August 28, 2015

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Ladoja fails to stop Ajimobi’s witness

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•Oyo governor opens defence at tribunal

•Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

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NNPC cuts crude lifting firms to 16 NEWS Page 11

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Buhari appoints SGF, Chief of Staff •New bosses for Immigration, Customs

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RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari yesterday appointed Babachir David Lawal, an engineer, as Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

Buhari, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, also announced the appointment of Alhaji Abba Kyari as Chief of Staff to the Pres-

•Lawal

•Kyari

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

ident, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd.) as Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) and Mr. Kure Martin Abeshi as the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS).

Other appointments include SenaContinued on page 2

•Ali

•Enang

•Cameroon Prime Minister Philemon Yang cutting the tape to open Dangote Cement Plant Cameroon…yesterday.

Holding the tape are (from left): Cameroon Minister of Labour, Gregoire Owona, Dangote Group President Aliko Dangote and Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

STORY ON PAGE 11

P577 •INSIDE: NUC BARS 57 ILLEGAL VARSITIES P2 KWARA GOVERNOR APPOINTS ADVISERS P5

500 days after: Global anger over Chibok girls •SEE ALSO PAGE 61

Protests in New York, Abuja, Lagos From Adeola Oladele-Fayehun, New York and Grace Obike, Abuja

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CTIVISTS pushing for the release of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls yesterday took their campaign to the Nigerian consulate in New York City.

Scores of advocates from various parts of the world marched from the United Nations (UN) interfaith Church Center to the Nigerian Consulate with a message for Nigerian government officials in New York City. The advocates were disappointed —Nigerian officials did not address them. ”Nigerian officials here should be the first people out to support us,” said Prof. Mojubaolu Olufunke Okome, one of the organisers of the march and a champion of the #BringBackOurGirls movement in New York City.

This is the sixth time that advocates have protested the abduction of the over 200 girls, who were kidnapped on April 15, last year. The protests coincided with the 500th day of their WILL THE abduction, which sparked demonstrations in Nigeria CHIBOK GIRLS EVER and other parts of the world.

RETURN? Continued on page 2

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•Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode (2nd right) receiving pictures of the over 200 girls from a member of Bring Back Our Girls Group, Ms. Yemi Ransome-Kuti (right)...yesterday. Watching are Deputy Governor Mrs. Oluranti Adebule (2nd left) and rights activist Mrs. Ayo Obe (left).

PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES

•BRAND P13 •AGRIC P14 •INDUSTRY P16 •SPORTS P24 •POLITICS P43 •FOREIGN P59

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THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015

NEWS Defence Ministry joins arms purchase probe

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HE Federal Ministry of Defence was stopped from taking part in arms procurement, Permanent Secretary Ismaila Aliyu said yesterday According to him, the Services took over completely what should be part of the ministry’s responsibilities.

He believes the probe of arms purchases ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari will ensure cost effectiveness in future procurement.

Aliyu, addressing reporters at the State House after a meeting of top officials of the ministry with the President, said President Buhari had ap-

•‘We were stopped’ From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

proved the inclusion of a representative of the Ministry on the panel.

He said: “Mr President has asked that the Ministry of Defence be included in that committee. The ministry was very involved in the procurement in those years. So, definitely we have something to present to that committee.

“We are now part and parcel of that committee. The ministry is very excited that this committee has been formed.

“Apart from the administrative and financial support, it is to make sure that the policy thrust is being complied with, procurement of relevant equipment, according to specification of the armed forces, is being complied with and we are very happy for that.

“At the end of this, we hope to have procurement that will be value-added, cost effective and will meet our needs both locally and internationally.”

“Definitely the ministry was involved in the procurement of arms but in recent years the responsibility was shifted to

the services,” he added.

On the meeting with the President, he said: “This is a family meeting. We have briefed him. Mr. President is happy with the operations of the ministry, the operation of the fight against insurgency, there is substantial progress and achievements.

“He has asked us to continue with the momentum and he is very willing to support the needs of the armed forces.”

Aliyu said the new service chiefs are doing everything possible to win the war against Boko Haram before the three months deadline.

Buhari appoints SGF, Chief of Staff, others Continued from page 1

tor Ita Enang as Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), and Hon. Suleiman A. Kawu, SSA

to the President on National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives).

The appointments, the statement said, are with effect from yesterday.

The Secretary to the Gov-

ernment of the Federation hails from Hong Local Government Area, Adamawa State.

“He graduated from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1979 with a Bachelor

of Engineering Degree and worked with the Delta Steel Company, Aladja, Nigerian External Telecommunications Limited and Data Sciences Limited before estabContinued on page 63

•Catholic Archbishop of Abuja Diocese, John Cardinal Onaiyekan (middle), Chief Imam of Apo, Abuja Mosque , Mohammed Nur (right) with #BringBackOurGirls campaigners during a walk to mark 500 Days of the abduction of the Chibok Schoolgirls in PHOTO:ABAYOMI FAYESE Abuja...yesterday

NUC bans 57 illegal varsities

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LIST of 57 degreeawarding institutions, operating illegally in the country, has been released by the National Universities Commission (NUC).

According to the NUC Executive Secretary Prof. Julius Okojie, the certificates obtained from such institutions would not be accorded recognition for the purpose of election, participation in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and other important functions.

The commission also said investigation is ongoing another eight institutions. He warned that the owners risk prosecution and would be made to refund the fees collected from students if found guilty.

The ban by NUC is contained in the commission’s weekly bulletin, the latest of which was released on Tuesday.

Okojie warned that the patrons and those who subscribe to such illegal institusions do so at their own risk. “Certificates obtained from these sources will not be recognized for the purpose of NYSC, employment and further studies,” the NUC chief said in the bulletin.

The list includes: University of Accountancy and Management Studies; Christians of Charity American University of Science and Technology, Nkpor, Anambra State; University of Industry, Yaba, Lagos; University of applied Sciences and Management, Port Novo, Republic of Benin, or any of its other campuses in Nigeria; Blacksmith University, Awka and Volta University College, Ho, Volta Region, Ghana, or any of its other campuses in Nigeria.

Others are: Royal University Izhia, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State; Atlanta University, Anyigba, Kogi State; Sunday Adokpela University, Otada Adoka, Otukpo, Benue State; United Christian University,

Macotis Campus, Imo State; United Nigeria University College, Okija, Anambra State; Samuel Ahmadu University, Makurdi, Benue State; UNESCO University, Ndoni, Rivers State; Saint Augustine’s University of Technology, Jos, Plateau State; The International University, Missouri, USA, Kano and Lagos Study Centres and Columbus University, UK, operating anywhere in Nigeria.

Also affected are: Tiu International University, UK; Pebbles University, UK; London External Studies, UK; Pilgrims University; Lobi Business School, Makurdi, Benue State; West African Christian University; Bolta University College, Aba; JBC Seminary Inc. (Wukari Jubilee University) Kaduna; Westlan University, Esie, Kwara State and St. Andrews University College, Abuja.

Others are: EC- Council University, USA, Ikeja, Lagos Study Centre; Atlas University, Ikot Udoso Uko, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State; Concept College/University (London) Ilorin, Halifax Gateway University, Ikeja; Kingdom of Christ University, Abuja; Acada University, Akinlalu, Oyo State; Fifom University, Mbaise, Imo State; Houdegbe North American University Campuses in Nigeria; Atlantic International University, Okija, Anambra State; Open International University, Akure; Middle Belt University (North Central University), Otukpo and Leadway University, Ugheli in Delta State.

Also banned from operating are: Metro University, Dutse/ Bwari, Abuja; Southern University, Ngwuro Egeru (Afam) Ndoki, Rivers State; Olympic University, Nsukka, Enugu State; Federal College of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Abuja; Temple University; Irish University Business School, London; NationContinued on page 63

500 days after: Global anger over Chibok girls Ambode pledges support for BBOG

Continued from page 1

“We have an administration that clearly stated that it cares, but the representatives here do not model that. We’re highly disappointed. They need to start caring about the fate of these girls. Because until the Chibok girls are rescued, Nigeria is in serious trouble,” Prof. Okome added.

The organisers informed the consulate weeks in advance of the march, hoping to have a Nigerian official address the activists. But despite spending about an hour in front of the embassy, no official came out.

“I keep trying to be patient because Buhari appears to be doing the right thing, but there is a lack of connection when we invite Nigerian officials here to come and address us and nobody shows up,” says Evon Idahosa, another organ-

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VER 300 women, school pupils, activists and members of Chibok community resident in Lagos, joined a protest march which took off at the Obafemi Awolowo Way, Ikeja to press for the release of the girls alive by the Boko Haram group.

They chanted solidarity songs, displayed the portraits of the girls, placards and called on the relevant authorities to hasten action on the return of the abducted girls.

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode reiterated his administration’s commitment to the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) campaigns. He said the BBOG iser of the event and also a champion of the movement.

“We are running out of patience, and this is starting to turn into frustration,” she added.

By Musa Odoshimokhe

has kept hope alive for the missing girls.

Ambode said it was painful that the innocent schoolgirls were still in captivity after 500 days they were kidnapped, stressing that he was worried just like President Muhammadu Buhari was concerned.

He said: “Through your activities, the plight of the parents of the missing girls was not only brought to the fore, it has also kept hopes alive.

“We were very concerned and pained, when the girls were declared missing. We were more disturbed

One placard said: “The tears they shed daily is unimaginable.” Another said: “Do you know where your children are? We don’t! It’s day #500.”

Yet another said: “Enough is enough!”

After chanting for several minutes, “What do we want?

Bring back our girls!” the crowd counted from one to 219 with great agony. Some counted with tears as they thought about each child they had counted.

The advocates consist of a cross section of people, including Nigerians, Jews, whites, African Americans, and immigrants from various parts of the world.

Senior clerics, including John

about the reaction of the past administration which was globally condemned as inadequate.

“We thank God that President Buhari has vowed to bring the girls back. I want to say categorically, that my administration fully identifies with the position expressed by government, that the girls will be brought back alive.”

Speaking on behalf of the BBOG, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi said the group needed the government’s the support.

She said: “Our advocacy methodology include a daily sit out in Abuja, weekly sit-out in Lagos, Osogbo and

Cardinal Onayekan and Sheik Nura Khalid, the Chief Imam of Apo Mosque in Abuja, joined the march .

In Lagos, activists staged a walk in Ikeja the state capital which ended with a visit to the seat of government in Alausa where Governor Akinwunmi Ambode received them.

The mood at both events was sombre.

The Abuja group, after the march, tied red ribbons and converged on the Unity Fountain where they held a candle light procession.

The two religious leaders promised to unite against Boko Haram, saying people must be prepared to put their lives on the line to prove to the world

Continued on page 63

that Nigeria is prepared to fight against religious extremism.

Sheikh Khalid said Nigerians must tell the world that Boko Haram will never succeed, that they are not winning and Nigeria will win the war.

He added:”We as religious leaders are not doing enough; we must begin to do something, so that our girls will be back into our society and secondly, I can’t say that our religious leaders are doing enough when there is no security in our education system.

We must start the fight now.

We must start to fight for the soul of Nigeria and fight for the freedom of Chibok and other abducted people in Nigeria.

“I want to tell the world that we the Muslims are always ready to unite with our Christian brothers and sisters to fight for the soul of Nigeria. I want to challenge all the Imams that we should use our purpose to fight for the freedom of the Chibok girls. We must tell the world that Boko Haram will never succeed and they are not winning and Nigeria will win this battle. We are peace lovers and we shall die as peace workers. The Cardinal is the symbol of peace and we are working together to bring peace to Nigeria and we will never stop, until we die. Chibok girls are a symbol of peace in Nigeria because their freedom is what symbolises that we are living in peace in Nigeria. In as much as they are there, then Nigeria is at war, even if no one is killed, without bomb, without shooting guns. If Chibok girls are not back to their families, then Nigeria is at war.

“I want to make a promise; I am on my way to a journey in Saudi Arabia and when I come back, I am going to start a voice that you will want to hear; we are going to start telling the world that Boko is Wajib, the Continued on page 63

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THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015

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THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015

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NEWS In this concluding part of our series on the war on terror, ADEKUNLE YUSUF examines the role of porous borders and why the hefty defence budgets in the last few years made no difference, among others.

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•Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode (third left); Secretary to Lagos State Government (SSG) Mr. Tunji Bello (fourth right), 51st President, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Otunba Samuel Olufemi Deru (second left); Deputy Vice President, Mr. Ismaila Zakari (left), Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Mrs. Oluwatoyin AdegbujiOnikoyi (third right), Second Deputy Vice President, ICAN, Mr. Razak Jaiyeola (second right), ICAN Council member, Mr. Sunday Bammeke (right) and others when the ICAN team visited the governor at the Lagos House, Ikeja...on Wednesday.

PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES

•From left: Acting Registrar, Institute of Chartered Secretaries & Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN), Mrs Nkechi Onyenso; Deputy Vice Chancellor, Igbinedion University, Okada, Benin, Prof Alexander Odaibo; President, ICSAN, Dr. Nat Ofo, his wife, Faithful; ISCAN’s immediate past President, Dr Suleyman Ndanusa and President, Institute of Directors (IOD) Mr. Yemi Akeju at the investiture of Ofo as the Institute’s 25th President in Lagos...on Tuesday.

PHOTO DAYO ADEWUNMI

•From left: Director-General, Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Emeka Mba; Copley Partner, Seni Adio; General Manager, Commercial/Legal, MTN Nigeria, Oghenerume Rotimi and former Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Ernest Ndukwe, at the technical session on "Information and Communication Technology: A proven growthenabler" at the 55th annual general conference of the Nigerians Bar Association (NBA) in Abuja

•From left: Public Relations/Event Manager, Dufil Prima Food Plc, Tope Ashiwaju; the beneficiaries,Abari Idowu; Adekusibe Oluwatomigbekele; Kassim Idowu and the school centre coordinator, L.E.A.R.N, Surulere chapter,Mrs. Anu Adepoju, at the presentation of cheque by Dufil Prima Food Plc to support LEARN summer coaching initiative at New Era College, Gbaja, Surulere in Lagos...yesterday.

PHOTO: BOLA OMILABU

T is a riddle that every responsive administration will want to solve.

Like a modern-day paradox, the Nigerian military is suffering, perhaps, its worst arsenal depletion at a time the defence sector has enjoyed its heaviest allocations, prompting debates on what went wrong with the votes over the years. Apart from the $1 billion loan secured last year to prosecute the insurgency war by former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, a whopping N3 trillion has been sunk into the military in the last five years, when the insurgency crisis reached the depths of despair. Yet, insecurity haunts the land, a development that has prompted President Muhammadu Buhari to raise a 13-member panel to dig into the country’s weapon procurement from 2007 todate.

According to the Sweden-based Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), an independent global resource on conflict, armaments, arms control and disarmament, the war against terror in Nigeria has raised the country’s military expenditure to staggering levels in recent times, ranking it among the countries at war in Africa. Among other things, SIPRI said Nigeria’s security spending got bloated in the last five years, a time that coincided with the depolyment of soldiers in the anti-terrorism battle.

In its 2013 report, SIPRI adjudged Nigeria’s military spending as the sixth highest in Africa, adding that Africa’s most populous nation competed with the expenditures of countries like Algeria ($9.3 billion), South Africa ($4.4 billion), Angola ($4.1 billion), Morocco ($3.4 billion) and Libya ($2.9 billion).

Going by the yearly budgetary votes, the defence budget since 2008 when the late President Umaru Yar’Adua earmarked “N444.6 billion for security and the Niger Delta” has always received the lion’s share in appropriations. With a hefty N968.127 billion allocated to defence in 2014, constituting 20 per cent of N4.962 trillion budget for the year, Nigeria probably attempted to demonstrate its seriousness to curtail the insurgency and overhaul its security apparatus.

The military spending, however, reached an unprecedented level in 2013, when former President Jonathan allocated N1.055 trillion to the sector.

Even in 2012, N921 billion was appropriated for the defence sector, a decision that drew criticisms from the various segments of the society, especially from the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Nasir el-Rufai, now the governor of Kaduna State. He was interrogated by security agents for his criticisms of the huge defence expenditures, which he said was shrouded in secrecy.

Worried that there was no justification for the huge allocations, Lagos lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) joined the fray last year. Unhappy about the parlous state of the military’s preparedness in the face of escalating insurgency, Falana, who raised questions about the lack of transparency in military expenditures, prodded the National Assembly to audit defence spendings in the last four years to ascertain what actually happened to the huge votes. Insisting that it will be in the interest of the country to find out what went wrong with military allocations, he argued against the practice of sending ill-equipped troops to face terrorist.

He asked: “It is in a national daily today that whereas at some time we used to have about 250,000 soldiers and now they are barely 100,000 and they are ill-equipped and ill-motivated. This is an area that the government must address with urgency. I am disturbed to read this report, because in the last four years, over N3 trillion has been budgeted for the defence of

the country, apart from the payment of allowances. What has happened to the funds?”

Not done, the human rights’ crusader also urged the National Assembly to reject the request by the last administration to secure $1 billion loan to fight insurgency, until Nigerians got satisfactory explanations on how previous budgets were applied.

“The request made by President Jonathan for approval of the Senate for a loan of $1 billion to fight the Boko Haram menace should be rejected in its entirety. Between 2010 and 2013, over N3 trillion was budgeted for defence. Under the Appropriation Bill signed into law on May 23 this year, 20 per cent of the entire N4.962 trillion budget (representing N968.127 billion) was earmarked for defence. The Senate should find out what happened to the defence vote in the middle of the year to warrant a supplementary budget of N160 billion,” Falana said.

Porous borders, difficult terrains Even if the Federal Government musters the political will to adequately equip the military and infuse more transparency into the disbursement of defence votes, other hurdles still stare the cnation in the face.

According to military pundits, the dreaded Sambisa Forest in Borno State, the Boko Haram stronghold, poses challenges to aerial search – unknown to members of the public. Part of the reasons for this is that the mysterious forest covers over 60,000 square kilometre (about 23,000 square miles), more than twice the size of Rwanda, a country peopled by estimated 10.5 million. The rebels, familiar with the terrain of the weird forest, could deplore their knowledge to maximum advantage, whereas, detecting and monitoring what goes on in the ‘evil’ enclave by conventional troops is herculean.

Besides the difficulties posed by the topography, experts also believe a nexus exist between the twin-evil of terrorism/human trafficking and porous borders.

The immediate past ComptrollerGeneral of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), David Parradang, recently diagnosed the insecurity migraine afflicting the country, fingering the porous nature of the borders as one of the flaws.

Last year, while addressing the National Political Reform Conference Committee on Immigration, he said though the country has only 84 approved land border control posts, designated in the 1980s after the bloody Maitatsine riots, there are more than 1,400 illegal entry and exit points to Nigeria’s vast borders. The number of illegal routes is 100 times more than the approved routes. The NIS chief was not alone in his line of reasoning.

Abba Moro, the immediate past Interior Minister, corroborated Parradang.

Moro told a gathering that over 1,499 illegal and 84 legal points have been officially identified as entry routes into the country. He was inadvertently acknowledging that the porous nature of the border permits illicit transnational arms trafficking, among other national security headaches.

According to experts, who spoke with The Nation, porosity of the borders contributes to insurgency as illegal routes offer a lifeline to external support from transnational groups regarding arms and ammunition movement, training, radicalisation and funding of extremists. Investigations have shown that Nigeria has a land border of well over 4,000 square kilometres, running from Malaville, north of the Republic of Benin, stretching through Kebbi, Sokoto, Katsina, Jigawa, Yobe and Borno states and then to Cameroon, up till Mfon (Mfum) in Cross River State, bordering Cameroon.

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015

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NEWS

•Troops in combat gear

Boko Haram: The trouble with the war (2) Records show that Nigeria’s borders with Cameroon cover 1,690 kilometres in the East, Niger (1,497 kilometres) in the North, Benin (773 kilometres) in the West and Chad (87 kilometres) in the Northeast, so vast that it constitutes a nightmare for security agents to effectively police, thus making Nigeria a safe haven for terrorists, traffickers and criminals, who operate in the country and literally disappear into the thin air.

And to worsen the situation, most of the border areas are either mountainous or in the jungle, all having porosity as a common feature. For instance, in Adamawa State alone, there are just five control posts, but there are also over 80 illegal routes. Because of the leaky nature of these borders, locals in the border communities told The Nation that willing emigrants from Niger, Chad and Cameroon can venture into Nigeria through more than 10,000 unmanned routes since these routes have no gates that can make policing easy. According to them, it is through these unmanned borders that smugglers, peddlers, traffickers and insurgents troop into the country, un-

War winnable with transparency, says U.S. official

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UNITED States (U.S) official blamed the inability of troops to tame the Boko Haram extremists on lack of transparency in the disbursement of miliatry votes.

Speaking last year, the U.S. Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights, Sarah Sewall, berated what she described as lack of transparency in the application of security votes in the country.

She said: “Pervasive corruption undermines the government’s fight against Boko Haram. The Federal G overnment has one of sub-Saharan Africa’s largest security budgets, with $5.8 billion dedicated to security in its molested, especially from Sudan, Central African Republic, Mali and Libya, among other African countries.

Through hundreds of unmanned routes, it is gathered that people who know the terrains and routes can get in and out of the country from Cameroon alone in trucks and and unchecked luggage.

A similar challenge plagues the country at its borders in Borno State axis. In fact, of the 27 local government areas in the Northeast state, about nine are said to be directly connected with

proposed 2014 budget.

“Yet, corruption prevents supplies as basic as bullets and transport vehicles from reaching the front lines of the struggle against Boko Haram. Morale is low and desertions are common among soldiers in Nigeria’s 7th Army Division.

“For example, on May 14, 7th Division soldiers reportedly fired at their commander’s car, complaining that he had failed to ensure they received the necessary equipment. As this incident shows, Nigeria will need to seriously tackle corruption if it is to succeed in stamping out Boko Haram,” she said.

neighbouring countries through unmanned borders, with many of Nigerian villages serving as access routes. In the southern parts of the state, locals said it is easier to cross over to Cameroon from some remote villages and mountainous areas in Gwoza Local Government Area to do business than to come to Maiduguri, the state capital. At the height of insurgency, some Boko Haram victims that were recently released by Nigerian troops told The Nation that thousands of people crossed over to

Cameroon without any hindrance, settling in Kirawa, Ashigashiya and Barawa communities. Many were also said to have mingled freely with the indigenes in communities such as Zaga, Fage, Bula Batube, Ngilewa, Kabbal Balram, Ngurno, Baga, Kawwa, Barwati, Bisagana, Arage, Mitile, Mallam Fatori, Kadi, Asagar, Gashagar, Foguwa and Galjiya, among others.

However, even long before Boko Haram became a national problem, smuggling in the leaky borders had

The way forward

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S far as the ongoing war against Boko Haram is concerned, there is no other news that could be cheering news to Nigerians and the international community as the release the more than 200 schoolgirls, who were abducted from their dormitory in Chibok, Borno State, in April last year. Having waited for more than sixteen months, the world seems to have grown impatient, as everyone appears to be waiting with baited breath to receive the news about the girls’ return from the ‘Valley of the shadow of death.’ Even if the military and allied forces spring a surprise, experts believe that there is still a high hurdle to scale before Nigeria and its neighbours can be rid of terrorism.

And the reasons adduced for this are legion.

All odds weigh against the Nigerian troops because the armed forces are mainly trained for conventional warfare and peacekeeping operations. Thus, asking the troops to contain an unconventional war is like looking for a needle in the haystack, one military expert said. Although, the new leaderships of the military, with the Service chiefs as the arrowheads, have been giving the insurgency war their all, having organised ad hoc trainings for some of its cadets in counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations in a bid to live up to new exigencies, military experts say it is still a dicey situation.

Erswhile Chief of Defence of Staff (CDS) Gen. Martin Luther Agwai, expressed doubts if the military force alone can eliminate the deadly Boko Haram group.

“You can never solve any of these problems with military solutions… It is a political issue; it is a social issue; it is an economic issue, and until these issues are addressed, the military can never give you a solution,” he warned.

Long before the insurgency crisis snowballed into a national and regional migraine, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, himself a retired general, had expressed similar sentiments about how to resolve the terror imbroglio. A vocal critic of the last administration, the former President recommended a carrot and stick solution.

Also doubtful of a quick end to the terror war is Prof Osita Agbu of the Nigerian Institute for International Affairs (NIIA), who said with a tinge of gloom that “terrorism is hardly defeatable in reality, while armed insurgency is.”

But unfortunately, the Boko Haram challenge to Nigeria’s national security is a mix of both terrorism and insurgency, added the erudite scholar. “The Boko Haram phenomenon is the culmination of our lackadaisical attitude to serious matters in the country. For several years in the country, we have had unwarranted jungle and barbaric killings in certain parts of the country, but more especially in the North and the vari-

ous governments, which had the authority and instruments of coercion either ignored or did very little to stop these violent uprisings and send out a strong message that in a multi-ethnic society such as ours, we cannot allow this to happen too frequently. Well, the situation has now gone beyond this, and we are now responding, but it is already too late… I hope we can recover from this,” he said.

Like other analysts, Gabriel Adetunji Ajayi, a soldier who retired as a colonel after 30 •Gen. Agwai years in service, expects Nigerians to be more patient with efforts to tame Boko Haram, believing that there may not be a quick fix.

His words: “The only thing is that one should not allow insurgency to start. Once it starts, it is very difficult to end because there is no front line, there is no rear, no boundary or any forward edge, no battle area and there is no man’s land.

“There is no control area, the insurgence can come anywhere. They mix with the people like a fish in the water. There is no uniform; there is

always been intractable, which successive administrations have had to grapple with. The problem had blocked the implementation of many laudable economic policies in the past. Going by a recent World Bank report, a staggering N750 billion ($5 billion) worth of assorted goods are smuggled yearly into Nigeria through its borders with Benin Republic alone, representing about 15 per cent of the total smuggled goods through those routes. The same World Bank report also claims that over $400 million (N6 billion), representing about 25 per cent of the total annual revenue collected by the Nigerians Customs Service (NCS), is lost through nefarious smuggling across the sub-regional borders. The migraine posed by the nation’s porous borders persists as a result of poor law enforcement and inadequate security manpower, compared to the vast areas to be policed. And as unchecked influx of persons and goods leaves the local manufacturing as well as the national economy with crippling consequences, it also undermines the security of the citizenry and internal tranquility aspirations.

Unfortunately, the menace of leaky borders is not unknown to the authorities. David Mark, the immediate past Senate President, linked the influx of terrorists, mercenaries and other armed groups to the porous borders, saying an amendment of the Border Communities Development Bill would tighten security in the nation’s borders. He recalled that the border agency was created to improve the social and economic lives of Nigerians living in various settlements, villages and towns, spread across 21 states, but he said inadequate funding has largely paralysed the agency’s activities. Also, the former Chairman, Senate Joint Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, States and Local Government Administration, Senator Umaru Dahiru, advised that the border towns be put on the first line of defence against external threats and insecurity. He urged the executive arm of government to pay close attention to the border communities.

He said: “It has been argued that a large number of perpetrators of crimes in the country are not Nigerians but criminal elements, who take advantage of the country’s porous borders to migrate into the country to cause mayhem.

“There is the need to strengthen the borders to curb the menace of crime, infiltration and smuggling of small arms into our country.”

Sadly, nothing significant was achieved in this regard till the last administration left office on May 29.

no code of conduct and there is no law guiding them. They only believe in a principle and a doctrine guiding them, that if they die, they will go to heaven. How do you what to arrest a suicide bomber who is ready to die?”

Does it mean all hope is lost? Not so, said Prof Agbu, who explained that though the military option may not necessarily win the war in the long term, it is the appropriate response required at this point in time. “While the carrot and stick approach is desirable, in a situation in which we strongly suspect that Boko Haram has significant external funding, we should not hesitate to use as much force as possible to stop the senseless killings. After that, we can continue the dialogue. With superior intelligence, technology and firepower, we can overcome the insurgency in no distant time.

The angry and dissident lone terrorist with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) may be more difficult to completely stop, but at least, the mass senseless killings of unarmed civilians in remote villages can be stopped,” he opined.

•Additional reports by Sina Fadare and Precious Igbonwelundu

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THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015

NEWS

APC: Rivers PDP lawmakers deceitful

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) has described as deceitful the petition to President Muhammadu Buhari by the 16 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers from Rivers State on the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, saying those obstructing justice are trying to play the victim.

In a statement in Abuja yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said despite the tribunal’s order, the Rivers PDP and the INEC colluded to ensure that the Rivers APC neither gets the certified true copies of requested documents nor inspect materials used for the election. ‘’Because we are a lawabiding party, unlike the PDP and their INEC collaborators, we reported this to the tribunal, which said it was not up to it to enforce its earlier order. This was why we reported to the security agencies, especially the Police and the Department of State Services (DSS). ‘’Although the inspector general of Police intervened to ensure the tribunal’s order was carried out, the Rivers INEC still refused. This was why the DSS, seeking to prevent a breakdown of law and order resulting from the in-

•Ruling party accuses legislators of obstructing tribunal

’

The PDP has always been a lawless party. This is why they think others are like them. In pursuing our petition at the tribunal, we do not seek any favour beyond what the law prescribes. But we will not fold our arms and allow anyone to bury us under the ruble of injustice. We will use all constitutional and legal means to ensure that justice prevails,’’ it warned transigence of the Rivers INEC, prevailed upon them to carry out the tribunal’s order. Despite these efforts, the order has still not been complied with,’’ it said.

APC also denied that the military was being used to intimidate anyone, saying the party only subpoenaed the soldiers, who played a major role in the elections not only in Rivers but in the Niger Delta, in view of the violence unleashed by the PDP on APC supporters before, during and after the elections. ‘’Nigerians can now see there is no truth in the peti-

‘

tion by the Rivers PDP federal lawmakers that the DSS and the military were being used to obstruct justice. What the petitioners are seeking to do is to pull the wool over the eyes of Nigerians,’’ the party said.

It said it was not a secret that the PDP allegedly rigged the elections not only in Rivers but also in Akwa Ibom, where the party and the state INEC had also refused to allow the APC access to electoral materials, and where indeed vital documents were allegedly destroyed. ‘’Knowing full well that

they allegedly cooked up the figures, and that their figures cannot stand serious scrutiny, the Rivers PDP has resorted to using all tricks in the books to delay the proceedings at the tribunal, hoping that by so doing, the statutory 180 days we have to prove our case will expire. ‘’It was for the same reason that they (Rivers PDP and INEC) tried to goad us to file contempt charges against them for refusing to obey the tribunal’s order. They had hoped that by filing such charges, valuable time would have been wasted,’’ APC said.

The party urged the 16 PDP lawmakers to tell their people to stop obstructing justice by allowing the Rivers APC access to election materials, instead of writing frivolous petitions and blaming the victims for their lawlessness. ‘’The PDP has always been a lawless party. This is why they think others are like them. In pursuing our petition at the tribunal, we do not seek any favour beyond what the law prescribes. But we will not fold our arms and allow anyone to bury us under the ruble of injustice. We will use all constitutional and legal means to ensure that justice prevails,’’ it warned.

F

ORMER Abia State Governor and leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, said yesterday that the APC government, under President Muhammadu Buhari, is doing everything to take the country to a new direction where honesty and patriotism reign.

Onu, who spoke when he received a delegation from the National Democratic Institute (NDI) at his Abuja home, also said the three legacy parties formed the APC because of the realisation that the nation was in need of change.

The former governor said the formation of the APC gave Nigerians hope, adding that today, the APC had grown from a party to a mass movement of change.

He said under President Buhari Nigeria would rediscover its lost virtues, adding Nigeria would play a greater role in the search for global peace and prosperity.

While praising the NDI for deepening democracy across the world, Onu said the APC and the Federal Government would, in future, establish an institute, such as the NDI, to play the same role, noting that nations embracing democracy hardly go to war.

Onu said: “It is clear the President is taking Nigeria to a new direction, and this is important because we are rediscovering values that make Nigeria a great nation.

“Values that were over-

Monarchs’ll get constitutional role, says Dogara

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HE House of Representatives will amend the 1999 Constitution to assign roles to monarchs, the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, has said.

He said the contributions of the traditional institution to nation building deserved constitution backing.

Dogara spoke in a congratulatory message to the new Emir of Misau, Alhaji Ahmed Suleiman.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Turaki Hassan, the Speaker recalled that such role was contained in the amended constitution by the Seventh Assembly, which was not accented to by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

He said the amendment would be revisited and sent

From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

to President Muhammadu Buhari for accent.

The message reads: ‘’The Speaker assured that the House, under his leadership, will uphold the tenets of the traditional institution considering its contributions to peaceful co-existence and promotion of cultural values in the society.

“He said the House will use the instrumentality of the amendment to provide a constitutional role for traditional rulers in view of their roles in maintaining peace in their dormain and the country.

“He said such roles was provided for in the last constitution review in the Seventh Assembly but was not assented to by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

“However, the Speaker said following the amendment to relevant House Rules on the lifespan of unsigned bills in the last Assembly, the House will reconsider the amendment and send it to President Muhammadu Buhari for his assent”.

While congratulating the emir, Dogara urged him to emulate the good virtues of his predecessor.

“The Speaker called on the emir to emulate and build on the legacies of the late Emir Muhammadu Manga III. “He said the former monarch worked to ensure that peace and harmony prevail among the diverse people of his domain, which remained one of the most peaceful in the country.

“May I enjoin you to emulate the legacies and founda-

•Dogara

tion laid by the late emir to bear on your reign as well as make peace and unity the focal point of your stewardship”, Dogara added.

From Tony Akowe, Abuja

looked; values that a society needs to become a great. Values, such as honesty and patriotism. Nigeria was born a great nation and did great things in the past and there’s so much expectation, not just in Africa but the world over.

“We believe that the new direction will make Nigeria play a vital role in the search for global peace and prosperity. I believe we will do what the NDI is doing, I am sure the APC will get an institute to do the same because we have seen that nations that embrace democracy hardly go to war.’’

Leader of the delegation, Nana Ato Dadzie, from Ghana, said they were in the country to assess the nation’s transition programme, noting that many African countries had transited from one government to the other, especially when handing over to a different party.

Dadzie said “without a sound transition arrangement, a sound election can be botched. In many countries, transition continues over and over again because sound foundations are not laid.

“Our mandate here is to look at the operations on the ground, what exist in Nigeria and to advise the NDI headquarters.”

U.S. building pharmaceutical warehouse in Lagos

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•From left: Adamawa State Governor Muhammadu Bindo; Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha and Kebbi State Governor AbdulAzeez Yari during the Progressive Governors Forum meeting in Yola...yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Buhari giving Nigeria a new deal, says Onu

HE United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM), are building a modern pharmaceutical warehouse in Lagos, with an innovative technology called a ‘warehouse-in-a-box’.

USAID’s Country Director Mr Mike Harvey said the project, which costs N1 billion ($5 million), would double the storage capacity of the existing warehouse and make it easier for the Federal Ministry of Health to buy, store, track and distribute drugs to health care centres.

He spoke at the warehouse’s ground breaking at the Federal Medical Store in Lagos.

Harvey said over 7,000 health facilities across Nigeria would receive commodities from the two new warehouses.

Besides, the warehouses would also reduce the cost and time of transporting live-saving medicines and equipment to all parts of the country.

He said: “Building this warehouse in Lagos aligns with one of the six central technical components of the Federal Government’s ‘Saving One Million Lives Initiative’.

Harvey said the U.S. government provided N800 million ($4million) while GFATM contributed N200 million ($1million), adding that Nigeria provided the land.

The U.S. government, Harvey said, was trying to ensure that expectant mothers access drug at health clinics.

Acting U.S. Consul-General in Nigeria Dehab Ghebreab said the facility would be part of a network of warehouses the U.S. government was supporting through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in Lagos.

She said a similar project was inaugurated in Abuja in

By Wale Adepoju

February.

“Our investment here will help ensure that Nigeria has the warehouse infrastructure that meets international standard to efficiently store medicines and other pharmaceutical products to provide good health care and save lives.

“As a mother, I understand and appreciate the importance of accessing quality medicine.

If my child gets ill at night or in school, I want my child to be seen immediately by a health practitioner or a doctor at a health facility and be given medicine needed to cure him. I am sure every parent wants that.

“I also want to know that my neighbour, who is in labour, gets drugs that prevent postpartum haemorrhage (blood loss after child-bearing); that her newborn baby will be protected from cord infection.

Additionally, I want to know that the young family across the street has bed-nets they need to prevent malaria,” she said.

She said the inauguration of the facility would save many lives, adding that good national health was the foundation that accelerates national development.

Mrs. Ghebreab said many clinics experience shortages.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Mr Linus Awute, said storage of medicines had been a challenge for the country.

According to him, medicines and other health commodities were special items that require appropriate storage conditions.

He said the stores in Lagos serve as the only central storage hub for health products procured by the ministry, local and international agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working in partnership with the ministry.

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015

7

NEWS Diversification our top priority, says Buhari

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•President Muhammadu Buhari and Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese Rev. Fr. Mathew Hassan Kukah at the State House in Abuja...yesterday.

Ndume: why I visited Buhari, Tinubu

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ENATE Leader Mohammed Ali Ndume yesterday confirmed that he visited President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

He denied that the visits had to do with the leadership crisis in the Senate.

Ndume spoke with reporters in Abuja.

He noted that the Senate under Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki had put the leadership tussle behind it.

He said the main concentration of the Senate now was to support the Buhari administration to tackle the problems confronting the country.

The Borno South Senator claimed that he had been visiting Buhari and Tinubu on regular basis in the last 12 years because they were his

•Admits procedural errors in probe of EFCC From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor

political mentors.

He said: “On my reported visit to Buhari, I am the leader of the Eight Senate. My duties are: One, to lead the legislative business of the Senate; Two, to prepare the schedules of the Senate, and Three, to liaise with other committees.

“I am supposed to be the presenter of all government bills to the Presidency. So, in fact I am supposed to be in the Villa almost every day. My going to Villa is not supposed to be a big deal.

“Of course, I go to the Villa frequently, because we compare notes on bills that are going to come, including on these relationships.”

Ndume said other senators are also supposed to go to the Presidential Villa on personal basis and to interact with the President.

He noted: “A newspaper (The Nation) reported yesterday that I was seen at Asiwaju’s place. Asiwaju is one of my mentors and of course the President, too. I have two political mentors: the President and Asiwaju.

“I have been going there before now for the past 12 years.

So, my going to the Villa is not a new thing and so also is my visit to Tinubu. He is one of the people I respect and appreciate.

“During his 60th birthday, he invited 60 people that were close to him and I was one of them.”

On the controversial investigation of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,(EFCC) Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, Ndume admitted that the Senate Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions Committee had committed procedural errors.

He said that steps would be taken to correct the errors He said: “ I think there were some procedural lapses there (Lamorde’s probe) but I don’t want to believe it was deliberate because there is no way you can cut corners or use the institution of the Senate to settle personal scores, it doesn’t work that way.

“After all, whatever decision you take has to be considered on the floor of the Senate and it has to be passed.

Rivers: ‘Probe of N60b sale welcome’

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HE Patriots Alliance (TPA) yesterday said the investigation of the N60billion proceeds from the sale of some equity in Rivers State Power Project was a welcome development.

It said the probe by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission would put an end to premature and endless name calling in Rivers State.

It, however, said the perpetual injunction obtained by a former Governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili, might stall the present investigation.

It said the perpetual injunction had stopped security agencies, including the EFCC, from investigating the Governor of Rivers State for

From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

corruption The TPA made its position known in a statement by Mr. Solomon Okocha.

The statement said: “On behalf of the good people of Rivers State and Nigeria at large, The Patriots Alliance (TPA), commends the EFCC as it commences investigation into the controversial petition by a pro - PDP body - Integrity Group, against former Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, bordering on issues pertaining the proceeds of sale of Rivers State government assets.

“We are also happy that the EFCC has written to the Rivers State finance ministry, Ac-

countant General demanding details of contracts. We believe that this move will put an end to the premature and endless name calling in Rivers State.

“But in view of the judgement procured by former Governor Peter Odili from Justice Buba of the Federal High Court, where he granted a perpetual injunction stopping security agencies, including the EFCC, from investigating the Governor of Rivers State for corruption, we are afraid that this present investigation is dead on arrival.

“We understand that EFCC had appealed the ruling in the Court of Appeal; but eight years after, the court is yet to hear the case.

“We are also aware that it is the same order of perpetual injunction that stalled EFCC’s corruption and abuse of public office case against Governor Nyesom Wike.

“We hereby urge the EFCC as a matter of necessity and public good, to approach the Court of Appeal to set aside that obnoxious perpetual injunction as soon as possible.

“It is also necessary that the judiciary demonstrates a determination to combat corruption or frivolous corruption allegations by the quick dispensation of corruption cases at the courts.

“Where cases are allowed to linger in courts, it allows for the continued violation of the rights of the accused persons.”

RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has said his administration will stop the dependence on crude oil exports for economic survival.

He spoke yesterday while receiving the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Nigeria, Mr. Fahad Abdullah Sefyan, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

A statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said Buhari affirmed his administration’s commitment to foster the development of the non-oil sectors.

He said: “For more than 30 years, Nigeria has depended on oil as its major source of revenue at the expense of agriculture and the non-oil sector which could be the mainstay of our economy.

“As oil exporting countries facing similar challenges due to the down turn in the international price of crude oil, we should be working closer together.

“Saudi Arabia has done excellently in manufacturing, building of infrastructure and exploration of solid minerals

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

and I believe that greater bilateral cooperation between us in this regard will be mutually beneficial,” the President told the new ambassador of Saudi Arabia.

He also said in keeping with his commitment to the accelerated development of Nigeria’s non-oil sector, the Federal Government would ensure that all pending agreements on trade and economic relations with other countries were speedily concluded and signed.

Buhari, who also received the Ambassador of Turkey, Mr. Hakan Cakil and the Ambassador of Sudan, Mr. Ibrahim Bushra Mohammed, hailed Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Sudan for their cooperation with Nigeria in the war against terrorism.

The President restated his conviction that the war against terrorism in Nigeria and other countries could only be won with greater and more effective international collaboration.

NSA calls for review of ECOWAS policy on small, light weapons From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

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ATIONAL Security Adviser (NSA) Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd) yesterday called for a review of the policy on small arms and light weapons management within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

He argued that a review of the management of the exemption procedure on small arms and light weapons (SALWs) would greatly enhance the collective fight against its proliferation in the sub-region.

Monguno spoke at the training of National Focal Persons on the exemption to the ECOWAS Convention on SALWs. Monguno, who was represented by Col Isaac Idu, said: “The need to review the current management of the exemption procedure by member states and recommend options for an effective and efficient control of transfer of SALWs in the country cannot be over-emphasised.”

International music conference takes off in Lagos

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RGANISTS, choirmasters, music teachers, instrumentalists and stakeholders in church music will converge on Lagos from August 31 - September 5 for the annual international music course conference.

Organised by the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) Nigeria, the conference holds at the Faith plaza CMS Grammar School, Bariga Lagos.

Former Director of RSCM in Northern England and Scotland, Gordon Appleton

and Director of Music at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church London, Paul Carey, will be the facilitators at the conference.

A statement by the Country Director of RSCM, Mr. Sunday Olawuwo, said the training would cover critical areas, such as choir management skills, choral conducting, piano techniques, contemporary and gospel music, among others.

The grand finale concert holds on September 5 at Our Saviour’s Church Tafawa Balewa Square Lagos by 5pm.

The change Nigerians need, by Osibanjo, Dickson

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IGERIAN Guild of Editors (NGE) yesterday began its 11th Annual Conference in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, with a verdict that Nigerians expect to see improvement in all aspects of their lives from the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Governor Seriake Dickson, who hosted and declared the event open and the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, who was the special guest of honour , called for attitudinal change from the leaders and the led.

In his welcome address, the Acting President, NGE, Gar-

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

ba Muhammad said: “As a people we want a nation that is deserving of that name in every sense of the word. We want a country that we would be proud to identify with wherever we go. We want to have a country where basic ingredients of development such as stable power supply, reliable and safe transportation system and independent judiciary are taken for granted as our inalienable rights.

“But more than anything else, we want a country that is free from threats whether internal or external. We want to

see convicting performance from our armed forces and corresponding security agencies that they are up to the task of protecting the country all times.

“The insurgency in the northeastern Nigeria is no doubt one of the biggest sources of concern for every Nigerian especially those who are directly affected by its brutal consequences.

“We want to be persuaded that our government can guarantee our security in line with its cardinal obligation which is to ensure the protection of life and property of every citizen. Beyond the in-

surgency, murder and armed robbery, kidnapping and other acts of violent crimes are on the rise especially in the southern part of the country.

We want to see fundamental changes in the way the government tackles these dangers.”

Dickson advocated a change that would lead to total diversification of the country’s economy from oil and gas.

He said the story of the dry oil well in Oloibiri, where oil was first discovered in commercial quantity in Ogbia Local Government Area , is a sad reminder that oil and gas were wasted.

He called for political tolerance, saying politicians need to know the difference between politics and development.

He said after the election, politicians, no matter their political leanings, should rally round President Buhari to move the country forward.

Dickson regretted that the All Progressives Congress (APC) while in the opposition during the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan failed to give the government sufficient cooperation in its war against insecurity.

Osibanjo, who was repre-

sented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Dr. Folashade Yemi, said Nigerian media must be carried along in the efforts of the government to move Nigeria forward.

He said: “Change occurs when we decide to take control of what we have full right over, instead of yelling control over what we don’t.”

President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr. Waheed Odusile solicited the cooperation of the guild in the areas of journalists’ welfare, elimination of quacks from the profession and regulating the social media.

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THE NATION FRIDAY AUGUST 28, 2015

NEWS

•From front row: Senator ’Gbenga Ashafa (fourth right); Ayobami Olusesi, Folorunsho Muhyideen; General Secretary, Law Students Society of Lagos State University (LASU) Kamilu Oluwatosin ; Epoyun Abisola; the society’s president, Ayeyemi Taofeek; Social Director Soberu Al- Akeem; spokesperson Salami Aishat; and Omolaja Damilola, when the students visited Ashafa at the National Assembly, Abuja.

Man’s body found in Ondo by neighbours

APC to Fayose: blackmail won’t save you E A KITI State All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned the alleged “spate of blackmail and lies” by Governor Ayodele Fayose to cause confusion in the party and ridicule its leaders.

Its spokesman, Taiwo Olatunbosun, said this in a statement yesterday while reacting to media reports that former Speaker of the State House of Assembly Femi Bamisile begged Fayose to help facilitate his defection to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The statement said the report was concocted by Fayose and his “discredited media aides” to cause confusion, ignite anger among APC members and put the former speaker in a weak position that would hurt his plan to strengthen the state APC. Olatunbosun, who noted that Bamisile’s rising popularity had sent jitters down Fay-

ose’s spine, added that the governor’s past was “haunting him, making him feel unsafe over the fate that awaited him in the new dispensation, where the rule of law works”.

“We are not surprised that Fayose has resorted to blackmail and lies to cause disaffection within the APC ranks as we have seen recently.

“He started with me, lying that I was afflicted with a strange ulcer and that a spiritualist had advised me to beg him (the governor) and return to the PDP before the sore could be healed,” he said.

The APC spokesman added that Fayose allegedly stagemanaged a meeting with some traditional rulers to lure Bamisile into attendance in a popular hotel, where the governor was hiding and surprisingly burst into the meeting pleading with the former Speaker to return to the PDP, but which the ex-Speaker turned down

only for Fayose to turn story against Bamisile to the dismay of the “innocent man”.

“Few minutes after meeting, the news was all over the world that Bamisile had agreed to return to the PDP after meeting with Fayose.

“This is the same way Fayose and his aides forged President Muhammadu Buhari’s medical report claiming that he had cancer only for the management of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital to dismiss the document as forgery, just as he lied during the campaign that he saw Buhari on sick bed when in actual fact the man was in far away London delivering a lecture.

“This same Fayose blackmailed Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) by pasting his posters as a governorship aspirant in 2006, even when the elder statesman never contemplated any elective position,” he explained.

The APC spokesman noted that the governor also blackmailed the state’s Chief Judge, Mr. Justice Ayodeji Daramola, alleging the he collected N200 million bribe from an APC chieftain to deliver guilty verdict in his election eligibility case. He alleged that Fayose was behind the fake story that former Governor Kayode Fayemi built a university in Ghana, which up till date, had neither a name nor location.

“Because he has no plan for the development of Ekiti, Fayose has been consistently lying in the last 10 months that Fayemi left N86 billion debt only for the Debt Management Office to declare that Fayemi actually left a debt of N18.8 b.

“He once denied collecting N2 billion ecological fund, but owned up when he got a hint that we were about investigating this through the FOI law

Aregbesola: Osun moving close to founders’ dream

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SUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has said that the state under his watch in the last four years is steadily moving close to the dreams of its founding fathers.

He spoke yesterday in a congratulatory message by his media aide, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, as the state marked the 24th anniversary of its creation.

Aregbesola pledged his commitment to rapid growth of “all parts of the state”.

The governor said his government would not relent in building an indepen-

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

dent, virile, virtuous and productive Yoruba state.

Aregbesola, who also promised to bring government closer to the people, said: “We are irrevocably committed to a development paradigm that will lift our state to compete with any proud human habitation anywhere in the world.

“We appreciate the fact that the masses, who are the focus of our development

strategies, identify the reasons behind our many efforts.

“For example, our ambitious urban renewal project is aimed at transforming to the 21 century modern cities with life changing infrastructure in place.

“Projects such as the Oranmiyan New Town, a Central Business District, organised transportation system aided by road networks for the purpose, a functional emergency response scheme in health, security and trans-

L

•Governor receives 51st ICAN President He hailed the ICAN for appointing a chapter for Lagos State, assuring the team that like his predecessors in office, his administration would always support ICAN. The governor said: “We do boast of a great number of chartered accountants in Nigeria. I am also an example that comes with a lot of mantra ICAN stood for. I cannot, but say I am a very proud member of the institution.

I can say whatever I gained from the institute is what I am doing as the governor and like my predecessors, my administration would always support ICAN.” He appealed to the ICAN President to help implore more members to come to into government, saying that he was personally happy to be identified with ICAN as a sitting governor, especially, when ICAN celebrates its 50 years of existence.

