December 11, 2014 by The Nation

Newspaper of the Year

Six die in Kano suicide bombings

NEWS

Page 4

•Women bombers hit market

News Ekiti speaker sues Fayose, others P7 Sports Mikel scores in Champions League P4 Business Sack fever grips aviation agencies P11

•Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

VOL. 9, NO. 3059 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

•www.thenationonlineng.net

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

N150.00

•INSIDE: STRIKE CRIPPLES OFFICES IN ONDO P7 ELDERS SEEK PEACE IN KWARA PDP P6

12 governors back Buhari in battle for APC’s ticket Okorocha, Kwankwaso under pressure to step down Atiku hopeful

•GO VERNORS ALL: From left: Wamakko, Aregbesola, Ahmed, Amosun, Fashola, Shettima and Amaechi...last night. •GOVERNORS

WELVE of the 14 All Progressives Congress (APC) governors yesterday lined up behind the candidacy of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari for the party’s presidential ticket. The decision, according to sources, was taken at a long meeting on Lagos Island. The meeting delayed the start last night, of the

WILL THE CHIBOK GIRLS KIDNAPPED ON APRIL 15 EVER RETURN?

By Emmanuel Oladesu and Dare Odufowokan

national convention of the party, which was still on this morning at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos Mainland. The governors – Babatunde Fashola (Lagos), Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Rauf Aregbeso-

la (Osun), AbdulAziz Yari (Zamfara), Kashim Shettima (Borno), Ibrahim Gaidam (Yobe), Tanko Al Makura( Nasarawa), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto) and Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara) reportedly took the decision “in the interest of the party.”. But none of them was willing to either confirm or deny the decision when they arrived at the stadium at

about 9pm. Amaechi merely told reporters to exercise patience. The governors were said to have made overtures to two of their colleagues — Rochas Okorocha (Imo) and Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano)—who are also in the race, to step down for the former military leader. But they had reportedly not taken any decision as at press time last night.

PHOTOS: NIYI ADENIRAN

Other aspirants are former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, whose supporters describedas “hopeful” and newspaper publisher Sam Nda-Isaiah. Ndah-Isaiah in a message last night, ruled out stepping down. The statement said: “Contrary to reports in some online media that Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah is withdrawing his presidential ambitions,

the Sam4Nigeria Presidential campaign organisation would like to categorically state that the reports are not in any way factual. “Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah is fully in the race and wishes to notify his teeming supporters to kindly disregard such reports. The reports are the handiwork of mischief makers who are Continued on page 4

Court holds Obasanjo guilty of contempt over book STORY ON PAGE 4

Ex-president to show in 21 days why he shouldn’t be punished

•E-BUSINESS P16 •POLITICS P22 •SPORTS P24 •EDUCATION P25 •N/HEALTH P55 •FOREIGN P64 •INSIDE:

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

NEWS

‘We gather to Text of Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola’s speech at the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Convention at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, last night. •From left: Marketing Manager, Kia Motors Nigeria, Ayewoh Peter, Marketing Manager, DSTV, Chioma Afe, car winner at the Multichoice Super Cruise Promo, Olateju Oladimeji and Public Relations Manager (PRM), DSTV, Caroline Oghuma at the presentation in Lagos...yesterday.

•Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and other Offences Commission, ICPC Board member, Mr Ekpo Nta (middle), flanked by a member of the ICPC Board, Mr Ozi Salami (left) and Aviation Minister Mr. Chidoka Osita during ICPC’s intervention in the Aviation Sector in Lagos...yesterday.

• From left: Managing Director, Access Bank, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, Managing Director, Infrastructure Bank, Mr. Adekunle Oyiloye and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO), Standard Chartered Bank, Mrs. Bola Adesola at the signing of agreement on the Lagos- Ibadan Expressway project between Infrastructure Bank and a consortium of banks in Lagos.

•The Teslim Balogun Statdium venue of the convention.yesterdayMaku

Y duty today is simple; yet it is one that excites me very deeply because as I welcome you all to Lagos and to the first Presidential Convention of the All Progressives Congress, I am confident that I am welcoming you to change. I welcome you to a change that is for the better. I welcome you to change that will liberate Nigeria from inefficient national management. I welcome you all delegates from across Nigeria, to Lagos, where the first building blocks of the country now known as Nigeria were laid. I welcome you back to the epicenter of nationalism and the home of change, where our pre-eminent nationalists forced a change from colonial government to a Nigerian government. I welcome you all back to where the promise of Nigeria was hatched, as a land of endless opportunities. Unfortunately, the bridge between us and our opportunities have been shattered by a series of broken promises by a party, Government and President for whom promises mean nothing. I have made it my task to record as many of the promises made by President Jonathan and his party. The lists of promises are as long as the list of disappointments. All over Nigeria, he made promises to us and as far as Lagos is concerned, I can tell you that those promises remain unfulfilled without explanation. I do not know what all experiences from your various states are, but I will repeat here, some of the promises that I recorded that he made across Nigeria and ask you to tell us whether they have been fulfilled.

· To complete the second River Niger bridge before the expiration of the tenure ·To make the Minister of Works to immediately start repairs of the road leading to Murtala Mohammed International Airport ·To transform all major routes in Damaturu to federal roads ·To assist in resuscitating all the collapsed industries in Kano state ·To set up a committee to review Federal government landed properties in Lagos, hand over those that should and retain those that should be in possession of the Federal Government. ·To give Sokoto-Kotangora road unfettered attention ·To deliver stable, constant supply of electricity ·To ensure that Nigerians do not use generators more than two times in a week ·To explore the coal deposits in

PDP ratifies Jonathan to run again •Security cordon in Abuja as PDP holds convention

• From left: Associate Director, Research and Development, P & G, Christopher Lucas, Pampers Brand Ambassadors Dakore Akande, Iphie Adizue and Omotola Jalade at the unveiling of New Pampers at Agbara, Ogun State. PHOTO: JOHN EBHOTA.

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday got the nod of his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to fly its flag at next year’s presidential election. His endorsement came on a day Abuja - the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), came under heavy security cordon as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held its national convention in the city. He scored 2,812 votes. He is to run with his deputy, Namadi Sambo. A combined team of soldiers, police, Department of State Security (DSS) personnel and the National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were stationed within and outside the Eagle Square venue of the convention.

From Gbade Ogunwale and Faith Yahaya, Abuja

There was also heavy security presence in other strategic locations in the capital city, with all the routes leading to the venue manned by heavily-armed security personnel. Motorists were forced to use alternative route to arrive at their various destinations. Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) monitored yesterday’s ratification of President Goodluck Jonathan by over 3,073 delegates at Eagle Square venue of the convention in Abuja. Delegates from the various states voted smoothly amidst tight security.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

NEWS

r to vote to make a choice’ ‘

Today you will have the opportunity to change broken promises to fulfilled promises and rescue Nigeria from mismanagement and bad governance Benue and Kogi states for improved power supply ·To reduce the importation of generators at least 90 percent in four years. ·To address the issues of unemployment through diversification of the nation’s economy to that of sustainable agricultural development across the 36 states of federation ·To create 1.5 million jobs in 2 years ·To transform the economy within four years ·To construct 2 world scale petrochemical plants, 2 fertilizer plants and 2 fertilizer blending plants. ·To establish petrochemical plant around Koko Free Trade Zone in Delta State ·To make Nigeria go beyond producing and exporting crude oil to exporting refined petroleum products because Nigeria has no reason to keep importing kerosene ·To make anyone caught breach-

ing the public peace to face the full wrath of the law. ·To make sure that no part of the country is allowed to be a sanctuary for criminals anymore be they armed robbers or kidnappers ·To make a complete transformation of national security architecture ·To ensure there is no sacred cow in the fight against corruption; all crimes will be investigated as security is key. · To strengthen EFCC and ICPC to fight crime ·To embark on irrigation project to boost production; to start two projects in Kwara State ·To boost farming activities by providing power and water ·To re-build Ilesa water scheme ·To complete Ife/Ijesa dam ·To provide sufficient water to the people of Taraba; ·To revamp mining activities in Jos, Plateau State ·To make solid mineral key revenue

source in Nigeria ·To fight corruption regardless of the position of the person involved ·To play politics without bitterness. ·To lead by example; strengthen the anti-graft agencies, not interfere and give free hand on all matters of investigation against any government official. ·To ensure that the National Boundary Development Agencies are funded to tackle the challenges that arose out of the ceding of Bakassi to Cameroun Today, we must rebuild the bridge that will bring change to Nigeria and more Nigerians closer to the promise of Nigeria. Today you will have the opportunity to change broken promises to fulfilled promises and rescue Nigeria from mismanagement and bad governance. Our party has carefully developed a Manifesto through which the bro-

•President Jonathan voting...yesterday. With him is Bauchi State Governor Mallam Isa Yuguda.

President Jonathan, accompanied by his wife, Dame Patience and his deputy, Namadi Sambo, led the process by casting their votes. Senate President David Mark,

Governors Goodswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom, Ramalan Yero of Kaduna, among other dignitaries, voted alongside the President. Delegates were mandated to cast

their votes at various poling units for their states at the convention. The voting process was geared towards ratifying Jonathan as the party’s flag bearer at the presiden-

ken and unfulfilled promises made to the people of Nigeria can be actualized. The Manifesto is anchored on changing insecurity to security. That Manifesto will change a dysfunctional government to an efficient Government. That Manifesto will change underdevelopment to rapid and accelerated development. That Manifesto will change our poor circumstances to a prosperous dawn. That Manifesto will change Nigeria’s global reputation from its current dismal status to one of international respect and global admiration. One man will bear the responsibility and enormous burden for implementing that Manifesto and the change that it brings. All of you, our delegates are the men and women to whom history has been so kind to bring to this day, to this State, to this venue and to this moment, to choose that man with your votes. Let me be clear. What you are gathtial elections slated for February 2015. The delegates had earlier, through a ‘yes and ‘no’ voice votes endorsed Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu as National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) last night. Mu’azu, polled more than twothirds of the total votes required. Former Senate President Ken Nnamani and former Foreign Affairs Minister, Tom Ikimi, supervised the electoral panel. Also endorsed are: the party‘s National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo and its National Auditor, Mr. Adewale Adeyanju. Before the ratification of Mu’azu by the delegates, the party leaders left the state box to felicitate with delegates at their states’ stands. President Jonathan’s movement to the Bayelsa stand was thrilling and dramatic. Accompanied by Mu’azu, the President was received by Governor Seriake Dickson and other party chieftains in the state amidst songs of victory by Bayelsa women. Sambo, also left for his Kaduna stand to felicitate with the people amidst songs and cheers by delegates from the state, led by Gov. Ramalan Yero. Ebonyi State Governor, Martins

‘

ered to do is epical. What you are gathered to do is not easy. Change is not easy. What you are gathered to do is important to the whole world. Let me remind you that we gather to vote to make a choice that will alter the way Nigeria develops and in that way, Africa develops. You are gathered to elect the potential leader of Africa’s most populous nation. You are gathered to elect the Ambassador of Change. Please do so wisely, decorously and with a sense of duty. God bless you all as you cast the votes to change Nigerians for the better. Long live the All Progressives Congress. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Thank you. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN Governor of Lagos State

Elechi, was absent at the state pavilion but other PDP leaders, led by former Governor Sam Ewgu, Elechi’s deputy and others, were at the pavilion. The Delta stand was, however, very busy as Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, with the governorship candidate of the party in next year’s election, Dr Patrick Okowa, sat with delegates from the state. The Cross River delegation was led by Governor Liyel Imoke and at the Adamawa pavilion, Governor Bala Ngilari and the state’s governorship flagbearer, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, sat closely. This was despite threats by the Adamawa delegation to boycott the convention. Former military governor of Lagos State, Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd), was seen in the midst of the Adamawa delegates as they moved round the convention venue. The delegates also approved that all governors on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should henceforth, be members of the National Executive Committee (NEC). The decision was taken after the amendment of Sections 33 (1) and 47 (6) of the PDP Constitution at the convention.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

NEWS Six die in Kano suicide bombings •Nine injured

TWIN explosion at a popular textiles market yesterday killed no fewer than six people. Women suicide bombers detonated the bombs, which injured nine other people. It was the second of such incident in the city in two weeks. Last month, Kano’s main mosque was targeted during Jumat prayers by Boko Haram militants - blamed for yesterday’s blast – killing hundreds of people. The Kantin Kwari textile market on the ever-busy Ibrahim Taiwo Road in the North’s commercial and biggest city, was yesterday’s scene of horror. The police confirmed six dead, including the two women suicide bombers. Police Commissioner Aderenle Shinaba, said that the incident happened at about 3.30 pm when the bombers, who were clad in hijab, wanted to enter a bank premises near the market. He said the security men attached to the bank stopped them.

•The scene of the blast...yesterday From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

‘’They later moved away towards the market and asked for the public utility. One of them immediately detonated the bomb concealed in her body. ‘’Shortly after the first bomb was detonated, the second went off, instantly killing six persons, including the bombers.” According to Shinaba, sev-

en other persons were injured. They were rushed to the Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital for treatment. ‘’We have also taken the dead, including the two female suicide bombers, to the morgue,” he said . He said the area had been cordoned off by security agents to prevent hoodlums from using the opportunity to loot property at the market.

•The scene of the blast...yesterday

Shinaba said security agencies were working in collaboration with the officials of the market traders association to prevent anybody from entering the market under the pretext of sympathising with people to loot. “The police ordinance unit is working to ensure that there are no explosives hidden somewhere in the market’’, he added.

Secretary of the Kantin Kwari Traders Association, Alhaji Abdullahi Abubakar Rijiyar Hudu, said the pretending bombers asked some traders where they could ease themselves and when they were shown the location, one of them stopped by a shop and immediately detonated the bomb concealed in her body, killing the owner of the shop, alongside three others.

12 governors back Buhari in battle for APC’s ticket Continued from page 1

threatened by the outpouring support from all states for the aspiration of Sam Nda-Isaiah.” There were close to 8,000 delegates at the stadium who commenced the voting last night. In his goodwill message to the delegates, national leader of the party Asiwaju Bola Tinubu said: ”You came not just as party members from your particular states or communities. You came here as representatives of a new Nigeria. “As APC, we cannot afford to squander this moment. We cannot afford to look history in the face then turn our back to it.

“Let that which you do here not only be recorded as a high moment for the party but also as an inspiring turning point for our country,” Tinubu said. He added that with the third National convention, “the history of our beloved nation is to be rewritten for the better.” Speaking ahead of the commencement of voting, former Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, who is the chairman of the Convention Committee, said he was unaware of aspirants stepping down. “I don’t have any aspirant that has stepped down. I am not aware of any aspirant that has stepped down”, he said. Fayemi also gave reasons

why voting was delayed. “We can’t be sharing space with Abuja people. We want Nigerians to watch them and see what they want to do, so when they finish their coronation, we will start our election”, he said. The programme got underway at 11.05 pm after the arrival of the presidential aspirants. After Fayemi’s welcome address, host governor Fashola also addressed the delegates. APC national leaders, who came from the six geo-political zones, were in one accord at the event. They included the Speaker of the House of Representatives and Sokoto State governorship candi-

date, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, Chief Bisi Akande, Prince Tony Momoh, Senator Abba Bukar Ibrahim, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, Senator Adamu Aliero, Chief Audu Ogbeh and Senator Atiku Baguda. APC governors stormed the stadium in grand style, waving the brooms as they collectively moved around the venue to welcome delegates. They included Babatunde Fashola (SAN) (Lagos State), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Rauf Aregebsola (Osun), Adams Oshiomole (Edo), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Aliyu Wamakko (sokoto), Abdulfatah Continued on page 63

The second bomber, who stood beside the convenience, also detonated the bomb she also concealed in her body, blowing up herself. The head of the bomber was severed from her body. Her body was mutilated. It was gathered that a male accomplice dressed in turban led the bombers into the market. He fled the scene as soon as the bombs went off.

Mikel nets first Champions League goal

•Mikel

HEN Chelsea lost to Newcastle last weekend, Nigeria’s John Mikel Obi was made the scapegoat as he was blamed for not marshalling the midfield as well as Ser-

bian Nemanja Matic who missed the game through accumulation of five yellow cards. But in Wednesday night’s Champions League clash against Sporting Lisbon, the former Lyn Oslo star gave a star performance and earned a goal for himself when he bundled home Chelsea’s third goal on 56 minutes to make it 3-1 and add to Cesc Fabregas and Andre Schuerrle goals for the Blues. The goal is Mikel Obi’s first ever Champions League goal for Chelsea after 58 appearContinued on page 63

Court holds Obasanjo guilty of contempt over book

HIGH Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja yesterday held that former President Olusegun Obasanjo was in contempt of court for flouting its orders restraining him from publishing his autobiography, “My Watch”. Justice Valentine Ashi, in a ruling, gave Obasanjo 21 days (from the day of service of the court’s orders on him) to show cause why he should not be punished for going ahead to publish the book, in spite of the ex-parte interim order made by the court on December 5 and a pending libel involving him (Obasanjo). The judge restrained him from further publishing, printing or offering for sale, the book, My Watch, which content touches on the subject matter before the court. Justice Ashi had on December 5 granted ex-parte interim orders, restraining Obasanjo from proceeding with plans to publish the book or have it published for him. It fixed December 10 as the return date. Despite the court’s orders, Obasanjo presented the

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

book on Tuesday in Lagos, arguing that it had been published before the court was misled into making the orders. Yesterday, the judge took arguments from lawyer to the plaintiff/applicant, Alex Iziyon (SAN), and the defendant/respondent’s lawyer, Realwon Okpanach, on the plaintiff’s motion for interlocutory injunctions, the defendant’s counter affidavit and motion for order to vacate the interim orders. Justice Ashi held that it was wrong for Obasanjo to have published the book despite the fact that a libel suit, which subject matter formed part of the content of the book, was pending before the court and that the orders he made on December 5 were still pending. He said it was immaterial that the book was published before the interim orders were made. Justice Ashi said Obasanjo ought not to have published the book because he was aware of the partheard libel suit relating to the letter he wrote to President Goodluck Jonathan, ac-

cusing a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Buruji Kashamu, of being a fugitive wanted in the United States. “The fact that the book was published in November is irrelevant. As long as the substantive suit is not yet determined, no party is entitled to publish or comment on material facts that are yet to be decided on by the court. “I hold the defendant, not only in contempt of the court, but to show cause why he should not be punished for contempt and ordered to undo what he has wrongly done. “The defendant, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo shall be given 21 days, from the day this order is served on him, to show cause, via affidavit, why he should not be punished for contempt committed by publishing and distributing for sale to the public, the book, My Watch, in plain disregard of the pendency of the substantive the suit and the order of this court made on December 5, 2014 restraining him from doing so. “The defendants, whether by himself, agents, servants,

privies or whatever name called, is hereby restrained from further publication or offering for sale or distribution, in any way or manner, the book called My Watch or the like of the visual or written materials, which contain a re-publication or statement extracted from the letter referred to by the plaintiff,” the judge said. Justice Ashi also ordered the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Director General of the Department of State Services (DG, DSS) and the Comptroller of Customs to recover the published book from all book stands, sales agents, vendors, the sea and airports and deposit them with the court’s registrar pending the determination of the substantive suit.” He ordered that the enrolled orders of the court be served on all media houses and be equally served on the defendant by publication in two national dailies. The judge rejected the defendant’s argument that the interim orders were wrongly made as the plaintiff failed to produce the book to show that it actually contained the alleged libellous materials.

Justice Ashi held that since the plaintiff said he came to court on the fear that Obasanjo was to publish a book that touches on the issue already before the court, it was the duty of the defendant, in whose custody the material was, to show the court that the plaintiff’s fear was misplaced. “What I find difficult to understand is why the defendants went through the pains to depose to the ISBN number and other details about the book, which they said was published since November before the interim order was obtained on December 5, without supplying the court with copies of the book. “This would have served to disprove the claim by the applicant/plaintiff that the book contains a reproduction of the letter, which formed the subject of the libel case before the court. “The fact that the book was published in November while the substantive case was still pending is contemptuous enough,” the judge said. Justice Ashi said the Obasanjo’s failure to supply

•Obasanjo

the book to convince the court that nothing relating to the subject of the pending libel case was contained in it (the book) suggested that he was hiding something. The judge is to hear the substantive suit expeditiously. He adjourned till January 13, next year. Kashamu on February Continued on page 63

ADVERT HOTLINES 08023006969, 08052592524

THE NATION THURSDAY DECEMBER 11, 2014

NEWS

Agric success claims incorrect, says former minister

LAIMS made by Minister for Agriculture Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina as achievements under his watch have been described as uncharitable and misplaced by a former Minister of Agriculture, Adamu Bello. Bello, who was agriculture minister between 2001 and 2007, said yesterday in a document that the claims by Adesina were unjustified and could not be verified from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The former minister said the performance of the sector in terms of GDP growth has been on decline since former President Olusegun Obasanjo left office. According to data from the NBS, the last time a growth rate was recorded in the sector was 2007 with a rate of 7.20 per cent.

By Seun Akioye

Between 2008 and 2011, the growth rate was 6.30 per cent, 5.90, 5.60 and 5.60. In 2012 and 2013, even though a target of 8 per cent was set, the growth rate was 3.97 and 4.50 per cent growth. Bello said: “From the performance levels indicated, the growth rate of the agricultural sector has been on the decline since President Olusegun Obasanjo left office. “I have, however, noticed that the achievements being mentioned at various for a, especially by the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, have no basis except that they were stated by the Minister in charge of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina.

•Adesina’s aide debunks Adamu’s position “ I have personally spoken with the SSA as to his source and he gentlemanly told me that he got all he said from the minister. I reminded him that there are independent government agencies especially the National Bureau of Statistics that he should check with, and he promised to take up the issue with the minister and revert back to me.” Bello also disputed claims by Adesina on fertiliser subsidy, saying claims that N870 billion had been spent on fertiliser subsidy was not true. His words: “It is only God the Almighty that will judge the unfair way past administrations are being portrayed. To claim that there was subsidy of N870 billion

spent on fertilisers since the use of fertilisers was initially encouraged by the government about 40 years ago is most unfair, as I doubt if the entire agricultural budgets for the whole period was up to that sum,” he said. Claiming that the amount was far lower than what the minister claimed, Bello said the subsidy between 19992007 was under N25 billion. ”For a fact, from 19992007, the total subsidy on fertilisers was under N25 billion. This can be verified from the Budget Office of the Federal Ministry of Finance. However, according to Dr. Adesina, the subsidy, which was abused and corruptly taken was claimed to be N26 billion annually over a period of 40 years.

However, Adesina’s spokesman Dr .Olukayode Oyeleye said the former minister did not reflect the reality. He said: “Parading those year-on-year GDP changes by the former minister has neither explained nor proved any point. Rather, it raises questions about the concrete achievements the minister had to show for his role as minister during the period he was at the helm. The differences, in terms of concrete performance, between Adamu Bello and Akinwumi Adesina, are poles apart. The purpose of the minister is not to generate or churn out flat figures, but to build verifiable sectoral statistics built upon tangible performances. “Beyond Nigeria, the

Saraki seeks UN funding on climate change

Senator Tinubu urges elders to vote competent leaders

From Sanni Onogu, Abuja

•Lists achievements

HE Senator representing the Lagos Central Senatorial District, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, has appealed to the aged to vote for persons with competence and integrity in next year’s elections. Mrs. Tinubu made the plea at her 13th Town Hall meeting and third edition of “Elderly People Assistance Scheme (ECAS)” for the senatorial district. The senator stated that a vote for persons with character and genuine heart for service would be the legacy the elderly could give to their children. She urged the elders not to rest on their oars, but to ask themselves what they could do for others. Her words: “As elections approach, we must vote for competence, integrity, character and a genuine heart for service as this is the legacy we can give to our children, because what we give to them is what we give to ourselves.” Tinubu, while quoting a motivational speaker, Chris Murray, reminded the people that the choice they make would lead them to the future they deserve, adding: “May God guide us to choose right for ourselves and generations yet unborn in this forthcoming election.” Reading her scorecard at the gathering where 1,300 aged people received N10,000 each, the senator said she introduced the ECAS programme to focus on bringing more sunshine into the lives of the ageing citizens. Emphasising the need for adequate social welfare scheme for the elderly, Tinubu said the theme: “The elderly in the eyes of posterity,” was apt for the meeting. Her words: “The question is what provisions and plans have we as a government put in place

•Mrs. Fashola, Olusi, Senator Tinubu and Sanni at the town hall meeting in Lagos...yesterday. brate our elders. A survey car- Nigeria. By Precious Igbonwelundu

to guarantee an elderly-friendly environment? “In response to this, we began our yearly celebration for the elderly within this district as part of efforts to demonstrate that social security can be achieved in the Nigerian society, while I also sponsored a Bill to provide social security for the elderly. “The Bill, National Social Security Agency Bill 2012, has progressed to the third reading stage. “Another Bill, the National Social Insurance Trust Fund (Amendment) Bill 2014, also aimed at providing social security for those registered with the NSITF Board, was referred to the Conference Committee on Employment, Labour and Productivity of both the Senate and House, which I am a member. “This committee has considered it and will present its report to both chambers of the National Assembly. I pledge to continue to support efforts that will make social security for the elderly a reality. “There is no better time than this period of festivity to cele-

ried out by the Royal Voluntary Service in the United Kingdom indicates that more citizens that are elderly will spend Christmas day alone because their children are away. “The reality is the same for many elderly citizens in Nigeria because of the collapse of our traditional system of support for the elderly. “Today, many younger ones are unemployed, unable to fend for themselves and their dependants, who are elderly. Those who should be enjoying a period of rest at retirement are forced to continue to bear the burden of providing for the younger ones.” “Beyond celebration, therefore, lies the future of our children. Today’s celebration calls for sober reflection, as we await the release of over 200 kidnapped school children, and in view of many atrocities being committed against our youths, who are the future of our country. “Our mission is to salvage the dreams of our youths, and those of the founders of independent

“Although nationwide development appears to be on the decline, we must believe in the possibility of a better Nigeria. Our duty to posterity is to preserve hope in our children. “We must guide them so that they can channel their energies into worthy causes and make informed choices to realise their potentials,” she said. At the event were wife of Lagos Governor Mrs. Abimbola Fashola; All Progressives Congress (APC) leader Prince Tajudeen Olusi; Chief Folarin Coker; Prince Murphy Adetoro; representative of Fashola, Musiliu Folarin; former Lagos Commissioners, Wale Edun and Tunde Balogun, as well as former Surelere Local Government Chairman, Tajudeen Ajide, among others. In her remark, Mrs. Fashola extolled the senator for being consistent in caring for the aged. She recalled how Mrs. Tinubu ensured that the Lagos Public Officers Wives’ Association started and completed a retirement villa in Lekki, urging other elected public officers to take

PHOTO: DAVID ADEJO

a cue from her. “This is not the first time Senator Tinubu will be doing this and it won’t be the last. But it is the first time she has brought everybody together in the same roof. Before, we usually had this town hall meeting simultaneously at our various local governments. “She is very passionate about caring for the elderly. She has not relented. I pray that God will keep strengthening her. “I advice other political aspirants too take a cue from her. She is meticulous, concerned and caring. She says things as they are. Everything that concerns her must be good because she has devoted time and resources in caring for other people. “She is sowing seed of goodness for generations to come and has led the foundation for us all to emulate because in the APC, we want nothing less,” said Mrs. Fashola. Mrs. Fashola appealed to the beneficiaries to collect their voter cards and ensure that the APC, which she said “is the party that cares about them”, is voted in at the next election.

‘INEC ’ll use electronic card readers in 2015 elections’

NDEPENDENT National Electoral Commission’s (INEC’s) Chairman Prof Attahiru Jega has again assured the nation on plans to conduct credible elections next year. He, however, urged all stakeholders, especially the pol-

iticians, to play the game according to the rules. He confirmed that voter card readers would be used for the conduct of the polls. Jega, who spoke on the measures to ensure credible elections next year, however, disagreed that

whole world is noticing Nigeria’s agriculture for the first time after over three decades of neglect. And he has numerous of these to his credit and to the credit of President Goodluck Jonathan under whom he serves as a minister. “While the GDP figures of NBS is not in dispute, Bello needs to draw the nation’s attention to the size of agricultural sector during his tenure compared to now. GDP changes don’t say much, especially if absolute figures are not available. Here are some figures that are verifiable, not based on one-sided percentage change: Private sector investment into agriculture has risen to unprecedented level within the last three years, arising from both local and foreign direct investment because of the current reforms in the agricultural sector.”

the deployment of the military during elections was disenfranchising Nigerians from voting. The INEC Chairman, who spoke at the presentation of the Nigerian Media Code of Election Coverage in Lagos, assured that all registered electorate would

have been issued with the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) by January 30. According to him, anybody without the PVC will not be allowed to vote, assuring that the card reader could not be manipulated.

Jega said the card reader has capacity to detect cloned PVC’s and cannot be manipulated to compromise the integrity of the election, except through connivance by the commission’s technical workers and the manufacturer of the facility.

HE Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment & Ecology, Senator Bukola Saraki, has appealed to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for adequate funding to combat climate change in Nigeria. The lawmaker representing Kwara Central said areas requiring intervention in Nigeria include environmental sanitation, degradation, forestry, agriculture, power and other related climate change problems. Saraki, who was represented by the Clerk of the Committee, Fatai Jimoh, and his Senior Legislative Aide, Kingsley Amaku, spoke at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change also known as “Conference of Parties” in Lima, Peru. Special Assistant, Media and Advocacy to the senator, Bamikole Omishore, in a statement yesterday in Abuja, said Saraki promised to collaborate with his colleagues to establish a UNDP/National Assembly’s multi-sectoral committee that would seek additional funds to support the Federal Government efforts on the endemic problem of climate change. Saraki said the committee, if established, would ensure judicious allocation and utilisation of any grant released to the country.

FEC meeting cancelled From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

HE weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting was cancelled yesterday to allow President Goodluck Jonathan and other cabinet members attend the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) national convention. The convention, which began yesterday at the Eagle Square, Abuja, will end today. FEC, which is the highest executive decision-making body, is presided over by the president with members, including the vice president, ministers, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Head of Service of the Federation and other presidential aides attending.

THE NATION THURSDAY DECEMBER 11, 2014

NEWS PRIMARIES

Elders wade into Kwara PDP crisis

ONCERNED Kwara State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members, under the platform of Elders’ Forum, have waded into the crisis rocking the party. The forum warned the PDP national leadership against imposing any governorship candidate in the state, urging that the postponed governorship primary should take place in Ilorin, the state capital. Eleven of the 12 governorship aspirants last Tuesday attributed the botched PDP primary to attempt by some in-

•Forum wants primary held in Ilorin From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

fluential politicians to allegedly impose a candidate on the party. Addressing reporters in Ilorin, Deputy Chairman of the Forum, Alhaji Ayinla Folorunso, said: “The authentic/approved statutory and ad-hoc delegates list should be maintained. We ran away from imposition. Therefore, we should not allow imposition in PDP. It’s true and genuine democra-

cy we want. The quarrel is part of democracy. It’s not unusual that there’s in-fighting in the party. It’s because our party is popular and we will get over it.” He urged the party’s NEC to retain the same delegates’ list containing only 709 delegates. The elders also demanded that accreditation and voting processes should be held at the same venue and same day that the primary election will hold,

adding that party local government chairmen should be allowed to identify delegates from their areas. He called on concerned authorities to set up necessary committee to rectify the anomaly. Folorunso, who said the elders decided to wade into the crisis to stem the tide of disintegration, added that they had not met with the party executives because the chairman had travelled to Abuja.

Alao-Akala picks Oyo LP ticket •Confusion in PDP over Folarin’s choice

ORMER Oyo State Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala emerged yesterday the governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) for next year’s election. His emergence followed the decision of other aspirants to step down for him to fly the party’s flag. They are Sarafadeen Alli, Nurudeen Aknyo, Kazeem Adedeji, Olu Abiala and Olatunji Sadeeq. The aspirants discussed for about three days before they gave the nod to Alao-Akala’s candidature. It was learnt that Alli, the leading aspirant before AlaoAkala, accepted to be his running mate. Alao-Akala, last Monday, ditched the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the LP. This was

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

after the emergence of former Senate Leader Teslim Kolawole Folarin as PDP candidate. In his acceptance speech, Alao-Akala, who thanked the aspirants for their love, expressed his readiness to work with them to ensure victory for the LP. He said: “The events of the recent weeks spurred us into taking this very bold step. A step that has put stop to rumours, gist and speculation within the political circuit in Oyo State and Nigeria. “I want to take you down political archive of this state in the last 35 years. No politician or group of people has ever being a monopoly of winning formula for all elections till date. The indices keep on changing every season even while our

generalissimo, the late Chief Lamidi Ariyibi Adedibu, was alive. “This year, against all expectations, something unique and historical happened. That has always being the peculiarity of political Algebra in Oyo State and this has continually goes beyond any human ability or permutation. “From the time of the late Cicero, Uncle Bola Ige (1979 to 1983), late Chief Kolapo Ishola’s short term of 1992-1993, Alhaji Lam Adesina, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, my humble self’s first stint as governor of the state and the current administration, the formula has never being the same.” But there was confusion in Ibadan last night over an alleged nullification of the candidature of Folarin. It was learnt that following the defection of Alao-

•Alao-Akala

Akala, the national leadership of the PDP decided to revisit the primary that produced Folarin. A reliable source said the party has agreed to allow all aspirants hold an acceptable primary. “It is believed that Alao-Akala will come back if the party provides a level-playing field to all aspirants,” the source said. When contacted, the Publicity Secretary of the PDP in Oyo State, Mr. Kehinde Salawu, denied that Folarin’s candidature has been nullified.

Enugu PDP disowns senator’s claim

HE Enugu State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dismissed the claim by Senator Ayogu Eze that he was the person elected as the party’s governorship candidate. It declared Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as the duly elected candidate. In a statement yesterday in Enugu, the party’s publicity secretary, Dr. Okey Eze, explained how the state primary produced Ugwuanyi. The statement claimed that the state PDP, in liaison with the national headquarters, picked

From Chris Oji, Enugu

the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, as the venue for the primary. It added that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and all delegates were duly informed of the venue for the election, stating that they attended and performed their respective roles. The party said the PDP Governorship Primary Election Panel from Abuja headed by King Asara Asara “duly conducted the election with the official dele-

gates list, ballot papers, and result sheets” obtained from the party headquarters. The panel, the statement said, announced a result declaring Ugwuanyi as the winner, haven obtained 937 votes of the 983 votes cast. “Ugwuanyi was, therefore, issued with a certificate of return,” the party said. It said: “All the statutory delegates of the Enugu State Chapter of the PDP, including Governor Sullivan Chime and his deputy; the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu; the State Chairman of the

PDP and all state party officials; all members of the National Assembly from Enugu State (except Senator Ayogu Eze); all members of the Enugu State House of Assembly (including the Speaker and gubernatorial aspirant, Eugene Odo); all local government council chairmen and local government party chairmen; Board of Trustee members, including the former National Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, etc, were all present and voted at the primary held at the stadium, along with the elected delegates.”

Cross River PDP primaries ‘free, fair’

ROSS River State Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) has described the primaries held in the state as “free, fair, transparent and devoid of intimidation”. A statement by its secretary, Godwin Etta, said claims by some aspirants, who lost in the primaries that the processes were not fair, was not true. Etta said: “Everybody in the state witnessed what happened. The exercise was one of the freest and fairest in the country. Claims of intimidation are untrue. “The delegates list used for the exercise was authenticated by the national leadership of the party. The same list was certified page by page by the various electoral panels that conducted the various primary elections.” He appealed to those who lost to understand that “there can only be one winner”.

Ihedioha hails delegates

MO State Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) governorship candidate and Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives Emeka Ihedioha has praised delegates in the primary held last Monday. In a thank you message, Ihedioha praised the delegates “for their perseverance, orderly and peaceful conduct that led to a successful primary, that has been adjudged by all as free, fair and transparent.” He enjoined those who contested for the governorship ticket with him to put the interest of the party at heart and work together to achieve victory for the PDP in the general elections. He promised to “run a vibrant, open, inclusive and issue based campaign. A campaign that will have the input of all our stakeholders. A campaign that will accommodate all interests and tendencies within the PDP family.”

Lebi wins Ondo South ticket

LAWYER, Morayo Lebi, has emerged winner of the Ondo South ticket at the All Progressives Congress’ (APC’s) primary held last Monday at Adolak Hotel, Ore. Lebi polled 1,261 votes to defeat his rival, Femi Akingbola, who got 156 votes. The returning officer, Duro Adonis, who announced the results, said 1,467 delegates were present, 1,417 valid votes and 50 invalid votes were recorded. Adonis said the election was peaceful and well-organised, adding that the party agents and candidates accepted the results declared. Lebi, in an interview with reporters, said the victory was “a well-deserved one”, dedicating it to his supporters. He stressed that the emancipation of his people was utmost in his mind, adding that his district would experience development, if elected in the general elections. Lebi expressed optimism that he would defeat other contenders at the polls.

Clark’s wife: I won in Ogun Central From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

IFE of Chief Edwin Clark Bisola Sodipo-Clark has denied that she was imposed as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Ogun Central. Mrs. Sodipo-Clark said she won the primary conducted last Monday, scoring 185 votes to defeat her rival, Lanre Laose, who polled 83 votes. She insisted that she was qualified educationally, constitutionally, as well as in experience in public service and care for the people, to contest for the office. The former Commissioner of Health, who spoke with reporters in Abeokuta, the state capital, admitted that there were pockets of violence by some hoodlums at the beginning of the primary, which prompted the party to momentarily put it on hold. She added that it was later held that same day when normalcy returned. She said: “That Monday morning, some hoodlums attempted to disrupt the process by breaking into the secretariat and harassing delegates and others there.

‘APC is ahead of others’ From Jeremiah Oke, Abeokuta

•From Left: Executive Secretary, Petroleum Technology Development Fund Mr. Femi Ajayi; Vice Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha and President, Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers Prof. Emenike Wami, at the First International Conference on Zeolite in Abuja...yesterday.

HAIRMAN, All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Electoral Committee in Ogun State Tunde Oladunjoye has said the opposition parties never believe the APC could allow internal democracy for next year’s general election. He described opposition parties as “doubting Thomas who never believe APC could conduct free, fair and credible primaries”, saying: “They are jittery over the achievements of the party.” Oladujoye, who spoke in Ijebu Ode yesterday, said: “APC is the only answer to the numerous challenges facing Nigeria at the moment.” He urged Nigerians to be concious of the people they send to the National Assembly next year, adding that their representation would decide the future of the their children. The former council chie urged Nigerians to vote for the people with good pedigree. “Nigeria needs changes. APC is ready to reposition this nation. Opposition parties never believe we could held a credible primaries. They thought we are going to impose candidate on our people and they are disappointed. As far as I am concerned, no other party in Nigeria aside the APC,” he said.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

NEWS Ondo workers on strike From Damisi Ojo, Akure

CTIVITIES have been paralysed in ministries, departments and agencies in Ondo State as the strike by civil servants entered its second day. Operators of refuse disposal vehicles have also been on “holiday”, with heaps of refuse littering the streets of the state capital, Akure. Civil servants, including teachers, embarked on the strike to press home their demands for the payment of their two-month outstanding salaries. The Chairman, Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC), Sunday Adeleye, said the government failed to accede to their requests. But the government has appealed to its workers to call off the strike, assuring them that their demands would soon be met. A top government official said the government would, next week, pay last month’s salary. The workers are also demanding for the payment of all their deductions and promotion of those who are due.

Ekiti Speaker sues Fayose, Abba, DSS

KITI State House of Assembly Speaker Adewale Omirin and 18 other members have sued Governor Ayo Fayose at the Federal High Court in Lagos for preventing them from performing their duties. Joined in the suit are the Inspector-General of Police Suleiman Abba, the Department of State Security Services (DSS), and the purported “speaker”, Dele Olugbemi. Olugbemi was “elected” by seven Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members after they claimed to have “impeached” Omirin. Also joined as defendants are members loyal to Olugbemi, namely Samuel Ajibola, Adeojo Alexander, Adeloye Adeyinka, Isreal Ajiboye, Fatunbi Olajide, Olayinka Abeni and the Commissioner of Police in Ekiti. Three commissioners purportedly cleared by the House under Olugbemi,

By Joseph Jibueze

namely Oweseni Ajayi (Attorney-General), Kayode Eso (Works) and Toyin Ojo (Finance) were also joined as defendants. The plaintiffs, in their originating summons, are praying the court to declare as unconstitutional and illegal the “election” of Olugbemi as “speaker”, among others. Yesterday, Justice Saliu Saidu granted the plaintiffs leave to serve the originating summons and all other processes on Olugbemi, Fayose, Abba and Ojo outside the court’s jurisdiction and by substituted means. The judge made the order, following an ex-parte application moved by the plaintiffs’ counsel, Moyosore Onigbanjo, led by Morrison Quakers (SAN). In a supporting affidavit, Omirin, who was elected as Speaker on June 6, 2011, said a team of po-

licemen positioned at the House of Assembly on November 17, prevented him from gaining access to his office. “I proceeded to my office as usual but was denied entry by the commanding officer who stated that he had me listed as an All Progressives Congress (APC) member on a list he was holding and was instructed not to grant me entrance into the premises of the House of Assembly that day,” he said. The Speaker said the situation persisted the following day. In addition to being denied access to his office again, his aides were recalled. Electricity supply to his lodge was cut off. Allowances afforded him by virtue of his office were stopped. “I was unconstitutionally and illegally stripped of my rights, privileges and paraphernalia of office from November 18 till date. “Each of the plaintiffs has had the same actions meted

out to them within the same period,” the Speaker said. The other plaintiffs are Adetunji Orisalade; Churchill Adedipe; Isaac Ajayi; Olajide Alabi; Kayode Fasakin; Olaniyi Olajide; Gabriel Ogundele; Olubunmi Oriniowo; Omowumi Ogunlola; Clement Adu; Peter Agidi; Ojo Ogunrinde; Ayodeji Odu; Samuel Erinle; Ahmed Shittu; Israel Daramola; Odebunmi Olabode and Bolics Boluwade. Besides, the Speaker said the bank accounts of the House were frozen, while they have been prevented from playing their constitutional legislative roles. “As a result of these actions of the defendants, no valid and constitutional legislative functions have been conducted in the Ekiti House of Assembly since November 17,” the plaintiffs said. Justice Saidu adjourned till December15.

‘Impunity in health sector must stop’ From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

HE Chief Medical Director of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Majekodunmi Ayodele, has called for an end to what he called “the impunity in the health sector”. At a briefing in his office yesterday on the upgrade of the institution to a teaching hospital, Ayodele said the frequent strikes by unions have contributed to the rot and decadence in the sector. He expressed dismay that workers in the health sector constantly hold government to ransom by engaging in strikes. The CMD said: “There is so much impunity in the system. Nigerian health workers seem not to have respect for constituted authorities. “I am not saying there should be no strike to demand for their rights, but as employees, we have to be a loyal to our employers. “We should allow dialogue to take place rather than toeing the line of impunity, which is industrial strike. “The Federal Government must take bold steps in this regard. Look at what is happening in the health system now, the Joint Health Sectors Union (JOHESU) and the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA)are fighting over leadership. “This is uncalled for. I expect the Federal Government to go hard on them by bringing how medical practice as an orthodox practice is being done in Europe and America to Nigeria.”

•From left: General Manager, Large Scale Enterprises, Joseph Babatunde; Managing Director, Bank of Industry, Rasheed Olaoluwa; Chairman\CEO, Swiss Pharma Nigeria Limited (Swipha), Colin Cummings and Executive Director, Bame Pule when Olaoluwa visited Swipha in Lagos...yesterday

Lagos allays fears over debt sustenance

HE Lagos State government has said there is no cause for alarm regarding its debt profile, saying the state remains healthy to finance its debts andcarry out infrastructural renewal across the state. Commissioner for Finance Ayo Gbeleyi, who allayed fears that the state’s debt profile could plunge it into a crisis in the future, said the state had maintained a sustainable debt ratio since 2009. Speaking at the First Annual General Meeting for the N87.5billion Fixed Rate Bond Programme II, Series II, at the Civic Centre, Lagos, Gbeleyi said the state, overtime, had been given a clean bill of health by renowned international and local rating agencies. He said: “We have three rating agencies- Fitch, Agusto and GCI. These are all independent assessment being made and an affirmation of the sustainability of the state. “The Fitch rating released September 19 did not only

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

affirm the state’s rating but also upgraded its long term rating from AA positive to AA positive stable. “This was also done for the N80billion bond. The foreign currency and local currency debt issuance rating was equally affirmed and the same thing was done for the N57.5billion bond. “You will recall in February this year, we fully redeemed the first tranche of our bond series of N50billion. “In the local market, Agusto rating has consistently issued us an issuer debt rating of AA plus and same for this year. Our N57billion, N80billion and N87.5billion are rated A, A plus and AA minus respectively by Agusto. “The same set of bonds are rated A, A and AA minus by GCI. In terms of international benchmark and debt sustainability ratio, as prescribed, either under the fiscal responsibility act, the

‘The Fitch rating released September 19 did not only affirm the state’s rating but also upgraded its long term rating from AA positive to AA positive stable’ Federal Government debt office or the World Bank Policy Programme, we have always consistently come out atop.” Highlighting some of the statistics, Gbeleyi said the debt service revenue ratio prescribed by the World Bank at 30 per cent and pegged at 40 per cent by the Federal Government debt management office, the state has consistently, over the last five years, operated below 20 per cent. “In terms of our debt to revenue we have maintained it at 80 per cent over the last five years, whereas the bench-

mark is allowed to go as high as 250 per cent. The debt to GDP ratio stands today at about 2.8 per cent compared to World Bank prescription for emerging economies at 20 per cent. “Our net end position projected to December will stand at about N450billion net of about N95billion that would have been accumulated in the sinking fund towards bond retirement and debt service. “In terms of our borrowing limit, we are currently running at an average of 31.3 per cent whereas the Federal Government under the Ministry of Finance allows us to go as high as 50 per cent. “With these statistics, there is no way anyone can say that the state is overrunning its prudential ratio level or in terms of fiscal sustainability of its ratio level. We remain conscious and committed to ensure that we continue to improve on this statistics and within international best practices.”

Three arrested for ‘tax evasion’ From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

HE Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has sealed the College of Education, IkereEkiti, Ekiti State, for allegedly failing to remit N6.7 million tax arrears. The agency, which stormed the college with armed policemen, arrested the Provost, Prof. Francesca Aladejana, Registrar Gbenga Ojo and Bursar Kayode Ige. The provost was not around when the enforcement team arrived but her arrival sparked an argument with the FIRS team, which insisted that she must go with them to make some clarifications. She begged the enforcement team that the institution would pay the arrears but her explanation fell on deaf ears and she was whisked away alongside the two other officers. Ekiti FIRS boss Gbenga Adegoke said the officials were taken away to extract a promise from them that the tax arrears would be paid. Adegoke said: “We came here because of the arrears of value added tax and withholding tax that the institution owes us. “The assessment period is between 2002 and 2007. The reconciliation was done around May 2008. It was about N12million. “Since then, the institution only paid over N5 million. The outstanding is N6.7 million. “We made a lot of entreaties and persuasions, we monitored them, on several occasions we saw the provost, the bursar and the registrar. All our entreaties fell on deaf ears. That is why we are here. “If they make the commitment and it is not fulfilled, we may be tempted to refer it to our legal and prosecution unit. They may likely face prosecution if they failed to pay the outstanding.”

Mimiko signs medical varsity bill

NDO State Governor Olusegun Mimiko has signed into laws the bill establishing the State University of Medical Science and Amendment Appropriation Bill 2014. Mimiko said the university would be a global reference point in the area of health. “We are not just building a university but a specialised one that will beat national benchmarks. The university will be a global reference point in medical care.” He said facilities at the Trauma Centre, Mother and Child Hospital, Kidney Centre, Gani Fawawehinmi Diagnostic Centre and others would not only serve the university but the entire state. Mimiko said all the courses offered in the State University of Science and Technology (OSUSTECH) got accredited in less than two years of its operations and that products from Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA) got the overall best results in the Nigerian Law School examination.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

NEWS

Oyedepo to youths: be selfless to succeed T HE Bishop of the Living Faith Church International, Canaanland, Ota, Ogun State, Dr David Oyedepo, yesterday urged youths to place others above themselves to attain genuine and lasting success. Rev Oyedepo said three qualities are key to achieving unusual success- spiritual uprightness, consistent passion for noble deeds and selfless commitment to assisting others. He spoke at the ‘Youth Alive Forum’ at Shiloh 2014. Rev Oyedepo, who began the day’s sermon with special prayers for the youth, said: “The secret of success is assisting others. You cannot lead if you cannot serve. You have to serve people to lead them. “Commitment to God is an everlasting truth; a desperation to please God at all times. There is no short cut to spirituality. Following God’s will is always the answer. “Only those who overcome youthful lusts would qualify for enlistment. You cannot wish your way into the army. You have to make the sacrifice.” Quoting from the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible, Rev Oyedepo said: “People get enlisted from age 20 and 30. There are periods for enlistment. You cannot, for instance, join the Army at my age now. You cannot aspire for political posts when you are not 18 or above. “A determined separation from God cannot qualify you for enlistment. Spirituality is a non-negotiable requirement. To be spiritually minded is to live and to be carnally minded means death. “This is the end-time army that God is preparing to take the stage before Jesus returns. The enlistment process has been on. Some of us got enlisted earlier; others will be enlisted today. “This is the end-time glorious army of the Lord, who will rescue the saints from servitude. Army of pathfinders, pacesetters and trailblaz-

•A cross section of the congregation at Canaanland...yesterday

Why God delays answers to prayers, by Adeboye

ELAYS in answers to prayers are tactical approaches God designed to show Himself as God and make his powers known, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has said. He said unless God comes to the aid of the helpless, they are done for. To him, prayers are delayed so the He gets all the glory. Pastor Adeboye spoke at the ongoing Holy Ghost Congress at the Redemption Camp, Ogun State. In a sermon entitled: “Defender of the Defenceless”, the cleric encouraged all not to lose hope even in the face of adversity, as God intentionally waits till one is completely helpless before he comes to his aid. He likened God’s style of answering prayers to a doctor who is set to perform an operation, and induces his patient, so that he can perform the surgery without interference. “It is a horrible thing to be defenceless in a hostile world such as this. But I have good news for you. Look at the sheep By Sulaiman Salawudeen

ers. “You cannot get enlisted unless and until your endurance is tested. This is the time to build your spiritual energy and inner strength through God’s words and prayers. There are things you never see until you pray, some others

Help us, Ogunpa fire victims cry

RADERS whose shops were razed in the Tuesday midnight fire that ravaged a section of Labaowo, Ogunpa Market, Ibadan, Oyo State, have called for help. Over 50 mini shops at the building materials section of the market were razed in the fire, which started at 3am. At the site yesterday, victims swarmed the area, clearing rubles and burnt items. A victim, Mrs. Abigail Adeyinka, who sells building materials, said they learnt about the incident through telephone calls from sympathisers. “We were not here when it occurred. They only called to inform us that it started around 3am. When we got here around 4am, all our wares were gone. The night guard said

PHOTO: SOLOMON ADEOLA

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

electric wire sparked when light was restored at 2:30 am. “I was devastated when I got here. The fire was still razing though fire fighters were at work. My shop was worth N300,000. “Let government to come to our aid so we can come back to our shops. I have been here for over 30 years. This is the first time there has been a fire here,” she said. Mrs. Bolaji Agbaje (58) said: “I was also called from Apata where I live. I arrived here at 4:30 am. When I saw what was going on, I burst into tears. I lost up to N400,000 in the fire. “Let government please help me. I have nobody to help me. I’m only looking up to God because I am a widow. I have been here for 22 years and have never suffered this kind of loss.”

you don’t see until you pray and fast. “Long before coming to the ministry, I became a terror to the devil and making altar calls for witches. “Searching for the invisible is a tough task. Seeking God is real task. I don’t surf or browse. I have too many things I am look-

By Nneka Nwaneri

which has no horn; cannot bite or run fast; but it has the shepherd as its defender.” He warned those who are connected to the high and mighty to see their helpers as mortals, who live and die one day. The cleric urged them to cling to the words of the great shepherd whose promises always come to pass. “It is terrible to feel lonely and forsaken by friends and family, but the God we serve is mighty to save and he alone has the ability to kill and to save; to wound and to heal and he alone has the final say on life and death.” The event was anchored by former Lagos State Attorney General Prof Yemi Osinbajo. In a message entitled: “He is Worthy to be Praised”, Bishop Wale Oke said God deserves to be praised for His mighty acts and for who He is. To him, ingratitude is a mark of wickedness and ungodliness. ing for. Those who make the news don’t watch them. “There are so many avenues to power leakages nowadays: chatting with someone on phone and other devices. “Enlistment requires you to build inner strength. It takes building spiritual strength to qualify for enlistment. I spent ages on the mountain not asking for houses or cars but the

grace and strength to see and serve God genuinely. “There is no intellectual platform that can unravel what we are saying here. Fear of God is what will establish your place in the world of man. What Moses could not get, Joshua got. He was commanded to be strong. “Passion for God and His kingdom is a requirement for

enlistment; unquenchable passion for God and his people. You never find a giant without a passion for God and His kingdom. Passion gave Gideon his place. Those committed to serving others lead. You need a passion for better life for humanity for enlistment qualification. “You need to think beyond yourselves to be listed among the end-time giants. God is all about people. How much are you aspiring to be a solution to the problem of others? Giants are born of passion. “I started the journey in 1976. Nothing comes between God and I, not wife, wealth or children. Spirituality simply connotes living by and with the word; making the word rule your life. The more dedicated a man is to God the more attained and achieved he is. “It is the wisest investment. No short cut, special password or innovation for spiritual uplift. If there is no software, there is no short cut. You must make sacrifices for real spiritual growth to please God.”

Ekiti police warn politicians not to cause trouble

HE police in Ekiti State have raised the alarm over alleged plots by some politicians and their supporters to cause breakdown of law and order over the results of the primaries conducted by parties in the state. Its spokesman, Victor Babayemi, said intelligence reports showed that some politicians, who are aggrieved by the results of the just concluded parties’ primaries, are planning to throw the state into chaos. This, according to him, was intended to “create pandemonium and fear in the minds of law-abiding residents “. He said the Commissioner of Police, Taiwo Lakanu, enjoined those who are aggrieved by the primary results to explore legal and constitutional channels to seek redress rather than tak-

•Five arrested for alleged rape •Four held for ‘murder’ From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

ing law into their hands The statement reads: “The state command is following with keen interest, the fallout trailing the recently conducted parties’ primary elections in the state. “Intelligence reports reveal that some aggrieved politicians, who lost out in the election, are planning to create pandemonium and fear in the minds of law abiding residents. “The Commissioner of Police, Taiwo Lakanu, wishes to state that those seeking elective positions are not expected to cause problem for the people they are aspiring to serve. “Therefore, he enjoins all aggrieved aspirants and their supporters to tow the line of justice by seeking re-

dress through the right channel.” The command has arrested five suspects for the gang-rape of a 14-year-old girl in Ikole-Ekiti in Ikole Local Government Area. According to a statement, Olaoluwa Gbenga (20), Dada Samson (18), Saliu Kazeem (19), Olaoluwa Lekan (20) and Aribaloye Lekan (20) were arrested on November 21 at 2pm. “The victim’s scream attracted neighbours to the room where the suspects were caught in the act. Detectives were contacted immediately and the suspects were arrested. “The victim was taken to the hospital and the result of medical examiner confirmed the incident. Suspects would be arraigned in

court as soon as investigation is completed.” The police are also investigating a murder in IlaweEkiti, Ekiti South West Local Government Area in which four suspects have been arrested. “The case involves Sylvester Godwin (14). The incident occurred on December 4 at Oko Oba Camp, Erinjiyan Road, Ilawe Ekiti, at about 9am. “Johnson Esharefa (45) left three children, including the deceased, with a loaded Dane gun unattended to. “One of the children, allegedly fiddling with the gun, shot the victim to death. The murder weapon has been recovered while four suspects, including Esharefa, are now in custody undergoing interrogation,” the statement said.

THE NATION THURSDAY DECEMBER 11, 2014

NEWS ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS CONVENTION, LAGOS

•National Publicity Secretary, All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Lai Mohammed (left) and Chairman, Presidential/Convention Organising Committee, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, at the party’s National Convention at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos...yesterday.

•Osun State Deputy Governor Mrs Grace Titilayo Laoye-Tomori (middle), Hon Wale Afolabi (left) and Secretary to the State Government Alhaji Mosood Adeoti.

•Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola (right) and Sokoto State Commissioner for Information Danladi Bako.

•From left: Lagos State Deputy Governor Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire flanked by Mrs Tina Ekwueme Adike (left) and Mrs Sharon Ikeazor

•From left: Mr Ismail Ahmed, Mr Isau Shehu Isau and Mr Yusuf Wada.

•From left: Alhaji Muho Badani Abubakar, Sani Zorro, Alhaji Aminu Sankara and Alhaji Ibrahim Umar Dankuji

•Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa (right) and Hon. Rafequat Onabamiro

•Oyo State Deputy Governor, Mr Alake Moses Adeyemo and House of Assembly Speaker Monsurat Sunmonu.

•Alhaji Adeniji Olawole (left) and Ogun State Chairman of APC, Alhaji Tajudeen Bello

•Alhaji Mohammed (left) and one time Lagos State Commissioner for Finance Mr. Wale Edun. PHOTOS: JOHN EBHOTA AND NIYI ADENIRAN

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 08023247888

Police arraign 86-yr old for N30m fraud

HE Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the Nigeria Police has arraigned an 86-year-old man, Pa Adeola Ajidahun, before an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court in Lagos Island, for allegedly obtaining money under false pretence. Ajidahun was slammed with a three-count charge conspiracy, fraud and stealing with others at large. His arrest followed a petition to the anti-fraud unit by Kehinde Ola, who claimed he was defrauded by the octogenarian Ola said the accused refused to refund his money despite several entreaties. The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge. Police prosecutor Boniface Asogwara alleged that the accused conspired with others to obtain N30 million from Ola under the pretext that the money was the cost of two plots of land at the Lekki Penninsula Resettlement Scheme in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State.

By Kunle Akinrinade

Asogwara told the court that the offence was committed sometime in December, last year. He said the offence contravened Sections 409, 312(1) and 285 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011, urging the court to remand the defendant in prison custody. The three-count charge reads: “That Adeola Ajidahun ‘m’ and others at large between December 1 and 14, 2013 at Mega Chicken Restaurant at Ikota, Ajah, Lagos, within Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to obtain money by false pretence and stealing and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 409 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2011. “That you, Adeola Ajidahun ‘m’ and others at large on the aforesaid date, place and magisterial district, with intent to defraud, did obtain the sum of N30 million from Kehinde Ola, un-

‘

That you, Adeola Ajidahun ‘m’ and others at large on the aforesaid date, place and magisterial district, did steal the sum of N30 million property of Kehinde Ola, which you fraudulently took from him to sell him two plots of land and fraudulently converted same to your own use and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 285(1) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2011.

