The Nation August 29, 2012

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

Cynthia: who booked hotel?

Oyo pays N2b pension allowances NEWS

Page 10

NEWS Page 8

•Govt clears arrears to date

•Controversy over name

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VOL. 7, NO. 2232 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

N150.00

•SPECT ACULAR: School pupils during a calisthenics display in Osogbo, the State of Osun’s capital...yesterday. Story on page 10 •SPECTA

Conflict of interest: Power Minister Nnaji forced out Jonathan pushes prof to resign over role in privatisation of firms

B

ARTH Nnaji, a professor and minister of Power who promised to take electricity supply to 6,000MW by December, yesterday waved a final bye to the job he did with great passion.

He was forced to resign.

President Goodluck Jonathan pushed Nnaji to throw in the towel, following an alleged conflict of interest between his office and the ongoing privatisation of the power sector – the government’s antidote to the epileptic supply that has held Nigeria down, industrially.

The alleged abuse of office was in conflict with the Performance Contract Agreement which ministers signed last Wednesday and the Oath of Office to hich SEE ALSO w t h e y PAGES 2&3 swore at

From Yusuf Alli and Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

inauguration.

Nnaji, a professor of Computer Integrated Manufacturing and Robotics, is the first victim of the Agreement.

A company, Geometric Power, in which the former Minister allegedly has interest was involved in the bids

•OUT •OUT:: Prof. Nnaji

for the privatisation of Afam Generation Company Limited and Enugu Distribution Company Limited.

Geometric Power is said to have a minority stake in the Eastern Electric Nigeria Limited, which submitted technical and financial bids for Enugu Distribution Company on July 31.

Also, one of the consortia bidding for Afam Power Plant, O and M Solutions of Pakistan, was once Geometric Power’s contractor.

It was also learnt that security reports allegedly implicated Nnaji, who sat transfixed in office as at 9.40pm when our correspondent visited .

According to a source, the ex-minister was in the middle of a meeting at about 4pm when he was summoned to the Presidential Villa by the President who told him to reContinued on page 4

Peace moves on N2.29tr Excess Crude Account From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

•Rasheed

•Ekpe

•Jide

•Usman

T

FirstBank man Rasheed chairs $1b Sovereign Fund board From Nduka Chiejina, Abuja

W

ITH a $1 billion initial capital, the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) has gone into operation.

Finance Minister Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said yesterday that a board and management committee – The Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NISA)- had been constituted to manage the fund – a pool from the proceeds of ExContinued on page 4

HE Federal Government has offered to return to the negotiation table with 20 states over the disputed withdrawals of about N2.29 trillion from the Excess Crude Account.

The two parties told the Supreme Court on May 21 that their reconciliation talks had collapsed.

Following the stalemate, they asked for a date for the definite hearing of the matter.

But the Federal Government has decided to return to the talks for an out-of court settlement before September 25, the date fixed for definite hearing by the Supreme Court.

Some of the states and their claims are as follows: Bayelsa (N300 billion), Oyo (N100 billion), Niger Continued on page 4

•SPORT P23•LIFE P25 •MONEY P30 •INVESTORS P32 •POLITICS P43

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012

2

NEWS BARTH NNAJI’S RESIGNATION

PHCN workers’

•Bauchi State Governor Isa Yuguda cutting the tape to inaugurate the 50 Yankari Express Buses In Bauchi ...yesterday.

With him are Bauchi State Commissioner For Commerce and Industry Hajiya Amina Katagum (left), Speaker, State House of Assembly Alhaji Yahya Miya (fourth right)) and Group Managing Director/Permanent Secretary, Yankari Transport PHOTO: NAN Company, Alhaji Ibrahim Sule(right).

•Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun (second left), his wife Funsho (left), Vice-President of China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) Mr. Zhou Thianxiang (middle), Ogun State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure Olamilekan Adegbite (second right) and Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaji Shuaib Salisu (right) at the CCECC Plaza, Beijing, China...yesterday

• Minister of National Planning Dr. Shamsuddeen Usman (left), Chief Economic Adviser to the President Dr. Nwanze Okidegbe and President, Nigerian Economic Society (NES) Prof. Akin Iwayemi (right) at the NES' 53rd Annual Conference in Abuja ...yesterday PHOTO: NAN

• Minister of Communications and Technology Mrs. Omobola Johnson (middle) speaking during the ministry’s briefing at the Presidential Villa in Abuja...yesterday. With her are Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communications and Technology Dr. Ibrahim Daudu (left) and Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity Dr. Rueben Abati. PHOTO AKIN OLADOKUN

Until his resignation yesterday as Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji and workers of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) were daggers drawn.

The latest in their fight was over the Federal Government’s plan to privatise the behemoth, writes Assistant Editor (Investigations) JOKE KUJENYA

H

E was at a meeting between labour leaders and the Federal Government to resolve the logjam over the privatisation of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

But before the meeting adjourned, Prof. Barth Nnaji hurriedly left.

Hours later, it emerged that Nnaji’s era as Power Minister has come to an abrupt end.

President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Mr Peter Esele, who was at the Abuja meeting, said: “The meeting was inconclusive. Both parties were not able to state all their cases. We held a discussion and as at this moment, I do not think we have come to any conclusion. We are looking at meeting again tomorrow (today) at 4pm. We have made certain requests from PHCN management.

“Government also made certain requests which we are hoping would be made available tomorrow (today) and that would help us to either move forward or to have a stalemate.

“Again government made an offer and what they were talking about is that they want to pay 15 per cent from 2004 to 2012 while the other 25 per cent would be pre-pension Act reform.

“But we are saying that the defined benefits scheme that was available should still remain in place. '' Nnaji’s colleague, Minister of Labour and Productivity Emeka Wogu, who was also at the meeting, said he would speak to the press today.

The bid to privatise the PHCN and its attendant crisis will remain a major point of Nnaji’s era as power minister.

His successor no doubt will inherit the crisis because the issues in contention remained unresolved before he bowed out.

The Zonal Organising Secretary of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), Temple Iworima, told The Nation that the workers were against the unjust way Nnaji was handling their fate after PHCN’s privatisation.

Iworima said: “We are not against privatisation. The government knows that we have not been opposed to privatising what rightly belongs to the government. PHCN is their own. Let them do what they like with it. And we do not have any problems with the Canadian contractors. You can see that none of us is disturbing the white men from doing what they had been invited to Nigeria to do. It is not their fault at all that they were brought into what should ordinarily be our in-house problems. But the government seems to enjoy exposing our domestic issues to the international world.

“Our grouse is against the unjust way we are being severed. Our fear is that our lots will become like that of our other counterparts in the privatised NITEL and other organisations privatised by previous administrations. Please, go and look at the records, every company privatised in Nigeria ends up struggling for survival. In fact, they die outrightly and this is what our cry is based on.

“So, we are saying that if you want to privatise, where does that leave us?

Many of us have served for eight, nine, 10, 11, 12, 15, 18, 22, 27 years and so on.

Now with privatisation, are you just going to leave us in the cold or pay us through our ‘superannuation scheme’ which we all signed for in our letters of employment? Then, we were here when Power Minister Barth Nnaji gave a fiat order via a letter that our salaries should be slashed by seven-and-a-half per cent.

We asked why, but no one is willing to offer us any explanation. That is after we have been contributing 23 per cent of our salaries to the ‘superannuation scheme’ since we got employed. Now, they are telling us that they can’t find the money.

“Our other point of contention is that, even if the government wants to sell the PHCN with assets and liabilities in today’s economy, should it be at N220 billion? That’s a gross under-value of the entire assets. Even if they say that the worth cannot be rated at the same value it was several years ago, I bet you, it is still a far cry from what it would be sold, if properly valued.”

Speaking for Nnaji, his Special Adviser (Media), Mr. Anikwe Ogbuagu said the whole issue had generated much controversy because there had been a lot of misinformation all over the place.

Ogbuagu said: “According to the government’s directive, letters were written to them each and calculations were given for individual persons to be paid. Letters were written and signed by the Managing Director of PHCN, Mr. Hussein Labo, accompanied by the computation of how much each person was to be sent off with. And these letters are to be taken away by each staff to study for about a week and then, return it to express their views, whether they agree with the spelt out terms or not.

“But , instead of doing this patiently, they decided to embark on the opposition battles. What happened is that, and I will like to start with the workers. Ordinarily, of about 60, 000 PHCN workforce, the organisation has far more support staff than the actual technical people needed. And why is this so? In the past, each time the PHCN advertises for qualified engineers, the ‘powers that be’ then would end up employing those who are not even near the required qualifications. And that is why you see that the agency suffers lack of qualified engineers. In fact, that is one of the reasons that the minister approved the creation of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to hire 1,000 engineers. That was how bad the situation was. But I won’t heap the blame on the workers. They did not employ themselves.

“But the real problem with them is that when the time came for their appointments to be professionally clarified, which is what privatisation is all about... And this is to be determined, one by their letters of engagement, in which case you are supposed to pay them terminal benefits. And the way it works is that all the workers will be severed, everyone of them, including their management staff. But they will be paid their dues. And how much they are paid in gratuity is based on the number of years each of them has served. And the

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012

3

NEWS BARTH NNAJI’S RESIGNATION

’ struggle continues after Nnaji The man Nnaji

B

ARTH Nnaji, 51, holds a Doctorate in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in the United States. He is also a tenured professor of Computer Integrated Manufacturing and Robotics in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania, also in the United States.

In 2003, he returned to Nigeria to build a world-class, indigenous power company. He was Chairman and CEO of Geometric Power Limited (GPL), a US$250 million, 140 MW, integrated generation and distribution power plant.

Nnaji built upon his previous experience in Nigeria’s power sector to create his company. In 1993, he served as Minister of Science and Technology. In 2000, along with his joint venture partner Renatech International Limited, Nnaji built and managed a successful 15MW emergency power station in Abuja.

Nnaji led the group that financed, designed and built a power plant in Abuja supplying electricity to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

He was appointed Special Adviser to the President on June 21, 2010 by President Goodlukck Jonathan and Minister of Power in July 2011.

•Nnaji

computation has been done. The highest that one severed staff will be paid is N38m. And some of those who were employed six months ago would be given about N500, 000 each upwards.

So their claims of a security man who has served about 11 years being paid a mere N85, 000 is not true. What every single member of staff is going to be paid on being severed from the services of the

PHCN is clearly stated on the schedule prepared from the office of the Power Minister.

“They have not even bothered to ask where the money is coming from.

Before 2004, they were operating what they called ‘superannuation scheme’ are managed by the management of the PHCN in conjunction with the leadership of their unions.

And it is a system in which the workers are said to be contributing about 25 per cent of their basic salaries. And so, when they are to leave, their contributions would have amounted to a lot of money. But for some reasons, this money was not being deducted.

But every year, when people were to go off working, there would be some ‘magical’ calculations done and whoever was going would still be paid what he or she was thought to be entitled to. Now in-between, government changed the rules in 2004 when the Pension Reform Act (PRA) was signed into law.

“The Pension Commission wrote series of letters to PHCN asking them to come so the ‘superannuation scheme’ can be dropped for the proper pension scheme. So during their negotiations, they insisted that their terminal benefits should still be based on the ‘superannuation scheme’. Government said that if they agreed to that, it means that they do

not have any liability on this matter.

The next thing seen was that they, the PHCN, went to their accounts and discovered that all they had in the treasure was just N3billion.

“They were said to have asked their management what happened to all the money that they thought they had saved. But they were allegedly told not to worry as the management knew how to get the money available whenever it was needed. It was said that some of them even raised dust about the management’s claims to have been deducting 25 per cent of their salaries for several years, and demanded to know where the money was kept. And that was the point that government found that it had been in trouble for so long without really knowing it. So, the Power Minister sought the counsel of Mr. President on how to resolve the problem. The President, it was noted, said it wasn’t the fault of the workers but the management and unions they

had trusted for so long. And he was said to have added that the workers, who all have put it years of service into the PHCN, should in no way be punished.

“Government then decided that from June 2004 to June 2012, whatever was due to each of them based on their contributions under the PRA, which was computed to be at N80billion, should be paid. This was then presented by the Energy Minister during one of their Federal Executive Council (FEC) meetings. This was promptly approved and the Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, released the money. All these are on the records. And it is from this money that they did not contribute at all they would be paid their dues.”

The situation degenerated to warning strikes by workers in PHCN formations. In Minna, Niger State, members of staff of the Shiroro Hydropower Station, which has the capacity of 600 megawatts, staged a protest to resist the government’s handling over of their severance benefits. They accused the Federal Government of insincerity and not honouring the conditions of service.

They bore placards with messages such as: “Don’t short-change us, pay us our full benefit”, “Barth Nnaji, Tell Nigerians the truth about PHCN”, “Minister of Power, treat us with dignity”.

In Lagos, employees of PHCN also went on strike. The workers blocked the gates of the PHCN offices in Lagos and the headquarters in Marina. They prevented the management, workers and customers from gaining access to the premises.

As at the time Nnaji resigned yesterday, the issues remain unresolved and workers were strategising on how to get government to listen to them. Now that the minister is gone, their battle continues with his yet-tobe known successor. The struggle continues.

He came, he saw, but could not conquer For reasons ranging from gas shortage, non completion of power plants and alleged sabotage, Prof. Barth Nnaji’s dream of giving Nigerians enough electricity to meet domestic and industrial needs was largely unrealised, writes OLUKOREDE YISHAU

H

E assumed office last July as Minister of Power. At that time, power generation stood at 2700 mega watts. By the time Prof. Barth Nnaji quit office yesterday, he had raised power generation to 4800 mega watts, a modest achievement, which is still a far-cry from what Nigerians need for domestic and industrial needs.

Before he resigned in controversial circumstances, he had eased out eight top officials of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN). The last set include: Chief Executive Officer of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) Akinwumi Bada, Market Operator Uzoma Achinanya and Executive Director of Human Resources, Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) Olusoga Muyiwa.

Nnaji, barely a month in office, sacked the chief executive officers of four electricity distribution companies. The affected CEOs are: Justus Obilomo (Eko Distribution Company), Oladele Adeola (Ibadan Distribution Company), George Chiatula (Benin Distribution Company) and Kosiso Nwaoko (Jos Distribution).

Nnaji replaced them with: Oladele Amoda (Eko ), Bolaji Mofoluso Oyesiku (Ibadan), Dr. Effiong Umoren (Benin), and Mrs. Vera Ngozi Osuhor (Jos).

The CEO of Olorunsogo Generation Company, Mr. Mohammed Almu, also lost his job. He was sacked for his inability to articulate what was required

to recover six of the eight turbines of the station that were out of work for years, which reduced the plant’s output from over 300MW to less than 50MW. One key factor in the sack of the eight big-wigs was their inability to advance the course of improving the power generation capacity of the country.

The sack of Bada and others coincided with the sharp drop in power generation. Towards the end of last year, the Ministry of Power announced the achievement of 4,420MW generation. Nigerians confirmed that power supply across the country substantially improved.

However, from the beginning of this year, the story changed. The development was attributed to inadequate gas supply to thermal power stations. To address this, the Federal Government ordered the Ministry of Petroleum to ensure sufficient supply of gas to the power sector. This led to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) signing gas supply purchase agreements (GSPAs) with some of the oil giants to ensure uninterrupted gas supply to the plants.

But by March, it became clear that the combined efforts of the power and petroleum ministries to improve the power generation were not work-

ing. From March till last month, power generation and supply were on free fall.

The former minister had planned to achieve grid stability of 5,000 mega watts last December. He also planned to add another 1,000 mega watts before the end of this year. This clearly is in consonance with the administration’s power reforms, which was unveiled in its comprehensive action plan christened: ‘Roadmap to power sector reforms’.

The major thrust of the plan was the total unbundling of PHCN into generation and transmission companies, which would be sold to private investors. If the plan succeeds, the six generation plants and the 11 distribution stations scattered all over the country would be taken over by private companies, with the government only controlling minor stakes in the generation plants due to strategic national interests.

He had looked up to the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) and some units lost in the existing assets of the PHCN to generate the 5,000 mega watts.

He said: “We have set in motion plans to increase electricity generating capacity before the year runs out.

The power stations nearing completion under the NIPP as well as existing power plants, would add about

600MW to the grid between now and December.”

But beyond the challenge of generating enough power to feed into the national grid, Nnaji’s biggest challenge was the uncooperative attitude of some employees of PHCN, who allegedly become a major threat to the actualisation of the new power reforms.

Nnaji also had the NIPP power plants to worry about. The Egbin Power Plant, which provides 25 per cent of the country’s electricity needs, has an installed capacity of 1,320 Megawatts, but generated less while Nnaji held forte. The plant ought to be overhauled every five to six years.

But this has not been the case.

The Egbin Power plant, said an insider, needs N1.5 billion for rehabilitation in order to add 220 megawatts to the national grid. About N33.6 billion is needed for complete overhaul of the six units.

Olorunsogo Plant, which was initiated by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration, was planned to increase power generation to 10,000mw on or before 2010. But the company suffers from inadequate funding.

“The current level of funding is grossly inadequate. No appropriate budgetary provision from inception till date,” said its immediate past CEO.

The plant is faced with a lot of challenges, the major one being limited gas supply. Of the about 120mmscf /day it requires, it only gets 40 mmscf. The plant relies on temporary gas supply line from Ewekoro. Its permanent gas line from Itoki is still under construction.

The Alaoji Power Plant is also far from being completed. Of its four turbines only one is nearing completion.

This can generate about 112.5 megawatts. Its gas need is also an issue which has not been sorted out and is bound to affect its operation.

The Ihovbor Power Plant is also facing a serious challenge. At the moment, the facilities are still at erection stage. It is not clear if the Gas Sale Agreement (GSA) has been sorted out. Its transmission lines and substation that would evacuate the power are still under construction and are not likely to be completed soon. The Calabar Power Plant is also in the same condition.

It is also doubtful if the Gbarain Power Plant will be completed this year as planned. Issues such as gas supply are expected to further slow it down. The Omotosho Plant, planned to be ready in December, is also doubtful for similar reasons.

Nnaji’s successor sure has a lot to contend with.

4

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012

NEWS Jonathan forces Nnaji to resign Continued from page 1

•Ekiti State Deputy Governor Mrs. Funmi Olayinka flanked by the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe III and Senator Babafemi Ojudu at the Udiroko festival in Ado-Ekiti...yesterday. Story on Page 10 PHOTO: SULAIMAN SALAWUDEEN

Fed Govt, states begin negotiation over N2.29tr Excess Crude Account Continued from page 1

(N99.68 billion), Edo (N99.26 billion), Benue (N95.30 billion), Abia (N93.09 billion), Ogun (N84.07 billion), Yobe (N82.55 billion), Osun (N80.77 billion).

Others are: Ekiti (N74.31 billion) and Bauchi (N28.52 billion), Kaduna (N108.3 billion), Kogi (N86.21 billion), Plateau (N86 billion), Rivers (N385.58 billion), Ebonyi (N74.73 billion) and Taraba (N84.98 billion).

According to sources, the government does not want the case to go into definite hearing because it might affect the management of the Sovereign Wealth Fund, which has just been floated with $1billion.

Besides, the Federal Government team, some of the counsel for the states, who will be involved in the negotiation are the lead counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

(SAN), Yusuf O. Ali (SAN), Dr. Konyinsola Ajayi (SAN), Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), Chief Chris Uche (SAN), Mr. D.D. Dodo (SAN), Prof. Yemi Akinsete George(SAN) and Mr. Ogunmuyiwa Balogun.

A source, who is involved in the case, said: “While we are preparing for the legal battle, we have got a letter from the Federal Government to open up fresh talks with the affected states on the issues in question.

“We had tried twice to resolve this matter amicably but the Federal Government had been uncomfortable with what it termed grey areas.

“But I can tell you that upon the receipt of the letter, we have started negotiation.

But it will be unfair to either of the parties to tell you the grey areas in contention.

“We hope that this fresh negotiation may be the last

window for the two parties or else, we will go into definite hearing.”

One of the counsel in the matter said: “There is no way we will go into the substantive suit without seeking an injunction to restrain the Federal Government from operating the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF).

“I think it is in the interest of the government and the economy to seek an out-ofcourt settlement.”

Another source, however, said: “One of the grey areas has to do with the amount to be refunded to each of the 20 states. The Federal Government cannot afford to pay the claims of the states, in spite of the fact that their application has merit.

“The Federal Government is seeking a waiver from the states to pay compensatory claims”.

A government source said: “We have started talking

•Dr. Okonjo-Iweala

with the states again. We are hopeful that the two parties will reach amicable settlement terms. We are not at war.”

Before the suit was instituted, there was about N5.51trillion in the Excess Crude Account but it has been further depleted.

Following the oil boom, past military regimes created special accounts for excess oil revenues, which were above oil price benchmark for yearContinued on page 59

sign.

The source, a senior government official, said: “The ex-Minister and his officials in the Ministry of Power were holding a meeting at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity with labour leaders on the exit package of disengaged PHCN workers when he was summoned to the Villa.

“Oblivious of what fate that was awaiting him, Nnaji left instructions on how the negotiation should go.

“But when he got to the Villa, the President told him that reports of the National Council on Privatisation(NCP) and security agencies indicated that he could not divorce his personal interest from official matters.”

The source claimed that the President wasted no time to tell Nnaji, “Go and turn in your letter of resignation. I wish you the best.”

Another source said: “All attempts by Nnaji to justify the fact that he had left the board of Geometric proved abortive.”

Apparently, overwhelmed by the manner - sudden and shocking - of his resignation, Nnaji could not immediately break the news to the key directors in the ministry.

Another source added: “He remained in his office to tidy up his desk. We later went to him when we heard the news. He simply said: “it is true but I did my best. I had divorced myself from Geometric Power to serve this nation. My interest was put in a blind trust.”

Although Nnaji, who felt much concerned about his integrity, had wanted to address the media, the session was called off last night.

As at 9.40pm, he was still in the office, preparing his handover note.

It was in line with the resignation soft landing given to Nnaji that the Presidency issued a statement that he had resigned.

According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the

President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the Nnaji’s resignation has been accepted.

The statement said: “President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has accepted the resignation with immediate effect of the Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji.

“President Jonathan thanks Prof. Nnaji for his services to the nation under the present administration and wishes him well in his future endeavours.”

The National Council on Privatisation (NCP) has cancelled the technical bid evaluation process conducted for both companies.

The cancellation was to allow for transparency in the process.

The evaluation of the Enugu Disco, which is still ongoing, has been stopped. The evaluation team may be disbanded, it was learnt last night.

The NCP, at its meeting last Friday, announced the results of the technical evaluation conducted for the 25 bids it received last month for the six generation companies (Gencos) created from the unbundling of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

It disclosed at the end of the process that seven bidders successfully met the cut-off mark of 750 and above during the technical evaluation process and were prequalified to have their financial bids opened on September 25.

They are: Phoenix Electricity, Transcorp Consortium and Ampiron Power Distribution Limited, which bid for Ughelli Power Company; CMEC Energy and GPN Nestoil Power Services Limited for Sapele Power Company. Ampiron Power Distribution Limited, Mainstream Energy Solution Limited and North South Power Company Limited were prequalified for Geregu, Kainji and Shiroro Power Companies.

Continued on page 61

FirstBank man Rasheed chairs $1b Sovereign Investment Authority Who is who on the SWF board

Continued from page 1

cess oil sales.

Alhaji Mahey Rasheed, a member of the board of First Bank as the chairman. Mr Uche Orji, a former Managing Director of JP Morgan, the United States financial giant, is the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer.

Orji, who is the global co-ordinator and head of the U.S. semiconductor researcher and co-head of U.S. Tech Sector Research at the global investment bank, will assume duty on October 2.

Other members of the board are: Mr Arnold Ekpe, Mr Jide Zeitlin, Mrs Bili Awosika, Bisi Soyebo (SAN), Alhaji Hassan Usman and Mrs Stella OjekweOnyejeli, who will also be Chief Risk Officer.

Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala told reporters that upon the completion of due diligence, the candidate for Chief Investment Officer was dropped and the position will be re-advertised.

She said KPMG was engaged for the selection of the team and 730 applications were received for the three executive positions - Chief Invest-

U

CHE ORJI, Managing Director of the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority(NISA) is a former JP Morgan head. Orji was Managing Director in the technology group of UBS Investment Bank. He covered large-cap semiconductor companies. Before joining UBS, Mr. Orji worked at J.P. Morgan Securities in London, where he established the team as one of the top semiconductor teams in Institutional Investor’s “All-Europe Research Team.” He held top positions in the Thomson Reuters Extel Survey. He was an Analyst and Fund Manager with Goldman Sachs Asset Management based in London. He held positions in Nigeria with Diamond Bank Ltd. and Arthur Andersen LLP. Orji holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the University of Port Harcourt.

MAHEY RAFINDADI RASHEED ment Officer, Executive Director (Investments) and Executive Director (Risk).

“Forty of these were listed

by KPMG, which assisted in sourcing for suitable candidates, 16 candidates were shortlisted before the final three were selected.”

Chairman of board is on the board of First Bank. He was born in Katsina in 1951.

He attended Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, School of Basic Studies between 1973 and 1974, and between 1974 – 1977 he obtained a B.Sc. degree in Economics from the same University. He started his career in the New Nigeria Development Company (NNDC) Kaduna as an Investment Executive (1978 – 1980) and rose to the level of Principal Investment Executive between 1983 to 1985. He served as Director on the Board of Nidogas Ltd, Lagos, Nigeria,Ceramic Manufacturers Ltd, Kano, Nigeria;Cotton Agricultural Processors Ltd, Zaria, Nigeria; Dorman Long Amalgamated Engineering Co. Ltd. Lagos, Nigeria; Cement Company of Northern Nigeria Ltd, Sokoto ;and Kano citizens Trading Co., Kano (a Textile Company).He was Assistant Director, Foreign Operations Department of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) between

“With this development, the country is firmly on the path to reaping the benefits of this tried and tested strategy for achieving fiscal prudence and economic transformation.

“The establishment of an institutional foundation for the SWF is a victory for all Nigeri-

1985 – 1987.

Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria in 1999. He was Chairman, Nigeria Security Printing and Minting Plc 2003. Member, Board of Directors, British – American Insurance Company Ltd, 1984 -1986;Member, FGN Budget Review Committee (1991 – 94);Nigerian Government Representative in Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) project.

ARNOLD EKPE is Group Chief Executive Officer,Ecobank Transnational Incorporated. Ekpe has been Group Chief Executive Officer of the bank since 2005. He has over 26 years of African and international banking experience having also worked in Europe, South Africa and West Africa for Citibank and First Chicago. Ekpe served as Chief Executive Officer for Ecobank Transnational, Inc. from 1996 to 2001. Mr. Ekpe joined United Bank

ans and a credit to the President who assented to the Bill in May, last year,” Mrs Okonjo-Iweala said.

The minister acknowledged the efforts of former ministers of finance who worked hard for the establishment of the SWF.

Continued on page 59

“I must also recognise the Nigeria Governors Forum whose cooperation as well as robust views and exchanges have also helped to move us to where we are today.

“Particularly, the role of Mr Vice President, who is the chair of the National Economic

Council, in also helping to make this a reality.

“The battle was long but I think the country stands to gain and I do believe that it’s worth it.”

The Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority will be split into the Nigeria Infrastructure Fund, the Future Generations Fund and the Stabilisation Fund, according to the Act signed by President Goodluck Jonathan on May 27.

The minister explained that each component would be allocated at least 20 per cent of the total fund, while the remaining 40 per cent would be decided by the economic management team.

According to her, the fund is designed to ensure that some of Nigeria’s oil wealth is saved to be used to stabilise the economy and invest in infrastructure.

“The fund will build a savings base for the future generation of Nigerians, enhance the development of infrastructure and promote fiscal stability for the country in times of economic stress.”

Continued on page 61

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012

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NEWS

How to tame terrorism, by Jonathan, Obasanjo, others

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MINENT Nigerians, including President Goodluck Jonathan and his predecessor Chief Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday began a four-day meeting on how to tame insecurity in the country.

The discussion, holding at the Unity Hall of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, near Jos, Plateau State, was opened by Police Affairs Minister, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade, who represented the President.

Speaking on the theme: “Complex Insurgencies in Nigeria”, President Jonathan identified terrorism as the most potent threat to the country’s unity, which, according to him, was not only destroying human resources but crippling the economy.

He said: “The Federal Government has directed a comprehensive blueprint on how to combat terrorism as part of the agenda of the administration.

“Government has been providing logistic support for security and intelligence

•North’s governors suggest stoppage of GSM to weaken Boko Haram From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

gathering and has not reneged on such efforts because it is the desire of this administration to sustain the unity and indivisibility of this country.”

In a welcome remark, Prof Tijani Muhammed Barde, the Director-General of the institute, said: “Nigeria has the capacity to tackle its internal insurgencies, which was why eminent people and experts from across the country were assembled to discuss the issue.

“It is our culture at the institute to co-ordinate discussion on topical issues that concern the nation. This is what NIPPS has been doing since its creation as a Think Tank of the nation and I have

no doubt that from here the solution we have been looking for will emerge.”

Chairman of the forum, former President Obasanjo said: “The meeting is mainly to discuss peace that is obviously lacking in the country”.

Represented by Gen. Joshua Dongoyaro (rtd), Obasanjo said: “We are here to discuss a very important subject that touches on the survival of this country. We are seeking peace, because without peace, our democracy will become useless.”

He said: “We need peace at all cost as a nation, we need peace in all the six geo-political zones of this country.

And I am strongly convinced that that solution we need shall be formulated by the personalities and experts as-

sembled for that purpose.”

Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang, represented by his deputy, Ambassador Ignatius Longjan, expressed the government’s readiness to support any peace move in the state or anywhere in the country.

Jang said: “Not much has been done to stem the loss of lives and properties in the country, which is why as a government; the state appreciates the initiative of this platform to deliberate on this national issue” Calling on religious leaders to talk to their followers, Jang urged prominent Nigerians to rise up to the current security challenges.

Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum and Governor of Niger State, Dr Ba-

bangida Muazu Aliyu, praised the institute for initiating the meeting.

Represented by Alhaji Zana Umar, the Deputy Governor of Borno State, Aliyu said: “The national economy has been crippled by insecurity and it is my prayer that a solution emerge at the end of the meeting.”

Noting that mobile phone is key to the operation of Boko Haram, he suggested the stoppage of GSM for sometimes as a way of stopping the activities of Boko Haram.

In his keynote address, Ambassador Oladapo Fafowora said: “Boko Haram is enjoying external funding and local support and unless such channel of support is discouraged, the terrorists will continue to grow in strength.”

Teachers get 200 cars, 8000 tricycles in Ogun

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HE Academic Staff Union of Secondary School Teachers, Ogun State chapter yesterday distributed 200 cars and 800 tricycles to members under its “one teacher-one brand new car” scheme.

The vehicles and tricycles were distributed at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta.

The union Chairman, Mr Tunde Folarin, said the scheme was geared towards alleviating teachers’ economic plight and to uplift their social status.

Folarin promised that the union would do all within its powers to improve the lot of its members, urging beneficiaries to adhere to the repayment schedule.

He also appealed to Governor Ibikunle Amosun, to reopen the 13 closed secondary schools because the closure had affected some communities.

The chairman assured the governor that the union would complement the government’s efforts by donating furniture to the schools if they were reopened.

Folarin said the union had already renovated two schools in anticipation of their being reopened, noting that they are Imodi-Ijasi Comprehensive High School and Ikangba Community High School under Odogbolu Local Government.

•Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan (left), with Mrs. Josephine Zinder, President of the Tailor Made Tour (TMT) and her husband, Eran, during a courtesy call on the Governor at the Government House, Asaba...yesterday.

Jonathan’s lamentations an admission of failure, says ACN T HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday described the lamentations of President Goodluck Jonathan on the state of the nation as an admission of failure.

The party spoke through a statement in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

Jonathan at the 52nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) in Abuja on Monday said he was the most criticised president in the world and asked why he was being held responsible for insecurity, power failure, decaying infrastructure even though his administration inherited the problems.

In the statement by its National Publicity Secretary,

Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said that what a nation expects from a president even at a time of crisis are words that will inspire the citizens and give them confidence that the helmsman is on top of the situation and not the kind of words credited to President Jonathan which are only capable of demoralising the citizenry and telling them things are out of control and that he is completely at loss as at what to do.

“Great leaders in the world like Winston Churchill, Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy are remembered today more importantly for the quality of lead-

ership they provided their various nations at moments of crisis. Even in the face of imminent defeat and paralysing casualties, Churchill was still able to inspire and rally his people to victory and faced with Cuban Missile crisis. Kennedy did not throw up his hands in despondency,” the party added.

“Hasn’t anyone told President Jonathan that the buck stops on his desk? Hasn’t anyone told President Jonathan that an administration inherits both the assets and liabilities of his predecessor in office. Hasn’t anyone told President Jonathan

that his responsibilities as President include clearing the mess left by his predecessors in office while at the same time leaving his own legacies.

Does President Jonathan expect sympathy from the citizens by this open admission of incompetence and resignation to failure, the party asked.

“What Nigerians expect from their leader are uplifting words, words of inspiration that can bring out the hidden potentials of its citizens, words that will galvanise Nigerians to positive action and imbue them with self esteem and not the kind of lamentations of President Jonathan that has served only to confirm that the ship of state has no helmsman and everyone is at peril, the party said.

How to check corruption on the Bench, by lawyers From Joseph Jibueze, Abuja

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AWYERS yesterday called for the reform of the National Judicial Council (NJC) to make it effective in checking corruption on the Bench.

They said it is not enough to dismiss corrupt judges from the Bench; they should be brought to trial and jailed if found guilty, the lawyers said.

A former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President, Chief Thompson Okpoko (SAN), Mr Lucius Nwosu (SAN), Prof Clement Dakas (SAN) and Executive Director of Access to Justice, Mr Joseph Otteh, said corruption on the Bench and the Bar must be totally repudiated.

They spoke yesterday at the Annual General Conference of the NBA in Abuja.

Okpoko said: “NJC was a well-thought out concept but the Nigerian factor destroyed it. The Constitution places it at the whims of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), as he appoints 16 members of the 22-member council.

“You can imagine what that will mean if the CJN is not disposed to pursuing a particular petition. You can remember that NJC in its early days was very active. So, it needs to be reformed,” Nwosu said.

According to him, the legal system has suffered from poverty, quota system, greed, inadequate salaries and emolument, among others.

“We now have a situation where people no longer have confidence in the judiciary because of the number of years it requires to get judgment. It is even worst that some Nigerians don’t mind litigating their cases abroad, where it is possible.

“My heart bleeds because even senior lawyers are part of the problem. We were told that it will take the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) N43 billion to print the new N5000 note, yet lawyers are not speaking out against it, despite the negative effect it will have on the economy because they will be part of the contract.

“A politician friend told me how much is stashed in a Ghana-must-go. So, with the new N5000, it will make looting easier.”

Dakas decried the practice of stealing and stashing in foreign countries, noting that if such money was to be invested in Nigeria, the country would be the better for it.

He added that lawyers need to examine themselves because they take bribes to judges.

Disrespect for anthem, flag is an offence against the state, says Anyim

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HE Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Anyim Pius Anyim has asked all Ministries, Departments and Agencies to respect the nation’s anthem and stop using tattered national flags and Coat of Arms.

He also asked all the MDAs and their staff members to honour the country when the national anthem is being played.

Anyim, who gave the warning in a circular, which was obtained exclusively by our

•SGF warns ministries, departments, agencies From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

correspondent last night, said disrespect for national symbols is an offence against the state.

The circular said: “It has been observed that some Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as public officials are not according the deserved respect to Nigerian National Symbols (Flag, Coat of Arms, National Anthem and the Pledge).

“It has therefore become necessary to re-emphasise that it is a civic responsibility of all citizens to show respect to all such National Symbols.

“All MDAs are accordingly reminded that the National Symbols are signal of Authority and Instruments of State that should be respected as acts of patriotism and national duty.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Section 5 of the Flag and Coat of Arms Ordinance

No. 48 of 1960 stipulates that “any person who flies or exhibits the National Flag in a defaced or bad condition shall be guilty of an offence against this Ordinance”.

“Similarly, Chapter 2, Section 24 (a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, enjoins all Nigerians to “respect the National Flag, the National Anthem and the National Pledge.

“The purpose of this Circu-

lar is, therefore to request all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to henceforth ensure that respect for the National Symbols are sustained and enhanced and to guard against inappropriate (a)Flying tattered/faded/defaced National Flags; (b) Hoisting and flying smaller sized National Flag along with bigger corporate flags; (c )Using the National Flag for trade adverts; (d) Hoisting and flying National Flag at the same height with non-National Flags; (e) Burying a deceased person with the

National Flag except when duly entitled; (f) Inappropriate positioning of the Coat of Arms in offices; and (g) Lack of respect when the National Anthem is being played at officials functions “All MDAs are further reminded that the National Orientation Agency (NOA) has enough standard National Flags modern fibre glass poles with accessories Coatof-Arms and National Anthem to meet their demand.

You are therefore, free to contact the agency.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012

6

NEWS ONDO 2012

ACN to Jega: name those behind illegal voter registration in Ondo

Mimiko wasted resources for four years, says PDP chief PEOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain and National Chairman of Concerned Ondo for Change, Mr. Lijoka Ayodele, yesterday criticised Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko for taking the state backwards in the last four years.

In a statement in Akure, the state capital, the politician noted that there was nothing to justify the image laundering by the governor.

He said: “What is the legacy of Mimiko? The legacy that Chief Olusegun Agagu left behind in Ondo State and those of past administrations are still what the people of Ondo State are enjoying till date.”

The PDP stalwart said Mimiko failed to add to the roads constructed by his predecessor, adding: “Chief Agagu constructed hundreds of kilometres of bridges and roads that connect the bridges and coastal areas.”

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‘Better days ahead for students’ From Damisi Ojo, Akure

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NDO State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship candidate Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) yesterday promised a better life for students in tertiary institutions.

He promised that if elected governor in the October 20 election, students’ bursary would go up.

The frontline lawyer said he would not limit the bursary to students with the 2.1 cumulative scores (CGPA) but to all indigenous students.

Akeredolu promised to create a students’ union government (SUG), which will not be interfered with by the government and give scholarship to students whose parents have no financial strength.

The legal luminary addressed a group of students, under the aegis of New Generation Congress of Ondo State, during his tour of Owo Local Government Area.

‘ACN candidate is best material’ From Damisi Ojo, Akure

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CHIEFTAIN of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the United Kingdom (UK), Mr. Bolaji Odidi, has said the party’s governorship candidate in Ondo State, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), is the best candidate to rule the state from February next year.

Odidi, who is the chairman of Ilaje Descendants Union in the Diaspora (IDUD), addressed reporters in Akure, the state capital.

He said Akeredolu’s antecedents put him in a vantage position to take Ondo State to a higher level.

The politician said Ondo State residents, particularly Mahin indigenes, would vote massively for Akeredolu, adding that Ilaje has the largest electorate in Ondo South Senatorial District.

Akeredolu, PDP urge INEC to name culpable party

T •Prof Jega

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HE Ondo State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday urged the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, to name those involved in illegal voter registration in the state.

At a strategic retreat in Lagos on Monday to prepare the commission’s officials for the 2015 general election, the INEC chairman urged security agencies to arrest and prosecute those behind the act.

He noted that even if the culprits were not caught, they would not be able to breach the commission’s data base.

In a statement in Akure, the state capital, by ACN Publicity Secretary, Mr Rotimi Agbede, the INEC chairman was asked to unmask those behind the illegal voter registration in

HE Akeredolu Campaign Organisation (ACO) of the ACN and the Ondo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have urged the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) to name those behind the illegal voter registration.

In a statement by its spokesman, Mr Idowu Ajanaku, ACO hailed INEC chair Prof Attahiru Jega for raising the alarm on the matter.

It said: “We want him to go a step further by naming the party or parties involved in the illegal exercise.

“For us in ACO, we want to state the fact that all the political parties, including ACN, have the official registration of voters in Ondo State as given out earlier by INEC. “Anything outside this official one will not be accepted by ACN for the election in Ondo State, especially now that the INEC Chairman has confirmed that the commission is not involved in any form of registration going in Ondo State.

“We also call on security agents to heed the call of the INEC chairman by arresting and prosecuting the individuals involved in this crimiFrom Damisi Ojo, Akure

the public interest.

ACN said: “For the umpteenth time, the INEC has raised the alarm about the illegal voter registration going

nal act across Ondo State.”

In a statement by its Director of Publicity, Mr Ayo Fadaka, the Ondo PDP said: “This statement confirms our strident claim that a political party in this state actually embarked on the prosecution of an illegal registration with a view to smuggling the data collected into the INEC voter registration.

“This action is being undertaken because in the fraudulent minds of the perpetrators of this crime, it will give them an advantage over other parties in the forthcoming election.

“We recall that we had alerted the nation to an illegal registration being conducted in the (Ondo State) Government House and a few headquarters of some agencies of government.

“The manner of the prosecution of this action was shrouded in utmost secrecy, which underscore the fact that it was designed to achieve some despicable purpose.”

The party urged Prof Jega to name the culprits. It also urged the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and the Director of State Security Service (SSS) to arrest the brains behind the illegality.

on in the state, but kept silent on the identities of the perpetrators of this dastardly act.

“It is worrisome that the electoral commission, despite the avalanche of facts pointing towards a particular direction,

chose to shield these criminals from public glare but glossed over this sensitive issue that is capable of compromising the sanctity of the October 20 election.

“The party wants to say that

promises of free and fair election by INEC are not enough to guarantee the credibility of the election. We advise Prof Jega not to trust only in the ability of the commission or underestimate the capacity of those trying to undermine the integrity of the electoral agency as there is a possibility of having ‘Judases’ within (INEC), who are willing tools in the hands of fraudsters parading themselves as leaders in the state.

“It is a known fact that these people who are hell bent on continuing with their legacy of wasteful spending can go to any length to compromise free and fair election in the state.

The statement implored INEC and the security agencies to be alive to their responsibilities and be vigilant as the October 20 election approaches.

It urged them to heed the calls of the citizenry and investigate various biometric data being collated by the ruling Labour Party (LP) government in the state.

The party urged the people to report any suspicious practice in their neighbourhood to security agents.

•Mr Akeredolu (SAN), with Mr Dayo Apata, addressing supporters at Eyin Ogbe Ward 2 rally in Owo, Ondo State... yesterday.

Home boy Akeredolu gets rousing reception in Owo

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CORES of supporters of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Ehinogbe Ward 1, Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State yesterday gave the party’s governorship candidate, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), a heroic welcome.

The supporters, who are mainly indigenes of the town, trooped out to receive Akeredolu.

Local drummers made the event colourful with their

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

performance.

The ward donated a bus for Akeredolu’s campaign.

A party chieftain in the area, Mr. Tunde Oladuga, donated N100,000 for the success of the campaign.

In a letter to the party, which was read by the Director-General of the Akeredolu Campaign Organisation (ACO), Chief Tayo Alasoadura, the donor said he gave the

money to employ available resources to unseat the incumbent Labour Party (LP) administration.

Scores of LP members, led

by Femi Adejimola, defected to ACN at Isaipe Ward 1.

The defectors said they wanted to moved with the train of progress from Owo. Akeredolu assured the people that Owo would witness tremendous development, if he becomes governor.

He hailed the people for their massive turnout.

The frontline lawyer said his mandate would be the people’s mandate and that there is need for the residents to support him in the struggle to liberate the state from what he called underdevelopment.

The ACN candidate reminded them that an Owo man, the late Pa Adekunle Ajasin, built the Alagbaka Government House.

According to him, it is time for another Owo man to be at the helm of affairs.

The former President of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) promised the widows and the aged regular feeding allowance.

He said the ongoing road construction by the LP government, which has worsened travelling experience, would be completed by his administration, when it gets to power next year.

ACN candidate emerged through due process, says party spokesman

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HE National Publicity Secretary of the Action Congress of Nigeria {ACN}, Alhaji Lai Muhammed yesterday dismissed allegations that the party lacked internal democracy.

Rather, he said ACN should be credited as the most disciplined party in Nigeria.

Muhammed addressed reporters in Ibadan, the Oyo State

From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

capital, at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre.

The party’s spokesman was reacting to questions on the alleged controversial emergence of Ondo State governorship candidate, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN).

According to him, the of-

fence of his party in the eyes of its critics was the insistence of the leadership of the party for discipline and ethical standard.

Muhammed said: “So many issues have been raised that our party does not have internal democracy. I want to say with all emphasis that we have the highest respect for internal democracy, but we

follow strictly the provisions of the party’s constitution on the choice of the party’s candidates.

“When the issue of Ondo State governorship candidate was to be discussed, all the 44 aspirants, as of then, were invited; all of them conceded that it was the turn of the northern senatorial axis of the state to produce the next governor.

“We fixed another meeting, which involved only the aspirants from the northern senatorial axis. Again, after deliberating on the appropriate axis to produce the next governor between Owo and Ikare, the aspirants agreed on Owo. That’s what led to the choice of Akeredolu. He was never imposed by the party leaders.”

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012

NEWS ‘Fed Govt should stop awarding oil wells’ From Bukola Amusan Abuja

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NVIRONMENTAL Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN has urged the Federal Government to stop awarding oil wells.

The group said the powers of the President to award petroleum leases should not be condoned by the Petroleum Industry Bill.

Speaking at a one-day Consultation and Expert Review of the Bill in Abuja, the Executive Director of ERA/FoEN, Nnimmo Bassey, described the petroleum resources sector as polluted.

Bassey said acts that are socially and environmentally irredeemable ought to be shut down for the sake of present and future generations, irrespective of how lucrative they may be.

He said oil spills and gas flares should be dealt with as environmental security matters, adding that there must be a clear legal framework to regulate and control exploration activities, punish violators and restore the environment.

The Executive Director noted that the provisions on gas flaring leave a lot to be desired, adding that gas flaring is already illegal in Nigeria since 1984. As such the PIB should not legalise illegality, he said.

Bassey said the punishment for gas flaring should not be limited to fines but should have weightier consequences, considering its criminal nature.

Police grill council chiefs over Deeper Life killings

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OR about eight hours yesterday, a special team of the Force Criminal Investigation Department grilled the chairmen of Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State, Mr. Salihu Ogembe, and his counterpart in Okehi, Mr. Hassan Yusuf, over the killing of 17 members of the Deeper Life Bible Church.

The two chairmen maintained that the killings were political because they resisted continuous looting of the treasury of the local councils.

They were asked to return today to shed more light on how some politicians have built militia to terrorise the two local governments.

The Nation learnt that the two chairmen, who arrived at the FCID at about 10am, were not released until about 6pm.

A source said: “They told

From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

us that the killing of the 17 members of the Deeper Life Bible Church was done to create a kind of high level of insecurity in the two local governments.

“They said those behind the murders were politicians who are no longer having access to local government funds.

“They alleged that when some of the suspects were in charge of the two local governments, they placed thugs, members of their private militia and political thugs on the payroll of the local governments. They inflated the staff nominal roll and brought in many ghost workers.

“They alleged that some of the thugs earned as much as N500,000 in a month. A musician singing praise of some

‘

They told us that the killing of the 17 members of the Deeper Life Bible Church was done to create a kind of high level of insecurity in the two local governments

’

of the suspects was allegedly earning N300,000.

Another source said: “The chairmen said as soon as they started blocking revenue loopholes and stopped payment of ghost workers, they began to cause mayhem in the two local government

areas.

“They incited all these thugs and militia men against the new leadership in Okene and Okehi local government areas.”

The source added: “When we repeatedly asked them, they insisted ‘the killings were political, not by Boko Haram. They knew why they did it. No more free money for them to stockpile arms to intimidate our people. They wanted to make Okene, Okehi ungovernable.” A third source said: “These two chairmen really have no case to answer as at Monday when they briefed us. We are still leaving our investigation open. They need to tell us what measures they took, having got enough information on these private militia.

“But, they will appear before the panel where they will face the three key suspects(three major sus-

Respect your President, Azaiki tells Nigerians

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FORMER Secretary to Bayelsa State Government Prof.

Steve Azaiki has urged Nigerians to always respect their president.

In a statement in Port Harcourt yesterday, Azaiki said: “By doing this, we are not only respecting the persons of Mr. President but also holding the sacred office of the President in dignity and respect.”

According to Azaiki, who is the National Coordinator of the National Think-Tank, a policy advocacy group geared towards enthroning good governance and service delivery in Nigeria, “recent insinuations and vituperation of some notable Nigerians against Mr. President have gone beyond mere politicking”.

He said: “Politics should be played with decency and candour, and should not be seen as an opportunity to spread lies, falsehoods and fabrications of all sorts against such a highly placed institution like the Presidency and the occupant of that enviable position.”

Azaiki said certain comments in the media, especially in the social media in recent times, to the effect that President Goodluck Jonathan loves alcohol, is a calculated attempt to drag the President and his office to disrepute and public odium.”

