The Nation Dec 06, 2011

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

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VOL. 7, NO. 1966 TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2011

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

N150.00

•Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN (fourth left) and his Deputy Mrs Adejoke Orelope–Adefulire (third right) in a group photograph with the Chairman, Senate Committee on Marine Transport, Senator Zainab Abdulkadir-Kure (third left), member of the Committee and Senator representing Lagos Central Senatorial District, Senator Oluremi Tinubu (fifth right) and other members of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport during a courtesy call on the Governor at the State House, Ikeja ... yesterday.

PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES

Boko Haram: Senator faces four-count charge D

ETAINED Senator Ali Ndume is set to face a fourcount charge just filed at a Federal High Court, Abuja.

In the charge, filed by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke(SAN), Ndume is accused of hoarding information on planned terror attacks and providing logistics to a spokesman of the Boko Haram sect, Ali Sanda Umar Konduga (alias Usman AI- Zawahiri).

The embattled senator may be arraigned today. He is also expected to answer charges for allegedly giving telephone numbers of certain public officers to Boko Haram for

THE FOUR-COUNT CHARGE

•Failure to disclose Boko Haram spokesman’s phone number •Failure to disclose information on planned attacks on judges of Borno State Election Petition Tribunal •Making telephone numbers of top government officials available for sending threat text messages to them.

•Supporting Boko Haram spokesman to carry out unlawful acts.

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

the purpose of communicating terrorist messages.

Ndume is to face trial at the High Court because the Chief

Magistrate’s Court, Abuja, where he was arraigned, has no jurisdiction to try terrorism-related cases.

All the allegations against Ndume are said to be contrary to

Sections 3(b), 4(1) (a) and 7(1) (b) of the Terrorism Prevention Act The charges are: Continued on page 4

How to curb violence in the North, by Sultan

STORY ON PAGES 2&3

•Ndume

We shall rebuild trust, says VP Sambo at Kaduna talks

•ENERGY P17 •SPORT P24 •PROPERTY P25 •POLITICS P43 •AVIATION P49

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2011

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NEWS BOKO HARAM, PEACE AND UNITY

‘Boko Haram, a dangerously The United States House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security Sub-committee on Counter-terrorism and Intelligence investigated the insurgent group, Boko Haram (Western education is sin) . In its full report obtained by The Nation, it labelled the group “a dangerously evolving organisation..” Excerpts:

T

HE United States has begun to engage Nigerian Muslims, primarily through two U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) programme in the northern states of Bauchi and Sokoto. Moreover, Nigeria serves as a minor partner in the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership (TSCTP), a State Department initiative aimed at helping a number of African countries in the TransSahara and Sahel regions combat terrorist organisations.

Active public outreach to Nigerian Muslims plays a critical role in containing Boko Haram. Boko Haram has so far rejected negotiations with the Nigerian government, and has attacked and killed Muslim leaders who supported the election of President Jonathan. The United States has begun to take steps to promote government action on the numerous grievances that plague the north and hinder the prospect of talks between Boko Haram and the Nigerian government.

The United States is one of the largest providers of non-military aid to Nigeria. In 2010, Abuja received roughly $614 million in aid from the U.S. This aid is focused on programmes in democratic governance, economic reform, security service reform and professionalization, and education and healthcare services. However, the majority of the aid goes to HIV/AIDS programmes. In 2010, the Obama Administration established the U.S.-Nigeria Bilateral Commission to encourage dialogue on issues ranging from security and energy to anti-corruption as requested by Congress in H.R. 2410, the Foreign Relations Authorisation Act for 2010 and 2011. The Commission is composed of four working groups that meet on a regular basis: Good Governance, Transparency and Integrity; Food Security and Agriculture; Energy and Investment; and Niger Delta and Security Cooperation.

The U.S. has begun to publicly pressure the government to tackle corruption, encourage greater investment in the north, address poverty and joblessness, and promote government accountability and transparency. Recent statements by U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria Terence P. McCulley pressuring the government to address these problems are a significant starting point, and such pressure should continue. Additionally, a USAID programme called Leadership, Empowerment, Advocacy, and Development (LEAD), is assisting northern governments build partnerships between state and local governments and the private sector.

The goal of this program is to improve accountability, governance, and the delivery of essential services. Former U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, John Campbell, suggests the U.S. could also support efforts to “make modern education more palatable to an Islamic population.”

In addition to increasing government transparency and accountability, concerns regarding airport security, the economy, and education must also be addressed. The Nigerian government has taken

FINDINGS •Boko Haram has quickly evolved and poses an emerging threat to U.S. interests and the U.S. homeland •Boko Haram has the intent and may be developing capability to coordinate on a rhetorical and operational level with al Qaeda in the lands of the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and al Shabaab •Boko Haram’s evolution in targeting and tactics closely tracks that of other al Qaeda affiliates that have targeted the U.S. homeland, most notably al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) •The U.S. intelligence community largely underestimated the potential for al Qaeda affiliate groups to target the U.S. homeland, wrongly assessing that their regional ambitions and threats against the U.S. homeland were merely “aspirational.”

•The United States should work with the government of Nigeria to build counter-terrorism and intelligence capability to effectively counter Boko Haram steps to improve airport security after the attempted Christmas Day airline bombing over Detroit, but the government has been less effective in addressing the economic and educational issues that plague the north. In these areas, the United States has begun to implement programmes to assist local and state governments.

According to the U.S. State Department, “the Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism in the State Department (S/CT) continually monitors the activities of terrorist groups active around the world to identify potential targets for designation. When reviewing targets of specific groups, S/CT looks not only at the actual terrorist attacks that a group has carried out, but also at whether the group has engaged in planning and preparations for possible future acts of terrorism or retains the capability and intent to carry out such acts.”

The legal criteria for FTO designation includes the following: 1. It must be a foreign organisation.

2. The organisation must engage in terrorist activity, as defined in section 212 (a)(3)(B) of the INA (8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(3)(B)),* or terrorism, as defined in section 140(d)(2) of the Foreign Relations Authorisation Act, Fiscal Years 1988 and 1989 (22 U.S.C. § 2656f(d)(2)),** or retain the capability and intent to engage in terrorist activity or terrorism.

3. The organisation’s terrorist activity or terrorism must threaten the security of U.S. nationals or the national security (national defence, foreign relations, or the economic interests) of the United States. Based on Boko Haram’s evolution and recent public warnings by the U.S. State Department to U.S. citizens in Nigeria, Boko Haram may meet the legal criteria for State Department FTO designation. Such designations are subject to a rigorous statutory process and through investigation, which the State Department needs to initiate.

If Boko Haram were to be designated an FTO, it would support U.S. Intelligence Community efforts to curb the group’s financing, stigmatise and isolate it internationally, heighten public awareness and knowledge, and signal to other governments the U.S. takes the threat from Boko Haram seriously.

Boko Haram’s attacks are occurring at their greatest frequency since the sect emerged from hid-

ing in 2010. The sophistication of its tactics, use of the Internet, and its recent attack on the U.N. headquarters in Abuja all point to a dangerously evolving organisation.

Debate exists regarding Boko Haram. Some believe it is little more than a grassroots insurrection with no defined leader or structure.

Others believe that core Boko Haram, as it is understood, is a very small group of individuals who simply consider themselves to be the followers of their slain leader Mohammed Yusuf. Despite our lack of understanding of Boko Haram, the movement appears to have significant sympathy among many Nigerian Muslims. Coupled with the grievances that plague the north, the environment is ripe for recruitment. Recent evidence alludes to the sect’s potential desire to join the ranks of international jihadist organisations. American, Nigerian, other African, and European officials have all expressed concern over the sect’s communication with AQIM and al Shabaab.

An alliance, or at the very least cooperation between the groups, can prove costly for the stability of Africa, the Sahel, and American interests.

Perhaps most striking is how little is known about Boko Haram.

The sect remained relatively off the radar screen of the U.S. Intelligence Community until the U.N. headquarters attack, its first non-Nigerian, international target. Similar attacks have signaled the beginning of new phases for other extremist groups such as AQIM in the past.

The U.S. Intelligence Community has underestimated the threat potential of terrorist organisations in the recent past, most notably AQAP in Yemen and TTP, the Pakistani Taliban. Both of these groups were believed to be focusing on regional targets in the Arabian Peninsula and South Asia. The attempted bombing of a U.S. passenger jet over Detroit on Christmas Day 2009 by a Nigerian Muslim trained by AQAP, and the attempted bombing of Square by a Pakistani American trained by TTP left many in the Intelligence Community caught off guard. This report seeks to avoid another intelligence lapse by calling attention to the potential threat Boko Haram can pose to U.S. interests abroad and in the homeland. At this time, the risk of an attack by Boko Haram on the U.S. Homeland may be low, but it is advisable to take the threat seriously and prepare accordingly.

RECOMMENDATIONS •Do not underestimate Boko Haram’s intent and capability to attack the U.S. Homeland: As this report makes clear, the U.S. Intelligence Community has recently underestimated the intent and capability of terrorist groups to strike the homeland, most notably Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). These underestimations had near deadly consequences on Christmas Day 2009 over Detroit and in May 2010 in Times Square.

•Determine whether Boko Haram should be designated a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO): The Secretary of State should conduct an investigation into whether Boko Haram should be designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization, in accordance with Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), as amended. Following the Boko Haram attack on the United Nations (U.N.) headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria, we wrote to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton calling for an investigation to determine whether FTO designation was necessary. In light of Boko Haram’s continued escalation, FTO designation may be required to provide our intelligence and law enforcement communities the tools necessary to ensure Boko Haram does not attack U.S. interests and the U.S. Homeland.

•Increase U.S. Intelligence community collection on Boko Haram: The U.S. Intelligence Community must increase its intelligence collection on Boko Haram, including human intelligence (HUMINT) and signals intelligence (SIGINT). It must also enhance its liaison relationship with Nigerian security services and help build their capacity to combat the threat posed by Boko Haram to Nigerian and U.S. interests.

National Assembly ready to work for peace, says Mark

S

ENATE President David Mark yesterday expressed the readiness of the National Assembly to partner with stakeholders to find lasting solutions to the security challenges facing the country.

Mark spoke at the Arewa Conference on Peace and Unity in Kaduna.

He said the National Assembly is interested in freedom, peace and unity.

The Senate President, who posed series of questions for leaders of the region to answer during the conference, expressed sadness that the values for which the late Sir Ahmadu Bello stood have been allowed to dwindle, saying “though a devout Muslim, he did not discriminate between Muslims and Christians. He was a symbol of Northern Nigeria and personified northern Nigeria.

“He emphasised and stood for some values, among which are education, development, progress, unity and peace. Sadly, today, the northern Nigeria which he left behind is known more for the wrong reasons, namely poverty and underdevelopment, poor education, religious fundamentalism, terrorism and ethnic intolerance, among others.”

V

How to curb

ICE-President Namadi Sambo, former Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon and Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar yesterday spoke on curbing the violence in the North.

The Sultan said the involvement of traditional rulers in the running of government will curb the trend.

Traditional rulers, he said, “must be given back their prominence in handling issues in their country.”

Sambo and Gen. Gowon said Nigeria expects the North to make sacrifices for the unity of the country.

They spoke in Kaduna at the Arewa Conference in Peace and Unity.

The two-day conference, which continues today, is organised by the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), a non-political organisation that is seen as the voice of the North.

Present were governors, retired soldiers, traditional rulers, industry leaders and other leaders of thoughts.

Notable absentees are: The Gbong Gwom Jos (Plateau) Da Buba Gyang; The Tor Tiv Alfred Torkula (Benue), the Hama Bachama, Asap Zadok (Adamawa) and the Aka of Wukari (Taraba).

The Sultan said the gradual descent into a violent state was as a result of the removal of constitu-

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

tional role from traditional rulers by successive governments.

The Sultan noted that “as traditional and religious leaders in this country, we are ever ready and fully committed to total peace and stability of the north and Nigeria in general. We will play our part effectively as we have been doing even before Nigeria came into being.

“When Nigeria came into being and the colonialists took over, we were still playing our role very effectively and there was peace and stability in the country. The military and then politicians came and religious and traditional rulers were relegated to the background and so we have problems that abound all over the country.

“We know there are problems, let’s not deceive ourselves. How did we get into these problems?

What really happened? Were we lagging some 15, 20 years back?

Why do we have crisis everywhere? Muslims killing Muslims, Muslims killing Christians, Christians killing Christians, etc.

“Our founding fathers did not do that, so where have we derailed? We must come back to the path of our founding fathers if we want to make any progress. We must bring education to the front

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6 , 2011

3

NEWS BOKO HARAM, PEACE AND UNITY

evolving organisation’ •Conduct outreach with Nigerian diaspora communities in the United States: The U.S. government should develop relationships with Nigerian diaspora communities in the United States to learn more about Boko Haram and the factors driving its evolution, intent, capability, and targeting.

Through familial and personal relationships, Diaspora communities in the United States provide a unique and invaluable perspective on their home country.

•Increase U.S. government support for and intelligence programmes: The U.S. Nigerian Counterterrorism Government should increase its support for programmes that enhance the ability of Nigerian security forces to more effectively target Boko Haram and counter its evolution. The U.S. and Nigerian governments should also work more closely to increase intelligence collection.

•Ilyasu Jeja...yesterday

•Atiku Abubakar and Mark...yesterday

Aliyu: we can stop the killing of innocent people in the North

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IGER State Governor and Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum (NGF) Dr. Babangida Aliyu yesterday said the economic and social inequalities in the North must be tackled for peace and unity to be achieved in the geopolitical zone.

Babangida spoke at the Arewa Conference on Peace and Unity in Kaduna.

The governor said: “In addressing what may be masquerading as ethnic and religious conflicts and security threats in some parts of the Northern States, we must first tackle the economic problems and social inequities in our society. Unless we take deliberate steps to implement policies and programmes that have direct bearing

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

on the lives of the majority of the people and ensure equitable allocation of resources, we will continue to search for answers to our security challenges for a long time to come. This scenario is best illustrated by the peace and stability that the North witnessed in the past under an honest leadership with integrity. Therefore, nobody in his/her sane mind will jeopardise such integrity for whatever pecuniary gains, no matter the circumstance.”

Aliyu said the NGF has taken steps towards revitalising notable institutions in the North for the betterment of the people.

“Such institutions include New

Nigeria Development Company and the Forum has taken critical decisions to re-organise the company for optimal performance for the much-needed contributions to the economic development of the Northern States. Now we can talk about recapitalising NNDC to enable it assist the Northern States in our efforts to industrialise and provide high quality services to the people,” he said.

Aliyu added: “I believe it is high time we called for the establishment of a Development Fund for the North where individuals above the age of 21, corporate organizations and groups can individually and collectively contribute and invest voluntarily to the Fund to create a capital base to support developmen-

tal initiatives and special sociallyinclined programmes in the region, under the leadership of private honest people with high integrity and concern for the development of the Northern States.

“Before I conclude, let me once again ask these questions as a challenge to all of us: In realistic terms, do we still have ‘the North’ that reflects ‘a trans-ethnic community’ and “the Northerner” as a citizen that transcends tribal, religious and class affiliations? How do we get the closed manufacturing industries in the North (especially the Textiles) back into production, to recreate the job opportunities of the past and to enjoy economic boom again? How do we take our children away from the

streets, into the classrooms? How do we create jobs and wealth for our teeming youth to enable them live qualitative lives? How do we make our communities safer to work and live as free citizens?

How do we bring an end to the avoidable ethnic and religious conflicts that are claiming millions of innocent lives across our states? And most importantly how do we fight and eradicate corruption in our body polity? Where do we go from here? Who is to implement the decisions after this conference and what are the next steps? These are some of the questions we should seek to answer both here and after we leave this place, otherwise this conference may end up as another jamboree.”

North’s violence, by Sambo, Gowon, Sultan Yakowa: we must unveil forces of disunity ADUNA State Governor Patrick Yakowa said the North must unveil forces of disunity within the region.

The governor spoke at the Arewa Conference on Peace and Unity in Kaduna.

He said the conference is a demonstration of the zeal by the region to find lasting solutions to the problem of peace in the region.

Yakowa said: “What is happening here today is a practical demonstration by ACF to actualise one of the main aims and objectives of the organization. One of such aims states as follows: to set up machinery for regular consultations and dialogue to ensure that issues likely to cause breach of the peace or undermine northern unity are settled amicably and promptly.

“It is, therefore, important that we as leaders and stakeholders in the north, gathered here, must unveil the forces of disunity in our midst, expose and highlight the causes of conflicts and point an irrevocable way forward for our region and the country.

“Today, the long enjoyed peaceful co-existence among people of the north is terribly threatened by all sorts of violence. We most realize that every eruption of violence in our region constitutes a very unnecessary drawback which retards our progress while other parts of Ni-

geria keep moving on and developing.

“And I believe that all of us gathered here today, are deeply and sincerely concerned about these unfortunate happenings. That was why, we in the Northern Governors Forum, as will be attested to by our chairman, who is here, devoted a whole day to the issue of Peace, Unity and Development in our region, in one of our recent meetings.

“I am still deeply troubled by the unfortunate and unnecessary political violence that erupted nationwide in April, especially in the North.

This violence had devastating effects here in Kaduna State, which led to the burning and destruction of houses of political opponents, places of worship, killing and maiming and displacement of people in different locations.

“Consequently, the state government saw the need to set up a Judicial Commission of Enquiry with far-reaching terms of reference, whose report had already been submitted and a White Paper on it currently being prepared.

“But while this is going on, we have encouraged intensive dialogue and reconciliatory meeting with all stakeholders in our community, aim at resolving local issues. At the state level, a high-powered committee on peace and reconciliation has been constituted to pursue the course of forgiveness, reconciliation and enduring peace in Kaduna State.”

burner. The state governors must set up education fund that will make children go to school at no cost. I believe they have the where withal to do that.”

Sambo said the current drift did not just start today, adding that “it is a result of the gradual collapse of the First Republic.”

He said before the collapse of the First Republic, Nigerians

good people, the old accepted methods of expressing grievances or seeking restitution for injuries through authorised channels had always sufficed.

“It is not out of place to say that the physical and psychological wounds inflicted on the North as a result of the recurring religious, ethnic and political conflicts that ravaged it; including the socio-eco-

K

were guided by compromises and agreements. Sambo said: “Ours was a nation of talk-shops and not gunshots until the recent springing up of clandestine groups who spread deliberately, mischievous information, some even attack innocent citizens, maiming and killing wantonly.

“But for those that breach peace, which create insecurity to our

nomic depressions in recent years, that run deep and inflicted untold hardship to many, have not only traumatised its inhabitants but have slowed its progress considerably.”

He added:”There is strong evidence that the current elders of the North are as keen and as dedicated to maintaining the bonds of brotherhood and unity among

each other in the same way as our founding fathers did in the past.

“The usual quick-fixes cannot possibly be the solution to these drawbacks. Gradually and within a reasonable period of time, through hard work, sacrifice and dedication, we shall rebuild the trust in ourselves, amongst ourselves, between ourselves and in our country.”

Gowon, who chaired the occasion, said: “This is not the North we inherited from our founding fathers and this is definitely not the North we want to bequeath to our children. What is happening today is not the Nigeria and the North we inherited and for us, it cannot be the North we desire to bequeath to our children.

“The present North was not bequeathed to us neither are our children responsible for it. We have, over the years through our action or action, directly or indirectly allowed the gradual decent to present disagreeable and unacceptable behaviours in our communities and the entire North. We now must show seriousness, courage and responsibility in addressing these challenges squarely without fear, favour or mudslinging. The nation expects the North to make certain sacrifices for their mutual wellbeing.”

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THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2011

NEWS

Arab Spring possible in Nigeria, says Obasanjo N

•Nigerian gays protesting in New York ... yesterday

S

EVEN Nigerian gays yesterday in New York, United States, protested the passage of a bill by the Senate banning samesex marriage.

They gathered in front of the Nigeria House to express their displeasure over the bill which will not become law until its passage by the House of Representatives and assented by President Goodluck Jonathan.

If it becomes law as passed by the senate, offenders will get up to 14-year jail sentence.

One of the organisers of the event, Ifeanyi Orazulike, presented a petition with 57 signatures to the Nigerian Consulate. The petition addressed to the President reads: “My name is Ifeanyi Orazulike, and I am not illegal.

“As a Nigerian citizen, and a public health advocate, I call upon you to stop the draconian, anti-human rights, antiHIV/AIDS prevention and un-democratic legislation just

PHOTO: ADEOLA FAYEHUN

Nigerian gays protest same sex bill in New York •Demonstration at Nigerian House If this bill is ‘approved, Nigeria will place itself outside the community of democratic nations, in a moment in which the country is facing serious internal ...

’

From Adeola Fayehun, New York

passed by the national Senate.

“If this bill is approved, Ni-

geria will place itself outside the community of democratic nations, in a moment in which the country is facing serious internal and external anti-democratic threats. The implications of the bill with its recent modification would affect tireless and long years of work in the protection and promotion of human rights, HIV/AIDS prevention, and the entrenchment of democracy in our country.

“As the elected guardian of the human and civil rights of ALL Nigerians, I urge you to show respect for the diversity in our great democracy, and refuse to sign this bill.

“Respectfully, Ifeanyi Kelly Orazulike Director, International Center for Advocacy on Right to Health (ICARH).”

IGERIA faces unrest, unless jobs are provided for youths, former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said.

According to him, the unrest that happened in the Arab world this year is likely here, if there is disconnect between the government and the people.

Obasanjo spoke yesterday in Abeokuta at a workshop entitled: “Economic diversification and revenue generation”, organised by the government of Ogun State in conjunction with the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).

Obasanjo also canvassed for the diversification of the revenue base from oil.

According to him, the mass civil protests against governments in Arab nations (Arab Spring) happened because there was a “disconnect” between the “economic growth” and “employment generation” in those countries.

He advised the government to pay attention to “agriculture and agric-business as tools for employment generation” for the growing army of the unemployed.

Obasanjo said: “It doesn’t matter which way you look at it today. People are now talking of Arab Spring. Some people will say, ‘Is Egypt not developing?’ On economic scale, after South Africa, it is Egypt in Africa. Has Libya not got resources?

“At one time with a population of about five million, Libya was producing as much oil as Nigeria was producing. But there was still discontent because, yes, in terms of Gross

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

Domestic Product (GDP), it may be growing well, but in terms of employment generation, there is disconnect.

“That is one of the elements that led to the Arab Spring.

There are others, but let me take this one that is relevant to our discussion today. If this is the case, agriculture and agricultural business is important.”

The former President urged financial institutions, large scale farmers, small and medium scale farmers, researchers, retailers and distributors and governments to get involved in agric-business and agriculture to create jobs and food to enhance “national security and stability”.

He said: “We have been sharing resources from one commodity, which is oil. The only thing left is for us to be drinking oil, but we have it intoxicating us. We have been using oil as a means of uniting the country, developing and ensuring peace as well as the stability of the country.”

Obasanjo underscored the importance of exploring the four areas of generating revenue at both state and federal levels.

He said Nigeria’s population is large enough to satisfy the basic needs of the country if the four areas could be effectively explored.

“The commitment and passion for what people do matters in whatever success they want to achieve.

“No other means alone can give us food, except agriculture,

and without food, there is no life. The population is increasing on a daily basis and we cannot do without food.

“We must first of all satisfy our need for food security and take it as a serious business in revenue generation and allocation.”

Mr Elias Mbam, the RMAFC Chairman, said the workshop is to enlighten stakeholders on alternative means of generating revenue.

Mbam said the commission is determined to sensitise the three tiers of government to shift focus from oil to other avenues of generating wealth.

Director-General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) Otunba Olusegun Runsewe described the workshop as timely and of utmost importance.

Runsewe said the nation will generate more resources from tourism, if the sector is well integrated into the national economy.

He reiterated NTDC’s determination to use cultural festivals as veritable means of generating funds and development.

•Obasanjo

No bail for senator as Magistrate’s Court terminates case

N

DUME, who is alleged to be a financier of Boko Haram, was discharged from the charges of criminal intimidation at the Abuja Magistrate’s Court.

Chief Magistrate Oyewumi Oyebola terminated the charge following the withdrawal of the First Information Report (FIR) by the State Security Service (SSS).

Ndume was arraigned with Konduga over a two-count charge of criminal breach of trust, criminal intimidation and anonymous calls.

Prosecutor Cliff Osagie told the court that a fresh charge had been filed against Ndume, hence no need for prosecution at the Magistrate Court.

The development stopped the ruling on Ndume’s bail application.

The court will today make a pronouncement on Konduga’s conviction. He pleaded guilty to the charges.

At the last sitting, the court convicted Konduga for nine years but the sentence was deferred after an oral appli-

Boko Haram: Senator faces four-count charge Continued from page 1

*”That you, Mohammed Ali Ndume (m) on or about the 4th day of October, 2011 somewhere between Maiduguri and Abuja, being in possession of the mobile phone number of Ali Sanda Umar Konduga (alias Usman AIZawahiri), a terrorist spokesman of the Boko Haram sect which you know to be of material assistance in securing the apprehension of the said Ali Umar Konduga, did fail to disclose same information to a law officer as soon as reasonably practicable and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 7(1)(b) of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011 and punishable under Section 7( 1) of the same Act. •”That you, Mohammed Ali Ndume (m) on or about the 4th day of October, 2011 somewhere between Maiduguri and Abuja, having received information from Ali Sanda Umar Konduga, a terrorist spokesman of the Boko Haram sect regarding planned attacks on From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

cation by Osagie, who said the investigation of the matter was on going.

judges of the Borno State Election Tribunal and the National Assembly, which you know to be of material assistance in securing the prosecution of members of the said Boko Haram Sect for an offence under the Terrorism (Prevention) Act 2011 did fail to disclose same information to a law enforcement officer as soon as reasonably practicable and you thereby committed and offence contrary to section 7(1)(b) of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act 2011 and punishable under Section 7(1) of the same Act. •”That you, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume (rn) on or about the 4th day of October, 2011 somewhere between Maiduguri and Abuja, being the operator of MTN GSM telephone number 08035998045, did provide logistics to wit: telephone numbers of certain public officers including the Hon. Attorney-General of the Federation, to Ali Sanda Umar Konduga (alias Usman Al-Zawahiri), a terrorist

Specifically, Konduga is accused of disclosing classified information to unauthorised persons between September 15th and November 3 in Maiduguri, Borno State and

spokesman of the Boko Haram sect, for the activity of sending terrorist text messages to them, which you know is connected with an act of terrorism and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 3(b) of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act 2011 and punishable under Section 3 of the same Act. •”That you, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume (m) on or about the 4th day of October, 2011 somewhere between Maiduguri and Abuja did knowingly render support for an act of terrorism by supplying the telephone numbers of certain public officers, including the Hon. Attorney-General of the Federation, to Ali Sanda Umar Konduga (alias Usman AI-Zawahiri), a terrorist spokesman of the Boko Haram sect, for the purpose of communicating terrorist messages to the said public officers and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 4(1)(a) of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act 2011 and punishable under Section 4 of the same Act.”

in Abuja.

The alleged offence is contrary to Section 398 of the Penal Code.

Ndume pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Konduga, who gave his account in Hausa through an interpreter, Mustapha Shehu, admitted being guilty as charged.

Pleading with the court to

tamper justice with mercy, he confessed to the court that he was behind the threat text messages to the Judges sitting in the Borno State Election Petition Tribunal, which relocated to Abuja.

He also claimed responsibility for the threat messages sent to Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido and his counterpart in Niger State, Dr Babangida Aliyu.

He gave the names of others he sent text messages to as: Sen. Sanusi Daggash (former Minister of Works) and Dr. Dalhatu Tafida (Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (UK).

According to him, the threat messages were to compel the victims to comply with Boko Haram’s conditions.

But Konduga’s father told a news conference at the weekend that his son is insane.

Chief Magistrate Oyewumi convicted Konduga, in line with Section 318 of the Criminal Code Law.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6 2011

NEWS ASUU STRIKE (DAY ONE)

Activities halted at UI

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•Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Ibadan (UI), Dr. Olusegun Ajiboye (middle) addressing a news conference on the strike in Ibadan…yesterday. With him are former chair, Dr. Ademola Aremu (left) and Dr. Akin Ademuyiwa PHOTO: NAN

Crisis ’ll soon be resolved, says E Education Minister

DUCATION Minister Prof.

Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufai yesterday expressed the hope that the one day old national industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) would soon be called off.

Varsity teachers had on Sunday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State at the end of their National Executive Council meeting resolved to embark on an indefinite strike with effect from 12 mid-night on Monday.

Reacting to the development in Minna, Niger State yesterday, Prof. Rufai told reporters that the Federal Government was discussing with the leadership of the union to resolve the crisis.

Her words: “Government is not happy with the development and we are talking with the leadership of ASUU. I can assure members of the public that the issue will soon be resolved. We are still talking with them and very soon there will be a way forward in that direction.”

The minister was in Minna to open a three-day workshop on quality assurance for inspectors, principals and local government education supervisors.

The minister blamed the decline in the education quality, especially the dismal performance of students in the public examinations on the dearth of dedicated personnel.

She said: “This decline is re-

No going back, union insists

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HE Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) yesterday vowed not to go back to classes until its demands are met by the Federal Government.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports from Lagos that ASUU began a nationwide indefinite strike midnight on Sunday.

ASUU President Prof Ukachukwu Awuzie, told NAN in a telephone interview from his Abuja base that there was “no going back until government showed some level of commitment to implementing the agreement.

“Government had firmly assured that they would look into the issue in November and we were all hopeful that they would do something, having signed the MoU. “We are surprised that they still could not live up to their promise yet again, maybe they are just playing games with us.

“As a result of this, I had to meet with the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the union, which then decided to embark on this strike”.

Jide Orintunsin, Minna

flected in the dismal performance of students in public examinations like West Africa Examination Council (WAEC), National Examinations Council (NECO, National Business and Technical Examinations Board(NABTEB) and Joint Admission and Matriculations Board (JAMB). This trend is disheartening and there is need for concerted effort of stakeholders to arrest this ugly trend in our education system”.

He regretted the development, saying that what the union was fighting for was to ensure the repositioning of the education system, which would translate into meaningful contribution to national development.

“We are still open to discussion, but this time, we would insist that the approach to such discussions be frankness and sincerity of purpose,’’ he said.

NAN reports that ASUU entered into an agreement with the government in 2009, seeking to revamp the education system, provision of funds for research and development, and university autonomy, among others.

The Union had on September 26 this year signed a MoU with the Federal Government, after a two-week warning strike on the same issue.

Government was said to have assured the lecturers— during the signing of the MoU— that it would look into their grievances within two months and come up with positive results by the November 28.

The minister said the sector was in dire need of revival to play its role of developing the required human capital.

Prof. Rufai said her ministry has mapped out strategies to address the major challenges confronting the sector, stressing that the revival of the sector was the only guarantee to achieving the socioeconomic transformation of President Goodluck Jonathan and the Vision 20:2020.

She cautioned that for the national transformation agenda in the education sector to

be realised, the quality assurance in the 36 states as well as the 774 local governments have to be repositioned.

Opening the workshop, host Governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu said the state will soon enact a law for the establishment of the Education Quality Assurance Agency. According to him, the move was being made to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the inspectors, rincipals and teachers for the overall improvement of the quality of education in the state.

‘Govt should talk implementation not re-negotiation’

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OR the Chairman of Academic Staff Union at Universities (ASUU) in the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Dr Karo Ogbinaka, the Federal Government should be talking of implementing the agreement it has with the teachers and not re-negotiation.

He told The Nation yesterday, that the union had exhausted all patience, especially after the one-week warning strike in September which, according to him, was to compel the Federal Government to act.

He said: “We have moved beyond the stage of what we call negotiation. The stage we are now is the implementa-

By Adegunle Olugbamila and Sampson Unamka

tion and the ministers are aware, but nothing has been done.

To correct the misconceptions about the union’s demand for improved welfare package, Dr Ogbinaka said some components of the implementation have nothing to do with money, but certain laws bothering on retirement age, amendment of JAMB, university autonomy, and gradual attainment of the 26 per cent benchmark for funding as recommended by the United Nations for developing countries, among others.

“South Africa is funding her

education up to 30 per cent, while Ghana 50 per cent. If cocoa-producing countries can give their children the best education, why can’t the oil countries do the same or more?”

The strike has taken effect at the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo. The union’s Chairman, Dr Wumi Oluwatoki said yesterday was the varsity’s resumption date, after a short vacation which climaxed in the suspension of the Student Union Government (SUG) two weeks ago.

At the entrance was a detachment of mobile policemen with Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC). They have be-

come a regular feature at the gate following a resurgence of students protests over the hike in their tuition.

“Our national body has declared a total and indefinite strike from today (yesterday) and there is no compromise on this. This strike will last as long as the government wants it,” Oluwatoki said.

He said: “ ASUU NEC had earlier met and agreed to embark on indefinite strike on December 1. The sub-committee set up by the union had to look into the decision more critically before approving the strike, reasons it dragged before it was eventually announced on Sunday.

CADEMIC activities were grounded at the University of Ibadan (UI) yesterday, no thanks to the indefinite strike called by the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The job boycott began yesterday with the lecturers unhappy that the Federal Government was yet to implement the core components of the 2009 agreement, more than two years and the additional two-month grace for the government to keep faith with its side of the bargain.

Fresh students who resumed yesterday were stranded as there was no member of staff to attend to them. The students moved in groups. Most of them went back to their hostels disappointed.

The ongoing second semester examination by part-time postgraduate students was also affected . Many of them hanged around under trees and open spaces discussing

From Bisi Oladele and Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

their fate. Some of them told The Nation that they were not aware of the strike. They also added that it would be dangerous for them to stay at home even if they were aware before hand.

The offices of the lecturers were shut.

ASUU members told reporters that they boycotted work in obedience to the directive received from the national headquarters of the union to do so from 12:00 midnight on Sunday.

They disclosed that they had also stopped marking and grading of students’ scripts due to the strike which is “total, comprehensive and indefinite.”

Other activities were, however, in full swing as administrative offices were open for business. Members of the community also moved freely without hinderance or molestation.

UNIBEN to begin action today From Osagie Otabor, Benin

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HE University of Benin (UNIBEN) chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) did not begin the indefinite strike called by its national body yesterday.

Chairman of the union , Dr. Anthony Ehiman said the action will take off today.

He told The Nation in a telephone chat that the congress will meet to discuss modalities for implementing the action.

A student, Eghosa Edebiri said the strike will disrupt academic activities.

He urged Federal Government to resolve the lingering dispute with the lecturers.

But the Chairman of ASUU in the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Dr. Sunday Ighalo, said the strike was comprehensive and total in the institution.

UniAbuja complies From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

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HE University of Abuja chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) will today comply with the directive by its national leadership to go on strike.

The order by ASUU National President, Prof. Ukachukwu Awuzie disrupted the ongoing examination at the university.