Ambode added that as a student of good governance, his administration would maintain open credible and transparent government.

The ICAN President told the governor that he was in the state to congratulate him on his success at the polls as well as to commiserate with the governor on

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

THIRTY-three-year-old man, Gbenga Ogundana, was yesterday found dead in his room in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

Ogundana, who lived in a rented apartment at Orisunmibare Street, Cultural Centre area, on Ondo Road, was said to have lost his job.

His decomposing body was reportedly taken out of the room by officials of the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Bureau (CIIB) of the state police command. Unpleasant odour coming from the late Ogundana’s room made residents to raise an alarm.

It was learnt that the deceased was seen last on Monday by his neighbours after he returned from work. A source said his remains have been deposited at the morgue of the State Specialist Hospital, Akure, for post-mortem.

Police spokesman Wole Ogodo, who confirmed the incident, said they have started investigation into the matter.

Ooni: Giesi family endorses Adedoyin

By Emmanuel Oladesu

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•Aregbesola

portation sectors, modern recreation parks and gardens are all geared towards creating modern environments that our people can call their own.”

We‘re committed to transparency, says Ambode AGOS State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday said his administration is committed to run an open, credible and transparent administration.

He spoke when the 51st President of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Otunba Olufemi Deru, visited him at the Lagos House, Ikeja.

The governor, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary Habib Aruna, said as student, who passed through the institute, Lagosians should not expect anything less than an administration of good governance in the next four years.

“I welcome the 51st President of ICAN, Otunba Olufemi Deru and his team and I must say that the visitation is with a number of nostalgia. I must say we are glad to receive you because what ICAN stands for is actually what Lagos stands for in the past 16years,” Ambode said.

just the same way he denied collecting N22 billion refund on roads.

“He recently denied collecting N8.5 billion from the Federation Account in June 2015, even when the figures are on the website of the Federal Ministry of Finance for all to see,” Olatunbosun said.

Accusing Fayose of always engaging in battles of survival, he said the governor had no time for governance, preferring to be in the throats of the opponents.”

He urged APC members and the public to ignore Fayose’s lies against APC members, particularly the leaders, who were already turning around the fortunes of the party, but which was now causing headache for the governor.

He warned Fayose against conduct that diminishes his office, even as he cautioned that the governor would not escape justice at the right time.

the of June 2, incidence where a tanker explosion occurred barely two days after his inauguration as the governor.

Deru also seized the opportunity to invite Ambode to the Annual ICAN Conference scheduled to hold from August 31 to September 4, with the theme: “ICAN Building on A Legacy of Service”.

HE Adesogba family, an arm of the Giesi ruling house of Ile Ife, has backed the candidacy of a renowned educationist and businessman, Dr. Ramon Adegoke Adedoyin, for the Ooni throne.

The family, in a statement issued in Ile-Ife yesterday, declared Adedoyin, proprietor of Oduduwa University Ipetumodu, The Polytechnic Ife, Hilton Hotels and other business concerns, as its sole candidate for the exalted stool.

It became vacant following the demise of the late Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse II on July 28, this year.

The statement, jointly signed by eight princes and two princesses on behalf of the family, said Adedoyin, who hails from the Agbedegbede lineage of the dynasty was eminently qualified to succeed Oba Sijuwade by virtue of his pedigree, stature, investments, philanthropic activities and immense contributions to the human, physical and industrial development of the town.

They listed the aspirant’s investments as including First Access Microfinance Bank Ltd; Hilton Hotels; Odududwa University and The Polytechnic, Ife - all located within the four local governments areas of Ifeland - as well as Oduduwa Polytechnic, Idimu, Lagos State and Our Saviour’s University, Delaware, USA. Adedoyin, they said, was “a bonafide son of the Agbedegbede compound, where he has been involved in all developmental projects” and possessed the knowledge and skills as an astute and effective manager of men and resources needed to make a success of the office of the Ooni.

The signatories to the statement are: Princess Kehinde Sijuwade Elugbaju (Nee Adewole); Princess Adekanmi Adelugba; Princeess Olufunmilayo Busayo; Princess Adedokun Adedoyin; Prince Gabriel Adedire Adewole.

Others include: Prince Adebolu Adewole; Prince Adekola Adewole; Prince Adekunmi Adewole and Prince Tilewa Bimbo Adewole.

Oyo lawmaker gives free GCE forms

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MEMBER representing the Ibadan South East/North East Federal Constituency, Adedapo Lam Adesina, has distributed 40 General Certificate Examination’s (GCE) forms to the less-privileged pupils in his constituency.

He said the forms would enable the pupils to participate in this year’s Novem-

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

ber/December General Certificate Examination GCE. The gesture, which costs N9,000 each, came under the lawmaker’s Omo-Oloore Education Development Scheme.

Adesina, at the presentation in his constituency office in Ile-Titun, Oke-Odo, yesterday said it was done in

fulfillment of part of the promises he made to the constituents during the 2015 elections.

The lawmaker said: “I made a lot of pledges during the electioneering campaign in the last election, and I am here to fulfill it today. I promised to take this constituency to a level that will be of envy to others.

“I believe that the distribution of these forms will encourage and assist some of the students, who have lost hope of writing the examination this year. Our children’s education is very essential because the children are our own tomorrow and they will be the ones to stand by us when we can no longer struggle again.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015

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THE NATION FRIDAY AUGUST 28, 2015

NEWS Adeleke varsity to honour Tinubu, Dangote, others

Ladoja fails to stop Ajimobi’s star witness at tribunal A CCORD and its Oyo State governorship candidate Senator Rashidi Ladoja yesterday made a failed attempt to stop a key witness of Governor Abiola Ajimobi and the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the hearing of a petition over the April 11 election.

Ladoja and Accord are challenging Ajimobi’s election before the Justice Aliyu Maiyakiled tribunal sitting in Ibadan, the state capital.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the APC are co-respondents.

Ajimobi opened his defence yesterday with his counsel, Mr. Olumuyiwa Aduroja (SAN), inviting the immediate past caretaker chairman of Ibadan

From Bisi Oladele and Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

North West Local Government Area, Mr. Wasiu Olatubosun, who doubled as the APC’s State Collation Agent in the election.

But Chief Bayo Lawal - who stood in for the petitioners’ lead counsel - vehemently opposed it.

He told the tribunal that Olatubosun’s written statement, as presented to him, was neither signed nor dated and therefore, he was not eligible to be admitted into the witness box.

But counsel to the first and second respondents, Olumuyiwa Aduroja (SAN) and Bamidele Aiku (SAN), countered Lawal by stating that their wit-

ness was qualified to give evidence.

The issue was later resolved by the tribunal chairman, who after consultation with the tribunal registry, affirmed that Olatubosun had his statement signed and dated.

Consequently, Olatubosun stated during cross-examination by the counsel to the third and fourth respondents that the April 11, 2015 governorship and House of Assembly elections in the state were conducted by INEC to reflect free, fair and credible outcomes.

His statement was supported by three other witnesses Aderemi Adebayo (Lagelu),

Adewale Akande (Saki East) and Mr. Waheed Ajibade - who testified that the APC candidate won.

Adebayo told the tribunal that he was surprised that Accord could challenge the results from his domain, where, he said, its candidate had won with a margin of 501 votes.

He, however, averred that the APC had accepted the results from Lagelu in good faith.

The four witnesses were cross-examined by the petitioners’ counsel, and counsel to first, second, third and fourth respondents, Olumuyiwa Aduroja, (SAN), Babatunde Aiku (SAN) and Yusuf Ali

•124 students for convocation From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

•Ladoja

(SAN).

Ajimobi had entered a crucial stage of cross-examination of witnesses by counsel to both the petitioners and the respondents.

Hearing resumed yesterday following completion of the annual national conference of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) in Abuja with majority of the counsel to both parties as participants.

Ibadan power firm groans under N1.5b debts

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HE Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) has decried the debt burden of N1.5 billion monthly owed it by customers in Oyo, Ogun, Osun and Kwara states.

It also distributes electricity to some parts of Kogi and Ekiti states, where it claimed, electricity users were also indebted to it.

Many homes within Ibadan city and environs are facing mass disconnection of electricity as a result of the debt.

Some customers complained of “crazy bills” and “over-bloated bills. Others insisted that they would not pay for what they did not use.

IBEDC spokesman Mr.

•BEDC spends N1b on network repairs From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan and Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

Frank Williams, who lamented the refusal of some customers to pay up their debt, said the company had no delight disconnecting electricity, “but at times, disconnection is the last resort”.

He said it has become increasingly difficult for the company to run its operations due to the huge debt burden, adding that despite the action taken to disconnect electricity, the N1.5 billion debts had continued to widen every month.

Williams said: “Disconnec-

tion is carried out as a last resort after all reasonable means has been exhausted. First of all, we started with a notice to alert electricity consumers that their bills were accruing and that they would get to a level when we would disconnect because every of our customer relations officer has a target to meet.

“Then, after that, we will apply the maximum action to disconnect. So, disconnection is not rampant, except there is debt and customers are not making effort to offset it. We disconnect when we are pushed to the wall, you know we are a private company.

“We buy electricity as you do. We buy electricity from another company. So, just as you pay your bill, we pay for electricity every month and every month our debt margin kept widening and accruing.

That is why we disconnect”.

When The Nation visited some parts of the city, including Ore-Meji, Sango, Apata, Omi-Adio,Mokola, and Jericho, many residents related how their homes were disconnected by officials of IBEDC over questionable debt.

They accused the electricity company of failure to meet its obligation to its customers through constant blackout.

In a bid to ensure steady power supply to residents of Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti States, the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) said it spent N1 billion on network repairs and augmentation of other facili-

ties.

The company, however, condemned the low level of payment for electricity by its customers.

It described it a major challenge in the power sector, urging customers to pay their bills regularly.

It also lamented that about 22 to 25 per cent of illegal consumption and 12 to 15 per cent meter infractions were major challenges to successful power supply.

BEDC’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Funke Osibodu, spoke in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, yesterday at an interactive session with customers and other stakeholders.

Mrs. Osibodu, who was represented by BEDC’s Chief Corporate Services Officer, Mrs. Kunbi Labiyi, explained that the interactive session was sssto sensitise customers on the planned review of electricity tariff.

Ekiti PDP chief arrested for allegedly issuing dud cheque Faleye: I was only invited

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HE factional Chairman of Ekiti State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Idowu Faleye, was allegedly arrested by the police yesterday.

His arrested was in connection with a dud cheque issued to pay for the rentage of the state secretariat.

Faleye was arrested at about 5pm on Wednesday by a special police squad from the Force Headquarters Abuja.

The police acted on a petition written by the owner of the building, which serves as the PDP state secretariat.

The owner, Ropo Adesanya, said he was issued a dud cheque, which was rejected by an old generation bank based in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

Adesanya, a former state PDP Chairman, has since defected to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in May. The Ekiti PDP owes Adesanya N1.5 million being the rent for one year and the landlord has been battling hard to recover the money without success.

He subsequently served the party an eviction notice following futile efforts to recover the N1.5 million rent owed.

Police spokesman Alberto Adeyemi confirmed Faleye’s arrest in a telephone chat with reporters yesterday.

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

Adeyemi, in a telephone interview with our correspondent in Ado, explained that officers and men of the antifraud unit from Abuja stormed the state capital to effect the arrest of the PDP factional chairman, following the petition by the owner of the building.

He said the factional PDP chairman has since been released, stressing that he is due to answer fraudulent case of dud cheque at the force headquarters in Abuja next week.

But Faleye claimed that “he was only invited and not arrested” by the police.

He also claimed that nobody signed the undertaking on his behalf, saying he signed it himself.

Faleye denied signing the dud cheque, which landed him in trouble, alleging that it was signed by the chairman of the other faction, Tunde Olatunde, and the secretary, Dr. Tope Aluko.

He said: “I followed them (police officers) to state Headquarters and wrote a statement wherein I stated that I did not sign the cheque. The cheque was signed by Dr. T.K.O Aluko (secretary) and Tunde Olatunde (factional chairman).

“Nobody signed an undertaking on my behalf. I was only invited and not arrested.”

T

HE Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State is set to send 124 graduates into the job market at its maiden convocation, holding from September 4 to 6.

Addressing a pre-convocation news conference at the university campus in Ede yesterday, its vice chancellor, Prof. Oluwole Amusan, said of the 124 graduating students, 11 bagged first class honours degree.

He added that four prominent Nigerians, Africa’s richest business mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, former Lagos State Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) national Leader Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Osun State Governor Senator Isiaka Adeleke, and former Chief Justice of Nigeria Alfa Begore will be given honorary doctorate degrees.

Amusan said Adeleke will also be installed as the university’s pioneer chancellor during the maiden convocation.

He added that the overall best graduating student, who has 4.90 GCPA, finished from the Faculty of Science.

The vice chancellor added that 80 of the graduating students have a Second Class Upper Division, 33 bag a Second Class and one of them has a Third Class Division.

Amusan attributed the high academic standard of the university within four years of its existence to an unalloyed commitment of staff.

Oke to Mimiko: stop distracting Buhari From Damisi Ojo, Akure

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N Ondo State All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Chief Olusola Oke, yesterday urged Governor Olusegun Mimiko to allow President Muhammadu Buhari to concentrate on his administration’s “change agenda” for the nation’s transformation.

He criticised the leaders of the Southern Nigerian Peoples Assembly (SNPA) for not appreciating laudable efforts of the incumbent administration.

At a recent meeting held in Akure, the state capital, the group through Mimiko called for the implementation of the report of the last National Conference.

Oke, a lawyer and former National Legal Adviser of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said he would not have responded to the remarks of the Southern leaders, but for posterity sake.

He said: “Mimiko has again started his deceit by seeking to divert the attention of the people of Ondo State from the ravaging issue of bad governance, poverty and unemployment, which are confronting the people.

“Like it happened under President Goodluck Jonathan, he has engaged in another round of cheap diversionary propaganda anchored on a self-imposed leadership status he arrogated to himself, to distract President from the good job of redressing the injustice of the past and ameliorating the sufferings of the people.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015

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BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

ISCAN chief advises Buhari to be transparent

By Daniel Essiet

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HE President, Institute of Chartered Secretar ies and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN), Dr Nat Ofo has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to run an open government, adding that it is the approach that will strengthen economic growth and save the country from distress.

Speaking to reporters after his investiture in Lagos, he said there was need to create a better way of looking at governance that gives Nigerians, investors, employees and the wider public greater confidence in the transparency and accountability of the economy .

Ofo said any attempt to restore public faith in business must start with good corporate governance.

He said one of the focus areas of his regime as ICSAN president will be to work with the government to ensure better corporate governance, effective checks and controls across the economy.

He noted that corporate governance is an increasingly important issue as the government has started to refocus efforts from survival to renewed growth.

As an institute, he said ICSAN prides itself as the custodian of corporate governance, adding that it is evident in the level of the involvement of its members in the development of codes of corporate governance in the country.

He said: “As is well known, succession planning is a critical element in management and corporate governance. It is therefore commendable that we are witnessing a smooth and seamless transition of power from one president to another.”

He commended the immediate past president, Dr Suleyman Ndanusa for smooth transition and for laying the foundation on which the institute will move and make progress.

He said his administration intends to collaborate with other professional bodies, regulators organisations and other professionals to spread the corporate governance message as well as pursue linkage with higher institutions in a bid to build and improve on capacities.

Ndanusa commended President Buhari for taking steps that will restore integrity to the economic system with rigorous emphasis on values and stewardship.

Looking broadly at the system, he said changes are needed to ensure the economy recovers.

Ndanusa said the government is taking steps get economy back on the growth path.

He argued that the growth will lead to trust in business and government.

‘It is regrettable that the damaging consequences of the Ecowas CET policy on the local pharmaceutical manufacturing sector in Nigeria were not considered despite our desperate attempts to draw attention to this. This policy undoubtedly spells doom for the local industry as imported medicines will become far cheaper than locally produced ones’ Chairman, Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMG MAN), Mr. Okey Akpa

Dangote inaugurates $250m plant in Cameroon D

ANGOTE Cement Plc, yesterday, achieved another feat with the inauguration of $250 million (N48.75 billion) cement grinding plant in Douala, Cameroon.

Dangote Group also laid the foundation stone for a 200 metre jetty in Douala.

Speaking on the occasion, President/ Chief Executive, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote said the plant, with a capacity of 1.5 million metric tonnes per annum (mmtpa), was a great feat in the operations of the company.

He said: “The plant is our largest greenfield project in a neighbouring country with which we not only share a boundary but also a long history of brotherly relationship dating from our colonial days.”

He said the company signed the investment agreement for the development and operation of a quarry and cement grinding with the government of Cameroon on Sept. 19, 2011.

He said massive economic revolution of the Cameroonian government in the power sector, infrastructural development, industrial development and transportation industry had impacted positively on businesses.

“We can attest to this as we have been one of the major beneficiaries,” Dangote said.

He said Dangote Cement first came into Cameroon in 2008 but signed an Investment Agreement with the government in 2011.

Dangote said the investment had increased the country’s economic value through creation of thousands of jobs; supported the government’s aggressive infrastructural development.

Its other benefits include; conservation of scarce foreign resources through drastic reduction of importation of cement; creation of revenue for the government through payment of value added tax (VAT), royalties and taxes.

Dangote said plans were on the way to commence the second phase of the plant which would double its capacity from the current 1.5mmtpa to 3.0 mmtpa.

He said the company would soon open an additional quarry in the country and inaugurate more than 200 new trucks to enhance service delivery to its customers.

“Our desire to increase our investment with the Phase 2

project is based on not only the fast growth rate of the Cameroonian economy but also the warm welcome extended to us and the enabling environment created by its government.

“Our choice of Cameroon for this multi-million dollar investment is strategic because it is the largest economy in Central Africa and well endowed with abundant natural resources,” he said.

He said the country enjoyed political stability, adequate security and growing development of infrastructure.

Dangote also said the investment would further strengthen the bilateral ties between Nigeria and Cameroon and fasttrack Africa’s economic integration.

“Africa has the lowest per capita consumption of cement, an important index in measuring development, and only deliberate efforts by Africans to produce more than current requirements to force down prices can remedy the situation,” Dangote said.

According to him, the company had on Aug. 26, signed a $4.34 billion contract with Sinoma International Engineering Company Ltd., a Chi-

nese construction giant, for the construction of 11 new cement plants in 10 African countries, and Nepal in Asia.

Dangote said the total capacity of the proposed plants would be 25 mmtpa, projecting that the company’s combined capacity within Africa and outside the continent would hit 100 mmtpa by 2020.

“In Nigeria, we contributed to the successful transformation of the country from being the biggest importer to a major producer and net exporter of cement,” he added.

He commended the Nigerian government for the encouragement and nurturing of the company from inception.

Dangote said the company owed its existence to the favourable investment policies of the government which encouraged the growth of import substitution industries, especially in areas with comparative advantage like in cement.

Also speaking, President Paul Biya of Cameroon, lauded Dangote for contributing to the country’s development.

Biya, who was represented

by Mr Philemon Yang, the Prime Minister, said that the company had contributed massively to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) through the investment.

• From left: Manager, Oyigbo Branch, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mrs. Chioma Onuigbo; Zonal Head, Port Harcourt 2, Mr. Chime Aliliele; one of the winners of N5million at the grand finale draw of the FCMB Millionaire Promo, Mr. Peters Emmanuel; the bank’s Regional Director, Southeast & Southsouth, Mr. Okey Ezeala and the Regional Retail Head, Mrs. Christiana Ibe, during the cheque presentation ceremony to the winner in Port Harcourt, Rivers State…yesterday

NNPC cuts crude lifting firms to 16

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HE Nigerian National Petroleum Corpora tion (NNPC) has cut down the number of companies that will handle the contract of lifting Nigeria’s crude from 43 to 16. The drastic reduction is part of the Corporation’s transformation agenda aimed at keeping its operation lean, efficient and transparent to reduce cost.

Its spokesman, Ohi Alegbe said the decision is a novel move to instill transparency and probity in the award of the annual Crude Oil Term

• Invites Forte Oil, Mobil to bid for new OPA

By Emeka Ugwanyi

Contract for 2015/2016. He said: “NNPC yesterday mapped out measures to execute the 2015/2016 award of contract to companies for the evacuation of Nigeria’s crude oil equity from the various crude and condensate production arrangements.”

In a statement, NNPC stated that it was part of measures to optimise the marketing of Nigeria’s crude oil and secure new market

potentials. It said the number of off-takers for the proposed 2015/2016 term contract which would emerge after a planned rigorous competitive bid exercise has been pruned from 43 to 16.

NNPC said: “In the days ahead, we shall place advertisement for the 2015/2016 Term Contracts and the publication will run for one month in major National and International print media to ensure effective message penetration. Later the guide-

lines for the selection of new off-takers would be published and subsequently a special bid evaluation committee would be constituted to conduct due diligence on successful applicants.”

He also stated that apart from Oando, Sahara Energy, Calson, MRS, Duke Oil, BP/ Nigermed and Total Trading that were earlier selected to bid for the new Offshore Processing Agreement (OPA), invitation was also extended to Forte Oil and Mobil to bid for the OPA contract.

Senate probes Customs, FIRS over ‘illegal’ N567b tax cost From Onyedi Ojiabor, Asst. Editor

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HE Senate yesterday started the investiga tion of alleged unauthorised expenditure of N567billion by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

The N567billion is said to be part of tax collected by the NCS and the FIRS from January 2005 to July this year.

This is contained in a petition by a non-governmental organisation, Legislative Watch, to the Senate.

Legislative Watch forwarded its petition to Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki who referred it to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.

Part of the documents from the Federal Ministry of Finance presented to the committee by Legislative Watch alleged that the average monthly collection cost of the NCS is N2.5 billion.

The petitioner alleged that the total amount not remitted by NCS to the Federal Government for 126 months (January 2005 to July 2015) is N315billion.

The same document indicated that the average monthly cost of collection of the FIRS was put at N2billion which puts the total amount not remitted

by FIRS over the same period at N252billion.

The two amounted ro N567 billion as the cost of collection for both agencies.

Its Executive Secretar, Ngozi Ihuoma, who defended the petition before the Senate Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition Committee claimed that the amount represented the seven per cent cost of tax collection paid to the NCS and the four per cent paid to the FIRS during the period.

The petitioner claimed that the two agencies deducted the money from the amounted collected on behalf of the Federal Government without appropriation by the National Assembly contrary to the provisions of the constitution.

Ihuoma claimed that the action of the agencies’ management contravened Sections 162 (3) and 165 of the constitution.

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015

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BUSINESS EXTRA With the final approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) secured for the merger between Heritage Bank and Enterprise Bank, a new tier-1 bank that meets the needs of customers and other stakeholders has emerged. The Federal High Court has also endorsed the merger. COLLINS NWEZE writes on the opportunities the endorsements will create in the banking sector and benefits to customers.

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HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) kept its word by granting final approval for the merger of Heritage Bank and Enterprise Bank. Besides, the Federal High Court has endorsed the scheme of merger and ordered the merger of both institutions.

“The Management of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has approved the grant of Final Merger Approval to Heritage Banking Company Limited and Enterprise Bank Limited and the licence of Heritage Bank Limited (the successor), the CBN said in a letter to Heritage Bank.

Managing Director/Chief Executive, Heritage Bank, Ifie Sekibo was the first to react to the deal, by expressing the bank’s confidence that the merger will transform the lender to a mega bank that creates wealth for stakeholders.

“We’re pleased with the final approval of the merger of the two institutions. The stage is now set for us to achieve the vision of a bigger and better bank that offers world class banking services designed to help customers to create, preserve and transfer wealth”.

Sekibo added that “With this acquisition, the new Heritage Bank is better positioned to offer unparalleled banking services which spread across over 200 branches, 177 ATMs, 57 Cash Centres and 2000 POS Terminals in 26 states. We shall harness the better of the two worlds combined in terms of our innovative products, bespoke technology and extended branch network manned by a team of tenacious people; as this automatically transforms our bank from a tier-2 player to a strong tier-1 player that is stronger than ever.

“As we integrate into a larger bank, we assure our esteemed customers that this strategic stride is ultimately to serve them better. We affirm our commitment to all stakeholders that we will continue to deliver on our promise of creating and preserving wealth across generations through highly personalised service.”

Heritage Bank had, on October 15, 2014, made history with the successful completion of the acquisition of Enterprise Bank, after investing about N56 billion in the deal. A federal high court sitting in Lagos on July 27th 2015 ordered an Extra-ordinary General Meeting of all the parties to the deal. This was held on Wednesday, August 12th August, 2015, where the shareholders of the merging banks sealed the deal.

As a brand built on a legacy of innovation, Heritage Bank recently achieved a milestone with the ISO/IEC 27001:2013 certification award in recognition of its commitment to effective and secured financial system. The bank has also set a record as the only bank in Nigeria to get this certification award in less than three years of operation. It has, by this certification, joined the league of big players already certified in the industry, including the CBN. “The legacy of innovation was reinforced when the bank received the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, PCI DSS certification, in addition to the ISO/IEC 27001:2013 award. The PCI DSS is a proprietary information security standard for organisations that handle branded credit cards from the major card schemes including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and JCB. The certification was in recognition of the bank’s commitment to effective and secured financial system which has put the bank in the league of big players in the industry and confer internationally-recognised standard on its operations.

The battle for the soul of Enterprise Bank Limited has been fought and won. The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) announced HBCL Investment Services Limited (HISL), sponsored by Heritage Banking Company Limited, as the preferred bidder for Enterprise Bank.

Sekibo assured stakeholders that the lender is outlining strategies that would transform the new entity to a mega bank.

Managing Director, CRC Credit Bureau,

Heritage, Enterprise banks’ merger: Matters arising

• CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele

• Sekibo

• Kuru

Tunde Popoola said the merger would improve competition in the banking sector.

The audited financial statement of the Enterprise Bank Group as at 31 December 2012, show that the Group’s Total Assets stood at N263.5 billion, Customer Deposits at N208.4 billion and Total Equity at N31.9 billion The invitation by AMCON prompted interests from some Nigerian banks namely Diamond Bank Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc, Sterling Bank Plc, Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, Standard Chartered Bank, Skye Bank, Heritage Bank Limited and other investment groups.

Others include investors like Taunus Holdings, Sahara Energy, Obat Oil and about 12 private equity firms backed by experienced bankers as well as financial and investment analysts.

AMCON directed interested buyers to indicate their interest by submitting an Expression of Interest (EoI) with information such as the “description of acquiring entity or vehicle with evidence of registration or incorporation; ownership of the acquiring entity or vehicle; identifying all shareholders with a five per cent or more stake; strategic rationale for the acquisition of Enterprise Bank; relevant financial services industry experience and/or demonstrable evidence of ability to manage a bank of this nature.”

Also, interested buyers were requested to submit evidence of financing capacity, while a consortium should “provide evidence of alliance/partnership/joint venture between members in the consortium, clearly indicating the lead member authorised to submit the EoIs.” The corporation had added: “Upon receipt and evaluation of the EoI, a shortlist of buyers, who in AMCON’s view are deemed to be fit and suitable from a regulatory perspective (amongst other things), will be prepared and will proceed to the first phase of the transaction.

Analysts advised that the investor in Enterprise Bank should have a disciplined board and management that adhere to sound corporate governance principles.

The former Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Enterprise Bank Limited, Ahmed Kuru, said he was happy leaving behind, a better Enterprise Bank and a happier workforce.

Kuru is now the Managing Director/CEO of AMCON. He added that he was convinced that customers will have the best deal at the conclusion of the process.

“I am convinced our customers expect the best deal at the end of the day. So their expectation should be high,” he said.

He explained that right from the beginning when he was appointed, it was very clear to him that AMCON, at certain point in time will divest from the bank.

AMCON factor AMCON had in a statement endorsed by its Head, Corporate Communication, Kayode Lambo said the bid process started with interest shown by 24 parties cutting across local and international boundaries.

The emergence of HISL and Fidelity Bank as preferred and reserve bidders respectively, he said, resulted from a rigorous and competitive bidding process, which was coordinated for AMCON by Citigroup Global Markets Limited, Vetiva Capital Management Limited (Financial Advisers) and G. Elias & Co. (Legal Advisers).

The AMCON has consistently defended the transparency of the deal. In July last year, it refuted newspaper report alleging that it interfered with the bid process to favour a particular local bank.

Rules of engagement AMCON commenced the sale of Enterprise Bank on September 22nd, last year when it formally invited interested buyers to express interests in acquiring its 100 per cent stake in the bank.

‘We’re pleased with the final approval of the merger of the two institutions. The stage is now set for us to achieve the vision of a bigger and better bank that offers world class banking services designed to help customers to create, preserve and transfer wealth’

Bridged banks Enterprise Bank was before it merged with Heritage Bank Limited wholly owned by AMCON. Other bridged banks owned by AMCON are Keystone and Mainstreet banks. Mainstreet Bank Limited has since been acquired by Skye Bank Plc. AMCON had acquired the lenders in August 2011, after the intervention by the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Enterprise Bank was created from the ashes of the defunct Spring Bank, while Keystone Bank and Mainstreet Bank were created from the defunct Bank PHB and Afribank respectively.

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015

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THE NATION

BUSINESS BRANDS & MARKETING

e-mail: adedejiademigbuji@yahoo.com /mobile line: 08131075667

Google’s new conglomerate trademark Alphabet has stirred a controversy. With a report saying the name has already been trademarked by BMW, the German auto maker, will Google go ahead to use the name as the parent company for its brands? ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI writes.

Google’s new firm Alphabet stirs controversy A

TRADEMARK is any word, name, symbol or design, or any combination thereof, used in commerce to identify and distinguish the goods of one manufacturer or seller from others, and to indicate the source of the goods.

It is a property that companies guard jealously and do not toy with if their right of ownership is infringed on. However, the latest announcement of a new conglomerate name, Alphabet, by Google, appears to have toyed with BMW’s trademark for one of its businesses, and it has generated a disagreement. The last has not been heard on the controversy.

Last week, Google co-founder Larry Page announced that the conglomerate would adopt a new name - Alphabet - in an attempt to make the company more accountable and cleaner having dragged over one billion users across the world.

“Our company is operating well today, but we think we can make it cleaner and more accountable.

Google is not a conventional company. We do not intend to become one. We did a lot of things that seemed crazy at the time. Many of those crazy things now have over a billion users, like Google Maps, YouTube, Chrome, and Android.

So we are creating a new company, called Alphabet,” said Page.

While the viral community received the news when it was still fresh, a media report said Google’s chosen name has already been trademarked by BMW. The surprise formation of Alphabet, a holding company headed by Larry Page and Sergey Brin of which Google is now a part, may have impressed investors, but brand analysts believe BMW is evidently not pleased.

It’s apparently an issue of nomenclature: the German auto maker owns the trademark Alphabet and domain name alphabet.com, and has no interest in selling either of them. The Nation gathered from

• A screenshot of BMW alphabet brand

BMW Alphabet website that the auto giant’s Alphabet company engages in businesses of funding solutions for operational lease, financial lease, sales and leaseback, motivational lease; fleet management services and advanced mobility solutions for auto users.

BMW describes its Alphabet subsidiary, which provides vehicle leasing and management packages to corporations, as a “very active” part of its operations, and says it wasn’t informed of Google’s reorganisation plans ahead of last week’s announcement. Furthermore, it was gathered that the car maker hasn’t so far received any offers for the trademark or domain name, a spokesperson told The New York Times. But in the light of this, BMW said it’s in the process of determining whether infringement has taken place.

Meanwhile Google’s spokesman in Nigeria said why he could not comment on the trademark controversy was because everything Google would say has been published on https://abc.xyz/.

When The Nation visited the site, it was apparent that Google’s Alphabet has different arrears of business concerns, hence, might not compete with BMW’s Alphabet, a situation believed would make Google escape any legal sanction for trademark infringement.

Google’s Alphabet President Sergey said Alphabet is mostly a collection of companies, “the largest of which, of course, is Google.”

He said with the new conglomerate name, “Google is a bit slimmed down, with the companies that are pretty far afield of our main internet products contained in Alphabet instead”.

Page also described Alphabet as

businesses prospering through strong leaders and independence.

“Alphabet Inc. will replace Google Inc. as the publicly-traded entity and all shares of Google will automatically convert into the same number of shares of Alphabet, with all of the same rights. Google will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alphabet. We liked the name Alphabet because it means a collection of letters that represent

Amosun, others call for summit

By Adedeji Ademigbuji

Mobile ad firm offers ‘pay per data’ option

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RAND My Car, Nigeria’s first out-of-home vehicle adver tising company, has rolled out an initiative geared towards giving more value to its customers on its unique advertising platform.

Tagged “Pay-Per-Data,” the initiative frees brands from the doubts about upfront OOH advertising rentals and enables them to pay based on estimated eyeballs reached during campaign periods.

According to the Managing Director of Brandmycar, Amaka Okolo, the initiative is driven by emerging global best-practice in the industry which prescribes the inclusion of measurable and verifiable data in the business, giving room for a lot more transparency in OOH rental billing processes.

To ensure this becomes the standard, Okolo said Brandmycar has introduced a short code, to which customers are only required to respond to Call to Action set by advertisers.

All text messages by responders are Free. For example Text “WIN” to 5555. This will activate a datadriven monitoring on deployed campaigns and advertisers will

only have to pay for each respondent to their campaign/Call to Action.

Brand My Car was launched in the market last year and spoke of allowing private car owners to earn extra income on their cars by turning them into mobile advertising platforms. Today, BMC has expanded its catchment to cabs and “Keke” areas in response to client demands to well-targeted, costfriendly campaigns.

Okolo said the client is allowed to first identify the target market after which BMC deploys advertisers’campaign based on agreed placement platform.

“The campaign is monitored online real-time by both BMC and Advertiser through a customised solution and the client only pays for data of respondents to campaign.

Minimum data cut-off is 5,000. Advertisers can end campaign once target set is reached. It is only at this time that the Advertiser sends BMC campaign material and pays only for printing of material,” she explained.

Okolo further said Brandmycar provides the added value of conducting a race exercise on behalf of

clients based on the profiled target market to ensure maximum reach to those that are pre-planned to be exposed to the campaign.

“If an advertiser desires to reach students in an urban area like Lagos, we go to the field and make sure the vehicles on which the campaigns would be deployed are ones with very high exposure to the communities, destinations and routes of the students,” she said.

She listed cost effectiveness, realtime tracking and value for money as the prime benefits of the unique advertising channel and said enabling “selective audience targeting by demographics, interest, lifestyle, among others, is critical to an advertisers goal of effective campaign delivery.

“At Brandmycar, the ultimate goal is to convert viewers into new Customers. We provide all the gateways necessary to bring qualified leads to advertisers, offering automated lead capture from beginning to end in real-time. And advertisers can view the results of their advertising spend, and make educated adjustments to campaigns as needed,” she added.

language, one of humanity’s most important innovations, and is the core of how we index with Google search! We also like that because it means alpha bet (Alpha is investment return above benchmark), which we strive for! I should add that we are not intending for this to be a big consumer brand with related products—the whole point is that Alphabet companies should have independence and develop their own brands,” he said.

But there are concerns that Google’s domain name, abc.xyz, is a different story could also get BMW some misdirected traffic opportunities and tough times. “Google appears to have worked around BMW’s ownership by securing abc.xyz. That hasn’t prevented Chinese authorities from blocking it, nor has it prevented BMW’s Alphabet webpage from receiving an overwhelming influx of misdirected traffic, but Alphabet deserves some slack Alphabet’s had a rough time on Twitter, too — the handles @alphabet, @AlphabetINC (account suspended), @abcxyz, and @abc were taken as of yesterday,” says an analyst.

In the light of this, an article by IT ProPortal report that a BMW spokeswoman stated that neither Larry Page nor anyone else on behalf of Google has contacted them prior to the Alphabet announcement to acquire the trademark or the domain name. BMW is not intending to sell the trademark either.

Legal experts, however, believe instituting a legal action might not yield any result as both companies are not into similar business.

• Amosun

O

GUN State Governor Senator Ibikune Amosun and public relations practitioners have called for a national reputation summit.

They spoke during a colloquium and awards by the Ogun State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) at the Olusegun Obasanjo Library, Abeokuta, the state capital.

The keynote speaker, Mr. Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, who is also the chief executive, CMC Connect Group, noted the political history of Nigeria, analysing the primordial factors that have affected its image and goodwill since independence. He said the nation had suffered serious image problem as a result of the decay in the system, adding that it has denied the country of her pivotal place in the comity of progressive nations.

Badejo-Okusanya, who is also the Secretary-General, African Public Relations Association (APPRA), identified impunity as the bane of

Nigeria’s socio-political and economic development. Nigeria, he said, “has suffered moral bankruptcy as a result of corruption that permeates every facet of our lives.”

He praised President Muhammadu Buhari for making genuine efforts at eradicating graft and corruption in government.

He also supported the summit, saying it would create a forum for stakeholders and communications to find solutions to the already battered image of the country.

The chairman of the colloquium, Prof Lai Osho of the Department of Mass Communications, Lagos State University (LASU), said: “The nation is going through a rebirth in the way we think, the way we do things, and in our attitude.’

He added that Buhari has brought sanity back to governance.

Amosun, represented by the Deputy Governor, Mrs Yetunde Onanuga, praised the Chairman of the state chapter of NIPR, Mr. Tope Adaramola and his executives for creating a platform for cross fertilisation of ideas on how to make Nigeria better.

He emphasised that the Change mantra of the ruling political party, All Progressives Congress (APC), has been the driver of the successes recorded in two months of the Buhari government.

He called for attitudinal change among Nigerians to make the Nigerian project work.

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015

14

With rural farmers facing the challenge of accessing profitable markets, experts say Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), an arrangement in which members pay for produce upfront at the beginning of the farming season, should be adopted. CSA provides needed fund for farmers and ensures affordable fresh food for consumers, DANIEL ESSIET reports.

Community Supported Agriculture: Connecting consumers, farms S OME farmers have started tapping into the growing demand for fresh produce to make money.

In Lagos and other cities, the increasing demand for fresh produce, such as vegetables, mushrooms, tomatoes, water melon and others, by supermarket chains has increased. For example, farmers in Lagos have been making steady income by supplying outlets such as Shoprite and Eko Farmers Mart.

Spotting a lucrative opportunity, many farmers have agreed to sell their produce using the thriving market platforms. For instance, it is a daily ritual for workers at the Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa, to stroll into Eko Farmers Marts to buy fresh fruits, eggs and vegetables. Such markets are celebrated for providing fresh produce, such as eggs and fruits.

The Eko Farmers Mart has, undoubtedly, increased farmers income. Under the arrangement, the Lagos Agric Youth Empowerment Scheme works with young farmers to produce crops and poultry products, which are distributed through the marts.

At a forum, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Olajide Basorun, said the markets offer quality, freshness, hygiene and reasonable prices.

He said the government would play a pivotal role in supporting the local industry by assisting farmers to sell their ever-increasing volumes of fresh farm produce.

Across Lagos, Eko Farmers Marts and supermarket chains have revolutionised food distribution in the short span. The megastores are popular with customers for their lower prices, choice and convenience.

The marts, according to Basorun, provide added value with healthier food in an environment that fosters social interactions. Producers or farmers keying into the system sell a wide variety of fruits, vegetables and poultry products. The benefits are manyas they provide jobs, generate less waste, bring fresh wholesome food, and connect one to their source.

Through Eko Farmers Marts Basorun said local producers are being integrated into a food distribution system recognised for its potential to boost economic development through agriculture.

The system, he noted, has created a market channel for people to bring fresh produce into the city and new opportunities for families, who live in rural Lagos.

He said the marts, located in various parts of the state, offer cheap fresh foods to members of their host communities and encourage farmers to increase output.

While these types of markets are on the rise in the cities, the same is not obtained in rural areas. Consequently, many small farmers in rural areas do not have access to such markets unlike their medium and large growers, with more money and marketing savvy For example, farmers outside Lagos struggle to take their produce to the market. They have to transport the produce to far places by trucks. As such, the produce do not arrive their destinations fresh.

They are also of limited variety and

• Fresh produce farm

are expensive with costs rising between 50 to 100 per cent in centrally located urban areas.

Its feeble attempts to sell to major supermarkets in the town illustrate how the odds are stacked against small farmers. Those produce may be sold in small shops and open-air markets, but the value of supermarket purchases in places such as Eko farmers marts and Shoprite have soared.

Stiff competition from big urban and industrial growers is also real.

To supply the supermarkets is a big challenge in terms of requirements. Even though sales are there in the rural areas, the local markets accounts for less than 10 percent of sales.

For watchers, local food systems are pillars of rural economic development together with agriculture. The expansion of cities and their increasing demands should be paired with the challenges of improving rural livelihoods.

Consequently, there is a clear need for small scale farmers to find an alternative to formal market that is mainly dominated by big -businesses. One possible solution is the Community Supported Agriculture ( CSA) model.

In CSA, members buy a share at the beginning of the growing season. That provides farmers with up-front capital to grow and manage the farm. In exchange, consumers receive a weekly delivery of fresh, seasonal produce. They also take on the risk of a poor harvest.

Ideally, the model builds commu-

• Adebayo

nity and personal connections around food.

Speaking with The Nation, The Project Director, Cassava Adding to Africa (CAVA), Prof Kola Adebayo said CSA refers to an arrangement where consumers purchase a share of a local farm’s harvest prior to the growing season.

Sometimes known as subscription farming, CSA is based on an annual market agreement between a farm and local individuals or households. In return for the upfront cash and commitment to the whole growing season, consumers get a weekly variety of farm-fresh produce.

He said farmers in the rural areas will benefit if they adopt CSA arrangement with consumers within local and urban communities. Apart from having access to markets, they will be able to grow the local economies, expand their businesses and get more income for their produce.

Interestingly, CSA is a membership farming scheme. Members of the farm communities commit themselves to buying a share of the farm’s harvest for 12-months at a time. This approach allows the farm to invest in the year ahead knowing that it has the support to continue and that the produce will be eaten as they can grow to meet the demand. This system is very beneficial for the farm because it allows the growers to concentrate on what they love, growing food, rather than worry about marketing, processing, branding among others.

As community supported market farms, members, both farmers and consumers feel connected to where their food is coming from and how it is produced.

According to Adebayo, CSA is a relatively new way of farming involving a partnership between food producers and the local community.

CSA, according to him, brings farmers and their customers together to share responsibility for the land where their food is grown and how their food is produced.

The farmers and consumers participate in marketing system where

‘Farmers outside Lagos struggle to bring their harvest to the market. They have to transport their produce from far distances by trucks. As such, the freshness of the produce becomes compromised. They are also of limited variety and are expensive with costs rising between 50 to 100 per cent in centrally located urban areas’

seasonal produce are sold weekly.

The aim is to provide sustainable and growing market for farmers and give customers access to fresh produce with less food miles and at competitive prices.

The system ensures that fresh produce is available year round for producers, their families, and local communities.

Unlike conventional agriculture, where farmers bear the risks of weather, pests, and the marketplace alone, in community supported agriculture the entire community shares the bounty and scarcity.

He said CSA would work when farmers are committed to buying from a producer, or group of producers. A key point is that the consumers are committed to buying on a regular basis and at least, for a whole growing season.

Community supported agriculture is, in fact, a big name for a simple idea. Communities of any size make a financial pledge to support a local farm. This helps them to connect directly with their local farmers and provides benefits for both parties.

The farmer benefits financially from having a secure market of committed customers and the ‘members’ of the CSA often contribute additional labour and a range of skills.

President, Federated FADAMA Community Association, Lagos State, Alhaji Abiodun Oyenekan said strong links to markets for poor rural producers are essential for increasing agricultural production, generating economic growth in rural areas and reducing hunger and poverty.

Oyenekan said better access by small producers to domestic and international markets means that they can reliably sell more produce at higher prices. This, in turn, encourages farmers to invest in their businesses and increase the quantity, quality and diversity of the goods they produce.

To him, belonging to an organised group, allows small farmers to bulk produce, reduce costs through economies of scale and, perhaps most importantly, to strengthen their bargaining power with powerful private-sector actors.

With increasing challenges of accessing markets, Oyenekan said it becomes necessary to support farmers to organise themselves into groups such as cooperatives that give them needed capacity to negotiate for better prices.

He said such cooperatives improve farmers’ access to markets, increase their earnings, and improve the livelihood and well-being of their families. Apart from addressing the real need in the agriculture value chain of ensuring that farmers have access to necessary inputs to raise their productivity, they are facilitated to increase their overall earnings from agriculture.

He said cooperatives enable farmers to work together, reducing competition and making it easier to take care of tasks such as marketing. By combining forces, they can also supply larger users such as restaurants and other businesses, and may be able to hire people to work out the distribution while they focus on farming.

15

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015

Lagos to support fish farmers

Set aside 10% of budget L for agric, govt urged T

HE Federal Government has been urged to set aside 10 per cent of the budget for agriculture to ensure food security.

The sector, according to the Deputy Director, Directorate of General Management, Agricultural and Rural Management Institute (ARMTI), Ilorin, Kwara State, Dr Ademola Adeyemo, is slowly recovering from disrupted farming.

Adeyemo said agriculture is one of the key sectors that have propelled steady and sustainable economic growth. To this end, adequate funding, he said, is needed to help the government follow a clear roadmap for its development.

Past budgets, he said, have not allocated sufficient funds to agriculture, especially in the expansion of infrastructure for growth. Post-Budget analysis revealed that the allocation is not

Stories by Daniel Essiet

adequate for the boosting of the sector and falls below the international benchmarks. He said key agricultural areas are still underfunded falling short of the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) target of allocating 10 per cent of the budget to agricultural sector.

Adeyemo stressed the need to allocate more resources to other key areas such as research and development and provision of extension services and infrastructure. He recognised that several positive measures and pronouncements have been presented in the budget to support agricultural development. He urges the government to ensure that the ideas are backed by implementation.

According to him, sufficient

budgetary provisions will translate into a vibrant agricultural sector, raking in revenue into the Government’s coffers and providing jobs for Nigerians to contribute effectively towards economic growth.

He urged the government to employ prudent fiscal discipline as a key to ensuring financial sustainability and quality service delivery.

Adeyemo also asked for doubled efforts aimed at using improved seed variety and diversify on-farm activities. These measures, he added, should be supplemented by enhanced extension services.

He called on the government to enhance the use of science and technology in the pursuit of its policy objective of achieving a competitive, diversified and sustainable agricultural sector.

AGOS State Government has reaffirmed its support for fish farming in its bid to the decline in supply of fish, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Olajide Basorun, has said.

At the closing of the 11th Annual Executive Training on Investment Opportunities in Fish Farming, where 89 persons were trained in production techniques, Basorun said the state committed to facilitating capacity building for fish farmers and easy access to credit facilities.

He said: “Government will continue to create enabling and conducive environment, facilitate capacity building and create ground for easy access to credit facility for fish farmers so as to reduce cost of production and enhance their profitability.”

The Permanent Secretary explained that the reduction in fish supply is due to a number of factors, which includes pollution, high cost of fishing input and use of obnoxious fishing methods, rural urban drift and over fishing, among others.

He noted that traditionally, Lagosians have always been fisher men, but over the years volume of fish caught has been dwindling; thus prompting the state to introduce fish farming about 20years ago to address the dwindling supply.

Basorun said the executive training on farming was conceived 11 years ago to expose participants to the new investment opportunities in the fisheries value chain and build capacities of practicing fish farming for enhanced productivity.

The Permanent Secretary said food security is one of the cardinal programmes of the present administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, adding that strategies are in place to engender sustainable food production and ensure that the citizens are well fed.

According to him, “one of the major principles of attaining food security is to look at those areas where we have comparative and competitive advantage and focus on them. One of those areas is aquaculture because over 22 per cent of the land mass of Lagos is covered by water and we have a 180-kilometer coastline”.

Speaking earlier, the special guest of honour, who is a veteran fish farmer and a former Permanent Secretary in the state Civil Service, Mrs. Adedoyin Olusoga, said the downward trend in fish supply over the years has necessitated the massive importation of fish, adding that: “this is a big drain on the scarce foreign exchange, hence aquaculture or fish farming has been identified as the next viable option for increasing domestic fish production.”

She said the state requires about 330,000 metric tonnes annually to satisfy the dietary needs of its citizen and the aggregate domestic fish supply from all sources is about 176,850 tonnes per annum.

She added that the government has realised the huge potential for increasing fish production and has initiated developmental projects that make aquaculture popular and as a tool for sustainable fish production and employment creation.

Govt reviews New Alliance on investments • From left: CEO/Editor-in-Chief, AgroNigeria, Mr Richard-Mark Mbaram; Sheguna; representative of Oyo State Fadama Mr. Nathaniel Olayinka; Adewoyin and Bolade at the Town Hall Meeting in Ibadan.

Stakeholders advocate sustenance, modifications of agric reforms

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TAKEHOLDERS in the agric sector from the Southwest have expressed confidence on the ability of the reforms implemented by the former Minister of Agriculture, Dr Akinwumi Adesina to boost food production.

The reforms, according to them, will ensure abundant food production.

They urged the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to adopt, adapt and upgrade the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) blueprint of the former administration and sustain its gains.

This was their resolution at the end of a one-day town hall meeting anchored by AgroNigeria, a media organisation promoting agriculture and its value chain. It held at the conference hall of the University of Ibadan.

A stakeholder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Agric House, Mr Kayode Ehindero, advised that President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration should avoid policy summersaults in agriculture, refine and sustain good policies and frameworks put in place by the former agriculture minister.

He advocated that migratory cattle herdsmen should be incorporated as an integral part of the policy and frameworks to be put

in place by the new administration.

This, he said, is to forestall needless clashes between crop producers and herdsmen, adding that all are working to ensure a food-secure Nigeria.

Another stakeholder and Chief Executive Officer, Aquatech, Dr George Sheguna, identified challenges faced by farmers in Nigeria and other parts of developing world as finance, management and marketing.

He said farmers should be able to show financiers what they need the money for and faithful in the implementation of financial proposal to engender trust in the industry.

Sheguna also advocated that youths should be attracted into agriculture by making training in management, land and farm tools available at subsidised prices.

A University of Ibadan (UI) postgraduate student, who attended the conference, Miss Michele Opinache, said graduates of agriculture and allied disciplines were not interested in agriculture because they opted for such studies because they couldn’t secure admission into their chosen disciplines.