•Prof. Emeritus Tekena Tamuno (middle) in a handshake with Mr Victor Famuyibo, the guest speaker at the memorial lecture in honour of the late Owaloko of Iloko Ijesha, Oba Oladele Olashore in Ibadan...yesterday. With them is Chairman of Sigma Foundation, Prof. Tola Atinmo PHOTO: NAN

Drastic measures needed to tackle corruption, says EFCC chair

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CONOMIC and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman Ibrahim Lamorde yesterday said “drastic measures” are needed to tackle corruption in Nigeria.

He said corruption has “eaten deep” into the society’s fabric.

In his view, existing laws are adequate to deal with graft; all that is needed is effective enforcement.

Lamorde was a guest at a forum organised by the Section on Legal Practice (SLP) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) at its Annual General Conference in Abuja.

It had the theme: “Investor Confidence: The role of Effective Administration of AntiCorruption Legislation.”

The EFCC chairman believes new anti-graft laws are not needed; existing ones may only be reviewed to strengthen them, he said.

His words: “Everybody agrees that the existing legislation is adequate. There may be one or two amendments needed.

“But if the existing legislations are effectively enforced,

From Joseph Jibueze, Abuja

we will be able to address issues of corruption.”

According to him, lawyers have a role to play in the fight against official sleaze. He said: “The successes we have recorded in EFCC so far is because of the collaboration we have had with the NBA. “We are in agreement that corruption has eaten deep into the fabric of Nigerian nation and there’s need for drastic measures to address it.

“So, going forward, you’re going to see a more efficient prosecution of cases.”

Larmorde said sometimes state executives and other government officials “dip their hands into the treasury” to pay lawyers with state funds.

He added that because of the large sums involved in such fees, lawyers defend such corruption cases, at times using every means to frustrate trial.

The way out, he suggested, is for the Bar to come up with a regulation on payment of legal fees that will not aid the obstruction of justice in any

•Lamorde

form.

Larmorde also called for more reform of the criminal justice system, as well as adequate funding of anti-corruption agencies.

A former Director of Academics, Nigerian Law School, Mr Kevin Nwosu, who spoke on “Attainment of fast track justice in trials,” said there is no reason why Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) could not be

adopted in resolving certain criminal cases to ensure speedier justice delivery.

“Let me say with all certainty that the use of ADR in resolution of criminal cases is workable, if only we understand what ADR is, how it works and why it works.

ADR is more than what lawyers refer to it as. It’s a set of tools for problem solving, including criminal cases.

“ADR can be used to avert a crime and prevent selfhelp, which can result to criminal assault or murder.

So, if we mainstream ADR fully, we reduce the crime load. The potentials are high.”

To Nwosu, specific laws on use of ADR in criminal justice administration are not necessary.

“ADR tools are practices that are based on existing laws. So, we get it wrong when we look for new laws on ADR in criminal cases.

You don’t need that.

“The powers, privileges and discretions in our criminal justice system can be mainstreamed in ADR,” Nwosu said.

pects-Yahaya Karaku (exOkene Local Government chairman), Abubakar Zuberu (ex-Okehi LGA chairman) and Momoh Jimoh) in custody. These suspects will be opportune to listen to issues raised by the serving chairmen and the truth or otherwise of some of the facts.

“We want to be as fair as possible to all the parties.”

Panic in Ekiti as police arrest indiscriminately Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

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OLICE officers are indiscriminately arresting residents of AdoEkiti,the Ekiti State capital,it was alleged yesterday.

Victims of such alleged arrests who spoke with reporters on strict condition of anonymity bemoaned their fate, which they said “struck them as worrisome”.

One of them, an undergraduate in one of the institutions in Ado-Ekiti, recounted how he paid for his freedom after spending almost a day behind the counter at a police station.

According to him, he was not told the nature of his arrest.

The youths disclosed that the occurence had become so rampant that their umbrella body would have staged a protest, but for the ban on union activities by the state government.

It was learnt that the students, who ride in their parents’ cars in the metropolis are the worst hit.

“They are often arrested on trumped up excuses of being a robbery suspect, and made to part with sums ranging between N3,000 and N5,000 before being released the next day”, a source alleged.

The source listed relaxation centres, restaurants and cyber cafes on Adebayo Road as spots where the police usually raid.

Recounted one of the victims: “When they stormed the cyber cafe where I was, they ordered us to stand up, and without listening to any of us, they marched us into their waiting van. They said we are doing yahoo operation when they never cared to see the content of what we were doing “As students, we suspect something. The Inspector General of Police (IGP) had ordered the dismantling of road blocks and these were avenues for the police to make money. So, we want to believe that this illegal operation is a way of making up for the lost ground and we will not tolerate it.”

Police spokemanVictor Babayemi Olu said the police were exploring suspected criminal hideouts and popular black spots in the capital city.

He said it was wrong to interprete the development as “indiscriminate arrest.”

Babayemi said: “We are not mopping young boys off the streets. As at now, there is an operation going on and that is operation raid all black spots and criminal hideouts within Ado Ekiti.

“The target is to drive away criminals out of Ekiti and not to victimise anybody.

“People should, however, pursue their lawful businesses without fears of any threat of possible arrest by the police.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012

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CITYBEATS

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

LASAA flays street signs’ destruction THE Managing Director, Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA), Mr. George Kayode Noah has expressed concern over what he calls the rising destruction of installed Street Directional Signs (SDS).

In a statement by the agency’s spokesman, Temitope Akande, Noah said: ‘‘We are facing serious challenges from vehicle owners and contractors who constantly damage these signs. As at the last count, our Agency has received request for repairs and replacements for over 240 street name signs, which had previously been installed in the state and this has extra financial implications for our Agency.’

“One of the issues regarding completion of the project include resistance from residents to street name change even when the local government has approved it.’’

Noah called on residents where the projects are sited to protect the signs as they have become theirs.

The agency said the street directional sign is its flagship project which began in 2008 to assist the public in finding their way around the city.

Man jailed for theft

By Tumininu Owolabi

A 29-year-old man, Bashiru Oshoke, was yesterday sentenced to three years imprisonment by an Ikeja Chief Magistrate’s Court for stealing the brain box of a Toyota Coaster bus valued at N120,000, belonging to Mr Polycarp Obot.

Chief Magistrate A.O. Isaac jailed Oshoke after finding him guilty.

The Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Barth Nwaokoye, told the court that Oshoke and others at large, on July 30, about 10.30 p.m. at Shasha, Lagos, conspired to steal.

Nwaokoye said they committed an offence punishable under Section 409 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011. Oshoke was arraigned on a three-count charge of theft and malicious damage of property.

The second count reads: “That you Bashiru Oshoke and others at large, on the same date, time and place stole a brain box valued at N 120, 000, property of Polycarp Obot and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 285 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.”

The third count reads: “That you Bashiru Oshoke did maliciously damage a coaster bus wires, property of Polycarp Obot and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 348 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.”

LAMATA’s Director loses dad PRINCE Adekoya Dairo, retired General Manager at the defunct Dunlop Nigeria Limited, former Chairman Enkay Plastics Ltd and first Vice-President of Ikeja Club, is dead.

Dairo, 85, passed away on August 17. He is survived by three children, Engr. Gbenga Dairo (Director Public Transport, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, LAMATA), Olufemi Dairo and Adesola DairoAdewumi.

The burial service will hold at House of Truth, Obanle Aro Crescent, Ilupeju on September 28, while entertainment of guests will take place the following day at De Prime Hall, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.

•A Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA), replacing a street sign at Mushin Bus Stop... yesterday

South African traces ‘kidnapped’ son to Lagos A

SOUTH AFRICAN woman, Mildred Mwansa, 32, has traced to Lagos, her four-year-old son, Fabian, who was allegedly forcibly taken away from her in 2009 by his father, Kingsley Yaba Iheukwumere.

The Lagos State Public Advisory Centre (PAC) has intervened in the matter to ensure that Mwansa regains custody of her child.

PAC public Relations Officer Alex Omorodion told The Nation yesterday that investigation is being delayed by the agency’s inability to obtain an order from the High Court, which is on recess.

“This is what we mean when we said we are accessible to everybody, especially people in dire need of legal advice and those who have been subjected to discrimination. All they need is to send us an email on pacadvisers@yahoo.com,” Omorodion said, promising that Mwansa will return to South Africa a happy woman.

Fabian, born in January 2008,

By Segun Balogun, Staff Reporter

was barely a year-old when he was taken away by his father, who is accused of kidnapping by the South African Police.

Mwansa said she had made several attempts at regaining custody of her son, all of which were taken as “opportunities to ridicule” her.

“I have tried and even got her mother’s phone number, but each time I called, they would just start laughing at me,” she said, while speaking with The Nation.

Iheukwumere’s mother is identified as Florence Nwaneri.

Mwansa said she met and dated Iheukwumere after he became a South African citizen, adding that they have two children, Fabian and a girl.

“After we had the girl, he (Kingsley) became abusive. I put

up for a while, but had to call it quits when he threatened to pour acid on me. It is so traumatising,” she said, adding: “My son was taken away from me when he was only a year old. It is also difficult for his younger sister because they are like twins. They were born the same year.”

Mwansa said she came to Lagos through the help of a Nigerian, Wola Bakare, who runs Woliboy Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) advocating women and children rights in Nigeria and South Africa.

She said: “Our investigation has revealed that Kingsley brought my son to Lagos to live with his mother. We discovered he got someone to pose as the boy’s mother in order to evade being questioned at the airport.”

Bakare, who accompanied her to Nigeria, said what Iheukwumere

did “is against South African law, which he has promised to abide by. The law says a child cannot be taken away from his or her mother until he or she is 16.

“In South Africa, women are allowed to serve jail terms with their children. That is how important the country regards mother-child relationship.”

Mwansa said she later discovered that Kingsley is married and has six children. “He already has six children. Why does he want to keep my son in Nigeria?” she asked. “I want my son. He is a South African and I can take care of him because I am not suffering as he expected. His sister is doing well in a private school.”

Though the case has been reported at the Interpol and has been assigned to Lt-Colonel Caroline Lebelo, Mwansa said she does not want to “fight with Kingsley or even get him arrested. I just want my son.”

Cynthia: Controversy over name used to book hotel

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NDER which name was the late Cynthia Osokogu registered in Casmila Suites and Hotels where her body was found by the police last month?

This puzzle remained unresolved yesterday as the hotel officials declined to release the name.

The front desk and the Business Development Manager, Victor Ugokwe said they were in no position to give such information.

The Nation investigation showed that the hotel, which is located at Lakeview Estate Phase 1, AmuwoOdofin, Lagos, may not have taken the information before giving out the room.A source said there were some administrative lapses on the day the room was booked. He said the front desk which attended to the occupants of Room C1 where Cynthia’s body was found on July

T

By Precious Igbonwelundu

22, did not record the guest’s details.

It was learnt that those who worked at the front desk that day had been fired.

Attempts by The Nation to confirm the name under which the occupant of the room was registered failed as those at the front desk and the management refused to speak.

While the two women at the reception said it was the duty of Ugokwe, to give such information, Ugokwe told our reporter that it was the responsibility of the front desk officers.

When asked if he could speak to his subordinates to provide the name, Ugokwe told our reporter on telephone that he would do no

such thing.

He said: “You have been told that I am not around. Even if I was around, I cannot tell you whose name was registered because I am not a front desk person, it is their job. Besides, the director of the hotel is out of the country and he is the only one who can give you the information you require or you go to the police station.”

Ugokwe added: ”I am not around.

I cannot talk about it. Please go.”

Police spokesperson Mrs. Ngozi Braide said the suspects lodged in the hotel with fictitious names.

When the police paraded Nwabufor Echezona, 33, and Ezike Ilechukwu Olisaeloka, 23, on August 22 over Cynthia’s death, they said she was found without an identification.

Police Commissioner Umar

Manko said the suspects were trailed and arrested following a telephone call to a receptionist at the hotel to “go and take the bastard out of the room.”

He said: “We had to track the call to that number and this took us to Anambra State as well as Cotonou in trail of the suspects.

“There was no identification on the corpse and so it was a long investigation because we had to through the yellow card and with the help of immigration, identify the victim as Cynthia Osokogu.”

“We did not intend to speak on the issue now because the investigation was still going on because I think there is more to uncover, but because of media speculations, we had to break the silence and invite the press.”

Lagos disburses N1.4b bursary to students

HE Lagos State Government has given about N1.4 billion as bursary to 38,982 of its indigenes in tertiary institutions in the last four years, Deputy Governor Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire said yesterday.

Mrs. Orelope-Adefulirewhile presenting Automated Teller Machine (ATM) verve cards to 2010/2011 batch of beneficiaries, said the paid bursary covered tuition fees of those in Lagos State University (LASU), Law School and the School of Maritime

By Miriam Ndikanwu

Academy.

Mrs Orelope-Adefulire, represented at the event by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Establishment and Training, Mrs Folashade Jaji, urged the beneficiaries to use the money well and be good ambassadors of their families and the state.

She said: “Without any fear of being immodest, today’s event presents another opportunity for us to demonstrate once again, our resolve to continue to run a better

functional and qualitative education in the state. It is a big statement on our avowed commitment to our youth and a reassurance that their education remains one of the top priorities that cannot be negotiated.”

Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Mr Fatai Olukoga, said N168, 828,718.13 million would be disbursed to 3,013 beneficiaries for the 2010/2011 academic year.

He said the beneficiaries took part in the interviews conducted

in all the five administrative divisions of the state and other zones outside Lagos, which include Ilorin, Benin, Zaria, Akure, Port-Harcourt and Yola.

He listed some of the challenges of the board as insufficient funds to cater for subsequent payment of various categories of bursary and scholarship awards and office accommodation problem.

He said: “The board will appreciate provision of conducive office and an urgent review of our budgetary allocation to cater for outstanding payments.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012

NEWS ‘Opponents of state police are people’s enemies’

Governor advocates community-based education

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KITI State Governor Kayode Fayemi has advocated the adoption of ethical codes espoused in a book, Omoluwabi, written by Adewale Ajadi.

The governor noted that the codes would aid the social, cultural, political and business re-engineering in Nigeria and assist the Federal Government to actualise its transformational agenda.

Fayemi spoke in Lagos at the public presentation of the book.

At the event was Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, who was represented by the Commissioner for Religious Integration and Special Duties, S. A. Bashiru, as well as renowned poet, Odia Ofeimum, among others.

The governor spoke on the declining standard of education in the country, saying this could be traced to the absence of community ownership of schools.

He said Ekiti State is trying to improve the physical and human resource in the school system.

Fayemi urged communities to show interest in how their wards are educated.

He said: “A good education system does not imply government-owned or privately-owned schools system but community-based schools ownership.”

Responding to observations by some speakers at the event, the governor noted that governments at all levels have failed to sustain infrastructural needs of the nation to engender quality learning in public schools.

•Dr. Fayemi (right); his wife, Erelu Bisi and author, Mr. Ajadi at the presentation of the book in Lagos

Fayemi: I’ll fulfill my promises to Ekiti

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KITI State Governor Kayode Fayemi yesterday said his administration is focused on transforming the state for the better.

The governor said the age of empty promises by politicians to the people without proof has ended in the state.

He said his administration would invest in the people and “walk its talk”.

Dr Fayemi, represented by his deputy, Mrs. Funmilayo Olayinka, spoke during this year’s Udiroko Festival at the palace of Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe, Aladesanmi III. The governor urged the

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

monarch to sustain his support for the administration, saying the government is committed to transforming Ado-Ekiti into a “real state capital”.

He said: “We are focussed on delivering promises made during our electioneering campaigns. Ours is not a government that talks alone. We also walk the talk.”

Oba Adejugbe described Fayemi as “pragmatic, committed and purposeful”.

The monarch praised the

governor for the ongoing “massive urban renewal and road construction in Ado-Ekiti”.

He said there is need for indigenes to prioritise farming, which he described as their traditional occupation.

Oba Adejugbe noted that it is expedient for the residents to return to farming to produce food crops, especially cassava, to feed the increasing population.

The monarch said sufficient fund has been pooled for work to begin on the large amphitheatre at the palace,

adding that it was halted for lack of requisite fund.

He appealed for more support to quicken its completion.

The celebration of Udiroko Day, a traditional festival, which marks the town’s New Year day, began in Ado-Ekiti yesterday.

It attracted many indigenes from across the world.

Dignitaries at the ceremony included Senator Babafemi Ojudu, who represents Ekiti Central at the National Assembly; Ekiti State House of Assembly Speaker Adewale Omlirin; and Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Yemi Adaramodu.

10 die in Ogun auto crash

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EN passengers yesterday died when a commercial bus in which they were travelling, with registration number (Lagos) CZ269MUS, collided with an articulated vehicle near Obada-Oko on the Abeokuta-Lagos Expressway.

FromErnest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

The Itori Unit Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Ogun State, Mr Fatai Bakare, told reporters that the accident occurred about noon.

He said the articulated ve-

hicle was driving against traffic on its way to Lagos when the bus to Abeokuta collided with it at Obada-Oko, Adigbe Junction of Abeokuta.

Bakare said: “All the deceased have been deposited at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta, and

Ifo General Hospital. The only survivor is critically injured and receiving treatment at FMC. “Again, we have to say that it is very important for motorists to keep to their lane while on the highway, to forestall future recurrence.”

Oyo, Osun appoint Tinubu LAUTECH expert, accountant and adminYO and Osun States’ Chancellor istrator, followed an extensive Governors Abiola deliberation between the govAjimobi and Rauf

N2b for pension allowance in Oyo

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HE Oyo State Government has released N2,038,486,820.43 for the payment of monthly allowance for its retirees from January to July.

In a statement in Ibadan, the state capital, Commissioner for Finance Mr. Zacheaus Adelabu said N1,168,635,963.44 had been paid as 142 per cent pension arrears covering September 2011 to July 2012.

Adelabu explained that the 142 per cent pension arrears had been paid to more than two-thirds of the retirees till 1994, adding that the screening of pensioners who retired between 1995 and 1998 would begin on September 1, preparatory to their payment.

The commissioner said the prompt release and payment of monthly pension allowance to pensioners is another evidence of the Abiola Ajimobi administration’s commitment to the welfare of the senior citizens.

He said: “With this, the present administration has set a record that is unequalled with any past administration in Oyo State. This is a testimony of Senator Abiola Ajimobi’s fulfillment of his electioneering promises.”

Adelabu called for the continued support and cooperation of the pensioners with the government.

•Ekiti community celebrates Udiroko Day

•Asiwaju Tinubu

Aregbesola have appointed former Lagos State Governor and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the Chancellor of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomosho, Oyo State.

A statement in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, by the Spe-

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

cial Adviser to Oyo State Governor on Media, Dr Festus Adedayo, confirmed the appointment.

LAUTECH, a university jointly owned by the two state governments, was established by the old Oyo State in 1988.

The statement said the choice of Tinubu, a financial

ernments of the two ownerstates.

Tinubu is expected to bring his administrative ingenuity and vast experience in public management to bear on the running of the institution and reposition it to meet the standard of its peers all over the world.

Aregbesola advocates return of extra curricula in schools

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SUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola yesterday called for the return of extra-curricula activities to primary and secondary schools in Nigeria.

He noted that doing this would prepare pupils for the future.

The governor spoke at the launch of Osun Schools Calisthenics Programme in Osogbo, the state capital.

Aregbesola also called for

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From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

the return of voluntary organisations to secondary schools to encourage and arouse the interest of youngsters in sports. The governor expressed the readiness of his administration to build a new generation of youths, saying he has put his detractors to shame with many quality programmes.

He said the opposition

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) condemned the calisthenics when he introduced the programme.

Aregbesola said there is need for the re-introduction of voluntary organisations, such as the Boys Scout and Boys Brigade, in the secondary schools.

The governor said they would help youths to discover their potential.

He noted that many talents imbedded in young people rot

away because of lack of selfdiscovery.

Saying the programme was aimed at restructuring the education system in the state, he maintained that the state, through the Calisthenics which he described as a revival of similar programme executed by late Chief Bola Ige when he was governor of the old Oyo State, would set the pace for other states in the country and Africa.

UI pays tributes to Iloko monarch Olashore

HE University of Ibadan (UI), Oyo State, yesterday rolled out the drums to celebrate the life and times of the late monarch of Iloko-Ijesa, Osun State, the Owaloko of Iloko-Ijesa, Oba Oladele Olashore.

The university organised a lecture entitled: The Nigerian Economy, Education and the Challenges of Job Creations: the

From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

Thoughts and Experience, to impact on the socio-economic development of the country which the late monarch championed.

A social club at the university, The Sigma Club, organised the sixth Sigma Public Lecture in memory of the late

Oba Olashore under the chairmanship of the Chancellor and Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of Lead City University, Ibadan, Prof Gabriel Ogunmola.

The lecture, which held at the Trenchard Hall of UI, was delivered by the Human Resource Director of the Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr Victor Famuyibo.

The resource person is an alumnus of the university.

UI Vice-Chancellor Prof Isaac Adewole, described the late Oba Olashore as a great philanthropist and a pillar of the university.

He said the choice of the theme of the lecture was carefully chosen in memory of the traditional ruler to appreciate his passion for the university.

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GROUP, the Apapo Oodua Koya (AOKOYA), yesterday said those opposed to state police are enemies of progressive change in Nigeria.

In a statement in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, the group said President Goodluck Jonathan is being misguided by self-serving politicians who are beneficiaries of the rot in the system.

It faulted the argument that governors would misuse state police.

The group noted that police commissioners and their men in some states were being misused by some governors, especially in states controlled by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

AOKOYA said it would be difficult for many governors to use policemen, who are indigenes of the states, against their own people.

It said corruption is at the bottom of the campaign against state police, adding that some people want to maintain the status quo to accumulate illegal wealth.

The statement said: “Misuse of police is not restricted to governors. The Federal Government, corporate organisations, powerful individuals also use the police to serve political and parochial ends. So, dealing with the misuse of police by the private, public citizens and the state governments needs its own peculiar solution.

“Some people oppose state police, but they have failed to give one example of a federal and plural society that operates a unitary police force.

Bishop, monarch hail police reform plan

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HE Bishop of the Diocese of Awori (Anglican Communion), Rev. Johnson Akin Atere, and the Olota of Ota, Ogun State, Oba Alani Oyede, have commended President Goodluck Jonathan for his reassuring commitment to the ongoing reorganisation of the Nigeria Police Force.

The bishop spoke during his visit to the new SangoOta Area Commander, Mr Kayode Titilayo, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) and the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of SangoOta Police Station, Mr. Muyideen Obe, a Chief Superintendant of Police (CSP).

Rev Atere noted that the ongoing reform in the police would make policemen to perform their duties creditably and encourage officers and men to tackle crimes and terrorism.

The cleric hoped that it would also ensure proper funding, motivation and improved working condition for policemen.

He said the reform would enhance the effectiveness of the Police Force.

Rev Atere urged the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Mohammed Abubakar, and his officers and men to tackle insecurity in the country.

The bishop hailed Titilayo and Obe for tackling armed robbery and communal clashes in Ota and its environs.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012

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NEWS

How to stop oil theft, by Army chief

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•Oyerinde

Oyerinde: AIG says SSS, police clash unfortunate From Osagie Otabor, Benin

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HE Assistant InspectorGeneral of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 5, Mr. Hashimu Argungu, yesterday described as “unfortunate”, the clash between the State Security Services (SSS) and the Police over suspects arrested in connection with the murder of Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde, the Private Secretary to Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

Argungu said every sector has its jurisdiction, but everyone wants “undue credit”.

He said the normal process was for arrested suspects to be handed over to the police for prosecution.

The AIG spoke when he visited the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

He said all security agencies work towards a common objective, but something went wrong in the investigation of Olaitan’s murder.

Argungu urged the media to help uncover what went wrong between the security agencies, adding that investigation into the murder was still on.

Fake Army officer held in Asaba From Osagie Otabor, Benin

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FAKE Army lieutenant has been arrested in Asaba, Delta State, by the 4 Brigade of the Nigerian Army.

Mr. Goodluck Furupagha was arrested while posing as an Army Recruitment Officer.

In a statement yesterday in Benin, the Edo State capital, spokesman of the 4 Brigade Captain Roseline Managbe said Furupagha was exposed when an officer pretended to be a prospective applicant.

Captain Managbe said Furupagha demanded N200,000 to help the officer get recruited into the Army, but eventually collected N100,000 from him.

She said the suspect confessed that he has duped several persons on the pretext of helping them get into the Army.

Recovered from him were eight copies of the Nigerian Army e-recruitment forms, passports and documents; two copies of the Nigerian Navy e-recruitment forms, passports and documents; six copies of the Nigerian Army Direct Short Service Commission on-line application forms, a pair of army camouflage uniform with the rank of a lieutenant; and two Nokia phones.

HE Commander of the 2 Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Bori Camp, Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, Brig.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, yesterday suggested ways to stop crude oil theft in the Niger Delta.

He said special courts should be established through legislation in the National Assembly.

Brig.-Gen. Buratai said bunkering and oil theft-relared offences should be declared unbailable.

He said when arrested oil thieves get bail and return to bunkering.

Brig.-Gen. Buratai spoke in Port Harcourt at the opening of a five-day training for 82 Division Officers and Senior Non-Commissioned Officers.

The theme of the training is: “Oil theft as a contemporary economic and security challenge: The role of stakeholders”.

The training, which was designed to broaden the knowledge of Nigerian Army personnel on emerging contemporary challenges, was opened by the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 82 Division, Maj.-Gen. O. O. Oshinowo, who was repre-

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

sented by Col. W. T. Akinola.

Brig.-Gen. Buratai, in his 31page paper, said the survival of any nation depends largely on the state of its economy. He said the economy would reflect how well a nation’s natural and man-made resources had been managed.

Brig.-Gen. Buratai said the fight against oil theft is hindered by inadequate funding, the Niger Delta terrain, poor intelligence, piracy and militancy.

He said: “It is obvious that oil theft is a complex and lucrative business, with high stakes and high-level involvement of people within and outside Nigeria. The criminals involved range from peasants to rich individuals and companies.

“It is certain that huge losses are incurred by the government and many Nigerians are concerned about the magnitude of the problem. The government has decided to tackle the problem, in view of the dangers it poses to national economy and security.

“The Joint Task Force (JTF) lacks the capability of real

‘It is obvious that oil theft is a complex and lucrative business, with high stakes and highlevel involvement of people within and outside Nigeria. The criminals involved range from peasants to rich individuals and companies’ time technical intelligence support on a sustainable basis and completely relies on human intelligence.

“It is highly expedient that the JTF be provided with real time intelligence capability, through the provision of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Unmanned Sur-

face Vehicles (USVs).

“The incidence of illegal oil activities is leading to small arms proliferations by some of the oil thieves, who have been alleged of exchanging crude oil for arms.

“Pirates and some ex-militants constitute part of the oil theft cartels, who exhibit the likeness of relapsing to militancy as a selfish defence of their illegal trade.

“Tackling the economic, social and political problems of the Niger Delta and zero tolerance of corruption will help to win the fight against illegal oil bunkering. Another measure will be to have an efficient judicial process to strengthen the prosecution of culprits.”

Brig.-Gen. Buratai said the Federal Government has a framework for developing the Niger Delta and urged the development agencies, including the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, oil companies, state and local governments and other development partners to give impetus to their programmes.

He said the judicial process for prosecuting oil thieves

Oshiomhole unfit to be governor, Airhiavbere tells tribunal From Osagie Otabor, Benin

•Oshiomhole

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HE candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the July 14 governorship election in Edo State, Major-General Charles Airhiavbere, has told the Governorship Elections Petitions Tribunal that the winner of the election, Gov-

ernor Adams Oshiomhole, was not fit to contest the election.

He alleged that Oshiomhole’s academic qualification does not meet the requirement of the Nigerian constitution.

Airhiavbere, in his response to the reply filed by Oshiomhole to his petition, said the primary school Oshiomhole claimed to have attended was not in existence as at the time Oshiomhole claimed to have attended it.

He said: “Oshiomhole was barred from enrolling into primary one in 1957, having not attained the minimum age of six years stipulated in the Western Region of Nigeria Gazette.

Delta Speaker mourns Igbrude

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ELTA State House of Assembly Speaker Victor Ochie has commiserated with the family of his predecessor, Chief Young Daniel Igbrude, who died on Monday in Asaba, the state capital.

Ochie said he was shocked

by Igbrude’s death.

In a statement, Ochie described the late Igbrude as “an outstanding lawmaker, a great politician and an elder statesman, who contributed positively to the development of the state through healthy debates in the hallowed chamber and passage of bills that im-

From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

pacted positively on the lives of the people of Delta State”.

He said Igbrude was a respected community leader, whose sense of humour was matchless.

Ochie prayed God to grant the ex-speaker’s family the fortitude to bear the loss.

He said: “On behalf of the entire staff and members of the House of Assembly, my thoughts and prayers are with the family at this time. May God grant them the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”

Man, 22, arraigned for rape From Polycarp Orosevwotu, Warri

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R. Wale Ganiu (22) was yesterday arraigned at the Warri Magistrate’s Court 11 in Delta State for allegedly raping a 19-year-old girl.

Ganiu and his friend, who is at large, allegedly threatened the victim with a gun and raped her at Ejemudaro Junction, Warri.

It was learnt that the victim recognised Ganiu when he came to buy something at her mother’s shop and notified the police.

Magistrate B. Edeh remanded Ganiu at the Warri Prisons.

The case was adjourned till September 28.

“Oshiomhole dropped out of the Secondary Modern School in the second year and did not complete the mandatory three years course at Blessed Secondary Modern

School, Jattu-Uzairue, which he claimed to have attended between 1963 and 1965.”

Airhiavbere alleged that the voter’s register used for the election was manipulated.

leaves much to be desired.

Brig.-Gen. Buratai said: “One of the disturbing aspects of many reports on oil theft in the Niger Delta is the open indictment of government officials, including security agencies, of complacency or outright collusion with oil thieves to sabotage the economy.

“Bribe-taking or soliciting is unacceptable and instances where security personnel refused to take incentives from oil thieves abound.

“One officer went as far as arranging the arrest of an oil thief, who offered him $30,000 bribe. This indicates that some officers are not tainted by the corruption in the Niger Delta.

“The government can complement JTF’s action by ensuring that its development projects in the Niger Delta are promptly completed. Host communities will need to be more patriotic to expose illegal oil bunkerers in their communities.”

Brig.-Gen. Buratai urged oil companies to install remote sensors on the pipelines, in addition to other measures, to detect oil leaks and alert security outfits.

The GOC said despite the demise of militancy as a result of the presidential amnesty programme, oil theft and pipeline vandalisation have continued in the Niger Delta.

He said oil theft has farreaching negative social, economic and security implications on the country and there is need for a synergy between stakeholders to curb the menace.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012

NEWS

DPR warns filling stations to renew licences or risk ban

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WNERS of filling sta tions in Oyo and Osun states who fail to renew their operating licences after October will be prevented from lifting petroluem products from the Apata depot of the Nigerian National Petroluem

From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

Corporation (NNPC), the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Oyo/Osun zone has warned.

It gave the warning yesterday at its yearly marketers forum at the Kakanfo Inn,

Ibadan.

The Controller of the zone, Mrs. Folashade Odunuga, said the DPR received 229 applications for renewal of storage and sales licences from January till date.

She said failure to validate an operating licence would at-

tract a ban.

“During the year, we received 229 applications for renewal of operating licences while only 201 were successful. This, in our opinion, is a wide variance with the number of licenced stations that we have.

“With effect from October 1, 2012, filling stations without current licence or receipts will not be allowed to lift products at the depot,” she warned.

Odunuga explained that the taking over of a petrol station, rebranding and operating without approval were il-

legal.

“All take-over stations branded and operating without approval will be treated as illegal petrol stations. The use of old licences of petrol stations already taken over for lifting is illegal and will be treated as such,” she said.

Export Expansion Grant not under threat, says Aganga

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HE Export Expansion Grant (EEG) is not under threat of being stopped by the Federal Government, the Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr Olusegun Aganga, has said.

The minister said the Federal Government was committed to strengthening the processes and procedures involved in the implementation of the EEG in order to make it more beneficial to exporters as well as government.

The minister, spoke during atwo day facility visit and assess-

ment of industries in Kano. He was accompanied by the National President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Chief Kola Jamodu; National President, Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists, Chief Chuku Wachuku; heads of parastatals under the Ministry of Trade and Investment; top officials of the Kano State Government and key stakeholders in the manufacturing sector.

The Export Expansion Grant is an initiative of the Federal Govern-

ment, aimed at encouraging exporters of non-oil products, including agro-commodities as part of efforts to cushion the effects of infrastructural deficiencies, reduce overall unit cost of production and increase the competitiveness of Nigerian products in the international market.

The grant usually ranges from 10 per cent to 30 per cent of the Freight On Board value of the products being exported and confirmation that the export proceeds have been repatriated.

Aganga, according to a statement, noted that the Ministry of Trade and Investment was putting structures in place to ensure that the EEG was insulated from being abused in the future.

He said: “The EEG is not under any threat. The Federal Government has no intention of terminating the EEG. Instead, what we are trying to do is to strengthen the processes and procedures involved in the implementation of the EEG to ensure that it becomes most beneficial to both the exporters and the

government.

“We are putting structures in place to make sure that the EEG is not abused in the future.”

The Minister disclosed that as part of its Industrial Revolution Plan, the Ministry of Trade and Investment would partner the Kano State Government on boosting capacity utilisation of industries in Kano State, especially in the textile, leather, agri-business and food processing sectors where the state had comparative and competitive advantage.

‘Don’t invest pension funds in infrastructure’

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HE Federal Govern ment should not in vest the N2.6trillion of the contributory pension fund on infrastructural development, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) warned yesterday.

Speaking at an event organised by the National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGWN) and Trust Fund Pension Plc in Kaduna, NLC Vice-President Comrade Isah Aremu noted that the fund is not national savings.

Aremu, who expressed fears that the fund would not be properly managed if the government borrows it for any project, described the fund as a saving grace or savings for life after active service.

His words: “I hope that this N2.6trillion that we have, we must make a point to our government that it is strictly for pension.They shouldn’t use this money to be do-

From John Ofikhenua, Kaduna

ing kari kari: whether it is stock market or the government borrowing it for infrastructure development; that we are not sure of how the money will be managed. This is not national savings.

“This is savings of the workers, the life after work. I think it is important for us to emphasise that at this gathering.”

He urged the National Pension Commission to take over the management of any Pension Fund Administration (PFA) that is still typified by corruption to ensure that the workers’ fund is safe.”

Aremu noted that despite that he had his reservation for ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo administration, he accords him respect for the enactment of the Pension Reform Act of 2004, which I brought the new pension scheme into existence.

Regulate telemarketing, commission boss urges

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HE Director-General, National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Mr Peter Igho, yesterday called for a law that will criminalise “unsolicited” advertisements sent through the telecoms system.

Igho spoke in Abuja at the Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) during a session organised by NBA Section on Business Law. It had the theme: ICT and Financial services in Nigeria: Legal and regulatory challenges for identifying, authenticating and securing consumers on financial networks.

He said lottery should be placed on the mass media for interested persons to

From Joseph Jibueze, Abuja

participate voluntarily, warning its operators to desist from “intrusive”marketing.

According to him, apart from the fact it has been associated with various scams and frauds, telemarketing calls or text messages can be annoying, especially when they occur during dinner hours, early in the morning, or late in the evening or night.

Igho said legislations, which subject telemarketing to regulatory and legislative controls related to consumer privacy and protection are “unfortunately yet to be enacted in Nigeria.”

WAPCo shuts pipeline

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HE West African Gas Pipeline Company (WAPCo), operator of the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP) system, yesterday shut the pipeline after experiencing a loss of pressure in Lome.

As a result, WAPCo has

stopped gas deliveries to its onshore stations and is working with government agencies and other relevant organisations to investigate the cause of loss of pressure and to ensure safety while rectifying the situation.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012

TRAINING

Lifeline for Niger Delta youths Rivers

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POLICY

MAKEOVER

‘Job creation is my priority’

Ajimobi beautifies Ibadan

Kogi

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012

16

Oyo

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Page 15

Email: news_extra@yahoo.com

Health boost in Osun R

ESIDENTS of Osun State are enjoying robust health, thanks to a carefully thought-out programme of the Rauf Aregbesola administration. Drugs are available at the hospitals, provided free by the government.

Medical workers are constantly retrained in the state or in health institutions in West African countries or overseas. This has profoundly enhanced their operations and service delivery.

Laboratories, dental departments and theatres are equipped for optimum output.

“We are blessed in Osun,” said the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. (Mrs) Temitope Ilori, adding that Ogbeni Aregbesola has, among other things, also resolved the salary and welfare issues of the state medical workers, a development that has inspired the workers.

There are other coordinated activities that have helped to lift the people’s health. For instance, apart from the regular checks to detect and treat such ailments as hypertension, diabetes, among others, the state has also mounted a sustained campaign to keep malaria out by making it difficult for mosquitoes, its vectors, to breed near homes.

Dr. Ilori said there is a boost in the attendance of outpatients care in the state-owned hospitals.

“For expectant mothers coming for ante-natal care and delivery, a significant boost has been recorded all over the state,”

•Governor Rauf Aregbesola during one of his administration’s health programmes

Malaria cases drop, hospitals equipped

By Ogochukwu Ikeje

she said. “In our data collection as well, some ailments like malaria are dropping. In 2009, we had over 500,000 reported cases of malaria, but by the end of 2011, it had dropped to less than 200,000 in the state. This reduction can be connected to the totality of govern-

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•r. jonah david jang 1

ance in the state, especially the efforts of the governor in the fight against filth and dirt. Through environmental sanitation, the government has been able to take care of broken bottles, old tyres, waste containers that store stagnant water where mosquitoes, which are the carriers of malaria, breed.

Commissioner hails Aregbesola

“Besides, the dredging of waterways also helped tremendously.

As a result of these efforts, Osun is the only state, especially in the Southwest that did not have any incident of flood last year and we all know the health hazards that come with flood, but God spared us in this, just as it also helped in

reducing malaria.

“Apart from this, we have distributed treated mosquito nets to pregnant women, the young and the aged in a bid to reduce the infection of malaria. Also on malaria, we have gone all over the •Continued on Page 47

Bank loans for Plateau flood victims

ARMERS affected by floods in Plateau State are to benefit from soft loans given by a micro-finance bank to help them recoup their losses.

Growers and others engaged in agric-related activities were hard hit by the flood waters which swept through seven local government areas in the southern part of the state.

It is reckoned that the bank facility will not only help the farmers but also the state economy which is bound to dip as a result of the disaster.

The First Lowland Micro-Finance Bank Ltd, located in Mabudi, headquarters of Langtang South Local Government Area, said the loans to the farmers were a priority

From Marie-Therese Nanlong, Jos

it was obliged to provide after recording 17 per cent growth in the 2011 financial year.

Speaking at the 2011 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the bank, the Chairman, Air Marshal Jonah Wuyep, stated that the three-yearold bank is a friendly and peopleoriented financial institution, providing basic financial services especially to the highly marginalised.

Wuyep further disclosed the micro-finance bank would, as part of its social responsibility, commence a youth football competition to identify and encourage young talents as well as

expand its branches to other localities so as the provide employment for the people.

He said: “Against the volatile background, the bank recorded an impressive growth with the total asset of N97.2m, customer deposit of N42.4m, customer loans of N73.4mn and revenue growth of N39.4m as well as operating expense that rose from N15.3m to N21.2m.

“With the humble success, we will continue to assist the local farmers and carry out our social responsibility of reaching out to the people in the society”.

The Managing Director of the micro-finance bank, Mr. Amos Balami added that the bank will “get

more involved in financing agriculture and agriculturerelated businesses in the agrarian economy of the southern Plateau as part of its social responsibility.

Balami revealed that despite the “unfavorable economic climate and glut suffered by yam traders who are mostly customers of the bank in the 2011 financial year leading to losses, the bank was able to make profit and pay dividends of 7k per share to shareholders.

He urged shareholders and other investors to increase their investment in the bank so it could meet its target of raising N100million by the end of the year.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012

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K

OGI State Governor Idris Wada has restated his resolve to create jobs for the teeming youths and other unemployed people in the state, A statement signed by Mr Michael Abu, the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, in Lokoja, said that Wada made the pledge at the funeral ceremony of the late Mr Simeon Olutimayin, the Commissioner for Budget and Planning.

Olutimayim died few days after he was sworn in.

The governor appealed for peace and harmony among the people of the state, saying he would deliver on his campaign promises.

The governor described the late commissioner as versatile in financial matters.

He said he had looked forward to a robust

‘Job creation is my priority’ Kogi working relationship in planning the state’s economy with the deceased but “the cold hands of death denied the state the opportunity and contributions of a man filled

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•Chairman, Onigbongbo Local Council, Hon. Francis Babatunde Oke Development Area and some councillors inspecting rehabilitation work at Ibadan Street.

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with talents.”

Represented by the Deputy Governor, Mr Yomi Awoniyi, Wada appealed for peace and harmony among the people of the state and promised to deliver on his campaign promises.

Yobe Katuzu wards destroyed.

Most of those affected are now taking refuge at Babuje Primary School while others have relocated to houses of their relations who were not affected by the flood.

Alhaji Wakil Sarki, the state Commissioner for Environment, told reporters that a technical team had been drafted to Gashua and Nguru to access the situation.

“Gashua and Nguru are faced with the problem of inadequate drainage and discharge points, although the ministry had evacuated the drainage and erected embarkment along the water banks. “ The commissioner said that more drainage and discharge points must be created to provide solution to the natural disaster.

Alhaji Mamman Majidadi, the Secretary of Bade Emirate Council, said Gashua experienced a downpour which had not been witnessed in decades.

“The rains were so much that even houses that were strong enough could not withstand the flood.

“Most parts of the town are now plied with canoes due to the floods which had affected virtually every part of Gashua.

Church donates cars

HE Foursquare Gospel Church International has donated cars to the 14 District Overseers of the church to support evangelism.

The General Overseer of the church, Dr Felix Meduoye who was represented at the presentation, by Rev.Ikechukwu Ugbaja,urged the beneficiaries to always keep the cars in good condition and improve on their good work.The event was held at the Foursquare International Conference Centre, Orisunmbare, Idimu, Lagos.

Reacting to the security challenges of the country and attack on Christians in the northern part of the country, the cleric said the ancient Apostel Paul was the first person to experience such and when the time comes God will intervene in the matter.

According to Reverend Ugbaja “The first Boko Haram was Apostle Paul, who persecuted the Christians. At a time, God took control of his life and he was arrested in God’s way. So, it is not something new. It’s happening now in our time in Nigeria. We know God will also take control. We as a church have been praying.

“We have told members of our church in the north not to take any reprisal on behalf of God. It is not really an affront on man, it is an affront on the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and God is able to fight for Himself.

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Flood wreaks havoc in Gashua

O fewer than 60 houses were destroyed by flood in Gashua, headquarters of Bade Local Government Area in Yobe, it has been reported.

The downpour flooded the town with most houses in Filin Tanda, Kagala Paya, Abujan Amarya, Angwan Makafi and

So, our message to them is to keep the peace and keep on serving the Lord peacefully.

Am sure the attacked on Christians in the Northern part of the country is an affront on God and not on man”.

He, therefore, called on the Federal Government to nip the act of terrorism against the Christians and other security challenges in the bud, saying that local and foreign investors would be encouraged to set up businesses in the country.

Earlier, the Director of Missions and Evangelism of the church, Rev David Oluwasina, disclosed that the cars were the first batch as the church would not relent in its good work to spread the goodies to other districts.

Two among the beneficiaries, Rev. James Jacob, from Minna District and Rev Benson Celestine from Asaba District, thanked the leadership of the church for the gesture as they said the cars would enhance evangelism in their districts.

Jacob said: “We are grateful to God and the leadership of this church. These cars given to us will surely enhance the work of God as we travel all over the state to propagate the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Also, we appreciate the leadership and thoughtfulness of our General Overseer, Rev Meduoye.”

•Reverend Ugbaja while presenting key of the car to one of the beneficiaries

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•Wada

Council chair advises govt on insecurity

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HE Chairman of Binji Local Government Area of Sokoto State, Alhaji Umaru Danhabi has called on the Federal Government to take decisive measures in tackling the security challenges in the country.

Danhabi told reporters that time had come for government to come out with a formidable security measure that would ensure safety of lives and property of Nigerians.

He said in Sokoto that Nigerians must live in peace with one another irrespective of tribal, religious and ethnic differences.

The chairman added that Nigeria needed peaceful atmosphere to ensure smooth implementation of the ongoing reforms for the overall political growth of the country.

Danhabi stressed that time had come for Nigerians to corporate with security agencies by offering intelligence reports that would lead to the arrest and prosecution of those behind terrorism.

HE Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar has announced a N500, 000 annual cash award to the best Islamic Studies graduate of the University of Ilorin.

The Sultan announced the grant at the opening of an international conference on the Life and Works of Shayk Adam Al-Ilory held at the university last week.

The Sultan said the ‘Shaykh Al-Ilory Award’ would begin from the next convocation of the university, adding that it was meant to inspire the students and publicise the life and works of the late scholar.

He described Al-Ilory as a “great and outstanding personality” worthy of emulation.

The Sultan said it was necessary to put in place the right institutional framework for the training of future Islamic scholars, to prevent the propagation of divisive ideas and behaviours among Muslims.

“It is imperative for the Muslim Ummah to be able to apply his seminal ideas and teachings in addressing some of its pressing problems.

“The legacy of Shaykh Al-Ilory is undoubtedly a legacy worthy of emulation.

“We must consciously cultivate an active and dedicated class of scholars who would dedicate their lives to the pursuit of knowledge and its dissemination.

“We must all realise that Islam is predicated on knowledge and Muslims societies are necessarily knowledgeable societies.

“The neglect of learning in whatever form it presents itself must be resisted at all costs” the

Sultan promotes Islamic Studies Sokoto Sultan stated.

Abubakar urged Muslims to strive to establish a model society that thrives on knowledge and wisdom with a view to solving various problems confronting the nation.

He said that the sultanate had embarked on the translation and production of Sokoto Caliphate Literature authored by Shaykh Usmanu Dan Fodiyo and his assistants.

Earlier the Vice Chancellor, Prof Is-haq Oloyede, in an address of welcome, said the conference was organised in memory of late Al-Ilory, to enable the academic community to benefit from his vast intellectual legacies.

Oloyede described Al-Ilory, as a quintessential scholar, who left a legacy of “academic honesty”.

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State , represented by the Commissioner for Commerce, Alhaji Raji Mohammed, explained that the writings of the Al-Ilory would provide the younger generation of scholars a comprehensive view of Islam.

He said that the state government has placed priority on education and skills acquisition, saying it was meant to make young graduates to live on their own.

‘President needs spiritual guidance’

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HAT PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan needs at this critical period is spiritual guidance from men of God.Those calling for his resignation are not fair to him”.

These were the words of the Senior Pastor of Kings in Christ Ministries International Church,Rev Chide Innocent Anthony during the celebration of its Cultural Day at church headquarters,Ajao Estate,Isolo.

“Those calling for the president’s resignation are out of track, let me tell you President Jonathan is a God sent, but what he needs is a prophet that will direct him. As I know there are people that God gives direction; all the president needs is to gather them together. He needs a prophet, he needs somebody to direct him on what to do and if he can only hearken to this advice I think Nigeria will have a better future,” he said.

Pastor Chide said the purpose of the cultural day celebration is to bring all tribes together.

“Oneness is what we want to achieve with this cultural day, we want people to know that we are still one nation, either you are from Yoruba,

By Amidu Arije

Hausa, Igbo or any tribe from the country we are still one. We want to show it to everyone in the world that the church of God is for everybody”,he said.

Speaking on the spiritual direction behind the event he said: “God gave me the vision to gather people together to let them know that we are one,”.

On his hope for the country, he said: “It is not my prayer for the country to split, I love this nation, I pray for the nation and people day and night, that God should give our leaders the wisdom”.

The man of God lamented the growing immorality in the society, saying that it is regretable more churches have brought more crimes. He associated the increase in crime rates to lack of soul revival by Pastors in the country. He charged them to revive souls rather than establishing more churches where money is promoted.

•From left: Member, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Oluyinka Ogundimu; Chairman, Orile Agege Local Council Development Area, Hon. Taokeek Adaranijo and the Council treasurer, Mrs Modupe Abass-Olisa at the two-day workshop for revenue collectors on Enhancing Local Government Revenue Generations for the local council development areas in Orile Agege, Lagos.Itwas organised by YBI Consult PHOTO: BOLA OMILABU

Babangida lauds Lamido’s achievements

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ORMER military President Ibrahim Babangida has praised Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa for his accessibility and achievements in the last five years.

Babangida gave the commendation when he paid a courtesy call on the governor.

“I am impressed with the developmental projects of Lamido and I am also happy with the way and manner Gov. Lamido is accessible to his people; that is what leadership is all about.”

The former president said he went round to see some of the projects Lamido executed since the inception of his government.

Babangida urged other governors to emulate Lamido and work for the people that voted them into power.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Babangida was in the state to inaugurate some projects executed by Lamido’s administration to commemorate the 21st anniversary of the state’s creation.