The examination began last week.

Students got to their examination hall yesterday, only to be told of the strike. But after a while, they were asked by the authority to continue till further notice.

On the level of compliance, The Nation spoke with Abudulahi Ibrahim, a Computer Science student, who expressed disappointment with the earlier delay, but appealed to authorities of both the ASUU and the Federal Government to allow them finish their examination even if the strike will take effect.

Ibrahim said: “This morning we were told that the exam will not hold but later the invigilators called us back that the examination will continue and most of us are done for today but we do not know what will happen tomorrow. I was disappointed initially in the morning when I was informed about the strike.”

But the Chairman of the union, Dr. Clement Chup, in a telephone conversation said there is no going on the action. He said despite the ongoing examination, academic activities will be grounded today.

BUK paralysed

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CADEMIC activities at the two campuses of Bayero University, Kano have been disrupted, following the decision of its lecturers to join their counterparts across the nation to embark on an indefinite industrial action.

The action has grounded the university.

Lecture halls were shut.

Many of the lecturers either stayed at home or remained in their offices, ostensibly tidying up their personal effects in preparation for what may likely be the mother of all strikes.

A lecturer, who pleaded anonymity, acknowledged the receipt of an instruction from ASUU national leadership, directing all lecturers to proceed on “a comprehensive and indefinite strike”.

He said:“We have received a letter from ASUU on the

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

strike, and you know that we cannot turn away from that instruction. But we have to hold a NEC meeting and brief members first before the official commencement of the strike.”

But even before the commencement of the strike, there were ‘’signs of paralysis on the two campuses’’, with students preparing to vacate the premises.

They expressed disgust over the development, saying the strike is a major setback to their academic pursuit.

They appealed to the Federal Government to reconsider the demands of ASUU in the interest of tertiary education.

As of the time of filing this report, the Chairman of Kano Zone of ASUU, Dr. Abdullahi Baffa could not be reached, as his phone was switched off.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2011

NEWS

Jega warns RECs not to seek aid from governors

Reps to sponsor bills against rape

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OUSE of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal has said the House would from next year sponsor bills to fight rape.

Tambuwal, who spoke yesterday in Abuja at a White Ribbon conference to discuss Rape and Child Abuse, described rape as dangerous and unhealthy trend for the country.

Represented by Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha, the Speaker noted that rapists should be severely punished.

Minister of Youth Development Bolaji Abdullahi said Nigerians cannot allow innocent girls to be sexually violated with impunity.

He said the management of the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) should set up a committee to deal with rape and other forms of sexual violence against young women.

On the theme of the conference, Nigerian Youth and the Rape Challenge, the minister noted that despite the government’s efforts, perpetrators of the Abia State University rape case have not been arrested, let alone prosecuted.

Abdullahi said following cases of gang rape in parts of the country, raping of young women and its social ills have become very topical.

Ekweremadu urges stability of Liberia

From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

He said: “The focus this year is to engage young men heavily in the White Ribbon campaign as ambassadors and watchdogs to stop violence against young women.

“The conference will bring together researchers, policy makers, professioners in related fields, health and social workers and students from tertiary institutions to share knowledge and practices and debate current issues around the conference theme.”

The minister said the conference is expected to come up with innovations, suggestions and policies that would be used in advocacy messages on anti-rape and form a basis for new legislations against rape.

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HAIRMAN of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof. Attahiru Jega, yesterday warned state Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) to desist from accepting any assistance from governors or council chairmen for the conduct of elections.

He gave the warning at the swearing-in of eight newly appointed resident commissioners.

The INEC chairman said the commission was restructuring, adding that the era of reliance on state governors and council chairmen was over.

Admitting that resident commissioners could interact with stakeholders and governments in their domains, Jega said they must

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

not beg for resources to carry out their responsibility in the states.

According to him, INEC has been doing its best to minimise reliance on institutions and governments.

He said: “In the last one year, we have been working to sustain effort to bring transparency and accountability to our electoral process. It has been very difficult and challenging and there are still enormous challenges. But we must continue to improve to ensure credibility of the electoral process.

“We are in the process of bringing additional reforms to restructure the organisation and bring more credibility to the process so that

‘Do not go to them with any request but if you must go to them with any request, clear from us before you present the request so that we know what you are doing, “In fact, do not even go to them for any assistance’ by 2015, we will do an excellent job. By this, the INEC will be repositioned to be one of the best election management bodies in Africa.

“Do not go to them with any request, but if you must

go to them with any request, clear from us before you present the request so that we know what you are doing.

“In fact, do not even go to them for any assistance. You will face challenges but whatever challenges you face, notify us and we will do our best to assist in addressing them. No man is an island to himself, but we have to be careful and sensitive in what we do so that they are not misinterpreted.”

Jega urged the RECs to provide a level-playing field for all stakeholders and avoid partisan politics.

He advised them to do away with political leanings to bring credibility and integrity to the work they have sworn to undertake.

• New Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) taking their oaths of office at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja...yesterday

From Onyedi Ojiabor (Assistant Editor), Abuja

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PEAKER of ECOWAS Parliament Senator Ike Ekweremadu yesterday urged the re-elected Liberian President Ellen Sirleaf-Johnson to consolidate the peace, stability and democratic growth achieved in her country.

Ekweremadu, who is Nigeria’s Senate Deputy President, spoke yesterday at the opening of the Extraordinary Session of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament in Abuja.

A statement by his Special Adviser Uche Anichukwu said he congratulated the people and government of Liberia, the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government and the community for the peaceful conduct of the presidential and parliamentary elections in Liberia.

The Senate Deputy President noted that the Community Parliament was encouraged by the feat as a sign that democracy and stability has gained ground in the West African nation.

Ekweremadu advised Sirleaf-Johnson to be “magnanimous and focused in victory, knowing that the greatest victory would be to hand over a more peaceful, democratic, and prosperous Liberia at the end of her tenure”.

APGA decries alleged certificate forgery at National Assembly

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HE Ebonyi State chapter of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) yesterday condemned the use of fake university certificates by some top politicians, especially at the National Assembly, to contest elections.

State APGA Chairman Jerry Obasi told reporters in Abakaliki, the state capital, that certificate forgery has become rampant at the National Assembly, casting doubts on the integrity of members.

The APGA chairman urged the Judiciary to punish anyone convicted

From Ogbonnaya Obinna, Abakaliki

of certificate forgery, noting that failure to do this encourages other offenders.

Obasi said: “If someone is found guilty of forgery, as the case is in Ebonyi State, the Salisu Buhari option should be the case: the person should honourably resign or be ejected from the National Assembly. I urge the National Assembly to also mete out punishment to this person outside what the court will do.”

Jonathan urges Customs to take advantage of trade liberation

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday urged the Nigeria

Customs Service (NCS) and the World Customs Organisation (WCO) to take advantage of trade liberalisation and advanced technology to ensure the nation’s economic advancement.

The President, who was represented by the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, at the 66th session of the WCO in Abuja, noted that with the benefits, NCS would be able to confront money laundering, terrorism, drugs and proliferation of arms .

Dr Jonathan noted that a collaboration, through the WCO, could assist the Customs to prevent nefarious activities and focus on opportunities.

“I urge you to use the opportunity and interest to address the challenges at

•Praises Nigeria’s 7.7% growth rate •Regrets $10m on food import From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

hand and to facilitate trade from one Customs organisation to the other,” he said.

The President praised developing countries, saying they are the least affected by the global uncertainty, compared to Europe and the United States.

According to him, the African continent is growing very well at 5.5per cent, compared to one to two per cent in many parts of the world.

He said: “Nigeria is a little better, growing at 7.7per cent on the average, in the past three years.”

The President, however, regretted that Nigerian spend “about $10million on food import”.

He assured the Nigeria

Customs Service of his political support for it to deliver on its mandate.

“Accordingly, we are giving the Nigerian Customs the political supports it has to realize its mandate,” he said.

The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Dikko IndeAbdullahi accepted that the service enjoys political support which has “resulted in revenue collection from a monthly average of

N30billion in year 2009 to about N70billion in 2011.”

He recalled that since the Nigeria Customs joined the WCO in 1960, it has tried to accede to its conventions, agreements, tools and instruments.

MTN promo: Student, nine others win N100m in Kano

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ANDE Waziri, a Library Science student of the University of Maiduguri, Borno State, has won N10million in the ongoing MTN Mega Reward scheme.

She received her prize money at the sixth prize presentation ceremony at the Multipurpose Hall of the Magean Hotel, Kano.

“I feel so loved and appreciated by this gesture because I didn’t have to participate in any competition nor increase my calls. I only registered my MTN SIM and continued using It as usual and yet I was chosen to win N10

million. No other network has done such a thing,”Waziri said.

Funmilola Adebisi, a businessman based in Kano State; Remi Odiase, an Abuja-based seamstress; Stephen Umoh and a Kano-based businessman, were among the prize winners who have joined the noveau riche.

Fifteen others won N100,000 each and a lucky dip produced 100 winners of N10,000 each.

MTN Master Brand Manager, Innocent Oboh, who represented the Consumer Marketing Manager, Kola Oyeyemi, encouraged subscribers to register their SIM cards to win in the forthcoming prize presentations.

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2011

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NEWS

•Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi, speaking with reporters after a meeting with teachers in Ibadan...

•The teachers during the meeting yesterday.

Don’t spare corrupt leaders, ECWA tells Fed Govt From Orintunsin, Minna

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RESIDENT of the Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA) Reverend Anthony Farinto has said until corrupt leaders are publicly punished, the Federal Government’s fight against corruption would be an exercise in futility.

Frowning at the plea bargain, which is being used by many convicted leaders, the cleric said stringent punishment should be meted out to such leaders.

He said: “Corrupt leaders should not be allowed to be let off the hook under any guise.”

Farinto spoke at the weekend during the inauguration of Shiroro District Church Council (DCC) and Installation of the council executives at ECWA Twali-Gwada in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

He said such leaders have betrayed the trust the masses have in them.

Farinto said: “Leaders who are corrupt or have been found to be corrupt should be dealt with.

“The government should administer strict punishment on them. Our leaders should not be corrupt or seen as corrupt by the outside world. It is important that our leaders are seen as men of integrity.”

Represented by ECWA National Secretary Reverend Samuel Kuniyom, Farinto said Nigeria needs men and women of integrity to lead the country.

He warned that the country would not progress, if we continue to allow corrupt leaders run its affairs.

Farinto urged religious institutions to lead the fight against corruption.

He lamented that corruption, crime and materialism have also eaten deep into the church and urged the new executives to be responsible.

PHOTOS: NAN

Man ‘defiles’ one -year-old daughter A

BARBER, Sadiq Oparemi (32), is being detained at the Durbar Police Station in Oyo for allegedly raping his one and a half-year-old daughter, Zainab, for ritual purposes.

The incident occurred at Awe in Afijio Local Government Area.

It was gathered that Oparemi contacted an herbalist for money ritual and was asked to have sex with his daughter, if he wanted to get rich quick.

Sources said Zainab’s mother, Barakat, left the baby in their room with her father and went outside to wash some clothes.

They said she heard her daughter’s cries and rushed to their room, where she found Zainab

25-year-old held for ‘raping’ six-year old girl

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25-year-old man, Sunday Ogbu, who allegedly raped a six-year old girl, Chinaza Okonkwo, has been arrested by the police in Anambra State.

Ogbu, a labourer from Eha-Amufu in Udenu Council Area of Enugu State, was apprehended at Umuoji, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, by members of the community’s vigilance group and handed over to the police.

It was learnt that the incident occurred on Sunday morning at Umumma village, Umuoji, where Ogbu and Chinaza’s parents live as co-tenants.

A source said Ogbu lured Chinaza into the bush on the pretence that he was fetching firewood.

From Bode Durojaiye, Oyo

covered in blood.

It was learnt that Sadiq

From Adimike George, Onitsha

The source said a neighbour, who was on a tree, saw Ogbu having carnal knowledge of Chinaza and alerted the neighbours, who reportedly caught the suspect in the act.

Ogbu, who was handed over to the police in Ogidi, has confessed to the crime.

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Mr. Rowland Omatoje, confirmed the incident.

He said Ogbu is being detained and they are awaiting the medical report of the victim.

Police spokesman Emeka Chukwuemeka however said he was not yet aware of the incident.

escaped through the window and Barakat reported the matter at Durbar Police

Station.

Zainab was taken to the General Hospital, Oyo.

Tribunal insists on hearing petition against Senator Tinubu

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HE Legislative Election Petition Tribunal in Lagos yesterday insisted on hearing on merit the petition filed by the Labour Party (LP) challenging the election of Senator Oluremi Tinubu of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

Mrs Tinubu is representing Lagos Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly.

Tribunal Chairman Justice A. A. Nwaigwe was responding to information from the respondents. He said they had filed notices of preliminary objection to the petition.

Justice Nwaigwe said his position was informed by the November 1 judgment of the Court of Appeal, Lagos, which ordered that the petition be heard on its merit.

The respondents - the Independent National Electoral Commission (first), ACN

By Eric Ikhilae

(second) and Mrs. Tinubu (third) – are, in their objection, praying the tribunal to strike out/dismiss the petition without going into the substantive issues in the petition.

INEC’s objection is against the petitioner’s Motion on Notice and dated June 20. It is seeking leave to call two additional witnesses.

INEC’s lawyer, Wale Adetomiwa, yesterday argued that the petitioner’s request was out of time in its request for additional witnesses. He urged the tribunal to refuse the request.

Mrs Tinubu’s lawyer, Mrs O. Alonge, urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition for being defective.

The tribunal fixed December eight for ruling on the preliminary objections.

Six parties urge Obi to conduct council polls

S •Mrs. Tinubu

It also fixed January four for parties to adopt their written addresses.

David-West threatens to sue Jonathan

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ORMER Minister of Petroleum Resources Prof. Tam David-West has threatened to sue President Goodluck Jonathan, if he uses Executive Fiat to remove fuel subsidy.

It was reported yesterday that the President and members of his cabinet have decided to opt for

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

Executive Fiat.

This would enable them bypass the National Assembly, which has given conditions for the removal in the 2012 budget.

David-West spoke with

Oparemi was later arrested in Oyo by police detectives.

He may be arraigned this week .

Three persons, who allegedly gang-raped a teenage girl, have been remanded at Abolongo Prisons by an Oyo Magistrate’s Court One. Olaniyi Oladejo (29), Seun Akinwunmi (30), Jonathan Onah (26) and a fourth suspect (who is at large) allegedly raped Busayo Oladipupo (14) at an uncompleted building in Awe, during the annual community festival.

The suspects were apprehended by youths in the community, who handed them over to the police.

The case was adjourned till December 12.

our reporter in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, yesterday.

He insisted that subsidy does not exist.

David-West said he has challenged Jonathan and his supporters to a debate over the so-called subsidy, but they have not responded.

IX parties in Anambra State have urged Governor Peter Obi to conduct local government elections.

They are Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Accord, Labour Party (LP) and All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).

The last local government election in Anambra was 13 years ago.

An open letter signed by Uche Oforma (Accord), Cyprain Okafor (ACN), B.E. Odoziobodo (ANPP), Ezenwata Odogwu (APGA), J.E. Agbakwuru (PDP) and Emma Nweke (LP) reads: “We the chairmanship and councillorship aspirants in the 21 local government areas of Anambra State unanimously request the governor to conduct council polls in the interest of peace, justice and grass root development.

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2011

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NEWS Ekiti varsity gets VC From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

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ROFESSOR Patrick Oladipo Aina has been appointed vice-chancellor of the Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti.

The professor of Soil Science was born on November 22, 1949, in Iloro-Ekiti, Ijero Local Government Area.

He graduated from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU)) in 1972 with a First Class BSc (Hons) degree in Agriculture.

Aina got a Ph.D in Soil Physics from the Ohio State University, United States, in 1977.

He joined OAU as a Graduate Assistant in 1972 and became a Professor of Soil Physics in 1989 in the Department of Soil Science and Land Resources Management.

•SET FOR ACTION: The Special Squad of Mobile Policemen deployed in Ogun State by Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Hafiz Ringim at the request of Governor Ibikunle Amosun...yesterday.

Lagos Speaker, Oyo lawmaker battle poverty

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AGOS State House of Assembly Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji has urged lawmakers to work towards the eradication of poverty and unemployment.

Ikuforiji spoke in Lagos, during a retreat on “Governance through Legislative Performance and Effective Budgeting.”

He said: “We must battle these cankerworms and liberate our people once and for all. No effort should be spared in tackling poverty and unemployment.

A member of the Oyo State

House of Assembly, Ibrahim Bolomope, also called on all tiers of government to work towards poverty eradication.

Bolomope spoke in Ibadan, the state capital, during a seminar organised by the Bolomope Empowerment Foundation.

Bolomope said empowerment should not be limited to youths, but should embrace the unemployed, underemployed and the unemployable.

He said the foundation would train and equip qualified persons in various vocations and trades.

Tanker drivers attack LASTMA officials

By Titilayo Banjoko

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FFICIALS of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) were yesterday attacked by tanker drivers.

Three LASTMA officials were allegedly injured and a towing vehicle belonging to the agency vandalised.

The LASTMA officials were trying to tow tankers parked indiscriminately on the Apapa/Oshodi Expressway, near Ijesha Bus Stop, when the drivers attacked them.

Some officials and security men attached to the agency were beaten up.

The drivers also blocked the road with their tankers, causing a gridlock, which lasted for several hours.

One of the drivers, Adamu, alleged that the LASTMA officials were trying to extort money from them.

He said: “The LASTMA officials were planning to extort money from us. They always harass us in December. Governor Babatunde Fashola should tell them to leave us alone.”

A LASTMA official, who pleaded for anonymity, said the drivers had been warned not to park carelessly.

He said: “LASTMA has told them not to obstruct the flow of traffic. They were told not to park on both sides of the service lane. We told them to park on one lane, but they would not listen. We have to do our job. They injured three officials.”

Ajimobi tackles SUBEB, TESCOM over delay in teachers’ pay

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YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has ordered finance officers of the Local Government Education Authority and officials of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and the Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) not to leave the secretariat, until the problems responsible for the delay in the payment of teachers’ salaries are re-

solved.

Ajimobi said persons involved in the preparation of teachers’ salaries would not be paid until teachers receive their salaries.

He also said a list of teachers in every public school, signed by the head of each school, should be forwarded to his office.

The governor spoke during an interactive session

with teachers and labour leaders, over the delay in the payment of teachers’ salaries. He assured teachers who have not received their salaries since October that they would be paid before the end of the week.

Ajimobi said: “We have been paying the salaries of civil servants on or before 25th of every month. For teachers, we are going to

ensure that we do the same this month.

“Persons involved in fraud, as regards your salaries, would be sacked. We will remove all of them from the system.”

State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) Mr. Toyin Babatunde said the teachers are happy with the e-payment system introduced by the government.

Lagos appeals judgment on LASTMA

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HE Lagos State Government has appealed the judgment of a Federal High Court, which said the State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has no power to impose fines on traffic offenders.

Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro (SAN) told reporters in Lagos yesterday that the government is unhappy that the court rejected its application for a stay of execution .

By Adebisi Onanuga

He said Justice Okon Abang’s ruling that anyone fined by LASTMA should approach his court would send the wrong signals to the public.

Pedro said Justice Abang erred by saying LASMA has constituted itself into a court by imposing fines on traffic offenders.

He said the fines were fixed by the House of Assembly and not LASTMA officials, adding that all over the world, tickets are issued

to traffic offenders by traffic management officers.

Pedro said: “All over the world, traffic offence is a strict liability offence. The law allows fines for offenders. But because of the level of development in Nigeria and the lack of data banks, vehicles are sometimes impounded until the fine is paid.”

He said it was also wrong of the court to declare certain sections of the LASMA Act unconstitutional.

Pedro said: “Justice Abang erred in law to as-

sume jurisdiction to determine the respondent`s action under the Fundamental Right (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2,010, when the substance of the suit was the application and enforcement of the road traffic law of a state.

“The state wants the Appeal Court to set aside the judgment of the lower court, strike out the suit of the first respondent, Mr. Jonathan Odutola, for want of jurisdiction or in the alternative, an order for the dismissal of the respondent`s suit.”

Fashola reconstitutes security committee

L

AGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola has reconstituted a 32member Security Committee.

The committee has three weeks to decide the future of motorcycle operation in the state.

Inaugurating the committee yesterday at the State House in Alausa, Ikeja, Fashola said he is worried about the continued operation of motorcycles.

He said the reports of bike accidents and robberies perpetuated with motorcycles are alarming.

Fashola said according to statistics, in the last two months, there have been 2,911 traffic violations, 79 robberies and 179 accidents involving motorcycles.

By Miriam Ndikanwu

He regretted that the recommendations of the committee in 2007 were not fully implemented.

Fashola said: “One recommendation we did not address in its fullness is the recommendation on motorcycles. At the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, we had 179 accident cases in October and November alone. Of the 179, 170 of the victims were passengers.

“At the Toll Gate Emergency Centre, 41 motorcycle accidents were reported. In the combined reports from 20 government hospitals, there were 1,039 motorcycle accident cases and all these reports are just for two

months.”

“With regard to crime, between January and now, 346 robbers were arrested on motorcycle. In October and November, 79 were arrested.

“If you look at traffic violations in the last two months, we had 1,908 cases involving motorcycles in October and 1,003 in November, making a total of 2,911. This is no longer acceptable and this is why I have called you back.

“The report you presented to us is four years old, so we are asking you to kindly let us have the benefit of your expertise, advice and knowledge on how we can review some of the recommendations.

“Motorcycles operators are clearly involved in orga-

nised crimes. This threatens lawful businesses and our responsibility is to ensure security. In a society where law and order is not enforced, no economic activity will thrive, and we do not want that to happen here.”

Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) of Police Olusegun Kazeem (rtd) is the committee’s chairman and DIG John Amodu (Rtd.) is his vice.

Members include Commissioners of Police, Customs, Rural Development and Transportation; Comptroller of Immigrations; Epe, Ajeromi Ifelodun and Lagos Island East local government chairmen; Managing Directors of MTN, Globacom, Airtel, Zoom Communications; and Head of the Vehicle Inspection Unit(VIO).

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THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2011

NEWS

ACN to Jonathan: don’t swear in George’s wife

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HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday asked President Goodluck Jonathan not to swear in Mrs. Roli George as the Lagos State representative in the National Population Commission (NPC), because ‘’her nomination and confirmation violate the relevant provisions of the Constitution, the Federal Character Act and the NPC Act’’ Mrs George is the wife of Chief Bode George, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain in Lagos.

In a statement in Lagos by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said if the President truly believes in the rule of law as he has professed, he will not act contrary to the Constitution and the relevant laws.

It said, however, that if the President brushes aside the party’s observations and acts contrary to the laws of the land, he can be assured of a robust legal challenge to his actions, in the true tradition of the ACN. ‘’First, Part 1 Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution as amended lists all the Federal Executive Bodies established by Section 153 of the said Constitution, and the National Population Commission is listed under item 23 of the said schedule, which said the National Population Commission shall comprise of the following members: (a) chairman and (b) one person from each state and the Federal Capital Territory. ‘’Secondly, the Guiding Principles and Formulae for the Distribution of all cadres of posts in all federal bodies is to be found in the Federal Character Act 1997, Laws of the Federation Volume 6 at 7.12.

The relevant provisions of the Act state as follows: Each

Colloquium for ex-deputy VC of UI A COLLOQUIUM organised in honour of the former Deputy ViceChancellor of the University of Ibadan (UI), Prof Bade Onimode , will hold on December 10.

The event, billed for the Omonogun Hall, G.R.A Lokoja, Kogi State, will attract lawmakers, scholars, activists, students and government functionaries.

Church holds convention THE 2011 edition of Shiloh, the annual convention of Living Faith Church Worldwide begins today at the ministry’s headquarters in Canaanland, Ota, Ogun State.

Holding with the theme: ‘ Waves of Glory, the five days programme will feature healing school, business summit, youth seminars and teaching sessions from Dr. David Oyedepo, David Abioye and other anointed ministers of the gospel.

The event, which is usually attended by delegates from many nations will also be transmitted via satellite at designated viewing centers in and around Lagos.

•‘Her nomination a breach of Constitution’

By Nneka Nwaneri

state of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory shall be equitably represented in all National Institutions and Public Enterprises and Organisations; and the best and most competent persons shall be recruited from each state of the Federation or the Federal Capital Territory. ‘’The Act further provides under its Definition section as follows: An indigene of a state means a person who is an indigene of one of the local governments in the state, provided that no person shall lay claim to more than one state or to a state and the Federal Capital Territory.

On the position of a mar-

ried woman, it states that a married woman shall continue to lay claim to her state of origin for the purpose of the Federal Character at the national level. ‘’Section 5 of the Act on Public Political Offices at National Level says that as far as practicable, the appointment to the various categories of political offices shall be done on the basis of equitable representation of the states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory or zones as appropriate using the relevant formula. The political offices concerned include: (a) Ministers of cabinet rank, (b) Ministers of State, (c) Special Advisers to the President, (d) Non-career heads

of Nigerian Diplomatic Missions and (e) Chairmen and members of Statutory Federal Agencies. ‘’It is clear, therefore, that ACN’s opposition to the nomination of Mrs George is grounded in clear and unambiguous provisions of the Constitution and the relevant laws, rather than on sentiment, ethnic bias or partisan politics. It is also clear that Lagos State is yet to have any representation in the NPC, going by the Constitution and the relevant Laws.

The President should therefore move quickly to rectify this,’’ ACN said.

The party said it was particularly shocked that the Senate President presided over the confirmation of Mrs.

George, in spite of these egregious violation of the country’s laws, as it (the party) has taken the pains to point out. ‘’One is at a loss as to whether the Senate President was aware of these clear provisions of the Constitution, the Federal Character Act and the National Population Act when he brushed aside the protestations of Senators Oluremi Tinubu and Gbenga Ashafa on the matter. ‘’Obviously, most of the commentators who were quick to deride ACN’s opposition to Mrs Geoge’s nomination anchored their criticisms on a solid foundation of ignorance of the relevant provisions of the Constitution and the relevant enabling Laws, which make it

•Mrs George illegal and unconstitutional for the spouse of any politician, if the woman is not of the same state of origin as the husband, to represent her husband’s state in a statutory federal agency such as the NPC,’’ it said.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2011

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2011

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BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

Naira falls on dollar demand pressure

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HE naira depreciated for a second day against the dollar, on higher demand for the United States’ currency.

The naira, according to Reuters News, weakened 0.1 per cent to N161.6 per dollar on the interbank market by 11:20 a.m. in Lagos, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on November 21 lowered the midpoint of its exchange-rate band at its twice-weekly auctions to N155 per dollar from N150 naira. Rising imports and weakening oil prices, the source of more than 95 per cent of Nigeria’s foreign-exchange income, mounted pressure on the bank.

“A lack of U.S. dollar liquidity will continue to precipitate naira losses, despite an upward adjustment of the mid-point,” Celeste Fauconnier and Nema Ramkhelawan-Bhana, analysts at Rand Merchant Bank in Johannesburg, wrote in a report yesterday. “The CBN’s regular involvement in the currency market outside of the official auctions has raised market expectations of consistent US dollar supply, causing the naira to spike when the central bank is absent from the market.”

Inflation in Nigeria remains a threat, leaving little room to losen monetary policy even as the European debt crisis worsens, CBN Governor Lamido Sanusi said December 1.

The apex bank kept its benchmark rate unchanged at a record high of 12 per cent on November 22 after having raised it by 6 percentage points since September last year. The bank increased interest rates 2.75 percentage points in October after inflation climbed above its 10 per cent target.

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil -$115.3/barrel Cocoa -$2,686.35/metric ton Coffee - ¢132.70/pound Cotton - ¢95.17pound Gold -$1,800/troy ounce Rubber -¢159.21pound MARKET CAPITALISATIONS NSE JSE NYSE LSE

-N6.503 trillion -Z5.112trillion -$10.84 trillion -£61.67 trillion RATES Inflation -10.3% Treasury Bills -7.08% Maximum lending-22.42% Prime lending -15.87% Savings rate -2% 91-day NTB -15% Time Deposit -5.49% MPR -12% Foreign Reserve $32.820b CFA EUR £ $ ¥ SDR RIYAL

-

FOREX

0.2958 206.9 242.1 151.8 1.9179 238 40.472

The fact is the longer the regulatory uncertainty of a Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) in equally uncertain form hovers over the industry, the greater the likehood that crucial investment is delayed.

-Diezani Alison-Madueke, Minister of Petroleum Resources

States begin power distribution Jan., says NERC T

HE 36 state govern ments of the Federa tion will next month get the statutory right to generate and distribute electricity from their domain.

Chairman, Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr. Sam Amadi, disclosed this yesterday in Abuja at a stakeholders’ workshop on the review of the Independent Electricity Distribution Network draft regulation.

He said this would be actualised when the commission’s new set of regulations guiding Independent Electricity Distribution Network Operators and Power Generators becomes operational.

According to the commission, an Embedded Generation is when a power plant is built in a particular locality and not connected to the national grid for transmission.It is a situation whereby the generated capacity is connected directly

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

to the distribution network.

A t presently, the Federal Government has the exclusive right of power generation and distribution for commercial purposes, except for some companies that NERC licensed to produce limited power for their industrial applications.

Amadi disclosed that as the regulation is takes off to take effect from next month, it is also expected that states with the capacity to generate power in their domain will come forward to seek licenses for operation.

Explaining the method of operation of the new initiative, the chairman noted that it will ensure: ”All the cost associated with transmission is bypassed. It is embedded with the distribu-

tor locally. It can cure acute shortages of power in the short and long run. A state that has the capacity can have partnership with private sector, set up a power plant to carter for the need of the state.”

Amadi, however, said the regulation is predicated on the states’agitation for the removal of power from the exclusive list.

He cited Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State as one of the governors, who sought that states be allowed to generate their own power to help lift the country from power crisis.

The chairman said: “Instead of running parallel lines running through the cities, you can have power embedded in your state, if you have enough capacity.

For instance, Rivers has sufficient capacity. Instead of

taking it to the grid, you can have power embedded in the state and the surplus you can sell to the grid if you like.

What is required is that you have sufficient capacity to distribute that power. That is why we are bringing these new regulations. The cost of evacuating power to the grid and later transmitted back for use locally will be removed.”

The NERC commissioner, Legal and Licensing Services, Mr Steven Azinge, said the draft regulations are a product of painstaking effort with input from experts and relevant stakeholders.

Besides, he noted that another window of three weeks will further be opened to receive comments and suggestions from stakeholders for more input to improve the document.

He said the final regulation would be sent to the Ministry of Justice for gazzeting, while the regulation will come into force by January.

Okonjo-Iweala, Obama among top global thinkers From Nduka Chiejina, Assistant Editor (Abuja)

T

HE Co-ordinating Minister for the Economy/Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi OkonjoIweala, has been named one of 100 Global Thinkers by the iconic Washington-based journal, Foreign Policy magazine.

Okonjo-Iweala, according to a statement from the Federal Ministry of Finance, was honoured along with a group of distinguished activists, political leaders, diplomats and entrepreneurs from across the world.

They include United States President Barack Obama; French President Nicholas Sarkozy, British Prime Minister David Cameron, former American President Bill Clinton and Brazilian, President Dilma Roussef.

Other recipients include US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton; Nobel Economics laureates Joseph Stiglitz and Paul Krugman and former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Mohamed El Baradei.

According to the citation published in the current edition of the journal, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was recognised for her role as a champion of continental economic renaissance, which has contributed significantly to putting Africa on the centre stage of global economic focus.

Oyo plans $100b free trade zone

T • From left: Chairman, House Committee on Banking and Currency, Hon. Jones Chukwudi Onyerevi; MD, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Mustapha Chike-Obi; Executive Director, Finance & Operations, Foluke Dosunmu; Deputy Chair, House Committee on Banking and Currency, Hon. Haruna Manu and Executive Director, AMCON, Abass Mohammed Jega, during an inaugural visit by the committee to AMCON in Lagos…yesterday

T

Shell clears controversy over divested assets’ operatorship

HE Managing Direc tor of Shell Petroleum Development Company Nigeria Limited (SPDC) and Country Chairman of Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mr Mutiu Sunmonu, has cleared the controversy surrounding the operatorship of some of the company’s recently divested oil blocks.

Mutiu, who fielded questions from reporters at the ongoing World Petroleum Congress in Doha, Qatar, yesterday, said the operatorship of the onshore assets Shell sold was not part of the terms of transaction and agreement with the buyers.

He dissociated Shell from actions and tussles over who operates the blocks in contention. According to him, Shell didn’t guarantee any

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

of the buyers of the operatorship of the blocks as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corportaion (NNPC) reserves the right to who operates the assets after divestment.

The Mike Adenugaowned Conoil, which purchased the asset located on oil mining lease (OML) 30, has been contesting who operates the asset, a situation that has kept the transaction uncompleted till date.

Conoil bought 45 per cent stake owned by Shell and other international oil companies, while the NNPC transferred its 55 per cent stake to its exploration

and production subsidiary – Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC).

Conoil is contesting the operatorship of the block on the strength that Shell was the operator of the block before the divestment. NPDC, however, has become the operator of the oil block post-divestment.With Sunmonu’s statement on the position of Shell, it is expected that Conoil, Shell and NNPC, will conclude the transaction as it did with other blocks. If the deal on OML 30 is completed, it will bring to eight the number of onshore assets divested by Shell in Nigeria.

The Shell boss reiterated that the company has no intention to leave Nigeria and

that the assets divestment were to encourage indigenous operators.

Sunmonu also said that the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report didn’t indict Shell for the years of spills and environmental degradation in the Niger Delta. He said over 70 per cent of pill incidents and associated environmental impacts in Ogoni were a result of oil theft and sabotage.

He noted that the report did not link environmental issues in Shell’s operations with diseases and deaths from contamination in the Niger Delta.

He said some of the environmental impacts that resulted from oil spills occurred at locations where Shell stopped operations in the past 20 years.

HE Oyo State govern ment will turn the sod of a $100 billion Free Trade Zone in the first quarter of 2012, the Commissioner for Trade, Investment and Cooperatives, Mr Kazeem Adedeji, has said.

Adedeji, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan yesterday, said the trade zone would be unique in many ways.“ We are already looking for investors that would develop the free trade zone in the state.

This is something that will attract close to 100 billion United States dollars investment. You can imagine the advantages it would bring to Oyo State in terms of employment generation, revenue generation and in improving the quality of lives of our people, “ he said.

The commissioner assured that positive developments would start manifesting in the area of trade and investment in the state. The current administration is focused on transforming and repositioning of Oyo State.

“As far as I am concerned, as the head of ministry of trade investment and cooperatives, our philosophy is to stimulate trade and enhance the economic growth of Oyo State in such a way that it will impact positively on the lives of the majority of the people, “ Adedeji said.

