The Nation August 27, 2012 by The Nation

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

UNILAG disowns Cynthia’s ‘killer’

Oshiomhole’s aide’s phone found in Yobe NEWS Page 54

NEWS

Page 61

•Obi: suspects don’t deserve to live

•Police get new clue in murder probe

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VOL. 7, NO. 2230 MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 2012

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

N150.00

•THIS IS IT IT:: Asiwaju Tinubu (third left) and co-author Mr. Browne (second right) presenting the book Financialism - Water from an Empty Well, in Chicago...at the weekend. With them are from left: Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi, Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, Rev. Jesse Jackson Jnr., Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka and former US Ambassador to Nigeria Mr. Howard Jeter. Story on page 2

Tension in Court of Appeal over acting PCA’s tenure extension

N5,000 banknote ‘ll worsen economy, say NLC, ACN From Onyedi Ojiabor, Sanni Onogu, Abuja and Tony Akowe, Kaduna

HERE is tension in the Court of Appeal over the fate of its acting President Justice Dalhatu Adamu, who might be given a fifth term in office. Justice Adamu, who came into office on August 18, last year, after the suspension of President of the Court of Appeal (PCA), Justice Ayo Salami, has had his three-month acting tenure renewed four times. It was learnt that President

PPOSITION mounted yesterday against the planned introduction of N5,000 note by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The Nigeria Labour Congress accused the CBN of trying to legitimise further devaluation of the nation’s currency.” It warned that the proposed introduction of the currency is capable of SEE ALSO spurring a demand for wage increase PAGE 25 by workers. The ACN said the plan’s “uninvited consequence and collateral damage may outweigh the benefits of the new measure.” Continued on page 2

•Sanusi

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja, Joseph Jibueze and Adebisi Onanuga

Goodluck Jonathan has written to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mariam AlomaMukhtar, for the renewal of the tenure of Justice Adamu by the National Judicial Council (NJC). There were strong indications last night that the request had been granted, making it the fifth extension since Justice Salami’s suspension.

It was gathered that the President hinged the renewal on the ongoing court processes which, he contends, must be settled before the fate of Justice Salami could be determined. But the purported renewal is creating disquiet in the Court of Appeal as some of the justices believe there might have been constitutional oversight. They reckoned that AdaContinued on page 57

How we’re talking to Boko Haram, by Presidency Govt states its stand as sect dismisses peace moves as false

T •Col. Dasuki

HE Presidency is insisting that it is in talks with the fundamentalist Islamic sect Boko Haram, contrary to the reports of the group’s denial of such moves. Besides, the Presidency argued yesterday that the refutal might be coming from one of the goup’s factions. Abu Muhammad, who claimed to be the second in-command to the sect’s leader, Abubakar Shekau, alerted Nigerians to ongoing talks between the government and the sect. But, Boko Haram spokesman Abu

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A lot of people are under the impression that the dialogue involves a situation whereby government officials are sitting on one side, Boko Haram persons are sitting on the other side in an air-conditioned room...That is not the form of the dialogue From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

Qaqa, in an e-mail statement last week, denied that the group had been meeting with government officials as widely reported in the media.

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“We believe that the purported Abu Mohammed - who was quoted to have blown the lid over the alleged talks from Saudi Arabia - is the creation of the Nigerian government in order to

mislead Nigerians on the crusade we are waging and that by the grace of Allah, they will not succeed.” Qaqa added: “The media should know that as far as we are concerned, there is no difference between those that are fighting us with weapons (security forces) and those that are fighting us with their tongues and pens.” However, the Presidency said there is nothing to worry about over the issue. Continued on page 2

•SPORT P23 •CEO P32 •JOBS P37•POLITICS P43•MOTORING P45

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 2012

NEWS How to get Nigeria back on track, by Tinubu, Soyinka, others

•United Nations (UN) Resident Representative, Mr Dauda Tuore (left) introducing members of the diplomatic corps to the Permanent Secretary Foreign Affairs, Mr. Martin Uhomoibhi, at a Wreath-laying ceremony in memory of the victims of last year’s terror attack at PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE the UN House, Abuja.

How we’re talking to Boko Haram, by Presidency Continued from page 1

Reacting to the controversy, Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity), Dr. Reuben Abati, assured that President Goodluck Jonathan is tackling the matter through multi-faceted levels. The presidential spokesman revealed that the said dialogue is not the conventional talks. He noted that the government has adopted the back room channels to reach the Boko Haram sect. “When government says it is already talking to Boko Haram, the form of that dialogue must be properly understood. I think a lot of people are under the impression that the dialogue involves a situation whereby government officials are sitting on one side, Boko Haram persons are sitting on the other side in an air-conditioned room and there are negotiations across the table.

“That is not the form of the dialogue. The form of the dialogue is that back room channels are being used to reach across with the sole objective of understanding what exactly the grievances of these persons are, what exactly can be done to resolve the crises, in the overall best interest of ensuring peace and stability in Nigeria and the security of life and property. “And all of this is consistent with the position of Mr. President. So what is called dialogue is at many levels: through back room channels and through multi-level, constructive interventions to address a difficult issue that is multifarious.” Abati added: “One thing that is noteworthy is that the Boko Haram spokesperson made it clear that they were prepared to go a step further to ensure that persons who are

using the name of Boko Haram for political and criminal purposes are identified and checked. “What that original statement indicated was that indeed Boko Haram has many faces. It confirms that this thing called Boko Haram is such a multifaceted phenomenon. “The true situation has already been stated by the Minister of Information on two different occasions. First in an interview, second through a press release, namely that the Federal Government is involved in dialogue with Boko Haram. “You will recall that what led to this is that a spokesperson for Boko Haram issued a statement confirming that government and some leaders of Boko Haram were already discussing; in that particular statement the issues being looked at were clearly identi-

fied. “You will recall that in one instance, during a Presidential Media Chat, President Jonathan had made it clear that the Boko Haram phenomenon, the terror phenomenon in Nigeria, is quite a novel phenomenon and that many of the persons involved in the low level insurgency are not known, they have not come forward. However if such persons should come forward, government will grant them a listening ear to know what it is that they are after. Again the President is on record, as having made it clear that government’s approach to checking the Boko Haram insurgency is at many levels. “The available option, according to Mr President, is not solely one of military action or police action and it is on the Continued on page 57

T was meant to be a presentation of the book jointly written by Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and United States former Consul-General in Niageria Brian Borwne in Chicago, the United States (US), but it became a forum where suggestions were offered on how to get Nigeria’s economy out of the woods. Literary icon Prof Wole Soyinka, who wrote the foreward to “Financialism - Water from an Empty Well”, and co-author Tinubu, warned of the consequences of leaving the dwindling economy in the hands of halfbaked and inexperienced managers to fix. At the Rainbow Push Headquarters in Chicago, venue of the presentation on Saturday were civil rights activist Rev. Jesse Jackson Jnr, Borwne, many Nigerian professionals resident in Chicago and other parts of the US, former American diplomats, and civil rights leaders. In the audience also were: Governors Rauf Aregbesola (Osun) and Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Nigerian lawmakers, council chairmen and youths. Soyinka warned that it was dangerous to allow leaders who lack the wherewithal to lead the country on the path of economic perdition. According to him, one of such leaders ruled Nigeria for about eight years recently and only succeeded in multiplying Nigeria’s economic woes. His words: “I have no qualms declaring that I am not fully economic literate. That is why I leave it to the experts to figure out. First, let it be clearly stated that I am not in the least embarrassed or ashamed to acknowledge myself as an economic illiterate.

“This is quite unlike a former head of state, who was thus dubbed and never forgave his perceptive analyst, even after his death. That economist was my late friend, Prof Ojetunde Aboyade, the only ‘specialist’ from whom I received any insightful…” While presenting the book, Soyinka acknowledged Tinubu and Browne as key figures in the unfolding world where the book they have both written opens a new window of how the world’s financial system was designed to the disadvantage of many people. Soyinka said: “The skewed world of economics needs to be challenged. A world where the umbilical cord between produce and tally-card was slashed when no one was looking, and the latter has come to be a thing-in-itself, empowering a parasitic class of finance controllers who place the mere tally over and above the material goods – yet succeed in making the rest of the world fall in line! “The collapse of the dominating economies of Europe and America is a call for rethinking, away from orthodox assumptions and givens, under which satellite economies in a distant continent like ours have taken a severe beating, whether or not their governments choose to admit it”. Rev. Jackson Jnr, who moderated the book presentation and signing, said the time has come for both Africa and African –American perspective to fuse into one because both are challenged by similar issues. He welcomed the fact that the exposition in the book raises fundamental issues. He provided answers to why Africa and African – Continued on page 57

ACN: N5,000 banknote is a step in wrong direction

HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday kicked against the planned introduction of N5,000 by the Central Bank of Nigeria. In a statement in Lagos by its National Publicity Secretary Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party warned that the introduction of this high denomination may serve the dual purpose of raising revenue for government on the one hand and reducing the cost of transactions on the other hand, the unintended consequences and collateral damage of introducing the N5,000 may far outweigh the benefits of the new measure. “According to the party, there is a strong historical evidence that the introduction of higher value currency notes in an economy often signifies a regime of increased and sustained fiscal deficit financing. It added: “Secondly the issuance of such high value currency notes is likely to be perceived as an indication of government’s failure to effectively control inflation. “Unfortunately, once this perception takes hold, increased inflation expectations can be built up quite rapidly and these have pushed many countries into a situation of

It ‘ll worsen economy, say NLC, ACN Continued from page 1

The Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (ICAN), in its online professional forum, at the weekend, described the decision as an avenue for corruption and inflation. ICAN’s past chairman (Ikeja District, Lagos) Joshua Oderinde, said: “It is going to increase inflation and corruption. Besides, it contradicts the principles of cashless economy which we are all supporting. It is simply a contradiction of the whole idea. The naira notes we have currently are okay.” The CBN said last week that the N5,000 note will go into circulation early nest year. It also said N5, N10 and N20 notes will be coined. The faces of woman activists - the late Gambo Sawaba, the late Margaret Ekpo and the late Funmilayo Ransome Kuti, are to adorn the N5,000 note, CBN Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi said. But NLC Vice-President Issa Aremu, who is an economist, in a statement yesterday, said the apex bank was further hyper-inflation in the past, which has typically culminated in the redenomination or even complete abandonment of the entire currency system. “Thirdly, the issuance of the N5,000 currency note runs counter to the recent policy of the Central Bank of

devaluing the naira as there is a direct relationship between higher banknotes and devaluation. According to him, Nigerian workers are opposed to the proposed introduction of the N5000 notes. The government should concentrate on revamping the manufacturing sector, he counselled. The Labour leader said: “We oppose the proposed introduction of higher banknote of N5000 next year as announced by the Central Bank of Nigeria under its currency redesign programme tagged `PROJECT CURE.’ “The current highest banknote of N1000 was introduced in 2005. We had currency review in 2007 and 2009. It should not be customary for every CBN governor to change the nation’s banknotes. “Incessant turning out of higher banknotes is an attempt to legitimise the devaluation of the Nigerian currency. There is a direct relationship between higher banknotes and devaluation of the currency.

Nigeria to promote a “cashless” economy by encouraging the increased use of noncash transaction instruments. This policy which is aimed at reducing the use of cash had been justified by the need to reduce the burden of the cost of printing and distributing currency notes. The introduc-

“The CBN should concentrate on stabilising the value of the Naira rather than legitimising the devaluation of the currency. CBN under Sanusi Lamido Sanusi should continue with the good work they are doing with respect to revival of manufacturing sector and management of inflation and interest rates. The double digit inflation rate as we currently have cannot take us out of the economic crisis. “Psychologically, for the working people, it means they work so much for little notes with the introduction of N5000. This may fuel crisis of expectation for more wage increase as bigger banknotes will be chasing fewer goods. Nigeria is better with smaller banknotes that can deliver goods and services rather than higher bills without any value”. But the Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Joy Emodi, described the

tion of a high face value currency note actually does the opposite because by reducing the unit cost of printing and transportation, it actually would promote the use of cash. “Fourthly, the issuance of the new N5,000 currency note also runs counter to the gov-

Continued on page 57

ernment’s often repeated commitment to fight corruption. It is widely recognised that large scale corruption tends to be facilitated by the ease with which unrecorded and large cash transactions can be made. Similarly, increased illegal/criminal, drug related and terrorist ac-

•Mohammed

tivities, as well as money laundering are known to be facilitated by such unrecorded and large scale cash transaction. The ease with which the new N5,000 currency notes can be transported will make it an ideal instrument for the facilitation of these undesirable activities. “Fifthly, the close relationship between inflation and the issuance of high value currency notes is perhaps best illustrated with real life experiences of a number of countries. “Between 1975 and 1991, Argentina experienced a period of inflation during Continued on page 57

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THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 2012

NEWS INCIDENCE OF RAPE

Why rape is Rape cases involving minors and the elderly have been on the increase. Amnesty International, the human rights community and lawyers believe the security agencies are not doing enough to stop the trend, writes PRECIOUS IGBONWELUNDU

T • Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan (middle), Secretary to the State Government Ovuozorie Macaulay (right) and Mr. Commissioner for Information Chike Ogeah (left) during the public lecture on Niger Delta Beyond Resource Control, Burdens and Realities of Transformation by the governor in Asaba... at the weekend.

•Anambra State Governor Peter Obi cutting the tape to open the ultra-modern Agulu Town Hall in Anaocha Local Government Area...yesterday. With him are Rev. B.a. Obiefuna (left), Dr. Chike Akunyili and his wife Dora and Mrs. Uche Ekwunife.

•From left: Osun Deputy Governor Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori, Commissioner for Information and Strategy Mr. Sunday Akere; State Chairman, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Elder Adelowo Adebiyi and Pastor-in-Charge of Union Baptist Church, Odi-Olowo, Osogbo, Rev. Olumide Kehinde at a special thanksgiving service marking the 21st year Anniversary of the state ...yesterday

•From left: Olugbo of Ugbo,Oba Obateru Akinruntan, Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi and Chief Afe Babalola at a Meeting Between Alaafin and Yoruba Conflicts Resolution Committe on Yoruba Unity at the Alaafin's palace... at the weekend. PHOTO: FEMI ILESANMI

HEY are just 13, innocent and largely unaware of the danger of being with a man in a secluded environment. They paid dearly for their innocence. There was a pin-drop silence when their August 5 experience was narrated before an Ejigbo Magistrate’s Court. The predator was a 39-year- old printer, Oluseye Israel, who is standing trial for allegedly raping the two minors. Israel is the neighbour of one of them and the other minor was visiting. The court heard how he lured them into his room around 4pm, at Ododo Ayika Street, Egan, on the outskirts of Lagos on the pretence that they were to run an errand for him. One of the victims said: “Immediately, we entered his room, he locked the door, pulled off his clothes and was naked. He ordered us to do so and when we refused and tried to shout, he threatened to kill us if we make noise and failed to comply.” Isreal allegedly tore the underwear of one of the minors and threw her on his bed. “This now made us to comply with him,” she said. The minors told their parents and the matter was reported at Igando Police Station. Thus began his journey to the Magistrate’s Court, where his fate is to be determined by Magistrate M.B. Folami. He appeared again in court on August 17 from the Kirikiri Prisons. A lawyer’s son, Ikechukwu Eke, 35, is also cooling his heels at the Kirikiri Prisons. His alleged offence: raping a 10-year-old. The Ejigbo Magistrate’s Court heard how he allegedly defiled the minor, who is his friend’s daughter twice. The victim’s father, who was said to be critically ill and needed financial assistance, sent his daughter to the defendant. The minor, who narrated what happened, said: “When I delivered the message, he asked me to close my eyes and he carried me and put me on his bed..” The minor said he did it and warned her not to tell anybody about it, otherwise she would die. The victim’s mother, Grace Nurudeen, discovered she had been defiled while bathing her. Grace, who is separated from the victim’s father and married to another man, told the court: “I asked her who did it and she said that it was Ikechukwu who defiled her. So, I took her to Igando Police Station and reported the matter after which Ikechukwu was arrested.” Another minor was also defiled by a 43-year-old man last month. He has been arraigned before a Yaba Magistrate’s Court for allegedly assaulting the 17-year-old girl sexually. Felix Adedayo, a resident of Adisatu Close, Orile-Iganmu, Lagos mainland, said the prosecutor, Inspector Godwin Anyanwu, is a bus driver, who beckoned on the victim while she was hawking agidi and pepper soup at Oyingbo Motor Park, on July 30, about 7:15pm. Anyanwu said: “The defendant told the girl to give him a plate of the meal. As the girl put down the tray from her head, the accused asked her to draw closer to the rare of the bus but she refused. The girl had started packing her items back into the tray

since she noticed what the accused was up to but he quickly raped the helpless girl.” Hardly does a day pass without minors and adults falling prey to men with uncontrollable sexual urge. Rape is an offence under Section 357 of the Criminal Code Law. It says: “Any person who has unlawful carnal knowledge of a woman or girl, without her consent, or with her consent, if consent was obtained by force or by means of threat or intimidation of any kind, or by fear or harm, or by any means of false and fraudulent representation as to the nature of the act, or in the case of a married woman, by personating her husband is guilty of an offence called rape.” The Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women (“CEDAW”), ratified by Nigeria, was designed to put an end to all types of violence against women, including rape. Section 358 of the law specifies punishment for perpetrators of the crime which ranges from five years, 21 years or even life imprisonment as the case may be. But, many offenders go unpunished, leaving the victims shattered. However, the law, which seems to have provided protection for rape victims, mandated the victims to prove beyond reasonable doubts that there was no consent and to also show corroboration, which is a witness to the crime. Analysts believe this goes contrary to the laws in other countries that allow offenders to claim the defence of consent and bear the burden of proving that the victim consented. Worries have been raised on corroboration, bearing in mind that rape is not committed in the open. A report by Amnesty International noted: “Rape of women and girls by both the police and security forces, and within their homes and community, is acknowledged to be endemic in Nigeria, not only by human rights defenders but also by some government officials at both federal and state levels. “The perpetrators invariably escape punishment, and women and girls who have been raped are denied any form of redress for the serious crimes against them. “Government’s response has been, and continues to be, woefully inadequate. Rape is a crime under Nigerian Criminal Code and is an internationally recognised human rights violation. “Despite this, the government is failing in both its national and international obligations to prevent, investigate and prosecute rape, whether committed by state actors or non-state actors, and to provide any reparations to the victims,” the report stated. A group, the Delta Women, stated that prosecuting rapists is an extremely challenging task. Respondents in its survey believed rapists should be severely punished. The group said: “In some instances, participants suggested rapists should be incarcerated for extended periods of time, and some even advocated for castration of the perpetrators. However, despite the demand for punishment, laws continue to turn a blind eye to rape in Nigeria.” A professor of Law, Professor Taiwo Osipitan, said teenage rape is rising because rapists find teenagers attractive and vulnerable. Osipitan said: “Some teenagers dress provocatively. Some rapists are unable to resist temptation when they see teenagers in those provocative dresses. Teen-

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 2012

NEWS INCIDENCE OF RAPE

on the increase, by lawyers, activists

•Quakers

agers love adventure. Some of them are found in places they should not be at very odd times. “The problem with rape is not the absence of effective punishment against offenders but with stigma associated with being a victim of rape. “There is the need to protect identities of victims of rape right from investigation through prosecution stages.” A constitutional lawyer, Chief Niyi Akintola, said the laws are adequate but the problem is with enforcement. Akintola said: “Existing laws are adequate but the will to implement and prosecute offenders has always been a problem. Punishment for rape ranges from life imprisonment to 21 years but as a result of the discretion given trial courts, most times the judges or magistrates maneuver the situation and award lesser punishments to offenders. “Another problem is the unwillingness on the part of victims to come forward and report cases of rape as a result of the societal stigma associated with it. There is the tendency of isolation of the victim by the opposite sex.” Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dele Belgore, said in as much as the laws are far from being perfect, the surge in rape cases was as a result of societal and institutional failures. He said: “That incidences of teenage rape are on the rise in our country should not surprise anybody. Rape is a serious violation of the person. It is a heinous crime that is on the same scale as homicide. “Our condemnation of it must be total. Having said that, I don’t think that our laws are inadequate and a change in law will necessarily stem the rising tide of rape incidences. The increase in rape incidences is a sad reflection of the state of the nation. “Institutions and morality in our society are abysmally on the decline. Added to this is the fact that rape is a particularly difficult crime to police and punish. “I read somewhere that a vast majority of rapes are committed by people who are well known to their victims. So the victim naturally is reluctant to report the rape and also she wants to protect her own identity. “Weighin also the ineptitude of our law enforcement mechanisms which creates a situation whereby there is a far

• A group of ladies campaigning against rape

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Any person who has unlawful carnal knowledge of a woman or girl, without her consent, or with her consent, if consent was obtained by force or by means of threat or intimidation of any kind, or by fear or harm, or by any means of false and fraudulent representation as to the nature of the act, or in the case of a married woman, by personating her husband is guilty of an offence called rape.”

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greater chance of getting away with a crime than getting caught and punished. “So, what we are seeing are societal and institutional failures and not a failure of our laws, which I must say are themselves far from perfect. “The problem is more sociological and economic than legal. Where institutions are weak and youths are unemployed, idle minds will commit crimes. The law only focuses on the crime. It does not address the causes of the crime. That function belongs to the government and, sadly, it hasn’t covered itself with any glory in that respect.” To rights activist and lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), the rising wave of rape of minors is very disturbing. He said: “It is so traumatising for parents and the victims. Like those who rape very old women, the defilement of minors is based on a superstitious belief that those who perpetrate such atrocities are going to become instant millionaires or acquire political power. “Whatever may be the motivation of the devilish people the government and all men and women of goodwill must rise up to fight and eradicate the dangerous trend. “The Nigerian Bar Association and human rights bodies should take up cases of rape and insist on the prosecution of rape suspects. “Through education and enlightenment, the society should stop stigmatising rape victims. Parents and guardians must be vigilant and

report teachers, pastors and even law enforcement officials who rape their daughters and wards. “On no ground should such serious crimes be compromised and settled without a full trial.” In Falana’s view, the police hardly press charges against rape suspects. Calling on the termination of corroboration as proof of rape, he said that “the judge made rule which requires corroboration has, over the years, encouraged the crime.” He said: “In the case of the State vs Gabriel Akingbade and many others, accused persons who were proved to have committed rape were discharged and acquitted due to lack of corroboration. “The requirement is so unjust and unfair to victims as rape is never committed in the open. With medical evidence to prove penetration, there is no rational basis for the evidence of eye witnesses. “Happily, the requirement of corroboration to prove cases of rape has been declared discriminatory and unconstitutional by the Court of Appeal of Kenya in the famous case of Mugungu vs The Republic. “In that case, the court rightly found that the rule of corroboration was based on the notion that women and girls might fabricate stories of rape. As corroboration is not required in male related offences, the court rightly struck down the rule. “It is hoped that Nigerian judges will, like their Kenyan counterparts, jettison the requirement of corrobo-

ration to prove cases of rape. This should be done urgently to pave the way for the successful prosecution of rape cases.” Another SAN, Mr. Norrison Quakers, said although some have suggested that rape be made a capital offence to stem the tide, the problem is not the dearth of legislation or that the sanction is not stiff enough. He said: “As a society and as a people, we must rekindle and strengthen our values and moral fabric. Indecent and provocative dressing is actually an offence, our law enforcement agencies must live up to their statutory and constitutional duties in terms of enforcement. Families must also rise up to the occasion by ensuring that their ward or children are morally conscious and upright.” ounder, Women Empower ment and Legal Aid (WELA), Mrs. Funmi Falana, said one reason for the rise in rape cases is the technicalities involved and the procedures in the trial of rapists. She said: “There is this requirement of the law that you need corroboration of the evidence of the victim. In other words, there must be a witness that would come to corroborate that it is true that the victim was raped by the alleged offender before a court can rely on the evidence of the victim, as if a rape case is a dinner party that you would invite a witness to come and attend. “Since these things are done in secrecy, there is no way you would always get people to come and witness it. “Secondly, there is this requirement that you would need to do a medical examination of the private part of the victim immediately after the incident and the medical record will also be part of the trial and the evidence in court. “Without these, there is no way the case will succeed. Most of these evidence are collated by the police and our police are so corrupt that immediately someone gets their way through the police, exhibits will disappear.” Using a case of a seven year old girl who was raped by her stepfather as an example, Mrs. Falana said the police took seven evidence from a seven-year-old girl.

She said: “There is no way a sevenyear-old girl would be asked questions by different people seven times that her story will not change. The basis of telling her story repeatedly is to bring in conflicting testimony. “Based on that, the DPP said there was no case to answer. When the police were going to file their report, they filed all the seven reports. You will see the carelessness of the police and the corruption there, just because the victim does not know them.” “Again, the delay in the administration of justice for a trial in court also makes it easy for a suspect to get away. Now it has become habitual because it is always difficult to get a conviction. “Two, there is this stupid idea brought from South Africa, not in Nigeria alone, and we the Women Organisations in Nigeria, we have been trying to campaign against it, that when they have sexual relation with a virgin, they will be cured of HIV. “These are misdirection and miseducation that are going through the minds of the illiterate men that make them to abuse the innocent girls around. “The thing is becoming rampant. Then three, all of them want to use it to cure their ailment, for something like HIV. Then some also do it for ritual purposes. There is no way a seven-year-old-girl will know a man that wants to sexually harass her in order to cure himself. This is what we have been campaigning to them about.” She also pointed out that the government and the entire society have not been able to protect the women folk, especially the girl-child who are very vulnerable. Mrs. Falana said the existing laws are unjust and discriminatory, especially in demanding that rape victims should corroborate the evidence when the crime is not committed in the open. “Moreover, the woman’s private part must be examined and the medical report submitted but the man’s private part will not be examined. This is discrimination. “The society does not help the case. In all these things, the girl will be ashamed to come out and say it. This is because they feel that if the society heard of it, they would not be able to get a husband. But beyond that, the penalty of five years, I think, is adequate but the government should make conviction of rapist possible. “What we should do is to remove the technicalities, like the requirement for corroboration and the examination of the private part and other things. These are things I think should be removed to make conviction easier. “I believe death penalty contradicts the right to life. In most countries, they have been removing death penalty from their penal laws. We are also trying to campaign against death penalty, even in Nigeria. Castration will also be against their right to dignity, which I think is also a constitutional right to life. “ The government should begin a massive campaign in the media to reorient Nigerian men against rape, and to debunk the misconception of using virgins to cure HIV. Rapists are animals.” Another lawyer, Mr. Mohammed Fawehinmi, believes the surge is as a result of inadequate educational policies. He said: “The laws are adequate; it is societal decay and lack of proper education that have led to the increase in teenage rape. Our youths are not engaged; people are using awkward methods just to survive and satisfy their urges. It all boils down to the failure of governance. There are no infrastructures for youths to grow, people are idle and most young men are engaged in illicit activities, they tend to be vindictive.”

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 2012

CITYBEATS

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

Mayor hails Badagry festival THE President, Congress of Mayors, Dr James Walls, has described the just ended Badagry Festival as good. In a remark at the Badagry Grammar School, venue of the event, he said:”The festival was good, innovative and showed the heritage of the people and their awareness about it.” He praised the Africa Renaissance Foundation for organising the show. Walls, advised that the event should be well promoted to make blacks in the Diaspora to come home and invest in it. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism and InterGovernmental Relations, Mr Sewanu Fadipe, described the festival as “very rich in content and our people are becoming more aware of it and the attached value. She said: “What we have witnessed is the real culture of the people of Badagry. For example, the Sangbeto Masquerader we see here is the modernised version of the old one.” Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, represented by the Commissioner for Rural Development, Mr Cornelius Ojelabi, praised the organisers of the event.

Obey traffic law, Fashola pleads By Emmanuel Oladesu

LAGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola has urged the people to obey the new traffic law, warning that the law is no respecter of person. He enjoined Christian leaders to enlighten their congregation on the benefit of the law, which he said, would stem traffic snarl and restore sanity on the road. Fashola said: “I urge you, as disciples of Jesus Christ, to support our clarion call to make the state a model place by obeying the laws of the land. Obedience, as we all know, is the first law in heaven. The promulgation of the new traffic law is to make the state conducive for all that live here.” He spoke at the golden jubilee anniversary of Cherubim and Seraphim Gospel Church (Oke Ayo Igbala Irapada), Orile-Iganmu, Lagos, led by Apostle Olorunfunmi Basorun. The governor was represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Religious Affairs, Rev. Akitoye Braimoh. He his administration was determined to make Lagos a safe haven for everyone. He urged religious leaders to assist the government in realising its vision. Describing governance as a collective enterprise, the governor charged the people to contribute their quota to make the state attain a greater height.

Man, 34, arraigned for alleged theft By Precious Igbonwelundu

A 34-year old man, Udeme Okon, has been arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court for allegedly stealing N17million from a bank. The accused, described, as an internet fraudster, was said to have fraudulently diverted the cash to his dormant account. Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Austin Onwumene, told the court that the accused and others at large, stole money on August 14, at the bank’s Ladipo branch. He said: “When he tried to withdraw the money with his ATM card and was not successful because his card had been blocked, he walked into the bank to complain about his inability to use the card and he was arrested.” Okon pleaded not guilty to the offence said to have contravened Sections 409 and 285 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos, 2011.

•Information and Strategy Commissioner, Aderemi Ibirogba (third left); Managing Director, Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Ola Oresanya, (first left); Special Adviser, Works and Infrastructure, Ganiyu Johnson (second left); Special Adviser on the Environment, Dr Taofeek Folami (second right) and Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services, Muyideen Akinsanya during the last Saturday monthly Environmental Sanitation Inspection tour of Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area of Lagos State

Worker held over attempt to kidnap boss

HE police have arrested a factory worker over an alleged attempt to kidnap his Chinese boss. Amaechi Chukwu was said to have attempted to kidnap his boss, Kelvin Cheng, early this month. Lagos Police Command’s spokesperson, Mrs Ngozi Braide, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), who confirmed the arrest, said Chukwu was planning to travel to Canada after collecting the N2million ransom. The suspect, according to her, was arrested by policemen attached to FESTAC Police Station after the matter was reported by Mr Cheng. She said Chukwu on August 15, called his boss with an unknown number and threatened to kidnap him if he did not pay the N2m. “The suspect threatened to kill the Chinese, if he reported to any

By Jude Isiguzo

police station or even try to tell anyone about the threat,” she said. Cheng, Mrs Braide said, alleged that the suspect told him that he (Chukwu) had been paid N1.5m for the job. The suspect, the Chinese reportedly said, promised to disclose the identity of the person that sent him after collecting the ransom. Reliving his ordeal, the Chinese said: “I’m from Hong Kong and the Managing Director of Chronotech Nig &Co. Ltd, Amuwo Odofin. On August 15, 2012, at about 12pm, while I was in my office, I received a phone call from an anonymous caller. Around 7:30pm on the same day, the guy called my telephone again and demanded that I should go and pick a mail neatly placed in the factory mail box and read it”.

Cheng said he sent the factory security officer, Mr. Alex, to pick up the letter. He noted that when he opened the mail, he discovered that it was a threat letter, demanding N2million and warning that if he fails to comply he would be killed. Cheng said: “I played back CCTV footage to reveal who placed the letter and it turned out to be Chukwu. I reported to the company’s legal department and they advised me to play along. “On August 16, at about 7am, I received another call from the suspect warning me of the consequences of not carrying out his instructions of paying the N2million and that failure to comply would spell danger.” The second call, he said, was recorded on his phone as evidence. Cheng said he pleaded with the

suspect to spare his life as he did not have the said amount, but all pleas fell on deaf ears. The Chinese said he reported the matter to FESTAC Police Division for investigation. He said the suspect called again on August 17, and told him to bring the money to a particular location. Cheng said he informed the police before going to the bank at 11am on that day and the Police advised him to put loaves of bread in a bag and conceal it like money and drop it where the suspect had instructed him. Mrs Braide said Police AntiRobbery operatives in plain clothe monitored the location until the suspect appeared. It was when the suspect attempted to take the bag that policemen swooped him.

I don’t take bribe, says Magistrate

Magistrate, Mrs. O.A. Ogunbowale, has told those standing trial before her to report anyone demanding bribe from them on her behalf. Reacting to an allegation by an accused that another Magistrate demanded N300, 000 bribe on her behalf, Mrs. Ogunbowale said she had never demanded money from any accused and would never do so. “This is my 12th year on this job and I have never demanded money from suspects. I heard someone asked you to bring N300, 000 to give me in order to help your case, let me make it public now that I didn’t send anyone to collect money on my behalf. “If you ask my registrar, she will tell you that I don’t even collect ‘thank you’ packages or parcels. She can recount the number of times I have shouted at her and told her to return gifts from suspects because I know that I do not need gratification to do my job. “I am raising this issue in the open court so that others will hear, should anyone approach you for bribe that the money is for the magistrate, please my door is always open, just walk in and report the person,” said. She spoke during a case of assault brought by the police against Mrs. Tina Otulana, 43, and her daughter, Bolaji, 25. Prosecuting police inspector Stephen Molo alleged that the accused on May 25, around 2pm, at the Anti-Fraud Office, Zone II, Onikan, assaulted Kingsley Umeji and his wife, Ogechukwu. He said the accused assaulted the complainants at the police station and tore their clothes, an offence which contravened Section 170 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos, 2011.

•’Report seekers to me’ By Precious Igbonwelundu

The accused had pleaded not guilty when they were arraigned on May 14, and were granted N100,000 each bail one surety in the like sum. Trial in the matter was, however, stalled for the third time on August 23 following the absence of the complainant, who was said to have travelled to Abuja. Counsel to the accused I.C. Oforma urged the prosecution to produce its witnesses on the next adjourned date, failing which he would apply that the matter be struck out. He said: “The matter is for trial and this honourable court cannot be used as an evading ground. Prosecution has failed to provide its witnesses for the second time now.

If it continues at the next adjournment, I shall apply that the matter be struck out for lack of diligent prosecution.” On the bribery allegation he said he was hearing it for the first time, promising that he would investigate it. Mrs. Ogunbowale adjourned the matter to October 9. The Nation learnt that prior to the alleged assault, Mrs. Otulana had written the police, alleging that Umeji, who is her tenant, was involved in examination malpractice. She alleged that Umeji approached her for accommodation to run a tutorial for students preparing for examinations only for her to discover later that he was

using the apartment as special centre for those writing the West African Examination Council (WAEC) examinations. Mrs. Otulana whose late husband was a police officer, said after the discovery, she told Umeji to pack out because she was not comfortable with the practice. She said she offered to return his rent, but Umeji refused to leave because he has started the tutorials. Mrs. Otulana added that she reported to WAEC and the police, and they were invited to the command. A source at the Police Command confirmed the petition, adding that police investigation found nothing incriminating against the accused. The woman and her daughter were charged to court following a fight at the police station.

‘Lagos ocean surge an act of God’

HE Lagos ocean surge was an act of God, but the casualty man-made, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said yesterday. The agency said it arrived at this decision after a week of rescue efforts and assessment of the impact of the devastating surge. In a statement, it’s spokesman, Yushau Shuaib, said: “A team from NEMA has concluded its assignment with a report indicating that the cause of the surge was natural while humancasualty was man-made.” It added that NEMA’s rescue officer recovered another body floating near Nigerian Navy Dockyard, Victoria Island Lagos, at the weekend.

•Another body recovered By Seyi Odewale

The statement quoted the team’s leader and NEMA’s Director of Planning, Research and Forecasting, Dr. Charles Agbo, as saying that while the surge was a natural phenomenon, the human casualty was man-induced because people engaged in activities close to or on the sea without precautionary measures in place. Agbo said: “Though nine bodies have so far been recovered and confirmed by NEMA officials while others, as claimed by residents are still missing, the ocean surge at Kuramo Beach and other areas of Lagos was a natural phenomenon while the human

casualty could be blamed on carelessness of people living too close to the danger of coastline when early warning alerts were raised by appropriate authorities on the effect of climate change and global warming.” The agency warned that more beaches risked being affected by wave tide, urging collaboration among response institutions to ensure the clearing of shanties at Badagry, Tarkwa Bay, Maiyegun, Alpha and other beaches and evacuation of people living close to the coastlines to avoid another disaster. It also called for the removal of ship wrecks that dotted most of the areas.

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 2012

NEWS Community protests alleged fraud against monarch

•Allegations false, says Oba

From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

RESIDENTS of Igburowo in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State at the weekend held a peaceful protest, calling for the removal of their monarch, Oba Pius Akinfesola Adewola, for allegedly defrauding the community. The protest began at 6am yesterday with majority of the residents urging the state government to intervene in the matter. The protesters barricaded the road to the community and carried placards with inscriptions, such as, Enough is enough; 16 years of no development, no action; No to backwardness; Igburowo says no to Akinfesola; Go, Akinfesola, go; Igburowo community rejects you, Pius Adewola; Adewola is a wife snatcher; Igburowo, rejects you, among others. The residents, on August 3, sent a wrote to Governor Olusegun Mimiko, on their grievances. The petition was signed by 21 residents representing various interest groups. They include high chiefs, women leaders, called Opoji, as well as members of the Igburowo Development Committee (IDC). The community accused the monarch of fraud, forceful acquisition of land belonging to his subjects, frivolous litigation over subjects’ property, non-performance of traditional rites and assaulting his chiefs and subjects. Other allegations the petitioners listed against the monarch include connivance with an indigene, Tope Iluyomade, to defraud the community of N3.6million electricity bill for the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN). Iluyomade is on trial at a Magistrate Court over the allegation. The community’s Youth Leader, Mr. Samuel Adeyemi, told reporters that the protest was not politically motivated. He said it showed the peole’s dissatisfaction with the Oba. But Oba Adewola described the allegations against him as false, unfounded and a blackmail. The monarch said it is not true that he took other people’s land, adding that neither did he refuse to perform any traditional rites.

ONDO 2012

ACN urges Jonathan, IGP to caution Mimiko over attacks on Akeredolu T HE Special Adviser to Osun State Governor on Environmental Matters and a chieftain of Ondo State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Bola Ilori, yesterday urged President Goodluck Jonathan and the InspectorGeneral of Police, Mr. Muhammed Abubakar, to call to order Governor Olusegun Mimiko and the ruling Labour Party (LP) over alleged physical attacks on the ACN governorship candidate Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), and members of the party. Addressing reporters in Osogbo, the state capital, Ilori said the call became necessary

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

following LP’s attacks on Akeredolu’s supporters by thugs allegedly sponsored by Mimiko. The ACN chieftain accused Mimiko of intolerance and sponsoring violence. He urged the President and the police chief to stop the governor’s and LP’s culture of impunity with which their thugs unleash violence on innocent people. He warned that if the attacks

by the LP thugs continued, the state might be pushed into anarchy with the people resorting to self-defence. The politician attributed the attacks on Akeredolu and ACN members to “Mimiko’s political plot to intimidate the supporters of the party and the electorate”. Ilori noted that the fear of Akeredolu’s personality is responsible for Mimiko’s attacks. He said: “Attacks on ACN members have multiplied since the party chose Akeredolu as its candidate in Ondo

State to contest the governorship election. “The recent attack on Akeredolu and our party members at Okeluse in Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State by the LP thugs necessitated the call on President Jonathan and the IGP to call Mimiko and the LP to order and stop the political violence that has been the order of the day in the state. “Mimiko has taken politics to be a do-or-die affair, and this is to the detriment of the innocent people of the state. In-

Pro-Chancellor, Falae’s party members HE Pro-Chancellor of join Ondo ACN Achievers University

in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, Dr. Bode Ayorinde, at the weekend joined the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). Ayorinde was a chieftain of the ruling Labour Party (LP). He led thousands of his supporters, under the platform of Liberty Movement (LM). They include 22 LP office bearers in Owo and Ose Federal Constituencies. It is hoped that he would use his influence to persuade members of the Social Democratic Mega Party (SDMP) in Owo to defect to ACN to support the party’s governorship candidate, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN). The party’s National Chairman, Chief Olu Falae, has adopted Governor Olusegun Mimiko, the LP governorship candidate, for a second term. SDMP Secretary, Mr. Olukayode Ijamakinwa, who represented the state chairman, said it was because of Falae the party has not been

From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

parading notable politicians. Ijamakinwa alleged that the former Minister of Finance has been using the political platform to negotiate with selfish politicians for the interest of his family. He said ACN National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, was right by describing Falae as a “political beggar”. Ijamakinwa said: “We are not surprised if Falae is backing Mimiko for a second term. He is more or less a member of the LP. His son is a commissioner under Mimiko and Falae has been benefiting from the governor. We cannot continue to follow him because Falae is not helping the party. We need a change and Akereolu is the best for this position.” The Pro-Chancellor was received into ACN by the party’s chairman in the local government, Mr. Osedimibola, in company of Akeredolu. Ayorinde, a former Owo/

Ose House of Representatives aspirant, said he defected to ACN because he believed the state cannot continue to be a black sheep in Yoruba land. He said: “We must move with the tide of progress under the umbrella of Oduduwa as symbolised by the ACN. We strongly believe that Akeredolu has the capacity to transform the state and that under his leadership we can overtake the development being witnessed in Edo, Lagos and other progressive states.” The Pro-Chancellor said Mimiko was misled by people around him, adding that it was the reason his administration has failed the masses. Ayorinde said: “The ruling LP in the state has promoted mediocre while intellectuals have been relegated to the background. The ‘cosmetic achievement’ of the government is not commensurate with the huge resources accruable to the state.” Akeredolu hailed the

Video: Ondo PDP hails INEC From Damisi Ojo, Akure

T •Chief Falae

former LP chieftain for pitching his tent with the CAN. The party’s standard bearer said ACN has a bright chance of winning the October 20 poll. Dignitaries at the event included former Senator Pius Olupitan; the Aketi Campaign Director-General, Chief Tayo Alasoadura; former ACN governorship aspirants, Joseph Ajatta, Wale Akinterinwa; former Ondo State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (OSOPADEC) Chairman Adewale Omojuwa; former House of Assembly member, Ayodele Awoeyi; Femi Adekanmbi, Gboyega Adefarati, among others.

Group backs Akeredolu for governor

socio-political organisation, Eyo Collectives (EC), at the weekend endorsed Ondo State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship candidate, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN). It urged the residents to vote massively for him. The group noted that there are similarities between Akeredolu’s programmes, christened “AKETI” and the EYO Cardinal’s programmes. Through its Secretary-Gen-

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

eral, Victor Shaba, the group said any government that wishes to ensure sustainable development must be committed to an educational revolution, youth empowerment and opportunities for all residents, regardless of status or sex. In a statement, the group said: “We have seen that this is encompassed in the AKETI programme of Agricultural Revolution, Knowledge economy, Technology advancement and Infrastructural development.

“The pedigree and integrity of Akeredolu is not in question and his credentials are intimidating. This man is another SAN with a sound mind comparable to who (Governor Babatunde) Fashola is in Lagos. “We believe he will replicate or even surpass what Fashola has done in Lagos, in Ondo State. You need to meet the man! He radiates warmth, calmness, humility and confidence. He is urbane and yet simple. We can peep into his heart by the fruits we can see. The holy

nocent lives have always been the victims of the political violence being orchestrated by the LP and its governor. “If this trend continues without any intervention from the Federal Government and the Inspector-General of Police, the people might resort to self-defence and this will definitely lead to anarchy in the state.” Ilori urged the police to investigate and prosecute the four suspects arrested in connection with the attack on Akeredolu at Okeluse. He advised ACN members to remain law-abiding, saying they should avoid politics of bitterness.

writ says by their fruits we shall know them.” The group noted that sustainable development has been the crux of past governments in Ondo State, Nigeria and Africa. It said Nigerian leaders indulge in spending the people’s commonwealth on ego tripping, frivolities, politicking and criminality. EC said the nation’s leaders do this with impunity because the people have failed to take their destinies in their hands. •From left: Rights activist, Mr. Femi Aborisade; President, National Union of of Lagos State Students (NULASS), The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Comrade Lawal Kazeem; President, Campaign for Democracy (CD) and guest speaker, Dr. Joe OkeiOdumakin with Chairman, Oyo State CD, Mr. Segun Adedokun, at a lecture at The Polytechnic, Ibadan.

HE Ondo State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olusola Oke, at the weekend hailed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for resolving to use video for the October 20 election, particularly in the collation of results. Through his spokesman, Mr Kunle Adebayo, the PDP candidate said: “For us, this is a strong voice from a genuinely determined agency for transparent elections and leadership change. “We also hail the suggestions by stakeholders that the video recording starts with the October 20 governorship elections in Ondo State. “Nothing will show INEC’s seriousness and determination to make the voice of the people count in the 2015 elections and beyond than to ensure that the technology is used in the Ondo election on October 20. “Already, the menace of desperate politicians and criminally-intentioned contestants is suffocating the political landscape in the state such that citizens and other stakeholders are apprehensive of the sanctity and fairness of the forthcoming elections. “We believe that using a video recording technology during the election will expose the hypocrisy of newspaper page politicians and especially powerdrunken incumbents, who have been rejected by the public for their inertia, incompetence and failure. “Indeed, the video recording technology, like FIFA‘s goalmouth technology, will be the waterloo of failed incumbents and imported political businessmen, who are hell-bent on capturing Ondo State into the harem of their political fantasies.” The PDP former National Legal Adviser reminded INEC that among the reforms by its chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, the video recording initiative would be the most important for which Nigerians would always thank the commission. He said: “We stand side-byside with INEC on this laudable plan. INEC must without delay remove all obstacles on its way to deploying it in Ondo State. “It guarantees vigilance, confidence and courage for the electorate. It exposes political hypocrites and shuts the door against electoral fraud and violence in the October 20 election in Ondo State.

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 2012

NEWS

‘Aregbesola not part of Ondo fetish plot’

Osun to inaugurate 8,000 young Omoluabi

SUN State Governor Aregbesola is set to inaugurate 8,000 pupils who have been trained in calisthenics. The event, which will hold at the Osogbo Township Stadium, the state capital, crowns weeks of intensive training to produce a new generation of youths, callisthenics experts and future leaders who will exhibit and espouse the virtue of discipline, organisation, cooperation, collaboration, team spirit, coordination and attention to details. A statement by the Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy in the Office of the Governor, Semiu Okanlawon, explained that the programme was conceived by the Aregbesola administration not only as an out-of-school activity but also as a life style changing project to build a new generation of pupils who are physically fit, mentally sound and socially responsible and well adjusted. It brings about discipline, dedication, drive and determination. A new generation of leaders with commitment to ideals, drive and determination for success and discipline are expected to emerge through the scheme. “The first phase of the scheme, to be launched tomorrow at the state capital, comprises 8,000 pupils and 60 local trainers under the training of two Cuban calisthenics experts, Francis Rodriguez and Raiza Guerra. “All the students in this scheme have been drawn from Junior Secondary School One to Junior Secondary School Two,” the statement explained. The statement also recalled that similar programmes had been put up under the administrations of the late Chief Bola Ige in the old Oyo State and Chief Bisi Akande when he was governor of Osun. The scheme was then tagged: Young Pioneers.

•Aregbesola

SUN State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday described the allegation levelled against Governor Rauf Aregbesola by the Olusegun Mimiko Campaign Organisation of the ruling Labour Party (LP) in Ondo State as “falling behind the expected standard of intelligence and professional

proficiency”. In a statement, Osun ACN spokesman, Kunle Oyatomi, also described the allegation that Aregbesola is behind a plan to plant fetish substances in Ondo State towns as “outright false propaganda”. Spokesman of the campaign organisation, Kolawole Olabisi, alleged that the ACN had sent a purported Muslim cleric to Ondo State “to carry out several nocturnal sacrifices in Ondo, Owo, Ikere, Akure and Okitipupa, with a view to spiritually turning the hearts of the people of the state against Governor Mimiko”. He further alleged that “the fetish sacrifices, for which the cleric has been paid a whopping N25 million, are carried out on or before September 10”.

The Ondo State governorship election is billed for October 20. ACN candidate, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), has emerged the favourite in the race. The Osun ACN said noted that the allegations against Aregbesola are false propaganda. The statement reads: “Everybody in Ondo State knows that the desperate candidate, who is running helter skelter to save his job is Governor Mimiko himself. He has a notorious antecedent for playing outside the rule of the game and blackmailing his opponents. “Aregbesola’s interest in Ondo State does not have a tinge of desperation and he, therefore, has no need what-

soever to engage anyone in fetish deals to obstruct or destroy the lives of the same people the ACN wants to liberate from Mimiko’s misrule in Ondo State. “It is a great pity indeed that Mr Olabisi is latching on to a discredited allegation from Aregbesola’s opponents in Osun State, which falsely accused the governor of sessionist tendency to tag him both as a trouble maker and an Islamic zealot. “Mimiko’s troubles in Ondo State are entirely his own making; if his job is threatened today, it is only the people of Ondo State who will determine his fate. To think that somebody from elsewhere can use fetish means to make Ondo people behave irregularly at the polls is the

‘Fayemi’s detractors are evil’ From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

•Ven. Sola Igbari, Vicar, St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, Maitama, Abuja (left) and Mrs Sarah Ochekpe, Minister of Water Resources and Mother of the Day, at this year’s children’s harvest of the church in Abuja... yesterday.

Afe Babalola, others seek Alaafin’s support for Yoruba conflict resolution panel L

EGAL luminary, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), at the weekend led a delegation of the Yoruba Conflict Resolution Committee to persuade the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, to accept the committee’s resolution of crises among Yoruba traditional rulers. There was an indication that the committee would be successful in its assignment as the Alaafin hosted the delegation, with the legal icon and Aare Baamofin of Oyo Empire in the forefront. Members of the delegation included the Olugbo of Ugbo, Oba Obateru Akinruntan; the Ajogbu of Araromi Obu, Ondo State, Oba Aderemi Adelola; the Owa of Ogbagiland, Oba Victor Adetona; and the Olotu Omooba, Leye Ashaye, the Secretary-General of the committee.