Briefly

Church launches magazine • From left: Major General Nick Agbogun (rtd); newly installed District Governor of 404B, Lion Club International, Lion Stella Agbogun and the immediate past District Governor of the club, Prof Ayoade Adesokan during the installation of the incubent DG .

Group faults installation of monarch

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GROUP, The Aramoko Elite Vanguard, has described the installation of the current monarch, Oba Adeyemi, the Alara of Aramoko, as illegal.

In a statement signed by its SecretaryGeneral, Jide Oladosu,the group said though the case is before the court, the statement has become necessary to debunk reports making the rounds in pages of the newspaper alluded to the king-makers of Alara.

The report entitled “Alaramoko Ekiti selection is in order” published on August 15, pages 15 and 34, of the Tribune according to them, is false and should be disregarded by the public.

The group further said that the author of the publication, one Chief Sajowo, one of the Kingmakers in Aramoko, cannot convey such an important information to the public without the consent of other members.

It said: “In the statement, Chief Sajowa was quoted to have said that Chief Eyejumu ascertained questioning of the legitimacy of Oba Adeyemi as the Alara of Aramoko was falsehood and that Oba Adeyemi is a legitimate Alara of Aramoko, Ekiti”.

By Innocent Amomoh

“We would ordinarily have kept quiet as the matter is in court but we feel that the misleading statement of Chief Sajowa which is already in public domain ought to be corrected. It is not true that all the 13 kingmakers supported Chief Sajowa’s statement because not all 13 kingmakers are alive, some have died.

“It is also not true that Oba Adeyemi was chosen by Ifa oracle. It is in public knowledge that he manipulated his way to secure a fraudulent election even when the oracle did not pick him.

All these have been submitted to the court.

“The present situation is that the entire town is tense because of strange occurrences like that death of young and old people in vehicle accidents within the town on daily basis since Oba Adeyemi laid claim to the Alara stool,” it said.

Explaining further it said: “What we know about kingship is that any duly appointed king will have a staff of office. Aramoko is too big for the king not to have staff of office. If truly he is chosen by the people , he should show his staff of office.“Lasisi Olu Adeyemi does not have a staff of office and majority of kingmakers in Aramoko, Ekiti.

Prince Olusegun Aderemi is the most popular candidate and the choice of the people. We trust the Judiciary to do justice as soon as possible and save Aramoko from this calamity.

HIS Majesty’s Voice Ministry will launch its magazine entitled: Mustard Seed on Saturday, September 8, at Christ Life Baptist Church auditorium, No 9-11, Ansar-ur-Deen Street, IleEpo bus stop, Ejigbo, Lagos at 10.00 am.

President and Coordinator, Pastor Oluwole Toye, said the ministry is a non-denominational outfit which aims at spreading the word of God and helping the less privileged.

The ministry holds breakfast prayer meeting every third Saturday of the month.

Ministry launches Magazine

His Majesty’s Voice Ministry will launch its Magazine titled “Mustard Seed” on Saturday, 8th September, 2012 at Christ Life Baptist Church auditorium, No 9-11, Ansarur-Deen Street, Ile-Epo bus stop, Ejigbo, Lagos at 10.00 am.

President and Coordinator, Pastor Oluwole Toye said the ministry is a nondenominational which aimed of spreading the word of God and helping the less privileged.

The ministry holds breakfast prayer meeting every third Saturday of the month.

•From left : Assistant Superintendents of Police Buremoh Shaibu ;Patrick Nnamoku; Mfon Emem; Mustapha Opawoye; Nwabueze Sunday ; Jejeloye Shola; and Toyosi Shokunbi at the Cadet Inspectors Course 36 2002 during their 10th anniversary celebration at the Police Officers Mess Ikeja, Lagos.

Council chief urges peaceful co-existence

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HE Chairman, Iba Local Council Development Area ,Lagos State, Princess Ramota Adeyeri -Oseni, has urged Muslims in the country to promote peace, hardwork and love. She reminded them of the lessons of the just-concluded Ramadan,sayiing it is incumbent for them to live in harmony with other Nigerians .

Hon Adeyeri-Oseni was speaking in her office while receiving some Musliim faith-

ful who paid her visit after trhe Sallah holiday .The council chair observed that the last 30 days of the holy month have witnessed great family reunion and commitment.During the month, family bounds were strengthened and great spiritual rejuvenation were experienced .She advised muslims to be their brothers keepers and tolerate one another.

Fidau

peace. He distinguished himself as a brilliant police officer leading to award of several prizers .

He is survived by children and great grand children.

•The Late Chief Aneru

T •His Eminence Most Rev. Rufus Okikiola - Oluwa Ositelu, outgoing national President United Aladura Churches inc (left)and his Eminence Baba Aladura Samuel Olufunso Andrew, newly elected national President of United Aladura churches Inc at the handing over ceremony in Lagos.

PHOTO: SOLOMON ADEOLA

HE 40th day prayer for Chief Aneru Richard Okorejior, who died on July 21 will come up on September 30 at Okorejior family home Jagbe,, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State.He was 88. He was a dutiful policeman,devout Muslim and a community leader.He was equally a lover of

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012

SUPPLEMENTARYADMISSION FOR 2012/2013 ACADEMIC SESSION INTO NATIONAL DUIPLOMA PROGRAMME Supplementary Admission Forms are now available for all those who wrote 2012 JAMB (UTME) for Admission into the following Departments: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

Accountancy Banking and Finance Business Administration and Management Insurance Marketing Mass Communication Office Technology and Management Civil Engineering Electrical/Electronics Mechanical Engineering Computer Science Science Laboratory Technology Statistics Surveying/Geo-informatics Architecture

METHOD OF APPLICATION (ADMISSION PROCEDURE) 1.

Candidates pay the sum of N15,000 for Admission form to the following Banks:

S/No (a) (b) (c) (d)

Bank Name Finbank Bori Union Bank Bori Eco Bank Ikwerre Road Unity Bank Rumuomasi

Accounts Numbers 3002435497 0011793686 0472002169 0003257733

and N1,000 for the portal access scratch card. (Total payment of N16,000) 2.

Applicants proceed to the Polytechnic Bursary and present bank tellers. In exchange they are issued an official receipt and a portal scratch card.

3.

With the scratch card, applicants log into the portal www.rivpolybori.com to fill online application forms.

4.

On successful application, an SMS alert is automatically sent to his/her phone acknowledging receipt of the application.

5. of

With the same scratch cards, applicants can from time to time check status their applications at www.rivpoly.com.

6.

On announcement of admissions, all applicants would receive SMS alert and a copy of list of successful applicants to be admitted would be published on the school portal.

7.

Closing date for submission is 30th September, 2012.

Note This supplementary admission is for Polytechnic candidates who scored from 160 and above in the 2012 UTME JAMB.

PAUL I. IGBARA Registrar

THE NATION WEDNESDAY,AUGUST 29, 2012

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COMMENTARY EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

EDITORIALS

Divisive clamour •It is not in the interest of peace and justice to reverse the onshore/offshore law

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HE consistent clamour by northern governors for a revisit of the onshore/offshore oil dichotomy in revenue-sharing formula is inauspicious and divisive. The matter was laid to rest in 2004, when the National Assembly abolished the loathsome law that was a creation of repressive military rule.

We are surprised that the north that took part in the debate, and was central to the decision against onshore/offshore dichotomy law abolition before, is now attempting to cut corners. Without the region’s support then, the repeal act would have been impossible, judging from the fact that the region controls majority seats in the National Assembly.

Curiously, the region is now making laughable moves at collecting from the 13 per cent considered to be too minuscule.

The motive behind this move could be everything but altruistic. Otherwise, the current percentage, if not for national peace, is too small and ought to have been rejected. The matter was further worsened by the National Assembly’s middleof- the-road concession that gives states just 13 per cent revenue on resources located within 200 metres isobars of their continental shelves. By this provision, oil located beyond this distance in the littoral states belongs to the Federal Government.

The National Assembly should have been guided by a good sense of history.

During pre/post colonial Nigeria, the country witnessed not less than five different revenue sharing regimes. The Chick Commission of 1953 recommended a 100 per cent derivation for resource-bearing com-

munities. In 1958, the Raisman-Tree Commission came up with a derivation recommendation giving 50 per cent to host communities, 30 per cent to regions and 20 per cent to the Federal Government.

Furthermore, the Hicks-Phillipson Commission of 1961 and the Binn Commission of 1964 both recommended 50 per cent derivation sharing to areas where the resources were located, 35 per cent to the regions and 15 per cent to the Federal Government. Moreover, there was no provision like onshore and offshore revenue dichotomy in either the Independence or the 1963 Constitution until after the civil war, when the military came up with the wealth-sharing trap.

The question must be asked now why the North wants a cut into the 13 per cent, when in the years of the groundnut pyramid, the region enjoyed as much as 50 per cent in derivation. The same applied during the apogee of western region’s cocoa boom era. The north did not complain then. However, its current clamour is tantamount to the erroneous notion that a state should be made to suffer the consequences of its littoral status through being denied the enjoyment of the benefits.

We are aware that, among others, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers states suffer both from onshore and offshore violations. This is apart from operating in a difficult terrain already despoiled by oil exploration and relying on not less than 50 percent of oil revenue derivable from their land to survive.

Perhaps, states like Kano, Kaduna, Bauchi, Yobe, among others, in the north will do well by looking inwards to be able

to generate sufficient internally generated revenue to cater for the well-being of their people. They should realise that it is because there is peace in the Niger Delta region that oil production is being maximised and revenue accruable from it is increasing. Nothing should be done to cause eruptions of rage, through altering of the status quo ante, in the interest of national stability. After all, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of oil producing Delta State recently reiterated his marquee ‘Delta Beyond Oil’ initiative. Other states should follow in this direction.

We call on the northern governors to focus more on ways of curtailing the Boko Haram onslaught. Relentless pursuit of onshore/offshore oil dichotomy that was legally thrown into the waste-bin of history some eight years ago will not in any way help their cause.

‘Perhaps, states like Kano, Kaduna, Bauchi, Yobe, among others, in the north will do well by looking inwards to be able to generate sufficient internally generated revenue to cater for the well-being of their people. They should realise that it is because there is peace in the Niger Delta region that oil production is being maximised and revenue accruable from it is increasing.

Nothing should be done to cause eruptions of rage, through altering of the status quo ante’

Salami: one year after •Fast to suspend, slow to restore, the president’s action on this jurist stands condemned

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NE year after what is turning out an illegal suspension of Justice Isa Ayo Salami, President of the Court of Appeal (PCA), it is ode to reckless and wanton rape of the rule of law.

The irony is damaging enough for a democracy trying to gather suction. The traducer is Goodluck Jonathan, President of the Federal Republic and the republican servant-in-chief, who took the oath to obey the law and preserve the integrity of the Constitution, which makes him the prime custodian and protector of the rule of law in our country.

The victim, on the other hand, is a jurist of note and iconic man of conscience on the Nigerian Higher Bench; next only in official ranking to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

Now if gold rusts, as Geoffery Chaucer, the English poet queried in his Canterbury Tales, what will iron do? If the president must play politics with the law – and justice – and the victim of that power play is the official Number 2 in the judicial hierarchy, who else is safe from impunity and wanton injustice? Now, which polity can put up with such violent contradictions, and yet not lose something critical and essential in its democratic evolution?

That is the sorry pass which the Justice Salami saga has brought this country. Yet, the current powers-that-be do not seem to appreciate the tragic reality of their power posturing!

Indeed, Justice Salami’s suspension odyssey is well and truly a kangaroo case. A kangaroo National Judicial Council (NJC) – kangaroo because its quorum was suspect, aside from shunning a valid court

order telling it to stay action – met on August 18, 2011, pronounced Justice Salami suspended, and recommended his dismissal to the president.

Then, a kangaroo presidency hurried post-haste to implement the order, but hid under subversive legalese to act as though it only met the NJC order halfway. It okayed the suspension, but said the “dismissal” bit would wait until after all the court cases in the matter had been disposed of.

That was very neatly done: for that action satisfied the partisan imperative of appeasing a retiring but baleful CJN Aloysius Katsina-Alu, whose quarrel with Justice Salami inspired the clear NJC conspiracy; and hurting but thieving People’s Democratic Party (PDP) faithful in Ekiti and Osun states, who by virtue of the Court of Appeal under Justice Salami, were forced to ignominiously surrender their gubernatorial loot.

Then on May 10, the NJC met and reversed itself on the Salami suspension – and a president and his legal advisers that were quick to suspend, even with a subsisting court order, have so far become slow to restore!

Besides, the kangaroo setting is further underscored by the so-called acting PCA who knows by law he has no basis to be on that seat, since the law clearly specifies how long a PCA should act before yielding for the substantive filling of the post. Yet, the acting PCA sits there, a proud symbol of blatant rape of the law, the very fundament of the judicial system!

It is a good thing the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) was quick to raise the Salami case, at the first anniversary of that grave injustice. Sure that reminder has not, so far, made a recalcitrant president

change tack from his brazenly illegal path. But it has again brought to full public glare the open sore of a nation, to paraphrase the Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, whose president, and the holiest-of-holies of his legal advisers, profane the law; and do not ‘give a damn’ on the dire consequences of institutionalised impunity.

Those who would counter that the ACN is an interested party in the case miss the point. That it is involved does not vitiate the president’s illegality and culpable double-standard for partisan gains in the Salami matter. To hold otherwise is to be guilty of the fallacy of ad hominem – in this case, meaning that generally certified facts automatically change, simply because it comes from the mouth of an interested party.

‘It is a good thing the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) was quick to raise the Salami case, at the first anniversary of that grave injustice.

Sure that reminder has not, so far, made a recalcitrant president change tack from his brazenly illegal path.

But it has again brought to full public glare the open sore of a nation, to paraphrase the Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, whose president, and the holiest-of-holies of his legal advisers, profane the law; and do not ‘give a damn’ on the dire consequences of institutionalised impunity’

Syria’s escalating slaughter

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VIDENCE IS emerging of yet another horrific massacre by the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad, this time in the suburbs of Damascus. According to opposition sources, at least 300 people were slaughtered in the town of Daraya late last week. Videos posted on the Internet showed rows of bodies of young men and some children who had been shot in the head, execution-style.

The newest war crime, like those before it, reflects a deliberate strategy. As the Post’s Liz Sly has reported, the Assad regime is seeking to regain control over opposition-held areas by teaching their residents that harboring the rebels will be punished with mass murder. In Daraya, opposition accounts said, government soldiers first drove the forces of the Free Syrian Army from the town with artillery and air attacks, then went house-to-house, rounding up people and shooting them in groups.

It’s no wonder that civilians are fleeing Syria at a greater rate than ever. More than 200,000 have now arrived in neighboring countries, and some 10,000 were reported to be waiting Monday on the border of Turkey, which is already harboring 80,000 refugees. Turkish authorities are scrambling to prepare new refu-gee camps but say they cannot accommodate more than 100,000 —a number that could be reached within days.

The mounting massacres and refugee flows are rendering the Obama administration’s stubborn stance of passivity on Syria unsustainable. As soon as Thursday, the Turkish government of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a member of NATO, may ask the U.N. Security Council to authorize a safe zone for refugees inside Syria. While that is likely to be resisted

by Russia, the United States would be foolish to continue standing by while allies such as Turkey and Jordan are swamped, and possibly destabilized, by Syrian refugees. Even more reprehensible is refusing to intervene while a state systematically murders its own citizens.

Mr. Obama has said that that “preventing mass atrocities and genocide is a core national security interest and a core moral responsibility of the United States of America.”

In a speech at the Holocaust Museum in April, he said that “we need to be doing everything we can to prevent and respond to these kinds of atrocities — because national sovereignty is never a license to slaughter your people.” Yet now, as atrocity after atrocity is recorded in Syria, he rejects proposals by aides and allies for even limited and humanitarian intervention.

Administration officials reportedly have discussed options for a safe zone, but the president has repeatedly sided with those favoring inaction.

Last week President Obama did say that his “calculus” about “military engagement” would change if the regime began using or deploying its stocks of chemical weapons. But as the Syrian blogger Ammar Abdulhamid has written, the drawing of that red line may have emboldened the regime to conclude that anything short of using weapons of mass destruction will be tolerated by Washington.

Mr. Abdulhamid wonders “why slaughter would be deemed tolerable if it happened one way and not another.” It’s a good question — and one for which the administration’s morally bankrupt policy has no answer.

– Washinton Post

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012

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CARTOON & LETTERS

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IR: On Thursday August 23, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi announced the bank’s intention to introduce N5000 notes.

He told reporters in Abuja that the planned restructuring of the Naira would lead to the conversion of existing N5, N10 and N20 to coins.

Before we accede to yet another jamboree of banknotes restructuring and the addition of higher denomination, we must remind ourselves that currency reform was integral to the banking consolidation and financial sector reform of Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, former CBN Governor. He reintroduced coins, series of new naira notes and celebrated such with much fanfare. Soludo compelled Nigerians to use coins and accept change in the new coins. The return

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N5000 note, wrong remedy to economy’s woes of coins was embraced by the public but hopes were dashed as the coins reported to have cost hundreds of millions to produce systematically went out of circulation.

Of course, the higher denominations of N500 and N1000 reduced greatly the stress politicians go through to steal large chunks of our commonwealth. And now N5000!

If we are trying to reduce the

amount spent on minting new notes by going cashless, why initiate the production of higher denominations?

The argument by the CBN Governor, that the new note would further “complement the bank’s cashless policy, as it would substantially reduce the volume of currency in circulation, particularly in the long run” does not hold water. If that is the case, the N5000 need not be in circulation for

general usage but strictly an intrabank document to ease movement of large sum of currency like what obtains in the United State of America where $5,000, $10,000, and $100,000 though legal tenders are used by banks and the US Government for large financial transactions. Indeed, the notes were last printed in 1945, and officially discontinued on July 14, 1969.

Just like in the US, the introduction of the electronic

A soldier’s thoughts on Bakassi

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IR: The ceding of Bakassi peninsula by the ICJ to Cameroun has suddenly been thrust into the front burner in recent discussions in Nigeria. The momentum reached its peaked when Cross Rivers State sought to wrestle 76 oil wells from Akwa Ibom through a court process. The bitterness that unfolded after the court pronouncements has proven beyond doubt my suspicions that the Bakassi issue was a trump card in the calculation of Cross River State in the court case. Thereafter, the media, especially the electronic media was awash with all manner of professionals and experts offering solutions on how to tackle the ceding of the peninsula to Cameroun.

I personally have no grouse with this category of persons who I believe are fired by nationalism. I am particularly concerned with those who have been appearing on virtually every television station in Nigeria to speak for and on behalf of the Bakassi people.

Truth be told, we lost Bakassi

because of the inordinate ambition of one citizen, Olusegun Obasanjo. I am neither a lawyer nor an expert in international law or treaty to know that there is absolutely no instrument or mechanism to enforce the ruling of the ICJ. I am not aware of the Security Council enforcing any ruling of the court. In the international system we live in today, might is always right. If Sani Abacha erroneously submitted Nigeria to the ICJ process, Obasanjo did worse by acceding to the ruling of the court.

I spent four years of my career as a military officer defending that piece of the fatherland. By the time President Obasanjo hastily ordered the withdrawal of troops, we were occupying over three quarters of the peninsula. In his ambition to equal his kinsman (Wole Soyinka) as a Nobel Laureate, he ordered the withdrawal of troops without even allowing the military to exhume their falling colleagues for a decent re-burial. An obvious crime against morale in the military parlance!

It might interest Nigerians to

know that it was the action of the Nigerian Armed Forces that prompted Cameroun to head for the ICJ. We had routed every obstacle and were heading for Cameroun mainland when Sani Abacha ordered a cease fire as a result of the court action instituted by Cameroun. The present day speakers or aggrieved spokespersons for Bakassi are all as guilty as Obasanjo in the ceding of the peninsula. I am afraid to say that their posturing is more for their local political expediency than the interest of the suffering people of Bakassi.

I will want Nigerians to note the fact that a particular group of persons have persistently and consistently been speaking for Bakassi since 1980 without another generation joining the struggle.

These are the same people whose silence was too golden when the Green Tree Agreement was being signed because they were benefiting from the government. They were all there when the Nigerian flag was being lowered grinning and feeling

well.

It is the inability to fully control and manipulate the political process that has given rise to the present day agitations over Dayspring and threats of secession. A need sure exist for the government to assist the poor people of Bakassi but it has to be a direct intervention; not through the usual actors. The government must also be careful not to allow the personal interest of a few to push the Nigeria into taking a wrong decision over the ceding of Bakassi to Cameroun. Available viable options include outright military action, negotiations to buy back or allow the sell-out by Obasanjo to stand. Those who bandy the story of France having a military pact with Cameroun are either ignorant of how military operations are conducted or do not have the slightest knowledge of the capacity of the Nigerian military. Even the Camerounians know how far their luck; pact or no pact can last.

• AH Samba, Lieutenant Colonel (retired) Lokoja, Kogi State

money system has made largescale cash transactions obsolete.

Amidst the barrage of challenges facing the country- insecurity, stagnant economy, corruption and even instability in the banking sector- introducing a new high denomination note and coins amounts to economic sabotage.

What baffles me and other Nigerians is policy inconsistency of the apex bank. In 2008, Soludo initiated plans to redenominate the naira at one new naira = 100 old naira but the plan was suspended when the then late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua refused to give approval to the bid.

From technical and comparative advantage perspective, redenomination as proposed by Soludo seems more in tune with Nigeria’s economic realities than Sanusi’s higher denomination shot.

Redenomination is a more recent practice amongst nations of the world than introduction of higher denomination. For example, in January 2005, Turkey dropped or removed six zeros from its currency, the Lira (L), and replaced it with the new Turkish Lira (YTL) with conversion rate of million lira (1,000,000L) = one YTL (1YTL).

Also, in July 2005, Romania dropped or knocked off four zeros from its currency, the leu (ROL). In July 2007, the Ghana Republic redenominated its currency, the cedi, by making one new Ghanaian cedi (GHc) equal to 10,000 old cedi (c), i.e. dropping four zeros.

If Sanusi wishes to help our politicians in their looting spree, he should at least consider average Nigerians whose shoulders might not be broad enough to bear the consequences of his restructuring.

The effort to recognise our past heroines is well appreciated but considering what most of them stood for, demeaning their personalities with a project Nigerians are against, is more like kicking them in their graves.

• Sulaimon Mojeed-Sanni Lagos, Nigeria.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012

COMMENTS

Tertiary education youth alert: ‘COURSERA’ study at home free from abroad! NASS vs NASA museums

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ASSIVE Open O n l i n e Courses, MOOCs – prepare for a degree, learn for free. I came across an article on ‘COURSERA’ By Terence Tony Chea, Associated Press | Marinho Associated Press – Fri, Aug 10, on the internet and went to Wikipedia and elsewhere. I really feel compelled to report its contents as it requires urgent sharing with the Nigerian education field, lecturers, teachers, students and even pupils in primary school seeking to plan properly their future interests whether their parents have money or not or whether or not they can get a scholarship or bursary from LGA, state or federal government.

The article is especially valuable to all those in Nigeria’s education administration agencies from primary to over tertiary levels which are tele-guiding syllabus and curriculum content sometimes restricting the curriculum to a ‘Nigerian Context’ and thus failing or stunting our Nigerian youth, limiting their growth and lowering and restricting their future employment prospects. Even those who have already failed, are on holiday, on strike or awaiting admission need this information. The last and largest group is that group which could use this information to seek to better itself by knowledge acquisition for the sake of it and to make them empowered better people. In that group are Nigerians of all ages including retired citizens, citizens in slow or ‘wrong’ jobs and citizens seeking to empower themselves for lateral mobility and upward mobility be a ladder leading to another field.

What is this ‘Big New Thing’? Many good, mainly American, universities are opening their e- learning facilities and offering free courses online for anyone on the web to learn from the best lecturers. This is not new but top universities are now involved. It is that the best US and some other Colleges and universities are uploading fantastic online higher education, mostly free, cyber courses on the websites Coursera and edX which are currently free and Udacity which is for profit among

others. Already well over 1,000,000 have signed up for some of the individual classes adding up to several million in all.

There are over 114 courses including Biological Sciences, Business and Management, Computer Science, Analytical Chemistry, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Scientific Computing, Economics and Finance, Education, Health and Society and Medical Ethics, Electronics and Materials Engineering, Physical and Earth Sciences, Statistics, Data Analysis, Information Technology and Design. There is something for everyone and most courses range from 4-12 weeks.

This information is very important for all secondary, future and current tertiary students and teachers and parents and should be shared widely as it opens tertiary education to a whole new population and provides the individual with special interests the opportunity to take a single course in an area of specific interest for example a person can take a course in Genome engineering, genetics and evolution or control of mobile robots et cetera.

These massive open online courses, or MOOCs, could alter higher education. Several universities offer courses on the online learning platform Coursera. There is also another portal edX. Check both of them and any others, out.

You will find all the big names in US university and Institutes of Technology circles there.

So students, check out the websites and get the courses and get moving. This is another opportunity at your fingertips. Time waits for no lazy students. This is better use of your free time than pinging-and-ponging about what are really irrelevancies like where you are, what you are doing, what you should be doing and who is or is not doing what!

Please share this with your pinging to help your network of friends to get on in life. This would be a really good use of social networking.

Ordinarily, any museum or exhibition announced by National Assembly (NASS) would be a good step. But who decides what is important to preserve for posterity and what is self-flattery? And what items or events are more important to preserve through an exhibition or museum slot? Some things are preserved just because money can easily be found to back up the project while many more meaning-full items go unrecognized in the community and by history. We have

been calling for a better network of ancient and modern museums and exhibitions and not ones which are an afterthought in the budget and dedicated to personalities to the neglect of those more worthy. The NASS idea to have a NASS or House Museum, is ill-timed and selfish in a country without modern museums and exhibitions for the 80 million youth. Politicians in NASS are not the only people in Nigeria and before they preserve themselves for posterity, it would be good if they got government to build museums and exhibitions for others first.

The billions of pounds used to identify the Higgs Boson particle is well spent. Professor Higgs is alive and over the moon, in line for a Nobel Prize. The Higgs Boson particle is the smallest particle of matter from which all matter is made.

It is created by colliding matter at above the speed of light creating a big bang. While NASS has its problems, NASA has spent $2.6b landing a robot, Curiosity, on Mars having been in transit between November 26, 2011 and August 6, after a 563,000,000 km journey. Real nuclear physics! Back home on Nigerian earth we await the filling of our potholes on a 120km road –Nigerian nuclear physics! No to NASS Museums before NASA Museums in Nigeria!

‘We have been calling for a better network of ancient and modern museums and exhibitions and not ones which are an afterthought in the budget and dedicated to personalities to the neglect of those more worthy. The NASS idea to have a NASS or House Museum, is ill-timed and selfish in a country without modern museums and exhibitions for the 80 million youth’

His Excellency, the ‘bullet-proof’governor (2)

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FORTNIGHT ago, this column focused its binoculars on Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State, who recently surprised Nigerians when he appeared in‘bullet-proof’ vest in public. The piece dwelt more on the obscene nature of his public appearance. As usual, the reactions of the public to the story were prompt, instantaneous and overwhelming. Ranging from the sublime to the ridiculous, the preponderance of opinion was that it was needless for the governor to have gone to that extreme. At any rate, what the piece set out to achieve was that such a thing was the most discreet thing, the governor could have done.

Having said that, it is imperative, once more, to carefully look at the precarious and appalling security situation in the country vis a vis Kogi State. Since the massacre at the Deeper Life Bible Church at Otite, in Okene, a lot of revelations have come up. The police appear to be on top of the situation. Several arrests, including that of serving political aides to the governor, have been made. Not only this. Some of the perpetrators of the heinous crime are now believed to be ‘singing’ like canary in police detention.

Just last week, Muhammed Katsina, the Kogi State Commissioner of Police, told newsmen that two bomb factories had been uncovered at Okene and Okehi local government areas of the state. The discoveries included lethal wares as rocket launchers, bomb making accessories, AK47 rifles, police bulletproof jackets among others. In ad-

dition, the police reined in two suspected suicide bombers. The two suspects, the police said, were among those who carried out the massacre at the Deeper Life Church.

The suspects were said to have sneaked out of the state to somewhere further north to plan for another attack before the long arms of the law caught up with them. The command had reportedly earlier arrested the suspected leader of the gang somewhere in Ondo State.

The police breakthrough in Kogi State coincided with the resolve of the North to decisively tackle the Boko Haram menace that has almost crippled both social and economic life of some northern states. With the inauguration of a peace committee last Wednesday, Northern leaders seem to have woken up from their perceived slumber to end the wanton destruction of lives and property in their midst.

Judging from the main term of reference of the committee which is “to engender the restoration of the most desired peaceful co-existence, unity and development in the entire region”, it is obvious that the northern leaders mean business. But why did it take them such a long time to get to this point? Some would say it is better late than never. However, considering the enormity of the destruction that has been wrought on the region in the last two years or more, the committee has a herculean task before it.

In the first instance, the enabling environment for peace to thrive is not there at all. So many families and able-bodied individuals are

“What the founding leaders of Boko Haramsimply did was to capitalise on the ignorance and wanton poverty among the populace by giving them both money and material succour in time of needs”

daily slipping into the trajectory of unemployment, poverty and disease. There is too much poverty and pauperisation both in the region and the entire country. In fact, it is more pronounced in the North where religion and cultural schisms have almost combined to retard its progress.

In the nearly 52 years of Nigeria’s independence, the country has been ruled in a greater proportion by ‘rulers’ from the North, yet the region is the worst in poverty indices in the country. Illiteracy is very high.

This is accentuated by a mix of sociocultural and religious practices, which have deliberately constituted a cog in the wheel of progress in the region.

The emergence of the terrorist group simply known as Boko Haram, meaning ‘Western Education is bad’, is a testimony to the disdain with which educational opportunities have been treated in the region.

Today, a group of rudderless and misguided youths who started as mere pawns in the hands of ambitious politicians have matured into a full-blown terrorists group with both external and internal support from those who are inclined to wreak havoc on the corporate existence of Nigeria. Their mode of recruiting followers, mainly through free meals, and some semblance of “social security safety nets” have buoyed their membership over the years.

What the founding leaders of Boko Haram simply did was to capitalise on the ignorance and wanton poverty among the populace by giving them both money and material succour in time of needs. This way, those who started as political thugs, killing and maiming innocent people as directed by their ‘godfathers’, later metamorphosed into full-blown serpents hunting the hunters of yesteryear. Of course, all they needed was arms and more arms with which they had been endowed by those who recruited them

to foster their individual ambitions on their people.

Some few weeks back, this column dwelt on “Fighting Terrorism in Nigeria”. In it, I made mention of the double standard, lack of the required political will and the mutual conspiracy that have, so far, truncated the successful prosecution of the war on terrorism in the country. Then there are sacred cows who have remained untouched or who are been treated with kid gloves.

As I write, a senator who was accused of funding terrorism in the country is enjoying the luxury of a court bail for such a heinous crime against the state. At the moment, he may still be outside the country on umrah (lesser hajj). Similarly, a former governor of a state in the North-East where the insurgency took its root, who was largely implicated in the rise of the group, was once invited to Aso Rock Villa, the seat of government, for ‘discussion’ with the President. He honoured the invitation. One particular security chief, who was in the know of the visit, put his men on standby waiting for “orders from above”. At the end, the security chief stood down his guards when it became apparent that his prospective ‘guest’ (suspect) had been granted ‘immunity from arrest’. This became clear when a presidential aide just emerged from the bowels of the Castle only to be looking for a special limousine to take the former senator and later, governor, back to his house in Abuja. Talk of sacred cows.

As it is, concerted efforts should be made to tackle this malfeasance by cutting off the ‘oxygen’ supply to these terrorists. By this, I mean their sponsors, both within and outside the country, should be unmasked and possibly dealt with, while the flow of funds and deadly weapons into their hands should be plugged.

Above all, if the north and the country must get out of the present quagmire, the newly inaugurated

Dele Agekameh committee, which consists of people with impeccable records of public service and advocacy, must proffer solutions to the endemic poverty in the region. It is symptomatic of the failure of leadership and good governance. In addition, the educational advancement of the region and the country must be given priority over any other form of platitudes. This advice is against the backdrop of the billions of naira spent by the region’s governments “to feed the populace” in the just concluded Ramadan. Doing so is a good gesture in that many people had something to eat and fulfill their religious-cum-spiritual obligations.

But then, what follows in the rest of the year? That is probably why it is said that it is better to teach people how to fish than to give them a few miserable fish to eat.

When there are employment opportunities, abundant food to eat and a population of educated youths, the lure of criminality and terrorism will be reduced to a tolerable proportion, if not completely exterminated. This way, no governor or public official will have any recourse to acquire bullet-proof vest.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012

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COMMENTS ‘Men of Nigeria Police receive accolades when sent on international assignments, because they perform their jobs professionally; this means some of them are very good. The corruption occasioned by who knows who when crimes are committed prevents the police from doing their job well. Considering the family background of Cynthia and the calibre of person the father is, truth could not be compromised. We all deserve the nature of the country we live in.... From Olusegun Akinyemi, Lagos’

•Cynthia

Gbenga Omotoso I value your insightful analysis on the late Cynthia. It is quite unfortunate that moral value has dropped. It is a great lesson to parents and the youth that they should be mindful of how they utilise their freedom and avoid trusting strangers and use the social media wisely.

From Pastor Chris Omolola, Abuja Men of Nigeria Police receive accolades when sent on international assignments, because they perform their jobs professionally; this means some of them are very good. The corruption occasioned by who knows who when crimes are committed prevents the police from doing their job well. Considering the family background of Cynthia and the calibre of person the father is, truth could not be compromised. We all deserve the nature of the country we live in.... From Olusegun Akinyemi, Lagos Cynthia Osokogu; may her soul rest in peace. These boys are just saddists and savage rapists. There are more of them pretending to be students in the universities. They must be punished accordingly. Anonymous The death of this young promising lady is too painful. I will show my children a copy of this paper to read in order for them to desist from participating in any type of GSM chats, particularly with boys. May her gentle soul rest in peace. From Sam Amure, Abuja.

I totally agree with you, the police deserve kudos. Anonymous.

Cynthia’s death exposes her father’s inefficiency and inability to inject his security consciousness to his children.

How can a daughter of a retired General accept to have meet with someone she had never seen, without choosing the venue herself, at her own convenient time, for security reasons. May her soul rest in peace. From Sylvester, Abuja.

Truly, there are many others, but they are not as important as (GEJ) or (OBJ) family. Investigations are faster and easier when it happens to the VIPs. That’s Nigeria for you. Anonymous.

Hi, I’m Peace from Lokoja, Kogi State. I congratulate the police for arresting those devils! Yes, the police deserve kudos and promotion if possible. But, let’s not drag the case to court; this is a clear case, they should be punished, if possible lifeimprisonment. They should suffer for their offence. Congratulations to the Nigeria Police. Anonymous Your write-up thrilled me to so much. I almost ended up not eating because of excitement. When are we going to get it right in this country? NUPENG is threatening to go on strike. It said the government is selective in the subsidy scam. Are they supporting corruption?

May be some of the marketers have had their way. It appears the Federal

Government is helpless in handling insecurity. The government said it was talking to Boko Haram, who is representing the sect? And how good is the representative? Will the talks not collapse midway? It is the poor handling of insecurity that made it to escalate to where we are today. The other time Kabiru Sokoto was arrested in connection with the Madalla bombing, but security agencies handled it with levity and the man ran away. I should call it escape. I have not heard about him since then.

Actually, our politicians want to turn this country into a cemetary because when they are sick they go abroad but when they die their body is sent to Nigeria. For the late Cynthia, the hotel where she died should be thoroughly investigated by security agencies. Aremu Gawat would return in peace by God’s grace and with the help of the media.

From Hamza Ozi Momoh Dockyard, Apapa, Lagos.

If I were the chief judge, I would condemn these criminals to death by hanging. Government, please, kill them.

Anonymous Talking about Zakari Biu, does anyone know if his first son was among those killed by the Abuja MEND blast? If we desire justice, we must also be able to dispense it. From S.F Idowu In Nigeria, we have more questions than answers for our political elite. One day, the chicken will come home to roost.

Their doomsday is close. From Stanley Negbenebor Esq., Lagos-based Legal Practitioner Gbenga, you are doing Nigerians a great disservice by hiding the faces of Cynthia’s murderers. And it’s also a shame that your staff claim they don’t know your phone number. Anonymous.

For Olatunji Dare Sir, you are not in tune with the happenings in Kwara. It amazes me that someone like you can depend on media propaganda as a source to feed your readers. You have derailed and misinformed Nigerians on the pathetic situation in the state. Anonymous Re:Matters miscellaneous. The cliche, if you fail to plan, you plan to fail is very apt for Nigeria. The Olympic Games has gone beyond just the display of sportmanship to a display of sportmanship and a nation’s power.

Countries such as China and the USA prepared and deserved the reward for the fruit of thier labour as seen in their medal haul. If Nigeria had won medals at the London Olympics, it would have amounted to a form of ‘unfair miracle’ for a nation like Nigeria that wants to reap where it did not sow. We need to realise that to prepare is to prevent a poor performance. Also, what the Boko Haram sect fail to realise is that love is the greatest hurt-healing emotion of all. From Olumide Soyemi, Bariga.

Re-Matters miscellaneous. Few journalists reason and analyse objectively in the manner you, the Prof, does. If we had won laurels - gold, silver or bronze – and we got tainted by being found to have doped, that would have spoilt all the medals. Let us put sports leadership administration

in order. Beat corruption in all spheres and there will be greater commitment on the part of the athletes, too. Some other time, we may be there.

Let the administration of President G.E.J pounce heavily on whoever is caught, regardless of democracy. We are in chains in Kwara.

From Prof. Lanre Oseni.

Dr. Dare, it’s because you are living abroad that you cannot feel the impact of Abdulfatah Ahmed’s agric revolution.

What with the daily flooding by roadside traders of Kwara-grown cassava bread, shonga rice, and milk; we enjoy in Kwara? Of what use can a local UNILORIN or ABU be when there’s no estacode to gain by visiting their agric research institutes. May Allah deliver us from ourselves (voters).

From Idris Adebayo, Taiwo Road, Offa Dare, please, be informed that Alex Akinyele was not the first indigene of Ondo town to be a federal minister. It was the late Festus Olawoyin Awosika, who served as the federal minister of Finance.

From Ch. K. O. Fawehinmi. Ondo.

Please, help us include in your Matters Miscellaneous Lokoja-Kabba-Egbe-Ilorin Road. Smart outsmarts us by making us believe he is there on our behalf. I wonder if we are part of Nigeria. Anonymous.

A thousand bullet-proof is vanity upon vanity. Death will come when it will come, says William Shakespeare. It seems Wada is idle to have displayed bullet -proof vests. What message is he sending around? If he is branding Kogi a terrorist state, all well and good.

Dear Prof, in the next Olympics let Nigeria compete for Boko Haram, kidnapping, oil subsidy thievery, rule of law, armed robbery election rigging and others, it will win unlimited medals.

From Golds Ayo, Ilesha.

I relished your random musing. Our politicians do not owe us any jobs and we do not owe them any asking. Afterall, political campaigns where these ought to be promised us are no longer in vogue. A cabal now decides who the people’s president will be, how the national cake is shared and so on. They’ve sold public establishments that generate jobs, and talk about FDI everyday. From Tony Jim Nwobodo was the Sports Minister in 1996 during the Atlanta Olympics.

Chief Akinyele stepped aside with his boss, Babangida in 1993. From Obafemi For Segun Gbadegesin God will bless you for your write-up On residency rights. From Elder Macaulay Ovienria, Lagos.

The debate over state or federal police is on because we do not obey the Constitution. The Constitution says the state governors are the chief security officers of their respective states. This simply means that all policemen posted to states should answer to governors and that the governors have the final say on security matters within their states, unless their is a state of emergency then the Federal Government will take up the responsibility. The governors are seeking for powers the Constitution already grants them. We don’t need state police, we need to abide by the Constitution.

Anonymous.

• Jonathan

I think ‘the Plateau’ could be the best litmus test point for our national integration. When Jos becomes home to everyone wishing to stay, then it can be easily replicated nationwide. From Marshal Gombe, Tanko dabit, NIPSS, Kuru For Tunji Adegboyega Good day, “Cynthia and the beastly cousins” was interesting and pathetic.

We may never have known how many Cynthias have gone unheard of. It’s equally a demonstration of satanic and insatiable attitude of women for free things common among our folks. Sorry, because a lot still would not learn. From Ete Umoh, Uyo. May Cynthia’s soul rest in peace. The general (father) should have provided more protection for her beyond the standing allowance and later, a car. From an interview that he granted, he was not always at home with her. Cynthia, too pretty to be wasted. From Dele.

Re: ‘Cynthia and the beastly cousins’; we cannot agree less as you said, that parents and children should educate, caution and warn each other against crime as well as criminally-induced behaviours, ranging from greed, indiscipline and carefree attitudes as witnessed in the circumstances that led to the deaths of Clifford Orji and Cynthia Osokogu! So pathetic in the case of Cynthia that writing 50 pages would not do a redress. Parents and children, let us learn from this episode and tragedy.

From Lanre Oseni.

Tunji, contrary to the opinion of your lawyer, even on available evidence alone, those beastly cousins are likely to be convicted for murder notwithstanding their purported motive. Barr. Moronkeji.

Tunji, was Cynthia the first victim of death via Facebook in Nigeria? Anonymous You failed to inform us if the SSS will parade different suspects on the matter.

Anonymous Sir, I am so disgusted with your piece on Assad (The Nation, August 19). You wrote as if you are in Syria witnessing the war. Unfortunately, the only source of information for you and I is Westernbacked media of which we can’t authenticate its objectivity. Do you know that Assad’s government is still a constituted authority which has the right to defend the nation against rebels? Do you know that Syrian envoy is in Nigeria? What will be his reaction when he read your piece? Do you know that your so-called ‘Arab Spring’ was suppressed in Yemen, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, etc, backed by the West-backed regime? Do you see the hands of the West in the Syrian debacle?

Sentencing Assad to death by you is a sin against God. You should be careful of how to use the pen. Anonymous.

UEFA SUPER CUP

•Mikel

Keshi’s contract Mikel set is different from Siasia’s to repeat Babayaro feat Pg. 24

Pg. 41

•Gaiya tells warns on undue pressure on Keshi

Sport Wednesday, August 29, 2012

PAGE 23

Chika

Chukwumerije

yet to decide on Rio 2016

•Chika Chukwumerije

Pg. 24

•Wants end to hue and cry over London 2012 flop •Sets 2020 development agenda •Wish Nigerians competing for other Nations luck

Junior Amavubi arrive for Eaglets today Pg. 24

2012 Federation Cup was fantastic—NFF •Commends Gov. Fashola

C

HAIRMAN of Finance Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation, Shehu Adamu has lauded the organisational and technical aspect of this year’s Federation Cup which was won by the defending champion, Heartland Football Club of Owerri after spanking hard-fighting Lobi Stars of Makurdi 2-1 in an explosive encounter decided at the main bowl of the Teslim Balogun

From Segun Ogunjimi, Abuja Stadium, Lagos on Sunday.

Adamu used the opportunity to shower encomiums on Lagos State Governor for hosting a standard and glamorous Federation Cup final which the whole world watched live on cable television on Sunday.

24

41

NATIONSPORT WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012

NATION SPORT

NATION SPORT

Akpala: I am not Usain Bolt

T

HEY were born nearly the same day 26 years ago. They are both fast, though Joseph Akpala cannot run the 100 meters in 9.58 seconds. And he doesn't hold three world records, like Usain Bolt.

“I am not a track athlete. I am not Usain Bolt. On the pitch I can run very fast and hold the ball well. I love playing football and scoring goals," said new acquisition Joseph Akpala at his official presentation on Monday, referring to the Jamaican superstar. Akpala's concentration is on a bigger goal with Werder. "Achieve something great!"

The Nigerian native with a Belgian passport should be an "enrichment" for the Green-Whites, according to Werder head coach Thomas Schaaf. "We are overjoyed that Joseph is now a part of the team. We have worked a couple years already on this transfer. Joseph is the missing piece on the way to a successful season," said Werder manager Klaus Allofs.

Joseph Akpala showed off his skills with the ball at his official presentation.

Now Akpala has four more days of training to possibly be on the pitch on Saturday and take in the atmosphere at Weser Stadium. "I was impressed by the atmosphere in Dortmund. Not only from the Dortmund fans but also from the fans of SV Werder. They were really loud and their cheers could really be understood.

That was something special for me. I had never seen that before. In the stadium I thought it was a home game for Werder Bremen," said Akpala.

The striker said he's fit and ready for

Saturday. And Schaaf sees it that way as well. "He had a long preparation in Bruges and trained intensively in that time. He has a good fitness level. He is definitely ready physically. Now he has to get to know us on the pitch. I have no doubts that he will do that quickly," said Schaaf.

Maybe he could show off his skills on the pitch already against Hamburg wearing number 19 on his back. "When I left my homeland for Europe, I was 19," said Akpala on why he chose that number.

N

Mikel set

is different from Siasia’s •Gaiya tells warns on undue pressure on Keshi

C

to repeat Babayaro feat

M

IKEL OBI has revealed his hope to emulate compatriot Celestine Babayaro by helping Chelsea win the UEFA Super Cup on Friday.

In 1998, Chelsea parading Nigeria international defender Babayaro beat Real Madrid 1-0 to win their first-ever Super Cup. And Mikel has now told MTNFootball.com that he hopes he could repeat that feat as ‘The Blues’ battle another Spanish club Atletico Madrid for the prestigious trophy.

Mikel was part of history last season as Chelsea won their first-ever UEFA Champions League trophy and he has now said he wishes to add to that piece of silverware inside the Stade Louis II in Monaco. “The game will be interesting and tough.

Atletico Madrid are Europa League champions, that says a lot about them. They won this same trophy last season and will want to retain it,” Mikel told MTNFootball.com

“But I am looking forward to a good game and victory against them.

It would be great for me to win this cup, my first and Chelsea’s second.”

Atletico Madrid, on the other hand, will be aiming to lift this cup for the second time.

Juventus, Anderlecht and Valencia are the teams who have won the trophy twice in history.

Junior Amavubi arrive for Eaglets today

G

OLDEN EAGLETS opponent in two legged international friendly match, Rwanda's Junior Amavubi will land in Nigeria today ahead of the clash billed for the UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar this week.

From Tunde Liadi, Owerri Both nations are preparing for the CAN U-17 qualifiers and will use the two test matches to measure the level of their build up to the games scheduled for the

weekend of September 7-9, 2012 across Africa.

The General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Barrister Musa Amadu who disclosed this to NationSport opined that arrangements have been made to have both matches played in Calabar.

Venlo will bounce back against Twente—Nwofor

•Akpala

Israeli club drops hotshot Gwar IGERIA Premier League NPL leading scorer Sibi Gwar will after all not be given a contract by Israeli club Bnei Yehuda as he failed to impress while on trials. Coach Dror Kashtan has therefore released the Niger Tornadoes striker and Bnei Yehuda will continue to shop for players to strengthen their attack after the departure of Dino Ndlovu to Maccabi Haifa.

MTNFootball.com learnt that Gwar, who has netted 16 goals in NPL before he left for the trials, passed medical at the

Keshi’s contract

UEFA SUPER CUP

Israeli club and was looking forward to pen a deal but did not impress the coaches during a trial match.

“It is true, Yehuda said they are not satisfied with his output but this is a surprise to me and Sibi himself considering his ability. He is now expected back in Nigeria,” a source close to Sibi Graw told MTNFootball.com The former Kwara United and Enyimba star, who was recently capped by the Super Eagles, also has offers from Turkey and Singapore.

V

VV VENLO of Holland hitman, Uchenna Innocent Nwofor is confident his Dutch Eredivisie side will bounce back from their 2-4 home loss to Kenneth Josiah Omeruo's ADO Den Haag last weekend.

Nwofor played directly against his former team mate in the Flying Eagles' days and he and his club were second best in the tie.

The Anambra born player in a chat with NationSport from his base expressed his joy at seeing Omeruo again after a while owing to their club commitments but said he left the field sad because Venlo's loss further slid the team down the Dutch League table.

Nwofor, however, said he was confident they would stage a surprise come back in their next match on Sunday at FC Twente though he admitted they are up

against a top side.

On the loss to ADO Den Haag Nwofor said: "I can't actually say that anything went wrong. We had a bad day and we paid dearly for it.

Kenneth was in superb form too. I tried all the tricks I had in my armoury and thought I did everything right but I was unable to find the back of the net. It was a sad experience.

Nwofor said this on their next opponent, FC Twente:" We are playing away from home and Twente are at home and on top of the league with maximum 9 points from 3 matches. With their intimidating credentials so many people would have written us off even before the match is played. We are not deterred by that, we will go there and play our normal game and then await what fate has for us."