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2011

12

BUSINESS NEWS Osun gives N500m loan to farmers

Flight Schedule MONDAY - FRIDAY LAGOS – ABUJA Departure Arrival 1. Aero 06.50 08.10 2. Associated 07.00 09.30 3. Air Nigeria 07.00 08.20 4. IRS 07.00 08.20 5. Dana 07.02 08.22 6. Arik 07.15 08.15 7. Chanchangi 07.15 8. Air Nigeria 08.15 09.35 9. Dana 08.10 09.20 10. Aero 08.45 10.05 11. Arik 09.15 10.15 12. Chanchangi 10.00 11.00 13. IRS 11.15 12.35 14. Dana 12.06 12.26 15. Aero 12.20 13.30 16. Air Nigeria 13.25 14.45 17. Chanchangi 13.30 14.30 18. Arik 13.45 14.45 19. IRS 14.00 15.20 20. Aero 14.10 15.30 21. Air Nigeria 14.50 16.10 22. Dana 15.30 16.50 23. Chanchangi 15.30 16.30 24. Arik 15.50 16.50 25. Aero 16.00 17.20 26. IRS 16.30 17.50 27. Arik 16.50 17.50 28. Dana 17.10 18.30 29. Chanchangi 17.30 18.30 30. Air Nigeria 17.35 18.55 31. Air Nigeria (T/TH) 18.30 19.50 32. Arik 18.45 19.45 33. Aero 19.20 20.40 1.

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

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

LAGOS – KADUNA Aero 08.00 Chanchangi 10.00 Arik 10.00 Arik 15.10

08.30 09.10 11.50 12.45 13.40 15.20 16.30 16.40 08.50 12.40 14.10 17.20 12.15 12.45 09.10 11.00 11.10 16.20

LAGOS – PORT HARCOURT (CIVIL) 1. Aero 07.15 08.35 2. Arik 07.15 08.35 3. Arik 09.00 10.20 4. Dana 09.27 10.40 5. Aero 10.50 12.30 6. Arik 11.40 13.00 7. Air Nigeria 12.00 13.10 8. IRS 13.30 15.00 9. Arik 14.00 15.20 10. Dana 15.03 16.20 11. Air Nigeria 16.00 17.10 12. Arik 16.10 17.30 13. Aero 16.15 17.30 14. Arik 17.10 18.30 1.

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

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LAGOS – WARRI 08.15 11.50 11.55 14.55

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LAGOS – KANO Air Nigeria 07.10 IRS 08.00 Dana 08.10 Arik 12.20 IRS 14.00 IRS 18.15

08.50 09.45 09.40 14.00 15.45 19.55

LAGOS – OWERRI 07.20 14.00 16.30

08.30 15.10 17.40

LAGOS – UYO 10.35

11.35

1. Arik 2. Arik 3. Arik 1. Dana

LAGOS – MAIDUGURI 1. IRS 11.15 13.15 2. Arik 15.50 18.00 LAGOS – ILORIN 1. Overland 07.15 2. Arik (M/T/TH/F) 17.30

08.00 18.00

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

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

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• Mr Bolaji Osunsanya, CEO, Oando Gas and Power, (2nd right) receiving an agreement for his firm and the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) to fund a feasibility study to develop a gas pipeline in the Southwest from Mr John Strafford, Consul-General, United States’Consulate at his residence in Lagos. With them are Jamie Merriman, Country Manager, Sub-Saharan African, USTDA (left) and Henry Sanyaolu, Legal Adviser, Oando Gas and Powers.

Fed Govt, Indonesian Consortium seal N155b deal T

HE Federal Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Barkie Group of Indonesia for an investment worth N155billion in mining , rubber and palm oil plantations, in Ogun and Akwa Ibom states within the next five years.

The Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr Olusegun Aganga, confirmed the development during the signing of the MoU in Abuja. He said Indonesia has overtaken Malaysia as world’s largest palm oil producers.

Aganga signed on behalf of the Federal Government, while the leader of Bakrie Group of Indonesia, Mr Indra Bakrie, signed on behalf of the group.

“Indonesia is the second largest producer of natural rubber in the world with total production of 2.9mn tons in 2010. Average annual growth of rubber plantations in Indonesia currently stands at three per cent, which is higher than global annual growth of two per cent.

“The deal was a product of the collaboration and high level con-

From Franca Ochigbo, Abuja

sultations between the Bakrie Group, the Ministries of Trade and Investment, Agriculture and Rural Development, Mining and Steel Development and some state governors in Nigeria.

“With this the potential to create jobs and generate wealth for Nigeria will be easy. The Federal Government is committed to creating a conducive environment for attracting Foreign Direct Investments into the country.

“Barkie Group’s proposed investment, which will be managed by its investment vehicle in Nigeria-Bakrie Delano Africa Nigeria Limited, will focus on maximising benefits from the country’s mining sector, exploring the untapped investment potential in the agriculture and agri-business with prospects of expanding investment in six states of the federation within the next five years.

“This deal is a product of several meetings and consultations with

the Bakrie Group, the Ministries of Trade and Investment; Agriculture and Rural Development and Mining and Steel Development and some governors in Nigeria.

The Group will be investing $1billion in mining, rubber and oil palm plantation in Ogun and Akwa Ibom states within the next five years, but with prospect of expanding their investments in six other states in Nigeria.”

Speaking during the event, the leader of the Barkie Group, Mr Bakrie, said the Group chose to invest in the country because of the abundant investment opportunities as well as potential for high returns on investment.

He said: “Nigeria is an emerging market country. Based on World Bank’s report, the country is categorised as a middle income status supported by its abundant supply of natural resources, well-developed financial and legal system, communications, transport sectors and stock exchange, which is the second largest in Africa.

Jonathan to foreign firms: stop finished goods import

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has urged foreign companies to stop the importation of finished goods.

He said the government will soon fine-tune the country’s industrial policies.

A part of the policy is to persuade foreign companies which export finished products to stop and start production locally.

President Jonathan, who disclosed these yesterday during a meeting with the new Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Ryuichi Shoji in Abuja, said the new policy will be aimed at creating more jobs.

President Jonathan stressed the government’s determination to take necessary action to create new

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

employment opportunities for youths.

He told Mr Shoji that he expected foreign firms from Japan and other nations, which have a long history of very profitable economic relations with Nigeria to support his administration’s efforts by moving from the importation of finished products to local manufacturing and assembling.

The president said his administration was working very hard to provide vital infrastructure, fiscal and monetary policies as well as a regulatory regime that will make it feasible for more foreign com-

panies to begin manufacturing and assembling their products in Nigeria.

“Japan has been very supportive over the years, but we want you to do more. We consume a lot of Japanese products. We import more Japanese products than all other African countries. Japanese companies that export so much of their products to Nigeria have manufacturing and assembly plants in other countries.

“We want them to start manufacturing and assembling some of their products here too. We want to boost local production so that we can create jobs, create wealth and boost our peoples’ purchasing power,” President Jonathan told the Ambassador.

‘Why we stopped Bi-Courtney from raising passenger charge’ T

HE decision to stop BiCourtney Services Limited from increasing the Passenger Service Charge (PSC) from N1,000 to N2, 500 was not only to forestall the illegal and unilateral increment, but to protect the public from undue exploitation, Minister of Aviation, Mrs Stella Oduah-Ogiemwonyi explained yesterday.

The PSC was increased from in July, this year, but the minister of Aviation barred the firm from effecting the collection of the new rate.

The Minister disclosed this at a meeting by the Senate Committee on Aviation to look into the

By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

face-off between the Ministry and Bi-Courtney Services over the controversy caused by the PSC. She said a committee will be set up to seek an amicable resolution to the crisis in line with the recommendation of the Senator Hope Uzodinma-led Committee.

Oduah-Ogiemwonyi said that Bi-Courtney unilaterally increased the rate by as much as 150 per cent without consultation with the grantor as required by the Concession Agreement, ICAO

Regulation and the required NCAA approval.

The Minister told the Committee that in spite of the objection, Bi-Courtney still raised its PSC fees, stressing that her Ministry would not stand idly and watch terms of agreements flagrantly being violated and the economic burden transfered to air travellers.

Oduah-Ogiemwonyi said she was perplexed that the concessionaire, which claimed to have secured an approval to charge the fee in 2006, could be in such haste.

O fewer than 4,000 farmers have benefited from the N500 million loans distributed to them by the Osun State government to enhance food production in the state.

While presenting the cheques to the beneficiaries in Osogbo, the Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, re-affirmed his interest and determination to use agriculture for the socio-economic and industrial transformation of the state.

He said the interest-free loan was financed with the Bank of Agriculture.

Aregbesola decried the poor volume of loans given out by the immediate past administration in the state, saying it was grossly inadequate to address food shortage challenges. He added that the loan had gone to wrong hands.

“You will all see today that the money we are giving out is not peanuts as it used to be in the past.

What we are doing is to give out adequate loans to genuine farmers without any favour or party affiliations like it used to be in the past.

The governor charged beneficiaries to utilise the loan judiciously for agricultural enterprises as diversion to non-agricultural activities will not be tolerated.

Earlier in his address, the Managing Director, Bank of Agriculture, Dr. Mohammed Saturaki, commended Governor Aregbesola for his proactive steps to the impending food famine that may occur if drastic measures were not taken by relevant authorities.

Saturaki noted that the time for cheap food from Thailand will soon be over, admonishing farmers to rise up to the challenges ahead and enhance food production and agriculture.

Ecobank to seek Oceanic merger approval

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COBANK Nigeria Plc said yesterday it would seek shareholders’ approval on December 22 to merge its operations with rival Oceanic Bank, after Ecobank’s parent firm – Ecobank Transnational Incorporation (ETI) acquired 100 per cent of Oceanic in September.

It said shareholders in the enlarged Ecobank would get one share in ETI for every 5.16 Ecobank shares owned. Pan-African lender ETI would then own the merged entity and Ecobank would subsequently delist from the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

Oceanic, one of nine banks rescued in a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) bailout in 2009, has already been delisted.

The merger is subject to regulatory approval, Ecobank said in a notice to shareholders.

ETI’s Chief Executive Arnold Ekpe told Reuters last week that ETI would complete merging the operations of its Nigerian unit with Oceanic by the end of 2012 and that the legal merger would be completed this year.

He said the merger had seen Ecobank climb to become the fifthbiggest lender in Nigeria, from 14th a year ago.

ETI said on Thursday it had obtained a $285 million loan from South Africa’s Nedbank to support its acquisition of Oceanic. Nedbank will be able to convert the loan into 20 per cent equity in Ecobank in 24 to 36 months, it said.

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2011

ENERGY THE NATION

E-mail:- energy@thenationonlineng.net

After so much promises and lots of investments in the energy sector, the power crisis has refused to abate taking its toll on industrialists and small enterprenuers writes DANIEL ESSIET.

Outage: Crisis without end P

OWER outages have crippled civic life, trade, industry and agriculture. The crisis has reached alarming proportions with less than 6,000 MW in the national grid. With the already ailing economy, a senior lecturer, Department of Electrical Engineering,University of Lagos.

Dr Akinbulire Tolulope, said the nation is facing a serious crisis with a precarious power supply.

Because of this, there is largescale and frequent power load shedding nation wide, persisting for eight-12 hours a day on a regularly in some areas, even going up to 18 hours in other areas. The unabated spate of load shedding has made life difficult in some areas of the country. Factories are being shut down and layoffs of the workers are reported to be running in hundreds of thousands with grave implications for the already burgeoning unemployment and poverty.

Manufacturers have expressed concern over the energy crisis and load-shedding in the industrial areas, which is causing unprecedented production loss of billions of Naira.

High cost of business Industrialists are already facing high cost of doing business due to critical law and order, exorbitant interest rates with heavy banking spreads and high cost of inputs .

The energy shortage is increasing day by day.Tolulope observed that meeting national demand is uncertain at present, leading to a massive load shedding across the country.

He agreed that massive loadshedding is a major risk to the economy, but appears an option in the face of critical shortage of energy.

Tolulope said current measures taken to conserve energy had not worked in the past and would not bring any significant improvement either.

The country, the don noted, needs a quantum jump in electricity generation to revert the possi-

bilities of load shedding in future due to shrinking gap between demand and supply of electricity.

Experts’ perspectives Speaking with The Nation, the Newsletter Editor, of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) Nigeria Sector, Tunde Salihu, said there seems to be no hope in the immediate future that the situation would improve.

He, however, said the situation warranted urgent policy response at the highest level but the same was not forthcoming.

Salihu said Nigeria needs about 15000-20000MW electricity per day, and the demand is likely to rise to approximately 20,000 MW per day to make nation demand, which is more than 10,000 MW nationwide.

He said Nigeria needs more energy to fuel vehicles,electrify homes, prepare food,power factories and perform countless other functions that lift living standards in developed and developing countries alike. At present, no major power plant, thermal or hydro projects have come on stream to overcome shortages.

Power generation projects, which are due for inauguration in coming years are of low capacity and will not be able to exceed the surging demand of the electricity. On the average, the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) can produce about 4 500 MW per day and thus there is a shortfall which affect industry, commerce and daily life of people.

Addition of power generation capacity, through the upcoming new projects, he noted, can narrow the power deficit to some extent but not significantly, as demand is growing fast.

Salihu said the worst power crisis of recent times can be attributed to poor governance.

He sees no sign of respite coming given the fuel shortage and flawed policies of the government.

What he believes the nation needs is a structural resolution to the energy crisis so as to sustain economic and industrial activities, employ-

ment and social stability.

Industry operators have warned that the continuing power woes in the country are forcing industrialists to lay off workers–a fact that is an hindrance to the poverty reduction efforts. Salihu said sustainable power supply is key to developing economic and social infrastructure.

Nigeria is presently confronted with a severe energy crisis, rising fuel prices, and electricity shortages, affecting the entire country. The rising cost of imported oil and gas needed to power generators has crippled the country’s power stations. While demand for power is growing, the government said that the country should not rely upon imported fuel, but seek other alternative energy sources and improve its own generation.

Efforts to revive power sector So far, there has been efforts by the government to rehabilitate power infrastructure. The Managing Director of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), Mr Hussein Labo, penultimate Monday in Abuja, signed a contract with the Hydro China and Harbin Electricity Corporation of China for the rehabilitation of Kainji Power Station.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said it has paid out a total of N42 billion under its Power and Airline Intervention Fund (PAIF) as at June 30, 2011. The Federal Government and other tiers of government, including players in the private sector have been asked to look for alternative source of power.

Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji, said N1.5 billion released for the overhaul of unit six plant at Egbin Power Station. He said the approval was in response to an earlier request by the management of the power station when he (Nnaji) visited the power plants on assumption of office earlier in the year.

Nnaji said the government had in the interim successfully recovered abandoned plants aimed at optimal electricity generation. According to him, the resuscitation of the power plants increased na-

• From left: Chief Operating Officer, Oando Marketing Plc, Yomi Awobokun; Executive Director, Corporate Banking, Eco Bank Miss Funke Aboderin; Chief Executive Officer, RwandAir Mr John Mirenge and representative of DG, NCAA, Patrick Agbotu, at the flag-off of the inaugural flight of RwandAir in Lagos last week.

• Nnaji

tional electricity generation to 4,300MW compared with the figures that oscillated between 3,000MW and 3,200MW watts in the past. Nnaji added that the nation also had a reserve of 300 MW of electricity, which, he noted, remained the beauty of the recovered power plants.

The intervention measures, the minister said, had translated into improved electricity supply in line with the administration’s aspiration of achieving a short term target of 5,000MW by December. “When I make promises, I ensure I accomplish them. We have approved and given the money to rehabilitate unit six at Egbin Power station.

“When completed the station will generate to its full capacity, ’’ he said.

Egbin Power Plant generates about 30 per cent of the total elec-

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tricity on the national transmission and distribution networks. The government has geared up efforts for optimum utilisation of hydropower potential by initiating a number of projects.

The United States of America said it would assist Nigeria overcome the energy crisis by providing grant to boost renewable energy projects in the country.Country Manager (West Africa) for United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), Nathan Gazzetta made this commitment during his visit to National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) headquarters.Gazzetta asked NABDA to identify flagship projects, give more information on what is needed and what the development plan is, so that USTDA can harmonise them in the light of its own goals and objectives.

He promised that his agency will continue to work to support economic development in Nigeria and encourage projects that will be mutually beneficial to the two countries.

For watchers, Nigeria needs is a better power generation mix so the nation will finds itself in very precarious situation when hydro power generators are hit hard by falling rains and the power plants are operating significantly below capacity. At the moment, power is tapped illegally, some totally and others partially. Consumers pilfer power in unnecessarily lighting up, or using power thirsty household gadgets in unrestrained manner. Recent survey has shown that about 40 per cent of the population has access to epileptic supply of • Continued on page 14

Energy city on course, Lagos assures

MID speculation that the plan by Lagos State to develop the energy city may have been jettisoned, the government insists it is still on course.

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy,Aderemi Ibirogba and his counterpart from Energy and Solid Minerals Ministry,Taofiq Tijani, both said the government is still pursuing the energy city dream and would do everything possible to make it a reality.

The duo, who spoke at luncheon with reporters in Lagos, said it was to realise this dream that the government created the new Ministry of Energy so as to fast-track the processes of implementation of the plan.

They said the state government under the watch of Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) is poised to make Lagos a leading light among its peers through the energy city project.

They said that by the time the energy city is completed the state’s socio-economic status would be further enhanced.

According to them, the energy city when ready would bring increased business opportunities for the state and also attract investors and investments.

They said: “We can authoritatively tell you that the proposed energy city is still very much on track. The state is ready to deliver it in no distant time. As a matter of fact the governor understands the

By Bidemi Bakare

significance of the energy city to the socio-economic development of the state.That explains why he sets up the ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to accelerate the execution of the project.The governor feels that when the project is delivered it would create job opportunities and also increase the revenue generation of the state.

Besides, the project is expected to attract investments to the state.”

Entreating stakeholders to be patient the duo said they must understand that a project of such gargantuan proportion requires careful planning if it is to be successfully implemented.

They promised that with the establishment of the new ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources they can all be sure that the energy city project will soon come on stream.

They added that the various power initiatives and implementation programmes of the state are a clear demonstration of the state’s interest in developing the energy sector.

They hinted that the government has also been signing a power purchase agreements (PPA) with power producers all in a bid to making power accessible and available to indigenes of the state.

They assured of the state government’s resolve to assist the Federal government with the Emergency power plant Barge projects aimed at providing an additional 300-700MW.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2011

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2011

19

EDITORIAL/OPINION EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

COMMENT

Congolese crisis

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Sovereign lie

DIVIDED and failing state, after an horrific civil war, needs support in its election Even in a generation that has witnessed

•The so-called Sovereign Wealth Fund goes against the grain of an independent nation and the law

“

ALL Street Giants Seek a stitutionality. Much as the governPiece of Nigeria’s Sovereign ment would rather wish it away, it Wealth Fund”. That was remains a major vexing issue. Can the how the New York Times captured so-called exigencies which necessiWall Street’s swooning over Abuja’s tated the SWF creation override the honey pot – the $1 billion Sovereign express provisions of the constitution?

Wealth Fund – in its October 25 edi- The answer is, we cannot see any exition. The newspaper named among gency sufficient to nullify the powthose leading the Abuja scramble as ers of state parliaments as touching Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and their powers of appropriation of state JP Morgan Chase in what is now the funds. Moreover, no matter the sorat race to grab a slice of the portfolio called exigencies, we cannot be seen predicted to hit $10 billion in the com- to endorse the in-built fiscal overreach ing years – barring any sustained under which the Federal Government slump in crude prices. assumes powers over what does not Of course, the great song now is that belong to it.

Nigeria has finally joined the club of It is of course the more substantive resource-rich countries that have toed issue of national interest that we are the path of establishing a Sovereign more concerned about. We have Wealth Fund (SWF). And so goes the familiar refrain that by investing its oil earnings in the fund –the country is not only positioned to hedge off the volatility associated with oil prices, it is on course to putting in place both the mechanisms to save for the rainy day – ostensibly to make smooth the pathway to international finance capital.

The truth, however, seems to be emerging at last. We start with the undue haste by the Federal Government to establish the fund even when the issues of its constitutionality remain in contention. Despite the objections and strident opposition by the 36 state governors to the establishment of the fund in its current form, the Federal Government may have presented them with a fait accompli when it called for Expressions of Interest in its management.

• Jonathan That development has unde-

SWF deal: it is certainly not the economy or even the ordinary Nigerians. Rather, it is those in government, particularly those in whose purview the disbursement of the fund lies, including their allies – Wall Street’s club of fortune seekers described as fund managers.

The other sure winners are Europe’s and America’s banks, which, pressed for cash after over-extending themselves to their profligate governments, need the succour that the long-term sovereign instruments can offer.

This is why we are unequivocal that carting away billions of our hardearned funds to enrich foreign banks in the name of sovereign wealth investment in a nation said to be perennially starved in investible fund is bad business. Aside fitting into the penchant by our policy makers to shop abroad for the so-called Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) even when there are a lot of idle funds floating around, we are hard pressed to explain their reluctance to utilise our domestic earnings to lay the much needed foundation for the nation’s economic growth. That of course assumes that the idea behind the initiative is truly altruistic. It goes to the heart of the question: why go aborrowing when there is already a ready pool of domestic funds to draw upon? Is the reason for the nation’s underdevelopment the absence of an SWF? The more fundamental question arises as to what legacies we want to bequeath to the future. Is it a legacy of idle funds stashed in some foreign banks in an environment of broken

niably heightened fears about the scheme being an elaborate scam despite being adorned in the garb of altruism.

Is the SWF the best possible outlet to put the oil money in at this time?

There are those who would argue that given the profligate records of governments at all levels, the idea of an offshore investment – beyond the itchy hands of spendthrift officials – would seem the surest bet. But then, as the experience of the Libyan Investment Authority which reportedly lost millions of dollars of its investment does show, nothing is guaranteed as far as the investment in the fund is concerned. The only guarantee is the hefty fees paid out at great costs to the purse of the so-called sovereign investor. Again, the lesson of America’s Securities and Exchange Commission-ordered investigations into the activities of fund managers is even more instructive: the fund is easily associated with bribery of high level government officials in their struggle to corner a piece of the action.

This is where the business of the nation’s entry into the SWF goes beyond the fad being sold by government.

We start with the business of its con-

down infrastructure? Are we better off keeping our funds in foreign banks with their paltry yields – at a time the economy requires massive injection of investible funds? Where is the idea that only an investment in SWF would guarantee the nation a leap from underdevelopment coming from?

And why should the Federal Government suffer the conceit of imposing the SWF initiative on the states since only it is enamoured of the SWF business?

What is sovereign about a fund that is available to foreigners when we have many jobless youths and emaciated small and medium-scale companies looking for money to do business that will boost this economy and generate jobs?

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watched the government sell the lie about the SWF being in the nation’s interest for far too long, hence, we feel compelled to puncture the many misstatements and half-truths being peddled about it. So much for the elaborate packaging, the SWF cannot claim to be any more in the nation’s interest than our current stock of foreign reserves, dollarised in off-shore accounts, have been of real benefit to Nigerians. The pretence about the SWF doing the magic of turning the infrastructure around simply on the strength of the creation of some socalled infrastructure fund – or even some phantom interest-yielding bond, providing investible capital, is certainly sheer bunkum. We recognise those best placed to benefit from the

‘This is why we are unequivocal that carting away billions of our hard-earned funds to enrich foreign banks in the name of sovereign wealth investment in a nation said to be perennially starved in investible fund is bad business. Aside fitting into the penchant by our policy makers to shop abroad for the so-called Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) even when there are a lot of idle funds floating around, we are hard pressed to explain their reluctance to utilise our domestic earnings to lay the much needed foundation for the nation’s economic growth’

genocide in Bosnia, Rwanda and Darfur, it is possible that no country on Earth has suffered greater horrors than the Democractic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The Congolese people voted in presidential and parliamentary elections November 28, 2011. It is only the second election in the country’s history in which the whole population has a vote. There is above all a humanitarian imperative, but also a sound strategic reason, that Western nations and the UN are extending support to the country and backing the electoral process. They should do all they can to assist a transition to peaceful government.

The DRC, formerly known as Zaire, is a huge country. Its territory is roughly the size of Western Europe. It was aggressively misruled by Mobutu Sese Seko, a corrupt despot, for three decades till he was overthrown in 1997 by rebel forces supported by neighbouring countries. Laurent Kabila, a rebel leader, took power.

Over the next few years, the DRC suffered a war so catastrophic that it came to be known as Africa’s “world war”. Kabila was assassinated in 2001, and was succeeded by Joseph Kabila, his son. But divisions opened between Mr Kabila and his former allies. Destruction, rape, brutality and mass murder ravaged the country. The war involved numerous African nations, pitting Mr Kabila and his forces, supported by Angola, Nambia and Zimbabwe, against rebels supported by Rwanda and Uganda. By the end of this most horrific of wars, some of four million people had died, violently or through disease and starvation.

A peace agreement was finally reached in 2003 and a transitional government formed, in which rebel forces joined a power-sharing authority. It offered some minimal hope of stopping the terror and reconstructing the nation, but the hope was short-lived. The DRC’s election of 2006, the first democratic vote in four decades, confirmed Joseph Kabila as President.

But the election provided no respite. It sparked bloody street battles as supported of Jean-Pierre Bemba, the losing candidate, fought on. Violence interspersed with attempted coups remained the DRC’s fate. Forces including Uganda’s Lord’s Resistance Army in the north east, and Rwandan rebels in North and South Kivu, have continued to lay waste to the country, especially in its eastern region.

In a sense, the DRC’s assets are one source of its misery. Its reserves of gold, diamonds, tin and hardwood have been pillaged by warring armies.

Poverty amid material wealth is the legacy of violence and despotism. Mr Kabila may suffer the electoral consequences 28th November, 2011 But, meanwhile, Congolese voters face intimidation and danger, even supposing that ballot papers are properly distributed through the country.

Western nations have sins of omission, at least, in this appalling history. Zaire was a US ally despite Mobutu’s record of kleptocracy and human rights abuses. And after the Cold War, the West exhibited too little interest in the fate of autocracies that it had tolerated for reasons of realpolitik.

The notion that a further bout of civil war in the heart of Africa might break out at any time should exercise the conscience and the decision-making of Western policymakers. The DRC is a failing state. It needs institutions. The UN must help to construct them. The first step is to scrutinize and support the elections.

– The London Times

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

• Executive Director (Finance & Administration) Ade Odunewu • Gen. Manager (Training and Development) Soji Omotunde •Chief Internal Auditor Toke Folorunsho •Senior Manager (sales) Akeem Shoge •Advert Manager Robinson Osirike •IT Manager Bolarinwa Meekness •Press Manager Udensi Chikaodi •Manager, Corporate Marketing Hameed Odejayi • Manager (Admin) Folake Adeoye

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2011

20

EDITORIAL/OPINION

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IR: The occurrences of disasters often result in displacement of persons. Therefore, the global increases in the number and magnitudes of disasters have directly led to increasing human displacements. The Geneva based Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre estimates that between October 2010 and October 2011 about 42 million people were displaced worldwide and 27.5 million by conflict and violence.

Africa is said to be the worst hit by the number of the displaced from conflicts and violence, estimated to stand at about 11.1 million persons.

Nigeria has also had the cause to contend with the issues of internally displaced persons who were affected by disasters in different parts of the country. Indeed, the number of those affected by human induced disasters far out weight those from natural circumstances such as floods, landslides, ocean surges, fire, etc. The last 20 years witnessed serious number of persons displaced by conflicts and violence.

Displaced persons are always confronted with various challenges which include the loss of their livelihoods, frustrations, abuses, threats of assaults, etc. In displacement, some of the affected usually think of taking cover or prefer to seek assistance in neighboring countries which qualifies them as

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EDITOR’S MAIL BAG SEND TYPEWRITTEN, DOUBLE SPACED AND SIGNED CONTRIBUTIONS, LETTERS AND REJOINDERS OF NOT MORE THAN 800 WORDS TO THE EDITOR, THE NATION, 27B, FATAI ATERE ROAD, MATORI, LAGOS. E-mail: views@thenationonlineng.net

NEMA and Internally displaced persons refugees. But those that remain within the country of their citizenship are regarded as being Internally Displaced.

In 2009, African nations under the auspices of African Union took the bold steps to tackle the disturbing trend through a convention held in Kampala, Uganda and agreed on a number of issues for the protection and assistance of the IDPs. The objectives, among others were mainly to promote and strengthen regional and national measures to prevent or mitigate, prohibit and eliminate the root causes of Internal Displacement as well as provide for durable solutions. Resolutions of the Convention, like other international instruments required the members states that

signed up to ratify through their appropriate national organs and institute the implementation accordingly.

Fortunately for Nigeria, before the coming of the convention, the government had already established agencies with responsibilities on the management of displaced persons in the country. National Emergency Management Agency has the responsibilities on the management of disasters in all its ramifications including the care for displaced persons. There also existed the National Commission for Refugee that handles international trans-border displacements or precisely issues on refugees.

Over the years, NEMA has been very active in the management of

•Manzo Ezekiel, NEMA Maitama, Abuja

Whose interest is International Criminal Court serving?

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IR: The above question becomes imperative in view of the double standard of the International Criminal Court in its activities as regard Africans, the West

and the rest of the world.

In recent time, ICC has issued warrant of arrest for Sudanese President, Omar Bashir, former Ivorian President, Laurent Gbagbo, slain Libyan

Unibadan dons: majoring in minors

IR: Sir, I wish to call the attention of Education Minister, National Universities Commission (NUC) and the authorities in University of Ibadan (UI) in particular to the ugly development in Nigeria’s premier university, where the majority of academic staff have now practically abandoned their statutory duties of teaching and research for the love of administrative positions.

Before I give examples, let me elaborate on this ugly trend. It appears that many academic staff are no longer interested in lecturing and researching. It appears they are bored with teaching the students or how does one describe a situation in which many of them are now scrambling to get administrative appointments?

As a matter of fact, they have, in UI, gone to the extent of creating parallel positions to rival that of

the IDPs situations. Arising from the fact that disaster management is all about saving lives and minimizing losses, the Agency has always been at the forefront of providing assistance to the displaced persons. It is worthy of note that improper handling of human displacement can also be tantamount to disaster.

Since 1999 when NEMA was established, the Agency has been up and doing in handling and managing the issues of displaced in the country.

As apex coordination organ of the federal government on matters of disaster management in all its ramifications, NEMA establishes working relationship with the relevant stakeholders that are called

up during the time of needs.

NEMA, through its mandates and experiences has been handling matters on disasters in line with the required structures and layers.

It established inter-agency relationship and partnership across the federal, states and local governments to efficiently and effectively facilitate assistance to disaster victims. For instance, in addressing situations of the displaced persons that moved into Bauchi State, the agency partnered the state government in the resettlement of those that opted to remain there after the crises that displaced them. Same was the case of the people that were displaced by the recent post election crises, during which NEMA intervene to stabilize their conditions, assist them back to their homes but those with special needs considered to be within resources of the states were later handed over to the respective states governments.

statutory administrative positions.

They are so desperate to the extent that they struggle to get as low administrative position as Hall Warden so as to be giving accommodation to students. There is no point in stating the obvious implication of this abandonment of their duties.

One of the implications is that academic activities suffer and students suffer in silence.

Recently, positions such as SubDean (Administration) Sub Dean (Academic) were created to sideline the Deputy Registrar and Secretary, Post Graduate School. The same thing happened in Distance Learning Center where positions such as Deputy Director (Administration) and Deputy Director (Academic) were created to usurp the functions of the Deputy Registrar.

As if these are not enough, an academic has taken over the function of Director of Works in the name of

working as Director of Physical Planning. Also, an academic staff has usurped the duties of Admissions Officer, as the academic person parades himself all over the place as the Alfa and Omega of admission process in UI. I hereby call on the authorities concerned to redress this ugly trend as it is capable of eroding the quality of our education. It has been observed that some of our academic staff members have a way of displaying their indolence. The moment some of them become professors, they abandon teaching and supervising Ph.D work. Little wonder many of our professors cannot boast of appreciable number of Ph.D holders as a sign of their productivity, yet, they are clamoring to stay on till 70 years of age.

•Olamide Ojulari, University of Ibadan.

leader Muammar Gaddafi, his son Saif al Islam, and Gaddafi’s security adviser. Already, former Liberian President Charles Taylor is languishing in its jail. It is unfortunate that the crime which these African leaders were accused of are being perpetrated in some other countries like Yemen, Bahrain, Syria, Israel and Palestine but ICC is looking the other way.

A clear case of ICC’S double standard is the impending trial of Saif al Islam and the ousted Ivorian leader, Laurent Gbagbo. Although, both Saif al Islam and Gbagbo were accused of the same crime- Saif during the Libyan revolt, Gbagbo during the Ivorian uprising which culminated to his fall, it seems that the international community as represented by the US and NATO has made up its mind to eliminate al Islam and shield Gbagbo.

When Saif was arrested, the ICC ordered that he should be transported to the Hague for trial. Later Luis Moreno – Ocampo, the ICC’s chief prosecutor, while in Libya on November 21 rescinded the order of the ICC to try Saif al Islam in Hague and supported Libyan’s new regime’s decision to try him in Libya. Ocampo

based ICC’s position on the fact that when the warrant of arrest was issued, ‘Libya’s justice system was not up to it.’ Laurent Gbagbo on the other hand was ordered to be transported to the Hague to face trial. The question one would like ICC’s chief prosecutor to answer is that if the justice system of Ivory Coast which has put up a new government over a year ago is not up to it, how can a justice system in Libya which is yet to constitute a government can be up to it?

This is a clear case of double standard which shows that ICC is serving other interests than that of justice. There is an antecedent to support the fact that ICC wants al Islam to be eliminated. Former Iraq President, Saddam Hussein ought to have been tried in the Hague for crime against humanity sequel to the warrant of arrest issued by the ICC. However, upon his arrest, he was tried by the West backed regime and summarily executed. Selective justice and partiality exhibited by the body in the Gbagbo and al Islam cases forced one to doubt the impartiality of ICC and its ability to dispense justice in its true sense.

•Adewuyi Adegbite, Apake, Ogbomoso, Oyo State

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2011

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EDITORIAL/OPINION

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HEN a doctor employed to treat a tumour begins to wring his hands helplessly as if in supplication before an absent god, it should be time for the patient to seek a new direction for therapy. When a man who came into office brandishing an agenda of transformation turns around to chant meaningless phrases about revolution in a futuristic sense, we can only chant in return: ‘to thy tents...Oh Nigerians!

As we have since learnt in the course of hustings at the PDP’s rally in the Confluence State last week, all things, including political heresies are permissible. For President Goodluck Jonathan and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), there is no longer any pretending that things are about to change. Not now – or in the long predicted PDP millennium rule. Only that we never imagined that a President who has spent over 18 months in the saddle, would lapse into some outlandish prognostication about the future after treating the nation to a most extravagant indulgence in abdication ever in these shores.

