December 18, 2014 by The Nation

Newspaper of the Year

Obanikoro: my case against Agbaje NEWS

Page 8

•‘How George’s thugs stopped me’

News 54 soldiers to die for mutiny Sports NFF: no contract for Keshi now Business Multiple taxation worries telcos

•Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

VOL. 9, NO. 3068 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

P11

N150.00

Manufacturers warn against looming economic calamity

From Victor Oluwasegun, Dele Anofi, Nduka Chiejina and Chioma Onyia, Abuja

•Prices review on as production cost rises

IGERIANS got some bad news yesterday - more taxes are coming. It is all to shore up the shortfall, Minister for Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said yesterday. “We’ve tried to broaden the tax-base,” the minister told reporters shortly after laying the budget before the House of Representatives. She said the Federal Government had also “closed many loopholes and leakages”. Continued on page 4

P24

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TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

2015 Budget: Govt lists new tax regime to raise cash

P67

ANUFACTURERS are crying that cost of production keeps ris-

•Dr. Okonjo-Iweala

ing. The development, which assumed ascendancy in the last six weeks, has been traced to, amongst other factors, the con-

By Simeon Ebulu

tinuous fall in oil prices in the international spot market, and the slide in the foreign exchange rate of the naira, when compared against the dollar and other hard currencies. The fear among stakeholders

in the Organised Private Sector (OPS), some of who spoke in confidence, is that the unfolding development snowballs into a major economic crisis, if no steps are taken urgently to stem the Continued on page 4

•INSIDE: WHY POWER FAILURE PERSISTS, BY PRESIDENCY P65 GUNMEN KILL 10 IN KADUNA P6 P677

How my running mate was chosen, by Buhari APC picks legal giant Osinbajo Tinubu: I’m okay as party’s leader From Yusuf Alli and Tony Akowe, Abuja

EMI Osinbajo, frontline teacher, preacher, lawyer and administrator, is All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s running mate, it was announced yesterday. Osinbajo, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and former attorney general and commissioner for Justice in Lagos, emerged through a meticulous process, Gen. Buhari said in Abuja, adding that he picked a man of unimpeachable integrity to assist him in rescuing Nigeria. Also yesterday, APC National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu spoke of his being offered the job, which he declined in the interest of the party and as a patriot. Gen. Buhari, who spoke while presenting Osinbajo to Nigerians at the National Secretariat of the party in Abuja, described his running mate as a friend of the less-privileged. He said: “The challenging process of rescuContinued on page 4

WILL THE CHIBOK GIRLS KIDNAPPED ON APRIL 15 EVER RETURN?

INSIDE •The man Osinbajo •Saraki hails Tinubu •AND MORE •The Buhari, ON P. 2-4 &63 Osinbajo ticket •Jonathan vs Buhari: What to expect •PDP reacts

•THE CHOICE: Gen. Buhari (right) presenting Prof. Osinbajo...yesterday. Watching are: Chief Odigie-Oyegun and Shuaibu. PHOTO: ABAYOMI FAYESE

I have chosen a man of unimpeachable integrity, an excellent professional, a man of faith, a devoted family man and a role model ... —Buhari

I come to this assignment with lots of hope and a resolve to be a part of this movement to bring Nigeria back to its lost glory. —Osinbajo

•POLITICS P22 •SPORTS P24 •EDUCATION P25 •N/HEALTH P53 •E-BUSINESS P58 •FOREIGN P68

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

NEWS

I’m contented b

•Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu displaying his national identity card after receiving it from the Director-General, National Identity Management Commission, Mr Chris Onyemenam in Abuja...yesterday.

•Ex-governor explains withdrawal from consideration as Buhari’s deputy

•Chief Executive Officer, Institute for Government Research Leadership Technology, Amb. Moses Essien, flanked by the Chairman, Provita Vitaforce Foods, Mr. Radwan Akar and the company’s Marketing Manager, Mr. Kassem Tay, at the African Product Forum in Abuja...yesterday.

• Delta State Commissioner for Information Chike C. Ogeah receiving the award for the Most Outstanding Governor on Job Creation and Promotion of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) from the Chairman of DAAR Communications Plc, Chief Raymond Dokpesi Jnr. The award was conferred on Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan.

•From left: Chairman, Tertiary Education Tax Fund (TETFUND), Dr. Musa Babayo; Executive Secretary, TETFUND, Prof. Elias Bogoro; member, Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Funf, Prof. Patricia Donli; another BOT member, Mr. Richard Anetekhai and acting Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Alhaji Kabir Mashi, at the TETFUND 2014 Taxpayers Forum in Lagos...yesterday.

LL Progressive Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has defended his decision to withdraw from consideration as the APC Vice presidential candidate. In a statement yesterday, shortly after Prof. Yemi Osinbajo was presented as Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s running mate, Tinubu said he is contended being the National Leader of the party he has helped to build. The statement reads: “I am a Nigerian who loves his country and I am hopeful about what it can become. I have seen and conducted myself as a patriot long before I thought of myself as a politician. I shall always walk this line and no other. “After all the political calculations are made and the dust of competition has settled, it must be this nation and its people who stand first and foremost. The question becomes whether we stand strong, able to shape ourselves into our best future or will we stand frail and trembling, burdened by the abject failure to surmount the multiple problems confronting us. “It is against this backdrop that I assess any action I take. Here I come to my name being placed in consideration as the vice presidential candidate for our party, the APC. I have laboured hard to move this party from being merely an idea in the minds of a few into being a political organisation that might win this election and govern the nation in way that gives the people the hope and opportunity they seek. Nothing is more important to me than to realise this dream not for myself but for the people of this land I so love. “I helped to build this party, giving no thought to seeking an elected office because of it. My contribution to the party was never based on the expectation of a later political handout. Nigeria is in trouble and we are well past the moment for such narrow, selfish games. “There came a time during the course of the events when our presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari offered the vice presidential slot to me. Being a normal human being, I was deeply moved and honoured that he would consider me for the position. Being a patriot, I had to weigh my potential candidacy in all of its dimensions. “I have concluded that the interests of the sparty, our campaign and of the nation are better served if I retain my position as the National Leader of the APC, allowing me to be a bridge builder across all divides. Although, I declined the position, I want to thank Gen Buhari for extending the honour to me. “Despite all the noise and opposition around my possible selection, he stood firm and steadfast. He showed the traits of a leader in holding to a decision he believed was right despite the errant plots against it. “When my name was raised, the political hatchet men tried to chop it down with rumour and lies. Over the years, I have developed a thick skin. The personal attacks did not bother me. I am used to them. While I have a thick skin, I don’t have a thick mind. There has been one form of attack that has troubled me. That is the attack based on religion. The PDP

•Buhari

(Peoples Democratic Party) and others have stoked fear of a Muslim/ Muslim ticket. “I have removed myself from consideration so what I now say cannot be seen as self-serving. I plead with the people of this nation to never allow the power lust of cynical politicians to set brothers against brothers and neighbours against neighbours. If you look at those politicians who raise this issue the most, they are the least devout and faithful to any religion other their selfinterests. “Nigeria has too many secular problems – insecurity, economic collapse, poverty, corruption and misgovernance – to allow inept people to use religion to keep us from solving these challenges for the benefit of all. “Those who exploit religion should be wary. For there really is a God and He does not like it when you play with his people or use His name to do the opposite of what He intends. “I ask the people to remove religion from the electoral equation now that the tickets of both parties are mixed. I ask you to select the ticket best able to end the downward slide that Nigeria has endured since this government took over. I ask you to remember that too many Christians and Muslims are poor. Most of all, I ask you to remember that the true religion of the PDP is poverty and the APC has come to bring prosperity to the people. Please vote for that. “The Nigeria I see is a nation that shall overcome. The Nigeria I see is a nation ready to sweep aside the broken ways of our recent past and the government and politicians who impose distress upon us. The Nigeria I see and seek is one where each person, every man, woman and child may live free of terrorism, free of the despair of poverty and free of the fear that the government meant to serve and protect them has turned its back to them in cold and utter indifference. “I see and seek a Nigeria where progressive, democratic governance creates the political and economic space needed for each of us to contribute to rescuing and retooling this nation. And, in the process of this benign endeavour, may each and every one of us share in the sound promise and good prosperity that

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

NEWS

being APC national leader, says Tinubu ‘ Once again, their permutation and evil wishes failed fatally. While they are hit by unending crisis and schism arising from their deep- seated selfish interests, the APC continues to grow from strength to strength to the glory of the badly ruined Nigerian state

‘

•Osinbajo

Lagos APC: Osinbajo’s choice as running mate perfect

HE Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday welcomed the choice of Prof Yemi Osinbajo as the party’s presidential running mate perfect. Spokesman of the chapter Joe Igbokwe said the choice of the former Lagos Attorney-General and Commissioner for was another step taken in the right direction by the APC. He expressed the optimism that the combination of the ex-General and the professor of Law will the pains inflicted on Nigerians since 1999 by the ruling party. Also yesterday, Senator Gbenga Ashafa said the choice of the law professor reflected the seriousness of the opposition party. Ashafa said the pair of Buhari and Osinbajo will offer Nigerians a new lease of life and provide the long-sought-after change. Igbokwe said in the statement: “It is like putting a round peg in a round hole. It complements the stellar presidential candidate of APC, Gen. Muhamadu Buhari (rtd). “With the emergence of Prof. Osinbajo, the change train that will end the harrowing PDP reign of corruption, ineptitude and corruption is now complete. shall describe the architecture of our national revival. “However, not everyone that

It’s new lease of life, says Ashafa We charge all Nigerians to work to ensure that the 2015 elections herald the needed change Nigerians have been yearning for by rallying round the Buhari/Osinbajo ticket. “Coming exactly a week after the completion of the spectacular APC presidential primaries in Lagos, the choice of Osinbajo reflects the demand of Nigerians for a credible, untainted, committed and competent team that will be trusted to end the reign of mediocrity and corruption that has wrecked Nigeria for sixteen horrible years. “The choice itself, and the general acceptance, has finally put a seal on those that have desperately been sowing expectations of crisis and division in APC, as a needed tonic for their continued stay in power. “Once again, their permutation and evil wishes failed fatally while they are hit by unending crisis and schism arising from their deep seated selfish interests while the APC continues to grow from strength to strength to the glory of the badly ruined Nigerian state. “Prof. Osinbajo is a deep intellectual, a revered

shouts the name of Nigeria believes in this vision. There are many who would have you laid low and our

Christian pastor, a revered professor of law, a redoubtable lawyer and a technocrat who compliments the stellar records of Gen. Buhari. “He will be coming into governance with the wealth of experience he had gathered in the Public Service as former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos, who did creditably well in reforming the justice system in Lagos, to make it a pace setter in judicial dispensation in Nigeria today. His commitment to the return of Nigeria to the paths of legality, sanity and judicial is legendary and the country will benefit from this. “While we express our joy and those of other Nigerians in this excellent choice, we urge Nigerians, who have been yearning for change to start working for that change, as this great opportunity has presented itself. We urge Nigerians to start the process of mobilizing the abused, cheated, victimized Nigerians for the great change of 2015 which will rescue Nigeria from the clutches of bad governance, deeply entrenched corruption and cluelessness that have combined to wreck a well endowed country today.”

future tossed asunder that they may persist in reaping the unjust reward of their selfish ways.

“There are wolves in sheep clothing and even jackals in wolf’s clothing. I have seen them but not

as residents in some strange zoo. They populate the halls of this diminished government and the party from which this government was born. “We have come to the field of fateful choice. We have been brought to test the scales of weighty decision. Shall we lift this nation upward so that from its higher vantage point we may clearly see the road to our better destiny? Or shall we continue to march the march of fools into the dark of darkness. The current path has but one end. It shall take us into the den of national collapse. We have gone far enough down this wicked avenue to be aware of what its continuance portends. “We must awaken of our own accord, my dear people, before the bell of doom rings upon us. If we wait until that moment, we would have waited too long. Our future, our fate, our destiny would have been cast into the snare of utter misfortune. This is not the song of greatness. It is the poetics of ruin. “For me, political ambition will never triumph over patriotic conviction. This delicate moment affords no space for emotion to intrude to blind us from what is best. The APC is the best and only vehicle to enact the progressive and broad change this nation cries for. I eagerly lend myself to this fine cause without me having to be on the ticket. “This is a time for cohesion and an overriding sense of mission. We must defeat the foe before us and resist all temptations intended to entice us to fight among ourselves. “I sincerely commit myself to the rescue agenda of Gen Buhari and Prof Osinbajo. “I declare to you, I will work and dedicate myself so that our ticket succeeds and wins the 2015 election — not for his good, not for my good, not even for the party’s good but for the good of the nation we inhabit. “Some may call what I have done a sacrifice. I call it otherwise. It is my patriotic contribution and duty. I do so with a happy and uplifted heart and clear conscience because I have committed myself to seeking the best for this nation before seeking what is good for myself. This is the creed of statesmanship I chose to follow. May this be the creed of our party as Gen Buhari leads us to historic victory in the 2015 elections. “May the light of a bright future always shine on you and on our beloved nation, the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Jonathan versus Buhari: What Nigerians should expect

T last, the battle line is drawn. With the announcement of Yemi Osinbajo, a professor of law and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) as vice presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday, all is set for what promises to be a titanic battle between President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and APC’s Muhammadu Buhari, a General and former Head of State. Come February 2015, in an election likely to be the most closely fought since the return of democracy in 1999, Nigerians will have another historic opportunity to choose between the candidates, judging them by the issues they and their parties stand for. Although Jonathan and Buhari are not the issues in the forthcoming elec-

By Adekunle Yusuf, Assistant Editor

tion, efforts are afoot to narrow critical issues facing the country today to the two candidates and their parties, instead of the larger concerns of over 160 million Nigerians who are in the limbo due to bad governance. On the social as well in the mainstream media, name-calling and exchange of brickbats by supporters and opponents of the two contenders seem to be obscuring the real challenge of how best to wriggle out of years of ineptitude at the national level. After a landslide victory at a wellorganised convention of the APC in Lagos, Buhari will be wooing the electorate on his track record of incorruptibility, having lived a lifestyle of selfdenial and simplicity, which has earned him a sterling reputation as a tested and trusted leader who can

prosecute the waning anti-graft war better. According to Amitolu Shittu, an activist and human rights crusader, the 2015 presidential race is going to be a race between corruption and anticorruption, a vote for change or the unpalatable status quo as well as a contest between credibility and lack of it. He said no amount of campaigns of calumny could distort Buhari’s unimpeachable credential as an antigraft crusader, an expectation the Fulani prince lived up to in the 20month period in office in the 1980s. At a time that insurgency is holding the country by the jugular, killing more 10,000 innocent citizens, critics say Buhari’s candidacy is likely to stir the interest of ordinary folks, who are the victims of the campaign of blood being waged relentlessly by the Boko Haram extremists. President Jonathan will be asking

Nigerians for more patience in the fight against terror, assuring that his administration is doing everything possible to turn the tide. Whether either of the candidates acknowledges it or not, the coming election will be a critical test for democracy, especially now that plummeting oil prices in the international market have left the economy in a bad shape. Besides the all-important issue of insecurity, the race will also be a referendum on the performance of Jonathan in economic management, job and wealth creation over the last four years. According to pundits, epileptic power supply and endemic poverty may also play crucial roles in the shape of things to come between now and February 2015. While accepting his nomination at the APC convention at the Teslim

Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Gen. Buhari, who stabilised the economy as military ruler, said: “The lives of the poor are bled dry while of the wealthy soak in abundance. It is time to end this demeaning chapter in our nation’s history.” But the incumbent President,who recently declared himself as the best president to have ruled the country, will flaunt his economic achievements, saying his administration has modernised the airports, built roads and re-calibrated the economy, now touted as the largest in Africa. Will Nigerians allow themselves to be polarised as usual along ethnic, religious and geo-political divides or embrace the historic opportunity to decide their future in the next election? Time will tell whether the voters will cast their ballot for continuity, which Jonathan and the ruling PDP symbolises, or a change that Buhari and the APC is offering them.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

NEWS 2015 Budget: Govt lists new tax regime to raise cash Continued from page 1

•Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (right) with (from right) his wife Abimbola, Deputy Governor Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Chief Judge Olufunmilayo Atilade and Head of Service Mrs Josephine Oluseyi Williams at the 2014 Christmas Carol Service at Marina, PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES Lagos…yesterday.

Manufacturers warn against economic calamity Continued from page 1

tide. Besides the falling oil prices on which the nation relies for over 85 per cent of its federally revenue, an official of one of the special interest groups pointed out, the devaluation of the naira and the non-inclusion of raw material inputs in sourcing foreign exchange from the bi-weekly Royal Dutch Auction System (RDAS), have grave implications for manufacturing, which depend on inputs from overseas. The official, who stressed that his identity must be veiled, said what is playing out now, is reminiscent of the events of 1986 when the naira was devalued by the then military government, which resulted in the steep rise in prices and caused collateral damage to manufacturers of consumer products, “the effects of which the nation has not recovered from.”

In his view, the naira’s purchasing power will drop and cost of inputs will increase. The effect, said the source, would be that goods emanating from Nigeria will command higher prices, as against imported ones, “and this is sounding a death knell to the indigenous manufacturers, or whatever is left of that sector.” While acknowledging the fact that the scenario was unanticipated, the official, nevertheless called for a shock therapy, saying the response to the challenge, especially by manufacturers and other segments of the OPS, might result in production cuts and price adjustments, with its attendant consequences, adding that one of the most painful unintended outcome of the measures manufacturers might adopt to keep afloat, would be to lay off some of their workers. “This will be at variance with the government’s often trumpeted agenda, which is that of creating

jobs,” he said. The official said since the economy had come under so much stress, the Federal Government should, as a matter of urgency, consider postponing the implementation of the proposed ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET). The effects of the oil price slide and the woeful standing of the exchange rate of the local currency against the greenback are also telling on the prices of consumer items and building materials. An official of a leading publishing outfit expressed his frustration about a car he intended to procure, and on which he had reached a financing deal with his bank. He said: “ We had agreed on a loan of N4 million but, to my surprise, they have re-valued it to N5.6million, holding the exchange rate of the naira, responsible.” It was also learnt, that prices of building inputs, especially

cement, have equally skyrocketed. A random survey of cement prices from dealers, was most revealing. A 50kg bag of the 42.5 grade cement, which sold for about N1,500 just last weekend, is now going for between N2,100 and N2,250 without prejudice to the brand. Responses to The Nation inquiry from one of the leading manufacturing outfits, whose official asked that both his identity and that of his organisation be veiled, showed that the prevailing economic circumstances, are responsible. He said: “Besides the cost of energy, which is enormous, the cost of money and the exchange rate regime, have simply compounded the situation,” adding that he is aware that the cost of newsprint which Customs agent procured for client, has shot up to N185,000 per tonne, representing an increase of over N28,000, the official said. Continued on page 64

The Minister, who also laid the budget proposal before senators, added that the economy would be driven mainly by the non-oil sector, considering the global oil price slide. “We’ve speeded up audit, we’ve closed some exemptions all of these will bring additional revenues into the coffers,” she said. The 2015-2017 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) presented to the National Assembly shows that Federal Government’s net revenue projection from non-oil sector is N2.075 trillion after costs and deductions for 2015. Net oil revenue was put at N3.955 trillion after costs, deductions and derivation. The minister, who led six other ministers to the National Assembly, said in spite of the oil price slide, the Federal Government would ensure regular payment of pensions, salaries and wages to its workers. While giving an outlook on the 2015 budget proposal, she said: “I’ve laid the budget on behalf of His Excellency, Mr President. This budget is based on few indicators, the $65 a barrel benchmark and we are going to stick to it for now inspite of the declining prices because we feel the average price next year will be around $65 to $70. The production level is 2.27 million barrel per day. “The revised growth rate based on the new parameters for the country, down from 6.35 to 5.5 per cent next year, that is still one of the fastest growth rate we are experienc-

ing in the world today. We have a budget expenditure of about N4.3 trillion, revenue of N3.6 trillion, we’ve tried to make up for the drop from $78 per barrel to $65 by raising non-oil revenues. This budget points to the fact that this country is a non-oil country and I think we want Nigerians to start to think of the country that way. “So we have worked very hard to move on non-oil revenues, so we’ve closed many loopholes and leakages; we’ve tried to broaden the tax-base, we’ve speeded up audit; we’ve closed some exemptions; all of these will bring additional revenues into the coffers. “We’ve also worked on the expenditures. On the expenditure side, in the short term, we are going to look at the administrative expenditure; equipment we will not be able to buy next year, travels and trainings will only be inside the country just on exceptional bases if someone is paying for you, you will be able to go out or if it is a critical government directive to go out. “It is not going to be easy on the short term to do so much because we want to make sure that people get their salaries and wages and pensions are paid. We don’t want to make any adjustments on the part of our pensioners and workers but in the longer term, we will now be able to look at how to restructure governance.” Many lawmakers, including Minority Leader Femi GbajaContinued on page 64

Shekau threatens to attack Kano Emir

OKO Haram leader Abubakar Shekau has threatened to attack the Emir of Kano, Muhummadu Sanusi II, in retaliation for the Emir’s call on Kano residents and other Nigerians to defend themselves against the terror organisation. In a video released last weekend, Shekau said his

group does not consider the emir a true Muslim. The Emir had earlier issued a call to arms after a series of deadly attacks by suspected Boko Haram militants in Kano. Boko Haram launched a deadly assault on the Kano Mosque near the Emir’s palContinued on page 64

How my running mate was chosen, by Buhari Saraki hails Tinubu’s sacrifice

Continued from page 1

ing our country and changing Nigeria for good has commenced. One of the first decisions that I have to make is the choice of the vice-presidential candidate and my running mate. “The method employed in this choice was quite meticulous but yet rigorous. It involved the establishment of objective criteria, broad consultations with party leaders and a few opinion leaders outside the party and interactions with a number of nominees.” Clad in blue Babanriga, the former Head of State listed the outstanding qualities that endeared him to Osinbajo. He added: “To assist me in this great task of securing Nigeria’s future, I have chosen a man of unimpeachable integrity, an excellent professional, a man of faith, a devoted family man and a role model to our fellow countrymen and women. He is a professor of law and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. “An alumnus of the University of Lagos and the London School of Economics, he is a prodigious author who has to his credit several books on civil procedure in Nigerian superior courts. “The vice-presidential candi-

ORMER governor of Kwara State Senator Bukola Saraki has hailed the sacrifice and contribution of former Lagos State Governor Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to the development of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and democracy in Nigeria. Dr. Saraki, a chieftain of the APC, welcomed the emergence of Prof. Yemi Osinbajo as the running mate of the presidential candidate of APC, General Muhammadu Buhari. Saraki, in an electronic mail, said: “The emergence of Professor Yemi Osinbajo - a Professor of law; a wellranked academic; a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN); and a committed pastor of unquestionable integrity from South-West Nigeria further attests to the commitment of the All Progressives Congress to fairness and equality. “Most importantly, I would like to commend the National Leader of our party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for the sacrifice and contribution to the development of APC and democracy in Nigeria. No doubt, from his precedents as a forward-thinking Governor of Ladate is a friend of the less privileged, compassionate and zealous in service. A man of uncommon humility, a loyal, dependable and selfless patriot. “Ladies and gentlemen, I

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

gos State, and his profile as one of the foremost democrats in Nigeria, the people of the South-West and a large block of voters wanted Asiwaju as running mate to General Buhari. “Historically, the South-West is known not to pay attention to religion but competence when picking candidates for positions, but due to Tinubu’s belief in the Nigerian project, which he sees as bigger than any individual interest, he made it clear that we cannot ignore the current happenings around the country that require that as a party, we must take extra caution and be sensitive to every ethnicity and religion by picking a Christian candidate. “Despite what has been reported on the pages of some newspapers, some of us privy to the happenings behind closed doors attest to the leadership role of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which led to the emergence of Osinbajo, an erudite scholar and a dogged advocate of the people. “In the same spirit, I must also commend other leaders of the APC who

present Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who by the grace of God and the vote of Nigerians will be the next vice-president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.” The small crowd of party chiefs clapped excitedly as

have continuously made sacrifices in the interest of the party and Nigeria at large. Leaders like Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Alhaji Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and Owelle Rochas Okorocha who on Thursday December 11,2014 after the presidential primaries made similar sacrifices by pledging their support to General Buhari, contrary to speculations by naysayers that the APC would implode either after the primary or in the course of the nomination of its vice-presidential candidate. APC has, once again, demonstrated that national interests are paramount in the guiding principle of the party, as opposed to personal ambition. “I use this opportunity to congratulate all party stakeholders, most especially the presidential candidate for the success of the process in the selection of the Vice-Presidential candidate; this process has once again demonstrated to Nigerians the preparedness of APC to run an efficient and transperent government, putting to shame those that have said the party was made up of people with personal ambitions.”

Gen. Buhari raised Osinbajo’s hand. Gen. Buhari praised Nigerians for their goodwill since he emerged as the presidential candidate of APC. He added: “I wish to thank

all Nigerians and friends of Nigeria who have continued to send messages of goodwill and congratulations to me and the party since my election as the presidential flag bearer of the All Progressives

•Dr. Saraki

Congress(APC). “The huge outpouring of support and acceptance has been a great encouragement to me and hardened my resolve to lead the process of rebuilding a New Nigeria and securing our future. “In my acceptance speech, I pledged to run an efficient government, fight corruption and indiscipline in our national life. I promised to end the current regime of fear and uncertainty in our country and place priority on national security. “I also pledged to rebuild our battered economy and reduce poverty by deliberate policies Continued on page 64

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THE NATION THURSDAY DECEMBER 18, 2014

NEWS

Don’t despair, Buhari tells youths

LL Progressives Congress’ (APC’s) presidential candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari has urged youths not to allow the nation’s challenges to lead them into despair. Buhari, who addressed youth groups in Abuja yesterday as part of his 72nd birthday anniversary, said the country’s problems were self inflicted. He noted that they could only be addressed with the right leadership and the right attitude to governance. According to him, the “dreams for a better Nigeria might have been temporarily halted, but our resolve has never wavered. We must get our acts together and salvage our country. It will be criminal to waste the exciting potentials I see in you.”

From Tony Akowe, Abuja

Buhari said Nigeria had no business with poverty, unemployment and underdevelopment, stressing that APC government would ensure that the nation’s commonwealth was used for the benefit of Nigerians. He said: “What is at stake is the future of Nigeria. The struggle is for the millions of Nigerians, who have been driven from their homes by terrorists; it is about the tens of millions of Nigerians who have no jobs, no sense of security and no hope for a better future; it is about putting Nigeria first. “The need for change is imperative. The future of Nigeria is about your future. The big question is: Do we have the courage to vote for change? Are you ready to join me in secur-

ing our country and our future?” On his birthday, the APC presidential candidate noted: “Let me begin by expressing my profound gratitude to God, who has given me long life and good health and for sustaining my passion and commitment to continue to serve our dear country. “Usually, reaching another milestone in life is a cause for celebration. And while I appreciate the opportunity to engage with young people, who are the future leaders, I cannot pretend to be as happy as I ought to be. Nevertheless, we shall not allow the challenges confronting Nigeria to lead us to despair. “I have never wavered from my desire to contribute to a better Nigeria, even in the face of the most daunting challeng-

es. The true mark of character is for one to believe in a good cause, and to have the courage and conviction to fight for that good cause, regardless of all obstacles and challenges. “Every time I meet and interact with young Nigerians from every part of the country, I am struck by your vitality, confidence, intelligence, creativity and vision. These are the ingredients needed to forge a great country. The only missing component is visionary leadership that would channel your energies and resourcefulness into cohesive social and economic mechanisms to develop Nigeria.” Buhari promised to provide them with required, create and sustain the enabling environment they needed to unleash their potential in Nigeria and across the world.

•President Goodluck Jonathan (right), receiving the Women Empowerment Leadership Award from Women Affairs Minister Hajiya Zainab Maina in Abuja... yesterday. The award was presented to him by the Lady Mechanic Initiative.

Police invasion: DPO lied, says Mark

HE National Assembly Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Mr. James Idachaba, lied over his claim that the security detail attached to Senate President David Mark attacked Speaker of the House of Representatives Aminu Waziri Tambuwal with tear gas, it was learnt yesterday. According to a statement by Mark’s Special Adviser on Media and Publication, Kola Ologbondiyan, entitled: “Mark’s security detail did not teargas Tambuwal, others,” the allegation was “absolute falsehood, dubious, vexatious, horrible

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

and embarrassing.” The statement reads: “The attention of the Office of the President of the Senate has been drawn to news reports alleging that security details attached to Mark were responsible for the use of teargas on the person of the Speaker, House of Representatives, at the National Assembly premises on November 20 and credited to Superintendent of Police, Idachaba James, the Divisional Police Officer

(DPO) of National Assembly. “We wish to state without equivocation that the security details attached to the Senate President, did not and could not have attacked the person of Speaker Tambuwal with teargas.” It added that the allegation credited to Idachaba was “absolute falsehood, dubious, vexatious, horrible and embarrassing.” The statement added: “The events of November 20, are very fresh and any attempt to re-write or misrepresent them will not stand.

“SP Idachaba James, who claimed not to have been present at the scene of the incident, but only relied on hearsay, must not be allowed to embark on a name-calling exercise. “It is also imperative to state that any attempt to create a needless feud between the two chambers of the National Assembly is mischievous and wicked “For the avoidance of doubts, we hereby declare that the security aides of the Senate President did not attack Speaker Tambuwal with teargas.”

FEC approves N58.4 billion road contracts

HE Federal Executive Council has approved N58.4 billion for road projects across the country. The meeting, which was presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan, also approved $59.69 million for Lagos port, N3.87 billion for Makurdi inland river port and N350.8 million for assets’ insurance cover for Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria. The Supervising Minister of Information, Nurudeen Mohammed; Works Minister Mike Onolomemen; Aviation Minister Osita Chidoka; Trade and Investment Minister Olusegun Aganga; and Transport Minister Idris Umar, briefed State House corre-

•Council okays $59.69 million for Lagos port From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

spondents at the end of the meeting. Mohammed said the council approved N24.243 billion for the rehabilitation of the outstanding section of Onitsha-Enugu Expressway: Amansea-Enugu in Enugu State in favour of Messrs RCC Nigeria Limited. The project upon completion, he added, would enhance transportation, communication, improve the socio-economic activities and standard of living of the citizens; reduce travel time and vehicle operating cost and to generate em-

ployment for not less than 25 engineers, 100 skilled and 435 semi-skilled workers in the course of execution. According to him, there was a budgetary provision of N400 million in the ministry’s 2014 appropriation and N11 billion under SURE-P 2014 Appropriation to start the project. On the second memo from the Works Ministry, he said approval was given for the award of contracts for the rehabilitation of Sokoto-Tambuwal-Jega-Birni Yauri-Kontagora-Makera Road in Sokoto, Kebbi and Niger states and Vandeikya-Obudu Cattle Ranch in Benue and Cross River states.

He said: “Rehabilitation of Sokoto-Tambuwal-Jega-Birni Yauri Road: Jega-Birni Yauri (186 kilometres) in Kebbi State in favour of Messrs Triacta Nigeria Limited for N19.8 billion, thereby revising the contract from N10.5 billion to N30.4 billion with a completion period of 36 months. “Rehabilitation of SokotoJega-Kontagora-Makera Road: Kontagora-Makera (85km) in Niger State in favour of Messrs CRCC Construction Company Limited for N10.6 billion, thereby revising the contract sum from N8.9 billion to N19.5 billion with a completion period of 30 months.”

‘Online registration detected fake corps members’ From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

NLINE registration process by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has helped to detect fake corps members, Director-General, Brig.-Gen. Johnson Olawunmi, said yesterday. Olawunmi said most of the fake corps members got mobilised for the service year with the connivance of their institutions’ students’ affairs officers, but were detected at the point of registration in the camp. Refusing to reveal the number of fake corps members that have been detected, he said the service was deployed to eliminate fraud, avoidable deaths and guarantee seamless NYSC process. Olawunni, who addressed NYSC stakeholders meeting in Abuja, said the increasing number of prospective corps members, which rose from 2,364 at inception in 1973 to the over 750,000, made ICT deployment inevitable since manual processing had become obsolete. He added that in a technology-driven world, it becomes antithetical for the NYSC to have retained the antiquated and traditional manual mobilisation processes with its attendant shortcomings and associated problems. Insisting there was no underhand deal in the choice of SIDMACH Technologies Ltd for the ICP infrastructure, the NYSC boss noted that 49 companies applied after the advertisement as required by law. He added that the final choice was made by the Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP) and additional certification by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), which issued full Business Case Compliance Certificate to the NYSC.

Jonathan, Sambo, ministers pay tributes to Ashiru From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

HE Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan paid tributes to late former Foreign Affairs Minister, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru. Ashiru died in South Africa on November 29, from brain tumour complications. The Council was in a gloomy mood during the session, with the Minister of Agriculture, Adesina Akinwunmi, in tears while paying tribute to Ashiru. He seconded the motion moved by the Supervising Minister of Information, Nurudeen Muhammed, that a minute silence be observed in honour of the deceased. President Jonathan said: “Initially, I couldn’t link his name to the man I had met in South Africa. He did very well as a foreign minister. “We were able to stabilise Niger and some other crises within the sub region when I was chair, ECOWAS Heads of State and Governments. He helped Nigeria move from being competitors to friends with other countries. “He was a likeable character and good diplomat. A dedicated civil servant, committed and patriotic. God knows why he took him at a time his services were still needed. We condole with his family, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State and Nigeria at large.” Vice President Namadi Sambo said: “His death came to me with a great shock. He was a gentleman and experienced diplomat, who served the country very well. He contributed immensely towards cementing our relations with many countries.” On his part, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, said: “Ashiru was a man of high sense of patriotism and polite dignity. He had a sense of humour, cordiality and team spirit.” Minister of Interior Abba Moro noted: “His death has robbed Nigeria of one of her finest diplomats. He put Nigeria first before any other thing. He was vehement on the need for Nigeria to prevail on African countries in terms of consular relations.” Trade and Investment Minister Olusegun Aganga said that the deceased was an accomplished diplomat and a true reformer who was a good man with a good heart.

End jail break, minister urges prison boss From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

HE new Controller-General of Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS), Peter Ekpendu, has been urged to end attacks on prison formations. Minister of Interior Abba Moro gave the order yesterday while decorating Ekpendu and Controller General of Federal Fire Service (FFS), Joseph Anebi, at the Ministry of Interior, Abuja. Expressing dismay that preliminary investigations had shown that officers conspired with external forces to the attacks, he said the Federal Government would sanction prisons officers involved in any jail break incident. He noted that the country was facing security challenges and the services must complement the government’s effort to stamp out insurgency. Moro stressed that the country had witnessed too many security problems and would not tolerate the release of hardened criminals to the society. “The uniform that you wear today bears a sign of responsibility, you must take responsibility and anything to the contrary is not acceptable to us in the ministry. “Nigeria looks up to you for the security of our prisons. Nigerians are facing a lot of trauma resulting from insurgency; they can’t add the release of criminals into the society to compound our security situation.”

THE NATION THURSDAY DECEMBER 18, 2014

NEWS

‘How I resisted attempts to force APC presidential aspirants to step down’ ‘ efforts T So many

HE All Progressives Congress’ (APC’s) National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, admitted yesterday that he resisted attempts to armtwist five aspirants to step down for one another before the party’s presidential primary. Odigie-Oyegun, who spoke in Abuja while receiving the report of former Governor Kayode Fayemi-led National Convention Committee, said he rejected the idea so that whoever wins, would have no excuse. His words: “So many efforts were made to get me to call the aspirants together and arm-twist them into stepping down for each other. “And I resisted it and said, no, we are going to organise a transparent convention so that whoever wins, will have no excuse in the world. I entrusted that mission to you and your team. “You have organised what will go into history in this nation, in our political space and beyond as clearly the freest and fairest presidential primary that has ever been witnessed in this nation. “The success of the convention has propelled the party. We are proponents of change and it was necessary that one of our major activities should convey to the world what we mean by change.” Odigie-Oyegun praised the committee for the outstanding job it did, especially Fayemi’s exemplary lead-

fire even before it got to us and they were readily available to their own aspirants and also readily available to us; and we were able to solve a lot of problems because of that. “That is why at the end of the exercise, no single aspirant had any complaint to make about the process that was witnessed in Lagos. They have all written to me to commend the exercise as a very transparent one and to say that they were pleased with the process, even if the outcome did not favour them.” Fayemi however, admitted that the convention committee experienced some challenges. He said: “We are honest enough to highlight areas of deficiencies in our report, because to the outside world, who saw what we did, the whole exercise was smooth sailing. I can tell you that we had some hiccups and for future purposes, we have highlighted how to deal with these hiccups in our report. “One thing that we find very useful was the availability of an independent event manager that Lagos State procured for us for this exercise. “Part of what you saw, the ambience that you witnessed at the stadium and the arrangement that was there was the handiwork of the event manager. I think it is something that should be looked into in terms of future activities. “I must also highlight that

From Yusuf Alli and Tony Akowe, Abuja

ership. He added: “I want to thank you very much for consenting to serve in that capacity soon after leaving your job as governor of Ekiti State. I have had the privilege of knowing you for a number of years. “I was really agonising over who was going to serve as chairman of this committee because I have done one before. I have also organised a presidential primary and so I knew what was involved and I know that the character of the leader and the character of the team was critical to the success of the exercise. “As I was agonising over this, there you were and with a splash of inspiration, I immediately got in touch with you and you accepted. Thereafter, everything became downhill. The second thing was to put together a team of impeccable personalities to work with you and that was exactly what we did. “So, I am not at all surprised at the very outstanding job that you and your team have accomplished. “On behalf of the party, I congratulate you for what you have done for the party, which is incalculable and it is my hope that given the momentum that this has created, the party will win the presidential election.” Fayemi praised the party for the innovations it introduced, which contributed to the success of the convention. He also gave insights into

were made to get me to call the aspirants together and arm-twist them into stepping down for each other.

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the activities of the committee, which accounted for its success. He added: “We broke our works into eight sub-committees. We had electoral committee, security subcommittee, entertainment sub-committee, the accreditation sub-committee, media and publicity sub-committee, finance sub-committee, transport and accommodation sub-committee. “Those sub-committees worked tirelessly to ensure that we had a good convention. It was not totally smooth; but it was mostly smooth in all respects. “The aspirants cooperated with us. We must commend the party for the innovations they introduced, which contributed to the success of the convention. “The inclusion of aspirants’ representatives is something we will recommend for every convention of the party because that singular act saved us from a lot of rumours. “The representatives of the aspirants quenched the

Students to enjoy reduced air fare From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

T •Chief Odigie-Oyegun

we had first class support from Lagos State. The deputy governor was with us throughout the programme and attended all our meetings. The security agencies were wonderful and the APC chairman in Lagos, Chief Henry Ajomale, made available to us many assistants to help the accreditation process. “We were able to deliver a candidate for the party in a credible process that everybody has attested to and also acceptable to all the aspirants in that process. “Eventually, I think that our decision in venue turned out to be good and it worked well for the party, in spite of the challenges that accompanied that. Another area I think we would really like to work with the party in terms of recommendation is on accreditation. I think the party needs to do a bit more in this regard.” Fayemi faulted the Federal Government for disallowing APC Convention Committee the use of the National Stadium. He said such high-level of intolerance was bad in a genuine democracy.

Four gallant sergeants

Military vows again to crush Boko Haram From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

NSPECTOR General of Police (IGP) Suleiman Abba has rewarded four sergeants for outstanding performances. The IGP said the decision to reward them was guided by their assessments in hard work, humility and honesty. The award was a joint effort of the Police and Puzzles Group Limited. The awardees are: Sergeant Bonze Pelesai, Sergeant Ibrahim Dikki, Sergent Usman Mohammed and late Sergeant Memuna Yusuf. Plaques and cheques were given yesterday to the awardees in Abuja at the Force Headquarters. Force Spokesman Emmanuel Ojukwu, who spoke on why the sergeants were rewarded, said: “Pelesai emerged the winner and won himself N1 million for averting what would have been a “national calamity. “Pelesai was contracted by a leader of a militant group, who felt aggrieved by what the government was doing concerning the amnesty programme. “The grand plan of the group was to blow up the Calabar-Idu Bridge and in October 2014, the suspect proceeded to their target to execute their plan. But due to intelligence and information supplied by Pelesia, the suspects were trailed and stopped from carrying their act.

HE Federal Government is planning to collaborate with major airlines for a 50 per cent reduction in flight tickets for students with identity cards. The project, which is an initiative of the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to President Jonathan on Youth and Students, Jude Imagwe, is before the Presidency for ratification. Imagwe, who said this at his yearly lecture series in Gwagwalada, Abuja, said if the plan is approved , airlines would allocate certain percentage of their seats for the purpose. He added that the initiative was part of the government’s efforts to enhance living for students. On the programme, tagged: “I Fly Student,” Imagwe explained that the government was discussing with air carriers to enable identified student, who chooses to travel by air, to pay 50 per cent of the boarding fare. Imagwe hoped that the if the idea, which was initiated by a Nigerian in Ghana, works, “there is no way it will not work in Nigeria.” He noted that the Jonathan administration’s transformation in youth development was not a mere political rhetoric, urging other tiers of government, as well as policy-makers to ensure the realisation of efforts geared towards youth and women empowerment.

From Left: Pelesai; Inspector General of Police Abba; Dikki; Chief Executive Officer, Puzzles Group Limited Mr. Bayo Adeyemo and Mohammed, at the awards’presentation in Abuja... yesterday. From Faith Yahaya, Abuja

“The police was able to recover high powered explosive devices and electronic detonators from the suspects.” On Dikki, who got N500,000, the Ojukwu said: “He was on patrol with three other policemen in BauchiKano highway, when unknown gunmen suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect attacked them. “The attack resulted in the death of two inspectors while the driver, a Constable, was

‘

The decision to reward them was guided by their assessments in hard work, humility and honesty. shot in the shoulder. Even with his team almost desolated, Dikki repelled the terrorists, recovered the bodies of his dead colleagues with their rifles and drove back to the police headquarters in Bauchi State safely.” Mohammed got N250,000 for saving the life of an Army

‘

captain. “He responded to a distress call by Fulani herdsmen that they were under attack by some persons and that their cows had been stolen. “On getting there, a mob of armed men attacked the team and the Army captain that led the team was machet-

ed on the head and at that stage, Usman took it upon himself to save the life of the Captain and prevented the military truck from being captured by the mob. He was also able to drive the truck, which had deflated tyres, safely to a village in Jos North Local Government Area.” A posthumous award and N500,000 reward was given to the family of the late Sergeant Yusuf, who died on March 19, 2013, after being shot by Boko Haram, which attacked Kano.

HIEF of Defence Staff Alex Badeh has assured that the military will win the war against Boko Haram. Air Chief Marshal Badeh spoke yesterday with State House correspondents after a breakfast meeting between security chiefs and President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House, Abuja. The Defence chief, who evaded most of the questions from reporters, also promised that elections will hold in every part of the country next year. Air Chief Marshal Badeh said: “We are certainly not losing it. We are winning the war. Don’t worry. Nigerians should have faith in their military. The nation will win this war. Elections will hold there. Don’t worry.” On the fake Boko Haram members arrested by the DSS and his earlier ceasefire order, he said: “It is better not to discuss those things. DSS is on it; they are doing their own investigation. They did a briefing yesterday and they have told you exactly what they are doing. It is better we leave the DSS to handle that one.” On alleged fifth columnists in the armed forces, he said: “Don’t worry, the military is handling fifth columnists in its own way.” Air Chief Marshal Badeh added: “Normal life is back in Mubi and around that place. We are liberating more and more communities.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

NEWS

Ekiti PDP accuses APC of planning Yuletide attack

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of planning to unleash terror on the people during the Yuletide. The PDP alleges that the APC plan to attack major towns and cause disaffection among the people. The state PDP Secretary, Tope Aluko, claimed that the attack on AdoEkiti Prisons and banks in the state were pointers that the APC planned to “unleash thugs on the state”. He alleged that APC leaders had arranged to mislead the public on the identities of the criminals so that they could point fingers at the government. “We have monitored

•APC: hold PDP responsible for any mayhem From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

the activities of these APC leaders in recent times and discovered that they don’t have any good plan for the government and people at all, going by the reports emanating from their secret meetings,” he said. The PDP secretary called on the people to hold the APC responsible for any breakdown of law and order in the state, while also calling on security agencies to be more proactive. But the APC accused the PDP of playing the old trick of blaming the opposition for what it plans to carry out, adding that the people know that the ruling party has the propensity for violence. In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, the APC de-

scribed the allegation as diversionary, accusing the PDP of keeping escaped prisoners in the Government House to unleash terror on the opposition. The APC spokesman said the PDP primaries for the legislature were marred by violence, adding that they were a foretaste of what the people of Ekiti should expect. Olatunbosun said: “The style of his government is to ask the governor’s aides to cry on the rooftops that some people in the opposition are planning to cause trouble and blame it on his government while in actual fact, the government is the author of the trouble. “There are several instances, the most striking

one being the assassination of Dr Ayo Daramola on August 14, 2006. “On August 12, 2006, the same PDP claimed in a statement that a security report had indicated that a popular politician would be killed in Ekiti State and the government would be blamed for the assassination. Two days after, on August 14, 2006, a popular politician, Dr Ayo Daramola, was assassinated in Ijan-Ekiti. “We raised the alarm recently about the jail break escapees reportedly being lodged in the Government House, while the policemen who helped Fayose to unleash terror on the opposition between 2003 and 2006 have been recalled to begin raids in the homes of the opposition. “We have it on good au-

thority that these special policemen are to work with the escaped prisoners lodged in the Government House to unleash terror on the opposition. “They have so far paid night visits to the homes of six members of the House of Assembly, but their targets were lucky to be away from home. “We call on Nigerians to help ask TK Aluko, the author of the statement alleging violence by APC, what his position is in government that he is being guarded 24 hours by one of the police hatchet men, recalled to Ekiti, Usman Shaba? “The allegation by PDP is diversionary and the party should be held responsible for any mayhem in the state. No one is deceived by this tactic.”

Ogun workers demand Nov salary From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

OGUN State workers have urged Governor Ibikunle Amosun to pay their November salaries and subsequent ones promptly. Addressing reporters in Abeokuta, the state capital, yesterday, the State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ambali Akeem said the workers’ plight was worrisome. Ambali said: “Our salary is about N2.5billion. So, if the government can say the Internally Generated Revenue has hit N6billion, then, what is the rationale behind the non payment of November salary? “And no hope of this month’s salary, workers have been thrown into confusion. It is unjustifiable and we demand urgent attention. May be some people are trying to misadvise the governor. “It is good to do infrastructure development, but, where there is no human capital development, there cannot be happy civil servants. “Even if we are having challenges with money, what about our pension? Why are you not paying it? The union decries the nonpayment of 12.5 per cent peculiar teachers’ allowance.”

HE Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Ondo State, will present an honorary Doctor of Management degree to the founder, Afe Babalola University, AdoEkiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola, on Saturday. A November 17 letter signed by the Registrar and Secretary of Council, Dr M.O. Ajayi, predicated the award on Babalola’s “significant contributions to the growth and development of this university (FUTA) and the nation”. “The history of FUTA can be traced to Babalola, a selfless and altruistic man who has built and donated towering edifices to many tertiary institutions in Nigeria.” Babalola has received the following awards–Fellow, Federal Polytechnic, AdoEkiti, Fellow, College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti, Doctor of Law (LL.D) University of Ado-Ekiti, Fellow, Nigerian Institute of Advance Legal Studies, Doctor of Letters (D.Litt) Kogi State University , Doctor of Law University of Lagos, Doctor of Law University of Jos.

Demolition case adjourned From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

•Ekiti State Deputy Governor Kolapo Olusopla declaring open a workshop on Attitude Change and Job Performance for Principals of Secondary Schools in Ado Ekiti. With him (from left) are the resource person, Ayo Ajasa, the organiser, Omojola Awosusi and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Mrs. Bimpe Aderiye.

Ekiti Tribunal to deliver judgment tomorrow

HE Justice Siraju Mohammed-led tribunal has fixed tomorrow for judgment in the petition by the All Progressives Congress (APC) against the outcome of the June 21 governorship election in Ekiti State. Justice Mohammed chose December 19 for judgment after lawyers representing parties to the petition adopted their final written addresses. The respondents are the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Governor Ayo Fayose, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

Chief of Army Staff and the inspector general of police. Before adopting his final address, the petitioner’s lawyer, Lateef Fagbemi, reminded the tribunal that contrary to the impression created by the defendants, the petition was predicated on the contention that Fayose was not qualified to contest the election. He urged the court to allow the petition and dismiss the responses by the five respondents.

Lawyers to the respondents, including Yusuf Ali, Onyechi Ikpeazu, Abayomi Sadiku and Abdulkadir Ajana, argued that the petitioner failed to prove its case. They also argued that the petitioner was unable to provide evidence to support its petition. They urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition. The APC, in the petition, urged the tribunal to “unravel the facts surrounding the election,” contending that it was more of “a me-

chanical exercise than conventional casting of votes”. The party alleged manipulation of the election in favour of the PDP candidate; undue militarisation and the impeachment of Fayose in 2006, as well as Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) cases hanging on the governor-elect. It is also the petitioner’s contention that Fayose was not qualified to participate in the election, “aside from the process of the poll’s conduct, which was faulty”.

15 years after, Lagos CAN elects exco HE leadership tussle in the Lagos Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) ended yesterday, with the election of Apostle Alexander Bamgbola as chairman. Lagos CAN has been enmeshed in a leadership crisis for close to 15 years, leading to several litigations.

FUTA degree for Afe Babalola

By Sunday Oguntola

Leaders of the five blocs in the apex Christian body met yesterday at the Hoarse Memorial Cathedral Church, Sabo, Yaba, to put the crisis behind them. After agreeing to sheathe the swords, the election, which was postponed two months earlier, started with the arrival of the CAN National Secretary, Rev.

Musa Asake and national legal adviser from Abuja. Asake urged the contestants to conduct themselves in the spirit of Christ and not consider the contest as a door-die but a call to service. When he called for nominations for chairman, Bamgbola, the consensus candidate of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), emerged unopposed.

Elder Israel Akinadewo of the Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC) emerged unopposed as the general secretary. Rev. E. Oguntosin of ECWA/TEKAN was equally elected unopposed as the vicechairman. Bamgbola told reporters that he would work towards reconciliation. The immediate past presi-

dent of Lagos PFN promised to be a servant leader and keep Christians in Lagos united. “I consider my election as a call to service and I am humbled I was considered worthy of this assignment. “I will work to keep all Christians together and ensure the church speaks and acts with one voice of issues affecting us.”

N Oyo State High Court has adjourned till January 26 hearing in a land dispute and house demolition suit in Ibadan. Justice Moshood Abass adjourned yesterday after counsel cross-examined the defendant and a witness. Bello Abdulkareem sued Abayomi Ogunsola for allegedly preventing him access to a land he just acquired. But Ogunsola insisted that the land and the building on it belonged to him. He (Ogunsola) is also challenging the government’s revocation of the land in May 2011 and its transfer to another person, who eventually transferred it to Abdulkareem. In a counter claim joining the government in the suit, Ogunsola urged the court to nullify the revocation. He urged the court to declare that he was the lawful owner and an order setting aside the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) issued to Sakariya Mohammed Taofeek, who transferred it to Abdulkareem. When he was crossexamined by the plaintiff’s counsel, Akeem Agbaje, yesterday, Ogunsola said he got the land from the government in 1990, adding that he developed the Agodi Government Reserved Area (GRA) plot in 1998. The defendant added that the government had no reason to revoke his C of O having taken possession of the property since 1990. The building was demolished in 2011 to pave the way for the “new owner”. A second witness, Adegboyega Aina, said he worked with the building plan handed over to him by Ogunsola. The judge adjourned further hearing till January 26.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

NEWS

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (third left) consoling the widow of his Special Adviser on Inter Governmental Affairs, Rev. Tunji Adebiyi, Biodun (middle)...yesterday. With them are (from left) the deceased’s brother in-law, Pastor Olu Oshobu; son Obafemi; first daughter Boluwatife; second daughter Opeyemi; third daughter Victoria.

Folarin picks Alao-Akala’s kinsman

Why APC’ll win in Ogun, by Abiodun

HAIRMAN of Heyden Petroleum Limited and All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Ogun East Senatorial District Dapo Abiodun has said the party will win all elective positions in the state next year. The APC candidate, at a briefing yesterday in Iperu, promised to, if elected, promote commerce in the district and ensure power supply to every nook and cranny in the area. Abiodun said the nation’s socio-economic and political situation remain unpalatable because businessmen,

likehim, have stayed away from active politics for too long. “My people are highly educated and they know what they want. Nobody can just tell them to vote for somebody, but rather they would vote according to their conscience. “Our campaign group has become a movement, people are coming to join us voluntarily not because of money because a lot of wealthy individuals have joined us, including Otunba Babatunde Onakoya(DEBASCO). He’s the leader of mobilisation of our campaign team.” Abiodun said he joined APC because the party’s ideology aligns with his.

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Oyo State, Teslim Folarin, announced yesterday Ezekiel Oyedepo, a kinsman of former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, as his running mate. Oyedepo is a former chairman of Oriire Local Government Area, one of the five local governments that constitute Ogbomoso zone. Akala hails from Ogbomoso North. Folarin made the announcement at a meeting at the PDP State Secretariat in Ibadan, the state capital. The meeting was attended by the Senate Deputy Chief Whip, Hosea Agboola and Senator Ayo Adeseun, who are seeking reelection for Oyo North and Oyo Central. The party’s candidate for Oyo South Senatorial District, Mrs. Adedeji Otiti, also attended the meeting. The governorship candidate also named a former Speaker of the House of Assembly, Asimiyu Alarape, as the Director-General of his campaign organisation. Addressing the meeting, Folarin urged the candidates to work together in unity, stressing that they should hope for victory in February. •President, Women Arise & Campaign For Democracy, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin signing the condolence register.

Osun tribunal: Aregbesola closes defence

SUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola closed his defence yesterday on the petition by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate in the August 9 election, Senator Iyiola Omisore. The second respondent, All Progressives Congress (APC), is expected to open its defence tomorrow. Omisore is challenging the declaration of

•APC to open defence tomorrow From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

Aregbesola as winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the Justice Elizabeth Ikpejime Election Petition Tribunal. Announcing the closure of the defence yesterday, Aregbesola’s counsel Kunle Adegoke said his client was satisfied with the defence before the panel.

Aregbesola spent only eight of the statutory 10 days allowed him to defend the allegations of the petitioners. He called 19 witnesses. APC’s counsel Ajibola Basiru said the witnesses called by the first respondent were to further convince the court that the election was indeed free and fair, saying, the petitioners had not proved any case.

He said: “We are not under any obligation to even call a particular number of witnesses, because the petitioners have not called witnesses to cover areas pleaded in the petition and secondly their witnesses have been thoroughly discredited under cross-examination. “The petitioners have also not established the case of noncompliance. From experience, this is one of useless election petitions I have ever seen in the history of this country.”