Venlo which remained in the elite division in Holland after a play off last season are currently 15th on the log with just a point after 3 matches while Den Haag are placed 7th with 5 points from same number of matches Omeruo's Den Haag play at home to FC Gronigen on Friday this week in a Week 4 tie.

He affirmed that the two matches would no doubt enable the coach Manu Garba led U-17 team gauge the physical condition of his players and to also look at the loopholes remaining ahead of the September 8 qualifier in Niamey, Niger Republic.

Nigeria's cadet side has ruled Africa twice in 2001 and 2007 since the competition began as a Nations Cup format in 1995 in Mali and lost in the final once in1995.

The Eaglets have, however, emerged world champions thrice in 1985, 1993 and 2007 in China, Japan and Korea Republic respectively.

•Mikel

HAIRMAN, House Committee on Sports, Godfrey Gaiya has lashed out on the Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi who was quoted in the media as issuing a sack threat to the Chief Coach of the Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi if he fails to win the 2013 Africa Nations Cup holding in South Africa.

Despite the denial of the story by the Minister, Gaiya, however, lectured the Minister on t h e contractua l terms of K e s h i which accordin g to him i s different from the o n e signed by former Coach, Samson Siasia.

“Ever

From Segun Ogunjimi, Abuja y Nigerian’s desire and interest is that Nigeria qualifies for the 2013 Africa Nations Cup. It won’t be palatable for the country not to be in the finals on the competition the second consecutive time.

So everybody is praying that Nigeria qualifies.

“But when you have employed a coach, it is only important that you give him some free hand to do his job. I am aware and believe that the conditions in the contract signed between the Nigeria Football Federation and Coach Stephen Keshi should be respected. But I am not aware of any clause in the contract stipulating that Keshi has to win the Nations Cup. “I want the parties to respect the contract conditions the way it was signed.

So giving a target at that point is really uncalled for. I mean giving somebody a target with a threat is uncalled for. You cannot say if you don’t win the Nations Cup, you will be sacked. But if that is what we have in the contract so be it.

“I recall that in (Samson) Siasia’s agreement it was put in black and white the land a mark that he has to attain during his stewardship. But I am not sure that in Keshi’s contract there is that clause that says if he doesn’t win the Nations Cup he should be fired”, Gaiya sermonized.

KESHI/NFF rift fabricated

by Media—Keshi From Patrick Ngwaogu, Abuja

S

UPER Eagles’ head coach Stephen keshi has described his purported rift with the NFF technical committee over his released team list for the make or mar Africa Nations Cup qualifier against Liberia as the fabrication of the media, insisting that no such rift existed.

“I want to tell you sincerely that no such misunderstanding ever existed.

They requested for my team list which I made available to them. I defended my choice of players and nobody Big Boss it, I never knew where the issue of rift came from.

“There is nothing wrong for them to ask for my choice of players, it is for the overall interest of the team. Though, that is not how it is done in other climes, but since it is the practise here, we have to follow it. I have no quarrel with anyone, I am enjoying my job, and eager to make Nigerians happy".

The Big Boss stood by his released list of players for the September 7 match in Liberia.

Kalu can do better than Emenike in Turkey-Agent

M

USTAFA SEZGIN, the Turkish agent of Uche Kalu has spoken of his client's switch to first division club Rizespor. The Turkish club who had been monitoring Kalu's performances in the competitive Nigeria Premier League for the past three years unveiled the Nigeria international last Wednesday.

There were fears that the player's International Transfer Certificate would not be processed on time to enable him make his

league debut over the weekend. It took the office staff of the Nigeria Federation less than 48 hours to process the player's ITC. Thus, Kalu debuted for Rizespor on Sunday, scoring and creating an assist in his side's last gasp win (2 - 1) over Gaziantep BB . ''My contacts in Nigeria told me about the Enyimba forward Uche Kalu, and rated him higher than Spartak Moscow's Emmanuel Emenike. They said he is the best player in the NPL, and I trust the judgements of these

individuals because they know a lot about Nigerian football. If Emenike can score 18 goals in the first division, Uche Kalu can do even more because he shoots better and is also dangerous at free-kicks,'' Mustafa Sezgin told allnigeriasoccer.com.

He went further : ''Rizespor know they have bought a very good player. The club is still calling me to thank me for their new acquisition.

I could have gotten Kalu Uche to sign for a club in the top division in Turkey but I want him to

first develop and horn his skills before we think of the next step. I have so much faith in this player. With my recommendations and the match videos I sent to the club's management, he did not need to attend trials. '' Renowned Nigeria soccer agent Friday Nwankwo - Kujah was part of the team that took Uche Kalu to Turkey. Before the close of the summer transfer market, another Nigerian player Vincent Eze is expected to be offered a contract by Rizespor.

•Keshi

Chukwumerije yet to decide on Rio 2016 •Wants end to hue and cry over London 2012 flop •Sets 2020 development agenda •wish Nigerians competing for other Nations luck •Chika Chukwumerije

T

EAM Nigeria’s captain to the London 2012 Olympics C h i k a Y a g a z i e Chukwumerije, says he will need some months to overcome the pains of the Games before deciding whether or not to have a go at the 2016 Games in Rio, Brazil.

"I will need to seat down to ask myself if I am willing to commit again, but surely in the next few months I will be able to give you a

By Julius Okorie definite answer," he submitted The three time Olympian and Beijing 2008 Bronze medallist who bared his mind at a media chat held at the Teslim Balogun Stadium Tuesday in Lagos, said he was pained because the result achieved as a team in London fell far below expectations even as he blamed hard luck on his part for failing to grab a medal in the taekwondo event.

"I trained long and hard for London 2012 using a program initiated in 2005. The same program saw me conquer Africa and win a Gold medal in the 2007 All Africa Games. The program saw me clinch an

Olympic Bronze medal at the Beijing 2008 Olympics. That same program helped me win a Silver medal in the 2011 All Africa Games, and Qualified me for the London 2012 Olympics. I had the Olympics on my mind for 4 long years, and I was ready for it. I prepared well, and on that, I ran into sheer hard luck. I commend and congratulate my Cuban Opponent, Robelis Despaigne, for his victory.

We both played a good game and fought a good fight, but in the end, only one can come out on top. He did – this is Sports!," he said He, however, said it was high time the blame game and lamentation song stopped as dwelling

endlessly on the part will only serve as a stumbling block to future progress.

"The pain of the London 2012 Olympics is still fresh on our minds. I am deeply hurt by the results, and so are a 160 million Nigerians.

There are no excuses to be given, no blames to be shared, and no escape from trauma of dashed hopes. The hurt is real, and like when one loses a loved one, we naturally ask questions in our state of anguish, as we seek to come to terms with harsh reality. I understand, perhaps more than most, that scorching National pain we all feel, yet at this period, more than ever, we must come together as one

and share this collective pain as one Nigeria, one country, one people just as we came together and shared the joy of two Atlanta Olympic Gold Medal, just as we came together and shared the joy of Blessing Okagbare jumping to a Bronze in Beijing 2008, just as we erupted with joy when the news filtered in that the Sydney 2000 Olympic Silver won by the late Sunday Bada-led 400m Relay Team has been justly upgraded to an Olympic Gold medal.Now, we must also come together to share a feeling, which seems very unpalatable to digest," he said The Abia State born taekwodoist and son of serving Senator

Comarade Uche Chukwumerije denied reports that athletes were banned from speaking to the media at the Games.

"Nobody specifically asked athletes not to talk to the media, not to my knowledge. When I prepare for my fight, I dont usually speak with anyone, so if on technical grounds I have to do that it is understadable but it is not to my knowledge that any athlete was stopped, they are all adults," he added He revealed that he has started the process of identifying and encouraging younger ones in the game, insisting that it is possible to identify Nigerians who can even perform better than him if efforts are made to discover and nuture them. "I am looking at a program that runs into 2020. We have a 160 milion Nigerians, are we saying we cannt get those better than me? I doubt it. I am looking at raising the standard of everybody I wasnt happy that I was the only one competing in my category, I know the younger ones will have challenges but that is where going to come in, I believe we can get them," he enthused.

Chukwumerije whose sports foundation has already lined up competitions aimed at discovering younger ones down played worries over Nigerian athletes competing for other nations, saying "There are Nigerians everywhere. if they choose to compete for other countries, I have no problem with that I can only wish them luck,"

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012

Life

25

The Midweek Magazine E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

Text only: 08023058761

Winds against the soul of monuments

•Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos

‘But I can’t see it done because I am sure what is ‘But important to them is the wall being expanded. They works’ won’t bother about the art works’ Aregbesola advocates national cultural identity

‘Rebury victims of slave trade’

An evening of literary feast

– Page 27

– Page 28

– Page 40

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012

26

The Midweek Magazine E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

The embellishment of monuments with art works gives such structures a soul and an identity. Monuments are among the most magnificent and emblematic buildings around the world. They are national treasures that showcase a country to the rest of the world. But the on-going remodelling of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos has raised questions on how much value Nigeria places on its treasures, especially art works. Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME reports.

Winds against the soul of monuments

A

RT works are things of beauty. So, they serve as decorations for homes, offices, parks and public buildings. A 1963 mural (mosaic mirror) by renowned artist Prof Yusuf Grillo stands boldly on the walls of the foyer of the Independence Building in Lagos. Over time, the art work has been part of the building. For decades, the mural, which is Grillo’s first mosaic piece, was not only a source of joy to the septuagenarian painter, but also the cynosure of eyes at the building. All that has changed. Reason: The art work has been defaced.

When the artist visited the building recently, he found that the mosaic mirror has become the unofficial notice board on which memos and bulletins are pasted. Stunned by this abuse, the 78-year-old artist sought to know why.

To his surprise, nothing came out of his effort because the mural meant little to the occupants of the building. Today, some art works, which have been identified with the 33year-old Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, may have been lost to the on-going remodelling of the airport, especially at the arrival lounge.

Of note are Grillo’s Flight, a five-piece frieze (on each side of the arrival lounge), and a glass mosaic mural, Spirit of Man in Flight, by the late art academician, Prof Agbo Folarin (erected at the entrance) which are among works affected by the project.

While Grillo’s 10 works have been reduced to one, Folarin’s mosaic was defaced by a new, though opaque structure, which concealed the colourful 1981 mosaic from public view. Grillo’s immovable works were in concrete, and about 12 feet in height and eight inches breadth for each of the 10 friezes mounted in two parts of five at both ends of the lounge. When The Nation visited the lounge, the works have given way to a new design, which is mainly glass and aluminum frames.

Stakeholders in the art sector are worried about the seeming instalmental killing of monuments like the airport, which is one of the biggest windows of the country to the globe. Is the new architectural design of the remodelling different from the old, which accommodates the works as embellishment? And why are the works, which were part of the identity of the monument not built into remodelling of the airport? Many are septical about the chances of factoring the works into the project.

Also, government’s insensitivity to artworks in public space was demonstrated during the renovation of the Adeniran Ogunsanya Shopping Mall, Surulere, Lagos, which claimed another Grillo’s mural.

Reacting, Grillo, who claimed he was never contacted said, would be a pity if the works are thrown away by the contractor handling the airport project. He said it would take a major operation to secure the works from the wall that is being relocated for expansion. “But I can’t see it done because I am sure what is important to them is the wall being expanded. They won’t bother about the art works,” he added. The retired art teacher said nothing surprises him about Nigeria when it comes to art.

He said: “I am tired of complaining. At this level, I am thankful to God. Hitherto, we (artists) never thought the government would look our direction. That we did all that was the starting point, and we can only expect things will get better. I can only look back with gratitude. Recall that we were able to get the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, the then President of the Federation to our Independence exhibition. We will get there.” Also disturbed by this development is the former President of Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA), Kolade Osinowo, who said: “it shows our attitude towards visual art. It just shows that people don’t care. In other countries, those works even if they were going to be removed, they would have consulted and asked, what do we do with these works? Do we build around them? How do we preserve them? But it is part of our life, we just don’t care, we have no sense of history.”

The former Chairman, Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA), Lagos Chapter, Mr Olu Ajayi, described the development as failure of the culture sector. He blamed the “Nigerian Gallery of Art (NGA) that talks so much about protecting, educating and projecting the Nigerian culture. Secondly, my association, the SNA, an organisation that has become tasteless, whose role it is to consistently engage the

•Grillo’s mural at the Arrival Lounge before the commencement of the renovation project

•Aviation Minister Princess Oduah

•Grillo

‘I am tired of complaining. At this level, I am thankful to God. Hitherto, we (artists) never thought the government would look our direction. That we did all that was the starting point, and we can only expect things will get better. I can only look back with gratitude. Recall that we were able to get the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe the then President of the federation to our independence exhibition. We will get there’ MONUMENTS public and create a robust cultured society, is busy with politics of self implosion.”

He asked: “How do we defend our quest for the return of looted or stolen art in museums abroad, or justify the billions spent on the culture and tourism sector when we destroy tourist attractions and cannot house our collections?” He said the apparent missing of art content at the renovation of the airport “is a testimony of government and its operators’ low appreciation of art.”

Spokesperson to Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Odua, Mr Joe Obi dismissed such fears, saying no contractor would handle those art works badly.

He said: “The works are being taken care of during the

renovation and they will be restored at even more strategic positions at the airport. They are priceless artefacts that we must treasure.

The way art works are being treated in the ongoing remodelling of the airport raised the need for the art laws otherwise known as ‘NGA Act’ to be given appropriate attention by the House of Representatives Committee on Culture. Since it was proposed in 2010 and read on the floor of the House, the bill has got stuck following lack of consensus between NGA officials and visual artists on fundamental issues. The bill recommends, among others, that for every public building, art must take at least some percentage of the budget meant for construction. It also advocates that the award of art contract for public facilities must go through a board or committee comprising artists and other technocrats in the creative industry.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012

27

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

•Edo Cultural Group at the National Festival for Arts and Culture, Calabar

Aregbesola advocates national cultural identity

O

SUN State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has identified the absence of a national cultural identity among Nigerians as a major challenge to its unity. He said Nigerians feel more comfortable in their sub-national identities as Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa-Fulani, Ijaw, Urobho, Kanuri, Kalabari, Tiv than in a national identity.

He spoke at the grand finale of the yearly Osun Osogbo Festival in the state capital. In a speech entitled: Exploring the Benefits of Cultural Tourism, Aregbesola said this lack of cultural synergy made it impossible for the nation to form national cultural symbols to which all the peoples of the country proudly and voluntarily subscribe.

Represented by his Deputy Governor, Otunba Titi LaoyeTomori, the governor affirmed that the aggressive promotion of tourism on a national scale can go a long way to mitigate this problem and help forge a pan-Nigerian cultural consensus upon which a national identity can then emerge.

Aregbesola stated that it is against this background that his government places a high premium on tourism, because government of the State of Osun believes that culture is the soul of a people as it brings people together, builds character, and encourages communal harmony and peace.

He thus reiterated his administration’s plan to make the state a huge centre of tourism in the world through the promotion of festivals and culture of its people. He revealed that his government, since its inception, has been working assiduously to ensure that the people’s cultural festivals are packaged and promoted in such a way as to put them on the world’s tourism map.

Aregbesola, who thumbed up this year’s festival as one

TOURISM unlike anyone that had been celebrated in the past with the quality plan and investment in terms of money and materials that went into the preparation for the event, said government’s objective is to see to it that a memorable celebration is achieved. According to him, the trend would continue so that each annual celebration of the festival will surpass the last one. “As a government, our vision is to develop a cultural tourism in the area where the Osun Osogbo Sacred Grove and World Heritage Site is located.

“Our plan is to make it a major international tourist centre, complete with modern and up-to-date infrastructural facilities. We are sincerely earnest about this. Already, the approaches to the grove have been given necessary facelift,” Aregbesola said.

He noted that other major festivals celebrated across towns and communities in the State of Osun are also included in the cultural tourism initiative of the current government adding that government will encourage individuals and groups to get ready to participate and invest in the sector. The Osun helmsman said that his government is fully aware of the great turnover that the sector can generate for the economy of the state if it is very well developed.

He continued: “This explains why we have been active in encouraging our brothers and sisters in the Diaspora, especially those in Europe, America, North America, the Caribbean, and even in other parts of Africa, to come and participate effectively in these cultural events.

“Apart from culture being the characteristics of a particular group of people, defined by everything from language, religion, cuisine, social habits, music and arts, the

•Ogbeni Aregbesola

socio-economic developments that the advanced countries of the world have recorded have the input of culture.”

He also expressed strong hope that if promoted and projected very well, Osun Festival could compete globally with world renowned cultural festivals such as the Rio de Janeiro Carnival in Brazil. He assured tourists and wellwishers of the state to go about their normal activities as adequate provisions for the security of life and property have been made so for a hitch-free celebration.

Film festival organisers call for entries

O

RGANISERS of the yearly IN-SHORT international film festival have called for entries from film makers for this year’s public audience award. The theme of the festival is Simple Ideas, Great Movies!

A statement by the organisers said entry forms and guidelines could be downloaded at http://www.inshort.org. Completed entry forms and all enquiries should also be directed to the Festival Director, INSHORT 2012 Email: inshortfilmfest@gmail.com Entry requirements include; a maximum length of 30

minutes, no genre restriction, i.e. fiction, documentary, experimental, animation, etc. Production year for all entries must not be earlier than 2010, and should be shot in English language but if film is not shot in English, subtitles should be in English.

All applications should be submitted in two copies on DVD Pal format, together with a CD with short synopsis of the film, a text file with complete cast list, photos from the film, photo and biography/filmography of director, filled application form, Two selection copies of the film on DVD Pal format.

Call for entries closes on September 15. Selected artists will be notified before September 25.

The International Film and Broadcast Academy, in partnership with Goethe-Institut Nigeria is organising IN-SHORT 2012, the international short film festival.

The festival, which debuted last year at the Silverbird Cinemas, Lagos, will hold from October 11 to 13 in Lagos and will be screening international short films from different genres. The festival is targeted at emerging film makers, student film makers and tele-movies of up to 30 minutes length from across the world.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012

28

The Midweek Magazine E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

POEMS

Enigmatic Jagaaban

By Akewusola Habib

Days without substance was the Picture before renaissance, You lithe up the redemption Lantern, To accommodate the oppressed Under your flamboyant caftan Day time now reflects And bring her usual bright Shine.

Tinubu Bearer of Yoruba’s kite, Your royal breath has lead Various heads to climb Kilimanjaro’s length But you never asked for Her tribe nor rent.

You forget your personal Case and struggle for My rightful place, As I try to accumulate this Page You are surplus as stars In heaven’s gate, Shape up this faith as Our support can only pray, Greetings to Oluremi, your Darling image and sister Till eternity’s age.

Enigmatic Jagaban, The prince that cater for Yoruba’s palaver, You skipped ester to build Yoruba a befitting shelter, What can my ink say, Than name you the Idolized elder.

I admire your customized Fila rituals The visual stigma, Plus the circular tentacles In sliver handle To balance Jagaban’s signal, Today I acquired one To show am an addicted Follower.

Enigmatic Jagaban, You turned oppressors into Debtors, Distributed brooms to sweep Them like Saturday’s sanitary Clean up.

Moving in a steady paste Running an intelligent race, Your symbolic wave Has destroyed every demonic Plate Smashing our national cake, Blessings will over flow than Accumulation of liquid on Coca cola’s crate These is all I pray, Enigmatic Jagaban our leader That is beyond disgrace.

•Zangbeto masqueraders during the festival

‘Rebury victims of slave trade’

T

HE success of this year’s annual Badagry festival has reaffirmed the organisers’ vision of transforming the ancient town from a haven of cultural renaissance to a nascent tourists’ destination. African Renaissance Foundation (AREFO), organisers of the just-ended festival, called for the reburying of African victims of the Slave trade in Badagry. President of AREFO, Mr Babatunde Olaide-Mesiwaku made the call during the closing ceremony of the festival. ”I wish to propose to the President, World Conference of Mayors, Dr James Walls and the Yenawa of Badagry Kingdom the reburial of African victims of slave trade in Badagry. It is only the reburial of those African slaves, who died particularly in America and Europe that will actualise the emancipation of Blacks in the Diaspora. This will not only be a major boost to Africa’s Reconnect Project with the Diaspora, but a cosmic fulfillment for the peaceful repose of the spirits of the victims,” Olaide-Mesiwaku said. He noted that he made the call on behalf of the Akran of Badagry, Aholu Menu Toyi I, adding that

By Ozolua Uhakheme Assistant Editor (Arts)

FESTIVAL the people of Badagry would support the project.

He explained that the festival is held annually to draw the attention of the whole world to Badagry’s rich cultural endowment.

“The festival is also to project and promote the rich cultural heritage of the African people and to use it as spring board to drive socio-economic development of Badagry through cultural tourism,” he said.

Other personalities at the festival commended the organisers for doing a good job.

The festival featured performances by Zangbeto masqueraders, Oya, Sato musical dancers, vothun, arts exhibition, nature sports, Gbonopo royal performance and Remembrance Day for Slave trade and its abolition.

President, World Congress of Mayors, Dr James Walls commended the organisation

Driving growth through intellectual property

F

OR long, Nguzu Edda, the Afikpo South Local Government headquarters in Ebonyi State, has been backward. It has no post office, bank, hospital and market. The roads are death traps and power supply is awful.

But an indigene, Chief Julius Ama Oji, the Ochiri Ozuo Edda, rose to address the potable water supply problem by sinking multi-million naira motorised boreholes at strategic locations.

Moved by Oji’s gesture, Michael Olughu and Chibueze Kalu, young men from the community, are contemplating using intelectualism to tackle the community’s woes. They came up with the idea of a publication entitled Nguzu Herald, which is intended to be a 120-page, allgloss, full-colour, hard-cover book. According to them, Nguzu Herald will be a yearbook, a magazine, and a photobook rolled into one with diverse appeal. The publication which they said will be ready by December, will be free-flowing in style.

“It is now time to preempt others of like mind to join hands with Oji to develop the village. Other people cannot just look the other way while Oji alone bears the headache of making Nguzu Edda a better place. While Oji is in the driving seat, others should join hands in this worthy endeavor to develop Nguzu.

This publication is intended to be an annual publication, powered by Ochiri Ozuo Edda, and supported by all. It will showcase the human, social, and cultural heritage of Nguzu,

Dada Aladelokun, Assistant Editor

BOOKS give insight to what is happening in the local government, and also provide a forum where all sons and daughters of Nguzu Edda will come together every December or January and rub minds towards the development of the village reminiscent of the popular Town Hall Meeting that has been embraced by most communities and even government,” Olughu enthused.

Olughu said: “The first 33 pages of the book will reach out and bring to the fore about 30 sons and daughters of Nguzu who have made marks in various fields of endeavour (business, politics, education, sports, civil service, e.t.c). Each person will be profiled on each page of the book and then be called upon to come out and think of one way he or she can positively contribute to the development of Nguzu. The book will feature about 20 Nguzu youths in all walks of life who are making some marks in their different fields of endeavour, who form the bulk of tomorrow’s leaders and developmental catalysts of Nguzu.

Each person, as above, will be profiled on each page of the book. The next 20 pages of the book will be dedicated to ‘friends of Nguzu Edda.’

of this year’s edition of Badagry Festival said the festival showed the heritage of the people and their awareness about it. He hailed the Africa Renaissance Foundation for putting up the package, noting that the event should be well promoted with a view to making the Blacks in Diaspora to return home and invest in it.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism and Inter-Governmental Relations, Mr Sewanu Fadipe said that the festival is very rich in content and the people are becoming more aware of its value. “What we witnessed today is the real culture of the people of Badagry. For example, the Sangbeto Masquerade we see here is the modernised version of the old one,” he said.

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State was represented by Hon. Cornelius Ojelabi, the state Commissioner for Rural Development, while Alhaji Nasir Kaka who represented the Director-General of Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation, Chief Segun Runsewe, witnessed the grand finale of the festival. Others include the Royal Father, De Wheno Aholu Menu Toyi 1, Akran of Badagry and Dr Wanle Akinboboye, Ambassador of Tourism in Africa.

LIFELINE

Whispers from the Sahara at Didi

D

IDI Museum will today open a special auction of 15 photographs of different sights of the Sahara Desert taken by ace photographer Kelechi Amadi-Obi, on its premises at 175 Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos. The photographs were selected from the over 5,000 shots of Amadi-Obi during the Third Expedition across the Sahara by Dr. Newton Jibunoh who led a new team of Desert Warriors.

The photographs had been on a monthlong exhibition at the Museum, and the auction marks the clincher to an epochmaking event.

The pictures capture the ravaging sweep of the Sahara as historical evidence of the lost land, the disappearing grazing fields, the depleting underground water resources and the general woes of desertification.

The auction is aimed at sensitising the public to the clear and present danger that the forest that occupied about 50 per cent of the land space in Africa south of the Sahara in the 60s has been reduced to less than five per cent today.

Through the auction, Didi Museum welcomes all to be a part of history, made in Nigeria by Nigerians for the world.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012

29 As far as local content is concerned, the ICT industry is uncompetitive because it is cheaper to import a base station than to fabricate one in Nigeria. It is cheaper to import a chip card than to make and personalise in Nigeria.

- Mrs Omobola Johnson, Minister of Communications Technology

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

Forecasts Q3 Sept 2012 Oasis Ins Turnover N450m Profit after tax N63.894m Access Bank Gross earnings N54.782b Profit after tax N11.907b Resort Savings & Loans Gross earnings N960.736m Profit after tax N165.540m Trans-Nationwide Exp Gross earnings N170.342m Profit after tax N40.568m GT Assure Gross premium N9.525b Profit after tax N1.241b Pharma-Deko Turnover N454m Profit before tax N10m Cornerstone Ins Premium Revenue N919.418m Profit after tax N41.002m Skye Bank Gross earnings N99.710b Profit after tax N13.933b CCNN Turnover N3.683b Profit after Tax N402.165m Custodian & Allied Gross Premium N8.540b Profit after tax N1.345b UPDC Turnover N10.274b Profit after tax N1.002b Nestle Nig Turnover N28.850b Profit after tax N4.014b UACN Turnover N48.313b Profit after tax N4.611b Julius Berger Turnover N125.541b Profit after tax N3.993b Diamond Bank Gross earnings N27.315b Profit after tax N3.107b Oando Turnover N123.207b Profit after tax N2.967b Presco Turnover N2.400b Profit after tax N613.760m Berger Paints Turnover N976.303m Profit after tax N88.258m Eterna Turnover N56.413b Profit after tax N859.734m Consolidated Hallmark Ins Gross premium N4.110b Profit after tax N511.564m MRS Oil Nig Turnover N76.804b Profit after tax N1.068b Transcorp Total income N2.658b Profit after tax N1.507b Evans Medicals Revenue N1.619b Profit after tax N64.656m AIICO Ins Gross premium N2.561b Profit after tax N344.406m GSK Nig Turnover N6.756b Profit after taxation N580.824m Abbey Building Society Gross earnings N1.300b Profit after tax N217.537m Regency Alliance Gross premium N1.300b Profit after tax N303.777m Total Nigeria Turnover N54.466b Profit after tax N1.804b Red Star Express Turnover N2.888b Profit after tax N200.557m Cadbury Nig Turnover N9.873b Profit after tax N735m Okomu Oil Turnover N2.176b Profit after tax N667.068m Continental Re Turnover N10.028b Profit after tax N1.207b Livestock Feeds Turnover N1.379b Profit after tax N51.654m IEI Gross Premium N4.250b Profit after tax N533.898m

•INSIDE:

New core investor to buy majority N equity in Starcomms

EW core investor may buy up to more than three-quarter equity stake in Starcomms Plc under the ongoing business combination proposal, which would give the new core investor full control over the board and management of the struggling telecoms company.

A source told The Nation that the new core investor, known as Capcom, has indicated interests to buy up to 90 per cent of the equities of Starcomms.

The source said Capcom wants to have full control of the only listed Nigerian Code Multiple Division Access (CDMA) firm to drive its new strategies without any encumbrance from minority shareholders.

Under the extant laws, major corporate changes, such as merger and acquisition must be approved by at least 75 per cent of share-

‘£11b aid for water, sanitation missing’

By Taofik Salako

holders, with each share carrying a vote.

The source said the new core investor wants to use Starcomms as an alternative entry vehicle into the Nigerian Global Satellite Communication (GSM) industry and is poised to compete with other GSM operators, such as MTN Nigeria, Airtel, Glo and Etisalat.

According to the source, Capcom will use Starcomms to introduce Long Term Evolution (LTE), fourth generation telecommunication technology, into the Nigerian market given it competitive advantage above existing operators.

The source disclosed that Starcomms’ main attraction was the preparedness of its platform for the launch of the LTE technol-

ogy.

Starcomms’facility was said to already have some features of LTE, which would enhance the new core investor’s quick entry strategy.

According to the source, Capcom would only have to upgrade and fine-tune existing facilities and software to achieve full rollout capability for the LTE technology.

Starcomms’ base stations were said to be LTE compliant while the new core investor would build additional base stations to ensure a competitive coverage.

The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) had recently placed Starcomms on full suspension following notification of its business combination discussions.

Previously seen as a success model of CDMA operation, Starcomms has since struggled with mounting

losses over the years as cash-loaded GSM operators eroded its market share. Audited report and accounts for the year ended December 31, 2011 showed loss after tax of N17.56 billion in 2011 as against N7.66 billion in 2010. Pre-tax loss worsened from N5.16 billion in 2010 to N15.62 billion in 2011. Turnover dropped from N29.03 billion in 2010 to N20.16 billion in 2011.

Dwindling operations adversely impacted the strength of the company. Dealers and subscribers’ prepayments dropped from N1.75 billion to N781.7 million while cash and bank balances shrank from N7.94 billion to N925.3 million.

The company remained under huge debt with short-term borrowings of N16.51 billion in 2011 as against N18.44 billion in 2011.

The losses eroded Starcomms’ equity base from N23.59 billion in 2010 to N6.02 billion in 2011.

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie with agency reports

A

LMOST £11billion of lifesaving aid, enough to provide access to clean water for around 100 million of the world’s poorest people with access to clean water and basic sanitation has gone missing, a report

by WaterAid and Development Initiatives, a United Kingdom based Non Governmental Organisation, with affiliates in Nigeria, has said.

The report revealed that donors pledged to spend £34billion of water and sanitation aid between 2002 and 2010, but released only £23billion. It said more than two and a half billion people do not have access to safe sanitation with a third of the world’s population and almost 800 million living without access to clean drinking water.

The report’s analysis of Organisation of Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) figures showed that, on average, 30 per cent of water and sanitation aid, per year, was never released, or was not accounted for, while more than a quarter of UK aid, or £192 million, was not disbursed.

A former advisor to the Department for International Development (DFID) and now chief of UNICEF’s water and sanitation programme, in New York, Sanjay Wijesekera, said he was “staggered” by the “scale of the problem uncovered by the report, particularly, when one considers the cost in terms of the numbers of children who die every day due to inadequate water, sanitation and poor hygiene.”

He regretted that more than 2,000 children under the age of five die daily because of a lack of clean water and safe sanitation while water-related diarrhoea is one of the biggest killers of children in Nigeria and other subSaharan Africa countries.

NSE yet to send annual reports to members •Page 32

•From left: Manager, National Lottery Commission, Mr lta Calix; Group Head, Liabikity Products, Sterling Bank, Mr John Akingbade; Head Lagos Office, Consumer Protection Council, Mrs Obidike Ngozika; Asst Director, National Lottery Commission, Mr Obi Iregbu, and Group Head,Corporate Development, Sterling Bank, Mr Shina Atilola, at the Sterling Bank Savers’ Promo draws in Lagos ... at the weekend.

CBN targets 62,000 ATMs by 2020

T

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said the number of Automated Teller Machines needs to increase from 9,958 in 2010 to 62, 440 in 2020 to achieve the goals of financial inclusion strategy, The Nation has learnt.

Also, the CBN is projecting the number of bank branches to increase from 5,797 in 2010 to 10,000 by 2020, while the number of Point of Sales (PoS) devices is expected to rise from 11,223 to over 400,000 during the projected period.

About 65,000 mobile agent networks are also required by 2020 to ensure the success of mobile banking system in the country.

Confirming these developments, an official, Shared Services Depart-

By Collins Nweze

ment, CBN, Chidi Umeano, said in a statement, that there has been an increase in the payment channels to meet the targeted growth for the industry. He added that PoS channels have been increasing in tandem with the aspirations of the financial regulator to promote the cashless banking initiatives. Umeano said the number of ATMs has increased in the industry compared to what it was a few years ago.

He said: “Though the growth in the number of Automated Teller Machines in the industry has been a bit slow, appreciable progress is being recorded in that area. My department is not in charge of the financial inclusion programmes.

However, there has been an increase in

Mutual funds’ net assets drop to N87b •Page 33

the number of PoS and ATMs in recent times.”

He said the emphasis is on the payment platforms to foster the growth of cashless banking and further make more people have access banking services.

“The issue of payment transformation is critical to the growth of the industry. The apex bank wants all forms of payments to take a new dimension. This would enable depositors to have alternative modes of conducting transactions and further increase participation in the system.

We are migrating from cash-based to the cashless economy now. It is a process that would transform the industry and economy in the next few decades,” he added.

How awareness campaigns, budget can drive insurance •Page 34

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012

30

MONEY

Banks seek foreign help to curb fraud T

O stem fraud, banks are contemplating offshore partnership with their counterparts abroad, The Nation has learnt.

Data from the Nigeria Electronic Fraud Forum (NeFF) showed that banks lost N1.15 billion to internal and external frauds between April and June.

Speaking at the NeFF August meeting in Lagos, the Chairman of the Forum, Emmanuel Obaigbena, said the planned partnership with foreign banks has become exigent because of global dimension of funds.

Besides, he said NeFF is collaborating with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the judiciary to effectively fight the scourge. He added that the forum was also working with Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) to enhance the fraud reporting format in banks.

For the cash-less policy and electronic payment system to work, members of the forum in charge of operations and information commu-

Chief Technical Officer, Digital Encode, Seyi Akindeinde, explained that internet and mobile banking constitute the most frequent avenues through, which frauds are perpetrated. He said internal fraud constituted only nine per cent of the fraud cases but amounted to N900 million while external fraud accounted 91 per cent of the cases totalling N250 million.

The Group Managing Director, United Bank for Africa, Phillips Oduoza, represented by Executive Director, Operations and In-

Stories by Collins Nweze

nication technology in their respective banks, must be proactive, he said, adding that banks must disclose fraud related cases in order to learn from one another.

Obaigbena said: “It is advisable for banks to give accurate data on fraud cases. They should not be scared of sharing statistics with each other. We have already set up a committee to sanction erring banks. The objective for this Forum is for banks and the relevant agencies to share data with a view to eliminating frauds in the industry.

The Head, Financial System Strategy (FSS) 2020, Toyin Jokosenumi, said the forum’s activities would check fraud in the industry.

He was also optimistic that NeFF activities would assist in the realisation of Nigeria’s dream of evolving an International Financial Centre (IFC), the high point of the FSS 2020 programme.

The FSS chief explained the background, vision and objectives of the strategy, saying other

NEPAD targets $1b for youth empowerment • CBN Governor Sanusi Lamido

countries, such as Dubai, Singapore and Malaysia, which adopted similar model were reaping the benefits.

• Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola (right) receiving a Corporate Governance Award from the President, Governing Council of the Institute of Directors of Nigeria, Mr. Thomas Chukuemeka Awagu during a visit to the governor at Alausa, Ikeja.

T

HE New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) is to raise $1 billion to support investments in agricultural research for development among unemployed youth.

The National Director, Information and Mobilisation, NEPAD Youth initiative, Prince Clement Enweremadu, made this known during the launching of CISTrade for Peace, Unity and Development and signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Youth Initiative, in Lagos.

Enweremadu, who is the initiator of Collaboration, Initiation and Stabilisation (CIS) framework, said the NEPAD Youth Initiative would empower young and talented individuals through trade in agricultural produce and other commercial ventures.

According to him, NEPAD’s emphasis on agricultural produce for trade among other commercial ventures, will enable Nigeria achieve food security as a nation.

He said the provisions of CIS trade for peace, unity and development framework was procedural, adding that it is the coming together of stakeholders in the identification of local products packaging agencies like the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO), Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) and others.

“These collaborations shall en-

R

ENAISSANCE Capital (RenCap), an investement and finance firm, has expressed worry over what it calls the shrinking deposits of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI).

In an e-mailed report obtained

by The Nation, RenCap said it was impressed by the lender’s stable deposit mix and improved Net Income Margin (NIM) but expressed anxiety about the bank’s shrinking deposits and integration cost pressures, which will become more pronouced in the second half of this year.

RenCap downgraded its forecasts for the bank this year, pointing out that the Net Income Rate (NIR) is likely to disappoint relative to its initial forecasts.

The target price for the bank’s shares was also reduced from

N16.4 to N15.5 per share, but it maintained its buy rating for the lender.

RenCap said the key to unlocking value in ETI lies in turning around the bank’s business following its acquisition of Oceanic Bank.

RenCap said ETI’s reported half year 2012 financials indicated that loan growth was slower at three per cent quarter on quarter as against five per cent quarter on quarter growth delivered in the first quarter of 2012.

It said: “This brought the year to date growth to eight per cent. On the other hand, the deposit book shrunk by two per cent quarter on quarter, which lowered the year to date growth from seven per cent in the first quarter of 2012 to five per cent. The deposit mix was unchanged, with term representing 24 per cent.

“Income statement showed that Net Interest Margins (NIMs) continued to improve, rising to 6.2 per cent in first half of 2012 from

six per cent in the first quarter of 2012 and 5.4 per cent in fiscal year 2011, largely due to flat funding costs and modestly improved asset yields.

“Asset quality showed impairment charges were up by 13 per cent quarter on quarter and 79 per cent year on year to $44 million.

“The impairment expense ratio increased to 1.1 per cent from1.0 per cent in the first quarter of 2012.

The group’s non-performing loans (NPL) ratio improved to 5.6 per cent from the 6.5 per cent recorded in the first quarter, while its coverage ratio stayed flat at 67 per cent,” RenCap said.

The report indicated that tax rate was 31 per cent, which compares with 31 per cent in the first half of 2011, 25 per cent in fiscal year 2011 and 30 per cent in first half 2012.

Return on assets and return on equity improved to 0.8 per cent and 9.9 per cent from 0.6 per cent and 7.4 per cent in the first quarter of 2012, respectively.

able us set industrial centres in all the states in Nigeria where youths shall be trained in different internationally recognised systems of farming, and other economic oriented practice,” he explained.

The National Director of Information and Mobilisation, further disclosed that NEPAD Youth plans to embark on exchange programmes with the international community, especially the Federal Republic of Germany, which includes importation of equipment to enhance product handling and packaging to boost trade.

According to Enweremadu, NEPAD Youth shall embark on a sensitisation programme in Europe, Asia and America starting from November. He appealed to corporate organisations to support the CIS Project to enable it achieve it objectives.

He stated that the scheme would help provide sustainable framework on trade for peace, unity and development, which is about the identification, packaging and marketing of Nigerian products locally and internationally.

“CIS Framework was an all-encompassing product, which will identify made -in -Nigeria products, resources nationwide and markets locally and internationally as well as ensuring packaging that meets international standards,” Enweremadu said.

‘Economic performances in rapid-growth markets decline’

Ecobank’s deposits E ‘shrinking’ says RenCap • Price forecast lowered

formation Technology, Femi Olaloku said the creation of the NeFF and the drive to migrate payment transactions to electronic platform creates a great opportunity for the banking industry and the economy. These, he however, said come with the threat of electronic fraud.

According to him, fraud not only translates to operational risk losses to banks it erodes the confidence of the public in electronic platforms/systems as a channel for transacting business.

CONOMIC development in the 25 leading rapid-growth markets (RGMs), including Nigeria, has been slow since the beginning of the year, according to Ernst & Young’s quarterly report.

It, however, described the development as “a temporary setback.”

Senior Economic Adviser to Ernst & Young, Carl Astorri said RGMs are well placed to weather the major risks facing the global economy because they have the space to relax fiscal and monetary policy.

This, he said, has already happened in some RGMs, adding that there will be further easing of monetary policy in the months ahead, particularly if the global economy deteriorates further.

Co-Leader of the Emerging Markets Centre, Alexis KarklinsMarchay said although slower expansion in the rapid-growth markets is likely this year, it will only be a blip and we will see a return to significant growth towards the end of the year. “Soaring domestic demand in economies starved, for some time, of investment and consumption will offer business exciting new markets for goods and services in the years ahead,” he said.

Senior Partner, Transaction Ad-

visory Services, Bisi Sanda believes the power sector holds the key to Nigeria’s economic growth and development. “If the Federal Government completes its privatisation of the power sector assets in 2012, it will provide much required fresh breath to the much delayed reactivation of stimulus of the manufacturing sector, including the reactivation of over 100 textile mills that closed down or relocated from Nigeria between 2000 and 2007.

Power is an enabler in Nigeria,” Sanda said.

Ernst & Young, an international consultant, was recently recruited by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) to assist them adapt, their financials to the International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) status. The CBN is expected to migrate to IFRS by the end of this year while NDIC is already at the impact assessment stage of its migration.

The IFRS are principles-based standards, interpretations and the framework adopted by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) that requires disclosure on a range of issues including risk management measures and changes in accounting policy.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012

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MONEY

Stop products’ ‘cannibalisation’, CBN tells MfBS

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HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has ordered microfinance banks (MfBs) to stop the ‘cannibalisation’ of their products.

It directed the banks to stop taking the features and functions of the products earlier created to build into another to hoodwink customers.

Senior Bank Examiner, CBN, Mr Nelson Amuwa said the development amounts to duplication of products, which is injurious to the sub-sector.

Speaking during a stakeholders’ forum for MfBs in Lagos, Amuwa said the banks must not fall into products’ proliferation traps in a bid to enhance their profit. He spoke on the theme: Product Development in MfBs. The banks, he said, must consider the peculiar nature of the environment where they operate before developing products.

He said: “The banks should always remember the environment they operate in determining the

Stories by Akinola Ajibade

type of product to develop. Don’t follow the bandwagon.”

He said it is not always necessary to design a totally new product, advising banks to be cautious when refining existing products.

Amuwa urged the banks to consider the cost effectiveness and profitability, simplicity, and cannibalisation before embarking on products development.

“Do you fully understand the cost structure of your products? Can you refine, repackage and relaunch existing product(s) before you develop a new one? Are you falling into proliferation traps? Are you starting product development to make the banks more clientdriven? Are we setting about development as a systematic process based on defined objectives? he asked rhetorically.

He said the banks must know whether they can handle the strain and stresses of introducing a new product before going into it. He

stressed that a strong capacity building would help the banks in achieving growth adding that banks should consider their competitors, customers needs and capacity before developing products.

Amuwa said product development should be market focused and driven, adding that the banks must focus on the needs and wants of their customers.

He advised the banks to put in place a Management Information System (MIS), which should contain the clients’ data, portfolio performance, cost structures, and internal control.

On corporate governance, Amuwa called on the banks to put in place managements that can buy into governance process, marketdriven, provide good oversight functions, clear strategic vision for the institutions, and commitment to lead the team. He said the development will help in repositioning the banks for improved performance.

BoA backs govt’s recapitalisation plan THE Bank of Agriculture (BOA) has described the decision of President Goodluck Jonathan to recapitalise and restructure the bank as timely.

Speaking on the issue, the bank’s Managing Director, Dr Mohammed Santuraki said the inability of the bank to recapitalise its operations in the past few years has affected its operations.

Santuraki noted that the bank had received only N30 billion of N50 billion approved share capital since the merger of its legacy institutions in 2000, and in about 13 installments.

He said the bank, despite its lean purse has within the last 11 years granted over N44 billion loans to about 550,000 agricultural and rural enterprises, adding that the development has created about six million jobs in the country.

On the proposed restructuring of the bank, Santuraki expressed the management’s readiness to support the government’s initiative. He noted that the government’s efforts would compliment the bank’s transformation programmes which started two years ago.

According to him, the efforts would enable the bank to achieve its core mandates of providing agricultural and rural financing, modernising its operations, and retraining the staff to create a more sustainable environment.

He said that the bank’s Information Technology (IT) programmes have been redesigned to accommodate mobile and agency banking operations to ensure wider acceptability and further encourage growth.

Said Santuraki : “In addition, the institution has been rebranded, by changing its name and brand identity from the Nigerian Agricultural Cooperative and Rural Development Bank to Bank of Agriculture. In the area of manpower development, virtually all staff of the institution have benefitted from various capacity initiatives rolled out by the bank. A lot of measures have been put in place to improve agricultural financing and subsequently increase the contributions of the sector to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product(GDP). The major one is recapitalisation of the bank, which without doubt, would help in fostering the growth of the agricultural industry.”

Expert seeks compliance with laws NIGERIA should take necessary steps to ensure it complies with antimoney laundering laws, Chairman of Publicity & Publications of Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) Chukwuemeka Eze has said.

In a statement, the tax expert said tax consultants, like other professionals, are required to gather as much information as possible from their clients and record transactions in the prescribed manner in compliance with anti-money laundering guidelines. “It is also expected that the rules and regulations guiding each profession must incorporate anti-money laundering provisions, a breach of which will result in disciplinary measures against the professional, independent of measures that may be taken by SCUML for such infraction,” he said.

He said the new anti-money laundering regime instituted by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) affects the privileged communication between professionals and their clients.

The apex bank had imposed additional Know Your Customer (KYC) requirement for account opening on commercial banks and mandated that Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBP) should provide evidence of registration with the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML), an agency of the Federal Ministry of Trade & Investment, among other things, before they can open accounts with commercial banks.

Chambers partner on Reporting Standard

• From left: Governor Isah Yuguda of Bauchi State; Minister of Lands Housing and Urban Development, Ms. Amal I. Pepple and Managing Director/CEO, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria(FMBN), Mr Gimba Ya’u Kumo during the commissioning of 288 housing units at Unity Estate Phase 1, Dungal Village, Bauchi, by the Minister.

Mobile money transactions may hit N2.4t

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ARRING any hitch, mobile money companies may generate N2.4 trillion transactions in 12 months, The Nation has learnt.

This is based on the projection that the agent locations needed to serve the mobile money customers will increase to 250,000 by the end of the year. Also, it is projected that each location will be generating an average of N26,000 transactions daily. With that, the 250,000 agent locations will be generating N6.5 billion daily, and N2.4 trillion in 365 days.

Before now, the 16 mobile money firms were as at March relying on 1,000 agent locations to serve their customers. They are making efforts to increase their agent locations to 50,000 and later 250,000 by the end of the year to serve their customers better and increase their volume of their transactions.

Experts argue that the feat can be achieved, if each location can generate N26,000 daily transactions on average. These transactions are expected to be executed through Point of Sale (PoS) terminals.

They said the disparity between Nigeria’s population of over 160 million people and 22 million available bank accounts would require massive mobile money roll out across the country, thereby boosting huge transactions via the mobile phone.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mobile Money Africa, an industry- focused company that helps in creating awareness for mobile money banking, Mr Emmanuel Okowgale, said the market needs several thousands of agent locations before it can record meaningful growth.

Okogwale said Nigeria is a massmarket for mobile money banking, stressing that the country’s 160 million population offers unique opportunities for the operators that are ready to explore it. He said Kenya, in spite of its relatively small population, has thousands of agent locations that help in driving the initiative.

He said the 774 local government councils, 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja) means that the mobile money market has

a huge number of customers to serve. He added that enough agent locations can make goals of reducing over 80 million unbanked population possible.

Okowgale said the mobile money market has the capacity to generate transactions worth billions of naira monthly, if human and material resources are well channeled.

He listed such resources to include adequate agent locations, sensitisation programmes, well trained staff, good telecommunication networks, among others.

Also, the Director, One Network, an industry-focused organisation helping to expand agent networks to 50,000 this year, Mr Sola Bickersteth said: “The mobile money industry requires an estimated 250,000 or one agent per 3,000. These agents will operate like a financial and citizen service supermarket for their neighbourhood of 3,000 or more. Each location has N11,700 potential income assuming the agent is averagely engaged with a customer every five minutes daily.

THE Nigeria-British Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with the United Kingdom and the Swiss Chamber of Commerce have partnered on the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

The reporting standards is expected to, among other things, bring uniformity in financial reporting and make financial statements more informative, encourage the enhancement of foreign direct investmentsleading to easy access of capital for domestic companies and promote easy regulation among industry regulators.

Speaking during the monthly meeting in Lagos on the topic Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards: challenges and effects on Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, the Chief Executive Secretary of the chamber and guest speaker, Jim Obazee, said the chamber was working with the Financial Reporting Council in the United Kingdom to develop a generic standard for actuary.

He also disclosed the intention of the chamber to partner the Swiss Chamber on micro entities.

He said the body was working closely with the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) on tax implication for cutting over to the IFRS. “We are working closely with the FIRS new management so that we can indentify issues that need to be tackled headlong and not bringing problems to the operators”, he said.