Prof Rasheed Awodoyin, of the Department of Crop Protection and Environmental Biology, UI, said public universities in Nigeria are

overwhelmed with lopsided admission applications, with over 70 per cent applying to study popular programmes, such as Medicine, Law, Accounting, Economics, among others, while Agriculture and allied disciplines are usually not applied for.

This, he said, informs giving candidates courses they do not apply for. He urged agricultural graduates and others to develop interest in agribusiness as their contributions would reduce unemployment, poverty and associated vices.

Another participant, Chief Executive Officer of Fagna Consult, an agricultural service provider, Mr. Ajadi Bolade, while lamenting poor financing of youths in agriculture, encouraged them to ignore all odds, explore agriculture with passion, plans and determination to make a difference with quality products, good agricultural practices and cost-cutting strategies.

Representative of Oyo State Agricultural Development Programme (OYSADEP), Mr Akinola Dauda, said although youths should be incorporated into schemes of things in agriculture, most of them entrusted with facilities are not usually faithful based on experience.

T

HE Federal Government and other stakeholders have reviewed the progress made under the New Alliance Cooperative. The parties have agreed to improve agricultural investments, food and nutrition security.

The commitments were made under the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP).

At a validation workshop on the New Alliance Report in Abuja, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sonny Echono, said the New Alliance is a collaborated approach geared towards developing the agricultural sector.

Echono, who was represented

by Director, Special Duties in the Ministry, Mrs. Ademola Abiri, said the the government made policy reform commitments and the private sector made commitments on the level of agricultural investments in medium terms. He added that Development partners on their part made funding commitments on medium term, while the civil society was expected to ensure that all the commitments reflect the views of the intended beneficiaries.

The Permanent Secretary disclosed that under the partnership the government is committed to 13 major policy actions in the areas of seed and fertiliser, while the key development partners are committed to funding, equivalent to $500m for Nigeria’s agriculture sector between 2013 and 2016.

He added that international and local business firms are committed to making investments of about $4 billion in the agricultural sector,

adding that through the partnerships, more private investments would be seen, thereby improving the environment for investment.

He said annual progress report on the level of implementation of stakeholders’ commitments would be provided at the national and continental level.

Earlier in a welcome address, the Director, Planning and Policy Co-ordination, FMARD, Mr. Rabi Idi – Adamu, said the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition was launched in 2012, with the principle of reaffirming continued donor commitment to reducing hunger in Africa.

She said the workshop would afford participants the opportunity to share the 2014/2015 Nigeria Progress Report of Implementation based on the various commitments of partners for the purpose of consolidation and improvement before its submission to the African Union Commission by August 31.

Expressing support for the workshop, the President and Chairperson, Steering Committee, Nigerian Women Agro-Allied Farmers (NIWAAFA), Mrs. Lizzy Igbine, assured that Nigerian farmers are strongly behind the workshop.

The founding development partners in the initiative are Canada, the European Union (EU), France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom (UK) and the United State (US).

The 10 African countries that initially joined were Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal and Tanzania.

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015

16

THE NATION

BUSINESS INDUSTRY

industry@thenationaonlineng.net

Few months after the take-off of the Economic Community of West African States’ (ECOWAS’) Common External Tariff (CET), some aspects of the common regional tax regime, which seek to tackle the challenges of cross-border smuggling, have been criticised by manufacturers. They say the new policy, which took effect on April 11, should be fine-tuned, writes Assistant Editor OKWY IROEGBU-CHIKEZIE.

ECOWAS CET: Why manufacturers are kicking

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EFORE the commencement of the operational phase of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Common External Tariff (CET) on April 11, this year, the policy had enjoyed the overwhelming support of the real sector operators, especially manufacturers. Most of them saw the policy, which ushered in a common regional tax regime, as the wedge for cross-border smuggling, which has almost crippled the domestic economy.

Aside the hope that it would ensure significant improvement in the implementation of the ECOWAS Trade Liberation Scheme (ETLS), which will give rise to the concept of a regional Customs union, the scheme was seen as an effective instrument for harmonising the import policies of member-states to strengthen the framework for the realisation of a common market.

ECOWAS CET allows goods from any other part of West Africa into Nigeria without the imposition of any tax, import duty or levy. It means that goods imported into a Francophone country will not necessarily be cheaper or more expensive than those entering another Anglophone country, such as Nigeria or Ghana.

CET, according to experts, is a mild form of economic union, but may lead to further types of economic integration.

In addition to having the same customs duties, the countries may have other common trade policies such as having the same quotas, preferences or other non-tariff trade regulations apply to all goods entering the area, regardless of which country within the area they are entering.

The approval for the implementation of the new tariff was conveyed in a statement signed by former Finance minister Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. The NCS said all imports arriving in the country beginning from April 11, shall be subjected to the rates contained in the CET 2015- 2019 and 2015 Fiscal Measures without recourse to the rates applicable before the coming into effect of the ECOWAS CET 2015 – 2019.

In a statement, NCS spokesman, Deputy Controller of Customs, Mr. Wale Adeniyi, said the approved Supplementary Protection Measures/Fiscal Policy Measures comprised an Import Adjustment Tax list, which involves additional taxes on 177 tariff lines of the ECOWAS CET. The ECOWAS CET also covers a list of goods whose import duty rates have been reviewed to encourage more development in strategic sectors of the economy and an Import Prohibition List (Trade), applicable only to certain goods originating from nonECOWAS countries. However, few months into its implementation, certain aspects of the policy appear to have got under the skin

of manufacturers.

For instance, at a briefing on the state of the economy, which held in Lagos last week, President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Dr. Frank Jacobs, said though manufacturers welcomed the introduction and commencement of the operational phase of the ECOWAS CET by the Federal Government, the policy appears to be the bane of industrial development in the country because of the difficulty in the consignment clearing process involved in its implementation.

He said though the CET implementation started with the hope that it would eliminate smuggling, which has almost crippled the economy, the initial stage of its implementation was almost marred with difficulty in clearing processes and unnecessary delay of goods at the ports. This, he said, resulted in high demurrage. He, however, expressed hope that as the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) gets accustomed to the proficient of the CET procedures, the delay in clearing will be greatly reduce.

But the delay in clearing goods at the ports is not the only grouse of manufacturers.

The MAN chief pointed out that another off-shoot of the implementation of the ECOWAS CET is its implication on pharmaceutical companies in Nigeria. While identifying what he called ‘oversight of the CET’ with regards to the pharmaceutical sector, he said: “It was observed that within the CET framework, imported finished pharmaceutical products attract zero per cent duty, while imported pharmaceutical input materials attract between five per cent and 20 per cent duty.”

The implication of this tariff arrangement, Dr. Jacobs pointed out, is that locally produced medicines will be more expensive than imported ones. “If this is not addressed, it could lead to the closure of pharmaceutical industries and retrenchment of workers. This, by extension, will lead to an upsurge in poverty and crime levels in the country,” he stressed.

Some of the issues raised by MAN are not new. Before the take off of the policy, some experts had argued that there was the need to make smooth the grey areas in its implementation if Nigeria must benefit from CET. For instance, former director-general of Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Dr John Isemede, identified the need for harmonisation of the various tariffs.

For instance, while countries, such as Nigeria, Ghana, and Gambia are Anglophone nations, Togo, Benin, Burkina Faso, are Francophone. Similarly, while Value Added Tax (VAT) is five per cent in Nigeria, 20 per

‘The tariff issues of pharmaceutical products import in respect of the CET tariff arrangement is a crucial matter that must be addressed to continue to maintain the employment position in the sector’

• Yusuf

• Jacobs

cent in the francophone countries and 15 per cent in Ghana, he noted that only when these VAT are harmonised can there be sub-region talk about one external tariff.

Noting that Nigeria may not get to the Promised Land on the platform of CET unless VATs are harmonised, he called on ECOWAS to harmonise the various VATs in the countries for the smooth implementation of the policy. He also said cost of doing business in Nigeria was high compared to other countries, which is why goods shipped into the country are cheaper than the ones made in the country. He added that there was need to address issues responsible for the high cost of doing business in Nigeria.

Also, Director-General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mr. Muda Yusuf, said CET would have serious implica-

• Isemede

tions for the economy, particularly the manufacturing sector, unless issues of high energy cost, high costs of funds, high regulatory charges, and high ports charges, among others, are not addressed. He said the manufacturing sector is suffering significant competitiveness issues hence the need for immediate policy responses to avoid the collapse of what is left of the sector.

Director-General, NACCIMA, Mr. Emmanuel Cobham, said local industries need protection against the influx of foreign products in the wake of the implementation of the ECOWAS CET. NACCIMA’s position on the policy is that manufacturing companies need some level of protection against the influx of foreign products that the tariff favours. Cobham said since the CET regime had commenced, the government might need to consider ways of alleviating the hardship on importers and manufacturers alike.

Under the new policy, goods are grouped into five categories of tariff rates: zero, five, 10, 20 and 50 per cent. Goods dutiable under the zero per cent category are special drugs as well as industrial machinery and equipment.

Under the five per cent category, goods dutiable include raw materials and other capital goods. Those dutiable under the 10 per cent category are intermediate goods while finished goods attract 20 per cent import tariff. Finished goods that can be manufactured locally, however, attract 35 per cent import tariff.

For MAN, the import adjustment tax of 20 per cent should be introduced for imported finished pharmaceutical products with HS Code 3003 and 3004 because Nigerian manufacturers have the capacity to produce these medicines. Besides, the import prohibition list prescribed in the CET, MAN, insisted, should be retained because there is available local capacity in Nigeria.

“The tariff issues of pharmaceutical products import in respect of the CET tariff arrangement is a crucial matter that must be addressed so as to continue to maintain the employment position in the sector,’’ MAN stressed.

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015

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HEALTH THE NATION

E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

Many babies are malnourished. This condition affects their growth. Experts, think mothers need more education on how to breast feed their babies. WALE ADEPOJU writes

How to tackle babies’malnourishment B

ABY Saratu Yakubu (not real name) was born underweight.

Her massive head sitting on her tiny neck showed that she was suffering from malnourishment.

The story of little Yerima Hamzat is similar to that of Baby Yakubu.

He, too, was born tiny. His frail body drew the attention to him at the Emergency Ward of Abuja General Hospital. His mother had rushed him to the hospital when he collapsed.

His mother is a peasant farmer, who manages to eke a living from her trade.

As a result, she needed money to pay for her son’s treatment.

The doctor said the problems arose because the babies’mothers did not eat good food during their pregnancies.

Their poor dietary habits may also have a negative effect on the babies’ intelligence quotient (IQ) because their brain development rests with the mothers’ dietary food intake.

Head, Community Health Department, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Dr Yetunde Kuyinu, said the nutrition of every child begins from the womb.

A poorly-fed foetus may have difficulty developing like those of well-fed mothers when it is born, she added.

This the scenario many babies find themselves in Nigeria.

Malnourishment is a common problem many babies grapple with, especially those from poor and uneducated parents. This is why they are worse hit.

They suffer from the condition, not because there is nothing to feed them with, but because their mothers are ignorant of what a proper feeding habit/practice should be.

According to the 2013 National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS), 37 per cent of children under-five are stunted or too short for their age. This indicates chronic malnutrition. Stunting is most common among children of less educated mothers (50 per cent) and those from the poorest households (54 per cent). Stunting is more common in rural areas (43 per cent) than urban areas (26 per cent).

Eighteen percent of children under age five in Nigeria are wasted (too thin for height), which is a sign of acute malnutrition. In addition, 29 per cent of Nigerian children are underweight or too thin for their age.

• Prof Nnam The WHO recommends that children receive nothing but breast-milk (exclusive breastfeeding) for the first six months of life. Only 17 per cent of children under-six-month in Nigeria are being exclusively breastfed. On the average, children between zero and 35 months are breastfeed until the age of one and a half years and are exclusively breastfed for 0.5 months.

Complementary foods should be introduced when a child is six months old to reduce the risk of malnutrition. In Nigeria, two-thirds of children between six and nine months are breastfed and eat complementary.

The Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices recommend that breastfed children age between six and 23 months be fed foods from four or more food groups daily.

Non-breastfed children should be fed with milk or milk products, in addition to foods from four or more food groups. IYCF also recommends that children be fed a minimum number of times per day. However, only 11 per cent of breastfed chil-

• Dr Esangbedo dren in Nigeria are receiving foods from four or more food groups daily and receiving the minimum number of meals and just seven per cent of non breastfed children are being fed in accordance with IYCF recommendations.

Most parents, however, tend to connect their babies nutritional status to poverty because they could barely make ends meet.

But, this was dismissed by President, Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN), Prof Ngozi Nnam, who said the problem was not because of poverty but lack of education.

There is great need for adequate nutrition in pregnancy and after childbirth, she said.

According to her, breastfeeding mothers must give their babies adequate nutrition for the first 1000 days of life to enhance brain devel-

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From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

gramme.

The theme is: Breastfeeding and work, Let make it work.

Opurum said experts from various organisations and ministries would be on hand to teach mothers on how to breast feed.

He charged the government and private sectors to assist working mothers with the facilities that would make breastfeeding in their offices possible.

He said if the facilities were provided by employers, it would encourage working mothers to breastfeed their babies.

Opurum said leaving the babies at home would deny them access to exclusive breast feeding.

Oparum said the board would

opment.

This, she said, is important because: “that is when the brain is formed and it completes its formation by the second birthday.

She continued: “And, if any nutrient is deficient during these first two years of life, the role of that nutrient will not be performed.

There will be insults in the brain formation, that is, you will have gaps. Some of the cells might not develop well.

“And the worrisome aspect of it is that, it is irreversible, and the child lives with that malformed brain. That child will never do well in school or in any skill because brain controls whatever we do. The important thing is that, for these first two years of life, children should be given foods that are nutritionally adequate to provide all

LSACA takes HIV campaign to communities

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HE Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA), in collabo ration with Community AIDS Development Foundation

Rivers’ PHC board urges exclusive breast feeding HE Rivers State Primary Health Care Management Board (RSPHCB) has organised an awareness week to educate nursing and expectant mothers in urban and rural communities on the importance of exclusive breast feeding.

The awareness was aimed at sensitising nursing/expectant mothers and community leaders, especially men, to ensure that babies are breastfed exclusively for six months from birth.

The board’s Director, Community Health Service, Dr Isaac Opurum, who spoke on the global awareness campaign on breastfeeding, said the state is collaborating with United Nation Children Fund (UNICEF) to ensure the success of the pro-

‘37 per cent of children underfive are stunted or too short for their age. This indicates chronic malnutrition. Stunting is most common among children of less educated mothers (50 per cent) and those from the poorest households (54 per cent). Stunting is more common in rural areas (43 per cent) than urban areas (26 per cent)’

the nutrients required for proper development of that child, particularly proper development of the brain.”

Mothers’nutrition status, she said, may make or mar babies’ development, stressing that malnutrition is not caused by poverty but ignorance.

“Lack of education is the major reason many babies are malnourished,” she said.

Nnam lamented that some people erroneously think that eating expensive delicacies would stop malnutrition, adding: “Malnutrition remains high because of ignorance.”

She said: “For example, poor people, who live in rural areas, have access to fresh food, fruits and vegetables in their environment but they would not cook them for their family. They would rather sell them, not minding that they also need nutritious food.”

Nutrition, she said, is the bedrock of development, adding for an individual to develop well he or she needs to be in good nutritional standing.

President, Union of National African Paediatric Societies and Associations (UNAPSA), Dr Dorothy Esangbedo, said the nutrition of children remains a major challenge with the decline of exclusive breastfeeding in babies below six months in Nigeria to 13 per cent and 23 per cent of children under-five are severely stunted as revealed in the 2008 NDHS. The improvement of nutrition, she said, would boost the immunity of children to withstand malaria and other diseases.

Esangbedo urged mothers to maintain exclusive breast feeding, adding that Nigeria is still on less than 20 per cent which is a far cry of the world standard of 35 per cent.

She said some countries in sub-Saharan Africa are already doing better than Nigeria.

This, she said, made Nigeria had the worst health indices in the world as the country contributes 10 per cent of 8.1 million world infant mortality of children, which die across the world yearly.

organise a baby show to reward mothers who breastfeed their babies exclusively.

He continued: “The programme is a global event and a one week event that is expected to draw the attention of the mothers, rural community leaders, the government and the private sector to the importance of breastfeeding, particularly exclusive breastfeeding.

“Exclusive breastfeeding helps the child to develop immunity and it also protects it from unnecessary illness. They hardly come to the hospital with diseases and other infections when exclusively breastfed. The breast milk assists in the development of the child’s brain. This is why we are inviting the mothers to be part of the event.”

By Wale Adepoju

(CADEF), Rock Care Initiative and People Against HIV/AIDS in the Barrack (PAHAB), has begun free HIV counselling and testing in some communities in the state.

They are Shibiri, Iyana Era/Tipper Garage, Gojere, opposite Ojo Barrack, Igbo Elerin First Gate, Onireke in Ojo and Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Council Area (LCDA).

The programme, the Acting Chief Executive Officer, LSACA, Dr Olusegun Ogboye, said is aimed at taking HIV campaign to door-steps.

He underscored the importance of people knowing their status, stressing that most residents preferred to be attended to in their immediate environment instead of travelling some kilometres before getting the service.

LSACA in collaboration with the Civil Society Organisations (CSO) decided to provide services in those communities before moving to others, he said.

Ogboye said awareness and re-

sponse to reduce HIV prevalence is key to the state’s strategic plan, and as such, every hand must be on deck to get to zero prevalence.

He said the state has inaugurated the State Technical Team on mapping of Most At Risk Populations (MARPs) of people.

The MARPs, he noted, included female sex workers (FSW), injecting drug users (IDU) and men having sex with men (MSM) .

The team, he said, would identify the locations where people inject drugs and men have sex with men.

“They would be counselled and tested. There would be moonlight testing for female sex workers too,” he said.

The agency, he said, was conducting interviews for research assistants, data clerks and supervisors for local epidemic appraisal (LEA) study, adding that this was done being in partnership with the Society for Family Health (SFH) to scale up HIV prevention in the state.

LSACA would take the HIV campaign to difficult areas, Ogboye said.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015

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THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL

LETTER

Not yet time to boast •Military chiefs should stop giving the impression that the Boko Haram war is won already

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HE boosted morale and commitment of the Nigerian Army with regards to the Boko Haram terrorist group is evident in the string of successes being recorded on the battle front. This must have informed the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Borate’s pledge to dislodge and demobilise the militants before the expiration of the three-month target set by President Muhammadu Buhari. The army chief who has been moving round the battle grounds in the North East to encourage the troops said, contrary to the assessment of the general public, the war would be won as the military authorities are committed to ensuring that Nigeria is rid of the evil effects of the group’s activities.

We have noticed the incapacitation of the sect in many of the cities and towns of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states where they had earlier seized territories.

It is obvious that the commitment of President Buhari to restore peace in all parts of the country is paying off. Since he assumed office on May 29, he has embarked on shuttle diplomatic missions to the United States of America, member countries of the Lake Chad Basin and the headquarters of the African Union. At each stop, he tried to mobilise support for the fight against terrorism. As a result, he has restored confidence in the capacity of the Nigerian military to win the war. The American president, said to have refused to sell needed military

equipment to prosecute the war has resumed normal cooperation with the Nigerian military, and Nigeria’s contribution to the multinational force set up by the Lake Chad Basin Countries has been paid.

While frontal attacks on towns and troops have reduced drastically in the past two months, suicide bombers have remained on the prowl. Young girls and boys have continued to deploy Improvised Explosive Devices at strategic points, leading to the death of innocent Nigerians. Displaced people are still unable to return to their homes and the image of Nigeria as an unsafe country is still rife abroad.

The military chiefs should speak more through action on the battle front than the media. There is no doubt that the equipment required are still in short supply. This much was admitted by the former Commander of the Army Corp of Engineers, Major-General Sardauna Davies at Bonny Camp, Lagos, last week.

Describing the militants as a bunch of wanderers and bandits, he admitted that the army was still suffering from a dearth of equipment. This confirms that a lot still has to be done. It is not yet time to boast or celebrate.

We commend the new team of military chiefs for efforts at collaboration, rather than the competition and rancour that defined relations during the Jonathan era.

They should continue along the new line.

We also note the role good intelligence

gathering has to play in prosecuting the war. In this case, the Chief of Military Intelligence has his role well cut out for him. The Department of State Services should also be accorded a pride of place.

The war against terrorism is not for the fighting forces alone. The Civilian Task Force deserves commendation for the role it has played so far and as we have pointed out in previous editorials, the military should seize the opportunity to improve on civilian-military relations.

While appreciable gains have been recorded, it is not time to rest on our oars or become complacent. Nigeria’s pride is at stake. So, all hands must be on deck to ensure that this task is done efficiently and effectively.

‘The military chiefs should speak more through action on the battle front than the media. There is no doubt that the equipment required are still in short supply. This much was admitted by the former Commander of the Army Corp of Engineers, MajorGeneral Sardauna Davies, at Bonny Camp, Lagos, last week’

Saved by the bell •Had the FG not changed its mind, 102 officers and 2,500 soldiers could have been sacked unjustly

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EWS that the Nigerian Army has recalled 102 officers and some 2,500 other ranks, hitherto sacked for alleged desertion, would greatly please the victims. But every thoughtful Nigerian should break into a cold sweat: this massive miscarriage of justice could have stood, had President Goodluck Jonathan won a second term.

That would have been well and truly tragic. For a country battling the dire challenge of Boko Haram, the security situation would probably even have worsened.

If Boko Haram had thrived on citizen alienation and dissonance from the state, sparking fearsome terrorism, one can imagine what such cavalier injustice could have turned the victims into. That reinforces the point that any order that thrives on injustice only digs its own grave.

The Boko Haram crisis, and the military

‘This review is welcome and praise-worthy. But the new military authorities should not stop until every soldier and officer unjustly treated in this saga gets justice. That is the least we can do to restore morale in our armed forces, and recharge our soldiers’ heroic covenant with the Nigerian state’

personnel caught up in its web, is explosively emotive. The Nigerian state, under President Jonathan, seemed to have no answer to the Boko Haram menace.

The army high command faced neardemystification; and was set to lose its martial swagger. In panic, it would appear to have sent poorly armed soldiers to the war front. But these supposed lions soon turned jelly, faced with superior fire power.

Should they then have stoically committed avoidable suicide? Or beat some retreat, no matter how untidy, which could have saved their lives but nevertheless opened them up to the charge of desertion — or even, the ultimate disgrace of a soldier being branded a coward?

But if the state did not provide a soldier all he needs for combat, can the same state morally — and even legally — turn round to charge the victim with desertion; or brand protests that result from such systemic anomalies, “mutiny”?

That was the grim situation under President Jonathan’s military high command, headed by Air Marshal Alex Barde, former chief of defence staff. That clear systemic rot was not helped by Marshal Barde’s crass insensitivity, when he declared himself irritated by all of the fuss, since the soldiers could easily have been quietly tried and shot.

Besides, he added, what the army owed its men were just the uniform and a rifle!

But the same Barde, at his pull-out after retirement, admitted the arsenal of the Nigerian military had suffered wilful depletion, over a period of time.

It is thanks to the majesty of the Nigerian electorate, that voted out President Jonathan, that these service men were virtually saved by the bell — for this verdict reversal would have been near-impossible under the ancien regime.

Worse: many would have faced the firing squad, leaving their loved ones devastated, with pain, anguish and shame, for it would have been claimed they were cowards rightly shot for bolting, when they should have fought to save fatherland.

That dire verdict would have been impunity bordering on cold-blooded murder. Yet, the Barde military high command would have spun it as due comeuppance for contemptible deserters, undeserving of the valour and glory of the Nigerian military.

The grim moral? Offices and laws must be put in the hands of responsible and fair-minded people. The army high command under President Jonathan would appear the direct opposite of such an ethos. That is why the Buhari Presidency should look into ways to officially reprimand that reprehensible conduct, even if each of the involved officers cannot personally be called to account and punished.

This review is welcome and praiseworthy. But the new military authorities should not stop until every soldier and officer unjustly treated in this saga gets justice. That is the least we can do to restore morale in our armed forces, and recharge our soldiers’ heroic covenant with the Nigerian state.

The impending probes IR: President Muhammadu Buhari told Nigerians: “If we don’t kill corruption, corruption will kill us”. This, no doubt, highlights the obviously endemic nature of corruption in Nigeria. There is, perhaps, no other social ill that has made a mess of our nation than corruption. The several policies and programmes of previous administrations in the country have not achieved desired results due to the deep-rooted nature of corruption among the various classes and groups in the country. Almost every sector in the country has been destroyed by corruption. We have spent billions of dollars on the power and oil sectors with little noticeable improvement. Every direction one faces in the country, one is bound to see the evil hand of corruption.

Over the years, funds meant for the development of public infrastructure have been diverted by public officials and their cohorts for private use. The result is that a greater percentage of Nigerians has been consigned to a miserable life of incredible poverty while very few who are entrusted with the commonwealth have continued to live in inconceivable opulence and affluence.

With the monumental havoc that corruption has done to our nation and its people, it doesn’t, therefore, sound rational for anyone to affirm that fighting this evil would distract President Buhari from governance. If the issue of corruption is one of the major issues that President Buhari and his government are able to confront frontally, our county would, undoubtedly, be the better for it. Presently, considering the President’s body language in respect of corruption, many public institutions and government officials are beginning to sense the signal and are already falling in line. This is what we need at this point in time. Enough of the rot of the past!

One major way through which corruption could be tackled in the country is to sanction corrupt officials and individuals as prescribed by the law of the land.

The only thing that evil requires to triumph in any society is for evil to constantly go unpunished. It is morally wrong to allow corrupt public officials to enjoy and flaunt their loot while many Nigerians continue to bear the pains of their acts.

This is not how to build a sane society where fairness, probity and equity reign. Enough of the distractions- Let the probes begin!

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• Tayo Ogunbiyi, Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh • Editor Gbenga Omotoso •Chairman, Editorial Board Sam Omatseye •General Editor Adekunle Ade-Adeleye •Editor, Online Lekan Otufodunrin •Managing Editor Northern Operation Yusuf Alli •Managing Editor Waheed Odusile

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THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015

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CARTOON & LETTERS

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IR: I was amused to see the report and picture of the nebulous body called Southern Nigeria Peoples’ Congress in some national papers of 26th August, 2015. This fire brigade, self–serving organisation exposes much of the Nigerian character; when we are having things our way, we laugh and relax. When things are slipping by, we cry foul. Going by the screaming headlines reporting the outcome of the meeting – “Anti-graft war, lopsided appointment; Gbonigi, Ekwueme, Clark, others slam Buhari,” the conferees deserve some pity.

The crux of their grouse are political and senior management appointments made by the Buhari administration, observing that these appointments have not being fair (to whom they did not tell us), and asking Buhari to respect the configuration of the Nigerian polity. Pray, when did the concept of Southern Nigeria Assembly start?

Obviously many things escaped the knowledge or memory of the participants, especially those from the South-West. Have we in the West

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Southern Nigeria Peoples’ Congress : The grapes are sour forgotten so easily our misfortune in the last five years when the federal government administered the country as if our region was not part of it?

I have written on two occasion drawing attention of Nigerians to the apparent imbalance, if not outright discrimination, in the appointments to first and secondary levels of political positions; and most importantly, to executive and management positions in the MDAs, especially the Agencies. I told Nigerians that vital government positions in these sectors were lopsided in favour of the South- South and South-East. I even posted the figures as follows – SouthSouth and South-East are 70%, North -Central, North-West and North-East about 25 to 27%, and South-West just

Corruption: Ambrose Alli University and JAMB

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IR: Nigerian students are most vulnerable when it comes to corruption in the Education sector; the most recent case has to do with the Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, Edo State and the Joint Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB) My name is Peter Augustine, I graduated from AAU last year. Due to the general elections in the country, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) decided to have only two batches of Corps members this year. The first batch was mobilised in May. The Management of AAU did not mobilise us, the graduates of 2014, for no reason.

Now is the time for Batch B to be mobilised and most of the students that graduated from AAU just discovered from JAMB’s website that they were offered admission to a different school entirely and a different course.

Most of these students have al-

ready printed the hard copy of their JAMB admission letters while they were in school. How is it possible for a graduate to have his admission altered after graduation?

After consultation with the school management, the students were asked to pay a whooping sum of N7,000 to correct the problem.

Now, whose fault is it that our admission status was altered on JAMB’s website? And why are we supposed to pay such a huge sum of money to get it corrected?

Many students for fear of being exempted from the NYSC programme have paid this money to the school.

The students are crying out for help and saying No to this fraud.

Please help and speak for us; be a voice for the voiceless.

• Peter Augustine, Ekpoma, Edo State

about 2%.

Was there a Southern Assembly called to pontificate on this during those unfortunate years? Did anybody in the Northern zone gang together to accuse the South-South and South-East of foisting themselves on the Nigerian nation?

Are our Yoruba leaders aware that public service appointments, notably in the Ministry of Power and its agencies and indeed many other MDAs, were still being rushed almost hours before the new administration took over? Did the Federal Character Commission blink an eye to these infractions? There are many more questions to answer.

Looking at the photograph in one of the papers of 26th August 2015, I observed that Bishop Gbonigi is a “fish out of water”. A fish rightly belongs to water, but when it is on dry ground it becomes an uncomfortable being indeed! The revered Bishop known for transparency and

total commitment to equity and fairness shares very little with the likes of Edwin Clark, the super godfather of the last administration and all it stood for.

Reading through the write-up, there are familiar names like Dr. Kunle Olajide, Chief Bode Ajewole, Chief Ebenezer Babatola and Prof.

Olu Agbi, among others. For obvious reasons, I don’t want to make any remark about these, but it is sufficient to say that the situation in Nigeria deserves a deep study.

How many appointments has Buhari made to attract the inappropriate accusation of lopsidedness or unfairness?

I don’t remember in all my years when ‘Southern Nigerian Assembly’ took a sustainable position regarding the administration of the Nigerian nation. The involvement of the Ondo State Governor is not surprising. It is in pursuance of his newfound love – struggling for leader-

ship in Nigeria. While I wish him good luck in this legitimate pursuit, I want to remind the aggressive governor that he is a Westerner, a Yoruba man before he becomes anything or everything later.

I remember in the late 50s and early 60s that on the rare occasion that Azikiwe and Awolowo struck a deal on how to confront what they called the ‘Feudal North,’ the joint position usually changed barely 24 hours after the misguided accord. This was usually because the leader from the Eastern Region would not opt for collaboration with what was yesterday a feudal North, ‘in the national interest.’ Was Awolowo naïve all this time? At first he was trusting and later on he stood his ground for principles which he followed faithfully throughout his political career. In fairness to Azikiwe, he was more pragmatic and realistic to know that Nigeria can never be ruled successfully with political affiliations horizontally but vertically.

The last five years taught us a lasting lesson. The Nigerian nation is a collection of nationalities and therefore of interests. Its administration must reflect this for us to survive and to make a mark on the continent.

• Deji Fasuan, MON, JP, Isato, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State

Re: Alleged diversion of N1tn

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IR: Permit me the opportunity to express my thoughts on the recent allegation by the Senate that Ibrahim Lamorde, Chairman of the EFCC, diverted N1tn from seized assets of Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, former governor of Bayelsa State and Tafa Balogun, a former Inspector General of Police.

It is no surprise that this probe is coming at a time when the EFCC is said to have questioned the wife of the Senate President, Toyin Saraki, and has also sought the help of the London Metropolitan Police to widen its investigations on the properties purchased by Bukola Saraki, the Senate President, in the UK. Is it not absurd to accuse one man

to have stolen ONE TRILLION NAIRA? Please, I beg to question, what assets and monies is George Uboh talking about?

I remember that in 2009, at Chelsea Hotel, Nigerians applauded Mrs. Farida Waziri, former Chairman of EFCC, when she handed over monies and assets recovered from Alamieyeseigha, to Timipre Sylva, his successor.

I believe the CEO of any organisation is the Accounting Officer. Therefore, Nuhu Ribadu, being the Chairman at the time assets and monies were recovered from Alamieyeseigha and Tafa Balogun, should be called upon to answer questions. It is unfair to smear the name of Lamorde and the EFCC. As some of us have not forgotten,

in 2007 Saraki faced investigations by the then Nuhu Ribadu-led EFCC alongside other governors but connived with James Ibori of Delta state to unseat Ribadu, in which they prevailed.

I am concerned that this may be a scam by Saraki who found an ally in Uboh who purportedly holds a grudge against the Chairman of the EFCC for terminating his contract with the Commission in the Alamieyeseigha loot.

History will not repeat itself and I urge Lamorde not to succumb to the attempt by Saraki to intimidate him.

The fight against corruption must continue in earnest.

• Keyu Eni Abacha Road, Mararaba

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015 16

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COMMENTS

Money ruins all of us Email: tunji_ololade@yahoo.co.uk 08038551123, 08111845040

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ONEY ruins many men.

It impairs the moral fibre thus making the average human inhumane but that is because man often fails money. The Nigerian man in particular, fails money and so doing loses his right to lord over it and own it.

Money, like a wild mongrel needs to be tamed. It requires firmness, chariness, deliberate conservatism and modesty of a full man to tame it, own it and control it. But that is hardly the case; many a man is owned by his money. The Nigerian man, woman and society in particular, are owned by money; that is why contemporary Nigeria worships money.

Like fire, money becomes a bad master due to our incapacities at taming its flare and controlling it; consequently it consumes us.

Money corrupts the brightest amongst us and renders the most promising man and woman worthless; it consumes all who would do anything and everything to acquire it, whatever the consequence.

Hence the domestication of yesterday’s ‘heroes’ and corruption of the shrewd – men and women by whose citizenship and wisdom we aspired to freedom and progress have being tamed, house-trained, like hunt dogs and pastoral cattle.

Eventually, we suffer the transmutation of such established, self-acclaimed defenders of the people’s rights into despicable lapdogs, attack dogs and junkyard dogs of the ruling class.

Little wonder Sunday of Isabo, Abeokuta, Ogun State, ditched his noble job as foremost columnist and chairman of a national newspaper’s editorial board to become the attack dog and junkyard

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dog for President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. Many of his readers and fans bemoaned his ‘betrayal’ but from Sunday’s perspective, it is unarguably selfish of anyone to expect him to cling to the drudgery and emptiness of his former job and scorn a-chance-ina-lifetime opportunity to be part of Nigeria’s high-society be it as errand boy or disposable ‘bingo.’

Who would have thought that the unrepentant critic of inept and oppressive ruling class would dump his pen and cape of honour to become an attack dog for the ruling class that erstwhile incited his vitriol? Today, Sunday is speaking from every side of his mouth; having patrolled Aso Rock corridors as the greyhound would the premises of its master, he has beaten a retreat at the ouster of his master to hibernate in safe haven abroad . It must have been lucrative being an errand dog.

In Sunday’s descent subsists the irony of a contrived metaphor; the former columnist’s desertion of his sanctimonious high ground and renunciation of his self-touted activism and crusade for justice, government accountability and morality aptly illustrates contemporary Nigeria’s self-love and enslavement to mammon.

An inordinate lust for money drives this generation to self-destruct. Having perverted the natural order that places man above money, the animate cowers to the inanimate; Nigeria submits to mammon, and science, technology, power, property and other bastions of materialism own and controls us.

The consequences are rampant and discernible for all to see.

Our lust for money has put paid

AVING watched Dr. Tunji Olaopa labour quietly in the trenches in the last decade without an expectation of being rewarded, I held back tears when a colleague gave me the news that President Muhammadu Buhari was going to confer on him the National Productivity Order of Merit Award (NPOM) for all that it is worth, at long last.

Tunji Olaopa does not cut the picture of a classroom academic but very few scholars have influenced discourses on public administration and the general public space like he has done within the past two decades. I had a singular opportunity of reading over two dozens of his publications and can conveniently distil two themes in his intellectual adventure; namely, his treatise on public administration, and his intellectual interventions in public discourse and good governance in Nigeria.

Evidently, Olaopa‘s seminal arguments on public administration are emanations from his doctoral thesis, his general experiences as a career civil servant and his stint with the bureau of public service reforms, an agency which he conceptualised in 2003 and which raison d’être was to provide technical backstopping to the re-engineering of the nation’s public service.

A cursory glance through his works reveals an uncanny passion for public service. These include dozens of peer-reviewed journal articles and monographs such as Public Administration And Civil Service Reforms In Nigeria (2008), Innovation And Best Practices In Public Sector Reforms (2009), Public Service Reforms In Africa (2010), Managing Complex Reforms: A Public Sector Perspective (2011) and the Nigerian Civil Service of the Future (2014) and The Joy of Learning, the life and times of Professor Ojetunji Aboyade.

On the civil service, Olaopa traced the history of the Nigerian civil service to the colonial service which was in force during the early years of Nigeria‘s independence. A potpourri of indigenous officers and expatriates, the colonial model civil service was designed as a mere secretariat of government business, but the need to expand its scope and replace the expatriates with local workforce gave rise to series of reforms and challenges. According to Olaopa, the height of this disarticulation in the nation‘s service occurred during the almost four decades of military rule. The regimented mentality and the customary command-and-control style of the military severely rubbed off on the psyche and operations of the civil service.

The noticeable manifestations of systemic weakness were overexpansion of the service, unification of erstwhile regional services, nepotism, corruption etc.

The colonial model started well in Nigeria and flourished up to the early post- independence years when the system opted for the replacement of expatriates under the Nigerianization scheme. Although the expatriates were known for dedication and professionalism and even inspired the pioneer Nigerians

to that staunch historic adherence to a cultural value system that supposedly distinguishes the Nigerian in the larger comity of nations and universal citizenship. Gone are our touted values; incontestable code of personal and societal ethics that supposedly humanizes the average Nigerian and moulds him into a fuller and better breed of mankind than any other in Africa and across continental divides.

The current generation, the youth especially, manifests a dissonance with future bliss and progressive leadership anticipated of it. This generation is not only the most knavish but also the most effeminate of all generations; I will not bother over the shortcomings and atrocities we inherited from preceding generations lest I tow the oft beaten path and glamourize our claims to victimhood and base sentimentality. If the Nigeria we inherited is truly shorn of values and promises of a brighter tomorrow, must we aggravate the circumstances that foist upon us such hopelessness?

One of the most curious kinks of this generation is its sustenance and obeisance to the cult of the ruling class. Take the immediate past administration of former President Jonathan for instance; men and women that erstwhile professed to champion the people’s rights united to defend Jonathan’s honour and justify defiantly, the unceasing ineptitude and mindlessness of his administration.

They conveniently forgot that the administration’s insensitivity, clumsiness and gluttony cost Nigeria thousands of lives. Evidences of the government’s incompetence and tactlessness abound in its appointment of men and women unfit to run a roast corn kiosk to man the nation’s finance, aviation, health, defense, foreign affairs, education, works and housing ministries to mention a few. Inefficiency of such characters fostered corrup-

tion, violence and deaths across the country.

This anomaly incited harsh criticisms and disillusionment among the citizenry, however, as had always been the case, the leading critics took no part in the pursuit and actualization of majority will beyond lip service; nonetheless they proceeded with the most vulgar extravagances courting power and projecting it, irrespective of the nature of men and women that wielded it.

It is incontestable that many of such men, including the former president’s media attack dogs, attracted to themselves much that bespoke psychosis and common crime. Like the minority that paraded themselves as the former president’s apologists, they cackled like a coven of unbalanced enthusiasts that saw every illicit and sentimental act of bestiality as cause for political theatrics and hysterical spinning.

Renowned turncoats like Sunday of Isabo for instance, were very useful to the ruling class; wobbly in intellect and infinitely handicapped by greed, they repeatedly paraded themselves as pirates amenable to crimes and accessible to venal enterprise. These purchasable characters eventually shed their pretensions to heroism and honour to unite with the ruling class in its savage war against the citizenry.

We have fought many wars in Nigeria; wars for Biafra and Niger Delta, the ongoing war for and against the soul of the Northeast currently asphyxiating in the grip of terrorist sect, Boko Haram; these

wars are ultimately triggered by our failures with money and its innumerable material vestiges. Yet these wars are never enough; every day, we embroil in fresh wars for self-actualization but the wars of the underdog, Nigeria’s impoverished lot, has a greater significance than all of the others.

This daily battle for the soul and survival of the struggling working class and barely existent middle class is merely an episode of the universal war that constitutes the true nature of humanity and history of the world—the war of good against evil, ruling class against working class, the haves against the have-nots.

These wars however, are lost on all fronts even before the masses march on to the battle field every day. This is a consequence of the knavery of men entrusted to serve as our moral sentinels, custodians of culture, value and hope for a brighter tomorrow. These men, contrary to their touted crusades in the interest of the citizenry, unconscionably mutate into more savage destroyers of hope and forms of life than the ruling class they were known to despise. But rather than call them out for the savages and murderers of hope that they have become, the Nigerian masses continually rationalize their betrayal arguing that they were only being smart. Perfidy and greed thus become noble enterprise in the Nigeria of our dreams.

• To be continued...

‘An inordinate lust for money drives this generation to self-destruct. Having perverted the natural order that places man above money, the animate cowers to the inanimate; Nigeria submits to mammon, and science, technology, power, property and other bastions of materialism own and control us. The consequences are rampant and discernible for all to see’

Olaopa and merit of National Productivity award

By Philip Afaha who took over from them, the service was to witness a steady decline in quality service delivery and professionalism especially from the middle of the 1970s due to unhealthy interservice rivalries for managerial talent and spurious promotions. The dynamics of manpower utilization which hitherto relied on planning, forecasting, budgeting and control broke down as even job designs, description and performance were determined by nepotism and other shady factors. In fact, such critical condiments of the public service such as officer deployments, job classification grading and posting became manipulated by politicians and senior service officials. The practice was for some unscrupulous officials to attach an occupational classification to a staff just to get the staff graded far beyond his mates. The author opines that it was this “character of the state” that dampened the competence and efficiency of the public service.

Every succeeding regime grappled with reforms to ensure the much-needed transformation of the Nigerian civil service from merely ‘administrative to managerial culture’ to ensure optimal productivity.

He offered strategies to plug the yawning gaps that have short-circuited the reform trajectory of the civil service. These gaps include: policy gaps, capacity gaps, process gaps, performance gaps and resource gaps.

The depth of his arguments reveals him as an expert-insider; his works interrogate the dynamics of the reform of the civil service in Nigeria and calibrate the very essentials that would reinvigorate this all important institution of the government which is plagued by corruption, disarticulation and systemic weakness.

On his adventure in public discourse, Olaopa upped the scale above typical Nigerian public commentators; he is not an armchair critic, but a purveyor of facts and solutions. Various writers have appropriated social criticism as a vehicle to protest those elements of the society they feel ineffective, dysfunctional or corrupt. Areas such as bureaucracy voyeurism, big government, racism and human rights often take centre stage in such essays. In recent times, such writers captivate the reader with not only their lamentations on societal problems but take

care to convincingly demonstrate solutions to such problems and attempt to refine the people’s feelings about the society in which they live. The mindset of social critics in Nigeria can be understood as they are irked that the country has potential for greatness if only things are done the right way. The expectations which drive such critics to protest can be captured in the lamentations of Chukwudifu Oputa when he submitted that “Nigeria is great in size, great in population, handsomely blessed and richly endowed by a kind and prodigal providence with almost unlimited natural resources. The challenge is for all of us to make her even greater than nature portend...but if, and only if we are disciplined” With the array of his research works, Olaopa‘s contribution to the pool of knowledge on public administration is not in doubt. No comprehensive research or reading can be achieved on the Nigerian public service without a footnote on him. It is intriguing that this feat was achieved by a supposedly busy permanent secretary in the nation‘s civil service. Winston Churchill once said in his famous epitaph on Joseph Chamberlain that one mark of a great man is the power of making lasting impressions on the people he meets. Another is to have handled matters during his life that the course of after-events is continually affected by what he did. Here, one is wont to see the portrait of Tunji Olaopa squarely in this description.

It is these uncommon traits and his propensity to contribute more to the uplift of the Nigerian public service that inspired his recognition for the coveted National Productivity Order of Merit Award for 2015.

Although this one comes as an addition to the numerous feathers in our subject’s cap, the person giving the award this time around is President Buhari - the no-nonsense, austere Nigerian leader who is credited with integrity and a focus on merit. He has been called by history to clean up Nigeria. The quintessential Buhari would not say well done unless one merits it. He is not known for frivolities. He must have noticed a man who combines excellent service with turnkey research output to re-engineer and strengthen the public service.

• Dr Afaha is a lecturer in the Dept of History and Diplomatic Studies, UNIABUJA

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015

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COMMENTS

Rating OAU’s rating

T

HAT Nigeria is hobbled on all fronts is a reality enormously supported by the existential woes of a disproportionate majority of its inhabitants. The country’s key institutions are effectively dysfunctional where they are not totally moribund. It is the reason behind its continual starkly horrible position among the columns of countries with uninspiring records on good governance and human development initiatives.

Whether it is the Ibrahim Index on African Governance of September 2014 which rated Nigeria as an eminent member of the group of the worst governed countries in Africa, or the UNDP Human Development Report of the same year which ranked the country low on all vital markers of development, the bald fact is that the most populous black nation on earth is very much in the woods of myopic leadership, wanton corruption, institutional anomie, pervasive lawlessness, unsustainable economic policies, and avoidable crippling youth unemployment.

The knowledge factories of the country are not without their tell-tale signs of persistent decay and progressive decline in quality along the three legs on which they are propped, namely research, teaching, and community service. Nigeria’s higher institutions of learning regularly fare well in operating at a distance from the culture of excellence that defines other lighthouses of knowledge in other places, beginning from a few countries like Ghana and South Africa on the African continent. Having lost the light in their houses owing to a number of avoidable factors, it is hardly any surprise that the products of our higher institutions of learning are everything but round and sound. It is even of no surprise that parents who can afford it now prefer to dispatch their wards, posthaste, to

By Akinola Adediran other countries whose educational systems are firmly rooted in the earth of high standard and quality performance.

But even when it appears some of our higher public educational institutions are casting off the burdening bog of lacklustre performance in the execution of their objectives, there is always some totally preventable disappointing reality that often stands out like a sore thumb. In the shining armour of a few federal universities in Nigeria inching towards a resurgence of the best tradition of a university, there is always a depressing chink.

It is against the foregoing backdrop that one views the recent ranking of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) as the best higher institution of learning in Nigeria.

According to reports in some national dailies and online news portals, an international institute which concerns itself with ranking universities across the world, Cybermetrics Lab of Spain, considered OAU as the primus inter pares for the fifth unbroken time, with the universities of Lagos and Ilorin trailing behind in the second and third positions respectively. The research organisation, which is owned by the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, based its assessment on such areas as the curricular, research, academic and general administration of the university.

Ordinarily this should delight the heart, considering the fact that the indices which the international research group considered in reaching its conclusion in the ranking of OAU as the best are critical to the continuous relevance of any university that is not a knowledge factory in name and structures

‘OAU may have added another feather to its small cap; but its top officials must note that rather than mafficking, they need to rise stoutly to check the menacing tide which seeks to totally erode the quality and substance of teaching and general administration under their watchful eyes’

J

UST a few months back this year, ace Nation newspaper columnist Olatunji Dare had, while disclaiming authorship of the publication’s Hardball column, described its tenor of discourse as ‘irreverent.’ In its Monday, August 24, 2015 edition titled ‘Whimsical Willie’, the column demonstrated that it also has capacity to make misconceived and misleading commentaries.

The supposed subject was a lecture delivered by Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano at the School of Media Communications, Pan Atlantic University, Lagos, on Thursday, August 13, 2015. The lecture, ‘Sustaining the Legacy of Growth and Development in Anambra State, which drew applause from the audience, curiously draws the fury of the commentary.

The first placard against the lecture is introduced with this patronising comment: ‘Governor Willie Obiano was granted a fine platform to show the stuff he is truly made of and showcase his activities in the last one year … but he fluffed the opportunity.’ This statement drips with the sour grapes that the governor was in need of redeeming a lowly image. On what basis could his reputation have needed shoring up? This is a governor who has attracted $2.4 b investments into the state’s economy in sixteen months of assuming office. This is a governor who has put in place a subsidised mass transit scheme for the benefit of the masses.

The same Obiano had in less than one year increased worker’s salaries by fifteen percent. This is the same governor currently engaged in massive infrastructural projects all over the state and whose leadership is in accord with civil society.

You are left to wonder the motive behind the decision to talk down on Obiano’s focused leadership. Could it be that the author[s] of the publication was in the dark about the advances Anambra State has recorded in the past seventeen months? But given that these strides are out there in the public domain, it is more probable to say that the writer[s] chose to close their eyes to these developments to suit preconceived positions.

A perceptive leader could not have gone to a public lecture to play to the gallery, pander to any constituency’s subjective interest or massage anybody’s ego. Obviously, Chief Obiano’s purpose at the lecture was not to impress cynics and detractors but to engage in intellectually - enriching discourse on the trajectories of Anambra’s development journey with objective minds.

But riding on the crest of a strange brand of presumptuousness, the column sought to find fault with the contents of the lecture on these terms: ‘It ought to be apparent to even a dummy that this topic is backgrounded and anchored on the activities of Obiano’s immediate predecessor, Mr Peter Obi. Legacy in simple terms suggests a bequeathal, an inheritance. But Obiano the legatee, spoke in total denial of yester-

mainly. Research, needless to stress, is the lifeblood of any higher institution of learning. It is the long-winding, circuitous, interminable path to the treasure troves of knowledge that can help to scale down mountainous socio-economic problems. The same is true of teaching, curricular design and administration. Where those are sensibly handled and intelligently coordinated, the entire country will be the better for it.

While I agree that OAU in research outputs, and to a certain degree in its curriculums in some programmes, is showing more than a promise to connect fittingly with the culture of best practices in the real academic world, I should like to observe that some chinks abound in the magnificent armour of the university in the areas of teaching and general administration. I have robust interactions with a few students of the university across some departments. They regale me with horrid tales of how comfortable some of their lecturers are with boycotting lectures or habitually turning up late for lectures. The ones who barely show up and those who stroll in thirty minutes late for a lecture of one hour all have something in common – arrogant silence. They often consider it below them to explain their inexcusable absences or justify their half-hour appearances. I have been told repeatedly about some of the female lecturers in the Faculty of Education giving such reprehensible excuses like going to the salon for their hairdos. Also, lecturers gladly ignore their lectures all in the name of going to pick their children in schools.