Well, that is Nigeria – the country of President Jonathan for you!

Now, what does one make of President Goodluck Jonathan’s “prophecy” of an imminent revolution in Lokoja last week?

To start with, given what we know of the daily experience of living particularly the near hopelessness of the Nigerian situation, it does not require any sixth sense to predict the nation is literally sitting on a keg of gun-powder as far as the unemployment situation goes. Officially, the Bureau of Statistics puts the unemployment rate at 23.9 percent – a figure which is likely to be understated given the other reality of underemployment. Youth unemployment, on the other hand is said to near the 50 percent mark. This is perhaps why the import of having this huge army of idle hands could not have been lost on the President hence his choosing to draw upon the statistics to make his prediction of an impending revolution.

Statistics or not, what remains strange is the sense of déjà vu as if these problems were not the ones the President was elected to solve. Of course, the other way to look at the issue is to see it as the President’s style of acknowledging the depth and dimensions of the problem – a way of saying that the problems are beyond the capacity of his administration to solve. It seems that the more Nigerians attempt to discern the administration’s path, the harder it gets to make any sense of where it is headed. For many Nigerians, it is increasingly a case of heading nowhere.

‘You do not solve the grave challenge of security as we have at the moment by investing in a securityindustrial complex’ AM David-West is an academic, a professor of virology. In spite of all he is saddled with in the University of Ibadan, he still strangely evolved an uncommon formula that easily enables him devote a good measure of his time for diatribe, firework and brickbats, against the establishment. Much as David-West’s talent in managing his time may seem good, there is the fear that his marriage of serious academics with the business of professional faultfinding would leave a tendency for him to falter, particularly with the oomph he has deployed to his adventure to earn a front row in the gallery of agitators. Yet the professor has not always been this way. But much as David-West tries to mask the real him, chroniclers of Nigerian history still would not easily let go the fact that the professor was once a poster boy for the Nigerian establishment fat-cats. Clearly, David-West also is well recorded in indelible ink as a collaborator in military dictatorships.

As we all can recall, he faithfully served the iron-fisted regime of Generals Muhammadu Buhari and Tunde Idiagbon, and transited from there to serve that of General Ibrahim Babangida as Minister of Petroleum and Energy; and later of Mines, Power and Steel. His involvements in military dictatorships, only came to a screeching halt, when Babangida in his own wisdom, found him wanting on an alleged issue of infraction on best practices. While the hang-over of a sweetheart relationship, gone sour, may die hard, and indeed engender a whole lot of metamorphosis in a personality, the new David-West should not be deceived that he would always profit from the concept of Nigerians’ “collective amnesia”.

Yes, we will forgive, but surely not forget.

As an elder statesman, David –West can fearlessly air his views, and make his criticisms-constructive or destructivewith abandon. This he knows was rather a perilous undertaking for the critics of his time as a senior cabinet official in the strangulating military dictatorships he served. There is no evidence that while David-West was in government, that he gave a hoot about the humiliations that were befalling the critics of his time. No evidence also suggests that he wasn’t laughing at them in glee, or held them in derision. But here we are in a democracy that has powers to make even a leopard change its spots. Yet there can still be a self-abuse of an inalienable right in democracy. Criticisms and the right to dissent is part of liberal democracy, but nowhere in the world is it decent that a dissenting citizen should take matters personal with the president, up to the height of calling the president names publicly, and willfully subjecting him to public odium and ridicule.

When David-West said, recently that the president was not behaving like a true Ijaw man, his reason was that he was a robot, who relied only on what was input in him by other people. In a recent interview, he described the president as

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Policy Sanya Oni sanyaoni@yahoo.co.uk 08051101841

Transformation to revolution: (GEJ in 18 months)

Having said that, it needs to be acknowledged all the same that the President’s reference to an impending revolution is certainly new. New in the sense that it acknowledges what is now commonplace: that this administration has no clues on how to go about confronting the challenges facing the nation at the moment. A most telling illustration is what it has done with the Boko Haram. Today, the question that many are wont to ask is when the President will put in place measures to address the ravaging poverty in the north said to provide the nursery-bed for the Boko Haram and other low-intensity conflicts. Or is he waiting for a revolution to spur him into action?

What is transformational in an agenda that is yet to define let alone appreciate the urgency in the imperatives of the day? Or is transformation simply about spurious, unverifiable claims of achievement? What has the administration done in the energy sector, education, transportation, health, security and indeed all other sectors on which it can truly stake a claim to an imperishable legacy? The country is today adorned in the elaborate ritual of motion without locomotion; yet we are supposed to be consoled by the constants of what is proving to be irredeemable GEJ promissory notes – encashable only after the revolutionary bliss may have berthed.

It’s certainly not late in the day though for the Jonathan administration to put its act together. Sure, the Goodluck Jonathan administration cannot claim to be working when those small things that make governance look like a bazaar are unattended to. If the administration’s hierarchs are not yet lost in their self-help schemes, they should be able to spare few hands and quality time to look again at the structure of government. For a government that has made a song of cutting down on wastes, we are yet to see real action to deal with the menace that has reduced our public finance

systems to a farce.

Finally, I have noted on this page that you do not solve the grave challenge of security as we have at the moment by investing in a security-industrial complex. While it seems expedient to shell out billions in security contracts supposedly to keep the nation secured, it seems to me that the most enduring investment in security is one that keeps our million-man army of idle youths, fully engaged.

And now the rage over LASU fees The debate over LASU fees goes on. Here are some of the responses I got in reaction to my piece on LASU fees last week. I certainly do not pretend to have all the answers. My conviction is that a new paradigm which calls for greater sacrifices on the part of the beneficiaries of our public universities is needed. Not surprisingly, one or two agreed; however, majority considered my view as treasonable. Below is a representative sample.

Would you have gone to a varsity if your tuition fee was twice your dad’s income? The government has spent billions on pilgrimages to Mecca and Jerusalem. Lee Kuan Yew did not start by spending 30 percent of Singapore Budget on flowers but on human capital – Anonymous A former university registrar writes: Thank you so much for your contribution on LASU fees!

Truth is bitter yet it must be swallowed. You have put to rest very succinctly the oft-repeated political clichés of “pricing education beyond the reach of the poor” or “education at all levels is a right and not a privilege”.

You also made good suggestions on how brilliant but indigent students can benefit. It is important that we jolt ourselves back to reality. We depend far too much on “government” for solutions to every and all our problems! If we want our universities to be rated at all, they must meet minimum universal standards set by the Body of Assessors for the exercise. Have we. So, we all have to contribute and make the needed sacrifice towards excellence in the system. To me, no country owes its citizens university education. It is for the “peak” of the pack; not professional students!

Good soup, na money kill am! When Oyinlola established a world class university in Osun with a fee of N180,000 per session for medicine and significant reduction for allied courses (sic), humanities et al, blue murder, you cried. What’s really wrong with ACN psyche and its hack writers? Outrageous fees are now normal to bag degrees in LASU. Why not privatise the institution. Adeyokunnu Taiwo, Ilesha, Osun State.

If Aregbesola and Fayemi can reduce the high fees in their state universities with their low (sic) economy, why can’t Lagos charge fees within the reach of the poor who can’t send their wards to private/overseas universities. Wole Ipaja My impression is that you are too well fed that you do not bother about the less than one dollar parents of 90 percent of students in public schools. Omo J, LASU.

Tam David-West’s metamorphosis

By Tony Egbulefu

talking “like a parrot”, and added that Jonathan feels “psychologically inferior” to the Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. All these he reaffirmed later in the lecture he delivered at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) event on Thursday November 24, as reported in the media.

These personal attacks on President Jonathan may have root in the planned petrol subsidy removal of the government, which David-West says he would fight to a standstill, yet reading through most of the arguments and positions he has severally advanced against the subsidy removal, one cannot pass them as unimpeachable. Let’s observe for a start that David-West has vigorously been praising his performance as Buhari’s minister of petroleum and energy, so also does he praise Buhari who luckily didn’t encounter the monster of petroleum products subsidy, because he inherited three relatively new and functional refineries. For a more objective public appraisal, it may be needful for David-West to publish the score-card of his performance as petroleum minister; only this will equip Nigerians better to make value judgment on his claims of a star performance. Facts are sacred, David –West should publish them and allow Nigerians the prerogative of deciding whether he is deserving of all the accolades, he is heaping on himself or not.

He should also be reminded that albeit the prevailing circumstances of that time, spared Buhari the subsidy conundrum, does not automatically mean that Buhari is averse to fuel subsidy removal as an economic policy. Today, Buhari may feel no scruples in saying that fuel subsidy removal is satanic, because politics and power are at stake, but a little background check reveals that Buhari was once a principal actor in issues, that directly have everything to do with fuel subsidy removal. The most drastic reduction in fuel subsidy under the military was done by General Sani Abacha in October 1994, when he kicked up the pump price for petrol from N3.25k to N11, per litre. And for four years, 1995-1999, Buhari managed on behalf of Abacha, the billions of naira that accrued from the 1994 subsidy removal as the Chairman of Petroleum Trust Fund, (PTF). Fact therefore is that Buhari believes in fuel subsidy removal, and indeed, held both the yam and the knife in deciding who got what in dividends from the Abacha subsidy removal of 1994. Whatever DavidWest and Buhari now say today to the contrary, regarding the latter’s position on subsidy removal as a policy fly in the face of this naked fact!

David- West identifies that a refinery would become obsolete and money guzzling after 30 years of existence, such that the money required for keeping such a refinery running, can well easily afford a new one entirely. In fact, because of the antiquity of the current Nigerian refineries, he argues that it makes more economic sense to build new and up-to-date ones. Apart from the new Port Harcourt refinery, the remaining three have all hit the 30 years mark of obsolescence-the first Port Harcourt refinery is 46 (1965), Kaduna refinery, 31 (1980), Warri refinery, 33, (1978). The question David-West must answer is: who should build: government or the private sector? Surely his answer would not be government, because though not an economist, he well understands that government has no business, doing business- governments, the world over are divesting!

Even China, the best surviving socialist country has about 100 privately owned refineries. David-West would also not recommend businessmen to build because if he was one, he would not dare sink his money building a refinery in a petroleum sector where the government is regulating both quantity and price. David-West would rather build under a free enterprise, where he would only have market forces to freely deal with. It is this absence of free enterprise in the downstream sector that has also made over 20 investors, who had acquired licenses to build refineries in the country to stay off. And if we are not pained that they couldn’t build, we should for all the job opportunities lost with them.

• Egbulefu is an Abuja-based policy analyst.

‘Fact therefore is that Buhari believes in fuel subsidy removal, and indeed, held both the yam and the knife in deciding who got what in dividends from the Abacha subsidy removal of 1994. Whatever David-West and Buhari now say today to the contrary, regarding the latter’s position on subsidy removal as a policy fly in the face of this naked fact!’

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2011

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EDITORIAL/OPINION

L

ATE Afro beats legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti was probably right when in one of his songs noted the vital role culture plays in the life of a people.

The Abami Eda was of the opinion that just as it is the case elsewhere, our culture should be our teacher here. But regrettably, he said that has not been the case in Nigeria. Here, he noted, Oyinbo, meaning the white man or European is our teacher. Little wonder then that things are not working well with us.

Because of our refusal or failure to learn from our culture and tradition and fashion our lives and living after those good aspects of our culture that made our parents and grandparents to live a more fulfilling life, longer than what we are probably expecting for ourselves, our society is in deep trouble.

Fela wanted us to look back to get our bearing for a better future. He sang about the African woman and the African Lady. We all know the difference and the implication on both sides. Today the African Lady would rather dress like the European than appear in the African traditional dress. Half clothed or half naked, whichever way you look at it, the African Lady has problem crossing the road, picking up something on the floor, jumping over an open drainage, running in case of emergency etc. Most importantly, she has turned herself into a sex object causing much attraction as well as distraction, due to over exposure of her body, not just to the opposite sex but also to some demented women who have a satanic love for another woman’s body. They call themselves Lesbians.

Lest I am branded a chauvinist, there are also some mad men out there who go about seeking pleasure from their fellow male, claiming to have been created that way by God. They are the sons of the devil. They call themselves gays.

These creatures from hell have been traversing the length and breadth of Nigeria, combing the nooks and crannies of our dear country in search of male and female recruits into their devilish club. They are all over the place in our universities, polytechnics and other institutions of higher learning. I learnt they are also emerging in our secondary schools, especially where there are boarding facilities.

In Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and other major cities across the country, their footprints

Same sex madness are all over the place. They even have clubs exclusively for themselves. Go to our beaches and parks, you find them holding hands and even smooching. They hire hotel rooms for their evil acts. It is so bad. These creatures are debasing our culture; our future; our society.

They have backers and mentors in Europe and America and the other members of the so called advanced nations who even fund them.

They have become so bold in recent times that they attempted to organize a gay pride parade in Abuja, but had to take to their heels in the face of Police might.

Remember that Zimbabwe leader Robert Mugabe was treated to a ‘citizen’s arrest’ sometime ago in the United Kingdom by a British citizen on account of his government opposition to homosexuality. This is part of his sins against the western world for which his country is being punished. Even though I have my reservations about some of Mugabe’s policies, opposing homosexuality is not one of them.

In Museveni’s Uganda, a lawmaker recently caused uproar when he proposed legislation to ban and punish this evil practice. The western world led by the United States rose in unison to oppose the bill and even threatened to cut off aids to the country, thereby forcing Kampala to have a rethink. The gay loving men in Washington, London, Paris and other western capitals hinge their argument on respect for the sexual orientation of these gays and lesbians which they claim was natural and inborn.

They argue that this is a human rights issue and nobody should be discriminated against on the basis of his/her sexual orientation. They

are not bothered even when the actions of these homosexuals are destroying society. Must we in the name of human rights allow these people to push the human race into extinction? Must we allow them to continue to spread evil in our society? The world is being ravaged by so many diseases, some of them, like HIV/AIDS traced to the inhuman sexual behaviours of theses gays and lesbians. Shall we continue to behave and live as if nothing is happening?

Was it this way with our forefathers? I think the answer is no. Was this what the great religions of the world, to which the bulk of humanity subscribed, taught us? Where in the Quran, the Bible, Torah and other religious books were we enjoined as humans, to take liberty to indulge in same sex? Which society or culture approves of same sex before this current madness being promoted by the western world? I am sure you are aware of what homosexuality is doing to the Anglican Church worldwide today and the Godly intervention being made by the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion. The clergies here, both in Islam and Christianity have spoken out against the practice of homosexuality in Nigeria.

I think it is this public outcry and rejection of the growing trend of homosexuality in our society that made the senate last week to come out with a bold decision to punish any homosexual act in Nigeria. This is commendable.

For the first time I think our leaders, including the lawmakers, are being guided or allow themselves to be guided in their functions by the dictates of our culture. And you can see the response in the near overwhelming support

for the senate decision by the populace.

The lesson here is that if you do what the people want and is in line with their culture and tradition, there will be little or no opposition, they would support it. But bring an alien policy and you’ll see their anger. It is about time as Fela preached, that we allow our culture and tradition to be our teacher in everything we do as a nation, including the writing (content) of our constitution and the system of government that we run. Britain is at home with an unwritten constitution that draws its strength from British tradition, some of these traditions are in practice here but they make no meaning to us. I remember in my time in secondary school we read a literature book: Tom Brown School Days, an account of a typical school day in a British school somewhere in the UK which had no bearing to our environment, and yet we were examined on it. We still have such textbooks being prescribed and made compulsory in our schools especially the private schools, and we say our children are failing their exams. Why won’t they fail?

Back to the senate decision and I think fourteen-year jail term for any same sex marriage and ten years for anybody that aided such are good enough. Also the prison term for any operator of gay club is equally commendable.

But I think the Senate should go ahead and equally ban and prescribe stringent jail term for anybody found to be involved in this devilish practice. It is not enough to ban and punish same sex marriage but also extend the same to same sex practice. These guys will continue their satanic relationship albeit secretly, without recourse to marriage, thus negating the spirit behind the new law. Let’s act fast.

‘It is about time as Fela preached, that we allow our culture and tradition to be our teacher in everything we do as a nation, including the writing (content) of our constitution and the system of government that we run’

VIEW FROM THE FOREIGN PRESS

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S the common saying that ’people get the leadership they deserve’, true in Abia State?

Created in 1991 by the administration of former military president, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, the state is endowed with quality human capital.

An excursion to the foyers of yester years’ outstanding leaders of Abia State extraction to the development of Nigeria is to supplement the pitiable void in leadership that have been the lot of the state in the past two decades.

In the pre and post independent Nigeria, Abia sons, such as Dr. Alvan Ikoku, Dr. M.I. Okpara, Prof. Eni Njoku, Prof. Okoronkwo Ogan, Dr. Jaja Nwachukwu etc, were outstanding in their contributions to nation building. When the military commandeered the reins of governance, a military officer of Abia extraction, General J.T.U. Aguiyi-Ironsi, took charge.

Between then and now, Abia State parades commendable stock of quality human capital that has excelled in various fields of human endeavour. These include, but not limited to Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe, Dr. Nwakanma Okoro, Chief E.C. Adiele, Justice Kalu Anya, Prof. Joe Irukwu, Prof. Anya O. Anya, General Ike Nwachukwu, Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, Commodore Amadi Ikwechegh, Prof. Amagh Nduka, Prof. Oleka Udeala, Prof. Mba Okoronkwo, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu and a host of other eminent personalities.

Presently, Abia State has the uncommon record of having its illustrious sons and daughter occupying the positions of Chief of Army of Staff, Lt. General Ihejirika, and two serving Deputy Inspector General of Police, Roseline Okoronkwo and Azubuko Udah. An Abia son is Director of Operations at the State Security Services; an Abia daughter is holding forte creditably as the DG of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

In the private sector, Abia State indigenes are setting the pace for cutting edge corporate leadership; Dr. Alex Otti, Emeka Onwuka, U.K. Eke etc are following admirably in the footstep of the venerated Dr. Paul Ogwuma. Dr. Emmanuel Ukpabi has defied the global financial squeeze to build the Nigerian Flour Mills Plc into a corporate octopus. Similarly, Sir Ndukwe Ajala, the CEO of Soulmate Group, remains a case study in successful grooming of small businesses, etc.

What then is the explanation for the unbroken record of bad leadership in Abia State for

Abia: where are the elites?

By Soni Ajala the past two decades? Why has Abia State become the butt of mockery owing to avalanche of unpleasant news that ooze out of the state?

Does it lie in our stars or is there something ominous in the way politics is played in Abia State?

Since the emergence of democratic governance in 1999, it is sad that the state has retrogressed abysmally under successive governments. The state often features in national news for the very wrong reasons: Be it, the suffocating grip of ‘mamacracy, Okija voodooism, horrendous gang rape of a university student within the precinct of the ivory power; security detail of a governor gunning down his comrade in arms over sharing of spoils; total collapse of basic infrastructure statewide, eclipse of public order, kidnapping; discouraging environment for commerce/investment, misuse of public funds, and most recently disengaging fellow Igbos in the work force of the state.

These and more are cocktails of depressing news from our dear God’s Own State. The truth is that Abia State is not working.

The challenge borders on governance. Unfortunately, the present crop of hurriedly assembled bureaucrats and political appointees see governance from the prism of parroting slogans through the media. Governance to these men of the moment is all about praisesinging to sedate the state chief executive.

From 2003 till date, Abuja has received in droves past masters in mis-governance from Abia state who relocated there. At a recent social gathering somewhere in lmo State, someone described the political leadership of Abia State as ‘government of jesters, by jesters and for complacent citizens. The irony is that these bands of praise-singers will certainly desert Governor Ahamefule Orji one day, whenever his time is up.

Didn’t they desert the master strategist-his predecessor, despite the prolonged dance of blues on the symphony of Okija hypnotism?

Didn’t the jesters desert ‘Mama Excellency-the Odiuko of the universe? It does not matter how long the political caricature may endure, it must come to an end so far as the divine essence exercises supreme control over mortals.

Undoubtedly, the plight of Abia State is complex, but it is surmountable, if confronted with pragmatic zeal, driven by genuine remorse for catalogue of missed opportunities. The rot in God’s own State is essentially the deflection of sense of purpose, sense of history and arrested temperament of competitive advancement in a plural society like ours.

Unlike in the past, when Aba was in roaring competition with such great commercial cities like Lagos, Kano and Onitsha, it is today a shadow of itself.

Incidentally, our neighbouring states, realising the cogency of competitive advancement, are leaving no stone unturned to elevate their respective states to focal points. For the past 15 years, no corporate body has deemed it fit to host its AGM in any part of Abia State.

No MDAs of the Federal Government has scheduled any workshop, retreat, etc, in any part of Abia State for a very long time. Not even the ubiquitous Nollywood has considered the state for any road show of any kind.

No national sports fiesta has ever taken place in Abia State too.

Where will the insensitive political leaders of today take their children as their ancestral homes when they return from the Ivy League schools in Europe and the America?

A comic side of the tragedy always plays out most weekends at the Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri. You’d readily pick out the Abia “big men” upon arrival at the airport as they are wont to firming up their hotel accommodation in hotels in Owerri. In other words, their sprawling mansions scattered all over Abia State are unsafe for them and their guests to pass the night. Even those of them privileged to have retinue of armed police aides seldom pass the night at their homestead. Thus, marriage ceremonies, burial rites, house warming, chieftaincy conferment, political rallies etc are conducted in haste to make room for the champions of Abia mis-governance to scurry back to the safety rooms of the hotels in Owerri, Imo State.

The lead character in this introspection is our state governor, T. Ahamefule Orji. Napoleon Bonaparte, once said, ‘for a man to conquer the world, he must first conquer himself’. From the cosmology of Ndigbo, the name

‘Ahamefule’ speaks volumes of a life of legacy that has nothing to do with filthy lucre and gregarious titles. Worthy legacies in the heart of the people will re-echo the profound meaning of the name-Ahamefule in time to come over and above the perfidy of the few pretenders and charlatans cat walking the corridors of government house at Umuahia.

Now is the time to speak up and if need be lead a crusade for improved governance to Abians. This is the duty incumbent upon our representatives at the National Assembly and the state House of Assembly and indeed other public office holders.

I urge our elders, to stoke the fire of self reawakening in order to exhume our common destiny out of the rubbles of collapsed governance of the moment. Let us help Governor Orji, a distinguished alumnus of the University of Ibadan, to turn the tide of drought of pleasant news from Abia State.

In order to chart a path of self re-discovery for Abia, I challenge our elders to come together and convoke a town hall meeting similar to the threshold intervention of the historical G-34 of eminent Nigerians in 1998 that confronted the maximum ruler, General Sani Abacha.

This is the time to dump docility and rainstorm of complacency for rainstorm of positive ideas so that Abians can reasonably look forward to a harvest of cheering news going forward. We can! Yes we can!!

•Ajala Ph.D, is a legal consultant based in Abuja.

‘What then is the explanation for the unbroken record of bad leadership in Abia State for the past two decades? Why has Abia State become the butt of mockery owing to avalanche of unpleasant news that ooze out of the state? Does it lie in our stars or is there something ominous in the way politics is played in Abia State?’

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2011

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2011

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NATION SPORT

NATION SPORT

Aneke Eguavoen explains rues goal resignation drought A

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IGERIA Premier League highest goal scorer, Jude Aneke has described as disappointing his outing with the National U-23 team at the on-going Africa U-23 championship.

The Kaduna United goal-poacher, who is Belgium-bound upon return to Nigeria, stated that “it’s most unfortunate that he could not score in the competition”.

He said: “I feel very bad as a striker, it’s most unfortunate. But they have to know that national team is different from league side; I just wanted to prove myself as a striker but its unfortunate I couldn’t score goals, I feel very bad for myself and I feel sad for Nigeria that I did not score.”

Aneke ended the 2010/2011 Nigeria Premier League season as the highest goal scorer, posting 20 goals to set a new goal scoring record for the NPL. Officials of the Olympic Eagles had depended on him to bang in goals in the absence of Ekigho Ehiosun and Odion Ighalo, whom their clubs refused to release for the tournament.

Aneke is expected to proceed to Belgium this week to finalise on a move to top division side, Gent.

UGUSTINE Eguavoen has moved to explain his shock decision to resign as coach of Nigeria’s Under-23 football team, the Dream Team V. The Nigeria Under 23 trainer quit his post following an underwhelming showing at the CAF Olympic qualifying tournament in Morocco.

The Nigeria Under 23 squad failed to make it the semi finals of the competition and failed to qualify for the men’s football event as a result.

“Football has given me everything today. I want to thank all Nigerians and the Federation for all the support that they have given me but I had a target and since I did not meet it, I have to step down (as coach of the Dream Team V)” Eguavoen told SuperSport.

The former Super Eagles defender, also took out time to explain the reasons behind the capitulation of his wards in Morocco.

“Most of them found the stage too big. Apart from a few of them, like Obiora (Nwankwo), Raheem Lawal and Mackson Ojobo, who had been playing at a high level for Enyimba in the CAF Champions League. I

Nigeria urged to utilise swimming facility From Florence Nkem Israel, Port Harcourt HE President of the Confederation Africaine de Natation (CANA), Mr. Mustapha Larfaoui has urged the Nigerian Swimming Federation to take advantage of the swimming facilities at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Sports Complex by catching swimmers young.

Speaking with NationSport at the closing ceremony of the 9th Junior Africa Swimming Championship concluded in Port Harcourt on Sunday, the CANA President said: "That was the best question", referring to a question from Jim Opiki of The Verite on what would be done with the world-class facilities at the complex: "I have asked them the same question myself,” he continued.

"Two fifty meters pool side by side and two diving pools side by side, this is one of the best swimming facilities you can get anywhere in the world", said the Algerian.

"Many countries don't have it, since you do, utilise it! Catch them young and let them win laurels young. What you have here is not a waste. It is a huge investment and it is the best to keep youths from the streets and vices.

"That is why I have asked the same question, but you know I’m not a Nigerian but I will advise them that this is the best opportunity to produce world-class swimmers", he said.

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• Eguavoen

ESU TO COACHES

Learn from Eguavoen's fall

F • Aneke

understand the feelings of Nigerians and I apologise,” Eguavoen said.

The Nigeria Under-23 team finished in third place at the CAF Olympic qualifiers behind Senegal and Morocco in Group A.

ORMER coach of Crown, Godfrey Esu has charged other national team coaches to learn from the fall of Dream Team V coach, Austin Eguavoen.

Eguavoen's wards failed to pick a London 2012 Olympic Games ticket at the maiden CAF Under-23 Championship in Morocco. The former Super Eagles coach, who won a game against Algeria but fell to hosts, Morocco and Senegal has tendered his resignation letter to his employers, NFF. Esu told SuperSport.com that Eguavoen failed in his assignment due to heavy reliance on foreignbased players and advised others to build their team around the homebased.

"Sole dependence on foreign-based players ruined him and it is a big lesson to others. It's a lesson to the new Super Eagles manager, Stephen Keshi to have a stand-by team built around the local players. With a solid local team in place, a coach can always add flesh to his team with a few foreign-based players. Even when they didn't show up for one reason or another it will not weaken the entire team."

Esu, however, commended the former Nigerian international for resigning his appointment as coach of Dream Team V.

Keshi 'desperate' for new Jay Jay

He said: "It's a honourable thing to do, it showed that there are Nigerian coaches who are still honourable.

"It's better than wait to be disgraced. Let him look for another job mostly in the domestic league."

UPER Eagles coach Stephen Keshi is combing the world for a creative midfielder in the mould of the legendary Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha.

MTNFootball.com has gathered that top priority for the new Nigeria coach is to restore creativity in the team’s midfield after Zambia exposed how ordinary that department is in the recent friendly in Kaduna.

The Chipolopolo outclassed Nigeria in the middle of the park even though they eventually fell 2-0 to the superior fire power of the Eagles.

Keshi has therefore contacted scouts, agents and even clubs across the globe to recommend top-class central midfielders or playmakers for his team ahead of a 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Rwanda soon.

“Keshi is desperate for a creative midfielder like the great ‘Jay Jay’.

He has therefore been asking around for such a player to be part of his team,” a top source told MTNFootball.com The Eagles midfield has been bereaved of creativity since Okocha quit international football and John Mikel Obi failed to fit into the great man’s big boots.

Already several prospects have been tabled before ‘Big Boss’ Keshi.

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one of his focus will be on getting a new ‘Jay Jay’.

Heartland playmaker Bartholomew ‘Mosquito’ Ibenegbu and Isiaka Olawale from Kwara United could well be two such players he would run the rule on.

After the 2013 Nations Cup qualifiers against Rwanda, Nigeria will kick-start their 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign at home on June 1 against Namibia.

Malawi and Kenya are the other teams in their qualifying section.

•As Taiwo gets Milan chance

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By Bimbo Adesina If Chelsea and Valencia play out a scoreless draw, Andre Villas-Boas' men will advance having scored in the 1-1 result in Spain. The Blues' best chance of progressing is courtesy of a win, something they will be aiming for at the home venue they have struggled at recently.

In their last four outings at home, Chelsea have suffered three losses, including their Carling Cup exit to Liverpool last week.

For AC Milan, their match against FC Viktoria Plzen will just be a formality having qualified, with Taye Taiwo getting another chance in the Rossoneri line-up as several key players will be missing.

rests. With their uncanny ability to dribble and actually dance with the ball the Brazilian National team just does not entertain but they actually win as well. World Champions in 2006,2007,2008,2009 and 2010 they will captivate the Nigerian fans themselves eager to put the disaster that has been 2011 behind them.

Speaking to locals at both the Bar and Lekki beaches in Lagos, SuperSports was repeatedly reminded by the fans here in West Africa’s largest city, that they will reward only spectacular play with their loyalty and backing regardless if it is even at their own country's expense. Just as with their Men’s Football team the side from Copa Cabana is loaded with stars but one can expect the bulk of the damage to be done by the "three bees" namely Benjamin , Buru and Bruno.

The “Beach Bafana Bafana" also have a rich tradition. For instance South

Africa has been the hosting nation of all CAF FIFA Beach Soccer Qualifiers until 2011. In addition to this they were the first African team to participate in a Beach Soccer Worldwide official international tournament Championship in 1999 in Rio de Janeiro. Their key player will be forward Deutchman on whom they are banking to make life miserable for the other three teams.

Meanwhile relative new comer England will take to the sand under the keen gaze of new Coach Terry Bowes. The Three Lions team clearly is an improvement to everything they have done before and is a reflection of how the game has taken off in the UK where just under 50,000 players play weekly. Their key player will be defender Terry Bowles who will hopefully not just take the brunt of the opponent’s attack, but help build the Lions’ counter from the back.

From Andrew Abah, Abuja

the results are not there to show for it,” said the NFF boss.

The Bauchi State-born football administrator told NationSport that the board will meet next week to review the outing of the current Under-23 national team led by the now resigned Austin Equavoen, including the contracts entered into by the technical crew and take a decision. He said the contract would guide the board in taking a stand.

“Honestly I am disappointed”, Maigari lamented.

Maigari also stated that the current national Under–17 coaching crew would be closely supervised by the board and the concentration would be on the grassroots.

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Mikel in must-win tonight T will be a must-win match for Nigeria's Mikel Obi as Chelsea tackle Valencia in a bid to advance to the knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League tonight at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea have endured an indifferent campaign, sitting fourth in the league after a 3-0 win over Newcastle United on Saturday.

With Chelsea level on points with La Liga's Valencia, the clash at Stamford Bridge will decide who advances to the last 16 from Group E. Group leaders, Bayer Leverkusen have already sealed their spot in the knockout stages and will be hot favourites to overcome Genk in Belgium.

T

HE Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) president, Aminu Maigari says that the current spate of poor outings recorded by the country’s national teams call for concern. He told NationSport exclusively that he was under serious pressure as he receives more than 100 calls per day on why the teams are not getting results.

He attributed the failure of the Dream Team V to the lack of discipline in the camp.

“The players are not disciplined, no commitment; the same with the coaching crew.

My board approved whatever they requested for, even what they didn’t ask for we went the extra mile to provide it for them to avoid excuses, but still

‘Osaze needs match experience, confidence’

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Copa Lagos: football, sand and barefeet OME December the 16th we know that four things will certainly happen. One - the equatorial sun will roast Lagos from above. Two-the breeze off the Atlantic will be refreshing and have a balm-like quality. Three - the sand on the beach would have been raked to a powdered smoothness. Finally four – the beach soccer teams from host Nigeria, the RSA, England and Brazil will be locked in arguably one of the more attractive competitions to grace the city since the 2000 AFCON. "Reis da Praia" aka Kings of the beach arrive as arguably the favourites and who could quarrel with the pundits call here? After all it was on the beaches of Brazil that the sport of beach football first played part time, took a life of its own and has now become a game relished as far as the Russian arctic where the current World Cup now

They include Christian Obodo, who seems to have rediscovered himself at Italian club Lecce; USAbased Emmanuel Ekpo and Rabiu Ibrahim, who has been battling for more playing time at top Dutch club PSV Eindhoven.

Both Obodo and Ekpo have already been capped at full international level, while Ibrahim has yet to be so honoured.

Keshi is set to open a training camp for players from the Nigeria Premier League this month and

Slide in football, Maigari under pressure temporary—Hamilton FOOTBALL DECLINE

• Odemwingie

OLLOWING Osaze Odemwingie’s return to action after weeks on the sideline due to knee injury, West Brom boss Roy Hodgson says what the Nigerian striker needs is match experience and confidence.

Odemwingie's pace was crucial to Shane Long scoring the equalizer at Loftus Road against Queen Park Rangers (QPR) on Saturday and Hodgson is delighted that the Nigeria striker is fit for action after missing the Arsenal and Bolton games through injury.

"What Peter now needs is match experience and confidence because on Saturday it was excellent play that led to our goal.

Peter had trained for the previous ten days before the QPR match," said Hodgson.

"He needed to do that because when players have missed a lot of football, or haven't played regularly, they can lose their rhythm," the coach added.

F

ORMER Nigeria coach, Paul Hamilton has described the current slide being experienced by the nation's football as temporary set back.

Hamilton's view comes on the heels of the Dream Team V's failure to pick an Olympics Games ticket at the maiden CAF Under23 Championship in Morocco.

The nation's pallbearers pulled a surprise 4-1 win over Algeria in Group A on the last match day in Marrakech but still crashed out, as Senegal stunned hosts, Morocco 1-0.

Morocco and Senegal who share top spot of Group A with six points each qualify for the last four, while Nigeria and Algeria ended their Olympics ticket race with three points each.

The former Nigeria international told SuperSport.com that the nation should take a cue from other countries who have gone through the tough time being experienced now.

"It's quite unfortunate and sad that we failed again to qualify for the London 2012 Olympics men football event.

