December 21, 2011

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

Senate writes off privatisation NEWS

Page 8

•Lawmakers fault sale of firms

Oyo to spend N87.9b on projects in 2012

NEWS

Page 9

•Ajimobi: I’ll improve budget performance

www.thenationonlineng.net

VOL. 7, NO. 1981 WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

N150.00

Presidency votes N280m for two bullet proof cars Extension of Villa gates estimated to cost N75.9m in Budget 2012

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HE Presidency is likely to acquire two bullet proof vehicles next year, according to the breakdown of budget.

They are to cost N280 million.

Under the “replacement of aged vehicles of the presidential ground fleet (PGF)”, N280 million is set aside for two bullet proof vehicles for the President and the Vice President.

The budget proposes for the “procurement of two treated (bullet proof) Mercedes Benz saloon 600 E Guard for use by the President and Vice President at N140,000,000 each”.

Next year, the Presidency plans to spend N356,724,300 to replace aged vehicles belonging to the presidential ground fleet.

Besides, there are plans to acquire “five Mercedes benz saloon 350 (semi plain/partial bullet proof) at N25,000,000 each, 10 jeeps (assorted - Range Rover, Prado and Land Cruiser) at N10,000,000 each and procurement of accessories and maintenance equipment for guard vehicles at N25,000,000.”

In the budget, provision has

THE PRESIDENTIAL FLEET •Two treated (bullet proof) Mercedes Benz saloon 600 E Guard (N140,000,000 each) •Five Mercedes Benz saloon 350 (semi plain/partial bullet proof) (N25,000,000 each) •10 Jeeps (assorted - Range Rover, Prado and Land Cruiser) (N10,000,000 each) •Accessories and maintenance equipment for guard vehicles (N25,000,000)

By Nduka Chiejina, Assistant Editor

been made for the upgrade of Villa facilities; such as the “extension of Villa gates 2, 7 & 11 at N75,960,819.50; extension of power supply to the State House Central Store at N35,913,032.40; extension of UPS power source to (the popular) Presidential Guest House No. 7, Villa, at N57,427,205.20”.

Other planned upgrades are the “overhauling of power house gen-

LUCKY MUM

erator sets 1and 2 at N127, 500,000; renovation and refurbishing of the family wing of the main residence at N512,375,533.00; land reclamation at the State House Medical Centre at N385,350,320.00; rehabilitation of transformer sub-station in the Villa at N101,671,574.78; extension/expansion of State House car parks at N97,950,710.50 and provision of communication equipment for the Villa, Dodan Barracks, Marina and Vice President’s guest house in Lagos at N 108,000,000.00.”

These upgrades amount to N1,502,149,195.38.

Under the on-going projects, provision has been made for the acquisition, upgrading and furnishing of the Vice President’s guest house at Aguda. The cost: N230,132,579.

Last year, the project was earmarked to cost N400,000,000.

The rehabilitation of the presidential/ministerial chalet at the Nnamdi Azikwe Airport, Abuja, is billed to cost N36,876,378 in 2012.

Last year, N48,000,000 was budgeted.

Unlike the 2011 budget, the Continued on page 2

•Mrs Shofunlayo ... yesterday

PHOTO: WALE ADEPOJU

My story, by mother of quintuplets

A •President Goodluck Jonathan (right) inaugurating the Lafarge SA Ewekoro II plant at Ewekoro, Ogun State ... yesterday. With him are Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun and Chairman of Lafarge SA, Mr Bruno Lafont. Story on page 11.

PHOTO: STATE HOUSE

LL smiles, the woman who was delivered of quintuplets at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, relived her experience yesterday.

Mrs Olayemi Shofunlayo was on bed rest for seven of the nine months that she carried the pregnancy.

By Wale Adepoju, Health Reporter

She was delivered of the babies through the Caesarian Section (CS).

Struggling to get up from her bed at Ward B1 of the hospital yesterday, Mrs Shofunlayo told our reporter: “I’m stable after unContinued on page 2

•MONEYLINK P12 •POLITICS P15 •SPORT P23 •NEWS EXTRA P25 •LIFE P29

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

NEWS My story, by mother of quintuplets Continued from page 1

dergoing a thorough medical examination.

“I just thank God. I cannot speak; just do the talking and I will respond.”

Her husband, Mr Wale Shofunlayo, a lawyer, was with her. He relived the experience of the delivery and how he managed the home front while his wife observed the bed rest during the pregnancy.

History was made at LUTH with the babies’ delivery.

It was the first time in the history of the 51-year old hospital. The medical team, led by a consultant in the department of Obstetric and Gynaecology, Prof Godwin Ajayi, took the delivery.

Recounting her experience, Mrs Shofunlayo said: “I thought they were four. But they turned out to be five.

After a CS, which lasted about 25 minutes, I found out they were five. I was sedated; so, I didn’t know what was happening. I thank God for the bundles of joy.”

Mr. Shofunlayo, who hails from Ogun State, said: “The doctors only care but God heals.”

Narrating how the babies were born, he said: “We were only aware they were going to be quadruplets. Right from the start, even the last scan showed she was carrying four babies. The doctors also prepared for four, but when I heard the babies were five, I felt elated that God has blessed us even more. I just smiled; I know God did it.”

According to him, during surgery, Prof. Ajayi, said there was something remaining which he thought was a fibroid. But, it turned out to be another baby.

“An inexperienced doctor could have sealed up or terminated the baby, but by the grace of God, they were all delivered safely. As the head of the family, I have been able to manage within our resources because I do not like going cap in hand begging for anything,” he added.

Unlike many in his situation, the lucky dad will not seek assistance from the government because he “will not say it is the duty of government to take care of the ba-

bies”. “I do not have the intention of seeking public assistance, but if by this publication, they feel like helping then it will be appreciated. I do not like going to people and being turned down.

“For about seven months my wife was admitted at the LUTH for bed rest and I was able to pay. Even as lawyers, we do not advertise or show off; people we have helped usually tell others and that is how we live.”

On the medical team, Shofunlayo said: “I will say kudos to the doctors and nurses for their efforts and consistency. They have really shown that Nigeria is not lagging behind in the preservation of human lives. I am satisfied with the services rendered by the hospital staff before and after delivery.

“The nurses here really tried; they were even carrying bed pans without complaints. The only thing the doctors did was to get their hand gloves and get going.

None of them requested for any gratification. I commend Prof Ajayi for his effort and for the way he handled his job, like a true professional.

He is like a father.”

He praised LUTH for the provisional assistance given to his wife before the delivery.

“This is my first experience in a public hospital and it is the best place for anybody to come for treatment. All the nurses cared and supported my wife,” Shofunlayo said.

Asked if he would like to have more children, he replied: “The first child is a boy of about two years and the quintuplets just arrived. So I don’t think it is necessary to start thinking of another baby. However, I am a Muslim and I am not scared of having children. But, I want to be very modest and live within my limits.”

The lawyer was advised to take his wife to India for safe delivery, but he decided to have faith in the country’s doctors”. “We can do lots of things in Nigeria if we believe,” he said.

In Shofunlayo’s view the delivery was easy because his wife complied with the instructions of the doctor to be on bed rest.

Presidency votes N280m for two bullet proof cars Continued from page 1

•Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola presenting the State flag to Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone XI, Mr. Johnson Uzu Egbunam, during his visit to the Government House, Osogbo ... yesterday.

Judge quits over Boko Haram

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JUDGE with the Kano State judiciary has quit the service, following his alleged romance with the Boko Haram sect.

The judge has been placed under security surveillance and may face prosecution if a prima facie case is eventually established against him.

The judge, who was on the Borno State Election Petition Tribunal, allegedly fostered a relationship with some Boko Haram members on his arrival in Maiduguri.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Security agencies were able to establish exchange of information between the judge and the Boko Haram members, especially the jailed spokesman of the sect, Ali Sanda Umar Konduga (alias Usman AIZawahiri).

“He was also leaking the movement of members of the Tribunal and proceedings of the sitting to the sect.

“Members of the tribunal started receiving text messages. The situation became unsafe to the extent that the tribunal had to relocate to Abuja for its sitting.

“When the judge was confronted by the security, he could not defend why he had to relate with some alleged sponsors of Boko Haram.”

Responding to a question, the source added: “It took the deployment of technology to unmask the judge.”

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

“Following overwhelming evidence, the judge has voluntarily retired from the judiciary, but he is now under security surveillance.

“The judge threw in the towel because his activities amounted to an abuse of the oath of office he took.”

The Nation learnt that there is pressure to save the judge from trial but the government is studying security reports on him.

“If the final report confirms that he is entrenched in the coordination of Boko Haram activities and isolated incidents which the country had experienced, he might face trial,” another source said, adding: “We are not yet done with him. Transactions in his accounts are being investigated.

The call logs of the judge are also being analysed by security agencies.

“His indictment has confirmed the high level of complicity surrounding the Boko Haram menace. We will get to the roots of this security challenge,” the source said.

The judge is the third of the alleged high-profile sponsors of Boko Haram to be unveiled by security agencies.

The State Security Service (SSS) has put Senator Ali Ndume on trial. The late Ambassador Saidu Pindar was also listed as a sponsor of the sect, which has claimed responsibility for major bombings in the country.

According to a recent survey, Nigeria has witnessed over 30 explosions with more than 300 people killed in recent times.

rehabilitation of 10 houses on Ibrahim Taiwo Street for use as presidential guest houses is proposed to cost the country N5,350,600, each amounting to N52,866,750. In this year’s budget, the project was estimated to cost N101,000,000.

The rehabilitation of the State House Marina, and Dodan Barracks, both in Lagos, is to cost N530,571,330 next year.

Both projects were estimated to cost N628,640,000 this year.

Also in next year’s budget proposal is the rehabilitation of the Villa administrative building, which, according to the budget details, “requires thorough renovation which has not come since 10 years.

“The work is for repair and renovation of the entire building complex, including electrical, mechanical and other services.”

N357,731,882 is proposed for the project, which attracted a N302,291,157 vote this year.

There is also the rehabilitation of the banquet hall dome roof. “The dome of the banquet hall is showing signs of whethering and needs total rehabilitation, using specialised scaffolding system and application of bitumen.”

Next year, N62,228,920 is voted; N81,000,000 was budgeted for the project this year.

Mua’zu, Bamanga Tukur, Abba-Aji, six others in race for PDP chair

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HE National Caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) met last night over the party’s forthcoming National Convention.

It was gathered that national issues bordering on the security challenges and deregulation were also discussed.

Investigation by our correspondent revealed that the

•The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps choir, singing at the 2011 Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at the Corps Headquarters in Abuja ... yesterday PHOTO: NAN

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

party leaders, including President Goodluck Jonathan who returned from a trip to Ogun State, met in House 7 at the Presidential Villa.

The meeting which started at about 7pm, was still in progress at press time.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said the session might be devoted to the party’s National Convention which is likely to hold in February.

A new National Chairman of the party is expected to emerge at the convention.

The source said: “The National Convention will shape the zoning policy of the PDP now and in 2015.

“Most PDP members from the Northeast are demanding that the National Chairman office be zoned to the geopolitical zone.

“But in the light of the distortion of the party’s zoning formula, it is left to the leaders to determine whether to give the National Chairman slot to the Northeast or not.

They will also advise on how to share party offices among the remaining five zones.

“The decision of the National Caucus will give direction on the zoning policy of the PDP in 2015.”

As at press time, nine aspirants have so far indicated interest to lead the PDP. They are a former Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States, Dr. Hassan Adamu, exGovernor of the defunct

Gongola State, Alhaji Bamanga Muhammed Tukur; ex-Minister of Petroleum, Prof. Jibril Aminu(Adamawa); ex-Minister of Commerce, Ambassador Idris Waziri (Yobe); ex-Minister of Agriculture, Alhaji Shettima Mustapha and a former National Chairman of the defunct Grassroots Democratic Movement, (GDM), Alhaji Gambo Lawan(Borno); ex-Governor Adamu Mu’azu(Bauchi); a former Presidential Adviser on National Assembly Matters, Senator Mohammed Abba-Aji; and ex-Governor Danjuma Goje, who is a Senator from Gombe State.

The source added: “Some leaders prefer a younger aspirant like ex-Governor Adamu Mu’azu to lead the party because age is on his side.

“But some PDP chieftains are saying that experience and mature hands are better than younger ones.”

It was also learnt that the presidency has decided to table some national issues before the caucus including the proposed deregulation of the downstream sector of the oil industry.

The government will also explain how it is addressing the security challenges facing the nation.

Another source added: “Actually some government officials were actually invited to be part of the caucus session.

“So, the government will seek advice and support on its proposed plans.”

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

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NEWS Nigerian faces drug charge in UK A NIGERIAN air hostess, Chinwendu Uwakaonyenma Ogbonnaya, was yesterday charged to court for attempting to smuggle four kilogrammes of cocaine into the United Kingdom through Heathrow Airport.

Ogbonnaya, 30, was arrested on Sunday following the discovery of the drugs in her luggage.

She arrived Heathrow Terminal 4 having travelled on a flight from Lagos.

Ogbonnaya was charged with attempting to import a class A substance before Uxbridge Magistrates.

Director of UK Border Agency operations at Heathrow Marc Owen said: “UK Border Agency officers are on constant alert, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to keep class A drugs and other banned substances out of the UK. “We are determined to prevent this terrible trade which can have such a destructive impact on the lives of so many.”

How govt ‘ll spend subsidy cash, by minister

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INISTER of Information Mr Labaran Maku yesterday explained how the proceeds of fuel subsidy removal will be spent. He said the cash would go into fixing the transport and allied sectors of the economy.

Maku, who spoke at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, said most Nigerians mistake deregulation for removal of subsidy.

Maku said: “There are plans by the government to intervene and mitigate the immediate impact of deregulation on the vulnerable sections of the population. Government has designed a programme to assist Nigerians in the aftermath of deregulation. This programme centres around immediate intervention in mass transit situation so that all transporters would receive assistance in terms of vehicles that would be given

By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

out to help mitigate the cost of transport in the aftermath of deregulation. Also, there are programmes to intervene in the railways to offer Nigerians cheaper alternative transportation.

“The railway programme has since started. There are railway services between Lagos and Abeokuta right now and there are also railway services between Lagos, Ibadan and Ilorin, and between Minna and Kaduna.

We are revamping the rail line from Port Harcourt to Enugu through Jos to Maiduguri. That one is going on right now and we hope that in the aftermath of deregulation, we will revamp the railways and build new rail lines that would travel faster and link some new areas.”

He added : “ We are al-

most through now with the dredging of the River Niger to create alternative ways of bringing things inland. We have dredged the Niger up to Baru now and after dredging is concluded, we are now doing maintenance dredging to keep it out of segmentation.

The inland water ways ports are being built and that of Onitsha is completed.

“So, all these are the projects we are doing to first of all create infrastructure that would have impact on the economy and we are hoping that we can get job creation, especially through ICT and through agriculture. We have already worked out a programme to produce 450 metric tonnes of rice, using the existing dams.

These dams through private initiatives and government support would employ tens of thousands in the cause of production of rice.”

The minister said local re-

fining of fuel would receive a boast.

He said: “We are also planning massive fuel refining within Nigeria and in preparation, we have already given all the existing refineries to the original builders to revamp them and they have given us 18 months to 24 months to bring them to their full capacities; two in Port Harcourt, one each in Warri and Kaduna. Right now, there are long term technical contracts between the government and the original builders; no more middle men. The builders will be better placed to rebuild the refineries.

“Again, government wants to build three additional refineries; Lagos, Kogi and Bayelsa.

These new refineries will process 400, 000 of crude oil into finished products every day and with the seven refineries, we will start exporting.”

ICC appoints Nigerian category “A” judge

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Dec. 26, 27, Jan. 2 are holidays From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

THE Federal Govt has declared Monday, December 26 and Tuesday, December 27, as public holidays to celebrate the Christmas and Boxing Day. Similarly, Monday January 2, 2012 has been declared as public holiday to commemorate the New Year.

According to a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, Alh. Sheidu Ozigis, Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro, who made the declaration on behalf of President Goodluck Jonathan, urged all Nigerians to pray fervently for enduring peace, unity and progress of the country.

Ngige urges negotiation From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

SENATOR Chris Ngige representing Anambra Central has called for dialogue between Anambra State government and the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) over the 10month industrial action in the state.

He spoke at the annual general meeting and dinner organised by NMA yesterday.

Ngige said: “There is the need for negotiation, please do not shy away from negotiation because that is the only way forward.”

The Chairman of NMA in the state, Dr. Emmanuel Ekwesianya, said: “I want to make it clear that any person that calls us to a meeting we shall attend that meeting.”

Maku said the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) would keep money saved from fuel subsidy removal. He said: “A special vehicle has been created in Central Bank of Nigeria to enhance the subsidy that would be accruing to the Federal Government and to convince Nigerians that the money would not be misused, there is a special board of trustees made up of people outside government; credible Nigerians, representatives of the media, labour, civil societies to manage the accruals from deregulation directly on projects that would impact immediately on the lives of Nigerians and grow the economy. This would be separated from the annual budget and it is this board of trustees that will report on expenditure, that will award the contracts and tell Nigerians what is happening.“

•Wike (middle), Obioma and Special Assistant (Media) to the Minsiter of State for Education, Simeon Nwakaudu ...yesterday

We ‘ll reform basic education to create jobs, says Wike M INISTER of State for Education Ezenwo Wike has said the basic education sector will be reformed to generate jobs.

The minister spoke at the Nigeria Educational Research Development Council (NERDC), headquarters in Abuja during the inauguration of the Jubril Aminu Administrative Complex.

He said the curricula of vocational and technical

By Wale Ajetunmobi

schools would be reviewed across board to promote entreprenuerial skills among pupils.

Wike said the target of the Federal Government next year is to empower youths.

He said:”The curricula for junior and secondary schools have been tailored

to produce competent Nigerian youths in trades, so that they can be self-reliant with the ability to generate jobs.”

He commended the management and staff of the NERDC for their contribution towards the success of President Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda.

According to Wike: “this transformation agenda entails qualitative changes

within the fabric and soul of education, especially in improved quality of education and more specifically the Basic and Secondary education levels.”

The Executive Secretary of NERDC, Prof. Godswill Obioma, said the agency has conducted evidencebased research for driving public policy in education.

The programme attracted past chief executive officers and governing council members of NERDC.

HE newly elected judge of the International Criminal Court at The Hague, Chile EboeOsuji, has been listed as one of the category “A” judges of the Court, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) has learnt.

Eboe-Osuji, a Nigerian, was elected as one of the six judges of the Court on December 16, during the 10th session of the Assembly of States Parties of the ICC at the UN Headquarters in New York.

According to a statement published on the ICC website on Monday, judges listed “A” had established competence in criminal law.

The statement noted that the list “B” judges had competence in relevant areas of international law, such as international humanitarian as well as human rights law.

Eboe-Osuji is to handle cases within the Group of African States among others.

Other judges listed on the same category with the Nigerian are Aquinas Carmona of Trinidad and Tobago, who was placed in the Group of Latin American and Caribbean states, and Robert Fremr of Czech Republic placed in the Group of Eastern European States.

Others were Venecia Herrera of Dominican Republic, also placed in the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States, while Howard Morrison of the UK was placed in the Group of Western European and other states.

Budget 2012: Reps advocate more security vote for FCT

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HE House of Representatives yesterday advocated more budgetary provision for security in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

This followed the resolution of the House after the adoption of a motion on ineffective security check points on Abuja major routes sponsored by Deputy Minority Leader, Suleiman Sumaila (ANPP, Kano) Sumaila said the security

From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

situation in the country and the ineffective means employed by the security agencies have made it imperative to change tactics, in line with global trends.

According to the lawmaker, more Nigerians are being exposed to unnecessary risk as a result of the outdated

check points, mounted by security agencies.

He cited several checkpoints mounted by a combined team of Army and mobile policemen on AbujaNyanya-Keffi; Kubwa-Suleja and Abuja-Gwagwalada roads.

While he regretted the insecurity challenges facing the country, Sumaila said: “The security checkpoints have become the major cause

of traffic jams and accidents as a result of the barricades with logs of wood and some unscientific security tools.

“Accidents usually result in large casualities when heavily loaded articulated vehicles are involved losing control and crushing other vehicles.

These security checkpoints are not effective as there are no modern security gadgets mounted to easily detect bombs and other dangerous

weapons.”

In adopting the motion which was referred to the House Committees on Defence, National Security, Police Affairs and Appropriation by Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, the lawmakers urged the Federal Government to provide high-tech equipment to aid security personnel in the detection of security threats.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

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NEWS Govt gets ultimatum over minimum wage

Cobhams Asuquo is one of Nigeria’s leading music producers, song-writers and musicians. The blind music pioneer has won several awards for his work.

From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

THE Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU) yesterday issued a 21-day ultimatum to governments at all levels to implement the N18,000 minimum wage.

In a communiqué issued after its 60th National Executive Council (NEC) Meeting in Abuja, the union said the non-implementation is an impeachable offence.

On the removal of oil subsidy, the union said having observed the negative and the harsh consequences on the masses, the workers rejected the proposal.

Cleric urges Jonathan to reduce fuel price THE President of the Christ Apostolic Mission Church (CAMC), Pastor Adesoji Ajayi, has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to reduce the pump prices of petroleum products.

Pastor Ajayi, in a statement yesterday, said this was no time for any policy that would hike fuel prices.

The statement reads: “If I were the President of Nigeria, I would reduce the pump price of (PMS) petrol, diesel and kerosene and tackle corruption and have my name written in gold and win elections forever.

Uniquely sensitive issues should be handled with strategic care and attention.

We must end this era of being a wasteful nation. We indulge in expensive luxuries and corruption has become endemic.

“The leaders must be ready to pay the price before the economy can improve.

They must be ready to do away with luxury items. The system we run in Nigeria is exploitative. Let there be selfless leadership.

“For any leader to lead successfully he must be wary of the advice he gets from his advisers. Such a leader must always pray for divine guidance to avert the wrath of his people.”

Abdumutallab seeks new attorney UMAR Farouk Abdulmutallab, who pleaded guilty to trying to blow up a Detroitbound airliner with a bomb in his underwear, wants a new legal adviser, preferably an attorney who is a Muslim.

Abdulmutallab is asking a judge to dismiss his standby counsel, Anthony Chambers. He says their relationship is strained.

Abdulmutallab has been acting as his own lawyer, but Chambers was appointed to assist him. Abdulmutallab pleaded guilty in October to attempting to bring down an Amsterdamto-Detroit flight on Christmas Day in 2009.

He faces a life sentence on January 19.

A court hearing is set for January 6.

The man who sees through music

•Asuquo

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IKE his long-time hero Stevie Wonder, Nigerian music pioneer Cobhams Asuquo was born visually-impaired. And again, like the American R&B legend, the lack of sight was never enough to stop Asuquo from realising his ambitions.

Instead, it only fueled his optimism and desire to achieve success.

“Being blind has played an integral role in forming who I am and I think, to some extent, it is responsible for my optimism,” says Asuquo, an award-winning music pro-

ducer, song-writer and musician.

“When you feel there’s nothing more to lose — if you want to work towards anything, you probably will want to work towards gaining and I think that’s what being blind has done for me.”

A versatile musical talent, Asuquo has been pushing the boundaries of Nigeria’s contemporary sound. His fresh mixture of different styles and beats has helped the West African country become one of the continent’s modern music hotspots.

“I fuse a lot of stuff to create my music” he says. “It varies — it’s jazz, it’s classical, it’s Afro, it’s whatever, it depends on what best interprets the music.”

Possessed of natural talent, the self-taught musician started honing his skills from an early age while growing up in a barracks.

As a young boy, he used to organise concerts in his neighborhood, drumming on his mother’s barrels of water.

“All the kids from the neighboring block would come and we’d hang out and we’d make so much noise. I didn’t realise at the time that I was preparing myself for what would be my life, my career path, my destiny,” Asuquo remembers.

His musical journey, however, seemed to come to a halt a few years later when he entered university to pursue studies in law.

But Asuquo soon realised that he had to follow his musical passion, leaving university to embark on a path that, for a young blind musician

in Nigeria, was far from easy to thread. “(I had to) sleep on studio floors all across Lagos, worked at different studios, worked without pay, I’ve been out on the road, out on the streets, doing my thing,” Asuquo recalls.

“I feel there is a lot I’ve learned in my journey as far as music is concerned and I’m in a position to share that knowledge.

“I had to convince people that I could do it — I had sessions that were canceled because they weren’t sure I could deliver either because they thought I was too young or maybe as a blind person, ‘how do we trust our music which is our future and investment?’” he adds.

But it didn’t take long for Asuquo to prove himself as his musical talent soon began to shine. Over the next few years he went on to work closely with internationallyrenowned artists such as pop sensation Asa and R&B star Darey and today he is a much-in demand producer operating from his own stu-

dio.

He is also a judge on Nigeria’s “Project Fame,” a television musical talent show where he helps young singers achieve their dreams.

“It’s important for me to mentor and inspire fresh talent, to work with fresh talent,” he says.

“I feel there is a lot I’ve learned in my journey as far as music is concerned and I’m in a position to share that knowledge.”

But Asuquo is not only interested in helping out fledgling music stars. He also sees himself as an ambassador for blind young Nigerians who still face many challenges in their daily lives.

“I think it would be meaningless if I can achieve as much as I can achieve and as much as I hope to achieve and I’m not able to affect other blind people.”

“It is time to bring to the fore the needs of people with special needs and just how much they can contribute to growing Nigeria as a nation and the world.”

•Culled fron CNN.com

Cash gifts for widows of journalists

By Joke Kujenya

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EARS flowed freely yesterday at the presentation of financial assistance to the widows of two late reporters, courtesy of the Widows’ Support Programme (WSP), an arm of the Omololu Falobi Foundation (OFF).

Beneficiaries of the gesture are Maman Edo Sule Ugbagwu, wife of The Nation judicial correspondent, Edo Ugbagwu and Edith Ozor, wife of Daily Independent Education Correspondent, Fabian Ozor.

While Ugbagwu was killed by yet-to-be-identified gunmen in 2009, Ozor died in an auto-accident on his way to an official assignment.

The third widow, married to The Punch former correspondent in Ogun State, Francis Falola, could not attend the event.

Speaking at the event, Mrs. Ronke Falobi, Coordinator, WSP, said the gesture is in the spirit of the season to give and share love with one another. She said she want to affect the lives of women and offer support to widows.

She said she enjoyed the support of her in-laws since the demise of her husband: “If I have to choose again, I will still come to my husband’s family. And that was what informed the sharing of the love I so much enjoy with my fellow widows. I thought of what widows are going through.”

“Since my husband died, though the emptiness is glaring, yet, I have never been allowed to suffer by members

• Ilumoye presenting the cash gift to Mrs Egbagwu. With them is Mrs Falobi... yesterday. PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS of his family. And I know that there are many other women out there like me. I know what it means for the responsibility and decisions initially taken by two people to become a burden for one.

“I know what it means to need money and not to have it. That provoked my thought in April and I asked myself how I could be of help to other widows. So, I went into talks with relevant organisations and other people interested in offering succour to these set of grieving women to join hands with me.”

Mrs Falobi said there would be vocational training sessions next year for widows.

She said the late responses from donors informed the inability of the Foundation to reach out to more widows.

Mrs Falobi described the trauma often experienced by widows as inexplicable. She said her five years of widowhood have opened her understanding to so many emotional and economic challenges women like herself go through. She enjoined other people to help widows.

“At Christmas periods like this, many of us would remember how it used to be with our husbands around.

But now, it can never be the same. And we may be moved to weeping. But

when we remember that we have one another to support ourselves, our tears would be dried up even though it still can never be the same.”

In her response amid tears, Mrs. Ozor, said words cannot express how deeply grateful she was at the gesture. According to her, “journalists are to me, my family. Since my husband died last year, journalists have not deserted me. His family too has been very supportive. Journalists, including the Education Correspondents Association (ECA), have not left me and our daughter, Blessing Amaka Ozor, alone.

They have given me bags of rice. I cannot count the amount

of money. And while I may not be able to repay your kind deeds, I pray never to forget your love for me and my late husband.”

In her attempt to respond, Mrs Ugbagwu broke into tears while she expressed her gratitude by waving her hands. She wept till she went back to take her seat.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Deji Ilumoye, Chairman, Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos Council, while commending Mrs. Falobi for the initiative, called on the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Hafiz Ringim to fish out the killers of the journalists felled by bullets.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

NEWS Southwest CNPP knocks INEC THE Conference of Nigeria Political parties (CNNP), Southwest chapter has criticised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for deregistering some political parties.

The CNPP which condemned the act, said the INEC action could not be justified since they are no longer funding the parties.

The CNPP, in a communiqué issued at the end of their meeting held in Abeokuta, Ogun State also rejected the planned removal of oil subsidy by the Federal Government in its entirely, arguing that such action can only aggravate the suffering of the masses, and therefore call on Nigerians to resist the unpopular policy. In the communiqué, jointly signed by the Chairman Alhaji Yinka Olona, and Secretary General, Oloye Gboyega Adeniji, the CNPP also criticised the budget provision on security, and ask the National Assembly to reject the policy which it described as outrageous, adding that priority should be placed on provision of food and employment for the people.

The CNPP also kick against the budget presentation by the president as it affects the cancellation of waivers and concessions for the importation of rice and flour as those are the main staple foods of the masses in the country.

The body praised the magnanimity of Governor Isiaka Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State for appointing CNPP members into his executive council and implore other South West governors to emulate this noble acts.

Ige’s murder: Lawyers call for private prosecution, truth commission S TATESMEN, politicians, human rights crusaders and lawyers yesterday paid glowing tributes to the slain Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige, who was assassinated 10 years ago in Ibadan.

Frontline lawyer Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN), who lamented that the prosecution of Ige’s suspected killers was programmed to fail, called for a Truth Commission, promising to reveal some startling facts relating to the government’s hypocritical commitment to the trial.

Lagos lawyer Femi Falana, who described the former old Oyo State governor as a fallen hero, called for a private inquiry and prosecution of suspects. He said the judge was under pressure to free the suspects”, adding that another judge who took over the case messed up the process.

Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi recalled the life and time of the colourful politician, saying he was a man of sound mind and a committed activist who was comfortable with poets, politicians and intellectuals.

The governor recalled that while Ige never lost hope about one Nigeria, he never refused to identify with his roots. He said the yearly remembrance would keep his evergreen thoughts and actions alive, prick the conscience of his killers and ensure that they are perpetually tortured and robbed of peace of mind.

It was at the 10th year remembrance ceremony in memory of the slain Justice Minister in Lagos. The highlight of the ceremony chaired by former Osun State Gover-

•Fayemi, Kanu, Anya pay tribute to slain Attorney-General

By Emmanuel Oladesu, Deputy Political Editor

nor Bisi Akande was a lectured entitled: “The International Criminal Court and its role in fighting against impunity”. It was delivered by the Vice President of the court, Justice Akua Kuenyehia.

The Ghanaian jurist spoke on the imperative of the rule of law in a democracy, urging leaders to make it a virtue. Kuenyehia also beamed a searchlight on countries ravaged by conflicts, advising leaders to identify and address the underlying causes of conflicts because prosecution may not nip conflicts in the bud.

She said: “The causes of conflict are complex. The pre-disposition of a group of persons to conflict may depend more on the strength of their conviction for a cause than the threat of prosecution. Conflicts involving issues of ethnic identity, social marginalisation and entitlement and and oppression cannot be averted by mere threat of prosecution.

“A multiplicity of actions will be required to deal with such situations. Criminal prosecutions cannot deal with the underlying causes of such conflict. it can only ensure accountability for crimes committed. Failure to address the underlying causes of conflict is obviously a recipe for further conflict, irrespective of criminal prosecutions”.

Discussants at the lecture were Prof. Anya O. Anya, Mrs.

‘Some of us will be willing to give circumstantial evidence on what we went through during the trial’ Marian Uwais, a lawyer and rights activist, Falana and Akintola.

At the ceremony, which was held at the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos were former Lagos State Governor Ndubuisi Kanu, Commissioner for Home Affairs Oyinlomo Danmole, who represented Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Chairman Otunba Oladele Ajomale, former Power and Steel Minister Dr Olu Agunloye, former Lagos State Commissioner for Justice Hairat Balogun, Rev. Tunji Adebiyi, Comrade Joe Igbokwe, Bishop Michael Fadeyi, Bishop Yemi Fatade, Prof.

Ademola Popoola, Dr Gboyega Dada, Hon. Ayodele Adewale, Dr. Wale Balogun, and leaders of ‘Egbe Omo Yoruba’, United States; Bukola Ooreofe, Kunle Oshinkalu, Lekan Awofowodu and Dele Alade.

Members of Elefosan Ige family of Esa-Oke at the ceremony included Osun State

Commissioner for Physical Planning Muyiwa Ige, Mrs Funso Adegbola, Mrs. Tokunbo Ige and Tundun Modile.

Muyiwa, who welcomed the guests, said the remembrance ceremony organised by ‘Bola Ige Movement’, was designed to bring to the front burner Ige’s assassination and other unresolved murders in the country.

He lamented that her mother, Justice Atinuke Ige (rtd), died of broken heart, when she discovered that the prosecution of suspects was designed to fail.

Paying tribute to Ige, Anya, who recalled that he had intended to meet him at Esa-Oke four days before he was killed, described the murder as an act of impunity. He said: “To be dragged around in your old age is a serious calamity.”

The eminent scholar dissected leadership failure in Africa, saying that criminals in power have the tendency to protect themselves and shield one another from trial. To resolve this hurdle, he said private people should be strengthened to prosecute those in power.

Lamenting the murder, Mrs. Uwais hoped that the killers would still the apprehended for trial.

Admiral Kanu reminded the people that the conflict that was prevalent in Ige’s time had not disappeared, urging Nigerians to spare a thought for a Sovereign National Conference (SNC).

Falana maintained that only a private prosecution process

House Speaker gets media aide SEVEN months after he assumed office, House Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, yesterdayhas appointment of Malam Imam Dalhatu Imam as his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs.

Until his appointment, Imam was the Group Politics Editor of THISDAY Newspapers.

The letter conveying the Speaker’s choice of Imam was signed by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa.

Imam is from Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State. He was born on July 16, 1977, in Gboko, Benue State.

He attended Demonstration Nursery and Primary School, TC Yola, Gboko High School and Kaduna Polytechnic, where he obtained both the Ordinary National Diploma (OND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) in Mass Communication in 2001 and 2004.

He started his journalism career at the Kaduna based Millennium Weekly newspaper in 2000. He also had a stint with the New Nigerian Newspapers where he served as a Sports Reporter.

He joined THISDAY in 2006 as it’s Zamfara State Correspondent and also served as the head of the Northwest Bureau of the paper in 2009.

Imam is married with two kids.

Meanwhile, the Speaker has also approved the appointment of Muhammed Isa and Andrew Oota as Senior Special Assistants on Print Media and Public Affairs respectively.

can actually bring the killers to book, challenging Osun and Oyo state governments to re-open the murder case.

He pointed out that Fayemi has taken the bull by the horns by directing his Attorney-General to re-open murder cases committed in Ekiti State in recent times.

Falana said: “Osun State government must follow suit.

Ige was assaulted at the palace of Ooni of Ife. Those who did that were not prosecuted.

The chief suspect was made a senator when investigation was still on. Obasanjo defended the nomination. The Commissioner of Police diverted attention by saying that the killers have been apprehended. Later, he said the man who made the confessional statement was insane.

The prosecution was designed to fail.”

Akintola said he started suspecting foul play on the part of the prosecution when the star witness was kept in the same cell with the suspects.

Calling for a Truth Commission, he added: “Some of us will be willing to give circumstantial evidence on what we went through during the trial.”

Fayemi said the wish of the agents of darkness for the Southwest did not come to pass, despite the killing of Ige. He added: “A few years ago, some people felt that Iyiola Omisore would be governor of Osun State. Some thought that criminal gangs will take over the affairs of Yorubaland. Chief Bola Ige wrote a resignation letter and he was planning to return home to re-organise his people. That was how they went after him.

Those who committed crimes in the past will not go unpunished”.

NLC, TUC set up subsidy protestcommittee

By Dupe Olaoye-Osinkolu

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•Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Ado Muhammad(right) Director, Planning Research and Statistics, Dr Emmanuel Odu and Director, Admin and Human Resources, Hajia Lami Abubakar at a news conference in Abuja... yesterday PHOTO ABAYOMI FAYESE

INEC calls for Electoral Offences Tribunal

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HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is pushing for the establishment of an Electoral Offences Tribunal (EOT) to accelerate electoral cases.

INEC Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega spoke in Abuja when he received the German Ambassador in Nigeria, Dorothee Janetzke Wenzel.

Jega said INEC would ex-

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja ploit the planned amendment of the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act, next year, to canvass for the establishment of the special tribunal.

According to him, INEC is eager to prosecute electoral offenders to check impunity that has become a part of the electoral process. He said this

is clogging the wheel of the country’s electoral progress.

He noted that though INEC has the power to prosecute electoral offenders, the commission, he added, lacks the capacity for successful prosecution because of the large number of electoral offenders and other administrative bottlenecks.

Jega said: “Because of all these avoidable hiccups, we at INEC would explore the

possibility of setting up of an Electoral Offences Tribunal, which will speedily deal with electoral offences.

“I want to assure everybody that INEC will always insist that the right things are done before, during and even after elections.”

INEC has warned political parties to desist from breaking the rules and regulations on electoral process. It vowed to punish such offenders.

OR organised labour, there is no going back on its plan to tackle the Federal Government over the proposed removal of fuel subsidy.

At a meeting yesterday, the nation’s two labour unions – Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) set up a joint anti-subsidy protest committee to articulate its positions.

The protest is expected to take place immediately the subsidy is withdrawn.

The committee is to be chaired by the SecretaryGeneral of TUC, Chief John Kolawole and Acting General Secretary of NLC, Owei Lakemfa.

Both secretaries are to work together. They are at liberty to pick other members of the committee.

The leadership of the centres had earlier held separate discussion.

TUC President General Peter Esele told The Nation after the meeting that there was no division in labour, adding that the two centres are working together to harmonise their positions.

NLC’s Head of Information Chris Uyot said the protest will start immediately the subsidy is removed.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

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NEWS Global shortage of vaccines hit Nigeria, says agency

Kano Speaker impeached From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

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HE Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Ado Muhammad, yesterday attributed the current scarcity of DPT vaccines in most Nigerian hospitals to global shortage.

Muhammad, who addressed reporters in Abuja, said the government was making efforts to find solution to the problem.

According to him, Nigeria must rely on the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for the procurement of the vaccines because of their sensitive nature.

He said: “There is a global shortage of DPT vaccine. As you know, because a vaccine is a very sensitive product, we procure our vaccines through UNICEF. The scarcity we are experiencing is because of global scarcity of DPT and other vaccines.”

Kogi poll: INEC pays N65.9m to 7,973 workers

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HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has paid N65.9 million to 7,973 ad hoc workers it hired for the conduct of the December 3 governorship election in Kogi State.

INEC Public Affairs Officer Ahmed Biambo told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Lokoja, the state capital, that the beneficiaries comprises 239 collation officers and 2,548 presiding officers.

Others, he said, are 4,444 assistant presiding officers, 25 local government supervisors as well as a returning officer.

He added that the exercise began on December 14.

Shema inaugurates N5.5b projects From Isah Idris, Katsina

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ATSINA State Governor Ibrahim Shema yesterday reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to fulfil his electioneering campaign promises through the socioeconomic development of the state.

The governor spoke at the inauguration of Kurfi– Basari–Jibia road.

He said through prudent management, his administration has deployed the resources to provide infrastructure for the welfare of the people.

According to him, in the past four and a half years, he has completed 36 road projects in the three senatorial districts.

He added that the projects have positively impacted on the economic activities of the residents.

Shema assured that other communities that are yet to benefit from core social amenities, including roads, would be provided.

• From left: Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Christian Oboh; Chairman of NDDC board, Dr. Tarilab Tebepah; and Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Mr. Lambert Konboye, during their budget defence before the Senate Committee on Niger Delta at National Assembly in Abuja

Dokubo-Asari raises alarm over alleged plot to link him with Boko Haram ORMER President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) and leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF), Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, yesterday raised the alarm over an alleged plot by some persons, acting under the aegis of the Council of Ijaw Youth for Unity of Nigeria, to indict him as a financier of the Boko Haram sect.

In an advertorial, the Council of Ijaw Youths for the Unity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (COIYN) alleged that Dokubo-Asari brought some northern youths to

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By Nneka Nwaneri

Niger Delta when he led the IYC. In the advertorial, entitled: Open Letter to Mr. President: Security Situation In Nigeria Today, published in the last Sunday edition of The Nation, COIYN said: “The ascension of an Ijaw youth of Islamic faith as President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), a few years ago, may have attracted enormous goodwill and support from the global Islamic community, through vey prominent and high net worth individuals and some Islamic donor

agencies. Thus, (it got) some support from the northern Nigerian youths, who joined the IYC in the struggle for self determination.”

But Dokubo-Asari described the publication as “satanic intrigues’” meant to generate bad blood between him and President Goodluck Jonathan.

The former IYC leader described the publication as “outright lies, a misrepresentation of facts and thoughts manufactured from the figment of the imagination of the sponsors of the group”.

He added: “As President of IYC, I received no support

whatsoever - financially or otherwise - from any Islamic group or individuals. No northern youths joined the IYC as the constitution of the IYC provides that only Ijaw youths within certain age bracket can be its members.

“It is very clear that the sponsors of this group want to link me to the so-called Boko Haram sect, as their founder, financier and sponsor...to give a reason for the government of the Nigeria to arrest me and throw me back into detention pending when full investigations of my supposed involvement with group is completed. “

Kwara governorship: Appeal Court reserves verdict T

HE Appeal Court, sitting in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, has reserved judgment on the appeal filed by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship candidate, Mohammed Dele Belgore (SAN).

Belgore had approached the appellate court challenging the dismissal of his petition by the lower tribunal.

Belgore is challenging the election of Abdulfattah Ahmed of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the governor.

The ACN and its candidate had challenged the declaration of Ahmed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the April poll.

Counsel to the parties, including ACN, PDP and INEC, adopted their briefs after which Justice Abdulkadir Jega reserved judgment to a date to be communicated to the parties.

The five-man panel is expected to give the judgment at a date not later than January 10 when the 60 days allowed for the appeal under the 2010 Electoral Act (as amended) will lapse.

Lead counsel to ACN, Ebun Sofunde (SAN) urged the panel to base its ruling on whether or not the appellant had established irregulari-

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

ties and non-compliance with the electoral act, substantial enough to cast doubt on the integrity of the election.

Counsel to the respondents – Yusuf Alli (SAN) for Ahmed; Adebayo Adelodun (SAN) for PDP; Oladele Ayodele (SAN) for INEC – urged the panel to dismiss the appeal for lack of merit.

Sofunde said the appellant had submitted 13 issues for the panel’s determination, including whether the lower tribunal was right in not acting on its own independent finding that there was discrepancy of 21,192 between the votes recorded on Form EC8As and the actual number of ballot papers

used and whether the triobunal was right in not cancelling results in areas where voter register showed no sign of accreditation, which is a precondition for a vote to be valid.

The ACN had, in its notice of appeal, dated November 25, contended that the tribunal erred in law in upholding the objections of the PDP that ACN pleaded vague averments upon which no evidence could be led.

The ACN insists that the position of the law, backed by several authorities, is that a party that complains of vague or generic pleadings should request for further and better particulars, failing which he shall be taken to require no further particulars or direction and is stopped

from complaining with any alleged vague or general nature of the pleadings.

ACN, which said its petition rests squarely on documentary evidence, also argued that the trial court acted strangely and against the law when it pronounced all the several thousands of documents tendered as inadmissible simply because the INEC officer did not sign them in long hand.