From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

It was learnt that the committee had made several futile attempts to get Alaafin’s approval. Then Chief Babalola stepped in and made the meeting possible. The Oyomesi (Council of Kingmakers), Baales, princesses, some Oyo community leaders, among others, attended the meeting. It was was laernt that the meeting was first held in the home of the matriarch of the Awolowo dynasty, Chief Mrs H.I.D. Awolowo, at Ikenne in Ogun State, without some prominent monarchs. The Olugbo explained that the committee visited leading Yoruba monarchs to know their grievances and proffer lasting

solution to the perennial leadership crisis among the royal fathers. The committee had visited the Alake of Egbaland, the Awujale of Ijebuland, as well as the Olubadan of Ibadanland, but believed that the Alaafin was a major factor in the resolution of crises in the region. Chief Babalola said he accepted the committee’s chairmanship to ensure a lasting solution to the lingering disunity among some Yoruba Obas and leaders. He said: “Yoruba are a progressive people. Reports have had it that Yoruba have been marginalised. Obas need to unite and embrace peace, if politicians would not. Among the Igbo and the Hausa, there are known leaders working for the unity of their zones. That was

why the people contacted me to woo the Alaafin to support the committee. They said I was the only one who could make a meeting with the Alaafin possible. I thank God for making it possible. I called the Alaafin on phone and within three minutes, he shifted ground and agreed to meet the committee. “How we will progress together on any issue that concerns Yoruba race is our priority. We cannot downplay the importance of Obas in Yorubaland and every Oba respects the Alaafin. We know his importance in this project. This is the reason we have come today.” Oba Akinruntan thanked the Alaafin for hosting the delegation. He said: “Because of the controversy my observation at the meeting caused, the committee

organised meetings with relevant Obas to achieve our aim of resolving all the conflicts tearing the unity among the Yoruba people apart. “President Goodluck Jonathan appointed about 700 ministers and aides with only four Yoruba among them. This is grossly inadequate. So, if the Alaafin leads and the Ooni, Awujale, Alake, and others follow, things will be better for us as a people. Northern emirs and leaders know how they handle their differences without washing their dirty linen in public. The Sultan of Sokoto is not the eldest, but the Hausa tradition recognises him as the leader. This conflict in Yorubaland must stop. We have been to the Ooni, Alake, Awujale, Olubadan and we thank God that the Alaafin has accepted us through the influence of Aare Afe Babalola.”

Osun at 21: ACN flays PDP’s years of backward politics

HE Osun State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday assessed the 90 months the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was in the saddle in the state and said it unleashed backwardness on the residents. The assessment was part of the party’s congratulatory message to the people on the 21st anniversary of the creation

hallucination of a nitwit. “If Mimiko had done well, his campaign organisation would have nothing to fear, but would simply go about demonstrating the ‘good work’ of the governor, which would be enough to convince the people. “So, if Ogbeni Aregbesola poses any threat at all, it would be because Mimiko’s misrule has made him vulnerable. “At least, Mr Olabisi owes the people of Ondo State respect for their intelligence to know who deserves their votes and who does not. “The silly threat to respond robustly to a purported assault from Ogbeni Aregbesola is unbecoming of a civilised political operator.”

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

of the state. In a message by the party’s Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy, Mr Kunle Oyatomi, ACN noted that the Rauf Aregbesola administration has since rebranded Osun as the state of the virtuous (Ipinle Omoluabi). The party congratulated

the residents on the state’s 21st anniversary “in circumstances that are auspicious for growth and progress”. ACN urged the people to give thanks to God for His mercies and goodness through divine intervention that threw the evil out of the state before its (the state’s) 21st anniversary. It said the PDP had all the

time and opportunity in the 90 months it led the state to pull Osun out of the pangs of backwardness and misery but compounded its problems. The party noted that until about 21 months ago, the PDP led the state to the brink of bankruptcy but for the redeeming quality of the Aregbesola-led ACN govern-

ment, which it said is turning the fortunes of the state around. ACN recalled that throughout the 90 months the PDP was in charge, residents of Osogbo, the state capital, lived in fear and grief because of incessant flooding that killed many people and destroyed property during rainy season.

N Ekiti State political group, JKF Total Support Group (TSG), has lambasted those criticising Governor Kayode Fayemi despite his “many laudable poverty eradication and other programmes in the state”. It described such critics as evil. The group said the intention of such people, who it described as “blind, bare brained and befuddled”, is to “sustain the trend of retrogression and gridlock, which typified our best forgotten and bloodied history in Ekiti”. Addressing reporters in AdoEkiti, the state capital, at the weekend, its Chairman and Coordinator Mr Deleola Osere, said JKF/TSG is working for the success of the Fayemi administration’s Eight-Point Agenda for the benefit of all residents. The group noted that instead of dissipating energy on a second term bid, “we must unite all frontiers to ensure that the remaining two years are harnessed for total delivery of Ekiti people from all manner of want”.

Akala’s ex-aide joins Ladoja’s Accord From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

RINCE Dotun Oyelade, the former media aide of Oyo State former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, has defected to Accord under ex-Governor Rashidi Ladoja. Oyelade was the Special Adviser on Public Communication to Alao-Akala and a member of the former governor’s kitchen cabinet. He and his former principal hail from Ogbomoso. The Nation gathered that the ex-broadcaster and some other bigwigs in the crisis-ridden Oyo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have been holding meetings with Ladoja, preparatory to a formal declaration for Accord. Oyelade confirmed the move. He, however, said his group would formally notify the public at the appropriate time when it would formally join Accord. Oyelade said the party is an offshoot of the PDP and “a natural habitat for like-minded politicians who felt that the leadership of the PDP in the state lacks the political will to steer the ship of the party in the right direction”.

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 2012

NEWS

ACN picks Adedipe as Akeredolu’s running mate •INEC clears 12 parties for Ondo governorship election From Damisi Ojo, Akure •Akeredolu

PECULATIONS on who will fly the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) flag with Rotimi Akedolu, SAN, at the Ondo governorship election on October 20 ended at the weekend. Electoral umpire – the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

named Prince Adedipe Olutope Adegboyega, as Akeredolus’ running mate. He is the secretary of the Ondo chapter of the party. INEC also released the names of 12 political parties that will contest the Alagbaka Governors’ Office in October. Three women made the list of deputy governorship candidates in the Sunshine

Police probe N832m subsidy scam

HE Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the Police is investigating N832 million fraud allegedly perpetrated by some oil marketers, a statement by the unit’s spokesperson, Mrs Ngozi Isintume, said at the weekend in Lagos. The statement reads: “The oil marketers allegedly defrauded the nation of about 7,000 tonnes of petroleum products (fuel) valued at N832 million. “The marketers fraudulently diverted the said products with forged documents submitted to the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), Abuja, for subsidy payment.” It said that a petition received by the SFU from the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc alleged that a N1 billion facility was granted to one of the suspects in June, last year. The statement said that the

bank’s facility was to finance the importation of the 7,000 tonnes of PMS for supply to acceptable off-takers. It said: “They were expected to return the evidence for the discharge of the products at a designated tank farm in Nigeria to enable Menol Oil & Gas Ltd. to collect SDNB from PPPRA to liquidate the facility. “Investigation revealed that 7,000mt of PMS arrived the shores of this country and the first suspect entrusted the whole consignment to the second suspect and her company to handle. “The product was supposed to be discharged at Integrated Oil & Gas Depot, Lagos, but was later diverted to an unknown destination by the second suspect’s company.” The statement said that the suspects were in custody assisting detectives in their investigation

Uduaghan to PHCN workers: resolve issues through dialogue

MPLOYEEES of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) Plc., have been urged to embrace dialogue to resolve the lingering impasse between them and their employers – the Federal Government. Delta State Governor Emmnuel Uduaghan, who made the recommendation, said dialogue, and not confrontation through threat and strike, would provide the way forward. Speaking at a stakeholders, meeting on power in Asaba, the state capital, Uduaghan warned that declaring an industrial dispute was counter-productive and would not do anybody good in the long run. He urged PHCN workers not to flex muscles but take advantage of the peace process not only to stabilise the organisation but improve its productivity. His words: “I appeal to PHCN workers to settle the present crisis through dialogue instead of resorting to strike action and disruption of the system.” The governor restated his administration’s commitment improve electricity supply in the state, explain-

ing that the desire informed the government’s huge investment in the Independent Power Project (IPP). He disclosed that the government has taken delivery of about 500 transformers that would boost electricity supply when installed. Uduaghan commended PHCN for upgrading electricity supply, pointing out that the increase of the megawatts to about 5000 was impressive. In remark, Power Minister Prof Barth Nnaji said the Federal Government was focused in ensuring regular electricity supply in the country; assuring that Nigerians would not be disappointed even as he commended the Uduaghan administration for investing in IPP. He expressed delight that all the stakeholders in the power sector were contributing their quota meaningfully. The minister commended the National Assembly for the contributions of its various committees on power. His words “I am happy that we have useful partners in the power sector. This is a welcomed development which will enable us meet our target.”

State, where incumbent Governor Olusegun Mimiko has returned his deputy, Alhaji Ali Olanusi as his pair on the Labour Party (LP) platform. Flying with Chief Olusola Oke on the platform of the the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is Saka Lawal, who defected from the ACN, months after dumping the PDP. Other parties on the list include: the Allied Congress Party (ACPN) with Adeuti Stephen Taye as

candidate and Tolupe Clement as his deputy. The All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANNP) has Adeyemi Bolarinwa as governorship candidate and Ikwuewumi Rotimi, listed as his running mate, just as Ayodele Olusegun of the Better Nigeria Progressive Party (BNPP) would pair with Ijitola Modupe as deputy. Omoyele Afolabi Olorunwa of the Change Advocacy Party (CAP) has as his running mate Babatunde Bayole Bidemi. Ehinlanwo Olusoji and Mrs Oluyemi Damilola are the candidate and running mate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) respectively. The National Conscience Party (NCP), has

Oladipo Bolade Lawrence as its standard bearer and Oloirere Benedicta as his running mate. Others are: Abikanlu James Olusola for National Solidarity Democratic Party (NSDP) and Adefila Olusegun Cornelious as his deputy. The duo of Victor Oluwaremi Adetusin and Moses Liambee Iorsheer are the flag bearers of the People for Democratic Change (PDC) as governorship candidate and deputy respectively. The Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) has Omoregha Olatunji Kris and Alonge Ahmed listed as its governorship candidate and running mate respectively.

Exit of Yobe residents worries NUJ From Duku Joel, Damaturu

THROUGH its Yobe State chapel, the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) has called on the state government to initiate the process that could help fleeing residents of Damaturu to overcome their fears. Residents of the state capital have been relocating following unending unrest created by the insurgence of members of the Boko Haram sect. In a statement signed by its state chairman Ahmed Bedu, the NUJ said the government should summon bank operators and other business communities to a roundtable for dialogue.

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 2012

TRIBUTE Ekiti State Governor Dr. Kayode Fayemi, frontline civil rights activist, in this tribute, Meles salutes the pragmatic leadership of the late Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Comrade Meles Zenawi, who he described as an activist PM. Zenawi: Death of a daring, dedicated leader W ITH the demise of Meles Zenawi last week, Africa has lost one of its most intellectually dynamic leaders. For many of us involved in post-cold war struggles against military dictatorships and authoritarian governments in Africa, ‘Comrade’ Meles counted strongly amongst a new generation of African leaders in the early and mid – 1990s – daring, dynamic, inspirational, anticolonial, pan-Africanist and developmental alongside Museveni, Mbeki, Zenawi, Aferwerki, and Kagame. Although many saw them as dubious democrats, what set them apart was the courage of their conviction and their abilities to mobilise their population against bad governance in their successful efforts toward re-establishing capable states. Through sheer force of intellect and deep passion for his people’s liberation, Comrade Meles Zenawi rose to become the primus-inter-pares in the collective leadership that was then the hallmark of the MarxistLeninist Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPDRF). At the time, Meles was known for his uncanny ability to push an ideological argument in the most pragmatic sense without losing the essence of his goal. It mattered of course that his ethnic group – Tigray – was also the dominant tendency in the ranks of the EPDRF, but what counted most was his ability to develop and articulate an institutional theory for managing diversity and difference, linking Marxist-Leninism to the right to self determination and the necessity of using guerrilla warfare to remove the Derg dictatorship. I first met Meles Zenawi in 1997 at the OAU Summit in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. I was introduced to him by my comrade brother, the late pan-Africanist exemplar, Tajudeen Abdul-Raheem, who was at the time Secretary-General of the Pan African Movement in Kampala, Uganda and Abdul Mohammed, an Ethiopian colleague, both of whom knew Meles Zenawi in his days as a guerrilla. After listening to my jeremiad about the the late Sani Abacha dictatorship and why progressive leaders like him should support our effort to restore democracy, Meles was unsparing in his dismissal of the Nigerian opposition as arm-chair critics. He felt if we really wanted to remove Abacha, the corridors of OAU summits was not the place to argue our case since Africa owed us nothing more than we owed ourselves. Although I found his approach brusque, his brutal candour was helpful. For the first time, I contemplated the possibility of an alternative route to fighting the dictatorship in Nigeria. Ironically, the next day – Gen. Sani Abacha died and Nigeria, yet again pulled back from the brink. Between this first meeting in Ouagadougou and my last meeting with Meles Zenawi in Bahir Dir, Ethiopia in April 2012 when I joined several of his guests at the Tana Forum, I had numerous encounters

•Front row: Museveni (left); Chief Obasanjo (third left); the late Zenawi, Mbeki; Fayemi and others at the last Tana Forum in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

with Prime Minister Meles Zenawi as a regular civil society activist at successive African Union summits in the last decade. The Tana Forum was the maiden edition of the High Level Summit on Peace and Stability in Africa that he convened to discuss state fragility and the management of diversity in the promotion of peace and security in Africa. Although already rumoured to be suffering from a terminal ailment, the intellectual rigour that became his trademark in all his years as Premier remained at its sharpest edge as he sat through the two days of intense discussion that had in attendance five former and current presidents – Olusegun Obasanjo, Thabo Mbeki, Yoweri Museveni, Hassan Gouled of Djibouti and Mohammed of Somalia. He articulated a vision of diversity management as a pre-requisite for peace in Africa. It was of course music to my ears as a federalist when Zenawi spoke about the bold experiment in post-conflict Ethiopia, which saw the right to selfdetermination, including right to secession, as a fundamental constitutional right, and a federative arrangement conferring robust rights of cultural and political selfgovernment as constitutionally entrenched. Indeed, this became the crux of my heated but humorous exchange with Chief Obasanjo, who chaired the Tana Forum on why recognition of the importance of diversity and difference should not be equated with promotion of disintegration in Nigeria. In between the encounters in Ouagadougou and Tana Forum, my respect for Meles Zenawi grew tremendously even as I remained uncomfortable with the sad turn his democratic developmental state agenda took with his egregious clampdown on opposition and the independent media in Ethiopia’s last election. But that was not the only low moment. There were others – particularly the war with Eritrea between 1998 - 2000 which nearly splintered the EPDRF cohesion and the famine that ravaged some parts of northern Ethiopia in his early years in office. There were certainly more highs than lows in the two decades of the Zenawi premiership. Although he walked a tight rope between the demands of democracy and the overwhelming need for development and leaned heavily in the direction of the Asian model –

‘On the African scene, he was a quietly towering figure. Aside from Chief Obasanjo and Mbeki, very few African leaders elicited the respect that Zenawi got from the African as well as the international community’ Taiwan, South Korea, Malaysia and Singapore being his models, his was clearly a people driven government and his central goal was how to make poverty history in his country. Even his most virulent detractors would admit that he succeeded in significantly reducing the number of Ethiopians below poverty line even if the country is still confronted by the challenges of underdevelopment. As a regular visitor to Ethiopia in the last decade, the texture and content of governance is indicative of an upward swing both in infrastructural and institutional development. Zenawi was not perceived in any sense as a venal and corrupt African leader. Indeed, he encouraged the decentralisation of economic power to the regions and promoted the value of hard work among the general citizenry even as he remained highly suspicious of opening up the Ethiopian economy to foreign investment. He believed that neo-liberal economics would snuff out life in the productive sectors of the economy if he were to allow untrammelled access in sectors like banking, telecommunication and power generation. Equally, he stood up to the Washington consensus, particularly the IMF until they were ready to deal with him on his own terms. All of this contributed to the double digit growth rate the country witnessed in the last decade. Although a pragmatic ideologue, he earned the respect of all who encountered him because of his robust diplomatic credentials.

There are of course other lessons to draw from the Zenawi leadership which might appear to be a contradiction in terms. On the one hand, Zenawi appeared to believe strongly in the myth perpetuated by the African political culture that only strong leaders can bring about change single-handedly. Yet on the other hand, the intellectual in him was too irreverent not to know that real leadership ought to involve motivating people to solve problems within their own communities – rather than reinforcing the overlordship of state on them and he did that with gusto especially towards the end of his life. So, he was both a promoter of realpolitik and an intellectual advocate of soft power. In my assessment as a student of civil-military relations, his success in reducing the huge post-war Ethiopian military and the ability to still achieve robust democratic control of the military remains a good model in post-conflict reconstruction on the continent. He went ahead to influence the incorporation of several unique clauses in the Ethiopian constitution which mandates a civilian to always be the Defence Minister and prohibits the suspension of the Ethiopian constitution through unconstitutional means like coup d’etats, insurgency and the likes. Symbolic as these might appear, they contributed to the demystification process necessary for democratisation process to gain traction in the country. On the African scene, he was a quietly towering figure. Aside from Chief Obasanjo and Mbeki, very few African leaders elicited the respect that Zenawi got from the African as well as the international community. The huge respect he enjoyed derived from his readiness to engage intellectually – especially on questions of African development, climate change, terrorism and the crisis in Sudan and Somalia. His was also a quiet resistance to Gaddafi’s rough and gruff attempt at material domination of the continental body and he worked closely with former Presidents Obasanjo and Mbeki to resist this attempt to replace Addis with Sirte as the base of the continental body. I recall significantly his exchange with Tajudeen Abdulraheem again at the UN-ECA convened African Governance Forum in Addis Ababa in 2005 when Tajudeen accused him

of pandering to Western interests by refusing Africans who have business in Ethiopia visas at the port of entry whilst Europeans and Americans easily enjoyed this. Zenawi took the criticism in his stride and responded by declaring Ethiopia visa-free to Africans who have business with the African Union. This was the measure of the intellectual Zenawi. He never refrained from a good debate, whether with his benefactors or his beneficiaries. This was also his conviction about that singular blight on his otherwise sterling leadership performance in office – his democratic deficit and human rights abuse. He was always convinced that his record of economic regeneration and institutional development would stand him in good stead. On this, the jury is certainly still out but no African who knew Zenawi at a close range would want to deprive him of his seat in the hallowed chambers of politicians who saw leadership as sacrifice and service. By the time we were in Bahir Dir in April, his Deputy (now Acting Prime Minister) looked very much like the heir apparent and Zenawi had apparently indicated his readiness to step down at the next election in 2015. Perhaps he also knew that the end was near. That he left Ethiopia on a much stronger footing is certainly not in doubt, but lingering doubts persist about the state’s capacity to deepen democratisation. Yet having achieved a level of developmental and institutional stability, the only way the emergent leadership can make a fundamental difference is to build on his legacy of service and sacrifice and deepen the foundations of the ‘democratic developmental state’, reinsert freedom of association whilst promoting active citizens’ engagement with the state as a means of avoiding democratic reversal. If it insists on continuing business as usual, no one could predict the direction the country is headed. For now, Comrade Zenawi deserve credit for restoring pride to a naturally proud people through the courage of his conviction and the intellectual rigour that were his trademarks. Africa will miss him. Adieu Comrade Meles. Rest in peace. •Dr Fayemi serves on the Governing Board of the Tana Forum as its West Africa representative.

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 27 , 2012

NEWS

Dana Air ‘committed mass murder’ •Widow of crash victim gets automatic employment

HE family of one of the victims of the June 3 Dana Air plane crash, Dr. Ike Godwin Abugu, has accused the management of the airline of committing mass murder. Dr.Abugu’s remains were interred in his hometown, Umuida, Enugu-Ezike in Igbo-Eze North Council Area of Enugu State at the weekend. The burial attracted politicians from various political parties. Abugu was bid goodbye by representatives of the Presidency, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN),

Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), National Association of Small and Medium Enterprise (NASME) and the Presidential Advisory Council on International Relations. Many, who attended the solemn event, called for a total overhaul of the nation’s policy on air safety. The Federal Institute for Industrial Research, Oshodi, Lagos announced an offer of automatic employment to the widow of the deceased, Uzoamaka. The height of the emotionladen speeches came when

the family of the victim, represented by Emma Abugu, presented its tribute, accusing Dana Air of committing a deliberate mass murder of the 153 victims of the mishap. The family also blamed the incident on what it called “systemic rot and entrenched corruption in almost every facet of our national life.” They said: “Our hearts are heavy and our shock deep and penetrating.” As tributes poured in during the requiem service coordinated by the Anglican Bishop of Nsukka Diocese,

‘

There is systemic rot and entrenched corruption in almost every facet of our national life. Our hearts are heavy and our shock deep and penetrating

’

Bishop Alloysius Agbo, the president of the Nsukka Professionals’ Group, Lagos,

Dr. Basil Onugu, described Abugu as one of the live wires of his group. The National President of NASME, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, the CBN representative, Adamu Biu, Chidi Ugwuada of the Abuja Enterprises Agency and the representatives of his compatriots who flew in from Moscow, Russia poured encomiums on the deceased. The ceremony was attended by Senator Ayogu Eze, the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu, Chief Vita Abba and Labour Party’s governorship candidate in the 2011 elections, Okey Ezea.

Fayemi, Tinubu’s wife, others welcome Consul General Hawkins

HE United States Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria has welcomed its Consul General in Lagos, Jeffrey Hawkins. Hawkins replaces Mr. Joseph Stafford. Hawkins, until his posting to Nigeria, has served in Luanda, Angola and some troubled Middle Eastern nations, such as Afghanistan. Speaking at a reception organised for him last Thursday, which was attended by Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, Osun State Deputy Governor Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori and Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Hawkins said his government is concerned about the security situation in the country. Ace novelist Chimamanda Adichie read excerpts from her book at the reception held at the Consul General residence, Ikoyi. Hawkins said: “Nigeria is a country that has issues and we certainly have concerns about security and other things here. But this is a great country. It is a democratic country; it is a country with huge US business interests. So, do we work with our Nigerian partners on security and other related issues? Of course. “But the relationship is so much deep and so much wider than that and I think to the extent that I am an experienced diplomat, it is

•Fayemi (right), Mrs Laoye-Tomori, Senator Tinubu (second left) and Hawkins

‘

Nigeria is a country that has issues and we certainly have concerns about security and other things here. But this is a great country. It is a democratic country; it is a country with huge US business interests because the relationship is rich enough, you need someone to really handle all of those issues.” He said his tenure would provide excellent consular services for Americans and Nigerians, promotion of business exchanges, and people-topeople diplomacy.

’

US Ambassador to Nigeria Terence McCulley said the greatness always ascribed to Nigeria is because of her people and not the huge mineral resources that the country is endowed with. Ambassador McCulley said Nigeria remains Africa’s greatest country.

•Adichie reading excerpts from her book

Fed Govt to build houses for teachers, says Wike

•Wike

HE Federal Government plans to build houses for teachers, the Minister of State for

Education Ezenwo Nyesom Wike has said. He said the scheme is tagged ‘Housing for All Teachers Scheme (HATS). Wike said the scheme is aimed at boosting the morale of teachers at the basic education level to enhance their productivity. Wike spoke at the weekend during a live phone-in interactive session on Ben Television in London. The minister said the details of the scheme are being worked out with the leadership of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FGBN). He said it is expected to provide cheap and affordable homes for teachers. He said: “The Federal Ministry of Education is

working with the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria to fashion out a pragmatic funding model that would suit the Nigerian teachers. That is why we have involved the NUT in the process and they would be active participants all through the programme. The essence of this programme is to boost the morale of our teachers. The President understands that you cannot talk about improving the quality of education if the morale of teachers is low. He remains committed to improvin g their working condition.” Wike described HATS as a special intervention programme by the Goodluck Jonathan administration to enhance the

welfare of teachers and also contribute to overall national development. He noted that the Federal Government in the last one year has committed over N10billion to the training and re-training of teachers and basic education managers. The minister said:“We are open to suggestions that will improve the quality of basic education in the country. We are working out collaborations with non governmental organisations and major stakeholders to achieve necessary growth. Education will be turned around to help Nigerian children compete globally.” He added that the Jonathan administration will rehabilitate 22 Federal

Science and Technical Colleges in 2013. Wike noted that the phased rehabilitation of the Unity Colleges has started and will continue till 2015. On the distribution of 14 million textbooks to primary school pupils and 5million library resource materials for Junior Secondary Pupils, the minister noted that the objective is to assist indigent children access quality education . The said the investments of the Federal Government in Almajiri education, girlchild schools and advocacy for boy-child enrolment have yielded dividends, with increased number of children accessing basic education.

Falana faults committee on fuel subsidy fraud By Eric Ikhilae

IGHTS activist and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Femi Falana has faulted the establishment of the committee on fuel subsidy claims. He argued that the committed headed, by the Managing Directed of Access Bank Plc, Aigbojie Aig-Imokhuede, was meant as a diversionary measure to prevent public scrutiny of the government’s unathorised application of public funds. Falana said discrepancies in government’s claim regarding subsidy payment in 2012 and what was appropriated in the year’s budget. He also faulted the AigImoukuede committee’s claim that the country lost N400 billion in subsidy claim last year, arguing that the actualloss was N2.055 trillion. “In the 2011 budget of the Federal Government, the sum of N245 billion was appropriated by the National Assembly for fuel subsidy from January-December 2011. “But in a reckless violation of the provisions of the Appropriation Act, 2011 the sum of N1.7 trillion had been paid for fuel importation by December 31, 2011 by the Central Bank of Nigeria on the recommendation of the Federal Ministries of Petroleum Resources and Finance. As if that was not enough, an additional sum of N500 billion was paid as outstanding arrears for the 2011 fuel subsidy. “Thus, without a supplementary budget approved by the National Assembly, the sum of N2.2 trillion was illegally removed from the Federation Account to fund the fuel subsidy scam in 2011. “The investigation conducted by the House of Representatives on the mismanagement of the fuel subsidy confirmed the illegal payment of the colossal amount of money without legislative authorisation,” he said. Falana faulted President Goodluck Jonathan’s reaction to the said fraud, insisting that the Aig-Imokhuede committee was meant to shield government agencies and personnel involved in the fraud from prosecution.

Talks on PIB tomorrow

HE Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) will tomorrow hold a conference on the Draft Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB). The event will hold at the Bolingo Hotels, Abuja. It will bring together civil society groups and environmental experts to examine the Bill to make inputs on provisions relating to the environment and livelihood. In a statement in Lagos, ERA/FoEN said: “The draft PIB is one of the most anticipated and controversial draft legislation in Nigeria’s legislative history . “A reading of the new version of the bill, coming after several months of confusion, shows drastic fall in standards in comparison to previous versions. “This is even as the new draft bill has been viewed with suspicion due to the lack of adequate consultation in the drafting process.”

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 2012

NEWS Five airlines for Hajj THE Federal Government has approved five carriers for this year’s Hajj to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The exercise will begin on September 17. The carriers are MedView Airline, Max Airline, Kabo Airline, Meridian Airline and Trade Craft. They have been given a clean bill of health by the co-ordinator of the exercise for the Federal Government, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON). No fewer than 15, 000 pilgrims are expected to be airlifted from different zones. The General Manager, Medview carrier, Mr. David Babatunde in Lagos at the weekend, said the carrier is ready to begin airlifting of pilgrims to Mecca. Babatunde explained that the carrier is expected to airlift passengers from Southwest, Southsouth and Southeast. He did not state exact number of pilgrims that the carrier will air lift.

Third Mainland Bridge ‘not collapsing’ T

HE Federal Ministry of Works yesterday said the Third Mainland Bridge is not collapsing as being erroneously claimed by some people in the social media. The ministry, however, admitted that the metal casing housing the concrete is rotting away following the discharge of organic effluent into the lagoon. It explained that it had gone into talks with the Lagos State Government on how to prevent the discharge of organic effluents into Lagos Lagoon. In a statement by the Director, Highways Design (Bridges), Dominic Avishigh, an engineer, said the ongoing alarm over the fate of the bridge lacks merit as it is intended to frighten Nigerians. The statement said: “The attention of the Federal Min-

From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation, Abuja

istry of Works (FMW) has been drawn to the misinformation in the social media that the Third Mainland Bridge is on the verge of collapsing. “The FMW wishes to advise the motoring public and indeed Lagosians to disregard this unfounded rumour which is not based on any empirical fact. “The Third Mainland Bridge, which effectively connects Lagos Island with the Mainland is the longest and most important bridge in Nigeria. The bridge was constructed in two phases; while the first phase was constructed in 1981, the second phase construction works was completed in 1991. The FMW is not oblivious that roads and bridges

once constructed need continuous maintenance. “In 2006, Joint inspection on the bridge was first carried out by a combined team of engineers from the Federal Ministry of Works, Julius Berger Nig Plc and M/s Borini Prono, a member of the Consortium that constructed the bridge, following insinuations that the bridge was oscillating. “At the end of the inspection, it was resolved that an internationally reputed bridge consultant be invited to carry out further inspection of the bridge. An international Bridge Consultant was thereafter invited to carry out series of inspections and investigations along with the contractors and Bridge Design Consultants. “The studies revealed that there was no threat of collapse on the Third Mainland

Bridge . It was the same process that led to the commissioning of an Underwater Studies of the Bridge Substructure recently. “The preliminary report of the Underwater Investigation though not yet concluded revealed that the metal casing housing the concrete is rotting away as a result of the activities of certain sea creatures attracted to that section of the Lagos Lagoon due to the discharge of organic effluents into the Lagoon. “Following the report, the Hon Minister of Works, Arc Mike Onolememen, wrote the Lagos State Government to stop the discharge of organic effluents into the lagoon in the area. “An independent consultant was again invited to review the underwater report and photographs. At the end of the review, the independ-

•Representative of UN official, Mrs. Uzorma IhedirimaduAbudu beign assisted by a survivor, Mr. John Agbo to lay a wreath in memory of the victims...Abuja.

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

PHOTO: ABAYOMI ADESHIDA

UN House bomb blast spurred us to greater service, says UN A

YEAR after its Abuja House was shattered by a bomb, the United Nations (UN) System in Nigeria yesterday declared that the August 26, last year explosion has not deterred it from rendering its services to the country. The Resident Coordinator of the UN in Nigeria, Mr. Daouda Toure, said the blast that killed 23 persons spurred it to greater service. Besides the 13 UN staff members, 10 others died. More than 120 persons were injured. Speaking in Abuja during the first anniversary of the bomb attack on the United Nations House in Abuja, Toure praised the resilient spirit of officials and staff members of the UN since the blast. In a statement by the Com-

•World body says sacrifices of victims won’t be in vain

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

munication Unit of the UN, Toure maintained that the sacrifices of the dead victims will not be in vain. He said: “Although the devastating attack took the lives of our colleagues and partners and maimed many people, all of whom were in the building in the pursuit of service to humanity; our spirits have not been dampened. “Their death mobilises us more than ever before. Their sacrifice will not be in vain. We will strive to pursue our work for the people of Niger-

ia for the continuance of peace and stability of this great nation, and the socio-economic development of all. “The UN identifies with the people of all its Member States, which justifies the expression ‘we, the people,’ as prescribed in the UN Charter. The families of our fallen colleagues should be proud of the altruism of their loved ones. “As an illustration, barely 24 hours after the bomb attack, the UN operation was back on stream and helping the flooding victims in some states – a reaffirmation of the

UN’s commitment and promise to the great member state, Nigeria.” Toure reassured Nigerians that the United Nations System in Nigeria will continue on its mission to assist in improving the lives of poor people, to conquer hunger, disease and illiteracy, and to encourage respect for each other’s rights and freedoms. At the gathering were Federal Government officials, UN officials, members of the diplomatic community, staff of UN agencies and members of the families of the bereaved. The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Martin Uhomoibhi, represented the Federal Government at the solemn event and laid a wreath in memory of all the dead.

Call for state police diversionary, says Labour

HE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday spoke against the call for state police. NLC Vice President Issa Aremu said in a statement in Kaduna that the debate for and against state police is uncalled for since what is needed at this point in time was join hands with the current

‘Reconsider sack of Ray Ekpu, others’ Dada Aladelokun, Assistant Editor

Presidency withdraws REA repeal bill TO resuscitate the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) , the Presidency has withdrawn the controversial bill that sought to scrap the agency. The Minister of State for Power, Darius Ishaku, spoke at the the weekend during the closing session of the launch of the Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) in Abuja. He said the government had earmarked “N3 billion to offset the debt owed contractors over REA projects”. His words: “A lot of things happened few years before the current President took office. This includes the stalling of power networks and processes as well as reforms and one of the casualities was the Rural Electrification Agency that essentially was responsible for the expansion of focal grids to the hinterlands. What this government has done was to reactivate the REA as a vehicle to partner with distribution companies and state governments to continue to expand networks. This is because there are places that private distribution networks may not find economical to go and so government will have to expand the networks in those places and that is the work that REA will be doing.”

ent consultant allayed the fears of immediate danger to the bridge, explaining that the metal casings were not structural elements, but that they served as formworks during the construction work and acted as additional protection for the structural elements. The Ministry explained why the Third Mainland Bridge is currently undergoing repairs. The statement added: “It is necessary to put on record that the President Goodluck Jonathan-led Federal Government, conscious of her responsibilities had in 2011 ordered the FMW to undertake the Underwater Inspection of all bridges nationwide to forestall any catastrophe.”

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

Inspector General of Police to transform the Police. He said: “The ongoing debate for and against a State Police is uncalled for, unhelpful and diversionary. National policing is not divisible. It is either we have police or not. The debate should rather be on

how to make the Nigeria police more effective. “Since the appointment of M.D. Abubakar as the Inspector General of Police, we have witnessed a new activist policing. The commendable dismantling of police road blocks has, for instance, helped to ensure free movement of goods and people in the country’s

highways. These are some of the new policy measures we must support. “There is also a commendable zero-tolerance to extortionist policing by the new Inspector General. Any attempt to decentralise pan-Nigeria institution like the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) into state institution is unacceptable. The

next dangerous call may be for state armies with all the dangers for cooperate existence of Nigeria. “Many governors have no moral basis to maintain critical institutions like the police. Many of them have been proven not to manage any institution under them and therefore cannot manage a state police.”

HE sacking of Ray Ekpu and his colleagues from the board of Newswatch Communications by the Chief Executice Officer of Global Fleet Plc, Mr Jimoh Ibrahim, has been likened to sacking history and professional symbol of news magazine journalism. A former Managing Director of Nigerian Tribune, Dr Rotimi Oladele, expressed this view yesterday in a statement made available to The Nation. It is entitled: “Dr Jimoh Ibrahim, please consider sweat, not law. Retain Ray Ekpu and co.” He pleaded with the businessman to initiate a peculiar programme to accommodate the veteran journalists so that Newswatch is not unduly starved of their wealth of expertise in the interest of the popular brand. “May I make this passionate plea through all available mass media to Dr Jimoh Ibrahim to consider dignity of labour, professionalism, equity and the precepts of the Holy Books not just the law in the circumstance warranting the removal of Ray Ekpu and his other Newswatch pioneer colleagues from the board of Newswatch Communications as a company,” the statement read. It explained: “Sacking this premier of pen soldiers is sacking history and professional symbol of news magazine journalism. It is tantamount to ‘winner takes all’ and the devaluation of enterpreneurship and patriotism. “While agreeing that business is no sentiment, I hereby appeal to Dr Ibrahim as a responsible and responsive good corporate practitioner and a legal luminary to design a peculiar programme of inclusion for these journalism icons.” “Newswatch as a good business,” it said, “still needs and will continue to need money as well as expertise and experience, hence the continuous need for the superior synergy that Newswatch has been enjoying. “Should there be need to part, let it be with warm handshake of ‘no victor, no vanquished’ as we meet to part and part to meet. Life is a sweet sorrow.”

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 2012

n Wednesday 22 nd August, 2012 (4 TH Shawwal, 1433 AH) the Kano State Executive Council held its Sixty First (61st) sitting in continuation with sequence of previous sittings during which, important policy issues and programs that positively impact on the quality of lives of our citizenry were deliberated upon. It is on records

that, the current administration pursues tangible projects spanning all sectors putting emphasis on its commitment to fulfilling campaign promises driven by the general resolve to providing good governance characterised by exemplary leadership in which utilisation/deployment of resources, though conspicuous, is guided by prudence and transparency. It is delightfully encouraging to witness the fulfilment of the aspirations of the people of Kano State as depicted in the glaring progress achieved in the improvement of the quality and quantity of services provided by Government across all sectors that included improvement of water supply, agricultural production, education, healthcare delivery, environmental sanitation, refuse disposal, installation/repairs of street and traffic lights, beautification of urban Kano, provision of security, provision of skill acquisition and employment opportunities, road construction/ repairs to mention but a few.

payment to the Office of the Special Adviser Disable Peoples Affairs to facilitate for the request presented. c. Request for funds from Youth Directorate for Economic Empowerment to facilitate for Sponsorship of 29 Kano State Indigenous Candidates admitted into the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) Skills Training Center at Maitama Abuja: Attention of the Council was politely drawn by contents of this memorandum to the delightful story of 29 Kano State Indigenous candidates securing admission at the referred skills acquisition center which is not covered under the State Scholarship Board arrangements. Each candidate is responsible for his accommodation and needs a serviceable Laptop computer for the duration of the course. As such, the Directorate requested the Council for the release of the aggregate sum of N8,583,200.00 as assistance to the candidates, thus;

Importantly, in Sixty (60) sittings, the present Administration approved a capital expenditure of over N200 billion of which N801,744,430.14 was approved for the execution of 20 projects by the Council during its most recent 60th sitting as follows; Main Highlights of the 60 th Sitting are: 1. N397,938,760.00 funds to facilitate for the Payment of Scholarship Allowances by the State Scholarship Board. 2. N81,937,023.60 for installation of Street Light from DANTATA and SAWOE yard to Kwanar Dawakin Kudu. 3. N56,985,503.90 for the renovation of former E.E Rural for Kano State Road Transport Management (KAROTA). 4. N47,424,074.00 to facilitate for the connection of Tudun wada, Doguwa , Kiru, Karaye LCGA’s to the new 132Kv Sub-Transmission Sub-Station at Dangora. 5. N38,984,350.60 for the installation of Street Light at Civic Center Road. 6. N35,699,997.00 counterpart Funding contribution to Leventis Foundation Agricultural School Panda. 7. N32,050,231.00 for the Purchase, Supply and installation of ten (10) Units of Relief Transformers for some communities in the State. 8. N24,324,207.00 for the purchase, supply and installation of 500 KVA, 33.4V Relief Transformer at Sabon-Garin Kwankwaso Madobi LCGA. 9. N15,777,950.00 for the preparation and participation of Kano Pillars Basketball team at FIBA Africa Zone III Continental Monrovia, Liberia (25 th AUGUST – 3 RD SEPTEMBER 2012). 10. N10,899,714.40 for the provision of Office Accommodation for Senior Special Assistants. 11. N10,007,344.00 funds to undertake electrification project at Gagarawar Kwankwaso and replacement of Transformer at Burji town in Madobi LGCA. 12. N9,439,245.00 funds to facilitate for the Admission of the 5th batch Trainees into the Kano Institute of Poultry Tukwui Makoda LGCA. 13. N7,759,160.98 for the Installation of Street Light along Gandu Extension to improve security. 14. N7,625,807.46 for rehabilitation work at the Ministry of Land and Physical Planning. 15. N7,500,000.00 for the purchase and allocation of one (1) 18-Seater Bus to GSS Kibiya. 16. N7,200,000.00 funds to facilitate for the settlement of commitment to participate at 5 th Edition of Africa Art and Craft (AFAC) Expo – 2012 at Abuja. 17. N4,884,061.00 funds to facilitate the renovation and provision of Operational Cost at Vocational Training Institute Gama. 18. N2,704,000.00 funds to facilitate the clearance of D.I Pipes on behalf of WRECA imported from Germany since 1999. 19. N2,500,000.00 funds to facilitate for the smooth take-off of the Kano Hospitality Institute. 20. N100,000.00 funds to facilitate for the enlistment of Kano Liaison Office into the FCT Tourist Guide and Abuja Digest Magazine. This sitting was presided over by Governor RABI’U MUSA KWANKWASO, FNSE during which 20 memoranda were submitted by 7 MDA’s for deliberation by the Council. An expenditure of N449,215,017.04 covering 19 projects was approved for execution by the Council. Thus: 1. Ministry of Higher Education. Request for funds to facilitate for the Construction and equipping of a Library and a Media Center at Kano State Scholarship Board: N14,893,759.33 was requested for release by the Council to facilitate for the execution of the referred projects by the Scholarship Board with the sole objective to promoting Post-Graduate Research facilities and Documentation at the Board. Council noted, considered and approved for the release of the requested sum of money to the Ministry of Higher Education to enable the Kano State Scholarship Board undertake the Stated projects in view of their significance. 2. Office of the Secretary to the State Government. This Office submitted Eight (8) memoranda for consideration by the Council as follows; a. Presentation of First (1st) quarter (January – April,2012) report from the Standing Committee on Ensuring the Employment of Kano State Indigenous Citizens by all Organizations Operating in the State: Contents of this memorandum adequately informed the responsive Council of the progress achieved by the referred Committee in the execution of its mandate. Details were presented, though in specific recommendations with the under listed as most prominent. I. That Government should consider increasing the Committees operations funds from N150,000.00 to N200,000.00 as well as provision of Office accommodation to serve as its secretariat. II. That Government should consider issuing out Commendation letters to ten (10) organisations and five (5) individuals-Thus; Organisations. · Klysat Wire and Cable Nigeria Ltd. · Seven up Bottling Company. · Mamuda Group of Companies. · Angel Spinning and Dyeing Nig Ltd. · Lee Group of Companies. · Northern Nigeria Flour Mills PLC. · Full Mark Commodities Ltd. · Integrated Corporate Services Limited (ICSL). · W.J Bush and Company Ltd. · Tofa Foam Industries Ltd. Individuals. · Umar AbdulHamid-(GroupHandRetailBankingN/W) First Bank of Nigeria PLC · Alhassan Abdulkarim - (Relationship Manager) Access Bank Ltd. · Yusuf Yakubu Kankarofi - (Mario Jose Nig. Ltd) · M.Balarabe Yakasai. - (Mario Jose Nig Ltd) · M.Mohd Sadiq - (Zonal Manager ICSL) Council noted, considered and approved for the operational funds allocated to the standing Committee of N150,000.00 monthly to be maintained. Again, Council directed the office of the Secretary to the State Government to look into the issue of providing a befitting office accommodation for the Committee which is mandated to write the commendation letters referred. b. Request for funds from the Office of the Special Adviser Disabled People’s Affairs to Facilitate Support in respect of Five (5) Blind Students: The responsive Council was adequately reminded by contents of this memorandum of an approval granted by the State Government to sponsor five (5) blind candidates indigenous to Kano state to undergo a twelve (12) months training at the Nigerian Farm Craft Centre for the Blind Isiterim-Olofin, Lagos State under the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Services Department. The students include: I. IBRAHIM M. MUSTAPHA. II. YAKUBU ADAMU III. YAHAYA ISAH IV. ABDULKAREEM AHMAD V. SAIDU MUHAMMAD The Five (5) blind students are already undertaking the referred course which is currently on break to mark the end of the session. This makes the Students wish to come home on vacation paramount and calls for assistance from the Government. Council noted, considered and approved for the release of the requested sum of N150,000.00 to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government for onward

Council noted, considered and approved for the release of the requested sum of money to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government for onward payment to the Youth Directorate for Economic Empowerment to facilitate for the stated purpose since it is in line with the policy of the present administration. d. Presentation of the 2nd quarter report for the year 2012 from the Kano State standing Committee on Kano Free Trade Zone and request for funds to facilitate for payment of sitting allowances for the five (5) Committee Members: Council noted, considered contents of this memorandum and approved for the release of the requested sum of N680,000.00 to be disbursed to the five (5) Committee membersthus I. Chairman – N50,000.00 * 4 = N200,000.00 II. Members – N30,000.00 * 4 * 4 = N480,000.00 TOTAL = N680,000.00 Council directed the Office of the Attorney General/Honorable Commissioner of Justice along with the State Leasing Committee to examine the proposal of extending the lease of agreement from 40 to 99 years as applicable to other Free Trade Zones and advise Government appropriately. The standing Committee, on the other hand, was directed by the Council to: I. Submit details on its planned publicity programs for Government’s consideration. II. Forward action plan on direct labor/partnership with Development Agencies pertaining to construction of warehouse in the zone for Government’s consideration. e. Submission of progress report from the Committee enacted on the establishment of Kano Driving Institute and request for funds to facilitate for the payment of sitting allowances for the members for the period from November 2011 to July, 2012. Council was presented with eight (8) major highlights of the report, by contents of this memorandum which were noted and considered along with the request for the release of the sum of N3,690,000.00 as sitting allowances for 13 Committee Members – thus; I. Chairman N50,000.00 * 9- Months =N 450,000.00 II. Coordinator plus members N30 * 9 * 12 =N 3,240.00 TOTAL = N 3,690,000.00 In this vein, Council approved the release of the requested sum of money to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government to facilitate for the payment of the stated allowances to the referred Committee members. Again, Council directed; I. The Honorable Commissioner of Works, Housing and Transport to inspect on facilities Required by the Driving Institute ranging from furniture to the handling of the 4 vehicles (e.g fuelling). II. The Committee to provide detailed cost estimate pertaining to purchase of Office stationeries, Instructional materials, books and media programs for Government’s consideration. III. The Committee to provide the names of the ten (10) proposed instructors to be placed on daily pay rate of N1000.00 for Governments consideration. IV. The Office of the Secretary to the State Government to undertake follow-up on the issue of two vehicles allocated to the Institute (school). f) Request for funds to facilitate for the Operation and Effective Discharge of duties of the Committee for the State and Local Governments Joint Projects: The aggregate sum of N690,000.00, as requested by content s of this memorandum, was approved for release by the Council to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government for onward payment to the referred Committee to undertake the execution of the seven (7) highlighted purposes. g) Request for funds to facilitate for the settlement of sitting allowances for members of the Committee on establishment of Kano College of Nursing and Midwifery Madobi for Eight (8) Months (Nov, 2011 to June 2012): The sum of N1,200,000.00 was approved for release by the Council to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, as requested by contents of this memorandum, to facilitate for the payment of the referred allowances as a statutory obligation in respect of the five (5) Committee members each of which is entitled to N30,000.00 per month (i.e N30,000.00 * 8 = N240,000.00). And N240,000.00 * 5 = N1,200,000.00). Council noted, considered and approved for the release of the requested sum of money to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government to effect the stated purpose. h) Request for funds to facilitate for the operations of the Committee appointed to verify the qualifications/suitability of Teaching Staff at the States Tertiary Institutions: The sum of N350,000.00, as requested by contents of this memorandum, was approved for release by the Council to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government to enable the facilitation of the Committee operations-Thus I. II. III. IV.

Purchase of stationery/photocopy of documents. Refreshment during meeting. Fueling of vehicles. Production of 60 copies of report. TOTAL

= = = = =

N100,000.00 N100,000.00 N100,000.00 N 50,000.00 N350,000.00

3. Ministry of Environment. Two (2) memoranda were submitted for deliberation by the Council from the Ministry of Environment as follows: a. The sustainable Kano Project (SKP) proposes as, maintained by contents of this memorandum, to execute some Community based Projects in Gwale and Kumbotso Local Government areas in response to series of pleas for joint execution of environment related projects. So, Council noted, considered and approved for the release of the requested sum of N9,176,944.55 to the Ministry of Environment to enable the Sustainable Kano Project (SKP) undertake the under listed projects under the existing arrangement regarding them.

Rabi’u Musa Kwankawaso b) Funds to facilitate for the establishment of Avenue Trees at Kwankwasiyya, Bandirawo and Amana cities: The need to beautify the three (3) cities prompted the Ministry of Environment to request for the release of the aggregate sum of N21,669,880.00 to cover for the cost of the projects. Thus: III. Kwankwasiyya City = N 5,854,810.00 IV. Bandirawo City = N 9,063,700.00 V. Amana City = N 6,751,370.00 TOTAL = N21,669,880.00 Council noted, considered and approved for the release of the requested sum of money to the Ministry of Environment to undertake the beautification of the three (3) cities by planting trees and protecting them. 4. Ministry of Education. Five (5) memoranda were submitted by the Ministry of Education for deliberation by the Council as follows; . Funds to repair and renovate seriously Dilapidated Structures at GGAC Gwaron Dutse LGCA: Council approved for the release of the requested sum of N70,182,486.14 to the Ministry of Education to execute the repair and renovation work of seriously dilapidated structures at GGAC Gwaron Dutse. Thus; I. Renovation of Dr. Ibrahim El-Tayyib block (storey block of 10 classrooms with two (2) toilet blocks) =N9,300,394.43 II. Renovation/Rehabilitation of Dining Hall and Kitchen = N3,800,968.34 III. Renovation/Rehabilitation of Aisha Students Hostel = N12,968,252.24 IV. Renovation/Rehabilitation of College Mosque = N3,417,536.25 V. Completion of repairs and renovation of Hafsat Hostel = N3,543,860.35 VI. Renovation/Rehabilitation of College Hall = N16,908,380.49 VII. Construction of Standard firewood Kitchen = N3,361,655.83 VIII. Connecting water from main supply to the college, provision of Underground water tank and repairs of existing solar powered borehole = N5,000,000.00 IX. Rehabilitation of existing wall fence = N11,434,786.26 X. Construction of MOE standard gate =N 446,651.90 TOTAL = N70,182,486.09 b. Funds to construct Kwankwasiyya block of four (4) Classrooms with two (2) Offices at School for Arabic Studies (SAS) Municipal LGCA: Council was politely alerted to the need for expansion of the school of Arabic Studies in accordance to its location and nature as well as age. As such, Council noted, considered and approved for the release of the requested sum of N16,071,927.08 to the Ministry of Education to execute the referred Project so as to expand the available accommodation at SAS Kano with a view to improving its capacity for admitting students. c. Funds for the Construction of one (1) Kwankwasiyya block of 4 Classrooms and two (2) Offices at GJSS Badawa Unguwar Gaya in Nassarawa LGCA: Council was adequately notified by contents of this memorandum of the fact that GJSS Badawa coexists with Badawa Primary School sharing all available facilities. As such, the Ministry of Education requested for the release of the sum of N16,071,927.08 by the Council for the construction of one block Kwankwasiyya block of four (4) classrooms with two (2) offices for use by GJSS Badawa so as to afford the school its own bonafide premises. d. Funds to renovate and rehabilitate existing structures at GTC Wudil: The aggregate sum of N177,080,083.52 was approved for release to the Ministry of Education by the Council to undertake the stated project at GTC Wudil-Thus; IV. Academic Area - Laboratory, Workshops, Library, Computer room, Staff toilet and Classroom blocks. = N26,101,434.72 V. Students Hostel : Aminu Kano, Aliyu Makama, Hadejia, Gumel, Kazaure, Ramat, and Taiwo Houses. = N40,733,782.08 VI. Staff Houses: Fourteen Houses = N30,271,332.23 VII. Staff Houses: Sixteen Houses = N53,085,746.25 VIII.Furnishing of Technical Drawing Room = N 2,946,969.00 IX. Dining hall, Kitchen, Store, Maids room and construction of new grinding machine room. = N 10,360,135.54 VII. Furnishing of two (2) Science Laboratories. = N 6,864,532.50 VII. Purchase of Science Equipments/Instrument. = N 4,717,051.20 IX. Landscaping and Construction of fish pond. = N 2,000,000.00 TOTAL = N177,080,083.52 e) Funds to rehabilitate and renovate Existing Structures at GSS Chiromawa Garun Malam: Contents of this memorandum adequately alerted the responsive Council of the need to address the deplorable condition of existing structures at GSS Chiromawa as reported by an inspection exercise undertaken by ‘the Physical Planning Department of the Ministry of Education. Council approved for the release of the requested sum of N17,548,174.32 to the Ministry of Education to execute the under listed projects at GSS Chiromawa. . Repair/Renovation of Admin block I. Repair/Renovation of Duplex block II. Repair/Renovation of Biology block III. Repair/Renovation of Block D IV. Repair/Renovation of Block E V. Repair/Renovation of Block G VI. Repair/Renovation of Block H VII. Repair/Renovation of Block K VIII. Repair/Renovation of Workshop TOTAL 6. Ministry of Water Resources. The Ministry of Water resources submitted three by the Council as follows:

= = = = = = = = = =

N 1,709,010.67 N 303,333.87 N 3,017,637.52 N 2,401,668.21 N 2,398,502.90 N 2,278,421.68 N 1,980,605.69 N 1,280,999.51 N 2,177,994.24 N17,548,174.32

(3) memoranda for consideration

i. Funds to facilitate for the transfer/installation of two (2) package plants from old Watari Water treatment plant Gari and Tomas: The requested sum of N18,054,187.20 was approved for release by the Council to the Ministry of Water Resources to facilitate for the actualisation of the transfer/ installation of two(2) package plants from old Watari (WTP) to Gari and Tomas in order to increase the production of portable water there instead of allowing for their continued existence at their old location where they are not required any more after being replaced with a new 75MLD Water treatment Plant (WTP).