How Bode George, Agbaje rigged primary, Obanikoro tells court

ORMER Minister of State for Defence Musiliu Obanikoro has accused a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, Chief Olabode George and the winner of the party’s governorship primary, Jimi Agbaje, of manipulating the election to favour Agbaje. Obanikoro, in an affidavit in a suit contesting the election, alleged that George and Agabje deliberately disrupted proceedings at the election venue, using thugs and state security officers to achieve their aim. Obanikoro is seeking, among others, the nullification of the election on the grounds that it violated the party’s electoral guidelines, including the production of result in excess of accredited voters. Defendants are the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

•Court refuses applicant’s prayer to cancel result From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

“Sometime at 11am, Chief Bode George and Jimi Agbaje, a co-contestant, arrived at the venue with armed thugs, who kept a menacing vigil at the gate. “Sometime at 1pm, George, a chieftain of the first defendant, returned to the venue of the election with armed mobile policemen and armed officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) where his wife is the chairman, making the atmosphere charged. “The thugs earlier brought by George and Agbaje, at this point, began to disrupt the venue by throwing bottles, stones and firing gun shots in the direction of the delegates loyal to me and preventing other delegates loyal to me from entering the venue. “The gun shots attracted another detachment of policemen, who engaged the thugs in a gun and tear gas battle, during which many of the delegates loyal to

me ran to avoid being caught in the crossfire. “Many of the delegates, who fled in the ensuing violence and gun battle never returned and were consequently disenfranchised as it took the police several hours to restore some semblance of normalcy. “The police recovered five guns and rounds of ammunitions and live cartridges from the thugs brought by George and Agbaje. Thereafter, the delegates loyal to and brought by George and Agbaje started arriving the venue of the election and accreditation which ought to have started since 8am started at 6.30 pm “At this late hour, having noticed that many of my delegates had run for their dear lives, many non-party members, miscreants and unaccredited persons were allowed by the state Electoral

Panel to be used to replace the delegates loyal to me. “The above notwithstanding, the remaining delegates loyal to me were openly threatened with physical injury not to vote for me. Even the voting papers given to my delegates were later snatched from them and the name of my opponent, Agbaje forcefully written on their papers in the presence of the electoral officers manning the election,” he said He argued that but for the manipulation by George and Agbaje, he would have won the election. Justice Ahmed Mohammed, after listening to Obanikoro’s lawyer, Chris Uche, argue his motion ex-parte for interim injunctions, refused to grant the applicant’s prayers. Justice Mohammed, who adjourned till December 23, directed the two defendants to appear in court on the next adjourned date.

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

HE Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) clamped down yesterday on some corporate business organisations in Ekiti State and arrested their top officials for alleged tax evasion. Coming under the FIRS hammer are Poli Ventures Limited, the business arm of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, Danke Fast Food, a popular eatery and Aramoko Microfinance Bank, Aramoko-Ekiti. Arrested were the Managing Director of Poli Ventures, Mrs. Busayo Olanipekun; Danke Chairman Bayo Aina and Head of Credit and Marketing of Aramoko Microfinance Bank, Mrs. Ruth Adesodun. Poli Ventures owe N1.6 million; Danke N1.3million and the bank N1.7 million. The state FIRS Tax Controller, Dr Nkwo Nwitte-Eze, said Mrs. Olanipekun was released after making commitment to pay the balance and to confirm if the company actually paid to another department of the FIRS as claimed. After her release, Mrs. Olanipekun claimed the polytechnic paid N1.2 million on behalf of the Ado-Poly Ventures, which did not reflect in the FIRS book. She claimed her company owes N695,000 and not N1.6 million as claimed by FIRS. “From our correspondence, we discovered that the amount claimed is not the actual amount we owe. “We agreed that we owe money and we have written an undertaking on how we will settle the debt. What we owe is N695, 000 and not N1.6 million.”

Fasanmi mourns Adebiyi

N Afenifere chieftain, Senator Ayo Fasanmi, has expressed shock on the death of Rev. Tunji Adebiyi, the Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Inter Governmental Affairs. Fasanmi, in a statement yesterday, said: “The death of Rev. Tunji Adebiyi came to me as a very rude shock. I am devastated by the news.” He praised the late Rev. Adebiyi for the role he played in the formation and transformation of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Southwest. Fasanmi recalled: “At the inception of the current political dispensation in 1999, Tunji was the zonal secretary under my leadership as the AD’s National Vice Chairman (Southwest). “He was a committed and dedicated politician who put service above personal considerations. The successes which we achieved as a progressive party from 1999 till date are due largely to his efforts. “His death is a personal loss to me, coming at a time when the party, which he laboured to build, will be producing a progressive government and president. “Adieu a worthy compatriot and dedicated nationalist. May his soul rest in perfect peace.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

CITYBEATS My wife was remanded Synagogue: Anti-bomb squad’s for theft, says husband probe inconclusive, coroner told A T

CITYBEATS LINE: 08023247888

HE Lagos State Police Command AntiBomb Unit has not concluded investigation into the September 12 Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) collapsed guest house, the coroner heard yesterday. Head of the unit, Olakunle Olanrewaju, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), told the coroner, Chief Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe, that the probe could not be concluded because of ongoing rescue work then. He said: “I was unable to conduct a Post-Blast Investigation (PBI) because of the very heavy rescue operation going on as at the time my team arrived at the site of the collapse.” The witness added: “On arrival at the scene, my team and I swung into action, searching for explosives and power source. We will base our decision on the outcome of the laboratory test to as-

By Adebisi Onanuga

certain if the speed with which the building collapsed is consistent with control of explosion.” The police, he said, have a duty to investigate suspicion of the commission of a crime, adding that he was mandated by the Commissioner of Police (CP), Kayode Aderanti to move to the scene for investigation. He said the Explosives Ordinance Devices (EOD) Unit would only visit a disaster site, if there is any reasonable suspicion that an explosive might have been used. Olanrewaju said: “The mission of the EOD team led by my humble self was to find out whether or not the building collapsed as a result of the use of explosives. My team collected samples of debris and roofing sheets. The PBI investigation was imperative because it was suspected that an explosive might

have been used on the collapsed guest house.” Under cross-examination by counsel to the state government, Akingbolahan Adeniran, the witness said he did not discover any power source, detonators and batteries at the scene, adding that could not conclude that a bomb blast occurred until the laboratory test result comes out. Also yesterday, Chief Magistrate Komolafe clarified that he has not stayed proceedings on the inquest, saying he only excused SCOAN founder Prophet Temitope Joshua from appearing to testify. The order, he said, would subsist pending the determination of Joshua’s application before Justice Lateefa Okunnu of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja. Komolafe said in the interval Justice Okunnu would determine the propriety of the suit instituted by the Registered Trustees of SCOAN and Prophet Joshua against him

and the Coroners Court. The coroner issued summons on all witnesses including Prophet Joshua to testify on what they saw or know about the collapsed building. Reacting, Joshua and the trustees an application before Justice Okunnu for stay of further proceedings of the inquest and suspension of further actions on their invitation to testify pending the determination of the suit. The suit was filed pursuant to Order 40 Rule 5 of the High Court of Lagos State (Civil Procedure Rules) 2012 and signed by one O.M Abimbola. The suit is praying Justice Okunnu for an order of prohibition against the Coroner’s Court of Lagos State and Magistrate Komolafe for allegedly exceeding their jurisdiction in the conduct of the inquest into the death of unknown persons in the collapsed building.

42-year-old man, Mr. Christian Uchendu, has sought the dissolution of his nine-year-old marriage to his wife, Mariam, before the Customary Court in Iyana Ipaja, a Lagos suburb. He is alleging that she is dubious. The petitioner told the court that Mariam was fond of borrowing money from people without repaying. Uchendu said: “As the chairman of the plaza where I trade, N30, 000 was once kept with me. But surprisingly, my wife took the money without my consent, thereby subjecting me to harassment by traders. I was impeached as chairman because my wife spent the money I asked her to pay into the plaza’s account. Each time she spends people’s money, she reports to a police station on the pretext that she was robbed. “My wife once spent three

Youths empowered against crime

O make them productive, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, representing Lagos East District has empowered some youths in his constituency. Last week, he empowered no fewer than 5000 youth leaders from Somolu and Kosofe Local Government Areas. According to the lawmaker, the empowerment of his constituents is a way of catering for the people that voted him into office. “The level of unemployment in Nigeria is increasing on a daily basis; it is high time we all contributed our own quota in order to ameliorate the poverty situation. At the heart of my empowerment scheme is the urgent need to diversify, strengthen and deepen the industry with the largest employ-

‘

I have known a lot of politicians in this district, but Ashafa is quite distinct from them all. I will surely make use of this machine efficiently. I am very grateful for this gesture

’

By Basirat Braimah

ment-generating opportunities in our economy - the informal sector,” he added. Ashafa said he would continue to empower his people as long as he is alive. “The welfare of my

people in Lagos East is paramount to me, I will never stop doing things that will elevate them from the shackles of poverty , because without them I won’t be here today, “ he said A beneficiary, Owolabi Abiodun, who got a sewing machine, said the “good initiative” would go a long way in ameliorating poverty in the community. “I have known a lot of politicians in this district, but Ashafa is quite distinct from them all. I will surely make use of this machine efficiently. I am very grateful for this gesture. “ Another beneficiary, Alhaji Semiu Shipe, also lauded Ashafa, saying: “Senator has put smiles on our faces; he has given us these materials so that we can be free from joblessness and

poverty. My group and I will use these materials judiciously in the interest of us all.”

By Basirat Braimah

months at Kirikiri Maximum Prison because of theft. Few days after I agreed to settle her N2.8 million debt, other debtors showed up. Mariam is a liar; I can’t ever trust her. I am tired of the frequent harassments, so I am seeking dissolution of the marriage.” Mariam (32) denied the allegation, saying: “As a businesswoman, I borrow money from people and later refund them with interests. I am not a liar in anyway. All I am doing is because my husband is irresponsible. We live together, but I pay the house rent. In spite of all, I still love him.” The court’s President, Mrs. Shalewa Banjoko, ordered the parties to remain peaceful and obey the law. She adjourned the case till Tuesday.

‘My man is a dubious pastor, herbalist’ •She is an adulterer, bed-wetter,says husband I met no woman in his house when I got married to him. I am his ninth wife. But I wouldn’t have married him if I was not told that I wouldn’t bear a child except I marry an elderly man. The last 13 years I have spent with him have given me nothing but pains.” These were the words of 35year-old Mary Abiloye, while praying the Customary Court at Alagbado, a Lagos suburb, to dissolve her marriage to Jerome on grounds of adultery. She further said: “My husband is fond of telling people that I have slept with several men. He once stripped me naked and beat me up in public. Though he owns a church, he is a dubious pastor and herbalist. He doesn’t respect my family at all.” Mary, who also told the court that her relations disowned her because of her husband, added: “He always accused me of stealing and being incontinent, but he has forgotten that there were occasions when I would massage his manhood throughout the night; yet, he wouldn’t have erection. When he excreted blood, I gave him some money to treat himself. “My husband made sure we were always in good terms towards the end of the month when I receive my contribu-

“

•Some of the beneficiaries. Inset: Ashafa

•’He’s irresponsible’

By Basirat Braimah

tion. I know I have been led astray. It has been two years since I left home. I now sleep under different roofs because my husband claims he owns the land I bought with my hard-earned money.” The 64-year-old pastor, however, told the court: “All she said is not true. She wasn’t forced to marry me. She hawked yams to my place and agreed to marry me when I proposed to her. In 13 years, my wife menstruated only once. She is an adulterer and a bed-wetter. “I was told my manhood wasn’t functioning because I was sleeping with a woman who doesn’t menstruate. So, she lied about everything. I bought the land for her when we were in good terms. My wife was always drunk and I beat her when she disobeyed my instructions. After she left, I have married two other wives. I don’t love her,” he added. The union, which was sealed under Native and Customary Law, did not produce any child. The court’s President, Mr. Olubode Sekoni, ordered Jerome to return the land to his wife since he bought it in her name. He adjourned the case till January 15 for further hearing.

My mother-in-law is a witch, says woman

MIDDLE-aged man, Ojo Olaoluwa, has asked the Agege Customary Court in Lagos to dissolve his five-year-old marriage to Oluwakemi. He is alleging that Oluwakemi is irresponsibleand is a threat to his life. “Since we got married, I have not known peace. Over trivial issues, my wife threatens to stab me with a knife. I had to leave the house when she said she would poison me. The fact that we are not yet blessed with children doesn’t mean there shouldn’t be peace in our home. She alleged that my mother is behind her inability to get pregnant, but my mother has been bed-ridden

•Husband: I’m no longer interested in her By Basirat Braimah

for two years now. “It’s been three weeks since I left home. I am no longer interested in her, let alone the marriage,” he said. Oluwakemi, denied the allegation, saying: “My mother-in-law and I were close friends before I got married, but everything changed when I married her son. Each time she calls me on the phone, she rain curses on me that I will never have a child for her son. Even when she gave me anointing oil and water to drink, I almost purged my intestine. When it was revealed to me that my mother-in-law

doesn’t want her son to be a father, I swore to bear a child for him by all means. I know I have not offended my husband and he loves me, but his mother is the problem in our lives.” She added: “I was surprised to have received the court summons because my husband still ate from the stew I prepared with my money. We were on good terms. I really don’t know what went wrong. I still love him.” The court’s President, Pa Adekunle Williams, advised Oluwakemi to stop referring to her mother-in-law as a witch. The matter was adjourned till Thursday for mediation.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 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

NCC, NESREA agree on new setbacks for BTS

Telecom firms bemoan multiple taxation

By Lucas Ajanaku

IGERIA’S telecom munications opera tors face multiple taxes and fees at local, state and federal level, two of the country’s mobile operators told Reuters, with service disruptions related to tax claims costing the sector millions of dollars annually. Mobile phone penetration nearly tripled between 2007 and 2012 and hit 96 percent at 2013-end. The sector accounted for 7.8 percent of Nigeria’s economy in the nine months to September 2013, more than double its 2009 contribution of 3.7 percent, and such income has made it a soft target for tax collectors, said MTN Nigeria - a unit of South Africa’s MTN. “The ‘Golden Goose’ effect has fuelled demands for larger social spending, taxes,” MTN Nigeria said in a statement to Reuters. Federal, state and local governments all have tax-raising powers, leading to multiple taxation of telecommunications companies, said MTN. “Operators have been seeking a one-stop shop to ease administration of taxes,” MTN said, warning operators suffer arbitrary enforcement actions and service disruptions by parties working on behalf of tax-raising bodies. “The cost of disruption to our industry runs into millions of dollars annually,” MTN added. MTN Nigeria is the largest mobile operator with 58.4 million subscribers, giving it a 44 percent market share, according to the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC). Globacom has 27.6 million subscribers, Airtel Nigeria, part of India’s Bharti Airtel, 26.1 million and Etisalat Nigeria 19.9 million. Etisalat Nigeria, an affiliate of Abu Dhabi-listed Etisalat, told Reuters it wants the federal government, through the NCC, to be the sole sector regulator. “It is common to have government agencies trying to impose duties and enforce regulatory functions similar to that of the NCC,” said Etisalat Nigeria. “There are levies and other charges that are demanded by government institutions which have all the characteristics of a tax.”

WO regulatory agen cies hitherto at logger heads, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enfor cement Agency (NESREA) said they have harmonised positions on what should be the acceptable setbacks when telecoms firms are citing their base transmission station (BTS). Speaking at the Second West African Conference on Electromagnetic Fields Exposure (EFE) and Health organised by the NCC in Lagos yesterday, its Executive Vice Chairman, Dr. Eugene Juwah, said the two agencies, through their supervisory ministers in the Communications Technology Ministry and Environment have resolved the matter that almost degenerated into open confrontation between them. Represented by the its Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, Mr Ubale Maska, Juwah said following the rancour that ensued between the two agencies in the past, efforts have been made to harmonise positions towards further ensuring that base stations are sited in a way that will not cause any health risks. He said while the NCC enforced a five-metre setback for telecoms operators when building their BTS, NESREA had insisted on 10 metres. What the two agencies have now done was to agree on seven metres for new BTS while built will remain five. Setback is the distance (in metres) left between the foot of BTS and the nearest residential infrastructure. Juwah said: “There have been issues on setback guidelines before now. But the agreement is now seven meters. For new site, it should be 10 metre while existing sites only need to comply with the NCC provision of five metres.” He, however, that in a situation where 10 metre setback is not attainable because of the space, “NCC and NESREA official will visit the site, assess the situation and approve minimum of seven metres setback.” Nigeria currently has over 27, 000 telecoms base stations scattered all over the country with a large number of them located within residential areas, raising fears among residents on the possible health hazards of those telecoms towers based on their proximity to where people live. Speaking on the vexed issue of whether BTS has harmful effects on human beings, one of the paper presenters, Dr. A.S Peters said nobody is saying that telecoms EFE has no harmful effect on human health but said that the effect is insignificant. While some have said it is harmful and others saying it is not harmful.

• From left: Dep. Director Pharmaceutical Services LUTH, BolanleAdeyemo-Adekoya; MD GSK Pharmaceuticals, Lekan Asuni; Founder & CEO HealthPlus Ltd, Bukky George; CEO Merit Healthcare Ltd, LoluOjo and MD JNC Int’l Ltd & President, Healthcare Federation of Nigeria, Clare Omatseye, at the 15th Anniversary Thanksgiving Dinner & Awards of the HealthPlus Group.

Court upholds Shippers’ Council’s regulatory powers over ports

FEDERAL High Court in Lagos yesterday af firmed the appointment of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) as the Economic Regulator of Nigeria’s seaports. Trial judge, Justice Ibrahim Buba, arrived at the decision while delivering judgment in two suits filed by some shipping companies and terminal operators contesting the power of the NSC to regulate the ports economically and impose certain charges. The suits included those filed against the NSC by Alraine Shipping Agencies Nigeria Limited and others, and Apapa Bulk Terminal Limited and others. Justice Buba, in a landmark judgment, dismissed the claims of the shipping companies, as well as the terminal operators, and ordered them to refund over N1 trillion, which they had hitherto been collecting.

• Orders firms to refund over N1tr By Alvin Afadama

The judge held that the Shipping Line Agency Charges (SLAC) levied, and collected from Nigerian shippers levies since 2006, and ordered that the shipping companies should account and pay to NSC, all monies or fees charged and collected since 2006 as SLAC from shippers, or users of shipping/ port related services from 2006 to date, which runs into trillions of naira. Pursuant to the appointment of the NSC as the Economic Regulator of the ports by the President, in line with his executive powers in February this year, the NSC issued notices to both the shipping companies and terminal operators to reverse all illegal charges imposed on Nigerian shippers. Dissatisfied, the shipping

companies and the terminal operators, mostly foreign owned ones, filed the suits to invalidate the actions of the NSC. The NSC, represented by Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), had objected to the suits as well as filed counter claim. In the counter claim, the NSC sought a declaration that by virtue of the provisions of Clause 2(a) and(b) of the Memorandum of Understanding between providers and users of shipping/port and related services, dated 28th March, 2001, the plaintiffs do not have the powers or rights to unilaterally introduce and impose SLAC. The NSC also sought a declaration that the unilateral introduction and imposition of the SLAC by the plaintiffs and collection of same from shippers or users of ship-

ping/port-related services from 2006 to date was illegal, ultra vires, and therefore null and void. Besides, the NSC had urged the court to issue an order directing the plaintiffs to immediately stop the collection of the SLAC from users of shipping/port and related services, and another order directing the plaintiffs to account for and pay to the defendant (NSC), with interests at the rate of 21 per cent per annum, all monies or fees collected by the plaintiffs as SLAC from shippers or users of shipping/port related service from 2006 to date. In his judgment, Justice Buba dismissed the claims of the shipping companies and terminal operators and upheld the counter claim of the NSC. By this decision, shippers in Nigeria who have paid SLAC to the shipping companies between 2006 to date can now seek a refund.

2015 budget: Kwara votes N119b, Delta, N327.6b

HE Kwara State Gover nor Abdulfatah Ahmed yesterday presented a budget estimate of N119.8 billion to the State House of Assembly, while Delta, proposed N327.6billion for the 2015 fiscal year. The Kwara State estimates showed an increase of N4.2 billion increase over the 2014 revised appropriation, representing 3.7 percent. Presenting the budget at the floor of the state House of Assembly, Governor Ahmed said that is made up of recurrent expenditure of N46.4 billon which represents 39 percent of the total budget size; public debt servicing is N11.2 billion which represents 9 percent of the total budget size. He put the capital expenditure at N62.1 billon representing 52 percent of the total budget size. Tagged “budget of intro-

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

spection and job creation,” the governor said that “the projected internally generated revenue (IGR) is N16.4 billion while the projected capital development fund receipts and aid and grants is N29.7 billion. “The statutory revenue due to the state from federation account is estimated at N33.6 billion. The estimated revenue from Value Added Tax (VAT) is N7.5 billion, while the estimated revenue from non-oil/excess crude account is N2.5 billion. “The other anticipated source of revenue for funding the 2015 budget is from a bond of N23 billion to be sourced from the capital market and to be repaid back by 2022. On the other hand, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of

Deita, presented a budget of N327.6 billion for the 2015 fiscal year to the state House of Assembly. The budget is made up of N161.6 billion for Recurrent Expenditure and N166 billion for Capital Expenditure. The proposal showed a decrease of N123 billion when compared to 2013 approved budget of N450.7 billion for 2014. Uduaghan said that the 2015 budget was driven by the successes recorded in various sectors of the economy of the state in the last seven years. He said that the budget was aimed at consolidating the achievements of 2014 budget as well as completing all ongoing projects and programmes. “This would facilitate the fulfillment of the administration’s goals of making the state one of the most industrialised and developed states

in Nigeria by 2020.” The governor noted that priority would be given to the completion of on-going projects in the areas of rural and urban road network and infrastructure. Another priority area is the security of life and property which according to him, includes logistics support for law enforcement, healthcare and education. “Other focal areas are transportation, rural and urban electrification, the environment, agriculture, youths and sports, culture and tourism,’’ he said. He said that the main sources of funds for the 2015 budget were internally generated revenue, statutory allocation, Value Added Tax (VAT) and other capital receipts. Uduaghan assured that his administration was determined to finish strong.

FAAN: obey rules By Kelvin Osa- Okunbor

IR travellers in the country have been advised to adhere strictly to airport rules and regulations in order to have seamless trips. The General Manager, Corporate Communications Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr Yakubu Dati who spoke with reporters on measures put in place by the organisation to ensure a hitch free passengers movement advised intending air passengers to take advantage of the newly launched passengers service portal to plan their trips.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS LABOUR

•From left: Director, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (MITI), Mr. Jonathan Juma; Programme Officer, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Elekwachi Doris; Leaders of the survey team, Mr Akihiro Shimomura, Mr Yoshiyuki Choso, Permanet Secretary (FMITI) Amb. Abdulkadir Musa at the technical meeting between officials of the ministry and JICA on the development of automobile supplier parks in Abuja

TUC decries non-payment of federal workers T

rade Union Congress (TUC), has condemned the delay by the Federal Government in paying thousands of civil servants their salary for over two months now, saying the act is a threat to industrial peace. The union made the condemnation in a communiqué issued at the end of its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Lagos. It frowned at non-payment of salaries to thousands of civil servants since October this year without any justifiable reason. Jointly endorsed by TUC President, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama and its Secretary General, Comrade Musa Lawal, he said the same problem happened late last year when many public servants celebrated Christmas with empty stomach as a result of refusal of government to pay them their salary. It urged the Federal Government to immediately settle all arrears of salaries owed affected workmen in the interest of industrial peace. However, spokesman of the Head

•Urges reduction of fuel prices Stories by Toba Agboola

of Service of the Federation, Haruna Rasheed Imrana told journalists that it was absolutely not true to say that thousands of civil servants have not been paid their salaries. Imrana said: “You better find out which ministry or ministries. It is possible to have one or two government agencies facing a little delay but it is definitely not a civil service thing. “It is not in the mainstream civil service.To say thousands, you better get the facts right because there would have been a riot.” The communiqué also expressed dismay that the prices of refined petroleum products have remained unchanged despite the significant fall of crude oil prices which the Central Bank of Nige-

ria (CBN) has acknowledged as a being steady. It called on the government to immediately adjust the pump price of petroleum products which to ameliorate its impact on their purchasing power occasioned by the devaluation of the naira. It condemned the prsecution of employees in the private sector through the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) to scrap or abolish Gratuity Benefits from the existing retirement benefits in the country and also called for the re-emplacement of gratuity in the public sector. It said it will fight with all legitimate means at its disposal to ensure the emplacement and the continued existence of the gratuity scheme in Nigeria’s industrial relations system.

Union seeks ministry of pension HE Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has called on the Federal Government to immediately establish a ministry for pension affairs and the aged so as to streamline activities of pensioners in the country. NUP made the call in Abuja at an occasion marking this year’s National Pensioners Day where it said streamlining pensioners’ activities will ensure that challenges facing them are addressed within the shortest time possible. Its Deputy President, Comrade Dallatu Ayuba in a welcome address said pensioners have so many problems, including the inability of thou-

sands of pensioners to access monthly pension since the introduction of e-payment in May 2009. Ayuba added that there is a sizeable number of pensioners who were biometrically enrolled between June and July 2010 and issued dud cheques which they could not cash. “Many pensioners up till date, were paid June 2010 during verification, but no July, August and September. Instead, they were paid October, November and December the same year,” he said. He lamented that a task force set up by former Head of Service ,Steve Oronsaye was not effective in ad-

dressing pensioners’ problems, saying that the ineffectiveness accentuated the burden of pensioners, where account numbers of thousands of pensioners were changed which stopped payment of pension to these pensioners. Ayuba commended the Federal Government for implementing a 33 per cent increment on salaries of pensioners, but urged the Federal Government to, in line with section 173 (3) of the 1999 constitution, ensure that pension is reviewed every five years or together with any federal civil service review or whichever is earlier.

RATTAWU commences three-day strike

HE Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers’ Union (RATTAWU) in collaboration with the Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ) has commenced a three-day warning strike to press home their demands for a media salary structure. They want an enabling law to make broadcast organisations direct beneficiaries of radio and television license rates being collected by local governments. They also want proper structures on ground to suggest that the country was ready for digital switch over in 2015.

RATTAWU’s General Secretary,Comrade Henry Odugala in a statement stated that the unions vowed to embark on an indefinite strike if their demands are not addressed at the end of the warning strike which ends on Friday He said: “RATTAWU as a critical stakeholder in the broadcast sector is embarking on a warning strike believe that state government owned television and radio stations have no structure in place necessary for the planned digitisation scheduled for next year. “The Union in the time past has

called the attention of the ministry of information to the numerous challenges of proper funding, legislative backing, sensitisation of the public, the signal distributor and the plan for workers facing the process of effective digital switch over in Nigeria. “All over the world most especially in those countries where the switch over has been successfully carried out it was the government that bankrolled the project including subsidising the procurement of set top box.”

HE National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has blamed owners of privatised power companies for poor power supply. Speaking to journalists in Lagos, its General Secretary, who also doubles as the Deputy President of the National Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, explained that profit motive had been a key factor militating against the performance of the private power sector. “Because the private owners are interested and thinking about maximising profit, they needed to reduce workforce and increase electricity tariff. “Unfortunately, the end result is constant decrease in power supply. A year before the privatisation, we met with President Goodluck Jonathan and gave analysis that power transmission and infrastructure should be improved upon by the state, because if the private sector should be mandated to do it,

NUEE blames firms for poor power supply they would have to borrow money from the banks at an interest rate that will be a burden on the consumers. He said: “However, if the government were sincere about the privatisation exercise, it should have massively mobilised for the availability of prepaid meters, thereby enabling a proper billing to which also I am sure that distribution companies would not want to absolutely subscribe to because they will not be able to realise their desired objective of maximising profit.” He emphasised the need for prepaid metering to address the issue of estimated billings.

Labour Ministry urges workers’ safety HE Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity has charged employers of labour to make safety and health at work their watchword if they desire to have higher productivity. It restated its commitment to social dialogue for sustainable implementation of its mandates, adding that it would ensure continuous auditing of the companies involved in inspection of lifting equipment and pressure vessels to sustain their capacities. Its Permanent Secretary, Dr. Clement Illoh in his keynote address at a forum in Lagos warned that no individual or corporate organisation shall be allowed to undermine the integrity and sovereignty of the nation through the sector. He said: “Following the success of this exercise, the ministry plans to evolve a collaborative standing committee of stakeholders, for sustainable and continuous improvement, beginning with the development of technical guidelines and codes of practice.” He noted that the workshop, sec-

ond in the series of revalidation for third party competent persons for the statutory inspection of major plants in workplaces, represents another major intervention on the critical aspect of the mandates of the ministry that have faced some challenges in the recent times. He said: “This four-day exercise is directed at enhancing technical capacities of authorised inspectors and assessing their level of competence for purpose of revalidating existing certificate of competence and issuance of new ones. “Competency focus is in respect of statutory inspection of pressure vessels to address current challenges and keep in tune with international best practice.” In her address, the Director of Factories, Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Mrs. Nofisat Arogundade said the whole essence of the workshop was to standardise and sanitise the system having discovered that there were quacks in the practice who might have gotten their certificate through questionable means.

ITF, SMEDAN, BoI train 37,000 youths

Industrial Training Fund, (ITF) said it has trained 37,000 youths in collaboration with Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and Bank of Industry (BoI) in two years. According to the organisation, the training was carried out under the National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP), which was introduced by the Federal Government two years. Director-General, Dr. Juliet Chukkas-Onaeko, made this known in Lagos during an interactive forum with industry stakeholders organised by the Fund. She said the theme of the forum, Moving Forward and Succeeding Together is apt and a clarion call for all its stakeholders to join in the Fund strides towards a developed and industrialised Nigeria. Onaeko pointed out that no nation develops by merely exporting raw materials without having a booming industrial sector, saying that for this to happen, an adequate number of skilled workforce as a pre-requisite is needed. She added that the Fund came up with a four point agenda which are: increase the number of Nigerians

trained to two million annually; fully automate ITF business processes and ensure 100 per cent each of collection training contributions as well as implementation of Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES). She added that the four point agenda is intended to ensure effective service delivery that will add value to the bottom line of clients’ operations and guarantee full actualisation of its mandate. “As part of our commitment to building the capacity of middle level manpower in Nigeria, the ITF in conjunction with Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) has set up a Technical Skills Development Project (TSDP). She said: “The project, which currently runs in the facilities of NECA member companies, Peugeot Automobile of Nigeria (PAN) Kaduna, Niger Dock Lagos, Nigerian Breweries and ITF ISTCs in Ikeja and Kano, is set to be expanded to more facilities in order to accept more trainees.” She appealed to companies that had failed in their statutory duties change, saying: “it is only when we collectively live up to our responsibilities that our dream of a great Nigeria will be achieved.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

SHOWBIZ

COSON distributes N90m in royalties

O the elation of several music artistes, the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), last Tuesday, distributed varying amount of money to members, running into N90 million. It was the fourth time the society was distributing monies collected on behalf of its members, from users of musical works, and the amount shared this year, represents 80 percent increase on the sum of N50 million which the society distributed in 2013. The distribution exercise, which kicked off with an Extraordinary General Meeting of COSON, at the Oranmiyan Hall, Lagos Airport Hotel, had musicians of all generations, including the iconic Dan Maraya Jos, Chris Ajilo, Laolu Akins to the likes of Majek Fashek, OJB Jezreel, Azeezat, Black O’ Rice and Kenny St Brown. The musicians had gathered at the EGM to approve the distribution of the sum of N90 million, before the commencement of the distribution to industry right holders across Nigeria. Present at the meeting was the Lagos Zonal Manager of the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), Mr. Chris Nkwocha and Chairman of the newly approved Audio Visual Rights Society (AVRS), Mr. Mahmood AliBalogun. Delivering his address at the event, COSON Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji spoke on the society’s plans to significantly increase its distributable income, calling on the Federal Govern-

By Victor Akande

ment to hasten the implementation of the Copyright Levy Scheme which he said is crucial to the survival of the music industry in Nigeria. He said: “As you well know, with the advent of new technology, most people no longer obtain their music or movies by buying CDs or DVDs. They download or bluetooth and deny owners of the works significant revenue. To compensate for this loss, in many countries around the world, a small levy is charged on the gadgets used for this stealing of intellectual property. The money collected from the levy of such gadgets such as MP3s, MP4s, cellphones, memory cards, flash drives, etc, is paid through the collective management system to the artistes, writers and producers whose music, movies and books are stolen. Twenty two years ago, Nigeria became the first country in Africa to provide for the levy in our laws. Sadly, well over 22 years since the promulgation of the law, the unending protocol, red tape and bureaucracy in the Nigerian system have made it impossible for the stakeholders to benefit from this important scheme which have for several years been lubricating the creative industries in neighbouring Ghana and Burkina Faso. It is our desire to ensure that the private copy levy scheme becomes operational in Nigeria in 2015 so that we have a new revenue stream

Genevieve stuns in new fashion TVC

By Tonia ‘Diyan UMIA has announced the launch of a new television commercial by ladies that want to look conNollywood award-winfident and chic. Think fashning actress and style icon, ion, think St Genevieve, and Genevieve Nnaji, to proyou can get it exclusively on mote her fashion line, St Jumia,” she said. Genevieve. Funmi Daniels, Vice PresiWithin few months of the dent, Fashion at Jumia relaunch of St Genevieve exNigeria also talked about clusively on Jumia, the label in a the video, saytheclothing line is said to ing; “We are extremely have recorded tremendous happy with the response we patronage by Nigerians. have received since the The arrival of Nnaji as a launch of the collection, fashion icon did not just start more exciting is that there is today, as the thespian has literally no buzzing red carbeen known for not only her pet without a St. Genevieve amazing acting talent, but piece on there. It is also inalso for being a woman of spiring for the fashion insimplicity and great style. dustry to see celebrities who Pundits say with the launch are looked to as role models of St Genevieve, she has given contribute in building the women an opportunity to be industry.” simple and chic, infusing her personal style into creating fabulous dresses for women. The actress’ collections which come in a wide range of colours, patterns, sizes and styles have been made available, exclusively on Jumia.com.ng through online retail. In a video to showcase the fashion line, Nnaji takes fans through a journey of style evolution. “This is a collection of my personal style for • Genevieve

to substantially increase the COSON distributable revenue.” Speaking on the distribution, Dancehall king and COSON Board member, Baba Dee Fasassi said, “The annual distribution of copyright royalties to rightholders by COSON remains one of the best things to happen in the music industry. This is very commendable and we look forward to better days as regards the struggle for the respect of intellectual property rights in Nigeria.” For songstress and COSON Director, Azeezat Allen, “This is yet another beautiful day at COSON. Despite all the setbacks, COSON is still standing. This is a testimony to the resilience of our members in insisting that the copyright law in Nigeria is upheld.”

• COSON G.M, Chinedu Chukwuji, Majek Fashek and Black O’ Rice at the meeting

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS INDUSTRY

industry@thenationaonlineng.net

With the establishment of a model vitamin A cassava sales outlet in Nigeria, the first of its kind in Africa, to link suppliers of cassava products with demand agents (bulking agents, entrepreneurs and consumers) of the products, the search for a robust template to enable the organised private sector see the available profitable investment opportunities in commercial cassava farming, may have started yielding result, writes, CHIKODI OKEREOCHA.

New vista for investors in agro- marketing F

OR farmers and investors along the vi tamin A cassava value chain, brighter prospects are here. A model vitamin A cassava sales outlet, the first of its kind in Africa, has been established in Nigeria. The one-stop model sales outlet, known as the ‘Farmers’ Centre’ will act as primary bulking point and link up suppliers of vitamin A cassava products (farmers and processors) with demand agents, like (bulking agents, entrepreneurs and consumers) of the products-stems, roots, fufu mash, garri, fufu, packaged fufu flour, and confectionaries (cakes, chin-chin, tidbits and pies). The innovation, which is the result of the ingenuity of HarvestPlus Nigeria in conjunction with its development partners, is seen as a major milestone in the search for a good template to enable the OPS see the available opportunities to invest in commercial cassava farming at a profit. “We need partners to buy into this initiative to make it a reality across the length and breadth of the country,” the Country Manager of HarvestPlus, Dr. Paul Ilona, said, last week, at the launch of its outlet in Ibadan, Oyo State. He said the model outlet is HarvestPlus’ strategy to ensure that Nigerians have access to the bio-fortified crop to address the health challenges of vitamin A deficiency. “We need to establish 300 of this sales’ outlets across Nigeria, so that Nigerians can enjoy the health benefits of the crop,” he said, adding that with over 500,000 households cultivating the product, and over 550,000 commercial farmers on board in the multiplication of the nutritious crop on over 1,000 hectares of farmland, the need to scale out the product to more Nigerians could not have come at a better time. In doing so however, HarvestPlus is not unmindful of the commercial viability of sustaining the demand and supply of vitamin A cassava products, hence the organisation is riding on the back of the opening of the model shop to encourage more investors to take advantage of the profitable business opportunities therein. “Our strategy relies a lot in providing catalysts that will drive investors. We want to see this model become very profitable because it is the profitability that people see that will make them want to invest in it,” Dr. Ilona told The Nation, on the sideline of the launch of the model shop.

Ilona said there were plans to hit the Lagos market and other major markets across the country soon. As part of the strategy to woo prospective investors, he explained: “In the next one or two months we are going to ensure that this center functions optimally and that we do the proper book-keeping that will show investors that there is a lot of money coming in. After the two months we will then go to the next stage of sensitisation, bring the investors here so that they will do all the calculations and see the benefits and the opportunities that exist in investing into the system. So, there is a lot of awareness creation that we need to do. We will be going into business education, we shall be relying a lot on advocacy.” Dr. Ilona also disclosed that HarvestPlus is riding on its electronic (e-market) platform, which he described as very potent, to attract investors and create markets for vitamin A cassava products. “Last week we got a request from Anambra State Government for almost 9, 000 bundles of vitamin A cassava stems. This is what makes the emarket to be very potent in creating markets. We also got request from Kwara State Government for 500 kilograms of garri. We are not working in Kwara, but somebody knows how to go online and do a request. So, we are hoping that soon, we shall bring all of you (the media) on board to help us communicate to Nigerians so that they can order for their vitamin A garri and fufu online,” he said. At a workshop by HarvestPlus, the organisation linked major players and investors along the vitamin A cassava value chain to its e-market portal. It identified

bulking agents, cassava stem traders, and investors who were then linked with farmers and cassava processors to create market for vitamin A cassava products. The workshop, which had about 85 participants in attendance, was made up of farmers, processors, entrepreneurs, public and private investors, extension agents from farmer organisations, development and commercial partners of HarvestPlus, and tertiary agriculture institutions. Would these strategies do the magic of attracting investors to the business? “yes,” says Ilona. He has reasons to be so optimistic. For a start, Nigeria was among the earliest countries in which new varieties of cassava that are rich in vitamin A were released to farmers in 2011. Following the release of the new cassava varieties to farmers in 2011, over 500, 000 Nigerian households are said to be growing and eating the conventionally bred nutritious vitamin A cassava, which nutritionists say could meet up to 40 per cent of daily needs of Vitamin A for children under five. Also, Africa accounts for over half of the total global production of cassava, with Nigeria the single largest producer, producing over 54 million metric tons of cassava annually. Besides, an estimated 100 million Nigerians or 60 per cent of the country’s population eat cassava daily in one form or another. “We have our strength in agriculture,” Ilona maintained, adding, “If we truly want to help Nigeria; if we truly want to add value to the life of an average Nigerian, and we truly want to create jobs for them, agriculture is the area to go. No field in life will pay as much as agriculture does. You

‘If we truly want to help Nigeria; if we truly want to add value to the life of an average Nigerian, and we truly want to create jobs for them, agriculture is the area to go. No field in life will pay as much as agriculture does. You plant one grain of maize, it gives you 400 grains. No business gives you 400 per cent profit.’

•From Left: Paul Ilona, Dr Ina Schonberg, Baloogun Olooto of Idiose and Segun Arinze at the cutting of the tape to declare the model vitamin A cassava sales outlet opened.

•AgricMinister,Dr.Akinwumi Adesina

plant one grain of maize, it gives you 400 grains. No business gives you 400 per cent profit.” Continuing, Ilona asked, rhetorically, “How many oil wells do we have? How many hectares do we have in Nigeria to put into agriculture? According to him, Thailand depends a lot on agriculture, making more money than Nigeria makes from her oil. He said the money Thailand makes from cassava alone is much more than what Nigeria boasts of from oil. “We are always scared, the more scared we are however, the more we will be able to focus on our challxalue chain are seen by not a few analysts and experts as opportunities. The Deputy Director, HarvestPlus, Dr. Ina Schonberg, who launched the model shop, alluded to this when she said: “You (Nigerians) are known all over the world for your entrepreneurial spirit. Nigeria is a leader in Africa. We look forward to seeing Nigeria develop innovative strategies to scale up vitamin A cassavas well as vitamin A maize and build sustainability for the project in the country.” For investors willing to throw their hat in the ring, they would be encouraged by the growing preference of the yellow vitamin A cassava over the conventional one. Vitamin A cassava is yellow in colour because it contains high amounts of beta-carotene, unlike common white cassava. Beta-carotene is a naturally occurring substance that the body converts into vitamin A. Experts say that in Nigeria, an estimated 30 per cent of preschool-aged children and 20 per cent of pregnant women suffer from vitamin A deficiency, resulting in poor vision, blindness and sometimes death. By eating the new yellow cassava variety, women and children can meet almost half their daily needs of vitamin A. HarvestPlus developed the nutritious cassava variety through conventional breeding in collaboration with IITA and National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, Umuahia, Abia State. The launch of the outlets was witnessed by scientists from IITA led by Cassava Breeder, Dr. Elizabeth Parkes; traditional rulers from Idiose, Ibadan, HarvestPlus developmental patners from Akwa-Ibom, Benue, Imo,and Oyo states, farmers, cassava processors, bulking agents, and entrepreneurs.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

COMMENTARY LETTER

EDITORIALS

Lamentations for Durbar

•How faulty privatisation and vindictive politics scuttled an otherwise promising venture

“

T’S a sad memory when people like us now drive past Durbar Hotel to see it like this; I laugh to remember that once upon a time there was a place called Durbar Hotel. Today, I’m still alive to see Durbar in this deplorable condition and I weep for my country”. That was veteran journalist, Alhaji Tajudeen Tijani Ajibade, lamenting, in an interview with this newspaper, the pitiable sight that the once prestigious, multibillion Naira Durbar Hotel, conspicuously located along the busy Independence Way, Kaduna, has become. “It was at Durbar Hotel” Alhaji Ajibade recalled, “that I first interviewed the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola when he came to Kaduna with his children…It was in Durbar Hotel in the Second Republic that Chief Obafemi Awolowo addressed the largest press conference. The same Durbar you’re seeing was where Alhaji Shehu Shagari was picked as the presidential candidate of National Party of Nigeria (NPN)…in the same hotel Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe met with the late Isaiah Balat and Madaki Ali to bring about the Nigeria Peoples Party (NPP)”. This gives an indication of the reputation enjoyed by Durbar Hotel in the 1970s and 80s as a first-class hospitality desti-

‘Urgent steps should be taken by the relevant parties to resolve the legal issues; and return Durbar Hotel to viability’

nation with qualitative facilities and services. Located on a land area of 400 by 600 square meters, it was built in 1977 by the then Federal Military Government as one of the structures to enable the country host the historic Festival of Black Arts and Culture (FESTAC). Having successfully served this purpose, the management of Durbar Hotel was transferred to Arewa Hotels, a subsidiary of the New Nigeria Development Company (NNDC), owned by the northern state governments. Though a publicly owned enterprise, Durbar Hotel ironically continued to be run as a viable and profitable venture until its privatisation, as part of the Ibrahim Babangida administration’s Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP). The hotel’s lamentable fate is a graphic illustration of the flaw in the sweeping demonization of public enterprises that was one of the philosophical underpinnings of SAP. True, most of the affected public enterprises had become avenues of sheer graft that bled the national treasury. Unfortunately, the privatisation and commercialization processes were themselves tainted by large scale corruption and abuse that aborted their much touted objectives of attaining efficiency and commercial viability. Thus, in 1992, the late Dr Hamza Zayyad bought Durbar Hotel from the defunct Technical Committee on Privatisation and Commercialization (TCPC) through his Kabo Holdings at a cost of

N90 million, in circumstances that later turned out to be opaque and questionable. Reportedly unable to either fully meet its financial obligations to the TCPC or manage the hotel sustainably, Kabo Holdings in 1996 transferred its ownership, through a deed of agreement, to Nassimatune Investment Limited, a company that had Mohammed Abacha, son of the then Head of State, General Sani Abacha, as Chairman. The travails of the hotel, however, deepened with the advent of the Obasanjo administration in 1999. Citing irregularities and abuse of due process in the privatisation of the Hotel, the Federal Government seized the facility and took legal steps to recover ownership. But ruling in a suit by the Abacha family, a court in Kaduna decided in 2005 that the allegations could not be proven. Although the Federal Government has since appealed the judgement, the hotel remains dormant, overtaken by weeds, rodents and reptiles. It has been stripped bare of its valuables by hoodlums. Scores of its workers have been denied their jobs and the state of valuable tax revenue. Unfortunately, this is only one example of several such cases across the country. Urgent steps should be taken by the relevant parties to resolve the legal issues; and return Durbar Hotel and other similar wasting assets to viability in the national economic interest.

Season of jail breaks •In this period of widespread insecurity, there must be zero tolerance for jail breaks

HE startling progression of insecurity in the country is unfurling another routine pattern of criminality: the relentless and disconcerting level of jail breaks. The most recent is the troubling news that not less than 270 of the 323 inmates of the Minna Medium Prison, Niger State, escaped after an attack by six gunmen. Before this horrific incident was a similar attack on the Federal Prison, Afao-Ekiti Road in Ado- Ekiti, during which another 320 of the 446 inmates escaped. Not far from memory is also the report in early November that gunmen, armed with grenades and heavy fire arms, attacked the Nigeria Federal Prison in Koton-Karfe, Kogi State, freeing over 140 inmates in the process. Sadly too, yet another prison attack, in Bauchi State, remains a conundrum that still defies noticeable solution till date. The Minna incident introduced an especially frightening dimension, with the revelation that the freeing of two notorious robbers- Ayo (a.k.a Eze ego), a dismissed Mobile Police (MOPOL) officer, and Osama, convicted in Kebbi and Edo states, and respectively serving jail terms in the prison, were the motive behind the condemnable attack. Apart from a prison official that was seriously wounded by the rampaging gunmen, they also reportedly carted away arms and bullet proof vests meant for prison warders. The sad occurrence will not be mitigated by subsequent purported re-arrest of about 20 of the escapees barely two hours after the operation.

We ask: What makes the nation’s prisons so vulnerable to attacks? Dr Peter Ezinwa Ekpendo, Comptroller-General (CG) of prisons, reportedly recommended the reprimand of the comptroller of the prison and at least 58 wardens in the Minna prisons. But beyond this, there is the need to find out how attackers in Ado-Ekiti and elsewhere succeeded in using dynamites to break prison entrance; and why, for some time, successive attacks on prisons usually happened on Sunday nights. Is this a coincidence or sheer failure of intelligence? Why are our prisons so vulnerable to attacks without any immediate solution? Why are modern surveillance appliances not the forte of Nigerian antiquated prisons at this contemporary technological period? The prisons across the federation are witnessing unbelievable security laxity that needs to be urgently addressed. We know that prison officials are badly paid; and the near-relic infrastructure are in near-collapsed shape; thereby putting prison officials under tremendous strain; and undue pressure to bow to temptations of inducement from rich and powerful inmates, capitalizing on these stark inadequacies. Though this sad reality should not serve as excuse to tolerate possible collusion by prison officials in jail breaks, it just shows the disturbing reality that Nigerian prisons to have become a mirror of the tumbling disarticulation of the Nigerian system, which is a sad commentary on its own.

The nation cannot afford to sit with hands akimbo and allow convicted felons, yet to serve out their sentences, take over the streets at this period of monumental insecurity, especially in the north eastern part of the country; and not in any part of the country. The government must do all within its power to apprehend criminal inmates still at large; and who could still cause serious trouble for an already troubled society. We call for collective efforts of all security agencies to bring back to justice all absconding inmates wherever they might be hiding in the country. Also, the issue of possible internal complicity should be looked into to unravel the brains behind this dangerous criminal pattern of setting inmates free, as such practice is detrimental to the nation’s national security. Still, does a government regrettably yet to see the need for long overdue prison reforms have the capacity to achieve this desirable goal? This is a question that should be quickly addressed because the incessant jail breaks must stop, if this administration wants the people to take it serious.

‘The issue of possible internal complicity should be looked into to unravel the brains behind this dangerous criminal pattern’

Nigerians, don't be deceived

IR: It is barely two months away from now that Nigerians will go all

out to determine the direction in which they will be piloted for the next four years. The people will exercise their right under the constitution by voting for the leader of their choice. We do hope that the powers that be will not tinker with the electoral process. Politicians have started their permutations and combinations. Among them are those who are deceiving the people and making empty promises and also, those who are really committed to providing the dividends of democracy for the people. In short, we have the bad and the good apples. It's left for the electorate to choose. The presidential election promises to be keenly contested. Now, Jonathan and Buhari have been presented by the PDP and APC respectively, who do we vote for? I don't know. All I know is that it is high time Nigerians stopped voting based on sentiments. Forget religion, ethnic group, region or party affiliation. Instead, weigh intellectual ability; is it high or low? What can he do? Is he competent? Is he up to the task? Merit should be the first and the most important thing to consider. Nigerians should not fall for tricks. We should not be deceived by stomach infrastructure. We do not need a leader that will give us fish, but the one that will teach us how to fish. Many Nigerians are swimming in the pool of poverty; who among these aspirants have the ability to save them? Nigeria is thirsty for infrastructural development; who will quench its thirst? Our economy is in shambles; who can rejuvenate it? Our security is at stake; who can save us? So, it is not just about going out to vote; it is about choosing the best person for the job. The electorates are the architect of what is currently happening in Nigeria today. All will be well only if we get it right by carrying out a revolution that can save us from the mediocrity of our leaders. Please vote wisely, otherwise, things will fall apart. • Jamiu Idowu Esho, Eruwa, Oyo 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 18, 2014

CARTOON & LETTERS

IR: I first met Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, in January, 1971, when I entered secondary school. Although he was just two years ahead of me, he was already highly regarded by both students and the teaching staff on account of the fact that he was a diligent and dignified student. He also possessed the prestige that came from being known nationally as a first-rate and accomplished school debating champion in the early 1970s. I lost touch with him, from 1975, for a long time, but did not fail to hear of his reputation as a brilliant and perceptive jurist on the Faculty of Law of the University of Lagos, where he was similarly highly respected and liked by his colleagues and students. I restored my links with him when he emerged as the attorney-general, and therefore my boss in the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, in Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu's reforming administration in 1999. It was in

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

Osinbajo, right man for the job this position that I came to observe him closely as a man, lawyer, and public servant. I quickly discovered that he is a profound and distinguished lawyer. As an advocate, I doubt that he has few, if any, peers at the Bar today. It is also my opinion that he was the most reformminded attorney-general in Nigeria's history. With the able support of another able and resourceful public servant and profound and distinguished lawyer, our then solicitorgeneral, Fola Arthur-Worrey, and drawing from the earlier pioneering work of Justice S.O. Ilori, a

Radio Nigeria, why?

IR: As a student of mass communication, I have been taught to see fairness, objectivity, balance and accuracy as qualities journalist’s should display in reporting or addressing issues, most especially, those issues that involved two or more persons. After the acceptance speech by President Jonathan at the PDP National Convention, held at IBB Square Abuja, Radio Nigeria kept playing back his acceptance speech after each hour of the network news broadcast. Unfortunately, the same could not be said of its broadcast of the acceptance speech of the opposition party (APC) Presidential candidate, retired General Muhammadu Buhari. Not even once was the speech broadcast. Fairness in journalism mean treating issues involving two or more parties without bias or partiality while balance is giving of equal treatment to parties involved in an issue. I don’t want to talk about accuracy and objectivity because fairness and balance seemed to be more suitable to use in respect to the issue

I am addressing. Looking at prominence or preferential treatment Radio Nigeria is giving to PDP leaving out APC, can one say that Radio Nigeria which claims to be the largest radio network in Africa, with claims to uplifting the people and uniting the nation, is being fair and balanced? Why is Radio Nigeria uplifting and uniting PDP only? Despite the fact that PDP is the party controlling the present government and that the government is in charge of the station does not mean that Radio Nigeria belong to PDP. Radio Nigeria is for all Nigerians, whether PDP or APC, rich or poor, Christians or Muslims, short or tall and so on. I want to implore Radio Nigeria and other media houses in the country to, as the matter of responsibility and necessity, take into cognizance the four most pronounced qualities of journalism profession: accuracy, objectivity, fairness and balance in carrying out their assignment. • Awunah Pius Terwase Benue State Varsity, Makurdi

former chief judge of Lagos, and one of the most brilliant legal minds, he revolutionised practice and procedure in the Lagos High Court (their reforms became a model); he considerably expanded legal aid, bringing legal services within the reach of many indigent citizens; raised the conditions of service of the Lagos judiciary to a level unparalleled elsewhere; renovated, built, and equipped courts with modern gadgetry [bringing them into the modern age] all across the state; incorporated alternative dispute resolution into the administration of justice in Lagos, etc. However, some have criticized his nomination on the ground that he was never a state governor and is a

political neophyte. I find this rather amusing, as I know of few people who possess his knowledge or understanding of our constitutional history, political evolution, contemporary political issues, or, most importantly, of the great issues on which the future of this country turns. I, therefore, believe that his input into Nigerian public life is likely to be in the tradition of past politicolegal greats such as FRA Williams, Bode Thomas, Adeyemi Lawson, Udo Udoma, Wenike Briggs, Justice Dan Ibekwe, etc. His entry into public life is, like those of the aforementioned greats of yesteryears, a boon to the life of this nation, for it brings once more to the art of politics and

public service the benefit of a profound intellect which is a rich seam of ideas and initiatives. The contributions of great legal minds to public service has a long and distinguished history as the great careers of Cardinal Wolsey, Thomas More, Nottingham, Hardwicke, Eldon, and Haldane in the UK; the great New Deal lawyer, Benjamin V. Cohen, in the USA; and Norman Manley, in the West Indies, illustrate. What this nation needs, particularly at this time, is less of the narrowness, partisanship, and meaness that has characterized our politics for far too long, and more in the way of ideas and independent critical thinking. In this light, therefore, I have never quite understood the argument that a fulltime committment to politics and the holding of the office of a state governor should be prerequisites for holding high political office. But then, I have never found, in all my years, that criticism is ever hindered by ignorance. • Akin Ajose-Adeogun, Lagos

Delta PDP’s mockery of the rule of law

IR: On December 8, SilverBird Television’s prime time news bulletin captured the outcome of the primary election conducted by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for House of Representatives aspirants for Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency. The station reported that the polling clerk identified as Barrister Jerome Ebo pronounced the exercise which started very late as inconclusive due to insufficient ballot papers. It further revealed that the votes already cast were taken to the police station for safe-keeping. However, the news making round mostly in the social media is that the exercise has been secretly concluded. The news is that the Presidency and the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have purportedly picked Hon Ndudi Elumelu as PDP’s candidate for the constituency. Elumelu, who is the current occupier of the seat, vacated the position, in line with the party’s directive, to vie for the party’s gubernatorial ticket at the just concluded

primaries. He, alongside other contenders, lost the ticket to Senator Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa. Expectedly, the situation is now generating widespread social media condemnation for both the Presidency and the ruling party, PDP. Many commentators expressed fears that the situation if not amicably resolved by the appropriate quarters might affect the ruling party’s fortunes during the 2015 general elections. Hon Elumelu’s gubernatorial campaign materials are still visible in every nook and cranny of Delta State. One can easily deduce from the campaign strategies that his main desire in 2015, perhaps backed by the ‘Abuja-super-power,’ was to be the next occupant of Unity House, Asaba. Therefore, the moral questions which many political observers and social media commentators are asking are, when did Elumelu buy PDP’s expression of interest form and was openly cleared within the party’s stipulated time to vie for the House of Reps ticket? What is the fate of the main

contenders especially those who vacated their previous elective positions for the party’s House of Representatives primaries in Aniocha/ Oshimili Federal Constituency? The Presidency and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) consistently prides themselves as promoter of internal democracy and defender of the rule of law. They must strictly follow their laid down 2014 Electoral Guidelines for PDP’s Primary Elections which they equally stated conform with the provisions of the Party’s Constitution (2012 as amended), the Electoral Act, 2010 (as Amended) and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as Amended). The purportedly arrangement to hand-pick Ndudi Elumelu as the party’s candidate for Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency is highly undemocratic and a mockery of the rule of law. • Sunday Shorikwue Itire, Mushin, Lagos

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

COMMENTS

Russo-American relations softly, softly

HE on-going civil war in Ukraine in which the Russian federation is directly and indirectly involved is a cause for global worry. America and its allies in the west have also personalised the crisis by trying to put all the blame on the Russian President, Vladimir Putin who is being isolated and treated almost like a pariah at global conferences. His government is being subverted at home through economic sanctions imposed on it by the west especially the European Union and United States and Canada. In recent years, apart from armaments, Russia has been reduced to almost a primary producer of gas and petroleum from its vast oil fields stretching from the Caucasus to the wilderness of Siberia. This makes it easy for Russia’s economy to be undermined because unlike countries in the west, it has almost become a mono-cultural economy depending on exploits of hydrocarbons but Russia remains a great country with its possession of nuclear armaments that is capable of burying the whole world a few times over if pushed to the wall and forced to embark on a suicidal mission of using nuclear weapons against its enemies which would in retaliation destroy it. This is the danger of mutual annihilation which the world now faces. We all thought that we had moved away from the cold war. But because of the Ukraine crisis and apparent Russian desire to assert itself globally and to defend the interests of ethnic Russians in independent countries that are the successor states of the Soviet Union. Her interest in this regard will also put her on a path of conflict with the rest of the world especially the western world. This problem can only be solved not by sabre-rattling but by dialogue and diplomacy and by respecting the mutual interest of Russia and the west. Russia since the collapse of the Soviet Union rightly feels that it is being ignored and being relegated to the status of a minor global player and sees the military adventurism of the United States in the current uni-polar world in which American power is largely unchallenged. Russia is particularly irked by American military interventions in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and in the expansion of NATO to the borders of Russia especially the incorporation of states in the former Soviet bloc into the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. The intended desire by Ukraine to join NATO and to become a member of the European Union was seen by Russia as an unacceptable provocation. The annexation of Crimea which was part of Ukraine but largely inhabited by Russians was Russia’s reaction to the provocation in Ukraine. Crimea for

OLITICS worldwide is a game of numbers. There is nowhere the numbers' game is at play than during elections. Elections are won and lost on the strength of votes. What is usually required to win is simple majority except otherwise stated. Contestants know this rule well. This is why they strive to get the highest number of votes cast in order not to create doubts about the winner of an election. In any transparent electoral process, knowing the winner is not difficult since the results will be declared in the open. But in some cases, losers find it difficult to accept defeat. They do all they can to upturn the result. Where they cannot have their way, they turn their loss to 'victory' by laying claim to an office that does not belong to them. This is at the individual level. At the institutional level, they use their minority to oppress the majority. What then is democracy if we cannot play according to the rule? What then is democracy if the majority cannot have its way? What then is democracy if the minority cannot bow to the majority? What is happening in the

248 DAYS AFTER

WHERE ARE THE ABDUCTED CHIBOK GIRLS?

centuries had been the major warm water port of Russia. If Ukraine had fallen into unfriendly hands, Russia felt that its interest would be challenged and threatened. This is why when Russia annexed with Crimea, Europe and America apparently understood Russia’s desire to protect its national interest and they were not in the position to do anything that would have precipitated the military conflict with Russia. The west is angered by continued Russian support for rebels in Luhansk and Donesk, two areas that have declared themselves independent of Ukraine and that are 90 percent inhabited by Russians. Russia continues to deny its involvement in the fighting in eastern Ukraine but there is no doubt that Russia is directly involved. Many high-ranking Russians do not see Ukraine as an independent country. They can not envisage a situation in which their forces would be fighting Ukrainians. They see such a scenario as reminiscent of Nazi created Ukraine during the Second World War. For example, the mother of Mikhail Gorberchev was a Ukrainian and she is buried there. So also are the parents of many Russians to the extent that it has become a psychological problem to see Ukraine looking west rather than looking east to Russia. It is not in the interest of Ukraine itself to have Russia as a permanent enemy because the long arm of the United States, short of going to war, cannot protect Ukraine and it must therefore establish a modus vivendi with Russia that would guarantee its autonomy while having a friendly relation with Russia and normal diplomatic relations with the rest of the world. This is not to suggest a policy of finlandisation for Ukraine but it must exercise restraint in its policy choices and take the interest of Russia into consideration at all times. This is what is called real politik in international relations. What is ideal is not necessarily real. The ideal of total and untrammelled independence of Ukraine irrespective of Russia’s interest is not realistic. Peace in Europe cannot be guaranteed through Russian isolation and treatment of Vladimir Putin as a non-person rather, his friendship has to be cultivated and Russian economy has to be assisted to prosper and it is in her prosperity that political liberalism would thrive in Russia. Because hardship created by sanctions would no doubt lead to rabid nationalism in Russia arising out of hardship and frustration. The current western policies of pushing Putin into the warm embrace of rising China has thus replicated the alliance formation that led to the division of the world after 1945 into two rival camps armed to the teeth with nuclear weapons. The world does not need this again but unfortunately, this is what current policies in the west

and in Russia are leading to. The danger we now have is that the O b a m a administration is being pushed to embark on bellicose and military policies towards other competitors for global influence and power particularly Russia and China. Jide This is at a time when Osuntokun the situation in the Middle-east is becoming more and more complex following the creation of a blood-thirsty Caliphate which America sees as a direct threat to it and its allies. The spread of the nuclear weapon states to unstable countries like Pakistan, North Korea and possibly Iran in the future poses enough threat to the world and requires solidarity among the established nuclear weapons states particularly the United States, Russia and China which unfortunately do not see eye to eye on most issues facing the global community. If the world is to have peace, America must ensure that its interest harmonise with the interests of Russia and China without America sacrificing the interest of its allies. I believe this can be done as Putin has publicly called for dialogue along this line. America should take the gauntlet and welcome Putin into the dialogue while exercising its right to ensure that Putin respects international law as it concerns national sovereignty of all nations.