There are other lecturers who consider it a transgression for their students to raise questions on their ‘lectures’. They frown gravely at the whole idea of being questioned on certain points, a development which astoundingly negates a core essence of a university.

Nevertheless, a disproportionately high number of students continue to return positive assessments of these misbehaving lecturers whenever they are to attend to the lecturer assessment sheet designed by the university. Students betray their consciences to do that because they have been threatened by their lecturers and so fear the backlash of

poor grade or delay in graduation. While there are diligent, disciplined and dedicated lecturers with enviable work ethics in OAU, I fear to report that those completely opposite at various levels are gaining wider space.

Rather than dismiss these claims, the school management would do well to investigate them. They will not sweat much before they discover those mortifying practices. The organisation which rates the school in that cheering manner may be unaware of the trouble with teaching and the attitude of lecturers to teaching in OAU, but the top echelons of the school must never enjoy the selfdeception encouraged by the tide of the positive rating. They must avoid the false comfort that such rating is likely to inspire, considering the subsisting dent in the area of teaching. Enviable research culture and good curriculums will not take care of the culture of teaching, just as shoddy attitudes of lecturers cannot help in grooming the round and sound students who can give good account of themselves anywhere.

Moreover, there are equally appalling tales to tell in the area of general administration.

Many of the non-teaching staff of OAU can be terrible when it comes to doing their jobs.

They are mostly incompetent, unfriendly, and slothful. Even the school management can be very disappointing and draconian in their management of crises. Their recent response to the actions of the Non-Academic Staff Union of the university further revealed management inadequacy. Even issues concerning student welfare, protests, and demands are too often managed ineptly, thus affirming the view that Nigerian university mangers need more than a crash course in human and material management.

OAU may have added another feather to its small cap; but its top officials must note that rather than mafficking, they need to rise stoutly to check the menacing tide which seeks to totally erode the quality and substance of teaching and general administration under their watchful eyes. Otherwise, Africa’s most beautiful campus risks becoming the white, outwardly glittering but inwardly rotten sepulchre the Nazarene talks about in his parable.

• Adediran wrote in from Enuwa, Ile-Ife, Osun State.

Re: Not whimsical but working Willie

By Ifeanyi Afuba day.’ The first observation on this outburst is to wonder whether the author[s] of the statement actually read the lecture. Why are they in denial of the fact that Obiano acknowledged the contributions of his predecessor in the Anambra narrative? Readers are invited to peruse the lecture in the Sunnewspaper of Friday, August 14, 2015 to see who between Hardball and the Governor of Anambra State is living in denial.

Obiano not only credited Peter Obi in his lecture but in my view did so to the point of exaggeration – and I will expatiate on this shortly. Hear the Governor: ‘I found it hard to contemplate that in our 24 years of existence as a state, things began to fall in place only nine years ago when my predecessor Chief Peter Obi took over the reins of leadership and began to implement the APGA model of governance. Even so, I still shudder with bewilderment when I remember the titanic legal battles he had to fight…’

What the critics of the lecture probably wanted was to see the exercise reduced to a chronology of Obi’s achievements.

Perhaps Hardball should hold another lecture on the Peter Obi years to sate its curious desire. At this juncture it seems necessary to mention that in the very second paragraph of his one-year anniversary speech, Governor Obiano said: ‘…we have returned to this place after 365 days with a great harvest and bouquet of new dreams. Now, before I go any further, I would like to acknowledge the good foundation laid by my brother and predecessor, Chief Peter Obi…’ In the face of these recognitions at significant public functions, the accusation of pettiness against Obiano falls flat on its face. Any dispassionate reader of the lecture will be struck by its extensive survey of the Anambra journey from a geo – historical and cultural perspective spanning human resource development; Igbo worldview; politics in Anambra State to the current challenges facing the state. Well thoughtout and well written, it is hard to think of a presentation that could have done greater justice to the topic.

Thus, the misconceived demand that a discussion on Anambra’s legacies must be dominated by the Peter Obi experience would make a mockery of the continuum of government. And this is where I slightly differ and think that Governor Obiano’s acknowledgement should have gone further than Obi. Beyond the distinction of the APGA model of development shared only by Obi and Obiano, there were other leaders whose contributions, however meagre, form an integral part of the state’s legacy. Chukwuemeka Ezeife,

first civilian governor, operated in dire straits and circumstances. Inaugurated four months after the state’s creation, Ezeife with very little funds managed to provide the structures for the running of government machinery and is on record as having built the first government housing estate in the state. The much criticised Chinwoke Mbadinuju administration initiated the Orient Petroleum venture; the Oba international market project and completed the Iyi – agu housing estate. Though burdened with legitimacy deficit, the Chris Ngige regime is credited with network of durable roads and reduction in violent crime. While agreeing with Obiano’s suggestion that these interventions lacked a coordinated and coherent approach, it would nonetheless amount to inequity to shut out these actors as Hardball slyly canvassed.

The prejudices informing the lecture appraisal becomes clearer with the refusal to credit the present administration for the state’s prevailing economic stability. Consider the sneering that attends the insight into the state’s fiscal merits. ‘We analysed the Nigerian economy and foresaw that oil prices would crash to about $55 per barrel in less than one year. We foresaw that if oil prices crashed, it would bring down our revenue by 50 percent. Having figured that out, we began to work on improving our IGR by restructuring our revenue sources.’ To this profound economic intelligence which has ensured industrial peace in Anambra State at a time many states are in arrears of workers’ salaries and pensions, Hardball rants: ‘One would wager that even organisers of the lecture must have been thoroughly let down as much asHardball.

Many thanks to Hardball, though. By allowing its tantrum free reign, we are able to see who is whimsical after all.

Who else but whimsical Hardball could make the asinine statement ‘to think that he [Obiano] has not managed to initiate an original thought so far in the running of the state’ and expect people to see it as sensible?

• Afuba wrote in from Nimo, Anambra State.

‘Chief Obiano’s purpose at the lecture was not to impress cynics and detractors but to engage in intellectually - enriching discourse on the trajectories of Anambra’s development journey with objective minds’

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015

23

Newspaper of the Year

AN 8-PAGE PULLOUT ON SOUTHEAST STATES

Free treatment for four communities

FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015

Lawmaker to pay amputee’s bills

Eroded pipelines threaten community

•PAGE 26

PAGE 25

•PAGE 39

•PAGE 40

Many residents watch the earth move, pulling down homes, cutting off roads and leaving them in despair.

OKODILI NDIDI reports on the ravages of erosion in Imo State

•A portion of Nekede Road cut off by erosion

The rage of erosion in Imo Ihiagwa, Old Nekede and Umudibia.

Coincidentally, the affected communities all in Owerri West Local Government Area are hosts to two Federal institutions in the state, Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) and the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede.

The Nekede-Ihiagwa Road, for instance, can best be described as a disaster waiting to happen as residents and motorists plying the road are exposed to great danger; the road may cave in anytime without warning.

This obvious risk has compelled staff and students of the tertiary institutions to abandon their cars at home and engage the services of commercial motorcyclists at exorbitant fares.

Hoodlums have also cashed in on

,

I

T sometimes looks like a horror movie in slow motion.

Right before their eyes, roads and farmlands are being washed away. Some communities are being cut off, houses buried in red earth. In some places, residents of threatened homes peer down in horror on the huge gulf created by that seven-letter word: erosion.

Most communities in Imo State are coping rather badly with the phenomenon. Displaced residents have been suking, unsure when the terror will end.

Their pain has been compounded by the increasing rainfall that has resulted in flooding and the creation of gully erosion that has eaten away the already deplorable roads.

Worst hit, are the residents of

The Nekede-Ihiagwa Road can best be described as a disaster waiting to happen as residents and motorists plying the road are exposed to great danger; the road may cave in anytime without warning

,

this situation to torment residents and road users alike as they now lay ambush at these points where they pounce on their victims and dispossess them of their valuables.

Recently, a Reverend Father, who was also a lecturer at the Imo

State Polytechnic, Umuagwo, was murdered at one of the erosion points by gunmen who laid ambush there.

Some others have taken it upon themselves to mend the potholes and equally demand for money from the motorists.

Piqued by the development and the continued neglect of the roads by the relevant authorities, students of the two federal institutions are now threatening to embark on protest to draw attention of government to their plight.

The traditional ruler of Umudibia Autonomous community, Eze Godwin Merenini, appealed to government to come to the aid of the residents as economic and social activities have collapsed in the community as a result of the bad roads.

The obviously disturbed monarch, lamented that indigenes who go to Owerri, the State capital for their businesses now spend more than an hour going through •Continued on page 26

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015

26

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT The rage of erosion in Imo •Continued from page 25 Ihiagwa via Obinze instead of 20 minutes it normally takes from Nekede to Owerri.

Motorists and tricycle operators plying the road are equally counting their losses as they meander through the borough created by the erosion to take their passengers to their respective destinations.

At the old Nekede road, tricycle operators have to intermittently drop their passengers who will cross to the other section of the road on foot before they commence their journey.

Indigenes of the community complained that they now live in constant fear as the fast expanding erosion is endangering most houses along the road which they fear may cave in when the people are asleep in the night.

The residents disclosed that all the entreaties to the state government to come to their aid and tackle the menace had gone unheeded.

They appealed to both the state and Federal Government to urgently tackle the erosion, imploring that the road is the only link between the community and the state capital.

Also the residents in Ndegwu, Irete and Orogwe have resigned to fate as they watch helplessly while erosion wreck havoc on their roads,

houses and farmlands. For instance, the only road leading to Ndegwu, a sleepy agrarian community has been totally submerged by flood. The residents wade through the waist deep water to take their children to school and ferry their farm produce to the market.

One of the residents, Mr. Stanley Uzoadu, observed that the road became worse after the contractor handling the critical link road which connects the three communities abandoned it after excavating the both sides of the road.

According to him, “we are exposed to serious danger crossing the water and the rate of water borne diseases have increased in the last two months. We are appealing to the state government to carry out a palliative maintenance on the road to avert the impending disaster”.

Public institutions like schools and markets are also not spared by the rampaging erosion. Several school buildings have been reportedly abandoned for fear of possible collapse as a result of the erosion.

A highly placed government official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that the erosion menace became worse because the state have not been able to access the Ecological fund in the last four years due to politically motivated bottlenecks.

•A failed portion of the road

Barely two weeks after several communities were treated free by some Anambra State indigenes based overseas, four more settlements have benefited from a similar outreach, NWANOSIKE ONU reports

Four more communities treated free

I

T was good two weeks ago; now things are getting even better.

Barely 14 days earlier residents of six communities in Anambra State were diagnosed and treated free for various ailments. Their benefactors were kith and kin living overseas who came home with a shipment of medicaments. They treated people in Oko in Orumba North, Abagana in Njikoka and Obosi in Idemili North council areas. Also attended to, were patients in Ihembosi and Ozubulu in Ekwusigo as well as Oba in Idemili South local government areas. The beneficiaries loved every bit of it.

Now another batch of medical personnel has visited the state, zeroing in on four communities and treating their ailing residents. The medical missionaries from Italy worked for nine days in Nanka in Orumba North, Ogidi in Idemili North, Umuleri and Aguleri in Anambra East councils.

The group, called Opera Don Bonifacio Azione Verde, was led by Rev. Fr. Boniface Duru, who hails from Imo State, on the invitation of the Anambra State government.

It was tagged Viaggio Della Speranza (meaning journey of hope).

The group, according to the founder and president, Rev Fr Boniface Duru, has about 400 children also on scholarship in Imo. The children were adopted by the

•Dr. Duru (in white, middle) with the medical missionaries group to give hope to the hopeless, while some of them had graduated from different universities, few others are still in primary, secondary and tertiary school in Imo state according to the group.

On the whole, about one thousand patients were treated by the group for various ailments in the four communities, especially for diabetes and hypertension.

Speaking with The Nation on their mission, Rev Fr Duru lamented that the two ailments diabetes and hypertension were on the rise in the com-

,

The government cannot do everything; we help the governments reach the grassroots, touch the sickly and the downtrodden

,

munities, adding that people should take serious precaution.

However, he said that the group was willing to collaborate with the state government in getting it right and help to better the lives of the sick

people of the state through their humble mission.

He said: “The government cannot do all, we help the governments reach the grass roots, touch the sick and the down trodden.”

“The question of the grassroots is a central issue in governance and any government capable of reaching the grass roots in its activities has suc•Continued on page 27

Imo ex-Commissioner makes case for Buhari

A

FORMER Commissioner for Health in Imo State, Dr. Joe Obi-Njoku has faulted the insinuation by some politicians that President Muhammadu Buhari is not keeping pace with his promise in handling Nigeria’s problems.

Obi-Njoku who disclosed this in an interview in Owerri, the Imo State capital, said, “Those accusing Buhari of being slow in handling the country’s problems miss the point”.

He explained that President Buhari was taking his time to diagnose Nigeria’s problems properly before administering treatment to achieve effective results.

The medical practitioner further maintained that “Nigeria’s enor-

From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

mous problems could not be tackled without proper diagnosis, otherwise no good socio-economic result would be achieved”.

He commended the president for taking stock before embarking on appointments and other key matters of governance.

The former commissioner appealed to Nigerians to exercise patience with the Buhari administration, adding, “The President has vowed to put Nigeria in the right direction and his determination to fight corruption showed that he understood the major causes of Nigeria’s backwardness”.

Obi-Njoku argued further that

“Nigeria was under threat of collapse under President Jonathan as a result of the overwhelming influence of insecurity but Buhari’s victory saved the Country from collapsing because his military background has been brought to bear in tackling the problem”.

He expressed optimism that Nigerians will witness prosperity under the Buhari’s administration, while urging Nigerians to give him the deserved support to succeed.

The medical practitioner finally dismissed the allegation that President Buhari hates the Igbo, saying, “The President is for all Nigerians and there were Igbo working with him even before now”.

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015

27

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

•Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof Asiabaka flagging off the buses

New buses for FUTO staff From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

the VC noted that were purchased with funds from the Special Intervention of Tertiary Education Fund (TETFUND), adding that delivery of the buses were taken some months ago.

He said that the drivers who will operate the vehicles have been given months of rigorous training to ensure that they are adequately prepared for the job, considering the safety of the members of staff.

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RANSPORTATION challenges at the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) are easing as the institution has flagged off six 57seater buses for its staff.

The Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Chigozie Asiabaka inaugurated the vehicles.

Prof Asiabaka said the buses will convey members of staff from their homes in any part of the state to the school every day.

He said this will save them the huge cost of fuelling and maintaining their private cars, which they hitherto overuse to meet the ever increasing demands of their job.

While commissioning the buses,

The buses were air-conditioned for the convenience of all the categories of staffers, staff of the university who struggle to come to work every day either on their own private vehicles or public ones

,

According to him, two additional buses of the same capacity will arrive soon to add to the fleet.

He disclosed that the buses will

take off at designated points at an agreed time every morning to ensure that workers to their offices on time.

Four more communities treated free

Science fair for Enugu pupils

•Continued from page 26

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HE Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board (ESUBEB) in collaboration with the Community Innovation Center (CIC) has announced its plan to make the state the hub of science and technology.

That was why it organised a science and technology fair for primary schools.

The programme was designed to lift Nigeria from its backward status to compare with the western countries in terms of science and technology.

The theme of the fair was titled “Applying Science and technology to solve today’s problems.”

The programme which hosted about 12 schools out of 40 selected schools featured exhibitions from different primary schools, junior secondary schools, budding scientists and researchers within and beyond the state.

The Executive Chairman ESUBEB Enema Onuora said that the programme was created to help in strengthening science and technology education in primary and junior secondary schools through creating platforms for junior and senior innovations within and outside school system.

She explained that the programe which started with a workshop,

He however said that little fares will be charged for the fuelling and maintenance of the buses.

Speaking at the event, the Director of Physical Planning Development of the institution, Ago Chikwendu, an Architect, said the drivers were taught the operation technique of the buses during the months of training.

He disclosed that the buses were air-conditioned for the convenience of all the categories of staffers, staff of the university who struggle to come to work every day either on their own private vehicles or public ones, will certainly heave sigh of relief when the buses become fully operational.”

The programme was created to help in strengthening science and technology education in primary and junior secondary schools through creating platforms for junior and senior innovations within and outside the school system

,

From Chris Oji, Enugu

trained selected teachers and pupils from public schools on creating technological products and applying science to create simple appliance in the state.

The Chairman stated that the science and technology fair was mainly focused on pupils who already have science background and was also limited to the schools in the urban areas as it looks forward •Continued on page 37

•A pupil with his invented water filter

ceeded, people in the periphery need the assistance of humanitarian organisations” One of the patients suffering from diabetes, Martha Okonkwo, from Ogidi, told The Nation that the group gave her some drugs to help in alleviating her sufferings, because she had nobody to carter for her.

The diabetic patient further said that the aliment had been with her for the past six years, adding that she had got a little bit relived as a result of the drugs given to her by the medical missionaries.

Another patient from Aguleri, the community where Anambra state Governor, Chief Willie Obiano hails from, Mr. Cyprian Ogbuefi told the Nation that the mission of the group had really given him some relief.

On why the invitation to the medical missionaries, the coordinator of the group, Sister Fausta Manafa, told the Nation that it was to help the less privileged and the needy in rural areas, who had no person to carter for them.

She said the state government would equally extend such invitation to other groups like this, which according to her, had been the wish of Governor Willie Obiano to alleviate the sufferings of the people in the state.

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015

28

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

•Obiano's representative, Dr (Mrs) Uju Nwogu, Commissioner for information with members of OAAN during the visit

Anambra woos advertisers to increase IGR

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HE Police in Nsukka, Enugu State, have arrested two masqueraders for allegedly robbing a trader on Nsukka-ObolloAfor Road.

The masqueraders were arrested in Ovoko community, Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area of the state.

It was gathered that in the past few weeks, masqueraders had continuously mounted road blocks in such areas as Eha-Alumona, OvokoObollo-Afor, among several other

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

Governor Willie Obiano.

The governor’s representative, the state Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr Mrs Uju Nwogu received them.

Adedoyin raised the alarm that quacks and street urchins were imposing themselves on the state to defraud the government, adding that such should not be allowed.

He said that such elements harass and intimidate the ANSA officials in various Communities, by charging them money in the name of space.

Adedoyin maintained that

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A

NAMBRA State Government has agreed to partner the Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN) to increase its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

The partnership may have started yielding fruit, as the body has urged the state government to route all the outdoor advertisements through the Anambra Signage and Advertising Agency (ANSA) headed by Sir Jude Emecheta.

The visitors who were national leaders of the organisation, among whom Tunde Adedoyin (President) and Femi Ogala (Secretary), visited

Quacks and street urchins were imposing themselves on the state to defraud the government; that should not be allowed

,

through the intervention of (OAAN) in some States including Lagos, the IGR of such states were increased, adding that all out door

advertisments should go through the authorised body in the state which was (ANSA).

Responding, the state Commis-

sioner for information, culture and Tourism, Dr mrs Uju Nwogu, promised that all the decisions taken by (OAAN) would be implemented by the Obiano administration to boast its (IGR).

She stated that the meeting had been the opportunity the state had been waiting for a longtime, adding that the state government would partner with (OAAN) through (ANSA) in the State to make the dream of the state a reality.

Also, ANSA through its managing Director, Sir Jude Emecheta said they were bound to succeed with the assistance of (OAAN).

Nsukka masqueraders held for alleged robbery From Chris Oji, Enugu

public roads, inflicting heavy wounds on motorists and dispossessing them of their valuables.

The police moved into action when the victim, Mr. Chinonso Ezewaji reported the matter at Nsukka Police Area command.

He said when two of the mas-

queraders were arrested, others ran away.

He said, “When the police team reached Ovoko along Nsukka– Obollor-Afor Road, where the masqueraders were operating, two of the policemen on a bus pretended to be giving the two masqueraders money; they stretched their hands to collect it and that was how we

hand-cuffed them and others ran away.

“Eight masqueraders have been on that road since morning tormenting road users; the two of them we arrested have denied involvement in robbing the trader, but they have given the names of the culprits.

“When we searched one of the arrested masqueraders, we saw Indian hemp in his pocket”.

Spokesman for Enugu State police command, Ebere Amaraizu confirmed the incident, noting that the police has commenced investigations into the matter.

Amarizu urged communities to regulate and monitor those who wear masquerades as some of them were hiding on it to harass, intimidate and rob innocent members of the public.

“Police is not against any culture but community leaders must know the character of people they allow to wear masquerades in the name of culture.

“A masquerader has no right to mount a roadblock on busy roads where motorists, motorcyclists and other road ply on daily basis.

“The police has commenced investigations and must get to the root of this matter as issue of masquerades disturbing people has become a recurring decimal”, he said.

Narrating his experience, the victim (Ezewaji), a trader, said he was on his way from Nsukka to ObolloAfor when the masqueraders in Ovoko stopped him, gave him the beating of his life, after which “they searched me and collected N57, 000 from my pockets”.

Meanwhile, the two masqueraders, who identified themselves as Kenechukwu Eze, a carpenter and Ejiofor Eze , bricklayer alleged that they were not part of the team that robbed the victim. They gave the name of the masquerader involved as Chima Mamah.

“We only collected N20, N100 and N500 from people; we didn’t participate in collecting the N57,000", one of them claimed.

However, Kenechukwu Eze, while admitting that the police recovered India Hemp from him, said “If police will release me, I will not wear masquerade or smoke Indian hemp again. It is the left-over of the one we smoked before coming out”, he said.

,

Eight masqueraders have been on that road tormenting road users; the two of them we arrested have denied involvement in robbing the trader, but they have given the names of the culprits

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•Umuopo-Port Harcourt Road at the Ohaji Egboma Local Government Area of Imo State end

Newspaper of the Year

AN EIGHT-PAGE PULLOUT ON THE SOUTHSOUTH STATES

FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015

PAGE 29

Killer-kerosene brings tears to Warri, environs

•Victims of the killer kerosene

H INSIDE

IS grandmother sits him on her laps, petting the little boy. The boy, barely three years of age, is going through excruciating pains.

Joshua Emavweria is one of the children who became victims of the killer-kerosene in circulation in some parts of Southern district

PHOTO: BOLAJI OGUNDELE From Bolaji Ogundele, Warri

of Delta State, including Warri South and Udu council areas. At least, nine cases of kerosene explosions have so far been recorded. The victims are patients at the Central Hospital in Warri and the University of Benin

DPR battles petroleum marketers in Bayelsa PAGE 30-35

Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin.

As the story goes, virtually all of the families whose children are lying critically injured in hospitals, bought kerosene the usual manner they have always done for as long as they could remember. The application of the fuel,

the days it went wrong, was not different from how they had previously applied it all along, but there was something wrong this time. It is suspected to have been adulterated and thereby became dangerous. It seems being adulterated, suspectedly, is not the only thing about this case, it looks also

Rivers waterside settlers, police row over Citizen Igbe’s death PAGES 32-33

like a targeted attack on children; besides the cases of the adolescents among the victims, who got burnt while carrying out chores, there are also cases, such as that of Master Emavweria, who were neither making fire nor carrying kerosene when they got burnt.

•Continued on page 31

Ofumwengbe/ Okponha bloodbath: The inside story PAGES 34

• YOU HAVE STORIES FOR US? PLEASE CONTACT US ON 07066954441 OR 08123521990

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THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015

NIGER DELTA REPORT FEATURE

NIGER DELTA REPORT INTERVIEW

DPR battles petroleum marketers in Bayelsa I ‘‘ T is a new regime for petroleum marketers in Bayelsa State. They must play by the rules and observe all the regulations governing the industry. The new culture of doing things properly without profiteering is being initiated by the Bayelsa State Office of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).

The department will no longer tolerate selling petroleum products especially Petrol Motor Spirit (PMS) above the Federal Government regulated prices. It will no longer allow marketers to engage in underhand practices such as under-dispensing, hoarding and other sharp practices aimed at shortchanging unsuspecting members of the public.

Recently, the department led by its Operations Controller in the state, Mr. Bassey Nkanga, met with the marketers and read the Riot Act to them. Prior to the meeting, the marketers were having a field day selling PMS between N110 to N115 per litre with the exception of the NNPC mega station which was selling at the regulated pump price of N87 per litre.

But Nkanga at the meeting with the Independent Petroleum Marketers of Nigeria (IPMAN) ordered the marketers to revert to the regulated price regime. The controller, also warned against under-dispensing of the product to consumers. He said under-dispensing is a form of surcharging the public and selling above the pump price through the back door.

He told the marketers that defaulters would be thoroughly sanctioned adding that the punitive measures would include fines, shutting down filling stations for between six and nine months and outright sealing off.

Nkanga also warned dealers who engage in adulteration and diversion of petroleum products to desist from such acts. He said the department would punish any marketer engaged in adulteration and diversion of prod-

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

ucts.

He said: “We are ensuring that fuel is sold at the approved pump price of N87 and this is with immediate effect.

Any defaulter in any form will be adequately sanctioned. Compliance is with immediate effect because penalties would range from fines, shutting down of stations for up to six and nine months.

“If you divert, we will charge you N200 per litre of the fuel you diverted.

If you under-dispense you will be sanctioned appropriately.”

At the meeting, Spokesman for IPMAN in the state, Ere Peters, said members of the association would comply with the order to revert to the controlled price.

But the Nkanga-led DPR did not stop at the meeting. The controller immediately constituted a team to go round the filling stations and ensure that marketers complied with the directive. The team stormed filling stations and discovered that some filling stations were still engaged in sharp practices. The team immediately sealed off stations engaged in under-dispensing and selling above the pump price.

Some of the stations tried to prevent the DPR team from doing their job.

They were punished.

Among the filling stations sealed for dispensing fuel above the pump price through the “back door” and refusal to allow DPR officials access, were RSK Oil, GA Oil and Gas, Mobil and SouthSouth Oil and Gas. For instance, at RSK Oil in Swali area of Yenagoa, the team discovered that the meters were fixed at N87 per litre, but when officials asked the attendants to dispense the product into 10-litre equipment, they found that the meter had been badly readjusted to cheat consumers.

The team noticed that product worth

There was one that said he had no product and later claimed that he was trying to fix his generator that went bad.

We will do monitoring for that one. We will start with them and ensure they sell what they have so that they don’t sell above pump price

•One of the filling stations affected by the clampdown

N674.25 was sold for N870.00, which meant that consumers were paying extra N195. 75 for every 10 litres of petrol bought at the station. The station was also indicted for not having adequate sand buckets and fire extinguishers.

Similar discovery was made by the

team at GA Oil and Gas on Ox Bow Lake Road. The station was collecting over N140 extra for every 10 liters sold to buyers through under-dispensing.

When officials of the DPR returned to South-South Oil and Gas sealed off earlier, they discovered that the station had reverted to the regulated pump price

of N87.

Nkanga said: “We are trying to ensure that nobody sells petroleum above the stipulated price of ?87. The renewed effort is tend towards ensuring that the public also enjoy the price regime of petroleum. That’s why you are seeing us going out en mass and

‘‘

daily, stepping up as surveillance. The essence of it is to ensure that marketers don’t sub-charge the public any longer.

“When we discover that somebody is grossly under-dispensing, we conclude that the person is selling above the pump price and we close the sta-

tion and make the penalty to be likethe one selling above pump price. But if it is just normal under-dispensing, we will take it as an error and suspend you and ask you to adjust your pump.

“Timicon was sealed for selling above N87 per litre. The other one that was suspended for under-dispensing was made to sign an undertaking that they will adjust the pump and not sell above the pump price. That was SouthSouth Oil and Gas. “There was one that said he had no product and later claimed that he was trying to fix his generator that went bad. We will do monitoring for that one. We will start with them and ensure they sell what they have so that they don’t sell above pump price. The one that has been shut will remain sealed until he pays the penalty and sign an undertaking never to wilfully under-dispense again.

“Now the government is putting its feet down that the depots must sell at the government regulated price no matter the condition. That is why everywhere in this country, this change is experienced.

“Prior to this problem, I had a lot of issues and petitions with Bayelsans when I just got here. But because we knew what we were doing, we maintained our focus.”

On the punishment for defaulters, he said: “Anybody that is found selling above pump price will pay a penalty of ?100,000. If we catch you three times, you’ll pay three times too. We may decide to punish you immediately or let you exhaust what you have under the ground first. We may decide to shut you down.

“We are sustaining this monitoring.

I have given my telephone number out. The staff we have re the people coming from other places. We tell the public that if they are not satisfied with the volume dispensed to you or the fuel was sold above the pump price, they should call the number and we will respond timely.”

Corruption tops discussion as Bayelsa health commissioner, ministry bag award

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HE awards presented recently to the Commissioner for Health, Bayelsa State, Dr. Ayibatonye Owei and his ministry were not ordinary. They came from an anti-corruption crusader and a whistleblowing non-governmental agency, the Centre for Ethics and Self Value Orientation (CESVO).

In fact, for an agency based in Lokoja, Kogi State, to identify excellence in service delivery and high ethical conduct of a commissioner and a ministry operating in the Niger Delta region further distinguished the awards. Little wonder, the employees of the ministry spent few hours after work to receive a team of CESVO led by the centre’s Executive Director, Prince Salih Musa Yakubu.

Yakubu, the founder of the Nigerian Parliament, explained why and how Owei and his ministry were selected for the awards. He said: “The Ministry of Health of Bayelsa today, has been found by this group among only 50 most ethically responsible state-owned ministry within the investigations that we have done. That is why we have come to thank you, because we don’t have money to give you.

“The highest we could give you is to encourage you and to stimulate you more. The health policy of Bayelsa state today, being anchored by the Ministry of Health benefits the Ibos, Yorubas, your tribal men, and even an Igala man like me.

“A lot of them are here and they

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

are also benefiting from the policy, courtesy of this ministry. Therefore, when we come here to say thank you, you will do more. And Nigerians will be affected positively. That is the news we brought to you today.

“In the entire country, out of these 50 MDAs that meet our standards, only four state ministry of health succeeded to be enlisted. The rest is story. Lagos is one, Bayelsa is two, Gombe is three, and Delta is four”.

He said before the ministry was selected, the centre sent out whistleblowers to monitor and observe the activities of the ministry and its relationship with members of the public.

“We are not anyhow group and so we don’t visit anyhow people. Just the same way we have come to this ministry; we have sent our whistleblowers to you. They meet you in your office like normal Nigerians looking for service. But what are they looking for?

“They want to establish if there is a symbiotic relationship between you and the public you are called to serve. Who are those that are ruled?

An African man can be carried away by the paraphernalia of office, that when they give them little office to handle, they barricade themselves from the people they are meant to serve. We don’t want such people in government.

“They are those that will continue to barricade themselves and keep on

•Yakubu presenting the award to the commissioner

cornering public funds to their own advantage. But no matter how far you go, 6ft measurement is enough for you and you will give account of your stewardship”, he said.

Turning to the commissioner, he added: “Sir, we have found you worthy in character and conduct. You are such a very upright, straightforward man, full of energy and action,

even though your actions at times affect some persons. You are a very rugged commissioner that wants results. We love you for that, sir. Today, we are to formally induct you as Ambassador of Ethics and a man of conscience”.

To the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Biribina Samayin, he said: “Of this ministry, because of your in-

sistence always that due process be followed, you have subjected beaurocratic procedures to the level that is so appreciated by us. Your non-compromise to beaurocratic procedures and servicom compliance is part of the reason why we are here today, though the attitude may be hated by some.

“At times, you and your Com-

missioner may be at loggerheads in the quest to achieve results, because you are human beings. If you don’t quarrel, there can never be results and progress. The commissioner is the political head of this ministry. But you have been able to manage your differences. We have enlisted you among only 200 ethically responsible civil servants

in the whole of the federation”.

He said the centre would return to train 100 employees of the ministry free of charge for two days. He said the trained employees would help to transform others and make them ethically responsible. He said the centre has so far trained over 7000 persons on ethics.

The commissioner said he never solicited for awards, adding that he never accepted such awards since he was just performing his job. He said it was regrettable that some persons solicited for and paid to get awards.

He said the award from the centre was no an individual honour but an award meant for the ministry.

He dedicated the awards to the restoration government of Governor Seriake Dickson saying the governor provided the directive for the ministry to operate.

“I am very delighted that this award is not a Greek gift. Nobody was paid money for it. Nobody influenced it. We decided to act it not for ourselves but on behalf of the Restoration Government of Governor Dickson who has made it possible for health benefits to reach Bayelsans”, he said.

He thanked the employees in the ministry for working round the clock to distinguish themselves. He asked the employees to make adjustments and work within the limited resources in the ministry. He said the award would motivate the ministry to deliver service to the people.

‘Niger Deltans must demand more from their leaders’ MR Daniel Reyenieju, member representing Warri Federal Constituency in the National Assembly speaks on the delay in passage of the PIB, underdevelopment of the Niger Delta region and why citizens must agitate more

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ILL the Petroleum Industry Bill ever see the light of day?

The PIB had always been in the front burner. I was opportune to be a member of the Petroleum Committee (Upstream) in 2007-2011 and I was a member of the committee that was set up to look into the bill. We worked very seriously and we got to a point where we started considering it on clause by clause basis. Unfortunately, it was aborted because our time ran out.

Then in the next assembly, I was also a member of the Petroleum Committee from 2011 to 2015. We did creditably well; we did anything that needed to be done. I was the only returning member of the committee to handle the PIB so I was in the driving seat. We did a lot; all consideration of the bill and harmonized all considerations and came out with the report and it was presented to the House. Sadly again, we started and finished the consideration almost on the day the House was winding down, which was about the same thing that happened in the 6th Assembly, but in the 7th we actually did complete it, but almost the same day we were winding down the House. It became like it was jinxed.

The issue is that the bill needs to concur with the progress in the Senate, but the Senate couldn’t get to the extent which we got to. The PIB was passed by the House (7th Assembly) now we have to wait for the Senate to conclude because we definitely have two different versions and we have to come back again to gavelto-gavel table where we need to harmonize the two positions. After harmonization, it doesn’t take anything more again, we merely need to adopt and it goes and become law.

However, because we have a new government in place, we may have the government of the day coming up with some input, fresh ideas, which ‘may’ affect us. But I think it is one issue we need to take up. I promise I will be one of those that will bring it up as soon as possible.

How has the non-passage of the PIB affected the oil bearing communities and the oil sector?

I will take that of the communities first. The bill is for the entire country; it is to reform and allow our oil companies to run in line with best practices all over the world. It is not an oil producing environment bill; this is where we get it wrong and this is where the wrong perception that the bill is fashioned towards supporting the oil producing states or region. A law made by the National Assembly is never sectional. Don’t forget that oil could also be found in the north or any other part of the country today and the bill covers it; if it goes to the Southwest, Southeast or any other part, it is the same thing. So, the laws are not for the South-south or the oil producing communities; it is not for the Warri Federal Constituency because they have oil, it is a law that is meant to govern in the acceptable best practices all over the world. I don’t want people to see it as a law that is made for particular section of the country because that is where we sometimes have challenges with our brothers and members from other parts of the country.

In terms of how the bill would have helped the oil producing communities: I have looked at the bill, apart from the aspect of the environmental issues and host communities fund, there is nothing fantastically to the benefit of the oil producing communities and states. Unfortunately for us too, the host communities fund aspect of it, which was to be a 10percent after-tax profit of the oil producing companies - it is not coming from the government. That again lost its value in so many ways. One thing people don’t seem to understand is that the 10percent is coming from the profit after tax of the multinationals and oil producing companies. That again lost its value because what was passed was that all parts of this country are host communities to oil. I find it very laughable to say that the entire country is host to oil. Yes, in terms of our federal law, it says all resources etc belongs to the country. But then do not forget that there is a derivation principle and definition. If you drill deeply, like they do when drilling for oil, into the meaning of derivation, you will find out that the entire country cannot be host communities because there is a point from where that oil is derived. It is that point and adjoining environment that is mostly affected by the oil activities.

As such, what I suffer as somebody sitting right now in Warri talking to you in terms of the adverse effects of oil exploration and exploitation activities is not what a north-

ern who is thousands of miles away from Warri would suffer from the impact of oil exploration. In terms of environmental damages too, what I suffer here may not be what other somebody in other parts of the country like South-west or South-east or North would suffer. I suffer more. What we are going through in Warri as we speak is something we need to evaluate and take measure to actually put to rest, if not, this is going to be very dangerous to the generations yet unborn.

But that is how it was passed and that is how it is with parliament; we have a loud minority, but the majority would have their way. The law has been passed that way and even if it is not right, we said, ‘let’s not throwaway the baby and the bathwater.’ That is for some of us who are against the principle of having the entire country as host community. We cannot say just because of that alone, let us throw away a bill of more than a thousand clauses. We would come by way of amendments to some aspects of this bill sometimes in future. That is if it is eventually passed and if it will ever be passed.

How do you think these various intervention agencies (DESOPADEC, NDDC and others) can have more impact in the lives of the people for which they are set up?

The people have to demand for adequate attention by way of agitation. This does not mean that they have to be violent or a call to take up arms. Agitations are in various forms: There is the peaceful violence, •Reyenieju intellectual approach to agitation and finally, the violence, which I will not subscribe to, because I don’t want lives lost, I prefer the other two.

What you should know is that a northerner is not on the management board of NDDC; they are all people from the Niger Delta, who know what the issues are with these areas. They must have lived here and people that lived here before their appointments as members of the management team. So, they know. The people should demand their rights from these people.

What is the state of the Koko-Ogheye road project?

The road construction is ongoing. It might be slow, but work is going on there. As we speak, we have accomplished about 6km and we are getting close to the first critical aspect of the job, which is the bridge over the Ologbo River.

There is progress towards sand filling to the river. By the time we get to the other side, I think we would have completed close to 15km to the Ologbo Bridge. The bridge is a very massive one, which is the next most critical stage of the bridge. There is something I would say and I have suggested it to people; the road should be divided into sections as it is with the East-West highway for quicker accomplishment. It should be for two or three construction companies: one at the beginning, another at the middle and finally one working from the Ogheye end of the project. That would have gone a long way to expedite action on the road. But because we have one contractor and issues of funding is also a major problem; funds are not readily available to all the mega projects around the Niger Delta. Irrespective of these challenges, the project is ongoing, although as I said before, maybe not so satisfied with the pace.

That road is one of my dreams and I often asked myself if I have to leave office without the completion of more than 50percent of that project. I ask myself: Would somebody who is taking over from me have the same passion for it as I have? That road is very important and I will tell you why. I have looked at developmental strategies in terms of infrastructure, housing. roads, lights and others and I chose road as one of the most important and primary fundamental process to development.

Why do I say this? It may be difficult for an ordinary man to put a motorable road into the thick of the forest, but once that road is built, people would start moving in there and they would build their own houses. That is what you are seeing in the Koko-Ogheye road, for the first 6km that we have accomplished, go to the entire area it is been bought up; people are building, tank farms are springing up and they are growing on a daily basis. That is just within two years and the place is opened up completely.

I want to use this is a forum to advise our governors that what you need to do for the people is to give them infrastructure in some of these areas. What are these infrastructure? A few of them - road with good drainages, light etc - and you will see the people moving in with their funds to build. There are some instances where I don’t think the Federal Government should be engaged in some of these other ventures like building of houses and others.

The people want to build their houses to their tastes but give them the necessary facilities for the people to move in.

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015

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NIGER DELTA REPORT FEATURE

Tributes as Madam Fisisi goes home T

HE ancient town of Abalama in Kalabari Kingdom, Asari/ Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, witnessed a beehive of activities last weekend as the remains of the late Madam Florence Fisisi were interred. She was 75.

Family, friends and well-wishers, who besieged the town, described the event as the celebration of the life of a woman who lived well and sacrificed for mankind. They described her as a mother and tutor for all.

A midday light shower at Abalama failed to deter the crowd that escorted the motorcade carrying her remains from Kpaima Mortuary in Port Harcourt to Abalama. They escorted the body to the All Saints Anglican Church at Abalama, where it was received by seven ministers led by Rev’d Canon Gabriel Eli. In an emotional sermon, Rev’d Eli told the guests that the late Madam Fisisi had played her part. He admonished them not to cry for her but to cry for themselves who are still living in the sinful world.

Rev’d Canon Eli added that having lived a worthy life while on earth, she would find a comfortable rest in heaven.

“There is no doubt this woman that you are celebrating her life will definitely be on the side of the Almighty God. She played her part very well by obeying the scriptures and putting the word of God in practice. Even before God’s judgment the world has already judged her. She took the path of God and today she is being buried according to the doctrine of the Anglican Communion.

“All we are praying for her is that heavenly father, by your mighty power and in your love we entrust Madam Fisisi to your merciful keeping in the faith of Jesus Christ your son who died and rose again. That is all; the most important question now is how many souls here would join Mama Fisisi and God in heaven when

‘

I grew up under her vigilant watch and learnt that good name is better than riches. I did learn from her that I must not have respect of evil riches but I should rather maintain a consistent contempt for evil and corrupt practices. What else would the best mother ever teach a male child that my mother did not teach me?

‘

From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

their time comes?”

Some of the sons, daughters, in-laws and relatives, who spoke to Niger Delta Report, described the deceased who was fondly called ‘Mama’ as a proud Kalabari woman, and belonged to the class of Kalabari women who paid less attention to the tradition of

•Grand daughters and sons of Madam Fisisi

•The deceased’s son presenting the remains to the church

the land due to her religious belief as a devout Christian in Anglican Communion.

They noted that it was due to her steadfastness in her religious belief that she refused to belong to any organisation in Kalabari kingdom.

The only organisation she belonged to was the Anglican organisation called Women Guild. This made her families to bury her according to the Christian principle.

The first son of late Madam Fisisi, Mr. Sepiribo Peters, an Abuja lawyer, said she was symbolic to him in several ways. “It is a symbol that sounded so much in self-respect and discipline.

It is one name that put me on notice

that it is the sky that operates as a limit to the height of success. Otherwise what could a disadvantaged child achieve in life if he has no caring mother? Her behaviour and care had always functioned in my life as a reminder that casual misconduct in the character of a growing child could be effectively and efficiently prevented from being a bad habit by a vigilant and uncompromising mother.

“I grew up under her vigilant watch and learnt that good name is better than riches. I did learn from her that I must not have respect of evil riches but I should rather maintain a consistent contempt for evil and corrupt practices. What else would the best mother

ever teach a male child that my mother did not teach me? I have checked and have not found one. She made me to understand that the key to a successful career in one’s life is by reading and trying to find out what one had not known. Ironically, she had no western education yet she knew the importance of research.”

One of her daughters, Mrs. Peters Ignonikonba, said her mother was a woman of peace and wisdom.

For Mrs. Ine Peters, one of the daughters-in-law, Madam Fisisi was the best mother-in-law on earth. She said the late Madam Fisisi took her as her own daughter when she came into the family.

Killer-kerosene brings tears to Warri, environs •Continued from page 29 The story of how each of the victims ended up party or wholly burnt varies from case to case. While Joshua and his sister, another toddler, were caught unawares by the fire that jumped on them from a distance, Oghenemaro and his sister, Elozino, were trying to refuel their lantern when it exploded on them.

Giving an account of how her grandchildren became victims, Madam Titi Emavweria, said she was actually the one close to the spot of the explosion because she was the one cooking. But to her surprise, the fire from jumped from the local firewood stove in from of her and landed on the two toddlers who were supposedly a safe distance away.

“We cook outside and that morning as I set the woods I put kerosene, as I put the kerosene and lit the match on it, I just heard a loud explosion.

The children were not close to me, but the fire just jumped on them, scattered on the two of them,”Madam Emavweria told Niger Delta Report, amidst attempts to calm her agonis-

ing grandson down.

Oghenemaro Akrovbie is luckier than his younger sister, Elozino, who suffered about 90 degrees of burns all over her body, including her face. “ Our lantern had already gone off so I decided to put fuel in it. As I was putting it I just heard whoom and I threw the gallon away. That was when it affected my sister,” he narrated. As a result of the gravity of the burns on her, the hospital, according to its Public Relations Officer, Mrs Success Obere, had referred Elozino, along with another victim, to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH).

In the same ward where Oghenemaro, Joshua and others were receiving care, was Oghenewegba, with his legs, hands and face burnt. His fingers are already bent. As he was being dressed by the nurses, Wegba gave out a shout of agony, unable to sit straight on his bed.

All the victims are children, among them some as young as three years.

The reason it is curious is said to be the same reason why many of those

who have heard and made moves did; they are children, who could hardly be blamed for their actions.

They are children, who naturally should be protected from harsh and painful experiences, because of the effect such experiences might leave

on their psyche. Little children, of select ages, have now been made to go through the horror of explosions, not nature imposed like in some cases in the northeast or some other corner of the world, but imposed by the greed of some persons doing illegal

‘

We cook outside and that morning as I set the woods I put kerosene, as I put the kerosene and lit the match on it, I just heard a loud explosion. The children were not close to me, but the fire just jumped on them, scattered on the two of them

‘

deals without a thought about the effect it might have on those who would end up with the fruits of their illegal deal in the larger society.

One of those who have come out to identify with the victims is the Chairman, Warri South Council Area, Mathew Mofe Edema. He called for an investigation into the development, even as he charged parents and guardians to enlighten their children and wards against such dangerous practices as fueling an already lit appliances. While he rendered financial aides ranging between N20,000 to N30,000 to parents of the victims, he also promised to relate their ordeal to the state government.

The parents of the victims, some of whom were seen at the hospital, though might not be thinking of the cost of saving the lives of their children and wards for now, they did not seem like people living in affluence. The fact that the unexpected calamity that visited their homes had access because they had to use kerosene lantern is enough evidence that the accidents would take a huge financial toll on them.

32

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THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015

NIGER DELTA REPORT FEATURE

NIGER DELTA REPORT FEATURE

Rivers waterside settlers battle police over Citizen Igbe’s death T

WO weeks after an Ogoni bus driver was murdered by a police officer attached to Kala Police Station in Mile 4 for refusing to give N100 bribe, another man, Chukwuemaka Igbe, a resident of Elechi waterfront, was last weekend made to jump to his death by officers from Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) .

Angered by the third extra-judicial killing in the area, the residents of the waterfront took the victim’s body from Elechi waterfront at Mile 1 to the Rivers State Government House where they presented their grievance to Governor Nyesom Wike.

The residents of the waterfront said the victim died while trying to escape the bullet of the officers from SARS who stormed the waterfront shooting.

“When they started shooting, about four men ran away and they started pursing them until they jumped inside the water but the man who died did not know how to swim. With the sound of the gun, he was scared and entered the deep part of the water and died,” the community chairman, Mr. Harrison Lawson said.

Elechi beach settlement, which is popularly called waterfront community, is one of the seashore settlements which escaped the waterfront demolition policy of the immediate past administration of Rotimi Amaechi. The former governor, who demolished most of the waterfronts in Port Harcourt, described them as hideouts for criminals. Elechi beach linked Njemaze water to Abonima wolf and it is one of the oldest waterfronts in Rivers State.

From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

A visit to Elechi waterfront showed that the people are living in a different world. Every ten person you see, eight of them are smoking Indian hemp. You need not be told that you are in a jungle when you get there. They have a very poor hygienic environment; the buildings are mostly wood materials. The toilets were constructed with wood close to seashore and it is being channeled to the same water which they drink, bath and cook with.

They do not have enough space for children to play; the available wet and dirty space is the only children playing ground where they also dump waste.

Speaking further on how the police have been terrorising the residents of waterfront, Harrison said police officers have been using Indian hemp as an excuse to humiliate residents of the waterfront.

He said illegal extortion on residents of waterfront started when one officer from Mile 1 police station known as Paulo now with SARS introduced other officers to the waterfront when they discovered that they were making a lot of money from them through forceful collection of money and illegal bail.

He said: “The police have became more dangerous to us. Every day they are coming here to chase people around in the name of Indian hemp. If they are looking for the smokers of Indian hemp, they should go to the rich man’s house and not here. We are poor smokers, how many of these boys have the money to smoke. They chased the late Chuk-

•Amos

•Elechi beach waterfront settlement

wuemeka until he jumped inside the water. Tell me who will hear the sound of gun that would not run.

“The late Chukwuemeka’s body could not be found until after three

days when the river floated it out. It was at this point that we confirmed his death. Police said they didn’t shoot him, they alleged that the man jumped inside the water and drown, but we

have eyewitnesses who saw them shooting and chasing the man until he jumped inside the water. The resident who saw them pursing the man specifically told the police that the

victim did not know how to swim but they refused and continue threatening the man with gun until he jumped inside the river and died and they said they have no hand.

“They are not coming here for anything than to generate money from the residents of waterfront in the name of searching for Indian hemp smokers. We have warned them

severally that if it was the Indian hemp smokers they are targeting they should look for them because a lot of people are living here. Everybody cannot be a criminal or Indian hemp smoker, as far as we are concerned we also have responsible people living here.”

“The worst thing is that whenever they enter here, they will start shooting and it is only a tree that will remain in one place when shooting is taking place. So, whenever the police come around to shoot, the boys will take off and they will pursue them as if they are criminals.

Sometimes, the officers will enter here early morning to knock on people’s door and as soon as you wake up to say who is that the next thing you will here is handcuff him. The funny thing is that when they take us to police station they don’t allow us to write statement. The only thing they do is to force us to bail ourselves which is bad. If you go to work, the police will break into your house, collect handset and cash without telling the person his or her offence.

They also come here to smell residents’ hands and mouths and at the end, they will claim that their hands and mouths smell Indian hemp and the person will be arrested.”

Mr. Olanikon Okoneonimim, one of the residents of the waterfront who doubled as the Vice chairman of the waterfront community, said residents of the area were also being arrested based on their dressing.

He said: “They have forgotten so soon how they begged us on the first and second killing before we allowed them to sponsor the burials, showing that they were guilty of the offence. Now, they have killed anoth-

er person, we will not take it lightly with them this time around. The first person they killed here the man was fixing an electrical wire connected to his house and they saw him and asked him if he is a NEPA man. When the man said no, they dragged him down and killed him. The police authority also visited us and pleaded with us, what have we done to the police. The Police should stop using us to raise fund. This is robbery; police had been robbing us which started with officers called Paulo, Kennedy and Victor from Mile 1 police station. We want the Commissioner of police to know that the police officers coming here are more criminal than the people they are looking for. Here is not a criminal base, all the crimes committed in Port Harcourt happened in upland.”

