability and returns,” he said in an emailed statement.

Access Bank’s Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede said the merger with Intercontinental Bank was moving according to plans, adding that the bank’s management was impressed with the co-operation received from the staff and management of Intercontinental Bank.

“It is only through such co-operation that the transaction will continue to gain momentum and move

Our plan for MainStreet Bank, by MD

T

HE MainStreet Bank Limited, has what it takes to be one of the best four in the country, its Managing Director Mrs Faith Tuedor-Matthews has said.

Speaking at a forum organised for the bank workers in Abuja, Mrs. Tuedor-Matthews said it was well capitalised to do business and compete effectively.

She said the bank would be anchored on market growth and customer satisfaction to excel.

She said: “We will position and grow MainStreet Bank to be among the top four banks in the country in key parameters. As a fully capitalised bank and with our bad debts taken over by AMCON, MBL is in a strong position to give quality loans and renew facilities. We are well capitalised to do business and compete effectively with the industry and not only the nationalised banks.”

According to her, the bank will

By Akinola Ajibade

I

ously mid-to-small-scale banks have leapt into the big banks’ league, creating more top-level concentration. Going forward, we believe size, liquidity, capital and efficiency will define the champions in the emerging banking landscape and the healthy banks will have first mover advantage,” Renaissance said in an emailed statement.

Renaissance, said the Access Bank/ Intercontinental Bank merger will produce a bank which will rank third by assets and deposits, respectively and in the tier- one bracket.

The Ecobank Nigeria/Oceanic Bank merger will produce a bank which will rank fifth by assets and deposits, respectively, and in the tier-one bracket as well. The FCMB/Finbank merger, will produce a bank which will rank eighth by assets and deposits, respectively, and the biggest tier -two bank.

Rennaisance corroborated CBN’s earlier projection that in total, the number of Nigerian banks will reduce by four to 20, with the tier one controlling 65 per cent and 66 per cent of assets and deposits; the tier-two controlling 25 per cent and 23 per cent of assets and deposits; and the tier-three controlling 10 per cent and 11 per cent of assets and deposits.

Former Executive Director, Bank PHB, Richard Obire, said the last decade has witnessed a huge growth in resources available to banks, with some growing their capital, deposits and assets in multiple folds. But Corporate Banking, he said, has

build human capacity for enhanced performance and grow market share, while at the same time deemphasise inter-bank takings.

She said stakeholders would be carried along in the task of building MBL through regular information and purposeful leadership.

MBL had recently received N285 billion to boost its operations. The fund, coming from the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) was to help the bank meet its obligations to customers, and further transform its operations.

The bank now posts capital adequacy ratio that is well above regulatory requirement of 10 per cent, making it one of the most capitalised banks. Also, the bank has repaid N50 billion tier-two capital obtained by the former Afribank Nigeria Plc on August 14, 2009.

IFC affirms commitment to Africa devt NTERNATIONAL Finance Corporation (IFC) has said it will continue to support development projects in Africa. A report on its work in Africa during the financial year ending June 30, said the bank has seen strong business and development results across sub-Saharan Africa, supporting regional growth, despite turbulence in the global economy.

During the previous calendar year, IFC’s activities generated power for an additional 6.6 million people, connected about 59 million telephone users, supported nearly 500,000 students, provided loans to 241,000 small businesses and 261,000 farmers and created about 217,000 jobs.

IFC said its new investments in sub-Saharan Africa reached 31 countries, with 87 of the 95 new investments made in some of the world’s lowest income economies.

Yolande Duhem, IFC Director for West and Central Africa, said: “IFC

towards a successful resolution for the benefit of all parties. Both institutions have been painstaking in the exercise and have engaged worldclass advisers to make it a success,” he said.

He disclosed that the bank has set ambitious growth targets towards attaining the leadership position and will not miss out in the opportunities thrown up by the ongoing reforms.

“The Access-Intercontinental Business Combination holds the potential for producing an industry giant.The synergies and complementarities of both institutions point to the emergence of a banking institution which will be a formidable competitor in the industry,” Azu stated.

Assessing the CBN reforms, so far, Renaissance Capital said the global financial crises of 2008 and 2009 required the intervention of central banks in several countries. It said the CBN reforms were necessary to ensure the stability of the economy.

But it has also altered the equation of the banking industry. The tier-two and tier-three banks have been the biggest winners over the past two years, grabbing a greater share of system assets and deposits from the intervened banks. However, by virtue of mergers and acquisitions in the sector, Access Bank and Ecobank Nigeria will now become tier 1 banks, while First City Monument Bank (FCMB) will be the biggest tier-two bank.

“The big Nigerian banks have remained big, and some of the previ-

witnessed a progressive shrinking in margins and escalating cost of risk, prompting forward looking banks to evolve new business models that consider viable opportunities in the retail market.

Obire said part of the challenges will be the desire of the acquiring banks to seek operational efficiencies by harnessing strengths of recapitalised ones. Staff rationalisations are likely to follow, but over time, the industry will experience new areas of growth leading renewed search for talents. ‘’Beyond manpower challenges, will be critical issues of infrastructure - power, broad-band availability and network adequacy. ‘’These are all fundamental to efficient retail banking services. But there is need for appropriate risk management framework for running retail businesses,” he added.

Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Bismark Rewane, said the emerging banks will have to improve on their Information Communication Technology (ICT) convergence and rapidly changing customer behaviour. They are also expected to be embrace creativity especially in the face of customer price sensitivity, decreasing loyalty, willingness to switch banks and products as well as propensity to shop around.

Going forward, he said, banks’ positions will be determined by efficiency of their operations, with viable ones focusing on their core competence areas, providing quality customer services, employees competences, and quality technology. Analysts insist that once these happen, the ultimate beneficiary is the customer.

made significant progress in supporting Africa’s development last year. Our investments in West and Central Africa and other parts of the continent grew, we saw important reforms to improve the investment climate in the region, innovative projects in priority sectors, and we have a large portfolio of investment and advisory projects that are improving people’s lives through better services and opportunities.”

Jean Philippe Prosper, IFC Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, added: “Our increasing activities in Africa reflect IFC’s commitment to mobilise resources for entrepreneurial activity and projects driving forward the region’s private sector. IFC’s investments and advisory services are creating jobs, improving infrastructure, securing access to finance for small and medium enterprises, and raising health, education and living standards for Africans.

• From left: Managing Partner Kasha Consulting, Dayo Oluwole; Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Steven Evans and Faculty Member Lagos Business School, Chris Ogbechie, at Etisalat’s Corporate Social Responsibility workshop for the media, in Lagos.

N56tr needed to bridge housing gap

A

BOUT N56 trillion is required to bridge the 16 million housing gap, the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) has said. The bank has, therefore, implored the House of Representatives to enact necessary legislations to facilitate the creation of mortgages. This, it said, would increase the rate of housing delivery.

FMBN Managing Director Mr Gimba Ya’u Kumo, while on a visit to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, in Abuja, said there were six bills awaiting the attention of the lawmakers, some of them since 2006.

They include a Bill for an act to provide for the repeal of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria Act

1993 and to make comprehensive provisions for the re-establishment of the FMBN and its Board of Directors and matters connected therewith. There is also the Mortgage Institutions (Amendment) Bill for the licensing and operation of mortgage institutions as well as a Bill to provide for the amendment of the Insurance Act 2003 for and other matters connected therewith.

Next is the Bill to amend the Trustee Investment Act to facilitate the investment of trusts and other funds in Nigeria in locally-issued securities and a Bill to enact the Residential Mortgages Act to modernise aspects of the law relating to residential mortgages in the FCT as a model for state governments. Last is a Bill to enact the Residential Mortgages (Tax Relief) Act

to grant tax relief to mortgage borrowers and, therefore, encourage Nigerians to take up mortgages.

Kumo said the passage of the bills would ease mortgage and property transactions and streamline the registration and enforcement of liens on mortgaged property in the event of loan default.

He added that the employment generation and wealth creation potential of housing and homeownership are enormous. “If we can jumpstart the housing sector in Nigeria and attain its GDP contribution target of 15 per cent under the Nigeria Vision 20:2020 Project, incidences of corruption, widespread poverty and mass unemployment that we are battling with today will undoubtedly reduce significantly,” Kumo remarked.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

44

MONEY Workshop on banc assurance

Money supply hit N12.3b T in July, says CBN T

HE money in circulation last month was N12.3 billion, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said.

The amount represents 12.4 per cent increase over that of last year’s.

Economists use the money supply or M2 to quantify the money in circulation. Money supply or money stock is the total amount available in an economy at any point in time.

The narrowest measure, M1, is restricted to the most-liquid forms of money such as currency in the hands of the public, travellers’ cheques, demand deposits and other deposits against which cheques can be written. M2 includes M1, plus savings accounts and time deposits, among others.

However, private sector credit declined by 1.3 per cent to N9.9 billion, while average interbank rate stood at 7.24 per cent.

Inflation slowed to 9.4 per cent year-on-year last month, from 10.2 per cent year-on-year in June.

According to the latest report, “The monthly change of the CPI was 0.32 per cent increase when compared with that of June. The year-on-year average consumer price level as at July 2011 for ‘Urban and Rural’ dwellers rose by 6.6 and 11.7 per cent. The urban ‘All Items’ monthly index declined by 0.3 per cent, while the corresponding rural index rose by 0.8 per cent when compared with

• CBN Governor, Lamido Sanusi

By Collins Nweze

the preceding month.

“The percentage change in the average composite CPI for the 12month period ending July, 2011 over the average of the CPI for the previous twelve-month period was 12. This was slightly lower than the figure for the preceding month. The corresponding 12-month average per cent change for urban and rural indices rose by 9.7 and 13.8.”

It also showed that average monthly food prices rose by 0.2 per cent in July 2011, when compared with June figure. The level of the ‘Composite Food Index,’ the

report said, was higher than the corresponding level a year ago by 7.9 per cent.

“The average annual rate of rise of the index was 12.1 per cent for the twelve-month period ending July 2011. The increase in the month-on-month index was caused mainly by upward movement of the prices of some food items like yam, fruits and cereals. However, the increase in the prices of the items was less compared to the same month in the previous year causing a fall in the year–on–year per cent change,” it added.

The foreign reserve stood at $34.5 billion as at August 18. Foreign-currency reserve was $31.7 billion by July 4 compared with $37 billion a year earlier.

The CBN said it acknowledged the modest increase to the external reserves in recent months.

It, however, noted that inflow into the CBN was not consistent with the high oil prices, underscoring the need for tighter fiscal controls around oil revenues as well as first line charges including Joint Venture Company deductions and subsidies. A higher rate of retention of oil revenues should facilitate the efforts at maintaining exchange rate stability as an antidote to imported inflation without excessive reliance on monetary tightening measures.

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) are set to introduce a model called Banc assurance to encourage the growth of operators in the financial services sector.

Banc assurance is a process where by banks use their platforms to sell a variety of insurance products for profit. For example, when a bank requires life insurance for those receiving a mortgage loan, the consumer can buy the insurance from the bank. The model saves customers time and stress of moving from one point to another in search of a policy. It also brings commensurate benefits to the banks and the insurance companies.

Before now, Banc assurance was operational in the country, with many banks falling over one another to sell insurance products to the people. Then, banks were using their own insurance companies to sell policies to intending subscribers, and get premium in returns. The banks include Stanbic IBTC Plc, Oceanic Bank International Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc and many others that established insurance companies as subsidiar-

By Akinola Ajibade ies.

But with the CBN’s decision to deemphasise universal banking and further encourage banks to focus on their core competence, banc assurance was abandoned. Now CBN, NAICOM and Chief Executive officers of banks and insurance firms are taking steps to re-introduce Banc assurance.

Speaking on the issue, the Executive Director of Lagos Business School, Obasi Ngwuta said the workshop would enable operators from both banks and insurance industry respectively to engage in cross-fertilisation of ideas on the issue.

He said the conference would help operators to see what they can do to benefit from the model, and further help the growth of the financial industry.

He said the conference would provide a useful platform for banks and insurance firms to explore and exchange ideas, forge strategic partnership, and learn from various business models and case studies on banc assurance practice in Asia, and other parts of the world.

FITC to train rescued banks’ chiefs

T

HE Financial Institutions Training Centre (FITC) will train the chief executive officers and executive directors of the rescued banks, its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Lucy Newman has said.

Speaking in Banking Operations, a television programme, she said the FITC would train the new management of the banks to acquaint them with new developments. FITC has trained 45,000 bank workers in the 30 years of its operation. Many of the trainees are now top managers and leaders.

According to her, there is the urgent need for bank management to send their staff for regular training. FITC is a professional services firm owned the Nigerian Bankers’ Committee composed of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Company (NDIC), all the deposit money banks and Discount houses in the country.

It was established in 1981 to pro-

vide professional services support in training, consulting and research to the Financial Services Sector and related sectors of the Nigerian economy.

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

She said the firm has, within these 30 years become a regional player, offering its core services to both regulators and operators within the West African sub region and growing into the larger Sub-Saharan Region within the next few years.

It has over the years, also nurtured viable alliances with some of the leading training, consulting and research brands to offer best in class services to its stakeholders, that is in line with global standards, yet contextualised to the local environment.

Bank reinforces e-banking services

I

• From left: Assistant Sales Manager, Lucky Fibres Nigerian Plc, Bunmi Odunoye; Mr Hernant Nahari, National Sales Manager; Mr Neeraj Kalaskar, General Manager and Miss Salomi Sham, an executive of the company, during the launch of its new Nobel Carpets Woven Rugs at Ilupeju, Lagos…yesterday.

PHOTO: RAHMAN SANUSI

Banks acquire $6m software for mobile banking

T

HREE of the 11 banks granted approval to operate mobile banking have acquired a $6 million technological platform for their operations, The Nation has learnt.

They are Fortis Microfinance Bank Limited, GTBank Plc, and FirstBank of Nigeria Plc. The banks received the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) mobile payment approval after pilot studies on how to provide mobile banking services to the unbanked.

The Nation gathered that the three companies have acquired

By Akinola Ajibade the Fundamo software estimated to cost over N300 million.

The Managing Director, Mobile Money Africa, Mr Emmanuel Okogwale said the cost of the software is over $2 million.

Okogwale said the grant of final approval to 11 banks as a watershed in banking.

He said he has worked with three of the companies that conducted pilot studies on mobile banking, and has a first-hand knowledge of their operations

vis-à-vis the technology they are using.

“Fundamo is the world most deployed mobile financial applications in active use by MTN in about 22 countries.

The firm was recently acquired

by Visa for S110 million. I know that Fortis MFB, GTB and First Bank use Fundamo. The software is over $2 million. It might not be a precise figure, but the software is over $2 million since it boasts of facilities that can equally be classified as worldclass,” he said.

NTERCONTINENTAL Bank Plc has reviewed its retail banking strategy, paying more attention to development and deployment of customer-friendly e-banking products. A combination of electronic banking and efficient service delivery has heightened the bank’s position in e-payment.

The bank said in a statement that as at May 2011, the institution issued over 1.6 million cards and 81 per cent of them are active. The issued cards account for 20 per cent of banking industry cards on the Interswitch platform. It has also issued Hajj international cards for Muslims travelling to the Holy Land, making it a dominant player in the electronic and mobile bank-

By Collins Nweze ing segment of the industry.

“The bank has one of the largest networks of Automated Teller Machines and Point of Sale (POS) terminals in the industry coupled with innovative use of e-payment products, deployment of various card schemes, business and educational portals, channels schemes and services,” the statement said.

Aside being a pioneer bank to launch Verve card, it has demonstrated growth in the e-payment business as it processes the highest number of transactions via the switch. It records bank guarantees availability and up time of 99 per cent with each transaction, the statement added.

EU may draft legislation for joint Eurobond

E

UROPEAN Union regulators may push for joint bond sales by euro-area nations to help contain the debt crisis, putting pressure on Germany to drop its opposition.

The European Commission said it may present draft legislation on euro bonds when completing a report on the feasibility of common debt sales. The commission, the EU’s regulatory arm in Brussels, earlier this year opposed such a step because of German-led objections.

“The report will, if appropriate, be accompanied by legislative propos-

als,” EU Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn said in a written response to a European Parliament question. “These euro securities would aim to strengthen fiscal discipline and increase stability in the euro area through markets.”

The idea of jointly sold bonds by the euro area’s 17 nations remains alive because unprecedented bailouts by governments and the European Central Bank have failed to stamp out debt concerns that began in Greece almost two years ago and rattled markets in AAA rated France last week.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

45

THE NATION

INVESTORS T

HE Chief Executive Officer of Starcomms Plc, Mr Logan Pather, has outlined a comprehensive plan for transforming the ailing firm within a year.

In a chat with The Nation, Pather said he would focus on the expansion and operational efficiency to turn the firm’s loses to gain.

He said the objective of the turnaround would be to ensure excellent services to customers and returns to shareholders, noting that all stakeholders would see the benefits of the turnaround.

Pather gave a timeline of one year to restructure and steady Starcomms for stable growth pointing out that key strategic initiatives have started impacting on the operations of the company.

"My agenda for this company is survival. I have to make sure I acquire more subscribers. I must ensure that we are extremely efficient when it comes to cutting costs. We have made significant in-roads in cost reduction. Besides, what will differentiate us from other operators is customer service delivery. We in Starcomms are thinking of ways to add value to our customers because we are committed to them," pather said.

He noted that the company would reduce the high cost of business by going into partnership with other organisations to provide alternative power supply that will be regular and cheap, thus reducing the pressure on the earnings of the company.

He said that Starcomms has already started to think ahead of competition as the present GSM and CDMA technologies being deployed by telecoms operators in the country would be phased out and replaced with Long Term Evolution (LTE), a fourth generation technology.

According to him, Starcomms' current facility has some of the features of LTE, so all it needs is to fine-tune the system and upgrade the software with minimal cost to operate LTE. Wireless Equipment Providers are stepping up their development programmes to support the large growth potential of LTE deployments. To gain an edge in the market requires being early in the market with differentiated features.