"We have to start off again. Such things have happened to other countries and they later came back stronger. I see our situation as a passing phase.

"There was a time we were labelled Papa Eagles during the late coach Chris Udemezue's tenure. Someone else took over and we moved from

Papa Eagles to Super Eagles. What we are experiencing is part of history, it will get to a point where we will start to laugh again once we are able to learn and put a solid structure in place," he said.

The one-time attacker said coach Austin Eguavoen should brace up for the consequence of his failure to deliver the Olympics ticket.

"Coaches are hired and fired based on performance, it is a very simple thing. If they retain him, fine; if not, let him look for work elsewhere possibly at the club level," he said.

• Hamilton

Havelange quits IOC

F

ORMER FIFA President Joao Havelange has resigned from the International Olympic Committee, days before the outcome of an ethics inquiry.

Havelange, 95, had been a member of the IOC since 1963. He quit what had become a symbolic role on Sunday, four days before the outcome of an enquiry into his conduct.

Havelange served as president of world football's governing body FIFA between 1974 and 1998.

He was under investigation for allegedly accepting payments from FIFA's now-defunct marketing arm, International Sport and Leisure.

ISL went bankrupt in 2001, with reported debts of US$300 million.

Lamine Diack, the president of the International Association of Athletics Federations, and African Football

Confederation (CAF) President Issa Hayatou are also under investigation for allegedly receiving corrupt ISL payments.

FIFA have reached out-of-court settlements in civic cases to avoid publication of documents detailing the alleged bribery.

But the IOC opted to investigate matters implicating its members. By resigning from the organisation, Havelange is no longer subject to IOC rules and can avoid formal punishment.

Havelange represented Brazil in swimming at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, and again in water polo at the 1952 Helsinki Games. He was succeeded as FIFA president by incumbent Sepp Blatter in 1998.

Havelange was believed to be instrumental in bringing the 2014 World Cup to Brazil and the 2016 Olympic Games being awarded to Rio de Janeiro.

Itanyi regrets Mobil sports absence

“T

HIS is a programme after my heart. It is a programme like this that we need at this crucial time of our sports development and I am not happy that I will not be part of it,” says Patience Itanyi, a U.S.-based award winning coach and ex Nigeria international Patience called yesterday from her base to ask after the competition and the plans that are being made to track and develop the potential stars so discovered. “ First and foremost, Akwa Ibom State is my state. I attended a Secondary School in Afaha, Eket, and during my time there was no competition like this. If there was we could have excelled. We had to struggle on our own to make names, that is why I count the present generation lucky that we have such organisations like Mobil who are ready to help set the students on the correct path,” she said.

Patience wants to be connected to the chief athletics coach of Akwa Ibom State, because she

wants to know the plans that they have for the kids.

When told that the Athletics Federation Of Nigeria is also involved. The Olympian, who manages most of Nigerian stars abroad, said that was good news and was interested in knowing the status of the championship graduates these ten years past “ I wish I was in Eket. But do something for me. Let me have the results of all the events. With AFN on ground, the timing will be authentic, so get it to me as soon as possible. I am also interested in the correct ages of the students as this will help us to plan for the future.

“One of our problems in the past has been that of age falsification, so, it is important that we work with kids who are in the correct age bracket and the younger, the better,” she said.

Patience has vowed to be present in next year’s competition. “All it takes is planning. Here, organisers are

excited about programmes like these. Who knows, I may even get a sponsor,” she hoped.

Meanwhile, Eket Stadium, venue of the finals is wearing a new look. A beehive of activities rule the stadium as contractors have moved into site to get the stadium ready for December 10.

While the painting work had been completed by Tuesday, the grass cutting and general cleanliness of the stadium is in progress.

IAAAF certified instructor Solomon Abari arrived in Eket yesterday to supervise the track marking and calibration and is to be joined today by Professor Lucas Ogunjimi. On the home front Mrs Utit Ofon Nkantah, nee Ukoh, a veteran sprinter who is chairperson of the state wing of the National Atthletics officiating body ( NAATTO), told the media in Uyo that her body has just ended a one-day refresher course to update members on the rules and regulations of the sport.

25

PROPERTY

Tuesday, December 6, 2011 Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.com

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

email:- property@thenationonlineng.net

Abuja: A capital city loses form

•The Abuja Gate

Abuja was conceptualised as an integrated and sustainable city. Its master plan arranged the central areas such that the various zones are integrated sequentially to create a harmonious relationship . The land occupied by the zones flows into one another. This is achieved by the use of grid iron street pattern. But all that may be history as the city daily defies orderliness and decorum, no thanks to planlessness. OKWY IROEGBU reports.

T

HE Abuja master plan is well thought out. It shows that in scope and development, it is intended to regulate land use, transportation system, infrastructure, housing and other services in a manner that recognises their inter-relationship and spatial requirements, which are paramount in any physical planning.

But the failure of the government to provide basic infrastructure and make allowance for expansion, implement development plans con-

scientiously, and enforce development controls have resulted in environmental degradation.

Chairman, Faculty, Land Administration and Information Systems of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors & Valuers (NIESV), Victor Alonge, who spoke on Urbanisation and the challenges of master plan implementation: The Abuja City experience, at a summit organised by the NIESV in Abuja, articulated the challenges of the city.

Quoting a recent study on land allocation and development rights, he

said the planning regime imposes huge costs on developers in terms of payments and delays, as well as constraints in land supply.

The study revealed that it takes several steps and over one year for a prospective developer to secure development rights (development permit).

Alonge said the choice of Abuja as the Federal Capital was celebrated as the ultimate solution to the heightened intolerable conditions of living and working in Lagos, adding that it was conceptualised as an in-

tegrated and sustainable city. He added that it was designed to provide a framework and long term guidance for the orderly development of the Federal Capital City (FCC) and the satellite towns in four phases, with a clearly defined target population of three million inhabitants.

The physical development in Phase One, he indicated, is completed, noting that the 230,000 inhabitants projected for in Phase One, was distributed among five districts-Central Area, Garki (I &II), Wuse (I and II),

Asokoro and Maitama. Phase II is virtually completed.

He said adherence to the Master Plan was to lead to the “creation of a modern city with a clean and healthy environment whose residents would be free from pollution, traffic jam, congestion, filth, dirt induced diseases, delinquency and other things that make life miserable, unhealthy and hazardous for people”.

Alonge said the decision to integrate Garki Village into the de•CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

•Row over Lekki-Epe road deepens

- PAGE 26

•Why we are building mini- •Surveyors tackle quacks water works, by Fashola - PAGE 39

- PAGE 40

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2011

26

PROPERTY/ENVIRONMENT

Row over Lekki-Epe road deepens •Residents vow to resist toll collection from Dec. 17 HE dispute over the collection of toll on the Lekki-Epe Expressway seems far from being over.

Residents are adamant that they won’t pay toll despite the approval given to the concessionaire to begin collecting the charge on December 17.

Their spokesman, Adewale Sanni, said they would resist the planned toll because “the government is not sincere with the people.”

Sanni, a member of Etiosa Heritage Group, which is spearheading the anti-toll payment campaign, wondered why the government should be more concerned about the purported N4 billion debt allegedly incurred by the concessionaire than about the people.

The government said it has settled the issues that led to its cancellation with Lekki Concession Company (LCC), which constructed the 49-kilometre road.

At a joint press conference LCC Managing Director, Mr Opuiyo Oforiokuma, explained that the rates announced before the toll collection a suspended last year, remained unchanged. Toll , he said, would be collected at the first toll plaza called Admiralty Circle Plaza.

He said the toll was suspended, among other things, to enable parties to put the needed infrastructure in place in accordance with international practice.

He identified the infrastructure as as the slip roads and drainages.

He said they have not only upgraded alternative routes in the area,

T

By Okwy Iroegbu, Asst Editor

but created and built new ones to enable those who do not want to use the toll road to have alternative access routes.

He said: “The road is not all about toll, but value, safety, lower emission, cheaper car maintenance cost, reduction in travel time by users as the toll gate at Admiralty Circle plaza is billed to take up to two million vehicles monthly. Currently, people are enjoying the best of two worlds by paying for one and enjoying two roads.

The cost of the road is a fair cost of the asset as there are no liabilities attached with it.”

Oforiokuma, who briefed the press with the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Lateef Ibirogba and the Special Adviser/Director-General, Office of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), Mr Ayo Gbeleyi, had earlier, taken reporters round the alternative route provided for those who might want to by-pass the Admiralty Circle Plaza.

Such motorists, according Gbeleyi, are expected to veer off the expressway before the plaza into Yesufu Abiodun Oniru Road, down to City of David Church and market road back unto the expressway.

On the toll to be charged, Mr Oforiokuma explained that vehicles plying the road had been graded into six categories. He said the normal toll for Class M (motorcycles) would be N50, while saloon cars and tricycles will pay N120; Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs), minibuses and pick-up trucks, N150; commercial mini-buses,

•The Lekki-Epe Toll Gate

N80.

Others are light trucks and two-axle buses, which will pay N250, while heavy trucks and buses with two or more heavy axles will be charged N350.

‘We have met everything that the residents complained about and I can assure you that nobody will be shortchanged in the transaction. People should not misconstrue government’s good intentions to politics’

PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS

He advised motorists who ply the road regularly to go for the electronic mode of payment, called e-tag and swiftpass, to save time and money.

He revealed that frequent users and those who will hook on to the electronic payment device may gain about 47 per cent discount.

The Information Commissioner refuted the insinuation that Fashola suspended the collection of tolls on the road to not jeopardise his chances at the last governorship election. He insisted that the suspension was made to ensure that a motorable alternative road was provided.

He said: “We have met everything that the residents complained about and I can assure you that nobody will be shortchanged in the transaction.

People should not misconstrue gov-

ernment’s good intentions to politics.” He insisted that there is no way people can avoid paying toll on the road as it is purely private sector driven.

He recalled that the residents people had shifted grounds from their initial stand by insisting that they could only accommodate two toll gates, which they tied to infrastructure provisions.

He regretted that their agreement with the government was disregarded as it failed to re-build the dilapidated Olomo Primary School in Ajah, General hospitals and other needed infrastructure.

The lawyer also berated the government for not consulting with the people before it okayed the toll collection.

land resource, and in view of the expiration of their tenure as well as the provision of the required neighbourhood centres, it was deemed necessary to demolish these structures to enhance the quality of the city’s urban environment.”

On other distortions, he noted the encroachment on Rights of Way of existing roads, walkways and undeveloped road corridors that have constituted sore sights along entry points into the city and major arterials, and as hide-outs for miscreants, especially within undeveloped road corridors.

To arrest the slide of Abuja into a slum, Alonge recommended the completion of the review process of the Abuja Master Plan and FCT Regional Development plans, as well as facilitate the provision of infrastructure and services through the Public-Private Partnership (PPP).

He outlined others to include hastening the resettlement of indigenes to curb menace of illegal sale/speculation of land by their traditional rulers, training and retraining of officers to be prepared for challenges of modern and advanced technologies and the establishment of a data base and library for the department to ensure easy access to reference materials and records.

He said: “Cities cannot function effectively without development control as it gives the city its strength and power to actualise proposals.

The control measures applied in any city’s development can yield expected dividends, if it is operated by visionary leadership, qualified manpower, adequate funding, efficient equipment, backed up by strong political will.”

Abuja: A capital city loses form •Continued from Page 25

velopment of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has become a major constraint to the orderly development of the city as it has affected the entire network of the master plan.

He said the initial implementation strategy for the Master Plan envisaged that the workers would be housed in the “Accelerated District” within the Phase 1 Area of the city.

This “Accelerated District” was intended for development for low-income workers to prevent the emergence of shanty towns in the periphery of the capital city.

It was also meant to serve as a model for testing out the detailed plan concepts. Noting the distortions, he observed that the FCT, despite the distortions, still has potential, which, if properly harnessed, could result in a city that is both livable and sustainable.

To check the slide, he suggested the rationalisation of the city’s framework and the need to review the operations of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and the Ministry of Federal Capital Territory (MFCT) to eliminate overlapping jurisdictions and powers.

He canvassed for continuous capacity building of agencies, adoption of the global campaign for urban governance principles, transparency and accountability, better communication, periodic review of the Master Plan and the involvement of professionals, including estate surveyors and valuers in the management of the plan He pointed out that Abuja, as envisaged, can only be realised and

•Eleh, Alonge and Adediji at the event.

sustained when it translates to a city that meets the needs of every city dweller, and maintains the vitality and viability of the natural environment, insisting that the city is clearly growing faster than the provisions of its master plan.

The Director, Development Control Department, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, Yahaya Yusuf, admitted that the pressure to procure accommodation to meet the needs of the ever-growing population of the city and the satellite settlements, led to spontaneous developments without approvals.

These actions, he lamented, negate the principles upon which the idea of a new federal capital of equal citizenship, a beautiful and functional city, environmental conservation, effective regional development

and rapid economic growth were based.

The irregular developments include, corner shops and structures in green areas and flood plains.

He said the corner shop concept was introduced as a temporary measure to provide small scale commercial facilities for residential neighbourhoods, pending the development of integrated neighbourhood shopping centres.

He said: “Most of the allottees under the scheme, unfortunately, put up mansions for all sorts of activities, including residences, hotels, places of worship and school, among other structures. Most of the network of green areas, recreational parks and flood plains, were invaded by structures and unwholesome activities.

“To recover this important urban

Type Of Distortion Encroachment into Green Areas

Encroachment on Sewer lines Encroachment on Water pipelines Encroachment into highway corridors Development of residences on plots allocated for educational institutions

Number Of Plots 84 plots subdivided and allocated as residential 30 neighbourhood parks converted to cornershops 70plots 166plots 216plots 22plots

Source: Ministry of Federal Capital Territory (2003) Report of Ministerial Committee on Illegal structures in the FCT

27

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2011

E-mail:- law@thenationonlineng.net

•Participants at the workshop

Despite its being a signatory to the Protocol on the establishment of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Nigeria has not been able to access the court. Reason: it has not made the formal declaration to that effect. The declaration is a condition precedent that must be fulfilled for Nigeria, its citizens and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) with observer status to access the court. Last week, the President, Justices and the secretariat of the court were in Nigeria on a sensitisation drive. The Federal Government promised to deposit the declaratory instrument next year . JOHN AUSTIN UNACHUKWU reports.

Long road to African Rights Court T

HEY came on a mission - to get Nigeria to make the declaration to access the African Court on Human and

Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR). Nigeria is a signatory to the protocol establishing the court, but without that declaration neither the country nor its nationals or Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) can approach the court on any matter. This will soon be a thing of the past, following the Federal Government‘s pledge to file the declaratory instrument next year. The government made the pledge following meetings with the president of the court, Justice Gerrard Niyungeko. Human Rights and civil society organisations attended the meeting in Abuja.

There was a presentation by the Court, moderated by its Vice-President, Justice Sophia A. B Akufo. This was followed by an interactive session during which the secretariat answered participants’ questions.

The Court was established by Article 1 of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human

•Nigeria set to file access papers and Peoples’ Rights to complement the protective mandate of the African Commission of Human and Peoples’ Rights to enhance the protection of human rights.

The court, it is expected, will fill the deficiency gap in the operations of the Commission and enhance the protection of human rights.

For the court to achieve its aims, it must involve the different human rights actors, in particular, individuals, NGOs and state parties to the African Charter and the Protocol. These actors must understand not only the existence of the Court, but also its importance; how they can utilise it to seek remedy for human rights disputes and such other information as may be useful.

After the adoption of the Protocol in June 1998, only 26 of the 54 member-states of the African Union (AU) ratified it. But only five of them have made the declaration under

Article 34(6) allowing individuals and NGOs direct access to the Court. To date, the court has received only 11 cases.

It is not certain why all the 54 AU members have not ratified the Protocol and made the declaration. It was learnt that it may be due to lack of interest or lack of institutional capacity at domestic level or lack of information. In some instances, a State may require just a little encouragement and/or information to enable it initiate and/or finalise the ratification or declaration process.

The success of the court is predicated on its accessibility by thoses whose rights have infringed upon by their home-governments.

It is in the realisation of this fact that the court embarked on its mission to Nigeria.

The mission was to enhance the effectiveness of the court and the protection of human rights, and encourage Nigeria to make

the declaration under Article 34(6) of the protocol allowing individuals and NGOs direct access to the court.

The mission also sought to: •Raise public awareness about the Court; •Sensitising would-be applicants on how to access the court and the procedures before the court; •Encourage the public to utilise the court in settling human rights disputes; and •Encourage the utilisation of the court to render advisory opinions.

•In a chat with The Nation, Prof Peter Akper (SAN) who represented Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) said: “The thrust of the matter is that we are a state party to the African Charter. We have signed, we have ratified the protocol establishing the court and now what is outstanding is the declaration that the court requires state parties to make to enable individuals and (NGOs) to access the court. That is the stage •See page 29

•Experts lament decay in judiciary- P.31 • Ken Saro Wiwa case most challenging - P.35

28

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2011

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2011

29

LAW COVER CONT’D

Long road to African Rights Court •Continued from page 27

we are in now.We have had very useful discussions with the Judges of the Court. The Attorney-General met with them and this matter was exhaustively discussed.

“Right now, we are at the consultative stage, we are consulting with the relevant political heads and leadership to make sure that the necessary approval is obtained for government to make that declaration and there are very positive indications that this will be done very soon. That is why I had assured the audience here that early next year; Nigeria will deposit its declaration in that respect.”

Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Umar Dahiru said: “The representative of the Ministry of Justice has spoken, we are here, we have heard it, we have seen it and I assure you that as soon as the government is ready to make the declaration, we shall give them all the support. According to the information that we are gathering, very soon that will be done.”

Former President of West African Bar Association (WABA) Femi Falana said: “This is a continental regional court for the promotion of human rights. The idea of the court came about because of the limitation of the powers of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to deal with human rights complaints in Africa.

“Whereas the African Commission itself came up as a compromise by the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) when there was a demand from the continent for a human rights mechanism to deal with several complaints bordering on gross human rights violations in the 60s and 70s, when you had the likes of Presidents Idi Amin of Uganda, Jean Bedel Bokassa of Central African Republic and many of them who were killing their own people, that was why the commission came up. And even when we have the commission, the violations continued, again we had the likes of Jerry Rawlings of Ghana, General Sani Abacha of Nigeria and others who also violated human rights in their countries, until we now insisted that we need the Court. So, the court is there now to take up issues of human rights violations from all member-states, but the limitation we have now is that many of the countries have not made the declaration, only six countries have done so, they include: Tanzania, Malawi and so on. So, we are expecting Nigeria to follow soon.”

On the specific functions of the Court, Falana said: “African leaders are saying, we don’t want our colleagues to be taken out of the continent for trial, they want such trials to be conducted in Africa. We are working on how we can get criminal jurisdiction for the court’.

He also spoke on the specific benefits of the court to lawyers, saying: “Particularly when you have exhausted domestic remedies and you’re not satisfied by say, what the Supreme Courts have done, you have an advantage with respect to human rights.

“Once Nigeria makes the declaration, the Supreme Court will not be the last court, with respect to human rights violations in Nigeria and that goes for all other African countries. It is going to widen the horizon of lawyers in terms of taking human rights to the international level. And of course, it also helps your practice.”

On its affect on the jurisdiction of local courts,’ Falana said: “The protocol says the court would not take any matter in which an applicant has not exhausted domestic remedies.”

•Adoke (SAN)

•Justice Niyungeko

•Falana

•Senator Dahiru

•Prof Akper (SAN)

•Chairperson, African Commission of Human and Peoples’ Rights Catherine Dupe Atoki

•From left: Justice Ishaq Bello, Justice M.N. Oniyangi and Justice I. M. Bukar

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2011

30

FROM THE COURT LAW AND PUBLIC POWER

with gabriel AMALU email:gabrielamalu1@yahoo.com

Senate and same sex marriage bullies

•Chief Magistrate Ayo Isaac, member of the LSW Committee and Mrs. Etuk

Participants urged to ensure settlement

A

S this year’s edition of the Settlement Week, being organised by the Lagos

Multi-Door Court House (LMDC), enters day two today, participants - litigants, lawyers and neutralshave been urged to strive towards reaching settlement, which is the objective of the annual event.

LSMC Director, Caroline Etuk said this while explaining the essence of the event known as the Lagos Settlement Week (LSW). She expressed hope that there would be an improvement in the level of success recorded in past editions.

She said about 200 cases would be dealt with during the five-day event being held in compliance with the provision of section 3 (1) (8) of the LMDC Law of 2007, empowering the state’s Chief Judge to designate a week during which disputants, lawyers and neutrals will engage in disputes settlement via the various Alternative Dispute Resolution options.

Mrs. Etuk said sufficient measures

• Lagos Settlement Week enters Day Two

By Eric Ikhilae

were adopted by the 13-man planning and implementation committee headed by Justice Ayotunde Philips, to ensure a good outing.

Stressing the need for litigants and lawyers to approach the settlement week with willing minds, Mrs. Etuk said the event would afford them the opportunity to explore the various ADR mechanisms in resolving their dispute in a non-hostile environment.

She said while every effort would be made to ensure the resolution of most cases slated for the week, those on which settlement could not be achieved at the end of the day would be returned to the regular court.

Mrs. Etuk, who stressed the importance of the event, said aside that it was intended to popularise the ADR concept, it also serves as a means of decongesting the court.

“The attendance at the LSW is an opportunity for parties to explore settle-

ment not merely by negotiations with one and another, but by the intervention of skilled mediators which guarantees better and speedier outcomes.

“The parties are not deprived of their day in court. In the event of a non-settlement, the matter is returned to the court’s docket and the parties are at liberty to continue with the case in court and because the mediation process is conducted confidentially and without prejudice, neither party is prejudiced by the mediation process,” she said.

The concept of LSW was first introduced in the state in2009 during which a 48 per cent settlement rate was recorded, an effort which earned it an award of the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR), as cowinner in the “Significant achievement in the filed of dispute resolution.”

•From left: Former Chief Justice of Nigeria, M. A. Belgore, Joe Kyari Gadzama (SAN) and former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Muhammed Lawal Uwais, at a lecture marking Gadzama’s 50th birthday, at Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.

•From left: Chairman, FIDA Abuja, Mrs Iyabo Ogunseye; Chairman, NBA Abuja, Afam Osigwe and Dr Wale Babalakin, at a lecture marking Gadzama’s 50th birthday, at Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.

A

S if same sex marriage is a better life support programme, the United States, Britain and the their allies have turned the extension of that ignoble business to the poor African continent, a priority.

But may be the business from moral decadence is good for them. No doubt sex spins a huge industry in the US and Europe; and with Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Korea (BRICS) taking a huge cut off their economy, sex business may have turned to a near exclusive industry for western powers, and where better than the emotional Africa for extension services.

First, it was the British Prime Minister David Cameron representing his power partners, the Liberal democrats; that threatened that his country will not give out aid (in this instance not materially different from AIDS) to countries who fail to legislate in favour of same sex marriage.

Now with the Senate’s passage of a bill against same sex marriage; the United States has turned the issue into a more palatable headline, by waving the banner of fundamental human rights. Head or tail, Africa is in trouble, as the Europeans and their cousins will do more to push poor Africa into same sex business.

The recent bill passed by the Senate proposed a 14-year jail term for those who engage in same sex marriage, and 10 years for accessories after the fact; and that bill publicly applauded by many Nigerians is a sure bet for more recriminations from US and her European partners.

The reason for their interest is also political. President Barack Obama would be committing political suicide if he fails to stand up for gays and lesbians in the United States. While they are definitely not a majority in the country, rights activists over the years have been able to intricately web the rights of gays and lesbians into the labyrinths of fundamental human and minority rights in that country.

Substantially reinforced during Bill Clinton’s presidency, democrats have come to rely more on the potpourri of minority rights, made up of blacks, Hispanics, gays, lesbians, women and such interests to win election. In a quid pro quo environment, a black President Barack Obama will not attempt to oppose such a powerful lobby, more so as his own re-election draws close. Britain unlike America does not have political rightist clearly opposed to same sex marriage. Indeed, the British conservatives, more so the type in power now, is hanging precariously on an unholy alliance with a leftist party; and is at home with any group that will grant it an extension in power. So, Cameron was working for his political survival when he threatened poor African countries with a seizure of aid or assistance, unless they support same sex marriage.

The challenge facing Africans is how our own politicians would be able to resist the foreign pressure for their own political and cultural survival. When Senator Ike Ekweremadu was reported as supporting a bill in favour of gay marriage, the deputy senate president made spirited effort to deny same, reminding every person who cares to listen, that as a papal knight he would not support such a bill. Thank God for that recant. Indeed, during the debate on the new bill, many senators made spirited effort to show their commitment against same sex marriage. With their commitment, Nigerians are left wondering wither the associates of those who are strongly rumoured to be homosexuals among the top echelon of our society. Or are we saying that all the tales about certain Nigerians and their sexual preferences are fairies?

Whatever be the case, the senate has openly discharged and acquitted itself of any form of public sniggering about some of their members’ sexual orientation as Americans and Europeans prefer to call it, so the ball is now in the court of the House of Representatives and the Presidency. I have no doubt that the lower arm of the National Assembly would seek to gain as much public goodwill as the Senate had done, by quickly concurring to the bill, leaving the President to carry the can.

And when the bill becomes law as the President would be under pressure to concur, we hope that many of our past and present leaders would be on the surveillance list of the law enforcement agencies for any breach. The big men in Abuja and the neighbouring states must be seriously watched so that those involved will be helped to mend their ways.

My other worry is that should the North Atlantic countries decide to join hands to work to shoot down the bill, I cannot see a strong political leadership that will be able to resist them. And the reason why they may not is because these are the countries that know so much about our leaders’ secrets. They know where the benefits of their corrupt enrichment derived over the years from pillaging our country are hidden. Many of them have their assets acquired with stolen money in those countries, and any threat on those assets may result in a volte face.

So, Nigerians must watch out when our leaders start to develop cold feet, in the marathon race to resist the affliction of our moral assets, as the recent development may just be the beginning.

While making laws to safe guard our moral fiber, it is also necessary to show serious interest in our economic foundation to resist the temptation among our youths to clamber any leeway from poverty. Corruption is one such snare, and the result is that the allure of it and the consequences of it have left our society so vulnerable to unimaginable manipulations.

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2011

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LAW & DEVELOPMENT

•Justice Dahiru Musdpher, Chief Justice of Nigeria

•Justice Akanbi

•Okunnu (SAN)

•Delana (SAN)

Experts lament decay in judiciary T

HE task of restoring public confidence in the justice delivery system has continued to challenge the creative minds of many stakeholders.

This is because the systems once held up as the bastion of hope for the ordinary man; venerated for being the temple of justice and seen as an institution where urbane and well lettered minds sit in judgment over fellow men and dispense justice with the fear of God, now attract descriptions in the opposite.

This reversal of fortune, a development which accounting for the dwindling public confidence in the judicial process, has partly been attributed to the eroding sense of values in the society.

Having realised this, stakeholders are tasked by the need to urgently evolve ways of reversing the waning public confidence in the judicial system, which by extension threatens the future of the legal profession.

Last week and for several hours, senior law experts pondered on this and suggested ways members of the Bar and the Bench could jointly labour to salvage the situation. It was at this year’s edition of the Justice JIC Tailor Memorial Lecture organised by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Lagos branch.

Speakers, including former Court of Appeal President, Justice Mustapha Akanbi (rtd), former Federal Works Minister, Femi Okunnu (SAN), legal practitioners, Oluyele Delano and Pa. Tunji Gomez, lamented the unenviable state of affairs in the judiciary.

They noted that the prevailing decadence, fallen standard, poor work ethics, disregard for civility, among others form the attributes of today’s judiciary, which they attributed to a series of factors.

To them, the decay in the judicial system got to its height with the open disagreement between the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Aloysius Katsina-Alu and the suspended Court of Appeal President, Isa Ayo Salami .

They consequently suggested ways of reversing the trend.

Justice Akanbi attributed that reversal in the fortune of the judiciary to the erosion of the attributes once associated with the institution in the past. He blamed the rot in the judiciary on corruption, fueled mostly by the inability of the judiciary to distance itself from the influence of the unprincipled politicians.

He observed that the noble virtues for which most of the earlier judges were known have been thrown to the winds by a growing crop of corrupt, inept, dishonest and unprincipled men and women appointed through a flawed process.

“For my part, the vexed issue of judicial corruption and the role of lawyers, particularly some senior ones who aid or serve as agents for collecting or giving bribe either in cash or kind, is the most damaging and

•Suggest ways of restoring confidence in system

By Eric Ikhilae

crippling development that has affected the judiciary recently.

“Indeed public perception appears to have tilted in favour of the view that the judiciary in the last few years has become a corrupt institution and this is fanned by corrupt politicians with whom some judges sometimes openly hob-nob and act as their agents.

“In the past, judges maintained their dignity and honour by remaining aloof and by distancing themselves from those who are likely to drag them into doing unethical things.

“The story going the rounds today is that some lawyers are engaged to handle election cases, not because of their erudition or learning or ability, but because they have the necessary contact or connections to reach out to a willing judge,” he said.

Justice Akanbi also pointed to the prevailing faulty process through which judicial officers were appointed. He noted that, as against the practice in the past where good and competent lawyers were appointed as judges due to their integrity, efficiency and performance, people become judges today through “Corrupt means, lobbying, nepotism and undue influence.”

He cited recent appointments by the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) and the National Judicial Council (NJC), which he said were alleged not to have been done in conformity with existing rules and regulations.

“It was characterised by nepotism and favouritism to the extent that many, who should not have been appointed, were appointed judges to the chagrin of more qualified candidates. Indeed, it was said that even in the recent appointment of senior advocates by the Privileges Committee, the same thing happened.”

As a way of retrieving the judiciary from

its abyss, Justice Akanbi suggested the urgent need for attitudinal change on the part of the Bar and the Bench, a combination of efforts by all stakeholders; thorough overhaul of existing judicial regulatory institutions and the appointment of men of integrity and honour as judges.

He warned the judiciary against playing into the hands of the two other arms of government or allowing itself to be used as instruments of self destruction.

“If confidence most be restored to the judiciary, there has to be some attitudinal change in the way we do things. The ‘scratch my back and I scratch your back’ approach will not take us anywhere. Honesty, transparency, probity, accountability, justice and fairness to all should be the criteria to be followed in our yearning for fair minded judiciary.

“We have to resort to those pristine principles of the past which produced the likes of JIC Tailor, who was elevated to the Bench because of his sterling qualities, industry and competence. “ I suggest that apart from adhering strictly to the code of conduct for judicial officers, all judges must safe-guard the public image and behave well within and outside the court.

“It is important for the Bar and the Bench to have as their focus, the need to constantly observe those judicial ethics which have sustained our judicial system before things began to fall apart. We owe it a duty to ourselves and our nation to ensure that we can maintain high moral values and ethics as was the case in the past.

Okunnu observed that the judiciary has descended into the abyss. He noted that recent happenings in the judicial arm of government “have passed a dark cloud on the horizon.”

He deplored the disagreement between Justices Katsina-Alu and Salami and argued

‘Indeed, public perception appears to have tilted in favour of the view that the judiciary in the last few years has become a corrupt institution and this is fanned by corrupt politicians with whom some judges sometimes openly hob-nob and act as their agents’

that their action cast a dent on the image of the judiciary.

The senior advocate tasked both jurists to offer public apology to the country for having brought the judiciary to disrepute.

He called for concerted effort of all stakeholders in ensuring the reversal of the current decay in judicial values and performance.

Pa Gomez, on his part, blamed the crises in the judiciary partly on the senior lawyers who, he observed were willing to subvert judicial ethic for material gains. “Senior lawyers are those bribing the judges,” he observed.

He argued that the role allegedly played by senior lawyers in soiling the reputation of the judicial system, helps to support his argument for the abolition of the rank of SAN. Delano argued that every participant in the justice administration process was culpable for the rot in the system.

He identified the major challenges that have combined to clog the transformation of the judiciary, part of which he said include bribery and corruption, the incursion of the executive arm of government, inadequate funding, nepotism in judges’ appointment and removal, incompetent personnel, poor training, failure to embrace mordernisation.

He observed that despite the threat posed by corruption and bribery, there had never been any serious efforts by stakeholders to tackle these vices. He suggested the need for periodic examination of the conduct and activities of judicial officers.

“Judges and other judicial officers are public officers and ought to be subjected to public scrutiny. We need a small-independent authority within the judicial system, consisting of accountants, the Police and retired judges randomly chosen for limited terms, who will conduct overt and discreet investigation and audit of randomly selected judicial officers.”

He also suggested the need for the NBA to form a small think tank to work out and advise on actions needed to destroy the vices threatening the judiciary.

He blamed members of the Bar and Bench for the undue delay in the disposal of cases, advising that stricter measures, particularly financial sanctions must be imposed to discourage act, of deliberate delays in proceedings.

Delano, who frowned at the spartan application of modern technologies in judicial processes, argued that the mere supply of computers to courts across the country was insufficient.

He called for the inculcation and overhaul of the system through computerisation through a deliberate policy aimed at reorienting every participant in the justice delivery system.

Delano observed that the Bar was not doing enough and noted that it was necessary that it act as a catalyst and driving force needed to drive the much needed change.

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6 , 2011

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LAW & SOCIETY

Lawyers seek review of legal system •NBA chair claims lawyers are not liars

L

AWYERS have expressed disappointment over the growing inadequacies of the legal system. They called for a reform to enable it meet today’s challenges.

They spoke in Lagos at the Annual Bar Dinner and Award Night held by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ikorodu Branch as part of activities marking this year’s Law Week.

The state’s former Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mr Fola Arthur Worrey, observed that the legal system is witnessing challenging times.

He said there was the need for institutions of justice to be firm if the rule of law must be entrenched.

Authur-Worrey described as ominous recent developments whereby pronouncements of judges are disrespected by those in authority. He pointed out that they are situations that threaten the development of the rule of law.

“A judge gave the order banning operations of four banks and somebody somewhere is saying the judgement is reckless.

The Chief Justice is also saying plea bargain is banned. I cannot understand how a process that went through legislation could be banned. This is not good for the rule of law”, he lamented.

He regretted that while the laws of England which are over 900 years, from where the country copied most of its laws are predictable, those of Nigeria are twisted to suit the whims and caprices of some people.

“All lawyers must reflect on the recent development in the industry and challenge any move that threaten the foundation of the rule of law” he said adding that the judicial system must be such that is predictable and resolve disputes with fairness.

Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, Mr Adekunle Adegoke , who was the guest lecturer, also reflected on the conflicting judgments on election petitions. He said justice would not be done to such petitions except the 1999 Constitution is amended.

Although the Electoral Act prescribed 60 days for hearing and adjudication of election petitions, Adegoke noted that developments in the country showed that the period was in adequate as a result of which some petitions were either thrown out or send back to election tribunals from the Appeal courts for retrial on grounds of limitation of time.