TOTAL = N9,176,944.55

b. Funds to facilitate for the Continuation/Completion of the New WRECA Headquarters Building at Gwaron Dutse along Aminu Kano Way:

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 2012

Council was intimated, by contents of this memorandum, that approval was granted in 1999 for the construction of the proposed headquarters building by WRECA based on direct labor whereby foundation up to DPC is completed and reinforcement bars for columns erected with three course block work above the DPC level. In fact, the work has made appreciable progress and requires continuing to completion in good time. This way the agency will move out from its present location at the construction division of the agency. On completion, the new Headquarters will be converted to WRECA’s main workshop while the Tiga workshop could be converted to a school or training center by the Government. So, Council noted, considered and approved for the release of the requested sum of N30,000,000.00 to the Ministry of Water Resources to enable WRECA execute the referred project. c) Funds for the implementation of short term measures/ installation and commissioning of four (4) 1650Kva electricity generators at new Tamburawa Water Treatment Plant: Contents of this memorandum adequately alerted the Council of the need to approve for the release of the sum of N11,763,450.00 to the Ministry of Water Resources to facilitate for payment of variable works not included in the referred original contract which was approved via Council extract number SSCA/CA/EX/21/1/3 dated 14 th July, 2011. Council noted, considered and approved for the release of the requested sum of money to the Ministry of Water Resources for onward payment to the contractor MESSRS. MOA Electricals and Technical enterprises Ltd on the additional work executed. 7. Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Cooperatives and Tourism. Funds to facilitate for the sponsorship of Kano State participants at the 8th National Council on Culture, Tourism and National Orientation holding in Ilorin, Kwara State (22 nd – 24 th AUGUST, 2012): The Council was adequately notified by contents of this memorandum, of the receipt of an invitation from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation inviting Kano State to sponsor participants to attend the 8th National Council on Tourism Culture and National Orientation holding in ILORIN, Kwara State (22 nd – 24 th AUGUST, 2012). As such, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Cooperatives and Tourism requested for the release of the sum of N669,000.00 by the Council so as to sponsor three (3) participants to attend the Council . They comprise: II. Honorable Commissioner Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Cooperatives and Tourism (MCICT). III. M.D Tourism Board. IV. Director Tourism (MCICT). the money is to cater for the following in respect of the participants: . Duty Tour Allowance (DTA). I. Return Tickets. II. Incidentals. Importantly, the main theme at the Council’s meeting is “leveraging Tourism, Culture and National Orientation for Unity and Peace” on which the State’s representatives intend to present memoranda on typical issues on the sector and progress report on the achievements of the present administration on Tourism. Council noted, considered and approved for the release of the requested sum of money to the Ministry of Commerce to enable Kano State representation at the referred occasion. 7. Ministry of Land and Physical Planning. Request for funds to facilitate for the Clearance of Drainage in Farm Center Kano: Contents of this memorandum intimated the attentive Council of the imminent risk of flooding, as reported by KNUPDA, at Farm Center Zaria Road. In fact, some structures had to be demolished because they were identified as having blocked the passage of the major storm water drainage. Moreover, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) made it imperative for the Government to take precautionary measures to mitigate the impact of flooding, which include drainage clearance and dredging/desilting of all channels-especially the one under consideration. Zaria road is very important for the flow of vehicular and otherwise traffic and requires to be

free of all avoidable obstructions. As such, the Ministry of Land and Physical Planning proposed to undertake the under listed projects in order to maintain free flow of the major storm water at Farm Center-viz: III. Excavation and removal of debris arising from the demolishing of some structures by KNUPDA. IV. Clearing the drainage channels of all grasses and shrubs. V. Desalting and dredging the length for effective drainage. Council noted, considered and approved for the release of the requested sum of N33,390,000.00 to the Ministry of Land and Physical Planning to undertake the project of clearing two (2) Kilometer length of drainage at Farm Center to prevent flooding on Zaria road and its neighborhood. UPDATE ON ACTIVITIES. 1. EID-IL-FITR (SALLAH) CELEBRATIONS. The considerate Council joined and congratulated citizens of the State for completing the Ramadan (one month) fasting as heralded by the Sallah celebrations. Council acknowledges the State of ill health of the Emir of Kano Alhaji Dr. Ado Bayero and prays for his quick recovery-Amen. 2. Brief by the Honorable Commissioner of Higher Education. The Honorable Commissioner of Higher Education briefed the Council on the under listed: VI. The unscheduled visit by the Governor Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso FNSE to both the temporary and permanent sites of the North-West University at which His Excellency expressed gratitude with the progress of the work. VII. The successful outcome of the interview conducted for the appointment of Principal Officers to man the affairs of the newly established North-West University in preparation for the admission of students. VIII. Five hundred (500) Kano State Indigenous candidates were successful in securing admission for Msc programmes in overseas Universities. 3. The Newly Established KAROTA Management. Council acknowledged the presence of the newly established three (3) member management Committee of Kano Road Transport Authority (KAROTA) in the persons of: IX. Muhammad Ibrahim Digwal – Chairman X. Jamilu Hassan - Secretary XI. Abdulmumin Musa Aliyu - Member Council celebrated along with them for their new appointments and prayed for success in their respective endeavours. 4. Recruitment/Employment into the Nigerian Military Service(s). Three categories of personnel were presented to the appreciative Council that gained entry into the Nigerian Military Service(s). Thus XII. NDA Kaduna SSC Course Nigerian Army: Four (4) candidates were selected as successful for admission for course 41/2012 and to report on 9 th August,2012. XIII. NASME Makurdi SSC Course Nigerian Army: Four (4) candidates were selected as successful for admission for course 20/2012. XIV. Nigerian Airforce DSSC CADET Training: First (19) batch to report on 28 th July, 2012. Four (4) candidates were selected as successful for admission as second batch to report on 23 rd February, 2013. IV. NDA Kaduna Direct Entry Course: Nine (9) candidates were admitted for Direct Entry Course at the Nigerian Defense Academy (NDA) with two (2) of them for the Air force while the majority seven (7) are for the Nigerian Army. Nevertheless, three (3) others are on the reserved list which brings the total number to twelve (12). VI. Nigerian Army Recruits 68 th Batch Regular: A total of Eighty Five (85) candidates Indigenous to Kano State from across the entire 44 LGCA were successfully recruited into the Nigerian Army Regular Service. Signed: Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Information, Internal Affairs, Youth, Sports & Culture

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 2012

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

COMMENT

The unfulfilled promise of Meles Zenawi

No lesser evil •Lesson from NUPENG’s threat: importation is no cheap substitute for local refining of fuel

UCH as the recurring Nigerian nightmare of fuel supply disruption occasioned by the industry’s striking workers turned out to be shortlived, with the union calling off the strike last week, it has again reopened the lingering debate on why OPEC’s sixth largest exporter of crude cannot refine enough crude for its domestic population. Until mid-last week, Abuja and its environs were in virtual lockdown – the aftermath of the strike embarked upon by the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), to force the hands of the Federal Government to resume subsidy payments to oil marketers. Among its many grouses – the union had alleged non-payment of subsidy claims by the Federal Government to the oil marketers; this the union saw as threat to the job security of its members working in the companies. The failure, it claimed, was a breach in the agreement it reached with the government on July 27. The union noted that the regime of fuel importation was a burden which the Federal Government brought upon itself by its neglect of the refineries, hence its responsibility to carry the can by fulfilling its obligation to the fuel marketers. In all, the union alleged that about N200 billion is being owed by the government. The Federal Government however saw things differently. According to Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, “the true position is that the Federal Government has been meeting its obligation to oil marketers in respect of all legitimate claims”. She gave example of the Sovereign Debt Notes in the sum of N17 bil-

lion in favour of 14 oil marketers between April and May. She also referred to another Sovereign Debt Notes amounting to N42.666 billion issued to 31 oil marketers between April and August. The minister of course did not deny that some categories of payments were being withheld. She insisted however that these were mainly those companies indicted by the Aig-Imoukhuede committee which probed the administration of the subsidy funds. Accusing the companies of using the unions as foil to blackmail government, she insisted that their eligibility for payments would be determined by the outcome of investigations. Both parties are in our view, right and wrong. The union is absolutely in order to defend the interests of its members and to fight perceived threats to their gainful employment. That is assuming that the oil companies have claims that are truly legitimate. On its part, the government’s insistence on withholding further payments to the indicted firms pending the time all issues connected with the fraud are resolved is unassailable. Having said that, we note that a legion exists out there who would not want to give the government the benefit of the doubt, given government’s notoriety in not meeting its obligations to creditors. The same – unfortunately – holds no less true for some of the marketers who appear to have perfected the art of reaping even when they sowed nothing, as the subsidy probe has revealed. It seems to us therefore as the height of intransigence, or worse, an abuse of power for NUPENG to resort to the strike weapon

to force the hands of government to surrender when a crime is alleged. Should the regime of fuel importation be a licence for the criminal behaviour by some marketers? The union’s role, in our view, ought to be one of getting both the marketers and the government to act right: the former to go to court to prove their innocence or to pay restitution for their crimes; and the latter to settle legitimate claims timely. Nothing in the role allowed for either threats or blackmail. Last week’s dialogue and its outcome should therefore be seen as affording the lesson that there is no such a thing as a lesser evil to choose from. It’s high time the government put in motion the machinery to halt fuel importation.

‘The union’s role, in our view, ought to be one of getting both the marketers and the government to act right: the former to go to court to prove their innocence or to pay restitution for their crimes; and the latter to settle legitimate claims timely ... Last week’s dialogue and its outcome should therefore be seen as affording the lesson that there is no such a thing as a lesser evil to choose from. It’s high time the government put in motion the machinery to halt fuel importation’

Dunlop as metaphor •Factories that were once a beehive of activities are now overgrown with weeds

HE massive deindustrialisation of Nigeria no doubt is a major contributor to the current national security crisis. From Kano to Lagos, Calabar to Maiduguri, all across the states, most of the industrial estates have all closed down. In many instances, purpose built warehouses have been turned into churches or completely left in ruin; while Nigerians who should be earning a living working at the factories now hopelessly roam the streets. Unfortunately, while the population continues to increase; the economic recession which started since the 1990’s remains unabated. The result is that security challenges have become a permanent feature in the country. One such industrial giant now left in ruins is the massive Dunlop factory in

‘Other major sad reminders of the deindustrialisation of Nigeria are the once famous Sharada, Challawa and Bompai Industrial estates in Kano. Characteristic of the parasitic elite governing Nigeria, all the budgetary allocations and special financing interventions to revive the textiles industry have yielded little’

Lagos, said to worth about N8 billion. The sad story of Dunlop is no different from other giant industries across the country. Some years back, the company had complained that the unrestrained importation of used and substandard tyres, and other difficult business environments were responsible for its plans to close the factory. Like Dunlop, Michelin in that sector also closed down, because, according to it, the operating environment was too harsh. The result is that while the country is flooded with cheap but substandard imported Asian tyres, those that were gainfully employed in that sector joined the unemployed. No doubt, the country has not recovered from the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) of the General Ibrahim Babanginda era. Since then, the business environment in Nigeria has gotten from bad to worse, and with the current crisis in the power sector, the road to regaining momentum in the sector is far-fetched. Other major sad reminders of the deindustrialisation of Nigeria are the once famous Sharada, Challawa and Bompai Industrial estates in Kano. Characteristic of the parasitic elite governing Nigeria, all the budgetary allocations and special financing interventions to revive the textiles industry have yielded little. Just as in several Federal Government interventions in other areas of the economy, the policies get strangled in bureaucracy and corruption, leaving the populace worse than before. Obviously, tthose seeking to undermine the nation one way or the other get their recruits mostly from the current army of unemployed youths. From the Boko Haram in-

surgents in the north, to the militants in the Niger Delta, to the kidnappers and rapists across the eastern part of the country, the underlining factor is the consequence of the country’s economic plunder. With the Nigerian population stronger among the youths, the crisis is also more evident within the younger generation. To stem the tide, there is the urgent need for higher economic activity within the states. Many of them are redundant, because they are not in control of the basic economic activities like the exploitation of the natural resources in them. With the nightmare in the availability of power across the country, the cost of production in Nigeria is too high for a competitive world economy. Again, with the world economy designed through the World Trade Organisation and other multilateral institutions to foist unrestrained importation of cheaper goods from the more efficient economies to our country and other Third World countries; there is a case of double jeopardy. In the face of these challenges, there is need for improved power supply. While the Federal Government’s policy on generation and distribution of more electricity must be pursued to a logical conclusion; there is also the need for a new legal regime to ensure that states are empowered legally to generate and use electricity in their domain. The recent modest achievement in power generation of less than 5,000 megawatts, pales into insignificance when we remember the over 160 million Nigerians that are contending for it.

HE PARADOX OF Meles Zenawi, the prime minister of Ethiopia who died Monday at 57, was that he might have been so much more. A friend who knew him for two decades recalled that he was sharp, articulate, well-read and a patient listener. When President Bill Clinton visited Africa in 1998, he singled out Mr. Meles as an example of the African renaissance, a new generation of leaders. Beyond a doubt, Mr. Meles, who ruled Ethiopia for 21 years, managed to elevate the nation of 75 million people into a regional economic and political power. Although most of the population is still desperately poor, Ethiopia has attracted foreign investment and built a middle class with an authoritarian, state-driven capitalism based loosely on China’s model. Mr. Meles, who quit medical school to join the guerrilla force that toppled the dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam in 1991, put Ethiopia on the front lines of the war on terrorism, dispatching troops to Somalia against the radical Islamic Courts movement linked to al-Qaeda. He also played a key role in attempting to bridge the gap between warring Sudan and South Sudan, and under his leadership, Ethi-o-pia has been an important U.S. ally, receiving hundreds of millions of dollars in aid. But Mr. Meles’s promise as a leader was marred by contempt for the rights of his people. When internal discontent boiled up during the 2005 general election, international observers witnessed extensive vote-rigging. Demonstrations turned violent. The government cracked down on the protests, and at least 193 people were killed, thousands arrested and dozens of opposition activists and journalists arrested and charged with treason. When a friend asked Mr. Meles after these events how he could oversee the shooting of innocent people in the streets, the prime minister shook his head and replied, “There was a serious threat. The system needed to be protected.” Mr. Meles’s desire to protect his political “system” grew more and more repressive. Under the guise of national security, the parliament passed legislation between 2007 and 2009 to stifile dissent. According to Amnesty International, an anti-terrorism law “effectively criminalizes freedom of expression.” The State Department’s 2011 human rights report notes that the government arrested more than 100 people between March and September, including opposition political figures, activists, journalists, and bloggers. For decades, the United States has struggled with valuable allies who were intolerant dictators at home. The Cold War often provided a reason to look the other way. So did the need for oil imports. Over the last decade, the war on terrorism offered a similar pretext. The world is full of trade-offs and tough choices. But the passing of Mr. Meles ought to underscore once again that, no matter what the imperative for embracing a tyrant, it is essential and healthy to declare: Democracy and human rights are universal values, not to be forgotten with the next aid check. – Washington Post

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THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 2012

CARTOON & LETTERS

IR: If a Lagos roadside mechanic armed with commonsense and an untainted conscience were to be briefed on the international dimension of the boko haram, there is no doubt that his conclusions would be of greater value to the Nigerian future than that of the professor of history that has refused to learn from history. The assertion by Professor Adebowale Ibidapo Adefuye that an Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) designation for the boko haram by the US government is undesirable is baffling position. The major reason given by the ambassador is again symptomatic of a society where human life has very little value! Before we expose the real reasons why people like the Ambassador are running away from an FTO designation, we would encourage all Nigerians to do a little exercise in social engineering first. To take part in this exercise, you would have to locate an ordinary Nigerian and explain the boko haram concept to him in this way. The Nigerian boko haram is based on the legacy of Osama bin Ladin to Africa. It was in Sudan that Osama revolutionized terrorism when he applied the management principles of the corporate world to the propagation of terror. Disdaining the haphazard executions of Hezbollah and the Hamas, a new structure was created between 1991 and 1996 as the foundation for a global terrorist group dubbed Al Qaeda. The new structure was based on four departments. The first department was for the violent execution of terrorism based on a cell structure. The second was created for the preachers of the hate-

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Boko Haram: The truth Ambassador Adefuye is hiding filled, extremist religious ideology. The third and fourth departments would focus on money and media respectively. This structure produced the 9/11 atrocity and many others around the globe. It was this novel restructure that catapulted the Nigerian boko haram into the modern age. The so-called war against terror in Nigeria is presently focused on just one department of the terror machine while the other three departments are operating freely. If the FTO label were given to boko haram it would mean that the US

security searchlight would be beamed on every department of the Nigerian boko haram machinery! The radical imams would be exposed; financiers and backers in government plus all the moles in media would be flushed out! The only disadvantage in the picture is that all embezzled and corrupt funds would come under scrutiny as well and this is why the federal government is fighting hard. It is obvious that the Ambassador has not reported the activities of the infamous 20 American professors who were paid to re-invent the boko

haram group as freedom fighters instead of Islamist ideologues. You did not need to read in-between the lines of Dr. Kew’s comments on the Nigerian situation during the congressional hearing on July 10 to see the kind of ignorance that has been allowed to go on rampage in Washington. The greatest damage done by these infamous 20 can be seen in the positions taken up by the State Department headed by Hilary Clinton. The noose is already tightening and the fantasy-based definition of boko haram as a liberation movement

Disturbing signals ahead IR: In recent time, there have been disturbing calls and even moves by different groups in the country for secession or political autonomy. Observers are wondering whether the contraption put together in the Lord Lugard political laboratory of 1914 is not beginning to unravel. With the Ogonis hoisting the flag of self-actualization claiming oppression and neglect for years by the rest of the country; there is a Biafra Zionist movement that has applied to the United Nations’ seeking sovereign recognition. The Ijaws now have an emblem

and an anthem. The Arewas have vowed that 2015 will be the definitive year – they have promised thunder and brimstone if a northerner fails to emerge as President. The children of Oduduwa are probably planning their own move. All of these out of lack of confidence in a central government that has bred under its wings insecurity, appalling level of poverty, corrupt and thieving political office holders who lack the slightest modicum of social conscience. With unemployment, religious extremism of the most horrible

state police could break up Nigeria is purely a fear mongering tactics to keep us in perpetual panic mode. If the army cannot breakup Nigeria, is it the police with light weapons and basic training in security that will break up Nigeria? State police is a global practice like community policing where strange movements, suspicious characters, micro crimes are easily tracked by locals. By the way, what sense of commitment would a man in Abuja have in managing social facilities

in places like Lagos, Kano, Sokoto, Enugu, Imo Kwara e.t.c,? Why can’t we allow the man wearing the shoe to mend it himself while the federal government focus on foreign and fiscal policy, defence, federal police e.t.c.,? Instead of placing the destiny of 180 million people in the hands of filth columnists in Abuja, why can’t we encourage the modern practice of separation of power, strengthen our institutions with efficient and focused federal government per-

kind, ethnic and communal violence, and nepotism defining Nigeria’s existence, one is bound to wonder if Chinua Achebe was not being prophetic when he surmised in one of his books that things are falling apart because the centre could no longer hold. Now we are here! The drums of the struggle for sovereignty and self-actualization are sounding rather daringly from the jungles. It is a national ‘aluta’ that is beginning quietly but will have its fate decided by what the central government will do – fold its hands and watch things unfold, prepare its

State police: Osayande panel got it wrong

IR: The call for the creation of state police is not about North or South. It’s in responce to security challenges our country is facing.The report of the panel headed by Parry Osayande, the chairman of the police reform panel is suspicious and questionable. If centralized policing system is not working, why can’t we try state police with enhanced checks and balances that are anchored on corrective mechanism? The alarm raised by the Osayande panel that

is gaining grounds. The question that our American friends need to ask is simple. If it were the US that had 70% of its population living on less than $1 per day, what would life be like? If the wheels keep rolling in Nigeria even though 70% of the people live below the poverty line, what is that invisible African factor that has kept us going? Salvation could well lie more in the direction of that invisible African factor than the thinly veiled sponsorship of terrorist groups. Much blood has already been shed and we have endured the midnight of terror. The shadows may yet lengthen before the breaking of the dawn but the hour of compromise is past and we are prepared to endure till the sun of righteousness arises in Nigeria with healing in its wings. • Rev. Ladi Peter Thompson National Coordinator, Macedonian Initiative (MI) Lagos.

forming oversight function as it is done in developing and developed countries? Patriots from both side of the divide should close ranks, rise up in unison and save our Nigeria from imploding because men of low integrity and diminished sense of sound justice are now pontificating on vital national issues. • Akinola M.A Verona-Italy.

military powers to hound secessionists, dismiss the sound of the drums as mere ‘cultural fanfare’? Will the government make the country worth living in by employing tact in dealing decisively with brewing national issues and working assiduously with good conscience and sincerity of purpose, to foster good governance and fair distribution of the common wealth? Will the government continue to encourage and allow greedy elements who have found themselves in the corridors of power to milk the nation dry and walk away with impunity, leaving the rest of the citizens to languish in abject poverty? The President was reported as laughing off the idea of secession, saying that Nigeria has had problems before, yet did not break-up. One is left in the bizarre wonder of how further the keg of trouble will be left to brew. It is either the drums recede or bring their music of emancipation to the centre square of self-government and geographical autonomy. What will become of Nigeria? • Asuatang Abasiakong Calabar.

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 2012

COMMENTS

Sanusi and CBN inconsistency

HEN appointed as Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, it was as if Sanusi Lamido Sanusi came into office with the intention of rescuing the banking industry from collapsing and restoring the nation’s economy. He took some drastic steps that led to the fatality of some of the collapsing institutions. Although his style was contestable, many still clapped for him. Thereafter, he attempted inculcating Islamic banking into the system. This fired controversy and doubt about his motives. Today, the initiative remains in the cooler. He then moved on to introducing cashless economy, starting with Lagos. The workability and accomplishment of the concept is still hanging in the balance. As if to display his heart, he once came through his office in his traditional chieftaincy regalia, not minding the disparagement of those who would always prefer to see him as a corporate banker. And last week, he woke the nation up from slumber with his latest model of repackaging the nation’s currency. He announced the introduction of N5,000 note, redesigning of other currencies and the plan to turn N5, N10 and N20 into coins as from next March. According to him, 50k, N1, N2, N5, N10 and N20 will be in coins while the banknotes will be in N50, N100, N200, N500, N1,000 and N5,000. What a regime of needless controversy, contradiction and inconsistency! Sanusi’s claim of the move being a result of “inflationary pressures” is more of monumental miscalculation. His defence: “To encourage the usage of coins, the CBN will liaise with relevant MDAs, DMBs, road transport workers, market operators, small businesses, supermarkets, vendors, etc. to create avenues for the usage of the coins. The CBN will ensure that coin collection is convenient.” This is a clueless assumption. Rather, the economic impact of the policy is likely to be hyper-inflation in prices of goods and services. First, if this move should scale through, the current 5, 10 and 20 naira notes will go down the drain like the worthless 10K, 20K, 50k of today. It is unimaginable how marketers or vendors can be compelled to sell below the cost of their products.

HE article, “Akpabiosm as a metaphor for delirious leadership”, published in The Nation of Wednesday, August 22, page 22, by Edo Ukpong, made a very curious reading. The author might have thought that what he wrote would pass for an analysis of leadership failure in Nigeria, but his real intension could not be hidden, as it was thinly and poorly veiled. Tried as he did to appear unbiased, it was clear to any discerning mind that he was out to disparage the person of Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State. The gist of Ukpong’s outing is that “Akpabiosm” is a clear example of ‘delirious leadership.’ For him, delirious leadership consists of praise-singing leaders genuflecting at the feet of power. Even though he said that his write-up had nothing to do with any personality, yet he went ahead flashing a tar brush over the person of the governor. That itself smacked of vacuity, indicative of a poor hatchet job. He hugely demonstrated ignorance of the difference between a philosopher and his philosophy. Ukpong failed to differentiate between Akpabio as governor, and his philosophy of governance. Any student of even elementary politics knows that there is a difference between what a person is outstandingly known for, which is often captured by adding the suffix, “ism”, to his name, - e.g. Marx(ism), Goebbels(ism), etc, - and the person himself. If he had purged himself of prejudices and subjectivity, he would have, even if he does not like the face of the governor, acknowledged, as many others across the country and beyond have done, that Akpabio is a performer. Now, for the records, Akpabiosm is a function of an unbiased commentary by a non-government actor on the governor’s activities in office. It is a private initiative by a nongovernment organization (NGO) led by Pastor James Bassey, the Chancellor of Akpabio Centre for Leadership Development. The concept is about leadership and stewardship development. The issues that drive it are simple: after Akpabio, what happens to his brand of politics? Having done well now, but with a time frame when his tenure would run its full course, how will his legacy be preserved? How can the political traits that make Akpabio tick be passed to the next generations? Akpabiosm is not meant to praise the governor, but to en-

‘It is not clear how much of the state he knew when Akpabio took over in 2007, and how it is now that he has been governor for a little over five years. Would Ukpong, in all honesty say the difference is not clear positively? If he does not see any such positive difference, then it is his fault for not making effort to find out before rushing to the Press’

If the legal tender coins are of no value under the current economic downturn, why should people being hard-pressed to indigence be saddled with carrying heavier weight of coins? Introduction of a higher naira denomination of N5,000 note will surely further devalue the naira. It will lead to sky-rocket inflation. If the fuel subsidy crisis early in the year could result to lifting the cost of a sachet of pure water from N5 to N10 because Nigerians do not accept coins, what will a coin of lesser value buy? Sweet or maggi cube? They are even sold above coin values. The veracity of past experience is that the least item in Nigerian market might go for N50 or more. This will not be good for the masses that are already enmeshed in penury. With the introduction of N5,000 currency note, what will happen to the hard-to-implement cashless monetary policy? Isn’t it contradictory? If going cashless, why carry more cash in value – and not necessarily in bulk quantity? Why introduce a higher denomination? It doesn’t make sense in a monoproduct economy where there are no infrastructure to induce production. N5,000 notes might rubbish the pilot phase cashless policy which still needs much consolidated structures in place for it to be effective. CBN’s belief that “the introduction of a higher bill would complement the bank’s cashless policy as it would substantially reduce the volume of currency in circulation, particularly in the long term” is amazing. Will it reduce volume or value? Less quantity of cash will not necessarily amount to fewer amounts. I see it more as a confirmation of further devaluation of the naira and enhancement of corruption. Since entrepreneurs are ever going for the highest price in a nation without price control, this is bound to inflict more money on less quantity. The result will be increased hardship and pains on the people. We are introducing higher denominations when a developed economy like the United States sustains $100 as the highest value, and a cashless society like United Kingdom hardly use £50 notes. I don’t think bigger currency note should be a priority in Nigeria of the moment. Ghana had to reduce the denominations of her currency in circulation. Can’t we take a cue from our economically-progressing neighbour and also learn from the Zimbabwean example Why introduce coins and reduce the value of naira to increase inflation? Why spend more redesigning naira? What is wrong with the current design? Do we really need this as solution to the dying economy? Much money is being spent to promote cashless policy, and now much more would be spent in redesigning the currency instead of working towards increasing its value. In reality, this does not make sense since branded economic theories might bear no relevance to our locality. It will only pay those who steal public money to load their pockets

with newly-designed currencies and bulk N5,000 notes. Instead of making more cash available for corrupt practices, a cashless society would have been better if properly implemented and the people well oriented. Whatever is being done must be of value and of benefit to the common man, not just to please the idle wealthy who became rich at the expense of the good of the land. To majority of the populace, a N5,000 note might just amount to the totality of their monthly income. Sanusi should not kill what remains of our economy. Let him desist from doing what could further depreciate the naira value. After all, there are N2,000, N3,000 and N4,000 notes before going to N5,000. Or is he heading to assert the rumour that his target is to drag our currency down to N200 to a dollar?

FEEDBACK Re-State police: In the 1950s and early 60s, Native Authority Police held sway and it was for the reason that the Force was seen to be manipulated that it was centralized. Have we now got the magic to ward off the fairs that informed the unification of the Force? It sounds like calling for us to go back to regional governments. TCD Ihyuman, mni. State police? Hmmn, okay. But with governors like Akpabio, Suswan and Uduaghan what happens if the so-called state chief security officer decides to hoodwink all genuine and perceived political cum opponents with their respective judiciary ready to play along? Me I fear for this one o. 2347030562795 I support state police but let them start without arms for a period as it will bring employment. 2348023149664 State police is not solution to Nigeria insecurity; rather the tree tiers of government should create jobs for youth. If there is job, the issue of security will be a thing of past. State police will cause problems against non-indigenes in the state. It is better we equip our police force for effective performance. Chika Nnorom, Abia State. How can we achieve success in this Olympic, when fire bridge approach is in our character? We want to reap where we did not sow. Chika, Umukabia The piece is right. Jonathan should not blame Boko Haram for the nation’s economic woes. What is behind pauperism and poverty in the midst of plenty is not Boko Haram or the opposition parties. The problem is the socio-economic system and its atavism. Amos Ejinmoye, Kaduna.

Re: “Akpabiosm as a metaphor for delirious leadership” By Uweoyo Akan Morrison courage him, and challenge others now and in the future to emulate his development drive proclivity. It is deep in patriotism, high in objectivity and long in sustainability. It is about good governance and transformation. That is what the issue is. But our brother (or is it sister?) sneaked in from behind, displayed cowardice and ignorance of the entire philosophy of Akpabiosm, and apparently with eyes shut, and without a clear target, took sniper shots at Akpabio and pretended to be doing that to Nigerian leaders. The critic’s criticism criticizes the critic here. The mud thrower misses his target, but soils his hands here. On the issue of praising the governor that seems to be interpreted to tantamount to “delirium” by Ukpong, it appears that our man, who does not live in Akwa Ibom State, does not also keep tab on what is going on there. It is not clear how much of the state he knew when Akpabio took over in 2007, and how it is now that he has been governor for a little over five years. Would Ukpong, in all honesty say the difference is not clear positively? If he does not see any such positive difference, then it is his fault for not making effort to find out before rushing to the Press. Let truth be told with pristine clarity: names of men and women of history have/had willy-nilly come to be associated with “isms”. These are all ideological platforms and conduits through which to propagate, elongate and perpetuate their ideologies. So, we have had Awoism, Nkrumahism, Zikism, etc. Even economic tendencies have had such ideological and philosophical appellations: Obamanomics, Benjaminomics, Jonathanomics, etc. Would Ukpong say that for having those “isms” –philosophies – those great souls were delirious, or their admirers worshipping them? No, when we appreciate our leaders, we prompt ourselves for leadership too; we also encourage them to do more, even as we challenge others to learn to impact their generations by showing leadership in all they do. Criticisms? Yes, nobody is perfect enough to escape them; but here Ukpong clearly misfired. We must avoid criticizing for criticism’s sake. While we may have good reason to criticize where necessary, we must not rake up wrong reasons to criticize. In criticizing where necessary, we should also appreciate where necessary. The Akwa Ibom people who praise their governor do not so out of sycophancy, but out of support and appreciation. They ask themselves, “So, government can work?” They see that this governor is working. They know that they have never seen so much done with their money as they now see, and the bit they can do to keep the beat going, is to appreciate the man at the centre of it all.

To help Ukpong appreciate the issues of Akpabiosm as transformative leadership, few highlights of what Akpabio has done for his people need to be placed at his disposal. Governor Akpabio has introduced what many observers and commentators have come to adjudge as the flagship of his achievements: free and compulsory education to all Nigerians residing in Akwa Ibom. In fact, there are reports of children from neighboring states sneaking in to enjoy this programme. That is Akpabio working for Nigeria’s tomorrow! There is payment of subvention to school heads to cater for logistics in all public schools, to boot. He has completed and commissioned Ibom International Airport, making air travel from and to the state an enjoyable experience. He has constructed 295 new roads making the state accessible by quality road network. The state is host to West Africa’s first digital library, which was recently commissioned by President Jonathan. There is free healthcare programme for children, expectant mothers and the elderly. There is also the construction of five new general hospitals, and a specialist one now undergoing construction, that will be dedicated to pediatrics and serve as a referral health point. Similarly, the Akpabio administration has built a 3.7km 1st-in-Africa underground drainage project using the pipejacking technology; completed a 191-megawatts Ibom Power Plant project; initiated a comprehensive rural electrification scheme, which has linked additional 1,500 communities, thereby achieving 85 electrification per cent coverage. What he met on assumption of office was only 35 per cent coverage level. The administration has initiated and completed about 5,000 projects across the 31 local government areas, with each local government benefitting from not less than 100 projects. To ensure the safety of lives and property in the state, the government has put to work more than 300 patrol vehicles, armoured personal carriers and gunboats, to boost security operations. The focus of the ongoing term is to built at least one cottage industry on a public-private-partnership arrangement in each LGA in the state. Ukpong and others with similar mindset should ask themselves, or others with better information, why Akwa Ibom under Akpabio has suddenly become a centre of attraction to many professional groups, high flying individuals and corporate Nigeria. When many of them want to have a retreat, they come to Akwa Ibom State; if they want to hold conferences, Akwa Ibom is the place they want to be. The facts speak for themselves. If Akpabiosm is “delirium”, then Ukpong has just written another Devil’s Dictionary. The only problem is that Ambrose Gwinett Bierce holds the copyright to that work. • Morrison writes from Uyo.

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 2012

COMMENTS

ERHAPS, no appointment has generated so much controversy of recent as that of Dr. Doyin Okupe, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs. Apparently because of the flurry of criticisms that have trailed the conduct of the nation’s affairs, President Jonathan had approved his appointment which many saw as an indication that his image managers had been less than effective in their duties. The appointment was therefore to ensure pro-activeness in public communication and stave off adverse criticisms that have trailed the activities of the Jonathan administration. In that position, he is expected to be the linchpin between public policy and public communication. As the attack dog of the President, it is within his schedule of responsibilities to ensure clarity of information on the activities of the President while at the same time engaging unrepentant critics of the administration. True to type, he wasted no time in taking up those he considered to have opened their mouths too wide against the regime shortly after his engagement. But not before long, the lid on his previous past was blown open. The Action Congress of Nigeria ACN cried foul and called on the President to sack him. The party alleged that Okupe and one of his companies obtained contracts from the Benue and Imo state governments, collected mobilization fees running into hundreds of millions of Naira and bolted away. It said that between July and August 2006,

‘What these go to underscore is that those calling for Okupe’s head are not necessarily on an exercise at witch-hunting as the PDP would want us to believe. There are serious issues that have to be trashed out for Okupe to retain that job if this government is serious with the fight against graft’

OMEWHERE in the defense of his stand on the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding (CBCIU) based in Osogbo, Osun State, ex-Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola speaks of “my personal meritorious capacity” as driving his choice as the chairman of the Centre’s Board of Trustees. Justifying the actions his government took on the centre and challenging the reversal of his policy by the current administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola, the former governor writes:”My appointment as the chairman of the Board of Trustees was made in my personal meritorious capacity and this was conveyed to me through the then Hon. Minister of Culture and Tourism, acting in the instructions of the then President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo”. Oyinlola insists that members of the board were chosen in accordance with “stipulated guidelines which provide that CBCIU shall have an independent Board of Trustees assuring the respectability of the centre”. He believes that “proven excellence” of his rule earned him the appointment, which in turn, accorded “respectability” to the centre. However, the government of Aregbesola which succeeded Oyinlola’s, is convinced

‘By the stroke of law, the government of Aregbesola succeeded in wresting the centre from the grip of an individual and placing it in the hands of the people where it should really be. It was the height of selfconceit in the first place for Oyinlola to head the board’

Emeka OMEIHE 08121971199 email: EmekaOmeihe@yahoo.com

Okupe, ACN and PDP Okupe was in the custody of the EFCC in Lagos over the contract he obtained from the Imo State government but failed to execute. But the spokesman of the anti- graft agency, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren had said that he was not aware that Okupe was under investigation, a claim the ACN sees as an attempt to cover matters up. Since then, it has been a war of sorts between the ACN and the PDP with the latter hailing the appointment arguing that it will deepen the channels of communication between the presidency and the citizenry. The PDP got the issue wrong when it contended that Okupe is capable of efficiently handling the assignment given to him and that the President has the constitutional right to give appointments to deserving Nigerians. The issue here is not whether Okupe is qualified for his new assignment or not. It is also not a matter of whether he can perform it better than any living Nigerian. The point the ACN and those calling for his sack are making is that his moral credentials are not such that should allow him stay in that post any day longer. They are saying that given the sensitivity and high moral standards required of that office, any person associated with the allegations Okupe is currently being confronted with must clear himself of that burden. The argument is that as long as those weighty allegations are still hanging on his head, he lacks the moral standing to continue in that office. This point goes without saying. This is a man, in the words of the PDP, whose appointment will deepen public communication; a man expected to engage members of

the public on salient issues of national importance. But that same man is ascending that office with a big moral baggage. Questions are being raised concerning his moral suitability for the job given extant allegations that his company collected mobilization fees for contracts and disappeared. He is now being asked to come out openly to clarify this weighty allegation if he must continue in that office. It therefore goes beyond the matter of his suitability for the job or the right of the President to appoint any one he chooses as the PDP had argued. Given the havoc wreaked on this nation by the cankerworm of corruption and the touted commitment of the Jonathan regime to battle corruption, it is only fair that those who are appointed into public offices are people of unquestionable moral character. That is the issue that has been brought to the vortex of public opinion by the simmering controversy over Okupe’s appointment. Thus, the altercation between the PDP and the ACN ought not to arise given that some of those who collected fuel subsidy money without importing any oil are now facing trial. What is required is investigation as to whether the issue raised by the ACN and other interested Nigerians has merit. That inquiry should not prove difficult if the authorities have nothing to hide. Ironically, the EFCC appeared to have reacted in a hurry when it claimed ignorance of Okupe being under any investigations. The EFCC’s statement has not really responded to the insistence of the ACN that

for almost one month in 2006, Okupe was in the custody of the anti-graft agency. The facts of that incarceration should not be difficult for the body to access. It is therefore the minimum expectation that the EFCC should speak out on the matter stating whether his company has been cleared of the allegations or not. This is also in the interest of Jonathan on whose behalf the new appointee will be engaging the public. And in the matter of his engaging the public on behalf of the President, that job will be greatly encumbered if issues relating to the allegations are not clearly sorted out. Moreover, the way Okupe is generally perceived will have serious repercussions on the new assignment he has set out to execute. In the same vein, his suitability for that job will depend on how the allegations are resolved. Matters are not helped by the twist introduced by the Benue State government on the raging controversy. Latest reports have it that the Benue State government has dragged him to the EFCC over non-performance in that contract. The state Commissioner for Works and Transport Benjamin Ashaver told news men that they had now reported the matter to the EFCC with the aim of recovering the sum over N635.7 million that Okupe’s firm collected for a shoddy job done in 2004. What these go to underscore is that those calling for Okupe’s head are not necessarily on an exercise at witch-hunting as the PDP would want us to believe. There are serious issues that have to be trashed out for Okupe to retain that job if this government is serious with the fight against graft. That the matter borders on contractual agreement involving a company in which Okupe has interest does not in any way diminish the weight and significance of his involvement. This point has to be made and very unambiguously too. The way things stand, we have not heard the last on it. It is therefore incumbent on both the presidency and the EFCC to come out clearly on it. It will be a dent on the image of the government if Okupe continues to stay in that position while his company is put to task for collecting hundreds of millions of Naira for no work done. That is the challenge facing him. Which ever way it goes however, this should serve as a hard lesson to future aspirants to public offices.

How not to handle Black culture centre By Victor Ayinde that the centre was enjoying odium rather respectability under Oyinlola’s chairmanship. It invoked the necessary legal and constitutional instruments to remove Oyinlola and replace him with the more respectable citizen Professor Wole Soyinka. Aregbesola has also charged the name of the centre to State of Osun Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding. By the stroke of law, the government of Aregbesola succeeded in wresting the centre from the grip of an individual and placing it in the hands of the people where it should really be. It was the height of selfconceit in the first place for Oyinlola to head the board. Revelations that have come into the public domain since the removal of the ex-military officer-turnedpolitician have exposed him as deficient in impeccable administration. He left the state in ruins and frittered its resources. He desecrated the sanctity of office as he embarked on a binge that led the people into penury and despair. He lived for only the present, with little care for tomorrow and the need to build for generations to come. Could he therefore be qualified to be trusted with managing the preservation of the soul (culture) of the Black race? If he made such mess of governance, he would make more grotesque mess of the duty of chairing a body with such higher demands. Aregbesola isn’t as blistering; so he humbly concedes to the expert Soyinka who can confer that needed dignity on the centre. Those who wish the Black race well are commending the governor for making the choice, knowing full well that with the Nobel Laureate for Literature directing the centre’s Board of Trustees, the Black race is set for re-awakening and the long awaited march to the promised land. Oyinlola and those challenging the gov-

ernment of Osun over the changes being put in place in CBCIU should ask themselves this pertinent question: who would command instant and unquestioning attention on cultural issues both here in Nigeria and at the global fora: Soyinka, the citizen of the world or Oyilnlola, the man identified solely for his Okuku ancestry? It’s an unequal contest, whose outcome is known before the battle! Another argument of the ex-governor is that CBCIU is a non-governmental organization (NGO) whose running cannot come under the bureaucratic control of government. Really? Not true. When Oyinlola as the governor of Osun was launching CBCIU on January 7, 2009 he declared: …we (Osun government) have taken delivery of the archival materials which (are) forming the nucleus of this centre. The collections procured from Ulli and Georgina Beir at a cost of $680million was provided by the government of Osun State”. Why would government sink money into establishing an NGO? Secondly, in 2009, a law was duly passed by the Osun House of Assembly to establish the centre. What Aregbesola has simply done is to go back to the House of Assembly to seek amendments to rejig the centre for better service to the Black race. He has for instance removed the clause that makes the Obasanjo Centre in Abeokuta to have two representatives on its board. That was a patronizingly offensive and unproductive choice that tied CBCIU to narrow interests. Another applause for Aregbesola stems from the amendment that now says that any state governor or his appointee will be chairman of CBCIU. That’s how the celebrated Wole Soyinka got in. This particular reversal of what Oyinlola did is a radical move that liberalizes the centre and makes it a truly universal con-

cept with the clout to live up to its name. Until now, the CBCIU operated whimsically at the beck and call of an absentee politician and his equally capricious godfather. Nigerians should commend, not condemn, Aregbesola for his vision of CBCIU. The new Board of Trustees under Wole Soyinka is heading for greatness as it will have concurrent responsibility to develop the Yoruba World Heritage Centre to be called New Ife, Ile-Ife, Osun State. Now this is a massive project of the Aregbesola administration to revive the Yoruba culture as part of the tourism package of the State of Osun. Observers view what Aregbesola is doing with CBCIU as part of the current project of emancipating institutions of governance and the citizenry. With the CBCIU reform the governor has signaled that the revolution has reached the cultural level. • Ayinde is a cultural activist in Ogun State

‘Oyinlola and those challenging the government of Osun over the changes being put in place in CBCIU should ask themselves this pertinent question: who would command instant and unquestioning attention on cultural issues both here in Nigeria and at the global fora: Soyinka, the citizen of the world or Oyilnlola, the man identified solely for his Okuku ancestry? It’s an unequal contest, whose outcome is known before the battle!’

Ordega’s treble

Khalid to ref Sunshine shoots Nigeria ahead Esperance clash Pg. 41

Pg. 24

•Ordega

•Khalid

Sport Monday, August 27, 2012

PAGE 23

AFCON

Mikel opted out of Liberia clash Pg. 24

—Coaching crew

26 Eagles report, •Keshi

battle for shirts against Menas

Pg. 24

•Mikel

NATIONSPORT MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 2012

NATION SPORT

Khalid to ref Sunshine Esperance clash

AFCON: Mikel opted out of Liberia clash —Coaching crew

•Ordega

Ordega’s treble

•Khalid

shoots Nigeria ahead

26 Eagles Obajimi urges parents to allow children take part in sports report, battle for shirts against Liberia

FCMB signs up for 2nd edition of Copa Lagos Beach Soccer

Abia honours deserving coach John Obuh

BIA STATE Government will on Monday honour Flying Eagles coach John Obuh for his remarkable achievements in the game with the installation of a special title. Obuh, 52, will be honoured by Abia State with the title of ‘Oke Orji’ Monday morning at the Government House in Umuahia. “I’m most humbled by this recognition. This is a challenge, which will only make me to work a lot harder,” said Obuh, who is in the process of acquiring his DFB ‘A’ coaching license in Germany. The Flying Eagles coach, who as a striker in his playing days featured for several top clubs like Enyimba, Enugu Rangers, Abiola Babes, Julius Berger and Udoji United, led Nigeria to win last year’s African Youth Championship in South Africa. He was also in charge when Nigeria reached the final of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup playing a brand of purposeful and entertaining football. He is currently guiding the country through the qualifying tournament for next year’s AYC in Algeria. His team dumped Tanzania on 4-1 aggregate in the second round of the

Ighalo in talks with Granada

•Mikel

qualifiers and face their South African counterparts in the final round next month. Three years ago, he guided Kwara United back to the Nigeria Premier League and has worked at various other top clubs including Kano Pillars, Heartland, Enyimba and Wikki Tourists.

•John Obuh

Ezekwesili, Amadi confident of Eagles’ team

•Keshi

N what appears to be one of the more testy duels against local opposition, Nigeria’s Super Eagles at the weekend defeated hard-fighting, The Everlasting Arms Parish (TEAP), of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, based in Abuja by a lone goal in continuation of its preparations for the Nations Cup qualifier duel against Liberia in a forthnight. The match played at the FIFA Goal project site in Abuja was watched by a large crowd

including former Minister and current Vice President of the World Bank Dr (Mrs) Oby Ezekwesili, (alias Madam Due Process), her husband and one of the founders of TEAP FC, Pastor Chinedu Ezekwesili, Chairman of the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission and also co-founder TEAP FC, Dr Sam Amadi, Sports Marketer Shehu Dikko, ex-international Okey Isima and a host of other dignitaries. The Eagles approached the game with

some lethargy at the start, and were quickly awakened by the sporadic raids on their vital area by dreadlocked Sunday David (Mwariwari), Ikechukwu Uzoezie, who skippered his side, Ayo Adetola and Sunday David. By the time it dawned on the national team, that TEAP FC meant business it was getting towards the close of the first half,

with Ejike Uzoenyi, Sunday Mba, Solomon Jabason and Sanni Sanusi taking time to waste precious chances. The half ended goalless. At the start of the second stanza, the Eagles seemed to have woken up from the

slumber when just after passing the ball, Izu Azuka, Saviour Fidelis and Uzoenyi combined beautifully for left back Juwon Oshaniwa, to slot in from a rebound by goalkeeper Emmanuel Nasamu. From then on till the end it was a ding dong affair, as

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 2012

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

ISSUES

For now, what we want to communicate here is that we are going to rigorously pursue any hindrance to power supply. And to ensure that we clean up the system, we have to make sure that we deliver more reliable power to the country. - Prof Barth Nnaji, Minister of Power

THE CEO

Cost,benefits of road show, by - P. 27 experts

‘Pension fund not for capital market’s revival’ - P. 32

News Briefing

Nigeria, four others top lists of FDIs SUB-SAHARA countries including Nigeria have been ranked as the highest recipients of Direct Foreign Investment (FDIs) in 2012.

- Page 26

External reserves now over $40b FOR the first time in many years, the nation’s external reserve has swollen to over $40 billion.

- Page 26

Drought threatens food supplies FARMERS in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa are increasingly taking up smallscale irrigation schemes as drought threatens the security of food supplies, a report by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) has said.

- Page 29

‘Capital, human capacity hinder growth’ INADEQUATE capital and a shortfall of experienced professionals have been identified as some of the major challenges facing the growth of the insurance industry in Nigeria, The Nation has learnt.

- Page 39

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

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

•From left: Mallam Ahmed Kuru; Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Enterprise Bank Limited; Mrs. Louisa Olaloku, Executive Director; Sir George Efughinamba Akomas, a customer of the bank and Chairman, Geolly Farms; Mr Emeka Onwuka, Chairman, Enterprise Bank and Mrs. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, Executive Director, at the bank’s Customers’ Forum in Onitsha, Anambra State.