’

der false pretence that you were selling him two plots of land at Lekki Penninsula Resettlement Scheme in EtiOsa Local Government Area of Lagos State, a representation that you know to be false and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 312(1) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2011. “That you, Adeola Ajidahun ‘m’ and others at large

on the aforesaid date, place and magisterial district, did steal the sum of N30 million property of Kehinde Ola, which you fraudulently took from him to sell him two plots of land and fraudulently converted same to your own use and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 285(1) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2011.” Counsel to the defendant Adio Abdulkareem, urged the court grant his client bail in liberal terms. Magistrate O.O Oshin granted Ajidahun N500,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum. The court held that the sureties must show evidence of tax remittance to the government in the last three years. One of the sureties must be a senior civil servant on level 16. Ajidahun was ordered to remain in the Ikoyi prison until he meets the bail conditions. The case was adjourned till January 19, 2015.

Housemaid connives with boyfriend to ‘rob’ mistress

HE long arm of the law has caught up with two armed robbery suspects who allegedly conspired with a housemaid at Magodo in Lagos to rob her mistress. They also allegedly stabbed the woman. They have been arrested by operatives of the Special AntiRobbery Squad (SARS). The suspects are: Daniel Ikong (22), Pius Dennis (20) and Mary, the housemaid, who is Daniel’s girlfriend. She is still at large. The first suspect, Ikong, who hails from Ogoja in Cross River State, told The Nation yesterday: “I am a commercial motorcyclist based at Lukosi near Shagamu in Ogun State. I am still single because I don’t have money to marry now. I live with my friend, Okey Francis, who is married with a child. I was arrested for following my friend, Dennis to rob one woman. It was my

By Ebele Boniface

girlfriend, Mary that planned the robbery. She told us that her Madam had gold and money. She said she wanted her share after the operation. “We got to the woman’s house around 7pm. Mary opened the door and we entered. She showed us her mistress’ room upstairs; we held the woman, while she (Mary) ransacked the rooms and took the money and gold. She also took two kitchen knives and gave us to threaten the woman, but the woman kept on screaming “ole, ole, ole!” Her screams attracted neighbours.” Mary, Ikong said, escaped with the money and gold, while some night guards pursued and arrested him with Pius, following which they were taken to Isheri Police Station before their transfer to SARS. Dennis, who said he is an

By Adebisi Onanuga

al Hotel, also in Ishashi. It was said that Kezzy told them to meet him at the hotel where he claimed that he wanted to reward them for a good deed they did for him. At the hotel, the policemen met their host, who feted them well with wine and chicken. It was said the cops ate lavishly, drank into stupor and slept off. In the process, their weapons, three AK-47 rifles and other live ammunition were taken away by their unknown host. The condition of the officers drew the attention of the hotel manager, Mr. Benson Osakwe, who reported the matter at the Ishashi Police Station. The officers were

HE Lagos Coroner has dismissed an application seeking to stop the inquest into the September 12 building collapse at the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) in Ikotun, a Lagos suburb. The coroner, Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe, described as an abuse of court process, the application filed by Olalekan Ojo, on behalf of the church founder, Prophet Temitope Joshua, seeking to stay proceedings of the court. About 116 people, mostly South Africans, lost their lives while several others sustained varied degrees of injuries in the incident. On November 11, Joshua filed an application for stay of proceedings of the inquest. The application, followed another motion filed before Justice Lateefat Okunnu of the Lagos High Court in Ikeja. In the said application, Joshua asked for a judicial review of the coroner’s proceedings, which began on October 13. He also, asked the court to determine whether the witness summons served on him to appear before the coroner to give testimony was not a violation of his right. The coroner, he said, had been extending his inquisitions into areas beyond its statutory purview. Ojo argued that the duty of the coroner was limited to determining what killed the victims of the collapsed building. The lawyer said it was beyond the scope of the coroner to delve into the question of what was responsible for the collapse of the building. According to him, it is not the duty of the coroner to inquire into issues bordering on building approval, soil and/ or material tests of the collapsed building. He urged the court to compel the coroner to suspend further inquisitions until

armed robber but did not use gun but kitchen knife in the operation, said he too hails from Ogoja in Cross River State. He said they did not stab the woman. “The knife wounded

her when she wanted to collect it from Mary. That was the first time I would participate in robbery. It was Mary who invited us to come and rob her mistress, but she escaped with the money and gold,” he said.

subsequently arrested and charged to court. The policemen were first arraigned on January 19, 2011, on a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing. The offences, according to the prosecutor, ASP O. Effiong, are punishable under Sections 516, and 390(5)(9) of the Criminal Code Cap. C.17, Vol. 11, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003. The convicts had pleaded not guilty and were admitted to bail by the then trial Chief Magistrate, Mr. Philips Ojo. Upon the transfer of Chief Magistrate Ojo, the case was reassigned to another Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Adesola Ikpatt, now a judge in Ondo State. The matter was later re-

assigned to two other magistrates, before it was finally concluded by Mrs. A. A. Demi-Ajayi, a Chief Magistrate, who found the police officers guilty of the charges on Monday. Chief Magistrate DemiAjayi, sentenced the three policemen to two years imprisonment, with six-month community service, for losing their service guns to an unknown person. The prosecutor, Mr. Etim Nkankuk, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said apart from serving as deterrent to other policemen, it would send message to the public that there is a punishment for any erring security agent that give away their weapons for unauthorised uses.

By Adebisi Onanuga

when Justice Okunnu rules on the issues raised. Ruling on Joshua’s application yesterday, Komolafe held that since there were no parties such as applicants and respondents or plaintiffs and defendants in the coroner’s court but only witnesses and interested parties, Joshua had no premise upon which to bring the application for stay of proceedings. The coroner said granting such relief would amount to him acting beyond his statutory power. He held further that the application for stay of proceedings did not conform to Order 40 Rule 6 of the Lagos State Civil Procedural Rules, 2012. The coroner upheld the argument of Lagos State Government that filing an application before a higher court did not automatically amount to an order to stay proceedings at the lower court. “From the order made by the High Court of Lagos State, there is no part wherein it was stated that the proceedings of the coroner should be stayed as provided for under Rule 40 Order 6, paragraph (a) of Lagos State Civil Procedural Rule, 2012. It is for this reason of avoiding this kind of abuse of processes of the court that the lawmakers provided for Order 40 Rule 6, paragraph (a) of the High Court of Lagos State Civil Procedural Rules, 2012 for cases of judicial review”, he stated. Komolafe further held that if Justice Okunnu had intended to give an order to restrain the proceedings of the coroner court, she would have done it at the point when she gave Joshua the leave to ask for a judicial review of coroner’s inquest. He adjourned the inquest proceedings till tomorrow.

Hope rises for jobless graduates

•The suspects

Awoof lands three policemen in jail HREE policemen, Sergeant Felix Okwa (47), Corporal Ogu Romanus (46) and Constable Sunday Okoh (34) will spend the next two years in jail, for indulging in “free chop.” Chief Magistrate A. A. Demi-Ajayi also sentenced them to six-month community service on completion of their jail term for “dereliction of duty, negligence and “free chop.” The policemen were attached to Ishashi Police Division of the Lagos State Police Command. They were on patrol on December 12, 2010, when at 11.30pm, they received a call from an unknown guest, “Kezzy”, inviting them for supper at Region-

Synagogue: Joshua fails to stop inquest

O enable Nigerian graduates gain experience in their various disciplines, SURE-P, a federal government establishment, has organised a Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS) to assist them. The programme, which started on Monday at the Welcome Center Hotel Limited, Airport Road, Lagos, ends today. Tagged: “Lagos State Job Opportunity Fair,” it is aimed at creating over 25,000 internship opportunities for graduates across the country and 4,000 in Lagos State. Eligible participants must have completed Nigerian Youth Corp Service (NYSC) or exemption letters; they must also be between 18 and 40 years. According to one of the conveners of the scheme, Mr Audu Maikori, SURE-P is a subsidiary reinvestment programme set up by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2012 to cushion the effect of the partial removal of subsidy. Maikori said: “When you are looking for a job, they always ask about job experience. What we are asking now

By Sampson Unamka

is how can you get experience when you don’t have a job? So, we are creating opportunities for companies who may want the extra staff strength and cannot afford to pay them to be able to take extra hands. They have ability to learn over a period of one year and after the internship, the firms may decide to keep them. Over 200,000 graduates have registered and about 10,000 companies are on the data base of GIS”. Maikori said the group encourages employers to help the graduates but do not impose it on them, adding that each graduate will get life assurance and N30,000 each month. Employers at the programme included: UBA, First bank, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Dangote Group of Companies, and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC). He said the exercise, which held in Port-Harcourt last week, was ongoing in Kano State, adding that federal ministry of finance is involved.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

Sovereign Wealth Funds are managed conservatively. They don’t borrow money the way banks do, so you can’t compare this business to banking business. This business does not expose itself to that kind of risk. It is not the same thing as private equity •Managing Director/CEO, NSI A, Uche Orji

Declining oil prices: Minister urges investment in agric

HE Minister of Agricul ture and Rural Devel opment, Dr Akinwumi Adesina has said the recent decline in the price of crude oil is a wake-up call and a challenge to the country to invest more in the agricultural sector in order to diversify the economy and build economic resilience. Adesina who spoke in Ibadan, Oyo State during the 50th celebration of Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), added that agriculture has moved from being a cultural occupation to business. According to him, the min-

By Sina Fadare

istry in the last three years has worked hard to reposition the agricultural potential of the country with a view to tapping into it. “Time has changed for farmers. Over the last three years, millions of farmers have been provided with full access to productivity enhancing technology and inputs. We are also helping them adapt to the realities of climate change, market access and generally acquire the skills required to make a successful business out of farming,” he said. Represented by Mr. D. E

Eniayeyeju, he said agriculture is central to Nigeria economy, therefore in achieving this, the ministry has adopted a strategy that focuses on the transformation of the philosophical framework of the sector so that the private sector would be giving the opportunity to unlock the potential of the agricultural sector. Adesina pointed out that “between 2011 and 2014, national food production expanded by an additional 21 million metric tons, surpassing the 20 million metric tons of food production target set for 2015. Nigeria met its Mil-

lennium Development Goal No 1 on hunger and malnutrition, two years ahead of the 2015 target set by the United Nations.” The minister explained that the private sector has woken up to see agriculture as the new wealth sector adding that in the last three years, the sector has attracted over $5.6 billion of private sector investment which include the recent decision by Dangote Group to invest $1billion in commercial rice production and processing in Nigeria. The minister who gave kudos to CRIN for provid-

ing the solid background in the area of research and training which the ministry was able to achieve a lot in the area of massive cocoa production, adding that scientist at the institute have also led in the use of biotechnological techniques to unravel the genetic base of cocoa currently grown in field plantations and research field gene banks in West Africa. Speaking at the occasion, the first Executive Director of the institute Dr Lekan Are has challenged government to always put a round peg in a round hole in the choice

of who becomes the chief executive of agricultural research institutes in the country in order to guarantee good working relationship with all the researchers and to achieve maximum productivity. In his earlier welcome address the Executive Director of CRIN, Prof Malachy Akoroda noted that it was not rosy to have achieved such a feat in the last 50 years if not for the commitment of all the researchers and administrative workers who were ready to work and achieve the best despite all odds.

CTIN’s N15b skills acquisition cash for ITF By Chikodi Okereocha

EMENT Technology Insti tute of Nigeria (CTIN) yes terday gave a financial lifeline of N15billion to the Industrial Training Fund (ITF). The funding is geared towards enhancing Federal Government’s employment generation objective through training. ITF’s training has been designed to impact skills to 350 artisans and craftsmen in each state and will cover the following trade areas: carpentry, tile laying, plaster of paris (PoP) works, electrical works, masonry, plumbing and block making/inter-locking tiles works. Speaking yesterday in Lagos at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) of the fund, Chairman, Board of Trustees, CTIN, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, said: “It is a unique collaboration expected to herald in a new philosophy of teaching and impacting knowledge to our teeming artisans and craftsmen across the country with the sole aim of enhancing vocational and entrepreneurial skills. “We are all aware that it has become a norm rather than practice to seek for competent artisans and craftsmen from the neighbouring countries, due mainly to inadequate vocational training given to our local tradesmen and women.” Director-General (DG), ITF, Juliet Chukas-Onaeko, thanked the CTIN for the gesture, saying skills development was critical to the construction industry because poor skill acquisition could also lead to building collapse. “The construction sector has been of great interest as any defect in this sector has serious implication on the nation. I see this collaboration as a right step in the right direction, as it will lead to healthy working relationship in the sector,” she said. She explained that the first phase, which starts next week, comprises training programme that will cover a state each from the six geo-political zones as well as three peculiar states of Lagos, Kano and Port-Harcourt. She therefore, used the opportunity to enjoin state governments to send in trainees, saying, “We want all the state governments to key into this initiative started by the CTIN to send in people for training to boost Nigerian industries. This will reduce unemployment in the society.”

• From left: Assist Manager, National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Mr. Seun Atte; Officer, Retail Proposition and Products, Sterling Bank Plc, Opeoluwa Olubola; Officer, Retail Proposition and Products, Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Gbenga Adegoke, and Planning Research and Statistics Officer, Consumer Protection Council, Mrs. Nwosu Esther, at the Sterling Bank GUNNERS PROMO Draw in Lagos... on Tuesday

NLNG woos investors for new Lagos dockyard

HE Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited has urged investors including banks and other financial institutions to support the construction of a new dockyard in the country. The dockyard planned to be located in Badagry, followed the conclusion of feasibility studies by Royal Haskoning DHV, an independent, international engineering and project management consultancy firm, based in the Netherlands. The outcome of the studies is a fallout of the benefits of NLNG’s $1.6 billion contract with shipbuilders, Samsung Heavy Industries and Hyundai Heavy Industries,

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

for the building of six new vessels. NLNG said it is leveraging on the agreement with the ship manufacturers, to secured a number of lucrative opportunities beneficial to the Nigerian economy, including the training of about 600 young Nigerians in various aspects of ship-building, procurement of goods from Nigerian companies and the feasibility studies for building a dockyard. Feasibility studies for citing the dry-dock were carried out on seven places— Badagry, Lekki FTZ, Ladol Island, Ogogoro Island, Olokola FTZ, Onne, Bonny —

before consultants identified Badagry as the best-in-class location for the dockyard. NLNG’s Managing Director, Babs Omotowa who spoke at the forum held at the proposed site for the dockyard in Badagry, said: “This dry-dock, when completed, holds huge potential for the investment community. Our LNG vessels and very large crude carriers (VLCC) of other companies in the oil and gas, and marine industries, which are currently maintained overseas, resulting in millions of dollars being spent overseas, will soon be maintained incountry with tangible valueadds for the Nigerian economy.”

Observers of Nigeria’s maritime sector have long lamented the absence of an operational dockyard to cater for very large crude carriers (VLCCs) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers as existing dockyards can only handle smaller vessels. Lack of such a facility has compelled owners of large vessels in Nigeria and other West African countries to pay large sums of money to docking facilities located mainly in Asia, Europe and the Americas that can accommodate such large vessels. The dry-dock is also planned to be operated and managed according to international standards, and when operational, will gen-

erate revenue and add jobs to the economy. “I can confidently tell you that if we have a dockyard here, Nigeria LNG with its current 13 vessels in our fleet will be one of your patrons. When our company receives its six additional vessels from Samsung Heavy Industries and Hyundai Heavy Industries, those vessels will also be maintained here. I have no doubt the other players in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry will also be looking to service and maintain their vessels at this ship yard once it becomes operational,” said Capt. Temi Okesanjo, NLNG’s General Manager, Shipping Division, at the event.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

BUSINESS NEWS

• From left: Publisher and CEO, EMEA Finance, Christopher Moore; Group Executive, Transaction and Private Banking, FirstBank, Mrs. Bernadine Okeke;, Head, Marketing & Corporate Communications, FirstBank, Mrs. Folake Ani-Mumuney; and Editor, EMEA Finance, Tim Burke, at the EMEA African Banking Awards 2014 held in London. FirstBank was adjudged the Most Innovative Bank in Africa at the forum.

Uncleared cargoes litter MMIA

NE week after the Comptroller-Gen eral of the Nigeria Customs Services (NCS) Alhaji Abdullahi Inde Dikko ordered the reopening of the cargo terminal at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos, investigations revealed that over 75 per cent of the cargoes are yet to be cleared. The delay in the clearance of cargoes is coming on the heels of allegations by clearing agents that the management of the two ground handling companies, the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCo) and the Skyway Aviation Handling Limited (SAHCOL) are claiming demurrage for the goods not cleared during the period of the shed closure. Meanwhile, the Manager, Corporate Communications & Branding, NAHCo, Mr. Tayo Ajakaye has denied any planned increment in fee on the cargoes by the ground handling company. He insisted that the ground handler has enough personnel to accelerate cargo clearance within its warehouse. Our reporter who visited the apron area of the airport yesterday observed that uncleared cargoes still flood the tarmac while cargo planes still import goods into the country despite the non-clearance of cargo. A source close to the clearing agents has however heaped the blame on the door steps of the ground handlers, inisisting that they don’t have capacity to ensure speedy clearance of goods in their warehouses. The source claimed that only 25 per cent of goods had been cleared so far by the companies, stressing that the stringent measures also put in place by the customs is slowing down progress at the tarmac. He added: “Unlike in the past where these goods would be cleared almost immediately due to the assistance from clearing agents, it is no longer the

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

same. In fact, some goods now spend extra days in the warehouses of the ground handlers due to insufficient personnel and the new measures put in place by the customs. He said: “Also, just few days ago, management of the two ground handling companies threatened to impose additional charges on good not cleared with a specific period. How can we clear the goods when the personnel on ground are not capable of discharging their duties as expected?” Ajakaye explained that NAHCo employed 40 additional workers a few weeks ago who were on training during the period of the closure and have now resumed work in cargo services. He noted that 30 of the new recruits were deployed to China Bulk Breaking; five to General Bulk Breaking and another five to Export Warehouse, adding that these were in addition to the workers who work in those units before the closure. On the demurrage claim, Ajakaye denied any additional fee by NAHCo, saying that for all shipments still in the tarmac, there is no demurrage paid. He said: “These shipments are not in our cargo warehouse yet. For shipments that have been tallied and are in our warehouse before the closure of the warehouse, there would be no demurrage charged. “For shipments whose documentation were completed and who have customs exit paper before the closure, no demurrage is charged. “Only those shipments which have entered our warehouse and not yet tallied at the time of the closure would attract payment of demurrage. “Even, at that, of the total 16 days, eight days would be waived. However the waiver would only be given on the review of the cases on a case - by - case basis.”

NCC raids telcos over illegal operation

EGULATOR of the telecoms sector, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday in Lagos, descended on four telcos for allegedly using the 5.4gigahertz (GHz) frequency band without its approval. Three of the operators allegedly operated without obtaining license from the NCC, providing services using the network of Medallion Communications, an interconnect clearing house and infrastructure provider. Led by its Head, Enforcement Unit, Salisu Abdu, the team went with spectrum monitoring van (SMV) to examine and confirm the culpability of the service providers. The companies are Switch Talk Technologies, Multi Dimension Technologies Limited and Netcom Africa. Speaking with reporters after the exercise, he said: ”We had an enforcement exercise to clean up the 5.4 GHz frequency band. The 5.4GHz frequency band up till 2009, used to be a license free frequency. The NCC came up with guidelines for deployment of services in 5.4 and 5.4 to 5.7 GHz which is now a licensable band on

Stories by Lucas Ajanaku

which no operator should operate until the purchase of the license to do that. We have monitored compliance with the guidelines and we discovered that many operators are still operating on the 5.4GHz since 2012. We have to clean up their operation to free the frequency from any interference. Another monitoring exercise was carried out by the Director Spectrum Administrative Department of the commission. It was discovered that some operators, about seven of them, were operating in the 5.4GHz last year. That is why we are in Lagos.” Abdu said the team had earlier visited Steel Broadcasting Company earlier and found them to be operating in the 5.4GHz band, adding that its equipment were confiscated ‘and they are currently under investigation after which they would be prosecuted and fined. “Today, we identified three operators, Switch Talk Technologies, Multi Dimension Technologies Limited and Netcom Africa; they are all operating in the 5.4GHz without license. Currently, we have re-

moved the power unit carrying the radio which they are using for providing services and we asked them to power the actual radio from the mast which will be handed over in the commission and investigation will be carried out accordingly,” he said. He explained that there is a different between the commercial use and private use of the spectrum in its guidelines issued by the commission in 2009. Abdu noted that the guidelines made for provision for services in the 5.4GHz stipulated that firms could only use the license only for commercial usage while the 5.8 GHz requires site registration and could only use it for private operations. He said the remaining companies are still under investigation, adding that the exercise will continue till Friday to flush out all illegal operators. “In the course of our enforcement, we will be able to detect whether the three others are also culpable for operating under the 5.4GHz without licence.” He explained that the three operators were co-locating under one telecoms mast. He said: “I wouldn’t

•NCC CEO, Dr Eugene Juwah

like to say they are disguising under Medallion Communications really, they are co-locating under a telecoms mast that doesn’t belong to them. They using a mast belonging to a licenced operator and they are tenants and there is an agreement between the owner of the mast and the three operating companies. That is another relationship entirely between the owner of the mast and the affected telecom companies which I wouldn’t speak on that.” He said Medallion won’t be liable because they are only giving them a space and they are not under obligation to do any confirmation.

Re-tooling vital to SMEs’ sustainability, says Zinox chief C HAIRMAN of Zinox Group, Chief Leo Stan Ekeh has urged entrepreneurs to embrace the concept of re-tooling for sustaining their entrepreneurial drive and corporate relevance in today’s dynamic business environment. He spoke at the maiden edition of Fidelity Bank Annual SME Conference with the theme: Positioning Nigerian SMEs for Growth held at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island. Chief Ekeh, who led the panel discussion on the topic Leveraging Technology for SME Growth, noted that contemporary business has undergone profound transformation, especially with the impact of internet-mediated technologies which has lent an unprecedented measure

of speed, innovation and efficiency to business processes. While acknowledging that access to the internet has significantly placed Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria on a much more equal footing with their counterparts in other climes, he counseled entrepreneurs to capitalize on the influence of technology to drive business growth. He said: “This is the century of the Black Man and only technology can take us there. Whether you belong to the past century or the present century, you must re-tool in order to remain relevant as an entrepreneur. Today, modern technology has created immense pos-

sibilities for us and we must take advantage of them to grow our businesses. There are major platforms at your fingertips; huge apps that have created integrity and transparency in business dealings. The 21st century is one of freedom; freedom to be who you want. “You must manage your businesses with integrity in the current technological dispensation. There can be no short term, medium or long term business plan without short term, medium or long term objectives. This is why you must start small and grow from micro to small, medium and then a large scale enterprise because the world only elevates you when you become a large

stock.” Tracing the infrastructural challenges he encountered while starting out in business and which have now been surmounted with the advent of wider access to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools such as the internet and the proliferation of mobile devices, Chief Ekeh urged the participants to remain positive in the face of current challenges, noting that these will soon be a thing of the past. He said: “You must remain positive in spite of the disruptions in the system, especially with the fall in crude oil prices and the fluid state of the naira. You must be positive and watch the gaps.This is our country; we must fix it.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS INDUSTRY

industry@thenationaonlineng.net

To reposition Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), the Bank of Industry (BoI) has signed a service agreement with 122 Business Development Service Providers (BDSPs). This may signal a new dawn for SMEs, as it promises to address the challenges of poor packaging of loan requests and non-bankable business plans, which are responsible for the low level of financial support to the sector, Assistant Editors, CHIKODI OKEREOCHA and OKWY IROEGBU-CHIKEZIE report.

T’S the most revolutionary step in devel opment banking aimed at improving ac cess to finance by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). If more credit gets to SMEs, we will create more jobs.” There were the words of the Executive Director (SMEs), Bank of Industry (BoI), Mr. Waheed Olagunju, at the signing of the service agreement between BoI and Business Development Service Providers (BDSPs) in Lagos, last week. Its Managing Director, Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa said loans to SMEs accounted for less than 10 per cent of BoI’s total loan portfolio. This is not because there are no loanable funds for SMEs. He identified poor packaging of loan requests and non-bankable business plans as responsible for the low level of financial support to the SME sector. He said it was in recognition of these challenges, as well as in fulfilment of BoI’s mandate of providing long-term finance and business support services to large, medium and small projects, that the bank decided to engage the services of BDSPs. At the signing of the agreement, Olaoluwa said the BDSPs would collaborate with BoI to identify credible SMEs that require finance. They would also develop bankable business plans and proposals for SMEs to facilitate their access to finance. That is not all. The BDSPs, who emerged after a rigorous and painstaking selection, would, according to the managing director, provide post-finance services, such as mentorship, handholding, financial advice and inculcation of best practices. They would also support the SMEs to develop synergies and sustainable relationship with large enterprises, industrial buyers, and suppliers along the value chain. In opting for a strategic repositioning of SMEs through the agreement with BDSPs, the BoI chief said the bank was encouraged by the importance of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to the economy. He said, for instance, that figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that there are over 17 million MSMEs in Nigeria, accounting for over 90 per cent of all firms and employing over 30 million people. The enterprises, he added, also account for about half of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). He pointed out that the launch of the National Enterprise Development Programme (NEDP) by President Goodluck Jonathan underscored the strategic importance of MSMEs to economic development. He said BoI’s role under the NEDEP is to provide long-term finance to viable MSME projects, and that as part of effort to discharge such role, the BoI chose to engage the services of BDSPs. For the BDSPs, however, it was not a smooth ride. They emerged after a rigorous selection. Olaoluwa said: “On July 14, 2014, we published in some national dailies a Request for Proposal (RFP) from prospective BDSPs. Three hundred and thirty-one applications were received nationwide.” He said at the end of the evaluation, a total of 122 firms were shortlisted as BDSPs in three categories based on their capacity and their preferred areas. While a total of 28 BDSPs had capacity for national coverage, 74 are to operate on zonal basis, leaving 20 BDSPs with state coverage. Explaining how the BDSPs would be remunerated, the BoI boss said there was an initial token fee to be paid by the SME to the BDSP “

BoI in new strategy to reposition SMEs before the submission of the business plan and loan application to BoI. This would be based on a graduated scale. For instance, while an initial token fee of N10, 000 would be paid for a loan of less than N10 million, N25, 000 is for a loan amount of between N10 million and N50 million. A loan amount of between N50 million and N200 million attracts initial token fee of N50, 000. “This initial token fee is designed to ensure that SMEs show some commitment to their projects and help to eliminate frivolous applications,” Olaoluwa explained, adding that the total success fee shall be 0.5 per cent of the approved loan amount and shall be payable by BoI as follows: 50 per cent of the total fee payable after the collection of the loan offer letter by the SME; balance of 50 per cent of the total fee payable immediate after the disbursement of the loan by BoI. To keep the BDSPs on their toes, there are some specific performance benchmarks they must satisfy, failing which they may be delisted by BoI. For instance, they must make full disclosures to BoI on the SMEs and any BDSP that misrepresents facts while processing any loan application shall be blacklisted. Also, business plans and loan applications submitted shall be in accordance with BoI’s

‘

RAC and other applicable criteria which shall be communicated to the BDSPs by BoI. Besides, each BDSP is expected to achieve a minimum of 10 successful applications yearly, and any BDSP that fails to achieve a success rate of at least 40 per cent in terms of successful loan applications may be disqualify from the renewal of the agreement. With this initiative, BoI has taken a major step to address the deficiency of lack of capacity inherent in most of our SMEs,” the MD said, pointing out that to facilitate regular dialogue and exchange of ideas between BoI and the BDSPs, a closed online user group platform has been created on BoI’s website. He, however, clarified that regardless of the appointment of BDSPs, customers are at liberty to apply for loans directly to BoI through any of the bank’s physical offices across tthe country, or digitally inclined customers who are also at liberty to apply through BoI’s online application portal. He expressed optimism that through this partnership, the job and wealth creation objectives of the Federal Government under the NEDEP will be realised. Some of the successful BDSPs share Olaoluwa’s optimism over the prospect of bountiful job and wealth creation through the platform of the ser-

Loans to SMEs account for less than 10 per cent of BoI’s total loan portfolio. This is not because there are no loanable funds to SMEs.

‘

•Rasheed

vice agreement. Describing the agreement as “heart-warming and the beginning of a new way of doing things,” Mrs. Folasade Odunaiya, Executive Director, IBFC Alliance Limited, one of the BDSPs, said: “We have a government that is interested in uplifting small businesses to create more jobs.” She, however, called on BoI to take a look at the commercial side of the agreement as the fee is small. The Managing Director of Resort Consult Limited, a BDSP, Mr. Femi Ekundayo, agrees with her. “It’s a challenge,” he said, adding however, that the BoI-BDSP partnership is a call to national service. While calling on BoI to empower the BDSPs through training, he noted that the principle of inclusion is what BoI had done. Indeed, Ekundayo and other experts believe that the successful co-creation of this SME-business development eco-system signals the beginning of a new dawn for SMEs. Apart from addressing the age-long challenge of lack of capacity in most SMEs in Nigeria, it is expected to help address the low level of financial support on page 52 to•Continued SMEs.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS LABOUR

Labour warns Fed Govt against retrenchment

HE Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has warned of dire consequences if the government retrenches workers under the guise of austerity measures. In a statement in Lagos, its President, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama and Secretary-General, Comrade Alade Bashir Lawal, warned that any attempt to sack workers or reduce their salaries would amount to declaring war on them, which would be resisted by labour. “When the economy boomed, the political office holders were freeloading as if there is no tomorrow while most Nigerian workers lived below $2 per day. During that same period, workers called for better pay package, but were rebuffed by the ruling elite. It was enjoyment

Stories by Toba Agboola

galore for those in the government while helpless and hapless workers roasted as if they were not stakeholders in the system. “Indeed, as at today, the meagre N18,000 monthly minimum wage approved in 2011 by the Federal Government has not been fully implemented by some state governments and as such, it will be the height of insensitivity for any government to contemplate sacking civil servants or reducing their pay in the name of austerity measures,” the Union stated. It added that the Union had advised the Federal Government many times, to reduce the whopping pay packets and mouth-watering allowances of political office holders and check other leakages that encourage corruption in

the system, but the wise counsel fell on deaf ears. “Records also show that this Union, on several occasions, cautioned the Federal Government to stop the depletion of foreign reserves and needless rush to seek foreign loans for white elephant projects because such mindless profligacy can only lead to the collapse of the economy “It is very sad that it took a drastic drop in the price of crude oil in the international market for the economic managers including selfstyled experts to realise that the government must exercise restraint in the squandermania that has been going on in the country including

plugging of loopholes to beef up revenue base,” the Union regretted. The ASCSN, however, wondered if the recent decision by the government to spend more than N9 billion to purchase stoves for “rural women” was not part of frivolous expenditure that had brought the economy to its knees. According to the Union, the government should learn to conserve fund, avoid conspicuous consumption, including needless competition by political office holders to own private jets to be bought and maintained by the government. ”If political office holders do not check their greed, no amount of

belt-tightening will save the economy. As we write, the life style of those in government does not match the noise being made about austerity measures. This, by implication, means that the measures are meant for the poor masses of this country as opposed to the rich ones which the government wants us to believe,” the Union emphasised. It, therefore, called on the government to close all avenues that encourage corruption and drastically reduce the humongous emoluments of political office holders to bring them in tandem with remunerations in other segments of the society.

Over 15,000 packaging jobs threatened, says MAN

HE National Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) may be under threat from the illegal operations of some packaging firms in the Ogun Free Trade Zone. Operators in the Pulp, Paper and Paper Products, Printing, Publishing and Packaging Sectoral Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) accused companies operating in the zone of manufacturing corrugated cartons, which is on the banned list of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS). A letter signed by the group’s Chairman, Princess Layo Okeowo, to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Mrs. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, it alleged that the companies also sell 100 per cent of their finished goods in the zone at prices lower than those outside without paying duties, taxes and other financial obligations to the various tiers of government. The manufacturers said the ad-

verse effect has forced their members to shelve expansion and modernisation plans, while smaller units are on verge of closure the livelihood of thousands of employees under threat as their sales have dropped drastically. The National Union of Printing, Publishing and Paper Product Workers (NUPPPPROW), in a statement signed by its President, Comrade Ayokunle Olaoye and General Secretary, Comrade Fatai Salami, said companies, which earlier engaged numerous workers are being forced to reduce their workforce by over 65 per cent because activities in the zone. The union said: “With total disregard to Federal Government’s Industrial plan, some non-patriotic companies in the zone have resorted to importing finished printed and cut to size papers, cartons and flexible packaging materials as their raw materials.”

RATTAWU plans protest over digital switch

HE Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers’ Union (RATTAWU) is not excited by the digital switch scheduled for next year. It said the government is not prepared for the challenges of funding and legislative backing and called for the extension of the take off date to 2020. Its President, Comrade Yemisi Gbamgboshe, told reporters that there is no structure in place by for the proposed switch. He said: “We are not in support of the Federal Government digitisation process because of the challenges of funding, legislative backing, sensitisation of the public, the signal distributor and the plan for workers as well as no proper structures on ground to suggest that the country is ready for digital switch over in 2015. “As a critical stakeholder in the broadcast sector, we have made it known, based on available information, that there are no proper structures on ground to suggest that the country is ready for digital switch over in 2015.” RATTAWU also called on its members to be at alert for mass action should the government go

ahead with the planned digitisation process when it is obvious that there is no structure in place for the scheme. According to Bamgboshe, there is no African country that has switched over except Tanzania. He added that the situation in that country also suggest that the whole process has hit the rocks and may likely return to analogue. He said many European countries have not switched over despite the fact that they started long ago. Bamgboshe noted that all over the world, most especially in countries where the switch over have been successfully carried out, it was their governments that bankrolled the project including subsidising the procurement of set top boxes. “Although the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), saddled with the responsibility of supervising the switch over, kept assuring stakeholders of its readiness to switch over as scheduled, but the current situation on ground clearly shows that the country is far from ready,” he said.

•The Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Managing Director, Mr. Ben Langat (middle), presenting a gift to the best graduating trainee, Miss Sylvia Ofiani, at an event marking the completion of NBC's 15-month Graduates’ Training Certification in beverage bottling operations in Lagos. With them is Head, Technical Training, Pastor Tope Dada.

ITF, NECA partner firms on HE Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) and the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) are partnering with some companies on capacity building and training. NECA and ITF have met with Kamjay Farms Limited, a poultry/ aquaculture outfit, on ways to train more youths to embrace farming. Speaking during tour of the company, ITF Director-General Dr. Juliet Chukkas-Onaeko, said more people would be trained when NECA and IFFcollaborate with more companies, the agricultural sector, she noted, is larger than other sectors in terms of employment and job creation. She also stressed the need for government’s support for their activities. The company trains 25 to 30 youth per batch. However, Dr. Onaeko said the number would be increased to 100 next year to accommodate those who wish to key into the programme. The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Kamjay Farms Limited, Mr Bode Oyedele, said real growth cannot be achieved without the agricultural sector. “If we are talking of real growth, we cannot leave out agriculture because without it, there is no life, there is no economy,” he said. He stressed the need for support from the government, especially for the trained youths to stand on their feet. With the collaboration of NECA

job creation and ITF, Oyedele said, Kamjay had been able to train more youths on various aspects of agriculture. He disclosed that the trainees were more interested in the aspect of fingerlings rearing because it is more lucrative than others and requires less capital to set up. “Because Lagos is an aquatic state, we initially concentrated on aquaculture, but our students and the trainees showed much interest in fingerlings so we have to do more of that,” he explained, adding that with few pieces of fingerlings (two males and three females), one could produce about 25,000 fingerlings within a short period of time and realise about N750,000. A fingerling is sold for N30. He added that many people were keying into fingerling production because of its higher demand. Oyedele, who said he has keyed into the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) of the administration, explained that his company is the only firm approved to supply fingerlings to farmers in Lagos State under the GES scheme. However, with the present 500,000 production capacity, the company is yet to meet up with the demand for the fingerlings in the state. Oyedele, however, explained that the support of NECA

and ITF in the procurement of feed mills has helped the company to increase its production and produce feeds for its own farm and other farmers in Lagos State. He called on the Federal Government to subsidise agricultural products for the growth of the real sector, saying that unlike any other goods, price of agricultural products could not be easily controlled by the farmers. For example, he said, while the price of feed mills keeps soaring, the price of eggs has not changed in the market. The aim of NECA/ITF collaboration is to get youths out of unemployment by giving them training on poultry, aquaculture and other aspects of agriculture to be job creators. NECA’s Director-General, Mr. Segun Oshinowo, said the purpose of the synergy is to reduce the rate of unemployment among youths by training them on how they can create jobs even with little capital at their disposal. “By being here, we hope to create jobs by getting the youths trained so that they can stand on their own,” he said, noting that there are huge potentials in the agricultural sector especially, in the area of aquaculture. The NECA boss appealed to the government to support the initiatives with funds as both organisations lack financial capacity to carry out their assignments.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS e-Business

e-mail: lukajanaku02@gmail.com

More than a decade after the telecoms’ revolution, the quality of data services provided by the operators has remained a nightmare to subscribers. Data consumers say the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) should do more to protect them from exploitation, reports LUCAS AJANAKU.

Subscribers bogged down by poor data services F

ROM the way he behaved at the event, it was clear he had long waited for an opportunity to express his displeasure on the quality of services (QoS) he got from his service providers. So, when the regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), provided telecoms consumers an opportunity to interact with its officials at the last Lagos International Trade Fair, organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), at the Cricket Oval, Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, Mr. Taju Onitiju used the opportunity to decry the poor quality of services and the depletion of his ‘credit’ through continous delivery of text messages, which he had sent. According to him, at the last count, sent messages were more than 500. As a manifestation of his frustration, he ‘ignorantly’ accused the NCC, which had sanctioned the operators, of complicity in the cleverly orchestrated fraud being perpetrated by the telecoms operators against their customers in the country. Director, Public Affairs, NCC, Mr. Tony Ojobo and Deputy Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau (CAB), NCC, Dr Atoyebi, took time to assure the audience, including Mr. Onitiju, that the regulator takes the issue of consumer protection seriously because it is one of its core mandates. Data users also suffer QoS challenge. While there is key performance indicators (KPIs) set down by the NCC with the consent of the telcos for voice calls, it is not clear if there is any such parameter in the data segment of the industry. The CAB, however, said it has been inundated with an avalanche of bitter complaints by data subscribers through its the Telecoms Consumer Parliament (TCP), Consumer Outreach Programmes (COPs) and Consumer Town Hall Meetings (CTMs). Thus, it was not a coincidence that the last TCP convened in Lagos by the NCC had Data Service Delivery: The Way Forward as its focus. Director, CAB, NCC, Mrs Maryam Bayi, defined data service as the distribution of internet service on demand to the user regardless of geographic or organisational separation, adding that it is also the ability of network operators to provide data services to consumers on demand.

Data service challenges Although data services have many advantages, it have some potential drawbacks. These include server downtime from data service provider, data loss in the event of a disaster, and inadequate security of the data, both in its stored location and in transmission among users. She said the CAB has, through its Complaint Management Database, identified four major complaints by the subscribers.

Consumers’ headaches

•Minister, Communications Technology, Mrs.Omobola Johnson

•Juwah

‘The importance of data services to global technological revolution and contribution to national economic and social development cannot be overemphasised. Data services, through broadband would facilitate services such as egovernment, e-commerce, e-agriculture, telemedicine, e-education and a host of other benefits’ •Mrs. Bayi

emerging economies is greater than for high-income countries, which “enjoyed a 1.21 percentage point increase in per capita GDP growth” per 10 per cent increase in broadband penetration. Mrs Bayi said data services are able to

eliminate redundancy and streamline costs. This is because critical data is housed in one location, enabling data to be accessed and/or updated by multiple users while ensuring a single point of reference for updates.

She said: “Sourcing from our Complaint Management Database, we have compiled the most prevalent consumer complaints on Data Service Delivery. These include inability to browse; abnormal depletion of data; unsuccessful data renewal; and unauthorised service renewal.” Inability to browse happens when internet service browsing is not active and a user is unable to connect to the internet. “Subscribers complained most often that they have Enhanced Data for Global Evolution (EDGE) on their phone, but they cannot connect to the browser and yet their data bundle expires at the end of the month because there is no allowance for data roll over,” Mrs. Bayi said. Abnormal depletion of data is another nightmare of the subscribers. This occurs when there is minimal or no internet activity while the resulting data usage does not correspond with actual usage. Another issue is unsuccessful data renewal, which happens when the data bundle purchased had expired. Consumers so often purchase data, transaction confirmed as monies have been debited, but data renewal fails and there is no active data bundle. The issue of unauthorised service renewal is another sore point of the subscribers. For mobile subscription, it happens when consumers’ voice credit gets depleted on expiration of data bundle plan without consumers’ authorisation, thus resulting in drop in air time balance. Speed is another challenge. Some of the operators promise the speed they lack the technology to provide just as they lie about the technology deployed to roll out services to the consumers. The Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, NCC, Dr. Eugene Juwah lamented that the service quality being provided by the operators have become worrisome, lamenting that some of the operators provid• Continued on page 48

Graphical representation of Complaints Data (July - Oct, 2014)

Benefits The importance of data services to global technological revolution and contribution to national economic and social development cannot be overemphasised. Data services, through broadband would facilitate services such as e-government, e-commerce, e-agriculture, telemedicine, e-education and a host of other benefits. A frequently cited World Bank study found that low-income and middle-income countries experienced “about a 1.38 per cent point increase in GDP (gross domestic product) for each 10 per cent increase in (broadband) penetration” between 2000 and 2006. The World Bank further found that the development impact of broadband on

Source: NCC

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

LETTER

Crass emptiness

•Obasanjo, playing the cynic with a court order is diminished, not enhanced

HE sight of a former elected president, playing the cynic over a court order that stopped the presentation of a book, is annoying. Yet, that is the situation former President Olusegun Obasanjo has put himself. Justice Valentine Ashi, of the Federal High Court sitting in Wuse, Abuja, had on December 5, granted an ex-parte order, stopping the public presentation of Obasanjo’s new book, My Watch. But for whatever excuses, the former president went ahead to present the book in Lagos on December 9. Buruji Kashamu, an Ogun State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) partisan, and from newspaper reports, no public friend of Obasanjo’s, had gone to court claiming Obasanjo’s latest autobiography risked permanently injuring his person. The court granted the ex-parte; pending further hearing on December 10. But by releasing the book on December 10, Obasanjo appeared to have rendered the court process nullity. This is most condemnable. But the former president’s comments at the book launch was even more unfortunate: “In a normal judiciary,” he said of the judge that granted the ex-parte, “the judge should be sanctioned and I hope something will be done.” Obasanjo based his argument on the point that he had written the book, and his publishers had published it — so, not releasing it is out of question? Again, that sounds eerily much like self-help, the impunity that daily drives this country to the edge. it must be condemned by every lawful person.

But even assuming — without necessarily conceding — that the court of Justice Ashi erred, the judge works in the judiciary, a key institution of state that has strict processes. It is called the rule of law, which insists on due process. Obasanjo should have sought redress under this process, instead of resorting to self-help. If the former general feigns ignorance of due process, pleading his military background (which would still be wrong, for even the military is set up by the law; and that institution is duty bound to obey the law), his status as a former president, elected in a democracy, is a harsh rebuke of that stance. A man the law exalted as president over fellow citizens cannot turn back to treat that same law as an ass, without necessarily making himself one. Yet, that is the lawless path Obasanjo has taken. It is not only condemnable, it is utterly reprehensible. Obasanjo and Kashamu do not interest this newspaper, beyond the fact that both are citizens, duty-bound to obey the law, if Nigeria is not to descend into anarchy. In their respective eyes, they could regard each other as saints or devils. But when court proceedings are involved, each should shed their sainthood or devilry and conform — conform because that is what ordered and civilised society dictates. By his rash conduct, however, Obasanjo has failed this litmus test. He has thus paved the way for an unpleasant sight of a court hauling a former president, who should earn the reverence of all by virtue of his former position, before a court of

law for contempt. Indeed, Justice Ashi has hinted that much. At the resumed hearing of the case yesterday (December 10) the court gave Obasanjo 21 days to show cause why he should not be punished for contempt of court. To make the point that law rules, and arbitrary power or resort to self-help should never be tolerated, Justice Ashi should do everything to preserve the sanctity of the judiciary. If a former president wilfully makes himself a scapegoat, so be it. Obasanjo, as an elder citizen, a former president and his often loudly asserted love for Nigeria and its wellbeing, must shun the Nebuchadnezzar complex — that hubris that tells an individual he is greater than the state. It was such hubris that landed him in trouble with the late Sani Abacha; and it was only divine intervention that saved him from the gallows; and gave him a second chance. Regretfully, the former president seemed not to have learned from his past. That is unfortunate for a man of his age, standing and status, especially as role model for younger Nigerians struggling to imbibe democratic ethos, after decades of military impunity.

‘Obasanjo, must shun the Nebuchadnezzar complex — that hubris that tells an individual he is greater than the state’

Unbelievable callousness •Gyping IDPs their relief materials is akin to full descent into savagery

NE of the most serious challenges confronting Nigeria today is that of offering succour and the opportunity of a humane existence to thousands of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP), forced by no fault of theirs to relocate from their normal places of residence, in search of safety and preservation. It is not surprising that statistics just released by the Internally Displaced Monitoring Centre (IDMC) and the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) indicates that Nigeria has 3.3 million internally displaced persons, which is the highest in Africa. The country in this regard ranks globally behind Syria and Colombia with 6.5 and 5.7 million IDPs respectively. A major reason for the high incidence of IDPs in Nigeria is the Boko Haram insurgency, which has practically laid the entire North-East region of the country prostrate. The insurgents have sustained a high tempo of murderous killings that have destroyed whole communities. Thus, the United Nations Human Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in Nigeria es-

‘NSCDC deserve commendation for their sense of duty, diligence and professionalism that enabled them to abort this criminal enterprise’

timates that there are currently 650,000 IDPs in the North-East alone. The problem has been worsened by alleged unorthodox and extreme methods by the Nigerian military striving to contain the insurgency, as well as incessant clashes between pastoralists and sedentary farmers over grazing lands in such states as Benue, Taraba, Zamfara and parts of Kaduna State. Natural disasters such as flooding have also compounded matters in certain parts of the country. It has been reported, for instance, that many of the victims of the 2012 flooding attendant on heavy rainfall across the Nigeria are still in search of permanent places of residence. It is an indication of the abysmal depth of our moral descent as a people that some unscrupulous officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) callously sought to exploit the plight of these unfortunate Nigerians for pecuniary gains. An attempt to divert relief materials meant for displaced persons in Taraba State by officials of NEMA was recently foiled by vigilant men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Gombe State. In the words of the Gombe State Corps’ Commandant of NSDC, Shem Obafaiye, “I received intelligence report about their activities and directed my men to swing into action immediately. My men were on ground when they were loading. After loading, the first vehicle waited somewhere for the

second one to load and they both moved to a private store located at Nasarawa area of Gombe, where they usually drop such relief materials. At the point of off -loading, my men apprehended them”. The men of the NSCDC deserve commendation for their sense of duty, diligence and professionalism that enabled them to abort this criminal enterprise. In our corruption-laden environment, it would have been all too easy for the NSCDC officials to ask for their own share of the loot and look the other way. However, this may be only one instance of a more expansive network of theft of relief materials meant for displaced persons across the country. Necessary and urgent steps should thus be taken to properly enumerate displaced persons, identify their camps and establish rigorous and foolproof methods of getting relief materials to them. What this aborted diversion of relief materials in Gombe State suggests is a rather casual and unserious approach to what is supposed to be serious business. There is the need not just for water tight security but also high standards of transparency and accountability in the entire chain of procurement, transportation and delivery of relief materials to IDPs. Those implicated in this shameful incident must be brought to book to serve as a deterrent to others.

Obama presidency and racism in America

IR: Obama phenomenon - no doubt - was a watershed moment in American politics. It instilled a sort of equality complex in the minds of many black Americans who hitherto feel segregated just because of their body pigmentation. But today, those psychological gratification and inclusion has already began to wane. From the streets of Miami - Florida and Ferguson - Missouri along Staten island - New York and down to Cleveland - Ohio , African Americans are not just being discriminated and killed but also judicially deserted. Racism is something that deep rooted in American history. And thus any worthwhile analysis must consider its history. The evolution of racism in American started with the transatlantic slave trade. According to transatlantic slave trade database, between 1626 and 1850, an estimated total of 305,326 Africans were forcibly transported via US vessels to the Americas. Many of them worked out their lives in sugarcane plantations under harsh climatic and unacclimatized environmental conditions. These inhuman treatment meted against the and stolen Africans in the united States of America continued until President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation of January 1, 1865 which freed slaves in the defunct Confederate States of America and the 13th Amendment of December 6 , 1865 that finally established the freedom of slaves in United States of America. Today, America is once again awash with streets protest . Eric Garner is the latest rallying point in the recycling racial violence that are burning American society like a wide bush fire set in harmattan. Eric Garner- an African American- died in Tompkinsville neighborhood of Staten island,New York , after a police officer put him in apparently chokehold for 19 seconds - a tactic banned by New York City Police Department (NYPD)- on suspicion of selling “loosies”, single cigarettes from packs without tax stamps. Before Eric Garner, it was Michael Brown. And before Michael Brown,it was Trayvon Martins. And just recently we heard about Tamir Rice , a 12-year old black boy shot by a police officer just for brandishing toy gun. All happening under Obama’s watch. The question all these phenomena are begging is : Is Obama’s presidency a disappointment to the Black Americans? Day after day, race relation in America is getting worse and judiciary is not even helping matters. In the Trayvon Martins’ case, a black teenager (17) was shot dead by Gorge Zimmerman, the coordinator of neighborhood watch in the gated community where Martin was temporarily living. The six female jurors acquitted Zimmerman. In a shocking judgement on Michael Brown’s case, the grand jury ruled that the officer - Darren Wilson - that shot Michael Brown should not be indicted even when the multiple gun wounds on Michael’s body suggested otherwise. Eric Garner’s case followed suit and it’s now generating much protest. Tamir Rice case is on-going and following the judicial principle of stare decisis, Tim Loehmann might be acquitted. This is not a good story for American judicial system. The picture being portrayed is that the police can continue to shoot unarmed black youth without being prosecuted! Black youth are 21 times more likely to be shot dead in America than their white counterparts, according to an analysis ProPublica. Black people are arrested 10 times more often than white people in this country, USA Today reported last week, but black people don’t commit 10 times more crimes. Obama’s presidency has helped to expose the fact that America still has to do more to combat racism. Of course America has made strides from 60’s to date. Nevertheless, a lot is yet to be done for Martin Luther king Jr’s dream to be completely fulfilled. • Asikason Jonathan, Enugwu-Ukwu , Anambra State.

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

• Executive Director (Finance & Administration) Ade Odunewu

•Deputy Editor Lawal Ogienagbon

•Advert Manager Robinson Osirike

•Deputy Editor (News) Adeniyi Adesina

• Gen. Manager (Training and Development) Soji Omotunde •General Manager (Abuja Press) Kehinde Olowu •AGM (PH Press) Tunde Olasogba

•IT Manager Bolarinwa Meekness

•Deputy Editor (Nation’s Capital) •Press Manager Yomi Odunuga Udensi Chikaodi •Group Political Editor Emmanuel Oladesu •Legal Counsel John Unachukwu •Group Business Editor Simeon Ebulu • Manager (Admin) Folake Adeoye •Group Sports Editor Ade Ojeikere •Acting Manager (sales) •Editorial Page Editor Olaribigbe Bello Sanya Oni

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

CARTOON & LETTERS

IR: Recently, the Federal Executive Council approved the purchase and distribution of 750,000 units of clean cooking stoves and 18,000 wonder bags worth N9.2bn for rural women under the National Clean Cooking Scheme. Whether the contract for the stoves awarded to Messrs Integra Renewable Energy Services Limited is an election campaign strategy or not, its timing and necessity is most critical at this time when the world is experiencing massive energy shift and adverse effect of climate change. According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA) database, Nigeria’s energy mix for cooking and lightening is still dominated by the traditional use of charcoal, firewood, and kerosene. This is explained by the fact that over 51% of the population lack access to electricity supply and for those that are connected to the national electricity grid, incon-

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

Women and Abuja’s stoves sistent supply has been the norm. This has led to over 70% of those with access to power depending on generator sets to augment inconsistent public power supply. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) report, “Fuel for Life: Household Energy & Health”; more than three billion people still burn wood, dung, coal and other traditional fuels inside their homes. According to the same report, breathing kerosene fumes is the equivalent of smoking two packets of cigarettes

State of Kano’s tertiary health institutions

IR: The efforts of Kano State government in establishing new schools/colleges that will add value to the socio-economic status of the state is commendable. I refer to the coming of the School of Nursing, Madobi; School of Health Technology, Bebeji; School of Midwifery, Dambatta, and others. However, what is obtainable in the School of Nursing, School of Hygiene, and School of Health Technology, all in Kano in the area of human resources and laboratory equipment leaves much to be desired. It can only result in the production of half-baked graduates. The School of Nursing, Kano has few qualified and competent academic staff majority of which are diploma holders, which fall below the minimum requirement for teaching. Graduates’ lecturers are an insignificant few. Laboratory and other instructional media are also lacking. Where they exist, they are obsolete or dilapidated, hence the need for new and modern ones. The School of Health Technology shares the same fate. Indeed, the actually lost its accreditation to run community health for some years. As for School of Hygiene, though

there are many graduates lecturers, majority specialise in physical and health education or general health education which cannot satisfy the different specializations in environmental health, which the school is running. Besides, many new courses like ‘Diploma in Epidemiology’ and others were introduced even when there were no competent lecturers to handle it, thus jeopardizing the future of students who could not get the best in their chosen course. In fact, the school still lacks a wellequipped laboratory. For these schools to remain relevant, the state government should as a matter of urgency dig into the activities of the schools and do the proper things by overhauling the management. In an age of globalisation, our health institutions should not be in the hands of those who cannot see beyond their noses. Let the proper things be done by getting the best hands to run the institutions. I am sure, Governor Kwankwaso is more than committed to leaving worthy legacies for the state. • Musa Zubair, Kano

a day and two-thirds of adult females with lung cancer in developing nations are non-smokers, but cooking mothers. From the report, such resulting indoor air pollution is responsible for more than 1.5 million deaths a year mostly of young children and their mothers; inducing acute respiratory infection, influenza and pneumonia. If these traditional energy consumption pattern continues, not only is it going to lead to more respiratory diseases which most hospitals cannot handle given the inadequate skills and health facilities, it would also encourage massive cutting of trees and deforestation for firewood, making worse the effects of global warming; desertification, erosion, and flood. A multiplier effect; visibly observed in the rising food shortages; poor agricultural yield, inflation, excess heat, extinction of animals and unexplained diseases. From international health standards, reducing indoor air pollution from burning firewood, fume emitting kerosene stoves and coal will reduce child morbidity and mortal-

ity. Protecting the developing embryo from indoor air pollution can help avert stillbirth, perinatal mortality and low birth weight. Getting rid of open fires and kerosene wick lamps in the home can prevent infants and toddlers being burned and scalded. It is within these health and environmental reasons that such Federal Executive efforts to reduce the dependency and use of these traditional energy pollutants are commendable, especially when the substituting provision is established on the clean renewable energy sources. While many may fear that such effort may not be sustainable or expanded upon, there is need to urge the Federal Executive Council, Ministries of Environment and Power to take serious its obligations to invest in renewable energy. It should seek to implement to the letter all the contracts meant for investing in renewable energy such as the recently pledged support bid for renewable energy grant of $200million (N33.6billion) by the German Development Bank (KFW) and the signed MoU with Motir

Seaspire, an American based renewable energy investor for a $4billion 1200MW solar power plant. While the Federal Government’s funding of the National Clean Cooking Scheme is commendable, it would have been an excellent idea if the N9.2billion was invested in a facility that will produce the stoves back here in Nigeria. This would have made the intervention sustainable as it will grow local productive capacity, create jobs, provide new revenue in corporate income tax to government and reduce the pressure on the naira considering that the stoves under the extant scheme will be paid for in foreign currency. If we adopt this recommended approach, we would have had access to the stoves while at the same time deriving other benefits. Climate change is now an undeniable reality. Cutting carbon emission and keeping the earth and her population safe is an obligation responsible governments and nations are signing up to. Clean renewable energy sources have become the key tool in doing this, as the breakthrough in clean technology have become viral. Nigeria cannot be an exception to the global renewable energy trend. Nigeria is richly blessed with the desired renewable inputs; sunlight, wind, hydro, biomass, and most especially the rich manpower. • Donald Ikenna Ofoegbu Centre for Social Justice, Abuja

Buhari and fear of change

IR: Of the chunk of problems facing Nigeria today, corruption and bad leadership, save the security crisis, stand out. In a sane society, and I believe Nigeria is one, solutions will be sought and men of strong and incorruptible characters drafted to champion the fight against economic and moral indiscipline. It has become clear that the little or staged attempts to tackle corruption have failed woefully and that there is the need for a shining example of a disciplined and incorruptible figure in the most coveted office of the presidency. If there is a general agreement among Nigerians, it is that General

Muhammadu Buhari stands for discipline and principle. Of all the adjectives used to describe him, incorruptible and disciplined always stick to him. This should be easy then, isn’t it? The voters should simply troop out and try to change the nation’s fortunes by voting for a corrupt free Nigeria. But that has failed to happen, on three occasions. The status quo was maintained and now we are here. The reason for the failure of the retired general to secure the electorate’s mandate, is that we (most of us at least) are afraid of change. Change

would mean that corrupt leaders will be apprehended and monies will be recovered. Change would mean that oil theft and bunkering would be frowned upon. Change would also mean a whole lot of other things that a lot of Nigerians are used to, and seemed normal, but would have to drop. One other reason why the mass sympathy for General Buhari and the yearning for change have failed to convert into votes is that we are afraid of what would become of our lives if this change materializes. • Sulaiman Aliyu Gwagwalada, Abuja

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

COMMENTS

Bode Fadase 1943-2014

ODE who now belongs to the ages entered Christ School Ado-Ekiti as a strapping teenager slightly taller than most of the boys who were older than him. In spite of his height you could not take the child out of him. His rascality earned him hours of grass cutting on Saturdays when other conformists rested after the usually hectic week of studying and early morning compulsory grass cutting before breakfast. Bode unlike most of his classmates spent the first two years playing about and getting into trouble with the senior boys who were more interested in fagging than mentoring the younger ones. Coming from a relatively affluent background of his pharmacist father who was also an honourable member of parliament brought envy and resentment from some of the senior boys. The fact that his father was a member of the NCNC, the opposition party to the governing Action Group did not help with some of the African members of staff. The principal, Archdeacon Leslie Donald Mason was a good reader of men. He recognized talent in Bode who even in Class One, had considerable mastery of the English language. Under his mentorship Bode settled down and by the middle of his life in Christ’s School, Bode had become a good essayist and a formidable debater and a good table tennis player. He tried to participate in other sports but his rather slight physique militated against him. He was good at rounders and tenniquart, two uniquely English imports into Christ’ School. The school was however more interested in academic future of the students. After Form three when students had to choose between concentrating on science or the arts, Bode was faced with rather difficult choice because he was good in arts and the sciences. Since the school did not have career guidance and counselling, Bode more or less went into the sciences blindly. He loved chemistry and he thought he would get a degree in it and probably teach since teachers were the heroes in those days. He could have become a fantastic lawyer, doctor or journalist if he was professionally guided. Of course what will be will be the future is not for us to see I am not sure how he stumbled into geology in the University. He was probably advised by one of our geography and mathematics teacher, Dr. Fayose, an old boy of Christ School who himself had become a geologist to change his course from traditional science courses to geology which was then in hot demand in the growing oil industry in Nigeria. This turned out to be a momentous decision for Bode.