‘If the world is to have peace, America must ensure that its interest harmonise with the interests of Russia and China without America sacrificing the interest of its allies. I believe this can be done as Putin has publicly called for dialogue along this line’

No longer a numbers' game polity calls for concern from all people of goodwill. If we keep quiet because what is happening favours us one way or the other, we will be doing damage to the bodypolity. Democracy should not be a matter of life and death. It is high time our politicians changed their attitude towards the game. They should not be desperate to win at all costs. When they lose, they should concede defeat and congratulate the winner rather than try to destabilise the country through their tantrums and wild allegations of rigging and all what not. It is only those who have come to see politics as a means of livelihood that behave this way. ''If I do not have it, nobody will'', this is what their body language usually says. This is why a governor will lose an internal election and fight tooth and nail to retain his seat as the head of the group. The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) is an association of governors cutting across party line. The 36 state governors meet under its umbrella, with one of them as chairman. Who becomes chairman used to be by agreement and not by election until the Presidency started interfering in its affairs. The group became an object of interest to the Presidency following its Chairman, Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi's spat with the First Family. To get back at Amaechi whose first tenure was then expiring about two years ago, the Presidency infiltrated the NGF to get him voted out, counting on the support of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors, who are in the majority. Amaechi carried the day because he enjoyed the confi-

dence of his colleagues irrespective of party affiliation. He won by 19 votes to Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang's 16. Till today, Jang continues to parade himself as NGF chair despite losing woefully in that election. He is being encouraged by the Presidency, which recognises him as NGF chair, but treats the validly elected Amaechi as leper because of his feud with the First Family. What kind of democracy are we practising if our leaders cannot abide by the outcome of such a minor election? Will they allow the people's will to prevail in the forthcoming general elections? This kind of absurdity is also playing itself out in Ekiti State where the minority is lording it over the majority in the House of Assembly. Power changed hands in the state last October 16 with the swearing in of Governor Ayo Fayose, who won the June 21 election. The 26-man house is controlled by the All Progressives Congress (APC); while Fayose is of the PDP. Since he assumed office, he and some of the lawmakers have been having issues. There have been allegations and counter-allegations. Whatever the problems are, we pray that they sort them out soon. In the meantime, we are bothered by the impunity going on in the state under the guise of legislative work. Seven of the lawmakers, who are members of PDP, have been 'legislating' on behalf of the house, while the majority has been chased out of town . To have their way, the seven lawmakers are being protected by the police. They are given cover to sit and perform other 'legislative' duties suitable to the needs of the gover-

nor. First, the seven removed the speaker and other principal officers at an awkward hour. We leave them to the court to determine the propriety of their action. With the coast clear, Fayose promptly sent a list of would-be commissioners to the house, sorry his seven sidekicks. Without wasting time, they confirmed the commissioners. A few days ago, they approved the 2015 budget. Fayose is riding on high with his men in control of the house. But, has he stopped for a minute to think over the legality or otherwise of what the seven lawmakers are doing? Does it portray Ekiti State, the land of honour and fountain of knowledge, in good light that seven lawmakers are running rings around their 19 other counterparts?

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

We hear of the majority having their way and the minority having their say. But, in our clime, the reverse seems to be the case. Is politics still a game of numbers?

Malala's country again MALALA Yousafzai survived a gun attack on October 9, 2012, to become the poster-child for girl education globally. When Taliban gunmen shot her in the head in a school bus, they never knew that they were changing the course of her life through their dastardly act. Today, Malala is a Nobel laureate having won the the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize. Rather than repent, these mad men, like their Nigerian counterparts, Boko Haram, have continued to wreak havoc on school children. Tuesday's attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar, Northwest Pakistan, in which 145 pupils were killed, is despicable. Why will any sane man shoot a pupil? For going to school? Is it a sin to seek knowledge when Prophet Muhammad,

in his life time, admonished Muslims to seek knowledge and to go even as far as China for it? We pray that God touches the hearts of these self-styled jihadists to know that what they are doing is evil. Like Malala said in her reaction, the world mourns these children, ''but we will never be defeated by terrorists''. Never.

‘We hear of the majority having their way and the minority having their say. But here, the reverse seems to be the case. Is politics still a game of numbers?’

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

COMMENTS

RESIDENT Jonathan’s ‘Presidential Special Scholarship for Innovation and Development’ (PRESSID), a laudable programme with potential to transform our educational sector by raising standards in our universities has unfortunately received little attention from columnists saddled with the responsibility of interpreting government actions to deepen the knowledge of the people about their government. The whole endeavor has also, in the season of election, been overshadowed by the noise of over 17 million Nigerians TAN claims earnestly want Jonathan to continue in office to build on the gains of his transformation agenda including the energy sector where we now generate about 2900MW, down from 4500MW despite President Jonathan and Dr. Doyin Okupe‘s assurances that Nigerians with generating set would no more have need for them as the nation would have joined the leagues of nations with uninterrupted power supply by December 2014. ‘PRESSID’ is a scheme designed to provide opportunity for “graduates who obtained first class degrees from recognised and approved universities in the areas of sciences, medicine, basic medical sciences, engineering, economics, special aspects of biology, nuclear physics, quantitative genetics, medical biochemistry, aeronautical engineering, among others” to pursue graduate studies in the Top 25 universities around the world. We do not exactly know the criteria employed to pick those selected from a long list of first class graduates to participate in the computer based aptitude test. But we know however that of the 1,300 qualified candidates who applied for the scholarship in its first edition, 449 were invited for aptitude test out of which 101 were accommodated. For its second edition, there were also 100 lucky recipients. For its third edition, Professor Olurotimi Tayo, a member of implementation committee told reporters few days ago that of the 2,000 applicants, 943 participated in last Monday exercise. We also learnt from Dr. Joshua Attah, the coordinator of the examination that it took place concurrently in London and some hours later in Washington DC, United States of America (USA). The policy thrust as unfolded on the occasion of presentation of the awards to the first set of beneficiaries by Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufaa, the then minister of education was “to develop a critical mass of professionals who would serve as catalysts of change and agents of scientific and technological advancement, as well as sustainable economic development”. This is a noble endeavor except that it

HAVE a strong fascination for Nigerian proverbs, and it increases every time I have had cause to explore the deeper meaning and the life lessons encoded in each one of those wise, witty sayings. But, as the full weight of a proverb is better felt in its native language, much of the impact of these proverbs often get lost in translation. Have you heard this one: “You have pulled the trigger, why chase after the bullet?” I heard it long ago from an elderly manwho was admonishing a younger groom. The latter, obviously a conceited bully, was adamant on sending his wife packing for allegedly challenging his authority in public, even after the poor lady and his own parents had tired of explaining her action and begging for forgiveness. That proverb is a subtle admonition usually to an aggrieved person who has begun to react beyond the limits of reason or is unwilling to let go, even after his point is made. In other words, it says “You’ve made your point, don’t insist on a needless or foolish course to assuage your ego”. This wise counsel comes to my mind each time I read another of the unending twist in the unnecessary and unfortunate media blitz on the court case involving the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) and Coca-Cola and its bottling partner, NBC over “two shortfilled cans of Sprite”. I normally do not like soap operas or anything resembling them. However, I have followed these obviously orchestrated media reports on CPC and CocaCola/NBCbecause it involves big business and a regulator. It seems to me that on this particular issue, someone pulled the trigger and has been chasing after the bullet to guide it aright.I do not wish to be a bore by rehashing the background details; there is already enough online. Just in case you are late to the party, here is a summary: CPC investigated a consumer complaint in late 2013 involving two short-filled cans of Sprite during which it claimed to have found that Coca-Cola and its bottling partner, NBC did not have processes for quality assurance, product traceability and consumer complaints resolution.

Jonathan’s ‘PRESSID’ is doubtful if there is anyone in or outside government who does not know that our challenge is not about how to develop a critical mass of professionals. We already have thousands of Nigerian youths, trained both at home and abroad in all the identified departments currently roaming the streets without jobs even as the President’s chorus boys celebrate creation of millions of imaginary jobs on television and on the pages of newspapers. This perhaps explains why those who have closely observed the body language of the President in the last six years have tried to dismiss this laudable scheme as another strategy to find ‘jobs for the boys’. Matters are not helped by the appointment of Professor Julius Okojie, until recently JAMB boss as chairman. And instead of allaying peoples’ fears, he has been projecting himself as a salesman for Jonathan transformation agenda. As against the explicitly stated policy thrust by government, Okojie now says the programme is “part of the efforts to achieve the goals of President Goodluck Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda” PRESSID has also come under serious threat from politicians and political jobbers. For instance, to pick about 100 first class degree holders, a function that can be easily performed by a department in the ministry of education, we have now created another heading for annual appropriation of billions in the budget. We currently have a chairman, an implementation committee made up some professors, and a coordinator of exams among many other positions already created. We have also inadvertently created credibility problem for the programme by involving JAMB, a body whose inability to conduct credible examinations led to the current arrangement

whereby admission seekers incur additional expenses for post-JAMB exams handled by each university. JAMB’s involvement in last week’s aptitude test which many participants alleged leaked and where accounting first class degree holders aspiring to go to one of the best 25 universities in the world were asked such questions as “who won the last African magic comedy award”?; Or which is the largest ocean in the world?” clearly demonstrated JAMB has outlived its usefulness. In a nation where government officials are never held accountable even after the tragedy of immigration recruitment exercise where desperate job seekers were robbed and lured to their death by government officials who turned around to accuse their victims of being accessories to their own deaths, it cannot be any more shocking that some unfeeling government officials directed 943 first class degree holders out of which only 100 stood a chance to move to Abuja from all corners of the country ignoring the vagaries on our roads for a one hour computer based aptitude test . The decision becomes even more questionable when it is realized that Chams, a computer firm that provided the Abuja facilities have similar ones in Lagos, Port Harcourt and many other state capitals in the federation. Many of the applicants who have never been to Abuja before got there in the night either as a result of flight delays in our ‘transformed airports and roads’, including the uncompleted Abuja-Lokoja, EnuguOnitsha, Enugu Port Harcourt and UyoCalabar highways, launched under Obasanjo but which remain as deathtraps. Besides, many had to borrow as much as N70, 000 to cover costs of transportation, hotel bills and other incidental expenses. But whatever the motives of those who sold

the idea to the President and the misgivings associated with its implementation, focusing on first class graduates from our universities is a laudable idea. All that is required to make the initiative work is to steer it away from those who want to turn it into one huge expenditure centre with annual budgetary appropriations. With government existing policy which makes PhD the minimum entry for those who wish to pursue academic career, paying attention to first class graduates may be an answer to the crisis of manpower development in our universities. Currently only a few of the first generation universities can meet NUC requirements. And where they do, unlike what obtains in some of the best universities abroad where the ratio of lecturer to student is about 1-5, ours is about 1-200. And even with such scandalous disparity in lecturers–student ratio, thousands of qualified candidates can still not secure admission. For instance an institution like the University of Lagos admits less than 6,000 out of over 100,000 qualified candidates that sit for its post-JAMB examinations. With proper husbandry of our resources, there is no reason why government should not be able to give scholarships to 943 screened first class degree holders. This can easily be achieved just by closing leakages in only NNPC where government admitted USD10 billion was yet to be accounted for months after setting up a forensic investigation and whose supervising minister was recently shielded by government over allegation that she frittered away about N10 billion on aircraft charter to junket around the world. Government can also play less politics and become more creative since no government anywhere in the world funds education alone. NUC for instance should be able to direct universities that produce first class products to offer automatic scholarships to their products as was the case before federal government took over all institutions. And since, government whose officials stole pensioners funds cannot be trusted with funds from education tax levied on organizations, a more viable option will be to revert to the practice that was in place before and after independence whereby companies were encouraged to participate in staff development efforts. The Daily Times, Nigeria Flour Mills, Lever Brothers, UAC and many others were active in this regard up to the seventies. Of course churches (orthodox and Pentecostals), today’s most thriving commercial enterprises must be encouraged to invest part of the huge resources they control in preparing our gifted youths for the challenges of tomorrow.

CPC, Coca-Cola and limits of reason By Kolapo Oluwo Consequently, the council directed the two companies to, among other measures, subject their production processes to its inspection for 12 months and to pay within seven days a sum of N100,050,000 broken down as follows: N40 million as civil penalties, N60 million as cost of CPC’s investigations and N50,000 as compensation to the consumer/complainant. The two companies disagreed with the CPC’s investigation report and the attendant orders and therefore applied to the courts for judicial review of the orders. But CPC reported the matter to the Attorney General of the Federation, who slammed criminal charges on the two companies and their CEOs, alleging failure to comply with the CPC orders. So, which party pulled the trigger and is nowchasing after the bullet? Every right thinking person in our society ought to be glad that the CPC is standing up for our orphaned consumers and is taking big business to task in defense of the consumer. If, indeed, Coca-Cola and NBC have a poorer quality standard in our country and are deliberately short-changing consumers through “short-filling” their packages as the CPC seems to have alleged, then the full weight of the law must be brought to bear on both companies. But, more importantly, the processes for arriving at this very weighty conclusion and its consequence management must be such that would in the end portray CPC and the Nigerian government as acting within both the law and the limits of reason. In my view, this does not seem to be the case and the CPC is unwittingly pulling the rug from its own feet through its ill-advised chase of the bullet, as its actions in almost every angle of this case appears excessive, if not precipitate. In the first instance, I hope that the agency has adequate technical capacity to investigate a food production facility and, if not, that it collaborated with sister agencies like

NAFDAC and Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) to arrive at the conclusion that Coca-Cola’s production processes lacked effective quality assurance, as this is not a mean indictment for a company of Coca-Cola’s pedigree. No less a commentator than Simon Kolawole in his back page piece in the November 31, 2014 edition of Thisday on Sunday described the whopping sum of N100,050,000 that CPC imposed on Coca-Cola and NBC as “daylight robbery”. It cannot be better said. Also interesting is that CPC apportioned the lion’s share of N60million to itself as cost of the investigation and another N40 million as civil penalties, whereas the poor consumer/complainant whose cause CPC is supposed to be fighting gets a paltry N50,000 or 0.05% of the booty. Truly a “daylight robbery”! CPC also appears to have been less tactful with the profuse manner it has used the media on the issue. From the press conference it hurried convened in Lagos in February where it showcased its investigation report hot from the press, to the clearly orchestrated same-day media blitz in October across print and online channels advertising the criminal charges and, of course, the sustained and sensational media coverage of subsequent court hearings in the matter. This approach is tactless and the agency should rather be focusing its mind and resources on winning the case in court, so that it can hopefully gain a judicial precedent that will establish the expansive scope to which it seems to have stretched its powers in the CocaCola/NBC matter. What if, after all of this media blitz, the court decides that CPC had acted out of order? The agency’s media goal in this case seems to be to amplify the nuisance factor, and this may be anchored on the perception that multinational corporations become vulnerable whenever their reputation is threatened. The ultimate aim is possibly to weaken the com-

panies’ resolve to press on with the judicial review and thereby force them to pay the outrageous sum or to some form of settlement arrangement in order to have peace. How else does one explain the criminalization of the companies’ decision to seek judicial review of the orders, the orchestrated media blitz on the criminal case and the latest twist, i.e. the unleashing of activist NGOs and lawyers, all of whom are accusing the companies of impunity? It is noteworthy that impunity or reverse impunity is more grievous when it is committed by a government or its agency, as there is no further recourse for the victim and such act encourages everyone else to follow suit and it sends wrong signals about our country. My piece of honest advice to the DirectorGeneral of CPC is four-fold: first, the media is an unpredictable and often dangerous wave to ride to fame. Secondly, regulation is serious business and cannot be effectively and sustainably carried out with melodramatic approach. Thirdly, the fixation onthe CocaCola/NBC case seems to have blinded the agency to the entrenched abuses that consumers suffer in many sectors across our land. Finally, you have pulled the trigger, do not chase after the bullet. Let the courts finish the job! • Oluwo, an analyst, writes from Lagos.

‘How else does one explain the criminalization of the companies’ decision to seek judicial review of the orders, the orchestrated media blitz on the criminal case and the latest twist, i.e. the unleashing of activist NGOs and lawyers, all of whom are accusing the companies of impunity?’

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

COMMENTS

IRST of all, I congratulate you warmly for winning the nomination of your party for the presidency of Nigeria. Though you and I are different in ethnicity and religion, we have many important things in common. I am about two years older than you – which means that if you and I had been Yoruba boys born in the same Yoruba town or village, we would have belonged to the same age-grade association ( with us Yoruba, age-grade loyalty is traditionally a very important factor of life). Moreover, you and I were young adults in an era, the 1950s, when our up-and coming country of Nigeria was a source of great pride to its citizens, and an emerging titan eagerly awaited by most informed people all over the world. The three regions of our federation (East, North and West) were engaged in an ambitious rivalry for progress and for improvements in the quality of life of our people. They were able to do that and achieve considerable successes because our constitutional structure gave them much leeway to manage their own affairs within the common Nigerian family. We arrived at independence in 1960 believing that our country was set on the path to becoming the Blackman’s world power of modern times. Unhappily, now that you and I have arrived at our grand age of near 80, there is nothing left of our country’s ambitions and pride – indeed, there is hardly anything left of our country itself. Relentlessly crooked up, violated, robbed and depleted since 1960, our Nigeria seems now to be stumbling towards its demise. As you prepare for your election, I decided to write you this open letter concerning our country, because I know you will understand the pain and expectations behind my words. The purpose of most of Nigeria’s rulers since 1960 has been to weaken and even destroy regional and local initiatives in order to gather all power, control and influence together at the federal centre. Their success in doing that has enabled them to remove the management of development far away from our people, and to institute at the federal centre a viciously corrupt,wasteful and incompetent monstrosity. Reduced to the status of beggar clients of the federal robber barons, the state governments, as well as the local governments, collapsed and fell in line as submis-

Letter to Gen. Buhari sive incompetents and mini-robbers. In the process, real and productive enterprise quickly declined among our people, as the best and most ambitious rushed to join the ranks of the sharers of fraudulently acquired wealth from the public coffers. Our schools and universities, our public service, our police force, our military, our judiciary, all our governmental agencies (electoral commission, secret service, central bank, ports service, immigration service, public examination bodies, etc) – all collapsed under the weight of crooked control, massive corruption and generalized disloyalty. Poverty descended mightily into our country and became the lot of the overwhelming and increasing majority of our people. Our government itself admits that, today, about 70% of our citizens live in “absolute poverty” and that that percentage keeps increasing. With the growing poverty have escalated horrific crimes, a culture of dishonesty, a rush of our youths to Salafist fundamentalist terrorism, and mass flights of the educated to other lands – all of which are compounding the poverty. From your well-known record as a leader of our country, I know that you are not only aware of these things, but that, in common with many members of our generation, you are seriously pained by them. I confess that I was very angry with you during your brief stint as military ruler, 1983-5. First, you seemed to me to be power-drunk at the time – because you made no distinction between the corrupt who had been stealing and sharing public money under Shagari and those who were known to have been resisting the robbery. I belonged to the frontline of senators who were well known to have, on the floor of the Senate, resisted the mass corruption, and yet your military government detained me (and many like me), and I languished for four months in prison without any accusation – even without being asked any question by any official. And then, you and Idiagbon expended most of your obviously shining capabilities in pursuing nebulous and amateurish programmes like WAI (War Against Indiscipline), when what our country really

UR attention has been drawn to the editorial published in The Nation, page 19 of Wednesday, December 3, titled: “Big Scandal”. The editorial which claimed that the N25 billion depositors’ funds recovered from 48 closed banks in the past 25 years is yet to be claimed by the bank customers is quite confounding. The relevant part quotes: “Whatever excuses it gives, NDIC has not done enough to return funds to depositors of failed banks, even after 25 years”. This statement is to say the least misleading. The mandate of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) includes Deposit Guarantee, Banking Supervision, Failure Resolution and Banking Liquidation. Over the past 25 years, the NDIC has continued to discharge its mandate in an efficient and effective manner to attain its public policy objectives of protecting depositors and contributing to financial system stability. In the area of Claims Settlement, the focus of the editorial, the NDIC has performed creditably. Out of the total deposits of ¦ 206.22 billion in the 48 deposit money banks (DMBs) at the dates of their closure in 1994, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2003 and 2006, the insured deposits stood at ¦ 12.19 billion of which a cumulative sum of N6.825 billion had been paid to 528,277 depositors of the DMBs as at September 30. Similarly, the corporation had reimbursed a cumulative sum of N2.756 billion during the same period to 80,059 insured depositors of 103 microfinance banks (MFBs) which were closed in 2010 and 83 in 2013. In the same vein, a cumulative sum of ¦ 100.33 billion was received as liquidation dividends by 250,497 depositors of the 48 closed DMBs as at September 30. The payment of the liquidation dividends to depositors with claims in excess of the insured sums in the closed DMBs and MFBs was from the proceeds realised on the sale of the closed banks’ physical assets and recoveries from debts owed to them. That is not all. The corporation had also paid cumulative liquidation dividend of N2.031 billion to 453 shareholders of Alpha Merchant Bank, Pan African Bank and Nigeria Merchant Bank as well as first liquidation dividend of ¦ 6,405,773.50 which was paid to seven depositors of Gulf Bank and ¦ 82,083,26223 to 23 shareholders of Rims Merchant Bank (inliquidation) respectively as at September 2014. Similarly, 446 creditors of Cooperative and Commerce Bank (CCB) received the sum of ¦ 179,311,178.65 while 24 creditors of Premier Commercial Bank in-liquidation were paid ¦ 1,671,827.97 as dividend during the same period. It is also worth noting that the NDIC had declared a final dividend of 100 percent of total deposits to 14 closed banks, indicating that all the depositors of the banks had fully recovered their deposits. It is imperative to draw the attention of your newspaper to some of the daunting challenges the NDIC had faced in its liquidation activities during the last 25 years. At the time the banking licences of the 48 banks were revoked, the NDIC had to deploy some of its staff to the various bank

needed was (after you had fiercely shot down corruption as you did) to massively divert our enormous oil revenues into investments in the lives of our people – through programmes for expansion and diversification of education, modern job skills development, entrepreneurial development, small business development, promotion of modern farming, policies for improving the quality and reputation of our labour force and thereby attracting investments and businesses into our country, policies for promotion of exports, etc. Put a people to work and persistently multiply the economic opportunities available to them, and the attraction to prosperity through competitive enterprise will gradually suppress indiscipline in their land. Fanciful programmes like WAI can have no lasting benefit or future – as I hope you must know by now. That is why the man who ousted you, Babangida, was able quite easily to wipe out all the patriotic gains of your regime. Furthermore, I though t it was a pity that you did not appear to recognize that the overcentralization that was being given to our federation was the foundation of our ills as a country. You were wrong in thinking that punishing the corrupt leaders would destroy corruption abidingly. What is needed is to change the system into which corruption has been built. In our country’s case, we needed (and we need) to reduce the magnitude of our federal government and empower our lower levels of government, nearer the people, to bear most of the burden of development. Then we need to give recognition and respect to our various nationalities in building the system – which should mean that our larger nations would each constitute a state, and contiguous groups of our smaller nationalities would be assisted to form states, just as the Indians sensibly and profitably did in the 1960s. By refusing g to go that route, Nigeria has abysmally depressed its nationalities. For instance, my Yoruba nation came into Nigeria in 1914 as easily the fastest modernizing nationality in Black Africa; and we entered into independence with Nigeria in 1960 as the development front-liner and pace-setter in Af-

Gbogun gboro rica. Today, we are a battered, poor, and disoriented nation, and most of our achievements have been wrecked, thanks to our being part of a Nigeria that destroys its peoples. Every other Nigerian nationality has similar stories to tell. My brother, I am, by nature and by upbringing, averse to merely lamenting an evil development; I act to change it. My potential urge, even as I write this, is to exert myself with others like me towards pulling my Yoruba nation out of Nigeria if Nigeria will not change course – and that is something that we Yoruba are perfectly capable of achieving if we start upon it. And the same is true of some other persons and nations. In short, let’s not ignore or minimize the danger of Nigeria’s dissolution. I know you have what it takes to save Nigeria. I wish you luck in your election – and I wish Nigeria luck.

‘Today, we are a battered, poor, and disoriented nation, and most of our achievements have been wrecked, thanks to our being part of a Nigeria that destroys its peoples. Every other Nigerian nationality has similar stories to tell’

On NDIC and bank depositors By H. S. Birchi head offices and their branches for up to one year to fast track the settlement of depositors’ claims. During that period, most of the depositors with large balances collected their money. Most of the balances outstanding in the deposit registers of the closed banks today are small balances and had been abandoned by the account owners prior to the liquidation of the banks. These types of accounts dominate the deposit balances that are unclaimed by depositors. It is also important to note that some of the closed banks did not maintain proper records of their customers’ addresses in the mandate cards and even where they were available, some of the depositors had relocated to unknown addresses. In addition, most of the customers at that time had no mobile phones or telephone lines as we have today. It was therefore very difficult to either contact or locate their current addresses. It is only in this jurisdiction that the banking licence of a bank will be revoked and the owners who failed to take appropriate steps to turn around their bank would proceed to court to stop the NDIC from fulfilling its obligation to depositors. The legal action instituted by the owners of Peak Merchant Bank Ltd, Fortune Bank Plc and Triumph Bank Ltd which are still pending in various courts are classical examples. In view of the fact that loans and advances usually constitute the largest portion of banks’ assets, it needs to be understood that the inability of the corporation to pay liquidation dividends to depositors with claims in excess of the insured sums and other eligible claimants has largely been impaired by all the factors indicated above. Notwithstanding the above mentioned daunting challenges confronting the NDIC in discharging depositors’ claims settlement, the corporation had taken concrete steps to address the situation, which include but are not limited to the following: First, when a bank is closed prior to commencement of initial payout, advertisements are placed in selected national dailies as well as commercial announcements and depositor protection awareness radio and television jingles in major local languages. Local announcements are also made in churches and mosques, requesting customers of the closed banks to go to appointed agent banks nearest to their bank branches and file their claims. Filing of claims is a simple process of providing evidence to show that the account belongs to you. That was the process employed for the 35 banks that were closed prior to bank consolidation in 2006. Secondly, the accounts of the depositors who could not file their claims during the initial payouts were passed on to agent banks nearest to the closed banks’ branches where the

depositors maintained accounts to continue payment to them. That was to save costs and avoid risks by the depositors from travelling long distances to collect their hard earned money. Third, the situation was different for the depositors of the 13 banks closed after 2006 under the Purchase & Assumption (P&A) failure resolution option, as their deposit liabilities were transferred by NDIC to the banks that acquired their parent (i.e. closed) banks. Under that arrangement, a depositor had the option to collect his/her total money from the acquiring bank or continue to maintain an account with it. Many depositors chose to continue to enjoy banking services with the acquiring banks. Fourth, in its efforts to improve payout in respect of the other 35 banks in-liquidation, the corporation initiated “depositors’ tracing” which involved locating the customer’s last known address appearing in the failed bank’s record in order to reach them. Although this effort yielded reasonable results, most of the depositors could not be located at their last known addresses. Under Section 22 (4) of the amended NDIC Act, any depositor of a failed insured institution who fails to claim his/her insured deposit from the corporation within six years after the notice of payment to the depositors is published in two national dailies and electronic media houses, such depositors shall forfeit their claims to the corporation. However, the NDIC in the 2006 amendment of its Act sought and obtained powers for its Board to extend from time to time the period within which a depositor is required under the new Act to file claim for the payment of insured deposit in a failed bank. In order to enhance its ability in the payment of liquidation dividends to uninsured depositors, the corporation designed a number of measures to facilitate debt recovery. Among these measures are appointment of debt recovery agents, pursue debt recovery through court processes, selling of some of the debts owed to the closed banks to Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) and obtaining the CBN’s approval to deny bad debtors to closed banks owing N250 million and above from accessing new facilities from any other bank operating in the country. In conclusion, the NDIC, as a transparent organisation with the primary mandate of protecting depositors’ interest, is continuously determined to ensure that depositors of failed banks are promptly reimbursed. The corporation also wishes to put it on record that it will not abdicate its primary mandate of depositor protection. Instead, it remains resolute in partnering with key stakeholders, including the press to continue to protect depositors’ interest and also contribute to financial system stability. • Birchi is Head, Communication & Public Affairs, NDIC

THURSDAY DECEMBER 18, 2014

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed spoke with reporters in Lagos, shortly after the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primaries on the potency of the Saraki dynasty, his achievements in the last three and half years, preparations for next elections and issues that will shape the contest. EMMANUEL OLADESU was there.

‘Nobody can impose Bankole on Ogun PDP’

‘Saraki dynasty ’ll survive beyond 2015’

GUN West Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders have protested alleged moves by the party to impose former House of Representatives Speaker Hon. Dimeji Bankole as the governorship candidate for next year’s election. The elders, including Chief Iyabo Apampa, former Deputy Governor Salmot Badru and Mrs Ebun Oyagbola, who protested against the plot at the party secretariat, Abeokuta, the state capital, said it was in bad faith. The protesters bearing placards with various inscriptions, decried the plan to substitute the governorship candidate, Prince Nasir Isiaka, with Bankole. They noted that the Ogun West has been marginalised politically, adding that the attempt to rob their son, Isiaka, in favour of Bankole was unacceptable. The chieftains vowed to resist any attempt by the party leadership to withdraw the mandate already given to Isiaka, urging the two districts-Ogun East and Central-to support their legitimate quest for power shift. Ogun West PDP senatorial leader Hon. Boye Adesina said the few powerful and undemocratic elements and their collaborators are bent on throwing the chapter into crisis, reminiscent of 2011. He said: “It is not in the tradition of the PDP to impose or select candidates for elections but to go through democratic process of open, transparent election as was conducted on Monday December 8th 2014. “We passionately appeal to the national leadership of our party not to be hoodwinked by these elements to short-circuit the transparent process that has produced Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka as Ogun State PDP governorship standard bearer for the 2015 election. “Ogun West people are seriously agitated for the long years of marginalization in the state and any undue interference to upturn or alter the result of the primary election held on Monday 8th December will not only seriously alienate our people, it will certainly have undesirable consequences on the fortunes of the party in the district. “That Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka having emerged as governorship candidate of the PDP in Ogun State through the process as defined by the party, we are irrevocably committed to his candidature.” Their protest letter was delivered to the state Secretary of the PDP, Alhaji Semiu Sodipo ,who assured them that the party would stand by the mandate given to Isiaka during the primary election. According to Sodipo, the state executive committee would send the protest letter to the PDP national secretariat in Abuja.

ERE you surprised about the outcome of your party’s national convention? No, because I have looked at the APC as having come at a time that Nigeria needs to be rescued and the disposition of those who formed the APC has shown one clear thing: that we are all putting collective interest over and above self interest. So, to that extent, I saw everybody’s disposition for a free and fair election. I knew that with the way things were going and with the kind of feelers that we were getting across the country, I knew the exercise was going to be free and fair. I knew that people are very conscious of the problem that Nigeria is facing today and the most critical ones being insecurity and corruption. Truly, looking back into history, we judge people by what they have done. Of those people who came out to contest, Gen. Mohammadu Buhari has the highest credential in the areas of anti-corruption and to a large extent in tackling insecurity. So, by and large, I knew these would play a critical role in deciding who wins the contest and they were indeed critical. The emergence of Buhari is just in tandem with our mindset. Would fielding Buhari against President Jonathan again not constitute a serious gamble for the APC? We are not taking a gamble in the sense that if we consider the issues that are bothering Nigerians at the moment is insecurity. It is getting to frightening dimensions. Unfortunately, the progress made by the current leadership has not suggested that it is committed towards tackling the menace. We are all witnesses to different bombings in various parts of the country. Insurgency is not new to Nigeria and we are all witnesses as to how it was handled in the past. We saw how it was handled by Buhari when he was Head of State; he was able to manage the Chadians. We are also witnesses to his anti-corruption crusade, which unfortunately was not allowed to stay. So, for us, we think Nigerians will vote according to their conscience, particularly since the economy is not doing as much as it should. The areas that have propelled the current growth that we are talking about are the service sectors, but it is not touching the lives of the majority of Nigerians. Unfortunately, it has not been able to rejuvenate the middle class that the Obasanjo administration attempted to bring back. So, the disappearance of the middle class has put much more pressure on the current system such that more Nigerians feel the pain of deprivation now. Social deprivation, economic deprivation and security deprivation is truly felt now. I am sure that Nigerians will consider these factors, if we truly desire change. We need to do it differently from the way we are doing it now. We try to judge people by antecedence. He (Buhari) has done it before, he can do it again. Why are we so convinced about his desire and capacity to do it at his age? He did not accummulate wealth when he was at the helm of affairs and I don’t think he is interested in acummulating wealth now. He said it clearly that he doesn’t have money to give to anybody other than making himself available for service. How are you preparing to defend yourself, given the President’s assertion that the PDP would recover its stolen mandate in Kwara? The political system in Kwara had been

hinged on a structure which has allowed us to play an inclusive system. The structure is largely built on contributions from every nook and cranny of the state. The choice of who gets nominated, the way and manner in which people get nominated and most importantly in driving the need of the people into an encapsulated desire for growth and development. I want to let you know that we have that structure in Kwara APC, which has always delivered. So, the next election is not going to be an exception because the same structure has delivered goods and services to the people, the same structure has allowed for inclusiveness, the same structure has allowed people who ordinarily would never have thought of ascending to levels of position -- myself inclusive -- to ascend into political offices. So, for us, this same structure is still at play and will continue to get itself running the affairs of Kwara. We are happy that the structure has a leadership in Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki who has strengthened the inclusive process of arriving at decisions that are generally acceptable to the majority of the people. So, we are using that structure alongside with our developmental programmes that we have outlined, especially taking the most critical area of Nigeria’s problems today, which is youth unemployment. We have recorded a lot of milestones in reducing youth unemployment. We have created programmes despite our lean resources to let youths see that they are the leaders of tomorrow. For instance, this has led us to setting up one of the best international vocational centres. We have also supported the health systems. We have not only raised infrastructure, we have also widened access through the community health insurance. I am happy to let you know that we received an award just recently in Paris, France, for having one of the most successful community health insurance schemes in the world, not just in Africa or Nigeria. The award was designed to be looked at from a broad perspective, not just a Kwara perspective. So, with all these on ground and with our understanding of our peoples’ needs, having been very close to them, we are truly positioned to carry on to the next level in terms of growth and development.

‘We are happy that the structure has a leadership in Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki who has strengthened the inclusive process of arriving at decisions that are generally acceptable to the majority of the people’

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

• Ahmed

So, for us, the 2015 election will usher us into a second term, God willing to broaden what we have been doing since 2011 in terms of infrastructure, human capital development and the economy. So, you don’t see the President’s assertion as a threat? We have never seen them as a threat because it is all about platforms and ability to deliver goods and services to the people which we have demonstrated. Those are just mere pronouncements. What really matters is the issue of being able to articulate resources and to meet the needs of the people which we are currently doing and which we hope to upscale, God willing in the second term. How have you been able to manage the successor–predecessor crisis in Kwara , to the extent that you and Senator Bukola Saraki have have maintained cordial relations? Is it true that the structure is established around a family? It is an inclusive process, which allows for inputs from all stakeholders. It is not taken as a family affair, as if restricted to a single family. The family is in 16 local governments of the state. So, when we refer to the structure as a family thing, it is for stakeholders. Bukola Saraki is an exceptional leader who has defined his leadership through inclusiveness, through strategic and methodical design of how he wants to see everybody’s inputs galvanised into a working process for the common interest. To that extent, he has approached governance from the normal way you expect to see good business run. Strategically, you look at your strengths, your weaknesses, your opportunities and your threats. Also, in getting any system to run it has to be given an inclusive outlook. Governance can be successful anywhere in the world if you allow for inclusive process; if you allow for stakeholders’ input. It is the same structure that Bukola Saraki ran his eight year government, which I was part and parcel of. I was positioned as the commissioner for finance and got the understanding of how resources are collated and they are methodically and optimally allocated to areas of need. Having been well positioned in that administration, it was only sensible for me to use that process to develop an upscale of service delivery to the people. And that is exactly what we are doing. We have never driven the system from an individual’s angle; we have always driven the system from a collective inclusive process. That is the secret of our relationship; people don’t seem to realise this. He is not a dictator; he is an inclusive person and he has allowed everybody to create inputs into evolving the process that will be suitable to everybody and on account of that, I have also imbibed that system to drive governance in Kwara. So, rather than seeing differences, we are seeing strength, we are seeing understanding in driving good governance, we are seeing understanding in delivering goods and services and we are seeing understanding in carrying everybody along as stakeholders.

•Bankole

THE N

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

NATION SPORT

Mourinho rules out January signings C HELSEA boss Jose Mourinho has ruled out making any January additions to his squad. Mourinho was active in the close-season as he lured Diego Costa, Filipe Luis, Loic Remy and Cesc

•Mourinho

Fabregas to Stamford Bridge, while veteran striker Didier Drogba also made an emotion return to the club. Bolstered by the arrival of that particular quintet, Chelsea have set the pace at the top of the Premier League, reached the League Cup semi-finals and will

face Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League. However, given the club's financial backing, Chelsea continue to be linked with a host of top players – including Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos - but

Dukelands wins Crescent football tourney

U K E L A N D S , d e f e a t e d Gbajabiamila 2-0 to emerge as winner in the 2014 annual Crescent UniversityFootball Championship. The tournament was organised by the wife of the founder of the institution, Alhaja Amatullahi Olaitan Ajibola

Henry: Managing Arsenal is my dream

A N A G I N G Arsenal remains Thierry Henry's dream job but the former striker knows he has a long way to go before he can replace Arsene Wenger. Henry announced his retirement on Tuesday after four and a half seasons with New York Red Bulls, and has signed a contract to join Sky Sports as a pundit, although the 37-year-old has long-term plans to become a manager, with one of his former clubs high on his wish list as a future employer.

Citadel Of Grace wins 6th Kidsport Charity Games

ITADEL of Grace made a successful defence of the Kidsport Charity Games they won last year as they beat SOS, Isolo 1-0 to lift the champion’ trophy of the 6th edition. Citadel showed a class of their own in the final of the one-day tournament which was held at the Campos Mini Stadium, Lagos Island on Sunday. Citadel of Grace’s 16-year-old Taofik Ismail also won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award of the competition. This year’s Kidsport Charity Games, which was organised to give children of orphanage homes in Lagos State a sense of belonging, was colourful with dignitaries cheering the participating teams to victory. The guests included Mr. Olumide Aregbesola, who represented Mr. Lanre Babalola, the Chief of Staff to Governor of Lagos State and a host of others. Speaking through his representative, Lagos State Chief of Staff said the competition in the last six years has given the less privileged children the opportunity to express themselves through sports, adding that the children have been given the chance to unite with the society and the Kidsport Games has reminded us all the responsibilities due to these children.

who used the event to mark her birthday. The Gbajabiamila team represented the Vice Chancellor’s team, while Dukelands team represented the ‘birthday girl’s team’. Two goals from Taiwo Akanni was enough to earn Dukelands the needed

victory. In other events involving the students, College of Information and C o m m u n i c a t i o n technology (CICOT) team lifted the trophy in a final match against Adesina team on penalty aggregate of 5-4. The Vice Chancellor,

Professor Gbajabiamila praised the teams for observing a fair-play and sportsmanship throughout the competition. The Highest Goal’s Scorer ‘s Prize went to Yekeen Ekundayo of College of Information and C o m m u n i c a t i o n Technology

Mourinho is not anticipating any activity in the transfer window next month. "We have a short squad but we've got good players, some younger, some older, but the squad is very, very

good," Mourinho told talkSPORT. "Our project is to start and finish the season with the same group of players, so there will be nobody to leave and nobody to come in either."

THE NATION

EDUCATION

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

How many members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Lagos State University (LASU) chapter, suspended Adekunle Idris as chairman? What were their grievances? What is the reason behind the withdrawal of his PhD certificate? Is he being victimised? These are some of the questions being asked as LASU reels under another crisis. KOFOWOROLA BELO-OSAGIE, ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA and MEDINAT KANABE report.

N the past two weeks, there has been disquiet at the Lagos State University (LASU). First, the management withdrew 19 PhDs awarded in the past five years in the Faculty of Management Sciences. One of those affected was the ASUU-LASU Chairman, Adekunle Idris. Idris was awarded a PhD in Business Administration (Marketing) in 2012. The university’s position is that the award amounts to double honours, which does not obtain at PhD level. The embattled ASUU chair has taken the university to court. Idris was consequently suspended by a faction of the union, which claimed to have lost confidence in him. Students joined the fray when they disrupted a meeting of the ASUU because they thought it was to discuss “plans to go on strike.” Who is responsible for this crisis? in the 30-year-old institution. While Idris is accusing the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof John Obafunwa, of masterminding the withdrawal of his PhD and turning the students and the ASUU faction against him. But Obafunwa said he has nothing against Idris. The ASUU faction is asking the national body to intervene in the crisis to save the union. The feuding groups state their cases to The Nation.

Intrigues of LASU crisis

• Entrance to LASU

Vice-Chancellor of the Lagos State University (LASU) Prof John Obafunwa says withdrawal of Ph.Ds is to sanitise the system, not to victimise anyone. He attributes the crisis in the university to detractors who are unhappy about loopholes for corruption that have been blocked.

We are sanitising the system, says VC

HE problem you have with ASUU has to do with the withdrawal of 19 Ph.Ds from lecturers. Can you please defend the withdrawal of the PhD certificates of lecturers from ASUU? We need to get a few things straight: the vice chancellor cannot award a degree and the vice chancellor cannot withdraw a degree; only the senate has that power. Number two: is it true that few senators took a decision? No it is not true. Unfortunately, I do not have the details here. But I can tell you the genesis. By the way 93 senators were present and it is normal that if you start a session, everybody might not be there when a particular agenda comes up. But it is a surprise to say that it was not listed. In fact everybody had a file so it

is not a question of not knowing what was to be discussed. But how did it start? Somebody raised an issue in the previous senate meeting about irregularities in the award of Ph.Ds. Somebody whispered it that there was somebody given a PhD and would not accept it because that was not what she applied for. She ap-

plied for Ph.D in International Business how come you want to give her Ph.D Administration Marketing? (I said) Dean of PG School, Dean, Management Sciences, we need to know what has happened in the last five years. All the Ph.Ds that we have awarded let us see. They finally came with 19 names of people who had Ph.Ds. The Senate

I said a while ago that there is a committee looking at what happened on the inside - who did what, what could have happened and I can assure you when we identify anything on the inside the VC would be bold enough to deal with it

deliberated on it and categorized them into three - those that apparently had no problems - in other words, you applied for Ph.D Business Administration, you were given Ph.D Business Administration. About seven of them had no problem. We have another group categorized as those with mild issues and those with serious issues making three categories. In the mild group we have about seven and in the severe group we have another five. Seven plus five 12; 12 plus seven 19. Those with Ph.Ds that were withdrawn, the mild and the severe, are supposed to go and present their letter of admission prescribing what you • Continued on page 26

INSIDE THE Institute of

ICAN woos Chartered Accountants of (ICAN) has secondary Nigeria begun a sensitisation in secondary pupils with exercise schools in Ondo State the opportunities technicians’on inherent in being chartered scheme accountants.

-Page 28

My father’s death motivated me, says Achievers best grad -Page 45

CAMPUS LIFE Our Boko Haram nightmares, by students -Page 29

• Prof Obafunwa

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

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

EDUCATION INTRIGUES OF LASU CRISIS

‘We are sanitising the system’ • Continued from page 25

were admitted for and when you are doing your conversion of MPhil to Ph.D what exactly did you covert to. Then the thesis itself, what was your dissertation? Letters were written, to the best of my knowledge, I think all but two returned their Ph.Ds. The Lagos State University withdrew the certificates. The Dean PG School sat down with the Dean, Management Sciences to look into the details - what was offered, the dissertation - what happened and the group with mild turned out not so difficult to deal with again because if I applied for Ph.D Business Administration and I am given Ph.D Business Administration in bracket management, it means that it could be easily corrected to Ph.D management. If you applied for a Ph.D International Business and you are given Ph.D Business Administration (Marketing) and your dissertation and every other documentation shows that it is International Business, that is not too difficult to deal with. If you apply for Ph.D International Business and you are given Ph.D Business Administration (International Business) that is not too difficult to deal with. But if you apply for Ph.D Business Administration and your dissertation also says Business Administration but you are given Ph.D Marketing; to start with Marketing was never approved by LASU Senate; something is wrong. But what about Idris? As for the issue of Mr Idris I am not going to say much because of legal considerations. I will just talk generally. At this point in time I know that a number of them had their cases corrected. And by the way, the 19 people we are talking about are not all academics in LASU. More of them are working outside and I can tell you that people have complied except for about three or two people. If I knew we were going to deal with this I would have asked for names. I cannot give you the 18 names but I can tell you 19 names were brought to senate and they were categorized into three and treated separately. So to say that one person was targeted is not true Do you not think that there is some internal mechanism that brought about award of that certificate? If so, what is the institution doing to those who actually gave them the certificates? I said a while ago that there is a committee looking at what happened on the inside - who did what, what could have happened and I can assure you when we identify anything on the inside the VC would be bold enough to deal with it. I don't want to say much on the issue of Idris, when we get to the court room certain things would be laid there. It is not unusually for people to say this or that. I must not been seen to be present-

ing anything What was the duration given to the committee to work? I think they have just about two weeks to do what they have to do. LASU-ASUU have levelled several allegations against you - obnoxious practices, doctoring of documents and others. Could you react to them? To start with, I have gotten used to people throwing in so many things in the basket just to create confusion. On the 4th of November, I got a letter from Mr Idris requesting for the use of facilities for the ASUU-NEC meeting. The letter arrived on the 5th. He asked for the use of the hall; he asked for security. I signed everything that it should be made available for free. And he said he wanted to use the place for two days. Traditionally when ASUU visit a place you will pay a courtesy call to the VC. If they have issues they would even use that occasion to vent their anger and talk about it, maybe you have explanations or not. ASUU never made a courtesy call to the VC. ASUU never raised any issues. In fact on Monday the 8th, when they continued their meeting and had the press conference, don't forget 8th was not even part of what they asked for, this administration did not interfere with it. A few days before the NEC meeting, some people came to me and said 'why should we be funding this people?' I said no, I don't have an issue with ASUU national and two, I have already giving my word that certain things would be made available to them, we are going to take care of them. So this thing about some students going there and causing disruption, I don't know anything about that. Of course, what I had later on was that some students gathered that there was an attempt by ASUU-NEC that there was a plan to call a strike and they went there to object. I was in my office. It appears that there are always issues between the VC and LASU Chairman Whenever we have issues like this, we should be able to closely draw a line between what is fact and what is to be discarded. I recall my encounter firstly when I came in 2011, you didn't hear any problems, no complains until 2012. Are you saying there was no ASUULASU then? I could pick up a phone and call the chairman that there is an issue here that concerns your union member and things were dealt with, at time he will say sir leave this to me, I will deal with it. My first encounter with Idris, I recall he said to me: "I am not here to joke with you;l I am here strictly for business." I even cracked a joke; I said. "If there are issues I am sure we can resolve them over pepper soup". He replied: "No who is drinking pepper soup with you?" I said okay.

With the withdrawal of his Ph.D by LASU Senate last week, the Chairman, ASUU-LASU, Adekunle Idris is battling to save his academic career. But that is not all; a group of previously suspended ASUU members suspended him as ASUU chairman, effectively creating a faction in the union. He told The Nation that the union is determined to get rid of members who use ASUU to seek undue favours from management. He also accused the vice chancellor of engineering trouble for him.

Idris: I am being victimised •Idris

OW would you describe the supposed new ASUULASU? They are among the 21 suspended members of ASUU-LASU except one of them. What you see does not have anything to do with the government. In fact what you see play out is a grand plan by the administration of Prof Obafunwa. He cannot thrive in a peaceful environment. He needs to always create confusion. Can you imagine that a suspended ASUU member Tajudeen Olumoko, wrote a letter to the vice-chancellor to stop our check-off and he approved it? I want to make it clear to the world that ASUU-LASU is going through a form of cleansing. Over time there has been instances when leaders used their position to penetrate the university management to get what they want but this set of executives is saying it won't happen again. Their suspension has been ratified by the national body so as it stands they cannot address anyone as members of ASUU. They can start another union if they want. We only disciplined them and the union is clear on how to come back from suspension. Until they go through the process, they remain suspended. Are you aware of Thursday's congress that suspended you and your executives? We are aware of the congress and we sent out messages that it was an illegal meeting. They used ASUULASU platform to send out messages but it was a deceit. I don't know how it is possible for 17 suspended members to suspend an executive committee. Only 17 people attended the congress. Then they began to take the register round the university to get signatures. It was an illegal meeting and the person they said is the interim chairman apart from being suspended, has withdrawn his membership of ASUU. It is the university's administration that is creating this problem in LASU. It is a charade and whatever commit-

tee they set to probe is invalid. Nothing has been communicated to me. I still remain ASUU-LASU chairman. How did they get students to obstruct ASUU congress last week? What they did was to invite 400Level students for an emergency test. They then told them that before the test commences they have to go and disrupt our congress because we were going to declare strike and that means they will not graduate until after two years. They students became furious and headed to where the congress was holding. The suspended members had already made placards so they gave them to the students. What can you say about the withdrawal of your Ph.D certificate? It is a big joke. Obafunwa has no Ph.D or Masters. How can he take away my Ph.D? It took me seven years to get it. If the university made a mistake in giving you what you did not study, why did you not complain? First and foremost as a student, I did not award myself a certificate. Two, I told you that I was offered admission in Ph.D Business Administration. In that course you have various areas of specialisation. There were two persons ahead of me, one had his admission in Ph.D Business Administration but wrote his thesis on Marketing; and the university in its own wisdom awarded him a certificate that reads: 'Ph.D Business Administration (Marketing). Even before then another person had his thesis in the same Ph.D Business Administration/Marketing and he has even used the same certificate to obtain Senior Lecturer status in LASU. This same certificate was used for NUC accreditation on behalf of the department. Therefore when the university did that, as a student, I believe that that is the standard the university has set for itself. Those who did their programmes in Business Administration but wrote their thesis in Marketing were awarded Ph.D Business Administration (Marketing) believing that that is the standard the university has set for itself. That was the precedent; so there was no cause for me to start agitating because I knew that is my field of specialisation, even though all my courses were done under Ph.D Business Administration stream. So since the university has awarded

other persons before me, it simply means that they are following the precedent that they have laid. If there is anybody that has made a mistake, it is the department, headed then by Dr Ade Oyedijo, who was then my project supervisor and Head of Department. He is currently the dean. So what do you expect the university to do? If the university felt they made a mistake, all they need do is simply write another one, and asked me to return the certificate in my possession. Why do you want to withdraw a certificate before you investigate because the letter says (in part) 'for further investigation.' One would have thought that the university should conclude its investigation first, come out with its findings with respect to those awarded. You cannot withdraw a certificate before you start the investigation. That is putting the cart before the horse. What happens in between the time you withdraw the certificate and the time you answer me? Like one of them in the VC's kitchen cabinet said: 'we will be in court for the next 10 years after withdrawing the certificate and by the vice-chancellor would have gone.' That is impunity. But Obafunwa said the decision to withdraw his certificate was not his but Senate's That is the hand of Esau but the voice of Jacob. The vice-chancellor manipulated the composition of the Senate. The university regulation says that deans of faculties shall recommend for appointment those to be appointed as heads of departments. The various deans made their recommendations, but the vice-chancellor discarded that and nominated his kitchen cabinet members and junior persons over senior ones to become HoDs. Naturally, these persons that are now heads of departments dominate the Senate. It is these people that he has used to perpetrate this illegality. Obafunwa called the Senate meeting at 10am that day. The Senate sat till 10pm in the night. By 7.30pm they started discussing my matter and until when they were left with 17 people in order to implement their agenda. Therefore we knew that people tried •Continued on page 27

The four LASU teachers, Mr Sunday Afobunor, Mr Ayodele Asokere , Dr Rasaq Olowu and Dr Olawale Olateju, who are behind the LASU-ASUU faction, say Idris-lhas lost focus. They are seeking the national ASUU's intervention.