He said the chamber had concluded plans to establish FIRS academy as well as introduce some linkage and awareness programmes for tertiary institutions.

Firm holds workshop for banks H. Pierson Nigeria Limited, a risk management consulting firm, has said capacity building for banks, among other corporate organisations is the only way to realise the potentials of workers and make them contribute to the growth of the economy.

The firm, in a statement, said the decision to organise a workshop on essence of communications in a workplace in Lagos, was borne out of the need to enable organisations develop and maintain good communication skills.

It said there are different stages of communication, adding that each must be well understood to reduce problems in an organisation. The workshop saw participants from various sectors of the economy exposed to the fundamentals of industrial communications, among other issues that would lead to their efficiency.

The company’s Senior Risk Adviser, Mr Dhananjoy Misra said the firm is committed to the growth of corporate institutions and the economy in particular. Misra said when workers are able to communicate well among themselves, they would work as a team and achieve better results for their employers.

He said the firm has trained bankers on various risk management issues to avoid systemic crisis and further strengthen the industry.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012

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THE NATION INVESTORS

Corporate governance: NSE yet to send annual T reports to members WENTY-THREE working days to the statutory deadline, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has neither distributed its annual report nor issue a notice of Annual General Meeting (AGM) to its members.

This raises concerns about the adherence of the bourse to the high corporate standards it set for operators and quoted companies.

The non-availability of the annual report and accounts for the year ended December 31, 2011, eight months after the end of the business year, has been a subject of hushed discussions at the capital market, especially among operators and quoted companies, which NSE has compelled to pay fines due to late submission.

Members of the NSE, who are entitled to receive the annual report and notice of AGM, yesterday confirmed to The Nation that neither of the two has been received.

A senior market operator and former president of a major trade group said the NSE ought to have published its notice of AGM in national daily. NSE is also expected to send a copy of its annual report to the designated address of each

Stories by Taofik Salako

member-owner of the NSE. Market operators and officials of quoted companies decried the perceived double standards on the part of the NSE, which had tagged companies as falling below listing standards and imposed sanctions on the basis of default in submission of periodic reports.

A quoted company stated that it paid N1.2 million as penalty to the NSE for submitting its annual report out of time, based on post-listing rules set by the NSE even though the company was still in compliance with the timeline set by the Companies and Allied Matter Act (CAMA).

Shareholders also expressed concerns about the propriety of the NSE to sanction their companies when the Exchange itself could not meet such standards.

General Secretary, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Mr Adebayo Adeleke, said the eight-month lag was an in-

dication of the failure on the part of management of NSE to keep to acceptable standards.

He noted that while the NSE was quick to impose sanctions on companies, with more complex operations and accounting requirements, it now carries a moral burden of public opinion even though the members of NSE and operators may not be able to publicly voice out their concerns.

A company is expected to give 21day notice to its members and publish such notice alongside key details of the annual report in a national daily. NSE is a corporate body registered under CAMA. NSE also seeks to demutualise and list its shares on its floor, thus becoming like a quoted company. Section 29, subsection one of the Investment and Securities Act (ISA) states that: every securities exchange or capital trade point shall be a body corporate incorporated under the Companies and Allied Matters Act. Post-listing rules of NSE states that audited annual accounts of com-

panies should be submitted within three months after the year end while quarterly financial statements are expected to be made available 45 days after the end of the quarter.

Stockbrokers, who are members of the NSE, are also expected to comply with similar rule.

The Exchange had indicated that it would impose penalties on companies, which business year ended December 31, 2011, if they failed to file their annual report by 12p.m. on Monday April 30, 2012.

Market operators said the failure of the NSE to present its annual report by now raised serious ethical issues, noting that NSE ought to lead by example in best practices.

The 2010 annual report of the NSE was signed off in October 2011, 10 months after the end of year and was presented to members in November 2011.

When The Nation first exclusively reported concerns about the nonavailability of the annual report of the NSE in May, NSE responded that it had submitted its annual report to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on April 30, 2012.

Head, Legal, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Ms. Tinuade Awe, said “under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (, Section 345), The Exchange is required to lay its financial statements before a general meeting of its members no later than nine months after the year end covered by the statements. “Our plan is to convene the AGM for our December 31, 2011 year end, ahead of the 30 September 2012 deadline,” he said.

Operators however, had described the position of the NSE as unacceptable escapism, noting that while the same CAMA and ISA applied to all corporate entities, NSE

had relied on its rules to impose sanctions on companies. They said NSE should be held to the same standards it set for quoted companies and market operators under its regulation.

Neither the NSE nor SEC could confirm the status of the annual report and arrangements for the general meeting as at the press time.

A source said the delay in the annual report could also be a serious indictment on the regulatory and approval process at the SEC unless the apex capital market regulators had raised issues on the annual report, which have not been satisfactorily addressed.

NSE had tagged 46 companies as operating below listing standards and in default of market’s corporate governance requirements.

In its corporate governance and rules compliance assessment report known as X-Compliance Report, NSE identified four different kinds of tags or symbols to alert investors about the status of each quoted company. These included below listings standard (BLS), the first degree alert level indicating a company that has not complied with post listing rules such as late submission of financial statements, unauthorized publication, management failures among others.

Also, financial services companies such as bank and insurance companies awaiting regulatory approval will carry the appropriate symbol of awaiting regulatory approval (ARA). Companies that are undergoing a capital reconstruction exercise including supplementary issue, share buyback, split, share reconstruction among others will be tagged with capital reconstruction exercise (CRE) while companies that have indicated that they will be delisting or companies that are being delisted at the instance of the regulator would be flagged with delisting in process (DIP) symbol.

Cadbury Nigeria to resume dividend payment

C •From left: Representative of Ikeja Local Government, Mr. Taofeek Arubo (centre) handing over the approval certificate to re-name IPM Avenue as CIPM Avenue to President, Chartered Institute of Personnel of Nigeria (CIPM), Mr Abiola Popoola while Registrar and CEO, CIPM, Mr Sunday Adeyemi, watches.

Stable earnings attract investors to Unilever NVESTORS appear to be taking returns to shareholders.

Nigeria positions in Unilever Nigeria He said the company has fared Plc as increased demand for the

I

conglomerate has sustained its share price around its highest market consideration.

Unilever Nigeria is trading around its high of N36.45 in spite of the fluctuation at the stock market.

Market analysts said investors were anticipating continuing stability in the earnings of the fast moving consumer good company ahead of the release of third quarter earnings.

Interim report of Unilever Nigeria for the first half ended June 30, 2012 showed that sales rose by 1.2 per cent to N26.92 billion as against N26.6 billion recorded in comparable period of 2011. Gross profit however dropped from N10.13 billion to N9.76 billion. Profit before tax also slipped marginally from N3.93 billion to N3.82 billion. Profit after tax meanwhile inched up to N2.83 billion in 2012 in contrast with N2.71 billion in 2011.

Market analysts said the first half report still indicated that the conglomerate could sustain its threedigit dividend payout. Earnings per share stood at 75 kobo in first half 2012 compared with 72 kobo in com-

parable period of 2011.

Most analysts said they expected the performance of the conglomerate to improve in the second half.

Unilever Nigeria had recently distributed N5.30 billion to shareholders as cash dividends, representing a dividend of N1.40 per share, 27.3 per cent above N1.10 per share paid for the 2010 business year. Audited report and accounts of Unilever Nigeria for the year ended December 31, 2011 showed that turnover rose from N46.81 billion in 2010 to N54.72 billion in 2011, an increase of 16.9 per cent. Profit before tax closed 2011 to N7.98 billion as against N6.15 billion recorded in 2010, representing an increase of 29.8 per cent. Profit after tax also increased by 31 per cent from N4.18 billion to N5.49 billion in 2011. The conglomerate’s shareholders’ funds improved to N9.66 billion compared with N8.34 billion in 2010.

Speaking recently on the prospects of the company, chairman, Unilever Nigeria, His Majesty Nnaemeka Achebe, said the company has built sufficient structure to ensure sustained growth and

well despite the difficult operating environment and assured shareholders that the company would continue to consolidate gains from huge investments in previous years to provide improved returns to shareholders.

He pointed out that the strong fundamentals of the company show the success of its growth initiatives and its resilience to sustain growth into the future and deliver improved shareholder value over the years.

Citing the generally positive performance of the company, Achebe said the 27 per cent increase in cash dividends for the 2011 business year was a reflection of the commitment of the company to sustained shareholder value and its investor friendly policy.

“Our company’s performance reinforced its capability to continue to win the hearts of its consumers through brands which create a better future for them every day. Our strong fundamentals attest to the success of our growth initiatives and our commitment to continue to invest into the future and deliver sustained shareholder value,” Achebe said.

ADBURY Nigeria may resume dividend payment with the 2012 business year as the food and beverages company consolidated its recovery.

Market analysts indicated that Cadbury Nigeria might make its first cash payouts in seven years with the year ending December 31, 2012 citing the company’s positive reserves and improving profitability.

Latest interim report and accounts of Cadbury Nigeria for the first half ended June 30, 2012 showed profit after tax of N1.1 billion in 2012 as against N766.31 million in comparable period of 2011. Gross earnings stood at N16.1 billion in 2012 as against N16.13 billion in 2011. These implied earnings per share of 35 kobo in first half 2012 compared with 24.4 kobo recorded in corresponding period of 2011.

Shareholders of the company were persuaded to forgo dividends and support the board’s decision to plough back net profit after tax of about N4 billion recorded in 2011 to sustain the company’s renewed growth momentum.

The board of Cadbury Nigeria has indicated that the company might record a turnover of N9.87 billion and profit after tax of profit after tax of N735 million in the third quarter.

Market analysts said the earnings outlook of the company indicated strong possibility of cash payouts to appreciate the supports of shareholders.

Chairman, Cadbury Nigeria Plc, Mr. Atedo Peterside, had explained that the board decided to retain the 2011 net earnings to provide financial supports to its aggressive reinvestment and capacity enhancement programme.

Audited report and accounts of

Cadbury Nigeria for the year ended December 31, 2011 showed that in net profit rose by 217 per cent from N1.17 billion in 2010 to N3.70 billion in 2011. Profit before tax had grown from N1.95 billion to N5.08 billion. Turnover stood at N34.11 billion in 2011 as against N29.17 billion in 2010.

Atedo said the Cadbury Nigeria’s continuing investment programme was a reflection of the company’s commitment to the long term viability of the Nigerian economy adding that the company is being positioned to take advantage of the emerging opportunities in West African markets to grow its business.

“The company has performed credibly in the last 12 months and is resolved to continue on the current momentum of collective efforts in 2012. Our commitment to shareholder value remains the governing objective, driven by a focused portfolio of strong brands, a revamped route to market structure and a passionate innovative workforce,” Atedo assured.

He outlined that the company’s key strategic priorities this year would be to build a strong and sustainable business for the future as it drives its operational efficiencies and effectiveness to maximize its competitive advantage.

The company also plans to excite and re-engage with its loyal customers, bring fresh innovation with new and exciting consumer brands for Nigerian consumers while fostering and developing its talented managers and staff as the company continues its futuristic growth outlook.

He said Cadbury Nigeria has already started to explore ways of capitalizing on the company’s membership of the Kraft Foods.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012

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THE NATION INVESTORS

Mutual funds’ net assets drop to N87b OTAL net assets of the 45 mutual funds in the Nigerian stock market dropped by N3.15 billion to N87.27 billion, according to latest data on mutual funds by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Net asset value (NAV) of a mutual fund is the net value after the deduction of fund’s liabilities from its total assets.

The report by SEC showed that net assets value of mutual funds dropped from N90.42 billion by the week ended July 20, 2012 to N87.27 billion by the week ended July 27, 2012.

The decline in the overall net assets of mutual funds was due largely to declines in values of mixed funds, otherwise known as balanced funds as well as equity and ethical funds.

The report indicated that net assets of balanced funds dropped from N12.02 billion to N9.01 billion while net assets of equity funds slipped from N42.13 billion to N41.95 billion. Ethical funds recorded net assets of N5.72 billion at the end of the period as against opening value of N5.76 billion.

Real estate funds also witnessed marginal decline in net value from N16.327 billion to N16.326 billion.

However, money market and bond funds increased their net assets to N8.83 billion and N5.05 billion compared with N8.77 billion and N5.04 billion.

The report highlighted Union Homes Real Estate Investment Trust as the largest mutual funds with net assets of N14.09 billion.

Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund followed with net assets of N12.58 billion.

SEC had earlier estimated that some 230,000 out of five million Nigerian investors in the domestic market participate in mutual funds as most Nigerian investors tend to prefer individual owner-

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By Taofik Salako

ship to collective investment schemes.

SEC has, however, said it would implement policies to drive participation in mutual funds.

Director-General, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ms Arunma Oteh, lamented the low domestic participation in the Nigerian capital in spite of its large base of potential investors and assured that the commission would focus on driving domestic participation in the capital market.

According to her, the commission would find more innovative ways of building a culture of savings and investment to boost the number of Nigerian retail investors.

She said SEC would encourage institutional vehicles such as mutual funds and collective investment schemes.

SEC has also said it would introduce stricter regulatory regime for mutual funds to optimise the potential of the sector as a veritable diversification mechanism for investors.

At a meeting between the Fund Managers Association of Nigeria (FMAN) and SEC, the commission said it would introduce and enforce regulations to ensure that operators in the collective investment scheme sector such as fund managers, custodians and trustees submit timely and adequate report as well as benchmark the performance of the various funds.

Director, collective investment schemes (CIS), SEC, Mrs. Liouse Eni-Umukoro, said the Commission was also considering classifying funds into retail schemeswhich have greater regulatory requirements; professional collective investment schemes and specialised collective investment.

She added that fund managers

‘The report indicated that net assets of balanced funds dropped from N12.02 billion to N9.01 billion while net assets of equity funds slipped from N42.13 billion to N41.95 billion. Ethical funds recorded net assets of N5.72 billion at the end of the period as against opening value of N5.76 billion’

would also be required to adopt the International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) in line with the December 31, 2012 deadline for all entities with significant public interests to comply with IFRS. Both fund managers and SEC agreed on the need for an all encompassing strategic plan with the objective of expanding the reach of collective investment schemes to greater percentage of the invest-

ing public.

The strategy document will project expected growth in assets under management over the next few years. The document will incorporate innovations into the market such as introduction of incentives to encourage retail investors back into the market through collective investment schemes , introduction of distribution and sales points,classification of schemes to cater for the investment

apetite of the various clases of investors, review of minimum subscription levels for retail investors, reviewing the offering process for schemes, among other strategies to be considered.

Besides, the meeting also agreed on the importance of improving professionalism in the sector through continuous education, training and certification of fund managers and sales marketing staff.

•Source: SEC

Brokers laud integration of West African ARKET operators have M lauded the integration Exchanges mon front; the forum was aimed of the Stock Exchanges in the West African region as a welcome idea that would boost liquidity in the capital market and support business expansion by quoted companies.

Chief Executive Officer, Lambert Securities, Mr David Andori, said it was a very promising development.

“The development is in order.

I am happy it is not a full economic integration. That is what

•From left: Mr Chinedu Makata of the Corporate Banking Group of Union Bank of Nigeria Plc; Dr. Kola Ali, MD/ CEO, Union Bank (UK) PLC; Mr Francis Barde, Head, Corporate Affairs, Union Bank and Mrs. Yegide Runsewe, Zonal Co-ordinator, Ibadan Zone, Union Bank, at the Premier African and Caribbean Business Expo in London.

By Tonia Osundolire

is affecting the Euro Zone where they have a single currency without ammonising their fiscal and monetary authorities into the union. It created diverging policies of the affected countries,” he said.

According to Andori, there are still many things that have to be done for the market to be integrated. “Every market is peculiar with policies under, which they operate. There are differences in the various countries in terms of policy operation. It is a long way,” he said.

Last week, Exchanges in the West African sub-region in a two-day stakeholders forum, deliberated on plans to integrate their operations as a major move to further boost activities in the region, considered to be the hub of huge trading activities in the African continent.

The four Exchanges in the West African enclave included the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Ghana Stock Exchange, the Abidjan based Bourse, Regionale des Valeurs Mobilieres (BRVM) that serves the eight Francophone countries and the Sierra Leone Stock Exchange.

Analysts said single market would present investors with a wider perspective of investment opportunities while companies would have a large market within which to raise capital.

As a final move towards ensuring that the four exchanges come together and project a com-

at reviving efforts to promote the integration of the capital markets in the sub-region.

Speaking during the meeting, Acting Director General, West Africa Monetary Institute (WAMI) Mr John Tei Kitcher, said the integration of the capital markets in the sub-region had the potential to allow savings to be pooled across the region, cut costs and improve information sharing among members as well as enhance competition and innovation across financial institutions.

According to him, the market integration will also open up wider choices of financial products provided to regional and foreign investors and more integration into the global economy facilitated by increased attractiveness of markets.

Kitcher said while there were many proposals on how the integration could be done in the capital markets, they must be well fashioned out to ensure that the domestic and regional efforts moved in tandem.

“We should aim to integrate the markets more closely, in steps,” he said. He urged the countries to consider gradually relaxing Exchange controls, and eradicate or minimise withholding taxes in order to facilitate capital flows within regions.

Besides, he said regulators must pave the way with harmonisation of rules and procedures to international standard while allowing for the mutual recognition of each others’ existing rules.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012

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INSURANCE

How awareness campaigns, budget can drive insurance

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WARENESS campaigns and budgetary provisions are the major strategies that will push insurance penetration efforts next year, President, Lagos Area Committee of the Nigeria Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), Mr Tunde Oguntade, has said.

He told The Nation that the implementation of the budget would help insurers analyse the position of their industry.

Nothing that about 90 per cent of motorists have fake insurance documents, he said the insurance operations over the years are considered to be under performing despite the enormous untapped opportunities available to them.

On the performance of the industry so far this year, the he said given the financial reports of some of the operators, it has been good.

Stories by Uyoatta Eshiet

He noted that claims have been high, reflecting in the gross premium income collected by most underwriters and that it is on the increase.

“The NCRIB and the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) have been in the forefront and the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) is also augmenting through its media campaigns on Market Development and Restructuring Initiative (MDRI) all over the country. By and large, we want to see improvement in the new year given the income and awareness that have been created across the land,” he said.

On the effort of NAICOM to sell the insurance industry to Nigerians and its benefits so far, Oguntade said the efforts are yielding results, at least in the retail section.

He said the level of patronage has been micro so far. “The

economy really determines what happens when it comes to insurance penetration. But next year, as brokers particularly in the NCRIB Lagos Area, we are looking at talking to chairmen of local government areas, in compulsory insurance. There are public liabilities for public buildings, fire insurance for rented buildings and the likes, and we hope that with that, we would enhance patronage. Ideally, when the purse is lean, people should take insurance as an avenue to mitigate possible losses. But you found out that people do not take advantage of insurance. They have losses and they get poorer, because they did not take steps to mitigate such losses.

“We would continue to go to public places and create awareness. We are sure that next year, no matter how bad it is, we shall

have benefits of awareness in terms of insurance patronage. We hope to talk to treasurers at the local governments to see insurance policy procurement as one of the requirements for obtaining tenement rates and the likes. We are going to talk with the fire brigade too.”

Oguntade also said the industry would leverage on oil and gas, aviation and other avenues opened to the industry, to meet its set premium target next year. The local content, which allows money to flow inward into the industry is another area the insurance industry is targeting.

The President of NCRIB said: “With the inflow of forex and new accounts in oil and gas as a result of the Cabotage Act, we might meet the target. Also, because of the MDRI, we might be able to have much more money flowing into our purses, especially now that micro insurance

is developing and a lot of people are beginning to appreciate insurance, even though very slow, we should be able to meet the target. Even if we meet the target, we would still be less than seven per cent of the expected penetration.”

On the efforts to meet the requirements in the oil and gas industry, Oguntade said brokers have been attending training. “A number of brokers were in Dubai last month for the oil and gas seminar. This year, within Nigeria, we had about four local training and seminars and individuals have been partnering with foreign firms to learn and facilitate their knowledge of the oil and gas industry.

People are taking personal development drives and they are also using the industrial opportunities, such as seminars organised by NAICOM, NCRIB, HSBC and other avenues,” he said.

AIG set for liability management exercise

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IG has started laying the groundwork for what looks to be a major liability management exercise involving eight hybrid securities it issued in 2007 and 2008 in euro, dollars and sterling to bolster its capital structure.

Led by Citigroup, the United States insurer has issued US$250million of 2.375 per cent 2015 subordinated notes, primarily so it could migrate replacement capital covenants (RCCs) associated with the eight hybrids to the new bond.

AIG originally issued 1.65billion pounds, 1.75billion euro and about US$6.85billion of hybrid bonds, which have coupons ranging from 4.875 per cent to 8.625 per cent, between March 2007 and May 2008. Tender offers for some of the euro and sterling hybrids in previous years have reduced the principal amounts.

Transferring RCCs to new bonds is a tactic that many financial borrowers have used in recent years, to get around the problem of having senior bondholders forcing them to pay up handsomely for their consent to give up the covenants.

The RCCs were written at the same time as the hybrids — one of the hoops banks were willing to jump through to get the best possible equity treatment from the rating agencies.

The covenants essentially gave the holders of certain debt securities — those more senior to the hybrids in a bank or insurer’s capital structure — the right to refuse any redemption of the hybrids unless they are replaced with capital securities carrying equal or greater equity value.

Since 2008, however, many of the hybrids written before the financial crisis either no longer qualify as capital securities under new regulations, or are in need of covenant updating to comply with S&P’s equity treatment criteria rather than Moody’s, the latter having radically changed its rules.

Besides the structural issues, many

of the hybrids now look like expensive debt, carrying coupons far beyond what an issuer can now get on new tier one and tier two capital securities.

But before they can refinance the old hybrids, borrowers first need to issue a consent solicitation to the senior bondholders for those RCCs, so they can be amended and rendered toothless.

Neither Citi nor AIG would comment, but the move to transfer the RCCs over to a new bond gives AIG the ability to refinance some or all of the old hybrids.

Based on SEC filings, two of the eight hybrids appear to have been singled out to stay on AIG’s books as capital structure with high equity content.

While the eight existing RCCs migrated over to the new 2015, two additional RCCs were written and filed for two of the existing and lowest coupon hybrids that were issued in March 2007: the 750million pound 5.75 per cent Series A-2s, of which about 310million pounds is now outstanding, and one billion euros of 4.875 per cent Series A3s, of which about 409million euro is outstanding.

Both have final maturities of 2067, scheduled maturities in 2037 and calls in 2017, with step-up coupons if they’re not called at that time.

The new RCCs attached to them are redesigned to comply with S&P’s criteria for equity treatment, which, unlike Moody’s, still attribute enough equity to the hybrid structures for them to be treated as capital securities.

For the moment, insurance companies don’t have to comply with Basel III rules like banks in the US, but some of the biggest insurers — for example, Prudential a week ago — are ensuring that any new hybrid securities they issue or keep on their balance sheets are structured to get capital treatment if the Fed deems them non-bank systemically important financial institutions (SIFIs) in the future.

•First Lady, Cross Rivers State, Mrs. Obioma Liyel-Imoke, exchanging pleasantries with Regional Marketing Manager, Southsouth, MTN, Mr Kester Osahenye, at the Leboku Festival supported by MTN. With them is Cross River State Liyel Imoke.

‘Why we are partnering FRSC’

O

NE of the major reasons insurers are partnering the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) is to enhance the profitability of insurers, the Managing Director, Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc, Wale Onaolapo, has said.

He said the deal on the new vehicle licence would yield higher premium to insurers.

Onaolapo told The Nation that insurers’ data have been built into the new vehicle licence issued by the FRSC. He noted that the measure would boost insurance premium, which before now, are lost to counterfeiters.

He said the data development in the industry remains one of the best things to have happened in it, adding that it would help the sector in many areas, especially in planning.

Similarly, the President, Lagos Area Committee of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), Tunde Oguntade, said insurance has been built into the new licence scheme, adding that the effort would curb fake document as it cannot be counterfeited.

Oguntade said the initiative to partner with FRSC was to create rapport with the agency.

He said: “We wanted to know the position of brokers and underwrit-

US insurers opt for low-rated bonds

U

NITED States propertycasu-alty insurers are accu mulating lower-rated bonds as near record-low interest rates limit i nvestment income from higher-rated securities, JPMorgan Chase & Co. has said.

The portion of corporate bonds in the insurers’ portfolios that are rated A or higher fell to 54 per cent from 60 per cent at the end of 2005, JPMorgan analysts led by Eric Beinstein said in a report. The analysts reviewed holdings of the 20 largest carriers.

“Over the past six years, P&C in-

surers have become significantly more aggressive with their portfolios,” Beinstein said. “Their allocations are much closer to the market.”

Property-casualty companies build investment portfolios to back costs from auto accidents, natural disasters, lawsuits and other claims. The firms held about $1.5 trillion in assets at the end of last year, with $927 billion in fixed income, according to JPMorgan, which reviewed data from the Federal Reserve and National Association of Insurance Commis-

sioners.

Allstate Corp. (ALL), American International Group Inc. (AIG), and Travelers Cos., the largest publicly traded U.S.-based property- and-casualty insurers, have been pressured by declining yields on bonds. Fed Chairman Ben S. Bernanke has pledged to keep interest rates low through at least late 2014 to stimulate economic growth.

AIG, the bailed-out insurer, posted $1.15 billion in secondquarter investment income at its Chartis property- casualty in-

surer, up one per cent from a year earlier. AIG altered its portfolio as the yield on the 10-year treasury fell to 1.65 per cent on June 30 from 3.16 per cent a year earlier.

The improvement in investment income reflects “redeployment of excess cash and short-term investments away from our concentration on non-taxable municipal bonds into higher yielding corporate and structured securities,” Chartis Chief Executive Officer Peter Hancock said in an August 3 conference call.

ers in the new licensing scheme and the benefits. We started on a good note. We have seen that insurers are now properly placed in the licensing scheme. Now, you cannot have your vehicle licence renewed without a valid insurance cover. It is a good step in the right direction.

“Now that they have brought in the underwriters. The issue of agency would also be sorted out. It is a good step as it would lead to almost 80 per cent motorists buying insurance, even if it is just a third party.

“We welcome it and would collaborate with them and the same time. We are looking at a way of ensuring that brokers are properly located in the scheme of things.”

On the proposed electronic licence, Oguntade said it is good. According to him, this is one of the ways to curb fake certificates.

He said the device would help to increase the volume of patronage and ensure that people get valid insurance cover and good claims arises when the need arises. It would encourage them to look at other areas outside the statutory requirement, he said.

“If people get settlement in third party, it would encourage them to look at luxury covers, such as life, assets protection, fire and burglaries and the likes. It goes beyond the ordinary statutory cover – third party,” he added.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012

35

AVIATION FAAN to ban unregistered cabs THE Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) may soon ban unregistered truck owners and cab operators at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, to ease free flow of traffic.

Commissioner of Police, Airport Police Command, Mr Olatunji Caulcrick, said the police would rid Lagos access roads of commercial motorcycle operators.

The commissioner said the Police is doing this to complement the efforts of the Lagos State government to ban commercial motorcycle operators from operating on dualised roads in the state.

Caulcrick, however, added that before the new traffic law introduced by the state, the command had banned commercial Okada (motorcycle) operators from the airport.

On why some of these operators still operate at the Lagos airport vicinity, he said despite their good intentions, some people find it difficult to obey laws. He added that the police is doing everything possible to enforce the laws.

Also speaking, General Manager, Public Affairs, FAAN, Mr Akin Olukunle, said efforts are on by the authority to check the menace of these persons in Lagos.

Medview acquires Boeing 747,767 for hajj operations •From left: Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Dr. Harold Demuren; General Managing Director, Air Worthiness and Standard, Kayode Ajiboye and Nigeria Representative International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Babatunde Aliu at the Africa Ministerial Conference “Aviation Safety in Africa” in Abuja.

PHOTO: ISAAC JIMOH AYODELE

Dana Air crash: Airlines, agencies lose millions S

OME airlines and aviation agencies have been losing millions of naira in revenue since the June 3 Dana plane crash in Iju-Ishaga, a Lagos suburb.

The revenue would have accrued from ticket sales, landing and parking fees, ground rent and five per cent ticket sales charge collected by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

The affected carriers include Dana Air, Air Nigeria, First Nation Airways and Chanchangi Airlines.

The government stopped Dana from flying; the others temporarily suspended operations.

Although First Nation has been doing offshore maintenance on its aircraft for about two months, it has lost significant revenue. Air Nigeria suspended its domestic operations pending an audit by the NCAA. Also, Chanchangi Airlines suspended operations because one of its aircraft flown abroad for maintenance over a year ago is yet to return.

Bi Courtney Aviation Services Limited,manager of the Murtala Muhammed Airport terminal ,

Ikeja, Lagos is also losing part of its revenue accruing from terminal charges.

According to a source, Dana Air before the June 3 crash, made over N60 million daily from ticket sales.

With its closure, the airline would have lost over N540 million from ticket sales , aside other revenue, the source added.

To reduce the loss for Air Nigeria, those that leased it aircraft repossessed four of them, since it could no longer meet its financial obligations.

Another source hinted that another domestic carrier has been engaged by the lessor to carry out third party maintenance on the aircraft and to get a new lessee, that could acquire them.

Last month Air Nigeria confirmed moves by one of its lessors to repossess four of its aircraft from its fleet.

The lessor’s plans followed default in lease payment which has been accentuated as a fall out of the grounding of the domestic operations of the carrier, by NCAA. In a statement by its Head of Corporate Communication, Mr

Sam Ogbogoro, Air Nigeria, said: “ Subsequent to the temporary suspension of Air Nigeria’s regional and domestic flight operations by the NCAA our lessors have been requesting to repossess some of the aircraft in our fleet and we are fully co-operating to return their aircraft.

“GECAS, one of our lessors, is already in the process of calling back four of the Boeing 737-300 aircraft and Air Nigeria is fully cooperating in line with the Cape Town Convention to expedite the repossession process.”

The prolonged closure of Dana Air, which the staff said, was against international best practices for airlines that have been involved in air disaster calls for an urgent review of the action.

In a letter to President Goodluck Jonathan, the staff said: “ We, the over 558 directly-employed Nigerian staff of Dana Air, hereby appeal to Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, through the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, to urgently lift the suspension on Dana Air operations in line with global best practices and international regulations guiding air accidents.”

Expert seeks plan for aviation

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VIATION manpower development expert Babatunde Obadofin has called on the Federal Government to initiate a development plan that will stimulate the growth and development of the sector.

During an interview with The Nation, Obadofin, who is the Managing Director, Aero Consult Limited, said the absence of a development plan is responsible for the inconsistency in policy, adding that this has erected a road block on efforts to turn around the sector.

He said until such a strategy is put in place which will cover short, medium and long terms, the industry is dancing around a circle, adding that the absence of such plan would allow anybody appointed minister of aviation to do whatever he or she likes.

Obadofin said: “As an experienced player in this sector, the challenges are not overwhelming.

They are insurmountable. As a be-

By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

ginning step, I am proposing putting in place a master plan.

“What the master plan will do is to give an idea of how the government will tackle the challenges that affect operators in the sector.The master plan should be so deep in concept that it will outlive whoever is appointed as aviation minister to drive the process of its implementation. It should be so project specific that any change in administration, at the level of the government should not have any negative impact in the implementation of the master plan.

“It should be seen as robust working document, so solid that regardless of change in the government, the master plan will be there to provide a guide on how to develop the sector.

“The master plan must make provision for issues in the short medium and long term. That is the way to go as the situation un-

folds.” On how to get domestic airlines on track in terms of assistance from the government, he said: “Undeniably, domestic carriers are in serious trouble in Nigeria today. This is due largely to the fact that they are groaning under a huge burden of costs. The costs vary from direct to indirect which have serious financial impact on their operations.

“It is for this reason we have been calling on the government to come to their aid, otherwise whatever happens to the operators will affect our economy.

“We will not like a situation, where foreign airlines will come here to carry out domestic operations.

“We are losing so muh money in the international scene that we cannot afford to allow the domesic scene to suffer.This is because we do not have a level playing ground.The same government sold us out to international carriers.”

ONE of the designated carriers for this year’s hajj Medview Airlines has acquired two Boeing 747 and Boeing 767 for the air lift of pilgrims.

The General Manager, Mr David Babatunde, said the aircraft was acquired to boost the exercise.

The Federal Government has approved five carriers to airlift Muslim pilgrims from the South south , South west and South east.

Babtunde did not state the exact number of pilgrims that the carrier will air lift. He noted that it is when NAHCON comes out with the figures of expected pilgrims nationwide that the carrier would be able to determine the figures that would be airlifted, adding that it is equally awaiting slot allocation from the commission.

He said: “The stage has been set and we are ready for the exercise and we pray to Allah to grant us a safe journey to and from Saudi Arabia. We are using B747 with the configuration for 517 people and in all the zones that we are operating; we will be using two aircraft, which have been on ground for sometime now.

“Talking on the hitch-free exercise, the previous ones we partook in are still very fresh in the memories of our passengers and the officials.

Medview is noted for performance and I can assure our intending pilgrims that this year will not be different from the previous years.

We will airlift them as scheduled to and fro and with good service.”

Commenting on the just concluded lesser Hajj by the carrier, Babatunde described the exercise as a success as the carrier was able to conclude the two phases of the exercise without any major hitches.

About 2, 000 pilgrims were airlifted for the exercise by the carrier.

Meanwhile, in preparation for the exercise, NAHCON last Thursday sent delegates to the Hajj and Cargo terminal of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos to inspect the facilities on ground.

Delta wins award DELTA Airlines has been nominated as ‘Best Flight Experience to Africa’ by Executive Travel Magazine’s readers. Delta won gold status, the highest award, ahead of South African Airways and British Airways in the magazine’s Leading Edge Awards.

The yearly awards recognise travel providers that offer innovative, high-quality products and services to business travellers.

This year marked the 10th anniversary of Executive Travel Magazine’s annual Leading Edge Awards. Each year, the magazine’s readers nominate top travel industry providers in categories ranging from the best international airline to the top hotel group for business travellers. In addition to its award for ‘Best Service to Africa’, Delta won 11 accolades.

Delta has flown almost three million customers between Africa and the United States since our launched we first flights to Africa in 2006 and this award shows our customers value the service we offer,” said Perry Cantarutti, Delta’s senior vice president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. “We’ll continue to invest in our customers’ experience by introducing more flat-bed seats and international Wi-Fi on Africa routes over the coming months,” he added.

BA to boost ‘flyers’ confidence’ BRITISH Airways is launching a brand new instructional video for nervous flyers on its in-flight entertainment system from September 1.

The film, presented by British Airways pilot and course leader, Captain Steve Allright, takes information from the British Airways Flying with Confidence course – the airline’s one-day fear of flying programme.

In the video, Allright explains the technical side of flying, how an aircraft operates and other areas that can give some customers cause for concern, such as turbulence. The video also gives advice from clinical psychologists on the course including relaxation techniques, and how best to deal with anxiety and feelings of panic.

The airline has also put a preview clip from the video on its YouTube site for customers who would like to know more about the course ahead of their flight.

Customers will be able to watch the complete video on the British Airways WellBeing channel, one of the hundreds of options on the airline’s extensive in-flight entertainment system.

British Airways Captain Steve Allright, who flies Boeing 747s, said: “The British Airways Flying with Confidence course has helped more than 45,000 people over the past 25 years.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012

36

MARITIME Firm to fight pollution Stories by Oluwakemi Dauda

T

HE management of African Circle Pollution Management Limited (ACPML) has promised to evacuate solid waste from the seaports.

The Acting Regional Manager, West, ACPML, Miss Oyenike Okeowo, said the firm has taken delivery of 12 specialised trucks for the exercise.

The trucks, which have specialised components for easy evacuation of waste, were unveiled at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Control Tower, Tin Can Island Port (TCIP), Apapa, Lagos.

The delivery of the 12 trucks followed earlier acquisition of a set of vehicles equipped with facilities to compress waste loaded into the rear compartments.

Port Manager, TCIP, Apapa, Lagos, Efioita Okon Ephraim, who unveiled the trucks, said the acquisition of the vehicles would help in meeting the terms of the agreement the firm signed with the Federal Government through NPA about five years ago.

He said steps taken by ACPML would helped the country to meet the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) conventions and guidelines on safety and environment.

Ephraim said the new trucks were improvements over the previous ones because of the work they are expected to do in the port environments and lauded its management for the acquisition of the trucks and other equipment to enhance its operations at the port.

The trucks and equipment, investigation revealed, were provided by the company in line with the requirements of IMO of the first world class oil waste treatment ‘G’ Force Plant in sub-Sahara Africa at the Snake Island Integrated Free Zone, Lagos and it will help to boost the image of the country among maritime nations.

•The waste evacuation trucks

PHOTO: OLUWAKEMI DAUDA

NIMASA’s plan to create 250,000 jobs under threat P

LAN by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to create 250,000 jobs in 2015 is under threat, The Nation has learnt.

Reason: The certificates it issues to seafarers are not recognised by foreign shipping firms.

The jobs NIMASA plans to create are expected to come from improved indigenous capacity in shipping trade being dominated by multinationals.

A senior official at the Maritime Academy, Oron, Cross River State, told The Nation that despite taking exams set by NIMASA, the school’s products are not allowed to man foreign vessels because they lack vital sea time training.

Sea time training is on board the ship internship for six months for seafarers after leaving the Matitime Academy.

According to the official, those who are lucky to get jobs, complain of poor remuneration because indigenous operators suffer patronage,

T

• Foreign firms reject Agency’s certificates Stories by Oluwakemi Dauda, from Dubai

despite the Cabotage Act. The Act reserves coastal shipping for indigenous operators.

A senior official of the Ministry of Transport, who craved anonymity, said seafarers have not been finding things easy since the collapse of the Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL).

NNSL’s lequidation compounded the seafarers’ problem as they were expected to go for seatime training.

NNSL, he said, was liquidated in 1995 because it could not pay its bills, Seafarers, he said, are expected to undergo the International Maritime Organsation (IMO) two-year mandatory practical training under the Standards of Watchkeep Training Convention. With this training, the official said, the seamen could work on board any

•DG NIMASA, Akpobolokemi

vessel in the world.

The certificates issued by NIMASA without the training, he said, cannot secure them jobs outside the country.

National President, Nigeria Merchant Nay Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association Comrade Matthew Alalade said NIMASA’s certificates could

only be used to secure jobs outside the country.

Alalade said there are a lots of qualified indigeneous seafarers, but that they are unable to sail due to the certificates that cannot take them across the oceans.

“We have a lot of seafarers, but the certificates are not in tandem with what is obtainable globally. Our certificates are restricted to Nigeria. They only issue near coastal certificates compared to what is issued in Ghana and the United Kingdom, which cannot even take you to the high sea,” Alade said.

But the Director-General of NIMASA, Mr Patrick Apobolokemi, said the Agency is addressing the problem.

He said the agency has spent N1.65 billion in training seafarers abroad. With this, he added, the seamen would learn the latest skills in the industry.

Air Force, Agency collaborate on maritime security

HE Nigerian Air Force and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) are set to work together in securing the waterways.

Speaking after an interactive session with the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall M. D. Umar, NIMASA Director-General Patrick Akpobolokemi said the agency went into the partnership for the development of maritime.

The partnership, he said, was part of the present administration’s transformation agenda to make the sec-

tor a hub in Africa.

The NIMASA boss condemned the incessant crude theft on the waterways, noting that the collaboration between the agency and the Air Force in air surveillance would help in stemming the tide.

“While the Nigerian Navy patrols the waterways and the Nigerian Air Force the airspace, it means that we have closed all gaps of illegality on the nation’s terri-

torial waterways.”

He said NIMASA would fund the operations of NAF, adding that the agency would not interfere with the activities of the NAF officers in its duties.

Akpobolokemi also sought the assistance of the Chief of Air Staff in the training of the agency workers in search and rescue operations, saying the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has chosen Ni-

geria as the regional coordinator of search and rescue in the west and central African coast.

Responding, Umar expressed optimism on the success of the partnership, describing it as welcome.

He said: “The Nigerian Air Force is willing, able and ready to partner with NIMASA in tackling the serious problems in the nation’s maritime domain.”

Umar said the Air Force had an ATR 42 aircraft that could be sustained for eight hours in the air, adding that it would also be useful to the agency for search and rescue.

‘Expired cargoes at Ikorodu terminal’ THE Ikorodu Lighter Terminal, the warehouse for overtime containerised cargoes from the Lagos Ports and terminals, may be harbouring expired and dangerous goods.

Investigation by The Nation showed that some goods that can pose human and environmental hazards are abandoned at the terminal.

A senior government officer, who does not want his name in print, told The Nation that there is need for the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigerin Ports Authority (NPA) to take stock of all overtime cargoes at the terminal to avert problems.

He alleged that many containers at the terminal have expired consignments that are inimical to health “The issue of overtime cargo at Lagos Ports has almost, been resolved and virtually cleared by the Federal Government, but the Ikorodu Terminal is a classic case where many things are not thought through and the Federal and Lagos State governments need to do something to correct the situation and avert danger to the population,” he said.

Nigerian workers posted abroad SOME Nigerian employees of the world’s largest container carrier, Maersk’s Line, are now working in countries like Holland, Denmark and India as expatriates.

Speaking in his office in Lagos, Managing Director of Maersk Nigeria Limited and Head of the Central West Africa Cluster, Mr Jan Thorhauge, said the Nigerians are those who have been trained under the Maersk International Shipping Education (MISE) programme.

He said there are majority of the 300 employees in the Maersk Central West Africa Cluster are Nigerians.

“Fifteen years ago, we were a Danish company operating globally, but today, we are a truly global company with various nationals working in different parts of the world,” he said. Thorhauge also said the firm is interested in reducing the cost of transport by cutting inefficiencies.

He said if channels are dredged to accommodate large vessels to come into the ports, the cost of shipping would fall.

“Our interest in an efficient and value adding transport solution is the reason behind the acquisition of 22 WAFMAX vessels to come into West Africa. These vessels can take up to 4,500 containers, but unfortunately in Nigeria, they can call only in Apapa. They can’t call at Tin-Can because of their length. They can’t call at Onne. They can’t call at Cotonou. They can’t call at Lome and a few other ports in the sub-region, but we’ll continue to research on measures to drive down costs,” he added.

He said the WAFMAX vessels visiting Apapa Port have boosted productivity, achieving up to 60 moves per hour.

Shippers decry arbitrary port charges THE Nigerian Shippers Council has deplored what it calls arbitrary charges by shipping companies, terminal operators and other agencies at the nation’s ports.

Its Executive Secretary, Captain Adamu Biu, said some service providers had introduced new tariff besides those approved by the government.

Biu spoke at a forum in Lagos on arbitrary legal shipping charges organised by the Council in collaboration with Akabogu and Associates.

Biu, represented by the Director of Legal Services, Mr Hassan Bello, said the concession of ports to private terminal operators had brought about structural changes in tariff.

The Council, he said, observed that the factors which led to the review of local shipping charges in 1997 had recurred, adding that some service providers have introduced new tariff outside those approved without consultation the Council.

“We have also received several complaints from shippers and freight forwarders on excessive charges by service providers,” he said.

37

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

Originality, copycats and can art

Emenike’s Impasto opens at Terra Kulture

By Ozolua Uhakheme Assistant Editor (Arts)

A

“D

ID you meet one Bashorun, a Yabatech teacher, very recently?” Tola Wewe asked me in a Facebook message around 3:00 am, August 9, 2012. “This Bashorun has a work on display at the BoI exhibition at the London Olympics,” Wewe continued. “It was like a copy of your ‘can’ works.”

Wewe was in London for the art exhibition displaying his work and selections from more than two hundred other star artists drawn from all over world. Organised as part of the 2012 Olympics, the exhibition was sponsored and presented by official Chinese organisations.

“Bashorun? I don’t recollect knowing him,” I responded.

“What is the BoI exhibition? And what does Bashorun do?

Collage on canvass, or woven cans?” I was referring to techniques that I used in the work that I produced in the rainy season of 2012.

Before he responded, “I googled BoI. What came up was “Bank of Industry.” I saw there were a number of Nigerian artists listed as participating in an exhibition in London till August 12. A Raqib Bashorun was one of them. “Does the Bashorun guy do collage cans on canvas, or can weaving?,” I asked.

“They are woven like you do,” Wewe responded, “and some of the strands are left dangling on the woven strips like you also do. Bashorun glues the whole mat on board. I am sure he must have seen the one you made in Austin.”

This was exciting stuff. I instantly sent him my telephone number in Austin, and he called me from London. He was breathless. There had to be something seriously wrong.

Wewe is the least excitable fellow—unless when talking about art, and his eyes pop as he theorizes.

When he called, sometime around 3 am here in Austin, I was wide-awake, working on a large piece of canvas on which I arranged a collage of aluminum cans. It felt exciting to imagine the infinite possibilities derivable from the can material, as I worked. I hesitated to take the call because of the gratification I was deriving from the piece. But I had to because I needed to follow up on the exciting news from Wewe.

“What is it?” I growled, “at this ungodly hour?”

“I know you’re not asleep,” he shot back. “You won’t believe what I saw today at the Olympic exhibition of Nigerian art in London.”

“What?”

“Do you know a guy called Raqib Bashorun?” Tola asked.

“No, I don’t,” I answered. “I just googled up his name.”

“Well, he showed a work that looks like exactly a copy of yours. Has he seen your work before?” Wewe asked.

“I wouldn’t know.”

I was not expecting this sort of call from Wewe. I assumed he would call much later after returning to Nigeria.

“I was at a separate venue from the BOI exhibition in which Bashorun showed,” Wewe explained on the phone, “but I was invited to the BoI exhibition too. I went to see the show.

Well, this similarity between the works by both of you is by far more than a coincidence. His work is too similar to yours.

This resemblance couldn’t possibly be a coincidence. He must have seen your work before somewhere.”

I could not imagine how. My work with the can was placed on an internet site in 2008. Wewe knows the history of my work with the can, both as a form of collage, and as a woven fabric, using the indigenous techniques. And this year, I did the entire body of work with the can right before his eyes, in his house and studio.

We worked side by side throughout the heavy rains and sporadic floods of 2012. Wewe also witnessed the specific direction of my production, and served as the first and fiercest critic of the technical choices that I made, every step of the way. Ultimately he facilitated the exhibition of my body of work from the project at the Watersworth Art gallery, which he assisted in founding, with Chichi Orji as the director.

The opening day of the exhibition was fabulous. A piano performance by Duro Kujenyo, with a solo konga drum accompaniment, serenaded the air throughout the event. Prince Yemisi Shyllon was the guest of honor, and Peju Alatise, the guest speaker. They both spoke highly of the innovative energy radiated in the gallery full of work produced with cans as the medium of expression.

For the internet, I presented a selection of work on Facebook pages, and the reception was mostly encouraging.

Visitors who were present at the Watersworth Gallery made a wide variety of positive remarks about the application of imagination on popular culture materials and techniques.

We were quite pleased with the results.

With those lingering impression, Wewe departed to the London Olympics on July 31. I left for Austin a couple of days later, happy that the purposes of our exhibition were mostly fulfilled.

Wewe was therefore surprised and shocked to see Mr. Bashorun’s work in London. From the beginning, all the way to the point of arranging the work on the walls of Watersworth Gallery, Wewe was involved in my project, and witnessed the organic growth that the work has experienced, from concept to execution. We both felt it was best to

•Moyo’s work

VISUAL ART simply not raise an issue.

I decided to ignore the entire matter, and continued with my work. But on August 14, my daughter, Olatoun Alaake Okediji sent me an email. “And lest I forget,” wrote my darling daughter Alaake, “Raqib Bashorun came to the gallery yesterday and started ranting. He said a lot of things about you stealing his style—the can works. He claimed you must have seen the works on his Facebook page, blah, blah, blah. He was very shocked I guess, to see the cans on a very large scale.”

Instanty, I responded with, “http://uts.cc.utexas.edu/~crlab/ 2008_09_faculty/okediji.html. Honey, check out this link. It is a link to the Creative Art Laboratory’s 2008 fall exhibition of the faculty of the University of Texas at Austin. The exhibition shows me in 2008 using the can. I first exhibited the use of the can in 2008 at a documented faculty show. I began working on the can in 2007 but exhibited it first in 2008.

“Splendid!” wrote my daughter, “because he claimed he started 2010.”

Then I wondered, could this mysterious Mr Bashorun be a facebook friend? I checked, and it turned out to be true. I flashed Mr. Bashorun a long letter on Facebook (a medium that submits itself to easy application of passion), beginning with, “I understand that you went to the Watersworth Gallery yesterday and created a scene. You accused me of stealing your idea because you saw the work in which I used the can as the medium of expression. And you said I must have seen your use of the can on your Facebook….. Please check out the link to verify the date of the exhibition in which my work was shown…in a documented website by the Creative Research Laboratory, University of Texas, Austin, Texas, USA.” Then, afterwards, it hit me: this matter was degenerating into a mud slug. But so far I have not heard directly from Mr. Bashorun. Neither have I seen the work in contention. But from Tola Wewe and my daughter (two people within whom I solidly reside confidence), I gather that the works look similar; and that Mr. Bashorun is upset about it, and is publicly accusing me of stealing the can idea from him.

