The Nation December 11, 2011

NORTH IN CRISIS

Who’s to blame?

OJUKWUEXCLUSIVE Colonel Achuzia on former Biafran leader

–Pages 18-19

–Page 24

Sultan cites leaders, injustice

Day he returned from exile –Page 23

–Page 4

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

Vol.06, No. 1970

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

PDP sweeps Enugu LG polls Wins 15 councils, low turnout mars election –Page 4

Henry Okah’s brother going blind in jail –Page 5

SUNDAY

N200.00

DECEMBER 11, 2011

REMOVAL OF FUEL SUBSIDY

We‘ll return to street, Falana, Agbakoba, others warn Jonathan –PAGE 4

Delta State bomb blast injures one Two explosions in Jos From Polycarp Orosevwotu, Warri

A

MOSQUE in Sapele, Delta State, became the latest target of the wave of bombing in the country yesterday after two men threw a bomb into the building as worshipers gathered for the first of the five daily prayer sessions.

Bombed was the Hausa Road, Sapele main mosque and the time was 5.30am.

One person, identified as Tanko Musa, was injured. The unexpected attack sparked pandemonium in the area.

Musa was rushed to the Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH) at Oghara only to be referred to University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) because of his state of health.

While responsibility for the previous bomb explosions have either been claimed by the Islamic sect, Boko Haram or they are blamed for such, The 2011 Nobel Peace Prize laureates, Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (R), Liberian peace activist Leymah Gbowee (C) and Yemeni investigation yesterday suggested that activist Tawakkol Karman (L) pose yesterday with their medals and certificates during the Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony at the City Hall in Oslo, Norway Photo: AFP

Continued on Page 4

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2011

IN OTHER WORDS

“A Northerner killing a Northerner, a Northerner maiming a Northerner, a Northerner disrupting business activities in the North, a Northerner destroying properties in the North and so on and so forth cannot be helping the North by any stretch of imagination.”

Senate President, David Mark, assessing the value of Boko Haram’s bombing campaigns to the development of northern Nigeria at the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) peace conference in Kaduna recently.

IN THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT Over eight thousand runners took part last Sunday in this year’s annual Santa Dash fest in Liverpool, England

“One of the first rules of democracy is that you must not sit on the table with terrorists on the negotiating table to discuss terms as if you are discussing with a legitimate opposition to government.”Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) President, J. B. Daudu, speaking at the association’s recent human rights roundtable in Abuja.”

WEEK NOTES And these also happened!

OBITUARY OF THE WEEK. The Japanese owner of the canine certified as the world’s oldest living dog by Guinness World Records said the dog has died at the age of 26 years, 9 months.Yumiko Shinohara of Sakura said Pusuke, a male crossbreed, died Monday afternoon after refusing to eat in the morning and appearing to have difficulty breathing, Kyodo News reported Thursday.

Shinohara said Pusuke died only a few minutes after she arrived home from running errands. “I think (Pusuke) waited for me to come home,” she said.

The dog, which had aged to the

equivalent of 125 years in human terms, was certified in December 2010 as the world’s oldest living dog.

STRANGLER OF THE WEEK. Florida authorities said they arrested a woman accused of “firmly” grabbing her husband’s testicle and holding on for about 2 minutes during an argument.

The Indian River County Sheriff’s Office said the husband of Maryann Scott, 49, of Vero Beach told deputies had been planning to file for divorce and he hid a ring he had given Scott, valued at about $15,000, Nov. 26, TCPalm.com reported Wednesday.

The man said Scott became

upset when he refused to tell her the location of the ring and she pulled a knife on him, saying “she was going to kill him and that he was going to tell her where he had hidden her ring.”

Deputies said the husband told them Scott “firmly grabbed his left testicle and refused to let go.” “(Scott’s husband) stated he then grabbed Maryann’s wrist to try and get her to let go of his testicle,” an affidavit states. “(Scott’s husband) stated Maryann held on to his testicle for about two minutes or more before he was able to get her to let go.”

Deputies said Scott took a

picture of his injuries and there were apparent “red marks/ bruises on the testicle in the photograph.” Scott was arrested on a battery charge.

COURIER OF THE WEEK. Authorities at Newark Liberty Airport in New Jersey discovered five disarmed grenades in the luggage of a woman seeking to board a flight to Belgium, the Transportation Security Administration said on Monday.

The TSA said baggage screeners had found the grenades while X-raying the woman’s checked luggage on Saturday.TSA spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein said the woman, who has not been named, surrendered the items to authorities without incident and was then allowed to board the flight. Farbstein did not say why the woman was carrying the grenades.

Port Authority Police has law enforcement authority over the airport and said on Monday they were not called in for the incident.

SHAVE OF THE WEEK. A Belgian radio presenter who grew a beard for almost a year in protest at protracted talks to form a government finally shaved Monday with new coalition about to take office.

Koen Fillet and almost 800 others joined the call for a beard protest by actor Benoit Poelvoorde in January 2011, when negotiations had already dragged on for more than six months after a June 2010 election.

Many of the protesters eventually shaved, including Poelvoorde, but Fillet said he had unwilling to give up.

“I had moments of weakness, but if I had shaved I would have faced the ridicule of the nation,” Fillet told Reuters,

still sporting an impressive dark and grey beard that reached down to his chest.

In an elaborate ceremony at an impromptu barbershop set up at the studios of Flemish public broadcaster Radio 1 in Brussels, Fillet was eventually shaved facing a large press corps with a broad smile on his face.

“I’m happy and relieved there is a new government. We will see whether it is a good government which does the right things,” Fillet said. He said he would not be available for future follicular protest of this kind, should Belgian politics face another impasse in the future.

‘MANICURE’ OF THE WEEK. Police say a 69-year-old woman from Palm Springs has been arrested after her husband reported that she tried to cut off his penis with a large pair of scissors.

Palm Springs police said in a statement Sunday that Virginia Valdez was arrested on suspicion of mayhem, assault with a deadly weapon and spousal abuse.

Online jail records say she was released Sunday and is scheduled to appear in court next month.The couple has been married for 32 years, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The 62-year-old husband — whose name was not released — called police Saturday night and when officers came to his house he said his wife had attempted to sever his penis with scissors, which police say resembled poultry shears.

“They were more heavy duty than the standard office scissors,” Palm Springs Police Sgt. Kyle Stjerne told the Times. Officers recovered the scissors and arrested Valdez. Police say the man was treated at a hospital for injuries and released.

NOTA BENE

Cure for hangover discovered

Alcohol-induced hangovers will be a thing of the past thanks to a new over-the-counter remedy say U.S. scientists.

A single dose of Blowfish can eradicate all symptoms sparked by a night of heavy drinking, such as nausea, vomiting and fatigue, in just 15 minutes.

Hailed as a miracle cure by its maker, the pill - which contains 500 milligrams of aspirin, 60 milligrams of caffeine and an antacid to soothe upset stomachs is already available online.

It has just launched across the U.S. and if successful will be introduced to the UK next year,

costing customers £1.90 for a single dose or £7.60 for a six-pack.

Incredibly the groundbreaking formula isn’t the work of scientists but was discovered by former financier Brenna Haysom, who stumbled across the recipe after trying hundreds of hangover cures.

The Harvard graduate said: ‘I started on a quest to find something that really worked and could be taken the morning after drinking.

‘After some research, I found a combination that did the trick, fast.

I started sharing it with my friends, and they kept asking for more.’

Spotting a gap in the market, Miss Haysom, who has no pharmaceutical background, set about designing the first remedy specifically designed for hangovers in collaboration with New York-based manufacturers Rally Labs LLC. Her product has now been granted approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) deeming it safe for market.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2011

Column

Beyond Sovereignty A

S the contradictions of globalization intensify before our very eyes, as the forces unleashed openly collide, one of the principal casualties appear to be the very notion of sovereignty as we know it. The sovereign no longer reigns or rules, and the idea of the sovereign state itself is becoming an impossible anomaly.

Must this be cause for much fear and trembling? Not necessarily so. It simply means that the world as we know it is gradually coming to an end. Lest we forget, globalization is the incorporation and articulation of the different segments of the world in such a novel and dramatic manner that makes nonsense of old certainties and realities. It will be a profound irony if the very notion of the nation-state, which is the principal bye product of an earlier wave of globalization, becomes the principal casualty of the current wave.

But don’t let them deceive you. Globalization is not a recent phenomenon. Globalization is the first condition of humankind.

Its impact and effects merely depend on the dialectic of history and stage human imagination has reached in man’s perennial and perpetual ambition to dominate his environment.

Thus the Romans went to Africa and old England as they overran the Huns and the Gaul.

The ancients Greek got to Persia and beyond. The Chinese were certainly at the Port of Mombasa in contemporary Kenya. How do you account for the looks and names of the contemporary people of Malagasy? Around the first century, the Indonesians reached Madagascar. They reportedly went back to the Horn of Africa to look for wives and slaves. It doesn’t get more horny than that. And take a look at the average Ethiopian. The Abyssinian valley must have been a melting pot of Blacks , Arabs and Orientals.

The ancient foundation of the current wave of globalization was laid by the internationalization of the phenomenon of slavery. European slave traders journeyed all the way to Africa and then transported human cargo all the way to the new world of America. It occasioned cruelty on an industrial scale and man’s inhumanity to man on a level that had not been witnessed or envisaged before.

As a result, you have extant Africa civilizations in even the remotest jungles of the Americas.

In the eerie redoubts of Brazil, you can be shocked out of the tropical stupor by natives hailing you in garbled versions of ancient Yoruba. Don’t take to your heels.

As the Yoruba say, blood smells, and it may be your remote cousins.

A generation later, Indian colonial subjects voluntarily submitted themselves to be transported halfway round the world to the Caribbean to start out a new life as coolies, clerks and servants. Some were offloaded in South Africa. This is the basis of the writer, V.S Naipul’s , abiding resentment against his people and his new identity as a Caribbean national. How can a decent people so willingly submit to enslavement and their own dehumanization? But that is a story for another day.

The dispersal and diffusion of

•Nkrumah

the human race, the epic displacement from natural habitat either through voluntary and involuntary globalization that we have witnessed in the last two centuries, have led to a scrambling and smashing of the human genotype on such a scale that we may be witnessing a radical mutation of the human race.

In the western metropolitan incubator and other roiling centres of globalization, it is no longer possible to talk of racial, cultural, religious and even political purity. All that is solid has melted into thin air.

It is in the outer loop of globalization, particularly in Africa and Asia, that you still have semblances of the old notion of racial and cultural purity. This is the last virgin forest, the very last frontier of humanity as we know it. But even these peripheries of globalization have not been spared its concussions and convulsions.

The current scale of human integration and the incorporation of different societies across different time zones dwarf all earlier efforts at globalization. Such has been the advances in communication engineering and satellite technology that from the remotest jungle in Africa, you can actually see what is going on elsewhere in the world, particularly in the political and economic nerve-centres. Virtual reality is also real virtuality. The impact of the Arab television station, Al Jazeera, on what is now known as the Arab Spring cannot be underestimated. In 1998, Nigerians first learnt of the death of the local tyrant, General Abacha, on the CNN. The cultural and economic bounties can be equally staggering. From the peripheries, the gifted and determined can access courses on-line from prestigious Ivy League institutions in America and top universities all over the world. With luck, it is now possible for such fellows to make it to the outer sanctuaries of metropolitan domination. The rustic child watching the English Premier Division from a remote jungle of Africa can actually play in that league in a few years’ time if he is exceptionally talented and lucky to the bargain.

The challenge to sovereignty of this cultural, intellectual and economic penetration of hitherto

opaque and impregnable fortresses of superstitions and myths can be better imagined. In the most remote jungles of Africa, you hear nicknames such as Alex Fergusson, Lampard, G e r a r d , Rooney, Lionel Messi, Ronaldo and all what not.

Youngsters prefer their foreign football teams and idols to their national teams.

They even stand up to attention when the national anthems of their adopted nations are being played.

If we stick to the metaphor of soccer, it is injury time for sovereignty. Didier Drogba, the famous footballer, is on the Truth and Reconciliation committee recently inaugurated by President Alisane Quatarra. But Drogba’s townsman, Laurent Gbagbo, the professor who would be permanent president, has arrived at The Hague as a captive of international justice.

The role of the French and the international community in the ouster of Gbagbo and in determining who should rule Cote D’Ivoire should be a pointer to which way the pendulum of sovereignty is swinging. Earlier in the year, NATO, again with the French playing lead violin, converted a defensive mandate to a

S

3

nooping around With

Tatalo Alamu mandate of active offensive in the bloody toppling of Muamar Gaddafi. In the same year, America made nonsense of Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity by invading to kill Osama Bin Laden. Last week, NATO completed the sovereign misery for Pakistan.

Let us now come nearer home to Nigeria. Even before the official clash of cymbals, Nigeria has already surrendered its cultural and economic sovereignty through capitulation to IMF and World Bank policies. When the “Nigerian” representatives” of these Bretton Wood institutions complete the current ritual of surrender, they will return to base as dual and even multiple nationals.

There is something eerily ironic about a Sovereign Wealth Fund that seeks valorization and validation from punitively self-protective foreign economies. In the epoch of late globalization, it appears that brutal absurdities are the hallmark of sovereign incompetence.

Unfortunately as things stand, not even economic and political capitulation will be enough to retain nominal sovereignty. It should be clear to the sane and sober that if the current political situation in Nigeria deteriorates any further, America will aggressively intervene to protect its political and economic interests. The recent Congressional Hearing on Boko Haram is a dark and dire warning about the future of sovereignty in Nigeria if the political elite persist on the current course of political suicide.

But this is all against the real

run of play, if we should persist with our football imagery. It is a great irony that it is at this particular moment when the west itself is most vulnerable, when it has its back to the wall, and when the contradictions of globalization without economic fairness has brought it to heels, that it should feel the urge to stamp its authority and will on weak African and Asiatic states.

To be sure, the global order continues to be underwritten by American might and supremacy, but America is no longer what it was. Internally fractured by bitter divisions and badly disoriented, it resembles an Alaskan bear at bay. In Europe, certain countries can no longer pass muster as sovereign states. After giving himself several facelifts, Silvio Berlusconi, for eighteen years, could not give Italy a decent economic facelift. The west is critically out of joints.

In the face of such epochal crisis of globalization, you would have thought that fresh ideas and new social paradigms about how to move the world forward should be coming from the periphery. Africa has a big chance to start the world afresh. But this great leap will not come from elites currently segmented and sequestered in weak and unproductive “sovereign” states. It has taken globalization to give practical and political validation to the visionary insight of the founding fathers of anti-colonial struggle. It is time to start thinking of a transnational and panAfrican elite once again.

Okon is set for donkey mass transit

A

S the Jonathan administration appears set and incredibly determined to remove the non- existent subsidy on petroleum products, Okon also appears set for a dramatic intervention to cushion the effect on the long-suffering Nigerian multitude. His aims are historic and his means truly prehistoric.

The crazy rogue has been huffing and humping around the house, singing Fela’s famous song about Wahala and Yanga.

One beautiful morning, snooper was woken by some wild braying and strange sounds in the garden. Lo, there was the inevitable Okon feeding and tending to three wild donkeys which were as unruly as their master.

The equally distressed Baba Lekki was there in full mischievous regalia chanting some obscene praises of the deranged beasts even as he made lewd references to their private anatomy.

With spindly legs and sturdy back, the donkeys looked like truly misbegotten experiments in cross-breeding.

Before snooper could ask whether the house had become a zoo, one of the donkeys, a nasty piece of work from the Sahel dunes, broke loose and charged yours sincerely, snaggling and snapping at the edge of the

housecoat like a wild dog.

“Okon, what is the meaning of all this?” snooper asked rather breathlessly.

“Oga, na donkey transit for dem masses or Animal Transport Company. As dem Jonathan wan remove dem subsidy by force naim I say make I helep dem people for obodo. As dem petrol go dey out of dem reach dem no fit go near dem buses again. But donkey no dey drink petrol and bush plenty for Okokomaiko.”

“Na Hell on Heels or Ketekete Express Transportation”, Baba Lekki intoned with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. Snooper roundly ignored the old lunatic.

“Baba, you don come with your jibiti Yoruba again? Abi no be ketekete be the sound dem Yoruba shit dey make as dem yeye people dey groan?”.

Baba Lekki suddenly burst into an Obey classic.

Ketekete nlo lofo Baba pelu omo re Nwon wa nfese rin tele.

The old fool began cantering and capering all over the place like an ancient Yoruba riddles master.

“Oga, as dem BRT buses get lane, make dem Fashola give us dem Donkey Pass otherwise animal go jam man for Ketu”, Okon snorted.

“Na dat one dem Fela dey call Beast of No Nation”, Baba Lekki quipped.

“Baba, beasts get nation, dem donkey be Nigerians”, Okon snorted and Baba Lekki burst into satanic and subversive lyrics again.

Ojuelegba, Ha Ojuelegba!

Mala dey come from North Madu dey come from East Motor dey come from South Donkey dey come from West Policeman no dey centre “Oga, sebi you go tell dem Fashola boy make him give us Donkey Lane?” Okon sniggered with wild relish as Baba Lekki began dancing with acrobatic flair.

“Are you insane?” snooper screamed at the crazy boy.

“Oga I no be in chains ooo, na person whose head don kaput like Baba dem fit put for chains.

Ten OPC people no fit chain Okon” the mad boy retorted.

“Come Okon, as we go license dem donkey wetin be dem name again?

“Ha dat one easy. Dis one becos him come gentle I call am Patience. That one because he for don become suya I go call am Lucky and dis mad one becos him head no correct I go call am Isasi”.

On that note snooper rapidly retreated from the lunatic duo.

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NEWS THE NATION ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 11, 2011

We‘ll return to street, Falana, Agbakoba, others warn Jonathan N

IGERIA’S civil rights community has told President Goodluck Jonathan to shelve the proposed removal of oil subsidy.

Representatives of the Civil Society Organizations met with President Goodluck Jonathan for three hours at the Presidential Villa,Abuja,on Friday where they bared their minds to him on the implications of the planned subsidy removal for the country and the generality of Nigerians.

They pledged to return to the trenches and fight for the people should the President stick to what they described as his “fixation” on fuel subsidy.

The meeting was in continuation of the President’s consultations with stakeholders on the issue. He had earlier met with leaders of some key political parties.

Some of those at the session were foremost human rights campaigner, Femi Falana, ex-President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Olisa Agbakoba(SAN); Rights Advocate, Hajiya

From: Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

Bilikisu Yusuf, ex-Student Union Activist, Nasir Nura, Clement Nwankwo, Chairman, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Chidi Odinkalu, Labour activist, Saliu Lukman, Anikko Briggs among others.

Apart from the President, those on the government side were Vice-President Namadi Sambo, the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala; the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke; Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, the Minister of Labour, Mr. Emeka Wogu; the Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, Dr. Sam Amadi, the Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, a Special Adviser to the President, Oronto Douglas among others.

A source described the session as “frank and sincere” with all the sides making their contributions unhindered.

The source said: “The President expressed his gratitude to the CSOs for rising to the challenge of the constitutional stalemate which the nation ran into in 2010 following the health trip of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua to Saudi Arabia.

“He said were it not for the agitation of the CSOs, only God knows the kind of turmoil Nigeria would have found itself in.

“The President later claimed that he invited the leaders of the civil society groups for consultations on the proposed withdrawal of fuel subsidy.”

“The Minister of Finance, Okonjo-Iweala also made a presentation on why the removal of subsidy has become inevitable for the nation.”

But, according to another source, the civil society leaders , who took turns to speak,

insisted that there are many alternatives to the withdrawal of fuel subsidy.

They also listed many sources of funding for the government to finance its budget and projects.

The source said: “In his contribution, Falana said with the ongoing reform of the PPPRA, it has become evident that about N1.3trillion that Nigeria is spending on fuel subsidy is far more than it should be.

“He said the list of over 138 beneficiaries of oil imports has suddenly been trimmed to about 42 who have depots. He said if a clean up of the system is done, the fuel subsidy can be affordable for the country.

“He also asked the President to learn from the withdrawal of subsidy for food items and commodities in the 90s. He said today Nigeria is spending trillions of

Naira to import food items.

“Falana also suggested that since neigbouring countries like Senegal, Niger have refineries which are operating below capacity, Nigeria should refine its crude at lesser cost from these neighbouring nations pending the time it will fix its refineries.

“On his part, Agbakoba asked the government to look inward to fund its projects. He said from shipping alone, Nigeria can earn N7trillion per annum.

“He urged the government to learn from President Barrack Obama who is taxing the rich to save the middle class.” “ Anikko Briggs from Bayelsa State reminded the President that the poor in the Niger Delta cannot afford to buy fuel at between N120 and N150 per litre. She said the high unemployment rate in the Niger Delta will be compounded by the withdrawal

Delta State bomb blast injures one •Continued from Page 1 the Sapele attack might not be unconnected with a dispute among worshippers in the mosque over the mode of worship.

A new Imam in the mosque was alleged to have introduced preaching in Hausa instead of Arabic.

A source said the bomb was thrown into the mosque by two passers-by at about 5:30am worshippers gathered for the early morning prayer.

The blast came with a loud noise and destroyed the interior of the mosque.

In a telephone interview with The Nation last night, the imam of the mosque, who asked not to be named, confirmed that the blast occurred in the early hours of the morning when worshippers were just arriving for the Fajr prayers (morning prayers).

The Chief Imam who spoke in pidgin English said: “When I reach mosque this morning naim I see people gather for front of the mosque. Dem say bomb explode for inside the mosque.”

Probed further, he said: “Na local bomb dem use. Na only one person dey for mosque by the time.”

On whether he suspected anybody, he said: “I no sus-

pect anybody. But na God go judge all of us.”

An associate of the Chief Imam, who would not be named disclosed that following the incident, a meeting was summoned by the League of Imams in the region last night to discuss the development.

However, the police denied any bomb blast and said they could only confirm fire.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Charles Muka said the police found no trace of bomb in the mosque.

“It was not a bomb. We suspect an internal fire. There is no trace of a bomb blast,” he said.

Meanwhile the Chairman of Sapele/Okpe community Mr. Moses Ogodo has advised residents to go about their normal business and that the police are taking control of the situation.

In another development, two explosions went off in Jos at 10.30pm Saturday night.

Casualties are yet to be confirmed. The explosions happened at Tina Junction and Angwa Rukuba, Jos North LGA. The bomb was allegedly planted at a football viewing center where a crowd of youths had gathered to watch the match between Barcelona and Real Madrid.

•Low turnout of voters recorded during Enugu State Local Government elections yesterday.

Photo: NAN

T

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has won 15 out of the 17 local council chairmanship seats contested yesterday in Enugu state.

Except in two councils of Awgu and Isi-Uzo, PDP stood out clearly without any challenge. But even at that the ruling party, according to reports from the two councils is coasting home to victory as the time of filing this report.

There were unconfirmed reports of intimidation of opposition parties leading to voter apathy and gross low turnout. From Isi-Uzo local government council there were reports aired live on radio that the members of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) were allegedly arrested by police and molested by hirelings said to belong to the PDP. APGA chairmanship candidate for Isi-Uzo, Mr. Nathan Okechukwu, alleged that assembly members from the local government shared money to youths who alleg-

of fuel subsidy. She said the consequence is predictable.”

The third source at the session said: “The CSOs demanded the immediate reform of the EFCC and ICPC without sparing sacred cows to rid the nation of corruption; drastic reduction of jumbo allowances being paid to government officials especially members of the National Assembly; cutting recurrent cost and increase its revenue drive.”

“On the use of Executive fiat to withdraw fuel subsidy, they reminded the President that the PPPRA Act does not give him such powers. Jonathan must revert to the National Assembly to amend the PPPRA Act first before he can unilaterally withdraw the fuel subsidy.

“We told the President to ignore the fixation that the fuel subsidy must go in the interest of democracy and the nation. We made him realize that when the CSOs fought for him to be acting President and struggled for him to be substantive President in April, it was because he promised a transformation of the nation.

“We said that there is nothing new in all the palliatives reeled out at the session because successive governments of ex-President Ibrahim Babangida and exPresident Olusegun Obasanjo had toed .similar paths “We made him realize that withdrawal of fuel subsidy is not transformation.

We were all unanimous in rejecting the withdrawal of fuel subsidy.But we said if the government remains adamant on the withdrawal of fuel subsidy, we will go back to the streets to protest.

“We also pledged to assist the government with a list of sources of funds to finance its projects.

Asked what the response of the President was, the fourth source at the session added: “He promised to look at our points.”

PDP sweeps Enugu LG polls From Chris Oji, Enugu

edly descended on APGA members with the help of security agents.

I n Nkanu East local government, voting was peaceful with the unopposed chairmanship candidate of the PDP, Pastor Sam Iyiogwe, returned as chairman-elect of the council since

he contested with nobody in opposition party.

Speaking to newsmen shortly after casting his vote at Ubahu, Iyiogwe described the election as peaceful, transparent with active security.

“You can see that the new Enugu State in line with what the federal government is

talking about, to bring orderliness in our electoral process,” said iyiogwe.

Asked if he was happy that there was no robust contest since he did not have opposition, the Chairmanelect said “actually I feel happy because this is what I’ve been praying about all through.

How to tackle Boko Haram, by Gusau

A

FORMER National Security Adviser, Lt. Gen Aliyu Gusau (rtd) believes the current security challenges facing the country can be contained provided the Federal Government adopts the right strategy.

Gusau, guest speaker at the First Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Memorial Lecture in Abuja, yesterday, expressed confidence that the

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

present situation was not beyond redemption .

He spoke on “Actualising Nigeria: The Dynamics of Power, Politics, Enterprise and Security.” Nigeria, according to him, needs a multi-dimensional strategy to address the root causes of insecurity while suppressing the negative

manifestations through appropriate use of national power.

He noted that to make the country safe and secure there must be a sound security strategy and investment in the requisite security infrastructure.

The strategy, he added, would determine how the nation employs the various elements of power to make the country safe and secure.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 11, 2011

News

Terrorism: Okah’s brother going blind in solitary confinement • Family protests, denied access to wife, accounts frozen

T

HE family of the detained Charles Okah, who is standing trial for October 1, 2010 bomb blast in Abuja , yesterday said his condition, is deteriorating on account of his being in solitary confinement.

Charles is a younger brother of the leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta, Henry Okah, who is also in detention in South Africa The Okah family fears Charles may lose his sight if he is not allowed medical attention.

He is standing trial with Obi Nwabueze, Edmund Ebiware and Tiemkemfa Francis Osvwo.

The four suspects are on trial before a Federal High Court in Abuja , presided over by Justice Gabriel Kolawole, for alleged complicity in the two explosions which hit the Federal Capital Territory , Abuja on October 1, 2010 during Nigeria ‘s 50th Independence celebration.

About 12 people died in the bomb explosions.

Their trial resumes on Wednesday but the family is worried that no visitor has been allowed to see him since August.

A spokesperson for the family told The Nation in Abuja that the accounts of the suspect have also been frozen.

The source said: “His

From: Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

condition in Kuje Prison is not too good, but he’s managing. He gets abdominal pains from time to time because he has only one kidney.

“He seems pretty okay physically but he needs a proper medical check-up: his eye sight is going bad due to lack of sunlight. He also suffers from high blood pressure, diabetes and asthma.

“The medical attention

he’s getting is not adequate, though he says the medical staff are doing the best they can under the prevailing circumstances.

“He does not have access to his family, he’s not allowed visitors, he’s not allowed to call his wife and family, not even his lawyer!

He last saw his wife in August. She has visited with friends and other family members three or four times from Lagos but on each occasion the DCP in charge

turned her back because a SIM was found on Charles sometime in the past.

Asked why Charles is being kept in such a condition the source added: “The prison authorities say that they are acting on ‘orders from above.’

“He’s not allowed outside, he’s not allowed to worship, he has no access to information, tv, radio or newspapers even though the other inmates have access to these facilities.

“He’s not allowed to worship in the prison church; he’s not allowed to mix with other inmates.

“His lawyers have written on a number of occasions to the prison authorities to accord him the rights due him as one awaiting trial all to no avail.

“He told me that a senior prison official came from their head office and told him point blank that they (Nigerian prisons) do not take orders from lawyers or judges!

Responding to a question, the source said:”It is true his accounts have been frozen by the Federal Government.

“He also has a 40-feet container that was confiscated in October 2010 by the State Security Service (SSS).”

• From left, Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Pastor Chris Oyakhilome of Christ Embassy (left) during the pastor’s birthday celebration held at the church auditorium in Lagos, Thursday.

Sokoto PDP primary: Panel clears Wamakko, ex-minister, senator

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HE Peoples Democratic Party’s Screening Committee charged with assessing the aspirants seeking its ticket for the forthcoming governorship election in Sokoto State yesterday cleared all the three aspirants who appeared before it.

Incumbent Governor Aliyu Magatarkada Wamakko, immediate past minister of Sports Yusuf Suleiman, and Senator Abubakar Gada got the nod to contest the December 17 primary election. The winner of the primary will fly the party’s flag in the March 10, 2012 poll.

The aspirants had on Friday in Kaduna faced the four-man panel led by a former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Alhaji Tijani Yahaya Kaura.

Other members of the panel are Zakari Mohammed, Chuks Azuka, and Baba Lawal.

The committee spent yesterday deliberating on the submissions made by the aspirants to it and their reactions to petitions against them.

Investigation by our correspondent revealed that the panel decided to clear the three aspirants to stave off litigations and allow them to go to the field to test their

• Panel ignores petitions against aspirants • Why they were cleared tions for the sake of peace in From: Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

popularity.

A source close to the screening committee said: “There were so many damaging petitions against the three aspirants. We were shocked by the level of deterioration of politics in Sokoto

State.

“The petitions also confirmed the desperation by all the aspirants to secure the governorship ticket of the PDP in the state.

“Most of the petitions were baseless and a few could only be proved before a competent court of law. We chose to ignore these peti-

the party.

“Instead of disqualifying any of them, the screening committee decided to leave the three aspirants to go for the primary election and allow party members to vote for a candidate of their choice.”

Asked what would become of the Screening Appeal Committee, the source added: “I doubt if it will have any

job to do again unless any cleared aspirant is aggrieved that his opponent is cleared.”

A group, Concerned Original PDP Members sent a petition to the panel demanding the disqualification of Wamakko for allegedly working against the PDP during the April general elections.

In a swift reaction, supporters of Wamakko however insisted that he delivered Sokoto 100 per cent to the PDP at the poll in April.

Bayelsa: Opposition unite against PDP

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NEW twist may have been added to the intriguing strategies already employed ahead of next year’s governorship election in Bayelsa State.

About 13 opposition parties may have resolved to work together to build a united political base that could face the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The Nation investigation shows that the arrowheads of this initiative include a chieftain of the Congress for Progressive Change in the state, a stalwart of Movement for Restoration of Democracy (MRD) and top officials of other opposition parties.

The consultations, which have been ongoing for

By Sam Egburonu

months, gathered impetus after the stand-off in PDP over its governorship candidate and peaked this week.

It was learnt that names of possible aspirants that may be considered for adoption as consensus candidate by the group have started to emerge.

One of them is Dr Imoro Kubor, a retired Federal Permanent Secretary, who is the governorship candidate of the little known Change Advocacy Party.

A source very close to the group who asked not to be named, explained that several factors may favour Kubor in the new permutations. He claimed one of the things go-

ing for him is the fact that he is acceptable both to President Goodluck Jonathan’s supporters and those of Governor Timiprye Sylva.

Asked how a small party like Change Advocacy Party can be preferred in a state where stronger parties exist, he said, “That is part of the irony. The bigger opposition parties in the state, like ACN and APGA, appear willing, going by the deliberations so far, to accept the Kubor-led CAP as the consensus platform.”

Explaining how the group has been working, the source said, “some of the strategies applied include assemblage of highly respected elders to prevail on other candidates to

come on board for a more formidable outing against the PDP. Specifically targeted were the ACN and APGA candidates.

CPC chieftain in Bayelsa State, Wilfred Frank Ogbotobo confirmed involvement in the ongoing negotiations. According to him, “We are determined to execute this project, which we tag Bayelsa Project 2012.”

He however argued that the initiative is not targeted at fighting Sylva or Jonathan.

“Gov. Sylva does not in any way deserve the treatment being meted out to him. He has his personal human frailties but he has also done much more than previous administrations,” he said.

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Sultan blames injustice for crises From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

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HE Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) and the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Mohammed Sa’ad Abubakar said yesterday that the current problems in the country were caused by the level of injustice being perpetrated by the nation’s leaders.

“I want to make it very clear that the problems facing us in this country are largely due to injustice meted out to some people and if you are talking of injustice, we don’t have good governance and if there is no good governance, there cannot be good people,” he said in a speech at the opening of the 5th Annual conference of Muslim Lawyers of Nigeria in Kaduna.

According to him, “If there are no good people, you can’t have a good nation. And that is why we keep on having such problems”.

The Sultan lamented the level of ignorance in the nation’s body polity saying “there is a lot of ignorance in the polity, Christians don’t know what their religion teaches them, Muslims don’t know what Islam is all about; that is ignorance. So, we must wake up and educate ourselves very well about what Islam is. And Christians too must wake and educate themselves about what Christianity is.

“Ignorance and moral decay are the same problems that caused the decay of our infrastructure in the country such as lack of electricity, lack of good roads, lack of good governance, lack of everything.

“Moral decay in the sense that people know what they are supposed to do because they are educated, either religious leaders, political leaders but they have refused to do so, instead they turn the other way.

“So, it is important for us to understand who we are. We are Muslims; yes, we are. But do we live our lives as Muslims? Whatever our part is, in whatever you do, not only here, but in all your meetings, please get across to us and what role do we play.

“As leaders we can’t do anything without knowing what you want us to do and that is why Islam is so serious about consultation by leaders with those they are leading. Because, if we don’t know what problems we are facing, we cannot proffer solution to such problems.

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 11, 2011

News

PHCN boss blames vandals for missing power equipment

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HE vandalizing and stealing of e q u i p m e n t belonging to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), especially transformers, have been identified as the major problem facing the company in the South-East geo-political zone.

Chief Executive Officer of the PHCN, Enugu Distribution Station, Engr.

Suleman Yahaya dropped the hint yesterday in Enugu while addressing about 15 members of the House of Reps Committee on Power who visited the area as part of their oversight functions.He informed the lawmakers 33 out of 37 transformers belonging to the PHCN were stolen by vandals in Abia state particularly in Arochukwu, Ohafia and Abiriba areas.

The Enugu distribution station

From Chris Oji, Enugu

comprises the five SouthEast states of Abia, Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi and Imo. “Our major problem in this part of the country is vandalisation. In towns like Arochukwu, Ohafia, Abiriba in Abia state, out of 37 transformers, 33 were stolen. This is giving us problem and we want Mr. Chairman to see how a law could be made by the National Assembly to

tackle this problem,” Yahaya said, adding: “At times, in a day we lose up to 20 transformers to hoodlums.”

Besides, he said the problem of poor funding made it impossible to replace some of the obsolete equipment in the area.

Chairman, House of Reps Committee on Power, Hon. Patrick Ikhariale condemned the activities of vandals which have adversely affected the performance of the

Lawmaker denies using mercenaries to sit for NABTEB

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HE member representing Isuikwuato/ Umunneochi federal constituency at the House of Representatives, Mrs. Nkeiru Onyejiocha who was alleged to have sent one of her aides to write

From Ugochukwu Eke, Umuahia

NABTEB examinations for her has denied doing that.

Speaking through her personal assistant, Chetachi Obi who was

•Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi (right) with Pastor William F. Kumuyi General Superintendent, Deeper Life Bible Church during his visit to Government House Port- Harcourt at the weekend.

High hopes as Holy Ghost congress begins

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ROM tomorrow, millions from all walks of life will gather in Nigeria. They are not tourists. They are not investors either they are here to participate in a religious carnival that has defined the landscape worldwide. It’s the Holy Ghost congress of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).The theme of the gathering is ‘‘A new thing.’’

The annual convocation has become a reference point for divine intervention.

Earthshaking miracles have been recorded at the congress. It all began as a birthday gift from God to the General Overseer of the church, Pastor Enoch Adeboye. The first edition was tagged: “Lekki 1998.”

Since then, the congress has grown in sizes and

company.

He said the National Assembly would review the position of the law concerning the misuse and vandalisation of public utilities in the country so as to tackle the current challenges.

“Vandalisation of public utilities will certainly attract severe penalty,” Ikhariale emphasised, stressing that “The situation we find in the South-East zone is most embarrassing.”

By Sunday Oguntola

impact.

Many have travelled millions of kilometers to experience the phenomenal divine presence at the congress.

This year’s edition promises to be even bigger and greater. Expectations are high and millions are set to climb the mountain again for lasting encounters with God. The church’s Province 9 Pastor, Remi Oluboba, believes God is about to do a new in Nigeria.

The congress, he said, will usher in a new dawn for Nigeria. According to him, “the theme of this year’s congress speaks volume of the current situation of the country.

God is about to begin a new thing economically and socially in Nigeria. As we all go to God in prayer, seek His face individually and collectively, there’s

going to be a major visitation for Nigeria”.

He assured that prayers of faith will take the country to the Promised Land. “We need to move forward economically and politically.

This is the time and season for God to do a new thing in our lives and in the country which has been characterised by pockets of crisis here and there.”

Pastor Charles Kpandei heads Province 16 of RCCG. He reiterated that this year’s congress will witness usual divine visitations. “Over the years, the Holy Ghost Congress has been the number one destination of the world because of God’s divine visitation anytime it holds.

Levels are going to change; there are going to be new testimonies and new songs on lips as we congregate with God,” he assured.

alleged to have been caught while writing the examination papers for her boss, Onyejiocha said that she has no need to sit for another ordinary level examination when she did that in 1984.

Onyejiocha in a press release signed by her media aide, Jasper Uche said that she obtained her WASC in 1984 from Ovim Girls secondary school, Isuikwuato Abia state and went on to obtain a Diploma in Social Work and Bachelors degree in arts from University of Nsuka, Nigeria, in 1988.

The federal law maker said that after her NYSC in Osun state in 1994, she “proceeded to Imo State University, Owerri to do her Master’s Degree programme in 2006 in International Affairs and Diplomacy. I want to use this forum to ask those who are interested to verify these results with the help of FOI Law.” She attributed her recent ordeal as part of paid agents who are determined to destroy her, “having failed woefully during the last general elections and the one before it held in 2007 and at the various tribunals, they have no other option that campaign of calumny; they are going to fail as usual.”

Briefing reporters in Umuahia, Obi said that she was lured to the examination centre at Umunneochi, through a telephone call, asking her to come there and pick a message from her boss and when she went there she was arrested on the charges that she was writing examination for her boss.

She said that she never entered the examination hall, when she was whisked away to the State Criminal Investigation Department [SCID], where she was detained for a day, stressing that she asked them to show her the petition which was not signed.

Obi said that she was made to write a statement, where she told them that she has no need for NABTEB or her boss as both of them have gone past that stage in their academic pursuit.

Ekweremadu demands befitting burial for Ojukwu From Chris Oji, Enugu

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EPUTY senate president, Chief Ike Ekweremadu yesterday paid condolence visit to Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu the widow of former Biafran leader, late Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu with a call to Nigerians to give him a befitting burial.

Ekweremadu who said that Ojukwu came and died before his time was of the view that his visions and views were yet to be realised.

Ekeremadu spoke to reporters shortly after paying the condolence visit said: “Ikemba as a person came before his time. Ikemba lived ahead of his time. He died ahead of his time because his vision, his views are yet to be realised. And I believe surely his views will be realised. And it is at that time Nigerians will begin to realise that Ikemba was a man who saw tomorrow.

“You see as we speak today, the things that gave rise to the civil war are still with us and that is why many years after the civil war, we had the Ife/Modakeke crisis and the problem we still have in Plateau state. Even in Anambra state, we have Aguleri/Umuleri crisis.

“So, these crises are still there. What gave rise to the civil war was massacre of the people who are Nigerians living within Nigeria. You see that such thing is still going on. It is still that same hatred of one another that gave rise to the civil war. We still have them here and there and those problems are yet to be addressed.”

CNPP threatens legal action over delayed council polls From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

I

RKED by what it described as “refusal” of the Governor Peter Obi to conduct local government elections in the state for the past nine years, the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has threatened to use every constitutional means available to force the governor to conduct council polls.

The CNPP gave this warning in a statement issued yesterday in Awka, the state capital.

The statement which was signed by its chairman, Hon. Prince Isaac Onuka and the secretary of the group, Hon. Ken Okafor, called the people of the state both home and abroad to join the agitation.

Besides, the CNPP called on the lawmakers to prevail on the Presidency and the Accountant General of the federation to freeze local government allocation of Anambra state until duly elected council chairmen are in place.

‘Tambuwal’s leadership focused’

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MEMBER of the House of Representatives Dr. Kingsley Sunny Ebenyi has lauded the leadership qualities of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, noting that he was highly focused.

Ebenyi who represents, Enugu East/Isi-Uzo Federal Constituency said the House has not done badly in the last six months which according to him was a result of visionary leadership provided by the Speaker.

According to him “the entire members are behind him, he has our confidence and we are one united family with common objective of providing quality legislations for Nigerians.”

He said the House will continue to be on the side of the people stressing that “our bills will be people-oriented to ensure improved living standard for our people.”

The lawmaker who was a former Nigeria Ambassador to Spain and the Holy Sea (Vatican) also commented on the current quest for Nigerians in the Diaspora to vote in future elections describing it as premature.

He stressed that “apart from United Kingdom and America where Nigerians are highly organized, you cannot find such in any other part of the world and without properly accounting for the real population of such group of Nigerians, it will be impossible to budget for their participation in elections”.

Ebenyi who spoke to a group of journalists in his office bared his mind on the issue of fuel subsidy and declared that he would personally support the removal because of the enormous fraud associated with it, and what the country stands to gain from it, in future.

Have Your Say Who is your man of the year?

And why?

— Send SMS with full name and location before Wednesday to 08074473182 Responses to previous week’s question are on pages 52

THE NATION ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 11, 2011

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HE feud between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his vice president for eight, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar seems far from being over.

Atiku chose the occasion of the 1st Shehu Musa Yar’Adua memorial lecture to show that their differences have not been resolved when he skipped his former boss, (Obasanjo) in his protocol list.

The former Vice President had while introducing the visiting South African President yesterday as the Special guest of honour at the 1st Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Memorial Lecture, failed to recognize the presence of Obasanjo He however apologized when his attention was drawn to it by an aide of former National Security Adviser, General Aliyu Gusau Mohammed, saying,

News

Atiku snubs Obasanjo From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

“Before I continue, let me apologize for skipping my boss, President Obasanjo, I apologize.”

Besides, Obasanjo is the

Chairman of the Yar’Adua foundation while Atiku Abubakar is the Vice Chairman.

Not done with that, the former vice president went further, to relay his bitter experience under his former

boss, telling his audience that like South African President, Jacob Zuma, he (Atiku) was persecuted in office while serving as vice president.

He told the audience that included President Zuma,

Obasanjo, Vice President Namadi Sambo, who stood in for President Goodluck Jonathan, former President of Mali, Alfa Konare, General Gusau and a host of other personalities, that in the cause of duty and interaction with

7

Zuma who was serving as second in command to Dr. Thabo Mbeki, ex-South African President, he discovered that he shared many things in common with Zuma. He came from a very humble background, rose to become Vice President and was persecuted while in office, the same way Zuma was persecuted and kicked out of office.

Commissioner lauds journalists, decries persecution

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ORNO State Commissioner for Information and Home Affairs, Mr. Inuwa Bwala has described journalists as the most vulnerable group in any crisis situation globally because, in his view, they have recorded the highest number of casualties in conflict situations around the world.

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

Delivering a paper entitled “Journalism and Conflict Reporting: A Nigeria Field Man’s account” at the second Kaduna NUJ Chairman’s Roundtable in Kaduna, Bwala regretted that in most cases journalists take the blame for conflicts

in the society even when they only report events and are not the creators of such events.

According to him, practising journalism in Africa, especially Nigeria without any tangible safety or insurance policy has become the hallmark of the profession.

“Given our vulnerability however, Africa is not the place for a Journalist to exhibit any form of professional bravado by going the extra miles to present detailed facts of conflicts. It is unfortunate that Journalists who attempt to cross firing lines to obtain facts have in the past fallen into trouble”,

he said.

But he was quick to point out that journalists are no saints.

“Times without number, I had cause to defend the actions of our colleagues even as a union leader in the past.

As a spokesman of government at different times of conflict, I find some account of event by our colleagues indefensible. I take exception to reports by some of our colleagues on the Boko Haram insurgence in Borno as a case study.

“Many of those who wrote on the Boko Haram conflict do so from their arm chairs without going out to verify some of the incidents. Of course, the atmosphere has been hostile and going to specific scenes of conflict may be difficult.

But the fundamental practice direction of journalists calls on us to leave out any fact about which we have doubt.

“In rushing to be the first to break the news or beat others to it, we have made some blunders in reporting the situation to the effect that our readers and listeners had course to openly question our credibility.”

FRSC boss mobilises for yuletide

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N its concerted efforts geared towards reducing the occurrence of road accidents this yuletide season, the Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC) has embarked on the deployment of personnel, vehicles, helicopters, robust public enlightenment and strict enforcement of traffic rules in different parts of the country.

The Corp Marshal of the FRSC, Osita Chidoka gave this hint at a joint rally.

He also said they would be focusing their attention on crimes such as drunk driving, the use of mobile phones while driving, overloading and non-use of seat-belts.

Madam Ohikhena is dead

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HE Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Ward three in Ihievbe, Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State, Mr. Emmanuel Ohikhena has lost his mother, Mrs. Christiana Ohikhena.

She was a devout Christian and died on the 7th of November, 2011.

She was aged 76. Burial arrangement is to be announced by the family later.

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2011

News

Jonathan advocates African consensus on political stability

Kogi Governorship Polls: Wada receives certificate of return P T

HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has handed the certificate of return to the governor-elect of Kogi State, Mr. Idris Wada and the Deputy Governorelect, Abayomi Awoniyi.

The two, who contested on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), were declared

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

winners of the December 3 election by INEC. The INEC National Commissioner in charge of Kogi, Nasarawa and Plateau states, Mr. Suleiman Oniyangi said that under the Electoral Act the certificate is supposed to be issued within seven days of

announcing election results.

He said: “ The official position is for us to come to you in your state and hand over the certificate to you.”

He expressed optimism that the governor-elect and his deputy would live up to expectation by steering the ship of Kogi State in the right direction for the benefit of the masses.

Responding, the governor-elect, said: “I am highly delighted. I want to thank INEC for the fantastic job it did in Kogi State. I thank all the people in Kogi State who voted for us.

“I want to assure that the trust bestowed on me and Yomi will not be betrayed.

We will work hard to uplift the lives of the masses.”

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan wants the adoption of African consensus on issues affecting the continent.

Speaking yesterday during talks with President Jacob Zuma of South Africa who was on a visit to Nigeria, Jonathan said to enhance peace, political stability and progress on the continent, African leaders must adopt a consensus on certain issues and work collectively to achieve the developmental objectives of the African Union. He further said that greater effort must also be made to ensure that decisions taken

by African Heads of State and Government under the auspices of the African Union are faithfully implemented.

He said: “African leaders must agree on a common position on certain issues and speak with one voice. It is not enough for the African Union to just take a position on issues, action must also follow in support of our position.” This new

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

thinking is expected to be canvassed by both leaders in the next African Union Summit slated for next year.

The two leaders discussed recent developments in Libya, Cote d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo and other parts of Africa. They agreed that the African Union Summit should address these developments and take further action to facilitate peace and political stability in Africa.

President Jonathan, also yesterday, received the outgoing Pakistani High Commissioner in Abuja, Major-General Asif Duraiz Akhtar. President Jonathan thanked General Akhtar for his efforts to strengthen bilateral relations between Nigeria and Pakistan. The President told the High Commissioner, who was accompanied by his wife, that after completing his tenure in the country, he could now consider himself an honorary Nigerian Ambassador to the world.

MOSOP condemns killing of cashier, kidnap of monarch •ACN worried over insecurity in Rivers

T •Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, the Director-General, National Sports Commission, Dr. Patrick Ekeji, (left) Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Development, Mr. Waheed Enitan Oshodi , during the presentation of the Joint Protocol Agreement on the hosting of the 18th National Sports Festival in 2012 to the Lagos State Government by the commission at the State House Ikeja, Lagos, at the weekend

Transporters demand repair of roads •Providing for road transportations, maintenance will cause budget deficit, says Fed Govt

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HE National President of the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Alhaji Kassim Ibrahim Bataiya is demanding comprehensive reconstruction, rehabilitation and repairs of all roads in the country.

Speaking in Abuja at the inauguration of the new executive council of NARTO, he said such a move would ease road transportation and minimize accidents.

He highlighted challenges in the sector to include the welfare of truck and tanker drivers, the state of Nigerian roads, the issue of 5% withholding tax, provision of adequate security on the highways to prevent frequent hijack of vehicles with their products, position of the business of their members in the event of deregulation of the downstream sector of the petroleum industry, and other issues for the improvement of their business.

He promised that during his tenure ,the association would strive to ensure that the government of President Goodluck Jonathan succeeds, while it will support government

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

policies which are designed to deliver the common good to the generality of the citizens such as deregulations; development of roads, power and steel, health, education and agriculture; and the provision of security in Nigeria.

He also pushed for the removal of the 5% withholding tax imposed on their members transporting petroleum products across Nigeria.

Similarly, the National President demanded adequate provision of highway security and government schemes to enable NARTO members’ access soft loans for vehicles replacement to boost the transport subsector.

At the occasion, the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu said that it would be difficult for the Federal Government to intervene in the road transport sector through budgetary provision as it will lead to huge deficit.

The Minister, who was

represented at the occasion by the Deputy Director in the Ministry, Mr. Ebere Okogwu, stressed that budgetary provisions for road transportation and maintenance could distort budgetary allocations even as he maintained that the Federal Government has ruled out external borrowing to finance them.

He said: “Intervening in this sector was difficult because of the quantum of funds required which could not be sourced from annual budgetary provisions.

Budgetary provisions for road transportation and maintenance could distort allocation leading to huge deficit.”

Lagos, Ogun raise panels on boundary, revenue issues

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N order to strengthen inter-governmental relations, Lagos and Ogun State have agreed to constitute Joint Committees to resolve boundary and tax revenue remittance issues.