The party said the position of the court was strange because none of the respondents, including INEC and the PDP, challenged the authenticity of those documents, which the tribunal itself admitted have engraved signature of the officer, the date of certification and evidence that they are Certified True Copies (CTCs). At no time did INEC raise any issue with the documents.

Anxiety as aircraft fails to land over dark runway

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HERE was anxiety on Monday among passengers of an Aero Contractors’ last flight from Abuja to the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos. The absence of runway lights at the airport prevented the aircraft from landing in Lagos.

This forced the pilot to reroute the aircraft to the Ilorin Airport, in the Kwara State capital, to land. But the runway lights were also switched off.

The aircraft had to return to Abuja.

The pilot switched off the air conditioning system, apparently to conserve fuel. This heightened the tension among the

By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

passengers.

An official of the airlines, who spoke in confidence, confirmed the incident.

He said the situation was put under control.

Officials of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) said they were yet to be briefed on the incident.

They said the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) should explain what happened to the runway lights.

THE Kano State House of the Assembly yesterday impeached the Speaker, Yusuf Abdullahi Falgore for alleged incompetence.

It elected Gambo Salau as the new Speaker.

Falgore was said to be outside Kano when 32 of the 40 lawmakers impeached him.

The lawmakers’ action began with a motion by Lawal Safiyanu Gogori, representing Bagwai/ Shanono State Constituency and seconded by Yahaya Yunusa Dabai, representing Dawakin Tofa State Constituency.

They alleged that Falogore exhibited traits of incompetence, sowed the seed of discord and portrayed questionable leadership qualities.

Deputy Speaker Isyiaku Ali Danja presided over the impeachment proceedings and the election of the new Speaker.

Minister cautions motorists THE Minister of State for Works, Bashir Yuguda, yesterday urged motorists plying the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to drive with caution and obey traffic rules.

He said the Federal Government would speed up work on the road.

Yuguda, who inspected the road, noted that the Federal Government would fast-track the rehabilitation of the highway, which has been given to BiCourtney Highways Services Limited, under a concession agreement.

He said: “Basically, what we are here to do today is to make sure there is free flow of traffic during this end of the year festivity.

The concessionaire has done some palliative; the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) is out to control the traffic. So, we implore Nigerians to be patient with us. We urge the road users to obey traffic rules.

We assure Nigerians of speedy action on this road now.”

The minister also inspected other federal road projects in Lagos before he returned to Abuja.

Suntai presents N73.9b budget proposal From Fanen Ihyongo, Jalingo

TARABA State Governor Danbaba Suntai yesterday presented a N73.9 billion budget proposal for the 2012 fiscal year to the House of Assembly for consideration and approval.

About 26.20 per cent (N19.3billion) of the budget is projected as deficit, as a result of the loan component of the state’s capital receipts, the governor said.

According to him, N35.6billion, representing 48.21per cent, is for recurrent expenditure, while N38.3billion, representing 51.79per cent, is for capital expenditure.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

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NEWS Fee hike won’t solve varsity crises, says ASUU From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

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Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (middle); his wife, Dame Abimbola (second right); Mrs. Toun Ajomole (right); and some children; at the governor’s end of the year party at the State House in Alausa, Ikeja…yesterday PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES

HE Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU) yesterday said the proposed increase in the school fees of students in federal universities would not solve the lingering crises in the education sector.

It said it is wrong of policy makers to think that the only solution to the decay in the sector is to increase school fees.

ASUU Chairman, University of Uyo branch, Nwachukwu Anyim spoke at a symposium organised by the union to sensitise the academic community and stakeholders on the ongoing strike.

Anyim said increased fees would be an additional burden to parents, adding that ASUU would not agree to any fee increment.

He said: “Those increasing school fees, how much did they pay when they went to school? Most of them went to school on scholarship, now, they are proposing N200,000 as fees as is applicable in the private universities,” Anyim urged the Federal Government to look into the issues raised by the union and resolve them.

Chairman of the occasion Prof.

Trenchard Ibia said any government that wants development must make education its priority.

Senate urges Jonathan to sack BPE boss •NCP advised to scold el-Rufai, Bala, Chigbue •Revocation of firms’ sales recommended

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HE Senate has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to sack the Director-General of the Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE), Miss Bolanle Onagoruwa.

It also asked the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) to reprimand three former Directors-General of the bureau, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, Dr. Julius Bala and Mrs. Irene Chigbue, for seeking approval on some issues directly from the President instead of the NCP, as stipulated in the Public Enterprise Act 1999.

The upper legislative chamber took the resolutions yesterday, unanimously adopting the 45 recommendations of its ad-hoc committee that investigated the privatisation of some companies from 1999 till date.

The lawmakers blamed the failure of privatisation on undue interference by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

They said Miss Onagoruwa should be sacked for “gross incompetence in the management of the BPE and the illegal and fraudulent sale of the five per cent Federal Government’s shares in the Eleme Petrochemical Company Limited (EPCL).”

The Senate said Bala should be probed by the anti-graft agencies for approving the “illegal sale of the assets of Daily Times Nigeria Plc (DTN) to Folio Communications Limited.”

It urged NCP to rescind the sale as directed by an earlier court judgment.

The Senate also said the sale of DTN assets by Folio Communications and its directors should be probed by the anti-graft agencies and the sold assets recovered.

The NCP, it said, should set up a sub-committee to verify post-privatisation monitoring activities of BPE. It agreed that the five-year postprivatisation monitoring period (lock-in-period) should be reviewed upward to 10 years.

This, it said, is to enable the core investors implement the Post Acquisition Plans (PAP) and BPE to monitor compliance.

The lawmakers endorsed the recommendation that the management of BPE should be reorganised to make it more efficient and that presidential interference in the privatisation process should be avoided in the future.

el-Rufai: no reason to reprimand me

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ORMER Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Mallam Nasir el-Rufai has said the Senate has no reason to reprimand him over decisions made by the Bureau for Public Enterprise (BPE) during his tenure as Director-General.

The Senate yesterday faulted the privatisation of some public enterprises by the BPE under the leadership of el-Rufai, Dr. Julius Bala and Mrs. Irene Chigbue, and between 1999 till date.

In a statement by his media aide, Mr. Muyiwa Adekeye, el-Rufai said: “The strange recommendation that I should be reprimanded for an offence I did not commit follows a tradition of shoddy investigation that does no credit to the Senate.

“Legislation and oversight are serious matters, and it is expected that people charged with such functions would truly apply themselves, avail themselves of cognate expertise and exercise due care, so that the reports of such proceedings would be suffused with the kind of integrity that begets respect.

“The Senate’s adoption of the said report and its recommendations yesterday does nothing to change this position. Recommendation 38, which asks that I From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

It said BPE should refund bid bonds of N61.2 million to Kaura Motors Limited, N625 million to Onoja & Sons; N1.7 million to Agric Multi Services; and $500,000 to Abuja Gateway Consortium; as approved by NCP. The Senate said BPE should close all privatisation proceeds accounts in commercial banks and, henceforth, put all proceeds in the Privatisation Proceed Account in the Central Bank of Nigeria, in compliance with Section 19(1) of the Public Enterprises Act 1999.

It agreed as recommended that BPE should discontinue the use of privatisation proceeds to pay staff terminal benefits, consultancy fees, transaction expenses and execution of capital projects.

The Senate said BPE should approach the National Assembly for appropriation as provided for in Section 80 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

It said BPE should source for funds

be reprimanded for seeking presidential approval for privatisation issues, is without basis.

“A careful reading of the entire 172-page report yields Annexure 38, pertaining to the privatisation of NITEL/ MTEL, and that does not support the recommendation.

“The decision to sell NITEL to IILL was approved by the National Council for Privatisation (NCP), chaired statutorily by the Vice-President. It was the same NCP that approved IILL’s request for extension of time to pay for the purchase and the failure to meet the new deadline led to IILL forfeiting its deposit to the treasury.

“Nowhere in the report is any document shown alluding to the request for or the granting of presidential approval in the NITEL/IILL matter. Once again, I challenge the Senate to present any evidence to support this spurious recommendation.

“While I was recommended only for a reprimand, other persons were mentioned for criminal investigation. There is no mitigation in this for me, as I have done nothing to warrant a reprimand, even if I was still in the service of the BPE/NCP, which is no longer the case.”

to settle outstanding liabilities in Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON) (N2.7 billion), Delta Steel Company (N5.2 billion) and Federal Superphosphate Fertiliser Company (N73 million).

The lawmakers endorsed the recommendation that Share Purchase Agreement of Volkswagen Nigeria Limited, now VON Automobile Nigeria Limited, be rescinded for nonperformance as provided in the SPA and re-advertised for sale.

The Senate mandated the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe economic crimes allegedly being perpetrated against the nation on the premises of VON Automobile Nigeria Limited premises in Lagos by Barbedos Ventures Limited (BVL).

The Senate said taxes and import duties accruable to the Federal Government on goods allegedly smuggled into the warehouse of VON Automobile should be computed by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and recovered by the Nigeria Customs Service.

It said the NCP should rescind

the sale of ALSCON to Dayson Holdings BV and re-advertise it for sale.

The Senate adopted the recommendation that the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) should take up the responsibility for the dredging of the Imo River.

It agreed that the NCP should rescind the sale of Delta Steel Company to Global Infrastructure Holdings Limited and Global Infrastructure Nigeria Limited and re-advertise it for sale.

The lawmakers also agreed that the 469 plots sold to third parties/ private individuals (or companies) at market rate and the 270 plots allocated as public relations/palliative measures to communities/leaders in Delta Steel Company Township Housing Estate be rescinded and the money paid by the beneficiaries be returned by BPE. The Senate said the NCP should rescind the sale of Jos Steel Rolling Mills for non-performance and readvertise it for sale.

It approved the recommendation that the Nigeria Re-Insurance Plc

should refund N1 billion paid by BPE on February 2007 as the contribution of the Federal Government on recapitalisation with accrued interest.

The upper chamber agreed that NICON Insurance Plc should refund, with interest, N900 million to the Federal Government, being money paid by BPE on February 2007 as contribution for recapitalisation.

It also accepted that the NCP should rescind the Concession Agreement on Tin Can Island Port Terminal “A” to Joseph Dam Port Services Limited; Koko Port to Greenleigh Nigeria Limited; and Port Harcourt Terminal “B’ to BUA International Limited for non-performance and re-advertise the enterprises for sale.

The lawmakers urged the NCP to rescind the sale of Transcorp Hilton Hotel; Sheraton Hotel & Towers, Abuja; and Abuja International Hotel Limited (NICON Luxury Hotel); for failure of the core investors to deliver on some fundamental agreements.

The Senate said while 122 enterprises were privatised from 1999 till date, the goals of the exercise have not been reasonably met.

It agreed with the panel’s findings that “there was inadequate transparency and failure to comply with privatisation procedure in the sale of some public enterprises; and the process was marred by political interference and injustice.”

The Senate listed some of the enterprises in which the privatisation processes were unjustifiably interfered with as ALSCON, Delta Steel Company, Ajaokuta Steel Company and Apapa Port Terminal “C”.

It said poor post-privatisation monitoring skewed Share Purchase Agreements (SPA) in favour of investors in some instances and abuse of process in utilising privatisation proceeds further marred the exercise.

Senate President David Mark commended the Senate for concluding work on the BPE probe.

Mark urged the Executive to implement the Senate’s recommendations.

He said: “These are our recommendations, but it is not in our place to implement or execute them.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

9

NEWS Lagos Health Ministry to complete projects

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HAIRMAN of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Health Suru Avoseh has said the Ministry of Health would not embark on new projects until the ongoing ones are completed.

Avoseh spoke when officials of the ministry and Health Services Commission came before the committee to defend the sector’s budget allocation for 2012.

He said Lagosians should expect an improvement in health services.

Avoseh said the committee would enlighten the public on the functions of primary, secondary and tertiary health centres.

He said: “We are interested in improving public health, especially in terms of free health programmes.

“Many people do not know which hospital to go to for a particular ailment. A situation whereby people go to the general hospital to treat malaria, instead of the primary health centre, needs to be addressed. The committee has put machinery in place to educate people on this.”

Avoseh urged the medical directors in the general hospitals to co-operate with the committee in improving the sector.

Members of the committee are Dr. Rasaq Balogun, Mr. Ajibayo Adeyeye, Mr. Mojeed Fatai, Mr. Yinka Ogundimu and Mr. Kazeem Adewale.

Ogun land panel orders arrest of Anibaba, others over N400m deal From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

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HE Ogun State Lands Commission of Enquiry yesterday issued a bench warrant for the arrest of the former Director of Gateway City Development Company (GCDC), Kayode Anibaba, and his aide, Mr. Femi Sanyaolu, in connection with a fraudulent N400 million land deal between GCDC and Kayode Fadipe Farms Ltd. (KFFL).

Also to be arrested over the controversial land deal is the Ogba Branch Manager of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mrs. Abiodun, for refusing to produce Sanyaolu’s statement of account.

The panel’s Chairman, Justice Abiodun Akinyemi, asked the Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, Mr. Nicholas Daaru Nkemdeme, to urgently effect the arrests.

KFFL alleged that in the N400 million land deal, Anibaba instructed it to pay N150 million into the coffers of the Ogun State Government and N250 million into a private account.

Giving evidence yesterday before the panel, Sanyaolu claimed that N55 million was lodged into his company’s account by Anibaba.

He said the money was meant for sand filling and bush clearing for Ulysis Company Limited.

It was learnt that Sanyaolu allegedly floated two companies - Patent Properties Ltd and Home Realtors Ltd.

O

YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has proposed a N160.6 billion budget for next year.

The budget, tagged: “Budget of Restoration,” was presented to the House of Assembly in Ibadan, the state capital, yesterday.

The proposed budget is 8.4 per cent higher than this year’s budget.

It comprises: recurrent expenditure, N72.7 billion (45.3 per cent); capital expenditure, N87.9 billion (54.7 per cent).

Ajimobi urged administrative and political leaders to make the sacrifices needed to improve their various sectors.

He said: “Sacrifices will be required from all concerned, especially administrative and political leaders, in the effort to restore this state. “It is by so doing that we can reposition it for the developmental challenges ahead. Otherwise, we will be jeopardising the future of the state and her people, especially the generations unborn.

“Given the antecedents of our state as the cradle of civilised and democratic governance in Nigeria, I have no doubt that I can count on your support as we embark on the journey to our desired destination.”

The governor said poor budget implementation in the last three years has led to unemployment, collapsed infrastructure and increased crime.

He said priority was given to infrastructure and social services to enable the government tackle these challenges, adding that his administration would ensure that the 2012 Budget achieves its targets.

Ajimobi put the performance figures in 2009, 2010 and 2011 at 44.07 per cent, 43.05 per cent and 46.68 per cent. He put the expenditure performance as 46.51 per cent in 2009, 42.7 per cent in 2010 and 39.76 per cent this year.

Oyo inaugurates 1,000 tricycles

•Ajimobi presenting the proposed 2012 budget to House of Assembly Speaker Mrs. Monsurat Sunmonu...yesterday .

Ajimobi proposes N160b budget •Seeks N50b bond for deficit financing From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

He said: “The embarrassingly low performance of some inflow items, such as capital receipts, suggests low realisation of these projections. This scenario will be truncated by my administration, by ensuring a higher degree of implementation.

“This would confer legitimacy upon and instil public confidence in the state’s economic policies and initiatives.

“Available evidence also indicates low quality of public expenditure characterised by bunching of

capital expenditure, massive wastages, as well as leakages in public revenue.

“The level of value for money in public outlay is undesirable for a state that is desirous of reclaiming its pacesetter status. We are therefore determined to make the desired difference in the fiscal operations of the state during our term.”

The governor said his administration has made significant improvement in fiscal operations in the areas of institutional reforms, good governance, strategic alliances, e-governance, peace and secu-

rity, health services and economic empowerment.

With a proposed deficit of N50.16 billion in the budget, Ajimobi suggested financing through issuance of bond from the capital market and Public Private Partnership (PPP), among others.

Ajimobi said he plans to increase the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

The lawmakers praised the governor for his vision and determination to revamp the economy of the state.

They said they would accelerate the passage of the proposed budget.

Ataoja: Court grants stay of proceeding

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N Osogbo High Court yesterday granted a stay of proceeding in the appeal on the tussle for the seat of the Ataoja of Osogbo, the Osun State capital, pending before the court.

Justice Falola said: “If the motion for stay of proceeding of the pending appeal is refused, this will translate to the automatic ejection of the incumbent from the palace II. The ruling temporarily put to rest the legal fireworks raging over the Ataoja stool.

Amid tight security, the court adjourned the case indefinitely, pending the determination of the appeals filed by the Ataoja, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun.

Counsel to the monarch Mr. Kehinde Eleja filed a stay of proceedings application before the court, claiming that continuing any case involving the applicant on the Ataoja’s stool would jeopardise his appeal at the appellate court.

Eleja argued that it would be in the interest of justice for the court to stay proceed-

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

ings on the suit pending the disposition of the joinder suit at the appellate court.

He said the suit at the Appeal Court would be negatively affected, should the High Court continue its proceedings on the suits before it.

Urging the court not to consider the contempt of court application filed against Oba Olanipekun by the Gbaemu and Sogbo ruling houses, Eleja said since the monarch has not been pronounced guilty of contempt of court, he still remains innocent and ought to be given a fair hearing.

Eleja said rejecting the stay of proceedings application on the grounds that Oba Olanipekun has been accused of contempt would contravene the 1999 Constitution and serve as a pre-hearing punishment for the applicant.

He urged the court to admit the application as meritorious and grant its orders as prayed.

Counsel to the Gbaemu

and Sogbo ruling houses, Mr. Oluwasesan Dada, objected to the application on the grounds that the Oba Olanipekun does not deserve the judicious discretion of the court.

Dada said the monarch is not a party to the case and granting the application would contradict the ruling of the same court, which reaffirmed the nullification of the installation of the monarch.

He said the traditional ruler has no right to apply or be granted the stay of proceeding, since his joinder suit has been dismissed by the court.

Dada said Oba Olanipekun flouted the order of the court and should not enjoy any benefit from the court.

Justice Falola granted the stay of proceedings, saying: “The issue of contempt of court and committal to prison still has to be determined.

On top of that is the fact that the substantive suit is yet to be determined. “Hence, the doctrine of his pelvis, which is the immediate cause of this crisis, will haunt and

prevent the authorities concerned from filling the vacant stool of Atoaja of Osogbo.

“There is no doubt that this case is a test of will and a situation like this makes the task of an adjudicate not only onerous, but unenviable. “The determination of the question placed before the court not only regulates and stabilises the society, protect its democratic values and practices, but ultimately, its future.

“I shall, on account of that, follow the view in the judicial pronouncement and apply rational judicial wisdom by allowing this application.

This is the only way for peace to reign in the institution of Ataoja of Osogbo.

“The applicant (Oba Olanipekun) shall remain in office until he has fully exhausted his constitutional rights of appeal. This is the right path for peace to reign in Osogbo in the interim.

The alternative will be chaos and unmitigated disaster.”

The judge adjourned the case indefinitely.

OYO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi yesterday inaugurated the State Empowerment Scheme, tagged “keke Ajumose.”

He gave out 1,000 tricycles to members of the Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association (ACOMARAN) and banned commercial motorcycles from the highways.

The ceremony was at the Sango Park in Ibadan, the state capital.

Ajimobi said the scheme is part of his administration’s effort to alleviate poverty and strengthen the transport sector.

He said: “The focus of this administration is poverty reduction through our restoration, transformation and repositioning agenda.

“Our cardinal objective is to ensure that a great percentage of the populace is able to satisfy their basic needs by providing opportunities that would enable them generate income and transform their status.”

Ajimobi said the scheme would create jobs and a more environmentalfriendly means of transportation.

He said: “Our transportation policy is total. We are at the moment constructing modern terminuses and motor parks that are equipped with conveniences, which will serve as a revenue generation platform for government.

“Our intention is to restore the sense of pride into our transporters as integral members of our society.”

Ekiti IGR rises from N109m to N600m From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti

EKITI State Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) has moved from N109 million to N600 million.

Speaking with reporters yesterday, Governor Kayode Fayemi said the IGRincreased when the electronic (e)-receipt payment system was introduced.

Fayemi said the ereceipt enabled blockage of illegal conduits in the system.

He said the state is set to attain N1billion with more commitment to tax collection.

Fayemi said: “This feat has convinced us that if we continue this way and block all loopholes and drain pipes, we can make more than that.

“This is in spite of the fact that we have not introduced personal income tax.

“By the time we pursue taxes more vigorously, we will hit N1billion by June next year.”

He assured the people that the 2012 appropriation bill, which will be presented to the state Assembly tomorrow, would place importance on health, education and water.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

NEWS Support for Oshiomhole EDO State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has said the campaign for next year’s governorship election would be based on issues and programmes that would benefit the people.

The governor spoke in Benin yesterday at a reelection rally by a group, the Oshiomhole Solidarity Forum.

Represented by Deputy Governor Pius Odubu, Oshiomhole assured that the on-going transformation in the state would be sustained and improved upon.

He lauded the group for its bold step in its quest to end godfatherism in the state.

The governor urged them to take their campaign to the nooks and crannies of the state to sustain the development in Edo State.

Oshiomhole said the electorate should be prepared to defend their votes.

‘Provide jobs’

By Adeola Ogunlade

THE Chairman of Labour Party (LP) in Edo State, John Ogbeide, has appealed to the Federal Government to assist private establishments to provide jobs for the unemployed.

Ogbeide made this appeal at the opening of the Wesco Group headquarters in Edo State.

According to him, government’s efforts in mitigating unemployment can be strengthened when private establishments are supported.

He said there are opportunities for potential investors in areas which include information communication technology, agriculture, manufacturing, construction and fashion which can be developed to actively engage the youths.

Ogbeide lauded the efforts of Wesco Group in providing jobs for over 500 youths in the state.

Akwa Ibom workers threaten strike

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KWA Ibom State workers yesterday vowed to go on strike in January, if the state fails to address some grey areas in its salary structure.

The workers gave a December 31 ultimatum to correct the “defective” minimum wage table.

In a communiqué by chairmen of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), Unyime Usoro and Ifreke Akpan, the unions said they expect the government to address the upward review of the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS) and Consolidated Judiciary Salary Structure (CONJUSS).

Also, Labour said the government should implement the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CON-

•Say budget is anti-people •Govt: it’s not true From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

HESS), Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure (CONTEDISS), and Consolidated Polytechnic/College of Education Salary Structure (CONPCASS) on or before December 31.

Failure to do so, according to the unions, workers would go on strike until their demands are met.

The communiqué reads: “Workers have already been mobilised not to resume work after the Christmas and New Year holidays if agreements on the upward review of CONPSS & CONJUSS and full implementation of CONHESS, CONTEDISS are not signed by December 31.”

The leadership of the unions also faulted Governor Godswill Akpabio on the 2012 budget, saying the budget is anti-people.

They said appropriating 83 per cent of the budget outlay on Capital Expenditure showed that the state is not interested in workers welfare.

“The budget further confirms labour’s position that this government is anti-people, as a greater proportion of the funds allocated to Capital Expenditure will find its way outside the state through multi-national companies while the greater number of the people remains in abject poverty.

“Congress wishes to restate its position that good

governance is not only about infrastructures, some of which are with doubtful returns on investment, but also include the empowerment of the people through improved wages, human capital development and deliberate policy of wealth re-distribution,” the unions said.

But the Commissioner for Information, Aniekan Umanah, said the government is committed to workers’ welfare.

Umanah said government is still meeting with labour unions.

His words: “Akpabio’s government is committed to the welfare of workers in the state. There is no cause for alarm because the government is labour-friendly.”

We won’t leave any project uncompleted, says Amaechi •Presents N427b budget

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HE Rivers State Government has proposed a budget of N427 billion for next year.

Governor Rotimi Amaechi yesterday presented the proposal to the House of Assembly, Port Harcourt.

Amaechi promised timely completion of all on-going projects.

The governor assured that his administration would address developmental issues in the critical sectors.

He described employment generation and empowerment as the focus of the budget.

Amaechi said the capitalintensive mono rail project has not been abandoned.

He said the budget is higher than the current one by N11.9 billion.

Tagged “Budget for Resource Utilisation”, the governor said the expected sources of income include the Federation Account N238 billion, Internally Generated Revenue N65 billion.

Others are payment due on recovered oil wells N12billion, unspent balance of N12billion and proposed

Monarch abducted

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NIDENTIFIED gunmen yesterday abducted the Village Head of Iwuoachang community in Ibeno Local Government of Akwa Ibom State, Daniel Afia.

Ibeno community hosts Mobil Producing Nigeria’s Qua Iboe oil export terminal and the Qua Iboe oil fields.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that the kidnappers struck a few minutes after midnight and abducted the traditional ruler at gun point, taking him to an unknown destination.

Sources said the kidnappers were eight in number and took away the chief through the Atlantic coastline.

The hoodlums, according to the sources, came in two speed boats; one carried the abducted chief and the second one served as a back up.

When contacted, the Commissioner of Police, Solomon Arase, confirmed the incident.

“The Divisional Police Officer in Ibeno briefed me on the kidnap of the traditional ruler, but I have asked him to provide me with the details.

“The victim was said to have held meetings with some people late before he was abducted.”

It was gathered that Afia, who is the Coordinator of Chiefs in Ibeno, has been deliberating with segments of the community on the N600 million share of the oil spill palliative funds from Mobil to its host communities in the past weeks.

The N2 billion oil spill palliative fund recently released by Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN) has triggered discontent in Ibeno, Onna, Eket and Esit Eket all of them oil bearing communities.

• Amaechi (right) presenting the budget to Speaker Otelemaba Dan-Amachree...yesterday From Clarice Azuatalam and Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

Bond/Loan N100billion.

The governor said the Capital Expenditure is estimated at N314.27 billion as against N268.76 billion in the current year, an increase of N43.51 billion which is 16.18 per cent over that of 2011.

For Recurrent Expendi-

ture, the government would spend N112.73 billion, N33.61 billion less than this year’s N146.34billion.

Amaechi said: “We are determined to put under prudent check the cost of bureaucracy and to make funds available for capital expenditure that would transform our state.

“This does not in any way undermine our positive

welfare disposition to our work force, as we believe that a well-motivated work force will deliver value for money.

“We remain one state in the federation that is implementing the new minimum wage with a premium of N900.

“That is, N18,900 as against the Federal Government approved N18,000.”

Rivers community reels out transport laws

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•Drowned Corps member for burial in Ogoni

HE people of Rumuolumeni in Obio/ Akpor Local Government of Rivers State have banned ferries from operating at the community’s waterfronts after 6 pm.

This development followed the December 13 boat mishap where over 40 persons drowned.

Errant boat drivers and their assistants will be handed over to the policemen, for prosecution.

The Rumuolumeni monarch, Ndubueze Wobo, spoke at his palace yesterday.

Wobo called for laws to regulate marine operations in the state, to check the excesses of members of the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN).

The monarch pleaded with Governor Rotimi

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

Amaechi to assist the community to build its only link road.

He said: “The community has put in place, “Operation No Loading after 6 pm,” to prevent avoidable loss of lives.

“This is a dangerous time, when many people will want to leave the jetty at the same time.

“There is need for laws to regulate the activities of boat drivers.

“Rumuolumeni’s link road is very bad. Passengers of the capsized boat were compelled to travel by water, considering the bad road. The boat mishap was caused by rush at night.”

The youth corps mem-

ber, Mrs. Neebari SamuelBema, who died in the boat mishap, will be buried in Ogoni this weekend, according to a source close to her husband, Kpegele Samuel-Bema.

In the December 13 mishap, three expectant mothers and 23 others, including children, who drowned, were given a mass burial at the bank of the Rumuolumeni River.

Fourteen persons, including a two-year-old baby, were rescued by divers mobilised by the community, navy and marine police.

The small wooden boat capsized at 9:30 pm at Chiogbonna Waterfront in Mgbuodohia-Rumoulumeni, Port Harcourt, just 10 minutes after leaving the jetty.

Secretariat for Bayelsa From Isaac Ombe, Yenagoa

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HE Federal Government is building a multi-billion naira Federal Secretariat in Bayelsa State.

The N2.5 billion project will be completed in two years.

Performing the ground breaking in Yenagoa, the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Ms Amman Pepple, said the project would provide accommodation to federal civil servants in the state.

Represented by the Deputy Director, Design, Paul Udozor, Ms. Pepple said: “Arrangements have been concluded to build a new federal secretariat in the Southeast (Akwa), Southwest (Oshogbo), North Central (Lafia), Northeast (Gombe) and Northwest (Guzo).

The minister, who lamented the working environment of federal civil servants, said: “With the takeoff of this project and its timely completion before the expiration of 100 weeks, a conducive office complex would be provided to enhance workers productivity.”

Treneur Nigeria Limited, will handle the construction of the project.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

11

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

Reps okay N261b NDDC 2011 budget From: Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

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EN days to the end of the year, the House of Representatives yesterday approved N261.037 billion for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) 2011 budget.

The budget is higher than the N249.5 billion proposed

by President Goodluck Jonathan to the National Assembly last week as the commission’s 2011 budget.

In the approved budget, N243.547 billion is for development, N9.485 billion for personnel, N7.037 billion for recurrent expenditure and N877 million for non-capital expenditure.

The Majority Leader of the House, Mulikat AkandeAdeola, while moving the motion for the passage of the budget said the delay in the passage of the budget was because of the crisis in the commission.

She added that it was better that the budget be done late than not at all.

The House has said it was necessary that the National Assembly be informed by the management of the commission in order to obtain appropriate approval before effecting any changes to the proposed expenditure pattern of the NDDC. “Where, due to revenue shortfall, amounts appropriated under this Bill cannot be funded, the NDDC shall seek from the National Assembly a waiver not to incur such expenditure,” the House said. ”In the event that the implementation of any of the projects intended to be undertaken under this Bill cannot be completed without virement, such virement shall only be effected with the prior approval of the National Assembly” it added.

All equipment for processing of high quality cassava flour and composite flour bending will enjoy a duty free regime as incentives to bakers for composite flour utilisation.

-President Goodluck Jonathan

IMF to Nigeria: embrace fiscal discipline • Sanusi seeks political restructuring N • Okonjo-Iweala flays budget

IGERIA needs to em brace fiscal discipline and build up resistance in the face of Europe’s escalating debt crisis, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Christine Largarde, has said.

Speaking yesterday at a meeting organised by the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), she said Nigeria needs to strike an appropriate balance between fiscal and monetary policy to promote growth and stability.” It means forging ahead with structural policies that focus squarely on boosting competitiveness, growth and jobs. That could also mean strengthening financial sector regulation to ensure a safer and more stable financial sector that is better able to support growth,” she said.

Lagarde, who spoke on Africa’s Future: Responding to today’s global economic challenges, said prudent management of natural resource revenues will create room for other critical public spending, that would help the country achieve the Millennium Development Goals and increase resources needed to build stronger social safety nets.

Noting that past reforms in

By Collins Nweze and Akinola Ajibade

the economy have helped mitigate the impact of the global crisis, she said Nigeria’s economy continued to grow by six per cent despite the crisis—and above the current regional average. Growth, she, however, noted, looks set to continue at a healthy pace into next year. But, spill-overs from the advanced economies threaten that outlook.

Infrastructure gaps, particularly in the power sector, she disclosed, are also holding Nigeria back from its full growth potential even as high unemployment is also a critical economic and social issue.

Acknowledging the progress in Nigeria over the past decade, the IMF boss noted that there are still challenges even as poverty abound although declined from nearly 60 per cent to just over 50 per cent in the 10 years up to 2005.

Lagarde stressed the need for better management of Nigeria’s vast natural resource wealth, establishing the Sovereign Wealth Fund and emphasising the use of

oil revenues for stabilisation and investment are important advancements.

Besides, she said pressing ahead with these reforms is, particularly important given the external environment— namely, the need to rebuild fiscal buffers.

Much, she added, could still be done to improve Nigeria’s business environment.

She assured that the IMF is committed and willing to support the country, whenever the request is made.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, said Nigeria needs political restructuring to free itself from unnecessary budgetary spending. He noted that a lot of money is spent in sustaining the 774 local government councils in the country and that changing the expenditure profile would require total restructuring of the political system in the country.

He urged Nigerians to support the Federal Government’s Transformation agenda, especially the oil subsidy removal, which he said would enable the govern-

ment to save more money for economic growth.

“It is unpopular, but absolutely necessary and in the interest of the Nigerian economy,” said Sanusi, who Lagarde described as “the most intelligent man in the country.”

He wondered why Nigerians are opposing the removal of oil subsidy, noting that it is the only way to plug the loopholes in the government expenditure.

He said the Nigerian economy is highly vulnerable because of the level of recurrent expenditure that makes fiscal prudence difficult. He said the foreign reserves, which stood at $62 billion in 2008 is now $30 billion, and can only finance seven months’ imports.

He said the country needs fiscal space to reduce the possible shock from the European crises to the economy and the easiest way of achieving such is through the removal of oil subsidy.

Sanusi said between January to November, the total amount of foreign exchange purchased by oil marketers

Omotowa is LNG boss

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DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil -$107/barrel Cocoa -$2,686.35/metric ton Coffee - ¢132.70/pound Cotton - ¢95.17pound Gold -$1,800/troy ounce Rubber -¢159.21pound MARKET CAPITALISATIONS NSE JSE NYSE LSE

-N6.503 trillion -Z5.112trillion -$10.84 trillion -£61.67 trillion RATES Inflation -10.5% Treasury Bills -7.08% Maximum lending-22.42% Prime lending -15.87% Savings rate -2% 91-day NTB -15% Time Deposit -5.49% MPR -12% Foreign Reserve $33.01b FOREX CFA EUR £ $ ¥ SDR RIYAL

-

0.2958 206.9 242.1 156 1.9179 238 40.472

was $8 billion. The amount of oil subsidy given to these petroleum marketers within the period was equivalent to another N8 billion, bringing the total figure to $16 billion. Nigeria has in the past 11 months, spent $16 billion in foreign exchange in paying petroleum marketers and as total demand for forex needed importing petrol. He said the cost of not removing petroleum subsidy is too high for the economy and is not acceptable if the economy is to move forward.

The Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy and Finance Minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said there is need to restructure the budget because it is faulty. She said the administration is trying to bring recurrent expenditure to where it was six years ago, to below 70 per cent.

She said the administration is blocking financial leakages in the economy. According to her, about N1 billion was saved in the payment of Police Pension with the culprits already in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) custody.

She said that delay in the passage of Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) is also causing uncertainty in the economy.

• From left: Minister of Lands Housing and Urban Development, Ms. Amal Pepple; Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) Managing Director, Mr Gimba Ya’u Kumo and Executive Director, FMBN, Mr. Bola Ogunsola, at the launch of FMBN Informal Sector Housing Co-operative Loan Scheme in Lagos.

IGERIA LNG Limited has appointed Mr Babs Jolayemi Omotowa as its new managing director. He will replace MrJonathan Ibeneche, who will retire on January 31, 2012, after three years in the saddle.

Omotowa, according to a statement from the company, was Vice-President, Health, Safety, Environment, Infrastructure and Logistics for Shell companies in Sub-Sahara Africa.

The 45-year-old chief joined Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in 1993 as a management trainee and rose rapidly to Senior Operations positions in Warri, before proceeding on international assignment with Shell in United Kingdom, Holland and Norway, serving variously as Production Asset Manager, Shipping Manager and Business Improvement Manager.

Cement import to end 2012, says Jonathan

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has said Nige ria would stop the importation of cement by the first quarter of next year.

He said this is in tandem with his assurance to cement manufacturers during a meeting with them a few months ago.

Jonathan, who spoke at the opening of the Lafarge Ewekoro 11 Plant, in Ogun State, said the Federal Government had earlier promised to stop cement importation if the manufacturers could meet up with the demand, adding that

By Toba Agboola and Tonia Osundolire

with what is on ground, this would become reality by the first quarter of next year.

He said the government is committed to maintaining backward integration to guarantee self-sufficiency in the sector.

Jonathan commended Lafarge for building the plant, saying the development showed the trust the company has in the country.

He said there is need for rapid growth and diversifica-

tion of the economy in other sectors, as the stock of oil upon which the country substantially depends, is a depleting asset.

He pointed out that the manufacturing sector would continue to remain a focal point for the government to improve the local economy thereby diversifying from oil to other sectors.

“According to experts, our oil sector is gradually depleting and in 35 years, things would definitely not remain the same in the sector.This is worrisome,” he admitted, and called

for the urgent need to open up the private sector in order to make it more competitive and encourage more Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to boost our Gross Domestic Output.

“We are focusing on other aspects of the economy so that when the oil is dry, we would have other things to fall back on. We hope to develop other areas like agriculture and manufacturing so that we can become self- sufficient,” Jonathan, stated.

The Chairman, Lafarge WAPCO, Olusegun Osunkeye, said the new plant would con-

tribute N6 billion yearly to the economy. He said this would be achieved through taxes and salaries, adding that the plant will create 1,000 additional jobs.

Having fulfilled the national desire to establish a cement manufacturing company, the company has grown sustainability and made tremendous contributions to the availability of cement in the country, he said, adding that the plant puts the company at the forefront of exploration, production and marketing of cement in Nigeria.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

MONEY LINK

Union Bank’s rights issue in early success

E

XACTLY a week after the open ing of the application list for the rights issue of Union Bank of Nigeria (UBN), there are strong indications that the rights issue would be a huge success as shareholders have expressed interests in picking up their rights.

Major shareholders’ groups and stockbrokers said they have seen enormous expression of interests and fund deposits, aligning with initial book-building survey by investment advisers that showed that shareholders had placed funds on standby preparatory to the opening of the rights.

UBN is offering about 1.41 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at N6.81 per share in the ratio of five new ordinary shares for every nine ordinary shares held as at September 30, 2011. The application list for the rights issue opened on Wednesday, December 14, 2011 and will remain open till January 20, 2012.

The opening of application list followed the final approval by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Shareholders had earlier at the extra-ordinary general meeting held in September overwhelmingly approved the scheme of arrangement for the recapitalisation of the bank which included the rights issue and injection of new capital by new core investors.

President, Nigeria Shareholders Solidarity Association (NSSA), Chief Timothy Adesiyan, said shareholders were expecting the rights issue and had prepared to pick their rights, noting that they voted for the scheme partly in consideration of the rights issue.

He said other shareholders under the auspices of NSSA, would pick their rights in furtherance of their commitment to see to the re-emergence of a highly capitalised entity, adding that the rights issue is part of the conditions reached for the

Stories by Taofik Salako and Collins Nweze

recapitalization of the bank. Shareholders have been in the know on the size, allotment and price of the issue even before they voted for the scheme of arrangement that included the rights issue.

Adesiyan however called on the Federal Government to reconsider the nationalisation of three previously quoted banks in the overall interest of minority shareholders and long-term development of the market.

President, Association for the Advancement of Rights of Nigerian Shareholders (AARNS), Dr. Faruk Umar, said the rights issue is in the interest of shareholders as it would be exclusively for pre-scheme shareholders and not investors that came in after the September recapitalisation.

He said other like-minded shareholders would be willing to pick their rights, noting that the rights issue is being undertaken “to help shareholders.”

An astute investor, Faruk leads the largest block of shareholders in northern Nigeria and holds equity stakes in several companies. He also sits on the boards of many quoted

companies.

President, United Shareholders’ Front, Mr. Gbenga Idowu, said he is determined to pick his rights irrespective of the downtrend in the secondary market, adding that shareholders recognise value offerings and would look beyond the immediate constraints. The capital market would gradually recover and shareholders who have locked-in values during the downtrend would be in a position to benefit from higher returns.

“I will pick my rights and advise others to pick theirs; the general feeling is that shareholders want to pick their rights. What’s happening in the banking recession is a passing phase, things will get better,” Idowu said.

In the same vein, shareholders’ leader and activist, Alhaji Gbadebo Olatokunbo, said he saw the rights issue as an opportunity and feelers were that shareholders would pick up their rights.

“There is no way we won’t pick our rights, we stood by the bank when it was down and brought it back from the precipice. The rights issue is opportunity for us to benefit from the recapitalisation,” Olatokunbo stated.

He said feelers so far points to possibility of an oversubscription, not-

ing that shareholders who might not be opportune to pick their rights would have their renounced shares taking over by other shareholders who have indicated interests in securing additional allotments.

He said considering that the new core investors paid the same price, the price is a fair deal.

Union Bank has some 500,000 shareholders but no pre-scheme shareholder held more than five per cent equity stake, the cut-off point regarded as substantial level by the Nigerian securities regulations. The shareholding base shows the bank is a national icon with shareholdings spread across Nigeria with old and existing staff as well as customers holding several millions of shares.

Union Bank’s pensioners and existing staff have already expressed supports for the rights issue, forming a nationwide army of foot soldiers that have taken the rights issue far beyond the Lagos hub of capital market.

Investment brokers, who had provided bloc institutional supports for the passage of the scheme of arrangement for the recapitalisation, said the rights issue provided opportunity for them to consolidate their shareholdings and benefit more from the expected gains from a newly

T

HE Committee of e-Banking In dustry Heads in Nigeria (CeBIH) has called on the public to support the Cash-lite payment policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Its Chairman, Chuma Ezirim, who made the call at a seminar on Cashlite Lagos, themed, ‘Evaluating the level of preparedness for January1, 2012 Launch,’ organised by the Committee in Lagos, said that the policy offers a lot of benefits for the country and the citizens.

We therefore believe that the recent policy by CBN to reduce the number of transactions settled with cash is laudable and should be supported by all well meaning Nigerians,” he said.

CBN Deputy Governor, Operations, Tunde Lemo, assured that the apex bank has put in place necessary measures to ensure massive deployment of electronic payment channels that would serve as alternative to cash payment.

He said: “For the cash-less Lagos project, it is expected that by the end of

He said examples of other countries showed that transiting from cash to electronic payment leads to one per cent increase in economic growth.

“This is mainly explained by the realisation of economies of scale in the provision of electronic payments, the overall increase in the total number of payment transactions, a greater reliance on cost-efficient service delivery channels as well as impact on the technological change in terms of lower telecommunication and processing costs.

Amount N

Rate %

M/Date

3-Year 5-Year 5-Year

35m 35m 35m

11.039 12.23 13.19

19-05-2014 18-05-2016 19-05-2016

WHOLESALE DUTCH AUCTION SYSTEM Amount

Initial Current Quotation Price Market N8250.00 5495.33 N1000.00 N552.20

Price Loss 2754.67 447.80

INTERBANK RATES 7.9-10% 10-11%

PRIMARY MARKET AUCTION (T-BILLS) Amount 30m 46.7m 50m

Rate % 10.96 9.62 12.34

Date 28-04-2011 “ 14-04-2011

GAINERS AS AT 20-12-11 SYMBOL NASCON MAYBAKER UBA DANGSUGAR DANGFLOUR FIRSTBANK JAPAULOIL WAPIC TRANSCORP WEMABANK

O/PRICE 3.80 1.81 2.36 4.10 4.31 8.51 0.74 0.52 0.53 0.53

C/PRICE 3.99 1.90 2.47 4.29 4.50 8.88 0.77 0.54 0.55 0.55

CHANGE 0.19 0.09 0.11 0.19 0.19 0.37 0.03 0.02 0.02 0.02

LOSER AS AT 20-12-11 SYMBOL PREMBREW IKEJAHOTEL FIDSON CONTINSURE PRESTIGE LAWUNION GOLDINSURE CCNN IBTC PAINTCOM

O/PRICE 1.01 2.17 0.91 0.95 0.98 0.52 0.59 4.28 8.23 0.53

C/PRICE 0.96 2.07 0.87 0.91 0.94 0.50 0.57 4.16 8.00 0.52

Amount

Offered ($) Demanded ($)

MANAGED FUNDS

Tenor 91-Day 182-Day 1-Year

December 2011, a target of 40,000 PoS devices would have been deployed within Lagos State to cater for settlement of transactions, alongside other electronic payment options.