Godwin Amos, one of the four men who jumped inside the river when the police were allegedly chasing them, said he pleaded with the police to arrest him so that he could rescue the deceased.”We were just relaxing when we heard hold him….hold him and we immediately realised that it was police, so we took off. Of course, in waterfront, you have limited space to run to, because we are surrounded by water. When we ran a few distance and the police were still pursing us, we had no other option than to jump inside the water. But unfortunately, the guy who died was a new neighbour and did not know how to swim.

When he got to the point where he should jump inside the water, he stopped and the police was still shooting. Because he didn’t want to be arrested, he followed us and jumped inside the river and he drowned to death. Meanwhile, when the residents

who were around saw the police coming they told them that the guy did not know how to swim, they pleaded with them to stop so that the guy would not be threatened to jump inside the water but they didn’t listen to anyone.”

12-year-old Imore Clement, who was fishing at the water when the incident took place, said: “I was getting some fish at the water when I heard a gunshot. I didn’t know they were pursing some residents of waterfront. I thought it was the issue of robbery. The next thing I saw was the boys jumping inside the water, but one of them stopped at the front of the water showing that he did not know how to swim. The residents didn’t close their mouth as they shouted to SARS officers that the man could not swim; yet the officers were seriously shooting until they chased the man inside water. It was few days later that the river floated his body out lifeless.”

The Southsouth General Secretary of the Buhari Legacy Foundation, Comrade Felix God’swill Nkwazema, who visited the waterfront, said the organisation would partner with some human right groups to ensure justice on the matter. He said the police had no right to take the life of anyone, even that of a criminal until the court of law says so.

The Rivers State Police Public Relation Officer, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Ahmad Mohammad, said the police as a responsible organisation would not kill the people they are supposed to protect. “Police as a responsible constitutional agency will not be involved in the killing of the citizens they ought to protect,” he said.

Communities, NIPP/BEDC trade words over epileptic power supply

R

ESIDENTS of Asaba, the Delta State capital since its creation in August 27, 1991, have endured poor public power supply.

Numerous communities across Aniocha North, Aniocha South, Oshimili North and Oshimili South have suffered worse fate than Asaba with some enduring blackouts for upwards of ten years.

So, its residents must have heaved a sigh of relief following the commissioning by the Federal Government of the 330/132/33KVA transmission substation located near Asaba after many postponements.

But several months after the inauguration of the transmission substation, public power supply in Asaba and environs has remained epileptic and unreliable, dashing the high expectations of residents.

The frustrated communities have led several protests against the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) demanding improved services.

The Supervising Engineer, Nigeria Integrated Power Plant (NIPP), Mr Amobi Odinakachukwu, further stoked the embers of controversy when he criticised BEDC for dereliction of duties, stressing that basic power infrastructure are lacking.

His words: “If there is any problem that makes power not to get down to consumers, I think it is the responsibility of BEDC to take care of that. I think for my own view, most of the areas in Asaba lack power because there are no distribution poles and high tension lines, but there is ongoing rehabilitation of these lines by the Federal Government bodies - NIPP and Federal Ministry of Power.

“BEDC also has not come up with serious strategies for solving the problem. May be we will have to wait for them, perhaps they are still sleeping.”

Amobi accused BEDC of shutting down most of their transformers and were not receiving power from the NIPP, adding if all BEDC’s transformers were working there would be light for all Asaba residents and beyond.

He added: “BEDC has simply shut down most of their transformers and are not receiving power from the NIPP, if all their transformers within their network is on everybody will have light. If they have been managing a certain megawatts, let say, 10 megawatts, with current local poorly motivated workforce, and are comfortable returning funds based on that, if the manager increases

From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

his capacity to say 30 megawatts and is unable to make returns generated don’t you think he will be axed?”

Also, an advocacy group known as The Concerned Citizens of Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency, in a petition through their counsel, Augustine Elikwu & Co, made available to Niger Delta Report, are threatening mass protest including disrupting electricity supply to ‘favoured private companies’ and instituting legal redress.

It also threatened to invoke the Freedom of Information Act to know the modalities with which BEDC obtained the right/licence to distribute electricity within Delta State.

The petition reads: “It is our client’s demand that you and your company connect/evacuate the light to the various towns and villages in Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency that these substations were meant to serve within two weeks from the date of this letter, failing which our client will stage a mass protest against you and your company and we shall also be forced to do whatever is necessary to stop everybody in Asaba and environs, including the private companies from enjoying electricity.”

Residents have alleged underhand practices by BEDC, blaming the epileptic power supply to diversion of energy from transmission lines direct from the 330/ 132/33 KVA substation to major industries , including a major telecommunication, steel smelting and aluminium companies among others in the area.

NDR gathered that the 330/132/33 KVA substation is equipped with six feeders and that all have been energised, but BEDC has dedicated two feeders for private companies.

The aggrieved communities’ members also claim that BEDC’s desire to service the high net customers to the detriment of residents was the reason behind the poor power supply.

Manager, Benin Business District, Dr Abiodun gave credence to these speculations recently in an interview with Niger Delta Report when he said: “As a business person, if you have a product that sells for maybe 10,000 units and that same product sells higher somewhere else, where will you take it to? The tariff structure is not created by BEDC; the BEDC does not have power to fix tariff NERC has the responsibility to do this.”

•NIPP

But he debunked insinuations that the amount of energy allocated to Asaba and environs have risen since the 330/132/33KVA transmission substation was commissioned.

According to Abiodun, the energy allocated to BEDC

by National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) from power generated nationwide is 9%, adding that this translates to 24megawatts.

He maintained that available power allocated to Asaba and environs is insufficient and has not improved with the commissioning of the new substation adding that BEDC in a bid to satisfy all its customers have resorted to load shedding.

“When BEDC was taking supplies from General Cutting Mill, Onitsha with only single line running from Onitsha to Asaba the power being transferred was about 24 megawatts, that is our allocation. The share of BEDC of the power that is generated nationwide is 9 per cent.

BEDC is just one of the 11 DISCO’s in the country. BEDC serves four States - Ondo, Ekiti, Delta and Edo. We have

22 business units.

“For instance if power generation is 2700MW and our share is 270mw if it is to be divided equally, according to business unit that would be 12.2 mw for each business unit, but energy is shared according to location and customer population. Asaba’s share is about 24 mw.”

Dr Abiodun describes the 330/132/33 KVA substation thus: “The project can be likened to having a very big pipe and only little water is flowing through the pipe.

That is just the problem, not until our allocation of power is increased the epileptic power will continue. For now it is the same 24 mw that we were taking from Onitsha that we are still taking from there. It is because of this allocated power that we have not been able to serve other communities. We want this allocation to be increased so that we can serve other communities.”

He accused an engineer supervising the NIPP of altering its initial design in favour of Ibusa community, adding that the alteration is posing challenges to efficient evacuation of energy.

He, however, added that when the power substation has been delivered the BEDC will effect changes that will enhance distribution of electricity.

He said: “I do not want to mention names; there is a staff of NIPP, this has been an argument, it is that there was supposed to be a line to Ibusa and that was what was shown to me at headquarters now it going to be two lines. That is where the argument comes in.

The contractor explained that the 2/15 MVA transformers in Ibusa is to be served with a dedicated line and there will be another line going to OgwashiUku via Ibusa so making two lines to that axis.

“The NIPP has six lines coming out, initially the BEDC design and expectation is that of the six lines, the steel companies will have one line each, so they will not have anything to do with other public lines, but the engineer supervising the project altered the design making Asaba have 2 lines which we call Asaba line 1 and Asaba line 2. Asaba line 1 will feed the injection substation near B Division, while line 2 will feed Government/Core area, Okpanam and the new substation to be commissioned at Government House.

Another line will go to Isselu-Uku and environs, the fourth one will go to Ibusa and the fifth one will also go to Ibusa and Ogwashi-Uku because there is a 2/ 15MVA transformer under construction there, then the other lines will be used for the industries and other businesses,” Dr Abiodun explained.

On efforts by BEDC to electrify communities that have experienced blackout for several years, he noted that an enumeration exercise was going on in some Issele-Uku, Ubulu-Uku and other communities, stressing that when it is completed power will be restored.

He added that BEDC chose this option because data from the moribund Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) could not be relied upon.

On the vexatious estimated billing system by BEDC, Abiodun maintained that a new billing method was being adopted by his organisation.

“We have a new method of billing of customers that are not metered. It is called cluster billing, though it may not be 100 per cent correct. The method looks at the cluster which are categorised into A, B, C. We use customers who have functional meters to assess what others will consume.”

•Miss Asemota reading The Nation

Six-year-old Karen with the dream of being a journalist

S

IX-year-old Dana Karen Asemota walked into the premises of the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ). She was accompanied by her grandmother, Madam Carol Asemota. Her mission was to see how her dream career operates in Nigeria.

Dana is on a vacation in Nigeria and her grandmother told reporters that little Dana made her buy newspapers every day and wanted to see how journalists work. Madam Carol explained that Dana hoped to become a journalist in the future.

A second grade pupil of Nathan American Academy in the United States of America, Dana told reporters she knew how to write and had always dreamt of becoming a journalist.

She said: “I always watch news on television and I often read newspapers in my Library. I want to work as a broadcast journalist because I am very smart. Besides, I had good grades in school

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

which earned me promotion rapidly.

“I always watch American stations because I was born in America and I enjoy watching Nigerian television stations when I am in Nigeria and I want to be like them.

“My father is a policeman who always arrests bad people who commit crime and my mother is a doctor in the U.S. I am interested in becoming a journalist who reports what happens in Nigeria.

Why should people be arrested without any cause?

I am very bold and I know how to write.

“I also like the job of a producer because he is very important and you cannot do without them.”

Madam Carol said Dana would be encouraged to pursue a career in journalism.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015

NIGER DELTA REPORT BRIEFS

FEATURE

Ofumwengbe/Okponha bloodbath: The inside story T O

SAYUKI Isaac Osifo, 26, will never forget August 4 From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia , Benin in his lifetime. Prior to that fateful Tuesday, if a prophet had told Osayuki to remain in his community as trouble lurked in a neighbouring community, he prob- the area that fateful day oblivious of the fact that Okponha ably would have stayed back and avoided the sudden twist youths and some heavily armed hired thugs deployed from outside the community had laid siege to the disputed area. of fate.

He averred that some youths of Ofunmwengbe swiftly to Again, if the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the area had taken seriously the intelligence report allegedly passed rescued their kindred who was severely wounded.

The youth Chairman of Okponha town, Wilson Osaze, also to him a day to the bloody incident by a member of Community Development Association (CDA) of one of the embat- alleged that some youths of Ofunmwengbe community, a.k.a tled communities, may be the crisis would have been averted. Okada junction/new road, armed with guns and dangerous In the same vein, if the youths of the warring localities weapons attacked them at a building site during foundation had yielded the advice of the Police and their elders, they laying in Okponha community.

However, a popular Benin chief from the area is said to have would have not found themselves in the current mess they been fuelling the crisis. are trying to get out from.

The chief, it was alleged, had been harassIt was exclusively scooped that in response to ing youths and elders of Ofunmwengbe the tip-off received by the DPO , he in comcommunity since the fracas erupted. pany of some policemen visited the trouHe was also said to have capitalised bled site. in on the crisis and ordered his workHaving felt the security barometer ers to enter the forest in the area to of the environment, the DPO was explore mineral resources. said to have moved his men away The Public Relations Officer with a request that leaders of agfor Edo Police Command, grieved community should DSP Onwochei, stated that come and give formal comOfunmwengbe and plain to his office at Okponha communities Iguobazuwa town the adhad been embroiled in a ministrative headquarters boundary dispute. of Ovia South-west local He explained that the government area. police command had Our crime reporter severally advised that gathered further that they should channel hardly had the DPO left their grievances to the the building site at appropriate governOkponha community ment agency. when armed thugs con“They were warned verted the site to a battle seriously against taking field. laws into their hands, Commenting on the but last Tuesday, somelawlessness that reigned body from Okponha supreme throughout the community was laying broad day encounter, the foundation within the police spokesman in Edo area said to be disputed.

State DSP Stephen “The village head of Onwochei stated that “It Ofunmwengbe and one was a free for all fight, sinof their youth leaders are gle barrels, double barrels with us and as we speak, were fully deployed, shootthey are giving us useful ing at each other, before we information as to who and moved in seven persons have who went there to be shootalready sustained injuries”. ing.”

Osayuki Isaac Osifo, a yearHe further explained that two dropout student of compu“our intervention in the matter ter-accounting, College of Educadoesn’t address the issue of tion, Ekiadolor, is one of the said boundary dispute but to maintain •Oshiomhole seven persons who sustained injuries. tlaw o and order”.

He was shot on his right arm which The police spokesman stated that was amputated to save his life. arms and ammunition suspected to have The fatherless Osayuki now in agony at a been used for the attack had been recovered. private hospital in Benin City narrates to our He promised that the police would not treat crime reporter what transpired that memorable day the issue with kid gloves as operatives are already on the of his life.

“About 8am or 9am on Tuesday, I went to check my site trail of those involved in the invasion.

Ofunmwengbe/Okponha Communal fracas is among simiand I met my chairman at Okada junction in Ofumwengbe town driving towards my site, when I got there I saw some lar disturbances that have been witnessed and unresolved people of Ofunmwengbe town exchanging hot words at a across Edo State every year.

On Saturday, November 22, residents of Aruogba commuparticular site.

“They were faces I recognise…., with eight together in one nity in Oredo Local Government Area saw hell in the hands of place so I told myself why can’t I talk to them to forget fight armed hoodlums who turned the locality into a theatre of war for several hours over the CDA leadership tussle. and let’s settle this thing amicably.

No fewer than five residential buildings and six exotic cars “In the process, before I knew it, somebody came out saywere set ablaze as windshield of over seven vehicles smashed ing who is this man? Get him! Fire am down!! Before I knew it, from nowhere, a gunshot just passed through my hand. I during the well- coordinated attack.

The panic and confusion that followed the violence caused looked at my hand; it was already like pieces . I fell down many parents and children to run helter-skelter. and from there I did not know what was happening.”

At last, one person died in the attack and shortly after, more Osayuki continued: “The other one said that anybody who killings have been recorded as the aggrieved parties continue wanted to obstruct our work should be shot. May be they were seeing me as one of those who wanted to obstruct their to hunt themselves.

Amongst the victims was the acclaimed elected CDA chairwork.

“But all I was there for was to maintain peace since the po- man, Mr. Okoro Ogbaretin, who was ambushed and gunned down. lice have already asked us to go to the Palace.”

Ever since the crisis, community life has never be same The youth Chairman of Ofunmwengbe community, Edosa Ogiamen, stated that the attack on his friend by the youths of again as many residents who fled their ancestral homes are Okponha village triggered the communal crisis alleged to have yet to return.

The commissioner of Police in the state then, Mr. Foluso left seven persons with bullet wounds.

He stated that his community and Okponha have a bound- Adebanjo, confirmed the arrest of nine suspects at the wake ary dispute and both sides were advised by the police and tra- of the fracas.

He further explained that a gun and live ammunition were ditional authorities to steer clear from the area pending when also recovered. it would be resolved.

Will communal disturbances ever ceased in Edo State?

Edosa Ogiamen further stated that Okponha community jetThe Adams Oshiomhole administration years ago constitisoned the advice and sold part of the land in other to raise money to fight their rival neighbouring community, tuted the State Peace and Conflict Resolution Committee led

by Chief Eduwu Eghator.

Ofumwengbe.

Still, communal crises appear to have defied permanent He alleged that his kinsman, Osayuki Isaac Osifo, had gone solution as affected communities record collateral damages from time to time.

FERMA assures Akwa Ibom motorists of zero potholes From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

HE Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has assured motorist plying federal roads in Akwa Ibom State of motorable roads in line with the federal government commitment in making its road safe across the country.

FERMA’s Zonal Coordinator, Southsouth , Mr. Young Harry, gave the assurance while speaking with newsmen after inspecting ongoing rehabilitation works along Calaba-Itu road.

According to him, government commitment to zero pot holes on its roads was irrevocable, calling on motorist plying this busy route to bear with the agency as every effort is being put to make pot holes free.

Mostly affected roads are Ikot Ekpene-Itu-Cross River state boarder and the Eket-Ikot Abasi road.

His words: “The activities being carried out include, patching of potholes, desilting of silted concrete lined drains, filling of failed sections with boulders and reinstatement of embankment washout.”

The Calabar-Itu road constructed in the 70s, he noted needed total rehabilitation, adding however that, in line with FERMA’s mandate, they would ensure that they intervene to make the road motorable road users.

Fielding questions, he explained that, as an interventionist agency, where any portion of the road is completely bad, the attention of the federal ministry of works would be drawn to it.

The agency, he added, has been trying to meet its obligations based on available funds, adding that, with expected high funding, road users would soon smile.

He said: “The Agency will continue the maintenance activities throughout them raining season to ensure that all the federal roads in Akwa Ibom state are motorable and safe for road users.”

Engage in agriculture, Edo youths told

Y

OUTHS in Edo State have been urged to engage in agriculture instead of seeking greener pasture by trekking to Libya through the Sahara desert.

President of Edo Youth for Good Governance, (E.Y. F.G.G), Iyamu Osaro Culture, spoke at a ceremony to mark the International Youth Day. Iyamu said agriculture remained the only viable option for the governments to empower youths on a sustainable basis instead of any other programme that could be scrapped easily.

He told youths present at the occasion to begin to engage government on issues affecting them rather than wait for peanuts during electioneering campaigns.

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

According to him, “Government must take advantages that abound in agriculture to engaging the youth towards self- sustenance.”

“Traveling or running to Libya is not an option. You must remain here to achieve great things. As I speak to you today our youths want to go to Libya and the only to curb this is by empowering them in purposeful agriculture”.

A guest speaker, Comrade Austin Osakwe, challenged the youth to be involve in the governance process of the Country and learnt to demand accountability from the three arms of government.

NDDC MD gets NGO's Award From Uyoatta Eshiet, Uyo

F

OR his exemplary leadership since he took seat as the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Sir Bassey Dan Abia, has been honoured with an Excellent Service and Leadership Award.

Niger Delta Network Advancement Programme (NDNAP), a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) committed to addressing problems of poverty, climate change, environmental degradation occasioned by activities of oil companies in the region, said the recognition became necessary following its reality checks of NDDC's performance in the current dispensation.

It was at a Dinner and Award ceremony held at the Nature's Farm Resort, Uyo Village Road, where stakeholders drawn from NDNAP in Nigeria and its international network affiliate, GNDR in London, converged to pass a vote of confidence on Abia's leadership of the agency.

Presenting the Award, the President of NDNAP, Comrade Al mustapher Edoho, and the GNDR representative Mr. Chibundu Uchegbu, explained that Mr. Abia's sterling leadership disposition earned him the Award following approval by the Board of Trustees (BoT), noting that "his achievements in the last 17 months in the saddle clearly stands him out for the honour".

Edoho recalled that since its creation by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2000, the commission had been operating from a rented apartment until the current leadership erected a befitting 12-storey building which now awaits President Muhammadu Buhari's commissioning.

Besides, he pointed at various interventions in scholarships, development of teaching and learning infrastructures in nine tertiary institutions, road projects, electricity, jobs and human capital development as other key interventions of Dan-Abia era.

While commending Buhari for his reform measures since he was sworn-in, the group decried what they described as smear campaign against theNDDC leadership.

Represented by Hon. Anyanga Anyanga, former Chairman of Esit Eket Local Government Area, the MD thanked the group for the honour and prayed God for a sense of direction to steer the commission in line with the essence of its establishment.

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015

36

NIGER DELTA REPORT COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

H

E was the oracle of Akwa Ibom politics.

Not a few believe he still reigns even after choosing a successor. He spoke and others must obey. The coveted seat of the governor had been reserved, the oracle declared.

But, in the oracle’s party, there were 22 others who wanted the job. Two of them were the oracle’s former deputies, who got the boot when their loyalty became suspect.

The oracle, Godswill Akpabio, now senator, believed none of his former deputies, Patrick Ekpotu and Nsima Ekere, was good enough to replace him. The 20 others were no match too.

Umana Okon Umana, who used to be his ally, had read the handwriting on the wall. He defected to the opposition, where he tried his luck but was ‘crushed’ by the oracle’s bulldozers.

It was either Udom Emmanuel or nobody, the oracle made it clear. In one feeble attempt at peace, Akpabio held a meeting which lasted till the wee hours of Saturday, December 20, last year. The meeting held at the secretariat of the G-22 in Abuja.

It was almost deadlocked from the beginning.

A shouting match ensued between one of the aspirants, Chief Asam Asam (SAN) and Akpabio. Both men were later calmed down by others in the meeting.

As a way of dousing tension, Christian songs were sung. Akpabio, I was told, pleaded with the G-22 to accept Emmanuel as the governorship candidate of the PDP. At a point in the meeting, Akpabio called on Emmanuel to plead with the other aspirants. And this rather added fuel to the fire than quench it. Emmanuel reportedly likened his case to that of Jesus who was initially rejected by his people but later turned out to become the saviour. This allusion to Jesus reportedly infuriated the aspirants as he was castigated for his lack of humility.

The G-22 maintained their stand that Emmaneul was a product of a sham primary.

Akpabio did not see any sense in their position.

He gave his all to see his ‘son’ throughout and was convinced that those who wanted to take power through the backdoor would die.

The general elections came and Akpabio rallied his all behind Emmanuel and he was declared winner of the election, which is now a subject of litigation.

But, while the legitimacy of Emmanuel’s election is being contested at the tribunal, an interesting drama is playing out in the state.

Emmanuel met a state in huge debt, but his hands are tied and till date he has not been able to reveal the debt status as contained in Akpabio’s handover note. The N64.5b figure he released on Tuesday was not directly linked to Akpabio.

Emmanuel played the clever one some days back at the House of Assembly. His request was simply: approve the restructuring of commercial banks’ loans into Federal Government Bonds.

In his letter to the House, Emmanuel did not include the details of the debts he wanted restructured into bonds.

OLUKOREDE YISHAU

ABOVE WHISPERS

•A weekly intervention on Southsouth people and matters

olukoredeyishau@gmail.com

Emmanuel’s will

•Akpabio

•Emmanuel

‘

What is Emmanuel really afraid of? A fight with Akpabio? Or is he just postponing the fight? Or he does not want to be seen as opening Akpabio’s yansh in the public? Or is the oracle still in charge and capable of pulling the rug off Emmanuel’s feet? Whatever it is, it is the people and accountability that are being taken for granted

‘

The governor said the measure would facilitate fiscal stability and provide avenue to liquidate its huge debt stock to cover a period of 25 years.

LAST WORD

I

KWERRE bu’otu (Ikwerre is one) was a popular slogan used in those days by the people of Ikwerre ethnic nationality to remind themselves that they are one indivisible entity. The slogan was also used to remind any Ikwerre man that it was necessary to always queue behind their brothers in times of good and bad.

It is in this spirit of Ikwerre Bu’otu that the Supreme Council of Ikwerre Ethnic Nationality called Ogbakor-Ikwerre was set up. OgbakorIkwerre was the final voice of Ikwerre people.

Any matter taken to it was resolved amicably.

They pronounced judgment on issues and parties accepted their decisions.

But today Ogbakor-Ikwerre is seen as a mere gathering of unrecognised village chiefs. It has been infected by political virus and has lost its value.

Ikwerre sons and daughters have forgotten the slogan Ikwerre Bu’otu because of personal aggrandisement and selfish desire, which escalated to high level of betrayal and rape of trust.

Of course, it is now a shame and taboo to shout Ikwerre bu’otu in any gathering or in the public.

It is now meaningless.

Our communities have been divided; they are now giving their support to one political leader or the other. Our community leaders and kingmakers now accept bribe in the daylight to execute their brothers or lead protest against them even without asking what he has done wrong.

Some of the communities in Ikwerre land have

The letter read: “In order for Akwa Ibom State to join other states, it becomes necessary for the state to partner with the Debt Management Office (DMO) of Nigeria and the Federal Ministry

of Finance on this directive to utilise the benefits.

“The FGN Bond will help the state to substitute short-term higher-cost bank debts with long term lower-cost debt.”

There was drama at the assembly over the letter. The simple process of moving motion to accept the letter took time.

The member representing Nsit Atai, Hon. Mark Esset while standing up to move the motion, said: “Mr. Speaker, I am handicapped and my hands are shaking.”

The letter was handed over to the Finance and Appropriation Committee for further screening and investigation.

The hush-hush about the state’s debt profile did not start now. The Transition Committee set up by the state government chaired by former Head of Service (HoS), Mr. Sunny Akpadiaha, did not also state the assets and liabilities bequeathed by the Akpabio’s administration.

Emmanuel has no justifiable reason to keep the state’s debt profile a secret. He realised this on Tuesday by revealing that the state has an indebtedness of N64.5b, which he needed to restructure. Could this be all that Emmanuel has been hiding all this while? May be there is more.

For many, Akwa Ibom has no reason to be seriously indebted given the fact that it was number one on the federal revenue chart. Its fortunes skyrocketed when the Supreme Court stripped Cross River of all oil wells which entitled it to the 13 per cent derivation. Akwa Ibom’s gain was Cross River’s loss.

It is estimated that in eight years under Akpabio, the state received over N3trillion. With this sort of cash, its indebtedness should not be anything scary.

In seeking this soft-landing, Emmanuel is obviously accepting the reality that there is no money for him to fulfil his electoral promises. I hear there is no money to mobilise contractors to sites. The governor is also considering borrowing from the banks to intervene in the reclamation of part of Calabar-Itu highway, which is heavily threatened by gully erosion.

Even in releasing the N64.5b figure, he shied away from linking it to the Akpabio administration.

Given the level to which Akpabio went to make him governor, it may seem unfair of him to be seen as exposing the senator. But for how long can they continue to hide the truth about the local and foreign debts incurred by Akpabio? There is nothing wrong in taking loans once they can be justified.

My final take: What is Emmanuel really afraid of? A fight with Akpabio? Or is he just postponing the fight? Or he does not want to be seen as opening Akpabio’s yansh in the public? Or is the oracle still in charge and capable of pulling the rug off Emmanuel’s feet? Whatever it is, it is the people and accountability that are being taken for granted.

The people deserve to know. Nothing more, nothing less. Emmanuel’s will should not be allowed to prevail.

FROM PRECIOUS DIKEWOHA, PORT HARCOURT

United Ikwerre gone with the wind two monarchs and council of chiefs, the one loyal to ex-Governor Rotimi Amaechi and the ones loyal to Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike.

We thought it was just a mere destruction of the traditional symbol of trust and brotherhood but it went beyond that; it has got to a level where Ikwerre people no longer trust one another. His brother is not just an enemy but an unforgivable one. We are in a situation where we prefer to trust a man from another tribe than to live or trust our brother. Many Ikwerre people, especially those who find themselves in the position of authority, have on several occasions signed the death warrant of their fellow Ikwerre brothers. And they are still doing that till today just because of their personal interest.

Where is Wike, who once told his fans when he was local government chairman that he would forever continue to support his brother, Amaechi? Of course, he fought the battle like a great Ikwerre wrestler when former President Olusegun Obasanjo pronounced the K-leg wahala on Amaechi. At the end they won the battle and took over Rivers State Government House through the Supreme Court judgment. Today where is the brotherhood that bound Amaechi and Wike together? It is now torn to pieces?

Who among them should our children emulate as a role model?

Chief Sergeant Awuse is one of the popular

sons of Ikwerreland; he once enjoyed the admiration and support of Ikwerre people. Most of us, during his days of political bulldozor when Amaechi was in the Rivers State House of Assembly as Speaker, supported his ambition to become the first Ikwerre governor. But as a political prostitute, he frustrated most of his supporters and abruptly ended his dream of becoming the governor by jumping from one party to the other. During Amaechi’s second tenure election campaign, Chief Awuse told Ikwerre youths and supporters that he wouldn’t have measured with Amaechi’s achievements if he were governor. He then raised Amaechi’s hand and asked Ikwerre people to support him. Where is Awuse and the love for the brotherhood which he once preached to us?

Mike Elechi, a former permanent secretary in Rivers State Ministry of Agriculture, was an incomparable supporter of Amaechi. He was not the type that gave order or made call when it was getting tough, he fought the fight by himself. And Amaechi hardly joked with him as far as Elele community and Ikwerre Local Government was concerned. Today the Ikwerre affection that made him to support Amaechi is gone.

What of O.C.J Okocha and family? They were very close to Amaechi. The relationship was intact until they went off the lane with betrayed heart. Where is Austine Opara, former Deputy

Speaker of House of Representative and Amaechi’s soul brother who with other friends turned Amaechi house to their meeting point during the Peter Odili administration? Emeka Woke, Prince Paul Wonodi, Chief Wogu Okala, Chinyere Igwe, Sam Ogeh; these were Amaechi reliable soldiers whom he gave opportunities to serve the state in different capacities, both at the state and at the federal levels. The list is endless.

These people are all Ikwerre, and they were before now strong supporters of Amaechi. What went wrong? What were their reasons for leaving Amaechi or Amaechi’s reason for not begging them to come back? Could it be possible that our political hatred on one another can supersede the love we have for one another as brothers and sisters? How united is Ikwerre ethnic nationality? Do we ever consider the future of our children in imbibing the true spirit of our fatherland? Must we hate or kill our fellow Ikwerre man before we could make it in life?

What are we teaching the younger generation that will take over from us? These are unanswered questions burning in the heart of many Ikwerre people. As far as I am concerned, our pursuit of personal gain cannot in anyway bring peace and unity in Ikwerre land; instead it will divide us the more and make mockery of Ikwerre Bu’otu, which our forefather taught us to say.

Ikwerre Anumeka.

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015

37

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

‘How long shall Southeast, Delta suffer criminality?’

At a conference hosted in the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia, Anambra State, on August 22, Governor Willie Obiano rallied governors of the Southeast and Delta states on regional security.

Here is a part of his address entitled ‘Security as the Bedrock of Governance’: scale of progress in favour of our people. I say this with every sense of responsibility because, recent experience has shown that living in an increasingly dangerous world, the only panacea for economic growth and development is a safe and secure environment.

Our World Ladies and gentlemen, our world has never been an easy place to live in. Through the ages, humanity has always been blighted by one concern or the other. Sadly, most of mankind’s greatest anxieties were caused by man’s own hands. I speak of the Trans-Atlantic Slave trade, I speak of Apartheid South Africa, I speak of the World Wars and finally I speak of the present climate of fear, brought upon us by terrorists. To bring the matter closer

•Obiano

•Ikpeazu

home, I also speak of our home grown headaches – Boko Haram, kidnapping, violent armed robbery, child trafficking and other petty crimes that rob us of a deserved peace of mind.

Speaking about mankind’s neverending struggle for a better world, the great French philosopher, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, the author of The Social Contract, observed in 1762 that “man is born free, and everywhere, he is in chains.” Ladies and gentlemen, man is in a different kind of chain today. Although we have made steady progress from the era of the divine monarchies of Europe that inspired

How long shall our people’s well known enterprising spirit be driven away to nourish distant lands while our homeland wallows in squalor? How long shall we continue to fall to the barrel of a gun pointed at us by our own brothers, friends and kinsmen who are caught up in violent crimes?

,

Rousseau’s timeless quote, to modern democracy with its many freedoms, our chains are no less heavy

•Some of the pupils and their teachers

Science fair for Enugu pupils

•Continued from page 27

,

to extending and branching to the rural area’s in their subsequent trainings.

The principal consultant of the project and the Community Innovative Centre managing director, Ifeoma Ozodiegwu said, that their goals were to bring science and technology closely associated with “our lives as it involves both innovations in medicine and innovations in engineering.”

Ozodiegwu also stated that the fair was an eye opener to other young people from other schools, organizations and private individuals to begin to find a place to express love in science and technology and have a platform to expose or showcase whatever products or research they have as cash reward would also be given to them According to her, the cash reward being involved by the ESUBEB , would be used to build small science laboratories in schools that came first, second and third with a view to keep nurturing their interest.

One of the innovators, Osita Nwazuruje, according to her, who

Until the children begin to read and understand mathematics, science and technology will improve in the country

,

showcased what he called catching them young in mathematics, science and technology, said that it would be of a tremendous value to the society as children would begin to understand mathematics because it is a very strong component of science and technology adding, “until the children begin to read and understand mathematics, science and technology will not be improved in the country.”

One of the participating pupils from Ugbo-Odogwu Primary School, Adinde Immaculate who constructed a Bamboo house, is from an under privileged family who could not afford money to build block houses.

At the end of the fair, prizes were awarded to the three best schools.

The first, second and third positions came from Igbariam street primary school III Enugu, Aeril pri-

•Okowa

,

F

IRST, I must congratulate all my brothers, the governors of the Southeast and Delta who assumed office almost three months ago. I have followed your programmes from your first day in office and I can boldly say that there is hope for our people. I have no doubt whatsoever that you will justify the great confidence our people have placed in you with a masterful performance. My brother, Governor Rochas Okorocha who has been there earlier than all of us, I congratulate you too on your second coming. I have no doubt that you will finish strong! Igbo bu Igbo, ekenem unu!

Ladies and gentlemen, this may well be our finest hour as a people… the turning point in our march to greatness that must tip the

mary school Enugu and Army Children’s school respectively.

The Igbariam Street Primary School III in the Enugu South LGA came first with a total score of 439 points. The school constructed what they titled Automatic Emergency Lighting System used in hospitals especially in the labour or theatre wards for situation where there might be an interruption of light from power holding or the generator set.

In that situation, the automatic lighting system would switch on and enable the operation to be carried out.

The teacher who led the pupils of the school to the exhibition, Mrs. Nsube Patience expressed joy and gratitude to God, and the ESUBEB for their instructions and encouragement and the CIC who trained them during the workshop.

Science and technology equipment worth thousands of naira were given to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions while consolation prizes were given to each participants in the fair.

than they were. Strangely, from pre-history to the many wonders of science we have today, man remains the sole architect of his own fears!

The Peculiar Challenges of the South East & Delta Years of ferocious assaults on cities and communities in the South East and Delta by successive robbery gangs and kidnap cells have driven meaningful investments away and stifled the economic growth of the region. In Anambra State in particular, we have experienced waves of gang rules in the commercial city of Onitsha that were so dominant that constituted authorities felt helpless under their brutal onslaught. The story is very much the same across the states in the region and Delta State. It may vary in degrees from one state to another but this region has had a most troubling crime history for far too long. The time has come to wipe this dark history away!

Ladies and gentlemen, we have assembled here today to interrogate our circumstances; to ask ourselves hard questions and to set for ourselves a common agenda. The pertinent question we must ask ourselves is how long? How long shall the South East and Delta State and other contiguous states bear the brunt of brazen criminality and meaningless brigandage? How long shall our people’s well known enterprising spirit be driven away to nourish distant lands while our homeland wallows in squalor?

How long shall we continue to fall to the barrel of a gun pointed at us by our own brothers, friends and kinsmen who are caught up in violent crimes?

The Anambra Story Ladies and gentlemen, the economic survival of our people depends on how well we answer these questions. In Anambra State, we have made bold efforts to answer these questions. We have fought and won the war against crime and criminality. We have driven kidnappers, armed robbers and drug barons out of our cities and communities. With the sustained efforts of Operation Kpochapu, Operation Sheba and other tactical initiatives, with the committed vigilance of the officers and men of the Anambra State Police Command and the solid support of the Nigerian Army, the Navy and the Department of State Security, we have cleansed Anambra State of criminals. With the tremendous support of the Vigilante Groups under the professional care of the retired •Continued on page 38

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015

38

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

Reps to debate Aba market shooting

T

HE shooting on July 31 at Ariaria International Market, Aba, Abia State will be tabled on the floor of the House of Representatives, a member representing Aba North and South Federal Constituency, Hon. Ossy Prestige has said.

One of the victims of the shooting has been buried, while others wounded are still nursing their injuries at various hospitals.

Officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Abia State Command who invaded the market said they were searching for drug offenders, and had to shoot into the air when the traders allegedly attacked them.

The police have started investigating the incident.

Hon. Prestige who visited the scene of the incident, promised to table it before his colleagues on the floor of the House.

Prestige visited the injured victims at Holy Wounds Christian Hospital at 169 Faulks Road and Horstman Orthopedic Hospital along Okigwe Road where they are receiving treatment, promising to their medical bills.

From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

He also urged the doctors to ensure that the victims get the best treatment.

The lawmaker who was visibly angry over the unprofessional conduct of the NDLEA personnel vowed to ensure that those involved in injuring and killing innocent Abians and Nigerians would be brought to book.

While appealing to the shoe makers to remain calm and go about their normal businesses described the shooting in such a crowded market and the height of insensitivity and unprofessional conduct of personnel who were assumed to have been properly trained on how to handle firearms at all times.

He used the opportunity to reiterate his campaign commitment with the people of his constituency that he had promised to dedicate his time at the National Assembly to serve their interest.

Some of the injured victims who spoke at the two hospitals thanked the lawmaker for his kind gestures and thanked him for coming to their rescue.

,

Prestige used the opportunity to reiterate his campaign commitment with the people of his constituency that he had promised to dedicate his time at the National Assembly to serve their interest

,

•Continued from page 37 former Commissioner of Police in Delta State, we have routed kidnappers and armed robbers from Anambra State. We have freed our social and economic space for businesses to thrive along with leisure.

We have cleaned up the state and flung open our doors to investors, attracting substantial investments to the tune of $2.4bn in the past 17 months. All around Anambra, there is a new sense of freedom among our people. But our freedom cannot be complete until our neighbours begin to experience a

•Mr Sam Ogbu Nwobodo signing his autograph on the poster on behalf of Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi at the event

5,300 sq. meter poster unveiled in Enugu 5,300 square-meter poster, believed to be the largest in the world, has been unveiled in Enugu. It is bigger than the one launched earlier in India measuring 4,700 square meters.

Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and his Anambra counterpart were represented at the event hosted by Nigeria Breweries Plc. The launch featured a miniature version of the Gulder Ultimate Search. Mr. Chuka Nnabuife, chief executive of National Light Newspaper published in Anambra State, found the hidden treasure and won a Honda SUV for his effort.

Nnabuife told The Nation, “I almost ignored coming…When I

A

From Our Reporters

came here, I checked my heart pressure and they said that it was okay.

I equally had to test my mind and I decided to be part of the exercise…I felt elated.”

In his speech, the Sales Director of NB plc, Mr. Hubert Eze, said, “Nigerian Breweries is at home in Enugu. So, when want to break history, we break it at home and ensure that every corner of the earth salutes this feat.

The MD of the beverage company, Mr. Nicholas Vervelde described the southeast as a fertile ground for their business, stressing that the relationship that they have enjoyed in the zone was part

of the factors that made them to establish their biggest malting plant in the zone.

He also said the brewery was equally investing in education, building and furnishing schools in Enugu as well as feeding pupils in two schools in Eke community.

Governor Ugwuanyi represented by the Commissioner of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Sam Ogbu Nwobodo thanked the beverage company for choosing the state as a place for the promo poster unveiling, stating that it showcases the fruits of previous administrations in the state which has made the state a choice destination for investors and the incumbent administration working tirelessly to sustain.

‘How long shall Southeast, Delta suffer criminality?’ new atmosphere of liberty. Recent experience has shown that a security threat in one location is a security threat to the surrounding regions. So, our freedom over crime will remain incomplete, so long as the armed robbers and kidnappers we drive away from Anambra State can find safety anywhere in this region.

Fellow Nigerians, our recent experience has shown that any meaningful effort to address security threats will miss the target if it does not involve an entire region or an

economic block. There are so many instances where contiguous states that are blighted by a common security threat have pulled expertise and resources together to overcome it. For instance, Nigeria is currently working together with Cameroun, Niger and Chad to overcome the threat posed by Boko Haram in the North East. We must therefore work together to overcome the challenge of insecurity in our region.

Winning Together Fellow Nigerians, we must fight

this war together, win it together and enjoy the economic and social benefits of victory together. We cannot afford the consequences of a prolonged failure in this regard in an emerging Nigeria with clearly demarcated regional economic blocks. From the concentration of businesses in specific locations in the country that, it is saddening to see that 55 years after independence, Nigeria has yet to make the expected leap out of the regional economies of the pre-andpost-independence era. It is indeed disheartening to note that our national economic planning has left some regions scratching for survival while others are in full bloom.

But there is no time to indulge in unproductive excuses or ring our hands in blame. If we cast a look backwards to where we are coming from, we shall remember that we have overcome greater adversities in our march to the present day. We shall also remember that any economic setback we have suffered as a people will take only time and planning to overcome. Indeed, we shall be better than our fathers.

And the time to make that happen

is now!

An Eastern Economic Agenda Ladies and gentlemen, I must not fail to remind us that the time has come to set an Eastern Economic Agenda. The shrinking of spaces for migrant people across the country calls for a robust economic and social agenda that will make our people less vulnerable to increasing hostilities around the world.

There is a strident call by History on every leader from this region which we cannot ignore. Posterity looks onto us to build a befitting economy for the South East and Delta State. And for us to even contemplate anything of that magnitude, we must first find a lasting solution to insecurity in the region.

This all important Conference is therefore an economic call to arms.

We must all rise to wage a successful war on insecurity as a precursor to economic prosperity and greater fulfilment.

Brothers and sisters, as we settle down to the business of the day, I would like to remind you that in the words of the great Nelson Mandela, “it always seems impossible until it’s done.”

,

•Anambra State Governor Chief Willie Obiano lighting the fire for the Scout Association Camp Fire Night PHOTO: OBI CLETUS held at the Governor’s Lodge grounds, Amawbia

All around Anambra, there is a new sense of freedom among our people. But our freedom cannot be complete until our neighbours begin to experience a new atmosphere of liberty

,

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015

39

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

Eroded pipelines threaten community

,

Government should come to the residents’ help by attending to the various erosion sites identified in the area; one way to do that is cover up the exposed NNPC oil pipeline once the erosion sites are checked

,

R

ESIDENTS of OnichaAmiyi in Isuikwuato Local Government Area of Abia State as well as other road users are concerned about their safety as two eroded pipelines are not only exposed to the elements but impacted daily by moving vehicles and pedestrians.

The people fear that the pipelines belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) could burst.

“If the danger is averted there may be no fire outbreak and lives will be saved, but if not, then we should be ready for anything,” a resident.

At the site, the secretary of Oguduasa Consultative Assembly (OCA), Dr Sunday Okanta said that the assembly has been calling on the owners of the pipeline, the NNPC to take urgent attention to no avail.

Okanta said that the danger posed by the exposed NNPC pipeline should be attended to by the owners of the pipe as it is capable of busting at any point in time due to exposure to sun and rain and could also go up in flames.

He explained that the traditional rulers from the area have made several moves to draw the attention of NNPC to the danger being posed by the exposed erosion pipeline, “But their efforts have not yielded any positive result from the NNPC”.

Okanta said that the OCA has decided to throw its options wider

,

,

From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

by calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to step into the issue by giving a presidential directive to the NNPC to intervene without any further delay to avert danger.

He said, “We are also calling on the state governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu to come and do palliative measures that will stop the exposure of the pipeline, including the member representing our people at the State House of Assembly, Hon. Mrs Uloma Onuoha and Senator Mao Ohuabunwa representing Abia North at the senate to lend a voice to save our people”.

A motorist Johnson Kanu said that those involved should come to

the aid of the people of Oguduasa to save them from being cut from their kith and kin as the road will soon cut them off, while NNPC should do the needful to avoid pipeline explosion like it did in 2003.

Kanu said that with the high level of poverty in the country that the people may be tempted to break the pipeline in an attempt to steal the petroleum products from the pipeline, “This could be averted if those concerned cover the pipeline and stop it from being exposed and make it less attractive to hungry residents”.

An indigene of the area, Asonye Chimere said that government should come to their help by attending to the various erosion sites identified in the area, stressing that it is one of the ways to cover up the exposed NNPC oil pipeline once

•The exposed pipelines the erosion sites are checked.

He recalled that in 2003 that there was pipeline explosion around the area which consumed many people, adding that the community cannot afford to lose its residents and indigenes to constant pipeline explosion because of the negligence on the side of NNPC. Isuikwuato local government in Abia State is an erosion prone area of the state with several identified erosion sites that require several billions of naira to control, it could be noted that former President Olusegun Obsanajo had visited the area with a promise to do something which was never done till date.

The Nation could recall that way

back in 2003, that several people lost their lives at a pipeline explosion which occurred when people from Amiyi-Uhu and its environ went to scoop diesel from a pipe that was broken by pipeline vandals.

The vandals after stealing the quantity of diesel they required and could not cover the broken pipeline left it to spill its products, leading to scavengers coming to have a share of the national cake.

During the process one of those involved in the scooping of the petroleum product tried to kick start his motorcycle which sparked light and ignited the entire area leading to fire consuming several hundreds of people.

Market killings: Police quiz nine NDLEA officials

T

HE police in Abia State command have started interrogating nine staff of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency who were said to have been involved in the shootings at Ariaria International Market on July 31.

The officers reportedly went to “Black Kingdom” (a popular drug market located around the Bakassi Shoe Plaza) to arrest a drug dealer.

It was alleged that when the operation failed, the NDLEA men started shooting in the market at the peak of business activities which resulted in the death of some shoemakers while over six others were injured.

The Abia State Commander of the anti-drug agency, Mr. Dele Akingbade promised that the agency was going to cooperate with the police in their investigation on the matter, adding that they would also be looking at the type of the ammunition retrieved from the deceased and injured persons on the fateful day in order to ascertain whether it was the one used by the agency or not.

The Abia State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ezekiel Onyeke Udeviotu confirmed that nine persons from NDLEA reported to be among the personnel of the drug law agency that went for the Ariaria operation were undergoing interrogation at the State Criminal Investigation Department.

Udeviotu also said that Fire Arms Experts would be involved for analysis to ascertain the owners of ammunition that were used during the operation if the need arises, even as he expressed confidence that the panel investigating the incident were professionals who would to do a thorough job.

“We can’t say that all of them were involved in the shooting.

There so many issue surrounding

•Hon. Prestige (middle, and in cap) with the traders during his visit to the market From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

the incident. It is not just the issue of people who went to work we equally have the issue of who shot and what made them to shoot. It is not something that we are going to do overnight. I don’t know the level of investigation and would not want to preempt the outcome of the investigation. Put I can confirm that they are in our custody and that they are helping us with the investigation.

The caliber of the ammunition that were used will be determined by the people investigating the matter at the state CID and fire arm experts will be involved if the need

be. But I must tell you that I am confident that the people doing the investigation will do a very good and thorough job. So, if the need to verify the type of ammunition arises, the fire arm experts will be involved in the matter” the PPRO stated.

Meanwhile, traders at the Shoe Line where the incident happened have expressed worries that the NDLEA officials involved in the mayhem were yet to be brought to book in order to serve as a determent to others and however, advised the agency to ensure that they organized training courses for their officers on gun handling in order to ensure that there won’t be

a recurrence of such.

According to one of them who gave his name as Chukwuma, “There is no amount of punishment given to them (NDLEA) staff that would be enough to pay for the death of the three persons that died that very day.

“All we want is for the officers that were involved in the unfortunate incident to be brought to book. But let me also advice that the NDLEA should regularly send their officers to shooting training.

They should be properly thought on how to handle gun and what to do even when they want to scare people away from mobbing them as they claim was the case that

unfortunate incident happened.

“How can trained personnel of the drug agency while wanting to allegedly scare away people bend down and started shooting sporadically? Is that what they (NDLEA) teach their personnel? I am not sure that that is the case, but if that is the case, I guess it was high they were restricted from using arms. It is untrained personnel that will behave the way the officers behaved.

“This should not be swept under the carpet. Let the investigating officers at the Abia State Command do a thorough and professional job to ensure that justice was done in this matter”, he pleaded.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

Lawmaker to pay amputee’s bills

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T

HE burden of grief and despair may have lifted for Chidiebere Okafor, an auto-mechanic apprentice at Aba, Abia State.

He feared the worst last December when a suspended equipment he was working on detached and fell on his legs, chopping them off.

Okafor has since been amputated, his family paying N200,000 out of his N350,000 medical bill, leaving a balance of N150,000.

Thankfully, a lawmaker representing Aba North and South Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Hon. Ossy Prestige has said he would pay off what is left of Okafor’s bill.

Hon. Prestige made the commitment when he visited the hospital, where he also wrote off the bill of another elderly patient.

However, Okafor’s dream of owning a mechanic workshop and fending for his parents and other members of his family looks fuzzy at the moment as he has been confined to the wheelchair.

When The Nation met him at Horstman orthopedic hospital where has been on admission since December, the doctor of the hospital told a chilling story of how the incident happened.

“He is an indigene of Abagana in Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State and works with Bonimas. The incident happened on December 13 2014. He

Okafor’s dream of owning a mechanic workshop and fending for his parents and other members of his family looks fuzzy at the moment as he has been confined to the wheelchair

,

From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

was at the mechanic garage (Bonimas) working on a damaged truck when the bucket of truck pulled off. The bucket was said to be dangling and before I could know what was happening, he was thrown out from the bucket and then landed on him to severe the two legs which were underneath.

“It was at night when I was about going home that they brought him here (hospital) around 9pm after attending to another case that night.

“He was almost gone because he was bleeding profusely, so we

•Chidiebere Okafor at the hospital

had to compress it that same night. We transfused him and since then have done series of plastic surgeries. He is just recuperating. He has been here since the last 6months. It is prosthesis and he has a wheelchair”, the doctor narrated.

Chidiebere corroborated the

medical doctor’s account of the incident and added that the company where he was working (Bonimas) which was taking care of his medical bills has abandoned him.

The accident victim whose medical bill was put at about N350, 000 has a balance of over

N150, 000 to offset.

Both patients expressed their happiness and thanked the lawmaker who was the first major donor of Rotary Club of Nigeria, Eziukwu District and immediate past Chairman Association of Licensed Customs Agents, Area III Onne Port for his kind gesture.