‘We have lost faith in Idris’

•From right Asokere, Olowu and Olatunji

Mr Ayodele Asokere (speaking) Why are you suspending the Idrisled executive? After a very thoughtful deliberation,

we concluded that the past executives displayed gross incapability to hold the union as one leading to disunity. Therefore, an investigation panel comprising

five eminent scholars has been set up to probe Idris-led executive and report back to the congress within 14 days. The entire public is hereby notified of the Idris' suspension including his executives. Therefore, they should cease to parade themselves as members of ASUU with immediate effect. Finally, an interim executive led by my humble self is to stepping into the union, until a properly constituted executive is put in place. Have you communicated your decision to management? There were many decisions made at the congress, and part of it was that all the decisions made be communicated to all relevant bodies, including LASU management. We have also reached out to ASUU National and the Lagos zone.

We also took decisions in respect of the check-off dues and actions are being taken in accordance with the decisions made. You said the Idris-led executives did not carry the union along. In what areas specifically were members kept in the dark? Generally, apart from training, there are individual traits and there is what we call leadership style. Adekunle Idris had grossly displayed that he lacked the capability and willingness to hold his subjects together and an ability to harmonise various views as an ingredient for successful leadership. This has led to various crises and divisions that had been identified in ASUU-LASU and we

thought that this trend must be arrested otherwise most, if not all of us, will lose what we have laboured for all these years. You claim to be on a rescue mission. But don't you think in trying to solve a problem, you are creating another? Dr Olateju Olawale (speaking) The entire problem started during the last strike action. We had a national strike; we had some internal problem with the students that had to do with the closure of portal. Shortly after then ASUU-LASU declared another strike action. Some of us felt that the strike was getting too much that we needed some level of stability in LASU and that was where the problem started. Some members felt whatever problems we had with •Continued on page 27

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

EDUCATION

ASUU rejects interim exco in LASU

INTRIGUES OF LASU CRISIS

Idris: I am being victimised Continued from page 26 to put logic among two to three persons that were not in the inner caucus. But Obafunwa discarded their views in order to implement their design. Why did the university not act in the last two years? Is it now that ASUU has been fighting against increment in school fees? Why is it now that we are agitating our members' promotion? Why is it now that we are complaining that the vice chancellor does not allow the committee system in the university to run? We believe these persons are being used against the interest of the people in Lagos State. But we are determined to see this to the end. You claim you are being

victimised for your role in ASUU, but management says it is part of cleaning up the system. Cleaning up the system that he (Obafunwa) personally started? If you are cleaning up the system, you start from the beginning. You issued a certificate you signed by yourself. It is simply a smokescreen. But Obafunwa said you were not the only victim All others are simply collateral damages. There are about 13 others, but Obafunwa said it clearly when he came to the Faculty of management Sciences that other affected persons will have their certificates reissued to them, and one or two will also be made to suffer like Idris in order to give the impression that it is not only idris that they are looking for.

Let me note that this certificate that the management is withdrawing from others will also be used in the next few weeks for NUC accreditation in the Department of Accounting. I know the management will quickly re-issue those certificates to them, but it is the same error they made in their case that is also in my case. Some of them came in for Ph.D Management but were given Ph.D in Business Management, so why will they reissue those ones and not reissue mine? Lets assumed I'm working outside the country. Will the management asked me to bring my certificate from Canada. This university is great and we must not rubbish it. What we are talking about is a shame to the academic system.

‘We have lost faith in Idris’ Continued from page 26 the management, we should develop other means to handle them. So we said no to strike. That was why some members were suspended because we want stability in LASU and that is what we stand for and that is what we fight for. We don't want any more strike in LASU. But did you not consider the fact that ASUU-LASU was fighting the members' cause? That is also why we want the leadership of ASUU to be called to order to use the right approach in channelling grievances or whatever is disturbing us. We all belong to the same ASUU; we don't want anyone to divide us. The problem we have is not ASUU but the EXCO that is why we are putting in an interim executive until we get the right people that will guide us. Mr Ayodele Asokere We found out that Idris and his co-sailors have failed in their primary duty to articulate our demands. For instance, the university for over six years owes salary arrears. Though his predecessors made several efforts, Idris did not make any efforts to get this money back. He has failed to achieve anything. Before Idris came on board, there had being issues on ground in respect of retirement age of our members in the professorial cadre. The age is put at 70 years so that the university can benefit maximally from them as a pro-

fessor It led to agitations and strikes in 2009. Many universities in Nigeria have implemented it because there has been an agreement between ASUU National and Federal government but LASU never implemented it and Idris never thought of asking for it. Therefore, he has left the substance and now chasing shadows. How many members does the new ASUU now have on its side? We have about 700 members and out of this number over 200 are on various study leave. The remaining are about over 400. Check the attendance register of ASUU-LASU congresses. Attendance is not up to that number. It is very rare to have up to 100 people in attendance in any congress. Many a times, we are less than 50 in congress but at our own congress, we had about 150 people which means that many of our members are of the opinion that there is an urgent need for us to take drastic action to arrest the situation in LASU. What we have is focus. We thought they had focus before but we discovered they don't. Before Idris' executive, we never had a division. At our congress, it was observed that we have at least three groups of ASUU-LASU. This is what we are trying to arrest; there must be no division in ASUU-LASU and that is one of our primary goals.

But Idris-led executive said you were suspended on antiunion activities You have to understand the procedure of ASUU. ASUU is like a cult, if you have any information for national you have to go through ASUU-LASU chairman (Idris), and that is where the problem started from. Some of us went to class to teach against ASUU warning, which was clear. We were accused of involving ourselves in anti-union activities and the basis for doing that was that we wanted stability in the calendar of LASU and that is what we stand for. A panel was set up to try us, but it was biased. Actually we already knew what the outcome would be so we did not attend the panel. So we are using this opportunity to tell the public to call the attention of ASUU national. There is problem in LASU, they should come and assist us and that is why we are coming in this way. You have been alleged of being used by management against the union Management has its own problems. If management were perfect, there would be no grievances to address. LASU is not about Prof Obafunwa, or Idris. LASU is a project and the project must survive. We are not here because Obafunwa sent us; we are not working for anybody. We don't have any financiers; we just want a medium so that we can be heard.

• From left: Principal and Chief International Development Officer, Weeks International Enterprises, Charles Weeks; President/Chief Executive Officer, Anabel Group, Nicholas Okoye; and Chairman, MRS Group of Companies, Sayyu Dantata at the 3rd Nigeria Leadership Summit 2014 held at the Oriental Hotel Victoria Island, Lagos.

By Adegunle Olugbamila

•Dr Adesola Nasir

HE Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Lagos zone, has affirmed the leadership of Dr Adekunle Idris-led executive of the Lagos State University (LASU) chapter. It disowned the Asokere Ayodele-led interim Executive Committee. Last Friday, Asokere and three others, Mr Sunday Afobunor, Dr Rasaq Olowu, and Dr Olateju Olawale, announced Idris' suspension and the formation of an interim executive committee. During an emergency briefing at the LASU Ojo campus, on Tuesday, Zonal Coordinator of ASUU Lagos Zone, Dr Adesola Nasir, said those beind the interim government were suspended members, who have not realigned themselves into the union. ASUU Lagos zone comprises the University of Lagos

(UNILAG); LASU; Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB); Olabisi Onabanjo University, AgoIwoye (OOU); and the Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED). Nasir reiterated that ASUU is indivisible, and capable of determining when there is need to remove an erring officer, or install an interim executive. "We hereby wish to state unequivocally that Dr Adekunle Idris-led executive is the only one known to ASUU at both national and zonal levels. While noting the activities of the suspended members of ASUU which are clearly antiunion, we urge them to seek redress within the stipulated guidelines in the union's constitution if indeed it is the interest of the union that they are defending as claimed," he said. Nasir explained that ASUU code of conduct states that a would-be chairman must neither be a student in any institution, nor on sabbatical leave, noting that both Asokere and Afobunor are still pursuing their PhD programmes therefore they are still considered 'students' and cannot man ASUU. Nasir also accused Obafunwa of dabbling into the union's activities by using its suspended members to fight them. "We have also observed that the university has become embroiled in some

meddlesomeness in staff activities by allowing a university organ to collude with some suspended members of our union to foment crisis in LASU. Nasir insists that the management is victimising members for protesting against promotion and winning the war against reduction in school fees which Governor Babatunde Fashola eventually bowed to at the university's 19th convocation in August. He said the last ASUU-LASU strike in May was appropriately requested for, and was granted by ASUU national before member embarked on it. Nasir reeled out the 20 suspended ASUU members, vowing that their names will be circulated among its chapters nationwide. He noted that ASUU-LASU and other unions and students that fought against the school fees deserve a pat on the back, as against the alleged victimisation by management. Nasir said the call by workers for another visitation panel should be championed by Obafunwa himself if he is truly convinced of his determination to clean the system. "A transparent vice-chancellor should be the one to ask government for a visitation panel. This is because such panel will expose the rot in the system and make government see those who are clogs in the wheel of progress. But he (Obafunwa) has been frustrating the move for a panel," Nasir said.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

EDUCATION FUNAAB FILE New students resume FRESH students of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) have resumed for the 2014/2015 academic session, registering online and verifying their results at their various departments and colleges. Many of them were excited about gaining admission into the school, but expressed mixed feelings about the registration process. Ifeoluwa Olabiwoninu, a Soil Science and Land Management student, described the university as student-oriented, considering the warmth reception he got during registration. Another student, Folorunso Olayinka, of Animal Nutrition, said she was impressed with the registration process, saying she almost completed the exercise in one day. But, Bakare Ifeloluwa, a Statistics student and Adedigba Mercy, studying Banking and Finance said they found printing of registration forms and signing them in different parts of the school tedious. They appealed to the school management to provide campus shuttle to convey students round the campus to make registration faster.

ANAN donates building THE FUNAAB Vice-Chancellor, Prof Olusola Oyewole, has urged professional bodies and blue-chip companies to emulate Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), which donated a research building to the university. The building named: “Centre for Linking Accounting with Business of Developing Economies (LABODE)”, was handed over to the school by ANAN President, Alhaji Sakirudeen Labode. Prof Oyewole said: “The decision of ANAN to intervene in the area of research is equally commendable. The University appreciates the speed with which this project was completed and the quality of the structure.” He advised ANAN to endow a professorial chair at the centre. Labode said the centre would conduct research into financial, accounting and management needs of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), a key sector of the economy that had been neglected over the years. “Research areas earmarked for this Centre would be unique. It would service small-scale farmers, artisans and traders. We believe that the outcome of researches into these areas would go a long way in proffering solutions to the myriad of challenges confronting them.

Poor writing motivated UBA essay competition •Bank rewards essayists

OOR writing skills of young ones couple with social media shortcuts culture influenced the establishment of the UBA Foundation National Essay Competition, the bank’s Deputy Managing Director/CEO, Mr Kennedy Uzoka, has said. Uzoka, who spoke at the grand finale/award presentation, which held at the UBA House, Marina, Lagos, said though Information Communication Technology (ICT) has had positive effects, poor writing was part of its failings. "This is a programme we started in 2011 because we believe in giving back and because we have seen key areas of failing in writing. And this is because of the advancement in technology. Though good, it has its bad sides," he said. Rather than write good morning, Uzoka said, social media users write 'ggmr', or 'lol' to mean laugh out loud; a practice, which he said has encroached on good and proper writing skills. He said youths, nowadays, fail to write using the proper format. He gave an example of his daughter, who he said emailed him recently without proper introduction and conclusion. "While we have embraced this way of writing, it does not make way for writing properly and these children will be tested in proper English," he said. At the event, 12 senior secondary

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

school pupils smiled home with cash and gift prizes. A 15-year-old Fehintola Fabelurin of Maverick College, Ibadan, Oyo State, got N1,000,000 scholarship to study in any African university. She was followed by Obi Daniel of St Thomas Secondary School, Kano, Kano State, who won N750,000 scholarship, and Sunday Ikemsinachi of Dority International

Secondary School, Aba, Abia State, who got N500,000. The three winners emerged after 12 finalists were invited from a total of nearly 2000 entries to write a final essay competition at the UBA Head Office in Lagos, where three emerged overall winners. The 12 finalists also got laptops and certificates. The bank’s Deputy Managing Director (Domestic Banking), Mr Appolos Ikpobe, urged the finalists

•Prof Oluwole Olukunle presenting the 1st Place Trophy of the 3rd National Education Innovations Exhibitions held in Abuja to the Vice -Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Prof Adebiyi Daramola and the Deputy ViceChancellor, Prof Tolulope Akinbogun.

ICAN woos secondary pupils with technicians’ scheme

HE Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) has begun a sensitisation exercise in secondary schools in Ondo State on the opportunities inherent in being chartered accountants. The programme, which held at the Cultural Centre, Akure the state capital, sought to encourage the pupils to take the Accounting Technicians Scheme West Africa (ATSWA) examination as a quicker means of becoming chartered accountants.

From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

ICAN Akure District Chairman, Mr. Francis Adaramola, told journalists at the occasion that the pupils were being encouraged to take advantage of the opportunities available in studying accountancy and the various programmes established by the association. He noted that the knowledge gained would help the pupils understand early what are required in becoming

chartered accountants. He said: "We have started this sensitisation long before now and it appears that people are asking for more. The students will be able to understand the requirements necessary to becoming chartered accountants and strengthen their efforts at becoming professionals in the field in the near future. This is what we refer to as a catch-them-young programme, and this will put them in a better position to enhancing their

knowledge of the course of study." Adaramola explained that those who passed the ATSWA examination could get direct admission into the accounting departments of the universities, and bypass the foundational courses when they enroll for the ICAN certification proper. He said the pupils, who were drawn from both private and public secondary schools in Akure and its environs, could register to write the ATSWA examinations.

FUTA wins innovation award

NIAS plans Institute THE Nigerian Institute of Animal Science (NIAS) is planning to establish its southwest branch at FUNAAB. NIAS Resource Verification Team leader, Professor Akintunde Akinsoyinu, who spoke of the plans when he visited Prof Olusola Oyewole, said he was in the school to verify facilities that would aid the institute. Akinsoyinu praised the university for providing an enabling environment for the College of Animal Science and Livestock Production (COLANIM) to thrive, adding that the college workers are professionally competent. The Dean, COLANIM, Prof Christian Ikeobi, said the college staff profile was second to none in the country, with 68 academic staff, 16 of whom were professors, and seven associate professors. Responding, the ViceChancellor, represented by his Deputy in-charge of Development, Prof Felix Salako, said FUNAAB has all it takes to host the proposed institute.

to start thinking of their unique contributions to human development. Ijeoma Aso, MD/CEO UBA Foundation, praised the quality of this year’s entries. "You should be happy you made it to this point because it shows that the quality of your entry was good. I will encourage all those who do not win this year to try again next year. It shows persistence when you do not give up," she said.

•Gen. Minima (left) being welcomed by pupils while Lt. Col. Ahmed (middle) and Adebayo (right) watch.

Army boss praises commandant

HE Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minima has praised the Commandant, Command Day Secondary School, Ojo Cantonment Lagos, Lt. Col. Yushau Ahmed, for directing the affairs of the school well. Minima hailed Ahmed while inaugurating a 32-seater bus and the school's multipurpose auditorium

named after him. He urged the Commandant not to relent in his efforts and called on the pupils and teachers to make good use of the auditorium. He advised the pupils to concentrate on their studies, saying: “Without education you cannot get anywhere.” Responding, the Commandant

thanked the Chief of Army Staff for finding time to attend the occasion despite his tight schedule. He pledged to always carry out his duty accordingly and take the school to the next level. He also thanked the Commandant, Nigerian Army Education Corps, Major Gen. Dapo Adebayo for his advice during the construction of the project.

HE Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) led other universities to win the 3rd National Education Innovations Exhibition competition organised by the Federal Ministry of Education in Abuja. It held at the Old Parade Ground of the Federal Capital Teritory. Presenting the trophy to the FUTA Vice Chancellor, Prof Adebiyi Daramola and his Deputy (Development), Prof Lawrence Akinbogun, Prof Oluwole Olukunle said the Education Minister, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau and the panel of assessors were pleased with FUTA's exhibits at the event. Olukunle said the yellow Gari produced by FUTA was preferred to the white, because of its fortified Vitamin A and its originality. He also said the assessors praised the cassava peeler and other machines developed by FUTA engineers and researchers. Responding, Daramola said the feat will further boost the image of the university locally and internationally, and motivate its researchers to do more. "This is positive and we thank God for it. We have a good name that we must always protect and sustain. This feat should be the beginning and further spur our researchers to show the world that our credo of 'Technology for self-reliance' is not in words only, but also in deeds. We must constantly improve on our inventions and perfect them for the industries," he said.

Memories of people’s VC

Protest rocks UNN

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*CAMPUSES *NEWS *PEOPLE *KUDOS& KNOCKS *GRANTS

THE NATION

CAMPUS LIFE 0805-450-3104 email: campusbeat@yahoo.com THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

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

email:- campuslife@thenationonlineng.net

Higher institutions in the North have re-opened, but many students are not willing to return because of the Boko Haram insurgency. Some are contemplating dropping out of school because of the insurgency. TAIWO ISOLA (300Level Anatomy, University of Maiduguri), IBRAHIM JATTO (Zoology), HALIMAH AKANBI (300-Level Law, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto) and ISMAT ANIFOWOSHE (300-Level Economics) report.

•Security operatives stationed at a College of Education in the Northeast

Our Boko Haram nightmares, by students T

HE peace of many higher institutions in the North has since been shattered by the Boko Haram insurgency. Boko Haram means “western education is a sin” and the sect’s activities in the Northeast have crippled academic life and led to the death of many. Also, many public and private schools have been shut in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states, which are the epicentre of the sect’s activities. Pupils left in droves, with many vowing not to return to complete their studies. Campuses became desolate as education was virtually suspended. Activities in a few schools, which were not shut, were conducted in fear. In the midst of all these, higher institutions have re-opened. A few weeks ago, a suicide bomber blew himself up at the Government Science Secondary

School in Potiskum, killing more than 40 pupils. Days after, a female suicide bomber attempted to bomb the Federal College of Education in Kontagora, Niger State. What do students make of it all? “I will never return to school,” said Michael Obong, a ND II student of the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi (MUBI POLY) in Adamawa State. Michael managed to escape from Mubi when Boko Haram invaded the polytechnic in October. He said: “I am not going back to Mubi, again. Returning to school would be suicidal for me, after all I encountered when Boko Haram insurgents came to the school. I have had enough of Boko Haram. Government cannot guarantee my safety. I have decided to secure my life by myself.” Hassana Abubakar, a student of Umar Ibrahim El-Kanemi College of Education in

Bama, Borno State, said no student was willing to return to school after troops defeated Boko Haram insurgents in Bama. She said: “The college has not had it so good since Boko Haram struck in Bama. The college lost its essence, life and flavour. Nobody is eager to return to Bama again, even though the military has taken over the place. We have seen too many horrors, that it was almost becoming part of daily routine. It has made education unattractive. Education has simply lost its grip on us.” According to Idris Suleiman, a student of the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), bombs and bullets in Borno State cannot allow schools to have uninterrupted sessions. “Thousands of students in Maiduguri are living in fear, while some do not even go to school again. We cannot expect some of these drop-

outs not to take to crime, because there has been a sustained war against education,” he said. Joshua Medeludo, a UNIMAID student, said: “A scene of an explosion is an unpleasant sight to behold. It is an experience that can make someone to hate education. In places like Bama, Gwoza, Mubi and Yobe, where Boko Haram insurgents have crippled education, we cannot close our eyes and say ‘it doesn’t matter’; it is only happening in the North. Who knows where it will happen next?” Although there has been no attack in Sokoto State but, for students of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), the fear of Boko Haram is the beginning of safety. The school has just resumed, after three •Continued on page 30

•Varsity fetes its dearest •Why plant must be conserved, by don P32

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

CAMPUS LIFE

Is this the age of women? Pushing Out F ORMER governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi once lamented that emphasis in education should shift from the much touted “girl child” to the “boy child.” His lamentation stem from the research fact that more boys from his state are shunning education and are moving in droves to start their own businesses or act as apprentices. His prediction is that in the next couple of years the ratio maybe 70 to 30 in favour of girls. Whenever I go for a function in any of our tertiary institutions I make it a point of duty to observe this growing trend. From my observation, the numbers of students tilt significantly in favour of the “weaker sex” even though I may not have the statistics to back this up for now. I had thought this phenomenon applies only to Nigeria, but on Monday, I got a tweet from Ashesi University College Accra, Ghana with a link to a story titled: “Ashesi students elect new government leadership.” The story said for the first time in Ashesi’s history, an all-female team has been elected to head the university’s student government; the institution is 60 percent female. Even in our tertiary institutions’ women are gradually making inroads into the academia and student unionism. There is no doubt that the world is changing as more women are coming out of their shell and making the best of their lives. I have seen many become self-sufficient in every respect before they clock 30; some even run businesses in their 20s. Many present day women –it appears - are far wiser and smarter than their male counterpart of same age. As I continue to give this issue serious thought, I stumbled on a related story from the United States of America (USA) which said women became the majority of the workforce for the first time in U.S. history earlier this year. “Most managers,” the story said “are now women too. And for every two men who get a college degree this year, three women will do the same. For years, women’s progress has been cast as a struggle for equality. But what if equality isn’t the end point? What if modern, postindustrial society is simply better suited to women?” The story inquired. This is a very potent question. I sat with

some “matured single ladies” some weeks back and the singular most important issues on their mind were finding the right man to marry. These with were well educated successful women who have the best life can offer except, perhaps, a husband. One 08116759750 of them lamented that all the best (SMS only) she had encountered from her area are all traders with so much money •aagboa@gmail.com “but little up there” (meaning education and IQ). Connect this with an article written by newer method for sperm selection, called Funke Egbemode, the Managing Editor of the “MicroSort,” is currently completing Food Sun newspaper written in March this year. and Drug Administration clinical trials. The She wrote: “Today, I am worried about our girl requests for that method run at about 75 sons, today’s young men. I am truly worried percent! The girl child is now the queen in the and every mother should pause, take a closer US. For nearly as long as civilization has existed, look at her sons and daughters and answer this question: are you empowering your son patriarchy - enforced through the rights of for the journey ahead of him? Answer the firstborn son - has been the organising truthfully, after all you are alone and you principle, with few exceptions. Men in ancient don’t have to let anybody hear you. I think Greece tied off their left testicle in an effort to Nigerian mothers have not done well raising produce male heirs; women have killed future husbands and fathers. Let’s admit it; themselves (or been killed) for failing to bear we have not scored above average that is if sons. In her iconic 1949 book, “The Second Sex,” the French feminist Simone de Beauvoir we achieved average at all. “Take a closer look at your beautiful suggested that women so detested their own daughter and your handsome six-footer son. “feminine condition” that they regarded their Who is better prepared for the task ahead? I newborn daughters with irritation and disgust. But as things stand now, the global economy know some of us had realised this and have done better than others but most Nigerian is evolving in a way that is eroding the mothers need to buckle up. Our sons are not historical preference for male children. Over what they should be and we cannot have the several centuries, South Korea, for instance, society, the country we desire when we put constructed one of the most rigid patriarchal unprepared men and overgrown boys in societies in the world. Many wives who failed to produce male heirs were abused and treated positions of authority.” This is quite instructive coming from one as domestic servants; some families prayed mother to other mothers and if we are sincere, to spirits to kill off girl children. Because of we’ll agree with her summation especially our culture - which is similar to that of South from the standpoint of the traditional role of Korea - we can connect and understand this because it still exists in Nigeria to date. a man being the head of his household. However, in the 1970s and ’80s, the However, the world has changed from the 1970s when a US based biologist, Ronald government embraced an industrial Ericsson, came up with a way to separate revolution and encouraged women to enter sperm carrying the male-producing Y the labour force. Women moved to the city chromosome from those carrying the X. His and went to college. They advanced rapidly, research heightened the preference for the from industrial jobs to clerical jobs to professional work. The traditional order male child. But guess what happened in the 1990s: the began to crumble soon after. As recently as ratio shifted 2 to 1 in favour of the female 1985, about half of all women in a national child! Ericsson could not believe this when a survey said they “must have a son.” That reporter presented the fact to him. In fact, a percentage fell slowly until 1991 and then

Agbo Agbo

plummeted to just over 15 percent by 2003. The same shift is now beginning in other rapidly industrialising countries such as India and China. I believe that the reasons behind this shift are obvious. As thinking and communicating have come to eclipse physical strength and stamina as the keys to economic success, those societies that take advantage of the talents of all their adults not just half of them - have pulled away from the rest. In 2006, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) devised the Gender, Institutions and Development Database, which measures the economic and political power of women in 162 countries. With few exceptions, the greater the power of women, the greater the country’s economic success. As a result, Aid agencies started to recognise this relationship and have pushed to institute political quotas in about 100 countries, essentially forcing women into power in an effort to improve those countries’ fortunes. This is true of Liberia where President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf portrayed her country as a sick child in need of her care during her campaign seven years ago. Post genocide Rwanda elected to heal itself by becoming the first country with a majority of women in parliament. The postindustrial economy is indifferent to men’s size and strength. The attributes that are most valuable today - social intelligence, open communication, the ability to sit still and focus - are, at a minimum, not predominantly male. In fact, the opposite may be true. How is it back home in Nigeria? Things may not be that pronounced, but they are changing. The steady advancement of women in the nation’s socio-economic development and their progressive prominence in national affairs has, in some instance, impacted positively on governance. From my observations, most Nigerian women now have a winning mentality buoyed by education which has somewhat liberated them. Most do not base their progress on physical beauty alone but now match aspiration with ability, ambition and qualification. Some have argued that Nigeria would be better off if they venture en masse into politics and governance. Will we? Time will tell.

‘Our Boko Haram nightmares’

Paul Akingbola has just graduated from the French Department of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN). He is a former president of Junior Chamber International (JCI). He recently won a public speaking contest and song competition at the 2014 JCI World Congress in Leipzig, Germany. He tells HAMEED MURITALA (Mass Communication) about his experience in Germany.

•Continued from page 29

‘Criticism should not be paralytic’

months holiday. But, the renewed attacks on higher institutions have unsettled the students. Some of them, who spoke with CAMPUSLIFE, lamented the new method adopted by the insurgents to fight the government. Olayinka Alfa, a 300-Level Economics student, said: “The attacks on schools are getting out of hand and no one is safe anymore. The government must strengthen its efforts to contain this threat, because of the element of surprise attached to the manner of Boko Haram’s attack. No one would have expected what happened in College of Education, Kontangora but everyone could see it as a pointer to the fact that no one is safe.” Zaynab Abdullahi, a final year student of UDUS, said: “The attack on schools is terrible. It is already sending fear down the spine of everyone and worst still, there is little the university authority can do about it. A whole lot rests on the government. Most of us returning to school will have to pass through these troubled zones and it is not as if our campus is immune against attack. We did not expect that there would be an attack in Kontangora, which is not too far from Sokoto. This is a serious war on education, which, if not curtailed, may later see more students dropping out of school.” Rukkayat Hamzat, a 400-Level student of UDUS, said schooling in the

North is becoming a sad experience, given the bombings. “It is now unbearable, going back to school after three months holiday. It is not interesting anymore, no excitement attached to resumption because of the fear of what is happening. I passed through Kontangora while travelling to school and I saw the havoc wreaked at the Federal College of Education there. The feeling now is that we are not safe and we don’t know which school is next on the insurgents’ list.” David Osu, a 500-Level Urban and Regional Planning student of the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUT MINNA), said it was high time government halted the menace of Boko Haram. He said the incessant bombing of schools was devastating on education, the result of which, he said, may not augur well for the nation. He said: “This is violence against people’s right to live, move, acquire education and have a choice. Worst, it is a crime against the future of Nigeria. It is a threat against the children. For, how will they learn and grow in an environment where their lives are not secured. This appears a conspiracy by the Federal Government and the terrorists to deprive Nigeria of its promising bloom. Boko Haram is a scam, because there are many unanswered questions about its sponsors and the inability of the military to conquer the insurgents. Should we resign to fate or challenge the negligence of the Federal Government? We are waiting to see when the war declared on education by insurgents will end.”

ELL us your experience at the Junior Chamber International World Congress in Germany? The congress hosted young people from over 200 communities in the world. As participants come from various cultural and religious backgrounds, there is always something to learn at the congress. But, despite the different skin colours and beliefs, we all have a common goal, which is to strategise together and make the world a better place. It is all about humanitarian services. It was a load of experience for me, because each participating country was given an opportunity to showcase its culture, food and languages. This is to promote respect and symbiotic business relationships. You participated in competitions at the congress and you won in two categories. How did it happen? Yes, there were competitions during the congress, but the ones I participated in were the JCI World Public Speaking Championship and the JCI 100th Anniversary Song Competition. I came first in the two contests. The Public Speaking Championship began in Nigeria, where I represented the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), before proceeding to the national competition tagged: “James Adekunle Fadairo Speech Contest”. Winning the contest gave me the privilege to represent Nigeria at the Africa/Middle East level. I also won and this gave me the leverage to represent Africa/Middle East at the global level, which was held at the world congress. I

•Paul

met winners from other regions; and after our presentations, I was announced winner. In the anniversary song competition, I also won. My song was endorsed by the congress and I was asked to perform it at the banquet dinner. How did you feel winning the Public Speaking Competition? I was overwhelmed with joy, because being the 2014 champion is a privilege. It was the first time in about 10 years that the trophy is coming to Africa; not just Africa but Nigeria. I give glory to God for the feat. What do you think gave you the advantage over other contestants? Everyone is good, but no one is perfect. I know three major things worked for me. The first was that, I didn’t cram my lines. Others mastered their lines and when they missed a

single line, they got lost. The judges are professionals. The second is that, I was able to carry along other nationalities. I understand French and a little of Dutch. This worked for me. Other contestants only communicated in English language, forgetting that some members of the audience came from different parts of the world. The third was that I was able to entertain the audience, because I understood that it was not a speech contest, it was a public speaking championship. The contest was all about how you could carry along your audience What is your driving force? Passion for change has been my driving force. I always ask myself what I should do to contribute to my society. Social change is the most important thing that can make our world a better place. God has also been an indispensable driving force. When you have ideas you want to make work, and you realise that there are challenges ahead, putting your trust in God will motivate people to help you. What is your advice to students? We must wake up; it is high time we stopped sleeping. Let us do something to make Nigeria better. We should desist from criticism; let us stop believing in analysis that is giving us paralysis. The more analytical we are, the more we get back our voice. Let us take action. The greatest global movements have been ignited by the actions of certain visionary youths.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

CAMPUS LIFE Graduate students of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) demonstrated for two days, following a hike in their tuition fees. OLADELE OGE (Mass Communication) reports.

Protest rocks UNN T HE increase in the tuition fees of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) postgraduate students by 100 per cent last week led to a two-day demonstration. The protest started on Wednesday. The protesters, comprising students in Master’s, Post-graduate and Doctoral programmes, held procession to condemn the hike. They described the increment as arbitrary, urging the university to reverse it. The procession moved from the post-graduate Hall of Residence to the university stadium; then to the School of Postgraduate Studies before arriving at the office of the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Benjamin Ozumba, who was said to be meeting with the accreditation team of the National Universities Commission (NUC). The students carried placards with inscriptions, such as “No to fee increment”, “Restore the dignity of PG students”, “Fee increment for what?” and “Bring back our old school fees”, among others.

Under the new fee regime, returning students, who initially paid N69,000, will pay between N135,000 and N145,000. The protesters could not see the VC, but the Dean of Post-graduate Studies, Prof Augustine Ubachukwu, who addressed them, promised that the VC would meet with them at another place to avoid embarrassing the management before the NUC team. After all entreaties to the protesters were rebuffed, Prof Ubachukwu warned that the management would not hesitate to deal with anybody that embarrasses the institution. He said the new fees were commensuratae with what is obtainable in other institutions, asking the students to accept the increment. The protesters’ spokesman, Mr Paul Haaga, said the increment was outrageous. “We are not against any increment, but it should be reasonable. It is irresponsible to increase the fees within nine months from N69, 000 to N145,000 for Sciences; N135, 000 for Arts and N32,000, hostel accommodation, including N2,000 mainte-

•The graduate students displaying placards at the Vice-Chancellor’s office

nance and N25,000 acceptance fee. Where do they expect us to get that kind of money? We will continue this protest until the university reduces it. I do not think it is a crime for one to further his education in UNN,” he said. Prof Ubachukwu said the government did not provide subvention for postgraduate studies because the students were expected to pay for their education. He said: “Sometimes, I use my personal money to run the post-graduate school. I have been talking with some of your leaders on this issue for some time now and we compared notes

with other universities before the increment.” In the early hours of the following day, the protesters assembled in front of Post-graduate Hostel from where they moved to the VC’s office in protest. The demonstration was coincided with departure of the visiting NUC team. But the university’s security officers moved in and appealed to the students to go back to their hostels, promising that the management would look into the matter. On Friday, Prof Ozumba met with the aggrieved students in the Postgraduate Hall and explained what led the increment. The VC said the initial

fee was not sustainable to provide quality service and knowledge to the students. But some of the students objected the management’s reason, saying there was no need to compare the university with other institutions. Mr Uche Uwachukwu, a Master’s student, said: “A standard university should be able to provide necessary facilities and infrastructure to aid learning. Unfortunately, the facilities are not there. Is it our money that authorities are expecting to fix what has been damaged for years? They should tamper with school fees but look for other source to generate money.”

The Kwara State chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has held a symposium to discuss the nation’s challenges. The event was in commemoration of the International Students’ Day, reports AFIS ODEYEMI (300-Level History Education, University of Ilorin).

HE commemoration of this year’s International Students’ Day was a platform for students in Kwara State to discuss the state of the nation. Insecurity and inadequate funding of education topped the agenda when the Kwara State chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) held a symposium to mark the Day in Ilorin. Participants condemned incessant attacks on schools, the abduction of 219 school girls and deaths of more than 200 pupils in the Northeast. NANS Vice-President (External Affairs), Comrade Oluwatosin Ogunkuade, said the students’ body would hold the government responsible for whatever fate befalls education. He said: “We condemn, in totality, the attack on schools which is targeted at innocent students. We want to know what the government is doing to stop the senseless attacks that have led to deaths of hundreds of students in Potiskum, Buni Yadi, Mubi and other troubled parts of the federation.” NANS also wants the government to do something about the killing of Nigerian students abroad and stop the regime of fee hike in higher institutions. He said education must be a right for all youths, rather than a privilege. Ogunkuade spoke of restoring the association’s glory, saying the new administration in NANS would ensure that the association does not deviate from its objective of promoting students’ welfare. He added: “Nothing changes around you until something changes within you. Therefore, we must return the credibility of NANS to meet the expectation of students studying within and outside the country. As an apostle of justice and orderliness, we will change the mentality of students and expand their worldview for a common good. The era of gangster-

‘Why insurgents must be stopped’ •

•Participants listening to Adekunle

‘We condemn, in totality, the attack on schools which is targeted at innocent students. We want to know what the government is doing to stop the senseless attacks that have led to deaths of hundreds of students in Potiskum, Buni Yadi, Mubi and other troubled parts of the federation’ ism and hooliganism is gone; this is an era of scientific Aluta with diplomacy, because we are reformers. We are products of history with a passion to make Nigeria great through our activities.” Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, represented by his Special Assistant

on Students’ Matter, Patrick Adekunle, urged students to become better ambassadors of their generation. He advised the participants to embrace positive values, saying they would only be leaders of tomorrow if they were adequately educated.

He said: “Let us all, as students, re-strategise and develop our mind by looking into ways we can add values to our society and not how we can benefit from the society. You must drop vices and embrace positive values that will engender peace and development.” Former chairman of the Joint Campus Committee (JCC), Kwara State chapter, Comrade Akorede Shakir, spoke on the lesson in marking the International Students’ Day. He said the creation of a special day for students showed that students are partners in education development in every society. He urged students to be co-ordinated and orderly in their approach towards issues affecting education. If the youth

must be seen as partners in progress, he said, they must acquire the right values and education. The event featured the unveiling of the second edition of Acme, a magazine published by the Kwara JCC chairman, Abdulrazak Jeje. Jeje, in his speech, said: “NANS in Kwara State is known as the apex ruling body of all students’ structure and has become a moral voice of students. The association has taken upon itself a rigorous responsibility of ensuring that students remained uncompromised on issues bordering on welfare, effective representation at various levels and championing of innovations capable of advancing education.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

CAMPUS LIFE Don’t disenfranchise students, body warns INEC

•Prof Mimiko with Akeem (left) and Ebunoluwa

Varsity fetes its dearest T

WO graduates of Adekunle Ajasin University in Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, who graduated with a First Class in this year’s Bar examination at the Nigerian Law School (NLS), have been hosted by management of the institution to mark their feat. They are Akeem Longe and Ebunoluwa Bamigboye. Akeem, who also graduated with a First Class in Law at AAUA, was the first student of the school to emerge overall best in Nigeria. He bested 5,840 others in six campuses of the Law School. He won seven awards during the Call-to-Bar ceremony held last month, setting a new record at the Nigerian Law

From Richard Adura-Ilesanmi AAUA School. The highest honour won by any student was six. Ebunoluwa also won two awards, making AAUA to shine at the Bar ceremony. In his remark, the AAUA ViceChancellor, Prof Femi Mimiko, congratulated the graduates for not only doing the university proud, but also their families. Mimiko said the accomplishment was a testimonial that AAUA was committed to promote academic excellence. He urged them to take the advantage of the university’s Graduate Fellow Scheme, which provides scholarships for its best stu-

dents to further their studies anywhere in the world. In his speech, the Dean of Faculty of Law, Dr Olubayo Oluduro, described Akeem as honest, brilliant and hardworking young man, saying Ebunoluwa is a humble and intelligent young lady. The Dean said the Faculty would not relent in producing excellent graduates, thanking the management for supporting the faculty with necessary facilities, including library resources. Responding, the graduates thanked the management for honouring them and appreciated staff and students of their support. They were presented with gifts to appreciate their feat.

Why plant must be conserved, by don

ICTOR Olumekun, a professor of Plant Physiology at the Adekunle Ajasin University in Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State has tasked Nigerians on conservation of plants to mitigate the effect of climate change and save the country from food crisis. Olumekun, who delivered the 8th inaugural lecture of the university titled: Mankind: Learning the art of survival under the tutelage of plants, said God uniquely created plants to serve mankind but human being failed to appreciate the usage. He said: “From food to medicines and even knowledge about the way to the future, every cure for every ailment known and unknown, synthesised and natural has been diligently stored by nature in plants. All we need to do is to discover. What we need to learn from plants is how not to self-destruct because it is only mankind that kills its own species.”

From Richard Adura-Ilesanmi AAUA The plants physiologist explained that evolution of diseases was connected to certain periods in the history of mankind, and identified plant conservation as the only way out. “Plants have been created to maximally fulfil their functions, such as teachers, sustainers and protectors of mankind. We need to take a serious look at how plants have solved most of our problems,” Olumekun explained. He urged people to stop misusing plant but must respect it for mankind’s survival. “The good news is that plants are our ‘guardian Angels’. They even help us to clear our mess by removing the excess carbon dioxide we produce. This is in addition to the fact that plants serve as purifiers of air. They are so used to cleaning up our mess even as they are not mobile,” he

From Oby Okeke UNIZIK tives’ Council (SRC) reconvened on Friday and impeached Chukwunonso, a week before the end of his tenure. CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the embattled president appeared before the parliament members on Thursday to answer the allegations against him, but he excused himself to attend a quiz contest. The parliament members held a close-door sitting the following day to impeach the president. It was gathered that members of the parliament deliberated on the

From Gerald Nwokocha OWERRI Act that there should be continued voters registration exercise at local government headquarters.” Anya called on school managements to mandate all students to get registered, stressing that effective arrangement must be made for the youth to participate in the electoral process for development and sustenance of democracy in the country. He added: “Students are paying no serious attention to INEC registration. A lot of us are not even aware that there is voter’s registration. If it is not mandated for all students to register, they will lose out. I urge managements of tertiary institutions to mandate students to register. They should make PVCs a criterion for writing exam.” Anya also warned that the association would resist any attempt to rig next year’s general elections, calling on politicians to hold issue-based campaign rather than violent rallies.

Muslim students welcome freshers

From Umar Audu NSUK

HE Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK) chapter of the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN) has held an orientation for new members. The event was held at the 100-seater auditorium of the institution. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Muhammad Mainoma, was the special guest at the event. He charged the newly-admitted students to brace up for academic challenges, saying they must be prepared for the task ahead.

•Prof Olumekun

said He lamented human activities through industrialisation, saying it had resulted in massive exploitation of resources with effects on the integrity of the planet. After the lecture, the ViceChancellor, Prof Femi Mimiko, officially welcomed the lecturer into the hallowed professorial hall of fame.

president’s impeachment amid tense atmosphere. According to a document signed by SRC members, Chukwunonso was found guilty of gross misconduct, neglect of duties, personalisation of union properties and misappropriation of funds. The SRC members ordered the impeached president to return all the properties of the union in his care within 24 hours. The Vice President, Queen Agulefo, was asked to be sworn in as president. Although, Chukwunonso did not offer extensive explanation about his innocence, but he has continued to deny all allegations levelled against him with details.

The VC said dedication, hard work and focus were keys to unlock excellence. The Dean of Students’ Affairs, Dr Muhammad Bashi, also advised the students not to misuse the opportunity of the admission. He urged the students to be serious with their studies. The MSSN president, Ustaz Abubakar Sulaiman, congratulated the freshers and advised them to be good ambassadors of Islam and the university.

Students advised to improve knowledge in ICT

Union president impeached HE crisis rocking the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the Nnamdi Azikiwi University (UNIZIK) in Awka, Anambra State deepened last Friday, following the impeachment of the union president, Chukwunonso Ibe. The union has been embroiled in crisis since the Speaker of the parliament set up a committee to investigate allegation of embezzlement leveled again Chukwunonso. The embattled union president appeared before the committee but walked out later, threatening to resign. Event took a dramatic turn when members of Student Representa-

ANY students may be disenfranchised in the 2015 general elections if the revelation of the National Association of Southern Nigerian Students (NASONS) is anything to go by. The association alleged that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had a plan to prevent students from participating in the electoral process, saying 75 per cent of students in the Southern part of the country were yet to get their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). The association urged INEC to extend the period for the distribution of the cards and registration exercise. Speaking with CAMPUSLIFE, the NASONS national president, Anya Anya, said the body had already identified many unregistered students, urging the electoral body to deploy its staff to register the students. He said: “We are calling on INEC to abide by the Electoral Act by registering our people in their various states and campuses. It is enshrined in the

TUDENTS have been urged to upgrade their knowledge in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to conduct a good research. They were told to acquire skills in the use of Microsoft word to enhance their writing skills. The charge was made at two-day Dialogue on Media and Communication organised by the Department of Mass Communication of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). Ben Ogwo, a professor of Industrial, Technical and Workforce Education, was the keynote speaker at the ocassion, while Mr Chodo Nwakama, the Immediate past president of Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria (PRCAN), chaired the event. Ogwo advised researchers to keep abreast with the latest trend of the social media and also seek research funds from local and international organisations, government agencies as well as private individuals. The don highlighted cognitive skill, writing and word processing skill,

Oyo students elect leaders

HE Lagos State chapter of the Federation of Oyo State Union (FOSSU) has elected leaders, who will steer the affairs of the union in 2014/2015 academic year. The election, which was adjudged to be free and fair, was held at the main auditorium of Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) in Isolo campus. It lasted for five hours. Babalola Davis, a student of University of Lagos (UNILAG), was declared president after the keenly contested election. Abdul Lasisi and Azeezat Adebayo, students of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) were elected Vice President and Welfare Director.

From Choice Alika UNN internet savvy as the skills required of a prospective grant writer. He said: “The manner you comport and carry yourselves is key to securing a grant, because your funders will have to run a background check on your activities before releasing money for the execution of your research project.” The Executive Director of the Sun newspapers, Mr Steve Nwosu, who spoke at the event, told the participants to be proud of their profession as it would enable them overcome the challenges they might face. Nwosu, who spoke on From classroom to newsroom, urged students to identify their areas of interest in mass communication while still in school to enable them pursue their passion after school. He told them to take advantage of their access to modern tools and establish professional journalism practice on social media and other online channels. From Ademola Fagbemi LASPOTECH Gbemisola Adesokan, a UNILAG student, became Assistant General Secretary, while Ridwan Lawal from Lagos State University (LASU) was elected as the General Secretary, among others. The outgoing president, Rahman Adebayo, said that the association’s primary aim was to promote the Oyo culture and to redeem the lost heritage of the union. He said the union fostered unity among all the students of Oyo state origin studying in Lagos. Rahman urged the elected officials to ensure continuation of the values Oyo people are known for, adding that leadership position was for the dedicated and hardworking. He advised them to work together as a team, saying it would help them to surpass challenges.

Newspaper of the Year

AN 8-PAGE PULLOUT ON SOUTHEAST STATES

Champion celebrates 25th anniversary •PAGE 34

Ebonyi commuters lament poor federal roads •PAGE 36

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

PAGE 33

Philanthropist lifts Anambra community •PAGE 40

•Participants at the Enugu event

2015: Police sensitise Abia communities as Enugu boosts health 2015 is inspiring a flurry of activities. In Abia, SUNNY NWANKWO reports that the police have started a state-wide community tour with a message of credible polls. In Enugu, CHRIS OJI reports that the Chime administration is winding down with focus on primary health

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HE word is already out from the Abia State police command. The election year is at hand. Take no chances. Meet the people from one community to another and keep talking with them. Every effort must be made to ensure a smooth election. That was what the state Commissioner of Police Mr Adamu Ibrahim told his divisional officers and other personnel at a seminar in the capital Umuahia. Soon after the state police chief’s directive, it fell to Deputy Superintendent of Police, Titus Anayo Ugwoke, Ohuru Isimiri divisional head, to kick off the campaign with a meeting with residents of Obingwa Local Government Area. Other divisions in the state command will take a cue and replicate what the DSP has done in fulfilment of the directive. In Enugu State, Governor

Sullivan Chime flagged off the second Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) Week. Women turned up with their newborns, getting medications and inoculations as well as a good dose of health orientation. But one thing that stood out at the health week was Chime’s pledge to stock all the health facilities in the 17 local governments of the state for effective primary health delivery before handing over in 2015. At Obinwa in Abia , the seminar whose theme was “Ensuring a Hitch-Free 2015 General Election” attracted youths from the council area, the local government Transition Committee (TC) Chairman Prince Obinna Nwabiaraije, members of the Nigeria Union of journalists (NUJ), Aba Chapel, National Orientation Agency (NOA) and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) person-

To ensure a peaceful and successful election in 2015 in the country security agencies, the electoral umpire, INEC, including other relevant agencies, should avoid indulging in any form of sharp practices that could lead to the breach of the conduct of the elections in 2015. Youths should not be used for electoral violence that would hinder the smooth conduct of the election

nel among others. The forum provided the opportunity for NOA’s Chief Organisation and Mobilisation Officer, Mrs. Kalu

Ojingwa, INEC Electoral Officer for Obingwa Local Government Area, Mr. Peter Okorie and the police to interact with the participants. They

shared ideas on how to achieve a violence-free and fair election in the Ohuru Isimiri Police Division. Nwabiaraije, in his speech, said, “Any election that is not free and fair cannot be adjudged as a credible one”. He challenged all the security agencies to live up to their statutory responsibility of ensuring that elections were conducted in 2015 under a peaceful atmosphere. The Transition Chairman said, “To ensure a peaceful and successful election in 2015 in the country security agencies, the electoral umpire, INEC, including other relevant agencies, should avoid indulging in any form of sharp practices that could lead to the breach of the conduct of the elections in 2015. Youths should not •Continued on page 34

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

Champion celebrates 25th anniversary

T was a gathering of who is who in the media industry as the Champion Newspaper marked its 25th anniversary with fanfare in Owerri, the Imo State capital. Old friends in the pen profession shared fond memories and plotted new strategies that will move the industry forward, especially under a democratic era. For the younger journalists, the occasion provided the opportunity to rob minds with veterans in the industry. The publisher of the Champion titles, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, could not hide his emotion as he recounted the experience of the last 25 years in the life of the newspaper. He attributed the success recorded by Champion Newspaper, which dominated the newsstands in the 90s, to the commitment and dedi-

From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

cation of the staff and the editorial independence of the paper. Iwuanyanwu disclosed that the newspaper derived its name from the Iwuanyanwu Nationale Footbal Club after winning a championship. “We were thinking of a name to give to the Newspaper when my football club won the FA Cup and we just decided that since we are the champions, the newspaper that we were about to float should be called Champion; that was how the Champion Newspaper was born 25 years ago”. He recalled the glorious days of the publication, saying that made great impact in the 90s in the media industry, a formidable tool for mass education, awareness and entertainment.

•Hon. Emeka Ihedioha (second left); former INEC Chair, Prof Maurice Iwu (second right) and others presenting the Champion Newspaper Compendium at the event The publisher added that, “at 25, we have every reason to be happy because the Champion has delivered on its mandate of building an informed and virile society”. He attributed the current challenges the newspaper is grappling

with to his inability to finance the company as he was doing in the past, but assured that plans were on the way to refinance the company to reclaim its leading position in the industry. In their goodwill messages, some

former editors of the newspaper described it as the mouthpiece of Ndigbo, which they said fought relentlessly against all forms of perceived injustice against the Igbo. •Continued on page 35

2015: Police sensitise Abia communities as Enugu boosts health •Continued from page 33 be used for electoral violence that would hinder the smooth conduct of the election.” He thanked the police for bringing experts to educate the people and to enlighten the people on the essence of a free and credible election. Mrs. Kalu Ojingwa, Chief Organization and Mobilization Officer National Orientation Agency (NOA), and Electoral Officer, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Obingwa Local Government Area, Mr. Peter Okorie in their separate lectures stated that the two agencies were already prepared to ensure that the coming election in the local government would be peaceful. They urged individuals who were yet to get their voters card to do so to enable them participate actively in choosing who their leaders become in 2015. His Royal Highness, Eze Nwabeke and the President National Youth Council Obingwa chapter, Ihuoma Gideon promised that the people and youths of the area were peaceful and would do everything possible to ensure that they sensitize those absent from the programme, promising that election in the area in 2015 without recording any form of violence. Earlier Ugwoke in his address at

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•Some participants at the sensitisation event the event said that the problem Nigeria witnessed in the past is that the electorates made bad choices during elections because they were influenced or been induced with money which translates to the quality of leaders that were produced at the end of every election. “However, the quality of government in a country is to a great extent determined by the quality of

elections through which the legislative and executive organs of government that are constituted. If citizens elect or allow corrupt and violent persons to get into power and exercise legislative and executive powers, they cannot expect to reap peace, freedom, security, development and prosperity”. The convener said that the essence of the seminar was to discuss ma-

•Family members of former governor of old Anambra State, Chief Jim Nwobodo during the burial of his son, Dr. Ifeanyi Nwobodo in Amechi community of Enugu State

jor factors that engender violence during elections and to proffer recommendations that could lead to a credible 2015 elections in Obingwa Local Government Area. He suggested among many other factors that political parties should establish and maintain a fair and effective system for redressing grievances and solving conflicts among their members, eschew political violence, fraud and corruption as way of ensuring a free, fair and credible poll in 2015 and beyond. At Uwani Health Centre in Enugu South Local Government Area, where the programme was launched in collaboration with United Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other partners, Governor Chime said his administration would continue to partner with stakeholders in the sector to ensure an improved health system in the state’s rural communities. The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Health George Eze, commended UNICEF for its support and collaboration with the state Ministry of Health in making sure that health issues are effectively tackled in the state. On the theme of the MNCH Week which is (Effective Hnad-washing), the governor said it was in line with the programme of combating the scourge of the Ebola virus and also

The quality of government in a country is to a great extent determined by the quality of elections through which the legislative and executive organs of government that are constituted. If citizens elect or allow corrupt and violent persons to get into power and exercise legislative and executive powers, they cannot expect to reap peace, freedom, security, development and prosperity

thanked UNICEF for their intensive effort in using effective hand washing against the virus. He further stated that his administration has released 12 brand new vehicles to the ministry of health for monitoring and supervision of activities and will keep supporting the ministry of Health in the provision of funds and other interventions to ensure that health •Continued on page 35

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

FTER those five horrible days in captivity, Mr Ugochukwu Ugorji-Eke, The Nation’s Umuahia correspondent, was happy to be alive and back to his family. The Ugorji-Ekes and relatives were at the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Aba, Abia State, to give thanks. The joy of life and freedom contrasted with the agony of flashback. The freed man and his family were dressed to capture the happy moment, Ugorji-Eke in his jacket, his wife Patience in her sky-blue traditional gear while their children were not outdone in the sartorial department by their parents. When the memories came flushing back, it was quite a different picture. Those five days of his kidnap took away the usual smiles from the Ugorji-Eke home. The bungalow was converted into a prayer and fasting centre. Mrs. Ugorji-Eke, her siblings, family members, close friends and even Chi-Chi and her little brother, Chimdi lost sleep as they were seeking God’s face for the safe and immediate release their father, husband, brother, friend and breadwinner who was abruptly snatched away from them by yet to be identified gunmen. Journalists practicing in Abia were shaken to the marrow by the news that one of their colleagues had been whisked away to an unknown destination by unidentified gunmen. It was November 16. How these guys could have outsmarted security checkpoints along the Opobo Road beat everybody’s imagination. It was N20million ransom at the initial contact with the family, the kidnappers choosing to speak only with the wife, warning her not to involve security agencies or risk losing her husband. Ugorji-Eke was blindfolded for as long as his abductors held him. He said he would not wish even his enemies what he went through. On November 19 he emerged from the kidnappers’ lair after his family paid the ransom. The thanksgiving, which coincided with his son’s birthday, was witnessed by close friends and associates. Speaking at the end of the event, Mr. Ugorji-Eke said, “I came here with my family to thank God for His mercies. For making me to be alive in the land of the living af-

•Mr. Ugochukwu Ugorji-Eke (middle) and his family members after the thanksgiving service

Kidnapped The Nation man relives ordeal ‘ at thanksgiving

ter spending five nights and five days in kidnappers’ den in late November this year. So, I said that since God has kept me alive that I have to thank Him. “What happened is already in the past in my life. They are gone and I don’t want to remember them. The important thing is being thankful to God and hoping for brighter days ahead. I want to thank those who stood by my family all through the harrowing process; my establishment (Vintage Press), colleagues and others too numerous to mention. Their prayers and text messages were inspiring and I can say that God should repay them accordingly and as we end this to enter into another year, all they couldn’t achieve this year, they will achieve them next year. “I have a wonderful wife who stood strong throughout my absence. People were calling to encourage her and the encouragement that comes from God she was able to stay focused throughout the period. I pray that God

I came here with my family to thank God for His mercies, for making me to be alive in the land of the living after spending five nights and five days in kidnappers’ den in late November this year. So, I said that since God has kept me alive that I have to thank Him

will bless her more for me. She was a pillar of support to my children and my family members. “We initially wanted to make it an elaborate thing but later decided to celebrate it in a low key with children of God to show

God that we appreciate Him for what He has done for us. That was why we did it here”. His wife Patience Nnnena Ugochukwu Ugorji-Eke in a separate interview, said, “I am very elated, so happy and full of

praise to God. I did make a vow to God and told him that I will give him thanks and come in his presence to give Him thanks and that is what I just did today. “It was a divine co-incidence. It wasn’t planned but God made it to be so and we are happy about that my son’s birthday also coincided with his father’s thanksgiving. It was horrific, terrific and bitter experience that is the way I will describe it. We were praying, my colleagues were praying, his colleagues were also praying, our pastor friends across the states were praying. My house was in fact turned into a praying house where we all prayed and fasted till he came back. “It has made me to be closer to God and to be stronger in the things of God because if man and woman cannot help what else is better than to hold onto Go? “It has made me to give all and trust all and then embrace God. It has made me to be much stronger •Continued on page 36

2015: Police sensitise Abia communities as Enugu boosts health •Continued from page 34

•From left: Ohuru Divisional Police Officer, Titus Ugwoke; Transition Committee chair Obingwa; Prince Obinna Nwabiaraije and Divisional Crime Officer, Isaac Chikwendu during the sensitisation exercise in Abia State

programmes are implemented everywhere in the state. In his remarks the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Moses Otiji who represented the ministry thanked the labour leaders in the state who despite their strike granted his one-week request for the programme for the benefit of children and mothers. He also expressed joy at the large turnout of the mothers and advice them to tell others to go to health centres close to them to access the vaccines and drugs free of charge. Speaking on behalf of the National Health Center development agency Dorothy Nwodo said that the agency supported Enugu state with the distribution of Mama Kits which is a kit given to every

woman that gave birth in the health center having attended ante-natal care. She said that the agency is also supporting with the refurbishing of the modern health center and the Sure-P centers including monitoring of the programme. The UNICEF programme consultant Joy Oji who demonstrated the way hands should be washed, advised the mothers to spread the message to other mothers. She also said that UNICEF has trained health workers and provided adequate vaccines and vitamine A for all the children including financial support for the MNCH week. Some other activities were distribution of treated nets as well as soaps to the women for prevention of mosquito bites and general sanitary practices.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

ORE than any other season, the roads get busier at Yuletide but those travelling to Ebonyi State are in for quite an ordeal. Many are already lamenting the poor roads, especially those of the federal government. Abakaliki-Afikpo Expressway is probably the worst. Although both state and federal roads in the state have been receiving attention since the coming on board of the Governor Martin Elechi-led administration in 2007, much still has to be done. One of the most critical of them all which requires the attention of the Federal Ministry of Works is the Abakaliki-Afikpo Expressway. It is being reconstructed and rehabilitated but at a very slow pace. Despite the efforts of contractors like Chinese Civil Engeneering Construction Company (CCECC) and UNI GLOBE, among others, which have done have helped to upgrade it, a section of the road is still in a deplorable state. This development has instigated lots of complains from both road users and communities residing within the road network. A few years back, contracts were awarded for the construction of the road by the Federal Ministry of Works to two companies. While the Chinese Civil Engeneering Construction Company (CCECC) was awarded the portion from Afikpo to Abaomege, an indigenous company UNIGLOBE was awarded the stretch from Abakaliki to Onueke. Both sections have since been completed. Curiously and disappointingly, the middle section from Onueke to Abaomege has been abandoned by the federal government. The section has since become a death trap to road users. At the height of the rainy season, that section was impassable as many trucks usually break down on the road, blocking the road and trapping road users who are forced to navigate dangerous pathways though the villages. The villagers also capitalise on this to erect emergency toll gates and extract charges of between N200 to N1000 from the drivers before they are allowed pass. This section of Abomege in Onicha Local Government Area to Onueke in Ezza South Local Government Area of the state is causing lots of pains, hardship and discomfort to both road users and commuters who ply the trans-Africa Mombazzer Highway. The road is very strategic, as it leads to Cameroon, Cross River, Lagos, and other Southeast states, among other parts of the country. A bus driver of Imo State Transport Company, ITC, who gave his name as Okey Emmanuel, com•Continued from page 35

in the Lord than before and to the kidnappers, I would ask them to repent and change and turn a new leaf”. Said Mrs. Ebere Alaezi Offia, sister-in-law to Ugochukwu who came all the way from Lagos to witness the thanksgiving “to say that I was devastated is an understatement. It was really bad. The news was shocking it was painful because my mind was just going up and down thinking what he could do that would warrant his kidnap. “I have come to know him over the years as a quiet person who doesn’t look for someone’s trouble.