The Lagos State Committee is headed by the Deputy Governor, Princess Adejoke OrelopeAdefulire. Other members are Special Adviser on Taxation and Revenue, Mr Abimbola Sodipo,

Permanent Secretary, Lands Bureau, Mr Hakeem Muri-Okunola, Permanent Secretary, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Otunba Adejiyan-Ojora, SurveyorGeneral, Surveyor Oluremi Olatubosun and Chairman, Lagos State Internal Revenue Services, Mr Tunde Fowler.

The Joint Committees of both States are headed by their respective Deputy

Governors and are saddled with the responsibility of coming up with a clear delineation of boundaries between the States and marking out areas belonging to each with signposts along the boundary lines. It will also recommend ways of sorting out issues relating to collection and remittances of taxes by residents of the two States in accordance with the existing tax laws.

HE Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) has “strongly” condemned Thursday’s killing of the cashier of Khana Local Government in Rivers State,, Mr. Lekia Nwiku by unknown assailants.

It also expressed displeasure over the spate of kidnappings in the country especially that of the Nkpe (king) of Alesa-Eleme in Eleme Local Government Area, Chief J. D. Emperor.

The President of MOSOP, Ledum Mitee, who is also the Chairman of the Niger Delta Technical Committee (NDTC), said in Port Harcourt that the security agencies must be alive to their responsibilities.

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Rivers State chapter, through its Publicity Secretary, Jerry Needam, also deplored the level of insecurity in the state.

Nwiku, was killed soon after collecting from a bank in Port Harcourt an undisclosed amount of money for the payment of salary to employees of the LG. The incident occurred on the Saakpenwa-Bori Road.

The cash was,however, recovered intact by the police.

It was learnt that Nwiku was trailed by the gunmen from Port Harcourt.

The Commissioner of Police, Suleiman Abba, insisted that the command was on top of the security situation with policemen on the trail of criminals.

Abba, who described policing as a collective responsibility, urged the public to give useful information about criminals in their midst to the police, assuring that the informants’ identities

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

would be well-protected.

Governor Rotimi Amaechi also described the state as safe and investmentfriendly, while insisting that crimes were not peculiar to the state.

MOSOP, while receiving the sad reports of the kidnap of the Ogoni monarch and murder of the Khana LG cashier, stated that it found no justifiable reason for the callous and dastardly acts.

The Ogoni umbrella organisation said: “We feel pained at the escalating trend of the dastardly acts of doing business with peoples’ freedom and their lives. This is indeed a sad commentary on law enforcement machinery, especially in a country with increasing budgetary allocations for security votes, at all levels of government.

The Rivers state ACN, on its part said the resurgence of criminal activities in the state had further cast doubt on the capability of the security operatives to protect lives and property, in spite of the huge amount of money being spent on security vote.

It lamented that in the last few weeks, the state had witnessed unprecedented occurrence of bank robberies, kidnappings and maiming of innocent Nigerians in full public glare, without the least resistance from the security operatives.

ACN said: “Not even the villages, communities and the coastal waters are safe, as piracy and cult activities are on the increase, with their attendant threats to human lives and property.

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WORLD NEWS THE NATION ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 11, 2011

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USSIANS angered by allegedly fraudulent parliamentary elections and the country’s ruling party took part in protests yesterday in cities from the freezing Pacific Coast to the southwest, eight time zones away — a striking show of indignation that poses a challenge to Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s hold on power.

Protests took place in at least 15 cities, most them attracting crowds of several hundred to a thousand. And the day’s centerpiece was yet to take place — a massive rally in Moscow that was expected to gather more than 30,000 people.

The protesters are both angered by reports of flagrant vote fraud in the Dec. 4 election and energized by the sense that the elections showed Putin and his United Russia party to be newly vulnerable. The party held an overwhelming two-thirds of the seats in the previous parliament, but its share plunged by about 20 percent in the recent vote.

That result was a significant loss of face for the party that has dominated Russian politics, and protesters say that even its reduced performance was inflated by ballot-box

Russians protest election fraud stuffing.

“The falsifications that authorities are doing today have turned the country into a big theater, with clowns like in a circus,” said Alexander Trofimov, one of the early arrivals for the protest at Bolotnaya Square, on an island in the Moscow River adjacent to the Kremlin.

Others say the elections were just the catalyst for them to show their anger over many issues.

“I don’t think any citizen of the country can say he is very happy with anything.

We don’t have an independent judiciary, there is no freedom of expression — all this combined creates a situation where people are forced to protest,” said demonstrator Albert Yusupov, who was in civilian clothes but identified himself as a member of the Russian army.

Thousands of miles (kilometers) away, in the city of Vladivostok, several hundred protesters rallied along a waterside avenue

where some of Russia’s Pacific Fleet warships are docked. They shouted “Putin’s a louse” and some held a banner caricaturing United Russia’s emblem, reading “The rats must go.”

Police stayed on the fringes of that demonstration and made no arrests. But the Interfax news agency reported that about 15 people were

arrested at a protest in the Siberian city of Perm and about 30 in the Far Eastern city of Khabarovsk when a flash-mob started an unauthorized protest.

Officials in many cities, including Moscow, gave permission for the protests, an unusual largesse in a country where opposition rallies are frequently banned or limited to small

attendance.

But in what appeared to be an attempt to prevent young people from attending the protest, Moscow’s school system declared Saturday afternoon an extra school day for grades 9-11. Students were told of the move only on Friday, news reports said.

President Dmitry Medvedev conceded this

week that election law may have been violated and Putin suggested “dialogue with the oppositionminded” — breaking from his usual authoritarian image. The Kremlin has come under strong international pressure, with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton calling the vote unfair and urging an investigation into fraud.

Yemen unity government sworn in

Y

EMEN’S national unity government, led by the opposition, was sworn yesterday to lead a three-month transition period until early elections are held and President Ali Abdullah Saleh formally steps down, an official statement said.

The statement, carried by the official Saba news agency, said the swearing-in ceremony took place at the Republican Palace in the capital Sanaa in the presence of Vice President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi.

The new 34-member cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Mohammed Basindawa, will carry out its duties until February elections, after which Hadi will take over the presidency for an interim two-year period as stipulated by a Gulf-sponsored deal drafted to resolve Yemen’s political crisis.

Half of the new cabinet posts were entrusted to members of the opposition Common Forum, while Saleh loyalists were appointed to the other half, a condition stipulated in the Gulf plan signed by Saleh on November 23.

Saleh’s ministers for foreign affairs and defence have retained their posts, while the interior ministry, the human rights portfolio, finance and information ministries have been entrusted to the opposition.

The Gulf initiative gave Hadi temporary authority to rule Yemen and form a unity government until elections in

which he will be the only candidate.

Once Hadi is elected, Saleh will then lose his current title of honorary president and officially be removed from power.

The power-transition deal also gave Saleh and his close relatives immunity from prosecution for crimes he allegedly committed in the uprising against his rule that has left hundreds of people dead and thousands more wounded since it began in January.

However, the protesters who have thronged the streets of the capital and other Yemeni cities have rejected the immunity clause and continue to demand that the long-time dictator go on trial.

Yesterday, thousands of protesters marched in Yemen’s flashpoint city of Taez, demanding Saleh be tried.

“No immunity, no assurances,” chanted the protesters.

In the last week alone, more than 30 people have been killed in the fighting.

Resolving Yemen’s deteriorating security situation will likely be the most difficult challenge facing the new government.

Saleh’s sons and nephews still control much of the country’s elite military units, and unresolved conflicts with rebels, separatists and Al-Qaeda militants continue to threaten stability.

•Police officers detain an opposition activist protesting against alleged mass fraud in the December 4 parliamentary polls in central St.Petersburg, yesterday. Tens of thousands of election protesters turned out in Moscow and other major cities across Russia in open defiance to strongman Vladimir Putin’s 12-year rule.

AFP PHOTO / OLGA MALTSEVA

Filipino militants free US teen after five months

A

1 4 - y e a r - o l d American boy who was abducted with his mother and cousin by suspected Muslim militants in the southern Philippines was released yesterday from five months of jungle captivity, the Philippine military said.

The boy, Kevin Lunsmann, was recovered by a village official in Lamitan town on southern Basilan Island, a stronghold

of the al-Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf rebels, who are believed to be behind the kidnapping, said military spokesman Lt. Col. Randolph Cabangbang.

He is now safe in military custody, Cabangbang said, without offering other details.

The boy’s FilipinoAmerican mother, Gerfa Yeatts Lunsmann, was freed two months ago after she was dropped off by boat at a

wharf on Basilan. Their Filipino cousin, Romnick Jakaria, dashed to freedom last month when special Philippine army forces managed to get near an Abu Sayyaf camp in the mountains of Basilan.

They were believed to be held for ransom, but Cabangbang did not say yesterday whether any was paid.

The three were vacationing with relatives

Police in Congo round up opposition after poll results Police in an unmarked car are rounding up young men in opposition neighbourhoods in Congo’s capital a day after election results declared the incumbent president the winner.

A team of reporters saw the group of police officers force their way into a home in Kinshasa yesterday. They dragged out a young man and threw him into the back of the waiting car.

The scene was repeated a few blocks later.

Human Rights Watch senior researcher Anneke Van Woudenberg says she is receiving calls from residents in neighbourhoods throughout the city reporting

abductions by security forces.

Congo’s capital remained tense yesterday.

The country’s opposition leader

rejected the results and proclaimed himself president, setting the stage for confrontation.

Van-truck crash kills 30 in central South Africa

P

OLICE say the driver of an overloaded van lost control, veered into the oncoming lane and collided with a truck in central South Africa, leaving 30 people dead.

Police spokesman Mmako Mophiring says 29 of those killed early yesterday were passengers on the van, which was certified to carry 23 but was carrying 35. A truck passenger also died.

Both drivers survived the

crash near Harrismith, about 300 kilometres south of Johannesburg.

The van was travelling some 850 kilometres from Johannesburg to Umtata.

Multiple-fatality accidents are common at year end, when many urban South Africans undertake long road journeys, sometimes using unsafe but cheap taxi van services, to spend Christmas and New Year with family in rural areas.

on an island near Zamboanga city when they were snatched July 12 and taken by boat to nearby Basilan. The captors then called the family in Campbell County, Virginia, to demand a ransom.

The U.S. and Philippine governments did not pay any ransom for the mother’s release, Interior Secretary Jessie Robredo said in October, adding that he was unaware whether any private group did.

Ransom kidnappings have long been a problem in the impoverished region and are blamed mostly on the Abu Sayyaf, a group on a list of U.S. terrorist organizations and notorious for beheadings and bombings over the past two decades.

Its stated goal has been the establishment of an Islamic state in the southern Philippines, home to minority Muslims in the predominantly Christian nation.

The Abu Sayyaf was founded on Basilan in the 1990s as an offshoot of a violent Muslim insurgency that has been raging for decades.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 11, 2011

Glamour

Nail

E ssentials

Polish

W

ELL painted nails do more than cover the nails. Many nail polishes can lighten the mood.

But the great ones complement your life, and accessorize your finger nails!

As we all know, some ladies wouldn’t mind spending good money to have real human hair or lace wig provided it is genuine

trends

By Joseph Joe

just to add to their beauty and some don’t mind fixing false lashes to have those Barbie eyes. Likewise, these days, ladies are crazy for false nails with multi colours and they come in various design; the double nails, French tips, glass nails or powdered nails.

•Ini Edo

•Loveth Ajufoh

Nail care

Y

OU can maintain them by keeping them clean after eating, file them with good nail file and repolish them when the old nail polish is fading off.

Maintain regular gaps between applying nail polish, allowing the nails to breathe and reducing the possibilities of drying and chipping.

Duration of false nails: Depending on how you can carry it, if it is powdered, it can last up to three weeks.

But one should avoid fixing for too long to avoid nail infection.

31

10

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2011

COMMENT and ANALYSIS

11

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2011

Festus Eriye efestus2003@yahoo.com 08052135878 (SMS only)

T

HANKS to the events of the Arab Spring the world now has revolution on its mind. When the likes of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the incumbent, Goodluck Jonathan, are predicting an imminent overthrow of the established order then you know something is afoot.

For a myriad of reasons I have argued that Nigeria is not as close to revolution as some would have us believe. A major reason is we love life too much to risk our precious necks for something as demanding as a revolution.

But even more critical, revolutions target authoritarian regimes – not incompetent ones. In all the Arab countries where the wind of change has swept through, the losers have been despots like Tunisia’s Zine Abidine Ben Ali, Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak and Yemen’s Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Revolutions also tend to have an intellectual dimension driving them – such that when the right moment comes a critical mass of the people are mentally prepared to do what it takes to effect change.

None of those conditions are prevalent in today’s Nigeria. I believe what we have staring us in the face is a gradual slide into anarchy that we just seem incapable of halting.

I dipped in the dictionary to reassure myself that “anarchy” was the word I was really searching for. This is an appropriate definition: ‘general lawlessness and disorder - especially when thought to result from an absence or failure of government.’

To put things in perspective let’s recall some events that have made headlines in the last two weeks. A few days ago hundreds of former Niger Delta militants on their way to the federal capital to protest the non-implementation of the amnesty programme cordoned off the Lokoja-Abuja road. The ensuing traffic gridlock lasted over eight hours.

A few days before this blockade of a major road artery linking north and south, tanker drivers in Lagos plunged a section of city into chaos after they deliberately blocked the expressway leading to the nation’s largest port – Tin Can – with scores of their trailers.

Why did they do this? Officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) had towed away one of their trailers that had been violating the rules. Not only did the drivers shut down the expressway, they also set upon LASTMA officials and policemen who took to their heels in fright.

In Lagos, tanker drivers insist on doing as they please, and would call a strike at the drop of the hat. Every government that has tried to rein them in has suffered humiliating defeat as they would immediately precipitate a petrol supply crisis by pulling their vehicles off the road.

I was still ruminating on the antics of these outlaws, when a headline out of Ibadan caught my eye. Banks in the Oyo State capital had shut their doors to customers for a couple of days last week be-

Nigeria’s slow slide into anarchy Self-help is fast becoming our national ideology

Lekan Otufodunrin lotufodunrin@yahoo.com 08050498530 (SMS only)

Prayer without planning

T

•Tanker drivers blockading Apapa-Oshodi Expressway recently

cause of fear of armed robbery.

A couple of months back a similar siege by armed bandits led to banks in major commercial centres of the SouthEast equally not opening for days. Officials of the Central Bank estimate that at least 100 bank branches across the country have suffered such violent incidents this year alone.

Up north, the terrorist Boko Haram sect kills with impunity, and at times and places of their choosing. After their devastating attacks on Damaturu and Potiskum, they have left their bloody imprint on several spots in the north – the latest being Kaduna.

Psychologically, they have so struck fear into the hearts of major figures that very few are willing to openly to denounce the Islamists’ reign of terror. Senate President, David Mark, alluded to this recently when he said: “Are we afraid to openly condemn Boko Haram either for political reasons or out of fear of possible attack by the sect? How can we keep quiet when a group begins to propagate the ideology that Western education is Haram? Western education today remains the pivot of development.

“Have we forgotten that evil thrives when good men are silent? A Northerner killing a Northerner, a Northerner maiming a Northerner, a Northerner disrupting business activities in the North, a Northerner destroying properties in the North and so on and so forth cannot be helping the North by any stretch of imagi-

“Most people who predict the imminent breakup of Nigeria usually point to ethnic and religious divisions as potential catalysts. However, the thing that may just get the job done faster is the Nigerian’s desire to be a law unto himself”

nation. Can this help Northern cause?”

Interestingly, a cream of the Northern elite had gathered in Kaduna to discuss how to bring peace to the region. The bombing that followed was clearly the sect’s way of thumbing its nose at the leaders’ pacification efforts.

Frankly, the extreme and mindless nature of Boko Haram atrocities is such that people are no longer shocked by what the sect gets up to.

However, I was stunned late last week to read reports of a parade through the streets of Lagos by militants of the Oodua People’s Congress’ (OPC) in response to the activities of Boko Haram.

What I found truly astonishing was that hundreds of armed militants were marching in broad daylight unrestrained through one of the major thoroughfares of Lagos firing shotguns and rifles in the air – and there was not a policeman in sight.

The examples are endless, and they all reinforce one fact. We are witnessing an unprecedented collapse of state authority at federal and gubernatorial levels. All manner of forces are openly taking on the state and getting away with murder – literally.

The questions that keeps popping up in your head is where is the government?

We have so much government intrusion into our lives, and yet in the face of recent events the government has been so invisible.

We have so many laws, and so little will to enforce them. While the National Assembly is busy patting itself on the back for passing self-serving and sensational legislation like the one against gay marriages, it will not lift a finger to address the emerging chaos.

Most people who predict the imminent break-up of Nigeria usually point to ethnic and religious divisions as potential catalysts. However, the thing that may just get the job done faster is the Nigerian’s desire to be a law unto himself.

HE Secretary to the Federal Government, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim did the right thing when he opted to explain the problem of the country by quoting scriptures when he was called to deliver the message of President Goodluck Jonathan last Friday night at the Shiloh 2011 programme of the Winners Chapel, Otta, Ogun State.

What he probably didn’t bargain for was that even though Church leaders trust God to take control of the situation in the country, they are worried that the problems being faced by the citizens need to be addressed urgently before the situation gets out of hand.

Anyim started out drawing the attention of the congregation to the fact that the “ a child of God was on the throne” and they should be assured that all will be well despite the various challenges being faced by the country.

He indeed acknowledged that the country which has had more than its own fair share of crisis had been sustained.

Quoting Psalm 34: 19 Anyim stated that many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivered him from them all adding that whatever turbulence the country was experiencing was to fulfil the scriptures.

Anyim got a mild applause for speaking the right spiritual language but some listeners were apparently not impressed considering that God will not come down to solve our problems for us if those in positions of authority fail to take the right decisions. Like the popular saying, “heaven helps those who help themselves.”

Good enough, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, (RCCG), Pastor E.A. Adeboye who spoke immediately after Anyim, did not fail to send the right message to President Jonathan.

“Tell him we are praying. We hope that the afflictions of the righteous will end soon”. Pastor Adeboye did not say more than this, but his surprising response spoke the minds of many in the congregation that night.

The governments at all levels have to do something urgent about addressing the various challenges Nigerians have been coping with. The economic situation in the country is worrisome and the government’s resolve to remove fuel subsidy may trigger off crisis that may be difficult to control.

God cannot be blamed for many of the afflictions Nigerians have endured. They are avoidable problems which the ordinary Nigerians might have been spared of if the present and previous governments have taken and implemented the right decisions.

If Pastor Adeboye could respond the way he did, President Jonathan needs to take the clergy man’s subtle warning seriously.

Though former President Olusegun Obasanjo cannot exonerate himself from the present problems of the country, his recent observation that the Arab spring situation which led to the mass revolt and eventual removal of some heads of government can happen in Nigeria should not be dismissed.

Leaders of the various religious faiths can keep praying for peace to reign in the country but the federal government particularly has to wake up to the reality that all is not well with the country and we cannot keep wishing that things will get better when we are not doing enough to address the situation.

God will definitely not leave or forsake us as He promised but our afflictions may last longer than necessary if our leaders don’t do the right thing at the right time.

We must work and pray like the holy book admonishes us knowing that prayer will not replace planning.

12

T

THE NATION ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 11, 2011

Comment & Analysis

HE world’s economic and security architecture is buckling before our eyes.

On a daily basis, either peace or prosperity is wounded by multiple crises, each pregnant with calamity. The global system has been turned rabid by the ascent of economic and national security doctrines promulgated the Reagan-Thatcher tandem thirty years ago and amplified by their disciples ever since. From inception, their blind conservatism was a mistake. For that mistake to have asserted itself as the most active ingredient in the global political economy is to summon disaster as if by formal invitation. Disaster now peers over our shoulder, curiously watching as we rush to lock the door to keep it out. No time in recent memory has the world experienced the severe economic dislocations and the nearly intractable militarysecurity conundrums as we now face. The last time the destructive combination of economic wreckage and blunt martial stand-off so dominated the globe was during the 1930’s. We know how that decade ended. It ended in molten catastrophe. If care is not taken, we might soon court our version of terrible fate.

The Western world has draped the dark shroud of arrogant ignorance over its head. Darkness is now light. Western elites seek not to learn anything new because they believe they know it all. Everything else is inferior heresy. Thus, they fasten themselves to the mast of conservative economics. Despite the material modernity all about, the attitude of these leaders is inappropriately medieval. The West has entered a new dark age. Rarely have so powerful a group been so blind to the evidence warning them of their folly. In the important matters of their regional economy and global political stability, they do the opposite of what is needed.

Conservatism reigns to push Europe into ruin. Leaders of all the major European nations, British PM Cameron, German Chancellor Merkel, and French President Sarkozy all are conservatives. They have forced conservative leaders on Greece and Italy as well. Because of their policy decisions to rescue the financial sector

From Walmart to Damascus An arrogant leader in a crisis is as a naked man in winter

By Brian Browne

from its intentional misconduct yet impose austerity on their unwitting publics, Europe faces its worst economic situation since emerging from the rumble of WWII. The eurozone may soon crack, split or wholly disintegrate. Yet, these leaders don’t waste a minute on self-reflection. The more in the hole they fall, the more they dig deeper. Last week’s summit on the eurozone crisis highlights this puzzling masochism. Almost every sane economist has explained that the best solution to overcome the current downturn and end the assault on the sovereign debts of southern Europe nations is to moderate the drive to austerity while the European Central Bank increases its purchase of the bonds of the cash strapped nations. Alternatively, the EU could establish a new mechanism, the Eurobond, that would essentially be a synthetic instrument merging all of the members of the common currency into one common government bond as well.

Instead of following one of these tracks, the summiteers did the opposite. Most of the nations agreed to change the governing treaty to make austerity a permanent feature of their national budgets in exchange for the brittle honor of remaining in the eurozone and being able to access a European Stability Mechanism that will

never have sufficient funds to rescue those nations currently spinning in the debt deflation/recession vortex. As is common with myopic statesmen, most European leaders have exalted strategy over strategic objective. The euro was created not as in end in itself but as a way to improve the economies of member states. Now, weaker member states are being asked to sacrifice their economies in order to save the euro.

If this deal goes through, it will consign the nations of the southern tier to peonage.

They will become economic and financial vassals of Berlin and Paris. These states are on the brink of relinquishing their fiscal sovereignty in exchange for membership in a club that charges fees to costly for them to endure. This deal will financially benefit Germany, perhaps France and the Netherlands. For the rest, they could not have harmed themselves more had they dipped their limbs in a lake of acid.

Thankful that his nation is not a member of the eurozone, PM Cameron at least was smart enough to have no part of the agreement. He excoriated it. Britain had refused to become a member of the common currency because she did not want to surrender her monetary sovereignty. There was no good reason to hand out by the side door what Britain years earlier refused to do from the front. The agreement’s

“The West has entered a new dark age. Rarely have so powerful a group been so blind to the evidence warning them of their folly. In the important matters of their regional economy and global political stability, they do the opposite of what is needed”

austerity provisions would unduly hamstring a nation, having the same constrictive effect as a return to the old gold standard. As the gold standard frequently tossed nations down the maw of deflation so will this pact. Although a true blueblood, Cameron had the requisite mental presence to realize that his nation, though kiss-close to recession, is faring better than those who had forfeited currency sovereignty, fiscal policy, and the chance to determine their own economic growth by tethering their futures to the euro.

The United States is navigating better than all major western nations. This is not due to astute piloting. It is due to acute political dysfunction. President Obama mysteriously seeks to implement massive budget cuts that would toss the nation into recession. Ironically, he is being saved from his folly by his political foemen, the Republicans. They hate Obama so much that they refuse to agree with him on anything. Instead of imposing austerity on an economy barely growing, this bitter feud has precluded major action. Unhindered because of the lack of an energetic austerity program, the American economy continues to sputter in slow growth. Although passive and less dramatic, inaction is better than dumb action and no policy outranks policy built on catalytic ignorance.

Still, little is well in America. Unemployment is bad and real wages for those who do work continue to fall like a stone in butter. Americans sense their economic future will be worse than their past. Most Americans are edgy and desperate. Like the crew aboard a slumping vessel, it is everyone for himself. The American spirit of civility has dissipated into the ill wind.

• Continued on page 70

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2011

61

PLATEAU STATE UNIVERSAL BASIC EDUCATION BOARD INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB) COUNTRY: PROJECT:

NIGERIA UNIVERSAL BASIC EDUCATION PROJECTS [UBE]

3.

Interested eligible bidders may obtain further information from and inspect the bidding documents at the address given below between the hours of 9.00 am - 4.00pm (Mondays - Thursdays) and 9.00 am - 1.00pm (Fridays):

DESCRIPTION OF PROJECTS: A. CONSTRUCTION OF CLASSROOMS, FABRICATION AND SUPPLY OF CLASSROOMS & LIBRARY FURNITURE IN PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS ETF INTERVENTIONS YEARS 2008, 2009 & 2010 MERGED

4.

A complete set of bidding documents in English Language may be purchased by interested bidders through the address given above and upon payment of a non-refundable fee of Thirty thousand naira (N30,000.00) for Civil Works and Twenty Thousand Naira (N20,000.00) for Furniture). The method of payment will be through the Bank (FIN Bank Beach Road, Jos. SUBEB Revenue Account No. 206430331401). The Bidding document will be collected by hand from SUBEB Headquarters.

B. CONSTRUCTION OF CLASSROOMS, VIP TOILETS AND RENOVATION IN ECCDE, PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS 2008 & 2009 UBE INTERVENTION PROJECTS

5.

Bids must be delivered to The Procurement Officer of the Plateau State Universal Basic Education Board by dropping into the bid box on or before 10.00 A.M on

A. BID ISSUE DATE: (ETF) TUESDAY 13TH DECEMBER, 2011 (ETF) IFB NO: IFB/SUBEB/NCB/001/ETF 2008, 2009 & 2010 MERGED/ 2011 LAST DATE OF BID SUBMISSION (OPENING) FRIDAY 30TH DECEMBER, 2011 (ETF) B. BID ISSUE DATE: (UBE) TUESDAY 3RD JANUARY, 2012 (UBE)

FRIDAY 30TH DECEMBER, 2011 FOR ETF PROJECTS AND FRIDAY 20TH JANUARY, 2012 FOR UBE PROJECTS. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security of 2.5% of Bid Price as stipulated in the bidding document. Late bids will be rejected.

IFB NO: IFB/SUBEB/NCB/001/UBE 2008 & 2009/2011 LAST DATE OF BID SUBMISSION (OPENING) FRIDAY 20TH JANUARY, 2012 (UBE) 1.

The Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria through the intervention of the UNIVERSAL BASIC EDUCATION COMMISSION in conjunction with PLATEAU STATE GOVERNMENT have made available funds for the cost of Universal Basic Education in the State and intend to apply part of the funds to cover eligible payments under the Contract for Construction of classrooms, VIP Toilets and Renovation of Classrooms.

7

Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who should attend:

Time: Date:

10.00 AM PROMPT FRIDAY 30TH DECEMBER, 2011 FOR ETF PROJECTS

Date: 2.

The Plateau State Universal Basic Education Board now invites sealed bids from successful pre-qualified contractors for the Construction and Renovation of the following: Bidders may bid for any one or more lots and Discounts offered for the award will be considered in bid evaluation.

Bidding will be conducted through the National Competitive Bidding procedures.

Venue: NOTE:

AND FRIDAY 20TH JANUARY, 2012 FOR UBE PROJECTS SUBEB BOARD ROOM FOR THE TWO DIFFERENT OPENING DATES

Bidding is open to ONLY SUCCESSFUL PRE-QUALIFIED CONTRACTORS.

ETF LIST OF SCHOOLS YEARS 2008, 2009 & 2010 ETF NORMAL INTERVENTION MERGED CONSTRUCTION OF CLASSROOMS (CIVIL WORKS) AND FURNISHING OF THE CLASSROOMS AND LIBRARY FURNITURE (GOODS) OPENING 30TH DECEMBER, 2011 S/N LOT NO 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86

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DESCRIPTION

SCHOOL

CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE

LEA KIMAPKA LEA ZALAKI LEA BAGINGI LEA MATIDONG LEA KAMBONG LEA NDAR LEA BENZAT ST. MATHIAS LEA GASSA LEA SHERE LEA LAMINGA LEA FOBUR LEA YELWA ZANGAM LEA TUDUN WADA LEA RUSAU LEA KURU LEA T/RUN VWANG TURU LEA SOT GYEL EKAN DU LEA KWATA LEA ZUNGUN LEA KWAL LEA NBUI LEA GUMSHAR LEA TOM TOM LEA DANCHOR LEA KALASHI LEA TIPSIM LEA LAKA LEA RACHE LEA GANGARE LEA DOROWA LEA MILE FOUR LEA TIMFIM LEA SHO LEA KASUWA ALI LEA JENERET LEA VODNI PUSHIT LEA BUNGHA LEA PIAPUNG LEA BALTEP EKAN GARKAWA LEA CENTRAL SCH. TUNKUS LEA TAKAS LEA GUZA LEA DUNG WUSELI LEA AMNAT LEA SHINDAI LEA BOGOLONG LEA KWANOENG LEA KWANG LEA TURNIANG LEA DANWAL LEA RIM LEA TIGI LEA TASHEK LEA MERE LEA KWANSAN LEA ZAM EKAN SHENDAM LEA NTUER LEA GUNYI LEA SABON GIDAN MAVO LEA MARO LEA KUMBUR JSS EXLAND JSS BOKKOS JSS TOFF JSS BUJI JSS OBENE JSS TUDUN WADA JSS GWONG JSS KWATA JSS KANADAP KURU JSS FEDERE JSS GAR JSS TABULUNG JSS SHUWER JSS NACHA JSS TURAKI JSS NIYES JSS KAGU JSS DOKAN KASUWA JSS NAMU JSS RIM JSS KURUM-LAZAI

LGEA BASSA BASSA BASSA BOKKOS BOKKOS BOKKOS B/LADI B/LADI B/LADI J/EAST J/EAST J/EAST J/NORTH J/NORTH J/NORTH J/SOUTH J/SOUTH J/SOUTH J/SOUTH J/SOUTH KANAM KANAM KANAM KANAM KANKE KANKE KANKE L/NORTH L/NORTH L/NORTH J/NORTH L/SOUTH L/SOUTH L/SOUTH B/LADI MANGU MANGU MANGU MANGU MIKANG MIKANG MIKANG MIKANG PANKSHIN PANKSHIN PANKSHIN PANKSHIN QUAAN PAN QUAAN PAN QUAAN PAN QUAAN PAN QUAAN PAN RIYOM RIYOM RIYOM RIYOM RIYOM SHENDAM SHENDAM SHENDAM SHENDAM WASE WASE WASE WASE B/LADI BOKKOS BOKKOS BASSA BASSA J/NORTH J/NORTH J/SOUTH J/SOUTH J/EAST KANAM KANKE KANKE L/NORTH L/SOUTH MANGU PANKSHIN QUAAN PAN QUAAN PAN RIYOM SHENDAM

FURNITURE (FABRICATE AND DELIVER) 87

087 (a) (b) (c)

88

088 (a) (b) (c)

Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils

LEA KINAPKA

BASSA

LEA ZALAKI

BASSA

LEA RUFAN GWAMANA

BASSA

LEA BAGINGI

BASSA

LEA BINANGWA

BASSA

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2011

62

FURNITURE (FABRICATE AND DELIVER)

89

089 (a) (b) (c)

90

090 (a) (b) (c)

91

091 (a) (b) (c)

92

092 (a) (b) (c)

93

093 (a) (b) (c)

94

094 (a) (b) (c)

95

095 (a) (b) (c)

96

096 (a) (b) (c)

97

097 (a) (b) (c)

98

098 (a) (b) (c)

99

099 (a) (b) (c)

100

100 (a) (b) (c)

101

101 (a) (b) (c)

102

102 (a) (b) (c)

103

103 (a) (b) (c)

104

104 (a) (b) (c)

105

105 (a) (b) (c)

106

106 (a) (b) (c)

107

107 (a) (b) (c)

108

108 (a) (b) (c)

109

109 (a) (b) (c)

110

110 (a) (b) (c)

111

111 (a) (b) (c)

112

112 (a) (b) (c)

113

113 (a) (b) (c)

desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Tableand chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to

LEA MATIDONG

BOKKOS

LEA KAMBONG

BOKKOS

LEA NDAR

BOKKOS

LEA AMBANG

BOKKOS

LEA TENTI BABBA

BOKKOS

LEA BENZAT

B/LADI

ST. MATHIAS

B/LADI

LEA KURA BEROM

B/LADI

LEA GASSA

B/LADI

LEA GASHISH

B/LADI

LEA SHERE

J/EAST

LEA YASHI

J/EAST

LEA LAMINGA

J/EAST

LEA FOBUR

J/EAST

LEA MAIJUJU

J/EAST

LEA YELWA ZANGAM

J/NORTH

LEA TAJIR

J/NORTH

LEA NARAGUTA

J/NORTH

LEA BABALE

J/NORTH

LEA RIKKOS

J/NORTH

LEA GURADOK

J/SOUTH

LEA T/RUN VWANG TURU

J/SOUTH

LEA SOT GYEL

J/SOUTH

LEA KURU

J/SOUTH

LEA KWATA

J/SOUTH

LEA ZUNGUN

KANAM

LEA NYONGYONG

KANAM

LEA KWAL

KANAM

LEA NBUI

KANAM

LEA GUMSHAR

KANAM

LEA TOM TOM

KANKE

LEA KWAL

KANKE

LEA DANCHOR

KANKE

LEA KALASHI

KANKE

LEA DANBUL

L/NORTH

LEA TIPSIM

L/NORTH

LEA LAKA

L/NORTH

LEA RACHE

L/NORTH

LEA GANGARE

J/NORTH

LEA DOROWA

L/SOUTH

LEA MILE FOUR

L/SOUTH

LEA KANKUN

L/SOUTH

LEA TIMFIM

L/SOUTH

LEA KASUWA ALI

MANGU

LEA JANERET

MANGU

LEA VODNI PUSHIT

MANGU

LEA BUNGHA

MANGU

LEA CHANSO

MANGU

LEA PIAPUNG

MIKANG

LEA BALTEP

MIKANG

EKAN GARKAWA

MIKANG

LEA GWOKAT

MIKANG

LEA CENTRAL SCH. TUNKUS

MIKANG

LEA RAFIN SANYI

PANKSHIN

LEA TAKAS

PANKSHIN

LEA GUZA

PANKSHIN

LEA DUNG WUSELLI

PANKSHIN

LEA AMNAT

PANKSHIN

LEA SHINDAI

QUAAN PAN

LEA BOGOLONG

QUAAN PAN

LEA KWANOENG

QUAAN PAN

LEA KWANG

QUAAN PAN

LEA TURNIANG

QUAAN PAN

LEA DANWAL

RIYOM

LEA FANG

RIYOM

LEA TIGI

RIYOM

LEA RIM

RIYOM

LEA MERE

RIYOM

LEA KWANSAN

SHENDAM

LEA ZAM

SHENDAM

EKAN SHENDAM

SHENDAM

BAPTIST SHENDAM

SHENDAM

LEA GUNYI

WASE

LEA SABON GIDAN MAVO

WASE

LEA GUIWAN KOGI

WASE

LEA MARO

WASE

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2011

63

FURNITURE (FABRICATE AND DELIVER) 114

114 (a) (b) (c)

115

115 (a) (b) (c)

116

116 (a) (b) (c)

117

117 (a) (b) (c)

118

118 (a) (b) (c)

119

119 (a) (b) (c)

120

120 (a) (b) (c)

121

121 (a) (b) (c) (d)

122

123 124

125

126

127

128

128

122(a) (b) (c) (d) 123 (a) (b) (c) 124(a) (b) (c) (d) 125(a) (b) (c) (d) 126(a) (b) (c) (d) 127(a) (b) (c) (d) 128(a) (b) (c) (d) 128(a) (b) (c) (d)

Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement distribution of 40 No ETF standardized 2 seater pupils desk/benches and 1 No. Teacher’s Table and chairs to Procurement of library furniture to sit 40 students, 1 teacher’s table and chair.

Procurement of library furniture to sit 40 students, 1 teacher’s table and chair.

Procurement of library furniture to sit 40 students, 1 teacher’s table and chair.

Procurement of library furniture to sit 40 students, 1 teacher’s table and chair.

Procurement of library furniture to sit 40 students, 1 teacher’s table and chair.

Procurement of library furniture to sit 40 students, 1 teacher’s table and chair.

Procurement of library furniture to sit 40 students, 1 teacher’s table and chair.

Procurement of library furniture to sit 40 pupils, 1 teacher’s table and chair.

Procurement of library furniture to sit 40 pupils, 1 teacher’s table and chair.

Procurement of library furniture to sit 40 pupils, 1 teacher’s table and chair.

Procurement of library furniture to sit 40 pupils, 1 teacher’s table and chair.

Procurement of library furniture to sit 40 pupils, 1 teacher’s table and chair.

Procurement of library furniture to sit 40 pupils, 1 teacher’s table and chair.

Procurement of library furniture to sit 40 pupils, 1 teacher’s table and chair.

Procurement of library furniture to sit 40 pupils, 1 teacher’s table and chair.

Procurement of library furniture to sit 40 pupils, 1 teacher’s table and chair.

Procurement of library furniture to sit 40 pupils, 1 teacher’s table and chair.

Procurement of library furniture to sit 40 pupils, 1 teacher’s table and chair.

Procurement of library furniture to sit 40 pupils, 1 teacher’s table and chair.

Procurement of library furniture to sit 40 pupils, 1 teacher’s table and chair.

Procurement of library furniture to sit 40 pupils, 1 teacher’s table and chair.

Procurement of library furniture to sit 40 pupils, 1 teacher’s table and chair.

Procurement of library furniture to sit 40 pupils, 1 teacher’s table and chair.

Procurement of library furniture to sit 40 pupils, 1 teacher’s table and chair.

Procurement of library furniture to sit 40 pupils, 1 teacher’s table and chair.

Procurement of library furniture to sit 40 pupils, 1 teacher’s table and chair.

Procurement of library furniture to sit 40 pupils, 1 teacher’s table and chair.

Procurement of library furniture to sit 40 pupils, 1 teacher’s table and chair.

Procurement of library furniture to sit 40 pupils, 1 teacher’s table and chair.

Procurement of library furniture to sit 40 pupils, 1 teacher’s table and chair.

Procurement of library furniture to sit 40 pupils, 1 teacher’s table and chair.

JSS EX-LAND

B/LADI

JSS BOKKOS

BOKKOS

JSS TOFF

BOKKOS

JSS BUJI

BASSA

JSS OBENE

BASSA

JSS TUDUN WADA

J/NORTH

JSS GWONG

J/NORTH

JSS KWATA

J/SOUTH

JSS KANADAP KURU

J/SOUTH

JSS FEDERE

J/EAST

JSS GAR

KANAM

JSS KANTANA

KANAM

JSS TABULUNG

KANKE

JSS SHUWER

KANKE

JSS NACHA

L/NORTH

JSS KWANPE

L/NORTH

JSS TURAKI

L/SOUTH

JSS JAKATAI

MANGU

JSS NIYES

MANGU

JSS KAGU

PANKSHIN

JSS DOKAN KASUWA

QUAAN PAN

JSS NJAK

QUAAN PAN

JSS RIM

RIYOM

JSS KURUM-LAZAI

SHENDAM

LEA YULI JSS RIM JSS GYEL JSS FOBUR JSS MANGU HALLE JSS JARMAI JSS LARDANG JSS SHENDAM LEA MISTA ALI (FARIN LAMBA) RCM KABONG LEA MAIJUJU EKAN DU EKAN GANAWURI EKAN RIM EKAN KURU EKAN SHO LEA BOKKOS CENTRAL LEA TOFF LEA VODNI PUSHIT LEA KERANG TULU EKAN PANKSHIN LEA TUTUNG LEA DUNGUNG LEA GAR LEA FUNGNYELLANG RCM PAIPUNG LEA SABON GIDAN LEA U/GALADIMA LEA BAKIN CIYAWA RCM DEMSHIN RCM KWA RCM KWALLA (SPS)

WASE RIYOM JOS SOUTH JOS EAST MANGU KANAM QUAAN PAN SHENDAM BASSA JOS NORTH JOS EAST JOS SOUTH RIYOM RIYOM JOS SOUTH B/LADI BOKKOS BOKKOS MANGU MANGU PANKSHIN KANAM KANKE KANAM L/NORTH MIKANG L/SOUTH WASE QUAAN PAN SHENDAM QUAAN PAN QUAAN PAN

UBE YEAR 2008 UBE NORMAL INTERVENTION 2008 CONSTRUCTION OF CLASSROOMS AND VIP TOILETS (CIVIL WORKS) OPENING DATE 20TH JANUARY, 2012 S/N LOT NO

DESCRIPTION

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

001 002 003 004 005 006 007 008 009 010 011 012 013 014 015 016 017 018 019 020 021 022 023 024 025

CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 4 CRMS/OFF/STORE

26

026

CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 4 CRMS/OFF/STORE

27

027

CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 4 CRMS/OFF/STORE

28

028

CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 4 CRMS/OFF/STORE

29

029

CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 4 CRMS/OFF/STORE

30

030

CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 4 CRMS/OFF/STORE

31

031

CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 4 CRMS/OFF/STORE

32

032

CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 4 CRMS/OFF/STORE

33

033

CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 4 CRMS/OFF/STORE

34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44

034 035 036 037 038 039 040 041 042 043 044

45 46 47 48 49 50

045 046 047 048 049 050

SCHOOL 1ST 1ST 1ST 1ST 1ST 1ST 1ST 1ST 1ST 1ST 1ST 1ST 1ST 1ST 1ST 1ST 1ST 1ST 1ST 1ST 1ST 1ST 1ST 1ST

CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS

ECCDE ECCDE PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL ECCDE ECCDE PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY

QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER

CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS

PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY

2ND 2ND 2ND 2ND 2ND 2ND

2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008

LGEA

KAFI HABU NURSERY SCH. BEHWOL NURSERY SCH. LEA NTADUK LEA KAMANG LEA KURA BEROM LEA LOJAM LEA DANTANKO LEA BUGU LEA TARYA LEA BINCHI LEA KISANCHI LEA MAIYANGA LEA MATOL LEA CHIRANG LEA NGHASSI LEA TUKYEH LEA MAKADA LEA MANGAR SHOROM LEA RAFIN SANYI LEA NOMADIC MAJE LEA SHIBIRI ANGWARE CENTRAL LEA JARA LEA BEHWOL

B/LADI B/LADI B/LADI B/LADI B/LADI B/LADI BASSA BASSA BASSA BASSA BASSA BASSA BOKKOS BOKKOS BOKKOS BOKKOS BOKKOS BOKKOS J/EAST J/EAST J/EAST J/EAST J/EAST J/NORTH

1ST QUARTER 2008

JSS MAI IDON TARO

B/LADI

1ST QUARTER 2008

JSS KURRA FALLS

B/LADI

1ST QUARTER 2008

JSS AMO KATAKO

BASSA

1ST QUARTER 2008

JSS ZAGUN

BASSA

1ST QUARTER 2008

JSS KOPYAL

BOKKOS

1ST QUARTER 2008

JSS MASHARKUT

BOKKOS

1ST QUARTER 2008

JSS ZANDI

J/EAST

1ST QUARTER 2008

JSS FEBAS

J/EAST

1ST QUARTER 2008 2ND QUARTER 2008 2ND QUARTER 2008 2ND QUARTER 2008 2ND QUARTER 2008 2ND QUARTER 2008 2ND QUARTER 2008 2ND QUARTER 2008 2ND QUARTER 2008 2ND QUARTER 2008 2ND QUARTER 2008 2ND QUARTER 2008

JSS NASARAWA GARGA NURSERY SCH. DIKIBIN NURSERY LEA KUNGA TARGOM UTAN PRI. SCHOOL LEA TAJIR LEA FANUBE KURU TRADE CENTRE DOGO NAHAWA LEA ZOT-SHEN LEA DAHOL BOB NYSC MODEL PRIMARY SCH. BUILDING MATERIALS LEA TUKUR LEA GALAMKYA LEA PADA LEA GYONGYONG LEA FURYAM LEA JOM

J/NORTH KANAM MANGU J/NORTH J/NORTH J/NORTH J/NORTH J/SOUTH J/SOUTH J/SOUTH J/SOUTH

QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER

2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008

J/SOUTH KANAM KANAM KANAM KANAM KANAM KANAM

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2011

64 S/N LOT NO

DESCRIPTION

51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59

051 052 053 054 055 056 057 058 059

CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 4 CRMS/OFF/STORE

60

060

CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 4 CRMS/OFF/STORE

61

061

CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 4 CRMS/OFF/STORE

62

062

CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 4 CRMS/OFF/STORE

63

063

CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 4 CRMS/OFF/STORE

64

064

CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 4 CRMS/OFF/STORE

65

065

CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 4 CRMS/OFF/STORE

66

066

CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 4 CRMS/OFF/STORE

67

067

CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 4 CRMS/OFF/STORE

68 69

068 069

CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS

70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92

070 071 072 073 074 075 076 077 078 079 080 081 082 083 084 085 086 087 088 089 090 091 092

CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 4 CRMS/OFF/STORE

93

093

CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 4 CRMS/OFF/STORE

94

094

CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 4 CRMS/OFF/STORE

95

095

CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 4 CRMS/OFF/STORE

96

096

CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 4 CRMS/OFF/STORE

97

097

CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 4 CRMS/OFF/STORE

98

098

CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 4 CRMS/OFF/STORE

99

099

CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 4 CRMS/OFF/STORE

100

100

CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 4 CRMS/OFF/STORE

101

101

CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS

102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126

102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126

CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 4 CRMS/OFF/STORE

127

127

CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 4 CRMS/OFF/STORE

128

128

CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 4 CRMS/OFF/STORE

129

129

CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 4 CRMS/OFF/STORE

130

130

CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 4 CRMS/OFF/STORE

131

131

CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 4 CRMS/OFF/STORE

132

132

CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 4 CRMS/OFF/STORE

133

133

CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 4 CRMS/OFF/STORE

134

134

CONSTRUCTION OF A BLOCK OF 4 CRMS/OFF/STORE

135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150

135 (a) (b) (c) 136 (a) (b) (c) 137 (a) (b) (c) 138 (a) (b) (c)

CONSTRUCTION OF DOUBLE CABIN VIP TOILETS

151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170

139 (a) (b) (c) 140 (a) (b) (c) 141 (a) (b) (c) 142 (a) (b) (c) 143 (a) (b) (c)

CONSTRUCTION OF DOUBLE CABIN VIP TOILETS

CONSTRUCTION OF DOUBLE CABIN VIP TOILETS

CONSTRUCTION OF DOUBLE CABIN VIP TOILETS

CONSTRUCTION OF DOUBLE CABIN VIP TOILETS

CONSTRUCTION OF DOUBLE CABIN VIP TOILETS

CONSTRUCTION OF DOUBLE CABIN VIP TOILETS

CONSTRUCTION OF DOUBLE CABIN VIP TOILETS

CONSTRUCTION OF DOUBLE CABIN VIP TOILETS

SCHOOL PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL ECCDE ECCDE

2ND 2ND 2ND 2ND 2ND 2ND 2ND 2ND

PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL ECCDE

3RD 3RD 3RD 3RD 3RD 3RD 3RD 3RD 3RD 3RD 3RD 3RD 3RD 3RD 3RD 3RD 3RD 3RD 3RD 3RD 3RD 3RD

ECCDE PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY PRIMARY JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL

4TH 4TH 4TH 4TH 4TH 4TH 4TH 4TH 4TH 4TH 4TH 4TH 4TH 4TH 4TH 4TH 4TH 4TH 4TH 4TH 4TH 4TH 4TH 4TH

QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER

2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008

LEA LEA LEA LEA LEA LEA LEA LEA

GOLTEN KUDUS KUBUT GUGUR KWAL SHIKAL TUNKUM DAMBUR

LGEA KANKE KANKE KANKE KANKE KANKE L/NORTH L/NORTH L/NORTH

2ND QUARTER 2008

JSS NARAGUTA

J/NORTH

2ND QUARTER 2008

JSS FWAPWA

J/SOUTH

2ND QUARTER 2008

JSS SOT VWANG

J/SOUTH

2ND QUARTER 2008

JSS HEI-RAYFIELD

J/SOUTH

2ND QUARTER 2008

JSS GARGA

KANAM

2ND QUARTER 2008

JSS KUNKYAM

KANAM

2ND QUARTER 2008

JSS GYANGYANG

KANKE

2ND QUARTER 2008

JSS FORGWANG

KANKE

2ND QUARTER 2008 3RD QUARTER 2008 3RD QUARTER 2008

JSS TALBUT WASE NURSERY SCH. DEMONSTRATION DADUR NURSERY LEA YAKUT LEA WARROK LEA KPADEAR LEA TIMTIM LEA FAYA LEA WUBANG LEA TOMTOM LEA SALUWA LEA MANGAR LEA FEBAS KASA LEA MPIL LEA KAINAT LEA KATUL LEA PUYUM LEA PANGJEM LEA GARKAWA LEA DALANGZUM LEA KANJAU LEA GWABI KORR LEA TAKKAS LEA MANGET LEA LONGJAK KUMBUL

L.NORTH WASE L/NORTH L/NORTH L/NORTH L/NORTH L/SOUTH L/SOUTH L/SOUTH L/SOUTH MANGU MANGU MANGU MANGU MANGU MANGU MIKANG MIKANG MIKANG MIKANG MIKANG PANKSHIN PANKSHIN PANKSHIN PANKSHIN

JSS DADUR

L/NORTH

3RD QUARTER 2008

JSS TAKALAFIYA

L/SOUTH

3RD QUARTER 2008

JSS TALGWAN

L/SOUTH

3RD QUARTER 2008

JSS KOMBILI

MANGU

3RD QUARTER 2008

JSS PUSHIT

MANGU

3RD QUARTER 2008

JSS BETKANG

MIKANG

3RD QUARTER 2008

JSS PAIPUNG

MIKANG

QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER

2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008

3RD QUARTER 2008

3RD QUARTER 2008

JSS JAK

PANKSHIN

3RD QUARTER 2008 4TH QUARTER 2008

JSS JIBAM EKAN ABWOR DYIS NUR. SCH. KWA NURSERY SCH. LEA GYEMYER LEA ASA LEA NAMU LEA KONGBAAN LEA GEOTANGPIL LEA DADIN KOWA LEA KOFFIAR KWA LEA BAKIN CHIYAWA LEA RWIN LEA TIYANA LEA FANGROI LEA ZERE (SHONONG PRI. SCH. LEA TUKUNG LEA DEMSHIN LEA ZAMLONG LEA NTUER LEA KOKO LEA PANGTUMU LEA BANG WASE LEA NYALLUM LEA GAR LEA KUNGRMI LEA GYIMBI