HEIR exit from the cabinet was announced with fanfare. At the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on October 15, President Goodluck Jonathan took it upon himself to tell the world that the ministers would be leaving to contest election. It was the last meeting the ministers would attend since they had only five days left then to resign to pursue their ambition. These men have since pursued their ambition and known their fate. They are former Information Minister Labaran Maku; his counterparts in Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu and Labour, Emeka Wogu. Others are Minister of State for Defence Musiliu Obanikoro and his counterparts in Education, Nyesom Wike, Trade and Investment Samuel Ortom and Niger Delta Darius Ishaku. These president's men thought their party's governorship ticket was theirs for the asking. They miscalculated. Forces on ground in their respective states had another plan. These were the ones playing local politics. They were determined not to yield ground

241 DAYS AFTER

WHERE ARE THE ABDUCTED CHIBOK GIRLS?

All one can say is that Bode was a man for all seasons. He sat, along with his classmates, the Cambridge Overseas West African Certificate in 1960 and came out in Grade One and there were only about 10 of such boys out of a class of about 55 students and Christ School of course always had one of the best results in the country in those days. He could have sat for the concessional entrance examination to the university of Ibadan like some of his classmates but he went to Ibadan Grammar school for the Higher School Certificate (HSC) in 1961 to 1962 and Bode was one of the most popular and beloved students there simply because his friendship there cut across class, creed and age. He never believed in the pecking order of seniority characteristic of high schools of the time. He was also a good story teller and participated effectively in the social life of the school which included debates and dancing at the weekends. With minimal effort Bode spent in studying, he still beat bookworms when results of examinations came out. Throughout his secondary school days, Bode waltzed through difficult examinations with little or no sweat at all. This attitude he had to change when to his chagrin he found out at the University of Ibadan that university education was not a piece of cake. Because of change of discipline, he had to spend an extra year in Ibadan. What is clear about Bode, whether as a student or a practicing geologist, was that what took others weeks to understand and accomplish took Bode only days. After graduation from Ibadan, Bode joined Mobil oil and rose phenomenally until he became one of the top executives in Nigeria before bowing out into the world of consultancy. Under Mobil, he worked both in Nigeria and the United States. His hobby was boxing and he could have written an authoritative book on the sport and he had a library of all world championships across the various weights. Bode was absolutely loyal to his friends and he never missed any celebration to mark any of his classmates’ journey through life. He was a non-conformist and he never pretended to be what he was not. He said his mind sometimes to the embarrassment of his friends without meaning to offend. He was a social animal and he knew how to enjoy life and was generous to a fault. He enjoyed jokes and wherever Bode was, he was usually the centre of attraction and fun. He loved the city of Lagos but he was at home everywhere. I visited him once in New Orleans and the way he related to the people made one feel he was born and bred there. He was very proud of

Christ School even though he hardly went back after leaving the place in 1960 but he psychologically relived the school e x p e r i e n c e whenever we met to remember the old days and to tease each other with usually not too complimentary nick Jide names of our school Osuntokun days. He also loved Ibadan Grammar School where, I believed, he found more acceptance of his rascality. He also loved the University of Ibadan because of its cosmopolitan environment and because the friends he made at Christ’s School and Ibadan Grammar School went with him to Ibadan. Bode cannot be easily forgotten. He is just unforgettable. I pray that his restless soul finds rest in the bosom of father Abraham and at the feet of our Lord Jesus the Christ. Bode loved our Christ School song and he liked to sing it with gusto as a member of the school choir. He will love to hear Christ is our Cornerstone sung with full organ accompaniment in our final good bye. Adieu dear friend. Erin wo ajanaku sun bi oke.

‘Bode was absolutely loyal to his friends and he never missed any celebration to mark any of his classmates’ journey through life. He was a non-conformist and he never pretended to be what he was not. He said his mind sometimes to the embarrassment of his friends without meaning to offend. He was a social animal and he knew how to enjoy life and was generous to a fault’

Fall of the mighty to anybody, be he a former minister or not. Many of them asked : ''When they were ministers what did they do for us?'' Rather than see the handwriting on the wall, the former ministers plunged headlong into the race, believing that with their wealth and connection, they will win. No doubt, they may have got the President's blessing to run, but they needed more than his blessing to win. More than anything else, they required the support of party members, many of whom they abandoned while in office, to get the ticket. Moreover, they had no political structures to fall back on. Those who had structures had to contend with the intrigues of some leaders who do not like their faces. It was a battle royale between these ministers and the leaders, who were determined to stamp their authority on their parties. There were snide remarks such as ''they cannot come from Abuja and take over our parties from us''; ''They have enjoyed themselves in Abuja, now they want to come and continue their enjoyment with the party we slaved hard to keep going''; 'Where were they when we were building our parties?''; ''Now, they want to come and reap where they did not sow''. The animosity against the ministers was strong . As soon as they declared their intentions for run for governor, they ran into trouble with chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in their states. Why? Is it that these ministers never touched base with their people while in office? Politics is all about people and seasoned politicians know too well that they can not survive without

people. It is just like fish out of water; it will asphyxiate to death. Politicians also suffocate to death when they abandon the people. Ask Maku, Wogu, Chukwu and Onikoro. These are the faces of the President who lost in the race for the governorship tickets of Nasarawa, Abia, Ebonyi and Lagos states. What their loss shows is that the political race is about being close to the grassroots and having the ability to carry those who matter along. No politician can be bigger than those that will determine his fate at the poll. And mind you, the true worth of a politician is known at the poll and not the amount of money he has. It is good to have money, but that money will not vote for you. It is how a politician uses his money to win people to his side that separates the men from the boys. No matter how influential a politician may be, his ability to deploy his resources to good use will determine how far he goes. As our former honourable ministers have come to realise, not even the federal might can save a politician, who is distant from his people from losing an election. The ministers are stewing in their own juice. They cannot eat their cake and have it. They cannot spend months ministering to themselves alone and now think they can ride on the backs of the people into office as governors to continue their self seeking agenda. Politicians, who always think of themselves first, will always meet with the kind of defeat suffered by these former ministers whether in the primaries or real elections. So, tell it in Lafia, sing it in Abakaliki, mime it in

Umuahia and publish it in the streets of Lagos so that the people will rejoice over these ministers' loss. Oh, how the mighty fall; and their wealth and connection come to nought.

Apostle of evil I watched bemused on Channels Television, last weekend, as Police Affairs Minister Jelili Adesiyan defended InspectorGeneral of Police Suleiman Abba, who treated the office and person of Speaker Aminu Tambuwal with scorn the other day before the House of Representatives Committee on Police Affairs. Adesiyan said Abba was right by refusing to recognise Tambuwal as Speaker because the matter is in court. So, when a matter is in court one can no longer hold his office? It is a shame that this is the kind of person we have as a minister; a man, who does not know that a court case does not automatically strip you of your office until judgment is delivered. But, what do you expect of a man, who once referred to himself as a killer of persons (ta nlo je ode aperin niwaju ode apa enia). Besides, Adesiyan also attacked the All Progressives Congress (APC), bashing the party for always ''complaining'' when it loses election, but hailing the process when it wins. ''When they won in Edo, they gave INEC credence (sic); when they won in Osun, they gave INEC credence (sic)...'' Did I hear you say what does that mean? That is a Minister of the Federal Republic (MFR) for you.

Lawal Ogienagbon lawal.ogienagbon@thenationonlineng.net SMS ONLY: 08099400204, 08112661612

In his character IN defiance of a court order, former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Tuesday launched his three-volume book, My Watch, in Lagos. He also cast aspersions on Justice Valentine Ashi, who stopped the launch. As it were, Obasanjo has sat on appeal in a case in which he is a party. Can he do that? The answer is no. He should not have gone ahead with the launch after being stopped by the court, no matter how he feels about the order. But, I am not surprised. What do you expect of an 'institution' like Obasanjo? It is left to the court to do the needful over this obvious contempt.

‘The former ministers may have got the President's blessing to run, but they needed more than his blessing to win...they required the support of party members whom they abandoned while in office’

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

COMMENTS

AST Sunday, Dr Doyin Okupe once again did what he does best-insulting Nigerians and assaulting their sensibilities. After months of jamborees around a nation at war by TAN, a body suspected to be an assemblage of government contractors, to celebrate President Jonathan as the best leader our nation has ever produced, the government decided to set aside its temporary setback on the battle front, roll out the drums to celebrate some of its recent victories in its war against corruption. According to Okupe, these success are to be measured in terms of redistribution of billions of naira through government improvement on the “the old corrupt system of government direct procurement and distribution of fertilizer” and the “nation’s movement from its 144th position on Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index last year to 136th position this year”. The problem however is that many Nigerians seem to share the views of Adewale MajaPearce who in a piece titled. “The Nigerian Status Quo” written for the New York Times on November 16, that “The current Nigerian government is widely seen as the most corrupt since independence from Britain in 1960”. Everything President Jonathan has done in the last six years seems to reinforce this view. In fact for many, who have not only watched helplessly as few greedy politicians and their fronts confiscate our national patrimony, but also witnessed the imposition of economic policies which have failed in the West where there are rules on a people that operate without rules; or where the rules are violated by government where they exist, government is an accomplice. Unfortunately for Okupe, this feeling cuts across party lines. Aminu Tambuwal, a PDP member until few weeks ago, is for instance on record as saying that President Jonathan’s

‘Except those who live by lying to the president, Nigerians know President Jonathan has been captured by fuel subsidy fraudsters, armoured car scammers, and beneficiaries of government import waivers who import the labour of other societies to the detriment of our jobless youths’

N Africa there is a saying that no matter how confident the hen gets, the time comes when a mighty gust of winds exposes its rump. This is clearly the case with America with regards to the ongoing insurgency in the North-east of Nigeria. Since the insurgency began a few years ago, a lot of people including this writer have been suspicious of America’s attitude. For a country, which claims to be enamoured of democracy and human rights and abhors terrorism in all its ramifications, its body language as well as comments of leading Obama administration officials, has left a lot to be desired. If there were any doubts that America was insincere in its commitment to help Nigeria end insurgency, such doubts must have been dispelled by now by its alleged request to the Nigerian government to withdraw some military equipment currently being used at the warfront against the insurgents, for use in the training of Nigerian soldiers under a pact between the two countries. Of course, the discerning Nigerian government balked at the idea and went ahead to cancel the training. As Mike Omeri, Director General of the National Orientation Agency and Coordinator, National Information Centre of the war on insurgency put it, no sensible government would want to endanger the lives of its citizens just because it wants to train its soldiers. Omeri’s explanation that the pact with America involved three phases of training out of which the Americans have concluded two and refused to fulfill the third phase, which involves the provision of equipment, clearly exposes the nefarious intent of the Americans. It is inconceivable that any rational and well-meaning ally would make the kind of demand the American government placed on its Nigerian counterpart. It is clear that Omeri on behalf of the Nigerian government was being polite and ought to have accused America directly of complic-

Celebration of corruption “body language” did not indicate that he had the political will to stem corruption in the country. He had then decried Jonathan’s penchant for setting up committees to probe corruption allegations instead of allowing the statutory bodies set up by law such as the EFCC, the ICPC (Independent Corrupt Practices and other-related Offences Commission) and the Code of Conduct Bureau to do their job. He had then cited the oil subsidy and Securities and Exchange Commission scandals, the Pension scam as well as the ‘Oduaghate’, to buttress his allegation of Jonathan’s perceived paying of lip-service to the war against graft. Of course, sycophants surrounding the president trivialized the serious issue by asking “Is he (Tambuwwal) now a sorcerer that he now goes about reading people’s body language?” David Mark, the Senate President betrayed his frustration in the celebrated pension scam case. Mark had asked the President who was suspected to be shielding Maina to ‘choose between maina and the Senate’. And on John Yakubu who embezzled N27.2billion and got reprieve after paying a fine of N750, 000, David Mark had observed: “for any living human being to have stolen the money of those who have laboured for this country, I think it is only God who can decide their fate”. And not too long ago, deeply troubled Senator Victor Ndoma Egba, the senate majority leader told his subdued colleagues on the floor of the Upper House, that he was sure none of them could have imagined the level of decadence in our society. He then gave a personal testimony. According to him, his old father, a retired justice of the appeal court had authorized one of his sons to sign for his pension. The young man was made to sign for the over N7 million boldly written against his father’s name but was paid N5 million. The N2 million which he described as ‘blood money’ was

forcefully taken as bribe by government officials. “If that could happen to a retired justice of Nigerian Court of Appeal whose son by the grace of God, is the majority leader of the Nigerian senate, the plight of lesser beings could be better imagined”, he had moaned Okupe perhaps also thinks Nigerians cannot appreciate the reason their leader is often treated with disdain by Western leaders and African countries that once looked up to us for direction has been on account of his inability to tackle corruption. Except those who live by lying to the president, Nigerians know President Jonathan has been captured by fuel subsidy fraudsters, armoured car scammers, and beneficiaries of government import waivers who import the labour of other societies to the detriment of our jobless youths. President Jonathan made his choice. And this he has reinforced by his policies in the last six years. First let us start with the pension scam. All attempts to bring sanity to the pension system have been sabotaged by the presidency. For instance the Senate Joint Committee on Public Service and Establishment and State and Local Government Administration spent four months to investigate the alleged mismanagement of N469bn pension funds. On June 20, 2012, it submitted a report establishing the diversion of N273.9billion between 2005 and 2011. It also discovered in December 2012 another N195bn fresh pension fraud. Senator Aloysius Etok, the chairman of the pension probe panel also discovered that Abdulrasheed Maina spent N1billion screening 29 pensioners, another N8 million on a weekly basis on 38 security officers guarding him and was also found to have forged his transfer letter from Borno State. The man refused to honour six different invitations from the Senate which prompted the senate president to issue a warrant of arrest. While mov-

ing around with police escort, accompanying the president to welcome foreign dignitaries, Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba said – “We have not seen Maina. He is still a wanted man; anyone with information about him should please contact us”. Just as princess Oduah was part of the president’s delegation to Jerusalem shortly after ‘Oduahgate’ scandal; Senators Olubunmi Adetunmbi and Enyinnaya Abaribe have claimed Maina was in the entourage of the president trips to some foreign countries. For Jonathan, friendship takes precedence over the nation. But friends turn foes when he is challenged. That was the fate of the former CBN Governor, Lamido Sanusi following his letter to the President alleging that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation had failed to remit $49.8bn, to the Federation Account. The figure was later scaled down to $20bn. The Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala later admitted that at least $10 billion remains unaccounted for, and explained that President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered a forensic investigation into the missing money. The race for 2015 has eclipsed all that. Sanusi the harbinger of tales considered unpalatable by government has been shoved out of office. In NNPC, it is business as usual. And to further confirm that another name for the Jonathan presidency is corruption, we can take another look at the fuel subsidy scandal. The actual budget expenditure on subsidy for both petrol (PMS) and House Hold Kerosene, in 2008 was only N346.7b .The major actors were four companies along with NNPC. The four became 140 by 2011 under Jonathan. As against N245 billion Appropriated in 2011, N2, 657.087 trillion was paid with much of the amount not for consumed PMS but shared by government officials and PDP stalwarts including those who did not import a pint of fuel. Okupe told us we should praise the president who in an election year allowed the sons of his party’s current and immediate past chairmen taken to court for their alleged involvement in the fuel subsidy scam. That they have not been successfully prosecuted, the president claims were because ‘the wheel of justice grinds slowly in our environment’. But the same wheels were energized to secure justice for Boni Haruna in four days after seven years grilling by EFCC to pave the way for his ministerial appointment. In the case of Ayo Fayose, after 52 court appearances and months of detention by EFFCC, between 2006 and 2014, the same wheels were disabled to ensure he became governor without first ascertaining his eligibility as an impeached former governor.

Boko Haram and America’s double standard By Chika Onuora ity in the war Boko Haram has waged on its territory in the last three years. For if truth be told, America appears to be at the heart of a conspiracy against Nigeria. Many will recall that before this bizarre request, it had refused to help Nigeria in the fight against insurgency by refusing to sell weapons and other military hardware to Nigeria. When the Nigerian government first made the situation public, opposition political parties called on Nigerians to discountenance government position claiming that the Jonathan administration was only looking for excuses for its inability to end insurgency. But the Federal Government was to be vindicated later when America came out to state it had refused to sell weapons to the Nigerian military because of its poor human rights record. America’s position was as ridiculous as it was hypocritical. For a country, which has a trail of human rights abuses dogging its military in its fight against terrorism in the Middle East and elsewhere, it was simply laughable to hear them advance that excuse. On that matter itself, America goofed. The Nigerian military in all the international peacekeeping engagements they have been involved in and outside the country have never been accused of human rights abuses. On the contrary, they have been commended for their professionalism and exemplary conduct. The refusal of America to sell us weapons was only part of its grand design to frustrate the war on insurgency in this country. Anyone in doubt should carefully study their conduct since the war on Boko Haram

commenced. A key pointer to America’s complicity is their behaviour in the aftermath of the kidnap of students of the Government Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State in April. After the Jonathan administration had solicited and received foreign assistance including American officials who they said were coming to Nigeria to help locate and free the kidnapped students, American military officials were more interested in running down the Nigerian military and its state of preparedness for the insurgency. I remember telling a friend at the time that there was something sinister about America’s mission to Nigeria. I felt that given the pronouncements of some of the military personnel who had come to Nigeria and other administration officials in Washington, that the Nigerian military would do well to be careful how they worked with them. My suspicion was stoked further by the insistence of the American military officials that it would not share intelligence with the Nigerian counterparts. Well, the Americans who glibly dismissed our military as incompetent and their methods archaic have been here for months and the Chibok girls remain in captivity! Nigerians should wake up to the antics of the Americans. For some reason, they are playing games with the Nigerian government and its military and have decided to couch their real intentions with the talk of human rights abuses. When has it been that America would allow human rights abuses by any country to affect its economic interests? Isn’t America notorious for doing business even with countries they have no diplo-

matic relations with? Have we forgotten the Iran/Contra Affair where America, despite having severed diplomatic relations with Iran, still went ahead to sell it weapons and then used proceeds from the sale to finance the Contra rebels in Nicaragua in their quest to overthrow the legitimately elected Sandinista government. America has never been squeamish in trucking with dictatorial or human rights abusing governments across the world. The list is legion and so we should not lose sleep over America’s claims that the Nigerian military is abusing rights of citizens dwelling in insurgency affected areas because they are baseless and intended to mask their real intentions towards Nigeria. What we should really be worried about is their real intentions, which are clearly not to our benefit. •Onuora sent this piece from Asokoro, Abuja

‘Nigerians should wake up to the antics of the Americans. For some reason, they are playing games with the Nigerian government and its military and have decided to couch their real intentions with the talk of human rights abuses’

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

COMMENTS

EADERS of the Western world never cease urging the countries of Black Africa to embrace “democracy”. For instance, when President Obama, a man of African descent, stood on the soil of Africa in Accra, Ghana, he took the opportunity to speak the message of democratic governance to all of Africa – and in a strong and family language that no white leader of the Western World can ever do. Most informed members of the Black African elite understand the goodwill behind the message. The modern history of our world has demonstrated very definitively that human freedom, reliably democratic political life, and strong institutions that have integrity, are the only really sure way to bring order, success and prosperity into the lives of countries and peoples. As Obama put it in Accra, what Africa needs is not strong men but strong institutions. “We must recognize the fundamental truth that…development depends on good governance”. Unfortunately, there has persisted in the West’s message of democracy a very serious flaw. Even many of the best voices from the western world seem often to say that democracy comprises not more (or perhaps not much more) than elections and elected governments. Often, elections are treated as proof of democracy. But, in many cases in Sub-Saharan Africa, elections are designed merely to address the concerns of the international community. And what that commonly results in is that, while pundits in the western world may go on applauding a country for holding elections, the country’s rulers may actually go on actively preserving and practicing seriously undemocratic governance – including bluntly refusing (in a country of many different peoples) to yield to the desire of the component peoples for some measure of local autonomy that would enable them to manage some of their unique affairs, systemized rigging of elections,concentration of all power and resource control in a central government. No other African country practices this splitpersonality governance more than Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country and home of one-fourth of all Africans. In 1999, the series of Nigeria’s military dictatorships which started in 1966 came to an end, and since then Nigeria has been ruled by elected governments. Even so, successive elected governments have upheld in this unfortunate country, a determinedly undemocratic and crooked system of governance, controlled by a politi-

The trouble with Nigeria cal party which can only be described as fascist. Founded in 1998-9, the PDP declared that its mission was to rule Nigeria forever. In regions of Nigeria where the people have human-rights, religious tolerance, and democratic, traditions (especially the homeland of the 50 million Yoruba people of the Nigerian South-west), PDP chieftains declared that the people must be “conquered”. And the process of conquest has continued relentlessly since then. Especially over the Yoruba, who are regarded as unbreakably stubborn in defence of their traditional values, the process of conquest by the PDP has been unbelievably brutal. The PDP-controlled Federal Government makes no secret of its belief in its right to rig federal and state elections, and to impose its cronies over state and local governments throughout Nigeria. In the 1999 elections, the Yoruba rejected the PDP massively and gave the control of their six states to another party. In response, when elections came in 2003 and 2007, the PDP Federal Government went wild, declared that the elections were a “do-or die battle”, and massively cooked up the outcomes. The rigging of the 2007 elections at federal and state levels was so blatant that international observers who saw it published a report which stated that the elections, “in the view of Nigerians and the many international observers alike, were the most poorly organized and massively rigged in the country’s history. In a bitterly contentious environment, outgoing President Obasanjo and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) acted with unbridled desperation to ensure sweeping, winner-take-all victories, not only in the presidency and federal legislature but also in state governorships and assemblies. Characterized as a “do-or-die” battle by Obasanjo, the campaigns and elections also witnessed extensive violence, including over 200 people killed”. The brazenly falsified results gave the PDP presidential candidate 70% of the votes – a victory “bitterly disputed by many Nigerians, including broad-based, religious and civil society groups”. “It has pushed the country further towards a one- party state and diminished citizen confidence in electoral institutions and processes…undermined Nigeria’s capacity to manage its internal

IFE is, indeed, an irony. What words, events and actions ordinarily appear to mean or are intended to mean is usually different from what they actually stand for. In most cases, the exact opposite of what is intended by the doer of a deed is achieved. In such cases it is not out of place for an insincere initiator of an action to, ironically, victimize himself by his deed while he, simultaneously, secures and deifies the very target of his villainy. This truism has turned a real life drama playing itself out in Nigeria, which socio-political history has portrayed as one in which resignation by public officials is not only a taboo but an abomination or even sacrilege capable of fetching socio-economic and political ostracism for the ‘offender’. The stage is Ogun State where some political office-holders recently resigned their appointments. On the surface, their action does not only seem plausible, it also seems indicting against one and only target: Governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun. This is the sure conclusion that would flow from a pedestrian and peripheral assessment of the development, bearing the fact that throwing in the towel in an official capacity, on the basis of principles and integrity, is globally adjudged as a virtuous act. However, the masses of Nigerian citizenry are not blind to the secret beneath the anti-resignation culture that has pervaded our political landscape for too long. The average citizen knows too well that our political class, once in power, always unite in administering everything that is fake on the citizenry. Fake speech, fake patriotism, fake budgets, fake projects, fake poverty alleviation, fake nocturnal meetings, fake governmental sacrifice, fake contracts... The list of fakes is limitless. As long as it is business as usual, the Nigerian politician would be all smiles in showering selfish encomium on a typical chief executive, at the federal, state or local government level. In such ‘normal’ contexts, a governmental appointment is a ticket to undue privileges, unmerited patronages, undeserved earnings and, summarily, a license to impunities and illegalities. There is no hiding the fact that even non-politicians like professionals, artisans and business men and women with fat purses have, for long, found behind-the-scene sponsorship of political candidates as a short-cut to massive wealth, even quicker than their respective vocations. Once victory is attained at the poll, appointments into juicy public offices are not only reciprocal tools; they are an invitation to a four-year ‘serve-yourself’ party. A chop-make-I-chop party where inflated contracts for road construction, school rehabilitation, hospital buildings, drug procurements, training of teachers, doctors and other cadres of professionals are mere souvenirs distributed in-house. Apart from these, there is yet another set. These are the political goodwill inheritors. They are usually direct off-

conflicts…badly damaged the country’s international image…thus diminishing (Nigeria’s) credibility to serve as leading force for peace and democracy throughout West Africa’. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), “vigorously manipulated by the presidency, virtually abdicated its responsibility as impartial umpire. Inefficient and non-transparent in its operations, it became an accessory to active rigging. Similarly, the massively deployed police and other security services helped curb violence but largely turned blind eyes to, and in some cases helped in, the brazen falsification of results”. That is Nigeria’s brand of democracy – as concocted by the PDP. Behind it at its foundation was a phalanx of retired military officers (all billionaires from stolen public money), and a major part of the northern Nigerian Islamic leadership who are bent on using the power of the Federal Government to impose a jihadist brand of Islam, as well as the dominance of their essentially small Muslim nationality, on all of Nigeria. PDP’s mode of recruiting members in all parts of Nigeria has, from the beginning, been to enrich members of the elite in all regions with public money, and to assure them of electoral victories through election rigging. It therefore does not matter what region, or what nationality, a PDP president comes from; he will rule as a PDP corruption manager, and as a staunch defender of the excessive powers of the so-called Federal Government over all of Nigeria and over all of Nigeria’s resources. He will revel in his power to treat the state governments as clients of the Federal Government, to brutalize any nationality that he chooses to despise, and to unduly and unfairly empower and enrich his own nationality among the nationalities of Nigeria. The current president, Goodluck Jonathan, proves all this mess most profoundly. Even though he comes from the South-south region whose citizens have always led the opposition to federal excesses, he refuses to touch any effort to curb those excesses, but revels in them. Though he no longer enjoys the support of most of the founders of the PDP, he nevertheless keeps the PDP corruption heritage going strongly.

Gbogun gboro For him, the Yoruba nation has been the nation to despise and marginalize. The system of public corruption controlled by the PDP is impossible for any Nigerian opposition to do anything about. It has destroyed the moral life of Nigerians, and turned Nigeria into a country in which even the best and brightest citizens must turn away from real enterprises and wait on crumbs from public corruption. It has destroyed any trace of professionalism and integrity in all public agencies – the electoral commission, the police, the secret services, even the armed forces, and the courts. There is no question that the PDP will rig the presidential and other elections due in 2015. The big question is how different Nigerian peoples will respond this time.

‘It does not matter what region, or what nationality, a PDP president comes from; he will rule as a PDP corruption manager, and as a staunch defender of the excessive powers of the so-called Federal Government over all of Nigeria and over all of Nigeria’s resources’

Ogun resignation palaver By Rasheed Olokode spring or descendants of political heroes and heroines. Such young men and women fly into public offices on the wings of the undying goodwill and confidence reposed in their forebearers. Nevertheless, once in power, they are also, traditionally, not known to rock the both as long as Sallah, Easter and Christmas periods retain their ‘normal’ status as time to empty the treasury for sharing as festival allowances. The Nigerian masses are also familiar with the typical mentality of politicians in relation to electoral promises. We know that they believe electoral promises are never meant to be fulfilled; a good reason beneath the habitual promise of road construction, stable electricity, potable water and, in fact, heaven and earth by candidates aiming at councillorship, state and federal legislative posts. Mere membership of a political party is itself a daily meal ticket, being a real life career of multitudes who do nothing but congregate daily at the homes of so-called party leaders being their perceived links to the powers-that-be and through whom compensatory largesse flows to them, as consideration for their respective roles in electoral battles. Thus, a large chunk of the ordinarily inadequate resources meant for making life easy for the generality of a state becomes diverted as a means of oiling the political structure of such godfathers. On the flip side, Nigerians, particularly the naturally intelligent and skilful species also know, with the highest degree of certainty, that the reality of governance and politics under the incumbent Amosun is an ‘abnormal’ one. By overcoming the commonplace predilection to pedestrianism, subjectivity and political partisanship, deep and objective reflections over recent developments in Ogun State would confirm the fact that the recent spate of resignation by some government officials, an idea and practise that is totally alien on our landscape, was indeed an inevitable logical effect of a cause. The cause? Amosun is an ‘abnormal’ governor in the realm of what we know too well as Nigerian politics and governance. Or, is he not abnormal? If the denotation of the adjective ‘normal’ remains the habitual order of something, then a so-called Nigerian politician cum governor who chooses to violate the habitual order of politics and governance is nothing but peculiarly abnormal. Here, my description takes into account the fact that a reality that is abnormal, by local standards, may, on the other hand, be normal on the altar of

global best practices. To get my drift, one only needs to take trip round the major cities in Ogun State to discover that the problem is actually the workings of the mind of Amosun which significantly conflict with that of an average Nigerian, not just the politician. One does not need to interrogate the Owuborn to find that he is a highly stubborn and principled man of integrity, sincerity and honesty. The overwhelming quantity of exceedingly qualitative infrastructure projects he has achieved in less than four years is the open statement that announces to the public that this governor is an entirely different one in the annals of our political and governance history. Of course, no one can choose to be different without paying heavily for it. What Amosun is paying for is the venom of our political tradition which majority of his colleagues in government, elected or appointed, are poised to go to any length to uphold. At least, the governor that has refused to uphold agelong tradition of governance by deceit, dishonesty and insincerity towards the people and ‘mere political statements’ commonly masqueraded as electoral promises must be taught a lesson. Perhaps, he is not aware of a Yoruba adage that advises thus: Let’s act as it is customary, so that what will be remains what has ever been. Yes, wholeheartedly I agree that Amosun has, so far, failed to govern Ogun State according to the dictate of the beliefs, customs and traditions of the world of politicians in Nigeria as a whole. And, whoever does what no one has ever done, according to another Odua adage, would witness what no one has ever witnessed. For daring to serve the interests of the citizens who are ordinarily meant to be deceived with make-believe projects and impoverished with cosmetic, stomach infrastructure-based poverty alleviation packages, the raging current amongst the ‘normal’ run of politicians and public office ‘merchants’ seems to be that Amosun must not be allowed to have another four years of serving the sprawling masses of Ogun State at their own expenses – a handful of political jobbers and hangers-on. Hence conspiracy has united them into planned exodus from a people-oriented government in a search for another platform that suits their cherished global aberration that has been mistaken as the Nigerian norm. If anything, the people are sure that their governor would never change from being the progress-driven man that he is. Therefore, the news that they now expect every minute is: who resigns next? • Olokode writes from Lagos

THE NATION THURSDAY DECEMBER 11, 2014

RACE TO 2015

‘

Nigerian politics does not sit well with me. But, I can assure you that outside politics I have been doing my best to help humanity and I will continue to do so

‘

Adejare Adegbenro is a Lagos-based businessman and grandson of the late Chief Dauda Adegbenro, former Premier of the defunct Western Region. His mother is the daughter of the late Pa Alfred Rewane, the renowned activist and financier of the defunct National Democratic Coalition (NADECO). In this interview with Deputy Political Editor RAYMOND MORDI, he talks about his heritage, the state of the nation and Nigerian politics, particularly the forthcoming general elections.

‘Nigerian politicians are selfish, lack fear of God’ Y

OU are from two prominent political fami lies; in what ways has this influenced you? My heritage has been a rudder that has guided me through life. Using the lives and achievements of grandparents as my benchmark continues to influence my personal and business life. From a very young age, I was always expected to be above-board. My actions are judged and considered always within the context of: “isn’t he Pa Alfred Rewane progeny” or “Pa Adegbenro would never do such a thing!” What is your impression about the current state of the nation? I believe our current challenges will make us stronger. Things cannot afford to go on like this. It is insane to do the same thing over and over again and expect a different result. Where do you think we got it wrong? I will say we went wrong in our historical choice of leaders. To be fair, some seized leadership in the past, but we would be committing a serious blunder if we refuse to learn from it. It is alarming that I still see elders I knew as a boy growing up still actively running for political offices and appointments. I am 42, so that tells you how old some of them are. Are you thinking of running for an elective post one day? No. Not at the moment. If it is the wish of my people and God’s calling later in life, then I may consider doing so. The present Nigerian political terrain is devoid of the fear of God and I fear the wrath of God. I will not dabble into anything that will comprise my religion. For instance, God commands us to love our neighbours as we love ourselves. Is this doctrine imbibed in Nigerian politics? Majority of our government functionaries are selfish and self-centred. Elections in Nigeria are not free and credible. I don’t have a place in something that lacks credibility. Nigerian politics does not sit well with me. But, I can assure you that outside politics I have been doing my best to help humanity and I will continue to do so. What is it that you don’t like about being the late Pa Rewane’s and Pa Adegbenro’s grandson? I think they left shoes almost too big to fill in today’s world. The odds seem stacked up against our generation: there are more hate-filled ideologies on religion and tribal affiliations. The norm now is to tow the path of least resistance. It is hard living the ideals and values embodied in their lives today. What should be the guiding philosophy for politics in Nigeria? The interest and will of the people should come first. This should lead to an introspective assessment of one’s motivations: is there a genuine value proposition for the people? Do I have the capacity to deliver on this value? How much of my decision is based on self-interest? If we play politics based on the rules of value proposition and not religious and ethics sentiments, we will have a vibrant political climate that is focused on giving maximum value to the people. What is the best way to curb insurgency in Nigeria? Deal with the root-causes of the problem, em-

• Adegbenro

power these youths, educate them, make them feel cared for by their government; show them that there is room for their aspirations in Nigeria. What should be done to make the fight against insurgency more impactful? In terms of security, they have made Boko Haram a northern problem, but it is a Nigerian problem. If you ask me where I am from, I will say I’m a Nigerian before mentioning my ethnic group. We have to address this issue as a country because it is not only northerners that are dying. We all have to come together to safe guard the unity of Nigeria. The Federal Government needs to curb the insurgency of Boko Haram. We don’t expect the President to deal with the problem alone, we all have to help. If you know who Boko Haram is, expose them; let us know how we will deal with the issue. How do you think we can put the country back on track? It is simple. Just allow a level-playing ground for all contestants. If I was Mr. President, I would just replicate what happened on June 12, 1993. I would just provide a level-playing field for all the contestants and let the people’s vote count. So, if a farmer becomes governor, everybody would know that truly people voted for him and he was not imposed on the people by god-

fathers. So, let us go back to the basics. What are your expectations for Nigeria? As far as I’m concerned, my grandfathers came before their time. Now should be their time to teach us how to be true Nigerians, who would consider God first, others second and themselves last. The politics of my two grandfathers was not based on religion or ethnicity. Nigeria was secure. You could confidently drive from Lagos to Kaduna and nothing bad will happen. All these things are still achievable. All we need is god fearing leaders. Nigerians know what is right and wrong; we just need to imbibe discipline and this involves you and I. When I was a child, children were taken to schools in vans, but now they are driven to schools in Mercedes Benz and the likes and that’s part of the problem. It is absurd that some people have between 12 and 13 cars with sirens. When they are cruising on the road they cause traffic and compound the country’s problem. We lack discipline, until we imbibe discipline, we won’t be able to move forward. I believe the President should surround himself with people that can help him. The issue isn’t the President because if another president comes in, we will still have the same problem. Everybody that owns a Nigerian passport, Christian or Muslim, should help out. What is your assessment of Jonathan administration? I don’t know Mr. President personally, but from what I see, he inherited lots of problems that he has been trying to grapple with. Jonathan must be an extra-ordinary person to still remain focused in the face of the security challenges that can run a normal human being crazy. In the midst of all the chaos, he is still focusing on other sectors that have bearing on the lives of Nigerians. With oil price going down, naira devaluation and other disturbing issues, how can Nigeria get out of the present state of economic quagmire? Some of the issues you noted are global issues affecting even economies that are bigger, older and better structured than Nigeria’s. Oil price slump and the resultant devaluation of the naira is a wakeup call for Nigerians to aggressively, yet sustainably, begin the process of diversifying its export income. Since oil and gas export accounts for more than 90 per cent of Nigeria’s total export revenue, the value of the naira will continue to be vulnerable to the price of crude oil. There is also the global issue of an oversupply of oil to the market. But, the question is: is the extent of devaluation of the naira proportionate with the erosion in planned export in-

‘The present Nigerian political terrain is devoid of the fear of God and I fear the wrath of God. I will not dabble into anything that will comprise my religion. For instance, God commands us to love our neighbours as we love ourselves. Is this doctrine imbibed in Nigerian politics? Majority of our government functionaries are selfish and selfcentred’

come? I leave this to the economist to work out. Nonetheless, I believe the fundamental solution will be to ramp-up our domestic production of exportable goods. Our capacity to achieve this is evident in the abundance of non-oil resources, manpower and land. This brings us to the issue of electric power supply, which is the main driver of most manufacturing and processing industries. How can goods be exported when local production costs are uncompetitive relative to other international revenues? The CBN recently announced a string of monetary policy measures which devalued the naira, claiming that it is aimed at achieving macroeconomic stability in the nation. Whereas, in reality, the desperate actions of the Federal Government is a consequence of what book makers have since observed and called to its attention. Some of which are the government’s uncontrolled spending; jacking up our debt portfolio from $3.9billion in 2007 to $9.3billion today; rapid depletion of our external reserves with $68 billion available under the Yar’adua administration to as low as $36.75 billion at the end of October 2014; misapplication of the excess crude account which stood at $470 million today and the sluggish effort of diversifying the economy. These are some of the reasons why we have found our nation sleep-walking into austerity. Some of these embarrassing outcomes could be addressed by fine-turning our monetary policies such that while targeting currency policies speculators on the one hand, we can boost investors’ confidence on the other hand to forestall dreadful capital flight. It is again imperative for the Federal Government to create a deliberate bailout intervention for small and medium-scale enterprises (SME’s) whose organizations require foreign expenditure in order to ensure that the already bad unemployment rate does not worsen. We should also create an export-oriented agricultural market, which is the best way to improve productivity, strengthen farmers’ income, ease rural unemployment, reduce poverty and forestall rural-urban migration. The issue has never been that Nigeria lacks the resources to invest in its people. It problem has always been that of wealth being cornered by a small group of people in positions of authority. A culture of servitude has subsequently emerged as a way to gain crumbs off the table of men in power. What is the way out for this quagmire? Change will not be instantaneous. Recognizing this will enable a climate for sustainable foundations from where institutional wrongs can be made right. Our politicians will need to rise above their self-interest, petty blame-games and namecalling to focus on developing and shepherding long-term programmes that will correct systemic problem that threaten our country’s existence. We currently have brilliant and ambitious plans that have identified and proffered solutions to a broad range of social and developmental issues. But, the problem always has been that these solutions have become a means of amassing wealth or extending favours and considerations to political cohorts and friends.

Ex governorship aspirants enjoined to support Ambode

• Adekunle

SPIRANTS who lost the Lagos State governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to Akinwunmi Ambode in last week’s primaries have been enjoined to close ranks and support him as the party’s standard-bearer in the forthcoming election. A public affairs analyst and entrepreneur, Mr. Adeniyi Adekunle, made this appeal at an event in Lagos while commenting on the significance of next year’s general election. He urged the close to a dozen other aspirants that lost to Ambode to give him their full support to enable the party to face the election as a formi-

By Raymond Mordi

dable and united platform. Adekunle described Ambode’s opponents during the contest as gallant men who have distinguished themselves in the nation’s public life, especially in Lagos State. He said: “In every contest, there must be losers and winners; that is inevitable. Now that Ambode has emerged as the winner, I want to appeal to his opponents to put whatever transpired behind them and work with the flag bearer to ensure victory for the party at the polls.” Adekunle, who is also the Chief

Executive Officer, Samad Group of Companies, said his appeal was borne out of a desire to see the APC triumph in next year’s election and consolidate on the good works of the incumbent administration led by Governor Babatunde Fashola. He added: “I’m apolitical. I’m not a politician, but we are all political animals. As a political analyst who has been monitoring events in Lagos in the last 16 years, I’m of the view that the state benefitted immensely from the vision and dynamism of both former Governor Bola Tinubu and the incumbent Governor Fashola. I’ve

known Ambode as a hardworking and brilliant technocrat over the years. With his wealth of experience, I’m sure that Lagos State will be better for it, if he is endorsed by the electorates. The public affairs analyst and entrepreneur said Ambode has started well by extending hands of fellowship to all the aspirants who participated in the contest. His words: “Ambode has done well by saying that his victory is for all of them and that there is no victor and no vanquished at the end of the day. That is a hallmark of a good leader.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

THE NATION

EDUCATION

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

It is one year after the six-month Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike for improved funding of public universities. Did the strike achieve its aim? Yes, say some stakeholders; no, claim others.

Was ASUU strike in vain? T

HOSE in the university system will remember 2013 for the six-month strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). The strike, which was over the non-implementation of the 2009 ASUU/Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) agreement for improved funding, increased allowances and better conditions of service, will also be remembered for the death of former ASUU president, Prof Festus Iyayi, on November 12. He was on the way to a meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) of ASUU at the Bayero University, Kano, when he died on the Lokoja-Abuja highway in an accident involving the convoy of Kogi State Governor Captain Idris Wada. The strike was suspended on December 17 after the Federal Government agreed to invest N1.3trilion in improving public universities, facilities between 2013 and 2018. The first N200 billion was remitted into a special Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) account last year. Under the agreement, the universities are to receive N220 billion in four tranches this year and subsequently until they achieve world class status. Education Minister Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau said at the Federal University in Otuoke, Bayelsa State on Monday that public universities are making progress. Shekarau, who visited the university to assess the level of work done with the fund, said ASUU should be impressed with government's efforts. He said: "I am sure that any ASUU member that sees what is going on in the tertiary institutions will be surprised. I tell you, some of the institutions, their money is waiting for them and allocations are being made in the last couple of weeks. They are just waiting for due process to be followed for them to access the funds. Government is providing the funds and we are releasing the funds gradually. "ASUU is part of the implementation committee. So ASUU is following the picture of what is going on and I am sure with that, the days of strike will be over." One year after, lecturers and students expressed mixed feeling to The Nation about the gains of the strike.

ASUU’s position Though admitting progress has been made, many ASUU leaders think it is not enough to applaud the government yet. ASUU President, Prof Nasir Fagge, who attended ASUU-NEC meeting at the Lagos State University (LASU) on Monday, said since the last year's tranche was paid, universities that met conditions to access the fund have got money to improve their facilities. "Since last year, we were made to understand that there is a dedicated account where Federal Government credited N200 billion. Being members of the committee, we are aware that allocation has been given to most of the universities. We are also aware that a proportion of the money for 2013 has been available to some of the universities after meeting some criteria," he said. However, Fagge is concerned that the government is yet to remit the N220 billion meant for 2014, which ends in 20 days. He said: "But what we agreed is that for 2013 government would make available N200 billion, and then between 2014 and 2018 the government is expected to provide N220 billion on annual basis; and it is expected that this money will be credited to this account

• Shekarau

• Fagge By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie, Adegunle Olugbamila, Sampson Unamka, Tayo Johnson (Ibadan), Nwanosike Onu (Awka), Odunayo Ogunmola (Ado-Ekiti), and Oluwatosin Olawale

on a quarterly basis. That means that every quarter N55 billion will be credited into the account. "But for 2014, we are now in the last quarter, where we expected a total of N220 billion to have been paid so far. But we do not have information on that. That is what I can say for now." Immediate past chairman of ASUU, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Dr Karo Ogbinaka said new facilities are springing up at UNILAG but at a slow pace. "You say that since the strike, government had played some positive role, but we cannot give them a 100 percent score card. Right here at the University of Lagos a lot of biddings and procurement are going on. The university is at a very advanced stage of building new students' hostel that will accommodate 1,000 female student and 1,000 male students. "The Faculty of Arts is going to be refurbished; new laboratories are going to be built, and we are going to procure equipments. There are members of ASUU on the procurement committee and we can tell authoritatively that the processes are done. It is just that it is a slow process and it has to follow government regulation, but we are making some good progress," he said. The Chairman of ASUU, University of Ibadan (UI), Prof Segun Ajiboye said his university has started using the fund to upgrade its facilities while Prof. Olufayo Oluodo, ASUU Chairman at Ekiti State University (EKSU), said the last strike helped state-owned universities to benefit substantially from Federal Government funding than ever before. He added that infrastructure, research and training have all improved in the university. Oluodo said: "The Federal Government for the first time now assists state universities, which was not so before. They have paid the first tranche. Go to our campus now and you will see big

INSIDE

AOCOED workers threaten fresh strike, if...

WORKERS at the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED) Otto/Ijanikin, have urged the Lagos State government to compel the management of the institution to respect a Memorandum of Understanding it signed with them last month... -Page 28

Drug abuse: Big deal in varsities

• The late Iyayi

• Continued on page 26

NIGERIA’s drug problem on campuses is worse than what authorities admit, a medical doctor, Dokun Adedeji, has said... -Page 45

CAMPUS LIFE

•A 10-page section on campus news, people etc

‘Baptism’ gone awry -Page 29

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

EDUCATION

Glorious day for three Ekiti teachers

T was a glorious day for three teachers of St. Mary's Catholic Nursery and Primary School, Irona, Ado-Ekiti who were honoured at an impressive ceremony to mark their retirement from public service. Former Head Teacher, Mrs. Rebecca Moradeke Ogundare; Assistant Head Teacher Mrs. Janet Leye Ojo and class teacher Mrs. Deborah Olufunmilayo Adelusi were honoured after putting in the statutory 35 years in careers that dated back to old Ondo State. Teachers, non-teaching members of staff and pupils of the school, teachers and pupils from other schools, family members, well wishers and other members of the public thronged the school's sport field to witness the event. The event featured songs, recitation of poems, cultural dance, choreography by pupils and special song from the teachers of the school. Teachers of the school were resplendent in their pink lace 'aso ebi' and sky blue headgears. They defied the scorching sun to sing for the retirees with whom they enjoyed good working relationship. The three retirees and their spouses wore grey lace materials with orange headgears to match. The retirees were also showered with gifts from individuals and the schools where they served during their careers. The chairman of the occasion, • Continued from page 25

buildings built through money coming from TETFund, and all these monies are coming from the Federal Government. "Apart from this, funds are now voted for research. You are entitled to it provided you defend your proposal. "Also, we now have special grants for junior members of academic staff to pursue their doctorate programmes in places like South Africa, Britain and other parts of the world and most of them are returning to add value to the system. Those who have Ph.Ds and professors now go for conferences abroad once their proposals are approved.”

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

Senator Bode Ola, in his speech congratulated the trio on the retirement from public service. He advocated an enhanced welfare package for teachers, noting that teaching is the foundation of all other professions. In her address, Head Teacher of the school, Mrs. Modupe Ajayi, said that it is a thing of joy to work for 35 years and retire without any blemish. She said the teachers' efforts must have produced important persons in the society. But added: "Sadly enough, the society does not accord due recognition to teachers and this calls for a rethink." "The retirees of today had paid their dues and are bowing out with their heads held high. They have contributed in no small measure to the education of many pupils in the last 35 years and have left their indelible prints on the sands of time. "There is nothing done for them that can match what they have put in. We can only ask God to compensate them appropriately. While in service, they were dedicated, committed, hardworking, compassionate, painstakingly thorough. "All these attributes marked them out as thoroughbred administrators, a legacy they bequeathed to their successors. As they were successful

•Teachers sing farewell songs for the retirees

at work, they were equally successful on the home front as virtuous women. The staff and students cannot thank you enough for your contributions and we will ever remain grateful". Mrs. Ajayi also hailed what she called the "unparalleled cooperation and support" of the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) in the success story of the school. Responding on behalf of the honorees, the retired head teacher Mrs. Ogundare expressed delight for the "great honour" done her and the two other retirees which she noted would remain indelible in her memory.

Mrs. Ogundare described teaching as the best profession in the world saying she and her co-retirees were fulfilled being teachers as the profession gave them an opportunity to mould the future of the nation's future leaders. She said it was a rare privilege to serve for 35 years and quit when ovation was loudest commending the staff and pupils of St. Mary's Catholic Nursery and Primary School for their cooperation during her tenure as head teacher. "Today is a glorious day for us, serving for 35 years is rare privilege and we want to give God the glory

Was ASUU strike in vain?

Students’ stand For students, not much has been achieved in the past one year. However, they are glad that there has been no strike since then. A female student of the department of Early Child and Primary Education, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, (UNIZIK), Awka, Ufondu Amara, said after the long strike embarked upon by ASUU, "students have not seen any form of improvement in the school." She said they were still watching for the dividends of that strike that caused of Iyayi's death. However, she was happy that the strike ended and the students are back in school. Damian Ajayi, a 300-Level Law student at UNILAG, is not celebrating either. He said students are still suffering. He said: "You can see it for yourself. If you have time, I will take you to classrooms and hostels where students sleep, and it is annoying. In the media we hear that governments has released this money but when they release them how are we sure that these things go to the things they fought for? You go to classrooms, students are still standing; we have over 500 students in the classroom. If you say you want to overhaul education system in Nigeria and you take us through that one year of struggle where everybody made sacrifices, lecturers made sacrifices, we expect that at the end of the day when the money comes we see something substantial enough for the students to say yes, this is what we sacrificed one year for. To me nothing substantial has happened." Oliyide Ahmed, a Final year student of Physics, agreed with Ajayi. "There has not been any serious improvement so far, though there are

•Vice Chancellor, Federal University, Otuoke, Prof Mobolaji Aluko, conducting Shekarau round Federal Government projects in the university on Monday.

now new buildings that have been constructed and one new research laboratory sited here on the campus. But for some of us, we believe that instead why don't we train people? Because if we keep on building structures, it is the people that we refuse to train that will demolish that structures. So, as for me, I have not really seen anything. Manpower has to be raised to a level that will meet up with the challenge of Nigeria competing in the global education,” he said. However, an engineer, simply called Ifeanyi, was seen working on a project at UNILAG. Ifeanyi, who refused to give his full name and the company he represents, said: "well, we are engineers renovating here in this school (UNILAG). It might all boil down to what we are doing now, we are renovating Business Administration, and the struggle could be what led to the

A student of Computer Science at UI, Kunle Sanda said that the last strike yielded a positive outcome in his department, as the funds release by the government has been used to upgrade their computer laboratory which was an eyesore before. "We now have modern computer facilities and also our lecture halls has been equipped with Wi-Fi facilities for browsing," he said Benedict Omoyeni, a final year student of Political Science, EKSU, said some positive changes had taken place in EKSU since the strike, especially in the area of infrastructure. He urged the Federal Government to abide by the agreement it signed with ASUU to guarantee industrial peace and stable academic calendar, lamenting that frequent strikes have pushed some Nigerian students to study in West African countries like

Ghana and Togo. "Government must be ready to be faithful to the agreement they sign with unions especially ASUU because ASUU always suspend strikes; they don't call them off," he said.

Remembering Iyayi To honour the late Iyayi, ASUU President, Fagge, said the union has renamed its national secretariat at the University of Abuja after him. "Our national secretariat now bears 'ASUU National secretariat Festus Iyayi Complex.' It is a model complex. We have a team that is also putting together all his works and will shall publish them at due course," he said. He also said Iyayi would be remembered yearly on November 12. "November 12 of every year, will be commemoration day of our comrade and all branches are expected to or-

You can see it for yourself. If you have time, I will take you to classrooms and hostels where students sleep, and it is annoying. In the media we hear that governments has released this money but when they release them how are we sure that these things go to the things they fought for?

for sparing our lives to witness today in which we are being honoured by all of you who are here. "We are all fulfilled being teachers and teaching still remains a noble profession. Its contributions to nation building cannot be quantified and we are glad that the pupils who have passed through us are making their marks all over the world. "On behalf of the retirees, I want to thank you for honouring us today and we are grateful for these wonderful gifts you have showered on us. We will continue to remember today and thank God for the rest if our lives", she said. ganise seminars, conferences and other activities to commemorate life and death of Iyayi," he said. The UNILAG branch of ASUU produced a publication - two of Iyayi’s research papers - in his honour. Ogbinaka, who was ASUU chair when he died, said other plans are in the pipeline. "We are working out other possibility of honouring him. Something that was very dear to Iyayi was affordable education, and qualitative education, himself haven gained one from that process," he said. Ajiboye, UI ASUU Chair, described Iyayi as a hero who fought for a functional education system and allowances he did not stay to enjoy. "One year has gone by that we lost a great comrade who fought earnestly for the standardisation of education system in this country. He was a dogged fighter who single-handedly fought for the union at the University of Benin (UNIBEN) and was even sent away for nine years by the then Vice-Chancellor, Prof Alele Williams. Iyayi was a symbol of the struggle and we shall continue to live for the struggle he stood for. "To me he laid down his life for our Earned Allowances but he never had the opportunity to spend out of it. The funds have been released to universities but Iyayi is no more. Let us reflect soberly and emulate his great legacies," he said. Ajiboye added that a committee chaired by Prof Raji Oyelade ASUU is compiling all Iyayi's works into a compendium. Former ASUU Chair, LASU, Prof Biodun Saani described Iyayi as his mentor. He called for senior members of the union to mentor the younger ones as Iyayi did. "Prof Iyayi was my hero who mentored me and ensured the sustenance of our union?. We need to reinvigorate ourselves and we must not compromise our principles. What I learnt from Prof Iyayi was to wake up early as a man and what I have achieved today in my should be credited to him," he said. The Convener, ASUU Committee on Human Rights, Dr Sola Olorunyomi also called for mentors like Iyayi. "One of Iyayi's traditions was to connect what we did with the younger generation. We need to start taking up the young ones on how to defend themselves against injustice. We need to say no to the victimisation of lecturers," he said.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

EDUCATION

Obasanjo visits Ph.D supervisor

SPDC’s N100m equipment for RSUST

HELL Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has donated a complete and integrated set of marine hydrodynamic wave simulation equipment valued at over N100m to the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST). Performing the groundbreaking to house the equipment at the Nkpolu main campus of the university in Port Harcourt, the firm's Sustainable Development and Community Relations General Manager, Nedo Osayande, said the donation was part of SPDC's Corporate Social Responsibility to support teaching, research and learning in the Marine Engineering department. He said the equipment is, by design, a multi-experiment facility capable of carrying out various simulations as regards to different offshore operations which include Model Towing Experiments, SelfPropulsion Experiments, Open Water Propeller Experiments, Ship Stability Experiments, Offshore Facility Experiments and Wake Experiments. Nedo added that Shell's donations would help create a synergy between the firm and beneficiaries. He said: "Our Shell Professors and other 40 professors and postgraduate students recruited annually on 12-month sabbatical attachment and research internship, are equipped to help resolve some of our Exploration and production challenges. "Our goal is always to focus on a single window of entry to optimize impacts and gains while widening our geographical spread across Nigerian universities. Ultimately, as already agreed, the aim is to transform the Department into a Centre of Excellence in Marine Engineering and Offshore Studies and make it a one-stop point in terms of developing industry-ready offshore technical personal in the West Africa region." Nedo recalled that the company has eight endowed Shell Professorial chairs in eight universities adding that Shell Nigeria will continue to support capacity development in the university, particularly through the Centre of Excellency concept that they have solicit for cooperation and support of all.

ORMER President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, was at the University of Ibadan (UI) on Monday to visit the co-supervisor of his Ph.D, Prof 'Deji Ayegboyin of the Department of Religious Studies, University of Ibadan. Obasanjo enrolled for Ph.D in Theology at the National Open University of Nigeria, (NOUN) in October, with Dr. Tachin of NOUN as his direct supervisor. Ayegboyin was headhunted as co-supervisor because he is a specialist in the area of Liberation Theology, which is the former president's research focus. The former President said the visit was a prelude to other consultative academic visits expected in a supervisor/student-researcher relationship. He said that for effective learning to take place, he has disciplined himself under the tutelage of his supervisors, describing their expertise as beneficial to his academic pursuit. Speaking on religion, the former president urged Nigerians to learn more about God, insisting that "the more you know about God, the more you know how to serve and worship Him." On his part, Ayegboyin described Obasanjo as "a brilliant student." "He was in my office, this morning, where I took him for two hours. My impression is that he is extraordinarily brilliant. He asked probing, intimidating questions. He is extremely interested in that area," he said.

From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

•From right: Chief Obasanjo; Prof Ayegboyin; Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof Emilolorun Ayelari and Director, Public Communication, UI, Mr Olatunji Oladejo when Obasanjo visited the university.

152 local languages may die soon •New product teaches languages

EAD of Languages, Federal Ministry of Education, Rev Anota Ademola, has said that Nigeria may lose 152 local languages which are hardly spoken any more. He warned that more may disappear if greater attention is not paid to the estimated 400 languages spoken in Nigeria. Rev Ademola, spoke at the launch of a multimedia product created by Mrs Kofoworola Odeleye to teach indigenous languages to children at the Terra Kulture, Victoria Island,

• Olaniyi (right), receiving an award from Chike Onuorah, President of the Federal Government College, Port Harcourt Old Student's Association, Lagos Chapter (left) at the event. With them is Olaniyi's wife, Biodun.

By Medinat Kanabe

Lagos. He lamented that due to insufficient attention, the country's estimated 400 indigenous languages have become greatly endangered. He added that the greater concern is that local languages are not being handed over to the children in their homes. "Some languages are already extinct, and about 152 are on the verge of extinction. Numerous researches show that on the average 25 per cent of children below 11

years are unable to speak their indigenous language. If this trend is not checked and reversed, many Nigerian languages would have died out in two to three generations. Everything necessary should be done to draw our youths to the face that their mother tongue is their identity," he said. Ademola, who represented the Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, praised Mrs Odeleye and her team for promoting the development of Nigerian languages among young ones. The animated multimedia product, called the Anilingo series, is designed to make teaching and learning of Nigerian languages easy for the younger generation. Mrs Odeleye of Iyin Creative, said she was inspired to create animated content that teaches children Nigerian languages from a cartoon, Dora the Explorer, which taught her child to speak some Spanish language. She said the aim is to promote and preserve Nigeria's cultural identity and diversity by using indigenous content to entertain and educate children at home or in the classroom. However, Kofo said the plan to produce the cartoons in all Nigerian languages could not be fulfilled for lack of funds. So, she decided to stick with the three major languages. "We approached a number of state governments to help finance but they did not respond. I applied for the Youwin women's programme in 2013 where I won a grant of N7.5million, although my budget was N15 million. To complete the money, I organised an animated summer camp for children," she said.