Mixed reactions trail N5,000 note, Yields fall, A currency overhaul foreign demand S Nigerians await the unveiling of the N5, 000 note early next year, as part of a major overhaul of the country’s currency, experts have offered divergent views. While some backed the move, saying it is long overdue, others said it would spark inflation. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had last Thursday said it had almost concluded arrangements to restructure the currency, which would see the entire notes redesigned with new features launched early 2013. The Governor of CBN, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, who briefed reporters on the new development in Abuja, said the restructuring was a routine duty of the apex bank even though this was, particularly, planned at this time to overcome several challenges, which have arisen from the use of the series of currency launched by his predecessor, Charles Soludo, a few years ago. Under the new structure, the existing denominations of N50, N100, N200, N500 and N1,000 will be redesigned with added new security features while a new high currency denomina-

By Ayodele Aminu, Collins Nweze and Ajibade Akinola

tion, N5,000, will be brought into circulation. Sanusi also explained that the lower banknote denominations of N5, N10 and N20 will be in coins, meaning that naira currency structure will now be 12 six coins and six banknotes. While the coins will now be 50k, N1, N2, N5, N10 and N20, the bank notes will be N50, N100, N200, N500, N1,000 and N5,000. Commenting on these developments, experts, such as the Bismark Rewane – Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Limited; Managing Director, Economic Associates, Dr Ayo Teriba and Head Market Risk, Greenwich Limited, Babatunde Obaniyi, allayed the fears over inflation. Teriba, who stressed that the introduction of the N5,000 notes and the coining of N5,N10 and

N20, were long overdue and not enough, said other countries that have restructured their currencies did not experience higher inflation. “ Currency denomination has nothing to do with inflation because it just has do with measuring the value. The introduction of higher notes is long overdue. Remember that it was England that gave us currency notes and coins; before then, we had cowries. So, it makes sense to take a cue from them. N1,000 is only four pounds in England, while N5,000 is about 20 pounds. “Coins of N1 made no sense because it could buy nothing and that is why it was not being used. It is until we have coins that you use for payment for items, such as Coca-Cola and transport that people will embrace the use of coins. I think the CBN should introduce up to N100 coins,” he said. Similar views were offered by Mr Rewane, who said the higher

notes are a welcome development and would not cause inflation, especially with the ongoing cash-less economy. “This cannot cause inflation because it is inflation that leads to currency devaluation. We need higher denomination because of the cash-less economy. The aim of cash-less initiative is to deemphasise the use of cash. This would also reduce the amount of currency in circulation. “Other countries that have embraced the cash-less initiative have gone past this stage and are using more of plastic and electronic for their transactions,” he said. Obaniyi also said the new notes will not cause inflation as it remains the same. He said the CBN only needs to control the amount of money in circulation, He said the policy will make movement of cash and other •Continued on Page 26

Cash-less: PoS on NIBSS terminals hit 151,717 HE Nigerian InterBank Settlement System (NIBSS) has increased the number of Point of Sales (PoS) Terminals registered on its platform from 5,720 in January to 151,717 in June, this year. This shows a difference of 146, 000. A report obtained from NIBSS stated that the number of PoS terminals’registered firms platform has increased consecutively in the past six months to ensure the success of the cash-less banking. The report indicated that

By Akinola Ajibade

NIBSS registered 5,720 PoS terminals in January, 42,327 terminals in February, 93,133 in March, 110,729 in April, 117, 192 in May and 151, 717 terminals in June. Also, the Point of Sale Terminal Activity (PSTA) transaction volume increased from 1,056 in January to 192,514 in June, indicating that the banking public is embracing the cashless initiative. The report indicated that

thePSTA transaction volume of 1,056 was recorded in January, 24,648 in February, 92,106 in March, 111,495 in April, 179,524 in May and 192,514 in June. Speaking on the issue, the Managing Director, NIBSS, Mr Adebisi Shonubi, said the number of PoS terminals registered on its platform is expected to continue to rise as the cash-less programme progresses. He said NIBSS and banks’ initiatives to promote electronic payment transactions would be

sustained to achieve success. The NIBSS boss said the issue of clearing of cheques, funds transfer, mobile payment system, capacity building among other initiatives, would be given adequate attention. He said NIBSS has engaged telecoms firms to provide workable PoS connectivity solutions to stabilise the PoS operations. Shonubi, however, said infrastructural problems, such as power and poor telecoms services pose threat to the success of cash-less economy initiatives.

push up naira

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) sold $20 billion less than the amount planned at a bimonthly sale of treasury bills. But the yields on its three-month bills fell, with dealers citing large purchases by foreign players. The apex bank sold just N50.65 billion ($321million) in three- and six-month bills compared with plans announced a fortnight ago for an auction of up to N70.65. Dealers,according to Reuters news, said the banking watchdog had rejected bids that were higher than it was prepared to pay for short-dated papers, pushing yields down to 14 per cent from 14.5 per cent at a previous sale three weeks ago. That pointed to pent-up demand for the currency from foreign players, and the naira firmed to N157.80 at 1102 GMT against the US dollar on the interbank market, recovering from a low of N158.10 where it closed the previous day. The apex bank auctioned N20 billion of 182-day paper at a yield of 15.08 per cent, compared with 15.30 per cent it sold on August 9. The Federal Government issues treasury bills twicemonthly to reduce the money supply, curb inflation and help lenders manage their liquidity. Total subscriptions for the bills were N136.91 billion.

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 2012

BUSINESS NEWS Flight Schedule MONDAY - FRIDAY LAGOS – ABUJA Departure Arrival 1. Aero 06.50 08.10 2. Associated 07.00 09.30 3. Air Nigeria 07.00 08.20 4. IRS 07.00 08.20 7. Arik 07.15 08.15 7. Chanchangi 07.15 9. Air Nigeria 08.15 09.35 10. Aero 08.45 10.05 11. Arik 09.15 10.15 12. Chanchangi 10.00 11.00 13. IRS 11.15 12.35 14. Aero 12.20 13.30 15. Air Nigeria 13.25 14.45 16. Chanchangi 13.30 14.30 17. Arik 13.45 14.45 18. IRS 14.00 15.20 19. Aero 14.10 15.30 20. Air Nigeria 14.50 16.10 21. Chanchangi 15.30 16.30 22. Arik 15.50 16.50 23. Aero 16.00 17.20 24. IRS 16.30 17.50 25. Arik 16.50 17.50 26. Chanchangi 17.30 18.30 27. Air Nigeria 17.35 18.55 29. Air Nigeria (T/TH) 18.30 19.50 20. Arik 18.45 19.45 31. Aero 19.20 20.40

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

LAGOS – BENIN Arik 07.30 Associated 08.30 Aero 10.50 Arik 11.45 Associated 13.00 Aero 14.25 Arik 15.30 Associated 16.00

1. 2. 3. 4.

Arik Aero Arik Aero

1. Arik 2. Aero

LAGOS – CALABAR 07.30 11.20 12.50 16.00 LAGOS – JOS 10.55 11.15

Nigeria, four others top list of FDIs

UB-SAHARA countries including Nigeria are among the highest recipients of Direct Foreign Investment (FDIs) in this year, a report released has said by Rennainance Capital has said. Entitled: Commodities still drive Sub-Sahara Africa FDI, Nigeria, the report stated that Ghana, Mozambique, Zambia and Guinea, were listed among the highest recipients of FDI in West Africa. The report said the flows of FDIs in the selected countries were largely driven by commodities. It said Nigeria attracted the highest FDIs compared to other economies last year. It said: “Nigeria has one of SubSahara Africa’s(SSA’s) highest export levels thanks to its abundant hydrocarbon deposits and attracted the most FDIs in relative

By Akinola Ajibade

terms in 2011, although its FDI/ Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was very low compared with other economies.” The report said Guinea export rising profile resulted in its being named one of the countries with the highest level of FDIs in the region. “Guinea‘s rise highlights the importance of commodity wealth for investors, as these West African country’s exports are rising fast, dominated by bauxite, and it was SSA’s biggest recipient of FDI as a share of FDI/GDP. According to the report, the SubSahara Africa (SSA) middle class is yet to reach a level where it can attract most FDIs. Buttressing its claims with a chart, the investment analyst firm said Nigeria and Ghana have the

lowest FDI/GDP among the five countries, notwithstanding the fact that they have the highest per capita income in the region. It stated that Guinea and Mozambique in contrast have some of the lowest per capita income, but with huge FDI. The firm said the ongoing exploitation of SSA’s resource wealth and the exploration of new deposits would only drive the economic growth over the long term. This, the firm said, will, in turn, lift household incomes and gradually shift the investment story from focusing on commodities to one that is focused on consumers. It said factors, such as business environment, macroeconomic stability and household income would begin to determine which SSA economies the bulk of FDI flows into as time goes on.

08.30 09.10 11.50 12.45 13.40 15.20 16.30 16.40 08.50 12.40 14.10 17.20

Lagos plans N1.7b estate By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie Asst Editor

HE Lagos State Government is constructing an estate at Agbowa in Ikosi-Ejirin Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of the state to accommodate evacuees from blighted areas. There have been severe cases of flooding, which sacked communities along the coastlines and water belt, leading to loss of lives and properties. As an interim measure, the government evacuated many of the affected residents to temporary sites until it is safe for them to return home. But the state government seems to have found a solution to the challenge by building a large estate to accommodate those who may be affected in future. Commissioner for Housing, Mr Bosu Jeje said the estate consists of 70 blocks of one, three and three-bedroom flats with 15 blocks of terrace building. He said the government’s initial plan was to build the estate at Ado-Ikosi, but it had to change its mind to go to the present site based on the outcome of a test to ascertain its suitability. Eight contractors are working on the project, which has been delayed due to paucity of funds. But from the construction schedule made available to The Nation, the estate may be completed by the middle of next year.

Mixed reactions trail N5,000 note, currency overhaul

12.15 12.45

•Continued from Page 25 1. 2. 3. 4.

LAGOS – KADUNA Aero 08.00 Chanchangi 10.00 Arik 10.00 Arik 15.10

09.10 11.00 11.10 16.20

LAGOS – PORT HARCOURT (CIVIL) 1. Aero 07.15 08.35 2. Arik 07.15 08.35 3. Arik 09.00 10.20 4. Aero 10.50 12.30 5. Arik 11.40 13.00 6. Air Nigeria 12.00 13.10 7. IRS 13.30 15.00 8. Arik 14.00 15.20 9. Air Nigeria 16.00 17.10 10 Arik 16.10 17.30 11. Aero 16.15 17.30 12. Arik 17.10 18.30 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

LAGOS – OWERRI Aero 07.30 Arik 07.30 Air Nigeria 13.40 Arik 14.00 Arik 16.30

08.40 08.40 14.55 15.10 17.40

1. 2. 3. 4.

Arik Aero Arik Aero

LAGOS – WARRI 08.15 11.50 11.55 14.55

09.1 12.50 12.55 15.55

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

LAGOS – KANO Air Nigeria 07.10 IRS 08.00 Arik 12.20 IRS 14.00 IRS 18.15

08.50 09.45 14.00 15.45 19.55

LAGOS – OWERRI 07.20 14.00 16.30

08.30 15.10 17.40

1. Arik 2. Arik 3. Arik

•From Right: Marketing Director, Nigerian Breweries PLC, Mr. Walter Drenth; Marketing Manager, Mr Tony Agenmonmen and Chairman, Obot Akara Local Government, Akwa Ibom State, Indogesit Ntekper, at a briefing for Gulder Ultimate Search Season 9, tagged: Gulder Ultimate Search: The gatekeeper’s for fortune, at Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE.

External reserves now over $40b, says CBN

OR the first time in many years, the nation’s external reserves leaped to over $40 billion. The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, attributed the increase in the reserves to proper planning as a result of the European and United States’economic crises. He said: “There’s been a relative slow down in GDP growth. The international environment has not been one of high inflation, so the challenges are those of commodity prices as a result of the European crisis and the US. We have focused on building our reserves, which is now

From Nduka Chiejina Asst Editor (Abuja)

at over $40 billion for the first time in a long time.” However, he said they were pleasantly surprised to see a slight dip in inflation, after the fuel subsidy removal because their models had projected that there would be a peak this quarter to about 14 per cent or 14.5 per cent. The CBN Governor noted that there had been “very sluggish growth in M2 and monetary tightening has been very effective and keeping the exchange rate fairly within the band that we expected of N157 to N158, which reduces imported infla-

tion.” If the CBN continues to build up the reserves and maintain a fairly stable exchange rate, he predicted that inflation would fall, “then we can look at the situation in the next two to four months.” Sanusi was optimistic that inflation might not get to 12.5 per cent, but “we don’t think it has peaked yet. Our models show it will peak around August or September, and begin to tapper down towards the end of the year.” He insisted that given the historical patterns, it is unlikely there would be a cyclical inflation.

Nnaji constitutes panel to probe PHCN pension LAGOS – MAIDUGURI 1. IRS 11.15 13.15 2. Arik 15.50 18.00 LAGOS – ILORIN 1. Overland 07.15 2. Arik (M/T/TH/F) 17.30

08.00 18.00

LAGOS – ABUJA SAT/SUN Arik 7.15; 10.20; 2.20; 5.20pm – 7.30; 9.15; 10.20; 2.20; 4.50; 6.45 Aero 07.30; 09.35; 13.10; 14.50; 20.20 – 07.30; 09.35; 13.10; 14.50; 20.20 Air Nigeria 08.15; 14.30; 17.15; 18.30 – 08.15; 13.30; 14.30; 17.15; 18.30

HE Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji, has set up an eight-member panel to in-

vestigate pension matters in the power sector. The panel, which was inaugurated at the Federal Ministry of Power headquarters in Abuja, has the former Auditor-General of the Federation, Mr Joseph Ajiboye, as Chairman and Dr. Samuel J. Agbogun, Managing Director/ Chief Executive, Nigeria Electric-

ity Liability Management Limited, as secretary. Other members include Mr Vesley A. Zafi, Director, Pensions, Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation; Alhaji Babayo Shehu, Director, Funds, Office of Accountant-General of the Federation, Abbo Mamman, Assistant General Manager, at PENCOM, John O. Chukwu; Director of Procurement, Federal Ministry of Works, Nicholas O. Agbo, Labour Adviser & Special

Assistant to the Minister of Power, and Mrs. Adetutu A. Shoetan, Legal Adviser, Federal Ministry of Power. Terms of reference of the panel include investigating the status of pension in the power sector vis-àvis the pension laws, identify officers involved in any misconduct, review the report of Agary Committee on Pension Matters and recommend measures to avert future occurrence; and sanctions against culprits.

business transactions much easier, adding that the new notes may not be as well circulated as other notes and may only be used in high volume transactions. Managing Director, IRIS Consulting, Richard Obire; Chief Executive Officer, Partnership Investment PLC, Victor Ogiemwonyi and Adeola Adenikinju, an economist at the University of Ibadan, however, believe that it will spark inflation and other problems. Obire said the policy will raise inflation, and further pauperise the common man. He said the proposed introduction of the new note contradicts with the apex bank’s cash-less policy. He said that it is a policy summersault for the banking watchdog to introduce higher denominations of notes at a time it is emphasising less use of cash. “The new note is against the cash-less policy because more people will find it easier to deal with cash,” he said. Obire said cash is synonymous with corruption, adding that the introduction of the new note would promote corruption. He, however, said the new note would reduce the nearly N200 billion banks spend on cash management. He regretted that the savings are not always passed on to customers. He said the challenge of printing new currency remains that of smaller denominations, especially coins, which always go out of circulation. He said Nigerians always forget coins immediately notes are converted to coins. According to him, Nigerians are vexed with the use of coins and same history will repeat itself immediately the new note is introduced. Ogiemwonyi said while the reasons for restructuring the currency seem plausible, adding the new higher denomination note of N5000 is curious, because “we are supposed to be fighting a war on money laundering and corruption.” He said larger denominated notes will make it easier to launder money and encourage corruption. According to him, the reasoning might be to have fewer notes in circulation. “But the merit of the new exercise, however, is the savings that will be made by not paying royalties for the patented features on the old notes,” he added.

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 2012

ISSUES

â&#x20AC;˘Muritala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos

Aviation Minister Princess Stella Oduah is upbeat on the outcome of her three-nation road show in search of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) for the sector. However, experts say it is a jamboree, reports KELVIN OSAOKUNBOR.

Cost, benefits of road show, by experts T

HE aviation sector is trying to put its act together in the face of the tragic June 3, DANA Air crash . The crash, in which over 150 people died, has resulted in a pall in passenger traffic and flight streams. In the wake of the development and in furtherance of repositioning the sector, Aviation Minister Princess Stella Oduah, undertook a three-nation road show that has drawn varied reactions. The show, the minister said, was endorsed by President Goodluck Jonathan last November, saying the drive for foreign investment will assist the government to fast track the completion of the on-going remodelling of airports in Benin, Lagos, Owerri, Maiduguri, Jos, Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt, Makurdi and Kaduna, among others. The timing of the investment drive, according to some experts in the sector, may not be appropriate, but that does not diminish the need for government to bring players across the globe to help develop infrastructure and other related issues such as airport concessioning. On the investment drive, Princess Oduah said: " The road show afforded us the opportunity to open an investment basket for the huge potentials that abound in the sector. The idea is premised on the dire need to urgently tackle and redress the huge infrastructure deficit in the sector by attracting Foreign

Direct Investment (FDI) in the development of facilities that will meet international standards and ensure adherence to best practices." The huge capital outlay required to carry out any significant transformation of the sector cannot be sourced primarily from statutory appropriations alone. It is on this score that the road show has opened another window to source for such funds from foreign investors to make up for the deficit. Sourcing funds to bridge the deficit gap necessitated the ministry accessing about $60 million (about N9.6billion) from the Bilateral Air Services Account (BASA) to fix the airports being remodelled. The BASA funds, so far, have been utilised to fix the decadent facilities at airports across the country, as on-going works at terminals at the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, (MMIA), Ikeja; Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, as well as the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano have shown. What is critical in the investment drive is how to deliver the construction of four international airport terminals in Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt and Abuja , under the concept christened, 'aerotropolis.' The proposed aerotroplolis model for airports in Nigeria, which is part of the drive for investors, holds immense benefits for the economy, even as it will promote regional

transformation and economic growth in the sub-region. This, according to experts, will open up other sectors of the economy, reduce over reliance on oil revenue, promote culture and tourism, as well as enhance safety and drive the rapid transformation of the industry. The investment drive has started paying off, as the world's renowned aircraft manufacturer, Boeing, has agreed to collaborate and partner with the Ministry of Aviation to reposition the sector as the reference point for all aviation related matters in Africa through a systematic approach that will enhance and sustain the nation's safety record, develop the industry as the continentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hub and reposition the industry as the main engine of growth for the economy. This is contained in an eight point programme of action between Boeing and the ministry which was brokered by a team of Nigerian officials on The Investors' road show to the United States (US). Under the programme, Boeing is to play a major role in the establishment of a Maintenance and Repair Organisation (MRO) establishment of Boeing training hub in Nigeria, carry out technical assessment of all aircraft operated by domestic airlines, fleet renewal and acquisition programme for the airlines, and develop a database for the country.

The scope also covers the development of an Integrated Air Navigation System (based on PBN), optimisation system support for airports and airlines as well as assess existing spare-parts and material mart with a view to proposing a business partnership case for the establishment of an integrated spare parts super market in Nigeria. Under the technical assessment of aircraft operated by domestic airlines programme, the action plan indicates that Boeing will assess the technical and operational conditions of all aircraft operated in the country and advise the ministry on measures that will ensure sustainable safety in the airspace. This includes a comprehensive assessment of the mechanical, technical, electrical and avionics of commercial aircrafts through physical inspection of the aircraft and report findings. Boeing will also provide a diagnostic kit for early warning signals on the physical and operational conditions of domestic carriers and provide a check list for mitigating systems collapse. It will also assess existing fleet capacity of the domestic carriers and propose an appropriate model for fleet acquisition, management and renewal. On the MRO, Boeing will carry out a comprehensive assessment of all existing MRO Continued on page 28

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 2012

ISSUES

Cost, benefits of road show, by experts Continued from page 27

platforms in Nigeria and report on their capacities in relation to classes of mandatory maintenance checks, propose partnership models for the establishment of an integrated MRO platform for mandatory checks up to CChecks and advise on infrastructural and operational requirements to mitigate shortcomings. In order to achieve the ambition of making Nigeria a training hub on the continent and enhance the local capacity of the industry in the country, Boeing is to carry out an assessment of training facilities and operational capacity of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, the capacity gaps in all its programmes, its operational capacity in relation to all categories of training requirements for all classes of airline services in Nigeria and propose an appropriate training curricula to be adopted by NCAT for all categories of training, amongst others. Boeing, whose team was led by Director of Sales, Africa, Mr Lawrence Polliver expressed satisfaction with the ministry's roadmap for the revival of the industry in Nigeria, and declared its readiness to collaborate on the eight-point programme of action for the repositioning of the sector as the aviation hub on the continent. The commitment of the American aircraft manufacturers comes after an initial deal struck with Bombardier, the Canadian-based third largest aircraft manufacturer in the world. It had expressed readiness to partner with Nigeria, as well. The company has equally agreed to work out modalities with the Nigerian aviation authorities to facilitate the acquisition of new aircrafts by domestic airline operators in the country. Vice President, Public Affairs, Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility of the company, Helene V.Gagnon, made the pledge in Montreal, Canada. On aircraft acquisition, she said Bombardier is equally ready to play a major role in replenishing a newer fleet for domestic airline operators in Nigeria, and expressed the hope that both parties would come to a compromise on the modalities as soon as possible. Laudable as the outcome of the road show, experts in the industry have continued to pick holes in it, saying it is a fruitless search. An airline official, who pleaded not to be named, described it as unnecessary as the visits to two aircraft manufacturers, Boeing and Bombardier appeared skewed in favour of the two companies, as Nigeria is the weaker partner in the deal. The operator said : " The Minister was received by commercial officials of the aircraft manufacturers, who only see Nigeria as a trading out post, where they can sell their aircraft. They are not going to invest any money. It is a commercial agreement, where they can earn money from the sale of their airplanes. “At Boeing, it was an action plan that was agreed at, which will more or less open sales opportunities for the company. So, if this is a road show for investors, how come nobody or organisation in any of the countries visited, has spoken of any commitment to invest a specific amount on either airport infrastructure or other facilities that could provide jobs for Nigerians. In my view, it was just a jamboree, like previous efforts that will not advance the cause of the industry. Also, a union leader described the event as another attempt to waste public funds. He said the objective of the foreign investment drive could not be achieved because it will be difficult to convince anybody at this material time that the country is faced with insecurity and the absence of infrastructure, arguing that given the experience of previous ministers, it will be difficult to attract the needed foreign investment. An inter-governmental affairs liaison for a foreign carrier expressed mixed feelings over the roadshow. He said : “I have mixed feelings over this so called road show targeted at foreign investors.The truth of the matter is, from experience given the policy somersault in the sector over private sector investment a lot of people will be afraid. “People only want to put their money in places that are secured in terms of security, political stability and consistency in legislation that can protect such investment. It may be a good image for Nigeria to be shopping for foreign investors in the sector, but whether there is sufficient policy to secure such engagements, is another issue,” stakeholders observed.

•Princess Oduah

Princess Oduah said Nigeria is desirous of having an MRO facility to cushion the adverse effect of domestic operators having to fly their fleet overseas always for maintenance. She said the absence of Bombardier in Nigeria in spite of its presence in Africa means the company is harnessing an insignificant segment of its market on the continent, and assured of a good return on investment if Nigeria is made a maintenance hub. The Minister also expressed her desire to have domestic operators acquire new aircraft that are very efficient, stressing that this is the only way they can operate optimally. She called on the aircraft manufacturer to partner with her ministry to facilitate the acquisition of aircraft by domestic operators through access to cheap funds. "We are in need of your aircraft, no doubt but what concerns us really is to agree on a business model that will work for both of us. Now, for us to optimise the utilisation of your aircraft, we must be able to service and maintain them properly in Nigeria. What this means is that our people have to be trained, which means the training and maintenance facility has to be established in Nigeria. The MRO facility has to be established in Nigeria. “You have talked about your presence in Africa, but it is probably one tenth of what it should be if you have Nigeria as your base with an MRO facility and I will tell you why.We have embarked on rehabilitation and renewal of infrastructure, we are also constructing new ones. By the end of 2013 we are going to have five new international airports in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano and Enugu; we would also have completed the on-going remodelling of all 22 existing airports. Currently our annual passenger traffic is 14.7 million and we are growing at the rate of seven per cent annually, no other African country traffic grows at this rate and we haven't even done anything to enhance the capacity yet". She said the on-going effort to enhance and grow the capacity means the sector will experience an unprecedented growth from seven per cent annually to about 15 per cent. "What this means is that we have a huge market, coupled with the fact that we have a very mobile and dynamic middle class as well as being natural travellers. When you put all these together, you can see why we are positioning the aviation sector as a pivotal tool for the growth of the Nigerian economy.” She, however, lamented that the huge advantage the population should explore and exploit remains largely untapped as domestic

•Captain Pam

airlines are severely incapacitated in terms of access to newer aircrafts and attractive credit facilities, and called on Bombardier to intervene in this regard adding that she looks forward to having brand, new aircraft for domestic airlines that will enable them operate efficiently and confer on the sector the needed boost as the natural hub in Africa. On August 4, the Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Stella Oduah and chief executive officers of agencies in the aviation industry embarked on what some aviation stakeholders and analysts have described as a jamboree to Canada, China and the United States. The project is coming at a time when stakeholders feel the minister should have concentrated on the remodelling of 11 airports, which has cost the industry billions of naira. Commenting on the issue, the National President of the Concerned Aviation Professionals (CAP) and former pilot with Nigeria Airways Limited (NAL) Captain Tito Omaghomi, said time will prove if the tour was approved by a higher authority. He said: "The woman has a master who approved the road show. Time will prove us right.” Chairman of Nigeria Aviation Safety Initiative (NASI),Captain Dung Pam, said : " The aviation minister’s road show should be focused on getting preferably African partners to jointly invest in aviation infrastructure. The major disadvantage of having dominant overseas partners investing in our economy is loss of revenue through capital flight and erosion of high level local skills. African nations need to co-operate with each other on major infrastructure projects. “There are synergies to be gained in working collectively. Infrastructure projects can stimulate the economy and provide employment, while green energy projects can help combat climate change. Having African partners will prevent capital flight out of the continent and accelerate acquisition of the muchneeded skill sets in Africa. “Nigeria will always suffer capital fight but it is better if the capital flight ends at developing the African aviation industry through the contributions of South African Airways, Kenya Airways etc, than if it ends up in the portfolio of foreign partners in Europe or America whose major impact to us will be their Co2 emissions. “The African aviation environment is affected by factors which must be appropriately managed on a regional scope to effect any significant change. Impressive strides made by individual countries like South Africa, Ethiopia, Egypt, and Kenya among other within

‘People only want to put their money in places that are secured in terms of security, political stability and consistency in legislation that can protect such investment. It may be a good image for Nigeria to be shopping for foreign investors in the sector, but whether there is sufficient policy to secure such engagements, is another issue’

•Captain Omaghomi

the Africa Indian Ocean (AFI) region in achieving global safety and technological standards can be transferable by working together. Such initiatives will speed up regional integration and increased dependency, thus minimising chances of regional conflict between member states." Head of Research at Zenith Travels, Mr Olumide Ohunayo described the road show as uncalled for. “The questions before our team to the transformational jamboree is why are investors putting $1billion investment in Philippine carriers despite being a category two country? Why is the first low cost carrier going to domicile in Ghana? Is the Chinese Airline going to set up a regional airline in Ghana? Why did Air France code-share with non starters like Air Burkina and Air Mali but chose to fly to three points here.” Ohunayo stated that it was not through glamorous road shows or by verbally assaulting or insulting respected voices that aviation would be developed in the country. An industry player, who pleaded not to be named, said he had mixed feelings about the road show. According to him, "Let me just say that one of the problems we always have in Nigeria is that we don't set our priorities right. We sometimes or most of the time leave the substance and start chasing shadows. We have a lot of problems at the airports across the country. Look at the Lagos airport where 80 per cent of the airline originates from Nigeria, the Air Field Lighting (AFL) at the domestic runway has not been fixed for years. Somebody is now saying that we have money to go on a jamboree to Canada, China and the United States. It is uncalled for. We don't need this at least for now. Even if we need it, there are several ways of getting your market across the world." The minister, he said should be thinking of how to put the ministry on the internet, adding that there are canvassers all over the world who can be contacted if there are products to be sold. A member of the National Association of Pilots and Aircraft Engineers (NAAPE) Mr Sheri Kyari said the Federal Government should have sensitised the local investors, people and talk of the facilities at airports before embarking on road shows. "This shows that the Federal Government has decided to start from the international arena before briefing people at home. I don't know, I have my reservation concerning it and I pray that these people have measurable yardstick that when they finish this they should be able to tell the nation what they have achieved with the road shows they have taken to the international community. "I don't know how many Nigerians outside the country they have been able to sensitise to be part of that but if it is just that some people will go and do a press briefing and come back, it is not going to be good for Nigeria. Road shows at this time of severe insecurity in the country, I don't know the impact it will have internationally for now. I would have expected the ministry to do a lot of sensitisation locally so that business people and institutional investors within the country can take advantage of such opportunity rather than going outside where I don't know there will be much impact from outside.” How the benefits of the road show will shape affairs in the aviation industry remains a matter for time to tell.

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 27,

AFRICAN BUSINESS

Drought threatens food supplies F ARMERS in South Asia and subSaharan Africa are increasingly taking up small-scale irrigation schemes as drought threatens the security of food supplies, a report by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) has said. With food security back on the international agricultural agenda, and climate change increasing the uncertainty of rainfall, governments in the region have been urged to reconsider investments related to irrigated agriculture. Small-scale irrigation technology, such as motorised pumps and hosing to access groundwater, experts said, could cost a sub-Saharan African smallholder $250 or more but could improve crop yields by between 75 and 275 per cent. Drought, climate change, IWMI Director General Colin Chartres, said, are working to move the world into another food crisis like 2007-2008, triggered by a U.S. drought and the late onset and irregularity of the South Asian monsoon. He said if there is more investment

in small-scale irrigation, it means food supply in Africa is more secure as it won’t replace the need for staple cereal crops, but gives farmers more insurance against a food crisis. Small-scale irrigation schemes usually cover areas less than two hectares. Farmers largely initiate and finance irrigation equipment individually or in small groups and use low-cost technologies such as buckets, watering cans and pumps. For instance, in Ghana, around 185,000 hectares are under smallscale irrigation schemes, benefiting half a million smallholders, and some 170,000 farmers in Burkina Faso water vegetable crops in the dry season using small-scale irrigation, the IWMI estimates. Vegetable production has nearly tripled in the Burkina Faso to 160,000 tonnes in 2005 from 60,000 tonnes in 1996 and is still growing, the agency said.

•Bags of rice

Kenya moves against deadly maize disease K

ENYA has asked farmers to burn tracts of maize fields and plant alternative crops to mitigate the spread of a deadly maize virus that has the potential to wipe out 80 per cent of the crop, a senior official in the Ministry of Agriculture Wilson Songa has said. The disease - maize lethal necrosis has caused fears of soaring food prices in east Africa’s biggest economy, which faces a deficit of the staple every year and bridges the gap through imports from Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia and Malawi. Wilson Songa, the ministry’s agriculture secretary said the virus - which makes the plant to turn yellow and dry up - had mostly affected the south rift, a part of the country’s main bread basket and the eastern region. “The total (affected) acreage of the last survey we did (July) is 64,115 hectares. Eighty per cent of that crop was destroyed,” he said. “That means our food security will be at stake and that is why we are taking this disease very seriously.” The government fears further spread of the disease that makes plants to dwarf and age prematurely, could be catastrophic if it extended to Trans Nzoia in Kenya’s Rift Valley, which produces 60 per cent of the country’s maize production. “We don’t know how serious it will be next season. With such serious incidence, we are advising (farmers) to go for alternative crops to try and reduce the (virus),” said Songa. He said the combination of two viruses that make up the maize disease was “perplexing”, adding spraying insecticides was under way and some farmers were advised to burn the crop.

WO shipments of 10,000 tonnes of cocoa beans exported from Ivory Coast to Brazil has ben rejected by the latter’s authorities. Officials said they arrived infested with insects. But the West African Cocoa insisted that they were certified before they were exported. Brazilian officials said earlier this month that the shipments, exported in July, lacked the usual documents showing they had been fumigated after loading into the ships’ hulls in Ivory Coast. Brazil’s Agriculture ministry said last week it had temporarily suspended imports from the world’s top grower pending an Ivorian investiga-

•Bank to buy local rivals

•Maize farm

There are two maize seasons in Kenya, March-May which is the main season and October to January. Affected farmers have been advised not to plant maize in the second season, further casting doubt on the availability of the staple. Last year, Kenya produced 36.5 million bags of maize on 2.1 million hectares, amid drought that saw prices more than double. This

caused inflation to rise to close to 20 percent, though it has since fallen to 7.7 percent However, Kenya’s NIC Bank plans to acquire up to three other local banks in danger of coming up short on the central bank’s more demanding core capital requirements, the bank’s chief executive James Macharia, has said after it posted a rise in half-year profits.

“We have to look for a bank which is compatible with good chemistry, shareholding and strategy. Maybe two or three banks,” Macharia said. Kenya’s 43 banks will be required to have at least 1 billion Kenyan shillings ($12 million) of core capital from the end of this year, up from 250 million shillings, and many of the smaller institutions are expected

Brazil rejects Ivorian cocoa tion. “The Coffee and Cocoa Council (CCC) would like to make clear that the offending shipments were definitely inspected and phytosanitary certificates were issued,” the marketing board said in a statement. A CCC official, who asked not to be named, confirmed that the documentation for the shipments included fumigation certificates. “All the papers concerning fumigation exist. We really do not know what happened. Only inves-

tigations will allow us to determine who was responsible,” the official said. An inquiry involving the exporting firms, the CCC and Ivorian agriculture ministry as well as Brazilian authorities is currently under way to determine how the shipments became contaminated, the statement said. “The fumigation of cocoa upon exportation is a legal obligation and a commercial necessity for registered coffee and cocoa exporters,” the statement read.

“Not doing so would endanger not only the Ivorian export image but also their commercial efforts.” Neither Ivory Coast nor Brazil has released the names of the export and shipping companies involved. Ivory Coast, which exported more than 1.5 million tonnes of cocoa during a record 2010/11 season, has called the infestation of the two shipments an “exceptional case”. Brazilian officials have also said there is no record that any previous shipments imported from Ivory Coast contained insects.

to miss that target even though the rule was introduced in 2009. About two years ago, small lenders, Equatorial Commercial Bank (ECB) and Southern Credit Bank merged under the ECB brand, citing the need to enlarge their branch network and balance sheet. NIC itself is undertaking a 2 billion-shilling rights issue, which Macharia said he expected to be oversubscribed. The bank has posted a 42 per cent increase in pretax profits to 2.28 billion shillings, mainly driven by a rise in non-capital-backed income such as fees and foreign exchange trading. The bank, which already operates in Tanzania and Uganda, has ambitions to expand into Ethiopia, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Malawi and Mozambique. “Maybe from next year, we shall possibly (enter) Rwanda,” Macharia said. He said at a media briefing that diversified revenue streams from non-funded income, mainly fees and foreign exchange trading, had cushioned the bank from high interest rates in Kenya, which some banks blamed for a slowdown in lending. The bank’s non-funded income surged by the largest margin, increasing 47 per cent to 1.53 billion shillings, while total income rose by 36 percent to 2.98 billion shillings in the six months to the end of June. The central bank embarked on an aggressively tight monetary policy last year, raising the key lending rate by 11 percentage points in the second half to keep a lid on inflation and stabilise the currency. The CCC said trade relations between the two countries had not been damaged by the incident. Brazil’s cocoa development agency, Ceplac, said there were four or five kinds of insects found in samples from the shipments, all of which were also common in Brazil. None were pests found on cocoa plantations or a threat to Brazil’s own production. The shipments have since been fumigated and were awaiting further testing last week to determine whether the level of infestation was below the threshold that restricts the cocoa’s use or requires it to be incinerated.

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 2012

MONEY LINK

CBN to retain monetary tightening stance, say analysts

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is expected to retain its monetary tightening position in the coming months, Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Company (FDC) Limited, Bismark Rewane, has said. In this month’s edition of FDC Economic Report, he explained that despite moderation in the headline inflation in July, average Nigerian Interbank Offered Rate (NIBOR) rose. The average NIBOR trended upward by 27 basis points to 15.68 per cent per annum in July from 15.41 per cent in June.

By Collins Nweze

The rise was as a result of the four per cent increase in Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) from eight per cent to 12 per cent, which immediately spiked rates and have since moderated to their previous trend. The apex bank’s position on monetary tightening is hinged on its commitment to check inflation. “The CBN is unlikely to change its monetary tightening stance due to inflation monitoring,” he said. Rewane said he expected interest rates to remain high, al-

are passed on to urban consumers in form of higher prices,” he said. The FDC boss explained that urban index uses a basket that is different from the official basket and is also confined to certain markets in Lagos Island such as Sangrose, Sura and environs. These markets are in suburbs with consumers and sellers that are sophisticated and haggle a bit more than usual. The major differences between the FDC basket and the national basket are in the food, food and non alcoholic, imported food, clothing and foot-wares, housing and

though if the moderation in inflation continues in August, the rates should ease marginally. FDC’s Lagos urban index declined by 0.32 per cent three times more than the national average and the official figure of 12.8 per cent in July. This is a significant departure from the conventional relationship between the urban and national price movements in the country. “Typically urban inflation is usually higher than the rural or national average. This is because apart from the higher purchasing power in the cities, the costpush factors like transportation

Winners emerge in Sterling Bank’s Savers’ Promo

HE first set of winners in the ongoing Sterling Bank’s Savers’ Promo have emerged with four of the bank’s customers winning N500,000 each during a draw held in Lagos at the weekend. The winners are Dada Ayodele, Aniagolu Kelvin, Omar Aiyelabegan and Eddy Borha. Other 10 customers won five refrigerators and five home theatres to bring the total number of winners in the July edition to 14. The winners include Adetoye Taiwo, Opara Jerome, Bede Alozie, Egweh Joseph. All the winners emerged from 22,691 qualified entries pooled using electronic draw. The bank’s Group Head, Liability Products and Bancassurance, John Akingbade, explained that the promo which started on May, 1, this year would run through December 31, and is meant to promote fi-

nancial inclusion in the economy as well as reward the bank’s customers. “We are trying to ensure that the unbanked populace estimated at about 56 million is captured. “They require banking services which they do not have access to. The promo is an avenue to bring them onboard and reward them accordinly,” he said. Akingbade said for the bank, the balance sheet growth is a secondary consideration, as it is primarily focused on ensuring that the unbanked segment of the population are included in Nigeria’s financial system. “We are reaching out to the informal segment of the population like barbers, mechanics, technicians, tailors, and other small retail outlets that have been excluded from banking services,” he said. Group Head, Corporate Development, Shina Atilola, explained that the promo has been

structured to accommodate all categories of customers based on their income levels and is targeted at the bank’s existing and prospective customers. It was also expected to strengthen the bank’s deposit liabilities and position it to compete favourably in the industry. He explained that customers are expected to open new account with minimum initial opening balance of N5,000 and maintain a minimum deposit of N100,000; N50,000 or N25,000 for at least three months during the promo period. This qualifies them to win the star prize of SUV, second prize of N1 million and third prize of N500,000 respectively. They can also fund their existing accounts with the bank in like sums to qualify for the draws. For the monthly prizes, the customers are to open new accounts with minimum initial opening balance of N5, 000 and

maintain a minimum deposit of N20, 000 for at least three months during the promo period. This qualifies them win N500, 000 and other gift items such as blackberry phones, home theaters, refrigerators, microwave ovens among others. He encouraged customers of the bank to save more as such will increase their chances of winning the prizes. He said the draw would be conducted monthly in Lagos, South west, Southsouth, and Abuja zones to enable customers of the bank from all parts of the country to benefit from the exercise. A representative of the Consumer Protection Council (CPC), Ngozika Obidike, said the promo was registered with the commission which also gives it legal backing. She said the draw that produced the winners was transparent, adding that the exercise would assist the lender to

FGN BONDS Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year 5-Year

35m 35m 35m

11.039 12.23 13.19

19-05-2014 18-05-2016 19-05-2016

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

INTERBANK RATES 7.9-10% 10-11%

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2012 “ 14-04-2012

GAINERS AS AT 24-8-12 SYMBOL

O/PRICE

ROADS INTBREW DNMEYER DANGFLOUR AGLEVENT UBN JAPAULOIL NESTLE DANGCEM AIRSERVICE

6.61 8.02 0.63 6.20 1.14 4.80 0.59 511.03 110.01 1.70

C/PRICE

6.94 8.42 0.66 6.49 1.19 5.00 0.61 525.06 113.00 1.74

O/PRICE 1.40 0.81 2.38 0.99 1.59 0.60 4.50 17.00 0.52 1.64

C/PRICE 1.33 0.77 2.28 0.95 1.53 0.58 4.40 16.65 0.51 1.61

would assist in lifting standards in institutions of higher learning across the country. The Rector of the school, Dr. Magareth Ladipo, commended the bank for responding to the plea of the association in helping to develop the school by financing the large edifice. She urged other corporate organisations to follow the Skye Bank’s example by offering a helping hand to higher institutionsinthecountry,adingthatgovernmentalonecouldnotfundeducation. The President of the alumni association, Chief Emmanuel Unachukwu,saidthegroupchoseto honour their alma mater by constructing the edifice to ameliorate the infrastructural challenges facing the institution. He expressed his gratitude to Skye Bank for funding the project from the beginning to the end, saying the association’s accomplishments in developing the school were in great part due to the support of the bank.

CHANGE 0.07 0.04 0.10 0.04 0.06 0.02 0.10 0.35 0.01 0.03

Exchange Rate (N) 155.2 155.8 155.7

Date 2-7-12 27-6-12 22-6-12

CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Year Start Offer

NGN USD NGN GBP NGN EUR NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N) (S/N) Bureau de Change (S/N) Parallel Market

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

147.6000 239.4810 212.4997

149.7100 244.0123 207.9023

150.7100 245.6422 209.2910

-2.11 -2.57 -1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

152.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

153.0000

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

DISCOUNT WINDOW

MPR

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

Feb. ’11

July ’11

Dec ’11

6.50%

12%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00% 12.10%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00% 12.10%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00% 12.6%

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

NSE CAP Index

27-10-11 N6.5236tr 20,607.37

Rate (Previous) 4 Mar, 2012 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

Rate (Currency) 6, Mar, 2012 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

28-10-11 N6.617tr 20,903.16

% Change -1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

CHANGE

0.33 0.40 0.03 0.29 0.05 0.20 0.02 14.03 2.99 0.04

Amount Sold ($) 150m 138m 113m

EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12

LOSERS AS AT 24-8-12

SYMBOL LIVESTOCK FIDSON ETERNA TRANSCORP BAGCO CONTINSURE DANGSUGAR CADBURY WAPIC RTBRISCOE

KYE Bank Plc has donated a modern twostorey multi-purpose edifice to the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) Alumni Association. The building, which has a large hall, also houses an information technology centre and numerous offices, including the ones for the use of the association. Speaking at the inauguration of the building, the bank’s Executive Director, Commercial Banking and Public Sector, Mr Gbenga Ademulegun, said the bank embarked on the project as part of efforts to discharge its social responsibility to the community where it operates. He commended the association for conceiving the idea of leaving behind a worthy legacy to the institution and enjoined other alumni associations to emulate the example. He assured the association of the bank’s continued support, noting that such complementary efforts from alumni bodies

Amount Amount Offered ($) Demanded ($) 350m 150m 350m 138m 350m 113m

Currency OBB Rate Call Rate

SkyeBankdonatestoYABATECH

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM

MANAGED FUNDS

NIDF NESF

on the established relationship between the trends of both the headline inflation and FDCs’ survey estimates, urban inflation is consistent with the marginal moderation in the headline inflation, which eased to 12.8 per cent in July from 12.9 per cent month earlier. Also, following the slight ease in inflation, increased agricultural output, improved electricity supply and moderation in the global food prices, there are possibilities of inflation in August to ease further by 12.4 per cent.

DATA BANK

Tenor

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

health indices, while transportation is approximately the same. The price movement last month from FDCs’ survey shows a decline in most consumer prices. The prices of major food items such as pepper, yam tubers, cassava and guinea corn declined while bread, and fruits increased from the previous months level. In the non-food category, electricity tariff and paints increased while the prices of textiles, cement and other building materials declined in July. Rewane concluded that based

Offer Price

Bid Price

ARM AGGRESSIVE 9.17 KAKAWA GUARANTEED 1.00 STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE 123.93 AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND 108.11 LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL 0.76 BGL SAPPHIRE FUND 1.10 BGL NUBIAN FUND 0.93 NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. 1,734.37 PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND 9.75 CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST 1.39 CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST 1.87 STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY 8,091.93 THE DISCOVERY FUND 193.00 FIDELITY NIGFUND 1.67 • ARM AGGRESSIVE • KAKAWA GUARANTEED • STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND

9.08 1.00 123.79 107.85 0.74 1.10 0.91 1,731.67 9.28 1.33 1.80 7,875.38 191.08 1.62

Movement

OPEN BUY BACK

Bank P/Court

Previous 04 July, 2011

Current 07, Aug, 2011

8.5000 8.0833

Movement

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 2012

MONEY MARKET REPORT

Maturing TBs lift liquidity L

IQUIDITY in the banking industry was upbeat last week as maturing Treasury Bills (TBs) worth N116 billion from Open Market Operation (OMO) hit the market. This was also followed with a drop on cost of borrowing among banks. Nigeria’s interbank lending rates eased by 200 basis points on Friday to an average of 11 per cent, from 14 per cent while call rates dropped to 11.50 per cent against the 14 per cent previously. Dealers said the market opened with a cash balance of about N237 billion on Friday, compared with N197 billion deficit last week. The secured Open Buy Back (OBB) fell to 10.50 per cent, from 14 per cent last week, 1.50 percentage points lower than the Central Bank’s 12 per cent benchmark rate, and 50 basis points above the standing deposit facility (SDF) rate. “We are anticipating a situation where the Central Bank would intensify its effort to mop-up idle funds from the system next week and this should see rates inching up to around 14 per cent for overnight,” one dealer said. The Debt Management Office (DMO) sold N50.65 billion in three-and six-month bills last week, N20 billion less than the amount planned at its regular auction with yields also lower than the previous auction. But it sold $120 million at the only foreign exchange auction. Meanwhile, the naira on Friday, firmed to N157.80 against the dollar on the interbank market, recovering from a low of N158.10 naira where it closed the previous day.

Infrastructure Nigeria requires over $10 billion annually over the next 10 years to bridge infrastructure gap, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said.This puts the total infrastructure need for the nation in the next decade at $100 billion. CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi disclosed this in a statement entitled: The role of development finance institutions in infrastructure. He said foreign direct investment receipts outside the traditional oil and gas sector, and more recently, telecoms are not significant for infrastructure financing needs. Existing sources of long-term financing, such as multilateral loans, euro and or dollar bonds, private equity, among others, are either grossly inadequate, expensive or unavailable based on the present global economic realities. The statement published on the CBN website said for commercial banks, the maturity transformation risk is high based on their funding structure, which mainly consists of short-term deposits, coupled with limited skills to perform their intermediation role. “One potential solution is the use of pension funds. Nigeria has over N2.3 trillion in Pension funds, which yield predictable streams of income in the long-term that match their typical long-term liabilities. In addition, they hedge against inflation and are less volatile. Across the world, pension funds, insurance companies and private equity are playing an increasing role in infrastructure financing,” he said.

RenCap Reports Renaissance Capital (RenCap) last week upgraded shares of Stanbic IBTC Bank from sale to hold. The recommendation for hold came after a reduction in its risk-free rate to 11 per cent from 12 per cent and 12-month target price to N6.44 from N5.72. The investment and research firm explained in an emailed report that it trimmed the bank’s 2012 forecasts, largely on lower advances growth and given ongoing pressure on margins. RenCap said the bank’s 2012 Earnings Per Share (EPS) estimate is 48 kobo, up from 58 kobo. It said the comparative base is considerably easier in second half of 2012, given that second half of 2011’s high impairment charge. “We were somewhat disappointed by Stanbic IBTC’s recently announced first half

By Collins Nweze

2012 results, as pressure on margins and higher-than-expected cost growth reduced profit growth. An abnormally low tax rate aided the result, but reduced its quality. We have reduced our full-year forecasts,” it said. CIBN restructures The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) has embarked on a restructuring aimed at strengthening its operations and processes of the institute. This, it said in a statement, would assist it in meeting the expectations of stakeholders in the industry and economy at large. It said its target is to benchmark programmes of other banking institutes in various countries, create new administrative structure for the institute, among other issues. To drive these initiatives, the institute promoted three Principal Managers to Assistant Directors. The newly promoted Assistant Directors are Mr Segun Shonubi, former Principal Manager Membership Services; Mr Oluseye Awojobi, former Principal Manager, Education and Mrs. Rukayat Yusuf, former Principal Manager, Consultancy, Training and Research.

Finance Houses Finance Houses operating in the country are advocating a funding pool from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The subsector, which unlike banks, is not allowed by law to accept desposits from customers, has been lamenting the limited sources of funding for its operation. This limitation means finance companies can only source for funds from share holders, private equity companies, development finance institutions and other institutional investors. A statement from the Finance Houses Association of Nigeria (FHAN), said the plan would stimulate lending in the sub-sector and create structured programmes to address the reputation and poor visibility challenges in the unit. Also to address challenges confronting the sector, FHAN is discussing with chief executive officers of finance companies operating in the country. The body is discussing salient issues in the operating environment, which should be addressed in the new policy framework that is in the works. President of the association, Samuel Durojaye, said the CBN reforms in the sector will transform, and reposition the finance company sub-sector to enable it play increasing role in Nigeria’s financing value chain. He acknowledged the apex bank’s continuing support to and engagement with the association on this project. He called on FHAN members to support the bank’s efforts at strengthening the regulatory environment by regular and timely rendering of all statutory returns and reports, as well as the renewal of their operating licences yearly.

AMCON Confidence has been restored in the bridged banks and they are competing like other lenders in the country, the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria’s (AMCON’s) Executive Director, Finance and Operations, Mrs Mofoluke Dosunmu, has said. The bridged banks - Keystone, Enterprise and Mainstreet – are the defunct BankPHB, Spring Bank and Afribank. They were among the banks rescued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) after their shareholders refused to allow new investors recapitalise them. The banks were subsequently liquidated and fresh funds injected by AMCON. Speaking on the performance of the banks, which were bridged by the corporation about a year ago, Dosunmu explained that the segregation (healthy and unhealthy) among the banks has fizzled away. “In the first place we have confidence back in the industry. Before now, some banks were healthy, some were not healthy. Now you don’t have that anymore because the initial run experienced by the banks no longer applies. Customers have discovered that

•Naira notes

‘The Debt Management Office (DMO) sold N50.65 billion in three-and six-month bills last week, N20 billion less than the amount planned at its regular auction with yields also lower than the previous auction. But it sold $120 million at the only foreign exchange auction’ anytime they walked into those institutions, they can got their money back,” she said.

Rancard Rancard Solutions Limited (Rancard), a firm assisting telecoms firms in Africa to deliver mobile money and other technology solutions have received undisclosed back-up funding from Adlevo Capital Managers, a private equity fund and Intel Capital, Intel’s global investment and Merger and Acquisition focused entity. Commenting on the investment at a briefing in Lagos, Intel Capital’s Investment Director of Sub Sahara Africa, Samuel Mensah Jr, disclosed that Intel invests $500 million yearly into technology companies in the world. He said since the formation of the company, it has invested $11 billion in 1,200 transactions spread across 54 countries.