"Our technology is ready for LTE today. All our base stations are LTE ready, but we need more spectrums to achieve full rollout.

We are working in the background to achieve this. Our prime focus is to maintain optimum efficiency while reducing operating cost. When I am LTE ready, I will become an attractive

My plans for Starcomms, by CEO

By Taofik Salako

company. Do you know how many investors have come into the telecoms market and failed?

Those investors will want to come back given the right conditions.

If there is going to be consolidation, we will have to put the business in a position where it would be valuable. The cost cutting will be very aggressive. However, consolidation will be self-induced," Pather said.

•MD, Keystone Bank, Mr Oti Ikomi (right), with Alhaji Auwal Lawal, Director; Finance and Administration, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) during a courtesy visit by the management of the bank to UBEC in Abuja, recently.

S

IXTEEN of the remaining 18 listed banks on the Stocks Exchange recorded a total of N78.025 billion as profit after tax during the first half of this year.

Of the 16, nine recorded increase in their profit after tax leaving the remaining seven with a drop of as much as 84.55 per cent and as low as 8.04 per cent.

First City Monument Bank’S (FCMB) improved its profit by as much as 91.61 per cent followed by the United Bank for Africa with 67.44 per cent. Others are: Intercontinental Bank, Zenith Bank, GT Bank, Wema Bank, Skye Bank, First Bank and Access Bank.

FCMB in the notice served the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE)

Banks net N78b in first half

By Tonia Osundolire

posted a profit after tax of N5.319 billion from N2.776 billion in their half year result of 2010. The gross earnings of the company was not left out as it moved from N29.761 billion to N34 billion.

UBA also presented N8.116 billion in its half year ended June 30, 2011 from N4.847 billion in 2010.

While the gross earnings of the bank dropped from N93.656 billion in 2010 to N87.663 billion this year.

For Intercontinental Bank, one of the rescued banks, the profit ap-

John Holt introduces new fire products JOHN Holt Plc has introduced two highly sophisticated Rosenbauer superstructure fire fighting trucks as part of its determination to grow its share of the fire and safety solutions market.

The state-of-the-art fire fighting ULF 1100/250 Crew Cab is a new technology of Rosenbauer of Austria. John Holt has been in strategic partnership with Rosenbauer over the years and has been the sole marketer and distributor of Rosenbauer fire equip-

He said the company planned to expand to more cities because expansion would improve the bottom-line, adding that the company was looking at more ways to improve its business.

"We appeal to our shareholders

to be patient with us, as they will enjoy the benefit of high returns soon," Pather said.

He said the telecoms industry might witness more mergers going forward,noting that Starcomms is well-prepared for any mergers and acquisitions in the industry.

"We are very open to mergers and acquisition. It is necessary for our survival. It is necessary if we are to compete favourably in this market. There is a real possibility that within the next 12 months, the CDMA segment will witness fur•Continued on page 46

ment of different kinds in Nigeria.

The fire fighting trucks, introduced mainly to serve the needs of the aviation industry and the oil and gas sector, houses an 11,000 litres water tank capacity, with provision for 4,000 litres of foam concentrates.

Speaking at an intensive training workshop on the new products, General Manager, Fire and Safety Solutions, John Holt Plc, Mr Kris Nwachukwu saidJohn Holt was committed to providing safety

solutions that guarantee peace of mind and value for money.

One of the Rosenbauer representatives at the training session, Mr Roland Loitz, also stated that the fire fighting products were accepted all over the world.

According to him, Rosenbauer is a global leader in fire fighting technology with many years of pioneering innovation and the long time partnership with John Holt, a reputable conglomerate giant, is very strategic.

preciated from N2.268 billion to N3.269 billion an increase of 44.14 per cent while Zenith Bank posted a profit of N30.666 billion from N21.305 billion in 2010.

However, the performances of these banks have not been able to push the index of the capital market above the red mark, leaving the index in the negative of 8.97 per cent to close on Monday at 22,547.62 points.

In their reactions, market operators said, the market trying is to stabilise despite all the unfavourable policies the banking sector is faced with. “You know that the

Forecasts Q3 OANDO TURNOVER N127.82 PAT N3.06BN

banks before the emergence of the Dangote Companies, have been the sole driver of the market indicators. The banks still have the volume even if the prices have crashed as such whatever happens in the sector will affect the key indicators. With the results posted by these banks, it only shows that the market will soon return to profitability,” a source said.

Further more, it was gathered that the results recently submitted by the banks in spite of the crisis will help the market back to its feet.

DN MEYER TURNOVER N582.16N PAT N14.81M STACO INS. TURNOVER 6.43BN PAT N665.05M

NPF MFB T/O N827.31M PBT N198.55M PAT N198.55M TRIPPLE GEE & COMPANY PLC TURNOVER N166.09m PAT N74.59m

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

46

THE NATION INVESTORS

T

HE Committee on Payment and Settlement Systems (CPSS) and the technical committee of the International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) have released for comment a report on the OTC derivatives data that should be collected, stored and disseminated by trade repositories (TRs).

The report followed a recommendation by the Financial Stability Board (FSB) that the CPSS and IOSCO should consult with the authorities and the OTC Derivatives Regulators Forum in developing minimum data reporting requirements and standardised formats and the method-

Committees fine-tune mechanism for data collection ology and mechanism for data aggregation on a global basis.

According to the regulators, the committees support the view that TRs, by collecting such data centrally, would provide the authorities and the public with better and timely information. This would make markets more transparent, help to prevent market abuse, and promote financial stability.

The proposed requirements

and data formats will apply to both market participants reporting to TRs and to TRs reporting to the public and to regulators.

The report also finds that certain information currently not supported by TRs would be helpful in assessing systemic risk and financial stability, and discusses options for bridging these gaps.

The report discussed issues relating to data access for the authorities and reporting entities

My plans for Starcomms, stayed with it for about 12 months.

by CEO Pather said Starcomms would in-

•Continued from page 45

ther consolidation," Pather said.

He pointed out that there is an on-going plan that when it becomes successful, the company should be able to link the entire country without having to spend more on building base stations round the country.

He said the company has also engaged a cell phone manufacturer in China to provide affordable and quality phones for its customers and there is a possibility the company may be able to give free phones to its customers who have

vest heavily in capital expenditure this year to complete its network roll out as well as embark on a huge marketing push where the company has network coverage presently and potential ones to enhance profitability.

FACTS

TO

including methods and tools that could provide the authorities with better access to data.

"Public dissemination of data, it is noted, promotes the understanding of OTC derivatives markets by all stakeholders, underpins investor protection, and facilitates the exercise of market discipline," the global regulators noted.

Comments on the report are expected from all interested parties by September 23, 2011 after which CPSS and IOSCO would review all comments and publish a final report by the end of 2011.

The report also covers the mechanisms and tools that the authorities would need to aggregate OTC derivatives data and it advocates a system of standard legal entity identifiers (LEIs) as an essential tool for aggregation of such data.

The report further recom-

mends that TRs actively participate in the LEI's development and use the system once it becomes available noting that further international consultation would be required as the implementation of universal LEI will require international cooperation.

The report also notes that CPSS and IOSCO or the FSB would need to make a public statement calling for timely industry-led development, in consultation with the authorities, of a standard classification system for OTC derivatives products.

The CPSS serves as a forum for central banks to monitor and analyse developments in payment and settlement arrangements as well as in cross-border and multicurrency settlement schemes. IOSCO is an international policy forum for securities regulators. The technical committee of IOSCO is a specialised working group established by IOSCO's Executive Committee, which is made up of 18 agencies that regulate some of the world's larger, more developed and internationalised markets.

•MD, Omatek Ventures, Mrs Florence Seriki

•Chairman, NCR (Nig.) Otunba Adekunle Ojora

FACTS

NCR vs Omatek: Computer bugs

N

CR (Nigeria) Plc and Omatek Ventures Plc are the only two quoted computer-marketing companies. With nearly 62 years, NCR is one of the oldest companies in Nigeria and also one of the long-standing stocks on the stock market having been listed 32 years ago.

NCR is a subsidiary of NCR USA, which holds 60 per cent equity stake.

Omatek is a comparatively young wholly indigenous company incorporated in 1998 and listed in 2008.

The computer industry in Nigeria is highly fragmented with several small and mid-sized companies competing for both private and public contracts. Innovation, aftersales services and customer relations are the key words to survive in the industry.

The performances of both NCR and Omatek, however, showed a declining industry characterised by reduction in sales and profitability as well as returns to all stakeholders. Although the degrees of the slowdown varied, the two companies witnessed significant declines in all key indices in the immediate past year. NCR however appeared to be more resilient and resistant to the downtrend.

Sales Generation Both companies recorded significant declines in sales in the immediate past year. NCR's turnover dropped by about 53 per cent while Omatek's sales incomes decreased by 39 per cent. The industry-wide decline in sales reflected the economic recession, which has greatly reduced the perception of computers and computer media as lifestyle items while cash-strapped companies would rather opt for maintenance rather than scrapping used computers and retooling with new ones. The booming market for used computers has also adversely affected franchisees, such as NCR and Omatek.

Profitability Rising costs amid declining sales created irresistible pressures on profitability in the computer-marketing industry. Omatek's pre-tax profit dropped by 68 per cent in the immediate past year just as average profit per unit of sales halved from 21 per cent to 11 per cent. With these, net profit nosed down by 65 per cent. NCR' profit before tax equally dropped by seven per cent while net profit after tax declined

By Taofik Salako

by 24 per cent. However, NCR surprisingly recorded a stronger underlying profit-making capacity with average profit per unit of sales increasing from 25 per cent to 53 per cent, indicating a two-year average margin of about 39 per cent.

Actual Returns Both companies witnessed declines in their returns but NCR still sustained substantial underlying return in addition to ability to pay cash dividend. Omatek, which is the larger of the two companies in terms of balance sheet size, returned 1.2 per cent on total assets in 2010 as against 3.7 per cent in 2009. This represents average return of about 2.5 per cent. Actual return to shareholders melted to 1.5 per cent as against 4.6 per cent.

On the other hand, NCR returned

FACTS TO FACTS

NCR 2010 %

Turnover growth Gross profit growth Pre-tax profit growth Gross margin Pre-tax profit margin Net profit growth Return on Assets Return on Equity

-52.8

31 per cent on total assets in 2010 as against 35 per cent in 2009. Return on equity also slumped from 115 per cent to 66 per cent. Average return on assets however still stood at 33 per cent while average return on equity was about 90.4 per cent in recent years.

The Bottom-line The computer-marketing industry definitely needs to break the lull in sales to provide linchpins for sustainable profitability. The near-monotonous product offering in the industry has done little to engender niche and competitive innovations. Computer-marketing companies would need to grow the retail market as complement to the intermittent public sector contracts. They need to debug their sales and marketing strategies to find new ways of selling same products.

2009 %

-7.0 52.7 -23.6 31.1 65.6

24.8 35.2 115.1

Omatek 2010 %

Average % -26.4 0 -3.5 0 38.75 -11.8 33.15 90.35

Pre-tax profit margin (NCR)

Turnover growth Gross profit growth Pre-tax profit growth Gross margin Pre-tax profit margin Net profit growth Return on Assets Return on Equity

2009 %

-39.2 -68.2 11.1 -65.1 1.2 1.5

21.1 3.7 4.6

Average % -19.6 0.00 -34.1 0 16.1 -32.55 2.45 3.05

Pre-tax profit margin (Omatek)

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

47

48

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP TIPS

‘Why we are producing young entrepreneurs’ E NTREPRENEURS are important because they are the prime engines of innovation and economic growth in a country. They can create or add to value.

Success stories abound of some universities creating successful businesses and entrepreneurs by driving and promoting the development of entrepreneurship education programmes.

Chairman,Board of Trustees,Samuel Adegboyega University,Ogwa,Edo State owned

by The Apostolic Church (TAC),Oveseer Ebenezer Okebukola, said the new university which takes off next week is set to create an interesting story using agricultural entrepreneurship to open self -employment opportunities to students.

He said there is a need for institutions to invest more time and energy into developing entrepreneurship and helping graduates to stand on their own without looking for employment after graduation.

He said the university has a vision for enterprise development, including improving income, employment and self-reliance, among graduates and that they want to create many agri-business centres.

The Vice- Chancellor of the uni-

Developing low cost housing projects

By Edwin Agbaike

Stories by Daniel Essiet

versity, Prof Samson Adedoyin, said the institution is going to promote youth entrepreneurial and agribusiness development.

He said the school is going to build substantial businesses around growing and delivering agric produce across Edo State and the nation.

In the next few months, Adedoyin sees the place filled with adults learning about agriculture, rural entrepreneurship and the various career opportunities in agriculture and related fields.

The university, he said, will work in what has essentially become a ‘public - private partnership’ in the agriculture sector.

He said graduates will be able to put into practical use, the knowledge they had acquired by venturing into farming enterprises.

Adedoyin said a systematic liaison and support system between the business community and the university will help to create remunerative and lucrative programmes including work study incentives to encourage needy students.

He said the university and employers would agree on how to teach those skills and develop the

•Okebukola

competencies needed to create accomplished professionals in the market place.

The Vice-Chancellor said functional education has a direct influence on the knowledge, capabilities, and preferences for becoming an entrepreneur. This, he explained provided a critical context forentrepreneurship education.

He said the institution will mobilise resources towards the development of interdisciplinary entrepreneurship education programmes.

The support programmes offer entrepreneurship education for liberal arts to transfer entrepreneurial skills to a wider proportion of the nation’s workforce.

Pepkor to expand to Nigeria

S

OUTH Africa’s biggest clothing company, Pepkor, plans to expand to Nigeria as retailers including Wal-Mart Stores fight for a share of some of the world’s fastest growing retail markets.

Pepkor Chairman Christo Wiese said Nigeria: “It’s a huge market of almost a billion people with huge resources and a young population.

People spend when they’re young.”

Pepkor, which targets low-income

earners, plans to open its first Nigerian store this year and may invest as much as R100m in the first stage of its expansion, which may see about 50 outlets opened in Africa’s most populous nation, the billionaire said.

Pepkor’s expansion mirrors the growth strategy of other international retailers, including WalMart, which bought a controlling stake in South Africa’s Massmart Holdings to gain a foothold on the

continent. The R16,5 billion purchase gave Bentonville, Arkansasbased Wal-Mart 51% of the largest wholesaler in South Africa, which also has operations in 12 other African nations.

Wiese, whose net worth is an estimated $1.6billion, according to Forbes Magazine, controls Shoprite Holdings, Africa’s largest grocer, and holds more than a third of Brait SA, the biggest South African private equity company.

Foundation names Entrepreneur

F

•Aminu

ATE Foundation, has named Isiaka Aminu as entrepreneur for July.

Aminu is the Managing Director, Yinkus Delight, a fast food restaurant .

He attended the FATE Aspiring Entrepreneurs Programme Class 15) to set the right tone for taking his business to greater heights.

He was taught topics, such as Human Resources, Finance, Business Planning, Operations, Marketing,

Negotiation Skills, Business Strategy, Identifying opportunities in the local and international market.

His vision for the company is to build a reputable brand name in the fast food industry and Mr Aminu is planning to expand the company by replicating Yinkus delight in different locations in Lagos and subsequently outside Lagos.

He employs about about 10 permanent staff.

Expert set to assist youths

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EVELOPER Platform Evangelism lead,Micro soft Anglophone West Africa, Shina Oyetosho, is using his passion for youth empowerment to help young people to create sustainable Information and Communication Technology ((ICT)-related businesses.

Oyetosho told reporters in Lagos that he hopes to use business entrepreneurship to enhance human capital and bolster social change.

Since there is no longer a guarantee of employment; and many graduates facing unemployment are having to take a job in which their degree is irrelevant, he said his organisation is focusing on youths to change them from job seekers to job creators.

Many applicants have ap-

proached him with possible business plans or to look over, Oyetosho said he is dedicating his time to helping youth achieve their business goals.

Under Microsoft platform,uouths will be providing meaningful work.

They are encouraged to work in a range of ICT- related fields to address local needs, and sharing knowledge for as many virtual companies as possible.

He said SMEs and business entrepreneurs face challenges of startups, which his organisation is assisting with technical materials.

He is hoping to create learning opportunity for university students across Nigeria,focusing on entrepreneurship skills, to help them on the path to entrepreneurship .

•Oyetosho

His enthusiasm for and dedication to youths, belief in local ingenuity to solve pressing local problems provides an inspiring example.

THE building and construction sector has continued to record remarkable growth in Nigeria ,especially since the early 1990s. This situation is not only true for Lagos State, but also for other state capital cities because of their unique position in Nigeria.

Next to food, shelter is the second most important requirement by man. It is not a luxury, but a necessity to live and operate under a shelter. The task of accommodating the unprecedented increase in the number of Nigerians and improve their living standards posses a major challenge, not only for urban development and housing polices, but for national development in general. With each passing day, the problem assumes a much intractable dimension. Considered against the background of spiraling inflation, shooting prices of building materials and burgeoning rate of population growth, great opportunity abound for prospective investor in the building development industry.

To this extent, the priority accorded housing by Federal and states building authorities and the implementation of their construction works as depicted by numerous building projects- residential estates accommodations, commercial and industrial houses, schools and offices constructed in all parts of the country are clearly evidenced. The private sector does not lag behind in its endeavor to provide housing and other accommodation for the growing populations. The Federal Government has also resolved to provide adequate shelter for the populace. Yet, the combined efforts of the federal, states and local governments are grossly inadequate. The input of private corporate developers and individuals is as vigorous as that of the government, but the reality of the housing situation in Lagos and most other capital cities is that they are grossly in short supply in all categories.

An investor that can make the bold attempt to respond appropriately to the challenges posed, by joining to develop model low cost residential accommodations for outright sales, lease and rental to the growing population of Nigerians, stand a great chance of reaping great revenues, since the market is large and growing everyday.