We have a target of deploying 150,000 PoS by end December 2012 which will be scaled up to 375,000 PoS by end 2015, when we hope to have attained our benchmark PoS penetration of 2,247 PoS per 100,000 adult population as obtainable currently in Brazil,” he said.

DATA BANK

Tenor

OBB Rate Call Rate

recapitalised Union Bank.

According to them, the choice of reputable core investors and fair valuation have locked in significant values into Union Bank in the immediate and distant future.

Immediate past chairman, Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria (ASHON), Alhaji Rasheed Yusuf, who noted that stockbrokers have huge shareholding interests in Union Bank, said the choice of a group of reputable international investors with requisite technical know-how and capital to drive the performance of the bank has reassured stockbrokers that their investments would soon witness notable improvement.

e-Banking Committee drums support for Cash-lite policy

FGN BONDS

NIDF NESF

•GMD Union Bank, Funke Osibodu

Amount

Exchange

Sold ($)

Rate (N)

Date

450m

452.7m

450m

150.8

08-8-11

250m

313.5m

250m

150.8

03-8-11

400m

443m

400m

150.7

01-8-11

EXHANGE RATE 26-08-11 CAPITAL MARKET INDEX Currency

Year Start Offer

Current Before

C u r r e n t CUV Start After %

NGN USD

147.6000

149.7100

150.7100

-2.11

NGN GBP

239.4810

244.0123

245.6422

-2.57

NGN EUR

212.4997

207.9023

209.2910

-1.51

149.7450

154.0000

154.3000

-3.04

Bureau de Change 152.0000 (S/N)

153.0000

155.5000

-2.30

Parallel Market

154.0000

156.0000

-1.96

NSE CAP Index

NIGERIA INTER BANK (S/N)

27-10-11 N6.5236tr 20,607.37

28-10-11 N6.617tr 20,903.16

% Change -1.44% -1.44%

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS Name

(S/N)

153.0000

DISCOUNT WINDOW Feb. ’11

July ’11

Aug ’11

MPR

6.50%

6.50%

8.75%

Standing Lending Rate ,, Deposit Rate ,, Liquidity Ratio Cash Return Rate Inflation Rate

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 1.00% 12.10%

8.50% 4.50% 25.00% 2.00% 12.10%

9.50% 5.50% 30.00% 2.00% 9.4%

Offer Price

Bid Price

9.17 1.00 118.85 98.43 0.76 1.04 0.88 1,642.73 8.24 1.39 1.87 7,351.90 193.00

9.08 1.00 118.69 97.65 0.73 1.04 0.87 1,635.25 7.84 1.33 1.80 7,149.37 191.08

ARM AGGRESSIVE KAKAWA GUARANTEED STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND THE LOTUS CAPITAL HALAL BGL SAPPHIRE FUND BGL NUBIAN FUND NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL DEB. PARAMOUNT EQUITY FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CENTRE-POINT UNIT TRUST STANBIC IBTC NIG EQUITY THE DISCOVERY FUND • ARM AGGRESSIVE • KAKAWA GUARANTEED

CHANGE 0.05 0.10 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.02 0.02 0.12 0.23 0.01

• STANBIC IBTC GUARANTE • AFRINVEST W.A. EQUITY FUND

NIBOR Tenor 7 Days 30 Days 60 Days 150 Days

Rate (Previous) 24 Aug, 2011 9.0417 9.6667 11.2917 12.1250

Rate (Currency) 26, Aug, 2011 10.17% 11.46% 11.96% 12.54%

Movement

OPEN BUY BACK Previous

Current

04 July, 2011

07, Aug, 2011

Bank

8.5000

8.5000

P/Court

8.0833

8.0833

Movement

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

13

14

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

15

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

Group Political Editor BOLADE OMONIJO and Correspondent AUGUSTINE EHIKIOYA provide an insight into the intrigues by candidates jostling for the leadership of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). They highlight the roles being played by governors and stakeholders of the Northeast states.

I

F everything goes as planned, the tenure of Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, who was appointed Acting National Chairman by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in July, will end in three months.

Baraje was appointed to fill the vacuum created by the appointment of the former Acting National Chairman of PDP, Dr. Bello Haliru, as Minister of Defence. Dr. Musa Babayo was endorsed as the Acting National Secretary to take over from Baraje.

To ensure that no vacuum is created when the tenure of the present national officers expires in March, many party men are campaigning to occupy the positions of National Chairman and National Secretary.

Lobbying, intrigues, scheming have taken over the waves as heavyweight politicians from states in the zones to which the positions have been zoned have stepped up campaign.

National Chairman was zoned to the North East following the election of a Southeasterner, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.

The election of leaders of the House of Representatives affected the delicate zonal balance in the party. The Speaker had earlier being reserved for the Southwest, with the deputy from the Northeast. Rather, majority of members of the House, including members from minority parties, chose to elect Hon. Aminu Tambuwal from Sokoto State in the Northwest as Speaker, and Ihedioha from Imo as deputy. It threw all calculations to the wind. The President is from the Southsouth, Vice President from the Northwest, Senate President from Northcentral. Speaker Northwest and his deputy from Southeast. The question was therefore asked, what is available for the Southwest and the Northeast.

Jostle for National Chairman The zoning of the position to the Northeast has thrown up a number of names from the states comprising the political region.

From Borno State, the contestants include Dr. Shettima Mustapha, Alhaji Lawan Gambo, Alhaji Ibrahim Bunu, Senator Mohammed Abba-Aji and Alhaji Shehu Birma.

Elders of the party in the state are doing everything to prune down the number with a view to ensuring that the party’s number one post is occupied by a Borno indigene.

Dr. Mustapha, a septuagenarian, is perhaps the most politically experienced of the lot.

He started his political involvement in the 50s when he joined Bornu Youth Movement.

In the Second Republic, he was a member of the Great Nigeria Peoples Party (GNPP) and was appointed a Commissioner by former Governor Mohammed Goni. He later became running mate of legendary Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe in the 1983 presidential race. At the inception of the Fourth Republic in 1999, Shettima was elected the first National Treasurer of the party. Under the Babangida administration, Shettima, who holds a doctorate degree in Agronomy, was appointed Minister of Agriculture. He later served as Minister of Interior, and later Defence, under the Yar’Adua/Jonathan government.

He told The Nation that he would be bringing his wealth of experience in party administration and political exposure to bear on the party. He said “we intend to restore sanity to the national political order, and the

• Former President Obasanjo discussing with President Jonathan at the last convention.

Intrigues seize PDP ahead of convention Powers, functions of chairman and secretary National Chairman

T

HERE shall be a national chairman who shall be the chief executive of the party. His functions shall be to: (a) Summon and preside over the meetings of the National Convention, the National Executive Committee, the National Caucus and the National Working Committee of the party; (b) Provide firm and effective leadership and direct the activities of the party under the overall supervision of the National Executive Committee; (c) Promote and defend the integrity, policies and programmes of the party and make pronouncements for and on behalf of the National Executive Committee outlining the policies, programmes and activities of the party; (d) Assign specific functions to any member or officer of the party; (e) Delegate his powers to the Deputy National Chairman or any of the National vice Chairmen; (f) Casting votes if and when necessary; (g) Present to the National Convention a comprehensive statement of the state of the party and the political situation generally; (h) Ensure strict compliance with the provisions of this constitution and do all such other things as shall promote the growth and welfare of the party.

National Secretary

There shall be a national secretary who shall be the chief administrative and accounting officer of the party, whose functions shall be to: (a) supervise the day-to-day activities of the party under the directive of the national chairman; (b) Conduct or direct the conduct of the correspondences of the party and cause to be issued notices of meetings of the National Convention, the National Executive Committee, the National Caucus and the National Working Committee; as may be directed by the National Chairman; (c) Keep or cause to be kept all records of proceedings of the National Convention, the National Executive Committee, the National Caucus and the National Working Committee, as well as other records of the party; (d) Render a written annual report of the activities of the party to NEC, and National Convention; (e) Ensure the implementation of the decisions and directives of the National Convention, National Executive Committee, National Caucus and the National Working Committee and ensure that all units of the party carry out their duties promptly and efficiently; (f) Consult the National Chairman in the discharge of the duties of his or her office; (g) Carry out any other duties as may be assigned to him or her, from time-to-time by the National Convention, National Caucus, National Executive Committee, National Working Committee and the National Chairman. (h) The National Secretary of the party shall be the custodian of the common seal of the party. responsibility devolves mostly on the PDP as ruling party at the national level and majority of the states.” He promised to ensure that merit reigns through the institution of internal democracy in the party.

Birma is the youngest of the contenders.

He told The Nation in Lagos last week that he decided to join the race because he realised

that the party requires someone who could do things different. A lawyer, he says the party needs the dynamism of the young to turn things around. Reminded that the field has many men of timber and caliber, Birma retorted: “Where has that led us? If the experience has served us well, we won’t be where we are today.” He said his performance as

secretary of the group that coordinated the party’s efforts during last April’s general elections should stand him in good stead.

He said he was also banking on support from other states. He has been moving round the country seeking support of state governors and party leaders who would determine how the delegates vote.

Birma debunked the position that he could lose because his state is being controlled by the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). He retorted: “Did former President Olusegun Obasanjo control Ogun State when he was made Presidential candidate of the party in 1999? As far as I am concerned, we have done a lot. We won two of the three senatorial districts; we won seats in the House of Representatives and House of Assembly. We started almost from point zero. We should be commended.”

Abba-Aji is remembered more today for the role he played during the giddy days of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua’s sickness. He was the Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Affairs. Bunu is a former minister and an architect, while Lawan was national leader of the Grassroots Democratic Movement (GDM), one of the five parties registered by the late General Sani Abacha to fulfill his dream of running Nigeria as an elected President.

Sources close to the Borno PDP said the leaders will be meeting before the year end to decide on the official representative of the state.

Adamawa Three political titans from the state are in the race. They are Dr. Hassan Adamu, Professor Jibril Aminu and Alhaji Bamanga Tukur. Adamu, 71, is a former Nigerian Ambassador to the United States of America and the Wakilin Adamawa.

He is also a former President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and Chairman of the National Fertilizer Company. He had also served at different times as Minister of Agriculture, Steel and Environment.

Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, who was Second Republic Governor of old Gongola State (comprising present Taraba and Adamawa States served the country in various capacities including Minister of Industry, Manager of the Lagos Port Complex, General Manager and Chief Executive of the Nigerian • Continued on page 16

16

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

POLITICS

Intrigues seize PDP ahead of convention • Continued from page 15

• From left: Associates of late Chief Bola Ige, Mr Ayo Afolabi; Chief Bisi Akande; Sen. Olabiyi Durojaiye; Osun State Commissioner for Physical Development, Mr Muyiwa Ige andhis wife, Oyinda, at the 10th Anniversary Memorial Thanksgiving for Ige in Ibadan ... yesterday.

‘We have kept alive Mamman Alli’s vision’ Governor Ibrahim Gaidam has been in the saddle since his former boss, the late Senator Mamman Alli, died in January 2009. Recently, he conducted journalists round major projects in the state, in a bid to render account. He thereafter had a session with them where he discussed his vision and mission. JOEL DUKU was there.

A

S a member and leader of All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP); do you get worried that the party may extinct soon or are you thinking of dumping the party like so many others?

Many people have the belief that I have abandoned the party or that I am planning to defect to another party.

I can assure you that I will be the last person to leave ANPP. I am not going anywhere or to any other party. When you see me leaving the ANPP to any other party, it means that it is collective arrangement or agreement among the party’s stakeholders; otherwise, on my own, I do not intend to shift from ANPP to any other party, including CPC. I am an ANPP man; and I will continue to be.

How are you securing the state against armed gangs?

Security of lives and property is the responsibility of the Federal Government. The police are directly under the Federal Government; the Nigerian Army is under the Federal Government but we are doing everything possible to assist the Federal Government to meet its responsibility of securing the lives and property of every person. We ensure that any police man or soldier posted in this state receives special allowance from the state. We have also bought some Hilux Toyota vans and some buses for their use to fight crime in the state.

Is it possible for your government to complete all the projects before you leave office, and did you borrow money to execute them?

All the projects in the state were executed with statutory allocation from the federation account. It is purely an issue of prudent management. I want you to know that I am an accountant by profession. I was taught to be prudent; we also learnt about proper planning in execution of projects. So the little knowledge I gained in the university is actually guiding me in becoming more prudent in the management of the meager resources we have here. I want you to realize that it is not only the statutory allocation that we receive. From time to time, the Federal Government gives each state some amount of money in form of augmentation. If they are saving from the excess crude oil account, may be on quarterly basis about two to three billion naira for capital projects. So, in Yobe State, we properly plan for our projects. Whenever we are told that some amount of money, may be two or three million, is coming to us, before that time comes, we would have

sat down to plan very carefully about our needs. Based on the existing budgetary provision, we allocate the money which we are expecting from the Federal Government. The moment the amount is received, we apply it. Just last two weeks, we sat down in our executive council meeting; we awarded contract amounting to about N20 billion. And as I am talking to you now, in the last two days, we have paid the various ministries for the jobs executed by the contractors. We have paid all our contactors. In all our on-going projects, any contractor that has any outstanding or pending CV (Certificate of Valuation), we have to see and pay him immediately. Anything we give out a contract for, we have a plan for; the money is there, we have our projected income, and we don’t overshoot our expenditure. This is the secret behind all that we have achieved so far.

How did your government execute the 200-bed hospital project?

The 200-bed hospital has been completed. We had two options. When we came in, we conceived the idea of constructing another hospital; we did not think of expanding the existing one.

You know I became governor in January 2009. The idea of constructing the new hospital was conceived by my boss, who is now late, Senator Mamman Ali. When I took over in January 2007, I felt I should go ahead in completing the 200-bed hospital in Damaturu. And, also, I wanted to ensure that the existing one in Damaturu, the Damaturu Specialist Hospital, was expanded. We have put in a lot of structures at the Specialist Hospital. With the two hospitals, we could introduce a College of Medicine. This is one of the options we have been thinking about and I think what is going to happen is that I am going to present it to my executive council. I think that we have to expand the existing hospital and then convert the new one in Damaturu to a teaching hospital because we have a lot of specialists in the university. It will become teaching hospital for the College of Medicine of Bukar Ibrahim University.

Do you think that you could complete all the ongoing projects within your tenure?

I can assure you that when you come back to Yobe State at the end of our tenure in 2015, you will see that we would have completed all the projects you are seeing on ground now, by the grace of God. We are not in a hurry; we know our direction; we know what we are doing; we know our capacity. By the grace of God, we shall achieve all our objectives.

• Gaidam

The state university has taken a new shape. What has it cost your government?

I cannot determine the cost now; when I met the university in 2009 there were about 10 classes. All the hostels were built between 2009 and today. We have not taken any loan for the project. But we have a provision of N1 billion each year for the university . We have been getting some money from ETF, which is not much; about N200 million. When I came in, I went through the edict establishing the university, there is a provision for contribution from each of the 17 local government areas in the state. I then sent a bill to the House of Assembly to make a law that every local government should contribute N3 million for establishment of infrastructure in the university. We have 17 local government areas in the state and their contribution translates into N51 million.

We also meet our obligations of giving them N1 billion annually apart from the little money they receive from the ETF. This is how we are funding the university.

What of the comatose industries in the state?

We inherited them from the administration of Bukar Ibrahim. The past government planned and executed the industries without proper feasibility study; that is my assumption. Some of the machines used by the companies need rehabilitation; we are going to do that and send them to whoever is interested to run them. But the state government is only interested in Dafarga Spring Water in Gulani council. We are going to run it because we have conducted feasibility study; it will yield the state government some revenue. Also, the fertilizer company, we are going to rehabilitate and put it into use. They are the only viable state-owned industries.

Ports Authority and director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation.

He was also director of the Nigerian National Shipping Line, Nigeria Airways, Central Water Transportation Company and the Board of Customs and Excise.

Tukur, who was a former member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the party, is the Chairman of NEPAD Business Group; Chairman, BHI Holdings Limited; Chairman, Afripractice Group and Executive President of African Business Roundtable.

Aminu, a Professor of Medicine, was Nigeria’s Ambassador to the USA, a former Minister of Petroleum and Education, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri and former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission. He stands the least chance of emerging of the lot as he has lost support of the party in his home stead.

Gombe Contenders from the state are former Governor Danjuma Goje and Professor Rufa’i Alkali. Alkali, a Professor of Political Science was, before his venture into partisan politics, a lecturer at the University of Maiduguri and later the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA).

At various times, he served Gombe State as Commissioner in charge of four ministries-Agriculture and Water Resources, Education, Special Duties and Higher Education and Information.

The political positions he held include the 2011 Chairman of Media & Publicity Committee of the Presidential Campaign Council; Chairman of the Media & Publicity Committee of the PDP Campaign Grand Finale; Chairman of the Media & Publicity for the PDP 2011 Special National Convention; Member of the Presidential Campaign Council of the PDP (2011); Chairman and Pro-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State and; PDP Gubernatorial Aspirant in Gombe State (2011). He also served as the party’s image maker for almost four years.

Bauchi The former governor of Bauchi State between 1999 and 2007, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu has thrown his hat in the ring. Mua’zu, who got to the Bauchi Government House after 16 years in private business, however lost his bid to represent his zone in the Senate during the 2007 general election.

There is also Dr. Musa Babayo who is a technocrat in the party leadership. He is the Acting National Secretary, following the ascension of his boss, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, to the National Chairmanship. He knows the working of the party and is believed to be well connected.

Yobe Former Police Affairs Commissioner Adamu Maina Waziri, a veteran governorship candidate, is in the race to take over the leadership of the party. In his favour are long tentacles across the country.

There are indications that governors of the Northeast are reluctant to allow candidates from their states emerge chairman. This factor may work in favour of candidates from Borno State as the contestants from the state seem to be pushing harder than others. However, this may depend on the success of on-going efforts of the lead-

ers to harmonise positions and come up with a consensus candidate. The four PDP governors, The Nation learnt, will soon meet to take a decision ahead of the convention.

Previous conventions But looking back at the past National Conventions since 1998, most of the National Chairmen emerged through consensus by critical stakeholders, especially the presidency, governors and National Assembly members. Only a few emerged through open election.

From 1998 to date, the PDP has been led by eight National Chairmen, six in substantive capacity and two acting chairmen.

The substantive chairmen were Chief Solomon Lar, Chief Barnabas Gemade, Chief Audu Ogbeh, Dr. Ahmadu Ali, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor and Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, while Dr. Bello Haliru Mohammed and the current holder of the office, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje were appointed to preside in acting capacity.

Apart from 2001 when the contest for the National Chairmanship led to a fierce battle between Gemade and Ogbeh, all others emerged through a consensus approach.

Southwest to produce National Secretary For the post of the National Secretary of the party, the Southwest will fill the position next year The National Secretary of the party, who is the chief administrative officer of the party, also has responsibility for the day-to- day running of the National Secretariat.

Those who have shown interest include the National Legal Adviser, Chief Olusola Oke (Ondo), Chief Ebenezer Babatope (Osun), who is a member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) and Chief Dapo Sarumi, a former minister, political tactician and founding member of the party in Lagos State. He lost the election to govern Lagos State to former Lagos State Governor and leader Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 1999.

Also gunning for the position is Chief Bola Olu-Ojo who served as a member of the 2011 National Convention Planning Committee.

He is the Ekiti State chairman of the party.

Others seeking to occupy the office of the National Secretary of the party include the former Secretary to Ekiti State Government, Ambassador Dare Bejide, former Education Minister and Ambassador, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, Professor Taoheed Adedoja who was once Minister of Sports and the former Director General of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Chief Akin Osuntokun.

The Southwest Zonal Working Committee is working towards pruning down the number.

Sources close to the Alhaji Tajudeen Oladipo-led executive told The Nation that a decision would soon be taken on which of the states should be given the slot.

Each state is giving reasons why it should be given the nod to represent the zone in the powerful position.

At the time of going to press, the National Executive Committee was yet to release guidelines for the Special Convention. For now, intense lobbying is on to get the critical stakeholders decide who does what to avoid what a NEC member described as “a rancorous convention”.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

17

THE NATION

INVEST NVESTORS ORS END OF THE

YEAR REVIEW

Capital market: Up today, down tomorrow A

LTHOUGH the capital market witnessed many landmark operational and regulatory changes, its actual performance nosedived considerably.

The negative outlooks of the primary and secondary markets overshadowed equally important regulations, enforcements and administrative changes during the period. The banking reform continued to impact on the stock market and to a large extent, it shaped performance during the year.

A losing market Against the background of a full-year average return of 18.9 per cent in 2010, the stock market suffered a major reversal in 2011.

Average loss by investors in equities stood at N1.6 trillion as the benchmark index indicated 19.1 per cent negative return. While many analysts had hoped for a stable and gradual recovery, the overall market situation flattened by the end of first half and became increasingly negative in the second half, eroding not only investors and operators' capital, but also confidence in the market. Aggregate market capitalisation of all quoted equities dropped from 2011's opening value of N7.914 to open yesterday at N6.337 trillion.

The All Share Index (ASI), the common value-based index that measures changes in the prices of all quoted equities, swirled from its 2011's index on board of 24,770.52 points to open yesterday at 20,045.31, representing a decline of 19.1 per cent. The ASI doubles as Nigeria's country index and serves as the benchmark return on investment for portfolio investments in the country. With inflation rate of 10.5 per cent, adjusted real return on investment rose to about -30 per cent.

This negative outlook was further compounded by the high interest rate, which averaged about 28 per cent. The Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had risen gradually to peak at 12.0 per cent.

Beside the unyielding decline in market values, investors' losses were also compounded by the nationalisation of three quoted banks- Afribank Nigeria, Bank PHB and Spring Bank, which were adjudged incapable of meeting recapitalisation deadline, two months before the expiration of the deadline. Investors lost about N30 billion to the nationalisation, which saw the conversion of the three banks to private limited liability companies wholly owned by government's bad debt special purpose vehicle- Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).

By Taofik Salako

They were consequently delisted from the stock exchange.

The year also witnessed considerable constriction in the investment opportunities in the market with several voluntary and regulator-induced delisting. Besides the nationalised banks, three other banks including Finbank Plc, Intercontinental Bank Plc and Oceanic Bank International Plc were delisted due to mergers and acquisitions in the banking sector. Another bank - Ecobank Nigeria Plc has also started the process of voluntary delisting. On a positive note, the banking consolidation brought the assets of a previously unquoted bank - Equitorial Trust Bank (ETB) Limited, to the stock market following acquisition by Sterling Bank Plc. Constricted marketplace Besides banking stocks, the year saw the highest concentration of voluntary delisting in recent years. The worrisome trend of voluntary delisting by several companies, which ordinarily should have used the market for their proposed turnaround and financial restructurings highlighted the failures of the capital market as a repository of capital and lack of incentives for quoted companies.

The delisting of Nampak Plc , Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) and United Nigeria Textiles (UNTL) not only reduced the available investment opportunities in a stagnated market, but was a major blow to the campaign to get several quotable companies unto the board.

Worried by the booby traps constituted by several moribund companies littering the two boards of the stock exchange, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) also delisted several companies including Nigercem Plc, Daily Times Nigeria Plc, Albarka Plc, Foremost Diaries Plc, Wiggins Teape, Okitipupa Plc, First Capital Investments and Trust Plc, Flexible Packaging, Newpak Plc, Krabo Plc and Tropical Petroleum Plc. The unimpressive performance of the secondary market compounded investors' apathy in the primary market, which considerably undermined the corporate funding capacity of the market during the period.

With the exception of few debt deals and last-quarter rights issue, the primary market was overtly inactive this year. This has left many companies with highly geared balance sheets while companies that had indicated interests in sourcing equity funds have remained edgy over the market situation.

This not only vitiates the role of the mar-

Conoil may increase cash payouts CONOIL Plc may raise its cash payouts to shareholders as its third quarter results indicated significant increase in net distributable earnings.

The report showed a 78 per cent jump in profit before tax from N2.6 billion last year to N4.6 billion.

Profit after tax also increased to N3.1 billion from N1.7 billion last year, representing an increase of 78 per cent.

Market analysts said they expected the dividend payout to follow the uptrend and

reflect the company's yearend profit.

Conoil shareholders have been enjoying uninterrupted dividend payments since the company was privatised about 11 years ago.

Overall, the company has paid a total of N7 billion dividend in the last five years.

Investment analysts at Apel Trust Ltd., a dealing firm on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), recently forecast that Conoil investors may reap as much as 31 per cent returns on their investments.

•DG, SEC, Ms Arunma Oteh

•CEO, NSE, Mr Oscar Onyema

ket as the bastion of capital formation and distribution but may also undermine the long-term returns to investors. Subscription reports of two companies- Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals and Flour Mills of Nigeria, which had concluded rights issues in the last quarter, are yet to be made public to gauge the mood of the primary market. Application lists for rights issues of two other companies-International Breweries and Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, are still on.

Silver lining Notwithstanding, the capital market recorded admirable improvements in regulatory surveillance and legal framework.

Although the forced closure of the management squabble at the NSE still lurked in the shadow, the emergence of new management at the NSE heralded stronger enforcement of post-listing rules and regulations, especially in relations to forecasts and periodic operational reports. NSE also introduced many rules and regulations to widen the operations of the market and secure investors' confidence.

These included the rules on shares buy back, market making and ethical guidelines for operators. NSE also engaged in many confidence-building interactive sessions with key stakeholders in the market including top management of quoted companies and operators.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) also introduced landmark guidelines and rules on corporate governance, Islamic fund management, new debt and equity issues, custodianship, operators' obligations and inter-party relationships during the period. SEC also jumpstarted the demutualisation of the NSE with the inau-

Forecasts Q1 2012 UACN Turnover N13.80bn Profit after tax N950m UPDC Turnover N2.33bn Profit after tax N317m MRS OIL Turnover N25.60bn Profit after tax N356m TOTAL Nigeria Turnover N47.92bn Profit after tax N1.05bn

SCOA NIGERIA Turnover N1.08bn Profit after tax N25.45m OKOMU OIL PALM Turnover N2.69bn Profit after tax N1.075bn

guration of a Demutualisation Committee in September.

The committee was expected to review the demutualisation, the timeline and approach for the demutualisation and necessary changes preceding the conversion among other recommendations that would lead to successful conversion of the Exchange. Demutualisation is the process by which a member-owned entity is converted into a joint stock company or public limited liability company.

It will allow the shares of the NSE to be quoted on its floor and widely available to all interested investors. NSE is currently a limited by guarantee company owned by its members including capital market operators and entrepreneurs.

However, the capital market regulators appeared to be laid back in the financial services regulatory structure, a lapse that has seen the capital market at the receiving end of most knee-jerk policies of the monetary management authority. This has also manifested in the absence of fiscal incentives and government's consideration in the onerous task of ensuring recovery and stable performance of the market.

With the clamour for a national policy which encourages or compels major companies in key sectors of the economy including oil and gas and telecommunication sectors, government needs to demonstrate supports for the capital market by undertaking the privatisation of the power sector through the market.

Government also needs to address the issue of multiple taxes, which undermines investors' returns. Overall, since the market is fundamentally return-based institution, 2011 will be noted for the bearishness and huge losses suffered by investors.

RESORT SAVINGS & LOANS Turnover N634.8m Profit after tax N75.46m GT ASSURANCE Gross Premium N5.0bn Profit after tax N368.92m

CUSTODIAN & ALLIED INS AFROMEDIA Gross Premium N4.44bn Turnover N1.077bn Profit after tax N40.214m Profit after tax N935.02m REGENCY ALLIANCE INS Gross Premium N589.13m BERGER PAINTS Profit after tax N209.8m Turnover N781.04m Profit after tax N74.0m GOLDLINK INS BETA GLASS Gross Premium N1.62bn Turnover N2.80bn Profit after tax N166.22m Profit after tax N430.1m

CORNERSTONE INS Gross Premium N2.33bn Profit after tax N165.32m CONTINENTAL RE Gross Premium N3.07bn Profit after tax N402m GUINEA INS Gross Premium N500m Profit after tax N18.1m Skye Bank Plc Gross Earnings N29bn Profit after tax N109m Nestle Nigeria Plc Turnover N22.70bn Profit after tax N2.78bn

18

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

19

EDITORIAL/OPINION EDITORIAL FROM OTHER LAND

COMMENT

Whose security?

•Voting over N900 billion emphasises money rather than other factors in pursuing safety

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SIGNIFICANT number of the members of the upper chamber of the National Assembly have rejected the N921.47billion vote for security in the 2012 budget proposal presented to the joint session of the National Assembly last week by President Goodluck Jonathan. While this initial rejection of the security budget proposal is commendable, what is most important is the way the matter is finally resolved.

Unfortunately, resolving issues in favour of the majority of the Nigerian people is seldom part of the strength of the National Assembly. A case in hand is the combustible issue of the petrol subsidy removal in which the National Assembly members remain factiously adamant; thus robbing the polity of the much needed checks and balances.

No doubt, violent threats to the security and collective survival of the Nigerian

‘However, throwing money at problems, which has become the predictable approach of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Federal Government, is not only appalling, but counterproductive. Like in the past administration, there is no guarantee that the society will be more secure with the injection of more funds. The Jonathan administration seems not to have learnt anything from the mistakes of its predecessors’

people in diverse forms remain a recurring decimal throughout the year 2011 and have indeed become the priority in the national security agenda. Understandably, therefore, a country seemingly under the siege and menace of suicide bombers, assassins, armed bandits, and other felons should be willing to do anything to protect the citizens.

However, throwing money at problems, which has become the predictable approach of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Federal Government, is not only appalling, but counterproductive. Like in the past administration, there is no guarantee that the society will be more secure with the injection of more funds. The Jonathan administration seems not to have learnt anything from the mistakes of its predecessors.

Here, the Niger Delta crisis becomes relevant. Apart from the amnesty programme ingeniously devised by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, the bulk of the monies previously thrown at the Niger Delta problem went into the private hands of a faceless cabal who neither had the noble intention of ameliorating the suffering of the people nor that of transforming the degraded environmental conditions of the region.

We have been here before; more layers of bureaucracies may have to be created, new ambiguous security-related cliché will enter the public vocabulary, foreign trips for selected public servants, seminars and conferences that are mere talk shops will be held everywhere without adding any remarkable measure of requisite security intelligence and safety to the body politic. Put differently, the huge money voted for security in the 2012 pro-

posed budget (if passed into law) may only generate more motion without movement.

With the present political and structural arrangement of the country, it is doubtful if the Federal Government will be able to police the 36 states of the federation without the local content and input of the federating states. The nitty-gritty of security may be national, but it is first of all, local and personal to individual citizens. It only becomes national because the individual is presumed secure within the ambience of the safety provided by the nation-state. This is why the president, as the chief executive is fully responsible for the security of the country. But security agents will have to do more than mere token and symbolic arrests of few and sometimes innocent citizens whenever a security breach occurs.

Rather than vote such a stupendous amount for security, the government would do well to address the problem of infrastructure, particularly power supply and ensure that the country is made more business-friendly. Many people who go into crime, at least in our environment, do so for lack of something meaningful to engage their time. When they are gainfully employed, those recruiting cannon fodders disturbing the peace of the country would have to look elsewhere for their foot soldiers.

All said, the National Assembly should return the budget to the president. No one, including the Presidency, can guarantee that corruption would not eat up the chunk of the proposed N.9 trillion budgeted for security. The money should be diverted to areas where it should be better utilised.

Mazrui’s lamentation • A foreign thinker chastens us over the curse of our oil wealth

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ENOWNED political writer, commentator and scholar, Professor Ali Mazrui, has added his voice to others who have been lamenting the state of poverty amidst oil wealth in Nigeria.

Professor Mazrui, an outsider, made this thought-provoking statement as a guest lecturer at the Second Goddy Dilemma Foundation Public Lecture in his paper entitled “Democracy and the Politics of Petroleum: Comparative African Perspectives”, in Lagos.

According to him: “Oil wealth has been an impediment to democratisation in the first 50 years of Nigeria’s independence”. He wondered why Nigeria’s petro-wealth should nurture a system of government by the affluent as it is in Nigeria today, rather than by the people.

He added that for an oil-rich developing country, the dilemma is either to use its national resources to create a welfare state or allow its citizens to have the commodity subsidised without a welfare state. He noted that while abundant oil wealth may not improve political democratisation, it could at least enhance economic rights as well as promote welfare opportunity for Nigerians.

Mazrui has said nothing new. Nigeria has wasted over N400 trillion of oil revenues through corruption, with little to show in the area of development. Millions of Nigerians perpetually live below poverty level. Sustainable infrastructure is partially non-existent.

For decades, Nigeria has not been able to solve its electricity problem. It is still a nation in perpetual darkness. Transpor-

tation is poor, and where available it is expensive and often dangerous. The roads are bad, thus leading to loss of lives through ghastly accidents. Our hospitals lack necessary equipment, to the extent that a few Nigerians who could afford treatment abroad do so regularly.

Nigerian pensioners are dying daily of extreme poverty due to non-payment of their gratuities and pensions. Our education is in a shambles. For years now, no Nigerian university has been rated among the 1,000 best in the world or 500 on the African continent. University graduates roam the streets while some of them have taken to crime. The general unemployment remains a fertile ground for insecurity of lives and property. Yet Nigeria is an oil-rich country!

Instead of closing the gap between the poor and the rich, the poor are getting poorer while the rich are becoming super rich, which has made observers to forecast an imminent revolt against the system. Yet, it is under this dangerous situation that the Federal Government intends to further impoverish Nigerians by its insistence on the removal of fuel subsidy.

If that happens in the New Year, the prices of goods and services will go up as a matter of yearly routine. While in civilised countries prices are increased by two to five percent, in Nigeria it is always astronomical, without any thought of its implication on the poor who, in all cases, bear the serious burden of such astronomical increases. In the midst of official corruption, prodigal and sense-

less spending of oil money by a few, it appears that Nigeria’s oil wealth is not for the poor but for the affluent few who are in control of the national treasury.

As long as this primitive accumulation of wealth remains unchanged either through a change of attitude by our rulers or by a revolution that may just be in the waiting, Nigeria will remain poor as a country even if its oil wealth is divinely increased by 100 percent. This is because greedy people do not stop wanting more until they are no more!

It is a shame that it took an outsider like Prof. Mazrui to alert the nation to the serious matter of poverty amidst plenty in Nigeria. What Mazrui was saying, in effect, is that, like other oil-producing countries, Nigerian citizens have no reason to be poor.

‘As long as this primitive accumulation of wealth remains unchanged either through a change of attitude by our rulers or by a revolution that may just be in the waiting, Nigeria will remain poor as a country even if its oil wealth is divinely increased by 100 percent. This is because greedy people do not stop wanting more until they are no more!’

Time for distracted drivers to hang it up

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T IS DISTURBINGLY commonplace: the driver with eyes cast down as he texts. The teen behind the wheel chatting away on a Bluetooth device in his ear. Cellphones, Blackberrys, electronic tablets and other personal electronic devices have dramatically changed the way most people go about their lives and do their work — and largely for the better. But irresponsible use of these revolutionary instruments has also introduced serious hazards.

Last year, about eight people died each day in vehicle accidents linked to distracted driving and the use of electronic devices. These 3,029 avoidable tragedies were a catalyst for the National Transportation Safety Board’s groundbreaking and potentially life-saving “no call, no text, no update” proposal last week. The board unanimously urged states and the District to pass legislation banning the use of personal electronic devices while driving; this would include prohibiting the use of “handsfree” devices, such as Bluetooth earpieces or headsets. The board proposed a narrow exception for emergencies for personal safety, reporting an accident or alerting police to a drunk driver. It also called on the CTIA-The Wireless Association and the Consumer Electronics Association to encourage development of technology that would disable portable devices that are within reach of the driver when a vehicle is in motion but could be overridden in emergency situations. The proposal would not affect devices, such as OnStar, that are embedded in vehicles; NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman says there are not enough data on the effects of embedded devices but that the board will assess these in the near future.

The dangers of texting while driving have been thoroughly documented, including in a study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, which showed that texting renders drivers 23 times more likely to have an accident or a close call. Thirty-five states and the District have banned texting while driving in the last three years.

States have been slower to prohibit cellphone conversations. Yet studies show that speaking on a cellphone while driving distracts a driver more than listening to music or speaking with a passenger. The District and 10 states, including Maryland, prohibit talking on a hand-held device while driving, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The use of a hands-free device does not appear to diminish the risks and in some cases may increase them. Research has shown that drivers who speak on hand-held devices at least tend to compensate by slowing down, while those on hand-free devices tend not to display more caution.

The American Insurance Association, which supports a total ban, calls the use of mobile devices by drivers “a major epidemic in our country.” Public awareness, legislation and enforcement are key to weaning drivers off of these devices. It should not take another 3,000 deaths.

– Washington Post

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

20

EDITORIAL/OPINION

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IR: Many commentators have in recent past assessed the Nigerian situation and concluded that Nigeria is a failed state.

In arriving at this debatable conclusion they draw attention to certain indices that point to this direction. The poor or non-existent infrastructures like – electricity, good roads, drinking water, healthcare, collapsed educational sector, high crime rates and unbridled corruption etc. all these they say are vivid reasons to conclude as they have done.

The failure of the Nigerian state to provide basic amenities has resulted in the cultivation of a do-ityourself attitude by it citizens.

The coming of motor cycle into commercial public transportation in Nigeria in this 21st century is a sad commentary on the state of things in the country.

Failed state or not, I believe that notwithstanding the rot in the system, some individual governors have excelled by simply coming out to prove that it is possible. The governor of Lagos State Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN manifestly leads this beautiful pack. I am of the opinion that given the level of development that Lagos State has been able to achieve under Fashola, the time has come to find a lasting solution to the menace of Okada riders in the whole of Lagos metropolis.

Lagos amiable governor has in the last few days expressed frustration with Okada riders and the havoc they are wreaking on Lagosians.

The governor has done the right

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Time to end the menace of Okada riders thing by setting up a think-thank of 32 eminent citizens to think through and proffer solution to the epidemic called Okada.

Yes! Okada riders menace has assumed proportion of a serious epidemic. What do you make of a group of people, ‘professionals’ who operate only by their rules?

Okada riders in Lagos ride on any side of the road, they do not obey traffic light, and they ride against traffic, possess razor edge temper, can insult anybody and have no respect for law enforcement agents.

With an Okada man you can never be right, whether he runs into you or he was driving against the traffic or he was on your side of the road, he is right. If you encounter him before you know, a swarm of Okada riders will be all over you.

You must either carry the man to the hospital or repair his motor bike and give him money or you will be lynched.

To think that majority of these operators are mainly foreigners who troop into Nigeria daily through our borders and claiming

to come from Borno or Sokoto State, and our governments and security agencies believe them, you wonder what type of a people we are.

Apart from the social menace of Okada riders, frightening statistics have been given of Okada related deaths or maiming. More frightening statistics have been given of the level of involvement of Okada rides in crime especially bagsnatching, outright armed robbery and bomb throwing.

I have engaged lots of Lagosians

• Biodun Mahmud, Ikoyi, Lagos.

To General Muhammadu Buhari at 69

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IR: I got to know about the birthday of former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari in the dailies. As a man I so much cherish because of his uprightness and Spartan discipline, I decided to pay him a tribute.

It is unfortunate that Nigerians continue to pay lip service to the issue of development, otherwise Gen Buhari would have been President of this nation today. Nigerian elites who are benefiting from the status quo are behind the manipulation of other Nigerians to reject

quality materials for those who would help sustain their stranglehold on the nation’s jugular.

Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, late Chief M.K.O. Abiola and Gen. Buhari are some of those that Nigerian parasitic elite debarred from leading this country. These elite are ubiquitous. They are in the armed forces, religious bodies, traditionalinstitutions, political and the business class.

Gen. Buhari is a tested leader; he has served the nation in different capacities in the armed forces, as minister, as military administrator,

Head of State and chairman of the Petroleum Task Force during the Abacha era. He proved his mettle as an astute administrator with unblemished records.

The War Against Indiscipline introduced during his regime in the early 1980s would remain a reference point in the fight against indiscipline for a long time to come.

During his regime, Nigeria’s economy was buoyant because Naira enjoyed stability and was stronger than some international currencies. Petroleum products were available at affordable prices.

Ajaokuta and Geregu.

The governor-elect and his deputy therefore have a great task of developing the state ahead of them.

The state is blessed with natural and human resources begging for exploration to boost its economic base, although its financial status is not anything to write home about.

The state civil service is a cesspool of corruption; civil servants loot the state treasury with impunity. The incoming governor would need to

overhaul the state civil service if he wants good result for his government.

Kogi State has been described as the third poorest state in the country. This is a disservice to the stakeholders who sacrificed for the realization of Kogi State dream. The citizens of Kogi look up to the incoming government to restore the glory of the state.

• Bala Nayashi Yashi Area, Lokoja

Task before Kogi goveror-elect

IR: The election of Captain Idirs Wada and Arc Abayomi Awoniyi indicate the status quo in Kogi State remains.

The governor elect has enormous task in restoring the confidence of the people of the state. Before the election, the morale of the civil servant in the state was at its lowest ebb, considering the non-implementation of most of the agreement reached by workers with the state government.

in debates on the usefulness of Okada in our daily lives and the general consensus is ‘not much’. I sincerely agree that the several hazards of Okada far surpass whatever benefit or usefulness if any to our daily lives.

I call on the governor of Lagos to take the bull by the horn and ban any form of Okada transport business in Lagos metropolis as soon as possible. Give us a cleaner, healthier and safer Lagos. We do not yet have Boko Haram here and we hope we would never have but while we are praying, we should not make it easy for anybody to try.

Other cities have banned Okada – Abuja, Enugu, Owerri, Port Harcourt, Calabar (where it all started), Maiduguri etc. What is Lagos waiting for?

Primary schools in the state lost a whole term without the pupil writing the end of the year examination due to the strike over non-payment of workers’ emoluments.

Lokoja, the state capital remains one of the worst state capitals in the country; the capital cannot boast of functional street lights like its counterparts in other parts of the country. Roads are not dualised and power supply is most epileptic in spite of two power stations in

Nigerian refineries were working at full capacities. All this happened because our economy had not been hijacked by the Breton wood institutions.

Gen Buhari is not without his Achilles heel which his opponents have been using against him. He was accused of high-handedness, particularly as regards his policy on drug peddlers and Decree 4 of 1984 which was meant to censor the press. He was equally tagged religious extremist and ethnic jingoist. Opposition had used the above to campaign against his presidential aspiration. Nevertheless, no one has accused him of corruption.

Discerning Nigerians know that for this nation to grow, we need a leader of Gen. Buhari’s character but no one is ready to forgo his privileged position and perks accruing from therein. This is why the nation is prostrate, groping in the dark and battling with corruption, insurgency, violent armed robberies, collapsed infrastructure, poverty, comatose economy and energy crisis.

• Adewuyi Adegbite Apake Ogbomoso

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21 , 2011

EDITORIAL/OPINION

Boat deaths; Are good results always cheating?

Christmas Needy; Court stenographers!

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ET us remember Chief Bola Ige on the 10th anniversary of his murder and pray for the families of all Nigeria’s murdered who still await justice.

Another preventable boat accident with 24 in-

Tony Marinho

nocent Nigerians denied life at Christmas eve because Nigeria remains too incompetent to enforce life jacket laws. A life jacket is N1,000 and reusable by 1000 passengers. A life jacket’s actual cost is N1/passenger.