Microfinance banks NON-performing loans (NPLs) in Microfinance Banks (MfBs) operating in Lagos have increased from N10 billion to N15 billion in the past one year. The Chairman, National Association of Microfinance Banks (NAMBs) Southwest, Olufemi Babajide, disclosed this during a capacity building workshop for operators in Lagos. Babajide said majority of the customers are not willing to repay their debts, forcing the lenders to operate with the little funds at their disposal. He said: “We are operating with the funds we got from our depositors and investors. Out coverage area is 20 per cent of our target. The fund is limited. He said NAMB is planning to approach the state governments in the Southwest to see if they can buy the bad debts, and subsequently pay back based on agreement over a period of time. He said the banks are still battling with problems, in spite of the fact that they are private-driven. He listed the problems to include poor funding, huge

debts, cost of operations, lack of ignorance about the workings of MFBs, among others.

Citigroup Citigroup’s chief executive has knocked down the idea of splitting up big banks after calls from industry figures including his predecessor Sandy Weill. According to Financial Times, Vikram Pandit said Citi, formed in Weill’s time with mergers including the acquisition of Travellers in 1998, had already gone back to the basics of banking and, aside some global markets businesses, sold most of the units from that deal. “What’s left here is essentially the old Citicorp. That’s a tried and proven strategy. Why did it work? Because it was strategy based upon operating the business and serving clients and not a strategy based on deal making,” he said. Weill, whose transformative Citi purchases helped end the GlassStealgall separation of retail and investment banks in the United States, urged a break-up of big banks last month.

Bank to bank report The management of Enterprise Bank Limited (EBL) has assured staff of its subsidiary, First Spring Franchise Services (FSFS) Limited, that the planned sale of the company in line with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN’s) directive, will not create any setback. In a statement, the bank’s Head, Corporate Communication, Olusola Longe-Okenimkpe, said this became imperative following the increased concern of the workers about losing their jobs in the aftermath of the firm being handed over to its new owners. He said: “Enterprise Bank has ensured that no staff will suffer as a result of the transfer of service to a new owner. As a matter of fact, the bank has put in place a number of positive measures to protect the interest of every staff.”

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 2012

THE CEO How should the N2.6 trillion pension fund be utilised? Many believe that the cash should be invested in the stock market and other areas of the economy. But, Chairman, Pension Operators Association of Nigeria (PENOP) Dave Uduanu, disagrees that the fund be used to stabilise the stock market. He tells CHUKS UDO OKONTA, in this interview, that doing so will amount to misapplying the cash.

‘Pension fund not for capital market’s revival’

• Uduanu

HAT’S the reaction of pension fund to recapitalisation? The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has concluded the first phase of the recapitalisation. They have said it would be in two phases and the first phase was to state the number of Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) that have in principle met the new minimum capital requirement and they are 18. What they have also said is that they are going to do verification on the capital contributed by other PFAs. The verification is a throw-back to the banking recapitalisation days, where the Nigerian Deposit and Insurance Coorporation (NDIC) used to do verification of capital to ensure that they were sourced genuinely. It is just to ensure that operators do not contravene the AntiMoney Laundering Act. We do not expect that number to change. So, I would say, today, we have 18 PFAs. And we do not expect that number to reduce because; we believe that a lot of the PFAs are owned by corporate institutions and individuals of high pedigree.

The check is not about whether the money came in, but to ensure that there is no issue of money laundering. The recapitalisation was seamless, there is nothing to worry about. We believe that by the end of August, the approved 18 would become the conclusive list and that would draw the curtain on the consolidation. Will the number meet operators’ expectation? We used to have 27 PFAs, now we are 18. Consolidation happens in phases, while some people were expecting 10 PFAs and others 15, people should note that the pension industry is a bit different from banking. I do not think we were expecting any thing significantly lower, just like other people. We really need a certain number of PFAs to go round the country, doing registration, canvassing for new members, because this is pension, not banking. Also, the industry is stratified and there are 10 top PFAs and others, depending on how one looks at it. I think that consolidation would take its natural course. There would be mergers and acquisitions over the next one or two years, but they would not be induced

by regulation, but by competition. People would decide that rather than being alone, let me come together with one or two PFAs so that we would be stronger and bigger. Remember also that in the pension industry, once one crosses a certain number of assets under management, you can invest in other businesses. It all depends on the ambition of the owners of the company. The outcome is not different from what we expected. Have you received any representation from the firms that couldn’t make the recap target? PENOP is an association of willing members of the industry. Whilst everybody is supposed to be a member of PENOP, the association is not the regulator. So, it is not really our business to deal with whether a company recapitalises or not. It is the duty of PenCom. We are not at liberty or allowed to start interfacing. What we know is that today we have 18 PFAs. If PenCom says tomorrow, it is 19 so be it. So, members of the industry are those that have been cleared and have clean licenses from PenCom. How would the over N18 billion industry’s new capital impact the economy?

The industry’s shareholders’ fund is more than N18 billion. N1 billion is the minimum for a PFA, but some PFAs have N2 billion, while others, N3 billion. The shareholders’ fund of PFAs is not what determines the impact of the pension in the larger economy. It is the size of the pension fund which is about N2.6 trillion. It is this N2.6 trillion invested in the various instruments, whether is the money market, bond, capital market, infrastructure and others that would impact the larger society. PFAs need capital to run their business. They need capital to rent an office, employ staff and do marketing and branding activities. It is not really the capital of the PFAs that matters; it is the size of the pension assets. As the pension assets grow, the PFAs become stronger. This is because they would have more assets to look after, technically. We are going to see better services from PFAs, we would also witness recruitment of quality staff, have good offices, move outside main areas of Lagos, Abuja • Continued on page 33

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 2012

THE CEO

‘Pension fund not for capital market’s revival’ •Continued from page 32

and Port Harcourt to other areas of the country. In Pension Alliance Pensions Limited, for instance, we would be opening offices in other parts of the country. PFAs are being repositioned to play better roles in the larger economy. By way of rivalry, the only financial institution that is bigger than the PFAs today, are the banks. PFAs are now bigger than insurance companies, because they manage bigger assets. So, the size of a company is not dependent on its shareholders’ funds, but the assets it manages. The biggest PFAs manage in excess of N500 billion, while the biggest insurance firm, may be N50 billion. This shows the role of PFAs in an economy. How would the increase in capital impact pension contributors? It is not the capital that the pensioners are relying on; it is the pension fund or the assets the PFAs are managing. A well capitalised PFA would be able to give better service to pensioners. If an operator does not have enough capital, he would not be able to open offices across the nation. Operators are striving to ensure that they place their service close to retirees. This is because we know that when people retire in Lagos, they often do not stay in Lagos. The fact is that with stronger capital base, PFAs would be able to provide service very close to the retirees and that gives them assurance that their pension assets are available and can be accessed any time the need arises. Would there be indirect investment of pension fund in infrastructure in the future? There is a clamour for pension funds to be invested in the economy. The stockbrokers want the pension fund to pop– up the equity market, the housing sector wants pension fund to be used to finance housing, the Ministry of Power wants the fund to be used for power. There are all sorts of demands. We had a session with the capital market community, and the Finance Minister was there. The issue was why can’t we use the pension fund to support the equity market? Our response was that, pension fund is not national savings. It belongs to individuals who need it, they cannot afford to lose the money – when they are 60 years and above. The first job of every PFA is the security of the pension fund. The PFAs’ number one objective is to ensure that when a contributor retires, there is money to finance the pension. However, as financial players, we know that we cannot take this money and keep them in a bank because we are afraid of losing the money. So, PenCom, came up with guidelines on how the fund should be invested. The first guideline that was issued was very conservative. It was only money market and bonds with some equities. The guideline has been revised three times and we are going to the fourth revision. The last revision includes all sorts of instruments. There was inclusion of infrastructure, private equity, mortgage backed securities, real estate investment trust. Nonetheless, there are strict guidelines as to how these things should be applied. The challenge we have, is that in Nigeria people do not care to read those guidelines before they make pronouncements. People say we want pension fund to be used for housing, the law has said we can invest in mortgage backed securities and real estate investment trust. However, there are clear guidelines that must be met before we can do that, so that the pension assets are protected. Yes we expect pension fund to be used in financing some of the deficit we see in infrastructure, but that has to be used in a manner that the pension fund is secured. What are the requirements for infrastructure financing? There are pre – conditions that must be met before pension fund can be used for infrastructure. If those conditions are not in place the fund cannot be used for infrastructure. Why it is required that the projects must be guaranteed by the Federal Government is because we know that one government can give someone a concession and another government would come and revoke it. We want an irrevocable guarantee from the government, that these projects cannot be changed. Also, we want a principal guarantee – ensuring that the money is going into the infrastructure projects. Therefore, the only two ways pension fund can go into infrastructure, is either through a bond – a dedicated infrastructure bond that is tied to a specific project. Like what they do in Chile, they use pension fund to finance the national housing deficit, but it is through mortgage bonds that are issued and guaranteed by the government of Chile. Can pension fund be invested in the power sector? When officers of government said pension fund should be used to finance power, a lot of contributors said their money should be refunded, if their money is to be used to finance National Electric Authority (NEPA), for in Nigeria, Power means NEPA. People are not really interested in investing pension fund in the power sector due to problems associated with the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN). Nevertheless, there can be a tripartite meeting between government, PenCom and PENOP, and we would work out a survey for some of these projects on case-by case basis with government guarantee. Obviously, if we set aside five or 10 per cent of pension fund and invest it appropriately, we would have good projects financed with pension fund. What we do not want is when people call for investment of pension fund in projects that are not guaranteed. There is no place in the world where pension fund has been used to stabilise the stock market, it is not done. You cannot use pension fund to pop-up the stock market, because we know what happened in the stock market. When the scheme started, we were allowed to invest up to 25 per cent in the stock market. Some of our members indeed invested, but when the market started having problems, they retrieved their investments. What is the percentage of pension fund in stock market?

• Uduanu

‘There is no place in the world where pension fund has been used to stabilise the stock market, it is not done. You cannot use pension fund to pop-up the stock market, because we know what happened in the stock market. When the scheme started, we were allowed to invest up to 25 per cent in the stock market. Some of our members indeed invested, but when the market started having problems, they retrieved their investments’

• Uduanu

Now the investment of pension fund in the stock market is about 11 per cent. Some people want pension fund to have up to 30 per cent in the stock market, it is not going to happen. This is because nobody can decree how pension money should be used, unless PenCom, for it does not belong to us. It belongs to everybody. There is moral hazard in using pension fund to support the stock market. What that simply means is that, whether it is the stock brokers or the investors in the market, they would take reckless risks, knowing that if any thing goes wrong, they would fall back on the pension fund. If there is any body that can finance the stock market, it is the government. If the government wants to bail-out the stock market, it can. When the banking crisis happened, it was the government that bailed out the banks. It is important to make this clear that pension fund cannot be used to bail-out the stock market.

The stock market would achieve a natural recovery as the economy continues to grow. There is a bit of dishonest argument about the stock market recovery. The stock market losses are larger in the financial sector – the banks and insurance companies – because of loss of confidence that happened in the sectors. Other sectors are doing well. Let us separate the problems of the banks and insurance companies from the stock market. If they are isolated, there is no problem in the stock market. The capital market is not just made up of stocks; it also has bonds, which are doing well. We should not use the problem of people who borrow money and could not pay to say that the stock market is in crisis, there is no crisis in the stock market. It is achieving a natural recovery. The discussion should be that pension fund should engage the stock market in an intelligent way. What should pension operators consider before investing in stocks? We invest in the stock market, but in companies that are well managed, with good corporate governance and available good results. PFAs cannot be forced to invest in companies that are not doing well. On infrastructure, we are engaging PenCom to see how practically it can be done. We want to invest in critical sectors that would create jobs. How would contributors benefit from returns on investments? Every profit made from investments belongs to the contributors. The only thing we collect is our management fees. We need to distinguish between the capital and the fund. The fund belongs to the contributors and the companies raise capital to grow the fund. And from the fund, we collect our management fees which belong to the shareholders and are used to run the company. The statutory fee is 2.25 per cent. Why do PFAs focus more on programme withdrawal than annuity? Both are retirement exit plans. It is natural to sell what you would benefit from. That is human nature. What happens practically is that when someone retires, he/she is given an option and told the features of annuity and programme withdrawal. A lot of people chose programme withdrawal because the money is with the pension system which is regulated by PenCom and they feel their money is secured. Insurers still have a lot to do in building the confidence of the public. As the confidence improves over time, people would begin to go for annuity. In fact, insurers market more aggressively than the pension operators, but a lot of people still chose service withdrawal. Some contributors have encountered difficulties in accessing their fund. Why? Nobody can collect his or her benefit until time of retirement. The scheme is Retirement Saving Account (RSA), not a bank account. What the regulator said is that if an employee loses his or her job – if you are sacked, not when you voluntarily resigned, before age 50, six months after the employee loses the job and do not find another job, he or she can apply to collect 25 per cent of the balance on his or her account. But the PFA has to prove that the person was dismissed and that his or her company has remitted all the contributions. Otherwise, the employee has to wait until he or she is 50 years. What are the challenges operators are facing as regards payment of benefits? We have two major challenges. We have people that have died but their next-of-kins have not shown up for their benefits. We want the next-of- kin of those that died to come and claim their benefits. Next-of-kins are normally the spouse, but some people use their children. If a child is below 18 he/she needs legal guidance to get the benefit. People should also prepare their Will, so that when they die, the benefits would be disposed according to the Will. We also have people that have retired and relocated from where they used to live to places where their PFA cannot reach them. We have the money of these classes of people. We still have those that have not submitted their documents. Their money is ready, we are appealing to them to come to their PFAs to complete their documentation and collect their money. In the pension industry, once someone completes the documentation, he or she would be paid within one week. Another problem we have is that in Nigeria when a company wants to sack somebody, he or she is asked to resign. When an employee resigns, he cannot get 25 per cent of the contribution. A lot of banks’ staff that were sacked were asked to resign, now they cannot get 25 per cent of their benefits. It is important to let people know that their employer must sack them for them to get 25 per cent of the benefit. If your employer tells you to resign, tell him to sack you for it is better than forceful resignation. Does PENOP have a way of checking unethical practices among operators? We are moving towards that. Remember that we are fairly young; we are moving towards what we call Self Regulatory Organisation (SRO). However, it is important to make the point that though we can intervene, we do not have the powers to mete-out any sanction. It is only PenCom that can do that. What we do is to use moral suasion to talk to our members. As the industry matures, PENOP would be a bit more involving to ensure that erring members are brought to book. Even if we do not do it directly, we can do by liaising with PenCom. What is the state of the transfer window initiative? We have commenced the initiative that would lead to the opening of the transfer window. Where we are now, is working out collaborative bases to capture the biometric data of everybody that has a pension account in Nigeria. If one’s biometric data is not captured, because it was done manually, we are going to do electronic capture of the biometric data. I expect that to commence as soon as possible and would be concluded very quickly. Once that biometric enrolment is complete, the transfer window would be opened by PenCom.

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 2012

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 24-8-12

Flour Mills acquires cassava flour company F LOUR Mills Of Nigeria Plc has acquired majority controlling interest in Thai Farm International Limited in continuation of its well-focused drive to expand its business interests in the agricultural sector. Thai Farm, which began operations in 2010, grows and processes cassava in Ososa, Ogun State. It has grown to be one of the leading corporate suppliers of high quality cassava flour to flour millers. Flour Mills at the weekend notified the investing public of the acquisition noting that it would provide additional investments to optimize the potential of Thai Farm and ensure consistent availability of high quality cassava flour to support government’s cassava utilization policy. According to the company, the latest acquisition fell within its overall agrobased strategy, which has seen investments in major agro-allied investments including rice cultivation and milling, sugar growing, milling and refining, maize and soya beans, palm oil cultivation and refining and production of animal feeds. It noted that by the acquisition, it would be able to ensure consistency in quality, availability and affordability of cassava flour. Thai Farm presently has about 100 staff in its employ and supports a further 1,700 small cassava farmers

•Equities’ return rallies to 12.87% By Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

through its “out grower programme”. The company’s use of modern equipment and skilled staff in conjunction with effective management of the cassava out grower programme has made very significant impact in the Agricultural sector within the very short time of its operations. Flour Mills commended existing shareholders, board, management and staff of Thai Farm for their pioneering efforts and for displaying an uncommon entrepreneurial spirit and diligence in setting up and bringing the company to its present leading and enviable position in such a short time. “Thai Farm will be provided with strong support to enable it diversifies into the production of other value adding items like starch and sweeteners,” Flour Mills stated. Meanwhile, Flour Mills’ share price remained unchanged at N52 per share at the weekend as gains by several food and beverages and fast moving consumer good stocks rallied the average year-to-date return at the stock market to 12.87 per cent. The benchmark index at

the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), the All Share Index (ASI), posted a week-onweek gain of 1.12 per cent to close the week at 23,399.58 points as against its opening index of 23,141.68 points. Aggregate market value of all equities rose correspondingly from N7.366 trillion to N7.448 trillion. Although there were more losers than gainers, substantial gains by several highly capitalised stocks weighed in on overall market situation. Nestle Nigeria led 29 other stocks on the gainers’ list with a gain of N25.06 to close at N525.06. Guinness Nigeria Plc followed with a gain of N6.80 to close at N249 per share. On the downside, SevenUp Bottling Company topped the 34-stock losers’ list with a drop of N1.62 to close at N38.50. Nigerian Breweries Plc followed with a loss of N1.61 to close at N119.70. Turnover stood at 878.53 million shares worth N9.907 billion in 11,633 deals with the financial services sector accounting for 694.02 million shares worth of N4.56 billion in 6,905 deals. Volume in the sector was largely driven by banking subsectors led by shares of Zenith Bank Plc, First Bank of Nigeria Plc and Diamond Bank Plc. Trading in the shares of the three banks accounted for 254.87 million shares, representing 48.72 per cent, 36.72 per cent and 29.01 per cent of the turnover recorded by the subsector, sector and total turnover for the week.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 24-8-12

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 27 , 2012

EQUITIES WATCH

Email: taofad2000@yahoo.co.uk

First Bank is trading at its highest market consideration so far this year. But with this year's high just barely above the intrinsic book value, the bank appears still substantially undervalued. From earnings to dividend and historic pricing outlooks, TAOFIK SALAKO reports that most counts tilt in favour of the bank

IRST Bank of Nigeria (FBN) Plc opens today at year-to-date high of N13.05 as sustained rally continued to set new high after high over the months. At current consideration, FBN carries a year-to-date return of 46.6 per cent, nearly thrice the gain recorded when it was previously measured on May 25. First Bank's has traded within a range of N8.57 and N13.05 this year, indicating a firmer trend than 2011's range when it slipped to a low of N7.95. Besides, the pricing trend so far this holds better prospects for a break in the successive negative full-year return in the past four years. The bank had ended 2011 with a full year return of -35.2 per cent, a worse performance than -2.3 per cent recorded in 2010. The worst performance in recent years was in 2009 when the share price fell by 66 per cent. At current level, First Bank's capital gain is three times more than average return at the equity market. The All Share Index (ASI), the common value-based index that tracks all equities on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, and as such doubles as the country index for Nigeria, opens today with average year-to-date return of 12.87 per cent. But emerging fundamentals and earnings perspective analysis indicate, more than before, stronger prospects for further technical revaluation. Both the first quarter and second quarter reports showed appreciable improvements in key fundamentals of the bank.

Operating fundamentals Half-year report of First Bank for the period ended June 30, 2012 showed that net profit doubled by 124.6 per cent to N46.01 billion as against N20.48 billion posted in comparable period of 2011. Gross earnings had grown by 25.6 per cent to N182.30 billion compared with N145.09 billion in corresponding period of 2011. The first half report was a significant consolidation on the first quarter performance. First quarter report of First Bank for the period ended March 31, 2012 showed that gross earnings rose by 42.5 per cent to N92.3 billion as against N64.8 billion in comparable period of 2011. Operating income increased to N74.2 billion compared with N49.4 billion in 2011. Profit before tax stood at N28.9 billion in first quarter 2012 as against N14.3 billion in 2011, an increase of 101.6 per cent. Customers' deposits also rose by 31.1 per cent from N1.6 trillion in 2011 to N2.1 trillion in 2012. The performance trend this year supported the growth outlook indicated by the latest audited report and accounts of the bank for the year ended December 31, 2011. The report showed a 27.6 per cent growth in gross earn-

What pricing scenario for First Bank? ings to N296.3 billion as against N232.1 billion recorded in 2010. The bank also secured a 45.6 per cent growth in operating income to N259.2 billion contrary to N178.1 billion the previous year. Total deposit growth of 34.3 per cent to N1.9 trillion and was driven by low cost current and savings accounts, leading to a further reduction in total funding costs to 1.7 per cent from 3.1 per cent in the previous year. First Bank's shareholders' funds increased from N339.2 billion in 2010 to N365.48 billion in 2011. Cost to income ratio firmed up to 56.8 per cent while earning per share rose to N1.40 as against 95 Kobo in 2010. Consequently, the bank increased cash dividend by 33.3 per cent to 80 kobo for the 2011 business year as against 60 kobo distributed for the 2010 business year.

Driving the growth The quarter-on-quarter upwardly performance of the bank appeared to reflect the benefits of recent restructurings. Under its transformation agenda, First Bank has continued to leverage on its strong information technology platforms and viable e-payment tools to drive its balance sheet and enhance the efficiency of the profit and loss accounts. Going forward, the bank is expected to drive further improvements in its business by improved customer service, continued low cost liability generation, enhanced asset pricing mechanism, more efficient treasury management and improved non-interest income generation. Chief Executive Officer, First Bank of Nigeria (FBN) Plc, Mr. Bisi Onasanya said the has started to reap from the implementation of its transformation agenda which has improved customer focus, acquisition, satisfaction, business generation and enhanced the sustainability of its earnings base. This has brought about considerable improvements in interest and noninterest earnings generation capabilities, margin expansion, operational efficiency as well as reduced funding costs. "We also remain focused on further improvements in our efficiency levels, driving further cost containment policies through our business and consolidating on the success we recorded over the past year. We will grow our risk assets cautiously with a view to optimising

our asset mix, and at the same time, focus on reducing the cost of risk from current levels," Onasanya said. He said the bank remained focused on enhancing shareholder returns by continuing to drive efficiencies and synergies in its current operations, leveraging opportunities across the group as well as assessing new avenues of growth. It has enhanced non-interest revenue generation by offering innovative products to customers as well as improving service quality and delivery. Besides, the bank's United Kingdom business has continued to deepen existing relationships in the structured and commodity trade finance businesses, mortgage business, as well as leveraging business referrals from its representative offices in Johannesburg, Beijing and Abu Dhabi.

Unlocking new values The impending restructuring of First Bank Group into a holding company structure is also expected to further unlock values for shareholders of the bank. First Bank at the weekend indicated that it has received the appropriate regulatory approvals to create the holding company-FBN Holdings, which will serve as the vehicle through which its shareholders will indirectly own its banking and non-banking businesses. Already, the Federal High Court has granted the bank the leave to convene a court-ordered meeting of its shareholders on Monday, September 24, 2012. He said the bank would restructure its business segments in a way to maximize values for shareholders. Under the restructuring, First Bank will off load First Registrars and some other subsidiaries, while a holding company will be formed and all the existing subsidiaries, including First Bank, will become a subsidiary of that company. The new structure will give shareholders the opportunity to own stakes in a bigger company, having a number of subsidiaries. "This will present a better deal for our shareholders, especially as they will get equal proportion of their shares in the new holding company. First Bank will continue to focus on the core banking business and will retain FBN UK,

â&#x20AC;˘CEO, First Bank of Nigeria, Bisi Onasanya

FBN Bureau de Change, First Pension Custodian, and Banque Internationale de Credit (BIC) as its subsidiaries," Onasanya said.

Adding the figures Beyond policy enunciation and strategy outlay, available fundamentals indices showed that First Bank may end this year with significant improvement on the previous performance in 2011. Earnings per share of N1.41 in first half 2012 indicated potential annualized full-year earnings of N2.82 per share. Both the actual half-year and projected full-year earnings showed prospects for better returns. At current market consideration, six-month net earnings indicate a yield of about 11 per cent, which could magnify to about 22 per cent by the end of the year. With average cash payout rate of 60 per cent of net earnings in the past two years, annualized net earnings for 2012 show potential dividend per share of N1.69 for the 2012 business year. This further reflects potential fullyear dividend yield of 13 per cent at current market consideration. With even the most conservative estimate-using the previous one-third dividend growth rate in spite of the double in earnings, First Bank will likely end with a three-digit dividend payout for the 2012 business year. Given a stable market situation, substantial actual and underlying returns will trigger stronger bullish rally that may see the bank with equally three-digit full-year capital gains, as market consideration respond to earnings previews. From whichever perspective, First Bank appears to be laid out for the bulls.

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 27 , 2012

DUE DILIGENCE

Conoil: Sustaining growth C

ONOIL Plc beat the odds to sustain its upwardly performance through the immediate past audited year with considerable improvements in sales and increase in dividend to shareholders. Audited report and accounts of Conoil for the year ended December 31, 2011 showed a generally positive performance with growths in actual sales, profit and size of the petroleum-marketing company. In a year characterised by industry-wide decline in margins and sluggish sales, Conoil combined an exceptionally strong 53 per cent growth in turnover with efficient internal cost management to mitigate the adverse impact of spiraling cost of operations. While global oil industry-induced and largely uncontrollable cost of sales rose by about 60 per cent, the company fell on more efficient internal cost management to retain values for shareholders, reining increase in total operating expenses to 3.6 per cent. Of this, distribution expenses- which often derived from domestic operating environment and to some extent beyond corporate control, had grown by about 11 per cent while administrative expenses was almost flat with 0.4 per cent. A more-diversified income stream and efficient cost management consolidated the bottom-line performance, in spite of obvious challenges with underlying margins. With basic net earnings per share rising from N4.02 in 2010 to N4.25 in 2011, the company increased cash dividends to shareholders by 25 per cent from N2 to N2.50; the third consecutive increase. Net assets per share also improved by 10.2 per cent from N21.99 in 2010 to N24.24, indicating significant underlying value as the current book value represents appreciable value above its current average share price at the stock market. The company's balance sheet size expanded by 49 per cent to about N62 billion while equity funds rose by 10.2 per cent to about N17 billion.

Financing structure Conoil's paid up share capital has remained unchanged at N346.98 million for the past eight years. Shareholders' funds meanwhile increased again in 2011 to N16.82 billion as against N15.26 billion in 2010. Total assets rose by 49 per cent from N41.5 billion to N61.8 billion. Current assets had grown by 59 per cent from N33.8 billion to N53.9 billion while fixed assets had improved from N7.67 billion to N7.97 billion. Meanwhile, total liabilities stood at N45.02 billion in 2011 compared with N26.23 billion in 2010. Current liabilities had increased from N24.12 billion to N42.86 billion while long-term liabilities remained negligible at N2.16 billion in

2007

2008

2009 2010 2009

2011

2010

2011

By Taofik Salako

2011 compared with N2.11 billion in 2010.

Efficiency Improved staff welfare translated into higher productivity and provided cushions against lop-sided top-line costs. Average contribution of each employee to pre-tax profit from N14.36 million to N15.40 million. Average staff cost per head had increased from N6.75 million to N7.31 million. Conoil's direct workforce had increased from 280 persons in 2010 to 285 persons in 2011. Senior and management staff constituted about 91 per cent of the company's workforce, indicating widespread concentrated skills and knowledge behind the workforce productivity. Total staff cost stood at N2.08 billion in 2011 as against N1.89 billion in 2010. Cost-effective internal management structure and controls moderated the total cost of business, excluding finance charges, to 96.4 per cent of total sales in 2011 as against 95.4 per cent in 2010; in spite of 60 per cent increase in cost of sales.

â&#x20AC;˘Chairman, Conoil Plc, Dr Mike Adenuga (Jr)

2007

Profitability

2008

2009

2008

2009

Conoil witnessed significant growths across existing business lines and opened new income base to drive top-line growth beyond peers and industry's average. Turnover in the main business segment- fuel or white products segment- consisting of petrol (premium motor spirit), diesel (automotive gas oil) and kerosene (dual purpose kerosene), grew by 50 per cent while the lubricants segment-consisting of engine oils, saw an increase of about 30 per cent. The company opened a new income base with N160 million sales in the high-margin liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), otherwise known as cooking gas. Fuel sales leapt from N96.84 billion to N149.5 billion while lubricants turned in N7.83 billion in 2011 as against N6.04 billion in 2010. Altogether, total sales jumped by 53 per cent to N157.5 billion as against N102.88 billion in previous year. However, cost of sales outflanked sales with 60 per cent increase from N89.2 billion to N142.6 billion. This moder-

Fiscal Year Ended December 31 Nmillion

2011 12 months % change

Profit and Loss Statement Main Business Segment Total turnover Cost of sales Gross profit Operating expenses Interest and other incomes Finance expenses Pre-tax profit(loss) Post-tax profit (loss) Basic earnings per share(kobo) Gross dividend (Nm) Cash dividend per share (kobo) Net Assets per share (kobo)

145,519 157,512 142,554 14,958 9,277 288 1,581 4,389 2,949 425 1,735 250 2,424

Balance Sheet Assets: Fixed assets Total long term assets Trade debtors Current assets Total assets Liabilities: Trade creditors Bank loans Current liabilities Long-term liabilities Total liabilities Equity Funds Share capital Total Equity Funds

2008

50.3 53.1 59.8 9.3 3.6 -72.6 -10.4 9.2 5.7 5.7 25.0 25.0 10.2

ated gross profit to N14.96 billion in 2011 compared with N13.69 billion in 2010. Total operating expense was curtailed to N9.28 billion in 2011 as against N8.96 billion in 2010, representing marginal increase of 3.6 per cent. Distribution expenses had risen by 10.7 per cent from N2.77 billion to N3.06 billion. Administrative expense was almost flat at N6.21 billion in 2011 compared with N6.19 billion in 2010. While 73 per cent decline in non-core business incomes relatively unsettled the mid-line, a 10.4 per cent decrease in finance expenses counterbalanced and mitigated the impact. These pushed profit before tax up to N4.39 billion in 2011 as against N4.02 billion in 2010. While taxes increased by 17 per cent from N1.23 billion to N1.44 billion, profit after taxes improved from N2.79 billion to N2.95 billion. Segmental profit analysis showed the LPG business segment with the highest gross margin of 55.6 per 2010 cent while fuel and lubricants re12 months corded 9.7 per cent and 4.8 per cent respectively. Overall gross margin stood at 9.5 per cent. 96,840 Further earnings analysis indi102,878 89,192 cated earnings per share of N4.25 13,686 in 2011 as against N4.02 in 2010. 8,955 Net assets per share increased

1,054 1,765 4,021 2,790 402 1,388 200 2,199

7,967 7,967 10,175 53,875 61,842

3.9 3.9 3.9 59.3 49.1

7,670 7,670 9,794 33,820 41,490

7,765 11,907 42,863 2,158 45,021

47.8 92.0 77.7 2.3 71.6

5,252 6,202 24,121 2,109 26,230

347 16,821

0.0 10.2

347 15,260

2010

2011

2010

2011

from N21.99 to N24.24. The board of directors recommended 25 per cent increase in cash payouts to shareholders from N1.39 billion to N1.74 billion. This represents dividend per share of N2.50 for the 2011 business year as against N2 for the 2010 business year. In spite of the increase, sustainable dividend outlook still remained considerably high with dividend cover of 1.70 times.

Liquidity

Analyst's opinion

The company witnessed marginal decline in liquidity position, although liquidity coverage remained substantially above acceptable limit. Current ratio, which measures easily convertible assets against similar liabilities, stood at 1.26 times in 2011 as against 1.40 times in 2010. The proportion of working capital to total sales slipped from 9.4 per cent to 7.0 per cent. Debtors/creditors ratio stood at 131 per cent in 2011 compared with 186.5 per cent in 2010.

Governance and structures Conoil Plc is owned by more than 189,000 shareholders and it's quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), where it trades as the highest-priced indigenous oil major. Incorporated in 1960, Conoil metamorphosed from the

Fiscal Year Ended December 31

decrepit government-controlled National Oil and Chemical Marketing Plc, which was privatized in 2000. Conpetro Limited had acquired 60 per cent majority equity stake in 2000 and subsequently increased its shareholding to 74.40 per cent. Conoil has benefitted from a stable board and management and growthfocused altruistic core investor. Dr. Mike Adenuga (Jr) chairs the Board of Directors while Mr John Vasikaran leads the executive management team as managing director. The company has appropriate governance structures including board and management committees in compliance with Nigeria's code of corporate governance for publicly quoted companies and international best practices. Beyond compliance with laws and regulations, Conoil operates a more respectable corporate governance standard. While Adenuga's Conpetroas the core investor, provides strategic and technical supports to the company, Adenuga receives no emoluments and Conpetro charges no feesan uncommon noble stand in true spirit of core investor contrary to rampant practices, especially in the oilmarketing sector, where substantial funds are funneled to core investors, sometimes to the detriment of other shareholders.

2011 %

2010 %

Financing structure Equity funds/Total assets Long-term liabilities/Total assets Current liabilities/Total assets Debt/Equity ratio

27.2 3.5 69.3 70.8

36.8 5.1 58.1 40.6

Profitability Gross profit margin Pre-tax profit margin Return on total assets Return on equity Dividend cover (times)

9.5 2.8 7.1 17.5 1.70

13.3 3.9 9.7 18.3 2.01

Efficiency Pre-tax profit per employee (Nm) Staff cost per employee (Nm) Cost of sales, operating exp/Turnover

15.40 7.31 96.4

14.36 6.75 95.4

Liquidity Current ratio Working capital/Turnover Debtors/Creditors

1.26 7.0 131.0

1.40 9.4 186.5

Against the background of global and national macroeconomic environments as well as industry-specific challenges, the performance of Conoil is commendable. With protracted reform and many lingering often-negative controversies, Nigerian downstream sector faces enormous challenges, indicated by industry-wide decline in margins and negative bottom-line growth by most companies. Conoil is the only oil major that has sustained an all-positive profitability outlook. While it needs to devise ways of taming cost of sales, continuing growth in sales and improving internal cost control should remain key strategies for Conoil. It also needs to reassess its financial balance to avoid a costly mismatch that can further unsettle midline cost management. Ongoing growth initiatives including ambitious expansion into the West African market; increase in storage, blending, distribution, retail and dispensing facilities and strong linkages and partnerships with other businesses provide reassurance on future growth prospects. Investments such as the 70,000 metric tonnes-55 million-fuel litres-per day new Port Harcourt Depot, 40,000metric-tonnes-per-annum lubricant blending plant in Port Harcourt and 3,500 litres per minute dispensers for aviation fuel signpost such reassurance. Overall, Conoil's commitment to long-term investments, supportive and farsighted board, dynamic management and sound local intelligence provide reasonable basis to assume competitive performance in the years ahead.

JOBS THE NATION

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

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 2012

Searching for jobs? try copywriting The rate of unemployment is on the rise. However, there are opportunities in some disciplines. Experts say copywriting holds prospects for graduates who have a mastery of English Language, writes AKINOLA AJIBADE

OR many, copywriting is a dreaded area. The reason is because it involves a lot of thinking and is energy sapping. Also, copywriting is limited to the advertising industry, a development that makes people conclude that it has limited prospects. Often times, people see copywriters as a set of brainy, witty, and creative people who get pittance in return for their jobs. This, among others, make people

to look down on them. However, copywriters are now the toast of the industry, no thanks to the growing business opportunities globally and the decision of companies to get them to play into the emotions of consumers for necessary action. Experts argue that the industry needs more copywriters because they can easily add value to their clients. They say copywriters have a lot of options to choose from. They

reason that graduates who have mastery of the English language, ability to conduct research, read wide and are versatile, can earn a living through copywriting. They say such people can write as many copies as possible for companies for a fee. According to them, the industry is expanding globally, generating turnover worth billions of dollars. The Nigerian advertising industryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s potentials was valued at N50 billion in 2009, while its turnover

was over N25 billion.They project that the turnover would more than double in the next three years if the potentials are harnessed. They say copywriters contribute in no small way to achieve this objective, adding they are highly needed to anhance the growth of the industry. A former Events Director, Tequila Niâ&#x20AC;˘ Continued on page 38

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 2012

JOBS

Searching for jobs? try copywriting • Continued from page 37

geria Limited, Mr Gbolahan Mosaku-Johnson, said copywriting has opened a window of jobs for people of diverse academic backgrounds. He said a mastery of English language, and ability to keep tabs of happenings in the business world, among others, are attributes needed to become good copywriters. He said the area has provided opportunities for people to work as freelancers or permanent staff. He said: “What I know is that there are limitless opportunities for copywriters. The reason is because new ideas and brands are not only coming up daily, but require good copywriters to write briefs for them. A copywriter gets paid based on the number of copies he writes. “Averagely, a copywriter who is hardworking can earn between N200,000 and N300,000 per month depending on the in-flow of jobs coming from his clients. There are blue-chip companies that fan a lot of copywriting jobs to people who are versed in that area. Such companies hire good copywriters, and subsequently direct them to work with agencies managing their accounts.” He said there are three approaches to copywriting. They are adverts and commercials; cor-

porate business plans writing, and creative writing. He said adverts and commercial approach can be sub-divided into television, radio and prints, while corporate writing is divided into writing of business proposals, plans and research. Creative writing is divided into writing scripts for movies, film producers and documentaries. “Whichever way you look at the three approaches, they need creative writers who can make consumers to take a purchasing decision. As long as new products are coming up, copywriters would always be needed.” He advised people to explore opportunities in copywriting to survive in the country. A former official, Association of Advertising Practitioners of Nigeria (AAPN), Mr Akinwunmi Dickson, said there are a lot of opportunities in copywriting. Dickson said copywriters would make money, no matter how small, adding that the industry is attracting more businesses and requires creativity to succeed. He said there is keen competition in the industry, arguing that copywriters must convince their clients beyond reasonable doubt to get jobs. “Copywriters must be able to handle briefs well before they can convince their clients. The AIDA

model, an acronym for Awareness, Interests, Decisions and Action must be present in their briefs. A brief must contain campaign, direction, target market or audience, or a postulated result. Copywriters would find it easier to win the confidence of their clients, when all these ingredients are found in the briefs given to them,” he said. He said copywriters that are able to create “emotional addiction” would be in hot demand. This is ability to arouse the emotions of consumers, and make them addicted to a particular product or brand. Dickson cited tobacco and lager beer as products that require emotional addiction before they are patronised. “There is a clause in tobacco advertisement. The clause is from the Ministry of Health that says Tobacco Smoking is Dangerous to Health. How do you write to scale the hurdles of these clauses should be the focus of copywriters,” he said. Dickson said there are graduates who studied English Language, English Literature, History, Chemistry and Physics who are gifted in creative writing, but choose to be idle. He advised them to write proposals to advertising agencies, or bigger corporations on copywrit-

• Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) Registrar Alhaji Garba-Bello Kankarofi

ing, adding they would get jobs with time. Managing Director, 7 One 7 Concept Limited, Mr Femi Akinwunmi, said there are a lot

of benefits from the advertising industry, either as job seekers or target audience for products, saying copywriting is meant for specialists.

CAREER MANAGEMENT

OU probably have attended some interviews without an offer of employment coming out of your efforts and emotional investment in the position. In the past you may have experienced this frustrating and sinking feeling that you did not do well in this or that interview. You may also have noticed the uncertainty in the faces of your interviewers, their failure to warm - up to you as the interview progresses and their eagerness to shove you out of the interview room, barely disguised by patronising courtesies. You then ask yourself, what went wrong? Many things could be wrong for failure of candidates to convert interviews to job offer. This week, we will consider one of the issues you may have pondered about: What do this people want? All organisations, whether for profit or otherwise, is about combining men, money and materials to achieve the organisational goals and objectives. This assertion holds for commercial companies, non-profit organisations and civil service. The key to optimisation of performance is the human capital. A wrong decision of a high level member of management can cost the organisation a lot of money. At the lower level, an unproductive employee is some investment – in terms of cost of recruitment as well as in terms of salary and emoluments. So a recruitment error (an individual recruited but found to be unsuitable) at the end of the day is a drain, and usually a drag on the system. The foregoing explains why employer goes to great lengths to ensure that they offer employment to a square peg in a square hole. They are usually very clear on specification of potential employees they want. (It is not unusual for them not to get exactly what they want.) Today, we will dwell on the kind of employees employers desire and prefer. But before we go on, need to point these out: (i) what we will discuss is more or less general, the attributes desired by most (if not all) employers. But the priority and point of emphasis differ from industry to industry, from company to company, and from position to position. Also work circumstances and context has their own influence on the desired qualities:

What employers are looking for? By Olu Oyeniran

is it a new position? Have there been changes in technology and skills needed for the job? (ii) It is obvious that the requirements for executive positions will differ significantly from that of entry/low-level positions. We will elaborate on additional/specific requirement for senior positions. (iii) What we will say today may not apply to very junior positions: labourers artisans, factory workers and shop floor employees.

The following qualities are desired by most employees

Basic competence A candidate must indicate he knows how to do the job for which he is to be employed. A driver must show competence for his primary duty (get a vehicle moving, maneuvering in the traffic, finding his way to different locations, etc) even if he can do other things as well-ironing, operating lawn – mower, baking bread etc. You must show at least a theoretical level of competence, if you don’t have the experience. A candidate applying for an engineering job is expected to show competence in engineering basics, at least. A sense of competence gives you confidence and given the employ the basis for comparison and performance appraisal. Nothing should be taken to mean an engineer cannot be engaged in anything aside engineering or that a biologist should look for work only in establishments that concern itself with biology.

Communication skills Employers desire employees with good communication skills. Success in most jobs requires writing, verbal and non-verbal communications abilities. Can you easily understand instructions, and pass on instructions to others. Will you be able to communication with your supervisor as well as your subordinates? How good are your writing skills?

It must be realised that though communicating well has some element of talent, it can indeed be learnsist.

Inter-personal skills A one-man island organisation is probably not in existent, especially when organisation must at least relate to others outside. Interpersonal skills are required to establish, build and maintain relationships that last. You are expected to do this within your unit, across departments and with your customers and suppliers. This skill is becoming more important as organisations realise that more than ever before that every employer must have the skills to interact with the customer.

Adaptability Change happens daily, and is often resisted, even though it is better than what we have now. Change management is an important skill in this age of information and rapid technological changes. Will you be able to adapt to changes that may be required and vastly different from you previous experience? For example if a technical position requires some salesmanship, the question then is whether the candidate realises the full implication of and accept dealing with customers.

Willingness to learn Rapid changes in technology and an extensive availability of information make obsolescence commonplace occurrences. Skills, process, equipments, knowledge become outdated soon after they are acquired. Thus successful organisation requires employee are ready, willing and able to learn in this environment of constant change and organised chaos. Do you realise that learning on-going and never ending? Is the candidate organised and predisposed to learning?

Initiative and independence

The direction of human resource management is to empower each of every employee. But for the employee to successfully use his empowerment, the employer needs to be assured that the employee can take on-the -spot decisions with infrequent errors. Employers require a work force that can take on tasks and projects and get them done without having to tell them what to do every step of the way. Ability to work on your own is important in the work- place, more so in certain positions such as consultancy.

Cooperation and collaboration In spite of the need to be independent, the fact is that significant part of work- place assignments takes place within teams. At any rate, in a number of situations, our output represents the in-put for others down the lines. The best teams are those that respect and use the talents of all their players. Employees require the skills to understand themselves and their strength within the team as well as those of other team players, in order to enhance performance through effective use of each team member. In short, employer desire employees that can work on their own, and also able to achieve within teams.

Motivation What is driving you towards achievement of your goals and excellence, and where is this force coming from? How much enthusiasm can you put to your job? A highly motivated employee does not need to be pushed to do his/her work, and to do it well. Motivation shows as eagerness to progress, gain promotion, doing something productive instead of just sitting down, etc. Employers desire candidates with a high level of self-motivation and inner strength to do well. Olu Oyeniran is the Lead Consultant, EkiniConsult & Associates. Website: www.jobsearchhow.com E-mail: oluoyeniran@yahoo.com Tel 08083843230 (SMS Only).

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 2012

INSURANCE

‘Inadequate capital, human capacity hinder growth’

NADEQUATE capital and a shortfall of experienced professionals have been identified as some of the major challenges facing the growth of the insurance industry in Nigeria, The Nation has learnt. About 60 per cent of the industry workforce, which also are tested hands, are aging and are about to retire. The Commissioner for Insurance, Mr Fola Daniel, said there is a gap in the industry as the rate at which the aging practitioners are leaving the industry has not been matched by the rate of entrance by new qualified practitioners. He expressed worry over the inadequate capital of the industry, which he considered a clog to the

Stories by Uyoatta Eshiet

development of insurance practice. He said: “The industry has continued to suffer from inadequate capital and limited human capacity. In relation to human capacity, there is an observed shortage of qualified and experienced professionals. “This gap exists given that the rate at which the aging practitioners are exiting the industry has not been matched by the rate of entrance by new qualified practitioners.”

But practitioners said there is hoped that the gap might be filled in few years given the efforts by the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) at training insurance professionals.The NAICOM boss said his organisation was working hard to open the industry and create additional 250,000 new jobs to meet the human capacity need of the sector. He said the commission hoped to midwife an industry of highly skill and motivated workforce, that is committed to international best practices, informa-

tion and technology driven regulatory and market environment as well as effective supervision. He said the industry would improve through the adoption of risk-based capital and supervision model; transparent public financial statements; timely market information and insurance market that is able to compete globally. Director-General, Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN), Mr Adegboyega Adepegba, warned that unless urgent measures are taken, the industry might be heading for extinction as 60 per cent of its workforce is said to be near retirement age. He said the industry’s operations are threatened by human capacity gap, adding that most of the industry’s workforce are

almost 60 years old. He noted that to reverse the trend, operators must begin to recruit young and intelligent personnel. “The statistics available to us show that in a few years, the industry work-force would consist of people who are 60 years and above. This is not good for the industry”, “If about 60 per cent of the industry’s workforce will be aging – going towards 60 years; therefore, there is a dire need to inject new people into the industry. By the time we achieve all these, the issue of succession planning and running of the companies would be made easier,” he said. He added that the institute was reaching out to youths through their schools and encouraging them to study insurance to beef up the human capacity in the sector.

Firm urges NAICOM on claims payment

• From left: Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Agricultural Minister., Dr Akinwumi Adesina and President, International Fund for Agricultural Development, Dr Kanayo Nwanze, after the signing of an $105.2 million agreement in Abuja.

Operators target annuity market

HE Managing Director, CrystaLife Assurance Plc, Mrs Oluseyi Ifaturoti, has said the annuity market is yet to be tapped and operators are targeting the sector. She told The Nation that operators are on the lookout for opportunities to meet with prospective clients, adding that annuity, which provides succour for retirees has been a haven of opportunities since the emergence of the new pension scheme. She said most operators have been

building their capacity to enable them maximise the potentials in the market. The National Pension Commission (PenCom), which is regulator of annuity, said activities in the market have picked, adding that it has received a total of 74 requests for annuity retirement plans which were approved. “It should be noted that the annuity market is relatively new in Nigeria as the regulation on annuities was finalised and released by PenCom in

collaboration with the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) in December, 2009, after the consolidation exercise in the insurance industry. This accounted for the late commencement of purchase of annuity by retirees as another method of collecting regular periodic payments of pensions,” PenCom said. PenCom noted that in collaboration with the National Insurance Commission, 26 Life Insurance Companies have been endorsed to carry out annuity business in Nigeria.

CIIN to hold professional Forum

HE Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) will hold its Insurance Professionals’ Forum is scheduled for September 12 15 in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. Entitled: Beyond professionalism: Making a difference, the event will be addressed by President of CIIN, Dr Wole Adetimehin. In a statement, the Director of Corporate Communications Mr Joseph Obah, said the forum’s theme

is a clarion call on professionals in insurance and the larger financial services sector to brace up for emerging challenges facing the global economy. Adetimehin said at the end of the event, professionals would be better equipped to exhibit competences which are over and above mere professional qualifications. “The need has arisen for profes-

sionals to be further equipped both as risk managers and change agents through effective control of their business and positive transformation of the organisations under their trust”, he stated. Adegboyega said it is becoming increasingly necessary for insurance professionals to attend the Forum, stating that it is the only way they can key into the Institute’s Professional development agenda.

Firm to buy Coventry Health for $5.6b

NSURER Aetna Inc said it will buy rival Coventry Health Care Inc (CVH.N) for $5.6 billion (3.5 billion pounds) in cash and stock to boost its share of government business and benefit from United States healthcare reforms. The United States healthcare reform aims to provide coverage for 16 million more Americans through privately run health insurance exchanges in each state, and will ex-

pand Medicaid eligibility for an additional 16 million people by raising limits on household income. The acquisition of Coventry will help Aetna lift its share of revenue from its government business to over 30 per cent from 23 per cent. It will help Aetna add nearly four million medical members and 1.5 million Medicare Part D members. Medicare Part D is a federal programme that reduces prescrip-

tion drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries. “Integrating Coventry into Aetna will complement our strategy to expand our core insurance business, increase our presence in the fastgrowing government sector and expand our relationships with providers in local geographies,” Aetna’s Chief Executive Officer Mark Bertolini said in a statement.

HE National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has been urged to do more to get insurance firms to pay claims to their insured. A marine operator and Managing Director of Eyis Resources Nigeria Limited, Lucky Amiwero,, told The Nation that maritime operators have often had unsavoury experiences with insurers when it comes to claims payment. Amiwero, who is also the National President of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), explained that the provisions in the Marine Insurance Act make it mandatory for importers and exporters to take up cover for their goods. The idea is that since international business is full of risks, the best is to have insurance cover

for the goods, this, he said, has been complied with to a large extent by importers, but regreted that when it comes to the issue of claims settlement, the insurance companies make things difficult. He said NAICOM is trying to put things righ, but urged that concerted effort be made to get Nigerians more interested in taking up insurance policies voluntarily, adding that there is an appreciative compliance level in the maritime sector when it comes to insurance issues. He said the insurance claims’ clauses are phrased in such a way that it becomes difficult to collect claims when the need arises. He urged NAICOM to take a second look on the matter to bring claims payment in line with what is obtainable in other countries.