The first step to be taken in embarking on development and building project is acquisition of landed properties located at strategic places in major cities of the country. Thereafter, investigations will be conducted on the land site before payment is finally made. This is to ensure that the soil is firm and well-drained; that the load bearing capacity of the sub-soil is adequate for each planned design and development.

A second step is to ensure that vacant possession of the sites to be developed is guaranteed for unhindered commencement of construction of all proposed development. Therefore, appropriate steps must be taken to process all necessary documents needed for statutory Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) from the Government, which will confer a leasehold interest on the sites.

The town planning and other regulations controlling land use and building development at the local, states and fFederal levels will be approached for appropriate approval for development proposal. The Consultants will also carry out assessment to ensure release of the optimum economic utilisation potential of all proposed sites.

Some of the structures to be built will include block of flats, joint/ detached bungalows and duplexes, etc. Most of these structures will be constructed in an enclosure estate.

Investment cost for execution of this development project may start from N100 million. This amount can be scaled down or increased, depending on the financial position of the promoter. The project has great economic potential if properly planned and implemented. The returns in terms of turnover and profits are considerably very high; sometimes running over 45 per cent . It is, therefore, recommended that interested investors contact the Consultant for help and a detailed Feasibility Report.

This project stands a good chance of attracting both local and offshore funding, which can be obtained from any of the Commercial Banks or Foreign Banks/ Investment Outfits. A well packaged Feasibility Report is a pre-requisite to securing finance for the project. This can be provided by the Consultant on request. For details on how to implement this project or any other, please contact us. We are willing to assist potential investors on any aspect of the project. Prospective investors may get in touch with us at the address stated hereunder.

Edwin Agbaike (Projects, Financial and Management Consultant) Kris-ed Brilliant Limited (Brilliant Consulting), Tel. Nos. 08023381900; 08098525122. E-mail: krisedbrilliant@yahoo.com.

‘Investment cost for execution of this development project may start from N100 million. This amount can be scaled down or increased, depending on the financial position of the promoter. The project has great economic potential if properly planned and implemented. The returns in terms of turnover and profits are considerably very high; sometimes running over 45 per cent. It is, therefore, recommended that interested investors contact the Consultant for help and a detailed Feasibility Report’

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

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INSURANCE

CIIN unveils industry’s reform programmes T

HE Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) has identified the initiation of Insurance and Government Relations Programme (IGRP), national budget input and analysis programme, as well as the establishment of Insurance Industry Forum (IIF) as some of the key measures adopted to reposition the industry.

Its President, Dr Wole Adetimehin, who said this at a media retreat organised by CIIN in Ibadan, said the task of reforming the industry has already been set rolling.

He added that developments in the country call for collaborative efforts to reposition the profession and the industry.

Adetimehin said the initiation of IGRP will objectively promote insurance awareness among the three tiers of government.

He said a formidable industry team charged with developing inputs yearly into the national budget will also be put in place.

Adetimehin said there will also be a forum for discussing and

Stories by Chuks Udo Okonta

analysing of the budget to bring to the front burner the opportunities for economic growth and in particular, the expectations from the insurance sector.

He noted that this would be the insurance voice on the fiscal and economic policies of government, which has not been heard for a very long time.

“The Insurance Industry Forum (IIF) will be solely charged to promote industry unified goals, inter-government regulatory understanding and development. The forum will be under the chairmanship of the Commissioner for Insurance, while membership will encompass all the various arms of the industry. Meetings will be held quarterly to discuss and resolve industry issues while also initiating agenda that will proffer future growth of the industry,” he said.

The CIIN boss noted that the forum will take a semblance of the Bankers’ Committee of the banking sector, adding that the initiative will forestall the current

• From left: Corporate Affairs Director, Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN), Mr Joseph Obah;President Dr Wole Adetimehin and Regional Manager,Law Union and Rock Insurance, at the event in Ibadan.

situation where the various arms of the industry tackle the industry’s challenges differently.

“The future of all professions depends largely on the quality of knowledge and skill possessed by the practitioners and insurance cannot be an exception into the profession. The main pivots under, which this will be achieved include: Concerted efforts towards the development and

completion of the Institute’s College of Insurance and Financial Management and its effective take-off, aimed at mobilising entrants into the profession, donation of insurance books to schools, establishment of a functional research department at the institute to pursue studies in the technical areas of insurance and initiation of a national insurance debate among tertiary

institutions,” he added.

He said the institute is about to institute an annual insurance award to honour those who have excelled in the profession or who have contributed significantly to the development of insurance over the years.

“No doubt, the tasks ahead are enormous, but are achievable with the support of all stakeholders, including the media,” he added.

N1tr income target achievable, says NAICOM boss

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HE insurance industry’s N1 trillion premium income target by next year, will be achieved, Commissioner for Insurance Mr Fola Daniel, has said.

Daniel, who disclosed this at an interactive session with journalists in Lagos, said the government and National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) have put in place the structures that will enable insurance to achieve the feat.

He said the commission’s Market Development and Restructuring Initiative (MDRI) programme, was designed to open up opportunities for insurers to harness the enormous untapped insurance potentials in the country.

He said: “We have moved very slowly as an insurance industry, we have been walking and in the last four years we attempted to jog.

Now we are no longer going to jog but we are going to run. The

N1trillion target, which we have variously stated, I believe it is achievable for we have huge opportunities and potential. All we need to do is to harness the available opportunities.

“I am very glad that in the last two months several companies had their annual general meetings, and many of the boards expressed disappointment over the performance of their companies.

They did that against the backdrop that they know there are huge opportunities.

“So, management of various insurance companies will have no choice than to key into our developmental effort. What we have done in the last three years is not really regulating the industry, but we have concentrated more on developing the industry. We have laid a solid foundation for development, so, it is for companies to

key in. Since the investors are now attentive and also now almost reading riot act to the management of their companies, I believe they would not want to be pushed.

“We have opened a lot of windows. It is just for them to walk in and tap the opportunities.

We are not going to sell insurance products as regulators. What we are going to do is to create opportunities which we have created.

“We have created many opportunities through the MDRI; the

Federal Government also has created opportunities through the instrumentality of the Nigerian Content Bill. And the bill is a multi-million dollar, pounce, euro businesses. When you translate that to naira, you would see that the trillion premium target is achievable.”

He said the industry has a capital base in excess of N500 billion, and the industry’s premium income, which stand at over N200 billion is far below expectations.

The industry hopes to attain N1trillion premium income and also has set a target to increase insurance penetration from six per cent to 30 per cent by year 2012, grow the nation’s insurance density (purchases) from N1200 to N7500.

He said the industry also wants to increase premium volume from N200 billion to N1 trillion and boost their contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from 0.7 per cent to three per cent.

Wife masterminds plot to kill husband for insurance

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MBOLDENED by the idea of being half a million dollars richer, for at least six months Mrs Constance Clark plotted her husband’s murder and hired her cousin to pull the trigger.

•From left: Chairman, Council, Bureaux ECOWAS Brown Card and Nigerian Insurers’ Association, Mr Olusola Ladipo–Ajayi and Permanent General Secretary, ECOWAS Brown Card, Mr Bio Adamou, at the second zonal meeting of the council in Monrovia.

Last week, a Fulton County jury convicted Mrs Clark, 38, of murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, conspiracy to commit murder and possession of a firearm in the death of Mr William Eric Clark, according to the district attorney’s office.

Mrs Clark’s cousin, Mr Jean Pierr Devaughn, 29, was convicted in April and sentenced to life in prison, the district attorney’s spokeswoman Ms Yvette Brown said.

It’s unclear just how long Mrs Clark plotted to kill her husband, but the deadly deed was carried out on December 13, 2005.

Investigators said Mr Clark, 35, of Birmingham, came to Atlanta to meet his wife’s cousin to buy alcohol in bulk for his bartending business.

Devaughn asked the unsuspecting husband to follow him in his car.

He took Mr Clark to a partially populated subdivision where he got out of his car and shot his cousin’s husband several times, Ms Brown said.

Devaughn and the two men who were with him fled the scene; one of the accomplices, Mr Christopher Tumlin, escaped in the victim’s car.

Neighbours reported hearing gunshots and seeing two cars leaving the area shortly after the shooting.

Officers found Mr Clark’s bullet-riddled body lying in the

Yupon Road driveway of a home in the partially completed College Park subdivision, Ms Brown said.

His killer had shot him multiple times in his head and body.

Fulton County police arrested Mr Devaughn in July of 2006 for the murder. But there wasn’t enough evidence to convict him, so the district attorney’s office declined to present the case to a grand jury, Ms Brown said.

For another two years, the case sat dormant until it was assigned to the district attorney’s Multi-Jurisdictional Cold Case Squad.

“Their investigation revealed that Defendant Constance Clark had secured a $500,000 life insurance policy on her husband just six months before his death,” Ms Brown said. “She also renewed a previous policy in the amount of $100,000.”

Now armed with the new information, prosecutors moved forward with the case. They presented it before a Grand Jury, which returned an indictment in May of 2009, Ms Brown said.

A judge last Thursday sentenced Mrs Clark to life plus five years in prison for her husband’s murder.

She is currently serving a prison term on state charges in Alabama for identity fraud in an unrelated matter, Ms Brown said.

Trial is also pending for Mr Tumlin, Mr Devaughn’s alleged accomplice.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

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RAMADAN NEWS

Don blames nation’s woes on leaders A

N Islamic cleric and don, Professor Abdul Ganiyu Oladosu, has identified the increasing cases of violence, killing, crime, unemployment, epileptic power supply, cultism, corruption and other vices in the country as symptoms “governance without development” by the nation’s successive leaders.

Prof Oladosu said the situation has taken the country and the citizens through bitter paths of civil war, unrests, coup de tats, assassinations, among others.

Oladosu who is the Chief Imam of the Central Mosque and Director of Academic planning, University of Ilorin, Nigeria, added that “the majority of leaders entrusted with the governance of this nation, betrayed the trust, looted the treasury, enriched themselves illegally and seriously jeopardised the core interest of the nation and its citizens.”

He spoke in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital at the weekend on the topic Governance

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

and National Development: The Islamic Perspective at a Ramadan Lecture organised by Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun to break fast (Iftar) on Saturday with Muslims.

The cleric described political leadership as transient and for a purpose, and charged the nation’s leaders to see their respective positions as treasures held in trust which should be deployed to serve the people and the country judiciously.

Earlier in his brief remark, Amosun said he had entered a pact with God to serve the people of Ogun.

The governor pledged to enhance the quality of education, health, infrastructure, agriculture and other social services in the state.

Oladosu identified adequate nutrition, quality and affordable healthcare service, high literacy level among the population, high standard of living, job security, high per capital income among others as indices of development but rued that these are lacking in Nigeria.

He warned those scheming to perpetuate themselves in office either by themselves or through proxies to desist from such despicable and dangerous path that had not helped the nation in the past.

“Governance is, therefore, temporal, for a particular group of people, at a particular point in time. No particular person or group of persons can govern forever. It is therefore, a criminal act for anybody to perpetuate or attempt to perpetuate himself in governance.

Use Islamic teachings to transform Nigeria, LONDON-based resays UK scholar nowned Islamic

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Scholar, Sheikh Abdullah Quick has urged Muslims in Nigeria to use the teachings of Islam to transform and develop the country.

Quick made the call in a lecture on Weakness in Faith: Causes and Consequences which he delivered at a special Ramadan lecture organised by the Movement for Islamic Culture and Awareness Centre (MICA) on Saturday in Abuja.

He said the challenges confronting Nigeria such as corruption, insecurity and underdevelopment could be surmounted if Muslims raise up to the occasion by serving as the catalyst for positive change.

Quick said Nigeria, with its abundant human and material resources, ought to have been a developed country by now, “but for the neglect of the fundamental Islamic tenets by Muslims’’.

He enjoined Muslims to lead by example and always be guided by the fear of Allah in their day to day dealings.

The scholar stressed the need for character reform, fear of Allah, Islamic knowledge, unity, courage and prayers as essential ingredients in evolving a virile nation.

He said that non-interest Islamic banking would help Nigeria to deal with some of its economic problems

such as corruption and underdevelopment.

Quick said that non-interest banking has worked well in countries where it is being operated.

Earlier in his remarks, Malam AbdulBasit Bakare, the President of MICA, had said that the lecture was part of the centre’s effort towards spiritual upliftment and nation building.

He called on Muslims to use the Ramadan period to purify and increase their good deeds.

NAN reports that Quick has travelled to over 55 countries on Islamic lecture, research and educational engagements.

Lawmaker seeks restoration of value system

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MEMBER of the Lagos State House of Assembly representing Ikorodu 1 constituency, Hon Sanai Agunbiade has stressed the need for stronger affinity between parents and children to restore the nation’s value system.

He stated this at the Iftar organised for the Muslim Community in Ikorodu at the weekend.

According to him, “we have lost our value system and it is from the home, it is from the family, so when we can now return to the value system through the unit which is the family, the nation will be reverting to the lost values.”

By Oziegbe Okoeki

The topic of the lecture delivered by an Islamic Jurist, Sheikh Majolagbe Monsur was, Responsibilities of a child to his living and dead parents.

Sheikh Monsur said “every man or woman is accountable to the kindness of both parents as it is their heavy burden or duty to reward them while alive and with prayers after death, as compensation towards their labour for his/her upbringing.”

“This is Allah’s injunction and any act contrary to that would spell doom for such child in this world and the hereafter while its accomplishment with other Al-

lah’s injunctions attracts abode in paradise,” he said.

Agunbiade said “if every individual will take care of his parents, there would be more children-parent affinity and if that exists the family system will be more cohesive, and being the unit of every nation once that cohesion exists there will be more respect and we can talk to ourselves and seek advice from parents and Nigeria will be a better place”.

The purpose of Ramadan lecture, Agunbiade said is for people to know the significance of fasting and to remind ourselves regularly of certain injunctions that God actually wants from us.

Yar’Adua’s family feeds indigent Muslims

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HE family of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua is partnering the Al-Habibiyyah food bank programme to feed indigent Muslims during the Ramadan period.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the food bank is part of the programmes of the Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society of Nigeria which entail feeding Muslims fasting during Ramadan.

The Chief Imam of the society, Alhaji Fuad Adeyemi, told

NAN in Abuja on Sunday that the food bank was aimed at bringing succour to the less privileged in society.

He said the Yar’Adua family had agreed to key into the programme and feed fasting Muslims for three days.

“The late President Yar’Adua’s family has been responsible for the feeding of these fasting Muslims for the past three days and we are highly honored by the gesture, ’’ he said.

He thanked the family for

keeping up the legacy of the late president who, he described, as a selfless and visionary leader.

He said that Al-Habibiyyah had been feeding between 300 and 400 Muslims daily since Ramadan commenced and hoped to continue to the end of the holy month.

Adeyemi called on Muslims to donate to the bank so that more indigent ones could be fed during the period.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

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NEWS Abia targets N1.2b monthly From Ugochukwu Eke, Umuahia

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BIA Sate government is targeting about N1.2 billion from its restructured Infrastructural Development Fund (PPIDF).

Addressing reporters in Umuahia, Board of Directors of Physical Planning and Infrastructural Development Fund (PPIDF) Chairman Oke Nwaubani said the money would complement the efforts of Governor Theodore Orji in his bid to develop the state.

Nwaubani said part of the money would be used to upgrade Cemetry road, Mosque road, Link road and control erosion at Timber Market in Aba. He said there is a law backing the setting up of the board of directors of the fund, the Abia State Physical Planning and Infrastructural Development Fund Law No. 8 of 2010. He said the law allows landlords to pay specific amount for their structure on April 30.

“We are empowered by the relevant law to collect infrastructural funds from all house owners and if the owner is not there, any of the tenants in that building will be arrested for those whose buildings have defaulted in the payment of the funds.”

The chairman said: “We have gone into partnership with members of the law enforcement agencies to help us enforce the law.”

He urged members of the compliance team to be above board in the discharge of their duties.

Nwaubani said revenue courts have been set up in Aba and Umuahia, adding that the Chief Judge has assigned competent personnel to manage the courts,”and determine summarily all offences under this law and other matters arising therewith.”

Nwaubani advised landlords to ensure that they get the law concerning the development fund to know the amount they are expected to pay on their property. He said they are expected to pay the money into some designated banks.

Journalist loses son From Duku Joel, Damaturu

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HE eldest son of The Nation correspondent in Borno State Adeteju Abiodun is dead.

The 28-year-old Adeteju died at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Owo, Ondo State, after a brief illness.

His father, Joseph Abiodun, said the late Adeteju was waiting for his call- up letter for the mandatory one year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme before his death in Owo. The late Adeteju read Food and Science Technology at the University of Maiduguri.

Rep dispels rumour on Islamic banking

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HOUSE of Representatives member from Ekiti State, Ife Arowosoge has dismissed the allegation that the House has endorsed the controversial Islamic banking proposal.

Arowosoge, who represent s Ekiti South eest, Ise/Orun and Ikere Federal Constituency 1 on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), said the issue would be raised on the floor of the House for scrutiny.

The lawmaker said it was mischievous for some people to start spreading unconfirmed reports that the

By Dada Aladelokun, Assistant Editor

House had endorsed the Islamic banking.

He said it was wrong to believe that because the Central Bank Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, was not asked questions on the day he appeared, this meant that the House had accepted the idea.

‘It is mischievous for some people to just wake up and cook up stories that members of the House of Representatives have passed the Islamic banking into law. Such information is a mere rumour.

The House will carefully deliberate on the bill to look at the advantages and disadvantages. The House will consider whether that kind of banking system will work in Nigeria or not,” Arowosoge said.

“The mere fact that we did not ask the apex bank governor questions when he appeared before the House does not mean that the bill is being supported by the lawmakers. We decided not to ask him questions because we were mourning the death of the House Chairman of the National Assem-

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From Emma Mgbeahurike, Owerri

THE Imo State police command has rescued a six-yearold boy, simply identified as Akachukwu, from his abductor,Rita Anujuo, in Eziama Obiator, Mbaitoli Local Government.