FGC PH old honours its own

T was a moment of camaraderie and nostalgia for former students of the Federal Government College (FGC), Port Harcourt, who converged at the weekend to honour some of their members who have distinguished themselves in their various careers. Among those honoured at the event held at The Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos on Saturday, was Tunji Olaniyi, Managing Director of Cosmos Trade Nigeria Limited and Founder of Safety and Protection Management Solutions (SPMS) Limited who, the President of the Association's Lagos Chapter, Chike Onuorah, said has not only shone in his profession but made immense contributions towards the achieving the association's objectives. An elated Olaniyi expressed appreciation to the organisers of the award and pledged his commitment to the task of sustaining the status of his alma mater as one of the foremost

institutions in Nigeria. "I feel honoured by this award. I want to say that I stand committed to the development of the college and to the task of making Federal Government College, Port Harcourt retain its position as one of the foremost institutions in the country," Olaniyi said. Others who were honoured at the event included Biriyai Dambo (SAN); Paul Nwabuikwu, Special Adviser on Strategic Communication to the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Gogo Kurubo, Financial Analyst; Ugo Ohuabunwa, Group Managing Director, Logistics Resources Limited; and Emeka Emuwa, CEO of Union Bank. The event was also used to raise funds for the construction of perimeter fence of the college. Members of the Association and invited guests who graced the occasion all donated generously towards the project.

•Member of House of Representative representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa with pupils of Ayangburen Primary School, Ikorodu, when she paid an unscheduled visit to the school. PHOTO: DAVID ADEJO

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

EDUCATION FUNAAB FILE C:AVA wins award THE Cassava Adding Value for Africa (C:AVA) project introduced to the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) in 2012 and led by the University of Greenwich, United Kingdom (UK), has won the 2014 prestigious Times Higher Education Award for International Collaboration of the Year. A follow-up project, C:AVA II, has been launched and funded with $18.8 million from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. FUNAAB’s Director of Grants Management, Prof Kola Adebayo, who is also Project Director, C:AVA II, said the project was built on the success of the first phase, adding that it has expanded the cassava value chain in target countries to accommodate industries such as brewery, livestock feed, starch, ethanol and plywood. University of Greenwich/ FUNAAB competed against the University of Glasgow; Imperial College, London; Northumbria University; St George’s University, London and University of Wolverhampton. Speaking at the event, the Director, Natural Resources Institute (NRI) and Leader of the C:AVA Project, Prof Andrew Westby, said that C:AVA’s success was built on long term dynamic collaboration between NRI and its partners in Africa. The Vice-Principal (International), King’s College, London and one of the Judges, Dr. Joanna Newman, noted that Greenwich had given a very clear lead to a complex web of international partners. “This project was very impressive for its scale, transforming the livelihoods of 90,000 subsistent farmers,” she said.

25 promoted professors, readers THE FUNAAB managment has approved the promotion of 313 academic and non-teaching members of staff for the 2014 promotion and outstanding 2013 Promotion exercises. The promotion lists, signed by the Deputy Director, Establishment Matters (Senior), Mrs. Oluwatoyin Dawodu, on behalf of the Registrar, Mr. Matthew Ayoola, indicate that 12 Readers were promoted to professor, 14 Senior Lecturers are now Readers, while another lecturer was elevated as Principal Research Fellow under the 2013 exercise. However, under the 2014 exercise, 43 academic staff and 101 senior non-teaching and 142 junior nonteaching staff were promoted.

IJMB team visits AN accreditation team from the Interim Joint Matriculation Board (IJMB), has carried out a resource inspection of the Institute of Human Resources Development (INHURD), FUNAAB, as part of its regulatory activities for the IJMB programme. Leader of the team, Prof Adebayo Oyewale, charged the tutors to teach the students well. Oyewale said the date had been shifted to January, due to general elections. He added that IJMB students often graduate with at least a Second Class, Upper Division (2.1) when admitted into the university because the programme prepares them for excellence. He said names of past students of the IJMB programme include the Director of INHURD, Prof Francis Showemimo; Vice-President of Nigeria, Architect Namadi Sambo, former governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the current Emir of Kano, Alhaji Lamido Sanusi, among other dignitaries. Showemimo recalled the Institute’s metamorphosis from UNAAB Consult to CENHURD and then, INHURD.

AOCOED workers threaten fresh strike, if...

ORKERS at the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED) Otto/Ijanikin, have urged the Lagos State government to compel the management of the institution to respect a Memorandum of Understanding it signed with them last month. The workers under the aegis of Representation of AOCOED Joint School Union (RAJSU), said it is ready to resume its two month-old strike that was suspended a fortnight ago if its demands are not met. At a briefing at the college premises last week, the Chairman, College of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), Micheal Avosetinyen, said: “We want to thank the management for the agreement we all signed. We are

By Adegunle Olugbamila

however appealing to them not to renege on the said agreement. If management refuses, we will not hesitate to resume the strike action we suspended because we did so on mutual understanding.” The MoU was signed by Avosentiyen and the chairmen of the Senior Staff Union of College of Education in Nigeria (SSUCOEN) and Non Academic Staff Union (NASU) Comrades Wunmi Ombagadu and Adebayo Femi, as well as representatives of AOCOED management led by the Provost, Mr Olalekan Bashorun and Chairman, Technical Committee, Dr M. Lawal. The strike was to protest alleged non-remittance of workers’ arrears to five cooperative societies; out-

standing salary arrears; planned deharmonisation of workers of the staff schools; outstanding staff promotions, and 65-year retirement age among others. On workers’ dis-harmonisation, Mrs Ombagadu faulted the move to de-harmonise members of staff of the AOCOED Staff School and AOCOED International School, who were on contract until 2008 when the Governing Council of the college harmonized them into the system. “Those people were given employment letters and have since been promoted twice before the Special Adviser on Education directed that they should be disengaged. We want the Special Adviser on Education to realise that the Council that employed them then comprised intellectuals and distinguished Lagosians. Is the

•Left Chief Ogunjobi receiving Obafemi Awolowo Leadership Award as role model of the year 2014, from Victor Ajayi, President National Association of Oodua Students in Lagos.

Private varsities not for profit, says JABU VC

S the first private university in Osun State, Joseph Ayodele Babalola University (JABU), Ikeji Arakeji holds its fifth convocation tomorrow, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Sola Fajana, has disproved the notion that private universities are established for profit. He said the country’s private universities are rendering social services like their public counterparts. The don who bemoaned the federal government’s attitude of invoking heavy taxes on private universities, stressed the need for the government to support them to further develop the country’s education sector. At a briefing to herald the fifth convocation of JABU, which is owned by the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Fajana once again called on the National Assembly to amend the laws that established the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) to favour the private universities.

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

Presently, private universities do not benefit from the fund, which is a contribution of two per cent of the profits of private companies. “The private universities in the country are not profit-making institutions. They are established to support the government. The private universities, like the public ones, provide social services, hence the need for the government to support them,” he said. On the high fees charged by the private universities, the vicechancellor explained that it takes a minimum of N800,000 to train one student. He said that any private university that charges more than that amount may make profit. Despite the high cost of training, Fajana identified low enrolment rate as the major challenge confronting the university. Though JABU has the capacity to admit over 1,500 students per year, but the quota is not filled.

Fajana disclosed that the CAC management releases N30 million monthly to run the institution, describing the church as kind. For thriving where many others struggled with huge bank debts the vc described JABU as a miracle. Prof Fajana said apart from recruiting over 70 additional academic and non-teaching members of staff, excluding these in the junior cadre, the governing council also approved the promotion of over 35 non-teaching staff and 40 academic staff. Fajana disclosed that 1,044 students would graduate tomorrow, among whom are 19 First Class holders, while 279 made Second Class Upper, and 614 made Second Class Lower. The remaining 126 made third class. He said the university would confer a honorary doctorate degree on Mr Goddy Ibru, the Chief Executive of Sheraton Hotels in recognition of his meritorious contributions to national development.

Special Adviser on Education now insinuating that members of that Council which employed them were not thoughtful about their decisions?” Ombagadu asked. In the MoU, the AOCOED management agreed to pay 55 per cent of the remissions owed the cooperative societies; three months of pension and tax deductions within three weeks commencing from last Wednesday. Aside fast tracking the 2013 and 2014 workers promotion, management also promised to release three of the four and a half months arrears owed by government within the same period as above. Management also agreed to include workers in the proposed auditing of the institution’s financial activities by the office of the state auditor-general.

12 for UBA essay final

WELVE senior secondary school pupils have been shortlisted for the final round of the UBA Foundation’s National Essay Competition. The entries for the essay titled: “Is Social Media a safe place to make friends?” were evaluated by four professors of English Language from different Nigerian universities. The 12 highest scoring candidates selected are: Orowale Promise of Baptist High School, Akwanga, Nasarawa State; Abidoye Adeola, Breakthrough Academy, Lagos; Durueke Clinton, International School, University of Lagos, Lagos; Sunday Kenneth, Dority International Secondary School, Aba, Abia State; and Obi Daniel Chukwudu of St. Thomas Secondary School, Kano, Kano State. Others are: Ogbonnaya Lydia, St. Louis Catholic Girls Secondary School, Ondo; Khadijah Akinleye, Crescent College, Lagos; Orji Ubachukwu, Dority International Secondary School, Aba; Doko Timilehin, CMS Grammar School, Lagos; Fabelurin Fehintoluwa, Maverick College, Ibadan, Oyo State; Zubie-Okolo Ganiru, Federal Government College, Enugu, Enugu State; and George Ekong, Nobles International School, Uyo, AkwaIbom State. The competition, which started in 2011, is a follow up on the Foundation’s Read Africa Initiative and aims at providing a competitive platform to develop the intellectual and writing abilities of senior secondary school students in Nigeria. Ijeoma Aso, MD/CEO UBA Foundation praised the quality of the over 2,000 entries received for this year’s competition. “We noticed significant improvement in the quality of entries in this year’s competition. We commend all students who took time to send in an entry.”

‘Old boys should be role models’

AVING achieved success in life, coordinator of the 1960/ 64 set of the Edo College Old Boys’ Association (ECOBA), Dr Osarieme Bazuaye has said old students should serve as mentors to younger students in their alma mater. In an interview with The Nation, Bazuaye, whose set celebrated 50 years of leaving Edo College, Benin City, last week, said with dwindling funds from government to run schools, old boys also need to contribute financially to their former schools. He said: “The role of old students to their alma mater is in two folds. They must exhibit to current students as champions of the old school tradition, values and leadership characters. Also they must support the material needs of the school based on the requirements of the school authorities. It is

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

now obvious that government can no longer provide the necessary funds to adequately run the school unlike in our days when government provides the amenities and everything was in place. Also, former students who are doing well in their chosen fields should create time to return to their alma mater to inspire and motivate the young ones to take a cue from them. This can complement the efforts of the school management in churning out well-rounded student.” Going down memory lane, Bazuaye described his days at Edo College as excellent. “I could recollect that 25 boys from different parts of Nigeria - namely the old Western, Eastern Regions and Lagos – arrived Benin City and proceeded to the original Iyaro campus

of Edo College on January 19, 1960. We were still under the British colonial rule and at that time admission to Government Colleges was strictly on academic merit. On arrival at the campus, we were distributed to four houses, namely Eweka, Ozolua, Esigie and Speer. “Edo College is the premier secondary school in the old mid western region and during our tenure, the college was endowed financially and we had excellent educational amenities coupled with first class teachers and with non-academic staff to the envy of other schools. Sporting activity was compulsory for all students and this provided a lot of camaraderie, fun and excitement among the student community. The cricket game was most thrilling peculiarity in Edo College because it was played mostly by the

•Dr Basuaye

elite government colleges,” he said. Fifty years after leaving secondary school, Bazuaye said his set still appreciate the values they gained from the school, leading them to organise the event which featured donations to their alma mater.

*CAMPUSES

Delta varsity bids ex-VC farewell

Where is Abdul-Faridh?

*NEWS *PEOPLE *KUDOS& KNOCKS *GRANTS

Page 42

Page 31

THE NATION

CAMPUS LIFE 0805-450-3104 email: campusbeat@yahoo.com THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

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

email:- campuslife@thenationonlineng.net

‘Baptism’ gone awry •Student dies ‘baptising’ graduating colleague

The jubilation that trailed the final examination of graduating students of the Imo State University (IMSU) has ended in sorrow, with the death of a 200-Level student, Chisom Chukwudiebube Valentine. Chisom fell into a sewage and died when he tried to ‘baptise’ his graduating colleague at their off-campus residence, Blackberry Hostel. EKENE AHANEKU (300Level Medicine and Surgery) reports.

•Colleagues trying to resuscitate the victim after he was evacuated from the sewage. Inset: The late Chisom

T all started as a celebration, but it ended in tragedy at an off-campus students’ hostel in the Imo State University (IMSU). Last Friday, a student died after slipping into a sewage during the baptism of a graduating student at Blackberry Hotel. The late Chisom Chukwudiebube Valentine was a 200-Level Government Education student. Baptism, in many higher institutions, is a celebration to either welcome freshers or send off graduating students. During baptism, students are splashed with water or sticky liquids by their colleagues. Worried by the effect of the practice, some higher institutions tried to

stop it, but students took it off-campuses. At IMSU, the management, it was learnt, banned students from engaging in baptism. But the students moved it off-campus. The late Chisom, it was gathered, was in his room when a final year student of Nutrition and Dietetics, Ugochukwu Okorie, returned to the hostel at 2pm, celebrating his graduation. He called other occupants, who had been waiting to hold the ritual. CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the residents, including the late Chisom, came out to ‘baptise’ Ugochukwu. Chisom carried Ugochukwu and took him to a pit in which sewage

from the bathroom is collected. It was gathered that Ugochukwu complained of weakness and pleaded for rest. But, Chisom would not oblige him. As the surface of the pit was slippery, both of them slipped into it. There was commotion as the students ran around to rescue them. They were joined by the property caretaker. Ugochukwu waved for help. He was lucky as he was evacuated. But, Chisom was not so lucky. Efforts by rescuers to locate him in the messy water failed. When he was evacuated, dirty water flowed out of his mouth and nostrils. After performing first aid on the

victims, they were rushed to the Holy Family Hospital in Ikenegbu, where a doctor confirmed Chisom dead. Ugochukwu, who had stabilised, had bruises on his body. Immediately, rescuers contacted the victims’parents. Soon, the late Chisom’s uncle arrived at the hospital, fighting back tears. He called family members to inform them of the tragedy. He advised the students to desist from the celebration. The late Chisom’s parents later arrived at the hospital and took his body to their Ihiala home town in Anambra •Continued on page 30

•Police ‘attack’ protesting Ilaje students P32 •Corps member floats press club in school P41

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

CAMPUS LIFE

Abdulraheem’s regret

“I

COMPARE my public posture with that of a pediatrician who cares for babies, to whom 10 mothers have brought sick children and he has applied his skills to cure nine then one died and the mother goes haywire and says the world is going to fall apart. For me, I don’t see that as a problem. I am grateful I have been able to cure nine, so inevitably one had to die. Sometimes we win some and lose some, that is what life is all about. Don’t let us keep going all over to the past, especially the negative parts of the past. That is my take on the UNILORIN saga.” With these words, Prof Shuaib Oba Abdulraheem, a professor of Literature, former Vice Chancellor, University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) and erstwhile chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC) regretted his action which led to the sacking of 44 lecturers of the university during his tenure. Abdulraheem, a governorship aspirant under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State, was reported to have told reporters in Ilorin, that everybody had learnt his mistakes from the long-drawn saga. Not done, he was quoted as saying “… you will find out that since all of those years there hasn’t been any such crisis. No Vice Chancellor has come to face the kind of crisis I faced because everybody has learnt their mistakes. So, it is good that it happened but it is regrettable that lives have been stagnated because of that, but again, the reversal has healed the wounds and I hope it will help to heal the wounds by stopping people to refer to that and make them look at the positive things that came out of that disagreement.” The issue, which later came to be referred to as The UNILORIN 44, was one of the most contentious in the education sector for close to a decade. It started in January, 2001 when the university’s chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) battled the institution’s authority over the delay in the payment of salaries, allowances and other sundry welfare packages. The agitation was ongoing when the national ASUU declared a nationwide strike on May 15, 2001. As with most ASUU strikes the issues were

‘Baptism’ gone awry •Continued from page 29

State. The following day, the hostel President, Ifeanyi Udumaga, notified the institution’s Chief Security Officer (CSO), who reportedly informed policemen at the Orji Police Station to wade into the matter, since the incident occurred offcampus. But, when Ugochukwu and some students went to the police station to make a statement, he was held. He was released on bail two days after to enable him complete his treatment. Ifeanyi told CAMPUSLIFE: “It is a sad moment for us in Blackberry Hostel because of Chisom’s death. We did not expect that a mere celebration could lead to a tragedy. But, the police want to compound the whole thing because they were not there when the incident happened. Why should anyone think Chisom was deliberately killed?” A resident of the hostel, who did not give his name, said: “We thank God that the second victim did not die. If Ugochukwu had died in the pit, it would have been a bigger problem for all of us in the hostel. People would have said the incident was planned to kill the two students. But, we have learnt our lesson in a hard way.” Reliving his experience in the pit to CAMPUSLIFE, Ugochukwu said he felt a shock in the pit. “My survival is by God’s grace, because it was really a terrible incident,” he said.

Pushing Out

common. They include: poor infrastructure, poor funding, university autonomy, conditions of service for academic staff and academic freewith dom amongst other demands. As is often the case, attempts were made to break the strike. In most of the universities, including UNILORIN, 08116759750 attendance registers were opened for (SMS only) lecturers who came to work to sign. •aagboa@gmail.com Some of the lecturers - for fear of losing their jobs – often report for work daily to sign the registers without actually lecturing. However, those who (NIREC), all tried - to no avail - to rebelieved strongly in the cause of the strug- solve the issue. The final arbiter became gle shunned the exercise daring the authori- the Federal High Court, Ilorin. ties to sack them. On July 26, 2005, Justice Peter At the end of the day - and consequent upon Olayiwola of the Federal High Court, series of negotiation between the Federal Ilorin ruled that the termination of the Government and the ASUU leadership - the appointment of the affected lecturers for strike was eventually called off. It was, how- participating in the strike without fair ever, not without a “no victimisation clause” hearing was “illegal and unconstituin the agreement to be implemented by both tional.” It was declared “null and void” parties. The essence of this was to guarantee and the court ordered their reinstatethat lecturers who partook in the strike are ment. not persecuted because of their involvement. This was never to be as the institution Curiously, the University of Nigeria appealed the judgment at the Court of (UNN), Nsukka and University of Ilorin ter- Appeal. On July 12, 2006, the Court of minated the appointments of some lec- Appeal sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State upturers perceived to have played promi- turned the judgment of the Federal High nent roles in ensuring the success of the Court by declaring that the university strike. Following an unprecedented back- was right for sacking the 44 lecturers. lash, the UNN authorities reinstated its The Court of Appeal ruled that the lecsacked lecturers. But the UNILORIN au- turers should have taken their case to thorities refused to reverse its action. If the National Industrial Court being a I can recollect, close to 100 lecturers were trade dispute matter as Union leaders. given sack letters (I stand corrected if That the lecturers were not sacked for my figure is wrong). their role in the strike, since the lecturThey include professors, associate pro- ers were not sacked for any offence, the fessors, senior lecturers, lecturers, con- issue of fair hearing did not arise. At sultants and doctors. A committee was, another point, the court upheld the unihowever, set up to look into the issue. versity’s claim that the lecturers were Some lecturers were “pardoned” and re- given an opportunity for fair hearing absorbed into the system while 44 were while observing in another part that the dismissed and forcefully ejected from lecturers were not sacked for any oftheir staff quarters fence. When it became apparent that the inNot satisfied with the judgment of the stitution’s authority is going to stand its Court of Appeal, the lecturers took their g r o u n d , s o m e e x t e r n a l b o d i e s a n d case to the Supreme Court. After about stakeholders intervened pleading with eight years and 10 months of a tortuous the institution’s authorities to reconsider legal battle, the 44 sacked lecturers were its position. Traditional rulers, Yoruba ordered to be reinstated. Council of Elders, the National AssemIn a lead judgment, delivered by Jusbly and Nigeria Inter- religious Council tice Olufumilayo Folasade Adekeye, the

Agbo Agbo

court did not only affirm its decision, but set aside the earlier judgment of the Court of Appeal. The judge also granted all the reliefs of the lecturers, and ordered that all their salaries and allowances be paid to them from the date of their sack to the day they were reinstated. Not satisfied, the judge further awarded N60, 000 as costs to each of the appellants. “We have considered the arguments of both sides alongside the Universities Act in respect of fair hearing, and there is no iota of truth in the contention that the sacked lecturers were given fair hearing. Although the Universities Act allows the institution to employ and discipline its staff, it must be done in conformity with the principle of fair hearing. Accordingly, I grant all the reliefs as prayed by the appellants, and order that they be reinstated to their offices with immediate effect. All their salaries and allowances should be paid to them from the date of their sack to the date they are reinstated to their offices,” Justice Adekeye affirmed. Most of the lecturers returned to their beat while some resigned. This was the prelude to the regret by the former VC. But I wonder, was it because the eminent Prof is a gubernatorial candidate that the regret is coming? Some people might think so, especially its timing. Just like one of the lecturers said after the Supreme Court ruling: “We can forgive, but it may be difficult to forget what has happened to us all these years.” While I quite agree with Abdulraheem that “The issue of the University of Ilorin is a past event ...,” I am of the opinion that it shouldn’t have been allowed to linger for close to a decade. The animosity it created will no doubt haunt Abdulraheem no matter how he tries to put on a bold face. The issue should also serve as a leadership lesson that it is not all battles that we have to fight. And I must add, not fighting all battles does not make us cowards, rather it makes us wiser; wiser not only to fight the battle, but fight the battle and win the war. Now that Abdulraheem is seeking the office of the governor of his state, he must have realised that this is one sore thumb that has the potential of standing out any day, no matter how “past” it is. This notwithstanding, I wish him success at the primary.

Members of Olise family of Rivers State were the cynosure of all eyes at the convocation of the Bowen University (BOWEN) in Iwo, Osun State. Two of their children graduated with a First Class. ISAAC ATAYERO (200-Level Mass Communication) writes.

A family of valedictorians

HE Ninth Convocation of the Bowen University in Iwo, Osun State, may have come and gone, but it would linger in the memory of the graduands and their families. For the Olise family of Rivers State, it was a day of double joy. Two of the family members, Olisseloke and Amoka, graduated with a First Class, with the former emerging the best graduating student. He graduated with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.93 in Economics and her brother, Amoka, was the best graduating student in Computer Information Technology (CIT), giving their medical doctor parents a double joy. Olisseloke could not hide her emotion when she was called out to receive academic laurel, describing day as most exciting in her life. She said her days on campus were those of hard work, discipline, commitment and sacrifice. She recounted her many experiences, which motivated her to dream for excellence. The Olises’ immediate and extended family members thronged the event to celebrate their children’s feat. What does Olisseloke have to say about the feat? She said: “I did not plan to be the best graduating student, but I always want to be the best I can

•Olisseloke (second left) and Amoka (second right) with the parents during the convocation

be.” To her, the achievement came as a surprise. However, Olisseloke did not get the laurel on a platter of gold. She passed through challenges to achieve the feat. Many did not know Olisseloke was admitted for into a pre-medical programme before she decided to transfer to Economics and started all over again. Another interesting thing about the valedictorian, which her colleagues did not know, is her love for novels. She said she is a fan of works by Steven Erickson, Stephen Backster and Jim Butcher. “I had to devise a means to overcome the challenge of reading textbooks, such as novels and getting myself focused on the textbooks,” she said.

For the mother, her children’s feat was a journey designed by God. Mrs Tamuno said: “For every obstacle they faced, God found a way for them to overcome. Words cannot express how I feel. I am totally happy and excited; I don’t know how to express it.” Olisseloke, like her mother, also acknowledged God’s helping hand before she could overcome the challenges she faced during her academic journey. “I thank God because I know that nobody can do anything by himself,” she said. She advised her junior colleagues to be the best and do everything with a mark of excellence. She said: “There is no point wasting your time doing something if you won’t do well.

They must aim at excellence and be the best.” She also advised them to see the restrictions in the university as a way of concentrating their minds on their studies and motivating them towards excellent grade. Her favourite moments on campus, Olisseloke said when she met “many cool people”. What she did not like? “It is the bell ringing.” Referring to the sound of the morning bell that wakes students from sleep. She added: “You can avoid the Students’ Disciplinary Committee but you can’t avoid the sound of the morning bell.” She said she was relieved that she no longer had to deal with the daily ringing of the bell.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

CAMPUS LIFE The whereabouts of Abdul-Faridh Muhammad Oluwatoyin, a 200-Level Agriculture and Biosystems Engineering student of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) in Kwara State, remain unknown more than three weeks after he left his off-campus hostel for school. BURHAN OLAITAN (200-Level History and International Studies) and SANNI FATIMAH (100-Level Linguistics) report.

Where is Abdul-Faridh? L

AST, November 14 was like any other day for AbdulFaridh Muhammad Oluwatoyin, a student of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN). By 5:30am, Abdul-Faridh had woken for his daily routine with his elder brothers, Lawal and Monsur, with whom he was staying in an offcampus residence, for Subh (Muslims’ dawn prayer). After the prayer, he prepared for school. Did he get to the campus? This is a question his classmates could not answer. The 200-Level Agriculture and Biosystems Engineering student has not been seen, 27 days after he left home for school. Where is Abdul-Faridh? Was he kidnapped? Is he dead? These are some of the questions being asked by his distraught family members and friends, more than three weeks after he was declared missing. Abdul-Faridh, 17, whose family is based in Kaduna State, is the last child. He lived with Lawal, who has just completed his Master’s programme at the Department of Animal Production. He was the last person to leave the room and he left with the keys. Lawal told CAMPUSLIFE that after they observed the Subh

prayer, he left Abdul-Faridh at home with Monsur, who is a 200Level Computer Science student. Lawal said his missing brother did not tell him he was going anywhere apart from school. He said: “I left home immediately after the Subh prayer on that Friday to meet a colleague. I came back around 8am and did not meet anyone in the house. The room has two keys. One for me, the other for my roommate. Since Abdul-Faridh is only staying with me for a short period, because he could not get accommodation on campus, I gave him my own key and there is a secret place we keep the key. “But when I came back, I met the door locked and the key was not where it was supposed to be. I called Abdul-Faridh to ask why he did not leave the key where it should be, he apologised that he forgot it in his pocket.” That was the last time Lawal spoke to his brother. Luckily, Lawal’s roommate came back from his trip that day. So, he entered with his own key. Lawal continued: “I became worried in the evening when Abdul-Faridh did not return on time. I called him but his number did not go through. I thought it was network issue. I called our

parents to inform them AbdulFaridh was yet to return from school at 9pm. Our dad called him and he picked. He told our dad that he had some assignments to do but dad scolded him to go home immediately. After he dropped, his phone was switched off. Since then, we have not heard from him.” When Abdul-Faridh did not return home on Saturday morning, Lawal opened his missing brother’s “UNILORIN Tablet”, a customised electronic gadget given to students, to check if he could see phone numbers of his close friends. He found a Whatsapp group, a social media platform, which his brother’s Level Adviser, Mr Delen Timothy, created to communicate with his students. When Lawal called Timothy on telephone, the latter said AbdulFaridh did not write an impromptu test he conducted earlier in the day, adding that the missing student’s name was not on the attendance list. Where is Abdul-Faridh? His friends and classmates could not provide an answer. Jesulayomi Omotosho, the class representative, said he did not see Abdul-Faridh in the school on the day he went missing. Asked to describe the kind of person the missing student

•Abdul-Faridh

is, Jesulayomi said he is a good Muslim and a serious-minded student. “Faridh is a cool-headed guy; he plays with everyone in the class,” he added.

A student, who did not give his name, said: “I know Abdul-Faridh as a serious-minded student. I pray for his safe return. If he was kidnapped, may God expose those who did it.”

For three days, members of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) chapter of the Christian Medical and Dental Association Students (CMDAS) were at Ugbokoniro Village in Orhiomwon Local Government Area of Edo State for a medical mission. Many residents enjoyed free treatment, reports EDDY UWOGHIREN (300-Level Medicine and Surgery).

HE life of Mr Ebo Uwumangbe, 62, will never remain the same again. Gone are his pains. Uwumangbe was struck with Hydrocele, a medical condition that results from accumulation of fluid in his scrotal sac. To drain the fluid requires surgery, which Uwumangbe could not afford. He resigned to fate. Then, the condition worsened and Uwumangbe developed a hunch back. His family could not hold back their joy last weekend when Uwumangbe was wheeled out of the theatre after hours of surgery. He was among the residents of Ugbokoniro village in Orhiomwon Local Government Area of Edo State, who benefited from the rural medical outreach of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) chapter of Christian Medical and Dental Association Students (CMDAS). The three-day event saw no fewer than 191 villagers getting free treatment. The first day featured a crusade at a primary school, where villagers watched a documentary on the life of Jesus Christ in Pidgin. In his sermon titled: Escape, Dr Paul Ikhuronian of the Department of Child Health at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), told the congregation that the only escape route in life was to live a life at peace with God. He admonished them to resist evil and look unto God. “It is high time you moved away from idols. Get close to God and when you are sick, consult a doctor to escape from the worldly disease. Self-medication is bad and can lead to death,” Ikhuronian said. After the sermon, 121 villagers came out for altar call, seeking forgiveness and willing to accept Jesus as their Lord. On the second day, the students

•The medical students counselling the villagers on disease prevention

•One of the students checking the blood pressure of a resident

Mission to save lives went from house to house, educating the villagers on prevailing diseases and ways of avoiding them. Thereafter, they rendered free medical check-ups and drug distribution to the locals, during which some of them were tested for blood glucose, Body Mass Index (BMI) and blood pressure. Others were counselled on how to keep fit. Free minor surgeries, including tooth extraction, cleaning and refilling of tooth, among others, were held. Those with chronic terminal illness were given referrals to the General Practice Clinic (GPC) of Teaching Hospital. The students also shared free clothes, bags, slippers, tooth brush and toiletries to the villagers.

As her son was brought out of the theatre after he underwent herniorraphy and hernia repair, Madam Atiti Adesogbe, 82, jumped into the surgical theatre against the instructions given to the patients’ relatives not to do so. Reason: she was overjoyed after her son was healed of hernia. Mama Adesogbe laid her hands on the team of consultant surgeons from the Teaching Hospital and said in Bini: Uwese, Osaghafiangbeuwa. Ewean noma wa khian gha mien, ise (Thank you, God bless you. Only good things will come your way, amen). The Secretary of the association, Tega Igben, said the aim of the event was to reach out to the sick and the less privileged as Jesus did. “The outreach is an annual event

of the association. We have discovered that a few persons present themselves for the check-up in the hospital and thus, we deemed it fit to bring a mobile hospital close to them,” he said. Winifred Illeubey, a first-time participant, said the outreach was a life-changing experience that provided her an opportunity to demonstrate what she learnt in class. “From interactions with the patients, I discovered that there is high child mortality and poverty in this village. I never believed high blood pressure is rampant among the poor until saw the cases.” She said the outreach had developed her interest in Community Medicine, noting that she would investigate the cause of high blood pressure among rural dwell-

ers when she gets to final year. “I discovered that many of the people here live from hand to mouth. My heart bleeds for them. What will those with high blood pressure do when their drugs get exhausted, considering the fact that many of them do not have jobs? Government should wake up to its responsibility because people are dying in the rural areas,” she added. Madam Atiti, who was among those who got born again, praised the medical students for the event. She said: “After I gave my life to Jesus last night, I have been having peace. I have forgiven the doctor that failed to properly carry out the surgery on my son. Since Jesus forgave me my sins, there is no reason for me to hold grudges against anyone. I will practice what the Bible says.” The team had 100 students of medicine and surgery, dentistry and pharmacy, four consultant surgeons and five dental surgeons.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

CAMPUS LIFE

•The protesters marching to the OSOPADEC office

Police ‘attack’ protesting Ilaje students

GBOKODA community in Ondo State woke up to the fury of students, who took to the streets protesting what they called protracted blackout in the community. The protesters, under the aegis of National Association of Ilaje Students (NAIS), said for six years Igbokoda, an oil-producing community and headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area, had no power supply. But, riot policemen attacked the students, leaving one of them shot in the leg. The students, who came from different higher institutions, held a procession on a major road in the community, carrying placards with the inscriptions, such as “Bring Back Our Light”, “Let there be light in Ilaje” and “We are living in darkness and we need help”. The aggrieved students marched on the local government secre-

•One shot From Taiwo Adebulu AKURE tariat. But, no official came out to address them. They moved to the office of the Ondo State Oil ProducingArea Commission (OSOPADEC) but they were rebuffed by the security personnel, who shut the gates. The protesters, then, moved to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), where they were attacked by the policemen attached to the Igbokoda Police Station. The officers shot to disperse the protesters. In the melee, Ibukun Obayelu, a student of University of Benin (UNIBEN), was hit by a bullet. He collapsed on the road. He was rushed to the General Hospital. CAMPUSLIFE learnt that the stu-

dents had the police permit to hold the protest. It was learnt that the police arrested the association’s leaders, including the President, Victor Adeya, a 300-Level Quantity Surveying student of University of Lagos (UNILAG), Busayo Ebiniyi, a Business Administration student of Kwara State Polytechnic (KWARA POLY) and Olanrewaju Oretan, a Biochemistry student of University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT). They have, however, been released. But the students vowed to continue with the protest until electricity is restored to the community. Victor said: “It is sad that Ilaje Local Government, which is an oilproducing area, is lagging behind in development. How can the area be without electricity for six years? Most of these political and traditional leaders do not live among the people, who are suffering it. We are tired of this marginalisation. As the student body in Ilaje, we won’t

•Ibukun showing his injury after treatment

relent until something is done.” One of the protesters, ThankGod Okorisa, a student of National Open University in Akure, berated political leaders in the community for neglecting the people. He said: “Our leaders are not interested in the development of Ilaje community. Our traditional leaders are well known in the country, yet their local government has been in darkness for over six years.” An elder in the community, who spoke in anonymity, said the protest reflected the anger of the people

living in the community over the “massive underdevelopment” Ilaje area was witnessing. He said the community people were in support of the protest by the students. “I salute the students’courage to speak out on what many of us are afraid to do in the past six years,” he added. The students gave the government up to December 20 to restore electricity in the community, threatening to disrupt elections in the area if the government failed to accede to their request.

‘Science and technology key to development’

•Prof Chigbu (right) congratulating Prof. Mbah after the lecture

Don seeks quality control in pharmacy

DON at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Prof Mbah John Chika, has urged pharmaceutical firms to adopt quality control in their processes. He gave the advice while delivery the 89th Inaugural Lecture of the UNN. He said: “Quality controlin pharmaceutical practice must undergo the performance of simple chemical tests to accept the originality of identity and purity in pharmaceutical method. It is an important task in the pharmaceutical industry that is guiding quality protects the pro-

From Oladele Oge UNN ducers against compensation claims and effective products.’’ Speaking on ‘’The control of impurities in the Quality Control of Pharmaceutical Dosage Form’’, Chika defined ‘an impurity in a drug product as any component of the drug product that is not the chemical entity defined as an excipient in the drug products’. He added that any extraneous material in a drug is an impurity even if it is inert or has superior

pharmacological properties.’ The don emphasised that the control of impurities in pharmaceutical compounds was necessary to ensure the drugs’ quality and safety. In an opening remark by the ViceChancellor of the University, Prof Benjamin Ozumba, represented by his deputy on Academics, Prof Polycarp Chigbu, emphasised the importance of research to man. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Polycarp Chigbu, praised the don for his quality of research, imploring stakeholders to uphold the cardinal points of hard work, industry and devotion to duty.

PROFESSOR of Chemistry, Olu Aboluwoye, has urged African countries to develop science and technology in solving their problems, rather than relying on foreign technologies, which, he said, are exploitative. He spoke at the third Scientific Conference of the Faculty of Applied Sciences of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic in Owo (RUGIPO), Ondo State. He presented a paper titled: Science and technology: A veritable tool for a sustainable national development in the 21st century. The conference, which held at the Millennium Auditorium of the institution, was attended by participants from tertiary institutions in the Southwest. The don lamented that Third World countries remained backward because of over reliance on foreign technologies, which, according to him, are expensive, exploitative and unsuitable to their local needs. He berated the government and elite for undermining research and development of technologies by spending billions on importation of ammunition to contain conflicts. Aboluwoye said Third World

From Richard Adura-Ilesanmi RUGIPO countries must look inward and start internalising and nurturing technologies that would in tuned with their local needs. “To do this, African governments must have a strong political will and institutional support frameworks that will enable them promote development of local scientific and technological research,” he said. Earlier, the Rector, Prof Igbekele Ajibefun, said the institution would embark on research to aid nationbuilding. The Rector, who was represented by his deputy, Mr Boniface Ologunagba, urged the participants to come up with practicable ideas that would put the country on the track of development, given the role played by science and technology in nation building. The Dean of the Faculty, Mr Gani Ogundaisi, said the conference would afford participants an opportunity to engage in a robust discourse on topical national issues that would help shape the future of the country and enhance their teaching. Some of the participants described the event as timely.

‘To do this, African governments must have a strong political will and institutional support frameworks that will enable them promote development of local scientific and technological research’

Newspaper of the Year

AN 8-PAGE PULLOUT ON SOUTHEAST STATES

Abia repairs roads

Hope for cancer patients in Imo

•PAGE 36

•PAGE 35

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

PAGE 33

Corps Marshal makes case for policy continuity •PAGE 37

•Participants at the entrepreneurship event

T was as much to gain new ideas as it was to correct old misconceptions. Interacting with other women who have made their mark in business boosted their confidence. Many left the summit saying they too can succeed and be an asset to their families, even the society. The women, over 500 of them, were told that money is not necessarily all you need to thrive in business. In this regard, love and passion trumps cash. How about information? The women learned, too, that knowing about their chosen business, especially the latest trends, is just as imperative as your cash and passion. The summit was organised by Diamond Bank to get women to own and manage their businesses and tap into the N200 billion Micro-, Small- and Medium-Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) loan cash provided by the Central Bank. But two years after its introduction, majority of women are yet to key into the MSMEs facility. That was why the management of Diamond Bank Plc started touring the country to educate, moti-

A summit to grow women entrepreneurs Eager to get a foothold in entrepreneurship, women from the regional states gathered in Aba, Abia State’s commercial hub, to learn basic facts in management, reports SUNNY NWANKWO vate and empower women on it. The aim, the bank said, is to help them become owners and managers of their own business and add value to the economy of their states and the country. Aba took its turn, hosting at Binez Hotel, Aba, the women who came from every state in the region to be lectured by financial experts and inspired by some successful women business owners who shared the story of how they

started with little or nothing. Some women entrepreneurs mostly drawn from the private sector, including Pastor Mrs. Patience Goddy Okafor, narrated how they started with low capital and rose to become the success they are through prudent management. According to them, love and passion remains the key elements every entrepreneur needs to stay in business especially during adversity.

Mrs. Okafor underscored the importance of information, noting that business is dynamic and that for a woman to prosper in it, she must be properly informed on its ethics and also adapt to new trends. The guest speaker who is also a preacher, reminded women of their role in the family, saying they must not allow their families to suffer because of their businesses. Mr. Charles Oguibe, a business manager in Diamond Bank, who

represented the Regional Manager, Michael Agbara, said the programme was organised to sensitise their female customers on the need to key into the CBN financial empowerment programme for women entrepreneurs. Oguibe said, “This session is for Diamond Women (the bank’s account holders). We realised that •Continued on page 34

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

Publisher rallies Ndigbo at magazine‘ launch

T was a gathering of who-iswho in the Igbo community in Lagos as a new publication, Igbo Ezuo, was launched. The event which took place at Euc De Modern Hotel and Suites, Okota, Lagos, witnessed a large turnout of guests. Welcoming guests to the event, publisher of the magazine, Prince Kelechi Torti said that the aim of taking on the venture stems from the need to afford the Igbo far-away from home an opportunity to socialise and come together. In his words, Igbo Ezuo is purely an Igbo magazine designed to boost cultural integration. The magazine, he said, covers the social life of Igbo at home and in the Diaspora. Torti stated further that his wish for the Igbo Ezuo is that in 10 years, it must have expanded more. “Our undoing as a race and people is that we misplace religion in terms of our nature and calling as God’s own children. We were Igbo people before we became Christians. A people without God’s given culture, customs, tradition and language are a valueless people. Today, we embrace with alacrity the Western culture in disguise, believing we are worshiping God. Many have stopped giving Igbo names to their children. Igbo Ezuo maga•Continued from page 33

women can actually contribute a lot to the economy of the country, but they do not have the financial wherewithal in terms of financing and knowledge…what we are doing here today is to give the knowledge and to let them know how they will be able to access the finances to support their businesses and whatever that they are doing. This is the third session of the empowerment programme. We held one at Ibadan, Benin and Aba. The most important thing about this programme is information because you need the right information to do better in business. This programme is a critical step towards helping women to be financially empowered. No commercial

Our undoing as a race and people is that we misplace religion in terms of our nature and calling as God’s own children. We were Igbo people before we became Christians. A people without God’s given culture, customs, tradition and language are a valueless people. Today, we embrace with alacrity the Western culture in disguise, believing we are worshiping God. Many have stopped giving Igbo names to their children. Igbo Ezuo magazine is born to correct our misconception as people and embrace our values

By Ovwe Medeme

zine is born to correct our misconception as people and embrace our values,” Torti stated. This first issue of the magazine presents the great and ancient

•Torti (second right) and guests at the event

clan, Nnewi, its history, culture, custom, tradition and great people. A section of the publication is dedicated to celebrating the life and times of HRH, Dr.

K.O.N Orizu III, the Igwe of Nnewi Kingdom and Nigeria’s longest serving monarch. Present at the occasion were Eze Ebube Nna, Engr. J.O.C Ezenuo,

the Chairman of the occasion and a lot of prominent Igbo Chiefs resident in Lagos.The event also witnessed a high dose of comedy music and dance.

A summit to grow women entrepreneurs bank likes taking equities. We like them to start their business and we can come in to support them in whatever that they are doing. Ten per cent of the N200 billion fund floated by the Central Bank for MSMEs can actually be accessed by them. We also advice that they start their business, perhaps when they run their business for some months, we can come in and support what they are doing. “Diamond is the only bank that can give loans of up to N3million without any collateral. The mistake that banks make is that they look at collateral and at the end of the day the loan you are giving cannot

support the business. What we are looking at is to check what they are doing can support the payment. If we are okay with that, we will go ahead and give out the loan. “But basically, this event is to prepare them for the CBN loan which they would use to support their businesses. The condition that they need to meet is that they need to open account with us for like three months and after the three months, they can be qualified for the SMEs loans. It is not about how much one have in account, but how well the person runs the account; how much that goes in and out of the account. “The responses from women in

the other states we have been and today is so wonderful. We expect that at the end of this programme, women in Aba and others neighbouring states that attended this programme would have been empowered. We also expect that they should be bold to come out and access fund where they are qualified to do so. You know a man can take spontaneous decision, but women do not take decisions easily, their decisions are based on what they have been told. “What we are doing is to enable them cut that gap; once they come forward to tell us what they want, we can support them. We are encouraged with the level of their turnout,” Oguibe stated. Some of the participants including Mrs. Chidinma Aisedion described the programme as motivating and inspiring, adding that she was already thinking on how best she can improve on her business skills, having heard from the resource persons on how they have gone ahead to make it in life after they started on a smaller scale.

‘

Mrs. Aisedion full of optimism on the impact of the programme said “It doesn’t matter how you started with, no matter how little you may start, tomorrow can be better. For now, I am actually selling jewellery in a small scale, but gradually, I know I will still grow and for me to grow, I need to have the finance to do the business. I know I can do much better if I should have more funds with me. “Despite having the flair, passion or anxiety for a particular business or trade, funding remains a key factor. When you have more money, you will expand your business. If there is a way they (Diamond) can grant me loan, I wouldn’t mind because I want to expand my business because the market is vast and I really want to go higher. “It was my husband that gave the money I am using to do my business at present but I feel like that I need to source for more funds to do my business, not from my husband this time, may from my bank if they wouldn’t mind granting me credit facility.”

It doesn’t matter how you started with, no matter how little you may start, tomorrow can be better. For now, I am actually selling jewellery in a small scale, but gradually, I know I will still grow and for me to grow, I need to have the finance to do the business. I know I can do much better if I should have more funds with me

•Participants at the event

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT First Lady hails Abia on governance

GOOD word has come for Abia State Governor Theodore Orji, and it is from the First Lady. Dame Patience Jonathan has praised the governor and his team for the way they are running the state, saying they have transformed the economic fortunes of the state in the last seven years of their administration. Mrs Jonathan who was speaking at the Abia State polytechnic, Aba during the opening ceremony of the second Aba International Trade Fair organised by the Aba Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ACCIMA) also thanked the state government for providing a very conducive environment that has enabled economic activities to thrive in the state. First Lady represented by the Director General, National Centre for Women Development, Onyeka Onwenu described the event as very significant to the commercial life of Abia State and a bold step to the history of commerce, trade and industry to Nigerian economy, adding that

•Dame Jonathan's representative, Onyeka Onwenu cutting the tape to declare the trade fair open, with her (left), Abia State Deputy Governor, Sir Emeka Ananaba and Chief Anthony Enukeme, President ACCIMA From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

trade fair was another genuine avenue of strengthening the synergy of the public private partnership.

According to her, “It is therefore a veritable platform to expand opportunities for international trade. It is one of the ideals of the transformation agenda of the present adminis-

tration. “This two-week event will no doubt create vast economic opportunities for the teeming businessmen and women of the fastest and big-

gest growing economy in the whole of Africa. This is a testimony to the commitment of the present administration under His Excellency, Dr. Ebele Goodluck Jonathan to increase the Gross National Product (GDP). “As a strong advocate of women empowerment, I am delighted that trade fairs such as this will open up huge avenue for our women to get involved in the economic activities that will be taking place here in the next few days. This will further enlarge the opportunity already provided by the YouWin programme, which is to identify 1,200 women to receive funding in the second round of the youth enterprise with innovation in Nigeria and I wish to take this opportunity to call on our women as stakeholders and relevant partners in nation building to avail themselves the good advantage that this trade exhibition provides.” In his speech, Governor Orji represented by his deputy, Sir Emeka Ananaba said that the fair was a clear attestation that Aba, Enyimba City “is the foremost commercial and trading center of the people of the southeast and the home of indigenous entrepreneurs, artisans and commercial gurus whose indigenous technological prowess has fabricated goods and commercial activities dominating the coast of west Africa •Continued on page 36

HE relief is coming on two fronts. One, more cancertreatment centres are opening up closer home, helping patients to save money that would otherwise cover overseas flights and the like. Two, cost of treatment is cheaper, all things considered. The relief is huge in Imo where the state government has flagged off a fully-equipped cancer treatment facility called Ochiedike Dialysis Centre. It is the first in the state. The Centre named after the late father of the state Governor, Ochedike Okorocha, who died of kidney failure, was declared open by the Governor, Rochas Okorocha announced free tests and diagnosis for prostate and breast cancer for people over 40 years. The governor disclosed that the Centre is 100% owned by the state government but leased to Israeli medical experts to manage for 15 years. He noted that cancer has claimed the lives of many Nigerians but added that when detected at early stage, the disease can be handled and the patient’s life saved. The governor maintained that with the modern facilities in place and the medical team working at the Centre, people of the South-East and Nigerians at large will have no need of going to India again for treatments on kidney and cancer related ailments, adding, “I thank God for a dream come true. My vision to save the lives of numerous poor indigenes has become a reality.” He explained further that the 27 new General Hospitals under construction will specialize in different fields of medicine when completed, priding that, “we are not only good in the education sector, we are also good in the health sector”. Earlier in her remarks, the Medical Director of the Centre, Mrs. Judith Glick recounted how her team led by Dr. Obi Njoku, former Commissioner for Health, presented the proposal for the Centre to the governor three months before the 2011 elections where he replied, “Why not, if I become the governor I will establish this diagnostic centre with you.” Dr. Glick said her team will develop and establish more medical units in the centre, just as she disclosed that investors are ready to establish a world class hospital in the State.

•The dialysis centre

Hope for cancer‘patients in Imo From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri ”It is time we stopped sending money out to other countries in search of medical attention; we are here for Imo people and Nigerians at large to remain strong, vibrant and healthy to enable everyone contribute in building a better Imo State and Nigeria,” she assured. In his speech, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Edward Ihejirika

regretted the progressive increase in chronic diseases, despite efforts made by government through immunisation and improved hygiene. He explained that the Governor established the Centre to provide adequate medical care and services via the most efficient and experienced Dialysis Technicians and Nephrologists as well as reduce capital flight.

It is time we stopped sending money out to other countries in search of medical attention; we are here for Imo people and Nigerians at large to remain strong, vibrant and healthy to enable everyone contribute in building a better Imo State and Nigeria

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

Corps Marshal makes case for policy continuity •Continued from page 37 gencies from about 50 minutes to 1 hour in 2007 to 15, 20 minutes currently. “In line with the need to ensure global best practices in road traffic administration and safety management in Nigeria, the FRSC embarked on documentation of its processes and procedures by adopting Quality Management System in line with ISO 9001:2008 certifications, which was awarded to the Corps in March 2013 by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON),” he stated. While further enumerating the role of the FRSC in keeping the nation’s roads safer, the Corps Marshal observed that in view of the damages to the roads by tankers and trailers through heavy haulages, spills and damages to road and road infrastructure in the event of road crashes which occur with attendant increased time spent on commuting, and general observed menace accounting for considerable loss of economic fortunes, the Corps formulated the tanker and trailers operation guidelines. “Conscious of the need to evolve acceptable driving behaviour amongst the motoring public, especially for future generation of drivers, the Corps embarked on a rigorous exercise which culminated into the Federal Executive Council’s approval for the infusion of road safety education into the nation’s schools curriculum. “This is in addition to the Council’s approval of a standard vehicle type for conveyance of school children to and from school in comfort and safety in conformity

with global best practices. “The FRSC in another effort at making the road safe, having discovered that over 50% of crashed on our roads resulted from speed violation, introduced a new policy that would make all vehicles to be installed with the speed limiting devise,” he further stated. According to him, the first phase of the policy will commence on 1st June 2015 when all commercial vehicles are expected to be fitted with the speed limiting devices. “This policy took FRSC over two years to conceive, nurture and bring to the level of implementation with the involvement of all relevant stakeholders who were consulted at all levels and their expert opinions duly considered before the stakeholders’ conference where the decision on the implementation strategies was taken,” he pointed out. “From studies, we are convinced that if well implemented, the policy would reduce speed induced road traffic crashes by at least 30%. “And aside generally making the road safer, it will assist Nigeria to attain the goals of the Accra Declaration, the United Nations Decade of Action For Road Safety: 20112020 and Nigeria’s Vision 20:2020, all of which hope to place the country roads within the league of the twenty safest global roads by year 2020,” he emphasised. On the level of readiness of the nation to withstand the economic and social challenges of being one of the 20 largest economies in the world by 2020 as envisoned by the national development agenda, Corps Marshal Oyeyemi stated that Vision 2020 document projects that Nigeria’s current GDP of $ US$509.9

•Oyeyemi delivering his lecture billion would grow to $900 billion by year 2020. He added that if attained, the Vision will make Nigeria’s GDP to be at par with the size of present day GDP of Russia, Brazil and Canada. “The Vision 20:2020 equally projects a per capital income of $4,000; growth in the country’s population from 160 million to 200 million and generate of 60,000 megawatts of electricity. What is most significant to the transportation sub sector, especially the Federal Road Safety Corps, is that vehicular population which is currently at 9.7 million would grow to over 40 million by the year 2020,” stated. In trying to answer the questions of how Vision 20:2020 could impact on the nation’s road safety, if the status is attained, Corps Marshal Oyeyemi assured that the Fed-

•Participants at the Corps Marshal’s lecture

HE struggle to succeed Governor Theodore Orji in Abia State is gathering pace, with Dr. Alex Otti, the immediate past Managing Director of Diamond Bank, giving reasons why he is in the race. Otti, running on the platform of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), said he has the requisite experience and qualification to be the next governor of the southeast state, come 2015. At an interactive session with reporters at a book launch authored by the former American Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr Rabin Renee Sanders, titled “The Legendary Uli Women of Nigeria,” at the Civic Centre, Ozumba, in

‘ The economic cost of road traffic crashes to low-middle income countries economy is $65billion. Economic cost of road traffic crashes to Africa’s economy is $37billion. Nigeria loses about $10billion to road traffic crashes annually, representing about 3% of the nation’s GDP

eral Road safety Corps is conscious of the enormous responsibilities. Accordingly, he stated that the organisation has been putting in place measures that could address such challenges, adding that the leadership is conscious of the fact that when Nigeria becomes an economic giant by 2020, the estimated 40 million vehicles that will drive on Nigerian roads would impact significantly on increased number of containers and tankers on the highways. “We project that the current, 5,000 tankers transporting 150 million liters of fuel daily, would by 2020, require about 20,000 tankers and trailers to transport haulage across the country as we would have become an economic giant. “This therefore means that as more tankers and trailers would leave the ports with fuel and containers, and the collective impact they will have on traffic congestion especially on roads along the ports, particularly the Apapa-Oshodi and Lagos-Ibadan Expressways can only be imagined, except urgent and practical public policies are formulated to mitigate the envisaged impacts, even where the roads are

expanded,” he explains. The Corps Marshal further expatiated on the economic cost of road traffic crashes to global economy, putting the cost conservatively at $518billion, which represents 11.5% of GNP of low-middle income countries and 2% of GNP of high income countries. “The economic cost of road traffic crashes to low-middle income countries economy is $65billion. Economic cost of road traffic crashes to Africa’s economy is $37billion. Nigeria loses about $10billion to road traffic crashes annually, representing about 3% of the nation’s GDP,” he stated. Furthermore, he disclosed that road traffic congestion in Lagos alone is costing Lagosians reduced access to spatially located urban resources and land uses, while road traffic congestions generally in Nigeria lead to problems of longer transit time between origin and destination points. These he said, culminated in high cost of transportation and excessive energy consumption, even as investments in the transport subsector are strategic to national development and economic growth.

‘Why I want to govern Abia’ By Emmanuel Udodinma

Lagos, he said he would use his expertise as a banker to provide infrastructural facilities, power and total development from the urban communities to the grassroots in the state. “There would be revolving funds at the various 17 local government areas of the state to develop the grassroots,” he said, adding, “When the citizens of Abia vote in a leader with good track records, who would get Aba right, then Abia economy would

be right. Aba was in the past the Japan of Africa. We would re-develop Aba into a modern commercial hub, which will, in general terms, involve urban renewal and city upgrading, provision of functional infrastructure, stable power supply, reliable and decent public transportation system, standard and planned industrial layout and cluster of parks. “We shall enhance marketing opportunities for ‘Made-in-Aba’ goods and services, particularly in leather products, by ensuring

quality control and show casing of the made-in-Aba brands in the economic capitals of the world.” The establishment of functional Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SME) would be given top priority. On health, he said some of the state hospitals would be developed and equipped to compete favourably with Indian ones. He said, “The education sector would also be revolutionalised. I believe the right man who can perform should have it.”

•Dr Otti

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

ROM which local government area in Abia State will the next governor come? The question continues to agitate many in the state, but traditional rulers from Ukwa East have made their position very clear: the next governor must come from their council or they will leave the state. The Ukwa monarchs were speaking in Aba, the commercial nerve of the state, after a meeting which had in attendance some notable politicians and youth leaders. They called on Governor Theodore Ahamefule Orji and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to give them the state governorship slot. Ukwa East is an oil-producing council but their leaders have often alleged that they are marginalised, relegated and neglected in power sharing and infrastructural development. They are now saying if this perceived injustice is not corrected by giving them the governorship slot, they will leave Abia State to join their kinsmen in Rivers. Ukwa-East Traditional Rulers Council chairman, HRH Eze Ikeagwuchi Ekeke of Obeaku-Ndoki, lamented that the zone despite giving so much to the state, has continuously been neglected by successive administrations in the area of power sharing. Eze Ekeke warned that if their marginalisation and suppression by Ngwa people continues they would not hesitate to leave Ngwa people in Abia State whenever Aba State would be created. “It has been noted that the position of governor of the state has been zoned by the PDP to Abia South and we the Ukwa people belong to Abia South where we have two ethnic groups – Ngwa and Ukwa stock. “And if Ukwa and Ngwa have been given the chance to produce the governor, it means that we have two stakes – the position of the senator for the zone and the governor. “If so, the position of the Ukwa people is that the Ngwa people should not take the two positions leaving Ukwa people with nothing because in a place where two things are shared among two people, natural justice demands that they should get one each. “We therefore demand that the

•From left: HRH Eze Samuel Agu of Ndidia-Ozaa autonomous community, Ukwa West; HRH Eze Obinna Nwagbara of Uhuru-Ndoki autonomous community; HRH Eze Godwin Ukanna of Ipu South autonomous community and HRH Eze Ikeagwuchi Ekeke of Obeaku-Ndoki autonomous community at a media briefing in Aba

‘Give us Abia next governor or we leave’ From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

Ngwa people should give us the position of the governor, because an Ngwa man, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe has been given automatic ticket to return to the senate, by the PDP. “So we are asking that the position of the governor be given to us,” he demanded. The traditional ruler of ObeakuNdoki however appealed Governor Orji, President Goodluck Jonathan and PDP leaders to consider their

stand and do justice to their cause. In his own speech, Chief Onyema Olujie, a former Commissioner for Special Duties in Abia State said that natural justice demands that where two people have two things to share, both should have one each. Olujie said that although the Ukwa people have been unlucky with getting good leaders, the demand of the traditional rulers was the desire of the people of Ukwa who have become tired of their marginalisation. He said that they have made several consultations with the relevant

stakeholders who can help them achieve their demands noting that they expect the consultations will yield the desired results. The Youth Leader, Ndoki Youth Movement, Mr Kingsley Okadigbo said that it would be unfair to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs stressing that Ukwa has been producing oil with no kind of political empowerment of its people. “We are not asking for more than we deserve. We are only asking for what we are eminently qualified for. It is not possible in this our genera-

Traders seek help over burnt shops

‘

Our hope is going down every day and that is why we want to use this medium to appeal to President Goodluck Jonathan, our dear Governor Theodore Orji, some political office holders and the philanthropists we have in Abia and beyond to please come to our aids

RADERS whose shops at 116 and 118 Ndoki Road by East Aba, Abia State were burnt in a mysterious midnight fire have appealed to the state governor Chief Theodore Orji, President Jonathan and public-spirited individuals for help. Some of them, who spoke when our correspondent visited the area, said that life has not been easy with them after the inferno as they were yet to pay for the destroyed goods which they bought on credit. Some others said that they were yet to offset the loans they borrowed from financial institutions, a situation which has made things doubly difficult for their families, even to feed. A shop owner, Mr. James Igwe Kalu, the breadwinner of his family, was in tears when he spoke. “Life has not been the same for us,” he said. “My family hardly eats and I can hardly sleep because I have not been able to offset the debt I owe the people from whom I bought the cloth in my shop. It is difficult for us to now put food on our respective family tables. Some whom their wives are pregnant are expecting to fathers and they are yet to have something doing. It is really a difficult situation and a trying time for us. “Children school fees can no

tion for Ngwa people to take two shares leaving us with nothing. “If we have not had it fair in Abia State, then we would be doomed in Aba State if created with the Ngwa people and we would be forced to join our kinsmen in Rivers state if this marginalisation of the Ukwa people is not properly addressed now”, he said. Okadigbo said that the Ukwa youth can no longer guarantee further management of their resources without their direct involvement in its management.