He cited election petitions instituted in Borno and Kogi states to lend weight to his views and posited that the courts should be empowered to extend the period stipulated for hearing of election petitions in the Electoral Act whenever the need arises.

Adegoke noted that the Electoral Act also prescribed that crime committed during the conduct of elections must be proved beyond reasonable doubt for the election of an assumed winner to be overturned.

He argued that the term, “beyond reasonable doubt” has now been subjected to the whims and caprices of presiding judges to be used as they deem fit.

Adegoke said the time is ripe to take another look at those laws that would not allow the country to advance and entrenched the rule of law.

Addressing participants at the Motivational Talk and Career Counselling session organized for secondary school students by NBA, Ikorodu, the association’s Law Week Chairman, Akin Duyilemi, debunked the claim that lawyers are liars.

Duyilemi, who made the clarifications in response to a question by one of the students drawn from various secondary schools

By Adebisi Onanuga

in Ikorodu, asserted that members of the noble profession of law are men of honour and integrity.

Lawyers, according to him, present the facts of the case based on information made available to them by their clients.

He said it is very important for clients to state the truth while briefing their counsels so that lawyers would be able to represent them well.

In their various papers presented at the occasion, Guidance and Career counsellors advised parents and guardians against forcing their career of choice on their children and wards if they want them to be successful in life.

They also bemoaned the high level of examination malpractices, cultism and gangsterism that have taken over in secondary schools and bedeviled the nation‘s education system.

The counsellors were unanimous in their belief that parents would be doing great harm to their children if they force careers on them.

Oluwagbemiga Bodunrin of the Department of Guidance and Counselling, Faculty of Education, Lagos State University (LASU), told students drawn from the various schools in Ikorodu that the fact that parents succeeded in a chosen career does not mean their children would succeed in similar career if forced on them.

Bodunrin pointed out that everybody has talents which he described as the turning point that would help them become what they want to become in life adding that this is the only way that their children would be fulfilled and succeed in life.

He observed that most students, due to peer influence, have career problem because they chose wrong subject combinations. He advised them to ensure that their subject combinations aligned with what they want to be in future.

The Deputy Director of Education, Guidance and Counselling Unit, Schools Administration Department, Education District II, Mrs. T. I. Akaeze, lamented that examination malpractices have made nonsense the quality of results of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examination Council (NECO) outside the shores of the country.

As a way out, she said most private schools do not register their students for international examinations such as SAT, TOEFL, Cambridge among others that are more acceptable, noting that their participation in local examinations was just to fulfill righteousness.

She said those selling question papers to students and parents that are engaged in buying them are not helping the matter but destroying the future of Nigerian children.

Another counseling expert, Mrs. J. O. Babatunde-Sule, said the trend of examination malpractices was alarming and expressed sadness that some school authorities, invigilators, and parents participate in the nefarious act which she noted was responsible for the overwhelming number of half baked graduates being turned out yearly by institutions of higher learning.

Mrs. Babatunde-Sule called for a full reenforcement of the laws put in place to stem the tide of examination malpractices in the country including Act 33 of the 1999 Constitution which stipulated a fine of between N50, 000 and N100, 000 and three to four years imprisonment or both for offenders.

‘A judge gave the order banning operations of four banks and somebody somewhere is saying the judgment is reckless. The Chief Justice is also saying plea bargain is banned. I cannot understand how a process that went through legislation could be banned.

This is not good for the rule of law’

•From right: Past President, Court of Appeal, Justice Umar Farouk Abdullahi; Chairman, NBA, Ikorodu branch, Adebanjo and Secretary, Lukman Ganiyu.

•From left: Prof Yemi Osinbajo, Hon. S.O.B. Agunbiade and Mr. Dele Adesina (SAN)

•Former Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Muniz Banire

•Former Solicitor-General, Lagos State, Fola Arthur-Worrey

•Deputy Director of Education, Mrs T.I. Akaeze, and 2nd Vice president ,NBA, Mrs. Ogugua Ikpeze

33

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2011

LAW & SOCIETY ALL NIGERIAN JUDGES CONFERENCE IN ABUJA

•Administrator, National Judicial Institute, Justice Umaru Eri(left) and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Gambia, Justice Emmmanuel Akomaye Agim.

•Chief Judge, Kaduna State, Raliat Cudjoe (left) and Chief Judge, Sokoto State, Justice Aishat Sanni Dahiru

•Judge of High Court of Borno State, Justice Ibrahim Bdilya(left) and Khadi Sharia Court of Appeal, Maiduguri, Justice Abubakar Imam.

•Chief Judge, Kogi State, Justice Nasiru Ajanah (left) and Chief Judge, Borno State, Kashim Zannah

•Justice of Court of Appeal Benin Division, Justice Nwosu Iheme (left) with former Delta State Chief Judge, Justice Rose Bosimo

•Justices of Supreme Court, John Fabiyi (left) and Nwali Ngwuta.

•Justice of Supreme Court, Justice Suleman Galadima(right) with Grand Khadi, Nasarawa State, Justice Abdullahi Mohammed

•Justice Tanko Mohammed, JSC (right) Chief Judge, Yobe State, Garba Nabaruma and Justice Massoud Oredola, JCA

•From left: President, Customary Court of Appeal, Benue State, Magaret Igbater (left), Justice Court of Appeal, Akure, Chinwe Iyizoba and President, Customary Court of Appeal, Anambra State, Chinwe Amechi

•Justice Toyin Abodunde(right) with Chief Judge, Osun State, Justice Olaniyi Ojo PHOTOS: ABAYOMI FAYESE

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2011

34

LAW & SOCIETY TWO WEEK WORKSHOP ON INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANISED BY THE NIGERIAN INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED LEGAL STUDIES (NIALS), AT ITS AKOKA, LAGOS CAMPUS

•Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Martin Uhumobi (left) and Director General, NIALS, Prof. Epiphany Azinge (SAN).

•Institute Secretary, James Bathnna and Acting Institute Librarian, Ufuoma Lamikara

•Dean, Faculty of Law, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Prof Demola Popoola (left) and Director of Research, NIALS, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye.

•Prof Obiora C. Okafor (left) and former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Plateau State, Prof. Clement Dakas

• Prof. Lanre Fagbohun (left) and Prof. Taofiq Ladan

• Godwin Adalikwu Atsu (left) and Dr. Emmanuel Okon

•Wahab Shittu (left) and Gbenga Ojo

•Lt. Aisha Suleiman and LT. V. L. Williams.

PHOTOS: JOHN AUSTIN UNACHUKWU

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2011

35

LAW PERSONALITY Mr Kemasuode Wodu is former National Legal Adviser of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). A former chairman, NBA Yenagoa branch and Chairman, Eastern Bar Forum (EBF), he was one of the defence counsel for former president of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSSOP), Ken Saro Wiwa. The defence team led by the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi included such eminent legal practitioners as Femi Falana, Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) and Chief Emmanuel Ukala (SAN). Wodu was also among those who sued the administration of former General Ibrahim Babangida over the annulment of June 12, 1993 elections. In this interview with JOHN AUSTIN UNACHUKWU, he discusses the removal of fuel subsidy, challenges of running the EBF, Law practice under military regimes and sundry national issues.

Excerpts.

Ken Saro Wiwa case most challenging R

EMOVAL of fuel subsidy is one of the most topical issues. What is your reaction to this?

I am a member of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). I am bound by the decisions taken by the NBA on the removal of the subsidy. The NBA at the the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting dealt with the removal of petroleum subsidy and decided that it should be done gradually in phases over seven years till such a time when the government does what it ought to do; so that when the subsidy is finally removed, Nigerians will not suffer. But I have my own concern too.

What is it?

What sincerely bothers me about petroleum subsidy removal is our inability to produce or refine petroleum products that we consume in Nigeria instead of importing them . We have refineries, but the question is: are they working at full capacities?

If they can no longer function, why don’t we build new refineries. I understand that we can build functional refineries in two years and this government still has four years to go, let them try and build new refineries before they go.

How do we go about this?

Well, the government has to really think about making the oil majors to go into crude oil refining, probably as part of the conditions for granting or renewal of oil exploration licences.

But some of them have been operating in Nigeria for a long time. How do you ask them to start refining petroleum products now?

I am not very conversant with the details of the agreement which they have with the Federal Government, but I do know that from time to time, some of these leases do expire. So, if the issue of refining crude locally was not contemplated when the initial agreement was signed, when they elapse and they want to renew it, the government should insert that as a condition. As a result of that, Shell can build three or four refineries. Agip can build refineries and refine crude locally. So, with this arrangement, the question of fuel subsidy removal will no longer be there.

You have been on the saddle as the chairman of the Eastern Bar Forum (EBF) for about six months. What are the challenges?

The EBF is still in its nascent stage. We are still trying to properly organise ourselves.

We have had some challenges, particularly in terms of creating awareness among the members and soon.

We have been doing quite well and we have decided to organise a function.

What type of function is that?

We plan to organise a workshop on security because we have very serious security challenges across the country. We are putting together a team of experts to deal with various aspects of security. Is it a problem of policing, law enforcement? Is state police a viable option that will ensure the security of lives and property in the country?

Is it a problem of the judiciary? What role does the judiciary play in the security of the country? Is it bothering on the application or non-application of true Federalism and so on.

What are the solutions?

These are the issues we intend to address at the conference and we are assembling a team of experts to address them.

When and where is the venue of the con-

ference?

The conference will take place in Calabar in February 2012. Arrangements are in top gear to make it very successful and rewarding that will greatly benefit the state.

The Board of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is yet to be constituted and inaugurated by the Senate despite the fact that the names of proposed members have been submitted to them for some time. What is your reaction to this?

By law, the NHRC is vested with the statutory powers to ensure that the human rights of Nigerians are protected. They have been given some powers to that effect. I believe that if the board is properly constituted, particularly with the chairman designate of the board, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu and his team, I believe that they will be able to do a proper work of co-ordinating the issues relating to human rights, pursuing the enforcement of human rights. Though they cannot do everything, but essentially co-ordinating, creating awareness and taking up few cases, which will definitely increase peoples’ awareness on human rights. I, therefore, urge the Senate to expedite action on the names given to them and inaugurate the board of NHRC. You were involved in the trial of Ken Saro Wiwa under General Sanni Abacha regime. How would you compare and contrast law practice under the military and civilian regime?

There is a wide gulf between law practice under the military and the civilian regime.

Under the military, we were constantly and regularly faced with ouster clauses, courts had no jurisdiction to entertain and try certain cases, but some courageous judges found a way out of those ouster clauses.Yet, it was not also sufficient.

Apart from that, there are so many challenges in law practice under the military.

What are the other challenges?

I was involved in the trials of Ken Saro Wiwa and his Ogoni kinsmen for murder by the Ogoni Tribunal and I would say that so much happened during that trial that ought not to have happened.

What actually happened?

There was always this heavy military presence, intimidation, when we got to the tribunals. It was like going to war. You see soldiers with grasses all over them. On some occasions, we were asked to obtain permits before we had access to the tribunals.

There was one particular incident that I always remember.

What happened?

We were passing through a particular gate into the tribunal. We, the defence, were led

by Chief Gani Fawehinmi of blessed memory, with Femi Falana Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) and Chief Emmanuel C. Ukala (SAN).

Oronto Douglas and I were part of the defence team also.

We were always passing through a particular gate to get to the tribunal to conduct our cases. But this day, when we got to the gate, the military officers said no, that they wouldn’t allow us to pass through it. They said we should go and pass through the second gate at the Secretariat Complex, the old House of Assembly premises. The soldiers refused us passage. When we asked them why, they said because we didn’t have gate passes to go to the tribunal. All of us, led by Chief Gani Fawehinmi, said we didn’t need passes to go into the tribunal, but they refused us passage.

•Wodu

‘One thing I remember about him again is, as we were returning from that visit, I mean the visit to Ken Saro Wiwa at the Bori camp, we were talking and I said Chief, I was afraid. Gani said Wodu, as we are driving, you can have accident and die now, why can’t you die fighting for a good course. That way, you will be remembered’ As we were there talking with them, they brought a coaster bus and said all of us should get into the Coaster bus, which would take us to the police officers’ mess to obtain our passes to enable us to go to the tribunal.

We told them that we were not going to do that and there was a heated argument.

As we were talking , we were surrounded by heavily armed and fierce looking soldiers, many of them had their guns cocked at us. They were led by one Lieutenant, who ordered them to force us into the Coaster bus so that we could to go and obtain passes.

We resisted them, they went to grab Chief

Fawehinmi to force him into the bus, but Femi Falana intervened and he was slapped by the soldiers. He was seriously slapped and they ended up removing Chief Fawehimi’s suit. The situation degenerated into that because we refused to enter the bus to go to collect passes to and defend our clients at the tribunal. It appeared that the government authorities were monitoring us. So, as it got to that level, we started seeing the senior officers here and there. They all came to that spot and started pacifying us. They ordered those military men to go •Continued from page 36

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2011

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LAW & SOCIETY

Institute writes President, offers free conflict mediation services T

HE Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators (ICMC) has written to President Goodluck Jonathan offering to provide free skills and services to the country in the resolution of the various conflicts bedeviling it.

The President of the institute, Chief Dr. P.K. Njoku, disclosed this address at the Annual General Meeting and induction at Rockview Hotel, Royal, Abuja.

This is the professional body responsible for training, regulation and development of the practice of alternative Disputes Resolution, especially mediation and conciliation in the country.

The institution promotes peace building strategies in all spheres of life. It also undertakes interventions at encouraging stakeholders at the formal justice system to understand and embrace the court connected mediation system as well as other process in the ADR Spectrum.

The institute facilitates the establishment

By John Austin Uuachukwu

of Multi-Door Courthouse and communities mediation centres, as well as facilitating inhouse strategies for preventing and addressing work place conflicts in organisation.

The institute inducted over 300 fellows and other categories of membership.

In a chat with The Nation, the President of the Institute of Chartered Mediators and conciliators, (ICMC) Dr. P.K. Njoku said: “I feel happy. In the past we used to induct 20 or 30 people in one year, but today we inducted about 650 people.” Another interesting thing is the variety of calling of these people.

They come from various professional backgrounds. They have recognised the need for mediation and conciliation skills in the practice of other professions and that is why they are coming for this. The organisation was very good. I commend my people, the

•From left: Chief Judge, FCT High Court, Justice Lawal Hassan Gunmi; Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha and President, ICMC, Dr P.K. Njoku

organising committee who put this in place. I commend the Registrar, the Director of Training. ‘’I owe the accolades and success of this event to them.”

The Registrar of the institute, Elechi Agada, said: “I feel very proud of today’s activities. Today, we are inducting over 600 people; aside from that, among them are royal fathers, Judges of different of High Courts in the country. We are inducting about 30 judges today as fellows. I am particularly happy because this is indicative of the fact that the message we preach, the gospel of mediation is reaching out and we are getting more people to help us do the work.”

On his advice to the inductees, Agada said: “My advice for each inductee is, live the life of a mediator, let the spirit of mediation be reflected in your life.

Achieve the mediators’ gravitas, and

with that gravitas, people will naturally be drawn to you because they will know that you are a peace maker and you can add value to their lives.”

The Director of Training of the institute, Segun Ogunyannwo said: “The mediation skills training programmes of the institute imbue candidates with practical life-skill for building, sustaining relationships and for promoting peace and harmonious coexistence in the society”.

He stated that the feedback from participants in their training programmes shows that it is a life-transforming course, a lifechanger” Said he : “It depeens one’s knowledge and understanding of human nature and helps in lubricating relational motion. It is, indeed, a rich blend of legal and therapeutic disciplines - creating and inspiring learning experience.

He noted that mediators are change agents and can play a significant role in helping to oil the cogs of all the monotonous, frictional grind of everyday living.

•From left: Registrar, ICMC, Elechi John Agada, Justice Moses A. Bello and National Publicity Secretary, NBA, Emeka Obegolu

Ken Saro Wiwa case most challenging •Continued on page 35

away and they apologised to us, urging us to go to the tribunal. This was all aimed at intimidating us. There were so many incidents like that.

You mean a similar experience like this?

Yes, there was this particular day when we finished our case at the tribunal. We felt that there was the need to further communicate with Ken preparatory to the continuation of trial the following day. So, Chief Fawehinmi asked me to go and call Ken back. I went, called him and he wanted to come back, but the soldier in charge of internal security in Rivers State that time, Major Paul Okuntimo ordered him not to return, that he should get into the Black Maria truck they were using to convey him.

As he did that, I went and reported to Chief Fawehinmi. So, all of us now came out. They were still outside and Okuntimo ordered Ken to move into the Black Maria. There and then, there was hot exchange of words between our team led by Chief Fawehinmi and Major Okuntimo.

So, what happened eventually?

At the end of the day, Fawehinmi said, look it is 2.000 p.m., we will come to Bori Camp to see Ken whether Okuntimo liked it or not. And Major Okuntimo said: “If you’re a man come to the camp and let’s see.

So, they look Ken away and we went to our hotel.

At 20 minutes to 2.00pm, Chief Fawehinmi called me and said Wodu, it is time to go to Bori Camp to see Ken Saro Wiwa. You know that we told them that we were coming and I said, ha, this is really a serious issue.

What happened?

We assembled our team led by Chief Fawehinmi, Agbakoba, Falana,Ukala, Duglas and others. We got into our vehicle and proceeded to Bori Camp. It was a military base in Port Harcourt where they detained Ken. There was this white Totoya Crown that belonged to Ken Saro Wiwa, which everybody including the military authorities knew as his car. Immediately, they sighted that car and others in our convoy, they knew that we were the ones coming. They stationed military vehicles at the gate of Bori camp with heavily armed soldiers. So, immediately they sighted our vehicles, they started driving seriously into Bori Camp.

These were part of their intimidation to put fear into us.

Chief Fawehinmi ordered our convoy to move in into the camp and we moved in, drove up to the military police point within the Camp where Ken, Ledum Mittee and others were detained.

What happened here?

All those military vehicles that drove in went and parked at that Military Police base in Bori Camp. It is a fenced premises within the camp.

When we finally got to that point, the driver of our vehicle was Jittery, but Chief Fawehinmi ordered us to move in and he drove into that place.

As we got there, heavily armed soldiers were parading that place all in a bid to put fear into us.

We drove in, parked, alighted and started moving towards the house where Ken and others were detained. None of the soldiers

talked to us.

As we were approaching the house, Major Okentimo, who threatened us and told Chief Fawehinmi to come if he was a man , came there with his aides and immediately he saw us, he went to greet Chief Fawehinmi with two hands, and said welcome sir, that was a bit relief to all us because we had expected a serious problem there, that we might even be arrested at the camp.

We went in, saw our clients and spent quality time with them, before we returned to our hotel. Chief Gani Fawehinmi was a man of tremendous courage.

In the course of that trial, we related very closely, both in Lagos, Port Harcourt and so on. That time I was working with Ledum Mittee, who is now the President of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MASSOP).

So, what do you remember about Chief Gani Fawehinmi?

One thing I remember about him again is as we were returning from that visit, I mean the visit to Ken Saro Wiwa at the Bori camp, we were talking and I said Chief, I was afraid. Gani said Wodu, as we are driving, you can have accident and die now, why can’t you die fighting for a good course. That way, you will be remembered.

What other incident do you remember in that case?

There was this day the defence team decided to go and visit the scene of the alleged murder in Gokana in Ogoni land. They call it Giyonk Shrine. We boarded our vehicles as usual, the Ogoni people, government officials, everybody knew the white Toyota Crown as belonging to Ken Saro

Wiwa.

As we approached Gokana, all the Ogoni people that saw us, who saw that car, saw Chief Gani Fawehinmi, saw the defence team. Immediately, they saw us, they started singing a certain song, it is like the Ogoni Anthem. As they started singing it, many of the men removed their shirts, women who were tying two wrappers, removed one wrapper and spread their clothes on the main road for the cars, for us to pass on because we were defending Ken Saro Wiwa. That showed the kind of love the Ogoni people had for Ken Saro Wiwa. I think he had a wonderful impact on their lives. Those were what we saw under the military.

Is this the most challenging case you have involved in?

That case was quite challenging because of the environment and the situation then.

Also, when General Ibrahim Babangida annulled June 12, 1993 election, we were among the first set of lawyers to file an action in the High Court in Port Harcourt then challenging the annulment; so that the court would declare it null and void or for the government to come out with reasons for the annulment or announce the results of the election. The Chief Judge of Rivers State then, Justice K. D Ngbuku, who upon the creation of Bayelsa State became the Chief Judge of Bayelsa, assigned the case to himself. We argued the case quite extensively and he later dismissed it, it was quite challenging because of the environment and circumstances then.

I have been involved in quite challenging election cases, governorship election petitions, other election petitions.

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2011

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THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2011

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2011

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PROPERTY/ENVIRONMENT

Why we are building mini-water works, by Fashola

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AGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola has opened the Alausa Mini-Water Works that is expected to deliver 1.3 million gallons of water per day to the Alausa community in Ikeja.

Fashola said the government has delivered 15 mini-water works to residents in the last four years, saying more are in the pipeline.

Fashola, represented by the Commissioner for the Environment, Mr Tunji Bello, said with the provision of the water works, there would be no need for residents to construct boreholes.

The commissioner said the proliferation of boreholes poses the dan-

LASEPA closes four firms

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HE Lagos State Environ mental Protection Agency (LASEPA) has stressed its zero tolerance for violation of environmental regulations and standards.

Sealing off four companies, its General Manager, Adebola Shabi, said the action was in line with the agency’s unrelenting determination to curb pollution and enforce compliance with environmental standards and regulation.

He said the affected firms violated the provision of LASEPA Edict No. 9 of 1997 Sections 22 and 23.

The manufacturing facilities also erred by not submitting the mandatory technical reports, the Environmental Assessment (EA) report and the Environmental Audit Report (EAR) and a non-availability of appropriate permits for the chemical and petroleum storage within the facility premises a violation of section 21 of the same edict.

The four affected facilities are Dangote Sugar Refinery, Apapa which was sealed for discharging untreated effluent into the environment after several warnings and moratorium periods given. Others are BUA Flour Mill and SCOA foods.

Shabi re-affirmed that the facilities would remain closed until the conditions for a friendly industrial environment is satisfactorily complied with. These include an immediate abatement of the discharge of untreated effluents into the environment, immediate installation of an appropriate effluent treatment plant, with the submission of a time phased action plan for abatement in seven days.

He gave them a year to install appropriate effluent plants.

He further said the action plan, moratorium period given, and the installation of the appropriate effluent treatment plant will be closely monitored to ensure that the sealed facilities comply to stipulated rules, regulations and standards, which are guidelines to actualising a safer and healthier environment being pursued by the State.

He called on stakeholders to co-operate with the agency, promising that similar sanctions on errant industrial facilities would be a continuing measures.

Stories by Okwy Iroegbu Asst. Editor

ger of undermining the underground water. He appealed to residents to desist from constructing more boreholes and link up to the water supplied by the corporation.

He said the government has invested huge resources in the provision of water for Lagosians, saying that it is capable of delivering the 750 million gallons of water daily to residents of Lagos by 2020.

“We will continue to meet our campaign promises. We believe that after the completion of the Odomola Water Scheme and the Adiyan Phase II Water Scheme, more

Lagosians would benefit from the water scheme,” he said.

Group Managing Director, Lagos Water Corporation, Shayo Holloway, said the Alausa Mini-Water works was the first of the four World Bank MiniWater projects to be delivered in partnership with the government.

He said the other water works are still being con-

structed at IsheriOke,Alexandra and Apongbon.

Bello explained that the Alausa Mini-Waterworks comprised two mini-water projects, saying the first was a rehabilitated facility expected to deliver 300, 000 gallons of water per day, while the other one would deliver one million gallons of water per day, giving total of 1.3

million gallons of water per day.

“The 300,000 gallons of water refurbished waterworks has two boreholes, one in use and the other on standby. The one million gallons of water mini-waterworks has four boreholes, three in operation and the other on standby.

“As at today, the whole of Alausa and its environs

‘We will continue to meet our campaign promises. We believe that after the completion of the Odomola water scheme and the Adiyan Phase II water scheme, more Lagosians would benefit from the water scheme’

can get enough water to meet their needs and they don’t need to construct boreholes anymore,”he said while lamenting the proliferation of boreholes in the state.

Holloway stated that the proliferation of boreholes in the state is causing the government a major concern, saying that it was time “we moved away from the era of borehole”.

He added that the government already has a master plan to meet the water needs of Lagos whose population, he said, is expected to rise to 29 million by 2020. He disclosed that by then, the water corporation would need to supply 745 million gallons of water per day to meet the demand of the Lagos mega city.

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2011

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PROPERTY/ENVIRONMENT set up a private practice, it must be in your names which must include your surname and must never practice under a pseudonym, nor set up a practice under the protection of limited liability company or act for two parties in a transaction without disclosing to parties concerned the relevant facts of the transaction that may affect their interest.”

Furthermore, he encouraged them to keep their personal accounts from their firm’s account and under no circumstance should they pay their client’s money into their account.

Surveyors tackle quacks •Induct 112 members

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STATE Surveyors & Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria (ESVABON) has clamped down on illegal estate agents who defraud people under the guise of securing properties for them.

ESVABON Chairman, Mr Ayodele Gbadebo Sangosanya, made this known at the induction of 112 graduate members into full membership of the estate surveying and valuation profession in Lagos the induction brings the total number of registered estate surveyors nationwide to 2,791.

He said the board has consistently tackled quacks in parts of the country and has cases in court.

He advised the inductees to be of good conduct, warning that the rules and regulations of the board must be abided with and violation would not tolerated. He stressed that the seals, stamps and certificate awarded to them, remain the property of the board.

Sangosanya emphasised the fo-

•From left: Odudu, Eso, Sango Sanya and Adegbemile at the induction

By Okwy Iroegbu, Asst Editor

cus of the registration board, which is to substantially reduce the nefarious activities of quacks by registering many more qualified estate surveyors and valuers in the country.

He said: “In this regard, the board has put requisite machinery in place, in collaboration with the

relevant law enforcement agencies, to check the spread of pseudo practice and bring to book culprits found guilty of the offence”.

A past president of the ESVABON, Mr William Odudu, urged the inductees that the stamp and seal will enable them to practise and prosper in the profession if they keep to its ethics of the profession.

He warned that non-adherence to

PHOTO: OKWY IROEGBU

their rules would result into dire consequences of the seal being retrieved, suspension or delisting from the list of bonafide practitioners.

He told them to conduct themselves in such a manner to enhance their professional status and reputation of the institution and board.

He said: “As a registered estate surveyor and valuer intending to

‘In this regard, the board has put requisite machinery in place, in collaboration with the relevant law enforcement agencies, to check the spread of pseudo practice and bring to book culprits found guilty of the offence’

LAWMA warns residents

A

JAH and Orile communities in Lagos State have been warned to desist from dumping refuse on roads median.

The Managing Director, Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Ola Oresanya, gave the warning during an unscheduled tour of some parts of the metropolis.

He said: “The road construction going on in Orile-Iganmu and Ajah should not be an excuse for residents to ignore the sanitation laws and abuse the environment.”

He urged the residents of the affected areas to pay for services rendered, adding that waste management is not free in any part of the world. Those avoiding to pay for services rendered by the PSP operators,but would rather dump

By Okwy Iroegbu, Asst Editor

their refuse under the cover of darkness in unauthorised places, should stop the practices, he said.

Stressing that the government would remain committed to waste management, he said anyone caught violating the environmental sanitation laws, by dumping refuse indiscriminately in unauthorised places, would be sanctioned.

Oresanya reiterated the earlier call on property owners, especially those on the highways to have containers to complement the efforts of the government, urging them to bag the waste properly and place them in the containers for easy evacuation by the PSP operators.

NSE pushes for national content in construction

T

HE Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE) has urged the Federal Government to address the high cost of contracts by institutionalising the national content code in the construction industry.

This can be done through the promotion of indigenous construction capacity.

The President of the Nigeria Society of Engineers, Olumuyiwa Alade Ajibola, gave this charge at a briefing on the national Engineering Conference andAnnual General Meeting (AGM) in Calabar, stating that use of foreign firms even when there are competent local or indigenous firms.

He said: “To stem the high cost of contracts, the government must address issues, such as inadequate time for planning and feasibility studies and designs. It seems the government most times is in a hurry to start construction.

“Flawed tendering and award phases as the public procurement Act 2007 is hardly adhered to by the operators. For example, tender analysis is done in-house instead of engaging independent consultants.

T

HE Kwara State govern ment is to spend N5.3billion on rural/ feeder roads’rehabilitation and waterworks in the state.

The state Commissioners for Works, Water Resources, Justice and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Dr.

From Franca Ochigbo, Abuja

“Use of foreign firms even when there are competent local firms. Each contract is made to pay for all equipment brought in, especially where there is fear that other contracts may not be forthcoming.

“Unstable government policies, undue delay in payments, multiple taxation and cost of construction materials, such as bitumen and cement. Others are insecurity, high cost of labour, and of course corruption.

Ajibola maintained that the NSE is working on a standard, which will stipulate how much it can cost to do a kilometre of road, for example, with certain specification in various parts of the country.

The commission will soon be mobilising its various branches and division across the country to start a scientific study and analysis that yield incontrovertible data in that direction, hoping that such a document will guide the government in determining cost of contracts in the near future.

The council earth mower working on one of the roads.

Council boss flags off ‘operation road rehabilitation’ T HE Chairman of CokerAguda Local Council Devel opment Area,Mrs Omobolanle Akinyemi-Obe, has flagged off ‘operation road rehabilitation.’

The move, according to her, is m eant to make the roads motorable.

The roads for rehabilitation include Dimeji Longe Avenue, Olatunde Onimole, Nuru Oniwo, Agbonyi, Irolle and parts of Sanya.

In a chat with The Nation Akinyemi-Obe restated her commitment to meaningful development of the council.

According to her, there are many potholes in the area.

“It used to cause a lot of traffic, but with this intervention, we believe that the road users would be very happy because traffic girdlock would be lesson,” she said.

The cost of transportation, she

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

said, has over the years gone up due to the traffic jam.

She urged commuters to avoid destroying the roads but to keep them in shape.

The council boss promised to ensure that the works carried out on the roads arepromptly delivered.

The Second Republic Speaker in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon Oladimeji Longe, hailed the council boss for fulfilling her electioneering campaign promise.

“Before this intervention, we never slept until late in the night because of heavy congestion.

There was usually noise in this area due to the heavy traffic. Her intervention is very timely, expected and fulfilment of her promises. We appreciate the laudable

Kwara to spend N5.3b on roads, water From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

Abubakar Kannike, Alhaji Idris Abubakar, Kamaldeen Ajibade and Dr Muyideen Akorede told reporters at a briefing after the state Executive Council meeting.

Dr Kannike said about N1.5billion had been earmarked for the reconstruction of rural/feeder roads spread across the 16 local government areas of the state.

He listed some of the roads as

Afon-Sapati-Oko-Igbona, IleshBaruba-Gwabne, Buleja road, Obbo-Ile-Ora-Aiyetoro etc The works commissioner added: “The roads are intended to facilitate the movement of farm produce from rural areas

effort,” he said.

Longe described the area as waterlogged.

People living in this area, he said, would heave a sigh of relief with the rehabilitation.

Councillor for Jinadu/Ayetoro ward, Quadri Onikeku, thanked the council boss for delivering the dividends to the electorate.

The road, Onikeku said, is in bad state before the take-off of work.

Anthony Okeke, a shop owner at Dimeji Longe Avenue, thanked God for the intervention of the government on the road.

Okeke said the road has been a thorn in the flesh of commuters and passersby, ‘’but we thank God that the government is rehabilitating it.”

to urban centres as well as ease rural-urban movement in the state.”

The water resources commissioner said N3.7billion had been approved for construction of waterworks, rehabilitation of water facilities and sinking of motorised boreholes in the state.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2011

43

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2011

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

The Kogi governorship election held last Saturday has continued to generate controversy. Group Political Editor BOLADE OMONIJO, MOHAMMED BASHIR and JOSEPH JIBUEZE dissect the outcome of the poll.

Kogi poll result splits politicians M

ANY approached last Saturday’s governorship election in Kogi with trepidation. Others looked up to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with high expectations, believing that the umpire had learnt enough from the April polls to conduct free, fair and credible poll in the Confluence State. It was contended that many things could assist INEC in assuring Nigerians that better days are here. First, it was pointed but, since the election is being conducted in only one state, it was possible to mobilise permanent staff of the commission to handle the polls.

Second, the climate is conducive to full mobilisation of security personnel to discourage those who would want to perpetrate fraud and, three, late registration and funding that have always been the bane of elections in the country were non-issues.

However, shortly after the election to pick the successor of Governor Ibrahim Idris started, it became obvious that the leopard might not really have changed much of its spots. There were cases of ballot box snatching and fraud.

In Olamaboro local government area, results from seven polling units were cancelled by the collation officer as an INEC ad-hoc official was abducted in the course of duty and some boxes snatched.

There was drama when it was time to announce the results from Omala local government area.

While the Returning officer for the governorship election, Professor Shamsudeen Amali put the number of registered voters at 51,959, the collation officer for the local government area insisted that it was 47,844.

As usual, the election was marred with cases of violence and alleged massive manipulation. It was therefore not surprising that, when the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidate, Alhaji Idris Wada, was announced the winner of the poll by a wide margin, it was promptly rejected by the Action Congress of Nigeria ( ACN). A spokesman for the party, Hon. Dino Melaye, said it would be challenged vigorously at the election tribunal set up for the purpose.

Melaiye said, “We want to state in very strong terms that the INEC and the PDP before the election had already perfected ways to upturn the figures. They already had a separate result sheet aside the normal result sheet at the polling boot.”

He said the PDP had graduated from their usually tactic of using thugs to snatch ballot papers to a scientific way.

He maintained that the result declared in favor of the PDP by the INEC had, justified the AC\N complaint that the PDP and INEC has over the Saturday night, manipulated the result at the state government house.

According to him the ACN will pursue its claims until justice is done and as claim it stolen mandate. From the feelers, the ACN was said to have swept most of the

• Wada briefing the press

• Audu voting at the poll

local government in the eastern part of the state including the west.

During the election process, the ACN through Prince Audu’s media officer, Sanni Onogu, had raised the alarm on the dramatic withdrawal of Police from polling units in some strategic areas in the Eastern senatorial zone. Sanni said only members of the Nigeria Civil Defence and Prison service were seen.

The spokesman of the state INEC, Ahmed Bagudu, however, in a telephone reaction told The Nation that more security personnel were drafted to flash point areas to ensure a hitch free election.

Even though Observers praised the INEC for organizing a hitch free election as voters turned out in their numbers at various pollings units across the state. Accreditation according to The Nation’s check commenced far behind schedule. voters waited for hours in some polling centres at Ayigba in Dekina Local Government Area for materials to arrive. As at 11am, voting materials were yet to reach some units.