Fed nets $17.7b profit from AIG bailout

HE United States Federal Reserve said it has sold the last of its investment in AIG, turning a $17.7 billion profit for the public from its 2008 bailout. AIG, once the world’s largest insurance company, was closely involved in the risky derivatives at the center of the 2008-2009 financial crisis. The New York Fed’s final sale of its American International Group-related assets made a net gain of about $6.6 billion, the Federal Reserve Bank announced. “The total net profit to taxpayers from the New York Fed’s assistance to AIG and AIG-related facilities was $17.7 billion,” it said in a statement. “The completion of the sale of the Maiden Lane III portfolio marks the end of an important chapter — our assistance to AIG — that was undertaken to stabilize the financial system in the midst of the financial crisis,” William Dudley, president of the New York Fed, said. “I am pleased that we were able to achieve our principal goal, which was to protect the US economy from the potentially devastating effects of AIG’s failure, while demonstrating sound stewardship of taxpayer interests.” AIG, once the world’s largest insurance company, was closely involved in the risky derivatives

at the center of the 2008-2009 financial crisis. The Fed and the US Treasury rescued it from bankruptcy with a record $182 billion bailout. As part of the financial market bailout, the Fed took unprecedented actions, creating three limited liability companies known as Maiden Lane, to absorb toxic assets from AIG and other financial institutions at risk. The first Maiden Lane was created to help the merger of JPMorgan Chase and Bear Stearns; the remaining two were aimed at easing capital and liquidity pressures on AIG, which was reeling under soured bets after the collapse of US housing market bubble. Over time the Fed has recovered its loans to the Maiden Lane companies and also sold off the assets they held. Maiden Lane III repaid its loan, including interest, finally on June 14. The final sale of Maiden Lane III assets last week Thursday closes the Fed’s involvement in AIG. The Treasury still holds a 53 percent stake in AIG’s capital and plans to gradually sell its shares in an effort to recover the $24.2 billion remaining in its investment. Given that AIG shares closed at $33.76 Thursday, up 47.1 per cent from a year ago, the Treasury may be able to turn a profit on its rescue. Under Fed rules, the central bank hands over the bulk of its profits to the Treasury.

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 2012

LABOUR

NTDC, NDE collaborate to generate 200,000 jobs

HE House of Representatives Committee on Tourism has said the partnership between the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) and the National Directorate of Employment(NDE) could create 200,000 jobs in a year. Chairman of the Committee, Sokonte Davis, stated this when members visited the Corporation as part of their oversight function. He said NTDC is poised to create jobs for all categories of people, especially with its training

Stories by by Toba Agboola

facilities and the presence of trainers in several creative areas capable of building capacity for employment. “ You can see someone training people and if that woman can train 10 people in three weeks, you can imagine how many people she will train in one year. So, you can imagine the multiplier effect and when you extrapolate it to the number of states and the number of people involved, you will see that in one year, the capacity to generate employment is enormous.

“ In one year, this place alone can generate not less than 200,000 jobs and if every sector does that, it’s going to solve unemployment problem and these are people that are going to be selfemployed. What they are going to earn is going to go directly to them and it will improve the quality of lives and standard of living,” he said. Director-General of NTDC Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, said he was happy that the National Assembly appreciated the agency’s efforts and the need to empower Nigerians through training and job creation.

•Members of the NUJ protesting harrassment and brutality of photo journalists at the Governors office in Lagos

Insecurity kills hotel business, cuts jobs

RGANISED Labour in the hospitality industry under the aegis of Hotel and Personal Services Senior Staff Association (HAPSSSA), has decried the state of insecurity and unstable power supply, saying they are undermining the growth of hotel businesses . The association has also called on the government to revamp the tourism sector as the nation needs to open up other sectors of the economy rather than rely solely on oil. HAPSSSA President Comrade Micah Isaiah, told The Nation that the hotel and hospitality sector is a huge money spinner, saying government should work towards tapping the wealth of the sector by protecting the hotels from all forms of attacks. He said such protection would also save jobs. Isaiah urged government to tackle the rising insecurity and unstable power supply, among others, to assist in improving industry standard, adding that insecurity and epileptic power supply are draining hotel revenue. “It is quite unfortunate that in Nigeria, we have

By Dupe Olaoye-Osinkolu

a lot of resources to generate income for us. Why then is so much effort devoted to crude oil? The government should diversify into other sectors. The tourism sector is dying. Government can tap huge resources from it just like many other countries. So we appeal to government to live up to the challenge. If other sectors are opened up, more people will be engaged productively,” he said. The HAPSSSA helmsman lamented that most hotels in the northern part of the country have closed down due to the upsurge of the activities of the religious sect, Boko Haram. He stated that the union has lost thousands of its members who were retrenched prematurely from their organisations due to dwindling business as a result of insecurity. “There is no doubt that the greatest challenge to our national development and unity is security. The issue of Boko Haram should be given serious thought. No business can flourish with-

out security,” he said. Comrade Isaiah said the hotel industry has also been the worst hit by the epileptic power problem which has made Nigeria a poor nation in terms of investments. In his words: ”Hotels in Nigeria spend 30 per cent of their revenues on diesel, because more often than not, they run generator 24hours , because there is no guest that would want to stay in the dark. “Government should ensure that power is available, this is the key to economic development. All these talk about transformation should be done with sincerity.” “We shall employ all available legal means, due process to ensure that these hotels are unionised. But if they remain recalcitrant, we shall resort to other ways, especially picketing to enforce the law of the land. We all know that the constitution allows for freedom of association and nobody or employer should deny workers that fundamental human rights,” he stressed.

Fed Govt urged to tackle insecurity

IQUED by the growing level of insecurity which affects every facet of life, the Federal Government has been urged to show more commitment in its efforts to quell the ugly trend. President of Auto Spare Parts and Machinery Dealers’ Association (ASPMDA) Chief Anthony Ughagwu made this call after the inauguration of newly-elected officers of the association recently at the association’s secretariat. Ughagwu said the insecurity situation has had adverse effect on the volume of trade carried out at the largest auto spare parts trading plaza in sub-Saharan Africa with investments in excess of N500billion. This, he said, is because customers from the northern part of the country have stopped patronising them causing volume of trade to drop drastically. He expressed fears that if insecurity is not checked, it might have serious effect on the economy, thereby thwarting the nation’s quest to be among the 20 most developed economies in the world by the year 2020. He urged those perpetrating acts that distabilise the Nigerian state and unity to sheath their swords and embrace peace. On dilapidation of infrastructure at the plaza, he pleaded with the Federal Government to rehabilitate and reconstruct the network of roads that crisscross the plaza, even as he would want government to provide water for the more than 145 plazas in the complex. Ughagwu thanked members of the association for voting for him and other mem-

By Chinaka Okoro

bers of the executive, saying that “the day’s event neither signified victory of a political party nor a win of election but a celebration of freedom, a triumph of democracy which symbolises an end as well as a beginning of an era. This has portrayed ASPMDA as one strong and united family.” He promised that they would work hard to justify the confidence reposed in them. Reeling off some of the policies his administration would vigorously pursue, he disclosed that “this administration will consolidate on the good work started by the last administration. We will strive to ensure that ASPMDA remains modern, free and safe for our business. “Our vision for ASPMDA is so ambitious. Our administration is determined to make the plaza attain greater heights than before. We will continue to maintain cordial relationship with the Federal Government which is our landlord, the Lagos State government our host community and other stakeholders, and to rectify the association’s constitutional problems. “The association is witnessing serious constitutional problem because the one in use was drafted in 1986. “In the circumstances, therefore, a standard, functional and acceptable constitution will underscore the objective of this administration because ASPMDA has suffered serious constitutional challenges. “In this regard, a constitution amendment committee will be set up and it will com-

prise members from all strata of ASPMDA who are committed to the cause of the association. “The constitution review will take place as soon as possible to add value to the existing one. The new constitution will be ready before next year,” he said. “This administration will embrace genuine democracy, computerisation of our operations, adequate and modern security, waste disposal system, adequate electricity supply to the plaza, among others,” he said. Ughagwu promised to carry both the opposition and the entire members along because, according to him, ASPMDA is one family, pointing out that the association has over 15, 000 members. Highpoint of the event was the swearingin of the members of the executive Those who took the oath of allegiance were Chief Anthony Ughagwu as president and his Vice, Dr. Chukwudi Nzewi, Hon. Okwudili Chukwuma and Hon. Leo Okoye as General Secretary and Assistant Secretary respectively, Hon. Samson Onwunali as Treasurer, Hon. Linus Uzochukwu (Laskey) and Hon. Chibuike Osuagwu as Financial Secretary and Assistant Financial Secretary respectively, Hon. Bonaventure Ozobugha and Hon. John Edene as Public Relations Officer and Assistant Public Relations Officer respectively, Hon. Paul Nriagu as Chief Welfare Officer and Hon. Bethy Melete and Hon. Eric Iwuchukwu as Chief Provost and Assistant Chief Provost.

Court throws out appeal of 268 sacked Iron & Steel workers

HE Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal filed by 268 sacked iron and steel workers challenging their 1992 dismissal by Western Steel Works Limited. The sacked workers had lost their case at the High Court and the Court of Appeal, before the apex court, affirmed the decision of the court of Appeal. Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour said the issue of whether Eupeka Metals Limited (third respondent) acquired Western Steel Works Limited (first respondent) was the central issue. The 268 sacked workers, who were laid-off since 1982 without being paid their entitlements by Western Steel Works Limited, had approached the Lagos State High court seeking for a declaration that their dismissal was illegal, wrongful, null and void as well as N5,000 each as general damages. Thr appellants were members of the Iron & Steel Workers Union of Nigeria and Iron & Steel Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (sixth and seventh appellant respectively), they claimed that since 3rd respondent (Eupeka Metals Limited) acquired the assets and liabilities of 1st respondent (Western Steel Works Limited) then the third respondent should be made liable for the payment of their entitlements and it was on this reasoning that they lost their case at the High Court, Court of appeal and the Supreme Court. In the lead judgment, Justice Bode Rhodes Vivour said the central issue was whether the third respondent merged with or acquired Western Steel Works Limited. He held that the appeal must be dismissed since there was no written agreement between both companies showing liability that was transferred.

ASSBIFI, ex-bankers trade words over severance pay

RESIDENT of the Association of Senior Staff of Banks Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI) Mr Olusoji Salako, has said aggrieved exworkers of Mainstreet Bank should follow due process in the pursuit of their demands. According to him, the issues the exbankers are pursuing is not peculiar to Mainstreet Bank alone, saying that the union was doing its best to resolve the problem amicably without deviating from following due process. Speaking with journalists, Salako said some other banks had equally downsized in the past, adding it was worrying to the association that the former workers believe that the union has compromised on the issue of Mainstreet Bank. Salakoasked if Mainstreet has become the only bank that can make the union compromise, wondering what is the peculiarity of the bank that can make the union compromise on the welfare of members. He said ASSBIFI does not condone lawlessness, while also stressing that the disengaged staff should allow the union perform its duties as stipulated by the law. Salako advised the former bank workers to build on public confidence, adding that mass protest without exploring other necessary avenues would amount to eroding the confidence of the public.

ASCSN president vows to uphold unity

ATIONAL President Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama has vowed to embark on rebuilding of the union. Speaking last week, Kaigama who pledged to render selfless service and take the union to a higher level, also emphasised the need for unity among leaders of the association. He solicited the cooperation of the members of the union to enable the exco take the union to greater heights in terms of fighting for the rights and privileges of the working class. “Those who lost in the election should, therefore, not feel bitter because their participation has deepened democracy in the association and they are still part and parcel of our great union,” he said. While praising the immediate national leadership of the union and those before it for building a formidable association, Kaigama assured members of the union the his team would ensure that the labour centre would play a leading role and become more formidable.

MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 2012

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

In the First and Second Republics, Ondo State suffered many devastating effects of political violence. As the parties warm up for the October 20 governorship poll, pockets of violence and arson have been reported during rallies and campaigns. Deputy Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU examines the factors responsible for the conflicts and solutions proffered by stakeholders.

Avoiding violence in Ondo election P

OLITICIANS are beating the drums of war. Their followers are dancing to the peculiar tunes and fanning the embers of intolerance and discord. Political campaigns create panic and tension, sending the wrong signal of do-or-die election. Steadily, a sense of fear of violence and electoral crisis is gradually being registered in the subconscious of the people. In Akure, the state capital, political meetings are disrupted. Other towns and villages are enveloped in anxiety. The critical contest is between Olusegun Mimiko, medical doctor and incumbent governor on the platform of the Labour Party (LP) and Rotimi Akeredolu SAN, legal luminary and former President of Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), who is the candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). In the forthcoming election, it appears that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which is fielding Olusola Oke, a lawyer, and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), which is fielding Soji Ehinlawo, and candidates of other mushroom parties do not enjoy high rating. Expectedly, their supporters and followers are locked in hot media campaigns. However, what is worrisome is the orgy of violence associated with campaigns in the Sunshine State. There have been accusations, counter-accusations and denials. But these propaganda have not halted the trend of violence and tension. Recently, the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, who had been inundated with complaints about the unruly behaviour of party thugs, spat fire and brimstone. He promised to relocate to Ondo State during the election to coordinate security activities. It is common knowledge that unemployed youths, idle artisans and peasants, and motor park boys usually form the bulk of the thuggery clubs. Thus, at a meeting he held with the executive members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers ((NURTW) in Abuja, the police boss read the riot act to arsonists. “Let me warn you that political thuggery will be ruthlessly dealt with. I want you all to take this message to your members all over the country that anyone who gets involved in violence would not be spared”, said the Inspector General who added: “I am issuing this warning in view of the fact that the date for for the Ondo State governorship election is around the corner. I am using this occasion to warn the Ondo State chairman of NURTW that the police will not tolerate thuggery from your members. I will be in Ondo State to monitor the election”. About six years ago, it was a different ball game. Mimiko and Akeredolu were in the same political camp, as it were, waging war against the PDP administration of Dr. Olusegun Agagu. After Mimiko’s stolen mandate was retrieved, the collaboration between LP and AC(N) suddenly broke down. Now, members of the divided house are adorning a new outlook in preparation for a showdown in October. The catalogue of violence stares observers in the face. It started with the face-off between LP and ACN members in Akure during the Adebayo Adefarati Memorial Lecture. In

• Akeredolu

the twilight of life, the former governor was neither a chieftain of LP nor ACN. Sources said that both sides struggled to make a political gain out of the event. The organisers, nevertheless, had some guests in mind; elder statesmen, foremost politicians, top government officials from ACNcontrolled Southwest, and relations. The programme was about to kick off when some thugs invaded the venue, demanding why some LP chieftains were denied entry into the hall. Instantly, hell was let lose. Akure ACN leader Chief Wumi Adegbonmire was rough-handled. Scores of dignitaries were injured. Other eminent persons ran for dear life. ACN spokesman Gboyega Adedipe in the state alleged that the disruption was caused by suspected LP thugs, an allegation vehemently denied by his LP counterpart, Kole Odogiyan. However, since then, violence has characterised preparations for the election. It reared its ugly head again in Owo when Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, a staunch advocate of power shift in Ondo State, stormed the Achievers University to receive an award. “Thugs barricaded the road. It was laughable because they wanted to attack the convoy, unmindful of security details of the governor”, recalled Idowu Ajanaku, Akeredolu’s Media Adviser. Few weeks later, Adegbonmire and some elders were chased out of a political meeting in Ijoka/Sijuwade area of Akure. With him were Chief Olu Adegboro, Prof. Adegbola Aderounmu and other ACN leaders. The old Action Group (AG) chieftain was filled with anger. “Can’t I hold a political meeting again. This is my town. I am the Asiwaju of Akure. This is the height of intolerance’, he protested. Last month, there was commotion along Oba Adesida Road, Akure, when Akeredolu and his supporters were blocked by some youths brandishing dangerous weapons. The convoy was heading to Owo, his birthplace, following the governorship congress that endorsed him as the flag bearer. The police immediately rose to the occasion to and so averted what

• Oke

could have been a tragedy. Recently, in Irele, Ondo South Senatorial District, suspected thugs disrupted the empowerment programme organised by an LP lawmaker. As LP and PDP supporters clashed, Oke, who later became the PDP governorship candidate, was attacked by thugs. In Akure, the ACN state secretariat was vandalised. The security man was beaten to a state of coma. Adedipe blamed LP members for the mayhem, which he described as acts of hooliganism and barbarism. But Odogiyan disagreed, advising him to look for culprits elsewhere. At the weekend, Ajanaku alleged that the indiscriminate arrest of ACN chieftains by police at Owo is now rampant, describing it as an affront on human rights. “It is part of the grand design to frighten our people and disperse our supporters. But the strategy will fail”, he said. “In Ifon and Ute, the campaign offices of Chief Akeredolu have been vandalised. When Mimiko was campaigning for governorship in 2007, Agagu did not stop him. But this governor has refused to let ACN use OSRC and Akure Town Hall. Mimiko declared in that hall for governorship in 2007”, Ajanaku added. Ondo State Information Commissioner Kayode Akinmade objected to the claim. “Ondo is peaceful and our people are ready for October 20. The hue about violence is just a face-saving tactic by the opposition. The plot to hire machineries has been uncovered and LP members are not involved. There is no panic in Ondo State”, he said. The commissioner did not elaborate on his allegation about machineries. Mimiko Campaign Organisation’s spokesman Kola Olabisi had a harsh words for the PDP and other parties, which he accused of peddling falsehood, saying that they are alarmists. He said LP secretariat was recently vandalised, although he did not give clues about suspects. He alleged that Oke was actually creating tension by promising to scrap developmental projects embarked upon by Mimiko. He said this is an unguided utterance,

• Gov Mimiko

• IG Abubakar

urging him to moderate his reactions. “PDP was allowed to use the ‘Democracy Park for its rally. If they (ACN) wants to use the town hall, they should apply to the appropriate authorities and if it is the ‘Democracy Park’, they should do so too. As to the issue of OSRC, all the parties in Ondo state are free to go there, afterall, it is the property of Ondo State”, Olabisi added. Close watchers of the scenario in Ondo State contend that the forces struggling for political control were once upon a time united against the conservative bloc in the state. But the house split, following an inexplicable disagreement. Now, LP government is the lone administration in the Southwest, which had been regained by ACN after a fierce battle against the PDP. To the ACN leaders; Chief Bisi Akande and Senator Bola Tinubu; and the five governors, there is a difference between LP and ACN, based on two criteria of fraternity with the national PDP and posturing on regional integration. Yet, other observers believe that, historically, in the Southwest, the sheer parting of ways among the supposedly members of the progressive family, could herald a bitter contest. Following the split in the defunct AG,

‘The root of violence is deep seated political intolerance borne out of the desire to either gain or retain power. In the long run, it is an ill-wind that blows nobody any good. Any effort to totally eliminate violenvce from social life would definitely be a vain effort. But he clarified that when violence is endemic and persistent, or unimanageable, it may become an anathema to to political stability and economic development’

the federal and regional elections in the wild wild West ended in chaos. In the Second Republic, when there was defection of some leaders to the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), Ondo and Oyo states were in flames after the election. However, the root of violence is deep seated political intolerance borne out of the desire to either gain or retain power. In the long run, it is an illwind that blows nobody any good. A political scientist and lawyer, Dr Derin Ologbenla, observed that, any effort to totally eliminate violenvce from social life would definitely be a vain effort. But he clarified that when violence is endemic and persistent, or unimanageable, it may become an anathema to to political stability and economic development. Ologbenla, who teaches at the University of Lagos, Akoka, described electoral violence as an aspect of political violence. In his view, this may include all sorts of riots, demonstrations, party clashes, political assassinations, looting, arson, thuggery, maiming, kidnapping, and ballot snatching which occurs before, during and after elections. “All these could be regarded as election-motivated crises employed to alter, change or influence by force or coercion the electoral behaviour of voters or voting pattern or possibly reverse the electoral decision in favour of a particular individual, group or political party”, he stressed. The university don described violence as part of winning tactics for dubious politicians. He distinguished between pre and post-electoral violence. “The pre-electoral violence may occur where electoral laws or provisions are seen as favouring a particular candidate at the expense of the others. It could also occur when a particular candidate is over-ambitious and perhaps, sees the signals that he may likely lose the election to the opponents. Experience has shown in Nigeria that such a candidate may engineer violence to disrupt the electoral process”, he added. However, post-election violence may lead to more debilitating effects. Ologbenla warned that it may be spontaneous, adding that it may also be engineered by individuals, group or a political party who feels cheated, rigged out, alienated or deprived by the unfairness of the electoral process and the deprivation may be real or perceived. “In Nigeria, the purpose of such violence, apart from seeking redress through illegal means, including killing, maiming, destruction of property, is also “to destroy it, if we cannot have it”. This latter perspective should not be lost on the handlers of the electoral process. How is the electoral agency responding to these inter-party conflicts? The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Akin Orebiyi, said reports on political violence may have been blown out of proportion by the media. “I don’t support violence, but what has happened in the state has not been properly reported. I was aware of what happened at Oba Adesida Road on the day ACN held its congress and the Irele incident. Police intervened immediately. We need to verify the claims’. he said. To buttress his point, he said the reports about breaches in •Continued on page 44

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 2012

POLITICS

Kogi poll: Test for judiciary The Federal High Court is expected to deliver judgment on Wednesday in the lingering gubernatorial tussle between Jibrin Isah Echocho and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). SANNI ONOGU examines the crisis that triggered the protracted litigation.

S Justice Abdul Kafarati of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja prepares to deliver judgement on the suit filed by Jibrin Isah Echocho seeking to validate the January 2011 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary election in Kogi State on Wednesday, August 29, anxieties have begun to rise as to whether the judgement will not toe the path of the suit filed by the former Governor of Bayelsa State, Timpriye Sylva against the PDP for excluding him from the second primary election of the party. The Supreme Court had, on April 20, dismissed Sylva’s suit against the PDP for lack of jurisdiction, holding that the issue of primary election was the exclusive affair of the party and that the court lacked the power to decide for a party who its candidate should be. One might be tempted to adopt the judgement of the Supreme Court in Sylva’s case as being applicable to the instant case of the Kogi governorship tussle filed by Echocho because the suits look alike on the surface, but a critical and legal consideration of the two suits reveals that their causes of action are different. The PDP in Kogi State had conducted a primary election on January 9, 2011 where Echocho emerged as its standard-bearer in the April 26, 2011 general election, but the victory of Echocho was short-lived when, on February 23, 2011, Justice Adamu Bello of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja elongated the tenure of five state governors beyond May 29, 2011, of which Kogi was one. On appeal by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Court of Appeal, Abuja division, had upheld the judgement of the lower court that the tenure of five governors, including the Kogi State governor, had not expired, hence the postponement of the general election in Kogi, Adamawa, Bayelsa, Sokoto and Cross River. This decision, no doubt, changed the political terrain of Kogi State, as the PDP went ahead to conduct another primary election in September 2011, where Idris Wada emerged as the winner. Not satisfied with this judgement, INEC evoked the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court in Appeal No: SC/ 357/2011 vide its notice of Appeal dated July 14, 2011, asking the court not only to set aside the judgments of the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal elongating the tenure of the governors, but also to dismiss their claim. The Supreme Court, on January 27, 2012, acceded to the INEC’S appeal and granted all its reliefs/ prayers, stating clearly that the tenure of former Governor Ibrahim Id-

• Wada

ris and four others ended on May 28, 2011. Following the judgement of the apex court, Governor Idris of Kogi State swung into action by swearing in Wada as the duly elected governor of the state in the December 3 governorship poll. This action taken by Idris led Echocho to court. Through his counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun, (SAN), he asked the court to determine whether, having regard to the combined effects of Sections 26(1), 26(2), 87(1), 87(2) (3) and (4)(b) of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended, the valid and due nomination of the plaintiff (Isah) and submission of his name by the PDP (1st defendant), to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the party’s governorship candidate in the Kogi State 2011 governorship election can be vitiated by the postponement of the election from April 26 to December 3, 2011. He also asked the court to determine whether the PDP could validly have conducted another special state congress for the governorship primary election in September 2011 for the governorship election, having sent his name to INEC as its candidate. He posited that he could not be substituted with any other name except as provided in Section 33 of the Electoral Act, as amended. While replying to the reliefs sought by Echocho, counsel to Wada, Chris Uche, SAN submitted that “there is nothing unique about the plaintiff’s case because there is a precedent of a similar misadventure which recently ended in misfortune at the Supreme Court”. Citing the recent case of Sylva versus PDP, Uche maintained that every right claimed by Echocho for having won the January primaries has been extinguished by the Supreme Court judg-

ment, as the two cases were similar in every material particular. Considering the reliefs sought and the arguments of parties in the instant suit, it is crystal clear that there is a whole lot of difference between Sylva and Echocho’s suit. It will be recalled that while the INEC’s appeal was still pending at the apex court, it went ahead to conduct an election in Kogi State to elect a governor. Looking at the parties, Sylva’s suit was against the PDP refusing to allow him to contest the party primaries of November 19, 2011 for the general election of February 12, while Echocho’s case challenged INEC’s action of conducting an election during the pendency of its own suit against the tenure elongation. Put in a proper perspective, Sylva’s cause of action was the refusal of his party to publish his name as an aspirant for the primary election, hence the Supreme Court tagged it a pre-primary election matter. But Echocho’s is challenging the electoral body for conducting an election when its suit was lis pendis. It is clear that the case of Sylva has no relevance in the present matter because he was involved in and benefitted from the tenure elongation case which led to the re-scheduling of the April general elections in five states, but Echocho was at no time a party to the tenure elongation suit. Moreover, Sylva’s case was not hinged on the January 27 judgment of the Supreme Court which voided the tenure elongation and, therefore, it is fundamentally different. Another difference in the two suits is that Kogi is the only state where the sitting governor was not seeking re-election among the five states involved in the tenure elongation case. So, none of the candidates was a part of the tenure elongation suit. Also, INEC filed a notice of appeal at the Supreme Court on July 14, 2011 and yet directed the PDP to conduct another primary on September 22, 2011. Again, INEC addressed the Justices of the Supreme Court on November 29, 2011, praying it to dismiss the judgment of both the High Court and the Court of Appeal. However, four days later, INEC conducted governorship election in Kogi. It will also be recalled that Kogi State is the first in the history of Nigeria’s democracy to have its governor sworn in by a Customary Court president. Now that the nation’s jurisprudence is striving towards becoming more effective, the instant case will no doubt be an acid test. It, therefore, behoves the court to put justice at the forefront by putting a lasting end to the governorship legal tussle in Kogi. The case should be considered on its merit so that the judiciary can live up to its status as the last hope of the common man.

Avoiding violence in Ondo

•Jega •Continued from page 43

Ondo State ahead of the poll would pale into insignificance in the face of the disturbing violence that heralded the recent Edo State governorship election. Ajanaku disagreed, saying that reports about violence should not be ig-

nored or treated with levity. “A culture of intolerance is growing in Ondo State and we believe that LP members are responsible because they are desperate”, he maintained. Orebiyi acknowledged that campaigns are hot in Ondo State. But he quickly added that “anybody who foments trouble will be consumed by trouble”. Early in the month, a stakeholders’ meeting attended by representatives of 12 parties met in Akure. At the meeting, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials, State Security Services (SSS) men, an Assistant Inspector General of Police, a Deputy Inspector General, Mr. Abdulraman Akano, and commander of the Army Artillery, Akure, issued serious warnings to politicians in the state to

desist from acts capable of breaching the law during electioneering. Orebiyi assured that, with that warning, there would be no violence and break down of law and order. Besides, he said clashes among rival political supporters would be averted by the implementation of the campaign schedules jointly subscribed to by the various parties. “At the stakeholders’ meeting, a committee was set up as a clearing house for campaigns schedules. Before any political party embarks on campaigns, it must inform the committee, which will make sure that campaigns do not clash. Through that, there will be no case of inter-party misunderstanding, fighting and breakdown of law and order. This will be implemented faithfully”, he stressed.

Former Presidential Adviser on National Assembly Matters Senator Florence Ita-Giwa spoke with Deputy Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU on the plight of the displaced Bakassi people in Cross River State and what the state and federal governments can do to alleviate their suffering.

‘Nigeria should not abandon Bakassi’

XACTLY when did the Bakassi Peninsula become an issue in con temporary times? At the tail end of the Babangida’s Presidency, the Cameroonian Gendarmes who had co-habited with us for many years suddenly effected a change of name of our ancestral villages. This development triggered a chain of events that culminated in military hostilities between Nigeria and Cameroon during the Abacha administration. As a living witness to that particular conflict, I can attest to the fact that there were heavy casualties . In fact, I gave a reading at a combined mass burial service for fallen soldiers and civilians on the invitation of the Nigerian military command. It is for this reason that I opposed the use of military force to regain the peninsula. Not long after the hostilities you have just referred to, the Abacha Administration created the Bakassi local government. What were the events that led to this?Soon after those hostilities and Nigeria regained control of the territory, General Abacha’s administration was in the process of organizing a constitutional conference. I recall that I was one of those invited by General Abacha to take part in the conference as a government nominee because of my advocacy for Bakassi. At the conference, I and a few other leaders from Cross River successfully made a case for a Bakassi Local Government which General Abacha graciously acceded to. Did the creation of the local government answer your problems? To a large extent, the local government contributed to the provision of hitherto non-existent infrastructure like Health Centres, Clinics and schools. However, it also attracted hostile gestures by the Camerounian gendarmes who persistently maltreated Bakassi indigenes at every opportunity. What else did the the Camerounians do to make life unbearable for your people? Aside from the aggravations from the gendarmes, the Camerounian government took Nigeria to court over the peninsula, but General Abacha refused to subject Nigeria to the jurisdiction of the International Court at the time to the frustration of the Camerounian government. Infact, General Abacha is regarded as a hero by the people of Bakassi for his role in liberating Bakassi territory from Gendarmes and creating our local government. General Abacha refused to subject Nigeria to the jurisdiction of the ICJ. How then, today the peninsula has been ceded to Cameroun? You must recall that in 1999, Nigeria returned to democratic governance. It was at this time that our democratically elected president decided to respect the rule of law one of which was the 1965 declaration to subject itself to the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice, hence, Nigeria joining issues with Cameroun at the International Court of Justice. What part did Bakassi natives play in contributing to the case at the ICJ? From the onset, we have been made victims of the political machinations of different forces. Not one Bakassi native took part in preparation by the Nigerian legal defense team. In fact, at no time were we consulted, no one asked us for any information concerning our sojourn on the peninsula. No one briefed us on the Nigerian defence team’s strategy. All of these must have contributed to Nigeria loosing the case. Like someone said recently, it was a case of shaving a man’s head in his absence. How did your people receive the news of the adverse judgment of the ICJ and what moves did you immediately make? We had resolved that because we were never consulted in the matter, we as a people were not obliged to accept the judgment. We infact gave notice to the federal government that we were taking the option of self determination. How did the federal government react to this decision? President Obasanjo appealed to us and assured us that inspite of the judgement, there were some options he was considering. I can attest that he entered into negotiations with some world powers and even tabled a buy back option to Cameroun. It is clear to us that this option did not succeed. So, what happened next? President Obasanjo, having tried his best, returned to us to inform us that the ceding was inevitable. He however promised that we would be relocated to a place of our choice, properly resettled as painless as possible with our social, political and traditional institutions intact. As peace loving people, we agreed to be relocated and resettled for the sake of peace. Like I said before, I was a living witness to the earlier hostilities in the peninsula and my people were not prepared to be the reason for a war between two African nations. Simply put, we opted to be the sacrificial lambs to bring peace and prove to the world that two brother African nations can peacefully resolve issues between them. We have been hearing a lot of talk about your people still not being resettled 10 years after the ICJ judgement and six years since the formal handover of the peninsula, what then happened to President Obasanjo’s promise of painless resettlement? It would appear that no matter the sincerity of the federal government in this issue, it is when the state government gets involved; a lot of extraneous issues come to play. While I was supposed ly being consulted by the state Land Commissioner for a possible relocation site, the state government was sponsoring a spurious bill at the House of Assembly surreptitiously creating a new local government under the guise of adjusting the boundary between Akpabuyo and Bakassi. The bogus ‘Law number 7’ which was hurriedly passed by the house shamelessly expunged our political institution and infact what they actually did was to create a new local government from the three wards carved out of Akpabuyo local government in Ikang without recourse to the National Assembly a sine qua non for the creation of new local government. • Ita-Giwa

MOTORING

THE NATION

MONDAY, AUGUST 27 2012

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

Auto giant Stallion Motors Limited rolled out its European engineered brands-Volkswagen, Audi and Skoda range of automobiles, penultimate Saturday in a test drive with motoring journalists in Lagos, reports TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO

•Volkswagen Touareg

VW, Audi, Skoda dare Lagos roads A

TEST drive has been organised by an auto giant Stallion Motors Limited, to showcase its European engineered brands of Volkswagen, Audi and Skoda range of automobiles. The test started from the Porsche Centre, Victoria Island Lagos to Banana Island Estate through Chevron Pavilion, Lekki Peninsula, Lagos. It was to determine the efficiency, standard and performance of the vehicles. The over four hours test drive offered motoring correspondents opportunity to compare the engineering proficiency of European brands to the ones evolving from Asian automakers including Japanese and Korean series of vehicles. Multiple automobile franchise holders and distributors of the brands, Stallion Motors controls no less than seven brands of vehicles in the Nigerian auto business, including Porsche, Honda and Hyundai.

The test drive, according to the management, was one of the numerous showstoppers lined up to precede the Stallion European Motor Show slated for September. The drive was to serve as a reminder that European brands are the origin of automobile engineering and remained the brands to beat when placed side by side with the highly rated products. Stallion Motors Deputy Managing Director, European Brands Mr Julian Hardy said the vehicles are in a class of their own. According to him, the show is intended to hype and help motorists rediscover the potentials of European engineered vehicles such as Volkswagen, Audi and Skoda range of vehicles. “Top European car manufacturers, such as Porsche, Audi and Volkswagen produce some of the best performing vehicles on the road and can be seen in many consumer reports’ test which has shown how sturdier in design and build strength are European

brands of vehicles,” Hardy said. The European vehicles, he noted, are generally safer with shorter braking distances in case of serious accident and their acceleration, handling, performance and steering response remains the best yet. Some of the models put to the test include Volkswagen Amarok pick-up, VW Polo, VW Passat, VW Tiguan and VW Touareg. From the Audi stable were the A4, A6, A8 and Q7 while Skoda paraded the Superb, Octavia and Fabia. He said the firm is not only interested in selling cars but dispensing valuable information that can help end users derive optimum value from any brand of vehicle purchased from the Stallion Group. “European engineered vehicles are value-driven cars with exceptional inputs to deliver optimum value while also reassuring on sophistication and comfort,” he said. Hardy was joined at the briefing by Sales and Marketing Director,

•The road show

Audi and VW passenger cars Mr. Anurag Shah; his counterparts at Volkswagen and Skoda, Mr Amit Sharma and Mr Snajay Rupani; and Stallion Motors Service Manager, European brands, Mr Munish Sharma. The tour, guided by officials of the three branch offices of Stallion

Motors, was to prove the efficiency, ruggedness and performance of the vehicles. The drive also showed the vehicles had a lot of safety features, good acceleration, impressive handling, matchless performance and exceptional steering response.

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 2012

MOTORING

GUN State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun has taken a bold step to evolve a viable transportation system. Amosun launched the Ogun State Bus Mass Transit Scheme (BMTS) at the Memorial Arcade, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, last Thursday. The carnival-like event was attended by traditional rulers, stakeholders in the transportation industry and government functionaries. Amosun attributed poor transportation system as one of the major factors militating against economic development. He said: “Availability of affordable and efficient transportation system, will boost the economy of any society. “As agricultural products increase and new industries emerge, goods and services multiply, market expands and money circulates, there is the need to evolve a viable transportation system that would easily move people and goods from one place to the other. A transportation system could only be efficient if it is cost and time effective,” Amosun said. Amosun described the launch as “symbolic, as it demonstrates our commitment to the development of all sectors of our state’s economy and the improvement of the lives of the good people of the state.” “Today, history is being made in the state as our administration takes the bull by the horns to deploy both inter-city and intra-city bus mass transit signaling the commencement of a sustainable Bus Mass Transit Scheme (BMTS) in Ogun State. I enjoin all the good people of the state to join hands in making good use of

Amosun’s ‘symbolic’ mass transit scheme

•Some of the buses (inset) Governor Amosun By Tajudeen Adebanjo

this facility. We must continue to see public facilities as our own and ensure proper maintenance. The Ogun State Bus Mass Transit Scheme (BMTS) is a symbol of better days in the transportation sub-sector of the

economy of our state,” he said. The governor called on stakeholders to come together to ensure the success of the programme. “Law enforcement agencies such as the Police, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), TRACE, Vehicle In-

spection Office (VIO) and the transport unions such as the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), and all others must come together to ensure the success of this programme

and ensure that our roads become safer for all road users,” he said. The BMTS initiative is an extensive and well articulated travel survey, travel speed/journey time and traffic counts conducted in conjunction with the Directorate for International Development (DFID) of the United Kingdom (UK) to determine the most effective routes for the deployment of the buses at the first instance. “Having seen the fall-out of the last fuel price debacle arising from the partial removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government, the state government conceived of a plan to ease the burden of the people of the state through an interventionist programme where buses would be provided for the masses to arrest their immediate transportation needs in a safe, economical and comfortable manner. The government, therefore, facilitated the acquisition of 50 small capacity mini-buses at the first instance to take care of the intracity travel demands of the people of the state. Our administration went further to acquire seven high capacity buses for the inter-city travel demands of our people.” “Almost immediately after procurement, the government entered into negotiation and discussion with transportation experts with the aim of acquiring more high capacity buses to augment the apparent shortfall in the number of buses available for intra-city travel in our state. The result is what we are all witnessing today,” said.

Kewalram introduces trucks By Tajudeen Adebanjo

•Some of the bridges being repaired or reconstructed

Oyo opens hinterland to improve economy

OISED to improve the economic situation of the state, the Oyo State government is opening up the hinterland to rural dwellers, traders and other road users. The projects are aimed at reducing traffic snarls faced by motorists and commuters daily. It will also address the incidents of flood which is becoming regular in the city in recent times. To this end, several roads and bridges including the flyover are under construction in the state. One of the contractors working at Mokola roundabout in Ibadan, has promised to complete and deliver the project by December. Commissioner for Works and Transport Alhaji Yunus Akintunde, disclosed this after inspecting some of the projects. Akintunde, who was accompanied by his Information and Orientation counterpart, Mr Bosun Oladele as well as engineers and directors in the ministry, expressed satisfaction with the speed and quality of job on the projects. Aside upgrading the road networks within the city, 199 roads are either being rehabilitated or reconstructed across the state while several bridges washed away by the devastating flood last year as well as that of this year’s are also being repaired. The simultaneous rehabilitation and reconstruction at different parts of the city has resulted in traffic gridlock but motor-

From Bisis Oladele Ibadan

ists endure it seeing the enormity of the impact the projects will have on the socio-economic development of the city and the state at large when completed. Akintunde said his ministry receives weekly reports from the Principal Resident Engineers (PREs) who are monitoring the projects. He added that the reports also serve as feedback from users of roads and other facilities provided by the government, which in turn helps the government to gauge its steps. At Ajibode-Alphonso Road, the commissioner expressed satisfaction with the quality of work done by the contractor. The contractor pledged to deliver the road later this month. The 2.5 kilometre Ajibode-Apete Road was also 54 per cent completed at the time. The road will serve as an alternative route for residents of Apete who had the bridge linking the community to the city washed away by the two major floods At Awolowo Junction-Bodija where a contractor is constructing a huge bridge, the commissioner also expressed satisfaction with the speed and quality of the job done so far. The bridge will be delivered in December, according to the contractor. “I am impressed and satisfied with the work on the bridge,” Akintunde

said. He also expressed satisfaction with several others including the Olubadan Palace road network and OgbereBabanla roads. But it was a different story for the contractor handling the Prof. Adeniyi Road at Felele area of the city. Akintunde hinted that residents complained about the delay on the project. He said the Department of Highways wrote to the firm, stressing that government had concluded to sanction the contractor. According to him, the government made advanced payment of 60 per cent to the contractor with

the expectation that the work should have been 52 per cent completed at the time. Four contracts that may be terminated according to the commissioner include the School of Survey-Adikuta Road, Oyo; Mobil-Oluyole-Apata Road; Access Road to Podo Motor Park and the Elewuro-OnirekeAtaputu-Olodo Road in Ibadan. Akintunde also disclosed that the contract for the reconstruction of Apete bridge has been reviewed due to the delay by the former contractor. The bridge was washed away on August 26, last year.

Firm launches motorcycles

LEADING manufacturer and marketer of hi-tech motorcycles from China, Jincheng Group, has launched two cruiser models into the market. The two models: JC 125 A (super cruiser) with alloy rims and JC 125 C (normal cruiser) with spoke rims are result of Jincheng’s research and development efforts to meet the needs of consumers. According to the company’s Sales/Marketing Manager, Mr Saheed Oladipupo, the new models come with reliable

Jincheng quality. Oladipupo said the two models are crafted with the best components across the world. “They come with hi-tech engine, strong and durable shock absorbers, wide and long seats that make for comfortable seating for riders. Beside these, they are designed with the fuel tank for comfortable leg rest. The cruiser models are the best you can find around, especially with the ir low fuel consumption attributes,” he said. Oladipupo the models will be the benchmark for others in Nigeria in terms of quality and performance.

KEWALRAM Nigeria Limited (KNL), a subsidiary of Kewalram Chanrai Group, has introduced the new Foton Auman trucks manufactured by Beijing Foton Daimler Automotive Co., Ltd (BFDA) into the market. The truck is the result of partnership between German auto maker Daimler, manufacturer and Beiqi Foton Motor Co. The joint venture under Beijing Foton Daimler Automotive Co., Ltd (BFDA) is manufacturing medium and heavy duty trucks at Foton Auman’s existing facility in Beijing’s Huairou district in China. “With the newly established joint venture with Foton Motor, Daimler is the first and only international automotive manufacturer that had successfully deepened its cooperation with China in all segments of the automotive industry,” CEO and Chairman of Daimler North East Asia Ulrich Walker was quoted in a release. According to the statement, The goal of both partners is to make use of the “best of both worlds.” Besides making a financial investment, Daimler will share responsibility for the joint venture’s Finance, IT, Quality Management, and Development departments. In addition, Daimler will set up the production facility for the OM 457 engine at BFDA’s headquarters. The OM 457 engine, which is being successfully used in Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles in Europe and Latin America, will meet the future China IV emissions standard (corresponds to Euro IV). “The joint production of our first Auman truck under BFDA is the result of thorough planning and groundwork that was done by Daimler and Foton in an intensive and co-operative way,” Walker said. President and CEO of Foton Motor Wang Jinyu described the partnership as the latest landmark in the progress of BFDA. “We are very pleased to be entering this new phase in our cooperation. The joint venture products will have more competitive advantages through the combination of Foton’s market knowhow and Daimler’s technical expertise,” Jinyu said.

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 2012

DISCOURSE

The role of opposition in meeting Nigeria’s challenges • Continued from last Friday

•Enhance local conflict resolution measures. •Deploy adequate and trained security personnel and establish community policing •Compel better coordination of intelligence among security agencies •Set up local human rights monitoring groups. •Create employment and economic opportunities. •Open dialogue with the pragmatists and local opinion-makers. •Provide feeding lunch in primary and high schools to take children off the streets •Direct support to the farmers; combined with skills development programs for the unemployed. Economic Policy: The Richer the Nation, the Poorer the People? HE vast difference between the government’s economic outlook and that of my party was manifest in government’s mishandling of the fuel subsidy removal. Government revealed a preference for fiscal austerity that would increase costs paid by the private sector thus deflating aggregate demand at a time when the private sector was stagnant and more deserving of fiscal stimulus than in need of restraint. The public eruption that followed government’s decision transcended the fuel subsidy. This decision and the public’s reaction were about the relationship between government and the people and about the primary objective of government’s role in the economy. It was about whom, among the Nigeria’s various social classes, did government most value. This was why mass demonstrations occurred in major cities throughout the land. The protests were not because people would spend more for gas. The protests were because people felt betrayed. •Government’s decision to remove the subsidy was made simply because this government saw more value in “making” money than in “saving” the hard-pressed masses. In other words, the people were not worth the expenditure. By seeking to end the subsidy, government breached the social contract for no compelling reason. Months before the fateful decision, the opposition met with the government and warned it about the dangers of its approach. Instead of attacking the subsidy because it affronted economic orthodoxy, government should have weighed the actual political and economic benefits of the expenditure. The opposition insisted that there must be conditions precedent. My party was not wedded to the subsidy but was wedded to the maintenance of a comparable level of investment in public on social programs. We suggested a plan whereby the subsidy would be methodically phased out and the people compensated with investment in public transportation, primary health care, and infrastructural development. Complementing this would have been a public affairs strategy fully explaining to the people that the change was not to breach the social contract but to improve it. • The starting point should have been a calculation of the amount government could afford to spend on the general welfare given the level of overall national economic activity and the constraints imposed on government expenditure by inflation. Ignoring our counsel, government lifted the subsidy by stealth. Government also deployed armed soldiers to deter further protests. This episode reveals the vast difference between opposition and government economic policy. The priority of fiscal policy should be the maximum improvement of the overall economy. Fiscal surpluses or deficits are but tactics to achieve this objective. Sadly, government has elevated a mere tactic to the status of the primary objective. • The Nigerian economy is characterized by idle human capacity

Text of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s speech at the Woodrow Wilson Centre, Washington, DC. on August 22. and thus suppressed aggregate demand. Government fiscal policy has a significant role to play in putting the idle to work. The current administration seeks the path of austerity. This will push Nigeria into the same predicament the United Kingdom and the Euro zone now face. Government expenditure is needed to stimulate the economy up to the point where the growth of inflation does not cause such damage that it erases the benefit derived from the additional expenditure. • Last, we need to reform the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the labyrinth of agencies that nurse at its udder. The current Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, is not the right effective prescription. For instance, the bill yields too much power to the Minister of Petroleum. Furthermore, some parts of the bill makes the oil sector even more fertile ground for corruption and patronage. The bill should be amended so that the NNPC functions like a duly regulated publicly owned and publicly traded company. This will minimize the opaqueness that now characterizes company operations. Earned revenues will then be used for their stated purpose and not some one’s private political end. Also, the PIB needs to be recalibrated in order to strike a fairer balance between the needs and objectives of international oil companies and the needs of Nigeria. The Brazilian experience with Petrobras and the success made of it is here instructive. Norway is flourishing today because of transparency in its oil industry operations. If we can take these aforementioned steps, government will promote growth that benefits ordinary Nigerians. If we continue as we are, the Nigerian economy will cement into a highly bifurcated, unjust one where a small elite enjoys the fruit of life while the majority of Nigerians participate on the losing side of a life-long contest against poverty. Electoral Reform: Less Than Meets the Eye •As a result of agitation by the opposition after the 2007 elections, the late President Yar’Adua inaugurated the Electoral Reform Committee. Chaired by former Chief Justice, Muhammed Uwais, the Committee produced a comprehensive report enumerating 83 substantive recommendations. With this document, Nigeria has the blue print needed for electoral reform. Key recommendations dealt with ensuring the independence of the Electoral Commission and of creating an electoral process less vulnerable to manipulation. If implemented in full, the report would have radically transformed the political landscape, placing Nigeria on the path to fair elections and legitimate democracy. Save for the replacement of the INEC chairman, only few of the recommendations were enacted. •The 2011 elections were better than the 2007 edition. However, they were not of the outstanding quality government and many international observers claimed. In a way, international observers did Nigeria a disservice. Expecting the worst, they unduly applauded the modest improvement that took place in 2011. Observers should not have been taken in by the orderliness of the ballot casting at the local polling booth. In Nigeria, the

ordinary people have always done their part. The people are ready for democracy. It is the most powerful faction of the political elite that is not. Your observers did see what happened before Election Day or after the polls closed. Observers judged a complicated electoral play solely by viewing one of its several acts. If they had observed more carefully, they would have seen that hundreds of members of the opposition were beaten, several others killed and scores detained simply for carrying the membership card of the wrong party. In parts of the country, it effectively became a crime to be a member of the opposition. In many parts of the country, the voting tallys were so inflated as to embarrass the less flagrant agents of malpractice in the ruling party. This is a truer picture of the 2011 elections than the tidy fable widely disseminated. The negative consequence of the overinflated measure is that the bar has been set too low for subsequent elections. Those in power believe they do not need to improve the process. This would be a gross miscalculation. Should subsequent elections be of the same dismal quality, there could be an eruption that bypasses the court system as the best means for resolving the egregious malpractices. LTHOUGH facing this stacked deck, the ACN registered electoral gains. Made anxious by our victories, the PDP has determined that we shall not win another contest where they field the incumbent. In this vein, the lone reform they promoted since the 2011 election was a measure terminating electoral complaints 180 days after their filing. Rarely do cases get heard within the time allotted by the new provision. This means most cases will ultimately be dismissed on a feeble technicality. All the guilty party need do is to stall court proceedings, which is an easy feat in Nigeria. If this law had previously existed, the successful complaints lodged by the opposition in Ekiti, Osun, Edo and Ondo states after the 2007 elections would have been rejected on technical grounds. The criminality of those who actually lost the contests and rigged the vote tally would have been rewarded by granting them the highest office in their states. Let me state unequivocally, that the 180-day law is an imposition against the just disposition of electoral disputes. It is a cynical use of the law to protect the corrupt hijacking of the electoral process and the electorate will. The ruling party, PDP has used the tyranny of its majority in the Parliament to abrogate the electoral rights of Nigerians to fair hearing. The opposition will be relentless in the fight to upturn this unjust law. •What the new 180-day law does is to first strike fear in the minds of citizens that legitimate petitions will fail and then create doubts about the electoral system and the dispensation of justice. Ultimately, this could lead to people pouring out on the streets to resolve electoral disputes or simply resorting to other means of self-help. (Ladies and gentlemen, I restate that what this law has done is to circumscribe one of the fundamental human rights of the Nigerian people.) Centralists versus Federalists

Government’s decision to remove the subsidy was made simply because this government saw more value in “making” money than in “saving” the hard-pressed masses. In other words, the people were not worth the expenditure.