•The burnt shops From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

longer be paid. Some of the people affected are planning to withdraw their children from the various schools (private). We are in December, very soon January where most of us will be paying our house and shop rents. We still have school fees to pay and as it stands now, we are yet to start off with our businesses. “Are you going to borrow money

from a bank or any lending agency without depositing any collateral? Some have equally met their relations to lend them money but such couldn’t work out. “Our hope is going down every day and that is why we want to use this medium to appeal to President Goodluck Jonathan, our dear Governor Theodore Orji, some political office holders and the philanthropists we have in Abia and beyond to please come to our aids.

“We lost a huge amount of money close to N30million in the inferno and if not for the timely intervention of men of the State Fire Service the whole market would have been raised down by the fire. We are yet to know the actual cause of the fire. Officers of the fire service were here days after the incident and they are yet to relay to us what was the remote cause of the fire”. Some other traders who spoke to our correspondent corroborated

Mr. Igwe’s story, though some of them who said that their distributors share in their pains still sell goods to them at least to sell and sustain their families while they were still expected to set off their old debts when situation improves. The Nation reported over two weeks ago that a mysterious midnight fire had engulfed their business centers, destroying goods of over N20million which left the traders wailing uncontrollably as they could not rescue a pin from their shops.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

CAMPUS LIFE

Corps member floats press club

CORPS member Emmanuel Ahanonu has established a press club in Community High School, Emene, in Enugu State, where he is serving as part of his Community Development Service (CDS). CDS is one of the four cardinal programmes of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in which corps members contribute positively to the development of their host community throughout the period of national service. He said the club was created to assist the pupils hone their communication skills. Emmanuel, President of Nigeria Union of Campus Journalists, said the activities of the club would include training in news writing and communication. About 100 pupils attended the inauguration of the club in the school premises, where they were taught the ethics of journalism. The

From Kenechukwu Kadei NYSC ENUGU Corps members said membership of the club would not be limited to pupils in the Arts class. Emmanuel motivated the students to write short stories, saying it would boost their writing skills. To further motivate the pupils, Emmanuel said he would reward the best three writers of news and articles at the end of the term. The Principal of the school, Lady Caroline Omeje Okwuoma, said their membership of the club would help the pupils to learn and read. She urged them to write responsibly and use their pen to champion the cause for a better society. A teacher of Physical and Heath Education, Mrs Joy Ugwuoya, praised the Corps members for his thoughtfulness.

•Emmanuel with members of the club

Muslim students urge govt on insurgency

HE national president of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Mallam Abdulazeez Sirajudeen, has urged President Goodluck Jonathan, to stop terrorism. He said the Society could not fathom why some cities were being overrun by terrorists despite the sophisticated military weapons at the governement’s disposal. The MSSN president, who spoke at the opening of the National Higher Institution Convention of Muslim Students at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), said Nigerians were getting tired because of the violence. He said: “There is fear in our

From Safiyyah Abdur-Razaq land; people no longer sleep with their two eyes closed. Families have been displaced by insurgency ravaging the Northeast. People settled in different parts of the country and some of them are being forced to retrace their places of origin. To worsen the case, those who have the statutory responsibility to guard and protect the unity and sovereignty of Nigeria are committing genocide in the name of fighting terrorism.” Sirajudeen said the Society was interested in knowing how the government brokered a ceasefire

deal with Boko Haram sect and how agreement failed to resolve the crisis. UNILORIN Vice-Chancellor, Prof Abdulganiyu Ambali, said the institution had been promoting inter-religious harmony to engender peace and religious tolerance. Ambali, who was represented by the Chairman of UNILORIN Muslim Community, Prof Babatunde Abdulateef, urged religious bodies to promote harmony. He hailed MSSN for the convention, imploring its members to extend their hands of fellowship to adherents of other faiths in line with the mission of Society.

DLI students launch endowment fund

TUDENTS of the Distance Learning Institute (DLI), a part-time programme of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), have launched an endowment fund to promote academics. At a symposium organised by the DLI Students’ Association, which has theme: Students in politics: One of the needed tools for economic and political progress in Nigeria, the event also featured an award. The President of the association, Olufemi Hassan, said the event was aimed at educating students on politics and governance. He said: “This is a platform that serves three functions. The first is that, we are celebrating the first class students of this institute and secondly, we want to change the orientation of students in politics, because we believe students are assets. We also want to create and endowment fund for brilliant students to promote excellence.” He urged well-meaning people

Ogah donates auditorium to ABSU

•Students at the registration centre

Sokoto varsity agog as students return

CTIVITIES have resumed at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) as the institution re-opened for 2014/ 2015 session. Freshers have since begun registration, which would last for two weeks, while that of returning students follows. Students, who are unable to register within this period, would have one week’s grace or pay a fine for late registration. The registration centres were beehives when CAMPUSLIFE visited the campus last Thursday. Students were seen moving from one office to another to beat the deadline. Some of them described the registration as stressful, but others said there were improvements from what they had last session. Abdulkadir Imam, a 300-Level

From Halimah Akanbi UDUS Business Administration student, said: “I am happy that we have resumed because we had a long holiday. The registration is stressful but it appears there has been improvement from what we had last session.” Another student from the Islamic Education Studies Department, Saudatu Mahmud, said the registration was tough. Aminat Jibril, a fresher at the Biochemistry Department, said: “It is tiring and stressful. I don’t know why I have to pass through pain to get my courses registered. I am tired.” A final year student of Political Science, Abulkareem Isiaka, said the registration ended a period of rumour over their resumption. “It is so disheartening that we had troubles deal-

ing with resumption date because of rumours. Thank God, we are back to school at last. I am impressed with the registration, because it is not just online but it is fast and easy.” An official at the registration centre, Mallam Ibrahim Aminu, said any new system always had its attendant challenges, noting that the online registration was no exception. He said: “Since the new system of online registration was developed in 2010, we have been facing various challenges yearly. We have tried to update and improve the system to make it perfect. We urge any student who is experiencing any difficulty to report to our support team at the Information and Communication Technologies Centre as well as the Management Information System (MIS) and we shall definitely solve it.”

CADEMIC activities were suspended last Thursday at the Abia State University (ABSU), Uturu as students trooped out to witness the inauguration of a 500-capacity auditorium. The facility was built and donated to the university by the President of Masters Energy Group and a governorship aspirant in the state, Dr Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah. The ceremony was attended by officials of the state Ministry of Education, principal officers of the school, traditional rulers and various interest groups. Ogah also donated a 250Kv generator to power the auditorium, which has an e-library and offices. Supporters of Ogah almost turned the campus to a campaign ground, singing his praises. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Chibuzo Ogbuagu, hailed the donor, saying the facility would make an impact on users. He said: “I commend the Ogah family for erecting this edifice, which will help us to match our peers in other cities in terms of infrastructure.

From Sampson Unamka LAGOS and corporate bodies to support the project, saying the endowment fund would solve challenges facing students in term of finance. The special guest and former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, donated to the fund, advising students to participate in the electoral process. He said: “Youths own the nation and you must own it in true sense of it. Be vigilant and deeply involve yourselves in politics. You must be ready to think outside the box in order to conquer the world.” If democracy must be deepened, Obanikoro said, students must stand up to be counted, adding that age should not be a barrier. Mrs Monsurat Gbadegesin, Mr Waheed Arowolo and Chidiebere Chidozie, who graduated with a First Class, were honoured at the event. From Uchechukwu Amanze and Favour Nnadi ABSU This gentleman has demonstrated his philanthropy and support for education. He has put his money where it belongs. On behalf of the Governing Council, management, staff and students, I say a big thank you to Dr Ogah.” The Pro-chancellor, Senator Ike Nwachukwu, represented by Bishop Sunday Onuoha, urged affluent people in the state to emulate Ogah’s gesture and invest in education. He stressed that improving the quality of education should not be seen as the responsibility of the government alone. Ogah thanked the management for giving him an opportunity to give back to the society, noting that he wrote letters to three institutions to site educational projects. He said Prof Ogbuagu was the first to reply him. He said: “I was inspired to build this auditorium by my grandfather, who loved education.” Highpoint of the event was the inauguration of the facility, which was followed by presentation of gifts to the donor by the management and members of Students’ Union Government (SUG). The union president, Israel Ahaemfuna, said: “This wonderful edifice will create an enabling environment for learning. We appreciate the donor on behalf of the students.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

CAMPUS LIFE

•A lecture theatre built during Arubayi’s tenure

•Prof Arubayi and wife at the event

Staff and students of the Delta State University (DELSU) thronged the University Chapel for the thanksgiving service for their former Vice-Chancellor, Prof Eric Arubayi. ESE OKODUWA (400-Level Home Economics Education) reports.

OR the immediate past ViceChancellor (VC) of the Delta State University (DELSU), Prof. Eric Arubayi, the last five years were significant and eventful. Having been sworn-in on December 1, 2009, Arubayi completed his five-year tenure on November 30, leaving behind a worthy legacy. Last week, members of the university community, including students, rolled out the drums to mark Arubayi’s exit. There was excitement at the thanksgiving service held at the University Chapel in Abraka. The event, organised by a committee of friends of the former VC, coincided with the 60th birthday of Arubayi’s wife Prof Diana. The thanksgiving drew dignitaries in the state, including wife of the governor, Mrs Roli Uduaghan, members of the

Delta varsity bids ex-VC farewell academia, traditional rulers, religious leaders and students. After becoming VC in 2009, Arubayi spearheaded what his admirers described as uncommon revolution, leading to the social and infrastructural development of the school. Staff at the thanksgiving attributed Arubayi’s development plan to his experience in educational planning and management which, they said, prevented students’ demonstration and ensure peace throughout his tenure. In his sermon, Most Revd S.G. Onibere, enjoined members of the university community to pray for the grace of God to manage success whenever their

breakthrough came and ensure that they keep themselves in check under the watch of their creator, so as not to deviate from doing God’s will. Giving testimony of Arubayi’s tenure, the Dean of the Faculty of Education, Prof Peter Ikoya, said: “The managerial and wellcoordinated effort, which Prof Arubayi made tremendously improved the rating of the school in terms of infrastructure. This is evident in three major key areas, including faculty complexes, lecture theatres and laboratories, which he achieved through his rare initiative of good application of Internally-Generated Revenue (IGR), steady collaboration

with the state government and agencies, such as the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).” Prof Dicta Ogisi, the Dean of the School of Post-graduate Studies, while praising the outgoing VC, said Arubayi achieve his aims because of his wife’s support. “We thank God for the wonderful companion, whom God gave Prof Arubayi to enable him pilot the affairs of the university in a manner that yielded positive results,” she said. In his vote of thanks, Arubayi attributed the achievements recorded by his administration to the unflinching support of the state government, principal offic-

ers and students. The professor of Educational Administration expressed his gratitude to those, who made his tenure successful, praying that God continue to lead the institution in the right direction. Speaking with CAMPUSLIFE, Oghenero Odiefe, a graduate of Fine Arts and former General Secretary of the Students’ Union Government (SUG), said: “Arubayi’s administration did not only promote peace between the school and the host community, it also afforded staff and students to play active roles in taking the school to where it is today.”

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, who participated in the orientation for the first stream of Batch “C”, have been reliving their experiences. Some say it was good; others claim it was not so good, write OLUWAFEMI OGUNJOBI (NYSC, Makurdi) and PHILIP OKORODUDU (NYSC, Jalingo).

Our camp experience, by Corps members

HE orientation for the first set of Batch ‘C’ National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members ended last Monday, setting the stage for another set of graduates to undergo the training. But for those, who participated in the scheme, the journey started on a mixed note of excitement and disappointment. Some of them travelled for more than 15 hours to get to their states of deployment. But for others, it was a short journey. Samuel Osho, who was posted to Taraba State, spent 23 hours on the road before he got to the camp. The bus he was travelling in had an overnight stopover in Benue State before continuing the journey the following day. Samuel said: “It was the longest journey I have ever made.” When the Corps members got to their camps, they were welcomed by NYSC officials and military personnel, who searched their luggage to ensure no harmful object

•Corps members in Taraba State camp during a parade

was brought in. This exercise lasted several hours, because of the number of those involved. Although registration was orderly in some camps, it was so in others, as the youth were stranded for several hours. After they were given uniforms and kits, the course commenced. The Corps members were drilled. Unlike campus hostels, where students do not have bed time, every Corps member is expected to sleep after 10pm and wake up at 4am when they hear the sound from the military bingle. They

were expected to prepare for the morning parade and exercises. Anyone found on the bed during the parade was punished. Life there was not the same with campus life, which gives students freedom to either participate or absent from academics. “I heard so many unpalatable stories, especially how soldiers could punish all Corps members for an offence committed by one person. Indeed, I experienced this. We were punished in the daylight and midnight when our hostel was messes up. There were Corps

members whose clothes were soaked with water for missing morning parades. Now, I know some of the stories I heard about camp life are true,” Esther Arowosafe, a graduate of OAU, said. The Wannune Camp in Benue State was a beehive during the orientation session. The villagers made brisk business, rendering various services to the Corps members. Everything the Corps members needed was readily available at the door steps. But, while some of the Corps

members have good tales to tell about their experience, others have sour experiences. Tunde Sanni, a Corps member in Taraba State, was rushed from the parade ground to the camp clinic after he collapsed during a physical exercise. Reliving the experience, Tunde said: “Prior to my admission at the camp clinic, I heard unpleasant stories about the condition of medical services in the campus and they were not exaggerated. •Continued on page 43

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

CAMPUS LIFE

Taming the fury of anger A

NGER, according to Wikipedia, is “an emotional response to one’s psychology interpretation of having been threatened. “William Defore describes anger as a pressure cooker, saying: “We can only apply pressure against our anger for a certain period of time before it explodes.” Anger is said to have many physical correlations, such as increased heart beat rate, high blood pressure, adrenaline surge and so on. It is also viewed as an emotion which triggers the fight or flight of brain response. Some psychologists see it as a corrosive emotion that runs off with your physical and mental health. Anger can have many physical and mental consequences. Its external expression can be found in body language, facial expressions, physical responses and sometimes, public act of aggression. Some expres-

sions also include making loud sound, attempting to look bigger, baring of teeth and staring. Psychologists point out that an angry person can well be mistaken because anger causes a loss in selfmonitoring capacity and objective observability. Therefore, uncontrolled anger can negatively affect personal or social well-being. The best way to understand anger is to look at its primary causes such as frustration, hurt, annoyance, and disappointment. Knowing the causes can also help in understanding the various types of anger which include paranoid anger where someone feels threatened by others or feels everyone out there is after him; passive aggressive anger, which is a common way of expressing anger in which people never directly say they are angry but instead tend to do things to get their anger across. This leaves the people around them feeling confused as the person involved sits

Campus politics: Curbing students’ crises

N an ideal world, higher education ought to instil, not only knowledge, but moral values in students. Accordingly, tertiary institutions are to impart knowledge, critical and analytical skills, appropriate values, norms and attitudes on individuals. The National Policy on Education (2004) highlights the aims of higher education to include: the development of the intellectual capacities of individuals to understand and appreciate their environments; the acquisition of both physical and intellectual skills which will enable individuals to develop into useful members of the community; and the acquisition of an objective view of the local and external environments. Politics is a social relationship involving the propensity to gain authority or power. Politics has overwhelmed almost all facets of human life. In Africa and other parts of the world today, politics is conceived as a “do or die” affair. Sentiments, such as ethnicity, tribalism, nepotism, religious intolerance and others have affected politics in most parts of the world. This menace has not only affected politics at national and international levels, but also students’ level. Students’ political activities on Nigerian campuses seem to be creating tension and unrest in the academic environment. Over the years, vices, such as cultism, drug abuse and prostitution, were major issues of concern in campuses of higher institutions in Nigerian. Today, students’ political activities on campuses are beginning to take the coloration of politics at the national level and are gradually becoming serious issues to contend with by managements of higher institutions of learning. Findings reveal that university systems are in crisis in many parts of Africa. This has been attributed to students’ strife and increasing state violence, which has turned many campuses into battlegrounds. Hundreds of students have died, while many have been seriously injured in campus struggles. The simple fact is that, no meaningful development can take

By Ahmad Muhammad Auwal place in a crisis-ridden system as witnessed in Nigeria’s education sector, especially the higher institutions. Student attitudes have become somewhat more conservative politically. Self-help groups have expanded significantly on campuses. The rebirth of the student political organisations, which were a mainstay of campus life and one of the foci of political concerns, is an indication of the change. Students’ political bodies have been concerned not only with the quality of campus life and with student service enterprises, but also with the representation of students in a wider forum within the university and in some cases in a broader one. The aim of students’ political association is to press for their interests at different levels. Students’ political bodies are mainly concerned with ensuring that students’ interests are respected; these bodies also oppose tuition increases at public universities, argue against restrictions on student rights, and so on. In 1981, there was crisis in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where students died and the vice-chancellor of the university dismissed. In 1984, many tertiary institutions rioted over the proposed introduction of tuition fees and the scrapping of catering services. This led to the closure of many universities for months. In 1988, students rioted over the removal of subsidy from petroleum and allied products, which led to the closure of many tertiary institutions for a period of six months. The introduction of the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) also generated crisis in many tertiary institutions in Nigeria. In 2003, there was crisis in almost all the tertiary institutions in Nigeria as a result of increase in the prices of petroleum products. Recently, there were reported cases of violent demonstrations alleged to

there looking innocent. Another kind is the sudden anger where the anger seems to come out of nowhere. This type of anger tends to happen quickly and is usually over just as quickly but can lead to massive destruction. It comes in the form of sudden loss of control. There is the shame-based anger in which individuals are extremely sensitive but they need a lot of attention, their own personal belief that they are worthless and unlovable is setoff when they receive criticism from others and this makes them very angry and end up blaming and criticising others even to the point of attacking their loved ones. Closely linked with the above is addictive anger in which people involved are literally addicted. They tend to pick fights because they are looking for emotional “high.” Now, habitual anger is when the anger has become a habit. People involved tend to get angry at small

that people are different the way they are. Though everyone experiences anger but expresses it differently. Anger when out of control can snowball into brief madness. Most angers are dangerous and destructive and when displayed out of control can lead to negative effects on one’s social wellbeing. No wonder Horace said: “anger is a momentary madness and a brief lunacy.”and Hosea Ballou describes anger as “mental imbecility”. Uncontrolled anger can take a toll on both health and relationships. It’s important to deal with it in a positive way. Anger can be controlled by thinking before you speak, expressing your anger only when you are calm, hitting the gym for a workout and ease stress. One should also practise relaxation skills by taking some deep breaths and taking things easy. One should also know when to seek help. Control your anger before it controls you.

be kick-started and fuelled by student union leaders in tertiary institutions. In May 2014, the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) was shut down after a violent demonstration by students because of the tuition hike by the management of the institution. The management attests that the demonstration was led by the student union executives. Also, a student of the same institution (OAU) dragged the management of the university to court over his suspension alongside seven other students during the election into different offices of the student union leaders for violent misconduct during the manifesto of some of the principal officers of the union. A report on this case explains that some of the suspended comrades were disenfranchised during the elections and as a result, they abducted the chairman of the electoral committee during the manifesto. There was a reported case of violent confrontation between men of the Nigeria Police Force and students of Al-Hikmah University in June, 2014. The vice-chancellor of the university affirms that, the men who claimed to be men of the Nigerian Police Force came into the school to arrest a female student of the institution and their mission was opposed by some students who insisted that the police men who were in mufti must properly identify themselves and notify the school authorities before taking the female student away and this led to a violent confrontation between the parties. Students’ crises are becoming more rampant in the tertiary institutions and the resultant consequence has been to the detriment of the learning atmosphere. Crisis in tertiary institutions have led to the breakdown of law and order, disturbance of public peace, loss of lives and properties. The effects of student crisis include closure of affected schools, loss of lives and properties among others. Today, students’ militancy in the nation’s terti-

By Oyebimpe Oyesanya things. They see the worst in everyone they come across and they may even go through their day looking for someone to pick up a fight with. There is the moral anger in which people think they have every right to be angry at whoever breaks the rules. This gives them a sense of superiority over others and they believe their anger is for a good cause. They also fail to understand

ary institutions has come to be an issue of serious concern. However, revolts, protests, as well as incessant closure of schools for months in the wake of unrest have become a regular characteristic of tertiary institutions in Nigeria. There are many students’ bodies with different inclinations and national outreach in Nigeria. These bodies exist with different names in campuses of universities, polytechnics and colleges of education across the country. Notable among them are: the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), All-Africa Students Union (AASU) also known as Union Pan-Africane Des Etudiants, in French, the West African Students Union (WASU) and Student Union Governments (SUGs), to mention a few. The quest for power and recognition by students of tertiary institutions under the platform of these bodies has endangered the stability and peaceful co-existence of tertiary institutions. Today, Students are involved in different kinds of evil practices just to acquire positions in political associations on campuses. There have been reported cases of attacks on students by their political opponents which have resulted to violent conflicts between parties with different interests on campuses. Some students hire thugs and members of cult groups to cause tensions at the point of elections and disrupt the entire process. In some cases, student contestants harass their opponents with death threats, while some kidnap and brutalise those opponents. For this reason, there have been speculations among Nigerians that, one-third of the students who contest to secure positions in students’ political bodies are members of one cultist group or the other; because of the violent nature of the race. To remedy our institutions from this tragedy and to maintain peace and order in tertiary institutions, there should be sustained cordial relationship between the authorities

•Oyebimpe, ND II Food Technology, ADO POLY

and students of universities, polytechnics and colleges of education. The involvement of students in decision making processes can serve as an effective strategy for curbing students’ crisis. Crisis management in schools demands appropriate leadership style. In order to stamp out crisis from schools, there should be effective leadership among school authorities. Greater involvement of students in decision-making processes can reduce campus unrest. Dialogue can be another effective measure of curbing students’ crisis. School authorities should be more democratic and diplomatic in handling students’ affair; the involvement students in decision-making process especially on issues that borders on them can help the situation. The use of police can only worsen crisis situations especially when students are involved. In addition, tertiary institutions should offer courses on conflict management and resolution, peace education, civic education, good governance, basic and human rights, social justice, respect and the rule of law, and virtues of peace, tolerance, patience and respect for life, among others and students should be mandated to take these courses at specific points of their studies. If the authorities of higher institutions can integrate these into regular courses and across disciplines, not just in social sciences and humanities, all students could have a dose of peace and civic education as well as conflict prevention, management and resolution. It is said: “If nothing is done about anything, things will remain the way they are.” As Edward Albee says, “sometimes it is necessary to go a long distance out of the way – to learn – in order to come a short distance correctly.” •Muhammad Auwal 400-Level Mass Comm., NSUK

Tackling the problem of divorce

M By Ismat Anifowose

ARRIAGE is a voluntary union for life or until divorce by a couple. A flurry of problems face many homes today, especially in Africa. When two people meet each other and want to get married, there are conditions that must be met, other than courting for a few weeks and proceeding to the alter. Both partners should have the fear of God which is the most important factor, followed by mutual love and understanding. These will

make a successful marriage and build a lasting home but in the absence of these, problems set in, leading to conflict and the couple will end up breaking up. This is so rampant among couples of today where some couples only last for a couple of months before heading for the rocks. We need to know that marriage is not just something we rush into and jump out at the slightest provocation. We must take out time to study and understand each other

before going into marriage. Recently in Lagos, there was the story of a young lady and a certain young man who met in a polytechnic where they were both students. After graduating in 2008, they tied the knot in 2009. They lived happily and blessed with two kids. After five years of being together, their love started to fritter away and conflict took the centre-stage. The husband took up different behaviours which he never showed to his wife during their courtship.

He started keeping late nights, flirting with strange women in the process. The shocker? He presented his many “girls” to his wife. The story went on. He returned home late one night and woke his wife who happened to be fast asleep, told her he is no longer interested in the marriage. He ordered her to pack her baggage and leave the house. The wife was reluctant and refused to leave but he •Continued on page 44

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

CAMPUS LIFE Group seeks improved literacy level

OR any nation to attain economic development, it must lay emphasis on education. This was the submission of speakers at the International Literacy Day Celebration at the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU) in Lapai, Niger State. The event with the theme: Education for all and 2015 target: Where we are, where we ought to be, and how to be there , was oganised by Lapai Literacy Clinic, a non-governmental organisation. The convener, Dr Abideen Olojede, said, the organisation was established to facilitate the meeting of town and gown, adding that it will help reduce human suffering. He said: “The organisation goals include to collaborate with governments at all levels to promote literacy programme and create adult literacy classes to reach out to people in the rural areas.” The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Ibrahim Kolo, represented by the Dean, Faculty of Education and Arts, Dr Ayo Garuba, praised the group and volunteers for coming to the aid of the state at a time the country’s illiteracy level was increasing. The

From Yinka Olatunbosun IBBU VC promised to support the group in achieving its objectives. The Assistant Director, Planning, National Commission for Nomadic Education, Alhaji Abdulsiddiq Muhammad, who represented the commission’s Executive Secretary, Prof Rashid Aderionye, said underfunding was not the problem of education but corruption, diing that it remained a cankerworm. He said before Nigeria could attain stability in literacy, people must change their attitudes and that politics must be separated from education. Dr Garuba, the lead discussant, said people must imbibe the spirit of sustainability, noting that stakeholders must engage community leaders in decision making. “I can’t imagine the government in Abuja making decisions for thousands of people in Kontagora in Niger State, when they don’t even know what those people really needs,” he said. Instead, he said, the community leaders should be engaged to meet the people about their need. Speaking on behalf of the Lapai Emirate Council, Hajiya Hauwa Asabe Chado, said the Lapai Local Government would ensure that the group’s activities in Lapai were supported. Highlights of the events included drama and songs presentation by members of the organisation.

On and Off Campus By Solomon Izekor 08061522600

•Cross section of the students at the show.

Drum Xtreme excites UNILAG students

T was excitement at the main auditorium of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) when gospel musicians stormed the campus for Drum Xtreme Series, a musical concert organised by Drum Network Africa. The event, held in the evening, gave campus artistes an opportunity to display their musical talents before thousands of their colleagues. The show had popular artistes’ instrumentalists in attendance to entertain students with sounds from various musical instruments, including, drum set, keyboard, base and guitar, saxophone and talking drum. The instrumentalists included Papi-J, who is P-Square’s official drummer, Tobi Alapo, D-Banj’s

HE Registrar of the Kogi State University (KSU) in Anyigba, Mr Joseph Audu Zhizhi, is dead. He died in an accident on the Okene-Lokoja Highway. The Public Relations Officer, Mr John Edogbo, said the management received the sad news with regret, describing the late Zhizhi as a committed officer. He said it was one death too many

By Olatunde Odebiyi drummer, Y-Pick, a guitarist and Isaiah Bass, a bass guitarist, among others. The show was anchored by the duo of Dan Foster, a Nigerian-based American radio presenter with City FM and Eniola Lawal. There was a performance by Topsticks Female Band, which entertained the audience with a drum set, keyboard, saxophone and talking drummer. The group of young women dazzled the students with their exceptional talents. The Chief Executive Officer of the Drum Network Africa, Solomon Elijah, said the concert was aimed at recognising instrumentalists,

who deployed their talents to promote the success of popular artistes. He said the entertainment industry focused more on singers, neglecting the talented individuals working behind the scene to develop the industry. He said: “We are trying to use Drum Xtreme Series to let people understand that there are individuals in this same entertainment industry that they don’t know but deserved to be discovered and brought to the lame light just the same way artiste are being recognised.” Drum Network Africa is an entertainment and media marketing firm promoting creativity and youth talents.

Kogi varsity Registrar is dead From Yabagi Mohammed KSU at a time the institution was yet to recover from the death of a senior lecturer, Dr Justice Otitolaye, who was murdered by unknown gunmen.

Edogbo said: “The university has lost a rare gem and the ViceChancellor, Prof Hassan Isah, has also expressed sadness over the death.” CAMPUSLIFE gathered that senior management staff are meeting to condole the bereaved family.

Our camp experience, by Corps members •Continued from page 42

The camp clinic lacked adequate medical personnel to take care of Corps members, who fell sick during the orientation training. “Most of the medical staff in the clinic were Corps members. When it comes to diagnosing patients, the clinic does not have facilities to do so. The most disheartening is non-availability of drugs. The situation was so serious that people were told to come back for their drugs. Despite, these shortcomings, the authorities were able to maintain a clean and safe environment.”

At the temporary camp in Government College, Jalingo, the hopes of many Corps members were dashed after they discovered the camp lack basic amenities, such as good toilet, electricity and bathroom. For Dhikrullah Akinola, it was a memorable experience at the Plateau State NYSC camp. He said: “My stay in Mangu camp was wonderful. Initially, the harsh weather condition almost discouraged me but it was fun after all.” Joy Idoko, a graduate of Business Administration at the Benue State

University, said she had fond memories of the orientation training. She said: “Despite that our bed time was altered, I still enjoyed my stay in the camp. It attended some educative programme and acquire skill, which can make me to be self-reliant.” Johnson Imaga, who is serving in Bayelsa State, said he would not forget his experience at Kaiama Orientation Camp in a hurry. Johnson said his hostel was notorious for unruly behaviours. He said: “We were subjected to harsh punishment and paid dearly for our stubbornness.”

Tackling the problem of divorce •Continued from page 43

insisted. Later, he was charged to court by his wife families and after several interrogations, he insisted that he wanted a divorce. He said he was no longer interested in the marriage, adding that his wife didn’t take time to study him and know who he was before they married. But after pleading with him to forgive and forget his wife’s wrong, he accepted. But the worst happened two weeks after; he still

kept late nights and refused to cater for the wife and kids. One night he told his wife that they should part ways. An argument ensued, which lasted for hours before tenants came in. She pleaded with him that there was no place for her to go, but he turned deaf ears, only for him to bring out a knife and threatened to stab her to death if she refused to go. Friends held him, otherwise the fellow could have ended up with a murder. Today, the lady is out of her

matrimonial home because she didn’t have a good courtship. There is no fear of God and understanding in their marriage. Cases such as these abound. We have seen couples who were married for a few weeks and ended up with a divorce. This is saddening. We need to know what it takes before marriage. We must choose right. And we must take time to understand each other. This must be followed with prayers too. Otherwise, the tale of divorce would continue.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

EDUCATION

Drug abuse: Big deal in varsities IGERIA’s drug problem on campuses is worse than what authorities admit, a medical doctor, Dokun Adedeji, has said. Adedeji, who runs a drug rehabilitation, Mind Trials Ltd, gave the keynote address at the 2nd Annual Bells University Parents Forum (BUPF) held last week on the university’s campus in Ota, Ogun State. Speaking on the topic: Challenges of the growing use and abuse of drugs in tertiary institutions, Adedeji said drug abuse is rampant on many campuses and a huge threat to the future of students caught in its web. “It is unfortunate that government and parents do not believe that we have a drug problem. It is only recently that universities, especially private universities, started doing something about it. There is hardly any university in Nigeria without a drug problem. There is one university that has 90 per cent of boys doing drugs, and 50-60 per cent of women. Ninety per cent of drug abusers are teenagers and adults between 15 and 29. That is why we have to be very careful,” he said. He enlightened parents on the street names of hard drugs used by addicts to fool others such as Hemp/ Marijuana/Igbo, which is called eja (fish), efo (vegetable), or weed; Skunk (called SK) and Rohypnol, the drug used on the late Cynthia Okogwu (a student lured to Lagos from Abuja by miscreants in 2012), which is called roofies. Adedeji also listed drug paraphernalia to include foil, rolling paper, mirror, straw, blade, actual hard drugs, and strong perfumes or incense to hide the smell of drugs. Warning parents to monitor their wards, he said addicts exhibit some behaviours that can be pointers to drug use. “Frequent changes of friends and evasiveness about new ones; increasing and inappropriate display of anger, hostility and irritability; wanting to be alone; avoiding contacts with siblings or parents; reducing motivation, energy, self discipline and self esteem are signs that a student is using drugs,” he said. Adedeji said admitting underage

It is unfortunate that government and parents do not believe that we have a drug problem. It is only recently that universities, especially private universities, started doing something about it. By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

(less than 16) adolescents into the university could result in drug abuse because of immaturity. He said they are more susceptible to peer pressure than those that gain admission at aged 17 and above. “I don’t think anybody should get into the university at less than 17 years of age. If you want to enter the university, you must be 18. When they are too young, they can be easily influenced,” he said. Addressing the students, the medical doctor warned that abuse of drugs could destroy their lives. “Drug addiction is a road to nowhere. You come to the university with high hopes to study and become a lawyer…that is a dream, a destination. But when you start doing drugs, you will not get there. When you take drugs for the first time it gives a high. But the sad part is that you never achieve that first high again no matter how hard you try. That is what causes the addiction,” he said. Adedeji and other members of a

panel that discussed the topic also shared many stories of students, who got involved with drugs without the knowledge of their parents and derailed their future. Bells University Medical Coordinator, Dr Temitope Akpelishi, called for a holistic approach to the treatment of drug addicts. This, he said, involves medical intervention and rehabilitation. She also warned parents against covering up their wards’ drug problems. “Treatment of drug addicts is not about medicine alone. They have to be rehabilitated. Drug abuse is a chronic illness. The community must be involved. Parents please don’t cover up your child. A parent withdrew his child because he had been caught taking marijuana four times. If that child is not fully rehabilitated, the problem will reoccur,” she said. A consultant psychiatrist at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Dr Olamijulo Fatiregun gave some recommendations to parents, the university and lecturers.

He said: “The university should make friends with the host community to help them fight drug abuse. The school should also have a hotline to allow students report cases anonymously. One person can infect others. “To parents, stop living in denial; be there for your children. They need some mentoring. When it fails at home, they come to school and then find mentors who introduce them to drugs,” he said. John Bamgbose, a 400-Level student on the panel, said students are influenced to do drugs because of peer pressure. He said the problem is a real threat that needs to be handled. “There are many ways students get enticed. They want to be among the big boys. This problem is on campus and we need to address it. We need to stop it so we can become future leaders,” he said. On his part, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Isaac Adeyemi, praised parents for organising such a useful programme. He, however, advised parents not to neglect their roles for the school. “The challenge we are facing shouldn’t be left in the hands of those of us who manage the students. Parents have key roles to play,” he said. Chairman of the BUPF, Mr Tajudeen Kareem, said substance abuse is a great concern for parents.

From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

FORMER President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Rotimi Akeredolu, and the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Gabriel Amuchi, will be conferred honorary degrees of Achievers University, Owo, Ondo State, tomorrow. The honour is part of the 4th convocation of the university where 581 students will graduate. The new Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Samuel Ibiyemi, who disclosed this at a press briefing, said 31 of the granduands bagged First Class honours. He added that 295 got Second Class Upper, 239 bagged Second Class Lower, while only 16 got Third Class. He boasted that products of the university can compete with others in the labour market. Ibiyemi noted that the institution has decided to introduce seven new programmes because it could meet up the National University Commission (NUC) directives for students’ admission. He said the university is expecting the NUC to conduct a verification assessment of her programmes, which include Nursing, Mass Communications, Sociology, and Public Administration.

Law graduates celebrated TWO graduates of Adekunle Ajasin University, AkungbaAkoko (AAUA), Ondo State, who excelled at this year’s Bar Final Examination of the Nigerian Law School, have been celebrated. They are: Opeyemi Alonge and Ebunoluwa Bamigboye . Opeyemi, who made First Class in Law at AAUA, the first student in its 15-year history, emerged the overall best in Nigeria in the examination written by 5,841 candidates across the six law school campuses. He won seven awards at the call to Bar ceremony, setting a new record at the Nigerian Law School. The old record was six awards by a single individual. Ebunoluwa also won two awards, which meant that the AAUA won nine of the 29 awards given at the ceremony. In his remark, AAUA’sViceChancellor, Prof. Femi Mimiko, congratulated the duo for not only doing the university proud, but also their families. Mimiko said the accomplishment was a testimonial that AAUA is not only committed to building infrastructure, but also pursuing academic excellence. He urged them to take the advantage of the university’s Graduate Fellow Scheme, which provides scholarships for its brightest graduates anywhere in the world, while working as Graduate Assistants.

Support for physically challenged

Akeredolu for honorary degree •Achievers to graduate 581

AAUA FILE

• AAUA VC, Prof. Femi Mimiko (middle), flanked by two graduates of the university, Opeyemi Alonge (Left), and Ebunoluwa Bamigboye, after a reception in their honour for their exceptional performances in the 2014 Bar Final Examination of the Nigerian Law School. Alonge topped the examination nationally with 7 awards, while Bamigboye got two awards.

Crawford VC: I sacked worker for sexual harassment By Medinat Kanabe

•Prof Ayanlaja

HE Vice-Chancellor, Crawford University, Igbesa Ogun State, Prof Samson Ayanlaja, has reiterated that his administration will not condone any act of indiscipline from workers or students. He recounted how he recently sacked a worker, who was involved in sexual harassment, adding that he would resign if he is unable to address such problem. Ayanlaja spoke at a briefing last Thursday to announce the univer-

sity’s sixth convocation coming up on Wednesday next week. He said: “I sent a staff packing recently because of sexual harassment. I want other staff to learn from that. Our students are exposed not only to their course of study, but to God’s eternal word week after week to transform their lives and make them responsible citizens; so our workers have to key into this and support us by being responsible too. Anyone who will not follow the rules and regulations of the school will be sent away.” Ayanlaja said the university’s zero tolerance for indiscipline is in line with its efforts to produce incorruptible leaders. “A crop of responsible citizens in whose psyche we have deleted all tendencies of corruption, that is why we have made all our fellowships and Bible studies compulsory for all students and that is why we have a dress code in the university,” he said. During the convocation, 285 students comprising 190 from the

Colleges of Business and Social Science, 95 from the Colleges of Natural and Applied Sciences will graduate. Among them, 14 will graduate with First Class honours. A convocation lecture titled: Knowledge with Godliness as panacea for restoring Nigeria to the path of glory, will be delivered by Prof Isreal Folorunsho Adu, ProChancellor, McPherson University and former Vice-Chancellor Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. Ayanlaja said the uniqueness of the convocation is the award of first Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) and Masters of Science (MSc) Degrees to their pioneering 25 post graduate students. He listed some of the their major achievements this year to include the completion of the health centre donated by the Parents’ Forum, the start-up of postgraduate programmes, initial work on road upgrade, as he added that their entrepreneur programme had also continued to empower their students to be employers of labours after they graduate.

AAUA’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Femi Mimiko, has said all infrastructure at the school are physically-challenged compliant. Mimiko spoke at a reception for physically-challenged students of the university to mark this year’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The VC said: “AAUA is the only university in Nigeria that has a purpose-built hostel for students with disability. Since 2002 all buildings in our university have been built to be disability compliant.” He encouraged students to strive to be the best, noting: “The greatest tragedy is not disability, but a life without purpose.” Some of the students thanked Mimiko for showing genuine interest in them and making learning environment friendly.

VC receives NLA Award THE Nigerian Library Association, (NLA), Ondo State Chapter, has honoured the AAUA ViceChancellor with the Award of Excellence in Library Development last week. Prof. Mimiko was honoured alongside thehis counterpart, Federal University of Technology, Akure, FUTA, Prof. Adebiyi Daramola, and the Rector, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun. Mimiko received the award at the 2014 NLA Annual General Meeting/conference held at FUTA. The chair of the planning committee, Mr. A. M. Akomolafe, said Mimiko was honoured because of his achievements in library development. “It is also to your credit that AAUA Library, including the elibrary, is well stocked with current books and journals,” he said. Responding on behalf of the recipients, Prof. Mimiko assured NLA of the awardees’ continuous support for the development of library.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

CAMPUS LIFE AAUA FILE College hosts Rotary Club THE management of the Adeyemi College of Education (ACE) Ondo, Ondo State, is seeking a robust relationship with the Rotary Club International (RCI) to promote development in the institution. Its Provost, Prof Olukoya Ogen, spoke while receiving RCI delegation, led by the Governor of District 9125, Omogbeyi Tolu Omatsola. Ogen, who was represented by ACE Chairman, Committee of Deans, Dr. Gbade Ikuejube, described RCI as one of the most philanthropic NonGovernmental Organisations (NGO) in Nigeria. He said: “The Rotary Club has touched lives in many areas, which include disease prevention, economic empowerment, provision of scholarship and donation of books among others. “We have a lot of programmes in the college and so we want to have robust relationship with the club so that our students can benefits from its numerous philanthropic gestures such as provision of scholarship, donation of books and infrastructural development. “Our College is waiting anxiously to be upgraded to a university and so we want members of the Rotary club to join us to plead with the Federal Governmental in order to achieve the goal.” Earlier in his remark, Omogbeyi said he was in the college to thank the management for supporting its advocacy campaign, which is aimed at recruiting more members from the college into the club.

Student shines A student of Adeyemi College of Education, Olusegun Ibironke, has emerged winner of this year’s Southern Zone Youth debate. With his feat, Ibironke will represent the Southern zone in the final of the competition coming up in Abuja later this month. Last year, Ibironke came second at the yearly event organised by the Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja for all tertiary institution in Nigeria. The contest is aimed at bringing students of tertiary institutions together to feature in a debate on issues of national interest.

SCHOLARSHIPS APPROACHING DEADLINE

2015 AFD-PSIA scholarships in development for African students, France

ARIS School of International Affairs of Sciences Po (PSIA) and the French Development Agency are offering AFD-PSIA Scholarships for African students in the Development programs of PSIA. Multiple scholarships ranging from partial to full tuition fee grants will be offered every year to incoming students. Scholarships will be awarded on a competitive basis to the best candidates on the basis of their academic record and their project at Sciences Po. The closing date for application is 8th February, 2015. Study Subject(s): Scholarships are awarded to study Master program in Development Practice or in International Development. Course Level: Scholarships are available for pursuing masters degree at Paris School of International Affairs of Sciences Po (PSIA). Scholarship Provider: Paris School of International Affairs of Sciences Po (PSIA) and the French Development Agency Scholarship can be taken at: France

Eligibility: •The AFD-PSIA Scholarship is dedicated to nationals of African countries only. Priority will be given to students coming from the following countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Liberia, Niger, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda and Zimbabwe. •Applicants must have already submitted a full application to the Paris School of International Affairs of Sciences Po (PSIA) for the 2015 intake through the Sciences Po Admissions Portal (including all supporting documents and references) and must have applied to one of the following programs in Development: PSIA’s Master in Development Practice (one-year program) PSIA’s Master in International De-

can Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Ghana, Guinea, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal and Togo). Scholarship Description: Based on a special partnership between the Paris School of International Affairs of Sciences Po (PSIA) and the French Development Agency (AFD), multiple scholarships ranging from partial to full tuition fee grants will be offered every year to incoming students in the Development programs of PSIA. The AFD is the main implementing agency for France’s official development assistance to developing countries and overseas territories. Number of award(s): Multiple scholarships will be awarded. Duration of award(s): The AFDPSIA scholarship is offered for the entire length of study at PSIA on condition of sufficient academic performance (top 50% of the class). Students who do not meet this requirement will have their scholarship withdrawn. •Continued on next edition

MOCPED ready for upgrade, says Provost •Graduates 1,756

HE Provost, Michael Otedola College of Primary Education (MOCPED) Noforija Epe, Lagos, Prof Olu Akeusola, has assured the Lagos State government that it would not regret it if the institution metamorphosed into a university of education as it has abundant human and material resources. Akeusola, who spoke at the third convocation and 20th anniversary of the college last week, praised MOCPED’s founding fathers, led by former Lagos State governor, Micheal Otedola, for establishing the college in 1994. He said successive administrations have consolidated on Otedola’s initiative with material and intellectual inputs. “I am proud to announce to you that with all moral and financial support, the present administration has been giving this college, today, we can successfully transmute into a full-fledge university of education, considering all infrastructural material and human resources on ground. “I am proud to say that the National Council for Colleges of Education (NCCE) our accrediting agency in Nigeria, has at various times, attested to the fact that this institution has the capacity to metamorphose into a university of education.

•From left: Registrar Micheal Otedola College of Primary Education (MOCPED)Epe, Lagos, Mr Bola Shittu; Aladeshoyin of Odo-Noforija Kingdom, Oba babatunde Ogunlaja; Chairman, MOCPED Governing Council, Mrs Risikat Akesode; Dr Adebule; Onibeju of Ibejuland, Oba Rafiu Olusegun Salami; Alade Uraka of Ipokaland, Oba Kolawole Aileru; Omola of Odomola, Oba Sikiru Odukoya and OloriAriyike representing the Olu of Epe, Oba Shefiu Adewale Bamgbopa, cutting the anniversary cake. By Adegunle Olugbamila

“The last report of the commission early this year indicated that this college is compliant with minimum standard and all our courses were granted full accreditation. This result was not achieved in a vacuum. I, therefore, thank our dear Governor, whose belief in nation building through education is

Monarch counsels WUSTO graduands

HANCELLOR of the Wesley University of Science and Technology, Ondo (WUSTO), Oba Victor Adesimbo Kiladejo, has advised graduates of the university to go for further studies. Oba Kiladejo, who is the Osemawe of Ondo, spoke at the third convocation of the university advising the 182 graduands to continously seek knowledge. “Do not see the acquisition of your first degree certificates as the end of your academic pursuit. After completing your National Youth Service programme, pursue master’s programmes and professional courses that would make you more relevant in the society,” he said. Building on the chancellor’s counsel, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof ‘Tola Badejo, said graduands should use their talents to the fullest in the labour market – just like the ostrich, which is the fastest bird on earth. “Their (ostrich) ability to run has been unexploited. Wesley Univer-

velopment (two-year program) Please note that only applicants successfully admitted to PSIA will be considered for the scholarship. •Students applying to a dual degree program are not eligible. Scholarship Open for International Students: Students of Africa: Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Western Sahara, Zambia and Zimbabwe are eligible for these scholarships (priority will be given to students of Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central Afri-

•Oba Kiladejo By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

sity graduates are like ostrich chicks that are being released into the world to go out there and display their full talents, which hitherto lie unknown,” he said. Speaking further, Badejo, urged graduands to think on how they

could better their lives and the society with the knowledge acquired from the university. He said technological breakthrough in Nigeria cannot happen if there are no universities of science and technology. “Having passed through one of these universities you have to take good look at yourself and think positively. You should visualise yourself as one of those who will take part in the advent of the technological breakthrough in our country,” he added. Among the 182 students conferred with the university’s first degree certificates were 11 First-Class, 67 with Second Class Upper, 83 with Second Class Lower, and 21 with 3rd Class honours graduates. Two eminent Nigerians, Dr Sunday Ola Makinde, the prelate emeritus of Methodist Church, Nigeria and Olori Anike Adesanoye, the wife of the late Osemawe of Ondo Kingdom were conferred with the honourary doctoral degrees by the university.

unrivalled,” he said. According to him, the college has released 1,756 graduands, who completed part-time programmes from 2000-2008, as well as full-time for the 2011/2012, and 2012/2013 academic sessions. He thanked workers for their support and congratulated the graduands and their parents. Akeusola admonished the parents not to give up yet on their wards education, but continue to support them to reach the pinnacle of their career. Akeusola thanked Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who in 2013 endowed N1 million for both the best student in Integrated Science, and the overall best female student every year. He particularly thanked her for facilitating N109 million TET Fund, which saw the emergence of the School of Primary Education Studies building. Chairman of the Governing Council, Mrs Risikat Akeusola, recounted how the Council, on assumption, saw the need to get down to work. “On our assumption as members of the Council, we discovered that our immediate priority was to ensure accelerated physical, academic and general growth of this college. Upon consideration of past records, we also decided to work hard to improve its public image through rapport with relevant stakeholders, particularly regulatory authorities. “I can tell you that MOCPED is now a reference point for good governance, peace, tranquillity and functional service delivery within the comity of colleges of education in

Nigeria.” She thanked the government for setting up an enquiry to look at the remote causes of protest by some students which led to destruction of school property in 2013. “One area that stands clear is that lessons were learnt by everybody from that incident. On realiisation of the enormity of the incident against the state, the entire 400 Level regular degree students of the EKSUMOCPED affiliate programme tendered two-page letter of apology where they regretted the unfortunate incident and promised to be law abiding; That atmosphere has since been sustained,” she said. Lagos State governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, said the state holds dear education at the foundation level; hence the establishment of MOCPED to drive this mandate. Fashola spoke through the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Idiat Adebule. He said: “Education remains the most important factor for achieving full potentials of any society because it opens windows of opportunity for individuals to aspire to the highest level of human achievement. An essential process in the achievement of that human potential is development of teacher education. This is what makes MOCPED unique as the only college of primary education charged with responsibility educators at the basic level.” The high point of the event was the conferment of Fellowship Award on Senators Tinubu and Olugbenga Ashafa, and presentation of awards to deserving students.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

EDUCATION

Don’t hide children with disability, Oladunjoye advises parents T HE Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye, has appealed to parents with children with disability not to hide them as government has in package goodies for them. She said research works carried out over the years show that most children with disability are talented, adding that an exposure especially to technology would further unleash their God-given potentials. “Show them (disabled children) love as their parents, bring them to us, we are here to take care of them,” she said. Oladunjoye who spoke at the eight International Day for persons living with disabilities organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Education, called for support from

By Medinat Kanabe

individuals and corporate bodies. Speaking at the event themed: ‘Sustainable development, the promise of technology’, the wife of the Lagos State Governor, Mrs Abimbola Fashola, said technology is one way to make life easier for people living with disability. She called on the Federal Government to ensure there is no discrimination between people with disabilities and their able bodied counterparts. Represented by the wife of the Commissioner of Physical Planning, Mrs Rhoda Abimbola, she

told the ‘special children’ from over 30 schools in Lagos that they are wonderfully created by God and therefore are in no way different from otherS. “You are people with abilities not disability. God has a purpose for you in life. The limitations you have are in your mind. Only you can limit yourselves. God has given you potentials,” she told the happy children. On his part, the president Nigeria Association of Special Education Teachers, NASET, Mr Adeleke Phillips, said although the government is doing well for their schools, some things are still needed.

“We need transport, more teachers, instructional materials, and we want our teachers too to be more motivated. Our special allowances that were taken away should also be returned,” he noted. Master Akeem Akande of Modupe Cole Memorial Child Care and Treatment Home School who spoke on behalf of other children, praised government for making life more meaningful for persons like him. He said: “It is a good thing that Lagos State is the first to embark on inclusive education in Nigeria in order to make sure that we are educated to the best of our abili-

•Mrs Oladunjoye

ties and needs with a view of making us relevant to ourselves and the society in general.”

Improve your job performance’

AGOS State Universal Education Board (SUBEB), has called on Shomolu local government education authority (LGEA) workers to improve job performance and work effectively for the progress of basi education in their area. The board made the plea at a retreat with the title: ‘improving job efficiency for effective job performance’ for Shomolu LGEA Education Secretary and Heads of sections held in Lekki, Lagos on Thursday last week. SUBEB, Chairman, Mrs Khadijat Gbolahan Daodu in her address, said the retreat is a rare opportunity which participants must utilise. She said LGEA workers should expect certain adjustment in their modus operandi and should therefore gird their loins. In a chat with The Nation, Mrs Dawodu was optimistic participant will be effective after the retreat. “There will be a lot of changes at the Shomolu LGEA and we expect participants to internalise everything they have being told and use it in their day to day activities in such a way that make them become effective in

• Lagos SUBEB Chairman, Mrs Daodu (third right); Head of Training Department, SUBEB Lagos, Mr Ajao Abayomi (first right); Mrs Adelaja (third left) and Education Secretary, Mr Oyetayo Bidemi (second right). With them are participants and heads of section from SUBEB, Lagos State. By Ibrahim Adam

their various sections,” she said. SUBEB head of planning, research and statistics, Mrs Abosede

Omobolanle Adelaja, told participants that every worker has a role to play in the council and therefore the concept of division of labour should be adopted.

Why we are educating schools, teachers on new UBE curriculum, byACEP

O demystify the new Universal Basic Education (UBE) curriculum, the Association for Childhood Education Practitioners (ACEP), Lagos State chapter has released a 27 frequently asked questions (FAQ) to educate schools and teachers on how best the new curriculum can be applied. Chairman of ACEP, Lagos State Chapter, Mr Simeon Fowowe, lamented that despite series of enlightenment on the new curriculum, many schools and teachers are still in the dark on how to implement it, hence the FAQs to address gray areas. He told The Nation in an interview that a week to the beginning of the current academic session, ACEP executive members in Lagos met to reappraise the curriculum. “As we all know, the newly introduced curriculum is for basic up to Junior Secondary School, and the first phase started this session. So, ahead of resumption, ACEP Lagos had already been given a mandate to do justice to the curriculum. So, a week before the current session started, we invited our executive members to where interpretation and implementation of the new UBE curriculum were done free. We invited all ACEP members in Lagos and that comprised all heads of Catholic schools in Lagos, which were the first beneficiaries because they are our members. “But owing to constraint of cost, we realised we could not reach out

By Adegunle Olugbamila

to the 107 public schools in Lagos, let alone private schools; so we designed the 27 questions first to break the barrier of access to schools, and assist teachers to have a first hand tips on effective handling of the curriculum. “Some of the questions addressed issues ranging from objectives and philosophy of the nine-year curriculum, 34 trade subjects, new compulsory subjects, subject classification in basic and post basic level, rationale behind SS1-3 as career development stage, and why SSI is considered a post basic education and its objectives. “Others are why the new curriculum, if certain subjects like Biology is compulsory?, gaps in the old and new curriculum and overlapping subjects, among others,” he said. Aside, x-raying the curriculum, Fowowe said ACEP also looked into subjects considered innovative, and made recommendations on them. One of such recommendations, according to him, is the general readjustment of the now loaded time table to accommodate new subjects and their sub-themes. “For instance, we now have a new theme called ‘Security Education’ to acquaint children security tips for children to survive in a school environment. For Cultural and Creative Arts, we suggested that three experts- one in Fine Arts, one in Lit-

Adelaja tasked participants to create new concepts for improved efficiency, not to do away with other sections’ activity but see same as a collective responsibility for the overall growth of the LGEA. “When you know you are accountable to a job, you must be up and doing. Make people work with you know they have a role to play. I don’t want you to see other departments taking over your responsibility but see it as a collective responsibility towards growth. This program will be a new dawn. Our expectation in the end is that there will be improved teaching and learning in all the schools in your area.” she said. Mrs Adelaja stressed that Lagos State cannot admit laziness, adding that planning increases efficiency,

Stakeholders’ solutions for educational woes

• Fowowe

eratures, and one in Music, must be deployed to handle each of the sub themes. No single person can successively teach the subject because it is already split into three. “Another is Pre-Vocational Studies, (PVS) which we suggested should appear four times in this order- that sub-themes should be split. So, instead of teaching Vocational Studies generally, it will now be PVS (RVS-Agric, Home Economics and Entrepreneurship. -Vocational Studies/Agric or Pre-Vocational Studies Health Education. ACEP, he stressed, sees this not only as a means of contributing to knowledge, but a way of assisting government through educating teachers to catch up with the new UBE curriculum, which the body believes addresses some of the yawning gaps in education at the basic level. Interested schools and teachers, Fowowe said, could visit ACEP website: www.aceplagos.comand to download the FAQs free.

gives the right direction, motivates personnel and helps in identifying gaps in an organisation. A participants and Director of Education, Quality Assurance section in Shomolu LGEA, Mrs Abayomi Obadimeji Olubunmi said the retreat is an eye opener which gives insight into job description and functions of the LGEA. A participant, head of School Support Services, Shomolu LGEA, Mr Akinyemi Bola Johnson said: “This is a very lovable program, long expected and we thought something like this should come up regularly not to Shomolu LGEA alone, but other LGEAs in Lagos State. For an officer to be effective, you need to train him, you don’t give what you don’t have.”

N educationist and career counsellor, Dr. Depo Fakunle, has said no country can develop sound education without serious commitment by stakeholders. Fakunle spoke in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, as the Chairman of this year’s prize-giving ceremony of the annual Olagoke Education Competition, to mark the 58th birthday ceremony of Prof Sabit Ariyo Olagoke, the Founder and Spiritual Head of Shafaudeen Islam Worldwide. Fakunle, who lamented that the attitude of governments to education is below expectation, praised Olagoke for his investment in education and the annual contest, which he said, has discovered talents. In a paper titled: “Functional education: A fundamental need for sustainable development, the celebrator who is also the Dean, School of Engineering, Federal Polytechnic Ilaro in Ogun State, called for the adoption of approach made by

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

former Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State, which catapulted the state from the lowest rung of the ladder to the top in West African Examination Council (WAEC) performances. Olagoke stressed that Obi’s initiatives should be a model for other states to adopt as guide and build upon since it is effective and result-oriented. “Peter Obi’s administration is reputed for returning schools to their owners as well as massive infrastructural development including introducing Information Communication Technology (ICT) in public schools in the state. “Obi, therefore, started with returning of schools to the missionaries. He renovated all schools, paid teachers’ salaries despite the fact that he allowed missionaries to recruit them. He went into massive ICT revolution in schools by deploying computers to virtually all secondary schools,” Olagoke said.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

EDUCATION

Osun NUT faction rejects election

FACTION of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), in Osun State wing has rejected the election of the union conducted on November 25, saying it was illegal and a contempt of court. The election was allegedly conducted regardless of a court injunction obtained by the Parents and Teachers Association (PTA) and Justice Now Foundation (JNF), restraining the ousted Saka Adesiyan-led union from conducting it. A source said the court bailiff, who went to serve the leadership of the union with the injunction, was beaten by thugs, allegedly sponsored by the “unity faction” of the union. Due to the alleged crisis that her-

By Sina Fadare

alded the election, the police, the source said, arrested Comrade Lere Olawuyi, who was acting as the union’s chairman at the time of the election and Comrade Wakili Amuda, who emerged the new chairman. The union was reported to have been polarised along “progressive and unity” camps as far back as 2009. A leader of the progressive faction and a chairmanship candidate at the election, Comrade Adeyemi Francis, said the election was against all the procedures of the union’s constitution in conducting polls. He said: “The election was illegal. On November 25, we had an

opening session in Ife and expected that the election would be held on November 26, only to be informed later in the day through a text message that the election would be held by 7am on November 26 without taking those living afar into consideration. However, the election held on November 25 after many people had left.” According to him, the election was done without accreditation and all the required procedures. However, the man at the centre of the controversy, Saka Adesiyan, insisted that there is no crisis or polarisation in the NUT, especially in Ile-Ife where the election was held. When contacted, Olawuyi failed to comment on the matter as the case is in court.