Yuletide ‘ joy for the needy I

T has put the needy in a jolly mood for the season. In the runup to Christmas, a non-governmental organis-ation (NGO) in Ebonyi State, the Chinedu Ogah Foundation, has distributed various materials to widows and the less privileged in the state. At the event, the foundation gave out bags of rice, cash, sewing machines, wrappers and foodstuff to the over 750 widows, less privileged and disabled men and women in the state. Not every needy person may have got the largesse but it was a huge relief for for those who did as well as their dependants. The occasion which took place at the Women Development Centre, Abakaliki witnessed a large turnout of women who came to grace the ceremony and celebrate with the recipients. The recipients included aged men and women, the blind and other physically challenged and widows who cannot cater for themselves but

The foundation gave out bags of rice, cash, sewing machines, wrappers and foodstuff to the over 750 widows, less-privileged and disabled men and women in the state. Not every needy person may have got the largesse but it was a huge relief for those who did as well as their dependants

From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

needed all forms of assistance to survive. The distribution exercise took several hours as the Chief Executive of the foundation, Comrade Chinedu Ogah personally distributed the

items to ensure that they went to only those it was meant for. Responding to the gesture, a disabled from Ebonyi Local Government Area, Mr. Michael Nwankwegu who expressed happiness at the exercise, prayed God to bless the family of the Chief Executive of the Foundation for remembering him at this

time. “I am very grateful to God for the gesture; who are mine to benefit from these largese; to God be the glory. May God continuously bless him and all his workers”. In his remarks, the founder of the NGO, Comrade Chinedu Ogah stated that his greatest motivation in life was to see the less privileged smile and supported to achieve their aim in life. According to him, politicians and the wealthy individual in society are suppose to support the less privileged in different areas of life and not abandoned them as if they do not matter. “I enjoy seeing the less privileged smile; our foundation is committed to cartering for the needs of all and sundry; this whole exercise costed the foundation about N7 million”. The Foundation also gave financial support and other items to policemen, soldiers and members of the society.

•Two broken-down trucks and a fuel tanker on the road

Ebonyi commuters lament poor federal roads ‘ From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

plained bitterly on the deplorable state of the road. “My brother, that portion is very bad; it slows us down each time we are driving to our destination. The federal government should quickly award that road if they have not done so, because it is posing serious threat to road users. “Each time, I am driving through that spot at night, I hold my heart in my hands; armed robbers can easily attack and rob any vehicle without any restriction from security operatives in the area. That spot is very bad”. He wondered why the federal government will award contracts for both ends of the road and leavethe middle section unattended. “Their action defeats the purpose of the road construction as one can’t get the maximum satisfaction

Each time, I am driving through that spot at night, I hold my heart in my hands; armed robbers can easily attack and rob any vehicle without any restriction from security operatives in the area. That spot is very bad

of plying the road” The gullies on the roads are so deep that most cars which ply the road are sent to the mechanics after plying the road for repairs from these deep gullies. A community leader, James Nweke, who lives within the axis

of the road, complained how commuters would leave the bad spot and navigate through family compounds because of the state of the road. He called on the federal government to expedite action adding that the completion of the road

would add aesthetic value to it and further give commuters confidence to ply the road. The Federal Controller of Works in the state who did want his name in print said the road was still awaiting procurement and will soon be awarded to a notable contractor. A commuter, Ikenna Orji said the federal government is not sincere about awarding that road. “That is what they have been saying for over a year now, we wonder when this their procurement will end. Is that how long procurements usually take?” Meanwhile, the section from Afikpo to Abaomege which was the first section completed about two years ago has started started failing as portholes have sprang up in almost all parts of the road. The contractor was seen patching up the roads recently perhaps to make the roads passable for commuter during the Yuletide period.

•Participants at Corps Marshal’s Boboye Oyeyemi’s lecture at University of Nigeria, Nsukka

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Kidnapped The Nation man relives ordeal at thanksgiving It was painful but I thank God for today, because it is now a different story. I was in Lagos with my family where we reside. “At the time of his [kidnap], as a child of God, I was taught what to do when the unexpected happened and that was exactly what I did. Initially, I cried, then I remembered that worrying or crying was not going to bring him back, that while we hoped for God to do something, we also had a role to play and our own role was to pray. We were doing the underground work. I couldn’t reach him physically wherever he was but I know that I could reach him through

prayers and one of my prayer points was that God should sustain him. I didn’t know where he was, what he going through but I just prayed that knew the best way that He could keep him until physical help could come his way. The news about his release was expected because as we were praying, we were hoping that he would be released and so, when the news came, we were all excited and there was joy all over. If this thanksgiving were to be in the UK, I would have made it because he is worth it. I give God all the praise for all He has done and I know that such a thing will never occur again.

At the time of his kidnap, as a child of God, I was taught what to do when the unexpected happened and that was exactly what I did. Initially, I cried, then I remembered that worrying or crying was not going to bring him back, that while we hoped for God to do something, we also had a role to play and our own role was to pray. We were doing the underground work. I couldn’t reach him physically wherever he was but I know that I could reach him through prayers and one of my prayer points was that God should sustain him

•Anambra State Governor Willy Obiano (fourth right); his wife Ebele (fifth right); Bishop of Afikpo Diocese, Anglican Communion, Rt Rev Paul Udogu (middle); his wife Blessing (fifth left) All Progressives Grand Alliance National Chair, Chief Victor Umeh (third right); Ebonyi APGA governorship candidate, Senator Anthony Agbo (second left) and other dignitaries at the thanksgiving service of the second session of the third synod of the diocese at the Emmanuel Anglican Church Amasiri-Afikpo North Local Government Area, Ebonyi State.

Champion celebrates 25th anniversary •Continued from page 35 Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano, who was represented by former Managing Director of the Sun Newspaper and Commissioner for Information, Tony Onyima, congratulated the management of the Champion Newspapers for promoting the Igbo agenda. Delivering the Champion Better Society Lecture, titled “the Legislature as an instrument of social change”, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon Emeka Ihedioha lauded the performance of the legislature, saying that the amendment of Section 25 of the 1999 Constitution was a landmark achievement. He stated that Section 25 of the 1999 Constitution, which addresses the indigene andsettler conflict, has continued to plague Nigeria because of its heterogeneous composition, adding that its amendment would foster unity among Nigerians. The Deputy Speaker, opined that, “this amendment will foster cooperation and unity among Nigerians to a point where Nigerians are considered based on who they are and their contribution to the society, rather than where they come from”. He said that the transfer of two items: Right to free Primary and Maternal Health Care Services and Right to free Basic Education from Chapter 2 of the Constitution on the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy to Chapter 4 on Fundamental Human Rights was another landmark achievement, which he said when eventually enacted, would boost the Human Development Index of Nigeria by ensuring that citizens are granted access to basic Health and Education facilities. On security, Ihedioha said that in responding to security which has remained a major challenge in the country, the National Assembly passed numerous resolutions and initiated many bills to address the problem, citing the Terrorism (Prevention) Act Amendment Bill 2012, the State of Emergency Proclamation and its three extensions. In addition, he disclosed that in the current proposed Constitution Amendment pending in the State •Continued on page 40

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This amendment will foster cooperation and unity among Nigerians to a point where Nigerians are considered based on who they are and their contribution to the society, rather than where they come from

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

Brewery staff kidnapped in Aba Enugu crisis: Court summons PDP, INEC A From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

FEDERAL High Court in Abuja has ordered the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) to appear before in to answer to a suit over the dispute resulting from the governorship primary conducted by the party in Enugu State. Justice Evoh Chukwu also gave them 24 hours within which to file their responses to the suit instituted by an aspirant, Samuel Maduka Onyishi (owner of Peace Mass Transit Limited) following his dissatisfaction with the outcome of the party’s gubernatorial primary election held on December 8. The judge abridged time for the defendants to respond to the suit in view of the application of urgency made by plaintiff’s lawyer, Chris Uche (SAN). He ordered PDP and INEC to appear before the court on Thursday to show cause why the reliefs sought by Onyishi should not be granted. The plaintiff, who raised some questions for the court’s determination, is seeking, among other things, a declaration that the primary election conducted by the PDP in Enugu state was in total disregard and contempt of

a subsisting suit challenging the election of delegates for that primary election. He wants the court to nullify that primary election for being in breach of sections 87(4)(b)(I) of the Electoral Act and for non-compliance with the electoral guidelines for primary elections 2014 of the PDP and and its constitution. Justice Chukwu had, prior to the primary election, held in a suit marked: FHC/Abj/CS/ 830/2014 filed by Orji Chinenye Godwin and two others against the PDP and 4 others, that the legitimate list of delegates for the primary election should be that of all the delegates duly elected as delegates at the party’s ward congress held for the state. Onyishi stated, in a supporting affidavit, that the state’s Electoral Panel, allegedly acting in breach of the court’s decision, discarded that list of elected delegates approved by the court, and utilized a different list of delegates, which they claimed was handed over to them by the leadership of the party. He further averred that no valid election took place in the state because no votes or results could have been recorded from the flawed election. The plaintiff said as a

result of the confusion created with the substitution of the actual delegate list, some delegates conducted different primaries leading to a situation where the state now parades three persons laying claims to being winners of the gubernatorial primary election of the PDP in the state. Justice Chukwu has adjourned to December 18.

staff of Nigeria Breweries Plc, Aba, Abia State has been abducted in the commercial city. His abductors, said to be armed, were suspected to be kidnappers. The Nation learnt that the NBL staff, identified as Charles Opara, a resident of Road 8, Federal Housing Estate, Ogbor Hill, had returned from work not knowing that dangers lay ahead. It was gathered that after a while, Opara had gone out to buy what he needed in his house, but on his way back home, around 9.00pm, a Volkswagen Golf car that had been trailing him, doubled-crossed and whisked him away to an unknown destination. A source said: “Immediately Opara got in front of his house and the gate to the building was opened, the hoodlums rounded him up at gunpoint and took him to their hideout”. It was yet to be established at the time of

•Participants at an entrepreneurship summit in Aba, Abia State

From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

this report if the abductors had established contact with the family of their victim. When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Geoffrey Ogbonna said he was yet to be informed about the incident. However, a senior police officer who spoke anonymously, confirmed the incident but said that they were yet to have a formal report from the victim’s family. The officer added, “The kidnappers will always warn them (the victim’s family) not to involve the police and this might not be a different case”. It would be recalled that it was around the same location that Ugochukwu Eke, the Umuahia correspondent of The Nation Newspaper was kidnapped on November 16 and was later released after his family paid some ransom.

PHOTO: SUNNY NWANKWO

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

•Bishop Efobi and Ezeemo

Philanthropist lifts Anambra‘community

NE man has enlivened a community in Anambra State. Umuchu, Aguata Local Government Area of the state has come alive, thanks to the philanthropy of Mr. Godwin Chukwunenye Ezeemo. What did he do? Ezeemo built and donated a church to the town. The gesture lifted the spirits of the residents. That is the story of Saint Peter’s Anglican Church, otherwise known as Zion City in Umuchu. It started as a kindergarten, with little children taught there. In time, the community worshippers pitched the church and someone found another location for the children’s school. Still, the church looked too small and uncomfortable for the woshippers. Attempts were made from several quarters to provide a better temple. It did not quite work

•St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Umuchu

The man has fulfilled his pledge, and the community is grateful not just to him but also to several other kind-hearted people who donated cash and other resources for the church project

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

out. Then came Ezeemo who announced to the community that he

would build them a befitting temple if God provided the means. His prayer has since been answered and the man who made the vow has since paid it.

•From left: FRSC Unit Commander in Ihiala, Mr Asanaya; Deputy State co-ordinator, Special marshal and partnership (SMP) in Anambra, Mr Festus Ilo and the SMP co-ordinator, Mr Ben Osaka during a thanksgiving srevice for Anambra FRSC Special Marshals in Onitsha

The Anglican Primate, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh is scheduled to open it on January 2 before its handover to the community. The dedication service will be conducted by Most Rev. Christian Efobi, the Archbishop of the Province of the Niger and Bishop of Aguata Diocese. Some of the pioneer members of the church are Theophilus Ezekwo, Jeremiah Onuizugbe, Chief Gab Ezekwo, Ven C.A. Mbonu, Richard Okpalajiaku, Christopher Uzoamaka, Ernest Ajelo, Joseph Okoli, Samuel Ezenwa, Japhet Orjiakor, Jacob Utta, David Umeasiegbu, Elder Godwin Ezeemo among others. They nurtured and maintained the school and helped to organise occasional services in the vicinity.

The inspiration came from Mr. Philip Ezekwo in 1991 who donated a piece of land close to his compound in Umuojogwo where St. Peter’s Church (Zion city) stands today. The late Mr James Ezeabasili also donated another parcel of land to St. Peter’s zone for a kindergarten school. However, to everybody’s delight, Mr. Godwin Ezeemo asked the members to pray that the Almighty God would grant him and his family the grace to erect a temple for Him. Now, the man has fulfilled his pledge, and the community is grateful not just to him but also to several other kind-hearted people who donated cash and other resources for the church project.

Champion celebrates •Continued from page 37 Houses of Assembly, some Security Agencies and the Nigeria Police Force have been placed on first line Charge in the Consolidated Revenue Fund. According to him, Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution was also amended to strengthen the Local Government Councils, adding that this tier of government had suffered considerable setback over the years as a result of persistent interference by the State government. He appealed to Nigerians to prevail on the state governors and state Houses of Assembly to pass the Local Government Reforms on the proposed constitution amendment proposals as it would lead to revolutionary changes in the governance structure of Nigeria. “This will bring governance closer to the people and work to preserve the heritage and common interest of the people.” The Deputy Speaker, who is also the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State, promised free and qualitative education if he is elected governor in 2015. He assured that he would not only make education free but the poor performance of the citizens in examinations would be reversed, “If I am elected Governor of Imo State, education will be qualitative. We will reverse the poor result of Imo indigenes in WAEC and NECO Examinations.” Ihedioha noted that in the 2013 WAEC examination, Imo State scored an average of 46%, “whereas our neighboring states of Anambra and Abia scored 67% and 65% respectively. This is unacceptable and must be reversed for the sake of the future of our children.” As a legislator, he noted that the only way to make free education irreversible in the country is to anchor it on legislation, “this will move it from a mere government policy measure to a legal commitment by the State. The proposed Constitution Amendment now makes basic education not just free and compulsory but Constitutional right. We believe that free education should not be a political gimmick”.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

CAMPUS LIFE

Uproar trails entrepreneurship seminar

PROAR has trailed a free entrepreneurship seminar organised by Students’ Union Government of the Federal University of Agriculture (UNIAGRIC) in Makurdi, Benue State in collaboration with a Port Harcourt-based TSR Consult. Participants were taught how they could use their skills in Information and Communication Technology to be self-reliant and how they could venture into various profitable businesses while studying. The event witnessed a high turnout of students, who thronged the Science Lecture Theater, where it was held. The seminar was anchored by Mr Anthony Ohama, the principal consultant at the TSR Consult. Ohama gave tips on how to pass job interviews, emphasising that accuracy was key to securing employment. He organised a mock aptitude test to assess the intelligence of the participants. However, there was uproar at the

•Participants at the seminar

From Amos Abba and Damsa Ahangba UNIAGRIC venue when Ohama brought out books and software packages to sell to the students. The participants described the seminar as a gimmick to extort them, wondering why they should buy the N8,000 materials if the seminar was free.

Students described the price of the book and software as outrageous. Ochigbo Ejeh, a 300-Level Mathematics and Computer Science student, said: “I think the seminar is a ploy to extort money from us. But, I won’t pay anything.” Jacob Nyitar, a 400-Level Statistics and Computer Science Education student, said: “I was told that the certifi-

cate of attendance was N1,000. So, I came with the money for certificate only to discover there were other charges in the form of books and software.” Frankmark Francis, a 200-Level Microbiology student, said: “Though the price for the materials is quite moderate, I cannot get one because of financial constraint.”

The student union Vice President, Emmanuel Juku, said he was surprised by the sale of the materials. He said: “The Students’ Union liaised with consulting firm to organise a free seminar. So, when students discovered that it was not free, there was disturbance in the hall. Despite the uproar, students were enthusiastic about the event.”

Speaker urges students’ leaders on good representation

•A member of the Foundation giving out materials to the elders

NGO sensitises villagers on balanced diet

MILE Foundation, a nongovernmental organisation (NGO), has donated materials to the residents of Abata–Ipakodo village near Ago-Iwoye in Ogun State. The foundation is made up of students of the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU). The students were in the community to sensitise the resident on balanced diet and healthy living.

From Sanya Boluwatife OOU Residents were given free gifts after the sensitisation. The NGO founder, Valentine Ademenso, a 400-Level Political Science student, said the initiative was borne of the need to heal the community of diseases and put smile on the faces of residents. She

said: “A lot of people want to live a life full of joy; they want to live a life where everything is beautiful. They think of self-joy, self-growth and self-fulfillment. From the joy of the less privileged, we derive our joy.” Children, who attended the sensitisation exercise, were given educational materials, while elders got clothes and household materials.

MSSN to host 5,000 at vacation programme

O fewer than 5,000 students are expected to attend Islamic Vacation Camp (IVC) seminar, which starts next Saturday. The event with the theme: Steadfastness is organised by the Lagos State Area Unit of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN). According to a statement signed by Society’s Amir (president), Kaamil Kalejaiye, the seminar is being held for voluntary workers. He said the event would begin with camping of secondary school pupils at Alubarika Primary School in Bariga from December 21 to 26, while students of higher institutions will be camped in Human Capital Development Centre, Noforija in Epe axis of Lagos between December 27 and January 1, 2015. The programmes lined up for the event include memorisation of Quran, mentoring sessions, capacity building seminar and networking, among others.

By Tajudeen Adebanjo Kalejaiye said: “The camping event is committed to upholding societal values of honesty, diligence, patience, hard work, commitment, and fear of God, in addition to entrenching, spiritual uprightness, and academic excellence. “The IVC is to inculcate necessary leadership skills in the participants to make them excel in any field of human endeavour them find themselves. There will be soul-inspiring lectures, live-changing career talks, and spiritual activities to make the camp experience worthwhile.” The MSSN president urged Muslims not allow themselves to be carried away by the Yuletide festivities at the expense of their spirituality. He identified sin as factor responsible for the sufferings of humanity, noting that grave sins are committed in December. He added: “We cannot continue to

live in iniquity and expect development in our society. God is all-forgiving but that does not mean that we should commit more sin. Events like IVC are important to help individual attain spiritual fulfillment and development. “We believe that the concept of Islam should be extended beyond our private life to our communal life, because a bad society can kill our faith. We must strive to purity the soul of our society and we will not relent on this.” Kalejaiye urged parents and guardians to allow their children attend the event, saying it would complement their upbringing efforts. He urged the public to assist in the Society in developing the MSSN’s permanent site in Epe. “We urge Nigerians with giving spirit to assist us in achieving our goals. Our hope is to see the completion of our permanent sit in Epe and we need about N 300 million to complete it,” Kalejaiye said.

PEAKER of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Razaq Atunwa, has advised students’ leaders to promote the interests of their colleagues, saying the essence of unionism was to make life meaningful to students. Atunwa said this while delivering a keynote address at the maiden Pan-African Students’ Parliamentary Conference held at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN). The conference was organised by the parliament of the institution’s Students’ Union Government (SUG). The Speaker, who took the students through the history of parliament, stressed that parliamentarians should always strive to pursue interests of their people and not their personal one. He said: “As parliamentarians, you must work hand-in-hand with the executive arm of the Students’ Union to make good laws and protect the interest of the students.” Atunwa said executive lawlessness remained the bane of participatory democracy, citing the recent invasion of the National Assembly by the police, which made members of the House of Representatives to scale iron-fence to sit. Atunwa described the legislators as heroes that should be commended, noting that democracy

From Hameed Muritala and Olasupo Abideen UNILORIN would die if people did not make effort to curtail excesses of the executive. The Speaker described the action of the Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, to interpret the law as rascality, saying: “The police are not meant to adjudicate, but to protect lives and property of the citizens.” In his remark, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abdulganiyu Ambali, said that the conference would provide a platform for the discussion of ideas that will generate solutions to challenges facing Africa. The VC was represented by his deputy on Innovation and Science and Technology, Prof Gabriel Olatunji. The Senate President of the union Senate Council, Wasiu Haruna, said Africa would play a lead role in the contemporary world if the legislature rose to her task of enacting progressive laws that would fast-track development. The conference, which was held in honour of Dr Ali Ahmad, chairman of House of Representatives Committee on Justice, attracted participants from different tertiary institutions within and outside the country.

Be patriotic, lawmaker urges students

TUDENTS have been told to promote good values and show patriotism to improve the image of the country. A member of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon. Moshood Bakare, made the charge at the public lecture organised by the Department of Political Science of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Kwara State. Bakare whose paper was titled: I am a Nigerian stressed, the need for Nigerians to put aside ethnic, religious and cultural sentiments and be good ambassadors of the country, rather than promoting bigotry. The lawmaker urged students at the lecture to be patriotic, and break the boundaries created by the colonialism, by seeing themselves as brothers and sisters. The event also featured a debate

From Zainab Sanni UNILORIN on the topic: The manifestation of the Nigerian state: A blessing or a curse? The debate session was moderated by Haruna Kolo, a lecturer and the debaters were judged by panelists led by Dr. Saka Lukman. Other members of the panel of judges included Abdulkareem Hakeem and Muhammad Abdulazeez Bashir. The 100-Level students won the debate. Speaking with CAMPUSLIFE, a delegate from Al Hikimah University said the event was an enviable feat that should be emulated by other departments and schools. The event, which featured the launch of the department’s magazine, had in attendance students from other schools.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

CAMPUS LIFE Prof Osayuki Oshodin has bowed out as ViceChancellor of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), after a five-year tenure. But he left enduring legacies, write EDDY UWOGHIREN (300-Level Medicine and Surgery) and EZEKIEL EFEOBHOKHAN (400-Level Pharmacy).

Memories of people’s VC

IS tenure ended on November 29, but Prof Osayuki Oshodin’s achievements as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) will never be forgotten by staff and students. Oshodin, a professor of Health Education, succeeded Prof Eddy Nwanze in 2009. Aware of the taking cognizance task ahead of him, Oshodin rolled up his sleeves and went to work immediately. In order to restore the university’s glory, the former VC stepped on to. Prof Oshodin presented programmes that changed the face of the university. He introduced a high-level disciplinary code for staff and students. During his administration, the campaign against students’ harassment by lecturers was strengthened; indecent dressing and immoral act among staff and students were prohibited. For many, the fear of Oshodin was the beginning of wisdom. Prof Oshodin initiated the renovation and building of facilities, including Pharmacy Office Complex, New Auditorium Complex, Central Research Laboratories, Faculty of Education Laboratories, Centre for Entrepreneurial Devel-

opment (CED) Building, X-Ray House, School of Basic Medical Sciences office complex, construction of road within the campus, office block for Students’ Affairs’ Unit, among others. He introduced and got accreditation for Physiotherapy, Radiography, and Library and Information Sciences, among other. He also secured accreditation for the Nursing Sciences Department. The medical college’s accreditation was restored. His forthrightness led to the building of an indoor Sports Hall, equipped with modern facilities. Oshodin renovated the basketball, volleyball and lawn tennis courts and the swimming pool in the Samuel Ogbemudia Sports Centre. He introduced a yearly marathon, where students win cash prizes. The university hosted the 23rd Nigeria Universities Games (NUGA) in 2011 and the 11th edition of the Nigeria Universities Staff Sports Games (NUSSA), which the chairman of NUSSA, Prof Michael Mgbor, described as the best ever. Oshodin is credited for the establishment of a Work-Study Programme, where indigent stu-

•New Pharmacy building biult during the administration of Prof Oshodin

dents earn money to finance their staff and education. students remember his tenure with hostalgia. Etinosa Osayande, a 300-Level Medicine and Surgery student, said: “Prof Oshodin’s achievements have made him the best administrator the school has had. He instituted a platform that makes applicants, within and outside the country, choose UNIBEN as firstchoice school. In my class, there are international students, who came to study because of the quality.” Janet Ighodaro, a graduate, said Oshodin restored sanity to the school’s admission process, which used to be “man-know-man”. She said Oshodin emphasised on merit,

which gave many brilliant indigent students to opportunities to acquire university education. Augustine Aigbayenode, a 400Level Pharmacy student, Oshodin brought innovation to administration. He said: “As I speak, the era of lecturers harassing students is gone. Our results are released as at when due. All these point to his astuteness and sagacity. Issues of fake students are not common again. You can be a fake student elsewhere but not in UNIBEN. You will be embarrassed and caught even after paying school fees. This was achieved through strong online portal, where students’ records are checked instantly.” Dr Isreal Aikpitanze , an alumnus,

hailed the former VC for improving medical teaching. “Oshodin has been able to put things in place and corrected the overpopulation in the medical school,” he said. Some students took to social media to congratulate Prof Oshodin for successful tenure. One of them, Timothy Osaigbovo, wrote on his Facebook age: “I almost forfeited my admission to study English Education, because I applied for Law. But, after a session, I had a change of mind, because of how Faculty of Education was being run. He renovated the faculty and we are proud of his achievement because he is from our faculty. He is indeed an academic giant and a worthy educationist.”

No fewer than 5,760 students graduated during the 23rd Convocation of the Abia State University (ABSU). UCHECHUKWU AMANZE (100-Level Medicine and Surgery) and FAVOUR NNADI (300-Level Medical Laboratory Science) report.

LL roads led to the Abia State University (ABSU) in Uturu, last week. It was the institution’s 23rd Convocation and for five days, the campus throbbed with activities. The ceremony started on Monday with a press conference at the Vice-Chancellor’s Conference Room. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Chibuzo Ogbuagu, told reporters that the university had produced graduates of repute in the last four years. The VC also reeled out his achievements including provision of infrastructure and facilities to aid learning. On Tuesday, the arts and books exhibition and cultural carnival were held. The exhibition took place at the Administrative Block’s gallery, where lecturers and students showcased their works. Members of the university community embarked on environmental sanitation on the third day to clean up the university. A pre-convocation lecture and a novelty football match were held on the fourth day. During the lecture held in Uche Ogah Family Auditorium, the guest lecturer, Emeritus Professor Austine Okwu, who spoke on: Sapere Aude Oganihu Ndigbo, decried what he called marginalisation of the Igbo. Prof Okwu said: “The Igbo are being marginalised on daily basis in this country. We occupy few top positions, and we have been sidelined from national politics.” He blamed Igbo leaders for the fate of the tribe, saying: “Igbo is being marginalised because there is no love among its leaders. It is only when we love ourselves and united that we can fight for our rights together.” On how the ethnic group could be relevant again, guest lecturer

Fanfare as Abia varsity graduates 5,760 said the Igbo should be guided by the values espoused by its foremost thinkers, such as the late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe and the late Dr Alvan Ikoku. The novelty match was between female students and the staff. While the students’ team dominated the game, the staff team won with a lone goal. The goal was scored in the second half by Dr David Chikezie, chairman of ABSU chapter of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). Steve Amaranuro, a lecturer in the Faculty of Law, said the objective of the match was to improve relationship between student and management. The VC rewarded the players with N20,000 after the match. On Friday, graduates got their degrees. The best among them won awards. The graduates, were clad in blue academic gowns, could not hide their joy as they filed into the pavilion, A total of 893 graduates had Second Class (Upper Division), 3,584 Second Class (Lower Division), 583, Third Class, while Nine had a pass. The Pro-chancellor, Senator Ike Nwachukwu, represented by the President, Vision Africa, Dr Sunday Onuoha, congratulated the graduands on the completion of their programmes. Nwachukwu said: “You all deserve the joy of this occasion, because your labour has been adequately rewarded. I, therefore, charge you to be worthy ambassadors of Abia State University wherever you may find yourselves hereafter.”

•Seven bag First Class A graduating student of the Department of Soil Science, Miss Precious Onuma, the best graduating student. She had a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.7. Six others also made a First Class. Precious dedicated the feat to her parents, describing her mother as her anchor. She said: “I applied to study Nursing Science, but I was offered Soil Science. Initially, I did not want to accept the course, however, my

mother pleaded with me to accept the course. Today, the decision has turned out to be good.” For her outstanding performance, Precious was offered automatic employment by the university. The ceremony ended on Saturday, award of post-graduate and honorary degrees. Sixty-six students bagged Ph.D; 296, Master’s and 126, post-graduate Diplomas. Prof Ogbuagu praised the government for funding made the

•Prof Ogbuagu (left) congratulating Precious during the ceremony

institution’s capital projects. The VC, pleaded with the government to help the university in solving the its electricity and water challenges. Individuals conferred with honorary degrees include a media mentor, Chief Ewuolonu Ogbuagu (Doctor of Public Administration), Pro-chancellor of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike Prof Anya Anya (Doctor of Letters) and Igwe Eze Nwachukwu Okere of Oheiyiukwu Community, who bagged Doctorate degree in Business Administration (Honoris Causa).

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

CAMPUS LIFE

Between the humiliated and the illuminated

“N

none. A leader that does not demonstrate his sensitivity to the pains of the people is not a leader. Most of our leaders serve their political associates, immediate family and their pockets. Lawless are they that make their wills their law. In the final analysis, what is disheartening in that my generation feels comfortable with this ineptitude and failed leadership. We have so much made a mess of ourselves to the extent that we take anything messy from our leaders. We celebrate their bad ways for money. They ride on our back to gain power and we give in too quickly and cheaply. Rather than giving it out on the basis of credibility, we do it on the basis of money and ethnicity. We are the gold but willingly turn ourselves to dust to be trampled on. How many times have we seen our presidential aspirants at the gate of our federal universities to campaign for elections and debate their policies? How many times have we seen our gubernatorial aspirants at our various town-hall meetings to debate their policies? How many times have we seen the local government aspirants at our community meetings to tell us their plans? Not even our National Assembly members have the guts to

address their constituencies. Just few of them tread the path of honour by doing the right thing and act above board. Value is now jaundiced especially when money is involved. We are the illuminated turn humiliated. Is this not an attempt to get our future eroded in a wasting generation of tired and hired brains? I ask again, is this act of ours not a bunkum and absurd verbiage? We have weak institutions whose bureaucracy has been a blessing to the leaders alone. We the followers hardly give a hoot about the continuous looting of our treasury by our leaders so far we would be benefactors to the loot. We all claim to be Nigerians and yet we do things that can make Nigeria loose her internal sovereignty. Nigeria is greater than any race or ethnic background. Her growth should be our priority. It’s time to right our wrongs and do the proper thing. We should make constructive criticism and encourage others to do so. If Americans had behaved the way we are behaving, they would not wake up early in the morning and pray for their country before praying for themselves. That act by the Americans shows patriotism as opposed encouragement to failed leader-

IGERIA oscillates between diluted democracy, sheer impunity and unbridled madness, stays mostly on the last two.” - Japheth Omojuwa, a blogger and social media entrepreneur Every society gets the kind of criminal it deserves. What is equally true is that every community gets the kind of leaders it insists on. The law of sacrifice is uniform throughout the world. To be effective, it demands the sacrifice of the bravest and the most spotless. Two things make democracy work, the rule of law and the will of the people. It is not the might that makes it right. Right makes might. There is no crueller tyranny than that which is perpetuated under the shield of law and in the name of justice. Our land, watered by the Niger and Benue between the sandy wastes and the gulf of guinea should be an arena for breeding leaders who practice a brand of politics that goes beyond the greed for lucre. So also the followers are passive and submissive. We are scared to speak our mind and scared to speak the truth. We mainly grumble in silence and because of this silence, politicians have become emboldened and continue to steal and mismanage and

run the country aground. It seems to be a law of nature, inflexible and inexorable, that those who will not risk cannot win. In these waters, rapine has replaced respect. Our system of governance has turned into a racketeering enclave where the bandits dictate the pace of the game. Power is a great aphrodisiac, and those with a will would bicker and beaver to get it. The crop of leaders we have is like rose selling poison. Even if most tales about them are apocryphal, they have not lived up to our expectations. They’ve made our country a cesspool of ludicrousness, a cesspit of farcicality, a cistern through which all things miasmic and mephitic flow. It is not simply that a gap exists between our professed ideals as a nation and the reality we witness every day. In one form or another, that gap has existed since the birth of this country. In matters of public concern, the law of the majority has no place in their reasoning. Our leaders are the earthly problem we face in general. Imagine having a leader that would prefer to honour a political rally shortly after a bomb blast that killed several people, leaders that would keep making empty promises and fulfilling

Ajimobi and modern governance

OR me, youths in every society, especially those who aspire to leadership, have one particular task of tapping mentorship either overtly through direct relationship with an inspiring leader or covertly by learning through purposeful observation. But in a clime where we suffer the dearth of such true transformation – oriented and development – inclined leader worthy of emulation, as trustees of posterity, we have the responsibility of lauding the few we can single out. With all sense of conviction, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State exudes leadership style that today’s youths must take a cue from. My motivation for writing this piece is simple: to offer my own side of the story to the politically-motivated criticism that has trailed the government of Gov. Ajimobi in recent times. Without doubt, visitors who have not been to the state in the past three years will be pleasantly surprised with what the environment now looks like. Of course, waste disposal has always been one of the biggest blights of the state which previous government tried to fix but with little or no success, leaving our environment dirty and making the state one of the dirtiest in Africa.

By Babatunde Badmus But the dramatic improvement witnessed so far has proven to us that a serious government can transform the most damaged society. Isn’t the relative peace with which people of the state now conduct their businesses laudable? Of course it absolutely is. Now we can sleep with two eyes closed with the water-tight security that a serious government provides. Now is no free time for brigandage, thuggery and violence in the state. Now is no time for beautification of area boys, apologies to Wole Soyinka. Now it is impossible for rogues to invade the state secretariat, throw law makers out of their offices and impeach democratically elected public office holders. May the bad old days never return to the pacesetter state. Ajimobi is a governor who recognises the expediency of a smooth executive-legislature relationship for sustainable development. He does not run an exclusivist government. He carries along the opposition and recognises them as stakeholders in the quest

for the sustainable development of the state. Of course, this has helped in ensuring peace in the state assembly and has made developmental projects easier to execute than ever. The Ajimobi-led government has invested heavily on infrastructural development across the length and breadth of the state, because the government recognises the necessity of infrastructure in attracting foreign investors into the state. His commitment to the completion of road projects throughout the state is laudable. Now the huddles of traffic jam that used to constitute headache for commuters along Mokola-Agodi and Sabo-Dugbe have been allayed. The dualisation of Eleyele-Jericho road, DugbeAleshiloye road, Ogbomosho Township road, Iseyin Township road, Owode-Akesan road and Owode-Isokun road in Oyo also dot the list of his successful projects. Ajimobi has constructed an ultra-modern motor park at Podo and Wema Bank Area, New Gbagi Ibadan, both with complete drainage system, water, food canteens, security and toilet facilities.

He has built a business complex as scout camp, Molete, completely transforming that hitherto god-forsaken locale. These are feats achievable only by a leader with apt understanding of modern governance. The good, perhaps, the best, thing in this is that the governor is purportedly getting all these done without recourse to either international or domestic loan. The education sector is not left unattended with payment of WAEC fee for students, 50% reduction in fees paid by students of the Polytechnic, Ibadan and LAUTECH. Ajimobi has shown support for students’ leadership in the state and encouraged students’ unionism by distributing brandnew quality buses to all higher institutions in the state. Workers welfare in the state has been enhanced in an unprecedented manner. Oyo civil servants get their salaries paid in time with thirteenth month bonus. They also get free ride to their various work places. Trade and investment are committedly encouraged with N300 million interestfree loans for traders, not to forget the unprecedented influx of foreign

By Habeeb Whyte ship. This is what is helping them to grow as a nation; the love of one’s country above oneself, one’s culture or ethnic race. The prevailing realities in this country require the attention of the best and boldest citizens. Ours is a country with an inspiring history. It is time to make up our minds on what we want to accept, tolerate or resist. Life is too short to delay action and prevaricate and history will be unfair to those who have the ability to take decisions that will benefit the present and the future of our people but who because of temporary political advantage refuse to do so. Habeeb, a Corps member, NYSC Abuja and local investors into the state. Ajimobi’s government is far from perfect. No government or person has ever been close to perfection. We know that there are still schools with windows perpetually open. We know that payment of bursary to tertiary institution students from the state has not been regular. Yet, we have now learnt many positive things: that politics does not have to come with bloodshed, that we are Nigerians, not barbarians, that our towns and cities can be managed in an organized manner. We have also learned that our health care system could offer basic service to the people without hindrance, that our environment could be sustainably clean and safe, that our roads could be wider, cleaner and safer, that government could be brought down from the Olympian height to the people through many ways. Thus, the few areas of imperfection are not enough to blackmail the working governor. It is understood that many seek to wrest power from the incumbent but for continuous progress in our state, we the residents should think more than twice, lest we allow some folks’ inordinate ambition to mock honest toil. Babatunde is immediate past SUG president, UI

The challenges of university education

By Uchechukwu Amanze

DUCATION sector, just like other sectors in Nigeria, is in a sorry state and the Government needs to declare a state of emergency in it. More attention needs to be paid to the sector since

it is from there that we produce the manpower that controls other sectors. In fact, it is the mother of all sectors. The education sector is in quandary as it is today in Nigeria. As a result, other sectors have all fallen below bar. University education is no longer what it used to be. To some Nigerians, standard university education does not exist in Nigeria, hence the sheer number of Nigerians enrolling in foreign universities. Again, it is unfortunate that no Nigerian university is among the top hundred universities in the world. The major challenge that university education must overcome is poor funding. If the government could pump more money into university education, more laboratories, hostels and lecture halls will be built and maintained to create an en-

abling environment for learning and also reducing overcrowding. University education also needs funds for paying the lecturers, in order to mitigate industrial action usually embarked by them. Corruption, christened ‘sorting’ or ‘runs’ in the university system has eaten deep into our education fabric. Gone are the days when students read for examinations. Majority of Nigerian students now depend on ‘sorting’ to pass their examination. Some greedy lecturers will tell their students that no matter how hard they read for their examinations, they will have to “sort” or risk failure. This challenge can be a thing of the past if the students decide to embrace their books and report lecturers that indulge in “sorting” to their school authorities who should punish any lecturer found wanting.

We are in the jet age where everybody wants the easy route. This hastiness has resulted in poor research. Students, lecturers and government have a share of the blame. Half-baked graduates are churned out yearly because the students prefer peripheral learning to the rigours of research. Furthermore, inadequate infrastructure poses a big challenge to university education. Most universities lack basic infrastructures such as water, electricity, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and so on. And this ugly trend affects lecturers and students who wish to embark on thorough research, especially on the internet. Technology has made teaching experience rather interesting. E-learning is gradually taking centre stage

and for Nigerian universities not to be left behind by this trend, the issue of poor service from network providers must be rectified. Finally, insecurity, a national issue in Nigeria at the moment, has led to untold deaths, harassment and rape on campuses by foul elements. Security must be provided in Nigerian universities to curtail the evil activities of cultists and hoodlums who storm universities to wreak havoc, thereby distorting the school calendar. I believe Nigerian universities can be in parity with their foreign counterparts only if the Nigerian government takes proactive measures in tackling the above challenges. A better future is possible if only we act. Uchechukwu, 100-Level Medicine and Surgery, ABSU

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

CAMPUS LIFE

•Participants in Ankara attires at the show

MID glitz and glamour, Law students of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) rolled out drum to mark their cultural day tagged Oleku Night. The students were clad in different shades of Ankara attire, attracting attention as they walked from the Faculty of Law to Arts Lecture Theatre, the venue of the event. The event started with a red-carpet session, where various styles of attires were exhibited. There was also a contest to crown the king and queen of the Oleku Night. The male con-

Oleku Night thrills Law students From Zainab Sanni UNILORIN testants, decked out in Ankara, went on parade before the excited crowd, while their female counterparts took to runway as the audience applauded their sense of culture. The

On and Off Campus By Solomon Izekor 08061522600

contestants were made to perform traditional dance. The Students’ Union officials, led by the Vice President, Titilope Anifowoshe, graced the event. The arrival of a Yoruba actor, Wale Akorede, popularly known as Okunnu, was

greeted with standing ovation. The Social Director of the Law Students’ Society (LSS), Toba Ololu, said the event was to showcase the rich culture of the Yoruba people. He thanked the actor and other guests for honouring the invitation of the students.

Feast of soccer at NIJ

N what could be termed a harvest of goals, the National Diploma (ND) II team has thrashed their senior colleagues in Higher National Diploma (HND) in a foot- •The ND II team before the match ball contest organised by the Nigerian InstiFrom Samson Uwala tute of Journalism (NIJ) in Ogba, Lagos. NIJ The match, which was the grand finale of the NIJ Inter-level Soccer Competition, ended tory, but the co-operation within the team 9-0 in favour of ND students. Students abandoned lectures to watch the mates us to win the match. The team played match, which was played on the field at the well, but we had more chances in the first Institute. A few minutes into the match, 45 minutes. Had we utilised our chances in Moses Isikalu, scored the first goal, leaving the first half, we would have scored more the opponent disorganised. In quick succes- goals.” The HND II team captain, Ayobami sion, the HND team conceded goals without Odunayomi, blamed his team’s loss on lack being able to return one. Other scorers for the ND II team are Shina of co-ordination among the players. He said: “We didn’t have strong boys to Omolola, Samuel Paul, and Jide Idris. Speaking with CAMPUSLIFE, the captain play the match. It was only two players who of the ND II team, Moses Isikalu, hailed his were fit; others were called to assist.” Odunayomi, however, hailed the ND II team, saying they won the match because of team, saying they displayed good skills on team play and co-operation. He said: “No one claims credit for the vic- the field.

VC wants women empowered

HE Vice-Chancellor of the Lagos State University (LASU) in Ojo, Prof John Obafunwa, has urged corporate organisations and philanthropists to invest in initiatives aimed at empowering the women. The VC said empowerment of women became necessary, because of their role in bringing up children and support for the family. Obafunwa spoke at the United Nations Information Centre in Lagos on Tuesday, while delivering a keynote address at the 2014 Entrepreneurship and Innovation Scholarships and Awards presentation to five students. He was represented by the Director, Centre for Entrepreneurship Studies, Dr Biodun Deloye. The VC said: “A nation is empowered when women are empowered. If we admit this fact, then time is ripe for all public and private organisations to say yes to women empowerment and no to violence against women.” Senior Public Information Officer in the United Nations Information Centre, Envera Selimovic, said the world body would continue to supports initiatives aimed at enlightening and empowering women in the country and the world.

From Ayodeji Adesina LAGOS Selimovic charged women to learn to speak out against violence, calling on co-operation among people to end violence against women. A lecturer in Mass Communication Department of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Dr Ifoma Amobi, urged the media to play active roles in educating the citizens on how to report women abuses and how the victims could be counselled and guided. The participants were shown a film documentary shot by UNILAG students on violence against women. Dr Amobi said the department would continue to collaborate with relevant stakeholders, with a view to promote a society where all genders will be free. The Artistic Director, Maybelline New York Nigeria, Mrs Bimpe Onakoya, said women must take their destinies in their hands by being productive. She said ladies must be willing to take risk to make their dreams a reality. Onakoya said she had no regret for dumping bank job for studio, urging the youths to aspire to be entrepreneurs despite the challenges facing the nation.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

EDUCATION FEDPOFFA FILE

My father’s death motivated me, says Achievers best grad

HE best graduating student of Achievers University in Owo local government area of Ondo State, Miss Doris Onyeocha said her father’s death played a positive role in her outstanding performance in the school. Doris graduated with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.82 in Accounting last Saturday. Doris lost her after completing her secondary school education. The 22 year-old noted that since then, she determined to do something that would make him proud. She said her mother, Folashade, has been shouldering the burden of caring for her and her siblings alone. She added that she missed her father, who would have been of great help to her mother were he alive. She said: ‘‘I miss my father because he loved education and has been my motivator. He was a trained accountant and he had been telling me how to manage my time by not allowing one activity to affect others. ‘‘I faced some challenges like delayed payment of my school fees. Sometimes I thought of my late father. But despite all these, I was able to overcome with the help of God and my mother, who is a teacher.” Doris, who is currently observing her National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) programme at Delta State said she nurses no plans for further studies beyond gaining professional certification in the field of ac-

Use us, Rector urges govt

I miss my father because he loved education and has been my motivator. He was a trained accountant and he had been telling me how to manage my time by not allowing one activity to affect others From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

counting. ‘‘I am not planning to go beyond acquiring my professional course which is ICAN. I have no plan to go for master or PhD programme. I plan to get a good job and also get married,” she said. At the ceremony, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu SAN, was conferred with a Doctor of Management Science (Honoris Causa), while Mr Gabriel Amuchi, an engineer, was conferred with a Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) of the university. In his remarks Akeredolu crticised the Federal Government for denying private universities from enjoying grants from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

•Doris and Mum

CIA, NIMN to trade membership

ITH the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Chartered Institute of Administration (CIA) and the National Institute of Marketing (NIMN) last Thursday, becoming a member of both institutes has just become easier. President of the CIA, Goddy Idaminabo, said at the institute's induction held at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Festac Town that the MoU would enable any member of the CIA who wants to join NIMN to only need to write the institute's fi-

•From Left: Executive Director Operations and IT, Access Bank Plc, Ojini Olaghere handing over the keys to the buses donated by the Bank to the Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, to the Vice Chancellor, Prof Joseph Ajienka during the induction of medical students of the university.

•honours Afe Babalola

From Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

for the 2012/2013, while the 2,229 are for the 2013/2014 session. He said further that 4,323 would be awarded First Degree, 1,028, Postgraduate Diplomas, 554 Master's degrees, 111 Diplomas, and 72 Ph.Ds. Among the first degree recipients, 1,236 made Second Class Upper; 2,136 , Second Class Lower; 717, Third Class; and 84, Pass. Honorary awards would also be conferred on Legal luminary, Chief Afe Babalola, Alhaji Basrir Aminu, and Prof Paul Vlek. Projects to be inaugurated as part of the event include: 2,250-capacity auditorium, students recreation centre, security office building, and block of offices, among others.

nal examination or vice-versa. For instance, he explained that a NIMN member wishing to join CIA, would skip the Foundation, Intermediate, Part I and Part II stages and write only the Part Three examination. He said the decision to collaborate with NIMN was influenced by the world becoming a global village. "Today we had an epoch making ceremony where we signed a Memorandum of Understanding with NIMN. The NIMN is an institute of repute and I think that this marriage will bring a lot of progress to Nigeria's economy because the CIA is making the policy while the NIMN is selling the policy. The president called on everyone in administrative position to register with CIA to hone their administrative skills. "You cannot practice as a lawyer without the consent of the Nigeria Law School; you cannot practice medicine without the consent of the Nigeria Medical Association; and you cannot be an administrator without the factor of CIA. If those of them at top of medical administration pass through CIA, we will not see what we are seeing today in the country. Any government that neglects professional administration must live to regret," he said. A member of the CIA, Dr Festus Oshoba told the new members what they should know to become successful professionals. "If you are found wanting, your certificate will be withdrawn from you," he warned.

Wamakko presents buses

FUTA graduates 6,088 Friday IFTY-FIVE of the 6,088 students graduating from the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) this year, made First Class honours. Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Adebiyi Daramola said at a press briefing heralding the 25th and 26th convocation of the institution that the graduands comprise of the 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 sessions. Daramola, who spoke through the Deputy VC, (Academics) Prof Emmanuel Fasakin , explained that the convocation, holding tomorrow, is combined because the 32year old institution could not hold the 2012/2013 edition last year due to the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). Of the total, 2,094 graduands are

By Medinat Kanabe

•Wamakko N its bid to ease students' transportation problems, the Sokoto state government has donated 6 units of 36-seater buses to three institutions of higher learning. They are: Sokoto State University, The Polytechnic, Sokoto and Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto. Presenting the buses to the institutions, Governor Aliyu Wamakko said the gesture was aimed at assisting stu-

dents get transportation to and from school as well as generate revenue for the institutions. He said it was his government's resolve to give education the required attention such that products of the institutions would rank among the best by all standards. Receiving the keys to the buses, Vice Chancellor of the Sokoto State University, Prof Nuhu Yakubu, who spoke on behalf of the others, thanked Wammako and the state for developing education in the state. Yakubu said it would go a long way to support the three institutions in their academic activities. "It will assist our students, particularly my university where we have two campuses and by extension, will add value to our academic and research activities,” he said.

THE Rector, Federal Polytechnic Offa (FEDPOFFA), Dr. Mufutau Olatunde Olatinwo has urged policy makers to deliberately collaborate with scientists and technologists in the nation's tertiary institutions, especially polytechnics and colleges of technology, so as to harness scientific and technological innovations for a strong economy. Olatinwo, who spoke at the opening of the 6th National Conference of the School of Applied Science and Technology of the polytechnic, said that doing so would encourage academics in these institutions to come up with relevant researches and fabrications that could benefit the nation. The Rector said dwindling oil revenue and other challenges facing the economy call for concerted effort among policy makers, scientists and technologists to find solutions to the nation's woes. Addressing the theme: "Science and Technology: Panacea to Challenges and Transformation in Nigeria" in her keynote address, Rector, Yaba College of Technology, Dr Margaret Ladipo, noted that it is very important for policy makers to understand that science and technology is an important factor in any nation's quest for development.

81 students expelled EIGHTY-ONE students of FEDPOFFA have been expelled for examination malpractices offences. The Registrar, Abdulhamid Raji, said the students were caught during the first and second semester examinations of 2012/2013 academic session. Their offences ranged from being caught with exhibits in the examination hall, assisting others and accepting assistance during examination, copying, to writing on their bodies, and impersonation. Some of the students also failed to appear before the panel after the mandatory three invitations.

SBMS gets internet THE FEDPOFFA Rector, Dr. Mufutau Olatinwo, has inaugurated the internet cafe of the School of Business and Management Studies (SBMS). The facility has an internet broadband capacity of 500meters that allows workers to browse on their computers in their offices. The project, worth about N2 million, was co-funded by SBMS and the Association of Business and Management Studies Students (ASBAMS). Olatinwo praised the Dean, SBMAS, Mr. Paul Akinjobi, and all departmental heads of the school for complementing the management's efforts to move the polytechnic forward. He said SBMAS was the first school to agree to move to the main campus in 2010 when it was still a 'thick forest'. "We now have the Schools of General Studies and Environmental while others will join very soon especially the School of Communication and Information Technology whose facilities will soon be completed," the Rector said. Olatinwo advised the Dean to continue to organise seminars and conferences that would benefit members of staff. He also implored both staff and students to utilize the internet facilities available within the campus. In his speech, Akinjobi returned all glory to God for the Computer and Internet project. He said the idea was muted to aid teaching and research as well as to complement the polytechnic's effort to meet NBTE requirements for accreditation.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

CAMPUS LIFE EKSU FILE

SCHOLARSHIPS

ENACTUS visits mgt.