Police spokesman, Linus Nwaiwu spoke while parading the suspect with others at the command headquarters in Owerri yesterday.

Nwaiwu said the boy was sold by his brothers to Mrs Anujuo at N500, 000.

He said the suspect had paid N200, 000 and signed an agreement to pay the remaining N200, 000 before she was arrested.

Nwaiwu said efforts are being made to arrest Simon Nwaogwugu and Ugonna Okoro, who allegedly sold the boy to Mrs Anujuo.

Mrs Anujuo said she has paid N300,000 of the N500,000.

She said Akachukwu was brought to her from Lagos by Simon Nwaogwugu to buy, knowing that she does not have a male child.

Woman dies at 91

From left: National President of Nigerian Statistical Association (NSA) Mr. Boniface Amobi, National Financial Secretary of the association Mr F.E. Adaka, Ondo State Governor Dr Olusegun Mimiko and Business Manager, Mr Nureni Adesina Sanni, during a visit by the NSA members to the governor in Akure...yesterday

Anambra PDP passes vote of no confidence on Metuh T

HE crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State deepened yesterday. The party passed a vote of no confidence on its National Vice- Chairman (Southeast), Olisa Metuh.

Before the meeting, the state police command had cordoned off the party’s secretariat in Awka with a view to stopping the meeting, before a new approval was given to the party by the police.

During the enlarged meeting yesterday at its Udoka Housing Estate office in Awka, the new state Acting Chairman of the party, Kenneth Emeakayi, said the party would withdraw its membership of the National Working Committee (NWC).

The state PDP alleged that Metuh had been working secretly for the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

(APGA) in the state, which it said caused the party the 2010 governorship seat.

As the meeting was going on, another one with former Minister of Women Affairs, Josephine Anenih, Olisa Metuh and others was taking place at the President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign office at Udoka.

On Monday, the party in the Southeast purportedly sacked Kenneth Emeakayi, Amechi Onowu, Ngozi Agudosi, among others, for causing confusion in Anambra PDP. Emeakayi, who addressed members yesterday, said he was not afraid of his rumoured sack by the party which he alleged was

being orchestrated by Metuh.

He assured members that he would retrieve their money allegedly embezzled by Metuh.

The national body of the party had allegedly set up a committee, headed by Senator Onyeabor Obi, to resolve the lingering crisis.

But addressing reporters yesterday after the meeting, Emeakayi said he was not aware of any committee.

According to him, Senator Obi was aware of the present executive in the state.

He dismissed allegations that certain PDP members in the state were at war, saying that his political son, Metuh, had waged war against the party in the state.

Emeakayi said he would stop Metuh from further embezzling party fund.

‘Education can’t solve Nigeria’s problems’ HE Lagos State Coordinator of Nigeria Prays Pastor Toyin Kehinde, has said education and technology would not solve the nation’s problems until there is a genuine change of heart in the people. He said some christians do not pray for Nigeria.

He spoke at the 10th anniversary of his ministry, Agape Generation Bible Church.

Kehinde, who has been leading prayers for Nigeria

bly Service Commission.”

While commenting on the six-year single term proposed by President Goodluck Jonathan, the ACN lawmaker said such idea should be rejected by all political parties.

Arowosoge said the sixyear single term was another tenure elongation to ensure that Jonathan spend more time in power.

“The six-year single term will die a natural death. We in the opposition are totally against it. I can assure you that the bill will be thrown out,” the lawmaker added

Imo police arrest child buyer

with the founder of Nigeria Prays, General Yakubu Gowon, said many Christians do not take the Nigerian project serious.

“If you notice the content of many prayers in our prayer gatherings, it is about self and how to make it. The passion for Nigeria is not there. Many of us are only interested in our own prosperity and sustenance. We disturb God daily with requests that have to do with ourselves and not about Nigeria,” he said.

Kehinde added: “Nigeria is a great nation. Nigeria has a prophetic destiny. Somebody has said Nigeria is the tiger of Africa. We have experienced retrogression in Nigeria and we have had all kinds of solutions but the problems are not solving.

Education and technology alone cannot solve our problems in Nigeria.

“Until the hearts of the people are transformed, we will not see any genuine change in the country. It is

only people with changed hearts that can bring change to the nation. General Gowon once said: “I can say this with every authority that prayers can solve problems better and faster than any soldier can do with weapons of war.”

“Call a meeting to pray for Nigeria, you will see a handful of people, but if it is prayer against imaginary enemies the whole place will be filled up,”Kehinde said.

The new acting chairman said the InspectorGeneral of Police, Hafix Ringim, had approved the delegates’ election in the wards and local governments which must be held this year.

CHIEF Anna Ndubuokwu Okeze is dead. She was 91.

A princess of Ikwele royal family, Ibusa, Delta State, Anna was a devoted christian, community leader and philanthropist.

Her remains will be buried on October 21.

She is survived by Chief Peter Okezie, the president of Pan Express Group Limited, two other children and many grandchildren.

Lay preacher dies FORMER Chairman of the defunct Nigeria Price Control Board Pa Samuel Olatunji Ogundare is dead. He was 80. The late pa Olatunji was a retired Diocesan Lay Preacher and Baba Ijo of St. Matthews Church, Ijebu Ijesha,Osun State. He is survived by wife, children and grand children.

Burial announcements will be announced by the family.

PUBLIC NOTICE PHILADELPHIA GOSPEL BIBLE MINISTRIES The general public is hereby notified that the above named Church has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Prophet Okunade Thompson Eniolorunopa - Founder/General Overseer 2. Elder Sunday Shittu - Secretary 3. Deaconess Florence Funmilayo Oguntuyi - Treasurer 4. Eider Sunday Joel Olasupo 5. Pastor David Oluwasanya 6. Lady Evangelist Elizabeth Wunmi Okunade 7. Pastor O. Paul Lawal AIMS & OBJECTIVES 1. To preach the Gospel of the kingdom of God all over the world through Jesus Christ the saviour and the anointed one of God and to teach those who believe the word of God(Bible)Matt. 10:7,&8, Job 9:4 2. To work with the body of Christ as one member Eph.4:11-14 3. To preach uncompromised word of God in clarity etc.

Any objections to the registration should be forwarded to the registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, within 28 days to this publications.

Signed ADESOGA TIKARE & CO Legal Practitioners 08023194290, 07057584481

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

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NEWS

How NJC laid foundation for Salami’s fate

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INUTES of the 6th emergency meeting of the National Judicial Council held at the office complex on Tuesday 9th August, 2011 Present 1. Hon. Justice Dahiru Musdapher Deputy Chairman 2. Hon. Justice E. O. Ayoola, CON member 3. Hon. Justice D. O. Edozie, CON 4. Hon. Justice Umaru Abdullahi, CON 5. Hon. Justice M. E. Akpiroroh JCA 6. Hon Justice I. N. Auta 7. Hon. Justice B. A. Adejumo OFR 8. Hon. Justice I. Hwande 9. Hon. Justice Kate Abiri 10. Hon. Justice Kulu Aliyu 11. Hon. Justice P. C. Umeadi 12. Hon. Grand Khadi Ismaila Muhammed 13. Hon. Justice M. A. Bello OFR 14. Mrs. R. I. Inga 15. Danladi U. Halilu, Esq OON Secretary Apology 1. Hon. Justice P. O. Aderemi CON 2. Hon. Justice I E. Akande 3. Mrs. Rakiya Sarki Ibrahim MON In attendance 1. Eugene I. Odukwu (Mr) Director (Admin. NJC 2.

Florence Bintur-Shik (Mrs.) Chief Confidential Secretary, NJC 4. Olorukooba Ahmed Sardauna (Mr.) Asst. Chief Confidential Secretary 5. Augustina A. Ehiemere (Mrs.) Asst. Chief Confidential Secretary, NJC Commencement 4.1 Hon. Justice M.E Akpiroroh, JCA said the opening prayer at 10.50 am.

Thereafter the Deputy Chairman informed Council that in view of the fact that he gave evidence on the matter between the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria and the Hon. President of the Court of Appeal, it would be inappropriate for him to participate in the deliberations of the Meeting.

Hence, he would excuse himself to enable Council under its Rules, to nominate a Member to preside over the Meeting.

The Deputy Chairman excused himself from the meeting A member nominated Mrs. R. I Inga to preside over the meeting. The member explained that he nominated Mrs. Inga because quite a lot of members were in the Hon. Justice Abdullahi’s Panel and the nominee was the only member not in the Judicial hierarchy.

Mrs. Inga, however, declined the nomination on the grounds that she was closely related to the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria.

Consequently, another member nominated Hon. Justice M. A. Bello (OFR) to chair the meeting.

Hon. Justice M. A. Bello (OFR) thanked members for nominating him to preside over the meeting and promised to discharge the functions of Chairman of the meeting with the fear of God and without fear or favour.

He called on Hon. Justice I. N. Auta, the Chairman of the National Judicial Council Sub-Committee, constituted to study the report of the National Judicial Council Investigation Committee on the allegations levelled against the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice A. I. Katsina-Alu (GCON), the President of the Court of Apeal, Hon. Justice I. A. Salami (OFR) and some Hon. Justices of the Court of Appeal to present his report.

In presenting the report, Hon Justice I. N Auta pointed out that the Sub-Committee did not use the secretariat of the Council in typing its report.

It sat in the Council and later moved to his chambers in the Fed-

•Justice Katsina-Alu eral High Court to conclude the report, which was typed by Hon. Justice Kate Abiri, the Chief Judge of Bayelsa State, on a laptop computer and thereafter three copies were produced.

He set out to read the report of the Sub-Committee to the hearing of members of the Council.

Hon. Justice Kate Abiri and Hon. Justice PNC Umeadi, who served in the Sub-Committee, agreed with the contents of the reports read out by Hon. Justice I.N Auta.

Hon. Justice Kulu Aliyu moved for the adoption of the report and was supported by Hon. Grand Khadi Ismaila Muhammed.

The Acting Chairman, Hon. Justice M. A. Bello (OFR), commended the Sub-Committee for a good job, given the short period of one week it was mandated to complete the assignment and called for comments.

A member joined others in thanking members of the Sub-Committee for a good job, noting that it was not a Review Committee per se but had made an executive summary of the findings of the original Committee constituted by the Council. He reminded members that the origin of the matter before them was the petitions before the Council. The reason the Council went into investigation was that after the exercise, it should be able to decide if on the facts before it, there was an issue of misconduct established.

In his opinion, the first duty of the Council should be to confirm, if there was an issue of misconduct worth pursuing.

The Council, in his view, could also come to the decision that the investigation, having been made, there was no matter to be further pursued and for the issue to end there.

Concerning recommendation ‘of the Sub-Committee’s Report - ISSUES AS THEY RELATE TO THE CODE OF CONDUCT OF JUDICIAL OFFICERS OF THE FEDEDRAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA - which inter alia states: “The Committee is of the view that the approach to the mass media by the President of the Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice I. A. Salami (OFR) to ventilate his differences with the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice A. I. Katsina-Alu (GCON), of which the Committee takes Judicial notice offends Rule 1 (a) and Rule 2 (9) of the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”. The member stated that he had reservation with Recommendation ‘D’ because it was not an issue in the petitions

•Justice Salami before the Sub-Committee and was also not an issue before the Hon. Justice Umaru Abdullahi’s Committee.

He stressed that in the Hon. Justice Umaru Abdullahi’s Committee of which he served as a Member, the issue of the Recommendation ‘D’ was not an issue at all would open up Council to further confusion because it was extraneous to the matter before the main National Judicial Council Investigation Committee. He ended by suggesting that recommendation ‘D’ should be rejected by Council and may be it could come up in another form.

Hon. Justice I. N. Auta clarified that the Sub-Committee was not particular to Hon. Justice I.A Salami (OFR) in making recommendation ‘D’ but was for all Judicial Officers in respect of recourse to the media to settle issues.

The Sub-Committee he stated, was just of the view that the matter should be brought to the attention of all Judicial Officers to checkmate the tendency of rushing to the Press on purely official matters.

Another member agreed that there was need to be cautious in bringing matters that were extraneous in the original Committee Report. However, what worried him he pointed out, were the issue raised in the affidavits contained in the petitions and these affidavits were made on oath.

At this juncture, the Acting Chairman pointed out that paragraphs ‘tw’ of page 96 of the Original Report: t) “From all the circumstances there is available evidence that the CJN did not give instructions to the PCA to direct the Panel to dismiss the appeal. (u) The Panel is of the view that the issue of leakage of the judgment for now remains like an early morning fog that never endures after the rising of the sun. v) The Panel finds no evidence that the CJN wittingly or unwittingly brought the Judiciary into disrepute. w) The Panel finds the allegation that the CJN had taken over the running of the Court of Appeal in an unprecedented manner as unfounded.”

Tallied with page 2 of the Sub-committee Report: “In view of the surrounding circumstances, the Panel finds that the CNJ was motivated by an apparent urge to protest the administration of justice and avoid breach of peace. The Panel finds that the NCJ acted in good faith to have taken the steps he took.”

In his opinion, the Council must make a pronouncement of the alle-

gation made on oath.

Another member agreed that Council should take a decision on the issue of whether the President of the Court of Appeal gave false evidence on oath which, in her view, amounted to perjury and, hence, appropriate disciplinary measures must be take against him.

Another member noted that the issue before the Council was whether Hon. Justice Salami’s recourse to the media offended Rule 1 (1) of the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Yet another member stated that the whole issue was very unfortunate.

He pointed out that in constituting the Main-Committee and the SubCommittee, Council was not expected to say that the matter was a drawn game but should rather be bold and apportion blame between the two top Judicial officers. In his view, for a Judicial officer of the rank of the President of the Court of Appeal to rush to the media on an issue that could have been settled amicably was untenable and accordingly urged Council to take a decision on the Report of the Sub-Committee and make appropriate pronouncements.

Commenting further, another member drew the attention of Council to page 2 of the Sub-Committee’s Report, where it adopted page 133, paragraph 5.061 of the Main Committee to the effect that the Panel was a fact-finding panel and not an adjudicative body. In his view, therefore, the matter of whether somebody lied on oath or not was a matter of law, a perjury which should attract a jail term of 14 years.

He stressed that the issue of whether someone lied or not was resolved at paragraph ‘t’ of page 96 of the Main Report, which could only be proved by going to Court to establish the allegation of perjury.

Another member recalled that the decision of the Main Committee was that the Chief Justice of Nigeria did not give instruction to the President of the Court of Appeal to dismiss the Sokoto State Appeal. However, in respect of the issue of perjury, he advised that Council should not go into it because only the law Court could prove the case of perjury. He noted that it was possible that either President of the Court of Appeal or the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the Deputy Chairman on the other hand was lying.

Still on the issue of perjury, another member pointed out that the Council was not an adjudicative body that

could sit and deliver verdict on the matter.

Hon. Justice I. N. Auta, at this juncture, told Council that the Sub-Committee did not want to go deep into the issue of perjury because it was not within its mandate but that of the Police to prosecute defaulters along that line. Regarding the allegation by the President of the Court of Appeal, he stated that the Sub-Committee was of the view that the Chief Justice of Nigeria had no case to answer.

Concerning the other Justices of the Court of Appeal, the Sub-Committee’s view was also that they had no case to answer.

Noting that the issue at stake was badly managed, he suggested that in spite of public expectation, Council should make pronouncement that it was not its duty to make pronouncement, hence the matter should be allowed to rest.

Another member agreed that Council should make a pronouncement that there was no proof of misconduct against the President of the Court of Appeal.

In reaction, the Acting Chairman cautioned that Council should be wary of having two standards, pointing out that a High Court Judge in Zamfara State was recently sanctioned. He, therefore, urged Council against having different laws for the ‘high’ and another ‘low’ in the Judiciary.

Contributing to the deliberation, another member agreed that the President of the Court of Appeal lied against the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria. But on the issue of perjury, he stressed that it could not be proved.

A member observed that Council had petitions before it and suggested that it should go step-by-step and confirm if the petitions were established. In his opinion, once the Committee had found that a petition was not established, it should be the end of the matter. He noted that if incidental issues arose, such as perjury, which was a criminal matter, Council would not be capable to deal with it. He, however, reminded Council that it was not easy to prove perjury because it could be a case of a lie within a lie.

While agreeing with the view of the last member who contributed to the discussion, another member noted that there was great expectation by the public. He, therefore, suggested that the petitions should be considered step-by-step going into the Main Report proper.

Accordingly, Council agreed to look at the petitions in the Main Report, give the background of each petition, the findings and agree upon with them or not as follows: A. Part A: Complaint against the Hon. CJN by the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) “Present instance where the CJN, in complete negation and violation of his powers under the Constitution, has written to the President of the Court of Appeal ordering him to stop the delivery of judgment of Sokoto State Governorship Election Appeal already slated for 24th February 2010 is another blatant incident of selfish individual or sectional interests being used to subvert the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, the fons et origo of our legal system.”

The summary of the Committee’s Report at page 85 of Hon. Justice Abdullahi’s Committee, paragraphs ‘k – h’ as follows: k) Be that as it may, the Panel had no difficulty in holding the view that under the Constitution and the laws of the land, no apparent power has been bestowed on the NJC of which the CJN is the Chairman to interfere in any proceedings of the legally constituted Court. i) The Panel, however, finds no semblance of ill-motive, selfishness of an individual or sectional interest •Continued on page 55

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

55

NEWS

How NJC laid foundation for Salami’s fate •Continued from page 54

being used to subvert the Constitution in the steps taken by the CJN, Chairman of the NJC. m) In view of the surrounding circumstances, the Panel finds that the CJN was motivated by an apparent urge to protect the administration of justice and avoid breach of peace. The Panel finds that the CJN acted in good faith to have taken the steps he took.