PANKSHIN PANKSHIN QUAAN PAN PANKSHIN PANKSHIN QUAAN PAN QUAAN PAN QUAAN PAN QUAAN PAN QUAAN PAN QUAAN PAN RIYOM RIYOM RIYOM RIYOM SHENDAM SHENDAM SHENDAM SHENDAM SHENDAM SHENDAM WASE WASE WASE WASE WASE

4TH QUARTER 2008

JSS NYELLENG

PANKSHIN

4TH QUARTER 2008

JSS BWALL

QUAAN PAN

4TH QUARTER 2008

JSS KWALLA

QUAAN PAN

4TH QUARTER 2008

JSS JOL

RIYOM

4TH QUARTER 2008

JSS BUM

RIYOM

4TH QUARTER 2008

JSS KWANSAN

SHENDAM

4TH QUARTER 2008

JSS DUANKWAN

SHENDAM

4TH QUARTER 2008

JSS MAVO

WASE

4TH QUARTER 2008

JSS WASE

WASE

1ST QUARTER 2008 1ST QUARTER 2008 1ST QUARTER 2008

LEA BINCHI LEA KURA BEROM LEA BUGU

BASSA B/LADI BASSA

1ST QUARTER 2008 1ST QUARTER 2008 1ST QUARTER 2008

LEA NTADUK LEA MATOL LEA NGHASSI

B/LADI BOKKOS BOKKOS

1ST QUARTER 2008 1ST QUARTER 2008 1ST QUARTER 2008

LEA RAFIN SANYI LEA ANGWARE LEA UTAN

J/EAST J/EAST J/NORTH

2ND QUARTER 2008 2ND QUARTER 2008 2ND QUARTER 2008

LEA FANUBE LEA KURU TRADE CENTRE NYSC MODEL SCH. BUILDING MATERIALS

J/NORTH J/SOUTH

2ND QUARTER 2008 2ND QUARTER 2008 2ND QUARTER 2008

LEA TUKUR LEA PADA-KANAM LEA KUDUS

KANAM KANAM KANKE

2ND QUARTER 2008 2ND QUARTER 2008 2ND QUARTER 2008

LEA KWAL LEA SHIKAL LEA DAMBUR

KANKE L/NORTH L/NORTH

3RD QUARTER 2008 3RD QUARTER 2008 3RD QUARTER 2008

LEA WUBANG LEA TOMTOM LEA PANGYEN

L/SOUTH L/SOUTH MIKANG

3RD QUARTER 2008 3RD QUARTER 2008 3RD QUARTER 2008

LEA MPIL LEA KAINAT LEA FEBAS KASA

MANGU MANGU MANGU

3RD QUARTER 2008 3RD QUARTER 2008 3RD QUARTER 2008

LEA GARKAWA LEA TAKAS LEA ASA

MIKANG PANKSHIN PANKSHIN

QUARTER 2008 QUARTER 2008 QUARTER 2008 QUARTER 2008 QUARTER 2008 QUARTER 2008 QUARTER 2008 QUARTER 2008 QUARTER 2008 QUARTER 2008 QUARTER 2008 QUARTER 2008 QUARTER 2008 QUARTER 2008 QUARTER 2008 QUARTER 2008 QUARTER 2008 QUARTER 2008 QUARTER 2008 QUARTER 2008 QUARTER 2008 QUARTER 2008 QUARTER 2008 QUARTER 2008

J/SOUTH

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2011 DESCRIPTION

S/N LOT NO 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182

144 (a) (b) (c) 145 (a) (b) (c) 146 (a) (b) (c)

65 SCHOOL

CONSTRUCTION OF DOUBLE CABIN VIP TOILETS

CONSTRUCTION OF DOUBLE CABIN VIP TOILETS

CONSTRUCTION OF DOUBLE CABIN VIP TOILETS

LGEA

4TH QUARTER 2008 4TH QUARTER 2008 4TH QUARTER 2008

LEA NAMU LEA DADIN KOWA LEA BAKIN CHIYAWA

QUAAN PAN QUAAN PAN QUAAN PAN

4TH QUARTER 2008 4TH QUARTER 2008 4TH QUARTER 2008

LEA RWIN LEA FANGROI LEA ZAMLONG

RIYOM RIYOM SHENDAM

4TH QUARTER 2008 4TH QUARTER 2008 4TH QUARTER 2008

LEA PANGTUMU LEA BANG WASE LEA GAR

SHENDAM WASE WASE

2009 RENOVATION/CONSTRUCTION OF CLASSROOMS (CIVIL WORKS) OPENING DATE 20TH JANUARY, 2012 S/N 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315

LOT 147

SCHOOL LEA AMO KATAKO

148

BLOCK A C B D A C D E B C D A B C A B C A E

QUARTER 1ST QUARTER 2009 1ST QUARTER 2009

149

ECWA KPA CHUDU

150 151

ECWA KPA CHUDU LEA RUNFAR GWAMNA

152

ECWA ZABOLO

153

LEA KISSALOI

154 155

GOVT. COLL. JENGRE EKAN BUTURA GIDA

156

RCM SHA

157

RCM KAMWAI

158 159

LEA CENTRAL MAIKATOKO LEA MAGI MBAR

160

LEA PASSANKAI

C

1ST QUARTER 2009

161 162 163 164

GJSS KOPYAL GJSS KOPYAL GJSS SHO ST. MATHEW KURA FALLS ST. MATHEW KURA FALLS LEA NTV

A B A A B A B C B A B A B C B C A B C D A B C E A D B

1ST 1ST 1ST 1ST

165 166 167 168

LEA LEA LEA LEA

WEREH RAWURIU RAWURIU RAZEK

169 170 171

EKAN FOBUR

172

EKAN ZANDI

173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180

GJSS FOBUR GJSS JARWAN KOGI GJSS JARWAN KOGI GJSS JARWAN KOGI LEA FEWIT LEA LENGE - LENGE LEA JARA JSS ZANDI SDA LARANTO

181

SDA LARANTO

182

SDA LARANTO

183 184

ST. MICHAEL’S RCM ST. MICHAEL’S RCM

185 186

NAWAR-UD-DEEN NAWAR-UD-DEEN

187

GJSS KABONG

GOVT. COLL. FORON

188

RCM KURU

189

RCM KURU

190 191 192 193

ISLAMIYA ZAWAN LEA LATYI DU RCM GYEL

194

GJSS DU

195

GJSS HWAK

196 197

GJSS HWAK RCM KABWIR

198

LEA MIMYAK

199 200

LEA SHARAM LEA GYANGYANG

201

LEA DUNGUNG

202

LEA DUNGUNG

203

GJSS AMPER

204 205

LEA JARMAI LEA JARMAI

206 207

LEA GUMSHAR GADA LEA GARGA

208

LEA GARGA

209 210

LEA YELWA GARGA LEA TUTUNG

211 212

GJSS DENGI GJSS DENGI

213

LEA SHIKAL (TALBUT)

B C D A B C D F C A B

A B C D E F G A B C A B C A B C D A B C A A A C D C D A C B A B C D A B C D A B C B C D E F C D E A B C A B C D A B C D A B C A

1ST QUARTER 2009

1ST QUARTER 2009 1ST QUARTER 2009 1ST QUARTER 2009 1ST QUARTER 2009 1ST QUARTER 2009 1ST QUARTER 2009 1ST QUARTER 2009 1ST QUARTER 2009

1ST QUARTER 2009 1ST QUARTER 2009

QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER

2009 2009 2009 2009

1ST QUARTER 2009 1ST QUARTER 2009 1ST QUARTER 2009 1ST QUARTER 2009 1ST QUARTER 2009 1ST QUARTER 2009 1ST QUARTER 2009

1ST QUARTER 2009 1ST QUARTER 2009 1ST QUARTER 2009 1ST 1ST 1ST 1ST 1ST 1ST

QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER

2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009

1ST QUARTER 2009 2ND QUARTER 2009 2ND QUARTER 2009 2ND QUARTER 2009 2ND QUARTER 2009 2ND QUARTER 2009 2ND QUARTER 2009

2ND QUARTER 2009 2ND QUARTER 2009 2ND 2ND 2ND 2ND

QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER

2009 2009 2009 2009

2ND QUARTER 2009 2ND QUARTER 2009 2ND QUARTER 2009 2ND QUARTER 2009

2ND QUARTER 2009

2ND QUARTER 2009

2ND QUARTER 2009

2ND QUARTER 2009 2ND QUARTER 2009 2ND QUARTER 2009 2ND QUARTER 2009 2ND QUARTER 2009 2ND QUARTER 2009 2ND QUARTER 2009

2ND QUARTER 2009 2ND QUARTER 2009 2ND QUARTER 2009

C/ROOM REN OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 3 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF 4 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 1 CRM/OFF/STORE REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF 6 PIT TOILETS REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF 6 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF 3 RCMS REN OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 3 CRMS REN OF 4 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 3 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF 6 CRM/TOILETS/STORE RENOVATION OF 3 CRMS BLOCK (PART COLLAPSED) CONST. OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS RECONST OF 1 CRM REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF 3 RCMS REN OF 1 CRM REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF 2 RCMS REN OF 3 RCMS REN OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 3 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS CONST. OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE CONST. OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS REN OF 5 CRMS/4 OFF/STORE REN OF 4 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 6 CRMS REN OF 5 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF 3 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF 3 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 3 CRMS REN OF 3 CRMS REN OF 4 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 5 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 3 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 3 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 3 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE (STONE WORK) REN OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE (STONE WORK) REN OF 3 CRMS REN OF LAB/TECH. WORKSHOP EXAMINATIONS HALL REN OF 3 CRMS CONST. OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONST. OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONST. OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS CONST. OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS REN OF 4 CRMS REN OF 4 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 3 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 3 CRMS REN OF 7 CRMS REN OF 3 CRMS REN OF 4 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 3 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 3 CRMS REN OF 3 CRMS REN OF 1 CRMS/STAFF RM/OFFICES REN OF 6 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF 3 CRMS REN OF 5 CRMS REN OF 3 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 5 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 7 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 5 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 6 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 4 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 3 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF TWIN HALL/OFFICE REN OF 6 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 4 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 1 CRM RENOVATION OF EXAMINATIONS HALL REN OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF 3 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE CONST. OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE COMPLETION OF 3 CRMS REN OF 4 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 1 CRM REN OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF 3 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 3 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF 7 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 3 CRMS/OFF/STORE CONST OF 2 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 3 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS CONST. OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS/OFF REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF 3 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF 4 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 3 CRMS

LGEA BASSA

BASSA

BASSA BASSA BASSA BASSA BOKKOS BOKKOS BOKKOS

BOKKOS BOKKOS BOKKOS BOKKOS B/LADI B/LADI B/LADI B/LADI B/LADI B/LADI B/LADI B/LADI JOS EAST

JOS EAST JOS EAST JOS EAST JOS EAST JOS EAST JOS EAST JOS EAST JOS EAST JOS NORTH JOS NORTH JOS NORTH JOS NORTH JOS NORTH JOS NORTH JOS NORTH JOS NORTH

JOS SOUTH JOS SOUTH JOS SOUTH JOS SOUTH JOS SOUTH JOS SOUTH KANKE

KANKE

KANKE KANKE KANKE KANKE KANAM KANAM KANAM KANAM KANAM KANAM KANAM

KANAM KANAM L/NORTH

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2011

66 S/N 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 380 381 382 383 384 385 386 387 388 389 390 391 392 393 394 395 396 397 398 399 400 401 402 403 404 405 406 407 408 409 410 411 412 413 414 415 416 417 418 419 420 421 422 423 424 425 426 427 428 429 430 431 432 433 434 435 436 437 438 439 440 441 442 443 444 445 446 447 448 449 450 451 452 453 454 455 456 457 458 459 460 461 462 463

LOT

SCHOOL LEA LIPCHOK

BLOCK B A B

QUARTER

214 215 216

LEA LIPCHOK LEA ZAMKUMKUM

D A

2ND QUARTER 2009 3RD QUARTER 2009

217 218 219 220

LEA MANTAMTAM GOVT. COLL. LANGTANG GOVT. COLL. LANGTANG GJSS LANGTANG

221 222

EKAN PANKSHIN RCM ABWOR DYIS

223

LEA MILE 8 FIER

224 225 226

LEA LAPLEK LEA LAPLEK LEA TAMBES

227

GJSS PANKSHIN

228 229

LEA JAKATAI

230

LEA NLET

231

EKAN TSOHON KERANG

232 233 234 235

GJSS BWALBWANG LEA AJING BWONPE

236

BAPTIST PRIMARY SCHOOL

237 238

APER RUFF KOMBUN LEA BALTEP

239

RCM TUNKUS

240

EKAN GARKAWA

241

GJSS ZOMO

242 243 244 245 246

LEA LEA LEA LEA LEA

247

RCM NAMU

248

EKAN KWALLA

249

EKAN KWALLA

250

LEA LARDANG

251

GJSS DEOMAK

252 253 254

LEA VUTU LEA BWOEM GJSS MAGAMA

255

LEA MABUDI EAST

256

LEA MANGWANG LEA TALGWANG

257 258 259 260 261 262 263

LEA ZAMTILLAN LEA NASARAWA LEA KUMTUNG JSS DADIN KOWA JSS MAGAMA LEA KANANA T/RCM TANGZEK

JANRUWA PANGSOT DAMNING KIES BUBE

264

LEA JAYU

265

LEA HAMBIAK

266

LEA POESHIP

267 268 269 270

LEA POESHIP RCM DEMSHIN RCM DEMSHIN RCM DEMSHIN LEA LONGVEL

271

GJSS SHENDAM

272

JSS RIYOM

273 274

BECO HIGH SCHOOL

275

JEBBU HOSS

276 277

LEA DANWAL

278 279 280

EKAN RIM LEA DIYAN LEA KOGIN KASA

281

LEA CENTRAL PRI. SCH.

282 283

LEA YOLA WAKAT

284 285

LEA BANGALALA LEA SINGHA

286 287

LEA SINGHA LEA HAMMARE

288

GJSS LAMBA

A B A C A A B C A B C D A B C D JSS 1 JSS 2 JSS 3 LAB A B A A B D E A A B C A C A C D B C D F G A B C A B D

A B C A B C A B F G A D D F B C B C A A C

A B C A B A B C A B D E B D C A C E A B C A D B C A B C A B C A B C A B C&D A D E B C A B A B A B B C

2ND QUARTER 2009

3RD 3RD 3RD 3RD

QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER

2009 2009 2009 2009

3RD QUARTER 2009 3RD QUARTER 2009 3RD QUARTER 2009

3RD QUARTER 2009 3RD QUARTER 2009 3RD QUARTER 2009

3RD QUARTER 2009 3RD QUARTER 2009 3RD QUARTER 2009 3RD QUARTER 2009 3RD QUARTER 2009 3RD QUARTER 2009 3RD QUARTER 2009 3RD QUARTER 2009 3RD QUARTER 2009 3RD QUARTER 2009 3RD QUARTER 2009 3RD QUARTER 2009 3RD QUARTER 2009

3RD QUARTER 2009 3RD QUARTER 2009 3RD 3RD 3RD 3RD 3RD

QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER

2009 2009 2009 2009 2009

3RD QUARTER 2009 3RD QUARTER 2009 3RD QUARTER 2009 3RD QUARTER 2009 3RD QUARTER 2009 4TH QUARTER 2009 4TH QUARTER 2009 4TH QUARTER 2009 4TH QUARTER 2009 4TH QUARTER 2009 4TH 4TH 4TH 4TH 4TH 4TH 4TH

QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER

2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009

4TH QUARTER 2009 4TH QUARTER 2009 4TH QUARTER 2009 4TH QUARTER 2009 4TH QUARTER 2009 4TH QUARTER 2009 4TH QUARTER 2009 4TH QUARTER 2009 4TH QUARTER 2009 4TH QUARTER 2009 4TH QUARTER 2009 4TH QUARTER 2009 4TH QUARTER 2009 4TH QUARTER 2009 4TH QUARTER 2009 4TH QUARTER 2009 4TH QUARTER 2009 4TH QUARTER 2009 4TH QUARTER 2009

4TH QUARTER 2009

C/ROOM REN OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE CONST OF 2 CRMS REN OF 4 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE CONST. OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONST. OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS REN OF 4 CRMS/EXAM HALL REN OF 7 CRMS REN OF 3 CRMS/3 OFF/ 3 STORES REN OF 4 CRMS/3 OFF REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF 3 CRMS REN OF 3 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 1 CRM REN OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE CONST. OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONST. OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF 5 CRMS/OFF/STORE/TOILETS REN OF 4 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 3 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF INTERGRATED SC/AGRIC LAB REN OF 3 CRMS REN OF 3 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 3 CRMS CONST. OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF 3 CRMS REN OF 3 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF 4 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 5 CRMS/OFF/TOILETS REN OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 3 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 3 CRMS (BURNT BRICKS) CONST. OF 2 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF 3 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 1 CRM REN OF 3 CRMS REN OF 3 CRMS REN OF 1 CRM REN OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE CONST. OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONST. OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONST. OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONST. OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF 4 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 4 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 1 CRM REN OF 3 CRMS REN OF 3 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 4 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 1 CRM REN OF 4 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 2 CRMS CONST. OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONST. OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF 4 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF 3 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 2 CRMS CONST. OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONST. OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONST. OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONST. OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONST. OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONST. OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS REN OF 3 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 1 CRM REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF 4 CRMS REN OF 3 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF 3 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 3 CRMS REN OF WORKSHOP REN OF 3 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 6 CRMS/EXTENSION REN OF LIBRARY REN OF LABORATORY REN OF 5 CRMS REN OF 5 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 3 CRMS REN OF 4 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS CONST. OF A BLOCK OF 2 CRMS CONST. OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS/OFF REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 3 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF 3 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 4 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 3 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS CONST. OF A BLOCK OF 3 CRMS REN OF 3 CRMS REN OF 3 CRMS CONST OF 2 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS CONST. OF 2 CRMS REN OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE REN OF 2 CRMS/OFF/STORE

MRS. LYOP G. MANG (EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN)

STATE UNIVERSAL BASIC EDUCATION BOARD, #7 DOGON DUTSE

LGEA L/NORTH

L/NORTH L/NORTH L/NORTH L/NORTH PANKSHIN PANKSHIN PANKSHIN

PANKSHIN PANKSHIN PANKSHIN

PANKSHIN PANKSHIN MANGU MANGU MANGU MANGU MANGU MANGU MANGU MANGU MANGU MIKANG MIKANG

MIKANG MIKANG MIKANG MIKANG MIKANG MIKANG Q/PAN Q/PAN Q/PAN Q/PAN Q/PAN Q/PAN Q/PAN Q/PAN L/SOUTH L/SOUTH L/SOUTH L/SOUTH L/SOUTH L/SOUTH L/SOUTH L/SOUTH L/SOUTH SHENDAM SHENDAM SHENDAM SHENDAM SHENDAM SHENDAM SHENDAM SHENDAM SHENDAM RIYOM RIYOM RIYOM RIYOM RIYOM RIYOM RIYOM WASE WASE WASE WASE WASE WASE WASE WASE WASE

THE NATION ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 11, 2011

67

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

KOMOLAFE

CHARLES

ETIM

AROMIBOSE

I formerly known and addressed as Charles Chukwunenye Nwonwu, now wish to be known and addressed as Charles Chukwunenye Udenze. All former documents remain valid. WAEC, Federal Polytechnic, Okoh and general public take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Komolafe Victoria Oluwatosin, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adebayo Victoria Oluwatosin. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Aromibose Rachael Olukemi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Sola-Jayeoba Olukemi. All former documents remain valid. Ekiti State Hospital Management Board and general public take note.

BAMIGBOYE

ONYEKWELU

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ogundeyi Damilola Ibukun, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Awoyeye Oluwadamilola Ibukun. All former documents remain valid. Ikole Local govt., Ekiti State and general public take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Adegoke Adefunke Adejoke, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adewuyi Adefunke Adejoke. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

AFOLABI

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Afolabi Oluwakemi Jelilat, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adetukasi Oluwakemi Jelilat. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

ODEZULU

ADEGOKE

IDOWU

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Idowu Taiwo Motunrayo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Sulaimon Taiwo Motunrayo. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

PELE

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Odezulu Rita Nkechi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Nwankwo Rita Nkechi. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Pele Rebecca Oluwakemi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Afuye Rebecca Oluwakemi. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ademodi Enitan Titilayo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Fabiyi Enitan Ronke. All former documents remain valid.

Ekiti State Hospital Management Board and general public take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Akinpelu Bolanle Sophia, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Egunjobi Sophia. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ADESOJI

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Nwosu Ujunwanne Maryjane, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Iwunna Ujunwanne Maryjane. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ADEMODI

I formerly known and addressed as Mrs Adesoji Omowumi Lydia, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Idima Omowumi Lydia. All former documents remain valid.

Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti and general public take note.

ASUKU I formerly known and addressed as ASuku Martha Ohunene, now wish to be known and addressed as Miss Ajayi Martha Ohunene. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

BANMORE

AKINPELU

NSOWU

ABIDAKUN

I, formerly known and addressed as Abidakun, Elizabeth Oluyemisi now wish to be known and addressed as Ife-Abidakun, Elizabeth Oluyemisi. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

LAWAL

I formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Victoria Rayoke Banmore, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Victoria Morayoke Wale-Banmore. All former documents remain valid.

Nigeria Customs Services and general public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Adams Olufunke Monsurat, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Lawal Olufunke Monsurat. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ADEMOLA

I, formerly known and addressed as Akabudu, Ifeyinwa Favour Rebecca, now wish to be known and addressed as IgwebuikeEzeonyekwele Ifeyinwa Favour Rebecca. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ademola Omolara Tawa, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ayoola Omolara Favour. All former documents remain valid. UBA Plc. and general public take note.

YISAU

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Yisau Abolore Mutiat, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Raji Abolore Mutiat. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

FOLA

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Fola Vincent Abibi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Vincent Ifeanyi Samuel. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OLAOYE

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Olaoye Florence Salewa, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Orekoya Florence Salewa.

All former documents remain valid. Oyo State Hospital Management Board and general public take note.

ONYEMA I formerly known and addressed as Miss Chinenye Ifeoma Onyema, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Chinenye Ifeoma Achusi. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

WANGNANON I formerly known and addressed as Miss Wangnanon Oluwaseun Edith, now wish to be known and addressed as Miss. Timothy Oluwaseun Edith. All former documents remain valid. The Polytechnic, Ibadan and general public take note.

TOKUNBO I formerly known and addressed as Fayehun Tokunbo Johnson, now wish to be known and addressed as Oluwadamilare Johnson. All former documents remain valid.

AOCOED and general public should please take note.

ADIELE

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ndukwe Chiomageraldine, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Philip Chioma Geraldine. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

FOLARIN

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Folarin Opeyemi Morolake, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adesina Opeyemi Morolake. All former documents remain valid. Zenith and general public take note.

OGUNDEYI

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Mercy Vizor, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Mercy Sunday Pius. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Stella Ehikem Adiele, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Stella Ehikem Nwankwo. All former documents remain valid.

WAEC, NYSC and general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Bamigboye Titilope, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ogungbe Mercy Titilope. All former documents remain valid.

Ekiti State Local govt. Service Commission and general public take note.

AKABUDU

OKORIE

I, formerly known and addressed as Chinwe Justina Okorie, now wish to be known and addressed as Chinwe Justina Okorie-Osiegbu.

All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

AYINDE

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ayinde Fatimah Titilope, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Olalekan Fatimah Titilope.

All former documents remain valid.

Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke, NYSC and general public should please take note.

IFEZUE

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ifezue Ngozichukwu Gloria, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ahanaonu Ngozichukwu Gloria. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

IROEGBU I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Eberechukwu Chizitere Iroegbu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Eberechukwu Chizitere Emesiani. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ONYENEMEGAM I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Chioma Beatrice Onyenemegam, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Chioma Beatrice Echefu. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

MOSHOOD I formerly known and addressed as Olayiwola Abiola Moshood, now wish to be known and addressed as Olayiwola Abiola. All former documents remain valid.

Intercontinental Bank Plc and general public should please take note.

VIZOR

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Emem Obong Ime Etim, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Emem Obong Aniefiok Robson. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ALABI

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Alabi Oluwafunke Rachael, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Odejobi Oluwafunke Rachael. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Onyekwelu Scholastica Uche, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Obiagwu Scholastica Uche. All former documents remain valid. Abia State Polytechnic and general public should please take note.

OGUNSEKAN

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ogunsekan Balikis Asani, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oyewole Balikis Asani. All former documents remain valid.

MAPOLY, NYSC and general public should please take note.

OLOTU I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Olotu Mary Taiwo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Bamidele Mary Taiwo. All former documents remain valid. Oyo SUBEB, Ibarapa Central LGEA and general public should please take note.

AKINTUNDE

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Akintunde Kehinde Fath, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ogunseyin Kehinde Fath. All former documents remain valid.Federal Medical Center IdiAraba, Abeokuta and general public should please take note.

WAHAB

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Wahab Abiola Musidat, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Agbonhin Abiola Musidat. All former documents remain valid.Oyo East Local govt. and general public should please take note.

SONDE I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Sonde Temitope Grace, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oke Temitope Grace. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

ODUTOLA

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Odutola Victoria, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oluwasegun Adesola Victoria. All former documents remain valid. Nigeria Police Force and general public should please take note.

ALAMUTU I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Alamutu Mariam Abike, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adewunmi Mariam Abike. All former documents remain valid.

Federal Medical Center Idi-Araba, Abeokuta and general public should please take note.

HUSSEIN I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Hussein Rasheedat Morenike, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Egunjobi Roseline Morenike. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

DAUDA

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Dauda Taibat Ajoke, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Osho Toheebat Ajoke. All former documents remain valid.

OGSEP, MAPOLY, NYSC and general public should please take note.

NDUKWE

ARONU

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Aronu Chioma Joy, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Johnson Wonders Joy Chioma. All former documents remain valid.

The general public should please take note.

IKEMESIT

I formerly known and addressed as Ikemesit Okon Sam, now wish to be known and addressed as Ikemesit Emmanuel Essien. All former documents remain valid. Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nasarawa State Command and general public should please take note.

OLUBODE

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Olubode Oluwatomiwa Eunice, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Fayemi Oluwatomiwa Eunice. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

NWAUZOR

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ugochi Ethel Nwauzor, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ugochi Ethel Barbara Mba. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

IGWE I formerly known and addressed as Tabitha Igwe, now wish to be known and addressed as Tabitha Paschal Sunday. All former documents remain valid. The Nigeria Police and general public should please take note.

EGUBERE I formerly known, called and addressed as Miss Rose Egubere, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs. Rose Atavwo, that all former document remain valid. The General public, NYSC should take note.

TAYLOR

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Taylor Mosunmade Adebukola, now wish to be know and addressed as Mrs Owolabi Mosunmade Adebukola. All former documents remain valid. general public take note.A

AFOLABI I formerly known and addressed as Miss Afolabi Ramota Abiona, now wish to be know and addressed as Mrs Salahudeen Ramota Abiona . All former documents remain valid. Tescom Osogbo and general public take note.

JEGEDE

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Jegede Adekemi Bosede, now wish to be know and addressed as Mrs Sumboye Adekemi Bosede. All former documents remain valid. Osun state Judiciary and general public take note.

ADEYEMI

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Adeyemi Precious Adetomi, now wish to be know and addressed as Mrs Folajin Precious Adetomi. All former documents remain valid. Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, NYSC and general public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME

CHUKWUEMEKA

I Azeez Raifu Olalekan my name was erroneously arange as Olalekan Azeez Raifu by NECO Jun/Jul. 2010. Exam No. 11942578IJ Center No. 024287. My correct name is Azeez Raifu Olalekan. All former documents remain valid. Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, NECO and general public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Chukwuemeka Rejoice Onyinyechi, now wish to be known and addressed as Nnaji Rejoice Onyinyechi. All former documents remain valid. Germany Embassy and general public should please take note.

I formerly Miss. Ramota Omotayo Ajala now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ramota Omotayo Ajikobi. All former documents remain valid. FinBank Plc and the general public take note.

ANYANWU

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Anyanwu Chikwado Juliet, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Enendu Chikwado Juliet. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public should please take note.

UMEH

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Umeh Roseline Chidi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Nwangwu Roseline Chidi. All former documents remain valid.

NYSC and general public should please take note.

AJALA

OGOKE I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ogoke Francisca Ugochi now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. OnyenkwereFrancisca Ugochi. All former documents remain valid. Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Owerri and the general public take note.

ABDUL-AHMED

I formerly known and addressed as Abdul-Ahmed Moriamo Yetunde, now wish to be know and addressed as Anifahim Moriamo.

All former documents remain valid. Osun state Judiciary and general public take note.

Three women accept Nobel Peace Prize

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HREE women who fought injustice, dictatorship and sexual violence in Liberia and Yemen received the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize at a ceremony in the Norwegian capital yesterday.

Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, her compatriot Leymah Gbowee and Tawakkul Karman of Yemen collected their Nobel diplomas and medals to applause at Oslo’s City Hall.

Prize committee Chairman Thorbjoern Jagland said the three women represent the struggle for “human rights in general and of women for equality and peace in particular.”

No woman or sub-Saharan African had won the prize since 2004, when the committee honoured Wangari Maathai of Kenya, who mobilized poor women to fight deforestation by planting trees.

By selecting Karman, the prize committee also recognized the Arab Spring movement championed by often anonymous activists

from Tunisia to Syria.

Sirleaf was elected president of Liberia in 2005 and won re-election in October. She is widely credited with helping her country emerge from an especially brutal civil war.

The 39-year-old Gbowee long campaigned for the rights of women and against rape, challenging Liberia’s warlords. In 2003, she led hundreds of female protesters through Monrovia to demand swift disarmament of fighters, who continued to prey on women, despite a peace deal that should have ended the 14-year civil war.

Karman, a journalist and member of the Islamic party Islah, is the first Arab woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize, and at 32, the youngest peace laureate ever. She also heads the human rights group Women Journalists without Chains.

Worth 10 million kronor ($1.5 million) each, the Nobel Prizes are always handed out on the anniversary of award founder Alfred Nobel’s death in 1896.

Executives charged over deadly India hospital fire

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IX senior executives were charged yesterday with culpable homicide and violating safety rules over a hospital fire in Kolkata that killed at least 90 people.

The six executives are from two companies that co-own the hospital where poisonous fumes spread from a blaze in the building’s basement.

The charges, if proved, could result in a maximum 10year imprisonment.

Javed Khan, head of the fire service in West Bengal state — of which Kolkata is the capital — suggested the incident pointed towards gross negligence and serious violations of safety norms.

“There was a fire in 2008 in the same hospital and we are trying to probe how the authorities got their fire licence renewed,” Khan told AFP. On Friday, patients were lowered down the outside of the hospital on ropes after the fire broke out in the early hours of Friday at the privately-run AMRI hospital, engulfing the multi-storey premises in thick smoke.

Firefighters and staff smashed glass windows to evacuate some of the 160 patients, with local media alleging that fire alarms and extinguishers had not been working.

“In all, 90 bodies have been extricated from the hospital. 88 of these bodies have been identified and handed over to the relatives,” Damayanti Sen, joint commissioner of police, told AFP yesterday.

Kolkata Police commissioner R K Pachnanda later said another patient had died yesterday, taking the toll to 91, the Press Trust of India news agency reported.

Sen, who is heading the team appointed to investigate the tragedy, added that all the deaths were due to the inhalation of toxic fumes which quickly filled the wards. Four staff were among those killed.

Initial investigations suggested the fire might have been started by a short circuit in the basement, which was used to store oxygen cylinders, plastic pipes, fibre coils, chemicals and medical equipment.

Fire engines had trouble reaching the hospital, which is surrounded by narrow roads, and distraught relatives gathered outside during the rescue operation.

“We heard the patients crying for help,” said Shivani Mondal, 60, who lives in a slum settlement next to the hospital in the south of the city.

Samir Nandi, a 50-yearold state railways employee, said the teeming city of 14 million people would be haunted by the tragedy and the failures that caused the death toll to be so high.

“I have never seen such devastation before,” said Nandi. “This incident shows that our hospitals are no better than cremation grounds.”

Subrata Mukherjee, a state minister, on Friday said senior members of the hospital staff appeared to have fled as soon as the fire broke out, abandoning patients, many of whom were sedated, elderly or infirm.

“It was horrifying that the hospital authorities did not make any effort to rescue trapped patients,” Mukherjee told reporters.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh voiced his “shock and anguish” at the heavy loss of life.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2011

Business

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Fuel Subsidy: A different perspective T

HE issue of fuel subsidy removal is one that evokes a lot of passion and emotions. Its proponents are so passionate about its potential to serve as the economic elixir needed to boost the downstream sub-sector of the oil and gas industry with a multiplier effect on the economy that they are wont to use such words as ‘must’ and ‘no going back’ when pointing out the imperative of fuel subsidy removal.

Those opposed to it reply in kind with expressions such as ‘the nation will be on fire’, ‘there will be anarchy’ as they try to put across their point that the policy has the potential of causing spiral inflation and imposing much hardship on the citizens.

Beyond the emotion it evokes, the policy of fuel subsidy removal is one issue that has lingered on in the public domain for so long without a meeting point between its proponents and opponents. Children born in the late 80s and early 90s during the General Ibrahim Babangida regime when it first came into national consciousness are in their 20s now and some have become fathers and mothers. In fact, some people have made their career out of it. The comrade governor of Edo State, Adam Oshiomhole is one of such. The history of his rise to political limelight cannot be complete without a substantial part of it devoted to his role as the arrow head of the opposition against fuel subsidy removal from 1999 to 2003, that is if you discount his role as one of the leaders of the labour movement in the days of Babangida and General Sani Abacha. It is the popularity garnered in these years that helped propel him into the State House in Edo State.

But today, Comrade Oshiomhole is on the other side.

Though he has not declared it in so many words, his body language tends to indicate so. He has been involved in the meetings of the Governors’ Forum which has declared severally that it is in support of the plan to remove fuel subsidy. Governor Sule Lamido recently came out to say that all the 36 governors are in support of the plan. So far, there has not been word from Oshiomhole denying

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EQUISITE knowledge and right skills set are the qualities every employer expects from any prospective job applicant.

These were the submissions made by a team of resource persons at a public forum in Lagos recently.

The forum was the 1st lecture series organised by Theseabilities Limited, a company which has since earned a reputation for boosting the welfare and employability of persons with disabilities.

The one day lecture organised by Theseabilities Limited, an organisation involved in advocacy for and increasing the capacity of persons with disabilities was a testament to the organisation’s determination to go beyond talk to action to proffer a solution to the issue of unemployment which is one of the disadvantages encountered by persons with disabilities in the society.

The Executive Director of the company, Mr. Adeboye

•Petroleum Minister, Diezani Allison-Madueke

By Bola Adeniyi

that he is not in support.

This point here is not so much about the Comrade Governor’s volte face as is the fact that in life there comes a time when one is constrained to delve beyond the emotions and sentiments in an argument and come to terms with the stark reality of the situation. A barefaced and dispassionate look at the issue of fuel subsidy as the Comrade Governor may have done is what the present time calls for.

It is very tempting for one to assume that Oshiomhole’s conversion is driven by his new position as a governor and the need to raise more money for the development of his state. But subsidy removal is not all about more money accruing to government coffers, it is about removing distortions in the market that have served as disincentive to serious investors in the sector.

One thing fuel subsidy has done to the market over the years is that it breeds a crop of businessmen who have been feeding fat on government money without adding any real value to the economy.

It would be recalled that some years back, government issued licenses to private operators to build

•CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido

•Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

refineries. But almost eight years down the road none of those refineries has been built. Some of the beneficiaries of the private refinery licenses that I have spoken to explained that they could not get their banks to give them loans to fund the refinery projects as they were told that the projects were not bankable. This simply means that the banks do not see the private refineries as viable enough to bring profit.

Why would a bank see a refinery project as not bankable in a country that consumes between 35 million to 40 million litres of premium motor spirit (petrol) a day?

The answer lies in the fact that the market is regulated. This means that the market is controlled in such a way that a refiner does not have the freedom to decide how much he can sell a litre of his products such that he can come off with a reasonable profit because government has pegged the price of the products. So if it costs a refiner N70 to produce a litre of petrol, he is forced to sell at N65. Even if the government undertakes to pay him the balance of N5, he still will not make any profit. If the government decides to pay him N10 to enable him make a N5 profit per litre, common sense would tell a businessman that the profit is not guaran-

teed because government can decide to owe him or change the policy tomorrow and put his business in jeopardy. This, in a nutshell, is one of the many ways fuel subsidy has adversely affected the Nigerian economy.

Now, regarding the question some people raise about the possibility of the rise in the pump price of petroleum products when subsidy is removed, there is no doubt that prices of products will increase but it will only be for a while.

As soon as investors know that the market is deregulated and the petroleum refining business is no longer subject to the vagaries of subsidy and policy somersaults, they will begin to invest in refineries. Once the refineries come on stream, the pump prices of petroleum products will begin to fall as a result of competition. Here is how it works: If refinery X gets its feedstock (crude oil) for $120 per barrel, and refinery Y is able to source its own for $115, it puts the later at an advantage cost wise. It refinery Y has with a more efficient technology, it could get more litres of products out of its feedstock than refinery X. They will therefore not sell their products at the same price thereby breeding competition in the market. As more and more refineries come on

stream and the competition gets keener, prices will be forced down and the Nigerian consumer will become king of the market.

Many have asked why the price of diesel which has since been deregulated has not come down if indeed deregulation can ultimately lead to a fall in the pump prices of products. We must understand that refineries are usually built to refine a range of products and not one product. So if one of the products is deregulated as we have in diesel, it does not attract the full benefits of total deregulation as investors are not likely to rush in to build refineries for diesel alone. But suffice it to say that the deregulation of diesel has begun to yield investments in the sector with the commissioning of a 120,000 litres per day diesel refinery by the Niger Delta Petroleum Resources Ltd in Ahoada, Rivers State, recently.

From the foregoing, the benefit of fuel subsidy removal to the economy go way beyond the ultimate goal of getting market forces to bring down the pump prices of products to the immediate gain of attracting investments in the downstream sub-sector of the oil and gas industry and creating jobs for the teaming youth. Right from the construction stage to commissioning of the private refineries thousands of jobs will be created. Then imagine what the billions of naira currently spent in importing products will do to the Nigerian economy when we stop importing and start refining products locally. And who says we cannot grow to the point where we will stop exporting raw crude oil and start adding value to all our crude oil production before exporting thereby creating more jobs and making more money?

I believe we all need to take a closer look at the issue of fuel subsidy removal devoid of all the sentiments and emotions that have blinded us to its merits. If we want to develop, we must be ready to come out of our comfort zones and make some sacrifices. We cannot continue to yearn for omelets without doing the needful by breaking eggs.

•Adeniyi, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Ibadan.

Firm empowers persons with disabilities

By Michael Orodare

Abioye in his welcome address justified the need for the forum, saying it was aimed at improving employment opportunities for persons with disabilities in the country.

Abioye who also hinted of plans to help prospective job applicants pursue employment opportunities asked those present at the forum to submit their curriculum vitae for onward processing.

Speaking on the theme for the 2011 International Day of Persons with Disabilities ‘Together for a better world for all including persons with disabilities,’ the Executive Director, Human Resources of Chevron Nigeria Plc, Mr. Lanre Kalejaiye who was represented by the General Manager, Human Resources, Dr. Edith Azinge said that a better world which is a collec-

•Abioye and Popoola at the event

tive responsibility cannot be achieved if discrimination against persons with disabilities still persists.

She however stated that the reason why many disabled don’t get employed is

based on the perception they have about themselves and not because of their physical disability.

The keynote speaker at the forum, Mr. Abiola Popoola, President of the

Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM), harped on the need for persons with disabilities to change the perception they have towards themselves if they truly want to be employed in the competitive Nigerian labour market.

“Whenever you are approaching any organisation for work, don’t approach them with a sense of please help me, approach them with a sense of I can be of help to your organisation, they will definitely give you the opportunity, don’t make yourself an object of sympathy.”

Popoola stated.

He also stated that government at all levels also have a large role to play as the largest employer of labour and policy maker, to give persons with disabilities a fair chance to play in government parastatals.

The CIPM boss also assured the forum of the commitment of the institute in

ensuring that persons with disabilities do not experience discrimination whenever they are seeking employment into any organisation, stressing that “it is wrong to discriminate against people based on their physical disability.

That is part of what CIPM is working against and very soon CIPM will hold a forum where persons with disabilities will come together with employers to discuss and proffer a solution to the issue of discrimination against persons with disabilities for employment.”

The Head of Service of Lagos State, Prince Adesegun Ogunlewe who was represented by his secretary, Mr. Abiodun Bamigboye said that as part of the effort of the state government to ensure that persons with disabilities are given fair chance to play, the state government in June 2010 signed the law to establish office of disability affairs.

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WORSHIP THE NATION ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2011

Living P Faith

By David Oyedepo

Enjoying kingdom prosperity! (2)

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OD’S supernatural provisions are for you. So, why die in poverty when you can live in prosperity and abundance? Hear this: God’s Word is loaded with treasures for your comfort and pleasure.

We live in a Kingdom of mysteries. When you understand and apply them, they confer mastery on you. Last week, I brought you the introductory segment of this teaching.

This week, I will be showing you some characteristics of wealth outside God’s Kingdom (Worldy riches) and characteristics of wealth in God’s Kingdom (Covenant wealth).

Let me start by saying that it is possible to be wealthy outside the Kingdom. There are quite many wealthy people in the world today that don’t know Jesus. The rich man in the days of Lazarus the beggar didn’t know Jesus. He was rich when he was here, but he ended up in hell! So, it is possible to be wealthy on earth and be without Christ.

How is it possible? By many means — human wisdom, human strength, involvement in too many different jobs, various dubious acts, gambling, forgery, etc. Wealth is possible outside the Kingdom.

Characteristics of worldy riches: Let us consider the characteristics of wealth outside the Kingdom of God, which should be enough to discourage anybody from it.

1. Pride: Wealth outside the Kingdom of God makes room for pride, and pride is a social cancer. It kills, it destroys! Why is it so cheap for him to be proud? Because he sees his wealth as what his own hands have made. Thus, it is easy for him to become puffed-up.

In Acts 12, Herod made an oration and the people shouted: ... the voice of a god, and not of a man. He proudly pulled up his shoulders in acceptance of the people’s praises. The Bible says worms came and ate him up instantly! This shows that pride has worms inside it that eats people up.

Nebuchadnezzar grew so strong that God was no longer relevant to him and then God demoted him into the animal kingdom. For seven years, he moved about under the dews of the day.

The rich fool said: I have done this, I have done that ... I will now say to my soul, My soul, rest, eat, drink ... There is hardly any way anyone can make it outside the kingdom without being proud of such achievement. Pride is a silent killer. It destroys without remedy.

2. Insecurity: Wealth outside the kingdom is characterized by a deep sense of insecurity. Such people run around and do everything to protect what they have. A certain ruler met Jesus to whom Jesus said: ... Sell all that thou hast and distribute unto the poor ... In his response, the scriptures records that the certain ruler ... was very sorrowful: for he was very rich (Luke 18:18-23).

Every rich man outside the kingdom of God is plagued by a deep sense of insecurity. This makes them to run around everywhere, looking for how to protect what their hands have wrought. His hand wrought it, consequently, his hand must protect it.

3. Temporary: Wealth outside the Kingdom never truly lasts,because, Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished (Proverbs 13:11).

God’s Word says you have no business being envious of the wicked that prosper, because he is placed on slippery grounds that won’t be able to keep him for long. When next you look for him, he is nowhere to be found. You will look for him and not find him (Psalms 73:18).

The riches of the wealthy outside the Kingdom is slippery.

After a while, you can’t see the man again; he is gone! So, we say it is temporary. It is very deceitful.

Next week, I will this series.

I invite you to come and fellowship with us at the Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, Ota, the covenant home of Winners. Our midweek services hold on Wednesdays between 6 and 8 p.m. We have four services on Sundays. The first one holds between 6.30 and 8.15 a.m., the second between 8.25 a.m. and 10.10 a.m., the third between 10.20 a.m. and 12.05 p.m. and the fourth between 12.15 and 2.00 Every exploit in life is a product of knowledge. For further reading, please get my books — Covenant Wealth, Understanding Financial Prosperity and Breaking Financial Hardship.

I know this teaching has blessed you. Write and share your testimony with me through: BISHOP DAVID OYEDEPO, Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, Ota, P.M.B. 21688, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; Or call 7747546-8; Or E-mail: bishop@davidoyedepoministries.org

ENULTIMATE Sunday, it was celebration time at the International Bible Training Centre, Ayobo, Ipaja of Deeper Life Bible Church as the wife of the General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church, Sister Esther Kumuyi was unveiled to the church after one year of their marriage.

The celebration which had thousands of Christians faithful from around the country had a mini choir concert, poem recitation, portrait presentation to Sister Esther and prayer session as she assumes her duty as the Woman Leader of the church.

It would be recalled that the General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor William Kumuyi, married Sister Esther Aduke on the 27th of November, 2010 in London after the death of his former wife, Sister Biodun Kumuyi in April 2009 in Lagos. In her response, Sister Esther, who was moved to tears, pledged her commitment in supporting her husband and the church in saturating the world with the gospel of righteousness and holiness of life.”I never had imagined in my wildest dream that I would wear the shoes of our late mummy, Biodun Kumuyi, which came to me as a surprise because no one can actually wear her shoes, but I stand

Kumuyi formally introduces wife

• Pastor Kumuyi and wife, Esther

By Adeola Ogunlade

here and promise you, God helping me with your prayers and cooperation that the doctrine of holiness, righteous living and purity of life that our Mummy Kumuyi stood for shall be upheld.”

Also speaking at the event, Pastor Kumuyi who was full of excitement and admiration at the ceremony said,” my marriage to Sister Esther has brought joy into my life and has wiped my tear away.” He said, “my wife is humble, submissive and has been very sup-

portive in the task of reaching communities, towns, and regions across the world for Christ.” Kumuyi went ahead to charge the church to remain committed to the task of evangelism, discipleship which is “the heart beat of God for our generation.”

The revival Nigeria needs, by Madubuko

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ENERAL Overseer of Revival Assembly, Apostle Anslem Madubuko, has stated that Nigeria needs a revival that will herald complete transformation in all spheres of life.

He spoke last week with reporters ahead of the 21st anniversary of the church slated to hold from December 16th-18th.

The celebration with the theme ‘‘upgrade’’ holds at the church’s national head-

By Sunday Oguntola

quarters on No 1-7, Revival Close, Ogba, Lagos.

Madubuko said only revival prompted by God can save Nigeria in view of the multifarious challenges facing it.

Revival, he pointed, out will not only change Nigeria but also take God’s children to the next level.

He assured that such revival will be triggered off at the anniversary celebration

that features Glen Arekion, a young preacher from America.

Also expected to minister in songs are Chioma Jesus, Vivian Steven and Higher dimension choir, among others.

Madubuko said, ‘‘The problem with Nigeria is that we have a lot of religion but little of God; however, we are praying that we have more of God and less of religion.’’

He assured that there will be a changed atmosphere ahead of the New Year for total relief from hardship.

According to him, “We are trusting God for changed atmosphere. Revival is God coming to man.

It is God taking over. It is about the presence of God. When His presence comes, people are changed; the community is changed. ‘‘Lives are transformed, robbery stops, evil stops.

That is the effect revival can have on a nation. That is what we need.’’

WATS/BSN conclude bible year anniversary

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HE West Africa Theological Seminary (WATS) and the Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN) have concluded the 400th anniversary of the King James Version of the Bible in Lagos. The anniversary, which had bible conferences across cities of Nigeria, Liberia and Sierra Leone, was accompanied by the display of several ancient and rare bible artifacts from collections by renowned Professor of History and Ancient studies, Dr. Scott Carroll.

The event which was held last Saturday at the WATS campus at Ipaja, Lagos, was the climax of the anniversary that began in June at The Apostolic Church ground, Ketu, Lagos. Other cities in Nigeria which hadtheir share of the celebration were Enugu, PortHarcourt, Kaduna and Abuja

By Dayo Emmanuel before the grand finale in Lagos. The celebration was also held in Sierra Leone and Liberia as championed by WATS and BSN. Chairman of the Central Working Committee of the Anniversary and General Secretary, Bible Society of Nigeria, Dr. Fred Odutola was elated at the success of the anniversary. Speaking at the ceremony in Ipaja, Odutola recounted testimonies of people who have had life changing encounters through the Bible. “The School for the Blind and the prisons are some of the places we have received touching testimonies by reason of the peoples encounters with God’s printed word”, Odutola said.

The lawyer turned pub-

lisher of God’s word continued, “one of the testimonies is about a particular prisoner who gave his life to Christ after reading about forgiving others from the Bible he was given in the prison”. Odutola revealed, adding that it costs his organization about N30million to translate the Bible into a Nigeria language.

In his own remark, the Project Coordinator of the bible anniversary, Pastor Oluwafemi Martins, said, “we believe coming together to the ground of WATS where the anniversary’s vision was conceived to make a joyful noise to the Lord in closing the event is important”.

What And Where?

Church holds revival

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HE New Pentecostal Christian Centre, (NPCC) will begin its end of the year revival programme tomorrow. Tagged: ‘show me your glory’ the weeklong revival will feature a talk on parenting, by Deaconess Atinuke Onireti .

Motivational business speaker, Pastor Tope Popoola will also be on hand to speak on creating wealth during recession.

The revival vigil will hold on Friday night while the couples night out will hold on Saturday.

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2011

Essay

• Continued from page 12

Recently, at a large store offering goods at highly reduced prices, an elderly man slumped to the floor.