DFID opens new office in Enugu

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•The inauguration of the new office From Chris Oji, Enugu

the state high court through one of its development agencies, ‘Justice for All’.

Likewise, Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano, who sent a representative, the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Solo Chukwulobelu, expressed gratitude to the contributions of

DFID, in achieving the development goals of the various administrations in Anambra state, since 2001 and expressed happiness that the organization has rolled out partnership projects that keyed into the development agenda of the current administration in Anambra state, under governor Willie Obiano.

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HE Development for International Development (DFID) has opened its Southsouth-Southeast zonal office in Enugu, expressing its willingness to continue partnering with the federal and state governments in the task of nation building.

The office is located at Garden Avenue, GRA, Enugu.

The head of the organisation in Nigeria, Mr Ben Mellor explained at the inauguration of the office that DFID in Nigeria is in partnership with some state governments on development and good governance.

In an address, Olachi Chuks Ronne, the DFID Regional Coordinator for Southeast-Southsouth zones, said the organisation has been working closely with the various state governments since 2001, especially in Anambra and Enugu states.

The areas of focus include poverty reduction and health.

Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who was represented at the occasion by his deputy, Mrs Cecelia Ezeilo, praised the DFID for its contributions in the sustenance of democratic process in the state as well as welfare of the people.

Ugwuanyi mentioned DFID has recently conducted an induction seminar for elected officials in the state on how to stir good governance, likewise refurbished

DFID has recently conducted an induction seminar for elected officials in the state on how to stir good governance, likewise refurbished the state high court through one of its development agencies

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THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015

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FRIDAY AUGUST 28, 2015

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

KOGI APC PRIMARIES No fewer than 28 aspirants are warming up for Kogi State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries scheduled for Lokoja, the state capital, tomorrow. Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU examines the contenders and pretenders and their chances at the shadow poll.

Who gets Kogi APC ticket?

•Audu

•Bello

K

OGI State is a unique state. Ethnicity plays a big role in deciding who takes the driver’s seat. That is why politicians from Central and West senatorial districts are championing the agitation for power shift. The clamour underscores their protest against perceived exclusion from political control. But, Kogi East, which accounts for 54 per cent of the state’s population, has described the claim as frivolous. According to the stakeholders from the zone, the claim is devoid of rationality and tantamount to twisting the truth to win emotional support for their cause.

Ahead of the primaries, many Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains have defected to the APC. Their defection followed the defeat of the PDP during the last parliamentary elections. Many stakeholders have also alleged that the governor, Captain Idris Wada, has performed poorly. But, the governor has refuted the claim, saying that he has lived up to expectation.

No fewer than 28 aspirants are struggling for the ticket. They purchased nomination forms, following the release of the election time table for by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Thus, it is a crowded race for the Lugard House. According to observers, the APC primaries will decide the future of the party and the second term ambition of Governor Wada.

The aspirants include Prince Abubakar Audu, Senator Nurudeen Abatemi-Usman, Alhaji Sueiman Baba Ali, Dr. Tim Diche, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, Hon. Clarence Olafemi, and George Olumoroti, an engineer. Others are Alhaji Ado Gamji, Babatunde Irukera, Chief Lanre Ipinmisho, Mallam Yakuku Mohammed, Senator Alex Kadiri, Aliyu Jiya, Senator Nicholas Ugbane, Gen. Salihu Atawodi, and Mr. Rotimi Obadofin.

Audu He is the first elected governor of the state.

He ruled the state twice, but under different constitutions. Audu ruled between 1992 and 1993 on the platform of the National Republican Convention (NRC) and between 1999 and 2003 as a chieftain of the defunct All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP). According to the 1999 Constitution, he is entitled to a second term. Audu worked assiduously for the development of the state. But, in the last 12 years, the state, which is blessed with natural endowment and human capital, has been a shadow of itself. When the former governor picked his nomination form, he promised to restore the pride of the state by putting in place first class infrastructure and attract more investments. Many people believe that

•Onukaba

•Mohammed

It is a crowded race for the Lugard House. According to observers, the APC primaries will decide the future of the party and the second term ambition of Governor Wada he is competent. During his first term, he facilitated the take off of the Obajana Cement factory.

Audu is Kogi APC leader. He worked hard to deliver the state to President Buhari in the last election. According to his supporters, his frustration with the state of affairs motivated him to enter the race. His performances in office between1999-2003 remained his biggest selling point, Last week, many stakeholders from 21 local governments endorsed him in Lokoja.

Another key factor that may work in favour of the Igala prince is the failure of aspirants from the west and central districts to produce a consensus candidate.

The APC leadership may have tacitly endorsed him. Last week, a top chieftain said:”no coach changes a winning captain in the middle of a match.” His dynamism and experience in politics and business, his formidable structure and followership are great assets.

Abatemi-Usman He hails from a reputable political family, his father having served as the deputy governor of Kwara State in the Second Republic.

Between 2011 and 2015, he represented Kogi Central on the platform of the PDP. AbatemiUsman is sociable, amiable and easy-going.

But, he is not perceived as a formidable candidate. Many believed that he won the senatorial election in 2011 as a compromise candidate, following a major disagreement that threatened to tear the party apart in the zone.

One major setback for the former legislator is that he recently defected to the APC. There is no evidence that he has the backing of his district. During the week, the district endorsed Gamji, an oil magnet and philanthropist, as a consensus candidate. AbatemiUsman cried foul, saying that the move was not popular. His supporters, who are agitating for power shift, however, believe that he has a chance.

Baba Ali Baba Ali was a commissioner in the defunct Audu administration. Many were surprised when he picked the nomination form because they thought that he was working for his former boss. A party chieftain said his approach and divided loyalty may have struck

a wrong chord in the among the political leaders. But, his supporters believe otherwise. According to them, he has the right under the constitution to run.

A party source said that party leaders would have supported Ali for parliamentary ambition, if he had indicated his interest. That, to them, would have groomed him for the number one seat. The feeling is that he may not be able to withstand the arsenal of his uncle, Audu, at the primaries. Besides, foes have made efforts to blackmail him by boxing him into an identity crisis. Ali has not done much to effectively dispel the rumour that his father is from Bida, Niger State, and only his mother hails from Kogi. In 1999, some people protested against his nomination for a position in the State Executive Council, based on his identity. Another factor that may work against him is lack of financial muscle and limited political experience.

But, party members said that he is a likeable personality and hardworking politician who has shunned avarice. Politically, he is very promising. A source said that he may step down for Audu.

Diche He is an economist and a risk manager. He is a former local government chairman. Diche failed in his bid to represent his constituency in the House of Representatives before dumping the PDP. According to sources, he relies on the goodwill of his former colleagues.

However, this is debatable. Many former council chairmen who left the PDP for the APC appear to be working for Audu. If Diche fails to get the ticket, it will not draw the curtain on his political career. He may be a candidate for the future.

Bello Bello is a graduate of Accounting from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and the Chairman of Kogi Youth Arise Forum. He has a huge financial war chest and connection with big party wigs. But, to his surprise, the party leaders refused to endorse him. Instead, the leaders, led by ,Senator Ohiare picked Sanusi as a consensus candidate. Bello’s popularity is restricted to his district. he needs to extend his tentacles to other zones. only central senatorial districts. A source said that

•Olusola he may dump the APC for the Accord, if he fails to get the ticket. But, his supporters said the rumour is baseless.

Olafemi Olafemi, fondly called Obembe by admirers, is one of the popular politicians from Okun. In the House of Assembly, he was a star legislator. He was the Minority Leader, and later, the Speaker. He was also the Acting Governor. He is a respected gladiator from Kogi West. Olafemi is very close to the PDP chieftain, Jibrin Isah Echocho, who is running for governor. Many PDP chieftains have penciled down his name as the running mate before he dumped the party. Therefore, he has more political enemies in the PDP. They believe he has destroyed their plan to pull the rug off the governor’s feet.

Olafemi faces some odds at the primary election, despite his popularity. He hails from Mopa Moro, a small local government. He is very popular at home. Yet, he failed to emerge as the consensus candidate of the marginalised Okun. Other aspirants do not see him as the arrowhead of the minority Yoruba, which is always fighting for relevance. However, he may emerge as the APC running mate.

Olumoroti Olumoroti is a mechanical engineering graduate of Yaba College of Technology. He holds a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Calabar. He has many things going for him. He has the experience, energy and money. He is young and promising. The Kabba-born politician worked with Exxon/Mobil in Lagos. He is without any dent.

Gamji He is a new comer into the political arena.

Two weeks ago, he picked his nomination form. But, to the surprise of other aspirants, he emerged as the consensus candidate of the Central District. His rivals are bitter. Thus, they have resorted to blackmail. His endorsement has implications. If he fails to get the ticket, the leaders may tip him for running mate.

Irukera He is a prince from Egbe. The son of the Elegbe of Egbeland, Yagba West Local Council, entered the race few weeks ago. His posters are attractive. But, no major stakeholder is associated with his aspiration. He told reporters in Lokoja that power should shift to foster equity and justice. He described himself as the man whom the cap fits. But, he has a bright prospect in politics. Many youths see him as a man of the future.

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THE NATION FRIDAY AUGUST 28, 2015

As a well brought up Nigerian I respect ‘elders so I will rather stick to the issues ’

POLITICS KOGI APC PRIMARIES Veteran journalist and one-time Senior Special Assistant to Vice President on Media Adinoyi Ojo Onukaba is a governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State. He spoke with TONY AKOWE in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on the problems confronting the state and how he intends to solve them, if elected as governor.

Onukaba: Kogi suffers from bad leadership

M

ANY people have argued that Kogi State is moving backward, instead of developing. What do you think is responsible for this?

The answer is bad leadership.

From Abubakar Audu through Ibrahim Idris to Idris Wada, Kogi State has had the misfortune of being led by the wrong people; people without vision, people who were clearly ill-prepared for the office, people who believe that being governor gives them an opportunity to primitively accumulate wealth and promote nepotism. This is why we have to be careful this time. We must pick a candidate with the right credentials, including integrity, vision and capacity to deliver. Kogi needs good governance. Kogi needs development. I believe that Kogi needs me to pull it out of this sorry state.

Kogi is blessed with a lot of resources, but it still rely on handouts from Abuja. How best do you think this should be handled?

Kogi needs to grow its internally generated revenue to a level where it can take care of all recurrent expenditure. In my policy document titled “Re-inventing Kogi State”, I have promised innovative and creative ways of raising revenue without over-burdening the people. We shall also block all loopholes and leakages in the revenue collection process. We shall invest in revenue collection through better remuneration, training and incentives. Within the first two years of my administration, we will triple the current N600 million monthly IGR. Kogi State is today hugely di-

vided along ethnic line. What plans do you have in place to unite the divided state?

I will be governor of all Kogites.

The resources of the state will be used for the benefit of the entire people of Kogi State. Yes, the ethnic divide is there and that is because there has not been fairness and equity in appointments and resources allocation in the state. The architect of that lopsidedness in appointments and resources allocation is Abubakar Audu. Ibrahim Idris and Idris Wada have faithfully kept the tradition of marginalization. This is not right. It has to change. The government I hope to lead will be fair and equitable to all Kogites.

How do you intend to tackle insecurity?

Insecurity is not peculiar to Kogi State. There is insecurity generally in the country. It is being fueled mostly by youth unemployment.

My administration will work closely with the police to secure the state.

We will assist the state police with patrol vehicles and communication equipment. We will ensure that security vote is used to secure the lives and property of the people of the state. We will improve on intelligence gathering and have a data of known criminals in the community so that they can be easily monitored.

We will have zero tolerance for crimes and anti-social behaviour.

In the face of dwindling revenue, how do you intend to fight the infrastructure battle?

No better illustration of the rot in Kogi State than the state of its roads.

Yet, the state government claims to have spent billions of naira on roads in the state. You are right. Kogi roads look like roads in a war-ravaged territory. We will make sure that there is value for money in our infrastructural projects. Previous governments have often used such projects as conduit pipes. For example, the so-called Greater Lokoja Water Scheme has been awarded, reviewed and reawarded several times

by Ibrahim Idris and Wada administrations. Yet, Lokoja has no water for people to drink.

How do you plan to tap the natural resources that are abundant in Kogi?

My policy document has a list of about 25 mineral resources available in Kogi State, showing available reserve and where they can be found.

We will partner with the Federal Government to ensure that these blocs are leased to those who have the financial resources and technical expertise to develop them. We will also work closely with the Federal Government to resuscitate Ajaokuta

Steel Company and Itakpe Iron Ore Mining Company. These two companies can create jobs and generate wealth for our people.

Could you shed light on your blue print on agriculture?

My administration will prioritize and reposition agriculture, Small and Medium scale Enterprises (SMEs), Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Solid Minerals to create jobs and generate wealth for our people. We will encourage young people to go into various aspects of agriculture by providing inputs, tools, incentives and loans.

What plans do you have for the infrastructural development?

We will carry out a thorough audit of the workers in the state to ensure that the 28,000-35,000 workforce on the state payroll are real. We cannot be squandering state resources on ghost workers. I believe that after conducting personnel audit, we may be able to save a big chunk for capital projects. No state government can develop spending 80 per cent of its revenue on recurrent expenditure. It is the era of small and efficient public service.

With the current salary wage bill of N3billion, will you consider downsizing or retrenchment of workers, if that appears to be the

invest in revenue collection through better remuneration, ‘ We shall training and incentives. Within the first two years of my administration, we will triple the current N600 million monthly IGR’

•Onukaba only way out?

We will right-size to put round pegs in round holes. We will rid the state of ghost workers. I suspect that the N3 billion monthly wage bill is fraudulently padded. Using modern ICT tools, such as biometrics, it won’t be difficult to know the true workers from ghosts.

Kogi State is known to have too many redundant local government workers who all they do is collect salary at the end of the month. Over 80% of these workers stay for months without reporting at their duty stations, what plan do you have in place considering how unsustainable this trend is?

That is very true. I believe that a well conducted personnel audit will expose the redundant workers either at the state or local government level.

Kogi State under my leadership will not be paying people who are idle.

Kogi State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant Yahaya Bello spoke with reporters in Lokoja, the state capital, on his ambition, blueprint for development, chances at the primaries and other issues.

‘I’m governor Kogi needs’

W

HAT is your position on zoning or power shift in Kogi State?

Let me point out from the onset that I am from Kogi Central, which has not produced a governor since the creation of the state. But, that is not the issue. If my desire is to serve only one section of the state, then, I could have as well settle, for an office within that geographical area. It is important that party members and the electorate in general clearly understand the issue. The issue is to chart a new direction Kogi State and its people. The issue is about education, health, job creation with youth empowerment, infrastructure development as well as public service and pension reforms. All this I have clearly expounded in my blueprint and these things are not for Kogi Central alone as the people of Kogi East and Kogi West also suffer the same deprivation that is widespread in the state. So, that makes me the unique aspirant in this case because I have the blueprint for development and I do not have to dwell on geoethnic politics when I am resolute of the overall development of the state.

What makes your blueprint different from the programmes of other aspirants?

I think series of failed promises have made skeptics out our people and they are right to be skeptical.

What I will say however is to refer

everyone to study the blueprint and see that it is not like the type they are used to. Each of the priority areas listed were well articulated. An example is when we say education for all, we go the additional length to explain how this would be financed. The solution and strategy we will apply are not abstract, but concrete. Even for the previous documents that were not fully or properly implemented, you discover that the problem is that of lack of will to do things that will improve the quality of life of the people. That is what is different about the blueprint that I have put forward. When you study it you can see the will and the determination to make it work. Kogi State cannot continue to be like something out the stone age when other states of Nigeria are working towards becoming like the developed economies.

What is your chance at the shadow poll??

I should not be the one to rate myself. I don’t even see this as a popularity contest. To me it is more like aspirants going for a job interview. The delegates, who represent party members in the state, are the

kind of the interview panel. So, what we are doing is to show our competence for the job and the feedback my campaign has been getting are reassuring. I was even briefed about an unofficial sample that put my projected votes at the primary at 68 per cent to 76 per cent so when I get such feedback it becomes a reminder that this is not about me but about Kogi people who are ready for change and a new direction. It tells me what we have tabled before the people tallies with what they want. So anyone who can correctly gauge the mood of the people can accurately speak about my chances.

You mean you are ahead of Prince Abubakar Audu, who is perceived as the front runner?

There are almost 30 aspirants so I am not zeroing in on an individual.

As a well brought up Nigerian I respect elders so I will rather stick to the issues.

When you said respecting elders was that an inference at Prince Abubakar…

I have said it has to be about issues, about Kogi state, not individuals, not even about me but what I am offering. Almost all the other

The attitude of the party towards candidates ‘ has been that of neutrality as would be expected and I think that is what leaders should do ’

•Bello APC aspirants are older than me so I assert again that I respect elders.

If I attach any importance to my youthfulness it will be the fact that I feel the pains of Kogi youths because we are contemporaries who have been failed in the past by the older people who have been running the affairs of the state or those who have had the opportunity to run the state. That is not dismissing the fact that my age also naturally makes it easier for me to sync with other young leaders across the world in our quest to develop Kogi state. I know that being of the contemporary age makes my idea to be contemporary in nature and rel-

evant to the present needs of the state. But I will leave the other aspirants to discuss this thing about age while my campaign continues to convince Kogi people about what they can achieve by giving the right man the job.

What feelers are you getting from the party’s leadership in Kogi State?

The attitude of the party towards candidates has been that of neutrality as would be expected and I think that is what leaders should do. They should create a level playing field and I hope this remains so even during the primary itself. It is up to individual party members acting through delegates to the congress to now begin to decide that I am the best man for the job.

What gives you this confidence?

Let us not forget that I am an active and loyal party member. I have consistently toed, party line. I have been APC from inception. You see more than half of the other aspirants were either PDP members before moving to the APC after earlier failing to secure tickets there in the past or they have decamped to the PDP at some point before porting back to what is today the APC. So, I believe any party member who had studied the past trend in other states would know that anyone who has been in the PDP before will in the future defect back to the PDP with their mandate after he has won the election. This is an additional reason for me to ensuring that the APC is not shortchanged like that.

THE NATION FRIDAY AUGUST 28, 2015

POLITICS

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Kogi State has so many histories behind it, being the first ‘administrative seat in Nigeria, where Lord Lugard resided. It is the place where Nigeria was pronounced as a country ’

KOGI APC PRIMARIES Kogi State All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain George-Olumoroti Olusola, in this interview with MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE, explains why he wants to govern the Northcentral state.

‘I ‘ll turn Kogi around’ W

HY are you in the race for Kogi State governor?

I was motivated to contest for the position of the governor of Kogi State because of its visible problems. Having seen the blessings that accrue to Kogi terms of the natural resources and human capital, today we ranked about the 34th poorest state in the country. This means our resources have not been adequately harnessed and there is so much poverty in the land. That is why I am motivated to come out to help the situation. I believe we need to do things differently, put in fresh ideas that can move the state forward. There is the need to harness the natural resources for the benefit of our people.

How formidable is your structure?

This is a structure that I have built since 2007, under the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). I obtained form too in the same year for the position of the governor, I was screened and cleared. But the leadership of the party prevailed on us to step down for Prince Abubakar Audu which we did.

As a loyal party man, I have remained with the party, helping the party in whatever capacity. In the last election, we demonstrated it by winning three senatorial seats and six out of the nine House of Representatives seats. We won 11 out of the House of Assembly seats. So, the structure is formidable.

In Kogi west, where I come from, where I have always been known to belong to the progressives, I have been playing my part in ensuring that the party is a force to reckon with.

What are your plans for the state, if elected?

My plan for the state includes investing aggressively in agriculture.

Kogi State today, about 70 per cent of its population work force is agrarian. But, this is a sector that had been largely neglected by subsequent governments since 1999. Kogi State that used to be the food basket of the nation is now the importer of food.

Again, because of the impact of the ozone layer, it is really difficult for farmers to go to the farms in the morning without the necessary support. The administration under my supervision is going to provide farm implements and equipment for all farmers in all the local governments.

We are going to procure fertilizers and ensure that we eliminate middlemen and allow the product to get directly to the farmers. We will ensure that the farmers have direct access to the equipment. In addition, we are going to establish a revolving soft loan for the farmers. This is going to motivate farmers, who are the largest number of our work force. The education sector is another critical area to look into. It has been neglected by successive governments. There is no single secondary school that is comparable in terms of quality or standard to the Kings College in Lagos State. We used to have good secondary schools in Kogi. So, we are going to invest largely in education.

We are going to revive it by ensuring that we rehabilitate the structures that have collapsed. We will motivate the teachers, who are currently spending more time at home due to strikes. This

is because the current government has refused to implement the elongated salary structure agreed upon with the governors’ forum.

What will you do about this, if elected?

Our primary school teachers have been at home in the last eight months for lack of implementation of good condition of service. We are going to ensure that we implement the elongated salary structure. I have plans under my administration to explore the tourism potential of Kogi State.

Kogi State has so many histories behind it, being the first administrative seat in Nigeria, where Lord Lugard resided. It is the place where Nigeria was pronounced as a country. We have so many structures behind us; we have the only cemetery that housed the European armies who fought in the world wars, in Lokoja.

We have other exiting tourism attractions, but this has largely been neglected. We are going create awareness about these and invest in them.

We are going to invest in the cargo handling capacity in the Ajaokuta and Jetties. We thank God that the Federal Government is dredging the Niger Delta, which is going to be of help in the development of our state.

The state government is going to invest, to ensure the cargo handling equipment is useful to our people. We will get the public/private partnership to harness the natural resources that the state is blessed with. The

I am not a strong advocate of power shift, but I believe that the best candidate will emerge

•Olusola Ajaokuta Steel Complex which government has invested a lot in will get our support, but for the past 32 years the project has been abandoned. My plan is to do position paper and present it to the Federal Government for a consortium arrangement that is going to be tripartite in nature. This will include the federal, state and private investors to bring it back to life.

This will create about 10,000 direct employment for Nigerians and indirect employment of about 90,000.

Many industries will spring up immediately, if this is done. We are targeting 100,000 jobs directly or indirectly. This will also help the state to improve the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). Another area we want to pursue is the power generation. Kogi State has large deposit of coal in Kabba area, Koto Karifi in the western part of the state. The coals are unexplored and we know that

part of President Muhammadu Buhari’s agenda is to improve power generation at reasonable cost.

How can your party have a rancour free primary?

I am a team player and I have always advocated to the leadership of the party, to ensure that we have a free and fair primary. The choice of the party is paramount to me. I have always worked for the party as an individual; I have also worked for the party in cooperative terms. During the general election, we worked so hard for all the successes we recorded for the President. We are committed to ensuring that the party takes over Kogi State, because of the strategic role Kogi has continued to play in the national economy. We are committed to ensure that Kogi State is taken over by our party; we are appealing and praying that the primary is going to be free and fair. That all the other aspirants are going to work with whoever emerges.

Are you not worried that the Igalla people have been the ones dominating the state?

It is true that since 1991 when the state was created, and lately since 1999 that this democracy started, it has always been the Igalla ruling the state. I am not a strong advocate of power shift, but I believe that the best candidate will emerge. In last election, it clearly shows that 50 percent of the votes came from Kogi West and Central. If we have the system that can guarantee free and fair election like we had in the last election, I can tell you that from Kogi West and Central, they can win. They have 12 local governments out of 21, Kogi east has nine. So, in a free and fair primary under the supervision of the national body, if the west and central work together, they can always deliver a candidate that will win the election.

Ipinmisho: I ‘ll tackle failure of governance Former Director-General of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Otunba Olanrewaju Ipinmisho is a governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State. He explains his mission in politics to Assistant Editor GBADE OGUNWALE.

W

HAT is your plan for Kogi State?

The greatest problem we have in Kogi is that Kogi has not been fortunate to have a leader that can even diagnose and is willing to address the problems. You have somebody that all he understands about life is competition with people all over the place, materially. Not competition in developing his people.

Those are the kind of characters that have been in charge of my state. Characters that have the hospital shut down for close to a year, schools shut down; first term, second term and third term. No examination and they say Your Excellency and you are just smiling. What does Excellency mean in governance when everything that is in governance is failing and they call you Excellency in the retinue of officers and you are excited. Indices of administration are not there and you say you are Excellency. This is my worry. I kept lamenting like this until I got the inspiration that stop this lamentation. What does it take to be a governor that I have not been given? I talked to myself that I don’t have money and he said no, there are people without money that have gotten there.

Go and do your survey, there is no other state in Nigeria in which poverty is so thoroughly symbolised. There is no state in Nigeria as at today that ranked with Kogi in poverty.

There are over 20 aspirants in the

APC. Is the list not outrageous?

With what I have told you, if you have less than 20, you won’t take us seriously. If this fire is burning the way I am telling you, if it is true, don’t you think we should even have more? Everybody is feeling what I am telling you, I do not blame them because they find it difficult to trust anybody anymore. Wada came in as a very humble, smiling governor.

But we can see what he is doing now.

So, this is the reason and it is not their fault. Sometimes we meet and think, what if I concede to this man, based on what he used to be before he got there. He was doing his small business and people thought maybe this is the man. So it is not their fault. I was even expecting more people to come up but at the end of the day, when we continue to meet, we will come to the conclusion, that okay, let’s have a gentleman agreement that this is what I was contesting to do. I have seen it in your own papers, if you are sincere with this, I am ready to concede to you because there is no way we will have more than one governor on January 27.

We are 27 people from the same party, the list is not outrageous. I know people from all over the place.

I have also travelled all over the state, East, West and Central and I have seen that all the 17 years of PDP governance in Kogi has endangered the people of the East more than the other two parts of Kogi. The poverty is even more apparent in the East

and at the end of the day, I discovered that there just a little above one percent from the east, centre and the west that have been sitting atop Kogi and insisting that the people must remain poor. There has been no governor in Kogi that did not have active participants from the other parts. So, when people shout this power shift without considering that it has to shift to an individual that has the capacity, that has the fear of God, that is gentlemanly enough to respect the right of the people. It has to be someone that is focused enough, that understands the norms and problems of the people and that is willing and ready to deliver. Unless we get the right person, will be back to square one.

The East Senatorial District is always producing the governor. Is your party considering power shift

The reality has ‘dawned on us and that is why some of the politicians will do whatever they can to make sure that this card reader thing does not work in the November election

’

this time around?

Let me tell you, if you check the statistics at the last election, it was highly revealing. The figures that were being used to declare those results of those days were not there.

The reality has dawned on us and that is why some of the politicians will do whatever they can to make sure that this card reader thing does not work in the November election.

So, I want the federal government to be at alert. Now that we are having election in Kogi, whatever it takes to have the card reader to work must be done. The people from the east, the Igalas are not desperate. The average person from the Igala part are not desperate for the position. I have them in my committee, they are not desperate because they cannot justify what their leaders have done holding unto power for these number of years. All they get is blame and blame for the woes of Kogi as an Igala man. They know that the various governors have not impacted on their lives. So go and find out and you will discover that it is a myth to think that Igala man wants to retain the governorship.

They are asking what they have done with it. Let it go to the west, let it go to the central. Maybe we will be better taken care of. So, the figures are not there upon which they did all that fraud. I have also told you also that an average Igala man has not been a beneficiary of this holding unto power by the East since

•Ipinmisho

the advent of democracy in Nigeria.

What is your chance as an aspirant?

I will like you to also understand that there were masters of the game in APC when Buhari emerged. It is not politics now, it is the life of our people. You have been a general in the field of politics and people cannot see how it has impacted on their lives. You have only bought houses in Asokoro and Maitama and your children have also started buying houses in Abuja. They are not interested in the years of experience as a politician because if being a politician means enrich yourself and your family at the expense of the life of an average Kohi man, they are not interested. They want to give this new man a trial because in my own little resources, they have seen what I have done in my home within my own little earnings and they believe if I control the state treasury, I will do more.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015

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COMMENTARY

P

FEMI ABBAS ON

REAMBLE

This is the season of Hajj. It comes up in the month of Dhul Hijjah every year. Hajj means aspiration towards a higher pedestal in spirituality. It is, divinely, a pillar of Islam made obligatory by Allah for Muslims who can afford it once in a lifetime. Hajj is an ordained pilgrimage and not a mere tourism. Thus, the visa issued to Muslims who perform Hajj annually is that of pilgrimage and not of tourism. Whilst pilgrimage is a spiritual exercise, tourism is a pleasurable journey.

Similitude of Hajj The similitude of Hajj in the life of a Muslim is like that of pregnancy in the womb of an expectant mother. The experience may vary from woman to woman as the foetus in the womb undergoes various stages before reaching the stage of delivery. By the time the child is finally delivered, the mother feels a relief of her life while the child assumes a tabula rasa (clean slate) that makes him absolutely innocent.

Spiritually, a pilgrim is like a newly born baby if he strictly performs Hajj as prescribed by Allah. But if he returns into the world of vanity after Hajj, he automatically becomes like a person in snow-white attire who finds himself in a palm oil market. Unless he spiritually guides his loins, he may immediately become a tainted person both in body and in soul.

Majzarah (Abattoir)

femabbas756@gmail.com 08115708536

Details of Hajj nah

Rigours of Hajj Muslim pilgrims who are going on Hajj must be prepared to go through series of rigour both spiritually and physically. The rigour of getting the money with which to perform Hajj; the rigour of getting the travelling documents including visa; the rigour of taking care of the home front before embarking on the Holy journey; the rigour of boarding the plane with a sense of high risk; the rigour of going through the security check at the embarkation point as well as the disembarkation point in Saudi Arabia; the rigour of performing the Tawaf and Sa’y; the rigour of moving from Makkah to Mina on the 8th of Dhul-Hijjah, then to Arafah on the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah, and back to Mina via Muzdalifah on the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah; the rigour of locating the tents at Arafah; the rigour of throwing the pebbles at the Jamrat in Mina on the three or four days known as Ayamu-t-Tashrik; The rigour of performing Tawaful Ifadah at the Sanctuary in Makkah after the first day of throwing pebbles; the rigour of shaving the head (by men) and slaughtering the rams by all; the rigour of performing the farewell circumambulation otherwise known as Tawaful Wida‘i all in the midst of millions of people can be too much to forget so soon after Hajj.

Whoever is not bothered by the money spent on Hajj should at least be bothered by the various stages of the rigour involved including that of visiting Madinah.

To lose all these to the forces of Satan after Hajj is like losing one’s travelling passport after obtaining visa. The prayer of every genuine pilgrim is to retain the validity of Hajj forever.

Conditions for Hajj Performance Performance of pilgrimage must be based on genuine intention and high spiritual standard. An intending pilgrim must have attained puberty. He must have been an ardent practitioner of the first four pillars of Islam: (Salat, Zakah, and Sawm) all of which are fervently based on faith (Iman). Hajj without these pre-requisites is like a tree without roots.

Money is a major pre-requisite for Hajj but it is not absolute.

Hajj, the last pillar of Islam shows very vividly, the similitude of what mankind will experience on the Day of Judgment.

Looking at the unique way in which pilgrims dress for Hajj and how they assemble at Arafat leaving their luggage behind in Makkah, one will realize how ephemeral this world is.

Purpose of Hajj The various stages of preparation through which pilgrims pass before arriving at Arafat are symbolic of our peregrinations in life as human beings. Like the Day of Judgment, Arafat is the climax of Hajj performance. Anybody who misses Arafat misses Hajj. But Arafat is not by physical appearance alone. It takes a com-

exercise, pilgrims are advised to take their pebbles along with them. Except for the first day when seven pebbles are supposed to be thrown at only one spot, pilgrims are required to throw twenty one pebbles each day in the three spots provided while they remain in Mina.

Picking such pebbles at the point of throwing them is forbidden. All pebbles must have been picked before leaving the tent for the ‘Jamrat’ or on the way.

•The Ka‘abah

bination of factors to participate effectively in that great assembly which serves as the climax of Hajj.

For Hajj to serve its spiritual purpose in the life of a pilgrim, certain steps must be taken before leaving home. They are as follows: • Fine-tuning the first four pillars of Islam very sincerely • Packaging the intention to perform Hajj • Ensuring the security of the way • Providing for the family and dependants at home • Paying all the outstanding debts including promises • Ascertaining the condition of health • Perfecting immigration procedures and undergoing all necessary medical services including inoculation • Assuming a mood of humility like that of a servant approaching his master.

• Readiness to endure hardship and to tolerate fellow pilgrims’ attitudes.

Admonishing Muslims on spiritual journey, including Hajj.

Prophet Muhammad once said: “Actions shall be judged according to intentions.

Whoever embarks on a spiritual journey for the sake of Allah will be adjudged on that basis. And whoever bases his/her intention for pilgrimage on marriage or material gains should not expect any reward beyond that for which the intention is based”. The steps to follow in the performance of Hajj are as follows:

The Miqat Miqat is the specified place for the wearing of Ihram dress. There are five of such places in all. But the one earmarked for pilgrims from Nigeria cannot be reached by pilgrims travelling by air. It is overflown while crossing the Red Sea. What most Nigerians do therefore is to wear their Ihram dress in Jeddah which has now been adjudged right through a Fatwah.

Thus, Nigerian pilgrims can now wear their Ihram dress on arrival at the pilgrims’ airport in Jeddah.

Tawaful Qudum Tawaf means circumambulation of the Ka’bah. The very first Tawaf to be performed by any pilgrim on entering Makkah is Tawaful Qudum. It is performed before a pilgrim settles down in any residence. Tawaful Qudum is an obligatory Sunnah from which only residents of Makkah among pilgrims are exempted.

Residence in Makkah or Madi-

Most Nigerian pilgrims often seek their accommodations in Makkah or Madinah close to the Haram.

This is to enable them walk to and back from the Haram conveniently at the time of any Salat. To minimise pilgrims’ regular occurrence of missing their ways, they are provided with hand bands bearing the addresses of their residences. Pilgrims are therefore advised to wear such bands at all times to enable them show it to either the Hajj guides or policemen when the road is missed. It is also important for pilgrims to always be with their identity cards provided by Nigerian Pilgrims’ Commission or private agents. This is to enable them to be identified in case of sickness, accident or even death.

Movement to Mina Pilgrims must be ready to undergo some rigour in the process of moving to Mina from Makkah. The rigour which normally affects all pilgrims is engendered by limited time available for millions of pilgrims who must move to that spiritual camp before the sunset on the day preceding Arafah day.

The Day of Arafah At the Plain of Arafat, pilgrims are advised to stay under their tents and concentrate on the spiritual activities that take them to the place.

They must reach Arafat by mid day when Salatu-d-Dhuhr and ‘Asr should be observed combined. Anybody who is not at Arafat by mid day is considered not to have taken part in the assembly and therefore missed Hajj. Immediately after observing the combined Salatu-d-Dhuhr and ‘Asr the Imam who led the two Salat is expected to give a sermon. Listening to such sermon is as compulsory as giving it.

The great assembly of Arafat terminates shortly before sunset (Magrib) and the pilgrims return to Mina via Muzdalifah.

Muzdalifah At Muzdalifah, pilgrims are expected to halt their journey to observe Magrib and ‘Ishai combined. They are also expected to pass the night there and observe the Salat-s-Subh of the following day before proceeding to Mina. Muzdalifah is adjacent to Mina and is therefore a walking distance.

Jamrat Stoning of the devils (Rajmu Jamrat) begins a day after Arafat and continues for the next three or four days that the pilgrims are supposed to spend at Mina.

This exercise is obligatory and without it Hajj is incomplete. There three points at which stones are to be thrown. Seven pebbles are to be thrown at each point on every one of the three or four days to be spent in Mina.

While going for the pebble-throwing

Slaughtering of all sacrificial animals is done at the abattoir in Mina. Pilgrims do not need to bother themselves by going to the abattoir for the purpose of carrying out this compulsory obligation. They can simply buy the guaranteed ticket sold by designated Saudi agents. The ticket is the evidence that one has performed that duty.

The slaughtering is done on behalves of the pilgrims by some authorised artisans who are paid by the Saudi Hajj authorities from the money paid for those animals.

The animals to be slaughtered at Jamrat range from rams to camels. A pilgrim should slaughter one ram or more while seven pilgrims may combine to slaughter one camel or five of them may jointly slaughter on cow.

Tawaful Ifadah For pilgrims who can afford to go to Makkah after throwing the first seven pebbles, it is good to perform Tawaf-ul-Ifadah. For those who cannot, the exercise can be deferred till the end of Tashrik.

Pilgrims who have performed Tawaf-ulIfadah are free to shave their heads and change from their Ihram dress into civil or traditional dresses.

The only reason for any pilgrim to go to Makkah from Mina during the camping period is to perform Tawaf-ul-Ifadah. No pilgrim should break camping rule by going to Makkah without performing Tawaf-ul- Ifadah. And after performing Tawaful Ifadah, no pilgrim should remain in Makkah or elsewhere without returning to Mina before sunset.

With the completion of the camping days in Mina and the arrival of all the pilgrims in Makkah, Hajj has been completed except for Tawaf Wida‘i otherwise called farewell Tawaf. That Tawaf is compulsory.

It is then left for pilgrims to decide whether or not to go to Madinah. Going to Madinah is not compulsory. It can neither validate nor invalidate Hajj. But it will be spiritually odd for any pilgrim to choose not to visit the Prophet’s Mosque.

Conclusion Throughout the Hajj exercise, what should be uppermost in the mind of a pilgrim is the spiritual benefit.

Hajj is made compulsory only once in a life’s time for those who have the wherewithal to undergo it and can satisfy the conditions attached to its performance.

On arriving home finally, pilgrims are not expected to start organising parties in celebration of a successful Hajj performance as ignorantly done by some Nigerians. Maintaining Hajj is a necessity for those who know the value of doing that.

Whoever is privileged to perform Hajj once should forever be grateful to Allah as no one is sure of getting another chance.

Hajj Mabrur holds seminar

H

AJJ Mabrur Ventures Limited (HMV) will on Sunday hold a seminar for the would-be pilgrims.

The annual seminar will take place at the University of Lagos Mosque auditorium, Akoka, Lagos.

A statement by its HMVL Director Alhaji Dhulkifli Adewunmi, said the seminar is germane to the success of the religious exercise.

Pilgrims, he said, need adequate information about the dos and don’ts of the exercise.

“Aside this, Saudi Arabia is a nononsense country that hold strict her laws and would not hesitate to punish whoever flout those laws. So, we need to enlighten our pilgrims on this and other salient issues,” he said.

Alhaji Adewunmi assured the pilgrims of a successful pilgrimage once they obey the rules and regulations guiding the holy exercise.

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015

49

INDUSTRY

Give us Cashew Board, farmers plead S

TAKEHOLDERS in the Cashew industry have called for the es-tablishment of a Cashew Board to boost foreign exchange earnings and generate jobs.

They spoke at the end of a twoday workshop in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

The theme of the workshop was: “Cashew business competitiveness and sustainability”.

They urged the Federal Government to assist cashew farmers and processors through the provision of a special fund to boost production.

Deputy Director, Product Development, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Chief Emmanuel Ezeagu, said the board would protect the interests of cashew farmers.

He added that the board would ensure that cashew species are of high quality, and also source markets for them.

Ezeagu, who described cashew as a money spinner because of the high demand for the nuts, added that the government should assist farmers to improve and increase production.

“Cashew is a money spinner; there are lots of Indians and Vietnamese coming to Nigeria to buy the raw cashew nuts. The market for cashew nuts is so huge that Ni-

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie

gerian cashew farmers should take advantage of it,” Nzeagu said.

He also called on both the states and local governments to encourage farmers to venture into the cashew plantation business. He said state governments can assist cashew farmers with improved seedlings, fertiliser and micro-credit loan facilities.

President, National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN), Mr. Tola Fasheru, decried the high cost of processing a ton of cashew.

He said it costs $500 to process one ton of cashew, whereas it costs about $250 in India and $217 in Vietnam to process the same quantity of cashew.

Fasheru said for the cashew industry to compete favourably with other countries, the government should set up a special fund for the industry.

According to him, the sustainability and competitiveness of the sector may be a mirage if the government did not assist cashew farmers and processors.

Business Advisory Manager (BAM) of the African Cashew Alliance (ACA), Mr. Sunil Dahiya, said the cashew industry had a great potential as a foreign exchange earner for the country.

To realise this potential, Duhiya said the sector must be properly harnessed and incentives provided by government. He said the governments of India, Vietnam and Mozambique subsidised the cost of processing cashew nuts.

According to him, the Indian government pays cashew processors $80 as subsidy per metric ton, while Vietnam pays about $70 to its cashew processors.

The BAM said ACA, since its inception, was committed to improving the competitiveness and sustainability of the African cashew industry. He said the alliance had also made efforts to increase the processing of cashew in the continent.

“Our objective is to facilitate the development of an industry that benefits the entire value chain, from farmer to consumer by sharing information and best practices among stakeholders,” he added.

A cashew farmer, Alhaji Akeem Anifowose, appealed to the Raw Material Research and Development Council (RMRDC) and investors to come up with the appropriate technology to process cashew apple and shell.

He also made a case for the NEPC to find market for cashew shells, as many of the by-products waste away on their farms

‘Invest more in sciences’ THE Federal Ministry of Education has called for an increased investment in the study and practice of sciences across all African countries.

Acting Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Hajia Hindatu Abdullahi, made the call at the opening of the Pan-African Science Olympiad in Abuja.

Abdullahi, represented by Dr Rosetta Isiavwe, the Director, Technology and Science Education in the ministry, said investment in sciences would encourage the services of indigent scientists to remain and develop Africa.

“For Africa to keep abreast with global trends of technology advancement, and perhaps in solving its multifarious problems, efforts must be geared towards science education research and development.

“This, I believe is the bedrock for national development; the very existence of any area of human endeavour is based on Mathematics and Mathematical Sciences. It is an established fact that sustained public investments in science in the developed nations do generate impressive returns,” Abdullahi said.

She, therefore, said it is the lack of investments that rob Africa of her scientists, who feel alienated from their societies and that’s why they are trade elsewhere; hence people erroneously view science as the product of the industrialised world.

Earlier, the Director/Chief Executive Officer, National Mathematical Centre, Prof. Adewale Solarin, organisers of the event, said other competitions were incorporated into the programme.

These, he said, were the maiden edition of the Pan-African Mathematics Olympiad for Girls (PAMO-G) and the Pan-African Mathematics Olympiad (PAMO).

“Pan-African Mathematics Olympiad, this is the 23rd Edition. We needed to do something with the girl child and we put a proposal to start the Pan-African Mathematics Olympiad for Girls. And I am happy that today, we are witnessing the maiden edition of this wonderful move to follow the trend in other parts of the world,” he said.

“Some three or four years ago, the European Communities started the European Girls Mathematical Competition and so we are here to back the Pan-African Olympiad for Girls. So, we have three in one— Pan African Science Olympiad, Pan-African Mathematics Olympiad and Pan African Mathematics Olympiad for Girls,” he explained.

Out of the 17 African countries, which indicated interest in this year’s edition of the competition, only 10 countries were at the opening. They are; Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania and Tunisia.

Participants are to compete in different science examinations all week to determine winners for the three competitions at the end of the week.

‘Textile industries ‘ll be resuscitated’

•From left: Human Resources Manager, Ama Brewery, Enugu, a subsidiary of Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Musah Martin, presenting the dummy cheque of N250,000 to a winner in the ongoing Life Continental Beer Progress Booster Radio Project, Mr. Chijindu James. With them is the campaign’s Financial Consultant, Mr. Ikenna Nnoli, at the Brewery in Enugu.

Sorghum production gets boost

A

MAJOR boost may have come the way of the agricultural sector.

Last week, the Federal Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a Chinese firm, Sang-Liang Technology Development Centre (STDC), to grow sweet sorghum in the country.

The MoU, signed by the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) on behalf of the Federal Government, The Nation learnt, is part of the Council’s efforts to add value to local raw materials to stimulate employment and create wealth.

According to the Deputy Director of Public Affairs Unit of RMRDC, Mr. Chuks Ngaha, the development is in line with the Council’s mandate of developing raw materials and facilitating the adoption of machinery and processes for raw

By Temitayo Ayetoto

materials utilisation.

“The agreement with STDC is for the processing and development of sweet sorghum into food and industrial and energy products to add value to local raw materials and create wealth,’’ he explained He said the Council would receive the sole franchise for the distribution of the improved sweet sorghum seedlings, planting materials and its technology in West Africa.

“The Council seeks to domesticate the technology for sweet sorghum production and processing in Nigeria. Consequently, the agreement includes joint establishment of a comprehensive industrial model project on the development of sweet sorghum,’’ Ngaha said.

According to him, STDC will provide technical support and expertise, including conducting the ini-

tial soil testing and other related activities. The council said it would also partner Niger State Government for land provision for the pilot project of cultivating improved sweet sorghum seeds.

He added that the state government provided some hectares of land for the project. “This collaboration shall also see STDC facilitating the replication of the sweet sorghum village industry in other states of the federation.

“The Council is already engaged in discussions with various stakeholders in Taraba, Adamawa, Kebbi, Bauchi and Gombe states to fashion out areas of collaboration on the project,’’ the statement added.

The Director-General, RMRDC, Dr Hussaini Doko, represented the Federal Government while Mr. Lyu Wei represented STDC in the signing of the MOU.

THE Kaduna State Governor, Nasiru el-Rufai, has said that his administration’s resolve to revive the ailing textile industries was irrevocable.

He said this at the opening of the 27th Annual National Education Conference of National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) in Kaduna.

The three-day conference had as its theme: “Buhari’s Administration: Revival of Textile Industry and Creation of Mass Decent Jobs.” The governor said it was regrettable that the textile industries which used to employ tens of thousands in the state could now only employ about 1,500 employees. ‘’This is unfortunate and must be addressed’’, he said.

Commending the Federal Government’s commitment to revive the textile industries in the country, he assured the textile workers that his government would ensure that the textile industries were fully resuscitated to their former status.

Meanwhile, Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo, noted that the commitment displayed by President Muhammadu Buhari to revive the industries is commendable. According to him, the move would create thousands of jobs for the youth. “We are hopeful on President Buhari because of his shown committment to the revival of the textile industries,’’ he said.

The governor called on the textile workers to give President Buhari full support in the effort to revive the textile industry.

The NUTGTWN Secretary General, Issa Aremu, disclosed that a total of 101,700 of textile industries factories had closed shops in the country, noting that past governments did nothing to revive the industry.”It is commendable that Buhari’s administration named textile revival explicitly in his campaign promise.

Life Beer gives N3 million to 12 entrepreneurs LIFE Continental Lager Beer, a brand of beverage from the stables of Nigerian Breweries PLC, has increased the number of promoters of small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) in the Southeast, who benefited from the “Life Continental Beer Progress Booster Radio Project” to 36.

The brand offered N3 million to the third set of 12 winners whose proposals were outstanding.

Addressing the budding entrepreneurs at the Cheque presentation at Ama Brewery of NB Plc, Enugu, Mr. Olalekan Okubanjo, the Packaging Manager, urged the winners to stay focused and to invest wisely in their ventures.

He assured them that the brand will not abandon them in their endeavour to move their enterprises to the next level. His words: “The panel of experts that assessed and judged your business proposals will monitor your progress. They will be there to mentor and provide valuable advice, when necessary.”

Okubanjo said there was still an opportunity for the winners to get additional N250,000 if their business could progress.

The winners include Joy Ogbanigo (Healthy Vegetable Drink Production; Innocent Onyeukwu (Opening of a Butcher’s Shop); Felicia Emeh (Food Canteen Expansion); Augustine Okoli (Household & Furniture Welding); Tuvia Kings Enterprises (Creative Fashion Designing and Prints) and Chijindu James (Automatic Wireless Change Over).

Others are: Eusebius Owusi (Cold Room Business Expansion); Nwaenyi White Nelson (Computer Training Centre Establishment); Stella Okechukwu (Hair Dressing Salon Establishment); Ebube Jediho (Cassava Planting and Production); Ezo Ukwuora Benjamin (Transparent Bar Soap Production); and Anyachukwu Donatus (Food Condiments Processing).

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015

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Shoprite lifts communities, school with donations •Opens outlet in Festac Town

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ETAIL giant Shoprite has continued its Community Network in local communities in conjunction with Save Our Needy International NGO as it donates learning materials to the Progressive Nursery and Primary School in Festac Town, Lagos.

The retailer which opened its new outlet in Festival mall Festac town of Lagos donated a set of chairs, tables, whiteboards and stationery to the principal of the school. The donation is part of Shoprite’s commitment to making a positive impact in the communities where they have stores.

Speaking on its contributions to the school, Shoprite’s Festac store manager, Jide Ahmadu asserts that the donation forms part of the store’s CSR plans to impact their Community. “we understand the fact that learning materials are important because they can significantly increase students’ achievement by supporting their learning as well as assisting the teachers to efficiently perform their professional duties” “We also want a better life through Education for our youths that’s why we support early childhood development and also assist to create a conducive environment for learning” Ahmadu enthused.

•From right: Marvella Odili, Director General, Save Our Needy organisation Olajide Ahmadu, Shoprite Festac Store Manager Benedicta Ibe, Shoprite Festac Store Cashier Mrs T. Ajayi, Headteacher, Progressive Nur & Pry School Festac with teaching staff and members of the NGO.

By Tonia ‘Diyan It would be recalled that the retailer recently partnered with the Kwara state waste management agency to

drive the message of keeping the environment clean. In the same vein, it also organised a free breast cancer screening event in Ibadan and donated shopping vouchers to NGO’s in Kano and Abuja.

The teachers and students of Progressive Nursery and Primary school expressed sincere appreciation for the donation and encouraged other well meaning organisations to emulate the gesture.

Everyone likes a discount. That is why stores sell more products through promotions. This makes the shopper to spend more and come back more often. Discounts are good but no matter how big the discount is, stores almost never sell at a loss, TONIA ‘DIYAN writes.

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NOWING that stores keep reeling out discounts and promos daily to attract buyers, a shopper, Augustine buys items he doesn’t really need simply because they are discounted, he is an impulse buyer just like many others.

He has failed to realize that retailers sell the same product to the customer, but raise the price and even put a discount on it, so the shopper is happy with the discount, while he is actually paying more.

It is funny what luxury retailers do to get the attention of shoppers some times. Augustine knows an Italian shoes store that is has the ‘buy two get one free’ promo ongoing. Excited he ran off to go get the awoof, only to discover that the price of the two items could fetch him four of the same quality stuff from another shop in the same neighbourhood. He left the place having realised that he would have played the mugu if he had

Fear of massive discounts not known the other store.