The Panel finds that absence of statutory guidelines to assist the CJN as Chairman of the NJC in dealing with such a situation as has arisen, in this case is a serious gap that needs to be addressed.

Corroborated with page 2 of Hon. Justice Auta’s Panel, “In view of the surrounding circumstances, the Panel finds that the CJN was motivated by an apparent urge to protect the administration of justice and avoid breach of peace. The Panel finds that the CJN acted in good faith to have taken the steps he took”.

This was therefore accepted by the Council.

B. PART B – COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE CJN BY THE PCA Also the findings of the Main Report at page 95, paragraphs ‘r – w’ which state as follows: “r) The Panel believed that somewhere along the line there is clear break down of communication and trust between the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the President of the Court of Appeal. s) There is evidence to show that an advice was given to the PCA to disband the Panel and constitute another one based on the belief that the judgment was leaked. However, as shown earlier, the PCA was not willing to carry out this advice, no matter what impression he gave the CJN and Hon. Justice Musdapher. t) From all the circumstances there is available evidence that the CJN did not give instructions to the PCA to direct the Panel to dismiss the appeal. u) The Panel is of the view that the issue of leakage of the judgment for now remains like an early morning fog that never endured after the rising of the sun. v) The panel finds no evidence that the CJN wittingly or unwittingly brought the Judiciary into disrepute. w) The panel finds the allegation that the CJN had taken over the running of the Court of Appeal in an unprecedented manner as unfounded.”

But it agreed with Hon. Justice Auta’s panel, which states as follows: “In view of the surrounding circumstances, the Panel finds that the CJN was motivated by an apparent urge to protect the administration of justice and avoid breach of peace. The Panel finds that the CJN acted in good faith to have taken the steps he took”.

“The issue of instructions allegedly given by the CJN to the PCA in the presence of the Hon. Justice Dahiru Musdapher to dismiss the appellant’s appeal: The CJN emphatically denied this allegation and the clear evidence of Hon. Justice Musdapher confirmed the CJN’s position. The matter needs no further discussions.”

Council unanimously accepted the recommendation above.

B) PART C – COMPAINTS BY MR YAHAYA MAHMOOD AND MR. ALFRED N. AGU This relates to two petitions forwarded to the CJN on 15th February, 2010 by Mr. Yahaya Mahmood and Mr. Alfred N. Agu respectively.

Page 103, paragraph ‘r’ of the Main Report states, “The Panel is of the view that the wide ranging accusations and counter accusations were products of emotions and suspicions.

The Panel is not able to put its fingers on any tangible basis of the suspicion.”

The Council accepted the finding.

C) SECTION II – THE EKITI AND OSUN STATES’ GOVERNORSHIP ISSUES

•Dr. Jonathan The petitions submitted by Chief Olusegun Adebayo Oni (“Chief Segun Oni”) against 1. Hon. Justice Isa Ayo Salami; 2. Hon. Justice Clara Bata Ogunbiyi; 3. Hon. Justice Ariwoola; 4. Hon. Justice Chima Centus Nweze and Hon. Justice Adamu Jauro.

The findings of the Main Panel are as follows: i) that the call logs relied on by the petitioners lack authenticity and therefore have no evidential value; ii) that there is no sufficient evidence to establish the alleged unethical communication and to make a finding of fact that there was such communication; iii) that there is nothing to show that the statement credited to Hon. Justice Salami, that he makes use of judges trusted is indicative of an adverse connotation. iv) The Panel took exception to the hard and insulting language used by the Justices against the principal petitioners namely; Chief Segun Oni and Prince Oyinlola in their replies.

Judges are not known to allow emotions to take charge of their action even at the face of provocation.

Justice Auta’s Panel at page 4 of its Report adopted the findings of the Main Panel by stating thus, “Upon the totality of the evidence and the material placed before the Panel it finds (i) that the call logs relied upon by the petitioners lack authenticity and therefore have no evidential value (ii) that there is no sufficient evidence to establish the alleged unethical communication and to make a finding of fact that there was such communication.”

Hon. Justice Auta pointed out that his Sub-Committee did not adopt paragraphs (iii) and (iv) of the Report of the Main Panel since in his view, it was not fair for a Judge to say that he trusted only a few of his Justices.

Hon. Justice Umaru Abdullahi, CON informed Council that paragraphs (iii) and (iv) were included in the Main Report for the public to see that the Panel did a thorough job.

A member was of the view that he saw nothing wrong in the President, Court of Appeal saying that he

‘

In view of the surrounding circumstances, the Panel finds that the CJN was motivated by an apparent urge to protect the administration of justice and avoid breach of peace. The Panel finds that the CJN acted in good faith to have taken the steps he took

’

trusted some Judges since every Judge has his/her own capability as they are not endowed with the same intellect.

The Acting Chairman drew the attention of Council to page 115 of the Main Report wherein it was stated that “The telephone calls were persistent.” Moreover he referred to page 136, paragraph 5.06.11 of the Report and stated that he believed that it was unethical for a Judge to be having communications with parties to a dispute before him.

The findings of the Main Report at page 143, paragraphs (i) – (iv) are as follows: i) that the call logs relied on by the petitioners lack authenticity and therefore have no evidential value; ii) that there is no sufficient evidence to establish the alleged unethical communication and to make a finding of fact that therefore was such communication; iii) that therefore is nothing to show that the statement credited to Hon. Justice Salami, that he makes use of judges trusted is indicative of an adverse connotation; and iv) The Panel took exception to the hard and insulting language used by the Justice against the principal petitioners namely; Chief Segun Oni and Prince Oyinlola in their replies.

Judges are not known to allow emotions to take charge of their action even at the face of provocation.

Council accordingly adopted the above findings.

E) SECTION III – PETITIONS NOT TREATED BY THE PANEL Council agreed that there were petitions which were clearly outside the mandate of the Main Panel set up to investigate them and also others which were merely lifted from the petitions of other petitioners which had nothing original to offer.

The petitions are as follows: A) PETITIONS AGAINST THE CJN I) Undated Petitions against the CJN by Comrade Prince Collins Eselemo: The petitioner who claimed to be writing on behalf of the Great People of Niger Delta, alleged that the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria was influenced with several billions of Naira by the powerful sources within government who were desperate to subvert judgment in the Sokoto appeal case which they perceived would be unfavourable. He stated that the task assigned to the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria in the case was to scuttle the appeal case in Sokoto and ensure judgment was never delivered. He further stated that the several billions of naira were distributed to the Panel of Justices that sat on the case at the Supreme Court in collaboration with the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria.

The Main Panel at page 146, paragraph 3 stated thus, “The Panel appreciating the seriousness of the allegations, sent out two invitation letters to the writer, if he ever exists, to appear before the Panel to give evidence, but he did not show up.”

The Panel therefore recommends to the National Judicial Council to forward the petition to the Police or other competent security agencies to locate the petitioners, if he ever exists with that name to provide proof of the serious allegations made by him.

Council accepted the above recommendation of the Panel. ii) Petition by Joseph Otteh, Director Access to Justice dated 18/02/ 2011 The writer only requested the Council for urgent, full scale, impartial investigation into allegations that the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria sought or made overt efforts to interfere with the proceedings pending before an Election Appeal Tribunal. He relied on the unsubstantiated contents of the affidavit in a suit filed by the Hon. President of the Court of Appeal against the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria (now withdrawn). He did not make his allegations independently.

At the end of deliberation, Council accepted the Panel’s recommendation. iii) Petition by Ifeanyichukwu Okonkwo, Onwa Nnobi dated 24/02/ 2011: The writer demanded the National Judicial Council to probe the allegations of influence, abuse of power and corruption leveled against the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria by the Hon. President, Court of Appeal. His request was linked to the allegations made by the Hon. President, Court of Appeal against the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria in his reply to the latter’s letter dated 18th February, 2010.

Council adopted the recommendation of the Panel. iv) The Duo of Emeka Umeagbalasi and International Society For Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law dated 24/02/2011: The writers lifted all the materials they used from the allegations made in the affidavit of the Hon. President, Court of Appeal against the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria as well as the allegation of misconduct made against the Hon. President, Court of Appeal in the Osun and Ekiti States’ presentation with particulars reference to telephone calls.

They urged the National Judicial Council for sound, ethical and ad-

ministrative investigation and appropriate sanctions against the parties.

In response to their letter, the National Judicial Council assured them of their thorough and unbiased investigation.

Council accepted the opinion of the Panel.

Petitions against the PCA Petition by Segun Ilori & Co on behalf of the registered voters of Ido Osi local government of Ekiti State, Nigeria dated 03/01/2011: The petition was based on the alleged cancellation of votes and disenfranchisement by Justice Isa Ayo Salami, President of the Court of Appeal and four others.

The panel resolved that the complaint was outside its mandate.

The recommendation of the panel was accepted by the Council.

(2) Petition by Umar Farouk, National Commissioner of Transparency Centre Network dated ????

Umar Farouk’s petition was based on the Newspaper interview granted by the President, Court of Appeal.

The Panel found no substance in it.

Council agreed with the Panel’s finding that there was no substance in the petition.

(3) Petition dated 23/11/2010 against Hon. Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, Court of Appeal, Benin Division now Jos Division by Chief (Barr) Peter Nwaboshi, Joshua Yarhere, Esq, Chairman and Legal Adviser on behalf of PDP, Delta State: The Panel agreed that the issues raised in the petition were based on points of law.

Council agreed that the issues raised in the petition against Hon. Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, Court of Appeal, Benin Division now Jos Division by Chief (Barr) Peter Nwaboshi, Joshua Yarhere, Esq, Chairman and Legal Adviser on behalf of PDP, Delta State were based on points of law.

(4) A letter written by Prince (Hon) A.S.Abimbola (JP) dated 11/02/2011 The writer asked council to sanction Hon. Justice I.A. Salami for refusing to be promoted to the Supreme Court Bench which was outside the mandate of the Main Panel.

Council agreed that the request by Prince (Hon) A.S. Abimbola (JP) was outside the mandate of the Panel constituted to investigate the allegations leveled against the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria, the Hon. President, Court of Appeal and some Justices of the Court of Appeal.

(5) The Hon. Justices of the Court of Appeal in Sokoto State governorship issue and Ekiti and Osun states’ governorship issues.

5.1 Council accepted the recommendation of Main Panel that, “The Committee recommended that Justice of the Court of Appeal who served on the Sokoto State Governorship Appeal and the Ekiti and Osun States’ governorship appeals the subject matter of this Report do not have any issue to answer in relation to the petition before us” as contained in paragraph ‘C’ of the Report of the Sub-Committee.

(6) Issues as they relate to the Code of Conduct of the Judicial officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 6.1 The Report of the Sub-Committee which appeared in its paragraph ‘D’ reads as follows, “The Committee is of the view that the approach to the mass media by the President of the Court of Appeal, Hon, Justice I.A. Salami, OFR, to ventilate his differences with the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice A.I. Katsina-Alu, GCON of which the Committee took judicial notice, offends Rule (1) and Rule 2(9) of the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

A member commented that the way the Sub-Committee stated its findings by inserting names should •To be continued

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

56

MONEY LINK

CBN to monitor banks’ card issuance programmes

T

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said it would moni tor progress made by the 24 deposit money banks, in the card issuance. The apex bank said the action is in line with the Bankers’ Committee’s agreement to drive card issuance and create the enabling environment for cash policy implementation.

A circular endorsed by CBN Acting Director, Banking and Payments Systems Department, Gaius Emokpae, said going forward, banks are expected to forward to the apex bank, data on cards issued as well as total number of active accounts based on stipulated conditions.

He said the banks are to supply details on total number of active accounts, cumulative cards issued, cumulative active cards, number of

By Collins Nweze

cards issued in the reporting month and number of cards activated in the reporting months. He said active accounts for that purpose are accounts with at least one transaction in the past six months. It defined active cards as those that have been picked up and activated by the customer.

The CBN also said the data should be forwarded to the Director, Banking and Payment System Department, on the third working day, following the reporting month. The first of the reports is expected on September 3,” Emokpae, said.

Section 47 (3) of Central Bank of Nigeria Act 2007 (as amended), empowers the apex bank to issue guidelines for the maintenance of adequate

requirements of the following Standards and Best Practices,” CBN said in a statement.

Each vendor is also expected to provide valid certificates showing compliance with set standards and must regularly review status of all its terminals to ensure they are still compliant, as standards change.

The CBN said it will continually review compliance processes with these and other global industry standards from time to time. The new rule stipulates that only CBN licensed financial and non- financial institutions shall serve as Merchant Acquirers. They can also serve as PoS Terminals, but can only be deployed and supported by terminals through a CBN licensed Payment Terminal Services Provider (PTSP).

and reasonable financial services for the public and to ensure high standards of conduct and management throughout the banking system.

The CBN, last week, issued guidelines on the use of Point of Sale (PoS) terminals and card acceptance services. It said the guidelines were developed to provide minimum standards and requirements for the operation of PoS card acceptance services under the countertop, wireless/portable, handover, automated dispenser, biometric point of sale, contactless and Point of Sale Card Acceptance Services Stakeholders.

“All industry stakeholders who process and/or store cardholder information, shall ensure that their terminals, applications and processing systems comply with the minimum

“Such platforms should accept all cards and should support existing PoS terminals already deployed which are expected to be handed over to PTSPs by November 1st, 2011,” a statement from the CBN said.

Mobile money: CBN grants UBA licence

T

banking subsidiary.

Speaking shortly after receiving the licence in Abuja, Chief Executive Officer, Afripay, Yinka Adedeji, commended the CBN for its efforts in promoting cashless economy through mobile payment platforms that guarantees ease of business transactions and efficiency.

“We are greatly encouraged by

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has granted United Bank for Africa (UBA) the final licence to operate a mobile payment service, known as U-Mo. The bank according to a statement, was granted approval-in-principle by the apex bank last year, enabling the UBA Group to deploy and commence full operations with the establishment of Afripay; its mobile

view to ensuring that all customer segments are covered.

He explained that U-Mo Silver, is for customers with very little information, saying the product allows them to spend or pay up to N3,000 per transaction and up to N30,000 per day, whilst U-Mo Gold, is for customers with contact information and details.

“A U-Mo Gold customer is allowed

this development. It is a significant morale booster given that we have been ready for full operations since November, 2010. Various categories of customers including the banked and un-banked have begun to embrace our services,” Dr. Adedeji said, adding that Afripay has introduced a number of products including U-Mo Silver, U-Mo Gold and U-Mo Platinum, With a

Fidelity Bank bags ISO27001 certification

F

IDELITY Bank Plc has become the second Nigerian bank to be awarded ISO27001:2005 certification and the first to bag the Information Security Management System (ISMS).

The Nigerian bank that got the first one had the limited certification, which is on documentation as against Fidelity’s which is all data, a statement from the bank said yesterday.

The ISO/IEC27001:2005 certification is often issued to organisations

around the world with the highest standards of information security and highly coveted by companies and organisations that wish to be taken seriously at the topmost level of international business where confidence and trust are key assets.

“With this feat, Fidelity becomes the only Nigerian bank beside First Bank Plc that has attained the maximum certification standards in global best practices. The bank was certified by the world-renowned Brit-

ish Standards Institute (BSI), the accredited certification agency from the United Kingdom,” the statement said.

Throwing more light on the preparations for the certification, the bank’s Executive Director (Shared Services), Mr. IK Mbagwu explained that setting its sights at attaining the highest level of confidentiality and assurance, the bank had invested extensively in training its work force and retooling its processes bank wide.

He said the bank’s quest for

ISO27001 Certification began in 2008 with the singular aim of putting in place a globally accepted standard of information security management process that would guarantee the trustworthiness of the bank’s data transmission and shore up the confidence of its customers and investors.

Mbagwu noted that with this certification, Fidelity has taken its place “among some of the most renowned organizations in the world including the famed Fortune 500 companies.”

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

Amount Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($)

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 28-04-2011 “ 14-04-2011

GAINERS AS AT 23-8-11 SYMBOL CONOIL NCR ECOBANK CUTIX CUSTODYINS TRANSCORP CONTINSURE PRESTIGE REDSTAREX GLAXOSMITH

O/PRICE 32.73 3.58 2.76 1.99 2.59 0.88 1.00 1.60 2.76 6.66

C/PRICE 34.36 3.75 2.89 2.08 2.65 0.90 1.02 1.63 2.80 6.70

CHANGE 1.63 0.17 0.13 0.09 0.06 0.02 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.04

LOSER AS AT 23-8-11 SYMBOL DANGSUGAR CHELLARAM DANGFLOUR PZ CAP UBA JAPAULOIL UNITYBNK ZENITHBANK DIAMONDBNK

O/PRICE 11.60 7.22 13.04 31.31 27.90 4.42 1.01 0.63 12.80 4.20

Further insight into the benefits that the certification would bring to the bank according to the statement, reveals that a risk analysis performed during the installation of the programme has helped the bank to cut down its information risk from 53.5 per cent to 20 per cent indicating a 33.5 per cent reduction in one and a half years.

Formal presentation of the certificate to Fidelity by BSI has been slated for the middle of September.