Some brilliant youths are miserable this Christmas! Examination bodies must be cautious as not everyone who scores high is a cheat. Genuine brilliance must quickly be distinguished from cheating. A good score must be investigated before being called a fraud because even the suspicion of cheating may be very destructive to a honest youth’s psychological makeup. Youth have Text/Twitter to disseminate bad news. Unfortunately there are reports of cancelled or withheld results because of ‘too good’ scores.

The trauma to family and friends and the individual is unimaginable. Any such case should be referred to ‘An Examination Arbitrator’ where the individual and principal can be interviewed even over the phone when a few minutes chat and cross examination would identify a cheat. If not, the individuals can be invited for an oral examination before being labelled ‘cheat’. It is a breach of the human rights of the youth to a cheat-proof examination when the child is wrongly suspected, accused, found guilty and punished for ‘too good results’ by the same body. The examination system must protect the brilliant non-cheating students from arbitrary cancellation for being ‘too good to be true’! They are sometimes saved by parents fighting for an investigation but the system must be more protective than punitive.

There is Christmas/ New Year cheer for the governments at all levels as their Christmas present is already here. We Nigerians have just given them N612b -612,000,000,000 or

N6,000/Nigerian for the three tiers of government as follows N260b for federal, N261 for the 36 states + FCT, N106b for LGAs. All Nigerians should not be shy. Go to government offices, houses and NASS members for the cutting of the Christmas/ New Year ‘cake’ and collect your turkey, ram and bag of rice and envelope! You may get little else except ‘subsidy removal’. That money is not just for politicians to give to their political hangers on. It is also for all the aged, the unemployed, the needy and the challenged. With this Christmas/ New Year windfall money they must make quality contributions to the 10,000 charitable NGOs including each and every branch of Red Cross, Boy Scouts, Motherless Babies Home, Orphanage, Handicapped Home, Blind School in their states etc and not just NTA covered First Lady’s pet project babies or the one known to the governor.

And governments should please remember that they are not ‘donating’ gifts and money on their behalf but on ‘behalf of the people’.

Many Nigerians watched Michael Jackson’s doctor on trial and saw that the judge was not stressed in writing anything down. This reduced delays for manual recording. This was ‘modern’ court procedure introduced 50 years ago abroad.

The judge had access to audio visual and stenographic records recorded by professionals. Why does this group of professionals –Professional Court Recorders- not exist in Nigeria? Translate this into the Nigerian context where there is a lack of jobs and courts take too long to conclude because of poor court facilities and absent infrastructure.

It is obvious that the introduction of court-stenographers in Nigeria will create a new cadre by employing the needed 5,000-10,000 court and magistrate court stenographers, audio and video recording staff. Lawyers estimate that the courts will be speeded up to 60% if court stenographers are employed. President Jonathan and state governments can get a huge feather in their caps if they bring the Nigerian court into the 21st Century and encourage the state governments to modernise the magistrate courts.

Why is such simple improvement to justice such a Herculean task? Who loses from speedy trials – those who specialise in adjournments to protect their clients? Amaz-

ingly ‘Court Computer Literacy Courses’ are reported on NTA and celebrated in the Nigerian legal system as something innovative. Every judicial officer should produce a computer literacy certificate to be employable. ‘Computerising the Legal System in Nigeria’ is an urgent lecture topic and item for the Chief Justice –as a time saving issue. Justice delayed is justice denied is as true of computerisation as it is through the limitation of adjournments. What are the court vacations for, if not for self-development? Why is it that it is during the nine months court sessions that there are so many legal conferences and training sessions? Every day there is some special session or lecture. Who is in court?

No wonder the court system is so slow. Judges and magistrates should make public how many days they actually sit or deliberate on cases annually. Can the court not charge for ‘failed frivolous adjournments’? And why not take the other lesson from that trial and allocate continuous court time 1-4 weeks to a case?

Nigeria has seen over 1000 civilians being killed by uniformed groups. There will tears at many Christmas lunches or at New Year parties. More accountability and recruitment of psychologists for uniformed services cannot be overemphasised. In 2012, no Nigerian should be murdered by ‘officers’.

PS: Please Text MEXAHNYIA to friend and foe alike – ‘Merry Xmas and Happy New Year In Advance’.

‘The examination system must protect the brilliant non-cheating students from arbitrary cancellation for being ‘too good to be true’! They are sometimes saved by parents fighting for an investigation but the system must be more protective than punitive’

Lamentation of a ‘Chief Servant’

W

AY back in 2007, he caught the entire nation by surprise. The setting was in Minna, capital of Niger State. The occasion was the swearing-in ceremony of another governor for the state. At the end of the day, what finally emerged was a new state chief executive who made it clear that he wanted to be the ‘Chief Servant’ of the people.

Today, in the Government House, Minna sits a governor who prefers to be addressed as the Chief Servant. He is Aliyu Mua’azu Babangida. Prior to this, he had been a permanent secretary in at least four or five ministries at the federal level.

Therefore, Babangida’s foray into politics cannot be said to have come by accident. His wealth of experience at the topmost level of the Federal Civil Service must have adequately prepared him for his new assignment. This was made even easier and less cumbersome when he submitted himself to the service of his people rather than being served by the people.

What really matters is not the title itself but service delivery through good governance. The two are like Siamese twins. These days, the clamour for good governance and service delivery has grown in proportion and only someone who is eternally deaf can choose to ignore the hand writing on the wall. For instance, the protracted ‘rebellion’ going on in the north-eastern part of the country can best be described as a war against ‘injustice”.

Yes, the Boko Haram insurgency

that has almost paralysed political, social economic life in Borno State and other contiguous states has its root in the extra-judicial killing of a few individuals some years back.

The sudden death of these people ignited outrage and condemnation throughout the country and even beyond. When the heat became unbearable, the government waded in, and ordered the arrest of the policemen involved in the killing of the suspects. Although they have since been put on trial, the government’s action came to the sect as medicine after death. To put it more succinctly, it was too little, too late.

What this means is that by the time the government decided to move against the blood-thirsty security agents, members of the sect had made up their mind to avenge the death of their leader and others who were sent to their untimely graves. Initially, it started as isolated attacks on security agents in Maiduguri metropolis and environs. It later snowballed into guerrilla warfare in which sophisticated guns and explosives have been brought to play. Just like a cancerous growth, the attacks have since spread to neighbouring states of Yobe, Bauchi, Kaduna, Kano and even Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. The attacks have so rapidly gained momentum that today, the fear of Boko Haram is the beginning of wisdom.

Imagine the latest scenario. The leaders of the northern states, under the aegis of Arewa Consultative Forum, met in Kaduna recently

‘The Chief Servant has identified the major problems confronting the North. It is, therefore, left to the leaders and elders to put heads together and devise ways to end the crises’

to try and look at the disturbances in the North and proffer solutions.

Not only were some notable northern leaders conspicuously absent from the forum, those who turned up carefully avoided expressing open condemnation of Boko Haram and the insurgency it had mindlessly unleashed on the region. Not only this. A forum that was meant to be a peace-seeking platform where the leaders of the North were to meet and discuss a common problem and find a solution came under heavy security cordon. No fewer than 1,000 battle-ready mobile and regular policemen were drafted to the venue of the meeting and its environs. To me, what this means is that even the leaders have become too terrified by their recalcitrant children who have taken up arms against their people and the establishment.

In the ‘war of attrition’ which the Boko Haram has been waging for more than one year now, nothing, absolutely nothing, has been spared: security agents - police, soldiers, customs officials, prison warders - have been killed; mosques, churches and other places of religious worship have been attacked and or burnt down; and Islamic clerics, Muslims, Christians, the old and young have been callously mowed down. It goes on and on, and the orgy of killings, maiming and destruction is not about to abate, the heavy presence of special security forces, otherwise known as Joint Task Force, JTF, notwithstanding.

Even though all previous peace initiatives have failed, one man who has been relentless in the efforts to broker peace is Aliyu Mua’zu Babangida, the Chief Servant of Niger State. In a recent interview, Aliyu, who also doubles as the chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum, gave a useful insight into the violence that has

pitched its tent in the North. He blamed the crisis on injustice, youth unemployment, breakdown of the family system, neglect of the traditional institution, poor planning and the brainwashing of youths by those he described as mischievous Islamic clerics.

According to Aliyu, “if you were told 10, 20 years ago that a Nigerian could be bombing a place, you would say not in northern Nigeria.

So, it means our planning and our level of intelligence information have not been useful. Our research and development should reflect the new thinking of how to marry these competing groups.” While apportioning part of the blame to misguided Islamic preachers, the governor said: “At times, if you go to hear the kind of sermon they make, you will be wondering whether it is an Islamic sermon or it’s just a sermon of somebody who is annoyed with the society.” He faulted the promise of paradise which the hate preachers usually make to would-be suicide bombers, saying: “Any good Muslim will tell you that suicide is not part of Islam. In fact, we have it that if you commit suicide, you will not go into paradise, no matter your reason. So, for anybody to say he is a suicide bomber because he is extending Islamic tenets is not true.”

Aliyu said there is “an international dimension to the crisis. And we must not also run away from it.

Borno is a border state to Chad. We know what is happening in Sudan.

We know what has happened in Libya. We know when Gaddafi was alive, the kind of relationship he was having with some of these neighbouring countries.” The governor urged negotiation with Boko Haram and other aggrieved parties, explaining, however, that “negotiation with these people does not have to be a formal government negotiation.” Using the ex-

Dele Agekameh ample of Borno, where the Boko Haram’s violent campaign is fiercest, the governor said: “We have religious leaders in Borno; we have the traditional rulers. They could be empowered to go into negotiation with these people.”

On a final note, the governor regretted that the North has failed to take advantage of its dominance of political power in the country to develop itself. He advised the North to shed the toga of conservatism because “you need to conserve what is conservative and you need to progress where you need to. You can’t continue to be conservative when the people need education; you need infrastructure to be able to take care of the people. Now, if you cannot do that, then definitely there is nothing to conserve.”

What a curious lamentation!

Nothing can be further from the truth. Aliyu has hit the bull’s eye.

As they say, he who wears the shoe knows where it pinches. The Chief Servant has identified the major problems confronting the North. It is therefore left to the leaders and elders to put heads together and devise ways to end the crises. This way, they will save the entire country from a looming Armageddon.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

22

EDITORIAL/OPINION FROM THE CELL PHONE Jonathan is hiding his inefficiency by telling us that the economy will collapse if subsidy is retained. He should be courageous enough to throw in the towel if he has no other solution to the country’s economic challenges. He was not elected to dictate to us, period! From Alhaji Adeboye Lawal, Felele, Ibadan’

• EFCC Acting Chairman Lamorde

For Olatunji Dare You will not make me burst my ribs! The laughter that “Long live the transformation” wells up within me is intoxicating.

But, then, I recall it was Aikhomu rather than Diya that claimed the paternity of the wonder loaf. Anonymous Point of correction! He never said he would leave in 2015. He said he would be eating the bread till he leaves the State House. It could be in 2019 which is constituional. He’ll be bowing out in 2019 God willing. From Abulu Francis.

God bless you. Your write-up “Long live the transformation” had me laughing uncontrollably. With the indefinite ASUU strike, Boko Haram, and the subsidy debate, this is a good way to take one’s mind off all the wahala. God bless you, once again.

Vive la transformation! From Ochuko, Benin City Re: “Long live the transformation.” If the presidency, the parliamentarians and the judiciary make the eating of the cassavacontent bread a daily practice and the public see, the programme will be a success.

That aspect of transformtion will show President Goodluck Jonathan as being on the right path, at least for once. One hopes the taste of the cassava-content bread would not end in the Federal Executive Council’s last meeting, as usual. From Lanre Oseni, Lagos.

I would like it if you can write an article or interview lawyers on the topic “Can Landlord and Landladies Association disconnect electricity supply of other landlords just because they are defaulting on certain dues of the association? Anonymous Your write-up on “Long live the transformation” was a master piece. In fact, l dreamt the removed fuel subsidy will be pumped into cassava bread production to make it available on the tables of all Nigerians. I hope my dream comes true. From Momy G, Kano You never fail to brighten my day. May your ink bottle never run dry. From Ben Pever, Zone 4, Abuja Jonathan’s transfomation agenda is good, so that my people of Benue can reap good money from the sale of casava this time around. In short, they will stop selling to middle men in order to maximise profit.

Thank you Jona, my man. From Bemgba Abeka.

“Long live the transformation”’ did not make much sense to me, but you are a must read. Anyway, the import I got from your message is that a whopping one billion naira is wasted on feeding by a minute fraction of our population. May God save the masses. From ADEYCorsim,Oshodi Lagos Dictator Gadafi perished the same way Faro, Idi Amin, Sadam, and others did; to confirm the Holy Bible’s stand - “The king’s powerful army cannot save; Ps. 33:16-17.

Only Jesus can declare a Holy war. Anonymous.

Re: The EFCC’s revolving door. Ebenezer Obey says “do your best and leave the rest”.

That is exactly what befits Nigeria. Farida

Waziri had done her bit and best in EFCC and for Nigeria. If the hawks want to crash Nigeria, so be it; and if they want its growth, so be it. We need leaders who will act less, from ‘hear-says’ but objectively. A word is enough for the wise. From Lanre Oseni, Lagos.

If the head is bad, what can the body do?

Jonathan is weak. This woman tried, she has been crying for adeqaute funding, special court, but, instead, they sacked her. From Andy EFCC and other anti-graft agencies are mere nomenclatures. Those who create these agencies are themselves corrupt and do everything possible to ensure they fail.

Israeli MOSSAD can’t fight corruption in Nigeria. A woman who has guts to arrest five ex-governors should be celebrated and not demeaned. That is the consequence of knowing your job in Nigeria. Anonymous Mrs Waziri has done her best. Nigeria is too big for an individual. Let’s pray for the incoming person. Anonymous I love your piece today. The fluorish, cadence and transluscent imagery are heart warming. From Napoleon Dede LLM As a matter of fact, Mrs Waziri’s performance was in a God fearing way. But those who hate her, caused the situation that led to her being sacked from the EFCC chairmanship. She is a woman that took the responsibility of a man. We are waiting to see the new chairman’s performances. From Cecilia.

Mrs Farida Waziri is now recieving her own blow, Lamode would also recieve same, one day. From Chief Obahinkin Ife Olukotun, Kogi.

Your article on “The EFCC s revolving door” says it all. However, Farida remains my numero uno among cops. More ink to your pen. From Oludare O. “The EFCC revolving door” is remarkably significant not for what they say about Mrs Waziri but for your subsimission on her consolation. Thanks, for putting us in the know. From ADEYCorsim, Oshodi, Lagos.

Hope you are not standing as an attorney for Mrs Waziri? Is it a crime to appeal a 170-count charge judgment in the Appeal Court? Mrs Waziri personally wrote a congratulatory leter to Ibori for his victory in the High Court, and you said she did not compromise. Mrs Waziri will definately face the law. With petitions flying here and there, she will soon be a guest to the same commission she once chaired. From Anonymous Well done for your frankness on the undeserved treatment of Mrs Waziri by government. A government that is serious about fighting corruption should have appreciated her courage and encouraged her.

I think she was too fine and firm for their liking. Mrs Waziri remains a first class crime-fighter. She is my idol, my hero...only time will vindicate her. From Bar Zokas “EFCC’s revolving door”. The woman exposed herself to the world. My candid observation from afar is that she behaved like an old and very local police officer. She got to EFCC and pretended to be poor but suddenly became flamboyant in dressing and glamorous in life style. What a deceitful and contradictory character as an antigraft official. From Joe Afolalu Ado. You’ve spoken right. Our government is a fraud, only God will save us from bad luck. Anonymous I do not suport the sack of Mrs Waziri because she is honest with her job, and she is competent. I am begging Mr Presìdent on her behalf to, please, bring her back. God bless Nigeria. Anonymous

For Gbenga Omotoso I absolutely concur with all the issues raised in your piece of Thursday. The Nigerian situation is regretably moving beyond uno “‘I have no shoes to wear, to I have a lot of enemies to fight.” The President should do something urgently to address the issues enumerated in your piece by removing some controversial ministers who drive their ministry on ethnic agenda and corrupt tendencies. Please, keep it up.

Anonymous Good day sir, our president told us that he is ready for revolt. We are not surprised, he needs weapons to fight the masses in case they revolt. To him, the budget is in order. From Okwudili Editor, your Editorial notebook today “A peep into 2012” is food for thought. I hope they (government officials) will read it and try to amend. Kudos to you. Merry Christmas and Happy New year in advance. From Hon Falegan Gbenga (J.P).

Re: “A peep into 2012.” Multiple problems and pains are what President Goodluck Jonathan has put into the citizens’ baskets to sell in the open market. Fuel queues have begun in Port Harcourt, Ilorin and Abuja, among others, without having formally removed the subsidy. One thing my President refused to understand is that, the opponents of subsidy removal are more in number than the proponents. He should listen less to Okonjo-Iweala and the governors. They are all specialists in crossing the borders when the people rise! Subsidy must continue as long as corruption is unabated! The President must be focused.

Anonymous Jonathan is surely learning fast from OBJ, his benefactor. He is putting the cart before the horse. He wants to remove the subsidy before cushions. Why not cushions before removal of subsidy. From Alh. Adeboye Lawal, Felele, Ibadan Ninety per cent good/tarred roads, 80 per cent security and defence of Nigerians and properties, 70 per cent electricity generation and distribution and 80 per cent health facilities are quick-wins before thinking of subsidy removal from fuel.

They make citizens listen. Without, the citizens are infuriated! The OPC did not act well. It was an indirect mannerism of inviting trouble when gently, trouble lies. I totally agree they erred. Jonathan the President, remember you must be Pro-Poor! A word is enough for the wise. From Lanre Oseni, Lagos.

A dog that will get lost will never listen to the hunter’s whistle. Leave Jonathan to do what pleases him, In due time, the masses will answer him and his advisers. Anonymous Thanks for your piece. Fuel subsidy removal is dodging the whole problems we face in Nigeria. Those who ruled Nigeria before now, like Gowon, have advised. Let Jonathan listen to the voice of reason and experience and avert further suffering we are facing in the country. From Zechariah E. G. Jos, Plateau State.

On “A peep into 2012,” Nigeria, evil men are ruling you again! Anonymous Jonathan and his crew have fired the shots.

The day of reckoning is near. Nigerians are only waiting for the “Last Straw.” The ides of March is coming! From Sam Imagbe, Benin City.

“A peep into 2012” is a timely warning for the genuine transformation of our country, hence the consequences are obvious to even the so-called transformers of our polity.

•Minister of Finance Dr Okonjo-Iweala

Thanks for your truthfulness. From ADEYCorsim, Oshodi Lagos“A peep into 2012” is another master piece. “A dog that is destined to go astray will never listen to the hunter’s whistle.” I think GEJ wants to be seen as the last president of this country. For God’s sake, there are pressing issues calling for urgent attention Mr ‘’Subsidy’’ should look into. general insecurity, hunger, Boko Haram menace, decline in education and many others threatning the existence of this country as a result of failure of leadership. They should be enough headache for a responsible goverment not ill-timed and undue fuel subsidy removal. “You do not lead by hitting people over the head —that’s assault, not leadership”- Swight David Eisenhower’s wise words... Mr President! Anonymous.

For Tunji Adegboyega Jonathan is hiding his inefficiency by telling us that the economy will collapse if subsidy is retained. He should be courageous enough to throw in the towel if he has no other solution to the country’s economic challenges. He was not elected to dictate to us, period! From Alhaji Adeboye Lawal, Felele, Ibadan.

Abi dem swear for this country? I said this because some of our leaders are signs of God’s wrath on a country. From Adio, Bariga, Lagos.

I can now understand through your submission and other Nigerians’ that those of us who voted for Buhari voted right. Anonymous.

Any form of dissent in the North will end up with religious and political implications for a matter that is purely economic. Anonymous.

I read your article on December 15 on the wall of Jericho that is crumbling in the power sector. In my primary school days, we used to say that he who does not know that he does not know is a fool. Now, we also say anyone who does the same things the same way always and expects different results is insane. Nigeria adopted the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) in 1986. Since then, Nigerian leaders and the learned sing the praise of capitalism, deregulation, subsidy, privatisation and so on, refusing to think. No wonder they are expecting a bloody revolution. Let us start thinking of how to avoid a revolution. From Prof F.E. Ogbimi.

I have read your article on power and allowing states to generate and distribute electricity. Fine. But, is it true that Nigeria supplies or, once upon a time, supplied Ghana electricity? Many Nigerians believe this.

Please, put the record straight. From Peter.

Re: Your apology to Obasanjo. He actually said before the 1979 election that the best candidate may not win; we all knew who the best candidate was in that election. From Fafore Dayo, Kaduna.

Kudos to you for your Sunday articles which alongside that of Mr Femi Orebe are my “Sunday, Sunday medicine.” What Obasanjo actually said in 1979 was that the best candidate may not win. From Adekunle Adeyemo, Lagos.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

23

NATION SPORT

T

Insist of correct document –Omidiran

HE deputy chairman House Committee on Sports Hon. Ayo Omidiran, has warned the Nigeria Football Federation

From Andrew Abah, Abuja

(NFF) not to accept the Football House awarded to PUAL – B

Amokachi, Okocha for Kuffour's match

N

IGERIA ex-internationals, Daniel Amokachi and JayJay Okocha are among the star names who would arrive in Ghana on Thursday for Sammy Kuffour's testimonial in Kumasi on December 23 the GFA reports. The ex-Ghana international will be joined by a host of world renowned footballers as he bids his final farewell to the game after making his international debut in 1993.

Football stars Lothar Matthäus and Andy Cole, Cameroon's Rigobert Song and Raymond Kalla and South African duo of Lucas Radebe and Mark Fish will also be on parade on Friday at the Baba Yara Stadium.

According to organisers, Sammy Kuffour will first line up for the 'Friends of Kuffour team' who will be spotting branded Bayern Munich shirts before swapping sides to wear the national jersey for the last time when he joins a select Black Stars team.

Kuffour will then carry with him the Ghanaian flag and take the final lap of honour in the last ten minutes of the match and will be joined by colleagues who would follow up with the flags of all the sides he played for during his sterling career. Tickets range from GH 4:00 - Popular Stand, GH 7:00 Centre Line and GH 30:00 - VIP. A three-time Ghana Footballer of the Year, Kuffour, announced his retirement in September 2008 after a career spanning over a decade and having appeared at every tournament organised by FIFA; U17, U-20, Olympics, World Cup as well as four appearances at the Africa Cup of Nations. He spent a successful period with Bayen Munich from 1993 to 2005 and won everything there is in club football from the Bundesliga, UEFA Champions League and the Intercontinental Cup.

Kuffour was named by CAF as one of the 30 best African footballers of all time and was twice, 1999 and 2001, runner-up in the Africa footballer of the year award. He featured for Torino, Bayern Munich, AS Roma, Livorno and Ajax during his playing career.

Construction Company by the PTF on behalf of the NFF, if the document of the house does not bear the name of Nigeria Football Federation.

Omidiran while chatting with NationSport at the National Assembly complex explained that with past experience as ex-NFA board member where the NSC eggheads could wake up one morning to lock up the building any time the NFF declines to do the bidding of NSC. “Look I know what I am saying, we experienced it during Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima tenure as NFA chairman. After his election in Kano the NFA secretariat was locked up making it impossible for Galadima to operate”.

Said the lawmaker.

•Aminu Maigari

Mikel wants Chelsea perfection C

HELSEA’s John Obi Mikel believes the team needs to learn from their mistakes after throwing away the lead to draw with Wigan on Saturday.

The Blues led the game after a goal from youngster Daniel Sturridge but a mistake by goalkeeper Petr Cech saw Wigan midfielder Jordi Gomez slot the ball in to earn the Latics a point.

Chelsea now lie nine points behind league leaders Manchester City in fourth place in the Premier League and Obi Mikel told the club's official website that Andre Villas-Boas' side needs to learn

from their mistakes.

He said: "The goal was a lucky goal but it was a mistake from us, but this is what we need to learn from.

"We knew what we were coming into, it was going to be hard it was going to be difficult and they certainly made it difficult.

"We started the game well and then problems just kept on mounting, we found it hard to get hold and control the game.

"They played very smartly, pushing everyone forward and made it difficult.

"We just have to keep on going."

DOLPHIN/SUNSHINE FC

It's a different ball game –Ogunbote H

OW are you looking forward to Dolphins/Sunshine Stars 2011/2012 NPL star match.

A good game. I think it is going to be truly a star match. May be it is destined to be so.

Is there going to be revenge as they beat you for the league crown last season.

No, last season is gone and we are trying to put it behind us.

I want to see it as challenge. Last season we had opportunity of playing twice, they defeated us in their home and we won the reverse fixture at our home.

This is another season, it is going to be a different ball game.

What are your expectations from the 2011/2012 season.

We want to present a good team and at worst do better than we did last season.

How are you preparing for the CAF Champions League campaign as you are drawn bye in the first round.

I want to see it as a blessing in disguise for us because we did well but not too well in the last CAF

•Mikel

Echiejile stars in Braga win

S

UPER Eagles' left-back, Uwa Elderson Echiejile scored his first goal of the season on Monday as Sporting Braga defeated SC Olhanense 4-3 in a thrilling Portuguese Super Liga match.

Echiejile had played seven games for the Portuguese side previously without hitting the back of the net.

The 23-year-old, however, had a superb game at the Estadio Jose Arcanjo with a brilliant strike for Braga in the 64th minute.

Echiejile had picked up a red card for the Portuguese side in the UEFA Europa League last Thursday but as widely expected, he was reinstated back to the starting lineup by the Braga coach, Leonardo Jardim.

He repaid his manager’s faith in him with a goal and an overall decent showing that saw Braga claim important away points and move up to 4th in the standings.

SuperSport.com can report that Braga has lost just twice after 13 matches this season.

The ex-NFA board member also advised the Aminu Maigari-led board to demand for all documents relating to the house before commissioning.

It would be recalled that the contract for the Football house was awarded for three hundred and fifty million naira to be completed in 52 weeks.

Confederation Cup. Expectation will be very high this season and because expectation will be high we need to start off on good note as well as do well in the CAF Champions League.

What is the make up of your squad in the coming season.

I can't tell you now whether we have lost any player but that is not far from being the reality.

We're going to beef up the team in all departments. Although, it will not be a whole sale of the team, just talking about seven, eight players.

Where will you be playing your home matches.

Hopefully in Akure, the stadium is ready, it is just the track that is delaying and I think that will not take more than two weeks to fix. Our fans want us back home, let's see how it will look like.

Did you miss your fans last season.

I can say categorically yes. More importantly when a team did well outside its base, I just pray returning home will not bring too much pressure on us.

NFF commends Supersand Eagles, COPA organisers

T

HE Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has hailed the National Beach Soccer Team, otherwise known as Super Sand and Eagles, for the team’s triumph and general quality performance at the just-ended COPA Lagos International Beach Soccer Tournament.

NFF President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari, who was at the three-day event to cheer the Supersand Eagles to the well-deserved victory at the international event, said the performance of the team foretells a new, positive story for Nigeria

football in the coming year.

“The boys did very well to overcome their three opponents, especially the blitz of the Brazilians in the final. It was a marvelous performance throughout as they put South Africa and England to the sword as well.

“The team has done well this year, coming from second place at the African Beach Soccer Championship in Morocco, quarter final berth at the World Cup in Italy and a fifth-place at the FIFA Intercontinental Cup in Dubai”, said the NFF President.

Maigari also heaped praise on the team for showing patriotism. “You could see that the players not only showed exemplary skills and quality of approach, their patriotism and total commitment was there for all to see and applaud. And they were able to present some kind of Christmas present to Nigerians.

“The NFF is determined to continue to orientate our players and coaches on the need for absolute commitment and patriotic fervour going into any match or tournament. These values are key to success”.

The NFF President also commended the organisers of the COPA Lagos 2011, saying that all who were there attested to the excellent organisational and smooth flow of all programmes.

“They have done very well, not only by bringing the tournament to Nigeria, but with the maturity of the organisation”, added Maigari.

The Supersand Eagles won the tournament after a 7-3 defeat of South Africa, 5-2 whiplash of England and a royal 9-4 mauling of four-time world champions Brazil on the final day on Sunday.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

23

NATION SPORT

Insist on correct document, Omidiran tells NFF T

HE deputy chairman House Committee on Sports Hon. Ayo Omidiran, has warned the Nigeria Football Federation

From Andrew Abah, Abuja (NFF) not to accept the Football House awarded to PUAL – B

Amokachi, Okocha for Kuffour's match

N

IGERIA ex-internationals, Daniel Amokachi and JayJay Okocha are among the star names who would arrive in Ghana on Thursday for Sammy Kuffour's testimonial in Kumasi on December 23 the GFA reports. The ex-Ghana international will be joined by a host of world renowned footballers as he bids his final farewell to the game after making his international debut in 1993.

Football stars Lothar Matthäus and Andy Cole, Cameroon's Rigobert Song and Raymond Kalla and South African duo of Lucas Radebe and Mark Fish will also be on parade on Friday at the Baba Yara Stadium.

According to organisers, Sammy Kuffour will first line up for the 'Friends of Kuffour team' who will be spotting branded Bayern Munich shirts before swapping sides to wear the national jersey for the last time when he joins a select Black Stars team.

Kuffour will then carry with him the Ghanaian flag and take the final lap of honour in the last ten minutes of the match and will be joined by colleagues who would follow up with the flags of all the sides he played for during his sterling career. Tickets range from GH 4:00 - Popular Stand, GH 7:00 Centre Line and GH 30:00 - VIP. A three-time Ghana Footballer of the Year, Kuffour, announced his retirement in September 2008 after a career spanning over a decade and having appeared at every tournament organised by FIFA; U17, U-20, Olympics, World Cup as well as four appearances at the Africa Cup of Nations. He spent a successful period with Bayen Munich from 1993 to 2005 and won everything there is in club football from the Bundesliga, UEFA Champions League and the Intercontinental Cup.

Kuffour was named by CAF as one of the 30 best African footballers of all time and was twice, 1999 and 2001, runner-up in the Africa footballer of the year award. He featured for Torino, Bayern Munich, AS Roma, Livorno and Ajax during his playing career.

Construction Company by the PTF on behalf of the NFF, if the document of the house does not bear the name of Nigeria Football Federation.

Omidiran while chatting with NationSport at the National Assembly complex explained that with past experience as ex-NFA board member where the NSC eggheads could wake up one morning to lock up the building any time the NFF declines to do the bidding of NSC. “Look I know what I am saying, we experienced it during Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima tenure as NFA chairman. After his election in Kano the NFA secretariat was locked up making it impossible for Galadima to operate”.

Said the lawmaker.

•Aminu Maigari

Mikel wants Chelsea perfection C

HELSEA’s John Obi Mikel believes the team needs to learn from their mistakes after throwing away the lead to draw with Wigan on Saturday.

The Blues led the game after a goal from youngster Daniel Sturridge but a mistake by goalkeeper Petr Cech saw Wigan midfielder Jordi Gomez slot the ball in to earn the Latics a point.

Chelsea now lie nine points behind league leaders Manchester City in fourth place in the Premier League and Obi Mikel told the club's official website that Andre Villas-Boas' side needs to learn

from their mistakes.

He said: "The goal was a lucky goal but it was a mistake from us, but this is what we need to learn from.

"We knew what we were coming into, it was going to be hard it was going to be difficult and they certainly made it difficult.

"We started the game well and then problems just kept on mounting, we found it hard to get hold and control the game.

"They played very smartly, pushing everyone forward and made it difficult.

"We just have to keep on going."

DOLPHIN/SUNSHINE FC

It's a different ball game –Ogunbote H

OW are you looking forward to Dolphins/Sunshine Stars 2011/2012 NPL star match.

A good game. I think it is going to be truly a star match. May be it is destined to be so.

Is there going to be revenge as they beat you for the league crown last season.

No, last season is gone and we are trying to put it behind us.

I want to see it as challenge. Last season we had opportunity of playing twice, they defeated us in their home and we won the reverse fixture at our home.

This is another season, it is going to be a different ball game.

What are your expectations from the 2011/2012 season.

We want to present a good team and at worst do better than we did last season.

How are you preparing for the CAF Champions League campaign as you are drawn bye in the first round.

I want to see it as a blessing in disguise for us because we did well but not too well in the last CAF

•Mikel

Echiejile stars in Braga win

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UPER Eagles' left-back, Uwa Elderson Echiejile scored his first goal of the season on Monday as Sporting Braga defeated SC Olhanense 4-3 in a thrilling Portuguese Super Liga match.

Echiejile had played seven games for the Portuguese side previously without hitting the back of the net.

The 23-year-old, however, had a superb game at the Estadio Jose Arcanjo with a brilliant strike for Braga in the 64th minute.

Echiejile had picked up a red card for the Portuguese side in the UEFA Europa League last Thursday but as widely expected, he was reinstated back to the starting lineup by the Braga coach, Leonardo Jardim.

He repaid his manager’s faith in him with a goal and an overall decent showing that saw Braga claim important away points and move up to 4th in the standings.

SuperSport.com can report that Braga has lost just twice after 13 matches this season.

The ex-NFA board member also advised the Aminu Maigari-led board to demand for all documents relating to the house before commissioning.

It would be recalled that the contract for the Football house was awarded for three hundred and fifty million naira to be completed in 52 weeks.

Confederation Cup. Expectation will be very high this season and because expectation will be high we need to start off on good note as well as do well in the CAF Champions League.

What is the make up of your squad in the coming season.

I can't tell you now whether we have lost any player but that is not far from being the reality.

We're going to beef up the team in all departments. Although, it will not be a whole sale of the team, just talking about seven, eight players.

Where will you be playing your home matches.

Hopefully in Akure, the stadium is ready, it is just the track that is delaying and I think that will not take more than two weeks to fix. Our fans want us back home, let's see how it will look like.

Did you miss your fans last season.

I can say categorically yes. More importantly when a team did well outside its base, I just pray returning home will not bring too much pressure on us.

NFF commends Supersand Eagles, COPA organisers

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HE Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has hailed the National Beach Soccer Team, otherwise known as Super Sand and Eagles, for the team’s triumph and general quality performance at the just-ended COPA Lagos International Beach Soccer Tournament.

NFF President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari, who was at the three-day event to cheer the Supersand Eagles to the well-deserved victory at the international event, said the performance of the team foretells a new, positive story for Nigeria

football in the coming year.

“The boys did very well to overcome their three opponents, especially the blitz of the Brazilians in the final. It was a marvelous performance throughout as they put South Africa and England to the sword as well.

“The team has done well this year, coming from second place at the African Beach Soccer Championship in Morocco, quarter final berth at the World Cup in Italy and a fifth-place at the FIFA Intercontinental Cup in Dubai”, said the NFF President.

Maigari also heaped praise on the team for showing patriotism. “You could see that the players not only showed exemplary skills and quality of approach, their patriotism and total commitment was there for all to see and applaud. And they were able to present some kind of Christmas present to Nigerians.

“The NFF is determined to continue to orientate our players and coaches on the need for absolute commitment and patriotic fervour going into any match or tournament. These values are key to success”.

The NFF President also commended the organisers of the COPA Lagos 2011, saying that all who were there attested to the excellent organisational and smooth flow of all programmes.

“They have done very well, not only by bringing the tournament to Nigeria, but with the maturity of the organisation”, added Maigari.

The Supersand Eagles won the tournament after a 7-3 defeat of South Africa, 5-2 whiplash of England and a royal 9-4 mauling of four-time world champions Brazil on the final day on Sunday.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

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NATION SPORT Sultan preaches peace in football •Urges NFF to focus on grassroots HE Sultan of Sokoto, His Royal Eminence Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar has called on all stakeholders in football in the country to sheate their swords and rally round the Aminu Maigari-led Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

Speaking on Tuesday, during a courtesy visit by members of the NFF Executive Committee led by the President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari, the Sultan also charged the NFF to wake up and plan hard to return Nigeria football back to the top in the coming year.

“It is good that your board has realized the shortcomings and the pitfalls of the outgoing year. The first step to solving a problem is to accept that there is a problem, andfrom there, you move to tackle it. Now, it is time for your board to come up with solutions that will propel our football even to heights that it had never been before”, said the Sultan, himself a consumate football enthusiast, who was Camp Commandant of the Nigeria contingent to the Olympic Games in Atlanta in 1996, in his days in the military. That was the Games where Nigeria won two gold medals, one coming from football – a first for Africa.

His Eminence also reminded the NFF chieftains of the importance of football in Nigeria life. “Your Board should realise football is one of the strongest unifying factors in our country. The Government must capitalize on this, and not relegate football to the background. Over the years, sports as a whole has become used to firebrigade approach. This must stop. NFF must learn to prepare early for big matches and tournaments.

“I strongly suggest that you also go back to the grassroots, to discover, nurture and monitor talents. Good players are everywhere in this country; they only need to be discovered. Also, I believe you should organise a Stakeholders’ Summit, where you can garner a lot more ideas to help on the way forward for the game”, said Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar.

At the Sultan’s Palace for the occasion was the first Executive President of Nigeria, Alhaji Shehu Shagari. There were also NFF Executive Committee members, Alhaji Muazu Suleyman, Dr. Shehu Adamu, Alhaji Ahmed Yusuf Fresh, Hon. Suleiman Yahaya Kwande and Alhaji Ahmad Muazu Kawu, as well as NFF’s Director of Competitions, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi.

NFF President’s aides Ibrahim Gusau and Nasiru Jibril were also there.

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Keshi to shop for friendlies at CAF Award

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UPER Eagles’ coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi will hit Accra, the capital city of Ghana on Thursday for the CAF/Glo awards holding December 23, 2011.

According to the Big Boss, attending

•Eagles in training

Ajiboye back from Spain for Dolphin

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IGERIA Olympic team first choice goalkeeper Dele Ajiboye is set to join NPL champions Dolphin after his contract in Spain was not renewed.

Ajiboye’s contract at lower tier Spanish club Pontevedra CF, who he joined in 2009, has not been renewed.

The 21-year-old is best remembered

for his penalty-saving heroics as Nigeria won a third FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2007 at the expense of Spain.

He has also represented Nigeria at U20 level.

MTNFootball.com gathered that Dolphin have pencilled three top goal keepers led by Ajiboye for the forthcoming season.

I’m not yet the Rangers’ coach –Emordi

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OACH Okey Emordi has said he is not yet the coach of the Enugu Rangers.The immediate past coach of Enyimba has attened two training sessions of the Coal City lads preparatory to the start of the 2011/2012 NPL season.

The NPL's new season is scheduled to kick off on January 7, with Rangers

Secretary; Fred Udo-Akagha, former Captain who becomes entertainment Officer; and Shittu Suleiman, re-elected Financial Secretary.

Ige, who becomes the 14th chairman of the section, has several illustrious predecessors including Larry Ettah (2004-2005), Group Managing Director/CEO, UAC of Nigeria Plc; Mr Bajo Osinubi; Mr Frank Ekeng; Arch. Akin George, Col. Ernest Onwudiwe and Arch. Tunde Philips.

going against Warri Wolves in Enugu. Emordi told SuperSport.com that not until he endorses his contract papers he will not see himself as coach of the Flying Antelopes.

"Nothing has been concluded that is the latest as at this moment.

"Except everything is concluded today(Tuesday), that is, I sign the contract papers, I won't be at their training session on Wednesday (today)."I was at the training session on Monday and Tuesday just to bring down the tension. "People were speculating whether I won't come for the Rangers job after I was linked with 3SC job.

"I reported to their training session to assure them of my interest but that interest will end shortly if all discussions are not successfully concluded today."After today, it may still be possible that I become a free agent once again."

Emordi informed SuperSport.com that he opts for a year contract. "I decided for one year contract, that is what I want so that it could be renewable," he said.

NFF remains firm on coaches’ wages

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HE Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) insists it will not be stampeded into increasing the wages of the assistant coaches of the national Under-17 team, the Golden Eaglets.

Assistant coaches of the team, Emmanuel Amuneke and Emaka Amadi were quoted in some national dailies rejecting the N350,000.00 (about $2,200.00) put on the table by the NFF. The Federation has now reacted

the home-based Eagles,”said Keshi.

Keshi will be in Accra in company of the NFF president, Alhaji Aminu Maigari.

Meanwhile, the ex-NNB captain, held a meeting with the home-based players in camp at Bolton White Apartment. He told them that his intention was to build the future Super Eagles from the local leaque.

He tasked them to justify their invitation. “you must prove to me that you are good and even better them those playing abroad. Don’t be afraid go there to give me course to invite you again”. Keshi stated.

G

Taye Ige elected Squash Section ENOWNED Sports Chairman Marketing Executive, Mr

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the CAF award would afford him the opportunity to discuss some international friendly matches with

other coaches handling the African teams.”I want to have a solid home bases team that can stand the test of time and give the foreign-based a run for their money. Most of the friendly matches will be executed by

Femi Thomas dumps Ocean Boys

LAGOS COUNTRY CLUB

Taiye Ige has been elected chairman of the Squash Section of the Lagos Country Club.

Ige, Managing Director of Hotsports Nigeria Limited, succeeded Mike Adekoya who held the coveted office for three terms of one year each.

Also elected unopposed at the 2011 Annual General Meeting of the section are: Demola Olusunmade, the former Entertainment Officer now vice chairman; Cyril Ayemere,

From Andrew Abah, Abuja

insisting it will not be held o ransom by either of the trainers.

“It (the wages of coaches) is not something that we negotiate.

Salaries of coaches are fixed and the coaches have the option to either accept or refuse it,” Chairman of the NFF’s technical committee, Christopher Green told SuperSport.com.

The NFF chief further hinted that the coaches were free to walk away from their posts if they were not

comfortable with the pay packet put on the table.

“There are so many coaches out there who are willing to work (as assistant coaches of the Golden Eaglets) and if they (Amuneke and Amadi) are saying they are not happy with the wages we have offered them, it means they are not interested in the job,” Green said.

The head coach of the Golden Eaglets receives N750,000.00 (about $4,700.00).

Stanley Eguma, who has made the 2012 CAF Champions League top, is assembling a formidable side and so has opted for Ajiboye as well as Olympic team reserve goalkeeper Theophilus Afelokhia from Kano Pillars.

Heartland’s keeper, Austin Brown is also set to return to Dolphin as the Port Harcourt outfit go all out to win the Champions League next year.

A top official of the Port Harcourt side, who are reportedly set to off load some players revealed to MTNFootball.com, “Coach Eguma has listed three goal keepers for the new season, even though he is still keeping it close to his chest I know that he has Ajiboye, Afelokhia and Austin Brown in his plans for next season.”

The official added that, “by the end of next week, the coach is most likely to make public his list of players for the season.”

Dolphin at the weekend defeated an NPL All-Star side by a lone goal to signal their intention for the 2011/2012 NPL season and the CAF Champions League.

The Port Harcourt side takes on NPL runners-up Sunshine Stars in the curtain raiser of the league at the Liberation Stadium of the first day of the new season.

The Nigeria Premier League kicks off on January 7.

OALKEEPER Femi Thomas will quit NPL side Ocean Boys for league new comers Akwa

United.

Thomas revealed to MTNFootball.com that “talks are at an advanced stage and in a matter of days I should be with Akwa United”.

The Olympic team shot stopper further disclosed, “I want to believe that my next destination would be Akwa Ibom.

“I have been with Ocean for over two years and I enjoyed my stay there but I think I need a fresh challenge and that is the major reason I am heading to the Uyo outfit not necessarily because of the money.”

The agile Thomas has played for the Nigeria U20, the Olympic team as well as the country’s ‘B’ team.

He came to prominence during Nasarawa United’s CAF Champions League campaign in 2007.