•Asiwaju Tinubu

In reaction to opposition gains at the state level, the current Administration has embarked on a program to consolidate more power in the federal government. It seeks a constitutional amendment shifting the control over local government funds from the States to the federal government. This effort mocks federalism and is not endorsed by substantive logic except the logic of a naked power play. By controlling the finances of local governments, the federal government will acquire greater power while undermining state governments. •Another blatant encroachment against federalism is the establishment of the Sovereign Wealth Fund, (SWF). This is another instance where the international community has done Nigeria a disservice by applauding the Nigerian model of SWF. Under this set-up, the federal government uses as it wishes funds belonging to the States. As such, the mechanism violates the constitution. It is doubletalk for the international community to claim support for the rule of law in Nigeria then encourage the federal government to rupture the constitution. Our constitution mandates that revenues are completely allocated to the federal, state and local governments. The SWF amounts to an illegal confiscation of state and local funds by the federal government. If the SWF is allowed to stand, the federal government will be free to concoct subsequent excuses to withhold additional funds from the states. In time, federalism will erode because the fiscal independence of the States will become fiction. Rule of Law: Where is it? Demonstrating its preoccupation with remaining in power, the PDP government has engaged in a sustained attack against the rule of law. Starting with the Obasanjo administration to the present, its disregard for the judiciary and the rule of law has become the stuff of political legend in Nigeria. When confronted with an adverse judicial decision, the PDP government does what authoritarians do; they act as if the court does not exist and as if the decision was never made. This makes ruling much easier for them but makes democracy less real for the rest of us. If a judge has the temerity to deliver a few decisions in harmony with the rule of law but against them, our rulers do not accept this in good faith. They are prone to discipline the honest jurist. Thus, one year ago, the government suspended Court of Appeals President Salami because he had the courage to follow the law. Salami’s wrong was that he did right. Despite several panels of eminent jurists exonerating him of any impropriety, the government of Jonathan Goodluck has refused to respect the verdict of the law by reinstating him. An innocent and upright judge has been made to suffer. •Continued on page 48

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 2012

DISCOURSE

Role of opposition in meeting Nigeria’s challenges HIS shoddy treatment of a senior judge has a chilling effect on the rest of the judiciary. By effectively dismissing Salami, the government intends a strong caution to other judges: “Apply the law to us and you are in trouble. Do as we wish, your position on the bench shall be assured.” •This government cannot prosecute a war on corruption. To do so would require the government to mainly fight itself. That is why the EFCC, though being headed by a core professional and a team of experienced hands operates with little independent discretion. There is undue interference from the Ministry of Justice and the Presidency. Thus, cases are initiated but never finished. People are arrested but never effectively tried. Sometimes, they are let go with a only a slap on the wrist. It is mostly theatre and little fact. Someone recently quipped that the current administration has a unique way of minimizing corruption. It allows a choice few to make away with such a king’s ransom that everyone else who would consume at the government trough is forced into honesty because there is nothing left to take. Additionally, the PDP government efforts at constitutional reform are confined to the aim of securing political power. They seek to abuse their majorities in the national and state assemblies to ram through amendments solidifying their grip

on power. For instance, they are nursing an amendment proposing to rotate the Presidency among the nation’s six geopolitical zones so that during any given election only candidates from the anointed region can contest for office. I have referred to this as “Turn by Turn” politics. It is an untoward attempt to impose the PDP’s sordid interparty arrangement on the nation. The provision negates democracy. The people should always be afforded the right to vote for whomever they desire. Everyone should be allowed to contest for office and not be barred simply because their place of origin does not accord with someone else’s timetable. •We need to discuss our future, if necessary conduct a referendum on a number of issues that are germane to our future development. The idea that a ruling party can use its bogus majority in the National Assembly to tamper with the constitution and abrogate the right of Nigerians to vote and be voted for, to fair hearing alter the independence of the judiciary and promote division among the citizenry cannot chart a path to progress and development. Governance at the national level has veered too far off course. Tinkering around the constitution’s edges cannot provide the needed corrective measures. To most of us, the Jonathan Administration appears like the dazed captain using a teaspoon to bail water from his sinking vessel. We require a

drastically overhaul the constitution to provide for a more perfect federal system that restrains the ability of the federal executive to encroach on the prerogatives of other institutions and on individual liberties.

•Asiwaju Tinubu

National Conference for two important reasons: First, the present constitution was never established by the people. It is the handiwork of the military. A constitution that was forced on us does not have the requisite legitimacy needed for such a complex, diverse nation. The past thirteen years have revealed important flaws in the constitutional structure, namely the capacity of the federal executive to arrogate the powers of other governmental institutions. The exclusive legislative list is too large and overbearing. The states have suffered as a result. So have civil liberties. We need to

CONCLUSION Nigeria has entered a troubling period. Government which is supposed to resolve the nation’s challenges now does the reverse. President Jonathan may have won the 2011election. However, since then, his errant policies have awakened the people to the grave mistake they made when they handed him the staff of office. If an election were held today, Jonathan would not win. To all Nigerians, his Administration has been a disappointment. If it continues as is, they will come to see it as a manifold disaster. By his policies; political and economic, the people believe he has turned his back on them, that he has broken the contract between the government and the governed. If given a viable alternative, they are more than ready to turn their back on him and his party. The opposition now is ready to provide that alternative. Political competition in Nigeria is no longer primarily driven by personal rivalry or ethnic considerations. Democratic policy and principle drive the politics of my party. On one side, there stands the PDP and its governing aristocracy. Their vision for the nation is neither caring nor democratic. Their vision is to impress the vast majority into the

service of small elite. They seek a Nigeria that is modern in appearance yet quasi-medieval in the relationship between the governing elite and the governed masses. On the other side, stands the progressive opposition that seeks a more democratic, decentralized political structure as well as an open economy that creates more opportunities for those Nigerians who live below the crushing poverty line. Yet, Nigerians are not a sadistic lot. They know what they want and the kind of good governance such as we have in the six states controlled by the Action Congress of Nigeria they can deliver good governance. Nigerians will vote wisely but fear that an Independent Electoral Commission where card carrying members of the ruling party are appointed Resident Electoral Commissioners, (REC), will manipulate their votes. I have no delusions. The task of developing Nigeria will be hard. The task of unseating the current party in power may even be harder. Yet, for the good of Nigeria, the opposition must persevere, the international community must support Nigeria in the renewed struggle to ensure the sanctity of the ballot box, foster respect for the rule of law and to build democratic and economic institutions that will endure. I thank you for listening. •Concluded

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 2012

NEWS Flooding: Ebonyi to relocate residents From Ogbonnaya Obinna, Abakaliki

From left: Anambra State Governor Peter Obi inaugurating the Agulu Town Hall in Anaocha Local Government Area. With him are Rev. B.A. Obiefuna (left); Dr. Chike Akunyili (second left); Prof. Dora Akunyili (second right) and Mrs. Uche Ekunife...yesterday.

Anambra ready for Jonathan’s visit

NAMBRA State is ready to receive President Goodluck Jonathan in four days. Governor Peter Obi said this during a programme on Silverbird Radio yesterday. Obi said the President was coming to inaugurate projects executed by the private sector and his administration. The projects include the SABmiller Brewery, Orange Drugs Company, Krisoral Company and Orient Petroleum Oil Wells,all of which are private investments.

Church bans big headgears

T. Theresa’s Catholic Cathedral, Nsukka, Enugu State, has banned women from wearing big headgears and carrying hand bags to Sunday masses. The Cathedral Administrator, Rev. Fr. Uche Obodoechina, announced this during yesterday during the service. He said the ban would take effect from September 9. Fr. Obodoechina said the measure was to ensure the security of worshippers. He said: “Please, in view of the present security challenges, the church urges women to stop coming to Sunday masses with big headgears and bags. This is to prevent the smuggling of a bomb into the church. “The church has directed security men at the gate to seize big headgears and bags from September 9.” Henceforth, cars are to be parked at the St Theresa’s College field. Only motorcycles would be allowed to park at the designated places within the church premises. Parishioners coming for the 5:30am mass are expected to be in the church latest by 6 am, after which the gate would be locked, while those coming for the 7:30am must be in by 8am. The cleric said: “If you cannot come before this time, you will not be allowed into the cathedral compound. We urge members to cooperate and obey the directives in the interest and safety of all. “These are temporary measures and would be relaxed as soon as the security challenges in the country improve. The church is sorry for whatever inconveniences the measures will cause.”

•Obi inaugurates N250m water scheme From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

The government’s projects include the Onitsha Ports, the new Governor’s Lodge at Onitsha, over 10 roads in the Habour Industrial Estate and 500 buses to enhance security. Obi said the President’s presence would encourage private investors, urging entrepreneurs to take advantage of the “enabling busi-

ness environment” in the state. He said the naming of the Upper Iweka Head Bridge after the late Chief Emeka Ojukwu way is one of the government’s steps to immortalise the late Igbo leader. Traditional rulers in Omambala Area, where Orient Petroleum Oil Wells are situated, are demanding the flag off of the proposed

University of Agriculture at Nzam by the President. Also yesterday, the governor inaugurated the NiboNise Water Scheme estimated at over N250 million. Obi also inaugurated a Maternity in Nibo and a block of classroom at Ezeike High School, Nibo. He donated N6 million to the community for the building of more classrooms and pledged to build a

Nurses Quarters at Nibo Maternity. Obi said: “We are here to inaugurate our mid-term water scheme. We have 27 of them and this is the first one we are inaugurating. I urge Nibo and other host communities to take full ownership of the scheme and guard the projects. “We will take charge of the scheme for six months and hand it over to the community next year February. You can see that everything is new and working.

Imo council crisis: Ex-chairmen reject Okorocha’s offer

HE 27 former local government chairmen in Imo State have rejected the state government’s offer to pay them two months salary. The chairmen and their councillors, who were disengaged by the state government on the grounds that their tenure had expired, were directed to collect two months salary from the Ministry of Local Government Affairs. In a state-wide broadcast, the state government announced the approval of their salary for May 2011 and July 2012, stating that the gesture was in compliance with the Court of Appeal’s judgment. But the chairmen rejected the offer, describing it as “mischievous and an aberration of the extant laws of local government adminis-

From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

tration”. In a statement, the Chairman and Secretary of the sttae chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Mr. Ruby Emele and Mr. Enyinna Onuegbu, argued that the salary and allowances of council officials, political appointees and civil servants are not paid at the headquarters of the Ministry of Local Government Affairs, but at the various council headquarters through cheques and vouchers signed by the chairmen and treasurers. They said: “Prior to the payment of monthly salaries and allowances, it is the Joint Account and Allocation Committee (JAAC) that approves the disbursement of the statutory allocation of

‘It is unbelievable that the state government announced its intention to disburse scarce council resources without due authorisation by the resolution of the JAAC. This was how over N57 billion, earned by Imo councils from June 2011 to June 2012 from the Federation Account, may have been disbursed’ the local governments received from the Federation

Account and the voting members of the JAAC are the elected chairmen.” Describing the offer as suspicious and an attempt by the state government to bribe them, they said since their reinstatement by the Court of Appeal ruling, they have never been invited for any JAAC meeting or seen any Director of Administration or Treasurer in any of the Council Secretariats. They said: “It is unbelievable that the state government announced its intention to disburse scarce council resources without due authorisation by the resolution of the JAAC. This was how over N57 billion, earned by Imo councils from June 2011 to June 2012 from the Federation Account, may have been disbursed.”

Orji’s absence mars Abia anniversary lecture From Ugochukwu UgojiEke, Umuahia

•Orji

HE lecture marking the beginning of Abia State’s 21st anniversary celebration was poorly attended last Friday. Governor Theodore Orji was absent from the lecture,

which was organised by the Abia Elders’ Forum, led by Dr. Anagha Ezeikpe and veteran broadcaster Chief Bob Ogbuagu. Only two commissioners and two council chairmen were in attendance. Minister of Finance Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the who was billed to deliver the lecture entitled, “Tapping Abia’s Economic Potentials”, was also absent. She sent her apologies, stating that she had another engagement assigned to her by the Vice-President. Commissioner for Finance Sam Onuigbo, who repre-

sented the governor, chaired the occasion. The Head of the Political Science Department at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Prof. Obasi Igwe, advocated for a change in revenue distribution. He said the 13 per cent derivation does not favour states like Abia, “but favours oil-producing states such as Delta, because many projects in such states are being executed by oil companies”. Prof. Igwe recommended a return to the old revenuesharing formula, where regions were allowed to control their revenue and pay taxes to the Federal Government. He called for a change in the distribution of Value

Added Tax (VAT), which he said is determined by the purchasing power of a state. The don suggested that the population of Abians in Diaspora should be taken into consideration to upgrade the distribution of VAT to the state. He said: “States like Abia, which are situated at cross roads, are at the risk of having their roads, both federal and state, deteriorate fast because of constant usage. Therefore there should be an increase of allocation of funds to such states for the roads to be maintained.” Prof. Igwe urged Nigerians to avail themselves of the “numerous opportunities that are abound in the state”.

BONYI State Commissioner for Environment Dr. Paul Okorie at the weekend said the state government would relocate residents of flood-prone areas, following the forecast by the Nigeria Metrological Agency that some parts of the state would witness heavy flooding this year. Speaking after Saturday’s sanitation exercise, Okorie said: “It is a natural phenomenon that is based on probabilities. Residents of the areas must be alert, as relocation remains the long term measure to be adopted in flood-prone areas. “Governments at all levels are doing their best to check the trend. Mitigating the trend requires huge sums of money, but efforts would be intensified to check it.” Okorie said the government will arrest and prosecute defaulters of the monthly sanitation. He said: “It is clear that despite efforts to sensitise the public on the exercise, many people still fail to observe it. They stay inside their houses during the exercise’s period, without cleaning their filthy environment.” He regretted that most of the defaulters were students, who ought to be vanguards of a clean environment. Okorie said: “Most student residential areas are dirty, while they lock themselves inside, an issue that would be aggressively addressed during next month’s exercise. “Most of the people we gave oral directive to clean their environment during last month’s exercise disregarded it, so abatement notices would be served on them immediately. “I commend those who defied the downpour to participate in the exercise. They are worthy partners in the government’s campaign to achieve environmental cleanliness.” Seventy-five persons were prosecuted by the environmental court presided over by Mr. Chinua Uwah for violating various sanitation offences. The offences include: loitering and traveling during the period and engaging in recreational activities among others. The offenders were given jail terms of between two to six months or options of fines ranging between N2, 000 to 10, 000.

Abia monarch is dead

HE Traditional Ruler of Mbutuukwu Kingdom, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area of Abia State, Eze Gaius Ihejiamaizu, is dead. He died last week after a brief illness. Eze Ihejiamaizu died on his way to Umuahia for medical check. His remains have been deposited at one of the mortuaries in the state. The deceased was the Chairman of the Enyimba Football Club of Aba from 1995 to 1998.

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 2012

NEWS 17 parties flay AKISIEC From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

GROUP of 17 political parties in Akwa Ibom State yesterday criticised the State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC) over the conduct of the local government elections. In a statement, the State Chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Paul Bassey, and 16 other parties, said the election was conducted in defiance of a court injunction stopping the election. They said after the commission had been served with the court order, it went ahead to conduct the election on June 9.” The group said the “illegal actions taken by AKISIEC and its sponsors with regards to the council elections are null, void and of no consequence”. They said: “Enough of the political gangsterism and the insult on the intelligence of the people of Akwa Ibom State, whose sweat, courage and sacrifice brought about the good fortune that is being recklessly wasted. “The state government, in its avowed intention to create a one-party state, encouraged AKISIEC to disregard various statutory notices and rules governing the conduct of the elections and disrespect of the court and the rule of law. “The opportunists in power believe only in the handpicking and imposition of their foot soldiers as chairmen and councillors to enable them control and squander the councils’ fund with impunity.”

RSUST ASUU chair alleges threat to life

Police recover Oyerinde’s phone in Yobe

HE Police have recovered the Blackberry phone of Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde, the slain Principal Secretary of Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole. He was murdered in May. The phone was recovered in Yobe State. The suspect, in whose possession the phone was found, is being detained at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) in Abuja. It was gathered yesterday that the 16 suspects arrested in connection with the murder by the police and the State Security Service (SSS) have admitted to the FCID that they sell items stolen during robbery

operations to the same group of people. A source said: “After Oyerinde was murdered, the items stolen, including a Blackberry phone, were given to a receiver in Benin, who later disposed of it. “But the police traced the phone to the receiver and a buyer in Yobe State. We have arrested the buyer for questioning and he is still in custody. Receivers of stolen goods dispose of the items in places far away from the vicinity of the crime.” The source said the police

have uncovered more leads into the muder since the SSS handed over the six suspects in its custody to the police on Thursday. The source said: “All the suspects have admitted that they are notorious armed robbers operating in the Benin axis. They have also admitted that they have common buyers of the loot from their operations. So, they have a meeting point. “Although they confessed that Oyerinde was killed during a robbery, we are still probing the murder allegation.” An environmentalist, who is a friend to the late Oyerinde, Rev. David Ugolor, is still being detained by the police in relation to the murder.

On why Ugolor is still in custody, the source said: “We are looking into some circumstantial evidence, including the call logs of the late Oyerinde and how the two friends parted ways on May 4, the day the incident occurred. “In a sensitive case like this, Ugolor can only be let off the hook after investigation has proved beyond reasonable doubt that he had nothing to do with the murder. We are not just out to punish Ugolor; we have nothing to gain by doing so. “But the fact that he was the last person the victim met with before going home makes him a prime suspect. As a matter of

fact, we discovered that the late Oyerinde dropped Ugolor off at his (Ugolor’s) home before retiring to his (Oyerinde’s) home in GRA, Benin. “We need to interact with him on his last moment with Oyerinde, analyse his call logs before and after the murder and engage in some forensic analysis. If he is innocent, we will release him immediately. “You should understand our dilemma. Some of the suspects handed over to us by the SSS have recanted the statements they made to the police. This bend has left us with one or two gaps to fill. That is why a murder case is an open-ended thing. But we will surely crack this case.”

Ex-militant decries neglect of N1.3b project From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

From left: Mrs Juliana Ajayi, Mrs. Aramide Labinjo, Mrs Olatutu Sholeye, Mrs. Mojisola Adebowale and Dr. Abiodun Oduwole, Co-ordinator of the community outreach programme organised by the Aging with Grace and Dignity (Agrad), during the event in Lagos. PHOTO: SOLOMON ADEOLA

Abducted oil worker still missing

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

HE Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) chapter, Dr. Felix Igwe, yesterday alleged threat to his life. During a telephone interview with her reporter, Igwe said he went into hiding, following threats to eliminate him and his family. He said after RSUST ASUU began an indefinite strike on August 13 and the August 15 attack on him during the union’s congress, he has continued to receive calls and messages from unidentified persons threatening to kill him. Igwe said he reported the issue at the Police Headquarters in Port Harcourt. RSUST ASUU has been on strike in protest of the reappointment of the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Barineme Fakae, in acting capacity by Governor Rotimi Amaechi. ASUU National President Nasir Isa said there would be a nationwide solidarity strike on Thursday, August 30. Isa said: “Few months to the expiration of Prof. Fakae’s tenure as vice-chancellor, the position was advertised as required by law. The first surprise was that Fakae applied, against the existing understanding to which he was privy. “Another surprise was that Fakae was reappointed and Justice Karibi-Whyte started justifying the action, as if oblivious of the gentleman’s agreement with the university. The report of the selection council was thrown overboard and the council dissolved to get rid of dissenting members. But the union will pursue the matter to its logical conclusion.”

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

HE whereabouts of Mr. David Okokon, an employee of an oil servicing company in Akwa Ibom State, Sinopec, are still unknown. Okokon and 27 other workers of the company were kidnapped in Akwa Ibom State last Thursday by a gang, known as Lapto Marine Force. The victims were rescued on Saturday from the gang’s hideout in Ikang, Cross River State, by a Joint Task Force (JTF), but Okokon was nowhere to be found. One of the victims, who pleaded for anonymity, said: “Okokon went to ease himself when the JTF struck and he has

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

been missing since then. We were abducted on Thursday morning in Akwa Ibom State by the gang. They gave us tea that morning and eba in the evening. On Friday, they didn’t give us anything until about 5pm, when they gave us eba again. “Two of us escaped into a river and ran into the JTF, which were looking for us.” But JTF Commander Maj.Gen. Johnson Ochoga said Okokon panicked when he saw the troops approaching the camp and ran away. He said the two victims, who escaped from the camp on Friday, gave his

men useful information. Ochoga said no one was hurt during the rescue mission. Brigade Commander, 13 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Calabar, Brig.-Gen. Shehu Yusuf, whose men were in charge of the land operation, said JTF used minimum force to prevent casualties. He said the gang members escaped, but efforts are on to fish them out. Flag Officer Commanding ENC, Rear Admiral O. B. Ogunjimi said the gang has been terrorising people in Ikang and on the waterways to Cameroon. He said a naval officer and three ratings were killed by the gang in February. Ogunjimi said the gang is not

related to those agitating for the reclaiming of Bakassi Peninsula, which was ceded to Cameroon. He said: “They have constituted a nuisance to maritime safety and have impacted negatively on our security. They attack innocent seafarers and rob them of their possessions. They also coerce people on land. “Before any ship comes in or goes out, the owner has to settle them. They have caused mariners huge sums of money. They kidnap, kill and attack innocent seafarers, including security agents. “They are responsible for sabotage oil bunkering on our waterways and this includes crude oil theft.”

Delta PDP faction urges court to stop exco

•Clark

JAW leader Chief Edwin Clark’s faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State has prayed the High Court, Effurun, to restrain Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan; PDP State Chairman Peter Nwaboshi; PDP State Secretary Chief Solomon Ogba; PDP Vice-Chairman (Delta North) Chief Obodoku Anigala; PDP Vice-Chairman (Delta Central) Chief Tom Amioku; and PDP Vice-Chairman (Delta South) Sir. Simeon Efenudu from swearing in ex-

From Polycarp Orosevwotu, Warri

ecutives of the party at the local government and ward levels, pending the hearing and determination of a suit before it. In its writ of summon signed by M.C. Akoro (Esq.) and dated August 23, 2012, the applicants, Prince John Jarikre, Mr. Joe Amurun, Dr. Isaac Okorodudu, Mr. Vincent Ahor, Chief G. E. Bogban, Comm. Babber, Chief Abel Ugedi, Mr. Mark Ubodi, Mr. Nana Ototo and Mr. Samuel

Onwise said the tenure of the old executive expired in January and urged the court to direct the respondents to adhere to the harmonisation agreement reached by all PDP members in January, 2012. They urged the court to restrain the defendants and their agents from swearing in any executive, pending the determination of the suit. It urged the court to direct the state party to conduct a proper congress in accordance with the PDP’s constitution.

Edo to celebrate ex-governor Ogbemudia at 80

ORMER Governor of the defunct Midwest and Bendel states, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia, will be 80 on September 17. The celebration will last three days, starting from September 15. Chairman of the Planning Committee and former Minister of Works Chris Ogiemwonyi said the ceremony will start with a breakfast prayer, followed by a novelty football match. On September 17, there will be a fund-raising luncheon for the Osaigbovo Ogbemudia Foundation, followed by a public lec-

By Paul Oluwakoya

ture and the launching of three books. The Ogbemudia Skill Centre, situated at the Western Boys High School, will also be inaugurated by the celebrator. President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor; the Baptist Prelate of Benin/Edo; the Catholic Bishop of Benin Arc Diocese and Dr. Margret Idahosa are expected at the prayer session.

N ex-militant, “General” Ezekiel Akpasibewei, has raised the alarm that a 36-kilometre canalisation project, awarded eight years ago by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in the Ijaw-speaking areas of Warri North Local Government Area has been abandoned. Akpasibewei urged the NDDC management to revoke the N1.3 billion project aimed at linking the four Egbema communities of Tsekelewu, Opuama, Ogbinbiri and Ogbudugbudu and reaward the contract to a competent contractor from the area. The Nation gathered that the project, which was awarded in December, 2004, to Melbourne Energy Ltd., was abandoned after NDDC paid a N650 million mobilisation fee to the company. The contract was been reassigned to another contractor, Alma Essence Limited, but no work has been done. Speaking with reporters at the weekend in Warri, Akpasibewei said: “The first contractor awarded the job does not come from the place and so does not feel the pain of the people. Melbourne Energy Ltd. disappeared after collecting over N650 million as mobilisation fee. “The job was reawarded to another contractor, Jeph Kebbi Nigeria Ltd., but no work was done. As we speak, the project has been reassigned to Alma Essence Nig Ltd. “I am surprised that the project has been reassigned to another incompetent contractor, who has only brought a locally fabricated dredger to site in the last six months. We do not have any confidence in the ability of the contractor to do the job. “Our women face untold hardship on their way to the market, as they have to daily wade through silted waterways. Our people are suffering, because that river is the main artery linking the communities in that locality to Edo and Lagos states. “We urge the NDDC to revoke the contract and award it to a local contractor, who has a stake in the community and will be accountable to us. “We intend to ensure a change of this contractor through peaceful means, because we intend to abide by the terms of the Amnesty programme, as we have all renounced violence.”

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 27 , 2012 PUBLIC NOTICE DREDGERS ASSOCIATION OF BAYELSA STATE This is to inform the general public that the above named Association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration Under Part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990. BOARD OF TRUSTEES ARE; 1. HRH. King (Capt) Frank N. Okurakpo 2 Mr. Akpe Ebikebina 3. Mr. Udengs Eradiri 4. Hon.Austin Febo 5. Dr. Eruani Azibapu 6. Mr. Ritchie Etonye AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To promote and protect the interest of dredging business in bayelsa State. 2. To ensure that the dredging activities are in line with environmental laws. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) plot 420 Tigris crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. Signed Barr. Mrs. Ebi Austin Ogionwo No. 669, Melford Okilo way, (Mbiama/Yenagoa road), Yenuzue-gene- Yenagoa. Bayelsa State.

CAVEAT EMPTOR This is to inform the general public that there are two substantive matters instituted in both Federal and Badagry High Courts CONCERNING THE Osolu Royal Family Property of Irewe-Land in Osolu Kingdom in Ojo Local Government Area, Lagos State and the purported Company floated in the name of Osolu Royal family of Osolu Kingdom by Oba Abideen Durosimi in both Federal and Badagry High Courts with Suit No. FHC/ IKJ/CS/86/2012 and BD/76/ 2012,respectively by the Principal Family representative of Osolu Royal Family. Anybody dealing with Oba Abideen Durosimi, concerning the Royal Family property, do so at his/her own risk. So, beware and desist, pending the outcome of the two substantive matters in Court as you may lose your money. SIGNED: PRINCE (CHIEF) BOLAJI OYEFOLU HEAD, PRINCIPAL MEMBERS OF OSOLU ROYAL FAMILY.

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 2012

NEWS ACN: it’s a step in wrong direction Continued from page 2

which increasingly higher face value notes were issued. “At the begining of 1975, the highest denomination in Argentina was 1,000 pesos. This rose to 5,000 pesos in late 1976, then to 10,000 pesos in 1979 and rose further to 1,000,000 in 1981. As this trend became clearly unsustainable, a series of currency reforms followed. In 1983, the currency was re-named peso argentino, one unit of which was exchanged for 10,000 pesos. This did not curb the inflation. In 1985, another name change occurred, and a unit of the new currency (austral) was exchanged for 1,000 pesos argentinos. Finally one new peso was exchanged for 10,000 australes. “Bolivia had a similar experience between 1984 and 1987. Before 1984-Bolivia’s highest currency denomination was 1,000 Bolivian pesos which rose to 10,000,000 Bolivian pesos by 1985. In the inevitable currency reform that came in 1987, the currency was renamed Boliviano, a unit of which exchanged for 1,000,000 Bolivian pesos. “Nicaragua ‘s inflation episode was from 1987 to 1990. In early 1986, the highest denomination in Nicaragua was 10,000 cordobas which rose to1,000,000 cordobas by 1987. In that country’s 1988 currency reform as a result of inflation,one new cordobas

was exchanged for 10,000 old cordobas. By 1990 however , the highest denomination was again one hundred million new cordobas. Finally in another currency reform in 19991 one new cordobas was exchanged for 5,000,000 old cordobas. “Peru experienced its worst inflation between 1988 and 1990. Here by 1986 the highest denomination was 1,000 intis which increased to 5million intis by 1991. That country’s currency reform of 1991 created the neuro sol, one unit of which exchanged for one million intis in order to combat the high value currency induced inflation. “Two examples in Europe will suffice. In Poland the highest denomination by 1989 was 200,000 zlotych which rose to 1,000,000 zlotych in 1991 and 2,000,000 zlotych in 1992. In the 1994 currency reform, one new zlotych was exchanged for 10,000 old zlotych. “In the Russian Federation, the inflation experienced over the 1992-1998 period led to the creation of the new ruble in 1998, a unit of which exchanged for 1,000 old rubles. “Nearer home, examples from Africa include Angola, Zaire/DRC and Zimbabwe. “Angola experienced hyper-inflation between 1991 and 1995. It’s original currency, the kwanza was replaced in 1990 by the novo kwanza.

Early in 1991 the highest denomination was 50,000 novo kwanza. By 1994 this rose to 500,000 novo Kwanzaa. In that country’s currency reform of 1995, one unit of the re-adjusted kwanza was exchanged for 1,000 novo kwanzas. By 1997 the highest denomination was now 5,000,000 re-adjusted kwanza. In 1999, it had to carry out another currency reform in which the original kwanza was re-introduced with its one unit being exchanged for one million re-adjusted kwanzas “Zaire experienced an inflationary period between 1986 and 1996. In 1988 the highest currency note denomination was 5,000 zaires, which rose to 5,000,000 zaires by 1992. The 1993 currency reform created the new nouveau Zaire, a unit of which was exchanged for 3,000,000 zaires. In 1996 the highest denomination was 1,000,000 new zaires. In 1997, the country was renamed the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the currency was changed to francs, one unit of which was exchanged for 100,000 new zaires. “The case of Zimbabwe really depicts more graphically how rapidly things can get out of control on the introduction of high value denomination currency notes. On May 5, 2007, Zimbabwe issued currency notes with face values of Z$100million and

‘N5,000 banknote ‘ll worsen economy’ Continued from page 2

•Mohammed

Z$250 million. On May 15, 2007 a new bank note of Z$500million was issued, followed by the issue on May 20, 2007 of currency notes in denominations of Z$5billion, Z$25 billion, and Z$50 billion. Finally, on July 21, 2007, bank notes with a face value of Z$100 billion were issued. Eventually, Zimbabwe abandoned its own currency and legalised the use of only foreign currencies. Curiously enough already in certain places in Nigeria today the American dollar is the accepted legal tender. “The party warned that the introduction of the N5,000 currency note may be a step in the wrong direction, and down a slippery slope towards hyper -inflation and that it is time to abandon failed inflation-control policies and inadequately thought- through experiments.”

Tension in Court of Appeal over acting PCA’s tenure extension Continued from page 2

mu should not have spent more than two terms in acting capacity. They also claimed that the ideal thing is for the government to allow the Office of the PCA to be rotated every three months among senior justices of the court until a solution is found to the crisis. There are fears also over the legality of actions taken by Justice Adamu outside his mandatory tenure in office as acting PCA. Section 238 (sub-sections 1, 4 and 5) of the Constitution says: “The appointment of a person to the office of the President of the Court of Appeal shall be made by the President on the recommen-

dation of the National Judicial Council subject to the confirmation of such appointment by the Senate. “If the Office of the President of the Court of Appeal is vacant or if the person holding the office is for any reason unable to perform the functions of the office, then, until a person has been appointed to and has assumed the functions of that office or until the person holding the office has resumed those functions, the President shall appoint the most senior Justice of the Court of Appeal to perform those functions. “Except on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, an appointment pursuant to the provisions of sub-section 4 of this section

shall cease to have effects after the expiration of three months from the date of such appointment, and the President shall not reappoint a person whose appointment has lapsed.” A source in the Court of Appeal said: “The continuous suspension of Justice Salami is creating a constitutional problem for the appellate court. On one hand, nature abhors a vacuum but on the other hand, there is constitutional limitation on the extent to which the most senior Justice could act as PCA. “It is left to the NJC to address this matter because the continued renewal of the tenure of the acting PCA is also causing disquiet among the justices of the appellate court.

•Justice Salami

“If care is not taken, the crisis over Justice Salami’s suspension may have spiral effects on the operation of the Court of Appeal. We are in a serious dilemma.” Continued on page 60

‘How to get Nigeria back on track’ Continued from page 2

Americans live under a discriminatory economic system. Tinubu stated the rationale behind the book publication, saying he was provoked by the injustices of the economic system and how the contradictions eventually caught up with the players, who left the low level income earner and small businesses with the short end of the stick. Tinubu said: “Productive capitalism relies on the discipline of the market place. What now occurs is that powerful actors exploit the licence the market place affords them. In doing so, they endanger the very economies from which they unduly profit. “In other words, they have emptied the well yet contin-

ue to seek to take water from it. These people practice a speculative brand of economics. My co-author and I, have given this mutation of capitalism the name of ‘financialism’. Financialism is capitalism so shorn of all restraint that it cannibalizses itself” The former Lagos State governor decried the wiping away of the earnings of the struggling segment of the society and demanded a new thinking and approach on how to deal with the problem. “Recurrent crises show that something is profoundly wrong with the global financial system. Unless we want to suffer these damaging jolts for the foreseeable future, we need to make systemic corrections. “Both developed and emergent nations have com-

mitted the similar sin of turning what should be productive economies into factories of financial speculation that generate more financial paper than they do material products that real people can use to improve their living conditions”. Giving Nigerian leaders food for thought, Tinubu said: “Nigeria needs to be put to work. We have a lot of catching up to do. Asian governments support the industrialisation of their economies. Wise European nations are starting to retool their industrial base. “Nigeria cannot hope to achieve prosperity simply by exporting exhaustible natural resources. We must follow the historic route that all large nations have followed in reaching national prosperity. We must make, create and export what we make and create”.

Browne argued that recession has put black America into a structural recession. He said: “The financial system has become over inflated and incestuous to the point of killing the productive sector.” Brian maintained that Africans cannot be orphans on their own land and the 21st Century story of Africa must be written by Africans. Ambassador Howard Jeter, who reviewed the book, stated that the two perspectives from Africa and the United States offer an invaluable insight into the global financial structure and offers practical solutions and challenges what we know as impositions. Aregbesola and Ajimobi also aligned with the call for a more global equitable financial order.

planned inscription of pictures of Mrs. Fumilayo Kuti, Margaret Ekpo and Gambo Sawaba on the N5,000 currency as a welcome development. Emodi in a statement entitled “N5,000 Note: A plus for Nigerian Women and democracy” commended President Goodluck Jonathan for his “thoughtfulness” in approving that the “soon-tobe-introduced N5000 note bears the pictures of three distinguished and highly respected Nigerian women, namely Fumilayo Kuti, Margaret Ekpo and Gambo Sawaba, in recognition of their contributions to the development of this nation.” She added that the inclusion of the logo of the National Assembly on the new notes is worthy of praise as it is not only a symbol of

democratic governance but indeed a micro Nigeria. She stated that the move is historical for Nigerian women “as it marks the very first time any government, whether military or civilian, would bestow them with this magnitude of recognition and respect.” Emodi also said that the unprecedented appointment of many Nigerian women into the Federal Cabinet and other key positions in government “not only affirmed that Jonathan could be trusted to keep his promise to elevate women to where they rightly belong in the scheme of things.” Jonathan, she said, “is indeed a fair-minded leader who believes in gender equity and Nigerian women have more to offer than they were previously given opportunity to offer.”

‘How we’re talking to Boko Haram’ Continued from page 2

basis of this that he had reached out to leaders of political thoughts in the parts of the country that are affected. “It is on this basis that President Jonathan held a lot of meetings with politicians from the Northern states. Because his position is that look, this people, yes they may not come forward but they are not ghosts, they live in communities. They are members of the Nigerian community, there would be persons who know them. There would be leaders in these communities, in these villages, in these towns who may have an idea and such persons needed to be carried along to assist in addressing the Boko Haram issue. When government adopts this approach, it does not mean government is abdicating its responsibility to ensure that persons who go against the law are sanctioned. “There is even a third level of intervention, the economic and social level of intervention. In this regard, President Jonathan has made it clear that many of the efforts being directed towards the affected parts of the country are meant, in fact, to redirect the energies of the youths and this is the whole point of using the agricultural sector to transform lives, to create wealth, to create a value chain, the end of which is to create jobs and to engage young people more effectively. This government has a robust agricultural transformation programme that has been justly praised by IFAD and the World Bank.” Abati also said: “The Jonathan administration has been providing wider oppor-

tunities for many of the youths in the affected parts of the country to be able to go to school. No other government before now has done as much. Get them off the streets, engage them meaningfully and then, of course, you know that the government introduced the You Win programme, and several other pro-people initiatives and policies. “So, this is the issue at this stage, but one thing you should also note is that the Boko Haram, as has been admitted, even by its spokespersons, is a phenomenon that has mutated. So it is not unusual that you will find a situation whereby a variant of the mutation may express a view that sounds like it’s contradicting the other. What is certain is that government is considering all of this, government is taking on the issue frontally and through back room channels, with the assistance of a number of persons who have an understanding of the sociology and the character of the problem. “You must admit of course that a lot is being achieved. Within the last one year and more, you can see that a lot has changed in terms of the knowledge that has been gained about the nature and character of the problem. A lot has been done, and a lot has been achieved in terms of the capacity of the state to deal with the problem. What President Jonathan is asking for as his government tackles this issue from the various dimensions that we have identified, the political, the economic, the social and also, law enforcement, what he calls for, what he demands from Nigerians is support.”

Police invite council chair over Deeper Life killings

HE police have summoned the Chairman of Okene Local Government, Kogi State and four others for questioning over the killing of 20 members of the Deeper Life Bible Church. A key suspect arrested in Owo, Ondo State, Abdulmannan Obadeki and 15 others are expected to be relocated from Lokoja, state capital, to Abuja today, for questioning. Three main suspects-Yahaya Karaku (the former chairman), Abubakar Zube-

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja and Muhammad Bashir, Lokoja

ru (former-Okehi Local Government Area chairman) and Momoh Jimoh- are with the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID). Preliminary findings by the Force Headquarters indicated that the mass killing was not perpetrated by Boko Haram. But the sect had in a statement, claimed responsibility for the killings. It was gathered that the Continued on page 60

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 2012

NEWS Boy loses ear in Maiduguri shooting From Joseph Abiodun, Maiduguri

SEVEN-YEAR-OLD boy identified as Abubakar Ali lost his earlobe during sporadic shootings in Gwange area of Maiduguri yesterday. The shootings caused confusion as people ran for safety. Ali’s ear was cut off as a result of the injury he sustained during the shootings. Two other persons also sustained minor injuries when they ran for safety. The incident occurred about 11am. Our reporter who was at the Accident and Emergency Unit of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) saw that part of the boy’s ear had been cut off. His mother said: “We were inside our home when we heard gunshots. Later, I noticed that blood was gushing out of my son’s ear and part of the ear had fallen on the floor.” When the spokesman for the Joint Task Force (JTF), Lt. Col Sagir Musa, was contacted on the phone, he said he was not in a position to comment on the incident because shootings were rampant in the area.

Ahmed dispels rumoured rift with Saraki

•From left: Emir of Kazaure, Najib Adamu; former Military President Ibrahim Babangida; Gov. Umaru Ishaka of Zinder, Niger Republic and Gov. Sule Lamido of Jigawa State at the inauguration of Dutse Model International School in Dutse... yesterday PHOTO: NAN

Kwankwaso warns drug barons •NDLEA to address abuse of unconventional drugs

ANO State Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso has warned drug barons to stay away from the state, pledging that his administration would partner the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to rid the state of hard drugs. Kwankwaso, who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, spoke yesterday in Kano at the public burning of 20,949.411kgs of hard drugs by the agency. He said he considered the war against hard drugs a matter of life and death. According to him, “the illicit drugs are targeted at our youths to render them useless.” He added: “For this reason, government will deploy its resources to fight these drug traffickers to a standstill.” Governor Kwankwaso justified the setting ablaze of the hard drugs and lamented

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano and Kelvin Osa Okunbor

that drug barons were targeting the huge Kano population with an estimated 10 million residents for their illicit business. “We see this war against hard drugs as a matter of life and death because everything points to the fact that the whole idea is to render our youths useless. For this reason, government is prepared to deploy resources to fight these drug traffickers by supporting NDLEA and other relevant agencies,” he said. Kwankwaso canvassed an awareness campaign to sensitise and educate the populace on the dangers inherent in drug abuse and addiction. He hailed the agency for its efforts to curb drug abuse among youths through raids and campaigns. The Chairman of the

NDLEA, Alhaji Ahmadu Giade, said the destruction of hard drugs was one of the strategies to keep the society drug-free, adding that the agency’s 2011 report indicated that Kano recorded the highest number of drug abuse cases and arrests in the country. He noted that it recorded the conviction of 209 drug offenders and counselled 878 clients with drug abuse problems, adding that the drug situation is worrisome as it is a threat to its stability. Giade vowed to end the abuse of narcotic drugs and unconventional substances such as rubber solution, petrol, lizard dung and pit toilet. He said: “We are determined to stop the abuse of narcotics and unconventional substances, such as rubber solution, petrol, lizard dung and pit toilet. All hands must be on deck to protect lives. We will not

fold our arms and watch our youths get involved in such bad practices.” Official statistics of the NDLEA showed that no female was caught for drug trafficking and abuse in Kano last year. The state maintains its position in the annual list of arrested drug suspects. Unlike in 2010 when 618 males and 20 females were arrested in connection with drug trafficking, the 1,281 suspects apprehended last year in the state were males. The destroyed drugs jointly seized by Kano State and Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport Command of the NDLEA consist of 20,248.973kg of Indian hemp. Psychotropic substances followed with 688.622kg, Cocaine is 11.221kg and Heroin, 595.47grammes. The last public destruction of drug exhibits in Kano was in 2008 when 5,154.295kg of drugs were burnt.

WARA State Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed at the weekend dispelled the existence of a rift between him and his predecessor, Senator Bukola Saraki. There has been a rumour of an alleged rift between the governor and his political benefactor. Ahmed attributed the rumour to the opposition. He told reporters in Ilorin shortly after his return from Saudi Arabia where he had gone to perform the lesser Hajj (Umrah) that there was no rift between him and Saraki. Ahmed described the rumour as a political gimmick by the opposition that are jittery over the ruling Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) growing influence in the state. He said: “The relationship between me and our political leader is very cordial. We have a very robust relationship that will continue to blossom. We have the same vision and mission of mov-

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

OR the third time, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) congress to elect party exco at the ward level could not hold in Okpokwu Local Government Area of Benue State at the weekend. The Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Morro and the Chairman of the PDP, Benue State chapter, Dr. Agbo Emmanuel, hail from the local government. The rescheduled congress was slated for last Friday, but it was postponed till Saturday. On that day, some stakeholders insisted that only those they described as PDP members would participate and vote.

•Three dead in Adamawa floods

The victims are said to be squatting with their neighbours in the affected villages. The Caretaker Chairman of the local government, Alhaji Mansur Murnai, confirmed the incident. He described it as a “calamity”. “Shortly after the flood, we visited the affected villages to sympathise with the victims. “The local council has set up a 12-man committee to assess the magnitude of the disaster,” Murnai told NAN yesterday in Kusada, Katsina State. He said the council would soon donate relief materials to the victims and urged them to consider the flood as “an act of God.” Flood has also destroyed 1,400 houses, killed 150 ani-

•Houses in some parts of Jimeta, Yola North Local Government Area submerged by flood following the release of water from Lagdo Dam in the Republic of Cameroun...yesterday

mals and rendered many families homeless in Mai’adua Local Government Area of the state. Three persons have been reported dead and many still missing in floods in Adamawa State. “The incident occurred

following the release of water from Lagdo Dam by the Cameroun Republic on Saturday,’’ Mr. Shadrack Barub, the Secretary of Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), said. He added: “During

ing Kwara ahead. He (Senator Saraki) is a strong stabilisation factor for me. “I must say that the incursion of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) into the state is an aberration.” Ahmed blamed the delay in the payment of the salaries of local government workers in the state to the delayed meetings of the revenue allocation committee at the federal level. He ascribed the vexed issue of the state’s urbanisation law to the communication gap between the government and some stakeholders, saying the contentious issues in the land policy had been resolved by the stakeholders. Absolving the state government of any blame in the delay in the payment of local government workers’ salaries, Ahmed said “there has been drop in the allocation to the states and local governments since March.

PDP congress fails to hold in Benue

Flood destroys 246 houses, farms in Katsina NE hundred houses and 146 farms have been destroyed by flood in Kofa and Tofani villages in Kusada Local Government Area of Katsina State, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports. It was also learnt that eight persons sustained injuries during the flood, which occurred on Friday in the two villages. The injured persons are said to be receiving treatment at various hospitals including, the Katsina General Hospital and Kankia Hospital. Three have been treated and discharged. The flood was said to have destroyed 85 houses and 95 farms at Kofa village and 15 houses and 51 farms at Tofani village.

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

assessment tour by the agency in some of the affected areas, it received three death cases, so far, while many are still missing and thousands of people have been rendered homeless.’’ Barub said the most hit areas included Fufore, Girei

,Yola South, Yola North, Demsa, Numan, Lamurde, Sheleng, Michika, Guyuk and Ganye local governments. He also said farm products, domestic animals, houses and valuables worth billions of Naira were destroyed. Barub, who said about 3,000 internally-displaced persons had been camped across the state, urged the affected communities to remain calm as the agency and NEMA were making efforts to reach them. Eyewitnesses from the affected communities, who preferred anonymity, had earlier told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that 10 persons were reported dead and that some of their families were still missing. The Adamawa Government has set up a quick response committee headed by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Kobis Aris, to take further measures on the incident. He told NAN yesterday in Yola that the measures included conducting public enlightenment and ascertaining the level of the flood.

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 27 , 2012

FOREIGN

Girl held in Pakistan, accused A of burning Quran N 11-year-old Christian girl has been arrested after being accused of blasphemy by burning pages of the Quran in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad. According to a statement released by the president’s office yesterday, the girl, identified as Ramsha, was accused by a local resident of burning pages of the Muslim holy text after she gathered paper as fuel for cooking. Local media reports said the girl has Down syndrome. CNN was unable to confirm these reports, and a local police official said they are not true. Qasim Niazi, the police officer in charge of the station near where the incident took place, said the girl does not have a mental disorder but is illiterate and has not attended

school. The accused girl had told him she had no idea there were pages of the Quran inside the documents she burned, he added. Niazi said that 150 people had gathered on Friday where the neighborhood’s Christian population lives and threatened to burn down their houses. “The mob wanted to burn the girl to give her a lesson,” he told CNN. Other Christian families living in the area have fled fearing a backlash, he added. The statement from President Asif Ali Zardari said he

has called for an urgent report on the incident and added that vulnerable sections of society must be protected “from any misuse of the blasphemy law.” “Blasphemy by anyone cannot be condoned but no one will be allowed to misuse blasphemy law for settling personal scores,” said the president’s spokesman, Farhatullah Babar. Critics of the controversial law say it is being used to persecute religious minorities. Politician and former international cricketer Imran Khan tweeted: “Shameful! Sending an 11-yr-old girl to prison is against the very spirit of Islam

which is all about being just and compassionate. “Poor child is already suffering from Down Syndrome. State should care for its children not torment them. We demand her immed release,” said Khan, who now leads the political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. The legislation makes it a crime punishable by death to insult Islam, the Quran or the Prophet Mohammed. Pakistan is home to about two million Christians, who make up more than one per cent of Islamic nation’s population, according to government statistics.

Eight arrested as ‘Saudi terror plot foiled’

WO terror cells in the advanced stages of planning attacks on ex-pats in Saudi Arabia are dismantled, authorities say. The Saudi interior ministry has said it has dismantled two terror cells planning attacks on Western targets in the country. Two Saudis and six Yemenis were arrested after the alleged cells were detected in the capital Riyadh and Jeddah. They were thought to be planning explosive attacks on ex-pat communities within the country and were said to be in an advanced stage. A spokesman for the Interior Ministry said the authorities had monitored the two cells for several months and that the cells had been in touch with al Qaeda outside Saudi Arabia. The Riyadh cells had apparently been recruiting members to carry out criminal operations targeting security, citizens, residents and public facilities. They had reached an advanced stage in planning, including the preparation and testing of explosives which had led to one member of the cell losing his fingers, it was reported. Security forces arrested the alleged leader of the cell, who then divulged information on its members, plans, equipment and how they were in contact with al Qaeda. Three sites were also being investigated, including a room attached to a mosque in Riyadh where chemicals used to manufacture explosives were found. Links between the two cells led to the arrests of two Saudi people in Jeddah. One had also been testing chemical explosives. In 2003, 35 people were killed in attacks on Riyadh compounds where ex-pats tend to live.

Drought-hit Serbian town prays for rain

O •The tanker and the bus on the scene of the accident.

Bus collides with tanker in China, kills 36

BUS collided with a chemical tanker in northwest China, killing 36 people, state media has said. Both vehicles caught fire and only three of the 39 people onboard the bus survived the crash, which happened 200 metres from a motorway service station at Yanan city in Shaanxi province around 2am local time, Xinhua news agency said. Yue Jiuxiang, a local traffic police official in charge of the rescue operation, said most of the passengers were asleep at the time of the crash. “Soon after the collision, the bus was engulfed by flames,” he told China Central Television.

“The front part of the bus was seriously damaged. Also most of the passengers were sleeping. This is why many people died.” Traffic accidents are among the leading causes of death in China, according to public health officials, as new and often poorly trained drivers take to roads in greater numbers. State media reports citing police figures say about 100,000 people have been killed in traffic accidents annually over the past decade, with the figure dipping to 70,000 last year. In April, 23 people were killed and three injured when a bus and truck collided in the eastern province of Anhui. Another collision between a tour bus and a truck the same month left 13 dead and 21 injured.

Libya’s Interior Minister quits after Sufi shrine attacks

EN with bulldozers razed a Sufi shrine in Tripoli on Saturday. Fawzi Abdelali resigned in protest at criticism from Congress over his handling of the violence, an aide said. The latest incidents include attacks on two Sufi shrines that were blamed on ultraconservative Salafi Islamists. Attacks on shrines of sects have risen since the end of the eight-month civil war that toppled Col Muammar Gaddafi. There has also been a recent double car bombing in Tripoli and clashes between rival tribes in Zlitan. Fawzi Abdelali’s aide said: “He submitted his resignation to protest against congressmen criticising the government and to defend the revolutionaries.” The newly-elected General National Congress had accused the interior ministry’s High Security Committee of failing to prevent the destruction of shrines. The committee includes rebels who fought Gaddafi’s forces last year and were then integrated into the interior ministry.

On Saturday, a shrine in Tripoli venerating Sufi Muslim saint al-Shaab alDahmani was partly destroyed by men with bulldozers. A day earlier, a group attacked the tomb of 15thCentury Sufi scholar Abdel

Salam al-Asmar in Zlitan, about 160km (100 miles) south-east of Tripoli. Hardline Salafists regard the shrines of the Sufi sect - which practises a mystical form of Islam - as idolatrous. The destruction in Zlitan followed two days of clashes

between rival local tribes there which left at least three people dead. A week ago in Tripoli, two people were killed by a double car bombing as people celebrated the Muslim feast of Eid el-Fitr.