But one thing was certain. The offer made people rush to that store and they did make great profit for the retailer.

The scenario is similar to when global system for mobile communication (GSM) technology was first introduced into the country. The telecommunication companies, in collaboration with handset companies ran similar promos. The level of sales today explains how huge the profit they made at the time.

Retail experts have said it is important for stores to offer good services, thereby endearing customers to always come back. Former Broll Chief Executive Officer, Mrs Erejuwa Gbadebo once said: “When it comes to sales and discounts, shoppers want to see all products offered and prices available on daily basis, most importantly, they like to

see excellent customer service that they will receive which of course, they are entitled to. It is almost a sure bet that everyone will be coming back over and over whether there is a sale or not.”

She added that friendliness and good service is better. “I have been to many shops where all they are concerned about is for you to buy something.

All they want to do is make sales. If a shopper finds himself in such shop and is not sure of what to buy, he would either be thrown into confusion or end up buying the wrong item.

That’s why it is always advisable to go to a reputable shop where one can ask questions and receive good answers concerning purchases. Such shops would care about maintaining their name and reputation, so they would most likely give a good service.”

Lagos state now plays host to five branches of Shoprite with the addition of the Festac store and brings to a total of thirteen stores spread across as they continue to expand in the country.

SHOPRITE @ 10

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EN years ago, Shoprite, a notable retail outlet in South Africa, hit Nigeria with its first outlet in Lekki, Lagos. The Retail giant has today spread to other parts of the country with Lagos State alone now playing host to five branches and bringing to a total of 13 stores spread across as they continue to expand in the country. Its operational strategy has seen the retail chain expand into the Nigerian market where its population has grown tremendously. Today it is regarded as the place to shop in Lagos and in Nigeria.

Shoprite’s winning philosophy is to offer customers a convenient shopping experience in clean stores where customers can be sure to pay their lowest prices on their basic food and household requirements. The chain which has become a household name in most Nigerian Urban Centres has made shopping easier for Nigerians. As part of our culture of recognising and celebrating excellence, advert spaces are open to the Retail giant’s (Shoprite) corporate friends till September ending.

Guinness, Oregbeni community: Looking beyond business, impacting lives

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XPERTS in the field of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) have described community engagement as the continuing commitment by businesses to behave ethically and contribute to economic development. It is also generally inferred that CSR is about giving back to the society.

However, there are some organisations that go beyond the primary objective of making profits for their shareholders to build capacity for sustainable livelihoods in the communities. One outstanding example of such an organisation is Guinness Nigeria.

Diageo,Guinness Nigeria’s parent company, recently released its sustainability and responsibility targets for 2020 which succinctly lay out the company’s plans for tackling issues in three key areas – leading the alcohol in society discourse, building thriving communities and reducing environmental impact. In its statement to announce the 2020 targets, the company said: “At Diageo we be-

By Bukola Aroloye lieve celebrating life, every day, everywhere means to make the most of life to be the best you can be at work, at home, with friends, in the community, and for the community. We want our people to progress and fulfil their potential and our company to be a leader, to always make a positive contribution to society, to create shared value, wherever we work.”

A company that thinks like this cannot but make the right connections at global and local levels to ensure these targets are achieved. In Nigeria, the development projects the company has embarked upon in Oregbeni, the host community for its Benin brewery in Edo State, Nigeria typifies this approach.

Over the years, the company has shown its commitment to community development by consistently attending a monthly all-parties meeting,held to discuss critical issues aimed at strengthening existing relationships and the developmental challenges facing the community. It was through this meeting and further consultations that key ar-

eas of need and intervention for the Oregbeni community development were highlighted.

Top on the priority of the list of interventions was the construction of three major roads for the community. The roads are Igiesota, Ighodalo and Iyoha roads. Igiesota and Ighodalo roads have both been constructed with side drains and walk ways.Phase one of Iyoha, which is the longest road among the three has been completed and was commissioned by the Executive Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole on 14th November, 2013. The Governorwas pleased with the quality of the construction work carried out on the road that he enthusiastically decided to rename it Guinness Way. Plans to commence the second phase of the construction work on the road are underway.

Beyond roads, another pillar of Guinness Nigeria’s CSR thrust is education.

From the renovation of the only Primary School in the community to providing scholarships to Oregbeni indigenes.

The importance of foundational education was well captured by the re-

nowned America educational philosopher, Richard M. Hutchins who said “the object of education is to prepare the young to educate themselves throughout their lives.” This is what makes the example of the primary school of particular interest because before the renovation, the school was bedeviled by a barrage of problems ranging from bad roofs, defaced walls to broken windows and doors and lacked basic amenities such as toilet facilities and perimeter fencing of the school compound.

The company ploughed a huge sum of money into the renovation effort changing the entire roofs of the school, painting of the entire school buildings, fencing of the school compound for security, replacement of broken doors and windows as well as provision of toilet facilities for both staff and pupils of the school. In addition to the renovation of the school, the organisation provided an overhead tank for water supply to the school and donated textbooks and notebooks to the school.

Critical to the success of any community initiative is the commitment

and ownership of said initiative by indigenes and Guinness Nigeria ensured this by awarding the contract for the renovation to the indigenes after following due process of bidding for the project there by providing employment for a significant number of residents.

Beyond education, Guinness Nigeria and Diageo have a commitment to “reduce water use through a 50percent improvement in water use efficiency as well as return 100percent of waste water from our operations to the environment safely.” In Oregbeni community,the company installed a water treatment plant in 2007 consisting of two giant reservoirs with standby 20 KVA Generator to complement public power supply.Guinness also supplies diesel every month with backup services and has provided a paid operator to ensure constant water supply to the community.

The relationship between Guinness and the community appears to be the poster child for community-business relations.

52

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015

53

THE NATION

BUSINESS LABOUR

Civil servants seek support for anti-corruption war

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IVIL servants are backing President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption war.

The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) believes the war will rid the country of the evil.

In a statement in Lagos, the ASCSN National President, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama and the Secretary-General, Comrade Alade Bashir Lawal, regretted that the money alleged to have been looted from the treasury by the previous administration was put at more than N11 trillion.

“This is not only outrageous but scandalous,” the union posited. It emphasised the need to reduce corruption to the barest minimum if not completely eradicated in the country.

“We believe that if corruption is wiped out in Nigeria, trillions of naira of public funds that are diverted into private pockets will be deployed for national development. It is our view, therefore, that not only should stolen money be retrieved, but those who looted the collective wealth of Nigerians should be made to face the full wrath of the law,” the union added.

The ASCSN enjoined President

Stories by Toba Agboola

Buhari to ensure that the anti-graft war is total and not selective while all recovered funds should be pooled together in a special account and used for identifiable projects such as electricity supply, good road network, potable water, improved health care delivery, affordable decent housing, functional refineries, free and qualitative education, light rail system, etc.

It advised the Government not to allow the retrieved fund to enter into “voicemail” as was the case in the past “More importantly, the Federal Government should close all avenues of leakages through which trillions of naira of public funds are stolen by crooks who masquerade as politicians in Nigeria, the union added.

In this connection, ASCSN urged all well-meaning Nigerians including the labour movement, civil society groups, prominent citizens as well as members of the National Peace Committee led by former Head of State, General Abdulsalam Abubakar to key into the anti-corruption war in the interest of the country.

The ASCSN accordingly implored President Buhari to be wary of some

eminent persons in the National Peace Committee whose utterances in recent time in respect of the anticorruption war have been suspect.

Workers of Nigerian Railway Corporation (NUR) also expressed support to the Buhari administration in its renewed fight against corruption.

The railway workers said President Buhari should stop at nothing to recover the nation’s patrimony stolen by some unscrupulous politicians and greedy public servants.

The Secretary General of the Nigeria Union of Railway Workers, Comrade Segun Esan, in a statement said this was part of the union's decision at its Special Central Working Committee (CWC) summoned to discuss the state of the nation.

He said all the members of the CWC agreed unanimously to support and encourage the Buhari administration’s quest to fight corruption in the country.

He said: "The leadership of our great Union summoned a special CWC meeting where we considered various issues and challenges confronting our dear nation. There, we agreed unanimously that corruption has been the major problem that has made true

development elusive and largely impossible in Nigeria. Regrettably, those that are involved in high-scale corruption that has crippled and robbed this country of greatness and sustainable development are the politicians and public servants who are trusted with our collective patrimony."

He said railway workers commended President Buhari for starting right with the campaign against corruption and advised that the President should investigate all the politicians and public servants suspected to have enriched themselves through self-enrichment while in office.

Esan also added that President Buhari should empower all anti-corruption agencies like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC) with more legislative power to deal squarely with “looters of our national wealth.”

He added: "All suspected politicians and public servants who are proved beyond all doubt to have stolen our national wealth should forfeit all assets and proceeds proved to have been earned through corruption to the Federal Government and beyond that,

such politicians and public servants should be banned for life from holding public offices. This administration should also come up with legal framework that will protect funds specifically appropriated or set aside for one national project or the other from being diverted to another projects.”

Esan said diversion of loans or funds for a specific project or embezzlement of same can only be caused by greed and sinister tendencies just as the case is with the alleged diversion of $600 million out of the $1.05 billion loan taken from China Exim bank for the development of railway infrastructure.

He said the president should take advantage of the improving image and integrity of the country to seek the cooperation of the international community in locating and repatriating all stolen money kept abroad.

The union appealed to President Buhari to chart a new approach and muster strong political will towards sustainable development of rail transport system as public transport and epicenter of transport infrastructure in Nigeria.

‘We’re yet to feel the impact of govt’s bailout’ •Govt urged not to merge ministries, parastatals

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HE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said workers are yet to see the effect of the much celebrated bailout fund given to governors across the country by President Muhammadu Buhari to pay up the salaries owed workers by the state governments.

The congress also charged the Federal Government to use whatever means available to it to recover the stolen money by the political office holders in the country.

The President of the Congress, Ayuba Wabba who spoke at the opening of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Congress in Abuja, said the labour union appreciated the decision of the present administration led by Buhari to alleviate the sufferings of Nigerian workers due to the salary arrears owed by the state governments through the bailout funds, but wondered why the workers are not paid their outstanding salaries till now.

The congress president, who noted that Nigerian workers deserve more than what they are presently earning considering the hash economy, said governors have no reason to withhold or delay workers’ salaries.

He said: “It is evil not to pay

workers their salaries. They deserve their salaries because they worked for it.”

He called on the state governors across the country to as a matter of urgency settle their workers’ salaries with the bailout fund, if they have received it.

On the fight against corruption in the country, the labour president urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) to always respond quickly to the issue of corruption and bring the culprit to book in order to serve as deterrent to others.

He said: “If government uses its anti corruption agencies to follow the cases of corruption up, the country will be better for it. The country has the resources to boost her economy if corruption is curbed among political office holders.”

On the proposed merger of Federal Government’s ministries and parastatals, the congress said if the merger would lead to Nigerian workers losing their jobs, the government should jettison the idea otherwise the labour union would embark on an industrial action to resist any move to lay off workers.

•Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity Dr. Clement O. Illoh (left) and Director of Finance and Account of the ministry Mr. Akyeni Muhammad, during a press briefing on the 2015 National Productivity Day held at the ministry.

Agro-allied processing ‘ll enhance job creation, HE Director-General, Small ate both employment and revenue and Medium Enterprises De- says SMEDAN to the teaming population and the

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velopment Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Bature Masari, has called for the development of agro-allied industries to boost job creation in Nigeria.

Speaking in Abuja at a forum, Masari said the agency was commit-

Ministry tells employers to be serious about safety

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HE Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Clement Illoh, has cautioned employers of labour that the Federal Government will no longer tolerate the compromise of the protection of safety and health of workers under the guise of scarce resources.

Dr. Illoh, who was represented by the Director, Occupational Safety and Health in the Ministry, Mrs Nofisat Arogundade, gave this warning in Abuja, while addressing the National Workshop on Occupational Safety and Health, organised by the House of Representatives in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity and Go-Getters Con-

sulting Limited.

According to him: “The government would not allow employers of labour to compromise the protection of the industrial workers under the pretext of scarce resources and multiple competing factors. Safe and healthy working conditions are increasingly understood as strategic assets for enterprises”.

He emphasised that his ministry in line with its mandate on occupational safety and health at work has made some restructuring to direct special focus on prevention culture in occupational safety and health administration instruments.

He added that in view of the progress recorded so far much re-

main to be done to ensure that prevention becomes a reality in work places, as recent spate of industrial accidents and diseases at work do not only have devastating effects on workers and their families but on the enterprise and national economy.

He added that thousands of Nigerian workers most especially in the private sector of the economy have died, and many have become permanently and physically incapacitated, as a result of poor safety measures in the work place.

Dr. Illoh said no nation can be self-reliant and competitive in the international market without productivity improvement in all sectors of the economy.

ted to the development of Small and Medium Enterprises in Nigeria. According to him, agro allied processing will not only boost job creation, but also attract Nigerians massively into the agric sector.

Masari decried lack of access to finance by Nigerians,saying that SMEDAN had been mandated to coordinate activities on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the country, including agricultural sector.

“We coordinate activities in that sub-sector with a view to ensuring that whatever is needed by the government to support MSMEs in Nigeria is implemented by the agency.

And we have been doing that to the best of our ability in every state of the country and we have been able to ensure that MSMEs receive financial assistance,’’ he said.

He explained that there were many Nigerians with profitable enterprising ideas that lacked necessary collateral to obtain the needed financial assistance to boost their businesses.

He said SMEDAN has been able to undertake proper identification of agriculture products that can gener-

country.

He, therefore, advised Nigerians to explore such opportunity, saying that it will reduce unemployment and poverty in the society.

“When we concluded the opening of our offices across the country, we conducted survey and identified a ‘one-local government, one-product’ in every council area in Nigeria. We brought together major stakeholders in these local government areas (LCAs) and we were able to select product data massively produced in these local governments.

“We discovered products that have a long value chain, which Nigerians can key into in their localities and various enterprises that can provide jobs through them,” he said.

Masari said over 90 per cent of the SMEDAN’s products identified were in agro allied processing and cut across all the 774 LGAs in the country, which underscored the importance of agriculture in Nigeria.

According to him, the agency is working in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to enhance the agric sector and boost produce value chain.

54

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 27-08-15

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 27-08-15

Equities record modest recovery on bargain-hunting

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HE Nigerian stock market yesterday heaved a sigh of relief from a sustained depression that had shaken the market to new low and dropped key indices below their psychological points. Investors turned round to take advantage of the depreciation in share prices, pumping up demand that triggered modest recovery in key indices.

The All Share Index (ASI), the value-based common index that tracks prices of all quoted companies on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), recorded a modest day-on-day gain of 0.30 per cent to close at 28,221.75 points as against its opening index of 28,137.65 points.

Aggregate market value of all quoted equities rose marginally by N29 billion from N9.670 trillion to close at N9.699 trillion. The modest recovery moderated the negative average year-todate return to -18.57 per cent.

While there were still more decliners than advancers, substantial rally within the highly capitalised group buoyed the overall market position. Guinness Nigeria

By Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

topped the 20-stock gainers’ list with a gain of N5.49 to close at NN115.50. Mobil Oil Nigeria rose by N4.45 to close at N147.95. Julius Berger Nigeria added N1.85 to close at N43. Dangote Cement rose by 87 kobo to close at N166.02.

Guaranty Trust Bank gathered 70 kobo to close at N20.70.

Vitafoam Nigeria chalked up 40 kobo to close at N6.15.

Dangote Sugar Refinery rose by 26 kobo to close at N6.60.

Skye Bank added 19 kobo to close at N2.13. FBN Holdings rose by 17 kobo to close at N5.40 while Diamond Bank added 13 kobo to close at N2.89 per share.

Turnover was around average with the exchange of 333.21 million shares worth N2.81 billion in 4,449 deals.

Financial services stocks accounted for 196.64 million shares worth N830.8 million in 1,719 deals. Zenith Bank was the most active stock with a turnover of 59.52 million shares valued at N824.09 million in 377 deals. United Bank for Africa followed with a turnover of 52.5 million

shares worth N157.44 million in 298 deals. Skye Bank placed third with a turnover of 44.01 million shares valued at N91.14 million in 198 deals.

“The change in the market mood today can be attributed to renewed optimism in the some largely capitalized stocks trading at attractive prices. We acknowledge that this swing in the ASI is largely driven by bargainhunting, hence we implore investors to continue to take position on value stocks with sound fundamentals,” Afrinvest Securities stated in post trading review.

However, the market remained with a strong negative undertone. Thirty one stocks recorded price depreciation yesterday. Total Nigeria led the losers with a loss of N4.38 to close at N142.50. Flour Mills of Nigeria lost N2.56 to close at N23.76. PZ Cussons Nigeria declined by N2.24 to close at N20.87. CAP dropped by N1.95 to close at N37.05 while International Breweries declined by 83 kobo to close at N16.17 per share.

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 27-08-15

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015

55

MONEYLINK Bank customers get CBN’s six-year timeline to lodge complaints

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HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has set a sixyear time limit within which all transaction-based complaints against financial institutions can be lodged.

A circular endorsed by its Director, Financial Policy and Regulation, Udofia Obot, addressed to all banks, discount houses and other financial institutions, explained that the new policy became exigent following recent challenges in ensuring timely resolution of complaints from consumers of financial services against banks.

The circular stressed that the CBN’s consumer protection role had over the years been hampered by “non-availabil-

By Collins Nweze

ity of, or delays in receiving documentary evidences from both parties.” This, it stressed underscored the need to have a policy on “time bar” for complaints management in the financial services industry.

“Consequently, the CBN having consulted the relevant stakeholders in the financial services industry, and in line with provisions of limitation legislation; Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2013; and CBN Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Financing of Terrorism Regulation for Banks and Other Financial Institutions in Nigeria, 2013, hereby

adopts a time limit of six years, effective from the date of the transaction, within which complaints against financial institutions shall be lodged,” it added.

However, the circular stated that the time limit would not apply to fraud cases; complaints already lodged with the financial institutions and CBN; and international electronic payment transactions which records are not retained beyond 180 days on the dispute resolution application (arbiter). The circular further explained that the latest circular supersedes the earlier circular dated February 16 ths year on the subject matter.

Ecobank, Global Fund, fight Malaria with $3m

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COBANK and the Global Fund are in financing partnership programme to enable the fight against malaria, tuberculosis (TB) and HIV/AIDS. The programme is designed to strengthen the financial management skills of the scheme implementers in Nigeria, South Sudan and Senegal.

Ecobank has pledged $3 million towards the scheme.

During the second phase of the programme, which offi-

cially kicked off in Abuja yesterday, six non-governmental organisations (NGOs) which battle TB and HIV/AIDS in Nigeria will receive extensive onsite training over the next 12 weeks.

Head of HR, and CEO of the Ecobank Foundation, Julie Essiam, said: “This unique partnership demonstrates the commitment of African institutions like Ecobank using their own resources and knowledge to make a signifi-

cant contribution to the sustainable development across Africa. Aligned to our vision & mission to develop Africa, at Ecobank, we help develop the communities we serve.”

Technical training will be delivered by Ecobank Nigeria and through the placement of Accounting for International Development (AfID) consultants, who are all members of the Nigerian Diaspora taking time off to volunteer on this specific project.

•From left: Group Head, Financial Institutions/International Organisation, Ecobank, Babasola Aluko; Portfolio Relationship Manager, Global Fund, Andrew Redpath and Local Account Manager, Financial Institution/International Organisation, Ecobank, Osahon Aibangbee during Ecobank/Global Fund partnership workshop in Abuja.

‘CBN’s policy ‘ll promote local self-sufficiency’

T

HE Managing Director, Okomu Oil Palm Plc, Dr. Graham Heifer, has said the policies of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on forex only affected businessmen asking for waivers especially on palm oil.

He said granting waivers by previous administration has affected oil palm production in the country negatively.

Heifer who spoke with reporters said granting waiv-

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

ers was unfair because some people have to pay duty while others got waiver to bring in things and it affected the industry negatively.

The Okomu Oil chief said the CBN policy offered local producers of oil palm to produce more as well as an opportunity for others to invest in the business.

He said his firm has purchased 12,000 hectares of land in Ovia North East Local gov-

ernment Area of Edo State with a view to expanding production to meet market demands.

He said: “We produce palm oil here locally and we have the market already. The CBN’s directive is good for us. It does not stop people from importing because some can still pay the duty but if you want to import now, you cannot (raise foreign exchange) through the CBN. You have to go to parallel market.

Fidelity emerges ‘Best Bank to Work for in Nigeria’

F

IDELITY Bank Plc has emerged the best bank to work for in Nigeria.

In a study conducted by Venture Africa, an online platform for news and analysis about African businesses, in conjunction with Jobberman.com, Nigeria’s employment website, the lender emerged one of the top 12 most preferred places to work in the country.

The report tagged “Top 100

companies for Nigerian millennials” surveyed young Nigerians born between 1982 and 2003 and measured company culture, dream-company, staff welfare, gender equality, government institution, company’s prestige, salary, and non-salary benefits. It also looked at the level of satisfaction, salary consideration, level of contentment, career growth, concerns outside work and work-life bal-

ance amongst others.

According to the study, the lender led all other banks in the country in all the measuring indices.

In a statement, its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Nnamdi Okonkwo said the development is a testimony to the bank’s robust human capital management policies which focuses on enhancing the lives and wellbeing of employees.

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015

55

MONEYLINK Bank customers get CBN’s six-year timeline to lodge complaints

T

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has set a sixyear time limit within which all transaction-based complaints against financial institutions can be lodged.

A circular endorsed by its Director, Financial Policy and Regulation, Udofia Obot, addressed to all banks, discount houses and other financial institutions, explained that the new policy became exigent following recent challenges in ensuring timely resolution of complaints from consumers of financial services against banks.

The circular stressed that the CBN’s consumer protection role had over the years been hampered by “non-availabil-

By Collins Nweze

ity of, or delays in receiving documentary evidences from both parties.” This, it stressed underscored the need to have a policy on “time bar” for complaints management in the financial services industry.

“Consequently, the CBN having consulted the relevant stakeholders in the financial services industry, and in line with provisions of limitation legislation; Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2013; and CBN Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Financing of Terrorism Regulation for Banks and Other Financial Institutions in Nigeria, 2013, hereby

adopts a time limit of six years, effective from the date of the transaction, within which complaints against financial institutions shall be lodged,” it added.

However, the circular stated that the time limit would not apply to fraud cases; complaints already lodged with the financial institutions and CBN; and international electronic payment transactions which records are not retained beyond 180 days on the dispute resolution application (arbiter). The circular further explained that the latest circular supersedes the earlier circular dated February 16 ths year on the subject matter.

Ecobank, Global Fund, fight Malaria with $3m

E

COBANK and the Global Fund are in financing partnership programme to enable the fight against malaria, tuberculosis (TB) and HIV/AIDS. The programme is designed to strengthen the financial management skills of the scheme implementers in Nigeria, South Sudan and Senegal.

Ecobank has pledged $3 million towards the scheme.

During the second phase of the programme, which offi-

cially kicked off in Abuja yesterday, six non-governmental organisations (NGOs) which battle TB and HIV/AIDS in Nigeria will receive extensive onsite training over the next 12 weeks.

Head of HR, and CEO of the Ecobank Foundation, Julie Essiam, said: “This unique partnership demonstrates the commitment of African institutions like Ecobank using their own resources and knowledge to make a signifi-

cant contribution to the sustainable development across Africa. Aligned to our vision & mission to develop Africa, at Ecobank, we help develop the communities we serve.”

Technical training will be delivered by Ecobank Nigeria and through the placement of Accounting for International Development (AfID) consultants, who are all members of the Nigerian Diaspora taking time off to volunteer on this specific project.

•From left: Group Head, Financial Institutions/International Organisation, Ecobank, Babasola Aluko; Portfolio Relationship Manager, Global Fund, Andrew Redpath and Local Account Manager, Financial Institution/International Organisation, Ecobank, Osahon Aibangbee during Ecobank/Global Fund partnership workshop in Abuja.

‘CBN’s policy ‘ll promote local self-sufficiency’

T

HE Managing Director, Okomu Oil Palm Plc, Dr. Graham Heifer, has said the policies of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on forex only affected businessmen asking for waivers especially on palm oil.

He said granting waivers by previous administration has affected oil palm production in the country negatively.

Heifer who spoke with reporters said granting waiv-

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

ers was unfair because some people have to pay duty while others got waiver to bring in things and it affected the industry negatively.

The Okomu Oil chief said the CBN policy offered local producers of oil palm to produce more as well as an opportunity for others to invest in the business.

He said his firm has purchased 12,000 hectares of land in Ovia North East Local gov-

ernment Area of Edo State with a view to expanding production to meet market demands.

He said: “We produce palm oil here locally and we have the market already. The CBN’s directive is good for us. It does not stop people from importing because some can still pay the duty but if you want to import now, you cannot (raise foreign exchange) through the CBN. You have to go to parallel market.

Fidelity emerges ‘Best Bank to Work for in Nigeria’

F

IDELITY Bank Plc has emerged the best bank to work for in Nigeria.

In a study conducted by Venture Africa, an online platform for news and analysis about African businesses, in conjunction with Jobberman.com, Nigeria’s employment website, the lender emerged one of the top 12 most preferred places to work in the country.

The report tagged “Top 100

companies for Nigerian millennials” surveyed young Nigerians born between 1982 and 2003 and measured company culture, dream-company, staff welfare, gender equality, government institution, company’s prestige, salary, and non-salary benefits. It also looked at the level of satisfaction, salary consideration, level of contentment, career growth, concerns outside work and work-life bal-

ance amongst others.

According to the study, the lender led all other banks in the country in all the measuring indices.

In a statement, its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Nnamdi Okonkwo said the development is a testimony to the bank’s robust human capital management policies which focuses on enhancing the lives and wellbeing of employees.

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015

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NEWS ‘I didn’t bribe tribunal judges’

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•From left: Guest Speaker, Prof. Yahaya Ibrahim, Chairperson of the occasion Mrs Abimbola Sowemimo, President, Association of Human Resources Practitioners of Nigeria Prof Benjamin Nwaneri and Registrar/CEO of the Institute Mr Abu Ibrahim at the Association of Human Resources Practitioners of Nigeria 2 nd National Conference and sixth Induction Ceremony in Lagos

ORMER Abia State Commissioner for Information Dr. Anthony Agbazuere, has denied rumours that he was beaten up by security aides of the tribunal judges.

Rumours were rife that Agbazuere was beaten up by the security detail attached to the judges while trying to bribe the judges.

Agbazuere described the report as baseless. He said it was fabricated by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to blackmail him.

The former commissioner said he would have been arrested with the money if it were so.

“If such ever happened, the judges and their security aides should confirm it. I am aware that if PDP needed to bribe anybody, they would

PHOTO: DAYO ADEWUNMIUMAN

Workers protest SON’s ‘corrupt practices’

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ORKERS of an Onitsha-based indigenous company, BENDUSCO International Company Limited, yesterday, marched on the streets, protesting the alleged high-handedness of officials of the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON).

The protesters demanded the sack of the director-general and a director for alleged fraudulent practices and for frustrating indigenous companies.

The protesters carried plac-

Peace Corps chief seeks law on postings From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

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HE Oyo State Commandant of Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN), Adesina Oludare, has urged the House of Assembly to move a motion that will enable the organisation to post its members to various places of interest.

Oludare spoke in Ibadan, the state capital, at a leadership and business forum organised for the officers and men of the corps.

The commandant noted that the Enugu State government had been using the PCN in notable areas.

He said: “PCN officers serve as traffic personnel; they are available in secondary schools, higher institutions and are used as intelligence-gathering officers in the local governments, state and national agencies. Their duties include organising security seminars for students, principals and teachers in secondary schools.

“They curtail students’ movement by disallowing loitering during school hours; they stop the proliferation of arms and ammunition in schools; wage war against cultism, and promote sport development.

“We are affiliated to the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) and the Federal Ministry of Education.”

Oludare urged the state governments to fulfil their part of the partnership in nation building by assisting the agency, through donation of operational vehicles, furnishing its offices.

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

ards with inscriptions: “President Buhari, do not allow SON frustrate your fight against corruption”; “Nigeria manufacturer’s, rise up to your rights”; We say no to SON’s dubious practices”; “Millions are being demanded by SON as a condition for issuing MANCAP certificate”; “SON is frustrating indigenous factories for personal gain”; “Enough is enough, refusal to bribe SON officials has led to the evacuation of

our machines and materials worth over N194m”; “Mr. Bede Obayi must resign or be sacked”.

Group leader Mr. Benjamin Nwizu said his life was being threatened by SON officials for refusing to bribe them.

He said after their factory equipment was seized, the company wrote severally to the Director-General but got not response.

Nwizu alleged that one of the directors demanded money from him, refusal of which the company would be frus-

trated. He said that had happened.

He said SON went to their Lagos office, seized factory tools and machinery worth over N194 million, and locked up the place.

According to Nwizu, the company, which manufactures shaving stick, hanger, etc, had suffered untold hardship in the hands of SON, adding that if the agency refused to return their equipment, workers might lose their jobs.

He called on the Independent Corrupt Practices Com-

mission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate activities of SON before it ridiculed President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption war.

A worker with the agency, Omeje Okwudili, addressing the protesters, assured them of justice. He promised to channel their grievances to the appropriate quarters.

Okwudili denied the allegation of corruption, saying SON was established to cater for public welfare.

‘I bought jets before I became governor’

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MO State Governor Rochas Okorocha has said that contrary to publications that he bought two jets as governor, his private jets were bought before he became governor in 2011.

Okorocha, who was reacting to statements by workers that he should sell his private jets and use the proceeds to pay their salary arrears, described the allegation as false and fabricated by those bent on discrediting his achievements.

From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

A statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, said: “We deny with all honesty that since May 29, 2011, when Owelle Rochas Okorocha became governor, he has not bought any private jet, either directly or by proxy. Having made this denial, let those behind the allegation, make their facts public to fault our denial.

“Okorocha bought jets

years before he became governor. He bought them under the aegis of Lamonde Aviation, with some other Nigerians. Since he became governor, he has never bought any private Jet”.

“The labour leaders, among other false claims, published that the government owed civil servants, teachers and local government workers three months salary arrears. This is not true. The government has paid these people up till June.

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By Joseph Jibueze

It said emoluments to public office holders must be consolidated otherwise, RMAFC’s efforts will be in futility.

“The Movement urges the labour leaders, professional organisations and human rights groups to fight this outrageous jumbo pay in a country where over 110 million live in abject poverty and the juniors earn starvation wages of N18,000 a month,” the group said.

MNTT recalled that a former Senator, Olabiyi Durojaiye, said that from 1999 to 2003, he earned N6 million a year, from which he paid his aides and workers.

“What fortune has befallen Nigeria, that made N6 million a year for each Senator, from 1999 to 2003, become N48 million naira a year, which is N4 million a month now, as disclosed by the RMAFC Chairman? The situation is absurd and unbelievable,” MNTT said.

The statement added:

“While Nigerians appreciate the thoughtful and bold steps of the President, Vice President, and some Governors in reducing their basic salaries, the issue should be handled more seriously.

“What about the huge recurrent allowances and payments appropriated and claimed by government officials for the daily up-keep of our President and Governors every month? Anything short of what is done in the USA, where the total salaries and allowances of the President, $400,000 a year, is published publicly, out of which he buys

not have sent me now because the war time is over,” Agbazuere said.

He urged the public to ignore the rumour, even as he demanded that publishers of the online report apologise or face legal actions.

Man arrested for robbery at Shoprite

By Precious Igbonwelundu

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USPECTED robbers yesterday attacked some shoppers at the newly-opened Shoprite in Amuwo Odofin, dispossessing them of their phones and bags.

The hoodlums took advantage of the massive crowd that trooped to the mall located within Golden Tulip Hotel premises.

One of the victims, a teenager, said she was robbed at the car park by a group of boys who accosted her and her friend.

She said: “We had finished shopping and were at the car park when the boys accosted us and robbed us.

“They took my money, my friend’s phones and money, as well as her mother’s ATM card and phones.”

The situation forced the management to tighten security, conducting search before allowing shoppers in.

Policemen were seen in strategic corners, while security cameras were being fixed at the entrance, when our reporter visited.

Police spokesman Patricia Amadin confirmed the robbery and said a suspect was arrested with a phone.

Remembrance for Ogunremi

•Okorocha

The government has not also sold any of the parastatals as falsely claimed. We stand to be challenged on all these.”

Remove legislators’ allowances, says activist GROUP, the Movement for Nigeria’s Total Transformation (MNTT) yesterday said the remuneration of legislatures can only be reduced if their “outrageous” allowances are removed.

Reacting to a statement by Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Mr. Elias Mbam, that no federal lawmaker should earn more than N1million a month, the group said the “ridiculous” amounts they earn outside their basic salaries must end.

A statement by its Chairman Chief Areoye Oyebola, said claim of ignorance by RMAFC that the lawmakers had been appropriating millions of naira to themselves monthly was alarming.

“How impotent were the RMAFC that Senators were appropriating such extravagant emoluments without their knowledge and the commission could not do anything about it? The group said.

From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

his own food and attends to other domestic needs, including laundry services, is not acceptable to Nigerians. It should be noted that President Barack Obama eats government meals only during state functions.”

The Movement demanded to know why the total package of N500,000 a month for each Senator between 1999 to 2003 was dumped to give room for “outrageous salaries and allowances such as hardship, newspaper, entertainment, wardrobe, and other ridiculously extravagant allowances.”

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HE fifth year remembrance service of Deacon Amos Bamidele Ogunremi will hold on Sunday, August 20 at the Triumphant Baptist Church, 19, Olufemi Ojo Street, Shasa Road, Akowonjo, Lagos.

The deceased, who retired in 2004, was a Ports Manager (Statistics) at the Nigeria Ports Authority. He attended Baptist Boys High School, Abeokuta.

He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Bolanle Abake Ogunremi, children, Mr. Ayo Ogunremi, Mrs. Nike Oni, Mr. Femi Ogunremi, and Miss Tolu Ogunremi.

•The late Ogunremi

Shell declares force majeure on Bonny Light exports

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HELL Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) Joint Venture yesterday declared force majeure on Bonny Light exports, following the shut down of the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) and Nembe Creek Trunkline (NCTL).

According to the company’s spokesman, Precious Okolobo, a leak was reported on the TNP

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

at Oloma in Rivers State while the NCTL was shut down to remove crude theft points. He said SPDC is working to repair and reopen the two lines as quickly as possible.

Force majeure exempts contracting parties from fulfilling their contractual obligations because of causes that couldn’t

be anticipated or beyond their control, which may arise as a result of act of God or man or other impersonal occurrence.

The shutdown of TNP and NCTL may result in deferment of about 250,000 barrels of oil per day. The pipelines have been vandals’ haven over the last few years. The pipelines have suffered closure about three times this year.

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NEWS Benue to access N28b CBN loan

We’ll seize illegal weapons, says Ortom

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ENUE State Governor Samuel Ortom has said government would access the N28 billion loan facility from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), for the payment of state and local government workers’ salary arrears.

The governor, who spoke yesterday at the Evangelical Church Winning All’s (ECWA’s) Pastor’s Conference at the Bethany Resort, Gboko, said the loan was approved with a single digit interest of nine per cent by the Federal Government as bailout to the states owing salaries.

He said N2.5 billion would be for the payment of state government workers’ salary arrears, while N15.5 billion would be for local government workers.

Ortom assured that the money would be used for the purpose for which it was intended, saying repayment had been spread over several years to enable states stabilise on the payment of salaries.

Giving a testimony of his life before 3,000 pastors, he said God had enabled him to overcome challenges to arrive at his present position, adding that the challenges in the state would be overcome.

“I took over the state with a debt burden of over N169 billion, but I have faith that God will help us to overcome this and other challenges to the glory of his name. At the end of the day, I’ll live Benue better than I met it, by the grace of God,” the governor said.

He reiterated his resolve to partner the church for the development of the state in sectors, including education, health and agriculture, while providing an enabling environment for soul winning, which he described as the starting point for a better life.

The ECWA President, Rev. Jeremiah Gado, represented by the Assistant Secretary General, Rev. Eliazer Baba, urged Ortom to be a good ambassador of Christ.

3,158 Kaduna pilgrims fly to Saudi

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•From left: Assistant Director, Nursing Services, Lagos Health Services, Ms. Animashaun Olaide; Category Manager, Nestle, Dr. Rizwan Yousuf; Premier Specialist, Medical Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, Dr. Omotunde Ogunlaja and Director, Medical Education Development Unit, LUTH, Prof. Christy Okoromah, at the Nestle Nutrition Scientific Symposium at LUTH Sickle Cell Hall, Mushin, Lagos...yesterday PHOTO: JOHN EBHOTA

Bauchi imposes curfew on Misau

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AUCHI State government has imposed a dusk-todawn curfew on Misau town, following a riot that trailed the appointment of an emir by the government.

The curfew, which the government said was part of measures to protect people, would last between 6pm and 6am daily.

It was learnt that riot broke out in the town, following the appointment of the Secretary to the State Government, Ahmed Sulaiman, as the 11th emir by

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Governor Mohammed Abubakar.

Residents expected one of the scions of the late emir or a close member of the Gwani Mukhtar ruling dynasty to be appointed to the throne.

A statement by the Permanent Secretary, Special Services, Abdul Ilelah, said: “Reports reaching the government have indicated that after the official announcement of the appoint-

ment of the 11th Emir of Misau and the successful conduct of the traditional rites, some mischief makers have taken advantage of the apparent jubilant mood of the people and instigated youths into smashing vehicles parked at the Emir’s palace.

“Government views this development as the handiwork of the evil doers who are bent on destroying the prevailing peace and security being enjoyed in the

state, in order to enjoy selfish objectives.”

The statement said the government would not fold its arms and watch mischief makers wreak havoc on citizens, as the protection of life and property “remains the cardinal responsibility of the present administration.”

The government, according to the statement, assured the citizens, especially residents of Misau, that the situation had been brought under control.

EFCC arrests ex-ALGON chair

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HE former National Chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) and ex-Chairman of Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Mr. Yusuf Danjuma Akuso, has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Investigation showed that he was being grilled for alleged money laundering running into billions of naira.

Akuso’s kinsmen petitioned the EFCC to investi-

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

HREE thousand one hundred and fiftyeight of the 5,710 intending pilgrims from Kaduna State have been transported to Saudi Arabia, the Chairman of the state Task Force on Hajj, Senator Sani Saleh, has said.

He assured that every intending pilgrim, who paid for this year’s hajj, would be transported.

Addressing reporters yesterday at the Mando Hajj Camp, Saleh said the task force had sanitised hajj operation “because Kaduna State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board now has a credible register.”

According to him, the task force verified the names on the register to ensure no intending pilgrim, who had paid, was replaced with another pilgrim.

•Emir’s appointment sparks riots

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From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

gate him for alleged money laundering.

Sources said the former ALGON chairman was at the commission on Wednesday, but was released and allowed to return yesterday.

In the petition signed and submitted to the EFCC by Abubakar Abba and John David, a copy of which was sent to President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, they alleged that an account operated by Akuso had a balance of

about N34 million before the beginning of preparations for the 2015 general election.

“However, in April, the balance grew to over N2 billion at Zenith Bank with account number 1010740698.”

It was learnt that about N800million was transferred to former President Goodluck Jonathan’s aide.

The petition reads: “We write to draw the attention of the commission to the suspicious financial activities of Yusuf Danjuma Akuso, the former executive chairman of Kagarko Local Government, who was also an ex-

Police recruitment forms syndicate smashed

OMBE State Police Command has cracked a gang of three young men, who produced and sold fake police recruitment forms.

The command’s spokesman, Fwaje Atajiri, said the gang swindled the public by selling illegal forms to them at N500.

He said the suspects were

By Vincent Ohonbamu, Gombe

Mohammed Bashir Ahmed, Musa Suleiman and Shamsudeen Usman Abubakar.

Atajiri urged the public to be wary of buying recruitment forms, to avoid being

swindled.

He said interested persons should wait for an announcement or an advertisement of the sale of the forms by the police authority.

The spokesman said the command would prosecute criminals bent on soiling the image of the police.

Ganduje signs budget into law

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ANO State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has signed the N21, 378,741,039.00k ‘Reviewed Budget 2015’ into law.

He said the review was premised on the need to tackle economic realities as they affected the state, to accommodate the administration’s

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

aspiration in introducing new projects to guarantee development and incorporate the restructured government ministries and parastatals.

The governor noted that the reviewed budget would enable the government to formalise the expenditure in-

curred and observe other commitments and appropriate the provision of the Stabilisation Fund.

He said the source of the budget review included Stabilisation Fund, N1 billion, savings from Recurrent Provision, N2.026 billion and savings from 2015 capital Projects, N18, 352, 729, 39.

chairman of ALGON in Kaduna State.

“A search at the Corporate Affairs Commission showed that Akuso incorporated a company- JOINTRUST DIMENTIONS, of which he is the sole owner and signatory to its account domiciled at Zenith Bank with account number 1010740698.

“Records showed that in the last quarter of 2014, the account had a bank balance of about N34 million. However,

by April, the balance grew to over N2 billion.

Ahmed appoints special advisers

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WARA State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has approved the appointment of nine special advisers to strengthen governance and assist in the realisation of his administration’s development aspirations.

A statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Sola Isiaka Gold, said the appointments, which followed the House of Assembly’s approval of the governor’s request to appoint special advisers, are as follows: Gobir Hassan Ahmed, Special Adviser, Labour Matters.

Alhaji Aliu Zakari Gunu, Special Adviser, Local Government.

Mr. Aanu Ayodeji Ibiwoye, Special Adviser, Agriculture and Rural Water Support Services.

Alhaji Musa Abdullahi Mohammed, Special Adviser, Rural Energy Support Services.

Alhaji Abdullahi Duro Muhammed, Special Adviser, Emergency and Relief.

ENUE State Governor Samuel Ortom has said security agencies have been mobilised to begin seizure of illegal weapons.

He spoke at the funeral of Aya Nyiekor Abbagu, at Mtserkyaa Abbagu village in Ukum Local Government.

Ortom said conventional security agencies, such as the police, army, civil defence corps and state security service had been mobilised to arrest possessors of illegal weapons “and seize such from them at the end of this month.”

He said insecurity was a threat to residents, especially to the commitment of his administration to creating an enabling environment for investment to thrive.

The governor said the carrot approach he used to tackle such people would expire on August 31, after which he would wield the big stick.

He solicited the cooperation of community, religious and traditional leaders to curb crime.

Ortom said in the onslaught that would go into full swing at the beginning of next month, anybodywho harbours anyone with illegal weapon will be arrested.

He thanked God that the deceased enjoyed a long life, as she died at the age of 123 and prayed that others should also live long.

The governor reiterated his pledge to rule with the fear of God and be transparent in doing government business, urging the people to hold him and other government officials to account.

Ambode condoles with El-Rufai

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AGOS State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday condoled with Kaduna State Governor Nasir ElRufai on the death of his foster father, Malam Yahaya Hamza, on Tuesday.

Hamza, a renowned educationist and an ex-permanent secretary in the Federal Ministry of Education, died after a brief illness.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna, the governor urged his counterpart to be consoled that his father lived a fulfilled life, especially in the Kaduna State civil service where he served as the Secretary to the State Government and Chairman of the Council of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) from 1997 to 2000.

He said: “I condole with you and the people of Kaduna State in this trying time. Take solace in the fact that Malam Hamza lived a fulfilled life and you’re a product of that fulfilment.

“On behalf of the good people of Lagos State, accept my heartfelt condolence on this irreparable loss. May his gentle soul rest in peace.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015

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NEWS

Probe on monorail: How general swindled Rivers, by witness ITNESSES at the Justice George Omereji-led Judicial Commission of Enquiry into the sale of state property by a former administration in Rivers State yesterday told members how a retired Bbrigadier-general allegedly defrauded the state of N11 billion through the controversial monorail project contract.

Former Governor Chibuike Amaechi was absent at the sitting and did not send any legal representa-

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From Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt

tion.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport, Stella Ebere Wigwe, and the Head of Department of Safety and Aviation in the ministry, Saya Antioch, made the allegation in their evidence at the hearing.

They told the members that a company belonging to a former military administrator entered into an agreement to complete the 21-kilometre Phase I of the monorail

project, which covers between Station Road’s junction at the town axis to Air Force junction at Rumuomasi, for N50 billion.

The agreement was reportedly reached under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) policy of the state.

The state government was to contribute 20 per cent equity while the company would bring the remaining 80 per cent.

According to the witness, while the state complied with the payment of N11 billion,

the company defaulted.

It allegedly opted out of the agreement after receiving the N11 billion, representing more than the agreed 20 per cent equity contribution.

Despite the development, the government continued with the project.

The government was said to have signed a consultancy agreement with ARCUS GIBB Nigeria Limited, a South African company (as project consultant only), while the government took full responsibility for the project.

Shun corruption or leave service, Buhari tells Civil Servants •Abdulsalami to meet president on Centenary Project today

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RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari yesterday warned civil servants to shun corruption or be ready to leave the service.

The Permanent Secretary, General Services in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Mohammed Bukarý spoke to State House correspondents after meeting President Buhari along with other officials of the SGF. They were at the Presidential Villa, to brief President Buhari on the activities of the office.

Bukar said that President Buhari warned the civil servants that the rules and laws guiding public service must be adhered to strictly.

He said: “We have received a mandate to work harder. He has given us a very strong warning that change has come and every public servant has to sit up. We will give

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

our best to support the government.”

“We told him what we have been doing in support of the government’s policies and the president promised to give us the support and the political will to do our job better.”

Speaking on the building of centenary city project, Bukar said that the former Head of State, Genl Abdulsalami Abubakar, who chairs the Centenary Limited Board, would brief President Buhari on the project today.

According to him, no single kobo has been taken from the account of the Federal Government for the project.

“No kobo of government went into the building of centenary city”, he said.

We’ll protect Yoruba’s interest, says OPC faction

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•The first batch of 2015 pilgrims from Ogun State boarding a Med-View aircraft to Saudi Arabia at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE

‘Over billion dollars lost to flooding’

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•NEMA advocates flood risk consciousness

MARINE scientist, Dr. Julius Agboola has said that over a billion dol-

By Precious Igbonwelundu

lars (USD) was lost between 2012 and 2013 to flooding.

He spoke at a sensitisation workshop on Solid waste management: effects on flooding, relief and risk reduction organised by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

According to him, the over a billion dollars was the estimated cost of properties and other valuables lost to flood disaster in the country.

Calling on developers to incorporate flood mitigation into building plans, he stated that understanding flood risk was an essential step in managing its associated impact.

Highlighting rainfall, rise in ground water level and sewage system blockages as the major

causes of flooding in the country, Dr. Agboola stated the need for high level regional appraisals as well as strategic assessments at local/state level with more detailed site specific flood risk assessments.

“From the early stages, planners should assess natural hazards as they prepare investment projects and should promote ways of avoiding or mitigating damage caused by floods and other natural catastrophic events.

“Adequate planning can minimise damage from these events. It is hoped that familiarising planners with an approach for incorporating natural hazard management into development planning can improve the process and thereby reduce

the impact of natural hazards.”

In his opening remark, the Southwest Coordinator, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Dr. Onimode Bandele said understanding flood was imperative to its prevention and mitigation.

Bandele emphasised the need for effective waste management in the prevention of flood, adding that it reduces unwarranted materials with the aim of eliminating those that have harmful effects on people and environment.

He noted that all actions to reduce the impact of flooding on citizens was dependent on awareness by stakeholders and communities, adding that lack of the awareness could cause damage appropriate building designs. ‘‘In the event of flooding, the

absence of potential risk awareness can result into failure to recognize or heed warnings associated with evacuation and relocation which may lead to loss of lives and livelihoods. ‘‘Development workers need to be aware of hazard risks that exist where they are developing and must therefore incorporate those risks into their project designs. ‘‘Mitigation must also be incorporated into relief projects. It has often been said that disasters are opportunities in disguise. ‘‘It is vital that relief efforts assess the future risks of affected communities based on the new information gained in the aftermath of the disaster and input all of the findings into relief and reconstruction projects,’’ he said.

Chevron workers protest ‘inconclusive’ contract ONTRACT workers at Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) have threatened to continue their strike until the company pays their end of contract benefits and resolve other issues.

The workers have been on intermittent strikes since June 25.

They staged a peaceful protest yesterday outside the company’s premises on Chevron Drive, Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lagos.

Secretary-General of Chevron Contract Branch of the

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By Kofoworola BeloOsagie

National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Mr Segun Odukoya, said trouble started in 2012 when the Chevron stopped their contract with six big companies.

The union leader explained that under the arrangement, they enjoyed allowances for rent, medicals, children’s education, besides their monthly salaries.

Some of the workers, he said, earned up to N650,000.

Odukoya said the workers were re-employed by 16 smaller companies under a new contract that excluded the former benefits.

According to him, this resulted in a pay slash between N130,000 and N200,000.

Odukoya regretted that the new contract does not consider the number of years they had worked with the oil company.

The union leader said the workers were agitating for the company to pay their benefits under the old contract.

Also, NUPENG’s Senior Assistant General Secretary for Lagos Zone Comrade Christopher Akpede said the “inconclusive contract” was giving the workers serious concerns.

He said the dispute compelled the union, Chevron and the contract company to meet with officials of the Federal Ministry of Labour in Abuja.

The union leader accused Chevron of failing to abide by the resolution of the meeting.

GROUP, the Oodua Peoples Congress Reform, has promised to defend and protect the interest of the Yoruba.

The organisation’s new leader in Lagos, Comrade Afeez Olubisi Sadiq, told reporters that his members parted ways with the Dr. Fredrick Fasehun and Gani Adams-led Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) because they had derailed from the objectives the organisation was formed 20 years ago.

He alleged that the two leaders dragged the OPC into politics and campaigned for ex-President Goodluck Jonathan during the general election against the wish of the majority of members for selfish interest.

Sadiq said lack of focus by the leadership of the OPC resulted in the use of its members for illegal duties. He said it was wrong for the OPC that was supposed to defend the Yoruba interest to insult a highly-esteemed leader like Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu because of politics. According to him, concerned Yoruba leaders were informed of the formation of the body and they blessed it.