•From left: Dr Kuku; Mr Belo-Osagie; Adedapo Adeniran; the oldest King's College alumnus, Chief Asiodu; Prof Akinkugbe; Dr Alex Ekwueme; member, BOT KCOBA, Prof Gbadamosi and another member of BOT, KCOBA, Prince Tola Sotinwa at the unveiling of the book.

100 years of King’s College now in print

LOREAT Collegium: 100 Years of King’s College Lagos, was launched with fanfare last Friday at the King’s College Hall, Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Lagos. The King’s men, as the old boys of the 105-year old boys’ school are called, threw jibs at one another and bragged about the superiority of their alma mater while underscoring the importance of successfully completing the book, which took the King’s College Old Boys’ Association (KCOBA) over three years to accomplish. The book was initially billed for launch as part of the school’s centenary celebration in 2011 while Chief Sunny Kuku was the KCOBA President. However, it took a longer time to be completed. Kuku, who said he did all he could to remain in office to be the centenary president of KCOBA “by not calling for the Annual General Meetings (AGMs)”, praised former Federal Permanent Secretary, Chief Philip Asiodu and former Federal Commissioner for Works, Chief Femi Okunnu for providing many of the stories that made up the content of the book. He also thanked the Chief Editor, Prof Tajudeen Gbadamosi, for doing a good job of alongside Prof Wale Osisanya and Mrs Gbolahan Alo; and the incumbent KCOBA President, Mr Hakeem Belo-Osagie, for providing funds to complete the book. “One of the things we set out to do was to write a book. One of the most difficult things to do is to write a book and complete it. We got Prof Gbadamosi involved with the mandate to ensure it was properly edited. We all got stuck until Hakeem came along and provided funding. Chief Philip Asiodu and Chief Okunnu told us all the stories we need to write the book. “This is part of our Centenary celebration and I must thank the present

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

KCOBA President for keeping the hope of the book alive,” he said. King’s College, Otunba Oladele Olapeju said five years into its second century in existence the college still performs creditably in public examinations and competitions. “We have sustained the performance to an average of 80 per cent. Whereas the national average for the 2014 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) was 30.6 per cent, but at King’s College, it was 80.6 per cent. In terms of performance, we have done well in competitions. NECO declared us the best Unity School across the country,” he said. Emeritus Professor of Medicine and guest speaker, Oladipo Akinkugbe, caused laughter with his subtle reference to the rivalry between King’s College and his own alma mater, the Government College, Ibadan. He, however, praised the quality of the book, which he said beat that of 600-year old Winchester College, an elite school in the United Kingdom (UK).

Discussing the topic: King’s College, Lagos: The Second Century, Prof Akinkugbe maintained a light tone throughout. He said he expects King’s College to remain in existence by 2109 operating a better curriculum, with a Nobel Laureate numbered among its alumni, and perhaps with an annex on Planet Mars - “For there are enough daredevils in Race Course to make this happen,” he added. In his speech, Mr Belo-Osagie, thanked his predecessor for starting the project. He said the significance of the book is that it provides a history for the King’s College community to fall back on, which would guide its future endeavours. “It is important that the history of any institution be documented. In Nigeria, we don’t appreciate history. That is why we don’t have anything to fall back on and we are always lamenting. In the past 24 hours, I have read the book twice,” he said. The book was sold at a special launch price of N50,000, which has since reduced to N25,000. Soft copies were sold for N10,000, while a special edition for the students is to be sold for N7,500.

UI VC hails Osundare for NNOM

HE Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof Isaac Folorunso Adewole, has congratulated this year’s sole winner of the Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM) award, Prof Niyi Osundare. Adewole said the conferment of the prestigious award, on the “foremost African poet” is a testament to his excellence in literary creativity and exceptional human rights activism. Adewole also noted that Osundare is an academic with excellent credentials and an exceptional international reputation, who contributed to the

enviable status of UI’s Department of English, which he served as Head with distinction. Adewole said he agreed with the Chairman, Governing Board of the Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM), Prof Etim Essien, that Osundare had proven his worth in literary, academic and sundry human spheres. Adewole said: “On behalf of Council, senate, congregation, management, staff and students of the University of Ibadan, I warmly felicitate with you. Ibadan is proud of you as a great academic, compassionate administrator and worthy alumnus.”

EDUTALK

with

Parents and drug abuse

HE discussions about drug abuse on our campuses came sharply into focus at a programme organised by the Bells University Parents' Forum (BUPF) last Wednesday. The keynote speaker, Dr Dokun Adedeji, and members of a panel that discussed the topic: "Challenges of the Growing Use and Abuse of Drugs in Tertiary InstituKofoworola tions" did a good job telling us all we needed to know about substance abuse and addiction. I parKofosagie@yahoo.com ticularly found the stories they 08054503077 (SMS only) shared touching and instructive. The keynote speaker shared how the only child of a wealthy couple was lured into drugs at age 10 by a relative who lived with them as an undergraduate. The boy then initiated his friends in the neighbourhood into marijuana smoking at such tender age. He was only caught when he was sent to boarding house in a faith-based secondary school. His parents were completely oblivious of his problem until he was sent away from school - after some years had gone by. Another speaker, Dr Olamijulo Fatiregun of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Yaba, shared a story about a student of a private university brought to him because he had very low blood pressure - one of the consequences of hard drug addiction. The student was from a very religious family. As a doctor, Fatiregun could see all the signs of drug addiction. However, when he pointedly asked the boy if he did drugs, the young man out rightly denied it. But it was his mother's response that caught my attention. The woman quickly came to her son's rescue, stoutly defending him for being righteous. She even told the doctor that he was 'a choir director' in their church, and so could not partake in such an unholy habit. What a claim! The biggest lesson I took away from the programme was that parents cannot afford to pass on their responsibilities to the school. Many parents do little beyond paying school fees and providing other material needs once their wards begin school. However, such attitude does not help. School administrators have complained about it over and over again. Research has shown that children whose parents monitor their education closely perform better in school. Parents need to be vigilant about everything that concerns their children. When they come from school, they should check their school bags, read letters/circulars or other correspondences from schools, attending open days, PTA meetings and interact regularly with the teachers and other workers that take care of their children. They should also ask questions about their wards' daily activities, examine their clothes and bodies, and watch for mood swings and other behavioural changes. It is difficult for a parent that is so vigilant to miss when something goes wrong. If something is indeed wrong, rather than cover up, parents should simply ask for help. Like was said at the meeting, some children have perfected the art of being very good at home and daredevils in school. It is sometimes so bad that parents cannot reconcile what they hear about their wards' behaviour in school with what obtains at home. However, if such situations arise, parents must be open-minded enough to listen (to both the complainant and their wards), investigate, and then act. Taking the stance of "my child can never do such" may end up haunting the parents at the end of the day. It is good for parents to be able to stand up for their wards because there are situations where the case may be unfair or the allegations even false. However, it is a very vigilant parent that should be confident to make such boast without fear of being disgraced later. Parenting is one of the most difficult jobs in the world. There is no formal training for it, neither are there one-size-fits-all methods. However, the eternal principles that govern human life - as espoused by the Bible and other religious books and values - always guide children in the right path. Parents must painstakingly teach their wards such principles. Failure to do so may result in the situation Dr Adedeji witnesses in his rehabilitation centre - parents in their twilight years seeking help for children aged 50 and above. A sad end indeed! This counsel applies to me as well.

Belo-Osagie

‘But it was his mother's response that caught my attention. The woman quickly came to her son's rescue, stoutly defending him for being righteous. She even told the doctor that he was 'a choir director' in their church’

An Open letter to Mr Ayiri Emani Dear Mr Emani, I read that you were so kind to compensate Tayo, Nigeria's representative in the Big Brother Africa (BBA) reality show with $350,000 for coming second in the competition (because he got nothing). While the gesture (as well as the gifts of brand new cars to some musicians) demonstrates your generosity and good-naturedness, I would like to gently draw your attention to people and (more worthy) causes that urgently need your support. I assure you that if you pay attention to that public school in your village in Delta State or other places by rehabilitating their buildings, furnishing them with classroom and teachers' furniture, providing textbooks and school uniforms, you will get greater satisfaction. If you institute an indigent students' scholarship scheme in your neighbourhood, you will find that even N10,000 can make a world of difference. In case you need help in selecting worthy causes to support, please read newspapers or listen to news on the television or radio. Or, feel free to contact me. Thank you.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

SHOWBIZ

9ice petitions Oyo State APC over primaries

S most of the entertainers who have veered into politics seem to be losing out in their constituencies, one man who would not accept defeat easily is Yoruba Hip-hop lyricist, Abolore Akande, aka 9ice. The artiste who contested the All Progressive Congress (APC) ticket to represent Ogbomosho North, South and Orire constituency in the Federal House of Representatives, has said that the result declaring Prince Akeem Oyewumi, son of the Soun of Ogbomosho as winner should be null and void. According to the singer, who reportedly wrote a petition to the Oyo State chapter of the APC, the election was full of irregularities. He said: “There were no ballot boxes, the electoral officers came to the venue 5:45pm same time an aspirant (Oye Oyewunmi) ar-

Mercy Aigbe launches Boutique in style

By Dupe Ayinla-Olasunkanmi

rived at the venue, there were no delegate passes, there was no accreditation.” Continuing, 9ice said, “Ogbomosho North Local Government Delegates were not allowed to vote and just delegates from two local government areas participated during the election; Orire Local Government and Ogbomosho South Local Government. The election was carried out without preparation for lights and other necessaries to ensure smooth election at night.” Describing it as an inconclusive process, the artiste appealed that the election be rendered “null and void with immediate effect,” while “another date and different venue outside the town should be scheduled for a proper and free and fair election at a later date.”

By Mercy Michael

T • 9ice

Row between Burna Boy, Wale Gates heightens

HE row between UK-based comedian, Wale Gates and Nigerian artiste, Burna Boy is still gathering steam, as Gates has just thrown a missive to the singer. “My mum lives in Nigeria, and I moved out of home in 1999. You were 8,” the comedian

By Ovwe Medeme

tweeted in response to an earlier outburst by Burna Boy. The faceoff started last week, after Burna Boy posted a picture of his gold chain collections, saying he was wearing ‘;someone’s house

rent’ on his neck. Gates had replied in a tweet; “Before you wear someone’s rent on your neck, you should own the house you live in.” Irked by the response, Burna accused Gates of still living with his mother. “I heard you still live with your mama. I am a Landlord. Do your research. We are good over here. Thanks for caring though,” he posted on his Instagram page. “I’m a bit disappointed in myself that I’m responding. The mentions were doing my head in and the N-word was totally unnecessary. Igimu Gina sori,” Gates further tweeted. However, in the counter tweets, the comedian revealed that he is a fan of Burna Boy, and that he is not hurt by the comments he made.

HAT Yoruba language actress, Mercy Aigbe-Gentry has a penchant for fashion is stating the obvious. Known for rocking designer clothes, shoes and bags, which she usually shows off through ‘selfie’, the actress, Monday, launched a boutique amidst pomp and circumstance, with many of her colleagues in attendance. Called ‘Mag Divas Boutique’, the grand opening of the fashion house was graced by the likes of Doris Simeon who wore the same branded T-shirt as the celebrant. Others include Saidi Balogun, Ayo Adesanya, Foluke DaramolaSalako, Kayode Salako, Ronke

Hausa comedian dies at 42

popular comic in the Hausa film industry, Rabilu Musa, aka Dan Ibro, has died. The Public Relations Officer of the Kano State Censorship Board (KSCB), Malam Balarabe Tela disclosed this to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano yesterday. Tela said the comedian died on Wednesday at Annur Hospital, Kano, after an illness. He was 42-year-old. According to Tela, the comedian who has since been buried in his home town, Danlasan, Kano according to Islamic rites, is survived by four wives, 17 children, an aged mother and several relations.

• Mercy Aigbe

Actress Funke Adesiyan wins PDP primaries in Oyo

F • Wale Gates

• Burna Boy

Edi Kriz Okri back with Oshofree

LD time music icon, Edi Kriz Okri is back with a new album titled Oshofree. According to the artiste, the new album is made for both young and old, as it has something for everyone. Okri stated that he titled the album Oshofree because it is a slang that is used on the street. “It means freebies. And what I am trying to say in the album is to tell those who like free things, that it can sometimes backfire,” he said. Edi described his musical passion as one which is strongly generated through the wild percussive sounds of African rhythm, especially from West Africa. The artiste was able to perform in his first band at the age of 12. The band was called The Jue-Jue. In his teenage years, a group of his school friends joined him to form what they called The Eight Men Jive Band, which lasted for three years. The artiste who returned to the country early this year with plans to showcase a music festival which didn’t hold due to lack of funds talked on the failed venture. “I won’t lie to you. If I didn’t go back at the time I left for abroad, it would have been a different story. I had spent all my money on planning and getting proposal of the

By Dupe Ayinla-Olasunkanmi

event to both private and public companies and even the government. “But I am not giving up. I will still do it as long as I am still alive. I have done this same event in some countries and it was successful. I want the same for my country, so that the impression foreigners have about us can be changed,” he said.

• Edi Kriz Okri

• Funke Adesiyan

OR Nollywood actress, Funke Adesiyan, the best Christmas gift for her couldn’t be anything short of the ticket to represent Ibadan South East Constituency 2 in the Oyo State House of Assembly - this she has won, as an aspirant under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). “I thank every one of you, beautiful people, for your support and good wishes. May God almighty bless you, your family and homes. May you find divine favour. I also want to encourage all of us to participate fully in the coming vot-

By Mercy Michael

ing exercise as our vote is our voice in choosing worthy leaders. God bless Nigeria,” she said. It will be recalled that several entertainers have vied for elective positions, as prelude to the 2015 general elections, but so far, only Adesiyan and Desmond Elliot have scaled through the primary elections. The likes of Kenny Saint Best, Kate Henshaw, Bob Manuel Udogwu, Abolore Akande, aka 9ice and Dayo Adeneye have lost to their opponents.

Ex beauty queen bags new hair deal

HESE are exciting times for Omobhude Omoye Mary, the 2012 winner of MBGN’s Miss Photogenic, as she has received an endorsement from a hair company based in the U.S. Making the revelation, the 5ft11 model said that a friend of hers had her picture and someone came across it. “Fortunately she was the owner of the brand. She said I had to model for her and that incidentally, she wanted an African. My friend contacted me. I am really excited. We signed a contract and agreement concerning it. I had a photo shoot for the hair brand recently and I will be going to New York next year for the photo shoot. It has been really amazing working with the Hairbynene Brand and it is a

By Ovwe Medeme

dream come true,” said an excited Mary. The model revealed that her career started at 17, when she got introduced to Kelechi Amadi Obi through his modelling agency and did a shoot for Complete Fashion. “I did a billboard advert at age 18 and from there I started doing more advertisements for companies. Then my mum told me to try some pageants, and I looked into it and here I am.” In 2012, she emerged second runner-up in the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) pageant, a position which earned her the MBGN Miss Photogenic title. She also won World Miss University in 2013. She had also contested in Miss Lagos.

• Omobhude Omoye Mary

THE NATION THURSDAY DECEMBER 11, 2014

‘

Being a trained engineer, citizens will see me on the streets more often, supervising projects. I will be on my polo and jean trousers

RACE TO 2015 Akwa Ibom governorship aspirants denounce primary F

OLLOWING the emergence of Udom Emmanuel as the flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State, 22 of the 23 governorship aspirants in the state have petitioned the chairman of the PDP Governorship Electoral Panel, Prince Bola Oyebowale, over what they described as fundamental irregularities that marred the recent governorship primary. The aggrieved aspirants, which wrote the petition under the platform of ‘Forum of Akwa Ibom State PDP governorship Aspirants’, warned that they would not consent to the legitimization of the charade that took place on Monday called the Akwa Ibom PDP governorship primary. In the petition signed by the group, which is led by former Deputy Governor Nsima Ekere and Senator Helen Esuene, it alleged that all the purported delegates from the state were invited to Government House Uyo where they were addressed, threatened, intimidated and induced with one million each to vote for the governor’s preferred aspirant, Emmanuel. The aspirants said the list of contrived ad hoc delegates is populated by political appointees of the state government and civil servants. They alleged that the government doctored the delegates’ list and that there was indeed several lists of purported delegates. The forum said the first list emanated from the Akwa Ibom Consolidation Alliance and was denounced as fake by both the state government and the state chairman of the party. But, ironically, they said the list which was earlier denounced was the same one that was used in inviting delegates to the congress, going by the announce-

• Ekere By Raymond Mordi

ment broadcast on the stateowned Akwa Ibom Broadcasting Corporation (AKBC). “Recently, another list emerged carrying the imprimatur of the National Organising Secretary of the PDP and which list is totally

‘Given the magnitude of the irregularities on the entire process, the former deputy governor is calling for the cancellation of the exercise and the organisation of fresh primaries that would conform to the guidelines issued by the party and the law’

at variance with both the list earlier signed by the state chairman of the PDP and the one announced on radio this morning (Monday December 8, 2014),” it said, adding that the lists are contrived, as no ward congresses took place in any of the wards in the state and at the National headquarters of the party. The group said despite the plethora of lists, there was no accreditation of delegates by Prince Oyebowale’s electoral panel “to certify the individuals who are being trafficked in heavilyguarded buses to the venue of the congress from the Government House, Uyo.” In his individual capacity, Ekere also petitioned the chairman of the party’s Governorship Election Appeal Panel in Abuja, saying unqualified persons were smuggled into the venue of the congress, “with accreditation cards on their necks, without proper prior ascertainment of their status as the first business of the day, either as purportedly elected ad hoc delegates or statutory delegates known to us, having been consulted in the course of the campaigns for the exercise.” According to Ekere: “Because the purported delegates were fake, they could not be accredited at the venue of the congress; their accreditation tags/numbers were not given there, nor their names announced to the hearing of all present at the State Congress by the Electoral Officer, thereby breaching the clear provisions of paragraph 19 (e), (f) and (g) of the Governorship Guidelines of the party.” Given the magnitude of the irregularities on the entire process, the former deputy governor is calling for the cancellation of the exercise and the organisation of fresh primaries that would conform to the guidelines issued by the party and the law.

‘I’ll run my government without office of First Lady’

NE of the governorship aspir ants in Abia State on the plat form of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), Mr. Ndukwe Iko, has assured his supporters and Abians in general that, if given the chance to govern the state, he would run his administration without the office of a First Lady. Iko, who made the remark at the Aba Recreation Club, Aba, Abia State, said his decision to run without the office of a First Lady was not to sideline women in his administration, but to avoid waste of resources on an office that is not recognized by the constitution. The PPA governorship aspirant assured women that his administration would create other opportunities for the female gender to play active roles in governance, saying he would create a Ministry of Women and Children Affairs with a woman commissioner to oversee it. According to the aspirant, he got involved in politics to answer a call to service; to serve the people and to put the state on the path of economic

From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

growth. He added that the economy of the state has collapsed in the last seven years. Iko has vowed not to visit the state until 2019, if a “stooge” becomes the governor next year. He decried the state of roads and infrastructure in Aba, the commercial hub of the state, describing the city as a “concrete jungle”. The aspirant boasted that he has drafted a master plan to give the state a facelift, if he is given the opportunity. He said: “I am against the philosophy of zoning. It is foreclosing chances of people that have better and creative ideas on how to turn the fortunes and economy for the good of its citizens. Zoning is a Greek gift the present administration wants to give to the Ngwa people. “Being a trained engineer, citizens will see me on the streets more often, supervising projects. I will be on my polo and jean trousers; I will make sure that I visit every contract and project site to ensure that works were

‘

Ex-chairman secure APC ticket for Ojo Federal Constituency By Emmanuel Udodinma

HE immediate past Chairman of Ojo Local Government, Prince Yinka Durosinmi, has clinched the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket to contest next year’s House of Representatives’ election, to represent the Ojo Federal Constituency. Durosinmi received 204 votes out of a total of 458 votes to secure the ticket. The victory was at the expense of the incumbent lawmaker representing the constituency, Hon. Toyin Suarau, who got 97 votes. Nevertheless, Durosinmi’s closest rival in the contest was the former Lagos State Auditor General, Alh. Muhammed Mubashiru Hassan. Also in the race was the immediate past Chairman of Oto-Awori Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Mr. Bolaji Kayode Robert. Hassan and Robert received 113 and 44 votes respectively. According to Durosinmi, who was overwhelmed by the outcome of the contest, it was a well-deserved victory, which amounts to a recognition of his six years of commitment to the development of Ojo Local Government. He thanked all delegates and the entire residents of the constituency for reposing such confidence in him. “It is a well-deserved one and I know that it has to do with my works while in office as the local government chairman for the past six years. With this they have given me another chance to do even more and I will do no less,” he added. Observers described the exercise as free and transparent.

Party youths: Bulama is killing Yobe PDP From Duku Joel, Damaturu

OME youths of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Yobe State have expressed concern over the manner in which the leader of the party in the state, Dr. Abdul Bulama, is handling the party. According to the youths, the fortunes of the party will be worse in next year’s election, compared to 2011, if Dr. Bulama, who is also the Minister of Science and Technology, does not embrace the principles of opennes and transparency like the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Muazu. Such disposition, they added, will help to bring the party back on track before the 2015 general elections. One of the concerned youth, Abubakar Adamu, told reporters in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital that Dr. Bulama’s attitude is making the ruling APC in the state to garner more support at the expense of the PDP, whose fortunes have continued to diminish. “I think President Jonathan needs to know that the PDP in Yobe State has ran into crisis again. We felt that our current minister who is the leader of the party in the state will carry everybody along, considering the several steps taken by our National Chairman Adamu Mauzu to salvage the party in the state. Unfortunately, Dr. Bulama is not a politician and he is not ready to learn from people on ground. “We want the minister to realize that the party is very important to us and we are committed to working for its success come 2015, but Dr. Bulama has so far failed to provide the required leadership,” Adamu noted. The Nation’s investigations reveal that the PDP has three factions in Yobe. Two of the factions are loyal to Adamu Waziri and Yerima Nagama, while the third group is made up of neutral persons interested in seeing sanity in the leadership of the party before next year’s general elections. Spokesman to the state party leader, Hassan Ahmed has however refuted the accusations levelled against his principal, saying Dr. Bulama is working very hard to deliver the state for the party. • Mauzu

APC urged to cancel Ikorodu constituency primary By Musa Odoshimokhe

• Iko

done according to contract specifications; I will not hesitate to revoke contracts that does not meet the terms of agreement. “A governor must have passion for his people. I will serve my people honestly and after my years of leadership, I will go back to pick my tools. I have not seen Aba in the kind of terrible state it is at the moment. If we survived the civil war and got back to our feet, we will survive this period.”

N aspiring member of the Lagos State House of Assembly on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Yekini Lanre, has urged the party to cancel the of result of the primary of Ikorodu Constituency 1. In a petitioned filed on his behalf by Akinsanya Taoreed to the Lagos State APC Electoral Committee, Lanre said the December 2 primary was not transparent, as fake delegates participated in the shadow election. He said a former councilor from Olorunda Ward, Ikorodu North Local Council Development Area (LCDA) was arrested with fake 70 delegates’ tags during the exercise. He said: “On the day of the primary, at least five fake people with tags were allowed from each ward in all the 17 wards to vote and actually voted. “Most of the delegates behaved as if they were either under duress or had sworn to an oath at the shrine at Odogunyan, administered by some elders of the council, warning them of the dire consequences if their candidate lost.” He added that the election was a sham, because the incumbent occupant of the seat used undemocratic means to alter the will of the people. “Some delegates avoided the election for fear of their lives, after being threatened and made to swear to the juju shrine at Odongunyan.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

SPECIAL REPORT Continued from yesterday

In this concluding part of a report on the judicial system, JOSEPH JIBUEZE provides more evidence of how other factors aside sabotage, blackmail and undue delays contribute to the snail speed of the justice system.

How sabotage, delays are killing

Obstacles to quick justice delivery PART from delays caused by abuse of legal technicalities, other factors contribute to denial of justice in criminal cases. Justice Yetunde Idowu, one of most senior judges of the Lagos State High Court, said a justice system that is remote, unaffordable, slow or incomprehensible to ordinary people effectively leads. to injustice. “The rule of law in itself is collated with economic growth and investment, and an effective judicial system promotes better livelihoods for all people,” she said. The judge said cogs in the wheel of justice include financial and budgetary constraints; lack of adequate institutional reforms and modstates, such as Lagos, have any form of electronic recording of proceedings. ernisation; low investment in information and communication Majority of courts, she said, still use archaic equipment and judges technology; lack of political will and commitment to a better write longhand, which is later reproduced by typists. society; use of archaic and outdated laws, procedures and “The use of longhand and typewriters obviously tend to delay processes that are riddled with loopholes. justice,” she said. Other adverse factors, she said, are lack of public trust Another factor, the judge said, is that little use is made of and confidence in the system; corruption due to lack of software designed for case management and legal research. accountability and transparency; inadequate courts; This lack of tools leads to judges adjourning till further dates indiscipline, among others. rulings they could otherwise have delivered immediately. According to a former Lagos State Attorney-Gen“Apart from a few states, the acquisition of this software eral and Commissioner for Justice, Prof Yemi Osinis not on the priority list of governments,” Justice Harriman bajo (SAN), failures in criminal justice are not only a said. significant disincentive to foreign investment, but Delays, the judge added, even start from the filing procconstitute a burden on the cost of doing business. ess. To him, interlocutory appeals on practically any “I am hoping a time would come when e-filing will take issue have remained a major hindrance to early discentre stage in the judiciary, a time when lawyers can, with position of cases, especially as it almost always a registered access code, file their processes and make payinvolves a stay of proceedings at the court appealed ments online,” she said. from. Besides, it will not be out of place if court registries acOsinbajo pointed out that relative to Nigeria’s cept Point of Sale (POS) payments. population, the number of convicts per capita is exLack of courtroom technology, such as video conferenctremely low. ing, is also a challenge. In criminal cases, a greater number of “This may either mean that Nigerians are an incredadjournments are due to investigating police officers being transibly law abiding people or that their custodial sentences •Justice ferred to other locations or being sent on other assignments. Some are not frequently used or that the criminal justice system witnesses are also reluctant to come to court. Auta has quite significant problems. Russia with a population of “If their evidence can be taken through video conferencing, then only 3million higher than ours has almost 20 times as many this would eliminate the delay,” Justice Harriman said. convicted prisoners as Nigeria,” Osinbajo said. The physical state of some courts also does not help speedier justice The professor of law said interminable delays reduce the chancdelivery. Some courts do not have air conditioning, and some courtes of ever concluding cases in a satisfactory manner. Witnesses rooms are like cubicles. lose interest. Investigating police officers are transferred outFor instance, in the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, courtside of the states where the offences were committed. Judgrooms used by Justice Okon Abang and Justice Mohammed es are also transferred and cases start de novo. Idris, two of the busiest judges, for instance, are so small that A frontline lawyer, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), said lawyers take turns to go in for their cases. corruption in the judiciary and the incompetence of some Several of the lawyers who make it inside, stand during lawyers and judges do not help the situation. proceedings waiting for their turn. Majority stand outside An ill-prepared lawyer will seek an adjournment at the door, straining to hear their cases called. Others flee for the first opportunity, and a judge who lacks the intelfear of suffocation. The consequence is that the judges lectual capacity to adjudicate a case will indulge such could easily get tired in such working conditions. lawyers and adjourn even the simplest of rulings. In some states, lack of adequate number of courtBabalola said: “If a lawyer lacks the necessary rooms force judges to share spaces, alternating sitting competence for the prosecution or defence of any givtimes. This leads to unsecured storage of court docuen case, he unavoidably becomes a hindrance and liaments, leading to “loss” of case files, and provides room bility to the course of justice which under normal cirfor corruption. cumstances he is supposed to serve. The law reports “The bad shape of court buildings does not only reflect are replete with cases that were painfully lost by nothpoorly on the relevance of justice sector institutions, but ing but the ignorance and incompetence of lawyers.” also prevents them from working effectively. It is also true He said there had been several instances where lawthat those working in these buildings get affected by the lack yers frustrate the hearing of court cases, especially when of a somewhat dignified working environment. Most impor•Justice they know they have weak defences. tantly, decrepit infrastructure and dysfunctional design Atilade “Some go to the extent of writing false letters stating that exacerbate delay and affect the quality of work done,” they were otherwise engaged in the Court of Appeal or SuJustice Harriman said. preme Court when in fact they had no case pending in those A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and courts. Such conduct is clearly unbecoming or unworthy of any former External Affairs Minister, Mr Odein lawyer,” Babalola said. Ajumogobia, believes delays have unforFor judges, it is not surprising to see some of them who preside over tunately become a recognised and criminal cases sit by noon when courts ought to resume by 9am. Some exhibit accepted crass laziness. strategy According to Babalola, before a judge can dispense justice, he must i n possess the necessary judicial qualities of integrity, deep knowledge of the law, honesty and a sense of justice itself. Unfortunately, many of them, he said, lack such qualities. At the heart of incompetence is corruption, which is manifest in the process of appointment of judges. “It must be realised that a knowledgeable but corrupt judge is a great peril to the administration of justice. He is bad if not worse than an honest but an incompetent judge,” Babalola said. Besides, he said there are cases in which judges for reasons best known to them personalise issues and frustrate the exercise of the right of appeal by litigants by their refusal to release records of proceedings or their judgments. Others, he said, lack courage and succumb to undue political influences. According to Babalola, poorly trained and inefficient court officials are also •Chief a cog in the wheel of justice. Justice “Some court registrars in Nigeria have become so infested with the virus of corruption that they deliberately frustrate the doing of justice in our society,” he Mahmud said. Some officials, he added, deliberately omit to list cases for hearing. The sad effect is the the judiciary has lost its fear factor. escapA former Lagos State prosecutor, Fola Arthur-Worrey, said: “The courts have justice. lost authority. Today people write petitions against judges and then the judges will i n g “It obviously serves the dehands-off the cases. “Unfortunately for us, we don’t seem to understand the implications of weak fendant well when he has no defence or simply •Falana institutions; we don’t understand the signals it sends to citizens and to the rest of needs to buy time to answer a complaint and is therefore only interested in putting off the anticithe world. A country is only taken as seriously as its law and justice systems are pated final decision by the court for as long as possimanaged.” Most courts are burdened with antiquated physical and legal infrastructure ble,” he said. According to him, the most common causes of delays that renders them extremely slow and inefficient. Many judges must take their own appealed notes in longhand while, in the words of one judge, they “sweat and choke” in and abuse are the preliminary objection (the outcome of which is stiflingly hot courtrooms – hobbling the speed of any proceedings. The judiciary, up to the Supreme Court); frivolous arguments and false affidavits; longer adjournincluding appellate courts, also strains under the burdens of an excessive caseload. ments due to full dockets; lack of strict adherence to time limit provisions and schedulA judge of the Delta State High Court, Justice Roli Harriman, said only a few ing (with no severe and deterrent cost); poor service of court processes (with parties claiming they were not ‘properly’ served); frequent amendment of processes (which

foist adjournments and further amendments); abuse of the right of appeal, and lack of enough punitive costs which, to Ajumogobia, should be in millions of naira for deliberate time-wasting. EFCC chairman Ibrahim Lamorde said the commission is helpless regarding the causes of delays. “You have to know where the responsibility of the EFCC starts and ends. When we take people to court, our duty is to prosecute them. But some of these accused persons/ suspects are taking advantage of the criminal laws. “The unfortunate aspect for us is that when such criminal proceedings are delayed, you start having witness fatigue. Some of the witnesses would have died and some officers transferred,” Lamorde said. He expressed regrets that some cases filed by EFCC against suspects, including politically exposed persons eight years ago, are still pending. He added: “We have cases we filed since 2006; we have been going in and out of the Supreme Court because of applications here and there. “We cannot change what is obtainable at the court because the laws of the land allow people to go to court. Some people are delaying cases to the detriment of the people of Nigeria and the affected states. “The outcome of these cases would have definitely defined what people will get. These funds to be recovered ought to be used for the development of these states,” Larmode added.

Experts seek way out Falana said the gross abuse of judicial process is encouraged under the criminal legal system. This, he said, must change. On deliberate abuse of injunctions, Falana said: “The dangerous practice calls for an urgent review of the criminal justice system in the overall interest of the society. “If the trend is not stopped, other people accused of engaging in armed robbery and terrorism may soon be asking for interim, interlocutory or perpetual injunctions to stop the state from investigating or prosecuting them.” The human right lawyer described as painful the fact that the lawyers involved in the prosecution and defence of the cases that have lingered endlessly are Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs). “The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) owes the legal profession a duty by calling lawyers who frustrate the prosecution of corruption cases to order. Trial courts are also enjoined to report such lawyers to the Disciplinary Committee of the NBA for appropriate actions,” Falana said. To him, judges too must be bold and strong in the face of such intimidation, and should punish unscrupulous for contempt in facia curia (in the face of court). He condemned what he called the seeming indifference of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) to the criminal abuse of the judicial system. “While the Federal Government is clearly complicit in some of the abuses suffered by the criminal justice system, at other times the AGF merely stands aloof, and watches our common humiliation as a modern state, which is what those conducts amount to. “As the legal precept posits, ‘justice delayed is justice denied’; and in this instance, both an ac-

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

SPECIAL REPORT

blackmail, undue the Judiciary (2) cused and the state deserve to have a speedy and transparent trial at all times. “A situation whereby the poor are daily railroaded to prison while criminals who are rich and powerful are allowed to breath the air of freedom has to stop. Judges should, therefore, desist from conferring immunity or granting perpetual injunctions restraining anti-graft agencies from investigating and prosecuting politically exposed persons. “In a display of class solidarity with the ruling class, the EFCC charges the rich accused of looting the treasury with money laundering while the poor are charged with stealing. “Since the penalty for money laundering is two years or payment of fine while stealing attracts seven years imprisonment, the discriminatory treatment of the two sets of criminal suspects should stop in the interest of justice and fair play,” Falana said. The rights activist also wants strict adherence to the new practice directions of the Federal High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court that require accelerated hearing of cases pertaining to corruption and terrorism as well as appeals arising from them. For instance, the trial of such cases is required to be conducted day by day at the Federal High Court. Regrettably, the practice directions are not being adhered to by all the relevant stakeholders. Hence, corruption cases are adjourned for all manners of reasons contrary to the letter and spirit of the law. Also, in view of the presumption of innocence in favour of accused persons, the prosecution should stop opposing applications for bail on frivolous grounds, Falana suggested. In other words, the prosecution and the defence counsel should agree on the conditions to be attached to bail to enable the defendants to stand trial. However, where the parties are unable to reach an agreement, the trial judge should impose bail conditions. The procedure, Falana believes, will go a long way to accelerate the trial of criminal cases. “To arrest the undue delay in the prosecution of criminal cases, I suggest the introduction of front-loading and Pretrial Conference. The prosecution should go beyond making available to the defendants the proof of evidence. There should be sworn statements of all witnesses which should be served on the defendants in line with the current practice in civil cases,” Falana said. Babalola said since looting of public fund by office holders is a serious wrong against the society, the government must show the will to prosecute offenders rather than shield them. “It would be incompatible with justice for the government to neglect or refuse to bring appropriate criminal charges against public officers who have been indicted simply because they have apologised or have resigned from their posts,” he said. Besides, there is the urgent need to weed out unethical behaviours, ineptitude resulting in low productivity, mal-administration and lazy, incompetent judges, Babalola said. He also called for a comprehensive review of the conditions of service o f judges, including sala-

ries. “Judges should be well paid, properly housed and well equipped with modern verbatim recording machines, trained stenographers, photocopiers, regular power supply and air conditioning,” he said. Justice Harriman wished for a time when evidence can be displayed electronically in front of the judge; when witnesses or counsel can be allowed to demonstrate or annotate situations or scenarios by using a fingertip directly on a monitor; when live video presentations of witnesses who cannot be physically present for a trial or hearing can be conducted; and when lawyers can create their own slide show presentations to enhance their arguments. “For judges, technology can increase opportunity to control the proceedings, set time limits, and decide matters expeditiously,” Justice Harriman said. Eminent professor of law, Itsay Sagay (SAN), believes it is everyone’s duty to save the judiciary from collapse, being the “ultimate source of democracy and rule of law”. He prayed for a return to the past, when it was inconceivable to bribe members of the bench. “It was absolutely unthinkable to bribe justices of the past. Even the contemplator will rot in jail. In the 80s, we could predict the outcome of a case. Judges created remedy where there was none. They were not colourless and neutral about justice. They had a philosophy,” he said. Prof Sagay also wants a dislodgment of those he referred to as “judicial mafia.” “There is a mafia in the judiciary, a mafia that is untouchable, a mafia that decides what happens to us in this country. You cannot tell the truth as far as the mafia is concerned,” he said. According to him, the Supreme Court, for instance, is too limited in the choice of those appointed as justices. In his words, “nothing is said about merit, character. They don’t tolerate bringing in fresh faces either.” He recalled that in the past top professors of law and academics were appointed to the appellate courts, but not anymore. “Now, incompetence is recycled among themselves, so, there is no growth in the judiciary. What prevents excellent SANs from going to the Supreme Court so that the mafia will not continue to control things? “Justices should stop hobnobbing with the executive. They should not consider themselves as part of the executive. They must insist on playing their role without fear or favour,” Sagay said. Prof Osinbajo called for a fundamental restructuring of the rules. “It is my view that the problems of delay especially require some hard thinking and collaborative interaction between the Chief Justice of Nigeria, the Attorney-General of the Federation and the heads of the National Assembly,” he said. These interactions, he added, must address fundamental issues on changing the rules to engage the challenges of

•Agbakoba

Nigeria’s peculiar circumstances. “Clearly, there ought to be a more stringent costs regime to prevent dilatory tactics of counsel. Judicial accountability for delays in delivering rulings and judgments must be closely monitored,” he said. Prof Osinbajo also wants a limitation of interlocutory appeals, which are often abused. “Constitutional amendments providing for the termination of interlocutory appeals at the Court of Appeal is much needed. There need also be clear and definitive intervention by the Supreme Court on notorious and recondite issues frequently deployed to delay trials. “Issues of jurisdiction require one clear Supreme Court decision which lays down the principles and the law. Some disciplinary action may be required with the full backing of our courts to check counsel who in the face of clear authorities delay trials by raising such issues,” Osinbajo said. A Supreme Court justice, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun agrees with Osinbajo. In addition to “a major attitudinal change,” she said there is the urgent need for constitutional amendment to limit the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction so that interlocutory decisions or cases where there are concurrent findings of fact by the two lower courts and there is no dispute as to the law should terminate at the Court of Appeal. Respect for ethics of the profession, which is severely, lacking, must be enforced, she said. “Where a client has a bad case, it is unethical to institute an action in court merely to frustrate his opponent and delay the fulfillment of an obligation. The same applies to a defendant who has no defence to an action but engages in all manners of delay tactics, including the ubiquitous preliminary objections on jurisdiction, wasting valuable judicial time and expense,” Kekere-Ekun said. Ajumogobia said delays cannot be eliminated as long as deliberate time-wasting is the objective of “gifted and talented lawyers.” According to him, justice can only occur when there exists a degree of uniformity, competence and integrity of not just the lawyers and the Bar leaders, but other court officials. Ajumogobia said: “As long as we choose (and it is always a conscious choice by counsel) to deliberately exploit the existence of constitutional lapses or the inevitable and necessary flexibility of procedural rules, curbing delays will remain an illusion.” Justice Idowu believes that administration of justice will be enjoyed by people when they are able to use institutions that are quick, relevant and effective in meeting their needs for justice. “A functioning justice system requires the effective supply of justice services by state and non-state entities as well as the expression of effective demand by people who trust the system enough to use it,” she said. Some judges are easily manipulated by the executive and the corrupt political class. It is not strange to find criminal suspects seeking a transfer of their cases from one judge to the other, all in a bid to get a more pliant, easy-to-manipulate or corrupt judge. The process of appointment of judges, therefore, needs to be more transparent. A Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Queens Counsel (QC), Mr Oba Nsugbe, said the secrecy surrounding judges’ appointments must be stopped. “We need to make greater efforts to completely demystify the system of judicial appointments in Nigeria from beginning to end,” he said. Nsugbe said he once sought to know how to go about applying to be a judge in Nigeria, and to learn about upcoming vacancies, criteria for appointment and the process, but came up with no reliable information. He interrogated various official websites for answers, read a number of publications, and spoke to people in the judiciary, and still got no useful information on how to be a judge. His words: “The answers never seemed complete or exhaustive. This needs to change. In so important an area, you can never have enough clear, systematic information about what each and every stage entails – exactly what is needed of the applicant, when, who will assess it; how it will be assessed; who will be spoken to; against what criteria, etc. There needs to be more transparency about the appointments procedure. The lack of it acts as a disincentive to many aspiring judges,” he said. Another provision in the rules that has caused delays is the principle of a case starting de novo (afresh) where witnesses had been called before a judge is transferred, is elevated to a higher court, or dies and another judge takes over. In such a situation, witnesses would have to be recalled. Lagos lawyer Mr Segun Ajibola (SAN) said aspects of this provision needs to be revisited. “It’s difficult for a case not to start de novo. One of the functions of the judge is to watch the demeanour of the witnesses before him, not just listen to their testimony alone. He has to see that the evidence being given is given with conviction, and in a manner which portrays the truth. “What I will be happy to see is that the aspect of the requirement for trial to start all over as it is in most cases is restricted strictly to aspects which evidence by witnesses have been taken, so that whoever takes over assumes all the processes and procedural steps taken before then. “In this country where our approach to things is most times questionable, once you have a witness come in once and give evidence, getting him back most times to repeat most things he has said is a problem. Situations change and influences would come in. Eventually some people escape justice.” To lawyers whose stock in trade is to frustrate cases by means foul or fair, Ajibola said: “We need to re-orientate ourselves and appreciate the fact that at the end of the day we’re all losers. “It (deliberate delays) may work for you today, because you’re on this side of the law. If tomorrow you find yourself on the other side, and the same thing happens to you, you will lose. “Encouraging that kind of approach to administration of justice is something that will do no one no good at the end of the day. It may help in resolving a temporary situation, but in the long run, we’re all losers. “Perhaps there is no other country that has as much causes of delays in dispensation of justice as Nigeria. We need to evolve better arrangement which will be in place to curb the excesses of some of us who abuse the process. “I think it requires a thinktank approach, as we try to do regarding law reforms, which gave rise to the new Lagos State civil rules that came from the need to fasttrack and reduce bottle-necks and roadblocks in dispensation of justice. “However, no one process is perfect. Any process designed by man stands to be defeated by the same man. The same man who invented the pencil invented the eraser. We don’t benefit from abuse generally. As far as I’m concerned, we’re all losing. “Once we can accept that as a platform, and get people to understand that the failure of one is that failure of all, the sooner we will begin to approach the situation from a standpoint of positive and honest sense of purpose.” To many who have already lost faith in the system, true justice will only remain a fantasy.

Concluded

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

NEWS

‘IVF babies are now accepted by society’

‘Review Health Insurance Law’

CALL has been made for the review of the law establishing the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to enable Nigerians benefit from it. National President, of Healthcare Providers Association of Nigeria (HCPAN) Dr Adenike Olaniba, said though the scheme is commendable, “the enabling law that brought it into existence is limiting more Nigerians from having any form of health insurance coverage.” She spoke during the association’s 10th anniversary in Lagos. According to her, there is a clause in the law that established the scheme that makes it optional for Nigerians to have health insurance. Dr Olaniba said: “We believe that the clause should be reviewed for it will create an avenue for all Nigerians to apply for health insurance. If reviewed, every Nigerian will have a form of health insurance coverage. About 96 percent of unreached Nigerians are in the informal sector. “As we are agitating for the uploading of all facilities in Nigeria unto the scheme, we also point out that the N400 Capitation under Mobile insurance is not

Editor holds lecture on sickle cell

By Oyeyemi GbengaMustapha

acceptable. We should maintain the status quo of N750 per enrollees, in the face of fuel increament and other factors.” She said members want the decentralisation of both certification and inspection of facilities. Because some facilities, though inspected have not been issued cerificates, NHIS does not have enough capacity to do both. “HCPAN commends the scheme for its extensive coverage for ensuring the provision of qualitative healthcare to federal civil servants; pregnant women and children less than five years of age,” said Dr Anibaba. She called for a structured health care delivery system to make funds and resources available for the benefit of citizens. She said though the health care providers were ready to deliver services to the best of their ability, primary health care centres

were still substandard. Urging the government to equip primary health centres to make them perform optimally, Dr Anibaba said: “When these facilities are upgraded to meet global standards, health workers will be more dedicated to improve the health status of their patients and community by providing accessible, affordable, quality health care services to everyone, regardless of ability to pay. The NHIS under the leadership of the Executive Secretary, Dr. Femi Thomas had gone to higher levels, but much still needed to be done to truly make health care delivery universal.” Mrs Olaniba said the advent of the NHIS had depleted the resources of many private health care centres, instead of boosting them; urging the Federal Government to spread funds and enrollees between the private and public health sectors to make for balance and proper care.

‘Dr Olaniba said: “We believe that the clause should be reviewed for it will create an avenue for all Nigerians to apply for health insurance. If reviewed, every Nigerian will have a form of health insurance coverage. About 96 percent of unreached Nigerians are in the informal sector’

SENIOR consultant at Medical Art Centre (MART), Dr Kemi

Ailoje Adewusi, has said Nigerians no longer treat Invitro Fertilisation (IVF) babies as outcast. Dr Adewusi spoke at a ceremony organised by the centre to celebrate her and her colleague, Dr Chizara Okeke. They were awarded with Masters in Reproductive Medicine from University of South Wales, Australia and promoted to consultant positions in the centre (MART). Dr Adewusi said: “I think the acceptability and integration of children conceived by IVF is a lot better now from when we first started. The awareness is there now because before, there were a lot of myths associated with the procedure. People thought if you do IVF, there are structural or anatomical issues with you and they don’t see the need for an advanced form of medicine, which makes it difficult for them to access anything that is new. People thought that IVF babies were like robots or dummies and they believed it wasn’t possible to do things that you can do inside of the body, outside of it as well to achieve the same result. But as the year

By Oyeyemi GbengaMustapha

went by, people got pregnant, babies went to schools as intelligent and they look normal; played normally and talked normally and so, the acceptance became better.” She added that people can say now ‘this baby is an IVF baby…’ For instance, when we went for a conference, we met the first IVF baby from Australia who happens to be an Embryologist himself and this means that they also have longevity and they don’t have all the things that people think is related to the procedure. “The acceptance by the society is a lot better now and the awareness has grown much bigger than what it used to be,” she said. Chizara said it was a huge privilege for them to work in that field of medicine, noting that, “for someone, such as Prof Ashiru to have the trust in you and reveal what happens in the room, which is supposed to be kept there as a guided art was a great privilege anyone can ask for.” She noted that it is a field which they have been operating on and as such, will not feel any pressure in their new positions. The Chief Medical

Director, MART Centre, Prof. Oladapo Ashiru however congratulated the duo on their success and their fast learning of the practice within a short time, noting that it is their show of excellence that earned them the elevation. Ashiru said Chizara joined Medical ART Centre of the MART Group of Health Services seven years ago. She came in as a novice in the field of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), but within a period of two years she had been introduced to this field, she started learning and started demonstrating her skills. And this was crowned by her registering for a programme in University of New South Wales, Australia and over a three years, she ended up getting masters in Reproductive Medicine which is the specific training for doctors who are practicing In-Vitro Fertilisation or ART. “We did evaluation of her work here where she can do all the whole areas of IVF from Ovarian Stimulation to Embryo Transfer and as such, she becomes an a c c o m p l i s h e d endocrinologist. And the management considered her to have merited the position of a consultant and have been so elevated.”

ICKLE Cell news Edi tor and author, Menace In My Blood – my affliction with sickle cell anaemia, will hold a lecture today on: The state of sickle cell awareness in Nigeria. The event, organised to mark his 51 birthday holds at the Executive Bar, Harmony Castle Hotel, 70/72 Gbasemo Street, Aga, Ikorodu, Lagos State at 1pm.

• Olajide

•Prof Ashiru (Fourth right) with. From left: Dr Jaiyeola Adeyemi; Dr Okeke; Dr Adewusi; Chief Obstetrician, Dr Lateeef Akinola; Mrs Abiola Adewusi; Mrs PHOTOS: OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA Grace Awokola and Dr Moses Olusanjo.

A consultant in Urology at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Dr Habeeb Tijani, tells OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA some of the basic signs and symptoms of prostate cancer.

Signs, symptoms of prostate cancer

•Dr Tijani

ROSTATE cancer is cancer that occurs in a man’s prostate. Prostate is a small walnutshaped gland that produces the seminal fluid that nourishes and transports sperm. Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in men. Prostate cancer usually grows slowly and initially remains confined to the prostate gland, where it may not cause serious harm. While some types of prostate cancer grow slowly and may need minimal or no treatment, other types are

aggressive and can spread quickly. Prostate cancer that is detected early i.e. when it is still confined to the prostate gland has a better chance of successful treatment. But then how can one identify the symptoms or watch out for the signs in men aged 40 and above? According to Dr Habeeb Tijani, a Consultant Urologist, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi Araba, in most cases, prostate cancer symptoms are not apparent in the early stages of the disease.

He said the symptoms of prostate cancer vary from each man to another and any one of them may be caused by other conditions. Dr Tijani said: “As a result, routine screenings in the form of digital rectal exams (DRE) and prostate specific androgen (PSA) tests are important. Prostate cancer may not cause signs or symptoms in its early stages. Prostate cancer that is more advanced may cause signs and symptoms such as troubled urinating; decreased force in the stream of urine; blood in the urine; blood in the semen;

general pain in the lower back, hips or thighs; discomfort in the pelvic area; bone pain and Erectile dysfunction (ED).” Dr Tijani said: “It is good to make an appointment with your doctor if you have any signs or symptoms that worry you. There is debate regarding the risks and benefits of screening for prostate cancer, and medical organisations differ on their recommendations. Discuss prostate cancer screening with your doctor. Together, you can decide what’s best

for you. “This is because in most cases, prostate cancer symptoms are not apparent in the early stages of the disease. The symptoms of prostate cancer may be different for each man and any one of these symptoms may be caused by other conditions. As a result, routine screenings in the form of digital rectal exams (DRE) and prostate specific androgen (PSA) tests are important. Routine screening is less than N10, 000. But the hospital is looking at bring it down.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

THE NATION

NATURAL HEALTH E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA writes on various types of arthritis and the phytotherapy that can alleviate them.

‘Fight off Arthritis with herbal-plants’ A

RTHRITIS affects the musculoskeletal system, specifically the joints. It is the main cause of disability among people over 55 years of age in industrialised countries. But due to the husttle and bustle of city life, many Nigerians, as young as 12 years are being diagnosed with arthritis. According to a phytotherapist, Dr Francis Elegbuo, of franel food Supplements and Natural Health Clinic, Ijegun, Lagos, the use of herbal-plants in the treatment of various forms of arthritis is efficacious. This is due to their anti-inflammatory or anti-arthritic properties. Dr Elegbuo said the word “arthritis” comes from the Greek arthron meaning “joint” and the Latin itis meaning ‘inflammation’. The plural of arthritis is arthritides. He said: “Arthritis is a term that covers over 100 medical conditions. It affects the joints and musculoskeletal system. Most types of arthritis are caused by a combination of factors. These can include genetic makeup, a physically demanding job, previous injury, infection or allergies, certain foods, obesity, autoimmune disease. The most common forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, infectious arthritis and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Any sufferer of arthritis should always be active. Inactivity could harm the health of most patients with arthritis or any kind of rheumatic disease.” Dr Elegbuo explained the best way to know if one has arthritis or prone to same, “if you have trouble moving around or feeling pain and stiffness in your body, you could have arthritis. In the majority of cases arthritis causes pain and swelling in the joints. Eventually a swollen joint can suffer severe damage. In some cases, arthritis can cause problems in the patient’s eye, skin or other organs. Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and generally affects elderly people. Some forms of arthritis can affect people at a very early age. The symptoms of arthritis depend on the type. For example, the symptoms of osteoarthritis develop slowly and get worse as time goes by. There is pain in a joint, either during or after use, or after a period of inactivity. There will be tenderness when pressure is applied to the joint. The joint will be stiff, especially first thing in the morning. The person may find it hard to use the joint - it loses its flexibility. Some patients experience a grating sensation when they use the joint. Hard lumps, or bone spurs may appear around the joint. In some cases the joint might swell. The most commonly affected joints are in the hips, hands, knees and spine.”

IETING is the practice of eating food in a regulated fashion to decrease, maintain or increase body weight. This is a major way of ensuring long life and reversing chronic diseases. According to an alternative medicine practitioner, Mike Okonkwo, not all food are good for the body. Taking adequate diet, he said, has a lot to do in preserving one’s life, adding that educating people on what to eat can be very important, as many do not know how to eat right. This, he said, was why Good Health Centre (GHC) is organising a health seminar with the theme: Live now, for cor-

•Aloe vera plant

•Cats-Claw

•Tumeric

•Eucalyptus

He added: “In Rheumatoid arthritis, the person often finds the same joints on each side of the body are painfully swollen, inflamed, and stiff. The fingers, arms, legs and wrists are most commonly affected. Symptoms are usually worst on waking up in the morning and the stiffness can last for 30 minutes at this time. The joint is tender when touched. Hands may be red and puffy. There may be rheumatoid nodules (bumps of tissue under the skin of the patient’s arms). Many patients with rheumatoid arthritis feel tired most of the time. Weight loss is common. The smaller joints are usually noticeably affected first. Experts say patients with rheumatoid ar-

thritis have problems with several joints at the same time. As the arthritis progresses it spreads from the smaller joints in your hands, wrists, ankles and feet to your elbows, knees, hips, neck, shoulders and jaw. “In Infectious arthritis the patient commonly has a fever, joint inflammation and swelling. They will feel tenderness and/ or a sharp pain. Often these symptoms are linked to an injury or another illness. Most commonly affected areas are the knee, shoulder, elbow, wrist and finger. In the majority of cases just one joint is affected.” Dr Elegbuo said when a child below 12 years has arthritis, it is called Juvenile

rheumatoid arthritis. “In Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, the patient is a child and will experience intermittent fevers which tend to peak in the evening and then suddenly disappear. Appetite will be poor and weight may be lost. There may be blotchy rashes on arms and legs. Anaemia is also common. The child may limp or have a sore wrist, finger, or knee. A joint may suddenly swell and stay larger than it usually is. The child may experience a stiff neck, hips or some other joint.” On ways out using herbal-plants, the Phytotherapist said: “Aloe vera is one of the most commonly used herbs in alternative medicine. Known for its healing properties, it is popular for treating small skin abrasions. You may already have a bottle of aloe vera gel in the medicine cabinet from a past experience with sunburn for pain relief. This same type of product may be applied topically to soothe achy joints. Oral aloe vera can cause decreased blood sugar and gastrointestinal side effects, such as diarrhoea. Topical aloe vera use, on the other hand, does not cause any side effects. “Cat’s claw is another anti-inflammatory herb that may reduce swelling in arthritis. Traditionally, cat’s claw is used to boost your immune system. In recent years, the immunity powers of the herb have been tried in arthritis. The downside is that cat’s claw may over stimulate the immune system, potentially making arthritis pain worse. “Eucalyptus, like aloe vera, is widely available in western markets. It is used in oral medications, and topical oil extracts are used for a variety of conditions. Topical forms of eucalyptus leaves are used to treat arthritis pain. These plant leaves contain tannins, which may be helpful in reducing swelling and the resulting pain that arthritis causes. Some users follow up with heat pads to maximise the effects of eucalyptus on swollen joints. “One may have ginger as spice in the cabinet for cooking, but this herb is also a staple in many alternative medicine cabinets. The same compounds that give ginger its strong flavor are also the same ones that have antiinflammatory properties. “Green tea is one of the most popular beverages in the world, and has even been used to reduce inflammation in the body. It is possible that green tea can be used to treat arthritis inflammation in the form of beverages, tablets, or tinctures. Tumeric used in cooking to make curry, is a yellow powder made from the related flowering plant. Unlike other types of herbs, turmeric may work best in fighting joint pain when it is taken orally.”