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM

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

OBB Rate Call Rate

to spend or pay up to N10,000 per transaction and up to N100,000 per day. U-Mo Platinum is for the more sophisticated customers who are allowed to spend or pay up to N100,000 per transaction and up to N1,000,000 per day,” he said, adding, “to qualify for U-Mo Platinum, you have to provide detailed information including a verified address and a reference”

DATA BANK

Tenor

NIDF NESF

•CBN Governor, Lamido Sanusi Lamido

C/PRICE 11.02 6.86 12.39 29.75 26.51 4.20 0.96 0.60 12.22 4.01

CHANGE 0.58 0.36 0.65 1.56 1.39 0.22 0.05 0.03 0.58 0.19

Amount Sold ($)

Exchange Rate (N)

Date

450m

452.7m

450m

150.8

08-8-11

250m

313.5m

250m

150.8

03-8-11

400m

443m

400m

150.7

01-8-11

EXHANGE RATE 30-05-11 CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Currency

Year Start Offer

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

NGN USD NGN GBP

147.6000 239.4810

149.7100 244.0123

150.7100 245.6422

-2.11 -2.57

NGN EUR

212.4997

207.9023

209.2910

-1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

Bureau de Change 152.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

(S/N) Parallel Market

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

NSE CAP Index

NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N)

12-08-11 N7.285tr 22,775.55

15-08-11 N7.216tr 22,559.07

% Change -0.95% -0.95%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

(S/N)

153.0000

DISCOUNT WINDOW January ’11

February ’11

July ’11

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

8.75%

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% 10.2%

Offer Price

Bid Price

9.17 1.00 117.62 112.11 0.81 0.98 0.98 1,620.90 9.61 1.39 1.87 8,827.74 193.00

9.08 1.00 117.16 111.16 0.78 0.97 0.97 1,618.90 9.14 1.33 1.80 8,557.73 191.08

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

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

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

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

Movement

OPEN BUY BACK Previous

Current

04 MAR, 2011

07, MAR, 2011

Bank

8.5000

8.5000

P/Court

8.0833

8.0833

Movement

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

57

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 23-08-11 2ND-TIER SECURITIES Company Name FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC PRESCO PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 1 20 23

Quotation(N) 0.50 0.50 7.48

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 24,000 12,000.00 200,000 100,000.00 92,694 688,226.14 316,694 800,226.14

No of Deals Quotation(N) 1 2.23 59 6.70 60

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 500 1,060.00 717,255 4,741,344.78 717,755 4,742,404.78

AIR SERVICES Company Name AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

AUTOMOBILE & TYRE Company Name DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC R. T. BRISCOE (NIGERIA) PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals Quotation(N) 2 0.50 27 1.31 29

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 129,464 64,732.00 1,155,383 1,593,328.20 1,284,847 1,658,060.20

BANKING Company Name ACCESS BANK PLC DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK NIGERIA PLC FIRST CITY MONUMENT BANK PLC FIDELITY BANK PLC FIRST BANK OF NIGERIA PLC FINBANK PLC GTBANK PLC STANBIC IBTC BANK PLC INTERCONTINENTAL BANK PLC. OCEANIC BANK INTERNATIONAL PLC SKYE BANK PLC. STERLING BANK PLC UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC. UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC UNITYBANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC ZENITH BANK PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 151 75 34 43 106 606 12 836 47 12 13 122 36 311 18 19 35 324 2,800

Quotation(N) 5.85 4.01 2.89 5.95 2.05 10.90 0.50 12.30 9.41 0.70 1.15 5.71 1.33 4.20 2.09 0.60 0.80 12.22

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 9,528,448 55,688,574.83 9,471,206 37,972,291.76 524,664 1,452,753.49 2,285,950 12,974,258.97 11,745,202 24,030,380.94 14,240,882 152,316,296.40 51,489,417 25,744,708.50 36,246,838 433,985,915.08 1,373,416 13,038,771.40 506,263 354,384.10 142,268 163,608.20 6,235,793 36,029,847.30 6,961,417 9,505,436.46 14,756,109 62,763,849.93 988,414 2,065,785.26 1,787,238 1,072,487.80 824,665 654,637.62 14,385,920 175,810,620.78 183,494,110 1,045,624,608.82

Quotation(N) 4.46 215.00 6.15 85.00

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 103 436.72 156,882 33,472,013.14 500 2,990.00 16,437,591 1,395,955,342.06 16,595,076 1,429,430,781.92

BREWERIES Company Name CHAMPION BREWERIES PLC GUINNESS NIGERIA PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC NIGERIAN BREWERIES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 70 1 164 236

BUILDING MATERIALS Company Name ASHAKA CEMENT PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTHERN NIGERIA PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC LAFARGE WAPCO PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 49 8 31 47 135

Quotation(N) 19.58 7.50 116.94 44.00

Quantity Traded Value 340,425 99,200 167,706 495,000 1,102,331

of Shares (N) 6,532,664.65 742,020.00 19,257,027.68 21,688,511.12 48,220,223.45

CHEMICAL & PAINTS Company Name BERGER PAINTS NIGERIA PLC CHEMICAL AND ALLIED PRODUCTS PLC DN MEYER PLC PAINTS AND COATINGS MANUFACTURES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 18 11 1 1 31

Quotation(N) 9.80 26.51 1.38 1.17

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 101,000 973,520.24 218,921 5,808,508.50 1,000 1,320.00 8,000 8,960.00 328,921 6,792,308.74

COMMERCIAL/SERVICES Company Name RED STAR EXPRESS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals Quotation(N) 24 2.80 24

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 896,083 2,370,633.39 896,083 2,370,633.39

COMPUTER & OFFICE EQUIPMENT Company Name NCR (NIGERIA) PLC. Sector Totals

No of Deals Quotation(N) 4 3.75 4

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 54,092 202,845.00 54,092 202,845.00

CONGLOMERATES Company Name A. G. LEVENTIS (NIGERIA) PLC CHELLARAMS PLC PZ CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC UAC OF NIGERIA PLC UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 3 2 55 70 56 51 237

Quotation(N) 1.99 6.86 29.75 0.90 39.01 28.00

Quantity Traded Value 14,880 51,050 510,344 6,928,100 1,087,633 416,451 9,008,458

of Shares (N) 28,272.00 350,203.00 15,286,858.25 5,907,097.00 42,461,515.17 11,625,446.87 75,659,392.29

CONSTRUCTION Company Name COSTAIN (WA) PLC JULIUS BERGER NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals Quotation(N) 3 2.66 14 55.50 17

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 18,830 50,087.80 139,421 7,739,115.50 158,251 7,789,203.30

Flour Mills to raise N25b from shareholders

F

LOUR Mills of Nigeria Plc is to raise N25 bil lion through rights issue to fund it’s expansion and strengthen existing market shares.

Speaking at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) yesterday, the Group Managing Director, Chief Emmanuel Ukpabi, said the net proceeds from the rights issue would provide additional funding to finance ongoing expansionary drive.

He said the company plans to further develop its retail market in line with ongoing efforts to expand its market, adding that the overall strategy of Flour Mills is to grow and diversify into sustainable food business that have synergies with existing operations.

He outlined part of the strategies to include expansion of the consumer arm of the food business organically and through targeted acquisition, saying the company is currently expanding existing capacity and discussing with potential targets in the food and beverages sector.

He pointed out that the company would explore opportunities in the agro-allied sector which present unique challenges as well as opportunities and reward.

“Additional farmland for cultivating sugarcane, palm trees, maize, soybeans and possibly rice would be acquired in various locations across Nigeria” Ukpabi said.

He described Flour Mills as one of the largest food producers in Nigeria and the number one flour producer with 45 per cent market share.

He said the company’s

No of Deals Quotation(N) 13 2.08 1 4.90 14

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 197,000 409,094.00 200 932.00 197,200 410,026.00

FOOD/BEVERAGES & TOBACCO Company Name 7-UP BOTTLING CO. PLC CADBURY NIGERIA PLC DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIGERIA PLC HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC MULTI-TREX INTEGRATED FOODS PLC NATIONAL SALT COMPANY NIGERIA PLC NIGERIAN BOTTLING COMPANY PLC NESTLE NIGERIA PLC NORTHERN NIGERIA FLOUR MILLS PLC TANTALIZERS PLC UTC NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 8 46 23 37 81 8 1 21 17 56 1 1 1 301

Quotation(N) 45.00 16.80 12.39 11.02 84.00 4.63 1.70 4.20 41.00 400.00 22.61 0.50 0.60

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 6,887 325,066.99 241,407 3,953,626.39 193,915 2,402,606.85 341,880 3,772,868.25 1,027,596 86,298,029.75 21,100 92,840.00 1,000 1,620.00 356,750 1,520,955.60 90,661 3,723,649.15 101,359 40,688,142.31 2,577.60 120 2,000 1,000.00 102 58.14 2,384,777 142,783,041.03

HEALTHCARE Company Name EKOCORP PLC EVANS MEDICALPLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXOSMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. MORISON INDUSTRIES PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC PHARMA-DEKO PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 1 14 22 8 2 3 2 53

Quotation(N) 5.31 0.98 1.60 27.00 4.00 9.52 1.47 3.87

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 20,721 104,641.05 3,196 3,132.08 163,682 257,290.10 1,152,178 31,095,462.46 27,850 105,830.00 180 1,629.00 5,500 8,085.00 13,220 48,649.60 1,386,527 31,624,719.29

HOTEL & TOURISM Company Name CAPITAL HOTEL PLC TOURIST COMPANY OF NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals Quotation(N) 7 7.60 1 4.32 8

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 331,168 2,510,542.96 50 205.50 331,218 2,510,748.46

INDUSTRIAL/DOMESTIC PRODUCTS Company Name B. O. C. GASES NIGERIA PLC FIRST ALUMINIUM NIGERIA PLC VITAFOAM NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 1 18 20

Quotation(N) 7.45 0.50 6.00

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 3,900 27,612.00 20,000 10,000.00 182,450 1,076,969.00 206,350 1,114,581.00

INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY Company Name CHAMS PLC STARCOMMS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals Quotation(N) 1 0.50 8 0.50 9

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 11,000 5,500.00 847,099 423,549.50 858,099 429,049.50

INSURANCE Company Name AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED INSURANCE PLC GOLDLINK INSURANCE PLC GUARANTY TRUST ASSURANCE PLC GUINEA INSURANCE PLC. INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC N.E.M. INSURANCE CO. (NIG.) PLC. NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. OASIS INSURANCE PLC PRESTIGE ASSURANCE PLC. REGENCY ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC STACO INSURANCE PLC UNIC INSURANCE PLC. UNITY KAPITAL ASSURANCE PLC UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 29 12 21 9 32 2 2 1 31 2 1 3 1 3 1 2 1 153

Quotation(N) 0.66 1.02 2.65 0.50 1.10 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 1.63 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1,816,944 1,204,647.09 2,588,924 2,615,666.94 1,094,197 2,865,416.72 12,959,720 6,479,860.00 5,053,300 5,644,889.00 40,100 20,050.00 2,258 1,129.00 100 50.00 5,143,352 2,571,676.00 200,000 100,000.00 100 50.00 61,000 99,130.00 100 50.00 55,100 27,550.00 100 50.00 200 100.00 100 50.00 29,015,595 21,630,364.75

mills have been upgraded and modernised to an automated system run by programmed logic controlled technology, which has resulted in higher extraction rate, enhanced efficiency and improved quality product consistency.

He said as part of its diversification strategies, the company is engaged in the importation and distribution of bulk cement,while it also engages in local cement manufacturing via United Cement Company of Nigeria Limited (UNICEM), a joint venture with Holcim and Lafarge.

It’s audited report and accounts for the year ended March 31, 2011, showed that Flour Mills recorded a turnover of N162 billion, representing an increase of 3.2 per cent compared with N157 billion recorded last year. However, profit after tax was down to N10 billion compared with N13 billion for the last financial year.

The firm said the 26 per cent drop in profit was largely attributable to sharp increases ‘Additional farmland for cultivating sugarcane, palm trees, maize, soybeans and possibly rice would be acquired in various locations across Nigeria’

in wheat prices which the market has so far not been able to fully absorb in the face of a fall in consumer spending and a tough competitive environment.

Meanwhile, the directors of the company have proposed a dividend of N3.76 billion, amounting to N2 per share.

In his remarks, Chief Executive Officer of NSE , Oscar Onyema, said the NSE is working at improving investor confidence.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian stock market remained on the downtrend as market capitalisation dropped by N75 billion from N7.212 trillion to N7.137 trillion.

The benchmark index, the All Share Index (ASI) dipped by 234.39 points or 1.04 per cent, to close at 22,313.23 points as against its opening index of 22,547.62 points.

Total turnover stood at 258.81 million shares valued at N3.02 billion in 4,538 deals as against 183.60 million shares valued at N1.67 billion in 3,545 deals in previous trading session.

The banking sub-sector still remained the most active subsector, trading 183.49 million shares worth N1.04 billion in 2,800 deals. The insurance sub-sector followed with 29.02 million shares valued at N21.63 million traded in 153 deals. The Breweries sub-sector ranked third, trading 16.59 million shares worth N1.43 billion in 236 deals.

On price movement, Conoil topped the gainers’ pack, appreciating by 4.98 per cent to close at N34.36 per share. NCR grew by 4.75 per cent to close at N3.75 per share. PZ Cussons led the price losers with a drop of 4.98 per cent to close at N29.75 per share.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE

ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY Company Name CUTIX PLC INTERLINKED TECHNOLOGIES PLC Sector Totals

By Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 23-08-11 LEASING Company Name C&I LEASING PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals Quotation(N) 8 0.94 8

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 121,346 109,211.40 121,346 109,211.40

MARITIME Company Name JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals Quotation(N) 66 0.96 66

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 3,220,772 3,098,717.57 3,220,772 3,098,717.57

MEDIA Company Name AFROMEDIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals Quotation(N) 1 0.51 1

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1,000 510.00 1,000 510.00

MORTGAGE COMPANIES Company Name UNION HOMES SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals Quotation(N) 1 0.52 1

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 57,857 30,085.64 57,857 30,085.64

OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS Company Name ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals Quotation(N) 12 0.50 12

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 263,358 132,379.00 263,358 132,379.00

PACKAGING Company Name AVON CROWNCAPS & CONTAINERS PLC. NIGERIAN BAG MANUFACTURING COMPANY PLC STUDIO PRESS (NIGERIA) PLC. Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 42 1 44

Quotation(N) 6.57 2.00 2.92

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 7,391 46,193.75 706,721 1,405,610.00 200 556.00 714,312 1,452,359.75

PETROLEUM(MARKETING) Company Name BECO PETROLEUM PRODUCT PLC MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC CONOIL PLC ETERNA OIL & GAS PLC. FORTE OIL PLC MOBIL OIL NIGERIA PLC. OANDO PLC TOTAL NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 4 4 39 5 6 21 239 18 336

Quotation(N) 0.50 63.86 34.36 4.94 17.41 148.00 29.00 203.32

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 129,700 64,850.00 2,278 138,206.94 147,212 5,007,642.18 51,042 239,897.40 2,880 47,635.20 126,376 18,544,516.80 5,134,524 156,102,201.46 13,982 2,716,392.72 182,861,342.70 5,607,994

PRINTING & PUBLISHING Company Name LONGMAN NIGERIA PLC UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals Quotation(N) 1 5.00 4 4.09 5

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 200 950.00 9,824 38,242.36 10,024 39,192.36

REAL ESTATE Company Name UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals Quotation(N) 14 19.75 14

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 201,900 3,813,034.00 201,900 3,813,034.00

TEXTILES Company Name UNITED NIGERIAN TEXTILES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals Quotation(N) 1 0.58 1

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 200 112.00 200 112.00

THE FOREIGN LISTINGS Company Name ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED Sector Totals Overall Totals

No of Deals Quotation(N) 33 13.20 33 4,675

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 178,305 2,348,110.42 178,305 2,348,110.42 258,713,452

3,017,678,272.90

58

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

NEWS Traders protest Makurdi market demolition

Relief materials for Bauchi flood victims

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

From Austine Tsenzughul, Bauchi

THE Bauchi State Government yesterday presented relief materials to victims of flood at Cheledi, Sindigawo, headquarters of Kirfi Local Government.

The materials were distributed to the victims by the State Emergency Management Agency.

The flood destroyed over 150 houses, displaced about 1,057 persons, and washed away many hectares of farmland.

The flood was caused by a heavy downpour, which lasted over 24 hours.

The relief materials included 30 bags of maize, 25 bags of rice, blankets, mats and wrappers, among others.

The Permanent Secretary, State Emergency Relief Agency, Mahmud Garba, presented the materials.

He said government’s gesture was aimed at reducing the suffering of the victims, describing the disaster as an act of God. Garba warned the residents to avoid building on waterways and dumping refuse in gutters.

The Caretaker Chairman of the council, Alhaji Maijama’a Muhammad Dewu, praised Governor Isa Yuguda for the assistance, promising to distribute the materials to the affected persons.

‘We’ll improve data services’

By Okwy Iroegbu, Asst.

Editor

T

HE new StatisticianGeneral of the Federation and Chief Executive Officer of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Dr Oyeyemi Kale, has promised improved data gathering and coordination to ensure that statistical information meets the challenges of accelerated social and economic development.

He canvassed an improvement in data production to ensure that it is accurate, compatible, reliable and complete.

Kale spoke at an inaugural address to NBS where he promised to focus on turning the bureau into a revenue-generating institution to reduce its financial burden on the government and its development partners.

He promised a transformation in the method of communicating data to the public to boost the Bureau’s relevance and visibility in social and economic planning.

Kale said: “To increase relevance, develop visibility and improve our advocacy functions, we will more effectively engage the public on updates of indicators and forecasts by way of press statements, dialogue fora and official communiqué.

We have to take charge of this process to the point where we have dates. We expect certain data to be released and the dates are known by the public.”

B

• Adamawa State House of Assembly Speaker Sadiq Ibrahim (second right); winner of a brand new Kia Picanto car in the just concluded Glo Recharge and Win promo, Mr Jonson Ogebe (middle); Mr Edward Iwediebo, Area Sales Manager (left); Mr Ernest Amarie, Head of Globacom’s North East 2 Territory; and Alhaji Mahmoud Nyako, Chairman, Adamawa State House of Assembly’s Committee on Information.

T

Four dead in Bauchi flood

HE Nigerian Red Cross Society in Bauchi State said yesterday no fewer than four persons have died in Kari village and over 1,800 others displaced in Darazo Local Government flood.

It said rains, which had been falling for over six hours, destroyed houses, foodstuffs and personal effects.

Secretary of the society, Adamu Abubakar, told The Nation that he could not give “more details at the moment”.

He said he would give more details “as soon as we are able to sort out casualties and other urgent issues involved”.