Election materials for Ejule and Ala wards in Ofu Local Government Area were reported to have left the INEC office in the morning but did not reach the centres in time.

Sanni Onogu said the materials were “also not in transit by our findings.” Ballot boxes for Akwaja 1 in Idah Local Government Area also did not arrive as at about 11am.

The CAN, said the shortage of INEC staff at those polling stations and withdrawal of police was deliberate. Melaiye said it was hatched to aid diversion and manipulation of election material.

Meanwhile, observers have described the election as the most credible that INEC had conducted in the state, despite some hitches. The Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) that also monitored the election, said the turn out was low. “In some of the polling units, voters turn out was high while in some there were some

THE VOTING PATTERN Kogi Central Okene Adavi Okehi Ogori/Mg Ajaokuta Ibaji

PDP 35,593 10,395 18,035 3,108 10,653 22,408 100,192

ACN 7,368 11,557 6,606 1,066 3,129 8,502 38,228

PDP 18,788 32,102 14,675 8,401

ACN 15,067 15,734 7,371 10,209

East Ankpa Dekina Bassa Olamaboro

level of apathy.”

The NBA, in a statement signed by the alternate chairman, Mr. Festus Okoye said the size of some of the polling units in the state created problem for Presiding Officers and Security Agencies. It also advised the electoral commission to accredit party agents in subsequent election.

Political watchers agreed that it was the first time in the history of Kogi politics that, a violent free poll was conducted and voters were allow to vote without snatching ballot boxes.

An election was conducted, a winner was declared and there protests by the loser. But the question humming around the state is: Will the ACN contest the victory of PDP at the court? Melaye has already given indication that it would fight the alleged irregularities and manipulation at the tribunal. How far it can go will only be obvious after the legal battle has been joined.

Omala Idah Iga/Odolu Ofu

19,357 9,671 14,316 11,150 128,460

329 5,766 5,886 16,592 76,954

PDP Kabba/Bunu 10,505 Mopamuro 5,933 Yoga East 7,818 Yagba West 7,758 Lokoja 21,856 Kogi 9,896 Ijumu 8,363 72,129

ACN 6,678 1,422 4,160 4,342 13,194 6,076 5,903 41,473

West

Matters arising The result has thrown up posers.

In a bid to keep alive the spirit of the Uwais panel report on electoral reform, INEC fixed the election four months before the expiration of the tenure of Governor Idris. It is expected that it would afford the tribunal to determine any contest that may arise from the poll. But, would this be? The Electoral Act grants a tribunal six months to hear and determine a case. While it is not impossible to do so well ahead of the time limit, experience from the April poll shows that lawyers have managed to use the instrumentality of technicalities to stall proceedings and delay verdict.

Besides, almost all cases proceed on appeal. And, since a new window that allows governorship elections to terminate at the Supreme Court has been opened, it is likely that an average election petition would run its course in about one year. Therefore, the object of the

Uwais recommendation would still be defeated as the man declared winner by INEC would have been installed and allowed use of state power and resources to fight his opponent.

How they voted There are also queries over the figures posted. By INEC figures, Audu won in only three local government areas. In Ofu, his home base, he polled 16,592 votes to Wada’s 11,150. Living up to his prepoll rating, Audu also won Olamaboro. He polled, there, 10,209 votes to Wada’s 8,401. It had been said before the election that Audu had never lost in the local government area. Audu was also a marginal winner in Adavi where he polled 11,557 votes to Wada’s 10,395.

The PDP won in Wada’s home base, Dekina, as he polled 32,102 to Audu’s 15,734 votes. The incumbent governor, Alhai Ibrahim Idris, delivered his base, Omala, with 19,357 votes to ACN’s paltry 329.

The PDP candidate’s running mate, Chief Yomi Awoniyi, polled 5,933 votes to ACN’s 1422 in Mopamuro.

His counterpart in the ACN, Ojuola, was not so lucky.

The highest voting local councils were Dekina where the two major parties polled 47,836 votes, Okene 42,961 votes, Lokoja 35,050 and Ankpa 33,855.

In Ogori Magongo, only 4,174 voted for the two contending parties while Mopamuro people returned only 7,355.

As expected, the Eastern senatorial district returned 205,414 votes for the PDP and ACN, 138,420 from the Central and 43,802 from the West.

The battle has been joined. In the months ahead, these figures will be thoroughly analysed in and out of the law courts. The contestants have sounded a note that the struggle continues.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2011

POLITICS Senator Babafemi Ojudu represents Ekiti Central in the Senate. In this interview with Assistant Editor ONYEDI OJIABOR, the journalist turned-politician speaks about the agenda of the 7th Senate, the controversial probe of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) of which is a member and how he became an activist.

‘Why BPE probe panel didn’t invite Obasanjo’ E

ARLY in the life of the 7th Assembly we saw ACN House of Representatives members collaborating with the PDP to elect Speaker Aminu Tambuwal. Are we going to see the same collaboration in the Senate…

What I have seen in the Senate is that we have acted mostly like one family with little or no distinction between PDP, ACN, ANPP and other parties. The President of the Senate and the principal officers were chosen by consensus. So there wasn’t much of voting that took place. If you want to move a motion, you go beyond your party members to get people to co-sponsor the motion.

I have a pending motion on Lokoja-Okene road, Lagos-Ibadan express way and EnuguPort Harcourt road. I have members of all the parties in the Senate as co-sponsors of that motion. But that is not to say that our manifesto in ACN is not different from the PDP’s. If and when something comes up that negates what we believe in, we certainly will go against it. We are are progressives and we believe in fiscal federalism in our party.

What is your view on the single sevenyear presidential tenure?

We are going to argue convincingly that we do not need that, because it is not necessary. Whatever little development we have had since 1999 across the country have been brought about by the fact that those who were elected to run our affairs saw that they had to go back to the people to renew their mandate and they need to put something on the ground to show to the people that this is what I have done in four years, give me four more years so that I can do more. If it is single tenure many governors will not even care to do anything. All the money will just be used for their own wellbeing. So, why do you want to change it? If it is not broken you don’t fix it. Is anybody complaining? Why is it coming this time? Let people go in for the first four-year term, let them do whatever they can. Let them go back to point to whatever they have done as reason for them to come back. I am not in support of one single term of office and my party is not in support of it. So, if and when he is ready to bring it to the floor of the Senate, we are going to debate it and we are probably going to vote on it. You know this time around it is not going to be by voice vote. You need two-third majority of the Senate before you can change the Constitution.

At the beginning of the session, the Senate President enunciated a lot of issues he wanted the Senate to tackle. Such issues like devolution of power, state police, state creation, local government and state account…

Those are very critical issues that have been of serious concern to conscious members of the society and it is good that we bring them up this time around so that we can debate them exhaustively and come to a

Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate Prince Abubakar Audu is not new to electoral battles. He is also familiar with operations of the judiciary, having fought the 2003, 2007 and 2008 battles on the political and judicial fields. MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE recalls the previous conflicts and how they were resolved.

F

ORMER governor of Kogi State, Prince Abubakar Audu of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), a royal breed of Ogbonicha-Alloma Kingdom, is not new to contesting verdicts he assumes are wrongly given. In doing this, he has succeeded in upturning some, while he lost others.

Just on Sunday, the Ogbonicha Prince rejected the result of the 2011 gubernatorial held in the state on the previous day, averring that the result declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was not the true outcome of the poll.

This will likely put the governor-elect Mr Idris Wada of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in a tight corner until the election pe-

• Ojudu

conclusion on whether we want state police or we don’t want state police, whether we want fiscal federalism or we don’t. You talked about devolution of power and others these are very critical and fundamental to the survival of the country itself and I think this time around, we are going to debate them exhaustively and come to a very reasonable conclusion and put these things at rest.

The 7th Senate has just started in full force, what will be different this time around?

The difference is that you have a lot of matured people with records. You have a lot of committed people in there this time around. If you look particularly at those representing the South West now, they are quite different from those who represented the zone in the Sixth session. People who are committed to the development of their society, are there now and they are ready to work for the interest of their people, not for their own personal interest. From what we have seen so far, there is a lot of difference even on the part of the ruling party. A lot of governors who came in. I believe that having been a governor, you don’t need to come to the Senate to start looking for money. You should want to act like a statesman, to make your mark, and leave a legacy. That is why you see a lot of maturity in debates to ensure that things work well in this country.

You spoke about the probe of BPE, with the monumental revelations made at the investigative hearing some people believe that not much will be achieved?

For me, you have agreed that there were monumental revelations. That for me is a step forward. If all of these are not known to Nigerians you don’t begin to even solve the problems. First, we have provided a forum to make the revelations. The next step is that we have also gone round the country to see for ourselves what are on the ground, what went wrong, challenges being faced by these companies and all of that. We have come back and what we are doing now is trying to compile our report. When our report is ready we take it to the plenary session of the Senate. The Senate will look at it and debate it and also come to conclusion before recommendations are forwarded to the executive arm of government for necessary action. It is left for the executive to make pronouncements and to take action.

Observers said that some people were treated like sacred cows during the probe?

I did not see anybody who was treated like sacred cow.

Some people point at former President Olusegun Obasanjo who was mentioned variously by some of those who appeared before the panel as one treated differently?

At no time was he invited so he couldn’t have been treated like a sacred cow.

But there were a lot of pointers at him during the probe?

Yes, a lot of allegations were made, pointers were made but again, if you can do your investigation and come out with you conclusion without having him, why do you need to have him? If we have to start bringing everybody, all the presidents who have served in the past, everything would be politicized and at the end of the day you may not be able to find your way out. We have been able to know who bought what, for how much. Did the BPE keep to the laid down procedure for the sales? Did it keep to the Act made to guide the sales? We have all these questions answered in the course of our investigation. So, why do you want to clog up everything by inviting all the big names. Everybody will now say okay, if you invite one president you must invite the other presidents? If A comes B must come.

All the things you want to do will be lost in politics. But if there is a cogent reason, a compelling need for us to call Obasanjo, of course, there is nothing sacred about him, we will call him. If our findings point to the fact that he has done anything wrong, we will make it known in our report. We are not out to witch hunt. But from what we are going to submit to the President of the Senate Nigerians will see that we have done a thorough job.

Kogi poll: Judiciary takes over tition tribunal clears the air on the controversy shrouding the poll. It also depends on whether the aspirations of the parties involved are met at that level otherwise, it may proceed to the appellate court and beyond.

Audu’s antecedents have proved that he is a dogged fighter, who pursues what he believes in to a logical conclusion. He has participated in all the governorship elections held in the state between 1991 and this year.

He was sworn in on January 2, 1992 as the first executive governor of Kogi State. It was in this capacity that he transformed the infrastructural landscape of Kogi State within the 22 months of that administration, which was abruptly terminated by Military intervention.

On the January 9, 1999, Audu got re-elected into the saddle in the state under the banner of the All Peoples Party (APP) which he won by a landslide. He was sworn in on May 29, 1999 and he served the people to the best of his capacity.

However, in 2003, he failed to return to the Lugard House when he contested against

Ibrahim Idris of the People Democratic Party (PDP) on the platform of the ANPP. Idris was re-elected in April 2007, but later in the year, his re-election was nullified by the election petition tribunal on the grounds that INEC had wrongly excluded Audu from the polls. On February 6, 2008, the Court of Appeal upheld this ruling and ordered a new election to be held within three months.

Delivering his ruling, tribunal’s Chairman, Justice Ibrahim Bako, said the gubernatorial election in Kogi State did not comply with the Electoral Act 2006.

Consequently, thousands of supporters of ANPP and Action Congress (AC) immediately trooped to the streets of Lokoja and other towns to celebrate the tribunal’s verdict.

Idris became the biggest casualty of the election cases when the gubernatorial election petition tribunal quashed his re-election in the April elections, saying it did not conform to the electoral act.

In a repeat election held on March 29, 2008, Idris was returned as the governor of state.

Not satisfied, Audu challenged the result of

Some observers, despite agitation and obvious imbalance in the structure of the country especially in some zones, are opposed to creation of new states. What is your position on the issue?

Anybody who thinks that the best thing that could happen to this country now is to create new states needs to do a rethink. I don’t believe that what we need now is state creation. The ones we have created what have they achieved? Have we been able to finance them? We are just replicating bureaucracy and stretching our capacity so thin. So, people will want to be governors in these new states, they want to be permanent secretaries, they want to be directors and so on. At the end of the day, what you achieve is spending the little money available to finance bureaucracy. That is not what development is about. Development is about being able to get your people employed, being able to educate your school going population, being able to provide medical care for the people, housing, transportation and maintain your environment.

How has it been since you came to Abuja as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?

So far, so good; though initially, it was a bit rough. It takes a lot of unlearning to do because making laws is quite different from reporting. I’m from the background of reporting and editing. Coming to a new environment, usually there is a lot of shock and it was quite a different environment. So one has to learn new ways of doing things and you have to also realise that there are things you cannot do except you are asked to do them. If you want to talk on the floor if you are not recognised to talk you cannot talk.

So you have to keep your view or opinion to yourself. But over the months things have improved and we have been able to make good contributions particularly when one has to be a member of the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) probe committee. It has taken me across the country and I have come to see a lot of investments that we made in the 70s and early 80s that have been wasted over the years. It has been a big revelation for me that if Nigeria had seen through the investments probably we would not have been where we are today. We invested quite a lot of money in the critical sectors – the steel sector, the aluminum sector, the petrochemical sector – those three sectors could have taken Nigeria to be one of the first 10 industrial nations in the world from what I saw on the ground but unfortunately, as a result of our lack of managerial capability, as a result of corruption, we ran down those companies and we abandoned them only to begin to sell them from 1999. Some of them are beginning to pick up, while some of them are almost un-revivable. For me, the last few months have been very enriching. the bye-election on the basis of alleged massive electoral fraud, including violence and theft of ballot boxes.

He equally petitioned that Idris’ Ordinary Level School Certificate was questionable, maintaining that whoever aspires to render service must first be transparent in his conduct. He held that it would therefore amount to disservice to the people if leaders achieve that purpose through dubious means.

Having gone to the tribunal to challenege the outcome of the results which he claimed, did not duly follow laid down constitutional provision, in each case, a readjustment was done. The same scenario is playing out now that he contested under ACN. INEC had declared that Captain Wada of the PDP won the December 3 election held in the state in which no fewer than 19 candidates contested. Though other candidicates participated in the election, it is obvious that the contest was between ACN and PDP. However, Audu would want to place it on record that his hunger for justice each time the process goes faulty does not make him a bad loser or lacking the spirit of sportsmanship, but a bid to ensure electoral integrity rooted in transparency and indeed, to further make his impact in the democratic process as it is done in advanced countries.

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EQUITIES

Market opens with N18b gain

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 5-12-11

•Transcorp restates commitment to best practices

2ND-TIER SECURITIES Company Name FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC PRESCO PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 6 7 14

Quotation(N) 0.50 0.50 7.74

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 500 250.00 1,000,000 500,000.00 212,656 1,643,722.91 1,213,156 2,143,972.91

AIR SERVICES Company Name AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 3 45 48

Quotation(N) 2.08 4.75

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 95,000 194,000.00 308,274 1,487,442.39 403,274 1,681,442.39

Quotation(N) 0.50 1.12

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 119,400 59,700.00 239,364 269,026.02 358,764 328,726.02

Quotation(N) 4.71 2.76 1.90 3.60 1.27 9.00 13.50 7.44 4.30 1.08 2.48 0.52 0.57 11.48

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 3,123,947 14,573,438.77 1,346,633 3,727,104.60 250,911 479,681.82 5,438,062 19,592,125.44 8,262,566 10,688,991.42 78,549,488 707,746,278.56 7,298,642 101,842,623.12 368,153 2,730,454.24 5,628,145 24,308,883.88 2,438,859 2,634,172.72 27,666,588 66,037,240.86 539,945 281,779.40 449,381 251,432.31 19,529,555 225,793,259.58 160,890,875 1,180,687,466.72

Quotation(N) 215.25 96.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 393,755 81,445,417.71 4,769,291 439,591,991.89 5,163,046 521,037,409.60

Quotation(N) 13.60 4.80 105.10 38.50

Quantity Traded Value 88,248 462,052 70,912 241,812 863,024

Quotation(N) 8.52 16.12

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 71,900 621,217.40 21,180 336,451.35 93,080 957,668.75

AUTOMOBILE & TYRE Company Name DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC R. T. BRISCOE (NIGERIA) PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 18 20 BANKING

Company Name ACCESS BANK PLC DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK NIGERIA PLC FIRST CITY MONUMENT BANK PLC FIDELITY BANK PLC FIRST BANK OF NIGERIA PLC GTBANK PLC STANBIC IBTC BANK PLC SKYE BANK PLC. STERLING BANK PLC UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC. UNITYBANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC ZENITH BANK PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 107 30 17 68 89 454 408 39 93 30 228 15 19 371 1,968 BREWERIES

Company Name GUINNESS NIGERIA PLC NIGERIAN BREWERIES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 70 219 289 BUILDING MATERIALS

Company Name ASHAKA CEMENT PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTHERN NIGERIA PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC LAFARGE WAPCO PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 26 16 22 39 103

of Shares (N) 1,180,844.32 2,212,439.18 7,584,618.58 9,328,210.82 20,306,112.90

CHEMICAL & PAINTS Company Name BERGER PAINTS NIGERIA PLC CHEMICAL AND ALLIED PRODUCTS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 8 16 24

COMMERCIAL/SERVICES Company Name RED STAR EXPRESS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 10 10

Quotation(N) 2.21

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 283,450 628,483.50 283,450 628,483.50

COMPUTER & OFFICE EQUIPMENT Company Name NCR (NIGERIA) PLC. OMATEK VENTURES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 1 2

Quotation(N) 9.31 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 8,396 82,028.92 350,000 175,000.00 358,396 257,028.92

Quotation(N) 29.05 5.81 0.58 29.95 26.14

Quantity Traded Value 124,364 450 1,477,200 826,067 768,621 3,196,702

Quotation(N) 26.00 38.43

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 20 494.00 46,599 1,717,935.48 46,619 1,718,429.48

CONGLOMERATES Company Name PZ CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC SCOA NIGERIA PLC TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC UAC OF NIGERIA PLC UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 36 1 33 103 74 247

of Shares (N) 3,638,222.24 2,484.00 832,389.00 24,704,593.06 20,090,559.76 49,268,248.06

CONSTRUCTION Company Name ARBICO PLC JULIUS BERGER NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 12 13

ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY Company Name CUTIX PLC NIGERIAN WIRE AND CABLE PLC. Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 1 3

Quotation(N) 1.70 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 6,000 10,600.00 19,000 9,500.00 25,000 20,100.00

FOOD/BEVERAGES & TOBACCO Company Name 7-UP BOTTLING CO. PLC CADBURY NIGERIA PLC DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIGERIA PLC HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NATIONAL SALT COMPANY NIGERIA PLC NESTLE NIGERIA PLC UTC NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 21 40 100 77 22 7 14 70 1 352

Quotation(N) 48.00 11.05 5.00 4.20 64.00 2.85 4.01 400.00 0.50

Quantity Traded Value 13,378 326,526 990,302 6,779,832 74,528 39,337 187,584 91,077 55,000 8,557,564

of Shares (N) 610,305.68 3,615,190.35 4,977,815.41 29,258,040.59 4,670,958.60 110,957.45 754,776.94 35,687,735.60 27,500.00 79,713,280.62

Quotation(N) 1.04 24.17 1.90

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 335,000 348,430.00 853 19,707.72 43,085 79,824.30 378,938 447,962.02

Quotation(N) 7.13 2.51

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 500 3,500.00 200,200 502,502.00 200,700 506,002.00

HEALTHCARE Company Name FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXOSMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. Sector Totals

No of Deals 6 3 9 18

T

HE Nigerian stock market opened this week on the uptrend as aggregate market value of all quoted companies improved by N18 billion.

With gains from breweries and conglomerates, aggregate market value of all quoted equities rose fom N6.282 trillion to N6.300 trillion. The All Share Index (ASI) also inched up by 0.25 per cent from 19,963.37 points to 20,015.66 points.

Guinness Nigeria Plc led the gainers’ table with a gain of N10.24 to close at N215.25 per share.

Nigerian Breweries followed with a gain of N4.50 to close at N96.50. UAC of Nigeria added 80 kobo to close at N29.95. E-Transact rose by 26 kobo to N5.47 while Unilever Nigeria gathered 14 kobo to close at N26.14 per share.

However, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc led the decliners with a loss of 70 kobo to close at N13.50 per share.

Nigerian Aviation Handling Company dropped by 21 kobo to close at N4.75.

Dangote Sugar Refinery lost 20 kobo to close at N4.20 while First City Monument Bank dropped by 18 kobo to close at N3.60 per share.

The NSE also yesterday listed additional 1.67 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo in the name of Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc. Meanwhile, Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc (Transcorp) has restated its commitment to best corporate practices as the

By Taofik Salako and Tonia Osundolire

conglomerate steps up efforts to deliver returns to shareholders.

Speaking at a two-day annual board governance retreat at the weekend, chairman of Transcorp, Mr. Tony Elumelu reiterated the company’s commitment to achieving best global corporate governance practices.

According to him, sound corporate governance is pivotal for an enduring corporate repositioning and transformation journey.

He pointed out that the board has responsibility for providing policy guidance on effective management and operation of the companies under the Transcorp group noting that the aim of the retreat was to provide induction and ongoing training for Transcorp directors in line with good corporate governance principles applicable to publicly quoted companies.

According to him, the board governance retreat was tailored to enrich the directors’ knowledge and keep them informed of new developments in order to effectively discharge their statutory duties.

In his remarks, president of Transcorp, Mr. Obinna Ufudo emphasised that good corporate governance practice is the foundation of sustainable businesses.

He said Transcorp has

NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 5-12-11 UNIC INSURANCE PLC. INTERCONTINENTAL WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 4 5

No of Deals 5 3 1 18 27

Quotation(N) 11.15 6.85 36.19 5.03

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 10,175 110,136.25 156,150 1,069,627.50 20 687.80 154,830 760,812.61 321,175 1,941,264.16

INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY Company Name CHAMS PLC e-TRANZACT INTERNATIONAL PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 1 2

Quotation(N) 0.50 5.47

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 500,000 250,000.00 72,000 393,840.00 572,000 643,840.00

INSURANCE Company Name AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED INSURANCE PLC GREAT NIGERIA INSURANCE COMPANY PLC GOLDLINK INSURANCE PLC GUARANTY TRUST ASSURANCE PLC CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INSURANCE PLC LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. LAW UNION AND ROCK INSURANCE PLC. MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC N.E.M. INSURANCE CO. (NIG.) PLC. PRESTIGE ASSURANCE PLC. REGENCY ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC

No of Deals 12 17 13 2 7 7 1 1 13 4 7 8 1

0.50 0.52

14,262 103,423 18,495,260

7,131.00 53,779.96 17,163,237.50

Quotation(N) 0.74

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 125,094 92,569.56 125,094 92,569.56

Quotation(N) 0.67

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 1,281,364 848,895.36 1,281,364 848,895.36

LEASING No of Deals 5 5 MARITIME Company Name JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 47 47

MORTGAGE COMPANIES Company Name RESORT SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 1

Quotation(N) 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 500 250.00 500 250.00

OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS Company Name NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 3 1 4

Quotation(N) 0.94 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 24,500 22,050.00 500 250.00 25,000 22,300.00

Quotation(N) 1.75

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 2,020,439 3,512,620.62 2,020,439 3,512,620.62

PACKAGING Company Name NIGERIAN BAG MANUFACTURING COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 130 130

PETROLEUM(MARKETING)

INDUSTRIAL/DOMESTIC PRODUCTS Company Name ALUMINIUM EXTRUSION INDUSTRIES PLC B. O. C. GASES NIGERIA PLC NIGERIAN ENAMELWARE PLC VITAFOAM NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

3 1 97

Company Name C&I LEASING PLC Sector Totals

HOTEL & TOURISM Company Name CAPITAL HOTEL PLC IKEJA HOTEL PLC Sector Totals

decided to build its growth on solid foundation and thus committed to global best practices.

Chief executive officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Mr. Oscar Onyema outlined key principles of corporate governance to include transparency, integrity, a c c o u n t a b i l i t y , responsibility, fairness and equitable treatment of all stakeholders.

The retreat was held with industry leaders including Ms. Daisy Ekineh, Executive Commissioner, Operations, Securities and Exchange Commission; Mrs. Bola Onagoruwa, Director General, Bureau of Public Enterprises; Dr. Gbolahan Elias, SAN; Mr. Fola Adeola, Founder and Chairman of FATE Foundation and pioneer GMD/CEO Transcorp and Dr. Adesegun Akin-Olugbade, Executive Director and General Counsel, Africa Finance Corporation.

Transcorp is a diversified conglomerate with strategic investments and core interests in the hospitality, agribusiness and oil and gas sectors. Some of its more notable assets include Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja; Transcorp Metropolitan Hotel, Calabar; Teragro, the agribusiness subsidiary operating Benfruit Nigeria, a processing plant in Benue State for fruit juice concentrate, and Transcorp Energy which has an interest in oil block OPL 281.

Quotation(N) 0.52 0.98 2.14 0.50 0.53 1.50 0.50 0.50 0.60 0.50 0.50 0.98 0.50

Quantity Traded Value 405,612 10,510,000 905,750 1,000 505,500 629,760 5,000 26,408 2,468,218 49,000 740,377 1,019,200 1,111,750

of Shares (N) 211,148.24 10,246,370.00 1,985,575.00 500.00 268,075.00 944,640.00 2,500.00 13,204.00 1,480,930.80 24,500.00 370,188.50 998,820.00 555,875.00

Company Name BECO PETROLEUM PRODUCT PLC MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC CONOIL PLC ETERNA OIL & GAS PLC. FORTE OIL PLC MOBIL OIL NIGERIA PLC. OANDO PLC TOTAL NIGERIA PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 1 10 15 12 20 14 128 15 215

Quotation(N) 0.50 63.86 33.25 3.15 15.00 133.95 26.00 200.00

Quantity Traded Value 100 27,283 13,181 202,221 23,852 5,269 945,977 18,490 1,236,373

of Shares (N) 50.00 1,655,259.61 426,942.75 640,617.49 342,066.00 687,940.20 24,414,619.77 3,513,100.00 31,680,595.82

PRINTING & PUBLISHING Company Name ACADEMY PRESS PLC. UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 3 5 8

Quotation(N) 2.24 3.59

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 16,600 36,520.00 132,003 475,101.10 148,603 511,621.10

Quotation(N) 12.30

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 22,279 260,928.38 22,279 260,928.38

REAL ESTATE Company Name UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 8 8

ROAD TRANSPORTATION Company Name ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Sector Totals

No of Deals 2 2

Quotation(N) 0.50

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 10,100 5,050.00 10,100 5,050.00

THE FOREIGN LISTINGS Company Name ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED Sector Totals Overall Totals

No of Deals 68 68

Quotation(N) 10.60

Quantity Traded Value of Shares (N) 2,343,924 24,415,894.16 2,343,924 24,415,894.16

3,730

208,634,699

1,940,801,400.55

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2011

55

MONEY LINK

Shareholders approve FCMB, FinBank merger

By Collins Nweze

F

IRST City Monument Bank’s business combination with FinBank recorded a significant boost with the approval by a significant majority of Finbank’s shareholders in a Court-Ordered meeting, voting in favour of variation/redemption of their preference shares.

In considering the scheme at the meeting held in Lagos yesterday, which was witnessed by regulatory authorities, the shareholders approved the resolutions that the irredeemable non-cumulative preference shares of the bank be varied into redeemable non-cumulative preference shares.

A statement from FCMB, said the Chairman of FinBank Board of Directors, John Udofa, who presided over the meeting,said: “in view of the number of votes and the result we have just received, the resolutions have been successfully carried.”

Also approved is a resolution that the bank be granted the option to redeem the varied shares and that the right of the Preference Shareholders in the varied shares be converted to the right to receive the sum of one Naira (N1) per varied share.

Udofia, in a speech before the vote, urged shareholders to vote in favour of the Scheme as the Board considered the terms of the scheme fair and reasonable, adding that the Scheme would ensure positive returns to the preference shareholders, and avoiding a potential total loss in value to Preference Shareholders, “were FCMB not pursuing the acquisition.”

The ordinary shareholders of FinBank had at a Court –Ordered meeting on September 29, 2011, passed a resolution approving the scheme of merger between

FinBank and FCMB. The combination, when fully consummated, would result in a

The merger will not only produce fresh opportunities for shareholder value creation and enhance the capabilities of the two banks, but

bank with significantly larger market share in terms of customers, branches and assets, the statement indicated.

CBN seeks support of OPS on data collection

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HE Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) yesterday, solic ited the assitance of the Organised Private Sector (OPS) and financial experts on data collection.

The Director, Statistical Department, CBN, Dr Sani Doguwa, said the need to seek the support of the manufacturers on data collection became necessary in view of the myriad of problems affecting the economy.

Doguwa, while speaking with

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HE Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) will continue to support every effort to deepen the culture of voluntary tax compliance, the Executive Chairman, Mrs Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru, has said.

The FIRS boss who spoke in Lagos at the flag-off of the President’s School Debate (PSD) competition for secondary schools, said the exercise would further enlighten the younger generation on issues of tax education and build in them the culture of voluntary tax compliance.

She said of the exercise in which over 500 secondary schools are par-

By Akinola Ajibade

collating statistical data relating to various aspects of the economy, including manufacturing, public finance, agric and energy production, foreign investments, money and banking, and balance of payment.”

He said, CBN can only solve the problems of inflation and balance of payment equilibrium when there are adequate, reliable and up-to-date data.

He said the contributions of key players in the nation’s economy are vital to the success of any regulatory poli-

stakeholders at forum in Lagos, said the department is committed to providing data that would aid macro-economic development.

He said: “ In view of the heavy demand and timely release of monetary, financial and balance of payment data which are veritable tools for policy formulation, the Statistics department of the CBN, is forging ahead to actualising its mandate of collecting, and

By Nduka Chiejina

“It has always been part of our efforts in FIRS to strike a balance between the implementation of tax laws and educating the populace (taxpayers) to willingly obey the laws in order to ensure voluntary tax compliance in Nigeria. This effort is not only aimed at ensuring more revenue generation and simplicity in tax administration, but to build a bridge between the old and the younger generation to enhance the culture of tax compliance,” she stated.

ticipating nationwide, as being able to offer the students the opportunity to propagate a taxpaying culture and a Nigeria where taxation would be the bedrock for sustainable development.

Represented by Joseph Osaghe, Tax Controller, Victoria Island, Mrs Omoigui-Okauru, said FIRS decided to sponsor this year’s debate competition in order to promote a good tax culture among Nigerian youth.

T

the strategic choices of the organisation, Nweke explained that “the development challenges facing the country do not start and end with the chosen areas, but that these are the policy areas where the Diaspora has the human and financial capital to enable it make its impact felt.

The chairman, who is a former

for wealth creation in the country,” he said in a statement.

He said the group will work closely with the government to address economic issues in the country.

Nweke also talked about the need for political reforms, basic education, health and security. Justifying

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

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM Amount

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

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

INTERBANK RATES 7.9-10% 10-11%

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2011 “ 14-04-2011

GAINERS AS AT 5-12-11 SYMBOL GUINNESS ETRANZACT NB JAPAULOIL AIRSERVICE WAPIC LAWUNION CONTINSURE UACN RTBRISCOE

O/PRICE 205.01 5.21 92.00 0.64 1.99 0.50 0.58 0.95 29.15 1.10

C/PRICE 215.25 5.47 96.50 0.67 2.08 0.52 0.60 0.98 29.95 1.12

CHANGE 10.24 0.26 4.50 0.03 0.09 0.02 0.02 0.03 0.80 0.02

LOSER AS AT 5-12-11 SYMBOL ECOBANK GUARANTY IKEJAHOTEL DIAMONDBNK FCMB FIDSON DANGSUGAR STERLNBANK ETERNAOIL NAHCO

O/PRICE 2.00 14.20 2.64 2.90 3.78 1.09 4.40 1.13 3.29 4.96

C/PRICE 1.90 13.50 2.51 2.76 3.60 1.04 4.20 1.08 3.15 4.75

Amount

Offered ($) Demanded ($)

MANAGED FUNDS

Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

General Secretary of the organisation and a current councillor for Social Affairs at Ostend City Council in Belgium further disclosed that the Board of Trustees is currently in consultation with diverse policy actors with a view to developing a broadbased operational strategy.

DATA BANK

Amount N

Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

She said the FIRS in 2010 inaugurated the Board of the Student’s Tax Advocacy initiative (STAI) to enhance the culture of tax compliance, saying “the establishment of STAI is one of the multi-dimensional approaches employed by the Service to promote taxation in the education sector.’’

Mrs Omoigui-Okauru expressed the hope that the debates would enhance participants’ understanding of their civic responsibilities as citizens and join in propagating the gospel of voluntary payment of taxes.

Diaspora network plans devt strategy

HE Chairman of the Board of Nigerians in Diaspora Organi sation (NIDO), Collins Nweke has said that trade and investment is a cornerstone of the development strategy of the group. “That our main policy focus is trade and investment should not come as surprise to any careful onlooker given the dire need

Tenor

OBB Rate Call Rate

cies.

Doguwa, said data is being collected globally for economic growth, adding that Nigeria would not be an exception when it comes to using the instrumentality of the Organised Private Sector to achieve growth.

He admitted that there are challenges in the process of collecting data and formulating policies that would foster economic growth, adding that the problems can be overcome when all the stakeholders work together.

FIRS pledges commitment to tax compliance

FGN BONDS

NIDF NESF

would also result in a world class banking institution with better products, service levels and an overall improved customer experience, the statement added.

Amount

Exchange

Sold ($)

Rate (N)

Date

450m

452.7m

450m

150.8

08-8-11

250m

313.5m

250m

150.8

03-8-11

400m

443m

400m

150.7

01-8-11

EXHANGE RATE 26-08-11 CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Currency

Year Start Offer

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

NGN USD

147.6000

149.7100

150.7100

-2.11

NGN GBP

239.4810

244.0123

245.6422

-2.57

NGN EUR

212.4997

207.9023

209.2910

-1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

Bureau de Change 152.0000 (S/N)

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

Parallel Market

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

NSE CAP Index

NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N)

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

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

% Change -1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

(S/N)

153.0000

DISCOUNT WINDOW Feb. ’11

July ’11

Aug ’11

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

8.75%

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

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00% 12.10%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00% 12.10%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00% 9.4%

Offer Price

Bid Price

9.17 1.00 118.85 98.43 0.76 0.04 0.88 1,642.73 8.24 1.39 1.87 7,351.90 193.00

9.08 1.00 118.69 97.65 0.73 0.04 0.87 1,635.25 7.84 1.33 1.80 7,149.37 191.08

ARM AGGRESSIVE KAKAWA GUARANTEED STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND THE LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL BGL SAPPHIRE FUND BGL NUBIAN FUND NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY THE DISCOVERY FUND • ARM AGGRESSIVE • KAKAWA GUARANTEED

CHANGE 0.10 0.70 0.13 0.14 0.18 0.05 0.20 0.05 0.14 0.21

• STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

Rate (Previous) 24 Aug, 2011 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

Rate (Currency) 26, Aug, 2011 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

Movement

OPEN BUY BACK Previous

Current

04 July, 2011

07, Aug, 2011

Bank

8.5000

8.5000

P/Court

8.0833

8.0833

Movement

56

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2011

NEWS 84,191 pilgrims return home A TOTAL of 84,191 pilgrims have returned home from Saudi Arabia, it was learnt yesterday.