APPROACHING DEADLINE

THE Acting Country Director of Entrepreneurship Action and US (ENACTUS), Mr. Michael Ajayi, has congratulated Ekiti State University Enactus Team for their victory at the last national competition which, according to him, has again shot the institution into a global reckoning in entrepreneurship advancement and academic achievement. Ajayi who led ENACTUS team to EKSU Vice-Chancellor Prof Oladipo Aina, also apologised for inability of the team to represent Nigeria at the global stage in China due to the fear of Ebola virus scourge by the host country. Ajayi however, assured Prof Aina that plans were underway to give a fair chance to EKSU to represent Nigeria in next year's Enactus world cup scheduled for Johannesburg, South Africa. In his response, Aina thanked the organisation for the opportunity given to Nigeria universities to have such a competition adding that EKSU would appreciate another opportunity to fly the flag of Nigeria at the global stage next year. Present at the meeting were Faculty advisers of EKSU Enactus Team including Prof. Abayomi Fashina, Dr Ariyo Awe, Mr. Kehinde Adekanmbi.

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

MoU for hostel THE management of EKSU has signed a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) with a leading construction firm- STP Consult Nig. to build an ultra-modern students' hostel to achieve the vision of making the institution fully residential. At the meeting, the ViceChancellor Aina restated his commitment to accommodate most of the students' on campus. He said: "The knowledge and behavioural training available through living on campus will make them thorough bred graduates in future". Prof. Aina said the big picture is to also have a large percentage of staff reside on campus to promote efficiency, regulate lifestyle and help serve as role models to the students. The Managing Director of STP Consult Nig. LTD, Mr. Festus Omiye assured Aina that work would begin in earnest. The Deputy Registrar, Legal Affairs, Sola Arogundade, conducted the signing of the MOU. The hostel is expected to be ready in 12 months time.

4000 degrees, diplomas in FUTO convocation From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

HE Federal University of Technology Owerri, (FUTO), will award a total of 4000 degrees and diplomas during the 26th and 27th convocation ceremony of the university holding tomorrow. The Vice-Chancellor of the university Prof Chigozie Asiabaka, who disclosed this during a pre-convocation briefing, stated that over 30 of the graduating students made First Class division. He said that the institution will also be graduating students from the post-graduate school, "who have acquitted themselves with their postgraduate studies in various fields". Asiabaka described the university's achievements as "remarkable in spite of obvious constraints and unfriendly external environmental factors that tended to affect the promotion of teaching, learning and research in the institution.” Asiabaka congratulated the wouldbe graduands and charged them to be of good conduct and remain proud of their soon-to-be alma mater.

•Continued from last edition What does it cover? Multiple scholarships ranging from partial to full tuition fee grants will be offered every year to incoming students in the Development programs of PSIA. Selection Criteria: 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. Notification: Results will be an-

nounced around mid-April 2015. How to Apply: To apply, please send the following materials by email to Ms Heather Clarke at heather.clarke-atsciencespo.fr with ‘AFD-PSIA Scholarship Application 2015’ in the subject line: For all applicants: -CV in English -Cover letter of 1000 words in English (indicating which program at PSIA you are applying for) addressed to the members of the joint selection commit-

tee -Completed and signed release form For applicants coming from Sciences Po’s Undergraduate College only, in addition to the two above mentioned items (CV and cover letter), please also provide: -Copy of the official academic transcripts for the entire length of your time in higher education (including periods spent abroad on exchange programs) -Two letters of reference from professors. To ensure confidentiality, these

letters should be sent by the professors directly by email to: heather.clarke-at-sciencespo.fr. Scholarship Application Deadline: The application deadline is 8th February, 2015. Further Official Scholarship Information and Application inShare Read more: AFD-PSIA Scholarships for African Students in France, 2015 Scholarship Positions 2014 2015 http://scholarship-positions.com •Continued on next edition

ICPC’s anti-corruption unit in UNIPORT

HE Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offence Commission (ICPC), has inaugurated eightmember committee of Anti-Corruption and Transparency Monitoring Unit (ACTU) in the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT). The commission which also organised an induction seminar for members of the committee a day before the inauguration, said the directive for ACTU establishment at UNIPORT is placed the institution at the vanguard of corruption prevention. Speaking at the event which was held at Ebitimi Banigo auditorium of UNIPORT, University, chairman ICPC Rivers State chapter, Mr. Ekpo Nta said ACTU is expected to con-

From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

duct preliminary investigation into petitions received. Ekpo Nta who was represented by the commission's director of Corruption, Monitoring and Evaluation Department Mr. Banabas Baba-Gaji, said the committee will not only investigate

petitions received but will make recommendations to management and ICPC for further action. He urged the committee which has been trained on how to carryout preliminary investigation to use the power vested in ACTU to eradicate the corruption in areas where they have been assigned to operate. He noted that ACTU was borne

We will pursue a robust and vigorous moral rearmament and gross socialisation which is part of ACTU's mandate

out of the ICPC'S belief that members of an organisation are in a better position to understand or identify loopholes through which corruption thrives. "ACTU is not a police station; it is not a spying agent, it was instituted in the UNIPORT to enhance management activities. ICPC is more than ready to partner with the university to make the Nigerian public service, especially UNIPORT the pride of our nation. "Most importantly, ACTU members are expected to pay particular attention to the preventive and educational/public enlightenment duties. We will pursue a robust and vigorous moral rearmament and gross socialisation which is part of ACTU's mandate."

UK varsities’ £1m scholarship for Nigerians

CONSORTIUM of leading UK Universities (NCUK) has launched a £1m scholarship scheme aimed at attracting the brightest Nigerian students to UK. The scheme will also develop their leadership skills in addition to creating leadership opportunities for Nigerian students. Chair of the Trustees for NCUK and Vice President of the University of Manchester Prof Colin Bailey students that undergo NCUK programmes turn out hot cakes Said he: "Students that come through the NCUK programmes are well sought after by our universities. They provide a valuable contribution to campus life here in the UK, integrating not only with our UK students but also other international students. We believe our universities offer the best education in the UK" The competitive scholarship scheme is open to all Nigerian students who enroll on an NCUK pathway programme, designed to prepare students for university study in the UK, Baily said. According to him, students who are eligible for the scholarship scheme can study at one of the study centres in Nigeria and thereafter be awarded the university scholarship to study in the UK when they graduate from the programme in 2016. The scheme, he added, includes 57 UK scholarship of up to £20,000,

By Adegunle Olugbamila

offered by 16 of the UK's most prestigious universities, the opportunity to join a world-class leadership training programme and additional awards of £2,000 offered by study centres in Nigeria. NCUK was first established internationally in 1987 and began working in partnership with its study centres in Nigeria over 10 years ago. Today NCUK programmes are run in Calabar, Kaduna, Lagos and Port-Harcourt by Oxbridge Tutorial College, Chrisland Pre-Degree College, Executive Business School, Lagos, Zamani College Kaduna, Access Group of School Calabar and Brookstone School Port-Harcourt respectively. The university consortium offers a one year international foundation programme (IFY) and an international Diploma. In addition to the 57 scholarships, the winner will also be eligible to compete for 20 places on a training programme which will be offered by the international leadership development organization and common purpose founded in 1989, which runs scholarship development programmes that enable people from different backgrounds, sectors and geographies to work together to solve common problems through globally oriented programmes that give par-

• One of the 70 top performing students, Gogo Ayuwu (left), and Chief Executive Officer of NCUK Ken Gill, at the NCUK award in the UK.

ticipants the inspirations, skills and connections to become better leaders both at work and society. Country Director of the British Council, Connie Price said: "This collaborative £1m scholarship scheme is excellent news for young

students. The UK Government has always valued Nigerian students highly and we are delighted by NCUK's initiative. It will provide many opportunities to the most talented Nigerians who have their sights on an international career"

Lafarge bursary for Ogun undergraduates

O fewer than 2,319 indigent students in the nation's various tertiary institutions have benefited from the WAPCO Lafarge Africa (Lafarge cement) yearly bursary awards. The beneficiaries were drawn across Lafarge cement plants' host communities of Ewekoro in Ewekoro Local government and Sagamu - both in Ogun state. The Managing Director, WAPCO Operations, Lafarge Africa,

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

Adepeju Adebajo, who disclosed this on a Wednesday at the 2014 Community Development Programmes in Sagamu and Ewekoro respectively, also added that amount spent as bursary for the said beneficiaries in the last six years stands at N231.9 million. Adepeju said the company had this year, also spent a total N200 million - (N100 million each) for

Sagamu and Ewekoro communities in the areas education, youth empowerment, health and infrastructural development. According to her, five blocks of classrooms were re-constructed in five public primary schools. She assured that Lafarge Africa Plc would continue to live to its billing as a socially-responsible and community-focused organisation as attested to by several notable independent national bodies and

Ogun state government. Responding, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Segun Odubela, lauded Lafarge for its intervention in educational development of the state, saying it had really improved the standard of education since the yearly education initiatives began. Odubela urged other investors in the state to emulate Lafarge Africa by extending hands of support to their host communities and the entire state for even development.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

EDUCATION

NSE rewards essay winners

OW can Nigeria build a financially-savvy generation of youths? Answers to this question were provided by secondary school pupils in their entries submitted for 2014 Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) Essay competition. Miss Chiamaka Onuh Sophie, a Senior Secondary School (SSS) 3 pupil of Nikky T High School in Aba, Abia State, was declared winner of the contest at the grand finale ceremony held in Civic Centre on Victoria Island, Lagos. Chiamaka was presented with N700,000 cheque, which include scholarship worth N400,000 and N300,000 equity investment. The contest, which is sponsored by Access Bank Plc, is held yearly to encourage pupils in secondary schools across the nation apply realworld economic trend and research for the development of their knowledge in financial investment. The winners were selected through rigorous judging process by capital market professionals, who evaluated pupils’ entries. Contestants were judged according to their knowledge of stock market and factors that drive investments. Over 60 finalists nationwide were invited to take part in the second level assessment, which produced 10 national winners among whom

• From left: Onyema; Master Onmonya, Miss Chiamaka, Miss Blessing, and Igbinakenzua at the event. By Wale Ajetunmobi

three finalists. In his speech, the NSE Chief Executive Officer, Mr Oscar Onyema, said he was touched by the brilliance displayed by the pupils through their write-ups. With such wisdom, the nation’s future is bright, he said. He said: “In the past 14 years, the Nigerian Stock Exchange has,

School celebrates 20th

HE Taoheed Schools Alimosho Lagos, has celebrated its 20 anniversary. The celebration which was held at the Verteville Events Centre OkeOdo Lagos was attended by members of the school's old students association. Chairman Taoheed Schools Education Board, Alhaji Olaaje Yaqub, noted that despite the fact that the school commenced operation 20 years ago at Aje Central Mosque Oke-Odo with just seven pupils, it has churned out graduates who are now employees in different companies both within and outside Nigeria. Yaqub who lamented the poor funding of the school's new site project, appealed to parents to contribute generously towards the completion of its permanent site. Hi words: "The school actually commenced operation on 24th September 1994 at Aje Mosque Oke-Odo with about seven pupils. It has in the last eight years produced graduates who are within and outside the country and some of them are currently working in companies. "The major challenge we have today is the funding of our school project which has commenced about four years ago and still under construction. We strongly appeal to all our guests and parents to donate generous towards the construction of the permanent site,"he said. Earlier, the President of Taoheed Islamiyya Association of Nigeria (TIAN), Mr Shittu Akinkunmi Nafiu, said the aim of the anniversary is to show gratitude to God for keeping them alive from when the school was established and till the present time. He therefore urged parents to show more concern for their children's education through prompt payment

anniversary By Ibrahim Yusuff

of fees and provision of their school needs. Commenting on the school, the President of the Old Students' Association, Ewunuga Sherifdeen said: "This school has really gone far when it comes to training not anyhow pupils but brilliant and competent ones that can compete favourably with their mates anywhere. I can say Taoheed is one of the best schools in Oke-Odo. We are all proud to have graduated from this college. The school has really impacted knowledge in us.”

said the bank believes in the future of the country, which was why it partnered with the NSE to invest in pupils’ intellectual ability. Igbiakenzua said: “Access Bank has maintained a policy to pursue anything that is sustainable and one of such is the investment in the intellectual development of youths, which is what the NSE Essay competition stands for. We will continue

NBL’s succuour to Lagos school

HE anguish of teachers and pupils of Adisa Bashua Primary School, Surulere, has finally come to an end. The school has been in a deplorable state for years, with broken doors, cracked floor, fallen windows , leaking roof and poor toilet condition. Against all odds, pupils studied under unconducive environment even without good chairs and desks for their convenience. The head mistress mrs Nancy Oreagba who was posted to the school in December 2013 confessed that the has been desolate for years 0."I was posted here last year December. I met the school in a bad state. It was truly nothing to write home about, although manageable

By Jane Chijioke

but needed thorough renovation.” One of the teachers Mrs. Adewumi Kazeem who teaches primary two lamented that teaching has not been easier for them as they were still using blackboards, suffocating in class as a result of no ceiling fans neither was there electric power supply nor water and no functioning library. Pupils who had their own fair share of the sad days narrated their ordeal. Chidubem Ikewegbo, who started his education in the school two years ago and presently in primary five said pupils have been sitting on broken chairs.

•The pupils being dewormed while Mr Liadi looks on.

NGO de-worms pupils in Lagos UPILS of Ahmadiyyah Primary School and Fazil-Omar Primary School both in Iwaya, Yaba Local Government Area were de-wormed during a deworming campaign that was carried out in their school premises recently. According to President of NAS Yaba chapter, Mr Femi Hassan, The

By Adegunle Olugbamila

massive exercise going which was collaboration between the National Association of Seadogs (NAS) medical mission and the National Primary Health Care Agency, was part of the series of activities that has been prepared during this year's Maternal and

to support the initiative for as long as it exists.” The first runner up is Blessing Ejike Mbilite of Beth Roots Model Secondary School in Onitsha, Anambra State, while the second runner up is Prince Dan Onmonya of Mount Saint Gabriel’s Secondary School in Makurdi, Benue State. They were given scholarship and equity investment N500,000 and N400,000 respectively.

through this laudable initiative, positively impacted on the lives of many youths in various secondary schools. I am particularly elated that NSE is championing this value-adding programme, which is targeted at promoting sound financial literacy among our youths.” In his remark, the Managing Director of Access Bank, Mr Herbert Wigwe, represented by Mr Elias Igbiakenzua,

Newborn Child Health week. The headmaster of the beneficiary schools, expressed profound gratitude to NAS and its members for taking out time from their crowded schedule to organise to ensure conduct of the exercise. The headmaster Ahmadiyyah Primary School, Mr. G.A. Liadi "I suppose this kind of activity should

happen more often. At the next Parent Teachers Association (PTA) meeting of the school, I will inform all parents of this laudable act," he said. Also, the head teacher of FazilOmar Primary School commended NAS for its heart-warming activity and appealed that the de-worming exercise be carried out from time to time considering its positive impact on a developing child's health.

He recalled that during rainfalls ,the water penetrates their classroom, disrupt teaching and leave them shivering at a corner. Abdulraman Abati appalled by the condition of the toilet said it was not tiled, lack good maintainace and always a turn off for him. Another pupil who sustained an injury on his foot as a result of bad floor said it has hindered him from participating in inter house sport as he was suppose to run for another school. Thanks to Nigerian Breweries who intervened through its Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund(ETF) which was established in 1994 to support the funding of education and research facilities thereby promoting academic excellence. Commissioning the school, at Surulere, the Chief Executive Officer, Mr Nicolas Vervelde noted that the head teacher and the chairman of Adisa Bashua Residential Association called his attention to facelift the school. Aside from providing the school with good furniture, re-roofing, tiled floor, painted walls, white boards, ceiling fans, renovated head teacher's office and toilets the company also assisted with 4O seaters library with books, and social amenities- water and electricity. He said supporting education is beyond the company's social responsibility as it strives for a better Nigeria. “We strive to champion causes that add value to the society because of our believe that business should be an integral part of the community where it operates. We are committed to winning with Nigeria and this project is one of our ways of fulfilling that objective" Beaming with joy, mrs Oreabga said "I don't just know how to express my joy, I thank God for this day". I truly appreciate the effort of Nigerian Breweries, may God replenish them abundantly". She added that with the new face of the school teaching and learning process would increase. On behalf of the pupils, the head boy, Emmanuel Anya expressed his satisfaction and promise to use the facilities effectively.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

EDUCATION EDUTALK

Navy School best in NECO exams

HE Nigerian Navy Secondary School in Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State has emerged the overall best in the June/July 2014 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) organised by the National Examination Council (NECO). Two of the school’s best performing pupils also got scholarships and medals from Learn Africa Development Foundation to further their studies. Speaking during the award of excellence to the school and the best pupils in the examination organ-

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

ised by Learn Africa Foundation in Calabar, the school’s Commandant, Navy Commander Eleazu Uriri said the award is a call to work harder. "Even though we are very happy that we (Navy Secondary School) emerged the overall best, having been second best twice, the award is a challenge to continue to provide academic excellence to the students of the school. "Attaining the status of best Secondary School in Cross River State was not an easy task to come by due to competition and strive for

excellence among schools to get Learn Africa Foundation Development Annual Award," he said. The commandant also thanked the teachers, students and their parents for keying into the vision of the school, which is berthed solely on discipline, excellence and knowledge for development. Learn Africa Foundation team leader, Mr Ben Warri said the award and scholarships were instituted in conjunction with NECO to further recognise the importance of excellence in education to national development.

with

ICAN's scheme worth second look

T was a breath of fresh air to read that the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) has a scheme that can be Kofoworola taken at secondary school level. Though it has been in existence since 1989 for middle manpower Kofosagie@yahoo.com training in accounting, the Ac08054503077 (SMS only) counting Technicians Scheme West Africa (ATSWA) examination is not one of the career paths many secondary school pupils consider after their Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE). Majority of SSCE holders write the Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) after gaining their five O Level credits and try using a combination of the two results to get into school. The Ondo State chapter of the institute should be applauded for marketing the scheme to secondary school pupils in Akure. Youths of today need a lot of awareness about a variety of careers they can embrace without waiting endlessly to gain admission into tertiary institutions through the UTME. The ATSWA started out as the Accounting Technician Scheme in 1989 to provide a platform for the training of accounting technicians who can serve as middle level manpower in areas of the economy where they are needed. The scheme has three levels (ATS I-III) that can be taken by those with O Level credits in five subjects, including English and Mathematics. The examinations are conducted by the Association of Accountancy Bodies in West Africa (ABWA) so the qualification is recognized in the West African sub-region. Those who complete all the levels are awarded the Associate Accounting Technicians' (AAT) certificate. They can go ahead to write the institute's Professional Examinations after obtaining the AAT. What is more, the ICAN website states that the scheme is considered as equivalent to the National Diploma (ND), which means that students can use the AAT to gain direct entry into the university. The ATSWA has produced 13,000 since 1989, meaning that an average 520 technicians are trained yearly. I can bet that a substantial percentage of that number is made up of degree and Higher National Diploma (HND) graduates in disciplines other than Accounting who seek the skills either to run their own businesses or because they found themselves in roles that require technical accounting skills. If more secondary school leavers were taking the examination, the number would have been far more than 13,000 trained in 25 years. With our tertiary institutions - universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education unable to absorb the over one million candidates that write the SSCE yearly, many more of them need to embrace the ATSWA. We need our professional institutes to come up with more schemes as these so that our youths can have alternative paths to training. It would be even better if these professional training encourage the young ones to learn to be creative and run their own businesses. We need to wake up and think out of the box.

Belo-Osagie

• Mrs Akinlade (middle), flanked by her husband, Oluseyi; Mrs Florinece Adewunmi, head teacher, African Church Primary School (left); Mrs Judith Iganoi-Ohio, Head of Section, School Support Services, Alimsoho LGEA (second right), and another guest at the event.

SUBEB award: Winners share tips

T OR the 60 recipients of this year’s Annual Merit Award of Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LSUBEB), it felt good to be rewarded for hard work. To them, one does not get recognised everyday. Some of them, who spoke with The Nation, shared the secret of their successes to motivate others to work hard. The star of the day was the best teacher, Mrs Funmilayo Akinlade, who teaches at the African Church Primary School, Mosan, in Alimosho. She got a car and a washing machine for her effort, which she said resulted from intrinsic motivation and the desire to be part of the success story of her pupils. She advised other teachers not to be motivated by external factors and treat their pupils with respect, saying that nobody is destined to be low. "My advice to others regarding their attitude to work is that they should put in more energy, they should have internal motivation and should not depend on people to motivate them. A lot of times you do work without motivation coming from anywhere," said Mrs Akinlade. She said her aim was to improve the self esteem of public school pupils.

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

Education Secretary, Agege Local Education Authority (LGEA), Olalekan Majiyagbe, whose local government was declared the best among the 20 LGEAs, said teachers must invest in themselves to stand out. He said: "I am just appealing to those teachers that have lesser qualifications to develop themselves so that frustration will not set it. I could observe that some of them, who fail to update themselves, constitute problem in the system. They should update themselves through the teachervacation courses." Head Teacher, Modupe Cole Memorial Home School, Akoka, Mrs Florence Kayode, who won the best special school category, said winning the best special school category showed that special children can be useful. "I am happy and the children are also happy. It shows that in every disability there is ability. This is to encourage the parents of special children to bring out their children so that they will have sense of belonging in the community," she said. Administrative staff at SUBEB Headquarters in Maryland, Ikeja, Lagos were also rewarded at the event. Mrs Abimbola Okudero, a

Quantity Surveyor in the Project Department, who came second in the Senior Staff Category and Mrs Oyewole Adebisi of the School Services Department, who won the best Junior Staff category, thanked the management for recognising their hardwork. The SUBEB Chairman, Mrs Gbolahan Daodu, urged the recipients to work harder and encouraged those who did not win to start working towards next year. "I want to congratulate the awardees and also urge them to know that the sky is just the limit. They should not relent and others to buckle up to make sure that they too excel and perform excellently by next year," she said. Chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Busari Gbadeyanka, who was represented by the Director, Public Relations and Corporate Affairs, Murhi International Television, Mrs Olubunmi Windapo, praised SUBEB for rewarding all categories of workers. "This is a great and unique occasion, unique in the sense that messengers, clerks are being recognised alongside senior members of staff. This bottom-up approach is laudable," she said. Prizes presented included a car (courtesy of Ecobank), flat screen TV, refridgerators, washing machines and water dispensers.

Old boys reunite 40 years after

HE 1974 set of the Igbobi College Old Boy's Association (ICOBA) celebrated its 40 years of leaving school penultimate week. The programme featured a thanksgiving service at the Canon Reginald Parker Chapel of Igbobi College, Lagos as well as a reception hosted at the residence of an old boy, Mr Tunji Savage. The association Chairman, Mr

By Sampson Unamka

Bolaji Akerele described the event as double celebrations because it combined two sets. "For some of us, it is 40 years after secondary school, and for others, 42. It is 40 for those who left after their Higher School Certificate (HSC) and 42 for those that left at school certificate," he said. Akerele said celebrating the 40th

anniversary has become a very special ritual for every set that graduated from the school. They feel it is unique to celebrate 40 years of leaving school. He said the school provided them with quality education. An endowment fund to sponsor prizes for 'Overall Best Students' in JSS2-JSS 3 and SS2-SS3 classes was launched by the old boys to mark the occasion.

The ATSWA has produced 13,000 since 1989, meaning that an average 520 technicians are trained yearly. I can bet that a substantial percentage of that number is made up of degree and Higher National Diploma (HND) graduates in disciplines other than Accounting who seek the skills either to run their own businesses or because they found themselves in roles that require technical accounting skills. If more secondary school leavers were taking the examination, the number would have been far more than 13,000 trained in 25 years

From my Inbox Re: Parents and Drug Abuse (Thursday, December 11, 2014) Good afternoon Ma'am. You write beautifully. Your article on UNIJOS students' protest was well written, articulated and balanced. I just read your article on drug abuse and as usual, it is very educative and informative. I pray that many parents will not only read but will also learn from "The biggest lesson". Thanks for educating me though I am not a parent yet. From 08036330---. An Open Letter to Mr Ayiri Emani (Thursday, December 11, 2014) Dear Kofo, that last bit under your column page takes gut and forthrightness. I admire you for telling that Ayiri Emani the home truth. I never knew that was what happened. That will show you how low the African society has descended and why the western world will never take our social development mantra seriously! I detest that Big Brother programme because it is further eroding our values and dignity. But apparently others think differently and wouldn't think twice before doling out as much as $350,000 to promote it. It really sucks! Joe.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

THE NATION THURSDAY DECEMBER 18, 2014

RACE TO 2015

‘

With a peculiar swagger, Ajimobi mounted the rostrum and told the world the story of his pedigree of peace. He reeled into a comparative statistics that was damning to the past and eulogizes the present

‘

How Ajimobi tamed Oyo warlords Can Alhassan become first

HERE has been a lot of rejoicing in the camp of some political warlords in Oyo State in the last one week or thereabout. Violence, which had disappeared from the state in the last three and half years, suddenly reappeared like a malevolent spirit. For that long hitherto, their political albatross, Abiola Ajimobi, governor of Oyo State, rode the crest of popular acclamation. The horse he rode to the crest of the people’s hearts was no other issue than one in which, in their previous eight years of being in power, the political warlords failed woefully to address, and in some respects, found to have abetted. It was the issue of peace. With a peculiar swagger, Ajimobi mounted the rostrum and told the world the story of his pedigree of peace. He reeled into a comparative statistics that was damning to the past and eulogizes the present. Literally calling the proverbial short memory of the Nigerian to a contest, he reminded the people that under the duo of Governors Rashidi Ladoja and Adebayo Alao-Akala, Oyo State could be likened to either Syria or Lebanon. Guns boomed and daggers kissed human blood at whims. National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) kingpins held court and bloodshed became almost a state policy. Specifically under Ladoja, an NURTW kingpin and his co-thugs invaded the House of Assembly where the revered Obafemi Awolowo brought policies that transformed the West, shooting guns, smoking hemp at random and declared the Speaker ‘impissed.’ This kingpin was eventually shot dead in cold blood under Alao-Akala government’s watch and the allegation of his killing hung over the neck of another PDP gubernatorial aspirant. Vandalism of property became the norm and investors avoided Oyo State like a plague. It was that chaotic. You needed a travel advice to walk through Ibadan and a war arsenal to navigate through Olomi, Iwo Road and many other areas of the state capital. In the heat of this, NURTW kingpins and thugs were alleged to be permanently domiciled in the Government House and governments of the day abetted them. Indian hemp smoking became official norm at the Government House and its environs. Life was nasty, brutish and short. But like a genius, Ajimobi came and decreed a stoppage to all that. What was the magic wand? His pedigree of peace. He disconnected governmental link to the violent groups in Oyo State and sternly vowed to pounce heavily on malefactors. Against the grain of time past, he shut government door against the cells of violence and Indian hemp smoke disappeared from the firmament of Government House. He told NURTW operatives to appoint their officers independent of government prodding. Suddenly, thugs went out of job and hired killers lapsed into hibernation. Ajimobi followed this up with giving security forces a sense of belonging. He activated the anti-crime outfit codenamed Operation Burst and gave all the forces a sense of belonging. Funding them heavily, he purchased vehicles, equipment and provided logistics for the operatives. The latter thereafter went into the nooks and crannies of the crime world in the state and smoked them out. Crime statistics started to tumble, to the chagrin of violence cells of the political arms of the state. The calm jolted them and the peace gave them sleepless nights. Their bother was that Ajimobi was scoring ‘cheap’ gains at their expense as his mantra of eliminating violence jarred their nerves. And rightly so, because

• Ajimobi By Festus Adedayo

Ajimobi’s renown was hitting the length and breadth of the world. He was called Mr. Peace at every engagement and states, organizations seized in the jugular by violence started coming to him for a refresher course. Indeed, foundations and organizations within and outside the country invited him to deliver talks on how to turn a violent state into a peaceful hub. Then sprang the gang-up. Old political fox, Senator Ladoja, led the pack. He wrote a powerfully worded petition to the Presidency, alleging that Operation Burst was being used to witch-hunt political foes. And the Presidency leapt into action, interrogating everybody and everyone. At the end of the day, the authorities smelled the heavy aroma of the peculiar politics of Oyo in the allegation and shoved it off like an affliction. But the acrimony within the political gang would not abate over Ajimobi’s ‘cheap’ victory of peace. Ajimobi and subsequent events in Oyo State were to even infuriate the political warlords further. Financial Times of London did the first damage on their psyche as it ranked Oyo State as one of the 10 investment destinations in the whole of Africa. The warlords cried blue murder. A federal institution, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) rammed in the final nail on their coffin. As revealed in its report, total capital imported into Nigeria stood at $5.8 billion as at the end of the second quarter of 2014, relative to the $3.9 billion recorded in the preceding quarter. Of these, Oyo State’s capital importation increased by 697%, approximating $3.49 million, up from $500,000 between the first and second quarter in the year. This was like their death knell. Concrete facts of traffic of capital in-

‘Subsequent events in Oyo State were to even infuriate the political warlords further. Financial Times of London did the first damage on their psyche as it ranked Oyo State as one of the 10 investment destinations in the whole of Africa’

vestment began to show. Investors trooping into the state have shown that these statistics are no mere fluke. A leading soya milk manufacturing company, largest bread-making factory in West Africa, Number One day-old chicks agricultural company, biggest supportservice provider for the telecoms industry, largest vegetable oil production in Africa, etc have berthed in the state, not to talk of the largest Shoprite outlet in West Africa that has been recently sited in the state. Like a man who wears his accomplishments on his shirt sleeves, Ajimobi boasts that none of these investments could come in a hitherto chaotic Oyo State under Ladoja and Akal. No one can gainsay the fact that, with this, he had stepped on a live rattlesnake, courtesy this bloated swagger of his. To compound Ajimobi’s complicit infuriation of the political warlords who had been feeding the people the story of his hatred by the people, Ajimobi had the temerity to embark on a tour of the 33 local governments of the state on November 3, 2014. Oke Ogun area was his first port of call. This was where the opposition told the world Ajimobi was detested like a pestilence. The governor moved Government House to this hinterland, breakfasting with the people, lunching, supping with them and drinking their water in its rawest form. He mended fences with the aggrieved, dissolved age-long acrimonies and decreed projects into reckoning. The crowd of enthusiastic supporters burst at its seams. The warlords were jolted. The way this ‘blighter’ was going, they reckoned, the rug was caving in finally from their feet. Ibarapa followed. The same spellbound crowd trooped out. You didn’t need to be a psychologist to read the enthusiastic acceptance on the people’s faces. This writer veered off the governor’s convoy and meshed into the crowd. Comments from the ordinary folks were exceptionally patronizing. They perforated the misleading thesis of the warlords. Egged on by the widespread acceptance of his persona and government, Ajimobi thereafter proceeded on the final lap of the tour on Friday November 21. Ido and South West councils were slated. At Ido, the crowd was in an electrifying joy in their thousands. Security reports said the warlords were crestfallen and sad. How could this Ajimobi folk perforate all the concoctions and calculations this peremptorily? Ajimobi was still in Ido by the evening of that Friday when words came. The deed had been done! The river of peace had been finally polluted. Bile had been sprinkled into the still water. A policeman had been shot dead in Oke Ado area of Ibadan and the permutation of the warlords had come full throttle. Ajimobi’s thugs had killed a policeman, they sent the words into the bush telegraph. The All Progressives Congress (APC) vest-wearing thugs who allegedly shot the policeman must be Ajimobi’s thugs, they chorused. On Sunday, two days after this, and even on Monday November 24, a band of thugs unleashed mayhem at the Bon Photo area of Ibadan, maiming and destroying shops. The machination of the warlords had come full circle. But the logic they try to sell to the world could be perforated by even an aspiring student of philosophy. How come a government which in three and half years succeeded in eliminating crime, murder, thuggery and violence and which had been basking in the euphoria of this achievement all over the world, will, few months into the end of its first tenure, willfully destroy this flagship of its? How come Ajimobi toured 32 local governments and a few hours to the end of the tour, in his local government, “his thugs” will pollute the result of this success?

woman governor?

ANY believe a woman can not be a governor in Nigeria. But, a woman senator representing Northern Taraba, Aisha Jummai Alhassan, is on the verge of proving wrong this gender dogma. She has won an incredible poll, defeating four influential men to clench the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC). It was an easy cruise for Alhassan, who polled 2, 425 votes out of 2, 471 valid votes cast. The remaining 46 votes were shared among Mohammed Tumba Ibrahim, Yusufu Akirikwen and Julde Suleiman. The Chairman of the Electoral Committee for the APC primaries in Taraba, Kola Shittu, described the election, which was held at the Jolly Nyame Sports Complex, Jalingo, as “free, fair and transparent.” The outcome of poll was not ridiculous. It was her hard work and philanthropy that paid off. Alhassan, a lawyer, is arguably the finest politician in Taraba State. She became senator on the platform of the PDP, but she defected to the opposition party to realise her ambition. In the PDP, where she was largely regarded as a political neophyte, Alhassan floored Senator Anthony Manzo to clinch the ruling party’s senatorship ticket. At the general election, she defeated former Governor Jolly Nyame, who was fielded by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). Alhassan, who may had foreseen the current scenario, joined the league of senators, who defected to the opposition when the PDP became polarised. An excited Alhassan thanked delegates for the mandate given to her. She extended the olive branch to her opponents, who she described as gallant losers. The APC standard bearer called on her supporters and the people to vote for the APC at the general elections to “erode PDP” from power. She accused the ruling party of failing the people and the country. “The PDP should not be allowed to continue

From Fanen Ihyongo, Jalingo

in office in 2015,” she said. The flag bearer added: “The primary purpose of government is to take care of the people and protect their lives and property. But, under the PDP, the people are dying in poverty; their children cannot go to school and there is no infrastructural development to show.” Alhassan was the first woman Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, the first woman senator in Taraba State before winning the governorship primaries. She is the first woman governorship candidate in the Northeastern geo-political zone. While she awaits the emergence of her opponent from the ruling party, Alhassan appears unstoppable. While the in-fighting in the PDP continues, Alhassan has continued to nurture the broom party, which is effectively growing and consolidating its hold on Taraba. She has often said she would be the fist woman governor in the country. But, can she make it to the Government House? Time will tell.

• Alhassan

Aspirant accepts defeat, begs others to sheathe swords From Mike Odiegwu, Yenogoa

MEMBER of the House of Representatives from Sagbama Ekeremor Constituency, Bayelsa State, Dr. Stella Dorgu, has accepted the outcome of the senatorial primaries, which she lost to Dr. Foster Ogola. Dorgu, in a statement in Yenogoa,the state capital, 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 called on her supporters to remain steadfast and transfer their loyalty to Ogola whose ticket was being disputed by the Senator, Mr. Heineken Lokpobiri. Dorgu said her foray into politics was borne out of her desire to improve the lots of the downtrodden. “I expect other contestants to sheathe their swords and work in tandem with the current state of affairs because any attempt to thwart the process will see us many steps behind our contemporaries”, she said. She said the outcome of the primaries would not deter her from using her foundation to help her constituents to acquire self-reliant skills. She called on her constituents to see her foundation as the platform to spur them to greater heights, irrespective of the electoral outcome. “My belief on democracy is not only hinged on occupying elective offices. But as an individual I believe I can contribute in uplifting people in my private capacity”, she said. Dorgu insisted that the collaboration between private partners and the government would help to create a better society and reduce people’s over-dependence on government. • Dorgu

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

NEWS

Checking drug dependence in workers C

OMPANIES have been advised to evolve a policy to check dependence on drugs by workers in the discharge of their duties. A non-governmental organisation (NGO), Nightingale Mental Health Foundation, made the call at a mental health and addiction summit with the theme: “Addiction in the workplace, Legal issues and practical solutions”. Speakers at the summit with the highlighted various practical issues of addiction and solutions saying that majority of the cases are consequences of unbearable terms and conditions attached to certain positions. They asserted that though most of the employees affected are those saddled with duties that require high level of strength for job execution; several management workers rely on drug to work exceptionally and effectively. While presenting the topic: “Tackling Drug Abuse in the Workplace”, a retired NDLEA official, who doubles as an International Consultant, Drug Control and Prevention, Children and Youths Matters, Mrs. Grace Oyebola Adetula, said drug dependence goes beyond reliance on hard substances to enhance efficiency. She added that there are several other unconventional substances, such as paw-paw leave and petrol, which are commonly abused. Mrs. Adetula stated that the most significant effect of dependency in the workplace includes poor job performance, most especially in a manufacturing firm, reduction in productivity, absenteeism, hangover, dementia, family disintegration as well as sev-

• Mrs Adetula

• Mrs Hassan

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha and Dorcas Imah

eral psychological effects, such as hallucination, lack of motivation and depression. All these, she argued, would lead to inconsistent work quality, carelessness, errors in judgment, low job returns and dismissal of victim(s). A researcher with the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), Dr.

Adebayo Ajala, who spoke on: “Social and Economic Implication of Addiction in the Workplace”, said addiction is any impulsive behaviour that reflects an individual’s desire/motivation to obtain high-salience outcomes like social dominance; high-energy nutrients; sex and so forth. He said the mythical belief of addicts that when they consume more psychoactive substances, they become more productive, is the bane of drug abuse in the society and work-

place. Dr. Ajala said alcohol and drug use are ranked fifth and 19th respectively among the top 25 leading risk factors. “Addiction is excessiveness of everything. Addiction is a ladder that victims climb over time. Addiction stems from experimental use of substance, recreational and social use, situational use, harmful use, till it gets to the stage of dependence or abuse of substances,” said Dr Ajala. On how to combat addictions in the workplace, Dr Ajala said employers need to make policy that defines a course of action to prevent, reduce or respond to alcohol, drug related harm in the workplace. “Workplaces should have drug testing programmes. Research has shown that there is 24 percent less drug usage in places with drug testing programme than where there is no drug testing. “Education is the principal means of preventing drug abuse, hence employers should organise series of counselling and employee assistance programmes that should begin in the community and be directed at young persons (potential workers). I enjoined government to allow tax-based incentives for employers who develop workplace mental health plan and programmes for employees,” stated Dr Ajala. Lastly, on the legal implications of workplace addiction, a Corporate Legal Adviser, Mrs. Solape Adesuyi highlighted three most significant issues that could lead employers into legal confrontations and extra cost if dependence on narcotic and psychotropic substances are not prevented. They are- vicarious liability, compensation for mental stress while on the job and dismissal.

The society for Women and AIDS in Africa, Nigeria chapter (SWAAN) is an early player in the HIV/AIDS campaigns OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA was at the 25th anniversary of the non-governmental organisation (NGO).

Our challenges, by SWAAN

T was a celebration of achievements and renewal of hope for more successes, when early campaigners under the aegis of against HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, Society for Women and AIDS in Africa-Nigeria chapter, (SWAAN), a non governmental organisation (NGO), gathered at the ECWA Hall on Ayilara Street, Ojuelegba, Lagos to mark its 25th anniversary. The President, Dr Mrs Funmi Doherty, minced no words as she went down the memory lane to recount some of the challenges faced by the organisation. According to her, it was tough at the beginning because it was not everybody that knew what HIV or AIDS was. She said there were myths, stigma and discrimination. Dr Doherty said: “Many people were scared to disclose their HIC status. We tasked ourselves at SWAAN to put a human face to HIV/AIDS. As time went by, government, partners and donors came in with their support. But now HIV is something we all can discuss openly. Though now, there are still disclosure problems, denials are not as high as they used to be. In recent time, there are different types of HIV/AIDS counselling and testing, such as HIV couples counselling and testing. We mould our projects to suit emerging circumstances and issues. We do not operate a one track suit fits all system.” She recalled : “Over the years, we have learnt how to survive, for instance, funding was a major problem and we survived then, and now that donors are winding up and some actually ended up funding, we are still operating by sustaining the projects. Sustainability of any project a donour or partner is supporting us on has always being our hallmark. We enjoin the government to support us in this regard because most of the projects we do are children and women ori-

ented, so as to drive down spread of HIV in the society. For example, we are working with Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) so expectant mothers can access prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV. Though we are talking now of elimination. We researched and found out that most of these expectant mothers, once they enroll with TBAs, they are not willing to go to PMTCT centres. A woman that is attending TBA services won’t be thinking of screening for HIV. So we engage TBAs to refer their clients to PMTCT centres for screening and anyone that is positive can benefit from AIDS Care and Treatments (ACTs).” Dr Doherty said: “Our Foreign donours and partners supported us on this but had time frame for the donations, grants and support, so most of them have withdrawn or totally stopped funding of this project Because we believe in the initiative and its many benefits we did not draw curtain on it. That programme is serving a need, which is getting rid of transmission of HIV from mother to child while in state. Now, the services which such Positive mothers enjoyed free of charge, such as paying for drugs and transportation, being sponsored by foreign donors and partners are being affected. If government is talking of ‘Elimination’ of HIV from mother to child, then issues like this should be addressed. If such mothers are not tracked at TBAs, and when tracked could not

•From left: Dr Doherty; Prof Akinsete and Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA) officials, Mrs Folasade Lediju and Oladipupo Fisher at the event.

afford transportation to access ACTs, there is no way HIV won’t be transmitted by such a mother to the child. Major challenges are funding and staff attrition. When you train people, they end up with other organisations to deploy their skill; also reaching to communities to break their silence on HIV was a huge task at the initial stage.” The Life patron, Prof Ibironke Akinsete recalled that: “The major achievement in the last 25 years was being able to create awareness on HIV and AIDS. We have been able to train people to do counselling. We have been able to reach maginalised people in the society, such as the commercial sex workers on educating them on mode of transmission and prevention tips. We have over the years engaged in promoting PMTCT. These are laudable programmes because oth-

erwise, certain women won’t have been able to get information on, education and prevention of HIV and AIDS.” She said the challenges are many, because, “When we started off 25 years ago, there was practicality no non governmental organisation (NGO) on HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment. There were issues of denials, stigma, discrimination, unavailability and unaffordable drugs as well. We hit the ground running by having active branches in all the states of the Federation, including FCT. Our numerical strength was boosted by this; we moved from 40 membership to 600, to 1, 000 then to 6,000 members. As time went by, the donors needed more people to get involved, so some of our members left to form more NGOs. Later, there were issues with HIV funding because it

‘It is surprising that awareness on HIV is declining. People aren’t really paying attention to mode of transmission again or protective measures. Before, HIV/ AIDS was on the front burner, many people don’t know in-depth things about HIV again’

was becoming a free for all thing, and the donors didn’t know the credible NGOs. Many collected huge monies and fizzled out. Today, 25 years after, we are standing on based on passion, commitment, credibility and tenacity. Today, funding is a major constraint to greater performance, but we have survived. Nigeria is the second largest country with people living with HIV in the world. More NGOs need to be more proactive by taking up areas of human interest in HIV/AIDS. Funders need to know which NGOs are genuine and which ones are not, and monitor what they are doing.” She throws a challenge to the populace and government because: “It is surprising that awareness on HIV is declining. People aren’t really paying attention to mode of transmission again or protective measures. Before, HIV/AIDS was on the front burner, many people don’t know in-depth things about HIV again. There is still the issue on stigma and discrimination. Now, there is a Bill on that awaiting transition to Law. Many people living with HIV can’t obtain employment because of employers’ discrimination, of erroneous thinking of spending more n medical bills, should such be employed,” she said.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

THE NATION

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

Atilade: Reflexology underutilised in Nigeria Reflexology is a non-invasive, natural therapy that treats the entire body by applying firm, gentle pressure to reflex areas on the feet, hands and ears. It is believed that these reflex areas correspond with the various organs, glands and systems of the body. OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA writes that more people need to tap into this mode of healing.

O you suffer from pain disorders, especially musculoskeletal pain? Are concerned about obtaining balance for your body? According to Prof Magnus Atilade, it is time to take a break from swallowing all manners pain killing medications and other non steroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID), thus escaping from their long term effects. Prof Atilade said: “It is fascinating to know that every part and organ of the body is represented by points, either on the hand, ear or foot. Reflexology is a complementary arm of medicine that studies the relationship of the reflex points of the feet (hands, feet and ears) to the rest of the body. The formation of this ‘Body map’, linking the reflex points to body areas, enables the practitioner to locate imbalances or disorders and treat accordingly. By stimulating these points on the feet, using gentle thumb pressures and hand movements, all areas of the body can be treated, addressing not only prevailing symptoms but also underlying, chronic conditions. This gentle therapy restores and maintains the body’s natural equilibrium by encouraging the body to heal itself, often counteracting a lifetime of misuse following illness, stress, injury or disease. “By applying this pressure, the practitioner can influence the corresponding area of the body, aiding the natural healing processes and, thereby, restoring balance. Treatments have been shown to reduce harmful stress and tension, as well as relieving pain and discomfort due to injury. Not only does Reflexology reduce physical, emotional, and psychological pain, the deep state of relaxation obtained during a Reflexology session protects the body from the harmful accumulative effects of stress. Chronic stress has been proven to cause a depletion of the body’s immune system, which can lead to disease. It is for this reason reflexology is a viable preventative health care measure. Research has shown the specific techniques of Reflexology to be effective and beneficial in many ways.” Atilade said most Nigerians do not know of Reflexology; which is a field in Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM). He said though many people are aware of massage and the benefits, they should not confuse same with Reflexology. He said: “Some people confuse reflexology with massage. While both massage and reflexology use touch, the approaches are very different. Massage is the systematic manipulation of the soft tissues of the body, using specific techniques, for example, tapping, kneading, stroking and friction) to relax the muscles. But reflexology focuses on reflex maps of points and areas of the body in the feet, hands, and ears using unique ‘micro-movement’ techniques such as thumb or finger walking, hook and backup to create a response throughout the body. “Massage therapists work from the outside in manipulating specific muscle groups or fascia to release tension. Reflexology practitioners see themselves as working “from the inside out”, i.e, stimulating the nervous system to release tension. Another difference between massage and reflexology is that a client will stay fully clothed for a reflexology session except for removing footwear, whereas clients remove clothing for a massage session.” The complementary expert said although many people are aware of the relief massage therapy offers musculoskeletal pain sufferers, many folks are surprised to learn

•Source: Reflexology Association of Canada-Foot Chart

•Atilade

of the long history that reflexology enjoys in this area. Such people have realised that reflexology holds an advantage over massage in addressing pain disorders, because reflexology can address both pathological and non-pathological

musculoskeletal pain, while massage addresses only the latter. He said in America: “Where I trained, reflexology’s association with pain management began in the early 1900’s, when Dr. William Fitzgerald, often referred to as the ‘father of modern reflexology’, introduced zone therapy into his medical practice. Dr. Fitzgerald successfully utilized reflexology techniques to anesthetise his patients for nose and throat surgeries. One of Dr. Fitzgerald’s many research findings also taught us that when pain was relieved, the condition that produced the pain was also generally relieved. In my reflexology practice, I can think of countless times that my services resulted in long-term relief of both somatic and visceral pain such as headaches, neck and low back pain. “To represent how the body systems correspond to one another, reflexologists, as we practitioners are called, use reflexology ‘maps’. A good example of a reflexology map exists for the feet. Each foot represents a vertical half of the body. The left foot corresponds to the left side of the body and all organs, valves, etc. found there. The right foot corresponds to the right side of the body and all organs found there. For example, the liver is on the right side of the body, and therefore the corresponding reflex area is on the right foot.” Prof Atilade enjoined people to avail

‘It is fascinating to know that every part and organ of the body is represented by points, either on the hand, ear or foot. Reflexology is a complementary arm of medicine that studies the relationship of the reflex points of the feet (hands, feet and ears) to the rest of the body. The formation of this ‘Body map’, linking the reflex points to body areas, enables the practitioner to locate imbalances or disorders and treat accordingly’

themselves of Reflexology: “Since Reflexology treats the whole person, not just the symptoms of disease, most people benefit from this treatment: its use has effectively and successfully treated a wide number of disorders and conditions, such as menopausal symptoms, premenstrual syndrome, stress/anxiety, Sinus problems, insomnia, digestive disorders, Hormonal imbalances, circulatory conditions, migraine/headaches, Post-operative pain/ nausea or Sciatica. “There are many benefits inherent in Reflexology such as in stress management, it helps in the prevention of stress related health challenges by promoting a deep sense of relaxation. It reduces pain and tension. Improve circulation and blood flow resulting in better oxygen and nutrient supply to all the cells of the body. Detoxification, improved organ and gland function, feeling better, greater productivity, enriched quality of life. Normalisation of body functions.” Speaking on positive aspects, hesaid: “Reflexology aids post-operative recovery as it has been shown to have positive results in recovery after surgery as indicated by several studies, reducing pain and lessening the use of post operative analgesics. Complements cancer care because pain, nausea, vomiting, and/or anxiety are eased for chemotherapy patients following reflexology work. It also eases the discomforts of pregnancy, delivery and post-partum effects: Women who received reflexology experienced shorter labour times and used less analgesia. Reflexology is used safely and effectively with patients for a variety of health concerns including anxiety, asthma, cancer treatment, cardiovascular issues, diabetes, headaches, kidney function, PMS, sinusitis and overall stress relief. It also works well as a complement to other modalities and treatments.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

NATURAL HEALTH

Jonathan, Buhari, the Rich and the poor W

E are back on the starting block of another General Elections race. On Thursday last week, President Ebele Jonathan won a sole-candidate campaign to run for President next year on the platform of his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Former Military Head of State General Muhammed Buhari (Rtd) fought through in a democratic primary to win the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket. Buhari’s victory over rough riding and cash studded Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Vice President in retired General Olusegun Obasanjo’s Civil Adminstration, set a stage for the Jonathan Buhari encounter next year. Buhari, a one-time military Head of State who, before then had had the fortune to be Petroleum Minister, and after being Head of State, Chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), has just about one million in his bank account and only two houses, one in Kaduna, the other in Daura to his name throughout the length and breadth of Nigeria. That is an incredibly robust and clean testimonial to lead the poor and the have-nots of Nigeria. President Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan looks like the other side of the coin, a leader of the Establishment. In 2011, this column misread his credentials in two articles titled ESTABLISHMENT EVER LOATHFUL OF THE NEW FRONTIER. At that time, the northern Establishment forbade him to run in the primaries of his party for the presidential ticket. Nigeria then, as it is today, was in dire need of change from more than 30 years of northern misrule which left the poor and poorer under successive governments. But young people north and south saw president Jonathan as a potential new frontier leader. This column showed how the new frontiers helmsmen worldwide in all professions, and not just in politics, were harassed, even killed, by Establishment vanguard which hated change. But one reader of this column, Mr Adeniji of Shagamu, thought I got the Jonathan picture wrong. Indeed, the Jonathan Administration has turned out over six years, four of which are full-term, to be anything but a New World regime. Corruption ballooned. We experienced ruling as in the lamentable past, and not governance, which comes from planning to solve problems. The powers of the State were hurled against the well-meaning Oppositon to smash it, while corrupt elements of the Establishment were offered State protection and money-laundering criminals jailed abroad were granted State pardon back home. The judiciary was trampled, the legislature meddled with, the military lost some bite and muscle, the economy nose dived. It will be a miracle if, from January 2015, the state governments are able to pay salaries regularly. For their shares of Federal Revenue may not be paid monthly as they fall due, the reason is not far-fetched. The economy still depends more than 95 percent on crude oil exports, 40 percent of which went to the United States. Two years ago, the United States gave a world alert that, by this year, it would become self-sufficient in crude oil provision from domestic sources. Nigeria had two long years to find alternative sources of income to fill the revenue gap due to oncoming 40 percent loss of revenue from crude oil sales, but nothing tangible happened. Many Jonathan defenders say he shouldn’t be blamed for Nigeria’s woes under his Administration which have turned the hope invested in him for a New Frontier in 2011 into a nightmare. Many of the people who voted Jonathan in 2011 were young people who did not wish to have their lives wasted as the generation before theirs which Prof. Wole Soyinka described as “a wasted generation”. In my view, a wasted generation is a suffocated and emasculated generation. They are people full of potentials, talents and drive which their country did not allow to bloom. Imagine a gentleman of my generation who scored three A’s in “A” Levels, went to Cambridge University in the United Kingdom (UK), worked in top flight companies abroad, was encouraged to return home to help build his country but has ended up, today, living in a squalid three square meter shop in Lagos. In Europe, this gentleman would be a top flight consultant. You may say everyone is an architect of his fortune and misfortune, and you would be right in a way. But isn’t there a way or ways one’s country may, through supporting love, help one to unfold? Don’t shepherds tend their flock as farmers care for their crops? Why do Nigerians bloom abroad and not at home? I know President Jonathan apologist have ready answers, one of which is that he inherited these challenges and should not be blamed for their persistence even in his Administration. To such an answer, I have several questions: didn’t President Jonathan see these problems and promise to solve them? Didn’t he tell us that, as a child, he had no school shoes and bag? Wasn’t that an assurance he knew where the shoes were pinching us and he would, like a diligent physician, heal our injuries? Do we, simply because he inherited these problems, say the problems should persist because he inherited them? Was our hope not that he would solve them. If he has not solved them at full-term, can we not shop for another president? In this matter, many South-South region people have behaved rather clannishly. I teased one of them who runs a small laundry business in Lagos: if you make your full-blooded brother manager of your business which you set up with a bank loan and the business was losing money and you couldn’t repay the loan, what would you do? His reply shocked me. He would fire his brother, he said. So, why can’t Nigeria have another President? He had no reply. But I could read his mind. “This is our turn”. Turn – by – Turn I believe one of the messages from the emergence of All Progressive Congress (APC) and its election of Mohammadu

into power in 2011, thought otherwise. He said the Establishment would close its ranks and disarrange the poor even if they were to gang up against President Jonathan. He holds views uncomfortable for people of my age who cannot scale fences, run in the bush and carry guns to shoot and kill people we didn’t know, let alone who didn’t offend us. In simple words, the believes only a bloody revolution would cleanse the nation. But he is sober when, literally, I hold him by the hand and lead him through the Laws of Nature, explaining we can achieve the goal through gradualism and reformation. He would not tell me that is “stupid” thought in our circumstances. But he would, his peers who cannot work around his intellect and make it bow to his spirit. Thus, one fine evening at a gathering of young people in the neighbourhood, he became so angry during an argument that he called them “stupid”, and one of them smashed a bottle on his head. Only a bloody revolution, according to them, will do so. From what Akin Awodeyin and his likes are saying, the defeat of Abubakar Atiku by Mohammed Buhari and the offer of a stronger Opposition to President Jonathan would not necessarily des-establish the Establishment. Will Buhari defeat Jonathan? n the line-up, Gen. Buhari represents the poor, the under privileged and the underclass. The crowd is too large and segmented to easily differentiate here. But I would like to mention two groups many observers are looking at. The young voters of 2011 who stood by President Jonathan, believing the man who, as a boy, had no school shoes and bag and books would take good care of deprived people like them. They had no jobs many years after graduating from the university. Many young women among them are still too poor to fend for themselves that they have to depend on their parents not just for food and clothing but for things as basic to a woman as brassieres, under briefs and menstrual pads. They wish to be married and to have babies. But where is that young man today who is keen to marry before he is 35 or over? Where is he going to find the money to rent an apartment, furnish it, take care of his folks and himself before he adds the responsibilities of marriage, for such people, their lives have been stagnant, motionless. They are angry without knowing why. One of the reasons for the anguish is that the Law of Motion, a natural law, compels us humans, like everything which exists, to be in motion. That’s why the clouds, like the air, the waves of the sea, our lungs, hearts and blood circulation, to give a few examples, are in motions. Don’t even babies kick in the wombs? So, if our lives are stagnant, we are unhappy, especially if we had been promised some motion. Is this another “wasted generation” or would Prof Soyinka have a worse definition for them? In my “wasted generation” we had jobs, we earned fairly well. The trouble was that we weren’t fully engaged, even in old age, to actualise ourselves. This generation still has nothing going for it despite the Jonathan Promises of 2011. Some university graduates who are lucky to have menial jobs earn about N20,000 a month, a little above the minimum wage. Many young people continue to flee abroad, some through Morocco or Lybia, dying in the desert or in the sea, on their way to Spain and Europe. President Jonathan had promised that, in his tenure, no Nigerian would go to bed without food in his or her stomach. Had this promise been kept, the youth would not have been despising their country and fleeing it. To worsen maters, the government has admitted a major side in the economy which has warranted devaluation of the currency, effects of which will begin to materialize next year in salary cuts, job losses, inflation and psychic pain. Under this scenario, the deprived will seek change and find a messiah. Even the Children of Israel found one in Moses who feed them from the enslavement of Egypt. They also sought one from the yoke of the Romans. Their own, poor people cannot free themselves except through a revolution which, in many cases, worsen matters. It is from the ranks of kind-hearted members of the Establishment, the progressives among them, that a peaceful salvage comes. It is such people who have put together the political machine in what Buhari is riding today. If the machine or all the poor galvanizes underpriviledged and hold them, Buhari should win. Will President Jonathan defeat Gen. Buhari? People like Akin Awodeyin believe poor people are gullible. They are like soldier ants mushrooming and marching tenaciously in a long file not easily broken. Even when they are disarranged, these ants soon regroup. But they cannot stand ash. Pour ash over them, and that’s the end of the story. It is said that many factors can easily break the solidarity of the poor. Gen. Buhari would have to tackle these poisonous factors if he hopes to defeat President Jonathan. One of the factor is ethnicity. South-south people refused to join the national protest against petrol price hike imposed by President Jonathan, not because they did not feel the pinch, but because it came from a “son of the soil”. Thus, the president looks forwards to detaching South-South poor from Buhari’s train. In the North, President Jonathan may have a hard day against propaganda that he is the actual sponsor of Boko Haram. Many people in the north have swallowed the propaganda. The propagandists say he is destablishing the North to weaken it politically against the 2015 polls. Propagandists say he is destabilising the north to weaken it politically and physically against the 2015 polls. President Jonathan says he know the financiers, but has failed to mention them. North Claims this is an attempt to divert attention from the real promoters. This much Governor Muritala Nyako as Governor of Adamawa State, dared to venture, and it earned him his impeachment which was well enjoyed by the President.