Assad’s forces ‘kill over 200 in Syrian town’

HE Syrian army is accused by activists of killing hundreds of people in Daraya, including many during house-to-house raids. The bodies of more than 200 people, including women and children, have been found in a town close to Damascus after being killed by Syrian troops, according to opposition activists. They said most of the victims were discovered in houses and basements of buildings in Daraya and had been shot by President Bashar al Assad’s forces conducting house-to-house raids. Pro-government television has blamed terrorists for the attacks. The official state news

agency said: “Our heroic armed forces cleansed Daraya from remnants of armed terrorist groups who committed crimes against the sons of the town.” Opposition activist Abu Kinan said: “Assad’s army has committed a massacre in Daraya.” Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt said if confirmed, the massacre “would be an atrocity on a new scale requiring unequivocal condemnation from the entire international community.” He added that it “highlights the urgent need for international action to bring an end to the violence, end this culture of impunity and hold to account those responsible for these terrible acts.” The Daraya Coordination

Committee activists’ group said in a statement that among those found with shots to the head were eight members of the al Qassaa family: three children, their father and mother and three other relatives. Their bodies were found in a residential building near Mussab bin Umeir mosque in Daraya, the group said. Due to restrictions on nonstate media, it is impossible to independently verify the accounts. Video released by activists showed numerous bodies of young men side-by-side at the Abu Suleiman al Darani mosque in Daraya, many with what looked like gunshot wounds to the head and chest.

RTHODOX worshippers in Serbia have prayed for rain in order to end weeks-long drought that has ruined crops and caused forest fires. The prayers were held in the central town of Valjevo in response to a call two days ago from the local bishop. Weather forecasts suggest the prayers could be answered, with showers predicted in the early hours of Monday. In south-west Serbia, army troops have been deployed to help contain a wildfire near the town of Cacak. Russia has also sent two firefighting aircraft to help stem the blazes, which have damaged homes, forests and farmland in the area, about 90km (55 miles) south of the capital Belgrade. Crops have been damaged as temperatures have soared to up to 40C The authorities are also fighting numerous wildfires elsewhere across Serbia. In a call issued on Friday, Bishop Milutin of Valjevo about 50km north-west of Cacak - urged his congregation to repent of their sins and pray for rain. “Many have asked why the Lord has allowed such a misfortune to descend on the land. Why such a punishment?” he was quoted as saying by the Valjevo diocese.

“Clearly, the cause of such misfortune is human sin and lack of care for the natural order of things.”

Eight killed in bombing in Turkey EIGHT people were killed in a bombing in the Turkish city of Gaziantep, an official in the Interior Ministry has said. A spokesman for the Gaziantep governorship said 66 people were wounded in the blast. Interior Minister Idris Naim Sahin is planning to visit Gaziantep, a major industrial hub in southeastern Turkey, tomorrow, said the Interior Ministry official, who is not authorised to speak with the media. Also Monday, the district headquarters of the proKurdish Peace and Democracy Party was set on fire, parliamentarian Nursel Aydogan said. It is rare to hear of an attack this deadly in Gaziantap, which is outside of the usual area of operations for the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK.

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUS 27, 2012

FOREIGN

Obama leads tributes to Armstrong, first man on moon U S President Barack Obama has led tributes to astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon, who died on Saturday at the age of 82. He said on his Twitter feed: “Neil Armstrong was a hero not just of his time, but of all time.” Hundreds of millions watched Armstrong land on the moon on July 20, 1969 and described it as: “One small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.” The line became one of the most famous quotes of the 20th Century.

Massive typhoon slamming Okinawa A massive typhoon began to make landfall yesterday over Okinawa, bringing winds more ferocious than even the typhoon-weary Japanese island has seen in decades. It will likely be the strongest since 1956, said CNN International meteorologist Tom Sater. With a cloud field of 2,000 kilometres (1,250 miles), Typhoon Bolaven is 20 times larger than Okinawa’s length. “It’s been very severe,” said storm chaser James Reynolds, on the northwestern coast of the island.

Armstrong’s family confirmed his death in a statement on Saturday, saying he had died from complications after surgery to relieve four blocked coronary arteries. The family statement praised him as a “reluctant American hero” and urged his fans to honour his example of “service, accomplishment and modesty.” “The next time you walk outside on a clear night and see the moon smiling down at you, think of Neil Armstrong and give him a wink,” the family said. President Obama thanked Armstrong for showing the world “the power of one small step.” Last November he received the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest US civilian award. Many of Armstrong’s col-

leagues and friends paid tribute to him as a modest, private man who never sought the limelight. Michael Collins, a pilot on the Apollo 11 Moon mission, said: “He was the best, and I will miss him.” Armstrong famously refused most public appearances and interviews. In a rare interview with Australian TV this year, he reflected on a moment during his three hours on the moon when he stopped to commemorate US astronauts and Soviet cosmonauts who had died in action. “It was special and memorable, but it was only instantaneous because there was work to do,” he said. More than 500 million TV viewers around the world watched its touchdown on the lunar surface. Armstrong and fellow astro-

naut Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin collected samples, conducted experiments and took photographs during their moonwalk. Mr. Aldrin told the BBC he would remember his colleague as a “very capable commander and leader of a world achievement”. “We’re missing a great spokesman and leader in the space programme,” he said. Apollo 11 was Armstrong’s last space mission. In 1971, he left the US space agency Nasa to teach aerospace engineering. President Obama described him as “one of the greatest American heroes of all time.” Born in 1930 and raised in Ohio, Armstrong took his first flight aged six with his father and formed a lifelong passion for flying. He flew Navy fighter jets

Erudite lawyer, Chief Wole Olanipekun said it is the National judicial commission (NJC) that has been causing confussion with the recall of Justice Ayo Salami PCA Said Olanipekun: “If the NJC is pardoning Justice Salami, it should go to court and submit itself to judgment and part of the judgment should be that Justice Salami should go back and resume his office”. He recalled that it is the NJC which recommended the suspension of Justice Salami and the appointment of a senior person in acting capacity, and that the same body has now recommended the recall of Justice Salami. Olanipekun argued that by going to court as a defender, the NJC would have compromised whatever case that is in court on the Justice Salami matter. “Time is running out. It is over one year now that Justice Salami was suspended by the NJC. If we want Justice Salami returned, it should not be a situation of the President using the court cases as excuses. The issue should be what do we do to get Justice Salami back to office. So the NJC should go to court and compromise whatever case that is in court in order for Justice Salami to be reinstated,” he said He advised the NJC to put its house in order by resting the issue of the recall of Justice Salami once and for all. Chief Felix Fagbohungbe, (SAN) described as “ridicu-

•Obama

during the Korean War in the 1950s, and joined the US space programme in 1962. Correspondents say Armstrong remained modest and never allowed himself to be caught up in the glamour of space exploration. “I am, and ever will be, a white-socks, pocket-protector, nerdy engineer,” he said in February 2000 in a rare public appearance.

A SENIOR Pakistani Taliban leader was killed in a NATO airstrike in Afghanistan’s volatile northern Kunar province, the NATO-led coalition has said. Maulawi Dadullah was one of several insurgents killed on Friday in an airstrike in Kunar’s Shigal wa Sheltan district, according to a statement released by the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force. Dadullah, also known as Jamal, was responsible for moving fighters and weapons through the area, ISAF said. Dadullah also coordinated attacks against Afghan and coalition forces, fighters and weapons, according to ISAF. Dadullah’s deputy, identified only as Shakir, was also killed in the airstrike, the coalition said. Pakistani Taliban spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan said by telephone from an undisclosed location that Dadullah was one of a dozen fighters killed in the airstrike.

Niger floods cause widespread devastation

HE River Niger burst its banks last week, flooding parts of the country. The flood has killed up to 65 people and left 125,000 homeless. After appeals from the country’s president for international aid, the first supplies, donated by Ireland to Plan International, have now arrived. The southern Dosso region

has been worst affected, with over 10,000 homes destroyed, according to the United Nations. The capital Niamey was also hit when the River Niger burst its banks, flooding the city’s suburbs. Plan International’s Niger Director Rheal Drisdalle said on August 18 and 19, the river reached levels “not seen since the 1920s”.

“As the river has not been this high for a very long time, people had built their houses near to the river - and then all the rice paddies along the river have been flooded,” he told the BBC. At last count, the United Nations’ Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said the floods have destroyed 14,000 homes and 7,000 fields of cereal crops across the coun-

Tension in Court of Appeal over acting PCA’s tenure extension

Continued from page 57

Senior Pakistani Taliban leader killed in strike

lous”, the decision to extend the tenure of Justice Adamu. He said it will have some negative consequences on the administration of the appellate court, as the action is not constitutionally right. “The judiciary has to be careful with the way things are going,” he warned. Fagbohungbe said NJC had already resolved the issue by recommending Justice Salami’s re-instatement. He said it was unfortunate that President Jonathan has failed to listen to the demands of NJC, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the public that Justice Salami should be recalled. “I don’t see why Justice Salami should continue to be kept in the cooler. I don’t see any reason for it,” Fagbohungbe said. He added that the cases in court should not stop Justice Salami’s re-instatement unless there is “another motive” for not recalling him. “The President should listen to the public and recall Salami,” he said. A highly-placed source however said the government is addressing the challenge over Justice Salami’s suspension within the ambit of the law. The source said: “The President believes in the rule of law and he has respect for the judiciary. In deference to the ongoing applications in the court, he wrote the CJN to prevail on the NJC to renew the tenure of the acting President of the Court of Appeal. “In the present circumstance, there is nothing the

President can do than to renew the tenure of the acting PCA because many applications are still outstanding before the courts. “That is the only middle approach to the stalemate created by the suspension of Justice Salami.” It was learnt that a fresh plot to retire the suspended PCA is being hatched by some forces opposed to his reinstatement. But those sympathetic to Justice Salami are also set to prevail on the Senate to allow all court processes to run its full course. Pro-Salami groups are also planning a counter-move to head for the court to stop the retirement bid. There are conflicting signals on whether Justice Adamu’s tenure could remain valid after two terms in office in acting capacity. Some forces pushing for the retirement of Justice Salami base their argument on the initial letter of suspension of Salami by the NJC. They alleged that the NJC gave two options of suspension and retirement to the presidency. But those against the retirement are of the opinion that the letter of reinstatement of Justice Salami by the same NJC has more legal force than the first letter. A source said: “Some forces loyal to the government are agitating for the retirement of Justice Salami. They want the President to stick to the advice of the NJC to suspend and retire the PCA. They argue that the case has become political.

“Some of those hurt by the decisions of the Court of Appeal in the past are neckdeep in anti-Justice Salami’s campaign. “Others are asking the government to bid time till October 2013 when Justice Salami would have been due for retirement and allow the crisis to naturally resolve itself. “The cases in court over Justice Salami’s suspension are constituting obstacles to the plot. But once any of the courts makes a specific pronouncement, the government may seize the opportunity to retire Justice Salami. “The position of the President is that he would determine Justice Salami’s fate based on the rule of law. So, the Federal Government is waiting for a judicial pronouncement.” Another source however added: “It will be counterproductive to retire Justice Salami in the light of the position of the NJC which was emphatic on the reinstatement of the PCA. “The government itself must demonstrate that it has respect for the NJC and the rule of law. “The alternative to the plot is endless judicial litigations. Even the attendant crisis in the Senate over moves to retire the PCA will not help the image of the government. It might compound the crisis. “I think the government should reinstate Justice Salami and allow the Judiciary to return to the path of sanity. Some of us are aware of the plot and we are ready for any legal battle.”

try. The West African country is already suffering from severe food shortages caused by recent drought. President Mahamadou Issou pledged 1,400 tonnes of food and 900,000 euros (£712,443) in aid for people affected by the flooding, but admitted that it would not be enough and called for international help.

The first international aid - 35 tonnes of supplies on a plane chartered by Ireland - arrived yesterday. Mr. Drisdalle said the United Nations and other aid agencies were trying to raise funds to send further supplies. Other West African countries have also experienced higher than average rainfall and flooding this season, including Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso and Ghana.

Police invite council chair over Deeper Life killings Continued from page 57

council boss was invited by the Force CID on Friday. He is to be questioned by a special team probing the killings. Although the council chairman had appeared before the Criminal Investigation Department of Police in Kogi State, he reportedly told the FCID that he would be available for interaction today. A source said: “We have conducted preliminary findings and, so far, the incident appears not to be from Boko Haram. I think those behind it gave it this colour to cover up their tracks. “We strongly suspect political crisis in the area but we are leaving the investigation open on probable clues on why the Deeper Life Bible Church was the target. “What really happened was that the gunmen wanted to kill the pastor of the church but, upon getting there, they shot randomly, leading to the death toll. “The manner of representations we have been getting from Okene people in the last three weeks suggested that a syndicate had been terrorising the area. They have been begging us not to release some of the key suspects in the police net. “This development pointed to the fact that the people of Okene had been under siege of some private militia before the dastardly murder of innocent worshippers. “We are going into fullscale investigation as from Monday. That is why all the suspects, including the one

arrested in Owo in Ondo State, Abdulmannan Obadeki, are being transferred from Kogi State to Abuja. “We have also summoned the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of Okene Local Government Area, and four others for interaction. “As the Chief Security Officer in the area, we need to interact with him on issues raised by three bigwigs in custody. “This invitation will assist us to verify some allegations and counter-allegations by these key actors in the local government area.” Also yesterday, Senator Nurudeen Abatemi-Usman, representing Kogi Central, praised the police for arresting suspects in the killing of p and two soldiers. He urged the police to dig deep to unearth the motives behind the dastardly act. Abatemi-Usman spoke in Okene when he visited the church’s headquarters and the paramount ruler of the area,Dr. Ado Ibrahim, over the incident. He said a meeting of political, community and traditional leaders in the central axis of the state with the head of the security agencies and Governor Idris Wada had been slated for September 7 to find a lasting solution to the problem. The church’s regional pastor, Mr. Raphael Irewole, thanked the senator for identifying with them. A group of gunmen stormed the church on July 25 during the evening Bible Study. They switched off the light and turned their guns on the people, killing 20.

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 2012

NEWS UNILAG disowns Cynthia’s suspected killer •Killers are not fit to live, say Southeast governors

•From left: Caretaker Chairman, Ido-Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Gbenga Agbeyo; Ajidara; NULGE Treasurer, Major Tajudeen Awe (rtd); and the association’s Accountant-General, Mr Ayoola Owolabi, at the media briefing in AdoEkiti...yesterday.

Alleged N1b deduction: Ekiti ALGON faults NULGE’s claim

•Fayemi gives NULGE seven days to retract statement

HE Ekiti State chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) has debunked the allegation by the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) that Governor Kayode Fayemi made illegal deduction of N1 billion from the monthly allocations for the 16 local government areas. Addressing reporters in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, ALGON state Chairman Rotimi Ajidara described the allegation as “misinformation circulated by Ekiti NULGE” to cause unrest. He said the councils have reconciled all the funds paid into the Joint Allocation Account Committee (JAAC) from the Federal Allocation Account Committee (FAAC) and found no iota of truth in the allegations. Ajidara spoke just as the governor issued a seven-day ultimatum to the leadership of the state NULGE to retract the allegation that he ordered the illegal deduction of N1billion from the March and May allocations, or face a legal battle. In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olayinka Oyebode, the governor said he took exception to the NULGE allegation, which he noted had no iota of truth. Ajidara, who highlighted the distribution of fund to the councils from January to July, said the claim by the NULGE leadership that N1,345,649,056.01 was released to the councils in March was not correct. He said the record shows that N2,835,724,325.23 was disbursed. The ALGON chief added that contrary to the stance of NULGE that the councils got N1,476,368,871.53 in May,

From: Sulaiman Salaudeen, Ado-Ekiti

N2,064,845,343.63 was released to the councils account. The ALGON chairman explained that it was impossible to have a surplus of N1billion to be deducted, as alleged, after first line charges, including local government workers’ salaries and leave bonus, primary school teachers’ salaries and bonus, and subvention to local government parastatals have been deducted from JAAC. He said NULGE was “out to make mischief”. Affirming Fayemi’s innocence, Ajidara said rather than tamper with local governments’ funds, the state government contributed N1,396,811,554.28 to the building of five kilometres township roads in each of the 16 local government areas. The ALGON Chairman who urged Ekiti people to call “the drifting leadership of Ekiti State NULGE” to order instead of making itself to be used by” self-seeking politicians” said NULGE action was not unconnected to the misunderstanding between the Union and Local Government Administration on the payment of minimum wage as well as special salary package for medical and health workers at the council level. In the statement, Oyebode said the governor cherishes his integrity and character and is ready to protect and preserve it. The media aide explained that all actions and policies of the governor are predicated on these two virtues. The statement reads: “The attention of the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi has been drawn to the spurious

allegation by the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) Ekiti State chapter, accusing him of illegally deducting N1billion from the monthly allocations meant for the 16 local government councils in the state. “The allegation which is not only baseless, but a calculated attempt to dent the good image of the governor and the good record of his administration, has been orchestrated in the online and a particular print media with the sole aim of causing disaffection among Ekiti workers and also discrediting the person of the Governor. “Needless to say that governor Fayemi takes serious exception to the NULGE leadership’s handling of the allegation which has no iota of truth. “It is on record that the state governor had, on several occasions, stated clearly that he does not fiddle with the allocations meant for the councils. The governor still stands by his word. “It is also an incontrovertible fact that Governor Kayode Fayemi came to government with two major credentials- his character and integrity. Thus his actions and policies are predicated on these two unique credentials which he cherishes and ever willing to protect and preserve. “Therefore, for the purpose of record, it is important to state unequivocally that at no time did the Governor order the deduction of N1billion from the allocations meant for the councils as alleged by NULGE and orchestrated by some political charlatans in the dubious attempt to score cheap political point. “As a matter of fact, a simple

breakdown of the monthly allocations to Ekiti State and the 16 councils shows that it is practically impossible to deduct N1billion from the councils’ allocation. It is quite ridiculous for anyone to claim that N1 billion is deducted from the councils’ allocation giving the fact that what is accrued to the 16 LGAs are usually predistributed at the Federation Account Allocation Committee based on some sharing indices. “Contrary to claims by NULGE leaders, that only N1,345,649,056.01 was released to the LGAs in March, records show that N2,835,724,325.23 was released. Also for the month of May, where NULGE alleged that only N1,476,368,871.53, it is on record that the councils got the sum N2,064,845,343.63. “The pertinent question to ask the leadership of NULGE is how and where it got its own figures? “Giving the injury that this baseless and wicked lies have done to the person of Dr Kayode Fayemi, the leadership of NULGE, Ekiti State chapter, is therefore given seven days to withdraw the allegation or be prepared to hear from the Governor’s lawyers. “Governor Kayode Fayemi remains focused in the pursuit of his eight-point agenda for the transformation of Ekiti State and no amount of campaign of calumny by groups or individuals is capable of distracting him. “In ensuring good governance and transparency, the Fayemi –led administration has put in place some relevant laws including the fiscal responsibility law and the domestication of the Freedom of Information Law among others.”

UTHORITIES of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) have disowned Mr. Okwoma Nwabufor, one of the suspected killers of Cynthia, daughter of MajGen Frank Osokogu (rtd). Nwabufor had introduced himself as a 300-Level Accounting student of the Distance Learning Institute (DLI) of the university. But the institution’s Deputy Registrar (Information), Seth Adebisi Dare, said the claim of the suspect was far from being the truth. In a reply to a request made by The Nation, Dare said the name of the suspect was not found in any records of UNILAG students. The response addressed to the editor and entitled: Re: Okwoma Nwabufor, alleged murderer of Cynthia Osokogu is not a student of UNILAG reads: “Our attention has been drawn to recent media reports which identified one of the suspects in the alleged murder of Cynthia Osokogu, daughter of Major-General Frank Osokogu, as a 300 level Accounting student of the Distance Learning Institute of the University of Lagos. “After careful evaluation of students’ records, the University authorities have found the suspect, Okwoma Nwabufor’s claim of being a student of UNILAG, untrue. “No such person is registered as a student in our Department of Accounting or any other Department of the University. “We wish to urge all media organisations to note this fact and discountenance the claim of the suspect, Mr. Nwabufor and desist from associating him with the University of Lagos. The university management also wishes to use this opportunity to reiterate its commitment to the vision statement of the university which is: “To be a top class institution for the pursuit of excellence in knowledge through learning and research, as well as in character and service to humanity.” Also yesterday, the Southeast Governors’ Forum condemned the killing of Cynthia by suspected Facebook friends. Chairman of the forum and Anambra State Governor, Mr Peter Obi spoke with reporters on the arrest of one of the suspects at Nnewi. The two culprits - Nwabufor and Ezekiel Odera have confessed to the crime. Obi described Cynthia’s killers as wicked and barbaric. He said the killers were not worthy to live among men. The governor described as

From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

unfortunate a situation where some people, rather than tap the enormous advantages that go with the internet and other social media, seek to put it into bad use thus bringing it into disrepute. He said the bad use was symptomatic of the erosion of values in our society and declared that what Nigeria needed most is value-reorientation and ethical rebirth.

Nnamani Centre, Ogun host workshop for council chiefs

HE Ken Nnamani Centre for Leadership and Development in partnership with Ogun State Government and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Office is organising a threeday workshop with the theme: Enhancing the Local Government Adminstration in Ogun State. The workshop, which will be opened by Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun, will hold at the Indices Suites & Gardens, Safari Junction, Oke-Ayo Street, Onikolobo, Abeokuta, Ogun State between tomorrow and Thursday. The workshop is intended to sharpen the leadership capacities of local government chairmen, their deputies and secretaries. It will also focus on the key areas of local government primary duties and responsibilities, organisation of local government, building grassroots democratic participation in governance, developing the private sector, and harmonious relationship between the different tiers and arms of government in the state. Participants expected at the workshop include chairmen, their deputies and secretaries. Resource persons are drawn from the academia, the private sector and the MDGs office.

Funeral

HE remains of Madam C o m f o r t Amenaghawon Okedegun (nee Obazuaye) a.k.a Madam 4 was at the weekend interred at her No 1 1, Welfare road, Benin city. She was 82. The deceased who had her elementary education in the South before taking up a life of trade and commerce is survived by her children, brothers, sisters and in-laws some of which are Mr. Biodun Osunde, Julie Ikpomwonsa and Emmanuel Okedegun.

No N11 trillion excess revenue from crude oil, says Okupe

THE Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, yesterday said the Federal Government does not have excess revenue of about 11 trillion from the sales of crude oil. He described alleged rumour of excess revenue as unfounded. Okupe, who made the clarifications at a session with reporters in Abuja, said the government would soon open call

From: Yusuf Alli and Yomi Odunuga, Abuja

centers where Nigerians could obtain information with ease. Okupe said: “There is a rumour that has been going round among Nigerians in the last 48 hours on the issue of the revenue from crude oil sales. It is reported in that text message that 2.5 million barrels of oil is sold per day and at a $113 per barrel and therefore when you do the calculation 2.5million times $113

times 30 days times 12 months you come with a figure of $101.7billion. “From their calculation that is what Nigeria earns from crude oil sales in a year. “I don’t want to take up issues on the number barrels per day because usually these are weighted averages. It is not every day you produce 2.5million barrels. There can be technical problems and all that and the prices also fluctuate - sometimes $97, $113 and $112.

“ But I am ready to use these exact figures. Let us for the purpose of argument assume that these figures are correct. So, it means that Nigeria earns $101billion a year and when you take it to Naira that comes to N16.272trillion per annum and the person who sent the text messages said that when you deduct the annual budget for 2012 of N4.5 trillion there is a balance of N11.772trillion and the question is where does this

surplus go? “ Invariably, the implication of that is that either the government or government officials are corruptly enriching themselves with N11.772 trillion of Nigeria money every year. “These are really very scandalous and very inciting information that are wholesomely untrue. “Let me tell you what the facts are. Let us assume that we actually have N16 trillion a year.

•Dr. Okupe

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 2012

SPORT EXTRA Akinsola: My goals can lift Racing back to La Liga

•Chairman Lagos Boxing Hall of Fame Mr Wale Edun watches as Lagos State governor Babatunde Raji Fashola cuts the tape at the inauguration of the ultra modern gym at Surulere, Lagos. PHOTO Bola Omilabu

Fashola declares LBHF ultra modern gym open •Lagos State governor lauds project •Gym can produce Olympic champions—Edun

HE Lagos state governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) yesterday declared open the first Ultra modern boxing gymnasium at the Ikate Development Council Area (LCDA), Surulere Lagos. Speaking before its official commissioning, Fashola commended the initiators of the project, the Lagos Boxing Hall of Fame (LBHF), as he commended its Chairman Olawale Edun for a job well done. “This will encourage young people and the development of their minds and bodies. I always say that you don’t need a title to serve your community. You don’t need to be appointed governor, Chairman, Councillor or Commissioner to do great things amongst your people. I have always said that Olawale Edun is an example of such people who do not look for titles but continue to serve his people. “Yes he was Commissioner for Finance in Lagos State government at a time, those of us who knew his passion know that the challenges of keeping the finances of Lagos State did not give him the opportunity to express himself. No sooner than he left, that the idea of the Lagos Boxing Hall of Fame found a comfort zone between him and Adeniji Adele. “And here we are today. And beyond that I know how many young men and women this monthly championship has taken off the streets, and

By Innocent Amomoh shown places they will never have dreamt to be. I know how he has made efforts to keep the affiliation with the Repton Boxing Club of London. How this has exposed them and let them understand that those abroad are not better. And therefore all our gratitude goes to him, the Commissioner who started this work with him and the one who completed it. “This speaks deeply and eloquently of our commitment as a party for continuity. We continue from where the last team left off, we don’t dismantle what they have built. This gym that Mr. Edun have told me that he was going to shock us with. That shows his commitment to the development of boxing. It provides us with the opportunity to develop facilities. Fashola further said that projects of this magnitude will disabuse our minds of the fire brigade approach that has become the order of the day. “We rush players to camp two weeks and expect them to perform magic. It shows our commitment to developing sports especially boxing. We are busy with every sport, because we understand the value of sports in Nation building, the development of the mind and physic of young people, and the development of the confidence of the nation. You will see what the Chinese are doing today and therefore it is no surprise that their

economy is not only prospering but their citizens are competing at the highest levels. “This investment will be the panacea to take our leadership position in the African

continent. I hope we will begin to see its benefit even as the National Sports Festival (NSF) is approaching in November,” he said. Responding, Edun said the gym has the facility to build Olympic champions in the future for Nigeria, as every equipment found in a world class gym are available.

“I made bold to say that this gym is world class. And I will want to encourage the people of the kate LCDA to secure it and see it as their project. I think the National Sport Commission (NSC ) and the Boxing Federation should take advantage of this facility for future engagement.

Ajilore eager to impress at Groningen

UPER EAGLES midfielder Oluwafemi Ajilore is eager to feature for FC Groningen again after making his return to the Dutch league from Brondby IF in Denmark on loan. The former Mijtad anchor man made his bow for Groningen in their 4-1 loss to Twente in the opening match of Erediven league. The 2008 Beijing Olympic Silver Medalist was furious with a report in the media claiming his club showed him the exit door. “People report false stories, just for them to create attention and traffic for their website and readership of their newspapers. I have never been declared surplus or shown the exit door by Groningen because I still have contract with them,” Ajilore lamented.

•Ajilore

By Innocent Amomoh “I actually had a wonderful spell with Brondby, but at a time injury knocked me out which I think is part of football. I had good games perfect time with the club. Because that was when I had my baby boy. But towards the end of the league I was injured, which is always the sad part of the journey. And clause in the loan deal that if Brondby can pay some certain amount to Groningen, they will release me to them but Brondby as at that time didn’t have enough money to meet the valuation so Gronningen asked me to return to their pre-season tour. “So I don’t know where people see what they are writing that I was out of my team bla bla bla, it was very annoying because that very day I was in Korea with my team in preseason the same day we had a game Hamburg which I played 90minutes, so I was wondering but I don’t let that to bothered me because I know the press write whatever they like just to create attention. And that is why you don’t see me on the pages of newspapers because I don’t like talking so that they will not add to it.” Speaking further on his delight return to his Dutch base

where he had developed more exposure some seasons ago. Though some reports have denied him in the plans of Coach Robert Maaskant. “I love life in Holland, my return is like going back to my house and I will surely feel comfortable and eager to make a huge impact.” “I have always been happy with the club, and they also want me, that is why you see me start my first game against FC Twente even though we lost and I was unlucky to pull my hamstring, but I am happy to be back and make an impact for the push. “It will be difficult to use our lost against Twente to judge our progress this season, we had a perfect pre-season games and we are all fit and ready to make an impact. The victory may not come aspect expected but we are determined to lift the club as the league continues. “My coming back to Groningen is a new challenge but it is a very interesting challenge. It comes in a moment when I have prepared more than in the past. I have contributed a lot to the club in terms of success, I think we all know but at times, football is up and down and the best thing is to remain focus and ready for a bigger test.”

ORMER Nigeria Under-17 star Kabiru Akinsola has declared his desire to score as many goals as possible to help his new Segunda A club, Racing Santander back to Spanish topflight after completing a season loan deal last week. Akinsola, who was on loan at Segunda B side Cadiz from Granada in the La Liga last season, netted 12 goals from 23 games and was the club’s leading goal scorer and second top scorer in the Segunda B. Now, Racing Santander have announced the signing of the Nigerian international from Granada after completing an initial loan deal in Cardiz CF till end of next season with an option of permanent deal. “I’m very happy to be here, Racing are a huge club. I hope to score as many goals as possible to lift the club back to the topflight next season. Of course, I want to win trophies here, that is what I want.” “The club has made a big step to sign players to have a better team and meet the expectations of the fans. And I am very happy to be part of the programme. “Last season was great for me in Cardiz CF and I believe this season with Racing Santander will be greater than last season in terms of performance and goal scoring abilities. “I believe the club can go back to La Liga next season because most of the players have the experience already and being of the team is a plus for me to gain more exposure of top level.”

Golden Eaglets thrash Western Rovers 9-0 •Dedicate Victory to Emeka Amadi

OLDEN Eaglets’ goalkeepers’ trainer, Emeka Amadi was given a perfect birthday gift following the National Under-17 team’s 9-0 massacre of Western Rovers Football Club at the U. J Esuene Stadium in Calabar on Saturday. Amadi who would be celebrating his 40th birthday on Sunday, August 26 was as thrilled as everyone in the Golden Eaglets recorded a cricket score to keep their unbeaten run after eleven practices matches here in Calabar. Parading the team’s probables,the Golden Eaglets looked sharp and trim with commanding display after taking the kick off. Barely three minutes into the match, the Eaglets were already on a goal-rious run with three goals within the first fifteen minutes. Two more goals were scored in the first half and it could have been more but for Mathias Ekwere in goal for the Cross River State Division Two Side, who foiled some of the Eaglets’ scoring opportunities. The team was reshuffled in the second half but the new players on parade were never going to be outshined and virtually continued from where others left off. Four goals were scored in the process with prominent one being that of Ali-Baba Saliu, the former Under-15 captain who scored his first goal for the Eaglets! “I’m so pleased with the performance of the team which is on the eve of my 40th anniversary and I’m confident that the winning streak of the team would continue,” a visiblyglad Amadi stated.

THE NATION MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 2012

SPORT EXTRA FEDERATIONS CUP FINAL

Heartland retains title •Prime FC beat Pillars to third place •Akor Isah claim top scorers award with 6 goals

RENDAN OGBU headed in with seconds remaining to the end of match procedings, as Heartland came from behind to retain their Federation Cup title at the very death. Ezekiel Bassey put Lobi Stars in front just four minutes into the first half, but Jolly Osas got the champions back on terms just shy of 10 minutes before the break. Lobi looked the stronger side for the first period, but Heartland gradually inched their way into the game, and grew in stature. And they should have been in front at least twice in second half regulation time. Osas tested Lobi's John Lawrence soon after the half. Ogbu hit the post, as did Ikechukwu Ibenegbu within minutes of each other. And as the game ebbed and flowed, Lobi also had a chance to get back in front, but were denied by Daniel Akpeyi. With minutes left on the clock, Heartland prepped for penalty shoot-outs by substituting Akpeyi for penalty specialist Chijioke Ejiogu, the hero of the semifinal shoot-out win over Prime FC. But Ogbu rendered the substitution irrelevant needless. First, Ibenegbu lobbed down the right channel Andy leashed a volley that Lawrence did well to tip instinctively over the bar. From the resultant cornerkick, Lobi lost their focus, and failed to clear properly. Osas lofted in a high ball, Ogbu appeared to suspend himself in mid-air as he guided a header past the goalkeeper and into the far corner. The yellow card he picked up for yanking off his shorts matters pales into insignificance to the medal he will get, not to mention the N500 000 in total he wins as both MVP (N300 000) and Man

By Rasaq Oboirien of the Match. Meanwhile, Olushola Akinlapa's last spot kick was what Prime FC of Osogbo needed as they beat favourites Kano Pillars 4-1 to emerge third place winners after regulation time stood 1-1. Pillars drew first blood with 25minutes of play as Gambo Mohammed shoting a low drive as Prime FC goalkeeper

fumbled the ball into the bottom corner of his goal. Prime FC immediately responded with Federations Cup top scorer, Akor Isah seeing his half volley pushed away by Pillars goalkeeper Haliru. With less than 10minutes to signal the end of the first half, Prime FC attacking effort yeilded result as Isah increased his goal tally to 6 goals when he scored from a

Chibuike begs Keshi for Eagles shirt

N-FORM Rosenborg of Norway attacking midfielder John Chibuike has vowed not to give up on his chances to play for his fatherland, Super Eagles of Nigeria and not feeling any pressure to dump Nigeria for another country but rather wait for his time. Chibuike started his career in Enugu Rangers as a defender, had a quite soft start in BK Häcken, but soon spectators around the venues saw that he

had something extra. During his first season in 2010, he played as a midfielder and showed both good defensive and offensive skills and specially a good vision and technique. He made 27 out of 30 games during the season scoring 3 goals and getting three assists. In the start of Allsvenskan, season 2011 it became apparent that Chibuike had improved even more. Allsvenskan topscorer and club fellow Mathias Ranégie said he was the team’s most import important

Monday James: No regrets over Eagles’ snub

WEDEN based centre defender Monday James says he has not regretted not playing for the Nigeria senior national team despite being part of the successful U-20 and U-23 team, and nit playing for Super Eagles is not a big deal. The Bayelsa state born star played an integral part in Flying Eagles team that went to the final of FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2005 but was defeated by Lionel Messi’s brace and also at the 2008 Olympic football game still led by Samson Siasia. James future looks bright at the tournaments, with his understanding with Onyekachi Apam but the duo were sideline in the Super Eagles team. James was asked if had any regret for not playing for the Super Eagles to upgrade it career at club level, he replied with a sound voice that: “I can never have any regret for not playing for Super Eagles, of course I have play at two categories and I did my best, so why must I have any regrets?” “I thank God for everything about my career, I am a happy man with much optimism that I

goal mouth melee as Pillars defenders failed to clear from a corner kick. The second half saw both teams playing with caution as the wet surface of the Teslim Balogun Stadium made playing condition poor due to a down pour that almost kept fans indoor. With both teams still suffering penalty aches after their semi-final losses to Lobi Stars and Heartland respectively, Prime FC proved that they have put behind the loss as they converted three of their spot kicks while Pillars could manage one.

By Innocent Amomoh will be at the top rank in this game, I understand the fact that the road to success must surely rough so that you can know the importance of success,” he explained. “We are different creature by the same creator (Glory be to him), and everybody has his own time to achieve greatness, even though some of us are born with greatness while some achieve it in this life. I have never doubt myself, so playing for Nigeria is not a do or die. “I am concentrating on my games here and I believe some better will come out of it at the end. I am playing every week in my club and I am enjoying every bit of the game here but sooner or later the big doors will open for sure. James, who plays for Hammarby IF of Sweden urges Nigerians to keep supporting indigenous coach when necessary and failure to do that, is the bane of Nigerian football going back. “We have good coaches, and as you know that I am not a coach

yet. Well, I think the coaches need more support from Nigerians. Football is not an easy task like people use to watch and talk. Nobody in this life is under pressure like coaches because they must face it the wrath if they fail. “On this last Olympic; I think we could had made another chance in London because of the name “Dream Team”. that is what will use to reach the final in 2008 but unfortunately we lost,” he concluded.

player and that he very soon could see Chibuike playing on a European top level. “There is nothing good for a young player like me to concentrate more on my career so that I can hit the top with limited time, and that is what has been my secret of my good performance because I want to see myself keep improving in every game and that is what people have been saying.” “Everything is okay with me in the club, everybody loves me because I am doing my job and am putting smiles on their faces, though you don’t expect to be at your top at all times but you must justify your starting shirt if you want to keep improving.” “I had a wonderful season in Sweden, and what I can a minimal breakthrough, they gave me chance to prove myself and I thank God for not disappointing me at the end. “I used Sweden as a stepping stone to the next level and it is only God that knows where I am going from here, but sincerely speaking I am very much happy here.

John Utaka fires blank •Montpellier fall to Marseille 0-1

IGERIA international and Montpellier stiker John Utaka saw 92 minutes action in the club's home game against visiting Olympic Marseille at the Stade de la Mosson stadium Sunday but failed to save the hommers from going down 0-1 The former Portsmouth and Rennes ace and his

teammates were given the fight of their lives as Marseille took the battle to them from the first blast of the whistle. The encounter which produced five yellow cards with Montpellier getting two and Marseille three, saw no goals until the 77th minute when André-Pierre Gignac broke the ice shooting the visitors into the lead.

Man City fight to a 2-2 draw vs Liverpool WHAT could have easily been Liverpool's first win ended in a thrilling draw on Sunday as defending champions Manchester City came back twice to end the match at level peggings 2- 2 each. With both teams having played a match in the season coming into the clash at Anfield - with opposite results to show for their efforts - Roberto Mancini's side would have fancied their chances despite a passionate crowd backing the hosts. The start was forceful with Carlos Tevez managing to create in-roads into Liverpool'sd defence. He even managed to outwit the defender and slice the ball at the goal only for it to deflect off the post with no teammate to claim it. Liverpool on the other end had an injury scare in the 3rd minute itself when Lucas Leiva trudged off the field in what appeared as a hamstring strain. With James Carragher being replaced by Sebastian Coates to cover for the suspended Daniel Agger, Liverpool looked to keep the match in check. The team also had 17year-old Raheem Sterling and Fabio Borini provide support to Luis Suarez at the front. The forward line managed to finally get going with noteworthy efforts from Borini and Suarez but it was a Martin Skrtel header off a corner kick in the 34th minute that ended the deadlock. Anfield erupted as the lead was with the team being cheered for by majority of the spectators, going into the break. The second-half was closely fought with City desperate for a comeback. There were runins from Tevez and excellent play-work from Mario Balotelli. It all worked out in the 63rd minute but City had Liverpool to thank.

Tevez cut in from the right and hit the ball in the middle for Pepe Reina to punch the ball away, unsuccessfully. The ball strikes Martin Kelly, rises and finds Yaya Toure who kicks in the equaliser for what proved to be a short-lived joy. Two minutes later, Suarez again sent the decibel levels to record levels when he curls his free-hit enough to find a path across the players in blue and Joe Hart who seemed to have failed to get his angles correct. Liverpool 2 against Manchester City's 1. If he had made a mark for himself in the opening half, the 80th minute saw Skrtels work coming undone when he backpasses to no one at all. Tevez was running hard throughout the match and found himself at just the right spot. He was no going to miss this time and the Argentine rolled the ball in after a stroll past Reina. The dying minutes of the match saw both sides hunting and gunning at each other for the win but the scoreline remained unchanged to signal a 2-2 end.

RESULTS EPL Stoke City 0-0 Arsenal Liverpool 2-2 Man City. Italy - Serie A AC Milan 0-1Sampdoria AS Roma2-2 Catania Atalanta 0-1 Lazio Chievo 2-0 Bologna Genoa 2-0 Cagliari Palermo 0-3 Napoli Pescara 0-3 Inter Milan Siena 0-0 Torino Spain - Primera Division Osasuna 1-2 Barcelona Getafe2-1 Real Madrid Granada 1-1 Sevilla Bundesliga I. Hannover 2-2 Schalke Ligue 1 Montpellier 0-1 Marseille Saint-Etienne 4-0 Brest

COPA COLA INTERNATIONAL TOURNEY

16 players to join Chelsea training camp in S/A today

IXTEEN budding stars picked from the recently concluded 4th edition of the National Copa Coca-Cola Championship will jet out of the shores of the country today to South Africa, where Chelsea FC Foundation coaches will be training 160 players from 15 countries ahead Copa Cola International Camp/ Tournament scheduled to run between August 28 and September 8 2012 Stars from the national championship including Most Valuable Player, Emmanuel Bakare, the Best Goalkeeper, Ene Samuel, and the Highest Goal Scorer, Mohammed Usman, are among the 16 players for the international tourney. Speaking at the players training camp in Lagos over the weekend Ene,15, who aim to be like Vicent Enyeanma now believe he could have his dream come true with the international exposure. “With this trip that will avail me an intensive training by Chelsea coaches I now believe that i’m on the line becoming like Super Eagles keepper’ he said

Paul Oluwakoya While Mohammed Usman who desire to play for the Blues like Mikel said “When you think Chelsea, you think of great African football stars such as John Obi Mikel from Nigeria and Michael Essien from Ghana, which gives me reasons to believe in the training from the Chelsea coaches” he said. The Five Chelsea coaches that will take the young footballers through various skill drills designed to help improve their control, shooting, dribbling, and passing will also be joined by Ex-Super Eagles player Waheed Akanni, who is the celebrity coach of Team Nigeria for the international tourney. According to Former Golden Eaglet Festus Odini who handle the training session lauded the initiative of exposing the players saying “Each year, COPA Coca-Cola gives hundreds of budding stars in the country an opportunity to refine their skills through inter-country competitions and exposure to world-class football which for me is a right step in good direction.” he said.

TODAY IN THE NATION

MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 2012 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

‘With the introduction of N5,000 currency note, what will happen to the hard-to-implement cashless monetary policy? Isn’t it contradictory? If going cashless, why carry more cash in value - and not necessarily in bulk quantity? Why introduce a higher denomination.’ SOJI OMOTUNDE

VOL 7 NO 2,230

C OMMENT & D EB ATE EBA

HY is it that a part of the northern elite has decided to swim in the Niger Delta oil, for all its beautiful blackness and viscous glory? Why is Kwankwaso, the Kano State Governor, not embroiled in the debate with policy wonks on how to bring back the pyramidal triumphs of Kano’s groundnut past? Or why is the ebullient Babangida Aliyu, his Niger State counterpart and head of the northern governors, not devoting his well-known imagination to furthering the frontiers of productivity and harmony as he has been doing? What is going on is that the North is confronting a mammoth paradox today: a stunning epiphany and an overwhelming denial. A light has fallen into the northern room, but it is at once illuminating and blinding. The illumination comes from its realisation that the North today is not the North of 20 years ago, where it flexed muscles and dictated what happened from the tips of Sokoto to the ocean waves in Lekki Peninsula. That was the north of the shadowy Kaduna mafia, the force of men powerful for being anonymous. They were the predators, growling and belching smoke. It was a rampart of power, deciding resource allocations, fuelling military coups, assigning contracts, guzzling and gurgling the oil of the Niger Delta. The mafia, for want of a better word, inspired fear and trembling, respect and loathing, and all the vile emotions in between. But it was a quiet and sullen force, not enamoured of public debate nor given to dithering. It had the power of crime and punishment as well as reward. Cocky and quietly defiant, it sometimes carried notoriety as a badge. Today, the northern power force has no such weight. That is where the denial is. It is because of the denial that we have northern elite bluster in public. It is because there is not much private power. In the heyday of the mafia, they would have shunned the theatre of public debate about offshore and onshore dichotomy. They would have done what they did when derivation was only one per cent. Now, they have to shout and remind one of Wole Soyinka’s chiding of the dowagers of Negritude: a tiger should not shout its “tigritude.” The point is that there are no genuine tigers in the vast lands of the North any more. But it is not in the character of this column to gloat, since the issue of onshore/offshore dichotomy is not a debate that extends the frontiers of one nation. This is a sombre reality because it is a question of power more than harmony. But more interesting is that the Niger Delta, which encases the oil, has ironically been a longtime ally of the north. The North has always played the avuncular or even pa-

RIPPLES JONATHAN NEEDS TO SACK BAD AIDES TO SUCCEED-AKUME

In that case, many HEADS will ROLL

constituencies and brilliant political players, it is trying to use the brawn of its glory days. That is futile today. That is why its pursuit of the revenues of the Niger Delta states mocks its imperial past. The relation between the North and the Niger Delta is a clear case of oedipal complex. The father has woken up to see that the son is so powerful that he can slay his former superior. It is the potential equivalent of political parricide. There are a number of reasons why the call for a review of the offshore/onshore dichotomy cannot stand. One, the 2004 decision by the National Assembly was a compromise that involved every stakeholder from the North. Two, the 13 per cent given to the people of the region is miniscule given what comes out of the bowels of their earths. Three, why does the North want to cut into the 13 per cent when a man like Kwankwaso knows that in the years of the groundnut pyramid, the region enjoyed as much as 50 per cent in derivation. Import duties were also paid to the regions. Is our history going to serve as a parasitic one or a productive one? Why are the states not focused on generating the huge potential that mock us daily in every state? We are seeing already how some governors are raking up more money in internally generated revenue in places like Edo, Oyo, Lagos, Osun and Ekiti. Even Sokoto State has had a good record in that regard. In fact, a state like Kano that compares itself in population and investment to Lagos should follow what Lagos has been doing to

generate funds as a non-oil state. States like Delta, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and Rivers have suffered great environmental degradation from oil pollution. The communities cost more to develop than any part of the country. In his lecture in Asaba last week, Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, stressed the point that oil does not last forever. Hear him: “If the demand for resource control has remained trenchant, it is simply because our people have for long lived with the stark evidence of a mindless exploitation of the oil resources in their land. They have lived with the despoliation and degradation of their environments without concomitant benefits…” He noted that the “peaceful nature of the people” is taken for granted, adding that oil will not last forever. “There are two cardinal points I envisage. One, get the most you can from oil now as you transform to a postoil era,” Uduaghan said, echoing his signature: Delta Beyond Oil initiative. “Two, develop other resources of revenue and diversify your economy…” A study noted that if the offshore money was redistributed to all the states, they would get about 150 million each. How can that make a Dubai of the northern states? Why would a state suffer the consequences of its littoral status and not enjoy the benefits. The most potent in this regard is Akwa Ibom State. Its Governor, Godswill Akpabio, with massive infrastructure development and education, has deployed its resources to elevate a state that has suffered from the pollution of its waters. Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers states suffer both from onshore and offshore violations. To deny this is to be insensitive. Not long ago, we witnessed the escalation of militancy in that region. We do not want eruptions of rage in that region again as it will compound the pains of a nation still trying to come to terms with the agonies of Boko haram. Bauchi State Governor Isa Yuguda hit the bull’s eye when, in dissociating himself from some of his northern colleagues, asserted that the Niger Delta communities have suffered greatly suffering and should be compensated. Second, he echoed the point that the north took part in the debate and decision against onshore/offshore dichotomy. This is not the time to curse the darkness of discord in the land. Let us light candles. I argued on this page that 13 per cent was little. Now, some want that also removed. The point they want to make is that foul is fair.

HARDBALL

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

SAM OMATSEYE

IN TOUCH

intouchsam@yahoo.com 08054501081(sms only) •Winner, Informed Commentary 2009& 2010 (D.A.M.E)

The parasites

•Uduaghan ternal role, dictating the orientation of its politics and enjoying the obeisance of the South-south elite. Its first shock was the emergence of Goodluck Jonathan as President, even though he did it without any regard for the niceties of a statesman. However, Jonathan has shaken the North and it is looking for legitimate means of reasserting itself. But rather than do it by recalibrating its strategy, using its vast size and numerous

Nigeria’s moment of angst: Nuanced problem needs nuanced solution O

F all the problems afflicting Nigeria, Boko Haram violence, the Islamic fundamentalist nightmare destabilising the northern part of the country, has proved to be the most intractable. Virtually all measures the government hoped would be useful in curbing the dangerous lurch towards anarchy in the region have failed. While the violent sect gains in momentum and confidence, the government has become desperate, frantic and disillusioned. If insecurity appears to be overwhelming the North, there is sadly no respite anywhere else – whether in the Southeast, South-South, or even the Southwest. There is, indeed, no proof the problems would abate soon. However, the government seems to think that the crisis would collapse under the weight of time, with the sect and other troublemakers tiring themselves out like epidemics sometimes do even without the application of medication. Compounding the problem of mounting insecurity are the incredible stories of large-scale looting of the public treasury through the agencies of pension and fuel subsidy crimes. To respond to these barefaced stealing, the government prefers to pull its punches, hem and haw, and pussyfoot in courts and investigations. Meanwhile, incrementally, the public is losing faith in government and anyone in public office. In addition, the country is groaning under large-scale pauperisation of the masses, thereby worsening the problem of insecurity and popu-

lating the ranks of deviants and the alienated. In the midst of this loss of confidence in government, worsening insecurity, looming economic disaster compounded by pension and subsidy looting, the political sector has also begun to witness appalling degradation and stultification. Nigeria is reeling from needless controversy over state police to ridiculous, half-hearted and short-sighted attempt to tinker with the constitution. The country is clearly witnessing its moment of angst, probably far worse than the turbulent days preceding the collapse of the First Republic and the dissolution of the Second Republic. Why it has not occurred to the people and government of Nigeria that the problems confronting them are not quite as plain as they seem, nor are they to be taken at face value, is hard to understand. The failure of previous measures, some applied with single-minded military and legal fierceness, should have led them to seek new explanations and new meanings for problems that appear to defy clear and sensible definitions. A proper understanding of the crisis would, however, reveal that they are terrifyingly nuanced, and are merely symptoms of deeper, underlying malaises. The leader the times require must have the courage and brilliance to recognise that the crises go far deeper than has been thought, and re-

quire nuanced and daring solution than has ever been conceived. For instance, Boko Haram may have elements of economic alienation and sectarian appeal and venturesomeness, but it is also probably more an indication of the enduring failure to cobble a cohesive national identity out of our disparateness. But it is impossible for a national identity to come out of the blues, nor does it seem realistic to expect it to come out of the Nigerian bureaucracy, say through the National Orientation Agency. First Republic leaders, it must be recalled, sensibly recognised the uniqueness of the problem and talked about the consequences of failing to conceive an identity. That failure, it is argued, might have been triggered by both the nature of Nigerian colonial experience and the distortions generated by the process of decolonisation that produced leaders incapable of grasping the problem and envisioning the future. After years of simplistic analyses and miscomprehension of the problems, and many more decades of even more simplistic and misguided application of direct but jaded measures, it is time we turned our minds to a proper analysis of the deeply nuanced national crises facing us, and to a better appreciation of the equally nuanced solutions. If we fail to recognise the need for unorthodox thinking and approaches, we would simply continue to tilt at windmills, apply unproductive force, compound the problem, and prolong the pain.

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