In years past, people would have rushed to his aid. This time, the citizens of the richest nation in the world acted like hungry animals competing for feed. As the man slowly expired, people walked around and over him in hot pursuit to items on sale. The man died on the floor as no one bothered or cared for they were all too busy trying to save a dollar on the price of underwear. The threat of economic hard times has turned a good number of Americans into practicing the law of the jungle.

Fortunately, this is not the whole story. Many Americans have responded to the deadbeat economy in a more inspiring way. They have taken to the streets in dozens of cities to protest. Meanwhile, average Europeans are screaming at the cold injustice being dished to them. British civil servants have gone on strike. Protests continue in Spain, France and Portugal. Greece is a nation in perpetually strike just as it is in permanent austerity. Meanwhile, the number of homeless people in Greece has hit new highs. This is the holiday gift of austerity.

In another part of the world, people protest against another form of conservatism.

Syria’s Assad regime is on the brink. In America, people stepped over a dying man to nab an item on sale. In Syria, people are ready to die to reclaim a freedom that can neither be bought nor sold. One instance is sad, the other sublime. Yet, in their own ways, both are natural human reactions to the unfair imposition of the elite few on the ordinary many.

The late Hafez Assad was as intelligent as he was diabolical; the son seems to be as ineffective as he is vacuous. Bashar has tried to follow the student’s guidebook to dictatorial ruthlessness laid out by his father but the boy is a pale shadow of the old man and a cloddish student. Syria is effectively in civil war and the younger Assad’s days are numbered. However, this does not mean they are numbered in the low figures. Unlike Gaddafi, Assad has powerful allies

From Walmart to Damascus in Russia, China and Iran.

They do not seek his exit, fearing they would lose influence in the process.

Western nations publicly encourage the antigovernment side and likely give clandestine material support. Reportedly, the newly minted Libyan regime has sent 600 fighters to strengthen the Syrian opposition’s growing military arm. To a significant degree, the alarm sounded by NATO about missing Libyan weapons arsenal was the high art of mendacity. Instead of all the weapons escaping into the hands of anti-western ne’er-do-wells, NATO likely secured many weapons caches but allowed them to “slip” away for onward use against the Syrian regime. Also, the Libyans would not have dared offered to aid the Syrain groups if not given the green light by their NATO overlords. Thus, Syria is more than a civil war. It has the shape of a tense proxy war being orchestrated by leaders unaccustomed to waving the baton to the subtle music of realpolitik where one false note can result in heavy conflagration with broad geopolitical consequences. The tension caused by this proxy war is a factor in the harsh exchange between America and Russia over the tainted Duma elections last week.

Yet, the potentially hottest spot is Iran. American and Israel pledge they will not allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon. Already, Iran nuclear scientists have been murdered. Facilities have been sabotaged and subject to sophisticated cyber attacks hindering the Iranian advance to assembling the ingredients and machinery necessary for such a weapon. America has accused Iran’s security apparatus of concocting an assassination plot against the Saudi Ambassador in the United States.

The plot is so harebrained that it could not have been planned by an adult of moderate intelligence; yet the American authorities have called this “an act of war” and have called for tighter sanctions against Tehran. The EU obliged.

London went even further by blacklisting the Iranian central bank. The Iranians responded predictably.

“Western nations publicly encourage the anti-government side and likely give clandestine material support. Reportedly, the newly minted Libyan regime has sent 600 fighters to strengthen the Syrian opposition’s growing military arm. To a significant degree, the alarm sounded by NATO about missing Libyan weapons arsenal was the high art of mendacity”

• Bashar-al-Assad, Syria President

They ransacked the British Embassy and would have done the American Embassy had there still been one.

The vast majority of Iranians want a nuclear weapons program. America cannot understand why Iran wants a nuclear weapon except to threaten Israel.

Surrounding by American

combat troops to the east in Afghanistan, to the west in Iraq and by the American Fifth Fleet in the Persian Gulf, the Iranians can’t understand why anyone can’t understand that an Iranian nuclear deterrent is sensible notion. The drums of war are relentlessly pounding while those less musically are merely satisfied

with rattling their sabers or carrying a big stick.

Few should be completely at ease with the prospects of a nuclear Iran but American and Israeli leaders should weigh all the factors in the balance before taking irrevocable action.

Perhaps it is a bit too wishful to think that Israel will recalibrate. PM Netanyahu has staked his political life and legacy on going to war with Iran should that nation reach the point of nuclearly arming itself.

Dismantling, the Iranian nuclear infrastructure is not as simple as dropping a bomb on one installation.

Nuclear sites are several and spread across the nation. Moreover, they are fortified with some in deep bunkers. To degrade this system would require sustained aerial bombardment over weeks if not months.

This cannot be a one-time preemptive strike as in the past. This will be a sustained mission more intense and deadly than the NATO airstrikes in Libya.

This will be war and not just a single isolated act.

Israel has not the capacity to sustain this level of attack. However, it does have the capacity to drop one bomb, triggering a reaction by Iran and its allies.

This would also be used as a rationale by the Syrian regime to exercise the mailed fist to eliminate the opposition in gruesome fashion. Should this hap-

pen, America and its NATO cabal will bound into the tussle to finish Iran. A major regional war sending seismic shocks near and far would result. The Middle East could erupt, particularly in nations with large Shi’a populations that sympathize with Iran. This could radicalize the Arab Spring, turning it into a Long Hot Summer. Catastrophe is not too strong a word to describe these portents.

Strangely, peace now depends on Iran being able to thread the needle. They are the only actors with access to subtlety at the moment. If the Iranians are smart enough to stop where it has the potential components of a nuclear program at hand but does not piece them together they can save face politically while averting war. However, if they are seen to have gone too far, the likelihood of an Israeli strike is as high as 80 percent. If the Israelis strike, Iran would have to capitulate on the nuclear program and refuse to retaliate to avert war. This is possible because, although all will suffer, Iran would be the worst casualty in a big war.

While such restraint is possible, it is unlikely. More probably, Iran will retaliate.

Then events will take on a martial aspect sucking all into their gravitational pull.

We live in a dangerous world mostly because major nations are lead by people who believe they have the answers even though they don’t even know or understand the great questions of our age.

Matters arising from Arewa confab •Continued from page 14

have cast Nigeria’s cultural plurality in negative terms.

To many of the country’s founding fathers, the country’s diverse cultures are not problems to be overcome. In the words of Sir Ahmadu Bello, all that is needed is for us to do is to understand our differences. Understanding

our differences is supposed to lead to inter-ethnic harmony, as it has done in other federations, such as Belgium. Switzerland, Canada, the United States, South Africa, etc.

It is the imagination that cultural diversity is a problem to be overcome that led military governments to erase the constitution that

our founding fathers believed were capable of allowing us to understand our differences and live in harmony despite our differences. It is that imagination that put creation of local governments and regulation of indigene/ settler relations in the Exclusive list. What our founding fathers did in respect of our

differences and that allowed them to succeed until 1966 was to agree on the imperative of unfettered federalism. If we are not to fail, we need to move away from what military dictators did to the constitution that used to make each community to feel safe with neighbouring communities.

100 years of St Andrew’s Anglican Church, Are-Ekiti •Continued from page 14

ranged from candle light procession, to Morning Prayer Revival, Film show, Bible Quiz, Laying of the foundation stone of the new vicarage with a Thanksgiving Service and Awards presentation to cap it all.

Past and present workers in the Lord’s Vineyard at St Andrew’s were gloriously honoured amongst them the late Revd Omotuyi for whose award the Ven Omotuyi and her two sisters, the elder being the wife of the Lord Bishop of Osun were present. Another awardee was my headmaster who doubled as catechist, the late Pa Akeredolu of Owo, the father of that child of great promise, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, and past president of the Nigerian Bar Association who was actually born in this beautiful town.

Though Rotimi, unfortunately, could not make the event, he was ably repre-

sented by the Anisulowo brothers, Dipo and Funso and yours truly. Other awardees include those honoured post humously, amongst them Oba Luke Olofinniyi, Oba Matthew Adewumi, Chief J.A. Anisulowo, Chief S.O Olowolafe, father of Dr Tunji Olowolafe and Professor Remi Olaofe while present day awardees are Pa Joshua Omoseebi, one of the oldest men in town and a devout Christian, Mr J.S.A Alade, who has a long histoy of service in the house of God beginning from Christ Church Anglican, Elere, Lagos, where for long years he was secretary of YMCA, whose minutes of meetings I had, wily nilly, to write as a young bank clerk at the Bank of West Africa, Ebute-Metta but living with my uncle at Ageg; Elder Emmanuel Akinbode, Chief Akin Adewumi, Mrs Modupe Babalola and Mr Idowu Akomolede.

The icing on thecake was the award of the honour of

PATRON of the church to Professor Femi Elegbeleye, Prof Femi Olaofe, Professor Tunji Orubuloye, Chief (Barrister) Dipo Anisulowo and Dr Femi Orebe For a truly remarkable Centenary Celebration, our corporate and personal gratitude go to His Excellency, Dr Kayode Fayemi, the governorof Ekiti state who kindly asked me to represent him at the occasion, the Deputy Governor, Her Excellency, Mrs Adunni Olayinka ,who on both days was ably represented by Evangelist Alofe, a former Secretary to the Ekiti State Government, accompanied by her very warm wife and, to the Speaker, the RT. Hon (Dr) Wale Omirin.

Our Special thanks go to the Chief Host of the day, HRM, Oba Boluwade Adebiyi, the Alare of Are-Ekiti, who was all joy, and his ever delectable wife, the Olori; HRM Oba Ademola Ajakaiye, the Oluyin of Iyin-Ekiti (and the Olori), who, from my youth has taken me under his

wings. Kabiyesi, I cannot than you enough, Sir. The Hon. Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade, was very ably represented and to him goes our hearty thanks.

I cannot end this without extending my personal thanks to the board and Management of Nigerite Ltd, Ikeja, Lagos, Prince Otuyemi of the Governor’s Office, Lagos State, my past President, CUBN, Archbishop Vining Memorial Cathedral Church, Engr G. Akingbade, Professor Dupe Adelabu, the Ekiti State SUBEB Chairman, Alhaji Ogunlai, Chairman, Civil Service Cmmission and his Local Government Commission counterpart, Hon Remi Ajayi, Dr Kayode Akinlade of Crown Hospital, the Orthopedic surgeon, Dr Damola Dada, members of the Executive Council, Ekiti State Government, as well as my dear Jamiu brothers of the Office of the Chief of Staff.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2011

71

NATION SPORT 2013 AFRICAN CUP OF NATIONS QUALIFIERS

43RD ASOJU- OBA T/TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP

Nigeria tackles Rwanda Feb 29

Kazeem, Bello emerge winners

S

UPER Eagles will take on Rwanda in Kigali in a first leg qualifying match for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations on February 29, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) have announced.

The return leg match in Nigeria will be played between June 15 and 17.

The other fixtures in the preliminary round 2 include Guinea Bissau vs Cameroon,

• Keshi invites 30 NPL stars Central African Republic vs Egypt, Gambia vs Algeria, Kenya vs Togo, Congo vs Uganda, Ethiopia vs Benin.

The final qualifying match for the competition will see the overall winners of these fixtures up against the finalists of the 2012 Nations Cup. These matches will be played between September 7 and 9 and October 12 and 14.

South Africa will stage the Nations Cup for the second time after they first hosted the tournament in 1996.

This followed the civil war that ravaged original hosts for the 2013 edition Libya.

The biennial tournament will be played in 2013, only

a year after the 2012 competition in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, so as to move it to odd years and avoid a clash with the FIFA World Cup. Meanwhile, Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi is to call up 30 players from the Nigeria Premier League for a local training camp in Abuja next week, officials disclosed.

Moses scores to beat Osaze2-1 •As Wigan defeats West Brom away •Agbonlahor assists in Villa’s away win

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AST Saturday simply, was Victor Moses’ day as the Nigeria-born forward hit the back of the net in his side’s 2-1 away win at the Hawthorns against Osaze Odemwingie’s West Bromwich Albion in their English Premier League fixture.

Steven Reid had put West Brom ahead in the 33rd minute but while the home fans may have been expectant of a home win, Moses came into the picture, putting his side back in the fight for the spoils in the 38 minute.

Undone, the Super Eagles’ invitee aided his side into the lead for the first time in the game as he helped Jordi Gomez get the second for the travelers in the 57th.

But for Odemwingie, whose team kept searching for the equalizer to no avail, an 81

By Olusoji Olukayode minute exit was what the Nigerian striker got as he was replaced by Cameroon’s Somen Tchoyi and like his fellow African, Tchoyi could only watch The Baggies lose at home 2-1.

Similarly, at the Reebok Stadium, Gabriel Agbonlahor and the Aston Villa band did more than visit and sightsee as they also left 2-1 winners against Owen Coyle’s men.

Agbonlahor had his part in his sides result. The Nigeria-born assisted Marc Albrighton in 33rd minute as the Englishman slotted home the visitor’s first. Villa went further ahead in the 39th with Stiliyan Petrov goal putting them 2-0 up.

Bolton got one back in the 55 minute through Ivan Klasnic but it was little too late to count for a share in the spoil or a win at that.

Agbonlahor would later bag a 90th

• First Lady of Lagos State, Mrs Abimbola Fashola presenting the Asoju-Oba to Adeniyi Kazeem. PHOTO: John Ebhota

• Fashola commends sponsor • Okoya promises more support

T

HE final of the 43rd edition of the annual Asoju Oba Table Tennis Championship got underway last Friday with Adeniyi Kazeem and Fatima Bello emerging as champions in both men and women categories respectively.

Staged at the Sir Molade Okoya-Thomas Sports Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium, the competition, which started last Monday is one of the oldest in the country, with table tennis players slugging it out to book a final spot.

In the men’s final, Kazeem was the better of the two players winning the contest and carting away the sum of N15,000.00 as cash gift and a double- stand Deep Freezer after defeating compatriot Ganiyu Ashimiyu in 11-9, 10-12, 4-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-4, 9-11 to win four out of seven sets.

While in the women’s final, Fatimo Bello of Union Bank Tennis Club nipped club mate Tolu Durosumi with a four straight set win, as she was awarded the sum of N15,000.00 with a ‘50’ inch plasma television .

Representing the governor of Lagos State at the event, Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Development, Enitan Oshodi

By David Onyeka commended the sponsor, Molade Okoya-Thomas for his consistency in contributing towards the development of not only table tennis in the country, but sports generally.

However responding to the accolades from the Governor, Dr. Molade-Okoya Thomas The sponsor, Sir (Dr.) Molade Okoya-Thomas assured that he will continue to contribute to the development of the sport in Lagos state in particular and Nigeria in general.

He said: “I consider it my responsibility to play my part in the development of sports in Nigeria. I have just staged once more another edition of the annual Asoju Oba Cup Championship and like I always say, the competition will continue to hold even after my demise.”

He also use the medium to present a new Sport Magazine to the First Lady of Lagos State Abimbola Fashola, who was the special guest on honour at the event.

In the Junior boy’s Yinka Oladipupo lost to Rilwon Akanbi who carted home the sum of N10,000.00 and Yinka compensated for his effort with a sum of N8,000.00

http://www.thenationonlineng.net

QUOTABLE "The only advice is that I wish that we can have all our refineries in full production, and being able to produce petroleum and stop importation of fuel from outside.”

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2011 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL. 6, NO. 1970

— Gen. Yakubu Gowon, former Head of State, advising the Federal Government to be careful in its plan to remove fuel subsidy so it is painless to the citizens.

O

RDINARILY, it is difficult to choose between Prince Abubakar Audu, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate in the December 3 Kogi governorship election and Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, the outgoing governor and the man who really stood for that election in place of the true candidate, Captain Idris Wada. Wada, the governor’s in-law, has been declared elected, though he was really a cipher in that election. Governor Idris brought all the resources of the state to bear on getting Wada elected, and we wait to see whether it will be validated by the courts going by the threat of the opposition to contest the result. For the state and the PDP, it was in effect Wada or no one else.

Governor Idris, the real candidate, is not nearly as charismatic as Audu. As I have written in this place, perhaps twice now, his eight years in office have even been less charismatic and uninspiring than expected. His leadership has been largely insular, his vision has been anything but broad or captivating, and his policies, let alone his achievements, have been ordinary, tokenistic and symbolic. You get the general impression there was a government in place, but in vain you look for the rigour and vigour a government desirous of leaving a legacy exudes. Notwithstanding the unrelieved dullness of the past eight years, there is nothing that says his amiableness and exemplary guilelessness do not merit his winning an election, especially if his predecessor was reputed for guile, obtrusion and vexatious pride.

But Audu himself is a difficult sell. Either because of age, when he first mounted the podium in 1999, or because of his poor judgement, he exhibited such unrestrained arrogance in his first and only term in office that Kogi elite and rabble were equally glad to be rid of him in 2003. We know that a man set in his ways at 40, to put it mildly, is difficult to change, though Chief Olusegun Obasanjo later modified the ossification age to 70 years during his squabble with Ibrahim Babangida. Could Audu,

Hobson’s choice in Kogi

•Idris Wada

•Abubakar Audu

therefore, be trusted to humble himself if given the chance to be governor again? This was the dilemma the Kogi electorate, tired of the lifelessness of the Idris government and the annoying imposition of his in-law as successor, faced on December 3.

I confess that in spite of my proprogressives sentiment, I would have had to hold my nose to vote Audu if I were registered to vote in Kogi. I would vote Audu, not because I thought he could change into a dynamic, respectful and considerate politician and administrator, but because I would feel insulted that an uninspiring governor was attempting to install his in-law as governor.

Surely, there couldn’t be a worse insult to any people. The question on many lips as the Kogi electorate went to the ballot eight days ago was whether Kogites were more tolerant of Audu’s idiosyncrasies or angrier with Idris for treating the state with levity. I, of course, cannot speak for the people of Kogi, for there is a degree of dullness in that state that drives any sober analyst up the wall – an observation I once made in this place to the discomfiture of some of my readers. In spite of themselves, I think the people of Kogi spoke, but their voices were muted.

From my private investigations, corroborated by the ghostly silence in Lokoja and

The strange economics of subsidy removal

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HIS is the second time in about a month that I will be drawing attention to the government’s plan to remove what it calls fuel subsidy or to deregulate the downstream sector of the oil industry. Like everything else about governance in Nigeria, the government has given the impression that there is no other way to do things except the government way. It gives the impression that its policymakers are not only the best but are infallible. In particular, President Goodluck Jonathan has given the impression that his economic czarina, the often cocksure Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has all the economic wisdom to retool and possibly remould the Nigerian economy.

Rather worrisomely, Okonjo-Iweala has herself acted as if there can be no other panacea to Nigeria’s faltering economy. More, she is even a little carried away by her unassailable position in the president’s economic team, and has spoken with a dismissiveness and fervour often associated with totalitarian regimes. She seems inured to the political dangers an elected president must face if the political system were such that elections accurately and devastatingly conveyed our disapproval of government policies and actions.

But if the czarina is oblivious of the responsibility a president must show in using his massive powers, what of the president himself? Sadly, Jonathan has spoken and acted as if he was not elected, or that his bravery in office is directly proportional to the quantum of his disregard for our feelings and opposition to his policies. On both the fuel subsidy matter and the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) issue, the president and his czarina have said the two are inescapable.

There is no going back, they say.

However, the problems with subsidy re-

moval are legion. Up till now there is still no statistical or econometrics model to show there is subsidy, quite apart from the question of whether it should be removed even if it existed. The president wants us to take his word for it that there is subsidy. We took his word during the elections and voted him into power, and see where it has got us. Since he and his economic team have no other plan to retool the economy, they are stuck on that dangerous illusion that once subsidy is removed or the downstream sector is deregulated, the economy would begin to recover. In their economics, however, while the subsidy removal is instantaneous, the safety nets or palliatives are projected for the medium run. Brilliant.

More appallingly, the Senate, in considering the president’s Medium Term Fiscal Frameworks, has begun to debate the subsidy issue. Newspapers report the debates as vigorous. Yet, the same Senate is still engaged in a productive probe of the subsidy issue, which is yet to be concluded. In fact, in the interim, the upper chamber has so far discovered that some of the companies involved in the fuel importation bazaar had no equipment to match what they claimed to have imported. Some of those companies, according to the Senate, were construction companies, not players in the oil sector. The Senate was beginning to find out how the number of players in the subsidy bazaar shot up astronomically from less than a dozen to over 100 in a few years, and how the quantity of fuel supposedly imported rose astronomically without a commensurate rise in consumption. It is, therefore, surprising that the Senate could not wait for its joint ad-hoc panel to finish its work before debating the issue of subsidy.

I am not fixated on whether subsidy is

removed or retained. I am, however, interested in the following: (1) It is not enough for the government to alarm us with calculations showing that over N3.5 trillion has been spent on subsidy since 2006, it must prove to us that we consumed a commensurate amount of fuel, and that its arithmetic is unimpeachable.

(2) The government has amateurishly given us what the benefit of subsidy removal would be. It should follow up by showing us truthfully and realistically what it believes would be the cost, and how that cost, which includes wages problem and prices movements, would be mitigated.

I think the Jonathan government is the most insular Nigeria has ever had. The president does not seem to know so much about the economy, and he has saddled himself with an economic team headed by someone who believes she knows too much. They say that without their panacea the economy would collapse. Arrant nonsense. We hear such sentiments whenever fascists rise to power. This is supposed to be a democracy.

If Jonathan and his team cannot operate a democracy and convince us about the issues we face, or persuade us about their solutions, they should step aside or be impeached. They were not elected to dictate to us, as they are doing unlawfully on the Sovereign Wealth Fund, or inflame us with horrors and blackmail us to the bargain, as they are doing on subsidy even while they accuse critics of trying to bring the government down.

We respect and honour the presidency, but we will neither be ruled by tin-pot messiahs nor surrender our sovereignty to those who choose not to know what democracy and leadership mean.

many other towns in the state that greeted the Wada victory, the outcome of the election was at variance with the balloting. The opposition called it scientific rigging; let them freely coin words and phrases. I do not know whether there was art or science in it, but I know it to be simple, disgraceful and embarrassing subversion of the popular will. I found out that in many places, the voters couldn’t care less about Audu, but felt there was something dynamic about the party he represented. The party, the voters said, would liberate, inspire, and bring some focused energy never before felt in that somnolent backwater. They yearned for progressivism, and though Audu in the distant past sounded imperious and even fascistic, they thought his undirected energy, which clearly surpassed his successor’s, could be harnessed by the party into productive enterprises.

I tried to find out what influence the running mates had on their various tickets, and what Audu’s promised one-term had on the direction of balloting in Kogi East in particular. What mattered in the end, I discovered, was that Kogi was in general exasperated by the atrocious behaviour of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and yearned for a change that held some promise of energy and sense.

The Kogi voters had some romantic notions of the ACN as a party of rigour and vigour, a party that could call its soul its own, and one that stood in defiance of the confusion, stagnation and failure of the ruling party in Abuja.

They are entitled to their notions, for even if they were wrong, it is still part of democracy to err proudly and be nourished in the assurance that they willingly chose fallacy and dubiety over reality and certitude.

Kogi doubtless faced Hobson’s choice on that fateful Saturday, but we were denied the pleasure of finding out accurately how voters resolved the issue. Judging from the outcome of that election and the thoughtlessness manifesting over fuel subsidy and the burgeoning economic crisis, I am beginning to think Jonathan and Obasanjo are right about the revolution they so glibly talk about.

That revolution, it is safe to say, may not necessarily spring from the crises so effortlessly and recklessly engendered by the ruling party, crises they do not have the requisite depth of knowledge to stave off, but if it comes, it may change the map of the continent. After all, it is not certain that nature itself has a safe and peaceful way of resolving the obduracy of the governing elite and the mediocrity they have instituted in the country to our shame and poverty.

An editor’s veto

I

MUST tender another unreserved apology to my readers, this time for deferring the publication of my Jerusalem travelogue. My editor is the reason. He says he has planned a special Christmas edition for readers, and wants my story in it. He has offered ample space for the Galilean, Sinai and Jerusalem trilogy, he says. The more space allocated for the report, the merrier the narrative. It is a report guaranteed to be at once uplifting for the sober and oppressed Nigerian and depressing for the oppressors of Nigerians. Find out, for instance, what the acrophobic Palladium was doing on Mt Sinai on a blisteringly cold morning when reason and physiology dictated mere discrete geomorphological observation of the famous and controversial mountain.

But even if my editor had made no offers, it is commonly known that reporters do not have as much freedom over their reports as the ordinary citizen has over his life and movements. The sort of liberties the world has taken for granted are, therefore, alien to newsrooms. Second, I am also persuaded my travelogue cannot be overtaken by events. First, pilgrimage is still ongoing; and second, it is impossible for any other storyteller to review the 2011 pilgrimage from my point of view. I think my story will retain all freshness and vibrancy when the Christmas edition is published. It’ll be worth the wait.

Published by Vintage Press Limited. Corporate Office: 27B Fatai Atere Way, Matori, Lagos. P.M.B. 1025, Oshodi, Lagos. Telephone: Switch Board: 01-8168361.

Editor - 08033510610, Marketing: 4520939, Abuja Office: Plot 5, Nanka Close AMAC Commercial Complex, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja. Telephone: 07028105302 E-mail: sunday@thenationonlineng.net Editor: FESTUS ERIYE

THE NATION ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 11, 2011

Comment & Analysis

13

Activist Obasanjo!

Former president’s warning of impending revolution cannot be ignored

F

ROM the least expected quarters came the warning that is fast becoming a recurring decimal in Nigeria because of the worsening state of anomie in the country. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has added his voice to the strident alarm that the country could implode anytime soon because of growing youth unemployment. According to the former president, Nigeria’s latest activist, we should not rule out the kind of unrest that shook the Arab world this year in Nigeria. Chief Obasanjo spoke on Monday at a workshop entitled “Economic diversification and revenue generation” held in Abeokuta, organised by the Ogun State Government in conjunction with the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC). Before now, some eminent and not-so-eminent Nigerians had expressed similar sentiments.

At least three governments capitulated in the Arab world this year alone as a result of growing discontent. The first was Tunisia where the regime of Ben Ali was overthrown in January by irate Tunisians who demanded for a change in the political order. Next was Hosni Mubarak’s regime that also fell after 18 days of massive protests by Egyptians who sought an end to the 30-year Mubarak presidency. The third government to fall was that of the hitherto ‘strongman of Libya’, Muammar Ghadaffi, after being in power for 42 years. Because Ghadaffi behaved like the greedy fly that would follow dead bodies to the grave, he ended up being consumed by the revolution.

As former President Obasanjo observed, the mass protests in the Arab world occurred because there was a ‘disconnect’ between ‘economic growth’ and ‘employment generation’. “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

U

NSUSPECTING members of the Nigerian populace have often been fed diets of misinformation as regards the nature of healthcare delivery as well as the roles and responsibilities of the different professionals involved in the task of health restoration.

There is an entrenched custom among doctors to tenaciously hold on to the adjective “medical” to the deliberate exclusion of other health professionals; thus, they are often quick to describe other health professions as paramedical. However, this stance or conceptual misnomer fallaciously attributes the significant tasks of the empire of medicine largely to medical doctors and has over the years filtered into the fabric of the populace, usually informing their evaluation of the relative importance of non-physicians.

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

The youth revolts we have witnessed in every part of the country should warn us that it is a ticking time bomb. Jonathan has paid only lip service to the problem of youth unemployment. What, for instance, happened to the N139 billion approved for jobs in December last year?

The three countries shaken by what has now become the ‘Arab Spring’ are by far better than Nigeria in terms of many economic indices. So, if gold rusts, what would iron do? If these countries could erupt, what then is the guarantee that such an eruption is far-fetched here, where unemployment is officially put at 23.9 per cent and one out of every two youths is unemployed? Now, the government is considering pulling the trigger by insisting on the removal of what it calls fuel subsidy come next year, an action that would compound Nigerians’ woes.

This is why we urge governments, particularly

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

•Editor Festus Eriye •Deputy Editor Olayinka Oyegbile •Associate Editors Taiwo Ogundipe Sam Egburonu

•Managing Director/ Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh •Chairman, Editorial Board Sam Omatseye •General Editor Kunle Fagbemi

LETTERS

On doctors and other medical professionals This development may therefore partly explain why several Nigerian home videos constantly portray doctors as being responsible for diagnostic laboratory tests, the idea that the Nurse is the errand girl of the doctor, and may underlie the reluctance of university applicants to study other health courses besides clinical medicine.

On the other hand, since doctors believe that they alone are medical, it follows (according to this self-serving logic) that all other professionals by virtue of being paramedical are and must be directly or indirectly subservient to the dictates of doctors. Those who

share this view should however note that language and meaning constitute a public, social phenomenon, hence, cannot be unduly monopolized. According to eminent historians of medicine such as Geison, Porter, Siegerist, Sturdy and Warner; medicine makes up a systematized corpus of knowledge harmonised from anatomy, biochemistry, pathology and physiology.

For several years, only students studying to become physicians had ample access to this epistemology. But the changing nature of healthcare and its delivery coupled with the stark realization that doctors could no longer solely ad-

Re: Ogun communities terrorised by flying rock

P

ERMIT me to refer to your write up page 57 The Nation on Sunday on ‘Ogun communities terrorised by flying rock.’

I will like to express His Excellency appreciation of calling government attention to the deplorable condition of the communities of Ogbere and Iwaye in Ijebu North East Local Government Area of Ogun State in

the Federal Government, to do something quickly about job creation. This is not the time for pious statements about the problem but about finding pragmatic solutions to the scourge. President Jonathan has himself seen the matter in the context of the looming Armageddon. He however stuck the ominous note with an attitude of helplessness and resignation. Waxing prophetic as a leader is important, but that alone would not solve the problem or wish the revolution away. We need to fix power supply quickly and as well address other infrastructural deficits that would make the country an investor’s delight. It is not until then that we can all go to sleep with our two eyes closed and hope to have a happy night rest. It is by finding jobs for the teeming unemployed youths that we can keep their minds positively engaged and free them from idleness that could make the Devil otherwise engage them.

One could ask what Chief Obasanjo did to stave off the impending cataclysm because the cause of whatever uprising we may experience in the country lay in the past; and Chief Obasanjo was an active player in that sordid past. As a matter of fact, if any revolution happens today in the country, it is not because the Goodluck Jonathan administration is totally responsible for it, but more because the president has been in the corridors of power for long, even before the mantle fell on him. So, he is seen as a part and parcel of the old order. He may therefore reap the revolution for his inability to demonstrate the capacity to take the country out of the woods.

We have to take the warnings of impending revolution seriously. Even if former President Obasanjo raised the alarm for attention-getting purposes, we should not throw away the baby with the bath water by ignoring him. There is some sense in his alarm.

the hand of Milatex Geneworks Limited and Para Crushing Limited.

I will like to inform you that my office has taken immediate step to investigate the matter and adequate measures are been taken to ensure the safety of the communities of that area.

Ogun State government is prepared to provide enabling environment for busi-

ness to thrive, but not at the expense of the state indigenes.

I will like to encourage your organization to followup on the issue to ascertain the state is credibility on all promises made by His Excellency to the good people of the state T A. Fagbemi, Special Adviser, Energy

equately attend to the needs of the sick brought about increased professional responsibilities on the part of other professionals vis-à-vis patient care, and subsequently fraught curriculum changes such that the post-1970 era increasingly saw professionals such as Medical Laboratory Scientists, Nurses and Optometrists having unbridled access to the epistemic base of medicine.

Today, students undergoing training in these aforementioned professions go through rigorous theoretical and practical exposure in anatomy, biochemistry, pathology and physiology, just like typical students of clinical medicine.

To therefore describe medical laboratory scientists as a paramedical profession is either a blatant show of ignorance or a recalcitrant denial of reality.

On the issue of leadership in the healthcare system, most doctors believe that it is their exclusive preserve to lead/ head healthcare-related affairs. The clarion call (prior to the appointment of the current Health minister) of some state chapters of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) amongst her members to insist that the federal govern-

ment appoint a medical doctor as the Minister of Health attest to this fact. The logic of the doctor–must-lead (DML) syndrome seems to go thus: If a doctor, therefore most qualified to head health institutions/affairs. Even non-philosophers will have a hard time swallowing this. At a symposium organised by the Oyo State chapter of the NMA in September, Professor Ajayi (a respected doyen of medicine who has been Chief Medical Director of two teaching hospitals: the U.C.H, Ibadan and O.O.U.T.H, Sagamu) made some points pertinent to the matter at hand. According to him, knowledge of clinical medicine was irrelevant to the execution of his responsibilities and duties in the course and context of running the affairs of the teaching hospitals. Doctors should always keep in mind (or be reminded, as the case may be) that they are only licensed to treat patients and not to lead and become self-imposed masters of the healthcare system.

The public must also be informed that Medical Scientists also have the option of acquiring advanced profes-

sional diplomas such as FMLSCN (Fellow of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria), FIBMS, (Fellow of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences, U.K), C.Sci (Chattered scientist, U.K) amongst others; in addition to obtaining a PhD after which they are eligible to become consultants.

It seems to me that a task that has not been vigorously pursued is the periodic enlightenment of the public on the part of other health professionals. For, if the public including non-doctor government officials/policy makers know that 60-70% of data used for the clinical management of patients come from the laboratory and is generated by medical laboratory scientists, if they are made to understand that far back as 1918 doctors could no longer accurately diagnose patients’ ailments without laboratory tests perhaps, a willingness to give what is specifically due to medical laboratory scientists on a truly un-biased template may evolve. Thus, helping to forestall such incidents as the work-to-rule strike action recently embarked upon by the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria to demand the implementation of the federal scheme of medical laboratory services.

By Michael Afolabi Ibadan.

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2011

Comment & Analysis

Matters arising from Arewa confab Ropo Sekoni ropo.sekoni @thenationonlineng.net

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HE Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) is one socio-cultural organization that is known for forthrightness on issues of concern to the North in particular. The Forum has never been known for equivocation or hedging on issues that affect the interest of the region that it has been created to promote. ACF’s announcement to have a conference on peace and unity must have inspired admirers and observers of the Forum to wait for the communiqué at the end of the meeting. But the communiqué appears to have raised important national issues through silences and over generalisations.

On silences, the ACF considered the problems of security in the country in general without mentioning the name of the organization that has become synonymous with security threat: Boko Haram. This point was underscored by Senator David Mark who asked at the conference: “Are we afraid to openly condemn Boko Haram either for political reasons or out of fear of

Femi Orebe femi.orebe @thenationonlineng.net 08056504626 (sms only)

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Y last teacher in 1945 was Mr Ayeni of Ido Ajinare( now Ido-Ile).

The schoold had then been separated from the church, the church having its first full time Catechist.By Christmas 1945, four of us conveyed his personal effects on our heads to IdoAjinare ( a distance of not less than 40km). Such was the strength of character, commitment, discipline and loyalty which were the hallmark of Ekiti people in those days. I cut my adult teeth at ARE, specifically, St Andrew’s and this has continued to stand me in good stead. I have known St Andrew’s for 72 years. I am happy to be part of its 100 years’.

The above is the testimony of Chief Oladeji Fasuan, a man, who all things considered can be described as a super Permanent Secretary, past director of over twenty boards of public companies and corporations and one who can, with considerable justification, claim to have given of his best to Western Nigeria, my preferred name for the SouthWest geo-political zone. He was reminiscing at the Centenary celebrations of St Andrew’s Anglican Church, Are-Ekiti in the Irepodun/Ifelodun Local government Area of Ekiti where yours truly proudly hails from on Sunday, 4 December, 2011.

The story of St Andrew’s eloquently attests to the massive

ACF’s recommendation that citizenship be moved from the Exclusive to the Concurrent list is an indication that ACF is now friendly to calls for restructuring possible attack by the sect?”

Since its establishment, it has not been in the character of ACF to hedge on any matter. But evidence of nebulous phrasing is rife in the meeting’s communiqué.

It is not clear what political tension ACF refers to when it says: “On politically induced tensions and insecurity, Conference enjoined political leaders to play by the rules of political contests and grow our democracy to attain its universal standards.”

Are Boko Haram leaders being referred to as political leaders?

The impression given to the nation by Boko Haram activists is that it is a religious organization that is opposed to Western education. It is also not clear what rules of contest the communiqué has in mind when it calls on political leaders to abide by rules of contest. Is Boko Haram being code-named as authors of political tension or its members as political leaders?

The issue raised in item 13 of the communiqué:”Reconciliation that go with true forgiveness through dialogue and due process of law are not acts of cowardice but patriotic courage” is confusing. Is the Forum calling for a dialogue with and forgiveness of Boko Haram or other groups in this statement? Or, does reconcili-

ation refer to diverse cultures as problems or conflicts that ACF believes should be reconciled?

Another hedging is captured

by ACF’s statement: “All the speakers dwelt on the forces of disunity which have brought about suspicions, mistrust and crisis of confidence among and between groups, leading to communal violence and insecurity in northern parts of the country and the nation in general.” It is not clear if ACF is referring here only to the inter-ethnic violence in Plateau and Bauchi States. Boko Haram’s activities are certainly more than communal violence; they have national and international significance worthy of special mention in a conference of this magnitude that was designed to focus on security.

Apart from the loud silence on Boko Haram in the communiqué, the meeting, as expected, took a comprehensive look at the problems that militate against peace and unity in the North and the extension of such problems to other parts of the country. But the use of over generalisation indicates that the ACF was not ready to hold the bull by the horn in respect of the immediate causes of insecurity and lack of peace in the country.

One such area is the claim

that there should be a moratorium on creation of states and local governments. The Boko Haram menace cuts across states. The relevance of a religious sect’s violence in several states to creation of additional states or local governments is not clear. There are may be strong arguments against creation of more states. Most of the states bequeathed by military dictators are not viable. They depend solely on funds coming from export of petroleum and may not be able to survive if the oil wells dry up or buyers find alternative sources of energy. However, the issue of creation of local governments is another matter. It is a case that should be moved from Exclusive to Concurrent list. Lagos State has illustrated the benefit of creating additional local government areas, particularly in states in which military dictators had failed to give attention to states that require more local governments than were given to them by fiat.

ACF’s recommendation that citizenship be moved from the Exclusive to the Concurrent list is an indication that ACF is now friendly to calls for restructuring.

The call by the Forum for transfer of power to allow states “to take decisions that are acceptable to all” is something that should

gladden the hearts of apostles of federalism. This is an indication that the ACF, hitherto generally believed to see no problem in the constitution inherited from military dictators, is seeing some sense in the call by groups from other parts of the country for a review of Exclusive and Concurrent items in the 1999 Constitution.

The observation that all communities are settlers: some come in the morning, others in the afternoon and some others in the evening” is profound. But the issue of how to regulate relations among those who came in the morning, afternoon, evening, and even at night will require more than merely moving the question of citizenship from one list to another. It will require negotiations between the various communities of those who came in the morning to many parts of Nigeria. It is significant that the ACF has brought this matter to the surface as one of the issues to be dealt with in a constitutional conference.

Finally, ACF’s call on religious leaders, traditional rulers, partisan politicians, community leaders, etc to close ranks and work hard to overcome our differences may unintentionally •Continued on page 70

100 years of St Andrew’s Anglican Church, Are-Ekiti The story of St Andrew’s eloquently attests to the massive contribution of Christianity, especially the Anglican communion, to eduation in Yoruba land contribution of Christianity, especially the Anglican communion, to eduation in Yoruba land, if not in the entire Southern Nigeria. Today , my small but very beautiful hometown boasts of no less than seven professors amongst them the inimitable mathematician, late Professor Gabriel Oluremi Olaofe, whose two other siblings, Femi and Wura Shokunbi are Professors, Professor Femi Elegbeleye, who virtually claimed all the prizes in his graduating year at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Professor Tunji Orubuloye, a former Vic-Chancellor of the University of Ado-Ekiti, the Sociologist, Professor Simi Afonja, nee Anisulowo, and the late Professor of Enginering, Olu Olorunfemi whose trade mark of excellence adorns the Joseph Babalola university, Ikeji. Add to these distinguished academics, Medical Doctors, Chemical Engineers, Lawyers , Accountants and quintessential Administrators and you will begin to truly feel how the church had impacted, not just Are-Ekiti, but most towns in the Ifelodun segment of the Local Government Area.

The story of St Andrew’s is intimately linked to the palace of Are-Ekiti, not only because the man who brought Christianity to

the town would later ascend the throne as HRH, The Alare of AreEkiti, but because, unlike in most other towns, the church, at a point in its evolution actually had the palace as its place of worship.

Luke Olofinniyi, who would later be HRH, Oba Luke Olofinniyi, was an itinerant trader who had sojourned in Benin –City where he worshipped with the CMS congregation. It was from there he invited the late Jacob Obasola of Akungba –Akoko who eventually became the first missionary who planted the seed of Christianity in a, by then, rustic Are. He was actually sent on that missionary evangelism by none other than the renowned British clergy, the Revd. J.C. Webb who ensured that he sent another evangelist after Mr Obasola passd on. St Andrew’s was officially commissioned on 3, April 1911 at which event Oba Olofinniyi was baptized by Rev Webb.

The good Lord has used a limitless number of truly committed individuals, both native to the town and those from elsewhere, to firmly plant the church. Nobody will forget in a hurry that the land on which the first church was built at nos 5, 6 and 7, Oke-Afin st, was donated by Chief Ola Olaofe, the then Oisa

of Are-Ekiti. The second church was built in the 1920’s and was used for five decades before our current, ultra-modern church was built in 1974 with Professor Remi Olaofe, not only drawing the plan, but literally became the site-Engineer even as a lecturer at the University of Ibadan.

A good number of totally dedicated men of God also pastored St Andrew’s, amongst them, long serving late Revd S.A Omotuyi, 1959-72, father of my worthy Ven. Olawole Omotuyi of the Archbishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral , Lagos, where I worship, Revs O Adeosun, J.o Ogunleye, J.I Asaolu, Ade Falodun, Ade Fajembola, A.o Ajayi, J.A Jaiyeoba, J.o Ogunjobi, J.A Adetifa, M.O Owabumoye, J.O A. Adeyemo who worked the most , with the great support of our indefatigable Lord ArchBishop, The Most Revd (Dr ) S.A Abe, to ensure that St Andrew’s became an Archdeaconry – IFE OLUWA ARCHDEACONRY - for the entire segment of the Local Government Area on 19, December, 2008.

However, without a scintilla of doubt, our affable Archdeacon and Vicar, Joshua Olu-Ajayi has impacted the church the most. This is not only because the highly successful Centenary celebration has his imput written

all over it, this is a gentleman who has thoroughly immersed himself in the service of our Lord Jesus Christ. Archdeacon OluAjayi is absolutely untiring, and there is nothing you can do to unfaze him. He is totally committed to the church of Christ and together with his wife, Evangelist Olu-Ajayi, who I call MAMA ARE, we certainly could not have wished for more.

Apart from the men of God under whose hands the seed planted in 1911 has all these years been watered, indigenes, too numerous to mention, most probably in gratitude to God for what the church has done in our midst ,have been totally untiring in their support of its activities.

From a galaxy of the eminent grise, dead and living, who have served as BABA EGBE, IYA EGBE, OTUN IJO, IYALODE IJO etal to individuals who, even without titles, all have served with uncompromising joy and commitment. They all have been very unstinting in using part of what the Lord gave them to serve Him, for, as the holy writ says, what have we, that we were not given?

Activities marking the celebrations were totally incredible.

The one week long programme •Continued on page 70

THE NATION ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 11, 2011

Tunji

Adegboyega tunjade@yahoo.co.uk 08054503906 (sms only)

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VEN if one does not yet know the details of the new regulation that will give state governments the power to distribute the electricity they generate, the news that this is under way at all from next year, specifically from January 2012, is enough to make one leap for joy. Like most other public utilities, power supply has proven to be something the Federal Government cannot cope with; yet, it refused to let go of its monopoly. It had been so since the military era and had even remained so for more than 12 years of democratic rule, despite calls for the decentralisation of the utility and the removal of power distribution from the Exclusive List.

Even when Lagos State decided to break this yoke at the early stage of our return to civil rule in 1999, all kinds of obstacles were placed on its way by the then Olusegun Obasanjo government. Apparently that government was still living in the past at a time the world had gravitated towards the future. The Obasanjo government politicised the issue apparently to frustrate the Lagos State government and make its decision to initiate the Independent Power Producer (IPP) scheme fail. Obasanjo might not have made the law putting power distribution in the hands of the Federal Government, but he had all the chances in the world to get that legislation out of the way if he wanted to. And such a move would have succeeded if he devoted only half of the zeal with which he pursued

Comment & Analysis

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‘Wall of Jericho’ of power supply crumbling Regulation to make states distribute power a welcome development his obnoxious third term ambition into the project.

Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State would probably be most elated by this new development. The state Gas Turbine project is the most ambitious in Nigeria in the current democratic dispensation. Indeed, the state government had sunk more than N100 billion into power projects the bulk of which is idle because the grid cannot cope with its distribution.

Gov. Amaechi got so frustrated with this centralisation of power distribution that he took the matter to the members of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) holding a one week national congress in the state late August, by taking them round the state’s power projects. At Afam, the NBA members saw a gigantic tower, sophisticated control room, the mesh and coolers that make an amazing picture of a gas turbine power station. Their excitement was however soon cut short when Amaechi disclosed that with the 130 mega watts Trans-Amadi gas turbine station, the 150 mega watts Omoku station, and the 100 mega watts Eleme station, Rivers State was capable of generating enough power for its residents and businesses. The governor however added, rather sadly that: “What is

holding us is just the constitutional clause debarring states from distributing power. I have pressured the presidency for an exemption, but sadly enough, I just got a letter from the Presidency saying ‘no’.” .

Mercifully, the coming regulation is expected to change all that; at least with the disclosure by the Chairman, Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr. Sam Amadi. Amadi on December 5 in Abuja at a stakeholders’ workshop on the Review of the Independent Electricity Distribution Network Draft Regulation, that this would be actualised when the commission’s new set of regulations guiding Independent Electricity Distribution Network Operators and Power Generators become operational, via what he called the ‘Embedded Generation’. This 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 to the distribution network. 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 distributor locally. It can cure acute shortages of power

One hopes there won’t be any impediment on the way of this regulation which represents the fall of the ‘wall of Jericho’ that has held uninterrupted power supply and its benefits hostage in Nigeria for decades … Governors who celebrate their people’s inability to read can continue to celebrate the people’s blissful ignorance; but no one should be at liberty to hold down others who are hungry for development under any circumstance.

in the short and long run. A state that has the capacity can have partnership with private sector, set up a power plant to cater for the need of the state.”

The alternative to the Embedded Generation would have been to run parallel lines through the cities which would raise cost and consequently the tariff that the electricity users would pay. Moreover, the cost of first evacuating the power to the grid before it is transmitted back for use locally would have been removed.

From the look of things, the January date for the proposed commencement of the system might not be feasible given the ’t’s to be crossed and ‘i’s to be dotted. For instance, the proposal leaves a three-week window for further contributions by the stakeholders to further enhance the draft. After the contributions of the stakeholders, the final document would be taken to the Federal Ministry of Justice so it could be included in the gazette.

In view of these elaborate procedures, it might not be possible for the regulation to take effect next month. But what is gladdening enough is the fact that such an idea is coming at all; though late but still better than never. One can only imagine the progress we would have made on power supply if this kind of arrangement had been agreed to since the clamour for IPPs started in the country over a decade ago. For sure, the country would have cut down substantially on generator imports and ancillary costs, and the cost of doing business drastically reduced. Who knows, we might even have discarded our garb of the ‘biggest im-

porter of generators in the world’.

Some of the companies, including multinationals that relocated from the country might have stayed because essentially, it was power supply that drove up their costs up and made them uncompetitive.

One hopes there won’t be any impediment on the way of this regulation which represents the fall of the ‘wall of Jericho’ that has held uninterrupted power supply and its benefits hostage in Nigeria for decades. If it comes on stream, it would be one of the best things to come from the Goodluck Jonathan administration. States should be at liberty to determine the pace at which they develop. Governors who celebrate their people’s inability to read can continue to celebrate the people’s blissful ignorance; but no one should be at liberty to hold down others who are hungry for development under any circumstance.

The only thing I have to add is that the states should not forget that government has no business being in government; so, the state governments interested in the arrangement should ensure it is done in collaboration with the private-sector.

APOLOGY Last week, I wrote that it was Gen. Obasanjo who said in veiled reference to Awo’s desire to be president that “…they may not know who would succeed them, but they knew the person that would not”. I was wrong. Actually, it was Gen. Ibrahim Babangida who said that in a similar context . The mix-up is regretted.

‘Age of Chivalry? What does that mean in Nigeria?’

Postscript, Unlimited!

By

Oyinkan Medubi 08187172799 (SMS only) puchuckles7@gmail.com

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HE relationship between men and women cannot know any peace until some issues are clearly settled; and there are many standing between them, quite apart from children, money and in-laws. Nature itself despairs of ever being able to help them reach an amicable settlement on some of those issues. A good example is, exactly who opens the door for whom among the sexes?

Nature gave the power to the men (they can hold doors) and gave the helplessness to the women (designed to hold spoons). So, in the past, men opened doors for women, stood by while they passed through said doors first, tipped their hats, bowed down or even pulled out chairs for them to sit on and then gave them roses. That was when chivalry and romantic ideals ruled, said the men, in the times of Camelot and King Arthur. Under those rules, women were kept up on shelves to live out their lives like delicate ornaments to be gazed at, admired, wistfully dreamed about and generally kept out of the way.

It was under the general understanding that work, real hardknuckle work called business, manufacturing, and all other unpleasant but necessary social engagements that amass power, wealth and dominance were to be left strictly for men. Men therefore developed tactics that enabled them to survive in this arena, such as black-mail, fist-mail (physical jousts) and sword-mail (direct physical stabbing of a business rival), all quite foreign to women.

Women, therefore, did not work, did not school and of course did not vote. They stayed home and tended the garden, children and family love. They were not expected to have any intelligence, so the wise ones kept their cleverness hidden deeply within them. Needless to say, some over-intelligent women wrote books, but it did not matter; the society could live with the few aberrations, since they wrote under male pseudonyms anyway (e.g.

George Elliot). You and I know though that women, children and things in general never stay where you want them.