Buhari as its 2015 Presidential candidate is the rejection of turn-by-turn politics all over. President Jonathan had been told by the north that he couldn’t pick up the two-year credit of President Yar A dua, who died Mid-Term, not to mention a second-term ticket. The same signal that a second term isn’t automatic is going to the South-South. The Rich and the Poor he Jonathan/Buhari contest has polarised the Nigeria into the Rich (including the super rich) and the poor (including the underclass). I do not like a two-party system without a balancer third party. A balancer is a third party sufficiently strong enough to halt a winner party from overrunning the defeated through a coalition it can forge with the latter to truncate tyrannical use of power. I guess this was a take-away from the 1969/70 history class of Mrs Odunsi, a Briton at Igbobi College, Lagos. She taught us about how, in modern English and European history, the Tripple Alliance and, later, the Quadriple Alliance maintained peace in Europe. Political Science Professor Eme Awa, now of blessed memory, and Professor Humphrey Nwosu, his former student, taught the same principle at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), emphasising dangers of a bipolar and unipolar world. Nigeria’s First Republic probably collapsed because there was no balancer in the system. The north and the east in the NPC/NCNC Coalition sought to destroy a common enemy, the fast growing and pacesetting West of Nigeria. Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the region’s leader, was jailed, his party liquidated and the West placed under a State of Emergency. But it was a temporary victory. The coalition soon collapsed, and the plotters were soon at each other’s throat. And when the despicable murder of the easterners began in the north, the west was too militarily weak to stop the rot. The coalition had so minimised the West everywhere, including in the military, that when Brigadier Ogundipe took command of the armed forces, northern army privates rejected his authority. Adelanwa, head of the navy and Ogundipe’s kinsman, had to take him away to London. The northern soldiers, who ringed the West up in garrisons at Ibadan, Lagos and Abeokuta after the exit of soldiers from the East, installed Lt. Col Yakubu Gowon as their leader. Soon, he became Nigeria’s Head of State. In place of Ogundipe. Were the West of Nigeria a healthy balancer then in Nigerian Politics, it was possible the civil war which followed would have been averted. The absence of a healthy balancer in Nigeria’s geopolity has troubled the nation ever since. The battle for power, either for ruling or governance between the Establishment and the opposition had always been fought on two legs, without a balancing third. When it would appear the Establishment was about to lose in the struggle, its military wing or its judiciary wing would come to its rescue. That’s the history of military coups or judicial coups, including the Supreme Court’s verdict that two-thirds of 19 states is twelve and two-thirds of a state. Remember Chief Richard Akinjide, an Establishment lawyer, argued this case successfully before an Establishment Supreme Court. Remember, also, that Supreme Court, realising how laughable its judgment was, decided as well that it shouldn’t be cited in Nigeria’s legal references. That judgement gave the Presidency to Alhaji Shehu Shagari, of the Establishment, ending the dream of Chief Obafemi Awolowo to govern Nigeria. In the oncoming Jonathan/Buhari encounter there is no strong balancer. It is possible, though, that Accord Party and Labour Party may grow into that potent force someday.

Akin Awodeyin his is an unknown name in Nigeria’s politics. Actu ally, he is a young philosophy graduate from the Uni versity of Lagos (UNILAG). I mention him here because of his views about two years ago on a possible Establishment/Progressive line-up that would throw up President Jonathan and challenger Muhammadu Buhari for a resolution of Nigeria’s lingering problems. At that time, many people thought the North would deny Jonathan a second-term PDP ticket and that a progressive coalition was impossible. Akin Awodeyin, who has had no job since Jonathan came

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THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

NEWS

Risky sexual behaviour on the rise A

MICROBIOLOGIST has expressed concern on the rising incidence of anal sex, describing it as a ticking bomb. Dr Morenike Ukpong, an Associate Professor at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, said anal sex is the highest risk form of sexual transmission of HIV with approximately 14 times higher risk of HIV transmission when compared to penile-vaginal sex. Dr Ukpong, who conducted a research on prevalence of anal sex amongst adolescents implications for HIV prevention in Nigeria, said anal sex is practised by 12 percent of public secondary school pupils; 12.1 percent of university students and 15.2 percent adolescents in North. The research was conducted under the aegis of New HIV Vaccine and Microbicide Advocacy Society (NHVMAS). She said most youths engage in anal sex based on wrong assumptions that they won’t get pregnant, and also as a way of maintaining their chastity/ virginity. “It should interest them to know that pregnancy can occur if semen is deposited near the opening to the vagina. Anal sex does carry risks, especially of HIV. Oral contact with the anus can put both partners at risk for hepatitis, herpes, human papillomavirus (HPV) may also lead to the development of anal warts and anal cancer and other infections. “There are evidence to show that about 10 percent of women and 14 percent of men in the general population practise anal sex, with condom use being low during this sexual practice as a result of multiple erroneous beliefs including the beliefs that anal sex is safer than vaginal,” said Dr Ukpong. Dr Ukpong said: “Request for

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

anal sex by clients of female sex workers is high, though not a negligible proportion, with men paying higher to have anal sex with either male or female sex workers for many reasons, such as it is more pleasurable, tighter, gets to ejaculate faster and for prevention of STIs, and it is cleaner as fewer people engage with this ‘hole’.” ‘And you know what?’said Dr Ukpong, “for females, the risk is higher as they will always be the receptor in either vaginal or anal sex. Part of the research indicates that many females engage in anal sex during menstruation, for pleasure and a whole host of other reasons. Yet evidence shows that as receptors of either anal or vaginal sex, their risks are increased.” According to a consultant/ Professor of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, Prof Ibironke Akinsete: “The way forward is to create more awareness on this. The family, society and the government need to share information in schools in view of the statistics that show that despite under reporting, 12 to 15 percent of our adolescents practise anal sex. “We need to let them realise that even though serious injury from anal sex is not common, it can occur. Bleeding after anal sex could be due to a hemorrhoid or tear, or something more serious such as a perforation (hole) in the colon. This is a dangerous problem that requires immediate medical attention. Treatment involves a hospital stay, surgery, and antibiotics to prevent infection”, she stated. Prof Akinsete said: “There are a number of health risks with anal sex, and anal intercourse is the most risky form of sexual activity for several reasons. The anus lacks the natural

• Dr Ukpong

lubrication the vagina has. Penetration can tear the tissue inside the anus, allowing bacteria and viruses to enter the bloodstream. This can result in the spread of sexually transmitted infections including HIV. Studies have suggested that anal exposure to HIV poses 30 times more risk for the receptive partner than vaginal exposure. The tissue inside the anus is not as well protected as the skin outside. Our external tissue has layers of dead cells that serve as a protective barrier against infection. The tissue inside the anus does not have this natural protection, which leaves it vulnerable to tearing and the spread of infection. “The anus is designed to hold in feaces. The anus is surrounded with a ring-like muscle, called the anal sphincter, which tightens after we defecate. When the muscle is tight, anal penetration can be painful and difficult. Repetitive anal sex may lead to weakening of the anal sphincter, making it difficult to hold in feaces until you can get to the toilet. The anus is full of bacteria. Even if both partners do not have a sexually-transmitted infection

or disease, bacteria normally in the anus can potentially infect the giving partner. Practising vaginal sex after anal sex can also lead to vaginal and urinary tract infections. Anal sex is a perverted, unnatural act. Girls engage in anal sex with their

male partners for sexual pleasure while protecting their virginity. You must decide for yourself what feels natural. If you are uncomfortable with any sexual act, don’t do it. You are in charge of what you do sexually.”

100 million suffer from sickle cell, says haematologist

ICKLE cell disease (SCD) affects nearly 100 million people worldwide and is also responsible for over 50 per cent of deaths in those with its

By Olatunde Odebiyi

most severe form, a Consultant Haematologist/ Executive Secretary, Lagos State Blood Trans-

fusion Committee (LSBTC), Dr Modupe Olaiya, has said. She said in Nigeria, SCD is among the top 10 non-communicable diseases (NCDs) caus-

•Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Olaokun Soyinka (middle), African Health Market for Equity (AHME) representative in Ogun State, Dr. Olumide Okulaja (immediate left), Health System. Strengthening Advisor, Future Group, Dr. Emeka Nwachukwu (immediate right), and WHO, UNFPA representatives with the newly inaugurated Family Planning Advocacy Working Group (FPAWG) in Ogun State.

ing significant disability, morbidity and mortality. Dr Olaiya spoke in Lagos during a sensitisation programme for SCD patients organised by a non-governmental organisation that caters for sickle cell disorder patients, Genotype Foundation. She said Nigeria has an annual infant death of 100,000 representing eight per cent of infant mortality in the continent, adding that two per cent of the population has SCD while 25 per cent has the trait. She said voluntary blood donation is relevant in relation to sickle cell disorder because sickle cell disorder patients require blood urgently in most cases when they are in need of it and it is crucial that blood must be available to give them. She said LSBTC is working to make sure that blood is readily available by putting up advocacy to motivate the public to donate blood voluntarily because, in emergency, it is only blood that is in the blood bank that can be useful;” the one that you are just collecting, you cannot give it to a patient in

an emergency, because it has to go through screening. Blood that will be useful in an emergency must have already been available in a blood bank and this is why the issue of campaigning for blood donation is very important. “Lagos state has a centralized blood transfusion service and it is a law that every unit of blood collected in the state must be screened by LSBTC. “Death from shortage of blood is preventable and this is why we want to avoid it by campaigning regularly for voluntary blood donation,” she said. Executive Director, Genotype Foundation, Doris Gbemiloye, said the programme was borne out of the need to sensitise the masses on the need to get blood at the right place which will make a healthy for transfusion. She said when unsafe blood is transfused, there will be reaction and this can lead to sudden death. She noted that voluntary donation has really saved lives adding, the risk of HIV/AIDS will also be reduced.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

THE NATION

BUSINESS e-Business

e-mail: lukajanaku02@gmail.com

•Google data centres

•Ms Opeke

Ensuring security of information at data T management centres

ODAY’S information technology (IT) business leaders, need to have command and control insight on all operations that support the data centres housing their critical business infrastructure. They need to monitor, coordinate and optimise multiple interconnected systems to ensure that their data center operations are running at optimal levels to prevent any failures from any adverse externality. The solution to this is the deployment of sophisticated data centre management systems that address the myriad of issues associated with data centre operations. These Data Center InformationManagement systems, monitor power, cooling, computing resources, security and environmental variables to enable personnel to efficiently maintain the high performance required of all subsystems in the data center to work together seamlessly. These systems have come to the market at a time when the rapid growth of large commercial data centers have made it imperative to adopt more efficient management techniques. According to research conducted by Gartner in 2010, Data Center Infrastructure Management, integrates facets of system management with building and energy management, while ensuring that a bridge is built between IT asset and physical infrastructure monitoring. These tools reduce operating costs, improve IT efficiency and enable sophisticated infrastructure analytics, extending the life of data centers by years. The traditional approach to data center management and facility monitoring in earlier data center implementations, required manual intervention and collaboration between various technical teams. These collaborative activities were highly inefficient, leading to poor utilisation of resources and eventually inefficient data centre operations. First generation data center infrastructure monitoring systems were developed to monitor equipment availability and provide a complete view of data center infrastructure. These systems had the ability to measure and display real time equipment performance measurements using graphical display interfaces. However, they lacked the ability to monitor multiple interdependent systems in parallel, or even go as far as reporting on total system performance using aggregated input from all these sub systems. Modern data center infrastructure management solutions have evolved to automate a variety of tasks critical to data centre operations. At a high level, the software manages and displays all physical assets in a single graphical interface, while providing the capability to automate commissioning tasks, capacity planning and other time consuming manual tasks. This level of software intelligence, enables data centers operate at levels of efficiency previously thought to be impossible to achieve. Commenting on Intelligent Infrastructure Management for Data Centers, RiT Technolo-

Technological innovations are designed to provide solutions to various challenges facing mankind. A data centre is one such innovation. It is becoming the vogue with so many of them springing up in the country despite fears about security of data. While some of these data centres have their servers in the country, others have theirs offshore. LUCAS AJANAKU reports that managers of data centres must take extra steps to ensure security of clients’ data. gies, President and CEO, Motti Hania, said these systems are described as best practice platforms that reduce operational costs significantly by enhancing ongoing operations, security and scalability. They enhance operations by continuous monitoring of a “selfaware” network, power and environmental apparatuses, which together determine network and operational status in real time. Chief Executive Officer, MainOne Cable Company, Ms. Funke Opeke, said in line with this global trend and with the increasing demand for content across Africa, the MainOne data centre has deployed an intelligent infrastructure management system that proactively monitors the facility environment and the equipment in it. She said: “Our intelligent infrastructure management system ensures a highly optimised data centre environment that guarantees best performance of all collocated equipment.” Chief Executive Officer, Venema Advies Nigeria Limited, Dick Venema said turning to the use of data centre could reduce operating cost for big corporations and SMEs by more than 30 per cent. He said: “What we see in Nigeria is that everybody is still using the break-fix model which means something is broken, they are going to fix it. And the solution we always see that is offered when it’s broken is that they buy new equipment. They install it and it works again. This is not how it works, most times, the equipment is not broken, it’s just bad maintained, no technical knowledge of IT consultants and bad advice from the IT company.” Top issues in data centre management According to the Chief Marketing Officer, FieldView Solutions, Sev Onyshkevych in the past, managing a data centre was pretty straightforward. But due to the inexorable trend of processing more and more data, the management of these facilities grew in complexity. Complicating the situation, operational decisions at the data centre now include

such factors as power, cooling, rack space and CPU availability. This is in addition to other information gleaned from IT systems, and related to the facility infrastructure components such as UPS devices, PDUs, chillers, HVACs, generators, branch circuits and others. He wrote via Data Centre Knowledge, an online platform. FieldView Solutions, a Data Centre Infrastructure Management (DCIM) solutions provider, identified the following as top issues in efficient data centre management Energy Efficiency Data centres are increasingly under attack for their energy consumption and costly operations. According to a 2011 New York Timessponsored study by Jonathan G. Koomey, a consulting professor in the civil and environmental engineering department at Stanford University, titled “Growth in Data Centre Power Use 2005 to 2010,” United States’ data center power consumption increased by 36 per cent over that period. Electricity used in global data centers in 2010 likely accounted for between 1.1 per cent and 1.5 per cent of total electricity use, respectively. For the United States, that number was between 1.7 and 2.2 per cent. Cutting energy usage will help organisations save significant money, while changing the public perception of data centers being “energy hogs” with a “greener” impression. To reduce energy consumption, it must first be accurately measured. The measurement must start with a baseline view of what energy every part of the data center is actually consuming. And to be accurate, this view must include all areas such as IT equipment, power distribution infrastructure, and ventilation/cooling infrastructure. This is an often time-consuming and manual data extraction process to which nobody looks forward. Monitoring No doubt, day-to-day system failures have underscored the need for proactive response

to potential data centre uptime threats. Proper monitoring also helps enable an effective call-to-action. In the event of a pending issue, alarms can be sent via e-mail, phone or pager, allowing proactive steps to be taken to correct problems before they become critical. In addition, continuous logging of all alarms and alerts empowers data center operators with a chronological, forensic, review of events to strengthen the infrastructure and improve disaster recovery plans. Capacity Planning It’s no secret that many data centre managers lack the systems visibility to determine if their facilities are truly running at peak capacity. Traditionally, operators have left plenty of room for error so uptime isn’t interrupted— a strategy known as “capacity safety gap,” or “over-provisioning.” This strategy wastes hundreds of thousands of dollars of unused space – not to mention wasting power and cooling. In a day and age of chief financial officers (CFOs) deferring capital expenditure budgets, many data centre managers’ expectations of having additional data center construction have been unfulfilled, leaving about 30 per cent of data centre managers worried about running out of capacity. Performance Management One of the greatest challenges facing data centre operators is ensuring that power and cooling is operating at its highest energy efficiency. One of the best methods to maintain this accuracy is via accessing a real-time data source that provides up-to-the-minute metrics such as Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) and Data Center Infrastructure Efficiency (DCiE). Real-Time Reporting Without a real-time reporting system, operators may find it a challenge to make informed decisions. Manual readings taken weeks ago on a static report are no longer valid for today’s complex data centre operations – where workloads, power consumption and temperatures vary widely throughout the day, and from day to day. Up-to-the minute information also allows for the optimisation of power loads and overall capacity trending. Additionally, a dashboard view that spans across various monitoring and control systems is a necessity for accurately tracking energy efficiency across single rooms, complete floors, an entire data center or multiple data centers—domestically and globally. Onyshkevych said the continued proliferation of applications, data and platforms such as mobile devices will ensure that data centres continue to grow. This, in turn, will strain the data centre’s processing power and drain enormous additional amounts of energy from the grid. As data centres evolve, so too should the tools that manage them. The antiquated methods of storing vital operational data within individual software “silos” impedes the efforts of data centre facility managers and IT managers to optimise their operations properly and avoid potential downtime.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

e-Business Glo gives telecoms package to aviation workers

•A cross section of participants at the maiden edition of CWG's free eCommerce training for SMEs in Lagos

Global dearth of IT security personnel rises, says Cisco G LOBALLY, the skilled gap in the information communication technology (ICT) security sector continues to widen. This year alone, it reached more than one million, the United States (U.S) tech giants, Cisco has said. In the Cisco Annual Security Report presented in Lagos, the firm lamented that malicious traffic continues to grow at an unprecedented levels, adding that threats designed to take advantage of users’ trust in systems, applications and personal networks have now reached startling levels. The sophistication of the technology and tactics used by online criminals—and their non-stop attempts to breach networks and steal data—have outpaced the ability of information technology (IT) and security professionals to address these threats, it added, lamenting that many organisations do not have the people or the systems to continuously monitor extended networks and detect infiltrations, and then apply protections, in a timely and effective manner. General Manager, Cisco Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra-Leone, Dare Ogunlade, who unveiled the

Stories by Lucas Ajanaku

report with the firm’s System Engineer, Security, Adeola Kukoyi said the report’s findings offer a vivid picture of rapidly evolving security challenges facing businesses, IT departments and individuals. Ogunlade said attack methods include socially engineered theft of passwords and credentials, hide-inplain-sight infiltrations, and exploitation of the trust required for economic transactions, government services and social interactions. He said: “Organisations across Africa must realise that it is no longer if they will be targeted by cyber-attacks, but rather when Chief Information Security Officers face growing pressure to protect terabytes of data on an increasingly porous network, manage information safely especially on the cloud, and evaluate the risks of working with third-party vendors for specialised solutions – all in the wake of shrinking budgets and leaner IT teams.” Ogunlade also noted increased sophistication and proliferation of the threat landscape, lamenting that simple attacks that caused con-

tainable damage have now given way to organised cybercrime operations that are sophisticated, well-funded, and capable of significant economic and reputational damage to public and private sector victims. Cisco also highlighted increased complexity of threats and solutions due to rapid growth in intelligent mobile devices’ adoption and cloud computing providing a greater attack surface than ever before, adding that new classes of devices and new infrastructure architectures offer attackers opportunities to exploit unanticipated weaknesses and inadequately defended assets. The tech firm said cybercriminals have learned that harnessing the power of internet infrastructure yields far more benefits than simply gaining access to individual computers or devices. These infrastructure-scale attacks seek to gain access to strategically positioned web hosting servers, name servers and data centers—with the goal of proliferating attacks across legions of individual assets served by these resources. By targeting Internet infrastructure, attackers undermine trust in everything connected to or enabled by it.

‘Lack of trust inhibiting digital trade’

LOBAL telecommunication solutions provider, Ericsson has said its studies have shown that lack of trust remains a major hindrance to uptake digital trade such as ecommerce. Its senior Advisor, Consumer Insight, Ericsson ConsumerLab, Rebecka Cedering Angstrom who spoke via video conferencing in Lagos during the media presentation of Ericsson’s 10 Hottest Consumer Trends for 2015: Connectivity Integrated into Daily Life, said consumers are becoming more comfortable with ideas that once seemed beyond imagination such as robots in the home and mind sharing, adding that consumers want technology and connectivity to be integrated into all facets of their daily life – in everything from bathroom mirrors, to sidewalks and medicine jars Head, Research, Ericsson ConsumerLab, Michael Björn, said: “The cumulative effect of smartphones becoming part of mainstream society is astonishing. As consumers, we try out new apps and keep the ones we think improve, enrich or even prolong our lives at such a rapid pace that we don’t even notice that our atti-

tudes and behaviors are changing faster than ever. Services and products that quite recently seemed beyond imagination are now easily accepted and believed to rapidly reach the mass market. With only five years until 2020, the future really does seem closer than ever before.” The firm said next year and beyond, media use patterns are globalising. Viewers are shifting towards easy-to-use on-demand services that allow cross-platform access to video content. It said next year will be historic as more people will watch streamed video on a weekly basis than broadcast TV. It added that consumers show high interest in having home sensors that alert them to water and electricity issues, or when family members come and go. “New ways to communicate will continue to appear, offering us even more ways to keep in touch with our friends and family. Many smartphone owners would like to use a wearable device to communicate with others directly through thought – and believe this will be mainstream by 2020. “The idea of smart cities is intriguing – but a lot of that intelligence may actually come about as a side effect of the changing eve-

ryday behaviors of citizens. As the internet makes us more informed, we are in turn making better decisions. Consumers believe traffic volume maps, energy use comparison apps and real-time water quality checkers will be mainstream by 2020,” Ericsson said. The firm said as the internet enables people to efficiently share information with unprecedented ease, the idea of a sharing economy is potentially huge. Half of all smartphone owners are open to the idea of renting out their spare rooms, personal household appliances and leisure equipment as it is convenient and can save money. For digital purse, 48 per cent of smartphone owners would rather use their phone to pay for goods and services while 80 per cent believe that the smartphone will replace their entire purse by 2020. Although sharing information when there is a benefit is fine, smartphone owners see no point in making all of their actions open to anyone. 47 per cent of smartphone owners would like to be able to pay electronically without an automatic transfer of personal information. 56 per cent of smartphone owners would like all internet communication to be encrypted.

HE workers of the Federal Ministry of Aviation have been connected to a special telecoms package by Globacom. The package will assist in the effective delivery of aviation services through seamless, quality and cost-effective communication with one another. The package is uniquely designed to cater to the needs of the ministry and will also enable aviation workers to communicate with their families at near zero cost. Its Head, Public Sector, Mr. Tunde Amunikoro, said at the launch of the package in Abuja that: “Communication is key to efficient service delivery and speed and that is why we in Glo are excited to partner with the Aviation Ministry on the special lines. We believe the efficiency of the Aviation Sector is going to move several notches higher with this service.” He explained that the essence of the special package is to enable the workers to send or receive alerts and reach out to critical

stakeholders, particularly those in distress, without being encumbered by the non-availability of recharge cards, even in the remotest part of the country. He further explained that those who receive the lines are only required to pay a relatively low monthly service rental after which they will be able to communicate with all those who have the special lines, including their families, without incurring extra cost on airtime. Amunikoro said family members were included in the package to ensure that, apart from on-thejob effectiveness, all the workers of the Ministry who are on the special package lines will have peace of mind as they can remain connected at no extra cost with their families from anywhere in the country. While launching the package at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, venue of the event, the Minister for Aviation, Mr. Osita Chidoka said the special package would make work easier for all staff.

Etisalat takes stock, rates 2014 high

TISALAT has said this year has been good for its business in the country, promising to delight its customers with innovative products and good service quality in the coming years. Its Centre Manager, Marina Flagship Experience Centre, Oluwaseyi Ayebiwo, who spoke on the sideline with The Nation during the commissioning of the centre in Lagos said in six years of its operation, it has achieved the 20 million subscriber milestone, insisting that it is no mean feat considering that the telco came late and enjoyed no any form of incentive which the early birds did. He said: “For the year, we have not done badly as a company. Recently, towards the end of October, we hit the 20million subscriber base. That is in less than six years since we came onboard. For us, this is a great feat for any company and I don’t think any other company in the world has done that. We have grown so fast at so short a time. We intend to maintain that feat. According to him, next year will be full of activities as the telco will not rest on its oars but keep redefining customer experience through innovative products. “Going into 2015, you are going to see a lot of innovative programme from the company. In terms of service quality, we will always strive to take it higher. We know that custom-

ers have to be served and they are the focus of our business. That is why we make customers an important part of our decision process. We organise customer forum from time to time, where customers tell us what the challenges are and what they would want to get from us in the nearest future. So the customers are dear to our heart,” he said. Speaking on the uniqueness of the centre, he said the ambiance and the way it is built is interactive with the customers, such that when customers comes in, all the equipment necessary to resolve all their issues and make sure they are happy are available. He said: “It starts from the interactive counters for devices, where customers can come in around the devices and they know from that which one they want to use. “Aside that, we have other dedicated counters for special customers services. We also have different original equipment manufacturers such as Samsung, Nokia, Apple, Techno and others. .They have their stands here and they are all available to ensure that every customer’s complaints are sorted out. We have a VIP lounge where customers can come in with a fully equipped library for those who wish to read. You can come in, take some time out after passing through the stress our of the day and relax.”

MainOne’s $40m data centre gets Tier 111 certification

EST Africa’s leading provider of network solutions for businesses, MainOne, has received Tier III Certification of Design Documents for its new Lekki Data Centre, from the Uptime Institute, a United States (U.S) based consortium of companies that engage in education, publications, consulting, certifications, conferences and seminars for the enterprise data centre industry and for data centre professionals. The 600 rack, $40 million facility is the largest in the West African subregion and it is built to help meet the rapidly growing demand for co-location, managed hosting and cloud services within the region. Its Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Funke Opeke said the state of the art facility providing highly-available and highly-redundant world class infrastructure is a carrier neutral. She said the facility, spread over 3,500 square meters, further consolidates the com-

pany’s investment in critical infrastructure to grow West Africa’s digital economy. She noted that the Data Center will provide a credible platform for businesses to transact online within the region without having to invest scarce capital and human resources to build out their own infrastructure, thus enhancing business efficiency and profitability. She said: “With the increased recognition of Nigeria as one of the leading emerging economies, it is important that we have available the infrastructure required to establish, enhance and sustain effective business performance in today’s global digital economy. Outsourcing of Data Centre and Connectivity services to a reputable provider like MainOne ensures businesses can adopt more cost effective models of consuming technology to allow increased focus of valuable company resources to drive business development and growth”.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

MONEYLINK UBA Twitter service goes live

Bankers’ Committee: 100 firms get 75% of bank loans

HE Bankers’ Committee has said only about 100 firms in the country account for more than 75 per cent of bank loans in the country. The committee, which met in Calabar at the weekend, regretted the skew in the distribution of credit facilities in the country and called for more loans to facilitate rapid growth in power, agriculture and the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele who attended the meeting, said lending to the real sector would trigger the diversification of the economy. The Managing Director, Standard Chartered Bank and the Chairman, sub-Committee, Economic Development, Sustainability and Gender, Mrs. Bola Adesola has urged banks to

Stories by Collins Nweze

develop clear and actionable strategies and programmes to drive real sector growth, sustain the economic development initiative of the Bankers’ Committee. Speaking at the meeting, she said doing so would douse the heightened apprehension of the Nigerian public regarding the strategic policy direction and the viability of the economy in view of the falling price of oil. She said diversification of the economy has since commenced, and that the committee has outlined strategies that would facilitate the financing of the real sector and infrastructure development in the country. According to her, developments in the foreign exchange market are temporary and reiterated the need to forestall the speculative attack

•Emefiele on the naira exchange value. She said the theme of the retreat “Financing Real Sector Growth in Nigeria” suggests clearly a deliberate attempt to craft an all-encompassing strategic architecture towards realising inclusive growth and job creation through financing the real sector. The bankers expressed full conviction in the fact that the long term success of the banking sector lies in the growth of the real sectors.

Eczellon Capital unveils $250m equity fund

CZELLON Capital, an invest ment bank, has launched a $250 million private equity fund to enable fund projects in power, real estate, infrastructure, oil & gas and other key sectors of the economy. Its Chief Executive Officer, Diekola Onaolapo said the fund will be managed by Eczellon International, with activities overseen by an Investment Committee that has Professor Florin Vasvari, a non-executive director of the company, as one of its members. The fund raising is expected to close by the fourth quarter of next year with first close occurring in second quarter. The

fund will be administered in tranches over a two-year period. He explained that the fund will be for identified investment opportunities and already identified transactions in energy, infrastructure and a few other high growth sectors. According to him, the fund will be invested in unlisted enterprises with high capital growth potentials over the medium to long-term period of three to five years. He said the company has already assisted local companies in securing over $140 million committed capital this year and wants to expand access to finance for its focus sectors in the coming years, by launching new

fund. Onaolapo said he believes that both small and large companies have capacity to bring the needed development in key sectors of the economy. He said the firm seeks to contribute to the alleviation of socio-economic deficits in Africa by providing needed solutions to businesses and governments, in areas of suitable financing and expert advice. “Our goal is to aid the proliferation of global growth companies across Africa and to support governments in achieving the developmental objectives of their mandates.

USTOMERS of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc can now receive transaction alerts on their twitter handle as direct messages. It is an innovative first from the pan-African bank and currently the only bank in Africa to offer this service. “What we have done is take social media banking to a new level. Twitter is increasingly becoming a popular means of communication especially among the young adults. As a highly innovative bank, we are giving the Millennials, who are increasingly banking with us an option to get transaction alerts on their preferred platform” said Rasheed Adegoke, UBA’s Director, Information Technology. Before now customers can only receive transaction alerts as text messages on their mobile phones and as e-mails. The UBA Twitter

Notification Service will not however, replace the current SMS alerts system in place for all of the bank’s customers, but will complement it for added convenience for all those who subscribe to the service. UBA customers seeking to receive twitter powered transaction alerts through their twitter account should visit the UBA Group website or the UBA twitter page to register. On the UBA Group website, customers will be requested to click on the Twitter notification service page, and enter their account number then click on submit. Follow the displayed instructions to log into their personal account and enable access. Once this process is completed, the customer will start receiving transaction alerts securely. The alerts will only be seen by the receiver, since it goes into his or her direct message box, just like an SMS message going to a phone.

Skye Bank, MoneyGram partner on outbound service

KYE Bank Plc has extended its relationship with MoneyGram by launching an outbound remittance service in the country. A statement said with the launch of the product, customers and other Nigerians can now send money to their family members and wards abroad. Nigeria was a receive- only country and consumers could only receive funds sent from abroad through the MoneyGram money transfer service. According to Skye Bank, the partnership is significant to both MoneyGram and Skye Bank business, because it enables customers to send funds from Nigeria to family and friends around the globe in naira at all the bank branches which can then be picked up by the ben-

eficiary in the currency of the receiving country. The MoneyGram outbound service is available across all the bank’s branches in the country. Prompt and efficient MoneyGram transfer services can also be accessed in its 50 money transfer centres across its network including key locations such as Niger House, Marina Lagos; Benin, Ibadan and Enugu. MoneyGram is focused on growing its presence in Africa through strategic relationships with agents like Skye Bank. Outbound remittances are a very important part of economic growth and financial inclusion in Nigeria and across Africa, and we look forward to supporting the country’s development.

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 FIDELITY NIGFUND INTERCONT INTEGRITY FUND KAKAWA GUARANTEED INCOME LEGACY FUND NIG INTNL DEBT FUND (NIDF)

152.19 9.17 1.12 1.19 0.63 1.39 1,720.45 1,093.13 112.24 121.16 1.67 1.05 143.11 0.78 1,933.58

151.27 9.08 1.12 1.19 0.62 1.33 1,720.45 1,092.42 111.60 120.30 1.62 1.03 142.62 0.76 1,923.63

GAINERS AS AT 17-12-14

SYMBOL O/PRICE BETAGLAS 25.20 ETRANZACT 2.80 7UP 159.00 WEMABANK 0.96 OMOSAVBNK 0.73 UNIONDICON 13.41 REDSTAREX 3.61 FIDSON 3.24 FCMB 2.85 CONTINSURE 0.83

C/PRICE 26.46 2.94 166.70 1.00 0.76 13.95 3.75 3.35 2.89 0.84

CHANGE 1.26 0.14 7.70 0.04 0.03 0.54 0.14 0.11 0.04 0.01

LOSERS AS AT 17-12-14

SYMBOL

O/PRICE

FLOURMILL PZ PRESCO CHAMPION DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR ACCESS AFRIPRUD AIRSERVICE FO ETI FBNH WAPCO

39.49 30.78 25.59 6.27 4.0 5.20 6.00 2.80 1.80 216.13 18.00 8.20 70.00

C/PRICE 35.65 27.79 23.11 5.67 4.37 4.94 5.70 2.66 1.71 205.33 17.10 7.79 66.50

CHANGE -3.84 -2.99 -2.48 -0.60 -0.23 -0.26 -0.30 -0.14 -0.09 -10.80 -0.90 -0.41 -3.50

RETAIL DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM (RDAS) Transaction Dates 10/12/2014 3/12/2014 1/12/2014 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

16.5%

Swiss Franc

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

FOREX RATES

R-DAS ($/N)

165.29

Interbank ($/N)

162.75

Parallel ($/N)

185.50

GOVT. SECURITIES YIELD – SECONDARY MARKET

Tenor

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 18, 2014

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 17-12-14

UBA Capital changes name to United Capital

HAREHOLDERS of UBA Capital Plc yesterday approve the change in the name of the company to United Capital Plc, paving the way for the investment banking and capital markets group to conclude the process of name change. At an extraordinary general meeting held in Lagos, directors and shareholders of the company approved the change in the name. Speaking at the meeting, chairman, UBA Capital, Mr. Chika Mordi said UBA Capital has a proud heritage as one of Africa’s leading financial services companies. According to him, the group would build on its heritage and use its new brand identity as a catalyst to create greater values. “The new name reflects our shared determination to transform the continent’s financial sector, delivering exceptional value to both our shareholders and customers,” Mordi said. UBA Capital was until recently a member of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Group. It was spun off and its shares distributed to ex-

•NSE reviews market indices amidst decline Stories by Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

isting shareholders of UBA in compliance with the new banking regime that requires banks to form holding company structure to hold non-core commercial banking subsidiaries or divest from such businesses. It was subsequently listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). UBA Capital offers four services including investment banking, asset management, trusteeship and securities. In 2013, it was named the Best African Investment Bank at the Africa Investor Awards. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) is rounding off year-end review of its key group and sectoral indices. These included the NSE 30 Index, NSE 50 Index and the five sectoral indices- the NSE Banking Index, the NSE Consumer Goods Index, the NSE Oil & Gas Index, NSE Industrial Goods Index and the NSE Insurance Index. The compo-

sition of these indices after the review will be effective on January 1, 2015. The review will witness the entry of some major companies and exit of others. Major highlights of the review included the replacement of five companies in the NSE 30 Index. Fidelity Bank, FCMB Group, Total Nigeria Plc, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria and Ashaka Cement Plc are being replaced by Seven-Up Bottling Company, Seplat Petroleum Development Company, Unity Bank, Sterling Bank and Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc. The NSE 30 Index tracks the 30 most capitalised companies on the NSE and largely controls the overall market situation. The NSE-30, NSE-50 and NSE Industrial Indices are modified market capitalization index with the numbers of included stocks fixed at 30, 50 and 10, respectively. The numbers of included stocks in the NSE-Consumer Goods, Banking, Insurance and Oil/ Gas Indices are 15, 10, 15 and 7, respectively.

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 17-12-14

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

NEWS

How Osinbajo’s choice will affect ticket

ANY factors aided the choice of the legal scholar, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), as the running mate to the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd). But perhaps, the greatest factors are his competence, ability to deputise without undermining or subverting his principal. His integrity, impeccable character and his antecedent as a Nigerian with a national outlook will also add value to the ticket. The eminent scholar emerged as the vice presidential flag bearer, not because he is an Ogun State indigene or for being a former Justice Commissioner in Lagos State. His choice as the running mate was on the strength of the convincing argument that the APC standard bearer needed a decent, loyal and hardworking Christian from the Southwest to meet the inevitable and non-negotiable criterion of the ethno-religious divide. Yesterday, there was jubilation, not only in the Southwest region, but across the federation, following Osinbajo’s nomination as the running mate. But, in particular, the nomination has implications for the Southwest. Since 2007, the zone appears to have been marginalised. The nomination promptly restored a sense of belonging to the six states. Since the zone is now involved through the joint-ticket, its stakeholders will be more committed to the APC’s agenda for change in 2015. Also, across the 36 states, the elite are more likely to gravitate towards the Buhari/ Osinbajo ticket. Both men are tested, trusted and courageous, in terms of devotion to public good. At 73, the former military leader is on the soap box. With the 54 year-old Osinbajo beside him, the joint ticket is a blend of old age and youthfulness. Buhari, a committed Muslim from the North, and Osinbajo, a Christian cleric from the Southwest, are now strengthened in their determination to challenge Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Goodluck Jonathan, a Christian from the Southsouth, and his deputy, Namadi Sambo, an architect and Muslim from the Northwest, to a po-

By Emmanuel Oladesu, Group Political Editor

litical duel. There is parity, as far as ethnic and religious factors, which politicians have successfully incorporated into contemporary politics, are concerned. The line of demarcation is the differential qualities of the characters on the APC and the PDP tickets. Observers believe that Nigerians are likely to take Buhari and Osinbajo seriously. Buhari has stood for honour and discipline as a leader. He is simply incorruptible. Osinbajo has been committed to the strengthening of democracy through his judicial reforms when he held the forte as as Attorney-General and Justice Commissioner in Lagos between 1999 and 2007. He is an advocate of the protection of the temple of justice from the vulgarities of political life and societal vices. Buhari/Osinbajo represents a rare Muslim/Christian ticket. Jonathan/ Sambo is another Christian/Muslim ticket. The battle for Christian votes will be interesting. Apart from legal advocacy, the Church is also Osinbajo’s constituency. The charming and charismatic lawyer is not a nominal Christian. He has a mass appeal in the Christendom as an ex-

emplary preacher of the Word. But, more importantly, the congregation has had cause to emulate him as a doer of the word. Like Buhari, Osinbajo is morally predictable and excellent. From 1999, he has been a loyal, dependable and silent labourer in the camp of the progressives. His legal counsels, administrative acumen, uncanny capacity for research, understanding of the workings of government and sense of calmness and balance have been acknowledged by the academia, the bar, the bench, the government and the political class he has served with his best of ability for many decades. Contrary to the belief in some quarters that Osinbajo came into limelight, following his appointment as the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, he has been around for a longer period. As a university teacher, he has taught promising Nigerians from the six geo-political zones, who still perceive him as a mentor and role model. As a university don at the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, and the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, he was a star professor. His intellectual stature reflects in his teaching endeavours, rigorous research and seminal contri-

butions. The diminutive scholar is a six feet of intelligence. He always avoided controversy like a poison. When LASU was engulfed with protracted crises, which threatened a peaceful atmosphere for teaching and research, he refused to take sides in the divisive and highly destabilising crises. The law teacher retraced his steps to UNILAG. But, he also intensified his prayers for the crisis-ridden institution. As a lawyer, Osinbajo was not in the mould of luminaries who indulged in trivialities. He is a thorough prosecution lawyer, who does not indulge in the politicisation of sensitive cases to make political gains out of litigation. He has often shunned financial inducement by unscrupulous elements to subvert the state in litigations involving the government and enemies of progress. At his disposal are the power of ideas and imagination, weapons of incisive wit and organisational arsenal, and steady inclination for reforms. Brilliant, professionally assertive, focused and loyal to the peopleoriented agenda, Osinbajo had hidden talents, which were unravelled by his involvement in politics and governance in the past. Many believe that he will add value to the admin-

istration, if elected as the vice president. In fact, Buhari and Osinbajo share common traits and ideas about how a developing country should be run by visionary leaders. His thoroughness, modesty, aversion for graft, belief in the role of law in human development and passion for people’s welfare and national progress may make the Buhari/Osinbajo pair a perfect match. It is perhaps, a mark of humility that, despite his achievements as a scholar, legal luminary and priest, Osinbajo has kept a low profile. He has led a honourable life. Like Buhari, his public service career has been devoid of scandal. The Buhari/Osinbajo ticket will also be captivating to the Yoruba political establishment because of the Awo factor. Osinbajo is married to the daughter of the late Mrs. Ayodele Soyode, the lawyer-daughter of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. If Buhari and Osinbajo are elected, they will be partners in progress. There will be no acrimonious relationship between the president and his deputy. Since they have no skeletons in their cupboards and not in government to enrich themselves, Nigeria will be better for it.

PDP faults Buhari’s choice of Osinbajo as running mate From Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) reacted yesterday to the choice of Prof. Yemi Osinbajo as running mate to the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari. In a statement yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, after the APC unveiled Osibajo, the party described Osibanjo as APC National Leader Bola Tinubu’s acolyte, saying he served under him as Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice. The statement was full of abuses. It described Gen. Buhari as incompetent because, said the PDP, Tinubu chose his deputy. The APC’s choice of running mate as been hail as an exhibition of the “beauty of democracy”. But to the PDP, which was said to have been jittery after the news of Osinbajo’s choice was broken, “our citizens should indeed be concerned that it took the APC six days to produce its vice presidential candidate. “Fortunately, the PDP offers to all Nigerians a truly national party and a Jonathan/Sambo ticket ready to build a better tomorrow. “In PDP, the focus remains to ensure that we continue to deliver on our promises and put the interests of Nigerians first in all our party decisions and policies of our government,” the ruling party said.

From left: Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah; Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh; Chief of Air Staff (CAS); Air Marshal Olusola Amosun and Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Suleiman Abba, briefing reporters at State House after their meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja...yesterday.

Lawyers hail Osinbajo’s choice as running mate OME senior advocates yesterday hailed the choice of Prof Yemi Osinbajo as All Progressives Congress (APC) vicepresidential candidate. They said his choice has opened a new vista of hope for the country. Dr Joseph Nwobike, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who was Prof Osinbajo’s student at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), said the former Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice would bring his deep intellectualism to bear on governance. He said: “Prof Osinbajo will bring clarity of thoughts laced with deepness and moderation of consideration into the decision making process of the campaign team and government, if his team forms government next year. “But whether the foregoing will be translated into any form of electoral capital will become clearer as we gravitate towards the general elections next year. “As my former teacher, I cannot but wish him all the best.”

By Adebisi Onanuga and Joseph Jibueze

Professor of Law, Itsay Sagay described the choice of Prof. Osinbajo as a good one. He said his combination with that of Buhari would help to straighten the country. Sagay said with his adoption, “the country has a lot to look forward to with the combination of Buhari and Osinbajo. Sagay said: “One can begin to hope that Nigeria is finally going to start climbing up towards its former glory again.” “He is a completely honest and upright man. “Osinbajo is a well-known personality and was Attorney-General of Lagos State for eight years. “So, in my view, Prof. Osinbajo is a fit and proper person to be vice president of Nigeria and an excellent running mate for Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. “This is because he is a man who has achieved so much in social and

political life of Nigeria. “He was attorney-general of Lagos State for eight years and won more cases than any other person or any other state against the Federal Government in the struggle to establish the autonomy of Lagos and to establish true federalism in this country. “He is a man of upright integrity and is flawless in his ethics, in his reactions, in his character. Not only that, he is also a religious man, who has maintained a flock for God over a period of time. “So, when you look at him from all sides, I regard him as a first-class candidate for the position he is vieing for and when you consider all these qualities with that of Buhari, the upright, anti-corruption, discipline,straight forward man who is going to straighten out this country.” Erudite lawyer, Felix Fagbohungbe, (SAN), also hailed the adoption of Prof. Osinbajo, saying that he was more than qualified for the position. Fagbohungbe said Osinbajo will

be an asset, not to Buhari alone, but to all Nigerians. He expressed the conviction that Osinbajo would have a lot of electoral value that would enhance the chance of his party in the next election. Fagbohuingbe said: ”He is highly qualified for the position. Apart from being an intellectual, his profile as former attorney-general of Lagos State is rich enough and is a testimony of his ability to merit that position. “As attorney-general, he performed wonders. He was an excellent person, matured and understands the terrain very well. “He may not be a partisan politician but understands politics more than the politicians.” Also yesterday, a federal lawmaker represnting the Ikeja Federal Constituency, Abiodun Faleke, said the choice of the former commissioner will be appreciated by Nigerians. Faleke said: “Osinbajo is a strong personality. He is simple but very purposeful and he is a loyal party man.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

NEWS Shekau threatens to attack Kano Emir Continued from page 4

ace on November 28, detonating multiple bombs and shooting worshippers. Over 100 people died in the attack. The Emir, who was abroad during the attack, returned to lead prayers at the site of the blast, the following day. In a 19-minute new video first released Saturday, Shekau did not claim responsibility for the mosque attack. But he said his group remains prepared to kill anyone who challenges its ideology, and all non-Muslims and “fake” Muslims. In a report published by online medium Premium Times, Shakau was quoted to have said: “Before I start talking to my brothers who believed in me and the religion of Allah, not the religion of democracy, not that of western education, those who be-

lieved in the religion of the Quran, not that of the constitution and not religion of the Emir of Kano Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Jonathan, Obasanjo, Atiku, Babangida, Obama, Bush, Clinton, but the religion of Allah,” he said. Mr. Shekau said his group will fight local vigilantes and hunters, who have successfully crushed the advances of its fighters in some parts of the Northeast. Shekau condemned all other Islamic sects in the country calling them pagans. He said the Izala, Tijjaniyya, Qadiriyya and Shiite Islamic groups are pagans and his group will continue to kill their followers. He also condemned the government Saudi Arabia. “We will kill you people, we will capture hostages and keep selling some,” he said.

Nigerians to pay more tax- Okonjo- Iweala

Continued from page 4

biamila, said the budget was only laid without details attached. According to Gbajabiamila, “no member of the National Assembly has a copy of the budget at the moment, so no one can say he or she is going to comment on it”. Deputy Leader Leo Ogor said the most important issue was that the budget had been laid and all other things were in the hands of the National Assembly. The Finance Minister later broke the budget down at another forum with Finance reporters. On specific measures to increase non-oil revenues to boost the treasury, she said: “A 10 per cent import surcharge would be imposed on new private jets, which is estimated to yield about N3.7 billion in 2015; 39 per cent import surcharge on luxury yachts, which is estimated to potentially raise N1.6 billion in 2015; and 5 per cent import surcharge on luxury cars which is estimated to yield about N2.6 billion of additional revenues.” Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala added: “There will be a surcharge on

Business and First Class Tickets on Airlines. There will be no surcharge on economy tickets. There is also an imposition of 3 per cent luxury surcharge on champagnes, wines and spirits to generate about N2.3 billion in 2015; and a 1 per cent FCT Mansion Tax on residential properties with value of N300 million and above which should yield additional N360 million.” The budget has an aggregate revenue target of N3.602 trillion made up of: oil revenue of N1.918 trillion and non-oil revenues of N1.684 trillion (implying a ratio of 53 per cent oil revenues to 47 per cent non-oil) to fund an Aggregate Budget Expenditure of N4.358 trillion proposed for 2015 Budget, which is about 8 per cent less than the 2014 Appropriation. This expenditure figure is made up of N412 billion for Statutory Transfers, N943 billion for Debt Service, N2,616 billion for Recurrent (NonDebt) and N634 billion for Capital Expenditure (inclusive of SURE-P). Internally Generated Revenues (IGR), Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala said “actual receipts have continued to grow from about N182 billion in 2011 to N274 billion in 2013 and then, N328 billion as of October 2014”. The minister spoke of leakages and non-remittance of funds to the treasury by some agencies. According to her, President Goodluck Jonathan has “subsequently issued an unequivocal directive to all revenue agencies to ensure remittance of their obligations to treasury and all relevant government bodies are now working with banks to ensure strict compliance, and so we have projected IGR receipts of N450 billion

for 2015”. “In 2015, the federal government will be ramping up the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS)/McKinsey initiative to contribute an extra N160 billion in tax receipts and an aggregate of about N460 billion over and above the 2014 levels in the 2015-2017 period,” Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala said. There were no changes to the parameters of the proposed 2015 budget which still remains as oil production at 2.2782 million barrels per day; Benchmark oil price of $65/barrel; GDP growth rate projected at 5.5 per cent; An exchange rate of N165 to the US dollar; non-oil revenue (including non-Federation account) of N1,684.63 billion; fiscal deficit of N755 billion (or 0.79 percent of GDP); and domestic borrowing of N570 billion, down from N571.9 billion in 2014. Based on these parameters, the 2015 Budget envisages a net federally collectible revenue of N6.9 trillion. Of this, N3.6 trillion is envisaged to fund the Budget, representing about 3.4 per cent drop from N3.7 trillion for 2014 Budget. This is with more emphasis on non-oil revenue sources to partly compensate for the shortfall in actual oil revenue. In taxes, the minister hinted of a possible but gradual increase in Value Added Tax (VAT) but only as a long term measure, but in the medium term, focus will be on tax policy to see where opportunities lie to streamline and rationalize certain taxes and levies whilst looking to boost others. The government is also contemplating short and mediumterm measures in expenditure. In the short-term, government plans to institute measures

aimed at improving spending. This exercise, Mrs. OkonjoIweala said, will save N82.5 billion. This will include the following: •Overhead expenditures: We propose cuts to international travels and training by 50 per cent for all MDAs saving about N14 billion while other provisions for overhead expenditure have been dropped completely - saving about N4 billion. •Administrative Expenditures for buildings, equipment, supplies, etc: MDAs’ provisions for the procurement of administrative supplies and equipment will be cut, saving about N5 billion; procurement and upgrade of buildings were similarly curtailed, saving about N44 billion. Another N76 billion is proposed for reallocation to more impactful programmes of government in the security, health, and education sectors. Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala said the government had also begun partial implementation of the Whitepaper on the rationalization of agencies, based on the Oronsaye Report and have built in savings of about N6.5 billion in the Budget. On workers’ agitation for higher salaries next year, Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala said: “Prices are not going up; all that talk was to scare people and make them feel that austerity measures, yeah, the government is trying to do something to you. It is not true! This government everyday tries to protect the average Nigerian. So if inflation is going down, why would you now add it to a wage increase. It means that you should even have a wage reduction. So please, let us say things on facts not on sentiments.”

How my running mate was chosen, by Buhari Continued from page 4

to create jobs. Osinbajo, all smiles, was calm as he responded to Gen. Buhari’s speech. He wore his trademark black suit, a white shirt and a red tie. He said: “I am deeply honoured and grateful to have been nominated as the vicepresidential candidate of our party, APC and especially the presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari. “I also thank the leaders and elders of our great party, APC for the trust reposed in me. “The task of rebuilding this nation is one to which I am ful-

ly committed. There can be no other president, leader and commander that can lead that common sense revolution Nigeria urgently needs than General Muhammadu Buhari. I will proudly serve this country with him. “General Buhari’s uprightness and fierce commitment to good governance is well known. It will be a privilege to work with him. “I come to this assignment with lots of hope and a resolve to be a part of this movement to bring Nigeria back to its lost glory. With the support of all Nigerians and the help of God, we shall make Nigeria work again.

“I will work with him and the party to restore hope and confidence in millions of our youths and provide comfort and security for millions of our country men and women.” The unveiling of Osinbajo was done at the jam-packed conference hall of the APC with many stalwarts of the party in attendance. Gen. Buhari and Osinbajo were heralded into the hall at the party’s secretariat at about 4.33 pm. With them were former Governors Bukola Saraki, Danjuma Goje and Kayode Fayemi; Senators Babafemi Ojudu and Olurunnibe Mamora, and members of the House

of Representatives, including spokesman Zakari Mohammed; and Conference of Nigerian Political Parties(CNPP) spokesman Osita Okechukwu. Those who witnessed the 10minute event were the National Chairman, Chief John OdigieOyegun, Deputy National Chairman, North, Senator Lawal Shuaibu; Deputy National Chairman ( South), former Governor Segun Oni; National Secretary Mai Mala Buni; Deputy National Vice Chairman , North West, Mr. Inuwa AbdulKadir; National Publicity Secretary Lai Mohammed and National Organizing Secretary Osita Izunaso.

Manufacturers warn against economic calamity Continued from page 4

Against this background, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has gone into a strategy meeting on how to deal with the situation and mitigate the consequences of the pending economic gloom. Crude oil is not just Nigeria’s principal export commodity, but every aspect of the country’s life revolves around it, hence the yearly budget is predicated on the price of crude in the international market. Manufacturers depend largely on imported raw materials and the naira, fast depreciating against the dollar makes it undeniable for prices of goods and services to go up. Some sectors have reacted to the reality of consequential crippling budget shortfalls. For instance, banks have increased

their interest rates to avoid liquid erosion. Players in the Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FCMG) are reviewing their prices. Just last Monday, banks reportedly increased their interest rate from 25 to 26 per cent. Other manufacturing companies have also jerked up their prices. Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Finance Minister and Cocoordinating Minister of the Economy, has warned in the wake of the unsavoury development that Nigeria needed to brace for tougher times ahead, by reviewing its expenditures and building economic buffers through budgets that would be based on modest oil prices. An economic expert, Joel Bisola, noted with regret that the situation had put manufacturers in a tight corner because the government’s reaction to

the falling price of oil will lead to the lowering of the purchasing power of the local currency and increase in cost of inputs. He also pointed out that the effect would be that goods emanating from Nigeria will command higher prices, as against imported ones. This, Bisola added, “will sound a death knell to the indigenous manufacturers, or whatever is left of that sector”. It was gathered that following series of complaints by members, MAN summoned an emergency meeting of its Economic Policy Committee (EPC) in Lagos to discuss the way forward. Sources said members lamented the severe impact of the erosion of the local currency’s purchasing power on their businesses and the increase in prices of their

raw materials, machinery, spare parts and all other import-dependent procurements. The meeting, it was learnt, concluded that the development had led to very significant increase in the cost of production, leading to the uncompetitiveness of local products, especially in the face of the impending implementation of the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET) in January 2015. The CET will allow goods from any other part of West Africa into Nigeria without the imposition of any tax, import duty or levy. One of the top managers of a manufacturing company who is a member of MAN’s EPC, summed up their frustration, when he said the Naira is going to end up at 200 to a dollar, equivalent of 33 per cent depreciation.