•Femi Thomas

Kwara United storm Kaduna for pre-season tournament

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WARA United Football Club of Ilorin joined other eight clubs in a pre-season tournament organised by Kaduna Football Association to tune up and assess invited players ahead next Nigeria premier league season scheduled to start 7th January.

The club’s Media Officer, Olayioye Ajide, informed NationSport that the Kwara team stormed the city of Kaduna with 30 players including both old and invited players who will be put to test in a match situation as they trade tackles against Jigawa Golden Stars, Boro FC and Ranchers FC both of Kaduna.

Other clubs in the pre-season game which will end on Friday are IMAD FC, Kaduna United FC, Bakoji Stars, DSS FC and Kaduna Academy.

Kwara United won its first match

By Akeem Lawal against Boro United by a lone goal through new invitee Segun Alebiosu.

Speaking on the Kaduna pre-season tournament, the Chairman of the club, Alhaji Toyin Olokoba said that new players could be assessed properly in a match situation better than screening or trial exercise.

Olokoba, who is also the Special Assistant on Sports Matter to the state governor, added that selected players from the Kaduna pre-season competition will proceed to Ijebu-Ode thereafter for close camping.

Kwara United is scheduled to play its first league match against Ocean Boys in Ilorin on January 8, 2012 when the season must have kicked off.

CONFAB

PREVENTION

PROJECT

A day of joy at Customs

Foundation moves against desert encroachment

Suswam inaugurates block of classrooms

Abuja

Adamawa 37

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Benue

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Email: news_extra@yahoo.com

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

Page 25

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HEY came out in their large numbers and hopeful of a sudden swift change in their economic fortunes. Some came to the venue in tattered robes while some dressed moderately, at least to cover up their situations that are not cheery.

Over 100 widows, physically challenged, youths and women had gathered at Ilorin, the Kwara State capital at the behest of the wife of the state governor Omolewa Abdul Fatah Ahmed, who had amassed some livestouching items that would help in turning the beneficiaries’ lives around.

Her pet project Life Empowerment Anchors Hope (LEAH) Foundation, in conjunction with Apeks Micro-finance bank, had assembled empowerment materials for the beneficiaries. The state government also contributed.

Expectedly, it was all fun at the ceremony during which about N2m cash was donated to joint market associations, fish sellers, tailoring and share market associations. Other items distributed were 60 grinding machines, 22 deep freezers, four embroidery and sewing machines, two shoe-making machines, two hair dryers among others.

In a remark, Mrs. Ahmed said the scheme was designed to scale up the economic fortunes of the less-privileged in the society.

Her words: “What we are witnessing here today is in conformity with globally agreed standards of lifting people at the lower cadre of the society out of extreme poverty. I am certain that, by the grace of God and with consistency, such programmes, over time, would go a long way in lifting a sizeable number of our people out of idleness and poverty, thus making them contributors to the national wealth.

“The beneficiaries of today’s empowerment programme include the widows, the physically challenged people, youths and

•Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdullafatah Ahmed and his wife, displaying a cheaque presented to Share Market Association

Kwara governor’s wife’s succour for the downtrodden Market associations share N2million Govt seeks efforts from individuals From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

women. I want to congratulate all the lucky recipients. I would also want to advise them to make judi-

cious use of this opportunity given them.”

The governor’s wife listed some of the projects so far embarked upon by the foundation to include

clinic on wheels; the Omolewa Safe Motherhood Initiative; LEAH medical trust; LEAH infant trust fund; LEAH widows support scheme and LEAH educational trust

fund.

Earlier in her address, the administrator of the foundation, Mrs. Bukola Akinleye had decried the prevalence of poverty in many African countries.

The administrator noted with sadness that “it is a fact that poverty abounds in our society and is perhaps the most challenging problem facing African countries in recent time. It is not only •Continued on Page 26

Ex-lawmaker counsels the disabled

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•Sen. Dangin

HE physically challenged people have been urged to build their self confidence and avoid any tendency of succumbing to the pressure of life, as this would translate to self defeatism.

They were also advised not to limit themselves and the opportunities before them due to inferiority complex but should engage in meaningful ventures instead of wallowing into self-pity and resorting to begging.

From Marie-Therese Peter, Jos

A Third Republic Senator, Venmark Dagin, who is a physically challenged person, gave the advice in Jos, the Plateau State capital recently. Interestingly, Senator Dagin did not allow his disability to dampen his spirit. Rather, he has risen above his disability to positively impact positively on the lives of the people around him in particular and the nation in general.

Senator Dagin, who was recently rewarded with a national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) for his contributions towards nation-building, said such feat could not be achieved if he had bowed to pressures of disability.

He said: “Some people with disability do not believe in themselves and they give the society the room to label them thereby making them feel inferior to the able- bodied people. Like me, being on the wheel chair is not what one wants

but if it comes, you have to accept it because you are not the only one to be in such situation.

I always advise people to look round. If you are blind, there is someone that is crippled. If you are deaf and dumb, there are people like that before you and after you.

“Blind people are professors, deaf and dumb can read and write, many people are in this •Continued on Page 26

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

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Kwara governor’s wife’s succour for the downtrodden

Ex-lawmaker counsels the disabled •Continued from Page 25

•Continued from Page 25 a physical thing. It is also a self-defeating phenomenon, because it inflicts a feeling of low self-esteem on its victims.

“It is a vicious cycle which, if not well tackled, can continue from one generation to another. We are all aware of the grave social and criminal vices that poverty can lead people into.

“Today’s programme is aimed at alleviating the effects of poverty in the lives of the beneficiaries. We sincerely hope that this single seed we are planting today will produce multitude of its kind.

“We hereby call on all individuals and institutions of good will who share similar vision with us to come and partner with us so that together, we can improve the welfare of our people.”

I am certain that, by the grace of God and with consistency, such programmes, over time, would go a long way in lifting a sizeable number of our people out of idleness and poverty, thus making them contributors to the national wealth •Beneficiary receiving deep freezer and generating set

Q

UESTIONS abound on the desirability of a toll gate along the Eti-Osa/ Lekki Expressway, Lagos. Should people who pay their taxes also pay to use the road?

Why not introduce infrastructure levy, instead of the toll? Are there alternative routes for motorists who may want to avoid the toll road? Is the toll affordable? Why tolling when the road is still under construction?

For six months, the introduction of toll along the busy road has been a subject of controversy. The road is critical to the economic prosperity of Lagos as it links the metropolis with the Free Trade Zone in Ibeju-Lekki, proposed international airport and hydrocarbon park. The multi-billion naira project has led to the influx of investors in real estate, industrial and

situation so do not be depressed. There is no point wallowing in self-pity and blaming God and people around you. Dust yourself up, stay focused and seize any opportunity that comes your way to make yourself relevant instead of taking to begging and becoming the lowest in the society.”

Speaking further, Senator Dagin, who was one-time national president of the Gindiri Old Students’ Association (GOSA), one of the most vibrant alumni associations in the nation, however called on stakeholders in the Plateau State education sector to revive the sector and make it take its pride of place as it was in the olden days.

His words: “The education sector has been officially examined in the states and Plateau State was second to the last. There is a great decline in the sector; so we need to double up to reclaim our position because Plateau State used to be among the top states that were doing well academically.”

He also advised residents of the state to be patient and co-operate with the security personnel despite the stress and hardships, even as he advised them to learn to live in peace with one another so that development can be attained in the state.

“Hotels are bankrupt because of lack of visitors; conferences which used to hold in Plateau have failed to hold because of insecurity; there is no investment; social stress and unemployment are growing and we cannot continue like this,” he maintained.

Meanwhile, a former GOSA national president who took over from the Senator, Prof.

Suleiman Bogoro praised President Goodluck Jonathan for honouring people with integrity like Senator Dagin, saying, “Senator Dagin is Mr. Integrity on the wheel chair. He does not abuse office and he ensures that anyone associated with him does same. He is really a great man whose lifestyle should be emulated by all.”

Is Eti-Osa-Lekki toll gate in bad faith?

By Emmanuel Oladesu

commercial ventures, private buildings and hospitality business. These have also boosted skilled, semiskilled and unskilled employment in the area.

Communities along the long route have raised eyebrow. Motorists have protested the tolling option, describing it as a mark of insensitivity. The state government had to defer the commencement of the toll to enable it consult with the stakeholders. As a people-friendly administration, it

was also important to address certain communal concerns, including the provision of motorable alternative roads and progression of the road works to Cheveron Office, along the route.

The newly constructed road is a masterpiece. The feat of reconstructing it was achieved 25 years after it was first opened up. The four lane carriage has subsequently become outdated due to the population explosion. The additional two lanes has boosted convenience and there are plans to further increase the lanes in the future.

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy Lateef Ibirogba said that the road represented another phase of the mega city project. The road, he told reporters, has increased safety of motorists, premised on reduction of accidents along the corridor. All these were possible through the implementation of the “Concession Agreement” under the Lagos Infrastructure Project, a 30-year contract under which a private company was authorised to design, construct, finance and operate the highway, now dubbed as “concession area”.

There are additional values of incident management system, ambulance service, vehicle recovery assistance to broken down vehicles, free customer help line, and security patrols on the stretched road.

The parties to the contract are the state government and Private/Public Participation (PPP), and Lekki Concession Company Limited owned by Asset and Resource Management Company Limited, Larue Projects Company Limited and African Infrastructure Investment Fund, managed by Macquarie Group; and Hitech Construction Company Limited. The concession execution date was April 4, 2006. It expires on November 10, 2038. The contract followed due process, which was rati-

fied by the House of Assembly on May 27, 2007.

Ibirogba said that the dearth of resources motivated the PPP model, stressing that the widening of the road has brought relief to residents of the area. Since the private companies that handled the construction borrowed money to do the job outside government, it is imperative that they should raise toll to repay their debts and make reasonable profit.

PPP has become a brand in the state, with the road project trailing the success of similar projects, including 12.14MW Akute Power, 9.7MW Island Power, 270MW AES Power, BRT Scheme, Ferry services, hospitality management services, Lekki Free Trade Zone and Light Metro Rail Transit.

Justifying the toll, the commissioner said that it is a worldwide practice, stressing that “it is the main source of revenue through which the concessionaire is expected to recoup its investment in construction and maintenance costs, while also providing a reasonable return on investments”. He explained that government did not contemplate infrastructural development levy because it is discriminatory, adding that it could also discourage investment along the corridor.

ADVERT 2X2 •The chairman Ejigbo Local Council Development Area, Kehinde Bamigbemitan (middle), representative of Chartered Institute of Local Govt. and Public Administration of Nigeria, Dr. Agunya Andrew (left), and Ejigbo Council Manager, Babatunde Mesewaku (right), during the presentation of award of the most distinguished council manager in Lagos State, to Mesewaku by the institute, at the secretariat

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

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A day of joy at Customs

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HE Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) was in celebrating mood recently and it was for good reasons.

The service hosted a world class event in Abuja at which similar services from across the world were present to the acclaim of the World Customs Organisation, while President Goodluck Jonathan again took time off his busy schedule to attend to matter relating to the NCS and was again left in no doubt that the organisation under Abdullahi Dikko Inde as Comptroller-General is doing well.

When the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) received an approval from the World Customs Organisation’s (WCO) at its 65th session in Brussels in June 2010 to host the 66th session of the global body, no one was left in doubt that the approval was in appreciation of the strides made in the NCS by the Dikko’s administration.

By this approval, it has become apparent that the NCS has taken its proper place in the comity of the WCO which comprises 177 Customs Administrations in addition to the membership of the European Union.

As further prove of the appreciation of the achievements of NCS, Mr. Mikuriya Kuno, the Secretary-General of the WCO, visited the country for the first time. This was in February.

He was attracted by the performance of the NCS and wanted to have firsthand information and a glance.

This resulted in the Policy Commission Meeting which was first of its kind in Sub-Sahara Africa.

The policy commission, among others, initiates policies, practices and procedures for consideration by the Council, assists the Council to achieve its broad aims of activities and considers all reports from various committees, working groups and forwards same to the WCO Council for ratification.

Having secured the hosting right, and characteristic of the Dikko- led administration, it started preparations in earnest, which culminated in the just-concluded hosting of the WCO. Before the hosting took place, certain steps were taken by the NCS preparatory for a successful hosting of the

“W

HEN I was young, my siblings and I use to trek up to four miles every morning to fetch water before we go to school. It was so painful to discover that after several years of sojourn abroad, I came back to the country only to see my people still suffering the same problem of water, which almost cost me my education, I decided to do something about it”.

These were the words of Mr. Festus Mbisiogu founder of Uzotex Foundation and Good Governance Initiative (GGI), when he handed over four bore holes which he single handedly drilled in four different villages in Ideator South Local Government Area, Imo State about a month ago.

•President Goodluck Jonathan cutting the tape to commission the college/centre. With him from right are Mr. Kunio Mikuriya, Secretary-General, World Customs Organisation, Comptroller General of Customs, Abdullahi Dikko, representative of Senate President, Sen. Basy Ottu and Minister for Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga

By Musa Omale

world body.

In his usual doggedness, the Comptroller-General of Customs set the ball rolling.

To ensure success, he constituted a hosting committee over which he personally presided as chairman. He was assisted by the Deputy ComptrollerGeneral in-charge of Strategy, Research and Planning.

The other sub-committees which were chaired by competent officers were the Secretariat, Protocol and Transport, Secretary/Medical, Enter-

tainment and Publicity, Accommodation and Finance.

The committees, keying into the CGC’s drive and vision began work immediately, working tirelessly and with a dexterous synergy to put in place all the necessary arrangements which climaxed in the impressive outing.

Also, in line with his agenda of fostering mutual inter-governmental relations, the CG got all relevant government agencies and other stakeholders involved in the preparation which also yielded the desired result as all hands were on deck to

Activities at the college should be extended beyond the region such that other institutions/organisations from far and near that may be interested in acquiring knowledge would be accommodated

achieve a successful hosting.

With adequate preparation in place, the much-awaited Policy Commission Meeting commenced on December 5, 2011 at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja. It was declared opened

by President Goodluck Jonathan who was represented by the coordinating Minister of the Economy and Hon Minister of Finance Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. The opening speech left no one in doubt as to the importance of the WCO Policy Commission Meeting.

The speech hinged on the role of Customs in the economy of any nation. Okonjo-Iweala enumerated the achievements recorded by the NCS in terms of revenue collection, antismuggling operations, trade facilitation and consistent implementation of Government Fiscal Policies.

This indicates that government will continue to encourage and support the NCS to play prominent roles at the WCO. This, as the minister said, is premised on the high regard Nigeria has for this very important world body, and relevant international organisations.

The Minister appreciated the numerous challenges faced by Custom administration worldwide, even as she advised that a coordinated intelligence sharing among the various Customs administrations and other relevant agencies could help check-mate the challenges.

She further pointed out the potential for investments in the country and advised the forum to take maximum advantage of them. She concluded by declaring open the 66th meeting of the WCO Policy Commission.

In his welcome address, the Comptroller-General stated that Nigeria, and indeed the NCS are particularly elated by the singular honour of hosting the World Customs Family and the representatives of the Private Sector Consultative Group (PSCG).

He added that Nigeria, which aspires to be among the first 20 world economies in the year 2020, has embarked on transformation, fight against corruption and institutional building so as to create an atmosphere conducive to doing business, which he said is blessed extensively with •Continued on Page 38

Foundation donates boreholes, generating sets

By Jude Isiguzo

However, due to the problem of instability in electricity supply in the country, Mbisiogu, a fortnight ago, donated four generating sets, one to each of the villages where the bore holes were sunk to power the project.

He also donated four additional one thousand liters water tanks to each of the villages to assisting the existing ones serve the numerous people trooping the bore hole points to fetch water.

Mbisiogu through one of his NGO, Uzotex Foundation wiped away tears

from the eyes of many indigenes who have suffered untold hardship as a result of the scarcity of water.

The villages that benefited from the project are Duruonuora, Umikpa, Duruozokwere and Duruonyeka in Umuchima.

Women, men and children from these villages and other nearby villages and communities were so overwhelmed with the gesture that some openly shed tears to express their joy, while others prayed God to bless the founder of the foundation and enlarge his coast.

It was an emotional moment as in-

digenes recounted their ordeal during the dark days when streams in other communities used to be their saving grace and how their children became never do wells in their schools because of lateness following the distance they would travel in the morning to get water.

In his address during the commissioning ceremony, Mbisiogu, who is also the Chief Executive Officers (CEO) of Blue Diamonds Logistics China, described the gesture as part of measures to support the Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha in his desperate crusade to alleviate suffering and poverty in the state.

Mbisiogu noted that it’s unfortunate that in the 21st century, a country like Nigeria is yet to provide adequate water supply in every home.

“It is surprising that water which is available in every home in Europe, Asia and America is still gold in Nigeria. Government should wake up to its responsibility and deliver the dividends of good governance to its people”, he emphasized.

Speaking on the instability of electricity in the country, he said one of the reasons Good Governances Initiative came into existence is to focus on the need for steady power supply.

Mbisiogu explained that no meaningful development can be achieved in any society without stable electricity supply. While presenting the generating sets and water tanks, Mbisiogu urged the state government to fulfill it promise of a transformer to the community, which is aimed at •Continued on Page 38

ADVERT 2X2 •From left: Dr Nwachukwu; Editor, Champion Newspaper Ltd, Justus Nwakanma; Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Kenneth Emelu

•Mbisogu delivering his speech at the event

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

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Dry season farmers seek help

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• Yakowa

RY season farmers in Kaduna State have sought government’s assistance in their efforts to boost food production.

In separate interviews with journalists in Kaduna, the farmers said that their needs included loans, farm implements and agroallied chemicals.

They maintained that as much as they desired to contribute to the food security programme of the Federal Government, they were severely handicapped because of the outlined problems.

An irrigation farmer, Malam Bara’u Haladu, lamented that although he had a large area for irrigation activities, he had abandoned it due to lack of funds and support from the state government.

Another farmer from Bagoma Village in

NGO disburses N26m on soft loans

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Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), in Bauchi State, Rahma Women Development Programme,has disbursed N26.9million as soft loans to 430 women in 2011. Its Programme Officer, Hajiya Hadiza Musa, made this known to newsmen in Bauchi .

She said that each of the beneficiaries was given a sum of N10,000 at the initial stage, while at a later stage, the loan could be increased to N50, 000, if there was no default in payment.

She added that the repayment period was six months with effect from the date the loan was disbursed.

Musa said each of the prospective beneficiries was expected to deposit N2,000 as collateral security.

“Women are encouraged to form groups and each of them will be given the amount of money requested for, and serve as one another’s guarantor.

“If you are able to collect and pay loan on three different occasions, then you alone can apply for N50,000,’’ she said.

Musa further explained that through

Bauchi Partners for Development, the NGO was also able to disburse about N12.3million to women to enhance their businesses.

Speaking on ‘Leadership Empowerment Advocacy and Development (LEAD)’, Musa said the NGO had so far sensitised 10 out of the 12 wards in Bauchi Local Government Area on governance.

She said the project was to enhance grassroot participation in socio-political and economic activities in recent time.

Vehicle owners warned

Foundation moves against desert encroachment

Kaduna Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of the state, Umaru Muhammad, stressed the need for government to upgrade irrigation fields in different parts of the state, to enhance the performance of farmers.

He said that hundreds of farmers, who prepared their irrigation fields by River Kaduna, in readiness for the season, needed some moral and financial support from the state government in order to succeed.

“Farmers willing to produce crops such as wheat, rice and maize in large quantities can only cultivate little fields because they cannot afford the high cost of cultivating large fields.

Aliyu Muhammad, another farmer, said that apart from paucity of funds, which hampered the efforts of the farmers, frequent clashes between them and cattle rearers also contributed to the problem.

He added that lingering clashes had resulted in the destruction of hundreds of hectares of farmlands, pointing out that he had to delay the planting of maize and okro for fear of his farm being invaded by cattle.

Alhaji Shekari Doka, on his part, traced the plight of the farmers in the state to the menace of pests and other crop diseases, adding that the development had discouraged farmers from expanding their dry season farming activities.

Reacting to the issues, the Head of Media, Kaduna Agricultural Development Proramme (KADP), Malam Shehu Aliyu, advised dry season farmers to always seek advice and expertise from extension workers of the programme, to improve on their farming techniques for improved yields.

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• Former Chief Justice of the Federation ,Muhammed Uwais (left),Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu (right) and Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Health ,Godwin Ndudi Elumelu at the National Roundtable for Good Governance organised by “The Initiatives “ in Abuja

20,000 ghost workers on local govt pay roll N O fewer than 20,000 ghost workers have been detected on the pay roll of the 25 local government areas in Niger State, the Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Alhaji Garba Tagwai, has said.

Tagwai, who made the disclosure in Minna while briefing newsmen, said the ghost workers were discovered during the screening of the local government staff and

The Lagos State Police Command has warned owners of vehicles parked at Area G Police Command, Ogba, to remove them immediately or forfeit same through auction. They are: 1. Honda car – GT1465SMK 2. Tanker lorry-XB502UKP 3. Jagua-BQ321 SMK

SON spends N20m to destroy sub-standard tyres T

HE Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), says it has spent about N20 million in destroying more than three million fake and sub-standard tyres nationwide.

The Director of Enforcement of SON, Mr Louis Njoku, who made the disclosure in an interview with journalists in Abuja, also noted that about two million fake and substandard tyres were still in the organisation’s dump site.

Njoku said that the organisation would not relent in its efforts to rid the country of fake and sub-standard goods, adding that ignorance of the law was not an excuse.

According to him, SON has carried out series of awareness and enlightenment campaigns to market associations and manufacturers on the dangers inherent in the consumption and use of sub-standard goods.

“Nigeria is a very peculiar place and it is very big and businessmen being what they are, want to make profit and when they do that, we are at the end there waiting for them.

“Though I want to tell you that the manufacturing and importation of some substandard and fake goods like tyre are done ignorantly while some are done with

Abuja

intention but I want to tell you that ignorance of the law is not an excuse.

“And that is why we are making sure that wherever you are doing the wrong thing we will get to you. If you are importing and you think SON is out of the port, we are at the other end waiting for you,’’ Njoku said.

The director said that SON’s officials were at the borders, warehouses and markets, monitoring the quality of goods that come into the country on a daily bases, saying the organisation had signed series of MoU with market association as part of its efforts to check the influx of sub-standard goods.

“We believe that self-regulation is very easy, we are facing a lot of challenges in our job, so what we are doing is that we are working with the people on ground, the market association monitoring themselves, ensuring that those that are doing the right business still remain in business while we take out the sub-standard and illegal product,’’ he said.

•Chairman, Ikosi Isheri LCDA, Hon Abdul Fatai Oyesanya (middle) his Vice- Chairman, Mrs Bolanle Onikosi with Ketu/Mile 12 Market Leader, Alhaji Haruna and others during the chairman’s visit to the market gutted by fire

•From left: Pastor Taiwo Oyeyemi, National Secretary,Agbekoya Farmers Association , Chief Kamolu Okikiola Aremu, President General and Chief Olatunji Bamidele Publicity Secretary at an executive meeting of the association at Oko Oba,Lagos PHOTO: BADE DARAMOLA

Council chair urges support for governor

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HE Chairman, Transition Committee, Remo North Local Government in Ogun State, Hon. Adebiyi Adeleye has urged residents of the state to be patient with Governor Ibikunle Amosun in his effort to develop the state and make it the pride of all stakeholders.

Hon. Adeleye made this appeal at his office in Isara headquarters of Remo North Local Government Area while addressing some party leaders who were in his office to express their appreciation to the transition committee for touching the lives of residents in their wards.

A press statement issued and signed by the Council’s Director of Information, Mr. Oloyede Oyeniyi quoted the council chief as describing Governor Amosun as “a committed leader, a welfarist par excellence and a quintessential pragmatist” who knows the meaning of true development. He pleaded that Governor Amosun needed more time to fashion ways to cushion the effect of the hardship which the immediate past governmen in the state had plunged them.

The council chief reminded the people that government started from zero level and infact, Ogun State before the current administration, bore the tag of underdeveloped status, adding that the government had since taken some

37

revolutionary steps to correct the situation.

Adeleye praised the governor for embracing honesty of purpose, prudence and transparency in the day-to-day administration of Ogun State, adding that by so doing, Senator Ibikunle Amosun had added value to governance.

He alluded to the recent rehabilitation of roads, provision of some textbooks in core subjects, free exercise books for primary and secondary schools , rehabilitation of some schools, health facilities, regular payment of workers’ salaries, refusal to tamper with local government’s statutory allocation and zero tolerance for corruption as concrete evidences of Governor Amosun’s s i n c e r e identification with the h o p e s , yearnings a n d aspirations of the people.

•Amosun

HE British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation has established woodlands to control desert encroachment in 11 states across the country.

The Events and Publication Manager of the foundation, Mr Tajudeen Akinwande, made the disclosure in an interview with journalists in Mubi,Adamawa State.

Akinwande said that some 50 hectares of woodlands were established in each of the desert prone states to check desertification and protect the environment.

He said that drought-resistant tree seedlings were planted at the plantations, adding that the foundation had engaged workers from the benefitting communities to ensure proper maintenance of the woodland.

He listed the benefitting states as Yobe, Borno, Katsina, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Kano, Kaduna, Zamfara, Sokota and Jigawa.

According to him, the benefitting state governments have contributed plots of land to the projects while the foundation provided tree seedlings and cost for the project.

“The woodlands will be handed over to the respective state governments after maturity.“ Akinwande said the foundation had also

Niger

teachers, which began last month.

He said that 7,000 did not attend the sreening exercise, while others were underage children, retired workers, illegal replacement and unqualified teachers.

“We have a case of an account number that have seven names linked to the account for the payment salaries and no cogent explanation could be given for this criminal act.

“The preliminary report on the screening exercise shows that only 40,000 workers were cleared from the 60,000 workforce in the 25 councils, clearly showing that 20,000 could not be verified, what you call ghost workers,“ he said.

The commissioner urged those with genuine claims, on why they missed the screening to approach the ministry before the end of this month or have their names deleted from the payroll and government record.

He said that screening would be a continuous exercise, urging people with information on anyone cleared to assist the minitry “as we will continue to remove names from our record, if we have cogent reason to do so.“ Tagwai said the ministry had directed that the salaries of council staff and primary school teachers for November and December be paid before Friday, December 23, at the old rate, while arrears of the new wages would be paid in January 2012.

“We have a figure of 60,000 workforce and a bill of N3.5 billion to pay the new wages.

We decided to screen the workers to ascertain the actual workforce, which is about rounding up now.“ He urged the organised labour to pacifiy the its members to accept the old rate, and assured that the new rate would be paid in January, with the arrears for November and December.

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constructed about 50 motorised solar bore holes to enhance potable water supply in various rural communities across the country.

He said the foundation was also working towards enhancing sustainable agricultural development and vocational training for unemployed youths.

“The foundation is geared toward improving the livelihood of Nigerians, especially rural dwellers,“ he and adding.

That it had also donated two solar- powered boreholes to Mubi community.

The foundation had so far executed 100

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OADSIDE fuel hawkers in Dutse, Jigawa State, are making brisk businesses due to fuel scarcity in the

state.

Investigation reveals that none of the filling stations was dispensing fuel.

A fuel hawker, who identified himself as Nuhu Ado told journalists that a four-litre gallon of fuel was being sold for N600 as

Council chief seeks cooperation

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EACHERS in Lekki Local Council Development Area have been urged to be proactive in their duties and cooperate with the present administration for excellence reward.

Chairman of the council, Mr Olaitan Ogidan stated this during his familiarisation tour of the 20 elementary schools and some primary health institutions in the area.

Ogidan, who said that gone were the days when people said the reward of teachers is in heaven, vowed to provide them with necessary aids to enable them compete with their urban counterparts.

“I want you to impress me by coming up with best teaching techniques for these children and I promise you too that you will not have any

• Nyako community development projects across the 36 states and Abuja.

Fuel hawkers make brisk business

• Chairman Riverdrill Group, Prince Tonye Princewill with former British Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair at a business meeting held in New York

Ex-govt secretary praises Fashola’s performance

ORMER Secretary to Lagos State Government Olorunfunmi Basorun has dispelled the rumour that Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) has gone to sleep in his second term, saying that the chief executive of the centre of excellence is working more than before for the prosperity of the state.

He said that it is baffling that undiscerning people could be insinuating that at a time the governor is busy fighting the infrastructure battle in the state, adding that the governor is not suffering fatigue. Basorun cautioned against gauging the governor’s performance through beer parlour talks.

He said the suspension of works on the roads during the raining period did not translate to lack of performance, adding that some road projects were still accomplished during the period.

Basorun added: “Go to Surulere and Alimoso, you will see his work there. Last week, the governor was at Ajeromi to open the General Hospital. The Alimoso General Hospital along Egbeda/Idimu road is a masterpiece. He is always on the move inspecting on-going projects.

Adamawa

cause to regret” Ogidan declared.

The council boss, who also promised to renovate all the dilapidated schools, wondered why majority of the teachers in the area still lack teaching equipment citing the oldest primary school in Lekki as example.

“This administration under my chairmanship is highly committed to pupils’ education and will not condone any laxity because children of today are leaders of tomorrow,” the chairman further stated.

Ogidan however, called on parents to always encourage their children by supporting them with anything that could improve their living standards, adding that good upbringing cannot be over-emphasised.

Meanwhile, Ogidan has affirmed that arrangement is in pipeline to flood the health centres of the area with drugs to enable patients have access to quality treatment.

Jigawa against the former price of N400.

He said that 20 litres jerrycan of fuel, which was formerly sold for N2,000, now sells for N3,500.

Ado said they increased the prices because they travelled far distances and bought the fuel at exorbitant rates.

Another hawker, Malam Isa Maikudi, said he had brought out his jerrycans of fuel, which he had abandoned when there was no fuel business.

Maikudi, who said he had left the business for farming, added that he would continue to reap from it beyond January “when the government must have taken firm decision on fuel subsidy.”

A motorist, Alhaji Aminu Baba, described the fuel situation as unfortunate.

“Many filling stations have fuel but are hoarding it because of the issue of fuel subsidy removal.

“Should the government remove the subsidy, there will be hike in prices of petroleum products,” he said.

Baba said he bought two gallons of fuel for N1, 200 at Shuwarin because he could not get it in any of the filling stations.

“The situation is unfortunate. Apart from hike in the price of fuel we bought from the hawkers, we don’t even trust the product because it can damage our cars,” he said.

He appealed to the government to intervene to “save the common man from untold hardships caused by the fuel scarcity.”

Church holds end of year programme HRIST Apostolic Church Freedom Centre (a.k.a. Ile-Anu) will hold its annual last seven days of December tagged: Wonderful Vigil from December 25 to December 31. The venue is the church premises, I, Sunday Alade Street, Near Jay Hotel Bus-Stop, Off Yusuf Road, Kollington, Agbado, Lagos.

Speaking on the all-night prayer programme, the hosts, the wonderful twins , Prophet and Evang Taiwo and Kehinde Ogundare said that God is prepared to set many captives free as enemies prevent many from fulfilling their destinies.

Kehinde noted God will release His power to restore glory just as he has embarked on a seven-day fasting and prayer, assuring that all problems will be solved.

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By Emmanuel Oladesu

“In schools, a lot is being done. Contracts have been awarded for the repair of primary and secondary schools. About 1,000 primary school blocks are being repaired now. Almost 1,000 new blocks of classrooms were awarded last September. SUBEB is working. “ In my own community here in Ikorodu Division, 14 new classrooms are being built in An-warul Deen Primary School, 14 in Sumuratu Islamiya Junior Secondary School. The same is happening across. Contractors are on site. You see 30 or 40 people working on site at a time. To an extent, that is employment generation.

‘That jetty at Ikorodu is to reduce the pressure on the road. the High Court in Ikorodu has been rebuilt. It has been there since 1940s. This government demolished the old building and erected structures like those in Ikeja and Igbosere.

I don’t believe that there is anything like slow down. The governor is busy”.

• Pastor Phillip Babalola of the Evergreen Christian Church of God; Bishop Abraham Olaleye and his wife, Gbemi, at the second anniversary of the church in Lagos.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

Life

29

The Midweek Magazine E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

Text only: 08023058761

70 cheers for Mama Agbaa – Page 31

Trial of Brother Joe – Page 33

'How music found me' – Page 34

Mare festival: Beyond the jamboree •Professional mountain climbers trying to conquer the Idanre hills

– SEE PAGE 30

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

30

The Midweek Magazine E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

•A troupe performing at the festival.

Yearly, revellers troop to Idanre for the Mare festival, which highlight its mountain climbing. It is a festival of glamour and fun. This year’s edition was not different. OZOLUA UHAKHEME, Assistant Editor (Arts) reports.

Mare festival: Beyond the jamboree

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AFIAT Aminu, 28, is a known face on the streets of Akure, the Ondo State capital. With her baby strapped to her back, she carries her wooden box containing roasted corn (guguru) and ground nuts on her head, hawking from street to street. Her daily prayer is to sell her wares to raise money to replenish her stock the next day.

For years, she earned her living this way.

But this year’s Mare festival in Idanre, Ondo State marked a turning point in her life. Her raffle ticket won her a refrigerator and N350,000 donation from government officials last Friday. Rafiat, an indigene of Kwara State and mother of three (two boys and a girl) shed tears of joy when she received refrigerator.

She thanked the Ondo State government for adding value to her life, as the refrigerator would be another source of income for her. She recalled that last year at the same festival, she was among those Governor Segun Mimiko gave cash gift which she used to expand her business.

Rafiat was not the only raffle draw winner.

A Junior Secondary School student (JSII), Olubodun Bosede of St. Joseph’s Catholic Grammar School, Idanre, also won a refrigerator. Bosede, who is sponsoring herself in school, said the gift came at a time she was considering dropping out of school because of financial problem. For her, the refrigerator has rekindled her hope of completing her education. “I wish by next year I will win a generator so that I will use it to power the refrigerator for the sale of satchet water,” Bosede said.

Another beneficiary, Akintaju Ifedayo, a self-employed middle-age man from Ondo West Local Government Area won the star prize. He won a brand new motor cycle. Over-

whelmed with joy, Akintaju said: “I am just happy with the gift. I don’t know what I will do with the machine yet. But certainly, it has added value to my life.”

Mimiko described Mare festival as symbolic. He said God created the rocky hills in Idanre for a purpose. “And very soon Idanre will become a tourists’ attraction for the globe. In Ondo State in the last three years in every department of governance, we are putting our state in front position. In human capital, we are number one. Of the 60 merit awards given to Nigerians, 10 of them were from Ondo State. In sports, we have come of age. Sunshine Football Club came second in the National League and third at the continental level. In cultural area, Ondo came second at the recently concluded festival. This is just the beginning,” he assured.

Mimiko said given the hosting of three editions, Mare festival would be on the cultural calendar of the world, adding that Mare is about mountain climbing, scaling new heights and new Ondo State.

In the female category of the marathon race, Agidi Omoyeni of Ondo State came first; Kingsley Asedo (Edo State) and James Dung (Plateau State) were second and third.

Contestants from Plateau State swept the prizes in the male category. Christopher (64.26secs) took the first prize; Stephen Jube (68.02secs) and Danjuma Gyang (69.33secs) came second and third. The first, second and third prize winners got N10,000 along with a laptop.Consolation prizes of N10,000 were given to nine persons.

But the mountain climbing competitions were not all for the adults. Of the 12 contestants in the children category, there were nine boys and three girls. Akinseye Temidayo emerged first followed by Oluwashina Stephen and Akingboye Cynthia in second and third positions. The most exciting aspect of the mountain climbing competition was the professional category. Jamie Smith got the top prize of $6,000, the Weaver and Morijus Smigelshis took second and third prizes of $4,000 and $2,000.

This year’s Mare festival was not all about competitions and festivities. Food vendors, arts and craft sellers and Okada riders in Idanre had a great weekend as tourists converged on the rocky town for the festival.

Mr Ganiyu Adeyemi, an Okada rider, described the festival period as harvest time.

According to him, unlike in a normal pe-

‘And very soon Idanre will become a tourists’ attraction for the globe. In Ondo State in the last three years in every department of governance, we are putting our state in front position. In human capital, we are number one. Of the 60 merit awards given to Nigerians, 10 of them were from Ondo State. In sports, we have come of age’

riod, he made over N4,000 every day. “Before the Mare festival, we charged a drop for N30, but now it goes for N50, and we are able to make more gains,” he said wishing everyday is Mare.

This year’s Mare festival attracted professional mountain climbers from the South Africa National Climbing Federation. Among them were Paul Bruyere, James Smith, Marijus Smigelskis, Andrew Porter and Dave Tapp. On hand to co-ordinate the mountain climbing event was the United Kingdom (UK) based Mr. Tunde Balogun as consultant.

Representatives of the National Commission of Museums and Monuments and Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation were present at the festival. To ensure safety of lives, security officials including men of the anti-bomb squad manned strategic locations at the festival.

Also, on the train to Idanre were notable musicians, actors and actresses, such as Jimi Solanke, 9nice, Sir Shina Peters, Jesse King (Buga), Dammy young, Lord of Ajasa, Ojoro, Eddiekim, Jafextra, among others. They entertained guests at the close of the festival on Saturday night at the Olofin Grammar School playground, Idanre.

But, the Ondo State government has a lot of work to do to make the festival a world class event. There should be an independent agency for the implementation of the festival activities (pre and during the festival).

This is critical considering the seeming communication gap between information and culture ministries during the planning of the festival. Also, the state must encourage private sector partnership in the provision of logistics, such as health facility, cash points or a commercial bank as well as decent hotel in Idanre to boost tourism.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

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The Midweek Magazine E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

Mobolaji Adenubi, a.k.a Mama Agbaa, joined the septuagenarian club last Thursday when she marked her 70th birthday at MUSON Centre, Lagos. The star-studded feast witnessed the unveiling of a writers' foundation for the young and more, reports EVELYN OSAGIE

70 cheers for Mama Agbaa D

ECKED in a flowing peach gown with a touch of chocolate brown and a headgear to match, Mrs Mobolaji Adenubi, fondly called Mama Agbaa stood out. She wore a bright smile as guests greeted her. It was her birthday last Thursday and Mama Agbaa showed she was ready to party.

Her friends and family members, who thronged the MUSON Centre for the event got more than what they expected. Indeed, the birthday celebration of Mama Agbaa, was an uncommon feast.

She retired from the Federal Civil Service Nigeria to devote her time to writing. She’s been promoting creative writing, particularly the children genre for over two decades. She was the pioneer president of the Women Writers of Nigeria (WRITA) and a past vice-chairman of the Association of Nigerian Authors, Lagos Chapter.

In 1995, her first published book Splendid, the biography of a young physically challenged boy, won the Professor Wole Soyinka's sponsored Christopher Okigbo Prize for Literature. She currently gives talks to secondary school children on creative writing and reading for leisure. She also tells stories weekly to blind and hearing impaired primary school children.

Little wonder then that while many would stick to merrymaking alone, the celebrant chose out to commemorate her passion - writing. Owing to the love she has for children literature, Mama Agbaa launched Splendid Literature and Culture Foundation to mark her birthday. It would be charged with publishing works by young writers (ages 11 and 21). For this feat, she was praised by many like the Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye.

"I admire person. She is so passionate about writing and, especially the young writers and children. We were together yesterday at the Pacelli School for the Blind and Partially Sighted. I left her and later came back to meet her. She was there all through, reading to the children not minding that the next day was her birthday. That is how passionate she is. Her effort is laudable. And we believe that if such a person partner with us in education, it would encourage more children to read and the publishing of writers of children books. On the long run, it would help our goal to improve the standard of education and add to the reading culture in the state. That is why I took time to be here to celebrate with her. I have promised her the support of the administration," she said.

Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi commended her creative project, saying children's writers will find it a rewarding innovation. He said: "She is very energetic. She is an avid promoter of our literature. She is one those whose greatest desire is to fire the imagination of the young ones. Even though Nigeria does not give us the right environment, there are still a body of individuals who is and can still make things happen to make it better. She is one."

On the part of the Chief Executive Officer, DAME Publications, Mr Lanre Idowu, who is on its Board of Trustees, the foundation is a 'splendid idea'. He said: "I think the idea of the foundation is a solid investment in the future and life of our children. She is a splendid lady who is living her passion…this woman, who wants to give back.

She appreciates that the future rest in knowledge, firing the imagination of our youth and helping them to express their thoughts and ideas in a meaningful context. It is one foundation I would be happy and delighted to work with.

I think her decision to celebrate her entry into the club of septuagenarians this way is a 'splendid idea'."

Other members of the board include Mr. Dotun Sulaiman, an accountant; award-winning poet Odia Ofeimun; Mr. Lanre Adebayo, a lawyer; Mrs. Ronke Orimalade, a book marketing personnel; Olukemi Adenubi (Mrs. Lemon), a civil engineer and IT specialist; Dr. Mariam Onuzo; a medical doctor and writer, and the founder, Mama Agbaa.

All members, according to her, "are individuals who believe in the idea and spirit of the foundation and who together will ensure its accountabil-

•Mrs Adenubi, Mama Agbaa surrounded by some pupils, at her birthday

‘And so, I am not shocked that my mother has decided to set a foundation. She has always loved writing. I think it is a great idea. I have seen how difficult it was to get her books published in Nigeria. I hope this would help to encourage people along that road’ ity, excellence and continuity."

As a writer of children books, it was no surprise that she was launching the charity named for young writers. But what came as shock to her daughter, Olukemi, was her request for birthday present. She was at the party with alongside her father, Dr. Deji Adenubi and hubby, Mr Mark Lemon. "You cannot imagine what my wanted for birthday. She said she wanted a trampoline. I bought my mum the trampoline and 6 O'clock this morning she was in the living room jumping on her trampoline. As a child, my mother was known for her spontaneity. As we grew older, you appreciated it more. The difference is now how I talk about my mother to my friends. You have to accept that she is a wonderful enthusiast and tries new things, most of which will succeed and is also not afraid to succeed or fail. Today, I am an avid scrabble player, thanks to my mother.

She made me learn the meaning of words. As a child, she refused to tell me the meaning of words.

She would say look it up in the dictionary.

"And so, I am not shocked that my mother has decided to set a foundation. She has always loved writing. My mother's first book, 'Splendid', is a biography on Oyewole, my late brother. He was my parent's favourite and so we called him DDA (Daddy Darling Alakori). He was such a wonderful person. His catch phrase was 'Splendid'. I am glad that my mother has named her foundation with it. I think it is a great idea. I have seen how difficult it was to get her books published in Nigeria. I hope this would help to encourage people along that road. I am proud to be here today. Because it is a good cause, I think individuals and corporate organisation should support it. We can't always look up to the government alone. We must all do our bit in building our nation," she said.

The day, for Mama Agbaa, was special, especially because of the foundation. She said: "I am glad to launch my foundation on this day. We continue to buy these foreign books for our children because we can't find good quality books for them written by Nigerian authors.

Parents complain when we accuse them of not patronising works by Nigerians writers. Foreign story books for children are admittedly attractively produced, with colourful covers,

•Mrs Oladunjoye and Mr Thomas

•Mr Idowu (left) with Ajai-Lycett and her son, Debo.

inviting illustrations and sharp and clean print.

The stories, though no better than those written by Nigerian writers, are error free, flow smoothly, with vocabulary appropriate for the age grades they are intended for. These imported books are affordably priced. However, it is not impossible for Nigerian writers to produce qualitative, legible, colourful, well written and culturally acceptable children's literature."