In time, you see, the ornaments began to tire of staying up on cupboards perhaps because of boredom, curiosity or because they really felt cheated. For one reason or the other, women began to foray into the business world, first by fighting for the vote, then some education, then some business sense. The immediate result has been that women are now a permanent fixture on the business map of the world to the utter annoyance and consternation of men, who now find themselves jousting side by side with women for equal opportunities, privileges and profit

(i.e. power, wealth and dominance).

Since then, the world has never been the same again.

It was soon noticed that men became peeved. They not only stopped opening doors for women, getting up to draw out chairs for them, greeting them or dreaming wistfully about them, they even stopped being romantic about them. In time, this animosity grew first into violence (ranging from not giving roses to verbal insult or physical assault), then into raging violence (such as rape and murder), things that never happened when women were used to adorn shelves.

Things got so bad that the International bodies had to declare 24th of November, 1999 the Stop Violence Against Women day. This just meant that on that day, and subsequent anniversaries of that day, the world would be forced to brand it into its consciousness that women ought to be given roses, not fat lips.

Someone wrote in some time ago, asking me to write on ‘this rape thing’ happening in Nigeria.

I made no reply because I did not have sufficiently strong words to capture the rage appropriate to that aberrant behaviour. I mean, what words can you use to condemn a heinous act such as forced sex with a nine-month old baby girl, a three-year old female child or a ninety-year old woman, all of which have taken place in Nigeria?

For that matter, what words can you use to condemn forced sex with any woman against her wish?

To me, such words ‘have not been born’, to use Kwei Armah’s phrase, unless you want to try something like KRAP TILOMATICUSOLUTONIA!!!!!

Clearly, violence against women

has taken a very bad turn now. Recently, the story went the rounds that some young males got together and planned how to exploit the globalization of the media by raping a woman and posting it on the internet! When it came to my hearing, I thought that act said more about the history of their character than anything else. It proclaimed to the world that those young men were coming from somewhere far below the animal kingdom because animals would not do that to each other. Then I heard another one.

In parts of my city, it is now dangerous to go out of your house anytime before seven in the morning and after five in the evening because there are men let loose fulfiling a contract to machete fellow humans like themselves and collect what blood pints they can out of their bleeding wounds with white handkerchiefs. I tell you, the devil rules, because even Dracula would not do that. Naturally, women are most affected because it is women who go to night vigils, early morning and late evening prayers and church programmes more, not to mention night-shifts in their work places. The story of a young girl who fell victim not too long ago is well known by all. She had just ended her nursing shift and had left for home, a few metres away, only to be abducted and killed. She was due to be married within a month.

To say that women are no longer honoured in this modern Nigeria is not to even approach the half of it. The truth is that Nigerian men have lost all sense of direction in politics, business, family life and chivalry. Let us face it. The primary models for our youths are still, un-

fortunately, the parents; and most parents, all to a man, have jettisoned propriety, sanity and the things that count in life in pursuit of power, wealth and dominance.

This is the culture the male child is inducted into as his inheritance.

Those children who posted those inhumane shots on the internet were thus only showing off the culture they had inherited from their own role models.

I listened to a radio programme conducted by some young people the other day on the topic ‘Nigerian men are not romantic’.

This made me laugh, of course. I think we will talk about this some other time. For now, we cannot begin to talk about whether someone is romantic or not when the fundamental value touted by the individual is cultureless. Nigeria is breeding male philistines who have no value for human life, and less for women. Yet, a compromise has to be found.

The men, on their own part, may want the women to get out of the way and go back on the shelves in order to end this war of disregard. The women would say ‘never’ to that; for they have come on the business board for keeps. Clearly, this is an impasse. I believe the playing field is large enough to accommodate everyone. Besides, look what the world is gaining from women who work: all the Madame Curries of this world and the several cures and solutions they bring to problems, not to mention this column. Rather, let us return honour to human life; particularly, let us whip out the roses again in order to extend the shelf life of women. Chivalry may be dead, but I believe Camelot lives on.

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2011

POLITICS

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 11, 2011

Amid intrigues, Osun PDP battles for survival

•Oyinlola

•Omisore

Ever since the judgment of the Appeal Court dislodged the Olagunsoye Oyinlola-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government in Osun State and installed Rauf Aregbesola-led Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) government, PDP has been embroiled in unending survival manoeurings. Adesoji Adeniyi in Osogbo reports

A

BIG task before the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State remains how to reconcile conflicting interests of members and to reposition the party. Members have been at war with one another since last primary polls of the party ahead of the 2011 general elections.

Many chieftains and other members aspiring for political offices were disappointed, as they alleged manipulation, favouritism and extortion by the party executive council in the state during the selection processes.

The aggrieved members particularly faulted the process which produced Senator Iyiola Omisore, then Senate Committee Chairman on Appropriation.

But the November 26, 2011 judgment of Court of Appeal, sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State, which sacked the PDP government led by former Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola threw the party’s camp into confusion and consequently changed the political equation in the state at all levels.

The Action Congress of Nigeria and its standard bearer, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, rode into power in an unimaginable popu-

larity. The swearing-in ceremony for Aregbesola as governor with his deputy, Chief Mrs. Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori, held at the Technical College’s sports field, witnessed presence of such a large crowd and eminent Nigerians in and outside the country that the ego of the PDP in Osun State from that day was dealt a heavy blow.

Smarting from its loss at the Appeal Court, the PDP members began to scramble for all available elective political positions. From vacant seats at the state House of Assembly to House of Representatives and the Senate, it was another round of war for members. Some of the heavy weights, particularly those who allegedly had full control over the party executive council , like former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Senators Iyiola Omisore and Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke, were able to wangle their ways to secure party tickets for the senate while aggrieved members regrouped to fight what they described as complete injustice.

The argument of party EXCO was that their best candidates must be presented at the political field against the fire power of

the ACN, which is still basking in the euphoria of its victory at the appeal court.

Even PDP members have no illusion over ACN’s popularity among the people of the state.

But not quite long after, at the election, the first thirteen, comprising three senate and nine House of Representatives candidates, fell at the battle field, further denting the image and popularity of PDP in Osun State.

Like a snail meeting an obstacle in its track, the PDP in the state hid its face and crawled back into its shell.

Another phase of the rat race began with the request for the list of nominees for federal appointments, first for ministerial nominees and later for ambassadorial and board appointments. The party stalwarts, through the hold on the state executive council, crowded the lists, leaving out and behind the ‘feather weights.’

The Nation learnt that the struggle began in earnest to outsmart one another.

Leading a campaign against an alleged injustice within the party, Chief Abiola Ogundokun, initiated a process for disso-

lution of the Sunday Ojo-Williams-led executive council, accusing it of being used by some powerful elements.

But before the eventual dissolution of the council about a month ago, the PDP in Osun State, after regaining consciousness from the shock of losing power to the rival ACN, had commenced the process of putting up an effective opposition in the state. The PDP criticised the Aregbesola administration for not forming its cabinet, almost one year after it has been sworn in.

The party also condemned the current administration for refinancing the N18.3 billion loan secured by the immediate past administration, led by its candidate, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, with N25 billion.

But reacting to the PDP’s many criticisms of its government; the ACN described the PDP as uniformed and seeking cheap publicity and relevance.

But Aregbesola, for example, said, “Since Chief Sunday Ojo-Williams has no sense of even recent history of Nigerian politics, may we educate him and his cosojourners in this fruitless journey that former Governor Balarabe Musa served as Governor of Kaduna State for 20 months.

He had no commissioners. Yet, his administration was reputed to have been one of the best in the history of that state.

He added: “The PDP, out of idleness, named commissioners for me. What a trivialisation of serious governance issue?

I wish to restate that we have the best interests of the people of Osun State in mind and this, more than anything else, dictates our actions. One thing our critics cannot fault is our service delivery flavour, which has manifested in the restoration of hopes in areas of job creation, healthy living, agricultural revolution and others. The people of Osun State are yet to see anything because we are better positioned to turn Osun State around within the shortest possible time.”

Also, an ACN stalwart, Elder Sunday Laoye, said the PDP, out of mischief, are showing unnecessary concern over the formation of cabinet. “The governor needs to make wide consultation before he could form a cabinet with the best brains and which will help him articulate his visions for the state, not just to rush and assemble mediocres principally given to social engagements like the immediate past administration of the PDP in the state. More so, if you look at Aregbesola closely, you will notice his grasp of situations around him, depth of his analytical mind and passions, unusual zeal and eagerness to render service and make a big change in the lives of the people. So, with all these, he is taking his time to consult and assemble the best. But thank God for his wisdom he is set to announce members of his cabinet soon to the shame of the detractors, claiming to be praying for him when deep inside them they are mischief makers and actually up to no good in their concern for our governor and the state. The PDP created the problem Aregbesola is trying to fix,” Laoye said.

The next plan for the PDP in Osun State is to set up effective propaganda efforts which is expected to use a committee to attack the ruling party in government in the state and its policies with a view to offer alternative policies and promote the PDP as the superior alternative and expose the weaknesses and incompetence of the party in government.

Part of the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Panel, chaired

by Dr. Yemi Farombi, is that the party should source for funds to finance the propaganda work.

But now that the PDP has dissolved the Sunday Ojo-Williams executive council and replaced it with a 9-member caretaker committee, led by the immediate past Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Barrister Adejare Bello, with the intention of repositioning the PDP in Osun State, the people of the state are watching to see if the party could provide alternative and quality government.

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 11, 2011

Politics

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HE main auditorium of the Umaru Musa Yar’adua indoor sports hall, inside the Murtala Mohammed Square in the heart of Kaduna metropolis, was full to the brim by personalities from across the north. Incidentally, they were the political, traditional and religious leaders of the region. But, majority of people from the Christian dominated states of the region were not in attendance. It was the Northern Peace and Unity Conference, organised by the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) to find lasting solution to the problem of peace in the north.

The royalty, led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, and the political leaders, led by the Vice President, Mohammed Namadi Sambo, were present at the conference. The conference was to talk about the growing level of insecurity in the north, especially the ethnoreligious crisis in Plateau and other parts of the region, as well as the Boko Haram issue. Unfortunately, while the conference lasted, very little mention was made about the menace of Boko Haram group. Even though it was a gathering of the high and mighty in the north, the absence of people like Plateau State Governor, David Jonah Jang, and traditional rulers from Plateau State, as well as majority of Middle Belt leaders was noticeable. Even though the Master of Ceremony earlier announced the presence of the Taraba state governor at the event, it later became evident that he was not in attendance and did not send any representation.

Addressing the conference, Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo said the conference was evidence that the current elders of the North are keen and dedicated to maintaining the bonds of brotherhood and unity among each other in the same way its founding fathers did in the past.

According to him, “it is the hope of all Nigerians everywhere that this conference succeeds in its primary objective of providing a platform for a very frank, robust and honest dialogue among members of the same family. A validity test for the quality of the discussions should include whether answers should be found to this question: How come a people who only a few decades ago would proudly proclaim their unity now see themselves separately?

The Vice President believed that at the end of the conference, “we may well realise that this drift away from being your brother’s keeper and the new wave of strife did not happen overnight. It is a result of the gradual collapse of the First Republic.

Before then, our country had always been guided by compromises and agreements usually arrived at during meetings of elders and community leaders. Ours was a nation of talkshops 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 good people, the old accepted methods of expressing grievances or seeking restitution for injuries through authorized 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-economic 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”.

Explaining government’s ideas on how to tackle the problem, he said, “We believe in preventing crime and punishing criminals and that Nigeria’s criminal justice must be responsive to the communities it serves.”

Governor Yakowa of Kaduna state was convinced that the conference is a practical demonstration by ACF to actualise one of its main objectives, which is “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.”

Niger State Governor and Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, Muazu Babangida Aliyu, said “It is important that we clarify our respective roles as individuals, groups, institutions and organi-

North in search of peace In a bid to find lasting solution to current security challenges in the northern part of Nigeria, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) organised Northern Peace and Unity Conference in Kaduna, early in the week. Tony Akowe covered the event and presents the major issues

•Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar

sations so that we plan properly and realistically as well as adopt the right strategies in addressing the socio-economic realities in the Northern States. In fact, I believe that we can also think of the theme in terms of “Development for Peace and Unity” because part of our problem is the political disconnect between the elites and the people that has led to our de-industrialisation, disrespect for good governance and lack of confidence in public service, to the extent of bursting our Northern reality and corresponding myths. I am, therefore, of the view that unless we are all committed to ‘work the talk’, by signing up to the decisions on all the issues on the agenda of this conference, we will continue to have well organised events of this nature and beautiful recommendations that may not have meaningful bearings with the realities on the ground and in improving the quality of life of the average Northern citizen of this country.”

Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Forum, Lt. Gen. Jeremiah told the gathering that the conference came about as a result of recent happenings in the north which we have been containing, adding that “now we have what we called Boko Haram, which kills at will irrespective of your religion, status or class. This was closely followed by series of bombings of many places, including police Headquarters. The north which has been known for peace and unity has taken the centre stage for the destruction of lives and property with serious insecurity consequences.”

He explained that after the conference, ACF will set up an effective monitoring mechanism to ensure the implementation of solutions proffered at the conference.

Barrister Yahaya Mahmood, a Kaduna based legal practitioner, was more concerned with how to resolve the lingering crisis in Plateau state, insisting that unless and until the state government recognises the need to create an Emirate for the Hausa community in Jos, there will be no end to the crisis in the state. Mahmood wants northern governors and leaders to prevail on Governor Jang to create a separate Emirate and District for the Hausa/ Fulani community in Jos. According to him, if the former governor of Kaduna state, Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, could create Chiefdoms for the people of Southern Kaduna and achieve peace in the state, there was no reason why Gov. Jang should not be compelled to do same. “I hope all the northern governors will tell Governor Jang of Plateau that that is the only problem in Jos and the crisis will continue until this is solved,” he said.

He lamented that more often than not, people arrested for violent activities are released without being tried, pointing out that this has not helped in addressing cases of violence in the country.

Alhaji Ahmed Hassan Al-Gazalli, an elder from Kano state, who sat quietly throughout the conference, was unhappy that most of the governors were not present

especially on the second day to listen to deliberations at the conference and go back to their states to implement the recommendations of the conference.

A chieftain of the ACF, Mohammed Abdulrahaman, told The Nation that the conference has not been able to achieve what it set out to achieve. According to him, the peace conference looked like another talk shop. He believed that more than half of the people who spoke at the conference were part of the problem being experienced in the north. Like many others who spoke at the conference, he believes that the unity of the north was destroyed with the creation of states. He argued that the agitation for the creation of more states has nothing to do with productivity or how to create better life for the people, but because the agitators are looking for avenue to share the federations account. He believe that if the problems in the north are to be solved, both traditional and religious leaders must work together, pointing out that political leaders are not in a position to find solution to the crisis in the region.

However, a Kaduna based civil rights activist, Mallam Shehu Sani, described as nothing but a meaningless talk-shop and a gathering of relevance-seekers, political pensioners and hired guns of the Presidency. According to him, “It’s a ritual to resurrect a dead horse of Northern unity.

Their idea of Northern unity or disunity is simply about personal ambition and political expediency,” he said, adding that “the Kaduna ACF jamboree is not about peace or unity in the North but a surreptitious and deceptive political move to rally support for a preferred political candidate for 2015. Any peace or unity conference in the Northern part of Nigeria without representation from the Boko Haram and relevant stakeholders from Jos amount to an exercise in futility. A genuine peace effort is not about Emirs talking to retired generals or contractors exchanging complimentary cards with politicians or idle youths clapping for government officials or sycophantic clerics praying for inept leaders.”

President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Joseph B. Daudu (SAN) took a retrospective look at the Nigerian Police Force and its ability to combat crime and

“The Kaduna ACF jamboree is not about peace or unity in the North but a surreptitious and deceptive political move to rally support for a preferred political candidate for 2015. Any peace or unity conference in the Northern part of Nigeria without representation from the Boko Haram and relevant stakeholders from Jos amount to an exercise in futility.”

THE NATION ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 11, 2011 fight against violence in the country and concluded that police stations in the country have become business centres where insincerity and corruption hold sway. In his paper entitled “The place of security agencies, the intelligence community and the role of the Judiciary in combating communal violence in Northern Nigeria”, Daudu identified insecurity and corruption as the major cause of security problems in Nigeria. Proffering solution to the problem in the north in particular and the country in general, former Petroleum Minister, Prof. Jibril Aminu advocated for the abolition of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to prevent some Muslim groups from forming Muslim Association of Nigeria, which may not be in the interest of peace in the country. Aminu accused religious leaders of conniving with politicians to perpetuate injustice on the people through sectionalising their religious faith.

He noted that Christian and Muslim leaders must ensure that the people get good leadership from their elected leaders, adding that Nigerian elites have replaced the colonial masters by forcing themselves on the leadership of the country or communities without allowing the people to make their choice.

He also accused the youths of the north of complicity in the current problems of the country, pointing out that if they are really angry with the leaders, they would not have been collecting what he called hand out money from the leaders. He warned northern leaders on dire consequences ahead if they do not allow peace to prevail through good governance and development, pointing out that religious and political leaders must retrace their steps by emulating Nigeria’s founding fathers for the overall development of the country.

However, Governor Yakowa lamented the fact that governors do not have control over the security apparatus even in their own states and are therefore unable to take drastic measures to curtail or prevent crisis in their states. I remember when it happened; I got in touch with the GOC who in turn had to get in touch with the Chief of Army Staff. At first, we were told that we were going to get reinforcement from Kaduna and then, it was Jos and before that could be done, a lot of things have gone wrong.”

Politics

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Gowon and Mark’s posers

ORMER Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon and the Senate President, David Mark, raised potent questions for the conference to find answers to. For Gowon, it was hard to say why the socio-economic situation of the north remains prostrate in spite of its endowment in non-oil and gas resources. He wondered how far leaders have gone in advancing the interest of the people on the demand for the establishment of the Solid Minerals Development Commission, and Hydropower Area Development Commission; why leaders and government at various levels shy away from accessing correct implementation of the recommendations and panels of inquiries set up in the aftermath of various ethno-religious crisis in the north; the causes of the •Gowon deepening suspicion among the people of the north, peace in the north is now so elusive in spite of the legacy of one north, which its founding fathers fought hard for?

For the Senate President, the critical questions include whether state creation has been a blessing to the north or a curse: “Do we think of northern Nigeria in the first instance as we did in the 1960s and before the war or do we think of our states first?

What can we do and what are we going to do to inculcate in them the concept of northern Nigeria? Is it the case that with the creation of states, alliances are more to states than to the north as a region? Why has the north continued to lag behind in education?”

But Gowon was pleased with the fact that there tends to be light at the end of the tunnel with the wide spread support the

conference received from northerners and their governments. He noted that “the trust of the conference with the theme, “Peace and Unity for development,” is very necessary in view of the recent challenges of insecurity, inter communal, inter religious and inter ethnic conflicts, religious crisis, political upheaval and acts bordering on criminality He contended that “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. We now must show seriousness, courage and responsibility in addressing these challenges squarely without fear, favour or mudslinging”.

Re-echoing his “Go on with one Nigeria” stand during the civil war, he said “I have been an ardent supporter and advocate of the views and differences within the north notwithstanding and the nation as a whole,

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—Kukah and Ribadu to current leaders

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•Kukah

leaders were not being sincere and were being hypocritical about issues concerning the north. Kukah who spoke on the topic “Roots of ethno-religious crises in Northern Nigeria” noted that the time has come when leaders of the north should stop praising the late Sir Ahmadu Bello and other past leaders and pursue programmes that would develop and transform the living conditions of their people.

He wondered why northern leaders cannot create a situation where people will be free to practice their religion without hindrance in the north, pointing out that equity and justice are very strong instruments of weaving purposeful national integration, which, he said, must be encouraged without recourse to selfish and sinister interests. In his words, “we need to have a system that ensures that people play by the rules. People obey the law and not breach the laws and people’s rights also not violated. For me, if Christians in Kebbi, Zamfara are complaining, let Muslims, too, in other places complain so that we begin to have good ways of overcoming these challenges. We need a society that is struggling to ensure equality.”

Former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC),

we are stronger as a whole than as smaller entities. This is very true to our nation, Nigeria. We are better as one united Nigeria than smaller entities. But at the same time, I am of the opinion that the whole, the big unit must give its various parts some sense of belonging and look out for the interest of the smaller parts as a guarantee for its own security. I am assured by the organisers of this conference that it will not be one for mere speeches, but concrete actions. I welcome this and the expectations of our people in all states of the north yearning for a peaceful and better life. I am assured that •Mark this conference is structured to effectively address the well known challenges of poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, ethno-religious bigotry, impunity in governance and corruption. It also intend to address the new phenomenon of violent crimes evident by murder, assassination and bomb blasts, which have caused serious economic break down in certain states in parts of the north and the country as a whole. This will go a long way to prove that there is no conspiracy of silence by the leadership in the northern states on the issue of peace and security in Nigeria. The fact that all the states of the north are supporting this noble effort is a testimony of our collective concern and we must translate our concerns to concrete actions in our various communities and at our various levels of leadership in the northern states for the good of the north and Nigeria as a whole.

We’ll partner with governors, political leaders —Sultan

Stop praising Sardauna, and do your work

ISHOP Matthew Hassan Kukah, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Ahmed Hassan Al-Gazalli, Prof. Daniel Saror and many others spoke without inhibition.

For Kukah and Ribadu, northern

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•Ribadu

Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, agreed with the submissions of Bishop Kukah, asking current leaders of the north to give opportunity to the younger ones to exercise their potentials. Let us wake up to the reality of the situation we found ourselves today. It is a shame that today, our youths will wear a suicide vest to go and kill themselves. This is a message to us; it is a rebellion and they are telling us that things are not right and it is time for us to wake up. It is the truth and it is the reality”

HE Sultan of Sokoto and Head of the Muslim community in the country, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, was direct in proffering solution to the problems in the land. While commending the organisers of the conference for bringing the people together to talk to themselves, he said “we must find answers to the questions Gen. Gowon posed to all of us here. When we get those answers, then we can now comfortably say there will be peace, not only in the North, but in the entire country.”

Speaking on the role of traditional rulers he said, “We want to partner with the governors and the political leaders to achieve peace and I want to assure all that we are fully committed and we will •Sultan play our role very well.”

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 11, 2011

Politics

Political Politics

Why ANPP is waning in Bauchi and Adamawa

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N Bauchi State, the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) can be said to have become moribund, principally because of the arrival of General Muhammadu Buhari’s Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), which usurped the vibrant role of the party.

It would be recalled ANPP was so strong in the state that it became the surrogate platform for Mallam Isah Yuguda, the sitting governor, when he was frustrated by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) machinery under the leadership of Alhaji Ahmadu Adamu Mua’zu. Muazu ruled Bauchi State from 1999 to 2007.

The soft landing enjoyed

by Yuguda in ANPP also formed the nucleus upon which the party took over power in the state for the first time since the return of democracy to Nigeria in 1999.

It is also the primary reason for the present state of affairs in the party in Bauchi State.

Speaking with The Nation in Bauchi, a Chieftain of the party and the National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Sabo Mohammed, blamed PDP for denying other political parties, including ANPP, a level playing ground during the April 2011 general elections.

Sabo however denied that the departure of Gen. Mohammadu Buhari was primarily instrumental to the depletion of membership of ANPP in the state. That denial notwithstanding, it is also on record that it was with Buhari’s influence, and the fact that Bauchi electorates were tired of ‘’political band-wagonism’’ that Yuguda was warmly embraced by the people overwhelmingly. Matter of fact, it was only Yuguda, among the 36 governors in that election, that was not taken to an election petition tribunal, because his victory was generally accepted.

However, few months after his victory on the ticket of ANPP, Yuguda renewed his romance with PDP and one year after, he was officially received into the warm embrace of PDP chieftains, led by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Ardua, at IBB square in Bauchi.

With the exit of Yuguda and his cohorts, ANPP’s strength, like the famous Samson in the Bible, began to deplete.

The party was further weakened when Buhari finally left in 2007, alleging anti-party activities by some foundation members of the party at state and national levels.

Before Yuguda defected to PDP, there was crisis of interest, even as he openly accused the state chairman, Alhaji Sani Shehu Mallam, of ‘’dishonesty.’’ It also led to factionalisation of the party with Yuguda installing Alhaji Haruna Shitu as the state chairman, while

In this concluding part of our nationwide coverage of the state of All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Austine Tsenzughul in Bauchi and Barnabas Manyam in Yola, report that the once leading opposition party has suffered serious set back occasioned by exit of many members. Who will save ANPP?

•Onu

another faction, led by Sani Shehu Mallam, vehemently opposed such move.

This development further put ANPP and Yuguda on collision course which finally led to the defection of more members.

But that was not all.

When another political party, the Congress for Pro-

gressive Change (CPC), came on board, with Gen.Buhari as its chief promoter and presidential candidate, more members of ANPP again left for CPC. With this exodus, ANPP did not only loose vibrancy, elite members that would have formed the think-tank, but also faces challenges of

financial, political and structural maintenance. According to Maikudi Abubakar, ‘’Over and above that, the party has no elected governors to support it. The few members of the state and national assemblies have abandoned the party. It is an orphan as I talk to you. This development also accounts for the party not winning elections. Even the only senatorial seat ANPP won at last election was snatched by PDP. There was no money to campaign and match PDP word for word, action for action. These few are among our challenges for now.’’

Sabo agreed with Maikudi that ‘’these factors accounted for a popular party like ANPP not winning any seat even at the State House of Assembly. ’’All hopes not lost, the party under Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, is rebuilding the structures, regrouping and reconciling aggrieved members and introducing party policies that would make it possible for those who defected to be received on return. A dialogue is on-going with other political parties for a possible partnership that will see the party regaining its lost glory, and wrestle power from the ruling PDP come 2015.

Waziri’s exit dealt fatal blow to Adamawa ANPP

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HE fate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) now hangs in the balance in Adamawa State as many prominent members have deserted it despite the presence of Alhaji Abdurahman Adamu, a former Minister of State for Defense, who is one of the major stakeholders in the party still fighting hard to rebuild the broken walls.

Most of the members defected to other political parties, especially the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Congress for Democratic Change (CPC).

Alhaji Adamu, who is the National Vice Chairman of the party in the North- East, appears determined to revive the party but as observers have said, it would be hard for any single individual to successfully pilot the affairs of a party to victory. A group of dedicated members would achieve such a task more easily.

So, it seems hard for the political gladiator alone to make ANPP a success in Adamawa State.

The fortunes of the party in the state started dwindling when the late political bulldozer, Senator Mahmud Waziri, left the party shortly after the 2007 general elections.

It would be recalled that it was Waziri that took the party across the nation to win about seven states in the 1999 general elections. He was the party’s first National Chairman.

Also, Alhaji Dauda Birma, a former presidential aspirant, on the platform of the ANPP, was the leading figure that decamped to the PDP when President Goodluck Jonathan visited Adamawa State during a presidential elections trip across the country.

Birmah decamped from the ANPP along with Alhaji Abdurahman Bobboi, the former

State Chairman of the ANPP, who was embroiled in party crisis that led to his removal because he was holding a position in the Murtala Nyako administration while still serving as the State Chairman of the party.

Alhaji Inusa Dan Takarda, the former Chairman who succeeded Bobboi also joined the PDP with several members from Mubi and Gombi Local Governments areas of Adamawa state.

Today, the huge colony of party loyalists build by late Senator Waziri has depleted considerably and members are still decamping en-mass to other political parties.

Even the current Chairman of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in Adamawa State, Alhaji Ibrahim Waziri, was a long time loyalist of ANPP but he decamped to the CPC after he reportedly lost fate in ANPP most especially after the leader of the party in Adamawa State, Alhaji Abdurahman Adamu, popularly called ‘Abdua’ Adamu, the former minister of State Defense could not expand his hold on the party but rather brought his former Private Secretary, Alhaji Umar A. A. Duhu, to become the state chairman of the party. That move made some party members to decamp to other political parties.

Alhaji Abdurahman Adamu, known as ‘Abdua’ by his well wishers in Adamawa State, had contested for the governorship ticket of Adamawa State several times under the ANPP but luck is yet to smile on him.

Although some critics said ANPP can hardly win any local government chairmanship seat in Adamawa, not to talk of the governorship seat, sources close to the party said Alhaji Adamu has initiated moves aimed at building a sound ANPP that will compete with the ruling PDP.

turf

with Bolade Omonijo boladeomonijo@yahoo.com

Ojukwu: Fall of the iroko

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HERE are not many people to whom the grace to live and contribute like Chief Chukwuemeka OdumegwuOjukwu is given. It can truly be said that he came, saw and conquered. He was the one who described the late Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo as the best President Nigeria never had. It was so apt that it stuck, surviving the years.

How could one describe such a man for whom the bell tolled on November 25? Do we simply say the man died?

That would not do justice to the memory of a man who left bold footprints on the sands and rock of his time. He was a catalyst of change. In the Nigerian army, he left no one in doubt that he did not just join to receive salute from junior officers and offer compliments to his seniors. Any record of the Nigerian Army without the role played by Private or Lt. Col Ojukwu would be grossly incomplete and distorted.

He was the soul and moving spirit behind the Biafran Army. He dictated the pace and he enjoyed himself while doing so. For him, there could be no dull moment. While he had commanders, he planned the war and the battles. He handled foreign relations and procuments. He was simply in charge. In the process, of course, he made many mistakes.

His commanders, as Madiebo, Hilary Njoku and others attested, merely took instructions. Madiebo said he did not even know the size of the armoury. In the context, it was difficult to plan. Rabble rousers, in no time, took over what was supposed to be purely a military action. The word of the Commander-in-Chief was law. Whoever opposed Ojukwu was dubbed a saboteur and given the treatment meted to Ifeajuna and Banjo. Njoku was luckier, a jail term was deemed sufficient punishment for looking the ultimate commander in the face. Many would swear till date that the fate that befell Nzeogwu was arranged.

All these could not detract from the standing of the man.

He was many things in a lifetime. He got more attention and opportunities than five other men considered great. As Biafran Head of State, he loomed large. Very large. The beautiful and philosophical Ahiara Declaration has survived the years. His many addresses as Head of State call attention to what we have missed in the current leadership of our country. A President should inspire. He should have a vision and mobilise others to share both his vision and mission. He must have a sense of history and a large dose of courage. At the point that he felt that his people had suffered enough, Ojukwu made a tactical withdrawal, and, still, he did so in style. He told his people on January 8, 1970, that he was going in search of peace. He fled into exile. The lot of surrendering sovereignty to Nigeria fell on his deputy, Col. Phillip Effiong.

The story of his impactful life did not end there. He fled and he was back. In 1982, at the thick of the Second Republic, when the ruling party felt it needed someone of Ojukwu’s stature to justify its plan to capture the South East politically in 1983, Ojukwu was encouraged to return and join the National Party of Nigeria. Although he was handed an NPN senatorial ticket in Anambra State, the party sacrificed the seat, but forcefully took over other senatorial seats and the governorship of the Great Zik’s state. It justified the humbling of Zik with the Ikemba’s membership of the NPN. That was the political baptism of Ojukwu. In later years, he was to serve at the centre of the political theatre. He participated actively and vigorously in the Abacha Constitutional Conference. Many of those in the conference were inaudible; one only has to go through the proceedings and the eventual report to appreciate the contributions of the Ikemba. His voice rang loud throughout the confab. He was a founding member and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the All Peoples Party at the inception of the Fourth Republic.

He moved in style. He spoke in style. At various times in the chequered history of Nigeria, he did not just speak, he roared. He had clear thoughts on matters of the moment and had mastered just how to elegantly express his thoughts.

Yes, he was controversial. He was complex. Turbulence defined every phase of his life, including the establishment of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) that he joined other Igbo in giving life in pursuit of the agenda of restoring the dignity of his people.

The story of the life of Chief Chukwuemeka OdumegwuOjukwu has been written in bits and parts by many scholars and historians. The full story will yet come. The loudest noise on what the man stood for may yet come when his memoirs are published posthumous. In life and death, he was somebody and stood for something. Hecertainly died a hero.

Adieu, Ikemba, the apostle of Ohanifere, the famous handshake he proposed across the Niger.

Jubril Aminu missed the point At the Arewa Consultative Forum confab, the distinguished Professor Jubril Aminu prescribed an ingenious solution to the security problems plaguing the country: Proscribe all national umbrella religious bodies. It is so simplistic and lacking in logic that it is difficult to believe that it came from a man who has been an academic, administrator, minister, ambassador and Senator.

It is simply disappointing. I think people like Aminu should take more time in thinking things through before making suggestions.

Politics

THE NATION ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 11, 2011

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Outcry over Ondo ‘re-ordered’ budget T

HE ruling Labour Party in Ondo State and the major opposition political party in the state are at it again. The two political parties have continued to exchange words over the re-ordered budget sent to the state parliament by the state Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko.

Governor Mimiko had on November 29 sent the re-ordered budget bill to the state assembly.

The re-ordered budget was sent to the assembly less than one month to the end of 2011 fiscal year. In a thunder light speed, the Ondo state House of Assembly, December 1, passed a re-ordering bill seeking to transfer funds totaling 143billion.

The essence of the exercise was to transfer the inactive funds to active projects The action of the state assembly did not go down well with the members of the Action Congress of Nigeria [ACN], who described the re-ordered budget as fraudulent.

Specifically, the former Ondo State Labour Party [LP] Chairman, Dr. Olaiya Oni, who is now a chieftain of the ACN said that the present government was only finding a means of covering its looting spree.

Already, the ACN chieftain has filed a legal action against the state Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, over misappropriation of the state funds particularly on the reordering budget.

Oni, who presented the re-ordering budget document to reporters at a press conference in Akure, the state capital, noted that Mimiko was presenting a budget which he had already expended.

He alleged that Mimiko had exhausted all resources in the state through the Ministry of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning.

His words “I have never found a word called re-ordered in Nigeria political dictionary. When I was reading through one of the government owned newspapers, I saw that the government was calling for approval of a budget when the year was just a month to come to an end and what the governor is demanding for will take effect from 2012 January.

“Mimiko is a bull in a China shop. Many governors in the federation are already preparing to submit their 2012 appropriation budget to their various Houses of Assembly, but here in Ondo state, the governor was demanding for additional money which we all knew had already been spent by the government and only looking for cover up.

“Over 12 months, the government should have noted that it required additional funds to complete its on-going projects. For instance, the Mimiko’s reordered 2011 budget needed additional N5billion for the completion of rehabilitation and construction of highways, like Oba-Adesida road, Ondo, Owo, Akoko roads after the House earlier approved over N9billion for 2011 budget for the roads.

“Please can someone tell me if what the government demanded for justified what we have on ground in the state? Presently in his home town, the road construction was still at one stage. We all know that in Akoko, our roads have been neglected and the rehabilitation work going on in Akure, does that justify N14billion?

“Also, the state owned television station where Mimiko said he spent millions of naira and the equipment had already broken down, the government want additional N69million. The governor said he spent N50m on the renovation of Culture and Tourism complex and also demanded

The recently presented re-ordered budget proposal in Ondo State has pitched Governor Olusegun Mimiko against some concerned citizens, especially members of the opposition Action Congress of Nigeria.

Damisi Ojo in Akure presents the positions of the two sides in this report.

•Mimiko

for additional N50m for its completion.

“In Ondo state today, we all knew that we do not have something called the Banquet Hall [The Dome]. Mimiko had spent over N1billion on this and he is demanding for additional N500million. Also, Mimiko added in his re-ordered budget that he would be spending additional N350million on the new Governor’s Lodge after receiving over N250million on this.

“The state is now in critical financial problem because our governor had wasted our tax money unnecessarily. He had been spending it to receive awards both in Nigeria and international countries. Government would be spending over N120million on Mare Festival, which we all know that nothing of such exist except on screen.”

The former LP state chairman accused the State House of Assembly of neglecting their primary functions, saying the activities of Mimiko call for impeachment. “But am not surprised about their weak action because Mimiko always say it boldly even in their presence that they got into that

“Mimiko is a bull in a China shop. Many governors in the federation are already preparing to submit their 2012 appropriation budget to their various Houses of Assembly, but here in Ondo state, the governor was demanding for additional money which we all knew had already been spent by the government and only looking for cover up.”

position on his popularity. I believe the house should correct this by using their oversight function to save this state from this financial recklessness by Mimiko’s administration”.

Oni however assured the citizenry that leaders and stakeholders in the state would continue to fight to save the state from bankruptcy.

Also reacting to this, the ACN Publicity Secretary, Gbenga Akinmoyo, said states in the federation are submitting their 2012 Appropriation Bills, Ondo state was reordering budget.

His words, “The general public of Ondo State are being misled by the LP-led administration of Dr Mimiko that all is well with our finances and they have also got the State House of Assembly to be echoing the same fatal swan song.

“To suggest that all is well is as far from the truth as planet earth is to Jupiter. We have been hammering the fact for at least the last six months that the public finance of the state is being treated with contempt and that the government is just simply spending, regardless of budgetary provisions. It is now evident with the release of the “Re-Ordered Budget 2011” that the government has spent sums in excess of N10 billion, which was neither appropriated nor approved by any known legislative powers before the expenditures were undertaken.

“In order to cover-up the scam, the governor submitted a document (ReOrdered Budget) to the State House of

Assembly seeking to re-distribute billions of naira, which is to be spent within the last two weeks of the financial year 2011. We submit that it is practically impossible and what has happened is that the government is trying to conceal its illegal spending practice for which a responsible State House of Assembly ought to be instituting impeachment proceedings rather than being part of the conspiracy”.

However, a member of the Finance and Appropriation House Committee, Hon. Olatunji Dairo, said the governor acknowledged the oversight functions of the state Assembly and brought the bill to the whole House which, according to him, was constitutional.

He hailed Mimiko for his action, stressing that when the funds were allocated to various Ministries Departments and Agencies, [MDA] in the 2011 budget, it was discovered that huge money was allocated to inactive areas.

Dairo, who is also the Chief Whip of the State Assembly, explained that the capital and recurrent rate of this year’s budget, was not in any way altered.

He stressed that only schedule [I] and [II] of the 2011 Appropriation Law for the state were altered by moving funds to necessary heads and sub-heads with no change on the overall amounts.

Dairo explained that some of the 2011 appropriation was less active as some are very active, hence the urgent need to correct the abnormally with re-ordering budget.

The lawmaker denied that the legislators were induced with N1million each by Mimiko before passing the bill, calling on rumour-mongers to come out and prove the allegation.

Also, another member of the house of assembly, Hon Akindele Adeniyi, faulted the ACN members’ comments, describing members of the party as alarmists. He wondered why Olaiya Oni who was now condemning the re-ordered budget refused to talk when he was the chairman of the party.

The lawmaker, who is representing Akure North State Constituency, said the reordered budget was meant to make inactive fund active.

“I think it is high time the ACN and its cohorts stop misleading the people of the Sunshine State. Governor Mimiko sent the re-ordered budget to the house so that the state can be better. ‘So, why is Dr. Olaiya Oni raising unnecessary alarm? He was in the party last year when similar thing was done; he praised our action last year. I wonder why he is now complaining.

‘I respect Dr. Olaiya Oni, he is a technocrat but not an economist. He knows next to nothing about economics and he should stop raising false alarm,” he said.

The state government through the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, described the development as a normal procedure in public administration.

Akinmade explained that the action of the governor seeking to move funds from less active sectors to the active ones was in order as it would enable government to complete projects that would have direct impact on the people.

The commissioner, who said budget reordering was a usual practice even at the National Assembly, remained a reasonable approach that would ensure that certain projects like road construction are speedily executed during favourable weather condition.

He said, “The state government has not done anything strange to public finance administration. It is a normal thing to veer funds from non performing sectors to active ones. There is nothing wrong with that once the process follows normal constitutional provisions.

“It is on record that the House of Assembly deliberated extensively on the documents before it was passed. The current infrastructural development that is on-going in all the nooks and crannies of the state must be sustained and completed in record time” He added.

22

THE NATION ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 11, 2011

Politics

We must reach out to our African brothers and sisters in Diaspora –Dabiri-Erewa A

S the chairperson of the House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora, what does Diaspora mean to you?

Diaspora means you are an African, as long as you are a black man; it doesn’t matter where you come from, whether in America, Brazil, the Caribbean, Cuba and so on. It means that every black man has something in common. We are not totally the same, but we are one. This is what we need to explore. So, it means we are not just talking about Nigerians in Diaspora, but the totality of the African people.

So, it doesn’t matter where you come from, you are an African in Diaspora. We are not the same, but then, we should have the same goal, the same vision and one common purpose, which bind us together.

Look at here in Brazil, what I don’t know about Yoruba culture, I saw here. What I don’t even appreciate about my own Yoruba culture, I saw how they celebrate it here and virtually worship it. What I don’t even see in my own culture, they have preserved over the years.

This is the culture of their forefathers brought into Brazil from Nigeria. Now, they have preserved every bit of it for all ages. This is what Diaspora means to me, means to all of us Africans whose brothers

Abike DabiriErewa is the chairperson of the Committee on Diaspora in the House of Representatives.

In this interview with Edozie Udeze in Salvador, Brazil, she talks about her committee and what is in place to enhance cultural and political relations between Brazil and other Diaspora Africans and sisters live across the seas and oceans. They have taken their cultures here to a higher level. Look at the akara we ate yesterday at Nigeria House. It was fried with palm oil in a way we can’t even have it in Nigeria. See how tasteful it was and we all enjoyed it.

What our committee will be doing is to expand and make sure we reach our African brothers and sisters in Diaspora wherever they are.

Reaching out to them is to further establish this bond and to re-enact

the African spirit of brotherhood.

There’s a problem here. During the Trans-Atlantic movements, transportation between Nigeria and Brazil seemed easier by sea. But today there is no direct flight to Brazil from Lagos. Why? You see, the problem we encountered on our way to this place was too much. A flight of six to seven hours, took two days to get here. And we say we are the giant of Africa and we have vision 2020.

Whatever is stopping us from es-

tablishing a direct link to Brazil by air, we need to resolve it and fast too.

I am told that an arrangement in that regard has got to an appreciable level. You see 80% of those of us in that flight with the South African Airways from Lagos are Nigerians and we had no business going through Johannesburg. We should be able to fly to Brazil without going through any country for that matter. For now we are trying to open up a lot of opportunities for our people.

We are indeed opening up trade and investment. But if we

have to go through that, i.e. flying through South Africa, we will be discouraged from coming here again. I am being told that the problem is certainly from the Nigerian end. But it has been sorted out from the Brazilian end. Now that we are going back to Nigeria we try to find out what was really the problem. Nigeria should be the hub of Africa. This rigmarole to get here is uncalled for. See what we went through. Three days after, I have not seen my luggage. I have been wearing the same cloths and you see, this does not speak good of our image as a country.

These are the things we should be solving, just a little extra bending over backwards to get things done.

That’s what we need at this point to get it right.

Do you think the Nigerian government should invest more money in this type of programme to get to

other parts of the Diaspora?

The Committee on Diaspora will be championing all that. That is so, because, knowledge is power.

Look at people from America. The guy who had gone to do his DNA and then realised actually that he is Yoruba man. I was with a lady from Haiti yesterday. She said she came to Nigeria and when she got to a place between Lagos and Ogun State, she felt the vibe. Her body shivered. She could feel that this is her route.

You know, the more you do this sort of conference, the more you get to know, for knowledge is power.

We are now advocating the establishment of Nigeria Diaspora Commission as an agency to handle issues like this. This is because we are parliamentarians, we only make laws. But you need a commission, or an agency to deal with this. It is not about a consular service or the sort. When we have a commission it will indeed solve a lot of problems concerning us and the Diaspora.

What is your impression about the people here?

Oh, very warm, very lively and likeable people. You could see the warmth in the people. I am from Lagos. This is my first time in Brazil but I can feel the vibe and warmth of the people. It is like a second home. You know Lagos and Brazil have common ties. And I can feel these ties as I am here now. The spirit is the same. You could see Tinubu Square here in Salvador. It is like you are in your home. So, why don’t we tap into that spirit?

Why don’t we tap into that bond that I can see we can share?

See the Yoruba they speak here and the intensity of their culture is special. It is so great and the people make you feel good and warm.

We need to let our younger ones know their history and also how to preserve what we have. The black in Brazil have done all that. We need to commend them; that is why I say that this place is home away from home.

Jonathan and abuse of state power S

OME people who voted for freedom, democracy and the rule of law during the April 2011 Presidential elections no doubt may be biting their fingers now. Never in the history of our nation had anyone come to the exalted position of the President with such an overwhelming national support like President Goodluck Jonathan. He is one President that one can truly say has the Nigerian mandate. His rise to the Presidency was nothing short of the miraculous. But as dramatic and meteoric as his rise was, so also was the drop in the popularity ratings. Never in the history of Nigeria has a leader gone from a one hundred to almost zero public approval within the first 100 days in office.

President Jonathan has been putting every step wrong since he was sworn into office and sometimes even his most ardent supporters wonder why a man would be obstinate at self-destruction.

A promise betrayed In his inauguration speech he promised Nigerians: “In every decision I shall always place the common good above all else. You have trusted me with your mandate and I will never, never let you down.” But this is exactly what the President has done over the last six months. In a country where there is mass unem-

PERSPECTIVE

By Gesi Oyinkuro

ployment of the youth, poverty and total paralysis of infrastructure, the President sits in his garnish office playing petty politics and busy feeding the exaggerated egos of his cabal.

Abridged rights Events of the last couple of weeks in Nigeria, sadly reminds one of Hitler. While the President promised Nigerians, respect for human rights, equality and justice; the opposite is the reality.

The event of November 27, 2011 proved to all that we have returned to the dark days of impunity and disregard for laws and freedom. Men of the Kogi State Police command had forcefully stopped six Abuja bound buses conveying about 70 supporters of Bayelsa State governor, Timipre Sylva at Okenne. The contingent consisting mainly of ward chairmen and PDP members were promptly arrested by the police and detained.

According to reports, the Police accused them of plotting to disrupt the peace of Abuja. The arrested citizens were taken to a police station where their fundamental and con-

stitutionally guaranteed rights were summarily abridged.

They were released at about 10pm the same night, and forcefully escorted out of the state to return to Yenagoa the next morning. This is not the first time the instruments of the state have been used to terrorise, abuse and infringe on the rights of the people of Nigeria.

On October 25 in the same Kogi State, the police had turned back a 28-member contingent of the opposition Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) along the Murtala Muhammed Bridge Jamata on their way to Abuja.

To make matters worse, the contingent was travelling in vehicles clearly marked as belonging to Osun State government with registration number OSGH 192. The police had alleged that Osun State officials were on a secret mission to Abuja and according to Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Mr. John Amanana Abrakasanga, he cannot allow the free citizens of Nigeria to exercise their constitutional right of free movement and he has no apologies for it.

To judge the case on its merit one needs to ask some salient and fundamental questions. When did it become a law that citizens must obtain police permission to move freely

from one state to another within Nigeria? What constitutional powers do the police have to determine who enters the Federal Capital and who does not? Did the police conduct a search in the vehicles in these two instances and found dangerous weapons that might be used contrary to the law and peace of Abuja? Again, one asks what right does the Police have to restrict the movement of freeborn citizens from one part of the country to another, when there is no subsisting court injunction to that effect?

There is an interesting postulation here, the victims of police brutality and infringements are all whom the Presidency considered as opposition. This is a dangerous trend coming from a president who claimed to bear “A breath of fresh air.” If the Presidency could restrict the movement of those it perceived as opposition, what then happens in an election where the President’s interest is at stake?

The case of Bayelsa comes to mind. Shortly before the Presidency swung into action to ‘deal with’ the governor of Bayelsa State, the state security machinery was removed by the federal government and replaced with those who will do its bidding.

Despite the cries of the people of Bayelsa State to allow them exercise

their fundamental constitutional rights to decide who will become their governor, the President and his men will have none of that; instead it is foisting its own preferred candidate on the people.

President Jonathan was elected based on the will of the people of Nigeria at that time. He is the President today because the fundamental will of the people prevailed, the sovereign of the people prevailed.

Why has it become such a hard thing for the President to allow his people freely choose their leader? Of course with the determination that the Presidency is going about this stop Sylva crusade, there is no doubt that no free and fair election can hold in Bayelsa so long as the president’s interest is threatened.

The dangerous dimension of the use of state police to abuse citizens on the flimsiest of excuse is condemnable, retrogressive and a display of the spirit of Nebuchadnezzar. He once said he is not David nor Goliath. Has he now turned to Hitler or Nebuchadnezzar?

All Nigerians agree that the President has more pressing issues at hand, since his inauguration. He should face those, please.

Dr. Oyinkuro is the Director of Research, New Bayelsa Forum, Yenagoa

THE NATION ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 11, 2011

Politics

23

CHUKWUEMEKA ODUMEGWU-OJUKWU (1933-2011)

•Ojukwu on his return from exile in Cote d’Ivoire

I

T is difficult to adequately capture the ecstasy which surrounded the return of General Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu to Nigeria, without first looking critically at events preceding his dramatic departure from Uli Airport in 1970 into exile in Ivory Coast, as it was then known.

The tail-end of 1969 was tortuous and posed the greatest challenge to a people who were heroically fighting with their ‘bare hands’, to put it metaphorically, having held out for over two years and 10 months.

To say Biafra was losing grounds with great rapidity, was to state the obvious. Faced with an onslaught never seen in the annals of wars and insurrections, where all the world powers viz – Britain, United States, USSR and their allies - turned their arsenal on Biafra, it must have amazed military strategists in Sandhurst, Pentagon and Petersburg, how Biafrans could last the distance “sheer will power and of course, the Eastern spirit not to say die”.

Pounded on all fronts from air and ground; cut off by a heartless policy of ‘economic blockade’ on the high sea with virtually all essential commodities not within the reach of the citizenry of Eastern Region, causing untold hardship, malnutrition and kwashiorkor for both old and young, the people simply plodded on.

With almost all the major cities fallen – Nsukka, Obollo Eke, Abakaliki, Oji River, Awgu, Okigwe, Awka, Onitsha, Asaba, Gagem, Ogoja, Calabar, IkotEkpene, Port Harcourt, Aba, even though there were skirmishes of fighting going on, it was a matter of time for other towns to cave in.

When the war taunted Uzuakoli, it was only to be expected that the Biafran Operational Engine Room,

Ojukwu: Day the exile returned home From the desperate, dark days of a dying Biafra, to the ecstasy of his return from exile in the then Ivory Coast, OBINWA NNAJI, reminisces on another high point of the Chuwkwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu story the headquarters and Ministry of Defence, Umuahia would be threatened.