THE NATION THURSDAY DECEMBER 18, 2014

NEWS ‘Some soldiers presumed dead are still alive’

Two to die for robbery From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

WO men -Segun Olowookere and Sunday Morakinyo- were yesterday sentenced to death for robbery by an Osun State High Court in Okuku Judiciary Division. They were convicted by Justice Jide Falola on a eight-count charge, which include conspiracy, robbery and stealing. However, the convicts pleaded not guilty to the charges. Justice Falola also recommended that the governor can decide to commute the death sentence to 10 years imprisonment. The prosecution team from the Ministry of Justice, led by Solicitor-General, Mrs. Abiola Adewemimo, who appeared along with the Principal State Counsel, Mrs. Folasade Adekomi, called six witnesses and tendered several exhibits to prove the case against the convicts. The prosecution proved that the convicts forcefully broke into the house of a police officer attached to Okuku divisional police headquarters, Tope Balogun, in April 2010 and carted away some of his belongings. The prosecution had earlier told the court that on November 13, 2010 five boys were sighted around Balogun’s house, saying they were holding cutlasses and a dane gun. According to the prosecution, two of them were arrested and confessed that they stole the police officer’s fowls. They also confessed to robbing Alhaja Umani Oyewo in her house and stealing her chickens, eggs and kegs of vegetable oil.

Kimono, Uwaifo, Ejeagha extol Chime at fiesta

IGERIAN music legends on Tuesday night extolled Governor Sullivan Chime for transforming Enugu State into an alluring city with awesome facilities, scenery and security comparable to what obtains in developed cities. The music icons spoke during their performance at the Enugu Culture and Tourism Fiesta. They held the audience spellbound with some of their best tracks. Code-named “Old School Night”, the event attracted stars of yesteryear, including Ras Kimono, Bright Chimezie, Victor Uwaifo, Paulson Kalu, Mike Ejeagha, Apostles, One World and Sir Warrior Jnr.

Baptists meet THE last Executive Committee meeting of the Lagos East Baptist Conference for the year holds today at the Conference Room, Baptist Academy, Obanikoro, Lagos, from noon. The Conference President, Dr. E.A. Awotunde, said members should attend punctually, adding that kingdom matters and other businesses affecting the conference would be discussed.

Final rites for woman THE late Alhaja Raliat Asabi Davis, who died on November 10, was buried same day according to Islamic rites. Her final rites will hold on December 21 at the Marina car park, Lagos.

• NAOWA presents gifts to women

Mrs. Felly Minimah (right) and Chairperson, 81 Division, NAOWA, Mrs. Chizoba Dibi, in Lagos...yesterday

By Precious Igbonwelundu

Ojukwu’s wife, APGA leaders disagree on tenure elongation •Party holds special convention in Anambra From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

•Mrs. Ojukwu

HERE was disagreement yesterday in Awka, the Anambra State capital, between the leaders of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the widow of the former leader of the party, Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu, on ten-

ure elongation for officers. The incident occurred at the Women Development Centre, Awka, at a special convention, which attracted APGA chieftains. Bianca, the late Dim Chukwuemeka OdumegwuOjukwu’s widow, opposed an attempt by the APGA delegates to amend the constitution to extend the tenure of its leaders by 120 days, starting from February 10. At the end of the convention, which lasted till 6:30pm, Ojukwu’s wife, addressing reporters, described the exercise as illegal and unconstitutional. She said their continued stay would affect the electoral process, which would produce candidates for the gen-

eral elections. Mrs. Ojukwu, however, said her lone voice might not make the desired change, “but I want it to be put on record that I saw injustice and opposed it.” Said she: “The tenure of the National Chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, will end on February 10. I’m against an extension of his tenure. This makes him a judge in his own case. He is already vying for the Senate. “I think in the interest of justice, transparency and internal democracy, it will be decent and moral for him to step down. This is the only thing that will give the process credibility.” The party expunged the name of the pioneer Chairman, Chekwas Okorie, from the constitution.

It described the inclusion of such name as undemocratic. APGA ratified and approved the position of a leader and board of trustees chairman in the constitution and gave the position to Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano. It adopted President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate. Obiano and Umeh assured members of their commitment and resolved to take the party to a greater height. Other APGA leaders, who attended the convention, included the governorship candidates in Abia (Alex Oti), Imo (Emmanuel Iheanacho), Ebonyi (Tony Agbo) and Nassarawa (Sanni Shinkafi). They were given the party’s flags.

Why power failure persists, by Presidency

HE Presidency defended yesterday the country’s epileptic power supply, saying the sector’s reforms will take time to yield benefits. Senior Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Affairs Dr Doyin Okupe said the unbundling of the Power Holden Company of Nigeria (PHCN) was the first time any administration would frontally confront the problem of electricity deficit. The presidential spokesman said unlike GSM companies which used mobile technology and did not have to rely on existing infrastructure, the new power distribution companies use the same old distribution framework. According to him, from 1960 to 2007, Nigeria generated only 2,800 megawatts, but it has increased to 4,800 in four years of the Jonathan administration. “We’re not yet there, but we’re certainly making progress,” Okupe said. He spoke in Lagos during a political event organised by his office, named: “Media Presentation of Candidate Goodluck Ebele Jonathan”. Several Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chiefs took turns to campaign for Jonathan’s reelection, saying he should be given more time to consolidate on his achievements. Okupe also denied calling Jonathan Jesus as widely reported in the media, saying it would amount to blasphemy

By Joseph Jibueze

for him to refer to the President as Christ. “I did not say President Jonathan is Jesus. I am a Christian, so how can I blaspheme our Lord Jesus?” Okupe asked. The spokesman said he was alluding to the Biblical injunction that Christians must “be like Christ.” Besides, he said just as Jesus bore the world’s “burden” while on earth, Jonathan also bears the burden of governing Nigeria in the face of challenges. On the failing war against terror, Okupe said soldiers were trained in conventional warfare, but had to be retrained for insurgency because “it is something new.” He added that “the retraining is taking place during the war”. Soldiers, he said, have successfully recovered some of the towns taken over by the Boko Haram sect, while the government is working to cut off their source of funding. “Suicide bombing is an act of desperation by the insurgents, but we’re going to win the war against Boko Haram. Were actually winning the war,” he said. On the kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls, Okupe said a wrong impression is created that the government is heartless. “We’re not animals in government,” he said. He said the government does not want to apply full

military force in the bid to rescue them. “We don’t want to bring back body bags,” he said. Southwest PDP leader Chief Olabode George warned opposition parties to be ready for battle during next year’s elections. “They will know that the foot soldiers are ready for the battle,” he said. He said if re-elected, Jonathan would fully implement the recommendations of the National Conference, such as state police, the need to whittle down power at the centre, and direct funding of local governments. PDP’s governorship candidate in Lagos, Mr Jimi Agbaje, said the party would “deliver Lagos to Jonathan.” “I say that 2015 go sweet. We no dey fear. Jonathan has done plenty, but we need to

•Dr. Jonathan

sell it to Nigerians. We’ll go from house to house, door to door, inside buses, trains,” he said. Others who spoke include Chief Richard Akinjide (SAN), who chaired the event; Mallam Tanko Yakassai; Prof Dupe Olatubosun, who was the guest speaker; Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, among others.

RESIDENT of the Army Officers’ Wives Association (NAOWA) and wife of the Chief of Army Staff, Mrs. Felly Minimah, said yesterday that some soldiers presumed dead in the Boko Haram insurgency are still alive. She spoke at the Ikeja Cantonment, Lagos, while presenting relief items to widows of fallen heroes as well as wives of soldiers in the 81 Division, noting that some of them were missing-in-action (MIA). “No one is happy if any bad thing happens to any of our soldiers. It breaks our heart when any of our soldiers die in battle. Also, some of the soldiers we think are dead because we have not seen them or they have not called are not dead. Some of them are missing-in-action but still living. “I reassure you that with God’s help when this fight is over, some of them we think are dead will resurface,” she said. Admonishing the over 1000 women who gathered to receive the gift items to stop insulting their husbands, Mrs. Minimah noted that soldiers are very important and the drivers of the army. “I want you people to respect your husbands and stop cursing them or reporting them to their bosses. Who told you your husband is useless? The Nigerian Army does not have a useless soldier; the army does not recruit stupid soldiers. “The Boko Haram trouble is enough to make us pray for our husbands and so, I do not expect you to give them any trouble. Your husbands are the drivers of the army and they are very important to this nation. “With the news from the army that any soldier that attains Master Warrant Officer before retirement will be given car and other things to live comfortably, don’t know it is your duty to pray that God will keep your husband even if he is fighting in the Northeast and has not sent money to you yet? Mrs. Minimah after presenting the gifts to some of the women, said that NAOWA was planning to empower them with different skills to enable them cater for themselves and their children. About 200 widows and 800 soldiers’ wives drawn from Yaba, Dodan Baracks, 65 Battalion, 174 Batallion, 9 Brigade as well as Ojo Barracks received bag of rice, salt, fabrics, tubers of yams, cooler, among other things each. Among the beneficiaries was 25-year-old Mrs. Victoria Emem-Victor, who lost her husband, a Private, four months ago.

Court orders uniform cut-off marks

HE Federal High Court in Lagos nullified yesterday statebased admission disparity in Unity Schools. It ordered the Federal Government and the Education Minister to apply uniform cut-off marks to all states. Justice John Tsoho declared unconstitutional the statebased admission inequality in Federal Government Colleges (also known as Unity Schools). The verdict was on a suit by a former Nigerian Bar

By Joseph Jibueze

Association (NBA) President Mr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) against the Federal Government in which he challenged the admission disparity. The case is based on Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution which prohibits administrative or executive actions by government that discriminates between Nigerians on grounds of ethnicity, gender, religion and place of origin. The Originating Applica-

tion was filed on September 30, last year. Among others, it sought a declaration that the administrative acts of the respondents which prescribe different requirements including cut-off marks for candidates seeking admission into Federal Government Colleges, based on gender, ethnicity, states of origin etc is discriminatory against the applicant’s grandchildren and the group/class they represent.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

NEWS

Ijaw, Itsekiri quarrel over council secretariat’s location

HE renewed hostility between the Ijaw and the Itsekiri in Delta State has worsened. Both ethnic groups have intensified their media attacks, targeting personalities and government at the federal and state levels. The two neighbours, sharing three local government areas have intensified their attacks on each other. The latest confrontation is the counterclaim on the true status of the headquarters of the Warri Southwest Local Government Area at OgbeIjoh, an Ijaw town. An Itsekiri group, the Itsekiri Consolidated Move-

Police rescue kidnapped bank manager in Rivers

From Bolaji Ogundele, Warri

ment (ICM), carried an advertorial on Monday in which it claimed that the Itsekiri were oppressed by the Ijaw when the state government was pressured into relocating the local government’s headquarters from Ogidigben, an Itsekiri community, to Ogbe-Ijoh. But the Ogbe-Ijoh/Warri Clan Governing Council, in a statement by its Chairman, Lucky Oromoni, described the Itsekiri group’s claims as a needless attempt at overheating the polity. It dismissed the Itsekiri group’s claim that the original local government headquarters was at Ogidigben. The statement stressed that the claims and allegations of

the Itsekiri constituted a blackmail against the Ijaw, adding that they were targeted at President Goodluck Jonathan and former militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo). In the statement, which the Ogbe-Ijoh group said was aimed at setting the records straight, a brief history of the creation of the local government area and the journey to the bloody ethnic crisis in the 1990s where several people died and property worth millions of naira lost, was narrated. The statement accused the state government of bigotry. It said: “We wish to state clearly that Ogidigben was never the gazetted headquarters of Warri South West Local Government Area, con-

trary to the assertion of the Itsekiri group. Also, the headquarters of Warri South West was never unconstitutionally moved from Ogidigben to Ogb-Ijoh. Warri South West Local Government Area (formerly Warri South Local Government Area) was created in 1996 by the administration of Gen. Sani Abacha with other newly created local government areas with headquarters at Ogbe-Ijoh town. The council functioned for three months with the election of the chairman and 10 councillors. “However, the Itsekiri, in their oppressive manner, used their entrenched position in government to fraudulently and illegally relocate the headquarters from Ogbe-Ijoh to Ogidigben after

three months. This injustice the Ijaw could not stomach and gave birth to the unfortunate Warri crisis from 1997 to 1999 when the newly sworn-in democratic government of Chief James Ibori, in its wisdom through the Delta State House of Assembly, relocated the headquarters back from Ogidigben to Ogbe-Ijoh, the original and rightful headquarters, in line with the 1999 Constitution. “It is important to note that the Itsekiri challenged this action in court and failed at the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal. “We advise the Itsekiri to stop unnecessarily overheating the polity with their needless publications and blackmail against the Ijaw, especially President Jonathan and High Chief Ekpemupolo. “In their usual manner, they have started their blackmail against the government and persons seeing that their reign of arrogance in the government of Delta State is coming to an end.”

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

HE Rivers State Police Command has rescued the kidnapped Choba, Port Harcourt Branch Manager of First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Plc, Mr. Standfast Barnabas. It was gathered that policemen from the command, who acted on a tipoff, stormed the kidnappers’ den at Rumuola, Port Harcourt, where the banker, who was kidnapped on December 13, was kept. It could not be ascertained if the banker’s kidnappers had collected a ransom before the police invasion. But his colleagues at the Choba branch, near the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), kept sealed lips over what they called a very sensitive matter. The rescue of the bank manager was confirmed yesterday in a telephone interview by the Rivers police spokesman Muhammad Kidaya Ahmad. Ahmad said: “On sighting the policemen, the kidnappers engaged them in a gun duel. Unfortunately, luck ran against the kidnappers. Three of them bowed to police superior firepower and were fatally wounded (shot dead). One was injured and the one in possession of their operational firearm managed to escape. “One locally-made pistol was recovered after a search was conducted at the house (in Rumuola, Port Harcourt).”

•Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, receiving royal blessing from King T. J. T. Princewill, the Amayanabo of Kalabari Kingdom

By Precious Igbonwelundu

HE Nigerian Army (NA) said yesterday that plans are underway to introduce Psychological Operation Narratives in its war against terrorism. It said the introduction of the strategy, which the terrorist sect Boko Haram has been using, was to enable the army have grip on the full spectrum of the operation in the Northeast. The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 81 Division, Maj.-Gen. Tanmi Dibi to spoke at the opening of a two-day seminar on Nigerian Army Psychological Operation Narratives, at Bonny Camp, Lagos. Noting that the Army has focused on the physical domain of the war, Maj. Gen Dibi said the force has realised the need to also employ the psychological effects in the cognitive domain, adding that “our counter terrorist operations are not yet across the full spectrum of the operating space”. He said there was need to establish and maintain superiority as well as constrain the influence and freedom of action of the terrorists across the entire operating space. According to Maj. Gen Dibi, military psychological operations offer a potentially unique and powerful asset both during peace and war times. “Psychological operations take place through the tactical, operational and strategic environments; and have proven to be effective in combat. Since operations in the Northeast and within the 81 division area of responsibility take place in situations of considerable complexity and in the presence of capable and intrusive media, there was need for commanders to employ appropriate influence and counter -information techniques to offset the impact of rumours.”

JTF arrests 13 ‘cultists, ‘oil thieves’ in Bayelsa, Rivers

HE Joint Task Force (JTF), code-named: Operation Pulo Shield, has arrested 13 suspects for alleged crude oil theft and cultrelated violence in Bayelsa and Rivers states. It was gathered that four of the suspects were arrested onboard a barge laden with crude oil on the Igbemotoru waterways in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. The barge and the suspects were reportedly rounded up by JTF’s troops in conjunction with the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area Oil and Gas Task Force.

Two PDP lawmakers attend plenary after six months WO lawmakers elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) attended plenary yesterday, six months after they joined other PDP lawmakers to boycott sittings. The two lawmakers are: Minority Leader Emmanuel Okoduwa and Minority Whip Kingsley Ehigiamusoe. They lost their re-election bid at the PDP primaries and were suspended for boycotting sittings in solidarity with four others an Edo State High restrained from attending sittings. The lawmakers were called

Boko Haram: Army plans new method

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

into the legislative chamber after they their suspension was lifted under Matters of Urgent Public Importance. Majority Leader Philip Shaibu moved the motion for the lifting of the suspension. He urged the lawmakers to support the motion in the spirit of festive period. Shaibu said an ad hoc committee, which was set up by the Assembly, met with the two lawmakers and discovered that they were merely in solidarity with other lawmakers.

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

JTF’s Media Coordinator Col. Mustapha Anka said the task force had begun investigations into the matter. He said the barge had been anchored at Igbematoru House Boat. Anka said a suspected notorious cult leader was arrested by troops of Sector Two in Rivers State. The JTF spokesman said the suspect was the brain behind serial killings and destruction of property worth millions of naira during a communal cri-

sis at Ibaa, Emoha Local Government Area of Rivers State. He said the suspected cult leader was being investigated to ascertain his level of complicity in the crisis before he would be handed over to a prosecuting agency. Anka said: “This is coming after eight cultists on our wanted list in connection with the Ibaa crisis surrendered themselves to the JTF. “Items recovered from the cultist include a police Berretta rifle, a doublebarrelled gun, three locallymade pistols, eight Nokia

handsets, three empty magazines and four rounds of 7.62mm Special. “Troops, following a tipoff, also raided Ekraka village in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State and recovered two locally made double-barrelled gun loaded with live cartridges. “The suspects abandoned the weapons and fled on sighting the troops. The recovered weapon is in the custody of the JTF while efforts to apprehend the suspects are ongoing.” Anka also said the 222 and

3 Battalions operating on the Tuomo and Chanomi West communities in Burutu and Warri South local government areas of Delta State uncovered two illegal oil distillery camps. The JTF spokesman said the suspected oil thieves operated with “Cotonou” boats, 26 drums with 200 litres capacity containing illegally acquired crude oil, two ovens and illegal oil bunkering equipment. He said the illegal sites and the equipment were destroyed in line with the JTF mandate.

Navy denies Tompolo owns gunboats

HE Nigerian Navy (NN) cleared yesterday the air on the alleged acquisition of decommissioned Norwegian warships by ex-militant, Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo), insisting that the vessels belong to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). These was outrage over a report by a Norwegian media that Tompolo purchased seven of its decommissioned gunboats, with some Nigerians linking the purchase to preparation for war during next year’s general elections and the running of a parallel naval

By Precious Igbonwelundu

force. But Navy’s Chief of Training and Operations, Rear Admiral Austin Oyagha, briefing reporters in Abuja, described the report as untrue. He stated that the boats, owned by NIMASA, were being manned by the NN personnel as part of efforts to ensure safety at the nation’s maritime domain. Rear Admiral Oyagha said pursuant to a pact between both agencies, NIMASA enlisted the navy in order to enforce its responsibility of ensuring safety because the former neither has such

powers nor expertise. He also dismissed claims that the gunboats had Tompolo’s name inscribed on them, stressing that no such boat was operating in Nigeria’s territorial waters. “I want to state categorically that no individual has acquired gunboats into this country. The gunboats being alluded to belong to NIMASA and these boats are currently being manned by personnel of the Nigerian Navy. “And as you are all aware, Nigerian Navy has collaboration with NIMASA of which we have a maritime component attached to the organisation in support of the

statutory responsibility to ensure the safety of our harbor approaches to our anchorage,” One of such boats christened Barak Defender with International Maritime Organisation (IMO) number 9702326 and painted in the same colour as NN vessels, was seen in Lagos waters on Monday with naval personnel onboard. Information obtained online indicated that the gunboat is a high speed craft registered in Saint Vincent and the Granadines. It has a length of 33m by 7m and had a port call at Cape Town before it proceeded to Nigeria.

THE NATION THURSDAY DECEMBER 18, 2014

NEWS

Fulani ‘gunmen’ kill 10 in Kaduna community

USPECTED Fulani gunmen yesterday killed 10 people at Angwan Dauda village in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State. It was learnt that among those killed was a year-old baby, its mother and father. They were reportedly killed in their sleep. Eyewitnesses told our reporter that the bandits, who carried sophisticated weapons, engaged soldiers in a gun duel for hours before they (bandits) retreated into the nearby bush. A councillor in the area, Shehu Ajetu, said the gunmen invaded the

Mutiny: 54 soldiers to face firing squad •Five freed From Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja and Precious Igbomwelundu

IFTY-FOUR of the 59 soldiers standing trial for mutiny and conspiracy to commit mutiny have bagged the death sentence. They are to face the firing squad. They were found guilty of the offences. The General Court Martial, which has been sitting since October, however, discharged and acquitted five of the soldiers. Delivering the judgment at the Mogadishu Cantonment, Abuja Wednesday night, chairman of the GCM, Major General Musa Yusuf, said the soldiers reserved the right to appeal the verdict at a higher authority. The 59 soldiers were among the troops engaged in counter insurgency operations in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, where the Boko Haram insurgents have taken over a number of Nigerian towns and villages in Northeastern Nigeria. The soldiers were accused of refusing lawful orders to fight, an offence the military authorities described as conspiracy and mutiny. The first batch of soldiers that were tried for mutiny also bagged the death sentence for shooting at their commanding officer. The verdict is being appealed by their lawyers. All the 59 soldiers had pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them by the General Court Martial during the trial.

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

village at 2am and opened fire on residents. He said 10 people were killed, with several others injured. Ajetu said: “Several houses were set ablaze by the Fulani herdsmen. “The attack came as a surprise and it has shattered the peace for coexistence between us and the Fulani. “This attack was very surprising because efforts were being made to restore peace in our communities, following the previous attacks on our communities, which led to the killing of hundreds of our people and the de-

A rights group, the Centrum Initiative for fundamental Rights Advocacy (CEDRA), condemned the attack. In a statement by its spokesman, Dr. John Danfulani, CEDRA blamed the state government for failing to end the persistent attacks by Fulani gunmen across the state. The group said the state government had failed, adding that it could not handle the senseless killings. The statement said: “It is also clear that the Kaduna State Government’s main attention is about winning the 2015 elections. It is not bothered about the increasing violence in the area and the lives being wasted in the state.”

Students protest school's 'ineptitude' to Shekarau

From Vincent Ohonbamu, Gombe

•Shekarau

TUDENTS of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Gombe, have protested the school's alleged ineptitude to live up to their expectation to Education Minister, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau. The minister was the head of an impact assessment tour by the Federal Government and selected state tertiary institutions in Gombe State when the students protested to him. The students said there had been no water and power supply in the school

for seven days. "We have to wake up as early as 4am daily in search of water. There is no light for us to read. You can't imagine that this is happening in our examination period," said one of the protesters, who spoke in confidence. The minister, who skipped the schedule to address the workers and students due to time constraints, inaugurated a twin-lecture theatre with 500 seats each and the new administrative block , both built through the Tertiary Education Trust (TET) Fund. At the Federal University at Kashere (FUK), the minister expressed disappointment at the slow pace of the projects. He said most of the projects were supposed to have been completed since last year. Shekarau said the Federal Government would improve access to quality education by recruiting diligent

workers, training and retraining the teachers and providing quality instructional materials to boost teaching and learning. He said: "It involves the provision of workshops, laboratories, lecture theatres, libraries and several other factors that will improve the quality of the delivery of teaching in our various institutions. "It is for us to assess the impact made so far in these two areas - increasing assess and improving quality - that we decided to go out and see for ourselves. "And from what I have seen here, the increase in assess is certainly on course: lecture halls, theatres, libraries and offices are under construction. "Even though we are not satisfied with the level of progress on the construction of these facilities, virtually all the projects on ground are behind schedule. By the contracts awarded, these are projects that ought to have been completed by the end of 2013.

Court gives Kogi council chairmen 24 hours to vacate office

HE Presidential Committee on Victims Support Fund has targeted the rehabilitation of over 600,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Adamawa State. The Chairman of the committee, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, spoke at the presentation of materials to IDPs in Yola, the state capital. Gen. Danjuma, who was represented by Mr. Alkasum Abdulkadir, said the committee was inaugurated by President Goodluck Jonathan in July to bring succour to the victims of insurgency and other forms of violence in Nigeria. He said: “What we are witnessing today is the unfortunate development whereby some evil mercenaries unleashed death and havoc on defenceless citizens, who did not even provoke them.” Danjuma said it was sad that the nation was cerebrating the distribution of materials, adding: “We are to celebrate real development and progress of our nation, not the development of distribution of relief items to the people who were attacked in their ancestral domains.” The former Army Chief sympathised with the residents of the state and the Northeast Region. He urged the people to donate to the fund so that the victims could have a new lease of life. The committee’s Executive Director Sunday Ochebe said millions of Nigerians had been killed, displaced or separated from their families. Ochebe explained that the fund would present the items through the state branches of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and state Muslim bodies. He said the fund would work with the two major religious bodies to reach •Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola (middle); his deputy, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori (second left); Nigeria’s Ambas- out to the victims, especially those who sador to Ireland, Bolere Elizabeth Ketebu (second right); Mr. Sean Lyons (right) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), were not in formal camps, to build City Engineer Limited, Mr. Kola Bello, during a trade mission visit to the governor at the Government House in confidence in them. Osogbo CAN and JNI representatives, Rev. Sule Jerry and Alhaji Gambo Jika, thanked President Goodluck Jonathan for the gesture. They assured that the materials would reach the intended beneficiaries.

Lagos SSG is Ambode’s running mate HE All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday named Secretary to the Lagos State Government (SSG), Dr Oluranti Adebule, as deputy governorship candidate to Mr Akinwunmi Ambode. The state Assistant Publicity Secretary of APC, Mr Abiodun Salami, announced her choice. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Adebule was appointed SSG in July 2011. She holds a doctorate degree and lectured at the Lagos State University before her appointment as the SSG.

struction of their property. “They (attackers) came in the night. They were heavily armed and started shooting indiscriminately at the people. This attack is a great setback to the peace between our people and the Fulani herdsmen. “Our people have been complaining of how the Fulani herdsmen were destroying their farm produce. The herdsmen had been chasing away people who were harvesting their farm produce and putting their cows to destroy everything. “It is a sad situation. Our people are becoming helpless as they have no weapons to confront this wicked act.”

600,000 IDPs to be rehabilitated in Adamawa

ESS than 24 hours after The Nation reported the flouting of a court order invalidating the election of the 21 local government chairmen in Kogi State, the State High Court, sitting in KotoKarfe, yesterday ordered the chairmen to vacate office within 24 hours. Justice Alaba Omolaye-Ajileye directed the Justice commissioner to comply with the court’s earlier orders on the matter. The High Court, last Monday, nullified the May 4, 2013, local government election following alleged improper composition of the Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission (KOSIEC). It declared its activities null and void. Justice Omolaye-Ajileye ordered the local government chairmen to hand over to the most senior director in their secretariats. The court, in the latest ruling, copies of which were served the Commissioner of Police, the Direc-

From James Azania, Lokoja

tor of the Department of States Security (DSS) and the Commissioner in the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, ruled that its December 4 judgment be complied with in 24 hours. The judgment reads: “In the circumstances of this case, I hereby direct the second defendant, the Attorney-General of Kogi State and the Chief Law Officer of the state, to ensure compliance with the orders of this court handed down in its judgment of Monday, December 8, 2014, within 24 hours from now.” The All Progressives Congress (APC) had sued the state government, the Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission (KOSIEC) and others, on the composition of KOSIEC and the conduct of the local government election by the commission, whose former chairman was alleged to be a card-carrying member

of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). But yesterday it was learnt that the sacked local government chairmen might have hired a team of lawyers, including a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), to challenge the court order removing them from office. One of the embattled local government chairmen said they ought to have been joined in the case originally. The chairman, who spoke in confidence, insisted that he and his colleagues challenged their ouster through a competent lawyer. He said: “The state government has gone on an appeal and we, the chairmen, have engaged a lawyer. We are not aware of the case that happened before. “We are the people who are most affected by the order. So, we are necessary parties and most concerned. We are supposed to be necessary parties.”

‘Choice of Murtala’s son as running mate in Kano okay’ From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

NON-GOVERNMENTAL organisation (NGO), Kano Good Governance Project (KGGP), has said the choice of Alhaji Abba Risqua Mohammed as the Kano State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate’s running mate will ensure the party’s victory in next year’s election. Addressing reporters in Kano, the group’s Secretary Abulkadir Salihu said Abba Risqua had the virtues to attract significant votes for the PDP in the state. He said: “Abba Risqua came from Kano Central Zone, an area with the biggest chunk of our population, which has always tipped the balance of electoral victory for this kind of election.” Salihu noted that the son of the late Head of State, Gen. Murtal Ramat Mohammed, who came second in the PDP’s governorship primary, had the charisma to galvanise the support of his constituency for the PDP. He said: “The fact that he came second, despite the odds of not controlling the party’s machinery in his favour, is a testimony to not only his charisma but also to the tremendous respect that his family is enjoying in the state.” Salihu added that the political rating of Abba Risqua had received a boost not only because of his remarkable showing at the primaries but also by the way he magnanimously accepted defeat.

THE NATION THURSDAY DECEMBER 18, 2014

FOREIGN NEWS Pakistan: PM Sharif vows to end terrorism

Obama announces new Cuba policy •Easing economic and travel restrictions •Renewed diplomatic relations, prisoners’ swapped •Pope Francis, President Castro hail move

RESIDENT Barack Obama yesterday announced plans to normalize diplomatic relations with Cuba and ease economic restrictions on the nation, an historic shift he called the end of an “outdated approach” to U.S.-Cuban relations. Obama said he’s instructed Secretary of State John Kerry to immediately begin discussions with Cuba to re-establish diplomatic relations, and that the U.S. will re-open an embassy in Havana. The administration will also allow some travel and trade that had been banned under a decades-long embargo instated during the Kennedy administration. “Neither the American nor Cuban people are well-served by a rigid policy that’s rooted in events that took place be-

EU court takes Hamas off terrorists’ list

TOP court of the European Union has annulled the bloc’s decision to keep the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas on a list of terrorist groups. The decision had been based not on an examination of Hamas’ actions, but on “factual imputations derived from the press and the internet”, judges found. The court said the move was technical and was not a reassessment of Hamas’ classification as a terrorist group. It said a funding freeze on the group would continue for the time being. Hamas dominates Gaza and fought a 50-day war with Israel earlier this year. Under its charter, the movement is committed to Israel’s destruction. Responding to the ruling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas was a “murderous terrorist organisation” which should be put back on the list immediately.

fore most of us were born,” Obama said. “I believe we can do more to support the Cuban people, and promote our values, through engagements. After all, these 50 years have shown that isolation has not worked. It’s time for a new approach.” Speaking at the same time as Obama from his own country, Cuban President Raul Castro lauded the move. “This expression by President Barack Obama deserves the respect and recognition by all the people and I want to thank and recognize support from the Vatican and especially from Pope Francis for the improvement of relations between Cuba and the United States,” he said. Obama’s announcement comes as both nations have released political prisoners in

a show of goodwill, with American Alan Gross headed home on “humanitarian” grounds from Cuba early Wednesday morning. In a separate swap, a U.S. intelligence source held for 20 years was released in exchange for three jailed Cuban spies Obama said Wednesday he has instructed Kerry, however, to review Cuba’s place on the State Sponsors of Terrorism list. The announcement will also make it easier for Americans to travel to Cuba and do business with the Cuban people by extending general licenses, officials said. While the more liberal travel restrictions won’t allow for tourism, they will permit greater American travel to the island. Other announced changes permit U.S. and Cuban banks

•Obama

•Castro

to build relationships and travellers to use credit and debit cards. U.S. travellers will be allowed to import up to $400 worth of goods from Cuba, including $100 in alcohol and tobacco — even Cuban cigars. Remittances by Americans to their families back in Cuba will also be increased to approximately $2,000 per quarter. Cuba has agreed to release 53 political prisoners from a list of names provided by the United States. At least one of the prisoners has already been released. Havana has also agreed to permit significant access by its citizens to the Internet and allow the Interna-

tional Committee of the Red Cross and United Nations human rights officials back on the island for the first time in years. Talks between the U.S. and Cuba have been ongoing since June of 2013 and were facilitated by the Canadians and the Vatican in brokering the deal. Pope Francis — the first pope from Latin America — encouraged Obama in a letter and in their meeting this year to renew talks with Cuba on pursuing a closer relationship. For a President who took office promising to engage Cuba, the move could help shape Obama’s foreign policy legacy.

Tanzania AG quits amid corruption row

ANZANIA’S Attorney General Frederick Werema has resigned, making him the first casualty of a corruption scandal that has rocked the government. MPs last month called accused him of authorising the fraudulent transfer of about $120m (£76m) to an energy firm. He denied wrongdoing, but quit because the controversy had “disrupted the country’s political atmosphere”, a presidential statement said. The corruption allegations have led to donors suspending aid to Tanzania. President Jakaya Kikwete took office in 2005 with a promise to tackle corruption in government, but critics accuse him of failing to live up to his pledge. Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda has also been implicated in the scandal Tanzania’s parliament, dominated by the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, passed a resolution last month, calling on

him to sack Mr Werema. It also called for the dismissal of Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda, Energy and Minerals Minister Sospeter Muhongo and other senior officials. All the officials and companies implicated in the scandal denied any wrongdoing. An investigation by a parliamentary watchdog committee found that about $120m of government money had been taken from an escrow account, paid to an energy firm and then given

into circulation. Representative Antenor Duran, who introduced the bill, said that “the initiative, apart from paying him tribute, aims to ensure that future generations know this great Colombian humanist, literary figure and democrat”. Last month, the University of Texas at Austin bought the Garcia Marquez archive for an undisclosed price. Both Colombia and Mexico expressed their disappointment over the move. Garcia Marquez is hailed as Colombia’s most famous writer, but he spent much of his life in Mexico, where he died on 17 April. He was awarded the Nobel

to various government ministers. In his resignation letter, Mr Werema said he was stepping down “because his advice on the... escrow account issue had not been understood and had disrupted the country’s political atmosphere,” the president’s statement is quoted by Reuters news agency as saying. The escrow account was held jointly by state power firm Tanesco and independent power producer IPTL. The money was trans-

ferred to IPTL’s owner Pan Africa Power (PAP) in 2013. PAP said the transfer was legal. Non-governmental organisations in Tanzania have urged the government to prosecute officials linked to the scandal, Reuters reports. A group of 12 donors - including Japan, the UK, the World Bank and the African Development Bank - decided in October to withhold about $490m until the government takes action over the alleged corruption.

Jonathan condemns terrorists attack on Peshawar P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday condemned the terrorists’ attacks on Peshawar which resulted in the loss of over 140 lives in Pakistan. In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the President also extended condolences to the Government and People of Pakistan on the attack.

Garcia Marquez to feature on Colombia bank notes OLOMBIA will honour its most famous author, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, by featuring his face on its banknotes. The House of Representatives passed a bill on Tuesday asking the central bank to print a series of notes featuring the Nobel Prize winner’s face. Garcia Marquez, the author of One Hundred Years of Solitude and other popular works of magic realism, died in April in Mexico City. The bill also foresees the creation of student grants in his honour. The bill did not stipulate which denomination will feature the writer’s picture or when the notes will come

•Condoles government, people of Pakistan From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

He assured Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the people of Pakistan that Nigeria stands in full solidarity with them as they mourn the victims of the heinous attack. It reads: “The President wholly condemns the brutal, savage, senseless and totally unjustifiable killing of innocent students and staff during the attack.”

“He believes that the atrocity in Peshawar and recurring terrorist crimes across the world strongly reinforce the need for urgent action towards the formation of more effective regional, continental and global alliances against insurgency and violent extremism. The President prayed that God Almighty will comfort all the bereaved families of Peshawar and grant the injured speedy recovery.

AKISTAN’S prime minister has vowed to rid his country of terrorism after a Taliban attack at a school in Peshawar killed 145 people, mostly children. Nawaz Sharif spoke after talks between political parties about the massacre. The Afghan president says the “time has come” for his country to work with Pakistan to fight “extremism.” Ashraf Ghani said the two countries should “jointly take effective actions” following a surprise meeting with Pakistan’s army chief in Kabul to discuss security co-ordination. The Pakistani Taliban (TTP) said they had carried out the attack against the Army Public School to avenge army-led operations against them in the Khyber and North Waziristan areas. All seven attackers were killed during the eighthour siege at the school Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said Pakistan stood united to ensure the deaths of the children were not wasted, after meeting party leaders in Peshawar yesterday. In any action against the militants, he said, there would be no distinction between “good and bad” Taliban. “We...have resolved to continue the war against terrorism till the last terrorist is eliminated,” he added. He also announced an end to the moratorium on the death penalty for terrorism cases, which correspondents say is a move aimed at countering a view held by many Pakistanis that many terror suspects end up evading justice. People across Pakistan are marking three days of public mourning After meeting Pakistan’s army Chief General Raheel Sharif on Wednesday, Afghanistan’s President Ghani said the two countries should “work together in sincerity and jointly take effective actions against terrorism and extremism”. Pakistani Taliban (TTP) leader Mullah Fazlullah is believed by the Pakistani authorities to be hiding in Afghanistan, and media reports in Pakistan suggest the school attack may have been co-ordinated from Afghanistan.

Afghanistan : Taliban kill 10 in bank attack

•Marquez

Prize for Literature in 1982 “for his novels and short stories, in which the fantastic and the realistic are combined in a richly composed world of imagination, reflecting a continent’s life and conflicts”.

EN people have died in a Taliban attack on a bank in the southern Afghan province of Helmand, officials say. They say one suicide bomber blew himself up and three others were killed by security forces after a stand-off. The bank in Lashkar Gah, the provincial capital of Helmand, is thought to have been busy at the time, with government officials collecting their salaries. The Taliban have intensified attacks as foreign

troops prepare to withdraw at the end of the year. The gunman forced their way into the bank after a suicide bomber detonated his explosives at the entrance to the building, provincial spokesman Omar Zhwak told reporters. Helmand police spokesman Fareed Obaid said three police officers were among those killed and that 15 people were wounded. Attacks in Afghanistan have been a daily occurrence in recent weeks, with the Taliban trying to take ad-

vantage of Nato’s drawdown. Earlier this month, a ceremony was held in Kabul to mark the formal end of Nato’s 13-year combat mission in Afghanistan. At its peak, the US-led force involved more than 130,000 personnel from 50 countries but from 1 January, it will consist of about 13,000 soldiers. The remaining forces will help train the Afghan national army, with President Ashraf Ghani vowing to restore stability.

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

SPORT EXTRA

My mandate is to produce future Eagles — Amuneke G

OLDEN Eaglets’ Chief Coach, Emmanuel Amunike has disclosed that his mandate is not only to win the tournaments the team is competing in but to also produce future Super Eagles’ stars. The world football govern-

From Segun Ogunjimi, Abuja ing body FIFA’s aims and objectives of this organising these kind of tournaments is to produce players for the senior national teams of affiliated football federations

which Amunike is seriously targeting to fulfill. “Nigerians are always eager to hear that we have talents, but we have to build our youth with the knowledge that what is good today may be outdated tomorrow. But like I keep on telling you

• Flying Eagles players celebrate one of their goals during a friendly match

Flying Eagles thrash Ace Academy 3-0

IGERIA’S U20 team, the Flying Eagles, defeated Ace Academy of Kaduna 3-0 on Wednesday in continuation of their preparation for next year’s African Youth Championship in Senegal. Striker Billy Auta, who scored four goals in a 12-0 spanking of Standard FC of Zaria last week, opened scoring for the Flying Eagles mid-way into the first half.

Leftback Mustapha Abdullahi then netted a brace in the second half. Ace Academy gave a good account of themselves in a keenly contested match, but again they fell to a more focused and organised opposition. Flying Eagles’ goalkeeper Abdallah Sulaiman from Dabo Babes of Kano saved a penalty late on in the game after twogoal hero Abdullahi fouled a goal-bound Ace player.

The Junior Eagles will also play against Highlanders of Kaduna on Friday before going on a week’s break for the Christmas holidays. The team will resume training camp in Kaduna on December 27 with the foreign-based professionals they called up recently joining up. The pros will be led by the likes of Manchester City starlets Kelechi Iheanacho, Chidiebere Nwakali and Isaac Success.

AFRICAN FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR AWARD

Okocha tips Toure ahead of Enyeama, Musa

• Enyeama

ETIRED Nigeria international Austin Okocha is still regretting the failure of the Super Eagles to qualify for the African Cup of Nations. “Those that qualified for the finals have earned it. Concerning Nigeria, it is useless to lament. “Nigeria was favored to be among the 16 qualifiers, but this is not the case. We must try to understand what went wrong and correct errors, so that they do not recur, ” Austin Okocha told Le Buteur.

The former PSG and Fenerbahce star has tipped Yaya Toure of Manchester City to clinch the African Footballer of the Year when the winner is announced next month. “Musa has his own qualities, but in my opinion, Yaya Toure is the best African player, he is on course to win the title logically,” said Okocha. Jay Jay is the head of the Nigeria Football Federation Technical Study Group.

it is our responsibility to see how we can improve. We should not just depend on the fact that we have talents, of course, talent is been given by God, but there are a lots of things that makes the talent to gel. These are the areas we have to emphase on. So that when these guys grow they will learn to fight. “We don’t want to have people like when they get to the Super Eagles they won’t live up to their billings, like what we are seeing today. You then see players that are not putting enough efforts. They must improve, they must work and they must know that the road to success is always under construction. We came to do the best we can, and with hard work on our side we will definitely achieve our goals and objectives. He, however, stated that the camp is not closed to quality players that could help the team. “The point is that we have qualified to Niger, we have tournament next year February, which is 15th of February to 1st of March. So, what we intend to do is to give some youths the opportunity to showcase themselves, give a lot of players the opportunity to come and improve themselves and see if we can find players that can add more value to the team”.

Cordoba eyes Nsofor

7 - YEAR - OLD Nigeria international Victor Obinna could officially depart Lokomotiv Moscow next month. The winger cum striker has not played an official game for the Railwaymen this season, as he was not registered for the Russian Premier League, having being declared surplus to requirement. Tuttomercatoweb.com has strongly hinted that Obinna could be on his way to Spain to join Cordoba. And if that comes to pass, it would be his second spell with a Spanish club, having defended the colours of Malaga four years ago. His contract with the Russian side will expire at the end of the 2014 - 2015 season.

Tenger open to NPFL club offers

F • Musa

ORMER Akwa United head coach Justin Tenger has said he will make his service available only to business minded clubs in the upcoming 2014/15 league season. The experienced tactician guided the Promise Keepers in the 2012/13 Glo Premier League season. Tenger, however, he was not interested in clubs like Akwa United in his comeback bid. "That I was out of circulation

for a season doesn't mean that I've quit coaching. I withdrew for a season on personal grounds. I've not retired from active coaching. "Just a few weeks after the 2013/14 league season ended, a number of clubs have called me about a possible coaching job, but nothing serious has happened yet. "So I'm 100% available for any club side that requires my service for the coming league sea-

son - not just any club though but seriously minded and ambitious clubs with clearly defined programmes to achieve results. "I can comfortably blend with such clubs, not unambitious ones no matter the bait and its attraction. "That's why my eyes won't be on clubs that have shared characteristics with Akwa United, no, I won't go there. "I'm open and available to needy clubs but such clubs must

• Akinwunmi

NFF supports grassroots through FUTSAL • Tourney slated for March

HE 1st Vice President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi has given his support to the Nigeria Brazil Football Academy(NFBA) initiative of discovering footballers at the grassroots. Speaking at the launch of the Brazilian Futebol de Salao(5aside FUTSAL) on Wednesday at the Campos mini Stadium, Lagos, Akinwunmi was indeed optimistic that the programme would soar if given the chance. The Lagos State FA Chairman also opined that this type of football would provide efficient, effective and functional solutions to issues confronting Nigerian Grassroots Football development via FUTSAL and Foot Volei training programmes. “One thing I can assure everybody is that the Lagos State FA will support whatever you are doing as long as it is football and it is within rules. We will give you a lot of support. This can change lives of our youngsters in Lagos State and indeed Nigeria. Also at the national level we also have committee which would also do FUTSAL . I am proud to say we would have one of our members, Bolaji Yusuf on that Committee. We discussed FUTSAL and beach soccer and how they are going to discuss it in their meeting in January. We would also set up FUTSAL eko football league because we need to spread it.” Other technical abilities of

By Stella Bamawo playing FUTSAL football also include individual psycng players, very deep perception, insight and awareness while youngsters are exposed to the 11 a-side football game. However, the organisers have stated that the Nigeria- Brazil Centre for Business, Culture and Cooperation and the Cruzeiro Esporte Club have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the primary aim of providing a framework for international cooperation in football environment mainly in the area of education of very young footballers. Other objectives of the organizers is to reach five hundred thousand Nigerian children, teenagers and youth in the U-20, U17, U-15, U13 and U-10, age grade categories in nursery, primary, secondary and tertiary institutions via FUTSAL and OOT VOLEI games next year from the LGA to State and National level. In the same vein, the national coordinator of FUTSAL in the country Paul Bankole stated that that the organizers will facilitate visitation and visit to Brazillian football legends, coaches and age grade teams to Nigeria while there will also be massive opportunities for youngsters to study the Portuguese language in Nigeria before proceeding to Brazil for further studies and a football playing career.

NNPC JUNIOR TENNIS CIRCUIT MASTERS

Chris Bulus rebounds to beat No.1 seed

HRISTOPHER Bulus of Lagos rebounded from a first round robin loss to Tochukwu Ezeh from Onitsha to beat Chris Itodo from Kaduna 9-8 . Itodo will have to beat Ezeh and David Amusu of Lagos to finish first. In the Girls 14 playoffs, Kasara Adegboyega from Ibadan beat Favour Moses of Kaduna to place herself in a winning position. She will have to contend with Marylove Edwards, the

be certain what they want to achieve before coming to me," said the former Kwara United gaffer to supersport.com. Tenger bluntly refused to comment on the recent decision of the management of the Uyobased side to severe ties with the side's technical adviser, Patrick Udoh, despite him seeing them off the relegation water. "No, I won't want to say anything on the issue, that's their lives not mine at the moment, " quipped the former Niger Tornadoes coach.

number one seed, for the first place in that category. Moses had earlier beaten Peace Udoh 9-3 in her first round robin match. The top juniors are competing in three categories - boys and girls 10, 14 and 16 - and have the rare opportunity of watching the best senior players at the Ikoyi Club Tennis Masters every evening. The NNPC Junior Circuit Masters which is taking place at the National Stadium ends on Saturday.

• Tenger

THE NATION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

www.thenationonlineng.net

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

FORTNIGHT ago, new strains (never too far away from the surface) emerged in relations between Nigeria and the United States. The US Embassy in Abuja and the US military training mission in Nigeria issued public statements that the Federal Government of Nigeria had suspended the third phase of the agreed military training programme for the Nigerian Army. Two phases of the programme, initiated by the two countries to counter the current Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria, had been completed. In the circumstances, the US military training mission understandably expressed its regrets that the third phase, which it considered crucial to the success of the entire programme, had been unilaterally cancelled by the Federal Government. The announcement by the US of the cancellation of the training programme was obviously intended to embarrass the Federal Government. The Nigerian government had not announced the cancellation. It should have been more appropriate for any announcement of the cancellation of the programme to have been made by the Federal Government, rather than by official US sources. It is a serious breach of protocol on the part of the US military training mission to have pre-empted the Federal Government. If it became necessary to cancel the third phase of the programme, or review the entire programme itself, a joint statement by the two parties involved should have been made, instead of a unilateral statement by the US military mission. Since the entire US military training programme was not popular in Nigeria in the first place, and it has not really had any positive impact on the war against the insurgency, it is doubtful that any serious damage was done to the Federal Government by its cancellation. From its independence in 1960, the Nigerian public has never actively supported defence agreements with foreign powers. In 1962, the Balewa Federal Government was similarly forced to cancel Nigeria’s defence pact with Britain, its erstwhile colonial master, due to widespread domestic opposition to the pact. In its own defence of the decision to cancel the third phase of the military training programme, unidentified spokesmen of the Federal Government claimed that the training programme was cancelled in response to the refusal of the US to agree to the purchase of arms, particularly US military helicopters by Nigeria, weapons which, they claim, are badly needed by the Nigerian military to successfully prosecute the ongoing war against the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria. It was also claimed that the US military training mission in Nigeria had demanded that some of the military hardware being used in the war against the insurgents be transferred from the war front to the sites of the training programme. This, the federal authorities considered absurd and unwarranted at a time of serious military engagements with the insurgents. The federal authorities also claimed that the recent mutinies by some elements of the Nigerian Armed Forces were encouraged, if

HERE was no picture, but the report was sufficient to provoke a mental image. If there was any doubt about the pollution of the country’s democratic environment, the incontrovertible evidence was provided at the December 8 governorship primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State. The venue was Yard 158 Event Centre, Kudirat Abiola Road, Oregun, Ikeja. A newspaper report said: “One of the aspirants, Mr. Babatunde Gbadamosi (aka BOG), wore a bullet proof vest. He told reporters that he was protecting himself from being hit by a stray bullet.” Now, why would you have bullets flying around aimlessly at an event organised to choose the gubernatorial face of a political party? Who would be in possession of guns at the place, and who would do the shooting? It would appear that Gbadamosi may not

TOMORROW IN THE NATION

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL. 9, NO. 3,068

‘We hear of the majority having their way and the minority having their say. But here, the reverse seems to be the case. Is politics still a game of numbers?’

C OMMENT & D EB ATE EBA

DAPO FAFOWORA

FROM THE SUMMIT dapo.fafowora@thenationonlineng.net

New strains in Nigeria-US relations

•President GoodluckJonathan

•President Barack Obama

not directly sponsored, by the US military training mission in Nigeria. This claim is absurd and the US has denied it as spurious. If true, it would be a grave charge that would justify the cancellation of the entire programme by the Federal Government. We cannot have foreign training missions in our country encouraging mutinies in the Nigerian Armed Forces. That is not the reason they were invited here in the first place. But the military doctrine imparted by the US military training programme is quite capable of creating in the minds of the Nigerian military doubts about the integrity of their officers. This could easily lead to a mutiny by the soldiers. The US Army represents an advanced industrial and democratic country. Nigeria is different and, whether intended or not, American military doctrines can easily become subversive of discipline in the Nigerian Armed Forces. It should also not be forgotten by the US authorities that Nigerian leaders have become increasingly suspicious of the US as a result of non-official reports from the US that Nigeria could break up in 2015. These reports, though not official, are resented in the country, and have had a negative impact on USNigeria relations. On the question of the refusal of the US to authorise the sale of specific military weapons to Nigeria, the US authorities have stated that this refusal was in compliance with the American Congressional decision that arms sale by the US should not be made to coun-

tries listed by the human rights organisations as being in serious breach of human rights, particularly by the use of torture. Nigeria is so listed, and it is common knowledge that torture is freely used by the Nigerian security agencies to obtain intelligence from suspects. This practice is reprehensible and cannot be tolerated in any decent, civilised and democratic society governed by the rule of law. It has been widely condemned by the media in Nigeria as well. The Nigerian public is totally against the use of torture on suspects. It is true that the Boko Haram insurgents are just as guilty of the resort to torture and other violent means in pursuing their military objectives in their war against Nigeria. And it is equally true that Nigeria is involved in a non-conventional war in which it would be difficult to fully apply the rules of the Geneva Convention on military engagements of the kind we now face in Northern Nigeria. But, though condemnable, it is not only in Nigeria that suspects are subjected to torture. The US is equally guilty of this reprehensible practice. The recent report of the US Senate on the widespread use of torture by the American CIA shows that the US is also seriously involved in the use of torture to obtain intelligence from suspects. The US Guantanamo military base in Cuba, in which prisoners detained by the US have been subjected to severe torture underscores the complexity of this matter. In this respect, the US cannot claim to be better or ‘holier’ than other countries practising torture, particularly in a war situation. The Americans should also not forget the use of torture by their armed forces during the long war in Vietnam, or in Iraq and Afghanistan in which combatants and non-combatants detained by the US have also been subjected to torture to obtain intelligence considered vital by the US Armed Forces. The US refusal to allow the sale of arms to Nigeria allegedly because of its breaches of human rights is within its competence. But the US has not been consistent in its application of this rule, which ties arms sale to human rights records of countries seeking to buy US arms. In 1982, when I chaired a session of the Human Rights Commission in Geneva, I could see quite clearly the hypocrisy of the Western powers on the issue of human rights.

LAWAL OGIENAGBON

Despite strong and persistent African opposition, the US sold arms openly to the apartheid regime in South Africa, which was guilty of complete disregard of the fundamental human rights of the Blacks in South Africa. It sold arms openly to Iraq when it was evident that there were serious breaches of human rights by the Sadam Hussain regime in Iraq. The Egyptian military have, until recently, received considerable arms supply from the US during the long period of military dictatorship there. Right now, Israel, a country notorious for its appalling human rights record, in relation to the Palestinians, is the largest recipient of US military aid and sale in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia, a country that is openly disdainful of human rights, buys virtually all its weapons from the US. If the US authorities want to sell arms to Nigeria, they would easily find a way of explaining to the US Congress that it is necessary to do so because of the strategic interests of the US in Nigeria. Nigeria has made it clear over time in its foreign policy that it does not want to become a ‘client-state’ to any foreign power. That was why in Angola in 1975 Nigeria rejected overtures from the US that Nigeria should support the FLNA in the Angolan civil war, instead of the MPLA, which had the support of virtually all African states. American policy makers have not forgotten this episode when Nigeria decided to act in defence of its national interest by according the MPLA government its recognition. It was the most popular decision ever in foreign policy by a determined Nigerian government. From the Nigerian perspective, a number of lessons should be learnt from this distressing episode in US-Nigeria relations caused by the refusal of the US to sell arms to Nigeria. It was not the first time that the US had refused arms sale to Nigeria. During the Nigerian civil war, President Nixon of the US refused Nigeria’s request for arms sale, pleading the neutrality of the US in our civil war. The first lesson is that like India, Nigeria should develop its defence industries to reduce its dependence on foreign arms supplies. After over 50 years of independence, Nigeria should be self-sufficient in arms supplies, and should not have to depend on foreign powers. It cannot adequately defend its national interests if it has to continue relying for its arms supplies on foreign powers. The second lesson we should learn is that we should not entrust the training of our armed forces to any foreign power. If our military officers require any further specialised military training, then they should be sent abroad, instead of inviting foreign military training teams to Nigeria. As we have seen, this could easily compromise Nigeria’s military security. The third lesson is that Nigeria should diversify the sources of its arms supplies and not rely on only a few foreign powers. We did this successfully at independence when both the training of the Nigerian military and its sources of arms supplies were diversified. We should revisit that strategy that served us well in the past. • For comments, send SMS to 08054503031

HARDBALL

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

Democracy of stray bullets

the ballot box” were enemies of democracy, just as it is undemocratic that 863 ballots were counted, while 806 delegates were recorded. No one has been able to explain the 57 strange votes. Perhaps not surprisingly, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, a former Minister of State for Defence, who was worsted in the primary, has challenged the magical figures. “We must stand by the truth and the truth is that last Monday’s primary must be cancelled and reconducted,” he said. Whether truth can be built on fabrication, or fabrication on truth, must be a major consideration in this still-developing story. However, it is easy to see that standing truth on its head, such as was demonstrated by the result of this particular primary election, cannot advance democracy. Furthermore, a political party that accommodates such shameless fraud deserves to be rubbished.

have been thinking only of the armed policemen, who were ostensibly meant to provide security and came with dogs. There must have been other possibilities, perhaps known to him, which could lead to “being hit by a stray bullet.” In this context, it is noteworthy that the report said “guns boomed” and “thugs loyal to some aspirants clashed.” Gbadamosi was quoted as saying: “I am wearing the bulletproof vest because I am afraid of being shot. I am urging all my supporters to come and not be intimidated.” It is not clear whether his supporters also wore bulletproof vests. If they did, it would suggest combat readiness of a disturbing level. But what if they didn’t? Well, wouldn’t it suggest that Gbadamosi cared little about

what could become of them, if bullets started flying as he seemingly anticipated? The combat-ready aspirant further said: “There is fear of intimidation and some people in the party want to intimidate the delegates, but we will ensure that everyone will vote freely as it pleases them.” Interestingly, in the end, Gbadamosi scored 21 votes and lost the election. It was a dramatic day indeed, considering that another report said: “While counting was going on, there was uproar, as some persons tried to grab the ballot box.” Also, it said: “While 806 delegates were recorded, 863 ballots were counted at the end of the election, a development that caused a disagreement.” It is likely that those who “tried to grab

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