•1,800 displaced From Austine Tsenzughul, Bauchi

Abubakar said: “Among the victims are a mother and her three-year-old child whose mud house caved in during Sunday’s heavy downpour.”

Kari is 130 kilometres from Bauchi, the state capital. It is on the Bauchi-Maiduguri road and located close to one of the seasonal streams in the area.

Adamu said: “Another man, whose house also caved in while he was asleep, was killed instantly. But we only

discovered the body during rescue.”

A primary school in the village has been converted into a temporary camp for the victims. Members of the Red Cross Society have begun assembling essential needs for the women, children, the elderly and the weak.

The Red Cross confirmed that more than 150 mud houses and hundreds of livestock, motorcycles, bicycles and cars were washed away by the flood.

The State Emergency Relief Agency has started distributing blankets, mats, and foodstuffs to the victims.

The Nation learnt that “gastro entritis could break out in the camp as pit latrines used there have overflowed”.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Some of us are being given medicine and first aid to stop the spread of the disease.”

Abubakar said another flood has washed away 53 houses in Kirfi Local Government but added that nobody died in the disaster.

He said information on the Kirfi flood was being compiled.

17 suspected foreign smugglers arrested in Adamawa A COMBINED team of the Army and the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has arrested 17 persons, including a Nigerian, a Cameroonian and 15 Central Africa Republic citizens and seized goods worth N5million at a border between Nigeria and Cameroon.

In a dawn raid on the border, the Inter-Agency for Cooperation, introduced in Adamawa by security agencies, noted that smuggling had been going on unabated at the borders.

Briefing reporters in Yola, the state capital, the Comptroller of Customs and Excise in Adamawa and Taraba states, Mr. Joseph Sambo, said Customs men intercepted more than 17 motorcycles,

•Army/Customs efforts yield result From Barnabas Manyam, Yola

four generators, 42 tyres, water pumping machines, 10 motorcycle chassis, 20 new tyres with rims and 11 exhaust pipes.

Others are nine carriers, two used motorcycles, nine motorcycle engines, 12 Qlink motorcycles, 125 Honda motorcycles and some Tramadol, a suspected hard drug.

Sambo said when his men intercepted the smugglers, they attemted to attack the Customs men, in league with some villagers.

He said he notified the Army at 23 Armoured Bri-

gade in Yola and the Brigade Commander, Brig.-Gen. J.N. Nwaogu directed some soldiers in Mubi to round up the smugglers The Customs chief said the 17 suspected smugglers were arrested and their goods transported in two trailers and two Toyota Hilux buses to Yola.

Nwaogu said Inter Agency for Cooperation was introduced to help the nation fight criminals, including cross-border hoodlums.

According to Sambo, a Toyota car, laden with contraband, was impounded in Ganye, Adamawa State, by

his men.

The Customs men reportedly rejected bribes from some Cameroonians who were about to enter Nigeria with a vehicle containing some contraband.

The items were confiscated, Sambo said.

He said his men would continuously patrol the Nigerian/Cameroonian border with other security agencies to rid the area of smugglers and other criminals.

Sambo said the NCS had arrested over 400 vehicles in the past week for alleged duty evasion, adding that some were released after their duty had been paid.

According to him, the NCS was to generate an estimated N15million but had already raked in over N25million.

USINESS activities have been grounded for two days at Makurdi Modern Market as traders protested the demolition of their shops by officials of the Benue State Urban Development Board.

The demolition squad was reportedly acting on the order of the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Alex Adum.

As early as 7am, the traders had locked up their shops and prevented customers from entering the market, said to the biggest in Benue State.

It was built by the first civilian governor of the state, the late Aper Aku. Conducting reporters round the over 100 demolished shops, the Public Relations Officer of Modern Market Traders Union, Mr Emeka Ofoegbu, said goods worth over N100million were destroyed.

He said the traders got approval to build their shops during the administration of Colonel Dominic Oneya (now Brig-Gen), who was the Military Administrator, with a 25-year agreement.

Ofoegbu said: “The new Commissioner for Commerce and Industry did little to seek clarification on the shops before he ordered the demolition.”

The PRO said the traders would challenge the commissioner’s action in court, alleging that he acted against the law because the shop owners paid for the shops and have the receipts.

Adum told reporters that he acted within the law.

Aliyu on leave

N

IGER State Governor Babangida Aliyu has begun a 10-day leave.

He will perform the lesser Hajj (Umrah) in Saudi Arabia, during the vacation.

A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mallam Danladi Ndayebo, said the governor left the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, yesterday accompanied by his wife, Jummai.

The statement said Aliyu would offer prayers for the peace and progress of Niger State and Nigeria during the pilgrimage.

“Aliyu will also ask for Allah’s blessings on the state, especially on the ongoing efforts to reposition and strengthen his administration for effectiveness in service delivery and the attainment of vision 3:2020,” the statement said.

During the short leave, Deputy Governor Ahmed Musa Ibeto will act as governor.

Council evacuates 6,000 from flood area T

HE Wurno Local Government Area of Sokoto State has evacuated over 6,000 people from their floodprone homes in Gidan Bango, Gidan Kamba and Gidan Modi.

They are temporarily accommodated at the council’s housing units.

The council said it took the measure because of flooding that may soon recur in the area.

Also evacutaed were 4,000 livestock belonging to the affected families.

From Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

Council Chairman Shehu Alhaji Chacho told reporters yesterday in his office that the state-owned Luggu Dam overflowed its bank when the Goronyo Dam had a spillage.

He said: “We had to engage the services of our community residents, under self-help projects, to divert the flood water to a safer route to avoid wholesome destruction of lives and property.

“It took us three days. To-

day is the fourth day and, as you are seeing, we have succeeded in diverting the water flowing so fast and strong, which had almost consumed the road.”

He said the council took the measure to avoid a repeat of last September flood, which devastated 11 councils and caused some deaths.

“Last year we had to resort to using canoes under pressure to evacuate victims and this time around, we feel something has to be done fast before anything hap-

pens.”

Chacho said the council would appoint a committee to assess the damage to crops and compensate those affected.

He said the council had spent N500,000 on evacuation.

Chacho said: “We will relocate them to a permanent site and they have complied with our directive, particularly those in Lahidu, Gidan Arba and B/Zaki villages, who are likely to be more affected.”

The council has begun its Ramadan feeding programme at Achida and Wurno, Chacho said.

It has also been feeding indigent fasting Muslims in neighbouring villages through its mobile feeding centres.

The council chief said food and clothes were being distributed to the indigent in the local government to give them a sense of belonging and in line with the teachings of Islam.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

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FOREIGN NEWS

Recognise Libyan Transitional Council now, experts urge Fed Govt

N

IGERIAN scholars in International Relations have advised the Federal government to immediately recognise the Libyan rebels National Transitional Council as the legitimate representative of the people of Libya.

The scholars argued that given the collapse of Gaddafi ‘s administration and the warm embrace accorded the rebels on their entry of Tripoli on Sunday by the people and show clearly that their struggle is popular.

The Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs Professor Bola Akinterinwa, Dr David Aworawo of the University of Lagos and Professor Gabriel Olusanya who spoke to our correspondent yester-

By Leke Salaudeen

day on the unfolding scenario in Libya said Nigeria should not hesitate to recognise the new leadership in Libya.

Akinterinwa said :”There is nothing wrong in Nigeria recognizing the Transitional Council. If you watch the entry of the rebels to Tripoli, the support is overwhelming. It shows that the council is popular. Nigeria must avoid a situation whereby African Union will decide for us whether or not to recognise the new regime in Libya.

Nigeria should quickly act because of its leadership position in the region.”

He said the new regime needs support of Nigeria in the context of AU. The Libyan new leadership cannot close

its eyes to the size and position of Nigeria in Africa.

The NIIA boss said the position of Nigeria that it will be on the side of the people of Libya should propel us in aligning with the new regime which is the popular wish of the Libyan people.

I want to believe that the position of AU particularly that of South Africa was not helpful in solving the crisis.

While both are talking of peaceful resolution, Gaddafi vowed not to surrender power to the rebels. In other words the AU and South Africa encouraged intransigence of Gaddafi.

Aworawo , a senior lecturer in the Department of History and Strategic Studies, wants Nigeria as a regional power to assist the new regime. Nigeria should play active role

in the reconstruction and rehabilitation in post Gaddafi era in Libya.

Even though Nigeria is not happy with the way the Nato hijacked the whole thing and turned their mission into war of attrition, Aworawo said that is no longer the issue. But the relevant role we can play is how to assist the new regime.

Olusanya, a former Nigerian ambassador to France warned Nigeria against waiting for AU decision before according recognition to new Libyan government. Nigeria , he said should blaze the trail.

Gaddafi era is gone. The people of Libya has demonstrated their love to the opposition group and what they stand for. Then we don’t have to wait for AU to take a stand

L

IBERIA’S referendum on constitutional changes has got off to a slow start due to an error in one of four questions.

Instead of asking voters to choose between 70 and 75 years as the retirement age for judges, the ballot has both ages as 75.

Referendum organisers said they had been aware of the mistake but had failed to inform the public.

A BBC reporter in the capital says it became public when voters began phoning radio stations about the confusion.

One caller in the capital, Monrovia, said as a result some voters were leaving the queue.

“We don’t understand some of the features on the ballots; we don’t know what we are voting for,” Jerome Seo, queuing in the opposition stronghold of New Kru Town in Monrovia said.

The reporter says the

Error hampers Liberia’s referendum deputy co-ordinator of the election commission’s referendum organising team pleaded with the public to understand the mistake was not deliberate.

“We sincerely apologise for this error,” said Amos Ziah Koukou.

He said the ballots had been printed in Denmark with the help of the United Nations Development Programme.

Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, 72, became Africa’s first female head of state when she took office in 2006 It was only detected when the ballots had been delivered, by which time it was too late to correct, Mr Koukou said.

Disclaimers about the question had been placed at polling station across the country, he added.

UN rights body probes Syria crackdown

T

HE United Nations Human Rights Council has ordered an investigation into violations reportedly committed by Syrian security forces during the crackdown on dissent.

It passed a resolution to “urgently dispatch an independent international commission of inquiry” and demanded an end to the violence against protesters.

The commission will “investigate violations of international human rights law in Syria since July 2011”.

The UN says more than 2,200 people have died since protests began in mid-March.

There were 33 votes in favour of the resolution on Syria, four against reportedly including China, Russia and Cuba - and nine abstentions.

The UN High Commissioner on Human Rights, Navi Pillay, opened the emergency session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday.

She told delegates that “the gravity of ongoing violations and brutal attacks against the peaceful protesters in [Syria]

demand your continued attention”, adding that security forces were employing excessive force, including heavy artillery.

The emergency session had the backing even of Syria’s neighbours such as Jordan and Saudi Arabia, says the BBC’s Imogen Foulkes in Geneva.

Evidence from UN human rights experts that Syrian troops have been using tanks and snipers against unarmed demonstrators, even knives to finish off the injured, has caused shock and outrage worldwide.

•Strauss-Kahn and wife Anne in New York court...yesterday

Dominique Strauss-Kahn’s case dismissed

T

HE sex assault case against Dominique Strauss-Kahn took yet another legal turn yesterday, when a New York judge dismissed the charges but put the order on hold pending an appeal.

State Supreme Court Justice Michael Obus said he wouldn’t dismiss the case until an appeal is decided on whether a special prosecutor should be appointed. That appeal was expected to be decided later on Tuesday.

Wearing a dark gray suit, blue shirt and a navy and gold striped tie, Strauss-Kahn appeared resolute during the brief appearance in Manhattan State Supreme Court. He smiled and shook hands with an audience member as his wife, the journalist Anne Sinclair, sat nearby. They left court without speaking to reporters.

Obus said he saw no reason not to dismiss the case. But noting that the accuser was still seeking to get a special prosecutor appointed, Obus said, “I am going to stay the effectiveness of the order I am about to enter.”

Shortly before the hearing Obus had denied the request to appoint a special prosecutor, saying there was nothing that would disqualify Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance from heading the case.

At the hearing, Assistant District Attorney

Joan Illuzzi-Orbon formally recommended the case be dismissed.

“Our inability to believe the complainant beyond a reasonable doubt means, in good faith, that we could not ask a jury to do that,” she said.

Manhattan prosecutors had filed court papers a day earlier saying they did not feel comfortable going forward with the case, because they had deep concerns about the credibility of the maid, Nafissatou Diallo.

She “has not been truthful on matters great and small” and has an ability to present “fiction as fact with complete conviction,” and medical and DNA evidence is “simply inconclusive” as proof of a forced sexual encounter, they wrote.

“Our grave concerns about (her) reliability make it impossible to resolve the question of what exactly happened” between the hotel maid and the former International Monetary Fund leader, they wrote.

The case captured international attention as a seeming cauldron of sex, violence, power and politics: A promising French presidential contender, known in his homeland as the Great Seducer, accused of a brutal and contemptuous attack on a West African immigrant who had come to clean his plush suite.

The Associated Press does not usually name people who say they are victims of sexual assault unless they come forward publicly, as Diallo has done.

Earthquake strikes US east coast

A

MAGNITUDE 5.9 earthquake has struck the east coast of the United States.

The quake was felt in Washington, where the Pentagon and US Capitol Building were evacuated, as well as in New York.

There were no immediate reports of any major damage or injuries.

The quake hit at 1351 local

time (1751 GMT) at a depth of 3.7 miles (6km), the US Geological Survey said. The tremor was centred some 9 miles from the town of Mineral, in the state of Virginia, it said.

An initial measurement of 5.8 was later upgraded.

The correspondent in Washington said the city’s streets filled with evacuated workers minutes after the

earthquake hit. He said at street level the quake felt like an underground train passing close.

Television monitors and lights swayed for about 30 seconds, he said, and the mobile phone network temporarily crashed.

Our correspondent said the earthquake was felt as far north as Boston and to the Carolinas in the south.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

NATION SPORT

Bolt sure of three W gold medals

Djokovic: I should be fit for New York

U

SAIN Bolt will put his famous “Who faster?” taunt to the test again at the World Championships.

So far, it has worked every

time it has mattered most.

Ever since his stunning world records and gold medals in the 100 and 200 metres at the 2008 Beijing

Olympics and his repeat at the 2009 Berlin World Championships, the Jamaican sprinter has turned into one of the true global superstars in sports.

So when the championships open Saturday, most of the attention will focus on Bolt.

Not that he minds. As usual, he is already making light of the pressure and expectations.

“I am always confident. I am unbeaten this year and aim to defend all my titles in Daegu,” Bolt told The Associated Press in an e-mail exchange.

On top of his individual gold medals, he also helped Jamaica win titles in the sprint relays at Beijing and Berlin.

Anything less than a haul of nine gold medals from Beijing and two world championships would be a disappointment for him ahead of the 2012 London Olympics.

Yet he is in some need of another overpowering show at the 53 000-capacity Daegu Stadium, because his statistics over the past two years have not completely matched his braggadocio.

When it comes to “who faster?” in the 100 in 2011, Bolt is not on top of the list. He is not even the top Jamaican. His compatriot Asafa Powell holds the leading time of 9.78 seconds, with Bolt posting the sixth-fastest time of 9.86 - way off his world record of 9.58.

He is not worried, though,

having been in similar positions before.

Two years ago, Tyson Gay was fastest ahead of the world championships but when it came to the biggest matchup of the competition, Bolt blew everyone away with a world record.

“I think it will be the same as Berlin. Some people ran well in the early season but it is the championships that count,” Bolt said. “We always train to peak at the major championships. My coach sets out the program with this as the goal.”

Gay had been hampered by a sore groin in Berlin, and injury caught up with him even before the championships this year. The American pulled out of the 100 metres at the US nationals in June because of a hip injury.

Bolt was troubled by a bad back last year, and even if his times have been less than exceptional since, he says it no longer bothers him.

“The back injury was last year. I haven’t had any problems with it this year,” he said. “Just don’t count on world records this year.”

It leaves Powell as his main challenger to Bolt, but the former world-record holder has been notoriously pressure prone when it comes to big events. Bolt concedes, however, there is no underestimating Powell this year.

ORLD number one Novak Djokovic was confident he would be fit enough to play in the US Open despite a worsening shoulder problem that forced him to quit Sunday’s Cincinnati Open final against Andy Murray.

Djokovic was looming as the overwhelming favourite to win the last grand slam of the year, starting in New York on August 29, but his preparations were thrown into disarray because of the niggling injury.

Djokovic was in clear discomfort in Sunday’s final against Murray. The Serbian called for a medical time-out after losing the opening set 64 then threw in the towel when he fell 3-0 behind in the second set.

His withdrawal

• Djokovic

immediately raised concerns about his prospects at the US Open but he later said it was just a precaution and he expected to play at Flushing Meadows after a week of rest.

“I am confident that I can recover and be ready for the US Open,” he said.

“It’s unfortunate that I had to finish this way.

“I apologise to the tournament. I apologise to the people who came here today to watch the match. I really tried (but) it didn’t make sense for me to continue.”

Djokovic has been heavily criticised in the past for quitting matches but the 24year-old said it made no sense to continue against Murray.

He service speed was below his normal standards and his groundstrokes were erratic and lacking power. In the first set alone, he made more than 20 unforced errors.

“The reason (I retired) is shoulder pain. I just could not serve. I served an average 90 miles per hour the first serve, and I could not play forehands,” he said.

“I could have maybe played another couple of games, but what for? I cannot beat a player like Murray today with one stroke.”

Djokovic, whose only previous defeat this year was to Roger Federer in the semifinals of the French Open, won last week’s Masters event in Montreal and decided to back up in Cincinnati even though his body was already showing signs of wear and tear.

“It has been there for about ten days,” he said.

“It was increasing, the pain was increasing, but we were trying to maintain the good condition. Today was just too much.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

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SPORT EXTRA MIKEL FATHER’S ABDUCTION

Two soldiers arrested

•As COAS orders full investigation

T

HE Nigerian Army (NA) has arrested two non-commissioned soldiers implicated by the suspected kidnappers of Elder Michael Obi, the father of the Super Eagles Footballer John Mikel Obi. The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Azuibike Ihejirika has a ordered full investigation of the incident.