But would I be drawn this year into a controversy over the origin of can art in Nigeria? I have not yet resolved the matter of the origin of the ONA art group, which I raised during the raining season of 2011.

I may move in the other direction instead, and advocate for the theory of simultaneous and multi-generic origins for the can medium. I know for sure that Alozie Chibuike Onyirioha also uses cans for his impressive sculptural work.

Alozie thinks the entire idea of finding the first can user is silly and unproductive.

This moment presents the opportunity to come together to form a group, Can Art Network (CAN). Members may hold national, continental, and group exhibitions, or conduct technical and aesthetic workshops, to promote the use of the colorful medium as an art material. A somewhat decent school of can artists doing different experiments is gradually emerging. The pioneers are fiercely shaping its growth, with the inevitable challenges associated with trailblazing.

Yet, the question may still linger at the back of researchers’ minds: as we compare and contrast Bashorun’s and Okediji’s can works, does the factor of first author matter? Some will answer yes, just to throw a cuff.

•Okediji is of the University of Texas in Austin, US.

FTER two successful outings in 2009 in Lagos and London, Emenike Ogwo, one of Nigeria’s contemporary artists will showcase his current paintings and mixed media at the Terra Kulture, Tiamiyu Savage Street, Victoria Island, Lagos on September 8. The solo art exhibition entitled Impasto will feature about 40 paintings and mixed media that address socio-political issues in the society. Three years ago, he held two solo exhibitions 4th Edition and Cultures in colour at the National Museum, Onikan, Lagos and in London respectively.

Like the previous two shows, the artist is using Impasto, which is a collection of works that draws attention to the various ills in the society, to effect some social changes.

Among the works for display include Tokunbo car park, CMS Bus stop, The good shepherd and Breast feeding: What future?

In a preview session in Lagos, Emenike said issues as basic as child rights, should be crucial enough to be part of what any artist should consider while educating the public and the parents in particular on the need for equity and fairness. He noted that it might take years to create such work that would effect change, but that its effect on viewers is immediate and permanent.

“So for a great painting, all these moments should be captured. It may take years to create, but its effect on the viewer is immediate. Good art is more than just a record of the artist’s inner life. For it to be universal, it must represent a fusion between who is describing and what is being described. If the content is too dominating and the technique too super-finished and academic, the painting can look impersonal.

“If the artist is too dominating, too expressionistic, the painting can look self indulgent. The characteristics of a superior painting are the same characteristic that you find in a good piece of music or a good novel or a good play,” he added.

He identified qualities such as richness, mastery, simplicity, design and focus as vital elements that should shape a good painting. These qualities, he said are not peculiar to painting but to life in general as they collectively define all arts or what life is about.

Impasto is being supported by Marketing + Media, MTN Nigeria and Silverbird group. It will run till September 13 at Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos.

LIFELINE

Artists society elects officers

T

HE Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA) has elected a new national executive to run its affairs for three years.

The leaders emerged at the just ended 2012 annual general meeting (AGM) of SNA held in Le Meridien Hotel, Uyo, capital of Akwa Ibom State.

Heading the new executive is an exhibiting artist (painter) and helmsman of Omenka Gallery, Ikoyi, Lagos, Oliver Enwonwu.

Enwonwu, who until his election was serving his second tenure as the Chairman of the Lagos State Chapter of SNA, is also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ben Enwonwu Foundation.

In his acceptance speech after beating keen contests from Dr Ken Okoli (a sculptor and lecturer in Ahmadu Bello University, (ABU), Zaria as well as a serving official of Kaduna State chapter) who came second and Prince Ajene Esegbe (a gallery proprietor and former chiarman of Benue State SNA) who came third, Enwonwu said he will serve the association with all his “blood, soul, passion and resource.”

He said his first mission will be to build a relaible framework of funding for the body and it’s activities as well as look into the laws of the body to update it to contemporary realities of Nigeria and the art sector. He spotted the need to create new regional zones of operation for the SNA, beyond the current four zones stipulated in the constitution of the umbrella body of visual artists in the country.

The newly elected national General Secretary of SNA is Sir Chuka Nnabuife, an erstwhile national Publicity Secretary and ex-officio officer of the body. He contested against the current chairman of Niger State, SNA, Dr. Sheik Adams.

Among the new SNA national executive are the zonal vice presidents: Dr Mahmoud A. Mohammed (North); Mrs. Victoria Utuk (East) and Mr. Eze Obizue (Middlebelt). Others are: Comrade Aigbe David (Financial Secretary); Mr. Yemi Oladipo (Treasurer); Mr. Tochukwu Okide (Assistant Secretary); Mr. Nwachukwu Onuarah (Publicity Secretary) and the three Ex-officio executive members comprising the immediate past president, Mr. Uwa Usen; the immediate past National Secretary General Dr. Best Ochigbo and a past chairman of Delta State chapter Dr. Harry U. M. Bazunu.

Date of formal hand-over from the Usen-led executive to Enwonwu’s will be disclosed later.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012

38

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

I

N concluding the first part of this piece last week, we noted that Professor Samuel Adeboye Ali, by positing that ‘the great philosophers of the Western Philosophical Template had a beneficial impact on Africa’, appeared to discount the nexus that links western philosophy, racism and the ravages of imperialism in Africa. Now, we must modify this position slightly. The distinguished Professor, of course, recognises the negative impact of colonial imperialism in Africa, which bred doubts about “the veracity of African history, African literatures, African religion and the idea of God…”. However, he blames this not on western philosophy or philosophers but rather on “the early European apologists, ethnographers, sociologists, historians and missionaries at the period of colonization…”. But had Professor Ali not posited earlier in the lecture that at the foundation of every discipline is a philosophical fountain that nourishes its self-affirmation, intellectual orientation and epistemological justification? Are the various professional categories he castigates for denigrating African values in the process of colonialism not influenced by those major western philosophers whose thoughts helped rationalise and justify a racist world view? We will surely understand Professor Ali better when we appreciate that, in this inaugural lecture, he is discussing the relationship between the Western and African philosophical templates strictly within the purview of the practice of academic philosophy.

Thus, he predicates the perceived positive impact of western philosophies on Africa on the quite understandable argument that “philosophy in African template as an intellectually sagacious model particularly in the South of the Sahara is a product of western trained African scholars and philosophers who later returned to Africa after their training to establish a gamut of philosophical knowledge acquired for the intellectual development and transformation of their African countries”. But then, does this not raise further problems? If the development of rigorous, systematic philosophising in Africa had to depend on the nurturing of western academics, does this not suggest some inherent intellectual inferiority/deficiency on the part of the African? Professor Ali will not entertain any such suggestion. For him, the existence of philosophy in Africa pre-dated its systematization as a formal academic discipline on the continent. In the first place, Professor Ali contends that Africans like all other races “are intellectually

Segun Ayobolu sms to 07032777778 segunayobolu2@yahoo.com

Philosophy’s Day of Glory at OOU (2) endowed with curious instincts, rationality, rigour and intelligence to grasp the fundamental philosophical zeal and the intricacy of their cultural environment”. Again, he argues that the absence of a culture of literacy and formal documentation in traditional African societies does not in any way devalue the worth of precolonial oral African philosophy. In the same way, he points out pre-Socratic Greek philosophy has enjoyed enduring veneration across time and space even though its practitioners – Thales, Anaximander, Anaximens and even Socrates – never themselves wrote down their thoughts.

Having established the authenticity and professional integrity of the African philosophical template, Professor Ali discuses in technical detail its nature, features and identity before focussing on “the challenges and the relevance of a typical African philosophy in an African environment”. Of course, in a continent like Africa plagued by hunger, disease, ignorance, poverty, sectarian violence among other existential challenges, many people may be wont to ask: ‘Na philosophy we go chop?’. Those who reason this way would wholeheartedly concur

with W.H. Halverson, whom Professor Ali quotes as saying that philosophers “speculate and dream and talk nonsense and undermine the faith of men”. The inaugural lecturer naturally disavows this view preferring to embrace instead Professor Kolawole Olu-Alabi’s emphatic averment that “My People Perish For Lack of Knowledge”! Yet, he admits that because it is not what he calls a ‘bread and butter discipline’ with immediately discernible utilitarian value, there is widespread ignorance of the contribution of philosophy to society. Consequently, Professor Ali points out that out of 108 universities currently existing in Nigeria, less than twenty teach philosophy as an academic discipline. Nevertheless, recognizing the importance of the discipline, the National Universities Commission (NUC) compels all Nigerian undergraduates to take courses in philosophy, logic and philosophy of science. Stressing the indispensable linkage between thought and practice in human development, Professor Ali forcefully submits that “our leaders in authority need to adopt philosophical attitude of critical, logical, reflective, analytic, scientific and cognitive reflection towards the national trans-

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‘African metaphysics, going by human nature, repudiates the classification of man as an ‘animal’ or as having and sharing a biological ancestral affinity with lowly fossilized creatures’

‘I owe it to my mother’ In this piece, Mrs. Thessy Bosede Fajana (nee Rominiyi), daughter of the late Mrs Esther Dada Rominiyi, pays glowing tributes to her late mother who she referred to as an angel.

A

S I pay glowing tributes to the late Mrs Esther Dada Rominiyi, a chief, who died at the age of 83, one year ago reminds me of a popular plank of Abraham Lincoln; “whatever I am or hope to be, I owe it to my angel mother”.

As I continually draw strength from the sweet memories of time spent in company of those loved ones, of these persons some divinely stands out more than others, and the select few who deserve more than a passing mention in the stories of my life, non towers higher in terms of love, compassion and dedication above my mother- Esther Dada Rominiyi.

Dada as she was fondly called was born in 1928, her native name was symbolic, it is a name acquired by the manners of birth, it depicted someone who was naturally born with dread locks, culture preserve them as splendid children, and this perhaps mark with an eerie precision some of the landscape of my mother’s life as she employed a special jujitsu to superintend over the affairs of her life.

My mother was born and brought up in the strict orthodoxy of a Christian home, her father Pa John Owolabi of Inisa Street Ado Ekiti was reputed in his days as a wealthy farmer while her mother Madam Rachael Durodola Aye of Ejemua dynasty in Idemo Ado Ekiti engaged her hands in almost all articles of commerce, she would made thread from cotton as she equally dye clothes made from the loom of any colour, she prepared corn meal and beans cake and sold for her up keep. The family was indeed a hardworking and religious one.

My mother Esther Dada Rominiyi

TRIBUTE imbibed discipline and dedication at the knees of her grandmother, Aleke early in life. Her grandmother particularly dotes over the affairs of her grandchildren; the beneficiaries of this early parental care are Late Diisu Adeyanju, Hannah Olisabu and Joshua Adeyanju etc .My mother valued and preserved her early relationship as she constantly gave priorities to the care of her families, her extended family extended to infinity as it was almost impossible to differentiate between her biological children and those who suddenly became one. Mama persistently work hard, play hard, keep straight believing that when wealth is lost nothing is lost, when health is lost something is lost and when character is lost all is lost. My mother was baptised at Saint Pauls Anglican church Odo Ado in 1948 and subsequently found her Adonis, late Francis Rominiyi in 1949.

She supported her heartthrob with her clothing and restaurant business while she weathered the fierce and the rigours of bequeathing her children the best education, the sacrifice today became evident in the success and mien of her children. Madam Esther Dada Rominiyi was gifted with legion of talents and with robust shoulders to carry responsibilities, Mama was intelligent, strong-willed, and extremely kind, she did not harbour malice and forgave quickly but at times maintained a stiff upper lip while she would not do anything drastic.

When some young people want their future to serve on them on a sliver platter,

•The late Mrs Rominiyi

nicely cooked, brown outside and pink inside with a sprig of parsley, and then perhaps to pick at it with a golden fork ,she would hurriedly cautioned that life is not a bed of roses.

My mother was found to be a lavish benevolent in the vineyard of God; she preferred to increase her charitable thrust at the expense of other commitments. One incidence that does not cease to obtrude into memory was her desire to contribute her widow’s mite to the choristers’ foundation at Saint Pauls church Ado Ekiti during her lifetime. Her compulsion was not to saddle her children with responsibilities neither did she believe in egotism, she was never on a fast griddle nor in hot pursuits of worldly things even with her twists and turns in marriage, Mama constantly appreciated people just as she

formation agenda’.

In one of the most enriching sections of the inaugural lecture, Professor Ali brings the fruit of several years of academic research and reflection to bear on his contemplation of the question of Man and Personhood. Here, he carefully seeks to navigate a treacherous terrain given his own many personal roles as a professional philosopher, a believer in the existence of God, a Christian with strong belief in traditional values and an intellectual committed to the pursuit of truth wherever it may lead. Thus, the tension in his postulations is easily noticeable as he seeks to explain the origin of man by marrying the ‘historico-archaeological’, largely evolutionary, explanation of the emergence of homosapiens with the Yoruba ‘cosmogonical’ account of human creation. He contends that these two have “a big advantage over the spontaneous Biblical account of creation which fails, in this regard, to identify a particular spot as a cradle of civilization”. But the ‘historico-archaeological’ account of the origin of man is purportedly scientific and empirical. Yoruba cosmogony is basically mythical and mystical. Can scientific empiricism then be summoned to lend credence to mythical speculation? Again, the theory of evolution serves as a critical pillar of the ‘historico-archaeological’ account relied on

by Professor Ali to validate Yoruba mythical explanations of creation. Yet, he also asserts that “African metaphysics, going by human nature, repudiates the classification of man as an ‘animal’ or as having and sharing a biological ancestral affinity with lowly fossilized creatures”.

Well, seeming contradictions like this (at least to a non-philosopher like this writer) make this inaugural lecture most stimulating and thought-provoking. The lecturer goes on to offer interesting insights into various issues including destiny, fatality, determinism and human responsibility; the communal conception of man in African philosophy as against the solitary perception of the individual as popularized by Thomas Hobbes in western philosophy as well as the spiritual conception of ‘The Self’ in African belief systems. Now, can philosophy play a more significant role in helping Africa to confront and overcome current constricting challenges?

Perhaps the starting point will be for Professor Ali and other African philosophers to make their ideas available to a wider audience beyond the universities through jargonfree, accessible and limpid prose. understood the worth of life and treated everybody with great kindness and full consideration.

Madam Esther Dada Rominiyi was conferred with the chieftaincy title of Iya Laje of Egbe Ibukun in her church in 1989 and subsequently became a recipient of the church award of honour in 2010. My mother in her cool medium charisma of a non literate person valued greatly the western civilisation as she lived a longer period of her life across the globe. She probably took decision of a virtuous woman from the words of Ecclesiastes 9 vs. 5 “for the living knows that they shall die but the dead knows not anything, neither have they a reward”.

The death of my mother became more of a celebration of one who was the single constant in my life, in my children I see her every day; her joy, her capacity for wonder.

I won’t try to describe how deeply I mourn her passing still. There have been grieving no doubt, condolences as well as the usual sympathies since 24th of August 2011, Vox Populi, vox dei. But I count myself as one of those survivors who had the privilege to bury her mother with a decent rite, however Jerusalem Bible in Ecclesiasticus of Sirach chapter 38 verse 16-20 has given me a full lurid bloom of consolation; “ My child, shed tears over the dead, lament for the dead to show your sorrow, then bury the body with ceremony and do not fail to honour the grave, weep bitterly, beat your breast, observe the mourning the dead deserves for a day or two, to avoid censorious comment, and then be comforted in your sorrow; for grieve can lead to death, a grief stricken heart loses all energy. In affliction sorrow persists, a life of grief is hard to bear, do not abandon your heart to grief, drive it away, bear your own end in mind”.

I decipher the kind of my mother, a committed mother, schooled in the principle of Omoluabi and left her children with the testimony of eternal essence of good character. I no longer wear a frown of melancholy as I remember her. My mother Abiyamo,Esther Dada Rominiyi fulfilled the full criteria of an eventful existence.

39

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

On July 23, the former Managing Director of The Sun, Mike Awoyinfa, turned 60. A seminar was organised

by City People in his honour. The Nation’s Editorial Board Chairman, SAM OMATSEYE, presented this paper in which he describes Awoyinfa as a journalistic hero and an immortal of the tabloid.

Mike Awoyinfa: perspectives on the tabloid

F

OR many professions, the word “practice” is used so often that it has become cliche. So, we hear of the practice of medicine, engineering, advertising.

When we apply such a cliche to journalism, it is often banal. How can journalism be called a practice when what it involves is the very challenge of practice.

When we practice, we refer to the drudgery of routine, the application of energy in the activity of repetition, and by repetition we pursue excellence and the ever elusive perfection.

There is a lot of practice in journalism, all right. By the drudgery of it, the enervating dissipation of energy you locate in engineering, or in law, is not what invites any professional to journalism. It is what, for want of a better word, you call The Craft. You find it in the coinage of language, in the physical and visual feel of the language, on the pictures and graphics, and in the aesthetic unity of all these.

It is an agreement that is beautiful because it is so opinionated and so judgmental, so that one beautiful symmetry can be beautiful because it conflicts against another symmetry which is also beautiful and it conflicts with another beauty whose wonder lies in the fact that it lacks the splendor of symmetry.

Journalism is therefore the art and craft of the beautiful when the matter involved is the coverage of a disaster such as the recent Dana Airline crash. The poet will call it a terrible beauty. But like John Keats said, “beauty is truth, truth beauty.”Imagine the appeal to the splendour in conjuring pictures of charred flesh and the ugly majesty of a gigantic aircraft wrecked on a street, and beside it is the picture of area boys lacking in the sorrowful intensity of the moment.

We then look for the downcast look of mourners, the survivors looking to distraction, their clothes telling the lugubrious tale as well as the mere casual, listless poses of their hands.

That is the quality of journalism. But if you ask Mike Awoyinfa, he will tell you that it is the sole duty of the journalist. You have to tell the story of the pathos, the feel in the innards of the human soul revealed in the smile, in the

•Awoyinfa

CELEBRATION frown, in the rage and temper of the unguarded moment. It is about the weirdnesses of the man who kills his son, of a woman who violates his father’s trust, it is about the sight and smell, about the senses in active service.

Welcome to tabloid journalism. Awoyinfa lives the world of tabloids, and his is the story of a man who met the moment. When the Weekend Concord came into being, the universe of the Nigerian journalism did not have a clear idea of what to make of the Saturday newspaper. But before Awoyinfa came to the rescue, he was first features editor, and it was there he demonstrated the potential he turned into a budding revolution in the form of the Weekend Concord.

But what is tabloid journalism? It is not a thing that started on our shores. It dates back over a century, and it has located itself in the middle of the modern world like any force. It has led to wars and reconciliations, exposed presidents, triggered high profile divorces, announced the killers of mighty, exhibited the grandeur of the rich and the luxury of a pampered class. It has also explained the basics of life to the poor and lowly. Tabloid is, therefore, life.

The word tabloid was first coined by a pharmaceutical company called Burroughs Wellcome and Company, and it did not coin the word for the newspaper. Tabloid was used to describe a new kind of medication we call tablets today.

Tabloid was a word to describe the new drugs since they were a departure from the powder form medication were prior to the tablets. This term was then adopted by journalism in the United Kingdom. Journalists then called what we know as tabloids today to signify a condensed or compressed form of journalism with simplified, easy-to-digest stories.

Today, we have newspapers of such variety called the soft sell. But tabloid is also a term used to describe the size of a

newspaper. This is generally half the size of what is called the broadsheet. If we go by this definition, Nigeria is a principally tabloid nation. In the United Kingdom and the United States, most of the so-called serious newspapers are broad sheets. Newspapers like The New York Times, Washington Post or the Financial Times. But that is changing. Many newspapers in the West, including the London Times, are now the size of the so-called tabloids. So, the world now abides by the distinction between what is known as the red top tabloids and the compact tabloids. The red top tabloids refer to the more familiar definition with the emphasis on sensational writing, crime stories, astrology, celebrity, sex, alcohol and drug abuse. Some of the papers that typify this brand include The Mirror and The Sun, both in London. The idea of the compact tabloid was developed by The Mail.

In Nigeria, we have had the red top variety in the newspaper form and that is what we all remember as Lagos Weekend.

It was prurient in scope and appeal. But then we must also say that we have also seen in these parts the explosion in the magazine genre. We had Prime People that announced itself on the Nigerian scene with clarity that everyone who loved stories and gossip could not do without. I recall in the heyday of that magazine, a young lady had rushed to the newspaper stand along Ojuelegba Road, and upon learning that her dear Prime People had run out, she gave out a big hiss and stood on the spot for what looked like an eternity before she decided what else to do with her life after the tragedy she had just passed through.

We had Vintage People, and a few others. But when Awoyinfa gave us the Weekend Concord what he gave was not what anyone expected. He brought a variety of perspectives and talent into the mix. He loved high art and he was at peace with a man in the street. He could accommodate Sina Peters with the same verve he applied to the investigation of military corruption in high places. He therefore elevated the idea of the tabloid, appealing both to the mighty and the lowly of the country.

He brought into reporting a panache, a vitality and verve.

He brought the human pathos and the high conscience of civilization were at the centre. I recall in the heart of the SAP riots in the country, when Ibrahim Babangida was head of state. His wife, the first lady Mariam Babangida had delivered a baby and he contrasted in picture the luxurious environment of the first lady feeding her baby and the ordinary child who could not afford any luxury. He invented phrases from the headline, one I cannot forget is Shinamania.

Awoyinfa also knew how to mentor, and he did it effortlessly. He did it without doing it. It is what is called the power of example.

Awoyinfa is the real breed of the tabloid. In spite of his appreciation of the elevated, he did not have patience for the abstract unless it told the story as the human being felt it. But he also loved words, in the literary tradition called aestheticism, that is art for art sake. He loves to celebrate life. He loves the human being. He loves the people.

It was no surprise that he has to elevate his craft to a daily newspaper in The Sun, and it is a thing no one had done before. He is a daring professional, ready to invest any idea in the crucible of experience.

His new foray, Entertainment Weekly, is yet early in the day, but it is the example of an Awoyinfa trying the frontiers. Mohammed Ali of Egypt was known to love new ideas and innovations, and he loved to experiment. So one historian said if anyone suggested to him that he should build a castle in the sky, he would say , let us put it to the test. It was that kind of daring that made Ali a historical immortal. It is that sort of daring that has made Awoyinfa, even in life, even at 60, a journalistic hero, an immortal of the tabloid.

‘PWDs are largely excluded’ The Lagos Civil Society Disability Partnership technical session brought to the fore the plight and potentials of people with disability, EVELYN OSAGIE reports.

“P

EOPLE with Disabilities (PWDs) are largely excluded, denied equal rights and opportunities, have low self-esteem and are usually unfulfilled,” experts on disability affairs have said.

With the mind of bridging the gap through proper awareness, policy-making and implementation, the Lagos Civil Society Disability Partnership (lcsdpp) recently engaged key-players in the disability matters in a two-day technical session at DFID’s State Accountability and Voice Initiative (SAVI), office, Agidingbi, Lagos.

The workshop, meant chiefly for the Lagos State Office of the Disability Affairs (LASODA) Board Members, also had in attendance representatives of Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs), LCSDPP, SAVI and the media.

The general disparities experienced by PWDs led to the setting up of LASODA, it was learnt.

Hence, LASODA’s mandate, vision,

mission are geared towards ensuring that PWDs are largely included, guaranteed equal rights and opportunities, have improved self-esteem and are fulfilled, according to LASODA’s Board members. The workshop, thus, sought to ensure that LASODA clearly define, understand and internalise its mandate, while recognising the issues at hand.

“Also LASODA would ensure the implementation of the Special People’s Law, which seeks to uphold the rights of PWDs; create a parallel level of operation within the system; and eradicate all forms of discriminations,” LASODA General Manager, Dr Babatunde Awelenje said.

“The workshop seeks to sensitise the media that LASODA is not going to work in isolation. We are going to welcome and embrace all forms of proposals that have to do with issues of provision of the Special People’s Law. And in doing this, we are partnering with CSO

•From left: Deaconess Adeola Olarenwaju; Oteri and Parliamentary consultant, Mr Daniel Amaechi Onwe.

and Disabled People organisations on the issues concerning PWDs to create a better economic and social integration. LASODA’s partnership policy inspired the workshop.

The establishment of LASODA is the PWDs community, according to LCSDPP Coordinator, Mr Uche Ekugom. “It was a history making event. We, in LSCDPP, have looked forward to this day.

People with Disabilities (PWDs) are largely excluded and we had

always wanted an office, a commission that would be chiefly meant to cater for PWDs affairs in the state. So, the setting up of the commission is a very welcome development for the PWDs community in Lagos. In fact, at a point, we, at LSCDPP, wondered if we would still be relevant. But then, we realised that there is still more to be done. This is because most people do not understand the law.

As we praise the efforts of the La-

gos State government towards improving the lot of PWDs in the state, we are, however, aware that there are lots of issues concerning the PWDs that we need to call the attention of the government and policy makers to. This is what also inspired LCSDPP to organise the workshop,” Mr Ekugom said.

SAVI State Team Leader, Mr Felix Obanubi urged LASODA board members “to leave behind legacies that would outlive their time.”

40

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

Togo women to embark on sex strike

A

• Managing Director Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Breweries Mr Nicholas Vervelde, his wife Clementine, Chinamanda Adichie, author of Purple Hibiscus and Victor Famuyibo at the litrary evenign.

An evening of literary feast

A

S parts efforts to encourage and promote literature in the country, Farafina Trust and Nigerian Breweries held a literary evening last Friday in Lagos to mark the end of this year’s Creative Writers Workshop. The Managing Director and CEO of NB Plc, Mr Nicholas Vervelde said the partnership is to develop literary skills and that Farafina has assisted for the past four years in discovering talented writers in Nigeria.

“It is a partnership founded on our desire to encourage the development of literary writing skills in Nigeria as part of our strategic corporate initiatives towards talent development and youth empowerment.NB remains at the forefront of providing this kind of enduring platforms to nuture Nigeria’s abundant creative talents.”

Creative Director of Farafina Trust

By Chinasa Ekekwe

LITERATURE Chimamanda Adichie said it has been wonderful to see how writers have grown in all spheres of writing and that there is no doubt that the participants would become profound writers in the future.

“As we go along, I would like more people to get involved in the workshop so it becomes a festival of talented writers. In terms of improvements, the workshop has improved over the years and in the quality of writing but Farafina have plans and dreams to make it better and it involves more finance” she added.

This year’s workshop had three facilitators and twenty-one participants from Africa, the US and UK.

One of the facilitators, a professor of English at Queens College, City University of New York, Mr Jeffery Allen said it is good to know that Nigeria is producing fiction writers on the African continent.

“It’s been an amazing experience and I have had the chance to work with upcoming writers. Its been an honour.I am planning to involve Nigerian writers on projects back in the US,” he said.

One of the participants, Yetunde Omotosho spoke on her experience at the workshop.

She said: “Writing is a beautiful thing to spend your time with and it has been a blessing to be part of the workshop because I have had experiences with workshops but this one is profound and it really makes a massive difference”.

The event witnessed a performance from foremost Nigerian singer and actress, Onyeka Onwenu.

NTA holds show for best breastfed baby

T

HIS year’s winner of the NTA baby of the year show has emerged. Mrs. Favor Nwede was overwhelmed with joy and could not express herself as her six-month-old baby, Baby Oyinyechi Nwede, emerged winner of this year’s edition of NTA Baby of the Year show.

Baby Oyinyechi came first out of the 20 contestants that contested for the crown of the best breastfed baby. This year’s edition, tagged: Understanding the past; planning the future, was held to commemorate the International Breastfeeding Week. It was organised by Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), Lagos with United Nations International Children Education Funds (UNICEF); and sponsored by PZ Nigeria Plc, Cussons Baby Products, Vitafoam Nigeria Ltd, PAYDAB daycare and Surulere Local Government. It was anchored by Hajiya Aminah Mohammed and Nkem Okibe.

The Child Health Advocacy, Mrs. Lola Alonge, emphasised on the important of breastfeeding. “Every baby should be properly breastfed till the child is three years old. Children should not be de-

By Joke Opakunbi

AWARDS prived the joy and nutrient of breast milk.”

Mrs. Alonge called on women to be ambassadors of the breastfeeding campaigns, urging that they spread the good news of breastfeeding.

“The best gift that you can give to your baby is breast milk and the only way you can achieve this is by doing it effectively. It is advisable to feed the baby pure breast milk without water for six month. This is because babies can survive without water.”

Consultant Pediatric Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Dr. Nkiruka David, who spoke on HIV and breastfeeding, touched on the importance for mothers to know the HIV status. She advised those with the HIV virus not to breastfeed their babies, saying possibility for the baby to get affected by the virus.

She, however, added that mothers on drugs before and after childbirth are advised to breastfeed.

She said: “It is important for you to know your status immediately you discover that you are pregnant and begin to treat yourself for it before childbirth to kill the effectiveness of the virus.”

Hon. Yusuf Sule, who represented Surelere Local Government Counselor, urged men to allow for the proper breastfeeding of their children by abstaining from their wives for about a given period, adding they should ensure the women are well-fed.

He said: “I encourage our men to ensure they provide good food for their wives during breastfeeding. And they should also encourage their wives to breastfeed the babies properly. In fact, the men should abstain from their wives for minimum of one year to allow them breastfeed the child well.”

The event was attended by top staff of NTA such as NTA Production Manager, Alhaji Tunde Ajala, representatives of UNICEF, PZ Nigeria Plc, Cussons Baby Products, Vitafoam Nigeria Ltd, PAYDAB daycare and Surulere Local Government, among others.

TOGOLESE opposition leader is calling on women to go on a weeklong sex strike to demand the freedom of protesters detained ahead of elections in the West African nation.

Police arrested about 120 opposition supporters last week during clashes between protesters and security forces, according to Togolese human rights groups.

Government officials said all but eight had been released, and those still detained were in possession of knives.

“You don’t go demonstrate with these,” security minister Damehane Yark said of the weapons.

Demonstrators have taken to the streets in the capital of Lome for weeks to protest new electoral reforms they say favor the ruling party ahead of October’s parliamentary elections. They are seeking a repeal of changes to the electoral laws. Protests continued Saturday, with a female opposition leader calling for sex strikes starting Monday.

“I am inviting all women to observe a one-week sex strike, fasting and prayers to set our arrested brothers and husbands free,” said Isabelle Ameganvi, leader of the opposition Let’s Save Togo. “So all you ladies have to keep the gate of your ‘motherland’ locked up to all men from Monday up to Sunday.

“The opposition leader said she is inspired by Liberian Nobel laureate and current President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who in 2003 called on women in her nation to observe a sex strike to press for peace amid a raging war. Last year, a group of women in a violence-plagued area of the Philippines slapped men with a sex ban until they promised to quit fighting. Their stand helped end clashes in July between villages in rural Mindanao Island. Sex strikes have become a common way of civil disobedience in recent years.

In 2009, Kenyan women pressed for a sex strike to end bickering among coalition government officials. “We have power to change things. We do not want to remain in the kitchen, but we can have our say in politics,” Ameganvi said.

“We cannot stay hand-crossed, as our children and husbands are being kept in jail.” In addition to the sex strike, she called on women to wear a special color during a demonstration Thursday. “You all have to be dressed up in red pants to show your anger,” she said, amid cheers. The actions will be among a series of civil disobedience events planned.

“If our people are not released by Thursday, the women are going to rush to the prison naked to get them released, only in red pants and nothing else,” she said.

The security minister said any attempts to enter the prison will lead to arrests. “We await them,” Yark said.

In a state of rule of law like ours, we will get them arrested for offending moral values.” Togolese officials invited the opposition for talks Friday, but it turned down the government invitation. “We will not hold any discussions with the government except those aimed at negotiating President Faure Gnassingbe’s departure from power,” said constitutional law professor Zeus Ajavon, an opposition supporter.

Togo has been led by the same family for more than 40 years. Gnassingbe Eyadema ruled for 38 years until his death seven years ago. His son has led the nation since then.

Arteta: Giroud, Podolski can't replace Van Persie

"The most important thing is the trophy, not where we win it. To lift the Supercopa at the Bernabeu is an anecdote. It will not be the first time or the last time we do it. We are thinking about ourselves and in winning a fourth consecutive Supercopa. Sometimes I think we are not aware of what we are achieving."

•Arteta

Barcelona defender, Gerard Pique insisting beating rivals Real Madrid is not a priority to team.

M

ikel Arteta has defended Arsenal strikers Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud, claiming it is unfair to expect them to fill the void left

by Robin van Persie.

Arteta, who joined the Gunners on transfer deadline day last season, was given the unenviable role of replacing skipper Cesc Fabregas after his fellow Spaniard joined Barcelona.

Arsenal have failed to score in their opening two Premier League matches as they were held to goalless

draws by both West Brom and Stoke, and Arteta says it unfair on anyone to be asked to replace Van Persie, who opened his Manchester United account against Fulham on Saturday.

"You can't replace Robin. To do so is impossible because he's such a special player," Arteta said.

"Manchester United went for him at the age of 29 -what does that say? "It says there aren't many bigger talents in the world. It doesn't matter who is brought in for Robin. You can't ask anyone to be as good as him."

Chicharito ready to fight for spot

HAZARD

targets treble with Chelsea

E

DEN HAZARD wants to win a treble with Chelsea this season.

The £32million superstar outlined his hopes Monday night in his first major interview since his sizzling Premier League introduction.

He said: “At Chelsea you have to win every game. The objective is win, win, win. This season I think there are seven trophies to play for.

“We played the first one against Manchester City in the Community Shield. If we get two or three from the remaining six that will be great.

“Big clubs, whether it’s Chelsea or Manchester, are formatted to win.”

Hazard, 21, has burst on the scene with a goal and four assists from three matches to help Roberto Di Matteo and Co to the top of the Premier League table.

The Belgian, who moved to Stamford Bridge from Lille in the summer with his brother Thorgan, added: “I’ve adapted very well to life in London.

“You’re always a bit overrawed when you arrive at a new club because of so many big names.

“But then you tell yourself, ‘they are people like me, with two arms and two legs.”

Hazard has another opportunity to land some silverware on Friday when Chelsea play Atletico Madrid for the Super Cup in Monaco.

•Hazard

42

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

SPANISH SUPERCOPA

PIQUE: Beating Real not an extra incentive B

ARCELONA defender Gerard Pique insists the chance to win a trophy at the home of bitter rivals Real Madrid is not an extra motivation ahead of the Spanish Supercopa secondleg.

Pique and his team-mates travel to the Bernabeu on Wednesday night holding a 3-2 advantage from last week's first game in Barcelona but the Spain defender says their only focus is on retaining the cup, not the prospect of getting one over on Madrid.

"The most important thing is the trophy, not where we win it," Pique said. "To lift the Supercopa at the Bernabeu is an anecdote. It will not be the first time or the last time we do it.

"We are thinking about ourselves and in winning a fourth consecutive Supercopa. Sometimes I think we are not aware of what we are achieving."

Pique, who was dropped from the Barcelona side last season under then-coach Pep Guardiola, believes he has learned from his experiences in 2011-12 and is now playing better football.

"You learn lessons in your life," Pique said. "When things go well you overcome things without any problems, if they go badly, turning the situation around is very difficult.

"I am looking to learn from what I went through last year. On a personal level, it is clear that it was not my best year and now I want to help the team."

•Pique (L) contests the ball with C. Ronaldo

M

ANCHESTER United ace Javier Hernandez is confident he can still thrive in a congested striking pool at Old Trafford this season.

Following Robin van Persie's glamour switch to United from Arsenal, the 19-time English champions are now blessed with a bevy of world-class hitmen.

Last term's Golden Boot Van Persie winner joins Hernandez, Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Dimitar Berbatov in the battle for a starting berth for the Red Devils.

After setting the Premier League alight in his debut season in 2010/11, 'Chicharito' struggled to replicate that form last season.

But the Mexico international believes he can only better over the course of the new campaign because of the healthy competition amongst United's strike force for Sir Alex Ferguson's attention.

"The great thing about this club is you know you will get opportunities because we play so many games in different tournaments," the 24-yearold told the club's official website.

"There is competition for places but you always have that. I had that in youth teams when I was growing up and we have it here now because you need a big squad of players.

"There are only 11 places each week and you need to do your best to get one of those places, but it's great to have that competition because it means every player will have to raise the level of their game.

"The coach has the decisions to make, but for me I just focus on doing my best every day in training and in every game so I can help my team-mates get closer to achieving our targets of winning the league and all the competitions we play in."

OTHER SPORT...OTHER SPORT...OTHER SPORT...OTHER SPORT...OTHER SPORT...

US OPEN

Sharapova: I feared I was pregnant RUSSIAN tennis star Maria Sharapova has said feared she was pregnant when she contracted a stomach bug earlier this month.

Sharapova withdrew from the Canadian Open with the illness, shortly after losing the Olympic women’s singles final 6-0, 6-1 to Serena Williams on August 4.

The pain from the illness encouraged Sharapova to seek a blood test, as well as an ultrasound scan, commonly used to examine pregnant women.

“It was really weird. They told me I was fine, not pregnant. I'm like, 'Can I get my money back?,’” she said on the U.S. Open website Monday.

Sharapova’s response was “dramatic”, she admitted.

The Russian is engaged to former NBA

basketball player Sasha Vujacic, but the pair have yet to announce a date for the wedding.

Sharapova’s U.S. Open campaign started with a straightforward 6-2, 6-2 win over Melinda Czink of Hungary on Monday.

The U.S. Open is the last of the four Grand Slam tournaments this season, and Sharapova said she would give it her all.

“This is the last big one,” she said.

“This is kind of where you have to put all your energy.”

“Even though it's not the last tournament of the year, you feel like this is where you can put all the work and effort into this one big event.”

•Sharapova

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012

43

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

As a practical step towards giving true meaning to the federal structure that Nigeria adopted at independence, more federating units are joining the clamour for true federalism through adoption of unique identities. In this report, Assistant Editor AUGUSTINE AVWODE examines the development and presents the conviction of proponents of such a move and the fears of those opposed to it.

I

T is all a bit calm now, resting like a volcano waiting for another prompt by nature to erupt. Two weeks ago, the hue and cry about states’ symbols, coats of arms and flags raged like those tropical storms for which the West Indies and the Americas are famous. But notwithstanding the outcry, the message is gradually sinking into the sub-conscious of many a Nigerian. As a country which claims to be a federal state, having one central government and 36 federating units, there is a growing awareness among component units to carve a niche and individuality for themselves.

When it was announced that the Bayelsa State Executive Council has approved a state emblem, anthem and coat of arms to mark and strengthen a sense of identity for the people of the state in line with the vision of the founding fathers of the state, it was greeted with a loud outcry. It was quickly interpreted to mean a ploy to declare an independent state of Bayelsa.

The announcement by Chief Press Secretary to the Bayelsa State Governor, Mr Daniel Iworiso-Markson read in part: “The decision was taken at the end of the 7th meeting of the State Executive Council. The State Executive Council approved a flag, state anthem and coat of arms for Bayelsa State, which will reflect the colours and symbols of the Ijaw nation and it will be put to use as soon as Governor Seriake Dickson, gives his accent to the law, which had just been passed by the state House of Assembly”.

He explained that “This decision also underscores government’s belief that this state, like any other state, is where the Ijaw, the fourth largest ethnic nationality, has as its home.

Bayelsa is home to all Ijaw both at home and abroad. The emblem, therefore, will help serve as a unifying force and rallying point for all our people.

“It says a lot about the preservation of our culture, our essential values as a people and as a race. These are the qualities that distinguished us and makes us who we are – proud, great people of the Ijaw Nation.”

Bayelsa has since consum,ated the move and joined the league of other state with their emblems and crests. bayelsa’s forerunners are states like Lagos, Cross River, Rivers, Osun,

• Lagos

• Cross River

• Ekiti

• Kwara

•

• Bayelsa

Osun

Are states’ emblems danger signals to national unity?

Ondo, Ogun, Ekiti and Kwara . Some of these states have adopted a flag, coat of arms or anthem different from the Green- White-Green flag and the “Arise O Compatriot” but have religious maintained the two side by side.

Iworiso-Markson made it clear that Bayelsa was emboldened by what other states had done before. According to him, “The point must be made clear that the step taken by our government to announce the proposed launch of a state owned flag, anthem and coat of arm is not in any way different from what other states in

the federation have done.

“It is common knowledge that virtually all the states in the South-Western region such as Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ogun and Ekiti have since launched theirs. The most recent was the North Central state of Kwara. In the South-South, Cross River and Rivers States are the only two states in the region that have embraced this noble concept. In the case of Rivers, it was done since the 1970s”, he argued.

In April when Osun State Government not only took a similar step but went ahead to adopt a nomenclature that is hitherto unused in the country

by opting to be known and addressed as the State of Osun, as a further mark of identifying itself, all hell was let loose. So much was the outcry against it that it was interpreted in some quarters as plans by the governor to effect a secession and he was allegedly placed on security watch by the State Security Service (SSS).

Governor Rauf Aregbesola had to embark on an extensive explanation to disabuse the mind of critics and especially the opposition party in the state.

Strictly, the major reason for the upsurge in the creation of states’ in-

Outcry against states’ coats of arms is ignorance, says Sagay

States have no such powers, says Agbaje

Professor Itse Sagay, SAN, a constitutional lawyer, punctures arguments against state flags, crests and anthems. He spoke to AUGUSTINE AVWODE.

T

HE recent decision of the Governments of Osun and Bayelsa States to acquire their own State coats of arms and flag, and in the case of Bayelsa, a State Anthem, seems to have created a lot of agitation amongst many groups of Nigerians. Even the Nigerian Bar Association jumped into the fray, demanding that Bayelsa State be stopped, without any attempt to consider the relevant laws and principles involved.

Inspite of the frequent calls

by Nigerians for true federalism, it is clear that most of them, including apparently the NBA, do not know the impli-

cations of federalism. Professor Ben Nwabueze has described it as follows: “federalism is an arrangement whereby powers within a multi national country are shared between a federal or central authority, and a number of regionalized governments in such a way that each unit including this central authority exists as a government separately and independently from the others, operating directly on persons and property with its territorial area, with a will of its own and its own apparatus for the conduct of affairs and with an authority in some matters exclusive of all others. In a federa-

tion, each government enjoys autonomy, a separate existence and independence of the control of any other government.

Each government exists, not as an appendage of another government (e,g, the federal or central government) but as an autonomous entity in the sense of being able to exercise its own will on the conduct of its affairs free from direction by any government. Thus, the Central government on the one hand and the State governments on the other hand are autonomous in their respective spheres.”

As Wheare put it, “the fundamental and distinguishing char•Continued on page 44

dividual identities is to give meaning to Nigeria’s federal status. It is a way of saying that the perception that the central government is the father while the rest 36 federating units are children of the same father is a wrong notion. It is a drive to ensure that the true spirit of the constitution is reaslised.

Those who support the idea insist that there is nothing constitutionally wrong with it. They, however, point out that in any state where the national flag is hoisted along with a state’s flag, the national flag must be slightly higher than that of the state.

And where a state’s anthem is sung, it should come before the national anthem which must be sang last. They contend that it has nothing to do with the unity of the country.

Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State who rose in defence of Aregbesola when he was criticised by the opposition had this to say on the subject: “We had a flag before Osun did. Lagos had a flag 20 years ago. It was the only state that stayed back when the other states were balkanised.

“If you come to Ekiti, we don’t sing just the national anthem; we recite our own anthem and if you come across any document from the state, you will see that it is not the Federal Government coat of arms that we have in Ekiti State. We don’t even have the Federal Government coat of arms on our documents. That is not to say that we are not a constituent part of the federal state called Nigeria. We are proud to be, but we believe that we need an identity that speaks to the core values of our state,” the governor argued.

But to those opposed to the idea, the move could jeopardise efforts of previous and present administrations since independence to maintain Nigeria’s image of a nation of different people with one national identity. They often point to the Nigeria Civil War of 1967 to 1970 as a result of moves to assert individual identity as against what has been described as the “common identity.”

The argument for or against this development may be a bit silent now, but it does not by any means indicate that the matter is finally rested. For protagonists and those opposed to it, there is surely another day to fight, perhaps, in the law court.

Fred Agbaje, a Lagos lawyer, describes the actions of the states that have anthems, crests and flags as an “affront on the constitution”.

He spoke to AUGUSTINE AVWODE.

• Agbaje

W

HEN each state itching a federation be gins to hoist their respective flags in a supposedly federal government, it is a pointer to the dangers ahead. It means that that the normal Green White Green can no longer accommodate

us and now it is becoming a situation of “to your tents oh Israel”.

The implication is that if the centre can no longer hold and the falcon can no longer hear the falconer, the state are dancing inward for self realization and self protectionism. It means that anything can happen at anytime to the federal set up and when that happens, they will just raise their flags and chant their anthems. That is the implication of what is hap-

pening or has happened so far.

The constitutional aspect of it is this, the constitution of the country vests the powers of anthem and flags on the federal government and the federal government is keeping quiete and watching the situation. It amounts to treasonable felony because this is exactly what the boys who call themselves MASSOB are doing and the govern•Continued on page 44

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012

POLITICS With the October 20 governorship election in Ondo State just about seven weeks from now, three parties have emerged as major contenders in the North Senatorial District of the state. Correspondent DAMISI OJO presents the factors that will determine how the electorate in Ondo North will vote.

Edo election: Nigerian electorate now wise

Battle of wits in Ondo North A

A

S the Ondo State governorship election scheduled for October 20 draws near, the three major political parties in the state - the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the ruling Labour Party (LP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) - have strategically picked their candidates from the three different senatorial districts of the state.

While the ruling LP gave a second term ticket to the incumbent governor, Dr Segun Mimiko who hails from Ondo town in the Central Senatorial District, the ACN is presenting Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), from Owo, the home town of the late Chief Adekunle Ajasin, in the North district.

The PDP, whose government was sacked by the Appeal Court sitting in Benin City, Edo State in 2009, picked the former National Legal Adviser of the party, Chief Olusola Oke, as its flag-bearer. He is from Ilaje local council in the South Senatorial District. The candidates were carefully selected by the parties to gain strategic advantage over the others.

Due to the agitations of the people from the northern district, to produce the next governor, most prominent politicians from the six local governments of the zone have decided to back ACN in order to achieve their aims. The ACN became the most popular opposition party in the state immediately after the last 2011 general elections, following the defection of notable politicians from the LP and PDP. Among eminent politicians in the northern district who defected to ACN are a serving Senator Prof.

Ajayi Boroffice, a former State Chairman of LP, Dr. Olaiya Oni, who has again defected to the PDP; former Commissioner in Mimiko’s government, Prince Sola Amodeni; Hon. Saka Lawal, who was a former governorship aspirant of ACN but left after Akeredolu was picked, among others.

As a demonstration of the of ACN popularity in the district, majority of the governorship aspirants of the party were from the North. Not only this, the two governors that have been produced by the progressive party in the past, were also from the northern district.

Despite the defection of few politicians, most especially governorship aspirants to other parties, ACN still remains relevant in the northern district.

Boroffice who was among the leading governorship aspirants had ordered his political supporters to work for Akeredolu and ACN to ensure that the party rules the state. Another politician who decides election in Akoko area, Prince Solagbade

Amodeni has endorsed the choice of ACN national leadership in Akeredolu.

Amodeni, who served under Mimiko as a commissioner and also as a chairman of Akoko South East for two terms is known to be elections’ decider in that local government. History has it that the ACN stalwart has never lost any election in his community, Ipesi Akoko.

Apart from the fact that the Akokos are clamouring for a change of government due to what they described as total neglect of the area by the present administration, some indigenes of Owo are now leaving their political parties justto support the candidature of their kinsman, Akeredolu.

One of such politicians who is expected to join ACN is Dr. Bode Ayorinde who is the Pro-Chancellor of Achievers Private University in Owo. Ayorinde was an aspirant for Owo/Ose Federal Constituency on the platform of the LP. A Yoruba group, Yoruba Awareness Forum, which has structures in all the 19 states in the northern region, and an Owo indigene as one of its leaders, has decided to work for Akeredolu’s success.

Another great politician who has vowed to work for the success of ACN in Owo is a businessman and chieftain of the party, Chief Femi Adekanmbi.

Adekanmbi was a former member of LP but left the party after he was dropped for the incumbent lawmaker representing Owo/Ose Federal Constituency, Hon. Olorunda Omosule. In order to test his popularity, Adekanmbi joined the ACN and he was picked as the party candidate but lost the election to Omosule.

However, the ACN may not have an easy ride in the zone during the election as some prominent politicians still remain loyal to either LP or PDP. For instance, Oni and his political son, Lawal, known as election strategists decided to leave the ACN following the emergence of Akeredolu and for the reason that an Akoko man was not endorsed by the ACN national leadership as the party flagbearer.