According to her, the assertion that Nigerians lack a reading culture is false. "What is more correct is that Nigerian adults and children do not read much literary works. The inability of the young to write well in English is linked to their lack of reading edifying books in that language. Splendid Literature and Culture Foundation aims at ensuring that books written by young writers for children readers satisfy parents who continue to buy books for their children, and the children who read them. The Foundation will encourage the production of children's stories for ages eight to 12 years that will entertain, enlighten, ignite their interest in reading and stimulate their imagination. Children's regular use of their imagination will help them develop how to think,

PHOTOS: EVELYN OSAGIE

not what to think. In this fast-changing world this is an important skill to develop and use. As a sub-project, the foundation will run English Language and writing workshops for students in public schools in the long holidays in centres designated by each state."

Various creative performances and poet recitations were presented by AJ House of Poetry, pupils from primary and secondary schools, including, Pacelli School for the Blind and Partially Sighted and Wesley School for the Hearing Impaired.

Ofeimun led the writers community to celebrate with her. The Chairman of Association of Nigerian Authors(ANA), Lagos Chapter, Dagga Tolar was there with his Secretary, Amos Onile, Iquo Eke, and Austyn Njoku (the compere), among others.

Other guests included Rev. Fr. Edward Riley, O.P, Domican Community, Ibadan, Oyo State; Rev. Bro. Stephen Lucas, O.P, St. Domic's Priory, Yaba, Lagos; Sister Mary Anthony Ogunkorode; Sister Agnes Mary Hassan (OLA); Prof. Frank Okoisor; Dr. Adebola Taiwo Okoisor; Taiwo AjaiLycett; Director, Transport Operations, Mr A. O. Thomas; Mrs Besyl Ediale; Mrs Fehintola Benson and Mrs Mary Oto Hijadu.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

32

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

The seventh stroke

S

EVEN strokes were promised to him to save or sink Africa. He was the one who closed his eyes then swore he needed fewer, but no one believed him.

“Five,” he cried. “Five strokes, or less, and I will capture her in all her nakedness.” This tale is red meat upon which raw myths are fed. When Uche Okeke began his series of drawings, little did he realise that his Ulism work was the anatomy and optometry for one of the most illuminating cultural surgeries in the history of African art.

Dispatching probably fewer and certainly no more than seven bold strokes, Okeke outlines the African psyche in a 1963 charcoal drawing entitled Beggar. A destitute continent, a destitute world makes, spits the drawing like a blind diviner. Underneath abject poverty is concealed the abundance of plenitude, s/he rests. Quips Bob Marley: In the abundance of water, the fool is thirsty.

Seven strokes maximum: and each stroke of Okeke’s Beggar bears the weight of an era in African art and history. Begun around 1960, only seven years separated this series of cryptic drawings and paintings by Okeke from the internecine civil war that ravaged Nigeria between 1967 and 1970. Part of an exhibition of drawings opening at New York’s Skoto Gallery on December 8 , 2011, Okeke’s charcoal drawing was already mostly done by the time he delivered the seventh stroke in 1963.

Only seven years separated Pablo Picasso’s Cubism revolution of 1907 from the outbreak of the First World War in Europe in 1914. When Picasso began to work on Les Demoiselles d’Avignon, little did he know that he was observing Europe along a seven-year long streak of violence, destruction, and death. Oil painting takes a long time to fully dry. The paint on Les Demoiselles d’Avignon was not fully dry in 1914 before Europe plunged herself into a theater of annihilation the effects from which the world continues to reel.

Picasso’s monumental painting, while changing the history of art forever, gave Europe an extensive seven-year long rope from which she almost hanged herself. When Okeke began his series of drawings, little did he realise that his work was changing the visual story of the history of Nigerian art forever; and that the rope he gave his country had a noose at the end of the seventh year marker, before Nigeria erupted into

By Moyo Okediji

ARTS her nightmarish civil war in 1967.

Seven years before the war, Okeke already realised the unease in the world, and his voice had the urgency and desperation of a Jeremiad prophet. He passionately committed himself to saving his Nigerian people from an imminent disaster that he did so clearly envision. In his often-quoted statement, he wrote in 1960 that: “Today’s social problems are different from yesterday’s, and we shall be doing grave disservice to Africa and mankind by liv-ing in our fathers’ achievements.

For this is like living in an entirely alien cultural background.” This symbolism represents the destitution of the prodigal son in alien land.

Okeke’s Beggar depicts an individual “living in an entirely alien cultural background” as a destitute.

Destitute? How come this destitution? In the balancing of creativity and destruction, artists and historians may compare 1963 in Nigeria with 1910 in Europe. When people lose the thread of the dialogue they submit to the surge to destroy. In 1963, Nigeria lost the trend of the dialogue, just as Europe did in 1910.

In 1963, “Operation Wet-i-e” was broiling in Southwest Nigeria, with members of the two ruling parties orchestrating violence in all the cities, towns, and villages. Intra-ethnic animosity was storming across the arid landscapes in the North, with northern indigenes and southern settlers increasingly harboring hostile feelings. In the east, intra-ethnic rivalry was so rampant that ethnic minority groups openly rejected and resisted the perceived dominant ethnic culture in the region. Four year later in 1967, the Nigerian civil war erupted out of these explosive historical catalysts. An emergent culture of Ulism art was also growing underneath the ferment of this mindless violence and destruction.

A similar chain of events unfolded in Europe in 1910, four years before Europe exploded into the First World War. It was within these years that Pablo Picasso painted Still Life with Chair-caning, thus heralding the advent of the rich and experimental phase of Cubism called synthetic Cubism. During this second phase of Cubism, together with Juan Gris and Braque, Picasso began to push the limits of painting by pasting actual objects on the canvases, thus

A voice for the voiceless

T

HE saying that the man dies in he who refuses to stand for his rights and that of others is what Mr Chike Obayi, a graduate of International Relations from the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo and of the Advert Department of the Guardian Newspapers Ltd, sets out to highlight in his 224-page novel entitled: A vow in a thunderstorm.

The central figure of the book Maduka is wrongly jailed for the crime he does not commit. However, it is his carelessness and callousness that leads to his predicament.

A Chief accountant, he has been carefree and careless with the keys to his office/safe. His close friend chances on them, duplicates them and opens the office in his absence. Now in, he steals the company's money - half a million naira - paid in by a client the previous day.

Unfortunately, Maduka cannot explain how the money kept in his custody disappears. To his

consternation, he is arrested, arraigned and jailed for six years.

Though out of prison, the prison condition and its impact on him could not leave him. He contracts tuberculosis in the prison and the disease is having a telling effect on his health. He is dying daily.

His young son Tijani, ever inquisitive, wants to know the cause of his father's incessant coughing.

Initially, his father does not want to tell him. But he caves in after his boy pesters him daily for the reason. The boy is miffed that somebody can suffer for nothing. In his mind's eye, he sees the wickedness embedded in the law of the land, especially as his father had to plead guilty in order to 'help his case'.

And he promises to study law and use it as a tool to, as he puts it, defend the defendless. This comes to pass when he graduated in law.

The news of his father's situation reached Maduka's people late.

They are angry that their son is suffering alone - without any help.

The 'lion of Nembe's' as they call

•Beggar, 1963, charcoal on paper, by Uche Okeke

turning the works into collages.

Newspapers, journals, and music sheets, were usually pasted on the canvases that Picasso, Gris, and Braque produced.

The figures that Picasso painted in Les Demoiselles d’Avignon look different in terms of shapes and colors from paintings earlier than 1907 because Picasso seemed to have painted motion, poetry, and dance into the composition. The figures in the painting seem to be moving, just as the viewer also seems to be moving, in a tightly choreographed dance. Because both the viewer and the object appear to be moving at the same speed, motion seems to freeze, and nothing seems to move. Motion picture falls into its own groove and life appears to stop. As in the gramophone music with a broken pin, the image is repeating the same phrase so rapidly that it doesn’t appear to repeat itself. But a relationship of distortion exists in which the element of time collapses against the element of motion and space, while a multiplicity of dimensions emerges in painting. It is within this

multi-dimensional space that viewers encounter Cubist work.

The historic event began quite so casually, when Picasso’s friend asked him to visit The Trocadero Museum in Paris, in 1907. The museum had acquired a sizable body of sculptures from Africa, and these objects, which at least had ethnographic significances, were on display for whatever they might be worth. Picasso went to see the display, after which he made the following statement: “Everybody always talks about the influences that the Negroes had on me. What can I do? We all of us loved fetishes. Van Gogh once said, ‘Japanese art—we all had that in common.’

For us it’s the Negroes….When I went to the old Trocadero, it was disgusting. The flea market. The smell. I was alone. I wanted to get away. But I didn’t leave. I stayed. I stayed….All alone in that awful museum, with masks, dolls made by the redskins, dusty manikins. Les Demoiselles d’Avignon must have come to me that very day, but not at all because of the forms; because it was my first exorcism painting—yes, absolutely.”

BOOK REVIEW Title:

A vow in a thunderstorm

Author:

Chike Obayi

Reviewer:

Joseph Eshanokpe

Publisher:

Strategic Insight Publishers

Pagination: 224 him shouldn't have. A lover of truth and a pillar of support to the community, his life has been that of an epitome of integrity and success. It is for these that his people have come to his rescue. But their help comes too late. Maduka is later to die as his wife sees in a vision.

The activism in Tijani shows in the university where he confronts those who kidnap the son of the vice chancellor. With two female colleagues, he is able to unmask the group and know where the boy is hidden.

He gives the audio tape of their meeting to the wife of the vice chancellor, who reports the mat-

ter to the police. Later, they storm the Ajiye Forest where the boy is kept and set him free few hours to his execution by the student-cultists. Once more, Kotoye, the VC's only male child, is alive and free.

But more of Tijani's brilliance and humanism is to come. In preference for the more experienced lawyer, Umaru, the monarch of his home village Nembe picks him as their

The element of exorcism pushed Picasso’s art into the multi-dimensional orbit in 1907, when he produced his first Cubist pieces. The African art objects that he saw were objects displayed in traditions of dance, music, and performance, combined in motion. The rhythm of the dance was already carved into the structure of the objects, as Picasso observed them in the Trocadero. The compositions that Picasso produced shifted outside the grid system that guided and limited Western art for hundreds of years. Into a space of no return, the space of unpredictability, fluidity, and improvisation, Picasso shifted Western art, using Cubism as his lever. Already in that space, the art of Africa and all its diasporas were waiting.

In fact, Picasso was not exclusively responsible for shifting the European vision outside the grid. It was the violence of Europe that performed the cultural jolt. Europe was undergoing a fundamental cultural shift, as new nations were emerging from ancient kingdoms and empires, while wars, mutinies, and revolutions brought violence and instability into the lives of ordinary people at the turn of the twentieth century. Between the last fifty years before and after 1900, Europe was roiled in a revolting reel of violence.

Only seven years separated Picasso’s masterpiece, Les Demoiselles d’Avignon, from the horrors of First World War. Seven years separated Okeke’s Beggar from the Nigerian Civil War. Within the structure of seven strokes, Okeke, like a cultural diviner, casts and predicts the destitute fate of an entire continent on paper. You may kill your artists, imprison the poets and decapitate all singers, rhymes the lyrical voice.

You may ban the dancers, professionals and amateurs. But the lines of an artist are the eyes through which the culture examines itself in rhythmic beats of seven cubits. How many more Okeke cubits does Africa need to spell the fate and draw the icon of the continent’s destiny?

How many more strokes to sew up the continent’s wounds? Visitors to the current exhibition at Skoto Gallery may read this and other philosophical questions and answers in Okeke’s Beggars and other drawings

by Jose Bedia, Dudley Charles, Victor Ekpuk, Vladimir Cybil Charlier, Bernard Guillot, Richard Hunt, Osaretin Ighile, Michael Marshall, Ibrahim El Salahi, Sumayyah Samaha, and Juliana Zevallos. The exhibition continues till January 21, 2012.

•Okediji is of the University of Texas in Austin, USA counsel in a case involving an indigene. The defendants hire a British trained lawyer. Many feel the king made a mistake; that Tijani stands no chance against the bulky 'Oyibo' lawyer.

Tijani proves his mettle. To the surprise of all, for over one hour he argues his case and saves the life of his client with an attendant N50,000 costs. His people are happy. And for Tijani, it is mission accomplished. His promise to his late father that he would be a lawyer and fight for justice has been fulfilled.

Obayi has written a good book, spiced with many proverbs and anecdotes. What is more, though the setting is in Iboland, it also touches other parts of the country, thus giving it a national outlook. Its other messages are lessons readers will learn from, especially those holding sensitive positions.

However, there are some technical hitches in the book. For example, the last two quotes should have got quotation marks. They do not. Again, if the book is a novel as it is portrayed, why then the acknowledgement page and the addendum on pages 225-226?

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

33

The Midweek Magazine E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

Trial of Brother Joe It started in whispers in 2009. Today, the dramatic aspect of the trial of Joe Musa and three other directors of the National Gallery of Art (NGA) by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) appears to be waning, thus revealing the bigger picture, reports OZOLUA UHAKHEME Assistant Editor (Arts).

F

ORMER Director-General of National Gallery of Art, Chief Joe Musa, will forever remember December 6. That was the day his travails ended after 30 months of trial for alleged corruption. That day, judgment was delivered by Justice Adeniyi Olukayode of Abuja High Court on the no-case submission made by his counsel, Mr. Wemimo Ogunde (SAN). Musa and three others – Mr Olusegun Ogunba, former Director of Finance, Mrs. Oparagu Elizabeth, Deputy Director Administration and Mr. Kweku Tandoh, Director of Research – were tried by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 14-count charge of misappropriation and

•Musa

diversion of over N2.2billion.

In his ruling, Justice Adeniyi Olukayode held that the EFCC failed to establish a prima facie case against the accused.

"Mere allegation, no matter how believable, does not amount to proof required in law to establish such allegations. An examination of the documents tendered does not also provide the required proof to link the accused with the alleged crime. As I conclude, it is perhaps pertinent to observe that the totality of the submissions of the prosecution of the

learned counsel suggests to me, the exact opposite of the requirement of the law.

"The learned counsel misconceived the basic constitutional presumption of innocence in favour of the accused, by tending to suppose that it is for the accused to prove their innocence, rather than for the prosecution to prove their guilt beyond reasonable doubt. ``The totality of the evidence offered by the prosecution, in attempting to prove their case, by my respectful estimation; and to say the least, is not worth the time and resources wasted in going through these proceedings for over two years. ``I can best describe the totality of the story put together by the nine prosecution witnesses as mere gossip and idle talk which are only peddled at beer parlours and street corners, '' the Justice Olukayode stated.

Olukayode said the legal consequence of a successful no case submission is to discharge ``is equivalent to an acquittal and a dismissal of charge on the merit''. ``Perhaps, I should further state that I have r e f r a i n e d from delving into the crossexamination of the nine prosecution witnesses; I consider this needless because the prosecution has failed to provide any evidence to prove the essential elements of the offences for which the accused have been charged,'' he said. ``They ought not to have stood this trial in the first place, if the evidence on record was all the prosecution had to offer. For this reason, I hereby preclude all of them from entering upon their defence and accordingly, I hereby discharge each and every one of the first, second, third and

War photographer Stanley Greene for AAF workshop

N

EW York-based renowned war photographer Stanley Greene will be in Nigeria on January 3.

He will be in Lagos at the instance of the African Artists Foundation (AAF) for a three-week photography workshop.

According to AAF's helmsman, Azu Nwagbogu, the workshop is open to Nigerian photographers, especially the young ones with strong desire to improve their skills in photography. "The workshop is free and will be funded by the foundation," Nwagbogu said.

Greene, whose solo photo exhibition, Black Passport, opened last Friday at the Foam, New York, US, has confirmed his interest in the workshop.

Black Passport will run till February 5, 2012.

It’s a project by and about the American conflict photographer Stanley Greene. It shows photos of conflicts and disasters combined with photos of Greene's private life. The result is a revealing portrait of a photographer who is addicted to the adrenaline rush of being on the move, but at the same time realises the sacrifices he makes in his personal life.

Greene has photographed in Chechnya, Iraq, Rwanda and Sudan and is one of the founders of the international photo agency, NOOR. Everyday newspapers and magazines are filled with photos of war, oppression and violence. The photographer that enables people to watch what is happening in the world from the safety

South African woman smuggles drug via dreadlocks

By Ozolua Uhakheme Assistant Editor (Arts)

of their own homes, however, usually remains invisible. This is not the case in Black Passport, the biography of war photographer Stanley Greene, also appeared in book form in 2009.

Photos of conflict and disaster regions such as Rwanda, Sudan, Chechnya and Iraq are alternated with photos from the private life of Stanley Greene: photos of Paris and many women. Slide shows will also be presented, interspersed with texts from the book. Greene's voice resounds through the exhibition spacehe is disconcertingly frank: 'I think you can only keep positive for eight years.

If you stay at it longer than that, you turn. And not into a beautiful butterfly.'

Just as Greene, visitors to the exhibition are poised between the safety of Western life and the horrors of foreign wars. And it is precisely this juxtaposition that causes these photos to stir us more than the stream of bad-news images that inundate us daily. In addition, Black Passport is a fascinating story about what it is like to be a war photographer. Why does someone choose to be continually confronted with death and misery? Is it an escape from everyday reality and a craving for adventure?

Greene has photographed in the former Soviet Union, Central America, Asia and the Middle East. His work has appeared in publications including Newsweek, The New York Times Maga-

fourth accused persons of the entirety of the charge preferred against them,'' the judge stated.

Expressing gratitude to members of the artists and media communities who supported him during the trial, Musa wrote: "It is with great joy and immense gratitude to Almighty God that I write to inform you that judgment was delivered yesterday December 6, 2011] in the court case instituted against me and three directors of the National Gallery of Art by the EFCC, that had been ongoing in the last two and half years. To the Glory of God, We have been discharged and acquitted and were cleared of all charges.

"I thank you for your support, kind words and advice during the period which was the most trying period in my life. The last two years plus really took their toll, not only on those of us who were on trial, but on the arts and culture community as a whole.

But thank God we have been vindicated. I am waiting on the Lord for direction on what's next and I urge all of you to continue to support the growth and development of our cherished sector."

When asked what next? Musa went philosophical, saying "My God who delivered me from the den of lions will direct my steps and actions."

Earlier, Mr. Wemimi Ogunde (SAN) had described the case as a most oppressive prosecution. "At the beginning, there was so much hullabaloo concerning diversion of money by the first and second accused persons. There was not only constant sensational and exaggerated publications in the print and electronic media, the first and second accused persons were also suspended from office and were made to face the ordeal of criminal prosecution.

"At the end of the day, NOTHING was proved. On the contrary, many of the prosecution witnesses came with verbal hearsay evidence and rumours. Those who did not come with rumours ended up exonerating the first and second.

A •Greene

zine, Stern and Paris Match. He has won various World Press Awards and in 2004 the W. Eugene Smith Award. Open Wound: Chechnya 1994-2003 was published in 2004 and his book Black Passport in 2009.

The exhibition has been produced in close cooperation with Teun van der Heijden (www. heijdenskarwei.com), the compiler and designer of Stanley Greene's book, Black Passport. Van der Heijden is a graphic designer and has for many years worked with World Press Photo and renowned international photographers.

SOUTH African woman has been caught smuggling cocaine in her dreadlocks by Customs officials at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport. Nobanda Nolubabalo, 23, was searched by police after arriving in Bangkok on a Qatar Airways flight from Sao Paulo via Doha.

She was searched when police said they noticed a white substance in her hair Meanwhile, the South African Ambassador to Thailand, Douglas Gibson has told SABC NEWS that Nolubabalo Nobanda is the 12th South African to be arrested on drug trafficking charges in that country this year.

23-year-old Nolubabalo is from Grahamstown’s Joza Township.

She was arrested at Bangkok’s international airport for alleged drugs smuggling. Police say they found 1.5 of cocaine hidden in her dreadlocks. The woman was searched when police noticed a white substance in her hair shortly after she stepped off a Qatar Airways flight that originated in Sao Paulo and flew through Qatar to Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Police say the suspect admitted smuggling the drugs with a street value of R1.2 million.

She told police that she had been hired to deliver it to a customer at a hotel in Bangkok for R16 000. Gibson said 11 of those arrested there have been convicted for drug trafficking and 10 of them are women.

Gibson said: ”Yes, I can confirm that she has been arrested on allegations of drug smuggling. The embassy had confirmation from authorities that she’s been arrested.

We have arranged to see her as soon as she’s transferred to prison awaiting trial.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21 , 2011

34

The Midweek Magazine E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

T

HE South Africa (SA)-based musician, Ifeanyi Ekwune, is determined to take the industry by the storm. Known in the music world as 'Holyson', his 13-track afro-pop album, New King of your Jungle, is enjoying airplay in South Africa. However, according to him, he is set to make his mark in the Nigerian entertainment world.

"Nigerian should expect the unexpected, I am coming with a big bang, a different swag, a different vibe and most importantly I want them to give ear to the massage that I bring in each track. I am really proudly Nigerian and proud Nigerian artists. No doubt, Nigeria's music industry is the biggest in Africa right now, but believe me, breaking into South African music industry is far more difficult. But I did it through God's help. Today Sony Music and other big music companies in SA are all running after my management company, War Veteran Inc., to get to me. You can Google and confirm it. I know what Nigerians and the rest of the African market wants, and I'll give it to them hundred and fifty percent," he said.

The album is a blend of South and West African beats. Each track has a different inspiring storyline. "The album has tracks, such as Mama's Little Boy, Invisible, Goldiger, Naija Girl, Waiting for your love, Anthem of a Champ, The one, etc that would appeal to teenagers and adults: there are no restrictions, no swearing words. It has been approved by the SA music board."

His choosing to stay away from vulgar language could be linked to his humble beginning in the church choir. "I have always been into music, I did not choose music; music chose me. It's an inborn.

In-fact music runs in my blood but writing is my hobby. I did not go into music just for the money because as a professional script writer, God has already blessed me. My primary reason is to pass good message across to the world and to bring joy to families across the globe. Holyson is an inspiration from God. I started from church just like R-Kelly and some others. I used to sing in the choir. I remember I was once with St Barths Church. Aguda, Lagos.

And I have always wanted to please my father in heaven, so the name Hoyson came as a translation of the name my grandmother used to call me. I chose it because it restricts me from certain kind of lifestyle, and I always try to live a better life."

Aside music, Holyson is also into script writing. It was a movie script contract that led to his living for SA years ago. His writing paved way for his music. He said: "I have always been in the music world even before the contract came, naturally writing was my hobby and I wrote a lot of movie scripts here in Nigeria and currently I have written and produced four South African local dramas on TV, and more will be coming from the stable of War Veteran in music entertainment. It was actually the studio that contracted me to do scripts for their music and movie studio. And the studio engineers became my buddies, so it wasn't a very hectic journey, even though it wasn't easy. Then, my journey became more interesting when I met Big Greg, the owner of War Veteran entertainment. After he listened to my first track Mama's Little Boy, he said 'boy you are an award-winning material'. And that was how I joined his company and we've been flying sky high ever since."

His music voyage led him to work with prominent SA musicians including the late Brenda Fassie's son, Bongani. "Brenda Fassie's son, Bongani Fassie is the Chief Executive Officer of Fassie Records and one of the biggest SA's producers. A friend of his called Lagosh, a South African hip-hop artist who was invited by Big Greg for my first video shoot of the track Skipani, told him about me and about War Veteran Inc family. And he decided to run things with us. It has been a wonderful experience, all thanks to War Veteran Inc family for making it easy and possible. In the New Year, we

AWARD

Ojaide, Obafemi others bag ANA award

By Evelyn Osagie

T

•Holyson

'How music found me'

By Evelyn Osagie would be working on some things for the Nigerian market.

Hopefully, we would be coming home with Bongani for an album lunch on or before Easter," he said.

With all the news of homophobic killings in SA, according to him, living there is like being in Nigeria. He said: "SA is a beautiful country. I adapted easily because it's like home to me; and they appreciate what I do. At first, your being Nigeria affect your career as an artiste in SA. In fact, in some places you go for corporate deal, once you say you are Nigerian, you see them pump out their eyes from their sockets. But after some time, I made them trust me, and they now believe in me and what I have to offer. I am one of those who want to put an end to the stigma attached to Nigerians living abroad. Let me make it clear that the homophobic killing at that time was targeted at Zimbabweans, not Nigerians. Zimbabweans at a point constituted nuisance to the society, so the South African locals decided to take laws into their hands."

The language, according to him, was a challenge that he tried very much to surmount at some point. "For the sake of business, I had to learn Zulu because other languages there are more difficult to learn and Zulu is widely spoken and accepted."

OP rate professors, Tanure Ojaide and Olu Obafemi, top the list of winners for this year's the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) literary awards for adult and children prizes.

The award is a yearly affair in which writers within and outside the country would usually submit their works for the year. Past winners are Prof. Niyi Osundare, Prof.

Femi Osofisan, Prof. Akachi Ezeigbo, Dr. May Ifeoma Nwoye, Akeem Lasisi, Henry Akubuiro, Yemi Adebisi, among others.

This year, 137 entries were received across nine categories spanning the genres of poetry, drama and prose and 24 titles in the four categories. The juries were impressed with the output of the creative writers, noting that it is positive trend.However, they observed that improvements have to be made to ensure steady rise in quality of Nigerian literature in English in the language, publishing, among others. They condemned the act of self-adulation which involves 'self-praise'.

Ojaide's The Beauty I Have Seen won ANA/Cadbury Prize for Poetry ($1,000) while Obafemi's Ogidi Mandate bagged ANA/NDDC JP Clark Prize for Drama (N100,000).

Other winners included Lola Shoneyin's The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives got the ANA/NDDC Ken Saro-Wiwa Prize For Prose (N100,000). The book also made the Orange Longlist earlier in the year. Her book, Mayowa and the Masquerade also won the ANA/Atiku Abubakar Prize for Children's Literature jointly with Preye and the Sea of Plastics by Fatima Akilu. Shoneyin and Akilu's books are from the stable of Cassava Republic Press.

The ANA/NDDC Flora Nwapa Prize for Women's Writing (N100,000) was won by Umari Ayim's Twilight at Terracotta Indigo; and Adamu Kyuka Usman's Sieged the ANA/JACARANDA Prize for Prose - N50,000.

Eni Jologho Umuko's The Scent of Crude Oil won the ANA/James Ene Henshaw Prize for Playwriting (N150,000); The Poacher's Daughter by Prof. J. C. Agunwamba got the ANA/Chevron Prize for Prose on Environmental Issues - $2,000, and Casket of Her Dreams

by Isaac Attah Ogezi the ANA/Esiaba Irobi Prize for Playwriting (N50,000. Three books - The Ant Eaters by Kufre Ekanem, Colourless Rainbow: Poetry of My Childhood by Senator Ihenyen, My River by C. Otobotekere, - were shortlisted for the ANA/NDDC Gabriel Okara Prize for Poetry (N100,000); but none got the prize.

The NLNG Prize finalist Chinyere Obi-Obasi's The Great Fall made the shortlist for the ANA/Lantern Books Prize for Children's Fiction, however, her Chijike got the prize.

Spencer Okoroafor's Jide Meets a Ghost won the ANA/ Funtime for Children (Prose).

Deputy Governor pushes for reading

L

AGOS State Deputy Governor, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, has been presented with the 'Guinness World Record' certificate for setting a world record of reading with adults to the largest assembly of school children.

Adefulire achieved this feat on Thursday, September 8, 2011, by reading concurrently with over 4,222 children from various schools with their teachers, principals, proprietors, parents and special dignitaries to break previous world records held by the United Kingdom where an adult read to 3,234 students at a time.

The event, organised by Ecole De Dessin, with the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) to commemorate the World Literacy day, at the 10 Degree Event Centre, Lagos did not just end with the thrills and frills of the occasion, but has since assisted in no small measure to revive the dwindling reading culture among the participants and others who are yearning for an opportunity to share a similar moment with a prominent member of the state Executive Council.

Recalling the development since the event, a representative of Ecole De Dessin, Adetola Adeduwon said the impact has been overwhelming Adeduwon, who led the delegation to present certificate to the Deputy Governor, said the students that participated in the reading programme have now develop a reading culture.

"We were excited when we visited the schools of the participants at that event to discover that some of the students have even completed the book 'Time Changes Yesterday' written by Nyengi Koin, and used for the reading exercise."

He added that the book was chosen because of its incorporation into the school syllabus and for the fact that it has an interesting storyline, adding that each of the children was given a copy of the book.

He explained that the main focus was to highlight the importance of literacy, thereby rebuilding the act of reading and hunger for knowledge with peculiarity at African culture and values.

Adejuwon noted that the record previously held by the United

By Miriam Ndikanwu •From left: Project Co-ordinator, Ecole De Desin, Mr Adetunwase Adenle, Commissioner for Education and Mrs OrelopeAdefulire and Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Lateef Ibirogba

By Miriam Ndikanwu

Kingdom where 3,234 students read with an adult now belongs to Lagos State, courtesy of the Deputy Governor, noting that her participation in the event demonstrated the passion of the state government towards quality education and has inspired the children to read more.

He congratulated the Deputy Governor for finding time out of her busy schedule to read with the children and congratulated her on the record.

While receiving the award, Mrs Orelope-Adefulire, stated that

the huge investment of the state government on the education sector had been achieving the desired results as the literacy level in the state was increasing just as many more Lagosians without formal education were taking up mass literacy classes.

She stated that the state Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) has remain committed to the development of education through the building and renovation of classrooms, provision of benches and desks as well as textbooks for school students, noting that this has encouraged the students to read more and also reduce usual burden faced by their parents.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

35

The Midweek Magazine E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

‘Compulsory Ph.D degree destroys creativity’ Renowned art historian Prof. Ola Oloidi is not excited by art teachers’craze for Ph.Ds . At this year's National Gallery of Art Annual Lecture, Oloidi warned that the development could be counter-productive,reportsOZOLUA UHAKHEME, Assistant Editor (Arts).

W

HAT is the challenge of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation? It is the alignment of the nation's cultural endowments with the compelling needs of a dynamic world, says Culture, Tourism and National Orientation Minister Chief Edem Duke.

He said having understood the importance of the synergy of numerous and enviable cultures to the evolving developmental needs of the nation, this year's annual lecture organised by the National Gallery of Art would create an enabling environment for the edification of visual art.

He spoke at the annual lecture where the guest speaker, Prof. Ola Oloidi warned that forcing art teachers to obtain a Ph.D degree would be counter-productive and useless.

The event was held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

The minister said the topic of the lecture, Scanning for antidotes: The precancerous state of visual art in Nigeria, is a radical shift of our culture from the static to the dynamic. He spoke of the ministry's support for the dynamism of cultural development. Duke reiterated the need for the three tiers of government to put in place institutional framework to complement the efforts of the gallery, while the private sector should be the driving force in the promotion and sponsorship of art programmes.

Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Ben Nwankwo noted that the

lecture title was a true reflection of the precancerous state of the nation. "We can use visual art to deconstruct Nigeria so that we can be better off in the long run," he said.

Prof. Oloidi was unequivocal on why the nation has gone through the rough road to nationhood, especially the visual art sector.

He said the physiology of modern Nigerian art reveals a precancerous state that has been entirely caused by the total, or near total, scientification of art within the faculty of environmental sciences. One of such methods, he said, is the research methodology being adopted, very dangerously, by many tertiary institutions in Nigeria today. He noted that many of the problems have been instigated, consciously and unconsciously either by the artists, art historians, art educators or art administrators. "In fact, it appears that the government or parastatals innocently fell into wrong hands while having consultations on serious matters that concern visual art…The effect of this practice is that art, or fine and applied arts, studies can by implication be considered science studies or professional tentacles of science," he said.

According to Oloidi, this development makes art, art students and art teachers slavishly subservient to the professionally downgrading belief that clipping art to the fabric of science is the only way to make art survive in academic institutions. He stressed that it is full of contextual limitations and delimitation, thereby robbing students of indepth or needed exhaustive information or

•From left: Odey Ichakpa, Maria Obi and Tonie Okpe at the lecture

•Oloidi

censoring the contextual elaboration that historical research is naturally endowed with.

He cited the department of fine art, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria as the first culprit to yield to the pressure of research scientification of arts in the country. "What I will, however, blame the de-

partment for was its very enthusiastic and rather genuflective acceptance of this odd research incongruity. One would have expected the department to give this uninformed imposition a strong measure of resistance. Rather, the department became the promoter and advocate of this anti-art crusade," he noted.

The don said the most dangerous to modern art development of all the negative experiences is the imposition of a Ph.D on studio art teachers in the universities.

He, therefore, observed that many Ph.D, which are now being manufactured only for promotional purposes are becoming decorations. This, he said, is because these hurriedly acquired academically impotent Ph.D degress are not for professional purposes; studio art teachers still remain studio art teachers without teaching the subjects taken for their Ph.Ds. "The efforts, which would have advanced the course of visual arts creatively, have been wastefully invested on either art history of art education. Studio art teachers have been acquiring Ph.D degrees for ages, but without being forced. Ph.D degrees for studio art teachers are very useful, but to those who are theoretically inclined and also only when they are not forcefully but freely pursued."

Ibadan remembers illustrious son ‘Papa Ayorinde also served at a time on the Federal Government panel that mediated in the chieftaincy crisis in the old Anambra State in the early 80s’ TRIBUTE

•Ayorinde

M

EMORIES of one of Nigeria’s celebrated cultural legends, High Chief John Adeyemi Ayorinde, will be rekindled in Ibadan, Oyo State, tomorrow when a book in his honour is presented.

Ayorinde, who died in March 1998, was the Asipa Olubadan of Ibadan and an academic board member of the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan.

A respected orator, poet, historian and author, Chief Ayorinde served his home town, Ibadan, and his country in various capacities, especially in the areas of agriculture where he worked for many years and in the area of indiginous culture, where he left indelible footprints.

In 1977, he was appointed by the Fed-

eral Government as the co-ordinator of the commiittee that went round the country collecting samples of clothings and traditional attires. The recommendations of the Ayorinde-led committee gave birth to the formation of the National Gallery of Arts.

Papa Ayorinde also served on the Federal Government panel that mediated in the chieftaincy crisis in the old Anambra State in the early 80s.

Acknowledged as an authority on Ibadan history and tradition and an exemplary advocate of its culture offerings - like the Okebadan festival - Papa Ayorinde wrote the biography of Oba Isaac Akinyele, a one-time Olubadan of Ibadan, among other books. For his outstanding contribution to knowledge, Papa Ayorinde was conferred with an honorary doctorate degree by the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo Universit)y, Ile-Ife, in 1982.

The man that Ibadan is celebrating tomorrow was also instrumental to the formation of Ibadan Progressive Union(IPU) and the Central Council of Ibadan Indigines (CCII).

Entitled Abokede: the man, the hill, the city,

the biography in his honour was written

by Mr Steve Ayorinde, the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of National Mirror newspapers, who is a grand nephew of the subject.

The book tells the compelling story of Papa Ayorinde as an impeccable man of culture and industry. And this is told against the background of the city his birth and its major socio-cultural offering - the Okebadan festival.

Emminent people who recalled Papa Ayorinde’s contribution to the society include Prof. Wande Abimbola, former Vice- Chancellor of the University of Ife; Prof. Akinwumi Isola, the late educationist, Chief Emmanuel Alayande; the former Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Emmanuel Fakayode; Chief Tayo Akpata, who is Papa Ayorinde’s son-in-law; respected arts patriach, Ambassador Segun Olusola and Elder (Dr.) Taiye Ayorinde, Baale of Ekotedo in Ibadan.

The publication of the book and Thursday’s presentation is being done in collaboration with the Institute of African Studies, UI. Writing the back-cover blurb of the book, Prof. Olawale Albert, Director of the Institute of African Studies, UI, says: “It is said that the death of the aged in Africa is equivalent to the razing of a whole library. ABOKEDE aptly commu-

nicates this in the culture-rich life and times of Papa J. A. Ayorinde. Not only Ibadan history, but the history of the Nigerian nation in terms of cultural rebirth and re-orientation is retold in an engaging manner. With this book, the library embodied by J. A. Ayorinde has been fortified against any raging inferno.

Papa Ayorinde’s contributions to the Institute of African Studies was also relayed in the foreword written by an erstwhile director of the institute, Prof.

Oladele Layiwola.

According to Chief (Mrs) Taiye Soyege, the Asipa Iyalode of Ibadan, who spoke on behalf of the Planning Committee, the keynote address at the book presentation will be done by Prof. Adeniyi Osuntogun, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ife while the Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, is the host Governor and special guest of honour.

She said the book would be jointly presented by the Otun Olubadan of Ibadan, High Chief Omowale Kuye; Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Abdulazeez Arisekola- Alao and the former governor of Oyo State, Chief Rashidi Ladoja. She added that the special presenters expected are Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim (OFR), the Chairman of Global Energy Group and former Minister of National Planning, Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi, OFR. The event will be jointly chaired by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Isaac Isaac Adewole and Bishop Ayo Ladigbolu, while the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade, is the royal father of the day.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

36

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

A modern day disco exper experience G

ROWING up in the late 70s and early 80s in the rustic town of Ado-Ekiti like any other youth of that time was a wonderful experience. One of the pranks of adolescence was sneaking out to disco parties called ebo at that time.

The first time I sneaked out to a disco party was in 1981 when I just finished my school certificate examinations. I went out with Oga Laisi, a neighbour of ours who was much older and experienced than me at that time. After Oga Laisi’s pleas to my father to allow me go with him to the all night party fell on deaf ears, he said I should not worry. He devised a way of smuggling me out to the party when my parents were already asleep. Smuggling me out was easy because I shared a room with my younger brother. Oga Laisi was already working as a clerk in a small company in the town so he was free.

I came back to meet my dad waiting for me as early as 5am.

The punishment meted out to me by my disciplinarian dad was more than what my younger brother suffered when he was caught playing kalokalo (gambling in a casino). I was thoroughly flogged with koboko (horse whip). Anyway, I enjoyed the disco party and it was the first time I attended an all-night disco party and tasted alcohol because I wanted to do what other guys were doing. I was desperate to attend the party because Oga Laisi always told me of his escapades with girls at parties. I also wanted to explore other areas of life as I was tired of watching T.V soaps like Masquerade (Zebbrudayya), Hotel De Jordan (Kokori, Idemudia et al) and Village Headmaster in the evenings. I first learnt of tight dance from Oga Laisi which is a way of dancing to soft (blues) music while holding the opposite sex.

When we got to the venue of the disco party, I first noticed that there were bouncers at the gate bouncing intruders which is called ‘fencing’ Many guys were fenced from entering the disco hall. On sighting Oga Laisi, the bouncers allowed him immediately but stopped me. He told them I was his boy and they allowed me. I was following him about the disco hall and suddenly he shouted

T

HIS year's Ofala Nnewi festival, an annual celebration that comme-morates His Royal Highness, Igwe Dr. Kenneth Orizu's coronation in Nnewi, Anambra State holds between December 28 and 29. The festival will also mark the Igwe's 48th years on the throne and his 86th birth day anniversary.

Ofala Nnewi festival is one of the most surviving traditional ceremonies of the Nnewi people, which mark the climax of the new yam festival-an occasion that symbolises family re-unions and merry making in the community.

Prominent Nnewi sons and daughters are expected to grace this year's Ofala Nnewi festival as the event commemorates the longest surviving traditional ceremonies of the Nnewi people. The Igwe also uses the festival and traditional outing to felicitate with his subjects and rejoices with them for not losing anyone after the New Yam festival.

It is also a period when the Nnewi paramount ruler His Royal Highness, Igwe Kenneth Orizu III honours distinguished sons and daughters of Nnewi at the his palace.

The two-day event will feature first, second and third public appearances by the Igwe, his wives, recognition of some individuals, street carnival by all the 51 traditional wards in Nnewi, homage by individuals, groups, communities and friends of Nnewi to the Igwe among other cultural performances. According to the

By Hakeem Jamiu

at me to be a man and get loose.’ Stop following me like a mumu, get yourself a girl, drink, dance and if you want to smoke tell me I will give you ciga! I obeyed him. I took a cup of beer (Top beer) from his own and I instantly became another person. I forgot the punishment that awaited me at home for sneaking out. I was tipsy!

Music was blaring through the Kenwood sound system. It was Fela’s suffering and smiling that was playing followed by Evelyn King’s I am in love, Dynasty’s I have just begun to love you, Kool and the Gang’s Ladies Night & Celebrations, Gap Band, Stacy Lattisaw- Sneaking out, Bob Marley’s Kaya, Bongos Ikwe’s searching for true love, Sunny Okosun’s Papas land, Cloud 7’s beautiful woman, Christ Okotie’s I need someone, Jide Obi’s kill me with love, Felix Liberty’s Lover boy and Michael Jackson’s Off the wall. Another was Grace Jone’s Pull up to the bumper and Night Clubbing. Of all, Felas music, suffering and smiling was most fascinating even though I realised years later, the import of what he meant when I was in the University of Lagos. A research recently confirmed Fela’s suffering and smiling when it concluded that Nigerians were the happiest people in the world even though they are suffering.

I managed to ask a lady for a dance but she turned me down. I didn’t care because I was getting drunk. I approached another one and didn’t bother to ask for a dance, I started toasting/wooing her. We called it’ base’ or ‘spin’ in those days. So I based her. She responded positively and we ended up dancing. Then came the music of Chris Okotie etitled, Caroline which was a soft music. I looked to my right in the dimly lit hall and met the gaze of Oga Laisi, who was holding her own girl and he signalled to me to hold the girl tight but I didn’t have the courage despite my tipsy state .As I was contemplating whether or not to hold her, there was power failure and the music stopped. I felt relieved because my master, Oga Laisi would have scolded me for not being smart. Before the generator was switched on,

the lady excused herself to sit down and I followed her. Oga Laisi was furious at me. He said I ought to have asked her to stroll with me outside for fresh air and I would have had ample time to seal the relationship.

He was very mad with me on our way home when I told him I had forgotten the name of the girl. He got angrier when I said I remembered her school but not her name. He scolded me for getting drunk over a cup of beer compared to his own four bottles. We finally left the party about 4.30am in Oga Laisi’s rickety Volkswagen Beetle.

What brought about this memory was a disco party I attended last November. The party was organised by a colleague. I initially didn’t want to go but curiosity took the better part of me. I have not attended a disco party in the last 20 years so I wanted to know what a modern day disco party looked like. Since it was a colleague’s party, I contemplated going with my wife but I later decided against it when I remembered the story told by an uncle based in Port Harcourt. His wife kept pestering him about following him to a bachelor’s eve; he obliged her and put on a jeans and T-shirt. A young boy who was drunk at the party suddenly grabbed her boobs from behind and the woman was so embarrassed that she told her husband they should leave immediately. My uncle could not do anything he only told her, ‘but I warned you this place is not for married women’ What I first noticed at the party was that ladies in skimpy dresses doubled the number of guys. Their dresses could tempt any man. Some of the ladies were smoking heavily and drinking Big Stout. The DJ initially started playing oldies like Holiday

by The Natives, Ray Parker Junior; I wanna pour myself all over you, etc.

The girls didn’t dance, they were only drinking and smoking so I was wondering what the matter was. The music changed to that of whizz kid’s pakurumo and the whole hall erupted in screams. The ladies especially went wild. They were dancing with one another. If pakurumo made them wild, Kanga’s o sare kabakaba sent them into frenzy and the way

All hail Orizu at Ofala festival

•Igwe Orizu III

By Ozolua Uhakheme Assistant Editor (Arts)

Chairman, Nnewi Royal Cabinet, Dr. Dozie Ikedife (Ikenga Nnewi), Ofala Nnewi festival dates back to the 1950s and any monarch on the Nnewi throne must celebrate his Ofala every

year.

"It is a period when the Igwe felicitates with his subjects and rejoices with them for not losing anyone after the New yam festival. It is also a period when the Nnewi paramount ruler honours distinguished sons and daughters of

•The late Marley

they were dancing made me started thinking about my two daughters and I suddenly became sober. There was another track which sent the ladies crazy again. It was Skally Damushe’s dadubule sidioke (meaning lie her down and raise her bumbum) The girls started lying flat on the floor and were demonstrating sex.