Comrade Sadiq said the organisation was ready to support the Lagos State government on security and other issues.

He hailed Asiwaju Tinubu for the good leadership he gave to the Yoruba, saying they were proud of his role in national politics.

The group’s General Secretary, Comrade Sufian Ogundimu, said Oodua Peoples Congress Reform was formed to correct the bad impression created by the OPC leaders.

He urged Yoruba leaders to support it.

‘Expose robbers in your midst’ HE Executive Secretary of Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State, Jide Bello, has urged community leaders to expose robbers in their areas.

The council chief spoke yesterday when he hosted leaders of the local government’s Community Developments Associations (CDAs).

He said: “All the tenants and landlords, whose children engage in one form of thuggery or the other, are well known to the members of the CDAs. It is your responsibility to call them to order or hand them over to security agencies when they refuse to change from their evil ways.”

Bello urged landlords and other members of the community to meet regularly to identity critical areas.

The council chief advised the residents to ensure regular the hygiene of their environment.

He said: “It has become a grave offence for anyone to drop refuse inside the drains in Lagos. Anyone who does so is an enemy of the state.

When you patronise the cart pushers who end up dropping the refuse inside our rivers and the drains, you are an

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enemy of Lagos State. The growth and development of the state is in our hands as residents who must play proper roles to sustain the state’s growth.

“Today, we have agreed that Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators must collaborate with CDA members. This will make their jobs very easy. If you have challenges with the residents, involve the community leaders to intervene, especially those who refuse to drop refuse at approved centres.

“When you have challenges in your community that is beyond your immediate control, contact the local government for help. This gesture of involving the CDAs is meant to bring governance to the people at the grassroots.”

A statement by the council’s Information Officer, Olusegun Akinyemi, said CDC Chairman Rasheed Agbolade urged the residents not to undermine the local government’s authorities.

He noted that participatory government confers some responsibilities on the people.

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015

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FOREIGN NEWS

Austria: 50 refugees found dead in truck

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S many as 50 refugees were found dead in a parked truck in Austria near the Hungarian border yesterday, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the discovery had shaken European leaders discussing the migrant crisis at a Balkans summit.

Police made the grisly discovery in the 7.5-tonne truck stopped on the A4 motorway near the town of Parndorf, apparently since Wednesday, Hans Peter Doskozil, police chief in the province of Burgenland, told a news conference.

He said he could not put an exact figure on the number of victims, whose bodies had begun to decompose. "We can assume that it could be 20 people who died. It could also be 40, it could be 50 people," he said.

Merkel told a news conference at the summit on the West Balkans in Vienna: "We are of course all shaken by the appalling news. This reminds us that we must tackle quickly the issue of immigration and in a European spirit - that means in a spirit of solidarity - and to find solutions."

Hungary plans to reinforce its southern border with helicopters and mounted police, and is considering using the army as record numbers of migrants passed through coils of razor-wire into Europe.

Investigations were underway in Austria and Hungary after the bodies were discovered. The truck had Hungarian number plates, a Hungarian official said.

Janos Lazar, Prime Minister Viktor Orban's chief of staff, said a Romanian citizen had registered the number plate in

• The truck was found abandoned at the side of a busy highway at the Hungarian border town...yesterday

the eastern Hungarian town of Kecskemet.

Police limited the motorway to one lane while forensic experts checked over the truck parked on the hard shoulder.

Greece: Supreme Court head appointed head of interim gov't

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REECE's president has appointed the head of the country's Supreme Court as prime minister to lead a caretaker government as the country heads to early elections next month.

President Prokopis Pavlopoulos named Vassiliki Thanou as Greece's new prime minister Thursday, making her the country's first woman to hold the position.

Thanou, 65, was sworn in yesterday evening, and will appoint a Cabinet that will be sworn in today. Elections are expected Sept. 20.

Outgoing Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras resigned last week barely seven months after his election. His coalition government suffered a rebellion from within his left-wing Syriza party over his acceptance of the austerity terms tied to the country's new international bailout.

Greece came one step closer

yesterday to an early election as the head of a breakaway leftwing party returned his mandate to form a government after failing to find willing coalition partners.

Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos will now either convene a meeting of all party leaders in a last-ditch bid to find consensus for a coalition government, or declare a caretaker government and announce the election date.

He has indicated he might skip the party leader's meeting, which would mean an announcement by Thursday night and the election date being set for Sept. 20.

However, several opposition parties insist the all-party meeting should be held.

Lafazanis said not calling the meeting would be unconstitutional, and said the vote should not be held before Sept. 27.

The election comes just eight months after Tsipras won a

January election on promises of repealing the stringent austerity measures that Greece's previous governments had to impose in return for getting two desperately needed international bailouts.

Tsipras resigned and called an early election last week after his coalition government lost its parliamentary majority due to a rebellion by Syriza hardliners furious at his signing of a third bailout for Greece that demands even harsher spending cuts and tax hikes than those he had vowed to abolish. The deal was approved with support from opposition parties.

The 41-year-old prime minister has argued he was left with no choice but to accept European creditors' demands, in order to avoid Greece defaulting on its debts and being forced out of the euro currency the country shares with another 18 European nations.

Tianjin officials rapped over port explosion

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HINA has accused 11 government and port officials of negligence over the massive explosions that killed 139 people in Tianjin earlier this month.

However 12 company executives have now been formally detained, mostly from Ruihai International Logistics, which owned the warehouse that blew up.

At least 34 people are still missing since the blast, more than 500 are still in hospital and thousands have been unable to return home.

The explosions sparked con-

cerns about the storage of dangerous chemicals and planning regulations.

At least three residential complexes were found to have been built within a 1km-radius of the warehouse, which flouted Chinese law.

The 11 officials include the head of Tianjin's transportation commission Wu Dai, and Zheng Qingyue, the boss of Tianjin's port operator, a statement released through the Xinhua state news agency said.

Prosecutors said the government officials were variously suspected of approving

Ruihai's bid to build a hazardous chemical warehouse in the port despite knowing the location broke safety regulations, and of helping the company to pass safety checks even though it did not meet the required standards.

Port officials were also negligent in their supervision of Ruihai's operations, said the statement, failing to detect "illegal activity" and safety issues around its handling of hazardous materials.

Prosecutors have also named all 12 company executives who had been formally detained.

Anger as Venezuela border remains closed

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ENEZUELA says a key border crossing with Colombia will remain

closed.

The announcement follows talks by the two countries’ foreign ministers on Wednesday aimed at normalising the situation in the border region.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro ordered the closure last week after smugglers injured three Venezuelan soldiers and a civilian.

He also announced that Colombians living illegally in

Venezuela would be deported.

Since then, more than 1,000 Colombians have been removed.

Another 5,000 are thought to have left by crossing the River Tachira, which separates the two countries.

The two foreign ministers said they had taken a first step towards normalising relations.

However, she did not accede to her Colombian counterpart’s request to open the border

crossing near the north-eastern city of Cucuta.

Colombian Foreign Minister Maria Angela Holguin said many Colombians were engaged in legitimate business in Venezuela and could not work unless the border was reopened.

The two sides said their defence ministers would meet in the coming days.

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos travelled to Cucuta on Wednesday to speak to some of the deportees.

Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann told the summit: "The refugees who died today wanted to save their own lives by fleeing, but instead lost their lives at the hands of traf-

fickers. It shows once again how necessary it is to save human lives by fighting criminal traffickers. It shows that we must take responsibility and give asylum to those

PHOTO: AFP

people who are fleeing."

European Commissioner Johannes Hahn reiterated that Brussels would propose within weeks a fresh look at the situation.

NATO opens training centre in Georgia amid Russia tensions minister, president and top ATO yesterday

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opened a training centre in Georgia as the ex-Soviet country eyes closer partnership with the Western military alliance amid tensions with Russia.

The establishment of the NATO-Georgian Joint Training and Evaluation Center, to be based just outside the capital Tbilisi, is aimed at buttressing the small ex-Soviet country which fought a five-day war with Russia in 2008.

"There is more Georgia in NATO and more NATO in Georgia," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said at a joint news conference alongside Georgian Prime

Minister Irakli Garibashvili before the opening ceremony.

Stoltenberg, who arrived in Tbilisi on Wednesday, said the centre would train both Georgian and NATO troops.

"This centre will help Georgia to continue making its armed forces more modern and more capable of meeting 21st century challenges," Stontelberg said at the opening ceremony in the Krtsanisi National Training Center outside Tbilisi.

"It will be equally important in training Allied and partner troops," he said in the presence of Georgia's prime

officials. Georgian Prime Minister Garibashvili stressed for his part that the centre would increase regional stability and was not directed "against any neighbouring countries."

Georgia has long sought full NATO membership and hopes to be invited to join a Membership Action Plan (MAP), a formal step towards membership, at a NATO summit in Warsaw next year.

But analysts doubt that NATO will grant Georgia MAP membership next year for fear of infuriating Russia amid heightened tensions over the Ukraine crisis.

EXPRESSO

Like Mark, like Saraki •Continued from back page

Saraki, Chip of the old PDP block While we shall allow history to damn Mark and his baleful lot, we shall have to march on the current Assembly. In just a few days, it has become obvious that Senator Bukola Saraki, the new president of the Senate, is as much a lost soul as Mark. For Saraki, ‘change’ must be a stupid new buzzword Nigerians have just discovered. None of all that ‘change nonsense’ for him; Nigeria’s billions of naira beckons, it seems. His eyes must be firmly glued to a future of imperial positions, and he needs money to purchase it. That is all that matters; again, legacy be damned!

One had thought that Senator Saraki would be influenced by the advantage of better learning and better democratic credentials. We are mistaken it seems. A buccaneer is a pirate and a vampire will always relish blood. Having tasted blood (of the people) in his first term, it is too late to let up now. It does not matter that the economy is flailing, it does not matter that revenues have dried up drastically and it does not matter that workers are not being paid their humble wages across the country. All that matters is to grab positions

over which they had bludgeoned themselves since inauguration in May. Now that positions seem settled, the time has come to shovel funds generously into their pockets.

This must be the best job in the world Is it possible that these NASS members have hurled home the sums we hear they have hurled in just three months of bickering and taking recesses? Is it true that about N13 billion has been shared by our lawmakers already? Is it true that each of the senators has been paid at least N36 million, while each of the House of Representatives members has pocketed about N25 million so far?

It is scary that all our lawmakers including supposed ‘noble’ men and women (like Ben Murray-Bruce and Dino Melaye) in these pristine chambers would not take a definitive and open stance against what is obviously an obscene, underthe-table payouts. How on earth did the NASS arrive at an annual budget of N120 billion (N150billion up till last year)?

Why should NASS comprising of only 469 lawmakers have a bureaucracy of about 4660 civil servants?

Even at that, why would a NASS with a total head count of 5129 persons have an annual budget of N120 billion, while a state like Benue for instance, with a population of about 4.2

million people has an annual budget of N98.5 billion? To think that such states like Benue would have to also provide infrastructure and public utilities, such as roads, water, health and educational facilities, among others. What this suggests is that the NASS may not need more than N25 billion in total annual budget.

We will therefore expect the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) in all its twiddling and twaddling about fixing legislators’ emoluments and pay cuts, tell us what N120 billion is used for.

The Office of the AuditorGeneral of the Federation (AGF), which ought to scrutinise all appropriated spendings in the federation, has been remiss in its duties. It is its duty to ensure that every kobo of this whopping sum is accounted for.

Members of NASS have been sharing cash as if they were hooded bandits sharing booty this last decade because the federal audit system had become near moribund. Since it has become obvious that Saraki is anything but a change agent and that it seems his leadership would be worse than Mark’s, Nigerians must brace up to effect the change they need by themselves.

Enough is enough! Who needs the Senate anyway?

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THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015

CITYBEATS

Community alleges Naval men’s intimidation

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ESIDENTS of Majidun in Ikorodu, a Lagos suburb, converged on the Lagos State House of Assembly yesterday to protest the alleged killing of three people at Majidun Tipper Garage by suspected Naval officers.

The protesters, numbering about 200, urged the state government to immediately intervene and ensure the release of the shot victims - dead or alive.

Among the protesters - are youths and the elderly, who lamented that life had been hellish since the Naval men came into their community.

They called for their immediate withdrawal.

It would be recalled that one of the Naval officers, went wild on Monday, shooting three residents in the process.

Chairman of Majidun Community and leader of the protesters, Oloyede Egbodofo said the state government should come to their rescue, because “we are being held captive and now terrorised by armed forces in our own houses.”

Egbodofo recalled that the Naval men came to the community on October 5, 2014 in search of oil thieves and vandals of the pipeline that passed through their community.

The officers, he alleged, “then began to displace people from their homes and deny shop-owners and business people like ferry operators, farmers, fishermen and sand dredgers from carry out their operations.”

According to him, “they began to break into shops and

By Rukayat Jimoh

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•The protesters... yesterday

By Oziegbe Okoeki

people’s homes with gun and robbing them.”

Egbodofo alleged that last Monday, one of the Naval rating, in commemoration of his birthday, “shot three of our brothers at their place of work in Majidun Tipper Garage.”

He said while the Naval command claimed that the rating was unknown, the entire community has been unable to reach the victims. An attempt to protest the development to Naval base in Majidun further led to unrest in the community.

Egbodofo said: “At about 10am on Tuesday, these Naval men paraded the commu-

PHOTO: SOLOMON ADEOLA

nity with their armoured tank to intimidate us with the impression that some gangs are coming to attack them.

“Your Excellency, Majidun is not a violent community; hence it doesn’t warrant intimidation by the security officials. Please save our soul.”

A youth leader, Ahmed Aboriota, said there were conflicting reports on the status of the three victims; a source said they were dead, another affirmed that they are recuperating in a hospital.

“Of primary importance to their families”, Aboriota said, is to see the victims — Olanrewaju Agbolaja and the two Igbos — and bring an end to “agonies of their family mem-

bers.”

He added that the community had been in perpetual fear, even as several people had been displaced. Our fathers and mothers now squat in religious houses and our entire economy paralysed. We want the government to come to our aide,” he said.

The lawmaker, who received the protesters, Bisi Yusuf, commended the protesters for their peaceful conduct. He assured that the House would do everything in its power to look into the matter and restore peace to the community.

The Nigerian Navy spokesperson, Commodore Kabiru Aliyu confirmed that three

persons were injured but none of them died.

According to him, the injured are being treated at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) at the instance of the Navy.

He assured that the matter was being investigated, adding that the Lieutenant Commander, who was in-charge of the area has also been detained alongside the rating.

"I can confirm to you that nobody died; the three injured persons are currently receiving treatment at LUTH and the Navy is footing their bills," he said.

Aliyu debunked the allegation of intimidation and robbery against the Naval men.

Arik: I was expecting N1.2m from drug pushing, says accomplice

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

•Ikechukwu

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HE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended an Arik Air crew member, Chibuzor Oliver Ike-

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chukwu over his alleged role in the 20 kilogramme of cocaine seizure by the United Kingdom Border Force at Heathrow Airport.

Ikechukwu, 35, who works as a catering loader was found to have subverted airport security by concealing cocaine in catering supplies.

Preliminary investigation revealed that both Ikechukwu and Chika had been infiltrated by a suspected drug cartel.

He told narcotic investigators that he was invited into the illicit drug deal by his colleague Chika Egwu Udensi, a senior member of the Arik Air cabin crew who was arrested in London on flight W3101.

“It was Chika that introduced me

into the drug deal. Whenever Chika gives me the drug, I will hide it in catering supplies. Chika knows where to collect the drug inside the flight.

They pay me N400,000 per bag. I was expecting N1.2 million proceed for the three bags that I smuggled into the aircraft, Oliver said.

Ikechukwu, who hails from Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area in Abia State, is a graduate of Business Administration and he was employed by Arik Air in 2009.

The NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Ahmadu Giade has directed that henceforth, all airport workers must be extensively screened.

“The agency has taken, drastic measures to avert infiltration of airport workers by criminal syndicate. Airline officials and airport workers shall be subjected to comprehensive search.

We will resist any act capable of undermining security at all entry and exit points,” Giade said.

The NDLEA chief stressed that all catering trucks, luggage trucks, aviation fuel tankers, machines and personnel, whose duty directly or indirectly relates to the tarmac and flight operations shall be subjected to full screening.

As part of investigation, the rented apartment of Chika at Pastor Ojediran Street Ejigbo, Lagos, was searched by operatives of the NDLEA. He lives there with his mother and siblings while his wife and children are based in Canada.

The latest Range Rover car belonging to the prime suspect parked on the airline’s premises had also been moved to the NDLEA office as exhibit.

The 20kg of cocaine found on Chika in London was concealed within the construction of laptop bags. The quantity and estimated street value of the cocaine is over N100 million.

We destroy 400 carts daily, says LAWMA chief

O fewer than 400 refuse carts are destroyed daily by the Lagos Waste Management Agency (LAWMA) Police, in its bid to rid the Centre of Excellence of the menace of cart pushers, the acting Managing Director of the agency Abdulwahab Ogunbiyi has said.

Ogunbiyi who disclosed this at a stakeholders’ forum held at the Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Area office to appraise the effectiveness of LAWMA’s Private Sector Participant (PSP) operators in waste disposal at the council, said many of the cart pushers have been convicted and languishing at KiriKiri Prisons for defacing the state.

Agent ‘defrauds’ 200 people for MTN job

By Adeyinka Aderibigbe

He said many of cart pushers were caught discharging refuse into the drainage, thereby blocking the flow of waters.

This, he said, has led to flooding, which threatens lives and property in the state.

He told the forum, attended by leaders of all the council’s Community Development Associations (CDAs), traders and other residents to stop patronising cart pushers and embrace the PSP operators.

Ogunbiyi, who was represented by the Deputy Director of Environmental Servic-

es, Ade Mustapha, said though the services were initially rendered free by the government, it is saddening that many are yet to come to terms with the need to pay for their waste disposal.

He said the debt profile of the operators has become so alarming that the agency may be left with no choice than to evoke the provisions of its laws which empowers it to seal any premises defaulting in the payment of waste disposal bills.

He said: “We are compelled to come to you to inform you that come September, we may have to invoke the provisions of our laws and seal any premises where

we have defaulters who have refused to pay for the disposal of their waste.

We have no doubt that you would help us disseminate this information to all other residents who are not opportune to be at this forum, that they should pay up or risk having their houses locked up.”

He said that LAWMA would not hesitate to punish erring ones or have their service terminated.

The executive Secretary of the council, Olurotimi Adeleye, said the people’s refusal to pay the refuse collectors remained the only way to express their protest for the shoddy services rendered by

some of the operators.

He urged the operators to improve their services and ensure adequate coverage of their allotted areas, saying that nobody would love to pay for services that are not rendered.

Adeleye, by his deputy Wahab Kareem called for the establishment of a complaint desk in their respective offices where issues concerning all their customers would be addressed, adding that issue such as crazy bills or non deductions of bills already paid are also some noticed drawbacks that would require prompt attention if the operators want better cooperation with residents of the council.

32-YEAR-OLD agent, Ayomide Adewale, has been arraigned before a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Ebute Meta, Lagos on charges of stealing and fraudulent act.

Adewale was alleged to have conspired with others, now at large, to obtain N627,000 from 200 people.

The victims are: Sikiru Ahmed, Daniel Olufunmilayo and Bola Esuola. Others have not been listed.

Adewale was said to have fraudulently obtained the money with the pretence to secure job from MTN office for them at No 40 and 42 Aborishade Street, Lawanson, Surulere, Lagos.

Prosecuting Inspector Cousin Adams told the court that the accused committed the offence with others still at large on August 7 at Lawanson, Surulere, Lagos.

“Adewale posed as a job agent and lure job seekers to pay to him N627, 000 with the promise to help them to secure jobs at a mobile telecoms company, MTN. “He collected money from several people including Sikiru Ahmed, Daniel Oluwafunmilayo and Bola Esuola,” Adams said.

Adams said the offences contravened Sections 285, 312 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

He pleaded innocence.

Magistrate H.O. Omisore admitted the defendant to N200,000 bail with two sureties in like sum.

Omisore adjourned till November 9.

Activists hails NURTW chief

By Leke Salaudeen

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GROUP, Concerned Human Rights Nigeria (CHRN) yesterday hailed the Lagos State Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede for his matured leadership.

CHRN National Coordinator Comrade Declan Ihekaire at a briefing said there has been unassailable "reign of peace" in the conduct of the affairs of Lagos NURTW recently.

Ihekaire said: "We believe all Lagos residents recognise and appreciate the efforts of the current leadership. People do not witness perennial mourning of state chairmen of NURTW, violence, armed robberies and rape in the motor parks antmore."

He condemned what he called a misleading report that the national secretariat of NURTW has dissolved all zonal and state executive councils. He said the report which was intended to cause confusion had been refuted by the union's General Secretary, Comrade Element Wetkur.

According to him: "It was a sinister plot by some unpatriotic elements to cause chaos and confusion within the union when the tenure of the state executive has not lapsed.

It was the figment of evil machination to spread the rumours that the Lagos Council has been dissolved when the current term of four years has not lapsed and when the constitution did not stop any state officer from holding national office simultaneously".

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THE NATION FRIDAY AUGUST 28, 2015

NEWS 500 DAYS OF CHIBOK SCHOOLGIRLS’ ABDUCTION

•LAGOS LAGOS: Campaigners calling for the release of Chibok schoolgirls...yesterday.

LAGOS

ABUJA •ABUJA ABUJA: Catholic Archbishop of Abuja Diocese, John Cardinal Onaiyekan (right), Co-ordinator, #BringBackOurGirls Group, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili (second right) and others at an event to mark the 500 days of the abduction of Chibok schoolgirls...yesterday PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

•LAGOS LAGOS: Another group of campaigners...yesterday.

LAGOS

•NEW ORK: Campaigners asking the Federal Government to bringback the abducted girls in New York, United States...yesterday.

NEW YORK

•Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode (right) welcoming Prince Adedamola Aderemi to his office in Alausa, Ikeja.

•NEW ORK: A lone campaigner...yesterday NEW YORK

THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015

62

SHOWBIZ

Star Trek: How Pasuma, Wizkid, Wande Coal, others wowed Ibadan fans

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T was the last but second leg of the annual pan Nigeria road concert tagged Star Music Trek, and as the Nigerian Breweries sponsored show made a stop in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, fans were overwhelmed by the lineup of top artistes scheduled for their domain.

It was a tale of would-be-stars going toe-to-toe with the top billed artistes at Trans Amusement Park, Samonda, Ibadan as names like Chidinma, Wizkid, Pasuma, Wande Coal, Sound Sultan and May D were more than matched by Pepenazi, Sunkanmi, Young Grey C, Base One and Presh as they all delivered ground-thumping performances at the event last Saturday.

The show was not all about the singers, as DJ Nana, DJ Xclusive and the Master of Ceremony, Gbenga Adeyinka, were more than crowd-pleasers, by adding verve to the show.

Adeyinka who introduced a number of upcoming acts from Ibadan whom Star gave the rare opportunity to perform on the Star Music Trek stage, took total control of the event, even as he rendered hilarious jokes at intervals.

The upcoming acts include Sunkanmi who started off the party in earnest with her irresistible single “For Body” which she performed to the delight of the crowd. Sunkanmi’s performance was quickly followed by that of Base One who dropped his popular single “Weyrey Re O”. Pepenazi was up next with his smash hit “Illegal”. He created a scene at the event as he threw his wristwatch, jewellery and face towel into the excited crowd while DJ Xclusive came onstage to record the entire scene and take selfies with his phone.

Young Grey C then stepped out for a performance of her breakout hit ”Chukwuma” which was received well by the crowd, and Gbenga Adeyinka soon had a job on his hands trying to sustain the tempo after her energetic performance.

The show also had one-time Star Quest cowinner, Presh, who delivered a 15-minute set to the delight of the nostalgic crowd.

Chidinma was then introduced to the stage and the noise level went up several notches as Miss Kedike rocked the crowd

Olamide’s Shakiti bobo leads chart on MTV Base Naija Top 10

• Chidinma

• May D

with her hits including “Kedike,” “Run Their Mouth,” “Oh Baby,” and “I’m In Love” before she signed out with the ever-popular “Emi Ni Baller”.

“It was a great feeling stepping out on the stage here in Ibadan and feeling a wall of noise from these fans. I can’t wait to come back to Ibadan and I am grateful to Star for providing this platform for all of us to come here and have fun,” said Chidinma.

Mr. May D came up next, singing”Ale Yi A Bad,” “So Many Tinz,” “Jeka Jo,” “Ibadi,” and “Get Down”. Sound Sultan then took the stage for one of the night’s most popular performances, and for 40 minutes, he performed to the delight of the crowd, playing songs like “Kokose,” “Natural Something,” “Orobo” and “Mathematics”.

When it was Wande Coal’s turn, the party mood moved up several gears as several years’ worth of hits came out in forty minutes. He sang ‘Taboo,” “Been Long You Saw Me,” “Who Born The Maga,” and “Ashimapeyin.”

With Wizkid, a great frenzy followed. For 40 minutes, he kept the crowd electrified with his impressive catalogue of

Chacha Eke, Patoranking, others storm Ebonyi today

• Olamide

•As Seyi Shay, Runtown return

From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

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O

LAMIDE’s hit track, Shakiti bobo and Korede Bello’s Godwin have maintained the top two positions on the Official MTV Base Naija Top 10 chart for the fourth week running.

However, Seyi Shay’s song, Right Now and Runtown’s Banger have successfully returned to the chart at the number 10 and 7 spots respectively.

The videos directed by Meji Alabi and Justin Campos hit the airwaves a few weeks ago and have since taken over the streets, clubs and airwaves. The chart also features the Clarence Peters directed video,Asai by indigenous rapper, Phyno, Reekado Banks’s Katapot and So More from Dem Mama singer, Timaya.

Gambit Records signee and guest of the week, Mz Kiss also brings her A-game on the show dropping exciting bars during her freestyle before giving out autographed CDs to three fans.

Toyin Aimakhu’s hubby takes blame for marriage troubles

By Dupe Ayinla-Olasunakanmi

A

• Adeniyi

smash hits, including “Ojuelegba”, “Jaiye Jaiye”, and “Samba” among others.

“I have just come back from overseas,” Wizkid said after the show, “ and I have interacted with lots of my fans around the world but the kind of reception I got here, I have never experienced it anywhere else. It blew my mind. I am just happy I got the opportunity to be here and of course credit to Star for making tonight possible. I love you guys!”

Speaking afterward, Corporate Affairs Adviser, NB PLC Kufre Ekanem said, “You saw the reaction of the crowd when Wizkid was introduced after the documentary. This is what The Trek is really about, over and above music and entertainment – inspiring youths through music to realise how much they can achieve if they believe in their dreams and work hard. The message more than 10,000 Ibadan youths have taken home tonight is that from Ojuelegba, this young guy with a vision made it to the big stage around the world and he still remembers home.”

The show moves to Lagos this weekend with the hashtag, #LagosRocks.

S fans continue to make comments on the purported failed marriage between Nollywood actress, Toyin Aimhaku and her husband, Niyi Johnson, the latter, moved by some aspersions cast on his wife on the social media, has pleaded with fans to spare his wife of any blame on this issue, taking responsibility for the troubles in their two-year-old marriage.

Johnson who posted his concerns on Instagram, urged fans to rather plead with his wife and direct their anger and insults at him. He said Aimhaku should not be blamed for going public about their marriage troubles, as she was merely pouring out her feelings.

He ssaid: “To clear the air of the recent happenings... I ADENIYI JOHNSON is at fault and not my wife... she reacted according to her pains and we all have different ways of reactions... I beg everyone to please stop throwing banters and insults... you can channel all anger and grievances towards me and not her.... instead of abuses, I would rather BEG you to join me in apologising to my darling, lovely and adorable wife... OLUTOYIN I’M DEEPLY SORRY PLEASE.....

I promise to make things right.... I don’t want a broken home…”

This is not the first time the couple would go their separate ways on account of differences they have continued to keep secret.

REPARATIONS are in top gear by the Ebonyi state government to host over 50 indigenous stars from the state who are making waves in the entertainment industries.

The event which holds today is to showcase to the world, the hidden potentials of the state, using entertainment industry as the driving force and indigenes that have made the state proud in the industry.

Briefing reporters in Abakaliki, the chairman, Organising Committee, Dr Jerry Uhuo noted that prominent among the artistes are top Nollywood actress, Cha Cha Eke, and dancehall star, Patorankin, among others.

He noted that Ebonyi has great and hidden potentials which if harnessed could boost the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state and end over dependence on the crude oil, the major source of revenue in Nigeria.

Uhuo said: “if we can harness the kind of potentials we have, we wouldn’t have ordinarily been talking about crude oil. What we have is enough to give Ebonyi what it needed to develop”.

“We took time as committee members to tour over 40 tourist centers in Ebonyi and we found out that we have enough potential to develop the state.

“We specifically visited Amancho Cave; it is about six kilometers under the ground and right inside the cave, it has a place where you can host over 4000 persons for an occasion and we need to develop and showcase such places to the world.

“The committee felt that the only way we can get the world to know what we have is to involve those in the entertainment industry. We felt that it is important for us to bring home so many of these stars from Ebonyi so that they can see the potentials we have”.

“A lot of those big names in music industry are from Ebonyi state. In fact,in the marketing sector of music industry, Ebonyi state has the highest and 90 percent of the marketers are from Ebonyi. But they do not identify with the state because they felt the state did not identify with them and that is why we felt we could do something”.

Uhuo disclosed that they have formed a union called ‘United Ebonyi Artistes, of which all artistes from the state would be registered.

He said that the platform would afford the upcoming artistes the opportunity to develop their talents.

He noted that entertainment industry was capable of generating five hundred million Naira quarterly to the state coffers, thereby cushioning the effect of over dependence on Federal Government allocation.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015

NEWS 500 days after: Global anger over Chibok girls Continued from page 2 Boko Haram I have no right to

word wajib is the opposite of haram, haram is forbidden. Wajib is obligation. So, to us, Boko is wajib, Boko is no more haram.

Boko will never be haram.”

Cardinal Onaiyekan said,”It may not be much but we have been praying. Prayer is important. I don’t know if anybody is expecting me to find my way to Sambisa forest to talk to Shekau, I do not think that is realistic, what I think is certainly possible and I am glad to hear that Sheikh Khalid mentioned that the main stream Islamic community in Nigeria is challenged now to do something about this situation. We must do as much as we can to tell them and the rest of us that they are wrong, I have asked the question of why Islamic preachers are not talking loudly enough and I have been told that the practical terms especially out their in the Northeast.

It is not as simple as that, that many Imams have been slaughtered for simply preaching in their mosque against

ask any Imam to go and get himself slaughtered.

“However are we going to remain like this giving them a free hand?, it means that some people must be prepared to put their lives on the line, keep talking and telling the people that this is wrong that is where we stand right now.

“I thought that this place will be congested but I was terribly disappointed. This whole thing doesn’t seem to hit the hearts of Nigerians. This morning when I woke up, I did not have the plans of coming, I was about going to take my bath when a phone call came from Rome, the radio Vatican on the 500 days remembrance of the Chikok girls and I was ashamed to say that I have not seen too much around and I told him that their was going to be a march today and by the grace of God, I was going to be there, so having made the promise to the radio Vatican and to the world it will be a mortal sin not to keep my promise.

“I was telling them on the ra-

dio Vatican that I hope that the 500 days will be a symbolic catalyst to move the Nigerian community into recognising we have a serious problem, my heart bleeds for the young lady, the fact that they called me from Rome means that they have not forgotten, it is we that have forgotten.”

Former Minister of Education and leader of the group Dr. Oby Ezekwesilli, stated that the group, had every reason to be discouraged after 500 days but have been standing firm with the hope that the girls will be released.

She added:”Waking up this morning, one had to decide 500 days later and with our girls not back if we have wasted our lives, standing for these girls because of the many things we have passed through standing with parents like Rev. Enoch, whose two children where abducted, whose wife is now suffering from hypertension and the 15 parents, who have now died since the abduction of their daughters, one reflected so

NUC bans 57 illegal universities ri Study Centre; Evangel University of America and Chudick Management Academic, Lagos; Enugu State University of Science and Technology (Gboko Campus); Career Light Resources Centre, Jos; University of West Africa, KwaliAbuja, FCT; Coastal University, Iba-Oku, Akwa-Ibom State; Kaduna Business School, Kaduna and Royal University of Theology, Minna, Niger State.

The eight institutions listed by the NUC as illegal and cur-

Continued from page 2

al University of Technology, Lafia, Nasarawa State; University of Accountability and Management Studies, Mowe, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and its Annex on 41, Ikorodu Road, Lagos; University of Education, Winneba, Ghana and Cape Cost University, Ghana.

Others are: African University Cooperative Development (AUCD), Cotonou, Benin Republic; Pacific Western University, Denver, Colorado, Ower-

rently undergoing investigations and court actions are: National University of Nigeria, Keffi, Nasarawa State; North Central University, Otukpo, Benue State; Christ Alive Christian Seminary and University, Enugu; Richmond Open University, Arochukwu, Abia State; West Coast University, Umuahia; Saint Clements University, Iyin Ekiti, Ekiti State, Volta University College, Aba, Abia State and the illegal Satellite Campuses of Ambrose Ali University.

much and wanted to give up to the emotions that says that 500 days later, they may never return but we are standing strong on hope for our Chibok girls.”

Leader of the #BBOG strategic team, Aisha Yusufu, said: “Your presence here shows a strong signal to the world that enough is enough. We are all friends irrespective of our religious beliefs, the only reason that the terrorists seem to be having an upper hand is because we do not seem to be united. If we come together as a nation and demand for our Chibok girls, they will come back, when we challenge you and tell you that we need you to hear your voices more, we need to see more of you coming out and challenging Shekau because united we shall defeat Shekau.”

Southeast Forum hails Buhari’s appointments

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EMBERS of the South East Progressive Forum yesterday maintained that appointments into political positions are President Muhammadu Buhari’s prerogative and he has the right to appoint people he thinks he can work with.

A former member of the House of Representatives Bethel Amadi, who led the group to meet with President Buhari, told State House correspondents that what is important to them is the provision and redevelopment of dilapidated infrastructure in the Southeast.

According to him, the educational system has gone down, while kidnapping, gully erosion and insecurity have ravaged the zone.

SPORT EXTRA

Ambode pledges support for BBOG Continued from page 2

Ibadan. We visit relevant stakeholders on the matter.

We devised the citizens’ solution to end terrorism and the verification, authentication and reunification system for security purpose.

“There are over two million IDPs in Nigeria and some of them are in Lagos State. We therefore, call on government to ensure that they are taken care of adequately.”

Former President of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) Mrs. Ayo Obe said: “That is what is baffling us; we believe that they must be in more than one place. We are surprised and alarmed that not even one (of the girls) has been brought back.

Representative of Chibok community in Lagos, Mr. Moses Dakwa, said Chibok town had become a ghost community. He added that most of the youths had fled Chibok, leaving the aged to suffer.

He said: “After a series of protest by concerned Nigerians over the kidnapped girls, 500 days have passed but no result. I must say 15 out of the parents of the girls have died because of the grief.

“There is no standing school in the entire Chibok land. It is only our parents that are in Chibok. There is no single young man who is living in Chibok. Today we have over 10,000 Chibok indigenes scattered across the country,’’ he said.

Buhari appoints SGF, Chief of Staff, others Continued from page 2

lishing his own ICT and Telecommunications consulting firm in 1990.

“He is also a member of the Nigeria Computer Society, the Nigeria Society of Engineers and the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria.

“Alhaji Abba Kyari, the new Chief of Staff to the President, holds Bachelors and Masters Degrees from the University of Cambridge and the University of Warwick in Law and Sociology.

“He has worked with the New Nigeria Development Company, New Africa Holdings, African International

Bank, United Bank for Africa, Unilever, and Mobil in various capacities over the years.

“The new ComptrollerGeneral of Customs, Col. Ali, holds Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Criminology. He was military administrator of Kaduna State from 1996 to 1998.

“The new ComptrollerGeneral of Immigration, Mr. Abeshi, hails from Nasarawa State.

“He joined the Nigerian Immigration Service in 1989 as an Assistant Comptroller.

His educational qualifications include a Masters Degree in Public Administration.”

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

USAIN BOLT

When it comes to 200m, I ‘m a different person

U

SAIN Bolt won the rematch and 200m gold as he ran a wonderful bend to once again leave rival Justin Gatlin chasing silver and fresh air.

On a sweaty, sticky night in the Bird's Nest, Bolt was out of the blocks quicker and opened up an unassailable lead over the first 100m before coming away down the straight and jabbing his thumbs at his chest as he crossed the line.

His 19.55 seconds was the fastest in the world this year, his speed and peerless championship class too good for American Gatlin, whose 19.74 was well outside his season's best.

Jamaican Bolt, who will also

compete in the 4x100m relay, said: "It means a lot to me.

"I'm happy to be a 10-time World Championships gold medallist, especially when people have been saying I would lose.

"I had the utmost confidence.

As long as my coach is confident, I'm super confident.

"The British people give me a lot of love and I will continue running fast."

South Africa's Anaso Jobodwana set a national record of 19.87, with Panama's Alonso Edwards three thousands of a second behind in fourth.

Britain's talented 20-year-old Zharnel Hughes, who trains with Bolt in Jamaica, ran a personal best of 20.02 for fifth in his first major final.

But this was all about the man metres in front, his 10th world gold just another astonishing number in a career without parallel.

For much of this season Bolt, 29, has been a struggling shadow of the man who has dominated both sprinting and his sport for the past seven years.

Coming into these championships he had raced only one 200m all summer, and that a lacklustre 20.13 in May. Gatlin, twice banned for doping, had run more than two tenths of a second faster than any other man in the field this year, and almost half a second

quicker than Bolt.

Bolt had neither the times this summer nor the races, a pelvic injury restricting his season until just a month before these championships.

But in the stadium where he smashed Michael Johnson's long-standing world record in winning Olympic 200m gold seven years ago, he was out of the blocks quicker than Gatlin.

With the American two lanes inside him, he was able to relax down the straight and celebrate as Gatlin trailed behind him once again.

Gatlin went into Sunday's 100m final, part one of their showdown, as the dominant man in world sprinting.

But, having cracked under the immense pressure of that first battle, he was once again unable to peak when he needed it most, and at 33 years old he may never have a better chance of beating his sport's superstar.

Hughes, born in the British Dependent Territory of Anguilla, formally gained British citizenship in June this year and won the national trials in some style.

And in his first major global championship he has improved throughout the rounds to confirm his potential for big finals ahead.

He will have no better exemplar than Bolt, unstoppable here once again.

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Man Utd face PSV, CSKA, • Man City take on Juve • Arsenal meet Bayern Wolfsburg

ANCHESTER City, cursed with bad luck in the Champions League, suffered another horror draw in Monaco, but there was better news for Manchester United, who have a relatively easy passage to the knock-out stages.

City have to face last season's runners-up Juventus as well as Spanish club Sevilla, who won the Europa League in May, and tough German competitors Borussia Monchengladbach in Group D. Louis van Gaal's men overcame the Belgian side 7-1 on aggregate in their play-off and have been rewarded with trips to Holland, Russia and Germany.

United, who are making their return to the Champions League after a season out of the competition, are undefeated in two games against CSKA and beat Wolfsburg twice when they last met in the 2009-10 group stage.

City, meanwhile, have never scored more than once in their three meetings with Juventus, and will come up against transfer target Paul Pogba, providing he remains in Turin.

Arsenal also have a problematic group, facing Bayern Munich who have knocked them out twice in the last three seasons of European football.

They are in the same Group F as Olympiacos, the Greek club who are mired in serious matchfixing allegations which UEFA have ignored as far as their participation in Europe’s elite club competition is concerned.

The Gunners, who were knocked out at the last 16 stage

by Monaco last season, will also face Croatian side Dinamo Zagreb.

Chelsea will also be confident of progressing through a group containing Porto, whom manager Jose Mourinho led to an unlikely Champions League triumph in 2004, along with Dynamo Kiev and Maccabi Tel-Aviv.

TODAY IN THE NATION

FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL.10 NO. 3320

‘An inordinate lust for money drives this generation to self-destruct.

Having perverted the natural order that places man above money, the animate cowers to the inanimate; Nigeria submits to mammon, and science, technology, power, property and other bastions of materialism own and controls us. The consequences are rampant and discernible for all to see’ OLA TUNJI OL OLADE OLATUNJI OLOLADE

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

“A

RE you following the turn of events?” Opalaba asked via a text message.

“What events?” I responded.

“How can you fail to understand what I mean? The Senate versus EFCC, of course,” he responded.

“I am sorry but I have been busy with my other priorities,” I replied.

If you are a regular follower of my adventures with my friend, you can by now guess what follows next.

My phone rang and it was Opalaba screaming on top of his voice.

“Other priorities?” Is that what you just mentioned in your response? he asked.

“Yes!” I also replied indignantly. “You don’t expect that I am always on to every damned inanity that you all decide to engage in, do you? Of course, I have many other useful items on my to-do list.”

Noticing that I wasn’t going to back off, my friend mellowed.

“Sure, you’re right. And I guess those of us who have no choice are victims of our circumstance. We cannot turn on the television sets without being subjected to mental torture watching fools display the arrogance of power and the stupidity that comes with it on our screens. What’s our choice in the matter?”

“Turn off your damned television screens”, I screamed back.

Now it was apparent to both of us that we were becoming psychological wrecks on account of the irony of the phenomenon of unchangeable “agents” of change; the selfproclaimed change agents who resist change.

“So what’s the latest?” I asked my friend.

And in his characteristic attention to details, he volunteered to guide me through the labyrinth of what he referred to as the latest “drama of the unchangeable.”

“First, the EFCC received a petition against the wife of the Senate President and decided to investigate her. She appeared before the agency and was reportedly grilled over two days. Among the entourage that escorted her to the agency were senators and political associates of her husband. The investigation is still ongoing and there are reports that it has been extended to London.”

“Second, a senator representing Delta North Senatorial District received a petition against Ibrahim Lamorde, the EFCC chairman, alleging that he diverted over N1 trillion of funds recovered from officials convicted of corrupt enrichment between 2003 and 2007. At the time, Lamorde was EFCC director of Operations. The petition was submitted by George Uboh to Senator Peter Nwaoboshi. The senator, as a member of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges

SEGUN GBADEGESIN gbadegesin@thenationonlineng.net

Senate v. EFCC

and Public Petitions reportedly shared the petition with the Senate President. As the Senate was on recess, the Senate President reportedly gave the green light to the committee to investigate the matter.”

“Third, the Senate committee fast-tracked the investigation and invited Lamorde for questioning on the subject of the petition.”

“Fourth, the EFCC issued a statement rebutting the petition and raising questions about the motive of the petitioner and the Senate committee.”

“Fifth, two groups in the Senate including the Minority Leader and the APC Unity Forum dissociated themselves from the investigation and advised the committee against engaging in a fruitless effort.”

“Sixth, Senate President Saraki denied that the Senate investigation of Lamorde has anything to do with EFCC’s investigation of his (Saraki) wife.”

Having laid out the details of the new sleazy deposit in the gutters of national politics, I asked my friend what he saw as the issues of interest. Never afraid of jumping into stormy water, Opalaba offered his insight on the matter as follows.

“Oh, where does one start, really? It’s sleazy and sordid. It’s beyond the pale of decency, to say the least. But let us accept two important facts. One, the Senate has a

C

ASH is king, no, cash is god May history be damned! Monetise our legacy! Hand us cash bequeathals! This must be the silent chant of members of our National Assembly (NASS) in the last 16 years. If only they knew any better; if only they realised that the unit of measure of life’s worth lies in legacies and not currencies.

This is why history will have no golden chapter for Senator David Mark who was Senate president and head of NASS for eight years. The refrain of his supporters has been that he was instrumental to stabilising the Fourth Republic and Nigeria’s nascent democracy. But ‘stabilise’ to what end? Didn’t he merely hold down the cow for it to be milked to death?

As this column has always canvassed, the position of the Senate President is only second in importance to that of the President of the federal republic. Therefore, under the control of a noble and enlightened mind, the NASS is a veritable instrument for ringing far-reaching socio-political and constitutional changes. But as we have witnessed, none of the structural dysfunction plaguing the polity was righted; no landmark legislation such that could untangle the system and unleash the potentialities of the state was pushed.

constitutional oversight responsibility with respect to any institution of governance. No one denies this reality. Two, the Senate performs its oversight functions through committees that have the right to investigate matters referred to it by the Senate. These are the non-controversial facts.”

“What then are the controversial issues in this matter?” I asked Opalaba.

“There is quite a bunch”, he replied.

“First, there is no smoke without fire. The fires here, if the Senate leadership can be honest with itself and with the Nigerian people, are two. One, at its inception, Senate President invited the anti-corruption agencies to a meeting. EFCC chose not to attend, thus humiliating the leadership of the Red Chamber. Second, shortly after, EFCC chose to investigate the wife of the Senate President, adding insult to injury. It’s payback time. It’s just as simple as that.”

“Isn’t that cheap blackmail?” I questioned my friend. “What you’re suggesting is that to avoid spurious charges of retaliation, the Senate must fold its arms and not perform its duties.”

“I have not finished and you’re jumping the gun”, Opalaba shouted me down.

“Second, the responsibility for referring petitions to oversight committees belongs to the Senate as a body. The committee web page is clear about this. But let us grant that the Senate President can reasonably be expected to act on behalf of the body in case Senate is on recess. However, since he must be assumed to have a spousal interest in a matter pending before EFCC, good ethical thinking suggests that he should refer this petition to the Senate body to determine the issue of referral. This is what recusal means in decent climes. In other words, the Senate President shouldn’t have been the one ordering investigation by the Committee on Ethics.”

‘Third, the subject matter of the petition is not political; it is criminal. The Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions is, among others, tasked with

STEVE OSUJI

EXPRESSO

steve.osuji@yahoo.com

•Columnist of the Year (NMMA)

Like Mark, like Saraki Extolling the Gov Wada spirit

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OVERNOR Idris Wada of Kogi State is a man of gentle mien and soft words. These characteristics are often mistaken by onlookers as weakness. It is especially so in a political environment that has become the verisimilitude of a jungle. There is therefore, no room for gentlemen of culture and nurture as Wada has proven to be in nearly four years. Here, you either hunt, or get hunted; trample or get trampled upon. In fact, to lead around here you must first make sure that not one person around you is standing erect.

But it is not so for the Kogi governor, Idris Wada. No matter what else may be said about him, he has played politics of love and upheld a doctrine of live and let live. He displayed it amply last week when he picked nomination form at his party’s headquarters in Abuja. While others in his shoes would unsettle their domain in order to get an automatic second term ticket, he on the other hand, decried do-or-die politics noting: “If I win I will thank God. But if I lose in free and fair primary, I will support whoever emerges. It is not a do-or-die affair.”

In a state that is prone to political volatility, it is often salutary to hear the man at the helm speak peace and project humility from the seat of power. Here is commending the Wada spirit to other political leaders.

For 16 years, the NASS remained a wayward, licentious lad and in eight

years under David Mark’s leadership, it grew into a rapacious money mongering

the responsibility of considering “the subject matter of all petitions referred to it by the Senate and shall report from time to time to the Senate, its opinion of the action to be taken thereon together with such other observations on petition and the signatures attached thereof, as the committee may think fit.”’ (my emphasis) “The above is quoted verbatim from the web page of the committee. The question is “what can this committee accomplish with respect to the subject matter of a petition that alleges criminal action against the EFCC chair?” It will only render an opinion on what action to take. So why didn’t Senate just refer the petition to the Police or ICPC both of which are also anti-corruption agencies with power to investigate and prosecute?

“Fourth, there are more disgusting details. The mainstream and social media are buzzing with slimy background stories of the originator of the petition and his Senate representative. At the least, the stories raise a number of questions which should interest the Senate. Indeed, what one would expect is for the Senate Committee on Ethics to first assure itself of the credibility and integrity of a petitioner prior to committing the prestige of Senate to an investigation that may turn out more dirt about him than about the accused.”

“For instance, is media report true that George Uboh was once convicted of credit card fraud?” If so, does he have a credibility challenge in bringing this allegation against the EFCC?” “Is it also true that Senator Nwaoboshi boasted about his relationship with convicted James Ibori, referring to the latter as his boss and friend without a display of moral outrage over what Ibori was convicted of? If true, is this senator himself fit to be a member of the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions?” Opalaba intoned.

“Finally, there is a deeply worrisome nature of our politics even in the cyber age when members of the Millennial Generation who ought to be in the vanguard of probity and cosmopolitan etiquette are instead defenders of primordial, local and partisan interests. Certainly intelligent and morally conscious people may see matters differently.

My hope is that in this and other matters of high moral stakes, it is our moral convictions and not our ethnic, local or partisan interests that inform our various positions. God bless Nigeria.”

If not on any other matter, I agree wholeheartedly with my friend’s sermon from Mount Opalaba in the last paragraph. This phase too shall pass.

•For comments, send SMS to 08111813080

ogre; a loose King Kong trampling the polity and gobbling up our commonwealth. Mark will be remembered for the singular achievement of nurturing a NASS where members earned more than members of the US Congress and the British Parliament put together. We will remember him for bequeathing us with the inimitable legacy of a rogue assembly during his presidency.

We remember Mark today and for always for that outstanding record of creating a NASS that earned the highest wages in the world. We will always remember him for breeding a corps of hard-hearted men and women who are lacking in compunction or empathy for the teeming horde of a poor and deprived populace.

We will remember David Mark and his gang not only for mindlessly immiserising the people but for also oversighting the historic pillage of the country in the last five years. Never in our history had a parliament entered into such incestuous relationship with the executive branch to rape and ravage the country and her people.

•Continued

on page 59

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Editor Daily:08111813080, Marketing: 01-8155547 . Abuja Office: Plot 5, Nanka Close AMAC Commercial Complex, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja. Tel: 07028105302. Port Harcourt Office: 12/14, Njemanze Street, Mile 1, Diobu, PH. 08023595790. WEBSITE: www.thenationonlineng.net E-mail: info@thenationonlineng.net Editor: GBENGA OMOTOSO