Dieting ‘is key to longevity’ porate executive and leaders at the Metropolitan Club, Lagos between 3 and 4 December. Quoting an Egyptian proverb, he said, about 25 percent of what people eat keeps them alive while the remaining 75 keep their doctors alive. Besides, food can be helpful or harmful to the body, especially if it has unwanted cholesterol. Okonkwo said man is plagued with diseases because he departed from what God ordained. The consultant to Hallelujah Diet said man should not be eating red meat, adding that

this is the reason people have diabetes and other ailments. “The intestines of animal who feed on flesh is four times wider than that of man. Man intestine is about 75 feet, which make digestion of meat difficult. People’s system is not designed originally for consumption of meat,” he said. Okonkwo said: “I had better obey the manufacturer than the mechanics.” He said about 80 percent of terminal diseases people are plagued with can be reversed. Moreover, common health problems, such as cancer, diabetes and prostate enlargement

as well as stroke, insomnia, erectile dysfunction, high blood pressure (HBP) and stress, can be handled by eating diet. Food, he said, is responsible for good health, as such enhances productivity. Okonkwo, who is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Good Health Centre, said the country has lost great men and women in their prime to diseases that can be reversed with food. Sponsor of the programme, Apostle Hayford Alile said many people are dying from diseases that can easily be prevented by avoiding some dan-

gerous food. He said the death of some eminent Nigerians recently was the reason he supported the programme to prevent sudden loss of experts. People, he said, must understand that health tourism is not the solution to treating chronic diseases rather an active lifestyle and healthy diet can play a major role. Alile said 50 top executives in Nigeria will be screened at the seminar. He called for preventive and restorative health rather than curative one, which is expensive and not easily accessible. Alile urged the people to eat fruits and vegetables to prevent diseases.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

NATURAL HEALTH

Prof. Soyinka: flicker of hope for prostate cancer cure

ONGRATULATIONS, Prof. Wole Soyinka. And thanks, immeasurably, for kindling the survival hope of not only prostate cancer sufferers or people beset with any form of cancer, but victims of seemingly incurable diseases as well. Nobel Laureate Prof. Soyinka announced about two weeks ago that he suffered from prostate cancer which had been cured. The news surprised many people in at least two respects. First, many people did not see him exhibit the typical symptoms of a prostate cancer sufferer. Secondly, only a few people know that prostate cancer is curable. Although Prof. Soyinka’s announcement has buoyed the hope of many prostate cancer sufferers that there is useful life after a diagnosis and, perhaps, a cure, not much is known by the public about how Prof. Soyinka obtained a cure. Was it a Nigeria feat? Was it achieved abroad? Was it from Traditional Medicine ™ or chemotherapy, radiology or surgery? Like many people, I, too, would have been at sea but for three leads I picked from the announcement. One is that the cancer was detected early. A second is Prof. soyinka’s reference to the importance of diet in the therapy? The importance, also, of generous intake of water. This column has featured for some years the importance of diet, water, oxygen, detoxification, alkalinisation, anti-oxidation and immune boosting, among other therapies, to cancer cures. In this regard, the stories of cancer survivors such as Johanna Brandt of South Africa, Dr. George Malkhmus now of Hallelujah Acres Fame, and Dr. Anne Wigmore have been mentioned as well. Prof. Soyinka can, thus, be described as a newcomer to the growing community of cancer survivors. In Nigeria, I know of some people who have made this list. But there are far too many people who have been defeated by cancer, especially, prostate cancer. One of the survivors had cancer of the throat. Same could not swallow food. The first time I saw him, he was thin and so cold he had to wear a sweater beneath his three-piece suit. He changed his diet and stuffed his body not only with anti-cancer and immune building plant medicines but with alkaline water as well. A little over six months later, I didn’t recognize him when he paid me a visit in the office. His weight was returning, he wore not a stuffed suit but a free native dress. He no longer smoked and was full of life. He came to inform me that his doctors in England had just given him another check and said they couldn’t find cancer cells in his throat. I advised him not to rest on his oars, but to continue with his lifestyle changes. Two weeks ago, my neighbor in the office who is aware of this case history, Alhaja Bukola Abdulazeez, told me he is running for a 2015 seat in a House of Assembly. Who says there can be no life after cancer? The second beautiful story is in Benin, and is a prostate case history. I do not know if this case progressed to cancer. But the PSA (Prostate Sensitive Antigen) test yielded a result more than 400 points against a normal of 0 to 4. This was an alarming scenario. But a high PSA is not necessarily a conclusive cancer evidence. Nevertheless, the oncologist advised that he had his testes removed immediately. In prostate cancer, the testes are the equivalents of the ovaries in breast cancer. In both cancers, it is believed that hormones produced by the testes (testosterone) and ovaries (estrogen) aggravate the respective cancers an excess of them is said to cause cancer. This man did not wish to have his testes removed. So did his wife. When he sought my opinion, I advised him it was a personal decision he alone must take. He chose food supplements, herbs and alkaline water. If I recall correctly, his medicine chest hosted such food supplements as (1) oxygen tablets (2) Pau d’Arco (3) Spirulina (4) Wheatgrass (5) Calamus root (6) Stinging Nettle (7) Zinc (8) Zeolyte AV (9) Amazon Prostate Support (10) Bells’ Prostate Easy Flow Tea (11) Milk thistles (12) NG4 Liver Health (13) Chloro Energy (14) Amazon AF (15) Flax Seed Oil (16) Small flowered willow herb and stuff like these. They sought to address each of seven or so questions an Alternative Medicine therapist would like to focus a prostate health therapy upon. These include (1) colon cleansing (2) Hormone balancing (3) Detoxification of blood, tissue and lympth (4) containment of free radicals with antioxidants (5) Oxygenation (6) alkalisation (7) immune boosting (8) killing of the cancer. The recovery of the man in Benin was dramatic. In two months, the PSA crashed to about 10 Prostate Enlargement. Some men, such as my uncle who died at 97, did not have prostate problems. Some have enlarged prostate glands, others prostate cancer. Prostate enlargement (Benign Prostate Hyperplasia….BPH) is non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland. Doctors worry when the PSA rises beyond 4. At this point, the patient may have begun to experience frequent urination, especially at night, pain in the urinary tract while urinating, difficulty urinating and dribbling urine. Often, there is urge to urinate, but the urine does not flow out easily and readily, even when an attempt is made to force it out. Men do not speak out in the early stages of this condition. So, their wives are advised to watch how long they spend in the rest room. Many possible causes have been advanced for a BPH. Some of them include: Zinc deficiency BOUT 80 percent of the Zinc in a man’s body is thought to be in his prostate gland. Zinc is needed by the body in the manufacture of about 200 chemical substances. It is required for healthy hair, skin and nail and for good vision. Vitamin A, for example, is needed to prevent night blindness. But the eyes cannot absorb and use Vitamin A when there is a deficiency of Zinc. The immune cells need Zinc to mature. And this is why in HIV, cancer and other immune depleted conditions, Zinc plays an important role

C and E) and fat soluble antioxidants such as Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA).

as an antioxidant in the sperm and for male and female fertility and virility. In the prostate in particular, it inhibits the over activity of an enzyme called 5-Alpha Reductase. This enzyme converts testosterone to di-hydrotestosterone (DHT). An excess of DHT causes the prostate to enlarge. And as the prostate gland surrounds the neck of the urine pipe from the bladder, the urethra enlargement of the prostate squeezes or suffocates the urethra so that urine cannot freely flow through the urethra. You can imagine the scenario better if you hold a straw in your closed fist and try to squeeze it. Zinc presence in the prostate in adequate amounts prevents 5-Alpha Reductase from wreaking the havoc. In many men, there is Zinc deficiency. They are sexually overactive. In every ejaculation, Zinc is lost and the loss is not replenished through supplementation of Zinc in the diet. Thus, overtime, the prostate enlarges gradually. Colon Congestion

HE colon may be congested irrespective of whether one’s bowels move once or twice a day. For many people, bowel motion occurs, say, every third day or once a week. For men and women, colon congestion may lead to colon poisoning, colitis (inflammation of the colon), ulcerative colitis (ulcers of an inflamed colon) and, eventually, colon cancer. For men, a congested colon may poison the prostate gland, cause its enlargement or a cancer. This is because the prostate is a neighbor of the colon and damage to colon wall may cause leakage of fecal matter to this organ. Men who have had digital examination of their prostate glands done by a doctor should easily appreciate this point in a digital probe of the health of the prostate, the doctor inserts fingers into the anus to check the size, or roughness of the prostate. A rough prostate may be signal of trouble. Faeces is not meant to build or gang up in the colon. Food should spend no longer than 18 hours in the digestive tract, that is 18 hours from when it is eaten to when its waste is expelled as stool or faeces. If there is a delay in the voiding, the food may begin to decay and provide a breeding ground for germs. It can be terrible when the wastes of many meals congregate in the colon. When we void once a day, although we eat three times a day, we have a two-meal deficit. Over one week, that means a deficit of 14 motions. Germs thriving in a constipated colon may cross over to the prostate gland and infect it. And such an infection may cause BPH. Therefore, this must be remembered as a possible cause of BPH or prostate cancer when these conditions are treated. In some cases, the doctor may advise high colonic irrigation using inedible coffee for colonic enema to clean up the tract from the duodenum (immediately below the stomach) to the colon. Such a patient would need to include fiber in the diet and support his or her digestive organs with digestive enzymes. Vegetables provide fiber in the diet to move food along non-stop. Many people at table, are miserly with vegetables such people can obtain help from proprietary products such as psyllium, flax seed, wheatgrass powder, chlorella, micronized plant complexes such as Beyond Greens, Spectra green or Superior greens. They will need calamus root to clean up their bowel. The health store shelves also parade colon cleanse formulas of all kinds. To inhibit the germs, it is advisable to add friendly bacteria cells (PROBIOTIC and PREBIOTIC) to the diet. Some blends contain about (5) five billion friendly bacteria per capsule at the time of manufacture. As suggested in the Benin case above, therapy of a BPH at about PSA 400 or higher requires a “task force” bombardment. I will always remember the book CANCER IS A FUNGUS, written by an orthodox medical doctor in which he argues that cancer is caused by candida, a fungus. This member of the yeast family has been implicated in breast cancer. Thus, antifungals which combat candida and other yeast throughout the body (blood, lymph and tissue) are called for. Pan d’Arco has proven its mettle in this regard. So has Bellaco Capsi. Many people believe Amazon AF is the Hercules of these anti Candida “warriors”. In its absence, Amazon CF is a good sub statute. Because the prostate is a fatty organ, it requires fat-soluble vitamins (A,

e-mail: femi.kusa@yahoo.com or olufemikusa@yahoo.com

Nature cheating Often, we remind ourselves of the dangers of a lifestyle which attempts to cheat Mother Nature. One of these lifestyles is sitting for a prolonged period of time. Another is delaying the voiding of urine. Both pile pressure on the prostate gland and impair its health. During crucial corporate meetings, for example, it may be considered anti-social or unethical to get up from one’s seat as often as is necessary to answer Nature’s call. When I see long distance truck drivers who complain of difficulty passing urine, I am not surprised. I saw one a few months ago who had, besides, a heavy, slimy carpet of gray matter over his tongue. That was oral thrush, another name for Candida! He was luckier than one of my cousins whose father died a few years ago of a prostate disorder. When he began to experience his father’s easy symptoms of this condition and sought enlightenment and help, I suggested he immediately start a course of one or all of the following…. (1) Bell’s Prostate Easy flow tea (2) Prostate support and (3) Small flowered willow herb, from which the drug aspirin was isolated. Somehow, he did not start before he embarked on a journey by road from Lagos to Abuja. At Lokoja, he tried to urinate. But, this time, hard as he tried to push, urine would not come. In Abuja, he hurried to a doctor who emptied his bladder by pushing catheter rubber tube) into it through the penis. But the catheter was over-size and bruised the ureter, causing bleeding and pain, he had to carry a urine bag about. As a first timer, the bag sometimes overflowed to his embarrassment, and he had to learn to perfume it constantly. He telephoned me about his condition, I advised that he return immediately to Lagos by air. From the airport, one of his friends took him to a doctor in Bariga who, unfortunately, did not have the right size catheter. So, he had to be taken to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) where, finally, he obtained the right catheter. He was given antibiotics for the injury and drugs to help him shrink the prostate gland. In addition, he ate raw garlic with his meals and this smelled profusely in his urine bag. I gave him small flowered willow herb, Zinc and Amazon Prostate Support. Much sooner than the doctors expected the prostate have shrunken for the catheter to be removed, he noticed weeks before his next hospital appointment that urine was leaking through his penis. This was good news, although it was soiling his dress in public. So, he had to see his doctors before his next appointment. They were happy and removed both the catheter and the urine bag. Several months after, my cousin is still free of them. When I see him these days and remember what he went through, I realize how we all would save ourselves unnecessary trouble if we all take care of our healthy bodies, that is if we undertake health care and not fire-alarm medicine or sick-care when we are ill. That is the message Prof. Wole Soyinka is drumming into our ears by sharing his own experience with prostate cancer, though in wolly few words. Alcohol This is believed to be the cause of some cases of BPH or even prostate cancer. There is no doubt that all cases do not fit this bill. My cousin, for example, doesn’t touch alcohol. One of my acquaintances in the office who has lived with BPH for about 20 years was a heavy drinker until a few months ago when I persuaded him to kick the bottle. His Israel drinking mate, who smokes heavily in addition, is BPH free. I guess it is a question, as I tell them, of one man living on a diet which provides antioxidant armour against these health nuances, and another man subsisting on meso health diet which offers no such protection. So, when Prof. Soyinka mentioned that he had in his battle against prostate cancer discovered the value of diet and water to health, I tried to imagine what his old diet was like and if he drank water. Unfortunately, I knew nothing about these aspects of his lifestyle. My guess is that he drank lots of wine. When I was editor of the Guardian newspaper between 1988 and 1992 and I tried to start a section on wines, as an interface with the wines industry and market, particularly the medicinal wines sector, I was advised by notable people in this market niche to appeal to Prof. Soyinka to write a column on wines for us. He was said to have a great knowledge of wines worldwide. My assumption now is that if he drank lots of them to know about them, it was possible his turf was the alcoholic wine. Researcher Dr. Hilda Holda, author of THE ONE MINUTE CURE FOR ALL DISEASES, proposed that proplyl alcohol, also known as wood alcohol is a leading cause of cancer, especially prostate cancer. Another, of course, is nickel infiltration into the prostate gland. She theorises that faciolopsisi, a flat worm, tracks the trajectory of wood alcohol into the prostate gland. Faciolopsis is ingested in the egg form which survives the cooking of the intestine of animals. In Nigeria, animal intestine, called ROUND-ABOUT, is a popular culinary delicacy. If the human stomach acid do not digest these eggs, and if the digestive enzymes, in terms of quantum and strength, are inadequate to dissolve them, these eggs may find their ways to the bloodstream and even the lymphate circulation. From here, they may colonise any choice organ and begin to grow. Dr. Holda says they may be the cause of damage to the pancreas in diabetes. Some butchers in Lagos have confirmed to me that they see these worms in the livers of some animals. In the prostate gland, they may set the stage for a cancer. Amazon A-P, like other proprietary blends such as Parasite formula parasite cleanse etc, is designed against the flat worm.

Tel: 08116759749, 08034004247, 07025077303

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

e-Business Nigeria’s strategic to our business, says Samsung

• From left: Project Manager, CWG Plc, Charles Ibonye; Chief Technology Officer, CWG Plc, Mr. James Agada; Head, Innovation, Tayo Oduwole,; Head, Marketing Communications, Success Nmerife, and Business Manager, Openshopen, Adriana De la Cruz Duffo, at the maiden eCommerce workshop for merchants in Lagos.

Naira devaluation puts pressure on telcos

HE declining fortunes of the national economy which has forced the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to devalue the naira by eight per cent is already taking its tolls on the operation of telcos in the country. The value of the naira has been on a roller-coaster dive, exchanging more than 180 to $1 causing stress to businesses with importdependent inputs. Chief Executive Officer, MainOne Cable Company Nigeria Limited, Ms. Funke Opeke said both the telcos and the consumers have been unwittingly put under pressure arising from the currency devaluation. Opeke who was former Chief Technical Officer (CTO) of MTN Nigeria spoke on the sideline of a reception organised for judges and winners of the Etisalat Pan African Prize for Innovation in Lagos. She urged the Federal Governmentr to put a sort of economic stimuli to ease the pressures arising from the policy. She said: “Well the declining value of the naira is definitely putting pressure on margins for telecoms operators. As you know,

Stories by Lucas Ajanaku

a lot of the technology inputs into the sector are imported; so they are dollar-denominated and most operators have entered into long term supply service contracts.” According to her, with these supply service contracts entered into on a long term basis and the “value of your naira receivables against the dollar not at par puts a lot of pressure”on the telcos. She said consumers will also feel the pinch of the inflationary trends as they would not have so much disposable capital to spend on telecommunications. “So, it is a two-sided equation. I think we are all hoping that there will be additional stimuli instituted by the government to try to advance the economy a little bit faster to stimulate spending in all the sectors aside from oil so that the economy can quickly recover,” she said. On whether a sustained unease on the economy could ultimately lead to an increase in telephone end user tariff, she said it was too early for any operator to contemplate that as all the telcos would even

Operators react Reacting to the complaints, representatives of the telcos and internet service providers (ISPs) said most of the complaints arose from the consumers’ ignorance about the working of their mobile phones while others are as a result of the operating environment challenged by a myriad of circumstances. Customers Service Executive at MTN, Akinwale Goodluck, blamed the quality of mobile sets used for some of the data hiccups, adding that grey markets continue to flourish because of the issue of affordability. According to him, the amount of data consumed is also important, stressing that the firm has embarked on education and enlightenment for the subscribers. He said the auto-renew of data service for customers was in their interest because if it was not done, data charges immediately go into their voice account, adding that MTN compensates the customer any time it discovered it has indeed, erred. An official of Airtel, Ibe Nwandu, said data connectivity is solely dependent on network availability and coverage. Since it is not easy to give

what one does not have, coverage continues to be a challenge. To him, the customer is king, so the telco has threshold of notifying customers on their data services. He said the telco has provided options for customers to opt in and out, adding that the organisation would continue to work hard to improve customers’ experience. Head, Network Operations, Globacom, Mr. Aremu Olajide, said the firm has invested massively in equipment swap nationwide. According to him, more 3G cites are being built while fibre optic cables are also being laid to complement microwave. Olajide did not rule out occasional service disruptions, which may occur when there is fibre cut and transitioning to microwave that may take a little time to achieve. He said there is need for customers to know what they use their mobile phones to do, adding that the telco refunds after genuine complaints are established. He added that text messages are usually sent to customers in respect of auto-renewal. Like his counterpart in Airtel, Etisalat’s Director, Customer Care, Plato Syrimis, said coverage remains a challenge. Though the last operator to join the fray, he said, the telco is not giving excuses, but working hard to build more 3G cites. He also said the firm is taking the issue of con-

By Busola Adesuloye

through customer-centric partnerships to meet the ever-changing needs of its consumers. Also speaking, General Manager, Consumer Marketing at MTN Nigeria, Mr Richard Iweanoge said: “MTN is committed to bringing mobile data services closer to the doorsteps of Nigerians and our partnership with Samsung is yet another step in this direction. We believe that this initiative will propel smartphone penetration and increase data adoption in the country.” Iweanoge added that the collaboration will simplify the retail experience of individuals who are desirous of purchasing Samsung Galaxy devices by providing a one-stop-shop for their smartphone and internet data needs. He said: “Typically, Nigerians have to acquire their mobile device and mobile data plan from phone distributors and mobile operators separately. This special arrangement will further simplify our consumers’ retail experience and also cement MTN’s brand presence with Samsung’s customers.”

Glo gives free incoming calls, lower roaming rates •Ms Opeke

strive to avoid taking such step. She said: “I think its early days. Given where the industry is, everyone will like to avoid that (tariff increase) because in an environment where consumers are also under pressure, they can least afford those increases. But perhaps for us as Nigerians, it is also an opportunity to look at other areas where we can grow our economy and add value and provide services out of Nigeria on a global basis and to earn revenue and to earn foreign exchange. There are other economies in the world that have done that successfully and we really need to be more aggressive .in trying to push for new frontiers in our economy.”

Endless data service quality hiccups • Continued from page 47 ing services on 2G claimed they are doing 3G and even long-term evolution (LTE) or 4G.

AMSUNG Electronics West Africa has said the Nigerian market is of strategic importance to its business in Africa, adding that the consumers have also offered tremendous support for its business. Its Director, Information Technology and Mobile, Mr. Emmanouil Revmatas, who spoke after the firm partnered MTN on a promo that will make the holiday season more exciting for Nigerians in Lagos, said the initiative is part of the firm’s way of enabling its customers share in the joy of the season. “Nigeria is a very important market with high potential and it is very rewarding to know that people here support our business. The Samsung Galaxy Spin Wheel promo is our way of showing appreciation to our consumers for their loyalty and support throughout the year and our partnership with MTN Nigeria provides us with a platform through which we can achieve this goal. We look forward to having more initiatives of this kind in the years ahead,” he said. Revmatas reiterated Samsung’s commitment to developing bestin-class products and adding value

sumer education seriously as it would help them to save their credits from being depleted unnecessarily. Director at Spectranet, Chief Ezekeil Fatoye, said the firm operates on the 2.3 gigahertz (GHz) spectrum and began offering services on WiMax, migrating to LTE, which limited its coverage, as customers of WiMax could not migrate to LTE. He said customers affected by the technology upgrade were compensated, adding that the network has since been optimised and back, and running. Gbolahan Thomas of Smile Communications, said his firm was not guilty of any of the ‘charges’ arguing that the organisation has empowered the customers to do a lot of things on their own. He said the Smile Block is a technology that the firm has put in place to block sites such as YouTube that are heavy data depleting. He said there is also 24/7 customer care support lines, adding that its data renewals are effected through its army of agents present in every nook and crannies of the country. Lynda Amaechi of Visafone and Chukwuka Igoro of Cobranet said customer education is central to the issues around data usage and depletion. Lynda said customers could opt out of any of the telco’s services at will, adding that self service on IVR has also been strengthened to help customers.

UBSCRIBERS of national tel ecommunications operator, Globacom, will subsequently enjoy free incoming calls from anywhere in the world while outside the country. In addition, they will also pay less while roaming on the network. The offer is courtesy of a new promo called Glo Unlimited Roaming for subscribers who travel outside the country. They will be able to receive calls on their lines free for 15 days. Glo Unlimited Roaming is part of a multiple promo package unveiled by Globacom to excite and reward its customers for choosing the network. Steve Stretch, Globacom’s Head of Glo Gateway said the offer comes with a subscription fee of N2,500 for a validity period of 15 days. He explained that subscribers are to dial *0905# to enjoy up to 60 minutes of outgoing calls at a competitive rate of N100 per minute. The offer includes 15 free SMS and ability to browse the

internet at 15 kobo per kb. He said that the roaming plan is currently available in 27 countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Italy, Netherland, South Africa, UAE, Sweden, India, Spain, Switzerland, Canada, Brazil and Cameroon, adding that “there are plans to extend it to more destinations.” Glo subscribers are allowed to enjoy free incoming calls up to a fair usage of 60 cumulative minutes during the 15 days validity period. After the free 60 minutes of incoming calls, normal roaming incoming call rates for the specific roaming location will be charged. “When a subscriber exceeds the fair usage limit and still has adequate balance in his account, the plan will be renewed automatically by deducting the subscription fee and extending the validity by another 15 days. Where the renewal is done within the 15 days validity period, the unused balance can be carried forward,” Stretch further explained.

Ebola: Ericsson, IRC partner to deploy mobile tech

RICSSON and the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has announced a multifaceted partnership aimed at connecting and providing support for those impacted by health, natural disaster and conflict-driven humanitarian crises. The partnership initially will focus on the use of mobile phones and applications designed to support Ebola infection-prevention efforts at primary healthcare facilities in Liberia and Sierra Leone. Specifically, the technology will enable IRC teams to more accurately and efficiently capture and monitor data related to the facilities’ Ebola preparedness and response. The partnership also will provide technology and services that enable displaced families to reconnect with one another. Longer term, the organizations will collaborate on employee volunteer engagement, common projects, advocacy and knowledge-sharing. Speaking on the initiative, President and CEO of IRC, David Miliband said: “The combination of IRC’s operational expertise and

Ericsson’s technology leadership has huge potential to help alleviate human suffering in some of the places hardest hit by conflict and disease. Ericsson’s global reach and proven track record in using technology for good will be a huge asset in future relief efforts.” Vice President Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility at Ericsson, Elaine WeidmanGrunewald, said: “The world of humanitarian response is challenged like never before. The spread of Ebola, the Syrian refugee crisis and less high-profile crisis in South Sudan all present different challenges to those working with humanitarian response. “ICT can play a critical role in responding to conflict and disaster, and effective communications contribute both to saving lives and alleviating suffering. Technology is increasingly seen as a way to improve the effectiveness of humanitarian response. Working in public-private partnership with IRC to leverage our respective strengths will help create real impact on the ground.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

e-Business

MTN urges SMEs on cloud technology

HE Chief Executive Officer, MTN, Mike Ikpoki, has iden tified technology as a key differentiator and enabler for businesses in modern world. He said modern technology-driven services such as cloud computing could prove commercially viable for small and medium enterprise (SMEs) due to its flexibility and payas-you-go cost structure. He added that cloud computing significantly lowers the cost of running an organisation in the final analysis. Ipkoki who spoke at the SMEs Forum organised by the telco in Lagos, said: “MTN Nigeria is com-

Stories by Lucas Ajanaku

mitted to adding value to the lives and helping to drive the growth of businesses in Nigerian, by delivering tailor-made, productivity-enhancing solutions to every part of this vast country. We will continue to explore opportunities to help in stimulating economic growth and provide tools necessary for the growth of small businesses in Nigeria.” He argued that SMEs, as major drivers of economic growth, should adopt cost-effective, operationally efficient and flexible solutions in

the management of their businesses. Speaking at the forum, Lagos State Commissioner of Science & Technology, Adebiyi Mabadeje, highlighted the business imperative for SMEs to adopt cloud technology as a means of reducing the prevalent SME funding gap as well as achieving economies of scale. He said: “SMEs that embrace technology have the ability to grow faster, export more and employ more people, as cloud technology offers the opportunity to compete globally. The adoption of cloud technology not only brings down

total cost of ownership, it also lowers risk and promotes innovation.” MTN Cloud Services offer a range of prepaid cloud-based services designed to provide server, software, storage and security benefits over a secure internet connection without any of the associated IT infrastructure costs. With this development, SMEs in Nigeria can now enjoy enterprise solutions and very affordably too. MTN Cloud services which are available on the MTN Business online portal include Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Security solutions, Human Resource

Management (HRM), Customer Relationship Management, Sales Force Automation, Accounting and Finance, Virus and Spyware Protection, Firewall Protection, Browser Protection and Email Protection. Participants at the forum identified lack of awareness on the benefits of cloud services as well as the mistaken perception among SMEs that cloud computing is very expensive and beyond their reach as major reasons SMEs practitioners are reluctant to embrace cloud services.

CWG Nigeria’s next Alibaba, says NSE chief

• From left: Vice President, Huawei West Africa, Richard Cao and Minister of Communication Technology, Dr. Omobola Johnson, Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Peter Jack and another guest at the E-Nigeria Summit 2014 in Abuja.

Nigeria e-Government Framework ready, for better service delivHE National Information says NITDA economy ery and productivity. Technology Development

Agency (NITDA) has said it has completed work on the much anticipated Nigeria eGovernement Framework, promising to hand it over to the public soon. Its Ag. Head of Corporate Strategy and Research, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, who spoke in Abuja said there is good news for stakeholders in the information technology (IT) industry as venture capital is now available for innovators. He said: “This is good news for us, because when you have good innovation with the requisite entrepreneurship spirit to back it up, then accessing the financial support will be easy as NITDA has put in place modalities for venture capitals”. He said this year’s event will have in attendance, President Goodluck Jonathan as the special guest of honour just as renowned Nigerian lead concept Chevrolet Volt electric car designer, Jelani Aliyu has been confirmed to deliver the keynote address. Dr. Olatunji said: “One unique thing that will differentiate e-Nigeria 2104 from previous editions is the delivery of the Nigeria e-Government Framework by the Korean official who have been partnering with the Federal Government and helping with developing the framework within the last one year, now the time is ready and it will be officially handed to Nigerians through NITDA at e-Nigeria 2014.” The theme for this year’s event is: “Creating Market Opportuni-

From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

ties for Indigenous ICT Products and Services”. With the increasing interest and growing participation of more organisations at the event, Olatunji said this year’s event will feature no fewer than 30 exhibitors to showcase their solutions, products and services. He added that a number of companies that participated at GITEX 2014 in Dubai, have already confirmed their participation at the event while some other companies that could not make it to GITEX 2014 have also confirmed participation. For the first time since the inception of eNigeria, there will be an international participation this year following Nigeria’s involvement as Official Country Partner at GITEX 2104, with the agency’s confirmation that the World Trade Center, in Dubai has already shown interest to be part of eNigeria 2014. As part of more innovations and new dimension to make the event more colourful, eNigeria 2014 will as well feature the National eGovernance Award which is supported by Nihilent, a leading global consulting and solutions integration company with specialty in delivering eGovernance value through collaborations. NITDA believes the Award will further encourage Ministries, Departments and Agencies to efficiently deploy Information Technology across sectors of the

The NITDA-NIHILENT eGovernace Awards will recognize all significant achievements in the area of eGovernance, Knowledge disseminating on effective methods of designing and implementing sustainable eGovernance initiatives and promotion of incremental innovations in successful eGovernance Solutions. He said: “Nihilent has been on a tour of states, local government, ministries, departments and agencies to evaluate and ascertain their level of ICT deployment for governance and administration and it impacts.” There award will feature winners in five different categories which include The Best ICT Driven MDA, The Best ICT Driven State, Best Web Presence, The Best ICT Driven Local Government and The Best eGovernance Project (executed) AND A Special Jury Award. Dr. Olatunji said eNigeria 2014, promises to meet the curiosity of Nigerians especially in the area of innovations been churned out by many youths across the country who will be on ground to showcase their ideals. Good innovators be given the opportunity to showcase their solutions and meet big players, including prospective investors in the industry who can invest in them, a process which may help us produced Nigeria’s owns Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg and Larry Page.

HIEF Executive Officer, Ni gerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Oscar Onyema has said Computer Warehouse Group Plc (CWG) is capable of being the Alibaba of Nigeria, following the adoption of its subscription based business model known as CWG 2.0. He spoke when he led top management staff of the NSE on a working visit to CWG’s corporate headquarters in Lagos. He said: “From their subscription businesses which they call CWG 2.0, to their legacy business which is more infrastructure-based, CWG has done quite well. We have been to their Tier 3 Data centre which supports multiple businesses. We have seen their contact centre, where they handle inbound calls. In all, it is professionally run. We are quite excited at the possibility of growth and how the Company might be the next Alibaba for Nigeria.” Speaking about the performance of CWG since it was listed on the Exchange last year, Onyema said: “CWG has been a very good listed Company. They have complied with the pre and post listing standards. They have been a good ambassador of what it means to be listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. “As you know, at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in May, WEF recognised CWG as one of the Global Growth Companies in the world. So, we are very excited about their performance in the ICT sector of the Stock Exchange. They are the biggest security in the sector, and we are very happy at what they are doing.” According to Onyema, the visit is in line with the practice of the NSE. He noted that the visit is paid to listed companies by the Brokers’ Community so as to better understand their operations, which will in-turn equip brokers

By Alvin Afadama

with the required information to advise clients, especially at the brokers level. “These visits are important in making sure that companies are on ground and running, and reflect what they represented to the investing public,” he said. The event had in attendance the Founder and Chief Executive Officer, CWG Plc, Mr. Austin Okere; the doyen of Brokers, Mr. Sam Ndata; Chief Operating Officer, CWG Plc, Mr. Philip Obioha; Chief Technology Officer, CWG Plc, Mr. James Agada; Executive members of the NSE, stock brokers, shareholders and other stakeholders. Receiving the visitors, Mr. Okere said the visit has enabled the company to get a feedback of what had happened since it was listed on the Exchange last year. “What this does is to establish a continuum. People want to know what we are doing with their money invested in the company,” he said. Speaking on the CWG 2.0 model, Okere drew a parallel between the initiative and that of the global ecommerce giant, Alibaba. He said: “There is a parallel between Alibaba and our CWG 2.0 business model. In fact, in our own view, CWG 2.0 is creating the next Alibaba here in Nigeria. Just like Alibaba, we are also focused on SMEs. “If we look at Nigeria, there are 17.7 million SMEs. These are the companies to go to because this is a platform for them to connect with each other and grow to their full potential. With CWG 2.0, we are taking advantage of the pervasive broadband capacity to champion a subscription business model that is profitable, sustainable, repeatable and scalable.”

American firm, Airtel in tower sale agreement

MERICAN Tower Corpora tion and Bharti Airtel Lim ited have entered into a definitive agreement, through Bharti Airtel Limited’s subsidiary company, Bharti Airtel International (Netherlands) BV (Airtel), for the sale of over 4,800 of Airtel’s communications towers in Nigeria. Airtel will be the anchor tenant on the portfolio under a lease with a ten-year initial term. Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of American Tower, Jim Taiclet said:”We are pleased to announce the launch of our operations in Nigeria while expanding our relationship with Airtel, one of the leading multinational operators in the world. “With the largest population and economy in Africa and relatively underdeveloped wireless infrastructure, we view Nigeria as a tremendous growth opportunity. Further, we expect this investment to support our long-term objective of generating double-digit AFFO per share growth for our stockholders.”

In his comments, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Bharti Airtel Africa, Christian de Faria, said: “Nigeria is the largest mobile market in Africa and a key one for Airtel. This agreement, which is part of our stated philosophy of promoting infrastructure sharing, will provide us with considerable cost efficiencies and at the same time allow us to sharpen our focus on the customer. American Tower has a proven track record in passive infrastructure management and we look forward to benefitting from the best practices from all other countries it operates in. “The agreement will allow Airtel to focus on its core business and customers, enable it to deleverage through debt reduction and will significantly reduce its on-going capital expenditures on passive infrastructure in Nigeria.American Tower and Airtel expect to close the acquisition during the first half of next year, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approval.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11,2014

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 10-12-14

25-07-14 DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 10-12-14

LCCI opposes bill on conversion, listing of big private companies

HE proposed bill on conversion and listing of large private companies would be counter-productive and drive away for foreign investments, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has said. The bill stipulates that a private company which shareholders funds exceed N40 billion or its annual turnover exceeds N80 billion or its total assets exceed N80 billion, to convert to public liability company and get its shares listed in the stock exchange market thereby promoting growth for both the company and the Nigerian capital market. In a statement, director general, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mr. Muda Yusuf, LCCI said that the proposed bill would negatively impact on local investment and the

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie

broader economy. According to LCCI, the bill would lead to considerable loss of revenue to the government and break up of companies to circumvent the requirement of the bill. LCCI argued that the Nigerian Stock Exchange may not have the depth and liquidity needed for the investment arising out of the mandatory listing of these companies. “The proposed bill breaches representations made to attract foreign investors and negatively affects Nigeria’s reputation,” LCCI stated. Yusuf stressed that it would negatively affect the business environment by creating undesirable and unnecessarily cumbersome regulation and scrutiny on the companies under Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) , Securities and exchange commission (SEC) and the NSE rules and

regulations. He also observed that the procedure for going public is expensive and onerous insisting that possibly not every investor or would-be investor whether local or foreign will have the temperament for such. He noted that if the bill is approved, it will have a negative impact on corporate governance which is the engine room critical for the survival of any company. He argued that listing on the floor of the stock exchange is not a ticket to a successful company as some companies that have been listed were delisted, and those that converted to public were re-registered to private companies. According to him, going public and being listed on the floor of the stock market are critical business decisions that only the companies’ management can make.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

MONEYLINK

ANAN urges Fed Govt on budget funding

HE President of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), Alhaji Sakirudeen Labode has urged the Federal Government to look inwards for alternative means of funding the budget now that prices of crude oil had fallen in the international market. Labode made the plea at the Sixth Mandatory Continuing Professional Development Programme (MCPD) of the association held in Abeokuta. The ANAN chief said the country could no longer rely on the price of crude oil in the interna-

Stories by Collins Nweze

tional market in preparing and financing its national budget adding that the product remains unpredictable. He advised that all tiers of government should reduce the cost of governance by cutting down on its recurrent expenditure. “Leakages and wastages in business of government should be blocked. Our national needs should be prioritised by appropriating funds to those sectors that will grow the economy like agriculture, rods, health, education, transportation and others,’’

IDELITY Bank Plc has reiterated its commitment to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Its Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Nnamdi Okonkwo who spoke at the Annual SME Conference organised by the bank in Lagos, said there is social impact in banking SMEs. The bank chief said banking SMEs also promotes sustainable business model for the operators and improved relationship banking. “I am not saying that there is anything wrong with banking the corporate. We are very strong in that, remember our history as a merchant bank. But if we don’t bank SMEs, how do we produce the Dangote of tomorrow? What entrepreneurs need is entrepreneurial zeal, determination and vision. We need more potential Dangotes in this country,” he said. He said the bank has been

ery to their employers and also a key requirement of IFAC. “It is rotated among the six geopolitical zones of the country every year, affording members the opportunity to know other parts of the country,’’ Labode said. According to him, the theme of this year’s MCPD is ‘Trends in Professional Practice and Regulation’’, and the sub-theme are all enriching. He said the Governing Council had given approval for the opening of Outreach Campuses of the Nigerian College of Accountancy in the six-geo political zones of the country.

Firstmonie bags mobile money operator award

Fidelity Bank positions SMEs for growth

he said. Labode said ANAN was last month, admitted into full membership of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) in Rome, Italy. He said: “The IFAC Governing Council announced the admission during her November meeting held in Rome. You will recall that ANAN was made an Associate of the World Accountancy body in December, 2012.’’ He described the MCPD as a continuous retraining programme for members of the group aimed at enhancing their service deliv-

recognised in various ways as the best SME bank. Okonkwo noted that the last three years, the bank has increased its focus on SMEs. He said the lender took the decision because of its economic impact. “We see this sector as a critical agent of economic development and transformation in Nigeria. It is also in line with the federal government’s National Economic Development Programme (NEDP) that was launched by President Goodluck Jonathan earlier this year. No economy can ignore the SMEs,” he added. Managing Director, Swift Networks, Charles Anudu, said entrepreneurship is not the easiest way to make money, but is about making life convenient for people. He said entrepreneurs need to be patient, have will-power and committed to their goals for such objectives to be achieved.

N recognition of its continued effort to drive financial inclusion, lead innovation in mobile payment systems and support the CBN cash-less policy, Firstmonie, the FirstBank mobile money services platform has been awarded the Best Mobile Money Operator in Nigeria by the EFInA Financial Inclusion Awards. This award recognises a leading mobile money operator that is making impact that has significantly driven the uptake of mobile money in Nigeria. EFInA created the financial Inclusion Awards to celebrate organisations that have made significant contribution to the initiative. According to the Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, FirstBank, Folake Ani-Mumuney: “We have led financial inclusion for over 120 years and Firstmonie is creating the largest agent network and liquidity management infrastructure in Nigeria to support the operations of its mobile payment

service, which undoubtedly, will be a great asset to the proposed financial empowerment of the under privileged and the unbanked section of the economy.” Also speaking on the award, the Managing Director, Pridar Systems Limited, Mike Ogbalu, commended the bank for the feat.

• FirstBank CEO Bisi Onasanya

FCMB unveils Personal Business Account

IRST City Monument Bank (FCMB) Plc yesterday launched its Personal Business Account to boost its customers’ businesses. The bank’s Executive Director, Lagos and Southwest, Olufemi Bakre who spoke at the product launch in in Alade Market, Lagos, said the product was designed to guarantee and give customers peace of mind in the course of their businesses. He explained that the lender is aware that several factors determine the success and sustainability of businesses. He said the lender developed the product for traders and merchants so as to reduce cost of banking and protection against the unexpected, arising from a disaster. He said the product offers a zero Commission on Turnover (COT) adding that customers can carry out an unlimited volume of transactions for a fee of N1, 500. He said the product also provides insurance cover of up to N1 million for loss of stock through fire or flood. The Cornerstone Insurance, he said, provides the cover. The bank’s Divisional Head, Personal Banking, Olu Akanmu said the lender is through the product, presenting a unique proposition to individuals who operate business accounts in their personal names. He explained that customers can obtain MasterCard and Visa cards linked to their accounts, and use the cards to make purchases when they travel abroad. The Iya Oloja General of Nigeria, Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo described the product as a brilliant one, but advised the lender to ensure that it keeps to its promises on the product.

DATA BANK AFRINVEST W. A. EQUITY FUND ARM AGGRESSIVE GROWTH BGL NUBIAN FUND BGL SAPPHIRE FUND CANARY GROWTH FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CORAL INCOME FUND FBN FIXED INCOME FUND FBN HERITAGE FUND FBN MONEY MARKET FUND • UBA BALANCED FUND • UBA BOND FUND • UBA EQUITY FUND • UBA MONEY MARKET FUND

152.19 9.17 1.12 1.19 2,237.65 1.39 1,710.65 1,092.63 115.26 121.16 1,117.51 1.2232 1.2897 0.7759 1.0986

RETAIL DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM (RDAS) Transaction Dates 10/12/2014 3/12/2014 1/12/2014 1,116.70 1.2158 1.2897 0.7625 1.0986

GAINERS AS AT 10-12-14

SYMBOL NAHCO ETRANZACT ACADEMY OMOSAVBNK FIDELITYBK WAPIC WEMABANK STANBIC OANDO AFRIPRUD FBNH 7UP

O/PRICE 4.45 2.32 1.08 0.67 1.54 0.58 0.99 29.00 18.21 2.86 8.88 15.40

C/PRICE 4.67 2.43 1.13 0.70 1.60 0.60 1.02 29.69 18.50 2.90 9.00 152.00

CHANGE 0.22 0.11 0.05 0.03 0.06 0.02 0.03 0.69 0.29 0.04 0.12 0.60

LOSERS AS AT 10-12-14

SYMBOL

O/PRICE

PZ NB SEPLAT GUINNESS LIVESTOCK TRANSCORP CCNN CHAMPION DIAMONDBNK MOBIL MANDARD NASCON COSTAIN

33.03 169.80 359.91 143.00 2.40 3.51 10.26 8.37 5.35 167.00 3.37 6.97 0.92

C/PRICE 30.98 161.31 341.92 135.85 2.28 3.43 9.75 7.67 5.03 159.00 3.21 6.61 0.88

CHANGE -2.05 -8.49 -17.99 -7.15 -0.12 -0.18 -0.51 -0.40 -0.26 -8.00 -0.16 -0.33 -0.04

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Inflation: October

8.1%

Monetary Policy Rate

13.0%

Foreign Reserves Oil Price (Bonny Light/b) Money Supply (M2)

Currency

Buying (N)

Selling (N)

$36.8b

US Dollar

167

168

$68.12

Pounds Sterling

261.9395

263.508

Euro

206.2617

207.4968

171.546

172.5732

Yen

1.3838

1.3921

CFA

0.2944

0.3144

242.3484

243.7996

Yuan/Renminbi

27.1505

27.314

N17.2 trillion

Primary Lending Rate (PLR)

Amount Sold in ($) 499.93m 399.97m 349.96m

CBN EXCHANGE RATES December 10, 2014

N16.42 trillion.

Credit to private Sector (CPS)

Amount Offered in ($) 500m 400m 350m

Swiss Franc

16.5%

NIGERIAN INTER-BANK OFFERED RATES (NIBOR)

WAUA Tenor

11-11-14 Rate (%)

Rate (%) 12-11-14

Overnight (O/N)

10.54

11.17

Riyal

44.4906

44.757

11.94

12.18

SDR

243.2856

244.7424

13.08

13.33

14.03

14.17

GOVT. SECURITIES YIELD – SECONDARY MARKET

Tenor

FOREX RATES

R-DAS ($/N)

165.29

Interbank ($/N)

162.75

Parallel ($/N)

185.50

Dec. 8, 2014

Rates

T-bills - 91

13.65

T-bills - 182

13.88

T-bills - 364

13.65

Bond - 3yrs

13.81

Bond - 5yrs

13.85

Bond - 7yrs

13.83

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

NEWS APC NATIONAL CONVENTION

12 governors back Buhari in battle for APC’s ticket Continued from page 4

•GO VERNORS ALL: From left: Ahmed;Oshiomhole; Fashola; Amosun; Amaechi and Shettima...last night. •GOVERNORS

Ahmed (Kwara), Abdulazeez Yari (zamfara), Tanko alMakura (Nasarawa), Ibrahim Gaidam (Yobe), and Kashim Shettima (Bornu). Other chieftains included Oyo State Deputy Governor Moses Adeyemo, his Lagos State counterpart, Mrs. Joke Orelope-Adefulire, Osun State Deputy Governor Titi Laoye-Tomori, former Osun State Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Hon. Dakuku Peterside, Dr. Tahiru Mamman, Bornu State House of Assembly Speaker Hon. Abdulkareem Lawal, his Lagos State counterpart, Hon. Yemi Ikuforiji, Kano State House of Assembly Speaker Isiaku Ali, House of Representatives Minority Leader Hon.

Femi Gbajabiamila, Senators Ajayi Boroffice, Oluremi Tinubu, Ganiyu Solomon, Mudashiru Hussein, Sola Adeyeye, Babafemi Ojudu, Mr. Wale Edun, Hon. Wale Osun, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, Orincess Sarah Sosan, Hon. Danladi Bako, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, Mr. Tokunbo Ajasin, Hon. James Faleke, and Dr. Hassan Lawal. There were also Senator Sani Yerima, Kwara State Deputy Governor Peter Kisira, former Kwara State Governor Shaba Lafiagi, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, Dr. Chris Ngige, Chief Oyewole Fasawe, Mrs. Aisa Al-Hassan, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, Senator Julius Ocha, Enugu State governorship aspirant Okey Ezea.

Court holds Obasanjo guilty of contempt over book Continued from page 4

• Atiku’s supporters...yesterday

6 sued Obasanjo, accusing him of defaming him (Kashamu) in the former President’s December 2, 2013 letter to President Goodluck Jonathan titled: “Before it is too late”. The case was adjourned for Obasanjo to open his defence. But before he could open his defence, Kashamu went before the court on December 5, complaining that Obasanjo planned to publish a book with the December 2, 2013 letter forming part of the content. He sought an interim order restraining Obasanjo from publishing the book. The court granted the order and fixed December 10 for the hearing of another motion by Kashamu for interlocutory orders. Rather than come before the court to convince it to lift the interim orders, Obasanjo publicly presented the book on December 9 in Lagos. Reacting to the ruling, Obasanjo’s lawyer, Okpanach said his client will appeal it. He said the orders, which his client allegedly flouted, were made in error because the plaintiff failed to show, through material facts, that the letter formed

the content of the book. “The orders made cannot be enforced. They want the court to stop an act that has been concluded. That is impossible. We had published the book in November, they came before the court in December and asked that the publishing should be stopped. Is that possible? “We shall file our appeal within the stipulated time of 14 days in the case of interlocutory orders,” Okpanachi said.

•Kashamu

Mikel nets first Champions League goal Continued from page 4 • Senator Tinubu greeeting Ajimobi. With them is Senator Boroffice

• Secretary to Government of Lagos State Mrs. Idiat Adebule (left), former Ekiti State Governor’s wife Mrs. Bisi Fayemi, former Lagos State Deputy Governor Mrs. Sarah Sosan, Lagos State Governor’s wife Mrs Abimbola Fashola and Lagos State Deputy Governor Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire PHOTOS: NIYI ADENIRAN

ances. The goal wasn’t beautiful or spectacular but was a significant strike for the Nigerian as he celebrated like a newly wed with teammates who embraced him with graciously for a job well-done. The Blues were already assured of qualification as goals from Cesc Fabregas, Andre Schurrle and John Obi Mikel secured the victory, despite Adrien Silva’s effort for the Portuguese side. Spain international Fabregas was handed the chance to give his side the lead from the penalty spot after eight minutes thanks to a foul on Filipe Luis. Fabregas made no mistake from 12 yards before Germany international Schurrle doubled the advantage shortly after. Schurrle managed to find some space on the edge of the box and the former Bayer Leverkusen forward

curled an effort beyond Rui Patricio into the bottom corner. Nemanja Matic should have made it 3-0 on the halfhour mark but his somehow missed the target when well placed inside the area. The Portuguese side reduced the deficit less than five minutes into the second period when Adrien Silva chested down a half cleared ball before drilling past Petr Cech in the Chelsea goal. There an almost instant replay from Jose Mourinho’s side but Mohamed Salah was denied by an excellent stop from Patricio. Mourinho’s men didn’t have to wait too much to longer to regain their twogoal cushion though and it was Mikel who got his name on the scoresheet with a close-range finish. Islam Slimani almost reduced the deficit once more but the Sporting striker was thwarted by Cech’s save on 63 minutes.

THE NATION THURSDAY DECEMBER 11, 2014

FOREIGN NEWS

William, Kate visit 9/11 memorial in New York

RINCE William and Catherine travelled to the site where the former World Trade Centre stood on the final day of their visit to the United States. Nearly 3,000 people, including 67 Britons, died in the terrorist attacks in 2001. At the 9/11 memorial, the couple left a bouquet of white roses - the state flower of New York - to remember those who died. A handwritten note left with the flowers read: “”In sorrowful memory of those who died on 11th September, and in admiration of the courage shown to rebuild.” The memorial features two large waterfalls and reflect-

Kenya investigates Al-Jazeera over report KENYA has ordered AlJazeera be investigated and face possible charges over a report alleging the country’s police run death squads. The report heard from men claiming to be antiterror officers, who said they killed suspects on government’s orders. The Kenyan government denied the allegations, calling the report “scandalous and unethical”. Rights groups have in the past accused Kenya of carrying out extrajudicial killings.

Gorbachev: Reduce U.S.-Russia tension

•The royal couple greeted former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her daughter PHOTO: REUTERS Chelsea at a reception at the British Consul General’s residence.

ing pools, set within the footprints of the original Twin Towers. Catherine later said she felt affected by being able to touch the names of the victims, inscribed around the edges of the pools. The duke and duchess were also given a tour of the museum at the memorial. Allison Blais, the museum’s chief of staff, said: “She [Catherine] talked about how in awe she was of the enormity of the space. It was some-

thing she did not anticipate.” Joe Daniels, the museum’s chief executive and president, said: “You could see it really in both their eyes, the sort of care and curiosity they had for the story of what happened and the people who died that day.” Later, Prince William offered a helping hand to a playwright and actor who impressed him with a performance at a youth organisation that works with disadvantaged children in New

York. The prince even offered to help the performer put his show on at venues in the US and the UK, telling him and the other performers: “We should get you on in the West End. “All I can say is, it was really impressive. It nearly had me in tears.” The final engagement of the visit was a University of St Andrews 600th anniversary dinner at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

ORMER Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev called yesterday for a U.S.-Russia summit to be convened to prevent a deep freeze in Moscow’s relations with the West over the Ukraine crisis. Gorbachev, whose policy of “perestroika” (restructuring) played a role in ending the Cold War, warned of potentially dire consequences if tensions were not reduced. “This is extremely dangerous, with tensions as high as they are now. We may not live through these days: someone could lose their nerve,” he wrote in a commentary entitled “To unfreeze relations” for government daily Rossiyskaya Gazeta. “I suggest the leaders of Russia and the United States think about holding a summit with a broad agenda, without preliminary conditions,” he wrote. “One needn’t be afraid of ‘losing face’, that someone will gain a propaganda victory: this should all belong to the past. One needs to think about the future.” The diplomatic standoff over Ukraine is the worst between Moscow and the West since the Cold war ended more than two decades ago. Gorbachev warned of a new Cold War last month at an event marking the fall of the Berlin Wall. The United States, NATO and the European Union accuse Russia of sending troops and weapons to support a separatist uprising in eastern Ukraine, and have imposed sanctions on Moscow. Russia denies providing the rebels with military support and fends off Western criticism of its annexation of Crimea in March, saying the Crimean people voted for it in a referendum. Relations between the U.S. and Russian presidents, Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin, are strained and Obama pulled out of a summit planned with Putin in St Petersburg in September 2013. They last met, briefly, at a G20 summit in Brisbane last month.

Syria: Journalists killed in missile attack

RIENT News described Salem Khalil, Rami Asmi and Yousef El-Dous as “martyrs of the word” Three journalists from the Syrian opposition TV channel Orient News have been killed while covering clashes in the country’s south-west, reports say. A missile hit their vehicle while they travelled to Sheikh Miskeen in Deraa province, Orient News told the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). The channel said it believed they were directly targeted by government forces. More than 70 journalists

have been killed while covering the conflict in Syria over the past three years. The vast majority of them are local reporters, according to the CPJ. Orient News said correspondents Rami Asmi and Yousef El-Dous and cameraman Salem Khalil had been on their way to Sheikh Miskeen on Monday to report on recent rebel advances, following weeks of fighting in the area, when their car was hit by a guided missile. Minutes before they were killed they had driven past government forces in the village of Qarfa, from where the missile was launched, it

added. The car was not marked as a press vehicle, but Orient News said it was identifiable because it was carrying a satellite dish almost 1.8m (6ft) in diameter. The CPJ said it could not independently verify the claim that the car had been directly targeted, but that its research showed government forces had likely targeted journalists directly in an attempt to censor their work. “So many Syrian journalists have paid the ultimate price for reporting on this conflict, but even for Syria, the loss of three journalists

in one attack is devastating,” said CPJ Middle East and North Africa Program Coordinator Sherif Mansour. “Journalists covering conflict are civilians and we call on Syrian authorities to respect that status.” While most of the world’s attention has been focused on battles between rebels, Islamic State militants and government forces in northern Syria, pro-Western rebels south of the capital Damascus have successfully taken territory and held it over the past three months, in Deraa province, along the Jordanian border and along the Golan Heights.

Top Chinese economist jailed for bribery

•Ziad Abu Ein, at a protest last month, was in charge of dealing with the issue of Israeli PHOTO: REUTERS settlements

Palestinian minister dies at West Bank protest

PALESTINIAN official has died after a confrontation with Israeli troops at a protest in the West Bank, according to agency reports. A Reuters news agency photographer said Ziad Abu Ein, a minister without portfolio, was hit and shoved by soldiers near

the village of Turmusiya. But Palestinian medics told the BBC that he died as a result of suffocation from tear gas that was fired. Mr Abu Ein was rushed away from the scene in an ambulance, but died before reaching a hospital in nearby Ramallah. The incident comes at a

time of rising tensions in the region. In recent weeks, 11 Israelis have been killed by Palestinians, including five who were stabbed and shot at a synagogue in Jerusalem. Twelve Palestinians have also been killed, among them several assailants.

R Liu, seen here on TV while on trial, allegedly received cash gifts, cars and a villa in exchange for favours Liu Tienan, a former top economic official, has been jailed for life in China for accepting millions of dollars in bribes, state media report. Mr Liu was the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) deputy head until he was sacked in August 2013. The court in Langfang found him guilty of accepting about 35.6m yuan (£3.5m; $5.8m) in return for granting favours to businesses. China has been embarking on a drive to stamp out corruption among officials. On Wednesday, the court north of Beijing ruled that Liu “took advantage of his post to seek gains for others, illegally took cash or gifts from others by himself or via his son Liu Decheng”, AFP news agency reports. He had already confessed to the charges, with court reports saying he had “lost the trust

of bosses and colleagues. I deeply regret my actions”. President Xi Jinping has spoken of his determination to tackle China’s vast corruption problem In addition to the life sentence he had lost political rights for life, with all personal property and wealth confiscated, said Xinhua news agency. His confession and his cooperation with the investigation meant he was spared the death penalty, said officials. Liu’s case was unusual in that allegations against him first came from a Chinese journalist. Investigative journalism that directly leads to prosecution of suspects is rare in China. He was at the time one of the most senior officials to be detained after President Xi Jinping launched an corruption crackdown after coming to power in 2012. Last week criminal charges were brought against former security chief Zhou Yongkang, the most senior Chinese Communist Party official ever to face trial for corruption.

CIA torture report sparks prosecution calls

RESIDENT Obama: “Part of what sets us apart is that when we do something wrong, we acknowledge it” The UN and human rights groups have called for the prosecution of US officials involved in what a Senate report called the “brutal” CIA interrogation of al-Qaeda suspects. A top UN human rights envoy said there had been a “clear policy orchestrated at a high level”. The CIA has defended its actions in the years after the 9/11 attacks on the US, saying they saved lives. President Barack Obama said it was now time to move on. Moazzam Begg said that hostage beheadings were a “direct result” of torture UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Counter-Terrorism Ben Emmerson said that senior officials from the administration of George W Bush who planned and sanctioned crimes must be prosecuted, as well as CIA and US government officials responsible for torture such as waterboarding. “As a matter of international law, the US is legally obliged to bring those responsible to justice,” Mr Emmerson said in a statement made from Geneva. “The US attorney general is under a legal duty to bring criminal charges against those responsible.” Human Rights Watch executive director Kenneth Roth said that the CIA’s actions were criminal “and can never be justified”. “Unless this important truth-telling process leads to prosecution of officials, torture will remain a ‘policy option’ for future presidents,” he said.

THE NATION THURSDAY DECEMBER 11, 2014

NEWS HND holders sue Fed Govt From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

•From left: Vice Chairman, (Lagos) All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Funso Ologunde; Treasurer, APC Lagos, Princess Rebecca Ajose; Otunba Ajomale; Ambode and Acting State Secretary, Femi Saheed...yesterday

Other parties should emulate APC, says Ambode T

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Lagos State Akinwunmi Ambode has urged other parties to learn internal democracy from the APC. He said the rancour-free, open and transparent manner in which the House of Assembly, National Assembly and governorship primaries were conducted make APC worthy of emulation. The candidate spoke when he visited the APC chairman, Chief Henry Ajomale, at the party secretariat on Acme Road, Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos. Ambode said it was to the Ajomale-led exco’s credit that winners were chosen according to delegates’ wishes. “Unlike elsewhere where parallel elections are being held by different factions; where aspirants are forced to wear bullet-proof vests and casualties being recorded, the APC primary elections under

By Joseph Jibueze

your watch recorded no violence. “Not a single aspirant has threatened to leave the party on account of the conduct of the primaries. Instead, they are congratulating winners with a promise to ensure victory for the party next year,” Ambode said. The governorship candidate said the APC has demonstrated strength, popularity and acceptability as the people’s preferred choice. “We have done this through the huge number of delegates who voted at our primary election last Thursday. Our competitor could only muster a fraction of our delegates, even at that, their figures could barely add up. “In line with its progressive

orientation, our party has shown to the world its sterling qualities; that ours is a unified, non-acrimonious, and accountable party. “We have also shown that internal democracy can thrive and be well communicated to the nation. This is what your leadership has achieved. This is what has been clearly communicated and which is being applauded even by critics,” he said. Ambode said APC’s feat was not only commendable; it was a message to other states and to every Nigerian that “democracy has found a solid root in our great party.” He added: “It is a clear message that not only can other parties learn from us, but that the APC deserves to retain our dear state Lagos

and take over the federal structure in 2015. “No one can be in doubt any longer that as our members converge on Lagos for our national convention, the same spirit of openness, fairness and camaraderie will prevail in choosing our presidential candidate. “I am a product of a Lagos that is an epitome of progressive development, good governance and democratic ethos. “I am a product of a remarkable process made possible by the party leadership and the good people of Lagos, for which I am eternally grateful. “My promise at all times, therefore, is to submit to the leadership and direction that our party provides and to continue with the spirit of excellence that the two successive administrations have laid down.”

Multiple registration suit against Obiano dismissed HE Federal High Court sitting in Awka, Anambra State, has dismissed a suit on alleged multiple registration against Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano. The matter was brought by an Onitsha human rights lawyer, Jezie Ekejiuba, seeking the disqualification of Obiano as the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) governorship candidate. The plaintiff also sought the nullification of the November 2013 governorship election,

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

which gave Obiano victory, for alleged discrepancies in his voting documents during the election. Other defendants are Anambra State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Chukwuemeka Onukogu and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The plaintiff claimed the first defendant (Obiano) allegedly submitted a fake voter card in his INEC Form CF001 sworn affidavit, contrary to Section 31

(1) to (6) of the Amended Electoral Act, 2010. Delivering judgment yesterday in Awka, Justice Isah Gafai dismissed the suit for lack of merit and inconsistency in the reliefs sought. He outlined three issues for determination in favour of the first defendant’s lawyer and one in favour of the plaintiff, describing the plaintiff’s matter as a misconception, speculation and a non-issue. He said: “The first defendant, now Governor Obiano, through his lawyer, Dr.

Funeral for journalist’s dad tomorrow

Ortom set to emerge APC governorship candidate

HE former Minister of Trade, Investment and Industry, Chief Samuel Ortom, has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State. He lost the PDP governorship ticket last Tuesday to Terhemen Tarzoor and picked the APC governorship nomination form yesterday. He will contest the APC governorship primary, which was shifted till today at the IBB Square in Makurdi, the state capital. Our reporter learnt that Benue State APC Leader and Senate Minority Leader George Akume has concluded arrangement to ensure that

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

Ortom emerges the party’s governorship candidate in today’s primary. The former minister earlier tendered his resignation letter from PDP to his ward chairman in Guma Local Government Area. Two prominent PDP members in Benue State joined the APC in last three days. First was PDP’s former National Chairman and Board of Trustees (BoT) member, Chief Barnabas Gemade. He picked the APC Benue Northeast Senatorial ticket. Ortom was PDP’s Secretary, Deputy Chairman, National Auditor and minister.

Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), asserted that he registered as a voter in Lagos and participated in elections there in 2011, and when it became apparent he would seek nomination as APGA candidate, he went through the proper transfer process of his voter card registration and won the poll. “It is self-contradictory to claim act of double or multiple registration against the first defendant and on the other hand, claim his (plaintiff’s) case is neither one of double registration or criminal matter.”

•The late Chief Anisulowo

HE late High Chief Johnson Ojo Anisulowo, the father

Hallmark Ekiti State Correspondent, Mr. Toyin Anisulowo, will be buried tomorrow at his hometown in Are-Ekiti, Irepodun-ifelodun Local Government Area of Ekiti State. The late Anisulowo passed on peacefully on September 18 at his home.

He was 117. He was the second-in-command to the traditional ruler of Are-Ekiti, Oba Jacob Adebiyi, the Alare of Are-Ekiti. The late patriarch is survived by Mrs. Mary Ige, Yeyeoge Remi Fadipe-Anisulowo, Mr. Ayo Anisulowo, Mr. Soji Anisulowo and his cousin, Prof Femi Elegbeleye, member of the Ekiti State Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), among others. Dignitaries expected at the funeral ceremony include Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose; Deputy Governor Olusola Eleka; Secretary to the Ekiti State Government (SSG), Mrs. Modupe Alade and Senator Iyabo Anisulowo, among others.

OLDERS of the Higher National Diploma (HND) certificate in the public service have asked the National Industrial Court to compel the Federal Government to reverse its policies discriminating against them in remuneration and promotion. Suing under their umbrella body, the Registered Trustees of Higher National Diploma Holders Association of Nigeria (RTHNDHAN), the plaintiffs want the court to declare that they had suffered discrimination and stagnation at their workplaces. They want the court to order the defendants to pay each of them N1milllion as compensation and grant them accelerated promotion to cushion the effect of their stagnation and the resultant trauma. Named as defendants are the head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and the Federal Civil Service Commission. The plaintiffs, comprising holders of HND certificates from the polytechnics, monotechnics and other recognised related institutions, are seeking an order that equal opportunities should forthwith be given HND holders and first degree holders in appointment and career progression at workplaces. They also wanted the court to declare that the non-implementation of a government White Paper, which among others, directed that “the undue dichotomy and ceiling on rank attainable by HND holders should be removed” was a discrimination and an infringement on the rights of HND holders. They said no law in the country, including the constitution, prohibited HND holders from reaching the highest grade level (GL.17) in the federal public service. The judge ordered parties to file the necessary preliminary processes and adjourned till January 15.

Why we held parallel primaries, by Enugu PDP aspirants •Row over delegates’ list

ACTS emerged yesterday on why Enugu State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirants held parallel primaries. It was learnt that a disagreement arose among them and the electoral panel on the delegates’ list. Three candidates - Senator Ayogu Eze, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Prof Onyeke O. Onyeke - emerged from the primaries and each of them claimed to be the party’s authentic flagbearer. The three men are from Enugu North Senatorial District, where the governorship ticket has been zoned. They accused the Governorship Primary Electoral Panel, headed by a Bayelsa State monarch, King Asara A. Asara, of not using the authentic list of delegates elected on November 1 and certified by a Federal High Court in Abuja. Other members of the panel are: Ukpai Ukairo (Secretary), Saratu Umar, Alamu Adeyemi and Ikeje Asogwa. The aspirants accused the electoral panel of using another delegates’ list from the PDP national secretariat, which they said was different from the list of the elected delegates. It was learnt that King Asara held a pre-election briefing with the aspirants at the Allens Hotel in Enugu, while accreditation was allegedly being done for another set of delegates, who were later conveyed to the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium for the primaries. Aspirants at the Conference Hall of the hotel were

By Our Reporter

Senator Ayogu Eze, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Eugene Odo, Chief Anayo Onwuegbu, Chief Sam Onyishi, Chinedu Onu and Prof Onyeke O. Onyeke. It was gathered that when the elected delegates arrived at the accreditation venue, gun-wielding security operatives prevented them from accessing the area entrance. Those who entered did not find their names on the accreditation list. It was also gathered that the delegates’ list with King Asara was not shown to any of the aspirants. The monarch reportedly acknowledged that it was different from the Federal High Court’s certified true copy. The three aspirants later went to different venues to conduct parallel primaries while two other aspirants Chief Anayo Onwuegbu and Chinedu Onu - withdrew from the race. King Asara reportedly insisted that the panel would not disclose the delegates’ list to the aspirants at the meeting because it had no mandate to do so before the primaries. The monarch’s statement heightened suspicion among the aspirants that the panel was not in the state to conduct free and fair primaries. Unsatisfied with the attitude of the electoral panel, the aspirants, except Chief Anayo Onwuegbu and Chinedu Onu, informed the panel of their decision to withdraw from the race. They left the venue.

Baptists’ quarterly assembly

HE fourth quarterly assembly of the Itesiwaju Baptist Association holds on Saturday at Okota Baptist Church, Ali Dada Street, Okota, Lagos from 9am. It will be presided over by the Moderator, Rev. Gbenga Ojo of Araba Baptist Church, Ilasamaja, Lagos and Consultant, Dr. Femi Ajayi of Victoryland Baptist Church, Isolo, Lagos.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

NEWS

22 Akwa Ibom PDP aspirants threaten to defect

WENTY-two aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirants in Akwa Ibom State have threatened to defect to opposition parties over the party’s primaries. The aggrieved aspirants cited what they called underhand dealings in the primaries, which led to the emergence of Udom Emmanuel as its governorship candidate. The aspirants, who stormed the Abuja national secretariat of the party on Tuesday night, accused the Governor Godswill Akpabio of allegedly manipulating the process and shutting them out of the race. After waiting in vain for several hours to table their complaints before the party’s National Chairman Adamu Mu’azu, the aggrieved aspirants distributed copies of

From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

their petition to reporters. In the petition, jointly signed by the aspirants and read by one of them, Assam Assam, the aggrieved aspirants alleged, among others, that the venue and authentic list of delegates used in the primaries were changed at the last minute. The petition, which was addressed to the chairman of the state’s governorship electoral panel, Prince Bola Oyebowale, noted that ward congresses, through which the delegates ought to have been elected, did not hold in any part of the state. The petition said: “Despite the plethora of lists, there was no accreditation of delegates by your electoral panel to certify the individuals who were

being trafficked in heavily guarded buses to the venue of the congress from the Government House in Uyo. “It should also be noted that all the purported delegates from the state were invited to the Government House where they were addressed, threatened, intimidated and induced with N1 million each to ensure compliance, by voting for the governor’s preferred candidate, Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel. “The authenticity of the delegates’ list is the condition precedent to a validly conducted governorship primaries. We shall, therefore, not consent to the legitimisation of the charade that exercise was. “It is curious and unconscionable that in a clear violation of the guidelines of the

party for primaries and the Electoral Act, the contrived list of ad hoc delegates was populated by political appointees of government and civil servants. “This impunity and disregard for the electoral process and the law cannot be ignored. We, therefore, call on you to resolve all these anomalies before the commencement of the governorship primaries.” In the petition, which was copied to Mu’azu and President Goodluck Jonathan, the security agencies and the Akwa Ibom Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), the aspirants warned the PDP of the consequences of ignoring their complaints. The petitioners alleged that the authentic delegates were chased out of the venue of the primaries.

They added that those who voted at the venue came with pre-filled ballot papers in their pockets. They said: “We feel it is in the best interest of the party and the state to resolve this matter urgently and conclusively too. We insist on the cancellation of that fraudulent exercise and the conduct of fresh primaries in the state.” Other signatories to the petition are: Nsima Ekere, Helen Esuene, Patrick Ekpotu, Chris Abasi-Eyo, Ekpenyong Ntekim, Effiong Abia, Richard King, Asuquo Okpo, Anietie Ufot, Larry Esim and Samuel Udonsak. Others are: Jerome Isangedighi, Peter Esuh, Effiong Usin, David Okpon, Ita Udoh, Imeh Ekanem, Michael Etuk, O Etteh, Benjamin Okoko and Ime Akpan.

Robbers kill pastor in Edo From Osagie Otabor, Benin

HE pastor in charge of Evidence of the Gospel Church, Oko Central branch, Godfrey Agbonwaneten, has been shot dead by robbers. He was killed on Tuesday morning at his home at Okhunmwun community in Ovia North East Local Government Area. The robbers were said to have burgled several houses in the community before entering the pastor’s apartment by pulling down the burglary proof. Wife of the victim, Julie, said the incident occurred at 2:30am when her husband woke her up and informed her that robbers were in the next building. She said: “The next thing we heard was that they were breaking down our window. I didn’t know when my husband went to the room. I hear gunshots. I rushed to the room and saw my husband covered with blood.” The body has been deposited at a mortuary.

Wike seeks reconciliation with other aspirants

•From left: Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega; President, National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Ifeyinwa Omowole; Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Media Trust Limited, Mallam Kabiru Yusuf; President, Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Mr. Femi Adesina; General Manager, Rivers State Broadcasting Corporation (RSBC) and representative of the Executive Secretary, Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON), Ms. Mediline Tador; Vice President, Zone B, Nigerian Union of Journalist (NUJ) and representative of NUJ President, Dele Atunbi, and Project Director, Democratic Governance for Development (DGD) Project of the UNDP, Dr. Mourtada Deme, at the public presentation of The Nigerian Media Code of Election Coverage, facilitated by the UNDP-DGD Project in Lagos ... yesterday.

Sheathe your swords, Bayelsa Rep tells supporters

MEMBER of the House of Representatives representing Sagbama Ekeremor in Bayelsa State, Dr. Stella Dorgu, has accepted the outcome of the Senate primaries which she lost to Dr. Foster Ogola. In a statement yesterday in Yenagoa, the state capital, the

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

lawmaker said her desire to fly the flag of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Bayelsa West Senatorial District was not a do-or-die affair. She urged her supporters to transfer their loyalty to

Ogola, whose ticket was being contested by incumbent Senator Heineken Lokpobiri. Mrs Dorgu said her journey into politics was borne out of the desire to improve the lives of the downtrodden. She said: “I expect other contestants to sheathe their swords and work in tandem with the current state of af-

fairs. This is because any attempt to thwart the process will see us many steps behind our contemporaries.” The politician said the outcome of the primaries would not deter her from using her foundation to help her constituents to acquire self-reliant skills. She advised her constitu-

ents to see her foundation as a platform to spur them to greater heights, irrespective of the electoral outcome. Mrs Dorgu said: “My belief in democracy is not only hinged on occupying elective offices. But as an individual, I believe I can contribute to uplifting people in my private capacity.”

Kwara elders intervene in PDP primary crisis

ONCERNED Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members, under the aegis of Elders’ Forum of PDP, intervened yesterday in the crisis rocking the state chapter of the party. The elders’ forum warned the PDP national leadership against imposing any governorship candidate on the party. It advised that the party’s postponed primaries should take place in Ilorin, the state capital. Eleven of the 12 governorship aspirants on Tuesday attributed the botched PDP primaries to an attempt by some influential politicians to impose a candidate on the party. Addressing reporters in

•‘We want primaries held in Ilorin’ From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

Ilorin, the forum’s Deputy Chairman Ayinla Folorunso said: “The authentic/approved statutory and ad hoc delegates’ list should be maintained. “We ran away from imposition. Therefore, we should not allow imposition in PDP. It’s true and genuine democracy we want. The quarrel is part of democracy. It’s not unusual that there’s presently infighting in the party. It’s because our party is popular, and we’ll get over it.” The PDP chieftain said the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) should retain the same delegates’ list con-

taining 709 delegates. He insisted that accreditation and voting should be held at the same venue and on the same day the fresh governorship primaries would hold. According to him, PDP local government chairmen should be allowed to identify delegates from their different local government areas. Folorunso urged the party’s authorities to set up necessary committees to rectify the anomaly. The PDP chieftain said the elders intervened in the party’s crisis to avert its possible disintegration. He added that the aggrieved members had not met with the party’s execu-

tives because the chairman travelled to Abuja. The forum’s spokesman said the identification of authentic delegates should be done by the 16 local government party chairmen on the spot of the election. Folorunso noted that for orderliness and security, only authenticated delegates and authorised officials be allowed into the accreditation and voting centre. The spokesman said the governorship primaries should be held in Ilorin, the state capital. He said: “Regrettably, administrative lapses, particularly the multiplicity of venues for accreditation and vot-

ing, which caused delay and confusion in the accreditation of delegates till late in the evening, marred the arrangements for the elections. “This development provoked tension and suspicion among the delegates, aspirants and members of the state executive committee of the party who handled the arrangement, thereby generating serious security challenges that caused the governorship primaries to be called off. “We appreciate the patient and understanding and maturity so far exhibited by all the stakeholders, including the governorship aspirants, and wish to appeal to them to maintain the same spirit in the overall interest of over great party.”

IVERS State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Nyesom Wike, has urged the party’s aggrieved aspirants to join him in the struggle to defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC) in next year’s elections. Wike noted that with the transparent governorship primaries, he had begun a comprehensive reconciliation with aggrieved aspirants to ensure that they play key roles in voting out the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015. The PDP candidate expressed gratitude to most of the 24 governorship aspirants who he said he had shown commitment to his reconciliation moves.

Diabetes support centres open in Edo From Osagie Otabor, Benin

LEADING pharmaceutical company in Nigeria, the Novo Nordisk Nigeria, has launched Diabetes Support Centres in three stateowned hospitals in Benin, Auchi and Uromi, all in Edo State. The centres, according to the company’s Field Sales Manager Kehinde Aileru, would reduce the burden of diabetes care, especially among the poor. Alieru noted that the centres would remove barriers to the delivery of quality diabetes care and increase information on the ailment and promote better management of the disease. He said: “We believe that government alone cannot solve all the problems in the society. So, there is need for public private partnership.”

THE NATION THURSDAY DECEMBER 11, 2014

NEWS Yobe PDP primary: Ngama, others kick From Duku JOEL, Damaturu

OUR Yobe State governorship aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have rejected the primaries held Tuesday evening at the Legacy House in Abuja. A former Minister of Police Affairs, Adamu Maina Waziri, emerged the standard bearer. But the other aspirants alleged that they were edged out of the primaries. The aggrieved aspirants, led by a former Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Yerima Ngama, disassociated themselves from what they called a “purported primary election”. Addressing reporters in Damaturu, the state capital, Ngama said: “...The purpose of this press conference is essentially to address specifically our teeming PDP supporters in Yobe State and fellow Nigerians on our collective position and disassociate ourselves from the purported primary election held this evening (December 9) at the Legacy House in Abuja on the following grounds: “The purported election was conducted in contravention to the provision of Section 50 of the constitution of the PDP as well as the electoral guidelines of 2014 issued by the party. “The list of the delegates, who ought to have voted at the purported election, was not made public to the aspirants. “None of the three aspirants was informed of the venue, time and necessary arranged preceding the conduct of the primary elections. “Out of the total of 670 delegates, only 21 participated in the purported primaries. From the foregoing, it is clear that the whole process of the purported elections was manipulated for the purpose of achieving a predetermined aim, that is, the emergence of a particular candidate.” Maina described his election as the will of God. He urged the other aspirants to work with him to defeat the APC in the state.

Jonathan’s support group in road crash From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

HIACE bus conveying 18 members of the Jonathan Support Group, under the aegis of Jonathan Shall Lead Again Movement (JOSLA), from Katsina to Kaduna en route Abuja, had a head-on with a Volkswagen golf car from the opposite direction at Giwa Junction in Kaduna State. The state coordinator of the movement, Ms. Queen Abueh, who was one of the passengers, had her hand amputated at a hospital in Zaria, Kaduna State. She and other passengers are receiving treatment at a private hospital in Kaduna. Addressing reporters yesterday in Kaduna, the movement’s National Coordinator, Comrade Kingsley Okoruwa, described the accident as unfortunate and a setback for the group. He said: “We are gratitude to God that the 18 members in the bus are responding to treatment.” Okoruwa thanked Katsina State Governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema for assisting the victims. The governor promised to settle the hospital bills of the 18 passengers.

Ex-soldiers can end Boko Haram, says Nasir

FORMER President of Appeal Court and Chairman of the Advisory Council of Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, Justice Mamman Nasir, has said even ex-servicemen without arms can defeat Boko Haram and stop the insurgency bedevilling the nation. The eminent jurist noted that what was lacking for Nigeria to end Boko Haram was unity of purpose to confront the insurgents. He urged President Goodluck Jonathan to seek the assistance of former Heads of State to end insurgency in the country.

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

Justice Mamman Nasir addressed reporters yesterday in Kaduna on the state of the nation. The former Appeal Court President noted that Nigerians were not united enough to fight insurgency. He said: “The most worrying aspect of the truth is that our leaders, in active or passive politics, do not seem to care about the lives and property of the people. Indeed, parts of the country and the citizens have been lost. “If there was unity, the government would find it very

easy to tackle the present situation. We need to unite to fight insurgency. If there was unity, early information, which will help to tackle insurgency, would be given.” The eminent jurist said the state of the nation did not call for criticisms, irrespective of the political party differences. Justice Nasir said: “We need to team up with Mr. President because we have not been teaming up with him. That is one of the reasons we are unable to tackle insurgency. “We suggest that the President should call all former Heads of State to proffer solutions to the present situation.

“The Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation appeals to the President to convene a special meeting of the Council of Heads of State with traditional and religious rulers and governors of the 36 states to discuss how best to confront the challenges of insecurity across the nation. “We know many of them can do that by proffering solutions to the present situation.” The former Appeal Court chief advised politicians to desist from treating Boko Haram as a political matter. He also cautioned reporters to be more sensitive to security issues in their reports.

•Executive Director, Victim Support Fund (VSF), retired Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (right), presenting materials to internally displaced persons (IDPs) at the inauguration of the fund to victims of insurgency in Abuja...yesterday PHOTO: NAN

We need jobs, IDPs cry out

NTERNALLY Displaced Persons (IDPs) from the Northeast who are living in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) yesterday told the Federal Government to provide them with means of livelihood instead of staple foods. The 1,865 IDPs said the materials given to them by the Presidential Committee on Victims Support Fund (VSF) were commendable but ephemeral. Representative of the IDPs from Borno State, Paul Amos, spoke in Abuja at the beginning of a relief programme, tagged: Support to Victims of Terrorism, organised by the VSF. Amos said: “Even though we are receiving some materials, the government should do more. “We thank God and General Theophilus Danjuma (former Army Chief) for their support.

•Fed Govt supports insurgency victims From Olugbenga Adanikin, Abuja

We have suffered a lot but the Lord will still continue to protect us. “I am talking on behalf of others. Our plea to the government is that we have youths, Senior Secondary School (SSS) certificate holders, graduates, National Diploma (ND) holders who do not have jobs. We need jobs. Please, listen to us. Please, consider us. Please, assist us. We cannot rely on this alone. Among us are people whose families are far apart. “For over a year now, we have not gone to school. For over a year, we have no jobs. We cannot continue to rely on food alone. “Some are looking for help in Cameroun and Yobe State.

We are living here alone without our families. There are missing brothers, sisters and wives.” Another representative Mr. Elisha Ezekiel said he came to FCT from Borno State on May 26. He said about 2,000 IDPs were in Waru village until 1,865 others joined them. Ezekiel said prior to VSF’s visit, a Christian group, House on the Rock, visited the victims and gave them materials. According to him, there is need for the government to meet their immediate needs, such as shelter, jobs and medical treatment. Ezekiel said: “Basically, as we are, we are homeless. They (insurgents) burnt our houses, killed our brothers and par-

ents. As we are living here, majority of our brothers are sleeping under the tree, some are sleeping in mechanic garages. “We do not have shelter; no means of livelihood. So, we don’t want the government to give us fish but teach us how to fish. That is our problem.” VSF Chairman Gen. Theophilus Danjuma said the organisation would help the IDPs in the Northeast. He said the VSF was set up to raise alternative funds for victims of insurgency. Danjuma, who donated about N1.6 billion at the launch of the fund on July 31, described the event as a reminder to the tragedy the insurgents had caused in the Northeast. He said: “No one can take your future from you. We will be by your side throughout this journey.”

Don’t disrupt Kwara peace, APC chieftain warns PDP

HE Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is an amalgam of strange bedfellows blinded by unbridled ambition, the former chairman of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Kayode Olawepo, has said. Olawepo, who is also a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, noted that the botched PDP primaries and other crises rocking the party were borne out of the vaunting ambition of the governorship aspirants. He urged the leadership of the PDP not to breach the harmonious relationship among the people in the state. Olawepo said: “I hope they will not use their own unbridled to destroy the peace of the state. We plead with them to allow Kwara state to be at peace.” The APC chieftain told reporters yesterday in Ilorin, the state capital, that it is wishful and illusory for the PDP to wrest power

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

from APC through Abuja in the 2015 general elections. He said: “You cannot rig where you are not popular. All the insinuations of the federal might by the PDP is now an illusion because that might would have been destroyed before the elections. There is no federal might that can be relied upon by the time we get to the time of election proper. “So, I will just advise them to face the reality that the federal might they are banking on does not exist again. That is because everything about bad governance is at the federal level, which Nigerians have decided to reject. This means when the head is rotten, definitely the whole body is dead. And to our people in APC, we must work as if that federal might still exists or will exist. “We should cast our votes, stay with our votes, protect our votes and follow the re-

MACHINE 88 (JOBS)

sults everywhere peacefully. Even if they (federal agencies) are deployed, they cannot fight any peaceful environment. I don’t see anything in a federal might that can take anybody to anywhere in Kwara State.” On the botched PDP primaries, Olawepo said: “Given the outlook of the APC and PDP, there couldn’t have been any way by which the PDP can make any headway in Kwara State. This is because you have to look at how the parties came together. What are the antecedents of those that make up the party and where can they get to? “Given all those things, there is every likelihood that they will not get its bearing even before and the period of the elections. As a chieftain of the APC, I do not see them as a threat to the success of the APC in all the elections in the state in 2015. All things being equal, what binds them together cannot make PDP a successful party.

Dangote Sugar: Panel to assist land owners From Fanen Ihyongo, Jalingo

ARABA State Acting Governor Abubakar Sani Danladi has set up a six-man committee to investigate the compensation of land owners of the Dangote Sugar industry in Lau Local Government Area. The committee is chaired by former Deputy Governor Uba Maigari with Yakubu Bulus as its Secretary. Other members are: Danladi Baido, Joshua Ivo, Ishaya Abdul, Abubakar Bala and Bulus Audu. A statement yesterday in Jalingo, the state capital, by the Chief Press Secretary to the State Government, Hassan Mijinyawa, said the committee was set up following persistent complaints from land owners. Our reporter learnt that the land owners petitioned government when a previous committee, led by former Deputy Governor Abubakar Dauda Armaya’au, refused to pay what was regarded as appropriate compensation, even as the sugar firm had reportedly paid the compensation. Danladi said the new committee would determine and consider the complaints to the government over the discrepancy in the compensation. The committee is to also determine if funds released to compensate the owners of the land acquired by Dangote Group of Companies were “actually and correctly” prepaid to genuine land owners. The committee has two weeks to submit its findings and recommendations to the state government. Danladi added that the committee would also advise the government on other matters concerning Dangote Group’s acquisition of the land in Lau. Besides their petitions, the land owners had protested on the streets of Jalingo the way the Armaya’u-led committee frustrated them from getting their compensation.

Dana group donates to Kano bomb victims By Amidu Arije

ANA Group of Companies has donated drugs and surgical equipment to victims of last week’s bombing at the Kano Central Mosque. The materials were donated to the Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital and Muhammad Abdullahi Wase Specialist Hospital, both in Kano, where many of the victims are receiving treatment. The group was led by the Sales Manager of Dana Drugs Limited, Mr Someshwar Shinde and received by the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital, who was represented by his Secretary, Mr Abdul Rasak. Shinde said the gesture was aimed at assisting the hospital to accelerate the treatment of the blasts’ victims. He said: “We have donated items like infusions, formulations and surgical devices necessary for injured people as part of our corporate social responsibility (CSR) to help the victims and the hospital to aid their treatment. “It’s not the first time Dana would donate to victims; it was done for flood victims in Benue State in 2012. We will continue to give back to society.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

PREMIERSHIP ...PREMIERSHIP ...

SPORT EXTRA

Aguero faces eight-week absence

Bruce urges calm over new signings

ERGIO Aguero could be out for as long as eight weeks with his injured knee, according to Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini. City’s top scorer was in tears after leaving the pitch early on during Saturday’s 1-0 Premier League victory

at home to Everton. Pellegrini immediately ruled him out of Wednesday’s crunch Champions League game in Roma, and initial reports suggested Aguero could miss four weeks’ action. Asked to put a timescale on the Argentine’s absence in a

press conference on Tuesday, City’s manager said he expected to be without the player for “four, five, maybe six weeks. It depends a lot on how he recovers. But our team does not depend on one player.” In an interview with Sky Sports, the City boss then

suggested that the striker could miss up to eight weeks, but the recovery period may be shortened if Aguero responds well to treatment. Aguero has scored 19 goals in 21 games for City this season.

TEVE Bruce admits his new signings have yet to hit top form for Hull City, but has asked for more time for the team to gel. After scoring at least once in each of their opening eight Premier League games, Hull have hit a dry spell in front of goal with the team scoring just twice in the last seven matches. Hull sought to bring in more attack-minded players in the last transfer window, with the likes of Robert Snodgrass, Hatem Ben Arfa, Gaston Ramirez and Abel Hernandez all moving to the KC Stadium. However, Snodgrass sustained a long-term knee injury in August, while other Hull recruits have struggled for fitness and consistency. Bruce, though, is sure that all of his squad will come good and help the club move away from the relegation zone. “It’s an area that we tried to improve,” Bruce told Hull’s official website. “We brought in Ramirez, he picked up a groin injury and then got suspended so

we haven’t really seen him yet. “Robert Snodgrass injured his knee in the first game of the season. Hatem Ben Arfa - it hasn’t worked just yet. “Abel Hernandez hasn’t really played with Nikica Jelavic for two months and his season hasn’t really started yet, but I’m still convinced that he’s a goalscorer and that he’ll win us a few games. “Jelavic was sick at the end of last week and so was on the bench at the weekend. “The people that we brought in to give us that extra dimension - it hasn’t quite happened yet but we have to give it time. “It has been a frustrating thing for me because I haven’t been able to play what I think is my best team, but that is the way it is and you’re going to get injuries and suspensions. “The effort and the endeavour from the team has been evident and it’s a case of finding that right blend.” Hull have not won in eight matches and face a trip to leaders Chelsea on Saturday.

Young wants no United let up

•Young

Adebayor granted leave of absence

OTTENHAM have given Emmanuel Adebayor permission to return home for personal reasons. The Togo international striker has struggled for form at White Hart Lane this season, scoring just twice in 12 appearances across all competitions. Spurs have not revealed the reasons for Adebayor’s absence and no timescale has been put on a return. “We can confirm that Emmanuel Adebayor has been given permission to return home for personal reasons,” Spurs, who face Besiktas in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday, posted on Twitter. “This is a private matter and so we will not be providing any further comment.” Adebayor has slipped out of Mauricio Pochettino’s first-team plans recently, •Pistorius with Harry Kane and Roberto Soldado preferred. The 30-year-old’s last appearance came as a second-half substitute in the 2-1 defeat at home to Stoke City on November 9.

SHLEY Young praised Manchester United’s recent momentum, but wants no let-up ahead of Sunday’s clash with rivals Liverpool. Louis van Gaal’s men have climbed to third in the Premier League table after a run of five straight victories, including Monday’s 2-1 triumph at Southampton. Young, who is capable of playing as a winger or wingback, has been impressed by United’s run of form and is keen to add another three points against Liverpool at Old Trafford.

“It was tough at Southampton,” he told United’s official website. “I think we didn’t play as well as we could have in the first half and were lucky to go a goal ahead. I’m not too sure why that was but, in the second half, we came out and played some good football. “Obviously, we got the goal and had to defend well again. I’m glad we held on and got the points because they are three massive points for us. “It was a massive win. I think, like the manager has said, the momentum is building now.

“We wanted to get another win and knew it was going to be a tough place to come away from home after the last [away match] against Arsenal. “We said we wanted another win on the road and we managed to do that - even though it wasn’t easy at all. “Every man was fantastic and I’ve been saying that for weeks now. The subs who came on were fantastic as well. “We were delighted with the three points and we look forward to the game at the weekend now against Liverpool.”

Gudjohnsen cleared to play for Bolton again

OLTON have confirmed Eidur Gudjohnsen has received the necessary international clearance to allow him to feature for Wanderers again this weekend. The 36-year-old former Chelsea and Barcelona forward rejoined the Sky Bet Championship side last Friday, 14 years since he departed, but the Icelander was unable to feature against Reading 24 hours later as he did not have permission. However, the club have confirmed that international clearance has now been granted and he is free to play against Ipswich on Saturday, who were the opponents for Gudjohnsen’s final Bolton match in 2000. “It’s funny, it really is the full circle,” said Gudjohnsen, who scored on that day. “It was a good game. We should have won that game, let it slip and ending up drawing 2-2 in the first leg of the play-offs.”

Gudjohnsen was injured for the return leg and Wanderers would be eliminated in a crazy game at Ipswich, which the hosts won 5-3 after being awarded three penalties, while two Bolton players were also sent off. Gudjohnsen departed the club that summer and went on to enjoy huge success in this country and in Spain. “It was very disappointing at the time because we had a great side for that league, a lot of quality there,” he said of that play-off heartache. “We were unfortunate not to at least make the play-off final or get promoted which is probably the reason why I left at the time. “I had the opportunity to go to the Premier League and Chelsea. It was a step I had to make, these chances don’t come up very often in your lifetime. “It wasn’t easy for me to leave because I felt very settled here and I always have great memories from Bolton.”

•Bruce

Begovic calls for Stoke consistency

•Gudjohnsen

MIR Begovic says it is time for Stoke to turn up against the Premier League’s lesser lights - not just the big clubs. Saturday’s win against Arsenal ended a run of four straight defeats and followed victories at Manchester City and Tottenham earlier in the season. City also pushed Liverpool and Manchester United hard in recent weeks, performances which made home defeats to Aston Villa, Leicester and Burnley seem all the more incongruous. A trip to Crystal Palace on Saturday is next, and Begovic told Sky Sports News HQ: “When it’s a big occasion, when a big team comes to town and you get a good result it gives everyone a boost, and hopefully now we can take that into the next games. “We’re searching for that little bit of consistency where we can play against every

team the way we have in those big games, so that’s something we have to work on.” Begovic continues to be linked with some of England’s biggest clubs, but he said: “It’s just part of the game, you learn that as you get older. “I’m just enjoying playing here and trying to get better all the time. It’s flattering to see yourself linked with certain clubs, but at the moment I’m just really focused on what I’m trying to do here.”

•Begovic

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

SPORT EXTRA Adam open to move abroad

T R A N S F E R S . . .

Manchester United plots stunning move to re-sign Nemanja Vidic

Keane hints at Galaxy exit L

OS Angeles Galaxy captain Robbie Keane hinted his future may be away from the MLS champions, claiming "change" is good for everybody. Keane - voted the league's most valuable player last week - scored a 111th-minute winner as the Galaxy defeated New England Revolution 2-1 in the MLS Cup on Sunday. But the 34-year-old Republic of Ireland international's exploits in the season-decider may have been his last in a Galaxy shirt.

Keane - who has another year remaining on his contract - said he needs time to think about his future. "I definitely need to recharge the batteries and see what the next chapter is for me, whether it's here or it's somewhere else...," said Keane, who swapped Tottenham for Los Angeles in 2011. "I'm not saying I'm going to leave but what I'm saying is I need to consider what I want to do, you know? "Sometimes change is good for everybody."

•Adam

TOKE City midfielder Charlie Adam is open to the possibility of a move abroad in the future amid links to Real Sociedad. The 29-year-old has started just five times for Mark Hughes' men in the Premier League this season and a switch to La Liga with Sociedad - who are coached by former Manchester United manager David Moyes - has been mooted. Adam insists that he is no hurry to leave the Britannia Stadium, but admits the idea of plying his trade outside of England before the end of his career is something that appeals to him. "There's better weather than here," he told the Stoke Sentinel. "I would love the experience of playing abroad because it's certainly something different. Hopefully, more British players will go and do it. On rumours of an exit in January, he added: "It's going to happen when you have good players not playing and the opportunity for clubs to have a look at things [in the transfer window]. "But there's nothing happening at the moment and I am happy to be here at Stoke." Adam is in his third season at Stoke having joined from Liverpool in August 2012.

Villarreal confirms Suarez signing

ILLARREAL have agreed the signing of 18-year-old Boca Juniors midfielder Leo Suarez on a five-and-a-half year deal. Suarez joins for a fee said by AS to be in the region of •2m and his contract expires in the summer of 2020. He will join up with the Yellow Submarine after the South American Youth Championship, which takes place between January and February next year. Suarez is to start his career at El Madrigal with the B team and he told his new club’s official website of his happiness at making the move. “I’m very happy to have signed for Villarreal and I only want to bring joy to the fans,” he remarked. “I’m joining because I saw a great club that treats you well, like family. I always wanted to play in Spain and now I’m going to, so I’m very happy. “I consider myself a forward or an attacking midfielder and I like to score and get involved. I’ll try to show in the B team what I can do in the future in the first team. “The B team is a very good team with a fantastic group of players. I’m joining a team that treats the ball very well and it’s a good opportunity.”

•Vidic

•Keane

CCORDING to reports in Italy, United are sounding out whether it would be possible to bring their former skipper back to the club. It's understood that Vidic is reassessing his future at Inter Milan following the arrival of Roberto Mancini. The Serbian star, 33, has struggled for fitness and game-time under Mancini, who has preferred to start Andrea Ranocchia and Juan Jesus. Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello

Sport report that Vidic is bound to sit out the next game, against Chievo, with flu. But if he gets to mid-January without further minutes under his belt, he may push to leave the club. Vidic was out of contract at United at the end of last season and agreed a free transfer move to Inter. Since he's left, the United defence has been exposed and Louis van Gaal knows he needs to strengthen. Vidic played 300 games for United in his eight years at the club.

Arsenal targets Carvalho has 'many offers'

RSENAL and Manchester United target William Carvalho could move to the Premier League in January, according to Sporting Lisbon manager Marco Silva. Carvalho has reportedly attracted interest from numerous clubs in the English top-flight and Silva admitted the defensive midfielder has "many offers." Speaking before Sporting's Champions League clash with Chelsea, Silva said: "William is a target for English teams, but I want him to play his game. "He's not playing at the same level as last season because last season he was a surprise, but he's improving. William has many offers. Let's wait until January." Carvalho was scouted extensively by United manager Louis van Gaal's predecessor, David Moyes, but the Dutchman cooled his interest and switched his attention to other targets, bringing in Ander Herrera and Angel Di Maria instead. The 22-year-old was also thought to be top of Arsene Wenger's wishlist last summer and could still move to English shores when the transfer window opens in January. It was reported in August that Sporting had reduced their asking price for Carvalho, dropping their initial £37 million valuation to around £24m.

Everton to make Douglas loan bid E

VERTON manager Roberto Martinez could again be set to use his strong relationship with Barcelona to the club’s advantage by making a January loan move for defender Douglas, according to Talksport. The Merseysiders had forward Gerard Deulofeu on loan from the Nou Camp for the entirety of last season, and the youngster made a strong impact. Now Martinez is returning to his links with Barcelona in order to strengthen an injuryplagued defence. John Stones and Antolin Alcaraz are both injured and set for several

•Carvalho •Martinez

more weeks on the sidelines, leaving Sylvain Distin and Phil Jagielka as the only senior duo that Martinez can call upon in central defence, with the side lacking in depth. The 24-year-old Douglas has struggled to establish himself at Barcelona since joining in the summer on a five-year contract from Sao Paulo in his native Brazil. Despite having several players out, Luis Enrique left him out of the squad for Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Paris St. Germain, and could be open to letting the player go in the New Year for regular first-team football.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

SPORT EXTRA

Protest mars NIPOGA

HERE was mild drama yesterday at the on-going Nigeria Polytechnic Games (NIPOGA) after the result of the Men’s 5000 metres race result was cancelled by the athletics officials. It was alleged that that Yaba College of Technology’s Abiola Salako was seen crossing the finishing lane ahead of Plateau State Polytechnic'srunner Peter Istifamous who was however awarded the race by NAATO officials on Monday. This, however, led to massive protest by YabaTech officials few minutes to the presentation of medals which led to both parties taking their grievances to the NIPOGA Technical Committee Chairman Ademola Onijala and Games Manager Agboola Akinbode. At the end of the meeting it was resolved that the race will be retaken on Thursday morning. Meanwhile, Yaba College of Technology won two more gold medals in Athletics event at the on – going 18th Nigeria Polytechnic Games holding in Bida, Niger State. Emmanuel Akpan of YabaTech won the Men’s 800metres ahead of Johnson Akindujoye of Lagos State Polytechnic (Laspotech) and Bullus Ezekiel of Plateau State Polytechnic BarvunLadi. In the same vain, Precious Okoronkwo of YabaTech picked up her second gold medal of the event by winning the Womens Triple Jump. She had earlier won the Long jump event on Tues-

By Stella Bamawo

day. From this feat, Okoronkwo became the first athlete to bag two gold medals at the Games. In the mens discuss, the gold medal went to Ikenna Offodile of Nasarawa State Polytechnic while Bright Okpara of Hussein Adamu Polytechnic Kezaure and Solomon Ajagbeyi of Yaba College of Technology claimed silver and bronze respectively. Kelechi Nwanoga of Abia State Polytechnic won the womens Javelen ahead of the Yabatech duo of Sofia Omizi and Precious Okoronkwo. Yabatech also bagged silver and bronze in the mens 10,000 metres through Abiola Saleko and Rasaq Azeez. Kehinde Olubodun of Federal Poly Ado-Ekiti emerged as the fastest man following his victory in the Men’s 100 metres. He defeated Anthony Egude of Lagos State Polytechnic Ikorodu and Aderemi Adeyemi of Kwara State Polytechnic Ilorin who took Second and Third respectively. Meanwhile, Abia State Polytechnic's Ann Nwaogu won the gold medal in the women's 100m race.

RESULTS CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Bayern 3 - 0 CSKA Roma 0 - 2 Man City Ajax 4 - 0 APOEL Barcelona 3 - 1 PSG Chelsea 3 - 1 Sporting CP Maribor 0 - 1 Schalke 04 Bilbao 2 - 0 BATE FC Porto 1 - 1 Shakhtar

NFF CRISIS

Amadu dares police on FIFA letter

HE Secretary General of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Barrister Musa Amadu has dared the security agencies to scrutinize and prosecute him if they found him guilty of forging the FIFA letter which accepted the ‘majority’ report of the NFF Elections Appeal Committee which upheld the validity of the NFF Executive Committee Election held in Warri on September 30. A FIFA letter signed by its Secretary General Jerome Valke on Tuesday, upheld the majority report, while upturning minority position of the Chairman of the NFF Elections Appeal Committee Okechukwu Ajunwa, who declared that the elections contradicted the NFF Electoral Code and NFF Statutes and voided four positions, including those of the President, Vice President, the representative of the North West and the representative of the South East. The NFF Scribe was very furious at the reports in the median that alleged he was the author of the FIFA letter and that there was no such letter from the world football governing body. “Anybody that makes such allegation has to come with a proof because forgery is a criminal offence. I am not the one manufacturing FIFA Letter or forging Jerome Valke’s signa-

• ‘I am ready for prosecution’

From Segun Ogunjimi, Abuja ture. I challenge whoever has the evidence to back up this accusation to provide it to the police so that I can be prosecuted for criminal offense,” Amadu blasted. “I have been unfairly maligned, abused and called many names in the course of the crisis, but I have decided not to take sides by following due process. UI have nothing against anybody—Ogunjobi, Pinnick, Dikko, Maigari and Giwa. I am only obliged to support whoever is recognized by law as the one in charge of the NFF. When the NFF problem started, I was here when they brought a letter saying that I should leave. I complied and they latter recalled m” Amadu said. In relation to NFF, FIFA received two parallel reports last week by the Appeals Committee before it took a position on Tuesday on the recommendation of the reports as it affected the status of the NFF election. The majority report upheld by FIFA was faxed to Zurich by Amadu after he received it from the Secretary of the Elections

Appeal Committee, Sanusi Mohammed, while Ajunwa bypassed the NFF secretariat by directly sending a copy of the report to FIFA on December 5. Amadu told reporters last night he decided to send the Ajunwa report to FIFA on Monday after he got a copy of

the 80-page report sent by Ajunwa via courier service same day at about 11.17 am. “So FIFA has decided on which of the two reports should be upheld under the prevailing circumstances. We can’t be talking about forgery in this regard because it bothered on mischief”.

Emenike gives out $50,000 worth of rice

MMANUEL Emenike has again displayed his generosity by giving out $50,000 (about 8.5million Naira) worth of rice to widows and orphans in local governments across Imo and Anambra States for Christmas. The former Spartak Moscow striker, who spent close to $60,000 last year on gifts to widows, orphans and the less privileged in the eastern zone, has mandated his family to distribute over 900 bags of rice to some local government areas in Imo and Anambra States as part of his annual charity work. Apart from the donation, a football match will be played in Anambra State to honour the Super Eagles star. According to a source close to Emenike’s older brother Ebuka, 550 bags of rice have been taken to Imo State, while Otuocha (in Anambra State) will have 300 bags with other undisclosed items. "This is what Emenike has been doing since he moved to Europe, people enjoy this period with him. He gives back to the society. He organises football match for the grassroots players with big prizes involved," the source disclosed to AfricanFootball.com "Right now, he's in Turkey

• Emenike

but preparations to distribute the items are ongoing, and on his return he will visit the motherless home and other charity organisation in Lagos and Abuja." The Fenerbahce of Turkey striker has been consistent in giving out to the less priviledged and widows in Eastern Nigeria, distributing bags of rice, exercise books and textile materials as well as cash. The Otuocha-born goal poacher, who visited some motherless homes in Lagos last year, still hopes to expand his charity to other states in the country.

Why I invited Iheanacho, other pros, by Siasia

HIEF Coach of the U23 national team popularly called Dream Team VI said that his intention to give the opportunity to many Nigerian players home and abroad in order to get a formidable team prompted him to send invitations to former Golden Eaglets’ star, Kelechi Iheanacho and the rest of the Europe based players he sent invitations to recently. Siasia who was not happy that some people misconstrued his good intentions of giving opportunities to as many foreign based Nigerian players as possible said he knew it would be difficult for the overseas based clubs to release their players for the screening but believed that some would still make their way for the screening exercise. The Coach also made clarifications on the invitations extended to the overseas based players.

From Segun Ogunjimi, Abuja “I extended invitations to the foreign based players not for screening but to see them at close quarters to see what stuff they are made of and their fitness level, skills and talents and determine how they could be useful addition to the team we are moulding. “Another insinuation I would like to correct is calling some players Siasia’s boys, Manu Garba’s boys or Keshi’s boys. These guys are Nigerian players and they represent Nigeria so any one of them could be called upon since they are within the age brackets. Some of their age grade play for the senior National teams of other countries so there is nothing bad or odd in giving Kelechi Iheanacho and others the opportunity to represent their father’s land”, Siasia defended.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

SPORT EXTRA

Ajagun extends Panathinaikos contract N

IGERIAN midfielder Abduljaleel Ajagun has extended his contract at Greek club Panathinaikos by a year, AfricanFootball.com has learnt. Ajagun’s initial contract was to run out next year, but with this extension he has a deal until the summer of 2016. The former Nigeria U20 skipper joined Pana in Au-

gust 2013 after shinning at the FIFA U20 World Cup in Turkey same year. The 21-year-old central midfielder has since established himself at the top Greek side, helping them to feature in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League this season. He is back playing again after he suffered thigh injury that sidelined him recently.

Seattle Sounders ready to keep Martins

LOSS OF DOCUMENT This is to inform the general public of the Loss of Original Rightof Occupancy (R of O) No. FCT/B2TP/PL/469 of plot No: M262 Kubwa Extension 111 (FCDA SCHEME) , belonging to Mallam Abdulrazaq Y. Usman conveyed to Living Faith Foundation through Power of Attorney, got missing. All efforts to trace the said documents proved abortive. If found, kindly contact Ozoemenam Andy Mmakwe of Living Faith Foundation Kubwa or the nearest police station.

AUCTION! AUCTION!! AUCTION!!! On the instruction of ikosi/isheri LCDA,there will be an auction sales of unserviceable vehicles at their premises on monday 15th december 2014 at 10:00am Government licensed Auctioneer Ayodele Lawal 0802346179, 08052174594

ORMER Nigeria international Obafemi Martins will continue to ply his trade at the Seattle Sounders during the next Major League Soccer season. Martins, who was selected for the MLS All Stars just last week, was listed as one of the Sounders' protected players ahead of the MLS Expansion Draft, which took place yesterday. The draft will provide the ideal opportunity for the newly formed New York and Orlando City football clubs to snap up the unwanted players in Major League Soccer. However, these drafts are also a strong indicator of which players clubs currently competing in the MLS value the most. Among the Seattle Sounders that will be protected during the

• Martins draft are: Osvaldo Alonso, Chad Barrett, Clint Dempsey, Brad Evans, Stefan Frei, Chad Marshall, Obafemi Martins, Lamar Neagle, Marco Pappa, Gonzalo Pineda and Andy Rose.

U-23 call-up excites Onduku

SMS Iai of Romania forward Gomo Onduku has said he is thrilled to be called up by the Nigeria U23 team ahead of a 2015 All Africa PUBLIC NOTICE OSIKOYA I, Formerly known as Miss Ijeoma Aderinsola OSIKOYA now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs ELIMHINGBE Ijeoma Aderinsola. The General Public Should Please Take Note.

LOSS OF DOCUMENT

This is to inform the general public of the Loss of Original Certificate of Occupancy NO. FCT/GAC/RLA/FCT/355 of plot No: RR9626AA Traders Layout 111, Gwagwalada Area Council, Size 920.11M2, with the name Othman Mohammed, belonging to Mrs Iloanusi Kate got missing. All efforts to trace the said documents proved abortive. If found, kindly contact Mrs Iloanusi Kate of Jahi District or the nearest police station.

Games qualifier against Gabon. The 21-year-old winger is among three newly invited players by coach Samson Siasia. "I have received an invitation letter to be part of the national U23 team currently in camp in Abuja. I am so happy for the invite,” he said. “I have been in the national team setting before and I am glad to be back again. I give thanks to coach Samson Siasia for this opportunity and I am going there to justify this invitation and put in my best." The other players invited alongside the ex-Concordia Chiajna forward are Norwaybased striker Leke James and David Ifeanyi Nworah. James was the third best African Striker in Norwegian topflight league in the 2014 season with 10 goals in 23 games last season behind Cote d'Ivoire Frank Boli (13 goals) and Nigerian striker Daniel Chima (11 goals).

TODAY IN THE NATION

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014

ET’S get it right from the outset. This is no attempt to undo what the National Awards have done. Nor is it a bid to denigrate the yearly show at which some of the nation’s best get decked with medals by no less a personality than the President himself. No. But then, even the best of systems has its errors. Here then, dear reader, is a tribute to those men and women who may have been erroneously left out of the national honours list even as their various actions – and inactions – affected the polity one way or the other this year. We begin with – what else if not - politics. Who is the Politician of the Year? You want to guess? Not House Speaker Aminu Tambuwal who gave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) a kick in the groin, causing so much commotion after dumping the ruling party for the All Progressives Congress (APC). Not Tom Ikimi, the chief who was left huffing and puffing after building a castle in the air about becoming chairman of APC. He whined to no end until he returned to the PDP. He was last night supervising the coronation– sorry, convention– of President Goodluck Jonathan. Nor is he (the winner) Peter Obi, who shockingly dumped the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for the PDP – an action many swore would make the late Ikemba Nnewi, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the Eze Igbo Gburugburu, turn in his grave, but which the former governor justified, apparently to the satisfaction of his fans. He was relatively unknown, until the battle to displace Otunba Gbenga Daniel from the leadership of the PDP in Ogun State began. At the mention of his name, many would have sneered: “who is so called?” Not so now. Prince – sorry, a slip there – Alhaji – I got it wrong again - Dr Buruji Kashamu, the Lagos car dealer and hotelier, is the PDP Southwest Contact and Mobilisation Committee Chairman – an amorphous group to which the party owes its ability to prosecute the war it waged in the name of elections in Ekiti and Osun. When PDP chiefs begged former President Olusegun Obasanjo to start participating in activities, he told them: “A drug baron indicted in the U.S. can’t be my leader.” He mentioned no name, but Kashamu, a man whose capacity for taking on daunting tasks amazes his associates, picked up the gauntlet. “I wasn’t indicted,” he said, adding: “Even if I’m to be repatriated, there are processes, which are not subjected to the whims and caprices of any individual, including Obasanjo.” Shortly after, The Cambridge Graduate University came all the way from the United States to honour Kashamu with a PhD, Doctor of Philosophy in Humanities. A source told me that the politician accepted the honour not because he covets such laurels but just to send a message to those who say he is a fugitive wanted in the United States. But his critics seem not convinced. “Get on the plane and fly to the United States, if you actually want to clear your name,” they said. The other day in Abuja, Kashamu got a court to stop the public presentation of Obasanjo’s book in Lagos. The former president went on with the ceremony, saying the judge erred in law to have granted the order. Now, Kashamu is threatening to sue him, in a bid to reclaim his reputation, which is said to have been shattered by the book.

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

GBENGA OMOTOSO

EDITORIAL NOTEBOOK

gbenga.omotoso@thenationonlineng.net

•Editor of the Year (NMMA)

Honours 2014

•Obasanjo

•Mbu

For his resilience in the face of rock-solid opposition, Kashamu is Politician of the Year. Exuberant police chief Suleiman Abba would have easily snatched away the Policeman of the Year prize, considering his remarkable excesses. Within the short while he has taken office, he has not just shown that he is the law enforcerin-chief, but he has also taken on the duties of the courts, interpreting the law in a manner that has left judicial officers gasping for breath. He withdrew Speaker Aminu Tambuwal’s guards and ordered the National Assembly shut – an action that forced many lawmakers into a rare show of agility, scaling the gate. We seem not to have seen Abba’s best yet. Before he grabbed the headlines, there was Mbu Joseph Mbu, who brought so much drama into the job. He, at the least provocation, confronted Rivers Governor Rotimi Amaechi. Even after leaving Rivers, the Police Commissioner would allude to his tour of duty in that state, describing himself as the leopard who tamed the lion. As he did in Rivers, he has been troubling Abuja needlessly. He warned the BringBackOurGirls campaigners to stop their protests or face arrest. He was actually going to pounce on them, but a court held him back. A reporter who described Mbu as controversial was detained and bundled before a court. For his strange zealotry, Mbu is Policeman of the Year. No argument about this; President Jonathan gets the Gaffe of the Year prize. The other day in Abuja, he said the Chibok girls had been kidnapped for three months when indeed they had been snatched away for five months. Many were asking: “Is the matter not on his mind?” Before the mammoth crowd that gathered to watch the Super Eagles play their Ghanaian counterparts at the new Akwa Ibom Stadium, twice Dr Jonathan referred to the national team as the Green Eagles. Some of his aides swear that he is an ar-

dent fan of the team. Talking about soccer. Eagles coach Stephen Okechukwu Keshi is the Coach of the Year. He took the team to its peak, winning the Nations Cup. As Nigerians were rejoicing over the feat, he resigned during a radio programme in South Africa. Government officials were on their knees, begging Keshi not to go. A magnanimous fellow, he had mercy on this soccer crazy nation and returned to his job. Then dozens of other countries began to woo him with indescribable emoluments, the type that would have sent Jose “the Special One” Mourinho rushing out of Chelsea, I learnt. But Keshi, a patriot, rejected them all. Ever since, the Eagles have been struggling to regain their form. Then they got shoved off the Cup of Nations train, losing miserably. Keshi got the boot. The Presidency, knowing how to reward patriots, reversed the sack. Keshi is back in the saddle. Who else can pull off such a feat? We have been told that South Africa has returned the $9.3m and $8.7m its authorities seized from two Nigerians who flew in to buy arms. We may never know who these duo are. We may never know the details of these strange transactions, which almost won the Deal of the Year but for another extraordinary signed, sealed and almost delivered contract. I speak of the N9.2b stoves coming in from South Africa, the ones that will teach our rural women the beauty of modern cooking. After a successful first degree, Obasanjo, the

AM yet to recover from the devastating death on November 29 of Jude Uche Isiguzo, this newspaper’s amiable Crime Correspondent. Jude was an editor’s delight. He knew his beat like the back of his hand. He never missed stories and he never grumbled whenever he had to move at short notice. The death of a young man is always like a Tysonian blow to the nose. It is so hard to agree with spiritualists who believe that it is all a call to higher responsibility. All we should do, they insist, is wish the dead a safe journey. Farewell Olopa, chairman, my friend. Greet Baba Mac ‘the journalist’ Alabi, vivacious Mrs Oluremi Oyo, resourceful Ben Akparanta, who got embedded with policemen chasing robbers and Edo Ugbagwu (the police are yet to find his killers). Godwin Agbroko. Dimgba Igwe. Opeyemi ‘Akewi Oodua’ Fajemilehin. Ngozi Agbo. Find out how they are all faring. We find our shattered peace in the words of the famous journalism teacher, Prof Ralph Akinfeleye: “In heaven, there will be no need for doctors as nobody will fall ill. Estate agents won’t be needed because there will be free mansions. Pilots will have no job because nobody will be travelling. There will be no need for soldiers; all will be peaceful. The only profession that will be needed is journalism because the man in the east will like to know what is going on in the west. So with the man in the south and the one in the north.” Farewell, my worthy colleague. •For comments, send SMS to 08111813080

Jonathanomics: Pay a premium for darkness! (Distribution companies’) imperative for an upward revised tariff. But can DISCOs guarantee the supply of the stuff, to walk the talk of NERC’s “Electricity on demand”? Consumers are certainly not having a disco party, in this troubled market! The ludicrousness of the situation is brought to the fore by the December 1 mark-up of the electricity tariff regime. Pronto, charges have been marked up: pre-paid meters reset to roll faster; and the notoriously unfair estimate billing, of the old analogue meters, marked

most popular National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) student, has signed up for a doctoral degree. He was in Ibadan a few days ago to see the co-supervisor of his thesis. Jonathan and all those PDP governors seeking his attention should show some understanding; Obasanjo doesn’t need those distractions now. A scholar is at work. Studying for a PhD is serious business for a septuagenarian, more serious than 2015. Take a bow, Baba, Student of the Year. Many will not forget in a hurry the meeting summoned by First Lady Patience Jonathan to confirm whether the Chibok girls were indeed missing. Disturbed that some people deliberately shunned the meeting and that the whole thing was to undermine the President, she launched into an elegiac expression : “Chai! Der is God o o…All this blood you’re sharing.” The statement became the fulcrum of many jokes on the Internet and elsewhere. Thank you Mama Peace for some laughter amid so much pain. Thank you for the Joke of the Year. For Speech of the Year, there is no doubt that Ekiti Governor Ayo Fayose’s inauguration speech stands out. He told the excited crowd: “I am the governor that eats bole with you. I am the governor who drinks jedi with you. I will not leave you.” Can you beat that? There are many contenders for Minister of the Year, but two stand out. Rise up for recognition former Minister of State for Education Nyesom Wike and Police Affairs Minister Jelili ‘King Kong’ Adesiyan. For months, university teachers were on strike. All attempts to get the campuses reopened failed. Panicky parents cried out as many students turned wayward. A weakling of a minister would have been distraught. Not so Wike. He saw in it all a big chance to oil his political ambition. But the prize goes to Adesiyan, under whose watch the police have become all that the ruling PDP wished they could be – an election fighting force. Remember Ekiti and Osun. And recall that Adesiyan once told reporters that he never beat former Osun Governor Isiaka Adeleke, the one called Serubawon (hit them with fear) – as alleged. “If I give him one upper cut, he will die,” he said, adding: “Ta lonje ode aperin loju apaniyan.” (Who the hell is the hunter of elephants in the presence of the hunter of human beings). The list is, by no means, exhaustive. More awards are on the way as the nominations stream in.

JUDE UCHE ISIGUZO (1971 -2014)

HARDBALL HIEF marketer: Sam Amadi, chairman, Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). Prime mart: Reformed power sector monopolies. Players: DISCOs and parched electricity consumers. Market ethos: The more you look, the less you see. If there was any neo-liberal version of the good, old (selling and buying of a) pig in a poke, this reformed power sector must be it! NERC, on its website, boasts the punch line: “Electricity on Demand”. And good, old Sammy, Harvard-trained, with all the latest reforms jazz words, sure knows how to sell his market. But how can a salesman sell without guaranteeing supply? That irony is simply lost on Dr. Amadi, as he merrily and zestfully sells the DISCOs’

JIDE OLUWAJUYITAN

up too, to hum in more cash. The DISCOs were certainly set for the cash disco, but alas! At the point of rolling, however, electricity generation dipped: from a peak 3,554 mw, en route to a promised 5,000 mw by December ending; down from an original target of 6,000 mw, power supply dipped 3,206 mw by December 2, according to statistics from the Federal Power Ministry. The long and short? NERC could not guarantee its boast of “Electricity on

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above demand”. Meanwhile, the mark-up of tariff remains inviolate, even as supply is yo-yo. For users of pre-paid meters, that they will be billed for whatever they consumed is cold comfort. They will still pay more for “electricity NOT on demand”. For the market rabble stuck with conventional meters, well, it is double jeopardy: the DISCOs will enjoy an ear-pounding disco of free cash, while the luckless consumers lick their wounds — they will pay for darkness! But in this age of universal self-help, let the purveyors of this voodoo market be warned. If securing your market rights degenerates into longsuffering consumers viewing DISCOs’ billing agents as endangered species, who to blame know themselves!

Published and printed by Vintage Press Limited. Corporate Office: 27B Fatai Atere Way, Matori, Lagos. P.M.B. 1025,Oshodi, Lagos. Telephone: Switch Board: 08034505516. Editor Daily:08099365644, Marketing: 01-8155547 . Abuja Office: Plot 5, Nanka Close AMAC Commercial Complex, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja. Tel: 07028105302. Port Harcourt Office: 12/14, Njemanze Street, Mile 1, Diobu, PH. 08023595790. WEBSITE: www.thenationonlineng.net E-mail: info@thenationonlineng.net ISSN: 115-5302 Editor: GBENGA OMOTOSO