Ginger de swagger, by Terry G. was another number that electrified them.

The boys were not different some of them wore earrings and sagged their trousers. Another thing I noticed was lesbianism. I later learnt that the girls dancing with one another were lovers and I asked nobody in particular, what is this life turning to? I noticed some of the ladies were haggling about price with the men before they could follow them home or wherever. I asked a younger colleague the meaning of Pakurumo and dadubule, he just smiled and said in Yoruba,’ Bros, ee ja si at all’ meaning, Bros you are not abreast of current trends’!

It was at this point that I remembered the disco party I attended in

1981 with Oga Laisi. . Though Oga Laisi’s friends and other guys there went home with ladies, it was not a money issue but relationship. I heard many lyrics that made no sense to me but it sounded nice in the ears of our boys and girls of today. Tracks like Igboro ti daru by Clever Jay, oti yanyanan, Ori e foka sibe by DJ Zeez and Alhaji. Some of the contemporary music that was a bit okay compared to the rest, were Ice Prince, O le ku, Implications by Tu Face Idibia, Mr. Endowed by D’Banj.

By the time I left the party about 3.30 am the population of ladies had thinned. I started thinking about my two daughters and questions came flooding; will my girls also dance pakurumo? Will they not grow in the midst of all these wild girls? How can we have the decent good old days back? As I drove away, I still heard the echoes of O seyin bi aya, owa saya bi eyin o wa sare kabakaba ….

Nnewi at the Igwe's palace," he said.

Ikedife explained that the monarch's fatherly disposition as well as his ability to inspire his people to achieve great feats has led to peace and stability in the community. He said, "Igwe Orizu III is a diplomat, a leader of men and a motivator. In the field of higher education he motivated the building by the citizens of Nnewi of all the structures at the former Teacher Training College Okofia Otolo, Nnewi now the College of Health Science of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus.

"He motivated the sighting of the College of Health Sciences of Nnamdi Azikiwe University at Nnewi by committing Nnewi people to make a major initial financial contribution for the College to be established. He also spear-headed the negotiations for obtaining land for the permanent site for the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital-comprising parts of Nnewi, Oraifite and Ozubulu lands. He has always ensured a friendly relationship between the town and the University community in courses offered at the College of Health Sciences of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University".

As with most leaders, Igwe Orizu has at one time or the other confronted challenges surmounting these obstacles trough the support of his people especially those in the Royal Cabinet. Ikedife reminisced, "Soon after the Nigeria civil war, the Nnewi Development Committee was formed for the planning and

development of the central parts of Nnewi. The Igwe and ten from the above group were once taken to the High Court by an Nnewi Chief, simply because they were planning and implementing the development of the town".

Under the Igwe who was coroneted as Orizu III in 1963 following the death of his father Josiah Orizu II, Nnewi gained prominence as West Africa's biggest spare-parts hub. The town's main trading centers include Nkow Nnewi market often indentified as the largest spare parts market in the West African subregion. There is also the Nwafor and Eke market. But the prominence of these markets did not come easily.

Ikedife explained how the Igwe went the extra mile to bring development to his people, even at personal risk. He said: "When Agbo Edo which belonged to Edo Nnewi deity and thus to all Nnewi people was to be cleared to provide land for the Nkwo Nnewi market and layout, it was the Igwe Orizu III who courageously first set matchet to the forest. With this ceremonial beginning the forest was cleared and land obtained.

"This leading example has been followed in many parts of Igboland to clear many forest belonging to various deities and the wheel of development has continued to turn.

Nnewi is today referred to as the Japan of Africa. We accept this acronym with pride. Thanks to the Igwe, the three Obis of Nnewi, the Royal Cabinet and all patriots and industrialists of Nnewi. Ndea bughalu igu, Nte wee tuputa."

•Jamiu writes from Ado-Ekiti.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

38

Foundation donates boreholes, generating sets

•Continued from Page 27

•Continued from Page 27 improving power supply in the area.He noted that since the bore holes were drilled and handed over to the villages by the NGO, the task of maintaining them and ensuring that they are providing the services for which they were installed and as well as buying diesel to power the generating sets has rested on the foundation.

Mbisiogu explained that it has not really been an easy task for the NGO and therefore pleaded with the state Government to do everything possible to assist in improving electricity supply in the state. He said in so doing, the cost of maintaining and servicing the bore holes would not be much on the NGO. Mbisiogu stated that in line with the rescue mission of the present leadership in the state, the governor, has shown sign that he is committed to restoring the state to its glorious days and need every support.

Governor Okorocha, was represented at the commissioning ceremony by the state Commissioner for Public Utility, Dr Ifeanyi Nwachukwu. He commended Uzotex Foundation and Good Governance

•One of the boreholes

Initiative (GGI) for setting good standard by complementing the effort of government towards providing infrastructure to the people of the state.

The government administration said he had sank 19 solar boreholes across the state and promised that more of such projects would be commissioned in other parts of the state even as he urged other NGOS to emulate the donor to reach out to those in the grassroots.

His Royal Highness Eze D.A.C Okparaononinwu, Akubuo the third, said the governor has restored the confidence of Imo people in govern-

ance but called on the governor to come to the aid of Umuchima in the area of road construction and provision of power.

The traditional ruler hailed Mbisiogu for deeming it fit to share his God given wealth with his people. ”You call him Festus Uzoma Mbisiogu, but from today I name him Danwete aku of Umuchima (Dan that brings wealth to Umuchima)”.

The president General of Umuchima development union Mr. Benjamin Nwamadu, on behalf of the people thanked the donor for giving back to a community which is in desperate need of the gesture.

A day of joy at Customs

abundant human and material resources.

He noted the experience of the NCS since joining the WCO in 1960 which included acceding to its Conventions, Agreements, Tools and Instruments, which has translated to the wave of all-round modernisation. He also acknowledged government’s support as stated by the Minister in her speech.

He said: “That the NCS has enjoyed great political support, which has resulted in the increase in revenue collection from a monthly average of N30b to 70b in 2011.”

As Vice-Chairman of the West and Central Africa Region, Abdullah presented a report to the effect that the 23 Customs Administrations within the region have been interested and involved in the activities of the WCO. He said the region has been relating with the Regional Economics Groupings, and other stakeholders that are concerned with trade facilitation and security in the trade supply chain.

After the opening ceremony, the technical session of the policy commission which was only open to members went into deliberations. The session was chaired by MS J. Feehily from Ireland.

During the deliberations, there were comments by the chairperson of the council, interim report by the Secretary-General, Programme Global Shield, report on Safe Working Group and Air Cargo Secretary, WCO Publications Policy, Emerging and Evolv-

ing Risks, Programme Budget for Financial Year 2012/2013, Customs Capacity Building, Revenue Package, Globally Networked Customs, Composition of the Policy Commission, among others.

After the preliminary session, the inauguration of the state-of-the-art Customs Command and Staff College at Gwagwalada Abuja took place.

What makes it more interesting and important was its take over as a regional staff college for the West and Central Africa regions.

In his speech at the event, President Jonathan said the establishment of the college is the realisation of the need to provide a place of training of professionals. He advised that activities at the college should be extended beyond the region such that other institutions/organisations from far and near that may be interested in acquiring knowledge would be accommodated.

The Customs Command and Staff College, has several facilities such as classroom blocks, an e-library, a canteen, a chapel, a mosque, officers’ mess, chalets for accommodation, sporting facilities, an auditorium, a parade ground, and a clinic, among others.

•Musa Omale is of Nigeria Customs Service, Abuja

•Eze Nnaemeka Agbo

•Hon. Ofoegbu

A

S Nigerians continue to mourn the death of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, the Ikemba Nnewi, more prominent Igbo leaders have expressed their regrets over his death, even as they extolled his virtues.

Recently at a prayer session to mark the end of its 2011 activities and to honour some Igbo sons and daughters who have excelled in their various fields of endeavours, the Igbo Community in Isolo Lagos took turns to eulogise the former Biafra leader.

The Eze Ndigbo of Lagos State (Igbo 1), Eze (Dr) Christian Uchechukwu Nwachukwu said the Igbo in Lagos in general and Isolo in particular were pained by the death of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu (Eze Igbo Gburugburu) whom he described as “our national leader, a great man, a commander of the Eastern Region, a man of peace and a man loved by all.”

Eze Nwachukwu further said that the vacuum created by the death of Ojukwu is one that Ndigbo would not be able to fill for a very long time, describing the Ikemba as the best President Nigeria never had.

“There is no Igbo man who would deny that he never tapped from the great wealth of experience of the late Eze Ndigbo Gburugburu. He was a great educationist and a politician of great repute, a man that could be trusted and who fought hard for the unity and development of the country.

“After the civil war, he took the Igbo to the mainstream of politics in Nigeria. He was a man from who the Easterners and Nigerians benefited immensely,” the Eze said.

Noting that the Igbo nation-wide and in the Diaspora are in mourning mood, Eze Nwachukwu said that the people have lost a man who had given a direction for the country to follow even though she refused to follow the

•Eze Nwachukwu (right) and Hon. Gbadero

Igbo community mourns Ojukwu

By Chinaka Okoro

direction that would have engendered the much-needed growth and development. He regretted that the inability of the country to follow Ojukwu’s direction has resulted in the current serious economic and political downward spiral being witnessed in the country. He also disclosed that though Ojukwu has died, his spirit and ideas still live.

Eze Nwachukwu advised that “it is the duty of every Igbo man and woman to emulate the lifestyle of Ojukwu by ensuring that his virtues and objectives are maintained vigorously and passed over to several generations of Ndigbo yet unborn.”

On the possibility of getting another Igbo of Ojukwu’s calibre to step

It is the duty of every Igbo man and woman to emulate the lifestyle of Ojukwu by ensuring that his virtues and objectives are maintained vigorously and passed over to several generations of Ndigbo yet unborn

into his “big shoes,” Eze Nwachukwu said: “Only God has the absolute say and power to give Ndigbo another selfless leader in the calibre of the late Ikemba Nnewi or somebody who is greater than Ojukwu. But we trust that God, in His infinite mercy and wisdom will give us a replacement to Ojukwu. But I am afraid that in a very short period of time, Ndigbo may find it difficult to get Ojukwu’s replacement.

“However, that does not indicate that the Igbo will lack quality leadership. We have many great Igbo leaders who could fill the vacuum that Ojukwu’s death has created. A man who will proffer suggestions and solutions to issues when it matters most, a man like Ojukwu who believes in justice, peace, fairness and unity among Ndigbo in particular and among Nigerians in general.”

In the same manner, Hon. Princess (Mrs) Chichi Funmi Gbadero (JP) the executive Vice-Chairman/Supervisor for Health, Ojo Local Government Area described as unfortunate the death of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu occurred at the time it did when some of his ambitions were not fulfilled.

She expressed her optimism that, with time, Ndigbo would be able to get another leader in the mould of the late Ojukwu whom she described as a lover of peace and justice.

“I think there are available people who can step into his shoes. The governor of Imo State Rochas Okorocha has toed the path of Ojukwu. If he can be humble and continue in the direction of selfless service to the people and remain committed to his current stride in the governance of the state, he may develop some of the qualities for which the late Ojukwu was noted.”

Noting that governance is all about carrying everybody along which is the only way we can achieve our aims and objectives, Hon. Gbadero said that Ndigbo should be united in order to move their nation forward.

Also contributing, Nnaemeka Agbo the Eze Umuokorobia Lagos State said he was saddened by the death of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, even as he added that he died when Ndigbo, especially the youth needed him most.

“We the youth would have benefited from his wealth of experience as he would have given us the needed direction and explanation on some issues concerning the Igbo nation and its position in Nigeria. We are pained by his death because we have been robbed of vital information which only he would have divulged.”

Eze Agbo disclosed that Ndigbo are not deficient in personalities in the mould of Ojukwu, adding that people like Eze Agbo and others who

have the will and courage to protect the Igbo are also in existence.

“Ojukwu fought for the right and well-being of Ndigbo without fear and compromise. He had unflinching love for his people and was ready to die fighting their cause. If Ojukwu didn’t prosecute the Biafra/Nigeria war, the marginalisation of Ndigbo wouldn’t have abated and we wouldn’t have had the opportunity of asserting ourselves as a nation. The average Igbo man can now fight for his rights instead of being subservient in the face of extreme oppression,” he said.

He expressed his optimism that with unity of purpose, Ndigbo would still get another great personality like the late Ojukwu.

Explaining the essence of the day’s gathering, chairman of Igbo Community in Isolo Local Government Area Hon. Tony Ofoegbu said his group set aside the day to thank God for His protection of the people throughout 2011.

He canvassed for Igbo unity which he described as a factor for socio-economic and political development of the Igbo nation.

He stated that the Igbo Community in Isolo gears towards promoting brotherliness among the people and to render support to those who have interests in elective positions.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

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Community seeks help for development

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COMMUNITY Igando area of Lagos State, under the aegis of Anu Oluwapo Community Development Association, (CDA), is in need of N20 million for development of the area.

The community spoke through its chairman, Prince Damilola Raji at a fund raising ceremony and investiture of its patrons and advisers.

The event which was held recently at the De Fayus Fun City, Oko-Oloyun Avenue Bus Stop, Igando, was to seek help from the government and people of the community for the development of the area.

Chairman of the CDA said: “Though we have started this work on our own. We need the government to come to our aid, because most of the road in Igando are bad.

You won’t believe that a community with more than 30,000 people only have one transformer serving them.

“Through community effort, we build health center, put on the street lights, construct drainage system, gutters and spread chemicals on the refuse being dumped in the area.

“We are seeking for funds, so that we can develop our community and I believe that through the help of the administration of Governor Babatunde Fashola, he will do it for us”, he said.

“The power of the transformer

•From left: Adviser, Anuoluwapo CDA, Modupeoluwa Okanlawon receiving her certificate from chairman of the ocassion, Mrs. Wasilat MerotiwonAbiodun, Chairman, Anuoluwapo CDA, Prince Damilola Raji (right) and others

By Shehu Bello

serving the Anuoluwapo CDA is 300kva and it is in bad state. We are calling for Good Samaritan for

Through community effort, we build health center, put on the street lights, construct drainage system, gutters and spread chemicals on the refuse being dump in the area

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N an appreciative manner, the Legislative members of Ejigbo Local Council Development Area have expressed gratitude to the Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola for approving the construction of Ejigbo – Ajao Link Bridge.

The six legislative members who

help,” he said.

Head of Agricultural Department, Igando-Ikotun Local Government, Mrs. Mairo Tiwani said: “You have the right to let the local government know about the programme, because without the information from the CDA, the local government will not be able to do anything.

By the time the project gets to the council and how much it will cost, we will be able to come to their aid as a local government and the Lagos State government too.

Pertaining the waste being dumped in the area, I will let the chairman of the council know about it, maybe it will be passed to the Lagos State government, so as to solve the problem”, she said.

People living in the environ needs to be vigilant when attacked by armed robbers because most of them use toy guns to rob people.

Superintendent of Police (SP), Igando Police Station, Mr. Ajagunna Oyedele said: “You should all know that not every arm robber that you see is really an arm robber. Most of them use toy guns to scare them to rob.

We need to always call the police whenever there are problems happening in the area. We need to be concerned whenever our neighbours are in problem requiring assistance. We must always be vigilant and watch our steps whenever we are working at night” he said.

Assistant Director Environment Officer, Mr Gbadamosi Oladimeji

was in a high tone as he educated the community about the need to always live in a clean environment saying, “living in a clean community will do you good and will help you towards not having diseases like dierharea, malaria”.

Lagos State Waste Management Agency (LAWMA) is doing everything in its power to see that Lagos State is clean and we need the people to cooperate with them. They should not patronise the cart pushers because they are part of the problem in the state.

People need to patronise LAWMA and by doind so, we will have a clean environment in the state if we stick to the rules and regulation of LAWMA”, he said.

Lawmakers, traditional rulers praise Fashola

By Duro Babayemi

are elected councilors in the LCDA expressed their appreciation through a letter addressed to the

governor which was jointly signed by them and the clerk of the House, Mr. Onadipe Adekunle.

While praying God to grant the Governor, the required wisdom,

•Prof Lateef Salako presenting ipad to a 300 level University of Ilorin student, Muhammad Abdullahi who won the GIC Essay Competition organised by the Glorious Islamic Centre (GIC) at Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja, Lagos

knowledge and understanding to steer the ship of Lagos State to the desired destination, they pleaded with him to disregard the move by residents of Ajao Estate against the construction of the link bridge.

The lawmakers noted that the link bridge, when completed will not only decongest the traffic bottle neck that characterise Isheri–Olofin, Ijegun, Idimu and Egbe-Ejigbo axis, but will also boost economic activities in Ejigbo and its environs.

They added that the bridge would have been put in place, since the time of Directorate for Rural Infrastructure (DFRI), but the same minority group in Ajao Estate mounted pressure against the good intention of the Federal Government, on the flimsy excuse that if the bridge is constructed, it will make the estate vulnerable to hoodlums and armed bandits.

Also, the traditional ruler of Ejigbo and Ijon land, Oba Moruf Adekunle

Adisa Ojoola (Imakiyo II) has praised Governor Babatunde Fashola for granting approval for the construction of the link bridge between Ejigbo and Ajao Estate.

Oba Ojoola gave the commendation during the celebration of his 13tth year coronation on the throne of his forefathers at his palace.

The traditional ruler stated that the news of the Governor’s approval for the link bridge project got to him, while he was on Holy pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, through the chairman of the LCDA, Kehinde Bamigbetan.

Oba Ojoola added that he was so happy with the development, that he commissioned special prayer for the Governor in Mecca.

Meanwhile, the traditional ruler has appealed to the Governor to disregard petitions written to him by some residents in Ajao Estate over the construction of the bridge, stressing that Fashola should stand b y the people of Ejigbo at this critical period.

The link bridge, when completed will not only decongest the traffic bottle neck that characterise Isheri–Olofin, Ijegun, Idimu and Egbe-Ejigbo axis, but will also boost economic activities in Ejigbo and its environs

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

Instead of giving you money, I have built a school where you will train your children to become future leaders and take up the development of this community to another level. It is better than giving you cash because only few would have benefited from such gesture

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OR more than five years, pupils of Local Government Education Authority (LGEA) Primary School Gbeleve, Tombo Ward in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State received lessons under trees.

This was so because the roof of the block of classroom in the school was blown off by heavy wind and the building collapsed.

Since then, successive administrations in the state made no efforts to repair the school.

During rainy seasons, there was virtually no schooling in Gbeleve Village, a remote community located at the bank of River Benue with a population of over 500 people spread in Mbakorya, Mbaiywem District.

But Thursday last week, the plight of the pupils in Tsegbeleve changed for the better as a prominent son of the community Joseph Tsavsar, popularly known as Joe K donated a furnished block of classrooms and office for the Head Teacher of LGEA Primary School Gbeleve.

It was a memorable event that made the entire community in Mbaiywem District and indeed the entire Tombo Ward to come out in their numbers to witness the inauguration of the block of classroom

by Governor Gabriel Suswam.

The pupils as well as the members of the community were excited as they lined up in their colourful uniforms on the narrow dusty road to welcome the special guest of honour who was in company with the chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr David Tsevende and other officials.

There was also dancing and singing by women, youths and other various entertainers to underscore the importance of education of their children and wards in their area.

In his keynote address, Governor Suswam, represented by chairman SUBEB, praised the donor for his effort towards lifting the education sector by constructing a new block of classrooms for the pupils of the school.

He said that, as part of their con-

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SSISTANT Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 10, Alhaji Ibrahim Paiko Machi has warned officers and men of the Sokoto Police Command not to allow themselves to be used by politicians, even as he urged them to watch out and be combat ready against threats to security of lives

•Jeok the donor with microphone with SUBEB chairman David Tsevende (black cap) and Director Quality Assurance In SUBEB MRS .Tingir during the inauguration

Suswam inaugurates block of classrooms From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

tributions to primary education which is the bedrock of knowledge, SUBEB would start a pre-nursery school and UBE junior secondly school in the state in the next academic calendar, just as he promised that more schools in the local government would be given face

lift.

In his speech, the donor who is also the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Special Projects said the donation was his modest contribution to the educational development of the community.

He opined that once a people are educated, they would know their rights and would not remain subservient; neither would they be fed

with falsehood by self-seeking politicians. He therefore urged them to double their support for Governor Suswam in order to benefit more from his administration.

“Instead of giving you money, I have built a school where you will train your children to become future leaders and take up the development of this community to another level. It is better than giving

you cash because only few would have benefited from such gesture.

But with this block of classroom, I have already thought you how to catch fish,” he said.

Highlight of the event was the cutting of tape and inspection of the block of classroom by the representative of Governor Suswam who to inaugurated the new school building.

Be wary of politicians, police chief warns From Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

and property.

He said the police remain an established security organ that should

be seen to serve all while ensuring the enforcement of law and order as well as guarantee security of all citizens.

Alhaji Machi noted that manpower, attitude and operational chal-

•From left: Chairman, Coker-Aguda Local Council Development Area, Hon. Omobolanle Akinyemi-Obe, her Itire-Ikate counterpart, Hon Hakeem Bamgbola and Chairman, Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government, Hon. Kamal Bayewu during the presentation of award to Hon Bamgbola at SWAN Hall, National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos

lenges were grossly affecting the discharge of their duties. He assured that training and recruitment were ongoing to meet an appreciable figure for its operational responsibilities towards combating crimes.

According him, failure on the part of any officer to carry out his duties as expected would attract penalty.

“You will be brought to book and given orderly room trial which is not healthy for you. I must be frank with you that I don’t want orderly room trial to be meted out to an officer or rank and file. However, I will not spare whoever is caught or reported unless it is clearly proved that he or she is not to blame by available evidences,” he insisted.

He said the emergence of and threats by the Boko Haram sect has become a serious security concern, even as he hinted that officers and men of the command should be combat ready so that they would not be taken unawares by the hoodlums.

Speaking during a familiarisation tour of the command which is among the three commands under his zone, Alhaji Machi also observed that some officers and men take issues for granted against all expectation at their duty posts. He stressed that they should ensure vigilance and be in control of their amoury and guard themselves.

“You should not relax or absent

yourselves from duty posts; and don’t allow visitors into your territory anyhow. Endeavour to check and question their in and out and be watchful while on patrol or at check points against falling into the trap of hoodlums.”

Earlier, the state Commissioner of Police, Baba Adisa Bolanta told the AIG that Sokoto is one of the most sensitive locations in terms of politics and religious activities, adding that “due to its largeness and historical backgrounds, it poses serious security challenge to the command.”

According to him, acute shortage of manpower to adequately serve the state has been hampering the command’s operations, pointing out that some Divisions have not more than 25 policemen. He, however, said that the command is able to make arrests within the period under review.

“Of recent, we arrested NITEL cables vandals and arrested carriers of 56 bags of substance suspected to be Indian hemp and handed them to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).”

However, Bolanta appealed to the AIG to augment the manpower need of the command and provision of logistics to adequately cover the state in view of the forthcoming elections in the state as well the conventional security operations.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

LAGOS STATE UNIVERSITY, OJO BADAGRY EXPRESSWAY, OJO Email: vice-chancellor@lasunigeria.org registrar@lasunigeria.org

SUPPLIMENT ARY ADMISSION LIST FOR 2011/2012 SUPPLIMENTARY ACADEMIC SESSION Following the Post UTME Exercise conducted by the Lagos State University in September 2011, the following successful candidates have been offered Provisional Admission for the 2011/2012 Academic Session.

Successful candidates are hereby informed to commence payment of tuition fees and register for the 2011/2012 Academic Session with immediate effect. DEADLINE for REGISTRATION is FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2011.

Candidates who fail to pay at the expiration of the deadline will automatically forfeit the offer of Provisional Admission.

For information on registration, students are requested to visit www.lasunigeria.org.

DIRECT ENTRY

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

LAGOS STATE UNIVERSITY, OJO BADAGRY EXPRESSWAY, OJO Email: vice-chancellor@lasunigeria.org, registrar@lasunigeria.org

MERIT AND CATCHMENT

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

LAGOS STATE UNIVERSITY, OJO BADAGRY EXPRESSWAY, OJO Email: vice-chancellor@lasunigeria.org, registrar@lasunigeria.org

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

LAGOS STATE UNIVERSITY, OJO BADAGRY EXPRESSWAY, OJO Email: vice-chancellor@lasunigeria.org, registrar@lasunigeria.org

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

LAGOS STATE UNIVERSITY, OJO BADAGRY EXPRESSWAY, OJO Email: vice-chancellor@lasunigeria.org, registrar@lasunigeria.org

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

LAGOS STATE UNIVERSITY, OJO BADAGRY EXPRESSWAY, OJO Email: vice-chancellor@lasunigeria.org, registrar@lasunigeria.org

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

LAGOS STATE UNIVERSITY, OJO BADAGRY EXPRESSWAY, OJO Email: vice-chancellor@lasunigeria.org, registrar@lasunigeria.org

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

LAGOS STATE UNIVERSITY, OJO BADAGRY EXPRESSWAY, OJO Email: vice-chancellor@lasunigeria.org, registrar@lasunigeria.org

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LAGOS STATE UNIVERSITY, OJO BADAGRY EXPRESSWAY, OJO Email: vice-chancellor@lasunigeria.org, registrar@lasunigeria.org

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

LAGOS STATE UNIVERSITY, OJO BADAGRY EXPRESSWAY, OJO Email: vice-chancellor@lasunigeria.org, registrar@lasunigeria.org

2011/2012 SUPPLEMENTRY ADMISSION LIST

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

LAGOS STATE UNIVERSITY, OJO BADAGRY EXPRESSWAY, OJO Email: vice-chancellor@lasunigeria.org, registrar@lasunigeria.org

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

LAGOS STATE UNIVERSITY, OJO BADAGRY EXPRESSWAY, OJO Email: vice-chancellor@lasunigeria.org, registrar@lasunigeria.org

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

LAGOS STATE UNIVERSITY, OJO BADAGRY EXPRESSWAY, OJO Email: vice-chancellor@lasunigeria.org, registrar@lasunigeria.org

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

LAGOS STATE UNIVERSITY, OJO BADAGRY EXPRESSWAY, OJO Email: vice-chancellor@lasunigeria.org, registrar@lasunigeria.org

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

LAGOS STATE UNIVERSITY, OJO BADAGRY EXPRESSWAY, OJO Email: vice-chancellor@lasunigeria.org, registrar@lasunigeria.org

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

LAGOS STATE UNIVERSITY, OJO BADAGRY EXPRESSWAY, OJO Email: vice-chancellor@lasunigeria.org, registrar@lasunigeria.org

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

LAGOS STATE UNIVERSITY, OJO BADAGRY EXPRESSWAY, OJO Email: vice-chancellor@lasunigeria.org, registrar@lasunigeria.org

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

LAGOS STATE UNIVERSITY, OJO BADAGRY EXPRESSWAY, OJO Email: vice-chancellor@lasunigeria.org, registrar@lasunigeria.org

Signed: L.O ANIMASHAUN, ESQ Registrar and Secretary to Council

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

NEWS

•Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio (fifth right); Obi of Onitsha, Alfred Nnemeka Achebe (fourth right) with members of the Southsouth Monarch Forum at a retreat in Uyo

Enugu sells N50 per litre kerosene From Chris Oji, Enugu

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HE Enugu State Government has begun the sale of kerosene at the officially recommended price of N50 to the public.

The Commissioner for Human Development and Poverty Reduction, Godwin Ogenyi, flagged off the exercise on behalf of Governor Sullivan Chime at a ceremony in Enugu.

He said 216,000 metric litres of kerosene was procured by government in collaboration with Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for distribution to the people in the 260 wards.

The commissioner said a tanker would serve each local government to ensure that everybody benefited.

He, however, said only 10 litres of kerosene would be sold to each family to make the product available to all, adding that reselling of the commodity would not be tolerated.

Robbers kill one, snatch SUV in Anambra

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OBBERS in Anambra State have killed a man and snatched a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) in two incidents.

Sources said the first incident occurred in Awka Etiti, Idemili South Local Government. The second at St. John’s Street, Odoakpu, Onitsha.

At Awka Etiti, sources said the gunmen killed the victim, suspected to be a Hausa man, at a petrol station.

They said the four-man gang had earlier attacked a beer distributor at Nkolofia village but could not enter the company as the security men hurriedly closed the gates.

“The robbers also stormed

From Adimike George, Onitsha

the cattle market at Eke Main Market but did not succeed as vigilance groups foiled their efforts. They then attacked the petrol station.”

In the second incident, robbers attacked the owner of a restaurant and snatched his car.

A source said the victim was by the gate of the shop when he was accosted.

Police spokesman Emeka Chukwuemeka confirmed the first incident but said the victim was an attendant in the station.

He said he was not aware of the second incident.

‘Insecurity reduced in Southeast’ From Chris Oji, Enugu

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HE General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj-Gen Sunday Idoko, has said insecurity in the Southeast is on the decline.

He said though there may still be some challenges, the situation has improved.

Maj-Gen Idoko spoke when members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) visited him.

He called on the media to assist in sensitising the public on the need to give useful information to security agents.

“Security is everybody’s business. Security operatives are not magicians to know where criminals operate, hence we need useful information to operate.

“At the 82 Division, we are committed to ensuring that there is conducive atmosphere in the 11 states of our operations which includes Southeast, Southsouth, Benue and parts of Taraba State.”

Supreme Court judgment: PDP demands certificates of return from Jega T HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is attempting to cash-in on the internal crisis rocking the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in Katsina State.

It has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, to issue Certificates of Return to its candidates in two senatorial districts and eight federal constituencies in the state.

In a letter by its Acting National Chairman, Abubakar Kawu Baraje, the party is contending that the CPC had no candidates for the contentious Katsina North and Central Senatorial Districts.

It is also asking the commission to issue the Certificates of Return to its candidates for the eight House of Representatives seats of Kankia/Ingawa, Kaita/Jibiya, Katsina, Daura/Maiaduwa/

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From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

Sandamu), Mani/Bindawa, Mashi/Dutsi, Kankara/Faskari/Sabuwa and Funtua/Dandume.

The party is also calling for an early rerun election.

The letter is coming on the heels of last Friday’s Supreme Court judgment which struck out a suit by a factional governorship candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Yakubu Lado and 42 others for lack of jurisdiction.

The appellants were challenging the decision of the Court of Appeal, Abuja that nullified their tickets because the primary election that produced them was not endorsed

by CPC’s Board of Trustees.

The PDP senatorial candidate for Katsina Central, Ibrahim Ida, said the CPC can no longer lay claims to the seat having presented no candidates for the election.

Justice Abdul Kafarati of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had in his February 25 Judgment declared Lado and others as the duly nominated candidates of the CPC having won the party’s primaries.

With the 1999 Constitution as amended, the court held that the election or nomination of party’s candidate seizes to be solely an internal affair of the party because any aggrieved member of the party can sue if the party’s guidelines and the Electoral

Family writes Fashola over school’s land claim

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HE Iyalode Efunroye Tinubu Family has written to Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola informing him that the landed property being claimed by Birch Freeman High School authority is under litigation.

In the letter, entitled: Re: Alleged Encroachment on Birch Freeman High School, Surulere, premises, signed by the secretary, Tajudeen Tinubu, and dated December 9, the family stated: “The parcel of land contiguous to and outside the legally acquired premises of Birch Freeman High School, Surulere is under litigation in suit No. M294/2010 pending before Justice Atinuke Ipaye of the Lagos High Court, Igbosere, Lagos.

“The office of the Registrar of Title is a party to the suit in which trial has commenced .”

UNN inducts 79 physiotherapists HE University of Nigeria (UNN), Nsukka, has inducted 79 physiotherapists.

They were inducted in the presence of the Registrar, Medical Rehabilitation Therapists Registration Board of Nigeria (MRTB), J.D. Jogunola.

The Head, Department of Medical Rehabilitation, Emeka Igwe, said the inductees had been found worthy both in character and learning, in line with the university’s

•Says CPC had no candidates

The Tinubu family said: “sequel to our letter dated December 5 but received by your office on December 8 in respect of the subject matter, we wish to inform your Excellency that: officials of the Zonal Office of Physical and Urban Planning Department, Town Planning Way, Ilupeju and officials of the Lands Bureau came upon the land outside the perimeter fence of the above-named school on December 8 and carried out extensive measurement work to our dismay.

“At the last adjourned date of the suit pending in court, an order was made directing the office of the SurveyorGeneral to prepare a composite plan showing the relative positions of the land of all defendants (about 20) viz-a viz land being claimed by the claimant.

From Chris Oji, Enugu

Ex-NCRIB president dies

motto.

Igwe said all the students, who had been on the waiting list, have now been successfully inducted into the profession.

The 16th induction was attended by principal officers of the University, including the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Prof Mrs. Ifeoma Enemo, who represented the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bartho Okolo and the Provost, College Of Medicine, Prof. Basden Onwubere.

RONTLINE insurance broker and past President of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) Dede Ijere is dead.

In a statement by the President of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers, Laide Osijo, Ijere died in Aba, Abia State.

Osijo described the deceased as one of the leading lights in insurance profession, whose tenure as President of the council brought advancement to the profession.

Born on August 12, 1946, the late Ijere was an associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute London; fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria and the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers.

He was the Executive Chairman of Dinta Risks Insurance Brokers Ltd.

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“The solicitor of the claimant, Mr. Joseph Nwobike SAN, was mandated by the court to approach the surveyor-general in this regard.”

Act are breached.

It was on the strength of the judgment that Abdu Yandoma (Katsina North) and Ahmed Sani Stores (katsina Central) emerged as Senators on the platform of the CPC having won the April 9 National Assembly elections.

Eight others also contested and won seats for the House of Representatives.

But the Court of Appeal, Abuja, on April 20, set aside the judgment. The judgment came three days before the governorship election.

Justice Jimi Bada in the lead judgment said Lado”s name should not have been sent to the INEC because the primary that produced him was not endorsed by the Board of Trustees of the CPC, chaired by Gen. Muhamadu Buhari (Rtd.).

PUBLIC NOTICE CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Mr. Stanley Emeka Williams, Mr. Charles Emeka Chidi and Mr. Stanley Williams are one and same person. Now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Stanley Emeka Williams. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE ALL NATIONS CHRISTIAN ASSEMBLY Notice is hereby given to the general public that the above named Church has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission under the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990 part "C" to appoint additional Trustees.

The additional Trustees are: 1. JACOB BANKOLE ADEYENI ONOBA ' 2. JOSHUA MAZAI ATURETA 3. SAMUEL LANDO SANI SALIFU 4. SAIDU DOGO 5. OSHO KEHINDE RAJI 6. DOMINIC BAWA MAIKAJE SIGNED: Albert B. Olus Secretary, Church Council

PUBLIC NOTICE AFRICAN WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION FOR REHABILITATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP The above named African Women’s Association for Rehabilitation and Entrepreneurship has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration in accordance with the provisions of the Companies and Allied Matters Act No. 1 of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1) Dr. Oluwafunmilayo J. Para-Mallam 2) Iyom (Barr.) Josephine Anenih 3) Mrs. Susan Janfa 4) Prof. Irene Isoken Agunloye 5) Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe 6) Pastor Nosa Tukura 7) Dr. Julie Mafwil 8) Mrs. Gyarta Pofi 9) Mrs. Ruth Dul 10) Rev. Gideon Para-Mallam 11) Prof. Jerry Buhari AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: Our overall aim is to work alongside women and girls through mentoring, education, training, counselling, socioeconomic help services, research and advocacy and thereby assist them to discover, develop and deploy their full human potential for meaningful contribution to African development. Specific objectives are to: 1) Raise the awareness and consciousness of African women and girls with respect to their human dignity, rights, responsibilities and privileges, with particular focus on victims/ survivors of all forms of sexual and gender-based violence.

2) Run a ‘Safeway Home’ that offers help services in the form of counselling, legal aid and temporary shelter to women and girls who are victims/survivors of violence.

3) Develop the leadership potential of women and girls through mentoring, modeling and positive self-development programmes.

4) To equip girls and young women with life-long relationship skills that promote and protect their human worth, dignity and rights, as well as enable them fulfil their responsibilities as fully-fledged citizens.

5) To facilitate a female-friendly society through active social engagement at community, organizational and policy levels.

Any objection should be addressed to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: CALEB MUTFWANG & CO., 2ND FLOOR, BAGUDU HOUSE, LL. 6 AHMADU BELLO WAY, KADUNA

60

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011

Belgore won’t defect to PDP

Banks shut in Kogi as robbers strike

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

THE Kwara State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship candidate in the April election, Mohammed Dele Belgore (SAN), has said his rumoured plan to defect to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is a wishful thinking.

He was responding to statement by a PDP stalwart, Sulieman K. Yusuf, that the ACN governorship candidate would soon defect to PDP. In a text message, Belgore said: “They all must be dreaming. It is not true, and it is the lowest form of propaganda, even by their (PDP’s) already very low standard. We are in court challenging the mandate they stole from us and we are pursuing that vigorously.

“We are the people’s choice and we would not throw that away by joining those whom the electorate has rejected and who continue to pursue antipeople’s policies.”

From Mohammed Bashir, Lokoja

OLLOWING last month’s and Monday’s attacks on some banks in Aiyetoro Gbedde in Ijumu Local Government Area and Kabba in Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State, by suspected armed robbers, most banks in Kogi West Senatorial District have closed down.

Fifteen armed robbers on Monday invaded a police station and a first generation bank in Aiyetoro Gbedde.

All the banks in the Yoruba-speaking areas of the state have closed to avoid another attack.

A source told The Nation in confidence that the banks have closed indefinitely, until the security challenge is addressed.

The source said: “They (robbers) have made several attempts to access the bank’s strong room but failed. Out of frustration, they began to throw bombs into the bank. We had already run outside when we hard continuous explosions inside the bank.”

The closure of the banks, it was gathered, would retard Christmas activities in the area, as customers can no longer access their money.

Most of the Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) are no longer working, it was learnt.

Police spokesman Ajayi Okasanmi, an Assistant Superintendent of police (ASP), said the robbers used dynamites to break into some police stations.

He said the command was making efforts to restore security by drafting more policemen to the area.

The police spokesman confirmed that two police officers were injured during the Monday attack.

F

•The banking hall raided by the robbers

INVITATION FOR BID Federal Government Girls' College, Umuahia hereby invites interested and reputable contractors/suppliers to bid for the purchase of a 32 Seater Bus. PER-QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS 1. Company Certificate of Incorporation/Registration.

2. Company Current three (3) year Tax Clearance Certificate.

3. Evidence of Value Added Tax ( VAT ) Registration 4. Audited Account of Company for the last three ( 3 ) years.

5. Evidence of Registration with FGGC,Umuahia 6. Evidence of Payment of Non-Refundable fee of N1O,000 (Ten thousand naira )only.

7. A copy of Company Profile SUBMISSION OF BID DOCUMENTS. All bid documents must be contained in an envelope with "BID' boldly written at the top right hand corner of the envelope and addressed to: THE PRINCIPAL, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GIRLS' COLLEGE UMUAHIA, ABIA STATE. To be submitted not later than two ( 2 ) weeks to the date of this publication.

Opening of Bid Documents shall be by 11.a.m on 12th January 2012.

NOTE: Only per-qualified bidders shall be notified.

Signed; Secretary, School Tender's Board Federal Government Girls' College, Umuahia.

Borno caretakers sacked From Joseph Abiodun, Maiduguri

•The police station after it was torched by the robbers

Five dead as gunmen invade Southern Kaduna village

S

USPECTED gunmen have killed five people and injured three others in an attack on Ramin Daji, a southern Kaduna village.

The Nation learnt that the gunmen invaded the village, near Kagoro in Kaura Local Government Area, at night and shot at the village vigilance group.

The attack is coming barely two weeks after a similar attack at Kukum Daji, near Kagoro, where one person was killed and two injured.

It occurred few weeks after the last unrest in Kafanchan, which led to the imposition of a curfew in the area.

In a phone chat with reporters, the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of Kaura Local Government Area, Mrs. Florence Aya, said: “The vigilantes in the village had assembled to start patrolling around

From Tony Akowe, Kaduna

9.30pm on Monday when, suddenly, some people, who were lying in a bush nearby, opened fire on them.

“They could do nothing about it, since they were not carrying fire arms. While the vigilantes tried to ward off the attackers, the invaders entered the village and shot at the residents. They also inflicted machete cuts on them, killing five.

“They also cornered a woman carrying an infant and cut them down. You need to see the injuries on the woman and her infant. But by some miracle, the baby and mother survived.

“They are now under intensive care in a hospital whose name I will not tell you now.

Two others, who were shot, are critically ill. They are also

receiving treatment. Let’s pray for them as they receive treatment.

“But, even as they came with guns, some of the vigilantes were able to injure one. He escaped, leaving a trail of blood. As I speak with you, the youth and the police are searching the bushes for him.

This is very sad. We need more security here.”

Police spokesman Aminu Lawan, a Divisional Superintendent iof Police (DSP), confirmed the attack and the deaths.

He said investigations have begun into the incident.

Lawan said: “Are you saying raid or attack? In the Police Force, there is a difference between raid and attack. So, which one? If you call it an attack, yes; there was, and five people died.”

Jang presents N112b budget proposal to Assembly

P

LATEAU State Governor Jonah Jang yesterday presented a N122billion budget proposal to the House of Assembly for 2012.

This proposal is 29.4per cent over this year’s estimate.

Jang said: “The estimated recurrent revenue for the 2012 is N75.3 billion, while capital expenditure will cost N67.7 billion.”

The 2012 estimates showed that works and transport sectors will take over N17 billion.

The governor said: “Financing a capital budget can only be bridged through aggressive Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) efforts by ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of the state. We cannot continue to take our natural and human resources for

From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

granted and forget that our resources are not unlimited.

“We need a sustainable economic model that ensures fair generation, distribution and allocation of resources.

“The 2012 budget is anchored on a 10-Point Agenda and will focus on aggressive internal and external revenue drive, mobilisation of human and material resources for development.”

Though Jang did not allocate any fund to security, he promised the protection of life and property in collaboration with the Federal Government through the Chief of Defence Staff.

He admonished Nigerians to allow love, peace and tolerance to take root in their lives.

BORNO State Governor Kashim Shettima has approved the dissolution of the 27 local gvernments’ caretaker committees.

A statement in Maiduguri by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Baba Bashir Gargar said the caretaker committees were dissolved following the expiration of their sixmonth tenure.

The statement directed the council chairmen to hand over to the secretaries.

It wished them success in their future endeavours.

N19m for Bauchi cattle route From Austine Tsenzughul, Bauchi

The Bauchi State Government has earmarked N19 million for the survey and demarcation of livestock routes in the state.

The exercise, according to the Ministry of Animal Resources and Nomadic Resettlement, is to stop the regular clashes among herdsmen and farmers.

Commissioner for Animal Resources Alhaji Abdulkadir Ibrahim said the Federal Government, in partnership with the state and local government areas, would demarcate livestock routes of over 260 kilometres across the state.

The project, The Nation learnt, was initially earmarked for Adamawa and Borno states but was diverted to Bauchi because of current security challenges in Borno State.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Yusuf Yerima Gamawa, the commissioner spoke during an inspection of the route at Dindima in Bauchi Local Government Area.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

61

FOREIGN NEWS Labour criticises ‘repression’ of Lagos protest From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday condemned what it called the repression of protest organised by residents of Lekki, Lagos, saying it was a crime against the people.

In a statement by its President, Abdulwaheed Omar, the union said: “The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is shocked by the brutalisation, repression and continued terrorisation of Lekki residents by the Police and the Lagos State Government.