In spite of all these misfortunes, there was cheery news that Owerri, had been retaken by brave Biafran soldiers - but at a very high cost. There was a very touching scene when the remains of Captain Tony Asoluka of ‘S’ Brigade killed by a Federal sniper was taken to his Owerri town for burial.

The surviving mother made us all cry as she kept asking hysterically “who will buy me my Lux soap again?”

Orlu town, strategically situated in the heart of the Republic, as well as the seat of Biafran School of Infantry, the equivalent of Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA), where officers were being trained, was never conquered. Even though Federal troops occupied Onitsha they couldn’t link up with Awka as Biafrans held the Nkpor to Abagana axis. Of course, the famous Abagana waterloo is a topic for another day.

Uli, Ihiala, Oguta and Uga Airport and its environs were in very safe hands. Yours sincerely was

in the trenches at UmuakpuOmanelu axis, which then was 64 miles to Port Harcourt on the Owerri-Port Harcourt main road.

So hilarious were the boys fighting to get back Port-Harcourt when the unexpected and shocking news of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe’s defection to Nigeria rent the airwaves.

My transistor radio was tucked away, and when the disturbing news broke, my co-officers in the trenches yelled “That’s the end of the War”. The defection of the first Nigerian President, Rt. Hon. Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, sometime in October 1969, dealt a severe blow to the morale of Biafran troops at the various war fronts.

Then in quick succession, in November and December, all the strongholds began collapsing.

Umuahia was threatened and when it fell, it took its toll. Nobody waited to be drafted to defend the symbol of Biafra. All the warriors and commanders of note raced to join a rescue mission that was already too late in day.

Ojukwu and the Defence Headquarters had been evacuated

amidst heavy fighting, shelling and bombardment by Nigerian troops from air and land. The Biafran Army Engineers had to break the bridge, the only link from Umuahia to Owerri.

If the Imo River Bridge ‘4 Corner’ as it is called was left intact, then Biafra would have been overrun in few minutes of entering Umuahia. So they were all there – the big names and top military brass – Brigadier Tim Onwuatuegwu, Col. Joe ‘Air Raid’ Achuzie, Brigadier Wilson Odo, the Commandos and famous Strike Forces and Battalion Commanders physically involved in the fight to hold back the rampaging Federal troops keen to cross over the Imo River Bridge.

The surge to reach Owerri had begun in earnest from Aba. For us, 64 miles away at Omanelu after Mgbirichi and Umuagwo, and Umuakpu, it was a nightmare.

Owerri that was our safe haven was being evacuated without a gunshot, and with Federal troops not in sight.

What to do? There was total confusion and the entire ‘S Bri-

gade’, ‘S’ Division which had several Infantry and Engineering Battalions dug in at the trenches, had to quickly adopt ‘Operation Open Corridor’.

Owerri was no longer within reach and news came that Federal troops had taken it without firing a shot. With extended line formation and fire and movement, the entire troops retreated with great speed through the marshy terrain of Egbema, luckily ending up in Awo-mama, which became the rallying point for all fleeing Biafran troops.

The felicitations and joy for surviving the fierce war, knew no bounds as soldiers greeted fellow combatants with the soothing greeting ‘Happy Survival’. It was January 8, 1970.

So came the departure at Uli Airport of General Ojukwu, widely said to be heading to Ivory Coast in furtherance of exploring some peace overtures, and the surrender

by Major-General Phillip Effiong who stood in for him.

It was apparent we had come to the end of the road begun on July 6, 1967 with the first shot fired at Gagem Ogoja and Obollo Eke in Nsukka. The rest is history. So far 13 years, 1970 – 1983, Ojukwu stayed away from the shores of Nigeria in exile in Yamoussokorou, Ivory Coast.

With the advent of Satellite Newspapers on Agbani Road, Enugu, in 1982, the crop of journalists so assembled had a burning zest to begin the campaign for a state pardon for Ojukwu. From all departments of the newspaper, the fireballs came from all cylinders.

We wrote strongly-worded editorials, analysis and features mak•Continued on Page 24

THE NATION ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 11, 2011

Politics

24

CHUKWUEMEKA ODUMEGWU-OJUKWU (1933-2011)

Ojukwu and I made Igbo nation our focal point —Achuzia Col. Joseph Achuzia (retd) was known as Air-raid during one civil war. He is one of the active participants of the Nigerian-Biafran civil war living today and equally a close confidant of the late Dim Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. In this brief interview with Nwanosike Onu, Achuzia, who had resisted several moves to be interviewed in the past, said time has not come for him to talk about the man he adored so much. However, he said that people found it difficult to distinguish between him and Ojukwu as they thought they were of the same parentage. Excerpts:

H

OW did you receive the news of the death of your friend, Ojukwu?

I have been coming to this family with every amount of happiness but today, I came with sorrow. I am here with tears but our own tears can not be greater than the family members of the great leader called Ikemba Nnewi and that is why I’m here to say sorry.

When he was in Ivory Coast, I was constantly visiting him until he came back to this country. When he was starting this building here, I was equally with him, we have been close right from time. If he had not finished his mission on earth he would not have gone now. He came and suffered for his people. We have a lot to tell about Ojukwu. It remains a little time for me to talk on why I

followed him even at the point of death. That time will come and the whole world will hear it.

I still believe that he is not dead but resting somewhere; so far as I live, Ojukwu lives also.

What was the binding force in your relationship with the late Ikemba?

Our relationship is well known, you could hardly distinguish him and I and people usually think we are from the same parentage (laughs). We almost think alike and we face issues in the same characteristic military way.

But most importantly, we made the Igbo nation the focal point of whatever we do and I feel he is still alive. I’m around and as far as I’m around, his spirit continuous to live and that is the much I can tell you now until the time comes.

•Achuzia

Ojukwu: Day the exile returned home •Continued from Page 23 ing the case for his return urgent. The News Department headed by Late Sly Alakwe and Alphonsus Ikediashi, his able deputy went the extra mile. Alphonsus Ikediashi stumbled upon an exclusive with a big story on the mother of Ojukwu presumed and rumoured dead years ago in Kano. With such sensational headlines “Give me my son”, “Bring my son back” - a passionate appeal from a distressed mother to President Shehu Shagari, we hit Shagari on a very sore point.

The explosive interview caused a big stir to the extent that one of the most successful Ibo business tycoons, Chief Arthur Eze alias “Arthur 1,000”, made for Nnewi and gave a gift of a brand new Mercedez Benz to Ojukwu’s mother. Satellite roared and soared. It was Ojukwu’s mother’s plea that perhaps touched the milk of human kindness in President Shagari, that he finally caved in and announced the ‘Great Pardon’.

The efforts of the journalists on the stable of satellite had paid off. Innocent Okoye now a Professor of Mass Communications, Nzekwe Ene, the arrogant intellectual who had a penchant for correcting any script in sight and more often ended up correcting himself; stylish Victor Jegede, Uche Ezechukwu, the prose master, Late Mike Azuide, Late Chike Akabaogu, Roy Eze, Chika Ezerioha-‘Chez Williams’, Sam Nkire, Emma Okocha, Danquah Oye, C-Don Adinuba, Godwin Nzeakah and, of course, the big boss Chris Ejimofor, to mention a few.

With the pardon granted, we at the Satellite landed on ‘Cloud Nine’. The Sunday Editor Innocent Okoye was on the next available flight out of Lagos to Abidjan. It turned out he was the only journalist from Nigeria to first land in the then Ivory Coast. We had compiled back to back copies of Satellite for the perusal of the General. We had sought

for an exclusive interview.

Yamoussoukorou had been besieged by sea of European journalists.

Trust Ojukwu, he refused to grant an interview to the battery of journalists and photographers that lay in wait. Owing to the copies of Satellite, Innocent had passed through one of his aides, Ojukwu chose to speak to Innocent via the intercom.

Not dejected, Innocent ended up getting scoops, tracing and filming the large expanse of Ojukwu’s sand filling company and trucks owned by the Biafran leader while in exile.

The Sunday Editor was also the only Nigerian journalist at the Nigerian Embassy in Abidjan when Ojukwu was re-issued

with a Nigeria Passport. We made a feast of his exclusives from Abidjan.

Then came Ojukwu’s return. The scenario that played out at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos was just child’s play. From all over old Eastern Region, the crowd took over the major streets from Ogbete-Ogui-Abakaliki Road to Emene Airport. Bus loads from the northern parts of the country, formed a rainbow procession.

Traders from Aba, Onitsha and Igbos living in Ogbete Market paced and walked to the airport singing in Ibo Language “Papa Anata Oyoyo”, Daddy is back. Several committees had sprung up with bearing the legend of ‘Onyije Nno’, translated ‘Traveller

•Shagari: His NPN government pardoned Ojukwu

Welcome’.

To be part of history, yours sincerely had driven just past the junction of Army Barracks by Abakpa junction. It was impossible to proceed further. With my wife and two little children sitting atop my car, we were about five kilometers from the airport.

The road was literally over run by termites in the shape of human beings. We sat there when Ojukwu driven in a slide-open Mercedes Benz, waving heartily to the crowd sauntered past. The rival National Party of Nigeria (NPN), faithful who had thronged the airport did not allow Anambra Government officials of the ruling Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP) to come even as close to the gates of the airport.

Dignitaries were molested and soaked and sprayed with water hoist. And so the General not knowing where he was heading to, perhaps seeing his seat of government, in Enugu State for the first time since it fell in 1967, was a prisoner to those who hijacked and herded him straight to Nnewi.

Disappointed at not seeing their hero, thus bringing a sour taste in the mouths of tens of thousands that had raced to Government House, Independence Layout, Enugu where an elaborate arrangement had been laid out by the sitting Governor, Chief Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo, who had cut short his overseas tour in Madrid, Spain where he was watching the World Cup to rush home, the people that had converged began to disperse one by one - raining abuses on those who disrupted the grandiose plan for their selfish aggrandizement. · Obinwa Nnaji, former Editor of Daily Satellite Newspaper, was a one-time Lieutenant in the Biafran Army Engineers (BAE).

He wrote from Enugu. The last in the threepart series ‘What you don’t know about Ojukwu’ follows next Sunday.

25

COVER THE NATION ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2011

• University of Nigeria, Nsukka

•ASUU President, Prof. Awuzie Ukachukwu

J

OHN Aladelola (not his real name) is a final year student of English Literature in a federal university. He is a brilliant student who had no reason not to have graduated on time.

As a student of English there was no reason for him to spend any extra year in the university. However, owing to the incessant strike by Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Aladelola is yet to finish a four-year course.

In fact, with the decision of ASUU to last Monday embark on what it called “an indefinite” strike, he does not know when he is going to graduate.

On the other hand, Patricia Agbede (not her real name) who was Aladelola’s classmate in the secondary school is already serving the one-year mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). She attended a private university and was able to complete her course of study in a record four year period. Now a proud graduate of Economics, she is already looking forward to a career in the banking sector.

The fate and lives of Aladelola and Agbede typify the situation in the country’s tertiary education sector today. Federal and state universities have lost the attraction of the past not so much because of loss of quality teachers or lack of researches, but due to incessant strikes by almost all unions in tertiary institutions across the country.

The situation has got so bad that many parents have lost faith in the country tertiary education system. A few who can afford it now prefer to send their children abroad while those who can’t send their wards to the burgeoning private universities or to nearby Ghana and other countries in the West Africa sub region.

The level of the loss of confidence was recently brought home when the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Education, Farouk Lawan, while reacting to the de-

ASUU/FG SHOWDOWN

Counting cost of another varsity shutdown Once again, the lecture rooms at the nation’s universities have been shut indefinitely! The academic staff union has called out its members on strike to press home the implementation of a two-year old agreement between it and government. Edozie Udeze and Ademola Adesola examine the issues. Additional report by Lukman Adeyemo cay in the sector said: “We cannot afford another prolonged strike because if it happens, it will undermine the standard of our education and this is why there is a lot of errors. I’d rather send my child abroad to go and graduate in three or four years. I do not see why my child would stay for six or seven years on the same programme while his or her friends abroad would have completed theirs. We need to find a way of resolving this strike. The reality is that our universities are not properly funded. I will con-

tinue to agitate that government is not doing well in that aspect.”

Last week, the National President of ASUU, Prof. Ukachukwu Awuzie while calling out his colleagues on strike again noted that the National Executive Council of the union was convinced beyond any shadow of doubt that the federal government, having “neglected, ignored, failed and refused to implement the core components of the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement, after more than two years of its signing, having squandered two

months it requested without achieving any progress in the implementation of the agreement, having sacked the Implementation Monitoring Committee that served as the forum for dialogue with ASUU on this dispute, the government is terribly insincere and is manifestly unwilling to genuinely implement the agreement it freely entered into with ASUU”.

This lack of commitment on the part of government to see to the development of this sector has continued to lead to disa-

“I’d rather send my child abroad to go and graduate in three or four years. I do not see why my child would stay for six or seven years on the same programme while his or her friends abroad would have completed theirs. We need to find a way of resolving this strike”

greement between it and university teachers. In the past few months, ASUU has embarked on series of industrial actions to push home its point. It first went on a three-day warning strike. At the end of the warning strike, it issued a statement reminding the Federal Government about the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) it signed with it in 2009.

Part of the reasons the union listed for embarking on its latest strike is to compel the government to implement the agreement it signed with it two years ago.

As part of its demands the union has been insisting that the Federal Government should make the funding of education a priority. The union is asking the government to comply with UNESCO’s prescription that at least 26 percent of the yearly budget of every nation should go to education. Nigeria spends about 8.5 percent of the budget on education every year!

Apart from budgetary allocation the university teachers are also demanding greater autonomy for tertiary institutions.

Another of their demands is the issue of retirement age for professors which the federal government has acceded to by raising it from 65 to 70.

•Continued on Page 26

26

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2011

Cover

ASUU: House divided against itself

• Minister of Education, Ruqayyatu-Rufai

A

NYTIME the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) prepares for an industrial action, there is always an ill-feeling not only in the society, but also among members of the association. While its members in some institutions comply without hassles, a few others defy orders to down tools and carry on with their academic activities. In such institutions, the body exists but operates autonomously.

There have been many instances when the central body embarked on a strike and members in certain institutions refused to join. There have also been cases where some institutions deliberately exempted themselves from industrial actions.

A few months ago, when the body embarked on a three-day warning strike, academic activities were not disrupted in institutions such as the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka and some others. It was the same scenario at the University of Ilorin where academic activities went

ASUU DEMANDS • 26 percent education budget as prescribed by UNESCO • Improved salaries for lecturers.

• Democratisation of decision-making in the Ivory tower.

• University autonomy (right to choose VC).

• Increase in retirement age from 65 to 70 for professors.

• Improvement in funding and updating of other facilities to aid the system.

• Funding of such other matters that can help the universities attain international visibility and standard.

• Non-salaried aspects of 2009 agreement entered into with government • Cutting down excessive workload of lecturers and supervisors, among others.

•University of Lagos

“I think our executives should look into other ways of getting the government to listen to us. We don’t have to go on strike every time” on smoothly during the 2010 ASUU strike which lasted for about four months.

Now the central body has declared an indefinite strike, there is an uneasy calm among its members. Although many are willing to comply with the decision of the central body to suspend all academic activities until the federal government accedes to the demands of the union, a few others feel otherwise.

Those in the latter group are of the opinion that the strike, no matter how long it lasts, does not yield the desired result. They are calling on the executives of the union to look for alternatives means of settling disputes with the government instead of embarking on strikes that paralyse activities in the nation’s universities every now and then.

A lecturer at the Delta State University Abraka, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said even though the demands of the union are important, the plight of the students who are always at the short end of the stick, must also be taken into consideration before any industrial action.

He said: “Let’s tell ourselves the truth, any time ASUU goes on strike, it is students who bear the brunt. They are the ones who are sent packing from their campuses and wander about town doing nothing. The children of the government officials who are supposed to implement the agreement we are clamouring for are all abroad. As a lecturer and a member of ASUU, I want the executives to always show concern for the plight of these innocent students. We can get our demands without necessarily punishing them and disrupting their academic programmes.”

A female lecturer at the same institution holds a similar view.

She said the strike does not yield the desired results because government officials know that after a few months at home, the lec-

turers will get tired and return to work.

“I am totally in support of the demands of ASUU, but I believe that going on strike is becoming an out-dated option. The government does not complain when we go on strike because they know that many of us will be itching to return to work after a few

weeks at home. I think our executives should look into other ways of getting the government to listen to us. We don’t have to go on strike every time.”

But Dr. Eric Osadolor, a lecturer at the University of Benin, totally disagrees with the suggestions that the union should not embark on an indefinite strike to press home its demands. He posited that in a country like Nigeria, embarking on an indefinite strike is the best way to get government’s attention.

“Strike is a standard labour practice anywhere in the world.

People go on strike in the United

Kingdom and America, why should Nigeria be different? There is nothing wrong with ASUU embarking on an indefinite strike to compel the federal government to honour its agreement with the union. People should stop being sentimental on this issue, many lecturers also have children and relatives who will be affected by the strike. But the union must do the needful. If we don’t down tools nobody will listen to us.”

As the indefinite strike enters its second week, it remains to be seen if the union can put its house in order and fight from a united front.

Counting the cost •Continued from Page 25 Living conditions of students across the campuses have deteriorated so much that a room meant for four is now occupied by more than 10, while facilities are overstretched and dilapidated.

Isima Kambiri of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, in describing the state of infrastructures said “we students live like pigs in the hostels.” According to him, “You need to see how 10 to 11 of us cramp in a hostel meant for four students. The lecture rooms are even worst. Most of us sit on pavements and hang on windows to receive lectures. What the lecturers are saying is that these conditions have to be made better. Both the federal and state governments should come in to improve learning conditions, make the environment much better for us, and for the lecturers to be able to offer their best.”

He argued that the standard of education has been made quite deplorable because the population of students meant for the available facilities is high. “And you see, no good teacher who would see such condition and will not be perturbed. The lecturers come to teach us every day and when they come in contact with all these, they are disturbed. In other words, the demands they make are not too much; they are

not saying so just to favour themselves, but for the good of the students, especially for the youths of this country who are seen as the future leaders of this country.”

The strike option However, Kambiri doubts if incessant strikes is the best way to solve the problem plaguing the sector. He has a queer solution, “If government is adamant, ASUU can start the kind of revolutions that have swept away many governments in the Arab world. That is the sort of thing ASUU can spearhead when government has become too intransigent. As an intellectual body, ASUU has all its takes to lead a revolution and when the masses join the march to either Aso Rock or the National Assembly complex, the powers that be would listen.”

He is of the opinion that strike has outlived its usefulness and has made many students to renege in their support for the union. “This government is deaf and you need an entirely different and more effective approach to register your protest. That is what we need now before the education system in Nigeria collapses completely. We students are ready; in fact most Nigerian youths who have no future, who do not seem to know where they are headed, are prepared to join in this onward march to Abuja. We need to

rise now.”

A lecturer at the Obafemi Owolowo University (OAU) IleIfe, Osun State, who does not want to be named canvassed the same idea advanced by Kambiri.

According to him, “Protests and strikes have long outlived their usefulness in a society like ours where government does not accord education its proper place in the scheme of things. Take for instance the issue of strike which we have been embarking upon since 2001. They have not yielded any results; rather government believes that after a while they will call us together, make some kangaroo promises and we will go back to the classroom.

“I have told my colleagues over and over again, that we need to change our strategy. This government is stiff-necked and it is our responsibility to teach them how to be responsible to the masses. We can organize and march to the National Assembly.

First, we have to let them know that they are the ones who are draining the economy, we have to tell them that our kids can no longer afford to be in school due to hike in fees and lots more. It is not that they do not know. But when they see how serious and concerned we are, they will listen and act. But with this strike every now and then, we will only come back to square one.”

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2011

My career, Olisa Adibua and I —Misi Molu –Pages 36-37

30

THE NATION ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 11, 2011

Glamour

Kehinde Falode Tel: 08023689894 (sms)

E-mail: kehinde.falode@thenationonlineng.net

Adapt your wardrobe to changing weather your outfit by AINTAIN all the signature elements of ther to the wea warm the from n sitio tran rocking the de some inclu ly simp is do hot season. All you have to season. this r pula o-po oh-s are that es piec of the must have Sport stylish top as the weather ning and pair it with might still be cold especially in the morthat look cool on the t jacke and skirt or sers) stylish pants (trou same ensemble. tical and chic shoes Moreover, make sure you have those prac your wardrobe. In plete com to hues us vario in at hand order to stay warm at all times make sure that you choose an A-list jacket and cashmere/ morfla design that cheers up your mood as well as outfit. The market offers an infinite selection of these in a the most wide colour and print. Plaid is one of its way fight to aged man that rns patte inspiring remain through the various seasons and still plement com to wine or red for go can you but voguish; the season ‘s mood!. come to your rescue and help The hot and cold days ideal outfit belowrel appa you organize your wardrobe as well as ish in order to preserve the flawless and vogu allure of your look in spite of the unstable weather.

M

•Anita Aikhomu

•Minjan

•Bola Obileye

32

THE NATION ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 11, 2011

Glamour

Get in the red shade this season •A belt is a versatile accessory that could jazz-up a formal or informal outfit

Red high heels work the best with pants (trousers) & short skirt

A

DD some seasonal cheer to your outlook with a touch of red accessory here and there!

Red in diverse hues makes an expected comeback this festive period. It is certainly a break from the black and nude/grey trend that took over the red carpet since January.

The colour varies in so many shades from deep red to oxblood that has become an easy alternative to the other staple-black. Red shades can be amazing and dramatic; red jacket on black apparel gives instant vibrancy to a suit. If you are not crazy about rocking a red suit or shirt, try a belt, ribbon, headband etc and keep it simple with a crisp white shirt.

•Kick a red dress up a notch with coordinating accessories like Ifeoma Williams for big impact.

•Shade

•Kate Effiong

•Tomike Layi-Babatunde It's difficult for men to ignore a lady wearing a red dress!

•Tope

•A red jacket gives instant vibrancy

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, December 11, 2011

Glamour

33

As it was in preceding years, 2011 was a busy period in the social diary of Nigerian celebrities. some dazzled us with their eye-catching styles and got thumbs up from style watchers, OLUSEGUN RAPHEAL writes

Fashion consultant Moriam Musa does justice with her Ankarabag and she look great, Kudos!

Simple and classic with a nice smile Kudos! To Abby Atuluku

Bola Awosika not looking bad in this mini gown Kudos!

Nice jack, lovely mini gown coupled with timeless accessories Kudos!

To Oluwatosin Obada

Adora Oleh knows what's is good for her body shape Kudos!

Nice look, good outfit and great charisma is the way to describe Stephane Ude

34

THE NATION ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 11, 2011

Glamour Winner of the Big Brother (Revolution 5)2009 Chuwang Kevin Pam reveals his top ten things to KEHINDE FALODE

Favourite shoes Nike

Favourite perfume David Beckham

Favourite car I love trucks

Favourite drink Sugarcane juice

Favourite wallet designer

Favourite holidayspot ZanZibar Island

LV

Favourite underwear Tommy Hilfiger brief & boxers

Favourite sunglasses Puma

Favourite wrist watch designer G Shock

Kevin’s

top

10

Favourite haircut Mo hawk

Favourite colour Brown

THEATRE

Gulder Ultimate Search 8

F

OR the race that started with a promise of N17.5 m to the ultimate man or woman, one winner is already certain. Out of the last four contestants standing, Anastasia Azike, being the only lady, is already N1.8 million naira richer, should she decide to drop out of the competition at this stage.

She is automatically favoured with the prize of N1 m for being the last woman standing and N800, 000 prize meant for the 4th position in the contest of champions should her bones fail her at this point. But the lady is determined to continue the battle with Christopher Okagbue, Kevin Durst and Anthony Igwe and create a record as not just the first woman, but the overall first contestant in the competition.

Good wine, they say, gets better with age. Anastasia Azike best epitomises this timeless saying. When this year's edition of the Gulder Ultimate Search started, the Anambra State-born lady was not given much of a chance. She wasn't the biggest or the strongest among the 30 contenders.

She didn't even seem like the smartest. To make matters worse, she was a woman. In the eight year history of the Gulder Ultimate Search, no female has walked away with the coveted prize. All she could hope for was the Last Woman Standing.

But even that was wishful thinking given the array of better qualified female contenders in the race with her. Her anonymous performance at the initial stage of the competition seemed to confirm the fact that Anastasia's foray in the Gulder Ultimate Search would be uneventful.

But like wine she got better as the competition advanced. Slowly yet surely, she progressed through her batch and maintained her impressive run in the contest of champions. As she progressed through, so did she toughen up physically and mentally. She not only won the Last Woman Standing Prize but Anastasia is on the verge of becoming the very first female winner of the Gulder Ultimate Search. The fact that she had to square up to five men did not seem to faze her at all.

•Kevin Durst

SOUND TRACK

Tel: 08077408676

With VICTOR AKANDE

Should Anastasia win tonight…

t

BIGSCREEN

She is automatically the favoured with for prize of N1 m being the last g woman standin e priz and N800, 000 th 4 meant for the position in the contest of champions Indeed, she confirmed her status as the Champion to beat after piping five men to win the third task of the Contest of Champions. It was her first victory (the second by any female in the competition), and it certainly erased any doubt about the possibility of any woman winning the task.

The camp had earlier been reduced to six following the exit of Promise Ojiegbe and Sunday Gyang. After the eviction of the duo, the remaining contenders, Fejiro Ejogbamu, Christopher Akagbue, Tony Horsfall, Tony Igwe, Kelvin Durst and Anastasia Azike were left with the responsibility of solving the wisdom of Timbuktu riddle. After hours of trying, Tony Horsfall finally resolved the riddle.

The contingent had lunch before setting off into the heart of the jungle in search for clues. They were able to find the four clues with Tony Igwe, Anastasia and Kelvin making the discoveries. They made the long trek back to camp exhausted and hungry and were met by one of the show’s anchor, Bob Manuel Ndokwu.

After a meal prepared by the only female in camp, Anastasia, they went to bed in anticipation of the task of the next day.

The next day, the six champions woke

•Anthony Igwe

plus

GISTS

PAGE

35

e-mail: victor_akande@yahoo.com

Iyabo Ojo marks 34th with Down’s kids

P

up with anticipation. It would be task day and one or more persons would be evicted. After loosening up with some exercises, they set out for the task. Like other previous times, this task was designed to test the cognitive skills of the lot. There was one or two physical tasks thrown in but make no mistake, this was going to be more of brain work. They were required to translate roman numerals into words, crawl under a net, and translate another sequence of roman numerals into words before climbing a fence and completing a picture puzzle.

As was the norm, Christopher shot into the lead, completing his first assignment, goes under the net and begins the second.

He led the line until it was time to complete the picture puzzle. Anastasia beat him to it but soon afterwards Christopher completed his own. Ice cool Kelvin Sadly, Fejiro Ejogbamu and Tony Horsfall were both eliminated after failing to finish before the allotted time. For her effort, Anastasia was awarded a special basket of fruits.

The question is, will her winning streak end? Will she make history by becoming the first female winner of the Gulder Ultimate Search? She carries the hopes and aspirations of millions of female followers of the reality show. If Anastasia wins tonight, she would have gone a step further to add credence to the popular saying that what a man can do, a woman can also do, if not better.

•Christopher Okagbue

OPULAR Nollywood actress Iyabo Ojo will be a year older come December 21. However, it is not going to be all about liquor, food and dancing. The actress has revealed th that her 34 birthday will be spent with kids living with Down's syndrome in Surulere area of Lagos.

To make it a remarkable day for the kids, Iyabo says that together with her dance students, “Kids Love to Dance with Iyabo Ojo” there will be dancing and interactions with these special kids.

Also accompanying her on this show of love to children living with Down's syndrome is a group called the Future Stars and her BBM group called the Sexy Pink Ladies. Together they will be giving out gifts and other items to these kids.

This event, she said, is supported by City People Magazine, Wale bite waters, Stage to Screen, House of Refuge and Sexy Pink Ladies.

Yvonne Okoro is a year older!

I

T was celebration time for Ghanian actress Yvonne Okoro as she turned a year older recently.

The actress who holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and Linguistics from the University of Ghana, Legon, started her acting career in 2002, with the movie Sticking to the Promise, produced by Theo Akatugba.

Born to a Nigerian father and a Ghanaian mother, Yvonne Okoro has gone on to feature in other movies like The Game, Desperate to Survive, Beyonce, The Return of Beyonce, The President's Daughter, Royal Battle, and 4 Play among others.

Her father hails from Abia State (Nigeria), while her mother is from Enyan Abaasa in the Central Region (Ghana).

Yvonne attended Achimota Preparatory School. She also attended Lincoln Community School, Faith Montessori School, and then Mfanstiman Girls Senior High School.

36

Entertainment

Host of Nigerian Idols, Yemisi Fajimolu, started her career as an on-air radio personality on The Beat 99.9 FM; captivating audiences across Lagos with her charming demeanour. Simply known as Misi Molu in entertainment circles, the host and television personality received a bachelor's degree in International Studies from the University of Buckingham and has since become a triple threat in the entertainment industry.

She has worked on radio as well on TV, standing in as the lead presenter on Nigerian Idols Season 1.

Ready to float her own online radio station, the presenter who is also an actress on the side took OVWE MEDEME through her plans for the coming year, her career and a host of other issues.

T

ELL us about your stint with Nigerian Idols. It was an exciting experience. It was fun. I had fun while I was on board with Nigerian Idols.

How did you get the Nigeria Idols gig?

My friend Oreka who I worked with at The Beat FM got an email asking her to come for the audition. She forwarded it to me. From there, we went for the auditions and I got the job.

Why do think you were dropped?

I think they wanted to go with a bigger brand. Tiwa Savage, the host for this year, is an artiste, she is a singer and she obviously has a large fan base than I do because I present radio and TV but she is a musician so she has a much broader fan base and I guess they wanted to reac h

out to more people. Tiwa being on board is pulling in more of her fans and of course she gets to have more following that way.

So what is keeping you busy these days?

Before now, I have had an event management company for a while. So I just revamped that with a new name as well. It is called Pink Pepper Production.

We are mainly into party planning. That is something new that I am doing. I am also working on starting an online radio station. That is ready to go. I used to do that way back before I got on radio and on television. It used to be called Misi Molu PR and Event Management but now, it is just Pink Pepper Production.

What is life in the electronic media like?

It is exciting because from one day to the other, you don't know who will be a guest, you don't know what will happen. Things happen last minute. There is always breaking news. When it comes to things like TV, if you are about to record and something goes wrong somewhere, you just have to always constantly be on your feet and be prepared all the time.

How long were you with The Beat FM? I was there for exactly one year.

What was your stay there like?

It was very interesting because there was

For me, I think it was time to move on. The time that I actually left The Beat, I was working on Nigerian Idols so it was quite hectic and for me, it was time to move on

Entertainment

THE NATION ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 11, 2011

When I was in Atlantic Hall, I remember my friend came to me and we just used to mess around and I’d hold a brush and mimic radio presenters. It was just a joke then. Somebody talked to me about Olisa Adibua on the radio station

My career, Olisa Adibua and I —Misi Molu a lot more work than I thought going into radio and once I got to terms with that, things became good. There were always ups and downs just like I said before with regards to last minute guests arriving or having to cover somebody else’s shift. It was always exciting.

Why did you leave?

For me, I think it was time to move on.

The time that I actually left The Beat, I was working on Nigerian Idols so it was quite hectic and for me, it was time to move on.

Is there anything you miss most about being a presenter?

My listeners calling in always made me feel good. I miss that so much, I am going to set up my own thing.

During your time as an OAP, did you have any nasty experience from a caller?

For me, I thankfully did not get any. I just used to have one particular girl call me every single Sunday. Her name is Femi.

She would call me just to say hello.

Tell us more about the online station It is going to be mostly about entertainment and of course what is going on around. Of course we would take up serious issues as they happen, but mostly it is about fun and what is going on around, different events and things that I see and probably couldn't discuss before.

We would also invite guests within the

entertainment industry as well as the lifestyle industry.

How do you intend to sell such an idea to Nigerians?

It is as viable as I make it and I think it will sell.

So far, what structures have you put in place to ensure the success of the station?

I am working on bringing the online radio station to life. Presently, I am building the structures. There are two different areas that I am looking into. The internet is not so favourable to many people. A lot of the ISPs, most of the times are down. One platform that I am looking at is the Blackberry that almost everybody has. On the other hand, for those who don't have it, there are different platforms to get on to with regards to the different companies who offer the service of dialing a number and then you listen to the radio.

These are the different methods and ways that we are looking into in order to make it very acceptable, not necessarily having to be online or having to pay for a data plan in order to actually make use of these facilities just to listen in.

There is one or two online radio stations on board and they don't seem to be gaining any prominence. What strategies have you mapped out to endear yours to Nigerians?

The way I look at it, it is mostly about how I am going to attract people. It is mostly about what the show is going to be about. For me, if I am listening to radio, I want the latest music, the latest information as it is breaking, as it is happening. That is the different method or means that I will use in order to do that. It is basically about the way we evolve, sit down to map out our strategy. One thing about radio that is important for me is that it needs to be entertaining and it needs to grab people's attention.

What do you intend to call it?

I am thinking Pink Pepper Radio, but we have slogans like 'making things that much hotter', or 'if you are hot, you are here,' that sort of thing. It is starting and just by the name, we want people to know that it will be fun. It will be fun all the way.By quitting The Beat FM, would it be right to say that you are leaving mainstream journalism?

No I wouldn't. I am a multitasker. So I am still doing the television and the radio stuff alongside party planning as well.

Don't you find that hectic?

I like hectic.

How does hectic work for you?

Hectic works for me because I am the sort of person, and I am going to be very honest about it, when I am bored, I get into

trouble. It is good for me, it keeps me busy.

Tell us about your education background I grew up here and I attended the American International School here.

Afterward, I went to Atlantic Hall, and then I left for England where I studied International Studies and French.

How then did you end up as a journalist?

It happened by mistake because when I was in Atlantic hall, I remember my friend came to me and we just used to mess around and I hold a brush and mimic radio presenters. It was just a joke then. I remember then, I was doing my event management thing because I used to run a few establishments. Somebody talked to me about Olisa Adibua on the radio station. I met him out one night and spoke with him and he invited me over for a voice audition few months later, I was called for series of auditions and then I started training and that was how it happened. Just like the Nigerian Idol thing, it happened by chance.

Do you see yourself stepping into the world of diplomacy anytime soon?

Maybe when I am older, I would. For now, I don't see that happening. I just want to be in the entertainment industry.

How do you hangout?

I go out with my friends. Since I am into party planning, I need to see how the party process goes

37

AFRIFF ends on a wow note!

•As Aramotu, others shine

T

HE delightful journey of the 2011 edition of the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) came to an end last Saturday in what can be described as a night of class and panache. The grand finale of the festival, whose machinery had been set in motion on November 30 at the Genesis Deluxe Cinema, held at the prestigious Oriental Hotel, Lekki, Lagos with many of the stars like Kunle Afolayan, Omoni Oboli, Rita Dominic, Genevieve Nnaji, Kate Henshaw, Nse Etim-Ikpe, Hakkem Kae Kassim, Stephanie Okereke, Lynn Whitfield, Tichina Arnold, Agbani Darego, Akin Omotosho, and others present at what was unarguably one of the most memorable events of the year as far as the calendar of Nollywood is concerned.

The classy event was anchored by IK Osakioduwa, also known as Wildchild, Rita Dominic with French translation of proceedings done by the elegant finance guru, Celine Loader.

Chioma Ude, the brain behind the film festivals, set the tone for the night when she welcomed everyone and expressed her appreciations to all attendees. She said that all the objectives of this year's edition of the festival, the second in its series, were met as great films were screened, young and emerging talents celebrated and equipments of class exhibited to potential buyers and users as many were also empowered and equipped.

In her own remarks, Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, creative director of the festival, said the focus this year is on the Caribbean cinema, an emerging region desirous in terms of telling their own stories as movies like Get a Life, Mama Africa, Calypso Rose and others hit the limelight.

Peace also noted the incredible talent of Leila Djansi whose film, Ties That Bind, was applauded by everyone as the opening film of the festival this year and said the opportunity to network remains the importance of film festivals which was a feature of AFRIFF this year. To her, the many nights of sleeplessness which they

had planning the festival, have paid off handsomely.

The ambassador of the festival this year, Lynn Whitfield, sporting an enchanting Ankara fabric, said it was her first time in Africa and stated how excited she was to be present.

She said her role as ambassador is one she intends to take very serious by telling people about the Nigerian movie industry. According to her, everywhere else she has gone, film industries are struggling now but that the Nigerian film industry is thriving.

Regarding the awards, Jane Murago-Munene's The Unbroken Spirit emerged winner of the Best Documentary category while Le Parrian by Pale Sie Lazare won in the area of Best Animation.

In the indigenous awards categories sponsored by Arik Air, Mahmood Ali-Balogun, who's Tango with Me remains one of the best movies ever shot by a Nigerian, won the Best Producer category just as Rita Dominic emerged Best Actress through a lucky dip after online voting had been suspended. Ini Edo, one of those in contention, had been accused of cheating and discrediting the process. The winners will be flown to the Tribeca Film Festival in New York in 2012 by Arik Air. The viewers' choice award, awarded in terms of feedback of the audience concerning movie screened in the course of the festival, went to The Education of Auma Obama while Niji Akanni's Aramotu flew the Nigerian flag highest at the event by winning the Best Feature Film prize, the most coveted award of the whole lot.

The night continued in its shine as P Square, Nigeria's hip hop sensation, fed the audience with a large dose of music, sending everyone into frenzy as they rendered tracks from their past and recently released albums.

For all who participated or had anything to do with the pleasant experience offered that AFRIFF, held in Lagos for the first time this year, it would be an unforgettable one as the edition of next year is eagerly being awaited as the call for corporate sponsorship for the laudable spectacle is sounding loud.

38

Entertainment

THE NATION ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 11, 2011

Ayo Badmus’ battery latest The last may not have been heard about the recent battery case involving Nollywood actor, Ayo Badmus, who was beaten to a pulp by suspected thugs allegedly ordered by the elder brother of the Chairman of Oshodi/Isolo Local Government, Bayo Ariyoh. The said offender has come out to denounce Ayo's claims through a statement but Ayo still stands his ground as he seeks justice for the wrong done him. AHMED BOULOR and DUPE AYINLA-OLASUNKAMI report:

Bayo lied, he even punched me in the face

Ayo is being bankrolled by the opposition party oh y i r A o y a B —

—Ayo Badmus

I

T may not be news to you that Nollywood actor Ayo Badmus was beaten black and blue by thugs he suspects to be acting on the instructions of the elder brother of the Executive Chairman of Oshodi/Isolo Local Government who goes by the name Bayo Ariyoh. What is news is that Bayo himself has come out to denounce Ayo's claims through a signed statement saying he has kept quiet for too long.

“Right from the day Mr. Ayo Badmus chose to go to town with his tales on how he was allegedly beaten up by thugs who were acting on my instructions, I have maturely kept quiet believing that he would soon see reason and abandon his solo effort at pulling down a newly-elected local government chairman because I am related to him.

“However, events within the past two weeks, particularly his comments as published on page 10 of Saturday Tribune rd (December 3 ), have proved beyond reasonable that Mr Ayo actually has a hidden agenda and a sinister motive for all his ranting.

“Without mincing words, I can say categorically that he is on a political vendetta and he's being bankrolled by faceless people.

My intent of putting out this rejoinder is to set the records straight.”

Bayo also recounted events that took place on the red th lettered day: “On the 6 of November 2011, people were seated in front of our family house on Seinde Callisto Crescent, Oshodi when they were alerted of an issue ragging between Mr Ayo and some area boys. Upon closer investigation, it was established that the quarrel started when Mr Ayo was approached by the area boys who requested to be tipped in celebration of the Ileya festival to which Ayo was reported to have told the boys that even their leader, MC Oluomo, dare not block his way over such an irritating demand.

“It was actually the perceived insult of their leader MC Oluomo

that triggered the quarrel between him and them and it is important to state at this point that as at the time of the incident, I was nowhere near the scene. It was some of my business associates present that resolved the matter on the said day,” the statement read in part.

Bayo also revealed through the statement that he is disappointed at the way the actor is changing the context of the story that he had earlier told those around him. “I am even more disappointed over the way he's been changing his stories from the onset as he initially claimed to have been ordered beaten by me for refusing to greet him.

Now, his story is that he was ordered beaten for refusing to prostrate to me and also for his being more popular than I am.

Am I contesting any elective post with him? Are we having any popularity test? I strongly plead with Ayo to come out clean and state exactly what he is after in all this campaign of calumny. I plead he looks for other means of seeking publicity rather than getting involved in character assassination and blackmail.”

Meanwhile, the dark-skinned actor still maintains that Bayo

Bayo: “It was actually the perceived insult of their leader MC Oluomo that triggered the quarrel between him and them and it is important to state at this point that as at the time of the incident, I was nowhere near the scene

ordered the thugs to beat him up. He also claimed that Hon Bolaji Ariyo was around when the incident occurred. Ayo revealed this and more recently when he was cornered at a movie location somewhere in Ogba.

“On the day of the incident, the Chairman was around. I was told and of course, who else ought to have been at his family house on Ileya day? When the chairman's elder brother ordered thugs to beat me up, and he still came himself to hit me in the face, it was Gbenga Adeyinka, whom I earlier saw before I was attacked, that rushed to the chairman to inform him of the unruly conduct of his brother.

And I was told he got up but later came back to say he was informed that everything was under control that I had been whisked into Tunde Kilani's house. That was what Gbenga told me. Other people around also confirmed to me that the chairman was around on that day. How could something like that have happened in the Chairman's domain, and he didn't even dim it fit to show concern? He could have come into Tunde Kilani's house to at least show some concern for what his elder brother did to me.

“In the pool of my own blood inside TK's house, I kept wondering what I did to the man. My wife was crying, my elder brother too was around and it was a shock to all of us as to why the chairman's brother had to order that I be beaten up.

Before the ugly incident, I had gone to visit TK at about 8pm and after spending sometime there we got up to leave and TK's wife followed us, while her husband was behind probably receiving a phone call. Getting outside, she said to me that I should come so that she could

introduce me to the Chairman, pointing to their family house that he was the one having an Ileya party outside there. As it is normal, I started greeting everybody outside there before she said to me that I should greet the Chairman's elder brother who was sitting in the midst of the crowd, but the man snobbed me. She then said to him that I was greeting him that if he didn't know me. Immediately, he said he was not interested in knowing me and he also told me to get out of his face.

“On a closer look, I noticed he was seriously drunk and because I've met such character before and moreover at every given time you should know when to walk away in the face of an occurrence. Startled, TK's wife asked him if he didn't know me as an actor. But still he said “what useless Nigerian actor? I don't watch them.” He continued to rain abuses on me and he said that if I was to come across MC Oluomo of Oshodi that I would prostrate before him.

“At that point I became confused and wondered what Oluomo had to do with what was happening. And after he made that comment, I just

Ayo: “On the day of the incident, the Chairman was around. I was told and of course, who else ought to have been at his family house on Ileya day?

When the chairman's elder brother ordered thugs to beat me up, and he still came himself to hit me in the face

walked away. As I was waiting for my brother to bring the car, a group of thugs started advancing towards me and before I knew what was happening they pounced on me.

“Different weapons such as bottles, can coke and all sorts were used on me before he (the Chairman's brother) then got up himself and hit me on the face. It was then Gbenga Adeyinka shouted at him saying, don't you know who you're beating? At that point I realized my life was on the line so I ran into TK's house.”

Ayo further revealed that the Chairman sent emissaries to him after they discovered he was about to seek justice.

“After the whole incidence, they discovered I was about to seek justice and that prompted the Chairman to send three people in the persons of Gbenga Adeyinka and two others to ask me what I wanted in order for the case to die a natural death. I was told that I should state what I wanted as the chairman would be travelling the following night.

“So his claim that he wasn't around is false. He was there on that day, Gbenga Adeyinka, Yinka- Lagbaja's former manager, and the Chairman Ejigbo local government were all there when everything happened. All I want is for this man to admit what he has done, then apologize before we can even start talking about any compensation. Gbenga had earlier warned me that if I didn't state what I wanted as compensation that he will fight back, so that is what he's doing right now. It was after the incident that he travelled. The story they are making up right now is that I abused MC Oluomo and that was why the area boys attacked me and that they weren't involved in anyway.

Why will I insult Oluomo? What has he done to me to warrant my insulting him? But I know God will fight for me on this matter because it could be anybody.

Entertainment

THE NATION ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 11, 2011

The Experience 2011 takes praise to next level

Bad day for pirates at Alaba Int'l

…Pirated CD's worth N30m burnt by exco members

I u •Mike Arem

H

ELD on Friday December 2, 2011 at the Expo Center of the prestigious Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, this year's edition of the concert marked the sixth edition since its inception in December 2006.

Though it wasn't held at its traditional venue, Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos due to security and re-positioning reasons but it didn't take anything away from the atmosphere of the night.

Tagged 'Special Command Performance', the night lived to its billing as several ministers of God and gospel artistes took to the stage to thrill the audience in different praise and worship sessions.

Convened by Pastor Paul Adefarasin, Senior Pastor of the House on The Rock Church, the first artiste to have a go at thrilling the crowd at the concert was Nigeria's jewel, Sammie Okposo, who took the audience through a medley of his old songs and the new ones. Okposo set the tone for the night as he got the audience on their feet

kposo

•Sammy O

T was not business as usual for copyright defaulters at the Alaba International Market recently when exco members of the market union burnt pirated home video CD's worth more than N30 million.

According to the Executive Chairman of I.M.A.E, Chief Dr. Celestine Ezeani, the exercise will be a continuous one and the union will stop at nothing until piracy is totally eradicated.

“Our warehouse here at the Alaba International Market is overloaded and we are in a process of decongesting it. In the sieving process we have concentrated on confiscating and destroying pirated goods. That was why we delayed in destroying the ones that we had earlier seized; we recently got a tip off about a truck conveying pirated CDs into Alaba market and we promptly intercepted it.

“This process will be an ongoing process as we will continue to

Ministers of God like Rev. Sam Adeyemi, Pastor Agu Iroko, Bishop Mike Okonkwo, Bishop singing God's praises.

Simeon Oka, Bishop Tudor Following his performance, Bismark, Engineer Steve Jamaican songstress, Chevelle Franklyin took the audience into Olumuyiwa and others took their another session filled with praise turns to grace the stage to preach the gospel and pray for the and worship songs. She nation, individuals and their performed several songs several businesses. including popular Nigerian In attendance at the grand gospel anthem originally occasion were several notable performed by Midnight Crew, personalities and different Igwe, and her own song, Good ministers of God like Her Shepherd, where she talked Excellency, First Lady of Lagos about how she was shot from State, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola, obscurity to fame.

Professor Pat Utomi, Mrs Hilda Other artistes who thrilled Adefarasin, Dr. Ojo Maduekwe, •Confiscated CD’S being burnt guests at the festival of praise, Bishop Lawrence Osagie, Dr. include Saxophonist, Mike Roseline Oduyemo, Pastor Wale Aremu, Lara George, Panam Adefarasin, Hon. Justice Ronke Percy Paul, Timi Dakolo, the Harrison and Bishop Okwudili legendary Don Moen and Kirk Ossai.

Franklin.

Honours for Mike Okri on Boxing Day

Ahmed Boulor

decongest the market with pirated goods. We will continue to confiscate pirated copies of CDs and continue to burn them when we find them,” he said.

He also talked about the measures put in place to discourage piracy among potential pirates. “Within the electronics session we have an anti-piracy group that was inaugurated months ago; the group also includes members of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Consumer Protection Council (CPC) and members of other relevant organisations. It is a joint task force which is enabling us effectively fight against piracy.

We have our limitations because we cannot prosecute copyright defaulters and when we come across such pirated goods we contact the relevant authorities to take it over from where we stopped in the area of prosecution.”

Freeze, Shan George billed to host broadcasters awards

A

LL is finally set for the highly anticipated second edition of the Nigerian N Monday, December 26th, accompaniment of a band and that Broadcasters Awards (NBA) is what he is planning to do come fans of 'Omoge' crooner, holding tomorrow at the December 26.”

Mike Okri will have the prestigious Lagoon Restaurant, This is not to say that the usual opportunity of seeing the music •Mike Okri Ozumba Mbadiwe Street, Lagos. sensation perform some of his new heavy dose of highlife will be Programmes lined up to spice up songs which were cooked almost a missing. “No, O'jez Entertainment the yearly event include a red Forum was founded to promote decade ago while he was still in carpet reception, live studio highlife music and that founding America. broadcast, command performances Fans and well wishers will get to ideals have not changed. So, veteran Fatai Rolling Dollars and a see that and more as celebrity from top-rated music stars and host of other highlife greats such as restaurant and organizer of the humour merchants and other side Tunde Osofisan, YS Akinibosun monthly O'jez Entertainment attractions. and the Evergreen Band will be on Forum Award series plays host to According to the organisers, parade as usual to spice up the Okri on Boxing Day. Nigerian Broadcasters Awards Yuletide edition of the O'jez Beginning from 7pm, O'jez 2011 is designed to celebrate and Restaurant, National Stadium will Entertainment Forum,” Odobeatu, honour those who have be agog as the entire entertainment popularly called O'jez, said. contributed immensely to the industry joins hands in welcoming development of Nigerian electronic as well as paying tribute to one of media. the pioneers of Nigeria's 'new' Apart from the competitive music, Okri. Chief Executive categories for the reigning and Officer of O'jez Entertainment rising On-Air Personalities, Lagos Centre, Chief Joseph Odobeatu State Governor Babatunde Raji said in a statement: “There is no Fashola and his Oyo State better way to round up the year counterpart, Governor Abiola and activities of O'jez Ajimobi, alongside Walter Entertainment Forum Awards Oyatogun, Lekan Ogunbanwo, series than with a huge concert Mrs Biola Alabi, Benson Idonije featuring the award recipient and and Amaka Igwe, have been an artiste such as Mike Okri. As I penciled down for Special speak with you, Mike Okri is Recognition Awards. presently rehearsing with the While AWW has reliably vibrant O'jez Band because you know that Mike does not belong to •Executive Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on Monday 5 gathered that most of the popular On-Air Personalities are still the miming generation, his December hosted a delegation from the United Kingdom lead by Mr. Stephen shopping for what to wear, the duo generation performs with a full Bayly, former head of the British National Film and Television

O

39

of Cool FM's big boy, Ifedayo Olarinde, a.k.a Freeze, and star actress, Shan George, have been announced as the host of the event that will have Ambassador Segun Olusola (OFR) as the Chief Host.