Oni and Saka were allegedly lured by PDP chieftains in the state to their fold with a promise that Saka, who was a former Special Adviser to Governor Mimiko will be picked as the running mate to the party’s candidate and by 2017 power will return to the northern district.

Besides, former Minister for Defence, Tokunbo Kayode, two former State House of Assembly Speakers, Victor Olabimtan and Taofeek Abdulsalam may spring surprises.

Olabimtan, who was one of the PDP governorship aspirants came from Supare in Akoko South West and he has never lost election at Supare to any political party despite the fact that the present Deputy Governor, Alli Olanusi is from the same community.

However, it is not clear if the three

immediate past National Assembly lawmakers, Senator Bode Olajumoke and a former House of Representatives member who represented Owo/Ose Federal Constituency, Dr. Lad Ojomo and Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, who represented Akoko North East/West in the Green Chamber will work for the party in the October 20, poll.

Despite the reconciliation meetings organised by the leadership of the PDP, these three leaders from the northern part of the state had refused to show up in such meetings.

The most visible one was when the former President, Olusegun Obasanjo stormed Akure, the state capital with some national leaders of PDP for a rally to endorse their party candidate, Oke. The three former lawmakers, who are still members of the party have refused to attend political events.

In Owo, Otunba Oyewole Fasawe, a chieftain of PDP, was one of the aggrieved members of the party that had publicly declared his intention to work for Oke, whom he described as his political son.

Fasawe hails from the same town with Akeredolu. As part of his commitment to PDP, Fasawe who was a close political associate of Obasanjo has been working to strenghten PDP in Owo. He has been working on one of the ACN aspirants, Chief Jamiu Ekungba to join the PDP in order to prove his political prowess in the community. But the retired Bank Executive who was expected to decamp to PDP at the Oke’s declaration rally held recently in Akure failed to show up with his supporters.

The LP camp may be relying on the incumbent Deputy Governor, Alli Olanusi, Deputy Speaker of the State Assembly, Emiola Dare, and a former governorship aspirant of the ACN, Dr Olu Agunloye, who recently returned to LP after he failed in his ambition to emerge the governorship candidate of the party.

Agunloye retraced his step back to the LP which he left after the party leadership decided to drop him for Prof. Ajayi Boroffice as the party candidate for the senatorial seat in the last year general election. Agunloye allegedly became aggrieved after Akeredolu was picked by the party.

But, the National Chairman of the ACN, Chief Bisi Akande described Agunloye as a mole in the party.

Several politicians who were received into the fold of ACN like Femi Johnson, who is now the Deputy Director of Aketi Campaign in the Southern Senatorial District and Adewale Omojuwa one of the leading aspirants for the Deputy Governorship slot, among others, refused to defect with Agunloye.

From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

N Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) chieftain in Ekiti State, Chief Babatunde Odetola has attributed the landslide victory of the party in the Edo governorship election to the ability of the electorate to distinguish between “performers and politicians.”

Odetola, said the result is an affirmation that people are ready to “take destiny in their own hands” and that “the best test of electoral credibility is measurablle performance which the people could see.”

Speaking with The Nation at his Osi-Ekiti country home at the weekend during a get together he organised for party members in Osi Ward, he commended State Governor Kayode Fayemi for his “focussed pursuit of the 8-point Agenda and the tasteful reversal of the horrible road infrastructure across the state.”

“The electorate now know the diference between the very few performers who do everything to fulfil their pledge to the people and a batalion of piliticians whose business is to give excuses for their perennial failure”, Odetola said.

He said further: “The administration has proven that it is at once a government desirous of bringing changes to the people not along party or religious lines.

Whoever is resident anywhere in Ekiti state today irrespective of party affiliation is an automatic beneficiary of Fayemi’s health programmes, social security scheme, ffree education programme, and many others.

“As is glaring, the 8-Point Agenda is an Agenda not only of Fayemi or the ACN but one of every resident in the state; It is an Agenda through which new and great changes are taking place; and it is an Agenda which is not hidden as it keeps translating to the dreams that we collectively hold dear.

“We hereby want to thank the governor for the two 300 KVA and one 500 KVA transformers already installed and which has given the area useful and consistent power supply; the Ilogbo-Osi road and Igede-Awo-Osi-Ido road which are ongoing but which has already brought commendable improvement to life in this area.

“Many of our youths participated in a recent vocational training and have been given the work tools to practice the various vocations free and most of our elders are already enjoying the the social security stipend of N5000 monthly.

“It is these evidences of measurable and positive performance which will earn Fayemi a second time in office as governor and retain ACN as the ruling party not only in Ekiti but in other Southwest states for years and years to come.”

“We feel proud to be associated with this administration and we are equally proud to say that the spirit and soul of every Ekiti man wherever today is supporrtive of the ongoing changes in the state.”

Debunking the rumour of a factionalised ACN in Osi Ward, Odetola said “who will leave a party where performance has become a norm for another whatever name it goes by. Who will dump light for darkness. Osi-Ekiti is one and there is one party which is ACN. Our detractors know this”

Outcry against states’ coats of arms is ignorance, says Sagay •Continued from page 43

acteristic of a federal system is that neither the central nor the regional governments are sub-ordinate to each other, but rather, the two are co-ordinate and independent”. In short, in a federal system, there is no hierarchy of authorities, with the central government sitting on top of the others. All governments have a horizontal relationship with each other.”

Federalism is a function of the diversity of the country in which it is operated. When you have a country composed of different ethnic groups and languages, their form of association can only be federalism. This is the only form of government that will accommodate diversity, operating in the context of one country. No multi-lingual or multi-ethnic society can survive under a stifling system of uniformity, which some ignorant Nigerians seem to want.

What Osun and Bayelsa States are expressing is their right to an individual identity within the Nigerian Federation. There is no law prohibiting this.

The right to enact a law for a Coat of Arms, Flag or Anthem is neither on the Exclusive or Concurrent Lists in our Constitution. This gives States the power to make laws to adopt their own Coats of Arms, Flags and Anthems, in addition to the national one on each of these items.

States and persons in a federal set up who insist on suffocating uniformity, are exhibiting signs of individual inse-

• Sagay

curity and herd mentality.

In the first Republic, not only did every region have its coat of arms and flag, they each had their own individual Constitution in which they described themselves as “Self-Governing”.

Currently many states, particularly in the South already have their individual Coats of Arms.

It goes without saying therefore that Bayelsa and Osun States are acting legitimately and in the true spirit of federalism in deciding to have their own individual Coats of Arms, Flags and Anthems. Nigerians need to wake up to the fact that this is a multi-ethnic country of many nations. We cannot be drilled and herded into an enclosure like cattle. States that lack character, initiative and individualism, have no right to hold others back.

States have no such powers, says Agbaje •Continued from page 43

• From left: Director of Public Prosecution of Oyo State, Prince Wasiu Adetunji, Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Adebayo Ojo and Director of Litigation centre, Mrs Olabinpe Olakojo in the Ministry of Justice, at a briefing on the bills passed by the State House of Assembly.

ment clamped down on them.

Why is the federal government not dong same with the same zeal against states government?

The concept of federalism which means that states are autonomous within their constitutionally allowed spheres doesn’t mean that the states can resort to acts that are in themselves threats to the unity, peace and tranquility of the coun-

try.

Those who argue that the relationship has been reduced to that of father - son, what exactly do they mean? Are they saying there are no laws in the country such that Nigeria can be slapped on both sides of the face? The constitution does not vest in the states the powers to create their own flags or anthems. This has been my position and nobody has controverted it.

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•The scene of the attack

Katsina residents rue thugs’ attack

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HUGS have disbanded a public lecture in Katsina, Katsina State capital, leaving several participants with injuries, their cars damaged and ego bruised.

The lecture was organised by Alhaji Umar Tsauri Tata, a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and governorship hopeful in 2015

From Isah Idris, Katsina

election in the state.

The lecture, meant to launch his political ambition ahead of 2015 at the Katsina Islamic University, was disrupted by people described as political thugs.

Less than 30 minutes into the lecture entitled ‘Katsina Meets with Umar Tata’, with the politician

himself addressing the audience, thugs numbering over 100 youths arrived at the venue with machetes, sticks and other dangerous objects. They swooped on the organisers and other participants who were in the hall.

During the attack and stampede that ensued, many participants

sustained injuries while scampering for safety. More than 20 cars were badly damaged.

The governorship aspirant escaped unscathed after he was smuggled into a car and driven to safety.

Some of the victims were admitted at the Katsina and Dutsinma General Hospitals while some were taken to private hospitals.

The Kaduna State chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Yusuf Idris, who was invited to the occasion was also a victim. His car was badly damaged by the hoodlums.

For more than 20 minutes, the thugs had a field day. However, no death was recorded.

When contacted on the telephone, Alhaji Sauri Tata alleged that the thugs were sponsored by a Commissioner in the state government.

Tata said: “Reliable information has reached us that the Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Musa Adamu Funtua was behind the disruption of my programme. He sponsored the thugs to attack me and my people.”

He further alleged that the commissioner had already paid a specified amount of money to the hoodlums, promising to give them the balance if they could eliminate him.

Tata also explained that the commissioner was sighted around the venue before the event started.

When contacted for comments,

Alhaji Funtua vehemently denied any involvement in the alleged attack, saying that he had already travelled out of Katsina State before the event took place.

He further said that he was not in Katsina on the day of the attack, let alone being sighted at the event.

Efforts to contact the Police Public Relations Officer, Shehu Koko Mohammed, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) failed as his phone was switched off.

When contacted, the state Commissioner of Police Abdullahi Magaji told Newsextra that he was yet to be briefed on the incident.

Reliable information has reached us that a Commissioner in the state government was behind the disruption of my programme. He sponsored the thugs to attack me and my people

Health boost in Osun •Continued from Page 15 state and selected three local governments where we can carry out a pilot study on what we call insecticide residual spraying, through which we spray walls, house corners, roofs, among others.

The Commissioner said several water-borne diseases like cholera, diarrheoa and dysentery, which have been curbed through dredging of waterways by the state government.

She spoke further on the administration’s immunisation plan, saying the state government has launched its “Kick Polio Out programme.

“Since 2008, we have not recorded a single case of polio,” she said, “and we are committed to maintaining the tempo by stepping up sensitisation and awareness programmes, so that we do not regress in our improvement. In the last two immunisation days that we carried out in Osun, we recorded 106 per cent and 108 per cent, and that is because we mobilised our health workers to go door-to-door for the immunisation of our children under the ages of five.”

The Commissioner said that in the last quarter of last year, the state government spent over N100 million to buy drugs which were distributed to its health facilities.

This year, she added, the government committed more money (N130 million) to purchase drugs now being distributed to stateowned hospitals.

“The exercise is a continuous one

and our people should avail themselves of the opportunity to do free periodic tests. We also go out to do what we call medical missions, three of which were recorded last year, taking us to various communities to do blood check, urine check and many others,” she said.

“There was a major one where we did eye screening and thousands of patients were given eyeglasses to improve their sight, while surgeries were done for those with cataract and glaucoma cases.

“Another medical mission was initiated, which was targeted at surgical diseases like hernia, lipoma and other swellings and bumps diseases, including breast lumps and ganglions, which were done free for those the patients. The surgical mission was carried out in all the nine hospitals in the nine federal constituencies in the state.”

There has also been infrastructural upgrade in the state’s health sector. In the School of Nursing and Midwifery in Osogbo, the state capital, the Aregbesola administration has built a male hostel while a huge library complex is about to be completed there.

“Last year, the governor employed over 20 nurse tutors to boost the ones in the school and this has tremendously helped. I am also aware that in the same year, 26 tutors were employed for the School of Health Technology to improve the teaching staff of the institution,” Dr. Ilori said.

The Commissioner said the state government will also ensure that

Since 2008, we have not recorded a single case of polio... We are committed to maintaining the tempo by stepping up sensitisation and awareness programmes

•Beneficiaries of the state health programme death on the highways are minimised. One way to do that, according to her, is to station wellequipped ambulances at different points on the highway to take care of emergencies. But this will be backed up by “health workers, doctors and paramedics that were sourced from the OYES [the state youth empowerment scheme] cadets who have been further trained to be on ground to handle such emergencies.”

Ilori spoke on the grounds gained in the anti-malaria campaign. “By the end of last year, we recorded about 200,000 malaria cases as against the 500,000 recorded in 2009 and this is to tell you that our interventions are working. In the area of maternal mortality, I can boldly say that Osun has the lowest maternal mortality rate in Nigeria and I am quoting from the National Demographic Survey which found out that the Southwest has the lowest in Nigeria. This can now be ascribed to the proactive nature of this ministry and the man at the helm of affairs, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

“Over 5,000 patients benefitted from eye treatment and about 1,854 of them were given eyeglasses, while about 1,000 patients were operated for cataract extraction.

The same goes for surgical mission, where over 1,000 patients were operated surgically, over 10,000 screened for hypertension and diabetes, using the blood pressure check as well as urine test, while many of them were given drugs free.

“On HIV programme, by December last year, the HIV committee was promoted into HIV agency in

a bid to meet the requirement of the World Bank that wanted to assist us for the programme. We have actually paid N15 million as counterpart fund, while the World Bank also supplemented it with millions of dollars and now, the agency is in full gear.

We have over 42 voluntary and counselling testing facilities, where you can go and test for your HIV status and we have four centres for treatment of HIV in Asubiaro, LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, OAU Teaching Hospital and Baptist Hospital in Ejigbo.

‘Fe

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‘Fed Govt committed to affordable transport’

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HE Federal Government has has reiterated its resolve to partner with the private sector to provide the masses with reliable and affordable transport.

This assurance was given by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport, Mr Nebolisa Emodi who said the Minister, Senator Idris Umar is strongly committed to the initiative for a quick realisation of the primary goal of the transport sector within the framework of the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.

This, he explained, is to develop an adequate, safe, efficient and affordable integrated transport system for Nigerians.

In a telephone chat with Newsextra, Nebolisa said the policy framework adopted by the Federal Government is to provide an enabling environment for private sector participation in all the processes already identified and initiated for a complete overhaul of the country’s transport system.

He said the main plank of the new arrangement would be such that the private sector would be made to play active and significant roles through either independent investments or Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).

“We all know that the transport sector is a critical sector of the economy. That is why it is the common target of labour unions. The Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, and indeed the Federal Government, are committed to the public-private sector partnership initiative.

By Augustine Avwode

“I don’t think anybody really should entertain any fear of policy reversal because for the ministry to develop an adequate, safe, efficient and affordable integrated transport system for the populace, which would be the minimal expectation from the ministry within the scheme of the Transformation Agenda of Mr President, that is the way to go.

“The minister has said it before at various forums and he meant what he had said. You probably heard him not long ago at a ministerial briefing in Abuja. He emphasised government’s readiness to partner with the private sector in its efforts to transform all the sub-sectors in the ministry,” he stated.

Observers believe that it would be a major achievement if the rail subsector can be sufficiently revamped as it will bring a lot of value to the transport sector. From the provision of jobs to ensuring that the nation’s roads last longer and the avoidance of the much carnage daily witnessed on the roads.

The minister had recently declared that the partnership could be in the development or provision of infrastructure for the rail sub-sector, even as he said government had already made some progress. The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), he had revealed, would soon begin freight and passenger services, especially, the haulage of cement from Ibese in Ogun State to the northern part of the country and Wheat from

A

SKILL acquisition run by a church in Port-Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, is offering free intensive training in strategic sectors to youths, thus reducing graduate unemployment.

With their muscular build, the youths looked every inch battleready. They qualified easily as militants, the ones decent residents would gladly avoid. But everyone flocked towards them, full of admiration and envy. It was during their graduation and orientation at the free vocational training workshop run by Omega Power Ministries (OPM) in the state capital.

Over 1,000 youths from the Niger Delta have gone through the training scheme. Patrick Goodluck, one of the graduates from the centre, said his life has taken a turn for the better. His life, he said, was in shambles until he went through the driving school section of the workshop.

“I was practically a lay-about, a nogood guy. I had no skill, no job and no earning. I was just drifting, depending on friends and acquaintances to survive,” the 28-year-old recalled. When one of his friends introduced the scheme to him, Goodluck said he embraced it for

Apapa in Lagos State to Kaduna and Kano; while agriculture produce will be transported from Dagbolu in Osun State to Apapa.

It was also revealed that petroleum products from Apapa in Lagos State would also be freighted to the northern parts of the country.

At a recent Fifth Nigeria International Maritime Ports and Terminals Conference and Expo (NIMPORT 2012), the minister announced plans by government to partner the private sector and some state governments to develop deep seaports in the country.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr Nebolisa Emodi, Umar listed the ports to include those of Lekki deep seaport and Badagry deep seaport all in Lagos, the Ibaka deep seaport in Akwa Ibom and the Olokola deep seaport in Ogun/Ondo states.

Besides, the ministry is developing several river ports across the country.

They include the Baro Port in Niger State, Oguta in Imo State, Jamata in Kogi while the Onitsha Port in Anambra State has been completed, equipped and awaiting inauguration.

While the dredging of the lower River Niger by the Federal Government put at a cost of N46b was recently completed, plans are on to award the contract for the dredging of the River Benue as well as the construction of the Makurdi River Port. The dredging of the lower Niger from Warri in Delta State to Baro in Niger State, an estimated

•Reliable, affordable rail transport is part of the government’s plan distance of 532km, was to facilitate navigability all-year round. The channel runs through major towns such as Warri, Onitsha, Agenebode, Idah, Jamata (Lokoja) down to Baro.

According to Umar, as a demonstration of government’s commitment to transparency and accountability, the legal and institutional framework for PPP ventures in the transport sector would soon be in place to facilitate a smooth transfer of responsibilities to the private sector under the new arrangement.

As a step in that direction, a review of Railway Act of 1955, is underway which would allow the private sec-

tor, state and local governments to participate in ownership and operation of railways.

To this end, a proposed bill is now with the Attorney-General of the Federation, for onward presentation to the Federal Executive Council. If accepted by the council, the bill will subsequently be presented to the National Assembly.

In the main, it seeks to repeal and re-enact the 1955 Railway Act which makes railway operations the exclusive preserve of the NRC. This would engender investment opportunities for the private sector.

Lifeline for Niger Delta youths

By Sunday Oguntola

wanting of trying. “I just felt it would at least occupy me for the next months”.

He said the exposure to the training changed his perception about life. “We were not only taught how to drive but also basic things such as good attitude, inter-personal relationship and looking good.”

All of these, he stated, secured him a job after graduation with an oil service firm. The job, he disclosed, was facilitated by the church. “I just got a call that I was needed someone. I did the interview and was given a job with good pay. My boss later confided I was recommended by the church that trained me.”

Today, he said he is living his dream, which looked so elusive to him. “In just one year, I have become employed and now fend for myself.

I am getting set for my wedding later in the year. It is so amazing that one’s life can turn around in such a short time with just a training scheme,” an excited Goodluck stated.

•A female welder demonstrates her skill at the event

He explained he was at the induction ceremony for the new intakes to showcase the endless possibilities that await them. Friends and well-wishers heartily congratulated the new trainees for charting a new course for their lives. General Overseer of Omega Power Ministries (OPM), Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere, told them to seize the opportunity to change their lives once and for all.

The facilitator of the scheme assured no one passing through the life-changing centre will remain the same. “Today, we present to you a scheme to move your life forward.

You have suffered enough. You have gone through enough troubles.

We want to be part of your transformation and this is why we are offering you this platform to learn a skill for the next three months free of charge,” he began.

“If you apply everything within you to whatever you learn here, you can only go higher. Your life will soar and you will have nothing to

do again with unemployment and poverty throughout your life.”

The scheme, he said, was necessitated by the growing graduate unemployment in the nation. “I cry and feel pained daily when things are not done properly, making people to suffer. Many unemployed Nigerians have no business being unemployed. This is why we are training youths to earn a living and change their lives forever,” Chinyere stated.

He said the centre will not only train the students but also equip them with basic tools in their fields.

“Our intention is that you get a tool box after graduation so that you don’t wait to be employed. You set out immediately and start making money with the acquired skills,” he added.

Mr. Chinedu Nzebuzo, Head of the Generator section, said it would have cost the students a whopping N150, 000 to receive the training at other places over a period of three years. “But we are doing it free for them because the church has paid for everyone in just three months. What they get here is real value for every second spent at the workshop,” he explained.

Head of the Scaffolding Department, Mr. Anyanwu Calistus, said over 40 new students have resumed in the section. He said each of them have the opportunity of making a minimum of N10, 000 per daily in the oil and gas sector after graduation. The training, he disclosed, would cost each student N250, 000 elsewhere.

Pastor Cornelius Kpaduwa heads the Software Development Engineering and Computer Section of the centre. The section admits 50 students each batch. He said many of them have secured jobs after graduation from the centre.

Ezde Chubu, a new student of the Corrosion painting section, said he decided to leave his menial job for an opportunity to acquire a skill. The 29-year-old believes his stint at the centre will change his life for good.

“I have suffered a lot. I am ready now to do this to change my life,” he vowed.

Onyegwure Bestman, a 2007/2008 graduate of IMT Enugu is undergoing training in the Marine Construction Department of the centre. At the

Barge building site located at Oginigba waterfront Port-Harcourt, Bestman said his struggle with unemployment five years after graduation has ended. “I have been training here and getting stipends from jobs I do for some firms. What I earn has convinced me coming here is the best decision of my life,” he shared.

Charles Kelvin, a fellow trainee, echoed the same view. The 29-yearold student of the Open University said he cannot wait to graduate and earn much more. “Once I am out of here, I will explore all the openings I have received. Being in this environment alone exposes me to what awaits me,” he exuded.

Blessing Essien is the only female in the Marine Construction Department. The 25-year-old Physics student of the University of PortHarcourt, stated that the scheme has changed her worldview. At Nkpogu Marine Engineering Training site where she was welding a barge belonging to OPM, Essien said: “I grew up thinking getting a degree is the opportunity. Now, I have realised it is about skill. I am learning every day and realising that I will make so much”.

The Managing Director of Clens Marine International, one of the training partners for the Marine Construction Department, Mr. Cletus Odih, said students from the centre are showing good attitude and skills. He pledged to consider some of them for employment, praising the scheme as life-changing.

Chinyere explained the centre has cost nothing less than N46million this year alone. He believes no cost is too high to take rescue people from the poverty line. “I was once a poor man so I know how it feels. I was a security guard, a cleaner and did many menial jobs. So, I have vowed to do everything within my powers to rescue as many as possible from the hands of poverty.”

He assured that the trainees will be followed up after graduation. “We have their data. We will buy them tools and equipment but we will also help some of them to secure employment. There are many firms getting across to ask us about them.

For us, we won’t leave them until they have left the poverty line”.

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With major roads and city entrances wearing a new look, it is predictable that every nook and cranny of the state will have a beautiful outlook by the expiration of the current administration in 2015, thereby igniting hopes that Ajimobi will restore the city to its once urbane past

Ajimobi beautifies Ibadan

Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, used to be classified as the dirtiest city in Nigeria. In a 2003 survey, the city was classified as the second dirtiest city after Aba, the Abia State capital. But the ancient city is gradually shedding the toga, writes BISI OLADELE

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HE ancient city of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital is not only famous for its large size, it is also known for housing foremost educational and research institutions, media organisations and other monuments. Ibadan is also famous for thick politicking, trade and, sometimes, violence.

The city, interestingly, was also marked out by rustic corrugated house roofs and intimidating dirt.

With heaps of refuse on roadsides and water channels blocked by dirt, devastating floods have visited the city at different times. With the situation, Ibadan was adjudged the dirtiest city in Nigeria for several years. It only came next to Aba, the Abia State capital in a 2003 survey as the second dirtiest city in the country.

But things are changing gradually through the beautification of the landscape as well as weekly environmental sanitation exercise embarked upon by the Governor Abiola Ajimobi administration.

The governor had listed improvement of the environment as a major focus of his

•One of the roundabouts on Ring Road administration at inception. He is pursuing the ambition through beautification of the landscape, improved hygienic, practices particularly in the interior parts of the city, cleaning of major roads by employed sweepers as well as a design of a new mega city to emerge from the current rustic city.

To accomplish this, the administration created the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development. The governor also strengthened the Ministry of the Environment in some ways and came up with a blueprint to be followed by the ministry in changing the outlook of the city and others in the state. Besides, the governor gave strict instruction to local government chairmen to

provide public toilets in rural areas, public places as well as beautify major roads and roundabouts in their domain.

To this end, shops with unapproved plans along major roads have been demolished to pave way for pedestrian walkway and beautification. The exercise left major roads clearer, cleaner and more beautiful. Roads that have benefitted from the exercise include the popular Ring Road, the Iwo Road-Ojoo axis of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, Old Ife Road, New Garrage-Odo Ona Elewe-Apata expressway, Parliament Road, Bodija-Secretariat Road and DugbeQueen Cinema-Adamasingba Road.

Though the Lagos-Ibadan expressway which runs across a part o the city belongs to the Federal

Government, the Oyo State Government has also undertaken the beautification of the Toll GateIwo Road portion of it thereby offering those traveling through the city to Ondo, Ekiti, Kogi, Kwara states and other parts of the country a beautiful outlook of the largest city in Black Africa. After relocating traders at the Toll Gate area of the road, the state government has commenced beautification of the overhead bridge and the roundabout leading to Lead City University while the untarred middle section of both lanes from Toll Gate to Iwo Road has been cleared constantly with flower trees already growing there.

Every local government has constructed at least 10 public toilets in their domains thereby reducing indiscriminate defecation by

Cleric advocates day for national prayers

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HE President, Christ Apostolic Mission Church Worldwide, Pastor Adesoji Ajayi, has called on the Federal Government to dedicate one day to prayers for peace in the country. He said that day will be a public holiday on which to ask God for solution to the activities of Boko Haram.

Ajayi, who stated this at a press conference in Lagos, said God might reclaim the nation’s blessings from Satan and restore peace and tranquillity to the nation.

He said Boko Haram is a grand design to Islamise the northern part of Nigeria and name it “The Islamic Republic of Nigeria.”

He stated that their major financiers were not Nigerians, adding

By Miriam Ndikanwu

that “Nigeria is having a religious war and not a political or tribal one. They are religious extremists who represent an international organisation.

“Most of the Northern elite and political leaders, including General Ibrahim Babangida and Major-General Muhammadu Buhari are not involved. They are only being watchful of their utterances for fear of being attacked by the extremists. General Buhari is merely a victim of his reckless utterances.

“The most difficult battle to fight is a religious war. The ac-

Any effort to curb corruption must start with our leaders. Let us operate an open government by knowing the salaries and allowances of our political leaders in the three tiers of government

tivities of Boko Haram in some northern states are meant to harass the Christians out of these states.

“Nigeria may be a disaster waiting to happen if the Boko Haram insurgency is not seriously and pragmatically addressed. What we have in Nigeria now is unity in disunity and no longer unity in diversity,” he stated.

Continuing, Ajayi said: “One may therefore say that the fate of Christians in the northern part of the country hangs in the balance.”

According to him, the Federal Government needed to do more in the area of insecurity, even as he lamented that the unspeakable horrors being witnessed in Nigeria had traumatised everybody, adding that “we have a very close proximity to serious hostilities and anarchy.

“One of the contributory factors to insecurity is the high level of joblessness in the land. There is fire in the house and the Federal Government is trying to save the property and not the people in the house. This approach can best be described as motion without movement,” he stated.

On corruption, he lamented that

it had become a convention in the country among the elite, saying that the nation no longer practised democracy but plutocracy.

He said: “What we have now can also be described as feudalistic democracy. Nigeria is in a serious corruption crisis which may lead to a complete shutdown of our economic system.

“Any effort to curb corruption must start with our leaders. Let us operate an open government by knowing the salaries and allowances of our political leaders in the three tiers of government.

“A critical factor to success is planning. We need to plan our economy well. Prices of common items are rising daily without any corresponding increase in the income of 95 % of Nigerians,” he said.

On the oil subsidy probe, Ajayi stated that Nigerians did not expect much from it, going by antecedents, as the people were distraught over the oil subsidy probe.

“Owing to the calibre of people involved, nothing much is expected from the probe. Nigerians now have the propensity for violence because it is in Nigeria that trivial offences attract heavy jail terms while serious cases of corruption attract plea bargain.”

•Governor Abiola Ajimobi residents and commuters.

Speaking on the beautification exercise, the Commissioner for the Environment and Habitat, Mr Wasiu Dauda, explained that Ibadan has for long been misrepresented as a dirty city, meaning that residents are dirty.

He said that the notion was wrong because the residents are willing to cooperate with any good government that is ready to outline and pursue the vision of changing the environment for good. What has been lacking, according to him, was vision and determination to change the outlook of the city.

Dauda emphasized that apart from tackling education and corruption, Governor Abiola Ajimobi has environment as his priority and that the administration would pursue the vision of changing the environment for better till the end.

The commissioner stated that the city and others in the state would witness serious beautification during the tenure of the current administration, adding that it would not stop until every major street portrays the people of Oyo State as clean and beautiful people.

With major roads and city entrances wearing a new look, it is predictable that every nook and cranny of the state will have a beautiful outlook by the expiration of the current administration in 2015, thereby igniting hopes that Ajimobi will restore the city to its once urbane past.

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EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 28-8-12

SEC woos investors, firms

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HE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) would today begin an intensive campaign to enlighten investors and entrepreneurs in the Eastern region on the benefits inherent in capital market operations.

The programme, billed for the commercial city of Onitsha, Anambra State, is part of continued efforts to deepen the capital market through more participation by investors and issuers. The programme is scheduled to end on Friday.

According to SEC, the campaign would enable the commission to explore ways through which the businesses in the commercial city of Onitsha can leverage the capital market to raise capital for business expansion and wealth creation.

The management of the SEC, led by the Director-General, Ms. Arunma Oteh, will pay a courtesy call on the Governor of the state, Mr. Peter Obi and Obi of Onitsha, Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe today.

Tomorrow, the team will participate in the inauguration of

•Equities sustain bullish run

By Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

SAB Miller’s factory and Orient Petroleum while the last day will witness an interactive forum with the business communities of Onitsha and Nnewi.

Also on closing day, there will be a quiz competition for secondary schools in Anambra.

SEC had in the past taken similar investors’ sessions to Sokoto State, Rivers State among others.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian stock market remained bullish yesterday, sustaining a threeday consecutive appreciation.

The benchmark index at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), the All Share Index (ASI), rallied further by 0.17 per cent to close at 23,531.63 points. Aggregate market capitalisation of equities added N13 billion to close at N7.490 trillion.

A total of 39 equities recorded price change with 27 appreciating while the remaining 12 reduced in value. Cement Company of Northern Nigeria (CCNN) led the gainers’ table

with a price increase of N0.20 to close at N4.22.

Others on the table were Roads, Smurfit, Eterna Oil and Gas, Ikeja Hotels, DN Meyer, AG Leventis, Royal exchange, Fidson, Livestock with N0.34, N0.06, N0.11, N0.05, N0.02, N0.03 and N0.05.

On the losers’ table, UPL led the lean list of losers with a drop of N0.21 to close at N4.11 followed by NASCON, NPFMCRBK, May & Baker, Neimeth, Dangote Sugar, PZ, Red Star, Bagco and Skye Bank.

In all, investors traded 239.678 million shares worth N1.757 billion in 3,757 deals. Finance services sector still on the lead with 151.861 million shares worth N1.333 billion in 2,205 deals.

Other actively traded sectors were Services, Conglomerates, Consumer Goods, Oil & Gas, Industrial Goods and Health Care with 53.286 million shares, 11.965 million shares, 11.488 million shares, 3.807 million shares, 3.555 million shares and 2.424 million shares.

Ghana plans seven-year bond auction

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HANA hopes to issue a seven-year government bond by the end of December, following the successful launch of three- and five-year notes earlier this year, Finance Minister Kwabena Duffuor has said.

He said discussions were also being held about the possibility of opening the shortterm domestic bond market to residents to help shift government borrowing to the nonbanking sector.

According to the report by Reuters/NAN, the three- and five-year bonds issued this year by the West African cocoa, gold and oil exporter were oversubscribed with keen participation from offshore investors.

“Plans for issuing new

longer-term bonds before the year ends are unfolding.

“Obviously, issuing longerterm maturities will help reduce our risks and that means lowering our funding costs over time,” Duffuor told Media in an interview.

Last week, the Bank of Ghana said it sold 898.5 million cedis (465.5 million dollars) in bids for a five-year note that auctioned Thursday.

The sale’s average yield was 23 per cent compared with 26 per cent at a similar auction in June.

Ghana had initially planned to sell just 300 million cedis at the auction, but decided to accept more bids because of the decline in the yield.

Duffuor said the additional bond proceeds would be used

to refinance domestic debts to lengthen their maturity profile in line with the government’s debt management strategy.

“We inherited a huge debt profile but we are managing to get that out of the way,” Duffuor said .

He added that the government had so far paid some 3.8 billion cedis in arrears since taking office in January 2009.

He said the overwhelming subscription of the bond, issued as part of measures to shore-up the local cedi currency showed the revived investor confidence in the economy.

The cedi lost about 20 per cent of its value against the dollar this year.

“Our country’s economic fundamental is very strong - investors are now bullish about the economy as we expand.”

Despite double-digit producer price inflation and the slide of the cedi, consumer price inflation remains within the single-digit target band, rising slightly to 9.5 per cent in July.

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 28-8-12

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012

55

MONEY LINK

Osun to shop for N30 billion

T

HE Osun State Government has concluded plans to shop for N30 billion.

The fund is expected to be raised through bonds at the Nigerian Capital Market and would be used to finance developmental projects.

Commissioner for Finance, Economic Planning and Budget, Wale Bolorunduro who disclosed this in Osogbo, said arrangements had reached an advanced stage and awaiting the approval of the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), that “in the next one month , we will hit the capital market.”

He also said the bond would be used for viable projects such as roads, especially the road linking the state capital, Osogbo to Gbongan, observing that the

Stories by Collins Nweze

road was bad and an embarrassment to the state.

Besides, he revealed that roads in major cities of the state would be done like the Osogbo /Iwo road, as well as other viable roads which are meant to boost commercial activities of the state.

Bolorunduro stated that the bond would be used for other developmental projects, especially dilapidated school buildings. The state ,he said decided to go for the bond because it has a fixed interest and is cheaper than obtaining loans.

He expressed optimism that people would invest in the bond because “apart from Lagos State

which has pension clearance ,Osun State has been cleared and pension funds can actually be invested in our bond.”

The commissioner revealed that the Internally Generated Revenue [IGR] of the state jumped from N323 million to N600 million as a result of some measures taken by the state to curb leakages.

According to him, when the state government came to power, it appointed consultants to handle the tax system and through automated system, “we were able to move to the level of N600 million”. He added that the state was moving to the second phase, which is looking beyond the informal sector of the economy.

“At the moment, we are below the national average, as the IGR is N323 million, but with the N600 million generated,we are slightly above the national average,we want to get to N21 billion per annum IGR. While saying that the State’s Internal Revenue Service is still subject to bureaucracy, he pointed out that, a bill has been sent to the State’s Assembly by Governor Rauf Aregbesola so as to refocus the service and make it autonomy.

On the state’s debt, Bolorunduro said the immediate past government took a commercial loan of N18.3 billion while the Aregbesoal led administration has been able to draw down the loan to N8.6 bil-

Expert lists challenges inhibiting IFRS execution

I

NCOME taxes, employee benefits, business combinations and sharebased payments pose challenges for banks in the implementation of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), The Nation has leant.

The managing director, IFRS Strategic Consultants Nigeria Limited, David Raggay, who confirmed this in a statement, said that these areas, termed, accounting for financial instruments, remain a hard knot for banks to crack.

He explained that for financial instruments, the difficulties arise from a mixed-measurement model promulgated under the relevant standards.

For instance, there are four standards in issue by the International Accounting Stan-

dards Board (IASB), which relate to financial instruments.

They are: IAS 32 Financial Instruments: Presentation; IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement; IFRS 7 Financial Instruments: Disclosures; and IFRS 9 Financial Instruments.

Chairman of Publicity Committee, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), Chukwuemeka Eze, said IFRS presents some daunting challenges for tax consultants, especially where the tax free areas in the old system contradicts with the IFRS format.

Eze, who spoke with The Nation yesterday, said the method of computing in the IFRS differs from the old system. “The IFRS may not have given a headline in areas such as tax-

The key objective of IFRS 7 is to provide disclosure requirements that enable users of financial statements to evaluate: the significance of financial instruments for the entity’s financial position and performance; the nature and extent of risks to which the entity is exposed; and how the entity manages financial risks.

ing profits, salaries of directors or other remunerations,” he said.

He said that the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), CITN and other stakeholders in taxation are already looking at ways of harmonizing and addressing these challenges.

Former Chairman of the IASB, Sir David Tweedie disclosed that IFRS 7, which bothers on disclosures, will lead to greater transparency about the risks that entities run from the use of financial instruments.

This, combined with the new requirements in IAS 1, will provide better information for investors and other users of financial statements to make informed judgments about risk and return”.

Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year 5-Year

35m 35m 35m

11.039 12.23 13.19

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

F

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

INTERBANK RATES 7.9-10% 10-11%

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2012 “ 14-04-2012

GAINERS AS AT 28-8-12 SYMBOL

CCNN ROADS SMURFIT ETERNA IKEJAHOTEL DNMEYER AGLEVENT ROYALEX FIDSON LIVESTOCK

O/PRICE

4.02 6.94 1.29 2.39 1.09 0.69 1.19 0.51 0.77 1.30

C/PRICE

4.22 7.28 1.35 2.50 1.14 0.72 1.24 0.53 0.80 1.35

(PIN) enabled, giving users online real-time access to their funds. The card can be used to make payments through Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), Point of sale terminals and web merchants.

The bank said Europay, MasterCard and VISA EMVChip and Personal Indentification Number

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

of Council, Segun Aina said the committee was set up to ensure better services delivery to all stakeholders.

According to him, the committees were approved by the Governing Council of the Institute, and are comprised of experts and professionals with unique and varied experience, skills and other competencies.

For instance, the Institute is also addressing various issues which pitch banks against their customers.

(PIN) card have the highest security guarantee for customers’ transactions based global best practices. ”The dual currency card, which can be linked to both naira and dollar accounts, when you are in the country or abroad, has a life span of two years and is used anywhere VISA logos are displayed,” the statement said.

Exchange Rate (N) 155.2 155.8 155.7

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

CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Year Start Offer

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

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

147.6000 239.4810 212.4997

149.7100 244.0123 207.9023

150.7100 245.6422 209.2910

-2.11 -2.57 -1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

152.0000

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

153.0000

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

NSE CAP Index

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

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

DISCOUNT WINDOW Feb. ’11

July ’11

Dec ’11

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

12%

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

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00% 12.10%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00% 12.10%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00% 12.6%

% Change -1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

CHANGE

0.20 0.34 0.06 0.11 0.05 0.03 0.05 0.02 0.03 0.05

Amount Sold ($) 150m 138m 113m

EXHANGE RATE 6-03-12 Currency

Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

T

HE Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) has set up twoyear committees to articulate new ideas that will drive its operations.

The committees according to a statement, are expected to be meeting on regular basis to discuss critical issues on the banking sector and make recommendations among other functions aimed at transforming the Institute and its activities.

CIBN President/Chairman

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM

MANAGED FUNDS

OBB Rate Call Rate

CIBN floats two committees

DATA BANK

Tenor

NIDF NESF

growth, gainful employment, food, agriculture and rural enterprise, health, sports and recreation, water, physical infrastructure, functional education and participatory and accountable governance are meant to develop the state to an enviable status.

He listed areas of current investment and partnership projects to include large scale agric farms, mid regional market, captive power plants, development of tourist sites through PPP, solid minerals mining, Free Trade Zone among others.

FirstBank launches Visa Debit card IRSTBANK Nigeria Plc has introduced a Visa debit card, that can be linked to both naira and dollar accounts of its customers.

The product, according to a statement, has enabled the lender meet the e-payment needs of its customers.

The product is Chip and Personal Identification Number

FGN BONDS

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

lion “Presently, we are servicing the remaining loan at 13 percent to be paid in the next six years.”

He pointed out that the state has mapped out 5 -year Medium Strategy Plan.

Speaking on the just concluded 2012 Diaspora Trade and Investment Mission, Charles Akinola, Director General, Office of Economic Development and Partnerships, said the 6point integral action plan of Governor Rauf Aregbesola, which included economic

ARM AGGRESSIVE KAKAWA GUARANTEED STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL BGL SAPPHIRE FUND BGL NUBIAN FUND NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY

Offer Price

Bid Price

9.17 1.00 124.16 108.57 0.76 1.10 0.93 1,736.24 9.75 1.39 1.87 8,177.59

9.08 1.00 124.01 108.28 0.74 1.10 0.91 1,733.14 9.28 1.33 1.80

LOSERS AS AT 28-8-12

SYMBOL UPL NASCON NPFMCRFBK MAYBAKER NEIMETH DANGSUGAR PZ REDSTAREX BAGCO SKYEBANK

O/PRICE 4.32 4.98 1.05 1.54 0.90 4.37 23.75 2.76 1.57 2.70

C/PRICE 4.11 4.74 1.00 1.47 0.86 4.22 23.00 2.70 1.54 2.68

CHANGE 0.21 0.24 0.05 0.07 0.04 0.15 0.75 0.06 0.03 0.02

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

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

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

Movement

OPEN BUY BACK

Bank P/Court

Previous 04 July, 2011

Current 07, Aug, 2011

8.5000 8.0833

8.5000 8.0833

Movement

56

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012

57

NEWS Anambra shuts markets for Jonathan’s visit

T

HE Anambra State Government has ordered the closure of major markets in Onitsha tomorrow, in preparation for President Goodluck Jonathan’s visit.

The markets are the Onitsha Main Market in Onitsha North and others in Ogbaru, Onitsha South and Idemili North local government areas.

Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism Chief Joe-Martins Uzodike told reporters yesterday in Awka, the state capital, that the closure was to forestall any security breach.

Uzodike said: “All markets in Onitsha North, Onitsha South, Ogbaru and Idemili North local government areas shall be closed between 8am and 4pm on Thursday. This is to pave the way for the easy flow of traffic during the President’s visit.”

He urged residents to regard the decision as a necessary sacrifice for the state’s growth.

The commissioner said the President’s visit would pave the way for the creation of 5,000 jobs and change the fortunes of the state .

The President is expected to inaugurate Orient Petroleum Oil Wells, SABMiller Brewery, Orange Drugs Company, Krisoral Company, the Onitsha Inland Port and the Onitsha Head Bridge, among others.

Hotel owner gets bail From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi

A

N Otuocha High Court in Anambra State, presided over

by Justice J. Nweze, yesterday granted bail to Mr. Christopher Udoh, the owner of Arthur Garden Hotel, which was sealed by Governor Peter Obi for allegedly accommodating four suspected kidnappers.

Udoh and Chief Godwin Onwukwe were arrested and detained for allegedly abetting kidnappers.

Udoh got a N5 million bail. He is expected to present three sureties in like sum and his statement of account.

Udoh had sued the Inspector-General of Police; Anambra State Commissioner of Police Ballah Nasarawa; the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC); the Officer in-charge of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) Inspector James Nwafor; Ogidi Divisional Police Officer Mr. Kanayo Uzuegbu and the Chairman of Idemili North Transition Committee, Chief Ralph Nnabuife.

An Onitsha High court had ordered Udoh’s release, but the order was yet to be obeyed by the police when the case came up yesterday.

Three held for banks’ robbery in Anambra

T

HREE of the suspected robbers, who invaded three banks in Umunze, Anambra State,on Monday have been arrested by the police.

Police spokesman Raphael Uzoigwe confirmed their arrest.

Over 15 gunmen stormed the community in two buses and attacked the banks.

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

Sources said they went on a shooting spree, injuring some people.

Uzoigwe said the hoodlums stole an unspecified amount of money from one of the banks, but the timely intervention of policemen disrupted their operation at the two other banks.

He said there was a gun battle between the robbers and the

police, but no one was killed.

One of the bankers, who pleaded for anonymity, said: “The robbers stole some money during the raid, but the intervention of security operatives saved the day.

“The hoodlums chased one of our workers to a filling station, where he abandoned his vehicle and ran for his dear life.”

The traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Promise Eze, urged the government to tighten security in Umunze.

He said: “This is becoming unbearable. We thought these things had stopped in this community, but here we are again.

I cannot fold my arms and allow such a thing to continue.

We must all fight crime in Umunze.”

Seven suspected ritual killers held in Ebonyi

T

HE Police in Ebonyi State have arrested seven suspects in connection with the ritual murder of a seven-year-old girl, Ukamaka Immaculata Ogboji.

Speaking with reporters in Abakaliki, the state capital, police spokesman Sylvester Igbo said the suspects kidnapped Ukamaka with the aim of extorting money from her parents, but eventually killed her.

Igbo said the girl’s body was

From Ogbonnaya Obinna, Abakaliki

found in a cassava farm with some of her parts missing.

He said two of the suspects had confessed to the crime.

Igbo said: “Seven persons suspected to have killed little Miss Ukamaka last Sunday at Agubia, Ikwo Local Government Area, have been arrested. We perceive this as a ritual killing and not kidnapping because the deceased’s legs, hands and eyes were

missing.

“Two of the suspects have confessed to the crime. From the information we gathered, they did not intend to kill the victim. They abducted her with the aim of extorting money from her parents.

“One of the suspects said after the child was kidnapped, he left the gang and went into the town, but returned to meet her body. He said he was not involved in her murder.

“Some of them were ar-

rested on Sunday while others were arrested yesterday. The community contributed immensely to their arrest.

Igbo thanked members of the Ebonyi Youth Assembly (EYA) for assisting the police.

EYA Founder Comrade Chinedu Ogah said the suspects demanded N2 million ransom from the deceased’s father.

He said EYA has established a strong security network across the state and warned criminals to steer clear.

Prayers saved me, says ESUT VC

T

Prof. Onyeji

HE Vice-Chancellor of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Prof. Cyprian Onyeji, yesterday said the prayers of his loved ones saved him from captivity.

Onyeji was abducted in front of the university by gunmen on August 15.

He was freed after nine days.

Onyeji said he was humbled by the concern

From Chris Oji, Enugu

shown by various groups and individuals during his captivity.

In a statement by ESUT spokesman Mr. Ossy Ugwuoti, Onyeji stressed the importance of prayers in every situation.

The VC said he was released because the peoples’ prayers touched the hearts of his abductors.

He thanked the university community; the police; the press; the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria; staff of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife; his former students; the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities; the people of Enugu State; and other groups for their prayers and support during his ordeal.

Academic activities have resumed in ESUT.

Only 10 per cent of Abians pay tax, says speaker

A

BIA State House of Assembly Speaker Ude Oko-Chukwu has said only 10 per cent of residents pay tax in the state.

Speaking with The Nation in Umuahia, the state capital, Oko-Chukwu said this is responsible for the state’s dependence on federal allocation, a situation he said cannot be allowed to continue.

To ensure effective revenue generation, he said the Assembly has advised Governor Theodore Orji to reorganise the Ministry of Finance, the Board of Internal Revenue and the Office of the Accountant-General.

The Speaker said the reorganisation would ensure easy identification of taxable persons and companies.

He said: “Many states in the country do not have oil and they have been surviving on taxes. So there is need for Abia to look inward, if it must develop.

“Even countries without oil are doing well and it has been proven that they generate revenue from taxation.

So, if we must grow, we need to stop depending on federal allocation.

“It is sad that the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) gets into the wrong hands through many fraudulent means and we need to put a stop to that.”

On the state’s 21st anniversary, Oko-Chukwu said: “Abia has done well, when one looks at what it used to be and what it is today, though we have not gotten to where we are supposed to be.

“People expect Abia to be like states that were created before it, but Rome was not

From Ugochukwu UgojiEke, Umuahia

built in a day. We will get there someday and even

surpass them. Orji has been building legacies that will stand the test of time.

“If past governors had been active, we will not be

where we are now. We are just building a Government House and workers’ secretariat, which should have been on ground.”

Onitsha kidnap victim freed From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

MR. Amulunanma Egbunike, who was kidnapped last weekend in Onitsha, Anambra State, has been freed.

The Nation gathered that he was freed yesterday morning.

Egbunike was abducted near his home at the Onitsha Inland Town.

He was said to be returning home with his wife and son, when the kidnappers blocked his car and dragged him into theirs.

Egbunike’s son, Junior, who was driving his father’s car, went after them, but collided with another car, barely 400 metres away.

Junior and his mother, who was also in the car, were injured in the accident.

The young man died at the hospital, but his mother has been discharged.

The Nation gathered that with Junior’s death, the Egbunike family is left with only a son, having lost their only daughter some years ago.

Police spokesman Raphael Uzoigwe said the command is investigating the circumstances that led to Junior’s death.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, AGEH BARTHOLOMEW AGEH and OCHONG BARTHOLOMEW AWOK are one and the same person, now wish to be known and addressed as AGEH BARTHOLOMEW AGEH. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE MEDICAL GUILD ESTATE ASSOCIATION. The public is hereby inform that above named Association has forwarded its new Board of Trustees membership to the Corporate Affairs Commission sequel to its Annual General Meeting held on 5th of February,2012 Where the Old Trustees were dissolved.