Mikel Obi’s father was abducted for over 12 days and the suspected kidnappers that were arrested in Kano included one Ifeanyi Esseit, Ndubuisi Friday, Basil Chukwuma, a woman - Nkechi Ossai - and a Nigerien national, Sule Ibrahim, who all camouflaged as soldiers, were intercepted in a vehicle painted in military colours.

The Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Brig. Gen. Raphael Isa who spoke yesterday in Abuja regretted that the allegation has ridiculed the Army warning that soldiers who may want to make mockery of principal ethics of the Army profession would be sanctioned, the DAPR said two noncommissioned officers in the ranks of Sergeant and Lance Corporal were arrested a fortnight ago by 11:30 pm.

Though he regretted that the Army has not been effectively shielded from criminal acts, Isa said the COAS has ordered the Army Headquarters in Jos to commence full investigation.

“We view this seriously

From Dele Anofi, Abuja especially the mention of Special Task Force operating in Jos. The Army will deal seriously with any soldier who will want to throw away the core ethics of this profession by engaging in such criminal activities such as kidnapping, robbery and the likes.

“Based on the information received from Kano State command and other sources, two non-commissioned soldiers who were mentioned as accomplices have been arrested about 11:30 yesterday night for investigation.

“They are mere suspects but the military police has been ordered to go into the case. We have a Sergeant and a Lance Corporal.

“You will agree with me that the Army itself is not very insulated from the kind of criminal activities that we see and hear from the larger society. We do acknowledge that we are part of the larger society. This reveals to us that some criminals actually found their way into the system somehow,” he added To underscore the implications of ridiculing its name, the DAPR said the Army Headquarters was disturbed by the mention of soldiers as perpetrators of the abduction, “The Army will deal seriously with any soldier who will want to throw away the core ethics of this profession by engaging in such criminal activities such as kidnapping

robbery and the likes,” he stressed.

According to him, as part of its transformation agenda, he said the Army has embarked on finger printing exercise and Biometric Data Bank program aimed at enhancing general administration.

He disclosed that part of this effort was the scrutiny of candidates in the recent recruitment exercise and approval of traditional rulers to confirm the eligibility of candidates into the force.

“We want to take a step further

to ensure that no criminal fluds his way into the system,” he added.

He also said investigation is ongoing on the alleged involvement of soldiers in places such as Biu, Barkin Ladin in Jos as well as Abuja with assurance that the conclusion of the investigation exercise would be made public.

Reacting on the arbitrary use of military uniforms to commit crimes, the DAPR disclosed that such acts would be accompanied with the appropriate sanction.

However, if such acts persist the punishment would be intensified.

AFROBASKET 2011

Nigeria qualifies for quarter final

N

IGERIA became the first country to reach the final eight of the 26th FIBA Africa Championship for Men with an 84-46 points victory over Chad in the round of eight final Tuesday afternoon at the Palais des Sports Antananarivo, Madagascar.

The Coach Ayo Bakare tutored Nigerian side had adopted a moderate approach to the game winning the first two quarters by 23-09 and 22-04 for a half-time scores of 45-13 points but decide to slow down thus allowing the Chadian to pick the third quarter by 12-16 points but rally back to take the fourth and final quarter by 2717 points for a final scores of 8446 points.

Nigeria Ime Udoka led the Nigerian side with 14 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists, Derrick Obasohan added 12 points, 4

By Akeem Lawal rebounds and 4 assists while forward Ejike Ugboaja had a double double figure of 10 points, 10 rebounds and 2 assists to earn Nigeria a quarter-final ticket.

Nigeria will battle the winner of the eight final round game between Central Africa Republic and Egypt in the quarter-final on Thursday.

You are a warrior, Amokachi tells Mikel •As Supersport brings EPL trophy to Nigeria Ex-international Daniel Amokachi has commended Chelsea of England midfielder, Mikel Obi for the courage and fighting spirit he exhibited throughout the ordeal that befell the family recently, saying he has proved that he is a warrior indeed.

It was reported in the media yesterday that the abducted father of the Chelsea star was found in Kano State, miles away from the home base of the family,as he was abducted for days by suspected kidnappers.

Describing the development as a “big relief”, Amokachi said the news that Obi senior was found alive after days of search is what every right thinking Nigerian, especially the football fraternity has clamoured for.

“Mikel has shown that he is a hero. Despite the situation he found himself, he has played well for his club in the last two matches involving his team. We were at the studio when the news got to usthat Mikel’s father has been found. He has proven that he is a warrior,” he said.

GRASSADON banks on tournament success

G

RASSROOTS Soccer Developers Association of Nigeria (GRASSADON) has vowed to bank on the success of it’s football competition tagged “Soccer Developers Cup” which climaxed at the weekend in Lagos. speaking, the national president of the body, Ann Chejiene said the body will capitalize on the huge success of the competition which brought 24 U13 teams across Lagos State together.

“GRASSADON will bank on the

success of it’s U-13 football competition, we are poised to the development of football at the grassroots and we have the seen the response of some of the academies scattered all over the state, it was a delight to watch these young talents play football from the tender age, and we are looking at continuity of the project, we call it a project because by the time, we discover these talents, one thing is to harness them for proper development.”

By Innocent Amomoh Fielding questions from the media in Lagos at the formal presentation of the Barcklays Premier League trophy, brought to Nigeria by Digital Satellite Television’S ( DStv) Supersport, the former Everton of England forward said the menace called kidnapping should be looked into by the government to ensure that it is brought to the barest minimum.

Meanwhile, the EPL trophy presented at the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos was brought in from Ghana, and accompanied

by Manchester United legend, Gary Bailey and Nigeria’s Daniel Amokachi.

The trophy which was made available to some selected number of subscribers whose names were randomly selected from across the country , is Supersport’s showing appreciation for their patronage.

The visit of the trophy coincided with the Supersport biggest-ever football offering that includes not only the Barclays’ Premiership, but 1200 matches annually from the top league across the world.

Speaking of the significance of the event, Bailey said it was an opportunity for football fans in the country to have a feel of the trophy which they have been looking at from afar.

The tour started from August 22 to 27, with the Lagos stopover for August 24 and 25.

http://www.thenationonlineng.net

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL.7 NO.1862

Tomorrow in THE NATION ‘Katsina-Alu assumed office in a cloud of controversy in 2009 and he is leaving also in a whiff of controversy. ..As he retires on Sunday, the prayer of many is that may his likes never be our CJN again. Only time will tell if Dahiru Musdapher... will make a difference as CJN’ LAWAL OGIENAGBON

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

I

N its edition of December 4, 2000, The Comet, now rested, published an editorial which seemed to have endorsed the rather theatrical testimony by Major Hamza alMustapha, the Chief Security Officer of the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, before the Human Rights Violations Investigations Commission President Olusegun Obasanjo had set up in1999 chaired by retired Supreme Court justice, Okwudifu Oputa, to investigate human rights abuse under the military regimes that had ruled the country up until then.

That editorial must have resonated well with public opinion in the South-West, not only on account of the newspaper’s ownership and control, but also because its position tallied with widespread suspicion in the region and elsewhere that there was some truth in alMustapha’s claims before the Oputa panel that Chief MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election who died on July 7, 1999 after about four years in detention, was murdered, presumably to kill and bury demands for the restoration of his mandate. “June 12” had been annulled by military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, General Abacha’s military predecessor. Abacha who had died mysteriously inside the Aso Villa, alMustapha also claimed, had been murdered.

Chief Abiola died shortly after a visit by two senior American officials, its former ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Thomas Pickering, and an under-secretary of state, Ms. Susan Rice, in company of Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe, among other things, Chief Abiola’s running mate in the 1993 presidential election, and Alhaji Gidado Idris, then Secretary to the Government of the Federation. Abiola was served tea by the Americans after they had requested Kingibe and Gidado to allow them private audience with Abiola, a request that the two obliged. Abiola suddenly took ill after drinking his tea and was rushed from Aguda House, the presidential guest house where he had been moved to for the meeting, to the presidential Aso Clinic. He died shortly thereafter.

The reader will recall that in al-Mustapha’s rather theatrical testimony before Oputa, he talked about how teacups with false bottoms must have been used to poison Abiola. The reader will also recall how he placed the blame on the man’s death squarely on the shoulders of General Abdulsalami Abubakar, the head of state under whose watch Abiola died.

The public, especially in the South-West, Abiola’s region, seemed to have been regaled by al-Mustapha’s theatricals. This much was obvious from the editorial of The Comet in question. “Al-Mustapha: Let the ‘canary’ sing publicly,” was the title of the editorial.

“Now that somebody who should know has confirmed our worst fears,” The Comet said in the opening paragraph of the editorial, “Nigerians deserve to hear everything from Mustapha since he has himself, under oath promised to tell the truth and nothing but the truth. He should be allowed to tell his version of the events and if he incriminates anybody or groups of persons, they too should have their days at the Oputa Commission.”

The newspaper concluded its roughly 21 inch

People and Politics By MOHAMMED HARUNA ndajika@yahoo.com

al-Mustapha: The canary’s song this time

•al-Mustapha

editorial by insisting the State should reject alMustapha’s request, for his own safety and security, to tell the rest of his story to the commission in camera. “The State,” it said, “must allow al-Mustapha to say all that he wants to say, both lies and truth. This ‘canary’ must be allowed to sing. This is the only way to heal the land.” As such, the newspaper said, al-Mustapha deserved “maximum protection” to tell his story in public.

For the second time since his Oputa testimony about a dozen years ago, al-Mustapha has been singing his song about who killed Abacha and Abiola all over again. His encore begun early this month when he opened his defence in his prosecution for the murder of Alhaja Kudirat, Abiola’s then most senior wife. This time, however, the ‘canary’ did not stop at accusing General Abubakar of the murder of Abacha and Abiola. He went on to accuse the general of bribing the leadership of the Pan-Yoruba cultural group, Afenifere – more specifically the late Senator Abraham Adesanya and the late Chief Bola Ige – with unspecified but huge sums of money not only to sell out on “June 12”, but also to keep quiet on the sudden and mysterious death of Abiola.

Predictably all hell has been let loose since.

With the notable, but not so inexplicable, exception of Gani Adams, the commander-in-chief of Odua Peoples’ Congress, the Yoruba ethnic militia, virtually all those who had hailed alMustapha for his testimony before Oputa twelve years ago now want him crucified for the unpardonable sin of lying against Yoruba leadership, especially the dead. (Gani Adams has been con-

sistent in his charge that the Yoruba leadership had long sold out on “June 12” for material consideration and, perhaps for this reason, there had been no love lost between him and the late Adesanya.)

Al-Mustapha - and Adams - would not be the only one to have accused the Yoruba leadership of selling out on “June 12”. Long before him the Senate president, David Mark, had done so in his famous interview with Newswatch which the newsmagazine ran as the cover story of its April 11, 1994 edition and for which it suffered a ban.

Abacha’s coup against the short-lived Interim National Government of Chief Ernest Shonekan, Mark said in the interview, was, in reality “not a coup against the ING but as it turned out it was a coup against democracy, supported and nourished by politicians who behave like chameleons. Surprisingly, it was Abiola’s close associates who were urging Abacha to take over. They dined with Abiola in the afternoon but in the night urged Abacha to seize power and forget June 12. I never believed human beings could be so treacherous, unprincipled and shameless.”

The obvious difference between al-Mustapha and the others is that he has now named names and specified the price.

Strangely those who have now turned round to ridicule al-Mustapha’s old song as fairytales by the moonlight still seem to believe it has a ring of truth as far as it concerns General Abubakar. Apparently the irony of their double standards seems lost on them.

In his column last Tuesday, my good friend and ace columnist with The Nation, Dr. Olatunji Dare, for example, said it was up to me as the former head of state’s chief press secretary, to respond to al-Mustapha’s charges “that Abubakar withdrew large deposits from the national exchequer for private use on taking power” even though he had himself described al-Mustapha’s allegations in court as “fact-free effusions” in the same piece.

The fact was that al-Mustapha did not accuse my former boss of withdrawing huge sums from the treasury “for private use.” His allegation was that the general used the monies to bribe some Afenifere chieftains. If Dare believed, as he obviously did from the opprobrium he poured on al-Mustapha over his claims, that the former Abacha chief security officer was an inveterate liar why should anyone contemplate for one moment that he was telling the truth in the case of my former boss? Is it

HARDBALL

O

N Tuesday, Col Muammar Gaddafi’s government was on the brink of collapse after enduring six months of revolt. Though it was impossible to say when it would finally go under, with or without the capture or death of the head of state, it had nothing else left for it but to expire. If Gaddafi didn’t know in February that his regime could not survive the revolt against his 42-year reign, some two weeks ago it had become very clear. Yet, he refused to negotiate. The chances of those fighting him reaching an understanding with him had also considerably thinned out because of his intransigence. Whether because of his nature or the fact that he had become a compulsive political gambler, he chose to ignore the irreversible signs of the end and preferred to stake everything, including the lives of his children, in one sickening throw of the dice. The Arab Spring revolt that began in Tunisia, swept through Egypt and has now berthed in Libya may yet consume Syria, convulse Yemen and

Gaddafi’s puzzling folly suck one or two more countries in the region into its red gullet of revolution.

But Gaddafi is not alone in the folly of defying the people’s will. Nor is he unique in the method he has chosen to exhibit that defiance. Master Sergeant Samuel Doe of Liberia stubbornly spurned every opportunity to negotiate an honourable exit until he was virtually cannibalised while still on his feet, and then murdered by rebels in 1990. Laurent Gbagbo of Cote d’Ivoire abused every chance of a reasonable exit until he was cornered in the presidential palace. Even then he still held out hope that by some sheer miracle the tide of war would turn against his enemies. The tide not only failed to turn, he was arrested together with his wife halfclad and in the most undignified position in his bedroom, thus bringing his presidency to an inglorious end in April.

There must be something sinister about rulers that makes them both deaf to their people’s agitations and inured to the reality of an infamous end. At any rate, Gaddafi is one more reminder of the dangerously suffocating cocoon leaders sequester themselves in. In his 42nd year in office, he has had the best of all possible worlds, and his children have lived a life of luxury majority of people can only dream about. Wealthy, but bewilderingly corrupt for someone who claimed moral superiority to other leaders, cruel, and indifferent to his people’s pains, he had concluded erroneously, like the deposed Tunisian leader, Zine Ben Ali, that coerced stability and infrastructural development were antidotes to political disaffection.

Though his histrionics often get the better of him, we hope that if he survives the collapse of his regime, he will tell the world why and

because, as Dare said, the late veteran journalist, Malam Abidina Coomassie, whom al-Mustapha also accused General Abubakar of killing, had made similar allegations and had dared the general to sue him and he had declined?

Surely Dare should know that if declining to sue for libel is sufficient proof that an allegation against someone is true then only God knows how many people in this country would have stood guilty in law as charged in the court of public opinion.

If Dare was inclined to be fair-minded about al-Mustapha’s allegations of treasury looting against General Abdulsalami, he would have noted that virtually all the monies in question that were withdrawn from the Central Bank of Nigeria in July 1998 were returned in September as was acknowledged by the CBN itself in its letter dated September 17, 1998.

In any case, the columnist did not have to drag me into the controversy. I was not General Abdulsalami’s chief press secretary when all this happened. My very senior colleague, Chief David Atta, was and he is still alive as far as I know. I took over from him in October, at least two months after the withdrawal in question.

However, I do not, of course, have to be General Abdulsalami’s spokesman to see that alMustapha is a desperate man clutching at a straw.

The mystery and sequential deaths of Abacha and Abiola might make it difficult, if not impossible, for anyone not to believe the two were murdered. But nothing could be more unfair than to accuse Abubakar of responsibility for the deaths simply because they happened under his charge.

It was common knowledge that as Abacha’s Chief of Defence Staff, he was outside the power loop which al-Mustapha prided himself with presiding over. Indeed, he was to have been sacked on the very day he took over as head of state. And both himself, the Army chief, General Ishaya Bamaiyi, were kept in the dark, indeed in undeclared detention within the Villa by al-Mustapha’s cabal, for hours after the man died. Throughout their isolation no one suggested to them that they were suspected of complicity in the death of Abacha. In any case, it is not logical that Abubakar would have been chosen to succeed Abacha if there was the slightest suspicion that he had a hand in his predecessor’s death.

As for Abiola’s death it is, as I’ve said on these pages on May 16, 2001 and again on October 31, 2007, an irony that the man whose first act in coming to power in 1998 was to arrange for Abiola’s family and political associates, not to mention senior American officials, to see the prisoner of conscience in readiness for his release would be the one accused of killing him.

The fact is that the particulars of al-Mustapha’s allegations against both the Afenifere leadership and General Abubakar do not stand close examination, precisely because he imagines himself a victim of a grand conspiracy to keep him in jail all these 12 years since his trial begun over the murder of Alhaja Kudirat, Abiola’s wife.

But this is a subject matter of another day.

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•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above how he failed to read the deep longing of his people for freedom. We also hope he will say why he chose to gamble all he had ever worked for in a hopeless struggle against certain defeat. Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak was wise to throw in the towel after some 850 of his compatriots had lost their lives in the revolt against his government. Ben Ali also wisely left for exile last January. However, ignoring the salient example of Libya, Syria’s Bashar Assad is still locked in an adamantine resolve to defeat Syrians’ push for freedom. It is uncertain how far he can hold out, for the defeat of Gaddafi is certain to give added fillip to the protest in Syria.

It is interesting how the more things change the more they remain the same. In antiquity, kings and their sons went into battle, and thrones and empires were often lost in the process, even as the losers endured some of the cruellest punishments their conquerors could give. Perhaps Gaddafi yearns for a nostalgic replay of history; if so, he will also embrace its harshest lessons.

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