“The residents of Lekki had on Saturday trooped out to express their disapproval of three toll gates mounted in their community. They were armed only with placards and their conscience.

“For these Nigerians who were mainly the elderly, women, retired judges and soldiers to be set upon and brutalised by armed policemen and thugs for merely exercising their fundamental right to peaceful protest, is to commit a crime against the Nigerian People.

Kim Jong II lies in state, son leads tributes

N

ORTH Korea displayed the body of ruler Kim Jong Il in a glass coffin surrounded by red flowers yesterday, and his young heir was one of the first to pay respects - a strong indication that a smooth leadership transition was under way.

As the country mourned for a second day with high-level visits to Kim’s body at a memorial palace and public gatherings of weeping citizens, state media fed a budding personality cult around his youngest known son and anointed heir, Kim Jong Un, hailing him as a “lighthouse of hope.”

Kim’s body was wrapped in red cloth and surrounded by blossoms of his namesake flowers, red “kimjongilia.” As solemn music played, Kim Jong Un - believed to be in his late 20s - entered the hall to view his father’s bier, surrounded by military honor guards. He observed a moment of solemn silence, then circled the bier, followed by other officials.

Outside one of the capital’s main performance centers, mourners carried wreaths and flowers toward a portrait of Kim Jong Il. Groups were allowed to grieve in front of the portrait for a few minutes at a time.

“We will change today’s

sorrow into strength and courage and work harder for a powerful and prosperous nation, as our general wanted, under the leadership of the new General Kim Jong Un,” U Son Hui, a Pyongyang resident, told The Associated Press.

The announcement Monday of Kim’s death over the weekend raised acute concerns in the region over the possibility of a power struggle between the untested son and rivals, in a country pursuing nuclear weapons and known for its unpredictability and secrecy.But there have been no signs of unrest or discord in Pyongyang’s somber streets.

With the country in an 11day period of official mourning, flags were flown at halfstaff at all military units, factories, businesses, farms and public buildings. The streets of Pyongyang were quiet, but throngs of people gathered at landmarks honoring Kim. Kim’s bier was decorated by a wreath from Kim Jong Un along with various medals and orders. The body was laid out in the Kumsusan Memorial Palace, a mausoleum where the embalmed body of Kim’s father - national founder Kim Il Sung - has been on display in a glass sarcophagus since his death in 1994.

Charles Okah hospitalised

A

Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, was yesterday told that Charles Okah is on admission due to the ill-treatment received from prison officials.

Charles and his brother, Henry, are standing trial in Abuja and South Africa over their alleged involvement in the Independence Day twinbomb explosions, which rocked Eagle Square last year.

He is said to be receiving treatment in Kuje prisons clinic after he collapsed.

The accused, on January 18, slumped in the dock. This was barely five minutes after his

From Kamarudeen Ogundele, Abuja

case was called. He slumped just before a chair was brought to him as ordered by the trial Judge. Charles and three others are standing trial for the October 1 bombings in Abuja.

Others are: Obi Nwabueze, Edmund Ebiware and Tiemkemfa Francis Osvwo.

Osvwo told the court how they are being tortured and maltreated by prison officials.

He begged the court to remand them in the custody of the State Security Service (SSS) rather than the prison.

The situation made Justice Gabriel Kolawole to adjourn ruling on a stay of proceedings in the criminal trial.

Addressing the court on his client’s state of health, Oghenovo Otemu, said he was just informed by the three other accused persons that Okah has been admitted after he collapsed and could not recognise anyone.

He blamed the development on the aftermath of inhuman punishment unleashed on the accused persons after complaining to the court at the last sitting of how their cell room was fumigated while they were inside.

Kim Jong Il died of a massive heart attack on Saturday caused by overwork and stress, according to the North’s media. He was 69 though some experts question the official accounts of his birth date and location.

The state funeral for Kim

is set for Decemsber 28 in Pyongyang, to be followed by a national memorial service the next day, according to the North’s state media. North Korean officials say they will not invite foreign delegations and will allow no entertainment during the mourning

period.

Since Kim’s death the media have stepped up their lavish praise of the son, indicating an effort to strengthen a cult of personality around him similar to that of his father and - much more strongly - of Kim Il Sung.

62

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011

63

IN THE HIGH COURT OF LAGOS STATE OF NIGERIA PROBATE REGISTRY, LAGOS DIVISION WHEREAS the person whose names are set-out in the first Column under died intestate on the date and place stated in the said Column. AND WHEREAS the person or persons whose names and addresses and relationship (if any) to the deceased are set out in the second Column here have applied to the High Court of Lagos State for a Grant of Letter of Administration of the Real and Personal Properties of the deceased. NOTICE IS HEREBY given that Letters of Administration will be granted to such persons unless a NOTICE TO PROHIBIT THE GRANT is filed in the registry within (14) days from the date hereof.

S/N NAMES OF THE DECEASED PERSON: 1. Mr. Joshua Ogunsola known as Pastor Joshua Oluwadipe Ogunsola late of Block 126, Flat 2, Jakande Housing Estate, Ilasan, Eti Osa, Lekki, Lagos who died intestate on the 19th November, 2007 at Lagos.

2. Mr. Gabriel Udezue known as Gabriel E. Udezue and Udezue Gabriel of 52, Kirikiri Road, Olodi Apapa, Lagos who died intestate on the 22nd February, 2011 at Lagos.

3. Essang Bassey Edet late of 36 B, James Oyedele Street, Lagos who died intestate on the 8th July, 2008 at Calabar.

4. Mrs. Bernardeth Okala known as Mrs. Okala Benedict late of 18B Shoboolu Street, Sari Iganmu, Lagos who died intestate on the 6th day of October, 2011 at Lagos.

5. Ogbonna Emmanuel Onyenweson late of 42, Isikalu Street, Olodi Apapa, Lagos who died intestate on the 9th September, 2011 at Lagos.

6. Mr. Emmanuel Ayinla Edu known as Mr. Emmanuel Edu late of Close 19, House 9, Satellite Town, Lagos who died intestate on the 15th August, 2009 at Lagos.

7. Pa. Moses Oduwole Oduba late of 44, Akinwumi Street, Yaba, Lagos who died intestate on the 19th August, 1987 at Ilaro, Ogun State.

8. Latifu Adegbola Salami late of 4, Transit Quarters, Ijora, Olopa, Lagos who died intestate on the 24th January, 2001 at Lagos.

9. Egbagbe Kate Ifeoma late of No. 1, Ojulami Ojomu Street, Lakowe, Lagos who died intestate on the 6th June, 2011 at Onitsha.

10. Madam Adijatu Amodu late of 55, Moshalashi Street, Obalende, Lagos who died interstate on the 7th October, 1954 at Lagos.

11.Adeyanju Mukaila Olaogun late of Block 283, Flat 1, Jakande Estate, Oke Afa, Lagos. Who died intestate on the 11th May, 2010 at Lagos.

12.Asuquo Isiaih late of 9, Osasa Street, Oworonsoki, Lagos who died intestate on the 22nd July, 2011 at Lagos.

13.Kehinde Fakemi Ebenezer kamoru known as Fakemi Kehinde Ebenezer Kamoru late of 4, Smith Street, Idi Oro, Mushin, Lagos who died intestate on the 6th February, 2011 at Lagos.

14.Jeminat Ibiyemi Ariyo known as Jeminatu Ibiyemi late of Block 21, Flat 17, Alhaji Masha Road, Surulere, Lagos who died intestate on the 10th September, 1996 at Lagos.

15.Isiaka Sulaiman known as Mr. Isiaka Suleiman late of 22, Olubi Street, Isolo, Lagos who died intestate on the 2nd July, 2011 at Lagos.

16.Mrs. Emilia Odoemena known as Odoemena Emilia late of 29, Durojaiye Street, Lawanson, Surulere, Lagos who died intestate on the 23rd May, 2011 at Lagos.

17.Mrs. Josephine Nkiruka Aboh known as Aboh Josephine Nkiru Aboh Josephine Nkiruka and Aboh Josephine late of 16/18, Omolola Areelu Street, Magbon, Badagry Expressway, Lagos who died intestate on the 6th December, 2010 at Lagos.

18.Chief Emmanuel Nmadika Ekweanya known as Ekweanya Emmanuel and Ekweanya Emmanuel Nmadika late of 21, Road, D close, House 2, Festac Town, Lagos who died intestate on the 5th October, 2010 at Lagos.

19.Chinedu B. Ndokwu known as Mr. Ndokwu Chinedu B. late of 109, Kirikiri Road, Prison Barracks who died intestate on the 17th January, 2011 at Lagos.

20.Mrs. Roseline Nwobodo known as Nwobodo Roseline late of 3B, Olufowobi Street, Ketu, Lagos who died intestate on the 2nd October, 2008 at Lagos.

21.Cleophas Lartey Lawson known as MR. Lawson Larty Cleophas late of 9, Inabere Street, Lagos who died intestate on the 29th December, 2008 at Lagos.

22.Mrs. Yemi Shyllon known as Shyllon Yemi late of 10, Oke Agba Close, Garki, Abaja, lagos who died intestate on the 23rd April, 2010 at Abuja.

23.Oseni Kadiri late of No. 1, Bankole Street, Orile Iganmu, Lagos who died intestate on the 22nd June, 2010 at Lagos.

24.Francis Anohanse late of 28, Ayetoro Street, Ajah, Lagos who died intestate on the 1st May, 2010 at Lagos.

25.Mr. Adegboye James known as James Adedokun Adegboye late of 24, Joseph Harrison Street, Onike, Iwaya Road, Yaba, Lagos.

Who died intestate on the 25th February, 2010 at Lagos.

26.Mr. P.E Oyome known as Paul Egwuenum Oyome and Oyome P.E late of 147, Ojo Igbede Road, Alaba, Lagos who died intestate on the 7th April, 2010 at Lagos.

27.Mr. John Oyeniyi known as Oyeniyi John late of 31, Okepopo Street, Lagos who died intestate on the 10th January, 2011 at Lagos.

28.Mrs. Christiana Wuraola Soyebo known as Soyebo Christiana Wuraola Ayinke and Mrs. C.W.A Soyebo late of 183/185, Muyibi Street, Olodi Apapa, Lagos who died intestate on the 2nd January, 2011 at Lagos.

29.Victor Babatunji Akinmukomi known as Babatunji Victor Akinmukomi late of 16, Raimi Soyide Street, Aga, Ikorodu, Lagos who died intestate on the 27th August, 2011 at Ikorodu, Lagos.

30.Okeke Emeka Kingsley known as Emeka Okeke late of 4, Shade Shomefun Avenue, Surulere, Lagos who died intestate on the 25th July, 2009 at Lagos.

31.Mrs. Sherifat Adebimpe Ekun late of 512 Road, G Close, Festac Town, Lagos who died intestate on the 17th November, 2005 at Lagos.

32.Mrs. Taiwo Oluyemisi Egerton Shyngle known as Taiwo Egerton Shyngle late of 1, Akanbi Disu Street, Lekki, Lagos who died intestate on the 30th June, 2011 at Lagos.

33.Mr. Gabriel Iyiola Awosunle known as Awosunle Gabriel Iyiola late of 39, Olufemi Road, Surulere, Lagos who died intestate on the 15th July, 2010 at Lagos.

34.Mrs. Florence M. Odunayo known as Mrs. Odunayo Florence M. late of Block 14, Flat 8, Games Village , Surulere, Lagos who died intestate on the 16th January, 2010 at Lagos.

35.Rufus Ikemefuna late of 24, Adeife Street Alaba, Lagos who died intestate on the 18th October, 2010 at Lagos.

36.Mrs. Nwanne Dike known as Dike Nwanne late of 105, Ojo Road, Ajegunle, Apapa, Lagos who died intestate on the 28th August, 2010 at Aba. 37.Mr. Samuel Modupe Akintunde known as Akintunde Samuel and Modupe Akintunde Samuel late of 20, Ricca Street, Lagos who died intestate on the 15th June, 2005 at Ondo.

38.Joseph Iniobong Ukor known as Ukor Iniobong Joseph late of 11, Igbore Street, Lagos who died intestate on the 8th January, 2011 at Akwa Ibom State.

39.Cyprian Ifeanyi Ufearoh known as Mr. Cyprain Ufearoh late of 6, Olufeyisan Street, Oworonsoki, Lagos who died intestate on the 27th September, 2007 at Lagos.

40.Esther Okpara late of 7A, C.M.S Grammar School Road, Bariga, Lagos who died intestate on the 27th August, 2008 at Lagos.

41.Claudius Bolorunduro Agbadahunsi late of 1, Agbadahunsi Street, Igishimeri Road, Ondo who died intestate on the 19th September, 2010 at Ondo State.

42.Mrs. Hameedat Adepitan Oshodi known as Christie Adepeju Adepitan Oshodi late of Plot 14, Ahmad Tijani Otun Street, Lekki phase 1, Lagos who died intestate on the 16th July, 2000 at London.

43.Odubanjo Emmanuel Kolawole late of 15A, Adeola Odeku Street, Victoria Island, Lagos who died intestate on the 11th day of August, 2003 at Ibadan.

44. Kefa Samson Taiwo Olatunji known as Olatunji Kefa Samson Taiwo late of 44, Zion Street, Sari Iganmu, Oirle, Lagos who died intestate on the 15th May, 2010 at Lagos.

45.Mr. Mutiru Sanusi Akinlade known as Akinlade late of 17A, Atetebi Compound, Ebute Metta, Lagos who died intestate on the 29th April, 1978 at Lagos.

46.Taofiq Akanni Williams late of 11, Alu Bariga Street, Ijeshatedo, Lagos who died intestate on the 31st December, 1984 at Lagos.

47.Mrs. Florence Ukpelegbu late of 14, Ilaje Road, Bariga, Lagos who died intestate on the 21st December, 2004 at Lagos.

48.Mr. Clement Chinedu Jumbo known as Clement Jumbo late of 1, Osho Layout, Langbasa, Lagos who died intestate on the 14th April, 2010 at Lagos.

49.John Onuh late of 65, Oluwa Street, Ajegunle, who died intestate on the 19th December, 2010 at Apomu, Ogun State.

50.Mr. Femi Moses Akinade known as Mr. Akinade Femi Moses late of 24, Dejo Adeleye Street, Ejigbo who died intestate on the 5th June, 2010 at Lagos.

51.Mr. Goddy Xmas late of 3B, Idi Oro Court off Okesuna Street, Lagos who died intestate on the 14th April, 2011 at Agbrara, Bayelsa State.

52.Nneka Perpetual Nwafor known as Nneke Perpetual Nwafor late of 15, Osasa Avenue, Bariga, Lagos who died intestate on the 24th August, 2011 at Lagos.

53.Esekhile Sunday Leo late of Block 41, Flat 5, Glover Estate, Ebute Metta, Lagos who died intestate on 14th April, 2010 at Lagos.

54.Francis Konyefa late of 97, Nosamu Street, Ajegunle, lagos who died intestate on the 8th March, 2010 at Lagos.

55.Njoku Fidelis late of 33, Dada Onijama Awodiora, Ajegunle, Lagos who died intestate on the 4th August, 2011 at Lagos.

56.Mr. Rasak Quadri known as Rasaq Ishola Quadri late of Block D, Plot 1, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos who died intestate on the 1st April, 2009 at Lagos.

57.Solomon Olowu known as Solomon Olubunmi Olowu late of 24, Idowu Street, Oba, Agege, Lagos who died intestate on the 2nd August, 2004 at Lagos.

58.Solomon Bulus late of 21, Brigade Giwa Barrack, Maiduguri, Borno State who died intestate on the 13th December, 2010 at Maiduguri, Borno State.

59.Ikeazota Ada late of House 5, C Close, 206 Road, Festac Town, Lagos who died intestate on the 12th January, 2011 at Lagos.

60.Olayinka Docas Adelani late of 21, Isaac Salome Street, Agric, Ikorodu, who died intestate on the 20th March, 2007 at Lagos.

61.Mr. Frank Ederihor known as Mr. Frank Ederie late of 10, Okhuekue Avenue, Ajagbandi, Lagos who died intestate on the 13th November, 2006 at Lagos.

62.Mrs. Victoria Abeke Omotunde Oshodi known as Mrs. Oshodi Motunde late of 5, Ayilara Street, Surulere, Lagos who died intestate on the 11th June, 2009 at Lagos.

63.Oyediran Amos Olaleye known as Amos Oyediran and Amos Oyediran Ola late of 11, Deji Adeoye Street, Mafoluku Oshodi, Lagos who died intestate on the 26th May, 2011 at Lagos.

64.Asher Olufemi Oduwole known as Oduwole Asher Olufemi late of 16, Christ Avenue, Lekki, Lagos who died intestate on the 4th July, 2011 at Lagos.

65.Mr. Mama Simon late of 129, Ibadan Street, Ebute Metta, Lagos who died intestate on the 14th November, 2007 at Lagos.

66.Mrs. Dupe Shofolahan late of 62, Osholake Street, Ebute Metta, Lagos who died intestate on the 22nd November, 2010 at Lagos.

67.Dr. Jacob Adeboye Adewusi late of 8, Ayanleye Street, Igando, Egan, Lagos who died intestate on the 14th February, 2011 at Lagos.

68.Mr. Mark Areghan known as Areghan Mark late of 6, Anuoluwapo Street, Ogba Road, Agege, Lagos who died intestate on the 14th August, 2007 at Lagos.

69.Mallam Yahaya Goni Burima Ali known as Mallam Yahaya Goni late of 3, Gerrald Street, Ikoyi, Lagos who died intestate on the 16th November, 2010 at Lagos.

70.Alhaji Suleiman Akanni Hameen known as Alhaji Hameen Suleiman Akanni late of 6, Oluyombo Street, Ikosi- Ketu, Lagos who died intestate on the 11th September, 2010 at Lagos.

71.Louis Ideh late of Old Block 2, Room 25, Queens Barracks, Apapa, Lagos who died intestate on the 26th March, 2009 at Lagos.

72.Alabi Wabi Hamed known as Mr. Alabi Wabi late of 20, Market Street, Isale Oja, Agege, who died intestate on the 12th March, 2009 at Ikeja, Lagos.

73.Nwamuo James late of 4, Truddy Ebodagbe Crescent, Osapa London, Lekki, Lagos who died intestate on the 10th April, 2010 at Lagos.

74.DSP Bulus Maidoki known as Maidoki Bulus late of Block U, Flat 1, Satellite Town, Lagos who died intestate on the 12th October, 2009 at Lagos.

75.Mr. Ogundele Olusoji late of 7, Olorun Adaba Street, Alimosho, lagos who died intestate on the 9th May, 2011 at Lagos.

76.Aroyewun Shakiru Ayodeji known as Aroyewun Shakiru late of O Close, House 13, 3rd Avenue, Festac Town, Lagos who died intestate on the 1st October, 2010 at Lagos.

77.Ogboru Kidiata Douglas known as Arch. Douglas Didi Ogboru late of 9, Badore Road, Ajah, Lagos who died intestate on the 1st June, 2011 at Lagos.

78.Mrs. Aderonke Thomas known as Aderonke Ibidapo Thomas late of 3A, Cele Street, Ojuelegba, Surulere, Lagos who died intestate on the 22nd March, 2011 at Lagos.

S/N

NAMES OF APPLICANT APPLYING FOR THE GRANT

1. Mrs. Grace Ogunsola, Miss. Ruth Ogunsola and Mr. Philip Ogunsola all of Block 126, Flat 2, Jakande Housing Estate, Ilasan Eti –Osa, Lekki, lagos. The Widow and Two of the Children of the said deceased.

2. Mrs. Bridget Udezue, Nnamdi D. Udezue and Kenechukwu S. Udezue all of 52, Kirikiri Road, Olodi Apapa, Lagos. The Widow and Two of the Children of the said deceased.

3. Mrs. Awat Bassey Essang and Enyekung Paddy Onukak Essang of 36B, James Oyedele Street, Lagos and 60, Akeju Street, Onipanu, Lagos. The Widow and Cousin of the said deceased.

4. Emeka Okala and Ifeanyi Okala both of 18B, Shobodu Street, Sari Iganmu, Lagos. Two of the children of the said deceased.

5. Mrs. Chinenre Onyenweson and Chijioke Onyenweson both of 42, Isikolu Street, Olodi Apapa, Lagos. The Widow and One of the Children of the said deceased.

6. Olasumbo O. Edu (Mrs.) and Mrs. Olapeju Edu- Elom of Block 1, Flat 8, LASU Senior Staff Quarters, Ojo, Lagos and 7A, Ajakaiye Street, Afromedia, Lagos Daughters of the said deceased.

7. Mrs. Eunice Adedotun Popoola Nee Oduba and Otunba Olujimi Olajide Oduba (SAN) both of 44, Akinwunmi Street, Yaba, Lagos. The Children of the said deceased.

8. Aminat Yetunde Salami and Oluwayemisi O. Salami both of 59, Evans Street, Lagos. Two of the Children of the said deceased.

9. Egbagbe Kenneth and Stella Anyanwu both of No. 1, Ojulani Street, Lakowe, Lagos. The Father and Mother of the said deceased.

10.Mrs. Elizabeth Adunni Orija and Mr. Gbolahan Amodu both of Block 518, Flat 4, Abesan Housing Estate, Lagos. Daughter and Aunty of the said deceased.

11.Tajudeen Adeyanju and Musadiq Adeyanju of 18/20, Sanya Street, Lagos and 2, Comfort Ijaduda Street, Oke Afa, lagos. Two of the Children of the said deceased.

12.Grace Jonah Asuquo and Edt Jonah Asuquo both of 15, Ologun Agbaje Street, Victoria Island, Lagos. The Mother and Brother of the said deceased.

13.Kehinde Gbenga Fakemi and Kehinde Sidikat Fakemi both of 4, Smith Street, Idi Oro, Mushin, Lagos. The Mother and Brother of the said deceased.

14.Mr. Fasasi Ariyo and Mr. Oluwasola Ariyo both of Block 21, Flat 17, Alhaji Masha Road, Surulere, Lagos. The Son and Grand son of the said deceased.

15.Remilekun Isiaka and Mr. Stephen Ajanaku both of 22, Olubi Street, Isolo, Lagos. The Widow and Brother of the said deceased.

16.Bro. Levi Odoemenah and Mr. Chima Odoemanah both of 29, Durojaiye Street, Lawanson, Surulere, Lagos. The Widower and One of the Children of the said deceased.

17.Fredrick Ikechukwu Aboh and Miss. Emerion Blessing Aboh both of 16/18, Omolola Areelu Street, Magbon, Lagos. The Widower and Daughter of the said deceased.

18.Mrs. Beatrice Ekweanya and Mr. Okechukwu Ekweanya both of 21 Road, D Close, House 2, Festac Town, Lagos. The Widow and Son of the said deceased.

19.Mrs. Chinwe Ndokwu and Ogedi Ndokwu both of Prisons Officers Barracks, Ikoyi, Lagos. The Widow and Sister of the said deceased.

20.Charles Nwobodo and Uchechukwu Nwobodo both of 4, Adebisi Adebambo Street, Ojodu, Lagos. The Widower and Sister-inlaw of the said deceased.

21.Mrs. Elizabeth Nadu Savage, Mrs. Josephine Olanrewaju Grillo and Cleophas Attah Lawson, All of 9, Inabere Street, Lagos.

Three of the Children of the said deceased.

22.Mr. Toyin Alao and Mr. Abraham Alao of 2, Oshundaro Street, Agbado, Lagos and 9, Odunlami Close, Jankara, Ijaiye, Lagos. The brother and Uncle of the said deceased.

23.Elizabeth Kadiri and Abdul Malik Kadiri both of 17, Ayeleto Street, Surulere, Lagos. The Widow and Son of the said deceased.

24.Barnabas Awhanse and Mathew Awhanse both of 28, Ayetoro Street, Ajah, Lagos. Two of the Children of the said deceased.

25.Engr. Jonathan T. Adegboye, Mr. Jones I. Adegboye, Mr. Johnson O. Adegboye and Mrs. Janet A. Bamisi all of 24, Joseph Harrison Street, Onike, Iwaya Road, Yaba, Lagos. Four of the Children of the said deceased.

26.Mrs. Roseline Oyome and Miss. Mercy Oyome both of 147, Ojo Igbede Street, Alaba, Lagos. The Widow and One of 5the Children of the said deceased.

27.Mrs. Bukola Sikiru and Peter Oyeniyi both of 38, Alof Street, Lagos. Two of the Children of the said deceased.

28.Mrs. Olusola Adesokan and Mr. Olujimi Soyebo of 67A, Mainland way, Dolphin and 30, Glover Road, Ikoyi, Lagos. Two of the Children of the said deceased.

29.Janet Oluwatosin Akinmukomi and Esther Bukola Akinmukomi both of 1325, Doyin Street, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos and 16, Raimi Soyede Street, Aga, Ikorodu, Lagos. The Widow and Sister of the said deceased.

30.Ejike R. Okeke and Chinweuba both of 4, Shade Shomefun Street, Surulere, Lagos. The Brothers of the said deceased.

31.Mr. Ayotunde Ekun and Mrs. Dhikrafullah A.A Oshodi both of 512 Road, G Close, Festac Town, Lagos. The Children of the said deceased.

32.Mr. Kola Egerton Shyngle, Olukolapo Egerton Shyngle and Miss. Oludare Egerton Shyngle all of 1, Akanbi Disu Street, Lekki, Lagos. The Widower and Two of the Children of the said deceased.

33.Mr. Olusegun Awosunle and Toyin Awosunle both of 39, Olufemi Road, Surulere, Lagos. The Two of the Children of the said deceased.

34.Mr. Olansile Salisu and Mr. Oyewole Salisu both of Block 14, Flat 8, Games Village, Surulere, Lagos. Two of the Children of the said deceased.

35.Mrs. Mary Ikemefuna Rufus and Rita Nduka both of 24, Adeife Street, Alaba, Lagos. The Widow and Sister of the said deceased.

36.Dike N. Dike and Onwubiko Chidinma Georgina both of 105, Ojo Road, Ajegunle, Apapa, Lagos. The Widower and One of the Children of the said deceased.

37.Mr. Akinwale John Akintunde and Mrs. Justina Iyabode Bademosi of 12, Banjo Street, Surulere, Lagos and 11, Araromi Street, Shomolu, Lagos. Two of the Children of the said deceased.

38.Tony Ukor and Getrude E. Ukor both of 11, Igbore Street, Onike, Iwaya, Lagos. The Widow and One of the Children of the said deceased.

39.Eunice Ufearo and Ndidi Obidigbo of 6, Olufeyisan Street, Oworonsoki, and 1st Avenue, G Close, House 2, Festac, Lagos. The Widow and Cousin of the said deceased.

40.Chief Nelson Obidinma Okpara, Davidson Onyebuchukwu Okpara and Chukwuma Nelson Okpara all of 7A, C.M.S Grammar School Road, Bariga, Lagos. The Widower and Children of the said deceased.

41.Mr. Babatunde Agbadahunsi and Mrs. Helen Taiye Agbadahunsi both of 1, Agbadahunsi Street, Igishimari Road, Ondo. The Widow and One of the Children of the said deceased.

42.Mr. Wahid Enitan Oshodi and Mrs. Kudirat Abimbola Dada both of 14, Ahmed Tijani Otun Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos. Two of the Children of the said deceased.

43. Mrs. Mabel O. Odubanjo, Mobolaji O. Odubanjo and Mrs. Oladayo Olufunmilayo all of 15A, Adeola Odeku Street, Victoria Island, Lagos. The Widow and Children of the said deceased.

44.Emmanuel Taiwo Olatunji, Matthew Taiwo Olatunji and Samuel Taiwo Olatunji all of 44, Zion Street, Iganmu, Orile, Lagos. Three of the Children of the said deceased.

45.Mrs. Funmi Uphopham, Air Commodore Kehinde Akinlade and Mrs. Kehinde Bello of 29, Poly Quarters, Kaduna, NAF Base Airport Road, Kaduna and 18, Ikeja Road, Egbe, Lagos. Three of the Children of the said deceased.

46.Mrs. Gbemi Kotun, Almaruf Williams, Adeola Basirat Bassey and Muslimot Balogun all of Alu Bariga Street, Ijeshatedo, lagos.

Four of the Children of the said deceased.

47.Mr. Emeka Eni Ukpelegbu and Jude Emeka Ukpelegbu both of 14, Ilaje Road, Bariga, Lagos. The Widower and One of the Children of the said deceased.

48.Mr. Lucky Jumbo and Mrs. Patience Jumbo both of 1, Osho Layout, Lamgbasa, Lagos. The Brother and Sister of the said deceased.

49.Otene Joe Onuh and Otene John Onuh both of 65, Oluwa Street, Ajegunle, Lagos. The Brothers of the said deceased.

50.Mrs. Funmilayo A. Akinade and Kunle Akinade both of 24, Dejo Adeleye Street, Ejigbo, Lagos. The Widow and One of the Children of the said deceased.

51.Henry Xmas Ogodo and Paul Xmas both of 10, Baale Street, Idado, Lekki, Lagos.Two of the Children of the said deceased.

52.Aaron Onukwube Okeke and Chukwudi Nwafor both of 15, Osasa Avenue, Bariga, Lagos. The Widower and Brother of the said deceased.

53.Engr. Stanley Osaremen Esekhiole and Mr. Isaac Esekhiole both of Block 41, Flat 5, Glover Estate, Ebute Metta, Lagos. Two of the Children of the said deceased.

54.Miss. Charity Konyefa and Mrs. Catherine Nwaokolo both of 97, Nosamu Street, Ajegunle, Lagos. Two of the Children of the said deceased.

55.Mrs. Chizomam Njoku and Mr. Chukwuma Njoku both of 33, Dada Onijama Awodiora Estate, Ajegunle, Lagos. The Widow and One of the Children of the said deceased.

56.Idayat O. Quadri and Mrs. Aminat Abidoye both of Plot 1, Block D, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos Two of the Children of the said deceased.

57.Segun Olowu, Bolanle Olowu and Rotimi Olowu all of 35, Adeshina Street, Oke Ira, Ogba, Lagos. Three of the Children of the said deceased.

58.Mrs. Mercy Solomon and Samuel Bulus both of Hayin Banki, Kawa, Kaduna. The Widow and Brother of the said deceased.

59.Ifeanyi Ikeazota and Chinomso Ikeazota both of House 5, C Close, 206 Road, Festac Town, Lagos. The Widower and Step Daughter of the said deceased.

60.Mrs. Adejoke AdesanyaMr, Adedayo Adesanya and Mrs. Adedolapo Adesanya, all of 9A, Lily Drive, M.K.O Abiola Gardens, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos. The Widow and Children of the said deceased.

61.Edwin Ederihor and Godwin Ederihor of 9, Sale Iwenla Street, Ijegun, Off Ikotun Egbe, Lagos and 108, Ojo Road, Ajegunle, Lagos. The Brothers of the said deceased.

62.Miss. Temitope Oshodi and Mrs. Oluwatosin Omidiran both of 5, Ayilara Street, Surulere, Lagos. Two of the Children of the said deceased.

63.OLufunmilayo Ajilore and Olajumoke Ande of 14, Shomefun Street, Ogba, Lagos and 45, Akeem Dosumu Street, Ago Palace, Okota, Lagos. Two of the Children of the said deceased.

64.Emmanuel Funke Oduwole and Funmi Oduwole both of B10, Flat 401, 1004 Estate, Victoria Island, Lagos. Two of the Children of the said deceased.

65.Mrs. Ndidi Amaka Mama and Miss Ngozi Mama both of 129, Ibadan Street, Ebute Metta, Laagos. The Widow and One of the Children of the said deceased.

66.Mrs. Olabisi Nimota Shofolahan of 16, Jebba, Ebute Metta, Lagos. The Sole Sister of the said deceased.

67.Mrs. Kehinde Adewusi and Olayiwola Adewusi of 8, Ayanlaye Street, Igando, Egan, Lagos and 10, Joe, Ezeh Street, Igando, Egan, Lagos. The Widow and One of the Children of the said deceased.

68.Mr. Daniel Mark Areghan. Miss Esther Mark Areghan and Mrs. Mary Adukanya all of 6, Anuoluwapo Street, Off Ogba, Agege, Lagos. The Children of the said deceased.

69.Falamata Goni (Mrs.), Kultum Goni (Mrs.) and Abba Kura all of 3, Gerrard Street, Ikoyi, Laqgos. The Widows and Brothers of the said deceased.

70.Alhaji Rafiu Hameen, Mr. Nurudeen A. Hameen and Muhammed Kunle Hammen all of 6, Oluyombo Street, Ikosi- Ketu, Lagos.

Two of the Children and Brother of the said deceased.

71.Mrs. Josephine Ideh, Arinze Ideh and Ogochukwu Ideh all of Old Block 2, Room 25, Queens Barracks, Apapa, Lagos. The Widow and Two of the Children of the said deceased.

72.Azeez Wabi Hamed and Adijat Hamed of 7, Yekini Olagoke Street, Agege and 20, Market Street, Agege, Lagos. The Widow and One of the Children of the said deceased.

73.Mrs. Olivia Nwamuo and Miss Ifeyinwa Nwanmuo both of 4, Truddy Ebodagbe Crescent, Osapa London, Lekki, Lagos. The Widow and One of the Children of the said deceased.

74.Victoria Bulus Maidoki and SP Robinson Eregere of Satellite Town, Police Barracks, and Orile Police Station, Lagos. The Widow and Colleague of the said deceased.

75.Bilikisu Ogundele and Oladipupo Ogundele of 7, Olorun Adaba Street, Alimosho and 17, Adefioye Street, Sango, Otta. The Widow and Brother of the said deceased.

76.Aroyewun Virginia Therese and Dr. Aroyewun Sandra Adebisi both of O Close, House 13, 3rd Avenue, Festac Town, Lagos. The Widow and One of the Children of the said deceased.

77.Ogboru Abidemie Edememen and Ogboru Theophilus Ejovwokoghene of 9, Badore Road, Ajah, Lagos and Silver Point Estate, Lagos. The Widow and Brother of the said deceased.

78. Mrs. Ronke Soetan and Mr. Siji Okusami both of 5, Faro, Ojora, Close, Surulere, Lagos. The Siblings of the said deceased.

G.A SAFARI (MR.) PROBATE REGISTRAR

Tomorrow in THE NATION

www.thenationonlineng.net

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL.7 NO.1981

If the president knew that he was still consulting as the Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, wants us to believe, why didn't he just say so in the budget speech instead of maintaining a criminal silence capable of heating up the polity. ’ LAWAL OGIENAGBON

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

C

OME seven pm tonight, the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will be holding a (presumably) emergency meeting at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa.

Emergency, because the notice for the meeting was issued through the unusual route of newspaper adverts on Sunday.

So what could be the reason for the short public notice of tonight’s meeting? Not unexpectedly, the advert did not say. However, at a guess it could be President Goodluck Jonathan’s budget with its truly mind-boggling allocation to “security” - nearly one fifth of the entire budget - and insistence on withdrawing the oil subsidy which many experts say does not really exist. Could be, but it’s very unlikely, even improbable; the self-proclaimed “largest party in Africa” is hardly famous for promoting pro-people policies and programmes.

Whatever it is the party’s BOT, as its conscience, is meeting tonight to discuss, the one item which is guaranteed to be missing from its agenda is the credibility of its chairman, former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. Yet the chairman’s credibility is central to the integrity and the capability of the party itself.

Last month, the former president granted a four page interview to National Mirror (November 29) which was bound to renew questions about his credibility. But the interview wasn’t the only thing to impugn his credibility all over again. In addition, there was his denial of a story by The Nation (October 4) that he had written a letter to President Goodluck Jonathan asking him to sack the chief executives of five major agencies of the Federal Government for alleged incompetence and corruption, and replace them with his own nominees.

In his preface to the Mirror interview, its correspondent, Ayodele Ojo, said the former president agreed to speak only on condition that there would be no questions on politics.

But trust the man to violate his own rule even without any provocation; a little over half-way through the interview he simply could not resist a dig at those who have always accused him of wanting to rule Nigeria beyond the Constitutional limit of two consecutive terms, if not for life.

“When some people said I wanted a Third Term,” he said, “there is nobody in Nigeria, dead or alive, that would say that I called him or her and said go and work for a third term for me.”

He could never have wanted to elongate his rule, he said, because when he had the opportunity to do so back in the late seventies when he ruled by military fiat, he did not seize it. His witnesses, he said, included then sit-tight leaders of Zambia (Kenneth Kaunda), Tanzania (Julius Nyerere), Senegal (Leopold Senghor) and Cote d’Voire (Felix Houphouet-Boigny). All four, he said, tried to prevail on him to swap his khaki for mufti

People and Politics By MOHAMMED HARUNA ndajika@yahoo.com

Obasanjo and his credibility

•Obasanjo

and run for the 1979 elections that ushered in the Second Republic.

“I said no, our situation is different,” he said, “and as an officer and gentleman, our word is our bond.”

The problem with this narration was that first, it’s possible, even probable, given his proverbial cunning, that he did not really mean what he said. Second, the narration was selective. One thing he left out was his attempt during the last summit he attended of the defunct Organisation of African Unity (OAU) – now simply African Unity (AU) in Monrovia, Liberia, in July 1979, to drag the organisation into including a resolution that Nigeria was not ripe for transition to civil rule in its communiqué.

According to an insider account of events behind the scene at the summit, Obasanjo tried to prevail on the host, President William R. Tolbert and a select few, including Guinea’s Sekou Toure, to put the issue on the summit’s agenda. There was a lengthy debate on the issue in a side meeting that went deep into the night but in the end wise counsel prevailed when Tolbert

RIPPLES Police to crush pro-subsidy removal protesters–News

Then get ready to kill 150MILLION PEOPLE

and Co. decided that Nigeria’s transition to civil rule was entirely its own internal affair which the OAU should not be dragged into.

In any case as Obasanjo himself knew all too well, as military ruler he was not as free to do as he wanted, virtually literally caged in as he was between the trio of his deputy, Major-General Shehu Yar’Adua, his powerful army chief, Lt-General T.Y. Danjuma and his police chief, Alhaji M.D. Yusuf; and all three were determined that, come rain or shine, the soldiers must return to their barracks on October 1, 1979. So it was not as if he really had much of a choice in the matter.

However, even if he left of his own volition back in 1979 – which he really didn’t - that was not necessarily sufficient evidence that he never wanted a third term. After all people change. And few things change people like power and wealth. In his second coming in 1999, the man was able to acquire huge amounts of both simply because this time around he did not have to look over his shoulders.

The former president says if he had wanted a third term he would have sent a bill to the National Assembly to that effect and he would have made sure it was passed. Actually, he did more than just send a bill; as he knew all too well, some of his fixers tried to sneak in a constitutional amendment for consideration by the political conference he summoned in January 2005 which would have allowed him to realise his bid. The gambit failed only because of the vigilance and determination of opposition elements at the conference.

One definitive evidence that the man is simply living in self-denial when he keeps insisting that he never wanted a third term, is a passage in the memoirs of Ms Condoleeza Rice, the first woman to serve as US National Security Adviser and the first African-American woman to serve as Secretary of State, both under President George W. Bush.

In that book titled, No Higher Honour: A Memoir of My Years in Washington, Rice said Obasanjo did indeed confide his intention to her boss.

“In 2006, when President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria sidled up to the President and suggested that he might change the Constitution so that he could serve a third term,” she said,

HARDBALL

D

URING her visit to President Goodluck Jonathan, Senate President David Mark, and Speaker of the House of Representatives Aminu Tambuwal, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Ms Christine Lagarde, excitedly complimented the ongoing efforts to revamp the Nigerian economy. She said she was “extremely impressed with the work [Jonathan] is leading, the energy and pace at which he wants to transform the economy, create jobs, and focus on agriculture.” Wary of being associated directly with Jonathan’s economic agenda, Lagarde explained that the IMF no longer dictated economic policies or conditions for any country. The institution, said the IMF boss, would try to understudy a country’s economic direction, and, if required, offer support, technical assistance and others.

Her host, President Jonathan, confirmed that in the aftermath of the structural adjustment policies of the mid 1980s, Nigerians developed antipathy towards the IMF and no longer trusted the institution. That mistrust has now been transferred to the

“the President told him not to do it. ‘You have served your country well. Now turn over power and become a statesman”’ he’d said.

“The crestfallen Obasanjo was initially angry, accusing Jendayi Fraser (a Special Assistant for African Affairs to the US National Security Council under Bush) of undermining him in the press and with his own people. ‘I will never deal with her again’” he (Obasanjo) told the President.

“The President responded, ‘Well, she is a good person. But the main thing is that your country needs you to do the right thing.’

Obasanjo did cede power - to a handpicked successor - but at least he was unsuccessful in changing the Constitution”.

It’s very unlikely that Rice made up her story; after all who does not know that Obasanjo, like most Third World leaders, puts a greater store by the opinion of First World leaders than by that of his own people?

All of which brings me to the most conclusive evidence that the man never really wanted to leave power when he did. This evidence is no other than the dictum that action speaks louder than words. And his “studied silence” - to use his own words – on the issue spoke louder than his denial that he did not ask anyone to campaign for him. After all if he did not ask anyone to work for his third term bid, so also did General Sani Abacha never told anyone to work for his Tazarce.

Yet we all know, don’t we, the fate that befell virtually all those who stood in the way of the success of the attempt by both to sittight in power. It also did not take a lot of imagination to guess where the huge funding for their campaigns was coming from.

The simple fact was that if Obasanjo really wanted to leave he would have told the spearheads of the campaign - notably Senators Ibrahim Mantu and Ahmadu Ali and Chief Bode George - that were busy telling the world that it was dangerous to change pilots before an aircraft reaches cruising level, to shut up. He did not. Instead he maintained a “studied silence” when it was obvious that in those circumstances silence was certainly not golden.

As it was with his repeated denial of his Third term bid, so also probably it was with his denial that he never wrote President Jonathan to sack the heads of five major agencies of the Federal Government. Nearly three months after he threatened to sue The Nation for its story the man is yet to do so. And only last week, the Federal Executive Council rose from its meeting with a decision to investigate those same agencies.

It is unlikely that this was mere coincidence.

When we have a ruling party whose conscience does not seem to care about its credibility and integrity, is it any wonder that the country is in such a big mess?

•For comments, send SMS to 08054502909

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

What is IMF’s endorsement worth? subsidy issue. But he also agreed with Lagarde that the IMF had changed into playing a supporting, rather than leading, role in the economies of countries not averse to the monetary institution’s involvement. This point was also reiterated by the Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

While it must be pointed out that the IMF boss is touring Africa, not only Nigeria, and that this is her first visit, we note that she was accompanied by Okonjo-Iweala and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) boss, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, both of whom, together with the president, appeared glad Lagarde came to Nigeria.

It is not certain we or our policies needed any endorsement from the IMF, in spite of government officials seeming to take delight in Lagarde’s compliments. And while it must come to us as a bit of a surprise that Jonathan and his Finance minister leapt enthusiastically to the defence of the IMF, they are right that the world finance institution is no longer as

imperious as it used to be. Lagarde, in fact, reciprocated the kind words from Nigerian officials by describing Okonjo-Iweala in superlative terms. Tambuwal and Mark were more shrewdly restrained in receiving the IMF boss. They reminded her of the role they expected the IMF to play in developing economies.

What neither Lagarde nor any of our officials who received her cared to talk about is that the IMF has found a new, more humane and friendly role in the world economy since many national economic managers in the world today are converts to the IMF/World Bank school of economics. These converts get the job done safer, better and faster, but of course more stealthily, for the West than any of the Bretton Woods institutions could.

However, it would have been better for the government if the IMF visit had been postponed until the government was through with its knotty task of persuading the country to swallow its bitter economic pills.

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