OLD MEMBERS TRUSTEES ARE : 1. Dr. Ayobode Williams 2. Dr. Tajudeen Salau 3. Dr. Taofik Majolagbe.

4. Dr. Ayodeji Olaniyi NEW MEMBERS OF TRUSTEES ARE : 1.

Dr.Muhammad Salisu 2. Dr.(Mrs) Abosede Wellington 3. Dr. Francis Sarimiye 4. Dr. Ibrahim Ogunbi 5. Dr. Olusegun A.Kola Korolo 6. Dr. Yinka G. Anifowose 7. Mrs Funmi Adefowokan AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aims and Objectives remains the same.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Signed: Insight Solicitors

58

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012

59

NEWS SWF board members

Fed Govt, states begin negotiation over N2.29tr Excess Crude Account Continued from page 4

ly budget Funds in the account were sourced from oil sales, Petroleum Profit Tax and Royalties.

Over the years, the accounts had borne such names as Dedicated Account, Oil Windfall Account, Special Debt Account, and Stabilisation Account.

But the Excess Crude Account, which is in contention at the Supreme Court, was created in 2004 by the administration of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo.

The funds drawn from the Excess Crude Account in the past were used for special projects and debt servicing.

During the administration, Obasanjo, about $12.4bn was withdrawn from the account to offset Nigeria’s debt to the Paris Club; $17milllion for two additional days for the 2006 National Population Census; and more than $2.3billion for Niger Delta Power Plants.

The seven states are, however, aggrieved that the Federal Government had been deducting funds from the Excess Crude Account without their consent and in violation of the provision of the 1999 Constitution on the management of Federation Account.

They accused the Federal Government of not paying excess funds from oil sales and royalties into the Federation Account in contraven-

tion of the provisions of Section 162(1&3) of the 1999 Constitution.

The section reads: “The federation shall maintain a special account to be called the Federation Account, in to which shall be paid all revenues collected by the government of the federation…. any amounts standing to the credit of the Federation Account must be distributed among the federal, the state governments and the Local Government Councils on such term and manner prescribed by the National Assembly.”

In the suits filed at the apex court on May 5 by a consortium of seven lawyers, the states are seeking: •a declaration that the establishment and maintenance of the Excess Crude Account and the payment thereto of crude oil earnings and oil taxes (Petroleum Profit Tax and Royalties) in excess of the oil price benchmark set by the Government of the Federation (or the payment thereto of any crude oil earnings and oil taxes) is illegal and unconstitutional.

•the Government of the Federation is mandatorily obliged by the combined effect of Section 162(1) and (10) of the Constitution to pay sums accruing from the sale of crude oil and oil taxes (arising from a positive difference between market price and budget benchmark of crude oil) which it currently pays

into the Excess Crude Account into the Federation Account; and a declaration that •it is illegal and unconstitutional for the Government of the Federation to unilaterally spend sums standing to the credit of the Excess Crude Account to fund “Major developmental projects” (that is, National Integrated Power Plants and Railway Modernization and Expansion Project), “Equity contribution to the Africa Finance Corporation” or any projects howsoever described.

The states are also seeking an order: •directing the Federal Government to render account of monies illegally and unconstitutionally expended on account of the so-called “Major development projects” and “Equity contribution to the AFC”; •compelling the Government of the Federation to pay to the Federation Account US$4.13billion being monies thus far charged to the Excess Crude Account in respect of the so-called “Major development projects”(That is National Integrated Power Plants(US$3.4billion), Railway Modernisation and Expansion Project (US$0.25 billion) and Equity contribution to the AFC (US$0.48billion); •it is illegal and unconstitutional for the Government of the Federation to charge her debt service obligations under the “Paris Club Debt Deal” or any other debt re-

payment/service obligations against the sums standing to the credit of the Excess Crude Account; •compelling the Federal Government to pay to the Federation Account, the sum of $13billion being monies thus far charged to the Excess Crude Account in respect of the debt repayment/ service obligations of the Government of the Federation under the Paris Club Debt Deal and any other monies charged against the said account for any other debt repayment/ service obligations; •it is illegal and unconstitutional for the Government of the Federation to refuse/ fail/ neglect to distribute sums standing to the credit of Excess Crude Account, which sums by law, ought to accrue to the Federation Account as mandated by Section 162(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and be distributed as mandated by Section 162(2), (3), (4), and (5) of the said constitution; and or •a declaration that Section 35(1), (2),(3), (5), (6), and (7) of the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007 are ultra vires the National Assembly and /or are inconsistent with Sections 4,7,120(4), and 162(3),(4),(5),(6) and(8) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and are, to that extent invalid, unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect.

•Usman Continued from page 4

for Africa in 2001, where he served as the Chief Executive Officer from 2002 to 2004. He served as Vice President and Head of Africa Trade and Corporate Finance for SubSahara Africa for Citibank.

He holds degrees in Mechanical Engineering (1st class honours) and Business Administration from Manchester University and Manchester Business School.

JIDE J. ZEITLIN is a businessman and former Goldman Sachs investment banker and partner who was nominated by the Obama White House to represent the U.S. on financial reform at the United Nations.

Zeide was an executive at Goldman Sachs & Co and was elected a partner in 1996; he held a number of senior management positions in the firm’s investment banking division where he focused on industrial, consumer and healthcare industries. He retired in 2005, having held a number of senior management positions in the firm’s investment banking division

as well as served in its executive office. Since 2005, Mr. Zeitlin has founded a company that builds and owns telecommunications infrastructure in India, and he has invested in private biotechnology companies globally.

MRS BILI AWOSIKA is chairman Intermarc Consulting Limited.

She worked with Akintola Williams & Co. before establishing Qubees Limited in 1989 and The Chair Centre in 1997.Both are reputable furniture companies located on Victoria Island, Lagos.

MRS. AWOSIKA ALSO serves on the board of other companies.She is the founder/president of Christian Missionary Fund, a nondenominational christian NGO with head office in Lagos.

HASSAN MUSA USMAN is Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer,ASO Savings and Loans Limited Prior to becoming CEO of ASO, Hassan served as Executive Director (Investments) at Abuja Investment and Property Development Company Ltd., the Federal Capital Territory’s premier development agency. He has also headed key units of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, including Petrochemicals and Gas, Transport Sector Reform and Telecommunications.

He worked with Citibank and the Financial Markets Division of Arthur Andersen S.C. London. He has served on the boards of major corporations, including NITEL.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012

60

NEWS Kano to be decongested From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

Kano State Government is to provide plots of land to cater for an estimated one million people under its urban decongestion programme, Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has said.

He said government has created three cities, namely, Kwankwasiyya, Bandirawo and Amana. They are sited on the outskirts of Kano city to provide decent housing for the citizens and develop the state.

The governor, who spoke yesterday at the foundation-laying ceremony of Amana city in Dawakin Kudu Local Government, said the infrastructural development of the plots of land would cost the government N2.95 billion.

He added that it would be completed within 18 months.

Kwankwaso said the first phase of Amana city project covered over 200 hectares, while the original owners of the land were paid a compensation of about N528 million.

He noted that the land, which comprised 1,987 plots, would be divided into 314 low density residential plots, 284 medium density plots, 1,307 high density plots, 35 commercial plots and one filling station. According to him, other facilities such as hospitals and markets would also be catered for.

Bomb kills suspected Boko Haram member A

MAN suspected to be a member of the Boko Haram sect, who carried an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in a wheel barrow, was killed by the device yesterday in Maiduguri, the Joint Task Force (JTF) has said.

The JTF in a statement by its spokesman, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa, said: “There was

From Joseph Abiodun, Maiduguri

an IED explosion today (yesterday) at the West End, Ramat Square General Area in Maiduguri. It was hidden in a wheel barrow by a man suspected to be a member of

the Boko Haram.

“The owner of the wheel barrow was killed while trying to escape. The area has been cordoned off by the bomb disposal arm of the JTF.” Musa said an IED, suspected to have been

planted by members of the Boko Haram sect, was also discovered by the JTF in Gwange-Sabonlayi area of Maiduguri yesterday.

“It was defused by the bomb disposal arm of the JTF. No casualty was recorded. Normalcy has been restored in the affected areas as people are going about their activities,” he said.

Police impound 11 trucks of crude oil

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OGI State Police Command has arrested eight suspects and impounded 11 trucks conveying a substance suspected to be crude oil in Osara, Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi State.

The vandals were accused of siphoning fuel from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) pipeline on Osara/ Okene/ Abuja Road.

Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Musa Katsina, who spoke when parading the eight suspects and their trucks, said each truck was loaded with 333,000 litres of crude oil.

He said the Federal Government has just set up a task force on pipeline vandals and bunkering, adding that it is determined to stop the illegal activity.

Katsina said the suspects are working for influential people. He pledged his

From Muhammad Bashir Lokoja

command’s determination to get to the root of the matter by arresting their

godfathers.

The police boss said the suspects would soon be handed over to the task force for further investigation.

Those arrested are, Attah Yakubu, Timothy Akpai, Danlami Sani, Usman Mohammed, Haruna Yakubu, Abdulkadir Musa, Kabiru Ahmed and Kazeem Abdullahi.

Suswam gets seven days to sack aide

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ENUE State House of Assembly yesterday gave Governor Gabriel Suswam seven days to sack the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Conrad Kuhweikya Wergba.

The Assembly arrived at the decision after a lawmaker, Iana Jato representing Katsina Ala West, raised a point of order 9, rule 16F, and drew the attention of the lawmakers to the effect that one of his resolutions calling for the resignation of the commissioner has been disobeyed.

Kenneth Iyo(Gwer west), Minority Leader Paul Biam(Ukum) and other lawmakers who commented

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

on the debate expressed dismay that an order of the House has been breached.

After the debate, Deputy Speaker Steven Omenche who presided over yesterday’s sitting, called for

a motion and Ode Onah moved a motion which was seconded by Baba Ode. In the absence of a counter motion, the Deputy Speaker ruled and gave Governor Suswam seven days to sack the Commissioner for Information and Orientation.

Doctors, nurses begin strike in Plateau

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OCTORS, nurses and pharmacists at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Plateau State, have embarked on a three-day warning strike to protest the implementation of a new tax system introduced by the Federal Government.

They have given a 21-day notice to begin strike if their demands are not met.

In a statement signed by Dr. Ewuga Ovye of the Association of Resident Doctors; Mr. V. Lohdip on behalf of the National Association of Nigerian Pharmacists and Mr. Dakwal Manglet of the Forum of Federation of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives in Jos yesterday, the workers

From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

decried the insistence of the management of the hospital to go ahead with the implementation of the new tax law.

The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of JUTH, Dr. Ishaya Pam, decried the strike. He said it was unnecessary.

Said he: “President Goodluck Jonathan in June last year signed the new tax law and it was expected to commence immediately, but the circular got to the management last month and the implementation began with the August salary.”

Pam advised the workers to shelve the strike and return to work in their own interest and in the interest of the public.

Council poll: ACN doubts electoral body’s credibility

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head of the local government election

on November 24 in Benue State, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has expressed doubt over the impartiality of the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BESIEC)) in the conduct of the poll.

But the Chairman of BESIEC, Prof. Philip Ahire, said there is no cause for alarm as the commission would conduct a credible election.

Addressing reporters in Makurdi yesterday, ACN Director of Publicity, Titus Zam, alleged that the poll has been administratively rigged in favour of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He alleged that there was a sinister move by BESIEC to rig the election in favour of the PDP.

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

“They have appointed Denen Mgende and Aonodo Atinginla who are PDP cardcarrying members as electoral officer and assistant electoral officer in Gwer West Local Government. We have vowed to challenge the appointments.”

ACN also accused the chairman of the electoral body of being a cardcarrying member of the PDP at Mbanor Ward in Konshisa Local Government Area.

The party alleged that some traditional rulers in Kwande and Gwer West local governments have said no ACN poster should be displayed in their localities.

Prof. Ahire said BESIEC is determined to conduct a free and fair poll. He urged stakeholders to support the electoral body.

Illegal structures in Kebbi to go From Khadijat Saidu, Birnin Kebbi

THE Kebbi Urban Development Authority (KUDA) has vowed to demolish illegal structures built on drainages and water ways.

The General Manager of the authority, Alhaji Babangida Garba Gwandu, said in Birnin Kebbi yesterday that this became necessary following the flood that ravaged the state capital.

He said KUDA would not compromise public health and safety to avoid the anger of those affected by the demolition.

Gwandu decried the building of structures on drainages and dumping of refuse inside gutters.

The general manager called for attitudinal change from the people in terms of refuse disposal and good sanitation condition.

He said KUDA would be ready to partner individuals and non-governmental organisations to clean Kebbi.

Council to beautify terminus THE Chairman of Surulere Local Government in Lagos State, Tajudeen Ajide, has renewed his call on members of the Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and other transport unions to vacate the Ojuelegba under bridge to allow the contractor engaged to give the area a facelift begin work.

He said contract for the rehabilitation of the area has been awarded and the contractor is ready to move to site.

Ajide said the transformation of Ojuelegba is one of the promises he made to the electorate when he contested the chairmanship of the local government on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

He said: “Ojuelegba is a melting pot in Lagos. My administration wants to rehabilitate the area, but a few people are posing as a hindrance.

“We will do everything within the laws of the land to make sure Ojuelegba is transformed to a modern terminus.”

Third year remembrance THE third year remembrance service for the late Rev. Samuel Owolabi Ogunbiyi, who died on August 29, 2009 will hold today in IgboleEkiti, Ekiti State.

The late Ogunbiyi was buried on December 12, 2009 at Igbole-Ekiti in Ido-Osi Local Government, Ekiti State.

He is survived by children and grandchildren. Among them is Pastor and Lady Evangelist Ademola Olufunke Fasuan.

The late Rev. Ogunbiyi

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012

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NEWS

$400b oil money mismanaged by govt., says Ezekwesili

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ORMER World Bank Vice President for Africa, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili yesterday said about $400 billion of Nigeria’s oil revenue has been stolen or mismanaged since independence in 1960.

Presenting a paper entitled “Corruption, National Development, The Bar and The Judiciary” at the ongoing 52nd Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), she said oil accounts for 90 per cent of Nigeria’s export commodity.

The former education minister, however, lamented that over 80 per cent of the money ends up in the hands of one per cent of the population.

To check the trend, she opined that the fight against corruption and demand for good governance is a collective effort of government and citizens.

Her words: “in fact, results reveal that as much as 20 per cent of the entire capital expenditure will end up in private pockets annually. The negative effects of corruption is starkly demonstrated by the fact that based on current track record, Nigeria will miss all the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) target set in 2000 despite the richness of is natural and human resource endowments.

“There is no doubt that at the heart of any progress towards meeting these goals is the quality of governance at all levels of government and yet the general perception since validated revealed large scale corruption in the petroleum sector especially but not limited to the

Romney nominated Republicans’ presidential candidate

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ITT Romney was formally nominated yesterday as the Republicans’ presidential candidate, hitting the magic number of delegates late in the afternoon — capping an eight-year quest for his party’s nomination.

Shortly before 6 p.m., Romney notched the 1,144 delegates needed to claim the party nomination going into November. The New Jersey delegation, whose governor is giving the keynote, delivered the final delegates that put him over the top.

The proceedings, as per tradition, were part pep rally for the individual state delegations that one-by-one took the stage and jazzed up the crowd before announcing their delegate totals. But they also concluded what for Romney has been a protracted and hard-fought battle for the nomination — he is here in Tampa only after warding off a rotating field of feisty primary challengers ranging from Rick Perry to Newt Gingrich to Rick Santorum to Herman Cain.

The nomination sets into motion a convention that until a few hours ago was fairly lifeless. Tropical-stormturned-hurricane Isaac delayed the convention start by a day and continued to overshadow the event. But the atmosphere at the Tampa Bay Times Forum late Tuesday was ebullient.

From Kamarudeen Ogundele and John Austin Unachukwu, Abuja

management of the subsidy scheme by all the relevant agencies of government, is that there is poor governance of public resources and assets in Nigeria at every level of government.

“Poor governance of public resources and assets in Nigeria is worsening at every level of government, across our institutions of state, the private sector and fast engulfing the wider society. The other and perhaps more significant way corruption hurts is its impact on the government bottom line and those teacher-less, deskless schools only hint at the extent of the problem in Nigeria. An estimated $400 billion of the country’s oil revenue has been stolen or misspent since the country’s independence in 1960" she declared.

Dr. Ezekwesili said one

study by the World Bank indicted that a data modeling revealed that annual worldwide losses due to corruption amount to between one to four thousand US Dollars or 10 per cent of the world’s gross economic output. The Global Financial Integrity estimated that between 1970 and 2008, Africa lost more than $854 billion in illicit financial outflows, an amount which is far in excess of official development inflows.

“Another report of the Transparency International (TI) put the amount of bribes companies paid politicians and other public officials in developing and transiting economies annually at $ 40 billion in 2009 and consider that Africa would constitute a major part, since we know the continent’s ranking on governance in the lower regions of the TI’s corruption perception index,” she added.

Ezekwesili also a one-time Minister of Solid Minerals De-

velopment, urged civil society organizations, the NBA, the judiciary and other stakeholders to play a significant role in making public budgeting more transparent and accountable and engage in the various stages of the budget process that can strengthen the oversight process and accountability in the use of public resources.

“An independent judiciary and the Bar is important for preserving the rule of law and is, therefore, most important facet of good governance. The judicial system has an important role to play ultimately in ensuring better public governance. There is no area where the judgment of the Supreme Court has not played a significant role in the good governance of any nation whether in environment, human rights, gender justice, education, minorities, police reforms among other.

“Nigerians are at once dis-

appointed and worried for your profession and the entire justice system, the rule of law-one of the most significant characteristics of good governance prevails because India has an independent judiciary that has been sustained because of the support and assistance from an independent bar which has been fearless in advocating the cause of the underprivileged, the deprived. Something tells me that some of you would rise into action and become the Remnant group that has always historically paid the price for the greatness. There is a price to be laid for the return of our Justice. So my last word is, “who among you is ready to let character be their destiny?

At the occasion, Mr. Lucius Nwosu (SAN) condemned the plans by Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, to print N5000 notes, stating that it would only go ahead to increase corruption in the system.

Lawyers protest hike in conference fees From Joseph Jibueze, Abuja

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OME lawyers yesterday continued their protest against the 500 per cent hike in the Annual General Conference fees of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Abuja.

Over 90 lawyers from Ikeja Branch of the association, who protested outside the venue, said they would not pay the new fees.

Their chairman, Onyekachi Ubani, said the protest would continue until there is either a reduction in the fees or a reversal.

He said: “This is the second day of our protest. The point we are making is that we want the incoming administration not to tow the line of the outgoing one by retaining this conference fee that we consider very high, very astronomical, and very unreasonable.

“The entire branches were not carried along when this particular high fees were introduced. If they had consulted widely and consulted with branches, maybe we would have given them a better suggestion on how to go about raising the money”.

Bankole visits HID Awolowo From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

F •BIRTHDAY GIRL : Madam Florence Aarinola Adekoya, mother of Mrs. Toun Ajomale, (wife of the Chairman, Lagos State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Otunba Henry Ajomale(second right); Lagos State Deputy Governor Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire (left); Governor’s wife Mrs. Abimbola Fashola (right) and Mrs. Ajomale at the 90th birthday celebration of Madam Adekoya at the Regina Mundi Catholic Church, Mushin, Lagos... yesterday.

Ogun PDP chief berates Obasanjo over comments

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CHIEFTAIN of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Prince Buruji Kashamu, yesterday said former President Olusegun Obasanjo thrives on illegalities.

He faulted the claim that the former President resigned as Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the party to concentrate on international matters.

Kashamu spoke against the backdrop of the comments credited to Obasanjo at Ogun PDP stakeholders’ meeting last weekend in Abeokuta, the state capital.

In a statement in Abeokuta, the state capital, Kashamu said Obasanjo’s statement was contradictory “in character, content and form”.

The statement reads: “This man (Obasanjo) thrives on illegalities. His statement is contradictory in character, content and form. Here is a man who told the whole world that he resigned his Chairmanship of the BoT to concentrate on international matters, yet he hosted and presided over a purported Ogun PDP stakeholders’ meeting without the validly elected State Executive Committee (Exco).

“In spite of his pretensions, by his conduct, he has shown that rather than be the father of all, he is the big masquerade behind the crisis rocking the Ogun PDP. It is befuddling how an otherwise elder statesman will reduce himself to a Lilliputian and local politician. Like his

contemporaries elsewhere, he is supposed to be the rallying point for all Yoruba and a father figure for all Nigerians.”

Kashamu challenged the former President to point at what he did for the SouthWest, especially Ogun State in his over 11 years reign, adding: “Now, he goes about throwing his weight and over-bloated ego, hitting every object in sight in his desperate bid to ram his wishes down the throat of genuine and respectable leaders”.

He wondered why Obasanjo has continued to encourage illegalities and lawlessness within the the party by promoting one Dipo Odujinrin and his cotravellers as members of the

State Exco of the party “when there are various subsisting court judgments validating the Engr. Adebayo Dayo-led Exco as the ONLY authentic organ of the party in the state. The judgments of the Federal High Court, Lagos and Ogun State High Court in Suit Nos FHC/L/CS/347/ 12 and HCL/20/2012, delivered on the 27th of April, 19th of June and 3rd August, 2012, affirming and re-affirming the Dayo-led Exco still subsist.”

Besides, the party financier said the various reports by the Congress Monitoring Committee of the party said the congresses purportedly held on July 28 and August 4, 2012, on the strength of which Obasanjo claimed to have produced an Exco for the state, were a hoax.

Conflict of interest: Power Minister Nnaji forced out O & M Solutions has a stake in Skipper Nigeria Limited, which had submitted technical and financial bids for Afam on July 17, the deadline set by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) for the submission of bids for the Gencos.

Other companies that bid for Afam, a power plant in Rivers State with an installed capacity of 776mw, are Primeniza Energy Limited and NPG Consortium.

Nnaji, it was learnt had notified the NCP that Geometric Power has a minority stake in Eastern Electric Nigeria Limited, which had submitted technical and financial bids for Enugu Distribution Company Limited on July 31.

He was said to have resigned from its board and trans-

Continued from page 4

ferred his shares to a blind trust.

Nnaji had severally maintained that since his appointment as the President’s Special Adviser on Power and later as Minister of Power, he had resigned his appointment in Geometric Power, with his shares held by a blind trust and participated in the company’s day-to-day operations.

Geometric Power, a pioneering independent power producer, was set up by Nnaji and built the 22mw Emergency Power Plant in Abuja. The company is also about completing the construction of an integrated power plant in Aba, Abia State.

ORMER House Speaker Dimeji Bankole, yesterday visited the matriarch of the Awolowo family, Mrs. Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo in Ikenne, Ogun State. He said he had chosen to be watching events as they unfold from a distance.

Bankole, who arrived at the home of the Awolowos at about 1.18 pm was received by Mama and her daughter, Ambassador Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu.

The ex - Speaker, who rode in a black Mercedes GL 550 4 Matic was clad in his usual white Kaftan with a white cap and a pair of black sandals to match.

Although details of their meeting were unknown, but it may not be unconnected with the perceived marginalisation of the Yoruba race by the current administration.

Rasheed chairs $1b Sovereign Fund board Continued from page 4

The minister explained that Nigeria’s Excess Crude Account (ECA) balance was $7.35 billion and added that for now the ECA and the SWF would continue to exist side-by-side.

“The ECA will eventually fold into the SWF but that’s down the line; as of now, the ECA will continue to exist and the SWF will also be existing side by side,” Mrs Okonjo-Iweala said.

The decision to retain the Excess Crude Account side by side the SWF is a victory for governors who insisted that the ECA should not be scrapped.

Countries use sovereign wealth funds to invest in stocks or securities. The government pushed for the creation of SWF as a means to better save the billions of dollars the nation annually earns from oil revenues.

Opaque budgeting and corruption sees much of the money siphoned away. Some politicians have criticised the fund, saying more money should go to states for development.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012

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FOREIGN Tension in Ivory Coast as Gbagbo’s top allies get arrested

Israeli court: American protester Rachel Corrie’s death an accident

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INE years after an American activist was crushed by an Israeli army bulldozer, an Israeli civil court ruled Tuesday that Rachel Corrie’s death was an accident.

Corrie, 23, was killed in 2003 while trying to block the bulldozer from razing Palestinian homes.

Her parents filed suit against Israel’s Ministry of Defense in a quest for accountability and sought just $1 in damages. But Judge Oded Gershon ruled Tuesday that the family has no right to damages, backing an earlier Israeli investigation that cleared any soldier of wrongdoing.

“I believe this was a bad

day not only for our family, but a bad day for human rights, for humanity, for the rule of law and also for the country of Israel,” her mother, Cindy Corrie, said after the verdict.

Memorializing Rachel Corrie in football “Rachel’s right to life and dignity were violated by the Israeli military,” she said, adding that her daughter and her family deserve “accountability.”

“A civil lawsuit is not a substitute for a credible investigation, which we never had. This lawsuit was our only recourse as a family,” Cindy Corrie explained.

But the state prosecutor’s office said the driver of the bulldozer couldn’t see

Corrie.

“The death of Rachel Corrie is without a doubt a tragic accident,” the office said in a statement. “As the verdict states — the driver of the bulldozer and his commander had a very limited field of vision, such that they had no possibility of seeing Ms. Corrie and thus are exonerated of any blame for negligence.”

Hussein Abu Hussein, the Corrie family attorney, regards the decision as a “bad ruling” for the family and all activists. He said the Corries intend to appeal to Israel’s Supreme Court.

Corrie was nonviolently protesting the demolition of Palestinian civilian homes in

Rafah, Gaza, when she died.

She was working with the Palestinian-led International Solidarity Movement at the time.

Corrie’s parents say they have searched for answers in their daughter’s death for years.

“The more we found out, the more likely that the killing was intentional, or at least incredibly reckless,” father Craig Corrie said in 2010.

“As a former soldier, I was even in charge of bulldozers in Vietnam. ... You’re responsible to know what’s in front of that blade, and I believe that they did.”

Craig Corrie said the soldiers, too, are victims. He does not view them with disdain.

Mexican policemen held for shooting at U.S. Mexican judge has orMexico City with diplomatic vehicle dered the detention of Cuernavaca, near the town

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12 federal police officers accused of opening fire on a U.S. diplomatic vehicle south of the capital last week.

Under the judge’s order, the officers will be held for 30 days, Jose Luis Manjarrez, a spokesman for the Mexican Attorney-General’s Office, said Monday. They will be transferred to Mexico City from the state of Morelos, where they are being held, he said.

The 12 officers are under

investigation in relation to five charges, including attempted murder, according to one of their lawyers, Marco Aurelio Gonzalez.

Following the shooting incident Friday, two U.S. Embassy employees, described by a senior U.S. government official as U.S. citizens, were taken to a hospital with nonlife-threatening wounds.

A member of the Mexican Navy who was with them in the vehicle suffered light bruises, according to a state-

ment from the Mexican Navy.

Diplomatic vehicle shot up in Mexico The statement provided the following account of events: The incident unfolded at 8 a.m. Friday, as the two embassy employees and the Mexican were traveling to a military facility in the municipality of Xalatlaco in a Toyota Land Cruiser. Some 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) earlier, they had left the main highway that connects

of Tres Marias, a thinly populated area off the main road.

When a vehicle containing Federal Police approached and its occupants brandished their weapons, the driver of the diplomatic vehicle tried to evade them and return to the main highway. At that point, the police sprayed bullets into the black SUV with diplomatic plates.

Moments later, three other vehicles carrying Federal Police joined the attack, also shooting at the U.S. Embassy vehicle.

•Gbagbo

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AURENT Akoun, general secretary of the Front Populaire Ivoirien, Ivory Coast’s former ruling party, was arrested on Sunday.

Laurent Akoun is the third supporter of the former president arrested in a week.

The party’s leader denies the group is linked to attacks against the army.

At least seven attacks have been carried out this month against army forces.

Three top allies of Ivory Coast’s former president, Laurent Gbagbo, have been arrested in less than a week, raising political tension in the West African nation, where the nation’s army has been hit by weeks of attacks.

Laurent Akoun, general secretary of the Front Populaire Ivoirien, Ivory Coast’s former ruling party, was arrested on Sunday in Adzope, 100 kilometers east of Abidjan, the nation’s economic capital and most populous city, party officials said.

Akoun was arrested for having defamed President Alassane Ouattara during a recent meeting with some of the party’s members and supporters in an Abidjan cafe, said Sylvain Miaka Oureto, the party’s leader. He also is accused of harming state security because of what he said during the meeting, Oureto said.

He said Akoun was still in custody Monday evening.

Akoun, the current deputy chief of the party, was heading to a party rally when the nation’s gendarmerie — a paramilitary force — arrested him and transferred him to Abidjan, said Augustin Guehoun, the head of communication for the party.

Rebuilding Ivory Coast’s cocoa trade His arrest follows that of two former Gbagbo Cabinet ministers, one of them in Ghana, where he had sought refuge.

Oureto said the series of arrests against the party’s highranking officials is intended to “behead the Front Populaire Ivoirien.” He said the government is “man hunting” against the leaders of the party.

At least seven attacks have been carried out since August 5 by unidentified gunmen against the Forces Republicaines de Côte d’Ivoire, Ivory Coast’s national army. At least 17 people were killed in the attacks, including 10 Ivorian soldiers.

Death toll at Venezuela’s oil tank THIRD oil tank has revised down burst into flames at

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Venezuela’s Amuay oil refinery while another has been extinguished, officials said.

Meanwhile, the authorities lowered the death toll from Saturday’s initial explosion at the refinery to 41 from 48 after receiving duplicate reports of some deaths.

Oil and Mining Minister Rafael Ramirez reported the third tank’s ignition on Monday.

On Tuesday, President Hugo Chavez tweeted that one of the first two tanks that had caught fire was no longer burning.

The president had visited the refinery on Sunday to

survey the damage.

Speaking to reporters then, he said it was too early to speculate what could have caused the blast, which also injured more than 80 people.

“There was a leak. The gas formed a cloud and it exploded. We must investigate why,” Chavez said. He declared three days of mourning.

The blast early Saturday damaged refinery infrastructure and ripped through nearby houses.

Among the dead were 18 members of the national guard and 15 civilians, Vice President Elias Jaua said, according to state-run VTV.

20 killed in Venezuela prison violence.

In total, 209 homes and 11 businesses were damaged, Jaua said.

The refinery — one of the world’s largest — is part of the giant Paraguana complex in Falcon state.

Venezuela, a founding member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, is one of the world’s largest oil exporters.

U.S. gasoline prices rise again.

The nation has a refinery capacity of more than 1 million barrels per day, according to OPEC.

Kenyans protest death of Muslim cleric

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UNNING battles between police and scores of youths have left at least one officer and one civilian dead in Kenya.

The riots, which have now spanned two days, were sparked by the killing of a Muslim cleric.

“They have attacked our officers with a grenade,” said Benedict Kigen, who is a senior police intelligence officer.

“They threw it inside their lorry. Two people are dead, one of them is an officer the other is a civilian.”

Before the grenade was thrown, police had fired tear gas and warning shots at demonstrators blocking roads with burning tyres in the coastal tourist hub of Mombasa.

Muslim cleric Aboud Rogo Mohammed, accused by the

US of supporting al Shabaab militants in neighbouring Somalia, was killed when unidentified gunmen opened fire on his car.

Aboud Rogo Mohammed was shot dead at the wheel of his vehicle.

Images released by his supporters showed his bloody body slumped behind the wheel.

He is the fifth alleged Muslim extremist who has been killed or has disappeared in the last four months, according to human rights campaigners. One corpse was found mutilated and the other four men vanished.

Many Muslims and human rights activists have suggested the police may be to blame for the murder, but the accusations have been denied.

The al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab group has urged Kenyan Muslims to protect their religion and boycott next year’s election.

“Muslims must take the matter into their own hands, stand united against the Kuffar (non-believers) and take all necessary measures to protect their religion, their honour, their property and their lives from the enemies of Islam,” it said in a statement on Twitter.

Churches and businesses were set on fire after the killing and shopkeepers have reported looting in some areas of Kenya’s second biggest city.

“People are breaking into our shops and looting our property and police are doing nothing,” said Francis Mutua, 33, a kiosk owner who said he and his colleagues had beaten up an offender.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012

63

SPORT EXTRA AFCON QUALIFIER

WORLD CHESS OLYMPIAD

Eagles’ crew in Operation Detect Injuries

Nigeria wobbles in opening round

…No final word on Egypt friendly

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ITH barely nine days to the allimportant final round Nations Cup qualifier against the Lone Star of Liberia, management of the national team assumed another dimension when the technical and medical crew at Tuesday’s training started fishing out for hidden injuries by players.

Head Coach Stephen

Okechukwu Keshi, who led the secret search , unknown to the players said it was important because some of the highly rated players may have hidden injuries and that would not help the cause of the nation, hence the need to fish them out by the technical and medical crew.

After a close examination of the players during their pretraining exercises, no serious

detection was made but not before the crew including team doctor, Ibrahim Gyaran, physiotherapist; Wale Oladejo, pulled out Kabiru Umar and Benjamin Francis for special attention. After that training went on smoothly with all players exhibiting excellent fitness, awaiting the arrival of the foreign based stars.

Dr Gyaran, said afterwards

2012 Rivers State Governor's Cup gets September 18 date

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HE 2012 edition of the Rivers State Governor’s Cup is finally to begin on 18th September. Speaking during a draws ceremony held at the conference hall of the Spiff Diette Sports Complex on Tuesday afternoon, the Secretary of the State Football Association, Ibigoni Benjamin-Akobo announced that sixteen teams have so far entered for the competition which runs till the third week in October.

During the draws, the four Teams, Obio Akpor, Eleme, Degema and Okrika were seeded and later drawn into four groups. While Group A has Obio Akpor, Ogba/ Egbema/Ndoni, Andoni and Omuma LGAs, Group B has Degema, Oyigbo, Abua/ Odual and Asari-Toru.

Eleme, Bonny, Opobo/

From Florence Nkem Israel, Port Harcourt.

Nkoro and Ikwerre will sweat it out in Group C. The fourth, Group D parades Okrika, Ahoada West, Etche and Ahoada-East.

It was also noted that the four Local Government Councils of Khana, Gokana, Tai and Akuku-Toru are yet to register for the competition.

The Vice Chairman of the State FA and Chairman of the Technical Committee for the tournament, Chief Omineokuma Kile took time to explain the format for this year’s edition of the tournament.

The official opening match is between the defending Champions, Obio Akpor and Andoni Local Government Areas on September 18 at the main bowl of the Liberation

Stadium, Port Harcourt, alongside three other games that will be played same day.

The winner of the Rivers State Governor’s Cup will go home with a prize money of Five Hundred Thousand Naira while the runners up will settle for three hundred thousand Naira as Two Hundred thousand Naira goes to the third placed team.

said that there were no serious injury worries, as the exercise was just a routine one targeted at players who were part of the Federations Cup final and third place games played at the weekend in Lagos. “The team is physically intact and there is no cause for alarm, we just want to ensure that all our players are in good shape since they have been away from the national camp for sometime”.

Similarly, Team Secretary, Dayo Enebi Achor, has said Nigerians should not be in a hurry to know whether the national team will play an international friendly against the Pharaohs of Egypt or not as the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), leadership was still in discussion for such a game and many other friendlies, that it hopes will be good for the team. “Talks for many friendlies with the Super Eagles are ongoing and once anyone is confirmed we will tell Nigerians”, Eagles Media Officer, Ben Alaiya quotes Achor as saying.

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HE much anticipated World Chess Olympiad got underway last night with Nigerian team falling 1-3 to their respective opponents in both male and female sections.

In the female section, Nigerian team lost to Denmark, where Oluwatobi Olatunji who set the tone of what the day for the nation after blundering her pieces to bad positioning at the brink of time forfeit to Woman International Master Guindy Susanne and when the smoke cleared, the former Nigerian champion was a pawn down and resigned after 36 moves.

While Funmi Akinola was no match for Jorgensen Carina in early loss, the duo of Vivian Dzaayem and Nsisong Asangha salvaged a draw from Frank Marie and Fredericia Winther respectively to leave the score

at 1-3 in the 11 round Swiss event paring .

In the male section, International Master Bomo Kigigha secured a massive win against highly rated Kobose Watu (2363) of South Africa in a Sicilian defense Paulson variation.

After an early exchange of officers in the opening play, his ambitious opponent attempted a trap of Queen and after much worthless effort, the South African master was down on tempo with another blunder of b5 on move 37 shifted the advantage to the Nigerian master who consolidated till move 53 when Kobose resigned.

International Master Dapo Adu had himself to blame for failing to hold on to the early advantage against Solomon Kenneth (2363) and when his opponent finally regained his momentum, Adu was a pawn down on move 43.

Mohammed’s Turkish club will be revealed today—Agent

K

ANO PILLARS’ striker, Gambo Mpohammed’s intended Turkish club will be revealed today according to the player’s agent, Emmanuel Omijie.

There had been controversy over the real club the player is having trials with in Turkey but the man that should know confessed to NationSport in Abuja yesterday that the real

From Segun Ogunjimi, Abuja destination will be known today.

“I laughed when I read reports in some dailies as regards the real destination of my player, but I would say the real club will be known tomorrow (today). We actually talking with some notable clubs in

Turkey and we want the best club for Gambo Mohammed.

Mohammed is arguably the best striker in the Nigeria Premier League and he deserves nothing but the best as regards the club he will play for and as regards the package that will further enhance his good performances in the club”, Omijie disclosed.

Mohammed’s movement

was delayed by the Pillars as a result of their insistence that the player should help the club in the Federation Cup semi-finals and the third placed match.

Despite scoring Pillars lone goal in the score draw result as at full time in the third placed match, the Kano based club, however, lost out on penalty kicks to Prime Football Club of Ogbomosho.

TODAY IN THE NATION

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

‘We have been calling for a better network of ancient and modern museums and exhibitions and not ones which are an afterthought in the budget and dedicated to personalities to the neglect of those more worthy’

TONY MARINHO

VOL.7 NO.2,232

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

T

HIRTY five years ago this month the New Nigerian ran a series of interviews I conducted on its behalf with some of the most prominent members-elect/nominees of the 1978 Constituent Assembly – 14 in all, spread all over the country. The idea was to give the public some insight into the collective mind of the putative CA, the better to influence its final outcome for the common good.

The subjects covered were wide ranging but arguably the most important of them all, and certainly the most controversial, bar possibly Sharia, was revenue allocation. Of the 14 I interviewed – Dr. Sola Saraki, Chief Soji Odunjo, Alhaji Yahaya Gusau, Chief C. C. Onoh, Malam Usman Abubakar, Chief Richard Akinjide, Mr George Hoomkwap, Dr Suleimanu Kumo, Chief Nwobidike Nwanodi, Malam Adamu Ciroma, Chief Stanhope Alozie Ubani-Ukoma, Malam Aminu Kano, Professor Omo Omoruyi and Alhaji Shehu Shagari – all but two, Nwanodi and Omoruyi, expressed strong views on the subject.

The two declined to speak on the subject but only Omoruyi said why; he was, he said, a member of the Aboyade technical committee the military authorities had set up to suggest a revenue allocation formula to the CA. Another two, Akinjide and Ubani-Ukoma, did not speak on the subject because inadvertently I did not put the question to them.

The Aboyade panel, the seventh in a list of eight fiscal review commissions between 1946 and November 1979, was headed by the late Professor O. Aboyade, then Vice-Chancellor of Ife University, now Awolowo. The eighth panel, set up by Alhaji Shehu Shagari in his first month as the first elected president of the country, was chaired by the late Dr. Pius Okigbo.

Both Aboyade and Okigbo were renowned economists.

The Aboyade panel seem to have established the allocation template that has been used since.

His formula gave the central government 60 per cent of the federation account, 30 per cent to the states and 10 per cent to local governments; the first time the so-called third tier of government was to enjoy autonomous revenue.

Aboyade also recommended that three per cent of the Federal Government’s share should be set aside for mineral producing areas and for emergencies.

The Okigbo panel merely tinkered with this formula; it reduced the Federal Government allocation to 53 per cent but then recommended that the seven per cent hived off into a Special Fund for the Federal Capital Territory (2.5 per cent), Mineral producing areas (two per cent), Ecology (one per cent) and Revenue Equalization Fund (1.5 per cent) should be administered by the Federal Government.

Needless to say, the oil producing areas of the country found this formula unsatisfactory in so far as it looked like a highly retrogressive step from the Raisman Commission of 1958 which had recommended that 50 per cent of mining rents and royalties be based on derivation, a recommendation that became the subsisting reve-

People and Politics By MOHAMMED HARUNA ndajika@yahoo.com

Again, the resource control furore (I)

•The late Prof Aluko

nue allocation formula until the soldiers truncated the First Republic in January 1966.

Of all my 10 interviewees who spoke forcefully on the subject, two stood out clearly as a study in contrast of sorts; Onoh and Hoomkwap, both now late. Onoh’s interview which was published on August 22, 1977, provided, I think, the deepest insight into the history of revenue allocation in the country. “The history of revenue allocation,” he said, “is dirty...It seems to me revenue allocation is based on who is in power rather than according to any just principles.” At any rate, said the old man, states ought to get more of the federal revenues than the centre, with greater emphasis on derivation than had been the case.

In sharp contrast, Hoomkwap was totally against derivation - in principle. It may be given 10 per cent for a while, he said, but in the long run it should be scrapped.”Oil,” he said, “belongs to all of us and not just to the areas from where they are produced. When we had a war on our hands, which was partly triggered by the question of oil, it was not the oil producing areas that fought it, but all of Nigeria. And surely blood is thicker than oil.”

By the time the 1999 Constitution came into being a little over 13 years ago it was obvious that the Hoomkwap point of view had lost out; for the first time in the long history of the review of our constitutions since our colonial days, a clause -162(2) – was added making it manda-

tory to allocate a minimum of 13 per cent of federal revenue to derivation.

Anyone who thought this development was enough to satisfy the oil producing areas had another think coming. Far from accepting it as satisfactory, the concession seemed to have only fuelled their demand for more. Which, come to think of it, was not exactly surprising, considering the weight that had been attached to derivation throughout the First Republic.

The problem, as some leading Nigerians who can hardly be accused of hostility towards the oil producing areas have argued, was that comparing oil to, say, cocoa, palm oil and groundnut, was like comparing apples to oranges. One such Nigerian was the late preeminent economist, Professor Sam Aluko.

Aluko was consistently of the view that 13 per cent derivation for oil was too small. “We discussed it when I was in government (of General Sani Abacha)... I said 20 to 25 per cent could be enough because the money we make there we don’t spend there,” he said in an interview in The News (October 9, 2000).

Even then, he said, it was wrong for the oil producing areas to keep comparing oil with agricultural produce. “I don’t think the people of the oil producing areas,” he said in the interview in question, “appreciate it that they have no input in the exploitation of oil. They just sit down and want this money...Unlike cocoa the whole country’s money is used to exploit petroleum. It is not the money of the indigenes of the oil producing areas. It is just like manna from heaven.”

Aluko also often questioned, quite rightly in my view, the concept of federalism canvassed by the oil producing areas. This is simply because Nigeria’s is a peculiar one in which, instead of a true federation like America or Canada in which the hitherto independent constituents came together to cede certain powers to the centre, it was the centre that created the units. “What,” he asked still in the interview in question, “is true federalism? Who created Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and others? Can you be greater than your creator?”

It therefore came as no surprise to him, he

HARDBALL

said in an interview in The Country (May 20-26, 2002), since rested, when the oil producing states lost their case at the Supreme Court in April 2002 for the abrogation of the onshore/ offshore dichotomy in the application of 13 per cent to the principle of derivation, an abrogation President Olusegun Obasanjo had apparently prayed against before the court through his Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, the late Chief Bola Ige when he asked the court to determine the seaward boundaries of the littoral states of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo and Rivers. All but Lagos and Ogun are oil producing.

The full court of seven justices with then Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Muhammadu Uwais, presiding, delivered a unanimous verdict in favour of the Federal Government by limiting the seaward boundaries of the littoral states to 24 nautical miles (45 kilometres) instead of the 200 nautical miles canvassed by the oil producing littoral states.

Predictably, all hell broke loose thereafter, as leaders and organisations from the oil producing areas threatened fire and brimstone if the judgment was allowed to stand. Professor Itse Sagay, a constitutional lawyer from the region, for example, dismissed the judgment as “somewhat specious and disingenuous,” in an article in the Sunday Vanguard of April 21, 2002.

In a subsequent advert in the Vanguard of April 29, the Ijaw National Congress said it rejected the verdict and regarded it as “a declaration of war against the defenceless people of Niger Delta.”

In a similar but even more bellicose advert in the Saturday Punch of April 20, 2002, the Niger Delta Youth Congress virtually threatened to go to war over the verdict. “The ruling,” it said, “posits that the only way for the people of the Niger Delta to regain their territorial integrity and enjoy the benefits of their Godgiven natural resources is to renegotiate their membership or otherwise in a Nigerian federation, which has its laws and Constitution skewed in favour of an unnecessarily large, powerful and domineering Central government.”

What Professor Aluko had to say about all this furore as an economist and a public affairs analyst with deep sympathy for the people of the oil producing Delta region is highly significant for a possible resolution of the resource control debate that seems to have been reignited by Daily Trust’s recent exclusive interview with Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso, the Governor of Kano State, in which he called for a revisit to the law, which abrogated the onshore/offshore dichotomy in the wake of the tension the Supreme Court judgment that upheld it created.

The professor’s remark will form the basis of the continuation of this piece next week, God willing.

•For comments, send SMS to 08023211188

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

Jonathan on criticisms and state police

O

N a day the keynote speaker spoke with more depth, conviction and brilliance than the president of the federal republic from whom we expected much more uplifting and memorable address, it was a bad day for Nigerian oration. The keynote speaker was Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Sokoto Catholic Diocese, and he spoke on the subject of “Nigeria as an emerging democracy: The dilemma and the promise.” The president, who once again in his inimitable style spoke with engaging simplicity, and from the injured heart of a schoolboy, was none other than President Goodluck Jonathan. And the venue was the International Conference Centre in Abuja where the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) held the opening ceremony of its 52nd Annual General Conference. The president chose to address the issue of state police and the tangential irritation of criticisms. For today let us leave the cerebral address of Kukah, his candour, wit, pleasurable prose and stimulating erudition. Instead, we must never be tired of engaging Jonathan, for he often gives

us fat bones to chew with his sweet manner of speaking amiable nothings.

As Hardball has repeatedly written in this place, Jonathan is at bottom a very vulnerable and insecure politician who deeply covets praise and loathes criticism. The criticism, which his mind readily expands into abuse, as he calls it, is getting to him and distracting him. He is unhappy with the harsh conclusions people draw from his speeches and his person.

He wishes these will change, but if not, then by some magic, he hopes his critics will be disappointed. Hear him: “I think I am the most criticised President in the whole world, but I want to tell this audience that before I leave I will be the most praised President… But what I can tell Nigerians is, let those talking keep talking, time will tell.”

The president is fascinated with exaggerations, but even then it is still difficult to tell where he gets the flamboyant impression he is the most criticised president in the world. In Nigeria alone, senior media professionals can bear witness, Jonathan has not been half as crit-

icised as either Alhaji Shehu Shagari or Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was. The two former presidents did not split hairs over small talk nor become obsessed with what others say about them. And as another former head of state, Ibrahim Babangida, suggested to the president almost immediately after he fulminated exaggeratedly against his critics, it was time Jonathan knew how to tolerate and absorb criticisms.

If he was not prepared to endure traducement why did he run for public office, Babangida seemed to ask?

But probably the most shocking argument the president made in the inappropriate presence of Nigeria’s eminent lawyers was his boyish opposition to state police. Again hear his incredulous view: “We also feel that looking at the federal level and the way the governors are handling elections in their states with the state electoral commission, where opposition parties hardly win even councillorship elections…. So, if there is state police and the governors manipulate their state police the way they are manipulating their state electoral com-

missions, the instability that it will create, even what we are witnessing will be a child’s play.”

Then he concludes by saying: “The emphasis I want to make is that one day we’ll get to that point (of having state police). But currently we have to be careful how we go about it.” His experience as a governor, which he recounted to his audience, and conclusions, however, contradict all his arguments. He didn’t indicate he was irresponsible in the use of the police as governor, but even if he was, are we to believe that he has suddenly become mature and responsible in the use of the police as president?

Jonathan says patronisingly and with unabashed defeatism that one day we will be mature enough to have state police. To which we reply that judging from the childlike speeches he has consistently made as president and the spuriousness that eternally suffuses his logic, not to say his facetious and contrived hyperbole whenever he is inspired, we must also hope that one day we would have the mature, selfless and brilliant president we long for and deserve.

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