Five hundred and thirty pilgrims from Bauchi State departed Jeddah yesterday afternoon on Kabo Air Flight ONK 1386.

The National Hajj Commission said it would ensure that all the pilgrims are conveyed back to the country.

The commission said it would meet the December 14 deadline issued by the Saudi authorities.

Chairman, Aviation Committee on Hajj and Presidential Adviser on Aviation, Shehu Iyal spoke in a statement in Abuja.

Iyal said between Sunday and yesterday, Max Air, Meridian Airline and Kabo Airline have carried 562 Kaduna State pilgrims; 150 from Plateau and 530 from Zamfara State, bringing the number to 84,191.

He assured of government’s commitment to complete the exercise by December 7.

The Presidential Adviser said no pilgrim would be left in the holy land, adding that the outward journey was being done according to the schedule of arrival of all pilgrims from Nigeria.

Iyal said: “Let me reiterate the Hajj Commission’s determination to meet the schedule it set for December 7. Everything is being done to convey all pilgrims. I am constantly in touch with the Nigerian officials in Saudi Arabia and they have assured us that the operations have been going according to plans.”

Observers fault Kogi governorship poll GROUP of observers, under the aegis of the Project Swift Count (PSC), which monitored the Kogi State governorship election at the weekend, yesterday identified many anomalies in the election.

Addressing reporters in Abuja, the first Co-Chair of the group, Dafe Akpedeye (SAN) said the 800 observers deployed in the state discovered that the election was not perfect.

It noted that almost twothirds of the registered voters did not participate in the election.

Comparing the situation in Kogi with the last Presidential election, the group said there was an increase in harassment and intimidation during counting of votes.

It, however, declared that the imperfections noted in the poll were not enough to undermine

A

•Northern governors congratulate Wada From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja and Jide Orintunsin, Minna

the electoral process.

According to the group, the result announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) could stand.

It said: “Based on the information received thus far, Project Swift Count found that while the election was not perfect, it noted backsliding in some areas from the April polls that provided a meaningful opportunity for Kogi people to exercise their right to vote.”

Stressing that officials and materials did not arrive on time in most of the polling units in the state, the group said: “Project Swift Count observers reported that officials

were present at 7.30am at 18per cent of polling units, compared to 42per cent in April Presidential election.

“Observers reported that accreditation of voters started at 34per cent of polling units by 9am. This compares to 76per cent in the Presidential election.

“Compared to April, nine per cent of our Project Swift Count Kogi observers reported incidents of harassment and intimidation in the counting process which, sadly, represents an increase from five per cent in the Presidential poll.

“In addition to reported violence, other accounts include late arrival of materials, accreditation of voters after voting had started, and illegal voting. Logistics challenges

Wada’s campaign chief loses ward to by the PDP all over the state ESPITE the victory ACN only for us to hear that the of Capt Idris Wada ruling party has won the

D

in the governorship election in Kogi State, the Director-General of his campaign organisation, Prince Olusola Akanmode, lost to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in his Ward 2 in Ayetoro-Gbede.

The loss was said to have dampened the victory celebration of Akanmode’s supporters.

According to the results released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), while the ACN secured 574 votes at the ward,

From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

the PDP garnered 494 votes.

The breakdown in some of the polling units is as follows: Odokoro Quarters, (PDP 73; ACN 153), Model, (PDP 48, ACN 84); Koko Quarters, (PDP 104, ACN 103); Town Hall, (PDP 97, ACN 93); Oba’s Palace (PDP 118, ACN 87); Agirigbon Oke, (PDP 54, ACN 54).

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “This was the pattern of results posted

governorship ticket.

“It is sad that in most parts of Kogi State, the votes of our citizens did not count contrary to their expectations.”

But the Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Smart Adeyemi said: “We won the poll because President Goodluck Jonathan prevailed on all stakeholders to work for the victory of PDP at the poll.

“We networked round at the last minutes because the President asked us to see the party as bigger than any other interest. We voted for PDP because of President Goodluck Jonathan. He pleaded with us to ensure that our party was not disgraced and we hearkened to his directive.

“We had no enough achievements to win the governorship election in

continue to plague elections in Nigeria.

“Secrecy of the ballot continues to be a problem, violating a fundamental dimension of democratic elections. INEC must review the processes in place allowing voters to cast ballots with their choice free from scrutiny.”

Backing the result announced

by INEC, PSC said: “We have acknowledged that the election in Kogi was not perfect. There were some challenges. But the election was not flawed. The election was relatively free and fair. It is not enough to undermine the Kogi process. It is above average and it could stand.”

The Northern Governors’ Forum has congratulated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Capt Idris

Wada, on his victory in the December 3 governorship election in Kogi State.

The Chairman of the forum and Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu expressed the forum’s gratitude to Kogi residents for standing by the party in the face of stiff opposition.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Malam Danladi Ndayebo, the governor described Wada’s victory as the manifestation of the will of the people.

“It gladdens our heart that the people of Kogi State voted for the Peoples Democratic Party in spite of all the noise that filled the air in the run up to the election. Capt Wada’s victory is a big statement that the people of the state are appreciative of the good work that the PDP has been doing which has endeared the electorate to the party,” the statement said.

Benue tribunal rules Thursday From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

HE Benue State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Makurdi, will, on Thursday, rule on the time frame to hear the petition of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship candidate in the April poll.

Prof Steve Ugba of the ACN is challenging the election of Governor Gabriel Suswam of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

At the resumed hearing yesterday, counsel to Suswam (the first respondent), D. D. Dodo (SAN).

He said: “When the Supreme Court ordered that this petition be heard on merit by a new tribunal, it did not say it should be heard outside the 180 days stipulated by the Constitution. The only option left now is for the petition to be struck out.

“Even the Supreme Court cannot extend time for a petition to be heard because it lacks such power under Section 285, Sub-Section 6 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.”

He noted that to hear the petition amounts to judicial hara-krii (suicide).

But counsel to Ugba, Rotimi Akerdolu (SAN), told the tribunal that to grant defence counsel’s application would amount to judicial rascality because the application is mischievous, lacking in merit and has no basis in law. He said it should be dismissed.

T •Wada

Kogi State but there are credible people in the other arms of government who worked round the clock for Wada’s victory. I want to pay tribute to all my colleagues in the National Assembly for saving our party from defeat.

“Another factor for our victory is the fact that we also did not want to become the only opposition state in the North-Central.“

Kwara ACN for Appeal Court From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

T

HE Kwara State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has challenged the verdict of the state Governorship Election Petition Tribunal at the Court of Appeal sitting in Ilorin, the state capital.

In the 18-ground notice of appeal, the party is asking the court to set aside the ruling of the tribunal, which dismissed the petition of ACN candidate Mohammed Dele Belgore (SAN) and upheld the election of Governor Abdulfattah Ahmed of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The notice of appeal, dated November 25 and signed by ACN’s team of lawyers, led by legal luminary Ebun Sofunde (SAN), said the tribunal erred in law by upholding the objections of PDP that ACN pleaded vague averments upon which no evidence could be led.

The ACN insists that the position of the law, backed by several authorities, is that a party that complains of vague or generic pleadings should request for further and better particulars, failing which “he shall be taken to require no further particulars or direction and is stopped from complaining with any alleged vague or general nature of the pleadings”.

Court issues bench warrant on Senator FEDERAL High Court judge, Justice Shaibu Yahuza, yesterday in Minna, the Niger State capital, ordered that a bench of warrant be issued on Senator Musa Ibrahim for failing to appear before the court for alleged presenting a fake tax clearance certificate.

The lawmaker, a Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) member representing Niger North Senatorial District was arraigned before the court with Ibrahim Noma.

They were accused of presenting a fake tax clearance certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to enable Ibrahim contest the April election.

A

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

Ruling that a bench warrant be issued on the Senator, the judge was irked by the lawmaker’s refusal of the lawmaker to appear before the court after his counsel, Abdulhamid Mohammed, had assured the court that Ibrahim would appear on the adjourned date.

When the case came up for hearing on November 30, counsel to the accused told the court that the Senator was on a national assignment at the Centre for Advanced Legal Studies in Lagos, being a member of the Senate Committee on Judiciary.

57

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2011

NEWS Awka Professionals mourn Ojukwu THE Awka Professionals yesterday eulogised the late All Progressives Grand Alliance (PDP) leader Chief Emeka Odumegwu- Ojukwu.

In a statement signed by its President Kenneth Adigwe, the group described the late Ojukwu as an icon, a great patriot and defender of truth and justice.

The group recalled the role the late Ikemba played to get Anambra State Government to pay compensation for land it acquired for public good, especially in Awka, the state capital.

Abia ACN hails Judiciary From Ugochukwu Eke, Umuahia

THE Abia State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has hailed the Code of Conduct Tribunal over the acquittal of its national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

It described the judgement as well deserved, saying the judiciary has come of age.

Speaking with The Nation in Umuahia, Nnamdi Eluwa, the Acting State Chairman of the party, hailed the tribunal for the uncompromising way it handled the case.

Eluwa said the judgement confirmed that, “the judiciary is still the last hope of the common man in this country, irrespective of the status of the persons involved and we want it to continue in that direction”.

Abia to detect ghost workers

By Emmanuel Oladesu, Deputy Political Editor

THE Abia State Government will detect ghost workers in its payroll through biometric measures, Governor Theodore Orji has said.

He solicited for the cooperation of labour unions.

Orji said there are many ghost workers in the local governments, lamenting that they are being shielded by certain vested interests.

The governor assured of protection of life and property during the Yuletide.

Punch man loses mum The death has occurred of Mrs Alice Moyiola Adediran in Oyo,. She was 93. She is survived by Chief Olajire Oladipo, formerly of United Insurance Company Plc; Mr Kehinde Adediran, formerly of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and Mr. Segun Adediran, the Chairman, Editorial Board, Punch Nigeria Limited. Funeral rites will be announced by the family.

Ex-Editor’s mum dead Madam Cath Anyawu Ughamadu, leader of Nibo Town Women General Assembly, is dead. She was 81. She will be buried on January 27 at Nibo, Akwa South Local Government in Anambra State. She is surivived, among others, by Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, a former Editor of Daily Times.

Suspected kidnappers abduct doctor in Anambra

Anambra launches N4b security trust fund

•Kill two security operatives

T

HE Anambra State Government yesterday launched a N4 billion Security Trust Fund.

It also disbursed N354 million to communities to strenghten security in the state ahead of the Yuletide.

Anambra is now the second state in the country to have a security trust fund as Lagos had earlier launched its security trust fund.

Governor Peter Obi assured that the state would raise more money for security.

The governor announced at the launch that was attended by Minister of Agriculture, Dr, Adewumi Adesina; Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Azubike Udah, among others, that two surveillance and patrol vehicles have been

From Adimike George, Onitsha

G •Anambra Governor Peter Obi (right); Minister of Agriculture, Dr Adewunmi Adeshina; Commissioner of Police, Mr Muktar Ibrahim and AIG in-charge of zone 9, Mr Mohammed Abbas at the official launch of Anambra Security Trust Fund in Awka...yesterday PHOTO: NAN

deployed to Upper Iweka, Onitsha, to beef up security in the area.

He said the state government had earlier given 200

surveillance vehicles to the police and N20 million to security agencies.

Obi said security was the most important thing in the

society and warned that the traditional ruler and the President-General of any community where crime is rampant would be sacked and prosecuted.

MASSOB to Orji: Free 55 detained members

T

HE Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has urged Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State to release 55 members of the movement being detained in Umuahia.

In a statement issued yesterday, MASSOB spokesman, Uchenna Madu, said the members were arrested in the state during the Igbo Day celebration, last month.

The MASSOB chief de-

From Chris Oji, Enugu

manded the immediate and unconditional release of the 55 detained members, including the three juveniles in Umuahia Prison and State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Umuahia.

According to Madu, some MASSOB members were also arrested by security operatives in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, during the Igbo Day celebration. But they were re-

leased on the orders of Governor Martin Elechi.

MASSOB statement reads: “We urge Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State, for the sake of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu who died defending Igbo interest, to release MASSOB members languishing in Umuahia Prison & SCID since September.

“The Abia State Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) is systematically frus-

trating the efforts of our Defence Counsel by not appearing before the court.

“They were arrested at Abia State University (ABSU) Junction on their way to Abakiliki for the Igbo Day celebration. We urge the governor to respect President Goodluck Jonathan’s order to release all MASSOB members detained in Southeast. It is only in Abia State that members of MASSOB are still being held in Igbo land. “

UNMEN suspected to be kidnappers abducted doctor Osakwe Okwuosa on Sunday and killed two members of a vigilance group.

Okwuosa is the medical director of Ajufo Hospital Ogidi, Anambra State.

He was first kidnapped on February 11 last year after the gunmen had killed a passerby. He was released after paying undisclosed amount as ransom.

The kidnap incident has reportedly thrown Ogidi, headquarters of Idemili North Council into panic. The hoodlums shot their way through the tight security network in the community.

According to eyewitnesses, the kidnap victim’s younger brother, was having party in his compound when the gunmen struck.

“The four-man gang took the vigilance group unaware as they shot sporadically, killing two of the security men on the spot. The remaining security men scampered to safety,” a source said.

Another source said the gunmen allegedly mixed up with the crowd before they struck.

2014: Anambra PDP begins registration of members

T

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State has embarked on the registration of its members ahead of the 2014 governorship election in the state.

Members of the party came out enmasse to register in some of the local governments, especially in

Abia College of Education lecturers on strike From Emma Mgbeahurike, Owerri

T

HE Academic Staff of Abia State College of Technology, Arochukwu, has said it would proceed on a three day warning strike to protest the non payment of salaries and denial of other welfare package by management of the institution.

Besides, two months outstanding salaries, the lecturers are protesting the non payment of Consolidated Polytechnic and Colleges of Education Academic Staff Salary Structure, two years after similar institutions had implemented the new salary regime.

In a communiqué in Owerri, the local branch of Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), warned that unless the management addresses their grievances, it would shut down the institution indefinitely.

Signed by the Chairman, Comrade Joshua Kalu Ugbuta and the Secretary, Comrade Lanre Oyunranti, the communique lamented that despite its patience, the management of the school has not meet the demands of the lecturers.

•Uba hails exercise From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

Orumba North and South.

The party appears to be set for the 2014 governorship election following a reconciliation meeting it had at White View Hotels in Awka, last week.

Addressing reporters yesterday after inspecting the registration exercise, the member representing Orumba North/South Federal Constituency, Chief Ben Nwankwo said the party

would reclaim the state in 2014.

He explained that the exercise was an indication that Anambra people were tired of the conflict that had dogged the party for some years, adding that they were determined to put in place a party structure and leadership that would guarantee victory during elections.

The senator representing Anambra South Senatorial District, Dr Andy Uba, has

commended the ongoing registration of PDP members in the state. He described it as a new dawn for the party and democracy in the country.

In a statement yesterday after a visit to most of the centres, Uba said: “I must commend the conduct of the ongoing PDP membership registration in my state. After visiting most of the centres, I was impressed with what I saw. This is not only the beginning of a new dawn, but an indication that the PDP has reclaimed

the state. The impressive turn out of members is indicative of their resolve to return to the mainstream of Nigerian politics. We shall continue to ensure that all that was lost in the past is restored to the people who remain the focal point of our programme.

Uba assured that the exercise would bring back those who had left the PDP due to intra-party conflicts which made the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to win the governorship election.

58

THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2011

NEWS

Expectant mum, three others killed in Rivers robbery

Bayelsa ACN presents flag bearer From Isaac Ombe, Yenagoa

HE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Bayelsa State has presented its flag bearer for the February governorship election.

Kemela Okara (48) was elected at the party’s primary at the weekend.

Okara said his priorities would include job creation, quality education, fight against environmental degradation, and the provision of quality health care.

The candidate said: “It is unfair to anyone to live in an environment where you can’t access drinking water, where infant mortality is high.

“Our population is 1.7million, the resources that come into our state are some of the highest. But the standard of living is not commensurate.

“The best thing any government can do is to provide leadership that shows it truly cares for the people. When you do, it will mean that you will create an enabling environment for industries.”

T

Lawmaker alleges impeachment plot LAWMAKER in the Edo State House of Assembly, Friday Ogieriakhi, said lawmakers have uncovered moves by some politicians to push for the impeachment of Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

Ogieriakhi said the continued pressure on Oshiomhole to drop

A

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

Deputy Governor Pius Odubu was to replace Odubu with their stooge and move for Oshiomhole’s impeachment.

He, however, said the leadership of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has begun moves to check the conspiracy theory.

A

RMED robbers struck yesterday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, killing four people.

An expectant mother; a police sergeant on escort duty, the driver of a blue Volkswagen Jetta saloon car and a passer-by were killed by the five-member gang, led by two women.

Shortly after the incident, banks on the RumuolaRumuokwuta Road closed.

Customers were not allowed to use the Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) in the banks.

Three of the victims were in the Jetta car. They were taking some money to the banks, according to security personnel and employees of some of the banks.

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

The fourth victim was hit by stray bullets. He died immediately.

The expectant mother and the driver were employees of a company selling recharge cards; the policeman was on escort duty.

The expectant mother was to be married on December 17.

The slain policeman’s AK47 rifle was stolen. Another policeman, who was injured, is receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

The five robbers (two women and three men), carried Sub-Machine Guns (SMGs), with ammunition chains tied round their necks.

They used a black Mazda car for the 25-minute operation, unchallenged.

Their car was driven by one of the women, with the robbers trailing the occupants of the Jetta car to the front of a boutique.

The hoodlums caught up with the victims’ car in front of a plaza.

A driver of a Toyota Camry attempted to block the hoodlums by parking his car in front of them.

In anger, the armed robbers killed the three occupants of the Jetta car.

The robbers were initially shooting into the air, but while escaping, they shot directly at the people, shattering the windows of nearby shops.

Police spokesman Ben

Ugwuegbulam, who confirmed the incident, said: “Yesterday, along Rumuola Road, Port Harcourt, a navy blue Jetta Volkswagen, conveying goods belonging to a firm which sells recharge cards, was ambushed and attacked by armed men.

“A police sergeant, in company of two workers, was shot.

“The victims were robbed of yet-to-be-determined quantity of recharge cards.

“They were rushed to the hospital, where a doctor confirmed them dead.

“Stray bullets from the hoodlums also injured a passer-by who is receiving treatment at a clinic.

“Investigation is ongoing, while the search for the hoodlums is intensified.”

‘Lets protect the environment’

T

HE Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chris Oboh, yesterday lamented the environmental problems in the region.

He said the challenges, include indiscriminate waste disposal, oil spills, air pollution/gas flaring, unhealthy occupational practices, flooding and sea incursion.

Speaking in Akure, the Ondo State capital, Oboh said the challenges should not be left to governmen-

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

tal policies alone.

The NDDC chief, who was represented at a workshop on environmental awareness by the Director, Directorate of Environmental Protection, Sam Iyala, said the world is being threatened by environmental challenges.

Oboh urged states to embrace a way of life that is environmental-friendly with a cultural orientation that could sustain the environment.

•Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria Hugo Ramos Milanes inspecting the Guard of Honour during the submission of his Letter of Credence at the Presidential Villa... yesterday.

PHOTO AKIN OLADOKUN

Bonnke for Delta tomorrow

Oshiomhole raises alarm over plans to rig election

From Polycarp Orosevwotu, Warri

•They are afraid of defeat’ • Governor challenges aspirants on projects

W

ORLD renowned evangelists Reinhard Bonnke and Daniel Kolenda from Germany and the United States would be in Ughelli North Local Government of Delta State for a crusade tomorrow.

The crusade, titled ‘Fire Conference’, would begin tomorrow through Saturday at the Government College pavilion.

At a briefing, the Chairman, Central Working

P

•Bonnke

Committee (CWC) of Christ for All Nations, Rev. Pius Onephrojire, said the crusade would usher in the power of God in Ughelli community and its environs.

SSS parades kidnap suspect

S

TATE Security Service (SSS) operatives in Bayelsa State have said N12.5million and recharge cards worth N550,000 were paid by the family of a monarch for his release in September.

Godwin Gurosi Igodo, King of Atissa Kingdom in Yenagoa Local Government, was kidnapped from his palace. He spent a month with his captors.

Parading a suspect in Yenagoa yesterday, SSS Director Didacus Egbeji said Igodo was kidnapped at his residence on September 1 by three armed men, among

From Isaac Ombe, Yenagoa

whom was Promise Adegbe, an ex-militant belonging to the “Young Shall Grow Camp”.

Egbeji said Adegbe confessed that he, Mikel, Osuo and Kingdom were behind the kidnap.

The suspect also confessed that he collected N50,000 as initial payment from the ransom and was to collect the balance when he returned to Port Harcourt but he was arrested.

He has been charged to court and his case comes up today at the State High Court 6, Yenagoa.

LANS by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to rig next year’s governorship election has been uncovered Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole said yesterday.

The PDP plans to send its members to serve as ad hoc workers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the governor said.

They would allegedly pose as members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

Oshiomhole said the PDP was sewing NYSC uniforms to give to their card carrying members.

Said Oshiomhole: “The PDP is working on how to rig the election. It has secured NYSC uniforms for its thugs.

“The leaders have also boasted to influence the posting of a new Resident Electoral Commissioner to the state.

“We are not afraid because we have the power of the people.”

But PDP Publicity Secretary Matthew Urhoghide described the accusation as laughable and absurd.

Urhoghide said the PDP has embarked on what he

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

termed “vigorous campaigns to villages in the state.”

His words: “Winning election is about reaching the electorate and we are doing that.

“If the ACN is afraid of defeat, they should wait for the defeat. They are afraid.

“We are selling our programme to the people and they are buying it.

“Nobody is going to distract us. We are moving to the villages. They should copy from us and go into campaign.

“They should not cry wolf.

The people will decide on election day.”

Oshiomhole challenged governorship aspirants on

inspection and comparison of projects executed in the state.

He spoke at the weekend while inspecting roads in Estako West Local Government.

He was reacting to an accusation by former Governor Oserheimen Osunbor that Oshiomhole’s projects are “mere cosmetic and deceit”.

The former governor said the Oshiomhole-led administration was harsh in policies and lacking in human face.

But the governor said he would love to invite Osunbor to join him on a walk around Benin City, Esan and in Edo North.

His words: “We will get to

a place like Textile Mill road and ask him if he was happy with the road he constructed there. “ He will not be happy because the road has failed.

Osunbor did not know the difference between quality and quantity.

“In an ideal society, he ought to refund the money because all the projects he claimed have failed.

“The road he built in Esan has failed.

“I am surprised that politics can change very decent people like a professor of law.

“Osunbor did have eyes for details. He threw money at the problem but the problem refused to disappear.”

NDDC chair calls for cooperation

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HE Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Tarilah Tebepah, has called for cooperation among the board members, management team, staff, contractors and other stakeholders.

Tebepah spoke yesterday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, while visiting the commission’s corporate headquarters for the first time.

He said the collaboration of the people

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

and governments of the nine states would also be required.

The chairman said: “There is no magic wand.

The solution is all of us working together and things will start happening. That is what I intend to do.

“I will ensure that there is proper and cordial working relationship. It is only when we do that that we will be able to meet the expectations of the people.”

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FOREIGN NEWS

Gbagbo appears at ICC in Hague

•Gbagbo

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Ivory Coast’s Laurent Gbagbo has become the first former head of state to appear at the International Criminal Court

in The Hague.

He faces four charges of crimes against humanity, including murder and rape, in the wake of Ivory Coast’s disputed presidential elections a year ago.

Some 3,000 people were killed in violence after Mr Gbagbo refused to accept defeat in the 2010 polls.

He was not asked to plead but has denied responsibility for the violence.

The 66-year-old has also rejected accusations that the elections were rigged and

accuses former colonial power France of plotting to topple him from power in the world’s biggest cocoa producer.

His transfer from Ivory Coast - where he had been under house arrest since April - to The Hague last week sparked anger from his supporters who described it as a “political kidnapping”.

His Ivorian Popular Front has pulled out of the 11 December parliamentary elections in protest.

Electoral malpractices mar Russian parliamentary poll

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USSIA votes International observers have cited numerous violations in Sunday’s parliamentary elections in Russia.

The OSCE said the polls were slanted in favour of pro-Kremlin party United Russia, noting apparent manipulation such as the stuffing of ballot boxes.

But President Dmitry Medvedev said the vote was fair, honest and democratic.

The election saw a sharp drop in support for United Russia, ahead of PM Vladimir Putin’s bid to return to the presidency next March.

With 96% of votes count-

ed, electoral officials said the party had just under 50%, down from 64% in 2007.

The vote is being seen as a popularity test for Mr Putin.

Reading a communique, an official from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said the election had in general been “well organised” but there were severe problems with the counting process.

“The contest was also slanted in favour of the ruling party, the election administration lacked independence, most media were partial and state authorities interfered unduly at differ-

ent levels,” said Petros Efthymiou.

Another observer, Heidi Tagliavini, said the elections had suffered because several opposition parties were barred from taking part.

“To me, this election was like a game in which only some players are allowed to compete,” she said.

The OSCE report prompted US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to express “serious concerns” about the conduct of the election.

Vladimir Putin is facing a slump in popularity that he has not experienced since the Kursk submarine disaster of 2000.

www.thenationonlineng.net

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2011 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

TOMORROW IN THE NATION

‘ This war against the hydra-headed monster called corruption, is a war that can no longer be fought with kid gloves. Otherwise, this country will continue to sink deeper and deeper into irretrievable abyss!’

VOL. 7

NO.1,966

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

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N this space two weeks ago (“Forward to the past,” November 22,) I speculated that President Goodluck Jonathan was getting ready to take his Transformation Agenda to the culinary sector.

The speculation was set off by a well-publicised news photograph showing members of the Federal Executive Council at their weekly meeting passing around a loaf said to have been confected from cassava flour.

I recalled a similar scene on national television some 25 years back, when slices of a loaf said to have been scientifically confected from cassava by the Federal Institute for Industrial Research, Oshodi, were served at a meeting of the Supreme Military Council. All it took was a bite for the Council to proclaim, through General Oladipo Diya, that cassava bread had been adopted with immediate effect as its Official Snack.

I then hinted that we might well be on the cusp of a culinary revolution of the same kind.

Barely two weeks later, there was President Goodluck Jonathan, formally presenting the cassava loaf at a meeting of the Executive Council of the Federation and proclaiming that since taking a bite from it several weeks earlier, he had eaten no other kind of bread.

And for the benefit of those who might think that his infatuation would wear off soon, he added that he would eat no other kind of bread until he leaves office in 2015.

Unlike the loaf warranted by a local research outfit and General Diya in the mid-80s, the loaf now understandably in restricted circulation bears the imprimatur of a research institution of global renown, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, and of the President and Commander-in-Chief of Africa’s largest nation.

Consistent with the era of the hidden agenda in which it was developed, the content of that earlier loaf was never disclosed. Now, in keeping with the transparency that is a hallmark of the Jonathan Administration, we know that the cassava content of the new loaf is 40 percent, and that this can be adjusted to suit every palate and pocket.

Whatever the proportion the confectioners settle for, a great deal of cassava is going to be required, given the national addiction to bread in every guise and disguise. In anticipation of what is sure to be an exponential surge in the demand for cassava, President Jonathan, proactive as always, has already swung into action.

He has directed the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to liaise with other ministers and, it goes without saying, draw on her World Bank experience and contacts, to develop policies and programmes to encourage cassava farming and bakers to use cassava flour for bread baking.

Meanwhile, I gather that officials of the Min-

egorical. No elongated term, and no second term by any other name whatsoever.

The proclamation leaves wide open, however, the possibility that Dr Jonathan might revert to wheat flour bread after leaving office. There should be no room for doubt on a matter that lies at the heart of his Transformative Agenda. If Transformation means anything, it means giving up the discredited practices and behaviour of the past not just while holding public office but for all time. olatunji.dare@thenationonlineng.net At this time, it is not known whether Dr Jonathan has cleared his decision to make cassava bread the Official Sandwich of the Presidency with Her Excellency the First Lady, Dame Patience, who is believed to be generally conservative in matters culinary.

Sources close to the Presidential Villa tell me on condition of anonymity that, without her tacit approval, or at the very least a show of indifference on her part, the scheme would have died in the mixing bowl.

But another Villa source, also speaking on of anonymity, said he doubted Will the presidential lug- condition whether the President could have made such gage now include a a sweeping proclamation without the tacit endorsement of Her Excellency, especially trunk load of cassava given the implications for the First Housebread whenever he emhold.

“You can take it from me that the scheme barks on a foreign trip? not only has Her Excellency’s blessing, but that she too fell in love with it at the first bite At breakfast with forlike her husband, and will eat no other kind eign leaders, will he of bread until she leaves office in 2015,” the source said. “Otherwise, it would have gained shove aside the loaf on no traction.” offer and bring out his This is without question a giant step on the road to National Transformation. Whereas favourite cassava loaf?

President Olusegun Obasanjo had called for a Cassava Revolution to feed China’s raven•Dr Jonathan ous industrial machine, Dr Jonathan is launchistry of External Affairs are already brainstorm- replace petroleum as Nigeria’s chief foreign ing his own revolution to change the fundamental eating habits of his compatriots. ing on the implications of this news element exchange earner.

Now, here is the best part: But discordant voices are already issuing of the Transformation Agenda, especially The feeding bill at the Villa now stands at given his love of foreign travel. Will the presi- from various parts of Nigeria where cassava is dential luggage now include a trunk load of a meal in itself or its derivates are used in pre- one billion Naira a year, according to official estimates. With cassava bread now set to recassava bread whenever he embarks on a for- paring other meals that are the local staples.

If entire communities can no longer eat akpu place wheat flour bread as the official loaf at eign trip? At breakfast with foreign leaders, will he shove aside the loaf on offer and bring or láfún or fúfù or èbà or gárì or rógò or plain presidential banquets, the president’s execustarch just because all the cassava has gone to tive suite and adjoining offices and at official out his favourite cassava loaf?

A highly knowledgeable source tells me that the bakeries, could the resulting disenchant- quarters, the bill should come tumbling down to levels the average mind can grasp. cassava bread tastes best when prepared fresh, ment not lead to a national uprising?

And if the scheme is extended to that other The authorities, I am in a position to assert, has a notoriously short shelf life, and is ruined by refrigeration. Does this mean, then, are already studying the security implications notorious centre of excess, the National Assembly, the cumulative savings could elimithat the presidential entourage will hence- of this dietary transformation.

Note Dr Jonathan’s pointed emphasis on his nate the budget deficit outright. forth include staffers who will prepare fresh Long live the Transformation. departure date in his proclamation: the year cassava bread every day the trip lasts?

In the other official language of ECOWAS Senior officials at the Ministry of Trade and 2015. Note that year, all ye cynics and skeptics Investments, on the other hand, have wel- who have been kvetching that Dr Jonathan is which also stands to profit from the Cassava comed Jonathan’s proclamation enthusiasti- seeking by subterfuge to elongate the four-year Revolution in Nigeria, and of which Dr cally. They reckon that if the project is man- term stipulated by the Constitution. He is bow- Jonathan is the current chairman, Vive la Transformation. aged properly, cassava bread patented in Ni- ing out in 2015.

Nothing can be more categorical than that, geria could become a leading global brand, •For comments, send SMS to 08057634061 while cassava and cassava products could soon coming from a man not given to being cat-

OLATUNJI DARE

AT HOME ABROAD

Long live the Transformation

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RIPPLES Kogi: JONATHAN RECONCILES ECHOCHO AND WADA

HARDBALL

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

Honour and dishonour in Fed Govt/ASUU agreement

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Ehn-hen....why not SYLVA and DICKSON at HOME?

DELE AGEKAMEH

ESTERDAY, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) finally carried out its threat to embark on an indefinite, total and comprehensive strike action to compel the federal government to honour the 2009 agreement it reached with university teachers. The strike had been more than two years in coming. Two months ago, this column, in fact, advised that the government must not allow any further disruption in the already heavily disordered Nigerian academic calendar. This year alone ASUU had warned on more than four or five occasions that it would take the strike option if the government continued to dishonour the agreement it freely reached with the teachers, and if stakeholders failed to put pressure on the government to do what is right and honourable. No one listened, and alas, the disruptions have begun once again.

This, however, is no time to appeal for moderation. Everyone is called upon to take a stand.

It is a fact that a protracted labour dispute led to the comprehensive 2009 agreement. It is also a fact that a part of the agreement was honoured, with a promise by government that it required legislation and other bureaucratic

measures to fulfil the rest. The government has had more than two years to implement the remaining aspects of the agreement. It has neither done that nor shown any desire to begin to address the matter. Worse, as the threatened strike loomed, the government showed no intention whatsoever, even if the teachers would reject it, to cause ASUU to renegotiate the terms. Instead, the government has shuffled its feet, has been lethargic about the agreement and the issues they raised, and has either watched irresponsibly as the strike began or chased red herring. Could this government truly claim to care about youths, particularly their education and job placements after schooling?

Though it is pointless revisiting the agreement, we must wonder why an agreement to extend retirement age of professors should be a problem for over two years. And instead of increasing the funding of university education, the government preferred to found more universities without a concrete plan for adequate funding or proper planning on how to recruit competent teachers at a time when existing universities lack requisite manpower.

What of the modification of how vice chan-

cellors are selected? It is probably the simplest to deal with, for after all, some of the best universities in the world have no government input into the selection of school administrators. Yet the government has said nothing on this. In summary, and it bears restating, the government signed the agreement with ASUU since 2009. It is irresponsible to dishonour it and say nothing, or pretend, like the Education minister, not to be aware of the strike.

The federal government attitude to education, particularly tertiary education, is similar to its misplaced policies in other sectors of the society. In consequence, the society is seething with discontent and deep-seated alienation. This is not healthy for the country.

For whatever it is worth, though this government has often appeared deaf to the people’s cries, we must call on the authorities to end the ASUU strike by taking firm and definite steps to honour the 2009 agreement. If it has any misgivings about any part of the agreement as a result of time lag, surely ASUU is not so unreasonable as not to even give the government a hearing. But the government must first show good faith.

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