According to Ferdinand Mmadike, spokesperson for The Reality Entertainment, organisers of the awards, “the choice of Freeze as host of the show is borne out of his current dominance on the airwaves. Also, it is unarguable that Shan George, who majored in Mass Communication, is one of the famous faces that cannot be ignored in the Nigerian entertainment industry.”

•Shan Georg

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Entertainment

Peak Talent Show

Behold the last five

F

ROM the first day that the Housemates got to camp, the ball was set rolling for one of the most-engaging television reality shows in the country. Fans of the budding talents themselves have been confronted with the various genres of art that the Peak Talent Show (PTS) has in the offing.

As it seemed, one of the challenges of a democratic reality like the PTS is switching between the love one has for one’s talent against another or trying to see what talent one loves than the other. Where it may be difficult to choose between music and comedy or dance or the instrumentals, it appears easy to choose one artiste above the other based on the ingenuity or unique touch put into what he or she does.

And so, out of the 12 contestants that entered the PTS House, seven had already been voted out, thereby leaving the battle field for just five, the faith of whom will also be determined as the show approaches Xmas where one man or woman will go home with a ten million naira (N10, 000, 000) cash prize and a talent development contract.

Still in the race are comedian Joseph Shortcut; the three-man musical group known as Plus One; sonorous singer, Edache Immaculate; Violin boy, Bernard John and home boy rapper, MFactor.

The PTS had opened with 12 top talented young men and women who had earlier on made it out of 24 national finalists and progressed to the PEAK TALENT HOUSE in Lagos where they are being confronted with occasional eliminations.

Judging criteria are based on stage presence, entertainment value, talent, and ultimately true potentials.

The show had prior to the selection of the 24 finalists auditioned applicants in 11 cities around Nigeria namely: Abuja, Makurdi, Enugu, Owerri, Benin, Asaba, Calabar, Uyo, Akure, Ibadan and Lagos. From these 11 cities grouped into 6 zones, 120 Acts had qualified for the Zonal finals in Lagos from where four acts got their tickets for the national finals per zone.

Viewing audience who are expected to help keep their favourite artiste in the House through SMS votes also stand the chance of winning exciting prizes such as Apple iPads 2 and Blackberry phones based on their SMS voting.

PTS airs on Saturdays on Galaxy TV at 6pm and on Sundays on NTA network at 6pm; Africa Magic at 8pm; Silverbird TV at 9pm; Hi Nolly at 7pm; ABS Akwa at 8pm and Trend TV at 8pm.

•Edache Immaculate

THE NATION ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 11, 2011

BIG

CINEMA GUIDE

PICTURE Supported by: SILVERBIRD CINEMAS

Arthur Christmas answers the Santa myth

I

T’S Christmas time and many wonder how Santa by himself delivers millions of gifts all over the world. Arthur Christmas at last reveals the incredible, never-before seen answer to every child's question.

Take a trip to the North Pole and discover exactly how Santa Claus makes Christmas magic happen every year in this imaginative comedy for the entire family. Produced by Aardman Features in association with Sony Pictures Animation, this fun-filled holiday film introduces viewers to Santa's mischievous son Arthur, who races to complete an important mission in time to ensure that this year's Christmas celebrations will go off without a hitch.

The answer is revealed in Santa's exhilarating, ultra-high-tech operation hidden beneath the North Pole. But at the heart of the film is a story

with the ingredients of a Christmas classic - a family in a state of comic dysfunction and an unlikely hero, Arthur, with an urgent mission that must be completed before Christmas morning Christmas is a Claus family business these days and thanks to the military style operation run by Santa's eldest, Steve (Laurie), Christmas Eve goes as planned - until an elf finds a present that's been accidentally missed. Steve convinces his rather doddery father (Broadbent) there's no way the present can be delivered in time, but his younger brother, the accident-prone and optimistic Arthur (McAvoy), has other ideas.

Accompanied by his naughty Grandsanta (Nighy) and Bryony (Ashley Jensen), a perky elf from the wrapping division, they're off on a mission to make sure no child misses out on the Santa experience at Christmas.

Straw Dogs: A fight for acceptance turns bloody

I

N ancient Chinese mythology straw dogs were used as offerings to the gods. In the time of rituals, they were treated with utmost reverence. When it was over and they are no longer needed, they were trampled on and tossed aside.

However, Rod Lurie's remake of Sam Peckinpah's 1971 home-invasion classic, Straw Dogs personifies the term. In the wake of her father's death, Amy (Kate Bosworth) returns to her rural Southern hometown with her husband, David (James Marsden). Her goal is to put her childhood home on the market while David works on his latest screenplay.

Meanwhile, David hires Amy's high school boyfriend Charlie (Alexander Skarsgard) and his crew to rebuild the roof on the secluded country home. Once celebrated football stars, they now languish in a community that has no respect for them. The more time Charlie's work crew

spends working on the roof, the greater tensions begin to grow between Amy and David. Every time Amy walks outside, the work stops and the ogling begins.

When David attempts to avert confrontation by firing the crew before the job is finished, former high school football star Charlie snaps, deciding that if he can't have Amy on his own terms, he'll take her by force.

They are led by Charlie, a big, blond, handsome ex-jock who dated Amy in high school. He artfully exposes David's snobbery and also plays on the newcomer's liberal habits of deference and self-reproach.

On their way home from a football game, the sub-plot in the movie unfolds and Charlie's gang, together with the football coach besieges the house, forcing David and Amy into a desperate fight for their lives.

Colombiana Genre: Action/Adventure Lagos, Port-Harcourt ******************************* Abduction Genre: Action/Adventure Lagos, Port-Harcourt, Abuja ******************************* Tower Heist Genre: Action/Adventure Lagos ******************************* In Time Genre: Action/Adventure Lagos, Port-Harcourt ******************************* RA. One Genre: Action/Adventure Lagos ******************************* Johnny English Reborn Genre: Action/Adventure Lagos, Port-Harcourt ******************************* Friends with Benefits Genre: Suspense/Horror Lagos, Abuja ******************************* Suing the Devil Genre: Suspense/Horror Lagos ******************************* Dolphin Tale Genre: Drama Lagos, Port-Harcourt ******************************* The Change Up Genre: Comedy Port-Harcourt ******************************* What's your Number Genre: Comedy Port-Harcourt, Abuja ******************************* Gossip Nation Genre: Drama Abuja ******************************* Contagion Genre: Action/Adventure Abuja ******************************* The Smurfs Genre: Science Fiction Abuja

THE NATION ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 11, 2011

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 11, 2011

Glamour

‘My dream is to be a supermodel’ A 22-year-old orphan from Nnem Alok Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State, Genevieve Aken last month walked away with the award of the MTN Young Model for 2011 at the Lagos Fashion & Designer Week. As part of the deal she won a N1 million cash prize and contract with one of Nigeria's leading modelling agency. Beth Africa Modelling Agency. In 2005 she lost her mother at the age of 16 and her father six years later. In this interview with Kehinde Falode, the model cum photographer spoke about how it all started

H

OW did you hear about the show?

I heard about the MTN Fashion and Design Week from a friend of mine, who also happens to be a photographer.

Prior to the MTN LFDW, have you done any runway modelling, or any modelling at all?

Yes, I had done runway.

How would you describe your experience on this show, starting from your auditioning leading to the point when you were declared the winner of the MTN Young Model of the Year?

My experience at the auditioning was different as I did not know what the judges were looking for.

Till this very moment that I am talking to you and after I have been awarded the MTN model of the year, I can't say precisely what they adjudged us on but I do know that I love the runway and I gave the competition my very all. Thank goodness my best was enough on the day it mattered most.

Have you always wanted to model?

Oh Yes! Like I said earlier, I love the runway. I have always wanted to model; as a matter of fact, my dream is not just to model, but to be a supermodel. That is why winning the MTN Model of the Year is so important to me. It's a step closer to achieving my dream and it has boosted my confidence.

What does style mean to you?

Fashion to me means an art of physical expression, an outburst of how you feel about yourself, like a certain way of dressing and hair style.

Describe your personal style I will describe myself as a determined person, fashionable person, elegant life style, outgoing and energetic person.

Besides modelling

what else interests you?

Besides modelling some of my other interests are photography and sound production in movie and television production work.

Would you pursue modelling as a full time career?

Yes, I would love to pursue modelling as a full time carrier.

How supportive are your parents to your modelling career and what was there reaction to the news that you won the MTN Model of the Year award?

Well I am an orphan; I lost both of my parents.

But I really wished they were alive today to see my happy moment.

Who are your role models home and abroad?

Locally, there are two people that I really admire and can call my role models. They are, Agbani Darego and Oluchi. Internationally, it's the ever graceful Tyra Banks, who is an accomplished model, a TV presenter, a successful entrepreneur and a philanthropist.

How would you describe the Nigerian fashion industry as it is today?

I would describe the Nigerian fashion industry as it is today as looking up, growing, evolving and gaining better recognition from within the country as well as abroad. Industry practitioners are now better treated as professionals; so whether a stylist, make-up artist, runway set designer, fashion designer, model, photographer, we all are getting the courtesy and respect deserving for our roles in growing the industry. If the tempo is sustained, I believe that in no time the fashion industry will be strong enough to attract investments from foreign countries.

What inspires you?

Almighty God is my number one inspiration; watching fashion TV, studying and seeing what other models around the world are doing.

Where do you see yourself in the next 10 years?

I see myself walking on that platform where I want to be, working with top designers and photographers. I see myself as a Supermodel owning my own modelling agency, reaching out to mentoring and nurturing young girls and boys aspiring to be professional models.

Tell us a abit about yourself My name is Genevieve Aken. I was born on the 8th of June 1989, in Nnem Alok Ikom local government, Cross River State. I live in Abuja but I'm currently studying photography in Johannesburg, South Africa which I deferred to come back for the Model of the Year competition. I'm from a polygamous home and the last from my mum, but fourth child in the family.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2011

Glamour

43

Social KAYODE ALFRED

(E-mail: kayflex2@yahoo.com, Tel: 08035733605, 08099400057)

Pastor Taiwo Odukoya's wife set to deliver

P

ASTOR Taiwo Odukoya colourful man of God and one of the most popular pastors in Nigeria is in one jolly good mood at the moment. And the reason is not far-fetched. We gathered that the new wife of the dashing senior pastor of Fountain of Life Church, Ilupeju, Lagos is set to deliver any moment from now. Insiders say that the heavily pregnant, Mrs Rosemary Odukoya, has temporarily relocated to South Africa in readiness for the delivery of her second child.

Those who should know revealed that the South African, who is in the last trimester of her pregnancy, moved to her place of origin where she will soon put to bed.

She delivered her first child (Haniel) in South Africa. The church is said to be excitedly waiting for the cheerful news of her delivery. It would be recalled that after the death of Pastor Bimbo Odukoya in a Sosoliso plane crash in 2005, Pastor Taiwo remarried five years after. He got married to Rosemary (Nee Zulu) at The Civic Centre, Ozumba Mbadiwe, Victoria Island, Lagos

Mobowale Biobaku ups her game

F

ASHION fades, style is eternal; Mobowale Biobaku, the gorgeous face and brain behind MOBOS, a fashion store with branches in highbrow areas of the metropolis, seem to affirm, everyday. Mobowale has added another feather to her hat as MOBOS recently opened another store inside the prestigious Genesis Mall, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, bringing to four , the number of her shops on Nigerian high streets. There are two on Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lekki in Lagos and now, Port harcourt. The stunning wife of Gbenga Biobaku, successful Lagos lawyer, claims the whole idea behind MOBOS is to reinvent Nigeria fashion while ensuring proximity to its Clientele.

Double celebration for Bukola Saraki

S

ENATOR Bukola Saraki, former governor of Kwara State, lives in a flurry of excitement at the moment.

His sources of joy are limitless but two would suffice. Some days ago, the immediate past chairman of the Governors Forum and his beautiful wife Toyin celebrated 20 years of marriage in London.

Insiders informed SC that close friends and family were in attendance to rejoice with Bukola and Toyin Saraki. Also, their first daughter turned 20 years old on that day. We gathered that they had a low -key dinner in London.

Felicitations have been pouring in for the Sarakis.

Gani Shonubi opens Casa Lucio

T

HERE is a wind of change in the entertainment sector in Ibadan, and the ripples are coming from the chairman of Gaso furniture, Gani Shonubi. The stylish man who made good his promise by opening a multimillion naira furniture company in Ibadan some five years ago is to achieve a new feat as he opens his one-stop event centre, Casa Lusio.

The new Casa Lucio is located along the Lagos / Ibadan expressway and has different features associated with modern event centers. Shonubi who claimed he was challenged to build the biggest and the most equipped event centre in Ibadan disclosed that he realized there was nowhere in the city where big events could take place and he thus tasked himself to construct a multipurpose center that will attract companies who are involved in big projects to Ibadan. Casa Lucio is 5000 capacity with state-of - the art equipment.

Yomi Folawiyo marries secretly

A

MBITIOUS ladies who have been jostling for the heart of Lagos big boy and chief operating officer of Folawiyo Group of Companies, Yomi Folawiyo, can now accept their fate and look elsewhere for their better half. The popular Lagos socialite secretly tied the knot last Saturday with his lover, Bimbo Kashamu, at Ikoyi Registry. The reception was attended by just eight people at Jade Chinese Restaurant on Adeola Odeku Street, Victoria Island, Lagos. Away from all the controversial stories, the good news emanating from his quarters reveals that he is set to take on the responsibilities of a husband.

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2011

Glamour

Adaeze Efe

Anita Iseghohi

&

Ben Aiyenuro

Bukky Latunji

Toyin Badeji

OLUSEGUN RAPHEAL (08033572821) raphseg2003@yahoo.com

Fashion joins fight against cervical cancer

A

S the year is winds to a close, the social scene is coming alive. Last Sunday, Lola Majekodunmi, brain behind House of Dorcas, played host to celebrities from all walks of life. Proceeds from the day will be channeled to help

Peggy Jack

By Olusegun Rapheal

women with cervical cancer. The event was held at Chase Mall at Ademola Adetokunbo, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Uduak Abang

Remi Olaleye

Majekodunmi

Lola Majekodunmi

FROM THE CAMPUS PAGE 46

With Prof. Emmanuel Ojeme

THE NATION SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2011

SPORTS MINISTER

An Appeal to Mr. President

T

•Danny Welbeck, Michael Carrick and Ji-Sung Park of Manchester United look dejected as Alexander Frei of Basel scores their third goal from the penalty spot during the UEFA Champions League

The fall of Manchester…..

M

ANCHESTER United have been in three of the last four finals of the UEFA Champion’s League and even won it just in 2008, but on Wednesday night football fans worldwide were left with their mouths open as Sir Alex Ferguson and his men were kicked out of the competition and “relegated” to Thursday night football.

Yes, United did not go past the group stages just six or seven years ago but they finished last in that group and crashed out totally, avoiding the distraction of the UEFA Cup as it was called then.

United fans worldwide are shattered. And like Evra said, “It feels like a dream, I feel I will wake up tomorrow and we will have qualified. But it is not a dream, it is the reality.

We should have woken up earlier in this competition.

We deserve to be out.

"Even, if it is a friendly, when I pull on (a) United shirt I do my best to win that trophy. But it is embarrassing to be in the Europa League. I play for Manchester United to play in the Champions League but some players dream of playing for United in any competition and you have to respect that."

For me, the key phrase there is “we deserve to be out”. The champions have struggled really hard in recent times both domestically and in Europe. United had a pretty decent group unlike their local rivals who were drawn

By Bunmi Ashebu in the same group as Bayern Munich, Villarreal and Napoli, who are having a great season so far. That is what you get for underestimating certain teams especially as there are no minnows in football anymore.

It was one of those nights for the Red Devils, who did everything including hitting the cross bar twice, but could not find the back of the net until the 89th minute when Phil Jones pulled back one goal by which time it was too late. All United players were below average on the night.

Not even Rooney could come to their rescue.

United went to Benefica to play for a draw! Granted, they had a crucial game against Chelsea that weekend, but a 3-3 draw against Basel at Old Trafford thereafter is not acceptable at all. Now United fans have to endure all sorts of insults, like “the Manchester teams made the English Premier League look so weak to the world as they are first and second in England and are both out of the Champion’s League. Or is it Michell Platini, saying Alex Ferguson should not belittle Europa? Insult upon injury, like my people will say.

Manchester City, United’s noisy neighbors, the English Premier League leaders, also head into the second-tier tournament despite a 2-0 win over already qualified

Bayern. Napoli's 2-0 win at Villarreal took the Italian side through instead. It is easy to criticize City because of their investment and caliber of players on all front but the guys lack experience in Europe and it clearly showed in their first attempt. I would rather be a City fan now than a United fan.

Imagine the likes of Silva, Aguero, Toure brothers, Super Mario, Nasri and co in Europa?

What about Rooney, Giggs, Nani etc?

Forget what Platini may think or have to say about Europa, Thursday night football is just not the way forward. Imagine Sir Alex a few days from 70 years old travelling around Eastern Europe, to countries we have never heard of, facing the likes of Metalist Kharkiv and Legia Warsaw. Looking at the positive side, we now get to improve on our knowledge of the map of Europe and we get to know the capital of Macedonia and Liechtenstein. On a more serious note, trips to Latvia to play teams like Skonto Riga will certainly take its toll on the teams. You are faced with long, hard travels. Do some of these countries have airports? If not, imagine flying to a nearby airport and catching a train and maybe completing the journey by bus, by the time the team is arriving, the match has already been lost. What about the cold in some of these countries, bad pitches and reckless rugby-like

players in those leagues?

Now I understand why Liverpool fans celebrated their team not qualifying for Europa even though it hasn’t changed much for them in the Premier League….at least not yet. Spurs fans, who are used to Thursday night football are even praying for their team to crash out early so as to “concentrate” on other competitions. We should be objective football fans and look forward to watching the “big boys” in Europa League. But as a biased fan I would wish for my team to crash out early so as to focus on other (more prestigious) trophies.

These are indeed trying times for Man United, who upon their financial woes have also lost 20 million pounds for not qualifying to the knock-out stage.

SAF certainly needs to buy players, how many will be willing to go to a team playing in the Europa League is another question.

If history is anything to go by, United after not qualifying for the knock out stage six years ago, came back, won the UCL once, appeared in three of the last four finals, won four EPL titles, and a couple of Carling Cup trophies.

History or not, for both Manchester teams and their fans, it is going to be a very long season, a season where unless they find a way to dump the current distraction, neither of them is guaranteed any trophy.

HE high turnover rate of sports ministers has once again shown up. Consequently, the appointment of a new sports minister may become imminent.

This vacancy for the position of a Sports Minister, as the national dailies have reported, is due to the fact that the incumbent minister, Alhaji Suleiman Yusuf is wishing to contest the governorship election in Sokoto state. I wish the outgoing sports minister a huge success. As stated above, the departure of Alhaji Suleiman Yusuf means that a new sports minister could be appointed any moment from now. This development also raises the issue of the kind of sports minister Nigerians deserve. This is the focus of this paper.

We must be concerned about the kind of sports minister Nigerians deserve. In my opinion, he must be one that is capable of lifting Nigerian sports to its befitting status on the African continent and world level as required by Nigeria’s sports policy development objectives. Such minister may not just be produced based on the geopolitical mathematics of balancing ministerial slots but most be importantly selected on professional considerations. We are appealing to Mr. President to kindly give us a sports minister with a physical education and sports background.

The appointment of a sports minister with a physical education and sports background is comparable to the appointment of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as the Minister of Finance. We applauded her choice because she is a square peg in a square hole. She is a full-blooded professional. And also, on economic issues, she gets her arguments right based on very well marshaled logic and principles. She provides the needed leadership her portfolio demands. This is what sports requires: knowledgeable, experienced and pragmatic professionalism.

Sports development is as challenging as development in any area of nation building for which cognate qualification and attributes are given premium consideration. Hence, Mr. President should endeavour to look for Nigerians with these attributes in his appointment of a Sports Minister.

When Professor Taoheed Adedoja was appointed sports minister, at the exit of Alhaji Bio, many of us applauded the decision. It was an appointment in which politics and professionalism perfectly blended.

He did his best during the short time, he was a sports minister, as many Nigerians acknowledged. If he had more time on the job, he would have made more impact.

Now, another opportunity provides itself.

Rather than appoint a greenhorn, perhaps, someone with great professional and intellectual credentials of his caliber, who also is familiar with the structure, programmes and dynamics of the sports commission best fits the portfolio.

It is very crucial that Mr. President deeply reflects on the daunting, challenges confronting Nigerian Sports development in relation to government policy instruments in the sector before making up his mind on who he chooses. I hope the points raised here would be useful in this process.

•President Goodluck Jonathan (l) received the National Sports Festival Torch from Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi

THE NATION ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 11, 2011

47

VOL 1 NO. 034

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2011

AAAN: Musings in the house W

AY back in 1970, a gentleman practitioner in advertising thought to bring about a body of like minds to galvanize the thinking and interaction within the dictates of shared means of livelihood, such that will help the good of one and all; great thinking, great product. I want to think a series of consultations followed that one-man idea for some time. But some time in June 1971, 4 wise men came together to work towards actualizing what is today known as Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria AAAN. For the great ideas of the four gentlemen of great vision, we at MC&A Digest like to acknowledge them. I really do not have any information on whether any of these pioneers was awarded a national honor for their good thinking, but surely they deserve to be honored for their industry. This was a period when advertising was dominated by expatriates and though not too obvious, there were issues of superiority and means dictating degree of respectability and acceptance between the locals and expatriates. Of course at that time professionalism was not as strongly defined as it is in today's Nigeria. It seems these gentlemen suffered some degree of discrimination, because two of the four matters for which contributory memos and discuss were listed were (a) position of existing expatriate agencies and (b) position of Nigerian/expatriate agencies.

One can only imagine the huge divide between both sets of practitioners then because these so-called expatriates were sure bloated in their ways then, perhaps by reason of education, exposure and this base feeling of racial superiority.

Whatever the drive that propelled these 4-wise men then, it were clear, there was a situation to take care of, and they did. Also because there was no expatriate among the pioneers, we wan to also think the cause was revolutionary. We want to also think they succeeded because it was about that time the indigenization thing happened. And following the establishment and recognition of the advertising professional body by the federal government then, agency practice and ownership changed in favor of the locals.

Here we are today Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria. We are a member of this great association.

A lot has changed since 1971/73 when the association formally came to being. To begin with, the entire business environment has evolved drastically.

So also is the nature and scope of advertising practice today. Education and technology have also immensely contributed greatly to the flavor and style of today's practice. However, it is our thinking that the over-riding objective for the association of advertising practitioners remain the same in every way because as contained in its corporate profile, the AAAN's mission is to do it sets out to do “…in order to enhance the business environment in which we operate, thereby strengthening the contribution of advertising to the nation's development” (that quote is the end part of the AAAN's mission statement.

In preparing for the last AGM of this association, the key contestants for the association's presi-

dency Longley Evru, Rufai Ladipo and Erhabor Emokpae all made good presentation of their intention for us practitioners during their reign, if voted in. for me and a few other delegates-practitioners, the very important issues requiring immediate attention were clear and simple, not requiring of any flamboyance or styling, as it were. It is commonly said that our practice is full of styling and such small vanities, but in the real sense, advertising/brands management is highly demanding of intellectual power and depth. It is with such intellectual depth some us expects affairs of the AAAN be run. But unfortunately, the larger number of AAAN-registered Agency practitioners are complaining.

It is quite easy to gauge the association's relevance, efficiency and impact by simply looking at its mission statement, so we think it is the stand-point of the unsatisfied members. For one, how is the asso-

ciation presently enhancing the practice's business environment for the good of practitioners? At the last AGM I specifically laid it out that strengthening the regulatory authority of the association is the beginning and end of the tackling the challenges facing the association at this stage of its life! And I stand by that even today. Tackling that issue frontally will not only positively enhance practitioners' business environment, but will also enhance the association's respectability, increase membership and her controlpower.

It remains to see how the AAAN, as it is presently run, to be of any relevance beyond a reference point for practitioners who care, if the practice is not treated as a profession defined by its definition and authority. Okay, let's reason this, how can AAAN be relevant when the following still happen: 1. Adverts/campaign can be run or executed by just anybody on the streets 2. When media buying is contracted in varying dimension by non-practitioners and just anybody 3. When corporate bodies can just set up “inhouse agencies” and carry out the functions of an AAAN-registered agency without recognizing the existence of AAAN (some have even made such inhouse structures cost centre) 4. When media sellers deals directly with individual buyers/users 5. When individuals can walk into Advertising Practitioners' Council of Nigeria to get advert or campaign materials approval 6. When even registered agencies go about

witch-hunting one another , cannibalizing the already fragile business environment in the name of survival (without care to their common membership of AAAN 7. When clients can flagrantly dishonor payment of presentation fee after a costly pitches by AAAN-member agencies 8. When clients dictates AAAN-member agencies' agency commission on media and other creative and production services 9. When clients will not respect and pay for AAAN-member agencies' intellectual properties 10. When artistes and so-called nollywood stars can strike brands management deals with client without the involvement of AAAN-member agency's involvement.

11. When clients can run wild with so-called brand ambassadors for tons of millions of naira without the AAAN-member agencies.

We can go on and on, but imagine how relevant the AAAN can ever be in the face of all the listed above. Quite difficult, it all seems. At the last AAAN AGM some assurances were given to the effect hat some of these ingredients in violation of the corporate person and authority of the AAAN will be addressed, but a lot of practitioners are getting disillusioned.

Rather, what we hear is Rufai Ladipo led executive of the association delisting members that are not financially active.

That did not come as a total surprise because it was mentioned at one of the sessions at the last AGM. However, one would have expected that some value be seen to have been added in the association's involvement in bettering practitioners' businesses, before going this way of de-listing.

How does the AAAN expect an average member agency compromised by all the violations of the practice and industry, as listed above, meet its financial responsibility to the association. Will Rufai Ladipo and co sincerely say they are not aware that many of the association's members are struggling to survive? Will they say they do not know many member agencies are bugged down by bank debts because some of their clients reneged on business agreements? Do they not know that so many member-agencies have down-sized 80% in staff strength?

In fact, a lot of them have already de-listed themselves from the AAAN because they do not the importance of their membership, so Rufai and co better think up something more innovative, even as punitive measures towards financially irresponsible member agencies.

But we suggest the AAAN go back to the 1971/ 73 years and take a look at the vision, drive, commitment and mission of the association's founding fathers, there are plenty of lessons to be learnt there.

AAAN is at the verge of collapse if nothing is done to regulate the practice and profession, such that will make compulsory that only registered professionals in advertising can practice advertising in this market, as is done in other sane markets.

We wish the present AAAN leadership all the best!

48

With Patience Saduwa

THE NATION ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 11, 2011

10 stereotypes about powerful women Women continue climbing the rungs of power - as heads of state and corporate leaders - but their minority status means they still face harsh, limiting assessments based on their gender.

•Michelle Obama

“

Women are being judged more, even by other women,” said Valerie Young, author of The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women. While male leaders are allowed to have complex personalities, powerful women are often summed up by hackneyed stereotypes that undermine them and their power.

The following represent the 10 most hated and pervasive stereotypes.

No. 1: Ice Queen Halley Bock, CEO of leadership and development training company Fierce, notes that the ruthless “ice queen” stereotype is rampant. Cultural depictions, like frigid magazine editor Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada (and her real-world counterpar t Anna Wintour o f Vogue), a n d b a c k stabbing boss Patty Hewes on Damages, paint successful w o m e n a s unsympathetic power-mongers.

“A woman who shows emotion in the wor kpla ce is ofte

•Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

n cast as too fragile or unstable to lead,” Bock said. “A woman who shows no emotion and keeps it hyper-professional is icy and unfeminine.

For many women, it can be a no-win situation.”

No. 2: Single and Lonely Harvard lecturer Olivia Fox Cabane notes that the strong perception that powerful women are intimidating to men and will need to sacrifice their personal lives may stop women from going after power. Even those women who aren't interested in marrying, face harsh judgments. Men get to be “bachelors” while women are reduced to “spinsters” and “old-maids.” In fact, when Janet Napolitano was nominated US Secretary of Homeland Security, critics said her being single would allow her to “spend more time on the job.”

No. 3: Tough The first female Executive Editor of The New York Times, Jill Abramson is anything but stereotypical. She had a hardcharging career as an investigative reporter at The Wall Street Journal and edited her way to the top of the Times masthead. She's also a true-blood New Yorker and is writing a book about puppies. Despite her complexities, she must contend with being called “tough” and “brusque,” making the “she's-tough stereotype” her least favorite.

Said Abramson: “As an investigative reporter, I had tough standards and a

•Oprah Winfrey

•Allison-Madueke

formidable way of framing and reporting stories, but I don't think of myself as a tough person.”

No. 4: Weak Costa Rica President Laura Chinchilla, the country's first female leader, told me that successful women face typecasting largely because society is still adjusting to women's recent decision-making power.

Chinchilla believes the most pervasive stereotype is that women are “weak,” a perception that may stem from women's greater desire to build a consensus. “We understand success not as the result of just one person but as the result of a team,” she said. “[It's a] different way of dealing with power [that] is misunderstood as a kind of weakness.”

No. 5: Masculine The notion that powerful women must be, lead and look like a man really aggravates Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In an interview with FORBES she said she hates the idea that “you have to look like a businessman.” She admitted she sometimes feels the pressure to look the “right” way, but tries to resist not being “overly businesslike.”

No. 6: Conniving When NBC's Curry first started her career, she was told she couldn't be a news reporter because women had “no news judgment.” Now, she's at the top of her game and says the stereotype that most offends her is “the idea that a woman can only be successful because she somehow connived or engineered her risethat she could not rise simply because she was too good to be denied.” She has experienced it herself, saying that she gets asked if she “forced” NBC to give her the anchor job or if there was a “backroom deal.” Curry told me, “I find it really annoying.”

No. 7: Emotional

•Hillary Clinton

•Patience Jonathan

Ellen Lubin-Sherman, executive coach and author of business guide The Essentials of Fabulous, believes one of the most dangerous stereotypes female leaders will face is that they are prone to emotional outbursts. Despite Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's consistent cool-headed demeanor, when she teared up on the campaign trail, the media pounced.

Similarly, former Yahoo Chief Carol Bartz is frequently cited for her “salty language,” which has been used as evidence that she is “emotional” and a “loose cannon.”

No. 8: Angry “Anger is a sign of status in men, but when women show anger they are viewed as less competent,” said Young. First Lady Michelle Obama was condemned as an “angry black woman” when she was campaigning for her husband in the 2008 presidential election. The Harvard-trained lawyer conscientiously softened her image and speeches in order to be more “likable,” becoming better known for her fashion and her unending support of her husband than for her stance on political issues.

No. 9: A Token Women hold just 16% of corporate board seats. But instead of focusing on balancing things out, they are often devalued as being a “token” of diversity rather than having earned the post. Former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was often the only woman in the room, but her gender didn't get her there. “While companies take their diversity goals seriously, they are not going to settle for less than the best person for the job,” said Lynne Sarikas, director of the MBA career center at Northeastern University. “Women are hired because of their education and experience and what they can do for the company.”

No. 10: A Cheerleader Billie Blair, president and CEO of Change Strategists, notes that prominent women who are considered feminine and warm may be dismissed as “cheerleaders” rather than the strong leaders that they are.

When former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin was running for VP, Blair was amazed to hear a male client describe her as “a cheerleader, not a coach nor a quarterback.”

Source: Forbes

You have to do what you love to do, not get stuck in that comfort zone of a regular job. Life is not a dress rehearsal. This is it.

Lucinda Basset

THE NATION ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 11, 2011 Cont'd from last we

I

49

Real life love stories

ek

was born in Ibadan. My father, an engineer, was a civil servant who worked in a government parastatal in town. When I was still a toddler, he was transferred to Lagos. So, that's where I grew up. I am the eldest of three children.

Later, my father resigned from his job. This was in the mid-90s when most federal ministries were relocating to Abuja. My dad didn't want to leave Lagos so he left his job instead. He set up a firm with a friend of his. Initially, things were rough. But after a while, the business picked up and they began to make good money.

Soon, we moved to a new house my dad built in a posh neighbourhood in town.

When I was to go to secondary school, my dad wanted me to attend a boarding school. But my mum did not like the idea of my being away from home for so long.

You see, my mum and I were very close. Maybe because I was an only child for a long time-six years-before my younger ones were born. I loved her so much; she was my hero.

Days of gloom Then when I was 15, I lost my hero. My mum died and my world fell apart. It was like a light had been switched off and all I could see was darkness. She had been ill for sometime and was even getting better.

Then, one day she was gone. I felt bereft of not just a mother but my best friend. It was a sad period in our home.

My father aged over night and our last born, Nowa, who was just five years old kept crying and asking when his mummy would return from her 'journey.' As for me, I was inconsolable. From being a happy, lively girl, I became sad and withdrawn.

I spent most of my time in my room gazing at my mum's pictures and crying.

I felt cheated by death for taking away my most prized possession.

My mum's younger sister, Auntie Grace came from Benin to stay with us for a while to take care of us. But it was not the same. I missed my mum greatly. She was the glue that held our home together and after she had gone, everything just fell apart.

After Auntie Grace returned home, I had to take on the role of a mother to my little brothers. It was tough-I guess I was too young for such responsibilities.

Perhaps it was this or simply loneliness that made my dad remarry. For a year after mum died, he brought home a new wife.

I hated the woman. I saw her as an intruder, a usurper who had come to take my mother's place. I didn't want her around and I made my

New WOMAN

•Party girls: My friends and I spent more time partying than reading our books

a y b d e t n Hau t s a p k r a d feelings clear. I was rude to her and refused to run errands for her. To be fair to her, she wasn't a bad woman.

She was not like the typical, wicked step-mother who was mean to her stepchildren. She was very good to my brothers, taking good care of them and our home.

She seemed to make my dad happy as he began to take joy in life again. But all this made me even hate her more. I felt she had come to take away my father's affections from us. I no longer felt loved and needed at home and that's when I started seeking love outside.

Wild child I began moving with a set of girls in school who were notorious for their wild behaviour. They were all privileged kids from rich homes. The head of this group was Trish, who at 17 was a year older than me agewise, but 20 years older in experience. Trish seemed to know so much about life for one so young and she took me under her wing.

After school, my dad's driver usually came to take me home. That changed. Now, I only went with him about thrice a week. The other days, I went home with Trish. I lied to my dad that we had extra-mural classes after school.

Trish was the last born of her parents, who were separated. Her father was a

very wealthy businessman and retired military officer. Her mother lived abroad most of the year while her older siblings were all at school abroad as well.

Her dad was hardly at homehe was always travelling on business trips. So, Trish lived virtually alone in their huge mansion in a very affluent part of the city. Taking care of her was a small army of servants including a housekeeper. This woman, who lived in the house also, was supposed to keep an eye on Trish. But she didn't care what Trish did as long as she went to school every day and returned in one piece.

With very little adult supervision, Trish did whatever she liked. She smoked, drank, partied, even attending all night parties especially at weekends. I envied her, her freedom. I wanted to be like her. With time, I started to smoke and drink too. And to date boys. I followed Trish's example of not sticking with one boy. Her argument was why keep just one when there were so many fishes in the water. At a point, I had three boyfriends at once.

Once a month, Trish would throw a party in her house. It was mostly attended by some of our school friends as well as boys and even some older guys, usually undergraduates.

They were wild parties where all sorts happened. I enjoyed the parties though they were a distraction that kept me away from my books. I didn't care. We

thought we were big girls, having fun and enjoying life.

But looking back now with the benefit of hindsight and maturity, we didn't know we were playing with fire. Then it happened. I got pregnant. I was taking protection so it came as a shock. What was I going to do? I was really scared, all my'big babe' attitude melted away overnight. Trish said I

shouldn't worry, that she would take me to a doctor who would take care of it.

But the thought of an abortion got me more frightened. I had heard horror stories of young girls who died after doing it. It was at moments like these I really missed my mum; she would have known the right thing to do.

With time, my dad found out about my condition. He went ballistic. He couldn't believe his 'little girl' could be pregnant. At 16. Worse, I didn't even know who was responsible as I had been

with different boys.

He beat me so hard that night, my step-mum had to intervene or he would have killed me. He kept shouting that I wanted to bring disgrace on the family, ruin his good name and reputation. Later, after he had calmed down, a decision was taken. I had to go to Benin to stay for a while‌

Why did Omos go to Benin and what happened to her there? Join us for more of her interesting story next Sunday.

Relationships Deola Ojo

08027454533 (text) Pastordeegfc@yahoo.com

Loving you when it seems nobody does (5) Continued from last week

P

ARTICIPATE in life.

Do not allow life to pass you by. Have you noticed that the people who usually sit on the verandah watching passersby are elderly people and retirees who are in their seventies and eighties?

You are probably too young to sit on the verandah and watch life go by. Be part of the young ones playing soccer down the road. It is easy to allow a long term single status to dissuade one from going for younger people's weddings. What if you have been the best lady or the best man for many years and you feel that you do not want to participate in another wedding? Perhaps your

youngest sister is getting married and she has the impudence to ask you her elder sister to be her best lady. This should not make you decide to be absent from the wedding. Perhaps she thought this was the best way of honouring you. Life goes on.

Quit reminding yourself of sins and past mistakes that you have repented of.

Rehearsing your mistakes over and over again will only make you live your life with regrets. We all make mistakes. If you realize that you are single because you have made some mistakes in the past, learn from these mistakes. Do not keep berating yourself over and over again for a relationship that ended seven years ago.

If the person is now married, then trust God to provide

someone for you in the nearest future.

Rest and relaxation are important if you plan to live long enough to have and enjoy meaningful relationships. It is possible for a man to feel that the reason all the ladies have rebuffed him is because he is poor. He then embarks on making money by taking two jobs and going back to school at the same time. He may achieve his dreams of making money, but if he develops hypertension at a very early age, he may not live long to enjoy his success. Some people are so worried about being alone that they allow this to affect their mental health and this just worsens the situation.

50

THE NATION ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 11, 2011

Arts & Life

SUNNY SIDE

Cartoons

By Olubanwo Fagbemi olubanwo.fagbemi@thenationonlineng.net 08060343214 (SMS only)

POLITICKLE

Mind your language The following are light intellectual exercises culled from the internet to help with command of the English Language through the festive season.

Beyond enligtenment, the writer intends the series to induce a chuckle or two, for he thinks the mix of fun and study a meaningful way to approach year’s end.

The debate

THE GReggs

The European Commission has announced an agreement whereby English will be the official language of the European Union (EU) rather than German, which was the other possibility.

As part of the negotiations, Her Majesty’s government conceded that English spelling had some room for improvement and accepted a five-year plan for the creation of a language that would be known as “EuroEnglish”.

In the first year, “s” will replace the soft “c”. Sertainly, this will make sivil servants jump for joy.

The hard “c” will be dropped in favour of the “k”. This should klear up konfusion and keyboards kan have one less letter.

There will be growing publik enthusiasm in the sekond year, when the troublesome “ph” will be replaced with the “f”. This will make words like “fotograf” 20 per cent shorter.

In the third year, publik akseptanse of the new spelling kan be expekted to reach the stage where more komplikated changes are possible.

Governments will enkourage the removal of double letters, which have always ben a deterent to akurate speling.

Also, al wil agre that the horible mes of the silent “e”’s in the language is disgraceful, and they should go away.

By the fourth yar, peopl wil be reseptiv to steps such as replasing “th” with “z” and “w” with “v”.

During ze fifz year, ze unesesary “o” kan be dropd from vords kontaiining “ou” and similar changes vud of kors be aplid to ozer kombinations of leters.

After zis fifz year, ve vil hav a reali sensibl riten styl. Zer vil be no mor trubls or difikultis and evrivun vil find it ezi tu understand ech ozer.

ZE DREM VIL FINALI KUM TRU!!

OH, LIFE!

Letters trick Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at an Elingsh uinervtisy, it deosn’t mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht frist and lsat ltteer is at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae we do not raed ervey lteter by itslef but the wrod as a wlohe.

Intellectual drive (or wisdom on wheels)

CHEEK BY JOWL

•Patience is something you admire in the driver behind you, and scorn in the one ahead. —Mac McCleary •A suburban mother’s role is to deliver children obstetrically once, and by car forever after. —Peter De Vries •The civilized man has built a coach, but has lost the use of his feet. — Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Self-Reliance,” 1841 •It takes 8,460 bolts to assemble an automobile, and one nut to scatter it all over the road. —Author Unknown •If everything comes your way, you are in the wrong lane. —Author Unknown •Two wrongs don’t make a right, but three lefts do. —Jason Love •You never really learn to swear until you learn to drive. —Author Unknown •Car sickness is the feeling you get when the monthly payment is due.

—Author Unknown •A tree never hits an automobile except in self defence. —American Proverb •Any man who can drive safely while kissing a pretty girl is simply not giving the kiss the attention it deserves. —Albert Einstein •The best car safety device is a rear-view mirror with a cop in it. —Dudley Moore •A pedestrian is someone who thought there were a couple of gallons left in the tank. —Author Unknown •Leave sooner, drive slower, live longer. —Author Unknown

Jokes Smart Bribe Tried in a hostile town, a guy didn’t think he had a chance of getting off a murder charge, so shortly before the jury retired he bribed one of the jurors to find him guilty of the lesser crime of manslaughter.

The jury was out for over three days before eventually returning a verdict of manslaughter. The relieved defendant collared the bribed juror and said: “Thanks. How ever did you manage it?”

“It wasn’t easy,” admitted the juror.

“All the others wanted to acquit you.”

The Curse An old man goes to a wizard to ask him if he can remove a curse he has been living with for the last 40 years.

The wizard says, “Maybe, but you will have to tell me the exact words that were used to put the curse on you.”

The old man says without hesitation, “I now pronounce you man and wife.”

SUDOKU A-counting Sheep

An accountant is having a hard time sleeping and goes to see his doctor.

“Doctor, I just can’t get to sleep at night.”

“Have you tried counting sheep?”

“That’s the problem - I make a mistake and then spend three hours trying to find it.”

Marriage Counselling A husband and wife were at a party chatting with some friends when the subject of marriage counselling came up.

“Oh, we’ll never need that. My wife and I have a great relationship,” the husband explained. “She was a communications major in college and I majored in theatre arts.”

He continued, “She communicates well and I act like I’m listening.”

QUOTE The best vitamin to be a happy person is B1.

—Author Unknown •Culled from the Internet

11/12/2011

Hd and Hf. But, since column f already has a 1ST STEP IN SOLVING PUZZLE: (360) Look at the 3 bottom horizontal (GHI) 9 in cell Bf, the only space available to 3x3 boxes. The left box has 9 in cell Gb, while accommodate 9 in the middle box is cell Hd. Reasoning along these lines, try and fill in the right box has its 9 in cell Ih. The middle box must, therefore, have its own 9 in row all the other vacant cells.

H, where there are 2 vacant spaces — cells Solution on SATURDAY. Happy Puzzling!

PUZZLE 360

A B C D E F G H I

8 6

4

8

5

9 1 3 6 7 4 5 7

8 1 7 9 2 5 3 2 a

b

c

d

e

f

3 2 1 5 9 g

h

i

SOLUTION TO PUZZLE 359

3 1 5 2 6 9 7 4 8

6 4 8 3 7 5 1 2 9

9 7 2 1 8 4 3 5 6

4 8 6 9 5 3 2 1 7

2 3 7 4 1 8 6 9 5

5 9 1 7 2 6 8 3 4

7 5 9 8 3 2 4 6 1

1 2 4 6 9 7 5 8 3

8 6 3 5 4 1 9 7 2

THE NATION ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 11, 2011

51

With Joe Agbro Jr. 08056745268

Hello children, Christmas is in the air and hope you’re being good boys and girls to ensure your parents give you a memorable Christmas and New Year holidays

CHRISTMAS FACTS IN the Ukraine, if you find a spider web in the house on Christmas morning, it is believed to be a harbinger of good luck!

This belief resulted from an old Ukrainian folk tale, which told the story of a very poor woman.

So poor was she that she could not even afford Christmas decorations for her family. One Christmas morning, she awoke to find that spiders had trimmed her children’s tree with their webs. When the morning sun shone on them, the webs turned to silver and gold. The woman took this as a godsend and her misery ended forever. An artificial spider and web are, thus, often included in the decorations on Ukrainian Christmas trees.

• Students of Holy Child College, Ikoyi, at the children’s cultural festival organised by the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC) at the National Theatre, Lagos, last week.

PHOTO: EDOZIE UDEZE

Word wheel NINE LETTER WORDS: obedience bode, bodice, bond, bone, boned, cob, cod, code, coin, coined, con cone, coned, deco, doe, don, done, encode, eon, icon, ion, nod, node, ode, once, one.

LOUIS Prang, a Bavarian-born lithographer who came to the USA from Germany in the 19th century, popularized the sending of printed Christmas cards. He invented a way of reproducing color oil paintings, known as the “chromolithograph technique”, and created a card with the message “Merry Christmas” as a way of showing it off.

WORD SEARCH Mobile phones A mobile phone is a device that can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link whilst moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile network operator, allowing access to the public telephone network.

In addition to telephony, modern mobile phones also support a wide variety of other services such as text messaging, MMS, email, Internet access, short-range wireless communications (Infrared, Bluetooth), business applications, gaming and photography. Mobile phones that offer these and more general computing capabilities are referred to as smartphones.

The first hand-held mobile phone was demonstrated by Dr. Martin Cooper of Motorola in 1973, using a handset weighing around 1 kg. In 1983, the DynaTAC 8000x was the first to be commercially available. In the twenty years from 1990 to 2010, worldwide mobile phone subscriptions grew from 12.4 million to over 4.6 billion, penetrating the developing economies and reaching the bottom of the conomic pyramid.

ALCATEL APPLE BLACKBERRY ITEL MITSUBISHI MOTOROLA NOKIA PHILLIPS QUALCOMM SAGEM SAMSUNG SHARP SIEMENS TECNO

WORD WHEEL This is an open ended puzzle.

How many words of three or more letters, each including the letter at centre of the wheel, can you make from this diagram? We’ve found 27, including one nine-letter word.

Can you do better?

Riddles with Bisoye Ajayi 1. I am friendly when am happy but wicked when hungry. What am I? 2. I am something when I appear in the night everyone sees me. What am I? Miss Ajayi is a JSS 1 student of Queens College, Yaba, Lagos.

Send in your stories, poems, articles, games, puzzles, riddles and jokes to sundaynation@yahoo.com

Answer to Riddles:

1. Dog

2. Moon

52

HAVE YOUR SAY THE NATION ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2011

T

HE Senate last week warmed the cockles of the hearts of many Nigerians when it outlawed homosexual bonding in defiance of the Western admonition to the contrary. As is evident in the worshipful tone of respondents’ reactions, the Senator by that singular measure did act in accordance with the wish of the people.

But other than culture and the positions of the Holy Books which many respondents gleefully referenced as the basis of their condemnation of homosexual practice, we look in vain for evidence of a dialectical examination of the issue. Some of the issues raised in support of those who may subscribe to such sexual behaviour are absent from these reactions. Curiously still, many find the 14-year jail term legislated for “offenders” as insufficient. Death sentence, the lovers of God and culture say, is condign punishment. But who would the first offender be?

Nigeria is the pride of Africa.

True and true, we cannot afford to trade away our moral values for the sake of a select immoral beast in society. The bill is a welcome law in the right direction. I hail the legislators.

Nikky, Calabar, Cross River State.

Haba! What kind of world are we? Are we now saying that Allah has made a mistake by asking men to get married to women not men?

Does any right-thinking human being need to be told about the sin of homosexuality?

Shehu Usman, Mile 12 Market, Lagos State.

This is the first bill that makes God happy with the lawmakers. It should be life jail for offenders.

Akinleye H.O., Ekiti-West, Ekiti State.

The anti-gay bill passed recently by the Senate stipulating 14 years jail term for offenders deserve commendation and respect for our lawmakers in the upper chamber.

Or how else can one comprehend a situation where a man get hooked to a man or a woman to another a woman? Surely, these acts are completely contrary to our religious and cultural values. The protagonists of this act in the Western world should bury their heads in shame.

Samuel Ishaya Shammang, Mangun Town, Plateau State.

The anti-gay bill shows that Nigeria can identify part of the maladies that are embedded in what we call “demon-crazy”. But as long as we still copy the West, it will only take years before Nigeria accept gay practicing.

Adejumo Ayoade, Osogbo, Osun State.

Kudos to our Senators. I am very proud of them. This remains the best bill that has been passed lately.

If all the oyinbo’s like let them keep their useless slavery grant. They imported aids to Nigeria and other nations. Any country can’t make laws for us since they don’t seek our inputs in theirs.

Hamis F.A Balogun, Akure, Ondo State.

This gay issue should not even have got to the National Assembly as it amounts to irrelevant waste of legislators’ time. Fourteen years jail term is like treating them with kid gloves. Should we copy Westerners to our own injury? To hell with gays and their rights.

Kalu Wosu, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The growing moralistic madness

What is your view on the anti-gay bill recently passed by the Senate which stipulates a 14-year jail term for offenders? called gay rights activism has got to stop! It finds no basis in our religious precepts, tradition or statutes. The National Assembly should not have bothered itself with another act of parliament as the penal code applicable in the North and the criminal codes applicable in the South have duly criminalised same-sex relationships with concomitant punishments. As for David Cameron and the Sodom and Gomorrah called the West, they can take their so-called aids, go to hell and burn to blazes!

Barr. S.E. Irabor, Makurdi, Benue State.

I don’t see those gay folks as criminals, but men and women with some form of mental defects.

So I think what they need is some form of treatment either by counseling or by medication.

Jailing gays is treating them like normal people, which definitely they are not! These pitiable folks are sick with some mental defects.

No sane human being can be attracted to someone of the same sex to the extent of sleeping with such person and wanting to spend the rest of their miserable lives together. So, what they deserve is sympathy and not punishment.

They really need help.

Kemi Elechi, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

I rate the Senate President and the Senators very high (100 percent). Homosexuality is not our culture. The Bible frowns at it. It should be 14 years with hard labour!

Abraham Dakom Anthony, Jos, Plateau State.

The anti-gay bill is a perfect decision and received my support 110%.

Monday Williams, Abuja.

The passage of the anti-gay bill by the Senate has not only built my faith in Nigeria, but also my love for the Senators. They have averted God’s judgement on us by that single act of slamming of the gavel by the Senate President in agreement with the golden voices of other Senators.

Morris M., Jos, Plateau State.

The anti-gay bill is a welcome development. Gay practice is evil and dangerous to the growth and development of any individual and nation. It is alien to our culture and I’m glad our elected representatives have taken a good stand for us. Please permit me to say thank you to the distinguished Senate President, David Mark, for his bold statement to foreign leaders to keep their aid to themselves as Nigeria will not legalise gay in exchange for any foreign aids.

Olabisi Oseni, Minna, Niger State.

May God bless our Senate for their wise decision to pass the gay bill which stipulates 14 years jail term for offenders. Must Nigeria follow a mad British parliament to legalise gay? It is unnatural to hear.

Major M. Asikhia (rtd), Benin City, Edo State.

I think the anti-gay bill is primitive. I am not gay nor should anyone be. But the following makes

•Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke

the bill obnoxious. One, homosexuality is caused by aberration in the hypothalamus.

This part of the brain functions like that of the other sex in gays. Two, gay sex exist in almost all species of animals. Three, gay sex existed in all ancient cultures.

Oritseweyinmi Olomu, Sapele, Delta State.

Gay right is civilisation in sodomy, not for Nigeria. Here is a country of multi-cultural and multi-religious adherents who have for centuries held on tenaciously to their cultural identity and religious affinity.

Omosayin Clinton, Kabba, Kogi State.

It is a welcome development. For the first time our Senate will have the courage to pass the anti-gay bill despite the threat from international community. In fact, offenders should bag more than 14-year-jail term. The British Prime Minister can go to hell.

Yusuf Silas Gugu, Mararaba, Nasarawa State.

Gay marriage is an abominable act. Any Nigerian involved is a good candidate for an army firing squad. Our senate’s 14-year incarceration law is not an ideal punishment. It is a crime against nature, against our tradition. Such insane people are not good to live with us in Africa.

Kelvin Utazi, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The anti-gay bill recently passed by the Senate is a welcome development.

Muniru Gambia, Iwo, Osun State.

Majority of Nigerians are either Muslims or Christians and both religions outlaw same sex marriage. The Senate, thus, had no alternative but to pass the anti-gay bill just as they will equally reject the fuel subsidy drive or risk the people’s wrath which may truncate this demoCRAZY and sweep them away.

Umar Sanda Galadima, Biu, Borno State.

Thanks to Allah for directing our senators on that important bill. If the white people so desire, they can go ahead and marry pigs, dogs and maggots. But the truth remains we Africans have values and cultures. They can keep their Greek gift of assistance to themselves. After all, they are not god that deposited both tapped and untapped resources abound

in our nation.

Mrs Khadijat .O. Balogun, Akure, Ondo State.

It is madness. God is not a fool to have created them, man and woman. Even animals realized this. Senate, this is well done and don‘t mind any foreign donors.

They can keep their donations and be sponsoring gay marriage for their indigenes. The Senate should have increased the jail term to life imprisonment.

Pam Adamu Pam, Jos Plateau State.

Gay is sodomic and demonic. We should save our country from the wrath of God. Passing the bill against such uncivilised and satanic act is the best for our dear country. I am proud of the Senate for the first time.

Tosin Olagunju, Adeyemo College, Kaduna State.

It is a welcome development, but not necessary to be debated in the House because gays have not been found in Nigeria. Nigerians are faced with corruption, no power, unemployment and dearth in our education. The Senate should debate all these.

Nwagbegbe Alexander, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Same sex marriage is an aberration, in fact, it is sodomy.

The law of man was derived from the law of God. Same sex marriage is against the law of God. The 14 year jail term is in order.

Kola-Alao, Lagos State.

The anti-gay bill is okay.

However, the punishment of 14year-jail term is too high-handed considering the fact that we have congestions in our prison and punishments should be aimed at reform. A male or female offender confined to a male or female prison for such long a time may have a field day growing deeper in the shameful crime. Maximum of two years with psychological repairs is okay.

Comrade BCB Ogbulie, Ideato South, Imo State.

That was the best bill Nigerian legislators have ever passed.

Africans practice culture of sanity and not of insanity.

Celestine Nnaemeka Achebe, Abuja.

Did God create the gays? Let them explain so we can see their reasons to support or oppose the bill.

A T. Mozie, UNN. To hell with their aids! No country must condition our laws.

Honestly, our legislators have done very well on this anti-gay bill.

May God reward them all.

Adenle Sulaiman, Ede, Osun State.

The bill is a welcome development not only to the people of Nigeria but also to the entire African countries which should without any hindrance adopt similar bill into their Constitution.

Leonard Onyemechara, PHC, Rivers State.

In the real sense, same sex marriage is uncommon. Besides, this fact is ungodly. I think Obama

and David Cameron are trying God. Let’s give kudos to our Senators for passing the anti-gay bill. I recommend life jail for the violators.

Abiodun, Iwo, Osun State.

The gay issue has spiritual dimension. It is the sign of the end time. They will go underground and cause more disaster in the lives of the ignorant ones. My candid advice to all Nigerians is everybody should watch for their soul.

Yusuf Pama, Kaduna State.

Candidly speaking, the senators have really done well by kicking against the development. It’s a welcome idea. That is, by saying NO to man-to-man wedding in Nigeria. With the bill they have just passed, it implies that they are all mindful of the injunctions they’ve read in the Holy Books. I pray that God should grant them more grace and wisdom to tackle both current and subsequent challenges.

Moses O. Olawumi, Offa, Kwara State.

The anti-gay law is in accord with God’s dictates - away from sins of Sodom and Gomorrah which drew God’s wrath. The West insistence is an infringement on our right to our cultural values and sovereignty. Can they go to Islamic nations and dictate for pro gay laws? Gay May be accepted globally but there is an exception to every rule. Nigeria should remain an exception, after all, indirectly, the West feeds on Africa.

Stella John, Lagos State.

Our culture does not permit gayism neither does it allow lesbianism. The 14-year-jail term for offenders of gayism is acceptable to me. Britain should be warned to stop meddling with our Nigerian affairs. They should also stop giving Nigeria, empty threats.

Lanre Oseni, Lagos State.

I commend our distinguished members of the 7th Senate for passing the bill banning same sex marriage in Nigeria. It is not only alien to our culture but also an abomination. It is against the law of God. In the Holy Bible Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because of it. With all the beautiful women and handsome men God gave us in Nigeria it is madness for anyone to be gay. I think a lifejail term would have been appropriate. Forget about the issue of Human Rights in this case.

Barrister Ayo Olalere, Ibadan, Oyo State.

The Senate is even lenient; they should have given a death penalty without trial to any person caught in such an ungodly act.

Saintvince, Orlu, Imo State.

Please, help tell our disappointing lawmakers that if they do not have economically oriented ideas, they should quit the House. How our refineries can be made to work no lawmaker has such vision. The word “gay” has no place in our soil. That is not the way forward. Let them stop this.

John Ibanga, Oshodi, Lagos State.

The anti-gay bill passed by the Senate comes across as a comic relief in a macabre orgy of Boko terrorism and dangling specter of Syria kind of mass revolt that will break out at the imminent anti people fuel price hike. Our astute Senate knows how to calm fray nerves in a religious and sanctimonious nation writhing in disappointment unleashed by a former poor boy who wore no shoes or hung a hand bag to school.

Bisi Adefila, Osun State.

Continued on The Nation website: www.thenationlineng.net, click on Sunday Magazine, then Have Your Say

THE NATION ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 11, 2011

53

THE NATION ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 11, 2011

54

EBERE WABARA

PICTURE THIS !

WORDSWORTH 08055001948

ewabara@yahoo.com

Still on Ojukwu

D

AILY INDEPENDENT of December 6 disseminated three blunders: “It was none enforcement and none implementation of these provisions….” Get it right: non-enforcement and non-implementation.

“And if you are talking about administration, it all bothers (borders) on the Office of the Secretary.”

“Media and Communication alumni elects (elect) exco” SATURDAY MIRROR of December 3 circulated two errors of different hues: “…the president thanked Suleiman for his services to the nation and wishes (wished) him success in his future endeavours.”

“Ojukwu: Better sung in death than alive” No politics in grammar as illogic is disallowed: dead than alive (in another phrasal context) or death than life (life or death— not dead, by way of extrapolation), which is apposite here.

“Hanging over the nation is the spectra of economic corruption and a descent into (to) chaos and anarchy.” And this: spectrum (singular, which applies here) and spectra/spectrums, just like forums (fora), stadiums (stadia)—all plural and interchangeable.

“The political intrigues and power-play that have been associated with the preparations for the February 11, 2012 governorship race in Bayelsa State has (have) finally led to the….”

(Newswatch, November 28) “Coup d’états, juntas, military governments and transitions to civil rule” A tribute: coups d’état….

“Appointment of Stephen Keshi: The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) stand to reap.…” The Nigeria Football Federation stands to reap….

“It is therefore most expedient for Robert Mugabe to re-examine his role in government and take a honourable bow from leadership.”

Remembering global patriots: an honourable bow.

“Even now, no talk of regional or sub-regional integration is complete in this continent without an echo from Nigeria.” Even in French and other languages: on the continent.

“I am convinced that what held the audience s p e l l - b o u n d e d

(spellbound) and excited was the fact of an Anglophone speaker being able to fluently tell them in their own language....”

“Instead, people compete and fall over themselves (one another) for the crumbs from the high table (dais/ p l a t f o r m / podium…certainly not the Nigerian journalese “high table”) and even defend the indefensible.” “…the two big parties whose promises of no new taxes and an increased service delivery is (are) not taken serious (seriously) by any informed observer.” The right thoughts are bracketed (or in parenthesis, as Americans would write). “…others point out the moral ground for such action (an action), given Labour’s antecedents in the past” Gosh! What is ‘antecedents in the past’?

Just antecedents, I beg you.

One of these days, somebody would write ‘future antecedents’! Yank off ‘in the past’.

“Atimes (At times), they sleep inside their ‘clients’ vehicles” “For ON television channel, the emerging identity is that of a musical and grassroot TV station.

Whether as an adjective or a noun: grassroots.

“As at 1985 there are (were) over 36,000 dams in the world with about 18,000 in China alone.”

“Dams construction have (has) generated problems across the world that....”

“The accused policeman was said to have actually demanded for N10,000 before he was arrested.” ‘Demand’ does not admit any inflection.

“Are you therefore surprised to find mediocres promoted beyond their highest level of competency?” The noun form of ‘mediocre’ (an adjective) is ‘mediocrity’ (personally preferred) or ‘mediocrist’.

“His two fundamental actions on assuming the reigns of government in Kinshasa smack of acts of a dictator.” No lexical autocracy: reins of government.

In defence of correct spelling: benefitted (wrong); benefited (right).

Again: harassment (not h a r r a s m e n t / harrassment—and is noncount), but embarrassment(s).

“Statistics of African debt profile shows (show) that Nigeria is holding

about 15 per cent of the continent’s debt.”

“But none of these leaders coming with large (a large) retinue of people (would it have been of animals?) will agree that it is important to back-up (back up) their good wishes with concrete policy (policies/a concrete policy) in the area of debt management for sustainable growth.”

“Within the 15 years of the four military regimes under review, Nigeria moved twice from one extreme end of the scale to the other in her (its) relation with other nations.” Either ‘extreme’ or ‘end’. Both words cannot co-function in any new school environment.

“General Babangida’s emergence on the scene brought an initial soothing balm in Nigeria’s foreign relations because of his early release of a transition programme.” Is there any balm that hurts?

The columnist needs to know, please.

“While the Chinese were still protesting the bombing of their embassy in Belgrade, NATO had gone ahead to bomb the Swiss embassy, causing damages (damage) to the Angolan embassy and hit (hitting) a hospital, among others.”

“Our dismal performance at France “98 which led to our early exit from the mundial and at the World Youth Championship hosted by Nigeria signify that our soccer is sick and needs a surgical operation.”

“What is laying a siege on (to) public wealth and traumatizing all those who dared to point accusing fingers” Delete ‘accusing’ because of its contextual redundancy and this: point the finger.

“Perhaps his recent activities might have qualified him to give the military’s transfer of power to civilians lecture in Abuja last week Monday.” Either last Monday or Monday, last week.

“Abubakar, who said the military should congratulate itself for (on) keeping faith with its promise to handover (hand over) power....”

“How does the separation of powers that are (is) discernible in Government textbooks operate in real life?”

“Perhaps, ladies need to think of less tempting recesses for hiding jewelries” ‘Jewelry’ is noncount.

Set for the Yuletide?

•’Wetin you carry’

PHOTO: BADE DARAMOLA

Safety and Security Alert!

The solutions to criminalities In Nigeria

T

HE long tested solution to incessant criminalities is Crime Prevention Programme.

When effectively designed, it’s capable of developing preventive strategies, provides countermeasures and evaluates procedures. This was elucidated in last week’s edition.

It is pertinent for the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies, Chief Executive of governments corporate bodies and community leaders to imbibe this programme.

Individual Criminal Analysis Criminal analysis is effective when applied to criminal offences with high probability of occurrence.

Crime analyses depend on: 1. General factors and specific reported offences 2. Specific crime factors 3. Physical evidence.

Let’s do a brief analysis of peculiar crimes: A. Residential housebreaking & Burglary.

Peculiarities: - establishes modus operandi on successful past offences.

He will continue until apprehended.

Security operatives must consider the: •Simplicity •Accuracy •Value of information.

•Vary investigations B. Commercial housebreaking. Specific information on: •Point & method of entry •Victim/target description •Property-loss description.

Peculiarities: - mobile, volatile and sophisticated.

-Geographic factors restricted.

-Victim/target predetermined -Critical examinations.

C. Robberies.

Peculiarities: - Operates in given geographical area.

-Seeks sizeable amount of cash and valuables.

-Physical evidence -Uses surprise MO. D. Auto Theft.

Peculiarities: -Suspects descriptive information lacking -Greater specific information -Mugglers include car dismantlers and wholesalers of stolen vehicles, etc.

-Offenders establish MO until apprehension.

-Helpful elements -Two geographical locations.

-Vehicle’s condition when recovered.

Primary Analysis Factors are: •Vehicle’s make, model and recovery location •Degree of stripping •Coordination of police.

Problems of Auto Theft cases are: •Large volume of crime types •Many MO patterns.

Secondary Analysis factors are: •Restrict number of cases and classification •Classify general theft cases •Analyse by MO •Logical classes •Conduct in-depth analysis

•Share information.

E. Rape and Sex Crimes. i. Offender known ii. Offender unknown (stranger to stranger) Peculiarities: -In (i) above, -limited informational value.

-Referred to as ‘crime of opportunity’.

-Offenders don’t establish MO. -Victim’s ID protected.

In (ii) above, there is: -In-depth analysis -Definite MO -Seriousness of crime -Relative rareness.

-Shield victim’s ID. Analysis Factors are: •Suspects’/ Victim descriptors •Perpetrators restrict attacks.

•Geographic locations.

F. Forgery and Fraud.

Peculiarities: - Forgers are repeaters -Established MO -Information to corporate organs.

-Bulletins enhance community relations.

-Delay in reporting G. Assault and Murder.

Peculiarities: - Comparative rarity involving strangers -Amount of time and research required.

-Identify high violent rates.

-Identify black spots -Red Alerts Criminal Analysis Procedures are: 1. Review the list of offenses regularly.

2. Use work templates 3. Design data collection sheets and crime occurrence map.

4. Keep handwritten notes of items or trends 5. Perform geographic data analysis 6. Use mapping analysis 7. Observe map’s maintenance time.

8. Stored map data 9. Give periodic summary report.

Sources of crime data are used to: •Amount of and seasonal variations of crime types.

•Identify crime conditions •Crimes for elimination.

Crime data are sourced from: 1. Victims are segment of population affected.

2. Perpetrators are the suspected offenders 3. Geographic data contained description of incident’s location 4. Chronological data based on seasonal/monthly variations, weekend & time of occurrences.

5. Crime specific factors.

Criminal analysis is important but techniques mentioned are not all-inclusive. It may require an ad-hoc team with good computer knowledge and close coordination with stakeholders.

Please,sendcomments,responsesandcontacttheundersignedfor securityandsafetychallengesbysms ore-mail.

By: Mr. Timilehin Ajayi (Safety and Security Consultant) E-mail: timilehinajayi@yahoo.com 08095683454, 08075518732

Your HEALTH THE NATION ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2011

What's new in prostate cancer research and treatment New research into the causes, prevention, and treatment of prostate cancer under way in many medical centres throughout the world looks at the connection between genetics and diet. sGenes and diet are determining factors in prostrate cancer

Prostrate cancer symptoms The PSA blood test is often done to screen men for prostate cancer. Because of PSA testing, most prostate cancers are now found before they cause any symptoms.

The symptoms listed below can occur with prostate cancer, usually at a late stage. Delayed or slowed start of urinary stream Dribbling or leakage of urine, most often after urinating Slow urinary stream Straining when urinating, or not being able to empty out all of the urine Blood in the urine or semen Bone pain or tenderness, most often

ABC of living with HIV

By Fredrick Adegboye

Concluded

Pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility

55

56

Your Health

THE NATION ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 11, 2011

WELLBEING

Laughter e n i c i d e m t s ...the be - a look at the health benefits of humour and laughter Humour matters: Humour helps relieve stress, physical tension, anxiety and improves mood

D

ID you know that humour and laughter can affect your health and wellbeing positively? We know there might be little around right now to laugh about what with the bad economy, socio-political problems, personal challenges and other vicissitudes of life.

But thinking too much about life's problems could cause stress, raise one's blood pressure and contribute to other physical and health problems.

That's where humour comes in. It might sound simplistic but there's proof that laughter is a powerful antidote to stress, pain, and conflict. Nothing works faster or more dependably to bring your mind and body back into balance

than a good laugh. Humor lightens your burdens, inspires hopes, connects you to others, and keeps you grounded, focused, and alert.

With so much power to heal and renew, the ability to laugh easily and frequently is a tremendous resource for surmounting problems, enhancing your relationships, and supporting both physical and emotional health.

Best of all, this priceless medicine is fun, free, and easy to use.

Laughter and humor help you stay emotionally healthy Laughter makes you feel good. And the good feeling that you get when you laugh remains with you even after the laughter subsides. Humor helps you keep a positive, optimistic outlook through difficult situations, disappointments, and loss.

More than just a respite from sadness and pain, laughter gives you the

courage and strength to find new sources of meaning and hope.

Even in the most difficult of times, a laughor even simply a smilecan go a long way toward making you feel better. And laughter really is contagiousjust hearing laughter primes your brain and readies you to smile and join in on the fun. Laughter relaxes the whole body. A good, hearty laugh relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes after. Other benefits of humour include boosting immunity, lowers stress hormones, decreases pain, relaxes muscles, prevents heart disease, adds joy and zest to life, eases anxiety and fear, relieves stress, improves mood and enhances resilience among others.

Travel

Fitness/Diet

Holiday party guide: Eat, drink and still be slim (1)

HE dreaded holiday buffet spread for the average dieter, is a seasonal sight that's anything but merry. This year, we're going to show you how you can defend your waistline and still enjoy yourself at any party -- from finger foods and cheese plates to drinks and dessert. Go ahead and enjoy the holidays (isn't that what they're for?) and still slim down!

Prevent Party Pig-Out If they're not in the bathroom line, you know exactly where most women are: hovering over the buffet table, thinking, I'm famished. This stuff looks scrumptious.

Forget the diet. Now, you don't have to be one of them.

You'll bust your seams if you skip meals all day long.

Why? "Arriving at the party hungry will make you reach for the first thing you see (and the second, and the third!)

-- whether it's healthy or not," says Elisa Zied, RD, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association and author of Feed Your Family Right!

Instead: "Cut back on refined carbs and fats throughout the day to give yourself some leeway," advises Zied. "And include protein and fiber in every meal to help you feel full." For example, at breakfast have oat bran cereal with skim m

Source: Fitness magazine

H

ONEY has been used by mankind for the past 2,500 years, all over the world. While the numerous health benefits of honey have made it an important aspect of traditional medicines, scientists are also researching the benefits of honey in modern medicine, especially in healing wounds.

There is hardly any region in the world where honey is not cherished.

What makes it so popular? It is the ease with which it can be consumed. One can eat honey directly, put it on bread like a jam, mix it with juice or any drink instead of sugar, or mix it with warm water, lime juice, cinnamon and other herbs to make a medicine. It is savored by all due to its taste as well as health benefits.

Health benefits of honey Sweetener : Sugar can be substituted with honey in many

Nutrition food and drinks. Honey contains about 69% glucose and fructose enabling it to be used as a sweetener.

Energy Source: Honey contains about 64 calories per tablespoon.

Hence it's also used by many as a source of energy.

On the other hand, one tablespoon of sugar will give you about 15 calories.

Furthermore, the carbohydrates in the honey can be easily converted into glucose by even the most sensitive stomachs. Hence it is very easy to digest honey.

Weight Loss : Though honey has more calories than sugar, when consumed with warm water, helps in digesting the fat stored in your body. Similarly honey and lemon juice and honey and cinnamon help in reducing weight.

Improving Athletic Performance: Recent research has shown that honey is an excellent ergogenic aid and helps in boosting the performance of athletes.

Continued next week

My grandmother started walking 5 miles a day when she was 60. She is now 97 and we don't know where she is

Leisure

Cuisine

N

T

Instead: "Add an extra 10 minutes to your workout for a week, if you know you may be overly tempted," recommends Zied. "When you exercise just to compensate for calorie intake, you're setting yourilk, a low-fat yogurt, and a piece of fruit. At lunch, throw some beans into your salad and swap the oil-based dressing for balsamic vinegar with a little mustard mixed in.

Have a healthy snack -- a handful of nuts or airpopped popcorn -- right before the party.

Work out as an excuse to eat more Why? "One exercise session is not going to make up for the hundreds of extra calories consumed at a party," says Zied.

Healing Honey

Actress Stephanie Okereke looks trim in this black crochet gown

EED a mini-break but don't fancy chilling out at a beach and would prefer something more adventurous?

Then the Idanre Hills in Ondo State is the place to head to. This December, these famous hills that have become a major tourist attraction will come alive with the feet of thousands of mountain climbers determined to conquer its great summit.

The event scheduled to hold during this year's edition of the Mare Festival (a mountain climbing expedition festival) will see both amateur and professional mountain climbers from all over the world converging at the hills.

Conceived as an annual cultural event to promote tourism in the state, the festival will feature rock climbing, musical shows, art and crafts, tourism and creative enterprises among others.

Idanre hill is one of the most awesome and beautiful natural landscapes in Ondo State and Nigeria.

Added to its scenic beauty which fires human curiosity is the fact that the entire people of Idanre lived on these boulders for almost a millennium.

Nature lovers will love its rich and varied flora and fauna as well as wildlife. There is a special species of tailless animal called hyrax that lives on the rocks which because of hunting are becoming extinct and there are also special monkeys sported near Orosun hills.

In recognition of its historical importance, the United Nations

An adventurous treat at Idanre Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) last year announced plans to enlist Oke Idanre Hills in into the World Heritage list. This will undoubtedly boost its tourism potentials and put it at par with other World tourist centres in the country such as the Osun Oshogbo Groves in Osun State and Suku cultural heritage in Adamawa State.

The hill also plays host to a group of scientists and field researchers. The site is home to a group of bats and the people hold a unique festival of bats every year.

It's also being used by filmmakers as location for many of their films.

In addition, the one and only Noble Prize Winner for Literature in Africa Professor Wole Soyinka wrote his longest poem titled "Idanre and other Poems" based on the hill. The festival is scheduled to hold between 15-17th December.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2011

57

Homosexuality: Whirlwind of controversies —PAGES 58 -60

‘My only regret at 80’ Professor Adetokunbo Lucas, a renowned medical practitioner, recently turned 80.

In this interview with Bisi Oladele and Tayo Johnson, the octogenarian recalls his childhood days, career and family life.

•Lucas

C

AN you share with us your growing up days?

It was very interesting because I didn’t start school at kindergarten. My mother was a school teacher but when she got married to my father who was a clergy man she gave up working outside the home to take care of the family as well as church affairs.

My older sister did not go to school until she passed entrance exams to Queens’ College. I had hoped that I would also skip primary school because I had my kindergarten at home. But I went to St Paul’s Breadfruit school in Lagos. It was very exciting; it was an old building - big hall divided by mat screens so that you could see what was going on in the remaining eight classes. I was later admitted to Kings’ College, Lagos and as at that time the competition to gain admission to Kings College was very stiff. There were 1,500 approximately from 11 centres and they picked 25 of us and that was when I became lucky to be one of them. My classmates and other contemporaries including some very outstanding achievers, in my class included Justice Akpata who later became the head of INEC. The school as at that time was very highly selective.

Can you mention a few outstanding people you were in primary school together with?

I was a close friend of Dr Olusola Saraki, the father of the former Governor of Kwara State.

We were very good friends and we used to play together in primary

school. It was a wonderful time.

The teachers were very good. They helped us to understand the basic things in English. My next step was to go to Britain to study Medicine and in my first year in that school I came tops of the class.

So that means Kings’ College was not bad.

Even I used to share a joke with some of my friends that they would have gone to St Paul Breadfruit School for their primary education and also King’s College so that they will have the kind of preparation for my career in life.

What motivated you into studying medicine?

My uncle inspired me because when a household is in pain or confusion and for a doctor to walk in and calm just set in, that impressed me very much. I had other influences in becoming a lawyer because some of my mates were magistrates, lawyers but I just want to save lives. My uncles’ work initially was public health but he showed interest in clinical medicine and he looked after family members.

Give us a summary of your career My career was influenced by something that happened during my medical training. The University introduced a scheme by which the medical students can take a year off to do a bachelor’s degree in physiology and I was one of the four people who were picked up for that scheme. In the bachelor’s degree there was a lot of research and that influenced me

for the rest of my life and I came out with first class in 1953. In 1960 I got my MBBS but unfortunately my very good friend of blessed memory Dr Reg Hall and myself were given the two prizes for the student who received the highest score. I came out of the Medical school with strong academic credentials and after then I went to Queen’s University in Belfast where I studied with distinguished expert, Rein Bull, who again looked after me very well and at the same I was taking some classes in public health. I was again fortunate to be giv ic infections like malaria and I started writing articles based upon the research that I carried out. People took notice of some of the works I have done. I was invited to scientific meetings very frequently – World Health organisation (WHO) in Geneva and elsewhere and people wanted to hear my views on how I came up with my results. So in 1976 when WHO was setting up a new programme on causes of diseases I was recruited to go and work in Zambia, until I was later appointed the director of the programme for 10 years in Geneva.

You received several awards and you had a distinguished career, what would you say was key to your success in life?

I am just very fortunate. It is not many people that will be invited by the head of a University at a very junior level. I wasn’t even a lecturer and I was offered the opportunity to move up and take on the

leadership of a department. I must really thank my teachers and supervisors in Britain.

All of them conspired to make me succeed. I worked hard, I worked on a principle that doesn’t have any scientific basis. I said if you take four units of energy to pass an exam, two units of hard work will make you to pass comfortably, three units will make you to get good grades, four units of energy will get you among the best students, five units will make you the best student in class.

I set myself the idea of five times as much as it takes to pass my exam; I spend a lot of time working very hard to get good result.

What day will you say was your happiest?

It was the day I got married because I told you my father was in Birmingham University. While she was there she was also helping at a local Anglican church. So we had our wedding in Birmingham and my father was one of the officiating ministers.

What day will you regard as your worst in life?

Unfortunately it was when I lost my first child due to complications that my wife had.

My daughter was very bright then in her late 30s she came out with a first class in computer science from Imperial College and she worked with the UN and African Development Bank.

Since then she lived in pain and anguish especially when we discovered that there would have been a cure for it but she was very excellent and she even designed a software for the UN to enable them know what was happening in other countries of the world. They could see logistics; they could have information and others. When she was in Geneva she would look into the human resources of all the UN agencies like UNICEF, WHO and

she was able to write a good database for them.

She was very highly successful until the end came for her in 1999.

You are now 80 years old. Do you feel fulfilled?

I think I have been very lucky to have made something out of nothing. I have done better and I believe if a better opportunity should come my way, I will use the experience that I have had in the past to face the new task so that I will do better.

What will you say about the level of health care in Nigeria?

Our health system is not performing as it should do. We have fallen way behind. For example the rate at which children under -five die in Nigeria is more than the rate in Ghana. It shouldn’t be like that because we have more money, more doctors and others. Everybody is saying cholera is rigid but we should be ashamed because the issue of cholera was sorted out two centuries ago but in Nigeria only 40 percent of the population have access to safe drinking water. In Ghana 80 percent of Ghanaians have access to safe drinking water and we are spending our money on wasteful things. The other danger that I see and which is very worrying is that some people are denouncing using medical care and want to rely solely on herbs and supernatural things.

I am a Christian and I pray.

When Adam was hungry he showed him the Garden of Eden to eat fruits. When there was a crisis, manna dropped from heaven. That was a special miracle and after that they went back to normal times of agricultural feedings and so on. In the case of health, God has given us very many opportunities of using herbs and so on or things derived from natural products for treatment and cure. For example, the drug that was used for treating malaria a long time ago, Quinine, was found at the back of a tree. God put it there for us to discover it and make use of it.

58

THE NATION ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 11, 2011

Life

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HIRLWIND of controversies have trailed revelations that same sex intercourse, which used to be practised only in the dark and mainly associated with distant lands, has come in the open in Nigeria.

Already it has become a raging fire. Moralists and the religious faithful are aghast and enraged.

Same sex practitioners, who used to duck their heads, are emboldened by the development and are currently at war with the National Assembly and the Nigerian government, employing pressure from foreign supporters to arm-twist Nigeria.

In the heat of the madness, questions are being asked: how did it all begin, how does an individual become a homosexual, how deep is the malaise, is it for real, does homosexuals have a point or are some few perverts merely out to destroy the society, why are they homosexuals, are they the same brothers and sisters in our churches, mosques, work places and homes? Questions…

Homosexuality:

We knew them as friends, relations

Nothing would ever suggest that Emeka and Stephen (not real names) were more than ordinary friends. They had been close friends right from their childhood days. They shared everything and went everywhere together. But hell was let loose in their Ikoyi home recently when it was discovered that the men, who recently completed their degree programmes abroad were sexually attracted to each other. The revelation of their gay sexuality, which is threatening to tear their families apart, came as a surprise to their parents whose religion condemns such.

In a similar tale, Judith and Shirley, both students of a Nigerian university would pass as sisters rather than friends. Until the secret was uncovered, it could be said that theirs was friendship made in heaven. They went everywhere and shared everything, including clothes, shoes, jewelries and mobile phones.

In church, they were the epitome of sisterly love. In class, they were the two-fold cord that could never be broken. But their impeccable profile was dented sometime last year when another resident of the hostel where they lived caught them in the bathroom locked in each other’s arms, doing the ‘unprintable’.

Shirley and Judith eventually abandoned their studies and went into hiding when news went round that they were lesbians and not just close friends.

•American gay couple taking advantage of law passed in New York legalising same sex union

Since Tuesday, November 29, 2011, when the Senate passed into law and same sex bill, debate on morality, legality and acceptability of homosexuality has broadened. In this report, Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu, Joe Agbro Jr, Rita Ohai and Vincent Nzemeke examined the various perspectives As it is with Emeka and Stephen, Shirley and Judith, it has been uncovered that many Nigerian youths are involved in same sex relationships. Many of them pose as ordinary friends in various parts of the country.

Why gay?

One of the main questions being asked is why a right thinking person would go against nature and desire a same sex relationship.

Some gay couples who spoke strictly on the condition of anonymity said the appeal stems from various reasons depending on the sexual experience of the person.

A lesbian based in Port Harcourt, attributed the appeal for

a girl-to-girl relationship on the deceptive nature of men. She said because men have a propensity to “use and dump girls”, lesbianism offers succour for such disappointments.

“Don’t blame a girl if she decides to have a girl friend instead of a boy friend. Men are wicked; they will promise you heaven-onearth only to use and dump you at the end of the day. Many of us became lesbians because of the bad experiences we had with men”.

For some others, same sex relationship started as an interesting experiment which later became an addiction. A middle aged man who simply gave his name as Richie recalls how he got involved in

Homosexuals behave worse than animals - Bakare

Pastor Tunde Bakare, a lawyer and pastor of Later Rain Assembly, dismissed claims of human rights infringement and insists that same sex practitioners are worse than animals

W

HAT is your opinion on the same-sex bill?

The bill should be passed into law. Homosexuals behave less than animals because a male dog does not mate with another male dog but in all honesty, I believe that legislation is a waste of time. There are more important issues to tackle. You cannot enforce that law unless someone exposes them because most of them will do whatever they want to do behind closed doors and since we cannot put Police officers inside people’s bedrooms, it is a waste of time and therefore a mere distraction.

What about their Fundamental Human Rights’?

That is nonsense. Any right that will pollute the atmosphere, pollute the nation and pollute young people’s mind at the end of the day…You do not consider ‘rights’ that will overthrow an entire nation unless there is no fear of God in this nation. As Christians, we know what happened to Sodom and Gomorah because of homosexuality. You are bringing the wrath of God upon the land and you are busy talking of human rights.

same sex relationship in secondary school after some of his classmates talked about their experiences. “I was very curious to find out how touching and kissing another guy feels. In the hostel some people talked about what they did in the bathroom with other boys and it sounded very interesting. I felt very disgusted the first time I did it. I don’t like to think of it, but I enjoy it every time I do it.”

Efemena Ahkabue, a student is another person whose life as a lesbian started like the proverbial drop of water that soon became a mighty ocean. Unlike others who were initiated by their friends, it was her cousin who mentored her into it.

She assured her that being a lesbian protected her from the risk of unwanted pregnancy.

“Efe my cousin was in a boarding school and we were very close.

Each time we were on holidays she would come to our place in Lagos or I go to their place in Warri. She would tell me all the things they used to do in their hostel and I was very eager to experiment. One day we were in the bathroom and we started playing with each other’s body and that was how I got into it. Although it is embarrassing to admit that I am into such things. It is an addiction I have tried but cannot break” she said.

The moral question

Since the Senate passed a bill seeking to ban same sex relationship on Tuesday, November 29, 2011, practitioners have raised moral questions. The bill has generated so much controversy among Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora. While many consider it a welcome development, the same

sex couples, who are obviously at the short end of the stick, feel it is an infringement of their fundamental human rights.

One of them said the bill is a waste of time because even when it was not passed, there are gay couples in Nigeria who could not disclose their sexuality because the society treats them as outcasts.

“The action of the senate is hypocritical and a waste of precious time. With or without this bill, people like me who fancy same sex relationship can’t come out to say it because the society frowns at it. What they have done will not only send more gay people into hiding, it will make them feel bad for daring to be different. As humans we are entitled to freedom of association, it is my decision to choose who I relate with sexuality, so the decision of the senate is an infringement of our rights”.

Another lesbian said, there is no moral justification in banning gay marriages. She said people should be allowed to make their own choices and live with the consequences.

“The question of whether it is right or wrong should not come up at all because as they say, what is food to one man is poison to another. People should be allowed to make their choices based on personal conviction and live with the consequences”.

Legal issues

But citing the legal implication of the same-sex bill on the rights of the average homosexual Nigerian, Barrister Amobi Agbara posits, “Legally speaking, a marriage is supposed to be contracted between •Continued on page 59

THE NATION ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 11, 2011

Life

59

Whirlwind of controversies

knowledged sex among men. However, it was an offence for two adult freeborn males to be engaged in sexual relationship with themselves. This was only permissible if his partner was a male prostitute, slave or infamis, a person excluded from the legal protections accorded a citizen.

Around 80 BC, Julius Caesar allegedly had a love affair with king Nicomedes IV of Bithynia. Also in 218, when Emperor Elagabalus began his reign, it was said that he married a man named Zoticus, an athlete from Smyrna, in a lavish public ceremony at Rome.

Also, Mesolithic rock art, dating as far back as 5, 000BC, found in Sicily, depicts phallic male figures in pairs, which have been interpreted as homosexual intercourse.

Greek philosophers, such as Plato, and Socrates also spoke of same sex relationships.

Society’s outrage against it

•Lesbian couple: 14-year jail term awaits such unions in Nigeria

a man and a woman. There is no provision in our constitution that say a man would be allowed to marry a man or a woman to another woman. The Nigerian Marriage Act talks about a man being lawfully married to a woman.

He further stressed that the passing of the bill is not an infringement on anybody’s human rights: “This same-sex thing is not one of the things that ‘freedom’ allows them

to do. We live in a society and it is up to society to determine what is right and wrong. Human right does not extend to giving people the permission to do what society classifies as wrong. Human rights should conform to the laws of the country and nobody is above the law.

On whether the United States of America and United Kingdom had a right to get involved in Nigeria’s internal legislative af-

fairs, he says, “Nigeria is a sovereign state and as a nation, we are entitled to apply our own laws without interference.”

Brief history of same sex

Available records show that same sex preceded our generation. It seems also that all through the ages, controversies surrounding it have generated much concern.

In early times, Romans and Greeks ac-

African culture versus Western cash

I

MMEDIATELY the anti-gay bill was passed by Nigeria’s senate, the British Prime Minister, David Cameron had clambered on the senate to discourage it. He opened the debate by warning that his country would withdraw aides from countries that are discriminating against same sex.

•Obama B r i t i s h entrepreneur, Richard Branson also added his voice to the gay issue. Branson who once owned Nigeria’s national airline said, “like everyone else in society, gay people have an enormous amount to offer and Nigeria should embrace them not prosecute them.”

“All of us with influence in Nigeria must do what we can to stop this cruel law.

I would urge educated Nigerians all over the world to do what they can to help fight this discrimination.”

America is not silent on this matter.

Earlier this week, President Barack Obama told US agencies to consider how countries treat their gay and lesbian populations when making decisions about allocating foreign aid.

Hillary Clinton, the US Secretary of State also told an audience of diplomats at the UN in Geneva: “Gay rights are human rights and human rights are gay rights.”

•Cameron

•Branson

The former US first lady argued that, “Being gay is not a western invention. It is a human reality.”

These comments however got a backlash from some Nigerians. Senate President, David Mark, was forthright when he told the foreign countries that “if there is any country that does not want to give us aid on account of this anti-gay law, it should keep its aid.”

Efe-Ogege Olusegun simply warned them to mind their own businesses.

Adedeji Adoyin said, “Nigeria, just like every other African country, has chosen to do what we think is best for us and we owe no one apologies for it.”

Reports confirmed that western countries have, in recent times been tying aid to liberal attitude towards same sex. In Malawi, they have succeeded in forcing the government to

review the law banning homosexuality. America currently gives Malawi about $200m (£128m) per year, with most going to healthcare.

It would be recalled that last year in Malawi, a gay couple Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza were sentenced to 14 years in prison for sodomy after holding a traditional engagement ceremony And just like Mark, John Nagenda, a Ugandan presidential adviser reacting to Clinton’s speech told the BBC; “”If the Americans think they can tell us what to do, they can go to hell.”

About five weeks ago, UK announced that it would be protecting gay rights in developing countries. Both Prime Minister David Cameron and international development minister Andrew Mitchell said that Britain would now reduce or redirect aid money away from countries with poor records on gay rights - specifically African countries such as Ghana, Malawi and Uganda.

Already, Mitchell pointed out that UK had already cut $30 million from funding to Malawi.

Even US president Barack Obama’s administration has made moves to counter such legislation.

But, the lawmakers are adamant. “We have a culture. We have religious beliefs

As far back as 149 BC, during the Roman Republic, society’s outrage against homosexual practice has been documented.

By 342, when Christian emperors Constantius II and Constans took over Rome, the first same sex laws were promulgated.

By 390, the Christian emperors Valentinian II, Thedosius I, and Arcadius declared homosexual sex to be illegal and those who were guilty of it were condemned to be burned alive publicly.

Between 244 – 249AD, Emperor Philip, the Arab, tried to outlaw homosexual prostitution but failed.

That notwithstanding, persecution of same-sex practitioners continued through the 5th century all through the 10th century.

By 1102, the Council of London took measures to ensure that the English public knew that homosexuality was sinful.

By the 13th century, homosexuality became illegal and offenders were made to face the death penalty in most European states.

In Italy, Pope Gregory IX began the inquisition where citizens called for punishments such as banishment, amputation, and •Continued on page 60

and we have a tradition. We are black people. We are not white,” said Zakari Mohammed, who is a lawmaker.

Information Minister Labaran Maku said “we reserve the right to make our laws without apologies to other countries”.

Country by country status report 86 countries in the world have laws criminalizing same sex acts.

In Africa, 38 out of the 53 African nations criminalise homosexuality and same sex marriage. South Africa is the only one that officially supports gay rights.

The following African countries criminalise same sex acts and marriage.

•Algeria – fine or up to 2 years imprisonment •Libya – 5 years imprisonment •Morocco – 3 years imprisonment •South Sudan – 10 years imprisonment •Tunisia – 3 years imprisonment •Gambia – 14 years imprisonment •Liberia – fine •Mauritania – death penalty •Senegal – 1 month to 3 years imprisonment •Togo – Illegal •Cameroon – 5 years imprisonment •Botswana – 7 years imprisonment •South Africa - Liberal •Ugandan legislators introduced The Anti Homosexuality Bill in 2009. The bill seeks to impose the death penalty for gays and lesbians.

In Burundi, parliament has passed a law making same-sex acts punishable by between 3 months to 2 years imprisonment, plus a substantial fine. It has not yet been approved by Senate.

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 11, 2011

Life •Continued from page 59

burning for homosexuals. In France, offenders also risked losing their testicles, members, or being burned. They also risked having their properties burned. And in 1265, Thomas Aquinas argued that sodomy is second only to murder in the ranking of sin.

In the 1370s, Jan Van Aersdone and Willem Case were executed in Antwerp, Belgium on the charge of gay sex. Giovanni Braganza and Nicoleto Marmagna of Venice also suffered the same fate. In 1483, the Spanish inquisition made sure sodomites were stoned, castrated, and burned.

It is estimated that between 1540 and 1700, more than 1, 600 people were prosecuted for sodomy in Europe.

Despite all these, some people still engaged in sodomy. According to Florentine court records of 1476, Leonardo Da Vinci and three other young men were charged with sodomy and acquitted.

By the 17th century, the war against homosexuals was taken to the women’s arena.

In 1649, Sarah White Norman made history when she became the first woman to be convicted for lesbianism in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Her accomplice, Mary Vincent Hammond, was under 16 and not prosecuted. In 1655, the Connecticut Colony passed a law against sodomy including women.

And in 1721, Catherina Margaretha Linck was executed for female sodomy. And between 1730 and 1811, in the Dutch Republic, trials for sodomy led to severe persecutions.

How Europe and America changed attitude towards same sex Adoption of liberal attitude towards same sex in America and Europe could be traced to the 18th century. In 1791, France and Andorra adopted new penal code which no longer criminalises homosexual acts between consenting adults. Other western countries followed suit, relaxing the laws against same sex unions. Encouraged by this turn of events, Emma Goldman, in 1910, began to speak publicly in favour of homosexual rights. And by 1970, the first Gay Liberation Day march was held in New York City.

Also, in 1973, the American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from its manual of mental disorders citing the research and advocacy of Evelyn Hooker. Before then, homosexuality was accepted in America as a psychiatric illness. Sweden also became the first country to denounce homosexuality as an illness.

By the 1990s, even the military relaxed the ban on gay people. And in recent years, there has been clamour for more rights for gay people.

Since the 2000s, many countries have become more liberal with respect to same sex unions.

Why Christians and Muslims frown against it God is not liberal on the issue of same sex. He hates it and has prescribed capital punishment on practitioners. Holy books, the Bible and Qur’an, are specific on this fact.

In both books, God shows raw anger against practitioners.

In the Christian Bible, homosexual sin in Sodom and Gomoroh angered God so much that he destroyed it.

In Leviticus 18: 22, God said, “Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable.”

In Leviticus 20: 13, He said, “If a man lies with a man as one lies with woman, both of them have done what is detestable.

They must be put to death; their blood will be on their heads.”

The New Testament Bible was also not silent on this matter. Romans 1: 26-27 says, “Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.” (NIV) In the Muslim Qur’an 7:80-1, Allah says: “And Lot! (Remember) when he said unto his folk: Will ye commit abomination such as no creature ever did before you? Lo! ye come with lust unto men instead of women. Nay, but ye are wanton folk.”

Senate has no apologies - Abaribe Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe is the Chairman Senate Committee on Media, Information and Public Affairs. He was one of those who spoke in support of the prohibition of same sex marriage by the upper legislative chamber. In this interview with Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor, Abaribe insists that the Senate has no apologies to make for preserving the country’s values and way of life.

S

INCE the Senate passed the Bill prohibiting same sex marriage, there have been controversies. Did the Senate anticipate the controversy?

What we have done in the Senate was to pass a bill brought before us prohibiting same sex marriage. Our extant law on marriage actually recognises civil union but there was no prohibition. So, this is just like making a specific provision that was not there in the extant law. This provision prohibits and criminalizes same sex marriage. That is what has been done and we also brought it in alignment with the extant law in the Criminal Code. We already have an extant law in the Criminal Code which criminalises by 14 years, having carnal knowledge of animals or people of same sex. We kind of brought in alignment the same provision by making a criminal offence by 14 years imprisonment.

Definitely, the uproar we are getting is coming from I guess the western world who have very liberal view about that. But that is not the same values that we have in Nigeria .

The Senate of Nigeria is a conglomeration of different people of Nigeria who have voted us into office to represent their views. So, what we see here is a representation of the views of Nigerians in terms of our values and our way of life. And we have no apologies to make for

•Abaribe preservation of our values and way of life.

Our way of life in the African context and our values we prohibit and we do not condone any thing in the neighbourhood of same sex marriage.

How do you place the sentiment being canvassed by those who felt that the passage of the Bill was an infringement on their rights to choose their way of life.

Well, some people will feel so but you don’t have the right to inflict your life style on the society if society also frowns at your way of life.

In the United States and in Britain, we know for a fact that if you marry more than one wife you are accused of bigamy and you go to jail for it.

This one is their own value and we have not condemned it. We here can marry more than one wife as you know. It is not an offence here.

So in the same manner what may not be an offence in the United States in terms of same sex marriage is an offence here. So, if you contrast it with bigamy then you will know that since we do not tell the people in the United States or the people in Britain how they make their own laws or conduct their own lives, they have no right to

tell us how to do our own here. So we do not understand the attempt to impose a foreign life style on us.

The same western world countries are threatening withdrawal of financial aides to the country if the Bill is signed into law.

Well, we do not think that our values and our life style can be denominated in naira and kobo or in dollars. They can go ahead and withhold whatever aides; that will not change any thing. I do not also see the type of aide that is so life threatening for us that we cannot do without to preserve our values and our laws.

It has been said that the Senate is under enormous pressure to reverse itself on the Bill.

Is that the correction situation?

No, it is not true. There is no pressure on us from any quarters. We have already passed it, the matter has now gone beyond. Once we have passed a Bill, the Bill simply moves on to the next stage and the next stage in this case is to wait for the House of Representatives to pass their own and if there is any difference in what is passed in the House and what is passed in the Senate, we will set up a conference committee that will harmonise both parts. And once the harmonisation is passed by both Houses, we will send it to Mr. President for assent. So as far as the Senate is concerned, the matter is over.

In these days of much talk about human rights and violation of human rights how do you place the Bill in terms of violation of human rights.

I have told you that this Bill does not violate any human rights. I have just given you an instance in Britain and United States . And I said if you marry more than one wife there you go to jail. And what we are saying here in Nigeria is, if you go and marry another man you go to jail. Now if bigamy is not a human rights violation in Britain and America, how can same sex marriage be a human rights violation in Nigeria? So, there is absolutely no way people can be hypocritical; on the one hand you condemn people marrying people of another sex and then in another hand you say that people of the same sex marriage you can condone it. And then you want us to do so. We will not do so.

British gay priest who married Nigerian Man

D

EVIZES has four Church of England parish churches, the oldest, St John the Baptist Church founded in 1130 and dedicated to St John the Baptist.

The Church was stunned with Rev. Coward’s proclamation, because ordained homosexual clergy of Church of England are required to be celibate. Coward failed to reassure the Church he would remain celibate with the gay union.

Coward lives with his gay fiancé in Marston, near Devizes and believes his marriage would set a “visible example” to other homosexuals within the church.

Rev. Coward speaking on his proposed gay marriage said: “My goal is for everyone within the church to feel comfortable with the situation because at the moment the majority of gay Christians marry secretly.

“It is a taboo subject but the church is now under huge pressure to change its stance and that pressure will only increase in the future.

“Clearly the blessing is going to be quite a sensitive issue. I know that many people will see it and view it with horror.

“But we are both deeply committed Christians so it would be unthinkable for me not to do it in church and not to do it with the congregation and with all of our friends.

“I hope my wedding will inspire others and set a visible example to the church that we are not afraid.”

Coward who found out he was gay when he was a teenager, kept it a secret.

He was ordained a priest in 1978 after resigning his job as an architect. He openly declared his homosexuality in 1991 to the surprise of Church of England.

Coward met his Nigerian gay partner, Egbele in 2007 at a Christian conference in Togo. The duo became engaged two years later. They plan a civil partnership ceremony October 9 at the register office

Reverend Colin Coward, 65, a homosexual priest at St John the Baptist Church in Devizes, Wiltshire, England, shocked the church when he announced his plan to marry his Nigerian male model boyfriend, Bobby Ikekhuame Egbele, 25, last year.

•Rev Coward and gaymate Bobby Egbele

in Devizes and later service at St John the Baptist Church. The service would be a communion Eucharist rather than Blessing which is forbidden for homosexual couples.

Coward speaking on the planned church service said: “Churches are not supposed to bless civil partnerships. It can bless almost anything else; animals, bombs, battleships, armies going to war but

gay couples? No. So our church blessing has to be carefully-worded in so far as it does not use the word blessing in the context of the two of us in relationship.”

Sex is only permitted for married couples under Church of England laws, but the Church does not recognize same-sex civil partnerships as marriage.

•(This report was first published in The Telegraph in August last year) •Source: www.telegraph.co.uk